Time Alone (Ichigo)

~As the cold filled the air, she mentally smiled. It was one of the things she loved about her zanpakuto. Eyes following the movement, as if she was in a real fight, not particularly aiming for anything at the moment. Hince why she had chose the clearing. Didn't have to worry about catching someone on accident, or possible damaging anything. But of course, Rukia should of known. If there was one person outside Soul Society, that could easily find her, it was him. Ichigo. Than again her tolerance of the boy, well was easier than some, maybe Renji or her brother. Couldn't get a solid answer on that one though. So as her move moved through and came to a finish, she pin-pointed just where he was at. Glad he was nice enough to NOT come barging in and interrupt her.~ "I should of known you'd find me."

~Her voice held no annoyance, merely stating a fact before turning to look over at him. Those violet hues alive, yet something else lay hidden beneath them. But than Rukia wasn't always that easy to read, nor was she easy to get to open up either. With a pivot, twist and thrust she continued her mini lesson, not trying to seem rude. Just she wanted to get her mind off what had been plaguing it lately. Her talk with Rin, while distracting didn't do much, and she hadn't bothered to explain either. Even with Ichigo here, Rukia still wasn't sure if talking would help, hell if anyone would even understand, or merely think she was being ridiculous.~ "You know...it's not nice to stare." ~Slowly, right before she spoke, her movements had carefully been getting closer. Not that she would ever willingly hurt him, Ichigo was one of her closest friends. No this was Rukia, seeing if he was actually paying attention, or like Renji at times. Distracted.

Keeping her gaze always forward, she avoided looking at him on purpose. Instead, continued on with her practice. Moving her body in a fluid motion, even her breathing was different. Coming up and around, the blade of her sword, suddenly pointed and aimed right at Ichigo.~

"Not a matter of knowing you were coming here, I just know you Ichigo." ~Meaning no matter what, he would find her, hell any of his friends even if he hadn't planned it. He cared. That was all there was to it, Ichigo cared, and if he had to find them for one reason or another, than he would. So she didn't have to be told he was in Soul Society, as it were she didn't know till he showed up here. Which meant also none were yet looking for her, a nice break for her she mentally thought.

Of course she missed the blush, wouldn't be the first time he had though. Her focus was on her movements and just what she was doing, though his snappy response had her wanting to smack him.~ "Sure." ~Not even bothering to argue with him on his denial. At the moment she just wanted to clear her head, though as at the question she mockingly glared at him.~ "Maybe. I just need to clear my head or try..." ~Breaking off as she looked away rather suddenly, that damn feeling once more creeping up and she gripped the sword a little tighter. Gritting her teeth some and taking in a deep breath, before suddenly spinning around. The sword up and she was at it again, but it was obvious this was more than training. Rukia looked as if she was seriously facing someone, putting her whole focus and body into the movements.~ "Dance Sode no Shirayuki!"

~Calling out, eyes looking, but clearly not focused. Otherwise, she would of noticed that it wasn't the trees she was aimed at, but Ichigo. Still she didn't react and moved to continue with her movement, that rush of cold air, once more filling the area.~ "Some no mai, Tsukishiro!" ~The first dance suddenly called out, as she held the sword upside down in front of her, a glow beginning to pulse along it, while Rukia makes a slashing motion. Drawing a circle, clearly still in the mindset and Ichigo now her unfortunate target. Working to freeze not only the ground, but anything in the influence of the circle and inside it. Leaving Ichigo needing to react as that pillar of light began forming, which meant when it shattered, if he was inside, so would he. Those violet eyes staring in his direction, but still no seeing him, a very slight shaking showing along her form.~

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~Rukia did have her moments, where Ichigo did or said something and would just annoy the hell out of her. So she might of been annoyed, had he sparred and been holding back, than again. Rukia knew or had a good enough idea just what he was capable of. Him holding back, wouldn't be such a bad thing after all. However, at the moment this was nothing about holding back, sparring or anything of the kind. Rukia was seriously having an issue. Hell she didn't even catch anything Ichigo was staying, or rather trying to say before she attacked. It was obvious she didn't notice at first, he even avoided the attack at least till his voice came from her side. And it seemed to be enough to snap her back and she froze. Staring at where the pillar was, before whipping her head to look over at him.~ "Ichigo....oh god...I'm sorry.."

~Shaking her head some, turning away feeling horrible for attacking him like she had. Letting her body drop to her knees, she released her sword and covered her face. Before falling forward, pounding the ground with her fist.~ "Damn it! Why is this happening? I just want it to stop!" ~Those words coming out a growl, she hated not knowing, or being able to figure out herself, what the hell was going on. This sensation, feeling, whatever the hell you called it was driving her nuts. Constantly feeling that something or someone was here, or that something might be changing, it worried her. Did it have to do with herself? Or Byakuya? Koharu? Ichigo? She just didn't know any answers and that wasn't something Rukia liked. Shaking her head, she leaned back up slightly, but her head stayed bowed. A veil of hair now falling to cover her face for the moment. Normally not one to want anyone seeing her falling apart, but at the moment if it had to be anyone. Better Ichigo, at least he didn't judge.~

~Normally, Rukia would of been upset showing weakness around someone else. But this was not the time, nor was the person witnessing going to tease her about it. Still she didn't move, remaining on her knees, with her hair acting as like a shield for now. Blocking her face from view. For a few seconds, not really reacting when Ichigo came towards her and was by her side. Shaking her head some at his comment about her attacking him, sure he was fine still didn't mean she felt right.~ "I still shouldn't of just attack you like that, but I honestly didn't...see you.." ~Wondering if that sounded as odd to him as it did to her. She had been looking right at him, but in that moment she didn't see him.

