The soft sound of the school bell rang through the entire building, identifying the time as the beginning of lunch break.
The squeaks and screeches of desks and chairs shuffling followed after within seconds, most of the class heading quickly to feed their suffering bellies. Some students huddle around the petite one, welcoming her back. A couple of offers for get togethers and other after school activities were asked, but she only replied: "I'll think about that"
Orihime popped up before heading upstairs "Sado-kun, Ishida-kun, Kuchiki-san, Kurosaki-kun! Why don't we all go up on the roof for lunch together today! I want to hear all about how you've been doing, Kuchiki-an"
"-ah" came Rukia
"...Very well" was Uryuu
"uh, alright" was Ichigo
Sado merely nodded.
Ichigo waited for the others to head up first before fishing out his lunch. As he pulled it out of his bad, he turned to Rukia. His eyes were glazed with guilt. She didn't understand.
"...Rukia" he began "I-... I though you were... I mean, I saw you die."
"What. You're making it sound like you don't want me here" She pouted angrily.
"No! No. It's just... Up until now, it's what I believed. I mean I ACTUALLY BELIEVED you were DEAD! And I just hated myself... I hated myself for not believing in you, so much it felt like I was going to die too. I wanted to believe you were alive so badly, I'd wake up some nights after a dream to open the closet door, expecting you to be hiding in there, but you weren't there... you were gone... And I ACCEPTED that! I hate myself even now because I just can't come around to believing your alive after all this time, forget that your even here..."
"Ichigo..."
There was a dramatic pause as they gazed into each other's eyes
"We better get upstairs before the others start to think that we're ditching them to make out" Rukia spoke up.
Her comment sent Ichigo's blood rushing."w-w-w-WHAT!?!" he shouted at her while she headed out to the door.
"Where'd you pick up something like that?! Do you know what that even means?" he continued as he followed her out the door.

They both caught a chill from the cool breeze when they opened the door to the roof, but once they were out and in the sun, the weather seemed more comfortable.
"There you are!" Perked the redheaded girl "What took you two so long?"
"uh, I had to use the washroom" Ichigo said, using his favourite excuse.
"oh..." pause Orihime
"So, Kuchiki-san" was Ishida's turn "we're all wondering, what happened to you, since you're obviously not dead."
"Ishida-kun, that wasn't very nice the way you said that." Orihime informed him.
"It's okay" Rukia told Orihime " Even the solders in squad 4 thought I was dead when they brought me in. It wasn't until Unohana Taichou examined my body that it was confirmed I was in a coma."
Everyone eyed her, it was the first they heard of this.
"Why didn't Soul Society send someone to inform us that you were still alive?"
"It was ordered by Nii-sama that the status of my condition was to remain confidential between himself and Unohana Taichou, seeing that she analyzed my chances of survival to be 10%, 5% of that if I'd actually wake up and only 2% of that if I could even walk."
"That bad, huh." spoke Sado
"Ah. Nii-sama thought it would be best not to give everyone false hopes. He was at my side the whole time and told Renji to handle things in squad 6 until he returned."
Ichigo spat out some of the sandwich he was chewing "Renji?! In CHARGE?! That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all year-oof!"
Rukia retracted her fist from his ribs before continuing.
"For your information, he did a fine job commanding the squad."
"None the less, though" came Ishida's observation "From the time since... it happened, until now is an incredibly short period for a coma patient to wake AND make a full recovery, even with the capabilities that Soul Society has in the medical field. Kuchiki-san, do you realize this is a miracle?"
Rukia looked down at her half sandwich "Practically everyone says that." She was getting tired of hearing it.
The mood became silent as she stared at the bite she has taken from her food.
"Sado-kun, would you like to try some of my lunch? I'm still trying to perfect this combination." Orihime asks as she offers a bite. He nods and accepts the offer. His face cringes after the first chew.
"Inoue-san,... what did you put in that sandwich?" Worried Uryuu.
"Ah! Peanut butter and chili covered ginger root.... But I think there's something missing"
Uryuu smiled pitifully at his poor friend "...antacid?"
Rukia, Uryuu and Sado chuckled at the witty remark, while Orihime looked around at them, not getting the joke.
Ichigo merely observed Rukia silently as she interacted with the others.

