Hello Reader,
This short story is sort of a sequel to Sunset Party Mix Vol. 1 but with a more romantic twist to it.
I strongly suggest, nay, urge, NAY, force you to listen to Kygo's remix of Wait by M83 as you read this since it was inspired by that song. Beautiful music, people.
enjoy.
Wait
"A toast, to hanging out with you guys!"
Everyone raised their cups at Keigo's toast. Despite his initial suspicion at Keigo's intentions for the impromptu party he had set up, Ichigo couldn't deny that he was actually having fun.
The sun was setting, Keigo's mix was playing in the air, and everyone was laughing at Ishida's joke – Ishida of all people. All in all, it was a very relaxing late afternoon.
"Enjoying the party, Ichigo?" Keigo asked.
"Surprisingly, yeah. Although I expected that you'd be hitting on Rukia by now."
"Couldn't bring myself to it, "Keigo said, "Not when she's looking like that."
"Looking like what?"
"See for yourself, oh blind one," he purred, pointing at Rukia.
She was with Orihime, Tatsuki and Chizuru. At Orihime's suggestion, they had moved near the ledge and raised their arms to "feel the music and drown in the moment". So, all four girls were standing on the ledge, their arms spread out wide and their eyes closed.
Ichigo scratched his head and looked away, "I'm not seeing anything, Keigo."
"No! Don't look away," Keigo hissed, grabbing a hold of Ichigo's head and turning it back to the girls, "Just wait."
Ichigo sighed in annoyance, but humored Keigo. He looked back at the girls, keeping his eye at Rukia, and waited for whatever it is that Keigo saw and wanted him to see.
It took Ichigo a few minutes to see it, but when he did, it stirred something inside of him.
The sun was setting, Keigo's mix was playing in the air, and Rukia had arms spread out wide, her eyes closed. She was smiling. Not a smirk or a playful grin, but a big, genuine smile. Rukia of all people. A gentle breeze made her hair sway, her bang gracefully dancing across her face. The sunset made her skin glow, and she looked like she was on fire. Her dainty fingers moved every so often as if she was tickling the wind. Her posture was as straight as ever, yet she was carrying herself in a more relaxed manner.
It was as if time stood still for Ichigo. He had never seen Rukia this way before – with her guard down and just enjoying the present. And it was at that moment that he realized - although he wouldn't admit it to himself until after a few days – he wanted Rukia to be like that. More specifically, he wanted Rukia to be like that around him; he wanted to be the one to make her like that.
"She's beautiful, is she not?" Keigo whisphered.
Ichigo wouldn't deny that Rukia had always been beautiful to him. But she wasn't just beautiful right now. She was breathtaking. "Yeah," Ichigo agreed.
Then, Rukia cocked her head slightly and opened her eyes. She looked at Ichigo and smiled. Ichigo's chest felt painful, and he realized that he wasn't breathing. He subtly raised his cup at Rukia and smiled back. She chuckled and closed her eyes again, relishing the last warmth of the sun.
Keigo chuckled. Ichigo turned to him.
"I told you it was worth it."
"What was?" Ichigo asked, his brow raised.
"To wait." And Keigo smiled knowingly at Rukia's direction.
