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(Ichigo's Thoughts will Be Italicized)

For Ichigo, the walk home was less than pleasant. In fact, it would not be far from the truth to say that it was horrible, brutal, mortifying, even nauseating because with each rest of his puddle soaked shoes came the realization that there was no way he could go back to see Senna. Not without breaking up with the girl who was responsible for the safety of, not only himself, but his family as well. This jacket's heavy.

Ichigo arrived home sooner than he expected and just as he reached down to twist the small brass door knob, the door to his house flung open and he was desperately greeted by the arms of his dark haired girlfriend. "Where the hell were you!" she yelled, her tiny palms gripping his lower back as tightly as they could.

"Sorry, I didn't get your pudding," Ichigo mumbled, a pathetic smile covering his face. What else am I supposed to say?

"Idiot! Like I care about that! You're out all night and you don't even call!?" The small girl cried burying her head into his chest, causing Ichigo to wonder if she was more angry or worried. "The news said there was like a 100 inches of rain last night!" I doubt that.

"I forgot my cellphone, I'm sorry. I–" Ichigo's words were cut short by the compression of Rukia's petite pink lips against his. On instinct, Ichigo wrapped his toned arms around the girl's slim waist and held her up slightly so that her impromptu kiss wouldn't end prematurely. Their oral caress was chaste, passionate, and as Ichigo set the girl back down on her feet a feeling of shame overcame him, the likes of which, he'd never experienced before.

"Where were you all night?" The girl questioned, returning her face to the comfortable prose in Ichigo's solid chest.

"I spent the night at the bus stop," Ichigo lied.

"The Bus stop?" Rukia inquired, her eyebrows perking up in a curious manner. Ichigo nodded and broke their embrace. I'm going to hell for this.

"Ya, they have an overhang, and blankets they pass out for the homeless so I was alright for the night," he said, motioning towards the house. "Can we go inside, it's cold," he added. Rukia quickly nodded and dragged Ichigo through the doorway.

"Yuzu was a mess. I had to convince her that you'd called from Urahara's shop just so she'd go to school," Rukia said frowning, her usual sassy attitude steadily returning.

"I'm sorry," Ichigo mumbled once more.

"Me too," Rukia added in a meek voice. Ichigo's chest gave a quick pang as she apologized and a few moments of silence passed before Rukia asked if he was hungry. Ichigo simply shook his head, his orange locks lightly brushing his brow.

"I'm just tired. I'm gonna take a shower and go to bed," he mumbled, as he removed Senna's black leather jacket and tossed it on the couch.

"Want me to join you?" Rukia questioned with a mischievous yet apologetic smile. My body sure as hell does.

"No, I'm too tired right now, later alright?" Ichigo replied. Rukia nodded and the beaten boy trudged up the stairs and towards his bathroom.

(Senna's thoughts will now be Italicized)

Senna sat on her couch, knees pitifully held to her chest, face buried in them like some sort of upright fetal position. Shallow breaths escaped her chapped lips and small wet stains covered her face, from her puffy red eyes to her elegant chin like two waterless riverbeds. What the hell was I thinking? Senna's desperate grip on her legs tightened. I could have at least let him bring Dad's jacket back. The devastated girl clenched her eyes tightly and more dry sobs escaped from her throat. Stupid Senna! Stupid!...Stupid.

"Stupid," she mumbled aloud, her voice echoing in her quiet, strawberry filled, room.

(Nobody's thoughts will Be Italicized-Ichigo's P.O.V)

Ichigo trudged down the hill that led to his school like a stone solider, nodding ever so often, as he pretended to listen to the girlfriend attached to his right arm.

"Ya that's fine," he answered as Rukia asked him something about seeing a movie on Saturday. "What day is it again?" He wondered.

"Great I think the movie starts at four," Rukia responded with a smile before looking up at Ichigo. The grave expression on his face quickly decimated her smile and, stopping in her tracks, she took hold of the back of Ichigo's grey school uniform. "Ichigo," she said jerking him slightly. Ichigo's gave a startled leap as he was promptly brought back into reality.

"What is it?" he asked his eyes still slightly glazed over.

"Are you feeling alright?" she asked a worried expression coating her pale face. Ichigo shook his head.

"Ya, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" He questioned, forcing himself to smile. Rukia's frown grew.

"You've been acting strange since Monday. Your family and I are starting to worry," She said her concern growing. Ichigo's brow furrowed.

"I'm just feeling a little under the weather after staying out all night," Ichigo lied. He didn't like the idea of guilt tripping Rukia into leaving him alone, but at the moment Ichigo couldn't see any alternatives, that didn't involve telling Rukia the truth about where he'd been.

"Ya I know, you've been saying that since Tuesday," Rukia replied, rubbing her temples with her right hand.

"So…?" Ichigo questioned, a hint of resentment in his voice.

"So it's Friday! If you still aren't feeling well you should have your father look at you," Rukia replied with flawless logic.

"Friday?" He mumbled in utter disbelief. "Has it really been a week since I last saw her?" He wondered, clenching his fists until his knuckles were white.

"Yes Friday," she responded, fear steadily replacing her concern. "Ichigo, maybe we shouldn't go to school today. I'll call your dad and we can-" Rukia was caught off by Ichigo's quick reply.

"No! No I'll go home myself. There isn't any reason for you to miss as well," Ichigo quickly responded. Rukia frowned and placed her hands on her hips in a fashion that all girls seemed to have been taught in some sort of super-secret "How to be a Woman" class.

"Ichigo, do you honestly think this school can teach me anything I don't already know?" Rukia asked, an air of arrogance in her voice. Ichigo swallowed hard.

"No…er then why the hell do you go!?" He lashed out, for reasons he could not quite explain himself. Rukia pouted in a way that made it impossible for Ichigo to tell if she was faking it or not.

"Why do you think Moron?" Rukia whined her cheeks tinting slightly. Ichigo hung his head once more.

"Sorry… You're right. I just…Go so you can tell our friends that I'm okay?" Ichigo pleaded.

"But you aren't ok!"

"Please?"

"But!?"

"Please!? I promise I'll call you when I get back. I just need some time to myself," Ichigo begged. Rukia let out a sigh of defeat and gave a slow nod.

"I understand," she replied. "Call me when you get back and let me know what your father says."

"I will," Ichigo replied as he leaned down and sweetly kissed Rukia's forehead. The girl smiled and gave a quick wave before continuing on to school. Ichigo let out a sigh of relief and began walking home.

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