Disclaimer: I'm way too young to own Bleach.

Chapter 8

Ichigo looked back once more at Uryuu's home, and crossed the street when all the cars stopped for the bystanders to walk.

People didn't notice her or even become excited at the sight of her but it was because she hid her hair under the hood of the jacket.

She didn't even notice Byakuya passing by her, until she saw something of his fall down. It was a small book that could fit into a pocket, but she wasn't in the mood to peek at people's things. She rushed to him, not knowing who he exactly was until he turned around.

"You dropped this." Calm, she handed out the book to him but her head was down. "Thanks."

"No problem." She was about to turn and walk away but he caught sight of her hair. "Ichigo Kurosaki?"

At the mention of her family name and the familiarly deep voice, she turned back and tilted her head up. "Oh. Hi, Byakuya." she greeted, her voice almost monotone. "I'm just walking around here."

"This is a little far from your home." he stated, remembering the path from his house to her house and where they are right now. "Long hikes can help quell my boredom." she shrugged. "Why are you here?"

"Done with my job for the day." he answered, checking if his briefcase is secure out of the reminder about his job. "You're not driving?"

"I'd rather walk than drive on traffic days like this one." His point was proven by the loud, nonstop sounds of blaring horns and the lining cars moving as slow as a snail. "Well, you got me there." she replied, feeling a little better now she's talking about something else that's not relating to her mother's fatal illness.

"So you're going home now?"

"It's almost going to be six and I don't want to keep Rukia waiting. You're going to walk around, I presume?" She nodded, but she didn't want to walk any farther to home either or she would worry her family.

"It won't hurt to walk with you, I guess." He continued walking and he didn't mind that she walked beside him, but he minded her expression. She looked kind of lost and lonely and it was so different from that carefree face at the time when it was snowing and he was driving her to her house.

They walked and walked but none shared a word. Byakuya was naturally quiet, but Ichigo was still too down to say anything else, until that defeaning silence tried to bother her again. "How's Rukia?" she popped out, wind making their clothes flap from the wind of a speeding car that went past them.

"As excited towards you as ever. But it's normal for her. She really is devoted to those that she claims to like." Now, she's the one getting curious about the raven head. "What does she like, anyway?"

"Aside from you and literature, she loves playing the piano." he replied casually. Though many minutes passed, they were still far from their homes. But if they did take the taxis or drive their cars then they would still be back there, waiting for hours.

"Really? So we both like music and the piano."

"You play as well?" he asked. She nodded, the frown on her lips slowly disappearing. "Aside from the piano, I can also play the violin and the flute. I don't know how to play the others, but I'm learning the guitar. What do you play?"

"Everything except the trumpet."

"Whoa... you're a musical prodigy." Ichigo complimented, feeling a little envious. "My parents told me to grasp my full potential when I was little, so I did. It always would bring smiles to their faces when I would show them my talents." Ichigo felt a similarity. When she would sing for her family at home, they would also smile. Not that it would happen anymore if ever should she-

"I'm not bragging or anything." he defended softly, and she slightly snorted. "I know. You're not the man who would do that, even if your richer than God himself." she joked, but knew that she wouldn't be able to get a laugh out of him.

Soon, they started to have their own traffic too. The farther they walked, the more crowded were the streets they passed through and they reached an area where there were so many people.

Another bad thing was that the sky poured upon them and many were surprised, but were prepared that they opened their umbrellas and placed it over their heads. Ichigo didn't bring any umbrella but lucky enough she had her hood to keep her head from going wet.

Byakuya took out an umbrella as well and pried it open, but since they were stuck between the multitude of people that were struggling to get through like the cars were struggling to go forward they were about to be separated.

The orange head almost fell, since the people were so eager to go home already they didn't care who they would forcefully bump into and hurt. But a hand grabbed hers and she was pulled to her savior's side, who was none other than Byakuya.

"When will I stop being able to thank you?" she said as her way of saying thanks when he continued holding her hand as they make their way through, sometimes smoothly and sometimes roughly.

"Only God can tell."

God? Since Masaki got sick and showed no signs of recovering, Ichigo started to lose her belief and her faith in that figure that almost everyone worships. "Like there is a God." she whispered, but not to anyone but lonely and suffering self that's staring to experience the feeling of the loss of someone dear.

