A/N: Merry Be-lated Christmas. "Let Me Sign," by Robert Pattinson. Start song where you see "SSS." Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Never.

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Chapter 23: Let Me Sign

His eyes opened groggily. Every morning he was still just as surprised as the first to wake up next to the girl he thought was only in his dreams.

The light bed sheet wrapped loosely around her slender body, her leg folded on top revealing her creamy skin to him and only him. His smile grew more as the sight he was so grateful to behold was his and his alone. She slept soundly as always with her lips slightly parted.

He watched every morning with satisfaction and appreciation. His fingers slid gently up her bare back causing her to shiver in her sleep. He smirked and then bent down to place his lips against hers softly. Every morning he did this and every morning she would smile after his lips left hers and snuggle into her pillow. This morning did not disappoint him.

Ichigo pulled himself out of bed and jumped into the shower. Rukia wasn't going to be up and interacting with the world for a few more hours. She was never a morning person. He knew that. So as he prepared himself for the coming day, she would sleep and he wouldn't mind. The night was always their most interactive time anyway.

As he threw on a pair of jogging shorts with no intention of exercising, he grabbed a wife beater and made his way downstairs.

For the past few weeks he had been basically living in Rukia's lovely house. And for the past few weeks she had been nagging him about his overly messy behavior. It's not like she didn't know he was a slob; just that she forgot. She wasn't a neat freak herself, but she had her own comfort zone. Little did she know, he still snuck a drink out of the orange juice carton when she wasn't looking.

Ichigo wasn't really the type to brag, but his life was pretty damn perfect. In fact that is exactly what he said in a recent interview.

He was in love. What else could be expected?

His career was moving along beautifully. Never before has he had so much inspiration. She was his muse yet somehow he always knew she was.

Urahara wasn't surprised to hear the news they had started their relationship. He just smiled knowingly and gave an approving nod. Not like they cared if he approved, but still…

Their friends on the other hand were speechless. They never expected them to actually admit to each other they still had feelings. But it was an overwhelmingly happy response after the shock wore off.

"There's something I've been kinda curious of," Renji began. "Tell me you didn't while you were still engaged," Renji had demanded more than questioned. He was completely reclined back in Rukia's living room.

"Of course I didn't! I'm not that much of a sleazebag!" Ichigo defended himself.

"I'm surprised you had the decency to say that, Renji," Toushirou snickered before taking a sip of his coffee.

"It's gotta be due to Tatsuki kicking his ass in line," Ichigo laughed as Uryuu nodded in agreement, but then put in his input.

"But you know. He had a right to ask that, Ichigo. You basically started making out with Rukia before you even thought about ending your engagement."

"Shut up. I know," Ichigo mumbled with a sigh. He began to rub the back of his neck.

"Have you talked to Senna lately?" Uryuu followed up.

"No. I called to see how she was doing like a week ago, but she said she was too busy to talk."

Toushirou scoffed. "You broke the girl's heart. What do you expect?" he commented before taking another sip. Ichigo sent him a glare before bowing his head in guilt.

"By the way, where is Rukia?" Renji asked curiously as he sat up in the recliner.

"She's either still sleeping or writing."

"Sleeping? Its 1:30…" Toushirou said incredulously.

"It's Rukia…" Ichigo said in return with a chuckle.

Renji shook his head with a smile, but then proceeded to question Ichigo. "So how's this going for you?"

"What? You mean me and Rukia?"

"Rukia and I," a voice came from the doorway. There was a heavy sigh. "God, you'd think I would have gotten that drilled into his head by now," she said with annoyance yet humor. She sat down on the arm of the chair Ichigo was sitting in.

Ichigo rolled his eyes before pulling her onto his lap quickly. Rukia's eyes grew wide as she threw her arms around his neck from being startled. The orange haired man smirked at her response.

She whacked him in the chest with the back of her hand. "You ass! Don't scare me like th-"

"Shh," he said before pulling her face to his and kissing her on the lips. Her riled up body tensed, but slowly melted into him before his lips pulled away from hers.

"Morning," he said softly with a gentle smile.

Rukia sighed with a soft smile in return and shook her head at his behavior. "Good morning to you too." They continued to stare sweetly into the other's eyes.

