Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Murder My Heart ❯ Smiling for Eternity ( Chapter 21 )

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

 

(A/N: Good morrow fellow gentle-readers, oh how I adore all of you! Sorry, old-ish English flashback. Sorry for the late update, but since Christmas vacation is almost upon me my teachers have been piling the work.

THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER; THERE WILL BE AN EPILOGUE. Just want to throw that out there.

I just want everyone to know that Dec. 20th is my birthday, so this is my birthday present to all of you (because everyone is so awesome!)

Once again: THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER!

PLEASE ENJOY AND REVIEW!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 21

 

Ichigo brought Rukia to her apartment and didn't let go of her hand the entire time. His warm fingers were wrapped around hers and she just felt the most secure sensation wash over her body. More than a couple of times she rested her head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly. God she loved these new feelings creeping into her heart. They made her tingle from the inside out, they kept her heart racing faster than normal, and they made her want to giggle sporadically whenever she felt Ichigo's hand tighten around hers.

 

They walked up the stairs to her apartment and for some odd reason Rukia could feel a swirling of nervousness appear in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know why her stomach was quivering the way it was, but as she watched Ichigo open the door with a steady hand and pull her inside she thought she knew…

 

His hands gently removed her jacket and bent down to kiss her lips sweetly. She let the material fall to the ground and pressed her fingers against the back of his neck.

 

He was going to make love to her. Actual love. The type of connection that bound two people together through the casual exertions of sex. But this wasn't sex; it was so far from sex that Rukia knew it would be like nothing else she had ever felt before—with Ichigo, that is.

 

“Rukia…” he whispered, his tongue breaking through her closed lips and sweeping inside. She groaned audibly and began to rub her thumbs against his neck, feeling his rough skin in her hands. Slowly, she moved her hands up to his hair and he moaned softly. He whispered her name again and again… as if it were one of the only things keeping him sane.

 

She felt him push her against the wall lightly and she took the opportunity to tug at his jacket. His arms released her only long enough so he could toss the damn thing away. Rukia smiled as it landed near hers and groaned again when he pushed her further against the wall, rubbing his growing erection against her heated core.

 

“Ichigo,” she murmured, wrapping her arms completely around his neck. “Please, make love to me.”

 

His mouth left hers and began to kiss its way down her jaw and her neck. She gasped lightly when he sucked at her pulse and then further to the juncture of her neck and shoulder. “Yes,” she heard him murmur as he continued. “Yes… Rukia.”

 

One of her legs, as if it had a mind of its own, rose slightly until she was able to feel Ichigo press himself fully against her. She panted harder as the slight rubbing he had started only moments ago increased and in that moment she desperately wished that they weren't wearing any clothing.

 

Her thought seemed to have passed through Ichigo's mind as well, because the next thing she knew his hands were gripping her buttocks and she was being pulled upwards. Her legs locked around his waist and his hand supported her back as he pulled her away from the wall and kissed her again. His sweet and slow kisses were tormenting her; it was building the passion inside of her in a completely different way than before. All of the other times they had been violent and hungry, fierce and starving, and they ate each other as quickly as possible—needing the surge of desire and fulfillment because neither of them knew what the following day would bring. Now though, now there was no carnal urgency, now they didn't fear the coming day, and now… now they had all the time in the world to explore each others bodies until every dip and crest was memorized.

 

Ichigo had started walking, his movements were awkward as he was still holding and kissing Rukia, but she knew he didn't care, everything was as it was supposed to be: he was being so gentle, so calming, and so loving.

 

Ichigo broke his kiss with her momentarily and Rukia immediately took up the job, her mouth traced his jaw-line and then his neck. She breathed in deeply and captured his addictive scent. Damn she loved the way he smelled, she loved the way he moved, she loved the way he looked, and most of all she loved the way he was making love to her—how many things could she love about this man all at once? She smirked softly against his neck as she dragged her tongue across the entire length. She felt him shiver under her ministrations and rub his hands across her back, evoking feelings she wanted to feel again and again and again.

 

His hands around her back slackened just a bit and he tilted her backwards, laying her down on the soft bedding. She sighed gently and he pulled himself above her and kissed her once more. He suckled on her tongue and gently nipped her lips. Rukia groaned and her fingers dug into the cloth on his shoulders. There wasn't a piece of her that was left defended when he kissed her like this. Not a single one…

 

His hands skimmed down her shirt and began to unbutton the tiny bits of plastic. He kissed her fervently and continued until his fingers were brushing against the soft skin of her stomach. Shivers were beginning to appear on her flesh as he tugged the fabric off her shoulders and she lifted herself up just a bit so he could pull it off completely.

