I do not own Bleach. inspired by Paramore. set right after Aizen's betrayal of Soul Society.

maybe if my heart stops beating, it won't hurt this much
please don't get me wrong
because i'll never let this go
but i can't find the words to tell you i don't want to be alone

Never Let This Go

Chapter One:
Never Let This Go

"Nii-sama would probably kill me if he heard me talking like this," Kuchiki Rukia sighed to herself. She held her hands to her chest, clutching them so tight that her knuckes turned white. Realizing she was losing feeling in her hands, she loosened her grip, but her gaze darted from the green ground to the orange sky above her. Her newfound freedom didn't exactly make her feel free now. She couldn't find answers anywhere, only things that reminded her of the thoughts that plagued her continuously ever since she was incarcerated. Even now, as she walked away from her latest visit to see her brother in the Fourth Division hospital, he wouldn't get out of her head.

"Rukia," Kuchiki Byakuya said, his dark eyes never leaving hers. Although Rukia wasn't used to his attentions, she felt like she could stand the weight of his gaze. Byakuya took Rukia's hand in his, feeling her flinch at his touch. It was strange to try to be open about personal things, "comforting" Byakuya supposed that's what people called it, but there was something familiar and soothing when he saw her small hand encassed in his palm. He looked at Rukia's face, her eyes conveying a slight hesitation and apprehension instead of...Byakuya didn't know. He didn't know exactly what his wife wanted him to do with Rukia once he located her or how he was supposed to raise her. All he knew were rules and that Hisana died long before she was supposed to. And that he never came to terms with how difficult it would be to look into her face and not be reminded of the pain.

"Nii-sama?" Rukia asked quietly, her brows wrinkling at their hands, her much smaller hand still encompassed by his rougher one.

Byakuya released his hold on Rukia to fold his hands on his lap. "I've offered my apology after the fight with the boy, and now if I may, I will offer some advice." Rukia nodded, her eyes wide with attention. Byakuya supposed that she was used to looking to him for guidance, and although his first thoughts told him that she looked somewhat pathetic, an innocence radiating from the bottoms of Rukia's violet eyes reminded him of Hisana's essence that captured him so long ago. He remembered what he did to fight for her, and now Byakuya wanted to point out something Rukia needed to acknowledge now.

"There are things that..." He stopped.

"This life is short, well maybe not for us but..." Byakuya wrinkled his eyebrows together, not sure exactly what he wanted to say. The smaller Kuchiki only gazed at him with those wide, incredibly reminiscent eyes, making it harder for the captain to form his sentences. He grunted loud, determined to get his point across, but only hurt his sides in the process.

"Nii-sama, it's alright," Rukia said, quickly stepping close to his side and easing him back onto his pillow. "You can tell me later, I promise I will listen to what you have to say."

The elder gripped her shoulder tightly. "That's the thing, you might not have the time for it," he said quietly. Byakuya's dark eyes burned into Rukia's gaze, and the girl could only nod. Taking a deep sigh, Byakuya continued to speak. "Rukia, you've never been very straightforward when it comes to Soul Society. Perhaps I am partly to blame, but this life is too short for words to go unsaid, and too long when you have nothing to live for. I hope that with this second gift of life, you will go for the things you want. You are worth it Rukia, you don't need to feel guilty anymore."

"Nii-sama, I don't quite understand what you are getting at," she replied slowly, almost fearful of punishment for not comprehending.

"Take it as it is, I am not about to try to rephrase that," Byakuya said flatly. His sister could only smile at his effort, but it didn't make her feel any better. "Don't you think that if someone fought so hard for you, that they were trying to give you what you've been denying yourself of for so long?"

Rukia shrugged silently. Now that she was a free woman again, the mystery of Kurosaki was at the top of the list of things she wanted to sort out. In order for her to decide exactly what she could be worhy of, she needed to figure out what she wanted first, but Rukia wasn't exactly the type to put herself first anyway.

"Just make sure you do what you have to do before I get to my own business with the boy," Byakuya said, his eyes narrowing at Rukia, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Nii-sama," she stammered.

However, with a wave of his hand, Byakuya dismissed her from the room when Unohana entered to check on her fellow Captain. Now walking off to the outskirts of Rukongai, she struggled with admitting out loud that her own brother correctly called out the fact that she couldn't get a certain orange-haired boy out of her head.

