Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo. Thank goodness.
Notes: Who uses Word to write essays anymore? Pfft, 'cause I sure don't- I do this instead :D + this is an AU.
Warning: Strong language, drugs, drinking, sexual content

Prologue

He found her sitting on the floor of the alleyway. Both knees were drawn up against her chest, and her small face was buried in the crook of her arm.

Ichigo clambered towards her, panting from chasing her down. He balanced himself by placing one hand against the brick wall and leaning over. "God what's wrong with you?" he breathed out in exhaustion.

Rukia looked up from where she was situated. "Can you just leave me alone? I didn't ask to be followed," she scowled. Her heart was beating so fast now, she could feel it racking within her ribcage.

He shot back an equally menacing look. "Yeah well, what am I supposed to do when my best friend just storms out like that for no apparent reason?"

"You leave her alone 'cause that's what she wants!" Rukia retorted as she turned away. "Just go away, I don't want to spoil your fun," she mumbled.

Ichigo rolled his eyes and crouched down in front of her. He quickly grabbed a hold of her wrists. "What's wrong?" he asked in a firm voice.

She yanked back her slim hands and glowered at him. "Nothing. I'm fine! Just let it go."

He shot back up in a burst of anger. "Look Rukia, you've been acting funny all week so don't give me this 'I'm fine' bullshit. I know when you're upset, so just tell me already!"

Rukia immediately jumped up on her feet as well. She wiped her red-rimmed eyes and shouted back at him. "If you really want to know so badly then fine. You're an asshole. Happy now?"

Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed. "Really. That's why you left the party in such a pissy mood? What the hell did I-" he paused when he realized that she was crying now. Her entire face had crumpled up and she was madly wiping at her cheeks. Ichigo let out a low growl and scratched the back of his neck in frustration. "Aw c'mon Ruks. You never cry," he spoke in a softer tone.

Rukia tried to muffle the sobs with her sleeves. "Don't call me your friend," she managed to choke out in a low voice. "Because I'm not anymore. I can't."

He scowled at her. "What? Are you serious-" He paused and his eyes then grew wide. "Wait, this is about Christmas isn't it?"

"No- God it's not about Christmas-"

He clutched at his hair exasperatedly. "It is! You're still angry that we had sex that night and-"

Rukia was hysterical now. She socked him in the arm as hard as she could. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" she screamed. "Please don't bring that up now," she heaved. "Please." Desperation was laced in her tone.

Ichigo was clenching his fists now. His nails dug deep into the flesh and left red sunken marks on his skin. "Can you stop acting like it never happened? Because it did, and ever since then, there's been this giant fucking elephant sitting between us!" he cried out.

"What does it matter to you anyway?" she seethed.

"Of course it matters to me God damn it! You think I enjoy how you've been avoiding me?" Ichigo hissed as he leaned in closer to her. "I'm sorry okay? We were both drunk as hell and I guess you smelled really nice or some shit-"

Rukia interrupted him. "Stop it. Just stop." She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. "That night didn't mean anything to you, did it? I'm just another one of the many girls at your disposal-"

"You're the one who kept insisting that it was a mistake!" Ichigo chided in annoyance. "And what the fuck are you talking about? Even though I want to kill you sometimes, I still care about you a helluva lot."

Rukia stared at him for a moment, blinking back tears. She turned around violently. "I can't believe how stupid I was to think that you were actually starting to like me. Then that dumb Christmas party came along and- and God why am I such an idiot?" she scolded herself.

"Hey-" He tried to grab a hold of her arm but she immediately shrunk back.

"No, don't touch me!" she screamed. "The moment we stopped talking regularly, you ran right back into Orihime's arms. You really want to know why I'm upset? It's because I like you okay? I don't know why, but I do. And you just prance about with a new girl every month- do you know how shitty that makes me feel?!"

Ichigo widened his eyes, startled by her outburst. "Why are you telling me this now?!" he asked through grit teeth.

She let out a humourless laugh. "What difference does it make?"

"Rukia…"

"Fuck you!" she finally cried out. "It hurts to see you with another girl all the time! I can't deal with your bullshit anymore," Rukia spat as she began to sprint away.

"Rukia hold on!" Ichigo hollered as he began to run after her.

"Get away from me!" she yelled in a shrill voice while blindly making her way down the street.

Suddenly, a loud screeching noise reverberated across the neighbourhood as a car slid to a panicked halt. A low, strangled cry erupted from Ichigo's throat when he spotted mangled limbs on the pavement.

In a flurry of motion and colour, sirens started to blare.

- ※-

Ichigo wouldn't keep still as he sat in the waiting room. Five days had passed, and that stubborn Kuchiki girl still refused to open her eyes. The guilt he felt was tearing him apart from the inside out. He was beginning to worry that he was showing symptoms of an insomniac.

Even though he wasn't the one behind the wheels, it was his fault that Rukia sped off like that. He couldn't help but feel responsible, and he'd allow her to hit him as much as she wanted once she woke up.

Please just let her be okay.

Ichigo jumped out of his seat when the doctor came strolling out of the room. "What's going on Doc? How's Rukia?!" he asked in a frenzy.

The doctor shot him an irritated look, clearly resentful of Ichigo's lack of manners. "Ms Kuchiki is awake, and she's requesting to see her friends. Try to keep your voice low, she is still sensitive to loud noises."

Ichigo nodded eagerly and followed behind the doctor to a nearby door. They cautiously entered the room with quiet steps. The strong smell of flowers immediately assaulted his nose once he was inside. He let out a violent sneeze as a result, then wiped his noise with the back of his hand. There were baskets of colourful chrysanthemums adorning the windowsill.

He knew that Rukia hated flowers.

The doctor gave a curt nod and told them to press the buzzer if they needed anything. He turned around, and the clack of shoes grew fainter with each step.

Ichigo scrambled towards Rukia's bedside. She was lying on the mattress with her bandaged leg propped up. Although she was always pale, she looked genuinely sick this time with the blood drained from her face. His chest immediately tightened when she began to stir. "Rukia!" he choked out. "How could you be so stupid running off onto the road like that?! Jesus Christ I thought you were dead and-"

A sleepy smile broke on her face as she peered up at him with indigo eyes. Inky lashes fluttered against her skin when she finally spoke.

"…Kaien?"

Ichigo felt his heart drop.

Oh hello there Cliche. We meet again.

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