Oneshot: Confessions

Bleach (c) Tite Kubo
For everything else theres me.

Yeah, I dunno where it came from either… I was trying another style. Another part of the ‘Scrolls of Innen’ Series…But can also be read as stand alone.


Scrolls of Innen
Oneshot: A Confession



The First time Kurosaki Ichigo told Kuchiki Rukia he loved her was in a cold military tent in the middle of a temporary cease fire during the Great Shinigami War. He said it so suddenly she almost couldn’t believe her ears.

He then knocked her unconscious and proceeded to waltz out the flaps to what probably would be his untimely demise.

X x X

The second time Ichigo Kurosaki tells Rukia Kuchiki he loves her is different.

It is during a party celebrating Izuru Kira’s injunction as a captain. Matsumoto, Ikaku and Yumichka among others took it as an excuse to get drunk off their asses. Shunsui’s babbled explanation to Ise-fukutaichou was that in dark times fun is a rare thing. But he probably just wanted to drink and use his hangover as an excuse to get out of paperwork.

Not that he ever needed one.

Either way Ichigo got challenged to a drinking contest by Renji. Both were too smashed to know who won.

As she dragged him towards the nearest barracks (she had flipped a coin with Tatsuki, heads gets Ichigo, tails Renji. Aka the violent drunk.) He suddenly stopped his warbled, tripping gait and stood perfectly still. When Rukia turned around to yell at him he picked her up (She didn’t know how he summoned the balance) and gave her a deep smooch.

She was surprised, she couldn’t do anything, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath but didn’t do a thing about it. She just stayed rigid. Finally he set her down, a big, goofy, un-Ichigo grin in place. “I llloooovvveee yooooouuuu.” He slurred.

“I love you too.” And she meant it.

X x X

The third time Ichigo Kurosaki tells Rukia Kuchiki that he loves her is also different.

He was above her, their breath mingled as they panted in perfect time. He hovered over her, she couldn’t see his face.  She wanted to know what he was thinking. She felt trapped yet safe in his cage of muscled arms built from years of fighting, running and more fighting. She needed to know if this feeling was mutual.

The third time he told her he was panting above her after making love.

“Dammit I love you, Rukia.” It was a breathy whisper but so filled with passion and volume you’d think he’d shouted.

X x X

Rukia is a woman; a powerful woman at that. Rukia Kuchiki is not to be trifled with.

She is smart, strong, and cunning among other things.

She also knows what she wants. And she wants confirmation, but first an explanation. “Why the hell would you get yourself killed?!?!” she shrieked.

“I…fell. There wasn’t much I could do!” he yelled back.

Before anything else could be said Ichigo was whisked away to see the Soutaichou. Ten minutes in the soul society and already inducted to captain. That had to be a new record.

So Rukia waited until nightfall. He was sitting at the table, sprawled on the chair, exhausted. “I hate paperwork.” Now was as good a time as any. “That stupid old man promotes me, next thing you know im swamped and on probation for no reason. Now I’m only allowed to go home once in a damn month!”

“Ichigo,” she interrupted his tirade. He looked at her serious face quizzically. “Do you love me?”

He didn’t say anything. He only raised an eyebrow in question and looked at her like she grew a second head. Finally he spoke, “’Course I love you.”

This time something changed. He didn’t say it out of desperation like the first, spur of the moment stupidity like the second, or a moment of ‘passion’ like the third. This was different. He said it so casually, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, like it was normal, like he said it all the time.

The fourth time Kurosaki Ichigo told Kuchiki Rukia he loved her it wasn’t like the first, second, or even the third.

He wasn’t in immediate danger of dying, smashed beyond all reason,  or in a moment of great ‘passion’ he was sitting at a kitchen table complaining about idiotic, senile, old men.

And she thinks she might like that best.


-

-

X x X

-

-


After that Ichigo made sure to say it more often….or fear facing the wrath of a midget on a mission.

Yeah, call him soft.