Disclaimer : I don't own Bleach. Or any of the products mentioned.

Week four

"What are you doing here, Kaien?" She was trying to be as calm as possible, turning on her Kuchiki side helped in times like these. She was trying to be emotionless, but failing… epically.

"Rukia? You don't know how much I went through to get to you." His eyes were sincere. Sensing the atmosphere between them, Uryu decided to step away and join the others on the couch. All the eyes in the room were glued to Kaien, trying to figure out who he was, for Rukia had never mentioned him. A moment of silence passed between them, but it was soon broken when Kaien asked if he could speak to Rukia alone… without the peanut gallery. Reluctantly she said yes. Her rational thinking told her to get as far away from him as possible, but the feeling she had in her gut and heart told her to grab him while he was still close.

Thankfully her room was clean and not littered with bras and other clothing items you don't want a guy to see. He walked in looking at the room, as if he was very interested in every fine detail. Then the 22 year old raven haired male sat on the bed and looked straight at Rukia, who was trying to avoid his gaze.

"Could you tell me now… why are you here?" She moved away from him, trying to make the distance between them as big as possible.

"I had to see you. You left without saying goodbye." He fidgeted with his keys and dropped his gaze from her.

"Did you honestly think I would say goodbye to you, after what you did?" She wasn't as anger as she used to be, after staying with the guys and Ichigo, she learned to forget, but not to forgive.

"It won't help if I apologize, would it?"

"No, you ripped my heart out of my chest…I thought you loved me?"

"I still do." He was quick with his answer, like a trained professional.

"No you don't… you never did." She hugged her arms to her body, trying to hold herself together.

"I do… Miyako was nothing." He stood up and started to close the space between them.

"Nothing? Nothing that last for 4 weeks!" She wasn't as anger as she was a month ago, she was angrier.

"It was a mistake… I lost you, and I don't want that." Closer and closer he came, her body didn't want to move. Her fear has frozen her in place. His right hand reached for her face, gently caressing her cheek. An electric shock filtered through her body, awaking it from its depressing sleep. "I love you, only you."

She wasn't one who sweltered when she heard those words, but when his lips crushed down onto hers… her whole being came crashing down. The kiss deepened and continued. His lips aren't as soft as Ichigo's. Her own conscious were comparing the two, she was reminded of the brief kiss she and the Strawberry shared. Why am I thinking of him at time like this? She shouted in her head, meanwhile the kiss kept going. Kaien's hand had traveled to her back and started to pull her closer. She didn't resist.

But unbeknownst to them, the door had opened and scowling teenager saw the whole action and reaction.

~Monday~ *07/02*

She noted his scowl was deepened on his face, almost like he didn't sleep the whole night. After Kaien had left, the guys informed Rukia that Ichigo had locked himself in his room and didn't want to be 'disturbed'. So when morning broke she was surprised to she him in the kitchen eating his Captain Crunch cereal.

She had passed him when she came out of the cafeteria. Orihime had him busy as usual and clinging to him even more. Her phone silently buzzed in her pocket. The message was from Kaien asking her if he could see her again tonight. A formal date. After the little make out session last night, she tried to stay angry at him, but it didn't work as much as she wanted it to. Her only reply was "See you at 7".

The headache was pounding in his skull, more than usual as Orihime went on and on about the new skirt she bought. But it did bring a little relief. The image wasn't projected into his head anymore, not like in his dreams the previous night.

"Ichi-bo… what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" Orihime lifted her hand and felt his forehead.

"No, I just didn't sleep that well." Orihime's eyes glowed with an emotion Ichigo couldn't put his finger on.

"Okay! So I decided because I'm forgiving you, you should take me out Friday." For a split second he couldn't think why she was the one who should be doing the forgiving. It was just last week when he walked away from her, just because she was talking bad about Rukia. Was that such a big issue? Apparently it was to her.

"Fine. We'll go out" she jumped with joy and quickly hurried to her band of cheerleaders to ask their help on her outfit. When the bell rang, Ichigo slowly made his way over to the Science class. The one class he shared with a certain short, raven haired girl, who just by looking at her, made him regretful.

She was already sitting at their table, taking to Keigo. Ichigo's eyes caught Keigo's hand swiftly move to Rukia's leg, but before he could touch her soft, ivory skin, Ichigo grabbed his arm.

