• • •

When Shiba Kukaku promised a party, she promised a party.

Her entire dining room was full of people; many of whom we had never met before. However, it did raise the atmosphere by having so many cheerful people around.

We needed cheer now.

We had saved Rukia, but Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tousen escaped with the Hogyoku. That wasn't good; knowing Aizen, he must have already known what the small orb was capable of. He didn't seem like type to stay quiet for long. No, he seemed like the type to hurry and claim his reign over the Soul Society.

But, thoughts like these were lost amongst the chatter and banter among friends and strangers. Even Rukia seemed happier; she was smiling and laughing with the rest of us.

Yes, this was something we needed.

We needed to build nice memories together while we could.

"Can you believe the summer's passed so quickly?" Orihime asked, smiling as she watched Ichigo and Ganju force food down each other's throats.

I grinned as well, nodding. "I know. It seems like just the other day we were all stuck in class."

"I was really looking forward to having Kuchiki-San in our classes again, but I guess we'll just have to wait a bit, huh?" Orihime giggled, smiling at the petite dark haired Shinigami.

"Yeah, you'll have to wait a bit, Inoue." Rukia nodded, a small smile twitching on her lips. "But I'll be seeing you guys soon enough."

"And we'll all have to meet together, sharing stories." I added, grinning at the two. "We've already shared so many memories together; I can't wait for more to occur."

Orihime nodded, running her hands through her long mane of auburn hair. "Of course! We'll spend all the time we can together, creating memories. They're what last and keep us together, right?"

"Right," I sighed, smiling. "As long as we're in each other's memories, then we'll be in each other's hearts as well."

"That was very deep, Jun." Rukia noted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Have you been reading old fortune cookies lately?"

Laughing, I shoved her shoulder. "No! That came from the heart! You guys are so mean!"

However, bad thoughts couldn't be kept away forever.

Heaving a sigh, I turned towards Rukia and Orihime once more. "Hey, I'm going to head outside for some fresh air. I'll see you guys later."

Rukia met my gaze, seeming to understand what I wanted; I wanted some time alone to think things through. Orihime nodded at me, grinning and telling me to come back soon.

Standing up, I rose to my feet and slunk out of the room while trying to avoid detection. I didn't want people to question why I was leaving; I wanted them to enjoy the party that I couldn't.

• • •

"Did you see that, Jun-?"

Ichigo blinked, looking around the mass of people for any sign of Junko. However, he didn't see her at all. When he focused, he also found that her reiatsu was long gone.

"Jun went out for some fresh air a couple of minutes ago," Rukia explained, looking up at the confused Substitute Shinigami. "She seemed a bit troubled, so it was probably best to let her go. She didn't want to put a damper on the party."

"Oh, really?" Ichigo questioned, scoffing before rolling his eyes. "Did she happen to say where she was going?"

"No," Rukia shook her head. "Jun just said that she would see us later and that she wanted some fresh air. That's all."

Ichigo sighed, running a hand through his orange locks. "Thanks, Rukia."

"Although, knowing Jun, she's probably back in the Thirteenth Division. There's a large pond there that Jun likes to sit by. That's where she goes to think."

"Thanks!" Ichigo smiled, his cinnamon eyes lighting up.

Rukia smirked, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched the orange haired man rush out of the 'party.'

"Both of them are so dense."

• • •

Grinning, I leaned over the pond that resided around the Ugendo Quarters, which was where Ukitake-Taicho recuperated after serious bouts of his illness. It was a very calming place, which is why I understood why Ukitake chose here to rest.

Ukitake knew that I often came here when I needed to think. He's caught me here many times; the most recent was when he told me about Rukia's disappearance. I haven't seen the pond since then…so you could say that I missed it. It was quite beautiful to watch the sun set reflect across the pond…but it was already too late; the stars and the moon now illuminated the sky.

I leaned back across my trusty maple tree, breathing in its scent.

To me, there wasn't a more peaceful place in the entire world. World of the Living included.

"…Found you!"

I jumped at the close sounding voice, my head whipping in the direction of the sound.

Ichigo stood there, a grin on his face. Wrapped around his arm was a glowing red ribbon. My reiryoku..?

Grinning up at the strawberry, I motioned for him to sit beside me. "Did you track me down using my reiryoku?"

