Hey, it's Zerolr coming with Chap 4! I have been told that is the best chapter I've upload in this fic so far, in another website I've posted. Hope you like (I don't mind if I don't get any reviews-- but if you've got anything to say please leave a word or two) Ja mata!

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Chapter four - The Answer to Her Question

Rukia and Ichigo walked home, side by side. The orange-haired high school student clung on to the huge bunny's arm and had it slung over his shoulder. There was silence for some time until Rukia's oh-so-familiar voice broke that silence.

"You can't carry her like that you'll tear her arm!"

"Tch."

Rukia tossed her head to the side, and Ichigo took that instant to glance at her. So she really had recovered, I'm glad.

Rukia then turned to face him once more and reached out her thin arms, "Give her to me!!"

"No, you can't see where you're going with it."

"Well, you guide me—Give me!

"No. How the hell are you going to fit this in the closet any ways?"

"Well, I've decided that it's about time that your family knows," she replied with the winning thumbs up, "They have that extra room on the second floor!"

"You little…" Ichigo growled, already imaging that she had planned where to place the plush, "Fine….here!" He finalized completely resigning with her stubbornness.

The buses, cars, honked, the people waved to one another and the store owners occasionally stood outside waving hoping to call in customers. The small town bustled with its regular activities and in the mist of them what looked like two regular students boy, girl walked side by side.

He occasional steered her by placing lightly a hand on her back while he heard her chat incisively about the wanting to come back. Talking, talking about the food, the items and accessories. Chatting some more about his sisters, his friends in school, Orihime and Chad about everyone and everything. Ichigo looked ahead listening to her the whole time. The regular annoyed furrow-browed look on his face but inside he felt completely and totally satisfied. Happy.

"So, what about you?" Rukia asked

"Huh?" Ichigo stopped when she stopped and scratched the back of his head.

"I haven't heard anything from you, what's been going on since I've been gone?"

His mind ran the entire fall and winter that so slowly lamely passed. Now with this arriving spring, color was blooming, life was resurrecting, coming back, coming…"

"What in the…" Ichigo hit the side of his head. Rukia is just some strange person that had entered his life it's not like she's something special…. But still…

"Ichigo?"

"Someone asked me out," in truth that was the only abnormal thing that has happened to him, since the explanation of death gods and hollows for that matter.

"O-oh really?" Rukia cheesed, "Did you give her answer?"

"No." came the curt reply.

"How's the Hollow activity?"

"Uh, oh…" Ichigo deeply wondered what was running through her mind, "Well very few, they're actually scarce. And the ones that really do manage to make an appearance are really easy to take care of." He saw that she was about to ram against the fire hydrant and he immediately pulled her to the side.

"Oh Arigato," Thank you – informal she smiled simply.

"Thank you…" she smiled that ever grateful smile as the doors to Soul Society closed behind him and his friends.

Ichigo immediately shoved her to the side, "There's no need to thank me," he abruptly spoke avoiding her gaze.

"I've come to save you," he spoke as if it was nothing, landing right next her, his eyes avoiding her gaze…

Rukia couldn't help but smile in that moment that he wasn't looking. I guess we haven't changed much at all since last…

The continued walking and Rukia passed the huge plush to Ichigo. Without a word, he chugged the enormous thing in a choke hold under his arm. They both passed alongside the park walking at a regular pace. Orihime and Tatsuki were there sitting on swings talking. Orihime spotted them, Rukia bouncing attempting to snatch the toy back while Ichigo yelled on how he could carry it anyway he wanted. Orihime's face flushed. How could I think that she'd never come back? Her feelings for him were like an iron, heavy crushing her heart, flatting, causing such a suffocating sensation. How could I? I could never be as close to him, never.

Tatsuki noticing her shrink within herself sighed softly with much worry.

"Orihime!"

She looked up to the sound of Rukia's chirpy voice.

"WOoooo hoo!" she sang waving her arm. Orihime noticed Ichigo froze at the mention of her name.

"Let's go," began Tatsuki taking Orihime's hand.

"But-but!"

Too late. Rukia ran towards them meeting them half way with plush in hand. Ichigo didn't move from the sidewalk were he stood, not even looking towards Tatsuki or Orihime anymore.

"I came back today!" she chirped happily.

"I-I'm happy," Orihime lied. Rukia smiled and hugged her.

"Did Ichigo buy this?" she asked.

"No," replied Rukia, "I saw it and I happen to have some money on me. Oh! Ichigo come and say--" Rukia turned around and stopped.

Ichigo and Tatsuki where talking. His face was looking the opposite direction avoiding eye contact.

"What's your answer?" she pressed.

"Will you shut up!" Ichigo cried. When he veered around, he saw Orihime's large eyes shaking, and Rukia's large steady violet ones gazing right back at him. He felt his head spin. He didn't want to say anything, not in front of her, of Rukia. He took off nearly knocking Tatsuki off her feet, he raced and raced.

Rukia's mind echoed with his voice… "Someone asked me out" She looked a Inoue who stood next to her. In that split second, some kids playing at the sand box saw a small thin girl jump nimbly over their heads with such speed and agility that caused them to drop their things and clap in awe. The fellow bunny was flagging behind her as she held on to its arm with one hand. Tatsuki too, decided to follow and she grabbed Orihime's hand and cried, "Let's go!"

Ichigo running looked back and was damn shocked to find Rukia chasing after him.

"Shit," he thought out loud.

The following scene was quite comical to some peds while at the same time it worried several others.

"Come back here!" Rukia cried.

"No! Why the hell are you chasing me?!