 

“Rukia,” he whispered as he stayed above her. His eyes were trained on her body he watched steadily as her skin flushed a delicate rose color and her nipples hardened beneath her lacey undergarments. “Christ, you're so beautiful.”

 

His head descended once again to her body, he kissed her neck and her jaw and then brushed his lips down further. She groaned and reached her hands up to his hair, her fingers twisted through his orange locks and she panted softly. He licked the valley between her breasts and then brushed his lips against the lace on top of them. She arched her back immediately and he began to suckle her through her brazier. Her eyes rolled into her head and she tightened her fingers significantly.

 

“Ichigo!” She gasped as he switched to her other breast. She reached back up into his hair and tugged fiercely. “T-take it off…I—oh… ah, I want to feel you.”

 

He released her breast and rubbed his nose against her mulberry nipple. Slowly—too slowly for Rukia's taste—his hands moved under her and around her back. She felt the clasp of her bra come undone and finally the annoying thing was slipped off of her arms and thrown to the side of the room.

 

He smiled softly and bent his head back down. A shaking groan was pulled from Rukia's throat as his hot tongue swirled languorously over her peaked nipple as his hand teased and squeezed the other one just as lovingly. Her hands resumed their spot in his hair and continued to tug. She was writing underneath him and panting helplessly as his miraculous tongue worked wonders on her body. He gently kissed a path across to her other breast and resumed licking and tasting her.

 

Her hands soothed down the nape of his neck and slid under the soft cotton of his shirt. Her nails scraped softly against his skin and she felt him groan, the vibrations shivering onto her taunt chest.

 

“Ichigo,” she moaned, “Please… please just—oh, oh God.”

 

His mouth tugged off of her breast and he smiled gently. She smiled back and grasped the back of his head; she pulled him softly towards him and let his lips brush against hers. “Kiss me again.” She whispered.

 

His mouth opened against hers and she moaned as he gently caressed her tongue with his. She sighed against his lips and made a gentle probe of her own. He tasted so wonderful. She slanted her head to the side and dove deeper into him. Their unhurried battle of heated passion never slowed as she lay down completely on the bed and his hand began to wander once again. She shivered when she felt his fingers lightly grip her knee and slide upwards. Thank God she had chosen to wear a skirt today. His fingers were strong and gentle as he slid up her leg, teasing the snowy skin beneath the dark fabric. The material bunched slightly as he ran his gentle hand up further. Finally his fingers delved into the area beneath her panties. His thumb circled low on her hip and she broke their scintillating kiss to gasp fitfully as he softly moved his hand across the top of her leg and to the front of her panties.

 

“I-Ichi-go!” She panted as his diligent thumb slid over her center. He paused lightly to tease her clitoris before pulling back and then doing it all over again.

 

She arched her back as his hand moved over her once more. The heat his fingers were bringing was like nothing she had ever experienced before. It was so slow and gentle… she knew, she just absolutely knew, as his thumb teased and tickled her, that she loved him more than anyone else in the entire world.

 

“You have too many clothes on,” he murmured huskily. His hand hooked underneath the base of her panties and gently tugged them down. Now, the only thing standing between him and her naked body was the flimsy fabric of her skirt.

 

He tugged the offending piece of lace off of her and tossed it across the room. She moaned as he leaned down to nip at her neck and then muttered, “You're… you're wearing t-too many clothes… too.”

 

He chuckled lightly against her neck and nodded gently, rubbing his nose against her delicate skin. “You should probably take them off…” he whispered as he ran his tongue across the entire length of her neck.

 

She groaned as he sucked patiently on her neck while waiting for her to undo his clothes. Her fingers were unsteady as she slipped down the center of his chest and undid any button in her way. She heard him groan each and every time her delicate fingers brushed against his skin. The sides of his shirt flapped open slightly as she slid the last button from its hole. She drew her hands up to his shoulders, pulling the shirt away in the process. Ichigo lifted his arms one at a time in order to get it off of him completely. Now he was finally shirtless. Rukia's fingers pattered over his firm chest and down to his abdomen. He growled softly as she ran her finger down the length of his stomach. His mouth became more insistent on her neck and she whimpered when he rubbed his growing erection against her. Through her skirt her naked skin glistened wetly.

