Last Week, on Hazy:

"I-ichigo?"

A/n: This is the next chapter!? Yes!? Really!? Oh My God!!

Disclaimer: Shouldn't it be obvious by now? Or were you born yesterday?

Rukia was surprised. She didn't expect him to be here. She was sure no one but Isshin knew that she was going back, and Isshin promised he wouldn't tell a single soul. She also knew that the man wouldn't break a promise. So why was Ichigo here? Could he have known that she was going back?

"R-Ru-kia…" Ichigo breathed out, his face looking miserable and gloomy. He didn't know what to do. He was guilty and they all knew it. He wanted to beat himself up. Then he remembered what happened last night. 'How could I have done that?' Ichigo asked himself, guilt washing over him. After a few moments of silence that spanned two millenniums to them, Rukia spoke.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in the iciest, coldest, and most emotionless voice possible. She silently thanked the powers up there for not making her lose her composure. Though she looked apathetic on the outside, inside, she was dreading whatever answer he might have to that question.

"I… I… I cam-"

"You have no business here, substitute." She cut him off. He almost winced because of what she said. He knew for a fact that she only resorted to name-calling when she was extremely pissed. "I suggest you leave now. You should not get in the way of official shinigami business."

Ichigo was dumbstruck. What was he going to do? He didn't know yet. He knew that his actions the previous night had given her pretty much every right in the entire world to bitch like this, and he felt nothing short of loathing and pity for himself.

Rukia, on the other hand, was having problems that were much more difficult than what Ichigo was facing. She was caught between running away and running towards Ichigo's arms.

'Stupid idiot. Can't make a decision and stick with it. Figures.' A voice in the back of her head, Sodeno she mused, commented, and she couldn't agree more. She was being such an idiot. She steeled herself again, heart breaking with each word.

"You are wasting my time. A noble like me needn't pay you much attention. I repeat again, You have no business here, substitute. I suggest you leave."

Ichigo gave a dejected sigh. Knowing full well that he could do nothing more but do more damage, he turned to walk outside. As he was about to walk out the door, and out of her life, probably forever, he grunted before speaking.

"Shinigami. If you ever meet a loud-mouthed, turnip-haired midget, please. Please tell her that I still love her. Please tell her that I need her. Please." Ichigo managed to say without letting his tears get the better of him. He hesitated as he opened the door, caught between closing it again and running to her, and just walking away. He chose the latter, telling himself that it was what was best for all of them. If only he had turned around, he would have seen the true feelings of Rukia.

The door closed with an almost inaudible click, which was promptly swallowed by the thick silence. She choked on her tears, cursing herself for turning him down. Ichigo sat on the sidewalk in front of his old home, clenching his fist until his nails cut into his skin.

The rain started pouring minutes after, as if offering her consolation for the broken hearts of the parted lovers. The pattering of the water droplets got harder, but neither cared. They were too broken to even care about anything else at the moment. Rukia dragged herself into Ichigo's room and everything about the room assailed her. Her memories with him threatened to smother her with their intensity.

She remembered everything she had shared with the man, from their first kiss to the first time they consummated their passions. She lied down on the bed and cried again, this time, the torrents seem endless, much like the time she had parted with him that one fateful night. A few hours pass and she was asleep, the pillow and sheets, near soaked in her tears. The door to the room, which she had left open when she had entered, closed.

"Byakuya. Yes, yes, speaking. Alright. I'll tell her when she wakes up later."

Meanwhile...

A knock resounded throughout the Urahara-shoten. Tessai went to see who it was upon Urahara's orders, and was half-shocked to see who it was. Being a good-hearted person by nature, he had brought him before he was even told to do so. Urahara, the psychotic evil genius that he was, counted on this happening, and instructed to let their guest rest before doing anything else to the poor man. Tessai obediently obliged.

Urahara took out his phone and punched in the speed dials for Ishida and Inoue. He smirked evilly as he heard the other line pick up.

"Hello? Orihime-chan? Please tell Uryuu-kun that the plan was a success. And that the next part will be acted out in the very near future."

TBC

A/N: (Gasp) What diabolical plan has Urahara made for our favorite couple? What did Byakuya tell Isshin? What will Ichigo do next? What will happen to Rukia? Why am I asking you? Anyways, Sorry for the late, late, late update. It's just that school's got me swamped with classes and homeworks, etc. I'll try to post the next chapter as soon as humanly possible. In the mean time, please read and review all the other chapters and the (kinda) prologue to this story. Thanks!