Disclaimer:I do not own BLEACH.

A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry this chapter was late! I've been so busy lately. Well... not the good kind of meeting-your-friends-and-having-a-good-time kind of busy, I mean practicing-a-really-really-hard-dance-and-drawing-for-five-and-a-half-hours-straight kind of busy. Not to mention I've been feeling a little bit sluggish lately. So, I'm really sorry!!

Btw, have you seen the new ending?? XP

Thanks to Ericd, anonymous and Brambleface -Wolf Within for reviewing! Here are the replies...

Ericd: Thank you for the advice on the genre!! Even if it wasn't an advice, I'll still take it as one, hope you won't mind. Also thanks for the advice on the divider! I (personally) like this one as well... It somehow looks SHINY... XD

anonymous: I don't like waiting or secrets either but I sure like keeping them!! XP

Brambleface -Wolf Within: Sure! I'll put it in the summary box thingy XP! Thank you for your advice (even if it wasn't meant to be one XP)!

I'm sorry in advance for any spelling/grammar mistakes.

Enjoy!

Time line: Sometime after the Winter War. Sorry I didn't mention this sooner!

-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-

Perfection

Chapter Twelve

-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-

"Do you think they're awake?"

"...No."

"Let's wake them up, my beloved daugh--" POW!

CRASH!

"God, old man! Have you even brushed your teeth yet?!"

Kurosaki Ichigo woke up to the noise he assumed his family was making. He rubbed his eyes lazily with one hand, his other hand dangling limply from his bed. Or at least he thought he was on his bed. But if he was, how come his Dad haven't give him a wake up kick yet?

'It was probably a full moon last night,' he thought.

Yes. Indeed it was a full moon.

Ichigo started drifting back to sleep when he felt something hard hit his forehead. It had startled him and his eyelids fluttered open immediately.

Kuchiki Rukia was sleeping noiselessly on the couch. Sure she was sitting when she dozed off but hey, it was better than nothing, right? She was woken up by some noises around her. She didn't bother on opening her eyes and continued on sleeping. Moments later, she felt herself leaned down subconsciously and hit her forehead on something hard. She moved a little, but all she could think about was sleep. So she went on sleeping. But before she could completely went to La-La-Land, she was woken up by a much louder noise.

"Uwaaah!! Look at them! They're just sooo cute!!" a voice she thought belong to a middle-aged man said. Then she felt her forehead pushed back up brashly.

"'THE HELL?? SHUT UP!!" a voice she know belong to Ichigo yelled as she felt something rose up from her lap. THWACK!

CRASH!

"Ngh...? What's going on?" Rukia opened her eyes lazily, scanning the view in front of her. She furrowed her delicate brows in confusion. Something doesn't feel right...

"Nothing much, Rukia-nee. Just those two idiots over there brawling over moronic stuff," Karin answered before sipping her green tea. Rukia looked over to the two 'idiots' and watched as they fought against one another in a rather... interesting... way. She shifted her gaze to the sofa and saw traces of something heavy being there.

'Oh right!' she thought as everything clicked together. 'Ichigo slept there last night! Wait, did they...' her thought were cut off by a cheery voice from the kitchen.

"Rukia nee-chan! What do you want for breakfast?" Yuzu asked.

"I'll have... um... chocolate chip pancakes!" she replied loudly, recalling the food her Home Economic teacher had taught her. But then again, she never really did figured out what chocolate chip was.

"Coming right up!" a few clanging noises were heard.

Rukia stood up and stretched her arms. She went on her tiptoes to see the clock on the top shelf. It was 07.05 AM. She turned her head at Karin, who sets down her cup of tea as she picked up a newspaper with her other hand.

"Ah... My back! It hurts!!" Ichigo complained, making some random swinging motions with his shoulders in an attempt to massage his sore back. Isshin was seen struggling to get up five feet from the orange haired teen, pieces of small rubbles surrounding him. Behind him was a wall with a big crack that Rukia had never seen before. She was about to question Ichigo what had happened before Yuzu pulled her wrist and gently pushed her to sit down on one of the dining chairs.

