I don't own Bleach.

A/N: chapter from Michiru's pov… because there's a limit to how much even I can torment the poor girl.

Wrongly Reasoned Feelings

'Save me' was all I could think of when the roof broke apart and started falling down at us. It was sudden and yet instantly everyone stopped and just started screaming.

'Save me', I thought when the large piece of what was once the ceiling came closer and closer, as though in slow motion. I kept waiting for it, the movie entitled 'my life' to start showing in front of my eyes, ending just a millisecond before the impact so I could feel the pain properly, but it never showed.

Under different circumstances… I probably would've been even more terrified than I was, but as it was, I hardly even acknowledged Kurosaki-kun's arm as it tightly went around my waist as he pulled all three of us – myself, Ryou on his other arm and Chizuru thrown over his back – out of the way just as the large pile of bricks connected with where we stood just a second ago.

When the dust seemed to clear a bit he was still holding me close against him, and I knew me blushing was the most inappropriate thing to do, but I couldn't help myself.

"Are you alright?" He asked, and for the first time ever, he sounded scared to me.

I nodded hesitatingly, as did Ryou, while Chizuru did her best to get to her feet. She managed, but only after falling off Kurosaki-kun in the process.

"What happened?" She asked out loud what all of us have been repeating like a broken record in our minds. Well, all of us, other than…

"Kurosaki-kun?" I heard myself ask as though from miles away; I doubt he heard me. His brown eyes were set at some faraway distant spot next to where the roof fell. It was weird, but his non-responsiveness supported me, as though, as though there was something I could finally do for him! I was wrong, of course, but that doesn't mean I gave up on trying.

"Kurosaki-kun!" I tried again, louder this time and held on to his shirt. He looked startled as he turned to me, but his features instantly softened.

"Are you alright?" I managed to ask, but it seemed as though the question was irrelevant to him. He was mumbling something I couldn't hear and seemed to be looking for something… or someone, I reckoned, as we both noticed Kuchiki-san lying on top of the rubble…

"Rukia…"

Again with my inappropriateness, I could only stare at the first name usage, and as he began moving towards her as though without even thinking, my arms went on their own and grabbed his hand. He could've pulled me along with him, I knew it, he carried all three of us so easily just a moment ago…

"Don't go…" I pleaded without realizing the meaning of my words. "Don't go, you'll get hurt… don't go!" He looked from me to her and back again and again, as though turn on who to go to… No.

Who to protect.

I half wished another part of the roof would come down, and he'd whisk me off somewhere in his arms, but I also knew that above that wish being selfish, it was also stupid. But I guess wishes don't come true, and they even have a nasty habit of backfiring. Something did come down, but it was hardly the roof. I could vaugly make out the silluette of something I knew was no human as it jumped down at Kuchiki-san, and the rest happened all too quickly.

Kurosaki-kun who was standing next to me just a moment ago was now at Kuchiki-san's side. My hands went to my mouth as I felt an urge to vomit. A puddle of blood was forming at his feet as the creature… impaled him.

Half its claw seemed to be sticking out of Kurosaki-kun's right shoulder, a direct line of attack towards Kuchiki-san. And just when I thought it was all over, they…

The both of them.

They both smiled.

Laughed!

"Could handle it, huh?"

"Idiot." Kuchiki-san retorted as she nervously put on a weird patterened glove. "At least I didn't get a claw through my chest."

"And why is that, really?"

The look they sent each other after that was more than I could take, and as I fell backwards into Ryou's arms as I lost sight of the world around me, all I could think of was that the Kurosaki-kun who would hardly look at me threw his life away for a girl he met only a month ago.

Maybe…

Maybe only princesses really do get the prince…

–

That was close to a month ago, but that dream still occasionally bothers me. I don't recall too much of the dance night, only up to the point where Kurosaki-kun went to get us drinks. It must've been spanked because my mom said 'a nice orange haired boy brought me home'.

The roof falling was reasoned with the rains lately breaking the structure, and no one seemed to mind too much about it.

And he… hardly seemed to mind about me anymore.

After that evening, I felt too embarrassed to approach him again, a great part of it due to the weird dream I had, and by the time I could find my voice around him again, my existence once again went unnoticed by him. The first few days I'd talk to him, and still get some sort of reaction, but less and less as time went by, and I knew he eventually forgot my name as he stopped calling me by it. We went back to being strangers, but I simply can't seem to forget that evening we spent together in the playground.

I can't forget his non-frowning face, and his laughter, so much resembling a child's.

I can't forget his kind words, nor the way they made me feel.

So today, I…

I'll make him once again remember my name.

–

"Ogawa?" He's surprised when I walk up to him during lunch, but tells his friends to go on ahead. He remains silent, waiting for me to speak.

