Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

"Talking"

Thinking

Thinking/Talking Soul Spirits

Talking voice Rukia hears.

Dark Nights

Chapter 4: Lovely Promise

Darkness.

Why do we fear it?

Is it a fear created by the mind and others logic? Or, is something really there to fear?

But somehow even if everything's is lost, we, humans, still are able to react to what's happening. We are able to find the smallest light, and use it to break the life binding chains that bind us to our sorrows.

If we have the smallest sign of life, our broken bodies still move. And, the cry of pain, gives us what it takes to keep moving.

We make it by.

So is there really anything to fear at all?

Heartbeats cannot truly beat in harmony if there aren't others to connect to.

So cry till your lungs burst, have the killer pain that you fear, fall into loves spell, and be scared until you feel like you're about to die, because that's what makes life, life. And you truly wont live life until you have tasted a bit of darkness, and don't worry, light will always will be waiting, and will embrace you with open arms.

Just like darkness fills the sky at night, the stars and moon are its light.

Just like your room is horribly dark, you find the switch and turn on the light.

Just like you heart is on the verge of lost, and you feel you can't do anything, you feel enslaved. Take a breath, and in a few seconds, light will be right in front of you, you might not see it, but that's because you're not looking for it.

Rukia Kuchiki hasn't learned that yet.

"But that's what the game is for."

Echoes.

Rukia heard echoes. The voice to far to make out. She was engulfed in darkness, and couldn't hear her own voice. The weird feeling of not being able to do anything, sent a cold chill right down her back.

She didn't like anything about it.

"Ru...ia..." barley making out the sound of her own name Rukia's eyes went wide and searched for the source of the sound. "R...kia.." she heard again.

She wanted to answer, but her mouth make any sound except for the whimpers of fear slowly crawling to her.

"Why... ar... u... sc...ar...ed?"The voice was horrifyingly familiar, and Rukia wanted to run away from it all. But just as her voice wouldn't sound, her legs wouldn't move.

"Rukia," the voice said. "It's about time you paid a visit!" the voice exclaimed happily.

Rukia felt a bit defensive moving away from the fear. "Who are you?" she tried, but even if she knew the words, no voice came out. She flinched in fear of not being able to hear her own voice.

"Rukia there's no need for you to know my name, but before you ask, the reason why you can't speak here is because the darkness in between us, is like space, in space there's no sound."

Rukia relaxed a bit still bothered.

"Something's troubling you, am I right?" the voice said. "You are bothered by the fact that you kissed both your friends, and feel a likeness towards both of them."

Rukia cringed at how right the voice was.

"No need to be defensive though," she said. "They don't hate you, and you know that, but the reason you feel so bad is that, you hate yourself for doing such things." the voice said. "but was it your fault you had too much alcohol? Well yes but, you're not afraid of being with one of them, your afraid of what the other might think if choose to elope with one of the two."

Rukia opened her mouth in protest, but even if there was no sound no words came out.

"Rukia, you are worried over nothing, no matter what if they really care for you, they won't desert you for whatever choice you make." she said. "Toshiro let you go without fighting, Ichigo left you for over half a year, but both are still your friends are they not?"

Rukia hung her head down.

"Rukia your the most amazing thing that happened to them, don't cry over that." she said. "Now I have to take my leave, I wish you luck Rukia."

And Rukia let out a small smile, breaking away from the darkness and finding herself staring at the ceiling of her room. She felt better, a lot better.

Rukia happily walked along the long corridor entering the living room without a care in the world.

"Rukia!"

The world just crash landed.

Rukia turned on heel her eyes landing on Ichigo and the mouth letting out a small 'huh?" sound as she gawked at the orange haired teen with curiosity.

Ichigo walked up to her nearly stomping, and crossing his arms over his chest triumphantly. "Don't 'huh?' me, why did you just walk off on me like that after the freak'n scare you gave me, you idiot!" he said, Rukia recognizing the anger on his face now that he was up close.

