It was cold and dark. There was only one thought running through Ichigo's mind. Rukia... Silent. Cold. Dark. Nothing, nothing at all....

   Rukia...

   I'm beginning to feel warm again. I can feel my limbs again! It's bright... Ouch. Ichigo blinked and sat up. He looked around. He was in his room, in his bed. Rukia was passed out at the end of his bed. Ichigo looked down and found no bandages or signs of previous injuries, just his bare chest. Did she... heal all of my wounds? He flexed his arms and rolled his shoulders. No pain came from the movements.

   Ichigo swung his legs over the side of the bed. He slowly stood to his feet. He was a little bit shaky at first, but he had no trouble walking around. He took a look out the window. It was dark outside. Ichigo glanced at Rukia. I better do something about this... I don't want my family finding her in here. Ichigo gently lifted her off the bed and took her in his arms. He slid open the closet door and was about to set her down, but she began to stir.

   Rukia opened her eyes," Oh, Ichigo you are awake... What are you doing?!" Ichigo was startled. Heat rushed to his face. I should have thought this through... "What is that pathetic face for?" she asked. Ichigo let go of her and she fell to the floor. Rukia punched him in the stomach. Ichigo doubled over in pain. She punches so hard for such a small person.

   Ichigo looked down at her," I was trying to let you sleep you idiot! You didn't have to punch me so hard! Why are you here anyways?"

   "I came here because I was ordered by the Soul Society!" Rukia said defensively. She crossed her arms and glared at him.

   "That's not what I'm talking about. Why are you here," Ichigo asked with a mischievous smile. Rukia blushed furiously and clenched her fists.

   "I had to heal you before you bled out and died," she said," I'm the only reason that you're alive!" Ichigo snorted and turned in the opposite direction. "You need to get some rest. Your body is still tired from the beating you took from that Hollow!" Rukia said.

   "Shibō," Ichigo said. Rukia stared at him in confusion. "Shibō was his name. The Hollow," Ichigo looked over his shoulder wearily," Rukia." He turned off the lights and slipped into bed, but never said another word. Rukia hung her head. What a fool I am, she thought. Ichigo... I never knew how hard it was on you. Forgive me...

  Ichigo was restless throughout the night, so finally, he got out of bed. He sifted through the darkness until he found the window. He undid the latch and opened the window. Ichigo climbed onto the roof and sat at the top. The moon was high in the sky, and the stars were bright. What a beautiful night sky... Ichigo looked out at the distant horizon. There are people out there living their lives in peace...

   Rukia opened the closet door to check on Ichigo. He's not in his bed, she thought. She saw the open window. On the roof? Rukia snuck out the window and onto the roof. She found Ichigo sitting at the highest point of the roof. He was staring at the horizon. It's cold out here, Rukia thought. She walked towards him and sat to his right.

   "Ichigo," Rukia said," Aren't you cold?" She shivered. Ichigo just shook his head. "I was scared today," she said. Ichigo glanced at her, surprised.

   "Why?" he asked. Rukia saw the sympathy in his brown eyes. She looked away.

   "Because," Rukia's voice wavered," I thought you were gonna die, and if you had died..." Her eyes clouded which surprised Ichigo. She was scared? Rukia shivered as a cool breeze blew in. Ichigo looked over at her and embraced her. He's warm, she thought as he pulled her against his chest.

   "It's okay, Rukia." Ichigo said awkwardly as he held her. She didn't seem to take notice, so Ichigo was relieved. Rukia relaxed in Ichigo's arms. Very warm, she thought.

   They stayed this way for a long time until Ichigo slowly withdrew his arms. However, Rukia did not move. She continued to lean against Ichigo's chest to keep herself warm. I'll just stay here for a while, she thought as she sagged against his chest.

   Ichigo was appalled when she did not move, and even more so when she shifted closer. Warmth slowly rose to his face. I probably should have put on a shirt... he thought. He could feel her warm breaths against his skin.

   "Did you exterminate the Hollow, Shibō?" Ichigo asked. Ichigo's voice reverberated in Rukia's head since she was lying against him.

