Pre SS Arc
The Death and the Strawberry chapters
Even though Ichigo owed his life and his his family's to Rukia,it still didn't made him accept her request to be helped with her shinigami duties...
instead,he gave her this answer....
Ichigo : I ain't fighting monsters like that for total strangers!I'm not that nice of a person.
do you know what made him want to help her?
it was this...
Ichigo : I saved him because I wanted to save him!Is that wrong!?Are you any different!? (asking Rukia)
You sacrificed yourself to save me that time!!At that time,were you thinking about complicated stuffs like "this is my shinigami duty"!?That's not what sacrificing yourself is!!
In this scene,Ichigo doesn't think that Rukia saved him because she thought it was her duty,but because that is what she wanted to do,that's why he asked her..."are you any different"?(saving someone because they want to)
Ichigo : At the very least...I'm different!!...I haven't accepted any commitment...If things get bad...I might run away....since I'm not a good enough person to be able to sacrifice my life for total strangers...
When Ichigo said that he was different,he meant that he isn't going to accept such commitment because he is not as good of a person like Rukia who was able to sacrifice her life for total strangers.If he wanted to run away in case things get bad,he couldn't be stopped by an obligation (that's why he doesn't want to accept any commitment like her).Meaning,Ichigo thinks that Rukia is a very kind person for being able to do that.
Ichigo : ...but..unfortunately,I'm also not trash that can...live happily without paying back his debts!
Rukia asked him to help her because she was worried about the spirits that needs to be saved.Ichigo,after realizing how kind Rukia was to sacrifice her life for total strangers,and how dedicated she was with her shinigami duty,and she seemed so desperate....he knew that if he didn't accept her request of helping her,she might fight the hollows even without her powers.Rukia might die if she does that.Knowing that he is the reason why she lost her powers,he couldn't let her fight alone,hence he accepted the shinigami job...and their comradeship started.
It was Rukia's kindness and selflessness made Ichigo want to help her,his debt is just his reason for accepting it.From the start,Ichigo knew that he owed his life and his family's to Rukia,yet he refused to help her.Only after realizing how kind and dedicated she was with her shinigami duty made him want to help her.
The Parakeet chapters
Ichigo : Your power to fight hollows still has not returned,has it...?...so...don't...push yourself too hard...!
Even though Rukia doesn't have enough powers to fight hollows,she asked Ichigo to bring Karin home first,and she'll take care of the hollow by herself.Ichigo knew that she's going to risk her own life for their sake again.
Kon's chapters
Ichigo : Th...thanks for not throwing him away.
Ichigo just heard from Rukia that the SS has ordered to kill all the modsouls,which means that saving Kon is going against their law,yet Rukia saved him though she might get punished in the future.Rukia did that because Ichigo was sympathizing with Kon.
Broken Coda chapters
Kon : She didn't want something to happen to us!!That's why Rukia onee-sama left!!
Through Kon's help,Ichigo had realized that Rukia left their side in order to protect them from Soul Society.
Renji : It's over..you die...and Rukia gets her powers back.And Rukia...will be executed at the Soul Society.Anyway,you're pretty stupid.Rukia came out by herself so you wouldn't stop me...
This is the first time that Ichigo learned the consequences of what Rukia have done in order to help him.Rukia is going to be executed at the SS because of him.
Rukia : R-run Ichigo!!Hurry!!Get up and run away!!Ichigo!!
Though Rukia doesn't have enough power to stand against Renji,she still tried her best to help and save Ichigo from him and Byakuya.
Despite the fact that Rukia is going to die at the Soul Society because of helping him,she still protected him from Renji and Byakuya.
NOTE : Through these build ups,Ichigo could see Rukia in a very different light.She had sacrificed herself more than enough for Ichigo's safety and well being.Logically,these things can make Ichigo gets fond of Rukia,seeing how much she could care for him and the things that she could do for his sake.
...and the build ups continued...
SS Arc
Hanataro : She said that even though she'd only known you for two months...she has unbelievably high faith in you,Also...because of her,your life changed forever...and you suffered a lot of pain...so she can never make it up to you...
Ichigo have learned once more about how selfless Rukia was.How can she blame herself for bringing pain and suffering to Ichigo when all that she does is to help him which is the reason why she is going to be executed?She's going to die because of helping him,yet she is more worried about causing pain and suffering to him instead of blaming him for her impending death.