"Keigo. Don't." His friend took the warning with sweat-drop and went to his seat without another word.

"Hi." Rukia spoke to him, while turned to her book, thus not making any eye contact.

"Yo." It was brief. It was awkward.

Being less than a meter away from him, Rukia had the sudden urge to just touch him. Never in her life was she drawn to two polar opposite guys at the same time. Kaien, the dark haired adult, was gentle and valued friendship above everything. Ichigo, with his ridicules orange hair, was more robust and saw a friend as family. But both would die for the ones they love.

She tried to concentrate on the work at hand. The formulas were flying outside around her head not daring to enter, for her head was full of confusion.

Who did she love? The question was haunting her, and she saw no outcome for this problem.

His grey Nissan stopped at the house 2 minutes before 7. She gulped. She had to figure out who was the one she wanted to be with. But deep in her mind she already knew the answer. Kaien. Ichigo already had Orihime, and she could never let herself be the cause for someone to break up with their loved one.

What started out as an awkward date at a fancy restaurant, SilverOrange, later turned into a heated conversation about the past. Kaien had probably apologized about a thousand times when they reached the car. And again the minute another conversation died down he started his speech again.

"Rukia, really I am truly sorry-"

"Would you just stop! God… I hate that word." She climbed into the car. Kaien followed, but didn't start the car.

"But what if I mean it?"

"Then prove it to me."

He wasn't gentle, only passionate and hungry. He grabbed her and pulled her close, crushing his lips to hers. Minutes passed and their mouths melted into one and maybe their whole being. As the kiss deepened, Rukia's head started to run away with her and all she could think about was the fact that Ichigo's lips were softer than Kaien's.

~Tuesday~ *08/02*

She only heard the news in the morning, while she was biting her apple. Ichigo had disappeared last night and still haven't returned. His Mustang was still parked in its place, but he was missing. A sudden feeling was driving her actions. She grabbed the keys of his car and told the guys she was going to go look for him.

"Rukia that would be dumb."

"Why, Renji?" She eyed the red head.

"You don't know the city, or even the places that Ichigo would probably be… but I do." He took the keys from her hands and placed his backpack on the couch. "I'll find him, you just go to school." She wanted to protest, but Renji had a point. Wondering aimlessly around would do nothing, but use up all the fuel in the car. She nodded and headed out to Toshiro who was already sitting in his car.

The blue Mustang's engine purred through the streets of Karakura for about three hours, yet it only had one passenger. Renji had been to all the normal and day-to-day places, but still no sign of Ichigo. He tried to call him, but he only reached his voicemail. He turned down a lonely street leading to one place he knew Ichigo rarely visits.

The graveyard was cold and dead as the wind blew. The red head walked in the direction of the Kurosaki burial place and from a distance he could see the orange. He sat slumped against his mother's gravestone, head in his hands. Ichigo didn't hear him as he came walking up, only until Renji spoke up did he notice the red head.

"I didn't think I would find you here." Sensing that Ichigo wasn't going to get up, Renji joined him on the ground. "What are you doing here?"

"Thinking" He looked up, but not at Renji only into the distance.

"Since when do you think?" It was barely as snicker, but there was a soft noise from Ichigo's mouth.

"When did life get this fucked up?" Ichigo wiped his face with his hand and continued to talk. "I thought everything was perfect, now just look at this shit I got myself into." Renji gave him a puzzle look but didn't ask. "Three weeks and everything just comes crashing down."

There was a moment of silence as Ichigo stood up, followed by Renji.

"Did come with my car?" Renji nodded. His best mate was looking as depressing as ever, like a total wimp.

"Yeah, what's going on… tell the truth." He dug into his jean pocket and retrieved the keys and handed it to Ichigo.

"I screwed up." Ichigo would probably told him the rest of the story, but Renji's fist connected with Ichigo's cheek. "What the…"

"You are being lame!" he swung his fist for another shot, this time it collided with Ichigo's stomach. "You can't even dodge my punches… where is he guy who kicked my butt… countless times?" Ichigo slid to the floor holding his stomach. "Get up!" Renji wasn't actually mad or angry, but this was the only way to get Ichigo to his normal self.

Ichigo stood up and said : "He is being a coward."

