Hi everyone! I've been doing a good job at updating because I've been getting some ideas for a new story but I want to finish this one first. Also, if you guys like one-shots and you have an idea for one I'll be happy to give it a try and write it :).

Chapter 11

**World of the Living**

Although it was already Wednesday, Ichigo's week couldn't go any slower. He thought about Rukia constantly, especially at school where he was confined to his tiny desk for hours. He wondered if she was having any problems in soul society regarding her decision, if she would truly be able to let go of everything after going back again, and most importantly he was afraid that at any given time he might be stabbed to death by the freakish pink blossoms of senbonzakura. He knew Byakuya never liked him to begin with, but he wondered how he would react after hearing about Rukia's feelings for him.

"Iiiichiiigoo!" Keigo ran to Ichigo's desk as soon as class was over, he then stared at Ichigo suspiciously and after a few minutes said, "You've seemed different this week, I can't say what it is but there's something different about you." Chad nodded as he walked to his two classmates.

"You're imagining things." Ichigo replied with a scowl.

Mizuiro walked to the group of boys as he typed away on his phone. He stopped in front of Ichigo, looked up and said, "Did you get a girlfriend?"

Ichigo turned bright red. What the heck was wrong with Mizuiro? Did he really have that much experience with girls or relationships to simply know these things?

"S-s-shut up Mizuiro!" Ichigo said nervously. Everyone stared at Ichigo in awe. Did he really get a girlfriend? If so, then who was she? They couldn't think of the type of girl that Ichigo would date…heck they couldn't event picture Ichigo on a date!

"So is this true Ichigo?...It has to be! Mizuiro never gets these things wrong!" Keigo said frantically.

"Do you have to be that noisy?" Ichigo said irritated.

"Ichigo, I need to go to work soon but let's get lunch before I start." Chad said completely off topic.

"Ok." Ichigo said as he got up and grabbed his school bag.

Mizuiro and Keigo tagged along, and so the group of guys went to a fast food restaurant close to Chad's workplace. Although they were all curious about the girlfriend thing –including Chad- no one would approach the topic.

"Rukia…she visited this weekend." Ichigo finally said.

"About time she did! No wonder you were acting weird!" Keigo said munching on his fries.

"Why did she visit?" Mizuiro asked.

"Well, she wanted to come and say goodbye...there were some things going on that might have made it hard for her to come again…" Ichigo said looking away from the group.

"Might have? Are these things resolved?" Mizuiro questioned.

"umm it's kind of a complicated thing…" he said slightly embarrassed but kept going, "I kind of told her I cared about her…and she said she wanted to stay too…"

"YOU MEAN YOU ASKED HER TO STAY!" Keigo said loudly as the other people turned and gave him angry looks.

"y-y-yes" Ichigo said embarrassed. It was very difficult for him to speak of these things to his friends, he wasn't the type of guy that was comfortable when speaking about matters of the heart.

"So is she coming back?" Mizuiro said curious.

"Yea. She needed to go back and talk to her brother and Soul Society." Ichigo said.

"So does that mean you guys are more than friends then?"Mizuiro asked and took a sip of his drink.

"I think so…" Ichigo said as he thought about it. Even though him and Rukia had spent a very affectionate weekend they really hadn't put a label on their relationship.

"So Ichigo, what will happen when she gets here? Will she live at home with you and your family and go to school with you?" Chad broke his silence has he took a bite from his sandwich.

The questions caught Ichigo off guard. He didn't really think that far ahead but those types of questions were expected from his best friend. Chad was independent and had to think of these sorts of things since he lived alone.

"I think so…we haven't really talked about it." Ichigo said as he became more and more worried.

"That's great! Kuchiki-san will be with us for our last year of high school, it will be just like old times!" Keigo said as waterfall tears streamed down his face.

The group of friends finished eating and walked Chad to his job. They parted ways and Ichigo headed home as his anxiety regarding the future built up. He knew he wanted to be with Rukia, but he wasn't sure how it would all work out.

