Hi guys and girls...I know, I am great because I updated so fast ;) But still...6 reviews for chapter 8...7 reviews for 9...NOT GOOD ENOUGH! :) Enjoy chapter 10 :) And more reviews. (thanks for those who review so regurlarly though, I really appreciate it :) )

Rukia woke up in her room with the biggest smile she ever could remember. She still could feel the embrace of a certain strawberry and it was the most beautiful feeling she had ever felt. It was nothing she could describe; it was nothing she could put in words.

She laid on her futon; her body completely covered with the blanket, her eyes just peeking out under her from sleeps tousled hair, soaking herself in those wonderful emotions. She fought hard, thinking of something to put those emotions and feelings, this sudden positive energy rushing up and down through her body, into words when she remembered something her brother said not that long ago. She had asked him about his feelings towards her sister and he said…"I felt many things around her, Rukia…but the strongest feeling was completeness."

Completeness. She still couldn't really think of how she could make sense of that, but it wasn't like it didn't make sense either. She remembered how she felt before Ichigo appeared in her life. The guilt, she felt because of her mentors' death. The lack of healthy social relationships to anyone outside Shiba Kaien, Shiba Miyako and Ukitake-taicho made her become an unsecure and distant person. The death of both the closest persons in her life made her even more distant. She withdrew herself even more from any closer relationships. It was the toughest time she ever had to endure in her life. Being abandoned by her childhood friend, having a nonexistent relationship to her family, which she was even only adopted into- not even her brother really ever acknowledged her; losing both of her mentors, the only ones she ever idolized and looked up to. She felt alone. She felt abandoned. She felt like she couldn't be any unhappier. She had no one she could turn to ever again. Of course Ukitake-taicho was probably the friendliest and kindest taicho of all, but above all he even was that- her taicho. He had duties to fulfill, he was often ill; she just couldn't turn to him with all her personal problems.

She just did what she was told to do and didn't bother anyone with anything. She felt like she had no one beside herself. But when she met Ichigo…

The way he treated me… the way he acted around me… the way he spoke to me… I never felt like I was superior to him because he didn't act to me that way… and he never make me feel inferior to him either. Not even after he knew of my social status in Soul Society. He always saw me as an equal. And I never wanted anything else. I wanted to be equal. Not superior, not inferior. Just equal. He gave me that.

If she now thought about it, that completeness her brother spoke about…feeling complete around someone…like you are not lacking something anymore…what did she lack all that time before she met Ichigo? People who understood her, people who could or even more would share her sorrows, people who possibly would spare tiny spot in their hearts for her. People who would work bit by bit through that thick wall that surrounded her, that made her invulnerable. She didn't want to be vulnerable, she never wanted to be and yet she never wanted anything more than a person that would finally manage to get through this wall. To embrace her and tell her that she wouldn't need that wall anymore, because this person would become that wall for her, that this person would make her invulnerable in a way that wouldn't leave her alone anymore.

Rukia chuckled at her thoughts.

This doesn't sound like me at all… and yet… there never was something that sounded more like me. I think I understand, nii-sama.

After Ichigo saved her from her execution, she remembered how important but broken relationships got fixed because of her brother opened up to her and told her of the reasons he acted the way he did towards her and how he acknowledged her…how he told her that he was proud of him. He still was the biggest mystery to her and yet…she didn't feel that uncomfortable and intimidated around him anymore.

And Renji. She never could forgive him completely the way he just abandoned her and how he treated her after she was adopted to the Kuchiki family. They grew up together but grew apart in the end. But thanks to Ichigos recklessness and his stubborn mind Renji fought for her, to save her. He realized what he did to her way to late, but realized it nonetheless. Even if he didn't realize it himself, but because of Ichigos attitude towards her, how he wouldn't give up on her, it was enough for Rukia to rebuild their friendship. It could never be the same again, there always would be the comfort zone for her that she built up towards him but they were close friends again. And yet, he could never reach the places in her heart which Ichigo reached.

