Recently watched the Second OVA for Bleach. I must say I did not expect to Byakuya in such an outfit. Tuxedo, top hat, and a cane to boot. Was quite a laugh. Anyway, onto this chapter. I am in quite the mood to write for such a beautiful pairing, and I hope to push forth until I finish. I had some really coo ideas I'm tossing around for Chapters 5-10. And I'm considering making either a sequel, or another whole section of the story that will alternate into.

Oh well. Those are a ways down. Right now the story is set at 10 Chapters, and hopefully much more. We shall see what comes of it and if anyone really wants that.

[Soul Society – Gateway, Rukia

The woman stamped the paper, reading Rukia's permission to go to the real world. The formed noted all information to go, for official records.

It's been awhile.

Rukia looked to the gate, in the room called 'Grande Port'. The Soul Society called it this because of its high fluctuation of spirit particles. The Fluctuation caused a very large opening to be accessible, and was easy to transport many soul reapers to their missions' locations simultaneously. Though most soul reapers had a smaller gate accessible by permission of their captain, the Grande Gate was a very large one.

The gate itself was a unique piece of art, relished by the generations of Soul Society's Captains. It was made of fine Cherry wood trim, with designs crafted of fine Gold. The doors themselves were Stained Oak, empowered with Spirit Energy, which gave them a flow like no other. It was one of the symbols of Seireiti beauty.

Rukia began walking down the marble floor. The room was large, and had large granite columns in each corner, as well as two smaller ones in the middle. Accompanying the pillars was a fountain, in the shape of a dragon, grasping a soul. Symbolizing the determination and courage of Soul Society.

Rukia clenched the small bag she carried with her.

This was...the dress that I was wearing when I was taken away. From Ichigo, that day. I didn't think I'd see it again, but…

Even through the cloth bag, she could feel the material of the dress. It was much different than soul society's clothes. Everyone wore the 'standard' issue Black robe. However this was not entirely rare to see, though all officers and ranking seats were to abstain from wearing any foreign clothing while in Soul Society.

Rukia continued walking, and stepped inside the Grande Port. With a brilliant flash of light she was gone to her location. Renji leaned against the wall from a distance, scoffing and walking away.

[Kurakara City – Ichigo Clinic, Rukia

It's coming up. I'm right down here.

Rukia approached the clinic. Nervous feeling began to fill her stomach as she got closer, and she slowed her step. She was wearing the dress that she had been carrying, it was a long, plain dress, with the top half a dark shade of blue, and the bottom a very light blue, blending to a white color. She carried with her only a small bag, with the necessary belongings, such as the soul dispersion glove, soul communicator, and various other tools like the deluxe memory altering device.

Why am I so nervous? Surely I cannot stop now, I already have come this far…

Rukia stopped in her footsteps completely. She looked down to the ground, staring at the cracks in the cement. She was only a block from the Kurosaki Family clinic, yet she felt not a muscle in her faux body would move.

The door to the clinic opened swiftly, and a figure appeared, walking out of it, with spiked orange hair. Rukia quickly dashed behind the side of the store next to her, hiding herself. She swallowed, and her face glow with a nervous red. She peeked over the building, seeing if he was still there. He walked towards the shop she was at, looking left and right to cross the street.

Ichigo? I don't quite understand. Why am I hesitating to speak to him?

She could feel the pace of her heartbeat quicken as the foot steps grew louder. She lay flat against the building and stood silent. Ichigo passed, walking slowly with a small jar, with 3 flowers inside of it. And his left was delved into his pocket. Rukia's eyes widen as she seen the jar.

W-What is that?

Ichigo stopped, and looked to the left and to the right once again, and crossed the street.

What could he be doing with flowers? A girl maybe?

Rukia stepped back, and lowered her head.

No, it can't be…it's not like Ichigo to be in…No, it cannot be that. Or has he begun trying to replace me?

Rukia blushed to herself once more, trying to hide her expression.

No! Not that we were ever…'together'. Not like that!

Rukia collected herself, and began to follow in Ichigo's footsteps. Crossing the street, she hid behind nearby objects as she scaled behind him. The more she thought about where he might be going, the more curious she grew. After the fourth block, Ichigo stopped, dead in his tracks. He looked in Rukia's direction, which was behind bushes and a park bench.

"Eh? Someone there?" He said to himself. "Oh well." He shrugged it off. Rukia's heart began pounding again. She began to harbor feelings of guilt for going into Ichigo's private matters.

Perhaps…you were better off without me being here. Now that I think about it, you were fine when I chose to stay in Soul Society the first time, why would you not be now

Rukia sat on the nearby bench, placing the bag on her lap. She took a deep breath, and stared at her hands, as she interlocked her fingers.

He won't even remember me. After all, I was nothing but a nuisance to him...forcing him into becoming a soul reaper, than almost getting him killed more than once… trying to save me.

Rukia held a closed hand to her mouth, while looking down into her own world.

I'm a fool. Another one of my mistakes. Just like with Kaien-san…

"It's good to see you again!" A spirit said to Ichigo, who was just a small distance away. Rukia listened, reluctantly.

"I said I would come back." He replied, with a frown upon his face. "It's good to see you doing well."

"Thank you, Onii-san!" The girl said. "Only 3 cats walked by today, but two of them were kittens!" She cheerfully said.

Rukia quickly reverted to a puzzled expression.

W-What?

She peeked again over the edge, and seen Ichigo placing the jar next to the Streetlight pole.

