A/N: I know, fast updates is my thing. So here is Chapter 7 and I think it's a little shorter then the others.

Also, Rai for the name of the spirit is in the lead. Also, if you don't see that little blue box at the bottom to go to the next chapter, just go to the next chapter by using the little blue box at the top.

Previously...

"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."

Rukia held Ichigos' shirt in her hands, feeling the soft fabric between her fingers. It smelled like him, and now she was going to give it back. She could see the look on Isshins' face, a girl returning his sons' shirt. Rukia stopped, "Hollow!" she gasped before bolting the opposite way of Ichigos' house.

Rukia dropped his shirt and pulled out her soul necklace, it was a new invention by squad 12. It worked like Ichigos' badge, only the necklace was metal and when the person puts it on, their shinigami form bursts out. Rukia slid the chain over her head and she left her body on the side walk, Ichigos' shirt by her body's side. Rukia used 'flash step' to get to the hollow...strangely it was at their old school.

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"Yeah, I'll be right back"

"No dad, Yuzu needs some stuff for the stew she's making" Ichigo said as he walked out the door of the Kurosaki clinic. He felt Rukias' reitsu wash over him, it still had that calming effect. Ichigo walked down the side walk, Hmm it's a nice day out...he mused.

Ichigo stumbled and tripped "Watch where you're–ah...Rukia?" Ichigo stood back up and nudged Rukias' limp body with his foot. "Hey! Get up!" Ichigo said, panic rising in his voice. She couldn't be dead, he could feel her reitsu. Ichigo peered at the 'sleeping' Rukia, "Hey! That's my shirt." He said picking it up.

Maybe, she was coming to return it and was hit by a car, or attacked. Now she's just knocked out...but that doesn't explain why I feel her reitsu...wait...that soul ribbon thing! I'll do that to reach her! Ha! Ichigo Kurosaki is a genius!

Ichigo closed his eyes, focusing on finding her soul ribbon. Thousands of white ones appeared, but then he saw two red ones. One must be his, the other hers...but wait...

The two red ribbons were wrapped around each other, intertwining, Ichigo reached out a grabbed the smaller of the two ribbons. Looks like Rukia and I are tied together...

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Rukia stumbled backwards and lifted her hand, saying the incantation for a kidou spell. Then her hand was grasped by a much larger one and she was pulled away from the hollows' strike. Whoever the person was, set her down carefully and Rukia on instinct slashed her sword downwards, cutting the hollows mask clean in half, just as it was about to devour her. She sheathed her sword and turned around, her violet eyes went wide.

"Fighting hollows without me?" Ichigo said with a grin.

"I am the local shinigami of your town. It's my job." Rukia replied with a slight bitterness to her voice. "I don't need your protection." She told him with a glare. Ichigo only smiled wider, things were back to normal, he forgot all about the whole ribbon incident.

"Who said I came here to save you?" He retorted looking away from her glare.

"Yeah, just by coincidence you came here to our old school, found me fighting a hollow and saved me from a fatal strike." Rukia said with an edge to her voice.

"I wasn't about to let you get killed ." Ichigo glared.

"I'm not thanking you." Rukia responded, folding her arms across her chest.

"I don't want your thanks" Ichigo turned around to walk away, "By the way, your body is still on the side walk. I thought you were attacked or something" He said before walking back home. Yuzu could make the stew without onions and carrots...

He felt her by his side, it was just like old times. Only she would be in a gigai and he in his shinigami form. They walked in silence, until they reached Rukias' body, Ichigo remembered the ribbons.

"You know...our soul ribbons...they're" Ichigo couldn't think of how he could end his sentence. Just spit it out...say it. "they are...tied together" He finished, and waited for Rukias' shocked reaction. Which didn't come, she just nodded and handed him his shirt.

"Did you already know that?" He pressed on.

Rukia nodded again, "For how long?" He asked, still pressing for answers. Rukia stepped into her body and brushed off her clothes.

"It happened when she gave you her powers, silly!" Said a voice from behind them.

"YOU!" They both yelled in unison while pointing at the spirt. Her brown hair in pigtails with wings on her back, they looked like they were from a child's angel Halloween costume. Ichigo turned their heads to look at each other, both had bewildered expressions on their face. They both looked back at the girl, who was staring off into space.

"When she gave you her powers, your soul ribbons are forever tied together. I call it fate" The girl said before vanishing.

"I hate it when she does that..." They both said once again in unison. Rukia just stared at Ichigo, her eyes were sapphire...a sign of sadness. He stared back, his deep amber eyes boring holes into her; staring down at her very soul. Then the tension was released when Rukia let out a giggle; Ichigo just stared at her. All sadness gone from her eyes, the violets were replaced with amusement.

"What are the odds that we both know the same spirit!" Rukia said as she pocketed the soul necklace. Ichigo chuckled, "Yeah" he responded.

