Hey guys! Ugh I don't know what to say. Sorry for taking so long to update. I haven't been feeling well and things are just blah. I won't promise anymore. I don't wanna break another promise. But I hope that these two (this one and the previous one) chapter updates in on week will sort of make up for it.

And to the guest who had a few mean things to say, sorry that you don't like MY fanfic. Please stop reading this if you hate it so much. And please think about what you say to people because one day you're gonna say the worng thing to the worng person and well...(I removed the comment btw)

And guys sorry! This story is a mess. A few people have pm'd a couple suggestions and I'm trying to fit them all in and still make it not a mess.

And uuuggghhh sorry again. I probably won't post the revised version any time soon. I was off to a good start but...

Anyway thanks for still reading and for putting up with me and please bare with me. I'm trying. Enjoy!

Normal POV

It was about three in the morning when Matsumoto came downstairs to wake Rukia. Rukia, only hours before, had decided to sleep on the couch-the one that wasn't in pieces.

The first thing that popped into Rukia's mind was Aizen. Where they under attack? Had something happened?

Luckily, that wasn't it. The Soul Society was calling.

Matsumoto led Rukia to the kitchen. Everyone else was already there, including Haru. They were all huddled around the front of the table where a small screen was placed. The Head-Captain was on the screen.

Toshiro spoke, "We are all here."

"Good," said the Head-Captain. "I wish to discuss the incident that was reported earlier." A pause. "Lieutenant Matsumoto."

She stiffened. "Yes, Sir?"

"I noticed your report, along with Lieutenant Abarai's report, were not submitted."

"Yes, Sir."

"Why is that?"

She bit her lips. "That's because..."

Toshiro started to say something. Matsumoto cleared her throat and spoke over whatever it was he was about to say. "I was hungover from the night before, Sir. And I was arrested by the authorities here. I was sleeping in a cell while my friends fought a battle I should have been at."

Everyone there, to some degree, was shocked. This included the Head-Captain.

The Head-Captain took a moment to think. Then, "If this is true, then why did you not resign your position on this mission, like Lieutenant Abarai has?"

"I...don't know, Sir."

Rukia shivered. In situations like this, she thought, I doubt the Head-Captain takes "I don't know" for an answer.

"You don't know, Lieutenant Matsumoto?" he repeated calmly, to everyone's surprise.

"I guess so, Sir."

They couldn't tell, but she was shaking. She looked down to avoid looking into the Head-Captain's eyes. She knew what was about to happen-everyone did-and she didn't like it.

Once again, they were surprised.

"Very well. Since we are so short-staffed at the moment, I will allow you to stay in the world of the living. And there will be no punishment."

Matsumoto looked up. She couldn't believe her ears. Nonetheless, she smiled. She opened her mouth to thank the Head-Captain, but he continued.

"But heed my warning, Lieutenant. This is not the first time your drinking has disrupted work. The only reason I am not suspending you is because this is the first serious offence. Do not let this happen again."

She gulped. "I will not let it happen again, Sir. I promise you that."

He grunted. "Very good. Because if it does, there will be a heavy price to pay."

She nodded.

"Captain Hitsugaya, I have read over the reports of the hollows and..."

Matsumoto sighed once the subject had changed. She was so relieved to have only gotten a warning.

She cringed. It was more like a threat.

After a while, everyone was bored. The only ones talking about anything were Toshiro and the Head-Captain.

Then finally, "Very well. I will let you decide what to do from now. I would ask, though, that you make patrols longer and with groups of three instead. This mission is turning quite dangerous. If another attack comes, and someone else is injured, I will send reinforcements."

"Head-Captain, there is also the other matter left to dis-"

"That is currently under investigation and need-to-know from this point on," the Head-Captain cut in sternly.

Toshiro swallowed. This was starting to get a lot more serious than he hoped it would. "Yes, Sir."

He grunted. "Dismissed."

Everyone bowed and headed back to their rooms.

