Lol whoops this chapter ended up being a beast. It wasn't hard to write, it just became freaking long. Like this is almost twice as long as the longest chapter I've written for this story. There was just so much I wanted to cover and I didn't want to split it up into separate chapters so you guys are getting quite the lengthy chapter for the last official one. Speaking of, I'm seriously starting to already miss my own story. Like it's the same feeling when I finish reading a fanfic or watching a TV show but it's for my own story. Is that weird? Oh well, I'm still going to miss writing for this story like crazy. I'm so glad I finally got to the end! I was so pumped about writing this chapter that I couldn't stop myself from finishing and uploading it. I figure those of you who stuck by me when I waited over a year to update deserve the last few chapters to come out quickly ;) Remember, this is the last actual chapter but I'm skipping ahead and doing a little epilogue so look forward to that! Enjoy the (freakishly long) chapter!


Six months ago, if someone had told Rukia that she would one day be passionately making out with Ichigo Kurosaki on a couch in his living room she would have either scoffed, laughed, or punched said person in the face. The idea of being with that once cocky, arrogant millionaire who seemed to have a particular interest in annoying her was ridiculous, even unfathomable. Now it was her reality.

She let out a small moan as Ichigo's hands began to wonder from their place on her hips to other parts of her body, namely her ass. He gave a playful squeeze, which caused a small squeak instead of a moan to escape Rukia's lips. She quickly broke the kiss they were currently fervently engaged in to give him a pointed look.

"Excuse you," she told him as she took the break from his lips to gather some much needed oxygen. They had been at this for quite a while now.

"What?" he replied, his face one of complete innocence. Rukia rolled her eyes at him and settled further into her spot on his lap, turning sideways so that the ass cheeks he seemed to be quite enthralled with were away from his reach.

"You're getting grabby," she accused as she leaned in and placed a few kisses on his neck.

Ichigo laughed. "I can't help myself when it comes to you."

Rukia scoffed at that. "Yeah, no kidding," she said as she continued her work on his neck.

He relaxed at her ministrations, choosing to move his hands from her ass to her back, which he slowly started to rub lovingly.

Rukia was finding, as they slowly were exploring more of their physical relationship, that Ichigo's touch was both pleasurable and soothing. These moments (that were becoming increasingly common the more sexually frustrated the two of them became) were some of the best with her new boyfriend. She felt so content as she continued kissing and licking his neck while he rubbed circles along her back. She could stay like this for hours.

Ichigo, on the other hand, began to notice that as his girlfriend continued her careful attention to his neck, another part of his body was becoming more and more uncomfortably contained, especially as Rukia's weight settled on his lap. This makeout session of theirs was great, but he had to make the right move to progress things the way he wanted.

"Hey, Rukia," he started quietly.

She stopped what she was doing and leaned back to look him in the eye. "What?" she asked curiously as Ichigo moved his hands from her back to start gently rubbing her sides up and down. He contained the smirk he wanted to show as he watched her shiver slightly at his touch.

"Are you staying the night here again?" It was an innocent enough question. It wasn't uncommon for Rukia to stay at his penthouse every so often. Right after Aizen was arrested, she had almost exclusively stayed there as she was reluctant to let him out of her sight after what happened and Byakuya began the process of moving her out of her old apartment into a better living situation. Once Aizen's fraudulence was discovered, the money frozen in her brother's bank account was released and he began the process of rebuilding his life and his company.

Rukia's brother had rented her and Orihime a better, bigger apartment closer to where Ichigo lived. It was also closer to where they both worked and was in a better neighborhood. Rukia's only request was that she be allowed to continue to pay the same amount of rent she had at her old place while her brother covered the rest. She had wanted to maintain some independence since she had learned so much about providing for herself while Aizen had control over the Kuchiki Company.

He'd originally had qualms with the plan, but eventually relented, seeing that his sister was not going to back down from something she'd set her mind to. Given the money she made, she wasn't able to afford the newer, nicer apartment, but she still wanted to contribute in whatever way she could. Orihime had also made the same decision.

It wouldn't be long, however, before Rukia was able to afford the entirety of the rent, as well as other, more indulgent things for herself. Sadly, at least for Ichigo, Rukia had quit her job at Kurosaki Corp, instead joining together with her brother to bring the Kuchiki Company back to its former glory. It was hard work, and she still was paid very little, but she would one day be a high-ranked executive at her brother's company, solely based on her incredible work ethic and determination. Though Ichigo missed having her at his company, he couldn't contain just how proud he was of her.

Orihime had also gotten a new job since everything with Aizen was resolved, though hers might have been obtained less by her work skills and more by her enthusiastic boyfriend, who had hired her as his new secretary.

Still, even though Rukia was beginning a new phase of her life with her own apartment and job, she still frequented her boyfriend's much larger home quite often. But, even though she had stayed over many times before, she had always slept in one of the many guest rooms. They had been dating for about a month and a half now and they had still not…consummated their relationship.

