Him and Her

Author: foxmagic

Rating: PG-13

Italics: Thoughts, emphasis, and any other random crap I decide doesn't belong in regular font.

"Italics" : Flashback speaking.

Warnings: Okay okay…some fluff in this chapter. But keep in mind that it's nothing overly fluffy. I have to keep everything IC.

Disclaimer: Ichigo and his uber greatness dost not belong to me.

Egads! Reviews there be!

hikari yuuko- And that's exactly what I was going for, too. Ichigo and Rukia need no declarations of love or whispers of sweet nothings. They show tough love! lol . Thanks for the review. Yours are some of the ones that I enjoy the most. You seem to really understand what I'm getting at in this fic.

may-chan- Thank you! I hope you keep on reading.

aaaa322- Yes! I'm always hoping that these stories make people laugh. That's the primary genre I think. Humor…good for the soul!

Mizura Enoki- Wow, I'm happy that I could make your day just that much better! I guess that's what it comes down to a lot of times…just wanting to write stories for others to enjoy!

azn anime addict- Thank you thank you. I appreciate the compliment!

Linwe Jaganshi- Yeah…I have this weird complex. Like my stories aren't good enough. But I am so glad you enjoy them! And I know, I need more confidence!

boeboebi- Heh heh…funny you should mention that 'kissing' thing. Well, I guess you'll just have to go ahead and read this chapter. Tell me what you think of it, okay?

neie- W00t to that! lol. Yes! (Waves ichi/rukia flag). Ichigo/Rukia for all!

Lain Lang- Yes…torture. Muwahahaha. I enjoy putting those two on an emotional roller-costar. And look, here's the big drop!

Mool- B-Beautiful? (cries tears of happiness). Not many people have called my stories beautiful. Thank you so much! Oh…and thanks also for reviewing Indifference. I'm glad you liked it.

Azamiko- Hahahaha…ha. Yeah, I really don't like all that 'kissing' and stuff. It's alright, but you know…too much of a good thing and all that jazz. But as I told boeboebi, it's kind of ironic that you would comment on that now. lol. Don't forget to leave a review for me after this chapter!

mickey-sin- Ah yes…Kash-sama. How is your vacation going, by the way? I hope you two are having fun! And yes, I updated! It only took me….a month and 5 days. Pfft…

Joyrok- Heh heh heh. Some fluff coming atcha! All for you! I did as much as I could with this without being too OOC. So tell me what you think.

evil-mittens- Thanks a lot! Ah the uber cute-ness.

(A/N) It seems like my reviewers are a bit divided on their opinions. Some of you said you want more fluff. Others said that they liked the story just the way it is. Well, I've kept things pretty mild for a while. I wanted to take it slow, cause god knows they would never be making out in the corner of the room after knowing each other for a few months (not that some of you out there haven't done that before…ehem). But I have to make things progress sooner or later. So here ya go, I am indulging on the fluffy side for once. So without any more babble, I apologize for the long pep talk. Now on with the chapter. BE HAPPY DAMMIT!

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Story Six: His confusion and Her emotions -Part One-

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"School?"

Ichigo rubbed his head in frustration. "I told you about it last week!"

"I don't remember that." Replied Rukia.

His pencil broke. "Well I'm telling you now. School resumes tomorrow. You'll have to be alone all day, but I doubt you care."

She sat silently on his bed as he busied himself with preparing for class. The girl was deep in thought, no doubt planning something that would probably cost Ichigo a headache.

Finished with his packing, Ichigo threw his stuff to the side and went to turn off the light. "And don't forget to be careful around the house tomorrow. Yuzu and Karin will be gone, but Dad is nearby in the clinic. If you want to leave the room, you have to listen out for him." He added before casting the room into darkness.

Rukia sat still while Ichigo made his way over. "Hey, aren't you going to sleep in the closet?"

Finally she stirred, getting off the mattress to walk to her own bed. "Yeah."

He watched her climb in, eyes now adjusted to the dark.

"Goodnight."

And the door was shut.

;-

The next morning, Ichigo was up bright and early. Once dressed and well-fed, he set out.

"See ya, Rukia." He said to the closet door. When no response came, he merely shrugged it off and left.

It was strange to walk to school without a certain former shinigami following close by. Even stranger was the fact that the summer had gone by so fast. Once again he found himself wondering if he could get used to it. The world was too quiet.

And then, there it was -the school gates. With a sigh, Ichigo let himself be dragged into the world of grammar and arithmetic. A long day was sure to lie ahead.

"Hey, Kurosaki-kun! Good morning!" A cheery voice called to him.

He turned to see Orihime and Ishida coming down the street towards his direction.

"Oh, Inoue-san. Good morning."

Ishida adjusted his glass. "Another year of school. You'd think they would give us more time off."

Ichigo grunted a reply as the three of them headed up the steps and inside the school building.

;-

The day wasn't going nearly as bad as Ichigo had originally thought. It was actually quite easy to get back into the swing of things. All the students were trying their best to regain their bearings on the new school year as well. The bustling, the noisy kids, and the annoying teachers. Yes…this was truly home. Things would now begin to simmer down a bit. He could relax for once.

"Good morning, Kurosaki-san!"

In mere seconds, that perfect image that Ichigo had built came crashing down.

It…it can't be! His mind screamed. Refusing to look up out of fear, the he sat still. Maybe if I just don't look…

Too late, he looked. And boy did he regret it.

