Disclaimer: If I ever own Bleach or Naruto, Rukia and Ichigo will be together and Orihime wouldn't even exist LOL :D And, Aizen would be the matchmaker of Rukia and Ichigo and Naruto would have been together with Sasuke. *Shrugs*

Warning: OOC-ness, angst, mystery, slight romance

A/N: I lost count of the number of chapters. O_O Anyway, this chapter involves the introducing of Inoue and Ishida to Masaki and Isshin and I put in some Isshin and Rukia's interaction. XD


Replying To Reviews In Progress:

Special Thanks To:

kyurikichan: You guessed wrongly this time, it's not Rukia, I can assure you. XD But somebody else. That's for you to guess who is it though. :D

Monk Gyatso: This chapter may just surprise you for all you know. Rukia decided to think things over with Ichigo the previous chapter and Ishida, being literally dragged into the picnic, wasn't at all grumbling or something, so, I dare say he still loves Inoue, but, ina twisted way, Inoue is obsessed with Ichigo. Still loving, but, slightly lower. So... *Shrugs*


Special Thanks To:

Beta-san: Betaing my chapters and making them out to be more greater in my sense. I love you! XD


Rukia glanced at the scene. She had originally thought she would feel heartbroken, but, she felt no such thing. In fact, she smiled while Ishida clenched his fists. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and continued walking. "Come on, Ishida."

Ishida looked confused at Rukia's reactions. "Didn't you say you wanted to follow Kurosaki? Let's go then."

"But, don't you feel anything..." Ishida pointed a finger at Ichigo and Inoue. "About them...?"

Rukia stared at the scene. She felt that she should have felt angered and betrayal, but, surprisingly, she felt no such emotions. "No, I don't feel anything." Ishida glanced at Rukia in shock. But, Rukia simply smiled. "I told you the reasons. Firstly, I'm his homeroom teacher. Secondly, he will never be Kaien." As Ishida stayed silent, Rukia tugged on his clothes once more. "Let's go and go on ahead."

"If you are not going to do anything, I will..." It was now Rukia's turn to glance at Ishida in shock. "I will."

"Wait, Ishida...!" Rukia couldn't stop Ishida in time as he had already stomped forward to grab Inoue out of Ichigo's hands. Seriously...? What's with both of these guys...?


"Just what are you doing to Orihime, Kurosaki?" Ishida voiced harshly.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Ichigo glanced over at Ishida before feeling a feeling at his hands. Looking down, he saw Inoue's hand was held tightly in his and he even subconsciously tightened his hold on hers, as if afraid to let her go. Letting go of his hand, he scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah! I'm sorry, I-Inoue..."

"No, its fine, K-K-Kurosaki-kun..." Inoue stuttered.

Ishida narrowed his eyes at Ichigo. "And, why were you crying, Orihime? Did Kurosaki do something to make you sad?"

Ichigo started to defend himself. "I wouldn't!"

Ishida glared at Ichigo. "I was talking to Orihime."

Ichigo gritted his teeth. Inoue, sensing the tension, only stuttered. "N-No... Kurosaki-kun didn't do anything... I just thought of Nii-san..."

Ishida seemingly heaved a sigh of relief and glanced over at Ichigo. "Be aware of your surroundings, will you? This is a public place. What were you thinking, holding hands with Orihime just like that?"

Ichigo blushed. "I didn't mean to!"

Ishida was instantly angered at the blush. "What do you mean by that?"

"Seriously, you guys..." Ishida and Ichigo glanced over to see Rukia leaning on a pillar. "I'm getting tired of seeing you fight over Inoue-san." Both widened their eyes and Rukia walked over to Inoue. "I told you, Inoue-san is not an object. If both of you can do me a favor, stop pushing her like some kind of meat, would you?"

Both of them shouted in unison. "I wasn't."

Sighing and walking past Ichigo, she turned back towards them. "Tell me that when both of you have stopped fighting for Inoue-san." The simple glimpse of Ichigo shocked her. That face... She recognized the moment that went through Ichigo's very well. She knew the moment... The emotions that flickered... He was thinking of his very own past.

Out of the blue, Ichigo suddenly felt that he had to clear his name. "Rukia-sensei, Inoue and I weren't..."

"Kurosaki." Rukia interrupted her, causing Ishida and Inoue to glance at her too. "I don't need an explanation. What you do to Inoue-san..." She took a deep breath. "is none of my business." Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "Now, let's go, Masaki-san must be waiting."

With that, Rukia walked away and Ichigo, Ishida and Inoue ran up to follow Rukia and Yuzu, Jinta and Karin peeked out from the bushes. "I told you, Yuzu, it's time to let go of your brother."

Yuzu gasped. "Karin-chan, not again! Tell me what you mean by that!"

"Heh."

Yuzu shrieked. "Karin-chan!"


