Author's Note: Righty, I apologize for the delay - my internet connection effed up so. Anywho the amount of chapters in this story are undecided. I was convinced there'd be 10 but now...I dunno. So basically this just keeps going on until I'm bored! Toodles Oh, and ENJOY of course...

It was that same feeling again. That sickly yet warm feeling that had taunted him over the last weeks. Funny how he only felt it when she was close to him. Or even when he just thought about her. Was he ill? Was she ill? Damn, he was so confused he didn't know where he was anymore.

Another feeling was present also. Like a desperate yearning. A needing. For what? For her? No way. What then? Who then? Surely not for her. Right?

It was like another person had taken control. Like he wasn't Ichigo anymore.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and felt himself kiss back slightly.

What the hell? Oh, God, I did NOT just kiss Rukia! Shit! Shit! What AM I doing?! Stop it, stop it!

"What the hell are ya doin'?" Ichigo pushed her away hard. He hadn't meant to say those words out loud, like he hadn't meant to shove her either.

"I suppose you don't like me back, then." Rukia sighed in reponse, steadying herself.

I...I don't k-know... Ichigo blushed deeply.

Just then, a rustling sound was heard from outside. Followed by a clang and then some cursing.

"Nee-san, Ichi." Kon casually acknowledged as he pulled himself through the window.

"H-how'd you get through the window that quick?" Rukia inquired, anything to hide her disappointment.

"Oh, I just..." Kon stopped as he noted the uneasy looks on their faces. "What's wrong? Nee-san? Ichi?"

"Oh, nothin'." Ichigo shrugged. Looking away in an attempt to hide his blood-red cheeks.

How could he do that with such ease? Just shurg it all off? Make it disappear? Just like that? HOW?

"It isn't nothing!" She protested. "This is something very big, actually."

Ichigo stared at her memorized. Kon was sort of in a daze.

"I am sick, so sick, of all of this! We're constantly angry, confused, pissed, hurt. We're damaging our friendship!"

"Don't expect me to just love you as soon as you push yourself on me!" Ichigo yelled. The truth was he didn't want to yell at her, he was too tired to. But it seemed to flow naturally. And apologizing for it would just seem weak.

"I didn't push myself on yo-"

"Sure! Just like you don't love that damn Quincy!" Ichigo interrupted, his voice growing harsher and louder by the second. Damn, Ichigo, Shut up!

"Hey guys, can't we just work this out?" Kon said quietly.

"No!" Rukia and Ichigo yelled at him.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the bedroom door. "Ichi?"

Yuzu...

"What's wrong? What's all the noise?"

"Errmm, hang on!" Ichigo said urgently, gesturing towards the closet. Rukia frowned at him before marching into the closet, shortly followed by Kon.

"What is goin' on in here?" Yuzu opened the door and stepped in.

"Nothin'." The guilt was plastered across his face.

"Come on, Ichi. What, have you got a girl in here or something?" Karin teased, poking her head around the door.

"No! Of course not!"

How long had it been since that kiss? Twenty minutes? Half an hour? An hour, two hours? He wasn't sure. His room was so quiet. Rukia hadn't come out to talk to him. Kon hadn't come out to annoy him. The world seemed so peaceful, so tranquil, so...empty.

Ichigo thought for a second. Maybe he was a little out of line with her. After all, she couldn't help how she felt, right? She was just trying to prove her love by kissing him, right?

I suppose it's possible. He thought as he laid on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. And what was that earlier? Did I really kiss her back? Judging by her reaction, maybe it isn't true. Perhaps I imagined it for some reason. Please, please, please say it isn't true! I don't wanna give her the wrong impression or anything...and I can't stand the embarassment. That feeling...It's awful. What is it anyway? Am I sick or something?

Rukia laid still, gazing at the cracks on the closet door. What was happening to them? She thought that her feelings were a big issue but she hadn't expected it to affect their friendship the way it had. Just what had happened? One minute they seemed almost normal, then the next they were at each other's throats. Human life was a waste of time. She could see why so many people committed suicide.

Right, I'm not gonna have a friendship with him anymore. I mean, I can be civil, but what we have will be strictly buisness. Hollow buisness. I can't let my emotions get the better of me. I'll just act like I'm over him. I'll pretend I just don't like him like that anymore. Surely if I keep the act up my feelings will go away anyway. I'm sure love dosen't last forever. It's impossible, right?

