A/N: This was one of the hardest chapters to write, I kept adding things and taking away things then putting it back. So without further ranting, "Goodbye my love." Chapter 13.

Previously,

"Ah…well…goodnight Rukia-san." Matsumoto said before closing her eyes. So Leon wants to kill Rukia because she got away and he knows her weakness, Ichigo. That's why Ichigo can't be in the plan…because Leon will use Ichigo against her or vise versa. Rukia…Why must fate be so cruel to you?

As the others were outside waiting Rukia grasped the soul necklace, "This is the only way…" Her shinigami form appeared and her gigai was limp on the floor. Rukia took off her shinigami robes and changed into a jean skirt and a white blouse. She dragged her gigai into a nearby storage closet. Now that Rukia was in her shinigami form, she could much easier sneak off and no humans would see her if she was dragged of either. Rukia placed her sword next to the gigai, "My apologizes, Shirayuki." Rukia said looking at her sword, she could hear Shirayukis' protesting in the back of her head.

"Everyone ready?" Urahara asked as the group stood outside the shop, everyone nodded and Ishida took Orihimes' in his. Ichigo gave Rukia a worried glance but she kept her violet orbs on the ground.

"Let's go." Hitsugaya said as Renji and Matsumoto jumped into the air, both landing perfectly on the roof and flash stepping to their destination.

"See you at the café, Rukia-Chan!" Urahara said with a wave as he followed Yoruichi. Tatsuki nodded to Ishida and Orihime, "We'll be heading off too." She said the trio disappeared down the road. Rukia finally looked up to see Ichigo eyeing her, he was scowling but his eyes held concern.

"C'mon Ichigo." Rukia said turning her back to him, the orange-haired man had no other choice but to follow the petite girl.

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

It seemed that someone had pushed the fast forward button, Rukia couldn't even remember reaching the center of town. She had broken apart from Ichigo and took the back way to reach the café. Rukia stopped when she felt a reitsu spike for a brief moment.

"All alone? How dangerous…" said a dark voice that seemed to have came from the shadows of a nearby ally. Rukia felt her heart race, her muscles tensed as the shadowed figure came into view.

"Leon…" Rukia spoke in a steady voice, she was not afraid as she glared into the eyes of her enemy.

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

Ichigo briskly walked once Rukia had left his side, saw Tatsuki and the others up head, Ichigo sped up his walk. He bumped into people but they only stared at him, the scowl on his face and burning of his eyes kept people quiet. Rukia…why can't I feel your reitsu? Can you hide it that well? The trio looked concerned,

"Ichigo…Rukia tricked us." Ishida explained Ichigo felt like he was punched in the stomach.

"Wh-what?" He choked out so far everything was going according to plan, Rukia had left his side and was taking the back streets to reach the café, then they would all meet up at the store and ambush Leon before he was able to hurt Rukia. Ishida pushed his glasses up on his nose and cleared his throat.

"We got a call from Jinta, he found Rukias' gigai in the one of the storage closets. Rukia had no intentions of meeting up with Urahara and Yoruichi, she hid her reitsu much easier in her shinigami form and must of taken a different route. Also, Jinta is bringing over a note he found in Rukias' pocket…" Ishida said, wrapping one arm around Orihime who looked close to tears.

"I can't believe this!" Tatsuki said, slamming her fist into the wall beside her causing one lookers to stare. Ichigo was silent, his head bowed and a shadow casting over his eyes.

Rukia…

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

Urahara shut his phone, "That Kuchiki…" He muttered shaking his head, Yoruichi closed her eyes. "I should have guessed she would of done something like that." She said with wisdom in her voice. Urahara sat down on a nearby bench, rubbing his chin his blue eyes caught sight of red hair running down the street.

"Jinta." Urahara noted as the form got closer, Jinta skidded to a stop holding up the note he found while breathing heavily. His red hair was messy and stuck out in different directions. "Urahara-san…" Jinta breathed as his boss took the note from his hand.

"Hmm…" Urahara mused as Yoruichi looked over her husbands shoulder, her expression was serious.

Rukia,

I will spare your friends' lives, do not make any plans…if you do simply double cross your friends and go by your own plans. All I want is your blood splattered on the floor, if your friends' get in the way…I will make you watch them die by my hands. Your choice…I'll be seeing you soon.

Dorobou anna Haatos (thief of hearts)

"Thief of hearts? How clever…Jinta please take this to Kurosaki and the others." Urahara said handing the young boy the note.

"Yes Urahara-san!" Jinta said running off. Good thing he plays baseball, if he didn't he would of keeled over by now.

"Rukia took her own path in order to protect her friends….noble but foolish." Yoruichi said crossing her arms across the dark blue fabric of her dress.

"I believe young Rukia thinks one life is better than nine." Urahara said getting to his feet, brushing off his shirt. He took Yoruichis' arm with his and they walked along the sidewalk towards the others.

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

Rukia followed Leon down the ally way, "Just up ahead, my little bunny." He said with a dark chuckle. Rukias' face showed nothing but her eyes were sad, she could see an abandoned wear house just up ahead.