The short statured shinigami, or ex-shinigami since Rukia hadn't felt an ounce of reiatsu in at least three months, definitely felt it. Maybe she would never gain her powers again, but Rukia felt ready for a permanent vacation from shinigami work. After spending a hundred years in Soul Society, two months trapped in a gigai in the living world, and one month as a prisoner about to be executed, Rukia just wanted to find a moment of peace where she could sort out her feelings. Whatever it specifically were enamorous feelings or the need to express her gratitude, she wasn't sure, but it was something big enough to disturb her at night. She couldn't go to sleep with the weight of how much her friends had suffered at her expense, just to rescue her from a fate from which she accepted with a false sense of righteousness. And as Rukia tried desperately so many times to piece together her life, for some reason, Kurosaki Ichigo always managed to undo her reasoning. Whether he knew it or she realized it, everything he did to rescue her plagued Rukia's mind each free moment of the last week since Aizen's betrayal.

Rukia was slowly...cautiously...reluctantly...admitting to herself that she had somewhat fallen for the orange-haired wonder. She couldn't deny it after reviewing, for the hundredth time, all of the things he endured to rescue her. She couldn't deny the sweetness at the root of it all.

"I can't believe I'm thinking like this."

With another sigh, Rukia continued her trek to the Shiba household, the two hands standing proud in the distance and the sound of two siblings fighting could be heard from the immediate horizon. Up until she saw the looming home, Rukia's thoughts revolved around her confusing thoughts about Strawberry-baka. Now her heart sped up and her eyes widened at the prospect of having to face what she had avoided for years. However, Rukia knew she had been blessed with the opportunity to stand before the Shiba family and face her past. If she was going to move on from this whole ordeal, it was best to start with baby steps.

"What business do you have here?"

Her apology went smoother and easier than she expected, despite the throbbing in her nose. Kuukaku had one hell of a jab, and Rukia could've sworn there was still blood running down the front of her face. Of course, nothing compared to the feeling of relief of the burden she carried for so many years.

"Here, use this to stop the bleeding, Kuchiki," the one-armed woman barked. She offered a folded pad of white gauze, which Rukia noted, looked suspicously close to the ones wrapped around several parts of Kuukaku's body. Rukia took it without hesitation, however, and while she patted her sore nose, Kuukaku's attention went to something in the distance.

"Ah, there you are," came a smooth voice.

Rukia's heart pounded once more. "Baby steps," she reminded herself.

Ichigo and Inoue came to tell her to rest for tomorrow's trip through the dimensional gate, but Rukia figured if she was on a confessional roll, then she might as well go full speed ahead.

"I've decided to...stay in Soul Society," Rukia said quietly.

Ichigo had no response right away. Instead, he stared intensely at Rukia as a breeze passed over them. It was as if Soul Society was breathing for her. Rukia didn't bother trying to figure out what Ichigo was thinking; he always surprised her in the end anyway. She just silently wished that his eyes weren't so sharp and piercing.

"Isn't that a good thing?" he finally said, breaking the silence. A smile crossed Ichigo's lips, and it contageously passed to Rukia. "I remember now, the reason why I wanted to save you so much..."

Rukia's heart jumped into her throat. Of all of the things she thought about while locked away, she mostly pondered why Ichigo would put himself through such tribulationsfor her. She tried to curse herself for feeling flustered once again, but she couldn't command her body. Ichigo's words floated listlessly in her ears; they echoed on and on so Rukia couldn't control her pulse, couldn't decipher the meaning of his words, couldn't move, couldn't breathe. All she knew was that his smile was making her melt on the inside while she tried her hardest to look composed. Somehow, he became her hero and made a place for himself in her heart.

Kuukaku, however, wouldn't have the Kuchiki break down during her time of soul-searching on her front lawn. She threw an arm around Ichigo; he certainly had gotten stronger since she cannonballed him into Seireitei, and she knew growing boys needed one thing to keep them in top shape.

"You better come in and eat before you go. Everyone wants to see you!" she said. Her eyes darted to Rukia. "You too, Kuchiki."

Not wanting to upset the fiery woman, the three headed into the house with Rukia following last. Before she could face anyone, Rukia needed time for the blush to recede from her cheeks.