Maybe I should apologize...Yeah, I should definately apologize. I've been so mean, she at least deserves an apology, right? I feel so bad. I wish I wasn't so damn angry all the time - maybe if I just listened to her, we wouldn't be fighting like this...I'll apologize in the morning...No, that's not good enough. She'll think I'm just saying it for sake of argument. I gotta say sorry now...Yeah, right now...

Ichigo threw back the covers and got out of bed. He paded silently over towards the closet door.

I mean, it's not worth all this trouble. He just pushes me away. Ishida was right, I don't deserve someone like him. Ishida...Yeah, and all I did to you was kick you and push you away - you must be feeling the same. You were so kind and I just...just tried to ignore your feelings completely...Maybe it's you I should be loving...and not...Ichigo... But then again, If I could choose who I love - we wouldn't be in this mess. That pig didn't even say he was sorry for pushing me tonight!

But what if she's sleeping? He thought anxiously, pacing up and down outside the door, biting his nails. Maybe she'll be more angry if I just wake her up. Maybe I should tell her tomorrow. Tomorrow is...Sunday, right? Right. So we can just talk things over. And this time I'll just try extra hard not to get mad at her... Or maybe I should see if she's awake and if she is I apologize and if she ain't then I'll do it tomorrow. But then...If I check to see she's awake, surely I'll wake her up and she might be pissed because I woke her up and...Damn it!

Sunday...

Ichigo took a deep breath as he stood outside the closet door, armed with hot breakfast. It was like truth or dare. And it was his turn to enter the dark closet. Scary, yet stupid. Why was it so hard? It was just Rukia. He was sure he could kick her ass anyday. Hang on, that sounded wrong. He wasn't a girl-beater. He didn't like hitting anyone - especially girls. It was wrong. But if she should ever try to beat him up, he was sure he'd flaw her...in self-defense obviously.

The closet door suddenly opened, revealing a wide-awake Rukia. Ichigo turned unbelievably red.

"Oh, good morning, Ichigo!" She beamed cheerfully.

She leapt out of the closet, smiling at him mishchieviously. Did he imagine last night? She was acting like it never happened. Maybe she had amnesia? This was confusing...

"What's up?"

"Err...I-I...um..made you..." Unable to speak, he held the bowl out in desperation.

I made you breakfast and I'm...

"Thanks Ichigo, but I'm not really hungry. I'm going out anyway, so..." She pushed passed him coldly, almost knocking the soup out of his hand.

"But...I..."

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have treated you that way. Sorry.

"I'll probably be out all day, so, don't wait up." Rukia chuckled in an innocent manner. She reached into one of the drawers that was in his bed-side cabinet and pulled out a flowery dress which Ichigo was forced to keep wedged between his own clothes. "I'll just go and get changed."

She skipped into the bathroom like there was no tomorrow.

Ichigo placed the bowl onto his desk, and slumped down into his chair. Is something wrong with her? She was so stressed out last night - how comes today she's so different? Did something hit her on the head while she slept? She's like...her old self again...But different, too. How is that possible? And WHY don't my freakin' mouth keep up with my head?!

She smiled, waving at him excitedly as she came back into the room. "I'm off! See you later!" She threw her pajamas into the closet before jumping out of the window. Ichigo rushed over to it, and watched as she fled down the ally and disappeared into the distance.

"What the hell is goin' on?" He sighed, resting on the sill.

"It seems pretty plain to me what's goin', Ichi." Kon emerged from underneath Rukia's pillow. Ichigo rolled his eyes at the sound of his voice.

"You know, Kon, I really couldn't care less if it's plain or not - I still don't get it."

Rukia stopped behind a building, trying to catch her breath. She leant up against the wall and closed her eyes. Thank God that's over! She thought. Hardest part done. I just have to keep this up until this passes, right? Right, okay...

Just where was she going to spend the day? It wasn't like she knew where anyone lived, not like she could just give someone a surprise visit. Not as though she really wanted to see anyone anyways. Perhaps a quiet day beside the beach? Nah, too obvious. The park? Hmm,no. A walk around town, maybe? Hey...

Rukia smiled to herself, considering her newly-found option.

