A/N: I like to update.

Thank you all my reviewers, you all touch my heart with your sometimes odd reviews!

I know, it's been a while since I last updated. (When I get reviews I immediately want to start the next chapter! XD)

Thanks for bearing with me and school is going to start soon so I'll be slow with updates...but I'll try to update as fast as I can.

Okay enough of my babbling, Bleach is still not owned by me.

Previously…

"Rukia-Chan…too bad that orange kid doesn't love you anymore huh?" he said coldly, Rukia couldn't stop her tears…and she regretted not telling Ichigo that she loved him before she left. She expected him to bust in and take her away, and it's been months…

She gave up waiting and now…

Rukia awoke with a jump, she could have sworn she came home and fell asleep on her couch. Now she was on her bed, in her own body, and a cup of tea sat on her nightstand. Rukia got up, "Whose shirt is this?" She mumbled sleepily, pulling at the edge of the large T-shirt she wore.

Rukia walked slowly, her feet barely making a noise as she stepped into the kitchen. Before Rukia could stop herself she let out a loud gasp,

"Morning" Ichigo muttered, rubbing his eyes.

"What the hell are you doing here!" Rukia said pointing her finger at the annoying orange haired man standing in her kitchen.

"Ishida called, said that you stopped by for Orihime to heal you and he was worried. So I came" Ichigo said with a yawn, he opened her fridge. "Do you even eat?" Ichigo asked closing her fridge and glaring at the petite woman in front of him. Rukia looked downwards and her eyes went wide,

"Is this your shirt?" She yelled jumping at least ten feet in the air. Ichigo turned a bright shade of red;

"It's not like that!" He said waving his arms in front of him.

"You pervert!" Rukia kicked him in the leg and Ichigo glared in response.

"Here me out, will ya?" He said his face turning back to it's normal color. Rukia frowned and crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for carrot top to explain.

"I came here, got in using your window" Ichigo held back the urge to laugh at her expression, "I saw you passed out on your couch with that annoying soul thing watching over you. I had Chappy go and change into my shirt then I picked you up and put you into your body. Easy as that" Ichigo said with a light shrug. Rukia just stared at him with a blank expression, her mouth ajar.

"You…when…and…I…" Rukia sputtered for words, when she finally was able to compose a sentence, Ichigo was in her living room asleep on her couch. He must of gotten tired of her inncoherent babbling. She entered the living room and smiled at the sleeping Ichigo. His light snores sent a wave of remembrance over Rukia, his snore was so soft and gentle…nothing like Ichigo on the outside.

"You snore when you sleep" Rukia said with a tired yawn, poking Ichigo in the chest.

"I do not." He retorted, folding his arms across his chest, Rukia rolled her eyes Ichigo could be really stubborn.

"Mhmm, you do. I think it's funny, in a cute kind of way" Rukia admitted, a light blush on her cheeks as she looked away from Ichigo.

Ichigo smirked, "Yeah well…you mumble in your sleep in a cute kind of way" He said shoving her lightly, "shut up, strawberry!" Rukia pushed him back and he allowed her to let her fingers tangle in his hair as the wrestled each other on the bed. If Ichigos' father were to come in now…he would think something completely different then what was going on.

Ichigos' amber eyes shot open, "What are you doing Rukia?" He asked, his voice surprisingly calm. Rukia, deep in thought with her memory had sat down on the floor near Ichigos' head and she had her fingers tangled in his hair. Rukia turned a bright shade of pink and un-tangled her fingers from Ichigos' hair; "I'm sorry…I didn't realize…I was just remembering" Rukia said looking away, her hands safe in her lap. God only knows what other memory would come into her mind, and just exactly where her hands would end up.

Ichigo sat up, "I guess…I should go." he said putting back on his shoes, Rukia nodded. She chewed her lip, she wanted to say something…anything. She wanted to tell him about that shadowed man in her dreams, to fill him in on everything in soul society, but she decided that some things were better left in secret.

"Thank you." Rukia said softly, not daring to look up.

"Ah…that's what friends are for…" Ichigo replied with a smug grin as he ran his hand through his hair. Rukia looked up and gave him a smile, "Bye Ichigo."

