I am finally, officially back to writing! Please brace yourselves for a looong A/N. But read it, it's kinda important.

A/N: This is an experimental chapter. If you've read my latest completed fic, Wordless, you know that there is an idea for a new fic that has been bugging my mind lately, and that idea is THIS. However, I have another story that I've written sooo long ago (before my year-long hiatus), and I will have that released soon as well. Here's the deal. I have school in a week's time, and I CAN'T handle writing two fics at the same time. You, as my readers, have the power to choose which fic deserves to be continued, and which to be dropped. After you've read this, please read the other one I have posted, entitled Motivations.

This story has been inspired by the Korean Drama from long ago, Full House. This is NOT a retelling of the story, however. There are just a few concepts that will be used in here.

This is the first time I'm putting a song in a fic, and I used to not listen to the authors when they say it's better to play a suggested song while reading a fic. However, I do suggest that you go search for the Japanese song "Raining" by FT Island right now, because it plays quite a role in this story. Please, just listen to it once, especially when the part comes up where it is to be performed.

Forgive the grammar and spelling errors, English isn't my mother tongue. And I do not have a beta.

This is a prologue-ish chapter, so I apologize if it bores you to death.

Disclaimer: Bleach and Full House is not mine. "Rain" is the stage name of the actor Jung Ji-Hoon who played the lead role in Full House. Raining is a song/album of a Korean rock band, FT Island.

Mortarboards littered the air as the new graduates of Karakura High School cheered and basked in the glow of the recently concluded commencement exercises. Everyone was busy taking pictures—souvenirs to take with them as they part from their school—or hugging the friends they've spent the last few years with, as they faced the threats of impending separation. Amidst the raucous laughter and yells of victory, two figures stood smiling serenely at each other as they held hands.

"Congratulations," the raven-haired girl, Ukitake Rukia, said to her companion.

"Aa," Kurosaki Ichigo replied as he scratched his head. "Hey, will you...come with me for a second?" He tugged at her hand and walked through the crowd, absentmindedly waving at people who threw smiles their way. He caught his father's eyes as Kurosaki Isshin wiggled his brows suggestively. The older man opened his mouth to shout what Ichigo feared would cause both of them unneeded embarrassment, before one of his younger sisters, Karin, shut the bearded man up by hitting him square in the jaw with her fist. Isshin cringed against his daughter's closed hand and gave Ichigo a pained thumb up. Yuzu, Karin's twin sister, smiled warmly with a look of approval on her face as Ichigo and Rukia finally made it past the sea of people to a secluded area of the school.

Rukia glanced around the empty hallways before looking back questioningly at the orange-headed boy, now man. There was a proud glint in her eyes as she stared at the 18-year-old man who has helped her so much in life.

Having grown up in an orphanage after being abandoned by her family as a baby, Rukia had a hard time dealing with life. She was let out at the tender age of 12 and learned to fend for herself by doing odd jobs and gathering enough money to send herself to the cheapest school in town.

With no one to look after her, she became prone to overworking herself. It wasn't until one stormy night, at the age of 15 and a couple of weeks before freshman year started, did Rukia's life take an entirely different turn.

Because it was then, in the middle of the blinding rain, when she thought there was no hope for her and when she was on the verge of losing consciousness, did the first ray of light shine through her darkened skies.

No, it wasn't Ichigo. The orange-haired kid didn't meet her until later, when she was brought to the Kurosaki clinic, barely conscious and cold from being in the rain for so long. What changed her life at that moment years ago was the realization that kindness indeed existed in the world that had been nothing but cruel on her. Having been brought to a place of healing by a person who barely knew her was proof enough of that.

In retrospect, Rukia thought it would've been a whole lot sweeter had it been Ichigo who found her on the street that day and helped her. But life isn't always the fairytale one hopes it to be. For her, it was enough that through this kind-hearted person, she met this boy, now man, who gave her his heart, without even expecting hers in return.

But she gave it to the orange-headed man anyway, soon after she met him, taking care of her needs with genuine concern beneath the scowl on his face as she laid on their clinic bed, weak and shivering.

She remembered staring at his hair the first time, comparing it to the sun as the rain continued to pour outside. It wasn't until the kind-hearted man came into view that she took her gaze away from the brightest thing she had ever seen in her dreary life.

Rukia owed everything she now was to the Kurosaki family—to Ichigo and to the kind-hearted man, the man who ran the clinic she was kept safe and warm in. The man known as Kurosaki Isshin.

