~Reaching Out 4~

And

~Epilogue~

LAST AN! PLEASE, OH PLEASE READ!

Well, it's come to this, folks.

…36 chapters? (can't remember… ugh!) of IchiRuki lovin' displayed in 36? different ways. That's a lot. Maybe not, but it is to me because you… the readers… you guys invested your time into reading my lame fluffy crap. XD

I want you guys to know I read all of your comments… even though I don't respond at times, and you think I disregard my readers, you guys are the only freaking thing that keeps me writing…

…and maybe holed up emotions. Eh.

Anyway, when I tell you to, please play the song 'NO, Thank You' from the anime K-ON!. Use YouTube or somethin'. That song has me hooked, and it made me… want to cry, 'cuz the beginning is so sweet, and the rock infused into it makes it the perfect IchiRuki song (even though the lyrics aren't exactly romantic, the song is perfect).

Also, when I tell you to, play 'Moon on the Water' from the anime BECK (Eng Dub.). Trust me. It still brings tears to my eyes.

Anyway, this one's gonna be extra super long. I'm aiming for at least 20-30? Pages.

Love you guys!

-ChromeHeartSoldier

"…what do you mean?" I asked, kneeling at his bed.

"You and I both know what I mean, Kuchiki Rukia-san." Ukitake-taicho coughed, staring at the ceiling. "My vision's getting even worse. When I cough, I feel like someone just punched me in the stomach. When I walk, my legs feel like… well, kuchiki, rotting wood."

I blinked, refusing to believe what he spoke.

"I can barely get up in the morning. I can't pour my own tea, my hands are getting weak, my back aches, and well, I'm aging."

I shook my head. "You are one of the strongest men I know, Ukitake-taicho. I believe that you make an excellent captain."

Ukitake-taicho laughed, and then coughed violently.

"Dammit…" He wheezed. "Could you give me my water?"

I nodded and quickly took his cup of water and the foot of the bed, and handed it to him.

His hand was cold.

Tears were starting to rise to my eyes. This couldn't possibly be happening.

"Listen, Rukia…" Ukitake-taicho said, his eyes fixated on me. "…you and I both know who has to take my place."

I shook my head. "I'm too weak."

He laughed and stared at the ceiling again. "If you were still with Ichigo, he'd be yelling at you right now, insisting you were."

I nodded blankly. "That's true."

"In fact, you wouldn't even be a vice-captain if not for him, and you'd be a hollow." He stated.

I nodded. "That's true."

Just the thought of Ichigo made my stomach hurt. I didn't want to think about him.

"I won't press on the subject, Rukia…" Ukitake-taicho said, his voice lingering off. "But don't let your world break down just because Soul Society decided that you had to let him go."

I nodded, biting my lip. "I'm sorry, Ukitake-taicho. It's just that… after that incident, I really haven't had much self-confidence."

He waved me in, as if he were telling me a secret.

I leaned in and he cupped his cold hand around my ear.

"I think what they did was wrong." He whispered. "Love is the same throughout… even if it means loving someone you know is much different."

I nodded, quietly shifting away from him.

Ukitake-taicho cracked me a broken smile. "Rukia, I want you to take over for me as captain, effective in a week's time."

I bit my lip. "Taicho…"

"Rukia, don't let me down."

"…you're getting married, Yuzu?" I said, almost choking on the lemonade I was sipping.

Yuzu blushed and nodded, swirling and stirring her own lemonade around. "I'm 18 now, Ichi-nii. I just graduated from high school and everything, I know, but I think it was the right decision to say yes to Sato."

I looked up at the ceiling, distracted and panicked.

"Yuzu… that dude's my age. And he's totally… well…" I lingered off.

I really had nothing to justify rejecting him. Sato was a good guy. I remember him as a straight B student, an active part of student council, and he was really friendly and only had one girlfriend in high school.

"…Ichigo…" Yuzu said, suddenly addressing me by only my first name. "I didn't tell you this to seek your approval."

I blinked and my mouth hung open in shock. Yuzu was a grown woman. I kept forgetting.

"…I just wanted you to know… that I'm not just little Yuzu-chan anymore. Dad freaked when I told him. But he freaked because he was happy for me." She paused, and blush crept to her cheeks again. "Sato brought me for ice cream one day. It was a simple, stupid date. It was freezing outside, and it was raining, but he gave me his jacket and we ran to the ice cream shop by the park." Another pause, this one to take a breath. "He ordered a sundae with mint chocolate chip and cookie dough. I ordered a strawberry shortcake and green tea sundae. We sat at the table by the window. We were alone in the shop… I never thought it would happen." She took another breath. "He asked me if he could have some of my strawberry shortcake ice cream, and I said yes, and well… he came up to me, took a spoonful of ice cream and ate half of it. The other half he smeared on my nose… and…" She coughed. "He licked it off… and then we sort of stared at each other for a while."

I shuddered. I couldn't picture my lil' sis Yuzu all grown up like that.

…do they make out and stuff? Does Sato… put his hand up her shirt and crap?

IS SHE… STILL A PURE MAIDEN?

I tried not to cough or choke.

"Well, then Sato got on one knee and kind of looked up at me from the floor. He said: 'Listen, Yuzu-chan. Well, I've been thinking about this for forever now, and since we've kind of been going out for 3 years now, well… I want to say that I love you… and I'll love you forever.'" Yuzu blushed intensely at that point. "He then pulled out a solid diamond ring…" I nodded at the ring on her hand that was holding her lemonade. "Then he said, 'I know you're kind of young, Yuzu… hell, I'm still young, but that's beside the point. I want you to love me forever, too. Could you do that?' And after, like 5 seconds of thinking, I burst into tears, wrapped my arms around him, and yelled 'HELL YEAH!'" Yuzu laughed.

I whistled. She was my lil' sister, after all.

"Then all his friends popped out of nowhere, and his family, and they're all so excited that little Sato-kun's getting married." She sighed. "Well… now you know, Ichi-nii. I guess it's kind of awkward I'm telling you this now, on your summer break from University and stuff, I just thought you needed to know."

"I'm freaking happy for you, Yuzu." I said, beaming. "I really am. Hell, you're right. I still sort of think of you as the 11 year old, innocent Yuzu. But man, have you grown."

