Author's Note ― This chapter's going to move through things kind of fast. I'm taking an idea I had for three short chapters and combining them into one longer one. So don't be surprised if it seems to breeze right through the situation.

Miracle – XVI

To say Ichigo hated himself was the understatement of the century. He was so angry at himself, he probably would have kicked his own ass if it wouldn't have made him look as if he had completely lost his mind. But Ichigo really, really hated himself at the minute. He was a moron. A complete and total moron.

It had seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Well, maybe it really hadn't. But it had seemed like the safe to do. Ichigo liked Rukia. A lot. He might even go as far as to say he loved her. When she had kissed him on Christmas Day, it had been the most wonderful moment of his life. Rukia gave Ichigo the feeling of completeness, something he hadn't felt since he had lost his mother. And Ichigo loved her. He loved Kuchiki Rukia.

But that could be dangerous. Ichigo had learned the hard way that his love brought nothing but pain to those he cared about. And he didn't want to hurt Rukia. She was already hurting enough without his help. It had been for the best, telling her there was really nothing between them. It had been for the best. Right?

Ichigo couldn't concentrate in class. All he could do was stare at the back of Rukia's head. Said girl was scribbling notes as the teacher talked. The way she was sitting, Ichigo could just see her face. Her eyes were narrowed at the paper. Usually they were shifting this way and that. Rukia had a very paranoid look about her. But today (and for the past few days, actually), she hadn't looked around at all during class. She just stared at her paper, took her notes, and kept her head down. She didn't talk. She didn't volunteer information during class. She did...nothing.

It was starting to concern Ichigo. But it was also driving him insane. He wished desperately that he could tell her the truth, the reasons behind what he had done, the role her father played in it. But then, would she even believe him? Or had he broken her trust to the point where his words meant little more than what a stranger's might? Had he destroyed what had taken him so long to build? Had he destroyed…Rukia?

Ichigo often day-dreamed about going to Byakuya and telling the guy exactly what he could do with his words. Because Ichigo loved Rukia, he would never hurt her, he would never even think of hurting her. But that damn Byakuya had planted the seeds of doubt in the orange-haired teen's mind. And that was all it had taken to hurt Rukia worse than anything else ever could.

Ichigo really, truly hated himself. He needed to figure out a way to make amends. The only problem is…he couldn't think of anyone else to talk to about it.

Rukia could feel his eyes on her. She couldn't actually prove he was looking at her until she turned around, and she certainly wasn't going to do that. So she settled for disillusioning herself into thinking that maybe Ichigo really was watching her.

Part of her hoped he was. Part of her hoped he'd realize what an idiot he was being, and how stupid he was, and he would come around and come back to her. Not that she'd forgive him that easily. Maybe a little begging would persuade her…ah who the hell was she kidding? All he'd have to do was say hi, and she'd melt, completely melt. She'd apologize (repeatedly) for whatever she had done to upset him, and force him to promise never to put her through this pain again (hey, she couldn't be completely flexible).

That was what part of her said anyway. The other part was much less emotional. The other part said 'who cares? It's not like you didn't see it coming. You're doomed to a life of being alone because you're different, because your death warrant was signed when you were just a girl of eight. Who would ever want to be with a person who could get sick tomorrow and die a week later? You've known this was coming. It's human nature. Everything is too good to last.'

They were two very conflicting sides, constantly arguing with each other into the wee hours of the morning, keeping Rukia awake and making her feel like a complete and utter zombie once it came time to go to school.

School. One scene Rukia would have been more than happy to skip. Rumors were flying over why she and Ichigo had 'broken up,' if one could call it that. The mysterious boy from Europe had once again resurfaced. Something about challenging Ichigo to a gun duel. Rukia had ignored that. Someone else had said Ichigo was cheating on her. But the one that really got Rukia was the one she encountered one Wednesday right before her birthday (which was a week from Saturday).

"I heard she's going out with a boy in another town…Abarai Renji, I think his name was."

Rukia froze. She'd just been about to walk into the bathroom after the lunch bell rang when the whispers had reached her ears. Said ears were now turning red with anger. She darted away from the bathroom and outside, hell bent on finding a certain girl, the only girl who knew about her longtime friendship with the crimson-haired Abarai.