"Is that right?" Ichigo replied.

Is he paying his respects to a spirit

"Thank you for bringing me flowers once again, nii-san." The girl replied. "Why is it you look so sad?"

"It's nothing. " Ichigo shook his head while saying. "Just remembering, I'm missing something."

"I really hope you find that something or someone, nii-san." The girl said. "I better go now…I thank you again!" The girl concluded, fading into nothing as Ichigo waved.

Ichigo…

Rukia watched as Ichigo stared into the sky. The sunsets were different from in Soul Society. The ones in the real world glow a beautiful orange, as the sun set before the city. She began walking towards Ichigo, making her steps as silent as possible.

"Rukia…" He said, before she got very close, she stopped at Ichigo's words.

What? H-he seen me?

"Come home…" He finished.

Ichigo…

Rukia stood a few feet away and looked down again. Ichigo still stood, facing the opposite direction.

"Ichigo." She gently said.

Ichigo quickly turned around, surprised.

"T-that was really fast!" He said, amazed to see her standing there. She lifted her hand, waving gently smiling at him.

"On work, huh?" Ichigo said, taking a drink of his soda.

"Captain Ukitake assigned me here. Just to clean up Hollows, and help you out when you need it." Rukia replied, as she titled her bottle.

They were both sitting on the park ledge nearby, overlooking the freeway street below. You could see the sunset dead on, hovering over the city. They had gotten some soda from a nearby store.

"Hehe, it'll be like the old days." Ichigo laughed. "Except now The Soul Society aren't chasing after you."

Ichigo stared into the sunset, which was almost complete. It was dark, and only a small orange glare was shining down on the two. Rukia attentively stared at Ichigo from the side of her eye, smiling as she did so.

The sunsets. I hadn't seen one all the way through since I was in the imprisonment tower. The sunrises and sets were times I'd rather not remember.

Her smile faded away as her thoughts provoked her. Drops of water were dripping down the bottle of soda, as it remained almost full. Faux bodies don't crave nutrients, so it skipped Rukia's mind often. She freely kicked her leg back and forth during the silence.

"You know, Ichigo…" Rukia started. "I...haven't had a proper time to talk to you. Even a few weeks ago, we didn't speak on good terms."

"Don't worry about it." He replied, taking another drink of his soda. "It's quiet. No Hollows. Nothing to do." He said, shaking his head. "Most of it was just doing my job as a soul reaper and then once you were taken away…"He stopped himself.

You tried to save me. You took everyone you could with you, and tried so hard to save me. And I still haven't properly thanked you for saving me, that day on the Execution Ground.

"You're staying at the house with me, right?" He asked.

"Y-yeah, if that's okay." She replied.

Cars whizzed by on the street below, and a breeze lifted the mood. It was a warm night, and the only thing to be seen were countless lights, gleaming from the city ahead. All different colors, from streetlamps and buildings. It grew silent. Rukia curiously glanced at Ichigo, but he looked back at her almost instantly. She turned away.

"Ichigo." Rukia bluntly said.

"I missed you." She said under her breath. Ichigo looked to her curiously, as she silently stared.

"What the hell is it? Don't stare at me like that!" Ichigo complained. Rukia looked away and hid her nervous expression, delving her hands into her lap.6

"N-Nothing!" She replied.

Rukia gazed up in closet, examining the area.

I haven't been here in awhile.

There weren't any clothes on the hanging bar, only in the drawers below. The mattresses stayed as they were since she left. She stretched her arms, letting her left hand dangle over the edge. Her fingertips brushed against the corner of an envelope. Rukia felt it for a moment, than pulled it out.

The envelope said on the front "Thank You for Everything".

Ichigo…what did you keep this for?

Rukia sat up a little against the wall, and cracked the closet door a little bigger, for more light. She slid her finger under the flap, and opened the letter. Inside, the 'ta's of each section were scribbled out. Ichigo had to in order to decipher the message.

[Memory: Kurakara City – Ichigo's Room, Rukia

Rukia pulled a piece of paper from the notebook nearby, and laid it in front of her. She began to write the deciphered letter, stopping to add the 'ta's in the proper place. A tear dropped onto the piece of paper that she was writing on. She stopped, and wiped her eyes.

"Damn." She said quietly.

Her midnight black hair fell freely as she leaned over to write the goodbye letter. She put the finishing touches, drawing the Tankuki on the side.

He hates these drawings. I hope I can at least make him smile once more.

A tapping on the window sounded, and she quickly wrapped the envelope, leaving it on the corner of his desk. The stuffed animal waited eagerly at the window, screaming.

"Nee-san!" Kon yelled.

[Kurakara City – Ichigo's Room, Rukia

It read:

"For my own reasons, I must

leave.

Do not look for me

And do not worry.

After you read this letter

Burn it

And if you can

Hide out awhile"

Rukia folded it back up, and put it back inside the envelope. She stared at the front of the envelope, however did not read it.

He didn't burn it. That fool, I told him to…

She peeked through the crack of the closet door, to see Ichigo fast asleep, rolled over to the other side. Rukia put it in one of the drawers under the mattresses and closed the closet door. She placed her hands behind her head and laid down flat again.

I can't sleep…

Her eyes lowered, and her head turned to the side. Her hair drooped over her snow white skin, and she was lost in her thoughts.

That's the end of chapter 2. It's 3am, and I'm just trying to get through the smaller chapters before going through the juicy stuff.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for everyone reviews! Please do if you haven't.