Ichigo was content in waiting. He had waited months in abstinence as he tried to develop his relationship with Rukia. He remembered how shocked she was when he told her he hadn't been with another woman since almost right after he met her, too excited about the possibility of being with her in the beginning and then, later, too head over heels for her to go to anyone else.

Ichigo was willing to wait as long as it took for Rukia to be comfortable with giving herself to him in such an intimate manner.

Though, now that they were an official couple, Ichigo was finding it was goddamn difficult to keep his hands off of her, as evidenced by the earlier ass-grabbing.

He just couldn't help himself! With her making those soft noises, and placing delectable kisses all along his neck, and sitting in the most unfortunate (for him) place on his lap, she should be lucky he hadn't jumped her and dragged her to his bedroom.

Ichigo knew she wanted it. He could tell she was just as sexually frustrated as he was. He knew he wasn't going to be her first so it had also been awhile for her as well, but for whatever reason she wanted to take things slow.

Like snails pace slow.

So, he figured since he couldn't just up and take her, he would try his best to coax her in the right direction. He suspected that given the proper motivation and mood, Rukia would willingly take that final step in their relationship.

"I don't know, maybe," she said, answering his initial question. "My brother will be upset if he finds out I rarely use the apartment he found for me, though."

Ichigo scrunched his nose up at the mention of her brother. Dear Lord, Rukia, not right now.

"Well at least someone uses it. Orihime is there all the time," he said, hoping to get this casual conversation out of the way so that they could talk about more…intimate subjects.

"Yeah, with Ishida. And I don't think my brother would be too pleased if he found out what they do with their time there as well," Rukia replied pointedly, doing her best to ignore Ichigo's insistent rubbing at her sides, he noted with annoyance.

"That seems like it's none of your brother's business. And you still haven't answered my question," he reminded her.

Rukia looked to be deep in thought, but he just knew she was teasing him.

Then she asked an unexpectedly delightful question. It was delightful given the underlying tones of curiosity and suggestiveness she asked it with. "Would I be staying in the guest room?"

Ichigo couldn't help the small smirk he gave at that. "Maybe," he paused for dramatic effect. "Or, you could stay in my room."

She raised an eyebrow at that and shifted so that she was straddling him again, though she lifted herself slightly up off his lap in order to tower above him a bit. The change in position was, however, a noticeable relief on a particular part of his lower anatomy (though with her deciding to keep mentioning her brother, it had been significantly less of a problem).

"Oh?" she said, feigned innocence coating her tone. "You know, I've never seen the inside of your bedroom."

"Really?" Ichigo asked, his smirk growing wider. "Do you want me to show it to you?"

Rukia gave a smirk of her own and narrowed her eyes. "That was a bad pickup line."

"You set it up for me," Ichigo replied with nonchalance. He liked the way this conversation was going, despite her insistence on skirting around the topic at hand.

She laughed at that. "True," she admitted before she got off his lap and stood before him. "Well, come on and show it to me, then…Casanova," she commanded with a sarcastic tone.

Ichigo could only shake his head at her petulance as he got up to lead her back to where the master bedroom was. Rukia had been down this particular hallway plenty of times, but never had she stepped into his bedroom.

He stopped in front of the door, opened it, and then stepped aside to let Rukia through first.

She walked in slowly, seemingly observing everything with a keen eye. She walked over to the bed and let her hand skim across the surface. "Silk bed sheets. Figures," she said with a roll of her eyes as she then observed other parts of the room.

"What? They're comfortable," Ichigo said by way of defense as he, in a bold move, closed the door behind them.

"Uh-huh," Rukia replied sarcastically as she seemed to finish up her scrutiny. She then plopped down at the foot of the bed.

Strangely, her face took on a more serious look as if something was wrong. Ichigo wondered if he had gone too far.

She was silent another moment before she said, almost simplistically, "You've slept with a lot of women in this room, haven't you?"

Well, Ichigo figured he should've expected that question at some point. It wasn't like he could deny it. She knew, along with everyone else in the world, what his reputation used to be. He had earned that reputation by being nothing more than a playboy who would sleep with whatever beautiful woman he wanted.

All except one, of course.

He sighed and answered her, "Yeah."

"Hm, I don't know how I feel about that," she commented, almost nonchalantly as she refused to look anywhere in the room but at him.

Ichigo sighed and sat down next to her on the bed. "Is that why you've been so hesitant about taking the next step? Because of my past with women?" he asked suddenly, piecing together her reactions to various moves he had made.

"That's part of it," she admitted, still avoiding eye contact with him, though she could feel his stare boring into her.

"You know it's not like that now, Rukia. I was an idiot back then," he told her as he brushed his fingers reassuringly up and down her arm.

"I know," she said simply.

