Guys…first of all, I'm sorry. I am really sorry for the late update, but first my muse failed me and then my health condition grew kinda worse. But don't worry, it's nothing really serious, just some kind of chronic fatigue, and I got medications for treatment already. So, I am thankful for your patience with me. I hope you'll enjoy this last chapter of my very first fanfiction!

Before I forget: -thanks to every single reviewers and very special thanks to LeftHRyder, who reviewed every single chapter from the moment I published until the very end (I hope :P ) I really appreciate it and am very grateful for that, which doesn't mean that I am not grateful to all the other reviewers too ;D Thank ya'll!

-TheSmartHermione: I am sorry to disappoint you, but an epilogue means for me that the story reached its ultimate end, which "New Life" didn't. So I will not write an epilogue for this one. The sequel will take place a few month after this one, so there's no point in writing an epilogue. Sorry again, but I hope you'll still stick with me through my next story and the sequel to this one :)

Enjoy!

Ichigo and Aiko were on their way towards the Kuchiki manor. Ichigo had his usual taicho attire on, Zangetsu on his back as usual and Aiko, due to Matsumoto and Hinamori taking her quite often with them when they were out shopping, one of her many kimonos. The one she wore now was a dark red with yellow and orange flower prints on it. Not having had the chance yet to give Rukia a lecture about her telling Byakuya about him admiring Shakespeare and his poems he wasn't exactly sure if he should start with it now to have it over or if he should wait for another time, because he was sure that either he will get beaten by Rukia or he would make her upset on their very first…date. That he certainly didn't want, especially after the talk with Byakuya.

"Ichigo-chan?" Aiko looked at him curiously.

Ichigo glanced at her sideways. "Hm?"

"What are you thinking about? You look so…funny."

"What do you mean, 'I look funny'?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just funny."

Ichigo dropped a sweat but answered her nonetheless. "I was thinking about where I should take you both without having to spend all my hard earned money."

"Do you think that I and Rukia-chan would spend all your money?" Aiko asked with genuine disbelief.

"No, I don't think so. I am absolutely positive that that will happen because I couldn't come up with a shop yet that you wouldn't want to buy empty."

Aiko opened her mouth to retort something but closed it and huffed with a small pout and crossed arms. Ichigo smirked at her and ruffled her hair affectionately.

"You know, that if you want something really badly I may consider buying it for you but sure as he-…uh, surely I will not spoil you with material things." He finished, glad that he could stop himself from swearing around Aiko. He still had a hard time with that, although he slowly but steadily got himself used to the fact that he couldn't be as free in his usage of language anymore as he used to be.

They arrived at the Kuchiki Manor. Ichigo stepped up and knocked twice at the great wooden door, waiting for it to be opened. An old servant opened the door and greeted them politely. "Kurosaki-taicho, Kuchiki Rukia-sama will be ready any minute. Come in, can I get you some tea?"

"Uh, no thanks, I'll just wait for Rukia and we will leave when she's ready." Ichigo scratched the back of his head in discomfort. He needed to get used to it, since he planned to be together with Rukia for way longer than a couple of weeks. She was way too special and unique and there was no chance in hell that he would waste this one and only opportunity he would ever get in his life of having a romantic relationship with Rukia. And he knew that if he would waste this opportunity his friendship with Rukia would suffer greatly. It would never be the same again. Rukia wasn't like many girls in the world of the living and he wasn't like many boys in the world of the living. For Ichigo it would be way too awkward to have a continuing friendship with a girl who he had a romantic relationship with. Every time he'd see her he would think of the kisses and touches and other more intimate moments. If he would talk to her and go out with her like he would with any other friend he had it would feel like those moments weren't special, like he wouldn't cherish them and he was a guy who would cherish those moments. He would only have romantic relationships with girls who he truly loved and not with girls who he just liked or who he just considered as attractive. It wasn't like he had had that many relationships to even consider things like that but if he had that many relationships he was sure that he would feel like that. Now he had his very first relationship with a girl who was truly one-of-a-kind. Ichigo knew that he was most certainly privileged to be able to have a romantic relationship with the Kuchiki Rukia; the adoptive sister of Kuchiki Byakuya, the taicho of division 6 of the gotei 13 who also happened to be head of one of the noble houses of Soul Society, the wielder of the most beautiful ice-typed zanpakuto, if not the most beautiful zanpakuto of the entire Soul Society. Aside from those things, from her social status and her shinigami abilities she was also a woman with such a great heart, always putting others needs above her own. She was beautiful beyond compare with her stunning blue-purple eyes, her fair creamy skin, her silky black hair, her petite yet beautifully proportioned body, her-

"Oi, Ichigo!"

