Hey guys I promise I'm alive I've just been uninspired. I would like to thank NiceGoingLife, purplepam, Smitha, Ben10 madness, Arkanium, and JustGrace13 for their reviews. You're awesome!

BTW: I published an Oneshot called Seven Not So Easy Steps. Please go check it out.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach

Day Thirteen

Ichigo glared at the window as the sun steadily rose up from its place below the horizon. Ichigo couldn't help but wish it would go back down and buy him some more time. The past few days he'd begun to really doubt his whole 'plan'. It was supposed to be just a casual thing that made Rukia realize all the things she'd be missing if she left. It wasn't supposed to be this huge thing, for Kami's sake she wasn't supposed to have feelings for him! Now he was stuck as his guilt ate him up from the inside. He couldn't just keep lying to Rukia. She had to know what was really going on. But then what would he tell her? 'Hey, I'm only dating you so you don't go and ditch us again'. That just sounded stupid. This whole thing was stupid.

What do you know? This house is falling apart

What can I say? This house is falling apart

We got no money, but we go-

"What", Ichigo bit out as he answered the phone. It was six thirty in the morning, and Ichigo was not a morning person(A/N not that he's all rainbows and gumdrops during the rest of the day either).

"Geez someone's in a pissy mood", Renji chuckled and Ichigo wondered if his father would be pissed if he smashed his phone up against the wall.

"What do you want", Ichigo asked and he could practically feel Renji's smug expression through the phone.

"I was just calling to see how you were doing. Is that so wrong", Renji asked his voice tinted with mock hurt.

"When it's six in the morning it's a crime the devil himself wouldn't commit", Ichigo told him and he frowned when he heard Renji laugh again.

"Well I didn't realize it was such a crime. I'm on hollow duty and I'm bored. I figured you'd be awake right now so I decided to call you and ask about what was going on with you and Rukia", Renji told him and Ichigo stiffened slightly before scoffing into the phone.

"What do you mean 'what's going on'? I don't think it's too exciting", Ichigo told him scowling, not that Renji could see it.

"Well do you think she's going to stay? I mean otherwise the plan is a wast-

"Look I gotta go", Ichigo said and he hung up despite Renji's protests and then tossed his phone onto his desk. Ichigo rubbed his eyes before getting up and walking to his bathroom. The water that flowed down his back did little to appease him and Ichigo felt like the steam was suffocating him.

Rukia. Rukia. Rukia. Rukia. RUKIA. RUKIA.

"Gah", Ichigo gasped as he shut off the water and threw himself out of the shower. He lay there on his hands and knees as his heart continued to pound mercilessly in his chest. A hard knock on the door caused Ichigo to jump nearly bumping his head on the towel rod.

"Ichigo, are you alright", the woman of his thoughts asked and Ichigo opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out. He swallowed again but still nothing came out.

"Ichigo", Rukia repeated and Ichigo could hear the worry in her voice.

"I'm fine, I just...slipped", Ichigo replied and then cursed at his lame answer. He slipped, really?

"Tch you're such a klutz. You better hurry up it's already almost time to go. You've been wasting the hot water for nearly an hour now", she told him and Ichigo smirked slightly.

"Did the princess not get any hot water this morning", Ichigo cooed and he nearly jumped up again at the old noise Rukia's fist made as it launched at his door. Ichigo winced as he saw cracks forming on his door. How the hell was he supposed to explain that one?

"Shut up baka", she yelled at him and Ichigo was very thankful that a door separated them so she didn't kill him. And see him naked, another good reason to thank the door. The door that was now horribly cracked.

"Whatever I'll be out in a minute midget, unless of course you want a show", he said his voice suggestive. Ichigo chuckled as he heard her scamper from the room. He grabbed a towel off the rack and went into his room. He quickly changed into his uniform before running down the stairs where Rukia was eating cereal as she read another one of her shoujo mangas.