"Here's your breakfast!" Yuzu said cheerily as she set down Rukia's breakfast in front of her. Yuzu hummed as she walked over to Karin and read the newspaper along with her twin.

Rukia stared down at her breakfast, looking more intrigues than ever. The hot pancake has little bits of melted chocolate chip here and there, making it looked even more scrumptious than it supposed to be. Settling beside it was five raspberries and three strawberries. Rukia licked her lips before picking both of the berries and threw them into her mouth. The said mouth then formed a goofy smile as she savour the deliciousness of the two berries.

'It's heavenly...' she thought before picking up her fork and stabbed the first leaf of the chocolate chip pancake on her plain white plate. She opened her mouth as wide as it allowed her to and ate the whole pancake in one bite. She unconsciously put her hand to one side of her cheeks as the goofy smile formed itself once again. She was having such a great time until...

"Oi, midget. What'cha eating?" Ichigo asked from behind her, his hands on the two corners of her chair. She stabbed another leaf of the delicious chocolate chip pancake and answered, "Chocolate chip pancake."

"Ah..." he nodded. "Can I have some?"

A pause.

"No," Rukia answered simply and opened her mouth wide to eat the heavenly pancake.

Ichigo, feeling that he had nothing better to do, grabbed her right hand and ate the stabbed pancake. Rukia blinked twice before comprehending what just happened. Ichigo stole her food. Again!!

"It's good," Ichigo said with the pancake in his mouth. Rukia felt her blood boiled and she turned her upper body to him. With one swift motion, she slapped the top of his head, making him almost choke on the chocolate chip pancake. He doubled over and went to a fit of coughs while Rukia went back to her eating.

"Serves you right," she said as she threw another raspberry into her mouth. A vein almost popped on his forehead. He stood up straight, practically slammed his hand onto Rukia's head and turned it to him.

"Listen here and listen good, midget. I want that pancake and I'll get it no matter what."

"Ah, I see your sense of perseverance has knocked in, hmm?"

"You bet it has," they threw each other a glare with sparks on the middle (Dunno what the sparky thingis called so... yeah). Isshin and Karin watched them with intrigued expression from the sideline.

"Onii-chan! Rukia nee-chan! You're going to be late for school!" Yuzu called out from the kitchen.

"Ah! Thanks, Yuzu-chan!" Rukia quickly stood up from her seat. "I call the bathroom!" she yelled as she ran up the stairs.

"Wait! Oi! You're being unfair!" Ichigo ran after her, trying to somehow stole the bathroom before her.

"Since when did you care?" she stuck her tongue out at him, who growled in reponse, and slammed the bathroom door shut.

"Oi!" Ichigo banged on the foor. "Rukia! Let me in! I really need to go!!"

"Use the nature then!" came her voice from behind the white door.

"Dammit! Rukia!"

-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-

"Ichigo! We're going to be late! What the hell are you doing?" Rukia yelled from the living room, all ready in her school's uniform.

"I forgot something, alright?!" Rukia heard a yell from upstairs, to be precise, Ichigo's room, with a dull thud following it.

Rukia crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. The dull thud continues. A small vein managed to popped on her forehead as she her line of patient finally ended and she stomped her way to Ichigo's room. She kicked the door open and was greeted by a big hug.

"Nee-san!!" Kon cried out of happiness as he hugged her.

"Kon?! What the heck?! Let go!!" Rukia ripped him off of her by his head.

"Nee-san! I missed you so mu--"

"See? This is why I couldn't find my things! It kept on bothering me!" Ichigo interrupted.

"It?! Ichigo, How could--"

"How did he bother you?" Rukia cut Kon off.

"Well, nee-san, it's quite simple actually--"

"Random stuff."

"Oi! Stop interrupting m--"

"Ah. I see," Rukia nodded her head in understanding as Sofia popped her head out of her book bag and looked around.

"AAH!!" Kon yelled. "YOU!! What are you doing here?!" he pointed his index finger/claw (?) at Sofia. She responded by smiling innocently. Kon gasped in agony.

