Rukia got up the next morning and didn't want to look outside.
It was raining.
The raven-haired woman let out a sigh as she looked at the man sleeping next to her. He looked so peaceful and relaxed. Rukia was a bit jealous since she hadn't been able to sleep well for the past few days.
She turned around to fully face him and smiled. Carefully guiding her fingers across his face, Rukia studied to memorize the man she had grown to hate and love with all her heart. Tears formed as her fingers gently traced the scars on his body. The scar from Grand Fisher. The scar from her brother. The scars from when he tried to save her from Soul Society. She was afraid that this might be the last time she gets to see her stubborn strawberry.
"Rukia?"
She looked up to see Ichigo slowly opening his eyes. This might be the last time I get to be in the arms of the man I love. Rukia could no longer keep in the tears once her violet eyes met his amber eyes. But she kept smiling, trying to keep a happy front.
"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked as he slowly used his thumb to wipe off her falling tears.
Rukia shook her head as she leaned in closer and Ichigo embraced her tighter. The two just laid there for several more minutes, listening to the rain that told them today was the day that they've been dreading.
"We should get up," Rukia finally said with hesitation.
Ichigo sighed and loosen his hold on his girlfriend. Rukia got up and roamed the room to pick up her clothes.
"I'm going to go take a shower," Rukia called behind her shoulder as she walked out.
Ichigo yawned and scratched his bright hair. He looked out and grunted upon seeing the huge downpour outside.
After taking their showers, Rukia stayed in their room to pack up a few of her belongings while Ichigo walked downstairs to join the rest of his family for breakfast. It was unusually quiet that day. Even Isshin wasn't jumping off the walls.
"Ohayo, oniichan," Yuzu softly greeted her brother.
Ichigo only nodded his head to Yuzu and then to Karin who responded back the same way. He sat down on his seat and waited for Rukia to join them.
Yuzu walked over and placed the last few plates of food. She looked around and asked, "Where's Rukia-neesan?"
"She's just packing up the last bit of her stuff. She'll be down soon," Ichigo replied.
Karin grabbed her chopsticks and shoved some rice into her mouth. "How are you holding up, Ichi-nii?" she asked with her mouth full.
Ichigo only shrugged as he weakly lifted his chopsticks and looked at his food. "I've never been fine with this since the beginning so how do you think I'm feeling right now?" he groaned.
Isshin patted his son on the back, although only half-heartedly. "Well, what's done is done. So don't show such a sad face when Rukia-chan is here. I'm sure it's hard enough for her."
With a sigh Ichigo nodded, still looking at his food but not eating it. At that moment Rukia came down the steps and joined the Kurosaki's for breakfast.
"Ohayo, Rukia-neesan!" Yuzu cheerfully called out.
Rukia's mouth slowly turned upwards to form a smile. "Ohayo Yuzu, Karin." She looked over at Isshin and lightly bowed. "Ohayo Kurosaki-san."
"I thought I told you to call me 'otousan,'" Isshin winked with his usual grin.
Rukia chuckled as she sat down next to Ichigo and looked at her breakfast. Suddenly she felt something tugging at the end of her dress. Rukia looks down to see Kon facing her. "What do you want Kon?"
"Neesan…" he started but didn't know how to continue.
Rukia noticed the obvious sadness in his voice. But what was she to do? Thankfully Yuzu walked over and picked him up, setting him on her lap as she sat down.
The rest of that morning went like that. Everyone looked like they had something to say but the words just wouldn't come out of their mouth. Thankfully Isshin was, or at least tried, to make things seem normal by ranting off about this and that. Karin would snort like always and Yuzu would just pout when her sister didn't want to join in planning for their future trip.
But Ichigo wasn't even trying. Sure he smiled once in a while when his sisters made a joke, but the fact that he was smiling meant that something was wrong. Rukia didn't make eye contact with him because she was afraid she'd cry. But Ichigo slowly slipped his hand onto hers under the table and gave it a tight squeeze. The small contact of the skin made Rukia quietly gasped, forming some tears in the corner of her eyes. But she distracted herself but continuing her conversation with Yuzu and Karin.
