A/N: I'm starting to neglect my Comedy factor in this fic, aren't I? Happens every time, I don't know why but in nearly every fic I start, it starts out with a combination of two genres and then inexplicably converts to a one single genre in the near future. It's like a freakish curse or something!

Pushing that unexplained phenomenon behind me, I'm purposely using a lot of references from Bleach on the next few chapters of my fic, contraire because it is in fact Bleach. So yeah, you'll be seeing some awfully familiar scenes and I think it's just worth giving the heads up.

Chapter 26
Never Letting Go

Rukia sat under the depressing autumn rain. With no where else to go, nothing but her personal belongings, and a coat over her head to catch the falling raindrops, she sat patiently by the park entrance. She shivered at the brink of the parting cold. Breathing out, she saw the drape mist that escaped her lips. The rain showed no signs of stopping, but there was nothing she could really do about it.

I guess…I deserve this. She thought, accompanied by her saddened eyes.

The raven-haired girl recalled back what transpired these past couple of days. To her, it was one of the best times of her life. Ever wishing that those memories won't end, they'd always hold a special place in her heart. Rukia looked down on her feet planted timidly on the floor. The raindrop splashes addressing her brown school shoes.

It's come to this. Her all alone and sought to survive the rest of the days that way. She couldn't keep staying with the Kurosaki's, now that her brother knew where she was, she reckons that Byakuya would do anything just to get her back. The petite girl couldn't even imagine what would her darkly brother would do to her as punishment for her defiance.

As long as they're safe, She said to herself.

Rukia knew of the inevitability. Her grimly brother would find her someday, whether it could be today, tomorrow, or a day from now, it doesn't matter. She will be found. Byakuya's connections of that no bound they say. Somehow, Rukia didn't really care what happens to her next.

As long as they're safe, She repeated.

The coat she held over her head felt heavier, probably because of the crashing water unrelenting as it falls from the skies. The petite girl could leave where she sat. She could find shelter until the bad weather sets maybe. She decided against it. Just the thought of her getting another person involved in this, it was far enough.

This is probably for the best…

An echo of a shallow voice then lapsed from a distance. A voice that's all too familiar.

She got up from her bench seat, dropping the drenched coat from her hands unto the cold ground. The voice sounded once more, she was sure who it was, happy that she can hear it, but at the same time, afraid that it was there.

"No…it can't be." She muttered under her breath. Rukia glanced around, her fogged vision didn't bother to help, but she kept hearing the familiar voice.

A figure suddenly pierced through the showering rain. His familiar orange hair draped down on his longing face, Rukia's eyes grew wide in surprise and she felt her heart pound harder and harder, faster and faster, it didn't want to stop, why would it?

"I-I-Ichigo?"

And there he stood, his tall slender figure, his overwhelming presence that you'll feel nowhere else. His deep brown eyes connected to her pool blues. The orange-haired boy's unforgettable face was there but his scowl was surprisingly absent, only worry and concern, for her maybe?

"Rukia…" Ichigo said in between his breaths, he's been running for quite some time.

She was happy to see him, above everything else...But she knew what was the right thing to do at this point. "Y-You idiot…" Rukia replied as she looked down, her hands crunching up tightly into a fist. "You idiot, you're not suppose to be here!" she yelled with the anger in her voice accompanied by the sadness of her eyes.

The 15-year old boy didn't answer back. His eyes were fixed at her as he kept trying to catch his breath, his shoulders glancing up and down in rhythm.

"I ran away to protect you, to keep you from getting hurt, don't you understand?" Rukia continued, fighting the rally of emotions erupting inside her. She then looked away, thinking that it'd somehow ease the pain, but it didn't. "And here you are…Ichigo, please. Go now…before it's too late." She pleaded.

"No…" He replied simply, not moving, not even thinking twice.

"Then I'll leave." Rukia said. Finally turning around to return to the bench and gather her belongings. She took a single step and already it was like a jagged sword was taken to her heart. She already felt it once before, she can't believe that she felt it again…leaving him.

Ichigo grabbed the petite raven-haired girl's wrist, stopping her from continuing any further. She tugged once but he wouldn't let go, his grip was firm, solid, yet it didn't hurt. "Ichigo, let go." She ordered, tugging on her arm even more.

"No…" he gave the same reply, only this time he looked at her. She saw his eyes, they were determined and yet equally worrying. "Don't go…"

"I said let go!" She was starting to raise her voice and pulling harder and harder. Tears were starting to form in her eyes, although the rain was covering it. Ichigo then gently pulled back on her hand, enough to retrace the step she previously took. She fell back and felt herself land on his soft embrace.

"Rukia…I don't want you to leave. I'm not going to just let you walk out of my life. I don't want to let go." Ichigo said caringly, his arms circled around her. Rukia couldn't move. Her eyes still filled with tears, tears that were now trailing down her cheek on unto his shoulders as she hugged him back. Part of her kept saying that she should break away yet part of her wanted her to stay right where she was.

"Ichigo…"

The rain felt like it wasn't there.

Only him…

Only her…

Nothing else…

After well deserved moments, they parted. Ichigo smiled back at her and she smiled back. "So…uh…does this mean you're staying?" The orange head asked, scratching the back of his head.

"I…don't know…I mean there's—"Rukia started but she then stopped.

Beams of light suddenly came into view, two of them, followed by the trailing of tire tracks pressing against the asphalt of the road. Something was coming their way. It was a black limousine, cruising by right next to the park entrance sidewalk. It soon caught up to them, nearly stopping right next to them to be exact. Their eyes grew wide in surprise…

They've seen this car before.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Man, it's late, and I mean REALLY late right now. You won't begin to imagine what my current condition is like. Tired, sleepy, disoriented, and to top it off I think I still got homework to finish up for tomorrow's school day.

Ok, ok, I guess I better be ending off kind of quick with this note. Same old agenda on you guys' part, please review, ok? Please review.

Peace out.