Day 9. Sunday. A Boyfriend.

"Difficulties are meant to rouse, notdiscourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict. – William Ellergy Channing.

"To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing." – Unknown.

Rukia met up in the late afternoon but soon after we started talking she got a alert for a hollow. We defeated the hollow, it truly was no challenge. Rukia did most of the work but I was there in case she needed something. He'd try to attack me but she'd stop him. I was on guard, just in case he got past her.

We were walking back to our bodies. Rukia said that they had wondered off. "Rukia, where do you see yourself?" She shrugged. "In life, are you happy?"

"I'm getting there." She stopped and looked at me. "Thank you," I didn't understand what it was for.

"I'm not saying anything, I didn't do anything." I responded.

"Alright then," we could have been back to our bodies a while ago but we were just walking slowly.

"Want to ignore our bodies and just wonder around?" I suggested. "I don't like being in my body, this is freeing. I can do anything."

"Anything?" She asked.

"I guess… I really haven't tried much." I shunpoed up into the air, I was standing mid-air above all the city.

"Come on…" she was already standing next to me. The city was getting ready for sunset. It was only around 6 but it was still spring. The 9th of May.

Suddenly I could see fireworks going off. I didn't know but I didn't care. "Rukia…" she was sitting staring at that them, contemplating the how and why.

"It's part of Golden Week Celebration. Of nature and plants and stuff," I forgot about that national holiday. "I thought it was earlier in the month…"

"The different colors, they're exploding in the sky." She told me.

"It's different chemicals they react," I explained.

"It looks like what happens when a huge battle is taking place, all the blood, reishi, and reiryoku that are being put of as people collide."

"Man Rukia, that's depressing." I told her. "It's a party, cheer up!"

She turned to me and smiled. "Alright," she let herself fall back, falling toward the ground and as she was about to touch the ground she put her arms out and she stopped, cushioned by reiryoku.

I was just below her, ready to catch her. Then she dropped, landing in my arms, smiling. "What was that about!" I yelled at her.

"Having fun! Haven't you ever heard of sky diving?"

"Of course I have but they have parachutes or something. Free-falling into oceans or bungee-jumping sure… just falling."

"I have control; I wouldn't trust you to do that." She told me, I dropped her on her butt.

"Yeah, so much control."

"I didn't expect you to drop me!" She kicked me and crossed her arm.

I was about to yell at her when I saw our bodies. "Hey Tori!" I yelled. The soul turned to me and ran off. Rukia collapsed and fell to the ground laughing.

"He's defective!" I yelled at her. "Why'd you give him to me?"

"Didn't you give him directions?" I asked.

"No," was I supposed to tell him?

"Then he thinks it's his body now." She smiled. "Go chase him down and stop him!"

"Hey Tori, come back here." I ran after him and after a while, swerving through tries I finally stopped him and took over my body. Chappy was already gone, Rukia had apparently given her directions.

I sighed. "He wore out my body." I complained to her.

"It's your own fault." She responded.

"What was I supposed to say to him?"

"Something like 'Tori, protect my body until I return from fighting.' Some soul candy need very strict commands or they rebel and run off like yours did." She explained.

"Now you tell me!"

"Don't complain. What now?" She lay down in the grass looking at the darkening sky.

I shrugged and sat on the grass next to her. Her phone went off, she looked at the screen. "Konso, I'll be back." She popped in her soul candy and left it with me.

"Ichigo? Tori?" Chappy asked.

"Ichigo," she had me in a choke hold. "Ichigo will not interfere with Rukia's job." She told me nodding. At least she could follow directions.

"I'm not going to do anything, let me go." I told her.

"No." She answered straight-faced and seriously in Rukia's body.

"Let me go!" I tried to get her off me. "Let go!"

"Ichigo." I turned to see Rukia. "Leave my body alone."

"She started it! She has me in a cho…" I elbowed Chappy then I remembered, Rukia was in that body, she'd feel that.

Rukia knew it too, she glared… taking over her body. She lifted up her shirt looking at her side. "I think it's going to bruise." She sighed and rolled her eyes at me.