He really… has nothing to say to me.

"Um, ano, that is…" I inwardly berate myself. Idiot, of all the times to lose your grip! "Ah, no, I, actually… please accept this!" I finally manage pathetically as I offer him the envelope with my part time job's salary and bow, unable to look at him any longer. I can almost hear him blink and only rise again when I feel he has taken the envelope.

"What's this?" He asks curiously and is rather shocked once he sees what's inside. "What the-"

"I, I'm paying back my debt."

"For a cupcake!" My eyes widen. I didn't expect him to remember at all…

"Those things weren't made of gold, were they!" I wince under his harsh tone and can only assume he noticed, because after a sigh he sounds much calmer. "I can't take your money. You worked hard for it. That was my treat, back then." He concludes rather calmly and I nod once, unable to argue. He… remembered…

"Are you still working there?" I'm caught by surprise by the question and shake my head, hoping he won't see my blush at the sudden attention.

"No, I… my mother's all better now, so…"

He all but shoves my money back into my hands. If the amount in there changed at all, it was because he slipped a few more bills in there when I wasn't looking. I'll have to recount and give it back later…

"But her something nice."

My eyes widen as I turn to look at him. His face, though frowning, is set with calm confidence and determination. I look away.

"Is it, also… Kurosaki-kun's treat?"

"Depends. If it'll cost more than that cupcake, then I guess so."

I catch myself giggling, but not before I notice the half smile on his face. This is it, I know. My last, and probably only chance to say… what I want… what I have to say…

"I'm sorry… I dragged you along to the party." He's surprised, and I'd like to think there was just a tad of hurt in his eyes. He shrugged it off instantly, though.

"Don't be. It was nice, and even if it wasn't, I could've refused. You didn't drag me." He will never know how much comfort those words gave me.

"Um… I'd like to thank you for… for taking me home then…"

"No big deal." Again, he shrugs, not allowing me to be in his debt in the least.

"And also… for the afternoon before that."

I look away shyly and from my height all I can see is his chest tightening as though he's holding his breath. A moment later though he calms down and chuckles, making me look up in surprise.

"That was… a nice afternoon…"

I guess we both remembered how said afternoon ended, because we both blushed and looked away. Knowing I could never get such a chance again in maybe my entire life, I forced myself to look back straight up at him, swallowing the lump that formed in my throat.

"Ano…"

"Hm?" He's still red, but looks at me nonetheless.

"If… if you don't mind, I…"

Here goes nothing.

"That is, we…"

"Ichigo!"

And there went everything.

He looks away without a thought at the girl who was stuck to him like glue, again forgetting about me. I feel the tears sting my eyes and all I want to do is run away from here, when he turns back to look at me, a slight air of impatience and urgency to him.

"Sorry, Ogawa, I…"

I shake my head quickly.

"No, it's nothing, go…" I blink as he places one finger to my forehead, poking me repeatedly.

"If it was nothing, you wouldn't have tried to say it. Now stop playing around, I don't have time for this."

This really isn't the way I wanted to tell him.

This isn't the way I wanted to feel, with Kuchiki-san looking over his shoulder at me.

I wanted… something different.

I guess I… wanted too much.

"No, it really is nothing." I say while smiling, waving a hand in front of me. He looks extremely skeptical, as he should be, but I leave no room for arguments as I turn and walk away from him.

One.

Two.

Three steps.

Four.

Five.

Si-

"Ogawa!"

My heart stops before my feet do and I turn to look at him, unable to stop my face from flushing. It looks like he's hesitating, as a long moment passes before he finally looks at me, and I can't help but gasp as the frown lessens and he smiles.

"Let's meet up for cupcakes again sometimes, and tell me all about it then, ok?"

I didn't just hear it.

"Eh?"

I didn't.

He chuckles nervously, apologetically even as he turns to leave.

Did I?

"My treat!" I hear myself yell after him and the turns to me again, slightly surprised and confused. I don't stutter; my heart's beating so fast I think it's going to burst. I can't stop; I'm pretty sure I at least half want to.

"Next time, next time…"

Next time…

"Next time it'll be my treat! And I'll buy the best cupcakes they have!"

I can only stare at his feet after that. Breathing heavily, I hold onto my backpack as though for dear life.

Go away.

You'll go away, won't you?

I can't help but thinking, go away any minute now, leave me alone again…

"Ah."

I stare right at him at the response itself, not yet even acknowledging that the answer he gave me…

"Eh?"

He cracks half a grin at me.

"Only if they're chocolate, though."

The answer he gave me was a 'yes'.

That, I most definitely… did hear.

A/N: This is one possible point of ending. Read the last part of the epilogue only if you want a more bitter than sweet taste in your mouth about how this irrational relationship ends up.