"Miyako." The girl in question looked around at Rukia, obviously not interested in anything her old friend had to say.

"What's up Rukia?"

"Oh don't give me that." Rukia grabbed Miyako by the arm, dragged her up, and pulled her around the corner of the school so they could talk in private. "Look," she said angrily, jabbing a finger at Miyako, "my life is bad enough right now without you spreading rumors about me and Renji!" Miyako opened her mouth to speak. "And don't say you don't know what I'm talking about! You're the only person who knows Renji and I are still in touch, besides my parents, and I doubt they're spreading rumors―"

"Rukia would you be quiet for one damn second?!" Rukia stopped talking at once. Miyako was glaring at her now. "Okay, yes, I started that rumor, but I only did it to get your attention!"

"Well you've got it!" Rukia shot back. "Why the hell are you doing this to me Miyako?"

"Me?" Miyako asked in disbelief. "Why am I doing this to you? Turn that one around Rukia!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means why are you doing this to me?" Miyako elaborated. Rukia blinked. "We've been friends since we were three for God's sake Rukia, and for as long as I can remember I was the holder of your secrets! But now you have one ― a big one ― that you've had for so long, and you won't tell me about it! And every time I try to talk to you, you blow me off! It's driving me insane Rukia, and I just need answers! Why can't you let me in?"

Rukia stared, wide-eyed, at Miyako. The girl's calm, cool disposure was completely gone, replaced with one of longing and desperation. And for a moment, Rukia didn't know what to say. She thought she'd done a good job, keeping everything hidden. Last year had been a bit of trouble to cover up for, but she'd let the rumors take care of that. How long had Miyako known Rukia was keeping a secret from her?

Miyako misinterpreted Rukia's silence. "Fine." She said, her voice rough. Rukia thought she saw tears in her friend's eyes. "Fine. I get it. I'll leave you alone. And don't worry, I'll make sure the rumors stop too."

"Miyako―!"

But she was gone. Rukia swallowed deeply, leaning against the wall and pushing back tears of her own. She was losing everyone. Ichigo, the bearer of her secret. Miyako, the true victim of keeping the secret. Rukia had really messed something up.

"I haven't seen Kurosaki-kun around for awhile." Hisana said thoughtfully. She was laying in bed next to Byakuya, reading a book. Her husband was reading a report from work. "And Rukia's stopped talking about him. You don't think they had a fight, do you?"

Byakuya didn't answer. Hisana noticed him narrow his eyes at the paper he was reading. "I hope not. I like Kurosaki-kun, he's a nice boy. And he's head over heels for Rukia, have you noticed?"

Still no answer. "Kind of reminds you of us at that age, doesn't it?" Hisana asked, wondering why Byakuya was ignoring her. She tried to make her voice light. "Did you ever think, when everything was said and done, we'd end up here?" She waited. When Byakuya didn't answer, she said, "They say a lot of high school romances don't work out. I like to think there are exceptions though. Do you think Rukia and Kurosaki-kun will be as well?"

Byakuya sighed. His wife was a hopeless romance. "I don't think Kurosaki will be involved too much in Rukia's future."

Hisana blinked, all thoughts of high school sweethearts driven from her mind. "What?"

Now was as good a time as ever to fill in Hisana on his warning to the orange-haired teen. So Byakuya proceeded to tell Hisana the story about what had happened the day after Christmas. When he finished, Hisana no longer looked dreamy and happy. In fact…she looked almost mad. It worried Byakuya a little.

"Kuchiki Byakuya." Hisana said in a low voice. "How dare you say something like that to the boy. What were you thinking? You know how easy it is for fathers to scare teenage boys of their daughters―"

"It was too easy." Byakuya said unconcernedly, though Hisana's tone ― right along with her glare ― was really starting to scare him now. "If he really cared enough, he wouldn't have let it bother him, but―"

"I don't believe you Byakuya!" Hisana exploded, though quietly so she wouldn't alarm Rukia, who was sleeping just one room over. "I don't know what you have against Kurosaki-kun, but I'm telling you right now to get over it! Rukia cares about him, and he cares about her, I don't understand why that can't be enough for you!"

