Rukia's eyes cracked open slowly as the light from outside hit her eyelids. She frowned pulling the covers up over her head angrily because she'd been woken from the first few hours of unbroken sleep she'd had in months. Then her eyes widen as she remembers, "Ichigo!" she yelled throwing the blankets off herself not caring that she looked like a mess as she threw herself out of bed in hopes of finding her best friend still around.

She checked everywhere but couldn't find him… Had it all been a cruel illusion? A trick of the heart? Rukia felt tears whelming up into her eyes again, 'Ichigo… I miss you.' She thought as she began sulking her way back to her room. Getting back into bed she grabs the lump of blankets hanging off her bed and pulls them back over herself she turned onto her side and that was when she saw it. She tugged the blanket back slowly wanting to make sure that nothing obstructed her vision of him as she neared him. She made sure she didn't blink for fear that if he wasn't real… he'd vanish without a trace.

She knelt down in front of his sleeping form touching her hand to his cheek. When she felt hot contact, 'H-He's real.' She thought, embracing him without a second thought as happy tears trickled down her face that now laid buried between his neck and shoulder.

Ichigo woke with a jolt unsure of what was going on, but when he found Rukia straddling him and crying he reacted immediately, "Rukia? Hey, talk to me what's goin on?" he questioned her worriedly. He'd never seen her cry so much before…

"You're okay…" she started confusing him.

"Y-Yeah, I gave you my word I'd make it back alive, didn't I?" he reminded her, he felt her hold on him tighten and he felt her nod into his shoulder. His hands twitched wanting so badly to race around her hips to hug her closer, but he didn't want to over step any boundaries. Despite his suspicions he had no confirmation that Kaien wasn't in the picture anymore and friend or not it wouldn't be right for him to hug up on someone else's girl with feelings that still went beyond that of friendship.

"Y-You were gone s-so long I-I was beginning to think…" she started but couldn't finish because it was making her more upset to think about it.

"That I was dead?" Ichigo finished with a frown as she nodded clearly very upset. He couldn't hold back anymore… His arms rounded her and pulled her close petting her back softly. He felt her shoulders jump briefly before they relaxed into his touch, "I'd never break a promise to you Rukia." He told her choosing not to tell her that he'd almost died twice and that he did die once during combat. The things that kept him alive were his family and the thought of returning to her…

Rukia clung to him tightly, "Ichigo, I-I missed you so much." She admitted.

Her words hit him hard, "I'm sorry," He said holding onto her the way he always wished he would have. All this time he'd been running away from everything... If there was one thing he learned from being in the army it was that there was no amount of space that could change his feelings for Rukia. They were undying and unyielding and they'd be with him forever despite if he acted on them or not.

"Don't leave me again!" Rukia commanded as he rested his cheek against her head.

She felt him shake his head, "Not again." He whispered sincerely. He had no plans of leaving her alone again… Especially not like this…

oooOOOooo

Finally, after they got up off the floor, they both decided to do something with the day. So Rukia was now downstairs fixing breakfast and coffee with Ichigo in toe. While Rukia cooked Ichigo did the dishes and set them up a little area in the living room so they could eat and watch tv together like when they were in high school.

With Ichigo finished he walked up behind Rukia putting a hand on her shoulder watching as she noticeably jumped at his touch as if it'd burned her, "Uh do you need any help?" he questions bewildered by the reaction his simple movement caused. It was something she'd never done to him before and yet since he'd come back, she was very jumpy around him… Rukia just shook her head, "S-Say Rukia. What happened with Kaien? He doesn't seem to live here with you and last I heard you guys were…" he started but stopped when he heard a loud crash as a dish slipped from her hands.

"Oh my god, Rukia!" he yelled out of concern seeing her leg was bleeding. He picked her up on reflex and sat her on the table before shrugging off his jacket after checking the wound for particulates when he found none and realized that the wound actually wasn't as serious as it had looked, he determined his best course of action was to wrap up the bleeding area to stop the bleeding. He took off his white undershirt and proceeded to rip it up making a bandage for her wound. If he hadn't been so deep in thought he would have noticed the terrified look on her face as he began disrobing, 'Oh wait, I'm not out in the field she probably has bandages here…' he dumbly realizes.

"W-We're over…" Rukia replied under her breath. Ichigo's eyes traveled to her palms to find them planted on the table firmly but trembling, "T-That's all you need to know." She told him wanting to protect him. If he only knew the truth… He would probably kill Kaien and in the process go to jail. She couldn't lose him. Not to death or to revenge. "S-So please… just drop it okay?" She begged something else that wasn't like the Rukia he knew.

Ichigo growled slamming his hands down on the table beside her getting in her face, "Like hell I'll drop it! What the fuck's goin on around here Rukia?!" he pressed.

