The Return of June 17
"Ahhh!" Ichigo screams as he goes in for the kill of a hollow. Ichigo finishes off the hollow, puts his sword on his back, goes back into his body, and then starts to walk away without a word. "So what are you doing tomorrow?" Rukia asked knowing that no matter was she said that was all Ichigo was thinking about. "What we do every year, we'll go to the grave site and have a family picnic." Ichigo said as they rounded the corner the get back to Ichigo's house. "That sounds nice." Rukia said trying to find the right words. Ichigo stopped walking and put his head down. "I still haven't been able to find him and the reason she's dead is...." Ichigo said with shame in his voice. "Ichigo..." Rukia said quietly, almost in a whisper. "How can I go there when I haven't..." Ichigo stopped, "Nevermind, it doesn't matter." Ichigo said. He put his head up so he was facing Rukia. He made the best fake smile he could. "We still have time before we have to go back, so do you want to do something?" Ichigo said clearly trying to avoid the subject all together. Rukia looked at Ichigo straight in the eyes, she saw past his shroud of happiness, she saw his grieving and sadness. "Maybe we should just go back for a while." Rukia said. Ichigo walked past Rukia and she could still feel the grief he was suffering through. But she said nothing and just followed Ichigo as he walked down the streets fooling those people around him with his fake smiles. They got back and sneaked back into Ichigo's room. Ichigo stood at the window looking out. "So what are you going to do tomorrow?" Ichigo asked. Rukia turned in the chair she was sitting in. "I suppose I'll just follow you." Rukia said. "All right." Ichigo said laying down on his bed. "He looks so sad..so alone...Ichigo" Rukia thought. Then she stood up from the chair she sat on and grabbed Ichigo's arm pulling him up. "What are doing?!" Ichigo asked caught off guard. But just dragged him out of his room and out the door. "Rukia, you should be more careful! What if someone caught you?!" Ichigo said as Rukia continued to pull him down the streets. "Rukia, where are you taking me?" Ichigo said as he began to walk by Rukia's side. "You'll see." She said not even bothering to look his direction. Rukia let go of his arm as they continued to walk down streets. Ichigo followed as Rukia lead him up some stairs. Once at the top of the stair they stepped onto grass. It was just a small area of land with grass and trees. "Uhhh...Rukia. Why are we here?" Ichigo said confused. "You asked if I want to do something, right?" Rukia said "Well, yeah." Ichigo said still not understanding. "Well I wanted to come here." Rukia said sitting down underneath a tree. "Well are you just gonna stand there?" She said. "Maybe I wouldn't just stand here If I knew what we were doing here?!" Ichigo said taking on his usual hot headed self. "Well maybe if you gave me a minute to talk I could tell you!" Rukia snapped back. "Ok then, why are we here?" Ichigo said still a little pissed. "To do...nothing." Rukia said calmly "WHAT?! Then why did you drag me out here?!" Ichigo questioned really pissed off now. Rukia put on an angry face then quickly calmed. Then, ignoring his question, Rukia grabbed his hand and pulled him the the ground. "There. Was that so bad?" Rukia ask in a very innocent way. Ichigo grumble to himself for a minute or so, then just leaned back against the tree closing his eyes. "No point in fighting, right?" Ichigo asked. "Only if you want to lose." Rukia replied now leaning back herself. Ichigo closed his eyes all the way and let his mind wander until he started to think about his mother. He remember seeing her body laying on top of his. His muscles tensed up and he clench his jaw. He remembered her last thoughts. He got madder and madder."I couldn't protect her! She died because of me!" Ichigo thought. He felt a hand grab on his shoulder. He instantly opened his eyes coming back from his memories to reality. "Ichigo?" He turned his head as he relaxed all his muscles again, "Yeah." Ichigo said trying to sound calm. "Tell me what's wrong." Rukia demanded. "Nothing is wrong, I'm fine." Ichigo answered calmly, "Was it about your mother?" Rukia said whit a soft tone. "No, nothing's wrong!" Ichigo snapped back "Tell me Ichigo!" the grip that Rukia had on Ichigo's shoulder tightened.Then, her grip relax a little and she calmed herself "You can tell me." Ichigo turned his head away from her. Rukia put a hand on his head turned it back to face her. "Tell me!" Rukia's eyes were glimmering in the sunlight the shined through the leaves. The were begging Ichigo to tell her. He could see it. "It's nothing just things that happened in the past." Ichigo said trying to sound stronger then he felt. "Her death?" Rukia said trying to sound gentle with that last question. "Yeah." They sat in silence for a few minutes."Ichigo, you did save your mother, you saved...her memory." Rukia said leaning against the tree once more and closing her eyes. "Thank you, Rukia. Thank you." After a few minutes pasted Ichigo felt a soft pressure one his shoulder. He looked over and saw Rukia had fallen sleep. Ichigo sighed calmly and put his jacket over Rukia. Ichigo's eyes got heavy and began to close. He started to fall asleep. His began to dream about his mother, he saw a flashback of his mother's last thoughts and what he had said after seeing them. But then, he saw Rukia in his dream. The feelings of sadness faded. Ichigo woke up, "Being with her has changed me." Ichigo thought as he looked at Rukia, "She made me smile again." She was still resting on Ichigo's shoulder. "I'll protect you Rukia...I promise." Ichigo leaned back against the tree and looked at the blue sky "I promise."

