A/N: Fast updates are my thing right now. Don't know why. It probably won't last long. So I'll try not to jinx it. I didn't proof read. Here's the next chapter named after, "I'm Moving On," by Rascal Flatts. And older song, but it's still amazing. I always end up using at least two Rascal songs. Weird… Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Never.

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Chapter 8: I'm Moving On

"So you think I'm kidding? Tsk-tsk. Shame on you, Kurosaki. Since when do I ever kid with you?" Ishida's voice came through the phone.

"That's a joke right?" Ichigo said with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh get over yourself. I'm serious; a duet. What's wrong with that?" the man said in a questioning tone as he pushed his glasses further up in his face.

"Well everything is wrong with it. I don't do duets. I'm a loner. You should know this," Ichigo said clearly and slammed his fist down to get his point across. He was in the middle of his run on the treadmill when his friend gave him this alarming news. He had accidentally hiked up the speed of the belt when he slammed his fist and was trying to push the right button to fix it.

"Yes, I do know this, which is why when I heard from Nemu that she was trying to record a duet for my upcoming movie, I gave your name as a shoe-in."

"You what?!" Ichigo yelled through the phone as he began to run even faster due to his machine still going up at a constant speed.

"Yes, and there's no need to thank me. I don't know who you have been paired with yet, but you'll find out at the meeting in Nemu's studio at three. I know you remember where it is. Don't be late. Have fun!" he said with a smirk and hanging up before he could hear an outraged orange headed man.

"Ah! Ishida! You son of a bitch!" he yelled before throwing his phone across the room. He hopped off the still running machine and watched as his phone shattered into pieces. "And that's another thing I have yet to replace," he said with a sigh.

He slammed his fist on the control panel of the treadmill and luckily for him, it stopped. He shook his head at his luck and walked his way out of the room while the sweat continued to drip off his shirtless body. He made it to his kitchen where he took out a water bottle and began to chug it. Then, he suddenly heard his doorbell ring. He was about to swallow another gulp before he turned his head in the direction of his front door.

The doorbell went off again and he swallowed the mouthful of water finally. He made his way to the door and when he finally opened it, he was surprised to see his guest.

"About time you opened the damn door," she said holding her phone open as if she had been using it. She slammed it shut. "I was trying to call you so that you could open the god damn door, but you weren't answering."

Ichigo's face remained unemotional, "I just threw it against the wall."

She raised a delicate eyebrow, "I see someone still needs to watch their temper."

He ignored her sarcastic remark, "What are you doing here, Rukia?"

She sighed. He wasn't being very easy to talk to at the moment. She could understand that though. She did leave him in a difficult situation a few days ago. "I came to, well, say I'm sorry. It just didn't hit me well – the situation that is- and I just- well, I," she sighed after all her stumbling. "I feel terrible."

He nodded coldly. "And you should. That was pretty cruel, Kuchiki," he said wiping the sweat across his forehead with the back of his hand.

Rukia then noticed the condition he was in. He had no shirt on, a pair of jogging shorts that hung low on his hips and a sweaty body to finish it off. His muscles were well tones, like his skin and she found herself staring. She then looked away after feeling she might have stared for too long. "I know," she said quietly.

"Well… I've got a meeting in an hour, so I'm gonna get going. Thanks for coming by," he said coldly as he went to shut the door, but then stopped. "Oh, and don't worry. I cleared everything up with the media… in case you haven't seen the news lately," he added coldly before shutting the door.

Rukia was left at the door with her mouth slightly open. 'That didn't go as planned,' she thought as she still froze in front of the door. She then turned around and made her way off of his property. 'Maybe we just need a break. Give each other some time to cool off,' she said to herself as she got into her car.

"Well I'll give her credit for trying to apologize," he said out loud to himself as he went back into the kitchen for his water bottle. 'But she should know I don't get over things that easily,' he finished in his head.

He was still pissed. She had a point the other day when they were in the mall. He agreed with her, but the way she went about it was spiteful. He was eaten alive by the media and the fans. He tried running out of there, but word spread quickly and he was swarmed. The mall's security wasn't very helpful either. To cut it short, Ichigo made it out of there needing six stitches on his forearm.