"How cliché." Rukia commented as she walked behind Leon. The man chuckled and ran his hand through his dark brown hair, "I couldn't help myself, Rukia-sensei. Cliché is sort of my thing…" He said glancing back at the small woman following him. Rukia didn't reply, she just nodded

"I remember when we first met, don't you Rukia-sensei?" He said one hand on the hilt of his zanpaktou, his shinigami attire ruffled in the wind.

"I remember." Rukia answered…

( 2 years ago )

"Leon…reporting for duty, Kuchiki-sensei." Said Leon, looking as he did now in the present only his dark hair was shorter and his eyes didn't hold the coldness that they do now. Rukia sighed mentally, this was the urgent reason she had to leave the living world? The reason why she most likely broke Ichigos' heart just to meet this new shinigami? What was Yamamoto babbling about this guy was a dark cloud looming over soul society?

"Ah, welcome to the thirteenth squad. You may call me Rukia." Rukia said with a slight bow to the new shinigami.

"Oh, thank you Kuchiki…I mean Rukia-sensei." Leon said with a bow of the head. Rukia looked at the paper on her desk, "You can release your zanpaktou…impressive. What is its' skill?" Rukia asked picking up a quill, preparing to write on the paper.

"I've only tried it once or twice before…but it basically knocks out my opponents." Leon explained, Rukia only nodded.

"Leon, I take several trips to the living world. I have duties there as well as here, so since you are my subordinate…you will have to keep watch on things when I'm gone." Rukia said gathering her things.

"Are you leaving now?" Leon asked, his bright green eyes sparkling with interest. Rukia nodded, "I have to see if a friend of mine is there…or if my friend left already to go live his life." Rukia explained, Leon nodded and opened the door for Rukia.

"How long has it been since you've seen your friend?…if you don't mind me asking." Leon asked before she left.

"About a month…" Rukia answered before she left, it was her duty to keep an eye on this new kid mainly because Yamamoto was worried that his presence would cause trouble. She wondered if she was being reckless, leaving a new shinigami fresh out of the academy by himself all so she could see Ichigo and check up on him. She'd figured she would get a place in the living world and check in weekly…maybe even experience that Christmas thing again. Rukia would never admit the only reason why she came to the living world was to search or see Ichigo. Even if it was going against orders about staying in soul society to keep an eye on Leon, after all there where plenty of shinigami to keep an eye on him for her.

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

Ichigo felt anger boiling up in his chest, "We have to find her. Everyone split up and search! Find Rukia NOW!" Ichigo yelled as he stormed off, the group just started at the fuming strawberry.

"Well you heard him! Let's go!" Tatsuki said rushing off the opposite way, Urahara sighed and followed Yaruichi into a nearby ally way.

Rukia…I don't know what I would do if you died…you're wandering around in shinigami form only dressed like a normal person and it's not like we could ask people where you went because they wouldn't be able to see you.

Ichigo stormed through the crowd, his thoughts his only companion as his heart raced searching for her reitsu.

Rukia…you can't die because if you do…I don't what I would do with myself…stop being so selfless, stop worrying about others and take value in your own life…your life is worth risking others, including mine!

"Ichigo!" yelled a voice from a nearby ally way, he turned to see the spirit girl.

"Ichigo this way! I can sense Rukias' reitsu!" Yelled the spirit girl, Ichigo darted down the street and followed the girl who was wearing a bright red dress with a blue ribbon in her hair.

"Who are you?" Ichigo asked as they ran, the girl rolled her eyes.

"My name is Rai, I'm yours and Rukias' guardian angel. Now hurry the hell up!" Rai said as she ran ahead of Ichigo, who quickly caught up.

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

Rukia looked around the old building, "Rukia-sensei…I noticed something, every time I released my zanpaktou and used her first form, I could never knock you out…I wonder why…" Leon said as he sheathed his sword.

"I'm stronger then you, that's why." Rukia said crossing her arms, Leon just chuckled with amusement.

" Cry, Kanashimi…" Leon said as he released his zanpaktou, the sword turned a glowing shade of purple and silver smoke surrounded the blade the covered the floor with a soft fog.

[Note: Kanashimi means sadness, sorrow, or grief

Rukia stood tall, the first release of his zanpaktou did not affect her. Possibly it was because she had strength and confidence that his other victims did not have. Leon raised his sword, "Would you like to see her second release? It's quite beautiful…Kanashimi extends and goes straight to the heart…with her special smoke lining, once the blade hits the heart it fails causing the victim to die instantly…then the smoke wraps around the heart and pulls it out for me." Leon explained with a cruel smile on his face, his green eyes were dark and burning. "My hands never get dirty." He added casually.

"The third release of your zanpaktou is?" Rukia had to ask, if she were about to die, Leon wouldn't grudge any information from her would he?

"Ah the third…Kanashimi rarely has to do it…since her second is so deadly…but it brings back the dead, using the smoke to create the image of the deceased…it's fun to use if I'm in a battle and don't want to kill the person." Leon explained, raising his zanpaktou. He brought it down and the blade extended, at lighting speed…heading straight for Rukias' heart.

I love you Ichigo. Always have, always will…

Blood splattered on the dirty floor of the building.

A/N: Review please I know, I'm evil with the cliffhangers, and if you have any questions, comments, or concerns please state them in your review.