"You know how I feel about you. It was never like that with anyone else," he reassured, his voice growing quiet.

"I know that," she told him, her voice more self-assured this time.

"Then why…" he trailed off, trying to figure out what was going through her head.

Rukia sighed and finally turned to face him. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she was desperately trying to explain something to him. "I told you, Ichigo. That's only part of it. Your past is just something that messes with all my insecurities and shit. It's not your fault and I promise you, I don't blame you. This is really about something else," she said, her voice growing quieter toward the end of her admission.

"What is it?" Ichigo asked, knowing that what Rukia was hiding was something she had struggled with for a long time.

She hesitated for a moment before she looked into his questioning amber eyes, seemingly for some kind of assurance.

"The way I feel about you, Ichigo, is hard to describe. I've been struggling with trying to figure out exactly what it is, but it's difficult. It's hard for me to admit what I truly, deeply feel for someone," she started.

"Why?" Ichigo asked, gently trying to get her to talk.

She sighed again, looked down, and then looked back up once she realized Ichigo's gaze was comforting in its assurance.

"The way I feel about you, in some ways, is really similar to what I've felt before…for someone else," she said. Immediately Ichigo's face grew more concerned, as feelings of jealousy flared up in him. Rukia recognized it right away and, strangely enough, was comforted by his obvious protectiveness toward her.

"I've never really told anyone this story. Only Orihime knows most of it. I wanted to tell you earlier but…I never could," she said, her voice growing weak. Ichigo reached his hand out to cover hers where it rested on the bed, knowing how difficult this must be for her. He was also honored that she wanted to tell him something she had clearly for so long locked away.

"I've only ever really felt this way about someone other than you once. It happened a while ago, back in the beginning of college. I was young and stupid so I thought I had truly fallen in love. I thought I found the one."

"I met a guy named Kaien Shiba in one of my classes. He was helping out one of my professors since he was an associate professor himself, on his way to earning his Ph.D. He was handsome, charming, and was becoming quite successful. He was also a few years older than me so naturally I fell head over heals. I mean, what college sophomore wouldn't fall for a guy like him when all her other options are immature college boys?" Rukia said with a humorless laugh, her voice growing sadder as she went on. Ichigo did his best to contain the growing jealousy and anger he felt toward this unknown man who clearly had done something to hurt Rukia terribly.

"When I first met him, I crushed on him, sure, but I never thought anything would come of it. He was so mature and knowledgeable, I thought for sure he wouldn't want some naïve young girl like me. But, for whatever reason, he took a liking to me. At first it was just small things like offering to help me with homework or a hard test, but then it became more persistent, more flirtatious. He started asking me on little coffee and lunch dates. The more we talked, the more interested I became. He took me under his wing, in some ways. Made sure I was passing my classes and achieving the goals I had set out for myself. For the first time in a long time, it felt like someone really, truly cared about what I wanted. Byakuya certainly never encouraged me like Kaien did, never believed in me like he did. I needed affirmation and I got it in full with Kaien Shiba."

Ichigo stayed silent as she continued, more and more of Rukia's personality quirks suddenly making sense to him.

"The more time I spent with him, the harder I fell. I aced the class he was helping teach and moved on to other classes, but he still stuck by me. We weren't working on the same subject material but he still helped me study and still encouraged me every step of the way. It wasn't long before I realized I was in love with him. And, it also wasn't long before he started to feel the same way."

"He asked me out on a date and of course I accepted. From there our relationship progressed like most do. We had our first kiss, we went on more dates, and, eventually, we slept together," Rukia admitted. Ichigo became ramrod still at that bit of information. He tried to move past the jealousy to allow Rukia the opportunity to open up to him.

"A part of me felt like things were happening too quick. I was too young, he was too old. He was basically a professor, I was a student. I came up with tons of excuses, but nothing ever stopped me. It just felt so good to be with him. Kaien was like a drug and I was an addict. What was even more addicting was that he felt the same way back. I told him that I loved him and he told me that he loved me. He said I was entrusted with his heart."

Rukia grew very still and her voice filled with emotion as she continued her story. Ichigo could tell this was the part where things got ugly.

"Then, one day, while we're in bed together at his apartment, I hear the front door open and close. He shoots up out of bed with this terrified look on his face, throws a blanket over me to cover myself and then practically shoves me into his closet. Naturally, I was freaked the hell out thinking there was some kind of kidnapper or something and he was trying to protect me, but instead…it was his wife."

Ichigo's blood ran cold at that. He couldn't even imagine what that must have been like for Rukia, to be told that she had a man's heart only to find out later that he was married. He continued to listen as barely-contained anger coursed through his body.

"I had no idea that he was married. Didn't have a clue. I was at his home! I didn't see any pictures and didn't notice any women's clothing. There were absolutely no signs that there was someone else in his life."