I ruffled her hair. "Just gimme the heads up if Karin's getting married, 'cuz I'm way more worried about her choice in men."

Yuzu giggled. Then she got dead quiet.

"Er… Ichi-nii…" She coughed. "I… want to know what happened between you and Rukia-chan."

I sat back in the couch and sighed. I didn't want to think about it.

"…she said she thought I deserved someone better than her. That's that."

Yuzu thought for a second, biting her lip.

"…did you ever… propose to her, like Sato did to me?" She asked.

"…no." I sort of yelled.

I really must've intimidated Yuzu, because she shut up about the subject right then and there.

Three Years and Several Months Ago

"Rukia!"

I looked up from my paperwork to see none other than Ichigo staring back at me. My hair was a mess and I had lost about 12 hours of much needed sleep doing that damn paperwork, and seeing him was a total pick-me up.

I stood up and he rushed towards me and wrapped his arms around me, holding me close.

"Okay, okay!" I said, blushing, but hugging back. "What's the occasion, big guy?"

He pulled away, but only enough so that we were still a pinky length apart when he looked me in the eye.

"I got accepted!" Ichigo laughed. "I got accepted to Tokyo U!"

My eyes widened and a goofy, stupid smile spread across my face. "Really? Oh, Ichigo!"

We hugged again, and he picked me up and swirled me around twice, like he always did. I loved the feeling to being lifted off the ground and being in his warm, muscular arms.

"I can see it already!" I laughed. "In the headlines: World Renowned Doctor Kurosaki Ichigo finds the Cure to Cancer!"

"I'm working on that, so count on it," Ichigo replied, laughing right back.

He pulled away, and we stared into each other's eyes for about a minute, just taking deep breaths, blushing, and staring at each other in disbelief.

Ichigo couldn't believe he had me, and I couldn't believe I had him.

His eyes sort of half closed, and mine did too. He both leaned in, and soon, yeah, we were kissing.

Just like our first time, our teeth clacked together in the beginning, but after a little while, it was pure, warm, soft bliss.

He pulled me into him and I let myself lose myself in him.

When we pulled away, he poked my cheek and grinned, blush covering every square inch of his face.

"I swear, if you keep hitting my teeth like that, you'll break 'em some day."

I pouted. "You're the one who keeps bumping teeth and noses."

Ichigo laughed and tried to kiss me again, but as much as I didn't want to, I pulled away.

"I got to do paperwork, Ichigo." I sighed. "I promise… it'll be just me and you next week, got it?"

I stuck out my pinky and smiled. Ichigo rolled his eyes and stuck out his pinky too, and we pinky swore.

"You're kidding me, Kurosaki," Tatsuki whistled, throwing another stone at the water. "Yuzu-chan's getting married already?"

I shrugged and threw a stone, watching it skip. Sitting by the river by the Kadochi Bridge was one of the numerous things Tatsuki and I used to do as children. Skipping stones was never my forte, so Tatsuki always beat me. It was a great place to talk.

"Everyone's changing so much, huh?" Tatsuki whispered.

I nodded. "Yeah. I feel like I'm getting left behind."

Tatsuki laughed then. "If there's one thing you learn at the Japan's Women's University when you are on a scholarship is that there is no getting left behind." She sighed. "Everyone grows at their own pace."

I looked at her and nodded. Tatsuki had grown her hair out like a normal girl, and she looked… different. She was no longer the Tatsuki that threatened to beat me up, but she changed into a simple, regular girl.

In fact, I should say woman.

I adjusted my glasses and leaned back on the cool grass, watching the red sunset.

"For example…" Tatsuki said, pausing to think. "Chad moved to Mexico last year to stay with family, right?" She stared into the river. "He changed and grew so fast that he's somewhere new, somewhere where things are different, and he's growing as we speak. He chose what he knew was right and he embraced new things."

"Whereas…" I said quietly. "Uryuu's still standing still, unable to choose what to do." I bit my lip. "He's going to University and all, but he can't seem to decide what he wants to do. He's growing in that, and eventually he'll decide."

Tatsuki punched my shoulder playfully and smiled. "Exactly."

"…like how you're dating that one jerk, Ganshoji Hiroki, and how he's changed by catching up with your pace?"

"Hiroki's a good guy," Tatsuki said defensively, pouting.

I sighed and looked into my reflection in the water.

"Everybody's changing, at their own pace."

I had glasses and stubble, and the spikes of my hair were drooping ever so slightly. I looked different.

Changed.

"So… is that why Rukia broke up with me?"

Silence.

"Well…" Tatsuki seemed to become interested with her shoes all of a sudden. "Maybe she decided that in order to grow to love you more, she had to lose you for a while."

"She sounded like she never wanted to be with me again," I said quietly. "I love you, Ichigo, that's why I'm letting you go."

Tatsuki shrugged and looked up. "I'm not one to go to for emotional and dating advice and crap," She snapped, suddenly reverting to her old Tatsuki self. "But I do know one thing: If you love her, you'd accept what she wants. And not being together seems to be what she wants."

It hurt, but inside I knew she was right.

"Thanks Tatsuki," I said, standing up. "It's good to have a friend like you, one you can talk to."

"Don't mention it to anyone," She responded, a smirk covering her face. "Seriously, don't. Don't ruin my rep." She added jokingly.

I smiled and walked away, thinking how I talked to the old Tatsuki right then and there, but…

Everybody's Changing.

I sat down at the tea table, sweat-dropping. I was hoping I'd never have to come here again, but I did.

"Kuchiki Rukia, I haven't seen you for a year or two!" Urahara greeted loudly, smiling.

"Shut up, idiot…" I scowled. "No one is supposed to know I'm here, got it? I just got sent here to survey the reiatsu build-up by the hospital downtown. The idiot assigned here that was supposed to do that forgot or something."

"Are you sure that's all you're here for?" Urahara said, trying to make me think of… 'him'.

"Yes. And please, don't tell anybody I'm here." I said, and then paused. "I need to borrow some containers that can hold small traces of reiatsu."

Urahara nodded and leaned over to the shelf next to him, digging through the contents.

"So… how's life, Kuchiki?" Urahara said casually.

"…fine, I guess." I replied fidgeting with the 13th Division armband that was soon going to be replaced with a haori. "I'm being promoted to captain, and everything… it'll be big responsibility."

