It’s either going to be Ichiruki or no ships for Ichigo, that’s how I see it. Kubo has made it very apparent that he wants Ichigo and Rukia to be happy and that means – judging from all things – Ichiruki endgame.
Ichigo doesn’t think he can keep up with a world that has no Rukia, okay thats not just friendship. My god, even in the newest chapter, 681 – we see the TRUE difference of Ichigo’s despair being wiped away by Rukia versus it being wiped away by just anybody (The fullbringers);
Ichigo never held his heart, never gazed at Tsukishima, never rathe delicately said his name, never stopped crying cause he arrived, Ichigo even now with all the wrinkled beneath his eyes – still looks like he lost hope, and hes merely shouldering on – but when Rukia did this, everything was made anew and he was happy – the broken bonds, everything…she made him feel better about it – whereas Tsukishima and Ginjo got glares and insults – I think Kubo did this to draw contrast in relationships.