"Yeah, you weren't difficult to find once I found your reiryoku." Ichigo nodded, letting the ribbon fade away once again. "Rukia told me that you'd probably be near a pond in your Division, but I didn't know the Thirteenth was so large. I gave up just searching for you not too long ago and settled for finding your spirit ribbon."

"I should have known Rukia would have told you."

"Why did you leave?"

Sighing, I crossed my arms and leaned further back against the tree trunk. I fidgeted a bit, trying to get comfortable. "I had some things on my mind. I needed to get away and think for a bit. And this is where I always go when I need to clear my mind."

"It does seem peaceful here," Ichigo nodded, resting his back against the large tree trunk as well. His eyes scanned the smooth surface of the pond, watching as ripples occasionally skidded across its surface.

"You should see a sunset here. It's even more beautiful; that's my favorite time to visit. But the stars are pretty, too." I chuckled, resting my head back against the wood and gazing up at the twinkling stars. "On nights when I couldn't sleep I'd either sit on the roof of the barracks or come over here. Eventually, I'd fall asleep sitting right here."

"That…doesn't sound safe." Ichigo muttered, a deadpan expression on his face.

I shrugged, adverting my gaze from the stars so I stared at Ichigo instead. "Ukitake-Taicho and Rukia knew where I was. If they ever wondered where I was, this is the first place they'd check. Besides, I always had my Zanpakuto with me in case something happened. I've always been able to take care of myself."

"You don't have to take care of yourself anymore. There are others who are willing to help, you know." Ichigo muttered, meeting my gaze for a second before looking away.

"I know, but it's still difficult." I shook my head, bringing my knees up to my chest so I could rest my chin on them. "It's hard letting people in, sometimes. I'm not used to being so close to so many people, but I do like it. It's just going to take some getting used to. Everyone has to get off of their high horse at some point in their life, right?"

Ichigo chuckled, sliding down and getting comfortable next to me. "I suppose so."

"Then…you wouldn't be mad when I said that I planned to stay on my high horse for a little bit longer?"

"What do you mean?" The strawberry asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he turned to look at me. "Jun?"

"I want to get stronger," I muttered, burying my face in my hakama pants to seek some comfort. "I spoke with Yoruichi, and she said that she would train me if I gave her a couple of days to relax and explain everything with Urahara. She wants to train me here. I told her it was fine."

"So…" Ichigo spoke, pausing to try and piece my words together. "You're staying here, in the Soul Society, too?"

My head rose of its own accord so I could stare directly into Ichigo eyes; it literally felt like my heart was being squeezed from the confused look he was giving me. "For a little bit longer, yeah."

"How much longer?"

"It shouldn't be too long, just long enough for Yoruichi to help me reach Bankai. I've already mastered getting Ankoku-Tatsu to visibly materialize…so I shouldn't be that much further away from getting it." I explained, and then tried to keep the conversation light. "I can't be falling behind you, now can I?"

Ichigo's lips twitched up into a smile. "That's right."

"Besides, if I stay here for a bit longer, I'll miss a few days of school. It's supposed to start up again soon, isn't it?"

"Yeah, as soon as we get back; I think…" Ichigo mumbled.

"I'll be back before you guys know it, though." I added, sheepishly grinning up at the strawberry. "And I'll be back and aggravating you before you know it."

Ichigo laughed, shaking his head. "I'll take your word for it."

"Good."

It was quiet for a few moments, each of us staring off into space. I didn't know where his thoughts were taking him, but I knew my mind was finally peaceful.

I felt a gentle tug, fingers running through my hair. My cheeks were probably tainted scarlet, but I still turned my eyes towards Ichigo to see why he was doing that.

"Oh, um…" Ichigo stuttered, quickly withdrawing his hand. "I was just remembering a conversation I had with Yoruichi… She said that she was shocked that you had let your hair get so long as to touch your shoulders… What did she mean by that?"

"Hm," I hummed, tilting my head to the side as I looked up at the blushing berry. "Well, it's simple really. Yoruichi knew me when I was younger; more specifically, she knew me when Urahara took me in. I had just been through the darkest years of my life, so I was really closed off. My parents were touchy subjects, but I remembered everything about them. I couldn't look into a mirror without remembering them… I looked just like Kaa-San, except for the eyes, those were Tou-Sans. Kaa-San always kept her hair really long, so I always kept mine trimmed short. I didn't want to see them when I looked into a mirror."

