A Show Spectacular [PG; Ichigo/Rukia]
Title: A Show Spectacular
Author: worblehat
Genre: Bleach
Pairing: Ichigo/Rukia
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not my intellectual property at all.
Notes: Inspired by the first few episodes (through ep 24, which is where I'm at right now). By the way, this anime series is amazing. Just saying.
Summary: Rukia and Ichigo go along with Inuoe on a night out.
Word Count: 1,065
Ichigo walked ahead, Rukia following two steps behind. The night was warm and the stars were out, shining down onto the nearly-empty streets. Ichigo's body was firm and straight, slouching only a little when she caught up to him.
She didn't say anything - didn't ask where they were going or why Ichigo refused to tell her. Instead, she crossed her arms across her chest, frowning. Ichigo had slammed open the closet door, thrown clothing at her and told her to get dressed. He wore the same frown he always did. Rukia could see nothing special about the occasion. She glared but took the clothing, shutting the door and dressing; walking behind Ichigo into the night air.
They stopped in front of a small pavilion, elbows touching. Rukia moved to step away but Ichigo reached for her, taking her hand and leading her through the small crowd.
"It's this way," was all he said.
Rukia muttered in annoyance; Ichigo's hold tightened a little more, but he didn't respond. They walked, Rukia bumping into more people than she cared to touch, including one hand whose hands lingered a little too much. As she was about to respond, she felt Ichigo's other arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him - as if he was trying to protect her.
Him, a human - protecting a Death God.
It was laughable.
Yet, for a reason she'd long forgotten, she felt herself blushing instead.
Ichigo's hands slid further away and Rukia was left alone, standing next to him. Inuoe was standing at her right, giving her a squeeze and speaking happily - thanking her for coming, thanking Ichigo for bringing her.
"Eh," said Ichigo noncommittally, staring at the stage.
Rukia wanted to ask what was going on - was this another exorcism? Would she have to guide Ichigo like before? Would -
The lights flipped off and Rukia felt her heartbeat pulse faster. She stood, with Inuoe and Ichigo, waiting. Four figures danced across the stage, all mis-matched, singing a song she vaguely recognised. One of Ichigo's sisters had been humming it at night. It wasn't to Rukia's taste, but Inuoe seemed happy, bouncing beside her to the music. She smiled thinly.
This is...
"Hey, Rukia," said Ichigo. She looked up to face him, but he was staring straight ahead. "Stop thinking so much. There aren't any Hollows here."
She stared.
He tilted his chin downward, gaze narrowed on her face. "Your phone would be beeping otherwise." He focused back on the stage. "Besides, I'd feel it."
"But -"
He leaned in closer, and Rukia felt that selfsame awkward warmth that sometimes flooded her body, ever since she'd transferred her powers to Ichigo. "It's important to Inuoe that you have fun. She'll ask you about it later."
"Oh." Rukia tried to say something else, but Ichigo didn't seem to be paying attention. She wondered, as she watched in pretend upbeat fascination, if he'd caught on to her tone. Had he noticed the slight betrayal of disappointment?
More importantly...why was she feeling these things?
She was a Death God. These were human emotions. It wasn't -
An insistent elbow caught her in the ribs. She swore out loud. "Time go go," said Ichigo.
"Did you have fun, Rukia?" asked Inuoe, smiling wide. "They're my favourite singers!"
Rukia forced a smile. "So cute, Inuoe!" she agreed. "Especially the one on the right!"
Inuoe threw her arms around Rukia's shoulder. Rukia maintained her smile, only glancing at Ichigo, whose frown seemed a little more pronounced than usual. He reached for her, taking her by the arm - the same way they'd come in - except rougher and less forgiving.
"Stop...tugging!" she said, finally wrenching her hand free when they'd made their way back to the street, away from the crowd. "What's wrong with you?"
Ichigo walked forward. Rukia followed, still angry. After three blocks, Ichigo stopped, his back to her. "How can you pretend like that?" he asked. "It's strange."
