Ichigo sighed laying sprawled out on Rukia's couch. He stared up at the ceiling deep in thought, remembering the things that'd occurred since his arrival. He frowned knowing something had gone horribly wrong while he was away. A part of himself felt guilty maybe if he hadn't run away because he found out she'd be getting married maybe-maybe he would have been there. Maybe he could have stopped whatever horrible events transpired… He didn't even want to begin imagining what kind of things she went through while he was gone that could have possibly made her eyes look so sad, so hurt, so defeated, and so broken.

Ichigo throws the blankets off his legs with a low-pitched growl mounting his elbows to his knees as he did a faceplant into his open palms, his hands lightly pulling at the skin of his face as his hands rubbed over the skin sliding through his short spiky orange locks. Sitting at the edge of the couch in nothing but his white boxer shorts, he shook his head trying to rid himself of the thoughts that plagued him. She was nothing like she was before…

'Say Ichigo' Rukia's voice echoed in his head.

Ichigo blushed a little looking away swiftly having been caught staring. Rukia looked at him like he was weird and held a questionable stare, "Just why exactly are you staring at me like that?" she asked. Then a moment later it was like a lightbulb went off in her mind, "Aw, I get it you think I look…" she started only to be cut short.

"I'm just trying to figure out why a midget like you is wearing heels… Trying to make up for your hobbit hight? No, wait maybe its to make you look like you have better womanly assets or…" Ichigo stopped only when elbowed him so hard in his side that he had the wind knocked right out of him. Ichigo fell to the floor gasping for air.

Rukia huffed walking over to the couch in her brother's home sitting down on it cross-legged as angry wave hovered over every inch of her skin. It was demonic… even as she turned her face away from his beaten form with an enraged huff. Her arms were crossed, and her fingers drummed lightly over the skin of her arm as she tried to glare a hole into the wall, "Jerk!" she replied.

Ichigo's lips twitched up into a smile and he couldn't help but sweatdropped at the memory. Reaching over to the coffee table in front of him he grabbed one of the many frames littering the top of the table, 'Stupid midget, you don't need to go to extremes to impress anyone.' He thought looking down at the photo with a dreamy stare. It was a photo that'd been taken by her brother when they were younger, they'd been at the park with both their family's celebrating Easter together.

Rukia had been wearing a white and blue dress and despite everyone telling her that it was a bad idea she wanted to wear the hat he'd gotten her when she'd 'forced' him to take her shopping weeks before. It was just a simple white hat with a blue ribbon and fake flowers attached to the ribbon, but even he had to admit it looked amazing on her. They'd been sitting around on the large picnic blanket they'd placed in the grass with various baskets sitting towards the middle. His sisters Yuzu and Karin had been pulling the food out of the individual baskets helping to set the area as little kids ran around finding Easter eggs at the special park event. The wind had picked up pulling the hat right off of Rukia's head.

Rukia's eyes registered with a sense of urgency and panic as her eyes widened when a gust of wind blows her hat right off her head. As she felt it flying off her head with lightning speed, she reached for it only succeeding in catching Ichigo's wrist instead while he caught her hat within his grasp, the two of them nearly crashing into each other to catch it before it floated away. They were so close and had gotten lost in each other's eyes so long that they didn't even notice the flash that'd taken place as Ichigo's father taught Rukia's brother how to properly function a camera that wasn't on a cell phone. Only when his father coughed did Ichigo realize… there were others around.

Ichigo chuckled rubbing the back of his neck recalling how quickly both of them got flustered and turned away from each other. His sister Yuzu cursed for the first time that day as she yelled at their father for breaking up what looked like what would have been their first kiss. Then of course at the mention of this… Ichigo was soon pulled away by Rukia's brother for a nice leisurely chat concerning his intentions towards his little sister.

Ichigo's thumb ran over the photo and despite the frown that once married his face at the remembrance of the conversation held between him and her brother, he couldn't help the smile that crept across his face as he stared at her. "You don't have to try so hard because… you've always been perfect to me ya dumb midget." He whispered the things he'd never had the guts to say to her face.

No matter where she was…

Ichigo huff in frustration as he skipped out on a class to meet Kaien at the bleachers. He'd told him he wanted to pick his brain about somethin. Ichigo blushed when he noticed the girls were out on the track today and remembered Rukia had Gym this period… Quickly he ducked behind the bleachers hoping she hadn't seen me because if she did, she'd rip him a new one for skipping.

Ichigo glanced around finding no Kaien in sight… Ichigo's eyebrow twitched that asshat he ditched him again even though he was the one to call him out here! 'No doubt, if I go lookin for em I'll just find his ass in a random closet with and an equally random girl he picked up for the hour.' He thought hating the way Kaien used women.

Ichigo was about to leave, but he just couldn't… not after catching sight of her. Rukia was racing around the track her hair pulled back into a high ponytail as she wore short black tight shorts and a loose long waist length T-shirt. Rukia expertly vaulted herself over hurdles with such grace and elegance that it should be illegal. Sweat dripping off her brow as the couch cheered her on and lectured others who were slacking behind.

Ichigo smiled staring at her in a dreamy daze as he leaned against the seat of the bleachers, 'Maybe… skipping was worth the risk of getting pummeled by Rukia.'

