Author's Note - Time skip in this chapter. Going forward a few months

Miracle – XXIV

Rukia smiled as she curled up into Ichigo's arms. It was the day before graduation. They were currently in the park watching the sun set and relaxing. "One more day." She whispered, leaning her head against his chest and closing her eyes. Ichigo ran his hand through her silky raven hair. A small smile played over his own lips.

"Got your speech ready?" No one had been exactly surprised when they found out Rukia was going to be the class Valedictorian. Even if she had lost a year, she was a smart, and had gotten A's on pretty much every assignment they'd had.

"Yup." She said, "One hundred and fifty of the boringest ways to be a good person." Ichigo laughed, not sure if Rukia was actually kidding.

"You're not serious, are you?"

"What if I was?" Rukia challenged. "Those people in our class made my life a living hell this year, I think revenge is on the menu for me."

"And what about me?"

"Sorry you have to suffer."

A last burst of orange spread through the sky...and then the sun was gone. Rukia looked up at the sky as dusk set in. "We should probably get going." She said, though she made no move to get up. "My parents will be worried...your dad might start to worry..."

"What do you think they would say if we just spent the night here?" Ichigo asked as he wrapped his arms around Rukia's small body.

"I don't think they'd say anything. I think they'd kill us." She thought about that for a second, "Well, my dad would kill you, at any rate"

"How does that one work?"

"I dunno. But I don't think he likes you."

"What was your first clue?!" Rukia laughed. Ichigo treasured the smile on her face. It was a priceless thing.

"We really should get going." Ichigo said after about half an hour. Stars were starting to come out now. Again, neither made to move.

"Rukia?"

She groaned a little. Ichigo had a feeling she had been falling asleep. "Yeah Ichigo?"

"Sorry for bothering you, but I'm curious-"

"Dangerous thing, you're curiousity."

"Why do you love me?"

Rukia didn't answer right away. Her eyes drifted towards the starry sky above her as she contemplated her answer. "Well...why do you love me?"

Ichigo should have known she would do that. The artful dodger. "Because," he said quietly, slipping his hand into hers and kissing her neck lightly, "life without you wouldn't be worth living."

"Mmm." Rukia made a noise in the back of her throat as she leaned her head against Ichigo's. "I like that answer."

--0000000000000000--

Somehow the seating arrangements for the graduation ceremony worked to no one's advantage. Kuchiki Hisana and Byakuya ended up sitting next to Kurosaki Isshin, Karin, and Yuzu. Yuzu was fussing with the camera while Karin's eyes skimmed the book she had brought. Isshin was talking a mile a minute about how proud he was of his boy. Hisana was kind enough to listen to her old friend, but Byakuya was less than pleased. He kept looking down at his watch. "So." Isshin said suddenly. "Ichigo told me Rukia-chan was the Valedictorian. You must be proud of her."

"We are." Hisana said with a smile.

"I miss Rukia-chan." Yuzu pouted. "She doesn't come over as much anymore."

"That's because her and Ichi-nii are too busy with each other." Karin said as she turned the page of her book. She didn't notice the look of horror that flashed over Byakuya's face.

"What do you mean?" Yuzu asked as she held up the camera to test the view she had.

"Well they-"

"I don't think we need details," Byakuya cut the girl off harshly. Isshin grinned.

"What's wrong Byakuya?" the older Kurosaki asked kiddingly. "Your daughter's growing up you know, she's going to-"

"That's enough now," Hisana said, intervening into a possible fight. "Come on, let's just enjoy ourselves...look, it's starting..."

The first part of the ceremony was pretty much boring. The principal made a long, boring speech, the head of the school-board made a long, boring speech, the class president made a long, boring speech. Finally it was Rukia's turn. Everyone watched with interest as she stood in front of the podium. Ichigo, for one, was interested to hear her speech, remembering the jokes she made last night about how boring it was.

Rukia looked around. There were a lot of people, but that was to be expected. She wasn't one to get stage fright anyway. But as she looked around again, she began to feel dizzy. No, not now, she pleaded silently. That was the last thing she needed, faint in the middle of graduation.

Hisana sat up a little straighter, watching intently as Rukia held on to the sides of the podium, her eyes closed tightly. "What's wrong?" Yuzu whispered. "Is she okay?"

Whispers were breaking out now. Ichigo watched as Rukia took a couple of deep breaths, then opened her eyes again. A small smile spread over her face as she spoke.

"Guess I just can't win, huh?" Her voice was light, though her face was a little tense. "I had this whole speech prepared about how we're graduating, and how we have to be better people now...it was really boring, now that I think about it, so I guess I'll scrap it. How about instead of talking about what we do after high school, I talk about what we've done so far?"

Many people exchanged confused looks, Ichigo among them. Had Rukia lost her mind? "Guess I sound pretty crazy, huh?" She'd read hismind. "Maybe I should elaborate. When you were little, maybe six or seven or eight, I'm sure you had plans. I'm sure you knew exactly what you wanted to be when you got older, didn't you?" she paused as everyone nodded, "But...things don't go exactly as you plan. There are little bumps in the road, little things that upset everything you've ever planned out. And suddenly your life isn't going the way you want it to. If nobody minds, I'll use myself as an example for this." Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't take them off Rukia. "You see, when I was eight, I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up. I had every little detail planned. But that didn't exactly plan out. You see, when I was eight..." She paused. Then she took a deep breath and said, "When I was eight...I was diagnosed with Leukemia."