As she thought of the last few moments of recently held their high school graduation, Rukia couldn't help but smile as she silently thanked the gods watching over her for bringing the Kurosaki family into her life. For feeding her, clothing her, sending her to school...for accepting her into their family. For believing in her.

And most especially, for giving her the man with the bright orange hair and intense amber eyes, Ichigo.

"Uh, Rukia? Are you there?" Ichigo snapped his fingers in front of her face, drawing her out of trance.

Rukia blinked a couple of times before frowning. "Of course idiot. You see me, don't you?" A statement that might have been offensive to someone else was normal playful banter between the two. Ichigo's eyes would usually twitch in annoyance at that, before giving her an equally caustic response.

"Uh...yeah, I guess." Oh, but not today.

Rukia's brows rose in curiosity as she studied Ichigo's nervous stance. Sure, he was scowling like usual, but his eyes seemed not to see what it was being directed at. It was as if he had an ongoing mental conversation...like he was debating with himself in his head. Odd. Ichigo was a fairly confident and intimidating person to most. It was very disconcerting to see him fidgety like this.

"Oh idiot! Snap out of it!" Rukia said, trying to get him together.

It seemed to work, if only a little, as he jerked his head and blinked. "Well uh...listen, just listen to me. And don't interrupt me, okay midget?" There was a sharp jab directed at his stomach courtesy of Rukia's elbow, but she remained quiet.

"Okay...you, uhh, know we've been together for a long time now. And...you live in the same house anyway...so...gah! How do they make it sound so easy in movies?" He scowled further before heaving a sigh and staring at her straight in the eyes.

"Marry me."

The world ceased to be for Rukia with that statement—statement, not question—as her mind tried to wrap itself around the ridiculously foreign concept. Ichigo...marriage...family.

She opened her mouth but found herself uncertain of what to say. Finally, she blurted out, "Aren't we...aren't we too young?"

"We're eighteen. We can live without adult supervision if we want to. And we're going to college soon." Ichigo kept a strong façade, but was truly cracking on the inside at the apparent refusal.

Thoughts of the future zoomed past Rukia's mind. As she looked on intently, she realized that there was one thing that was common to all of them.

Ichigo stood by her side.

She blinked one more time to rid herself of the surfacing doubts before finally smiling softly at him. "Then yes."

It was, in no way, similar to the romance movies they've watched, or to the shōjo manga she loved to read. There were no dim lights, candles, flowers, balloons or banners. But as he knelt down in front of her—stubborn, hard-headed, brash Ichigo—putting on her finger a small white gold band with a tiny diamond in its middle, Rukia couldn't help but think it couldn't have been any sweeter for her.

For they were Rukia and Ichigo, not characters in a sappy fairytale. It may not have been as romantic as most girls dreamt of at least once in their lives, but the flaws of it reminded them that they were human, and it was the most real thing for the both of them.

Kurosaki Rukia opened her pink umbrella as she slipped out of the apartment complex. She hated going out when it was raining, but she had no choice because their supplies were running low.

Their marriage took place two weeks after their graduation. Apparently, Isshin, Yuzu and Karin had been helping Ichigo out with the planning and most of the details of the simple wedding had been taken care of by the time he proposed to her.

It was a fairly small gathering, with only a few friends and Ichigo's family present. There had been conflicts on who would walk Rukia down the aisle, for it would not look good to the public if Isshin took his third daughter to the altar where his only son stood. Rukia finally decided to call upon the man who took care of her in the orphanage, the man who let her use his last name so she could have an identity of her own: Ukitake Jūshirō.

The event had gone as smoothly as they hoped. It was the happiest day in the couple's young lives, more so when Isshin brought out his gift for the newlywed—a set of keys to an apartment he had paid for with six months' worth of rent, and offered to pay for until their college graduation. The couple thanked him profusely, but refused to let him shoulder any more of the rent. They both planned on working while in college anyway, so might as well pay for the rent themselves. Besides, Isshin had done so much for them.

Rukia smiled as she finally reached the small grocery store. She had taken no more than a step inside the tiny shop when the creepy and loud owner assaulted her. Or welcomed her warmly, depending on the point of view taken.

"Rukia-san! How nice to see you on this cold, wet day! It has been so lonely in here, and this handsome businessman could sure use some company." Urahara Kisuke waved his trademark fan as he grinned mischievously at the petite woman.

"Shut up, Urahara," was all Rukia said as she scanned the shelves for the items she needed to purchase. She finished rather quickly, and she had a basketful of groceries brought to the counter to have them rung up.