"Rukia Kuchiki."

She froze. "Yes, Sir?" Rukia was thankful that her voice came out even and strong. She was terrified at the moment. The last thing she wanted was for the Head-Captain to know.

"Your brother would like to speak with you."

Nii-sama?

The Head-Captain walked off screen, and Byakuya appeared.

"Rukia."

She panicked. His voice was the same as always. Flat and even. It always sounded like she was about to be scolded .

"Nii-sama." She bowed. "Is something the matter?"

Rukia loves her brother. No matter how cold he could be at times. She wishes, though, that things could be a little different. Whenever she sees Ichigo and the bond he has with his sisters, she envies him. It would be nice to have moments like that with her brother every now and then. But Byakuya isn't like Ichigo. And Rukia knows this well. She knows that Byakuya will never see her as a sister.

So when Byakuya said, "No. I heard that there was an attack. Are you injured?" her heart skipped a beat.

She forced herself to stay calm. She allowed herself to smile, though. "No, Nii-sama. I was not injured severely."

He didn't react. "I see."

She wasn't sad at his unconcerned response. In fact, she only felt happier.

"I heard," he continued, "that there was another incident after the attack. I know that you are not allowed to discuss it, but..."

Rukia knew he had stopped himself because he didn't want to go against orders. But, considering how "well" their conversation had been going, she begged that he would ask. She wanted to continue speaking to him. She wanted to be able to prove that he cared for her. "Yes?"

He shook his head, and her heart sank. "It is nothing."

"Oh..."

"I must leave now."

She nodded. With a bow, she turned to leave.

"Goodbye, Rukia. Be careful."

Her heart stopped and her eyes went wide. "What?" she mumbled as she turned around. But by then, the screen was black.

Am I hearing things?

When she left the kitchen, she was surprised to see Matsumoto there. She had been eavesdropping on their conversation. Rukia knew this because Matsumoto's eyes were as wide as hers were a moment ago.

"Did he just...?" Matsumoto uttered in complete disbelief.

Rukia smiled. So it wasn't my imagination. "I guess he did."

...Rukia.

She frowned. Was it already morning?

Rukia.

She wanted to continue ignoring the voice, but a draft entered the room. The hairs at the nape of her neck stood up and she shivered. She searched for her blanket. When she couldn't find it, she concluded that whoever was trying to wake her had taken it.

Rukia, open your eyes.

Was it strange that there were multiple voices? She was too tired to care.

You must choose, Rukia.

Chose? she wondered to herself.

Get up!

Her eyes shot open this time. Her ears stung from how loud the voices had yelled.

"What do you want?" she yelled back. A cold chill went down her spine when she saw who was there.

Toshiro and Kira and Ichigo were there. "Choose," they repeated.

"What do you mean?"

They frowned. Right after, Ichigo began to disappear.

"Hey, wait!" she called out. By the time she finished her sentence, there was no trace of him.

"Choose."

This time, she forced herself not to react on her impulses. She looked at the both of them.

What is going on?

She didn't know what to say. And she didn't have any time left. Both Kira and Toshiro started to disappear, just like Ichigo had.

"Wait! What do you mean?"

They were gone. Now, she began to disappear, along with everything else.

"Stop! I didn't get a chance to choose! I don't even know what I'm supposed to choose!"

Exactly.

She looked around for whoever was speaking. There was no one.

Since you can not choose, you will get nothing...

She gasped and shot up off of the couch. She swallowed the knot that had formed in her throat and took several deep breaths. When she finally calmed down, she got up and went into the kitchen. She saw that it was past eight. She wondered why no one had woken her up.

She remembered her dream, and she broke out into a cold sweat again.

She went up the stairs. As she did, she told herself that everything was fine. Despite all of her logic and efforts, she found herself almost sprinting up the steps. She first checked in Matsumoto's room. Rukia relaxed when she saw her friend eating a bowl of cereal and flipping through a magazine.