"Apparently she was a professor in some other department at the school. She had been away on some kind of research sabbatical in some far off country. She had come home early to surprise him. Kaien had packed the stuff she didn't take with her so he wouldn't be 'reminded' that she was gone. Apparently getting a girlfriend wasn't a good enough reminder," Rukia spat with bitterness, the events of that day flashing through her head.

"It didn't take long for her to find me. The closet wasn't exactly the best hiding spot," she said with a scoff.

Her voice grew dark. "I will never, as long as I live, forget the look on her face when she realized I was there. When she realized her husband was cheating on her with one of his students. I will never forget how betrayed she looked. I saw her entire world crumble around her…because of me."

Ichigo's eyes grew dark. He hated how much blame she was taking onto herself because of this bastard's mistakes. It wasn't her fault!

"They got divorced not long after that. She left the school, too afraid of seeing him again. Kaien tried to make peace with me. Tried to give me a bunch of stupid excuses. He told me he didn't love me any less than before. That what he felt was real."

"Part of me wanted to believe him. Part of me wanted to be happy that his wife left him because that meant he could give all of himself to me. Part of me wanted to believe we could live the rest of our lives together in happiness."

"But I couldn't stay with a guy who would cheat on his wife like that. Who would lie to a young, naïve girl about being married so he could be with her. I couldn't be with a guy who would just stomp on something as sacred as marriage vows without ever looking back."

"I believe Kaien really loved me, but that only made me feel worse. The fact that he could even love another woman after promising his life to someone else was just a slap in the face."

"Once he realized I was never going to forgive him, he also moved away. I still don't even know where he went. He couldn't stand the thought of seeing me on a daily basis because I apparently 'broke his heart," Rukia said as she made air quotes at her last phrase and scoffed in disgust.

"Only a little while after that, Aizen overtook Byakuya's company. I was in such an awful place in my life that I began to associate the love I once had for Kaien with everything bad that was happening to me. I felt like I could never love again because it would only bring sadness," Rukia paused for a moment. "And then I met you."

Ichigo's breath hitched imperceptibly. He absolutely loathed everything about this Shiba guy who broke Rukia's (his Rukia) heart, but he knew that the reason she was telling him this was important. He listened attentively as she continued.

"I was so angry and resentful that I saw any overly charming, suave guy as a threat. As someone I could never get close to. That's why I was so hostile toward you for so long. I used you as an excuse for why I was closing myself off to everyone. Why I wouldn't allow myself to love. I blamed you for Kaien's mistakes. Orihime told me that herself one day."

Rukia continued. "I thought you were going to be just like him. I thought you would betray me one day just like him, but…you never did."

"Not only did you never betray me, you also changed. You became anything but Kaien Shiba. You showed how caring and compassionate you were. You showed how resolved and determined you were. You made sure I knew every time I was with you how much I meant to you. I knew I could trust you and I knew you wouldn't hurt me."

Ichigo's heart raced at her impassioned speech but he kept silent, wanting her to say the words. "I tried so hard to keep you away, but in the end I couldn't stop myself. I couldn't deny how I felt about you. How I still feel about you. I can't keep it away any longer."

Ichigo waited with baited breath as she looked deep into his eyes and said the words he had been waiting to hear for so, so long.

"Ichigo…I love you."

The only thing he could think to do in that moment, as pure joy rushed over him, was grab his incredible, beautiful, amazing girlfriend and kiss the ever-loving hell out of her…which is exactly what he did.

Rukia began to laugh as Ichigo's enthusiastic response lifted her spirits and dispelled any remaining fears or insecurities Kaien had instilled in her. Ichigo was not Kaien and she knew she would always be able to trust him with her heart.

Ichigo pulled away and breathlessly said, "You know I love you too, right?"

Rukia giggled at that. "Yes, you made that perfectly clear." He smiled at her and kissed her long and hard.

After yet another rather heated makeout session ensued, Ichigo pulled away and asked her, yet again, "So, do you want to stay here tonight?"

When he saw her split second of indecision, he continued. "It doesn't have to be serious. We can just sleep," he offered.

Rukia pondered his suggestion, again looking deep in thought. Suddenly, her face turned mischievous as a sly smirk spread across it. "We can sleep," she started innocently enough before she wrapped her arms around her boyfriend, the man she had fallen in love with, and whispered seductively, "but I'd rather do other things first."

A sly smile of his own spread across his face before he wrapped his arms around her and playfully tossed her back down on the bed before he climbed over her. Their lips connected immediately as Ichigo didn't give her a moment to change her mind before he was indulging in every fantasy he had been having about this moment for the past six months.


Both Rukia and Ichigo tried to contain their breathless panting and slow the racing speed of their hearts as they laid next to each other, reliving what just happened between them over and over again in their minds. Ichigo pulled the top sheet over their naked, sweaty bodies before he sighed contentedly at the feeling of sexual fulfillment.