"Now! Let's go back home!" Rukia announced as she marched in the direction of his house. "Home?" Ichigo repeated dumbly, before he followed her. Ichigo grinned as Rukia walked next to him, he wondered if he could get her to sleep over at the little party his father was having.

Rukia rested her head on his back as he carried her home. "I'm sorry" She whispered in his ear. "Don't worry about it." Ichigo replied as he walked. Carrying the petite shinigami was an easy task and after all, she hurt her leg in that hollow fight.

He would rather carry her then be late and face his fathers' crazy antics. "You'll be able to climb up to my room?" He asked her as he set her down.

"Yeah. Don't worry about me, dope" She responded, Rukia jumped with ease onto the lower roof and climbed into his window. Ichigo smirked as he walked inside, greeted by a flying kick.

"Welcome home Ichigo!" Isshin yelled.

"Welcome home, Rukia" Ichigo said as he watched her climb back up into his window. She stuck her head out and yelled down to him; "You know, me climbing really wasn't necessary." Ichigo just shrugged in response, the truth was...he just wanted to see her climb up there again so he could remember those little things. Yes, his family knew and liked Rukia. Yes, there was no need for her to climb up and go through his window again. But, it was those little things like that...that tied their red ribbons together.

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"Rukia-Chan! So nice to see you!" Isshin yelled happily, he seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Rukia just walked out of Ichigos' room.

"So? Will you make it to the little get-together?" Isshin asked with puppy eyes. Rukia smiled and nodded, Isshin bear hugged his third daughter.

This...feels nice. Being here, with Ichigos' family. Rukia was dragged by Yuzu, who was wearing a blue hoodie with a purple turtle on the front, a long jean skirt, and brown sandals. Over the years...I've realized that like Ichigo, they have a place in my heart that can never be filled by anyone else.

"See Rukia-Chan? I made it all by myself!" Yuzu announced as she held up a drawing. Rukia smiled as she took the paper. One orange scowling bunny hugging a white bunny with purple eyes..."It's beautiful Yuzu" Rukia complimented and the young girl giggled.

"It's you and Ichi-nii!" She said as Ichigo walked around the corner, Rukia tried to hide the pink tinge that came to her cheeks. Ichigo peered over her shoulder.

"Bunnies? You're turning into Rukia." Ichigo commented, It's Rukia and I...

Yuzu giggled and skipped downstairs to make dinner, leaving her brother and Rukia to stand in the hallway. "My sister is a better artist then you." Ichigo said with a grin, knowing he'd get a response from the petite woman in front of him.

She scoffed, spun around and glared at him, "You can't even hold a pencil, let alone draw" She spat back.

"Wanna bet?" Ichigo retorted as he crossed his arms infront of his chest.

"You're on!" Rukia said confidently and she ran into Yuzu/Karins' room, bringing out two sketch books.

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Ichigo and Rukia sat at the dinner table, both absorbed in their drawings. Ichigo really couldn't think of anything to draw, so he did the first thing that came to mind. The red soul ribbons that belonged to him and Rukia, he would draw them just as he saw them today. The larger one wrapped tightly around the smaller one, protecting it and keeping it close.

Rukia smiled, she was a true artist. She drew, with much difficulty, herself getting a piggy back from Ichigo. At the top she wrote "These aren't easy times." then at the bottom she wrote "Good friends are hard to find"

Rukia ran her finger back and forth over the words to create a faded effect.

"You done yet?" She asked the carrot top sitting in front of her.

"Yuzu! Old man! Karin! Come here!" Ichigo called out, they had decided that the family would be the judge on who could draw the best.

Both the said artists placed their drawings on the table, Rukia looked at Ichigos' and met his eyes. "Nice" She said, trying her best to hide the happiness swelling in her chest. Why was she so happy? It was just a drawing...but...it had a special meaning. It was symbolism, they were bonded.

"Er...thanks" Ichigo replied, he was unsure how to respond to her compliment and the fact that she drew a picture of them together. She was smiling in the picture as he carried her, he wasn't scowling but instead looking at her with a small smile. She was wearing flip-flops and a dress, he had on jeans and a T-shirt. He couldn't insult the picture because it was...amazing.

"Wow Rukia-Chan! I never knew you were this good!" Yuzu said, over excited as always.

"Hmm...Ichigo, I want to show you something later" Isshin muttered to his son while Yuzu was gushing over the picture.

"Rukia won. Hands down." Karin said with a smirk towards her shinigami friend.

"I see them...I can't do anything, like you and Ichigo. I want to help!" Karin said one day to Rukia during the time that Ichigo had disappeared.

"I'll help you" Rukia said without hesitation. The younger girls' eyes widened in surprise but she smiled softly.

"Won't Ichigo be mad?" Karin asked, the shinigami just laughed.

"I can handle him, but for now...let's keep this our secret." Rukia then shook hands with Karin.