"Oh, hey, Rukia-chan," she said. She spoke weirdly because of all the cereal that was in her mouth. "What's up?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. I just thought it was weird that it was so late and no one was up."

Matsumoto bit her lip. Before Rukia could notice, though, she said, "Oh, well, Captain didn't sleep after the meeting with the old man. He ended up waking up Kira and Hinamori to go on a patrol. And since he wasn't back by the time he makes us get up, I thought I'd let you and the new guy sleep in."

"I see. Speaking of the Head-Captain..."

"Yeah. That was something. I'm surprised he didn't have me executed." Her hands shot up to cover her mouth. "Oh, sorry, Rukia-chan!"

"Hmm? Oh, that. Don't worry. That was a long time ago."

Silence settled in between them. Rukia began to think about Haru. She frowned. She walked inside and closed the door.

"Is it just me, or does Haru give you a bad feeling, too?" she whispered.

Matsumoto swallowed the cereal that she had been chewing. "I'm glad it wasn't just me. I thought I was just being a jerk because he was here instead of Renji. But...I don't know. I got the chills when he smiled. There was something about it that...I can't explain it."

Rukia's eyes lit up. "That's exactly what I was thinking!"

They looked at each other. They both were beginning to get creeped out.

"Let's not jump to any conclusions," Matsumoto said. "Maybe we're letting our minds run wild because of the whole Renji thing. But, let's keep a close eye on him. Just in case."

Rukia nodded.

There was a knock at the door. They both jumped.

"W-Who is it?" Matsumoto called out.

"Haru."

Matsumoto fell off her bed. "R-Rukia-chan!" she whispered urgently. She cleared her throat. "Um, what is it?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to check on you guys, make sure everything was ok."

Rukia frowned. He's awfully concerned.

"Sorry I sound a bit creepy." He laughed. "Captain Hitsugaya asked me to keep a close eye on Rukia because he had to leave with the others for patrol."

Oh, right, Rukia thought. Captain Hitsugaya is supposed to always be with me. I guess he had a good enough excuse. I wouldn't have trusted the new guy with my friends on a dangerous mission either. But, why couldn't he have sent Matsumoto with the others instead of breaking protocol?

She shook her head. She was giving herself a headache from over thinking so much.

"Oh, no, don't worry," Matsumoto called.

He laughed again. "Ok."

After that, the two of them waited in silence. Neither of them spoke until they were sure Haru was out of earshot.

Matsumoto exhaled. "That was too close."

Rukia nodded.

About an hour after the call from the the Soul Society, he had come into her room and woken her up.

"Hinamori, get up."

She opened her eyes. "Hmm? Shiro-chan, it's late."

"Come on. You, me, and Kira are going on patrol." He looked over to Matsumoto's sleeping figure. "And we have to talk."

"All three of us? About what?"

He shook his head. "No. You and I have to talk."

When they left, Matsumoto sat up. She stared at her door. "What's so secret that you had to sneak out of the house to talk about it? Captain..."

"Do you sense that?"

Kira and Hinamori looked around. They shook their head no.

"Kira, go check out over there," Toshiro ordered.

Kira nodded and flash-stepped away.

"I'll go check over-" started Hinamori.

Before she could go on, Toshiro snatched her arm.

"Wait, you idiot. I told you we needed to talk."

"But the hollow-"

He sighed. "I made that up so we could talk in private."

She looked at him. "Shiro-chan, what's going on?"

Knock, knock.

Matsumoto looked away from the tv and to the door. Her brows furrowed as she wondered who it could be. She got up and looked through the peephole. She relaxed when she saw it was just Ichigo. She opened the door with a smile.

"Hey, Ichigo! What brings you here?" she asked.

He smiled. Something was off though, she noted. "I wanted to talk to Rukia. Is she here?"

"Yeah. Come in. I'll call her down."

He walked in almost reluctantly. She ignored this and led him to the couch. When he saw the the other couch and the giant burnt circle on the wall, he couldn't help but wonder. Before he could say anything about it though, Matsumoto said, "Don't ask."