Thanking the Shibas again for a wonderful meal, with Kuukaku threatening to punch her again if she uttered another thanks, Rukia left to go back to the immense Kuchiki residence. The moon shone its pure white light, guiding the raven-haired shinigami home, but Rukia's small steps confirmed that she wasn't exactly in a hurry. She giggled to herself at the thought of Ganju straddling Ichigo for the last piece of cake, but the bridge of her nose hurt from the punch she received at the beginning of the evening.

"What's so funny, Short Stack?"

"I was just wondering if it was worth taking out Zangetsu for that chocolate cake," Rukia replied, not bothering to turn around. She stopped walking, feeling like they were a way out from the Shiba home, and gazed up at the full moon.

"Anything you want is worth fighting for," Ichigo replied, walking up next to Rukia. He nudged her lightly with his elbow. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Rukia smirked and held herself tight, her fingers tracing over her ribs where Ichigo tapped her. "You would say that," she replied before closing her eyes and breathing in the night.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Ah...nothing in particular," replied Rukia.

"What are you thinking about now?"

"...Nothing..."

"Is there something you want to think about?"

Rukia turned to Ichigo slowly. She studied his profile; Rukia always knew she was shorter in stature, but she never really took in the fact that Ichigo was so damn tall. She was used to the crease in his eyebrows, making his amber eyes look as striking as an eagle scouting its prey in the dark. Ichigo had a relatively small nose for his big, fat, swollen head (in Rukia's opinion), and her eyes travelled down to look over his lips, to finally, his square jaw. There was no mistaking the skill from the Fourth Division; after a few days of healing, Ichigo certainly didn't look like he was in a civil war and came close to dying on more than one occasion.

The studied man looked at Rukia out of the corner of his eye. She seemed pretty intent on him, and he couldn't help thinking it, but her violent eyes looked heavenly under the moon. Ichigo felt like they were burning into his soul, and he quickly looked away, almost like he was afraid she could read his mind. Of course, Rukia was probably the one person who knew the most about him, and he probably would never say it out loud, he appreciated all that she had given him. He appreciated everything she was and meant to him.

Smoothly, Rukia reached up a hand and touched Ichigo's face. It was a stretch, but he felt her soft fingers graze the bottom of his chin. Amazingly, it sent electrifying chills down to his toes. "Midget...Rukia...what're you...?"

"I was just thinking about," she said absentmindedly. Then she socked him across the chin. "Where the best place to punch you would be!"

With those last words, she started off in a sprint across the field of golden wheat and knee-length grass. The echo of her laughter in the night trailed behind her, teasing Ichigo, beckoning him to make chase. To him, Rukia sounded genuinely happy for once.

It wasn't hard for him to catch up to the shorter woman, but he chased her out of fun, not bothering to really catch her. He watched her form as it dashed in the moonlight; her hair floated around her face, her porcelein complexion glowing in the dark, her slim figure visible under her violet kimono as it twisted with each step. And the whole time, she was laughing. Ichigo couldn't help but smile, occasionally reaching out to brush her hair, her hand, or the sash around her waist with his fingertips.

"Ohh I'm just a helpless little girl being chased by an ugly and scary Strawberry! Oh saaaave me, please save me, I'm trembling!" Rukia fake cried. She waved her hands in the air for emphasis.

"Oh hell no," Ichigo growled. He lost at least half of his blood to save the ungrateful Midget, and there was no way she was getting away with teasing him about it. Ichigo concentrated his reiatsu.

Rukia didn't hear the footsteps chasing her. She honed her senses, but didn't feel Ichigo anymore. Slowing her pace, she looked over her shoulder and caught the flash of Ichigo to her right. She braced herself for impact, but Ichigo instanteously switched positions to her left. Using his shunpo and his opponent's confusion, Ichigo grabbed Rukia, wrapped his arms around her waist, and sent them both rolling on the grass. With a triumphant grin, he rolled himself on top of Rukia, pinning her arms to each side of her head.

"Sorry Nubby, looks like no one is coming to save you," Ichigo smirked, his voice low and husky.

Rukia struggled against his grip, but to no avail. His hands easily wrapped around each of her wrists, but he didn't secure any of her lower body. Rukia tucked her knees in, tried to get her feet on his stomach to push the larger man off, but could only get good leverage on his thighs. She kicked, causing Ichigo to lose his balance and flop down on top of her.

