A/N: Yay! I updated before school started! :] First of all, I would like to thank all you for the reviews. There was so many for that one chapter O.O I'm glad you guys like it so far. I was especially happy when I saw a few of my favorite authors review :]
I just have to warn you guys now that updates aren't going to be fast. I do things when I want to, plus I have four AP classes, a college class, and extracurricular activities that I do so even if I want to write, I can't. Now an important note.
I've read all your reviews and I just have to address something. This story was inspired by the Greek story of Persephone. It's not a retelling of it because I changed so many things around. A lot of the incestual relationships in Greek mythology are excluded from this fic. One reason is that there are so many stories and each story may have one or more versions. It's also not a retelling because I googled the story of Persephone and it usually ended with her and her mother reuniting. It isn't very descriptive. This fic is sort of filling in the spaces of what Greek mythology didn't say. Basically, how they fell in love.
So what I'm saying is, even if you are an expert on Greek mythology, have an open mind since I changed so many things.
And…yeah. Happy reading!
An Unexpected Confession
Zangetsu watched as his master paced back and forth, his footsteps echoing in the dark, nearly empty throne room. At times his face would light up only to shake his head a few seconds later.
"Ichigo."
"What now, Zangetsu? I'm trying to figure out what to get Rukia for her birthday."
He figured it had something to do with her. Ever since he met her all those years ago, half of his time was spent visiting her. On busy days he would go to the room of the Fates to see how she was doing through their mirror.
"It has to be better than last year. What can be better than a golden laurel crown?"
Zangetsu sighed. Every year he was like this. It was easier the first few years, but he insists on getting her a better present every year.
"May I suggest something personal and heartfelt? Something she's interested in?"
Exhausted, Ichigo plopped down on his throne and ran a hand through his bright orange hair. "I already got her a bunny for her ninth birthday."
Zangetsu shook his head. "She's sixteen now. Surely she has gained new interests over the years."
Ichigo's eyes snapped open. "Sixteen?" A smirk formed on his face as an idea formed in his head. "That's right. She'll be turning sixteen."
The tone of his voice made Zangetsu suspicious. "What are you thinking, Ichigo?"
The orange-haired man ignored him as he dashed out of the room. "I know what to get Rukia for her birthday!"
He should have thought of this sooner. This will surely be his best birthday present yet.
Rukia ran a brush through her short, black hair. She had been brushing it for an hour and it was as straight as it'll ever be. The ends weren't even frayed like they usually were.
She sighed and sat her hairbrush down. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn't help but hesitate at what she was about to do. Her hair was the same style every year ever since she could remember. Rukia wanted a little change. At least, that's what she thought.
She reached for her sword- a gift from her father the former year- and held it against the back of her neck. She pulled her hair straight down from the ends. With one smooth motion, she sliced through her hair already short hair, squeezing her eyes all the while.
When Rukia opened her violet orbs, she couldn't help but smile. It was shorter than she had ever had it, but it wasn't boy-hair short. It wasn't frayed at the ends, either.
It was different, but it was still her.
"Rukia, dear," her mother called. "It's time to eat."
"Coming!"
She ran her brush a few times through her hair before heading downstairs. As she neared the bottom, she suddenly became self-conscious of her look. What if it looked ugly? It looked fine in the mirror, maybe a little uneven, but not horrible.
Rukia stepped out of her tree home where her mother, Hisana, was cooking over a fire. They couldn't cook inside their house since it was highly flammible so their meals were always outside.
"Your father brought us a nice turk- Rukia, what did you do to your hair?"
Her hands instinctively flew to her raven locks, uncomfortable under her mother's gaze. "I cut it. How does it look?"
Rukia looked up expecting to see a disgusted look on her face. Instead, there was a warm smile on Hisana's face.
"It looks beautiful, my dear." She walked over to her daughter and ran a couple fingers through her hair. "A little uneven, but we can fix that."
"Will…Father like it?"
Hisana cupped her cheeks with her hands. "Of course he will. But are you sure it's your father you're trying to impress?"
