(A/N) So here is my attempt at one-shots. I've had plenty of ideas and I tried to put them as one-shots. Hopefully there aren't a lot of mistakes or the characters are way off. This will be a series made up of random ideas, and some story ideas I am considering to write in the future. Most will be Bleach timeline while others might be AU. But all full of some cute romance! Please enjoy and drop a review if you like. I love to know what you guys think. So here's the first one

Setting: Bleach timeline

Genre: Friendship/Romance(a little)

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters

Lasting Moments

The house was quiet, too quiet for Ichigo's liking.

His crazy father was actually doing some work in the clinic. His sisters were currently out shopping and somehow managed to drag Rukia along.

Then again, she seemed excited for the shopping trip, making the orange haired teen nervous to look at his wallet that he left in his room. He was pretty sure it was now a good amount lighter.

Damn midget better not buy any Chappy crap.

Wandering downstairs, the young shinigami actually found himself bored of all things. He was not stupid enough to go out and look for Hollows, and he wasn't that desperate to call up his eccentric group of friends. Especially that perverted Keigo.

The truth was, without Rukia around to mock and get his ass beaten in return, he found an odd sense of loneliness. Not the same kind of loneliness or depression he felt for those long seventeen months. Those were…hard for him, and he could not appreciate enough the fact she was back in his life; to give him a purpose and an opportunity to protect again. Not just his friends and family, but her as well. It was a big relief to him he could watch out for and protect her again.

Not that I'll ever admit that out loud without her beating me senseless.

It was just his times with the midget, he felt so…alive. And despite any protests or sarcastic remarks she would give back, he was pretty confident that Rukia felt the same way.

Wandering around the lower level aimlessly, the teen's brown eyes landed idly on something as he was pacing by. On the wall, near the stairs, hung three framed pictures; all reflecting back with one common person being in focus.

Rukia.

Glancing curiously at the pictures, Ichigo couldn't help but wondered where they had come from. Have I never noticed these before he questioned while trying to remember. He knew his father was obsessed with his 'third daughter' and in the end he couldn't help but understand why the old man had plastered her around their house.

After all it was her home too, the boy added silently while taking the pictures in.

The one on top he suddenly recognized as one he had taken a long time ago. What was strange though that it was one taken during his first few months of being a shinigami; before she was forced back.

"How did this get here since this was before they even knew about Rukia? I wonder if dad was going through my stuff again." His mumbles echoed through the empty house as a small grin appeared on the teen's face. He could remember that day so clearly.

"Oi, midget, what the hell do you think you're doing. OW!" The orange haired teen screamed after a swift kick to his shin. He gritted his teeth while eying his companion dangerously "And what was that for?"

The raven haired girl merely shrugged and turned her back on her grumbling substitute. "You know what. Idiot, never call me that unless you want a death wish." Ichigo couldn't help but chuckle at her dark threats.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, midget." He smirk as he watched her seethed and decided to move onto more important things. "Now, can you answer me? What do you think you're doing with that?!" He pointed at the clump of fur held protectively in her arms.

Rukia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "It's a bunny, strawberry." She grinned as his trademark scowl return in response to his nickname.

"Stop calling me that! And yes I know what it is. I just want to know why you have it!"

"I found it running around and decided to catch it. Isn't it cute?" She asked as she petted its grey fur.

"No," the teen grunted, not understanding the woman's obsession with rabbits. "Now are you trying to find real rabbits as your crappy drawings are not good enough? GODDAMMIT, RUKIA!" Rubbing his other shin, he could only glare knowing full well the bitch was enjoying his torture.

He allowed the silence to stretch as the petite shinigami cooed and rocked the bunny. Ichigo found a small smile crossing his face as he watched the tender moment in front of him. Despite the midget being annoying and harsh almost all of the time, there was still a softer side that Ichigo would catch time from time. And for times like those, he couldn't help but wonder who this Kuchiki Rukia really was.

Quickly forcing a scowl in its place, he had to make sure she would never see him smile. She would never let him live it down. "Okay, Rukia, I understood your fascination with this rabbit, but the sun is setting and I have to get home in time for dinner. Let's go."

Her lower lip stuck in a pout, and he somehow found himself staring at her lips. Forcing his eyes up, he came into contact with her deep violet ones. She was hesitating he could see, and he had no patience to argue. "Come on, Rukia."