Those two years she spent apart from him after the winter war, they were years were painful. She missed him terribly. She threw herself into work, but she didn't go back to Karakura. She didn't know why. She didn't really know why she never visited, she couldn't explain it to herself, she just couldn't explain it. Maybe she was too stubborn to admit that she needed him. Maybe she was afraid of what he would think if she suddenly appeared just for a visit. Maybe she was afraid of what the reaction in Soul Society would be if she would go to the living world to visit friends. Or to be more precise- to visit a certain friend. But then again, what could have Soul Society possibly said, since Ichigo was the Substitute Shinigami that saved the whole universe. So, maybe she was just afraid that her brother wouldn't have approved if she visited him frequently, or visited him at all.

But nothing of this matters anymore… I really understand now, nii-sama. I understand what you wanted to tell me with feeling complete when Hisana-sama was around you. I think…I think I feel that, too. I think I feel complete, when I am around Ichigo. Whenever he is with me…I don't lack a single thing.

Thank you, Ichigo. Thank you so much, for making me feel complete.

Ichigo woke up and again stretched his limbs to get feeling back into them. He needed to be fit, when he wanted to visit his family. He was sure his dad would attack him again the moment he touched the door knob.

When he was finished with his morning routines he sat down with Urahara and Yoruichi at the breakfast table when he noticed that Rukia wasn't there yet.

"Hey, is Rukia still asleep?"

"Why Kurosaki-san, you don't want to tell me that you left Kuchiki-san all alone this night?" Urahara asked with a sly grin hid behind his fan.

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Ichigo yelled, grabbing Urahara by his collar just to throw him across the room.

The door slid open and Rukia didn't even recognize that she stepped on Urahara as she took her way towards Ichigo and Yoruichi to join them for breakfast. She set down next to Ichigo and closer than usual.

"Good morning, Yoruichi-sama. Good morning…Ichigo." Rukia said the latter with a small, genuine smile and a sideways glance towards the orange haired taicho.

"Good morning to you too, Rukia." Ichigo grinned at her. "You ready to visit my family?"

"Why do you ask me if I am ready to visit your family you fool? I don't need to be ready, you should be ready!" She frowned at him with her usual attitude.

"Don't forget that my father considers you a third daughter and my sisters see you as sisters as well, so…" Ichigo pointed out with a raised eyebrow, as if to question if she understood what he wanted to say.

Yoruichi grinned at them and decided to have a little fun too. "Ichigo is right, Isshin considers you as a family member already…but actually he switched from calling you his third daughter to calling you his 'future daughter-in-law'."

Yoruichi's grin grew wider when the faces of the two young shinigamis grew a deep shade of red.

"What the hell is wrong with this old man?" Ichigo yelled as he slammed his fist on the table.

"Why are you so worked up about that now? Do you…do you want to say that Rukia is not good enough for you?" Yoruichi asked with a terribly upset expression but her eyes were practically glowing with mischief.

That comment peeked Rukias interest immediately and she looked at Ichigo with evident curiosity, although she tried her best to hide how her heart was beating madly in anticipation.

I never thought about us going this far Ichigo and I also will not think about it for as long as there is no reason to. I opened my deepest insecurities for you to reach. So I beg you…if you say something wrong…it will crush me.

Ichigo saw from the corner of his eyes how Rukia stared at him with such intensity, it was nearly suffocating him. Cautiously he reached with his hand to Rukias small ones on her lap. He was glad she sat so close to him this time and he was even gladder that she turned towards him after Yoruichi asked this ridiculous question so he could take her hands easily in his without anyone noticing. He hoped to ease her worries, because her eyes were as easy to read for him as a child's book.

I would never hurt your feelings.

He looked seriously at Yoruichi. "I never ever said something like that that. And I also never said that Rukia wasn't good enough for anything at all for that matter." No yelling, no shouting, no fists-on-table. Calmly, yet seriously he made his point clear.

Yoruichi grinned at that. "I really hope so, or I'd beat you to a pulp, Ichigo."

Those two are so easy.

"That I'd like to see." Ichigo replied with his confident smirk again on his face.