"Later" He said with a wave as he left the room and her apartment.

---.----.---------.---------.----------.---------.------

Ichigo wanted to stay, he really did. It would be like old times, but it seemed like every time Ichigo remembered old times it brought him pain. Having Rukias' fingers in his hair though…that almost drove him insane…her fingers, entwining his hair delicately almost lovingly, like she used to. Ichigo shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans; he was not looking forward to going home.

"Ichigo!" A flying torpedo of a dad came launching at Ichigo. He dodged his dads' tackle

"What the hell old man!" Ichigo yelled as he continuously stomped on his fathers' back, who was babbling uncontrollably about 'safe sex', Rukia-Chan, and grandchildren all in the same sentence.

"Oh Ichigo! Tell me about it, did you practice safe sex? If so, you better get on not practicing safe sex so I can have grandchildren! You know, Rukia-Chan is a beautiful girl, I'm sure you and her would make adorable grandchildren! Yuzu and Karin aren't old enough to be sexually active, so you're my only hope, Ichigo!" Isshin said, tears of joy pouring for his eyes.

"Shut it old man! Rukia and I DID NOT HAVE SEX!" Ichigo yelled, Isshin got up…still grinning proudly.

"Don't be ashamed! Did you not meet Rukia-Chans' needs?" He asked casually, still grinning even though his sons' face turned a bright red.

Ichigo just turned and bolted up the stairs to his room, which still remained the same even after college. Sometimes, he really hated his dad.

Ichigo sat on his bed, staring at the closet that she used to sleep in, those days seemed like a dream. He wished he could of told her more, about himself, his past, his mother...just everything. Even when they were dating (the word still sounds strange to him) she never really opened up to him, and he never really opened up to her. Ichigo regretted that, but suddenly...like a brick wall, Ichigo remembered a time when she did open up to him.

"Ichigo, I can't lie to you and I need to tell you something..." Rukia said her expression looked guilty, like a child caught doing something that they weren't supposed to.

"Hm?" was his only response. Rukia remained silent and Ichigo waited, she finally spoke after what seemed like decades.

"The bruise on my cheek...it wasn't from a hollow" Rukia admitted, she couldn't meet his eyes. Ichigo sat up in his bed, a million different possibilities ran through his mind, who would hurt Rukia?

"It was from Nii-sama..." Rukia said staring at her lap while she sat on his floor, the manga spread out infront of her. Ichigo was lost for words, why? Why? WHY?

Her next statement answered the question that he couldn't get to come to his lips;

"He struck me after I told him something, about you. I told him...I wanted to stay in the living world with you until we graduated. Ichigo..." Rukia looked up at her boyfriend, he was scowling but his eyes showed nothing but rage.

"Why?...he is your older brother...brothers aren't supposed to hurt their sisters!" Ichigo cried out, anger filling his voice.

"Ichigo..." Her soft voice soothed some of the fire that was raging inside of him.

"I just don't understand...why Rukia? Why?" He asked, straining to keep his voice calm and collected. She stood up and sat next to him on his bed, resting her head against his shoulder.

"You and him are from different worlds..." She answered, Ichigo looked at her and placed his hand against her bruised cheek, it was almost fully healed but Ichigo heard the small wince that escaped her lips.

"I'd never...ever...hurt you." Ichigo stated firmly, Rukia placed her hand on top of his on her injured cheek.

"I know...I know" She replied softly.

Ichigo praised himself for having such a good memory after all, memories of Rukia were difficult to get rid of, (not that he would want to get rid of them).

Ichigos' scowl deepened, when she said "Take me away from him!" did she mean her brother? Did Rukia want to come back and see him? Her brother didn't allow it so he kept her there? That might of been it...Rukia wanted him to take her away from her brother. Rukia was a legal adult now, so her brother had no control over her anymore right? But, technically she was a legal adult when she left. Did he threaten her? Hurt her? All of this was too confusing!

Ichigos' ears perked up when her heard a knock on his door, "Come in" He replied. In came Karin, dressed in a large football jersey with sweat pants, her hair was down and resting on her shoulders. "What's up?" Ichigo asked, it was both a welcome and a question.

