Disclaimer: It's Kubo's work

Sorry for the late update. I was having writer blocks, and I needed to think of more things to make the story interesting. I hope that the characters in this story are 'in character'.

Special thanks to reviewers, thank you ever for the lovely reviews.

Please review! It gives me motivation to write the next chapter!

25/4/08 EDIT: Some changes to this chapter too, hope it's better now.

Amazingly, Rukia could attract some customers (with her annoying fake voice and to the surprise of Ichigo) even though there were loads of other big busted and sexy women everywhere. Ichigo thought darkly as he wiped the glasses at the back of the bar, frowning. She probably can handle it since she's a shinigami and all that but still; he couldn't help getting a bit worried for her as she is a girl. He finished wiping the last glass in the kitchen and went into the bar. The whole place was packed with people and there are some people waiting outside trying to get in. The air was thick with smoke and bar-top dancers were dancing to the beat of the loud music and some people got up to dance as well, he looked around and found Rukia.

Rukia, Ichigo observed, at the moment is being forced to drink a glass of beer which she is politely trying to decline. Those guys, Ichigo thought as he made his way to Rukia.

"Hey, stop it." Ichigo growled at the men.

"What's your damn problem?" One of the guys asked. He and his companions are obviously drunk.

"You shouldn't force people to do what they don't want to." He replied coolly.

"Eh? None of your business you jackass." At that statement, Ichigo balled his hands into fists, trying to control his anger.

"Well, it's my business because she is my friend and you are disturbing her so you should just buzz off."

"Why you-" The man began but was cut off by the bar manager.

"Hey! No fighting and stop this nonsense and get back to work!" The bar manager shouted over the loud music playing and with that, Ichigo shot a last glare at the men and walked off signaling Rukia to follow him.

"You don't get cocky because you got away this time." The man shouted, Ichigo just put it at the back of his head. You should be the one worried, not me. I'm a shinigami, not an ordinary human like you, he thought and with that he and Rukia went back to work.

"I'm not going to thank you for helping me a while ago, I could have handled it easily myself." Rukia said after they had done their jobs and was paid. (They were paid quite generously. Especially Rukia who did a very good job, she was paid extra amount.) They also changed out into their normal clothes and were walking back to the apartment.

"I wasn't expecting any anyway." He said with a yawn. "Gosh, I'm so tired. Hope there isn't any hollows to kill tonight and I'm glad that there is no hollow while we were working." He said wiping his eyes.

"I'm glad too, but we mustn't let our guard down. We could take turns in hollow killing if you want." Rukia replied.

"I don't know. If you want to, I'm fine with anything. By the way, we need to get some groceries and a few other things." Ichigo said as he yawned.

"Yeah"

They walked back in silence; it wasn't an awkward silence, but more of companionable silence. Each occupied with their own thoughts and feelings about all these.

They were very tired by the time they reached home. They took turns to use the bathroom (Rukia used it first, Ichigo was being a gentleman.) and got onto the bed without worrying much and was soon fast asleep.

It's raining. Uh, where am I? I feel my body bleeding, it feels heavy. The rain is mixing with my blood and spreading all over the area. A man stepped over me. Who is that? Someone's talking, who is it? He looks familiar.. I could barely keep my eyes open. I'm shouting someone's name, that name is all familiar to me. The door closes.

My world went black.

I have been saved again..

The next day arrived shortly and the sun rays shone brightly, waking Ichigo up thinking about the dream he had. He could only remember blocks of them, as if it was a memory he once forgotten. He tried his very best to remember the whole dream in order but it seemed impossible. Ichigo was very disturbed by it but he tried to forget it now as he didn't thought a dream is that important.

He checked the time and it was already 10 plus. He then went to wash up and bathe before Rukia wakes up. The night wasn't bad, with only four or five hollows showing up which is already quite little since this part of the Japan was the town of rich souls. Rukia wanted to take turns to kill the hollows (because Ichigo looked tired) but Ichigo wanted to follow her. When he was done washing up, he decided to inspect the apartment since yesterday he did not have time to see everything. It is quite a neat apartment, Ichigo thought. After that, he looked at the clock again and thought that they may have to skip breakfast since it is already quite late and noon is approaching. Plus, Rukia doesn't seem to be showing any signs that she will be waking up soon.

He went back to the room that Rukia and he shared. He looked over to Rukia to see her still sleeping soundly and peacefully. Ichigo was thinking of waking Rukia up but when he imagined what will happen to him if he woke her up, the look on her face and her rage, he thought better of it. Nevertheless, she looked gentle and kind when she is asleep. Somehow, Ichigo always thought that he had known Rukia a long time ago. He doesn't know why he felt that way ever since they met. Was he thinking too much? He asked himself and tried shaking off the thought by thinking of other things.

He planned mentally of what they had to do today and about what to do before Rukia wakes up when he remembered that he hadn't opened the package that Orihime had given him the other day. He slowly unwrap the box to reveal what was inside. There was some rolled-up bandages and some band aids. He wondered why Orihime gave him these things and there was a note and the bottom of the box. It says: Dear Kurosaki kun, I hope this will come to be useful to you. I know you would always get hurt and I would like you to keep these. I have put some of my healing powers in them.

"Wow, what a thoughtful girl. You must be very careless that's why she is giving you these." Rukia said, looking over his shoulder.

"Waah!" Ichigo was shocked to see Rukia peeping over.

"Hey! When did you wake up? I thought you were asleep!"

"Only just, I was asleep then but now I'm not." Rukia said, amused by Ichigo's big reaction.

Rukia's face was so close to his and she doesn't seem to notice. The closeness made him feel uncomfortable and he shifted a little further away from her face.

"Whatever. Go and wash up, we got a lot of things to do today."

"I know that." She said closing her eyes with that, she walked out of the room to get ready while Ichigo put back the bandages and band aids into the box and put it back where he first placed it.

He was still disturbed by the dream but whatever it is, he decided to leave it for now.

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