FUN FACT: when I spell check in Word, it wants to replace 'Urahara' with 'Urethra'. Coincidence?

Review, please :D

Rukia opened her eyes to the dim light that was playfully peeking through the blinds. She looked around, taking in the small room surrounding her. She could hear the distinct sound of breathing; it was coming from somewhere close to her. She turned her head to find Ichigo slumped over, his head sliding awkwardly toward his shoulder. He had seated himself, his back to the wall, so that he could watch over Rukia while she was recuperating.

She smiled fondly, as she watched the sunlight dancing in his orange hair. He snored softly, his head jerking upward once it touched his shoulder. His back slid farther down the wall, as he stretched his legs out in front of him. Another snore—louder this time—was the only indication that he was indeed still asleep.

Rukia stretched her arms skyward; they were sore from disuse. How long had I been sleeping? she wondered to herself.

She remembered the battle with the Arrancar, though it grew hazy after the hollow had attacked her with its cero. She lifted the blanket, gently, and peeked at her body. Everything was intact. She gingerly touched the skin between her chest, running her fingers down her midline. When she reached her belly button, and was satisfied that she had no gaping wound, she slowly sat upright. She clutched the blanket to her chest, embarrassed that she wore no bra under the gauzy, clingy material that was her robe. She angrily made a mental note to punch Urahara when she saw him.

She heard another, unfamiliar, breathing from somewhere nearby. She turned her head, gasping aloud as she realized that there was someone sleeping right next to her! Ichigo had heard her sudden, sharp intake of breath--the minute squeal tore him from his light slumber and forced him to his feet. He looked around, quickly preparing for an incoming attack. It never came.

He blinked, realizing where he was and why. He noticed the disheveled pile of blankets; the ones that Rukia had been sleeping between. His heart skipped a beat as he instantly panicked that she had left. He caught the movement out of his periphery. There she is! Her back was to him as she faced Ashido. He could see the soft curves of her body beneath the fabric of her robe. She was silently studying the man she had been so determined to save from the depths of Hueco Mundo.

"Rukia?" Ichigo called softly.

She quickly turned her head toward him. "Hi," she replied, her tone just as soft. Her voice was slightly raspy.

"How do you feel?" he asked, the floor creaking under his weight as he walked toward her.

Rukia looked up, pushing a stray, dark bang from her eyes. She placed her small hands on her knees as she spoke. "I feel….good," she whispered, her eyes dropping to Ashido's face.

Ichigo felt his heart sink. Had he expected more from her? Maybe a smile? He gestured toward the shinigami, "Kisuke says he will be fine." It hurt him to confess those words. He added, " Orihime saved his arm."

"Inoue was here?" Rukia didn't seem too surprised at Ichigo's confession. Of course Inoue would have been the one they called to heal Ashido's severed limb.

Ichigo nodded, his eyes searching Rukia's face for…something. Anything. "Are you alright?" his eyes showed his concern.

Rukia felt her face flush from his sudden attentiveness. "Yes, I'm alright. Why are you staring at me?"

It was Ichigo's turn to blush. "I-I'm not staring! I just wanted to know if you were ok! Can't I be concerned for one moment?" His voice was slightly bitter as he spoke.

Rukia was stunned by his sudden outburst. It was unusual for Ichigo to be this interested in how she felt or what she was thinking. She wasn't used to his attention. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "of course you can."

A heavy silence hung between them; Rukia nervously chewed her lip. She gently touched Ashido's arm, as if making sure he was real. Her orange-haired friend felt his own jealousy begin to flare at her sudden contact with the shinigami.

"He'll be just fine," he said sternly.

"What?" Rukia replied, confused by Ichigo's sudden tone and their abnormally strained conversation.

"I said he'll be fine. Isn't that what you wanted to know? If he'll be alright? If you'll get to talk to him?" he tried to control the anger in his voice, but lost. "I know you went to Hueco Mundo to save him. That's why you didn't ask me to go along! I don't know how you feel about him, but I don't care as long as you are happy! Regardless, I would have gone to Hueco Mundo with you, had you just asked." He clenched and unclenched his fists as he spoke, barely able to maintain the steadiness in his voice.

"What is that supposed to mean, Ichigo?" Rukia looked up at him, her eyes flashing their disdain. She felt tears of frustration tickling her throat. Why was it so difficult to have conversation with him? Why couldn't she just open her mouth and tell him why she spent those months away from him?

Ichigo's voice interrupted her thoughts. "I don't know," he admitted, avoiding her violet gaze. "I…I…just..," he muttered, trailing off.

"You just what?" Rukia asked, completely caught off-guard by the sudden difference in his personality.

"Oh, forget it!" he growled, before storming out of the room. He slammed the door behind him.

Rukia was left to stare at the door as it loudly announced Ichigo's exit. What is going on? she wondered.