"Oof!" she huffed, her eyes growing wide as she felt their bodies clash together. Not only was Ichigo's body heavy, but it also felt solid. Rukia never really thought about how his lean body was probably all made of muscle. Her hands pushed against Ichigo's chest, its firmness creating a blush in her cheeck as they travelled up to clutch his broad shoulders, all in an attempt to move him before she was crushed.

Ichigo only laughed and let go of his hostage. He sat up next to Rukia, who didn't bother moving from the ground, and casually rested his arms on his legs. It felt good to laugh, especially after this past month. "So...how do you feel?" he asked.

"Worried," Rukia replied. She tucked her hands under her head, admiring the stars. "I can't believe Aizen is still out there, hell-bent on destroying Soul Society."

Ichigo scoffed. "Well, I was thinking more along the lines of how do you feel about your handsome, chivalrous rescuer and how awesome are your friends who kicked some major Shinigami ass to save you."

"I don't think I could ever apologize enough for what you've all been through," Rukia frowned.

Ichigo leaned over and squeezed the tender muscle right above Rukia's knee, causing her to twitch violently in reflex. She kicked out her leg to hit Ichigo, but he blocked the attack with his forearm. There was still a little sting. "You have got to stop being so lame and accept that you're worth saving, Shortness. And if you weren't sentenced for execution, no one in Soul Society would have known about Aizen's plan."

"Oh okay, thanks. That makes me feel a lot better," she replied, rolling her eyes. Rukia poked Ichigo in his side. "Although you did look quite heroic flying in the air all bandaged, about to destroy one of the most historic and powerful weapons in Soul Society. Thank you for that Fire Head, I think all of my fantasies came true in that instance."

The orange-haired shinigami smirked back at her. "I knew you fantasized about me."

Rukia's cheeks exploded in a hot blush. "No I do not! I think you're-"

"It's okay, I know you've snuck peeks of me from the closet when I'm changing."

"Ichigo-BAKA!" Rukia screamed, her fists in a barrage of attacks aimed at Ichigo's face.

She was only met in response with Ichigo's laughing as he easily blocked her fists. "Hey, hey...I saved you, remember?" he laughed. He held her wrists once more until Rukia stopped squirming. She stayed sitting upright, lazily leaning against Ichigo for support. Feeling Ichigo against her, his strong reiatsu rejuvenating her now that she was free from Urahara's gigai, Rukia both appreciated and hated the fact that Ichigo was there for her. She never wanted to senselessly lose him like how she had lost Kaien-dono.

"Rukia?" she heard Ichigo calling her name. His amber eyes were locked on her, burning with a sincerity and full of concern like when he stopped the Soukyoku. Although she joked about it, deep inside, Rukia would never forget that look on his face for the rest of her afterlife. She would give anything for Ichigo to look at her like that always. For once, she felt like someone loved her, not necessarily in a romantic way, but where she felt like someone truly moved for her. A blush crept over her face.

"Oi Stumps, I want to tell you something," Ichigo repeated for the third time. He grinned nervously, running a hand through his hair. "I...I want to thank you for everything you've given me."

"Ichigo, really I-"

"Don't interrupt when someone is trying to thank you," he snapped. Ichigo sighed and tried to focus on the sky above. "I've always felt horrible ever since my mother died. I still blame myself, and I felt useless because I couldn't protect anyone, but at least now, thanks to you, I have the powers to protect my friends. I think...at least I dare to think, that my Mom would be proud of me. I know it was probably selfish of me when I asked you to let me be a Shinigami longer, not knowing of the consequences you were facing from Soul Society. And I know disrespected your wishes when I came to rescue you after you surrendered yourself to Renji and Byakuya."

Ichigo threw an arm around Rukia's shoulders and bopped the tip of her nose with his free index finger, pressing her into his side. Rukia's face felt warm. "I just wanted to thank you, Rukia. I didn't know so much inspiration could come from something so short."

Ichigo braced himself for a quick hit, but Rukia only laughed. He never felt comfortable around others, especially girls, but Rukia was different. She was truly his first close friend. A comfortable silence passed over them, and Rukia still snuggled against Ichigo under his arm. "Maybe I did do something right for once," she smiled to herself.

Suddenly, Rukia felt overwhelmed by sadness. As attached she felt to Ichigo, and after all they had been through as a team, she remebered that he had to go back to the human world in the morning. Once more, her heart was betraying her head as tears began to run down her cheeks. She lowered her head to hide her face with her hair, but Rukia still felt foolish for feeling so much for a human, a boy, and a friend.