"I want to stay a little longer, Ichigo. It's not like I get to see bunnies all the time. You can go home; your family is expecting you. I know my way back."

Ichigo scoffed, "And leave you for possible Hollow food, yeah right. Fine, you have five more minutes." Her pout was still there, but her eyes had lit up with surprise at his relent at her statement. Dare she say she heard worry in his tone?

The five minutes passed like a blur for both people, and Rukia was clearly upset when their time was up. "Well, I guess I made the strawberry suffer enough," She whispered to herself, and she bent slowly down to release her new friend.

"Hey, Rukia."

"Hmm-ack what the?!" Rukia was momentarily blinded by a bright flash causing her to flinch as the bunny jumped out her arms and dashed away. The raven haired girl watched as it disappeared before turning to her substitute with a distressed look. He had done something that made her loose her hold and even though she was going to let the rabbit go, she was now confused on what that bright light was.

Looking at Ichigo, she noticed a small smirk while he held a small silver contraption in his hand. "What's that?" The orange haired teen's smirk grew bigger as he held up the device.

"This is called a camera, midget. I just took a picture when you were not looking."

She blinked. "A picture? With that thing?" He just nodded.

"Yeah. Since you were so persistent about not letting that thing go and you said you don't see rabbits as often, I thought you might like this." He answered while holding the camera up so she could see.

Ichigo could only grin at the memory as he stared at the picture in front of him. He had his camera on him by chance, and the teen was glad he had it. When he caught her off-guard, he managed to get pretty decent picture. She looked so content at that one moment. Her hands holding the rabbit tenderly, while her eyes showed kindness and happiness he rarely saw back then. It was also the soft smile she wore, that the orange haired teen knew he had the power to make her smile.

A thump occurred in his chest, as he stared at her smile. Moving his eyes down, he looked at the next picture which consisted of the midget along with the twins.

He also remembered this one as well. It was a moment of peace they had before the attack of the Arrancar. It was right after Rukia had return and kicked him back into shape. His family, already crazy about her, had dragged both shinigami on a picnic in order to make her feel part of the Kurosaki family.

"Alright, we found the perfect spot. Now we can celebrate a true Kurosaki picnic with my three beautiful daughters!" Isshin shouted at the top of the hill causing people passing by to glance over in confusion and apprehension. His children promptly ignored him, as Yuzu set up the food, Karin left to go play some soccer leaving Ichigo keeping track of the enthusiastic midget.

"Hey, Ichigo?"

"Hmm?" He responded, his attention more fixed on his father's undesirable antics.

"What is this, picnic, anyway?" This cause the teen to glanced down at his partner.

"You never been on one before?"

"No, we don't have these kind of 'family outings' in Soul Society. So I'm not quite sure how to participate." Ichigo merely rolled his eyes, reminding himself she wasn't use to such 'normal' activities. Poking her in the forehead, he was determined to make sure she wasn't worrying about not being able to 'particpate' right.

Sometimes the midget worries about the most insignificant stuff. Doesn't mean it's not kind of cute, though, to see her confuse. Wait did I just think cute, no no, I mean it's fun, yeah fun to see her confused.

Forcing himself not the slap his forehead in denial, he missed Rukia watching him. She gave him a critical look as she noticed his tense posture after so rudely poking her. "Okay, so how does this work?"

The boy was pulled from his thoughts and just shrugged his shoulders. "You just relax and have fun."

A small eyebrow rose. "That's it?"

"That's it."

"That seems a little odd." This time the taller teen raised an eyebrow.

"It does? Well that means you need to start learning more about humans, Rukia. We enjoy relaxing and it's always a good thing to have fun. Now stop analyzing this, and let's go."

He grabbed her hand and tugged, but she remained stationary. "Wait, where are we going?" She asked her eyes glancing between him and the two other remaining Kurosakis' nearby. He just smirked in return. "We are going waste some time before the food is ready. I'm going to show you how to have some fun, Rukia."

She smiled as he tugged on her hand again, and she kept the smile as she scolded him for his words. "I know how to have fun, you stupid strawberry!"

He never had heard her laugh so much before that day, actually he never heard her laugh before. Period. He had found himself memorizing that laughter, enjoying the sweet, soft tone of it. His family and Rukia played a small game of soccer, as it turns out the little she-devil was quite good at it. She was able to go head to head with Karin for some time. At the end of the game, the three girls had raced back towards their designated spot on the hill. Isshin somehow had a camera with him, snapping a quick picture without the older teen catching him.

