Rukia opened her eyes to find Ichigo weeping into her shoulder. Was I asleep, she wondered.

   "Ichigo? What is the-," she was cut off when Ichigo tackled her with a hug. He held her so tight she had trouble breathing.

   "Rukia, how did you," Ichigo said as he looked up at her," I thought you were gone..." Rukia was confused. "Shibō injected you with a venom that put you into an endless sleep," Ichigo said. What is going on, Rukia asked herself.

   Rukia looked down and saw that Ichigo's clothes were soaked with blood. She was alarmed at the sight.

   "What happened to you?" Rukia asked.

   "I got in another fight with Shibō. I killed him this time," Ichigo replied. "Before he died he said... Rifuto..." Ichigo's brow lowered. He pondered the situation for a moment.

   "I've got it!" Ichigo exclaimed," Rifuto. Lift. He lifted the endless sleep from you! So in the end... Shibō was the one who brought you back." Questions swam inside of Rukia's head.

   "So... Shibō's venom put me into a sleep that was supposed to be endless, and that is why I was asleep," Rukia said slowly. Ichigo nodded. "And before he died he lifted the effects of the venom. Then, you passed him on," Rukia finished. Ichigo nodded. He still had his arms wrapped around her.

   Rukia could feel energy surging back into her. This energy was not her own, Ichigo was lending her strength from his own body. He is so battered, how does he have energy to spare, she asked herself.

   "You need to let me heal your wounds," Rukia said as she examined his wounds. Ichigo ignored her. She looked into his eyes," Ichigo, please." He loosened his grip on her and stood up. Ichigo grabbed the hem of his school shirt and pulled it up over his head and tossed it on the floor.

   "Please excuse me," Ichigo apologized as grabbed a pair of shorts from his dresser. Rukia studied the tail of blood on the floor while Ichigo removed his pants and replaced them with a clean pair of shorts. Ichigo walked back to the bed and layed down. His face felt hot when Rukia studied him up and down.

   "The wounds aren't too bad, except for that once across your stomach," Rukia noted. She leaned over him and placed her hands on his chest. Ichigo's body quivered when she touched him. Her hands are so cold, he thought. After a few minutes, the flesh around the wound began to knit itself back together. Slowly, but surely, the wound began to close up.

   After the wound had closed completely, she began to heal the burns along his chest and legs. Her face beaded with sweat at the effort it took to heal such a large area of his body. The burns, one by one, began to disappear from him. After five minutes, every burn was healed.

   Rukia panted and wiped the sweat from her face. Ichigo sighed contently and relaxed.

   "Rukia," Ichigo said softly. Rukia looked down at him. He smiled up at her, and for once, he was truly happy. "Thank you," Ichigo said.

   "Don't thank me," Rukia said," It was nothing, really." Ichigo gazed up at her and shook his head.

   "That's not what I'm thanking you for," he murmured," I wanted to thank you for staying by my side. I wanted to thank you for being with me." Rukia felt heat rise to her face. "I'm just so glad that you're back," Ichigo whispered. He sat up in his bed.

   He pulled her close and put his lips against her ear. Rukia suddenly tensed.

   "You didn't have to have physical contact with me in order to heal me, did you?" he asked with a smile. Rukia's face burned. She leaned forward and whispered to him.

   "You didn't have to take off your shirt for me to heal you, you know that, don't you?" she asked softly. Ichigo's face flushed. I should have seen that one coming, he thought to himself. Ichigo pulled away from her for a second and studied her. "What is it?" Rukia asked.

   "Nothing," Ichigo said with a mischievous grin. He slipped a hand under her jaw and tilted her head up. Ichigo used his other hand and brushed her hair from her face. Ichigo pulled her face closer to his own. What is he doing...? Rukia thought. Ichigo's lips brushed against her's and he kissed her gently.

   Warmth spread to Rukia's face. He slipped one arm around her and drew her closer to him. Rukia slipped her arms around his neck and let her fingers trail into his hair. Ichigo hesitantly pulled away, but only slightly. He removed his hand from her jaw and let his arm drop to his side.

   "You have no idea," he said," how long I have waited to do that." Rukia ran her fingers through his spiky hair. He sighed. I could stay like this forever... he thought. Ichigo was shocked when Rukia pulled him closer and kissed him again. He leaned into her and stayed that way as long as he could.

   After a few moments, he drew back and gasped for breath. Rukia rested her head against Ichigo's shoulder and delighted in his warmth. This is nice, she thought, I would have never known... He has such a tender heart for such a strong stature and personality. I've never seen this side of him before...

   Rukia closed her eyes and breathed in his warm, sweet scent. I'm tired, she thought. They stayed that way for ten minutes, in a quiet and peaceful trance. Rukia had fallen asleep, and Ichigo let himself slip away as well.