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Thank you for loving this story!

Dedication: This chapter is especially dedicated to kyurikochan, this is my gift for your birthday as I promised! I hope you'll like it! And Happy Birthday Ichigo! And to my nee-chan, deathstrawberry, for cheering me up and wishing me good luck for this fic!

Maraming salamat Ate Chii! I miss you po! ^_^

Sorry for the lateness! I really hate myself for it!

Disclaimer: Mari doesn't own anything. Except for the drama plot~ ^_^

On with the story!

~Painful Path to Eternity~

By: Mari Kia Resha Aishiteru

Tenth Path – Let's Start All Over Again

It was already 10PM in the evening when they arrived at Karakura and was standing currently in front of the door of the Kurosaki Household. Ichigo stepped forward towards the door and planned to ring the doorbell but he felt hands gripping his black jacket from behind. He looked at his companion with confused eyes. She stared back at him with worried ones. His gaze softened.

"Don't worry Rukia. They'll be happy to see you." He said softly as he put a hand on her clenched ones currently gripping his jacket. Rukia stared back at his soft gaze. She relaxed under his grip, feeling the warmth from his hand. She nodded.

"Okay."

"Now come on." Ichigo gripped her both hands in his as he dragged her beside him towards the door. She lowered her head as if refusing to look. Ichigo sighed and rang their doorbell twice.

The door opened slowly and revealed Isshin staring at them in surprise. "Ichigo! I didn't expect you to be back at this time!"

The son scratched his head. "Well yeah. Sorry for coming back without warning."

Isshin nodded. "It's fine." His gaze went to the figure beside Ichigo. Isshin smiled fondly and put a hand on her head.

Rukia seemed to flinch but relaxed after a few minutes, but her head stayed low. "Rukia-chan." She hesitantly moved her head towards the kind voice who called out her name. She saw him grinned at him and in a fatherly voice, he said,

"Welcome home."

Rukia looked away and bit her trembling lower lip. "I…"

Isshin continued to look at her with soft eyes. "Rukia-chan."

With that, Rukia hesitantly looked up to her uncle and she treated like her own father. "Ojisan… thank you so much." She whispered.

Isshin smiled. "You don't have to thank me. You're part of the family and you'll always be."

Rukia lowered her head. Ichigo noticed this and put a hand on her shoulder and lightly squeezed it. She looked up at him with a grateful smile. Ichigo returned the gesture.

Isshin saw the exchanged between the two and he let out a happy smile. He took a deep breath and declared, "I know you're both tired so let's talk in the morning, okay? Now come in."

Ichigo nodded at his father as he led Rukia inside. Once in the living room, Rukia looked around and felt nostalgia filled her senses.

I missed this place so much… she thought with an inner sigh.

"Since we're not ready for your unexpected arrival tonight, we haven't prepared Rukia-chan's room. So! Ichigo, she'll stay in your room tonight alright?" Isshin said with a teasing and knowing grin.

Both teens blushed and Ichigo scowled at his father. "Dad!"

"Why? I'm only telling the truth. I know it's okay with Rukia-chan, ne?" he asked nodding towards the raven haired girl.

Rukia fidgeted with her fingers as she answered, "If only… Ichigo wants me to do it then…" without looking at them.

Isshin grinned at Ichigo. "See?"

Ichigo sighed. "It's fine with me of course." He said as he carried their things and walked upstairs. "Come on Rukia."

"Okay." She replied motioning to follow him but Isshin's voice calling her name stopped her in her tracks. She looked back at him and saw him smiling at her. "He is miserable without you."

Rukia smiled softly. "I know. The truth is… he even cried when he saw me."

Isshin looked surprised but then smirked. "Really? Then that means that my boy has finally became a man."

Rukia chuckled. "Hai, I guess he finally is."

"Rukia!" Ichigo's voice rang from upstairs.

"Coming!" She replied not as loud as Ichigo's voice in fear of waking up the Kurosaki twins. She glanced at Isshin.

"Goodnight Rukia-chan. Sweet dreams."

She gave him a smile and bowed, "Goodnight Ojisan." And she went upstairs.

When she reached the room and opened his door, she saw him bringing his things back from his bag to their proper places. While she saw her own bag on the floor. She went further inside and watched him.

"What took you so long downstairs? It's late, you need to rest." He said without looking at her.

Rukia rolled her eyes. "I just told something to your father, and besides I'm not that long gone. And! I'm not that sleepy since I slept on our ride home." She stated as she crossed her arms against her chest. "The whole ride."

Ichigo finished packing off and sat down on his bed with a sigh. He stared at her with suspicious amber eyes. "What did you tell him?" he asked.

Rukia let out a mischievous grin. "I told him that you cried like a little boy when you saw me there."

Ichigo glared at his best friend. "I didn't cry like a little boy."

"Yes you did. I had to stifle my laughter because of the situation back then." She said as a matter-of-factly.

"Rukia!" He said with a grunt.

She laughed. "I'm just kidding. But seriously Ichigo, I really told him that you cried when you saw me back there."

