"Lost in Love"

Chapter 10: The Reason

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

"So...ra... Sora... Sora... SORA!"

"NO!"

"Ha... Ha... Hhhmmm..."

'God! Another dream? But, why?'

"Kurosaki!"

It was five o'clock in the morning. The auburn haired girl picked up her phone beside her and dialed a phone number with speed and then waited for the other end be picked up. It kept on ringing for one minute until it stopped. Inoue tried calling three times before she accepted her call wouldn't be answered.

"Ku-Kuro-Kurosaki! Ichigo, please I need you..."

Inoue lied on the bed once more. She pulled the blanket and buried herself under it. She was trembling and shaking from fear of what the night had brought her. It has been three months since she last had a nightmare. Three months of nothing but joy and happiness. Then why did she suddenly had a dream about that unfateful night? Why was she haunted of the ghost of the past? She shouldn't have them right? There could be no way to have nightmares when you're perfectly happy and contented with your life. There shouldn't be anything that could bother you. Right?

The only person that could answer her was Kurosaki Ichigo.

He was the one who stopped those nightmares from haunting her every damn nights. He promised her that as long as he's around nothing would happen. And he was right. Every thing turned out fine when he came to her world. When he assured her he would protect her. He was the only one who saved her.

Three years ago...

It was almost eight o'clock. A fourteen year old Ichigo was walking down the street with his sisters. They've been to a store buying chips and chocolates for a late night movie snack. A scowl was visible on the boy's face looking irritated as he always did. While the two girls were arguing what movie to watch. They were passing a dark corner when they heard a gruffy old voice.

"Go ahead give it a try. It can't kill with just one stick! Trust me. Nothing will happen." the voice belonged to a man. He had a tattoo on his face and looked like drunk. He was talking to a girl aging thirteen years old but didn't looked like she was that young since she had a very pretty face, kind of mature for her age. The girl had a long beautiful auburn hair and a body that was starting to form into a woman.

"But, my brother said not to smoke. He said it doesn't do anything good." The girl was looking down at the ground.

The man gripped the little girl's left arm and shook her. Then with his free hand he held the girl's chin to face his deadly eyes. "Fuck your brother! If he knows everything then where is he now? Huh? Tell me, if he is as good as you say then why did he let his sister wandering around alone at night!" Pushing his whole body towards the young girl and his mouth near her left ear the man then added in a whisper, "Come on, once you get a taste of it you will surely like it. I will give you a reward if you'll obey me. Don't make me wait too long."

Having no choice the girl took the stick the man was offering. Slowly she lifted her hand and held it tightly. Her hand was trembling having no experience of what she was doing and no idea what she was supposed to do. The smoke was making her cough and feeling sick but she couldn't escape. The man was pinning her down with his body and she had no clue what he would do to her if she would try to refuse. Before she had put the stick in her mouth a tall boy with orange hair shouted.

"What's going on here?" Ichigo was looking at the terrified girl and the creepy old man straight with his amber eyes. "That's illegal you know. Get away from her."

"And who're you?"

"Kurosaki Ichigo. Move before I call the cops to arrest you for abusing a girl." Ichigo's eyes didn't waver a bit. He was looking with such intense glare that frightened the man even a bit. After all, who wouldn't be shocked to find a teenager daring a much older person than him?

"Che! Fine!" The man pushed the girl harshly to Ichigo when police was mentioned. She almost fell down But Ichigo caught her before she did. "She's boring anyway." The old man turned and walked away from them. He didn't look back at the girl nor at the boy still staring at his back. He turned right at a corner and was out of sight.

Ichigo looked at the girl he was holding. She was still trembling from encountering such a man. She wasn't looking at the boy but when she felt him steadying her she couldn't avoid him any longer.

"Get away from me!"

"Hey! Don't shout at my brother! He just saved your pathetic life!" Karin got mad when she saw the girl pushed Ichigo away.

"Karin, that's fine. No harm done." Ichigo was slightly embarrassed of being defended by his little sister.

"I didn't need saving! You're meddling with my business! I don't need anyone! I don't need anyone! I! Don't! Need! Anyone!" The girl kept on repeating those words over and over.

"I know you don't. Otherwise you would have shouted for help. I'm just here offering you some. I know you can face your problems on your own and you don't need anybody to help you. You won't give up easily. I know that. " Ichigo brushed his nape with his hand. He averted his gaze at his sisters and told them they should leave.

"Again, I am just offering you some help. Do you want me to take you home safely? Inoue?" Ichigo was now looking at the girl with sincere gaze. He waited patiently for the girl to respond to him.

It wasn't the first time she met Ichigo. No, but it was the first time Ichigo saw her in such a vulnerable state. She was caught and humiliated in front of him. She didn't know what to do. Her brother just died and as a result she lost the will to live.

What she saw in his eyes was nowhere near pity. He knew it wasn't what she needed. He understood what she wanted and he gave it to her. Little words were spoken and yet he knew what to do and tell her. Perhaps because he too lost someone special and knew how it felt to be alone and lonely. In turn, he responded in a way he thought was the best. He was the only one who saw her in her worst and pushed her out of it. Ichigo rescued her. He saved her.

That was when she felt attached at him. She followed him wherever he went. When she heard that Ichigo was planning to attend Karakura High, without so much of a thought, she entered the same school although she was supposed to attend a private school for girls. It was what her brother wanted.
She did her best to be close to Ichigo. She followed Ichigo everywhere in the school. She pushed herself to him. She didn't even care when the students started making rumors about them. They started calling them a pair of carrots because wherever Ichigo was the other one would surely be there. But there where times when the girls who were jealous of her also called her his shadow. They said she has kept Ichigo all for herself. Well, she wouldn't deny that. She did keep him and she had no intention of letting him go. She started liking him and in the end she even loved him. He was the only one she wanted to be with. Forever.