He yelped as he felt a fist collide with his cheek and glared with startled eyes at the person who was responsible for that.

"What the hell, Rukia! Can't you greet me like any other normal person would?" He shouted at the raven haired shinigami.

"I called you a thousand times but you just had that stupid dreamy look on your face and didn't respond at all. You were practically begging for drastic measures." Rukia replied with a smug look on her face.

Ichigo fought the blush that was threatening to tint his cheeks and looked away, mumbling things under his breath. He collected himself and turned to look again at Rukia. She wore a simple, bright purple kimono with pale blue flower printings and a small white obi. It was simple but was breathtaking on Rukia.

"You…you look st-tunning." Ichigo stuttered out before he even could think about what he was about to say. As soon as he realized what he just said his face was fully taken over by a bright blush.

Rukia's eyes widened slightly at Ichigo's face and she looked away with a bashful frown, trying to hide her feint blush. "Thank you…you fool." She mumbled out.

The air was tense and both didn't really know what to say or to do at the moment, embarrassed as they were. Suddenly there was a low growl and simultaneously they looked at a bashfully grinning, small and brown haired girl.

"I'm hungry." Aiko grinned up at them.

The two shinigamis chuckled at that and headed out to the restaurant with the tension relieved.

Ichigo, Aiko and Rukia sat all together on a table in the restaurant Ichigo had chosen for their dinner together. It was a cozy yet fancy place. He had asked Hinamori for any nice restaurants she knew and she immediately recommended this one. Hinamori was familiar with the owner of this place and she said that she often went here with her friends of the SWA but she also told Ichigo that Rukia didn't attend to any of their nights out. She told him, that Rukia became more open and outgoing since her time in the world of the living and the time after her attempted execution but Rukia was, so Hinamori, still pretty withdrawn. She attempted at the meetings and at times even participated in several things actively and of her own will but most of the time she still preferred the solitude. So Hinamori was delighted that Ichigo took Rukia out and hoped that Ichigo would manage with dates and such that Rukia became even more outgoing. Ichigo hoped that himself. He wanted for Rukia to have more friends Soul Society, other than him and Renji. And even those friendships now had changed in the space of a couple days. Her friendship witch Ichigo now was entirely romantic. Of course they were, first of all, the best of friends. But this friendship now was balanced on their romantic feelings for each other and the relationship that went with it. If that relationship failed, their friendship would fail with it.

Renji's case was even more complicated. To love someone over decades and be nothing more to that person than a dear brother- Ichigo couldn't come to think how badly that must hurt. And in addition to that Renji saw the brother of that person every day. It would need to take quite some time to get over that all. Ichigo realized just how alone Rukia must have been after she was adopted into the Kuchiki household. He looked across the table and saw the content face of Rukia, how she took her surroundings in and how she must enjoy her time with him and Aiko right now.

I have to take her out more often. She looks amazing with that look on her face.

Ichigo looked down at the table and eyed her neatly folded hands. He didn't know how she would react if he would take her hands in his in a public place like that. He felt a nudge to his side and saw Aiko glaring at him. He gave her a questioning look and she jerked her head slightly at Rukia's hands, indicating him to hold her hands. Ichigo responded with unsure eyes but Aiko just nodded ever so slightly with great resolve in her eyes. Ichigo then nodded himself, took one deep breath and, with a snail's pace he took a hold of one of Rukia's hands. Rukia jerked her head towards him and looked down at their joined hands, a beautiful blush creeping across her cheeks and an even more beautiful smile accompanying it. She looked up again into Ichigo's eyes, squeezing his hand slightly, assuring him that she enjoyed their locked hands greatly, even welcomed it. Rukia turned back again to look at all the people in the restaurant as they waited for their already ordered food, giving Ichigo the chance to give Aiko a thankful glance. She just replied with smug grin and a mischievous glint in her eyes, causing Ichigo to roll his eyes with a slight smirk and a few sorrowful thoughts.

Maybe I shouldn't let her spend that much time with Matsumoto-san and Hinamori…

During their meal they chatted happily with Aiko causing them to laugh several times. Ichigo could get a hold of Rukia's eyes quite often and it always made his heart burst with happiness when he saw the sparkle of happiness and contentment in those mesmerizing eyes of the Kuchiki princess. It amazed him how his happiness was dependent of her happiness. When she was happy, he was too. When she was sad, he was even more so. But he could live with that. After all, it was his goal for the rest of his life to make every day of this woman right in front of him a day full of happiness.

