Well, this is like a prologue to the story I'll Be With You Tonight. I decided to make it because I felt some things had to be explained. So, if you haven't read the other one, go do so! (Playful poke)

Flashbacks in ITALICS!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters.

Smile For Me

I tried so hard not to fall in love with her. I tried to shut her out of my thoughts and my feelings, but she broke through. She broke through my barrier and wormed her way into my heart. I really tried to shut her out, I tried to shove her aside so she wouldn't get hurt. But she made my wall crumble to pieces.

"Ichigo,"

The quiet, soft voice broke into his thoughts. Ichigo didn't even turn his head to look at the young, raven haired Shinigami he knew was standing behind him. He took a deep breath in and pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping one arm loosely around them. Rukia walked over and sat down beside him, laying down on the grass and placing her head in his lap.

Surprised, he looked down at her, but she had closed her eyes and curled into a ball beside him, her small, slim fingers resting on his own hand.

He just smiled, trying to hide the blush on his face as he let his fingers run over the soft skin of her hand. She smiled quietly.

He had tried. But she had broken through so easily. With just her quiet, beautiful voice and the touch of her small hands, she had made him believe that he could live and love again.

She didn't even have to try.

"How come you are always frowning?"

It had been an innocent question. She had only intended it as a conversation starter, but it had become so much more.

"Because I don't have a reason to smile."

The answer was just as simple as the question.

Rukia's eyes were filled with sadness as she moved over next to him on his bed and placed her hand on his cheek, turning his head to where he could meet her eyes. He saw the pain there and he felt his heart sink. He hated seeing her sad . . .

"Let me help you smile."

And she had kissed him.

The one touch of her lips on his was enough to make him moan quietly. She pulled back just as quickly as she had started, and when her eyes searched his, she could see the built up tension inside of him. She said quietly,

"Am I enough to help you smile?"

His answer came just as quietly as her question did just before he kissed her again.

"I'll smile for you."

Then . . . she had died. She was gone, and he would never see her again. Her smile left and her kisses faded as the days past. He tried to move on, he tried not to blame himself . . . but it was so hard. It had been his Zanpaktou that had rushed into her heart and killed her. It had been him on the other side of the sword, holding it with shaky hands as he realized what he had done. But she had told him, with her last breaths of air, that it wasn't him; it wasn't his fault.

It had been the Hollow lurking inside of him . . . but he could have won if he had tried just a little harder. He could have saved her.

But as always, she never worried about herself.

She worried for only him.

"Ichigo!"

Rukia's voice pierced the cold night air as she watched Ichigo fall to the ground. Pulling herself shakily to her feet, she stumbled over to where he was laying in the cold snow. His blood had already created a ocean of red around his large frame, and his Zanpaktou was covered in the blood the belonged to the Hollow he had killed.

He smiled weakly up at her before he passed out.

"Hey, don't look like that . . . smile . . . for me?"

And she did. Through her tears of pain and sadness, she had smiled.

And he had lived.

He remembered saying those words to her, having no regrets if he were to die. But if he had died . . . he wanted to see her smile just once more. The gentle sway of emotions that seemed to crash upon him every time she smiled like that.

For him and only him.

The last time she had smiled was right before that damn Hollow had attacked.

"Ichigo, what are clouds made of?"

Ichigo laughed and rolled over on his side so he was facing Rukia. She smiled, her head propped up on her hand as she stared into the sky.

"Now why the hell would you ask something like that?"

Rukia just shrugged. Ichigo leaned over her and pressed a fleeting kiss to her lips before settling down and resting his head on her stomach. She smiled brightly and reached her hand down, running her finger through his soft hair.

Then, her phone had rang.

The phone had rang, signaling that a Hollow was near. The beautiful smile melted off her face and was replaced by a look of concentration as he picked her up and set her on his back after she had removed his soul from his body.

They ran off together to fight the Hollow.

The Hollow that nearly killed Rukia.

He had attacked, and in the whole mess, Ichgio lost control of his powers for a brief second when he saw Rukia in danger . . . bleeding, dying . . . for his mistakes.

And his Hollow had taken over in that split second. In one second, his life was changed forever as the evil being within him killed the Hollow. Then . . . that damn . . . thing . . . had turned his Zanpaktou on Rukia. Ichigo fought as hard as he could, but it took less than a second for the sword to pierce her body. He watched in horror as the Hollow receded back into the dark corner that Ichigo had failed to trap him inside of.

Her blood . . . it was dripping down his Zanpaktou, painting the ground all around them in a bright, scarlet color.

Before he knew what he was doing, he had removed the Zanpaktou from her heart and fell down beside her, gathering her into his arms.

"Rukia! God . . . No!"

Smile . . . Please, smile . . . for me . . .

Well, whatcha think? I'm sorry it's sorta sad, and I'm sorry that I didn't make Rukia live. But . . . (Ducks large objects being thrown at her) . . . Sorry!

Please Review!