"It's really beautiful here," Ichigo said absentmindedly, still gazing at the sky. When he didn't get a response, he looked down at the girl at his side. "Rukia, are you ok?"

Her head bobbed up and down, but he still couldn't see her. Slowly, cautiously, Ichigo touched a few strands of her hair. Rukia didn't move away. He ran his fingers through the raven tendrils, feeling the soft sensations tickle his fingertips and moving them out of the way. Just as he was surprised at how he enjoyed the feel, Ichigo was surprised at the tears lining her face. Rukia looked away to hide them. Once more, Ichigo felt dwarfed by her inner turmoil, never really knowing the best way to comfort someone as he always hid his true feelings inside.

"Rukia," he said softly, trying to turn her head towards him. She only resisted. "Hey Rukia, it's okay."

"Strawberry," she finally replied. Rukia furiously rubbed her eyes with her sleeve, then blazed them against Ichigo's amber ones. For some reason, her heart was pounding in her chest, a storm of emotions brewing inside of her. "I will get stronger, and then I'll show you. I'm never going to say this again, but I will miss you a lot when you go back to the living world. And in the meantime, I will train so when you see me next, I can show you my true powers."

In an instant, Rukia threw her arms around Ichigo's neck, grasping him tightly. She could feel the heat of his reiatsu making her dizzy, but Rukia was used to how Ichigo confused her, riled her, invigorated her. Pulling back slightly, she saw his infamous lop-sided grin, and a smile crossed her face as she studied his firm lips framing white teeth. She couldn't deny that she thought about Ichigo everyday in prison, she talked about him to Hanatarou, and she dreamed about him at night. It all made sense now; Rukia knew her heart had betrayed and abandoned her for Ichigo a long time ago, perhaps even as far back as when she surrendered her powers to him. Although Byakuya said she had been given the gift of life again, Kurosaki Ichigo was the reason she felt alive.

"Your stupid smile," Rukia whispered, her hands framing his face. Was she mistaken that she could make him blush as much as she was? She could swear her heart pounded against her chest so hard it also hit Ichigo as she pressed against him, and his arms encircled her waist instinctively, steadying her.

Rukia leaned forward and kissed his cheek. She didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable, while she was still contemplating how she would handle her newly realized feelings. At the moment, Rukia just wanted to be close to him. Pressing her mouth to his ear, she whispered in a waivering voice before returning her arms around his neck to embrace him again. "You saved me, Ichigo."

Feeling her breath against his ear sent those electrifying shivers throughout his body, Ichigo didn't know how many times it was now. He hadn't been thinking about it because he felt at home in Soul Society, but he was starting to think it was because Rukia was there with him, like he was used to. But after tomorrow, he'd have to be seperated from his sidekick, his closet hobbit, the firey Kuchiki Rukia. One of his arms stayed wrapped around her tiny waist as his other hand wandered back to her raven hair, resting at the back of her head, attracted to the feel of its softness. His face felt hot, but damn, he wished he could save Rukia from lots of other perils.

The pair stayed entwined for a bit, neither knowing what to do next, only knowing that they were feeling good. Rukia pulled away and rubbed her eyes again. She smiled before getting up to her feet. "Walk me to my mansion, Berry," she said. "I might get attacked again, and it's your job to save me."

Rukia outstretched her hand, which Ichigo took with a grin. "What would you do without me, Stumps?" he said while rising. Ichigo's eyes never left Rukia's violet orbs, even though he towered a foot above her.

"I wouldn't get into half as much mischief as I do with you, Berry."

"As if you could keep up with me Nubby," he replied. Ichigo turned and immediately started into a trot.

Rukia, however, did not follow him. Instead, she stood with her hands on her hips, a pout piercing Ichigo's conscience. "You're supposed to escort me...to my brother's place..."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "And that's supposed to entice me how?"

Rukia shook her fist at him menacingly. "Okay, okay I'm terrified," he said, holding his hands up.

It was the shorter girl's turn to smirk. She strutted towards Ichigo, each step making his heart pound, but he couldn't help but smile as well. He held out his arm; if the girl needed an escort, then he couldn't deny her. He was a hero, after all. Arm in arm, the pair strolled through Soul Society into the dimly lit walled city of Seireitei.

