Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Murder My Heart ❯ Ringing in my Heart ( Chapter 19 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any Bleach affiliates.

 

(A/N: Hello dollies, or whatever you want to be called, sorry for the late update. I've been so busy that I've barely had time to breathe yet alone write. But here's the next chapter, just because I love you all! XD

Once again, thank everyone for all the reviews, they are so FANTASTIC!!! And 140?!?! That's completely amazing to me! All of you rock!!!

PLEASE ENJOY AND REVIEW!!!)

 

 

 

 

Chapter 19

 

Ichigo's heart stopped in his chest the moment he saw her violet eyes light upon his. Her hand was brushing through his hair and on her lips was a soft smile. Christ, it was the first time he had ever seen him smile like that. He wanted to capture her face just the way it was. Her smile and perfect lips and the way she was looking at him… everything he just wanted to capture.

 

His legs practically screamed as he rose stiffly from his chair and cupped her cheek in his hand. Her fingers fell from his hair and he grabbed that hand as well.

 

His lips descended on hers softly, barely touching their mouths together. He felt like if he pressed too hard then he would break her into a thousands pieces. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip for just a moment when she gave a small groan. He was off of her in an instant and was ready to call for a nurse when she reached up a bit and tugged weakly on the bottom of his shirt. His attention was completely on her once again, “What is it Rukia?”

 

She gave him a small, limp, smile and whispered, “Its okay. I'm sorry… it's just… I must be a mess right now.”

 

He could have kissed her again for that. He crouched down beside her and murmured, “No… no. Jesus, you're beautiful Rukia. As always.”

 

She sighed and closed her eyes softly. “And you're just as good a liar. As always.”

 

“Not really.” He sighed in relief. Christ, just knowing that she was awake was practically making his heart burst out of his chest. He was bent in the chair, his face next to hers, her hand pressed between his. Oddly enough, he was trying so hard not to start crying.

 

“Ichigo…” she rasped, her voice dry but calm.

 

“Yeah?” He answered immediately.

 

“Could… could you get me a glass of water?” She asked, raising her free hand to her throat. “I'm thirsty.”

 

Ichigo almost laughed in relief… again. “Yes.” He breathed softly. “Yes, Rukia, I'll get you a glass of water.” He rose from the chair and squeezed her hand once again. He bent to press a kiss to her forehead and she sighed when she felt his silky lips against her skin.

 

Ichigo bolted almost immediately to the bathroom and filled a cup of water for her.

 

She's awake. She's awake. She's awake. She's awake. Thank you fucking Jesus she's awake! His mind screamed as he rushed back towards her.

 

He appeared near her side and in a minute knew that something was wrong. Her eyes were open and she was gripping the sides of the bed. Her breathing was labored and she was trembling violently.

 

“Rukia?” He cried, lurching forward and sitting on the edge of the bed. His hand was on her cheek and he instantly felt how cold and sweaty her skin was. “Rukia?” He asked again. His brows knit together and his heart began to palpitate even more.

 

Her eyes desperately sought him out and she kept shaking, “A-Aiz-zen?” She asked, her violet orbs welling wetly.

 

Ichigo's heart almost stopped when he saw that she was nearly crying. He hadn't seen her cry in over a year. Hell, the last time had been when she had seen her brother, stabbed and lying on the ground.

 

“Rukia,” he murmured, he pulled her to his chest and she came willingly, her weak body collapsing easily into his strong grip. “It's okay. Everything is alright. He's gone, he's arrested, he's being tried right now.”

 

She pressed her face against his chest and snaked her arms around his waist. “Oh… God… Jesus. I—I…”

 

“You remember?” He said softly.

 

She nodded slowly after a few moments of silence. Ichigo held her tighter and began to rock her gently from side to side. “Shh… it's alright. He can't hurt you.”

 

Her breathing was still shuddering but the shaking was beginning to subside. “Oh my God…” she murmured, her nails digging into his back. “Oh my God… my God…”

 

“It's alright.” Ichigo murmured, kissing the top of her silken locks. Damn, even after five days in a catatonic state she still smelled like fresh water and cherry blossoms. It must have been a gift sent down from the heavens.

 

Her breath was warming his shirtfront and he sighed once again, distinctly breathing in her lovely scent.