   "No, he said he didn't want to fight me," she mumbled against Ichigo's chest. Ichigo's brow furrowed. He didn't want to fight her? Ichigo thought. "He said that you were his only opponent," Rukia explained.

   "So you let him go?" Ichigo inquired.

   "He didn't give me a choice. He flew off and immediately retreated to Hueco Mundo," Rukia answered.

   "Flew off?" Ichigo said.

   "He had wings, they were just folded during your fight," Rukia clarified. Ichigo nodded his head. As if Shibō could be any more menacing, he has wings? he thought. Rukia felt Ichigo's body shudder. She wanted to comfort him, but she knew the only thing she could do right now was to simply be there.

   Both of them sat in silent reverence of the fights that were going to befall them. The atmosphere had become tense and wary. Ichigo lay down on the roof, but was kind enough to reposition Rukia. Once she was in a comfortable position, he relaxed and let the cool fall breeze brush over him. Rukia tried to distract herself from her dark thoughts, which was easy enough (considering she was laying against Ichigo's chest...) for her.

   There was something unsettling about the air around them. It was not an uncommon feeling. It was the feeling of a great battle looming ahead of them, casting them into its shadows. Rukia felt how tense Ichigo was, despite how relaxed he had seemed. She snuggled a little closer to, not only comfort him, but also to comfort herself. Rukia breathed in his sweet aroma and sighed. Her face was red, but she didn't think Ichigo noticed. I'm foolish, she said to herself.

   She listened to his breaths until the gently rising and falling of his chest lulled her to sleep. Ichigo realized she was asleep and took her in his arms once more. In a few hours, the sun would rise and start a new day. He wanted to get some sleep before then. Ichigo had a little trouble getting back into his room while holding Rukia, but he eventually made it back to his room. He gently shut the window.

  Ichigo slid the closet door open and placed her in her bed. He draped a blanket over her and slipped into his own bed. He stared at the ceiling. I hope my strength will be enough to protect us all... He soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

   "Wake up," Ichigo's dad shouted," Ichigo!" Ichigo flung out a fist and nailed his dad in the head. "Owww....." Isshin said. Ichigo grabbed him by the shirt collar and drug him out of his room. He dropped him in the hallway and continued with his morning routine. Put on school clothes. Freshen up. Eat breakfast. Go to school. Ichigo grabbed his school bag from his dresser.

   "I will go on ahead," Rukia said as she stepped out the window. Ichigo nodded and yawned. He sauntered downstairs and headed out the front door. Ichigo walked to school alone. When is the next attack going to happen? He had no way to tell when the next attack would occur or even where it would occur. He shrugged off the thought and continued to school.

   He arrived just before the bell rang and sat in his seat. Orihime ran up to him with a worried look on her face.

   "Are you okay Kurosaki-kun?" she asked," Are you injured?" Ichigo shook his head.

   "No, Rukia returned and healed my injuries last night," Ichigo replied. Orihime's cheeks flushed.

   "Oh, I didn't know that Rukia-chan was back," she said quietly. "That is good. Um... uh, did you get rid of the Hollow?" she asked. Mayday! Mayday! This aircraft is going down! Rrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnn- BOOM! Orihime fantasized. Ichigo shook his head and looked at her with concern. He knew she was spacing out again. The school bell rang before he could continue his conversation. Ichigo took a seat in his desk, and Rukia in the desk beside him.

   As the teacher began to call roll, Ichigo leaned over to Rukia and whispered," I just talked to Orihime. She is acting kind of weird." Rukia nodded her head. "Would you happen to know what is wrong?" he asked.

   "Isn't it obvious?" Rukia asked. Ichigo raised an eyebrow. Rukia never answered his question. I wish Rukia could be a little more straight forward sometimes... For the rest of first hour, the teacher rambled about the importance of literature and stuff like that. Around noon, Ichigo felt a sinister reiatsu. Shibō is back! He glanced over at Rukia. She nodded her head.

   "It's time, Ichigo," she said.

   A battle of immense proportions approaches on the distant horizon. It is only the beginning... Of the beginning.