He sat down on the other couch and sighed. He put his face into his hands and tried to relax.

"RUKIA-CHAN!" Matsumoto shouted.

Ichigo yelped and fell off the couch. He looked up at the crazy woman who had just given him a heart attack. She laughed.

"Sorry about that, Ichigo."

He got back up and sat down. He was actually thankful for the distraction. He didn't want to be there at the moment. At all, actually.

Rukia's big eyes widened when she saw him. Then she smiled. "Hey. What are you doing here?"

She knew he would reply with something like, "Can't I come and see you, midget?" Rukia was ready to kick him. She almost frowned when he said, "I wanted to talk to you."

Rukia heard Matsumoto's almost inaudible gasp. "Coming, Captain!" she frantically called out.

Rukia gulped. This must be bad.

She heard Ichigo laugh. It didn't make anything better though. It sounded strained.

"You look nervous," he pointed out.

"Well, considering Matsumoto just rushed to go see Captain Hitsugaya, who isn't here..." she said in an attempt to lighten the mood. "What did you want to talk about?"

He bit his lip. "You should sit down."

She suddenly felt cold. "I'm fine right here."

He nodded. "Well, I guess there's no point in trying to avoid this any longer. Rukia, I met someone."

It took her a moment to comprehend what he had just said. When she did, she smiled. Rukia was so pleased to hear these words. When she had been waiting to be executed, she would always think back to Ichigo, and how she had ruined his human life for good. She remembered thinking about how hard it would be for him to fall in love after facing so many horrible things and having to either hide or explain this life to another human.

"Ichigo, that's great!"

He looked up at her. "You're...happy?"

"Well, of course I am, idiot! Do I know her?"

"No."

"You should bring her over some time. It would be nice to meet the girl who finally turned little Ichigo into a man."

She waited for him to explode and call her a midget. But he didn't. Instead, he looked away from her. "That's what I wanted to talk about, Rukia."

She blinked. The way he said her name, it was so formal.

"The thing is, she's human."

She scoffed. "No duh."

"And I haven't told her about this whole hollow stuff."

"Oh. Well, I can help explain if you want-"

He shook his head. "No, midget," he whispered. "I don't want to explain any of it to her."

"What do you m-"

He shot up. "I mean that I don't want her to know about any of this, Rukia! Not about hollows or Soul Society or Aizen. Or you," he breathed out.

She swallowed.

"I'm done making up excuses every time a hollow shows up and I have to leave. I'm done keeping her in the dark. I'm done feeling guilty for not being able to love her the way-" He stopped. "I need you to stop coming around, too."

She felt a jabbing pain in her chest.

"I know that Karin and Yuzu miss you a lot. But I'm tired of them asking for you while she's there. I don't know how you do it, midget, but everywhere I go, there you are. She's starting to ask about you. She wants to know who you are and why everyone is always asking and talking about you. She's starting to feel insecure around my friends and family."

"I see."

"And I need you to ask the Soul Society to send another Soul Reaper here. I quit." His heart shook when he heard himself say these words.

She nodded. "I understand. I'll send in a request immediately. I'll urge them for a higher ranked officer. I don't want some rookie messing up and then calling you for help."

He frowned. How was she so indifferent about the matter? He was angry by how detached she was being. But why was he mad? This is what he wanted.

He walked to her. "So, that's it."

She nodded. "I guess so. It was nice knowing you, Ichigo. Kurosaki," she added.

"Y-Yeah. Goodbye, Rukia Kuchiki."

After a second, he stepped past her and went to the door. She felt an odd sensation when she heard the door squeak open. When she heard him step outside, she opened her mouth and felt an impulse to turn around. But she stopped herself. A small, surpressed sob was all she allowed to come out.

She waited for the door to close. Why did it feel like it was never going to close?

The door slammed shut and she flinched.

And just like that, he was gone.