A/N: Chapter 3!!

YAY! So, this one is 'girl talk' and the title is quiet obvious on what will happen.

-hugs- to all that reviewed

Does anyone know how old Yuzu and Karin are in the real story line of bleach?

I figured them to be 9 or 10. I was just wondering for the sake of the story O.o since…Ichigo and his friends are 20 to 21. So that would make the twins…14?

(Rukia may seem a little OOC in this one. Sorry! )

Rukias' face was expressionless as she walked back home, she needed advice before she told him anything. What if while they were talking she suddenly blurted out "I love you! Now marry me you fool before soul society takes me again!"

How embarrassing would that be? Rukia had more control then that, but she couldn't help but loose control and let loose when she was with Ichigo.

Rukia busted out laughing, Ichigo covered from head to toe in water. Okay, so maybe it was just a little attractive, seeing him dripping wet. But, Rukia would never admit that…he scowled.

"Why…did you…put a bucket of freezing cold water, on the top of my door…" Ichigo said kicking the plastic bucket aside.

Rukia continued to laugh, "I saw it…on TV….this prank thing….it was…I had to" Rukia said in between fits of laughter.

She saw Ichigo smile out of the corner of her eye, she was clutching her stomach almost on the floor. Ichigo then left the room, Rukia wiped her eyes "Ichigo?" she said her eyes wide.

She wondered if this time she took it too far, but it was the last week of school and they would be free to have fun…well besides collage…but still, she had a feeling Ichigo and her would be together all summer…

"Rukia!" Ichigo called out, Rukia immediately rushed out of the door of his room. It was a bad habit, running to him whenever he called…she always suspected a hollow or something.

SPLASH!

Rukia was covered from head to toe in water, with Ichigo standing next to her holding onto the bucket…he now was laughing his ass off.

"You…were right…that is…really funny!" Ichigo said in between laughter. He looked at Rukia, and turned a bright shade of red. Her baggy white shirt now stuck to her petite body and the knee length dark skirt now clung to her legs. Her raven locks dripped with water and she had an award winning smile on her face.

"You're evil!" She said shoving him, but slipping on the water that coated the wood floor. Rukia ended up in the arms of Ichigo, both turning red.

"thanks…for catching me…" Rukia said blushing, regaining her footing and standing up straight, with Ichigos' arms still wrapped around her. She could still remember how warm she suddenly felt when he held her that close, and met his lips with hers.

Rukia pushed the memory out of her head, for it was making her cheeks turn pink just thinking about it. Rukia stepped into her house and gasped seeing a girl that she instantly remembered from the café.

"How did you get into my house!" Rukia said quite shocked, both her heart and mind racing. The girl giggled, fixing her short kimono, Rukia thought she looked like she was from soul society.

"Be his light…and he will be your shield. Guide him and he will protect you along the way, don't be afraid…you never were afraid…" The girl said, her voice would fade after every sentence. Rukia narrowed her eyes, she suddenly felt a jolt in her system…

"You're a ghost!" Rukia said taking a step forward, shutting her house door with her foot. The girl giggled and nodded.

"I'm…a guide. I'm giving the little pushes to make everything work…you could say I'm tugging on the strings of fate and destiny" The girl smiled and bowed.

"Wait! Why? Why are you tugging on strings and pushing people!" Rukia asked, clearly not understanding the riddle this strange ghost had given her. The girl simply laughed and vanished, Rukia stared at the spot which the girl had stood.

Ghosts…

Tugging on strings and pushing people…

Does soul society even do their job anymore? Or is it just up to me and Ichigo now?

Rukia heard the faint noise of her cell phone, all the way in her room. She mentally smacked herself for leaving it behind, but after all she rushed out of the house.

"Hello?"

"Rukia! It's Renji…how's uh…life…in the human world…"

Rukia sat down, she felt like it was going to be a long conversation.

"Good, everything is…great actually…" She could imagine Renji nodding on the other end of the line.

"So…two years and everyone is coming back…uh…you must be…excited"

Rukia nodded but then remembered he couldn't see her nodding, "Yeah…err…Renji, can you keep a secret?" Rukia bit her lip, waiting for his answer…if he said no then she would end the conversation quickly, if he said yes well then she would be very relived and happy.