 

“W-will I have to testify?” She murmured, her voice small and fragile.

 

“Not right away.” He whispered, knowing that he was lying to her but not really being able to help himself. “You're okay for now.”

 

She nodded against him and then sighed once again. He released her quietly and then reached to her bedside table to take her glass of water. He pressed it into her hands and she smiled at him lightly. He felt a small shiver run down his spine as he saw her pale but gorgeous face shine with a smile. Damn, he needed to get used to that. Smiling, that is. But fuck she looked beautiful when she smiled.

 

She sipped the water slowly, he could practically see the cool liquid running down her throat as she swallowed. The look of peace and gratitude on her face was amazing. When she was finished he took the tiny cup and set it beside them.

 

“Rest,” he commanded softly, rubbing his thumb against her cheek. “Just for a bit. Then once you're finished sleeping we'll talk about… everything.”

 

She yawned softly and muttered, “I've slept for so long. I'm not tired.” Another yawn. Ichigo chuckled. He released her gently and pressed another kiss to her forehead. “I'll be right beside you. If you need me… you know.”

 

Her head dropped back a bit and she turned quietly towards him. “Ichigo…”

 

He nodded at her, “Yes?”

 

She raised a small hand and pressed it to the top of his hair. She flitted her fingers through his brilliantly orange locks and smiled just a bit longer. “Can you… come up here and—and just…” he could hear her words become strangled towards the end and he instantly understood.

 

He nodded softly and stood slowly. She smiled at him and began to shift on the hospital bed she was in. He climbed in gently beside her and made sure that his body didn't interfere with any of the IV's stuck to her arms. He pulled her softly to him and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She sighed and pressed her face into his chest. In a few moments she was asleep.

 

She was to his right and turned on her side, her left hand was resting peacefully on his chest. He looked down and saw the tiny golden band across her finger. It sparkled in the dim lights of the room. Ichigo wondered when she would notice it.

 

He smiled and gently touched each of her fingers, pausing momentarily to trace the ring. When she saw it… he had a feeling she would smile once again.

 

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

 

“Is she stable?” Yoruichi asked Ichigo as they stood outside of Rukia's exam room. The doctor was inside, gently prodding and poking the female detective until she looked ready to snap the poor man's arm. Ichigo smiled softly as he watched her demand that the doctor remove her IV tubes immediately, stating that she felt perfectly fine and didn't need them anymore.

 

Ichigo shrugged and sighed, “I would think so.”

 

Yoruichi gave him a skeptical look, “What about emotionally?”

 

Ichigo swallowed and frowned a bit.

 

Yoruichi kept her eyes on Ichigo as she asked, “Is she ready to stand in the same room with a man who tried to burn her alive?”

 

He remained silent. His gaze trained on the woman he was now watching hop out of bed and walk around the room—just to prove to the nervous doctor that she could.

 

“I don't know.” He murmured, crossing his arms and leaning against the door frame.

 

Yoruichi frowned at him, “You don't know.” She stated flatly.

 

Ichigo rounded on her and growled, “I don't know, okay?” He sighed fruitlessly and ran a hand through his orange hair, “She'll say that she is, I know she will but… I'm not so sure.”

 

There was a pause between them and after a moment, Yoruichi sighed, “Well then it's a good thing she's well enough to make her own decisions.”

 

Ichigo scowled and looked away. “I wish I could make the decisions for her.”

 

The woman beside him snorted, “The day you start making decisions for that woman is the day hell freezes over.” She sighed and straightened her shoulders. “The trial starts again in another day or so, I need substantial evidence telling the judge that she is awake and will be there to testify. She won't actually have to do it for a few more days though.” She added swiftly.

 

“The trial is moving through pretty quickly.” Ichigo remarked quietly. “These things usually last a long time.”

 

Yoruichi nodded, “Mr. Schiffer is pushing everything through so fast, I think he wanted to catch us off guard. But I'm pretty sure his plans are wrinkled now that Rukia is up and… moving.”

 

Ichigo snorted as he heard something break in Rukia's room. “Moving would be an understatement.”

 

Dr. Teshi, the frightened doctor who was already scared shitless of Ichigo, ran out of the room with a terrified look on his face.