"Because—"

Tatsuki and Orihime stopped to catch a breather, "Damn," she gasped, "They're fast!"

Ichigo dashed across a red-turning-green light at an intersection with Rukia nipping at his heels. The supply truck not seeing her rushed on ahead without stopping. Rukia screamed.

Ichigo turned and for that instant, saw her there—hopeless, afraid, and in danger. He heart dropped and his hands immediately shook, as the adrenaline rushed into his veins.

Rukia closed her eyes. Everything is happening so fast.

"Baigon! Hinagiku! Lily! Santen Kesshun! Watashi wa kyozetsu suru!"

The driver felt like he hit something, he stopped and got out. He saw a strange bright yellow shield and the whole front part of his vehicle was totaled by it. Tatsuki stood shocked gazing towards her friend

"Orihime…" she breathed

Rukia slowly opened her eyes and saw Ichigo's body over her. His arms embraced her small frame. His back was hunched over facing to receive that supposed impact. She also noted that his head was right by her shoulder looking straight ahead, behind her. Her vision shook as she noticed Orihime's shield and her small fairies fly back to her.

"What the heck was that?" the driver asked. He looked down at them, "Are you guys alright?"

Rukia nodded, "Yes, thank you…"

Ichigo stood and reached out a hand and Rukia accepted it. Orihime stood watching as he pulled her up. He hid his eyes within his small bangs, she could see that his body was still tense from the incident, "He was ready to sacrifice himself for her," she whispered.

"Idiot," countered Tatsuki, "Ichigo will do that for anybody, that's just how he is." She took her hand once more, "Now let's go meet them."

Some cars started honking wondering what had happened, some people called the cops. Ichigo, Rukia along with Tatsuki and Orihime head off away from the scene and in the end stopped by an outdoor café.

"How about we all order something to drink?" asked Tatsuki as a way to cheer everyone up. After all, she felt slightly guilty because she was the one who started the whole mess.

Orihime played with her fingers nervously. Ichigo just sat silently avoiding all eye contact and Rukia hugging the bunny buried her face within it while she racked her brain for ideas. Tatsuki sighed wearily and embarrassed as she sad down.

Rukia suddenly lifted her head and smiled gratefully towards Inoue, "Arigato, Orihime."

"Oh, no, no" she smiled weakly as she waved her hands in front of her., "It's the least I can do," she smiled once more. She continued to beat herself inside for those instances prior, for all the hate that had wanted to crawl inside her heart, because in the end Rukia loved her, cared for her as a friend and worried about her.

"Ichigo, " Orihime looked up and saw Rukia who sat across, call softly to him. Ichigo lifted his head and he saw her eyes warm, full and kind, "Arigato..."

He felt he heart race, it didn't help since his body was still hype and jittery from the adrenaline. He quickly stood and his eyes moved to Orihime, then to Tatsuki.

He looks confused, Orihime thought.

"Kurosaki-kun, you don'—" she began.

"I don't want to!" he babbled suddenly.

"Eh?" Orihime tilted her head a little. Tatsuki covered her mouth, Rukia dropped her plush.

"I said I don't want to!" Ichigo repeated once more, his voice slowly rising, "I never wanted to—it's just I've never—I've never cared for any—like that—not like,"

"Please it's okay say no more," Orihime spoke tenderly, "If it hurts, its okay,"

Rukia's eyes softened and she stood up and Ichigo's eyes met hers for that instant.

What's running through her mind! He thought wildly. What, what, what?!

She turned and picked up the bunny, "Ichigo don't worry I'll find somewhere else to stay.." Rukia spoke softly.

As she bent down he noted the slightest color gather at her cheeks.

"I'm sorry Orihime, " Ichigo began once more.

"It-It's okay," she replied

"I don't like you."

Everyone went silent. Rukia dropped the bunny again.

Ichigo continued, "I don't think about girls or dating for that matter, until recently I've never had feeling for anybody before.

"O-o-o-oh, I see," Her voice trembled.

"ICHIGO, YOU JERK!" roared Rukia lunging herself at him. He grabbed her by the wrists rending her useless. "Let me go!!" she screamed.

Orihime lowered her head into her hands, suddenly breaking into tears. Tatsuki had the biggest urge to ram her fist deep inside his face and break all of his teeth—had he no shame?!

"The only girl I've ever anxiously thought about, wondered and hoped to see," Ichigo let go of her, "Is you…"

Rukia felt his gaze burn right through to the back of her mind. She thought about Kaien how desperately in her wildest fantasy that he had told her this.

Orihime ran off and Tatsuki followed. Rukia's fists clenched and she reached for a chair next to her and threw it towards him. He blocked it with one hand. Anger boiled and rose, she kicked the other chairs and Ichigo just calmly watched.

"JERK! Fucken, baka! Baka! Baka! Baka!!" she screamed. She threw the bunny and Ichigo tossed it aside and she rushed and crashed into his chest. She continuously beat unto it, frustrated, screaming.

The store manager walked out and was surprised at the sight of the knocked chairs and table.

Ichigo annoyed shoved her back. She stumbled back, nearly tripping.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" He cried.

"I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!!" she screamed.

"You think I want you floating around in my brain?! He shouted back, "You fucking got no ass or chest!!"

"FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU!" she shrieked before she ran off." Her face was heated all the way down to her neck. She left the bunny behind, it was torn in several places. It stared at Ichigo with such a heartbroken, forlorn look that could have put the cutest kittens to shame.

Ignoring the complaining store owner, Ichigo bent down and picked it up, and holding it across his chest the right way, he walked home…