An IchiRuki question
Do you think Ichigo would have fallen as hard as he did for Rukia if she would not have lived with him for all those months? Say, she lived with Urahara instead and only met up with Ichigo to do battle against hollows. Do you think they would have developed a bond of trust as they did or would have fallen as they did?
My answer:
YES! i think their bond would still be as strong. why? because as i see it, everything important happened outside Ichigo's room; therefore, it would have happened anyway even if they were living separately. (1) Rukia's understanding that she should not grill Ichigo about his mother's death (happened at the cemetery). (2) another would be the time when Karin was hurt and Rukia said Ichigo should take care of his sister first (happened on the road) at the same time he was kind of worried for her since she still has not gotten her powers back. (3) Rukia being taken to SS by Renjie & Byakuya (happened on the road), which i assume Rukia would still leave a letter for Ichigo (that made him run after her) even if they were not living together; he still would have run after her and she still would have stopped him from doing so. are there more? i cannot remember.
as far as i can recall those scenes between them that happened inside his bedroom were all for comedic purposes.