"Every time you and I connect with each other, a little bit of heart is born between us. Heart isn't something inside you.

But whenever you think, whenever you remember someone, that's when heart is born.

If you were the only one alive in the whole world, heart wouldn't exist now, would it?"

~Kaien Shiba~

~.~.~.~.~.~

For the Love of Ichigo

Chapter 7

As she stood in the middle of the training field awaiting Ichigo's arrival, she began to think about what Nel had told them the night before. As the green haired nuisance told them about the note, Rukia felt her blood boil. No, it didn't have anything to do with the plan she had to annoy the clan elders. She really, really didn't like Nel. Maybe it had something to do with her creepy ability to turn into a child or the fact her body was better looking than hers, Rukia didn't know but one thing she did know. No one was going to interfere with her plans to irritate the elders and to finally get them off her back.

She unsheathed her sword and began to take practice swings. Even though she had told Ichigo she wanted to get stronger, she had only told him that to steer him away from Nel. Even though Nel had helped in the Winter War against Aizen she still didn't trust her.

She was so lost in her own thoughts of bashing that she hadn't noticed Renji until he was standing in front of her blocking her sword.

"Yo, Rukia" he said with a smile.

"Renji. what are you doing here?" she asked impatiently.

She glanced down at her chappy watch. Ichigo was late.

Renji watched in amusement as she checked her watch. Only one thing in this world could make Rukia look at her watch like that: Kurosaki Ichigo.

"I came out here to train. What are you doing here? he asked eyebrows raised.

He watched as she turned bright red. He shook his head. For someone who prided herself on keeping her emotions hidden, Rukia was doing a great job of keeping her emotions hidden. Her emotions were written all over her face.

Renji clutched his fist tightly. Even though he and Ichigo were friends, he didn't like the idea of Ichigo having all of Rukia's attention. Sure, he had teased her about it but that didn't necessarily mean he wanted to see her with someone else. Especially his rival Ichigo.

He watched as her expression change from irritated to slightly annoyed. His heart jump started at the expression. This was his chance to tell her how he felt. He glanced at her face again. He had to tell her how he felt now while he still had the courage.

"Rukia, I".......he began but was cut off by the name of the person he didn't want to hear.

"Ichigo" Rukia yelled.

She ran away leaving Renji speechless.

Renji shook his head and berated himself once again for being a coward.

As Rukia stood in front of their friend, his heart filled with sadness.

"Ichigo, if you break her heart I will kill you"

~0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o~

As Ichigo walked through the clearing, his eyes were searching around paranoid as ever. Last night, he had awoken to a sight he never wanted to see.

Soi Fon leaning over his bed, trying to kiss him.

Ichigo gave an involuntary shudder.

Not only did she try to pin him to the bed but she was ranting on about getting married.

'What was the deal with people and marriage these days?'

If it hadn't been for the quick thinking of his idiot father, who knows what Soi Fon would have done? As the door to his bedroom slammed open, Soi Fon jumped out of the window and disappeared into the night. Now he no longer needed proof. Soi Fon was nuts.

After she had escaped, it had taken him even longer to fall asleep. Every time he closed his eyes he kept jumping awake thinking Soi Fon standing over him. (shudder).

Since he didn't get any sleep the night before, his father insisted on giving him the day off. It wasn't until he looked in the mirror that morning he understood why his father insisted that he take the day off. There was dark rings under his eyes. It appeared as if he hadn't slept in days. If he didn't promise to train Rukia today, he would try to get some much needed sleep. But, a promise was a promise. After all, Ichigo was a man of his word.

At first he protested taking a day off but then decided to not complain. Had he not tried to think of a reason to get out of work yesterday so he could train Rukia anyway? The attack of the Soi Fon was a stroke of luck. Now he had his day off without feeling guilty.

The sound of an annoying midget broke into his thoughts. "Ichigo" she screamed again.

Ichigo shook his head and cleared his thoughts and gave the midget a scowl. Oi, sorry I'm late Rukia"

She glared at him.

Her violet eyes peered seemingly into his soul. Ichigo began to feel a bit uncomfortable. It had been a long time since he seen someone look at him that way. If anything, he realized that this gaze couldn't possibly be a good thing.

'Why was she looking at him like that?'

Seemingly satisfied, Rukia walked away. He was about to protest when she stopped.