It was only for a second… The briefest of moments… but she looked at Ichigo and saw Kaien instead. Her blue eyes widened as fear and anger course through her hitting him with a raging slap that left his cheek stinging and beet red, "G-Get the hell outta my house!" she yelled. Then she took on a look of shock and confusion as Kaien vanish and Ichigo stood in his place holding his hand to his cheek.

Ichigo nodded clearly hurt by what she'd done, "Fine." He replied turning on his heels to leave, but like lightning Rukia caught him at the arm. "Hey, let go!" he growled in annoyance.

Rukia didn't look up at him for fear of seeing Kaien again and doing something to Ichigo again, "I'm sorry!" she shouted making him stop at the door as she jumped in front of him blocking his path to the door. "P-Please don't leave Ichigo. I didn't mean it!" Rukia cried hoping he wouldn't leave her.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed angrily, "Move." He ordered her. She could tell he was barely keeping his famous temper under control. He moved for the door and she quickly responded on reflex covering it with her body causing him to stop reaching. He let loose another growl, "Rukia!" he hissed through his teeth. He'd had about enough of this!

He maneuvered her away from the door and the closer he got to stepping through that door the more she realized she was struggling to breathe as she wondered. If he stepped out now would she ever see him again? Rukia watched as he took one step and then another, the door was almost closed when she yelled, "None that was directed at you it was at Kaien!"

Ichigo halted at her words that made no sense. Unless she was referring to seeing Kaien instead of him, but even then, it still made no sense because why would she do that? She'd said they weren't together anymore, but he still didn't see her attacking Kaien the way she just attacked him. "Why?" he decided to ask.

"W-Why?" Rukia repeated.

"Why would you hit Kaien?" Ichigo question still standing out in the hall with no intention on coming back in unless she answered his question.

Rukia's mouth opened and shut like a fish starving for oxygen. When she didn't answer Ichigo began shutting the door. A few built up tears dripped down her face as the door shut behind him and she heard the sound of his footsteps getting further and further away. Rukia's legs buckled as she fell to her knees her arms coming around herself in a tight hug as her forehead rested on the cold floor. Letting out sniffles and sobs when she couldn't hear his footsteps anymore.

Little did she know he hadn't moved at all. He was on the opposite side of the door slumped against it. Ichigo listened to her silent cries slowly grow louder and his heart twisted in pain. Ichigo's hand rested over his chest, 'R-Rukia, what did he do to you?' he wondered. He could only imagine that it was something so horrible that he'd probably go berserk over and that was why Rukia wasn't telling him. But judging by the way she reacted, he got the feeling she wasn't keeping quiet to protect Kaien but that she was keeping quiet to protect him…

Ichigo sighed standing from his sitting position walking down the hall. He'd run to the corner store, get something for them to drink and snack on, then he'd come back with his head on straight and let everything be for now.

oooOOOooo

Ichigo returned to the apartment not ten minutes later, he opened the door to find everything as it'd been with the exception of Rukia being MIA. Putting the things he bought for them down onto the coffee table he'd moved earlier so they could eat breakfast and watch movies, "Hey Rukia I got us some carbonated watery goodness for the movie." He spoke loud enough for her to hear him no matter where in the apartment she was.

When she didn't come out and he got no answer he began to get worried, "Rukia?" he shouted making his way back up the stairs to her room. Her room was also how they left it, but again no Rukia. He looked all over but she wasn't there! He even darted back down to the old man standing downstairs to greet the apartment owners as they passed and asked if he'd seen her. When he said no, he rushed back up there and began overturning everything in the apartment to find her.

It wasn't long before Ichigo found her huddled up in her dark closet barricaded in a corner, "Rukia? Rukia, what are you doing in there?" he questioned getting closer to her. When he was a certain distance away she surprised him by latching onto him, 'She kinda reminds me of a monkey…' he thought watching her hug him again her face hidden from him as she sniffle out that she was sorry and that she'd never hit him again.

"Idiot… Is that why you think I left?" he asked with a frown. Her reply was another string of apologies. Ichigo sighed, "Stupid midget, it'll take more than that for you to get rid of me." He told her.

She pulled away from him reminding him of those anime shows they use to watch together back in high school as took on the face of a sad emoji, "Promise?"

Ichigo sweatdropped, "Huh? Oh, you mean, pfft stupid… Of course, I promise Midget. What did you really believe your little mosquito punches are really enough to scare me off? If it didn't work back in high school when your PMSing ass was really violent what in god's name makes you think you can pull that off now?" he questioned grinning when he saw an angry flare flash of fury rush through her eyes, 'Look at that she is still in there.'