AN: Finally finished this chapter... Yay! I had so many ideas in my head that it was hard to finish it. :S Sorry for OOC-ness (if any, I don't know anymore), grammar errors or anything else. I haven't watched Bleach anime for days and only few days ago I read chapters 424 and 425 of the manga. Very good. :P And sorry if it is short (this chapter). I just can't break my usual chapters (of 15 pages)... I try, I really do. :C

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Chapter 2.

Back home

Rukia looked at the bright sunny sky. No rain today. Thank God. She smiled loosely. Yuzu said that Ichigo is released from hospital today… Should I visit him? She asked herself. No, maybe not. He probably got my letter and he's surely pissed like hell. And I don't really want to see him, do I? She shook her head twice. His face appears in her mind. Smiling. No! You do not want to see him, Rukia! No! His smile widened. He says "Rukia". No, no!

I adore the way he says my name…

"Kuchiki-san, why are you drooling over your clothes?"

She twitched and turned. Worried and kind of puzzled Urahara was looking at her. "You're all right?" He asked.

"Oh, I am! Why I wouldn't be?"

"Well, you're day-dreaming, drooling and you're eyes are shining…" Hm, I should try something…

"That's not true!"
"Kuchiki-san, Kurosaki-san is coming over here to see you."

"What? Where? Here? When? How? I need-… Has Yoruichi something cute to wear? Hm, probably not. Too explicit -" She spoke fast and mostly to herself.

"Khm."

"Maybe I find something in his sister's closet. Or-"

"Khm!"

"What is it, Urahara?"

"You're in love with Kurosaki-san."

Rukia blushed lightly. "I am not! I feel sorry for him ending in hospital because of me!"
"Liar." Urahara laughed.

"What's happening here?" Yoruichi asked, confused.

"Kuchiki-san is in love with Kurosaki-kun." Urahara smirked.

"Mah, that's the old news." Yoruichi said.

"What?" Urahara and Rukia said at the same time.

"It was obvious since the day he saved you. And you fight like you're married." She smiled.

"Rukia, calm down!" Urahara stopped her attack at Yoruichi. "Ichigo is not coming here… That was my little trick to find a proof you care deeply for Ichigo. And you do."

"I-..."

I visited him almost every day… And he never knew I was there… Wanting to help him… Ease his pain… And mine. Rukia sighed. I can't say that.

"I don't want to interfere into his life." Rukia said.

"Oh, you already did." He softly smiled.

"Now, let me give you some clothes so you could surprise him at his home!" Yoruichi squealed, which was very odd for her.

The car stopped right outside of the Kurosaki clinic. Ichigo frowned, closing the car door. He took his things and headed to the front entrance of the house.

"Son, I'll take your things. You should rest." Isshin said, taking his bags.

"Thanks, ol' man." Isshin entered the house. Ichigo went to the car – to check if he left something. Took everything. He thought, looking at the seats. He locked the car and entered the house

"5 o'clock, great!" He heard Yuzu talking on her mobile. She was smiling from ear to ear. "I'll make everything ready and… You know-"

"Khm…" Ichigo turned. Karin was frowning. "Listening to somebody's phone call isn't something like you."

"Oi! I wasn't listening! Dad took my things and I just-"

"Move it, Ichigo!"

"All right, all right!" He went to the kitchen.

"Can't wait to see you! Bye!" Yuzu was completely radiant.

"And? What did she say?" Karin leaped to her.

"She's coming!"

Who's coming? Kon was spying them, hiding behind the wall. I wonder…

Ichigo was holding a plate with a sandwich. He didn't see Kon, who was still trying to guess who was coming. So Ichigo accidently stomped on him. He probably wouldn't notice that he stomped on something, if Kon didn't make a weird, squeaky sound.

"Huh?" Ichigo looked down. "Kon?" Kon wanted to yell in agony and pain, but Ichigo quickly grabbed him with his free hand. "Shhh!" He said, as he hurried to his room. He put the plate onto his desk and closed the door.

"Kon, what were you doing?" Ichigo asked, trying to not yell.

"I couldn't stay in your room for whole week, Ichigo! Besides, I was woken up by Yuzu's giggling."

"So you heard to whom she was talking to?"
"No." Kon shook his fluffy head.

"We'll find out in two hours, then." Ichigo sighed lightly.

Yoruichi pleasingly pressed the 'end call' button. She licked her lips and turned bounding to Rukia's room.

"Now, let's get started." Yoruichi smiled, grabbing Rukia's hand.

"Yoruichi, I don't-"

"Nonsense! You have to go!"

"I do not want to!" Rukia succeeded to pull her hand from Yoruichi's grab. "I don't want to destroy his life! He has to live without Soul Society, Hollows and…" She suddenly stopped in the midst of the sentence. "… M-me." She softly ended the sentence, sighing in process. "I'm sorry, Yoruichi-sama…" Rukia took her bag and went out. I need to clear my head.