"Nah… he is just being a girl." Brown amber eyes started to get anger. "A little sissy, with no backbone." Renji's words weren't the best choice, for soon Ichigo's fist ran into Renji's face.

"No backbone, huh?"

After as short silence and a groan; Renji replied: "That's the Ichigo I know."

Renji might not be the smartest person you'd ever meet, but he did care about all his friends, even if it meant him having a sore cheek for a while.

~Wednesday~ *09/02*

She was being a total teenager in love, in his opinion. Rukia hadn't stopped texting Kaien the whole day. Even in Science her phone laid well hidden on her leg. Ichigo found it most annoying, first the buzz, then her tapping and clicking, then the second buzz… and the cycle would just continue.

"Would you just stop?" Ichigo finally cracked.

"What?" her only response.

"It is annoying when you keep texting." He whispered not wanting Mr. Kurosuchi to hear the conversation.

"Oh… I didn't know it bothered you that much." He wanted to reply, but a Tatsuki came by and handed both Ichigo and Rukia a paper.

"Another assignment, yay." She mumbled the words, dripping with sarcasm as she walked to the other tables, not really happy at all.

"You'll be in teams of two for this one." Mayuri said from his desk. "I'll read the names out loud." Mayuri's system worked when placing his students for assignments, but not for Ichigo or Rukia. "Kurosaki and Kuchiki, you're team 12." He continued to read out all the names, but neither Ichigo nor Rukia listened. Both had a problem accepting their fate. Mr. Mayuri ordered his class to split into their groups and to start their project.

"Okay, Strawberry let's do this." She turned to him, grabbing his notepad and started writing down their names.

"Who died and made you boss?"

"Oh. Don't start that, the sooner we begin, the sooner we will be done." Rukia didn't mean in a bad way, but she just wanted to get away from his presence. Each second with him, felt like an eternity.

"Well thanks Midget. I like you too." Although it sounded like sarcasm… Ichigo actually meant the words.

"Well… whatever. Just start with the work."

"Fine."

"Fine!" the two turned from each other's gaze and started to work on both respected tasks.

It was later at the coffee shop that Ichigo cursed his scowl. Urahara had immediately picked up his bad mood and started asking what had happened. Ichigo tried to avoid the questions as he baked and cooked. He wasn't even supposed to be there, but the week cook was sick and Ichigo had to step in.

Urahara continued to buzz around his head until he kind of exploded and told him it was just a problem with a girl.

"Well, I can help with that."

"No! Please just don't." Ichigo was truly terrified what his ex-teacher might do.

"Oh…I'm good with the ladies. Look I am married to Yuroichi for the sake of the all the coffee in the world."

"Trust me this girl ain't like Yuroichi… she just… ARGH. I don't know any more."

"Well whatever it might be, you'll probably get some, if you know what I mean." The blond man danced out of the kitchen waving his fan as he went and singing a song of love. Ichigo only shook his head and continued to cook; he knew exactly what he meant. Sex wasn't the most important thing in Ichigo's life. He was probably the only teenage guy who turned blood red when he even thought of a woman's body. Secretly since he saw Rukia in the shower (with a towel), he had an unexplained reaction toward her. Sighing softly he continued his work, with a petite girl in his head.

~Thursday~ *10/02*

There was a soft hum of peoples' voices as Kaien sat at the bar and drank his second beer. The cold liquid slid down his throat bringing immediate relief. He had been sitting there for quite a while, sipping on his beer and thinking of the outcome of his actions. He had been stupid in the past, but now he was being an idiot. He waved the bartender over to him and ordered a Whiskey. He always founded the drink distasteful, but it was the strongest thing he would drink. Maybe if he was drunk enough he could forget about his sins and just continue living his life. After another glass and a few beers, the raven haired adult decided to head back to his hotel room. He declined when the bartender asked to call him a cab, thinking that the cold air would sober him up a little.

His watch ticked. Showing that it was just after 8… "Is it that early?" he was surprised that he was this drunk, this early in the day. He continued walking down the street and smelled a faint aroma. A bitter-sweet smell. Coffee. The coffeehouse wasn't that busy when he entered, probably at its closing time. He only ordered a take-away coffee and left, but not before he was confronted by a boy he had only seen once.