"This must be your stop," Ichigo said, his head tilting up to take in the sight of the multi-level Kuchiki compound. "Only your brother could be in charge of such a forboding place."

"Be quiet, it's very beautiful inside."

"Well I'll have to take the grand tour the next time I'm in Soul Society, or at least when your brother isn't mad at me for kicking his butt anymore," he replied and then bowed low. "Even though I am the savior of this place, my humble abode is at the hospital, with the Fourth Division."

Rukia laughed and nodded back towards the looming building. "If you prefer a bit of nostalgia, I have a closet in my room that's the size of yours at home. I guarantee it's occupent-free at the moment."

"I'm not interested in pay back either," Ichigo replied.

"What are you interested in then?" blurted Rukia. Her face flushed as she instantly regretted the question.

Ichigo's breath caught in his throat. There were thousands of responses he could've used, but he could only stare at her. However, staring into the violet orbs was a challenge in itself. He reached out and hugged Rukia. The top of her head barely reached his collar bone.

"You, Midgey," he said quietly. "Lately, it's been all about you."

Rukia wrapped her arms around Ichigo's middle, leaning against his muscular chest, and taking in his scent. One of his hands took the familiar path around her waist, and the other finding its way through her hair. "I'm interested in your safety Rukia. I want you to be happy and make the sun shine for you...like you have for me."

"Then tell me you'll stay, or I should go with you," Rukia thought desperately. "Tell me you'll work this out with me. Work out...whatever we're supposed to do now..."

"Ichigo," she whispered, her fingers clinging to his shinigami robes. Rukia moved her face upward to try to look him in his striking eyes, but Ichigo's hand cupped her cheek.

In truth, he couldn't stand to look at her at the moment. He felt so confused by the emotions pounding in his chest, and he didn't want to do anything he would regret. Holding Rukia's face to his chest, he closed his eyes and kissed her temple, his lips lingering on her skin. Suddenly, he felt dangerous. Ichigo wanted to taste more, to explore more of her with his lips, but at the moment, he felt like he couldn't trust himself.

"Rukia," he said in a low growl. "I'll wish you a goodnight now."

His fingers caught Rukia's hair and tugged so her face tilted up enough so he could gaze into her eyes. A soft moan escaped her lips at the suprise of his forcefulness. Although it wasn't too rough, it felt more exciting and like a flash of raw desire. Ichigo kissed her forehead and murmured "goodnight" into her hair. The next instant, he was gone.

Rukia stood breathlessly, her heart pounding in her ears. She felt something spark in Ichigo that she had never felt before, and her whole body wished that it was because of their embrace and the feel of lips on skin. Turning herself around, Rukia rushed inside the Kuchiki compound, her feet propelled up the stairs by the fire burning inside of her. She reached her room, burst through the double window doors, and clutched onto the balcony railings that overlooked the streets of Seireitei. Rukia's eyes zoomed on the head of blazing orange hair travelling on the dim path. She wouldn't stop staring until it disappeared with the night. Rukia figured that she needed to get used to the feeling of him walking away before morning.

Briskly walking away from the Kuchiki mansion, Ichigo clutched at his chest. He could've sworn he left it at Rukia's doorstep, but Ichigo's heart announced its presence through its irregular beating. He forced himself to not look back.

"I'm sorry Zangetsu," Ichigo muttered to himself. "There's going to be some rain tonight."

The walk to the official dimension gate seemed like a parade through the streets of Soul Society. Led by Captain Ukitake, many of the once enemies of the ryoka followed the newly-dubbed "Saviors" of their world, wanting to see them off. Komamura Sajin stood tall without his usual helmet, enjoying the breeze on his exposed face, the gentle Unohana Retsu smiled on, Abarai Renji had his arms crossed, Matsumoto Rangiku struggled to stand, leaning increasingly more on Hitsugaya Toshirou, and even Kuchiki Byakuya stood quietly as the gate began to glow. Rukia managed to avoid looking at Ichigo directly in his eyes all morning, and she chose to walk with her brother, concerning herself with helping the elder Kuchiki rather than acknowledging the weight Ichigo's gaze lay upon her.

