Author's Note: Hiya guys. Geez, I have been so busy it's unbelievable! I'm sure you lot are pretty peeved that I'm taking so long. Well, I give you my apologies and I hope they suffice! School has been a real pain in the ass and it still is. I'm literally rushed off my feet and generally pissed off. I have so so missed all of you and I am truly sorry for taking so long...Okay, I'm off on holiday on the 20th July for two whole weeks so around that time don't expect me to write for a while. I'd also advise you all to check my profile when I've not updated in a while, to see if there's a reason behind my absense. And if there's not, please be paitent. I'm sure I just have writer's block. (Something I seem to be suffering from a lot lately.)

Anyways. This chapter is very short and I apologize for that. I didn't want to keep you guys waiting forever for chapter 14, but at the same time I didn't want to write total crap. So, I hope this chapter isn't too shabby and please don't beat me up...I know karate!!! Only kiddin'. But seriously, I hope this is alright. I wanted to show changes in Ichigo without making him completely out of character. I freakin' pray that I managed to pull it off! This is not by any means the last chapter, m'kay?

Also, I have no idea when I'll get the next chapter up here. I'm thinking it's going to be a long time. Sorry for that, too. If there's no update by, say, July the 18th, then don't expect another chapter until I've returned from my holiday. I apologize once again for my inconvieniance and I hope you'll bare with me on this! Whew!

Enjoy!

She shifted, turning her body to face away from him. This was no use. No matter what way she faced, what position she was in, she couldn't get to sleep. Quite annoying how one thing can prevent someone from sleep. Just one minute thing. Well, in all fairness, it wasn't exactly minute. Not even small. It was BIG. And a big fat BIG at that. Rukia wanted desperately to quit thinking about it, but her attempts were futile. She'd set her mind to something else; Soul Society, cakes or bunnies. But it all seemed to merge and come back to him. Even bunnies, for Christ's sake! The female Death god was growing hot and bothered in her angered, tired state. In the end she couldn't get comfortable at all. So now, she was stuck with a thought that wouldn't leave her mind, and in a position that was less than comfy. And the worst part was that she couldn't alter the way she was laying because the next position she chose would have been just as uncomfortable. She sighed heavily, twisting back to face him.

It must've been really early. For it was dark but wasn't too dark, and it definitely wasn't evening.

At least that's one thing, I suppose. Hopefully it's gonna get light soon, then I can get out of this God-forsaken bed! She thought angrily. Then I can just go to school and put my mind to something else.

Rukia's vision drifted around the room until she caught sight of him.

Rukia studied his face in the dull light. He looked so peaceful. Rukia could not believe that she hadn't woken him due to her constant fidgeting. She stared at his close eyes. God, he even frowned when he was sleeping! How was that possible? Surely the muscles in your face would automatically loosen when you sleep, right? Unless his face was just in the habit of doing it. So perhaps he didn't need to keep it like that because his face did it all for him!

She smiled at the thought.

Or maybe he's not really asleep...

"Ichigo?" She whispered. "Ichi? Ichigo? Are you awake?"

No reply.

Rukia sighed.

Oh well. She mused. It's alright for some, eh? Can get to sleep anytime they want! Without a care in the world! Such a cheek...

Ichigo could feel her violet eyes on him. He'd been awake for some time, thanks to her consistent rolling from side to side. But he didn't complain. He didn't want to. There was obviously something troubling her. She'd never struggled with sleep so much before. And anyway, he was too busy thinking about her to merely go back to sleep again.

Rukia had been distant ever since he'd come home from school that Friday night. And today was Monday! She hadn't been very talkative, nor had she eaten much. She hadn't even tried to strike up a conversation about how 'sick' she was and how much he should be worrying over her. Well, he was definitely worried about her now. After all, she wasn't acting like Rukia at all. He wanted to know what was wrong. Ichigo wanted to ask her. Right then, at that moment. However, he chose not to. Maybe it was something that she'd get over by herself. Maybe his interference would cause bigger problems. Having no idea of what was going on in her mind, he didn't really have a choice but to do nothing. It might have been about Ishida, for all he knew. And if it was about that little shit - he didn't have time to hear it. The orange-haired boy couldn't give a flying monkey about that Quincy, and Rukia knew it.

But...I still wonder what it's ab-

"Should I ask him?" Her soft voice broke into his thoughts.

He laid perfectly still, eyes closed, listening attentively.

"I guess I shouldn't." Rukia said gently, gazing at his face. "It would only make things awkward...And anyway, Ichigo doesn't have the bottle to say his true feelings even if I were to ask..."

He wasn't angry at her comment. Not in the slightest. For once, he was actually listening to her instead of yelling at her.

Rukia wanted to hit him over the head for causing the thoughts to replay over and over again inside her brain. Why didn't he come out and say it? It mad her so PISSED! Not to mention it hurt her feelings. Why couldn't he just be frank?

Then she thought again.

"Perhaps...I'm the one wrong here. I mean, I probably wouldn't believe his answer no matter what he said." Rukia's tone grew sad.

You're not wrong, Rukia. He thought seriously. I know I say some shit sometimes. I can understand if you're confused. Geez, I confuse myself most of the time!

He inwardly gasped as he felt her cold hands on his face. He did turn a little pink in the cheeks, but thanks to the bad lighting she hadn't noticed. Rukia felt the tears prickle behind her eyes and she sniffed.

"Ichigo...there's no one, not in this whole world, that I care about more than you...I wish...I wish we could be more than what we are now...We're meant to be..." She tried hard to restrain herself from bursting into cries. "...more..."

His chest ached. His heart raced. What should he do? What could be do? He wanted to wrap his arms around her tell her that everything was going to be alright. But things weren't alright, were they? They were far from that. Ichigo longed to comfort her. Really he did. But he knew she'd ask him how he felt about her. And that simply wasn't a question he could answer. He wanted to answer it - after all, it would make her happy, wouldn't it? But he wasn't ready. Things were rushing through his adolescent mind and heart, and he barely had time to catch up. He needed time. And he knew deep down that time was something the pair were running short on.

"There's only so much I can give you..." Rukia brushed stray strands of hair off his face, tears blurring her vision. "There's only so much I can do...I can't wait forever..."

She sniffed again, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head against his. A tear escaped her closed eyes and rolled off her cheek and onto his nose. He shuddered as the cool liquid tumbled down his own face.

For once, maybe in the whole time he'd been with Rukia, he truly felt bad for her. Ichigo knew that he'd done wrong, and he wanted to make it up to her. He didn't feel like it was her fault at all. It was clearly not her fault. He couldn't believe how stupid he'd been. How he could just think that they have a little argument, make up and that's it. Happy ever after. Well, it wasn't. And he knew it.

Rukia...I promise I'll make it alright. Just give me some time, please. Just hold on a little longer...

Please be nice...0.0