"Um, we're still here…" Uryuu interrupted.

Ichigo frowned and turned to look at him. "Well maybe you shouldn't be."

The raven haired woman hit the back of his head before removing her arms from around his neck. She directed her words at Uryuu. "I came down to say hi to you guys. I'm taking a short break."

"Writing?" Toushirou asked somewhat curiously, receiving a nod in confirmation.

"I'm on a roll," she said happily. "Which is good because my next chapter is due tomorrow. So…" she added with a small sigh.

"Anywhere close?" Uryuu asked feeling the stress from her words.

She took a deep breath. "Um, maybe?" She laughed.

"Then maybe you should get on that," Renji suggested.

Rukia sent him a glare. "Well excuse me for taking a break to say 'hello'."

"Sounds like you should avoid the courteousness," Ichigo said more to himself than to anyone else. Rukia turned to glare at him, in which he smiled innocently at her.

"Sounds like you're screwed," Renji added, which immediately moved the glare from the orange headed man to the redhead.

"Well I appreciate it, Rukia," Uryuu said kindly.

She smiled at him sweetly. "Why thank you, Uryuu." She pulled herself off of Ichigo's lap.

"Ass kisser," Renji commented before taking a chug of his drink.

Rukia rolled her eyes. "I have to go now. You guys going out?"

"Um, probably. Renji heard something about a Rock Band tournament at the mall. Since Toushirou over there is freakishly good at guitar, we figured we'd go win it," Ichigo said with a smirk. The rest of the men chuckled.

Rukia raised an eyebrow as she stared back at the object of her affection. Her hands found their way to her hips at some point. "Shouldn't you be better than him?"

"Hey! Real guitar is not the same!" he defended himself.

She shook her head and then looked between the three of them. "You're all going to play a video game in the middle of a mall? Do you realize how suicidal that is?"

"It actually could be worse than what you're thinking. Its being broadcasted on some satellite TV channel," Uryuu added.

Rukia chuckled at the stupidity and then turned to direct her words at Ichigo. "I'm warning you now. I don't want you coming back with complaints of some girl touching you inappropriately. Because you deserve whatever you get," she said turning and walking toward her destination.

"What about if some guy does the touching?" Ichigo yelled over his shoulder with a smirk as the rest laughed.

"Then I guess you won't be coming back, huh?" she yelled back before completely going out of earshot.

"What the hell does that mean?" Ichigo asked with confusion.

"Means you're gay, bro," Renji interpreted.

"You know what? You are a genius, Toushirou," Ichigo admitted with shock.

"I know. They won't even register that it's us until you start singing into that fake microphone," he replied with a grin.

"Seriously. I would have never thought about not wearing a disguise. It's the last thing people expect, I guess," Renji reasoned as the three of them walked towards the middle of the mall.

"Yeah. And there are so many people who are dumb enough to dye their hair orange nowadays just to look like this dumbass over here," Uryuu commented pointing his thumb toward Ichigo.

"Screw you."

"So Renji's got the drums and I'll get the bass," Uryuu ignored Ichigo and pointed out the huddle of people surrounding the stage.

"You guys ready to do this?" Renji asked as they each stared at their destination.

Ichigo smirked. "This is gonna be pretty kickass."

"So, next up we have… The Heart Breaking Angels!" the announcer yelled.

The four made their way on stage. "Who the hell picked that name?" Ichigo whispered into Toushirou's ear.

"Renji," he whispered back with annoyance.

"And he called me gay?" Ichigo replied before taking their places near their instruments.

The announcer spoke into the microphone again. "First song, 'Beat It,' by Michael Jackson!"

"Nice," Ichigo commented to himself as the projected screen changed to the game screen.

The three of them played their notes right on queue when they came, but once the words came and Ichigo's voice resonated through a large portion of the infrastructure, people began to murmur into conversations. It took them about ten seconds before the first girl screamed. This enveloped into cheering.

Once the song ended, the four of them turned around to face the audience, away from the screen. Everyone continued to cheer as they put up their award winning smiles.

The announcer was having trouble finding words. "That was- shocking! And amazing!" He held the microphone out to Toushirou without knowing why.

"Um, we just hope you don't judge us any differently," he said with a smile and a chuckle. He gave Ichigo a side glance as his toy guitar hung in front of him still.

