A/N-I had a really cool request, to make a story about the ending credits for the Bleach anime, starting at episode 180. I'm quite sure that most of you have seen these ending credits, but if not, I am supplying the address in my profile, right at the very beginning, in case you haven't seen it. This is dedicated to the person who requested it, and I hope you all enjoy it.

The person who posted the endings on you tube, is NOT me, but I have gone and watched it, and it worked when I did.

On The Bridge

When Rukia was walking around town, feeling uncertain about herself, she could clearly remember much lonelier days. Sad, painful, and horribly awful lonely days.

She remembers what it was like when her heart felt so empty, that she wondered if she'd ever find a reason to truly smile again. Her life has come to be defined by two acronyms in her heart. BI, Before Ichigo, and AI, After Ichigo, because of how significantly he changed her whole world.

Before Ichigo (BI), the reasons to smile had dwindled so much that Rukia hadn't smiled a really true smile in many years. Life became almost robotic, after Kaien-dono died, by her own blade. Rukia had often felt like she deserved to not have reasons to smile, since she had taken away Kaien-dono's warm smile that would fill the whole Thirteenth Division with happiness. She never felt sorry for herself, and she never asked anyone to sympathize with, or for her.

Life was a chore. Waking up each day, doing the same old thing, over and over, and over again. Rukia keeps walking through the dark city, looking at the bright lights, even as she remembers the pain of her past.

Then...she had been sent on assignment to Karakura Town. Rukia hadn't expected her whole life to take a one hundred and eighty degree turn, but that is exactly what happened...and AI all started with the color orange.

She thought he was a boy, but he would later prove her wrong, and show that he was an admirable young man. He reacted in a very unexpected manner when she explained that the hollows were trying to eat him due to his spiritual powers.

When he had yelled at the hollow to take his soul, Rukia had an aching flashback to Kaien-dono, and she could practically see Kaien-dono in this brainless kid, offering his soul up to the stupid hollow. Rukia reacted a split second too late, though. All because he was a complete distraction from her real duty, she ended up being bit by the hollow, and then she made a rapid decision, based on only what her heart was telling her.

Rukia also made the decision that if she were going to die that night, that she would die with this boy who reminded her so much of her former lieutenant. It was a bit of selfishness on her part, but her hypothesis hadn't been proven wrong, so it was of no consequence. She had warned him that she didn't know if it would work, and he had taken the risk, knowing full well, that it might not work.

She offered him a way to save his family, and he took it, not only that, he nearly sucked her dry of her Shinigami powers. That's when it started. All of a sudden, physically, emotionally, and mentally, she no longer felt alone. It's pretty impossible to feel alone, when you're connected with someone else, through the power of your own zanpakutou.

At first, she tried to act like it was a pain, but no matter what she said out loud, she was inwardly drawn to the orange haired boy who had the ability to make her forget everyone and everything else around her.

Rukia was glad he wasn't involved romantically with a human girl, and most of all, she was looking forward to getting to know this kid. He had impressed her a great deal the first time he killed a hollow.

Rukia found that she could read this boy even when he was trying to be a tough or cool guy. She had been shocked when he'd asked her rhetorically, if she saved him out of a sense of duty, and it seemed that deep down, he knew there was more to it all, than what she had chosen to share with him.

That was the moment she realized, that he could feel the connection too, no matter how much they both tried to act like the other was a pain in the neck, they were both enjoying this tag team partnership, far more than either of them ever expected to.

Rukia stares up at the sky, as she keeps walking around Karakura Town, and continues to contemplate hers and Ichigo's story.

Then, right as Rukia was realizing that she had actually fallen in love for the orange haired teen, she was ripped away from him, and believed him to be dead, once she was taken back to Soul Society.

Rukia did her best to keep Ichigo alive in her memories, and even went so far as to discuss him with the sweet kid that cleaned her cell. She never expected Hanatarou or Ichigo to meet one another, so it was quite ironic that Ichigo had managed to run into him of all people when he came to Soul Society to save her.

When he had appeared on the bridge in Soul Society, her heart had literally done a dance, at the sight of him. She had been surprised when he walked past her, but she knew, immediately, that he was far too emotional to address her right away.

