Author's Note: I wrote this at like 11 pm, but I decided to post it in the morning. yawn I'm still sleepy.

Alternate Ending #4: Predictability

Rukia huddled in the closet. She had stopped crying ages ago, but her eyes were still puffy and red. And she was still sad. Oh so very sad.

There was minimal light entering the closet through a small crack, so it was very dark. Rukia didn't usually go into the closet unless she was dressing or sleeping. But, today was different. Today, she had her heart broken, and she had no intention of seeing the person who had done it.

She cuddled the inanimate lion plushie and tried to stop thinking about Ichigo. She had taken the green pill that was Kon out a long time ago. She was not in the mood to hear Kon's whining.

But she was in the mood for some therapy. Too bad there was none in the vincity.

"I'm home." Ichigo said, more or less to himself.

Rukia snapped to attention. Any second now, Ichigo was going to look for her in the closet. She crept to the darkest corner. She hid under her blankets and got as flat she could. She hid Kon under her pillow so that Ichigo might believe she took Kon and went somewhere.

Rukia couldn't see, but she could sort of tell what Ichigo was doing. He's going to put his shoes at the foot of his bed. Now, he's going to plop on the bed, face down, and stay there for a couple of minutes. Now he's getting up and stretching and he's going to say—

"Today was a rough one." Ichigo sighed as he stretched and rubbed his eyes.

Finally, he's going to notice I'm not here.

"Rukia?" Ichigo called. "Are you here?" He knocked on the closet door.

He's going to open the door when he does not get an answer. He won't see me. He won't look under the blankets.

Ichigo scratched his head. "Didn't Rukia say she wanted to meet me? And I thought I was late."

Rukia grinned. Ichigo was one of the most predictable people she had ever known. Every time he came home from school, he did the exact same thing. His predictability was a weakness, but it also was a good trait to have. Bad for Ichigo. Good for Rukia.

Rukia crawled from under the blanket. It was really hot in the closet, and she didn't wish to get heat stroke.

So now Ichigo's going to do his homework or listen to music or something. Rukia didn't know what Ichigo did when she wasn't there because she wasn't there to witness it, obviously. But she knew what he did when he thought she was asleep, and Rukia figured his behavior was pretty much the same.

Ichigo turned on his radio. He rummaged in his desk drawer and pulled out his diary, I mean, journal.

He wrote in his journal not because he needed to express his feelings but because his life was so crazy and outlandish that he had to write everything down. He might be able to sell his life story to some producer and make a killing. He was thinking it could be a soap opera, filled with love triangles and people almost dying. That way, he wouldn't have to edit it too much.

He pulled a pen out of his breast pocket. He chewed on the tip, thinking. Then he clicked it on and began to write.

Today was really uneventful. I learned nothing at school. Lunch was boring as well. Rukia said she had something important to tell me, but she couldn't tell me at school with so many people.
I went to the park with Inoue. We sat behind Inoue's favorite tree, the one where she drew a heart with my initials in it. We did our homework and Inoue—

"Pi, pi, pi…" Rukia's cell phone beeped. Rukia swore silently. Did he hear it? Rukia thought worriedly.

Rukia heard Ichigo drop his pen. His chair slid out and Rukia swore once more, only this time out loud. She didn't have to be quiet anymore; she was already found out.

"Rukia? You in there?"

Stupid phone…you're the stupidest phone in the world…the universe even…

"Rukia!" Ichigo exclaimed, after he opened the door.

Rukia blinked at the sudden light. She looked up to find Ichigo staring down at her. Concern was etched into his face, but anyone could have mistaken it for an angry scowl. The light shone on him in an odd way, so his face was dark and oh-so-very scary.

"I…" Rukia started, but she didn't find any way to finish it. Her cell phone rang again. Quickly, she slid the door back closed. She pressed the talk button.

"Hello?" Rukia said with a strained voice. She was holding the door closed with her foot.

"It's Renji. Where are ya?"

"Renji, now's not the best time."

"Rukia! Open up!" Ichigo banged on the door.

"What're you doing?" Renji asked.

"Well, I was hiding from Ichigo. But that's gone up in smoke."

"You're playing hide-and-seek?" Renji asked, more angry than curious.

"Leave me alone, Ichigo!" Rukia wailed.

"Rukia! This is my closet!" Ichigo said as he tried to pry open the door.

"Something like that." Rukia found it very difficult to keep up two conversations at once. Rukia hung up the phone without even saying "bye".

"Rukia, why won't you let me in?"

Rukia struggled to keep the door closed. More than once, Ichigo had gotten the door open two inches or more before Rukia mustered enough strength to get it closed again.

