After some days of rest, Ichigo regained enough strength to go outside the room he lived in, in the Kuchiki manor.

As he sat there, watching at the manors garden and feeling a light breeze touching his skin, Rukia sat down next to him.

Scanning him with worried eyes.

"Ichigo."
"Hmm, Rukia." he replied not bothering to look at the raven girl.

"Are you sure, You're ok? I mean with the lost of your powers?"

"I already told you I'm fine with it. As long as all of you are safe now, I won't mind going back to my old simple life. You know, I am strong. I won't break apart, going desperate or something like this."

"Ah. I know."

"And I still have Chad, Ishida and Inoue to hold onto. Since ours is running out.

I also have..."

It hit Ichigo like a truck at full speed.

Why hasn't he thought a single time about him?

"Ne, Rukia."

"What?"

"Have you seen Hichigo lately?"

"What do you mean? Since he got back, well inside you, he hasn't shown up at all."

"I see."

"So what's with this question?"

"You see, when I learned the Final Getsuga, I asked him to leave before my powers are all gone, because I were afraid he couldn't do this after or that he even could die with them."

"And?"

"I couldn't feel his presence in all this time since...since my fight with Ulquiorra. Even after I met him in my inner world this fact didn't change."

"You're worried that he didn't make it. That he's trapped in you head. Or dead."

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry but I can't help you. The only thing I know is, if he managed to get out by any chance he wouldn't be here, since he's a Hollow. Captain Commander Yamamoto wouldn't allow it. You have to wait until you get back home."

Rukia stood up. Ichigo looked at his hands, silently praying Hichigo was ok.

"Yeah." he said.

"Ichigo." the teen looked up to Rukia.

"Tomorrow's the day. You should prepare to leave."

"I know. I know." he waved, changing from soft to being annoyed.

The next day he left Soul Society with Rukia and the others.

When Orihime, Sado and Ishida headed to their homes, Ichigo stayed behind with the raven girl.

"So this is farewell." she said.

"Guess so." Ichigo answered, putting a hand in his neck and turning towards Rukia.

She already began to fade away.

"Don't mess around, Ichigo." Then the teen couldn't see her anymore, but he was sure she still stood at her place.

"Don't worry." he answered below his breath.

Rukias voice still echoed in his ears, when she said his name.

"Sayonara, Shinigami."

He turned around waving and heading for his apartment.

Chapter 21

End