A/N: This is a longer chapter. Hopefully you like it. It's been a long time so you might want to skim the ending of the last chapter if you don't remember. This is named after, "My Immortal," by Evanescence. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Nothing.

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Chapter 4: My Immortal

So what if it ended up being longer than she said it would? I mean twenty minutes may have been a little under-estimating three hours, but what right did he have to get pissed? Well, he had a little right, but if he wanted to get on her good side again he would have to deal with it. So he chose, after an hour, to sit down at a table and relax. Apparently he relaxed too much because in no time, he was asleep with his head resting on his folded arms on the table.

Rukia smiled to herself as time went by. After twenty minutes, she noticed Ichigo getting fidgety in the far right corner of the giant bookstore. She knew it wasn't going to be over that quick, but she enjoyed making him wait longer. After an hour she saw him actually sit down and then he didn't move for about another two hours so she could only assume he was asleep; or dead. It didn't really matter either way to her.

It was now about nine at night and she had just waved goodbye to her last fan, who was exiting the now closing bookstore. She smiled at how the event turned out, but then her eyes caught site of a particular orange-headed man whose hair was showing a lot more now. She sighed and made her way to him.

She went to reach out and shake him, but she paused in the middle of her reach. Her careless expression changed into a saddened one. She watched him breathe in and out delicately; his face seemed so relaxed. Her mind brought her back to a different time.

She wore a huge smile on her face as she tried not to giggle from anticipation. She looked down at his sleeping form on his bed where he laid with the covers only covering him to his waist; revealing a shirtless upper body. He was lying on his back with his head turned to the side; a cheek resting on his pillow. She had climbed in through the window and took her seat on the edge of his bed.

She finally bent down slowly and kissed his cheek gently. She then moved her mouth to his ear and whispered, "Happy eighteenth birthday, Ichigo."

His mouth formed into a smile without opening one eye. Then, without warning, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, then pulling the covers over her as well as she joined him in the bed. She was somewhat startled, but when his lips met hers, she melted. He pulled away from her and moved a strand of hair behind her ear, "Thank you," he said with a genuine smile.

Rukia chuckled at him and then went to move out of the bed, but his grip around her waist grew tighter as he pulled her back against his body. Her hands were placed against his chest, "Ichigo, come on. I have the whole day planned out. We can't waste time just sitting around," she said in a lecturing tone.

He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Who said we'd just be sitting around? I had something in mind," he said going to kiss her, but she placed her pointer finger in front of his approaching lips causing him to not reach her.

"I put a lot of work into today and if you think you can just change everything like that, you've got another thing co-" she started but was interrupted by Ichigo grabbing her wrist, pushing it away gently and then moving in and claiming her lips.

He pulled away from her for a second to look at her reaction. She sighed. "I hate you," she said with a small smile. He smirked, "You could never hate me," he said in response as she moved her hands behind his neck. She shook her head with a matching smirk and went for another, but more passionate kiss.

Rukia stared at his motionless form with a soft expression on her face. The corners of her lips were the tiniest bit curved; giving the possibility of a smile, but it quickly fell. She then frowned and picked up her book that he was still carrying around. Then, she dropped it on the table from about two feet in the air, causing a loud thud.

Ichigo jumped and almost fell out of his seat as he looked around frantically. He then took a deep breath as he saw her frowning down at him.

"I'm done," she said coldly, crossing her arms over her chest.

He sighed as he looked down at the table, "About time," he mumbled.

"What was that?" Rukia questioned, knowing full well what he said.

He smiled up at her, "Nothing. So uh," he began rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand as he stood up, "Can we go for a walk or something?"

She sighed and made her way to the door, but stopped noticing he wasn't following. She turned around halfway, "Are you coming or not?" she said somewhat bitterly.

"Uh, yeah!" he said, flustered as he jogged up next to her.

Orihime sighed as Ishida handed her a cup of coffee. "There's no way this is going to be easy for him," Orihime said with disappointment.

He nodded in agreement as they took a seat at a table, "Kurosaki's screwed."

He kept a pretty fast pace as they walked down the sidewalk of the well lit roads. The streetlights were spaced about twenty feet away but the lighting from the buildings gave plenty luminosity.

"Well if you're going to continue to practically run, what's the damn point?" he said finally stopping his attempt to catch up.

She huffed loudly and spun around. "Talk."

He took a deep breath and walked up to her as she stood crossing her arms over her chest.

"I know we've been through a lot of shit, Rukia. I get that. And I'll-" he started but she held her hand up, and then quickly held her pointer finger up.

