What if...
Ichigo ran through the sands of Hueco Mundo, towards the herculean white towers that held Inoue captive. Suddenly, two giant hollows appeared, as if to block his way. Ichigo merely cut off their heads, as if they were nothing more than scraps of meat. Finally, he reached the towers. Glaring at them as if they were the most despicable promontories of existence, he jumped forward, to reach the top. However, hundreds of Exequias appeared, as if they were waiting for him. Ichigo looked at them, surprised. The head Exequias unsheathed his sword and flew forward to slice the shinigami down. Instead, their swords clashed as Ichigo blocked his enemy's blow. Other Exequias came after him. Ichigo blocked all their attacks, but there were too many. Suddenly, multiple Exequias were cut down, but not by Ichigo's blade. Turning around, he saw his friends, Renji, Chad, and Rukia, aiding him in battle. His face lit up in happiness as Rukia appeared, performing Hakuren beautifully. Despite this, Ichigo quickly came out of his daze and faced the other Exequias.
"Baka! We can take care of these guys on our own!" shouted Rukia at Ichigo.
"Like I'm gonna let you get hurt again!" snapped Ichigo back as he cut off one of the heads of the Exequias.
"You fool! You always get like this when I get hurt! News flash! Since when has a shinigami not come home with a few scratches?!"
"You're different, Chibi!"
The others could hear the shouts and curses.
"I've always questioned if they really are happy to see one another," uttered Renji to Chad as they continued to fight the Exequias.
"They're both too stubborn to admit it," remarked Chad as he sucker punched an Exequia.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Renji and Chad turned around, only to see Zaraki Kenpachi, running towards them.
"T-Taichou?" stuttered Renji in surprise.
"OUT OF THE WAY!" he shouted once more.
Jumping into the air, the captain of the 11th division began to slice down the Exequias.
"You guys just keep popping up like weeds, don't ya!" exclaimed Zaraki as more Arrancars came. "Keep on coming! I can take on all of you!"
Ichigo paused his bickering momentarily as he overlooked the bloodthirsty captain.
He still has enough energy to fight? thought Ichigo, annoyed.
"Ichigo," enunciated Rukia. "Go, now"
"Let me help you defeat them," he responded.
"Damn it! Why are you so-"
Ichigo shunpoed behind her. Rukia, surprised, looked behind herself and saw Ichigo holding a bloody Exequia by the shirt. Ichigo dropped the body, letting it fall through the air. The orange-haired shinigami turned to face Rukia.
"The only reason I didn't sense him is because you-"
Rukia was silenced as soon as Ichigo's lips found their place on hers. Kurosaki Ichigo was kissing Kuchiki Rukia. Rukia was in shock as her mind tried to process Ichigo's current action. Kurosaki Ichigo, the Kurosaki Ichigo, who was an egomaniac, hot-headed, cocky, and one of the world's most dense person she had ever met who couldn't even perform kidō, was kissing her on the lips. Yet, instead of punching him for such an outlandish deed, she kissed him back. Melting at the warmth of the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Ichigo wrapped his arms around the petite shinigami and held her closely as he continued to kiss her.
I wish this moment could last forever, thought Ichigo, but he knew he didn't have much time.
Even though he ended the kiss, he held onto Rukia.
"Like I said, you're different, Rukia," said Ichigo.
Rukia stared at him, but she snapped back to reality as soon as she saw the oncoming Exequias. Sensing them as well, Ichigo let go of Rukia and the two began to fight.
"Tsugi No Mai, Hakuren!"
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
The two shinigami worked together to eliminate the enemy.
"Rukia, there's something I need to say!" exclaimed Ichigo.
"We're in the middle of a battle Ichigo! What could possibly be important?!" snapped the raven-haired shinigami.
Ichigo pulled her close to him and spoke, "Will you marry me?"
The Exequias continued to multiply, but the world seemed to stop for a split second. Ichigo blocked their attacks from hitting Rukia, who seemed to be in a slight daze.
Nani? she thought.
The sound of clashing swords brought her back to reality.
"W-What are you talking about Ichigo?!"
"You heard me Rukia!" he exclaimed as he deflected the blow of another Exequia. "Will you marry me?"
"Are you crazy?!" she said, slashing at the chest of another Exequia.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," he declared as he ripped through the skin of his enemy.
Facing Rukia as she turned to face him, he said, without hesitation, "I love you."
Ichigo faced his enemy once again and began to cut down his adversaries.
Love? He loves me?
Rukia stabbed an Exequias in the shoulder blade as the thoughts ran through her head.
But-But, I'm a shinigami! I even said so myself, Whether I like him, whether I hate him, it's just all troublesome. And yet...
The memories of their relationship played in her head. Their meeting, training together, his stubbornness to save her that nearly got him killed. Love? He proclaimed it without hesitation!
What about me?
Rukia would describe their relationship as more than friends, but less than lovers. And yet...
Ichigo's smile, his strength, his willingness to protect, the feeling of his lips upon hers, and the warmth that enveloped her in that split second. Love.
"Rukia!"
"Huh?" her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her name being called. There was Ichigo, right by her side. The orange-haired teenager grabbed a hold of her hand and said, "I love you, but it's your decision. I just never want to lose you again."
Rukia tightened the grip on their hands.
Ichigo is the one I want to experience love with.
"Zaraki-taichou!" she shouted.
"WHAT?!" he roared as he continued to slice the Exequias.
"Marry us!" she yelled back as she and Ichigo continued to cut down multiple Exequias as well.