He announced that he was there to save her, and her heart started dancing even faster...but it was such a dangerous mission that he had chosen to take up, and she wanted him to live! So she'd had to put him down, and call him a fool, but he hadn't minded at all. He accepts the fact that she loves him so much that she can't stand to see him get hurt, particularly in her name.

He had been different that day, more manly. It had been nice to know she got to feast her eyes on his magnificent figure one last time, and she didn't have to keep her former last memory of him broken, and bleeding on the ground. She really didn't believe back then, that he had the possibility of truly saving her. She believed it to be a suicide mission.

Then he had come to save her again, and his rescue was far more daring and spectacular than she had ever imagined was possible. He had held her tucked carefully within his left arm, and she hadn't been able to hide her surprise that he had his very large hand, spread across her breasts as he held her. But she didn't care, because Ichigo can touch her anywhere and anytime he likes, she enjoys his touch, that much!

That was the day she realized that he loves her so much that he can't stand to see her get hurt either. So they have both saved each other, and they no longer keep track of who has saved who more times...they only love each other silently...and deeply.

Earlier today, Ukitake called to ask her if she would like to stay with Ichigo, since he is a captain level Shinigami who really should have a lieutenant level partner, so that he doesn't die needlessly. Rukia hadn't answered right away, and that's why Ichigo is mad at her.

She had told her Captain that she would call him back and then she informed Ichigo what she had been offered. Ichigo had looked awfully hurt for an instant, and then he'd glared at her.

"Is there someplace you would rather be, than here?" Ichigo had asked her, and Rukia had just stared at him, dumbfounded.

She hadn't answered Captain Ukitake, because she felt like she should ask Ichigo what he wants, but she hadn't even been able to get that far in her explanation, because all he had to do, was hear what was offered to get mad, and get her side tracked from her original explanation.

So, instead of clarifying her point, she had gotten mad back, in response to his anger.

"Did anybody ever tell you that you're a complete and total idiot?!" Rukia had shouted at him, before she'd hopped out his window and torn away from his house. He hadn't followed her, and she hasn't gone back.

It's been a couple of hours now...and she's been walking around. She remembers each and every moment she's shared with him, and she knows how their love has slowly bloomed into something rare and beautiful, a once in a lifetime kind of love.

Soul mates.

Rukia keeps walking around the city for an hour. When she walks onto a bridge, she sees Ichigo...just standing there. The bridge may look nothing like the one in Soul Society, but it brings back all kinds of memories of him coming to save her, just because it's a bridge. Bridges have had that effect on her for awhile now.

She slowly walks towards him and then stops, ten or so meters, away from him. She looks at him, and once again he manages to shock the hell out of her.

"You'd better stay here with me!" Ichigo calls out to her, quite loudly, and then he looks at her, expectantly.

Rukia knows. She ran away from him at his house earlier, and now she has to run back to him. She has a decision to make. To walk away or to run back to him...and the look on his face is ordering her to follow her heart, to chase her dreams, and to chase him. To...make beats with her feet.

Rukia takes a deep breath and runs towards him at top speed. He has a soft and welcoming smile on his face, and Rukia is helpless to do anything other than follow her heart…straight to Ichigo.

When she's almost to him, he yanks his hands out of his pockets and opens his arms to her. Rukia doesn't even think about it, she flies right into his arms, and hugs him fiercely. He hugs her back with no sign of letting go, and Rukia savors it. The feel of his arms holding her is nearly magical. It's more amazing than a nineties level kidou spell.

"That's what I want, Ichigo...to stay here with you, always!" Rukia admits, in an emotional voice.

Ichigo doesn't talk, because he can't. This tiny little Shinigami has brought him nearly to tears, because he can feel her emotions as if they're his own. So Ichigo answers her, by pulling away and claiming her lips in a possessive, but loving kiss.

"Running away from me, is not an option...Rukia." Ichigo whispers, when they finally pull away.

Rukia nods as he takes her hand and they walk off the bridge to head for home. A happiness far greater than what she had ever experienced in her past is now upon her, and she's grateful to Ichigo for giving her all of that.

I'll never run away from you, Ichigo.