BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

I strongly recommend reading this fic in a font where you can easily tell what is bolded. The way to change the font you are reading is to click the solitary "A" to the right of the "A-" at the top of your screen

Disclaimer:

Excluding the plot twists I've added, everything canon belongs to Tite Kubo. None of this is for profit, it's just to improve my writing skills.

Summary:

[set after Ichigo loses his powers]. Rukia has a dark secret. Ichigo is losing the fight against his inner hollow. Karin makes a fatal mistake. Toshiro is willing to destroy his heart in order to protect. All the while, Urahara can only watch as his worst predictions come to fruition. IchigoxRukia Ichiruki & histuhina OR hitsukarin (reviewers choose!)

Things to know:

This story will involve lots of arrancar (even though it begins after the Winter War), and will involve switching between the three worlds (Human World, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo). When I initially wrote this story, I wanted to play with timelines (i.e. jump back and forth between past/present/future). I tried to make it as clear as possible, but if you find yourself getting beyond lost/confused, there is a chronological timeline in Chapter 16. I would recommend trying the story as it is written first, because part of the uncertainty was intentional - i.e. the reader not knowing which character is doing a specific action until a later chapter. But you're the reader, so up to you ;) Side note: there will also be no Ichihime, because EWW. But, there will also be NO Orihime bashing (she's just too nice to bash while keeping her in character LOL).

Pairings:

Ichigo x Rukia (Ichiruki) and either hitsukarin or hitsuhina (reviews will determine which I decide as the final pairing). Slight Ishihime.

Rating:

M for language. There are NO lemons, though there WILL be romance!

Enjoy!

Hear me Sing

Prologue

there may be

an US in TRUST

but

there is also

an END in FRIEND

After the End of the Winter War

"Thank you…Rukia"

The Winter War's hero lets his quiet words slowly meander through the air. Despite her absence, despite how his most important person has just faded before his eyes, Ichigo lets out a small smile. He knows this isn't a farewell; it never is with them. Regardless of everything that has transpired, they will see each other again…

and again and again and again…

They're comrades, after all. Whether they like it or not, they are stuck with each other. With this thought, his smile turns into an affectionate smirk; their connection is one curse he will happily carry. She'll be back; she always comes back to him.

Always.

One Month Later

Urahara waves a fan across his face slowly. The man leans his head forward and his trademark lurid pinstriped-hat falls slightly to cover his eyes.

His solemn voice betrays his relaxed demeanour. "Well, that was rather… cruel… wasn't it Rukia-chan?"

The girl in question turns sharply, seeming annoyed at having her previous actions judged. "Would you rather I lie to him, shopkeeper? I only told the boy the truth." She scoffs crudely, "He was the one who was so utterly blind that he needed everything spelled out for him. Now, open the gate. I have wasted enough of my time here in the Human World as it is."

Urahara barely manages to hide his frown. He knows she is perceptive. He knows that Rukia didn't hear the outer door of the Shoten close….

In other words, they both know Ichigo hadn't really stormed out of the shop earlier. Both shinigami are fully aware that the hurt redhead is listening to their conversation from behind closed doors.

Most likely, the boy is waiting right outside the room, leaning into the wall and optimistically hoping to overhear something to explain the girl's earlier behaviour towards him. Urahara pities his former student, who is probably trying to decipher every word that leaves her lips, overinterpreting every sentence she speaks, in a desperate hope to garner an excuse or explanation or justification or something from her.

The two soul reapers finally hear the outer Shoten door slam shut, and Urahara gives a pitying sigh.

'Well, he got it.'

A/N: Yup, I rewrote/reformatted the prologue! I realized after uploading Chapter 9 just how atrociously written the initial prologue was :P Hopefully this was a bit better?

R&R – I loved to hear feedback and critiques! I adore reviews—even if it's just to tell me I made a spelling mistake somewhere! I really hope to improve my story writing, so any advice would be great : )

Thanks for reading!

P.S. In accordance with reviews, I will be changing the title soon! Any suggestions?