...

Will we be able to go back?

I still long for even that last moment

I'm still like that, into the falling rain

Into my tears,

Bring me back to the summer storm

When it was you and I

...

...

...

Summer was coming to an end. Ichigo found himself thrown into the monotonous, repetitive cycle that was high school life once again. Except now, despite having his powers and life being somewhat "normal".. it wasn't.

What was he working towards?

He didn't have an answer anymore.

August, September, October, November, December... all the months seemed to pass by life a leaf blowing in the wind- barely a whisper before it was over. January rolled around, and he skipped the new years get-together his friends were having on the excuse of taking his sisters to see fireworks.

But it was hard to find beauty in something that was so momentary.

As graduation approached, his classmates began to buzz even more about the future. Everyone was excited for the possibilities that lay ahead- college, work, getting to become adults that were stepping into the world for the first time.

There was a part of him that felt like he was being left behind.

"What will you do, Sado?"

The taller man looked up from his book, to his companion who sat across the library study table from him. "About what?"

"College." Uryu replied, his keen grey-blue eyes regarding his friend. "I spoke with Inoue-san about it, but she said she doesn't believe he was serious when he said what he said. She plans to go on with her goals for college.. I can't blame her for it."

Sado nodded, "Neither can I. But I also can't ignore the reality of our situation."

"Well, I've made up my mind."

He raised a brow in surprise. "...You will really take over the hospital in your father's place?"

"That's the eventual plan." Uryu closed his book and leaned back in his chair slightly. "For now, I'm going to have to deal with college.. it will be a while before I get to such a goal."

"I see.." Sado looked away. "...I've decided to forget going to veterinary school. I've already received a scholarship offer for doing boxing professionally... I may take something like that up instead."

"Is that really what you want to do?"

The two exchanged a meaningful look.

No.

"I don't suppose taking your father's place at Karakura General is what you wanted to do with your life?"

Uryu sighed.

"We don't have a choice... if there's a chance our choices can make a difference..."

"But what about Kuchiki-san?" Sado's tone changed from quiet to almost sorrowful. "It seems like she was ten steps ahead of us when it comes to keeping Ichigo safe."

"I know." Uryu sighed, and rubbed his eyes in frustration. "I can't imagine that Ywach will be able to return under the circumstances, if what he said was true. But we can't take any chances. I've already decided to do this. At least my father will be pleased." The last part was said with a bit of snark.

"Yeah."

It was June. In only 2 and a half more months, everyone would be starting college. Ichigo sighed, rolling to his side.

It had been a fairly normal week, all things considered. He had been coerced by Tatsuki to meet her and the others at the movies in order to hang out before she left to visit her relatives out of the city for the summer. They'd gotten ice cream afterwards, and went to the park, he and Sado sat under a tree while everyone else spread a blanket she had kept in her car onto the grass to sit down. It had only been 20 minutes in when Inoue had gotten a message on her phone, looked down, and let out a very loud squeal of delight, which alerted everyone.

"Oh my god- oh, my god!" she was all but jumping in her seat, her cheeks pink as everyone looked at her in surprise. Tatsuki leaned in her direction, curious of her friend's obvious excitement.

"What, Orihime? What is it?"

Orihime stuck her phone out for all to see, despite the fact that it was still quite sunny out and her phone screen was too small for everyone to look at. "Abarai-kun just texted me- he said Rukia-chan's 4 months pregnant!"

Well. If there was a way to make ice cream immediately taste like sawdust to Ichigo, that had done it. But he dared to not betray his emotions by showing it on his face, and instead shoved a spoonful of it in his mouth despite not being able to taste it anymore.

Kill me. Just let me die, right here.. or let me dissipate into the air...

The news immediately became the topic, everyone buzzing about it and giggling over the idea, imagining Rukia as a mother and, Renji, laughably, as a father. Tatsuki sarcastically praying for the baby to come out with Rukia's features, rather then the father's. Keigo wailing about how unfair it was that someone like "that red-haired guy" got to be with Kuchiki-san but not him.

Ichigo felt fortunate that no one dared to ask him his opinion on it, nor did he say a word. He wouldn't have been able to say anything anyway.. what could he. It was like the ending of the end... the final dredges of salt on the wound that was his heartbreak.

A week later, Ichigo lay in his bed on a cool Sunday evening. It was officially summer, and there was not much to do besides his part-time job, which he was still trying to get more hours for. It was then he heard his phone buzz, the screen lighting up. He picked it up, seeing a group text message on his phone.

(1) message

from: Mizuiro

If you get this message, you are hereby invited to my giant end of summer party being held in my house! 9:00, two Saturdays from now.

Ichigo held absolutely no interest in parties. But he knew he probably owed it to Mizuiro, and to his other "living-world" friends as well- to go and be with them for a while. It would be the last time they would all be in the same place, possibly ever, and almost all would be attending, the only exception being Tatsuki, who was visiting relatives with her family out of the city.

So with all the reluctance he could have, slipped his leather jacket and pocketed his phone and keys, and left.

It was exactly has he had expected a party thrown by Mizuiro to be. Loud, flashing lights, almost like a nightclub, but, he assumed, cleaner. There was also many women there he did not recognize, but managed to find his friends and classmates. Sado, Inoue, Keigo, Mizuiro, and even Ishida all waited for him, calling his name and ushering for him to sit down. He did so, greeting them all while attempting to pointedly ingnore Inoue's gaze on him, feeling incredibly awkward of it.