Byakuya was too stunned to speak. This was the closest his wife had ever come to raising her voice to anybody. "I'm going to find a way to fix this." Hisana went on, closing her book and setting aside. "I'll try my hardest to do it without making you look back towards Rukia, but I can't guarantee that Byakuya. I guess it'll depend on how forgiving she is." Hisana turned the table lamp, plunging the room into darkness. "Though if I remember correctly, I know a certain dark-haired Kuchiki boy who hasn't spoken to his parents in over twenty years because they didn't approve of his choice for a bride. So I'd think about that if I were you, Byakuya."

Hisana laid down and rolled over. Her breathing soon evened out as she fell asleep. Byakuya stayed sitting up though, reports still clutched in his hands, as he thought about what Hisana had said. He had never meant to alienate Rukia. Just Kurosaki. But if Byakuya lost Rukia over this…

The man sighed, setting his reports aside at last and laying down. He hated it when someone put him in his place. And it always seemed to be Hisana doing that.

Ichigo shoved his hands into his pockets, kicking a rock along as he walked home. He hadn't seen Rukia in school that day, and he was a little worried. So he allowed his feet to carry him to the Kuchiki house, not all together surprised when he saw Hisana sitting out on the front step, sipping a cup of tea and staring at a small, snowy part under a window in front of the house. She was definitely a little strange. She looked up when she noticed someone was watching her, and smiled when she saw Ichigo.

"Hello Kurosaki-kun." She said, setting her tea cup down and standing up.

"Erm…hi." Ichigo said uncertainly. "Why were you…"

"Staring at the ground?" Hisana laughed a little. "Caught me daydreaming. I was just thinking about putting a garden back in there. Rukia and I kept one when she was little, but after she got sick, she wasn't really interested in it anymore, and working in the hot sun wasn't good for her anyway. So we just let it go."

"Speaking of Rukia, is she…around?" Hisana heard the worry in Ichigo's voice and smiled.

"She's all right, if that's what you're asking. She was a little under the weather today ― though personally I just don't think she's getting enough sleep, I hear her moving around at all hours ― and she had a doctor's appointment that her father picked her up for about…" Hisana looked down at her watch, "five minutes ago. So no, at the moment, she's not around."

"All right." Ichigo sighed and turned to leave. "Thanks. Tell her…never-mind."

He was just about to turn off the driveway when Hisana called, "Don't let my husband scare you off, Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo looked around, surprised. There was a look of disapproving on Hisana's face. "He told me what happened between you two. If I'd known sooner, I would have put a stop to everything, but he just told me last night. And I'm telling you, don't let it scare you off. I know you care about Rukia, and she cares about you, and that's all that matters. Nothing anyone else thinks matters. Byakuya is truly a hypocrite sometimes, he seems to forget that he defied his own family just to marry me ― but that's another story."

Ichigo just stared. And suddenly he'd found exactly what he was looking for. A person to help him get back to Rukia.

"Can you help?" He asked desperately. "I made a mistake, a huge one, and I hate myself for it, I really do. But if I talk to her now…I don't think she'll care very much, to be honest."

Hisana smiled a little.

"I think I can help you out a little. You wouldn't happen to know what a week from this Saturday is, do you?"

"Some birthday present." Rukia grumbled as she sank back onto the car seat, her arms folded. "Doing errands with you."

"Oh come on." Hisana smiled. "It'll be fun. Anyways, before we do anything, I need to stop at the Kurosaki's―"

"Why?" Rukia asked sharply, turning to glare at her mother, who, amazingly, continued to smile.

"I'm borrowing a book from Isshin. And Yuzu wants to see you again, Isshin was telling me she was asking about you…"

Rukia sighed heavily and fell back on her seat again. "Is Ichigo going to be home?"

Hisana just shrugged. And it was with much reluctance that Rukia pulled herself out of the car at the Kurosaki house and up the steps. Hisana had a mischievous smile on her lips as she said, "Isshin told us we could just go right in…"

And suddenly Rukia was extremely suspicious. "Mom, what―"

"Surprise!" Rukia nearly fell backwards as Hisana opened the door and the lights snapped on. Afterwards all she could do was gape, though she stopped long enough to throw a glare in the direction of her beaming mother.