 

His hand was wandering again. She felt him skim the inside of her thigh and once again tease the dampness between her legs. She gasped as he wickedly pushed one finger into her—but only enough to give her a small taste of what he wanted to do.

 

She moaned his name once again and this time moved both of her hands to the snap in his pants. She pulled the zipper down so slowly. She could virtually hear each tooth as it came undone. She felt his erection pressing hotly against the back of her hand and she brushed him lightly with her knuckles. He hissed above her and slid his hand down her thigh with more insistence.

 

Rukia had already wiggled his pants halfway down his hips but could not move any them further when Ichigo removed his hand from the inside of her legs and reached up to the side zipper of her skirt. His mouth was still fastened to her neck and Rukia knew she would be sporting a dark mark later on but she didn't care. He was nipping and soothing every part of her creamy column while breathing in her scent all at the same time. She moaned gently as his fingers drew the zipper down and then tugged her skirt from her legs. She whined at him softly and wordlessly motioned to his pants. His mouth finally released her neck and he smiled at her. Rukia didn't shift from underneath him and he moved slowly upwards to kick off his pants. He threw them to the side and then casually flicked away her skirt as well.

 

He was staring at her, his eyes were sweeping over each inch of her body and his breathing was heavy. He stared into her eyes then traced her shoulders lightly; she shivered slightly under him as his gaze lingered on her breasts, her stomach, her legs, and finally, the dark patch of midnight curls resting between her thighs.

 

His burning eyes pierced every part of her skin and caused her to grow wetter than she had ever imagined possible. She groaned and whimpered as he continued to stare and tease her thigh. She was aching. She wanted him. She needed him.

 

Ichigo was drawing smooth circles up her leg with his pointer finger, his pace would be slower on the outside and then grow faster the closer he moved to her delicate center. She moaned and reached her hands to grip his shoulders as soon as his fingers began to make firm circles over her core.

 

Her nails gripped him tightly and she panted. A slow smile—or was it a smirk?—formed on Ichigo's face and he finally did what she wanted him to do—he slid his long and calloused finger inside of her waiting warmth.

 

Rukia couldn't help the groan that resonated around the room as he pumped his finger into her. First there was one… then two… oh Christ he had all three and it was feeling so good. She undulated with him and closed her eyes tightly so she could focus just on the sensations his talented fingers were creating. They were caressing her inner walls with such gentleness and building heat and Rukia had to bite her lip to contain her pleas and moans. The sweet and tender torture seemed to go on forever and Rukia wanted it that way… gingerly she opened her eyes and saw a predatory gleam deep within each of Ichigo's irises. He bent his head down to kiss her hungrily as she rode his fingers. His tongue wrapped around hers and his thumb toyed with her sensitive nub until she could feel the tightening of her insides and the all-too-immediate collapse of her senses. He continued to goad her and tease her during her pent up release and God did it feel good. Rukia felt his textured fingertips as they stroked her one last time and slowly pulled out of her.

 

She was panting and gasping beneath him. She watched in amazement as he slowly released her from his kiss and languorously slid his tongue over each finger that had been inside of her.

 

“Oh… God…” she moaned as he grinned at her and bent to kiss her forehead. “Take off your boxers…” she muttered and grappled for his hips with her weak fingertips.

 

He nodded and scooted forward just enough so Rukia could pull his last remaining garment down his smooth and strong legs. He was so muscular but still so slender. She loved that about him. She loved everything about him…

 

…Especially the part of him that was now so stiff and long and aching against her thigh.

 

She licked her lips and pushed her center up towards him, “Ichigo… come to me, now.” Her hazy eyes danced on his and she immediately noticed the predatory gleam was back. He moved to positioned himself at her hot entrance and in one thrust entered her.

 

Rukia's body immediately arched against him, her breasts molded to his chest and her stomach connected solidly with his. She could feel the sweet tickling of orange hair dusting his stomach as it grated against hers. She could feel… she could feel… God, she could feel everything: his heart against her chest, his length inside of her, his breath against her neck, his sweat sliding onto her skin… everything.

 

Ichigo began to move slowly. She exhaled a shuddering breath as he pulled out of her so slowly and thrust back in leisurely—like there was nothing else in the world he had to do other than to please her.

