This one came out of nowhere. Hope you like!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters.

Because You Cried

Rukia sat on her bed, staring at the photo in her hands. It was a fuzzy, old shot, but she always kept it under her pillow because it was the only way she could remember him. She sometimes wished that she hadn't been so stupid . . . that she had been so stupid. That she hadn't let him inside her heart. She hadn't let him know how she felt until the last second. And when he had asked her if she would take a picture with him so he could always remember her, him blushing like an idiot or course, she had said that they didn't need to because she wouldn't leave him.

But she had.

And now, as she sat in the dark, the only thing she had to remind her of him clasped tightly in her hands as she cried, she wished that she had taken a picture with him. She wished she had crushed her pride and did it, for him and for her.

The one picture she had was at least six-years-old now. In the picture, he was about fifteen or sixteen and he was smiling, something he barely ever did. The picture was black and white because the camera it came out of was cheap and didn't do color.

But she never let it go. It was always near her, because it was the only thing she had. The white edges were turning brown with age and the picture itself was slightly stained on the sides from her tears.

"Oi, Rukia!"

She gasped quietly as she heard the knock on her door. She knew the voice on the other side; it was her childhood friend, Renji.

Wiping away her tears, Rukia stood to her feet and walked over to the door, cracking it open slightly as she put the small 3x by 3x picture into her pocket.

"Yeah, what is it, Renji?"

Instead of answering her question, he said, "You're sad again. What's wrong?"

Rukia shook her head.

"Nothing. What did you come here for?"

She brushed his concern aside and reached her hand up to wipe the remainder of her tears away with the back of her hand. She doubted that Renji saw this action.

"I just wanted to ask if you would like to come to the training grounds with me, Kira and Hinamori," Renji said, though his heart was not in the question. Rukia smiled sadly.

"No thank you, Renji. I just . . . I don't feel like it."

He nodded, and after a brief, uncomfortable silence said,

"OK. But if you want to talk . . . you know I'm here, right?"

Rukia nodded and closed the door, sliding down the side and hitting the ground softly. She tried to hold back tears, all the while scolding herself.

You're stronger than this! You can't break down crying every time you're reminded of him . . . it'll get you nowhere!

Rukia stood shakily to her feet, and after putting the small picture back under her pillow, walked over to her window and jumped out, landing softly on the ground twenty feet below. She walked slowly across the grass, her bare feet being tickled by the cold, wet blades. But she barely noticed as she breathed in the fresh air.

She was almost never like this. This . . . this emotional. She usually could hold it all inside; keep her emotions to herself and keep her tears inside. But today . . . it was the anniversary of the day that he had told her that he loved her. It was the same day, April 31st, that she had said goodbye, that she had seen for him the last time, and that they had both shared their first kiss. And now, five years later . . .

Rukia didn't stop walking as she felt her tears come close to surfacing again. Dammit! She was stronger than this! She didn't have to cry every time that she thought about him!

Soon, she found herself at the small cliff that they always used to go to. It was indeed small; only about ten feet wide. You could only reach it by going through a large amount of wooded area. It was completely closed off by thick brush on the only side that wasn't dipping down to the roaring river below. Now, in the beginning spring, everything was green again and the birds were chirping as the water crashed upon the rocks below.

"So, this is good-bye . . ."

He just smiled at her as he spoke. "Sorry, Rukia. This is probably the last time we'll be seeing each other. After this, I can't come back to the Soul Society . . . and you . . ."

He left the question open.

"No. I can't come back to your world. This is where I belong."

He could see that she was close to tears, so he stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms tightly around her, letting her fall into his arms. She collapsed, finally letting herself cry as she despertly wanted to. After a few minutes, he pulled back a little, taking her left hand into his.

"Look, see that scar on your hand? Do you remember how you got it?"

Rukia nodded. He continued,

"You recieved that scar the same day I received mine. I remember holding the knife, despertly not wanting to touch it to your skin . . . But you asked me to so I did it. Then you took the knife from me and did the same. Rukia, no matter where we are at . . . we share a bond because I was the one that touched that knife to your skin and you were the one that touched it to mine. I let my blood run into you as we touched out hands together that day. So wherever we are, think of me when you look at your hand. Alright?"

She nodded numbly, pressing her hand to his and spreading out her small fingers. He smiled back and curled his larger hand around hers, pulling her back into his arms. She didn't cry anymore, for her tears were all gone. He pulled back again, but instead of walking away, he reached up and placed his palm on her face, his rough fingers dancing on her soft skin.

"I love you, Rukia."

Then, he gently planted his lips on hers, not caring that half of Soul Society was watching. She didn't care either, as she reached up and placed her hand over his, kissing him back. When he finally pulled back, he smiled sadly. She whispered,

"I love you, too, Ichigo. And . . . Good-bye."

He kissed her again before pulling out of her embrace and walking away toward the gate. She watched him, trying desperately not to cry as he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

He was gone.

Rukia looked down at her hand, spreading apart her fingers as she surveyed the scar. It was on her palm, and took the shape of a Phoenix. Ichigo had carved it gently and quickly, trying his best not to hurt her. But it had hurt. And when he was done, he kissed her palm before holding her hand tightly in his.

"Is this . . . is this really my home?"

She didn't know anymore. She didn't know anything anymore. She just knew that she missed him and that she loved him. And that she wanted to see him again . . . even if was just for a small time.

Standing from where she had sat down on a rock, she began the walk through the woods and to the mansion again. But before she came to the door, Renji stepped out on the path in front of her.

