Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. It's property of Tite Kubo.

Author's Note: Hi! Welcome back, guys! So before I tell you about today's one-shot, I just want to address the fact that I, once again, received an insulting review from a person who is most likely an IH fan, also called an origo. The reason why I want to talk about it is just to say this isn't anything new, it keeps happening to a lot of us IchiRuki writers and it is never not annoying. I already exposed this person on Tumblr but I also wanted to say in here that I do not tolerate this type of reviews as they bring nothing productive to the table. They very well know it's against FF rules as they go in anon. I could have them reported if they used their account. So they don't because deep down they know it's wrong. And I'm going to keep exposing them. It is unfair to writers to be treated like this. So I'm just going to say it this once for this one guest, take your opinions and shove them up your ass, as I don't give a damn about whatever you have to say. Also, let me thank IRtrash4ever for not only coming to my defense and to defend other writers and people in the fandom, but for telling that anon off. Thank you very much!

Now, as for today's one-shot, it is kinda fitting to that anon. It is about people in Ichigo's life not supporting him and Rukia and how that makes him feel. There's not much plot going on but there's character development. And it is set also in the middle of the story.

Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! You guys mean a lot to me!

See ya!

as long as i have you

Prompt: us against the world

Summary: Even if no one else understands their relationship, it's alright as long as they have each other.

Things have been tense since Rukia and he have been hanging out with his humans friends again.

Ichigo can tell she wants to tell them off, but doesn't.

She's prudent like that.

Meanwhile, all of them except for Ishida seem a bit put off by Rukia's presence.

Ichigo doesn't get it.

Especially when it comes to Inoue and Chad.

He thought they considered Rukia their friend as well.

But it appears as they don't.

He has to wonder if they link her to the Shinigami and to all the battles they had to fight in.

Not that it is Rukia's fault.

It's not his fault either.

He never asked them to come and join him.

They did so willingly.

Although, maybe the last war had been too draining for Inoue and Chad.

Perhaps they wanted to forget everything and Rukia's presence complicated things.

Still, they had absolutely no reason to treat her like she was a bother.

Or like they disapproved of their relationship.

Ishida, who has always known how to read the room, does all he can to strike up conversation with Rukia and not let her feel excluded.

But it doesn't work.

Not really.

Because Ishida is often left behind as well.

Probably for the same reasons Rukia is.

Ichigo is not.

Not when he is by himself.

But he sometimes feels as if he can't relate with his friends anymore.

Like they are from completely different worlds.

He had heard about things like this happening before.

Of growing out of your childhood friends.

Yet he hadn't realized it would feel this lonely.

His sentiment rings a little true, though.

He has never been normal.

From his birth, Ichigo has been able to see spirits and that has made him different to everyone else.

And even if that hadn't been the case, his hair color had often alienated him when growing up.

But with Tatsuki, Chad, Keigo, Mizuiro, Inoue and even Ishida he had felt accepted in some way.

Like a normal teen, minus all the world saving and whatnot.

And he had felt bad.

Lying to them.

In particular to Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro, who had never been a part of his adventures.

Even if it had been for their own good.

However, eventually Ichigo had realized he didn't want to be normal.

After seventeen months without powers, he had known who he wanted to be.

And that wasn't a human being.

He would have never imagined this would isolate him from his friends.

Or that they would try hard to isolate Rukia.

Rukia, who had never hurt them or done anything to be disliked.

And, gods, Rukia is on a whole different level than they are.

She just gets him.

Period.

Although she's not a human and there are many things about his world she doesn't yet understand, she knows how to read him.

Whether it's because of their shared trauma, similar personalities, or hell, even destiny, at the end of the day it is Rukia who makes him feel understood.

And it's not something that Ichigo can explain.

Not something his friends could ever fathom.

Meeting Rukia was earth shattering.

His bond with her just is the way it is.

So it hurts when the people he trusted most don't see her that way.

Ishida sort of gets it.

In a "I'm not sure what is going on here but I support you" kinda way.

He is fond of Rukia.

Considers her a friend.

And he knows how important she is to Ichigo.

That is enough for him.

He just wishes the others were like his cousin.

Keigo doesn't get it.

Or thinks he does in a more simplistic manner.

To his credit, he tries.

He likes Rukia well enough.

But he doesn't understand how deep their bond goes.

Chad is probably aware there is more going on.

Yet, as of late, he has put this barrier that Ichigo cannot break.

It is as if his best friend is telling him he doesn't approve of Rukia.

