(Untitled)

[juicebox_woes]

In a shimmer, perhaps dream, perhaps real, a sudden wash of colour and sound and sensation, things happen. Or at least... that was what she assumed, finding herself suddenly standing at the side of a very familiar rotating confection of lights and sounds. A carousel, one she remembered, along with so many other things that bled through her mind.

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[strawberried]

[ it took only half a heartbeat for Ichigo to look up, head cocked, the pulse of familiar reiatsu suddenly coming to life as quickly as it had disappeared weeks ago. He almost didn't believe his senses, at first, since he really was crap at detecting that kind of thing and frankly, it was almost too good to be true. But he was on his feet and out the door in seconds, stepping into shunpo the moment he was outside the building, following that pulse as if he was following a trail of breadcrumbs.

When he finally found her, he stopped, flickering into appearance in front of Rukia, his eyes wide, shoulders tense. ]

Rukia?

[juicebox_woes]

*He'd startled her, she wasn't used to being startled, and especially not by him. With a scowl and a yelp, she did the natural -- at least for Rukia -- thing. She kicked him in the shin.*

Dumbass! Don't just appear like that!

*Nevermind that when it came down to it, it wasn't as though she couldn't feel his reiatsu above everything else in this.... City, yes it was definitely a City.*

[strawberried]

Ow!

[ knee bent, foot raised, palm to shin, a string of curses escaping his lips. Ichigo should've known better than to expect a reunion any different than the ones they were capable of, even after everything. ]

Fuck, Rukia, how else d'you want me to appear?!

[juicebox_woes]

*Still scowling, she scoffed at him, crossing arms over her chest. How did she want him to appear? Without startling her, of course. Duh. He should have known that. Oh well, no matter. Glancing around her, at the lights of the City, she chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip.*

So..... this place.....

[strawberried]

[ he lowered his leg, still on guard, muscles tense, in case she decided to hit him again, like she always seemed to do. Until she spoke, and something like fear dropped in his chest -- didn't she remember? She had to remember. He looked down at his feet, fists clenching. ]

The City. Don't you remember?

[ he felt like he was going to vomit, waiting for her answer. What if she didn't remember? ]

[juicebox_woes]

*The City. Well, at least that description -- lacking as it did any real description -- matched the hazy memories that floated around in her mind. About the only thing that didn't seem to match was the odd look on Ichigo's face. He looked almost like he had something stuck in his throat. Quirking an eyebrow at him, she shrugged.*

I.... guess. I remember a lot of things, they just.... it's all a little hazy. Almost like a dream. I guess you could say I remember it, it's just hard to know what was real and... what was a dream. Because this place is obviously real...

[strawberried]

[ Ichigo blinked at his sneakers, raising his head just enough to gaze at her through ragged orange fringe, his brow furrowing. What was that supposed to mean? ]

So... I guess, what d'you remember?

[juicebox_woes]

*Something was obviously bothering him. Which, if this place was real, and... the other things she remembered were real, meant that it might have something to do with the.... other things she remembered. Biting her lip, cheeks reddening slightly -- she wasn't about to admit she'd actually hoped that part had been real -- she nodded.*

Well.... I remember about the City... and about the curses. And.... some other things. And...

*Violet eyes flickered up to him for a moment.*

About.... us....

[strawberried]

[ it took a second for what she said to sink in; she said it slowly, quietly, and he almost could have sworn he was hearing things. His eyes flickered up to hers in return, his lips parting in surprise, his eyes wide and searching. There was a long moment where he didn't say anything at all, and when he finally did, his voice was soft. ]

Aa. That's... good.

[ the last part came out as half a question; he didn't know what to think, didn't know what to do. As much as he wanted to reach out and hold her, he held back, that defense mechanism inside him springing to life. ]

[juicebox_woes]

*Well, at least he was acting like his usual self. Scowling a bit, she stared up at him. If what she remembered was true, then she would have guessed he'd act a little more... well, a little more happy to see her. Seeing as she'd apparently been gone for some time.*

Well, glad you're so thrilled to see me...

[strawberried]

[ his mouth formed that familiar scowl; he felt that familiar annoyance. He should be relieved, knowing that she knew, but his body somehow didn't relax, as if he was waiting for her to punch him soon. Literally or figuratively or something. ]

Shut up.

[juicebox_woes]

You shut up...

*It was nice, familiar, for him to be acting like usual, being his normal, belligerant self. But... if what she remembered really was true...*

Or I'll make you...

*Finishing her statement quietly, she swallowed and bit her lower lip for a moment before taking a step forward to close the distance between them, reaching up slowly to hook a hand around the back of his neck to tug him down and press lips to his softly.*

[strawberried]

[ he watched her move as if everything was in slow motion, and he could only stare. It wasn't until a few seconds later that he registered her lips on his, her hand around his neck, and it was a few seconds after that that he finally remembered to close his eyes. This was right. This felt right. And with a sigh, he pressed his lips insistently against hers, his arms winding tightly around her waist, lifting her up, holding her against his chest. ]

[juicebox_woes]

*That answered her question, though she hadn't really ever gotten around to asking about it, as she tightened her grip, winding both arms around his neck and kissing back, relaxing into it. Telling him, explaining how much she'd missed this, how much she'd thought about it, wondered if it was really real, been unable to keep it out of her head... that wasn't going to happen. Regardless of how true it was. And not just in regards to the memories themselves, but... just wondering. And then they'd gone into Hueco Mundo and there wasn't any time for those sorts of thoughts.*

Hoped this was real...

[strawberried]

[ he'd missed this so much. Shit, he'd missed it. More than he really wanted to admit. There had been the war, and the drinking in between, and he'd never got to thinking about it very hard, but that was probably a good thing.

But now she was back, remembering everything, and he didn't want to think about that either. About how happy it made him. He didn't say anything to that, his arms tightening around her, forehead resting against hers. ]

[juicebox_woes]

*He didn't have to say anything, or even really to do much at all to let her know how relieved, how happy he was. It might not have been obvious to anyone else, but she could see it. Nuzzling her face against his, she smiled, feeling his arms tighten.*

Let's go home.