Hiya people!

Firstly, this is ICHIRUKI. If you don't like it that's your deal and why in heck would you be on this fic to begin with?

I hold no rights to BLEACH. Rukia would be back by now if I did.

A fair warning: OOC-ness is most likely present. But, I hope not TOO much. Its kinda fluffy and maybe a bit rushed. I'll come back and edit any errors. But as of right now I have a headache, its one something... and enough of my problems onward to DA SHOW!

I wanna dedicate this here chappy to my buddy. She knows who she as she will mostly likely be first to read it. That is if she isn't drooling over Gokudera from KHR. ^_^

Rating: T (and it will stay that unless I get the guts to write... other stuff. I've been asked before...so yea...don't count on it.)

At age 18, Ichigo and Rukia made a pact. If come their 25th birthdays and neither were in a steady relationship, they would give dating a try. Best friends make the best lovers, right? Now seven years later, on July 15th, one is found happily (?) taken. The other newly single and with the arrival of a long forgotten email everything changes.

IchiRuki AU T

Prologue

The sky was painted by the rays of the setting sun, a mix of orange, yellow and pink hues with blues and purples encroaching from above, a sign of the coming night. The light flooded Kurosaki Ichigo's room through his window reaching every corner and eliminating the shadows. Atop his bed lied a girl, hidden beneath his blue comforter. Her raven tresses spilled across his pillow. She groaned as the invading light reached her violet eyes and she shut them quickly.

As Kuchiki Rukia burrowed further into the blanket strewn across her best friend's bed, two thoughts crossed her mind: First, Shiba Kaien was a jerk and second, Ichigo had taken to using the cologne she had given him for his birthday the week before. The blue fabric draped around her held the scents of sandalwood and musk in its threads, creating a sense of calm in her, easing her mind in a way only his presence seemed to do.

She had been hesitant to purchase it for him, not knowing if he'd actually use it, but she noted when she walked into his room earlier that day and spied it atop his desk that a week or so's worth of the amber liquid was absent from the bottle. She smiled knowing he had liked her gift. After thirteen years of friendship, or something akin to it, she had finally got him a gift. Though, that's not to say she had never given him anything over the years.

When they were little, it was drawings, hand-made cards, and once, in fourth grade, an orange and purple bracelet she made in art class. Ichigo wore it every day before he 'lost it'. Rukia knew that it was statements made by their classmates that the bracelet was 'girly' and made Ichigo look like a 'sissy' was what prompted him to not only ditch the bracelet, but give one of the boys in class a bloody nose and subsequently land himself a meeting with the principal. She also knew that said bracelet was actually tucked away in a box in the corner of his closet, lying amongst everything else she had made him. He was a softie behind that scowl of his and she was the only who knew it.

As of recent years, they had taken to going out to the movies and dinner, often being mistaken for a couple. Rukia was embarrassed by this, but Ichigo readily used it to their advantage, having gotten into the movies for free on Valentine's Day and even freebies at numerous sweet shops… He also wasn't afraid to act the part, which embarrassed her even further.

But, she had never bought him an actual gift. She often hadn't the money to do so and when she did the thing she wished to get him most eluded her. Rukia had only seen it once in an old bookstore she and Ichigo had wandered into when they were fourteen. It had sat near the front register and Ichigo had spotted it quickly, a thick leather-bound tomb with the words The Complete Works of William Shakespeare written in an elegant gold platted script upon its cover. Upon further inspection and talk with the owner of the store, they found that it was a rather old edition published in the mid-1800s and that it was priced for sale at $200. Now, neither teen had access to such an amount. Rukia lived with her Uncle Ukitake, who took her in after the death of her parents when she was toddler, and since his medical bills were so costly, she hated asking for much of anything. Even without such circumstances, the price was outrageous for a mere book she had thought. Ichigo had a similar view. His father made a comfortable lifestyle for his family, but asking for such a thing was out of the question.

Ichigo had wanted it so bad though. So, as he walked about the rest of the shop, Rukia had managed to convince the owner to save it for her. She had been planning on taking a job soon anyway, and she would soon have enough money to buy it for his birthday. Sadly, by the time Rukia had the money to do so, the owner of the shop moved away. To where she didn't know and since then she had been searching for the new location of the bookstore. The money still sat idly in her sock drawer. She was happy to finally get him something of value for once.

"If it's something from you" he had said "it has value." She smiled. Ichigo seemed to lift her spirits when she was down. Like now for instance. She frowned. Kaien is an asshole she thought. So much for lifted spirits…

Rukia had met him when she started writing for the school paper. It didn't take her long to fall for him with his spiky, jet black hair that hung to the nape of his neck, cerulean eyes… In fact, he looked a lot like Ichigo. But what she liked most of all was that he was kind to her, treating the freshman newbie like she actually belonged. He always praised her writing, saying that one day she would either pen a worldwide bestseller or work for the most prestigious of newspapers. They started dating her junior year and after he graduated, he attended the local college, claiming he didn't want to leave her.

Kaien had been leading her on for the past year. He had a girlfriend, Miako, who lived in the town over. There was even a rumor that the two were engaged. Kaien had come to her house to apologize, but Rukia had slammed the door in his face before he could say a word and she snuck out the back the door, hopped the fence and made her way to Ichigo's. She needed a pick-me-up and Ichigo served that purpose well every time she was upset.

Doing so only served to add to her anger as Inoue Orihime was standing in the doorway, talking with Ichigo. Orihime had long orange hair in which she kept two blue matching hairpins; grey doe-like eyes and a very…blessed figure. Rukia never really knew why, but she disliked the girl. Not too much, but she did. She was a sweet girl and everything, but Rukia just… She didn't even know why she felt that way.