**Kurosaki Household**

Night had fallen on Karakura town as Ichigo finished up his homework. He had a difficult time concentrating after realizing that when Rukia came to be with him, he might have more responsibilities on his shoulders, not to mention the fact that his last year of high school would be coming up and he was still unsure of what he would be doing with his future. His eyes slowly closed as his cheek touched his notebook and he slumped on his chair. He fell asleep.

Rukia entered through the window. She saw Ichigo still wearing his uniform slumped on his chair. She smiled and sat on his bed for a few minutes observing him. He looked cute and innocent when he was sleeping. She got up and walked behind him, putting her small arms around his shoulders and leaning her head on his back. She loved his scent. He slowly came back from his slumber. He reached for the small hands around him, opened his eyes and turned around to be met by her deep black ones.

"Yo, Ichigo" she said softly.

"Rukia!" he said surprised as he turned surprised, but then he broke the hug and his eyes widened with surprise.

"You're wearing your Shinigami robes….I can see you!" he said.

"So you haven't noticed." She said crossing her arms.

"Noticed what?" he said confused.

"Where's your shinigami representative badge?" she asked.

He pulled it out of his pocket. She looked at it a few times and then pressed it on his chest. His body fell on her arms as his shinigami soul sprung out.

"What the hell is going on!" he said touching his chest and looking at his black robes and sword.

"Nii-sama said you got your powers back so I came to see it for myself." She said.

He couldn't believe it. His powers were back! He didn't have much time to digest this information when his door flew open.

"Rukia-chan! You're home!" Isshin said giving her a wide smile. He then looked at Ichigo's shinigami form and chuckled, "So you got your powers back, huh?"

They all sat at the kitchen table. It was late at night and Yuzu and Karin were already in bed.

"Ichigo, did you do anything different this week that you didn't do this past year?" Rukia asked trying to figure out why he got his powers back.

"mmm I don't think so."

Isshin gave them a sly smile as he went to stand between them and said, "It's the power of young love!"

"Shut up old man!" Ichigo said crossing his arms and arching his eyebrow.

"Ichigo, show more respect for your father!" Isshin said pretending to feel offended, and went back to his seat.

"There is another reason why I came back earlier than expected. Nii-sama requested that you go to Soul Society. He said he would respect my relationship with you but he would like to talk to us about a few things first." Rukia said a little shy.

"Byakuya agreed!...Hey dad, you could go to Soul Society if you wanted, right?" Ichigo said nervously.

"Ha! You're scared!" Rukia teased.

"Am not!" Ichigo said quickly.

"You chicken!" Rukia said with a smirk.

"Shut up, baka! Besides, now that I have my powers back I could take him on any day!" Ichigo finally said with a cocky smile as Rukia rolled her eyes.

"Masaki, our boy is growing up! I'm having a formal meeting with Rukia-chan's brother! I never thought I'd see the day our son would want his precious father's help!" Isshin said as he hugged Masaki's poster on the wall.

"It's getting late and I'm getting sleepy!" Ichigo said interrupting his father's antics as he yawned and stretched his arms. "Let's go Rukia" Ichigo said getting up from his chair. She followed him to his room but when he was about to close the door he was stopped by a large hand.

"What's your problem old man?" Ichigo said irritated.

Isshin threw a blanket and a pillow at him, "I will not allow you to make a delinquent of my precious Rukia-chan! You can sleep on the couch tonight!" he said as he proceeded to kick Ichigo down the stairs.

"Sleep well, Rukia-chan!" Isshin said sweetly as he left the room. She sweat dropped and wondered what he would think if he knew she slept in Ichigo's closet for two months.

Since Rukia didn't have Yuzu's pajamas she helped herself to one of Ichigo's t-shirts and sweatpants. She got in bed and fell asleep in no time. Ichigo's room always had the power to make her feel at ease.

In the living room Ichigo squirmed on the couch. His idiot father was so inconsiderate!, and knowing that he would be going to Soul Society to meet Byakuya was giving him insomnia. It was going to be a long night…

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Don't be shy to leave some feedback! =D