The announcer then moved to Ichigo. "Y-yeah," Ichigo agreed. "Just because I'm known to hit a few good notes, doesn't mean I'll hit the right ones," he added with a chuckle.

"We'll keep that in mind!" The announcer turned towards the camera. "I hope they are playing this live!" he said almost through gritted teeth as he continued to smile eagerly.

"You guys have moved onto the next round!" he announced immediately.

Ichigo turned to stare at Uryuu and Renji slightly behind him and Toushirou. "So much for being judged fairly," he said with a roll of his eyes.

"Ah!" she yelled as she stretched back in her chair. "Yes!" she said with her arms stretching straight up in the air. "Done and sent," she commented as the email was sent to her editor.

She turned and grabbed the remote on her bed. With a quick click, she then threw the remote back on her bed as the TV turned on. She went into her closet and began to get clothes out so she could take a relaxing shower.

"News just in! Not only has one of our most adored media men been spotted at a local mall, but three of his closest friends, who are equally adored by us, were seen with him! Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryuu Ishida, Renji Abarai, and Toushirou Hitsugaya are currently one of the finalists in a local Rock Band tournament. Here's live footage of this fascinating event!"

Rukia slowly walked out of her closet with her mouth slightly ajar as her eyes focused on the television. "You've got to be kidding me."

On the screen were the four men totally engrossed in the competition with the crowd dying over the four's every breath. It looked like a real concert. Ichigo blew a kiss to someone in the audience.

She raised an eyebrow and shook her head as she made her way to her bathroom. "Not one complaint, Ichigo Kurosaki," she warned as if he could here her.

"I can't believe we got second!" Ichigo said throwing himself down on the bed. He wore only a pair of boxers as he stared at the ceiling. "They totally cheated!"

Rukia walked into the room from her closet in a light blue silk night gown. She posed slightly seductively, but raised an eyebrow at his complete obliviousness.

"I mean, no way that girl hit five notes at the same time! Not possible!" he argued to himself as he shook his head.

Rukia smirked at the ridiculousness of the situation and decided to lean against the doorframe and see how long it would take him to realize anything.

"I'd believe four notes, but not five! You can only use four fingers as the thumb holds up the neck. Four buttons – four fingers. Four buttons – five fingers, doesn't make any sense!" he exclaimed in annoyance yet with a smirk. He then sat up to see her, "Can you believe this?"

His eyes then saw her and his current thoughts diminished in an instant. "Whoa."

"Finally," she said with a chuckle. "I'm glad you had fun playing you're little game today," she said tilting her head to the side and leaning off of the wood. "Tired?" she asked innocently walking towards him slowly.

His eyebrows rose as he watched her make her way toward him. He shook his head back and forth eagerly. He couldn't form words at that moment.

"Really?" she asked with a smirk as she sat on the edge of her bed. She looked over her shoulder at him with seducing eyes. "Because I'm exhausted," she said smoothly with a smirk and began to get under the covers.

Ichigo's eyes went wide and then he grinned and shook his head. "Uh-uh," he said rolling her over and hovering over her. She laughed underneath him as he began to kiss her jawbone and then her neck.

"It's just like you to wear something like that and then want to go to sleep," he said before capturing her lips. "Cruel woman."

She continued to laugh as he continued to cause her to shiver. Her eyes stared at the ceiling as she felt the urge to speak. "I have a question."

"Yes, I was touched inappropriately today. And yes, I would have rather it been you," he said with a smirk against her perfect skin.

"I told you no complaining," she chuckled. "But I'm serious."

Ichigo froze to his displeasure and stared down into her violet eyes. "Okay…?"

"Well actually, more of a favor," she corrected herself.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you trying to persuade me into something with sex?"

Rukia's eyes widened and then she began to laugh.

"I don't see what's so funny."

SSS

"It's funny because it kind of looks that way, doesn't it?"

"Kinda," he said with a smirk. "I'm guessing its not… even though I would have been perfectly fine with it."

"It's more sentimental," she corrected. "Even though it's taking some of the meaning out of it the more we talk about how I'm using sex against you, even though I'm not."

"Rukia, just say it," he said softly as he began to kiss her cheek and then her forehead and then her other cheek.