She had walked a few feet away and took a fighting stance. She unsheathed her sword.

Ichigo got the hint. He unsheathed his sword and took a fighting stance of his own.

Today he was going to help the midget become stronger.

~0o0o0o0o~

As the citizens of Soul society woke up to start a new day, a familiar flare of reiastu filled the air. In the 11th division, Zaraki Kenpachi woke up with a smile.

He had been waiting on him to come back.

After since he had outrun him the day before, Kenpachi was in a permanent bad mood.

But, now his day was going to be better.

Kurosaki Ichigo wasn't going to be Soul Society's number one eligible bachelor anymore.

He grabbed his nameless sword and took off.

Kurosaki Ichigo had made his day.

Today Ichigo was finally going to die.

~0o0o0o0o0o0o~

Elsewhere, a emergency meeting of the SWA was assembled. They had been awaiting Kurosaki Ichigo's arrival ever since Matsumoto told them about the ad in the paper. In Soul Society, a single, straight, good looking man was hard to find. It was almost as hard to find as the 12th division's captain real face. Seemingly, when Kurosaki placed an ad for a wife he had gained an obscene amount of attention. Not only was Kurosaki handsome but he had power and was seemingly a very nice young man once you got past the infamous scowl.

The women of SWA had a mission on their hands. They all wanted to see who would be the one to nab Kurosaki Ichigo. Many bets were placed on Nemu and Nanao. No one had thought to place on Kuchiki Rukia for she was the closest to the Kurosaki. If he hadn't made a move on her after the time they spent together then the odds were stacked against Rukia. Rukia's chances was seen close to slim to almost impossible.

As the familiar flare of reiastu filled the air, the members SWA took off lead by a certain pink haired shinigami.

They wanted to be the first in line to land Kurosaki Ichigo.

~0o0o0o0o0o0o0o~

As she stepped out of the car in front of the familiar apartment, memories threatened to overtake her. While she was on the plane from New York to Karakura Town, she had a whole little speech prepared for when she saw him again.

She touched her jacket to insure that the letter hadn't suddenly disappeared. The little green men was famous for that.

As she walked up the sidewalk, the sound of her heels attracted the attention of a person that was passing by. She did a double take as she stared at the woman. She looked highly familiar. With bright green hair and big gray eyes, Orihime couldn't remember where she had seen the young woman from.

'Did she know her from somewhere?'

Apparently the young woman knew who she was. She ran over and wrapped her arms around her nearly suffocating her in her ,um, assets.

She pulled away and smiled widely.

Somewhere Orihime heard an audible click. Now she knew where she knew this woman from.

"Nel-sama?" she asked disbelievingly.

Nel nodded her head, her smile growing even wider if possible. She could feel the little green men stirring ..For some reason, seeing Nel in Karakura Town didn't sit well with her. 'What was she doing here?'

"What are you doing here?" she asked her curiosity finally getting the best of her.

Nel smiled.

"Oh, I'm getting married."

Orihime was shocked but very happy for the young green haired woman. Secretly she wondered who the unfortunate loser was. Did the poor guy know Nel had a child form? Or the fact that she was um, not living.

"Congrats" she said wrapping her into another hug. "I am happy for you."

Nel smiled brightly.

"You should come to the wedding. Itsygo would like that."

Orihime's smile dropped from her face. She choked on nothingness.

"Huh" she replied dumbly.

~0o0o0o0o0o0o~

In the distance, a figure watched as the two beautiful women talked. Things were going exactly according to plan. According to his calculations, Ichigo would be returning from Soul Society soon so he would have to leave soon.

Isshin stroked his beard.

Kisuke was a genius.

"Wonder how Ichigo is going to react when he sees her. I can't to .........."

A voice behind him interrupted his next sentence.

"Wonder how I feel when I see who?"

Isshin turned around slowly. He knew that voice anywhere.

There, standing a few feet away from him was his 20 year old son.

Inside Isshin began to panic. The image of Ichigo going full hollow filled his mind.

He had seen his son transformation only once and he still had nightmares about it.

He knew he should had updated his will when Kisuke told him to.

His son glared at him.

One thing he knew for sure.

His son was going to kill him.

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uh oh. Isshin is caught red handed. How will Ichigo react with the arrival of Orihime?

And what does the SWA has planned?

R&R please.