Forgive Me

Summary: Ichigo and Rukia got back together but there a few things that they have to figure out about a Shinigami and a human's relationship.

I don't own Bleach and I don't own the song Forgive Me. Kudos to the people who own them! Merely putting the two concepts together, I suppose the idea, I can claim for myself.

Epilogue

Rukia and Ichigo made their way towards the Kuchiki Manor. Ichigo was able to stand up by himself but he still held Rukia's hand as they walked side by side. He was pretty beat up that was certain but he knew he deserved every kick and punch he got that night. It didn't matter though because he was back together with Rukia. He didn't mind that he actually have two pending sparring sessions with Renji and Zaraki, tonight Rukia was all that mattered to him.

"Are you all right Ichigo?" Rukia inquired as they made it inside the manor and was now in the garden.

"Other than a few broken ribs, my swollen jaw and a few bumps in the head I can say I'm okay," Ichigo said jokingly.

"Oh so you still haven't had enough. Are you provoking me to give you some more beating?" Rukia replied to his sarcasm.

"No what I need is for you to take good care of me since you're the one who beat me up," he said as he hugged her close to him. Rukia hugged him back but when he started to groan in pain she immediately released him.

"I'm sorry," she said as she led him inside the house. "Let's go to my room."

Ichigo had been inside the manor before but he was always dumbstruck by the vastness of the estate. It was almost as big as a palace and somehow he found it amusing that Rukia loved his closet space so much. She would even sneak out of his sisters' room to go and sleep in his closet again.

"I don't think I've ever been in your room?" he admitted to her a slight blush was on his cheeks.

"I think Nell may already be in there now. She should be able to help me heal you," Rukia said. They were almost at the end of the seemingly endless hall way.

"Oh you're going to make her drool on me," Ichigo said as he followed her still not letting go of her hand.

"It saved my life before, don't you remember when I got stabbed by Aaroniro you guys came and saved me. She used her saliva to heal all my wounds. If it wasn't for her I would be dead now," she told him.

"That's why I like that little squirt because she saved you, well, she saved the both of us," Ichigo admitted. "But I still like for you to do most of the healing just like before," he added. He remembered the times before Orihime gained healing powers it was Rukia who tended to his wounds. He realized how he loved each moment that he felt her reiatsu flowing in his body, restoring him back to health.

"I'll be the one to heal you since as you put it I have inflicted the damage I should be the one to fix it," Rukia replied as she stopped the door. She slid it open and Nell was pacing around holding Rukia's Chappy Plushie.

"Ichigo! Rukia!" she exclaimed as she ran towards them. "Why are you bleeding?" Nell inquired. "Did thomething happen?" she asked with concern.

"Ichigo fell off a cliff and so I brought him here so we can fix him up," Rukia replied right away. Ichigo just rolled his eyes thinking that Nell would not buy a silly explanation from Rukia but apparently she did. Rukia guided him down to her futon. She called one of the servants to bring in some fresh towels and a basin of warm water.

'She was still the same,' he thought to himself.

"Are you and Ichigo okay now?" Nell asked them again as she sat next to Ichigo who was on the futon. Rukia just grinned at her and nodded.

"I see you and Chappy are getting a long," Ichigo commented. The Chappy doll that Nell was holding was a gift he gave to Rukia.

"Rukia told me to that I can hold it if I'm thcared or lonely," Nell replied.

"And she's right. She also holds Chappy when she's scared," Ichigo replied. Rukia started cleaning him up first. She wiped the dirt on his face and cleaned his wounds. She removed his hakama and just left him with his gi on. She wiped the dirt and blood on his arms and his chest. His scars from the time he saved her were still evident on his chest. She absentmindedly traced it with her fingers.

"I did this to you to," she muttered to herself tears started to form in her eyes. "You got this when you saved me the first time," she added. "Is this really what you want? Somehow I feel like I'm a curse to the people I love. What if being with me would just endanger your life more?"

Ichigo placed his hands on hers. "Put it this way. If we can't be together then I'm good as dead," he said with a chuckle he touched her face and started to wipe her tears away. "You're the only one who can talk sense to me. Even if you like to hit me on the head or even if you often give me a hard kick on the shin I still love you. No one can handle Kurosaki Ichigo like you do," he added.

Rukia smirked. "Thanks for the vote of confidence and next time you discover something that would involve me in the picture, ask for my opinion first, as much as I love you, you can't go deciding for me without telling me about it," she told him.

Ichigo wanted to argue but decided not to. He was after all under her care and if he got into her nerves it may dim lethal for him. He just scratched the back of his head. Rukia started healing his bruised face. Ichigo basked in her reiatsu that he missed so much.

