The King's Death

Chapter 5:Squad 13 Barracks

I could hardly believe my ears. Her words still rung through my mind like millions of bells each ending where another would begin.

"I love you too Rukia." I murmur against her soft lips as I pulled her fully onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her waist tightly burying my head in her neck. I could feel the heavy box in my jacket and I leaned back from her pulling it out slowly.

"Rukia I want you to have this, it was my mother's. My grandfather gave it to my father to give to her. It was her mother's ring." She opens it slowly and a small gasp escaped her slightly parted lips as she runs her fingers over the smooth band.

"Will you put it on me?" I nod slowly and retrieve the black stoned ring from the box before slipping it onto her ring finger. She stares at it for a few moments until a silly smile crawls onto her petite yet full lips lighting up her entire face.

"I was wondering if you'd marry me." She nods mutely and kisses me softly.

"Yeah I guess you'll do I mean you are a king after all." She says against my lips before nudging them into a sweet and tender kiss. I chuckle and stand pulling her up and spinning her around tightening my hold on her and feel the simultaneous tightening of my heart at the thought that she would be mine.

"So would you like to go to a party tonight with all the taicho and nobles...I mean it would be awfully rude if the woman I am marrying isn't there." I catch her chin in my hand and guiding it to my face to press my lips to hers in a searing kiss. I slowly nudge her lips open with my tongue and deepen the kiss turning burning embers into flames. I pull away and she stares up at me a bit dazzled before grinning shocking me with the beauty in just that smile.

"Okay but we should go if you want me to get done with my shift, ne?" She returns running her hand through my hair and looking into my eyes smirking. Her fingers run over the locks reminding me of when I had been injured and recovering and she had sat beside me thinking I was incoherent. Her tears had made my heart break.

"Hai, now let's go you midget." I say pulling away from her and the heartbreaking memory before lacing my fingers through her smaller ones.

"What about all the food?" I look at her like she's crazy and she turns her head in confusion. Her lovely eyes bore into mine and the innocence there makes me nearly laugh out loud before I start to explain.

"Midget someone is already here to retrieve everything and take it back to the palace, I would but I have to go over wedding plans with the elders of your family and your brother." I murmur cursing her brother in my head five million times. She turns to see a maid picking up the basket and bowing softly behind us before she frowns and pouts like a three year old. I lean forward and kiss her pouting lips chuckling at her childish antics.

"I see, well let's go then I don't want to be late." I nod and allow her to lead me back to her barracks. We reach the steps and everyone is starring at us in shock. I pull her forehead to my mouth and place a gentle kiss there before breathing in gently and inhaling her calming scent. I exhale warming the skin with my breath. Her slender hands grip my shirt tightly and she breaths in clearly enjoying my close proximity.

"I'll see you tonight okay. Be safe would you, I don't feel like coming after someone to save you today, I already have to deal with your brother for the day." She smiles and pulls my lips down to hers before turning and walking into her barracks practically bouncing with joy. I watch her hips gently sway and her hair move with each step brushing the back of her slightly exposed neck. Shaking my head to dispel the cloudiness that the woman creates in my mind I pull my hood up concealing my face. I can only see why I love this woman so much.

A field at the edge of the Seireitei- Ichigo

"ICHIGO GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!" Rukia shouts from behind me. Shit I'm dead, shit I'm dead.