"I want you to remember me like I am right now."

He froze and then pulled away to get a better look at her. "What do you mean?"

She shook her head as if she was frazzled to get into detail. "I don't know. Its just we've been so amazing lately and I know something bad usually happens when things are too good. And I'm just- just-"

"Hey," Ichigo interrupted softly as he stared caringly down at her. His amber eyes made her whole world stop. "There's nothing left to ruin us." He began to chuckle. "I think the universe has used absolutely everything it had already. And guess what?" he asked with a small, warm smile.

"What?" Rukia asked softly.

"Look where we are after all of it."

Standing by, a broken tree
Her hands are all twisted, she's pointing at me.

I was damned by light coming
All that I see

Rukia stared up at him with nothing but love radiating off of her. Her arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer. Their lips met gently until she pulled away and pulled him into an embrace.

Ichigo was surprised, but wrapped his arms around her instinctively and held her tightly.

She spoke with a voice and
Looked up at the sky
She said hold on lover yeah don't be ashamed

Her eyes were closed with her eyebrows furrowed. "Please just remember me like this," she practically begged into his ear. "With nothing in our way from being in each other's arms."

I will wrap you in my arms
And know that you'll be safe

Let me sign

Ichigo frowned and pulled her tighter against him. Then, they pulled back and let their eyes meet fiercely.

Violet versus amber.

And as if to further this picture meant to be saved forever in the vault, their lips met eagerly as their hands held on to each other with desperateness.

Let me sign.

"Why the hell are you up?" Ichigo groaned as he rubbed his eye. The clock read 8:32. It wasn't a mistake.

Rukia was dressed in a pair of jeans and a simple t-shirt. She began to put on her sneakers as she sat on the edge of the bed. "I have to meet with my editor. I sent in my chapter last night."

He groaned again and then sat up.

"You don't have to get up, you know," she commented with a chuckle.

"No avoiding it now."

"Sorry," she apologized with sincerity.

He waved a hand at her and yawned. "No problem. You'll have to make it up to me somehow," he smirked.

She chuckled. "I guess I will."

He reached for the remote on the bedside table and hit the button before rolling his shoulders in a circle. He let his neck roll along his shoulders as well and felt satisfaction as he heard the crack of his joints. He sighed as his eyes remained closed.

"I'll be back soon," she said kissing him quickly on the lips, which startled him.

"Bye," he said when she was already out the door.

He looked at the television and saw the news anchor talking about some charity event being held at a prestigious hotel. Ichigo smiled at the children on the screen who waved at the camera enthusiastically.

His phone buzzed on the table next to him. Leaning over to stare at the screen, he read he had missed four calls from the clinic his father ran back in his home town. Or rather the house he grew up in. Figuring it was his irritating father just calling to harass him, he would call him back later. Delaying the inevitable was his specialty.

"Ugh! I forgot my wallet," Rukia said in annoyance, coming back into the room in a rush.

"In further news, renowned serial killer, Sosuke Aizen, has been released from prison due to, listen to this, good behavior. Not only has he apparently changed his ways in only a little over a decade of his sentence, but he has stated that he 'will commit his life to following the Lord.' Here is footage of Aizen leaving his imprisonment behind him earlier today. Further information will be available soon. Moving on to our next…"

Rukia stood staring at the screen; her mouth ajar. Her heart began to race. Slowly, she turned and faced Ichigo. The sight she saw scared her more than the news on the screen.

His features; the way his jaw was perfectly set, the way his nostrils were slightly flared, the way his chest was expanded, and the way his eyes remained narrow and hollow; it was reminder of something she remembered too well. His warm smile from moments ago turned into this cold stare. She was afraid. Not about the new information, but about losing him to this turn of events. She had already lost him once before.

"Ichigo," she said in nothing short of a whisper. She approached him slowly. Her hand extended towards him, but she hesitated. He wasn't there in front of her. He was somewhere else.

"Ichigo," she repeated again with a bit more strength. She was trying to be strong. She had to be. Building up her courage, she sat down on the bed next to him and brought her hand to his cheek softly.

His ambers moved slowly to meet her. His head followed shortly. Again their eyes met.

Violet versus amber.

