bleach drabble
ichigo/rukia
ichigo & rukia poised on the edge of falling

note : pre-soul society arc, no spoilers, and nay, i do not own bleach (500 words again!)

Just Fall

The sun was slowly bleeding into the horizon as Rukia leaned back wearily on the trunk of the huge tree. Her throbbing ankle was propped up carefully upon the next branch, as she tried to make herself more comfortable.

She had twisted her ankle earlier as she was climbing up the tree to rescue a kitten and she couldn't quite make her way down safely with the injury. Her first few tries had made the pain worse and after a while she had given up.

And now, four hours later, the kitten had managed to make its way down quite easily while Rukia was still sitting there, silently cursing her weakness for cute, furry creatures.

Life was not fair. The tender ankle would have been no problem for her if she was still the shinigami she once was. But now, thanks to the stupid flawed gigai she was forced into upon losing her powers, she was stuck in a tree.

Can this day get any worse for her?

"Oi, Rukia! What the hell are you doing up there?"

She winced as got her answer. Glancing down through the branches of the tree, she saw a scowling Ichigo with his hands on his hips, glaring at her.

Apparently the shinigami substitute was pissed off. So what else was new? Ichigo always seems pissed off all the time, especially so when he was around her. Well, Rukia's mood was not exactly pleasant, having spent the last few hours being stuck in the tree with a sore ankle. She frowned down at him.

"What does it look like I'm doing? Knitting...?" Sarcasm always was her best trait.

"No, it looks more like you got yourself stuck up there." Ichigo was silent for a moment as he waited a beat for her to deny his statement. And when she didn't, he sighed resignedly, shaking his head at the absurdness of the situation. "You did, didn't you? I've been looking everywhere for you. I should have known."

Rukia shot him a furious glare, her scowl matching his. "It's not like I choose to get stuck here. And don't say it like you find me stuck somewhere all the time."

Ichigo ignored her ranting as he ordered gruffly, "It's time to go home, Rukia. Hurry up and get down from there will you?"

"I can't. I already said I was stuck, didn't I? I twisted my ankle." She admitted, her fierce gaze daring him to make fun of her injury as well. Surprisingly, he stretched out his arms to her instead and motioned her to drop.

"Just fall. I'll catch you... I promise."

The moment suddenly froze as they both realized that he was talking about much more than just the simple present. Their eyes locked in that second of eternity; hers wide and vulnerable, his intent and piercing.

Rukia kept her eyes on his as she took a deep breath to steady her nerves before letting go of the branch...

... And let herself fall.

end

i'm sure these two had a few such similar... moments before the soul society storyline. after all, it was almost obvious that they were more than just friends. well, at least to me, it is... hehehehehee