"You better take good care of Rukia." Kaien turned to him and questioned him with his eyes. "She is living under my roof, and I won't let you hurt her." Kaien only ignored him and left the café. The orange haired boy followed him and grabbed his shoulder.

Ichigo could smell the alcohol on him. In his breath. It made him sick to the core.

With Ichigo's hand firmly on Kaien's shoulder, the two guys stood quiet for a second. As the headlights of a passing car blinded Ichigo for a second, Kaien grabbed his hand and maneuvered his position so he could have a hold on Ichigo. Kaien's spilled coffee soaked the street.

"Who are you?" Kaien's voice was now deeper than when he spoke with Rukia. Ichigo shifted under his strength.

"Ichigo Kurosaki. Rukia's friend." He hated that word. Friend. It made him feel so useless, like he couldn't protect her like he wanted.

"Rukia's?" Kaien's reply was filled with a puzzling emotion, like he forgot who she was.

"Yes. Your girlfriend?" He didn't reply and Ichigo took the time to break free of his hold. The distance between them grew and the two stood and stared at each other. "You don't deserver her."

Aqua green eyes flickered to Ichigo's amber brown ones. There was a sort of hate brewing inside them. "I love Rukia. More than you think." Ichigo couldn't help but snicker at his statement. Kaien was drunk. At first he didn't even recognize Rukia's name. Now he was saying he loved her.

It made Ichigo mad.

Angry.

Enraged.

"You don't."

"What would you know about love, boy?" Kaien stumbled on his feet, feeling the effect of the alcohol in his system.

"I know just enough to know the way that you are acting, isn't what I'd call love." Ichigo turned away and head back to the coffee shop.

The drunken haze totally messed up Kaien's sense of right and wrong. With great speed he ran to Ichigo and tripped him from behind. The teenager fell to the ground, but first hitting his head on one of the outside tables. He didn't expect an attack from behind. He laid on the ground writhing in pain when Kaien turned him around. Ichigo's back was on the cold floor and the stinging icy sensation burned through his thin, long sleeved shirt.

Kaien saddled his chest, effectively holding Ichigo to the ground. Soon Kaien's fist came crashing down on Ichigo's face.

"You-" another hit "-don't-" another "-know-" hit "-what-" another and another "-love is!" There were another few hits, Ichigo tried to shield his face with his arms, but Kaien's legs had both pinned down and useless.

Shot after shot Ichigo felt the blood on his face. When it finally stopped he could barely see that Urahara had kicked Kaien, sending him back a couple of meters.

"Get lost!" Urahara's voice was stern and dangerous. Doing as he was told Kaien scurried off into the dim lighted street. "Getting your ass kicked like that, not to good for your ego, is it?" Urahara helped Ichigo up, only to catch him before he fell to the floor again. Ichigo leaned against Urahara as they walked into the shop.

It was both unfortunate and fortunate for Ichigo that his face didn't look that bad, but it felt ten times worse. Out of his right eye… he couldn't see. He could feel the scar forming on his upper brow.

Urahara disappeared into the kitchen after setting Ichigo down on the nearest chair. When he returned he had a wet cloth in his hand. The pain increased when the cloth gently touched his face. Free from the blood, Ichigo slumped in his seat and started to massage his headache.

"Who was that?" Urahara sat beside him, still holding the blood filled cloth.

"It was Rukia…" he didn't finish his sentence. Rukia? Did she just see that? "Hat'nClogs? Where is Rukia?" The sudden emotion on Ichigo's face increased the pain, but he ignored it and searched for her.

"Ichigo…" a pregnant pause. "She went home about an hour ago, remember…" Urahara was right. Ichigo completely forgot that Toshiro had taken her home when the café wasn't that busy. He only stayed behind to clean up the kitchen.

"Thanks. I got to get home." As he stood up, his chest remembered the weight of Kaien and with a sudden intake of air, a throbbing torture began. On instinct Ichigo doubled over in pain.

"I think we should better get you to a hospital."

"No!" It was loud and to the point. Ichigo quickly refreshed his mind and answered again. "No thank you. I'm fine. Nothing I can't handle." With his inhaling and exhaling, Ichigo's face displayed pain and agony.

"Yeah… we're going to the hospital."