She tried to hold back the tears that began to form. Memories swarmed her blurry vision.

"Do you expect me to be happy?! My past was thrown back into my face and you expect me to live like nothing happened?!"

"No, I expect you to live! Look at yourself! You're a mess!" she paused. Her voice became softer. "I'm a mess."

Years ago, he had faced his mother's murderer's reappearance and ran off in search of vengeance. His mind was filled with only one notion and everything else came second. That's when she first lost his heart. That's when he first broke her heart.

She brought her hands to his chest and gripped his thin black t-shirt into her fists as she bent her head down to the floor. "You can't keep doing this to me. If you're going to keep leaving… stop coming back." She was silent for a moment, "You've changed so much…"

Nightmares haunted her in clear daylight. They were grabbing a hold of her as his cold, piercing eyes began to stab her heart slowly, but surely.

"I'm going to take the first bus out of here tomorrow morning… but I'm not going unless you tell me to," she stared deep into his eyes and she thought she saw the slightest bit of emotion.

"Go."

She swallowed hard. "Please Ichigo," she began. Her voice cracked a little. "Don't leave me again," her voice said so softly. She was so vulnerable as he continued to stare back into her.

"How?" he whispered. She let him finish. "How is… how is that possible? How is he free?" He shook his head and then stared off into nothing. "I don't understand," his voice was emotionless.

"I don't know," Rukia said weakly as she seemed to have no existence in her own bedroom.

He looked back at his phone on the nightstand. He held it in his hand as he registered his father's phone calls. He frowned at his foolishness. Without another word to Rukia or another glance, he dialed his old phone number.

She sat there with his back turned to her. Her chest felt heavy. Everything was falling apart. And she could do nothing but watch. Just like in the past. History was repeating itself.

"Go to your meeting, Rukia," Ichigo said coldly.

"No, I think I'm going to-"

"I'm fine without you."

His words were cold and as much as she knew he didn't mean it the way she took it, it couldn't be helped. It was the beginning of a burn that had already engulfed her soul years ago. Yet all she could do was stand up slowly and make her way out of her house silently.

In a minute's time, the universe had turned on her. There was something left that could ruin them. She knew how this ended. No matter how much she wanted to believe that Ichigo had changed, he was still that stubborn boy. That boy that believed in justice and doing what was right. She saw him turning his back on her and walking away in an agonizing pace. She couldn't think positive. There was rarely ever something good that happened to them. The worst part of it all is that it was as if she saw it coming.

Each step she took as she descended from the stairs was heavier than the last. His willing heart was shielded. And finding her way around it was something she could never do. It was only until he put down his defenses that they were given the chance again.

Her hands clenched into fists. "What do I do?" she asked herself softly before opening her front door. She turned and looked back up the stairs she had come from. She stared as if she could see him sitting on the bed with lack of feeling. And then, she turned around and closed the door behind her.

'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?'

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Ok. I figured I would just get to the point without saying much before the chapter. So I'll speak now. I'm so sorry. :( I'm a terrible person. I seriously took five whole months to get you the next chapter. I am a complete asshole. Let me bitch about myself for a bit. I seriously have been so angry at not being able to write this story. I've gotten the occasional review or alert from someone for this or These Days and I want to punch myself. While I wasn't writing these two stories:

I was writing two other completely unrelated stories that are original. The one friend that I allow to read my stuff was complaining that I should just finish up this one – which has alternate names and character descriptions, which I allow her to read.

Also, senior year is ridiculous. I finished my damn applications and essays and all that other bull, while people are pulling me out of my solitude and saying "Let's go do something!" Damn them. Damn them all.

Okay. So now that I'm done complaining. Hah – I'm Ichigo, only I wish some guy was touching me inappropriately… Kidding. But seriously. That was a rant and I hardly expect everyone to read about my so-called issues. So if you've made it this far: Congratulations! You're a winner! Of what? I'll have to get back to you on that.

Now, about this story! I've finally brought up some plot! Of course the emotions are going to overflow again but we've got something new feeding it! Love was in the air and then – BAM. I killed it. Or did I? Will Rukia find the strength to do what she couldn't years ago? Will Ichigo be a man and let go of the past? Will there be happiness in the end??? Find out next chapter in Run To You!!! Later