AN: A little idea struck me, when I was bored…and most of the good fanfics hadn't been updated…and I read all the ones that were updated…and no one was reading my other fanfic…blah blah XD… Anyway, since this story is AU please excuse any OOCness you find. It's kinda hard to write IchiRuki when both of them don't like expressing their feelings..but that's the challenge right? Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Return to no Home – Chapter 1: Leaving and Starting

A fanfiction written by MultipleCyrosis

Kurosaki Ichigo. The breeze slightly lifted his orange hair, which hung lazily on his forehead. He shivered momentarily. Today was freezing, and being out in the wee hours of the morning didn't help the cold.

In front of the gates of the school he just stood there, the stillness about him suggested peace in his mind. However, in his mind, anything but peace reigned.

Why…did she die?

Pain was etched along his chiseled face. It was rare to see such complete and utter sadness. Unfortunately this was a face that many teenagers make. Too much had lost their families, their friends.

He cursed silently, not even hoping that this new environment he was going to would help his predicament. Right now, school was just a thing that government required him to complete. After it finished he didn't know what he was going to do with his life. Hopefully he would be over her death by then…

- - -

Kuchiki Rukia. The leader of the most popular group in high-school. Petite, raven black hair, and an attitude that would shut down most boys in an instant, if her good looks hadn't smitten them first. Even though most would agree that she looked good when she smiled, right now her face was sad.

She lay in bed, anticipating the year to come. Her hair was ruffled slightly, from sleeping, but she didn't do anything to correct it. Her mind was too busy focusing on what she had been through yesterday.

"I've been called to a program in the USA."

"What?"

"I have to take it. They'll pay for my last year of school, and I can also get a job…"

"But…that means…"

"Yeah…I'll be leaving…Sorry…"

"No…"

"I love you…"

"Don't go!"

"Goodbye, Rukia…Take care…"

"Renji!"

Gone. Out of her grasp. Ever since he had been small Renji had been occupied with the 'bigger picture', as he called it. And now, he had left to pursue his dream…something she could hardly grudge against him. It was his personality. But she loved him…dearly…so much so that she couldn't let him go.

I'll wait for him…she decided in her mind, as a lone tear made its way down the side of her soft face. Meanwhile, she would just have to get through this last school year without him by her side.

- - -

The doctor surveyed the mess on the floor. They had just moved last night, so most of their things weren't unpacked. He sighed. His kids weren't up, and he didn't expect them to be. They were tired, his kids. Not tired as in they slept late, even though they did, but tired of moving around. Moving around the country of Japan was no easy feat. However, the career path that him and his wife had chosen had required just that. Constant traveling.

Isshin sighed again; as he bent down to open an unpacked box.

Did I do the right thing, honey?

The box contained kitchen utensils. Isshin started to grab them and then absentmindedly wondered how they would get along without her cooking.

I'm…we are not going to move anymore. We're back in the place you loved…But without you…We aren't going to move anymore…

I know, he thought as he finished unpacking that box, that this is what you would have wanted us to do…

- - -

The school jacket fluttered slightly. Kurosaki Ichigo blinked. "Karakura high-school, huh?" A thought crossed his mind, and he grinned, in spite of what he was feeling.

When his mother was alive, they wouldn't stay in the same place for very long. This meant his school life, and friends changed fairly fast. However, there was one time when his family stayed in the same place for quite a long time. His mother was pregnant with his twin sisters, and the headquarters did not request their movement for an extended amount of time. That was when he was 4 years old. His family, along with two new members, Yuzu and Karin, had settled comfortably for about 4 years, then headquarters had decided that his mum had had enough child-raising time, and they called her and his father to work in a new area.

Those 4 years…was the most memorable thing that happened in his whole life of 18 years. And now, he was back. This area, Karakura, was Yuzu's and Karin's birthplace. At least they would be a bit happier here, Ichigo mentally told himself. But him…This area…he should be happy to be here…but he wasn't. The whole reason why they were here was because his mother had died.

Last night, his father had given him a short talk after his sisters had fallen asleep.

"We aren't going to be moving after this."

"Huh?"

"You heard me. I'm starting up a permanent clinic here."

"Dad…"

"It'll be better for your sisters."

"Yeah…"

So they weren't going to be moving around after this. Great. The time the family decided to stop moving around was when he only had one year of high-school left. Well, at least Karin and Yuzu wouldn't have to move anymore.

He absentmindedly took a look at his watch. He knew he had gotten here way early, but that was only because he wanted to take a walk around the block, to see if any thing rang a bell. None did, however, but Ichigo didn't mind. He only thought it natural since he hadn't been here for 10 years. But one thing…

- - -

7:30 AM

Time to get up. Rukia groaned. She didn't want to go to school. She was feeling…crap. In spite of her thoughts she still sat up, and got out of her bed. She glanced at her window to see what the weather was like, so she could plan what clothes she was going to wear.

Her eyes widened slightly, in surprise.

The window of the house next door, which was level with her window, had the vertical blinds open. That house was abandoned...wasn't it? But she wasn't mistaken. There was now a bed, and some furniture haphazardly scattered about the room. She shook the thoughts from her head, and reminded herself what she was looking out the window for. It was slightly sunny, but still…she opened her window and stuck a slender hand out to test the temperature. Slightly chilly.

As she walked to the bathroom, she couldn't help but wonder who had moved into the house next door.

As she showered, her thoughts turned back to Renji. The cocky, red-haired guy that she had been with since she entered high-school. Looking back now, she couldn't believe that she had been with him so long. But now…she shook her head, causing water to splat on the shower walls. They were still together…He had just gone…for a little while.

Rukia changed into her school uniform, but as she walked out of her room, she grabbed her school jacket and scarf. As she walked to the kitchen, in an attempt to keep her mind off Renji she pondered upon whether her new neighbours were going to be nice, friendly, loud, angry…whether they had kids about her age…at that point her thoughts fell back on her boyfriend.

- - -

7:30AM

Ichigo looked up from his wristwatch. Damn. It was still way to early for school. His stomach grumbled. Oh well, he might as well go back to his home to get a bite to eat. He trudged the 15-minute walk to his house, and noted without much interest that the house next to them was colossal.

Hell, it was a mansion. He momentarily wondered about the people that lived there. Definitely snobs, he decided. You couldn't own a house like that without being a rich snob. And, they had built a fancy high fence around their land, which only encouraged Ichigo's thoughts. Too good to be included with the rest of community he supposed. With that last thought, he entered his house.

AN: Well, what do you think… I know it's a bit gloomy and doomy but oh well…hehehe, well this is just a little fic I wanted to write so yeah…Hopefully, if it gets enough support I'll continue it fast...for now its just a secondary thing I'm doing...I really should finish writing ASJ first... Cyaz!