Rukia glanced around the quiet yard nervously. It was only a matter of time before he was here. A matter of time before she got to see him again. But what would he say? She could expect a rage of fury and possibly a rampage.
"Rukia?" she heard Ichigo ask. She turned, and saw the orange haired Shinigami walking towards her. He sat on the stone bench next to her, and took her hand in his. "Are you alright?"
She only nodded, unable to speak.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine, he'll understand," Ichigo said softly, brushing her raven black hair from her face. She snorted at his words. Sure he might understand...if they survived him throwing assorted items all over the place in rage...
"I don't know Ichigo...Renji and I have been best friends for—for forever. I know his feelings for me...well, were stronger than just being friends. I really don't want to hurt him," she said in a rush.
Ichigo kissed her forehead. "He'll understand," he assured her. He stood. "I'll be inside, I can feel his Reitsu."
Rukia felt nervousness flow over her as Ichigo left. She gripped the edges of the bench and clenched her eyes shut. She prayed that Renji would understand, that he wouldn't...Her own thoughts trailed off.
"Rukia!" called a distant voice, and her eyes snapped open, and she saw her life long best friend. She jumped up, smiling, and hugged him, and he was still towering over her.
"What's been up?" Renji asked. They sat on the bench, and he put his Zanpakatu down on the ground.
"Nothing much, you?" she lied. Everything had happened while he had been gone.
"Nothing really. That mission was a killer though," he added. "I don't know how you could stand being in the human world so long. And that Urahara is a freak," he added, rolling his eyes. Rukia giggled.
"So, did you meet anyone?" she asked casually, crossing her fingers mentally.
Renji stared off in the distance. "Yeah...I did. But she was a human...and there was someone else," he said glancing at her.
Rukia gulped, and prayed silently. She knew she had to tell him.
"Renji...there's...there's something I need to tell you," she said, starting to tremble.
Renji turned to her, and then they were staring into each other's eyes. He brushed her hair out of her face, and his hand lingered, and placed itself on the side of her face.
"No!" Rukia thought, as he started to bend down.
"Rukia..." he murmured, their faces inches apart. "While I was gone, I realized that...that I love you. And just being apart from you made my love stronger. Rukia, I love you."
And then he pressed his lips to Rukia's, into a gentle kiss.
When the kiss was over, Rukia looked at the ground, her eyes downcast, as Renji looked at her with searching eyes. She took a deep breath, and looked at Renji in the eye.
"Renji, I'm engaged.
To Be Continued...