"I don't get why you read that crap", Ichigo said pouring his own bowl and he ducked as Rukia's spoon was predictably chucked at him. He picked the spoon off the floor and tossed it into the sink as Rukia glared at him.

"It's not crap it's romantic", she said pursing her lips at him. Ichigo rolled his eye before reaching behind him and opening up one of the drawers.

"They're unrealistic and give girls these big expectations of what they'll get out of a relationship that not even the best guys could meet. They're pointless", Ichigo told her before tossing her a new spoon. Rukia caught it and dug back into her cereal which was code for 'whatever I'm done discussing this'. The two ate in silence before they put their bowl away and headed for the door.

"You know something Ichigo", Rukia called out as the two ran out into the street.

"What", he asked and she looked up at him.

"I've read lots and lots of manga and there have been some pretty amazing guys but I wouldn't want to date any of them", she told him and Ichigo raised one of his slim orange eyebrows.

"Oh", he said and she walked closer to him.

"Yeah they're too boring. I need someone with a little spunk or and a spine if it's possible", she said and Ichigo smiled at her before taking her hand.

"Really", he asked and she chuckled softly.

"Really", she told him and the two had just turned the street when Rukia opened her mouth again.

"Do you know where I could find a guy like that"

"Stupid midget"

The walk to school was relatively uneventful and Ichigo groaned slightly as he saw all of his friends waving at them at the gate.

"Ichigo they're our friends, can you at least pretend to be happy", Rukia asked and Ichigo rolled his eyes before removing his hand from hers.

"If me being bored and uninterested bothered them they would have said something ages ago. It's not exactly a new occurrence", Ichigo told her before wrapping his arm around her petite shoulders. She looked up at him and then at his arm.

"Why'd you do that", she asked and Ichigo smirked.

"Because you're so short it was hurting my arm to keep my hand so low. This way is more comfortable", he said and right on time her fist connected with his stomach.

"You fool", she glared before stopping off towards their friends. Ichigo rubbed his now bruised abdomen before catching up with her.

"Geez don't you two ever stop fighting", Renji griped as Rukia sat down next to Orihime and Tatsuki who were debating the new episode of some chic show that had premiered the day before. Ichigo didn't bother answering and the boys sat on silence before Uryu cleared his throat.

"So are we doing anything before the dance", he asked and the boys all looked at each other before looking back at him confused.

"Why would we", Renji asked and Uryu shook his head.

"Never mind", Uryu sighed and then he looked up at Chad. "Chad are you even going", Uryu asked.

"No, I'm going to go on hollow duty so you guys are undisturbed", Chad told them and Ichigo felt bad that the guy was focused on their happiness instead of his own.

"Are you sure, cuz we can always leave early or take turns-

"Its fine", Chad said and he leaned against the tree in a pose that clearly said he was done talking. Ichigo, Uryu and Renji exchanged looks before shrugging. The boys all dropped to the ground near their friend and just as they did the bell went off signaling the start of another school day.

"Aw I don't wanna get up", Renji groaned and he winced as Tatsuki hit the back of head.

"Ow what the hell was that for", he snapped and she rolled her eyes.

"Just get up lazyass", she told him and he got up grumbling before walking off towards the building. The boys watched the pair in wonder.

"You have him so whipped", Ichigo said in wonder. The redhead heard him and turned around.

"Shut up Kurosaki", Renji yelled and Ichigo waved giving his friend a fake innocent smile. The other boys laughed but the circumstances were reversed when it as Ichigo getting cuffed.

"Ow what the hell midget", Ichigo yelped and this time he got the back of his knees kicked. Ichigo glared up at Rukia who looked quite smug.

"Just get up lazyass", she said and the other girls laughed even Orihime. What was the world coming to?

"Ha ha you're so funny", Ichigo said as the group walked into the building. They headed up the stairs and walked in just as the bell rang.

"Ok class today we're taking notes on the economic benefits and consequences of the Russo-Japanese War. The biggest benefit was...