They had two choices. One the Ishida Hospital owned by Uryu's Dad and the Kurosaki Hospital owned by Ichigo's Dad. The only problem, if he saw his dad again (him being beaten up) he knew there would be consequences. But unfortunately Urahara had to choose the wrong one.

"IIICHHIIIGOOOO!" even while being beaten up, he still managed to make his dad end up on the ground.

"You stupid IDIOT! Who does that to his son. His son who is in pain!"

It wasn't long before it was determined that Ichigo had 2 cracked ribs and a really sore face.

"Oh, who did this to my poor boy?" His father said in a sing-song voice.

"None of you freaking business!"

~Friday~ *11/02*

12:23 AM. Ichigo unlocked the door of the house and expected a black emptiness to great him. Instead all his housemates sat patiently in front of the TV. Uryu and Chad jumped when he closed the door, softly. Renji was snoring. Shuuhei's mouth was full of chips and Rukia who sat between Uryu and Renji, starting to dose off herself.

Uryu started the integration. "Where were…" but was soon cut off by Rukia.

"WHERE IN THE NAME GOD HAVE YOU BEEN!" with a jump, Renji awoke from his slumber and Shuuhei spit out his chips. She wiped the sleep out of her eyes and moved to him.

"What are all of you doing up?"

"Urahara call-" Chad started to say but yet again Rukia bit him in the butt. Figuratively.

"He said you were in a fight and that you were in the HOSPITAL!" She slapped his arm; the shock traveled through his body and restarted his pain. He flinched. She noticed his sudden shudder at her touch and quickly retracted her hand. "Sorry."

"I'm fine." He passed all of them and tried to get to his room.

"Ichigo, what happened?" It was Uryu who asked, with a worried expression. (well in his case it looked like worried or else it would probably be constipation)

"Drunk customer caught me off guard and started to beat me to a pulp. Anything else? Or can I go to bed?"

No one said anything.

After struggling to get his pajamas, on Ichigo headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water to drink his pain pills his dad gave him. But when he opened his door he was greeted by the only female in the house.

"Rukia?" she was in her blue Chappy sleep shorts and an overly large T-shirt.

"Uhm… I'm sorry about before." She held her eyes to the floor, probably finding the black tiles very fascinating.

"Don't worry about it."

"No…" their gaze locked onto each other "you're in pain and I.. I just make it worse." She looked away again.

"Hey.." he turned her head toward him, gently with his rough hands. "You only make it better." A cheesy pick-up line, really Ichigo? A voice inside his head screamed. He kept his hand on her soft cheek; she didn't pull away, neither did he.

"Are you sure you are okay?"

"Positive, but…" deep down he doubted if he should tell her. She had a right to know what Kaien is capable of, but he didn't want to hurt her. He didn't want to see her cry. "… nothing. Get to bed, we still got school you know." He dropped his hand and headed to the kitchen, leaving a gaping Rukia behind him.

Ichigo skipped school that day, thanks to his painkillers that totally kicked in and made him sleep for about 10 hours. When he got up he only felt stiff in all his joints and his face felt tight.

There was a neatly written letter next to his bed, stating that he should take it easy and should not do anything that would make Rukia kick his ass all over again. So his day started with a loud groan and a feeling of loneliness.

He thought nothing could be worse than being trapped by pain, he was wrong. He had a date with Orihime. Meaning another night of squealing and chatting about her new nails… or something girly. After a lot of reasoning with himself he decided to call Orihime and cancel. His reason : He felt to ugly to go out with her… and she believed him. He couldn't help but feel angry when she didn't ask if he was okay, only if they could go out the following weekend.

Rukia left round about 6 o'clock, with none other than Kaien. He only sat in the car as he waited for her. Ichigo still doubted if he should tell her about Kaien, part of him wanted to warn her… to get him away from her, but then she would only hate Ichigo. The other part reasoned with him that Kaien made her happy and he would give the world to make Rukia happy. So in the end he only kept his mouth shut.

The grey Nissan stopped at the house just before midnight, Ichigo kept his eye on the car and waited for Rukia to get out. He almost felt like a father waiting for his daughter coming home from her first date. It was cold out again so she was wrapped inside her jacket when she opened the door.

Ichigo had, moments before the door opened, disappeared into his room.