"Yeah, you know me…I'm your childhood friend" Renji said, "…just your friend" He added in a much lighter tone.

Renji furrowed his brow, he hated that Ichigo had won Rukias' heart, but Ichigo did something he did not…Ichigo didn't let Rukia go. He fought for her, and refused to let her be anywhere else but by his side.

"Well, Ichigo has his big 21st birthday coming up…I at first guessed that's why he came early--" Rukia began before she was cut off.

"He came early?" Renji asked, in shock.

"Yeah…to surprise me, I think"

"Oh, well uh…go on"

"Right so…I was planning, once everyone got here…I'd throw him a surprise party! I think Inoue can help…maybe Tatsuki too…do you think, he would like that?" Rukia asked, now becoming doubtful of her plan.

"yeah…don't worry Rukia" Renji said, more or less reassuring himself then Rukia.

"Ah…well, I better go…talk to you later" Rukia said about to hang up, until she remembered that it was not polite to just hang up on people. Renji said goodbye and Rukia flipped her phone shut, throwing it onto her bed.

She had to admit it, she was absolutely exhausted…Ichigo showing up, the spirit thing, no hollows…yet and the knot in the pit of her stomach that wouldn't seem to go away. That only happened when something bad was going to happen, and right now everything seemed peachy.

Rukia felt her eyelids become heavy, she started to nod off only to jerk her head upwards…why did this chair have to be so comfortable? Rukia tried to focus, but the more she thought the more tired she became and in a matter of moments.

The little shinigami was fast asleep, and dreaming of that annoying bright orange hair yet again.

-----------------------------

Ichigo was eating dinner with his family, they all looked so different…yet they were only a few years younger them him, except his old man of course.

Isshin, his father…hadn't changed at all, he attacked Ichigo when he came in and then when he left the bathroom. His father had grey in his beard, or 5 o' clock shadow as some would call it. Along with small patches of grey in his hair, and he whole heartedly denied it when it was mentioned.

Yuzu, the softest and exact opposite of Karin. Who became the motherly figure after their mother died, had changed…so much…or at least she did in Ichigos' eyes. Her short brown hair was now long, almost to her waist. Yuzu had even started wearing this gloss to her lips, which Isshin completely ignored when Ichigo brought it up.

She still liked the color pink and was wearing it now to dinner, her bright pink shirt with the large white bunny on the front instantly made Ichigo think of Rukia.

"Here Ichigo, I made spicy tuna sushi…Rukia taught me the recipe" Yuzu said placing the plate in front of him. Ichigo eyed the food carefully, no way Rukia came up with this…or maybe Yuzu made it look really good.

He looked over at Karin, who hadn't changed as much as her sister. She wore her dark hair in a high ponytail, with two strands in front of her face. She came into the house wearing a grass stained white T-shirt and ripped jeans with her soccer sneakers on. Isshin spent a whole hour telling Ichigo about Karin and her soccer accomplishments. How she got on the school team, and won trophies, she even had time to be at the top of her class.

Karin raised an eyebrow "What the hell are you staring at Ichigo?" She asked when she noticed that he was looking at her. Ichigo quickly looked at his food, "Ah nothing, just lost in thought" He said as he picked up a sushi roll with his chopsticks.

Ichigo had to admit…he was proud, of his sisters…his whole family. Just as Ichigo opened his mouth to congratulate Yuzu and Karin for being at the top of their class, Isshin cut it.

"So my son, any chance I'll be getting grandchildren from you and Rukia?" Isshin asked smiling proudly, Ichigo almost choked, he quickly regained himself and shook his head.

"Rukia and I…we aren't even dating, we're just friends…" Ichigo said before pretending to drink his tea, so his father wouldn't ask any more awkward questions. Isshin seemed to frown at Ichigos' response, but he quickly beamed at his son.

"Oh, I see! Taking it slow since after all you just came back and poor Rukia-san was waiting all this time." Isshin said before popping a tuna roll into his mouth.

What did his father just say? She waited? No…she left, in her letter…she said that she had to leave for soul society. She said she wasn't going to come back and Ichigo should continue his life as if she didn't exist.