After she was satisfied that Ashido was safe to be left alone in the tiny room, she tiptoed outside. She managed to get a few feet outside of the door before she tripped on a pair of long legs that were awkwardly splayed across the hall.

"What the hell--?" she yelled, as she toppled forward. She managed to stop her impending fall by placing her hands against the wall.

"Sorry!" Renji's voice was heavy with sleep, as he rubbed his eyes.

"Where you sleeping in the hall?" she asked, incredulously.

"Yeah...uh, sorry," he apologized again. "Ichigo wouldn't let me in the room. That bastard," he muttered as he looked up at her. "You look better," he grinned.

"And you still look like shit," she replied, a smile lighting up her face. She looked down the long hallway, "How…did I get here?"

"Ichigo carried you," he answered, waving his hand. "And I carried your friend. Yoriuchi did nothing, as expected."

"Oh." She hadn't expected to be carried here. Much less by Ichigo. "Well, thank you for that."

"Don't thank me, thank Inoue. She saved him," Renji pointed out, as he pulled his red hair back into his normal ponytail. "Oh, and Byakuya wants to see you. Actually, demand is a much better word."

Rukia groaned. Oh no! She hadn't spoken to him for months—not since her assignment to Karakura. "Did he say why?" she asked, fear edging into her voice. He never wants to speak to me, she thought. This can't be good.

"Nope, no reason why," Renji answered with a shrug. "He just asked me if I would see you, and to tell you that he wishes to speak with you. That's all." He glanced around, as if making sure no one was nearby. "I think he may have found out about Hueco Mundo," he confessed his concerns.

"Shit," Rukia moaned. "How?"

"I dunno. He has his ways, you know," Renji replied stonily.

"Yes," she sighed, "I know." She cringed inwardly. Her conversations with Byakuya were always so awkward and strained. He never looked at her. Not even once. On more than one occasion, she had actually wondered if he knew what she looked like. Even after all these years, Rukia could not figure out why her adopted brother treated her so coldly. Part of her yearned for a normal sibling relationship, the other part of her regretted being adopted in the first place. "Did he say how soon?"

"As soon as possible. His words exactly, Rukia," Renji met her eyes. "Sorry."

"Ah, Rukia-chan! You're awake!" Urahara cooed, as he fanned his face. "This heat," he complained, "is so unbearable."

Rukia nodded in his direction, ignoring his hyena-like smile. She didn't trust his smiles. Renji followed her as they settled on the floor in the common area.

"Oh? No Ichigo?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at Rukia.

She ignored his comment, turning her attention toward Yoriuchi. "I want to thank you for helping bring me back here," she began. "And not telling my brother about these events."

Yoriuchi shrugged, "You are welcome. But, you should really thank Ichigo and Renji."

"And I hear you learned bankai…how wonderful!" Kisuke gushed, fanning himself more fervently.

Rukia, again, ignored his chatter. She wanted to relax before returning to Seretei. "Well, I wanted to thank you, anyhow," she said softly. "You have done a lot for me."

"Don't mention it," the dark-skinned woman waved her hand in the air.

"And you brought a mysterious man back with you—" Urahara interjected.

"SHUT UP!" Rukia, Renji, and Yoruichi yelled in unison.

Urahara covered his mouth with the fan, "My, my! How touchy you all are! And to treat me this way…in my own home."

Yoruichi smirked, "She'll tell you all about it when she wants to, so cut it out!"

Urahara pouted. "This is the thanks I get for trying to help Rukia-chan!"

"Thanks, Urahara!" Rukia blurted at she jumped to her feet. She nodded to Renji, who understood her silent message. He, too, stood.

Urahara's mouth fell open, "Wha?"

"Sorry, gotta go. Hope you don't mind!" Rukia said over her shoulder as both she and Renji walked toward the spare bedroom.

"You're leaving?" he echoed, as Yoruichi smirked in amusement. She enjoyed seeing Urahara this frazzled. Especially when he deserved it.

"Yeah, uh, my brother wants to see me, so I should get back. You know how he is," she called back. "Now you don't want me to mention your name at all if he asks where I've been, right?"

"Uh..n-no, Rukia-chan! Of course not!" Rukia smirked at his worried reaction.

"Ok, I'll try to remember that," she subtly threatened the shop's owner. "Oh, and we're taking Ashido with us. The Fourth Division can take care of him."

For the first time in a long while, Urahara Kisuke was speechless. Utterly without words. Yoruichi howled with laughter at his reaction.

"So there you are," came the sing-song male voice.

Ichigo inwardly cringed at his father's comment. He was not in the mood to deal with him at the moment. "Not now," he growled, his back to the older Kurosaki. He sat on the front steps, overlooking their small front lawn. The setting sun cast a long, dark shadow behind him.

"Fine, fine," Isshin mumbled. "How's Rukia-chan? I saw her just a few days ago."

"You what?" Ichigo said, turning to stare at his father. "She came here?" Where was he? Why hadn't he known?