When afternoon classes were over, Ichigo headed out the building first and waited at the entrance gates. He waited as classmates passed by, saying "See ya tomorrow!" "Laters" "Good luck with the homework!" and such to each other.
It went on until Rukia walked up to the gates. He just watched her as she walked up, not saying a thing, not moving a foot. It was only as her back faced him that he calls out "Yo!"
She stops at 3 feet away. Not saying a thing.
"...need a place to stay?" He asks, trying to keep his cool.
She turns around "... ah. ...I could use a place to stay" she copies his 'cool' attitude.
He notices how she tries to copy attitude, which cause a light smile to spread on his face.
"Let's go home then."
The walk to the clinic was a quiet one. The peace was welcomed though. It gave them both time to think over a few things. Ichigo was thinking of the things he said to her just before they went to lunch. It made him more aware of her presence and was more thankful then ever to have her by his side once more.
The sun had just set under the horizon when they arrived. Rukia continued walking around the building as Ichigo was about to invite her in through the front. "Honestly, she doesn't have to go that way" he said to himself before turning the door nob.
"I'm home!" he declares as he walks in"
"Welcome back, Ichi-nii! Did you have a good day at school?" Shouted his little sister from the kitchen.
"It was overwhelming, Yuzu!" he replied merrily as he ran up the stairs.
Was it just her, or did he sound... cheerful?
Entering his room, he found Rukia on his bed, closing the window. When she is done, she turns around and faces him. They make eye contact. The gaze holds as Ichigo crosses the room to take a seat at his desk. Rukia scooted near the edge to sit upright.
"Rukia...there's something else. Isn't there. Something you haven't told us."
"Ah. There is..." she pauses "Ishida and many others believe my recovery to be a miracle."
"And you don't?" he asks. She shakes her head. "Nii-sama... he told me that just before I woke from the coma..." She breaks the gaze and looks at her hands. Ichigo was at the edge of his seat, waiting for her to continue. "...despite it was my brother at my side,... it was YOUR name I called out." her head shot back up for their eyes to meet again.
"My recovery is NOT a miracle,... it's because you were here" she places her hand over her chest.
All of a sudden, he leaps from his chair and tackles her in an embrace, her hands stuck between the two of them.
"Ichigo?"
"This is just an other dream" he seemed to tell himself "this whole day has been nothing but a dream. When I wake up, ...you'll still be gone" his voice became very sad and quiet. "...I don't want to wake up... I hope I never wake from this dream." He paused for a moment to take a deep breath. His weight took a tole on their balance and they tiped over onto the bed, she beneath him. "I'm happy here" He hugs her tighter.
"Rukia..." he pulls away slightly, enough to look her in the eyes once more. His face held almost no frown as his eyes became so tender. "-... I love you" he declared in a very fascinated tone.
Her eyes shot wide open and her face flushed ever so slightly.
"Ichigo" she whispered, her voice like a spell. His eyes became heavy as he slowly leaned back in to her. His lips came down over hers tentatively and ever so softly, tasting the texture. He couldn't believe how REAL this all felt. How warm and sweet she tasted.
"Ichi-nii! Dinner is ready!"
He jumped 3 feet up, getting off the little shinigami. His heart leaping out with every thump. He felt like he was just woken up by a loud siren.
"Come down and eat with us!"
He looked back and forth between the door and Rukia. She smiled at him with a hint of humor on the corner of her mouth.
"...b-but-"
"Your not dreaming, Ichigo. I'm really here." His eyes widened
"Ru-kia"
"And I'll still be here when you get back"
"uh- right! I'll try to bring you something when I'm done" he says as he makes his exit.
Ichigo made sure to close the door to his room before heading down to the kitchen. Everyone was already at the table, but waited for him to join before they ate. He grabbed his seat and quickly sat down,
" " Itadakimasu! " " they all joined.
Everyone started their meal, but in almost no time, the sisters and father slowed their eating as their attention was brought to the brother, who was wolfing down his meal. His appetite was like never before! He slowed down as well when he noticed they were watching him.
"mhwat?" swallow " Do I have something on my face?"
"What's gotten YOU so happy?" asked Karin
"w-What?"
"You've been depressed the past few weeks, Ichi-nii. But tonight, your happy. Out of nowhere!"
"It's a girl!" his father exclaimed
"DAAAAD! You ALWAYS think it's a girl! I swear, that's all you ever think about."
"That's not...!" Ishin's voice was drowned with the sound of an incoming ambulance.
"Don't tell me the ER is full at the hospital again" Ishin whined. He looked back down at his delicious food once more.
"Okay girls, I'm going to need your help in the clinic tonight. Go get your smocks on."
""ROGER!"" They unionized. Hopping out of their seats, the three headed out to take care of their new patient.
Ichigo looked around to find himself all alone with the food. He couldn't ask for a better distraction.
He served a plate of rice and curry and placed it on a tray with his half eaten dish