Inoue had a very obvious crush on Ichigo, though the idiot never seemed to notice. He never noticed any girl for that matter and there was a time when she wondered if he was gay. Not that she'd mind, it would mean she would never stop being his favorite girl.

Ichigo seemed to be enjoying their conversation to some degree, but as soon as he spotted Rukia standing beyond Inoue he stopped speaking.

"Are you okay, Rukia?" he asked. She could see the change in his eyes. Worry was evident in his amber irises. He knew something was wrong.

Orihime turned in surprise. "Kuchiki-san! Nice to see you! Are you here to see Kurosaki-kun? I can leave if you need me too." she stated in her bubbly voice.

"No, that's okay." Rukia said, as she forced a smile.

"Are you sure, Kuchiki-san?"

"Of course!"

"Rukia, go up to my room. I'll be there in a few minutes." Ichigo said his tone serious.

"Ichigo, really, its okay." she replied. She needed to stop using him as a crutch; they were going to college in fall. She needed to grow up.

"Go." He said as he ran a hand through his spiky, bright orange hair. His tone left little to argue.

"Okay…"

Rukia felt the weight of the bed shift as Ichigo lied down next to her. She kept her back to him. They sat in silence and watched as the sun descended behind the buildings of Karakura.

"Kaien had another girlfriend." she said. Ichigo's eyes widened and his scowl deepened in anger. He kept silent, letting her continue. "They've been dating for a few years. Apparently, they're going to get married when they graduate college. I guess I was just his little whore on the side."

"Rukia…"

"I'm fine, don't worry. He isn't worth it if he treats girls like that, right?"

"Rukia."

"My one foray into romance gets fucked up. I hereby swear off dating and men for the rest of my life. I always thought I'd end up being a cat-obsessed old woman." she laughed bitterly.

"Rukia!"

"Its kinda depress-"

"RUKIA!"

"WHAT?" she yelled, as she turned to face him.

"Could you just shut up and stop talking for a second?"

"What the hell are you-?"

"Aren't you over-exaggerating a bit?" Ichigo asked calmly. "One guy hurts you now and you give up? Really?"

"Well, it sounds like a good plan…" she whispered.

"It's not."

"And you know this how? You've been single since you were born! Listen, if you like guys its okay you're still my Ichigo." she said.

Ichigo's scowl deepened. "YOU THINK I'M GAY?"

"Yup."

"Dumbass."

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

"Carrot-top."

"Midget."

"Strawberry."

They glared at each other and soon, broke into a quiet laughter.

"You won't be single forever, shortcake." Ichigo said smirking at her.

"Shut up. I can guarantee that come our… 25th birthdays, you'll be married with, like, six kids." she laughed.

"Doubt it."

"I'll be single."

"No. You won't"

"You really want to start this again?" Rukia sighed. Ichigo grinned.

"I'll tell you what, for as long as I'm single, I'll be your plus one and you'll be mine."

Rukia raised an eyebrow at this. "And then when I'm still single at age 25, you'll marry me!" She laughed at how absurd it sounded.

"Sure." Ichigo said nonchalantly.

"What?" she whispered in disbelief.

"If we're both still single, I'll marry you."

"Quit being stupid, Ichigo."

"I'm serious." Rukia blushed.

"Really? You would?" She couldn't believe she was actually entertaining the fact of marrying Ichigo.

"Yea." he said nervously.

Rukia rolled over on her back and stared at his ceiling. Ichigo slid under the blanket with her and lied is head next to hers.

"You realize you just, in a sense, proposed to me right?"

"I'm aware of that."

Rukia sighed. Kurosaki Rukia didn't sound so bad. She chuckled lightly. They had met in kindergarten. Their relationship being that of enemies, after arguments over broken crayons and a spilt juice box ensued. They chose not to talk to each other. But, after saving one another from bullies multiple times and a found mutual liking of the class pet, a white rabbit named Chappy, they became inseparable

As far as romance went, they had shared their first kiss behind the bleachers in third grade. It was a strange feeling and after a few tries, they vowed to never do it again. Since then, however, they'd kissed multiple times; mainly due to Ichigo's father and his tendency to hang mistletoe around the house, even when it wasn't Christmas, as well as their own curiosity.

She had to admit being with Ichigo wouldn't be that bad. They would only grow closer in the coming years and if they were both single by then, why not?

"You know, we'll probably forget all about this by then." she said.

"So does that mean you say yes?" asked Ichigo.

"Yea. But-"

"There's this site on the internet where you can send e-mails to the future." he stated.

"Who's to say we'll be using the same e-mail addresses?" she questioned.

"Who's to say we'll both be single?" he answered. "Some things you leave to chance."

With that, he wrapped an arm around her waist and hugged her to him. Another thing only Rukia knew about Ichigo?

He liked to cuddle his best friend.

A/N: Okay so I hope that came out well...

A little rushed I guess.

Just in case questions arise:

Byakuya will appear in this story. Remember this is a prologue and the whole Byakuya, Hisana, Kuchiki family things doesn't happen to Rukia until she's older.

I'm not gonna make Orihime a bitch. I actually like her now. So she'll be the sweet character that helps... yea not gonna spoil. Also I've yet to choose her pairing. Uryu or Ulquiorra? I'll put up a poll. So go and vote! ^_^

That's it. REVIEWS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. and yu get cookehs if ya does. (^_^)o

peace, S.B