 

Ichigo smirked slightly and nodded to Yoruichi, who raised her eyebrows, picked up her briefcase, and left the hospital corridor.

 

Ichigo knocked on the door and smiled softly, “Are you decent?”

 

“Do you care?” Was the immediate answer.

 

He let out a small chuckle and opened the door. She was standing in the center of the room, her arms wrapped around her back while trying to latch the clasp on her bra. She was snarling softly while continually missing the mark. “Damn IV tubes…” she sniped, “I can barely feel my arms.”

 

“Here,” Ichigo said, “Give that to me.”

 

She shot him an irritated look over her shoulder and shook her head, “Nuh uhn mister. I'm recovering, you can't jump me.”

 

He glared at her but stepped forward a bit, “I wasn't going to jump you. Even though it pains me to say so I'm not going to jump you for a long time.” He sighed and took hold of the edges of her bra clasp. Her hands dropped to her sides as he clicked them together and kissed the skin at the juncture of her neck and shoulders. His hands ran down the planes of her back and she rolled her head back softly.

 

Ichigo bent forward and kissed her cheek. He felt her lips pull back into a smile and felt his heart tug just a bit harder. “I'm so glad you're okay.”

 

She sighed and nodded, “Me too.”

 

They stayed like that for a moment, his lips lingering on her cheek while his hands grasped her shoulders lightly. He just stood there and breathed, taking in everything about her that he could.

 

Christ, he loved her so much.

 

“I had better put a shirt on before we do something to… hinder… my recovery.” She murmured, stepping away from him slightly.

 

“Yeah,” he muttered, moving away just a bit. Fitfully, he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He watched her as she moved towards the crisply made hospital bed and picked up a light, short-sleeved shirt he had brought from her apartment. She slipped it over her head and straightened it before flipping her raven locks out from underneath the collar.

 

Ichigo blinked and continued to stare; it was as if she was moving in slow motion. Her left hand dove down to the nape of her neck and lightly flipped her hair up. He saw the glint of metal on her finger and swallowed hard. Sweet Jesus… had she really not noticed it yet?

 

“Thank you for getting my clothes from my house.” She said quietly as she turned to smile at him. Ichigo immediately felt a weakening of his knees as her upturned lips burned themselves into his brain.

 

“You're… welcome.” He muttered, swallowing hard and staring down at his feet.

 

Rukia frowned, “What's the matter?”

 

You haven't noticed the ring I put on your finger.

 

Ichigo looked up and shrugged, “Nothing.”

 

She still looked skeptical, “Are you sure?”

 

No. Every time you smile I want to kiss you.

 

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat in a manly way and nodded towards the door. “Come on, we need to get you to court.”

 

“I thought I didn't have to testify today.” Rukia's voice dropped its warmth and a cold chill ran up Ichigo's spine. Damn, he was still going to have to get used to her actually being… well, afraid.

 

He came towards her and squeezed her shoulder, “You won't.” He said, bending down just a bit and kissing her soft cheek, “But the D.A. will probably want to prep your testimony.”

 

He backed away from her a bit and watched as her pale face changed from an expression of fear to one of disgust. She snorted and shrugged her shoulders, Ichigo's hand falling lifeless to his side. She began to walk towards the door and he followed, loving the fact that she was awake and hell, just able to walk.

 

“I've been in court before.” She growled quietly. “I know how to handle myself in a courtroom.”

 

“Aizen will be there.” Ichigo said as they came up to the hospital counter. Rukia grasped the pen on the counter and gracefully signed her name to the release sheet.

 

She swallowed lightly and let out a light breath. “I know.” She said softly, finishing the dots of her last name. She smiled and turned to him, resting her left hand on the counter, “But I think that once I see him, sitting in that chair, powerless… I think I'll be able to do it.”

 

Ichigo nodded and let his eyes flicker to her left hand briefly. She was tapping her fingernails lightly on the hard surface while the tiny band on her third finger glittered shyly.

 

The elderly woman watching the front desk saw the ring on Rukia's hand and immediately looked up at Ichigo's face. She must have seen something in his eyes or noticed the strange way his lips were pursed together, because she seemed to know exactly what was going on between the people standing before her. She grinned at him proudly and winked, then turned to Rukia, “Congratulations.” She said kindly, grinning warmly at the two of them.