When he got to his room, he felt relieved at the sight of Rukia. She was kneeling on his bed, looking out his window.
Setting down the food, he called over to her.
"Ichigo, what's going on out there?"
He went to sit next to her before returning to his meal.
"It happens sometimes. The hospital will send an ambulance here when they're understaffed. My dad's just going to be busy tonight." he explained.
"Then I'll have to wait until tomorrow to speak with him about my return."
"Since you won't get to see him tonight...If you like..." he hesitated " ...you can spend the night here,... in my room."
"...I so do miss my closet"
"Forget the stingy old closet"
"heh?"
Ichigo placed his hand down next to him on the made bed.
"You can sleep in my bed"
"What about you?" She asked.
He looked away and blushed. He wasn't comfortable with saying out loud what he wanted just then.
"...I missed you" He discretely spoke.
To her, he wasn't clear. She wanted a more direct answer. She placed her hand on his out stretched one to get his attention. It did. She caught his gaze, but before she could say anything, he asked "why did you come back?"

"Are you under new orders?"
"... no..."
"Is there a new threat?"
"... not that I know of"
"How long will you be here for?"
"I... haven't planed that."
"...Then why..."
"...For you...that's all."
"... for me?" he whispered and his eyes softened once again.
"It's what I want." She assured him. "What do you want?"
His hand flipped to hold hers. "I want to hold you"
His arm reached around her
"I...want to... k-kiss you."
He pulled himself closer to her.
"I want to... feel you"
His hand stroked up her arm. His breath made her feel a little too warm.
He stopped and bowed his head down.
"I... I'm sorry. I'm forcing myself on you, aren't I?"
Ichigo began to edge himself off the bed when her right hand grabbed his arm. He looked back up again.
"Then, you want me... as much as I you?" Her left hand removed the neck bow of her uniform and dropped it on the ground.
The significance of her action hiked his heart into overdrive.
He finally closed the distance between them and kissed her lips heatedly with his inexperienced ones.
"Rukia " he parted "... your everything I ever wanted" he declared while looking through the windows to her soul. "... I love you. More then anything in this world,... and the next."
It was the most beautiful thing she's ever heard him say.
"I love you, Ichigo" she breathed, melting into his mouth.
Things were heating up in their passionate embrace. Hands were caressing. Arms were squeezing. Moans were escaping. Shirts were unbuttoning...
"Just a sec" She paused, catching her breath. "Ichigo, you're what, 15, 16? Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes, without a doubt in my mind" he replied confidently.

*****************

Time is lost as they calm their wild heart beats. Holding each other in the aftermath.
They looked at each other anew and smiled tenderly.
Ichigo was rubbing her cheek lightly with his thumb "Rukia...that was spectacular." he pointed out.
"How... When did you learn to do any of that?" she awed.
"I'm that fast a learner" he answered.
Sleep dusted their eyes and soon reigned their conscientiousness.
Their cold curry meal had been long forgotten.