Urahara snorted. "Being a captain puts you in charge, though. You should be proud." He said, laughing.

There was silence, except for the sound of his digging through the cabinet.

"…uh, how's Ichigo doing?" I said, biting my lip.

Urahara turned and looked at me, smiling sadly.

"That Kurosaki's going to grow up to be great." He paused. "Let me correct myself. He's grown up to be great. But…" Urahara took a solemn breath. "Anyone who knows him knows he misses you. He has a serious case of heartache."

I nodded. "Very well." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I must leave soon. Please hurry."

I tried very hard to cloak the fact my voice was cracking and my eyes were tearing up.

Three Years and Several Months Ago

I smiled goofily as I stood outside Ichigo's room, knocking on the door.

All the paperwork was accounted for, and I was totally free. I was there to fulfill our pinky swear of having a whole week with just me and him.

When he opened the door, my heart just about burst out of my chest.

"Hey there," I said quietly, looking up at him, pathetically trying to hide the blush overwhelming my cheeks.

"Wassup," Ichigo replied, smiling happily.

We walked, hand in hand, up to the hill by West Rukongan, where I used to live.

It was grassy and beautiful, the view just plain amazing.

I leaned against Ichigo, his warm figure curled up against mine as we lay on the grass.

"When I came here as a kid," I whispered. "I always wondered when I would feel happiest here. I think that question's been answered."

Ichigo smiled and pulled me closer to him, his breath ticklish on my neck, but his grip still soft on my waist.

"Rukia…" He breathed into my ear. "I can't tell you how great I feel right now."

He rolled over, pulling away from me.

It felt too cold when he let go.

"I mean… if I could stop time at any moment, and just live in that paused time forever," He said, then paused. "It would be right now."

I shook my head and blushed profusely.

I rolled over to him and planted my lips on his cheek, unwilling to pull away for a very, very long time.

When I did, however, I leaned in AGAIN, kissing his lips this time, which were young and soft like marshmallows and tasted like strawberries.

Open, close, warm and sweet, beautiful in every way. Wet, sticky, and delicious.

That was the first kiss I initiated between us.

When we pulled away from each other, I planted a single kiss upon his nose.

We laughed.

"You know, Rukia," Ichigo said, pulling me closer to him, so close that our fronts were practically connected with each other. "Three words might describe what I feel right now."

"What words?" I asked, crossing my fingers.

He leaned in and kissed and licked my ear, which, surprisingly, feels better than it sounds.

He then whispered these three words into it.

"…let's eat ramen."

I laughed, half-disappointed.

"Sure," I replied, nipping his ear softly. "But you, sir, are paying."

For the first time in 2 years I was visiting Orihime.

I looked at my watch. It was 4:00 PM, the time we had arranged to meet up at Starbucks.

I sat at a table with my coffee, staring nonchalantly into the sky…

It was so damn hard, looking up into the sky through that window, because Rukia and I used to sit at that table all the time and look through it together.

She'd ALWAYS order a low fat caramel frap, add a splash of milk, a sprinkle of chocolate, and stir it exactly three times before she'd drink it.

I bit my lip and looked back at my coffee.

It really hurt, thinking about her.

"…Kurosaki-kun!"

I turned around, hearing my name.

I almost did not recognize her at first. She had the same orangey-brown hair, but it was now cut shorter, just above her shoulders. She wore a pair of gray glasses, covering her gray eyes. She was in a business-woman-esque suit, and a she wore a pair of grey high heels.

"…Inoue?" I said, surprised.

She smiled at me in her Inoue-esque way.

So basically, I ended up buying her a coffee as the gentleman I was. I had to stand extra long at the counter because the barista took forever, but the conversation after the wait was well worth spending my time on. Inoue really grew up, out of her shell, and into the real world. I was happy for her.

"No way," I said, sipping my coffee. "So, basically, you're going to school in Hokkaido, training to be a teacher, and you got a summer job teaching back here?"

Orihime smiled and nodded. "It's so weird being back here, back home."

I smiled. "It's good to see old friends again, huh?"

"Yeah, but… everybody's maturing and changing." She replied, making a valid point.

"True. Look at you, at teacher-y and stuff." I shook my head in disbelief. "Did you know Tatsuki's taking culinary classes over the summer? See how ironic things are?" I asked, laughing.

"Wow, everybody's so different now," Orihime said, smiling.

There was silence then, as both of us paused to drink coffee.

"Kurosaki-kun…" Orihime said quietly, fidgeting her fingers. "I heard what happened… with you and Rukia-chan."

I held my breath. "…what about it?"

"Well…" Orihime said, leaning in to tell me something secretive.

I leaned in to hear it, and the words I heard raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

"Earlier today, I saw her by the hospital, Ichigo. She's here."

I pulled away slowly, then adjusted my glasses.

There was another, more awkward, silence.

"She hasn't been here for over two years," I said quietly. "Last I saw her was when she broke up with me when I was 20. I'm… 22 now."

Orihime pursed her lips. "Now is your chance to make things right," She said quietly. "She looked like she was in a hurry to leave, and she was covering her reiatsu pretty tightly." Orihime closed her eyes. "I… I can… I can feel a tiny trace of her reiatsu. She's still here."

"Um, thanks for meeting me today," I said anxiously, standing up. "I'm sorry to have to leave like this and all…"

"Please don't worry about it." Orihime replied.

I hugged her goodbye and ran out of that coffee shop.

"Damn Kisuke," I murmured under my breath. "Always giving me defective products."

"They are absolutely easy to use!" Urahara told me, smiling. "They'll hold up to 3 more drops of that reiatsu, with no trouble at all!"

So far, 3 of the 9 vials he gave me didn't work. One cracked after the first drop, the other had some left over reiatsu from its previous use, tainting the reiatsu I was collecting. The third one collapsed simply being near the reiatsu.

I tried again, carefully extracting another drop of the strange, unstable reiatsu.

The fourth vial didn't work. Why, you ask?

I felt it. I felt his reiatsu.

It was overwhelming beyond any words can describe. It swallowed me whole.

"…I…Ichigo…" I mumbled, suddenly alert. I dropped the vial and it fell into the busy street below.

Wait. No. This couldn't happen. I had to escape, get away somehow.