"She…waited" Ichigo said softly, he pushed his plate away, "I'm not hungry" He said. His stomach flipped and twisted, this was all wrong.

"Mhm, a day or two after you left for college she came here. Looking for you, no doubt. She left after I told her that you were gone, said something about living your life and she was happy for that. Although she didn't look happy…she asked me for a newspaper, you know for a local listing of apartments. She came to visit us, every week. Then, she kind…of…disappeared." Isshin finished and ate more of his sushi.

"This is delicious! Yuzu" He added with a smile. Yuzu smiled and nodded to her father…

"I need some air." Ichigo replied, standing up his stomach twisted and he felt his heart become tight.

"You okay Ichi-Nii?" Yuzu asked with concern, Ichigo just nodded and headed out the door. He prayed for a hollow to show up, so he could let out his frustration.

"Rukia, you could have called me.--" Ichigo took a sharp turn. "Told me, that you were back. I would have waited for you! I would of…" Ichigo ranted as he walked. He didn't care where he was going; all that mattered was getting away and letting out his frustration.

Thankfully, a hollow showed up and Ichigo grinned, he pressed the badge to his chest, drawing Zangetsu and charging. He was going to chase this hollow around, and make the kill a slow one. It had been a while since he flexed his skills after all.

----------------------------------------

Rukias' hands cupped around the mug of coffee gently, Orihime was bustling in her small kitchen with Tatsuki sitting next to Rukia.

"So…Ichigo and you…" She began slowly, in a low voice. Rukia shook her head quickly; Tatsuki frowned and sipped her coffee. Orihime sat down with a plate of…blue things…

"Okay, Ishida went out…so Rukia…spill, what is on your mind?" Orihime said sitting down in front of Rukia. Rukia tried to smile but failed, she looked down at the swirling coffee in the bright pink mug.

"I've hurt him terribly, I left for soul society…leaving him a letter, saying I wasn't going to be back. I told him, I loved him…but…I wanted him to go on with his life. Now that he is back…I-I…I…don't…" Rukia stopped and stared at the blue things on the plate. She gulped and composed her self, as a Kuchiki she was raised to hide her emotions…and Rukia did it well.

"I don't want to hurt him…ever again." Rukia finished and Tatsuki was the first to speak.

"You love him still?" Tatsuki said she was staring at Rukia and so was Orihime. Rukia bit her lower lip, she wanted to say yes…but why wouldn't the word come to her tongue.

"Well Rukia…I think…you should spend as much time with Kurosaki-kun as you can. I'm sure he still…loves you. He always loved …you. "Orihime ended softly, she picked up the weird blue sand which thing at took a bite. Tatsuki and Rukia looked at her in disgust, Orihime smiled as she chewed.

"Yeah Rukia, I agree…Ichigo when you left, it was kind of like…his mothers' death all over again." Tatsuki wasn't looking at Rukia; she stared at the yellow cup in her hands, watching the steam float into the air.

Neither of the girls said anything…

"He came home late; he was always out…searching for you. Then he left for college a while after Orihime and I left. He would call me from time to time, but he always sounded so reserved…closed off. He wouldn't open up to anyone…not even Chad when he went to visit." Tatsuki sipped her coffee before looking at Rukia again.

"He loves you." She said matter-of-factly, Rukia absorbed everything Tatsuki had said…she first felt pain, remorse as when she heard how he acted, the dumb fool…he was supposed to live with out her. Not search and give up precious moments of his life, then she felt a gush of emotion.

He loved her…maybe deep in her heart…she always knew that. Hearing it come from Tatsuki, Ichigos' oldest friend, and hearing it come from Orihime it just was this bubble inside her. Rukia suddenly broke down, why…she didn't really understand.

Two years…

Two long years…without his touch…his voice, his arguments, his lips, everything!

Rukia wanted comfort; comfort neither Renji nor Nii-sama could show her. Orihime hugged Rukia tightly while Tatsuki stroked her hair, they were both telling her to let it out, to cry. They wanted Rukia to show her emotions, keeping it all bottled up was dangerous, Rukia cried for the time that Ichigo almost died.

She cried for the time she ran away.

She cried for the time she was almost executed.

She cried for when she was attacked.