Ichigo can't really understand why.

It is the same thing with Inoue.

It is as if she thought Rukia was going to vanish from their lives forever.

It seems she wants to keep her at arm's length.

And the others follow her example.

Tatsuki and Mizuiro, for their part, haven't grasped the idea of him and Rukia sharing their lives and being together.

Not that Ichigo can blame them.

It's just annoying how they do what Inoue and Chad want and purposely ignore her.

It's not only annoying but insulting at this point.

So much so he doesn't want to hang out with them anymore.

Not even when they had supposedly made up.

So one day, he suggests that they simply shouldn't show up at one of their get-togethers.

"Why?" Rukia questions him.

"Because they keep ignoring you." Ichigo answers her honestly.

"But they're you're friends." She retorts.

But you're more important. He wants to say but doesn't.

Rukia must read it on his face anyway, because she shakes her head, sighs, and then says, "I'm not bothered by them. I don't care what they think. I'm just worried about you. I want you to keep your friends."

He wants so too.

Friends who actually care about him.

That won't make a fuss because Rukia is not really human.

And his own friends aren't that.

He thinks they might find that acceptance in the Soul Society.

But he quickly learns it isn't as easy as that.

The Kuchiki elders don't approve and much less after Ichigo insulted them at dinner.

They deserved it, though.

Assholes.

But it's not only them or the other noble clans who talk smack behind their backs.

Other Shinigami aren't approving either.

Thankfully, it's none of their friends.

Even Renji has nothing to say against them.

They've got Byakuya's full support.

But there are other Shinigami, some from the 13th division too, that look at them with disapproval.

As if they believe it simply isn't right for a human and a Shinigami to spend time together, not even when that human isn't fully human either.

It's grating.

Hell, it's tiring.

Cause everywhere they go, someone has to say something about it.

They're lucky that their families get it and encourage them.

Yuzu and Karin adore Rukia and look up to her like an older sister.

Isshin already considers her his daughter.

And Byakuya has fully embraced him as a Shinigami, ally, and, say, even a friend.

But outside of their very small circle, it seems like everyone's against them.

Ichigo just doesn't understand why.

They're not hurting anyone.

They're just not normal.

And their bizarre bond is hard to accept for some people.

Ichigo doesn't want that.

He wants to give Rukia all the love and acceptance she deserves.

Which others won't give her, so long as they're together.

He expresses as much one day when everything feels as it is too much.

"So?" She replies, seemingly uncaring.

"So, doesn't it bother you?"

Rukia grows quiet and then shrugs. "Kinda. But I've already decided this is worth whatever is thrown at us."

She's right.

Of course she's right.

"So it doesn't bother you you're stuck with me forever?"

"Nah. I made my peace with you being an idiot already. Besides, you need me to keep you in line."

"More like you need me to reach high things for you."

"Well, that too."

They share a laugh and it all seems better.

Brighter.

And Ichigo guesses things won't change anytime soon.

There will always be those who oppose them.

But he doesn't have the energy to care anymore.

Because, even if no one else understands their relationship, it's alright as long as they have each other.

"It's you and me against the world, then."

"Always."

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

A/N: I keep being very unfair to Inoue and Chad but there are just some things that haven't sat well with me while re-reading Bleach, and especially after Chad tried to encourage Ichigo into oggling Inoue. I feel like they grew close as Ichigo's allies who generally lose and are left behind, so that's why Chad might relate more to her and prefer her over Rukia. Still, her feelings aside, being pushy towards an oblivious Ichigo was very unfair and I hate he was written like that. You guys know how I feel about Orihime already, so let's leave it at that.

As for Tatsuki and Mizuiro being jerks, well Tatsuki is always going to take Inoue's side. And Mizuiro just remains impartial but he doesn't care too much about Rukia. Keigo tries because though he's an idiot he does seem to realize something was going on. Ishida, on the other hand, is of course team Rukia all the way. The end.

I also think many Shinigami would have concerns about Ichigo and Rukia as Kyoraku said before, mainly because Ichigo's existance is strange and they are people of tradition and the like. And then comes this guy to break all tradition lmao. So, yeah, they don't take to them too kindly. The nobles don't either, but who cares about them.

However, they do create this very isolating situation with them staring at Ichigo and Rukia with disapproving eyes.

And it's a feeling that must suck.

That they can't just live their lives without somebody having something mean to say or have an unfavorable opinion.

So that was basically the point of this one-shot.

Hope you guys liked it!

See ya!