Holy shit on a cracker! I finally updated this. Sorry about the delay and all, trying to get back into the swing of updating and all...But look! and update!

It's short and all..But hey, it's an update!

:D

Read and review makes this fanfic author happy! :D

Rukia gently rubs away the ink on her puffy cheeks, Kiyomi pouts. "Nee chan... why did you do this to me? I didn't do anything to you..."

"Aww... " Rukia quietly cooe as she wiped away Kiyomi's tears, "I'm sorry... Is there anyway I can make it up to you?"

"Y-y-you- could-could-alway-way-ways-ways-ways make me and Yuzu and Karin some breakfast..."Kiyomi sniffled.

Rukia smiles as she gingerly wiped away the ink. The love and care radiated all around Rukia to the point where Ichigo couldn't help but think about the times Rukia tended to him like that.

-Flash Back-

It's Final Exam season and Ichigo isn't really too swell about it. Mainly because he's stuck in bed sick with a terrible cold alone with no one to take care of him... That was until his girlfriend for 5 months comes walking in.

The door slowly creaks open to the sight of a raven haired girl who smiled at the thought of a sickly orange haired boy in bed. Her slender legs quietly tip toes into Ichigo's tissue infested room while holding a nice hot bowl of Okayu she made on her own.

"Rukia?" Ichigo mubmled through his blanket covers. "I thought I told you to stay away.. You'll catch my cold if you don't-achooo!"

Strands of mucus comes pouring our of Ichigo's nostrils as Rukia quickly places the pipng how bowl of Okayu on his night stand and offers him a tissue as she gently nudges Ichigo to scoot over.

"I'm here to nurse you back to heath...Now scoot over."

A slight muffled chuckle was released once Ichigo scooted over to the cooler side of the bed and shivered a little before he wrapped his arms around Rukia, burying his face between the warm nook of her neck, he joked "I don't think nurses are suppose to be in bed with thier patients..."

"Hm?" Rukia playfully nudges him. "Do you mean I should go and leave you-"

Laughing, Ichigo pulls Rukia closer to him, tightening his hold on her, he kisses her neck. "Stay and nurse me back to health Nurse Kuchiki..."

-Flash Back End-

"Okay!" Rukia looks at a sniffling clean Kiyomi. "Your face is clean of the black markers!"

With a happy smile, Kiyomi sniffles, "What about Yuzu and Karin?"

"Hm?" Rukia looks at Kiyomi puzzled, "Didn't they clean-"

Kiyomi gently turned Rukia's head and sees Yuzu and Karin yelling at Ichigo as they struggled to get the black marker stains around thier eye.

"It won't come off Karin!"

"Just use more soap!"

Rukia shakes her head smiling because that's no way to get rid of a stain. They harder you rub the harder it gets to remove the ink, no matter how much soap you use.

"Come," Rukia notions both Yuzu and Karin, "I'll help you girls out.."

One by one, Rukia soaks a warm towel in soapy water and gently rubs off the black ink thier faces while Ichigo stands in the back watching her. Just watching Rukia being soft and gentle like she use to when he was sick. She was always there when he was sick in bed. She'd clean his place up, did his laundry and made him food. Everything that would make a mother proud to call her daughter in law. But things didn't turn out that way...

"Okay!" Rukia happily tosses the towel, "You girls are ink free!"

Quickly glaring at Ichigo, Yuzu and Karin all greatfully thank Rukia while Kiyomi grabs Rukia by her hand, urging her to make, "American breakfast" because Karin and Yuzu has never experienced it before.

Smiling and laughing while Kiyomi pulls Rukia into the kitchen, Ichigo just simply follows and watches.

Was this what I left behind?

Squeals and laughter was shared between the group of four girls once the prepartion for an "American breakfast" was well on it's way. Flour and eggs being wisked in a bowl, syrup being pulled out of the cabinet, eggs being cracked and sizzling on a heated pan while icy cold orange juice is being poured into five cups.

Ichigo?

Ichigo just leans against the back walls, watching Rukia laugh and joke around with the girls with such care and Rukia this happy? Past emotions started to surfaced while he rubs his face.

Sure, he loved Rukia, but he "moved on." He had to be there for Yuzu and Karin. He thought Rukia would understand that and move on. He thought if he made a clean clear split, where there's no chance of reconciliation. Rukia wouldn't be hanging on to his last word and move on.

But then again, Ichigo PROMISED Rukia he'd call. He PROMISED Rukia he'd be back.

So what was Rukia to think of this? Was she wrong be angry and upset with him when he sent her a post card? Was Ichigo wrong to send her a post card when he thought it was for the best? After all, Ichigo was never into the romantic side of a relationship...

The scent of sweet pancake syrup and bacon on the table drew Ichigo's attention to the smiling violet eyed girl.

She was happy.

Well, why wouldn't she be? She's surrounded by nothing but love and care.

"Nee chan! Nee chan!" Kiyomi quickly nudges Rukia, "Hurry up and take a seat so we can eat!"

Laughing as she takes her seat, Rukia looks around and sees Ichigo leaning against the back wall with a dazed look. Karin took the liberty to snap Ichigo out of it by yelling at him and telling him tp join them for breakfast which he more than gladly did.

Pancakes, syrup, bacon, eggs, toast and orange juice. Breakfast Rukia use to make for Kiyomi during thier stay in America.

They are all now seated, Karin, Yuzu, and Ichigo sat across from Rukia and Kiyomi who happily munches down the pancakes she use to eat in America.

Though, the moment Rukia pours syrup on her pancakes, the phone rings.

Quickly placing the syrup on the table, Rukia dashes out of her chair, yelling, "Got it!"

Letting out a big huff, Rukia answers the phone, "Hello?"

"Hey Rukia... We need to talk..."

Rukia's heart sank.