I pulled out Sode No Shirayuki and summoned a gateway to Seireitei. It was taking too. freaking. long.

"Rukia?"

I turned around, my heart beating cold in my throat.

When I saw him, the world paused.

He wasn't in Shinigami form. He was just… plain ol' Ichigo, standing on a platform of hardened reiatsu. He stood, towering above me, his warm figure just inches away from mine.

My throat was dry. My eyes widened and started to tear. There was no way this was happening.

"Rukia… look at me in the eyes." He paused, his strong, lovely voice cracking anxiously. "I'm begging you."

It was some sort of magnetism… it pulled my eyes upwards, no matter how much I told myself I didn't want to.

His eyes. Hazel-chocolatey, covered with a coat of luscious caramel, covered by a pair of rectangular glasses that made me melt.

I was shocked still. I couldn't move.

"Listen…" He said, his voice pleading. "I just need a minute. Please… please just hear me out."

I found myself nodding.

Blush creeped over his cheeks. I stood, unsure of what else to do.

He dropped to his knee.

Several Minutes Ago

I ran down the block and around the corner, not even pausing to take a breath.

She was here. This was my last chance.

You can't screw this up, Ichigo, I thought hastily, my fists clenched and my heart pounding.

I stopped running and looked up. The hospital!

After a second, I took a breath and stared.

There she was, same as always, standing above me.

I could reach out, but never reach her.

I thought for a moment and then stuck both hands in my pockets and closed my eyes.

It was always easier hardening reiatsu like that for me. Through my pockets.

That's when I felt the velvet.

I pulled out the strange thing in my pocket.

It was a little velvet box.

I blinked and opened it.

There was a single, perfect gold ring, an amethyst shining like… like her eyes, on top.

A note was stuck to the box. I opened it.

Reach out, Ichigo. Use this ring, and don't bother paying me back.

I want you to know that I love you, I have for a very, very long time.

But I love you, so I'm letting you go.

Tell her, Ichigo.

-Inoue Orihime

"Rukia…" His voice whispered. "I love you. I always have."

I nodded dumbly, staring into his eyes.

"I was too stupid to take my love for you seriously… but now I know," He whispered. "Now I know I was wrong. I know that I can't live without you."

I stood still, my heart about to explode.

"You make me whole, Rukia. Will you…" He said, and then paused, thinking. "…will you keep me whole, forever, Rukia?"

He proposed to me. Kami, he proposed to me.

Before I could stop them, tears flowed down my cheeks like a waterfall. My fists clenched.

It hurt so much. I wanted it to stop.

But it wasn't my choice to make.

The gateway to Seireitei finally opened.

I looked at him, his eyes begging me, filled with tears as well.

It wasn't my choice to make.

And with that, I tore my own heart out.

"I'm sorry," I told him, running into the gateway.

He fell out of the sky.

Three Years Ago

"You've been summoned here today," Sou-Taicho Yamamoto said, pacing the length of the room. "To fulfill what the Gotei 13 has concluded the wisest decision pertaining to your relationship with Kurosaki Ichigo, Vice Captain Rukia Kuchiki."

I blinked as I bowed.

What?

I was in the middle of a long hallway, surrounded by all the captains, with Sou-Taicho Yamamoto at the front.

"May I ask what you are talking about, Yamamoto-dono?" I asked.

Yamamoto stopped walking. He took a deep breath.

"That boy Kurosaki Ichigo has surpassed all expectation. He has defeated Aizen, squelched numerous enemies, and even rescued you from the most severe death penalty in Seireitei." He paused, coughing. "Kurosaki Ichigo is a miracle worker, he could be your guardian angel."

I blinked and blushed.

"Lately, we've gotten reports that you and Kurosaki Ichigo… well, your relationship has become one of the romantic sorts. Is that true?"

"Yes, Yamamoto-dono. Ichigo means a lot to me." I said quietly.

Yamamoto-dono took another, even deeper breath.

"What you don't understand, Kuchiki Rukia, is that you've surpassed even more expectations than Kurosaki Ichigo has."

My eyes widened. What?

"You are of greater power than any I have ever seen," Yamamoto-dono confessed. "I was surprised when I felt it at first, but your potential is… is unlimited. It surpasses that of Hitsugaya Toshiro-taicho, even. It surpasses Kurosaki Ichigo's potential."

I was surprised. "I am powerful… beyond belief?"

"You could be the next Sou-Taicho." Yamamoto said bluntly.

My heart stopped.

"I have been in this world for centuries, and not once have I felt a reiatsu like yours. I have found my successor."

I was shocked beyond freaking belief.

"You have to be making some mistake-"

"Kuchiki Rukia, you have developed about .12% of your full potential." Yamamoto-dono said calmly. "I'm not saying this because you will be Sou-Taicho tomorrow. I'm saying this because you need time to grow, and its time you were aware of the greatness in you."

"…isn't this a little far-fetched?" I asked. "I'm… I'm just Kuchiki Rukia! How could I be the next Sou-Taicho?"

"If you grew more, you'd understand," Yamamoto said. "That is what brings me back to the topic of your romantic relationship with Kurosaki Ichigo."

I had a bad feeling about what he had to say.

"Seeing each other has actually affected both of your growths strangely. Kurosaki Ichigo grew into a shinigami with more power than a captain in 7 months, and you grew in 3 years." He paused. "Now, your relationship with each other is holding the other person back."

"What?" I asked loudly.

"Ichigo Kurosaki is holding you back," Yamamoto said quietly.

"I'm the one holding HIM back!" I half-snapped at my own Sou-Taicho.

Yamamoto shook his head slowly.

"The only way… the only way to truly train you to your full potential, you must stop putting him above your power." He sighed. "Therefore, it has been decided you must… break up with Kurosaki Ichigo. And never go back to him."

I looked up from my bow, which was disrespectful beyond words in Seireitei.

"I can't do that!" I insisted angrily.

Other Rukia was stirring within me again, smiling. I bit my lip in rage.

"You must," Sou-Taicho Yamamoto said simply.

"Or we will simply exterminate the boy by the time he turns 21."

Several Months Later

"You may now kiss the bride."

I blinked back corny tears as Sato pressed his lips against Yuzu's. Being my awesome, grown-up lil' sis, she tipped HIM backwards and carried him down the aisle, making every laugh and cheer and smile.