Orihime ran up to Rukia, but Rukia felt too pre-occupied to understand what the orange-haired girl was saying. Suddenly, a white dress was thrown at her chest, and Rukia barely made out that it had something to do with Ishida. Her eyes were cast down towards the ground, the image blurring with the white of the dress fabric. Rukia was trying her hardest to control the rapid pumping of her heart and her irregular breathing around the lump forming in her throat. Her best friend was about to leave her, and she needed to decide the best course of action. Right now, it was a tie between crumping to the ground in a heap of tears or jumping his bones.

Rukia felt a hand squeeze her shoulder, and the warm wave of Ichigo's potent reiatsu engulfed her and went like a breeze flying past her, just as the man who owned it did as well. With his signature eyebrow arched mischieviously, Ichigo smirked over his shoulder. "See ya, Rukia," he said in that confident voice that made her knees weak. There was such sincere strength and warmth in his voice, Rukia wondered whether Ichigo knew of the wonders he naturally exuberated and how he had affected everyone standing at the cliff's edge.

He turned to face the glowing dimensional gate, which was a patch of shining white against the blue sky, and the flood suddenly broke inside of her. Rukia wasn't surprised when her violet eyes became cloudy in tears, the image of Ichigo's broad shoulders clothed in the black shinigami robes and his bright orange hair blazing against the blank background blurring before her. She had lost her powers, lost her freedom, and came deathly close to losing her life, but Byakuya's words solidified their meaning in Rukia's heart. She didn't want to let go of her best friend.

Rukia looked at his retreating form; this whole time she had been following Ichigo, watching his tremedous growth as a reliable man and partner. The feeling of being not worth saving was suddenly dwarfed by the want of having Ichigo near once more. She wanted to feel engulfed in his reiatsu like the night before, to feel strengthened and excited by his essence, to be filled by his courage and straightforwardness. Byakuya's words rang once more in her ears. Rukia didn't have the words to correctly express herself, how she didn't want him to leave and be alone, but she didn't need them right now.

"Ichigo!" she called, suprrised by the volume of her voice, and the called shinigami substitute looked over his shoulder. A twinge of fear crept into her mind and Rukia could feel the weight of everyone's stares, but she pushed it away. There was no turning back now in this life. Never again would she depend on others or fall behind her comrades, especially the ever-surprising Kurosaki Ichi-baka. Never again did she want to trail behind him, gazing at him in his shadows; never again did she want to see his back, especially when he was walking out of her life.

Clutching her hands to her chest, she ran forward, not meeting Ichigo's amber stare but focusing herself on the starch blackness of his robes. Slowly and carefully, as if approaching ancient cloth that might crumble with her touch, Rukia placed her hand on Ichigo's bicep, taking in how her small grasp barely wrapped around the side of his muscular arm. Rukia wondered if Ichigo was always so alluring, or if he had grown so much because of her, the latter thought amazing her even moreso. She figured if she kept holding onto his sleeve, he wouldn't go back to his world. Perhaps the longer she held onto him, she could capture the electricity flowing through her body for the rest of her days.

Elsewhere, the pair's friends became their audience. Giggling with glee, Matsumoto squeezed a very unhappy Hitsugaya into her busom, suffocating her captain while emitting random squeals. She still smelled like the sake she drank from the night before. On the human side, Inoue's eyebrows raised in surprise. She felt her heart speed up in her chest, amazed at the scene unfolding before her. Inoue was used to seeing herself and Ichigo in the same tender scene of their first and perfect kiss, but now she was watching it play out in front of her like a movie, with another woman in her place. A smile crossed her face. Still, it was a beautiful scene, despite the aching in her heart.

"Oi, Rukia," Ichigo said quietly. He looked quizzically at the short woman clutching at his sleeve. It wasn't like her to be so quiet.

Ichigo turned so he could face her square on, when a sudden and forceful tug doubled him over, and he was met with Rukia's lips. His breath was caught for more than one reason; it definitely got him off-guard, and Ichigo never expected his first kiss (well technically fourth or fifth after all the ones with Kon) to be instigated by Rukia. Ichigo wondered exactly where their friendship now stood and when the lines of romance began to blurr, but after last night, Ichigo knew he wasn't crazy. The electricity that sparked between them last night were burning strong today. Scenes of him dying, opponents fought, his blood spilling on the floor...many others flashed in his mind before he focused back on the fact that Rukia kissed him, probably wanted to kiss him for some time, and struggled internally whether or not to take action, judging by her strange behavior all morning.