"You know," Rukia started in a breathless voice, still trying to calm herself down from the high feeling Ichigo had given her, a fact he was decidedly pleased about. "I hate that I'm going to say this, since nothing ever good comes from stroking your already big-ass ego, but I think I understand now why so many women wanted to sleep with you."

Ichigo couldn't contain his smirk at that, and really, given what she had just told him, he didn't think anyone would blame him for it. "None of them ever came close to getting it as good as you got it," he spoke truthfully. He'd had some stellar sexual partners but nothing could ever compare to having sex with the woman he loved.

Rukia rolled her eyes. "Well aren't I lucky?" she said sarcastically.

Ichigo turned and wrapped his arm around her delightfully smooth and supple body before he pulled her on top of his chest so that they could be face to face. "You are lucky," he added with a sly smile, which Rukia immediately disregarded.

"Come on, let's go to sleep," she said before she rested her head on his chest.

Ichigo was still feeling devious, though. "No round two?" he asked.

He couldn't see, since her head was buried in his chest, but he could tell she was rolling her eyes at him. "In the morning. It's been a long day and I'm exhausted."

"Aw, did I wear you out?"

Rukia briefly lifted her head, an annoyed glare already on her face. "I've graciously let you have your moment of man glory, now please let it go," she said before her face was once again buried in his chest.

"I'm never going to let that go."

Rukia sighed. "I knew I shouldn't have said anything."

"I'm glad you did," Ichigo replied with a satisfied smile.

"Go to sleep, you idiot."

"Yes ma'am," he said sarcastically as he wrapped his arms around her and snuggled further into the blankets. They both then fell into one of the best nights of sleep they'd ever had.


A few days later Rukia was finally getting some time to sit down and talk with Rangiku about everything that happened. When she and Ichigo had visited the club on their first 'actual' date since starting their relationship, Rukia had wanted time to discuss things with Rangiku, especially after what happened between her and Gin. However, Rangiku had been mysteriously absent that night from the club. When Rukia had asked Hisagi about it, he'd said that all she had told her employees was that she was taking some time off to see a friend. Rukia knew exactly what that meant.

"Oh, Rukia, things here are booming. I think that rich boyfriend of yours is giving my club some much needed publicity. Ever since that magazine published the picture of you too coming here, the lines have been around the block," Rangiku told her younger friend enthusiastically as they sat down with their drinks in a more secluded booth. Ichigo had come with her that night, of course, but she had shooed him away so she could have some alone time with the club owner. Last she saw him, Yumichika had wrangled him into a fascinating discussion about proper hair care or something. He wouldn't be back any time soon.

"Ugh, don't remind me about that. I don't think I really realized how much attention I would get as soon as I started dating Ichigo. Just last week some tabloid magazine had this big story about how the notorious bachelor, Ichigo Kurosaki, had finally been 'snatched up'," she said, using the exact phrasing that had been in the article title. When she had showed it to Ichigo he couldn't help but laugh, used to the press's nosiness by now. She hadn't taken it quite as lightly.

"Ha! As if. That man was practically begging at your feet for you to date him. There was no snatching up going on with you two, I could tell."

Rukia finally smiled at that. "Yeah, you're right. That man would've gone to hell and back if it meant he could be with me," she commented affectionately.

"It sounds as though he almost did."

Rukia's attitude grew serious at that comment, figuring it was the best transition into the difficult discussion she wanted to have.

"Rangiku, I actually wanted to talk to you more about…all of that," she started, somewhat awkwardly.

Rangiku gave a sad, but knowing smile. "I figured as much. I know you well enough to know that you didn't just want to 'catch up'," she said, repeating Rukia's earlier words to her.

Rukia at least tried to look sheepish at being so quickly found out, but it was pointless for either of them to beat around the bush. "Hisagi said you were visiting a friend last month," she said, jumping right in.

Rangiku sighed and nodded her head. "Yes. I visited Gin in prison."

"And how did that go?" Rukia asked, trying her best not to pry given how sensitive of a topic it was for both of them.

"It was strange, I guess is the best word for it. It wasn't what I expected."

"What happened?"

"Well, he tried to explain his side of things. You know, why he did what he did. None of it made me feel any better. I mean, once I heard what was happening, I was devastated. I knew he was with Aizen, but I had no idea the extent to which he had gone," Rangiku explained, her tone and her demeanor becoming noticeably more upset.

Rukia had wondered how Rangiku had heard about what happened but just chalked it up to her literally knowing everyone. Then, Rukia figured, Gin had probably used his one phone call to contact her and ask her to come visit. She couldn't imagine what that must have been like for her friend after everything.

"He tried to apologize, saying he was doing what he thought was best for me. For us. It was just so difficult to listen to him explain away the horrible things he did."

Rukia stayed silent, letting her friend vent away her feelings. "He's just so infuriating! I mean he's practically delusional. How could he possibly think what's best for me would be stealing and stalking and hurting people I love?"