Now, every chance they get Rukia takes Karin out hollow-hunting and to this day, not even Ichigo knows about it.

"Alright fine! Rukia wins, I don't really care anyways" Ichigo said with a shrug, Rukia eyed him and picked up his drawing.

"Can I keep it?" Rukia asked, causing six pairs of eyes to stare at her. Two amber eyes were wide with shock.

"Uh...yeah sure. Whatever" Ichigo answered as he tried to hide the blush coming to his cheeks and the shock of Rukia asking something like that.

"You love Ichi-nii, don't you?" Yuzu suddenly said, causing Rukias' jaw to drop. She loved Yuzu as a sister, but sometimes she would say the wrong things at the wrong time. It didn't help that a certain pair of amber eyes were staring at her with the same expression. Rukia had to answer just like how she answered when asked if she liked Ichigo at school.

"Ichigo and I are just really good friends!" Rukia said with her 'school girl' smile, she got a disappointed 'Oh' from Yuzu. Rukia had a feeling that Yuzu wanted to plan a wedding or something, oh god, that would be insane. Not to mention Nii-sama and his over protectiveness, on top of that Isshin would invite half of the living world and all of the 13 protection squads.

Violet-blue eyes met with amber-brown ones but quickly darted away from each other.

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"C'mon Rukia-Chan. You can help me in the kitchen!" Yuzu said as she dragged the raven haired girl away from the television. It was boring anyway, just news of explosion and crashes that both Rukia and Ichigo knew to be hollow attacks.

"Ichigo!" Isshin called out, Ichigo groaned loudly and stood up. He took his time reaching his father who was on the clinic side of the house, cleaning up.

"What?" Ichigo asked, he was startled by his fathers' serious expression. Normally he was carefree and happy...almost too happy

"That drawing you made...it reminded me of your mother and I." Isshin said, folding his hands on his lap.

"Huh?" Ichigo replied dumbly, his father grinned. Isshin closed his eyes and white ribbons surrounded the pair, along with two red ones tied together. Ichigos' eyes focused on the ribbons in his fathers' hands.

"Our ribbons were like that...only her ribbon was white, and mine red. Even though your mother is gone, her ribbon is still tied to mine." Isshin said as he held the ribbons in his hand. He stared at the tied ribbons for a long time, then looked at the bonded red ones.

"Ribbons are not like string, Ichigo. They cannot break, they can fray just a little, but never break." Isshin said releasing his and Masakis' ribbons from his hand.

"So...Rukia and I are--" Ichigo began, "Soul mates" His father finished for him. Ichigo just stared at the two tied red ribbons dancing infront of him. "Soul mates..." Ichigo repeated in a whisper, the word felt so strange. He knew his father couldn't lie and he hadn't been this serious since their last visit to his mothers grave.

"Love her, Ichigo. Don't you dare let her go." Isshin said sternly, his suddenly dark aura surprised and frightened Ichigo. He could only nod his head and Isshin turned back to his happy-go-lucky self. He clasped Ichigo on the back "Remember my words and let's go get some of Rukia-Chans' and Yuzu-Chans' cookies!" He smiled and walked out of the clinic area.

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"Thanks for having me over, see you all at the party" Rukia said kindly, she bowed before leaving. She didn't even get one foot away from the kurosaki house when she heard "go and walk her home!" then a crash, followed by several curse words. Before you could say 'zanbaktou' Ichigo was by her side.

"I'm walking you home" He said walking with her.

"I don't need it" She replied curtly, and he scoffed;

"I don't care, I'm doing it anyways."

"Fine" Rukia huffed and kept her eyes on the sidewalk. I'm glad...to have you by my side, I missed it.

"The cookies you made weren't half bad for a midget who can't cook" Ichigo said with a grin. It's nice walking with you. It feels like I've spent a lifetime with you. Rukia rolled her eyes and hit him in the side with her elbow. Her violet gaze looked up at the orange haired shinigami, "Hey Ichigo?"

"Hmm?"

Rukias' arm snaked around his, Ichigos' eyes went wide, purely shocked at his friends' actions. He suddenly got a mental image of his and Rukias' arms linked together, she wore a pure white dress and he was in a black tuxedo, they walked down an aisle with cherry blossoms swirling around. He shook his head to clear the thought. That would never happen. Why did it feel so right? Could they really be...soul mates? No. No. No. Soul society would take her away, as always and she would yell at him to live a 'normal' life, to forget her.

They walked down the sidewalk in the moons light, his arm linked with hers and for the moment...everything was perfect.

A/N: A little bit of fluff at the end. Te-he I'm amazing no?

So next chapter will be the party and guess what? You all will get a surprise!!! It will have you at the edge of your seats. Muwahah evilness!

Also the quote "These aren't easy times, Good friends are hard to find" was from the song "My name is love" by: -Amy Diamond

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! School starts on the 29 for me. Then a 3 day weekend. (Woot!) I'll update around then :)