He slapped his forehead. "I'll never hear the end of it." He said as he shook his head.

"Yeah, great for you." Rukia smirked.

"Bitch."

"Idiot."

"Midget."

"Strawberry."

They both glared at each other but later on, smirked. They missed that moment. They totally missed the name calling portion towards each other. It was been nearly four months without it and they both knew that it was killing them.

Ichigo patted the spot next to him, encouraging her to sit down. Rukia got the message and sat down beside him. Ichigo lay down on the bed as Rukia stared at him.

"Thank you, Ichigo."

"Hm? For what?"

"For coming after me and bringing me back here, I guess." Rukia replied with a shrug.

Ichigo sat down again and stared at Rukia's amethyst eyes.

"Rukia… I…" He was interrupted by an index finger on his lips.

"I know what you'll say. And I told you I don't want to hear it because it's never your fault. It will never be. Do you understand me?" Rukia scolded him with a soft voice.

Ichigo seemed surprised. He blinked his amber eyes but then Rukia felt his lips against her finger curved upwards. He grabbed her wrist gently and moved her finger away from his lips. He leaned towards her with a serious expression. Rukia leaned away but Ichigo kept on leaning closer. "I-Ichigo?"

"That's not what I want to say."

"E-Eh?"

"You know, you shouldn't have used your finger to shut me up."

"W-What do you mean?"

"You should've done this." And with that, he ever-so-slowly closed the gap between them.

Rukia's eyes widened in surprise. She stared at Ichigo in shock and watched as his eyes closed. Slowly, she let him penetrate her and fell down to him (not literally). At first, the kiss was slow, but then, it started to get possessive and aggressive. She felt his arms wrapped around her waist and onto her back pulling her closer to him. In return, she moved her arms, feeling his chiseled chest. She then felt his hand cupped her face as she titled her head to accommodate him further. After the dancing of their tongues, they both leaned away but still clinging to each other.

"Rukia…." Ichigo gazed at her amethyst orbs as he caressed her cheeks. "Sleep here with me tonight." Before Rukia could ask what he meant, Ichigo continued,

"I want to hold you."

Rukia felt warmth creep onto her face. She was blushing. Ichigo noticed. He smirked at her reaction. She pouted at him.

"You're so cute when you pout." Ichigo pointed out.

"Shut up." He became suddenly serious.

"So?"

Rukia smiled and nodded. Ichigo grinned and they kissed again until they fell asleep, cuddled in each other's warm presences.

The next morning, Rukia woke up first. She saw the sunlight through the curtains and thought it was already morning. She rolled over and saw the sleeping face of her best friend. After all what had transpired between them last night, she wasn't sure what she really means to Ichigo. For her of course, she had long loved him deeply so there was no problem in her part but she couldn't help but worry that Ichigo might just be confused with his feelings.

Maybe he's just feeling pity for me so he's doing every means to make me feel better. He's still feeling guilty after all. I knew it. She thought grimly.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt him stirred. She stared at him as his eyes opened.

Ichigo smiled at her with a "Good morning." She returned the gesture. "Morning."

"How's your sleep?" He asked.

"It's okay. I slept well."

Yeah, I did. Maybe because you're next to me. She smiled at the thought. And holding me, mind you.

"That's good." He commented. He sat up on the bed as Rukia follow suit. "You hungry?"

She nodded. He smirked. "Come on."

They both got out of bed and onto the bathroom. Of course, Ichigo pushed Rukia first in there to wash herself up before going downstairs for breakfast. After her, he came in next as Rukia wait for him in his room. When they were done, they both came down and was greeted as always by Isshin's loud cry to Ichigo.

"ICHIGOOOOOOO!" He said but was interrupted by Ichigo's kick. "Yeah good morning old man."

"Good morning Ojisan."

"Hello Rukia-chan! You seem healthy today!"

"Umm… yeah I guess." She shrugged.

"Kyah! Rukia nee-chan's really here!" Yuzu cried as soon as Rukia set her foot on the floor of the dining. "Yeah Yuzu."

"Nee-chan!" Yuzu embraced Rukia around her waist. Rukia rubbed the little girl's back to let her feel that she was really back.

"I missed you. I thought I'd never see you again." She mumbled enough for Rukia to hear.

Rukia smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Yuzu."

Yuzu looked up at her. "No don't be! It's okay! We're just worried! Ne, Karin-chan?"

"Yup. So please don't just disappear like that. You nearly give us a heart attack you know?" Karin said. Her tone was nonchalant but her eyes said otherwise.

"I'm sorry."

Ichigo sighed and patted Rukia's head. "Now now. We're hungry so let's eat already."

"Okay okay!"

And they all sat down and ate the breakfast Yuzu as usual had prepared. Rukia was beyond happy to be able to eat with them again. She really missed them because she loved them as her own family. But in her heart she knew that this wouldn't last long. She will face death soon but as long as she was alive, she will be happy. As long as they were here. As long as Ichigo was here.