Why, why did I take the gigai? Why I even bothered myself to go to the hospital? It was that idiot's idea to put his life to danger, not mine… Rukia strode on the sidewalk. She even didn't watch where she was going to. But he put it into danger because of you. A low voice inside her said. He wants to have you in his life. She shook her head. He doesn't need me. And I don't need him.

She finally looked around. She was on the shore of the river. This… This is the place where his mother was killed… Her eyebrows scowled. She bent down and took a flower. Then she moved few steps closer and sat onto soft grass.

"Kurosaki Masaki… I'm sorry I wasn't able to meet you…" She murmured to the wind. The wind took the flower from her palms gratefully and raised it up to the skies. Rukia softly sighed. She smiled loosely. It was still a bright sunny day. Before she even realise it, she fell asleep on the grass.

"Ichigo, I need you to go to the store. We ran out of flour." Yuzu grumped.

"Oh…" He murmured. "O-okay."

"Go to the one that has Ai flour. That's the best. Don't buy any other." Ichigo nodded and went out.

"He wasn't complaining… That was weird." Karin commented, raising newspapers. "Why did you send him, anyway? We have enough flour for three weeks."

"Yoruichi called again. She said that Rukia went out. I want them to bump on each other." Yuzu said dreamily.

"I doubt it would be that simple…" Karin said.

"Oh come on!" Yuzu complained. "It's not impossible!"

"You're making their relationship look like a fairy tale!" Karin frowned. "And you're turning to dad."

"You don't mean than, Karin-chan!" She gasped. "And you want Rukia to be our sister-in-law, do you?"
"Of course I do. But it isn't that easy, you know…"

"I know…" Yuzu looked down. "I'll make the Chappy cupcakes for Rukia, they're her favourite! Then she'll stay!"

"Gosh, sis. You're so childish."

I swear I saw six kilos of that flour a week ago. Ichigo thought. Was she baking all week? He shook his head. Then she would bring some to hospital…

Ichigo walked carelessly to the store. He was smiling actually, because he figured that his sister was lying. Whoever is coming, obviously I can't see him or her. Speaking of her… He sighed. Rukia… Why are you doing this to me? He looked aside and stopped. The river… He hated that place. Mom… He almost lost himself in his thoughts but he noticed that someone was lying down on the same place his mom did when she died. That someone didn't move. It's not possible. He ran to the person. After few steps he found the person oddly familiar. Raven black hair, small body and big eyes with long lashes. He stopped.

"Rukia?"

Ichigo ran again. He fell to his knees right next to her head. His heart pounded fast. Don't be dead… He was going to check her pulse, but then he saw a light movement of her chest. She's breathing, you idiot. She fell asleep. He sat on the grass more comfortably, but turned his body away from her, feeling awkward.

What is she doing here? He asked himself. I remember telling her that my mom died here because she wanted to protect me… He looked at the river. Its colours varied from orange, blue and red because of the sky. The sun was going to set soon. Ichigo watched her. Rukia moaned lightly, but then she smiled.

"I hope you're dreaming something nice…" He murmured. Rukia turned to him in her sleep, like she heard him. But her eyes didn't open. Her hand gently touched his. Ichigo twitched lightly. He turned his head to her. Her hand was still on his. He bit his lip and grasped her hand. Then he lied next to her, but the other way around so that he wouldn't have to move his hand from hers. Ichigo's chin and lips where facing Rukia's eyes while his eyes were settled on her lips.

"Rukia…" He watched her slow inhaling, the soft movement of her lungs inside her chest. He smiled to the sight. "…If only you would stay with me."

The sky was burning before them gracefully. Ichigo was mesmerised, both for the incredibly beautiful sky, both for Rukia laying close to him. "Please stay…" He whispered to her cheek. His breath tickled her as he spoke, so she giggled. Ichigo looked over her eyes to see if she's awake. She wasn't.

What the hell am I doing? Ichigo asked himself. If she wakes up, she'll either kick me or run away. And if anyone sees that, they'll think I'm some kind of pervert stalking her…Or worse, since she looks like a child; a paedophile! He straightened up. A weak groan escaped his mouth, as he was probably mad at himself; not liking the idea that formed in his mind – I should go.

He stood up and walked away.

"Ichigo…" Rukia opened her eyes and saw a glimpse of familiar orange hair. "Ichi-" Something grabbed her leg as she was standing up. She fell back onto ground and cried in pain. She turned to see what was gripping her leg.

"Hello little…" A creepy smile crept on the man's face. Rukia lightly shivered; something inside her told her that she knows that man. But his face was unfamiliar to her. She couldn't do anything but scream. She screamed as loud she could, hoping that someone would hear her.