"Tell Chappy to just watch me. A choke hold? Is that necessary?"

"I don't know…" she responded. "I should probably instruct her to just protect you and my body first."

"Yeah, you should." She rubbed her side I could tell that it was sore. "Uh.. sorry." I told her.

"It's fine; just try to be gentler next time." It was quiet as we just stood there. "They'll probably be missing you for dinner."

"Who?"

"Your family," she said it as if I was an idiot. "Go home Ichigo."

"I'm sure they'll be happy to have you." She turned around and looked at me.

"I think I'll use my own company for now."

I grabbed her arm. "I insist," I pulled her along, and eventually she came along willingly. She walked in.

"Rukia!" Yuzu said happily.

"Hi." Rukia acted nervous this time, it was odd for her.

"My third daughter, how has life been treating you? Has my son who I should have raised better hurt you?"

She laughed. "No, I'm fine really. So what's going on here?"

"Dinner will be ready in like 10 minutes, you came just in time." Yuzu said.

Rukia didn't seem comfortable at home anymore. Her phone would beep every few minutes but she ignored it, it must have been an actual phone call or text. After dinner was over I pulled her aside. "What's up with the phone, is it a hollow?"

"No, it's nothing."

"Something you need to take care of?" I asked her.

"Sort of, nothing of interest… really," she was lying, it was plain as day.

"What's up with you then?" I asked.

"Nothing!" She near yelled it which brought the attention of it, she laughed which made everyone go back to whatever they were doing. "It's nothing, I have to go though Ichigo…"

I grabbed her arm and she tugged it away. "What's your problem today?"

"What's yours?"

"Nothing, I just have something to do."

"Rukia, I can help."

"It's nothing. I'll talk to you later or something. Bye." She said it in a harsh, unwelcoming way. I guess it was her business that was bothering her. She walked out the door and shunpoed away quickly. I couldn't sense where she was going.

"Is Rukia alright? She was acting… odd." Yuzu said.

"I don't know Yuzu, she is acting odd though." I walked away, going up to my room and lying down in my bed.

Her brother and Renji were probably trying to check on her. She said they were controlling and didn't like the idea of her coming here. She's still in her 30 day time period and she reports so it's not like they have a valid reason to come here and get her… right? Do they need a valid reason? Can they just take her? Did she do something wrong? Did I cause it?

I jumped up, and at the soul candy. "Look Tori, act like me and don't do anything fishy until I come back. I will then take my body back. Got it?" Tori, in my body, nodded. "Good."

I went through the window and hoped everything would be okay there. I hoped more that everything with Rukia would work out.

I dashed to her apartment and I stood outside the barrier. I couldn't sense her presence so the only way I would know if she was inside was to knock. I couldn't do that. I had to trust Rukia and respect her. I was worst than her brother and Renji if I tracked her down. What was I doing?

I went back home and tori went back to candy form. I thought about what had occurred in the last few days. We went on a date, she was so happy and child-like. She loved the roses I got for her and enjoyed the food.

It was different… being with Rukia. I could go out to a movie with anyone or have dinner but it didn't mean much. Rukia getting dressed up and getting her flowers, she had to mean more to me than just anyone else. Orihime was right… she was different.

Rukia was the one person who I trusted. She was the person who didn't fear me because of him. She was the one who stood by me even when no one else did. She came back to help with Orihime and fight on Earth when her home was there. Rukia was the one I fought with not just playfully but when there was a hollow, she was there to help defeat him.

She was the one who raised my spirits when I was lost and helpless. When I failed Rukia told me to stop sulking and go on with life. She was more important because she made everything worth it. She was the person who made me who I am now. I owed her more than was payable.

I was devastated when she left so I died so I could protect her. Even if it was my fault that she was in trouble in the first place. I sulked when she was gone because she mattered. I needed her and I wanted her around.

