*A/N* Okay this is the story of how Ichigo and Yoruichi got together in my story Chances Lost. -Chey

Chances

Prologue

I watched from the rooftop as she screamed at him and he stood and took it all in stride. His brown eyes glowed in the light of the street lamp as she ranted tears leaking from her violet ones mixing with the soft drops of rain. Her lips stilled for a moment and he then moved forward a step and touched her cheek gently. He was such an amazing man and she didn't see it! Was she really so dense that she couldn't see how amazing he really is? He's powerful but gentle, he's serious but playful, he's lethal but not cold, he kills but only to protect! How can she not see the amazing man in front of her and love him the way he loves her?

"Don't touch me Ichigo!" She shouts slapping his hand away from her. His eyes flash in pain at her rejection and she balls her first tightly. "Don't you listen to a word I say? Ichigo I can't do this anymore! I can't pretend that everything is okay anymore and neither can you. We've been going downhill for a while and neither of us has said anything about it!" She's so very foolish…she can't see that he's absolutely in love with her.

"We can work it out Rukia we always do." He says softly his voice barely carrying to my spot beside Kisuke on the roof top. How can she not notice the dull lifelessness in his gaze right now when I can see it from my spot up here?

"Ichigo even if we do work it out how long will the semi-peace last until we argue again? I can't keep walking in circles with you." Ichigo frowns and shake his head before smiling softly. His figners clench and it may look like a happy smile but I know it's not.

"What is forward to you Rukia? Sure we fight but in the end we love each other right?" Rukia doesn't answer and Ichigo raises his eyes to meet hers before tilting his head slightly. Here was the final blow if she lies I may just kill her. I know she'll make the worst mistake of her life and one day she'll come back but hopefully before that he'll move on to someone better than her.

"I don't know where forward is since we've been in circles for so long Ichigo." She says trying to evade his gaze. His spine straightens and his lips set into a firm line. His fist clench into balls at his side and I can see the sheer determination not to break down in his posture. It's all so obvious how can she be so dense?

"Rukia do you love me?" His question is only met by silence and his eye light up in anger immediately. "Answer me damn it! I deserve an answer after all the shit I've been through!" Her eyes shy away from his anger and I know it's different because his anger makes his reiatsu lay heavily around them.

"No Ichigo! I do not love you anymore…" Her words are met with sharp silence from the orange haired man as rain starts to poor heavier around them. Then he turns from her in a swift movement and stuffs his hands in his pockets. His eyes stare straight ahead but if you look closely you can see strong lines of clear water run from his eyes. He's so upset that his reiatsu hugs as tightly as possible to him making it nearly disappear from around him.

He clears his throat to dispel any cracking and begins to speak in a low monotone. "Then we have nothing more to discuss here Rukia. Come by tomorrow and you can get your things and go home. I honestly don't want to see you ever again." He walks away leaving her standing there in shock. Her eyes carry a sadness that I relish in…she know how much she hurt him and by the very least at least she understands that even if she can't realize how amazing he is. Her hand reaches out slowly before she turns and walks the opposite direction.

"Do you want to go to the shop and prepare the Senkaimon or do you want to make sure he gets home alright?" I turn my body toward where Ichigo walks and move to the ledge. Kisuke should know by now because he looks at me with that knowing smile and lets everything slip away from me. There are no consequences with him and for that I am grateful. Kisuke shakes his head with a smile and returns to the shop. I watch the form of the man I've trained and mentored for many years settle on a park bench and place his head in his hands. Even from here I can see his shoulder slump forward and shake slightly as he cries. I know him so well that I know he's trying desperately to figure out what he did to make her stop loving him. I shunpo to the ground and walk over to sit beside him on the open bench. Right now I could care less if I got wet or if I showed something I wasn't ready to yet. Ichigo was in serious need of something that I will willingly give him, so, I simply did not care for anything more than making sure he gets through everything.

"Ichigo, everything will be alright I promise." I murmur placing my arms around him in a cage. Warmth vibrates through him and into me from wherever I touch and he pulls his head away from his hands to look into my eyes. His usually strong brown orbs are blood shot and stained red already from his held back tears. I can see the sadness and questioning in his brown eyes and I reach up to wipe the tears from his face even if the raindrops already had.

"What did I do wrong Yoruichi? I thought everything was perfect and she was the one…" He trails of and shakes his head. I shake my head and tighten my hold on him placing my head on his shoulder. His arms wrap around my waist and I feel something like hatred well in me for the adopted Kuchiki. How could she hurt such an amazing man like this?

I don't really know what to say at this point. "I know it feels like it's your fault but it's not! You did nothing but love her with all of you and she's the one that couldn't realize that there is nothing better than what she had. You deserve a woman that will recognize you and know that you are a special person." He frowns and a sigh moves past his lips. I meet his gaze with steady unwavering eyes and I can see a small, albeit sad, grin pass his lips.

"I hope your right Yoruichi but I doubt any woman will make me feel like she did." He whispers after a few seconds and I sigh as we fall into a silence allowing the sound of the rain to fill the conversation as it pounded against our bodies. Nothing could make this moment sadder than it already was and that was what made it heartbreaking. I couldn't find it in myself to leave him here to just let go over everything because I'm not blind…I'm not dense…and I'm not like Kuchiki Rukia.