"He loves you," Rukia added, knowing that probably wouldn't make her feel better but not having anything else to say.

"Yeah, I know," Rangiku commented sadly. "I think I loved him too at one point, but now?" She shook her head in disbelief. "He hurt you Rukia. You were in the hospital because of him! How am I supposed to forgive him for that?"

"It wasn't that bad," Rukia offered weakly. "You know I'm tougher than most people."

"That doesn't matter!" Rangiku exclaimed. "I don't care if all he did was give you a scratch, he deliberately harmed you. And that was just recently. Who knows what other kinds of horrible things Aizen made him do in the past?"

"So what are you going to do now?" Rukia asked, hating how distraught her normally bubbly and happy-go-lucky friend was.

Rangiku was silent a moment before she answered, "I have no idea. I want to believe that this time locked away will teach him how much of an idiot he is. I want to think he'll get better and then…maybe something will happen."

"Maybe he will get better."

"Yeah, here's hoping, sweetheart," Rangiku said with a shrug of her shoulders, as if the situation was already hopeless.

Rukia reached over and placed a hand on her friend's, hoping to show her comfort and support. "Follow your heart, Rangiku. Give him time to process and ask forgiveness. You're the only one who can change him. I can already tell he wants to."

Rangiku smiled softly at that and then moved to exit the booth they were sitting on. "Come on, sweetheart. I think we both need another drink."

Rukia laughed. "Agreed," she said as she followed her buxom friend to the bar where Rangiku order them another round. As they continued to chat about lighter topics, Ichigo eventually found them and interrupted their conversation.

"What are you ladies talking about over here?" he asked curiously. Rukia almost giggled when she saw how flustered he looked after having been subjected to Yumichika's ramblings.

"Oh, nothing much. Just about how gorgeous your girlfriend looks tonight. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Kurosaki?" Rangiku asked, sounding just like her old self again. Rukia was happy she was back to normal after their difficult conversation.

Ichigo smiled at that and wrapped an arm around Rukia's waist, possessively hold her to himself. "Most beautiful woman in the room tonight."

"Aside from me, of course," Rangiku quipped causing Rukia to shoot her a playful glare.

"Well, as fun as this has been, Rukia, I must say goodbye. This club doesn't run itself, you know. You should get out there and dance with your millionaire boyfriend," Rangiku said, practically dismissively, before she shoved the pair toward the dance floor and floated away. Rukia gave her one last worried look, wondering what was really going through her friend's head before she decided to let it be. This was Rangiku's battle to fight, not hers. All she could do now is encourage and be there for her friend, which she was fully prepared and willing to do.

Later that night, as Rukia laid in bed with Ichigo, she recounted part of what her and Rangiku had discussed, leaving the more personal details out in an effort to give Rangiku a bit of privacy.

"It was just so hard," Rukia lamented as she snuggled up to her boyfriend's chest while he lovingly rubbed up and down her arm. "I hated seeing her so upset. She's normally one of the most fun, easygoing people I know, but she was clearly just heartbroken. I couldn't even imagine."

Ichigo merely made a sound of affirmation, letting Rukia tell him all that she was feeling before he said anything.

"It's going to take her awhile before she's able to trust him again, if she ever does."

"Mmhmm," Ichigo affirmed.

Rukia lifted her head from his chest and looked him in the eye. "What do you think I should do?" she asked, in a rare gesture of defeat. She wanted to fix the situation, but she was at a loss for how that would look.

"You need to let Rangiku figure it out," Ichigo advised.

"But-," Rukia started to protest, but he cut he cut her off, knowing what she was trying to do.

"Didn't you say yourself that this was Rangiku's battle? Let her sort out her own feelings and let Ichimaru do the same. Just because you were involved in their situation doesn't mean you need to be involved in the solution. Let them work it out, no matter how long it takes."

Rukia tried to think of something to say but Ichigo had stumped her. She sighed and lowered her head back down to his chest. "When did you get so mature?" she asked teasingly.

Ichigo smiled at that. "I don't know. Probably around the time I met a cute barista with gorgeous purple eyes."

Rukia rolled said purple eyes. "Oh, please. I highly doubt that."

He chuckled at that. It was silent for a while as they were content in remaining in each other's embrace. Finally, a thought occurred to Ichigo. "Do you ever miss working at the coffee shop?" he asked conversationally.

Rukia practically snorted. "God no. If I ever have to listen to some snooty housewife tell me exactly how she wants her latte, I'll punch someone."

Ichigo laughed at that. "Yeah, it didn't look like the most glamorous job. Though you did look good in that apron."

Rukia lightly thumped his chest and he smiled. He still couldn't get over how lucky he was that he got to be like this with that feisty, raven-haired barista he had met so long ago.

