A/N: I seriously got to stop procrastinating and keep better track of my time. In all honestly, when I looked at the calendar this morning I was like "What the f---?! Two weeks past already since my fic update?!" and then I madly dashed to the computer much like how Ichigo does when he's been sent flying by a Hollow. I think that was on the second episode of the anime…or was it the third?

Anyhow, I'd rather end my pointless rambling here and skip right to the part where you guys get to see what happens next in my fic. That is, if you guys are still keeping track this whole time.

See you at the bottom of the page me amigos…

Chapter 25
Memories in the Rain

"Dad, have you seen Rukia?!" Ichigo shouted with tremendous volume, a panic and worry hidden somewhere between his lines. He was hastily running down the stairs, the wood thudding on each and every pace of his feet.

His intrusion caused a sudden interruption in the household of three. Yuzu, by the kitchen, while both Isshin and Karin sitting down nicely on the dinning room table about to enjoy a typical rainy day morning breakfast. They all stopped what they were doing and turned to face the eldest brother, a confused look on their faces.

"I haven't seen her all morning, something wrong there, son?" Isshin asked, wrapping his hands around the mug of coffee and taking a fatherly sip.

"SHE'S GONE!" Ichigo then blurted out all of the sudden.

FWOOOOSH! Isshin spat out the coffee he just drank. Upon hearing the unexpected news, all three of them seemingly stopped in their own place.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Yuzu asked worrying, stepping down from the stool she always uses whenever cooking dinner, her eyes widening in concern.

Isshin suddenly slammed his fist on the dinning table, capturing everybody's attention to his now. "Everybody, wrap up a search party!" he then ordered in a military-like fashion, while the two Kurosaki sisters simply nodded in reply. Yuzu and Karin immediately headed upstairs, presumably to dress to go outside.

The commandeer father then turned to his eldest 15-year old son. But when he did so, Ichigo was already on his way out the door, his back to his old man and already snatching his jacket straight off the rack.

"Ichigo, where are you going?" Isshin asked, although he already knew the undisputed answer.

"What else? To find Rukia…" Ichigo replied sharply, his hand already reaching for the knob. He swung the door open with very little care, the loud clattering of the rain shower entering the doorway step.

"It's pouring out there, at least take an umbrella with you—"

"I DON'T CARE!"

The orange-haired boy slammed the door shut without another word, leaving his estranged father hanging in the middle of his sentence. The heavy silence encompassed the household, the rattling of the rain on the harbored roof the only thing keeping it from a deathly feel.

Isshin then smiled to himself, "I haven't seen Ichigo this determined…in a long time."

Ichigo ran across the raining streets, the sole of his shoes splashing along the puddles amassing on the asphalt. He felt the falling water sprinkle his face as he pushed on forward, without a single sign of stopping.

His plaid green jacket was starting to feel heavy, drenched under the unceasing rain; his orange hair soaked and clumping down his struggling face, barely flinching. But he still kept running.

Damn it Rukia why'd you run away?! His mind shouted the question as he proceeded, with only the flashing images of the raven-haired girl accompanying it.

Ichigo's thoughts raced as fast as he was running. He then remembered his dream last night, he couldn't shake his mind off of it, couldn't wake the feeling that was still there, couldn't answer the question that it raised.

He was all alone, trailing aloft under the heavy rain, somehow answering his own questions that sought no one would.

My dream last night… The night she left…

What about it?

It was…a strange one…

Why's that? It was about her wasn't it?

Yeah…although, it felt every bit as real…as if she was really there…

I see.

I'm not going to give up. I'm going to find her.

No matter what it takes?

No matter what it takes.

Good.

Ichigo finally reached the first cross street from his house. Panting heavily, he could literally feel his heart pounding through his chest and his lungs breathing through his ribs. He stopped to think.

He remembered that this is where they use to say all their hellos and goodbyes. Her house going one way, his going the other, from the first greeting at the early school day to the last closing of a hard day of work, it was all here.

Rukia…Where are you?

He couldn't think of anything, the inner voice from earlier refuse to answer the last question he had. Ironically, it was the one that really mattered. Ichigo started pacing himself in one direction, with the rain still showering down on him.

The orange-haired young man turned a corner apart from the street he was in.

He remembered once more, this is where they first met. That blind turn that very day, the accident that started this whole thing, without which, their paths wouldn't have crossed. He never really found out what she did with that bike of hers. Call it fate, or destiny, or even karma, it didn't matter, it happened so it happened, and he was somehow grateful for it.

Soon, more flashbacks kept coming, each with their own special place in his mind, like a key suddenly triggered individual boxes to open deep in his subconscious. It was all about her, every last one of them, and right now, it's was still about her.

Ichigo then stopped all of the sudden…as one caught his attention. The one place that she'd go to just to clear her troubles…

The park! Ichigo's head literally screamed at him. He suddenly turned the opposite direction, the rain partly obscuring his vision, but now certain of his destination.

He started running again.

The rain showed no signs of stopping and neither did Ichigo. Now knowing where he was going, the simple thought only pushed him to go faster and faster. His only plea that his assumption to be correct.

Rukia, please be there.

The park entrance was within view. With each drawing step, he kept wishing to finally find her there. His shoes continued to splash on the water covered streets. The weight of his soaked jacket dripped along with his wet hair. Again, he simply kept running.

The venue was empty and deserted, unlike the last time they were there. Ichigo eyed the nearby park benches surrounding the entrance archway, still holding on to his hunch, hoping that his search would be over here and now.

He then saw a silhouette sitting on one of the park benches.

Without a second doubt, he rushed towards it. All sense were dulling out, the cold shiver was starting to creep up his spine. He just wanted to see her caring face, a look he's come accustomed to.

She was there. Sitting patiently with no where to go, a coat over her head to shield herself from the rain, her clothes as drenched as his. The raven-haired girl heard a voice call out to her. She looked around, and soon, somebody familiar came into view.

"Rukia!" again the voice called out. She recognized it all too well. A voice she never thought she'd hear again after today.

"I-Ichigo…"

To Be Continued…

A/N: Glad to see you made it this far. Wait wait, if you're going to kill me right now for ending the chapter right here, just let me at least finish my Author's Note.

Now, while I was typing this I never really got down where to exactly I'm suppose to cut off the cliffhanger. As some of you may have noticed I could've done it in literally A LOT of places. But I guess I'm content at the one at hand. It's quick, simple and hopefully not giving any wrong ideas or implying any for that matter.

Kind'a funny that every time I finish a chapter and then post it up, I always have my fingers crossed to "Oh I pray to God that there are still people reading the nonsense I type on this site." Thankfully that was reviews are for, so…please review, ok?

Till, next time. Peace out.