"I..."
He turned towards her. "How can anyone know what you're really feeling if you're too busy putting on a front?"
Rukia's eyes burned. She stayed silent.
"It's just like lying."
Rukia's hand slid up to her chest, over where she knew her heart would be in her faux body. Even though it wasn't quite the same - even though she wasn't quite human - it hurt.
It had no right to hurt.
The night seemed darker as she walked, the stars dimmer. She stayed two steps behind Ichigo, not bothering to catch up. Her head was bowed low, looking at the shoes she'd borrowed without asking. They glimmered in the moonlight.
The door was open when she arrived back at his house. Ichigo had gone far ahead; Rukia could see the light from his room. She walked in, removing her shoes, walking upstairs and closing his door behind her.
Ichigo was nowhere to be seen.
She checked her phone - no Hollows nearby.
Maybe...he was avoiding her.
Slightly embarrassed, face hot with anger, she opened the closet door.
And screamed.
"What are you doing in my bed?" she asked, slapping him across the chest. "Get out."
"It's my closet," he retorted, rubbing at the spot she'd hurt.
"Get out."
Rukia let out an undignified noise of surprise when one of his arms reached out, wrapping around her wrist and pulling her inside. The door slid shut behind her.
In the dark, she couldn't see much of anything, but she knew that the legs so close to her own were Ichigo's.
She remained still.
Her head rested against something that was thumping; it took her a little while to realise it was Ichigo's heart. She listened, ears pricked as it sped up. Her eyes widened.
Something soft pressed against her forehead. On instinct she wasn't entirely familiar with, she reached up, her fingers brushing spiky hair and tight skin. Her touch rested there as the soft feeling spread down her cheeks, close to her lips. Ichigo's breath was warm against her mouth; he breathed out, as if making sure she felt it.
The door opened. Rukia slipped back against the edge of the closet as Ichigo stepped out. He looked at her. His eyes were small, upset.
Ichi...
He slipped the door shut.
Rukia sat, staring blankly in front of her, warm trails slipping down her cheeks.
Author: worblehat
Genre: Bleach
Pairing: Ichigo/Rukia
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not my intellectual property at all.
Notes: Inspired by the first few episodes (through ep 24, which is where I'm at right now). By the way, this anime series is amazing. Just saying.
Summary: Rukia and Ichigo go along with Inuoe on a night out.
Word Count: 1,065
Ichigo walked ahead, Rukia following two steps behind. The night was warm and the stars were out, shining down onto the nearly-empty streets. Ichigo's body was firm and straight, slouching only a little when she caught up to him.
She didn't say anything - didn't ask where they were going or why Ichigo refused to tell her. Instead, she crossed her arms across her chest, frowning. Ichigo had slammed open the closet door, thrown clothing at her and told her to get dressed. He wore the same frown he always did. Rukia could see nothing special about the occasion. She glared but took the clothing, shutting the door and dressing; walking behind Ichigo into the night air.
They stopped in front of a small pavilion, elbows touching. Rukia moved to step away but Ichigo reached for her, taking her hand and leading her through the small crowd.
"It's this way," was all he said.
Rukia muttered in annoyance; Ichigo's hold tightened a little more, but he didn't respond. They walked, Rukia bumping into more people than she cared to touch, including one hand whose hands lingered a little too much. As she was about to respond, she felt Ichigo's other arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him - as if he was trying to protect her.
Him, a human - protecting a Death God.
It was laughable.
Yet, for a reason she'd long forgotten, she felt herself blushing instead.
Ichigo's hands slid further away and Rukia was left alone, standing next to him. Inuoe was standing at her right, giving her a squeeze and speaking happily - thanking her for coming, thanking Ichigo for bringing her.
"Eh," said Ichigo noncommittally, staring at the stage.