I didn't know the defintion of liking someone or loving someone but Rukia was important, more important. She was special, different. I guess that's what liking or loving someone means. I don't feel like this about Orihime or Tatsuki, it's Rukia… Rukia Kuchiki, the girl who walked through my window, and keeps walking in and out of my life. I only with she came with a little bit of stability but maybe that's what I'm doing. I'm convincing her to stay here, here with me. Stability, that sounded good.

I thought about my mom and how she must have felt at the beginning when dad was still a shinigami. He must have been interesting, mysterious and unique. I don't think mom saw spirits but I think she was aware I could and that's why she tried to stop me… Dad decided to give it all up for her because she mattered that much. Do I matter that much to her? I wouldn't let her give it up, I don't want her to but I want her here. That's enough.

I woke up, must have fallen asleep in my thoughts, but I heard footsteps. I looked out the window to see Rukia landing on my room. "Back so soon?"

"You're awake are you?" She responded. "It's been a while, I keep checking on you. I told you I'd be back." She seemed back to normal for the most part.

She came into my room, kicking me onto the floor. "Rukia! That hurt."

"That's for elbowing my gigai!"

"I thought you told me it was okay!" I yelled.

"Shut up idiot, you'll wake everyone up." She whispered loudly.

"What time is it?" She shrugged.

"Late enough for everyone to be asleep," She responded.

"So what was wrong with you today…" She seemed uncomfortable to answer it.

"Someone from Society called to check on me. No one important, they're just really controlling, it's annoying its fine now."

"Okay then…" I said. "Rukia… I was thinking earlier…"

"Were you?" she acted surprised.

"You're special to me. That's why I want you to stay and why it matters that you ignored me for all those years. You are different than everyone else, I mean that much is obvious." She nodded, not understand what I was saying. I didn't know what I was saying.

"What are you saying?" She asked, confused.

"I don't know… I want you around."

"I already told you I would…" she was more confused than before. I sighed.

"I don't know… I want to try… I don't know… being in a relationship?" The moment I said it I wish I could have taken it all back.

"A relationship?" She was acting calm which was a good thing I guess. "A relationship…?" She seemed a little confused there. "A relationship?" She was now laughing and I was confused.

"Ichigo, you and me in a relationship?"

"I don't know." I rubbed the back of my head and leaned against my bed.

"That has to be the most ridiculous thing you've ever said, ever." I didn't know if she was upset, angry or just entertained. "Ichigo… I am 160 years old. You are 25. I am a shinigami and you are a… former substitute shinigami?" She said. "You have a life to live here… I live there…"

"No you don't, you said you'd stay here." I pointed out.

"I did, and I am but Ichigo… a relationship."

"Yes." I was now more confident in my answer than before. "I want to be in a relationship with you Rukia Kuchiki."

"Then I'd have to say no." She said it plainly, calmly without consideration.

"Why not?"

"I could list a million reasons and it wouldn't be good enough?"

"Could you?"

"That does matter Ichigo, I said no."

"And I said yes." She looked at me like I was being petty.

"That's not how it works. You ask, I say no." She crossed her arms.

"Give me one good reason why?"

"I could give you ten right now! My brother would kill you. He'd kill me. I'm a shinigami and you're not. I'm a member of the Kuchiki clan. You're alive in the human world. I'm more than 6 times your age. I'm a dead soul living in a gigai. You'd be miserable with me because we argue all the time, like now! I don't want to. I have a boyfriend!" I had to say I was stopped in my mental tracks. I could argue on most of those, the last one however; I didn't see coming. She took a deep breath, "that's right Ichigo, I am in a relationship already. That's why not."

"Then why did you go on a date with me?"

"I don't know! I don't know Ichigo. I wanted to have fun, it was fun. I was caught in the moment. Ugh! Why am I still arguing with you." She stood up and left through the window. I was left to wonder who in all of soul society it could be…

I would have to say my thoughts were shattered and yet running at hundreds of miles per hour. I didn't know what to think anymore but I had to say I was disappointed. I spend a good chunk of the day convinced that Rukia was the most important person to me and I found out she's in a relationship. It was a tough day.