After breakfast, Ichigo took Rukia back up to their room where they quietly sat in each other's embrace on the bed. No sun light came into their room that spring morning. Merely the sound of the rain was surrounding them, making them feel more depressed.
Knock knock
"…Who is it?" Ichigo called out.
"It's time to go," Isshins voice softly spoke through the door.
When Ichigo heard his father's retreating footsteps, he looked down at Rukia who was hiding her face against his chest.
"Rukia…" he softly spoke against her hair.
Rukia only groaned as she tightened her grip around his torso. Ichigo responded the same way around her waist and took in one long breath, taking in her sweet smell that never ceases to comfort him.
"Com'on," Ichigo reluctantly pulled himself out of her embraced and stood up from the bed. He walked over to his desk and picked up Rukia's bag, slinging it over his shoulder.
Rukia was still sitting w Ichigo had left her, begging that time would stop and let her stay here. But when Ichigo gave her his hand, the petite shinigami sighed as she took it.
Ichigo led her downstairs where his family and Kon were waiting. They all decided to walk to Urahara together and their friends were going to join them there. Ichigo knew he was sad to see Rukia go, but he didn't like the type of atmosphere the others were giving. Rukia was planning on coming back in a few months but his family and friends were acting as if she was going to be executed. Was there something else to Rukia's new mission that he didn't know?
Before Ichigo knew it, they arrived at the shop. The entire time Rukia was walking next to him, hand-in-hand, but she was quiet. She didn't even argue or kick him like her normal self and it was starting to scare Ichigo.
"Kuchiki-san!"
The said woman looked up to see Orihime running towards her. She threw her arms around her friend, hugging the life out of her.
"I-Inoue. Please—"
Orihime quickly released her friend but she started to cry. Tatsuki quickly walked over and whispered into her friend's ear. "You got to stop that! Ichigo is here and things will get worse if he gets suspicious."
Orihime nodded and placed a fake smile on her face as she looked at Ichigo. "How are you, Kurosaki-kun?"
The Substitute Shinigami only grunted as he continued walking into the shop, going down the steps to the underground training room.
As soon as their feet landed on the ground, the senkaimon appeared. The doors slowly slide open and several Hell's Butterflies came flying out. Ichigo cringed as he saw the portal's door. He never really liked that thing because every time it appeared it would remind him of that fateful day when Rukia was first taken away from him. And now it was back to do the same thing again.
Renji jumped out from the portal and looked around to see sad faces. He sighed as he walked over to Rukia. "Hey, you ready to go?"
Rukia didn't respond. She only tightens her grip on Ichigo's hand and looks away. Renji knew this must be eating at his two friends, and what's worse is that he felt guilty for taking Rukia away without Ichigo knowing the whole truth. He knew this was going to come back to haunt him later.
"Com'on," he grabbed Rukia's bag from Ichigo and walked towards the senkaimon.
Rukia sighed as she released Ichigo and went around saying her 'goodbyes." Orihime and Yuzu were crying while the others just gave her a hug or a handshake. Isshin was acting like his usual self, making fake waterworks. But when Rukia was in front of him, he stood up straight and winked at her, giving her a thumb's up.
"Remember, we'll be waiting, my daughter-in-law."
Rukia smiled widely, understanding how this man was now officially acknowledging her as part of his family.
Yoruichi walked over and hugged her. "I'm sorry there is nothing we can do to help," she whispered so Ichigo couldn't hear her, "But always remember that we're here to support you. So never lose hope."
Rukia fought back tears after hearing words of encouragement.
When it finally came time to face Ichigo, Rukia pulled his arm and led him away from everyone else. Nobody really questioned their destination or what they wanted to talk about.
"Ichigo…" Rukia leaned her body towards him, allowing Ichigo to wrap his strong arms around her waist.
"Rukia…" he responded as he placed his cheek on top of her head.
The two just stood there for a few moments, not really saying anything. What was there to say? Rukia could feel her tears ready to burst out and Ichigo wasn't doing so well either.
"I love you," he whispered.