This damn issue or whatever it was, had her so damn confused. Feeling the hand on her shoulder she tensed a moment, before slowly lifting her head, and looking over at him. The look in her eyes, well it showed more than she would probably tell. Sighing softly as he finally asked and she shut her eyes, taking in a breath before deciding to tell him.~ "That is the problem...I don't know exactly. It's...it's like I sense or feel something is off, but I don't know why, who or why its affecting me. I can push it away for a little, but as you saw, I can get lost in it for even a moment. Ichigo...I..I just want this to go away. I don't like feeling as if something or someone I care about might be involved." ~Honestly, she had no idea if this was bad or good, but the fact she had no answers she took it as wrong. Biting her bottom lip she slowly looked away, shaking her head some after a moment.~ "You probably think I'm crazy and I wish it were just that, but whatever 'this' is, it's real."

~Once more she closed her eyes, and kept her head bowed, just not wanting to see the look on his face. Thinking, well as she would in his place, it was just stress or something, nothing to be upset about. But it was more than that, she could already feel that, it made her heart race, that was for sure. Though nothing physical touched her, it was as she said, just feelings. A sense, in her mind and her heart that something was different.~

~No Rukia knew a long time ago she wasn't nobility, at least not in blood, but name. Byakuya had adopted her, and while their relationship changed over the years, she still knew it hadn't completely changed. He was the nobility, head of his family, she was the street rat from the Rugonkai, who's sister had been married to him. Yes, at times it still bugged her, when those of nobility acted like she or her older sister were nothing, worthless. Although she never allowed it to show, not wishing to be more a problem to her brother.

Hearing Ichigo, she gave a light nod of her head, knowing he wouldn't let something like this bother him. Even if the other person felt guilty. Not moving to remove the hand, it actually was a comfort to know he was there, wasn't judging and willing to help. Just sucked she had no idea what kind of help to seek. Her head remained bowed, hands now resting in her lap, griping into her uniform some. Mostly, her eyes remaining closed, at least till he spoke, faintly smiling a little. But than her head snapped up, looking over at him shaking her head.~ "Tell who? Tell then what? I don't even know what is going on Ichigo. Besides Nii-sama is in the Human World, I can't just bother him about this. Hell I don't even know if what I am feeling involves him. What am I suppose to tell someone?" ~Sighing softly, it was at moments like this, Rukia wished for her family. Her older sister, their parents, just having that unit, like what Ichigo had would be nice. Not don't get her wrong, she loved her brother like he was blood, but even she knew, they still had a hint of tension between them. Plus her niece, she couldn't worry her, especially when she wasn't sure what 'this' was in the first place.

Letting out another breath, Rukia tried to relax, and even finally after a few moments leaned on Ichigo. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, lord knows she trusted him as much as Renji or her brother. It was just she felt ashamed, embarrassed that she for one, didn't know what was happen and two. Just didn't know how to deal with it or even speak with anyone else about it. Keeping her eyes closed, she slowly brought a hand up, gripping at her chest and inhaling rather deeply. Even with all her upset, fighting Ichigo, granted unnoticed, she still could feel it. Odd thing was, it varied in how strong it felt, one minute being minimal, the next, something that felt consuming.~ "Ichigo...I'm scared, I can't figure this out and don't know what to do." ~Dropping the sound of her voice to barely a whisper, at this moment Rukia was probably as vulnerable as she could get.~

~Shaking her head, she just couldn't bother anyone, there wasn't much she could tell them anyhow. They would be just as lost as she was and what good would that do? But than Ichigo hit the nail on the head, Rukia was one to deal with things alone, even when she didn't have too. She didn't like being a burden on anyone, no matter how much she might need the help.~ "I wouldn't have anything to give them more than what I told you. No, I have to figure this out...somehow." ~Letting Ichigo speak she sucked in a breath, of course the male was right, boy was he right. Ever since they met, she had more friends in the Human World than she ever would of thought. And she would do anything for them, just as she knew they would for her. But this was different. There wasn't anything to go on, to ask would leave everyone just as lost as her.

Even when he spoke about her brother, of course again he was right. But Byakuya had been so busy lately, could she really give him more to worry about? Like his adopted sister possible going crazy? Was she? Honestly, at the moment she was thinking along those lines.~ "He has to much on his plate, besides I might just be going crazy. I just don't know." ~Shrugging some as if it was nothing, but even Rukia didn't want to think of that being possible. What would they do if she did? A shiver ran down her back, suddenly an assault of various possibilities hitting her mind and she groaned. Vaguely, she heard his words about not worrying and slowly lifted her head. Trying to give him a smile, but it seemed forced.~ "I've tried. Believe me I have tried, even throwing myself into my work." ~Pulling away a moment and slammed her fist against the ground, she was mad. Mad she couldn't figure this out, mad it was effecting her so damn bad.~

"DAMN IT! I'm stronger than this, I'm a Kuchiki! A lieutenant Shinigami damn it all!" ~That temper of hers flaring just enough at the moment, keeping her fists so damn tight, they were turning white. But it was her way of holding it together, or rather at this moment. Trying.~