"Dad invited Rukia to dinner, tomorrow" Karin said with complete indifference.

"Are you serious? She's gonna think I'm clingy or something!" Ichigo complained, his younger sister just half-grinned.

"Doubt it. She sounded excited on the phone, she said it would 'be like old times'" Karin used air quotes for emphasis. Ichigo shook his head, he hadn't even gotten the chance to spend time with Inoue, wait she married Ishida, so he couldn't call her that now, right so...he hasn't spend anytime with Uryu and Orihime. If I called Orihime by her last name, I would be calling her Ishida. That's so confusing! What if they were in the same room and I said Ishida, then they would both turn around and...I think...I'll just call Orihime by Inoue. Why am I worrying about this? Rukia is coming for dinner...what the hell am I supposed to do!Should I dress nicely? Will she give me my shirt back? Oh god, I can hear the old man now...Rukia returning one of my T-shirts!

"OW! What the hell! Why did you punch me Karin?!" Ichigo blurted out rubbing his head, he was sure to have a lump there by morning.

"You were staring off into space...I just told you that dad invited the Ishidas' to dinner as well, so stop freaking out you lovesick puppy" Karin said with a smug grin, she loved bothering her older brother, especially with things that involved Rukia and/or being in love. Denial was a fun thing to watch.

"I AM NOT LOVESICK! WHY IS THIS WHOLE FAMILY INSANE?!" Ichigo yelled as he fell back onto his bed. Karin just laughed as she walked out of her brothers' room, shutting the door behind her.

Ichigo, you are so blind.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.--.-.-

"Uryu! Kurosaki-kuns' father invited us to dinner!" Orihime said as she pounced on top of her husband. In japan it was normal to get married at a young age..when Orihime visited Uryu when he was in America, some people looked down upon their matrimony. Orihime didn't care and she knew Uryu didn't care either.

"I love you Uryu!" Orihime announced as she rested her head against his chest.

"Orihime, you used say that you loved Ichigo..."Ishida asked as his arms encircled her waist.

"I used to say that, if I lived 5 lifetimes I would fall in love with the same person each time. I guess, I was wrong because...my love for Kurosaki-kun was nothing more then a crush. Kurosaki-kun was in love with Rukia, you should of seen his eyes...when I healed her so long ago...it was after the battle with Grimmjaw and I just knew then...I didn't love him...after all, he would never love me back right? You were there though, Uryu...and you never left my side" Orihime gave him a peck on the cheek.

Ishida blushed and smiled as they sat on the couch. her answer wasn't the straight answer that he wanted but she told him all that she needed to. Orihime just had a crush on Ichigo, and it took her a while to realize that she already had someone there for her.

"I love you, Orihime." Ishida said, his wife looked up at him and giggled,

"Love you too!" She said happily. Ishida smiled, he had everything he wanted...he got his happy ending. Kuchiki-san and Ichigo...what about them? Would they ever get their happy ending?

"Orihime...I want Ichigo and Rukia to be happy like us" He said, narrowing his eyes in concentration.

"We should help...at the dinner, Kurosaki-kuns' father said that Rukia would be there too!" Orihime smiled brightly and Ishida smirked.

"I agree."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-.--.-.-..--.

A spirit sat on the roof, smiling to herself. "Thanks Orihime, Uryu...you just made my job a lot easier." The girl stood up and blew a kiss to the couple, sending love their way, not that they needed it.

"Looks like I won't need to tug on many strings...things will just flow and take their course."The spirit laughed softly before disappearing.

-.-.-.-.-..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

A/N: Review please .

I had fun writing this chapter ( I love torturing Ichigo)

Also, the spirit at the end was obviously Ichigo & Rukias' 'guardian angel' or maybe their 'personal cupid'. I'm not sure, her character is a minor one though. She's remaining nameless right now because I can't choose so... I'm asking you guys!

Which name should the little spirit have?

Hanako ( it means "Flower child" in Japanese)

Or

Rai (it means "Trust" in Japanese)

and yes, I'm up for suggestions, these were just two names that I liked. XD. Thank you for reading!

-