Rukia snuggled her face deeper into his chest. "I love you too."
Ichigo lifted Rukia's face by her chin to meet his amber eyes with her violet ones. He gave her his signature smirk that brought out a small smile from her too. He lowered his lips onto hers, capturing her lips for a long, passionate kiss, fearing the fact that this wasn't going to be a daily thing anymore. And like always, they had an all-out tongue war, fighting for dominance. Actually, Rukia never allowed herself to win: she just played along with him because it only made their make-out session more fervent.
Slowly, the two unwillingly parted from each, panting for breath. But as soon as Ichigo caught the sight of Rukia's teary eyes, he felt his insides turning. He roughly pulled her back into his embrace and placed his head on the hook of her neck, inhaling all of her wonderful scent.
"…Ichigo," Rukia's stuttering voice interrupted their silence, "It's time."
Ichigo tightened his grip until he could hear Rukia gasping from the pain. With a sigh, he loosened his hold and straightened up. He looked one more time deep into her eyes. Rukia was smiling at him… not because she was happy about leaving but because she was trying to comfort him in some ways.
"It's only a few months. We'll see each other again," she said.
Ichigo only grunted as he glared at the seikamon that was still there. "But I hate it whenever you try to leave me. Why can't Soul Society just leave us alone?" he pouted.
Rukia chuckled at his cute expression. She pulled him down to her level and lightly pecked his lips before turning around to walk back to where the others were still waiting.
Ichigo scratched the back of his head and followed his girlfriend.
"You ready?" Renji asked again as soon as she came into view.
Rukia nodded but her expression didn't look excited.
Ichigo stood behind Rukia as she took a step closer to the portal. But before she could take another step, Ichigo wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
From behind her, Ichigo bent forwards and whispered into her ears, "I'll be waiting. So come back home soon."
Just hearing Ichigo telling her to return home to him made it impossible for Rukia to hold her tears back. She didn't dare turn around in case she'd get weak and beg not to be taken away. So she only nodded her head.
"Com'on," Renji softly called out from within the portal.
Rukia took the final steps towards the seikamon and stepped inside. But just before the doors closed, she turned her head back slightly.
Everyone was still standing before the seikamon, waving at her. But she didn't see any of them. The only person that stood out was Ichigo. He had his hands in his pockets and was looking directly back at her. Even though discomfort and sadness was written on his face, he still gave her his smile to give her some reassurance.
Ichigo saw Rukia turning back to look at him. He really didn't want to let her go but knew that there was no use complaining now. So he gave her his best possible smile at that point. And when Rukia saw it, she gave him the same smile before the doors closed completely.
Silence
Slowly, with each quiet, passing moment the group went up the ladder and back to their world. But Ichigo was still standing at the exact spot, his smile now turned into a frown.
He was missing Rukia already.
Damn, he's pretty badly whipped.
"Ichigo," Isshin voice interrupted his train of thought.
Ichigo didn't move but only grunted to assure his father that he was listening.
Isshin walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze. "Only a few months. After that's over, I'm sure Rukia-chan will never have to leave your side again... no matter what the reason is."
Ichigo nodded his head as he turned around and walked over to the ladder. But as soon as he was standing directly in front of it, he stopped.
"Dad?"
"Yes, son?"
Ichigo lifted one hand and took hold on one of the steps. He paused then continued speaking. "When Rukia comes back…I'm going to ask her to marry me."
With those words Ichigo quickly climbed upstairs, leaving his father behind with a baffled expression.
It took Isshin a few minutes to register everything that Ichigo had just said. And when it did, the father looked up and gave a big smile. "Looks like our boy is all grown up…Masaki."
Isshin quickly followed his son back to the shop. As soon as he spotted his orange-haired son, Isshin kicked his foot off the ground and jumped on Ichigo.
"AHH!"
MEANWHILE
"Welcome back, Kuchiki Rukia. We will take good care of you."
"Arigatou, Yamamoto-sotaicho."
A/N: Ichigo told his dad he's going to marry Rukia! Yay! but this isn't going to happen until a few chapters so stick with me!
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