I was so proud, yet so sad.

The love radiating around the room was overwhelming, the atmosphere so happy as if there was no sadness in the world outside the temple. I gazed through the stain glass windows as the sun seemed to shine brighter than ever, reflecting beautiful colorful prisms.

"Dammit," Tatsuki murmured next to me, wiping away her tears of joy hastily. "This is so cheesy. I can't believe I'm crying."

No matter how much I denied it, I knew that this was one of the most beautiful days I had ever seen.

For once, Dad was acting mature and fatherly, not stupidly proud, like I thought he would.

Yuzu was married. Kami, she was married.

I sighed as everyone started throwing rice at the bride and groom. I slinked out of the chapel to the side.

I sat on a bench and stared at the sky.

I was wondering… If I… if Rukia and I ever got married like that…

My eyes watered. It hurt a lot.

To love and to be broken.

"Son?"

I turned around. Dad was standing there, still very serious and masculine.

"Yeah?" I asked nonchalantly, returning my gaze into the sky.

I felt him press something made of paper on my palm.

It was a cigarette.

Dad plopped himself down next to me and sighed. He lit his own cigarette and took a deep, full drag.

He motioned for my cigarette, and I handed it to him. He lit it up and handed it back to me.

I blinked a few times, unsure of what to do. Dad always said Never smoke, it'll screw your lungs up, but now he seemed to want me to.

"Go for it," Dad said.

I blinked and brought the cigarette to my mouth. It felt warm on my lips.

I coughed after taking a drag. It was nauseating.

"Everyone feels gross after the first drag," Dad assured me. "Trust me."

I nodded weakly and brought the smoke up to my lips again. It went better that time.

"Listen, Ichigo…" Dad said, exhaling a plume of smoke. "I think it's about time you knew."

He looked at me, his eyes serious. I took a deep breath.

"Kuchiki Rukia is destined to become the next Sou-Taicho of the Gotei 13."

I was shocked beyond anything I had ever felt before. I stuck the cigarette back between my lips and took a long, comforting drag.

"Simply feeling her reiatsu is not enough to realize it," Dad said, taking a long drag. "After… after she became a Vice Captain and a vizard… something in her normal feeling reiatsu changed. She simply radiates warm, peaceful energy, which totally contradicts her power over ice."

I was on the brink of hyperventilating.

"She's… destined?"

Dad nodded slowly. "Lately, it's been painfully obvious." He paused. "Now, Sou-Taicho Yamamoto is growing old. Everyone in the Gotei 13 knows that one day he has to step down from his duties, and someone of greater or equal power must take his place. That is why… they are training Rukia."
There was a long, strange silence between us.

Dad pressed his cigarette butt on an ashtray beside us.

"What I am telling you is strictly confidential," He breathed. "Rukia didn't leave because she didn't love you, she left because she did."

That Very Second After Sato Kissed the Bride

I stood in the long corridor of the 13th Division barracks and choked back tears.

An unranked newbie ran by me, panicked and scrambling large stacks of paperwork in his arms.

"What is Ukitake Juushiro's condition?" I asked him.

"His current condition is highly unstable, Kuchiki-taicho." He said. "I have filled out all the forms requesting 4th Division medical help as quickly as possible."

"Good job," I told him, trying to sound in control.

He walked a few unsure steps, and paused.

"I've only known Ukitake-taicho for 6 years," He said bluntly. "And yet I respect the man with the level I respect my own father."

He hurried the rest of the way to the Commission office.

I adjusted my captain's haori and took a deep breath.

I walked into the room Ukitake lay in, bedridden.

"Ukitake-taicho," I said quietly, falling to my knees and bowing.

"Kami, Rukia." Ukitake wheezed softly, trying to laugh but instead making a small, squeaky sound. "You're captain now. You have been, for... a month now."

I laughed quietly. "I still can't believe it."

Ukitake-taicho laughed/wheezed and rolled onto his back. Bags hung low under his eyes as he took labored breaths.

"Don't die," I whispered bluntly.

Tears rose to my eyes uncontrollably. "You're the closest thing I've had to a father figure," I confessed. "Please don't die."

"Death is inevitable," Ukitake replied, quite bluntly. "As cheesy as it sounds, it's true."

The Kidou Corps team leader winced.

"Shit," He murmured. "SHIT! Houdou, pay more attention! Push as much reiatsu into him as possible!"

I winced as the new guy, Houdou, suddenly spiked the amount of reiatsu he was pouring into keeping Ukitake's heart beating.

F-Bombs filled the room.

"SHIT!" The Leader yelled. "WATCH HIS FREAKING HEARTBEAT! IT'S WHAT'S KEEP HIM ALIVE, DAMMIT!"

"Man, I was hoping my last day would be more peaceful," Ukitake murmured.

I blinked back my waterfall of tears and looked at the ceiling.

"Kuchiki," Ukitake said wearily. "I need to tell you this before I die."

"ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS, SAKUJI? I NEED MORE GODDAMN REIATSU FLOWING IN, NOT THAT BULLSHIT YOU'RE PUSHING IN!" The Leader screamed.

I nodded slowly, ready to hear the worst.

"I want you to challenge Sou-Taicho Yamamoto."

My eyes widened.

"MORE DAMN POWER!" The Leader screamed, louder than anything I had ever heard before. "I GREW UP IN UKITAKE JUUSHIRO'S DIVISION, AND I'M NOT READY TO LET HIM DIE A SECOND SOONER THAN HE NEEDS TO!"

"You deserve to love Ichigo, even if it means that the Gotei 13 won't be having you as Sou-Taicho."
"SHIT!"

I couldn't breathe.

"You want me to… break away from the rules?"

Ukitake smiled wearily, taking very staccato breaths.

"Please… please… remind… *cough*" He wheezed. "Remind… remind Yamamoto love… is above… all.. else…"

The steady flow of reiatsu into Ukitake's body suddenly, abruptly stopped.

There was a long, deathly silence.

His eyes were still open, and he had a smile plastered on his face.

It couldn't be true. He wasn't… he wasn't…

The Leader started crying. The man was a good 7'3, but he cried freely as a child would.

That day, a great man died.

4 Years Ago

The Kurosaki household once had a red recliner.