After Ichigo paid for their meal, including a generous tip, they strolled towards the shopping district of Seireitei.

"That was a wonderful meal, Ichigo. Thank you." Rukia smiled softly, giving his arm a gentle touch.

"You don't have to thank me, you know. I'm intending on taking you out like that quite often, you know." He responded with a glance towards her.

"I'd like that." The smile turned now to a full blown grin as Rukia looked up to see the softest of eyes and the softest of smiles directed towards her, and she knew that, aside from his sisters, she was the only one to see that kind of look on Ichigo's face directed at her. It was a privilege and made her heart swell with pride.

Rukia's eyes widened ridiculously as they suddenly spotted a certain store which was specialized on merchandising a certain bunny.

"CHAPPY!" Came the excited, high pitched squeal and at that instant Ichigo's face turned white. He looked at the direction Rukia's eyes were planted at and confirmed his fear.

"Oh hell no." Ichigo whispered out, letting it sound like a death sentence, which it was for him.

"What is Chappy, Ichigo-san? Why is Rukia-chan so excited?"

"Ichigo! We need to go to that shop! This instant! It sells Chappy!" Rukia took a firm hold on his arm, trying to drag him into the Chappy store.

"Forget it!" Ichigo shot back as he tried to pry Rukia's hands from his arms.

As they both still fought, they didn't get Aiko's question, so she was just being ignored. Taking matters in her own hands she walked around the battling couple and took a look at the store. There it was in all its pink glory; several items being showed off in the window, from pencils to cups to plushies and all of them were related to one certain bunny.

Her eyes beginning to sparkle she could just breathe out what was in her mind. "So…cute…"

Ichigo caught the words and turned to look at Aiko. There she stood, staring at the shop with a sparkle in her eyes that was quite familiar. Too familiar.

"Oh no, not you too, Aiko!" Ichigo groaned out.

She slowly turned to look at Ichigo, a puppy look firmly planted on her face. "Please, Ichigo-chan…I…I…" She sniffled and dabbed away a fake tear from the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief as she took a shaky breath as if to calm herself.

Wait, where the hell did she get that handkerchief from?

"Ichigo-chan…I want one Chappy plushie…so badly…"

Ichigo just groaned loudly and sighed in defeat, while Rukia stared at Aiko in amazement.

She is even better than I am…I feel…so proud of her…

Aiko took the chance and gave Rukia a subtle wink which Rukia returned with an evil smirk.

We can use her abilities to our advantage, even though I feel a little bad about it, but she can make us get so many more Chappy stuff with that amazing acting talent of hers.

"Ichigo, now let's go! Aiko wants a plushie and I want the rest!"

With that Aiko and Rukia dragged Ichigo inside the shop and forty-five minutes later they left, Ichigo carrying 6 large bags which were full to the brim with every sort of Chappy merchandising; his account was all the emptier.

It began to get dark and Aiko had trouble keeping her eyes open so they made their way towards Ichigo's place, leaving two bags of Aiko's Chappy stuff their and waiting until Aiko was in sleeping tightly. After that they were on their way towards the Kuchiki manor, leaving Rukia's bags there.

When the bags were all in Rukia's room she took Ichigo by the hand and led him towards the koi lake of the Kuchiki-manor. She took off her footwear and sank her feet in the lake. Ichigo sat next to her and as she scooted closer to him and put her head on his shoulder he put his arm around her.

"I had a wonderful day, Ichigo. Thank you." She smiled up at him.

"Anytime, Rukia. For you, anytime."

She sighed in contentment and closed her eyes, enjoying the cool wet around her feet and the warm and secure feeling Ichigo's arm around her gave her. Never in her life did she even think that a feeling of such bliss was possible.

This day with Ichigo and Aiko showed her that she could, just like any other ordinary person, laugh and enjoy herself. All the years in the Kuchiki manor, alone and isolated, had made her a distant person, but this brash, orange haired boy showed her- not only, but especially- today, what was possible if she would be a little more outgoing.

"Rukia?"

"Hmm?"

"I thought about something, but I'm not sure and I need to ask you first."

Rukia shifted a little to have a better look at his face. His trademark scowl was deep and thoughtful and made Rukia frown a little. "What is it?"