Rukia's "Ruki-Senses" kicked in and she quickly got defensive. "Wh-who are you calling an idiot?" She shouted back, anger quickly rising.

"You're an idiot so I called you and idiot, you idiot!" Ichigo shouted back his eyebrows furrowing in deeper than usual.

"Don't call me an idiot, you idiot!"

"Say what?" he shouted back. "Your the one with the freak'n mood swings!"

Rukia glared at him. "Oh shut up!" she spat out. "It's not like your oh so perfect, you're like a kid's parent with a damn 'protect everyone' issue!" Rukia shouted back.

Ichigo rolled his amber eyes, giving up, knowing Rukia would win anyway. "Whatever," he said. "Would you care to tell me what happened and why you were crying a waterfall?" he asked.

Rukia avoided any eye contact with Ichigo. "It doesn't matter," she was with a painful smile getting her courage and looking at Ichigo. "I was just having a chick complex." Rukia said.

Ichigo gave her a small smile.

"Wait a second, what are you even doing in my house?" Rukia asked placing her hands to her hips and furrowing her raven eyebrows deep. "Ichigo you better have a really good alibi!"

Ichigo sweat dropped scratching the back of his head. "Well you see… I was… I was looking for you so we could hang out or something… you know, like… well… Rukia!" Ichigo moaned not finding the words he wanted.

Rukia laughed. "You moron…" she said shaking her head in disbelief. She slowly walked over to the couch, sitting down and looking for the remote. "Did you make breakfast Ichigo?" she asked.

Ichigo sighed. "Grab yourself a bowl of cereal," Ichigo said sourly, sitting right beside Rukia, grabbing the remote from her hands and changing the channel.

To his surprise, she didn't even strike back, she just stared at him, in her own cute way that made Ichigo uncomfortable.

"Ichigo," Rukia said tilting her head. "Do you remember the time we went to my backyard and children?" Rukia asked. "We got lost, and we ended up falling asleep under a cherry blossom tree."

Ichigo thought for a second. "No, I can't say I remember." Ichigo said.

Rukia smiled, "Then let's go outside!" she said grabbing Ichigo's hand and running through the corridor, to the outside door. She didn't take a moment to hesitate and run out the door.

Ichigo stood in his spot, in awe of how big her backyard was. "Wow…" he said and Rukia turned around to face him.

The yard was at least the size of two houses, and they were filled with cherry blossom trees that were so delicate they would fall as the wind would blow, and in between it all laid a lake, reflecting the blossoms and colors of the sky. Rukia's brother got some serious wacked out tastes, Ichigo thought.

"You still don't remember do you?" Rukia asked shaking her head in disbelief and walking slowly forward going deeper into the forest of blossoms, Ichigo fallowing closely behind. "We were in the 3rd grade…"

Flashback:

"Ichigo! Wait up!" Rukia shouted chasing after Ichigo who was far ahead of her. "No fair my legs are shorter than yours!" she cried, panting from exhaustion. Why did they have to play tag? She knew she would lose.

"Ya and so is your temper!" Ichigo shouted back, watching Rukia as she stopped for a short brake, her hands on her knees and panting. "Oh come'n, you can't already be tired!" Ichigo complained his hands on his hips.

Rukia look up at him and whimpered, her lip quivering uncontrollably.

"Fine, well take a break."

Rukia gave him a thankful smile and Ichigo waited as Rukia caught up. "Let's rest under that cherry blossom tree." Rukia said pointing to the tree closest to the lake. She looked to Ichigo with a smile.

Ichigo felt his cheeks go hot. "U-Uh ya…" he watched her hum, eye closed and absolutely careless. He stared at her hand; wanting to hold it and hug her, but how could he? She would freak out! Why does he even feel this way for her?

By the time he knew it, they were already under the tree, Rukia sitting down and patting the grass next to her. "Come on Ichigo, sit down." She said with her cute smile.

"Ya…" he mutter sitting down and watching Rukia. She though, was watching the sky.