Rukia wanted to ask what was going on - was this another exorcism? Would she have to guide Ichigo like before? Would -
The lights flipped off and Rukia felt her heartbeat pulse faster. She stood, with Inuoe and Ichigo, waiting. Four figures danced across the stage, all mis-matched, singing a song she vaguely recognised. One of Ichigo's sisters had been humming it at night. It wasn't to Rukia's taste, but Inuoe seemed happy, bouncing beside her to the music. She smiled thinly.
This is...
"Hey, Rukia," said Ichigo. She looked up to face him, but he was staring straight ahead. "Stop thinking so much. There aren't any Hollows here."
She stared.
He tilted his chin downward, gaze narrowed on her face. "Your phone would be beeping otherwise." He focused back on the stage. "Besides, I'd feel it."
"But -"
He leaned in closer, and Rukia felt that selfsame awkward warmth that sometimes flooded her body, ever since she'd transferred her powers to Ichigo. "It's important to Inuoe that you have fun. She'll ask you about it later."
"Oh." Rukia tried to say something else, but Ichigo didn't seem to be paying attention. She wondered, as she watched in pretend upbeat fascination, if he'd caught on to her tone. Had he noticed the slight betrayal of disappointment?
More importantly...why was she feeling these things?
She was a Death God. These were human emotions. It wasn't -
An insistent elbow caught her in the ribs. She swore out loud. "Time go go," said Ichigo.
"Did you have fun, Rukia?" asked Inuoe, smiling wide. "They're my favourite singers!"
Rukia forced a smile. "So cute, Inuoe!" she agreed. "Especially the one on the right!"
Inuoe threw her arms around Rukia's shoulder. Rukia maintained her smile, only glancing at Ichigo, whose frown seemed a little more pronounced than usual. He reached for her, taking her by the arm - the same way they'd come in - except rougher and less forgiving.
"Stop...tugging!" she said, finally wrenching her hand free when they'd made their way back to the street, away from the crowd. "What's wrong with you?"
Ichigo walked forward. Rukia followed, still angry. After three blocks, Ichigo stopped, his back to her. "How can you pretend like that?" he asked. "It's strange."
"I..."
He turned towards her. "How can anyone know what you're really feeling if you're too busy putting on a front?"
Rukia's eyes burned. She stayed silent.
"It's just like lying."
Rukia's hand slid up to her chest, over where she knew her heart would be in her faux body. Even though it wasn't quite the same - even though she wasn't quite human - it hurt.
It had no right to hurt.
The night seemed darker as she walked, the stars dimmer. She stayed two steps behind Ichigo, not bothering to catch up. Her head was bowed low, looking at the shoes she'd borrowed without asking. They glimmered in the moonlight.
The door was open when she arrived back at his house. Ichigo had gone far ahead; Rukia could see the light from his room. She walked in, removing her shoes, walking upstairs and closing his door behind her.
Ichigo was nowhere to be seen.
She checked her phone - no Hollows nearby.
Maybe...he was avoiding her.
Slightly embarrassed, face hot with anger, she opened the closet door.
And screamed.
"What are you doing in my bed?" she asked, slapping him across the chest. "Get out."
"It's my closet," he retorted, rubbing at the spot she'd hurt.
"Get out."
Rukia let out an undignified noise of surprise when one of his arms reached out, wrapping around her wrist and pulling her inside. The door slid shut behind her.
In the dark, she couldn't see much of anything, but she knew that the legs so close to her own were Ichigo's.
She remained still.
Her head rested against something that was thumping; it took her a little while to realise it was Ichigo's heart. She listened, ears pricked as it sped up. Her eyes widened.
Something soft pressed against her forehead. On instinct she wasn't entirely familiar with, she reached up, her fingers brushing spiky hair and tight skin. Her touch rested there as the soft feeling spread down her cheeks, close to her lips. Ichigo's breath was warm against her mouth; he breathed out, as if making sure she felt it.
The door opened. Rukia slipped back against the edge of the closet as Ichigo stepped out. He looked at her. His eyes were small, upset.
Ichi...
He slipped the door shut.
Rukia sat, staring blankly in front of her, warm trails slipping down her cheeks.