Isshin nodded, "Yep, she came by to see us. She even stayed for dinner." He knew he was only angering his son, but he enjoyed toying with the young, obviously blind Kurosaki heir. "You surprised by that, boy?"

"I-I don't care!" he hissed, turning his back to his father.

"You sure sound like you do!" his father responded happily.

"Just…go away!" Ichigo spat. "I'm not in the mood. I mean it!"

"When are you in the mood, Ichigo? I know I'm just an old man to you, but all you do is walk around moping. Hell, even Karin and Yuzu know how you feel about Rukia-chan. Yet, you seem to be the only one blind to it. Just tell her how you feel, dammit!"

"I don't like Rukia! Not like that!" Ichigo huffed defensively. He turned to stare at his father, his eyes filled with anger.

"Your mom used to look at me like that," Isshin shrugged. "Those same eyes. That same tone. Each time I asked her out on a date. After a few months, I was able to persuade her to take a chance on me," he recollected. Ichigo sat silently, confused by his father's sudden admission. "She, too, was in denial. But deep down, she loved me. I always knew it. I think she knew it, too. Once she recognized her feelings, it was all smooth sailing. In fact, we conceived you—" he continued thoughtfully.

"Enough!" Ichigo hissed. He held his head in his heads. "I….I…just…," he mumbled.

"I know, son. I know," Isshin said, as he softly placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "There's a lot we Kurosakis don't talk about. Perhaps that's where I went wrong, after your mother died. Maybe we should start doing things differently, you know? It's never too late to start."

His words betrayed his immature exterior. Ichigo realized that he truly did not know his father. He had never taken the chance—instead assuming the man was just a fool. He looked at his only living parent, his eyes filled with pain and agony. "I just can't help how I feel!" he blurted. "But she cares for someone else! How do I deal with that?"

Isshin felt his son's sadness. Such torment in those eyes, he thought to himself. His mouth twitched, a smile trying to make itself known. "But how do you know?"

"Huh?" His head was back to being cradled by his hands.

"How do you know she cares for someone else? Did you ask her?" the physician asked pointedly. "You can't know, surely, unless you've asked."

"I—" he began, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. Suddenly he groaned in defeat.

Isshin whistled, "So you didn't…." His hunch was confirmed by the shake of orange hair. "Perhaps," he grinned, "you should, boy."

Suddenly, Ichigo was on his feet. He leapt down the front steps and headed toward the street as Isshin yelled, "Where are you going, Ichigo? It's almost dinnertime! Don't you want to eat with your family?"

Ichigo smirked at his father's sudden reversion to his childish ways. "Thanks, dad!" he yelled as he raced toward Urahara's.

Well, that's a first! Isshin thought, as he thought of ways to torment Karin. She was more fun than Ichigo, anyhow.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Ichigo roared. His heart was still racing from his trek to the shop. He was leaning over, his hands against his knees as he stared at the ground. His breath was finally coming back to him.

"I meant what I said. She's gone." Urahara rolled his eyes. "She went to Seretei." He crossed his arms as he leaned on the door frame.

"She…went…back to Seretei?" Ichigo said, his voice hollow with defeat.

"Yes, I think that's what I said," he snapped. "Why is everyone yelling at me today? What did I ever do?"

Ichigo looked at his feet as his vision suddenly became blurry. "Shit," he whispered. "Shit, shit, shit, shit!"

"What's the rush, Kurosaki? Hmm?" Urahara murmured, a smile playing on his face. He was confident he knew why Ichigo was so disappointed, but he enjoyed being nosy all the while.

"N-nothing. I…uh, I'll just see her when she comes back," he turned quickly. He wiped his eyes once his back was to Urahara. "You, uh, don't know when she'll be back, do you?"

Something tugged at Kisuke's heart strings. He knew how the boy felt, really. He, too, knew what it is like to love someone—only to find that person is in love with someone else. Supposedly, that is. He also knew the power of conversation: a little of it goes a long way. He toyed with just telling Ichigo what he thought was the truth behind Rukia's emotional attachments. Instead, he opted to play coy.

"Ichigo," his deep voice called through the darkness.

Ichigo stopped, his back to the former captain. "Huh?"

"She took Ashido with her," he stated simply. "Something about having to speak to Byakuya." Part of him felt guilty for doing this to Ichigo. But, it was just too damn easy. As predicted, he saw Ichigo's body tense; his hands balled into fists. He slowly turned, his face stony and pale. He was emotionless and unreadable—typical of the Kurosaki male. Though Urahara could not see Ichigo's emotions, he could feel them. The sudden surge of spiritual pressure was the shopkeeper's confirmation. He had pushed the right buttons!

"Senkaimon," Ichigo said lowly, his voice thick with emotion. "Now."

Urahara nodded, his face shadowed by the darkness. He was sure that if Ichigo could see the smile that spread across his unshaven face, he would punch the old man.