"Nee-san! How could you? It hurts me to know that you've abandoned me! It hurts, I say!"

Rukia raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you want a kiss to make it all better?"

Ichigo immediately turned his head at her. "WHAT?!" he yelled. "Are you out of your freakin' filled with bunnies min--"

"Yes, nee-san! That would be great!" Kon's eyes glinted happily.

"Okay then. Close your eyes and count to three." Kon closed his eyes and puckered his lips at Rukia. '3...2...1...'

CHU!

Kon opened his eyes and immediately saw Rukia's violet ones. He shifted his gaze to Ichigo, whose eyes are slightly widened in shock. He saw Kon was staring rudely at him and his slightly agape mouth immediately formed a satisfied grin.

"Oi Rukia! Done yet?" he asked.

'Of course she's not done yet, you barbaric moron!' Kon thought. 'How could she be done if it was me--'

"Yeah," Rukia answered, turning her head to Ichigo's direction.

'Wait a minute! I'm still kissing someone here! If it's not nee-san, then it must be...' Kon lowered his gaze.

"YOU! What the hell are you doing?!" he broke off the kiss and pointed accusingly at Sofia as he dropped down with a squeak onto the floor. She looked as clueless as ever, a smile still plastered on her innocent green face.

"Did you find them, Ichigo?" Rukia asked, getting up from her sitting position.

"No," he answered shortly,trying to get out of the pile of boxes in Rukia's closet. He let out a sigh of relieve as he finally get out of the damn closet and picked one random box up to be inspect thoroughly.

"I'll help you then," Rukia settled down her bag on his bed. "What are you searching for? Is it really that important?"

"I doubt you've seen it, but it's--"

"Nee-san! Why did you do that? Why??" Kon asked melodramatically, rivers of tears streaming down his soft cheeks. Rukia sighed deeply before explaining, "You said you wanted a kiss. You got it didn't you? Now be happy."

"But, nee-san! I want yesterday's romantic kiss!" Kon yelled. Ichigo's ear perked up at his statement. It's a good thing that Yuzu and Karin went to school half an hour ago with their Dad escorting them. Sure there was a lot of yelling from Karin, saying that she's not a baby anymore, but all in all, it was worth it. Well, at least for Ichigo it was.

"What kiss? I didn't remember any..." Rukia said as her brows furrowed deeply. Ichigo let out a really genuine sigh of relieve as Kon's mouth dropped down in horror. "Oh! You mean that kiss at the lake? Yeah, I remember that one!" Rukia slammed her fist onto her palm. Kon's eyes lighted up as Ichigo dropped the box he was holding.

CRASH!

Rukia and Kon turned their heads at him, eyebrows raised, weird looks and all. Ichigo feh-ed and gave a light shrug as he picked the box back up and started inspecting it again.

"Yeah... anyways..." Rukia slowly turned her head back at Kon. "Yeah, I remember. It was so cute!" she said happily, in the edge of squeeling with delights as if she had just seen a Chappy Parade.

CRASH!

Rukia and Kon turned their heads at Ichigo again, who seethed, "What?!" and picked up the box again, mumbling some incoherent words.

"So you remembered?" Kon asked.

"Of course!"

"Give me one again, then!"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm not the person you kissed yesterday."

CRASH! (Wow there's a lot of crashing noises here XP)

"Aw shit! My foot!" Ichigo jumped around, holding one foot; after he had foolishly dropped the box, again. This time, the said box took revenge and hit his foot. Hard.

"What is wrong with you?! Can't you carry one small box?!" Rukia yelled.

"Shut up, woman! Can't you see I'm in pain?!"Ichigo yelled again, still jumping like a jelly bean on one foot.

"Well if you want me to shut up, you shouldn't be foolish, imbecile!"

"Excuuuse me for being fool--"

"Nee-san! What do you mean by it wasn't you?!" Kon cut in.

"Because it wasn't me. You see..."

Flashback (Rukia Style a.k.a what had really happened and P.O.V) Oh great, Moonlight and her shtoopid flashbacks are on it again

Okay, so, I was bored and I have nothing else to do, so I put your soul into your body. You sat up immediately and I put my hand in front of your face since you kinda surprised me. And then, you started asking about Ichigo.

