In My Dreams
They were a sight to behold: a man, with fiery orange hair towering over a woman with jet-black locks.
The young couple walked hand-in-hand; his large, calloused appendage completely covering her small, slender one.
He purposely slowed his strides to match her smaller gait.
They were clearly in no hurry to get anywhere.
She was smiling.
So was he.
Together, their happiness was evident.
It was never forced; never faked.
You could see it in their eyes.
His hold on her instinctively tightened while he shifted to look over his shoulder thinking that they were being followed.
She finds herself being moved behind him and her face visibly twitches with annoyance.
(Thankfully) There is no threat.
He is simply paranoid about her safety.
For which she shamelessly lambasts him.
She is capable of defending herself, she argues.
He doesn't contradict the fact, only insists on protecting her.
They are at each other's throats and a stare down commences.
But their hands remain entwined.
Soon enough, they calm down.
Neither one admits defeat.
It doesn't matter, though.
All it takes is a gentle caress of a thumb across the back of one's hand and a reciprocating gesture from the other, and all is well again.
He asks if she would like to go home now.
She replies her affirmative.
With a sly grin, he unceremoniously hoists her by the waist – the same, unflattering way he carried her when he rescued her from the Sokyoku.
She is caught off guard and feels a blush creeping up her cheeks.
He continues onward.
She shouts at him again.
He ignores her as always.
It's just how they are.
Two souls in love.
It's what they're supposed to be.
If only in my dreams.
- END. -
Author's Note:
So the manga gods did not vote in our favor, fellow ICHIRUKI shippers.
Mr. Kubo decided not to make this couple canon.
I honestly did not expect that.
I really thought the signs were all there.
But it's his universe; BLEACH belongs to him and he can take the story (and his characters) in any direction he wants.
And he did.
All the ice cream and chocolates have not helped since the spoilers and the final chapter release.
I'm still immensely sad.
So I came up with this. I needed the outlet.
The point-of-view is mine: "seeing" Ichigo and Rukia as I had from the beginning and hoped they would become.
I wish I can sleep a little better tonight.
I'll try to write something happier for Snippets, if I can.
But for now… *cries*
P.S. Inspired by the song, "In My Dreams" which is written by Kevin Cronin and Tom Kelly and performed by REO Speedwagon
"… all I know is that you love me, in my dreams..."