 

Rukia turned to the woman at the desk and frowned at her. She only smiled in return and continued answering phones.

 

Ichigo sighed inwardly and shook his head. Good lord she was thick.

 

“Thanks,” he muttered, taking Rukia by the elbow and pulling her towards the door.

 

The woman simply chuckled and went back to work.

 

“What was that about?” Rukia asked, her tone of voice clearly showing that she was irritated about something.

 

I'm irritated too Rukia, Ichigo practically screamed, I want you to actually look at your left hand… and tell me YES!

 

“Oh, well she must have been talking about you recovering.” He answered simply, his voice was low and his tone was sober.

 

Her eyes were still narrowed, “How did she even know I was here anyway? I mean, how did she know about me specifically?”

 

A red stain began in Ichigo's neck and proceeded upwards just a bit. He could feel Rukia's gaze on him as his ears began to blossom into a tinted cherry color.

 

She was smirking, he could tell that without even looking at her. “What?” She asked, her voice was a mix between humor and doubt.

 

“Nothing.” He said immediately.

 

“Bull,” she snorted, “Tell me what's wrong.”

 

“Nothing's wrong.”

 

“You're being evasive.”

 

“You're being annoying.”

 

“You're blushing.”

 

“Just be quiet.” He growled as they reached his car. He came up to the passengers' side door and opened it quickly, hoping that Rukia would just get in without any more questions.

 

Sadly, it was not to be. She planted himself firmly before the car door and snickered. Her face was defiant and upturned and her lips were twisted into a cruel smirk. Ichigo would have wanted to turn that smirk slack and moaning but he kept his hands pinned at his side, afraid to even touch her for fear of wanting… more.

 

She raised an eyebrow and clicked her tongue, “I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why you were blushing.”

 

“Then I guess you'll be standing for a while.” Ichigo responded coldly, feeling a light and chilly February breeze rifle through his hair.

 

Rukia simply stood there, solid as a pillar, her hair drifting softly in the breeze. Her arms were locked around her stomach and her hands were tucked neatly in her elbows. There was a small smirk on her beautiful lips and her eyes carried a simply malicious glint.

 

They stood quiet for a few moments before she shrugged and shifted her weight from one foot to the next. “You know,” she began conversationally, “With me recovering and all I really don't think it would be very healthy for me to be standing here, in the middle of February, wearing only a short-sleeved shirt while I patiently wait for you to tell me why, in fact, you were blushing.”

 

Ichigo didn't feel like telling her that that exact thought had crossed his mind as well and it was killing him to actually let her stand there like that without bodily picking her up and shoving her into the car. He glared at her and set his jaw, his face decorated with a deeper scowl than before. “I made a scene, alright?” He snarled hopelessly, his eyes never leaving hers.

 

Rukia's eyebrow went up and she tilted her head to the side, “You… what?”

 

Shit he did not want to repeat himself. “I made a scene… kind of,” he muttered and finally looked down at the ground, his toe shoving an intrusive pebble away, “You were out of it, I didn't know what was going on, I was… scared. So I might have… yelled—gently—at a few people.”

 

Her raised eyebrow slowly went down and her arms unwound from their place around her waist. Her gaze took on a less severe look and a tiny smile broke out onto her face.

 

Ichigo chose that moment to look up and yell at her to shut up and get into the car, only to stop short at the sight of her gently face. “Christ,” he muttered, laughing nervously and rubbing his hand across his face, “I'm… going to have to get used to that.”

 

Rukia frowned, “Get used to what?”

 

He took a step forward, raised both hands to her cheeks, grasped them lightly, and pulled her face upwards for a sweet kiss. She groaned slightly at the butterfly gesture and nipped gently at his lips, he continued to brush them with his own, careful not to intrude too rapidly into her welcoming sweetness. He pulled away softly but his eyes opened immediately so he could see her slightly furrowed brow, her wonderful pink lips, and her lashes dancing across her cheeks.

 

He watched her as she opened her luminous violet eyes and stared deeply into his. It was a type of stare that could steal a man's entire soul if he let it. And by God, Ichigo knew that his soul belonged to her the moment he had met her.

 

Well, maybe the second time… the time when he hadn't been pointing a gun at her face.