That night Ichigo dreamed about a black rabbit running/ hoping away from something, something that could mean the end.

~Saturday~ *12/02*

The café wasn't as busy as usual. Only an elderly couple and a mother with her baby, were sitting inside the warmth of the coffeehouse. Urahara had given Rangiku the afternoon off and had left the coffeehouse alone with only Ichigo and Rukia. Rangiku had disappeared when Gin showed up and ever since then the shop was quiet. Ichigo wasn't talking to Rukia. It was bugging her. All week they have been avoiding each other and the only time they spoke the words felt hollow.

When the last customer left, Ichigo locked the doors after Rukia had cleaned all the tables. The day was at an end. The Mustang purred to life and the two made their way home. The only sound came from the radio. Katy Perry's Pearl. It was a personal favourite of Rukia, but the whole mood was spoiled by the scowling teenager beside her.

"Aren't you afraid of getting wrinkles of scowling to much?" Her question was … weird and Ichigo didn't know how to answer. "Why don't you smile anymore?"

"Why should I?"

"You really are a negative person, aren't you?"

"Normally…? No. But the last couple of weeks, that is a different story." His hands tightened around the steering wheel. Not really wanting to talk about the thing that was making him bleed.

"I can't imagine you… positive, smiling… I would be too weird."

"Weird?" he snickered.

"Yes. It would probably mean the world is starting to end."

"Nah… it would only mean that I finally achieved my dream."

"Your dream?" She was curious.

"To protect the ones I love" he could help it, but he looked at her with his last words. She was the one was pulling the strings of his heart and she didn't even know it.

"Just to protect?"

"What else is there?"

"To be loved?" Yes, she definitely held the strings to his heart in her soft hands.

~Sunday~ *13/02*

Rukia was in a daze the whole day. Kaien wasn't answering his phone since yesterday and she started to get worried. It wasn't like him to just disappear without saying anything. She was pacing up and down her room when there was a faint knock on the door. The person asking for permission was the only one in the house that made her more confused than ever.

"Come in."

"Rukia… we should probably work on our science pro-" his sentence was cut off when he saw the worried look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why should anything be wrong?" She sat on her bed and looked away from Ichigo.

"I can tell when you are upset. Tell me Rukia."

"There isn't anything, I promise." He sat beside her, very awkwardly.

"Is it Kaien?" She flinched.

"N-No"

"Tell me? Please?" Why was he begging her to tell him about Kaien, the man who literally and figuratively stomped on his heart.

"He won't answer his phone. I haven't heard from him since yesterday. I'm starting to get worried." Suddenly she poured out all the emotion.

"Don't worry… he'll be fine." I hope for your sake. He added in his head.

"I thought you hate him?"

He didn't want to lie, but he didn't want to tell the truth either. " I don't hate him" I distrust him.

"You just don't like him?"

"… Kinda."

There was an awkward silence hanging in the room and an awkward closeness between them. He desperately wanted to touch her soft skin and even more… he wanted to taste her lips on his.

Without thinking he leaned toward her, not to much just enough to smell her sweet scent. She always smelled like Strawberry shampoo and Sakura trees when they bloom. She felt his closeness and suddenly found herself wanting to close the space even more.

Both started to turn to each other, both with the intention of capturing the other's lips. But just as their lips were almost touching… Renji's voice came from up the stairs.

"GUYS! Everyone I have awesome news! Get your butts downstairs NOW!" The moment for their kiss ended and both turned to join the red head downstairs.

Updating... Updating...
I can't believe it myself... but there might be bad news. My PC kinda... 'blew up', so I'm currently "borrowing" my sister's Laptop, so it will probably take me a week or two to write a new chapter. But don't worry... I will update!

Review Replies:

1. For the anonymous reviewer who reviewed every day. THANK YOU! You gave me so much inspiration! And I dedicate this chapter to YOU! Thanks!

2. Queen of Tartarus : Firstly : Awesome Name! and secondly : I'm totally creating a hatred between Orihime and Rukia... So in the end Ichigo will have to choose who he'll be with.

3. Leonardo Mezzaniotte : I'll try and update faster... just for you!

THANK YOU ALL WHO REVIEWED... THEIR IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR YOU! If it wasn't for you guys... I'll probably never update. Which would be just so sad!

Review are INSPIRATION!