Ichigo's mouth dropped. In the audience, Hisana and Byakuya exchanged wide looks. Had Rukia really just said that?

Rukia waited for a minute, long enough for everyone to take in this piece of information before she went on, "I'm not trying to get pity, so don't give it to me. I'm just telling you, I know how it feels, when your plans are upset. But I also know that even with those bumps, something good comes with it. Something – or someone – who will help you out no matter what. Whether it's right after the bump, or ten years later. It's just a matter of waiting for that help, and never giving up no matter what. You just have to keep your head up each day. I think I realized that a little too late. Better late than never, but still, it's something to keep in mind. Even if things don't always work out the way you planned, something better may always come out of it. It's just a matter of being patient and waiting for that something to come along."

She paused. Silence followed the speech. Ichigo had a feeling that everyone was still stuck back on her startling announcement. Ichigo had to admit, he was a little surprised as well. But then, one by one, everyone started applauding. It was scattered at first, but then it picked up. A few whistles echoed through the room as well. Rukia's violet eyes sought out Ichigo. When she found him, he was smiling. She smiled as well.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. Before long everyone was milling outside, talking excitedly with parents and friends. They'd graduated. High School was over. Somehow it felt like less of an accomplishment then Rukia would have guessed.

Rukia looked around as someone tapped her on the shoulder. She had a split second to see Miyako before she was practically knocked over, as the latter drew the former into a tight hug. "Ah! Miyako...air..."

"Sorry!" Miyako groaned at once, pulling away. "But jeez, Rukia...why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Sorry." Rukia muttered, pushing a strand of hair behind her eyes. "It just never seemed like the right time...I didn't think you'd understand...I didn't want to lose you as a friend. Not that it mattered, in the end I did anyway-"

"Says who?" Miyako asked sternly. "All friends go through rough patches Rukia, that doesn't mean their lost."

Rukia smiled gratefully, and Miyako drew her into another, much gentler hug. "Oi!" A loud, familiar voice echoed towards Miyako and Rukia. Both girls looked up, grinning.

"Renji!" Their old, crimson-haired friend fought his way through the crowd towards them. Miyako threw her arms around him, grinning.

"You came!"

"Of course I did," Renji scoffed, "What, you think I'd miss this?"

"Well, knowing you-"

"Ah, shut up," He grinned over at Rukia, and slugged her playfully on the arm. The girl smirked. "Great speech."

"It wasn't too boring?"

"Nah, I think you had everyone's interest," Renji smirked, "Anyways, we have to go soon, but my mom wants to see you guys before we leave-"

They started off. "So Renji," Rukia asked conversationally, "How's your girlfriend?"

Renji turned bright red. "Girlfriend?!" Miyako squealed, "Jeez, why am I always the last to find out everything?!"

Before Renji could answer, they found his mother. She was talking with Rukia's parents and Ichigo's father. The orange-haired teen was standing a little ways off with his sisters. "Rukia-san, Miyako-san!" Abarai-san gushed when she saw them, "Congratulations!"

"Thanks Abarai-san," Miyako and Rukia exchanged embarrassed smiles. Hisana smiled as she wrapped her arms around Rukia and hugged her tightly.

"Great speech." She whispered into her daughter's ear. Rukia blushed deeply, but allowed herself smile just a little.

"You think so?"

"And you've gotten so tall." Abarai-san was currently babbling on about Miyako. Unlike Rukia, Renji and Miyako hadn't stayed in touch as well. This was the first time they'd seen each other since they were six.

"Yeah, that happens when you get older."

"Didn't happen to Rukia, I notice." Renji said with a smirk. Rukia didn't waste a moment in getting up on her tip-toes and slapping him as hard she could manage. Miyako burst out laughing as she watched Renji pout.

"Hey," A voice breathed in Rukia's ear. She looked around, her face splitting into a wide grin. Ichigo was leaning down next to her, smirking.

"Hey." She wrapped her arms tightly around Ichigo's neck. Behind her, she heard Miyako say, sounding a little hurt, "You knew, didn't you Renji? About Rukia, I mean."

Renji sighed. "Yeah. I knew."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"She didn't want me to. She's my friend, Miyako, I had to-"

"I'm your friend too, you know!"

"Of course you are. But this was...big. I couldn't just go behind her back. She made me promise. And she would have killed me if I broke that promise."

"True."

"Besides...it was kind of fun, being between your fight."

"Oh come on!"

Rukia laughed as she turned back to Miyako, who was now pouting. "Miyako, if you want to hear everything, then you'd better clear a couple days in your schedule."

"Hey, I'm done with school, I have all the time in the world. What days are good for you?"

"Well, I'm clear just about every day next week-"

Everyone laughed, and even solemn Byakuya managed a small, extremely small smile. Ichigo slipped his hand into Rukia's, and she leaned against his arm, smiling For the first time in a long time, Rukia felt at ease with her life. Everything seemed perfect.

Author's Note - Epilogue next...we'll see how that turns out. Review please! - Sam