It was faux leather and quite comfortable.

In that recliner Kurosaki Isshin received the phone call his wife was having twins.

In that recliner Ichigo Kurosaki spilled his first beer.

In that recliner Karin Kurosaki broke the news to her dad about the naval ring she had gotten without his permission.

Many firsts and lasts happened in that recliner.

It served the Kurosaki household a total of 24 years, older than all three of the children.

After 24 years of heavy-duty usage in the household, the recliner received its first real kiss.

It happened on a rainy night in January.

It was January 15 to be exact, the day of Rukia Kuchiki's birth.

Ichigo Kurosaki, aged 19 at the time, was sitting on the couch across from Rukia, who sat on the recliner.

Home alone, the pair decided to watch TV.

It was 'damn boring', according to Ichigo.

Rukia randomly chose a movie that involved a steamy love triangle.

Being engrossed with the story, she watched intently as Ichigo yawned.

"They kiss really, really, bad in this movie," Ichigo observed.

"You couldn't do any better," Rukia said in defense of the 2 star rated movie.

Ichigo rolled his eyes.

"Betcha I can," He said simply.

He walked up to Rukia and ruffled her hair.

It may sound strange, but having her hair ruffled was Rukia Kuchiki's biggest turn on.

After years of Ichigo's doing this, she snapped.

She got up from the recliner and pushed him into it.

"What the-?" Ichigo said in surprise, as she sat, front-to-front on his lap.

She proceeded in giving him the purplest hickey the world had ever seen.

It sat on his lower neck, purple-blue and proud, as Rukia took several seconds to process what she had done. Her eyes widened in utter disbelief and her cheeks were a very deep red.

"Kami," She said apologetically, ready to get off Ichigo's lap and never live the moment down.

But Ichigo responded by pulling her in and kissing her.

It was their first real time, and their teeth clacked.

Like every other imperfect kiss, that sealed the bond between the two, an innocent kiss developing into a romance neither of them could ever forget.

Just a year after the recliner's first kiss, it was sent away with Ichigo Kurosaki to med school.

On that recliner, Ichigo cried his first break-up tears.

The Second After Ukitake Died

I stared at my Dad for a second, taking another drag from my cigarette.

We sort of smoked for a while before then, my heart beating faster and faster by the second.

"So… she loves me?"

Dad looked up into the sky, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath of the smoky air. He laughed to himself and took another drag of his cigarette.

"Something tell me someone told Rukia something that convinced her of coming back," He shook his head.

Suddenly, he was crying.

"Just like I asked him to. He did what I asked."

I wondered why tears were flowing down his cheeks.

"Run, Ichigo, run." Dad said, sniffling. "Just run to her."

I pressed my cigarette butt on the ash tray parallel from us and did as I was told.

Many Years Ago

"Juu-kun!" I called, smiling. I held Engetsu, my trusty zanpakutou up.

I crawled around the darkness for a while, listening for the softest rustling of leaves.

"Isshin~!" Juushiro taunted from somewhere, then disappearing.

I shook my head. These damn training sessions with him were really getting onto my nerves.

I hear a little rustle behind me.

I smiled and snapped my fingers, a small green flame flickering where the friction was.

I smiled and crept forward, my head down. He always pulled this trick.

Just before he could flip me from behind, I quickly threw my hand with the flame up and pressed it against his pant leg.

"Oh CRAP!" He hollered.

The kidou that made the training hall dark was lifted instantaneously.

I chuckled. "Dammit, Juu-kun. Try something new."

Juushiro looked at me in mock rage, quite pissed.

"Stop burning my pant legs, Isshin!" He pouted.

There was silence, and then we laughed. Juushiro and I had been friends for a very, very long time. We knew each other too well. That cycle would repeat itself in time.

"Listen, Juu-kun…" I said, rubbing the back of my head. "I have to go down to the World of the Living in about 5 minutes patrol," I said, biting my tongue and turning pink.

"Masa-chan's all you can think about, Isshin," Juushiro taunted/pointed out.

I nodded, ashamed. "Listen, Juu-kun…" I said, looking at the ceiling. "You and I both know Commander Yamamoto won't approve of our relationship... she's a spirit I should've konso'd AGES ago." He paused. "And she's one of those spirits that are human-like and can actually be seen without their chains leading off their core." I paused. "She's a… a Half-Whole. Half dead."

"You two are a match made in heaven," He concluded without a thought.

I nodded and scratched my head.

"This whole 'the Gotei 13 will kill Masashi if Isshin doesn't leave her' thing is plain pissing me off." Juushiro said, anger suddenly clouding his usually calm face.

"Listen, Juushiro…" I said, starting to walk towards the door of the room. "Actually, this is the last time you and I are going to see each other. I'm… leaving Seireitei for good." I coughed.

Juushiro's eyes widened, and then softened.

"I understand," He whispered. "I won't blame you."

I turned around and gave him a brisk handshake.

"Urahara can relocate us to a safe location," I assured him quickly.

"…this is all so wrong," Juushiro said, frowning. "Just because you have 'Sou-Taicho Potential,'…"

"Juushiro, could you promise me…" I said, my voice trailing off. "…if you ever hear about another shinigami with a problem like mine, please help them out as best as you can."

Juushiro smiled and saluted me.

"I'd do everything for them."

"C-Captain?" A surprised unranked rookie yelped as I pushed past him, running at a breakneck speed.

I had to get to the Gateway to the World of the Living. I ran faster and faster, not pausing at all to breathe. My eyes filled with strange, unknown tears, and found my heart beating uncontrollably. I was running, reaching out.

I was reaching out.

The realization filled me with something warm. I felt comforted, assured the world was rooting for me.

This feeling… hope.

I started to shunpo, making my progress towards the Gateway speed up.

So this… is what true hope feels like? Raw, untouched hope?

I then found myself smiling.

[Play Full Moon Sways from BECK Eng. Dubbed]

Rain clouds filled the sky.

Rukia found her legs pushing, faster and faster.

She felt his presence, his overwhelming, comforting reiatsu.

She smiled larger and larger, tears dropping from her cheeks.

It started raining.

Ichigo's figure appeared over the hill.

That moment, the world seemed to disappear around them.

Rukia blinked back her tears.

Closer, closer.

She could smell him already. Caramel, sunshine, roses and happiness.