She cried for when she almost died…and left Ichigo.

She cried for Renji and her Nii-sama.

She cried for the pain Orihime must have gone through when she was captured.

Lastly, she cried for hurting Ichigo…she cried for loosing him, for pushing him away, for brushing away his gentle caress, for loving him and running away from his returned love. Sometimes, Rukia really hated being a woman and having all these complicated emotions…Rukia took the tissue Tatsuki offered and wiped her eyes.

"Thank you…I was weak, I needed you guys to help me up. Knock some sense into me, I doubted his feelings, I doubted my own and above all I was afraid…" Rukia took a deep breath and allowed the two girls to sit back down.

"I was afraid of love, of being cared for, I was afraid of letting go and just being with him…letting him be with me. I was petrified at the thought of loosing him but at the same time, hurting him." Rukia finished and grabbed one the small blue sand which things, she examined it closely.

"Rukia! You are the bravest person I know!" Orihime shouted, standing up with her hands in the air. Tatsuki stared and pulled on Orihimes' pale blue shirt, dragging her back down into her seat.

"Thank you, Orihime" Rukia said, managing a smile. Tatsuki even smiled a little too, Orihime grabbed another blue…thing.

"What are these Orihime?" Rukia asked, she still held the thing in her hand…it was squishy.

"Oh! It's my favorite treat!" Tatsuki and Rukia both exchanged worried glances, before Orihime continued.

"I soak the bread in blueberry juice, and then smear both pieces with guacamole and in the middle is a slice of bologna." Orihime said taking another bite of her sand which, Rukia placed the sand which back down while Orihime wasn't looking.

Rukia needed this get together, she needed to be with girls and just talk…The rest of the night was filled with jokes, a sappy movie (that Ishida walked in on and ended up watching it too, only due to Orihime annoying him.) Tatsuki was working on starting her own dojo, and so far that was going marvelously. Orihime was working at a resturaunt, she had gone to culinary school…apparently they found her odd food "Delicious" and "Intresting".

"Good-bye Orihime." Rukia said giving her friend a soft hug, she walked out the door with Tatsuki. Tatsuki ran her fingers through her dark hair, which had stayed the same all these years.

"Tell him, alright Rukia…" Tatsuki said suddenly as they walked.

"Pardon?" Rukia said with her eyes wide, she wished she heard her wrong…Tatsuki stopped and shoved her hands in her jean pockets.

"When the time is right…like…you know when it feels right? Tell him, because I know that he'd go to hell and back for you…I know he would drop everything if you were in trouble…so don't loose him" Tatsuki said with such a sisterly affection that Rukia was caught off guard.

Her and Tatsuki had never been really close, but now Tatsuki was telling Rukia to confess her feelings to Ichigo and not in a letter.

"Alright…I'll tell him…when it feels right…" Rukia said starting to walk again, Tatsuki quickly caught up…Rukia felt some type of barrier between them, which made no sense.

"Tatsuki…are we friends?" Rukia asked, stopping in front of her home, which never felt right because the kurosaki house would always be her home.

"Yeah Rukia! We are, and I think we always will be" Tatsuki said with confidence, she patted Rukia on the shoulder, smiling.

"…See you…around then…" Rukia said, forcing a smile and Tatsuki looked at the apartment then back to Rukia.

"Don't be so down all the time, you always look like the world's on your shoulders…it reminds me of Ichigo…so uh…lighten up okay? Help Ichigo lighten up too! Maybe you can get rid of that scowl he wears all the time" Tatsuki gave Rukia a quick hug, Rukia said nothing, there was no need for words.

The promise was sealed when Tatsuki gave Rukia the quick hug, somehow in those few moments, the barrier broke down…and they had some type of trust.

-----------------------------------

A/N: okay so, Rukia was a little ooc in this. Sorry!!!!

But, I think since she kind of already has a friend ship with Inoue, why not be friends with Tatsuki too? I think they are more alike anyway

Review please

And thanks to all who already reviewed, and all of those who have favorited me and added my stories to their alert list.

I know that sounds funny -sniffle- but you ladies and gentlemen just fill my heart with joy when I get my emails saying "So and so added you to their favorite/alert list"

-hugs again-