"Is your family doing fine?" Byakuya questioned. "Yes." she lied, her free hand crunching into a tight knuckle. "But they've been pretty busy lately, and I have to go back to school in a week... and... and..." Her body felt light and her feet were too shaky, her forehead sizzling and her throat closed too much that she was rasping.

"Are you alright?" He noticed the choke like sounds come out her throat and she nodded no honestly, feeling to ill to say anything even if she's under his umbrella, protected by the rain and from all the sickness the annoying weather can give.

She can't walk, can't speak, but she was lucky enough to hear, see and move her head to answer any of his questions. He paused walking and effortlessly picked her up till she was on him in a piggyback kind of manner.

The teenager already fell asleep when her head fell on his back that felt toned and firm, it would make a good body pillow for her while she was being carried by him, now wet and soaked.

There was something she noticed. The scent... he smelled like cherry blossoms and mint, just like Uryuu. It was almost the same, even if the two men never crossed paths until the musical which she sang in.

Gray clouds met her when her eyes slowly opened like an iron gate rising up, and only little light shone on her face, that the room was overall dull. She noticed right away that she was back in her room, with her collection of musical songs that she made up but only sang one-fourth of the thousand she made to the people that would attend shows she would participate in.

"But didn't I..."

"I brought you here." a velvet-cast voice spoke, and she relaxed when she looked to the other side and Byakuya was there, sitting patiently and watching her. "How long have I been sleeping?"

"More or less an hour and a half."

"You walked all the way here?" Though he was silent and didn't move his head to nod or anything, the answer was already discernible. But he's in his house. There was a chance that he might have known about her mom.

Springing herself out the bed even though her head hurt like a buzzing bell, she ran to his room. Byakuya followed in a composed manner until they were in another room which had no sound until both entered.

Ichigo looked at Masaki, peaceful but clearly fighting the disease in her mind and hurt. "What's wrong with your mother?" Ichigo was about to sigh but didn't. No one else should know and if there was anyone else outside the family who had to know, it must only be Uryuu and his father.

No one else. No one should get involved so she answered like it was no big deal, "She's having a slight fever. She'll recover soon." Across the foot of the bed, stood an old but perfectly functioning piano which she sat on, her fingers lightly touching the keys.

"I want to know exactly why do you like singing?" Masaki asked while pushing her daughter that sat on the swing, holding on to the ropes. "Because when I do, I'm in a world where there are no problems and I can completely be myself."

Byakuya couldn't leave when she played, the notes light but perfect. In such a peaceful moment, after she watched her mother sleep, she suddenly started to go to the piano and start a slow but almost tragic song that could pierce anyone's hearts. Anyone's but the most uncaring of people.

In the white palm
of a lover, a grain
fell, it was a sapphire

A drop of purity
born in the night
when comfort was touched
becomes light

Even sadness is turned into
a blue jewel by your hands
sweet sighs, old sorrows
if they are all drunk up
I'll be by your side

(A/N: Song Sapphire by Kalafina)

It slowly descended to a finishing note, and she sighed deeply, breathing in the cold air above them as the sun rose from the clouds again to illuminate the whole town.

"Sorry about that. When I get the urge to play and sing, I can't stop it." she humbly murmured, and motioned for both of them to leave the room. "Maybe you should go home now. Rukia might be worried about you."

Ichigo wanted him to leave already, but not because his presence was annoying her; she wanted to play some more for her mother in private. "No one has to be involved."

He nodded, not affected by all but ironically she grabbed his hand out of impulse before he would twist the knob open. "Wait!" she raised her voice like she was so desperate about something, and it got to him that he was surprised as well.

"I need some company." Uryuu wasn't there, and she hadn't thought of needing someone to keep her from being lonely before until now. Her voice was slightly pained, but he focused more on the desperation in his voice. "Can you stay for a little longer?"

TBC . . .

A/N: If you haven't heard of Kalafina yet, you should listen to their songs. It's so angelic, powerful, sometimes dark but overall fantastic. I've been a fan of them now for two years and I watched the animes where they either sang the opening and ending and I loved each anime! Sorry for that confession I just got so excited.