 

Her nails scraped against his back and she gyrated breathlessly into him. His breathing was as unsteady as hers and she knew that his slow movements were deliberate. Every move she made against him caused his breath to hitch until he couldn't control himself anymore. He groaned her name and thrust into her with growing speed. She knew he was desperate to find the type of release he had already given her. Yet she also knew that he wanted them to come together.

 

His hand reached between them and rubbed her clitoris until Rukia's mind went completely numb. Her lungs were heaving with her labored breathing as she lurched upwards and pressed kisses to his face, chin, and lips. Desperately, he bent to kiss her deeply and by his lurching movements she knew that he was close.

 

She tore her mouth from his and wrapped her arms completely around his neck. “Oh! God—I-Ichigo!” She sputtered, feeling her inner walls clamp down once again. Only this time it was much more intense because Ichigo was still within her and still moving.

 

He lurched above her and thrust once more before erupting. Liquid heat flashed through her lower body and she gasped at the intensity of it all. She was panting hard and her heart felt like it would never be the same again. But that was alright… everything was alright… because Ichigo was here, with her, above her, inside her… he wasn't going anywhere.

 

Ichigo let out a shuddering breath and leaned to the side; he collapsed on the bed and instantly reached towards her. She went to him immediately and tried to control her breathing inside the security of his arms.

 

She didn't know how long they lay there, resting safely on the bed, his strong limbs encircling her. She felt him pull out of her eventually and kiss away the sweat from her forehead. He brushed his lips against her eyelids and she sighed softly.

 

“I love you.” She heard him murmur, just on the edge of sleep.

 

She drew in a breath and whispered, “I love you too… so much.”

 

Together, they fell into a blissfully quiet sleep.

 

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

 

Ichigo mumbled in his sleep and tightened his arms fractionally. There was something warm a pliant resting against his chest and breathing just as evenly as he. On the verge of consciousness, he drew in a deep breath and ended up inhaling the heavenly scent of cherry blossoms and fresh rainwater.

 

He smiled and cracked one eye open, “Rukia…”

 

She was already awake and her light fingertips were pattering over his face, he could feel her smoothing out the slight dent between his eyebrows, tracing the slight horizontal scar on his cheek and lightly kissing his skin.

 

“You look peaceful when you sleep.” Rukia muttered in a voice husky with sleep. “You don't frown as much…”

 

Ichigo's face immediately contorted and she sighed, rolling slightly out of his arms and pressing a hand to her forehead. “See, now you've ruined it.”

 

She was joking with him and he knew it, there was a slight smile curved on the tips of her lips and a rosy tint in her cheeks. Ichigo reached out and brushed a wayward piece of hair from her face. “Sorry to disappoint you,” he teased, “But you're going to be stuck with this face for a while so you better get used to it.”

 

The flush in her face moved downward to her neck and even blossomed over her collarbone. Ichigo knew it went further but the damn blanket—when had the blanket been pulled over them?—was covering the part of her that he wanted to see.

 

Defiantly, she pulled her hand off of her eyes and rolled over to face him. She was on her side and Ichigo could not help but stare as each of her curves were highlighted by the tightly fitting sheet. “`For a while?'” She restated defiantly. “What makes you think I want to be stuck with it?” She quirked up and eyebrow and leaned forward sensually and nipped at his lips. “From what I can tell you never even asked me if I wanted to be stuck with it.”

 

The white hot searing of fear that had entered Ichigo stomach at her first statement disappeared the moment the latter came out of her mouth. His frown dissipated and he raised his hand to capture the back of her head, she gasped in delight as he pulled her forward and kissed her hard and deep. His tongue swirled around hers and he pushed her gently back onto the bed. He climbed over her as he continued to kiss her senseless and began to run his hands all over her entire body.

 

The moment he knew she was shuddering under his touch and when he felt her fingernails scrape over his arms he pulled back. She whined softly when his lips left hers but he simply grinned at her.

 

“Rukia,” his voice was panting and breathless. “Will you marry me?”

 

He ran his hands over her breasts and he listened closely to her delightful moan. Her eyes were open and staring at him angrily. “You… you are using powers over which I have no control to influence my answer…”

 

Ichigo smirked wickedly and withdrew his hands from her body, “Do you want me to stop?” His stomach was twisting with nerves and desire—an odd combination considering all they had been through together. But he wanted her answer—he just needed her to say—

 

“Yes, I'll marry you, you crazy son of a bitch, now get over here right now.”

