Summary: What she, Kuchiki Rukia, realized was that it would take more than just three simple words.

Words: 467

Rated: K+

*Disclaimer: I do not own Ichigo, Rukia or anything that is of Bleach canon material-it all belongs to the lovely creator, Tite Kubo.

More than just words

It takes more than just wordѕ…

…It takes the υℓтιмαтє sacrifice of the heart.

It takes courage—

—it takes love.

This, she knew. Though, one would be curious as to how she, Kuchiki Rukia, of all people, knew. After all, she was the ice queen, right? A cold, stoic noble woman who only strove for status and rank—her only motivation being that the honor of her family was at stake. Ah, but the common crowd of Seireitei were mistaken. She only allowed them to see what she wanted them to see: a cold, stubborn woman. A woman who they supposed had no heart. A woman who was impervious to the mere capability of loving. She was, after all, Kuchiki Byakuya's younger sister.

They failed to see through her feigned existence. It wasn't that she was missing a heart. No, those people had failed to see what those icy walls sought to protect—or perhaps prevent. There was an unseen fact that remained about her, and it was that she had come to the conclusion that she had loved too much. Too fiercely.Too unconditionally. So she distanced herself; became detached, and so, becamelonely.

That was, until she met him.

Kurosaki Ichigo.

It had been almost instantaneous that those walls melted, and thus her heart, against her will, began to beat once again. With every passing day, week, even month, her heart managed to beat one more beat than it had the day before.

She had been ignorant at first, perhaps on purpose—or maybe she only wished to ignore it. Maybe it was a phase and it would pass. It never did. With every argument, slap, punch, kick, and scream, she somehow managed to love once again.

She loved his stupid smirk, even his scowl. She loved his ridiculously, blinding orange hair. She cherished those moments, however small, where he would pretend that she was a pain to be around, despite how she knew that it was their way of spending time together.

She loved his compassionate nature, and even his stubborn ways.

She loved…she loved him.

She loved him fiercely, and unconditionally. Perhaps, she thought, that she loved him too much.

She mused that she did, considering how she suspected how her heart would jump right out of her chest if it were capable. Not that she'd ever admit such a thing to him. But, there was one thing she could admit to the obnoxious substitute shinigami known as Kurosaki Ichigo.

But, she realized, that it would take more than words.

It would take courage.

It would take the ultimate sacrifice of her own heart—the very thing she had sought to protect for decades; and it would take love.

Kuchiki Rukia had realized that it would take her very heart and soul for her to say, "I love you."

A/N:

So it's been a while, I'll admit. Got a lot of things on my mind right now but lately I have found myself inspired despite the stress. So I decided to upload something I wrote a few days ago, and I'm actually very proud of it.

It's short and sweet. I hope it was enjoyable and fazed your poor little shipper hearts 3

More should be coming soon, I promise!

(I also do take drabble/one-shot requests so if you have an idea that you want me to write for you, go ahead as long as it's in the canon realm of Bleach!)