Author's Note: OMG! I'm so sorry for being late! Don't hurt me! I have good reasons! For one I had to go to the Regis Soccer academy for a soccer camp for an entire week. They didn't have any computers and there was o way to access my file. After that I checked back to see if anyone had R & R and well, no one different had so I took a major blow of lack of confidence. So sorry! But when I finally checked my e-mail that I have this hooked up to I found out that a lot of people had put me on story alert list and well I got confidence! Thank you! So I finally finished this today. Please remember to check out my user name because I'll have updates on the stories, special notices and even sneak peaks! Oh one more thing. I wrote chapter four at the soccer camp on paper so you don't have to worry about a time gap.

Warning: I may have accidentally tortured you at the end

I dedicate this to: Everyone who put my story on the story alert list: 2lazy2care, Averal, naruhinafan2010, flowerspring, ChaosRanger, and anyone I might have missed!

Key:

Indicates Flash back and thought

Indicates real time normal story

Lightning and Thunder



By: Neokura

"Rukia…?" Hey Rukia where are you?" Ichigo called as he walked around the school's campus searching for the girl that had run off. It was already the end of school and Ichigo was already pretty sure he had gone insane. His thoughts started to slowly drift back to this morning, right after he had gotten changed…

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Flashback

Rukia rolled her eyes and stood up as well to change. This was the start to a long day.

"Oi, Rukia everyone's already left so you can take a shower if you want to." Ichigo called as he walked back into his bed room to find an already dressed Rukia.

Rukia turned to great him with a small smile, "That's alright Ichigo, I'm fine."

"You sure? It's not like you can take a shower whenever you want you know…" Ichigo mumbled walking over to his desk, trying to find his homework.

"I know but I'm already dressed."

"What ever you say…"

Ichigo found his homework and grabbed his bag ready to leave.

"You coming or what?"

"Yeah, yeah, have some patience." Rukia quipped back, also grabbing her bag.

Ichigo stared at Rukia with a confused look on his face. 'Why is she acting so spaced out today?' Ichigo shook his head and turned to leave. "Meet you outside."

End Flashback

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Ichigo rounded the corner of the building and subtlety increased his pace as he neared the group of trees that bordered the side of his school. Abruptly he caught sight of Rukia standing there, alone.

"There you are Rukia… I've been looking for you. Why did you run off like that?" Ichigo asked as he approached her.

Rukia glanced up at him and tried to smile. "Sorry about that. I'm not really sure why I ran… I just… did…"

Ichigo frowned and put his hand to her forehead. "Are you alright?" He asked as his usual scowl lightened and turned into a somewhat concerned look.

"I-I-I'm f-f-fine!" Rukia squeaked as her face took on a light red tinge. Ichigo cocked his head, starring at her.

"Are you sure? Your face is kind of red."

Rukia frowned and slapped away his hand from her forehead. "I'm just fine baka!"

Ichigo glared at the shinigami, his eyes turning into little daggers. "Well excuse me for getting concerned. Gees, I get a little worried and you just have to-" Ichigo's mouth stopped moving as he starred blankly at Rukia. He couldn't believe he had just told Rukia that he had been worried about her.

"Ichigo…I-" Rukia started to say until a thunderous crash of thunder exploded over their heads. Rukia let out a small squeak and practically jumped into Ichigo's arms, clinging to him as if his life depended on it. Another crash of thunder shook the ground as rain started to fall down so heavily it was like an omen that a flood was coming. Rukia buried her head into Ichigo's chest as if his chest could shield out everything, the rain, the lightening, and the thunder… the horrible thunder.

Ichigo blushed as he uncomfortably wrapped his arms around Rukia's small, petite form cradling her closer. Rukia turned her fear stricken violet eyes to his and moaned.

"Ichigo… please make it stop! Make it go away!"

Ichigo turned away from her penetrating gaze and ruffled his hair with his free arm. He had no idea how to comfort her but he wanted to do something.