Ichigo decided to put the box down and listened to her story.

You know, just where he was and blah blah blah... and I answered it with, you know, the usual answer. Then, after all the questions were asked, I carried this little cutie with me to the lake so she could play some water. Well, after that, you just jumped to my right shoulder and you kinda kissed Sofia instead of... well... me! Yeah, I was talking to her at eye-level if you still don't get how did you kiss Sofia instead of me.

Flashback Ended

"...and that is what happened,"Rukia finished her explanation. Ichigo glared at Kon menacingly for telling him a fake story and the said stuffed animal is going to have his jaw break off soon.

"S-So that wasn't y-you, nee-san??" Kon asked in horror.

"Nope!" Rukia shook her head to the negative happily and walked towards her closet. She took a random box out and started rummaging through it while Ichigo cracked his fingers, preparing to give Kon hell for making him all pissed yesterday.

"Romeo and Juliet..." Rukia read the title of the book she found in the box out loud. Ichigo suddenly turned his head towards her, Kon's head in his grasp all ready to be beaten up. "Is this what you've been looking for? William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?" she held the said book up so he could see.

"Uh... No!! But give me that!!" he brashly took the book and stuffed it inside his book bag. "Anyways, let's go!"

"Go where?" Rukia asked.

"To school, dope."

"But I thought you haven't found the thing you were looking for!"

"Yeah I have."

"Is it that book?" she picked up her book bag.

"God! Let's just go!" Ichigo took her wrist and pull her along out of his room.

"Oh! I've heard about that book from Inoue!" Rukia said as Ichigo pulled her down the stairs. "Isn't it when two people from different worlds fall in love and—wait a minute! You read that kind of romantic books?"

"N-No! Of course not! I'm studying its... uh... eloquence!"

"Nee-san! Wait for me!" Kon called as he hopped down the stairs.

"Gah!" Ichigo took out his shinigami representative badge, turned and pushed Kon's gikongan out of the stuffed lion. It dropped down to the floor noiselessly as Ichigo barged out the door, still pulling Rukia.

-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-

About five minutes later...

"Oi! Let me go! We're gonna be late even with you pulling me!" Rukia hollered.

"Fine! Have it your way, then!" Ichigo grumbled as he let go of her wrist.

"Thank you!," Rukia replied sarcastically, her hand rummaging her bag. Ichigo looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "You didn't forget anything, did ya?"

"No, of course not," she pulled out a small brown bag and dipped her hand into it. Moments later, she was eating a slightly burned chocolate chip cookie. "Who knew? It's not bad," she licked the crumbles off her lips and took another chocolate chip cookie.

GRUMBLE... Rukia looked at Ichigo, her eyebrows shooting up sky high. "What?!" he seethed. "I didn't have a proper breakfast, you know!"

"Oh. Okay," Rukia ate the chocolate chip cookie that was on her hand.

"Uhm... Rukia?"

"Yeah?"

"Aren't you going to offer me some?"

"No."

"Okay then... Can I have some of your chocolate chip cookie?"

Rukia hesitated before saying, "No."

"No?? Why not??"

"'Cause it's not perfect enough for you, that's why."

Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"It means, it's not perfect, imperfect. Get it? It's slightly burned."

"So? Why do I care?"

"Oh yeah. Why would you care about perfection?" she rolled her eyes.

"Wait a minute, Rukia," he stopped in front of her and stopped her by the shoulders. "Don't tell me that this perfection crap has anything to do with the way you act in fourth period yesterday."

"And what if I say it does?"

"Then what does it have to do with me not getting any cookies??" he raised his voice.

"You said you like perfect girls!" she raised her voice as well, but slammed her hand to her her mouth when she noticed she had a slip.

"Well I said girls not cookie—aah..." Ichigo raised an eyebrow with his father's infamous sly grin slapped on his face (Yay! Isshin have a bad influence like a jelly bean!XD Sorry. I'm feeling hyper).

