Til The End of Time

Chapter 1

"I wonder if I let the bubbles raise high enough if I could disappear in them", Rukia thought to herself. It had been a long day in the world of the living and she was ready to go back to the Soul Society. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift off into another dimension. While she sat in the bathtub taking a nap, Ichigo sat in his room working on his homework. "Ugh! I hate math. I don't see any point in learning something I really won't use as an adult! ", he scowled to himself. He looked up and away from his book only to catch a glimpse of the sunset. In sheer awe he stared into the bright and colorful sky and had all but forgotten the book under his elbows. "It's so beautiful isn't it?" said a female voice behind him. Ichigo slightly jumped in his chair and turned his head quickly. "God Rukia, you really need to stop sneaking up on me like that!" he growled. She giggled at his almost pale face and hopped on his bed. She loved the sunset, and at the Soul Society you really can't see them too well unless you hop up on a rooftop.

Ichigo lay with his head upright staring at the ceiling. Rukia would be leaving in a few days meaning he won't have anyone to bicker with for a few months. He sighed heavily to himself and turned his body toward his closet. It was cracked a bit and he could see a dim light coming from inside. Rukia was very nocturnal and she had a tendency to stay up late. Out of curiosity he carefully climbed out of his bed and crept over to the closet. He wanted to see her, to observe her with out knowing he was. To see what she was really like under no supervision. He peered into the closet and almost started to burst out in giggles. She was up to her drawing schemes again. He hated her drawings and always made fun of them. He let out a slight snort before tightening his hand over his mouth, but it was too late. Rukia had a sharp sense of hearing and quickly reached for the door. He tried to hide behind the wall but she had already seen him. "What on earth are you doing at my door, Ichigo!" Rukia glared at him with her arms crossed. "I… I was curious. You always stay up so late and I just wanted to see what it was that you did." he responded innocently. She couldn't hold a serious stare with him. It was Ichigo. Her goofy partner. She loved him so very much; she just couldn't stay mad at him. "You're such a dork, Ichigo!" she said slapping his shoulder.

It was casual dress day at school, and all the students were in heaven. Finally, a day without having to endure the uncomfortable, itchy uniforms. Ichigo wore his favorite blue jeans and a black tee shirt. He laughed when Rukia walked in wearing a similar ensemble. "You have got to be kidding me right?" she sneered. "Come on, Ichigo! Why do you have to copy me all the time!" she continued, throwing her arms in the air. Ichigo laughed, "Well I guess great minds think a like!" She smiled at him as she sat at the desk beside him. "Punk!" she bullied throwing her tongue at him. He tilted his head and smiled, "I might kiss you one day… you better stop provoking me." Rukia's eyes widened. That was the first time in two years he had ever said anything like that! She remained speechless as the rest of the class settled in. "It didn't seem to phase him…" she thought looking over at him. "I can't believe Ichigo said that!" He caught a glimpse of his freaked out friend from the corner of his eye. Smirking to himself, he leaned back in his chair and sighed. "This is gonna be fun!" he thought.

The walk home was unusually silent for them, but Ichigo knew. He knew Rukia's mind was racing and he was laughing at her from the inside. A slight feeling of sadness came over him suddenly. He remembered that she was leaving in a few days and it made him stop. Almost walking further ahead alone, Rukia stopped. "Ichigo? What's wrong?" she asked. "Rukia…" he said softly. She had already walked up to him when he looked up. He towered over her so looking down pretty much meant he was looking at her already. He took her hands in his and took a deep breath. "Rukia, you're leaving aback to the Souls Society here soon…" he trailed off. "So what's wrong? I always leave for periods at a time. You have never-" her sentence was cut off by a warm kiss on her lips. Rukia couldn't move. She didn't even realize she was kissing him back. Ichigo pulled her into his arms and continued to kiss her. She didn't even fight him as though she too had wanted this. After a few minutes it seemed Ichigo slowly pulled away and looked at Rukia. Her eyes were half closed. "She kind of looks silly" he thought to himself trying not to snicker. She quickly snapped too and realized what had happened. Her head quickly drooped over as she tried to hide her red cheeks. "What was that?" she said softly. Ichigo shrugged, "I had wanted to do that since the first time I met you" he confessed. Rukia was almost beet red. She was so shocked and embarrassed by what he was saying. "I think I'm in love with you…" That did it. Rukia looked up at him and stared into his eyes. "Ichigo…"

That night they both sat on his bed. This was very serious and they needed to talk about it. They were both innocent and they both had a strong feeling towards abstinence. Neither of them wanted to break their vow and with these feelings finally being laid on the table, it had to be discussed. "I agree Rukia. I love you and I am willing to wait as long as it takes. So long as you promise me you will wait for me too." Ichigo said with a sincere voice. Rukia smiled. It is very rare that a boy that age is willing to wait until marriage before having sex. Ichigo was indeed different from most boys tough. He was well mannered, very mature, and he had such strong spiritual pressure. She nodded, "I'm glad then. I'm sure when I tell Byakuya he will be pleased." Ichigo raised an eyebrow. Byakuya hated him and he knew it. Pulling Rukia onto his chest he gently rubbed her shoulder, "Just make sure your brother is in a good mod when you do so… I'd like to live to actually see us get married one day!" he joked. Rukia giggled and wrapped her free arm around him. "I love you, Ichigo…" she said. He lifted his arm. That was the first time she had said it back to him. "You do, Rukia?" he asked. She nodded now sitting up again and looking down at him. He slid up close enough to her face. This kiss was different. It had more yearning and passion to it. It made both of them very nervous and they stopped. "I never realized that a simple saying could change a kiss so much," he said. Rukia smiled back at him and lay back down. That was a close one!