Ichigo didn't think. He just... felt. But, a tiny ( and important ) part of his brain was a little... angry about that.

' Psstt...hello? ' the tiny voice said.

' What?! ' Ichigo thought back.

' Umm.. helloooooo?! '

' What?!! ' Ichigo continued to growl.

' Uh, hello.. stupid part of Ichigo's brain, I'm the smart part of his brain and...what the heck are you doing?! '

' Go away! '

' Cut it out! Leave Rukia alone! '

' No. '

' Okay...let me make it easier for you, stupid part. Do you love her? '

' No duh. '

' How much? '

' More than my own life. '

' Then, did you ever think how she might be feeling about.. this? '

' No.. but she-'

' But nothing! Now cut it out! '

' Fine...'


Ichigo pulled away. Rukia was staring at her feet. Ichigo scratched his head, cheeks flaming.

" Um..Ichigo? "

"Y-yeah? "

" I.. I, uh..I-I'm sorry, but, w-we... we can't..."

Ichigo blinked. " B-but...why?"

Rukia put her head in her hands. " The Soul Society. If they find out... that's another reason to execute me. Remember Saiiyan's parents? They died because of  this."

" But I'll protec-"

" Ichigo, that's... that's enough. We can't be, okay? That's the end of it."

" Rukia-"

Ichigo didn't have the will to finish. Rukia stood up and left the room.

' Sorry, stupid.. but, I told you so.'



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Rukia walked down the street, head down, hands in pockets, and sat on a bench. It was the middle of the night, and she was starting to get cold. A tear ran down her cheek, followed by thoughts of pain.

' I'm so selfish..all I think about is executed.. what about Ichigo? His family, his life, his dreams and hopes? All that is probably going to be executed.. all because of me. I shouldn't have came to his house on that first night.. when I saved him from that hollow. I should have walked away.. right then and there. I thought I saw something in that face of his.. that's why I came. I was right, but now there won't be anymore! The Soul Society will probably send someone to get me soon, and all I've left Ichigo with is a broken heart and a stupid explanation! I should just wait for them to come, let them take me away, and not mention Ichigo at all. Then at least I'll know he'll be safe.'

Suddenly, she stopped thinking. She could hear soft footsteps coming her way. Closer, closer, closer, closer, closer, closer, closer, closer.

' This is it.' she thought. ' This is it. Goodbye, Ichigo. At least I enjoyed the time I had with you, and at least I found out how you felt about me. Goodbye.' Rukia closed her eyes.

Surprised, she opened her eyes. Kon was on her lap, looking at her with the ugliest, big googly eyes she'd ever seen. His fur was all dirty, and his stuffing was coming out at his sides.

" Oh, Rukia-chan! " the ugly plushie screamed. " Don't go! Please don't go!"

Rukia looked away. " Why should I listen to a filthy pervert like you? "

" Just.. please, Ruki-chan! Didn't Ichigo already tell you how he felt about you? Have you no heart? His feelings are like a fountain of rainbows surrounded by a meadow of flowers blooming with the power of love! "

" Have you been watching soap operas again, Kon? "

The plushie blushed. " The point is, don't you treasure that? Why run away to the Soul Society when you can stay here and enjoy a life with him? "

Rukia turned to face him. " I'm not running away to the Soul Society! I'm sacrificing myself so that Ichigo and his family don't get executed for being with me! "

" Well, I'm not going to let you go quietly! Neither is Ichigo! WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU GO JUST LIKE THAT!!!!! WE AREN'T GO -- MPHHHHH!! "

Rukia got out a huge roll of duct tape and taped Kon's mouth shut. " Shut up, Kon. You don't know what you're talking about."

She picked him up and ran all the way to the house. She sneaked in, ( without Ichigo noticing ) taped him to the back of the toilet, wrote a letter to Ichigo, ( he was asleep ) and jumped out the window.

Rukia sat back down on the bench. She gasped. Two dark figures were approaching her quickly.






*  *  *  *  *  *  *






Ichigo woke up. He looked around the room. He got up and awkwardly walked to Rukia's closet. Maybye she would forgive him for his rash actions last night. Maybye.

" Um.. Rukia, I'm sorry for last night. Rukia? Rukiaaaa? "

He opened the closet door. He gasped. No one was there. Her bed was made up perfectly, the clothes she had borrowed from Yuzu all in a neat pile ( except for one pair of clothes ). On top of the pile was a clean sheet of paper, adressed to him. He sat down on his bed and started reading it. It said:



Dear Ichigo,

I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you. I'm sorry for not returning your feelings. Well, I'm sorry for a lot of things nowadays. Especially for coming to your house that first night we met. I thought I had seen something special in your face, and I was curious. I'm sorry for meeting you and making you a substitute shinigami. I did have a choice of saving you and your family, or letting you save you and your family. Ihould have picked the first. One choice makes all the difference, but I don't regret saving you, Ichigo. You were the best part of my pathetic excuse of a life, and I thank you for being there for me, but, I must say goodbye, like everyone has to. This is the last time you'll hear from me, because I hope by the time you wake up, I'll be gone. I'm sacrificing myself for you. That you may be able to live your life happily...without me. This is my thank you to you for letting me sleep in your closet, and share laughs with you.

Goodbye, Ichigo.

Rukia Kuchiki




Ichigo folded the letter and stuffed it  under his bed. All of a sudden, he heard a muffled screaming coming from his bathroom. He went inside and looked behind the toilet. Kon looked at him with tears in his eyes. Ichigo ripped the tape of his mouth and let him free.

" Ichigo! " Kon screamed. " First of all, OWWWW!!!!! Second of all, we've got to get Rukia! She's being-"

Ichigo stuffed his hand inside the screaming plushies mouth, took the soul pill out, and swallowed. He jumped out the window and out into the dark, dark night.






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