Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns Bleach, not me.
A/N: Please read and review. Thank you very much. God bless!
" Lies." She took a step.
" Betrayal." Then another step.
" Hatred." Another step made.
" Then…" She halted to contemplate. Somehow, she can't figure out what should be next. " Then…"
" What are you doing?" Ichigo suddenly asked, coming out of nowhere. He turned her to face him. The perpetual scowl was nowhere to be found in his handsome feature. Instead, a small smile replaced it.
" I was thinking." She told Ichigo.
Cocking his head slightly, Ichigo inquired further. " Thinking? While walking towards the bush?"
She was hesitant to answer but decided to avert her eyes from him and nodded instead.
" It would have hurt if you stepped on those huge thorns you know. Very painful."
She looked at the huge rose thorns and gulped. " I know it would hurt."
" Then why would yo—"
" Because I want to compare." She cut him off.
" Compare?" Ichigo asked. " Compare what?" He was definitely bewildered.
" If the pain is the same." She stated as she finally looked into his eyes again.
Ichigo was clearly surprised. Why was she thinking about these things? Did something happened? Concern filled him immediately. His brows furrowing, he asked. " What's wrong?"
" What if…" She began and paused. Then heaving a sigh and mustering up enough courage, she continued. " …if I lied to you, will you feel betrayed?"
For her to ask him such a question out of the blue, Ichigo was clearly taken aback. To be honest, he didn't how to respond. He contemplated for a moment and decided to tell the truth. " Yes. I will feel betrayed."
" Will you hate me by then?" It was no more than a whisper but Ichigo heard it well. Somehow, it had already dawned Ichigo what this was all about. Her amethyst eyes were looking at him expectantly, anxious about what kind of answer she'll get. The frown in his face was gone and was replaced with a very gentle and loving smile. Placing a kiss on her puffy left cheek, he hugged her tightly. " If you ever lied to me, I will hate what you did but not you."
" Ehhh. What's going on? Why do I feel left out?" Rukia spoke to make her presence known for the two who were having an intimate moment.
Ichigo pulled away from the girl and looked at Rukia with an amused face. " It seems our little angel has something to tell us."
" Really?" Rukia approached the two of them and squatted to level with the girl. " What is it?" She asked gently.
Kurosaki Ruka looked at her mother for a moment before starting to wail as she hurled towards her for a hug. " I'm sorry mommy. I was the one who ate the cake daddy left for you. Not Kon."
" Awwww. It's okay Ruka." Rukia cooed, patting the crying child's back with gentle strokes. " But promise mommy and daddy that next time you won't lie again okay?"
Ruka looked at her mother and nodded enthusiastically. " I promise."
Ichigo was wearing a pleased expression as he watched his family. Then he remembered something. " Ruka." Ichigo called her attention which made the little girl who was an exact replica of her mother turn to him. " Do you know, with the words you said, what comes next?"
Ruka shook her head and looked at his father with interest.
" Lies, betrayal, hatred…" Ichigo came to her and smiled. "…then comes forgiveness." He hugged his wife and daughter all together.
What a pleasant day it was.