Ichigo : ...Idiot...those...are my lines..!! I won't let you die no matter what...Rukia!
This means that Ichigo also has unbelievably high faith in Rukia within those 2 months of being with her.Ichigo also thinks that he had caused pain and suffering to Rukia that made him want to protect her.
Ganju : It seems that...she is another weird shinigami...just like you...
Ichigo : Yes,she is weird.That's why I have to save her.
This statement shows how much Ichigo sees Rukia in a different level.Notice that they were talking about Rukia's selflessness for not blaming Ichigo for her impending death and blaming herself instead for causing him pain and suffering,though all she did was to help him.When they said that Rukia is weird,it means that they see her selflessness in a different level,as if they never met anyone like her before.She was different from everyone.
Rukia : I told you not to come...I told you...I forbade you to come...Now you're wounded everywhere..You dummy..!
Ichigo : So..then...you can get mad however you like later...after I defeat him! (Byakuya)
Ichigo knew that the reason why Rukia told him not to come and rescue her is because she was so worried about him,despite the fact that it was her who was going to die.He even saw her crying because of his injuries,the only times he had seen her crying.
NOTE : I don't think that Ichigo wouldn't be fond of the woman who used to be so tough and feisty crying while looking at him badly injured,scolding him for getting hurt because of her.Although,I can see someone telling me that it's just because she thought it was her fault that he got hurt,however...that isn't what Ichigo was thinking about the situation.Ichigo thinks that he is the reason why Rukia is going to die,she should be blaming him instead of worrying about his safety.To Ichigo,it was selflessness.
Rukia : You're still the same as before...ignoring everything I say...
Ichigo : Of course!You always nag and worry about me.You should worry more about yourself right now.
Those statement from Ichigo shows proofs that he knew that Rukia was always worried for his safety,that's why she always nag at him.She never think for her own safety.
...hence,he knew that Rukia was again,just worried for him here...
Rukia : Idiot!!Why did you come again!?You know that...you can't win against my brother!You'll really get killed this time!I've already made my peace with this,so...I don't need you to rescue me!!Go back!!
Rukia always kept on trying to avoid Ichigo to suffer even more,to be hurt even more,that's why she always try to stop him whenever she thinks he should.He's not invincible anyway,no one is invincible.
Arrancar/HM Arc
GJ : Did ya hear me?I asked which one of you two...is the stronger one?!
Rukia : This is bad.Ichigo!!get out of here!!...(then Rukia was caught off guard by GJ because of worrying for Ichigo,and she got stabbed)
Rukia knew that Ichigo was not in the right condition to fight,especially with someone as strong as GJ.Ichigo was tensed.Apparently,Rukia is going to take the fight against GJ even though she felt how strong he is...because Ichigo wouldn't be able to.
Those scenes are from the second time that the Arrancars attacked Karakura town.Rukia's life was again put at risk for saving Ichigo's life during the fight.
Rukia : Why did you enter HM on your own?!Why didn't you wait for me to return!?
Ichigo : ..But you left like that.I didn't know if you were gonna come back or...
Rukia : Of course I was going to come back!!By any means necessary.
Ichigo knew that Rukia wouldn't be able to come back and accompany him with his mission to rescue Orihime,given that Yamamoto has sent Byakuya and Kenpachi to make sure of it.Seeing her coming back for him shows how much she's willing to disobey the orders for him.
Rukia : Why...are you alone...?I thought you went up there to save Inoue...?
Ichigo : ...I did save her.She's up there right now,tending to Ishida's wounds.Safer than down here,right?
Even though Rukia was already struggling to survive the fight against Yammy,she's still more worried about Inoue's safety.Ichigo here was telling her that Inoue was in a better/safer place than her,she doesn't need to be worried about her anymore,she should be more worried about herself instead since she's the one who's fighting and risking her own life down there.
The Lost Agent Arc
Even until this Arc,KT kept on emphasizing how much Rukia is willing to sacrifice herself for Ichigo.
Author's note :
Notice that through out the entire story,in each arc...KT is always emphasizing that Rukia would always sacrifice herself for Ichigo.KT is always allowing Ichigo to witness her selflessness and care for him,which is one of the aspect that made Rukia become an important person to Ichigo.Apparently,these things are going to play an important role for the plot,hence KT was always putting emphasis in this aspect of the story.
Notes to my readers