No matter what she was doing…

Ichigo yawned loudly as they all sat around in his room littered with books, loose papers, and highlighted notes. The rest of their friends were packing their things wanting to make the last bus to get to their respective homes. The large group left with a wave, a few smirks, and worried glances and a few looming teases towards the two remaining occupants.

Rukia breathed in slowly trying to remove the redness she knew was in her cheeks at their friends' embarrassing comments. For some reason, Ichigo gulped watching her intently from his equally embarrassed station across from her. He had finished study hours ago… and had been taking every available opportunity tonight to steal glances her way.

His eyes focused on her as her eyes stared through the lenses of her glasses with a concentrated stare, she reached up tucking a long strand of her bangs behind her ear. And he swore just that simple action had for a second caused him to be incapable of breathing.

No matter how tired she looked…

Ichigo knocked on his neighbor's door, he knew her brother had already left for work, and usually, Rukia would already be at his house eating breakfast with him and his family so he knew… "Hey dumb ass, wake up!" Ichigo shouted from the porch. It took a while but after a few minutes of yelling, he could hear the faint sound of her stumbling down the stairs.

She opened the door and looked at him like he was an alien disrupting her humble slumber on a Saturday morning. Watching as she released a big yawn, he couldn't help but notice the dark bags under her eyes, "Geez, I thought I told you not to overdo it last night stupid nerdy midget!" he argued. She kicked him in the shin but it was so depleted of force that it was pathetic. Rukia only looked mildly annoyed being too tired to possibly be able to manage to escalate to furious about his unwanted nickname.

Rukia rolled her eyes, "Yeah sure, dad." She managed to shoot out sarcastically. Ichigo grinned as she turned away from him sporting a light pink Chappy onesie, stepping inside the house with her he watched as she retreated to her bedroom to deal with her late daily routine. He caught sight of her yawning and she cutely rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she reached the top of the stairs and thought her hair was a bit of a mess he had to admit he didn't dislike the look of it. In fact, she looked pretty hot.

Ichigo grinned he remembered when she moved in next door, he'd only been two-year-old back then. They'd know each other a for not even a full two weeks and their families had quickly come to the conclusion that they were now practically inseparable. He could remember having so much fun with that messy tomboy as a kid. Most specifically the mud fights!

No matter how much of a mess she looked in his eyes she'd always been nothing short of…

"Beautiful," Ichigo spoke softly with closed eyes. He could still see her so clearly back then covered from head to toe in mud and dead leaf's just as he had been. That'd been the first time he'd heard her rare infectious laugh… The first time he'd seen that smile heart-stopping smile beam so brightly that it put spotlights to shame…

It wasn't long that he was startled from his pleasant memories. He could hear… whimpering? Ichigo's eyes widened, 'Rukia!' he thought making a mad dash for her room, nearly tripping over the coffee table in the middle of the room in the process. He winced in pain but continued racing to the room, slamming open the door with a strong surge of urgency, "Rukia!" he yelled out worriedly.

He found her in bed crying, her face distorted in pain and fear, "S-Stop it. Stop it please!" she began, beginning to get more frantic as Ichigo rushed over as she woke, jerking up into an upright position. Tears filled her fear filled eyes as she shoved him away and began backing up at lightning speed until there was no bed left to support her causing her to fall to the floor.

Ichigo gasped, "Rukia!" he shouted stumbling over the bed to where she'd fallen momentarily forgetting the situation within his worry. Reaching over he turned on the lamp beside them illuminating the room with limited light, but not before getting clocked so hard in the face that he flew off the bed and tumbled back into the dresser, the motion causing a vase to tumble over and shatter over his head leaving him stunned for a moment. This wasn't good! He had to make her realize who he was or she was going to kill herself via panic attack! "Rukia!" he screamed so loud he was sure he probably woke her neighbors, and he watched as her body stiffened with realization registered within her eyes.

Rukia was still panting in panic, but her assault on him had come to an end. Ichigo turned to her putting his hands up, "Rukia, it's alright. Everything's alright." He tried to reassure her not wanting her to go back into another frightened frenzy. He watched as Rukia cried withdrawing into herself by pulling her legs tightly to her chest and burying her face into her knees.

Ichigo kept his hands up, "Rukia, is it okay if I sit by you." His only reply was her tightening her arms around herself. Ichigo hated this… He wanted so badly to go to her to hold her, but he knew all it would do right now is cause her more pain and that-that was the last thing he wanted her to feel, "Rukia, I…" he began.

"I'm sorry." Rukia finally spoke with a sob. Ichigo looked at her bewildered. What on earth was she apologizing for? "I-I hurt you again." She explained clearing up his confusion.

Ichigo chuckled at her despite the pain he was feeling in his head, "Dummy what are you talkin about? What you actually think a midget like you could possibly hurt me?" he replied. His response was a low-pitched growl and a furious watery glare peeking out from over her knees. 'Good, at least I'm getting a positive respon…' he thought feeling funny almost like he was on a boat. The world around him was swaying, and the rim of his vision darkening ever so slowly.

Rukia's face raised up from her knees looking very alarmed, 'I-I feel so…' he thought his eyes beginning to droop. As Rukia stumbled closer to him with a worried expression, '-tired.' He finished. He could see her hand rush to touch him, but he couldn't feel her not even as his eyes closed and he saw the tips of her fingers resting on his cheek.