While they were talking Nell also healed most of Ichigo's injuries. After an hour, "Rukia I'm tired can we go to bed now?" Nell asked. "I want Ichigo to thtay here to, pleathe!" Nell begged.

The two adults blushed furiously. Rukia set the basin of water aside then helped Nell put their futon next to Ichigo. Nell slept in between the two. If anyone had seen them they looked like a happy family sleeping together.

The next day Ichigo woke up with the sun shining brightly in the room. Rukia was still sleeping soundly in his arms. Nell however was no where in the room. He started back at the sleeping form of Rukia. He somehow dreamed of one day always waking up with her in his arms.

"Ichigo," she muttered as she half opened her eyes. "Did Nell disappear again?" Rukia asked, she noticed how she was now resting in Ichigo's embrace.

Ichigo nodded. "Does she always disappear like this?" he asked.

"She always ends up under the Sakura tree when I wake up. I'm almost getting used to it," Rukia admitted as she sat up.

Ichigo sat up and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned back on his bear chest. He rested his chin on her head. "I love you," he muttered.

"I love you too," she replied as she faced him. He leaned down and kissed her. Rukia was lying back in the futon and Ichigo was on top of her and were sharing a very passionate moment.

"Eww… You two are kiththy kiththy," Nell's voice shook them back to their senses and they parted instantly. Nell giggled at the sight of the two of them red as tomatoes. She was dragging her futon behind her.

"Where were you young lady?" Rukia asked her pretending to be upset.

"I woke up latht night tho I went to the Thakura tree to Thleep," Nell replied still grinning. "You and Ichigo were thleeping tho I didn't want to wake you." The two adults went red again. "Nell ith hungry," the little one added.

"We'll get breakfast. But let's leave Ichigo here so he can get dressed," Rukia said as she stood up.

"I'll see you in a bit," Ichigo said as Rukia and Nell went out of the room. Ichigo started thinking of what he should do next. He eventually had to go back but he wasn't sure if Rukia would be allowed to go with him.

He finished dressing up and went outside the room he walked through the hallway trying to look for the dining area.

"Kurosaki, I need to speak with you," he heard Kuchiki Byakuya's voice from a room with the door slightly ajar.

Ichigo sighed before went inside. He was bound to speak with Byakuya so it was pointless to avoid the man. He was after all his girlfriend's brother.

"I see that you and Rukia had made up," It was more a statement than a question. "I want to ask you about your intentions for her?" the cold faced man asked while he was working on some paper work.

Ichigo wanted to tell him that it wasn't his fucking business but he didn't want to cause any uproar or take the chance in upsetting Rukia by fighting with her brother.

"I'm going out with her and I love her and I intend on marrying her someday," Ichigo replied to Byakuya with determination.

"You do know that she's part of a noble family thus she should marry someone from nobility or someone with high ranks. I will not meddle in your affairs now but if you really wish to marry her someday you will have to prove your worth. You must secure a position in Gotei 13 as first or second seat officer or prove that you are related to one of the noble families in Soul Society otherwise the clan would go against your union. Rukia is not just a regular Shinigami. She is part of a noble clan. If she will marry you, you should be able to provide her with all her needs. I am just making you aware of the possible consequences and responsibilities you will face if you intend to keep a relationship with my sister," Byakuya added in a rather serious tone.

"I'm well aware of that. And it does not change the fact that I love her and she loves me. I intend to protect her with my life and provide for her the best that I can. I don't know if my blood is in any lineage with the noble family of Sereitei but if you say that I should be a seated officer to marry Rukia then I will work hard to do just that," Ichigo replied with conviction

"That would be all, you can leave now," Byakuya said as he continued with his paper work.

Ichigo turned to the door and left. He was annoyed by the interrogation that Byakuya did but he was rather proud of himself because he was able to keep his cool. He finally found the dining room after going through almost a hundred rooms.

"Do you guys have a map? This place is huge not to mention all the doors look the same," Ichigo said as he proceed to join them for breakfast.

"Oh don't be silly. Eat some breakfast," Rukia offered as Ichigo sat beside her. Nell was busy eating her fish soup. Ichigo helped himself with some bread and tea. There were a lot of food in the table but he did not feel like eating too much.

The three were quietly eating breakfast when Byakuya came in the dinning area. Rukia and Nell stood up as if on queue and Ichigo even if he hated the idea of standing up did the same. When Byakuya sat down they all did the same.

"Rukia Ukitake-taicho told me that you need to report to your Headquarters before noon. I believe you have some important paper work to attend to. Pending reports from your last trip on earth presume," Byakuya said in his usual business like manner.