 

Ichigo smirked and murmured, “I'm going to have to get used to seeing you smile.”

 

Her lungs drew in a short gasp of air and he gently rubbed his nose against hers. He was fully aware of how mushy he was being at the moment, but oddly enough—he didn't care.

 

He shrugged his head to the side, “Come on, we need to get you to the D.A.”

 

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

 

Toshiro and Yoruichi stood slowly and nodded their heads, “Thank you very much Miss Kuchiki.” Yoruichi smirked and shuffled a bit but didn't say a work, Toshiro glared at his associate for a moment before looking back to Rukia and Ichigo. Rukia Kuchiki was sitting in a chair right in front of his desk, her hands were individually clasped on her knees, her face was pale, and her lips were tight. Ichigo was leaning tersely near the edge of the room; his gaze was trained on Rukia and occasionally flicked down to her hands. Toshiro knew the reason why Ichigo was staring but he still didn't know why Rukia hadn't figured it out yet.

 

Woman must still be ill, he thought exhaustedly.

 

He cleared his throat and continued, “I know this was very hard for you to do but I'm sure you understand the gravity of the situation.”

 

Rukia nodded and swallowed softly, “I do.”

 

Yoruichi chimed in and spoke, “We don't know when the judge will order your appearance. Ulquiorra will more than likely ask for you to come quickly because he wants to rattle you. Can you handle that?”

 

Rukia nodded, her voice was staid and tough, “I'll do what I need to do.”

 

“Good,” Toshiro said firmly, “Just don't recant and we should be fine.”

 

Rukia nodded once again, “Just call me when you need me.”

 

Toshiro held out his hand and the female detective stood to take it, her fingers grasped his in a firm handshake and he immediately felt confident that his entire case was not going to be flushed down the toilet, “Alright, go home and get some rest. We'll tell you the day you appear.”

 

“Alright, thank you.” She said before turning around and looking towards Ichigo. He reached forward softly and touched a light hand to her shoulder.

 

“Come on,” he murmured, he looked towards the D.A.'s in the room and mouthed `thank you' before going out of the room. His hand never left her shoulder as they walked towards the exit. She kept glancing over towards him a few times but always averted her eyes when he looked back.

 

He led her out to the car and murmured, “So do you just want to go back to your apartment or get something to eat?”

 

She opened the door to the dark vehicle and pulled herself inside, “I want to go home… and I was wondering if you would actually cook for me?” She looked at him gently, “I want you to know that when I woke up from my nap today I was thinking of the chicken parmesan you made me the night we first made love.”

 

Ichigo chuckled, “You actually remember what we ate?”

 

She nodded.

 

“I can only remember the positions.”

 

Rukia glared at him as he continued down the road, “Now, that's the part that's all a blur to me.”

 

Ichigo gave her a quick glance, “Was it a blur because you were so satisfied you barely knew what was going on or was it a blur because you forced yourself to forget?”

 

Rukia remained silent but a smirk was covering her lips, “I think you know the answer to that,” she muttered softly.

 

Ichigo's hand, which had been lying on the gearshift, started gently at the touch of her fingers against his. He took his eyes from the road for a moment and glanced down at their joined hands. The fingers of her left hand were inside the ones of his right. He could feel an intrusion growing in his throat as he tightened his grip slightly. Rukia was not looking at their hands; instead she was looking at him, watching his face with those gorgeous eyes of hers. He gave her an exceedingly weak smile before taking her hand in his all the way and encasing it completely so she wouldn't be able to see the golden band around her ring finger—should she actually look, that is. He didn't want her to see it now, not while he was driving and couldn't focus on her.

 

They drove for only a few more minutes before Ichigo pulled into a spot in front of her apartment complex and released her. She smiled softly at him before she exited the car and waited for him to come. He could tell by her slack posture and her welcoming face that she wanted him to make love to her. And Christ he wanted to, he wanted to so badly it was truly hurting him to stay as he was. But now wasn't right. She needed time to recuperate properly and to eat. He needed time to figure out just what the hell he was going to say to her when she finally realized there was an engagement band around her finger.

 

Ichigo ran a hand through his unruly hair as he walked with Rukia up towards her apartment. The crime scene tape had been removed in interests of decorum and everything was as it should be—the blood stains had been lifted from the floor and even the broken lamp had been removed.