Soon, she was walking outside, a plastic bag in one hand, her umbrella in the other. She trudged at a slow pace, as the rain had finally let up a little and was nothing more than a slight drizzle. She passed by random people, neighbors, cars, stray cats, stores...and her eyes drifted towards a particular poster pasted on a lamp post. A rather big, colorful poster pasted on the lamp post.

A...song-writing competition? In Karakura-chō?

Rukia slowly made her way to the poster and carefully read the details. Beside it was a big plastic envelope where many entries had been placed. She blinked slowly before hastily running all the way home.

She had an entry to prepare.

Ichigo opened the door to their apartment, and sighed happily as he smelled the telltale signs of hot and creamy mushroom soup. Nothing like good ol' Campbell's after getting soaked in the rain. "Oi, I'm home."

There were footsteps running towards his direction, and he looked up from removing his shoes to find his wife standing by the entrance to their kitchen, smiling sweetly at him. "Welcome home."

Ichigo suspiciously scrutinized his wife's features. There was a glint in her eyes that belied the smile on her lips.

Rukia ran to him and gave him a quick kiss before pulling away, much to his dismay, and dragging him into the kitchen. She was discreetly trying to dispel the obvious suspicion gnawing him. She knew Ichigo enough to realize he was trying to read through her, and was probably wondering what kind of trouble she had been up to while he was at work.

"So...how's the clinic?" she asked as she ladled some soup into his bowl.

"Eh, fine. So many kids running around with scratches on the knees or elbows or somewhere else due to slipping on the wet ground," he answered, suspicion growing by the minute.

"Hmnn. At least you didn't have a hard day. The coffee shop was closed for renovations today, and I didn't even know. I went there earlier, uniform and all, only to be sent home." She sat down on the chair opposite his and slowly spooned her soup.

There was a deep sigh audible in the quiet kitchen.

"Fine. You win. What is it?" Ichigo sat back against his chair's backrest as he stared at his now grinning wife. It was like a game to her, teasing him to his breaking point—in more ways than one.

"Guess what? There's this competition being held for Karakura Day. And there's this big cash prize," she relayed with almost palpable excitement.

Ichigo raised an orange brow. "What kind of—oh gods, don't tell me it's a short story-writing competition. Rukia, you know I love you and all, but seriously, I doubt your latest story, Chappy and the Carrot factory, would make it. And don't give me that look! I'm just saving you from future heartache."

It was no secret that Rukia was an aspiring writer, creating all works of literature from poems, to fanfiction, to original short stories, to novels. But it was a known fact that as long as she insisted on writing about her favorite rabbit of all time, Chappy (the name she gave her plushy—her only toy as a child—that Ukitake gave her on her 5th birthday), there shall never be a future for her.

Rukia puffed her cheek in indignation as she glared at her husband. "You'll see one day, I'll be able to publish my own book. Just you wait, Kurosaki. Anyway," her previously forgotten excitement came back full force. "It isn't a story-writing competition. It's actually a song-writing competition, where the contestants are supposed to submit an original composition and perform it on Karakura Day," she finished with a proud smile.

"You didn't." Ichigo was now staring wide-eyed at his wife.

She raised a challenging brow in return. "As a matter of fact, I did."

"No, no. No, Rukia! I refuse to take part in that silly contest! No, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to change my mind." He stubbornly shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked away with a fierce scowl in a gesture of defiance.

"Come on, Ichigo! It's just a one-time thing! Besides, you know you love performing." Rukia stared wistfully at the guitar and piano sitting quietly, unused, in a corner of their home. Two of the very few items of importance in their apartment.

Ichigo heard the sad note in his wife's voice and turned to eye her, his scowl softening.

"And...there's a really big cash prize, and I thought...well, we can use it to pay for the rent...so that your dad wouldn't have to worry about us. School's starting soon, and I can no longer hold on to my job at the café. And I'm not sure I'll get that job at the library."

Being independent was a liberating thing for Ichigo, not having to endure his father's surprise morning attacks, and basically standing on his own feet. However, he wouldn't deny that it was hard living life on his own. Both of them had to work to pay for their bills and food. Rukia had been working for the café since she was 12, but would soon have to give it up due to its distance from the local college they were attending. She applied for an opening as a library assistant just a few days ago, and was waiting for their call. He, on the other hand, had no luck finding such jobs. People were reluctant to hire him, because his orange hair gave him the aura of a troublesome punk. He finally settled on being Isshin's fulltime assistant in the clinic, which somehow cut down the whole independence thing for him. He knew however that despite the money they were now earning, they would run short sooner or later, especially with school looming ahead. And like his wife, he didn't want to burden his father anymore than he already had.