"Ichigo," she said softly, slowly looking into his eyes and reading his heart. "Will you tell me another story?" she asked referring to the stories Ichigo's mother would tell him, and he would then tell her.

Ichigo cracked a smile. "Your brother isn't telling you any? So what this is my job now?" he laughed putting a hand to her head and messing up her raven black hair.

She blushed rather madly, breaking away from his hand. "Stop it!" She said. "I'm not some kid Ichigo! Just tell me the story!" she yelled childishly Ichigo laughing at her.

"Ok, ok," he said waving his hands in front of himself, as she relaxed and he leaned against the tree again. "Once there was a boy and a girl…" he started. "Everything they did or think was absolutely opposite, but they still found a way to like each other." He said. "After some time, the girl had to leave, and the boy asked her if they would ever see each other again."

"Well did they?" Rukia panicked.

Ichigo looked down at her and laughed. "Hold on, let me finish." He said. "The girl gave him a red string, and she said that no matter what or where they were, they would always be connected and find each other again. And they did. "

Ichigo shoved and hand into his pocket and pulled out a small red string getting Rukia's hand and tying it around her finger and doing the same to his. "This way, we will always be connected."

Rukia stared at her finger. "You're so silly Ichiwo," she said puffing up one of her cheeks. She looked at him. "We don't need a silly string to tell us were connected, because we've been connected since we've met, maybe even before that, and no one in the world could change that." She said putting her hand on his.

"Then make me a promise." Ichigo said. "Promise me, no matter what happens, we'll always be friends." He said. "Even if were separated, lets meet again, like in the story, we will always be connected." He said.

Rukia nodded "And…" she yawned sleepily. "And…" her eyes started to get heavy and her head fell to Ichigo's shoulder.

"I'm very sleepy…" she muttered cuddling up close to Ichigo, never finishing her sentence. "Thank you Ichigo…" she said breathing warm air softly onto his neck.

Ichigo smiled softly at the sleeping girl, putting his lips to the top of her head. "You're so strange, Rukia." He said putting his head on hers and falling into the spell of sleep.

End:

Rukia's eyes fluttered open, her head resting of something hard, and she found herself cuddled up next to Ichigo who was watching her with a smile. "It's 'bout time you woke up." He said with a smile as blush covered her face.

She broke away quickly, sitting up and covering her face. "What happened?" she asked avoiding Ichigo's eye contact as she stared at her surroundings.

They were still outside, and they were under a cherry blossom tree, near a lake. "Remember?" Ichigo asked. "This is the same tree where we rested under, and made the promise." He said.

Rukia looked at him. "Oh ya…" she muttered. "I remember the story you told me," she said with a smile.

Ichigo nodded getting up from the soft grass and giving Rukia his hand. "You never finished you sentence." He said as Rukia took his hand and helped her up.

Rukia tilted her head. "Lets see…" she muttered. "I guess I was about to say: and don't break your promise strawberry' or something along those lines." Rukia said never letting go of Ichigo's hand.

Ichigo laughed. "I doubt that." He said. "Come on, it's time to go back, it's starting to get dark." He said.

Rukia nodded.

And together they walked hand and hand under the cherry blossom trees, making sure never to forget their promise.

"Ichigo!" Rukia shouted. "What the hell happened to all my food?" She shouted slamming the refrigerator shut and stomping off to the living room were empty plates and cups laid horribly on the small coffee table.

"There's food in the fridge stop over exaggerating." Ichigo said waving his hand dismissively.

Rukia shook with anger pointing to the fridge. "All that's left is carrots and broccoli and all that healthy crap!" She shouted.

"Well it's not like you need the junk food, I bet you already gained 5 pounds since the summer began." Ichigo said.

Rukia blushed hard grabbing her stomach. "Oh shut up!" she reached for the half-full bag of popcorn and threw it at Ichigo, it landing perfectly on his head as she stomped out.