"But you've let it grow out now..?"

"Unintentionally, for the most part." I sadly smiled. "Time just seemed to pass by so quickly since I left for Karakura Town. Time passed, my hair grew a bit. I just never got around to trimming it. But… I also talked about my parents for the first time…to you. I guess that was the first start of moving on. Now, I don't think I mind having long or short hair."

"Yoruichi was right… You have changed a lot." Ichigo grinned.

Returning the grin, I chuckled a bit. "Yeah, but I think that it's all your fault. If you didn't take Rukia's powers, then I wouldn't have been sent to Karakura. If I wasn't sent to Karakura, I wouldn't have changed for the better."

Ichigo's grin stretched, pulling me closer to him as he ruffled my hair.

"Ichigo~!" I whined, struggling to get away. "Not the hair...!"

The strawberry only laughed, ruffling my hair a bit rougher for a split second before stopping and grinning down at me. Rolling my eyes, my hands flew up to my messed up hair.

"That's so not fair; you don't have hair that I can mess up!" I pouted, but an evil glint formed in my eyes. "But…that won't stop me from ruffling your hair!"

With the evil grin still stretched across my lips, I quickly rose to my knees and turned towards the unsuspecting strawberry. My hands quickly flew out to meet his hair, ruffling the soft tangerine locks.

"O-Oi..! Stop it!"

"Never!" I laughed, "It's called payback, you strawberry!"

Cinnamon eyes narrowed dangerously at me, but I didn't take much heed; he deserved this for all the times he'd ruffled my hair! But before I could blink, Ichigo's hands had circled around my wrists. Tugging me forward, I fell into his chest with my wrists trapped in his grip.

"That's not fair, Ichi-" I paused, my eyes widening once I realized how close Ichigo and I were once I lifted my head from his chest. We were almost eye to eye; I could even feel the tip of my nose brush against his nose. Our lips were mere centimeters apart. "…go…"

I could feel my heart rate speed up, the small organ thumping loudly against my ribcage and echoing in my ears. Not only that, but I could feel my breathing speed up and hitch. Ichigo's warm cinnamon eyes were closer than ever, displaying an emotion that I had never seen play across his face. His gaze lowered for a few seconds, to my lips, before meeting my gaze once more.

My eyelids felt heavy, close to fluttering shut. The strawberry's eyelids were already partially closed as well, our gazes not really on one another for a moment; no, we were too focused on how close our lips were, and how much closer they got with each passing moment.

Ichigo's lips grazed shyly against my own, making my breath hitch in my throat once more. Just when he released my wrists and began to back away, I pushed myself closer to him. My hands re-tangled themselves in his hair again, nails lightly dragging across his scalp and enticing a quiet groan from him. As our lips continued to move against each other's, one of his hands wrapped around my waist while the other stroked up and down my spine. I shivered in pleasure at his touch, pressing myself closer to his chest.

When we pulled away for air, my eyes fluttered open and met Ichigo's dark cinnamon tinted eyes.

Biting my lip out of nervousness couldn't stop the upward twitches my lips were jerking in. "Well…that was unexpected."

"…Very." Ichigo breathed out, closing his eyes to try and gain some control over his emotions.

"I don't regret it." I idly mentioned, looking up at his face. "I mean it."

Scowl gone for once, Ichigo's lips twitched into a smirk. "Well, that's good to know."

Chuckling, I shook my head in exasperation. I dropped my hands from his hair, turning around on his lap and leaning back against his chest. Before he could speak, I took his hands in my own, resting them on my stomach as I tilted my head to look up at the stars.

"Ichigo," I started, as I adverted my gaze from the dark sky to look at him for a second. "I'm glad we got to spend a bit more time together before you guys leave tomorrow. This was definItely memorable…"

"You did want to make memories, didn't you?" Ichigo questioned, leaning down a bit so that his lips brushed against the shell of my ear as he spoke. Shivers cascaded down my spine each time his lips made contact; I could tell his lips had twitched into a smirk as he talked. Wrapping his arms tighter around my midsection, he chuckled a bit. "Maybe this'll give you more incentive to hurry home."

"Yeah, I think it will."