Ichigo sighed as he reached for her hands across the table. "Fine."

Rukia stared at him in slight disbelief. "Really?"

He smiled as he gently stroked her palms with his thumbs. "Yeah."

Rukia snatched her hands abruptly, and stood up with a smile. She walked to his side of the table and launched herself at her husband. "Thank you, Ichigo."

Soup forgotten on the table, Ichigo held Rukia in his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Sure."

"Ichigo?" Rukia's voice was muffled as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"Hmnn?"

"You've gotta practice your piece soon. I've already signed you up and submitted your entry." She lifted her head with a small grin.

"What? What did you submit? Oh gods, no...not THAT, Rukia!" Ichigo groaned. He was fairly certain that she submitted the first ever song he wrote for her back in high school. It was mortifying when she told everyone how sweet he was, writing such a poetic piece for her. See, Ichigo was a badass in high school. And writing songs for his girlfriend was so not badass.

"Why, my favorite, of course! The one you wrote for me!"

And that sealed his fate.

Ichimaru Gin slammed his office door as he entered. The words of his boss from the recently held meeting kept replaying in his head.

"Your label has been consistently dropping in sales, Ichimaru. For the past three years, you've had more costs incurred compared to all the profit you've gained since you started GIE seven years ago." This was his superior, the vice-president for entertainment of Nippon TV. Sure, Gin was a big name in the industry. But even big names have bosses to please.

Ichimaru Gin was a very famous producer and talent manager that has made several names popular in Japan and in Asia. He was president of his very own label, Gin Ichimaru Entertainment (GIE), which was under the biggest broadcasting network in Japan, Nippon TV. He was known to have a keen eye for talent and chose only the cream of the crop.

Without anyone knowing why, the past three years hadn't been good on him. His new artists were mediocre, one-hit wonders, or didn't appeal to the people at all.

He had been spotted recently lurking in the corners of popular talent shows searching for potential stars and recruiting them, only to have their records feasted on by flies.

And now, after a three-year drought, the higher-ups of Nippon TV finally gave him an ultimatum.

"You have six months, Ichimaru, no more."

Damn them all to hell! How was he supposed to find someone who can be famous in six months, foregoing the training and workshops, the adjustment and conditioning?

Gin slowly opened his blue eyes as he sat solemnly by his desk, his fingers intertwined under his chin. They wanted him removed from position? Fine! He would recruit the first person he'd find who shows the littlest amount of talent, and then shame Nippon TV.

Karakura Day finally came.

The whole town was filled with joyous people gamely mingling with each other—friends, neighbors, strangers, it mattered little.

The houses and several commercial establishments were decorated in the spirit of the holiday.

And as the day neared its close, the people gathered in the Karakura Central Plaza where the highly-anticipated culmination would take place.

It was the first time the town ever held a song-writing competition. But no one saw why they shouldn't, when they believed Karakura was blessed with many talented individuals, some of which had been showcased in Nihonjin Idol and Japan's Got Talent, though none bagged home the title.

People cheered enthusiastically as the town's mayor climbed up the stage and gave his speech.

Ichigo peered nervously through the curtain from the backstage at the large crowd that gathered to watch the competition. He silently cursed his wife for making him do this. His eyes swept over the people trying to locate the aforementioned woman and found her sitting close to the stage with a large smile on her face. Beside her was his family, and he silently cursed more when he saw his dad holding a large banner for him, bearing his complete name AND picture with the English words "Kick Ass!" below it. He glared at his father's attempt to be cool. They might even get disqualified for using the A-word.

He sighed in resignation as he looked over his shoulder at the other competitors. Some looked nervous, some looked bored. Others were practicing while a few prayed for guidance.

Ichigo closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He could do this. He would do this. And after tonight, no more.

Rukia clapped in sync with the crowd as contestant number 12 exited the stage. The guy was a good one, and his upbeat tune encouraged the audience to dance a little. She watched anxiously as the lights started to grow dim in preparation for the next act. Contestant number 13 entered the dark stage where a black piano now stood. The man shrouded in shadows crossed the stage in four strides and sat quietly by the piano.

Rukia smiled solemnly as she made out her husband's form running his hands gently over the piano keys, no doubt reminiscing the old days when he used to play, before finally hitting the first few notes of his song. Their song.