Slide…Sliiiiide, SLAM!…Sliiiiiide, SLAM! It was their annoying little soundtrack.

Ichigo suddenly stopped. It took Rukia awhile to realize that she was exerting unneeded force. She stopped and sighed in relief. She lay her head against the wall and rubbed her sore forearms.

The door opened again. This time, Ichigo held the door open. He sat at the edge of the closet despite Rukia's dissatisfaction.

"Ichigo, get out!" Rukia pushed Ichigo, first with her hands, and then when that didn't work, her feet.

"Why?"

"There's no room in here for two people!"

Ichigo thought about this. "You're right." Ichigo grabbed Rukia by her arms and pulled her out of the closet. He picked her up and dropped her on the bed. Twice, Rukia unsuccessfully tried to run away. Ichigo pinned her down on the bed.

"Rukia! Why are you acting this way?"

Rukia didn't answer him. But she did give the worst look imaginable: her let-me-go-or-I-will-kill-you-…-twice look. Ichigo slowly let go of her arms. She sat up on the bed and smoothed out her shirt.

"Rukia, answer me."

"I can't." Rukia looked down at her lap and tried to blink back tears. This is exactly why she didn't want to see Ichigo. Then, she'll be reminded of how horrible today went and she'll start crying.

Like she was doing now.

"Rukia, what did I do? Why are you crying?"

"I can't answer that."

"Why is that?"

"I know you, Ichigo. I know how you'd act. You're very predictable."

"Predictable? I'm predictable?"

"That's what I said. All I need to do is analyze your actions for one day and I'll be able to deduct exactly what you'd do for the next three moon phas—"

"Oh, shut up, Rukia. Stop acting smart because you're not. Your grades reflect that. And as for me, I am not predictable."

"I knew you'd act this way! You're so hot-headed! Just say one little thing, and you GO OFF! It gets on my nerves, it gets on everyone's nerves. Ask Byakuya. Ask Renji."

"Hot-headed!"

"Out of all the things I say, you get that one detail? Just stop it, Ichigo!" Rukia said. She stood up on the bed, because it seemed that Ichigo didn't even think about taking you seriously unless you were taller than he was. "Do I look like I'm in the mood for a fight? And do you really think you can handle my answer?"

"Yes, I can. I'm strong enough."

"You wish!"

"As if you can talk, shrimp."

"Shut up! You don't know what you're asking for, but screw it, you disrespectful little strawberry! I'm in love with you, Ichigo!"

Ichigo blinked. Wait…what? No...impossible! Rukia's my friend...my sister. During the storm last month, I held her and read to her and let her sleep in my bed. But, that's only because I never thought this would happen. Never ever!

This changes things so much. How can I answer her without hurting her feelings? Without regretting what I say? I have Inoue now but...oh, God, I'm so confused. He stood there with his mouth hanging open as he stared up at Rukia.

Minutes went by…hours…days—okay, maybe not days, but they were staring at each other for a really long time.

"Yeah, that's right, Ichigo. That's exactly what I thought you'd say." Rukia jumped off the bed and pushed past Ichigo. She opened the window and crawled on to the windowsill.

"Rukia, wait…" Ichigo said jus before she was about to jump. She ignored him and lunged for the water spout four meters away. She slid down the long pipe and landed on the ground with the thud.

You may sound depressed, Ichigo, but you so aren't. You'll lie down on your bed for an hour or so, thinking, "What the hell just happened?" Then, you'll wait up for me, because you know for a fact that I'm coming back. You'll fall asleep and wake up in the morning. You'll call my name and find that I'm not there. Renji'll call, saying I haven't been answering my phone. And that's when you realize…

I'm gone for real. And you'll probably never see me again. And you'll figure out the love you had for was so not sisterly. The melting feeling that you get when save me? It isn't because you feel like a hero, it's because your glad I'm alright. You'll think about me, maybe, once or twice, but you'll move on. To you, I'll be chance missed, someone never kissed, a frozen memory in time.

Rukia sighed. On her way past, Rukia roundhouse kicked the Kurosaki mailbox. The box teetered wearily on the post. Well, that felt good. Vandalism was something Rukia hadn't a habit of taking part in. In that way, she felt…unpredictable. Unlike Ichigo. Oh no, she knew exactly how he was going to break her heart before even did it.

Screw predictability!

For once, I decided to make the love not indredibly one-sided.

Oh, and "a chance missed, someone never kissed, a frozen memory in time" is part of a song.Tell me if know what it's called. Games? I looooove games. Guessing games are my favorite. Hee hee.

And, as always, I really wish you's review. So review. Please.