Rukia glares up at me, incensed. "It isn't your business what I feel or how I go about feeling it." she informs me. That mangy cat winds itself around her ankles, and she impatiently shakes him off. "I just don't want anyone getting hurt, that's all!" she cries.

"Like I said, you're being a coward!"

"So, are you telling me it's okay to love you?" she challenges.

There's no good answer to that question. I'm not sure how I feel about Rukia-certainly strongly, but-? I don't know. I know I love her, that she's my best friend, and that lately I've been reacting strangely to her, but that's not the basis of a romantic relationship.

Heck, I don't want a romantic relationship.

Still, I'm not going to call Rukia a coward for not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings and then go walking on eggshells around the one person I've always been brutally honest with. "Yes. I am."

She flushes. Very prettily, I might add. "That doesn't solve anything."

"You're making a mountain out of a molehill." I inform her. "I doubt Soul Society gives a damn who loves who, as long as you do your fricking job properly-which, let me say, you do. I think you're just looking for excuses because you're . . ." I trail off, unsure.

"I'm what?" Rukia's in a petulant mood now, arms folded, shoulders drawn in.

"Scared!" I blurt out. "You're scared, just like every other girl with a crush, only unlike them you have a whole civilization of dead people to blame your insecurities on-"

Rukia slaps me-hard-and runs off. I bring my hand up to my face, wincing, as Berry looks between me and where Rukia went and meows, as if he actually understands what's going on. That's great, because I sure don't.

Rukia is in love with me.

It's such a strange thought. I always saw Rukia as a sort of older sister, a teacher; almost a mother at times. The thought of her being in love with anyone seems ridiculous, and yet-if it was anyone, I guess I'd want it to be me, now that I'm thinking about it. I've always wanted her looking only at me-is that love? I always assumed it was vanity, wanting her to be proud of me. Wanting her to admit that I've surpassed her-isn't that a normal feeling for a student to have?

When Rukia became my friend, she filled a part of my life that was lacking; she saved me, taught me how to be a hero, how to be important. Is that love? I've noticed her, when I notice no other girls, but is that just because she's always around? Wanting her to talk to me, wanting to teach her how to swim and buy her ice cream and see her face light up when she spots a ride dedicated entirely to bunnies-is that love? It could just be friendship, but I can't deny any longer that the bond we have is very, very deep. I can't imagine dating another girl while remaining so close to Rukia. I can't imagine dating another girl, period. She's the only girl I really feel close to, the only one I can imagine trusting with the parts of me too dark to share with anyone else.

I guess that's love.

I feel a little like a moron, actually. I never thought about love and stuff like that before, but still I'd think I'd know if I was in love with a person. I guess I was to busy focusing on everything else going on in my life to consider it, and, if I'm honest, I still don't want a girlfriend. I don't want to have to go out of my way to set up fancy dates and special gifts, to deal with the emotional drama and just start acting totally different to please some girl.

But Rukia isn't just some girl, and we don't have to have that kind of relationship. I can't imagine her demanding some big celebration for our three-month anniversary or getting all ticked off because I didn't call when I was supposed to. And haven't we been going on "dates" all along?

I don't know-I don't have it all figured out-but I know that I can't just let Rukia run away and think that she has to ruin the whole life she has here because of some feelings. Even if we grow to hate each other, she shouldn't have to lose her friends and life here because of that. She shouldn't have to choose between the two.

I scoop up Berry-tan and dash after my friend.

Ichigo catches up to me about ten minutes after I rashly stormed out of the petting zoo. His hand on my shoulder is the first thing I feel; the next is his mouth against mine. It's hot and arrogant and just like him; unquestioningly forcing its way into my tongue the way he unconsciously forced himself into my heart.

When he pulls back, we're both a little out of breath. A squashed-looking Berry-tan blinks warily at me from his position cradled in Ichigo's arm. He holds the cat out to me. "He missed you. And he says that he'll never forgive you if you don't adopt him here and now."

I take the cat, and then tackle Ichigo with a hug. "The cat or you?" I mumble into his shoulder. He puts one arm around me, not to be seen hugging a girl in public, ever the tough guy, and pats my back, his eyes on the ground. "The cat, you idiot."

He dips his head, lips brushing my ear so that none of the families walking around us(with properly stunned or scandalized faces)hear what he says next. "You don't have a choice about getting me, sweetheart. I'll come if I feel like it."

"And? Do you feel like it?" I ask, smiling. He shrugs and steps back, out of my arms. Berry purrs gratefully and climbs up onto my shoulders, making a big point of sniffing the air as if glad to not be being suffocated anymore.

"We'll see. Now how about the Bunny Hop, again?"

Just as he says this, a gender-neutral voice blares through the intercom- "ANIMAL LAND WILL NOW BE CLOSING. PLEASE GATHER YOUR CHILDREN AND MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE EXIT."

I sigh. "Well, there's always next time."

"Next time?" Ichigo looks positively alarmed.

"Yes, next time." I tell him. "You know, when you take me here on our date." I beam up at him.

"I'm going to regret this." he grumbles. I take his hand and swing it happily as we make our way to the exit. The skip is back in my step. I'm still afraid-I still have a lot of misgivings-but I'm with Ichigo again, so it's just that simple to forget all of my worries and smile.

I guess I shouldn't have tried to stop this in the first place.

I dare to believe that everything is going to be okay.

Especially when Ichigo pulls me behind a Polar Bear Ice Cream stand to kiss me again.

The end. I guess. ^.^