Halfway into the opening bars, the light suddenly glowed bright blue, illuminating the pianist who wore a crisp white suit as the band that accompanied him started playing in tune with the piano.

Rukia closed her eyes as Ichigo's voice filled the air.

kimi ga ita keshiki wa nukumori to yasuragi irodori
hajimete shitta koi no kaori ga shita

You colored the landscape with warmth and tranquility
And for the first time, I knew the scent of love

She unconsciously swayed from side to side with a contented smile on her lovely face.

mabushii hizashi abite nani mo osorezu ni ita keredo
sono akarusa wa kage wo mienakushita

Bathed in radiant sunlight, nothing could make me fear
But that brightness made shadows invisible

Amethyst eyes opened and focused on the man by the piano as she heard his voice grow stronger with each passing line.

boku wa donna tsuyosa de kimi no te wo
nigirishimeta nara
hoka no dareka wo sonzai nante
nakushite shimaeta no kana

If I tightly held your hand
With what kind of strength
Things like those other people
Might have been gone for good

In the sea of people where everyone was just a face, amethyst met amber.

yamanai ame ni nurenai you ni
kata wo yoseatta kaerimichi
kimi ga kieta are kara boku ni
ima mo furitsuzukeru ame

Like not getting wet in the unending rain
Shoulder pressed to the way home
From that place you disappeared
Even now, the rain keeps falling on me

And Rukia knew, Ichigo sang just for her.

Ichimaru Gin sat amongst the crowd as they silently waved their hands in the air in time with the beat of the song playing at the moment.

His newest talent was invited to perform for a special holiday in this small town called Karakura. He frowned a little in distaste as he thought of what his talents were now worth. Just small town shows?

He noticed just how utterly captivated everyone was and opened his blue eyes to regard the small figure on the stage. He placed his hand inside his coat pocket and retracted it a second later holding a rectangular card with his name and contact information. Above which was written, bold and black, Gin Ichimaru Entertainment.

The raven-haired woman ran the few steps needed to get to where her orange-haired husband stood. Ichigo opened his arms happily to hold his wife as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Ichigo." At that moment, thoughts of winning or losing mattered little to Rukia. To know that Ichigo sang for her was enough of a prize that no amount of money can measure to.

"Idiot."

The crowd around them was cheering loudly for the contestant currently performing on the stage, but the couple didn't care. They were actually just about ready to head home, even without hearing the results.

A small cough that miraculously reached their ears despite the hubbub caused them to look at the man who stood watching their rather intimate moment.

Amethyst eyes grew wide as she stared at the tall, lean man with silver hair and slit eyes who smiled at them from ear to ear. Of course she knew who he was. Who wouldn't recognize the famous producer?

"Yes?" Ichigo's voice broke her out of her reverie. Rukia looked at him in astonishment as he rudely asked the stranger what he wanted.

"Ichigo!" This was followed by a swift kick on the shin.

"Ow! What's your problem, midget?" Ichigo glared at his wife as he rubbed his abused knee. He was rather annoyed that their moment was interrupted by this strange man.

The stranger kept on watching with amusement. Sick amusement, if Rukia might add.

"Don't you know who he is?" Rukia hissed from the corner of her mouth.

Ichigo looked at the man from head to toe. He was wearing designer clothes, that much was obvious; and from the way he carried himself, he was from the higher class of the society.

But no, Ichigo didn't know him.

"Uhh…" was his intelligent reply.

"That's okay, Ichigo-san, is it?" the man interrupted as he stretched his hand towards the couple, offering his business card.

Ichigo reluctantly took the piece of paper and scrutinized its contents.

And that was when it hit him, when the words Gin, Ichimaru and Entertainment stared back at him from the tiny card.

GIE. Music. Records.

Ichigo blinked at the man, asking without words what this meant.

Gin's smile widened, if at all possible. "I see that you are a man of great talent. I am interested in what else you have to offer. Why don't you come to my office some time and let's talk over coffee?"

The orange-haired man stood dumbfounded as his wife grinned with glee beside him, pride apparent in her twinkling eyes.

And this was how a star was discovered.

A star that would soon take Asia by storm.

A star that will be soon known to all as Rain.

Okay, if it isn't obvious, well I used the stage name Rain because I find it quite ironic to be used by someone who actually had bad memories in the rain. See, he was named Rain, and he'll take Asia by storm. How fitting. XD Wait, does this mean he'll have another set of bad memories as Rain? We'll find out…or not. Please keep an eye out for my next story, and then tell me which I should work on. Review and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading! Have a good day! :D

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