 

Ichigo smiled like he had never smiled before in his life. Every frown line on his face disappeared and was replaced with such beatific happiness that the only thing he could do was laugh, grab his Rukia in his arms, and hold on so tightly that she ended up laughing as well.

 

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

 

Rukia stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel. Ichigo exited directly after her and swooped down behind her to press a small kiss to the very center of her nape. She shuddered as his arms locked around her middle and her towel threatened to slip from her fingers.

 

“You're going to make us late.” She murmured as she felt his thumbs make circles on her stomach.

 

“So?” He ran his lips down her shoulder and pressed his eyes next to her heated skin.

 

Rukia jerked against him but he held her fast, her brows crinkled into a frown and she tried to get him off of her again, it was, however, futile. He seemed to be holding onto her for dear life. He breathed in deeply and kept swirling his thumbs. Rukia would have jabbed her elbow into his side if she didn't like how he was touching her so much. He was simply breathing her essence in softly and silently, their bodies heated and dripping on the linoleum of her bathroom floor.

 

“Did you know,” he began quietly as he raised his head to whisper into her ear, “That you always smell like fresh rain and cherry blossoms? I always thought it was some sort of perfume but it isn't… it's just you.”

 

Rukia's eyes widened considerably and she felt her treacherous insides squirm once again. “T-That was corny.” She muttered, her voice came out more embarrassed than she wanted it to be but he only laughed softly into her shoulder.

 

“Well get used to corny,” he said, raising his head and kissing her lightly on the cheek, “Because you're marrying me.”

 

Rukia grinned and turned around, her eyes trained on Ichigo's as she wrapped her arms around her neck and pressed her naked body against his. “You know… you've told me that at least seventy times in the past few days.”

 

Ichigo shrugged, “I guess I'm just trying to make it a bit more real.”

 

She frowned at him and detached her left hand from the back of his neck. She examined the tiny band of gold and smiled, she knew he was watching her and so she turned to press a tiny kiss to the band. She looked up at Ichigo and saw him grin; she grinned right back at him and ran her left hand over his cheek before rising on her tip toes and kissing his lips.

 

The kiss was slow and gentle—but was building with a passion Rukia recognized quite well. She could feel him hardening on her thigh and pulled back quickly. “Real enough for you?” She panted quietly.

 

“Not until I'm inside of you again,” he murmured hotly. “Come on Rukia… do we really have to go?” His voice transformed into a whine and she whined.

 

She detached herself from him firmly and nodded. “Yes. We do.”

 

He groaned exasperatedly and rolled his eyes back into his head. “Fine… but… since we are taking time out of our busy sex life, I have one condition.”

 

Rukia walked back into her room—not caring that she wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing or that Ichigo's gaze was firmly glued to her buttocks—and walked to her closet. “What is it?”

 

Ichigo came to her closet and reached over her until his hand fished deep into the back. Rukia's eyebrows rose slightly as she saw him reach into the nether-regions of her closet towards her discarded piles of clothes. But he kept going—reaching far back until he pulled out a—

 

“A dress?” Rukia asked flatly. “You want me to wear… a dress?”

 

He shrugged, “Why not? You wore a skirt to court a couple of days ago.”

 

She turned to frown at him, “That was because I was going to court. You're supposed to wear those types of things when you go to court.”

 

“And now you're going back to court.” Ichigo said reasonably. “Skirt, dress… they're almost the same. Plus, this dress will make you look completely amazing. Even while we're making out in the gallery.”

 

She let her eyes run over her forgotten dress for a moment. It was a modest thing, just plain white with a thick black belt across the waist. The collar was a scoop neck and the hem didn't possess any type of fancy trim. She couldn't remember when she had bought it—or even why she had bought it for that matter. She reached out after a moment of hesitation and ran her fingers over the soft cotton. God, how long had it been since she had worn an actual dress? She let out a little growl in her throat and shot her fiancé a dark look. “Fine… but only because I'm going to court.”

 

Ichigo snickered, “And not because I asked you to?”

 

“Of course not,” she scoffed haughtily. “Why would I do anything because you asked me to?”

 

Ichigo grabbed her by the shoulders, whirled her around, and swept her up in a wildly passionate kiss. She was so surprised she could barely do anything but open to him and moan.