Again they lapsed into silence. They stayed awake, however, as Rukia discovered that the best time to have meaningful conversations about their daily lives and what they were really feeling was while they were lying in bed. She'd only slept in Ichigo's bedroom for the past few days, but already she could see herself doing this all the time, maybe even every day.

"So Byakuya told me something interesting today," Rukia said, starting another conversation.

"What?" Ichigo asked, never once stopping his light motions across her side. His eyes were closed and Rukia could tell he was drifting off to sleep but there was still one thing she wanted to ask him about.

"He said he was discussing things with Shunsui Kyoraku when Kyoraku mentioned that he had been doing business with you and your father for years. I didn't even know you knew him."

After Aizen was brought in, Rukia got the chance to sit down and discuss everything that had happened involving her brother, her former boss, and the other business executive who had come to her aid. Kyoraku was the one who recounted all the time he had spent working diligently alongside her brother, gathering information to bring Aizen down. They knew that if they could get better access to his house or office, they would find all the hidden documents they really wanted. Aizen had proven to be reliable in that aspect, as he had hidden a flash drive in his home office with all of the evidence of his fraud and the other crimes he had committed. It had taken them awhile, and plenty of help from what Ukitake had access to, but eventually they got what they needed. Rukia was still amazed it had all worked.

Shunsui Kyoraku was an interesting and eclectic man. Rukia had found out later that Ichigo's stuffy secretary was actually his fiancé. Rukia suspected that the relationship he had with Ichigo, which she had only known about since earlier that day, was part of the reason Nanao had gotten and kept such an important job.

"Yeah, Shunsui was good friends with my dad for awhile. He interned under him when he was just starting out in the business world. Kyoraku's advice is part of the reason Kurosaki Corp became as successful as it did."

When Ichigo said that, a familiar nagging feeling flared up inside Rukia. She told herself she didn't really care, but after Aizen kept claiming that Ichigo was as slimy and secretive of a businessman as he was, she continued to wonder about many different things. Ichigo had yet to reveal a lot about the way he ran his business or the way in which his father had gained so much success so quickly. She didn't want to flat out ask him about it, but she figured she could get him to reveal things slowly, but surely.

"What exactly does Kyoraku do for your company?" Rukia asked.

"A lot of different things. He claims he's retired, but he still works his ass off for many different companies. He has a lot of friends."

"I figured as much."

"He was part of the team that helped set up various defenses against Aizen when I first heard that my company was a target. He's always looked out for my family, and for that I'll always be in his debt."

"How come I haven't heard about him until now?" Rukia asked.

"I didn't think he was worth mentioning. I have a lot of influential people on my side, Kyoraku is just one of the many. The relationship he had with my dad was special, but that was a long time ago. I honestly had no idea he was working with your brother or else I would have definitely said something."

Rukia could tell he was getting a little defensive so she reassured him. "I believe you. I was just surprised someone who had helped out so much in the takedown of Aizen was a stranger to me until recently."

Ichigo sighed. "Yeah, I get that. Kyoraku's a good man, though. Definitely someone to keep in mind as you and your brother build your company back up."

Rukia nodded her head in affirmation and then was silent for a moment as she thought of what she wanted to ask next. She still had so many questions.

"What kind of advice did he give your dad when your company was started?"

If Ichigo didn't know where this conversation was leading before, he knew now.

"Nothing too ground-shattering. He just pointed him in the right direction. Gave him recommendations on which investors to go to, helped him with his start-up, things like that."

"I see. I suppose your dad had a lot of help getting to where he got, huh?" Rukia asked, directing the conversation the way she wanted. Ichigo could tell what she was doing.

"He had a lot of people helping him. Good people. Ukitake being another one of them," Ichigo affirmed.

"Ichigo," Rukia started as she began to ask another question before he cut her off.

"Rukia, if you're going to ask it, just ask it. Quit beating around the bush."

Rukia sat up at the poorly contained anger seeping into his words. She was surprised at how quickly he had figured her out. He sat up as well, this conversation becoming too serious for pillow talk.

"Ichigo, you can't blame me for being curious," Rukia defended.

"I know that."

"I mean, I tried to tell myself I didn't care, especially after Aizen kept provoking me, but you're so open about everything else and yet you still keep something like this from me."

Ichigo sighed. "That's just it, Rukia. You and everyone else seem to think there's this secret operation going on behind the scenes, but there's not. What Aizen told you was a lie."

"Then explain everything to me."

"Kurosaki Corporation was started by an honest, hard-working man who got really lucky and who had all the right allies. My dad didn't have some secret formula for success. He just worked his ass off and was thoroughly rewarded. That's it."

"Ichigo, I know the way business works, at least somewhat. There has to be more to it than that."

"There's not!" he exclaimed showing more anger than she had seen from him in a long time. "Why does everyone think that? People have been trying to figure out our company since my dad started it. You know how much stress that put on him and is still put on me? Do you know how much shit we've had to go through because cut-throat business executives and companies keep trying to prove we're doing something wrong?"