"Um… let's get out of this rain first. Okay?"

Rukia smiled and nodded as Ichigo swept her up into his arms and carried her princess style. Rukia let out a small gasp of surprise and snaked her arms around his neck.

"Ichigo, what are you doing?"

"Well I doubt you want to let go so…" Ichigo replied, hiding a small smile, easily replacing it with his usual scowl. There was no way he was going to let Rukia know how much he was enjoying this.

Rukia tried to glare at Ichigo, but it was weak. "Fine, just hurry up."

Ichigo smirked and started to run out of there. His shoes squished with every single step he took as he rounded a corner, nearing his house. Suddenly Rukia's cell phone started to go off. She grabbed it and flipped it open, barley glancing at the text before her.

"Ichigo there's a hollow."

Ichigo let out a small groan of annoyance and put Rukia down on the cold pavement. He grabbed his soul badge and knocked out his soul, hauling his body behind a bunch of dumpsters to hide it.

"Alright get on you we have souls to save." Ichigo muttered bending down so she could get on his back.

"Oh shut up you, I'm going." Rukia growled as she carefully climbed on his back. With that they took off at immeasurable speeds. In no time at all they reached the hollow. This hollow was a horribly ugly one with teeth that were pointed and it had the body of a slug and apparently the speed to match.

"Great, another weak one. How boring." Ichigo mumbled as he let Rukia off on a nearby roof top. He unsheathed his zanpakuto and moved behind the slug. Just as he was about to slay the filthy thing the hollow let out a scream and shot a huge glob of green stuff at Rukia. It hit her and the female shinigami let out a scream that could wake the dead. The stuff was burning her! Ichigo quickly jumped up and slayed the hollow, his zanpakuto easily slicing threw the slimy exterior of the hollow and the seemingly even softer mask.

"Oi Rukia, are you ok?!" Ichigo yelled out as he ran to her side where she laid, twitching.

"I-Ichigo it's burning me! Make it stop!" Rukia let out another scream of pain.

"Rukia…!" Ichigo grabbed her and hoisted her on his back again.

"Don't worry; I'll get you to a hospital or something!" Ichigo took off even faster than he had before. Suddenly a few rain drops hit his face. Another wave of the storm was almost upon them. 'Oh great! Just what I need, more rain and thunder. God will this day ever end! Wait a minute. Rain… maybe… maybe if I just lay her out in the rain this green stuff will come off!'

Ichigo gently set the girl down on the pavement and allowed the rain to cover her body. It seemed to work as he watched the burning goo wash away and go down a nearby storm drainer. Rukia's pained look slowly went away and her eyes opened. "I-Ichigo?"

"You ok now Rukia?"

"I-I think so."

"That's good. Come on let's go home."

Rukia nodded and attempted to get up but failed. Her body was simply too weak.

Ichigo rolled his eyes and offered his hand, which Rukia took gratefully yet somehow at the same time reluctantly.

"I-Ichigo!" Rukia cried out as Ichigo pulled her up. He had done so with a little to much force and Rukia was thrown against him, their lips millimeters apart.

'Whoa! Whoa! To close! Way to close!' Screamed the voice inside Ichigo's head. He had never been this close to Rukia before in his entire life. Though for some strange reason he wanted to close that gap between their lips. He wanted to so badly it hurt him inside; burning away at his very being. The rain was coming down even harder now. Everything more than 5 feet away seemed to disappear in a thick grayish blanket as Ichigo leaned forward. Rukia's eyes went wide at first but fluttered closed in anticipation.

A minute went by, then another. Rukia cracked one eye open to stare at Ichigo. Ichigo smiled slightly and gently pushed her away from his body and steadied her.

"Come on Rukia let's go home…"

"Hai…" Rukia whispered, her voice desperately trying to mask its disappointment. Just as the two Shinigami were about to walk away Rukia collapsed to the ground.

"Oi Rukia! Rukia! Rukia!!"

Owari