~A Few Hours Later~

"Huh?" Rukia said as she opened her eyes. She sat up straight. "Wait, I was leaning on Ichigo?" She thought to herself. Rukia yawned and looked around. "Ichigo. Ichigo! Wake up!" Rukia shook Ichigo. "What? What's wrong?" Ichigo woke up instantly. "It's all ready dark outside." Rukia said "Is that it? What about it?" Ichigo said wondering what was wrong. "Don't you have to be home by now?" Rukia asked wondering if he actually forgot. "Yeah, probably." Ichigo said calmly, then noticing the problem at hand he said, "Wait, it's dark outside?! We have to get back." Ichigo said. "I just said that!" Rukia said. "Whatever! Let's go" Ichigo offered Rukia a hand up. Rukia took his hand he pulled her up. They ran down the steps and continued running down the streets. Then Rukia's spirit phone went off. they both stopped "Hollow?" Ichigo checked. "Yeah." Rukia said. "Great, just what I needed." Ichigo said as he pushed his soul out of his body to become a Soul Reaper. "Let's go." Ichigo said. Rukia nodded, "It's this way." Rukia ran and Ichigo followed. A minute or so later, they found it. "All right, let's do this!" Ichigo said as he ran for the hollow. "Ichigo wait!" Rukia called. But Ichigo just continued running closer to it. It turned its head then disappeared. "Where's it go?" Ichigo yelled to Rukia. "I don't know. I was trying to tell you this hollow has the ability to almost completely disappear!" Rukia called back. "What do you mean almost?" Ichigo questioned. "It can be seen as a heat wave but it's nearly impossible to caught it! Ichigo we should-" Rukia was cut off. "I'll find a way to get it! Just you wait!" Ichigo stood silently looking back and forth. "There!" Ichigo jumped and cut the air. "Ichigo! Behind you!" Something cut Ichigo's back. Ichigo quickly whipped around cut randomly. A claw hit the ground. "How dare you cut me!" the hollow screeched "I'll just get rid of your eyes over there and solve that problem!" Ichigo turned to Rukia. "Ichigo!" Rukia screamed as she was lifted up by the invisible enemy, "Rukia!" Ichigo yelled. "Let her go you coward!" Ichigo yelled at the hollow. "Now why would I do that when I could kill her?!" it responded "Rukia!" Ichigo charged to where she was being held. "Ichigo!" Something stabbed Ichigo in the gut. "You shouldn't be so rash little Soul Reaper boy." The claw that stabbed Ichigo was pulled out. He began to fall over then steadied himself with his zanpakuto. "Ichigo! You can't keep fighting like this!" Rukia yelled from the hands of the hollow. "Rukia, I will definitely protect you!" Ichigo said. His eyes glowed white and his spiritual energy wrapped around him. "Ichigo." Rukia whispered. Ichigo aimed directly below where Rukia was being held. "Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo called out his attack. His spiritual energy, sent out like a blade, cut off the hollows arm! "Ahhhhh! How dare you!" screamed the hollow. Ichigo ran over and caught Rukia before she hit the ground. "Are you all right?" Ichigo asked looking at Rukia. "I'm fine." she said. "Good." Ichigo turned his head, "Now, It's about time I get rid of you!" Ichigo saw the blood flowing out of where he cut off the arm. He charged and slashed. In front of them, appeared the hollow. "It's over." Ichigo said. His vision got blurry and he fell over. Rukia caught him before he hit the ground. "You idiot. You could've been killed." Rukia said "But I didn't die." Ichigo said with a small smile, "At least your all right." Ichigo fainted. "Thank you Ichigo, thank you."

~One Hour Later~

Ichigo opened his eyes then blinks a few times. "I'm back in my body? And I'm at home? When did that happen?" Ichigo asked himself confused. "So you're awake?" Rukia asked "Wait? You carried me here?" Ichigo asked confused. "Yeah, so, what about it?" Rukia asked some what offended. "Nothing. I'm just glad your weren't hurt. I'm glad I could protect you." Ichigo said looking down, "I'm gald I could at least save one person I care about." Ichigo said. Rukia smiled weakly and sat down on Ichigo's bed. "Ichigo, you've protected many people and saved many lives. Remember Ichigo, you are important and you've protected more then one." Rukia turned to face Ichigo. "I bet your mother who be proud Ichigo." Rukia closed her eyes and leaned against Ichigo, "I know I am, Ichigo. You have become very strong." She fell asleep. Ichigo put a hand around her body and rested on her shoulder. "Yeah, Rukia. You're right she would be proud." Ichigo said quietly, "but I think having you here is making me more happy that ever will." Ichigo closed his eyes and rested his head on top of Rukia's "Thank you, Rukia. Thank you."