All three girls were in motion with Rukia in the lead, Karin not far behind her as not one to be beaten, and Yuzu running behind not caring about being last. They all had open smiles on their faces, and it was quite clear they were enjoying themselves. That was until the eldest Kurosaki started showing off the picture to any stranger and cooed about his 'three daughters'.

Shaking his head, the brown orbs rotated down once more and rested on a picture he was not familiar with. It consisted of only Rukia, but that's not what caught his attention.

Something was off about her.

She was smiling, but the smile did not reach her eyes. Her eyes were cast downward with her violet hues dark and glazed over. Though they were glazed, he could see clearly what she was feeling through those orbs. He could always read her eyes as she could read his.

She was trying to hide what she was feeling in this picture. Yet, there were the obvious emotions of sadness and uncertainty he could see, knowing others could not. Ichigo recognized her mask quite easily, and it made his chest clench at the sight of her using it.

When was this taken? She looks upset at something, and trying to hide it. Who dare upset Rukia and where was I not to notice this?

A small hand touching his arm seemed to demolish his growing anger along with the small voice that accompanied it. "What are you doing just standing here, idiot? Didn't you hear me call your name?"

"Rukia," he breathed out, his eyes still fixed on the picture. She stepped closer to glance at his face. Noticing his stare, she followed his line of sight. Her violet eyes rested on the last photo, a sad smile crossing her face.

"Ah, this picture…"

"When did this get taken?!" He suddenly turned around, his stare pinning her down. She could tell he was clearly upset with what he saw, not that she could blame him. She had hoped he would never see that picture.

"Ichigo…"

"Just tell me, Rukia." She sighed, knowing she wouldn't get out of it. Avoiding his piercing gaze, she allowed her eyes to glaze over, the emotions building up once more as she recalled every little feeling she had felt during that hard and difficult time. Ones he never knew and she had refused to burden him with.

I guess I have no other choice.

"It was during that long month," she paused, her breath catching in her throat. "That time, when you were unconscious. You know, after your defeat of Aizen."

Silence overcame the two as Ichigo processed her words. Another moment passed before she continued, "We didn't know when you were going to wake up. Urahara already warned us about you losing your abilities, so we were prepared. Well, everyone else was more than me," she said softly, causing Ichigo to soften his gaze.

"Anyway your father had taken the twins and I out, to have some fun. He didn't want us to be depressed over your situation. Knowing you wouldn't want us to be. He had his camera with him and that is how this picture appeared."

Clenching his fists, the orange haired shinigami had no words. To see Rukia so depressed and sad because of him; He hated it. He absolutely fucking hated it.

"Rukia…I…" He was suddenly caught of guard by a flashing light and he stumbled backwards at the sudden attack. "What the hell?" Rubbing his eyes, he vision cleared to a grinning Rukia, who held a camera in her hands.

"You look too depress, Ichigo. That happened a long time ago, time to get over it." She said cheerfully. Holding up the camera, her grin widened. "Like my new camera?"

Stunned at first, he quickly recovered a smirk crossing his face as she somehow had managed to get him, good. At least it's not Chappy. "Oh, is that what you got with my money, I'm assuming." Rukia just rolled her eyes, her face softening suddenly.

"I got one because I wanted to keep on making these lasting memories we keep having." Turning her head away, she lowered her voice, becoming barely a whisper. "I want to make new, better memories in order to replace those ones where we have to hide behind a smile."

A small smile crossed Ichigo's face as he listened to Rukia's honesty. Not looking back at the picture with the fake smile behind him, he quickly walked up to the petite shinigami. She gasped in surprise when an arm snaked around her shoulder, pulling her close to solid, well-built figure.

A blush crossing her cheeks, she couldn't help but glance up into playful amber eyes, causing her own to smile back. She didn't realize he grabbed her camera before it was suddenly held up in front of them. "Then smile, midget."

That picture now sits in the teen's room, in view to anyone who enters. It was a picture worth taking, and it was an instant both shinigami wouldn't forget. After all, a true smile from Ichigo and Rukia was considered one of their best moments, one they would keep sharing through eternity.

(A/N) Hope you enjoyed that and leave a review with any suggestions or ideas. Till next time!