The party delved from talking and hanging out to getting absolutely shit-face wasted as the night went on, and he was no exception. He certainly hadn't planned on it, and had never been interested nor had a desire for drinking, but didn't learn until a glass in that almost every drink there, was in fact, spiked with some type of liquor. He should've known.

2 a.m. rolled around and he found his head swimming, and decided to leave, no longer feeling able to keep going. He stood up, wobbling all the way, yelling over the booming music to Mizuiro and the others that he was going to leave. Keigo pleaded for him to stay, but his mind was already made up, and he stood and grabbed his jacket, giving a final wave to Mizuiro before heading out.

It was so loud and chaotic, no one even noticed Inoue quietly slip out and go after him.

Ichigo stumbled along the sidewalk. Despite how incredibly drunk he was, he knew it was not a long walk from his house- and in the worst scenario, could call a taxi. However, he DID have to admit that his vision was blurring a little and the normally straight sidewalk seemed to be twisting in a very odd way...

"Kursosaki-kun!"

He tried very hard to pretend he didn't hear Inoue calling out to him from behind- or at least, that's what she assumed. In reality it was more like his mind could only focus on one thing at a time, and right now that thing was walking without tripping on something invisible. Besides, she was a little less drunk than he was, and caught up with him easily- after all, he was walking a lot slower then he thought he was.

She caught his arm, and seemed to be speaking to him, but he didn't really understand what he was saying.. before he knew it, he was being pulled by the arm by Inoue. If he hadn't been so drunk, he'd be questioning where they were going, as well as Inoue's out-of-character boldness. But he couldn't, and could only stumble along as she pulled him by the arm.

Inoue turned the key to open the front door of her dark, empty apartment, jittering with alcohol and with nerves. She could hardly believe she was doing what she was doing, even in her drunken state everything felt like it was happening in a dream, not in real life. She shoved the door open and pulled Ichigo inside. He seemed to hold a confused expression, but she ignored it as she quickly shut the door, not wanting any of the neighbors to see- although who would at this hour?

Silence.

She turned slowly, back to face Ichigo. He still looked confused, like he thought he was in his house but couldn't recognize any of the area.

Do it. No, wait, don't-

Oh, just do it! If he rejects you, then that's that..

You can stop hoping.

She sucked in a breath, took one big step forward, and seized the guy she felt she loved by the shirt, both of her small hands balling into fists as she pulled him forward with every ounce of strength and bare, drunk recklessness, and kissed him hard on the lips.

An hour later, Ichigo awoke with a sudden jolt. The moment his eyes opened he winced, despite the fact that no lights were on. Every inch of his body seemed to ache, especially his head, which felt like a balloon so full of pressure it could explode any moment. He sat up slowly with a groan, his hand pressing at his temples, when sudden realization dawned on him-

This was NOT his house.

Immediate anxiety twisted in his stomach, he felt the back of his neck burning as he looked around the room, not understanding where on earth he was or why on earth he was not in his room-

he heard someone snore softly next to him.

Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. Oh no. Oh my god.

He turned to his left slowly, daring not to even take a breath, as he looked down to see who was sleeping in the futon next to him-

A very naked Inoue snoring away, her long dark orange hair messily splayed over her pillow, the blanket only pulled to her waist, which meant he could see her bare chest rising softly every time she took a breath, and-

was that semen splattered over her stomach.

A hand flew up to clamp over his mouth as he forced himself from immediately throwing up the contents of whatever was in his stomach, his mind screaming 100 different things a second-

Oh god!

What the fuck did I do?

What the fuck!

I have to get out NOW.

Ichigo stood immediately, trying very hard to make no noise and not throw up from his headache and stop freaking out as he grabbed his pants, pulling them up as fast as possible. He ran out the bedroom door, not even bothering to stop and put on his shoes, instead grabbing them off the floor, he slowed just enough to open the front door as silently as possible, thanking god that Inoue was apparently a heavy sleeper, and bolted out the front door.

He ran as fast as he could, feeling incredibly lucky that it was 3 a.m. and not a soul was awake to see his absolutely breathless, horrified run of shame. He did not stop until he reached his house- which was luckily not too far away- and that was when he put his shoes on, opened the door and quietly slipped inside.

He stripped off his clothes, throwing them in the hamper in disgust as he pulled on his pajamas, trying not to have a complete breakdown over what he was about 90% sure he had just done-

a drunken one night stand with his own CLASSMATE... a person he considered a friend.

Oh god.

How could he? How could he? His conscience repeated the question as he brushed his teeth quickly, wishing he could shower but not wanting to wake anyone up, he snuck to his room, locking the door behind him and collapsing into his bed face-down on the pillow, struggling to not just sob into it.

How could you? Your own classmate! You're disgusting!

You don't even feel that way about her!

How did this happen? How? Why??

I don't remember anything!

Did I take advantage of her?

I have to apologize.

I cant face her!

It was these thoughts that Ichigo dozed off into a fitful, restless sleep, unaware that life was, unfortunately for him, not yet done ravaging his soul.