"Ru-Rukia!" He choked out. "What are you doing here!"

She smiled coyly. "Fu fu fu…why I'm here for school, silly." Her fake and cheerful voice made his head ache.

"Kuchiki-san!" Keigo launched himself at her, but she sidestepped the assault.

Mizuiro suddenly came up. "Good morning, Kuchiki-san. We haven't seen you for a while."

Ichigo couldn't believe it. They were all speaking to each other as if nothing had happened. He could only stare on in confusion. Then his temper got the best of him and he found himself dragging her out into the hall, away from all the commotion.

"What the hell!" The boy sputtered. "What…what are you doing here!" As he said this, a memory echoed inside his head. Wasn't this just like that time he first met her?

"What if a Hollow attacks you? They're sure to be attracted to your powerful spiritual energy." Rukia argued her case. "You may be strong, but you lack any common sense. I need to be here in case of an emergency!"

She seemed to be forgetting who saved whom back in Soul Society.

"And another thing, what makes you think you can just leave me in your closet all day? How long am I supposed to live like that? I was getting bored." And now the true reason emerged.

"Alright…alright. You're just as pushy as when I first met you. Geez…"

Pausing in her rant, she looked up at him. "Eh? You're giving up that easily?"

"Yeah, stay if you want. I don't care."

While Ichigo turned back to enter the classroom, Rukia hesitated outside the door.

She knew it felt all too familiar.

;-

The rest of the day went off without a hitch. Even with eerie presence that was Rukia, Ichigo managed to survive all the way to dismissal. He had gotten used to this routine long ago.

So now they were waving goodbye to their friends, heading home side-by-side. Now the sun was sinking lower, taking with it the blue skies of mid-day. Now there was a comfortable silence seizing hold of what was a lost conversation.

Later into the night, when Rukia lay alone in bed, she would curse the evening air for its unwelcomed solace. But for the present, it was only her and Ichigo walking in complete understanding.

When had they begun to know each other so well?

"……" When the stars began to come out, Rukia stopped. And Ichigo stopped as well.

"Look…" She pointed. There was that Mr. Chappy constellation again.

He nodded mutely and looked off towards the sky where she indicated. The girl was apparently dumb. He couldn't see anything, but he suspected that it was probably another bunny. She was a psychopath with a rabbit-fetish. How totally appropriate.

"It's getting dark." He reminded her.

"Yeah…I know."

Ichigo watched her with intrigue. She looked different, standing there with that expression of wonder on her face. He lifted his eyes up to the heavens…

"Do you think it's the same as in Soul Society? The stars, I mean."

"I dunno…but…"

No matter where you are…

"No matter where you are, Rukia…we will always be looking at the same sky."

We will always have the same sky above our heads.

"You know, I think it really is the same." He spoke.

It was her turn to look at him strangely. "What?"

He smiled only briefly at Rukia before knocking her on the head with his fist, returning to his usual scowl "Come on, we've spent enough time out here. Let's go before my folks get too worried."

Ichigo had already begun to walk off, assuming the girl would follow. But when she didn't, he grew annoyed.

"Hey, I said let's go."

A stillness crept over them.

"Someday I'll have to go back." Rukia reached her hand out, trying her best to touch the sky. "I can't stay here…"

He wore a look of surprise. Ichigo guessed…that all along he had known something like this would be brought up.

She turned around to look up at him. It was easy to sense his thoughts, to feel his apprehension. Then his expression softened.

"Not yet. You don't have to leave yet."

It must have been the darkness of the night, and the cool touch of the wind that put them both out of their minds that evening. What else could explain their strange actions? Never in a million years would either of them have thought of such a thing. But it was night time, and the dark always bore secrets better than the light of day.

With all rational thought tossed out the window, Ichigo leaned closer to Rukia's face. He paused, breathing in her scent, lingering on that one moment. It felt awkward, odd, and most definitely uncomfortable. But above all…it felt right.

She waited, anxiety pulling her mind into a state of torment. Then he dipped down to kiss her softly, gently, and with utmost care. She was fragile to him. It felt as though one wrong move would break her porcelain complexion, shattering her to the bone.

"Ichigo…" His name was on her lips as Rukia gripped the fabric of his school uniform.

The boy gave into the rush, not wanting to move or speak or even breathe. This was a moment long overdue. And as Rukia healed from the shock, he felt that perhaps she wasn't nearly as fragile as he originally thought.

Maybe they'd regret this in the morning, but for now…it was just them.

And it was enough.

;-

TO BE CONTINUED—

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(IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE) Beware: Possibility of spoilers through chapter 184

Alright, it's time for that talk I kept avoiding. It seems like the recent chapters of Bleach (out in Japan) have taken a drastic turn AWAY from my own storyline. I told you from the beginning that post-SS would be only my interpretation, but I have to make a note of this nevertheless. I guess it might be appropriate to call this fic an AU now. Because even though it's based on the foundations of Bleach, I have taken a turn away from the actual plot. With that said, I must also point out that things are not yet resolved, and therefore we still don't know where it will all end. So who knows? I may be closer to the reality than originally thought.

The point is, please do not take any of the further stories as spin-offs from the storyline. They aren't. As of right now, they have NOTHING to do with ANYTHING. I am hereby taking my personal liberty on the matter. Disclaimer included, of course.

Thanks, and please review!

foxmagic