AUTHOR NOTE: hey guys! I'm back! I had a very hard time trying to find a good song for this chappie but I made it through nonetheless!

Originally I'm on my DET laptop which means I don't get notified when someone subscribes or comments and I can only access the mobile version, but I just checked my normal laptop the other day and I can say:

WHOOOOTTT! All lot of people actually have subscribed but not commented, so it makes me happy to know that there are other people who are reading too!

Ok, enough chatter, ENJOY!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bleach or the epic-ness of Ichi-Ruki.

Music Game – Playlist No. 6 Track No. 7:

RECAP:

Her eyes rolled back and she fell onto the ground in a dead faint.

Ichigo dropped his guitar in shock.

"Rukia!"

What did I just do?

Ichigo winced as he heard the guitar smash onto the ground and saw Rukia fall heavily onto the wooden floor.

That short Kuchiki had collapsed right in front of him!

Quickly, Ichigo's medical senses kicked in and he hurriedly knelt in front of her. He felt her wrist for a pulse and confirmed that it was strong and beating away nicely. As his hand closed around her wrist, he realised just how small the girl really was. Her wrist was so thin just like the rest of her petite body; her face had turned pale. Her hair fell forward and covered her face, merging with the ever present strands of hair that fell between her eyes. She looked like . . .

Ichigo looked around wondering what to do-

Wait, pale?

He hastily dropped her wrist (why was he still holding on anyway?) before reaching up and gently lifting Rukia's head onto his lap. His fingers came away from her dark hair, stained with red.

"Oh, shit!"

Ichigo reached inside his pants pocket and took out a white handkerchief which he proceeded to wrap Rukia's damaged head in. He slid one arm under Rukia's neck and the other under her legs and lifted her up.

He opened the door with some difficultly and headed straight for the infirmary.

Well at least he hoped that was the direction, he couldn't really remember.

Man, Kuchiki, you sure know how to surprise me.

Last period had finished and Yoruichi still hadn't seen a sign of 2 of her students. Just because Urahara had a plan it didn't mean that he could just pull them out of class. The bell went and everyone piled into the P.E change room in a hurry to get home. Yoruichi was just about to pull out her phone to call Urahara demanding an explanation when her message ringtone went off.

NYAN! Nyan. Nyan, nyan, nyan, nyan, nyan, nyan, nyan . . .

Her eyes lit up as she read the message. Yoruichi smiled, her bad mood disappearing quickly.

To: One Night

From: Kisuke

:D Sorry!

To: Kisuke

From: One Night

Forget about it! Did you know that they would skip class?

To: One Night

From: Kisuke

Yes, I know already!

To: Kisuke

From: One Night

HUH? O_O how come? Oh wait . . .

-Sigh- You and your info Kisuke . . .

To: One Night

From: Kisuke

This means more time to put the plan into action.

Yoruichi stared at the last message Urahara had sent to her and sighed.

She was starting to regret things a little.

Things had only turned out this way because there was no other choice; Byakuya wouldn't listen to her or to anyone else. Hisana's death had only made him more determined. Rukia deserved this chance. Ichigo did too. It wasn't fair how life was so cruel sometimes; it would take all you had but would give nothing back.

She was going to fix this whether Byakuya liked it or not.

Plus, she'd prefer her little students to remember her . . .

When Rukia awoke, the first thing she realised beside the fact that her head was throbbing, was a heat source lying next to her. She turned her head with much difficulty and tried to focus her blurry eyes on the figure sitting on chair with his body lying across part of the bed, but her head wouldn't respond. There was pain but it felt dulled, perhaps that kind had helped her.

What happened?

Feeling really tired, she fell back into a deep sleep.

Wait . . . orange hair . . .

Who had orange hair?

Orange hair meant . . .

When Rukia and Ichigo both awoke, something had changed.

They both had no idea what it was. But somehow, looking into each other's eyes was quite hard now, even though it had been so easy yesterday. Every breath and movement seemed to reach their ears so loudly, like they were on hyper tune. The clock on the wall said that class started 5 minutes ago.

"We should go to class."

"Y-yeah."

Rukia shifted off the bed, silently cursing herself for stuttering. Why was it so hard to breathe in this room?

As they headed down the corridor, Ichigo vaguely considering calling home and telling them that he was alright. But that would just result in more yelling and innuendos from his dad and sisters. He needed a fake alibi to cover up for where he had actually been last night. And the only one who could help him was-

"We should think of an alibi."

Ichigo almost laughed at that.

They were too similar, that's why they fought so much, but nonetheless their thinking was on the same wavelength.

"OK, sure. So, what were you doing yesterday? Or what were we doing?"

She thought for a while.

"We studied in the library together and worked on our music assignment."

"Which is due today by the way."

Rukia muttered a curse which sounded quite similar to something like 'ducking glass hole of a music teacher'. Ichigo couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his face at that.

They opened the door and Urahara immediately pounced on them.

"Ah! Kurosaki-kun! Kuchiki-san!"

He ushered them into the class.

"Goodness, Kuchiki-san, what happened to your head?"

"Um, well, I had a little accident last night."

Urahara nodded half sympathetically for a while before turning his head back to teaching the class.

"We have all presented and now it's your turn!"

The entire class stared expectedly at the two.

"Uh, well, actually-"Ichigo started.

"We haven't finished."

Urahara frowned slightly but then smiled again.

"That's ok! Just sing a song that you know then! Actually, since we're starting a new topic, why don't just sing any song that you like!"

