So I am re-watching Bleach and I am currently on episode 27 and I just wanted to write a small fan-fic about Ichigo appearing in one of Rukia's dreams while she is imprisoned in the tower before her execution. And sorry if the ending feels a little bit rushed, but I just didn't want to jump forward and miss a lot of the things that are happenening in between. And sorry for my bad explanation of the execution, I simply forgot what the execution thing is called. Hope you can forgive me for that and still enjoy this short story!

She leaned her head against the cold stone wall and closed her eyes. Her thoughts went to the young man with the orange hair she had met that led her to put herself in this situation. On his amber eyes. On the confusion and pain, she saw in them the last time they had seen each other. At the words she had said to him before following her childhood friend Abarai Renji and her brother Kuchiki Byakuya through the gate that would lead them back to the Soul Society.

If you follow me, I will never forgive you!

A sob escaped her, and she quickly wiped away the tears that ran down her cheeks. She was glad she was alone. If Renji had seen her tears, he would want to know why she was crying and that was something she didn't want him to know.

She knew she shouldn't have been so hard on Ichigo, but she just hadn't had time to explain the situation to him. She had not wanted to tell that she had committed a serious crime by lending her powers to him. She knew that he would worry about her and that if she explained the rules to him, he would only become more worried about her and want to protect her even more.

She had wanted to tell him that she had made a choice and that all choices have consequences. She had wanted to tell him that this was the consequence of her choice and that she intended to take the punishment given to her without the slightest objection.

There were also other things she wanted to tell him, but she didn't dare. How much she enjoyed being in his company, that he made her laugh, that he was the first real friend she had since becoming a Shinigami, that he made her see things in a unique perspective.

"Ichigo…"

"Rukia? Is that you?"

She opened her eyes to find that she was no longer in her cell in Shishinro but in a green meadow surrounded by flowers of assorted colours. A light breeze played with her hair and clothes, making them flutter slightly. A sound made her turn her head and when she saw what made the sound she gasped. In front of her stood a young man wearing the same clothes that all Shinigami's wore with a long, broad sword wrapped in a white binding. He had orange hair and amber eyes. His name was Kurosaki Ichigo, and he was the young man she gave her powers to.

What was he doing here? He should be dead! After all, her brother had hijacked both his Saketsu (Chain of Fate) and Hakusui (Soul Sleep). If, by all accounts, he had survived Byakuya's attack, he would not have been able to regain the Shinigami powers that Rukia had given him. They were gone!

"Ichigo…"

"Rukia!" Ichigo ran up to her and hugged her tightly. "Rukia, how are you? Are you unharmed? Did they hurt you?"

Rukia shook her head. "I feel good. I'm locked in a tower awaiting my execution."

Ichigo sighed in relief and pulled away from Rukia a bit so he could look her in the eyes. "Good to hear. I was worried that they would have mistreated you."

"They have no reason to treat me badly. I'm locked in and can't escape. I may have committed a serious crime, but I intend to take my punishment without complaint. After all, I was the one who made the choice to give my powers to you, Ichigo."

"You shouldn't have to be executed for wanting to help someone who was in danger, Rukia! Isn't that what you Shinigami's are supposed to do? Helping people in danger."

"Yeah, but we can't be seen while we're doing it."

"That is total bullshit if you ask me. You saved my life and risked yours at the same time! You shouldn't have to be punished for that!"

Rukia smiled and placed her hand on Ichigo's cheek. "I appreciate your honesty Ichigo, but the truth is I was just doing what I thought was right in the situation I was in. Now I have to face the consequences and I intend to do so with my head held high."

Ichigo didn't answer and instead put his hand over Rukia's which was on his cheek. He hadn't taken his eyes off her for a second. Rukia wondered what he was thinking and was just about to ask when Ichigo caught up.

"Rukia, I'm going to save you. I have been training with Urahara under his store for ten days. He helped me get my Shinigami powers back. It turns out that Byakuya only took away your powers that you gave me, while my own, hidden powers remained. I've even managed to talk to my Zanpakuto."

Ichigo placed his free hand on the sword hilt and drew his sword. The band around the sword slipped off and Rukia could now see Ichigo's new Zanpakuto. It was half black and half white. The hilt was covered in the same white band that had been around the sword instead of a scabbard and the blade tapered at the tip.

