Author's Note: Ok this is literally my first time ever writing this kind of stuff so be gentle. Not too many flames please. Okay I guess I should really say this or I'm going to get hurt probably so…! I would like to thank Maydrei for giving me the inspiration and frankly the courage to even write something like this. She wrote something similar to this and because I just couldn't take it anymore with the whole waiting thing I decided to write something like this. Well after all my favorite stories to read revolve around Rukia being afraid of thunderstorms so yeah… woot!

Warning: Extreme Fluffiness! (I love fluff! Fluff fluff were all covered in fluff!Does happy Fluff dance Yay)

I dedicate this to: Maydrei (even if it might totally suck! I'm not good at Romance!)

Disclaimer: I think it's obvious I don't own Bleach!

Continue? If you want me to continue this story just say so in your reviews.

Lightning and Thunder



By: Neokura

Boom! That was the sound of the thunderhead clapping right over Rukia's head as she clutched the sheets around her more closely. She had never been good with thunderstorms and well, this was no exception.

Another thunderclap exploded across the sky and Rukia let out a small squeal of fright as she wrenched the door open of her little room in the closet. Her eyes darted around the empty room speedily until they found what they were looking for. A medium sized, sleeping figure with bright and spiky orange hair.

Ichigo was fast asleep at the moment, seemingly unperturbed by the ruckus that was happening right above them, tucked away in his nonsensical dreams. He hadn't heard Rukia squeal and open the door but it did cause him to roll over out of annoyance, his usual scowl getting worse.

Rukia sucked in her breath and watched the sleeping, figure waiting for him to get back to his deep sleep.

A third crash of thunder rolled off and Rukia let out a much louder yelp than before and slammed the door to the closet shut.

That did it. Ichigo's head rose up a few inches as he surveyed the room around him, still groggy from lack of sleep. He slowly rose to his feet and walked over to the closet door and hammered on it a few times.

The door slid open a tiny bit and a remarkably frightened Rukia peered out. She opened her mouth to say something but abruptly another clap of thunder resounded off the walls.

Rukia, who was startled by the sudden explosion, instinctively yanked open the door wider and lunged at Ichigo clinging to him fearfully as she pressed against his bare chest.

"R-Rukia?" Ichigo mumbled his face heating up as he took a few steps back from the surprising impact. "Are you ok? What's wrong?"

Rukia glanced up into Ichigo's concerned eyes. There was fear dancing across her face and for once she looked remarkably vulnerable and helpless. Another clap of thunder resounded across the room, literally shaking the entire house causing Rukia to press harder into Ichigo's chest.

"Rukia… are you afraid of thunder?" Ichigo asked awkwardly. He didn't think Rukia realized what she was doing but he sure did. He could feel her body moving against his and he was starting to have some perverted thoughts. Thoughts that he did not want, especially not now with her being so close to him.

Rukia stiffly nodded her head closing her eyes, as her entire body tensed up, waiting for another crash of thunder.

"Rukia… thunder can't hurt you, it's just a noise." Ichigo mumbled into her soft black hair as he shyly put an arm around her small, petite body.

"How can you be sure?! There's no way such a monstrous noise can be harmless!" Rukia cried out franticly as a small wave of thunder resounded again. They didn't have anything like this in soul society. Heck it barley rained there in the first place. Ichigo let out a calm sigh and tilted her face up so that he could look her in the eye again.

"Your not going to be able to sleep are you?" She shook her head.

Ichigo let out another sigh and suddenly picked her up princess style, to her annoyance and great surprise, and set her on his bed. He then hopped over her and laid down as well, scooting as far away as possible from her.

"Ichigo?" Rukia said, surprise dancing across her already confused face. This was very unlike him. He wasn't exactly what you would call kind and judging by how long Rukia had known him this wasn't exactly his style. In fact Rukia was utterly bewildered on why he was doing this.

Ichigo carelessly threw the bed sheets over Rukia and grabbed a nearby pillow. "Just go to sleep Rukia!"

Rukia looked down and smiled to herself slightly. Whatever had possessed Ichigo to suddenly be kind to her didn't bother her one bit; in fact she couldn't help but hope that he would stay like this for a while. She grabbed her pillow and closed her eyes ready for a nice long and peaceful sleep. But that was not to be the case because as soon as she closed her eyes an enormous crack of lightning shot across the sky, illuminating the room, followed by the crack of thunder.

Rukia 's head shot into to air as she let out a small but sharp yelp and dived for the safety of Ichigo's warm yet well toned chest. Snuggling close to him she started to whimper into his side, curling up into a ball next to him.

"You really don't like thunder do you?" Ichigo muttered eyes opening slightly. Rukia, again, stiffly shook her head grabbing his arm and clinging to it.

"Here." Ichigo stated flatly as he pushed her off his arm and away from him so that he could turn to his side. He then scooted Rukia close to him again and wrapped his right arm around her protectively.

"Better?" He whispered into her ear as she scooted as close to him as possible.

"I think so." She managed to whimper out as she desperately tried to stop trembling. She closed her eyes and melted into Ichigo's warm body, attempting to block out the noise.

Ichigo smiled gently as he felt Rukia slowly stop trembling and snuggle close to him. She may be annoying sometimes, okay most of the time, but that still didn't stop him from wanting to be close to her, from wanting her to comfortable and happy.

"Ichigo…" Rukia mumbled into his chest eyes opening slightly.

"Hmm…"

"Arigato."

Owari