Back in Ichigo's room, he was doing his assignments. It was Saturday and he was absent for three days so he needed to catch up with their lessons. Rukia was bored on his bed just sitting. And because of that, she thought of an idea.

"Ichigo."

"What?" he asked without looking up from his work.

"Let's go outside."

Ichigo stopped in his work and looked at her. She was staring at him with those hopeful amethyst orbs.

Oh no, it is hard to say NO to those eyes…

"But Rukia, your health—"

She pouted at him.

"Please?"

Ichigo sighed inwardly. Curse her cuteness!

"Okay fine! But if you need to rest, we'll go home okay?"

She nodded happily. "Aye aye sir!" she said with a salute sign.

He shook his head. I wonder what will she do again to make me buy her those Chappy merchandises…

"Oh! Ichigo over there! Come on come on!" Rukia said as she dragged him towards a store. Ichigo stared in horror. It was all PINK!

Why does it have to be THAT color?

He hated pink alright.

"Rukia, I'm not going in there and there's no way you're going to make me!"

She pouted again. "Ichigo~" she whined.

"Stop that Rukia!"

"Please? Come with me?"

"No!"

"Please?"

"NO!"

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"No!"

"No?"

"Yes."

"Yes!"

"No!" Ichigo yelled. "Gah! This is nonsense!"

"Good to know that you know that. Just please Ichigo! I want to shop with you." She said in complete seriousness.

Ichigo saw her sincerity and gave in. "Whatever. Let's get this over with."

Rukia let out a bright grin. "Yay! Iku iku!"

Ichigo sighed but smile.

After an hour of trauma of PINK, Ichigo and Rukia sat on the bench at the park. It was dawn and the sun was colored completely orange. They both stared at it. Rukia couldn't help but thought of what she was thinking when she woke up that morning.

How does he feel about me now? Am I still like a best friend to him? Or like what he is to me? She glanced at him. There's no other way. If I want my questions to be answered, I need to ask him.

So with courage and determination, she called out. "Ichigo?"

"Hm?"

"Uh… I want to ask…"

Ichigo noticed her uneasiness and stared straight at her. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, it's just…"

He waited.

"What… do you feel about me now?"

"Eh?"

"I mean, what am I to you?"

She was staring at him with hopeful eyes. Ichigo was confused. What made her think of this?

"What do you think?"

Rukia looked away. "Like before. You just like me like a best friend. You could never reciprocate my feelings for you. You're just doing this to make me feel better. You just pity me right?"

To her surprise, she was pulled by him on his chest. She tried to get away but his grip was tight around her. "I-Ichigo."

"Why are you thinking that way?"

"Eh?"

"Rukia, you know me the most because we are childhood friends. I am hurt to know that you thought that I feel pity for you so I do the things I do to you right now."

A pang of guilt surged through Rukia's heart. "I…"

"Maybe this is my fault too. Because since then I never told you my feelings."

"I told you it's not your fau—" She was stopped by that last sentence. "What?"

"My feelings changed, Rukia. Ever since last night, I felt it. I couldn't live without you. You're my missing piece. When you're sad, I'm sad too. And when you're happy, I'm happy too."

"W-What do you mean?"

"It means that…"

Rukia gulped. She could hear Ichigo's heart beat and it was fast.

"I love you, Rukia."

Amethyst eyes widened.

"And not just as a best friend like you think. It's more than that." He gripped her both shoulders and stared in her eyes.

"I love you. Me, as a man and you, as a woman." He cupped her cheeks affectionately. "I love you just the way you are."

Rukia's tears found its way onto her cheeks and Ichigo's thumb wiped them away but they were just keep coming. That brought a smile to Ichigo's lips, because he knew, that those tears were all tears of happiness.

"I-Ichigo… I love you, I love you so much… you don't know how much… how long I… I…"

"Shhh…" he kissed her gently on her lips. "I know, I'm sorry for being so dense."

Rukia shook her head.

"I love you, Rukia."

"I don't know that this is its feeling. I love hearing it from you. I love you too Ichigo."

And they embraced each other, followed with a passionate kiss.

A few days later after Ichigo and Rukia's new found relationship, Rukia was being treated in a hospital once in a week. The doctor said that it was going worst, and it was proven by Rukia's constant bleeding, pains and bruising. Ichigo stayed in Rukia's side through her pains and screams and cries. For Rukia, it was helpful that Ichigo was next to her, holding her hand because she felt safe even in pain. She knew it will hurt when she had to finally leave him but at least, there will be still time for them to be happy together. That was what she was hoping.

A/N: YAY! YATTA YATTA! I updated! Whoo! *throws confettis around* Sorry for a month and a half (I think) absence! I'm so caught up in school and what's worst, I just have to use the laptop for like sometimes! But, I'll try my best to write more! I really hope so! Well then! Thanks guys and review! I hope you like this chapter!

Tingnan mu yan, two days ko lang to ginawang chapter na to. Haii… :)

Please Read and Review!

~Mari Kia Resha Aishiteru~