You guys are the best! I can't believe we got to 100 reviews! :) This chapter is dedicated to WhiteSheWolf17 for being the 100th reviewer! I'm sorry it's so sad, but I hope you still like it!

Chapter 14

"Ichigo! Imagine running into you here!"

The boy groaned internally at the sight of the redhead. Can't she just leave me alone?

"Don't be mad at Renji," Rukia spoke up quickly. "We shouldn't have tempted him."

Orihime laughed lightly. "Don't be silly. Why would I be mad at Renji?"

There was an icy tone to the bubbly girl's voice that Ichigo had never heard before.

Maybe we really are in trouble... He thought to himself.

Rukia sighed impatiently. "He knows, Elisade. You don't have to pretend."

The elf's amber eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. "I am fully aware of your reckless behavior, Rukia."

A strong gust of wind whipped around them, like a hot summer breeze right before the rain begins. Ichigo realized that he might just be getting his wish about witnessing the elf's powers.

"It was an accident." Rukia said firmly.

"That's not what I'm talking about," Orihime hissed, her voice laced with anger. "How could you think that no one would notice you showcasing your powers in the middle of school? Do you have any idea how completely ignorant that was? What if someone had seen you? What if Renji had been at school? It's a lot harder to cover up a werewolf attack in front of 5,000 students!"

Rukia stood speechless beside him, and Ichigo immediately became defensive.

"Hey, none of this was her fault," he started, the feelings of betrayal and hurt towards the redheaded girl finally coming to the surface. "Where do you get off criticizing her for using her powers? She saved my life! As far as I can tell, that's a hell of a lot better than your track record."

For a just a fraction of second, Orihime looked utterly heartbroken. She glanced at Rukia accusingly, before looking back at the orange haired boy.

"Ichigo..." She said softly.

"I understand why you didn't tell me," Ichigo continued. "But it seems like this whole thing is your own fault for letting Renji become a werewolf in the first place. Rukia did a pretty damn good job protecting me, I don't see why fighting werewolves seems to be such a problem for you."

Tears brimmed in Orihime's usually warm eyes, making them hard and giving definition to their intricate, crystalline features.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she said coldly. "Maybe next time Rukia wants to play story-teller, you should make sure you're getting the full story. Besides, she acted carelessly by taking you out into the woods. She knew Renji was there."

Orihime turned her attention back to Rukia. "You're putting him in more and more danger every single day. If this doesn't stop, I'm going to ask you to leave Karakura."

Rukia met Orihime's gaze evenly, but Ichigo could tell she was upset. "Don't do this, Elisade. I'm sorry; it won't happen again."

"It certainly won't," the elf snapped. "Besides, I'm sure your brother would agree with me as well. Nothing good ever comes from creatures like us having relationships with humans. That's why I'm putting a stop to this now."

"But don't you think someone should be watching him anyway?" Rukia tried another tactic. "I can keep an eye on the girls too. You know there's something... different about them. I can help, Elisade."

"No," the redhead said flatly. "I've got it under control. I think everyone's had enough of your help."

Ichigo frowned. "Wait a min-"

"No, Ichigo." Rukia said, interrupting and putting a hand on his arm. "It's ok. Let's just go home."

As much as he wanted to stay and continue arguing, Ichigo stayed by Rukia's side as they walked by the other girl.

Orihime lowered her gaze remorsefully as they passed, but Ichigo refused to feel anything but anger towards his old friend.

.

They walked the rest of the way to Ichigo's house in silence, both stewing in their own thoughts.

When they finally reached the Kurosaki residence, they paused and looked at each other. The sadness in Rukia's eyes made Ichigo nervous.

"Ichigo, I-"

The orange haired teen cut her off with a swift kiss. "Don't be sorry. None of this was your fault."

All of it was my fault... Rukia managed a small smile. "I'm not worried about that."

"Then what's wrong?" He asked gently.

Byakuya would be so disappointed... How can I upset him even more? And Elisade is right, I should know better.

"This... It's not safe, Ichigo. For anyone." She said quietly, mentally bracing herself against the protests that were about to come.

"What are you talking about? You saved my life." Ichigo said quickly, grabbing her shoulders. "Don't listen to Orihime, ok? She's just mad that I like you instead of her."

Elisade is ...jealous?

Rukia quickly brushed the thought away. As often as she and the elf disagreed, Rukia had always known the older girl to be loving and caring, protective, not petty and spiteful like Ichigo suspected.

"I think she's right about this." Rukia held her ground. "You know what happened with my brother. What if something like that happens again? I've already made more mistakes than I can count."

"I won't ask you to bite me, Rukia." Ichigo's voice was soft now. He sounded almost hurt by the assumption. "I know the idea scares you, so I'd never ask. In a few years, maybe, but we have plenty of time to think about it."

"No," Rukia shook her head. "Never, Ichigo. I won't take your life and turn you into something like this."

"There's nothing wrong with you," Ichigo said firmly. "You're more human than most people I know."