Rukia just felt how her heart made a double flip inside her chest. She wouldn't believe his words if she weren't right there with both her hands so securely in the grasp of one of his much bigger hands. She never, ever heard him saying something that nice to anyone about her, let alone in herpresence. She wondered if he just said what he said so he wouldn't hurt her feelings or if those were heartfelt words. She would ask him later. Right now she just wanted to bask herself in this wonderful feeling of being complimented that way by the man she…

Love? Do I really love you, Kurosaki Ichigo?

Eyes wide. A glance down to their joined hands.

I would never want to miss this feeling…my hands…in yours.

A glance at the nonexistent distance that separated them.

I wish could I sit closer to you.

Analysis of her feelings as she saw Orihime in Ichigos room the other night.

I would have loved to rip her hair off of her head and burst her balloon boobs with a pin if she wasn't such a good friend.

Angry Blush. Analysis of her feelings after Ichigos goodnight hug.

The best few seconds ever of my life. His arms around me… his body so close to mine… his smell… beyond incredible.

Embarrassed blush. Analysis of-

I don't need more to analyze… it's evident. I…

I love you, Kurosaki Ichi-

"Oi, midget, you alright? You look like a tomato, all red and stuff." Ichigo pointed out with his mouth full of food, their hands not joined anymore.

She punched him to the back of his head with so much force that his head flew right onto his plate with food.

"I am fine and DON'T CALL ME A MIDGET!" She huffed at his incapability of remembering such simple requests.

I can't believe I fell in love with this fool.

Yet she had a hard time of hiding her happy grin.

Yoruichi of course didn't miss anything and didn't even try to hide her grin.

A…she realized. Now it's only you left, Ichigo. But you will need some hell of a time longer, I'd bet my right arm for that.

Rukia and Ichigo walked side by side in a lazy pace towards their destination. From the moment they left Urahara Shop they hadn't said a word. It wasn't something new to them, the silence that engulfed them every so often and they never minded it. They could look at one another and see immediately what the other would think. The tiniest facial expression would give them away. But this time it was different. Ichigo wondered how it would be to see his sisters after such a long time again, especially Yuzu. She would see him for the first time ever in his black Kimono and she would see for the first time ever his giant Zanpakuto, Zangetsu. And it would be weird to go there with his white taicho haori and even more so with fresh white bandages wrapped around his torso. There was a good amount of the bandages visible, enough that it would give away that he was/is injured.

Rukia on the other hand was thinking about how she should approach him on her emotional matters, or if she should approach him in the first place. Should she tell him, that she fell in love with his ridiculously orange hair, with his everlasting scowl, with his nonexistent temper, with his rash attitude and his rude behavior?

No. I will not tell him, not now at least. Or in the next 50 years for that matter.

How would he react? Would he laugh at her?

No. I don't know if he even can laugh. I never saw him laughing at all. Grinning was his maximum of showing…'happy' emotions, even if it mostly looked more like a smirk.

She was sure, that he most likely would say something to dismiss her without hurting her feelings, even though that wouldn't be possible. And if that would be the result it would destroy their friendship- the most important friendship she ever had, the friendship she valued most. It would make something so comfortable and reliable turn weird and awkward. It would make the company of the person she loved and adored so much unbearable and torturous.

You mean too much to me, Ichigo…

But there still was something…

"Ichigo?"

He grunted in response.

"What you said back at Urahara's…about…you know." I can't even manage to ask a simple question in his presence anymore. Damn you, feelings!

"Did you forget how to talk, midget? Spill it already." Ichigo demanded with audible annoyance.

Rukia answered with a painful kick directed to his shin, since his stomach was out of question for now.

"Don't speak to me like that, you fool! What I wanted to ask is what you said, that you don't think that I wouldn't be good enough for anything…did you mean it? Or were you just trying not to hurt my feelings?"

Ichigo looked at her with a very surprised expression. She never asked him something that personal. Ichigo sighed once deeply and then looked her deeply in her eyes.

"Listen midget. Listen well, because I will tell you this only one time and then you will never hear that again, at least not from me."

Rukias heart was beating madly. She realized how it was beating that way quite frequently the past couple of days.

"I really hate that about you."