 

He released her as swiftly as he caught her and smirked warmly when her dilated eyes finally settled upon his face. “Because you love me.”

 

She blinked twice and scowled. “You annoy me.”

 

He grinned, “But you love me.”

 

She sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes, “For some reason, I do.”

 

Ichigo bent to kiss her once again and whispered, “Good.”

 

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

 

Ichigo and Rukia stepped inside the court room hand in hand. His fingers were grasped tightly around hers and his body warmth was the only thing keeping the foreboding chills from her body.

 

They had arrived just in time for the usual proceedings to begin. The jury was stacked in their seats, all of them were staring queasily at the defendant sitting before the judge and a few of them even turned to look as the couple as they entered the courtroom. Kenpachi was there as well and he turned his head to greet the detectives as they sauntered into the room—Rukia holding tightly to Ichigo. Kenpachi wasn't the only one to turn around though; Sosuke Aizen had nonchalantly turned his head when he heard the door open and smiled charmingly at the couple as they walked inside. Rukia felt like her insides had been frozen when she saw that sickening twisted smile on his face… again. Her fingers tightened fractionally in Ichigo's and he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

 

They took their seats next to Kenpachi and immediately Rukia felt a bit better, she didn't know what it was but being in between her captain and her lover—excuse me, she thought ruefully, my fiancé—made her feel safe and secure.

 

As Ichigo situated himself she gently brushed her arm against his, she didn't want to seem too mushy but she did want to be nearer to him. She just needed him to be close… she didn't want to shudder again if Aizen looked her way. As if reading her mind, Ichigo wiggled a bit towards her and she rested her head on his shoulder.

 

“All rise for the Honorable Judge Yamamoto.” Spouted the bailiff as the judge came through his side chamber.

 

Rukia grumbled evilly and cursed the man for making her get up.

 

“Be seated.” The bailiff said once again, taking his position near the side of the courtroom.

 

The judge seated himself in his regular and regal position, his white beard shining against the dark mahogany of the table. Rukia's eyes shifted a bit and she found Toshiro gripping the edges of the desk tightly, he looked nervous, she thought, very nervous. Immediately, her stomach began to squirm in ways it should not have. She swallowed and once again laced her fingers through Ichigo's.

 

He bent down to press a kiss to her forehead and muttered, “Don't worry, he's a goner.”

 

She smiled just a bit and sighed softly.

 

“We are here today to hear the verdict of Sosuke Aizen on the account of attempted murder in the first degree.” The judge said in his gravelly voice.

 

Rukia's eyes flitted to the jury and her stomach tightened when the foreperson rose. Judge Yamamoto stared at them with hard eyes. “Have you reached a verdict?”

 

“We have your honor,” the robust man with a balding head said calmly.

 

“Proceed.”

 

“We the jury, in the above entitled action, find the defendant, Sosuke Aizen—”

 

Rukia's fingers held Ichigo's in a death grip.

 

“Guilty.”

 

She couldn't have stopped the sigh of relief if she had even wanted too.

 

She wasn't the only one either. Half of the courtroom either cried out in victory or exhaled in delight. Her heart was beating fast. Her stomach held butterflies. Her entire body felt lighter.

 

She raised her head and looked at Ichigo. He met her gaze with a huge grin plastered over his features and after a moment of simply staring at her bent down and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. Rukia couldn't help the small laugh that permeated the kiss and she twisted and wrapped her arms around his. She released his mouth and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Guilty,” she whispered into his ear, feeling his hot breath tickling her neck. “Guilty, guilty, guilty… oh thank God.”

 

“Bailiff, take the witness into custody. We will meet tomorrow at ten to discuss sentencing.”

 

Rukia barely heard the words as she grasped Ichigo tightly. He was rocking her slightly and running his hand up and down her back. A small laugh bubbled up in Rukia's throat and she kissed Ichigo's cheek again.

 

She didn't even watch as Sosuke Aizen was taken away.

 

She never saw him again.

 

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

 

Ichigo tugged Rukia's hand and forced her to walk a bit faster. She grumbled openly and glared up at him, “Ichigo… why are we going here? I thought we were going to lunch.” She glanced behind her and saw Kenpachi striding behind both of them. She turned back to her fiancé and sped up just a bit to catch him. “And is Kenpachi coming with us? I mean, I'm all for us celebrating Aizen getting put away but if we're celebrating with our boss… I'm going to need a couple shots of bourbon first.”