Rukia turned bright red.
Hisana laughed lightly and took her hand. "Let's get your hair fixed. He is most likely going to visit today."
Ichigo and Rukia were taking a walk across the green field- the place where they first met. It became their favorite place to go when he visited.
"You look different."
Rukia blushed, instinctively tucking a side of her hair behind her ear. Hisana had fixed it so that it was shorter in the back and longer in the front. It framed her small, oval face perfectly.
"A good different or a bad different?"
"A good different, of course."
A small, shy smile formed on her face. "Thanks. I used…a sword to cut it."
"Why? Don't know how to use scissors?" He laughed and raised a brow teasingly.
She lightly punched him on the arm. "No! I just didn't want to take all that time cutting it. With the sword it's just one swoop." She made a hole with her hands as if she were gripping a sword and began swinging it in the air.
Ichigo laughed lightly. "Makes sense. Hairstyling is technically art, in a way, and you were never really patient with art."
Rukia's eyebrows knit together. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying my drawings are horrible?"
Ichigo bit his bottom lip realizing he just entered a mine field. On one hand, he wanted to say yes. Her paintings looked like that of a child. Besides, she looked cute when she was angry. On the other hand, he wanted to see that beautiful smile at hers. But she wouldn't believe him if he commented on her art.
"Yes, I am. They don't deserve to be on mere stone let alone an amphora."
Rukia's blood boiled at the insult. She balled her hand into a fist and sent it directly at his arm. "Take it back!"
He caught her wrist in time and twisted around so that he was behind her pinning her arm against her back. "Take what back?" he teased with a smile.
Gritting her teeth, Rukia squirmed. "Let go!"
"I don't ever want to let you go," Ichigo whispered huskily next to her ear.
She froze when she felt his warm breath against her skin. Heat flooded to her face as she processed the hidden meaning behind his words.
After a moment, he let go. She whirled around to see him smirking down at her.
"Don't worry, Rukia. I don't think they're horrible." Liar. "I'm just used to professional paintings. You have to admit, you're no Exekias."
Rukia huffed and crossed her arms across her chest; a motion Ichigo remembered her doing when they first met.
"My father is teaching me."
Ichigo's lips formed a thin line trying in vain to hold the laugh that was threatening to burst. Byakuya giving her painting lessons would explain why her art was so horrible. Their styles were almost the same except Byakuya's lines were a lot cleaner than Rukia's.
"What are you laughing at? My father is a great artist! You wouldn't know about art considering you live in the underworld where there's barely any light."
"Then maybe you can teach me about art one day."
His mind wandered to his plans. If everything works out, he would succeed in making Rukia his bride. She could teach him all about art when he had her living with him in the underworld.
Rukia stuck her tongue out at him and started running down the field. "I will if you catch me."
Ichigo watched as the girl ran away, her giggles ringing in the air like bells. He wished it was always like this. If he had his way, he would stay above ground forever and play in the field with Rukia. He would build a house right on the field, a house she would most likely want to design, and live there. They would have children and watch those children grow and have kids of their own.
It was a reality that sounded so easily attainable, except for a few, yet critical, factors.
One is that he was stuck in the underworld. He was assigned to rule and live underground for all eternity. He couldn't abandon his duty even if he wanted to. His job was too important. He couldn't entrust the fate of the souls to any other immortal he knew. Besides, no one else would take the job.
Next would be Byakuya. It would be hard to convince him to let him marry his daughter. He was strict over his only child. It took a long time to get him to agree to allow him to visit her. However, that was a factor he was williing to fight.
Finally would be Rukia herself. It was true that Ichigo could make her blush if he wanted to. She was embarrassed easily. Her skin was so pale that it was hard not to notice a blush when it was there. Even so, it didn't guarantee that she felt for him the same way he feels for her. Even if he manages to convince Byakuya, he didn't know how he would manage if Rukia didn't love him back.
Ichigo stopped dwelling on the thought figuring it would do him no good. He was sure Rukia loved him. Even if it wasn't the same love he felt, she did care for him. After all, they had known each other for years.