Feeling slightly embarassed, but more flattered by her actions, Ichigo cleared the crazy throughts stirring in his mind, closed his eyes, and relaxed into her embrace. It wasn't so horrifying, as Ichigo always imagined. The pressures of having kisses be all romantic, have the perfect setting, and with the love of his life...Ichigo preferred this spontaneous attack of Rukia's feelings, although this was brewing for some time. For once, he would indulge in a hero's reward.

Rukia didn't care.

She felt the red heat of her blush creep onto her face after she pulled Ichigo down towards her, even after she rose on her tip toes to reach him. Licking her lips before the impact, Rukia was surprised and relieved that Ichigo's lips were softer than she imagined and they didn't pull away after they met. However, she wasn't an expert on kissing. Realizing she had only kissed Renji on a few innocent and stumbling occasions, panic grew from the pit of her stomach up to her throat. Rukia threw herself to chance, gripped onto his arm, and pulled away after a few heart-pounding seconds. It was quick and embarassing for her pride, but it was everything she wanted from him at the moment.

And apparently Ichigo didn't care either.

As she pulled away, he studied Rukia's face. She bit her lower lip as if punishing them for wanting to be kissed, and her violet eyes still hadn't met his gaze since she called his name. He grinned to himself; now he had a lot of ammo for the next time he'd be teasing her, but at the moment, he was happy for the entire experience in Soul Society and how they had grown together. Every obstacle he faced just to save Rukia and all of his turmoil were worth facing the challenge of these new feelings stirring inside him. The sun was ablaze in his inner world.

Tilting her chin upwards with his fingers, Ichigo finally caught Rukia's eyes. She looked almost terrified, but the look went away when she closed her eyes as Ichgo leaned down and captured her lips again. He encircled his free arm around Rukia's waist, supporting her body with his own by pressing against her small frame. He liked acting like a pillar of support for Rukia. Ichigo felt smooth, but his actions came natural as he wanted Rukia to feel as exhilirated as he did. He smirked into her kiss; she faintly tasted like strawberries, and mixed with the sheer softness of her lips, Ichigo let his tongue explore the wonders of lip balm.

Rukia emitted a soft moan when she felt the cool of his tongue during the heat of their exchange. She parted her mouth, hungrily wanting to taste him, and the growl echoing from the depth of his throat confirming that the feeling was mutual. Her curves folded into Ichigo's tall, solid body when he embraced her, and her hands helplessly grasped onto him as if their kiss was only fantasy. Ichigo's spiky hair tickled Rukia's palm as it clutched his neck, deepening their kiss, and she rubbed her other hand along his chest, the firmness of the muscle making her head spin more.

Finally parting for air, the two gazed at each other for a moment before completely unwrapping from each other. Ichigo flashed his brilliant smile, and Rukia only shook her head. "That big-mouth smile of yours, Berry," she said softly. He grinned even wider just to spite her. "I still don't forgive you, and I'm not going to say I'll be waiting for you. I have more important things to do right now."

Rukia smiled wide, closing her eyes. A single tear ran down her cheek. "Thank you," she whispered.

Ichigo caressed her chin before turning towards his classmates who waited patiently. They still had a dimensional gate to go through. "That's my line," he called over his shoulder. "Thank you...Rukia."

Of the visitors, no one said another word until they crossed over to the other side of the dimensional gate. In Soul Society, Rukia watched as their figures were swallowed by the light, and then it was gone. She finally exhaled as the usual view over the cliff's edge returned, and the buzzing of the gate's spiritual energy was replaced by the sounds of retreating footsteps. Rukia covered her mouth with her hand, surpressing the need to cry out loud. No one dared to near her, feeling what little reiatsu she had dissipate pathetically into the atmosphere.

I was listening to music and reading the manga when I was inspired to write this. I really wanted to capture romance between Rukia and Ichigo because I feel like it would naturally explode when they're both characters that don't really express themselves emotionally. Originally this chapter was meant to be a one-shot about a kiss (that I'll be patiently waiting for in the manga, sigh.) However, I wanted to use this to kick off a series of short stories I'm dubbing as the "Agent Wicked Series" that revolve around a mysterious character who shall transcend different series and cause havoc (ie, the series will include stories for GetBackers and another for Bleach about Inoue, so far.)

Next chapter shall be up soon!