 

Ichigo completely ignored her as he continued hauling her to some unknown part of the building. She didn't know where the hell they were going and she sure as hell didn't like being brushed off to the side like she was some sort of fly. She scowled at Ichigo's back and practically snarled. “Ichigo… Ichigo… Ichigo!”

 

His orange head shot to the side and he frowned at her, “Just pipe down for a minute, will ya?”

 

“I will if you tell me where we're going.” She shot back.

 

“I'll tell you when we get there.” He grumbled.

 

“Well, when will we get there?” She sniped.

 

Ichigo gritted his teeth, “We'll get there when we get there.”

 

“You're evil.”

 

“And you're the Antichrist.”

 

Kenpachi snorted behind them, “You two would be cute if I didn't think watching you was so revolting.”

 

Rukia turned her head and she glared at him, “Stuff it Kenpachi.”

 

The large man chuckled, “You can't talk to me like that!” His booming voice said in a chiding voice. “I'm your boss.”

 

Rukia smirked, “I'm not on the clock, so you're technically not my boss right now.” She fought the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

 

“Stop acting like such babies.” Ichigo muttered to the two of them. “If you would just… oh, we're here.”

 

Rukia's attention moved from her boss to her lover and then the door he was standing in front of. Her brows furrowed instantly and she wrinkled her nose at him. “Another… room? This is where we're going instead of lunch?”

 

Ichigo let out an exasperated sigh and dragged one of his hands through his hair. Rukia's skeptical eyes brushed over his face and somewhere in her brain she took notice of how pale he was, it was quite a contrast from his natural and healthy brown. Her gaze flitted to the hand being unceremoniously dragged through his hair and glanced casually at his shaking fingers. She crossed her arms over her chest and quirked an eyebrow up. “What?”

 

Ichigo shifted uncomfortably in front of the door and turned to face her completely. His slightly trembling hands—when had he trembled before? Rukia thought. She paused for a moment to reminisce and shook her head mentally. Never, that was when—and placed them on her shoulders. She tilted her face towards his but didn't make another move. Her face was stony and expecting and completely different from Ichigo's look of slight terror and frustration.

 

“Rukia,” he said, his voice clogged the moment after he said her name and the rest of the words seemed to refuse to leave his mouth.

 

“What?” She asked for the second time. She glanced over at Kenpachi and saw him grinning slyly. She swiveled back to Ichigo. “What is it?”

 

Ichigo exhaled nervously again, his eyes never met hers. “Just… j-just… um—just be quiet for the next couple of minutes, okay?”

 

Rukia's frowned turned malevolent and she humped. “I will not.”

 

Ichigo glowered at her and then shot his hand out to grasp her elbow. Rukia was about to let out a sharp protest when he spun her around and shoved his hand in front of her mouth.

 

“Mfhlah!” She cursed and Ichigo muttered something about her bringing this upon herself before shoving the door open and pushing her inside.

 

Rukia would have given Ichigo a swift kick to the balls had she not opened her angry eyes to look about the room.

 

Her body went limp as Ichigo continued to push her into the room—not that she needed any convincing anymore, but still…

 

Judge Yamamoto looked up from his papers and grinned at the three people now entering his chambers. “Ah, Mr. Kurosaki, Ms. Kuchiki, Mr. Kenpachi… how good to see you… again.”

 

Rukia's eyes widened a bit more and Ichigo—only after testing to make sure she wouldn't yell at him—removed his hand from her mouth. He was still grasping her elbow but not as hard as he previously had. Her gaze swiftly reached each end of the room—from the judge to her boss to the door and back—she looked back at Ichigo and then swallowed heavily.

 

In the very center of the chamber was a tiny wooden stand, it looked very out of place in the brown room mainly because it was painted a soft shade of white, but what distinguished this particular stand from any other that Rukia had seen was what was on top of it. Her throat dried and her stomach quivered as she stared at the open-necked crystalline vase sitting in the center of the table, out of its mouth spouted bright pink cherry blossoms. Rukia wondered how in the world they had gotten them. It was only February and cherry blossoms didn't emerge until spring. Some of the petals had fallen onto the table to further accent the abstractly white piece. Rukia's eyes followed the veining of the vase and she gasped when she finally saw the two rings placed directly beneath the flowering blossoms.