Ichigo peeked out of the popcorn bag with a small smile. "This is how it should be." He said. "Rukia being Rukia, her careless, angry, reckless self." He muttered closing his eyes and thinking about the girl that drove him crazy.

"Rukia is Rukia, and nothing in the world could change that."

Ichigo woke up rubbing his sore neck after a horrible sleep on the couch since Rukia didn't let him sleep in a room. "Damn that chick…" he muttered getting up and going to the nearest restroom.

Rukia though, she had a great sleep, and when she woke up, she immediately decided to call Toshiro, she felt bad after the way she treated him and she wanted to apologize.

She got up and stretched, admiring the outside world from the window, and walking out the door.

In a matter of a few minutes, amber met violet.

"Hey, Rukia," Ichigo said scratching his head. "What's up?" Rukia had almost forgot that Ichigo had slept over and it took a while for her to see that Ichigo was half naked in front of her smiling at her as if nothing was wrong.

She found herself staring at his face, to his chest, then his light blue boxers that was his only cloths.

"I-Ichigo!" Rukia said covering her mouth and trying to hide her blush. "Um… get some cloths you idiot…" she muttered under her breath, her eyes fixed of the corridor floor.

"What?" Ichigo asked confused.

Rukia furrowed her eye brows turning towards Ichigo. "Cant you hear?" she shouted. "Put on some freak'n cloths you idiot!" she shouted and quickly realized she was looking at him again and hid her face.

Ichigo looked down. And after a while he blushed finally realizing what Rukia was talking aobut. "Oh shit!" he shouted. "Rukia, oh gawd, I'm so sorry!" he said going into the restroom and peeking his head out.

Rukia gave Ichigo a worried look. "Did you even bring extra cloths you idiot? Oh what am I going to do with you?" she sighed.

Ichigo smiled. "I know, I'm a handful."

"You and Toshiro both." Rukia said. "You guys are like horrible twins and find new ways to torture me every day." She said putting a hand to her forehead. "Anyways I'll get you some of brothers cloths, but clean up first." She said.

Ichigo nodded.

Rukia walked back to the corridor into her brothers room and grabbed his never used cloths quickly, laying them out in front of the restroom door and walking to the kitchen to get the phone.

She was still eager to call her friend.

RING

RI-

"Rukia!" Toshiro said and Rukia laughed at the sound of Toshiro worried voice. "What happened? Are you all right? Do you need anything?" he asked quickly.

Rukia rolled her eyes. "I'm the one that called you, so let me speak first." She said. "I'm calling you to tell you I'm fine, and that you don't need to worry about me," she said. "And I also called to apologize," she said. "for acting so cruel when you were trying to help me."

Rukia heard Toshiro 'hmph' on the others side of the phone. "I almost couldn't sleep you dummy," he said. "you went all emo on me, I thought you were just having a PMS moment on me, but still I was worried." Toshiro said. "I knew I shouldn't of taken you to the park, you and your stupid ideas-"

"Ok, where's the off button to your motor mouth?" Rukia asked with a small chuckle. "Anyways, I just wanted to call to tell you I was alright," Rukia said. "Maybe we can go out for dinner or something to make up for the absence of my maid-working." Rukia said dreading the thought of putting on that outfit again.

"Oh you defiantly owe me Kuchiki," Toshiro said. "and be expecting the labor, cause there's not going to be any rest for the wicked." He said.

Rukia laughed. "Ok, we'll talk later, bye… Snowflake." She said quickly.

"What the hell did you sa-"

Rukia hung up with a satisfied smile.

Ichigo peered out of the restroom finding the cloths Rukia promised on the floor. "Huh, well the Kuchiki has a heart after all." he said picking up the nicely folded cloths up and going back into the restroom.

"Rukia is Rukia, and nothing in the world can change that."

AUTHORS NOTE:

This is me apologizing for the lateness, I got busy all week. Urgh. Stupid Semester tests. Anyways heres some IchiRuki for the fans, dont worry I didnt forget ; )

R&R plwease ^^