Ichigo just smirked and Rukia cleared her throat as if to warn her boyfriend not to cause any trouble. "I will go there right away nii-sama once I finish breakfast and after I drop off Nell to the academy," Rukia said trying to sound cheerful.

"Byakuya-nii-thama, can I go and play with Yachiru-chan again later after thchool?" Nell asked excitedly as she approached the stoic faced man. "Pleathe nii-thama," Nell begged.

Rukia wanted to stand up and get Nell. Ichigo just watched in amusement.

"All right, you can play with her but you cannot be excused from class like the last time. I will talk to Yachiru-chan to not disturb you in class. When your lessons are done then you can play," Byakuya replied trying to hide the affection in his voice.

"Thank you nii-thama," Nell said as she hugged the captain's arm.

Ichigo smirked and it earned him a painful elbow nudge from Rukia.

"If you'll excuse us nii-sama, I will take Nell to the academy now," Rukia said and stood up.

"Maybe you can also bring Kurosaki to the admission office so he can sign up for testing. He can be an official Shinigami if he passes all the exams," Byakuya suggested then sipped on his tea.

Rukia looked at her nii-sama then at Ichigo. The carrot top just raised both hands as if at lost as what the head of Kuchiki was talking about.

"If you have any intentions of marrying my sister in the future I suggest you start working your way into being a proper Shinigami and not just a substitute," Byakuya commented. Ichigo and Rukia both blushed furiously that they resembled the color of Renji's hair.

"Fine, I don't want to stay here without Rukia here anyway," Ichigo retorted then grabbed Nell and carried her under his arm. The little one just giggled while being taken out of the dining room.

"Excuse as nii-sama," Rukia said as she followed Ichigo outside. "Can you please enlighten me about what you two were talking about?" she inquired.

"Your brother wants me to be a worthy husband for you. I am not from any noble blood line or at least I think I am not, but better ask my old man just in case. Your brother said I have to be a seated officer not less than a fukutaicho or taicho before he would allow us to marry. Of course we're talking about the not so near future," Ichigo said trying to hide the blush on his face.

"But I thought you wanted to be a doctor like your dad?" Rukia asked. "Are you giving up that dream? I can't make you do things you don't want to. I don't want to be the reason why you won't be able to fulfill your dream to be a doctor," Rukia said stubbornly.

"You're not making me do anything. I'm just taking some exams to make my being Shinigami official. I'm not giving up my dream. I can still go to college. And to be honest I'm not sure if I want to go to college. I never said I wanted to be a doctor like that. It just seemed natural to take after his work but haven't you forgotten my father was also a former captain let's say I'm following his other career path," Ichigo said jokingly.

The two was waking together arguing. Ichigo was still holding Nell who was enjoying the fact that she was being carried to school.

"I don't like this. You should go to college first, if it doesn't work for you then consider the option of taking those tests and if you pass which I think you definitely will then maybe you can vie for a seated position," she argued.

"Okay fine. I'm going back and I'll even go to college but are you coming with me?" he asked her.

"I can't right now but maybe I can arrange to be assigned in Karakura maybe a week every month. How does that sound to you?" Rukia asked. "I mean I need to look after Nell and I have duties here."

"But you were able to stay for months before why did it change all of a sudden," Ichigo asked. The academy was almost in view.

"Because we have to prepare, Aizen and the other traitors may comeback and attack. We can't let our guard down. You on the other hand are needed in Karakura you're the best they have there for protection. I'm sure they'll send reinforcement if necessary," Rukia added.

"I'm going back to earth but before I do that I'll take those damn exams. I still need to show your brother that I can be a full pledge Shinigami," Ichigo said. "I'll ask Ukitake Taicho to give you two weeks a month not just one," he said stubbornly.

"Idiot! Do you even know any kidou?" Rukia asked him with irritation.

"A couple, that I saw you and Renji use," Ichigo admitted.

"Then there is no way in hell or in soul society that you will pass that part of the exams. I have no doubt that your sword fighting skills are exemplary and it would be a plus that you have reached your Bankai but you also need to master kidou. They will not recognize you as a full pledge Shinigami unless you passed that exam," Rukia explained.

"How about Zaraki does he know kidou," Ichigo asked. "The guy doesn't even know what his Zanpakuto's name is," he replied back.

"He actually passed his kidou exam. No captain had failed that. He also have good swordsmanship skills in fact he's too good that even without any of his sword's releases he passed the exam," Rukia answered back. "We're here."

Ichigo put down Nell.