 

Ichigo gave her the key and she frowned at him softly, he shrugged and muttered, “I took your keys when I took a break from the hospital. That was when I got your clothes.”

 

She opened the door and came inside, her body slowly moving towards the couch. She set her jacket down on a nearby hook and turned to Ichigo, he was inside of her apartment as well—it was actually kind of funny to see how well he had already mastered the layout of her home.

 

She frowned a bit and murmured, “Ichigo… how did you know I was going to wake up?” She sat down on the couch but kept her focus on him. “I mean… didn't it look… grim?”

 

Ichigo shook his head and snorted, he came to the couch and sat next to her, “Rukia, I knew you would wake up just because you're you.” He reached out a hand and ran it over her cheek, pushing some of her hair back lightly. “Come on, Rukia Kuchiki not getting out of something she did not voluntarily go into? That would just be going against your nature.”

 

She nodded and reached up to grasp the hand that was on hers. She was leaning forward gently, her mouth pulling magnetically towards him.

 

Ichigo bent down just enough to brush his mouth against hers, her sinfully tempting lips just barely touching his.

 

“Ichigo,” she murmured, she moved her fingers softly and moved them to the back of his head, gripping the short strands of his orange hair tightly before pressing herself completely against her mouth.

 

He groaned as he felt her soft, pink, rose-petal lips open and slowly suck on him. Sweet Jesus… how was he supposed to remain in control when she was kissing him like this?

 

His hand moved closer towards the nape of her neck and he slowly began to respond to her. His mouth parted softly and he groaned as he tasted her tiny pink tongue sliding into his mouth in order to coax him gently.

 

He shuddered after a moment and pulled away from her. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing faster than usual. It took him a moment to realize that he was panting as well. He slowly watched as her eyes opened and blinked. Her normally amethyst irises were staring hurtfully at his. She swallowed once before looking away and taking her hand away from his hair.

 

He caught her within a second; he jerked her head slightly so she would look at him. She tried looking away but he wouldn't let her.

 

“You're repulsed.” Rukia snorted softly.

 

Ichigo shook his head, his amber beams never abandoning her violet ones, “Don't you dare think like that Rukia. Don't ever.”

 

She swallowed hard, “Then why won't you touch me?” She murmured then coughed disgustedly, “Look at me… begging like a jilted lover.”

 

“Rukia…” he drew her close and immediately pressed a kiss to her mouth. She whimpered slightly and he released her. He kissed her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, and her eyelids; she made a soft croaking sound in her throat as he murmured, “I just don't want to hurt you.”

 

He felt her brows scrunching under his mouth and drew back so he could look at her.

 

“Hurt me?” She whispered, her hand was on his shoulder and the other was sitting in her lap.

 

Ichigo nodded, “Rukia, you just came from the hospital and you need some time to rest.” He laughed half-heartedly and murmured, “I hardly doubt that making love to you—even though I really, really want to—would allow you to rest.”

 

She was quiet for a few moments as she sat before him and looked deep inside of his eyes. She knew that he was telling the truth. He wouldn't lie to her face.

 

Rukia nodded after a minute and sighed heartily. “Can you at least kiss me before you send me off to bed—or shower or to the feeding trough—wherever?”

 

He smiled in relief and in a second his lips were moving over hers. She opened to him instinctively and drew herself closer to his body. Ichigo groaned softly as one of his hands grasped her waist and the other stroked her cheek. She was simpering beneath his oral onslaught and practically begging him to continue. He tasted every inch of her and pulled her close to him as she wrapped all of her fingers into his hair.

 

Her hands were linked behind his head as he kissed her sweetly but vigorously. He could feel her caressing his scalp. Her soft fingertips were brushing each other as she moaned against him. Ichigo knew he needed to stop soon. He knew he needed to… but damn it if he didn't want to.

 

Her hands overlapped each other on the back of his head, trying desperately to pull him closer and overtop of her body but he resisted her tugs. He couldn't—not now… there would be a time for languorous lovemaking later, but not now. Now he just needed her to be healthy.