Her heart stood still. She dropped her head, avoided his eyes so he wouldn't see the mind numbing pain.He hates something about me…?

"I really hate how you never give yourself enough credit for anything! You have so many talents and qualities and you are one of the highest qualified shinigami I know! I don't understand how you don't see that! It annoys the hell out of me!"

By now she looked him again in the eyes, a small smile gracing her lips. She felt incredibly happy because of how highly he thought of her. And that it was her lack of self-confidence and her high self-consciousness he hated about her. Something she disliked too about herself, but she couldn't help it. Her mentor Shiba Kaien did his best to help her with it, but everything she gained was swept away the moment he was gone. But that carrot-top gave her a big boost in her self-confidence.

Of course she realized how he didn't mention what Yoruichi said about her not being good for him since she didn't mention it either.

Like hell I'll ask him that. I'm more than grateful enough for what he already said.

"Thank you, Ichigo." She said with a really big smile.

"Thank yourself for being more than an annoying midget with no talent in draw-" He was cut off with a painful punch in his stomach. Rukia's patience with lasted only that long after all.

Rukia and Ichigo stood in front of the Kurosaki residence, unsure of how to get in without causing some kind of disturbance. After a few seconds of pondering Rukia jumped up and landed on the windowsill of Ichigos room.

"The window is open. I told you I saw it. If you would have listened to me- hey! What do you think-"

"Stop talking and go inside already." Ichigo replied before shoving Rukia inside his room.

Rukia, who landed face first on the floor, turned around and glared at him with everything she got.

"HOW DARE YOU SHOVE ME INSIDE LIKE THAT? IS THAT A WAY TO TREAT A LADY? DON'T YOU HAVE ANY MANNERS?"

Ichigo just gave her an annoyed look and decided to ignore her so he just stepped over her and walked towards the door.

"DON'T IGNORE ME LIKE THAT YOU STUPID STRAWBERRY!" She yelled and kicked him on the back of his head. Ichigo flew face first against the wall and turned around angrily.

"WHAT THE HELL, MIDGET? ARE YOU ACTUALLY INSANE?"

"Don't you dare talk back to me, after the way you treated me just now."

Ichigo just rolled his eyes, got up on his feet and let out a sigh. He walked towards Rukia, who blushed furiously and looked up to Ichigo with a questioning look. He rubbed the back of his with a hand. From the moment she met him for the first time she realized that it was a habit of his when he had a hard time telling something or when he got uncomfortable about something.

"Look, I'm sorry, but it's just…being at home again and seeing everyone after so long…it's odd."

Rukia softened at this and she smiled at him encouragingly. "I'm right by your side, Ichigo." She said and took hold of one of his hands.

"Thank you, Rukia." He smiled back as he squeezed her hand. They stared each other in the eyes for what felt like eons until-

"OOOHHHHH MASAKI, DO YOU SEE THIS MASAAAAKIIIIIII!"

Of course, the noise Rukia and Ichigo made the entire time didn't go unnoticed to the Kurosaki family.

Kurosaki Isshin was on his knees staring at them with his hands clasped before him and the biggest cutesy eyes as two waterfalls of happy tears streamed down his face. Kurosaki Karin just leaned against a wall and smirked at them knowingly while Yuzu struggled to keep her own tears in check.

But she failed.

"Onii-chaaaaaaaan!" She cried out and shot towards Ichigo. Yuzu hugged him as tightly as she could for fear he would go any moment. "Onii-chan, I'm s-so glad you a-are h-here again, I m-missed you s-so much!"

Ichigo couldn't help but smiled softly at his little sister. He got down to be on equal height with her and hugged her tightly. "I missed you too, Yuzu." He looked up and saw how Karin looked rather unsure if she could walk now towards her brother or not. Ichigo just grinned at her and held an arm open to tell her she was welcomed too, which she gladly accepted.

"I nearly thought you forgot that you promised to visit us, Ichi-nii." She chuckled lightly.

After Yuzu relaxed a little she looked over Ichigos shoulder to see Rukia smiling at them and she let out a loud squeal. "RUKIA-NEE!"