He rolled his head back and forth on his shoulders with his eyes closed. 'Why is it always so complicated?' he thought causing his eyebrows to furrow. He took another chug from his bottle, now finishing it and then looked at the time. 'Oh shit. I've got to shower,' he thought moving quickly to his bathroom.

Ichigo parked his motorcycle outside of the studio and made his way quickly inside. All the while, he was cursing under breath at a certain glasses wearing friend of his.

He walked down the hall with his hands in his khaki pants' pockets. His navy blue long sleeve shirt was a perfect fit as it revealed all of his upper body muscles without planning to.

"Hello," he yelled lazily. There seemed to be no one around and he wasn't the patient type.

He walked into the recording studio and stood where he had a few times before when recording a song. He took a deep breath in irritation. He looked towards the door and thought about leaving. One swift movement and he would be free from doing any of this. He took another deep breath. 'What am I doing here?' he thought to himself until his mind brought him back a few years ago.

-Flashback-

"What am I doing here?" he whined with a scowl all over his face.

"Oh, shut up. You're here because I brought you here. And besides, you promised me you'd give it a shot. It's not that big a deal anyway! You're just going to be playing for two hundred people – three hundred tops," she said calmly.

"Yeah, that's not a lot at all," he moaned after burying his face into his hands as he hunched forward onto his knees.

She sat down next to him as they waited behind the outdoor stage. She looked at him calmly and studied his worried appearance. She watched as his knuckles flexed every time he went to massage his temples; she watched as his breathing was slow yet each individual breath was long and hard; she watched as his left leg was shaking up and down in a nervous frenzy; and finally, she watched as his lips moved silently in an attempt to talk himself into believing everything would be fine.

Rukia reached out and placed her hand gently on his back; right behind his left shoulder. She felt his body tense from her touch, but then as fast as it tensed, it relaxed. He turned his head back to look at her with desperate eyes.

He looked at her as she gave him a smile that made him believe for a moment that there was no such thing as evil in the world; that there couldn't possibly be anything cruel when a smile like that was given.

She then moved and placed her chin over his shoulder from behind; her arms wrapping around his waist. "If you don't do this now," she began softly with Ichigo not being able to see her face completely. "You'll never do it," she finished. "And you'll always regret it. Is that what you want? To live your life with a bunch of 'what ifs'?" she said in such a sincere tone.

Ichigo's head bowed to the ground, but she continued, seeing how she was reaching him. "I know you're the kind of guy that does everything for everyone else so that they can be happy. But for once, let me be the one that does that for you," she said squeezing his waist tighter.

His frown suddenly turned into a smirk. "You play a cruel game, Kuchiki," he said chuckling as he reached beside him and grabbed his guitar.

"I know," she said taking her head off of his shoulder. He then stood up and took a step towards the stage when she grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. She then pulled him down towards her still sitting form and planted her lips on his for a meaningful kiss. She pulled away slowly and smiled due to Ichigo's eyes still being closed. When he finally opened them, she spoke, "Good luck."

He smirked as he walked backwards for a few steps and then made his way on stage.

-End Flashback-

He sighed heavily from the memory. "I hate 'what ifs'," he said rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. He had decided not to leave.

"Never been a fan of them myself," came a voice from the corner of the room.

Ichigo looked quickly and saw her leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest and a leg crossed over the other. Her purple hair was up in a ponytail, while she wore a brown skirt to her knees with a red zip-up jacket. "So you must be who I've been paired up with," she said with a smile before pushing herself away from the wall.

"How long have you been there?" Ichigo questioned curiously as she made her way closer to him.

"The whole time. I got to watch you zone out for a bit before you randomly started talking to yourself," she smirked. She then held out her hand, "Senna Otonashi."

Ichigo felt kind of embarrassed after being called out on something ridiculous, but shook her hand, "Ichigo Kurosaki."