"You two fight a lot. I remember my mom and dad when I wath thtill alive. They fight like that too but they go all kiththy like you two," she said with a giggle then ran inside the academy.

"Have fun Nell!" they both called out. The little girl just waved and ran towards the main building.

"So do you really want to take the test? You should study Kidou I can teach you. Give me week then you can take the exam after that they'll give you the test on your swordsmanship then you will get the results just in time for you to go back to earth and I promise if you pass the Shinigami qualifiers I'll ask Ukitake-taicho if he can prolong my stay for more than a week like what you want," Rukia bargained.

"Okay deal!" Ichigo said. "Can we kiss on that to make it official," he added.

"Tempting but we're in front of the Shinigami academy. Its inappropriate action for a Kuchiki to kiss in public," she said then walked off.

After fighting Zaraki and Renji in the same day and going through Kidou training under Rukia with additional help from Kira and Matsumoto for a week, Ichigo was ready to take his Kidou exam.

His practical kidou exam was supervised by a number of fukutaichos including, Renji, Kira, Matsumoto, Shuuhei, Nanao, and two taichos namely Ukitake and Shunsui. The written exam came next and thank goodness for his very good memory he was able to answer all the questions. His swordsmanship exams were big events. He had to fight no less than Ikkaku then Kenpachi. Rukia was at the edge of her seat the whole time the duels were taking place. All the captains including Yamamoto himself, was there to witness it. Hitsugaya-taicho and Byakuya-taicho were surprisingly nodding with approval. Ichigo after 2 excruciating hours of fighting won. He only had to use his Bankai on Kenpachi. Ikkaku was sent to the 4th division head quarters as Unohana tended to Kenpachi.

Rukia ran towards Ichigo he was badly beaten again but Hanatarou was already in the process of healing him. "You won. Thank goodness you're still alive. I can't believe that they let Kenpachi take part in this. It was suppose to be just one member of the 11th division," she said worriedly as she inspected Ichigo.

"Ichigo wath awethome!" Nell said. Yachiru was with her.

"Ken-chan was good too. But you beat him again Kuro-chan!" Yachiru said cheerfully.

"I'd rather not fight him again though," Ichigo said. He was now resting on Rukia's lap while Hanatarou was healing him.

"There's no doubt about it that you've passed this test we just need to wait for the official results to come out.

Ichigo was still allowed to stay in the Kuchiki Manor much to Byakuya's dismay. Ichigo however got his own room and it was way on the other side of the house from Rukia's room. Fortunately for him Nell would always fetch him from his room to sleep with her and Rukia and at exactly 10 pm Nell would pull her Futon and go outside and sleep underneath the Sakura tree. He and Rukia had the room to themselves. Of course any emotional imbalance can wake the overly sensitive Kuchiki Byakaya so they often just stayed in each others arms or shared a few kisses before falling into deep slumber.

A week passed and the results came out. Ichigo was officially recognized as a Shinigami. He was no longer Rukia's substitute. This also meant going back to earth.

"So I'll see you in a few weeks," Ichigo said as he was about to go through the gate back to the living world.

"You think you'll be leaving without me?" Rukia said with fake annoyance. "Ukitake-taicho said I can stay for a whole month in Karakura but would have to go back after then my two weeks stay would start," she added.

Ichigo was so happy that he carried Rukia and kissed her passionately.

Renji cleared his throat. "I'll take Rukia's place when she's back here. Byakuya-taicho for some reason wanted me to go and patrol Karakura as well," the red head said.

"I heard you were the one begging to be assigned there," Kira said.

"I did not," Renji said a slight blush was showing on his face.

Ichigo and Rukia said goodbye. Nell both gave them a hug before she sat on Kenpachi's back with Yachiru.

The two went through the gate and they found themselves inside Ichigo's room.

"Home at last. Now that I have you all to myself without any nosy brother waiting to behead me," Ichigo started showering Rukia's face with soft kisses.

"Ichigooo!!" his father burst inside the room sending a flying kick towards Ichigo which he was able to dodge from.

"So much for privacy," Rukia sighed.

FIN

A/N: Okay… that was the ending… hmm.. It was a bit rushed so I apologize but I'm trying to cook up a nice sequel for this. Still trying to get the outline done before I start working on it…. for the peeps who stuck by this story… thanks so much… to the reviews thanks they inspire me to write more…. Keep posted… I'll put a note on this one once the story is up… not sure if I'll be adding the chapters here or be putting a whole new story all together… I might do the latter…. Thanks again and you guys rock! Nell uses TH in replacement of S in the words she uses. Read and Review…. I'm sleepy I'm sorry for the booboos. Will check and read it tomorrow then correct the errors.