 

One of them was a pure gold ring, like the one she was currently wearing, but the other… the other… it was a simple circle containing a small string of tiny, pearl-like diamonds, no one was bigger or smaller than the other yet in the very center rested a red ruby. The color was so pristine Rukia could barely take her eyes off of the bleeding and passionate spectral.

 

Her lungs constricted as she fought to breathe. Her head moved slowly—so slowly she barely noticed the motion herself—back to Ichigo.

 

He was staring at her with eager eyes and a nervous expression on his face.

 

She opened her mouth and tried to say something—anything!—but nothing seemed to want to come out. Sweet Jesus… she knew he had proposed but she didn't think—she didn't think… well, this was all just happening so soon.

 

The next thing she knew, Ichigo's hands were grasping hers and she was staring up into his amber irises.

 

“Rukia,” he began, his voice was dry and scratchy, he sounded just as nervous as he looked, maybe even more so than she was. “I—I know this might seem kind of sudden… to you. I mean, it's sudden to me too but I just… I just thought that this would be the best time, you know… after the trial, for better or for worse.”

 

Rukia swallowed heavily and tightened her fingers in Ichigo's.

 

“The bottom line is,” he flickered his eyes down to her hands then back to her, his honey orbs were piercing into hers so deeply it took her breath away. “Rukia, I love you. I do. I can't think of anything that would make me love you less and I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

 

“I know this might be a bit scary and, hell, I'm scared shitless right now. I'm… I'm just afraid that you might say no. So… so please just… say yes.” He pulled her a little bit closer to him and leaned down. “Please say you'll marry me… today preferably. I want to start our lives together—same home, same bed, same bathroom, for god's sake. I love you, Rukia. Please, marry me? Um, now?”

 

Rukia's palms were sweating slightly. She was shaking as he held her fingers in his. His hands were strong and warm and his face was pale as he stared at her. Everything seemed to be flashing through her mind at once: the day they met, the times they worked together, the things he protected her from, the first day they kissed, when they made love again and again and again… when he saved her from Aizen, how she only thought of him, how he stayed beside her in the hospital and took her home afterwards, how he made love to her so softly, so tenderly… she loved him. She loved him so much… she had already said yes to him, to his proposal. Why shouldn't they make it official?

 

Why shouldn't they make it official… now?

 

“Yes.” She murmured softly, her eyes glued to his. Her lips cracked into a small smile and Ichigo's hands went up to caress her face. His face had loosened from its look of sickening apprehension to an expression of pure joy. He cupped her face in his hands and bent down to kiss her. The kiss was hungry and happy and Rukia threw her arms around his neck immediately. Her heart was soaring as he pulled her up and twirled her once.

 

She released his mouth and hugged him fiercely. He was laughing quietly into her neck and she was simply giggling outright. Christ, she couldn't remember the last time she giggled. They seemed to stay like that for hours. Simply holding one another, laughing, giggling, and whispering sweet words to each other. Yet while they seemed to have forgotten everyone else in the room Kenpachi and Judge Yamamoto were in no mood to watch such a sentimental scene. Ichigo finally put his fiancée down when Kenpachi cleared his throat so loudly the occupants of the adjacent room must have heard it.

 

Judge Yamamoto stood by the small white table and leaned on his expensive-looking cane. He was holding papers and pen in his right hand. He gave a small smile to Ichigo and Rukia, “So… shall we get started?”

 

The detectives in the room both grinned and stepped forward, their hands securely linked, they came to the table and grinned once again at each other.

 

It seemed to go by in a blur. Rukia barely remembered swearing her vows, or Ichigo swearing his, she felt him slip her new ring on her finger and she did the same to him. She hardly remember that he apologized to her for not giving her an engagement ring first but she didn't care. She could have laughed at how happy she felt. Her hand was numb as she signed the paper, she barely remembered Ichigo scribbling him name and she simply stared at him—her husband—as Kenpachi signed the witness line. She thought he looked at them and scoffed before signing, telling them that since they were married he'd have to assign them new partners, but she didn't care—hell, she barely even noticed anything.

 

The only thing she clearly remembered about that entire affair was Judge Yamamoto turning to Ichigo and saying, “You may kiss the bride.”

 

With that, Ichigo pulled her close, murmured, “I think I will…” and bent down to kiss her waiting lips.

 

It was then that Rukia knew she would be smiling for the rest of her life.