He had heard of the woman in front of him. Well how could he not? She's won plenty of awards and has been seen all over television as much as him. He just knew how it felt to have someone say, "I know," when you introduce yourself. In this situation, it feels more comfortable if you just go along with it.

"So, Ichigo," she began. "Is this your first duet?"

"Uh, yeah. I've always been kind of a loner," he said honestly.

She smiled at him, "It's mine too. Hopefully it'll turn out great."

She smiled at him with complete belief that everything would be fine and he couldn't help but smile back.

"It looks like you two have already met. Good. Let's get to business then, shall we?" Nemu said walking into the room.

"Rukia. Where were you?" Momo said firmly as the raven haired woman walked into her own house. The three woman sat ready for her return in the living room.

Rukia was somewhat startled. She answered in hesitation, "I was… at Ichigo's… Why?"

Rangiku sighed and looked towards the ground; shaking her head.

"What?" Rukia asked seeing the strawberry blonde's reaction.

"Sit down. We have to talk to you," Orihime said with a saddened yet serious face.

Rukia walked in slowly, sat her bag on the floor and then sat down on the couch as the three looked straight at her.

"We need you to keep in mind that we are doing this for your best interest and you should for no reason start to get angry," Momo said as if it would prevent any future action.

"And we would like to make sure that you know that we have discussed this and have agreed on our conclusion," Orihime added.

"Alright. Enough with the lead up. Spit it out already," Rukia said with impatience.

There was a second of silence before Rangiku spoke. "We think you should stop hanging around Kurosaki."

Rukia's eyes went wide. She did not see that coming. "What do you mean?"

Momo took a turn in explaining. "We just think that ever since he showed up a couple months ago that you've started having trouble again. You're going backwards. It's reminding Rangiku and I of the days when we first met you. You were secretly miserable. And we don't want you to go through that again. It's already starting," she said sadly.

"Guys, I'm fine. There's no way you can compare me to what I was before," Rukia said in defense.

Rangiku spoke again, "See," she pointed towards Rukia. "You can't even tell it's happening to you. That's why we're telling you now before it gets any worse. We're trying to prevent something that'll end up hurting you."

"I don't see it that way," Rukia argued. "I think it's helping me. After all these years, I'm finally able to cope with part of my past. I'm actually living with it now, instead of hiding it."

Momo jumped in, "But to live with something again that hurt you so much, there's no way it isn't causing you pain. How many arguments or problems have occurred between you two in these past few months? Even the small ones?"

"Everyone fights, Momo. That's a terrible reason," Rukia brushed off.

"But everyone doesn't fight about the same thing," Rangiku added quickly.

There was a silence that took over the room. Rukia looked down at the floor in a frustrated and disappointed mood. "Is that what you all think I should do? Just drop him?" Rukia then looked up at each of their faces when her eyes landed on a quiet Orihime, who was looking down at her lap. "You've been awfully quiet, Orihime," she said somewhat bitterly.

Her childhood friend looked up with sad eyes. "It's not healthy, Rukia. You've got scars from the past that you've slowly started to rip open. I think I can safely say we all thought it would be wonderful for you if you started to talk to Ichigo again. We thought if we pushed it that you would end up fixing your past and well, you two could be together again," she said with hope in her voice, but it quickly shifted to a sadder tone. "But the more you talked to him; the more you were with him; the more it brought up things that we thought you two were well over. I guess we were wrong."

It was hitting her harder than she would have ever thought. "You're saying this to help me, but you do know you may be hurting him as well?" Rukia said roughly as tears threatened to fall. She was trying to understand Orihime's reasons. She was his childhood friend too.

"I know," Orihime said bowing her head to the floor. "But I know that in some way, he'll end up better too. Despite how hard it may be." There was a pause, "Just let it go."

Those words were so simple, yet so complicated. Rukia had thought of them over and over again for the past two years; almost three, but she could never obey them. Right then, her friends sat there encouraging her to do what she thought she couldn't and right then, she knew she didn't have a choice. It had to be done.

