Being with You

VI

Ah the scent of love is in the air~ More Ichiruki action coming right up ^^
☆〜（ゝ。∂）

"Rukia," Ichigo's voice resonated through his chest and into my ear. I couldn't help but feel relaxed, "I didn't want to tell you this today," he started, "Honestly, I never even thought about telling you..." His arms tightened around me, as if he was trying to protect me from something. As if I would run away if he let go.

"I didn't even know I felt this way," I whispered.

He looked down at me and his eyes seemed to relax into a dreamy gleam. For some reason, the tension in the atmosphere dispersed at that moment. I didn't feel hesitant anymore and he didn't seem troubled. I breathed in, deeply and exhaled, sitting back up.

"We should go back," he said.

The sun was setting and the sky turned an airy pink shade. None of this was real of course; since we were in the Seretei. But that was one reason I liked the human world, the sky was real... I looked beyond the meadow where Rykongai was and imagined the sandy beach I played at as a child. Does love make one more mature? Or does it just make one feel...complete? I turned back and saw that Ichigo had already stood. He took my hand and helped me up,

"We still need to get Inoue. I'm gonna beat the shit out of Shinji if he did anything," Ichigo mocked as we walked back to the division houses. I smiled as he took my hand. Is this what people do when they love each other? What is the concept of love anyways? I was still confused but I didn't mind. I felt safer, even safer than before, around Ichigo. His presence was comforting and I felt as if I could do anything as long as he was by my side.

~3 months later~

Ichigo had enrolled in the Shinigami school. I was surprised at first since he was never really interested in Kido, but I suppose he wanted to stay in Soul Society a bit longer because he already graduated from his high school. Every day after his lessons had ended, I would meet him outside and review what he had learned. At first, he would complain about having to re-do his lessons in front of me, but now he seemed more diligent. It was almost funny when I watched him use Kido,

"Oi, Rukia," he yelled across the meadow outside the school where I waited for him,

"Ichigo! How was your day?" I asked when he walked over. He gave me a murderous look and dropped to his knees,

"I can't do it!" He growled, "It's not like I need to learn Kido. But I'm only doing this because I have nothing else to do..." He said.

I smiled and patted him on the back,

"Don't worry, you'll get better. And Kido is useful! If your Kido is powerful enough, you won't even need your zanpakutou to kill hollows," I tried to cheer him up. Suddenly, he broke out into laughter, "Oi! Why are you laughing?!" I cried and smacked his shoulder.

He stopped, but a grin still hung on his face. He gestured me to sit down and so I did,

"Rukia, you know the real reason I enrolled in the school is so that I can stay in Soul Society," he said. I nodded,but I knew that already, why did he have to repeat it? "You still don't get it?" He chimed. Now, I honestly didn't know what he was implying, so I shook my head. I must have had a confused look on my face because just then, he pinched my cheeks with his fingers and started to wiggle them,

"Oi! What are you doing!" I tried to pry his hands off,

"Haha, you're cute when you're confused," he smiled, "Well," he started, and to my surprise, he started blushing, "I wanted to stay in Soul Society because you're here," he finally said. I felt myself blushing openly and tried to cover my cheeks with my hands,

"Oh..." Was all I could say at the moment. I felt him lean closer and kiss my forehead, which caused me to blush even more. My face must have looked like a tomato...