"Hi Yuzu-chan." Rukia chuckled lightly. "It seems like Urahara did tell the truth, you can finally see souls."

"Yes, it's so exciting to talk to the souls and all! And there is always this man with the same clothing as you, a Shinigami right? He has this weird hair and is really rude sometimes but he kills this monsters, Hollows right? To keep the other souls save! But he is really weird."

"Ah, I think you are talking about Imoyama-san. Yeah, he's a weird guy."

Somewhere in Karakura a shinigami with an afro had to sneeze.

"Rukia-chan! My future daughter-in-law! I hope you took good care of this moron I call my son!"

"SHUT THE HELL UP OLD MAN!" Ichigo yelled as he ran towards his future and punched him down the stairs while Rukia was blushing again.

Yoruichi-sama didn't lie about this either…he really calls me his 'future daughter-in-law'.

Ichigo was satisfied as he saw that his father was unconscious for the moment.

"Ah, nothing changed at all…" Karin said with a nostalgic look on her face.

"Onii-chan, you stay for dinner, don't you? I'll make curry for you!" Yuzu asked with pleading eyes.

"Thanks Yuzu, of course Rukia and I will stay for dinner."

Yuzu squealed in delight and dashed with excitement towards the kitchen.

Ichigo, Karin and Rukia followed Yuzu and sat down on the sofa in the living room. As Ichigo took Zangetsu from his back he saw how Karin eyed Zangetsu with curious eyes.

"What?"

"How the hell do you fight with this huge thing? And why is Rukia-nee's so much smaller?" She asked. She never had the chance to talk with her brother about these things and now, while she had the chance to, she would ask everything she could.

Rukia beat Ichigo to the answer though. "Do you know about the different forms of Zanpakutos, Karin-chan?"

Karin just shook her head and widened her eyes as Rukia drew her sword. "This is the sealed form of a Zanpakuto, the way a Zanpakuto usually looks. You need to be able to concentrate your reiatsu, the spiritual energy to be able to seal your Zanpakuto. Your brother is not able to control his reiatsu because he has such a ridiculous amount of reiatsu and he lacks the talent."

"Hey, I never had the proper training you had!" Ichigo complained. Karin grinned just at Rukias comment and Rukia grinned with her but chose not to argue back to Ichigo.

"Because your brother isn't able to seal his Zanpakuto it is permanently in its second form, the released form. It's called shikai." Rukia went on.

"I see…so the sword…Zanpakuto, right? It looks different when it's released?" Karin asked.

Rukia nodded in response.

"So, what does yours look like? Can you release it?"

Rukia chuckled at the obvious curiosity of Ichigos tomboy sister and shook her head. "I can't release it here, it would be way too dangerous."

Karin just frowned. "But why? It would be really cool to see how you release your sword! Ichi-nii's sword is released too! Isn't that dangerous too then?"

"Ichigo is hopeless in that department anyways, so it doesn't really matter that much."

"Rukia, what the hell?" Ichigo's scowl deepened as Rukia went on mocking on him.

As Rukia glared at him dangerously backed away a little. "Don't forget how you treated me as we came here, Ichigo."

Ichigo just swallowed and stayed silent after that. Satisfied, Rukia turned her attention back to Karin, who admired how that petite shinigami had so much control over her brother. "I could tell you what my shikai looks like, Karin-chan."

"That would be cool." Karin grinned at her.

As Rukia told Karin how her shikai looked like Ichigo remembered what that creepy Chappy gikongan told her about Sode no Shirayuki's shikai.

"It's said to be the most beautiful ice-based Zanpakuto."

Ichigo looked away from Karin and Rukia to hide his smile.

The most beautiful ice-based Zanpakuto…wouldn't surprise me if it was the most beautiful of all Zanpakutos…suits her.

"Wow, your sword sounds so beautiful!" Yuzu said as she peeked her head out from the kitchen. She had listened to everything that was said, after all it was her brothers' world that was being talked about and she wanted to know as much as possible.

Rukia just blushed at that and waved her hands in front of her dismissively. "Ah, I don't know, I am sure there are Zanpakutos that are more beautiful than-"

"Rukia." Ichigo interrupted her and looked at her seriously. "Did you already forget what we talked about when we were on our way here?"