Ichigo's eyes softened as he saw her, as beautiful as ever.

Her beautiful amethyst eyes no ring could match, her ebony hair, spread like ravens wings over her shoulders.

She ran, closer and closer, her eyes filled with an eagerness he hadn't known before.

He stood there, in full shinigami uniform, his figure apparent and ready.

Before he could even blink,

Rukia reached out and grabbed Ichigo.

She jumped up and gave him the sweetest, greatest kiss there ever was.

It was perfect in every way, soft, and wet, just as he loved.

He held her closer and closer, crying as he fully realized she was back in his arms.

The kissed and kissed and held each other close for a very long time.

They never grew tired of each other's kisses.

Rukia's were soft and beautiful, soft, perfect, and wet.

Ichigo's were deep, passionate, wonderful, and perfectly imperfect.

Rukia was the one who pulled away from their kisses.

"Ichigo, I'm so, so sorry." She whispered. "Can we… start over?"

Ichigo smiled knowingly.

Surprisingly Recently, A Century Ago

"Where is Kurosaki Isshin?" Sou-taicho Yamamoto asked again, for the umpteenth time.

I grit my teeth. "I will never tell."

"I'm warning you, Ukitake Juushiro," He said, his glare penetrating through me.

"I will never tell."

The Captain of the 2nd Division at the time, Tazaku Fujito, drew his double ended ripper zanpakutou.

He carved my back twice.

I cried and screamed, but nothing, nothing would make me tell.

"You've been with the Gotei 13 since it started," Sou-Taicho Yamamoto said quietly. "You have been a vital part of its growth. It would be dishonorable to give up on it know."

I shook my head, spitting out a tooth.

"You're the one who gave up," I spat.

Sou-Taicho Yamamoto's eyes filled with anger.

He walked up to me and cast his hands upon me.

"Oh, have the gods betrayed me!" He chanted. "The worlds revolve around the hand standing above the skies themselves. Let no soul go untouched by the wrath of the Divine punishment. Let there never be a word muttered from my mouth that goes against the will of my Master, his divine wonder supreme."

There was a dastardly pause.

"If I ever break this word, may the hand of punishment above the skies pull my soul apart, with no other soul to tell. Kidou #99, THE DIVINE'S CURSE!"

I fell to the ground, a strange coldness flying through my body.

"From now on," Sou-Taicho Yamamoto said coldly. "If you try to assist a potential heir for my position in a situation like Isshin Kurosaki's, a horrible, inexplainable sickness will overtake your body."

He paused again.

"If it is destined that that heir leave for one purpose or another, and you were part of that purpose…"

"You will surely die."

"Hello," He said, smiling. "My name is Ichigo Kurosaki."

"That's a funny name, Strawberry."

"Shut up, Shinigami."

"…it isn't Shingami, it's Kuchiki Rukia."

Years Later

I woke up, my eyes groggy. I tried to close them again, but sunlight invaded through, waking me up a little.

I sighed and sat up in bed.

I smiled as I turned to look at Ichigo, smiling in his naked slumber. I noticed his warm arms were still wrapped around my lower waist.

I laughed quietly to myself.

This guy STILL had his hands all over me when we were asleep.

His warm face was just around… well, my upper thighs, around that area… you get it, right?

His soft nose pressed against one of my inner thighs, making me giggle every time he moved a little in his sleep.

His familiar, beautiful body was spread across mine, white bed sheets failing to cover everything that was private to us.

But what was privacy when I was with Ichigo?

We were happily hitched, married, whatever other words I could replace for those!

I ran a hand through his hair and shook my head with joy.

Unable to contain myself any further, I lifted his head and tipped it until it sat on my chest and kissed him, square on the lips.

I felt him wake up slowly, his arms wrapping around me gently. His body shifted, and I felt him kiss back.

We stayed like that for a long, long time.

"Morning, 'Berry," I whispered into his messy hair.

He smiled and kissed my cheek.

"Man, I love you," He whispered, flipped me over him.

It always tickled, but it really felt great, being positioned over him the way I was. He pulled me into him and kissed me, front to front.

His hands ran across the length of my body, about to reach my intimate… parts.

"Wait, wait," I said, chickening out. "We can't right now. I have a captain's meeting."

Ichigo frowned and flipped me gently beneath him.

It was awfully warm and tingly.

"Why?" He pouted.

Someone knocked on our door loudly.

"Kuchiki Rukia," Someone said through the door in an annoyed voice. "We're all waiting for you!"

It was Renji. I laughed and then swore.

I rolled off the bed and pulled on my clothes.

"You never seize to amaze me with that schedule of yours," Ichigo said, laughing as he pulled on his own hakama pants.

I blushed and pulled on my haori.

Just as I was about to leave, Ichigo tapped me on the shoulder.

"Don't forget this, idiot."

It was my wedding ring.

I laughed and pulled it on.

After a second of thinking, I kissed him.

"See you later, 'Berry," I said, smiling.

Years Ago

"How could you… you pick this BOY over the entire Soul Society?" Sou-Taicho Yamamoto asked, confusion and rage cloaking his voice. "His heroics were handy for us at one time, but now they simply INTERFERE."

"I love Ichigo," I said quietly.

The Gotei 13 hall fell silent.

Anxious captains cleared their throats.

"…what makes you think that love is above all else?" Yamamoto asked calmly.

"Haven't you ever been in love?"

An awkward silence filled the hall.

"Answer me straight, Kuchiki! Why do you choose to be with Ichigo Kurosaki than rather be a Sou-Tai-"

"I know what it's like to fall in love like that," Byakuya said.

Sou-Taicho Yamamoto was surprised.

"Please elaborate on that, Kuchiki Byakuya."

I was slightly surprised. Nii-sama… was covering for me?

"It feels like… when you love someone, nothing else matters remotely enough."

"It's true," Captain Unohana said quietly.

The Hall remained silent for a long time.

"Kuchiki Rukia is the answer to the problem Soul Society has had for years!" Yamamoto said in disbelief. "Am I the only person realizing that?"

"So you're going to strip away something she cares about just because you think it would be better for her?" Hitsugaya asked. "It sounds… it sounds like something that would plain contradict your plans. Its hypocritical."

Silence.

Man, hypocritical was a freaking serious word.