"This is Zangetsu."

Rukia stared at Ichigo's sword. She had known from the first moment that there was something special about Ichigo, but that he would be a Shinigami... That thought had never crossed her mind and now that she knew the truth, everything became clear for her. Now she understood how Ichigo was able to do things that he shouldn't have been able to do, since she had thought he was an ordinary person who could see the dead.

Rukia slowly raised her hand and placed it over Zangetsu. She slowly stroked the sword as she looked at Ichigo. "Zangetsu…"

Ichigo smiled. "You didn't expect this, did you?"

Rukia couldn't help but laugh. "No, not really. I knew there was something special about you from the beginning Ichigo, but I never imagined it would be something like this…"

"I am much stronger now than I was before. Right now, I am here in the Soul Society in a cave with Shihouin Yoruichi who will train me so I can become even stronger." Ichigo pushed Rukia's hand that was over his cheek. "I will save you, Rukia. It doesn't matter what you say because you won't make me change my mind. You saved my life and my family's life and I have not had the opportunity to repay that favour. I'm not going to leave you in the lurch. No matter how many Shinigami's I must fight, I will find you in time. I will free you, Rukia, you have my word on that."

"Ichigo…" Rukia whispered, feeling new tears rise in her eyes.

Ichigo smiled a pitying smile and brushed away her tears. "See you soon, Rukia. Next time it will be for real."

"What do you mean?" Rukia asked but instead of answering Ichigo leaned forward and gave her forehead a kiss before disappearing.

She opened her eyes and found herself back in her cell. It had all been just a dream. A wishful dream of being saved, of having the opportunity to meet Ichigo again.

She noticed the tears running down her cheeks but this time she didn't wipe them away but let them flow. She looked out at the execution site below her where she would meet her fate in a few days.

Had it really been a dream? It had felt so real… And she knew that Ichigo and a few others were here in the Soul Society, because she had been told that by Renji the day she was escorted here. She hadn't wanted to believe Renji then, but now…

"Ichigo, you idiot… You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. You will get yourself and your friends killed. It doesn't matter how much you practice; you have no chance against the captains."

She once again looked out at the execution site and to her surprise found that, against all odds, she felt…

Hope.

The day of her execution had come, and she now hung in the air with the great firebird that would take her life before her. Even though she knew she wouldn't be saved, she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. She had so wanted to see Ichigo's face one last time. She had wanted to tell him so many things, but now she would never get the chance…

She smiled and let tears of relief, loss, anguish, and sadness roll down her cheeks. Now it would all be over soon, and she wouldn't have to feel anything ever again. She closed her eyes and saw Ichigo in front of her as he appeared in her dream.

"Thank you for everything, Ichigo…" she said, feeling the bird get ready.

Nothing happened. Several seconds passed and she frowned. When she opened her eyes, Ichigo was standing in front of her. He held Zangetsu behind his back, blocking the bird from getting to her. He had a smile on his face as he said, "Nice to see you again, Rukia."

"I-Ichigo…?"

"I said I would save you, didn't I? I always keep my promises, Rukia."

Ichigo turned and looked up at the bird. "Excuse me, but you are in the way." He turned and swung Zangetsu in a wide arc and the bird disappeared. Where it had just been there was now only empty air.

Rukia took a deep breath and was about to say something when Ichigo lifted her up in his arms. He pressed her body against his own and leaned into her until their faces were only a few centimetres apart. He looked her in the eyes and said, "Never do this again, Rukia."

"Ichigo, I…" Rukia began but was interrupted by Ichigo's lips pressing against hers. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Ichigo's neck before kissing him back. Ichigo pushed her even closer and deepened the kiss.

Once they separated, both Shinigami's were out of breath and Rukia found her cheeks had reddened. She looked into Ichigo's eyes and in them she could see his true feelings for her. How much he yearned her. That he would do anything to keep her safe.

"Now that I have you in my arms, I will never let you go again, Kuchiki Rukia."

"I want nothing more than to have your arms around me, Kurosaki Ichigo," Rukia replied before once again letting her lips wrap around Ichigo's.