A/N: Thanks for the lovely reviews! I'm still debating if I should do Orihime's story, but honestly, I probably will. When I get writer's block on this story, I'll work on hers to get my creative juices flowing. This chapter is…kind of boring and short but filled with important information that will be referenced to in future, more exciting chapters. Trust me on this. So pay attention to details! Next chapter will be better. Promise. Anyways, keep reading, enjoying, and reviewing! Love you all!

I sigh as I sit down. I've suddenly lost my appetite, but Yuzu is watching me, so I take a bit of whatever she made, not tasting it. She seems satisfied, and she excuses herself to help the old man at the clinic, saying something about how there are more patients than usual. She tells Rukia and I to stay, eat, and catch up as she leaves.

If Rukia notices the change in my mood, she doesn't comment on it, and for that, I'm grateful. Still pissed that she won't delete the pictures on her phone but grateful nonetheless.

"So why are you here? I thought Kyoraku-san said he couldn't spare anybody."

She looks up from her phone. "Captain-Commander," she corrects. I roll my eyes. "He can't, but he gave me permission to come visit for a day."

"Just for the day? That sounds…"

"Suspicious. Yes, I know."

"And what are you doing on your phone?'

"Reporting to Captain Kurotsuchi."

"Reporting what?" I ask.

She shrugs her shoulders. "Everything." She finally looks away from her phone. "Apparently, there has been unusual activities occurring."

"Like what?"

"Well…" she hesitates. "I'm not really sure. That's why I was instructed to report everything. I also have to wear this." She holds out her wrist. It's a bracelet. I reach out and inspect it, but it seems like something you would see at the store.

"What does it do?"

"No idea. Captain Kurotsuchi gave it to me before I left. I can't take it off until I get back."

"Bunch of weirdos," I insult under my breath.

"I also have to deliver something to Urahara."

"Sounds like your just running errands for them."

"Nothing I could do about it. It was an order. Speaking of orders, how are you doing?" She's referring to the one-month restriction.

I ignore her. "How's everything over there?"

She exhales. "It's chaos. There is much to be done. Buildings need to be rebuilt, the Gotei 13 needs reformation…bodies to bury, people to grieve for." I flinch at that. After defeating Ywach, I saw the amount of damage everything and everyone took. The fourth division could only do so much to save those who could be saved. If Inoue had been there, she would have been able to rescue more people, but Chad told me later that she had her hands full with healing the injured at The Soul King Palace despite the wounds she suffered herself.

"Is there anything—"

She shakes her head before I can even finish. "Rest and relax, Ichigo. You deserve it."

"Tch. I would relax if I could use my powers," I tell her.

It's her turn to roll her eyes. "It's only three more weeks. You humans are too impatient."

My eye twitches. "Says the—"

"Ichigo! I need your help!" My dad yells.

I get from my chair as does Rukia. "I'm going to Urahara's. I'll be back." I nod and head over to my dad.

For the rest of the day, I help dad with data entry, inventory, and everything in between. It's a great way to keep my mind off of things, and by the time he lets me go, it's already late.

I find Rukia reading some manga on my bed.

"What have I told you about lying on my bed?" I ask with annoyance.

"What?!" She gasps. "So only Inoue-san gets a free pass? I see how it is." She smirks as I blush.

"That's not…Shut up!"

She covers her ears. "So loud," she complains.

I shoo her off my bed and lay down. "It's my room. I can be as loud as I want. And your bracelet's missing," I add as an afterthought while I close my eyes.

"Huh? When did I?" I open one of my eyes and look at her just in time to see her dive into the closet, looking for it.

"Forget about it. It's just a piece of jewelry."

"I hope you're right." She sighs and stands.

"Where are you going?"

"Inoue-san's. I was thinking about staying at her place, and then I'll leave from there in the morning."

"She'll like that," I say as I turn on my back. I look at the ceiling. "I think…I think she could use some company."

"What makes you say that? Did something happen?" I can hear the worry in her voice.

"Maybe," I tell her truthfully. Something I did upset Inoue, and maybe Rukia could cheer her up. It's a task that I seem to be failing at lately. "And you better apologize to her about the photos."

"The only one who needs to apologize is you for being a perve—" I chuck the manga she was reading at her. She ducks. "It was nice to see you, too."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Take care of yourself," she says as she leaves.

Finally, it's quiet…until I hear a thump on my window. I get up and open it. Kon drags himself through.

"I almost forgot to return him to you! You're welcome!" Rukia yells while waving goodbye. I scowl.

"Ichigo! You bastard! You and Inoue-san?! Since when?! You traitor!" Kon jumps on my face, punching my head. I rip him off me, and he struggles in my grip. He keeps complaining as I walk out of my room.

"Yuzu!"

"Yes?" She's now at the bottom of the staircase.

"Guess who's back?" I toss Kon to her, and she catches him. She hugs him close and squeals something about dressing him up. I could swear I see Kon glare at me.

I chuckle as I fall back onto my bed, thankful that I got rid of him. I would have to deal with him eventually, but I don't have the energy today. Besides helping dad, this morning had been taxing in its own way.

Shit. I had done such a good job blocking it. Rukia's presence and the endless number of things I had to do had made it easy to keep my mind from thinking about her. About this morning. But now everything has calmed down, and I can no longer stop my memories.

I can smell her. Her scent lingers on my sheet, my pillow, maybe even the mattress itself. I can even smell her in my memories, and I can't really describe in words how she smelled. All I know is that she smelled good.

It takes me a second to realize that I had my pillow pressed against my nose. Immediately, I fling it away from me.

What's wrong with me?! Why was I sniffing my pillow like a dog? I close my eyes, disgusted with myself. But that's a mistake. A big mistake.

Images of Inoue start to fill my thoughts. Her in my arms. Me in hers. Our legs intertwined. Me with my face against her…

My eyes snap open.

Okay, so I can't close my eyes. It's not safe. I can't breathe through my nose. That's not safe either. But even with my eyes wide open and with me breathing through my mouth, without my permission, I start to remember how her skin felt. Even with my callous hands, she had felt so soft and smooth and…

I jump out of bed.

"What the hell!" I keep repeating it as I hit my head with my fists, trying to get her out of my mind. "What the hell is wrong with me!"

I grab a book from my desk, and I force myself to read it. Distractions…I need distractions, and it works for a while, but only for a while before an image of her takes over the words on the pages.

"Nope." I start to pace in my room.

Kurosaki-kun~

"Not working." I rub my ears. I grab my headphones and put them on, turning my music on.

"Come on!" I knock them off my ears. Why can't I stop thinking about her?!

"Think about something else!" I command myself. "Anything!" And I force myself to think about something besides her, but once I realize that I can't, I try to focus on another memory of her.

And I regret it.

She left. She ran away from me. She couldn't even look me in the face. She didn't even say goodbye. She just…left.

She must've hated being next to me. She even said it herself. She was going to move, but I trapped her. She must hate me for it. She must hate me.

How am I going to face her tomorrow? It's going to be bad, but even worse…what would I do if she wouldn't face me?