 

Then abruptly, she stopped. Her mouth froze over his and her body went completely stiff. Ichigo ceased kissing her and immediately drew away, hoping to God that he hadn't hurt her in any way. Damn, he knew he shouldn't have kissed her so hard.

 

“What's wrong?” He asked breathlessly as he drew away slightly, “Did I hurt you?”

 

The look on her face was pure terror. Ichigo couldn't even fathom the amount of fear he saw laced inside of her violet irises: it was traumatic and frightening and still managed to hold out enough room for panic to spiral inside.

 

“Rukia?” Ichigo whispered, his heart beginning to race with his own batch of fear. “What is it? What's wrong?”

 

She was shaking now, his hands were on her shoulders trying to keep her still but he barely could. Her body was racking with shivers and he didn't know why. Christ, she was scaring him!

 

But slowly, ever so slowly, Ichigo watched as her hands came from their locked position around his neck, they had been slack for a few minutes but now they were being drawn in between the both of them.

 

Ichigo's eyes widened. Oh… shit.

 

Her head was bent, staring at her hands—which were shaking the most out of everything. Her fingers on the right twisting the ring of gold on the left.

 

Ichigo felt a bucket of icy water tossed on his insides as her thumb and pointer finger twisted the band continuously. Her hand was flexing and then relaxing. Flexing and then relaxing. Flexing and—and… damn, was she going to say something?

 

“Rukia,” he croaked, “Rukia… just, um, could you… listen for a second?”

 

Her head began shaking back and forth, her bangs shaking into her eyes as she breathed in unsteadily.

 

“Rukia,” he tried to get her head up, tried to make her look at him, but she wouldn't. She just sat there, still and trembling.

 

“I think you should leave now.” She murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

 

Ichigo's face drained of blood and he froze in place. Christ, he felt the same way he had felt when he saw her tied to a chair. He felt powerless and weak. All he could do was say her name.

 

“Rukia… please, I—I can take it back. We don't have to talk about this. We can just go and rest and—”

 

She still hadn't raised her head but her voice was clear as she spoke, “I think you should leave now.”

 

A lump was forming in Ichigo's throat and he practically gasped for breath as she turned her body away from him and continued to stare downward.

 

“Rukia… please.” He whispered, his voice almost on the edge of pleading.

 

“Leave now, please.”

 

She didn't look up as he lingered for only a moment more before he stood numbly and took his coat from its resting place. He stumbled towards the door and opened it jerkily, throwing the woman on the couch one last, desperate look before exiting her apartment and closing the door behind him. Ichigo could barely think straight. I think you should leave. That's what she said. Nothing else. There was nothing.

 

He breathed in shakily and pulled a hand through his hair as he sat in the drivers' seat of the car. Great, now he was the one who was trembling.

 

He started the car and for a brief moment wondered why his body wasn't running after her. It should have been racing up the stairs, pounding on the door, bursting in and then making passionate love to her on every surface of her apartment.

 

Should have… but wasn't.

 

Ichigo began to sweat as he started the car and pulled out. He'd check on her in the morning. He'd have to or else he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

 

As Ichigo drove to his apartment—almost wrecking three times—he remembered something that gave him the tiniest sliver of hope…

 

She hadn't given him back the ring.

 

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

 

Rukia sat alone on her apartment couch. Her brain too fuddled and twisted to even bother thinking about moving around.

 

She simply sat there, twisting the ring on her finger. She had been doing that for hours now. It was already past seven and she hadn't moved since Ichigo had brought her home around one. Her finger was raw and red but she didn't care. She couldn't care if she rubbed the damn skin off.

 

Beside her, the phone started to ring. Rukia let it ring. She just stared out into the dark room and twisted the ring on her finger.

 

The machine picked up the call and she listened to the voice mail. “Miss Kuchiki, its Toshiro Hitsugaya. I have some bad news. Aizen's lawyer wants you in court tomorrow. I know it's sudden but I'm pretty sure he wants you to be sandbagged and sandbagged hard. Come to the courthouse tomorrow at nine, we'll need your testimony by at least ten. I'm sure Kurosaki can come pick you up or something like that. Anyway, just come prepared and be ready to put away a murderer.”

 

Rukia's throat quivered as she heard the message. Her eyes looked down through the tears now impeding her vision.

 

She stared at the ring, bent her head into her arms, and cried.