"Is little miss perfectionist trying to be all perfect for me?" he mocked.

Rukia stepped back, a shocked expression is slowly forming on her face. Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her. 'Is it?' she thought. 'Is it because of him that I acted this way?! Is it??' her cheeks heated up slightly. Ichigo's grin deformed into a straight line. He really had expected something like, "No, I don't you egoistical idiot!" or at least a good ol' kick in the shin. Her stepping-back-with-a-blush was totally out of the question. He cursed as he realized that he was blushing at her reaction.

Insert awkward moment here.

Realizing that he had to end this awkward moment quickly, he said, "Well of course, you're trying to be perfect for me. I mean, who wouldn't?"

"Shut up, you egoistical idiot!" the blush on her face disappeared as she whacked him on the head and started walking.

Ichigo jogged to catch up to Rukia. He knew he shouldn't be talking about this topic again but he decided to pry on it anyways. "So why were you trying to be all perfect? I mean, I know that you're a perfectionist and all, but these days it just seems that you're trying even harder."

Rukia sneered at the perfectionist comment. "No reason. I just felt like it," she replied with a vague tone.

"Tch. As if. Just 'felt like it'. Yeah suuure... I'd believe that," he sarcastically commented.

"Good to know," she quickened her pace as she ignored his sarcastic comment. She wished that he would just give up even though she knew it was impossible. He grabbed her right shoulder.

"Rukia."

"Ichigo," she looked over her shoulder.

"Seriously! Just tell me!" he persisted.

"No! Now let my shoulder go. You're pissing me off," she shrugged his hand off of her shoulder.

"Why won't you tell me?!"

"Because it's none of your damned business!" she turned back to face him.

"Do you think I ever care whether it's my business or not?"

"You should," she mumbled in a low voice.

"Well, I don't! And you know damn well that I won't give up until you tell me!"

"You wanna know why? All of this is because I..." she paused mid-sentence as she gather up her thoughts. "It's all because I really, really lik--"

"You what? Oi, Rukia... You there?" Ichigo waved a hand in front of her face. No wonder, the girl just froze on him. In the middle of answering his question!

'That reiatsu! It's here!'

"Rukia, you okay?" he put his hands on her shoulders to give her a little shake and that's when he realized that her shoulder has tensed up. In a blink, she give him a hard kick on the stomach, making him flew 15 feet back. She also jumped back right after she kicked him.

BOOM! A blast of reiryoku hit the spot where they were just a minute ago.

Ichigo and Rukia looked up to where the blast had been coming from. They both saw a tall, thin figure, with his hand reached out in front of him. "Aw... I missed," he grinned mysteriously (yes, for those who haven't figure it out, this is the silhouette from chapter ten). Rukia observed him as the smoke cleared up. He has dark brown hair which goes down to his chin, his pale blue eyes glinted mischievously as he looked at the both of them. He was wearing a long white robe with white hakama, which resembles a lot like the arrancars garment. Except he have no sword.

"Who are you?!" Ichigo bellowed, pushing his soul out using the shinigami representative badge. Rukia searched for her Chappy gikongan inside her bag. The figure raised an eyebrow and said, "Now, now, now. We can't have you do that." And he shunpo-ed off somewhere. Ichigo turned his head to Rukia, who is still fumbling through her bag for her Chappy gikongan.

"Oi! Use my badge!" he threw his shinigami representative badge to her. She dropped her bag and leaned toward the badge to catch it, hands reached out. But she didn't catch it. It made a clanging noise as it hit the ground. He blinked twice. Where did she go?

"Oi, Orange boy. Looking for her?" a voice rose up from above. Ichigo quickly grabbed Zangetsu and turned around quickly. He gritted his teeth when he saw Rukia struggling to get free from the mysterious guy's grasp, who had his arm around her neck, slightly choking her.

"Rukia!" he called out. "Bastard! Let her go!" he readied Zangetsu and leaped towards them.

"Sorry, O-Boy. Is it okay if I call you that? Maa. You can't do that," the mysterious guy smirked and raised his hand up to the sky. Out of nowhere, about thirty hollows appeared and charged towards Ichigo.