Ichigo was taken aback by her words.
"I'M A LITTLE BUSY AT THE MOMENT!" barked Kenpachi.
"He can do that?" asked Ichigo, never letting go of Rukia's hand.
"Any taichou of the Gotei 13 can marry two people together!" she responded tightening her hold on his.
The two were now on the tower, continuing to hack each enemy. Renji and Chad were at the end of the tower, dealing with their own Exequias, while Zaraki was at the top of the tower, fighting off the Exequias that were jumping towards him.
"Kenpachi now!" shouted Ichigo to the taichou as he continued to slice his assailants down.
"FINE THEN!" lashed out the bloodthirsty taichou.
Shoving the Exequias off the ledge so he could have a few moments to speak, he shouted out, "DEARLY BELOVED, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO WITNESS THE JOINING OF KUROSAKI ICHIGO AND KUCHIKI RUKIA!"
Renji and Chad turned around quickly.
"What?!" exclaimed Renji in shock.
"You heard the man!" shouted Ichigo.
"I don't think now is the best time!" shouted Renji back.
"Now may be the only time!" responded Ichigo
"Say your lines!" snapped Zaraki.
Ichigo and Rukia fought back to back as Ichigo recited, "Kuchiki Rukia, do you take me to be your husband?"
"I do!" answered Rukia, declaring what her heart had already expressed.
"Great!" said Ichigo, smiling as he flogged another Exequias.
Rukia deflected one of their punches as she recited, "Kurosaki Ichigo, do you take me to be your wife?" The shinigami stabbed her enemy in the forehead. "In sickness and in health, with health being,"
Rukia pulled the sword out of her opponent's skull. "The less likely?"
Ichigo turned her around and replied, "I do."
Both shinigamis continued to fight off each Exequias that came towards them.
"AS CAPTAIN OF THE 11TH SQUAD, I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU MAN AND WIFE!" shouted Zaraki as he continued to stab oncoming Exequias. "YOU MAY KISS!"
More Exequias crowded him, but Zaraki continued to cut them down like trees.
"JUST KISS!" he snapped in annoyance.
Ichigo embraced Rukia, and kissed her. Once more, the world stopped moving. Everyone around them seemed to disappear, for only Ichigo and Rukia existed in that moment. The warmth of the kiss spread through their bodies, creating utter bliss. The kiss was the final act, the promise that would bind them together. Though it was a rushed marriage ceremony, in the middle of battle, these two shinigami felt like the happiest souls in existence.
"Hey guys! We're not waiting for the bouquet to be thrown! We're fighting Arrancar here!" barked Renji.
Ichigo and Rukia stopped kissing. Remembering where they were, they smiled at each other and returned to slaying the Exequias.
The swarm began to die down, with Zaraki having the honor to kill the last one.
"Ichigo," spoke Rukia as she turned to him.
"I know," he responded as he looked at the tower. "I'll go save Inoue."
The atmosphere became serious.
"Come back alive okay? When all this is over we'll have a sake drinking contest and a victory party!" declared Renji as he slapped Ichigo on the back. "That is, if your wife will let you."
Ichigo smirked at the redhead and turned to Chad. Being a man of few words, Chad smiled and nodded at his best friend. Ichigo then turned to Rukia.
"Hey! Get your butt going and save Inoue!" she shouted at him.
What? No 'ganbare' or kiss for good luck?" he questioned, chuckling.
Rukia punched him in the gut.
"Baka! Just get moving! I already know you're going to win," she stated with a hmph.
Coughing, he remarked, "Now I question why I married you."
The two smirked at each other and soon, Ichigo was off.
I know you will save Inoue, Ichigo, thought Rukia as she saw her husband disappear into the tower. You'll come back with victory.
"This is goodbye, Ichigo," uttered Rukia with sadness.
The two stood in front of the Kurosaki clinic, talking to each other for the very last time.
"Seems like it," replied Ichigo, despondently.
"Hey, don't be so sad!" exclaimed Rukia, with fake laughter. "You may not be able to see me anymore, but I'll still be able to see you!"
Truthfully, that isn't enough for me. Is it wrong for me to want my husband near me? she thought, glumly.
"That doesn't make me feel any better at all!" answered Ichigo, irritated.
Because I want to be able to see you everyday, he thought.
The two stared at each other in their last moments together as Rukia's feet slowly started to disappear from Ichigo's sight.
"Tell everyone, I give them my best," said Ichigo, glumly.
"Okay," said Rukia, dismally.
There is so much I want to say to you, thought Ichigo as he gazed at his wife.
Why did it have to be like this? thought Rukia, regretfully.
I want to hold you, thought Ichigo.
I want you to embrace me, thought Rukia.
I want to kiss you.
Can't you feel my heart breaking?
I want to wake up every morning with my wife by my side.
Am I selfish to want to freeze time?
I did this to protect everyone, especially to protect you.
If you would have told me the consequences, I don't know how I would have reacted.
I love you so much. Why can't I say it one last time?
We're too stubborn to say words of love in our last moments.
Just to feel the warmth of your embrace...
Just to feel the warmth of your lips upon mine...
Why did I have to love you so much? they thought simultaneously.
"Thank you, Rukia," said Ichigo
As his wife disappeared from his sight, a single tear fell down his cheek.
I know I should be writing LH...but I couldn't resist! I wrote three IchiRuki one-shots and all are different IchiRuki marriages.
This AU is the first one for those Pirate of the Caribbean fans out there! Enjoy!