Rukia didn't know what to say, seeing so much passion in his eyes. She never would have thought he would be so sensitive about this. If she had known, she wouldn't have brought it up.

Ichigo was silent for a while as he tried to calm himself down. He knew he shouldn't be taking this out on her. He knew it was only natural she would start asking questions. He was surprised she had made it this far without bringing it up, especially after all the things Aizen had told her. He knew she trusted him.

His voice grew quieter once he realized what he needed to tell her. "My mom died because people kept believing we were doing something we weren't."

Rukia's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open at that confession, not expecting it at all. She knew his mother was a hard topic for him to discuss after what happened when she had lunch with his sisters. She knew how difficult that must have been to say.

"I still don't even know who did it. Hell, it could've been Aizen for all I know, but some bastard business guy hired a hitman to take my dad out, figuring if he couldn't figure out why we had so much success, he would just take out the leader and then get the company himself or something. I don't really know why. Somehow, my mom found out about it. I guess one of our business partners tipped her off. My dad was working late at the office and wasn't answering his phone. My mom got worried and went to go investigate, leaving us with our nanny. My sisters were practically still babies."

His voice grew darker as he continued. "When she got to the building, there was no one there. She rushed up to my dad's office to try to warn him, but never made it. She was shot dead in the elevator. We always suspected it was because whoever was hired to kill my dad didn't want her getting in the way and figured she was the next best target."

Rukia tried her best to hold back the tears that wanted to fall at his story. He was revealing one of the most painful moments of his life and she just couldn't bare the thought of the man she loved hurting as much he did.

"The police arrived not long after that. It was too late though. My dad was devastated. He searched the rest of his life to try and find out who did it. Whoever actually killed her was definitely a professional since there was no trace of evidence to pin him down. My dad wouldn't stop looking, though. Part of me thinks that's why he got so sick eventually, because the exhaustion of having run around searching for his wife's killer while also trying to provide for his family caught up with him."

"I never wanted to be a businessman," Ichigo continued. "When I was younger, I thought I'd be a doctor or something. Try and help people. After my mom died, I told myself I could never join the business world. To me it was always a place where greedy, cut-throat people fought as hard as they could to get whatever sliver of success they could manage. It was all about power and money. I couldn't see myself joining in on all of that."

"But as I watched my dad practically whittle himself away trying to run a company and find closure for the love of his life, I knew I had to become a businessman. I had to take over for my dad once it was time for him to go. I couldn't let something he had worked so hard for, something he had lost his wife for, just disappear. So, when he died, I took over."

Rukia closed her eyes as she tried to imagine how hard it must've been for Ichigo these past few years. She now began to understand why he was so desperate to keep Aizen from taking over his company. It wasn't because he wanted to keep his lavish lifestyle, it was because he couldn't let his parents' legacy slip away.

As Rukia was overcome with emotion at Ichigo's story, she could think of nothing else to say, so she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her head in his chest. He responded by returning the embrace and leaning back against the headboard of his bed as they silently comforted each other.

They said nothing for awhile as both of their minds swam with what had just happened. Over the past few days they had each revealed the deepest, darkest part of their hearts to each other. It wasn't easy, but it definitely solidified everything they felt toward each other. Sharing these parts of their lives was something they knew they could only do together.

Ichigo suddenly broke the somber silence when he quietly said, "She would've loved you, you know. My mom."

Rukia softly smiled at his words.

"She was just like you in a lot of ways. She was very determined, but also kind and compassionate. She didn't take shit from anyone, especially her husband. No one knew how to stop my dad's crazy antics better than her."

Rukia couldn't help it as her smile grew even bigger.

"She would've been thrilled that we're together."

"She sounds like she was an incredible woman," Rukia said softly.

"She was," Ichigo affirmed, his voice barely louder than a whisper as he laid them both down further on his bed, in the position they had been before this whole crazy conversation started.

"I'm glad I have you now, Rukia," Ichigo added after he reached over and turned the lamp on his bedside table off, plunging them into the darkness of the night.

"Me too," she replied, understanding and returning his sentiments.

It was awhile before either of them fell asleep but they both never said anything else, as they laid down together, processing everything that had happened. Their lives were still crazy and were only bound to get crazier as they both pursued separate paths, but they knew it would be okay as long as they had each other. They both had been through heartaches and terrible times in their lives, but now they had the comfort of someone who loved and understood them better than anyone could.

And that was enough.


Cheesy ending, I know, but how else do you end a 29 chapter story about your OTP? Gah, thank you all so much for your continued support and positive feedback! Your lovely reviews were what got this one done so quickly, so I really appreciate you all taking the time to tell me your thoughts. I'm going to try to reply to these last few batches of reviews since they're all so sweet! Don't forget to review this last one though and look forward to the epilogue! We're going to take a quick look at our lovebirds about a year and half down the line ;)