"First, can you take that ridiculous hat off? I can't take you serious with it on," she said in a cold tone, yet it almost sounded like a jest.

He raised an eyebrow and pulled it off his head with is left hand, revealing his bright orange hair. "What's wrong with a beanie?" he asked in defense, rubbing his hand through his spiky locks to avoid hat-hair.

"Nothing. There's just something wrong with you wearing it. I told you a long time ago you weren't a hat person, Ichigo," she said, almost sounding civil.

He gave a chuckle. "Yeah you did, didn't you?" he said staring at her for a moment in silence. The way she said that brought him back to their quarreling days when everything was perfect.

Rukia could tell he was somewhat lost in his thoughts, so she cleared her throat for him.

He was somewhat startled and thought he saw her smirking at his behavior, but it quickly washed away.

"I'll admit that I was an ass, but I can't change any of that now. All I can do is hope you can forgive me and maybe even one day you won't hate me and we can be friends again." He gave his attempt at an apology as he felt the fear of rejection move throughout his entire body, making him feel incredibly small at that moment.

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

Rukia stared at him intently as her arms fell slowly to her side. It was as if she was looking for something deep inside him that only she could find. She knew by every movement; every breath that he took, he was putting himself out in the open for any sort of pain; he was allowing himself to be vulnerable, like a small child, for once in his life. She knew him to be this headstrong man that would rarely let anyone in to see the real Ichigo, but right then, at that very moment, he was showing everything he had to give; not with words, but with his actions. But to be honest, this scared the hell out of her.

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

She took a deep swallow and crossed her arms over her chest again. She raised her chin slightly to regain her thoughts to respond. "That's why you still don't understand, Ichigo," she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, but then continued. "I could never hate you," she said; her voice beginning to tremble from memories swarming through her mind.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

She bent her head to the ground and took a deep breath. Her crossed arms now fell to hug her waist, showing vulnerability. "What is it that you want? Is it forgiveness? Is that you want?" she looked up with water-filled eyes and a desperate voice. "Because I'll give it to you if that's what you really want."

He looked at her with equally sad eyes. He spoke softly; not wanting to urge any outbursts. "No, you wouldn't. The way you speak to me; the way you look at me. You still hold a grudge."

You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts
My once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away
All the sanity in me

She was about to speak as the bulge in her throat seemed to grow bigger, but Ichigo cut her off holding up his hand to stop her.

"And I don't blame you," he said in complete understanding. Her face looked surprised by his statement and when she noticed this, she bowed her head to hide her face. She didn't notice as he began to walk up to her slowly.

She gripped her shirt in her fists as she tried to hold back tears. 'Part of me wants to run, but another part of me wants him to hold me. I want to feel his warmth as his arms encase me in a world where I could easily get lost in. But, I can't-' her thoughts were interrupted as Ichigo reached up and softly held her chin in his right hand.

These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

He looked at her violet eyes. His chest ached as he knew the pain he saw was caused by him. He wanted to give everything he could to stop it. He spoke with determination, but sensitivity as well. "Two years ago, I lost the love of my life. But the part you don't realize is, two years ago I lost something else as well; my best friend," he said, causing a tear to get loose and fall down her cheek. He moved his hand from under her chin to her cheek where he wiped the stray tear away. "And I miss her," he added, causing her to close her eyes and her jaw to tremble. "And I want her to fill that empty space in my life again."

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

She slowly moved her left hand up and placed it on his, which was still gently on her cheek. He took in the warmth of her hand; the relatively small size compared to his. It felt amazing to feel her touch again.

She then moved her fingers to grip him so that she was holding the back of his hand in hers. And then, she pulled it away from her face. Her eyes opened up and stared into his now hopeless ambers. She hesitated, but spoke as the air seemed to have trouble staying in her lungs. "I can't," she said softly and then dropped his hand, after a bright flash was seen from her right.

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along

The two looked and saw a man holding a camera across the street. "Hey, Kurosaki! Kuchiki! You two an item or something?!" he yelled as he flashed another picture.

Ichigo felt fire burn in his eyes and his nostrils flared as he stared at the man. Rukia frowned slightly. She then turned and ran. She went around the corner and then down an alleyway in the street.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me

Ichigo began to run after her but after he was halfway through the alley, it broke into two directions and he lost her. He breathed heavily as he leaned his back against the alley wall and then leaned his head back to look up at the sky. He stayed like that for a few minutes; replaying the past few events in his head. And then, like it was fate, the rain came down. It was fast and heavy. He let out a disgusted chuckle and closed his eyes with his head still tilted towards the sky.

