AN: Hey everybody. I'm back (finally). I apologize for the delay, but I kinda... downloaded a viruses that killed my computer... -_-' Kinda embarrassing to say, but stuff happens. So I finally got it fixed, so I'm back with a new chap. I feel like it came out a little weird, but hopefully you guys will like. Well, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach

My hope fades away from the angry tears

even the strength to live…

in a fit of passion I go crazy with grief

and so, I pray to the setting sun.

A single drop fell from the dark clouds, putting a dark splotch on the pavement between the two figures. As more drops began to fall, orange spikes became matted to their owner's head, his bangs covering up the emotions brewing in his amber eyes.

"You're… leaving?"

The rain began to fall harder, beating against the ground in a sad tune.

A pale hand readjusted the umbrella nervously. The ground under the protective embrace of the nylon was dry except for the occasional splatter that caught the small feet. Violet eyes averted from the form before them in an attempt to hide the storm of pain that swirled within.

"I-I can't stay here anymore, Ichigo. I…" she trailed off, not sure what else to say.

"You what? Why do you have to leave?" he still didn't look up at her, instead choosing to stare down at the cement at her feet.

"I just need to get away."

Amber eyes flashed as he looked up at her. He took a quick step closer, the rain still patting down on his head chilling him to his core.

"That's not a reason! Why? Why do you need to get away?!"

"I'm sorry, Ichigo. I'm leaving. That's all there is to it," she answered quietly.

"Like hell that's it! You just suddenly decide that you need to leave?! There has to be more to it! Just tell me what it is!" he yelled back.

"I can't! There… there's nothing else to tell. Just accept it. I have to go." She turned, getting ready to walk away, but felt a hand grab her arm and she looked back.

"Please, Rukia… let me help you! If there is something going on, I want to help," he pleaded, his amber eyes stormy with a mix of confused emotions.

"I-Ichigo… just… just let me go."

"Not until you tell me what's going on." She looked forward and stood in silence for a few seconds before turning her head slightly, not looking at him.

"You won't let me go until I tell you?" The question lingered in the air as the rain thudded against the umbrella. Neither one moved, and what breaths they took were short and restrained so as not disturb the tension.

"Fine… I'll tell you," she said, looking at him with tears in her deep, indigo pools. "I'm leaving… to get away from you." His grip loosened as her stared at her in shock.

"Wh-what?"

She pulled her arm out of his grasp and turned away again, taking a couple steps away.

"Goodbye… Ichigo." With that, she walked away, fading into the dark curtains rain. The only thing that remained of her presence was the dry circle where she had been standing, but that, like everything else…

was swallowed by the rain.

"Hey! Get a move on!"

Ichigo shook his head and looked at the man who had pulled him from his thoughts. He hadn't realized that he had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk.

Why am I thinking of things like that right now?

Dwelling on the past wasn't going to answer his questions right now. Memories wouldn't tell him who sent the frame or the letter.

But if I had just gone after her…

He let out a frustrated sigh. This was getting him nowhere. Maybe he should call Rukia's brother to see if he had found anything out yet. It wasn't like Ichigo had any way of going and finding out much by himself anyway; he was just a high school student.

Ichigo pulled out his phone and looked at it, contemplating whether it would actually help to call the elder Kuchiki or if it would just be a waste of his time. He ran a hand through his hair and went to put his phone back in his pocket.

From how he acted before, he would probably just act like I'm a nuisance anyway.

Just before he slid the phone back into his pocket, it began to vibrate. He looked down at the number displayed on the screen.

Blocked?

He tentatively accepted the call, holding the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" He was met with silence.

"Hello?" he repeated, this time slightly louder. Yet again, the line remained silent.

Ichigo scowled. "Idiot," he muttered as he pulled the phone away from his ear. As he was about to hang up, a slow, whispered song came from the other end of the line.

"White mo-on sinks into the sea…"

A shiver ran down Ichigo's spine. That voice…

"abandoned by the sun."

"R-Rukia?!"

"Into the depth and darkness sink,

embraced by death's cold arms."

Ichigo turned around, looking through the throng of people as if Rukia might be right next to him.

"Rukia?! Where are you?! Are you okay?!"

"The moon turns black and burns away…"

A flash of violet and a glimpse of pale skin caught Ichigo's attention.

"guided by hate's cruel light…"

Ichigo pushed through the crowd toward the person, going towards a patch of raven hair that was moving away from him.

"and vengeance seeks upon the sun…"

He struggled to keep the woman in sight, but her figure was moving further and further away.

"and darkness veils its fire."

Ichigo watched as the figure turned into a side alley and he took the opportunity to shove through the crowd to reach it. When he turned into the dark space, he felt like he had been hit in the gut. The alley was empty. He looked down at the phone that was still in his hand at his side before putting it back to his ear.

"Rukia?"

The singing started again, but this time it was slower, and colder.

"The sun then crumbles into dust,

never to return."

Chapter Five: Night Resurrected

"What have you found?" Byakuya asked his guest.

"It's always business with you, Bya-bo," Urahara pouted, earning a cold glare from his companion. "You haven't even offered me any tea!"

Byakuya could already tell that this conversation was going to be difficult. Just getting information out of this blonde fool test his patience, and having to be in the same room with him just made it worse.

"This is not a meeting to exchange pleasantries," he replied coldly.

Urahara chuckled and flipped open his fan. "I see you haven't lost the Kuchiki coldness."

"The longer you insist to talk, the less I shall pay," Byakuya stated flatly.

Urahara sighed and snapped his fan closed, reaching inside his jacket to pull out a small envelope, which he handed to Byakuya.

"I called in a few favors to get that. You would be amazed how many postal issues there are to be covered up," Urahara laughed. "I tracked down where the butterfly was sent from and went to the address. It was a small house outside of Tokyo."

Byakuya looked down at the small piece of paper he was holding.

"Who owns the house?"

"No one. It's been abandoned for several years. When I went in, there was no trace that anyone had been there anytime recently except for that envelope, which was the only thing not covered in dust. From the looks of it, someone either knew you would find the place or they found out about it before I could get there."

Byakuya again looked at the blank envelope.

"Did you look inside?"

Urahara simply nodded and gestured for Byakuya to open it.

As he pulled out the slip of paper that was inside the envelope, he almost thought that it would be blank; but when he pulled it out all the way, he saw that someone had scrawled the words "Dead End" on the page with their finger in red ink. Right below the words was a small doodle similar to the one on the back of the frame, but this time, instead of just having the rabbit look like Byakuya, it was also hanging from a noose.

"You may want to increase security a little, Bya-bo…" Urahara mused.

"I see no need. A drawn crudely threat is not something I concern myself with," Byakuya stated, setting the paper down and looking back up at Urahara.

"I see. So, is there anything else you need my brilliant expertise for?" Urahara grinned, earning another cold glare from stoic man.

"I want whatever information there is available about the house in which you found this. Get it to me as soon as possible," Byakuya answered as Urahara stood to walk to the door.

"I'll see what I can do. And I hope that you don't get too wrapped up in this. If you dig to far, you might just end up hurting yourself…" Urahara smiled and turned to leave, following behind the servant that had come to show him.

AN: And there you have it! I had fun writing the first part, but the second part was what I felt was strange. Please review to let me know what you think of it. If you have anything that you think I should change, I won't know unless you tell me (I failed my mind reading class... so help me out a little :P) Until next time!