"If you want her to grow…" Zaraki said boldly. "Let her keep Kurosaki as her boy-toy. He'll help her every step of the way."

Chatter filled the halls.

"...what is your take on this, Kuchiki Rukia?" Byakuya asked me.

Silence.

"I… I think that the Gotei 13 has failed to realize that sometimes your heart is above your own duty."

Yamamoto's eyes suddenly softened.

"My… old taicho, Juushiro Ukitake always used to say that."

After about 10 minutes of strange silence, Yamamoto spoke.

"You are free to be with him."

"Dammit, Kuchiki," Hitsugaya said sternly as the 12 of the 13 walked into the hall. "I'm starting to think that you being with Kurosaki is going to be a distraction for all of us."

"Got that right," Renji murmured, scratching his haori marked '8'.

I smiled. "He comes with the package. You get me as super-awesome Sou-Taicho, I get Ichigo as a bonus."

"And whatever's in his pants," Zaraki whistled stupidly.

I blushed and turned around, walking into the long hall.

I bumped into Nii-sama.

"Hi, Nii-sama," I greeted. "You… don't look like you got much sleep."

"Perhaps… I should move rooms from next to yours."

"Why?"

Omigod. Did he just turn pink?

"You and Kurosaki… make a lot of strange and loud noises."

I was embarrassed out of my flipping mind, but I tried hard not to laugh.

We all got into our positions, one by one.

And then Yamamoto appeared.

"Before we start our agenda, I'd like to introduce a very special guest."

[Play NO! Thank You from the anime K-ON!]

We all fell silent, confused.

As usual, he popped in casually.

"Yo," He called.

The only strange thing was…

He had a haori labeled '5' on it.

Life is like a lesson

We learn as we go

Sometimes we fall behind

We can sometimes move ahead

And pass those around us

But ignorance is bliss

And move too fast,

You'll find yourself in utter solitude.

Being alone is hard

There is no one to lean on

No one to listen

Life is like a maze

We walk around

Uncertain if we are taking the right path

Until we reach a dead end

Life is like a boat

It rocks back and forth with the current

With the wind

As life rocks with circumstance

Too deep for our own understanding

Life is like a season

It comes and goes

Quickly and stealthily, as if it was never there

Life is like raindrops

It falls from the sky into my palms

They are little packages of happiness

But little packages of sorrow

Life was like a box for me

An enclosed and tight space

I couldn't breathe

I was trapped…

…until…

I found a certain Strawberry

I could count on

One that made me happy

One that pissed me off

He taught me things I thought I learnt

And burned them into my heart.

My sky used to be filled with grey

But now I can see the blue

My eyes can see differently now,

I've learnt the truth.

I had a little Strawberry

Who was always there for me

I've learnt so much

I swear I've learned to touch

The sky with my fingertips.

LASTEST AN!

WAHAHAH! Officially 30 FREAKING PAGES!

*Pops Confetti*

It took such a long time to write this. Sumimasen.

Anyways, before anything, the thank yous.

THANK YOU, PERSON READING THIS. YOU ROCK. IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND GUTS TO READ SOMETHING LIKE THIS. (Why'd I say guts? XD)

THANK YOU FANFICTION, FOR LETTING ME POST STORIES AND READ THEM TOO. IT'S BEAUTIFUL, REALLY.

THANK YOU TITE KUBO, FOR INVENTING ICHIGO AND RUKIA.

Now… ahem… the ever awkward specific reader thank yous.

Just kidding there are none.

I LOVE YOU ALL! (:D)

Anyways…

WHOA! 31 pages!

I mean, get ready world, for another IchiRuki extravaganza with my new, awesome story!

I just haven't thought of it yet! :D

…I mean, I have a few ideas, so just tell me of anything sounds interesting in your review, kays?

OOooooOoooOo

NUMBER ONE!

Kurosaki and Kunoichi

Rukia is a ninja trained to seduce men to get information. Ichigo's the average high school guy, nothing special, needing a job and wanting to get laid.

Ichigo meets Rukia.

Two worlds collide.

A story of hilarious naked old men, pervy ducklings, conspiracy and fluffy romance ensues!

Genre- Rom/Com/Action

OooooOooooO

NUMBER TWO!

Perfectly Imperfect

Ichigo is a playboy who never gets caught. Rukia's the new girl with a dark secret.

One day, Ichigo's plots fail and backfire and he's caught in a whirlwind of scandal and depression, then he meets Rukia, the quiet girl who seems to know what he's going through.

Lots of comfort in this fic. Also, darkly romantic.

Genre- Hurt/Comfort/Friendship/Romance

OooooOoooOo

NUMBER THREE!

Strawberry Death Rock?

Inspired by Nick and Norah's Infinite playlist and Lemonade Mouth.

Ichigo's the guy who can blend into any crowd. He plays bass and listens to a lot of in, hip hop and pop songs.

Then he meets Rukia, the chick who shreds on… Ukelele?, and is asked out about every two hours, but has never said yes? Did I mention she listens to screamo?

Two totally different personalities clash, then bond, then clash, forming a band that just might rock Japan.

Genre- Rom/Com/Action

OooooooOoOoooO

Bleach… Becomes Twilight?

Enter Rukia Kuchiki, that 'one girl' who moves with her dad into a random small town.

Enter Ichigo Kurosaki, the hot vampire she just happens to meet there.

Enter ChromeHeartSoldier's first hilarious parody of Twilight with the characters of Bleach!

Genre- Parody/Comedy

OooOoOoOOO

Chomp!

PM me random food of any culture and I will have Ichigo and Rukia eat it together.

A very random, but surprising cute and funny idea.

Genre- Romance/Comedy

OoOoOoooO

Breathe into Me

Ichigo Kurosaki never believed in angels. He just thought that there was no life after death.

But after a near-fatal accident that almost cost him his life, he believes.

He saw an angel sink through the roof of the ambulance and give him a kiss, breathing life into him that ultimately saved his life.

Rukia Kuchiki moves into his school, looking exactly like that angel.

A very romantic tale. More romance than anything, really.

Genre- Romance/Comfort

OoooOoOoO

OMG. LLWS is actually over.

You know what?

I'll just shut up now! XD

See Yar Reviews in Another Story,

ChromeHeartSoldiers