She continued to run. She knew her way around now considering she needed ways to avoid the public sometimes. She knew exactly where she was going and she made there in record time.

All of me

Rukia ran into the desolate park and straight up to her special spot overlooking the lake. She stood there looking at it as her breathing was hard. Her eyes were slightly red now from crying and her cheeks were stained with tears.

All of me

'You did it again, Rukia. You ran away. How many times is it now?' she berated herself as she frowned towards the lake. Then, as if it wasn't bad enough. The rain began to pour down. She let out a loud sigh and looked up to the sky. "Thanks!" she yelled bitterly.

She was already soaked so there was no point in running for cover. Besides, she liked the idea of her tears being washed away by the rain. So she sat down on the wet grass and watched the ripples grow in the lake.

She watched as each drop made its own way into the water, eventually becoming one with it. It was calming her senses and mesmerizing her. Then, she spoke out loud.

"Why is it that no one ever hears a single drop of rain? It is only until a thousand drops fall when they are finally heard. But why is it that when a thousand hearts are falling, that isn't heard? If no one can hear that, how will a single heart be heard?" She stared emotionless at the still rippling water. 'That's how I'll start my next book.'

"Rukia!" came a yell from the front door of the young raven-haired writer's residence. "Rukia!" they yelled again as they slowly closed the door behind them after not receiving an answer.

The young, strawberry blonde journalist peeked in the kitchen and then the living room. She scratched her head in confusion as the house remained silent. She then made her way up the stairs calling to her friend once again, but still no answer.

She finally made it to her room, where she saw it was empty. She sighed and then turned around. Then, a room across the landing with its door closed caught her eye. She made her way to it, finally knocking, seeing as it was closed. She then opened it slowly, "Rukia? Hey, are you in here?" she asked as her eyes searched the room. Then, they finally settled on the petit female.

She was sitting at a desk with scattered papers all over it and also all over the floor. But she sat there with her laptop placed directly in front of her. Her mind was obviously lost inside it at the moment. She was typing so fast, Orihime would have assumed she wasn't even making out words and just hitting the keyboard randomly.

Orihime then examined the girl from afar in silence. Rukia was dressed in a black hoody with a pair of black, comfortable short-shorts. Her hair was pulled back to what was the closest thing she could do to a ponytail, with loose strands framing her face.

Orihime smiled as she realized this is exactly where her best friend had been for the past four days. She doubted any sleep, except for the occasional rest on the keyboard, but that was about it. Orihime walked further in and stood about eight feet away from Rukia, with her hands folded innocently in front of her.

"Writer's block, huh?" Orihime said; her head was tilted to the side with a large smile across her face. She followed it with a giggle as Rukia turned her head in surprise.

Rukia grinned, "Since when are you one for sarcasm?" Orihime chose the question to be rhetorical and laughed again.

"I realized today I've been going for four days now," Rukia said with a chuckle. "Its weird how I still don't feel tired or anything. I never can keep track of time when this happens."

Orihime suddenly felt awkward. "Well, that's kind of why I'm here. I was wondering if you've turned on a television anytime lately."

Rukia sat back in her chair and spun it around to face Orihime. The petit girl rubbed the back of her neck in an attempt to ease the only then noticed ache. She then brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear as she responded. "Oh no, I don't like the sound of that," she said in a monotone; expressing predicted stress.

Orihime gave an apologetic look. "Yeah, I don't think you'll like the look of it either," she said grabbing the remote controller off the top of the table near the flat screen plasma television mounted on the wall. She turned it on and put on the news.

Rukia sat leaning back in her chair with her elbow propped up on the arm rest of the chair; her cheek putting all of its weight on her palm as she continued to look at the screen unenthused.

"…and after this recent occurrence, it has been declared that the pop diva has been instituted in a prestigious mental hospital for being recognized for bipolar activity. And on to a much lighter note; it was found that a few nights ago our recently returned heart throb and magical musician, Ichigo Kurosaki was spending a night with the very beautiful and elegant well-known writer, Rukia Kuchiki. Here are some photos of the two looking quite close on a street corner near the bookstore where Kuchiki had her book signing that day. Could this be the next celebrity couple? We'll keep you posted on our research. Now, we'll take a look at the next-" The television was then turned off abruptly by Orihime as she turned to see her best friend's reaction to the news.

The raven haired woman was staring at the black screen with her jaw hanging open. Her eyes were glaring in disbelief. They sat in silence for about ten seconds before Orihime began to question her, "Ruk-"

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" the petite girl growled out as she jumped to her feet. "Why the hell do they want me to be dating someone so god damn much?! And with him?! Are they fucking nuts?!"