Hearing some noises, Rukia turned to glance at the noise and slightly smiled. Yuzu has a boyfriend at this age? Impressing. Turning to glance at the water fountain, she frowned. This place seems familiar... Have I come here before...?

Crawling over to the group of junks, Rukia wasn't sure how many years had gone past. How many thousands of years had it been since she was first in this lonely room? She really didn't know... But, as she opened her eyes, she heard a voice that was so familiar. "Rukia, dear..." Rukia stiffened at the voice and visibly flinched. "Don't you get lonely around here?"

Said person only glanced outside the window before continuing crawling to the group of junks. It's summer... Rukia thought and began picking one piece of the junk... To make something.


"Rukia-chan, you have returned~" Isshin, in a dramatic situation, ran forward and hugged Rukia, causing her gasping for oxygen.

"Isshin-san... Can't... Breathe..." Rukia managed to choke out.

"I'm sorry, Rukia-chan~~~" Isshin then turned to glance at the people Rukia had brought. "And, who are these people, Rukia-chan?"

Biting her lips, Rukia somehow knew that the secret will be out... Sooner than later. Shifting her feet, she heaved a deep sigh before introducing her students. "Isshin-san, these are my students." Pointing a finger to Ishida, she introduced. "Ishida Uryuu and..." Rukia hesitated for a bit. "Inoue Orihime."

Masaki and Isshin turned to look at Ichigo who had a total awkward look on his face as if saying: Stop staring at me like that, it isn't my fault. "Rukia-san, did you call your students to meet you?"

Rukia shrugged this time. "Not exactly, Isshin-san." Both parents glanced at Rukia this time. "I was walking away from your son, Kurosaki, when I bumped into them, holding hands."

Inoue and Ishida both blushed at the words that Rukia had said and Ishida originally thought that she would let go, but, she held only tighter and Rukia frowned. Inoue-san, sometimes, I don't know what you are thinking... And, to Isshin's surprise, Inoue greeted Isshin... Enthusiastically. Running over to Isshin and grabbing his hands, clasping in her own, bowed her head down deeply. "Isshin-sama, it's nice to finally see you! I'm Inoue Orihime, Kurosaki-kun's classmate! Kurosaki-kun has been a big help to me!"

"Uh..." Isshin sweat-dropped. "I'm glad that my son has been a big help to you, Inoue-san..." Isshin replied awkwardly.

Talk about beating your own kind, old man. On the other hand, Rukia tried to stifle a giggle as she glanced at the scene in front of her. It was hilarious to her and humiliation to Kurosaki Isshin at the same time. Masaki sighed at the scene and walked next to her husband. "Please don't be so humble, Inoue-san. I'm glad that we raised Ichigo up to be a righteous person."

For the wrong reasons, Masaki-san. Inoue turned to glance at Masaki. "You must be Kurosaki-kun's mother!" Rukia visibly flinched at the word 'Mother' and Masaki simply smiled. "As I thought, you are such a nice person, Masaki-san!" Inoue squealed.

Masaki simply smiled once more. "And, you are Ishida-san?" Ishida bowed and Masaki simply nodded. Rukia sighed at the scene and rolled her eyes. You are too nice for your own good, Masaki-san. "Well, Inoue-san, Ishida-san, since both of you took the time to come here, would you have lunch with us?" Inoue smiled while Ishida frowned. "I mean... Since Rukia-san ran away, breakfast turned to lunch." Rukia had a slight blush and turned away. They re saying it as if it's my fault. Having a childish pout, Rukia looked away. "So, would both of you join us for lunch?"

Inoue squealed. "I would love to!" Reminding herself of Ishida, she turned to Ishida. "Uryuu-kun, would you like to join them?"

Seriously, Orihime...? You are asking me AFTER you agreed...? Ishida pushed his glasses up. "Well, Hime, seeing that you agreed, I have no choice but to join you, but, I will be more than willing for such a pretty woman such as Masaki-san."

Seriously, Ishida...? Are you hitting on Masaki-san? Rukia shook her head and heaved a deep sigh. "Rukia-san, are you joining us?"

Glancing to the whole lot of them, Rukia felt that she's an intruder of the peaceful family picnic. Shifting her feet, she turned away from them. "I apologize, Masaki-san. You guys can set up the picnic first, I'm going to take a walk around here."

"You don't know the place well, do you?"

Rukia glared. "I don't need you to worry about me."

Ichigo's jaw almost dropped. He was caring for her and yet... He sighed deeply and turned to his Mom. "Come on, Mom, I can help you."

"But, Rukia-san..."

Isshin stood up. "I will go look for her. All of you can help Masaki with the setting up, I will be back later." With that, Isshin was off.

"But, Rukia-sama, you couldn't possibly be intruding on their family reunion, seeing that Ishida Uryuu and Inoue Orihime are there too." Shirayuki stated as a matter-of-fact.