Ichigo thanked Kami as the final bell rang. He swore that the days were getting longer. He picked his bag up off the ground and walked out the door. He was about to call out to Rukia, who was walking with Orihime and Tatsuki, but a hand clamped down onto his shoulder. He looked back about to yell at the idiot who was touching him but he stopped when he saw Renji who had a somber look on his face.

"Ichigo we gotta talk", Renji said and he dragged Ichigo off to the stairwell. Ichigo looked at the serious looking redhead who only hours before had been acting like a complete goof.

"What's up with you", Ichigo asked and Renji bit his lip before looking back at Ichigo.

"How is...how is the whole Rukia thing going", Renji asked and Ichigo tensed at the question.

"It's going fine I guess", Ichigo told him.

"Fine as in she might leave or fine as in she's definitely going to stay", Renji asked and Ichigo growled before running his hand through his hair, pulling a few strands out on the way.

"I don't know. I think she's going to stay", Ichigo said and Renji laughed dryly.

"You think", he repeated and Ichigo scowled at the older man.

"Well what do you want me to say", Ichigo asked exasperated.

"I don't know.'She's definitely staying', 'Theres no way in hell she'd leave', stop worrying you dumbass', something definite", Renji said fingering the bandage covering his forehead.

"I can't give that to you", Ichigo told him.

"I know, you can't even do one thing right you dumba-

"Well I'm sorry I'm not dating Rukia to your expectations", Ichigo barked out and Renji stepped closer to Ichigo his aura turning dark.

"Don't take that 'it's not my fault' tone with me. This whole thing could only work if you did it and I thought you would at least try and take it seriously", Renji barked at him and Ichigo pushed him away.

"I'm sorry I'm not doing the fake date Rukia plan to your expectations", Ichigo bit out and he nearly gasped when he felt a familiar soul presence.

"Fake Date Rukia Plan", came a shocked voice from below the boys. They looked down the stairwell to see Rukia staring up at them in shock. Ichigo opened his mouth to say something but closed it. She looked up at him and then looked at Renji who was having the same reaction that he was.

"Are either of you going to say anything", Rukia asked her voice sounding as if she was about to cry. Ichigo looked down at her and found himself running down the stairs towards her.

"Rukia listen-

"What you're going to tell me that it's not what it sounds like or that 'oh it started out that way but turned into something more'. It was one of those wasn't it", she asked and Ichigo cringed. Yeah it was.

"Good-bye Ichigo", she said and she turned around and started off in the opposite direction.

"Rukia, wait", Ichigo called out. He ran after her but she kept a fast pace. He had nearly caught up with her when she dropped her gigai and ran off, her body dropping to the ground. Ichigo ran forward and caught it but the people around him still looked suspicious. Ichigo lifted up Rukia and started towards his dad's clinic. He put her on one of the beds and then ran up the stairs to where Kon was.

"Ichigo what are you doing MHMP-

Ichigo reached down into Kon's mouth and pulled out the mod soul and swallowed. Kon, now in Ichigo's body, had barely let out an indignant squawk when Ichigo took off out the window. Ichigo ran through the streets and tried to search for Rukia's spiritual pressure but had no luck. He ran into Renji and he could tell the redhead was also looking for her. He didn't feel like talking to him and moved on to another district. Over the several hours he searched he ran into all his friends at least three times and he wondered how Rukia was escaping the search party.

Maybe she already left.

The thought hurt more than he would have liked but he shook it off and kept searching. He searched until he could see the sun starting to rise and he finally fell onto his knees.

"Shit", he cursed glaring at the sun. He chuckled dryly as he realized today was the fourteenth day. He looked up at the sky and wondered if anyone from soul society was watching. How fitting that one of their biggest heroes was brought to their knees by his own stupid mistakes. One he couldn't see fixing itself.

"DAMN IT"

End of Day Fourteen

Well looks like someone is in trouble. I'm sorry to say there is only one chapter left to this and it's not looking that great. I hope you all enjoyed and please review.

-Sakura478