Rukia of course knew what he was referring to and looked at her feet. She didn't want to be this way, she wanted to show him how she grew more confident with him by her side.

"I'm sorry Ichigo, I know but…I can't help it." She said with a small voice.

Ichigo just sighed at that.

How do you boost one's self-confidence? With compliments. Genuine compliments. Damn it, that will be embarrassing…I hope you'll appreciate this one day, Rukia.

"Sode no Shirayuki, Rukia's Zanpakuto, is said to be the most beautiful Zanpakuto in whole Soul Society." Ichigo pointed out. With a deep blush he turned again away from Rukia and Karin. "It really suits her." He added with a barely audible mumble.

From the kitchen you could hear how several things fell to down.

Karin's mouth dropped to the floor. DidIchi-niijustreallysaidthat?Acompliment?ToRukia-nee?

Rukia also had a look of blank surprise on her face with a furious blush added. "Did you mean that, Ichigo? I mean, really?"

Ichigo grumbled in annoyance at why she couldn't simply accept a compliment for a compliment. "Of course I mean it, midget! I'm not someone who just says compliments like that and should it happen that I compliment someone than it's a genuine one, so accept it and live with it!"

Rukia smiled happily and her blush just grew worse. "Thank you, Ichigo…" She fidgeted around and looked around trying to collect her thoughts which were in turmoil after she had again an emotional high. "What was I about to explain, Karin-chan?" She tried to ask nonchalantly but couldn't help as her voice was an octave higher.

Karin already managed to collect herself after the shock of her life but her thoughts were also in a big turmoil. "Uh, wait…I'll remember…something about your swords, right?"

"Yes! Yes, you are right, uh, bankai! That's the final release! It's the absolute last power boost your Zanpakuto can get! You can become 5 to 10 times stronger!"

No one realized how Isshin sneaked from behind the sofa towards them and so they couldn't defend themselves as he caught them off guard and put one arm around Ichigo and the other around Rukia just to pull them towards him with Karin squeezed a little between them.

"What the hell you freak!"

"Kurosaki-san! Could you please-"

"Hush, my sweet children! Leave the talk to daddy! You were talking about Zanpakutos right? I'll make you realize something." His eyes glinted with mischief and a giant grin made itself visible on his face.

Ichigo and Rukia both knew it would be something embarrassing and they dreaded it.

"Did you ever realize…" He began in a low voice. He glanced at Ichigo. "Ichigos bankai, completely black." He glanced at Rukia. "Rukia-chan's shikai completely wide." He pulled them both closer and ignored how he squeezed Karin between them. "Black. And White. Yin. And Yang. Do you know, what I want to say?"

Ichigo felt a vain pulsing dangerously on his forehead and Rukia just wanted to disappear.

Isshin pulled them no as close to him and to each other as possible. Karin had enough, squeezed herself out of her prison and trotted while cursing under her breath into the kitchen.

"What I want to say is…" He made paused for the dramatic effect. "GIVE ME GRANDCHILDREN ALREADY!"

Ichigo answered with a hard punch at his fathers' face and Rukia was so red, one would think she'll faint every moment.

Yes, after all this time nothing changed at the Kurosaki household.

Finished! So, the only thing I am slightly worried about is: do you people think Rukia was OOC? I don't think so, because in my eyes Rukia is a really self-conscious person but she'd never show it. I know, in front of Ichigo she always seemed to be a person with quite some self-confidence but if you fall in love with someone you will become self-conscious, no matter how self-confident you were before. You want this person to like you, to think good about you and everything, so you become more self-conscious about the things you do around and with this person than before. You know?

All in all, I enjoyed writing this chapter. And if you wonder why I write so…Rukia-centered, because I kinda noticed that I write so much from Rukias perspective…I can't help it. She's my favorite :D

Oh, and by the way: Since I was so nice to update THIS fast…I thought you could try and write many many reviews, you know. Like achieving a new record. I got more hits in one day than ever before I got in one day. So…REEEEVIIIIEEEEWW! Thanks :)

garganta.