She was very happy. It was another chance to live. And she was desperate to do so but with Ichigo.

One year ago...

It was six o'clock. Saturday. Inoue prepared food for Ichigo in her apartment and was now waiting for him to arrive. When she heard the bell rang she rushed to the door and opened it. She saw Ichigo standing outside with his usual scowl wearing a shirt, jacket and faded jeans. Simple yet for Inoue he looked totally handsome. She told Ichigo to step inside and make himself at home.

They were at the table eating dinner when Inoue suddenly stopped and looked at him.

'This is it. There's no turning back. I can do this. Anyway he won't reject me right? There's no reason for him to do that. I mean, all the boys at school thinks I'm the hottest girl. I know he likes me. He should like me'

Gripping the chopsticks tighter she called the man sitting beside her. "Kurosaki, it has been years since we met. And it was the best thing that happened to me. You are very special to me. I-I ca-can't ima-imagine living without you now. Kur-Kurosaki thank you fo-for everything. For al-always being there for me."

Inoue moved closer to Ichigo and held his right hand. "Kurosaki, I-I th-thi-think I lo-ve love you. I love you Ichigo"

Ichigo was shocked at what Inoue told him. His friends told him that the girl liked him but he never believed them. She was clingy most of the time and whenever he turned around he would see her. But he disregarded it and merely thought of it as an infatuation or a crush. He was too dense to notice that the girl was actually falling in love with him. But, he didn't feel the same way as her. He always thought Inoue was more like a sister. A younger sister that he needed to take care of. Heck he didn't even feel attracted at the girl even with her looks. All the boys might be thinking how lucky he was to be friends with her but there were times when he felt too stressed at their relationship. He tried distancing himself from her but everytime he did he could feel Inoue being more agressive.

"Inoue I don't really know..."

Inoue didn't let Ichigo finish. She leaned closer at him and slowly moved her face closer to him. She was destined to kiss the boy she loved dearly. She was very close so close that she could almost feel his breath on her. A little bit more and her lips would be touching his already but...

"Stop!" Ichigo has pushed her away. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away from him.

"I'm sorry but I don't feel the same way as you."

He pushed himself up from the chair and bid goodbye to the stunned girl. He felt bad for Inoue but he didn't like her that much to be her boyfriend. For him, she was nothing more than a friend.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow. Bye." With a heavy heart he walked away from the girl and never looked back. Leaving Inoue unmoving from shock and heartbreak. How would you describe what she had felt when Ichigo left her that night? She couldn't move. She stayed lsittibg on the chair for who knew how long. And when she was able to move at last she threw everything that was on the table. Scattering everything on the floor, breaking every glasses they used, and even hurt herself on the process of acting like a five year old brat. It was the end of her life, once more.

Ichigo has left her and it felt like it was literally the end of the world.

She kept her distance from him after that. She never bothered him again. In fact she acted like he didn't exist and to make matter worse he pretended that nothing happened. He smiled at her whenever they bumped onto each other and acknowledged her presence when they were in the same room. She was breaking piece by piece when she saw him. The truth hurt. Ichigo didn't like her.

She couldn't take it. She had no one left.

Four months ago...

"Inoue stop it! What are you doing? It's dangerous don't go with that man!" Tatsuki was convincing the auburn haired girl beside her. She asked Inoue to have dinner in a restaurant and they have just finished when a man with a weird looking beard approached them inviting them to have "coffee" with him. Tatsuki refused but Inoue was persistent in going with him. She had already told her friend to leave if she didn't want to join them. Tatsuki was worried for her friend so she hasn't left yet.

Inoue's depression was getting worse and worse. She hasn't talked to anyone for months now. She responded when she was called and answered if needed. She was like a robot. Talking and moving if someone told her. Lifeless.

"Come on! I don't have lots of time ya know!" the man had a creepy grin on his face. He was eyeing Inoue from head to toe waiting for the prey to take his bait.

"I don't need you! You don't need to stay!" Snapped an angry Inoue at her friend. She shook her arm away from Tatsuki and walked to where the man was. The man put his arm around her shoulder and took Inoue away from the terrified Tatsuki.

They were a few steps away from the left girl when a hand grabbed the man's shoulder and hit him with a fist.

"Let her go."

The voice was filled with venom that it felt like it could hurt the man. He scurried away from the boy who just threw him a punch so strong that he landed on the ground with just one hit and left Inoue with him.

Inoue found the source of the voice and saw an orange haired boy. Ichigo.

"What are you doing here?"

"Is this the way you treat yourself? For fuck's sake Inoue! Quit it!" Ichigo's definitely mad with the way his voice quiver. Seeing the boy she loved made her feel helpless once more. He saved her again. This proved that even if she ignored him she couldn't change the fact that she needed him badly. He made her feel week on the knees. She couldn't do anything but grabbed his shirt and hugged him like her life depended on It. She sobbed and cried shaking from her idiotic actions and from the fear of Ichigo leaving her once more.

"Don't leave me. I beg of you. Save me. Don't let me die. I need you Ichigo."

"Please, love me..."

A/N: I know, it has been months and the updated chapter has no Ichigo/Rukia on it. Sorry...

Thank you for reading! ^_^