Ichigo ended up catching Rukia. She promised him that she would teach him about art before they started another game. The sun started to set meaning it was time to return home.
"I had fun today," Ichigo said, panting heavily after they raced to see who would get home first. He won, of course.
Rukia nodded, trying to catch her breath as well. "You always say that."
He sat down on the grass and let the rest of his body fall to the ground. "It's true, though."
She joined him on the grass. They looked up at the sky taking in the sight of pinks, purples, reds, yellows, oranges, and blues.
They were silent for awhile as they evened out their breathing.
Rukia turned her head to look at his face. He looked serene with his eyes fixed on the sky. She examined his handsome features that she came to know so well. In the years they have known each other, Rukia had changed so much. Her body, her voice, her demeanor.
Ichigo, however, stayed the same. The only difference is that he started treating her differently ever since her thirteenth birthday. He gave her more compliments on her appearance saying she was beautiful. Even the ordinary things he said sounded like he meant something completely different.
The way he looked at her changed the most. Sometimes he would look at her the way her father looks at her mother.
Ichigo cared for her and she cared for him. That was it. But, at times, it looked and felt as if there was something else in those amber eyes of his.
"Are you done looking?"
Rukia turned red, something she does a lot in his presence, and turned back toward the sky. "I wasn't looking!"
Ichigo chuckled. "Whatever you say."
She fought the urge not to look at him again, but eventually lost. She looked at him from the corner of her eye finding he was still looking up at the changing sky with the same serene look on his face.
"Are you always happy?"
At that question, he turned his head to look at her. "Why do you ask?"
"It's just that I've known you for years and you're always happy. Even if we get into an argument, you're the one who gets us talking again."
Ichigo smiled warmly at her. His hand took her hand in his, making her gasp softly. "I'm always happy when I'm with you. Sometimes I get lonely underground. That's why I made Zangetsu. I told you the story of how I created him, right?"
She nodded. "A stone and a part of your soul?"
"Yeah. I enjoyed his company, but I still felt empty. The Fates kept me company, too. They're my sisters so of course I love them. Still, I lived life as if there was still something missing."
Ichigo turned his head, his smoldering amber eyes meeting her amethyst ones. He squeezed her hand and said, "Then I met you. Rukia, you were what was missing in my life."
Rukia blushed. "M-me?"
"Yes. No one has ever liked me. I know the other immortals don't. Most humans don't. The only ones who ever cared were my family and Zangetsu, but they don't count. Families are supposed to love each other and Zangetsu, well, I made him, so he doesn't count. But you-"
He brought her into a soft embrace. He tucked her head underneath his chin and began stroking her hair
Rukia held her breath at the contact then released and relaxed as his warmth enveloped her.
"I never knew you and you never knew me. You weren't repulsed by me. In fact, you wanted to play with me." Ichigo chuckled at the memory of her innocence. "We were strangers yet you enjoyed my company, and I yours. You still liked me even after Byakuya told you who I was."
Ichigo pulled away from her and looked straight into her amethyst eyes. "Are you okay? You're very quiet."
Rukia wanted to say something. The words were stuck at her throat. She didn't even know what those words were for she was speechless.
Staring up into his eyes, she knew he meant every word of it and every word came from his heart. There was no doubt in her mind that what he said wasn't true. Rukia just didn't know what to say in return for those kind words.
"I…" she began.
Ichigo chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead. "You don't have to say anything. I know that's a lot to take in."
"Y-yeah…" she said lamely, averting her eyes away from his gaze.
He chuckled again and released her from his embrace. The cloak of night almost completely covered the sky.
Before getting up, he looked down at her and smiled. "You don't have to say anything at all. Just know that from now on, I will officially start to woo you."
Rukia's face turned a deep red, a red deeper than any color she had made that day. "E-excuse me?"
Ichigo smiled, choosing to ignore her, and held out a hand. "Come on. Let's get you inside. It'll be dark soon."
A/N: Review, darlings :3