Ichigo and Rukia both stared down at the ground, silently cursing. There was silence as the class waited but nothing came. They both racked their brains for a good song off the top of their heads, but nothing special popped into mind. Finally, Urahara stood up and waved his fan softly at Ichigo.

"How about this then, Kurosaki-kun? Just sing something that you always wanted to, but never got the chance. It could be to something . . . or someone."

Underneath his hat, Urahara grinned, knowing that he had hit something.

Ichigo hesitated before turning to Rukia.

"Can you play the piano?"

"Huh?"

"Do you know the song Right Here Waiting?"

"Yes, but I haven't played the piano in-"

Not listening to her excuses, Ichigo dragged Rukia over to the piano in the corner and plonked her down on the seat.

"Just play. I don't care if you suck, if there's one subject I don't want to fail, its music."

She puzzled over his words. Why would he care about music? Turning her thoughts back to the matter at hand, Rukia's hands gently glided over the keys. The smooth coolness of the keys felt so familiar and comforting. It had been ages and her fingers were just aching to play. It felt so good but guilt constantly gnawed at her.

Just one song wouldn't hurt, right?

After all, Byakuya wouldn't have to know . . .

"Alright."

She closed her eyes and played.

Ichigo turned around on the seat so that he faced the class.

Oceans apart, day after day . . .

And I slowly I go insane.

I hear your voice on the line,

But it doesn't feel the same.

Rukia almost stopped playing. The change in texture of his voice when Ichigo sang surprised her so much. His voice was harsh when he had sung Break My Heart the other day but now it had a softer tone. It was like he was actually singing out something that he wanted to say.

If I see you next to never . . .

How can we say forever?

Rukia prepared for the chorus, shocking herself at how well her memory was. It really was such an old song and the last time she had ever touched the piano was straight after the operation and then . . .

She winced at the sudden pain in her head but didn't stop. She never had problems remembering things from before. The memories were blurred because of the results of the operation but it had never hurt to think about the memories before. Come to think of it, it didn't hurt her at all to sing or to play the piano. Byakuya and the doctors all said that music was bad for her but it hadn't hurt one bit.

It had been fun.

Where ever you are,

Whatever you do,

I will be right here waiting for you.

Whatever it takes,

Or how my heart breaks,

I will be right here waiting for you.

Vaguely, Rukia wondered who Ichigo really was.

First impressions of him were obviously pretty bad. He was loud and rude; obnoxious and annoying, especially his weirdly coloured hair which she was sure he dyed. But it was pretty clear that he wasn't always like that; after all he had helped her and stayed with her all night didn't he? If he actually was a bad person, he would have just left her there. And they were here, working together to accomplish something that was clear that they both loved. Begrudgingly, Rukia acknowledged the fact that Ichigo was pretty talented.

I took for granted, all the times

That I thought would last somehow

I hear the laughter, I taste the tears

But I can't get near you now

As Ichigo continued, Rukia's thoughts drifted towards the person who Ichigo might be singing to. It seemed like he was really actually sad and was missing her very much.

Her?

Rukia's eyes widened and she tripped over a couple of notes but hurriedly covered it up.

Why did she automatically assume that it was a girl and that it was . . .

She shook her head; the stinging sensation had started again. Everything seemed hypersensitive to her now. Each breath Ichigo took for the next line, each movement his feet made; his body heat felt much to close on the suddenly smaller piano chair. It had been ages since anyone had been this close to her. Every just avoided her and Byakuya was . . . well, Byakuya.

Oh can't you see it baby,

You're driving me crazy.

Where ever you go,

Whatever you do,

I will be right here waiting for you.

Whatever it takes,

Or how my heart breaks,

I will be right here waiting for you . . .

Rukia let her fingers play across the last chord of arpeggios for the ending and she lifted the pedal off for the final soft note. The silence after this was so deafening that she wished for something, anyone to break it. The softest pin in the world could have fallen on the carpet and it would have shattered the heavy nothingness that pressed down against her throat preventing anything from coming out.

"Did we pass?"

With those words, Ichigo broke the silence and the class shifted back into action.

Urahara grinned happily from ear to ear.

"Of course! Perfect score! Well done, you two! I should enter you in the Japanese Children's Music Festival!"

BAM!

Ichigo suddenly stood up, his muscles all tense.

"Kurosaki-kun?"

Rukia looked up at Ichigo from where she was sitting. His head was down and his hair covered his eyes. By his sides, his hands had curled up into tight fists that were filled with anger.

"No."

Urahara frowned. This wasn't part of the plan . . .

"I refuse to participate."

"What's wrong with the Japanese Children's Music Festival? I'm sure if you go, you and Kuchiki-san would top them all! In fact I think you would top the last biggest performance, which was 5 years ago. "

5 Years ago . . .

Rukia's head throbbed. Her sister had died 5 years ago. And 5 years ago . . .

No!

I don't . . .

I want to . . .

Then suddenly a name popped into mind.

She opened her mouth unconsciously as Ichigo started walking away.

"Kaien . . . dono." She whispered.

Ichigo froze.

He turned around and stared at Rukia incredulously.

"How do you know Kaien?"

AUTHOR NOTE: AAANNNNDD CUT!

: D yay I updated! I'm so happy!

Please review to fuel me up because I really love it! It's like drinking chicken soup!

. . . Yes, I like chicken soup very much . . .

I'm hungry now . . .

Gonna go munch!

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