Ichigo sighed a little and looked down at her. "Do you think…do you think I should assign Aiko at the shinigami academy?"

Rukia raised both eyebrows in wonder. "Why do you ask me? You are her legal guardian."

Ichigo now frowned deeply. "Rukia, I didn't add you as her second legal guardian just for the fun of it. You have a say in everything I do concerning her, too. We are both responsible of things concerning Aiko. Not only me. I am as much a brother and father to her as you are a sister and mother to her. Don't you ever forget that."

Rukia was speechless. She of course didn't forget how Ichigo put her in the position of becoming the second legal guardian of Rukia but she thought it was only for the case something happened to him. It never even crossed her mind that he would put that much responsibility on her concerning Aiko. And saying that she was a sister and a mother to Aiko…it was an amazing feeling.

He is amazing…thank you so much, Ichigo. You can't even begin to imagine what you mean to me. You are…my sun. Everything of my life revolves around you.

"So?" Ichigo asked after he didn't get an answer for several moments.

"'So' what?"

"So, what do you think of Aiko joining the shinigami academy?" He answered, with slight annoyance in his voice.

"Oh…I knew that you meant that, fool." She slapped him playfully on his arms, hiding her embarrassment of being startled while deep in thought and causing Ichigo to frown again a little. "I think that's a good idea. She can't sit around in your office for the rest of her life and she may find there other kids to befriend. And she would learn there to defend herself."

"Yeah…I think we should sign her up there." He mumbled and nodded in agreement to her points.

He said 'we'…as in 'we are equal'. She smiled widely at that thought and without thinking she placed a chaste kiss on the corner of his lips.

Ichigo's look was one of pure surprise as he turned to her with his red face. "What…I…why?" He stuttered.

"For being your amazing self, Ichigo…just for being your amazing self." Rukia sighed and returned to her former position with her head against his head.

Ichigo wasn't one to complain about getting a kiss from Rukia so he just smiled and pulled her closer to himself, enjoying her face of pure contentment and happiness.

After sitting at the lake for who knows how long Ichigo stood with Rukia in front of the entrance from the lake to the Kuchiki manor. They stood closely to each other, toe to toe, their arms around each other, looking each other deeply in the eyes. The minutes passed, no one daring to break the eye contact, no one daring to say a word in fear of ending this moment.

Finally Ichigo spoke. "Good night Rukia. I…love you." Even though he meant every single of the last three words it still felt weird saying them out loud to Rukia.

And she didn't feel any different about it. "Night, Ichigo. I love you, too."

In total sync they brought their lips together, still chaste and unsecure about the still fresh and new feeling of the intimate contact their lips made, but enjoying and loving every second of it nonetheless. After they broke the kiss they looked away with shy smiles and flushed cheeks, but still holding onto each other.

"You think it's still weird?" Ichigo asked lowly.

"Yeah…" She breathed out.

"Me too." He admitted.

Both chuckling lowly returned their gazes to each other. Rukia closed her eyes and dropped her head onto Ichigo's chest, sighing. She did that a lot today, she realized. "Today was so perfect, Ichigo…but…I don't know what to do with Renji." She felt bad bringing that up now, but she needed to get it off her mind.

Ichigo understood her being sorrowful about her childhood friend's behavior and feelings, so he didn't feel the least bit offended or disappointed. He knew she needed him to be there for her.

"We'll figure it out, I promise. We'll set his mind back straight…together." He smiled down at her.

"Yeah…together." She smiled up at him.

Together we'll make it through anything.

It's done. My first story is finished. A hell of a lot shorter then I imagined but what the heck- I had fun writing this, I felt happy seeing that there where hundreds and thousands of people reading my story, I enjoyed every single of your reviews, even those who just contained one word xD…Thank you, guys.

Buuuut, this being the last chapter doesn't mean I won't demand reviews. So review ;D (sorry for it being shorter than I promised though)

About my next story…I don't know when I'll start with it. It can be tomorrow, it can be two months, I just dunno. So keep your eyes open. A few facts about it I will give you though: it will be rated M (because it will be bloody, I dunno about lemons yet (never wrote one o_o)), it will be IchigoxRukia, it will have a dark atmosphere, it will be AU. That should be enough…

The sequel to New Life will be quite some time away, so sorry if I disappoint you, but I will not write two stories at one time, I will always concentrate on one at a time.

Thanks again, and see, or rather, read you soon!

garganta.