Rukia let a single tear leave its tracks on her cheek and then bowed her head to the ground. She then suddenly stood up with her head still looking towards the ground. Her hair shielded any view to her face. She walked away and almost exited the room before she stopped and raised her head with her back now facing them. "Thank you," she said softly before making her way to her room for one last cry and then... it would all be over. There would be no looking back.

Three months went by and they were now attending the premiere of Uryuu's new movie.

Rukia stood in front of her mirror as she did some last touch ups on her. She was wearing it down tonight with her summer dress. It was already June and she found it hard to believe how time had sped by so fast. She smiled into the mirror at herself.

Then, from behind, arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her against his body. He began to kiss her neck in which she began to giggle from.

"Shuuhei! I'm trying to finish so that we can leave. You want to be on time for the premiere of your own movie, don't you?" she said, not pushing him away despite her verbal protests.

"Ah, but I want so many things," he said with a grin as he continued to kiss her neck. Three months ago, Orihime had begged Rukia to come with her to the studio so that she wouldn't have to go see Uryuu alone; she was always a shy girl. And after Rukia's moaning and groaning, Orihime got her to go with her. What Rukia didn't know, was that her ex-boyfriend would be co-starring in the same film. That was where it all began. It started with an awkward conversation, let to coffee, which led to dinner and then they were dating again.

"I bet you do," she said finally turning around and kissing him gently on the lips. She then pushed him away. "Now let me finish."

He sighed and walked towards her open jewelry box. "I don't see why you are trying so hard. I've told you how beautiful you are, the world's told you how beautiful you are; who else do you need to hear it from in order to believe it?"

She smiled, "You just don't understand. Once I show up somewhere without make up on it'll rip me from a title that I still won't ever believe is true." She heard him sigh in the background. "Can you pick me out a simple necklace while you're over there?"

He looked through the box and smiled when he found the right one. He walked over and took the same position as before only this time draping the necklace over her head to rest on her neck. He smiled at his choice. "I remember this one from when we dating almost a year ago. I always thought it suited you best," he said looking at it through the mirror.

Rukia's face was stunned. Out of all the necklaces that were in the box, he had to pick this one. Her chest felt heavy as she took a deep breath. The necklace was a simple chain with a violet butterfly hanging from it.

"It must be because it matches your eyes," he added before seeing her disturbed facial expression. His face went worried, "Are you okay?"

She put on a fake smile, "I'm fine," she said to reassure him. "But do you think you can get me a different one? It doesn't feel like the… right occasion for that," she said trying to find the right excuse.

He looked at her in confusion but then smiled, "Alright. Whatever you say."

The red carpet was swarmed by cameras. Orihime was being helped out of the limo by her date or boyfriend, Uryuu Ishida. They were followed by Renji Abarai and Tatsuki Arisawa. There was supposedly nothing between them, which was puzzling for both the fans and their close friends. Chad was unable to come to the premiere due to having to take place in a competition across the ocean.

Toushirou stepped out onto the carpet with Momo by his side. Rangiku surprisingly showed with past relationship, Gin Ichimaru; something no one had expected due to unfortunate details.

Rukia had stepped out of her limo following Rangiku and frowned at the sight. She was not told who her friend would be arriving with and the more she looked at the two with their arms linked together, the more she felt her blood boil. Shuuhei wrapped his arm around her waist to urge her forward. He put on a fake smile for the flashing cameras and spoke through his teeth, "You okay?"

She immediately smiled and waved at the crowd. "I could be better," she said in the same manner.

They almost got to the door when she dropped her purse. Shuuhei went to get it, but she stopped him. "I've got it."

She walked back a step or two and bent down to pick it up. When she lifted her head, she noticed the next two people coming out of the limo. Her grip on her purse got tighter as she saw their fingers linked through each other's. She had heard rumors of a relationship, but now proved it. And as she looked upon the couple she realized just how much time had passed.

I've dealt with my ghosts
And I've faced all my demons
Finally content with the past I regret
I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness
For once, I'm at peace with myself
I've been burdened with blame
Trapped in the past for too long
I'm moving on

It had been more than three years now and she knew that things had turned out the way it should have. She accepted it despite what her chest was feeling. She smiled sadly. This was always how it was supposed to be.