"Well, you can't blame them really. Those were some pretty believable assumptions coming from with those pictures. He had his hand on your cheek and then your hand on his hand. It looks pretty suggestive to me. What was that about anyway?" Orihime questioned interestedly.

Rukia began pacing around the room while she rubbed her temples with both hands. "It was him trying to apologize and wanting to be friends. I was crying and everything and then he tried to comfort me. But what the damn pictures don't show is me taking his hand off my cheek!" She let out a loud groan, "Gah!"

"Oh. Well that does make things complicated," Orihime said almost to herself. "Well, you know it's not true, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Rukia stopped and looked at her friend with an incredulous look on her face. "Are you serious?! Not only does this affect my emotional status by the subject of him coming up again, but now it has the damn world involved. Just imagine, 'Award winning writer has a mental breakdown caught on tape as she was approached in a local mall.'"

Orihime walked over and put her hands on Rukia's shoulders to get her attention completely. "Okay, calm down. That won't happen and you'll be fine. Just remember: if you're asked by a reporter if you're seeing Ichigo, just set them straight. Tell them there was a misunderstanding and that you two are just old friends. That will end the suspicion."

Rukia stared wide-eyed at her friend until she finished. She then closed her eyes and bent her head down towards the floor. She took a deep breath and look back up. "You're right. I'm freaking out over nothing. It's just- it's a sensitive subject. And to have it on the news like that, it's just-"

Orihime smiled politely. "I know. I know. So, are you okay now?"

Rukia nodded with a small smile.

"Good. Now I want you to get yourself in the shower and get dressed. I'm taking you out for some real food. I can only assume you've been living off pop-tarts and croutons," Orihime said with an all-knowing smile.

Rukia let out a chuckle. "You know me too well. I'll go pull myself together then," she said making her way out of the room.

"So how much did you get done exactly?" Orihime yelled from to the next room as she approached the laptop.

Rukia yelled back, "I'm on chapter eight. Help yourself, if you want."

Orihime walked over and sat down as she scrolled up to the beginning. "That's a lot of writing. It wasn't triggered by anything in particular, was it?" she said in a suggestive tone with a smirk on her face.

"Shut it! The only thing that moron triggered was a potential ass-whooping for anyone that pisses me off about the subject!" the woman yelled from the next room. The shower went on seconds later.

"So you've been hanging out with Uryuu, huh?" Rukia smirked and raised an eyebrow at the fact as she took another bite of her burger.

Orihime blushed slightly from the remark. "Yeah. I don't know what happened. I mean, I used to have such a big crush on him in high school. Then we went our separate ways and I never tired anything. He's so shy. It's adorable," Orihime found herself staring into space as she spoke about someone who gave her butterflies.

Rukia couldn't help but grin. "Come back down to earth now, Orihime. You said, you were treating me to lunch remember? I can't have you taking off on me now," she joked.

Orihime smiled, not helping the matter. "Sorry." Then, her phone went off. "Oh sorry, one second." She frowned with confusion. "But isn't Mizuiro supposed to be covering that?" Her face immediately brightened up. "I'll be there right away! Thank you!" she hung up and started to rummage through her purse.

Rukia raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Where ya off to?"

"They read my report on your book signing. They loved its character and everything so they decided to give me an interview with the recently instituted pop diva we saw on television today!" she pulled out her wallet.

"That's amazing, Orihime! Great job!" Rukia said with excitement.

Orihime then gave a sad face, "I'm sorry I'm ditching you for this."

Rukia gave an understanding smile. "Honestly, if you didn't ditch me for this, I would hurt you," she responded with a chuckle. "And put your wallet away. I've got it."

Orihime shook her head. "No, it's the least I can do for slipping out early. Besides, I said I was treating you anyway," she said placing money on the table and then standing up.

Orihime bent down and hugged Rukia, as the smaller woman said, "Good luck," in her ear.

"Thanks. See ya," the strawberry blonde said and then exited.

Rukia sighed and finished her last few fries before standing up and making her way to the door. By the time she opened the door it was too late. The flashes went berserk and the crowd of paparazzi was shoving microphones in her face. Aside from that, there was another crowd around them of curious people, hoping to get an eye on the celebrity.

"Is it true you are now dating possibly the most famous musician of our time?"

"Are you aware of the amount of heart-broken females in the world because of your new relationship with Kurosaki?"

"How did it all begin?"

"You two are an adorable couple. What made you pick him out of the many dying to woo you?"