"Hey, Rukia."

She looked up, smiling a small, tired smile.

"Hi, Renji. Um . . . what are you doing?"

"Look, Rukia. I've been watching you for a while now, and you seem down right miserable. Hell, if you want to go see that reckless, carrot-topped idiot, go and see him. I'll cover for you, alright? Just come back this time."

Rukia blinked several times, letting what Renji had just said sink in.

"But . . . I-I . . ."

"Shut up. I know you love him . . . so stop denying yourself happiness. Go."

Rukia smiled brightly, hugging Renji. He blushed a little before reaching down and placing his hand on her head.

"Come on, thank me later. Now, you should go. I can open the gate for you. And I can't cover for you forever. If you decide to stay on Earth, let me know so I don't turn myself into an idiot, right?"

Rukia nodded again.

Renji watched her happily bounce along as they walked together to a small spot where he could open the gate for her without them being seen. He smiled sadly to himself. Yeah . . . he would help her. God knows how she had broken his heart . . . but he would heal with time. But what she needed was to be with the man she loved . . . and if her happiness meant him being in pain, he would give her happiness in a second.

As he opened the gate and watched her walk through, he smiled. She waved and called back,

"Thanks Renji! I'll be back."

And then she was gone.

She walked along slowly to where she knew Ichigo was at. She could feel his spirit pressure. It was huge, and he still wasn't hiding it. She could feel it again . . . she smiled as she wrapped herself in the wonderful feeling of the reiatsu she thought was gone forever.

Still smiling, she quickened her pace. She stopped outside of the house she had gotten so used to so many years ago. The door was open, and the light inside was bathing the grass in shadows.

It was night here . . .

But then, she heard his voice. It was as soft and kind as ever, and as he stepped in front of the door, with his back turned to her, she gasped and hid in the shadows. He turned around and in his arms sat a small boy, probably about three. Her heart clenched at the sight of the little child. He had orange/red hair and was leaning on Ichigo like he knew him well.

"Hey, squirt, when is your mommy gonna be home?"

He shrugged in Ichigo's arms and looked up at him, smiling. He took his fingers out of his mouth and patted Ichigo's face, leaving small, slime marks on his cheek.

When Ichigo reached up to wipe away the slime, the little boy looked at his hand and asked,

"What that?"

"Huh?" Ichigo asked, looking down at his hand.

"Sar," the little boy said, trying to pronounce 'scar'.

Ichigo smiled softly.

"It's a bond."

"Bond?"

"Yeah, Ishii, it's a bond. It was given to me by someone I love dearly."

"Like mommy?"

Rukia felt her heart break as she walked out of the darkness beside the house. Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise as he saw her form dart away from the clinic. He quickly put the child down on the ground and yelled,

"Dad! Watch Ishii for a second!"

Then he ran out the door, not stopping to put shoes on or even grab a jacket to go over his pajama shirt. He ran after Rukia, his feet hitting onto the hard, concrete ground as he tried desperately to catch up.

"Wait! Rukia, wait!"

When he finally caught up to her, he grabbed her arm. She tried to wrench it out of his grip, but he had gotten stronger as well as taller.

"Let me go," she said, still trying to break free as tears rolled fast down her face. "Let me go, let me go, let me go . . ." But her protests got weaker and weaker every time she whispered those three words. Ichigo pulled her, sobbing and shaking, into his arms. He held her tight as she cried, not wanting to let go as he ran his fingers through her hair. It was wet, as it had suddenly started raining as it had threatened to all day.

"Rukia . . . God, I thought you were never coming back."

She looked up into his eyes, her own still filled with tears.

"That little . . . the little b-boy . . . who is he?"

"He's . . . " Ichigo began, but stopped when he saw the look on Rukia's face. It dawned on him. "Oh, no, Rukia . . . did you think he was . . . my son?"

She nodded, not even trying to form coherent words around her sobs. Ichigo shook his head.

"No. God, no. He's Orihime and Ishida's son, Ishii. I was just babysitting him while they went to the doctor. See, Orihime's pregnant again."

"I'm s-sorry, Ichigo. I just thought that . . ."

Ichigo smiled as he put a finger to her lips.

"No more thinking, OK?"

She nodded, and his grip on her hand relaxed. He reached up to wipe her tears away, then pulled her into his arms again. Not thinking of getting loose this time, she let herself return the embrace, ler small arms reaching around his body as he pulled her closer to him.

She smiled as she breathed in his scent. He still smelled the same. After five years, he still smelled the same. . . he looked the same, too. Still scowling, still tall, and God was he tall, and he still had that same, bright orange hair.

"How come you didn't move on?" Rukia asked, her face still pressed firmly to his chest.

"Because I love you, Rukia. I would have waited until the end of the Earth for you. I still will. I'll wait until I die, even, if I have to. But I love you, and I won't ever betray you. I've only ever kissed one girl, and that's you. And you're the only girl I'll ever kiss again," he said, smiling gently as he leaned down to capture her lips with his, as if to prove a point.

She moaned quietly, her hands moving up to tangle themselves in her hair.

When he pulled back, she protested with another moan. He smiled as he placed his hand on hers, holding it tightly.

"When I gave you this scar, as I wiped away your tears, it was because you cried that I realized that I loved you and would do anything for you. Even die for you," he said softly, mumbling the words as he kissed her again.

She smiled into the kiss, her hand still gripped tightly in his.

Because you smiled . . . Because you cried . . . I love you . . .

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