Rukia closed her eyes, not replying to Shirayuki and continued on walking. Of course she knew that, she had brought them over. But, she couldn't help but feel that... She was intruding somehow. Opening her eyes once more, she saw that the water fountain was in view. Walking towards the pretty object, she placed her hands and closed her eyes. And, memories started invading her mind.

"Because you are a midget?"

"Shut up."

"Hey, don't do that! I spent a few hours to settle this hair!"

Letting her hand lean away from the water fountain, she was shocked at the flashback invading her mind. It was certainly not hers flashback, she couldn't remember something like that, with Kaien. In fact, this place seems foreign to her. But, surprisingly, the word midget brought on something. There would be only one person she knew that would call anyone midget. Kurosaki...? But, who...? "Rukia-chan?"

Shocked by somebody calling her, she stood up and turned. "Isshin-san, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be helping Masaki-san and the others into setting up the picnic?"

"I'm here to thank you, Rukia-chan." Isshin said in a serious tone.

"Thank me?" Rukia questioned as she glanced at Isshin. "What for?"

"It wasn't that you bumped into Ishida-san and Inoue-san when you were walking away from Ichigo." Isshin spoke, causing Rukia to widen her eyes. "You sensed something was wrong with Masaki. Not wanting Karin, Yuzu and Ichigo to sense the dangers whatever their Mom was facing, you ran."

"How did you know, Isshin-san...?" Rukia questioned in wonder.

"I sensed a panicking of your Spiritual Pressure, Rukia-chan." Rukia stood there, looking at Isshin. "I knew you were running, and I attempted piecing all the pieces together." Rukia looked astonished at Isshin for figuring out what she was doing. "Thank you, Rukia-chan, for not letting Yuzu and Karin run to their Mom at such a time."

A blush crept up to Rukia's cheeks and she turned to glance at the water fountain. "You don't have to thank me for anything, Isshin-san." Isshin turned to face Rukia in curiosity. "I have the same situation before myself, so I can understand. And, naturally, I won't want Yuzu and Karin to face the tremors I did back then."

Isshin glanced at Rukia knowingly. "And for that, I thank you once again."

Rukia shrugged. "I told you, didn't I? There's no need to thank me. But, Isshin-san, you don't mind me asking, do you?"

Isshin glanced at Rukia. "No, of course I don't." Facing Rukia, he asked. "What do you want to ask?"

The question haunting her since she ran, she took deep breath. "What happened to Masaki-san? Her spiritual pressure was unstable, so unstable that I felt that I had to run. Did something happen?"

Isshin seemed to rub his head at that very moment, and exhaled. "It's something that I don't want to relieve, but, I assure you, Rukia-chan, it won't happen again."

Rukia glanced at Isshin suspiciously but shrugged her shoulders expectantly. He has no reason to trust me. "I'm fine with that, Isshin-san, if you feel unsafe to tell me." Rukia cast her gaze down at the water fountain. "But, Isshin-san, I have no doubts that Yuzu-chan, Karin and Kurosaki rely on their Mom a lot, am I right?"

Isshin only nodded his head. "Yeah, they treat her as their God or something."

"If that is so, Isshin-san..." Rukia glanced at Isshin. "Masaki-san must not come to any harm."

"I know." Isshin lifted his gaze to Rukia's. Perhaps, I, myself, am starting to rely on Masaki-san... On such a delusional thought, Rukia shook her head. Why do I have a feeling that Masaki-san might not live for long..? Closing her eyes, she willed that thought out of her own head and heaved a sigh. It was weird, having such a thought. "Rukia-chan, you spaced out for a moment."

Snapping out, she blinked. "Oh, nothing." Bringing her gaze back to the water fountain, she focused herself on the memories that was haunting her to some extent. She didn't know why, but, it just was. "Somehow... This water fountain is very nostalgic."

Isshin's voice squealed. "Oh, you find that too?" Rukia glanced at Isshin in a questioning gaze. "Masaki and I came here once. From then on, we have always been coming." Rukia looked away from Isshin and touched the water fountain and soon, a certain sentence came to her mind and she didn't hear Isshin asking her a question. "Do you know the legend of the water fountain, Rukia-chan?"

"The legend of the water fountain states that if couples kisses in front of a certain distance of the water fountain, they will be together forever!"

"The legend of the water fountain states that if couples kisses in front of a certain distance of the water fountain, they will be together forever." Rukia replied as she closed her eyes.

"What...?" Isshin's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know that, Rukia-chan...?"

Rukia snapped her eyes open, as if having a terrible feeling before walking away from the fountain and shrugged. "Somebody told me." Was that image I saw... Kurosaki...? What's... Going on...?


A/N: Does anybody have an idea what's going on? I would probably explain the water fountain next chapter though because it certainly looks confusing... XD To me, that is. :D Well, any questions? Did this chapter surprise you? :D

Signing out, IchiRuki01.