It was a lonely Sunday if ever there was one. Walking silently through the streets, it forced her to think of the things that she'd aimed to keep at the back of her head. Like Ichigo...All those memories of him; the sweet and the bad kept ringing in her mind. Like the time he got injured by that Hollow on his mother's anniversery. When he was close to death, and she held him in her arms and prayed for his survival. Or that time when she was found by Renji and her brother. How kind Ichigo was to come and look for her - to protect her. He tried, but failed. He risked his life for her once...

Which is more than I can say now. Rukia thought sadly, sitting down on a bench. She doubted that her mind could grow any more morbid. Nor her emotions could grow anymore complex. Why weren't things the way they used to be? Why did anything have to change? Why didn't he love her? Was she not pretty? Was she not smart? Was she not nice? Just what was it?

"Kuchiki-san..." A soft voice broke into her thoughts.

Oh God...Please not you...

"Hi, Ishida." Rukia gritted her teeth. Whatever seemed to be happening with her and Ichigo, Ishida managed to make problems a whole lot worse.

"You look lonely." He said in a cheery tone. It was false, of course.

"Hmmm." She forced a smile.

"Hey, what's up?" He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and stared at her with the most genuine compassion that she's seen all week.

"Oh..."

EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!!!!!!

"...nothing..."

"Come on, if something's wrong, you can tell me." He sat down beside her on the bench, not taking his eyes off her. "It's alright. I'm good at keeping secrets."

"No, no, it's nothing like that." She stated.

"A-ha! It is indeed something, then."

"I don't want to tell you. I don't want to tell anyone. It's my own buisness." She folded her arms.

"Ok." He smiled. He wanted to know, but he wasn't going to pressure her into telling him.

An uncomfortable pause ensued.

"So...did your foot slip when you kicked me on Friday?"

"Oh!" Rukia blushed, cupping her mouth with her hands. "I'm so sorry about that! I totally forgot! Sorry!"

"It's alright." Ishida laughed.

Wow...I've never heard Ishida Uryuu laugh before...Huh...

I miss her...It's too quiet without her here. Even when we argue, and there's that awful silence, at least I know she's safe inside my closet. Unharmed and warm. Now I don't where she is...She could be anywhere - anywhere at all...the beach, the park, in the street, in someone's house, ishida's house...I bet she is...Or maybe she's ran off somewhere...All that smiley stuff this morning didn't seem...right. She could have easily put on a brave face...Maybe she's hurt somewhere...What if a Hollow should come and what if she's stuck somewhere without my help? Oh God, she might be...be de-

"Worrying, are we?"

"W-what?!"

"About Nee-san. I'm a little worried, but you...Oh, man, are you worried!"

"Shut up! I'm not worried. She's the one that ran off - if something happens, it's her own fault!"

I didn't mean that. Why am I sayin' all this stuff that I don't wanna say? She's dosen't deserve anything other than happiness...If she's hurt somewhere - It's my fault!

"It's my fault!"

"Eh?"

"I gotta go look for her. You comin'?"

"So why did you kick me anyways?"

"Um...I..."

Shit! What am I gonna say?

"Frankly, I don't know."

"Hmmm?"

"I have no freakin' idea. My mind's so messed up at the moment that I don't know what I'm doing nor where I'm going."

"..."

"Weird, huh?"

"Yeah!" Ishida smiled. "Don't worry about it. I know things have been messed up for you lately what with Kurosaki and stuff."

"Mmm, hmm." She nodded.

"Oh, there she is!" Ichigo exclaimed with a sigh of relief. He stopped running to catch his breath.

"Huh. She's with Ishida again."

"So?"

"Well, aren't ya pissed?"

"...A little. But what really matters is that she's alright. I know that Ishida won't hurt her." Ichigo said sadly as he realized this. "I was too busy thinking that Ishida was only after one thing - when in truth all he was doin' was making Rukia happy."

"Wow." Kon was almost speechless. For once in his life. "You've certainly changed ya mind since yesterday."

"I know."

"Awwwwwwww, Ichiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! That's ssssssssssssssssssooooooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!" Kon wiped away tears of happiness.

"Shut up, Kon!"

WOW...Ok, please RnR sorry if this was a little ahem shit but hey...don't be too mean!