-Flashback-

"So what do you think? Is this how you picture our future with little kids running around us, yelling for piggyback rides and stuff?" he asked as they lay in the tall grass of an open field. Her head was rested on his stomach as she laid perpendicular to him. Her hand was held over her head as to fiddle with his hand.

She laughed, "Wow, you really surprise me sometimes. You're so sentimental."

"What?" he asked a bit irritated. "I thought that's what girl's fantasized about and shit."

I've lived in this place
And I know all the faces
Each one is different
But they're always the same
They mean me no harm
But it's time that I face it
They'll never allow me to change
But I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong
I'm moving on

"Well some girls do. You know, the ones that run around with dimples everywhere after they attend a day of church," she said laughing again. "If you couldn't tell, I'm not quite that kind of girl."

"No shit. Every time you go near a damn church you probably start to burn," he said with a smirk, which got him a nice over the head punch in his chest. After a cry out in pain he continued, "I'm just saying, you think we'll end up still being this happy? Ya know, years from now?"

I'm moving on

At last I can see
Life has been patiently waiting for me
And I know there's no guarentees
But I'm not alone
There comes a time in everyone's life
When all you can see are the years passing by
And I have made up my mind
That those days are gone

She smiled at his question as she continued to look up towards the clouds in the sky. She then sat up and turned over on her stomach. She crawled up towards his face with a smile clear on her face. He smiled back at her waiting for an answer as a hand rested behind his head.

"I hope so," she said. "Otherwise my dream of having a house on the ocean with our two kids won't come true," she added with a smirk.

"Hey! You said-" Ichigo began to accuse before Rukia quickly placed her lips against his in a long, passionate kiss.

-End Flashback-

"Rukia?" a voice said, which broke completely through her thoughts. She blinked a few times and then noticed a curious look on the man looking down at her.

"You okay?" he said after not getting a response from her. She looked into his amber eyes and saw that he actually cared; he actually was worried about her. She couldn't hide the small smile that formed on her lips.

"I'm okay," she said picking her purse up again.

"Here," he said holding his hand down to her. She looked at his hand and thought about it for a moment. Then, she grabbed it and allowed herself to be pulled up.

I sold what I could
And packed what I couldn't
Stopped to fill up on my way out of town
I've loved like I should
And lived like I shouldn't
I had to lose everything to find out
Maybe forgiveness will find me somewhere down this road
I'm moving on

"Thanks," she said softly. She then gave a nod and small smile to the woman still linked to his arm, "I'm Rukia."

"Senna," she perkily said before holding her hand out. The two shook before Senna continued. "I didn't know you two knew each other," she said in a fascinated tone.

Rukia looked from Senna to Ichigo with an understanding look on her face. She gave a pitiful smile for show. 'It doesn't bother me,' she thought.

"It must have slipped my mind," Ichigo said still staring at the woman he could never let slip through his mind unnoticed.

Rukia heard his words and almost flinched. 'Alright, that one hurt,' she admitted to herself.

"Rukia," Shuuhei said from behind. "Let's go inside now before we cause a pile up at the door," he said with a big smile before wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Yeah," she said to him with a smile as she looked back at Ichigo one more time; her smile then fading.

I'm moving on

Ichigo watched as they walked ahead of them and found that it was something he had to deal with now. It made sense anyways; he was with Senna now. He had been for two months. This was right. He knew that.

"Ichigo?" Are you alright? You look a little sick…" Senna said with a worried face.

Ichigo looked down at her and saw her concern. He smiled sweetly at her and pecked her on the lips. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" she questioned again as they continued to follow the first couple inside.

He looked forward again and saw Rukia smile up at Shuuhei before he leaned down and captured her lips. "I hope so…"

I'm moving on...

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Well that's it. I've been on a writing role for the past few days. This is pretty amazing. I'm loving it. (Not quoting McDonald's) So, that's that. Um, tell me what you think. Later