That's because most people you know aren't human... Rukia thought caustically. "Vampires are the opposite of elves, not humans. Like day and night, or the sun and the moon... That's why Elisade protects life, and I destroy it."

"That's not true," Ichigo said, trying to snap the girl standing in front of him back to her usual self. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself already. You're being ridiculous."

Rukia looked up at him with wide eyes, surprised by his harsh tone. Then, her expression softened and she smiled.

"I'm going to go home now," she said, pressing a hand against Ichigo's cheek and pulling him in for a long kiss. Without breaking contact, she whispered, "I'll always be looking out for you. You'll never have to worry about your family's safety, I promise."

Rukia took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of the boy's soft, warm skin, and inhaling his sweet scent one last time before stepping back.

"Good bye, Ichigo."

"Rukia, wait!" Ichigo called out, fully understanding the permanence of the girl's farewell.

She looked over her shoulder briefly, watching him with that same look of amusement that she always had around him, but this time misty tears made her violet eyes even brighter.

.

The next morning, Ichigo woke up in a panic.

He went to his window, but it had been closed during the night. His room was empty.

So it wasn't a dream...

He noticed math homework still spread out on his desk and went to put his books back in his backpack. Rukia's perfectly shaped, old-fashioned script still covered his notes.

Ichigo tore the sheets of paper out of his notebook and crumpled them up before tossing them in the trash. He wasn't planning on going to school today anyway.

.

When Ichigo got to Rukia's house, he didn't bother knocking. Instead, he went around back to the porch.

He had almost expected to find her there, paintbrush in hand, looking just like she did days ago.

But, unsurprisingly, she wasn't.

He continued inside the house, figuring Rukia could have easily stopped him by now if she had wanted to.

The petite vampire was nowhere to be found, and knowing that he was alone in the old mansion was starting to make Ichigo uncomfortable. On his way back out, he paused to look at the Kuchiki family portrait.

Now that Ichigo better understood the stories behind the faces, they all looked slightly different.

Byakuya appeared as stern as ever, but he seemed almost tired. His grip on the other two vampires' shoulders was less comforting, and more fiercely protective. Ichigo realized now how scared he must have been of losing the only two people he loved in this world.

He could sympathize, now that he had lost Rukia himself.

The older woman, Hisana, had a tortured sort of look in her eyes, like she was constantly haunted. Ichigo noticed how gaunt her face and hands were, even though the artist had obviously tried to flesh her out a bit so she didn't look as sickly.

And then, there was Rukia, standing between the other two like an obedient daughter. Her mouth was tight, like was trying hard to look pleased to be with the only family she had left, but her sparkling eyes were terrified, screaming that she wanted to run from everything she had become.

Ichigo let himself fall back onto the couch next to the large fireplace and held his head in his hands.

His eyes were shut tight against the pain, so that he missed the newest painting, just behind him, of a lush field soaked in sunshine that strongly resembled the Kurosaki's old picnic spot.

.

Rukia never actually made it home that night. Instead, she considered confronting Elisade again, visiting both Chad and Renji for support, and going off to find her brother somewhere in the wastelands of Russia.

She ended up going back to Ichigo's house and spent a few hours watching him sleep, before closing the window that the fool had left open.

Then, she went to Urahara's, where the old man welcomed her with open arms and told her that, even though he had sent out multiple letters, he had yet to have a messenger manage to find Byakuya.

Her brother had no idea that Urahara would have completely forgiven him, had he seen any reason to be upset in the first place.

The blonde old man listened quietly as she told him everything that had happened between her and Ichigo. When she was finished, he seemed unsurprised by her interest in the boy, and wholeheartedly agreed with her idea that Elisade did not, in fact, have any romantic feelings for him.

Then, he distracted her by telling stories of her brother before he met Hisana, and of how Tessai was found so many years ago.

Rukia told him about how strong Jinta was, and how he was quickly maturing, the one small slip up aside. She also told him about the older werewolf who was acting as his mentor, and how he seemed reasonable enough, even though he sided with Elisade.

Urahara smiled and told her that her situation reminded him of one from over a hundred years ago that was similar to hers, but had a happier ending than Hisana and Byakuya's story. This particular human had managed to have quite a successful relationship with a creature, while still living out his normal lifespan, and in Japan, no less.

Rukia said that she appreciated the old man's consideration, but she had no intention of continuing her relationship with Ichigo, even if there was a legend that another creature had safely done it years ago.

Urahara merely shrugged and told her to suit herself.

Then, she told him that she was done eating humans, for a number of reasons. And that she hoped he would help her with the transition.

He agreed, naturally, and expressed his happiness. Then, he stood and insisted on going out and bringing a rabbit or raccoon back to lift her spirits.

Rukia consented, as long as she could tag along.

In the middle of the woods, hunting at the side of another vampire, Rukia finally felt like she was doing something right.

Oh boy :) Any guesses as to what's going to happen next?