Rukia held up her hands to calm them down a bit and put on her fake smile. "Well actually, Ichigo and I are not a couple. We're childhood friends. That's it. Nothing more." She began to push her way through; ignoring more questions, but before she made it out of the crowd of paparazzi and into the civilian crowd, another man stood in front of her.

"Are you sure there is nothing going on? These pictures show something else," he said holding the picture that was probably known by the whole world now, in front of her face.

Her eyes continued to stare at the picture for a few good seconds before they began to burn holes through it. Her breathing grew heavy.

"Looks like you were all over each other to me," he added as flashes continued to blind her.

She quickly turned her head to the man and without a second thought, she threw her fist into his jaw causing a loud gasp to fill the air, but the cameras didn't stop. God forbid the cameras stop. The man was now on the floor and Rukia made it her goal to get the hell out of there before something bad happens.

She made it into the civilian crowd, but then she was grabbed by the arm and pulled away down a nearby alley. She continued to be pulled by someone wearing a motorcycle helmet until they made it out into a parking garage. She yanked her arm away and glared at whoever pulled her; ready to give them a piece of her mind until they turned to face her and pulled off their motorcycle helmet.

"Well if you wanted to make the news two nights in a row, you could have been less violent about it. You'll be lucky if the guy doesn't press charges!" he said in disbelief, holding his helmet under his arm.

She glared. "You are seriously the last person I want to see right now," she spat at him.

"I didn't do anything. Don't blame this on me. That picture was just taken at the wrong time," he said defensively.

"Oh god! Just shut up," she said in a tired tone as she buried her face in her hands. "Just shut up and let me think."

He made a loud sigh and watched as she breathed in and out slowly with her hands still covering her face.

"Oh god, I don't even have a way to get home! Orihime drove me!" she said losing all hope and leaning against a nearby car.

Ichigo looked at her with a tiny bit of pity. "I'll take you home."

She let out a fake laugh. "Oh yeah. That'll happen," she said sarcastically.

He scowled at her. "I'm serious. You don't have a ride and you'll be attacked by another group like those back there if you try to walk home," he said pointing in a direction like he could still see the mob.

She looked at him and spoke in her same sharp attitude. "And if they see me with you they'll just make more ridiculous assumptions!"

He smirked, "They won't see you," he said holding his helmet to her.

She stared at it for a moment and then frowned. She turned her head to look away, but spoke. "But- don't you need one?" she said in a monotone, trying to sound like she doesn't care.

He smirked even more. "Does it really matter to you? I thought splitting my head open would sound good to you right now?" he said jokingly.

She couldn't help but let out a chuckle and a small smirk. "You know me too well," she said grabbing the helmet and putting it on. He nodded and began to walk away as she followed.

He sat down on his bike and put on a pair of sunglasses as he started it up. He then turned and noticed how she just stood there, not getting on. He raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

"I always hated this thing. It scared me to death whenever you made me get on the back of it," she said with attitude.

"Well this isn't the same bike," he said in response, being a smartass.

She huffed loudly and sat behind him. She put her arms on his back to brace herself before Ichigo spoke again with a big grin on his face, "This one can go faster."

And he hit the gas, causing her to wrap her arms completely around his waist as she let out a screech.

When he pulled up to her house the man at the gate let them through, so he pulled up to her front door.

He got off the bike and then held out his hand to help her off, which she hesitantly took. She took off her helmet, revealing a breath taken face that wanted to fall to the ground.

"Too fast?" he said sarcastically.

She was too tired or too shaken up to glare, but instead settled for an insult. "You're an ass," she said shoving his helmet into his stomach and brushing past him and going to her door.

He coughed a little from the impact of the helmet and then began to get on his bike again before she turned around and looked at him again. "Why were you there anyway?"

"No reason. Just walking by."

She squinted at him. "I don't believe you."

He shrugged, "Suit yourself," he said staring the motorcycle up.

She then got his attention again, "Hey." He looked up at her in response. "Thank you. For- ya know, helping me out back there. Not just with the ride; the whole crowd thing too," she said awkwardly.

He smirked at her. "No problem. If I ever knock some guy out who is asking annoying questions, you better be there to bail me out."

She let a smile grace her face unknowingly and shook her head.

"I'll see ya," he said.

"We'll see about that."

He smirked, "That's not a 'no.'"

She raised an eyebrow, "That's not a 'yes,' either."

He chuckled, "We'll see about that," he said finally before putting on his helmet and speeding off.

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Phew. All in one sitting. I'm beat. Hope you enjoyed it, I didn't proof read at all. Tell me what you think. Later