This one isn't supposed to be here technically. But I have nowhere else to publish it. Moreover, this was the one that helped me in getting back some Muse in writing the previous 2 chapters. So just treat it as a special, yea?

I got the idea for this one when I was listening to a chinese song, Zhi Zu by Mayday. In any case, just as a warning, it's a IchiRukia. Enjoy.

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05- IchiRuki Special : Tears & Smiles

"Don't worry, I'll be alright," Kuchiki Rukia smiled, "Really,"

"You sure?"

"Yea,"

The stood in silence for a little while before Rukia turned her back towards Ichigo and walked towards the gate that separated this world and the next. She made the extra effort to make sure the smile remained, although she did not feel like smiling at all.

It was then a tear dropped.

Good bye Ichigo.

Little did he know this would be the final time Rukia would be here in the real world. She had refused to tell anyone about her decision, choosing only to endure the pain herself. She had caused enough trouble for everyone already, and this time, she was determined that, no one would be tied down by her.

She did wish she could spend her life with him, fighting side by side with him but some things had a limit. She was already playing with fire the moment she transferred her powers to him. She didn't mind being burnt by the flames for him, but, when it began to dawn upon her that he was going to get hurt as well, second thoughts began to form in her mind. She thought of those around her, her beloved brother, Kuchiki Byakuya, no way was he going to let a relationship like that continue. She thought of Inoue, her love for the orange haired fellow more than obvious. She thought about the scrutiny that Ichigo was going to face if their relationship progressed and her heart ached.

No, this cannot go on.

She had to leave.

God let her protect Ichigo this one last time.

She recalled the days she spent in his closet, the times when she had to use that glove to push the soul slayer out of his human body, the days where they spent having lunch together with the high school mates, the times where he protected her against any harm, the constant furrowed eyebrows of his, the way he lied on his bed everynight and the look he gave her when he told her he loved her that night.

Another tear dropped.

I love you Ichigo, I really do.

For a moment, she felt like just running back into his arms and give up eternity in Soul Society just to be with him this one lifetime. They could go see the sunrise and sunset together, they would sit in the rain and watch the rainbow after it did, she could bring him to Soul Society and visit all the beautiful places that she found. They would lie side by side under the starry night counting the stars. They could walk down the beach hand in hand feeling the breeze and listening to the sound of the tides. How wonderful would that be.

But she stopped her implusive thoughts.

No. I can't do this.

She tried consoling herself. In any case, the times she had spent with him was good enough. The laughter and the pain, the tugs at her heart, those were enough memories to last her a life time. She clutched the photo of him and Ichigo, the only photo of them both together tightly in her chest. I will keep your smile in my heart, forever.

She had to be satisifed.

She had to be satisifed with the heartbreak, it was the best for the both of them. That was how much she loved him. She loved him this much to live in grief her whole life to make sure her beloved was safe from harm. She loved him this much to give up the man of her heart to another girl who would love him better than she herself did. She loved him enough for him to lie this one last time. She loved him enough to continue smiling for him though her heart was shattering into a million pieces.

And she entered through the shutters.

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Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Does anyone have any reviews?

She teared again.

It was then she realized, that tearing with a smile is the most painful.