"Kuh!" he grimaced as one of the bird shaped hollow charged down its sharp talons at him. He blocked the attack with Zangetsu after barely evading a punch another hollow had generously gave him. His eyes glow blue as he roared out, "Getsuga Tenshou!"

The white and blue moon-like fang destroyed the bird shaped hollow and another five hollows around it. "Dammit!" he turned around and swung Zangetsu at a turquoise hollow behind him.

The mysterious guy raised an amused eyebrow as he watched the unfolding massacre below him. "Quite a fighter, ain't he?" he asked Rukia. She didn't respond. He raised another amused eyebrow. 'Did I killed her already? Whoops. Boss is going to get mad at me...' he thought. He sighed deeply and run a hand through his hair.

"...beyond the seas in reverse, take steps to the south..." he heard a faint whisper. He jerked his head back a little as a palm was raised to his face.

"Hadou no 31! Shakka--!" Rukia felt a sharp pain on her stomach before she lost her consciousness.

"I was just about to tell you that you shouldn't misbehave. What an irony," the mysterious guy shook his head.

Ichigo panted heavily as he slashed the last hollow. Half of it was small fry, but the other half needs a little trick. "Oi... O-Boy." Ichigo snapped his head at the mysterious guy. His expression hardened at the sight of Rukia hanging unconscious on his arm. "Teme! What did you do to her?!"

"Nothing... Just a simple knock out blow is all..." the mysterious guy snapped his finger. In an instant, a hollow appeared behind Ichigo. The carrot top turned and killed it immediately before turning back to see his opponent. To his surprise, the said opponent was right in front of him, grinning jubilantly as he said, "Sayonara, Kurosaki Ichigo..."

He raised his hand and swung it down, releasing a deep shade of indigo reiryoku towards Ichigo before he had any time to bring Zangetsu up to defend himself.

"Guh!" the reiryoku hit Ichigo's upper body diagonally and slowly clawed its way throught his skin, creating a deep gash. He skidded backwards on his heel and crashed onto a wall, making a huge crack. He fell down to the ground on his stomach with a thud, wheezing heavily as blood flowed out from his deep gash and pooled around him. He gripped Zangetsu's hilt tightly as he tried to get back up, but it was of no use. He had lost a lot of blood from his gash, it had clawed into him too deep. In a way, it reminded him of a chainsaw.

He gritted his teeth as he watched the mysterious guy turned around, reached out his hand and whisper some kind of incantation, Thus, a wooden door appeared magically. It was black and there is weird kind of puzzle on the centre in a shape of very abstract-like octagon. Mysterious guy traced his finger in a very coordinated manner, moving piece by piece gracefully. It made a clacking noise as he moved the last piece into its place and the door opened with a slight creak. He took a step inside it, still carrying Rukia, and the door closed with a loud WHAM!

Ichigo let go of Zangetsu and tried to crawl his way over there, but he know he's not going to make it. He let out a desperate cry as the door slowly fades away.

Sofia managed to poke her head out of Rukia's bag and struggled to get out of it, which she did. She speed walked (which is very fast compared to an average turtle) towards the dying Ichigo's face. The said shinigami representative looked up when he dude felt something nuzzling his cheek. Sofia stopped as soon as she realized that he had noticed her, which is, again, very quick for an average turtle. He smiled lightly for the turtle as he said,

"I'm failure, aren't I? I let her go for the second time... She'll probably be mad at me when she knows that I died and leave you all alone without anyone to take care of you. I'm sorry I couldn't take care of you, and I'm sorry that I let her go... again..."

Sofia looked at him sadly as he slowly losing his consciousness over his lost of blood.

'Rukia...'

-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-

A/N: Nyaa! I'm finally done with this chapter! I know, I know, I said that the next update are oing to be in like, two weeks, but I can't help it! I want the story to progress! So, sorry if I have offended you in anyway.

Btw, I'm 16 h and 40 minutes late. I always published at 00.01 (Finland time, of course)

See you next chapter! :)