"Unbelievable." The raven-haired girl murmured. A surprise party. That was the whole reason they were there.

Rukia probably would have hurt someone if her eyes hadn't landed on a certain couple standing in the corner. Her eyes widened.

"Hinamori, Hitsugaya-kun!"

Hinamori giggled as she waved to Rukia. Hitsugaya just kind of shrugged. Rukia noted they were holding hands. She had so many gloating rights now…

She looked around at who else was there. Despite the loudness of the yelling when she had walked in, there really weren't that many people there. Renji was standing in the back with a girl Rukia could only guess to be his off-and-on girlfriend, Rangiku. Yuzu, Karin, and Isshin were standing near a table stocked with presents. Orihime and her husband, Ishida Uryu, were standing near the food table. Rukia took half a second to wonder if any of the food on there was made by Orihime, and sincerely hoped it wasn't. A few more kids from the hospital (most likely invited by Hinamori and Orihime), a few school kids, like Asano Keigo, that didn't think she was a total freak (though Miyako was, unsurprisingly, absent)…there were quite a few people there. Rukia had to admit, she was a bit surprised. And also a little disappointed. In the midst of it all, there was no shock of orange hair.

Was he really so desperate to avoid her he'd vacate his own house for the day?

"Happy birthday Rukia." Hisana whispered in her daughter's ear. Rukia smiled despite herself. Birthday. Right.

It didn't take long for things to get into full swing. Rukia almost instantly hunted down Hinamori, dragging her away from her beloved 'Shirou-chan' so she could get in a few little brags. Hinamori let Rukia have her fun because it was her birthday, even though it was kind of embarrassing. But the girls had fun. Renji jumped on Rukia when Hinamori left to get a drink. The raven-haired girl beat her friend to the chase. "I don't want to talk about Miyako." She said simply, turning to walk away.

About an hour into the party, right when Rukia was starting to really enjoy herself, it happened. She had excused herself from a conversation with Rangiku (who actually turned out to be a really nice person), and was at the food table getting a drink, when someone stepped up behind her and a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her shoulders. Thinking it was Renji playing a joke, she raised a hand to hit him when a very un-Renji-like voice whispered in her ear, "Happy birthday Rukia."

A shiver went through Rukia's spine, and she turned her head so fast her neck cracked. "Ichigo?"

The orange-haired teen smiled at her shock. "Sorry it took me so long to get here. I had a hard time deciding what to get you. I've been trying for over a week now. Should tell you how good I am at getting presents."

Rukia just stared at him. He was actually there…

She blinked. "Wait. Did you have something to do with this?"

Ichigo laughed a little. "Your mom was the major planner. I just took notes and made phone calls. And emptied my wallet."

Rukia looked over at her mother, who was chatting animatedly with Isshin. "Look," Ichigo brought Rukia's attention back to him, "I made a mistake. A big one. I'd rather not go into the details about it, because I don't want you to end up hating the wrong person…but I want you to know…I care more about you than I ever have about anyone else." He reached out and took her hand, placing a small, velvet box in it. "If you decide that's not good enough for you, I won't blame you, and I'll understand. I just thought I'd tell you…no matter what anyone else ever says, I care. And I promise I'll never hurt you."

Curious, Rukia took the box and opened it. It was stainless steel bracelet, little squares all linked together. There were engravings on three of the squares. One had an I. One had an R. And between those two were a heart. Rukia looked up at Ichigo, her eyes wide. But before she could utter a word, he was kissing her. All thoughts, goo and bad, flew from her head. And she forgot why she had been so upset to begin with.

Hisana watched the teens across the room, a triumphant smile crossing her face. "Hisana you devil." Isshin laughed. "I see you still enjoy your meddling."

"Why Isshin. I have no clue what you're talking about." Hisana laughed and took a sip of her drink, watching the teens over the rim of her cup. She hadn't lost her touch yet.

Author's Note: 3,530 words. WOWIE! Anyways, I'm going to leave it up to your imagination to decide whether or not Rukia ever finds out about the role her father played in her latest misery, because it isn't mentioned again after this. Oh, and speaking of after this...there's two more chapters of this story, then an epilogue. And the next chapter is a bit of a tragedy. That's all I'll say though. So review please! - Sam