Rukia x Ichigo

LEMON

Ichigo loved her dark hair, her blue eyes, and especially her sweet smile. He sighed and looked away from her. She probably didn't feel the same attraction. So what was the point in torturing himself?

Rukia was dressed in something normal and human for once. A relatively short blue dress with elbow-length sleeves that hugged her body, black sandals, and a white ribbon to hold some of her hair back. But it still managed to fall into her oceanic eyes. Ichigo could hardly keep his eyes off of her, let alone her bare skin that seemed to shine under the sun.

She had told him that he deserved a day off from being a substitute Soul Reaper and killing Hollows. "Besides," she said, holding her phone-thingy up, "this Soul Pager isn't even going off." Ichigo nodded, then nodded again when she'd suggested a walk.

Now they were strolling along a worn path in the woods, close to where his mother was buried. Rukia said they would stop to see her, but he'd objected. He didn't want to feel depressed.

Rukia looked back at him. "Hey, Ichigo," she said. "Are you okay?"

He blinked, running his hand through his orange hair. "Yeah, why?"

Rukia gave a teasing, beautiful smile. "Because," she answered, "you seem to be staring at me."

He blushed, his mouth dropping. "Whatever," he finally muttered, shoving his hands in his jean pockets. She laughed, and Ichigo tried no to stare again.

Scowling at the ground was the only thing preventing him from glancing at Rukia. Though, her image stayed in his head. Ahead of him, he heard her stop and he did too, looking up to see what she had paused for.

The sun, bright and fiery, sat tiredly along the horizon. The sky was painted with strokes of shell pink and burnt orange, the bottoms of fluffy, cotton-looking clouds lined with a soft, pastel blue. It was breathtaking, he had to admit. Something an artist would kill for.

Rukia turned and smiled brilliantly. "I love sunsets, Ichigo! Aren't they so pretty?" She sighed and looked wistfully back at the picture.

"Yeah, you are," he said under his breath, unable to avert his eyes.

Rukia sighed. "We probably have to go, don't we?"

Ichigo came to her side, looking down at her. She smiled up at him sweetly, not breaking eye-contact. "We don't if you don't want to," Ichigo whispered, taking her hand. She looked away with a faint blush that he caught.

He heard Rukia gasp as he squeezed her fingers, though her eyes stayed staring into the sun. "Rukia, look at me," he said softly.

She seemed to steel herself before switching her blue eyes to him. They glittered against the sun's fading rays of light. Ichigo released a short breath; he would never get used to her amazing beauty.

Ichigo gulped nervously and slowly raised his hand to her cheek. Her eyes softened as she leaned into him, bringing her own hand up to cup his. "Oh, Ichigo," she breathed, briefly shutting her eyes.

He took the sudden chance, closing his own eyes as he ever-so-slowly pressed his lips to hers. Rukia let out a squeak of surprise, but he pressed harder, unwilling to pull away just yet. Her mouth was so warm.

Then, gradually, she relaxed, melting into the kiss. Her hands came to rest on the back of his neck, her small fingers playing with little pieces of hair. He moved the hand cupping her cheek to the back of her neck, tilting her head upward as his other hand slid down to her waist to pull her closer.

Rukia sighed softly when he pulled away to look into her deep blue eyes. "I want to stay," she said, leaning up and kissing him again.

"Then we will," he sighed against her mouth.