Disclaimer: Kubo is the owner of Bleach.

Summary: Random talk on the subject of love. This is done in 3rd person unlike the previous ones.

Author's notes: Another crack-based Bleach fic. This can be canon IchiRuki material (if you insist). AU of some sort.

Warning: None. Suitable for all readers. May be sloppy, so beware.

"Hey, Ichigo."

She was lying down on the cool, green grass; her violet orbs lost in the azure sky.

"Yeah?"

He was down on the green as well, lying contentedly next to her, stifling a little yawn with one hand. It was a beautiful morning, and they both had gone off for a quiet picnic at the hills overlooking Karakura Town. A soft, chilly breeze danced across their features, their clothes fluttering about softly in the wind.

"Do you love me?"

Her voice was guided, controlled. He didn't answer right away. He knew what she meant.

"Don't be stupid, midget. Of course I do," he answered truthfully, for he loved her dearly. She was his best friend, his soul mate, his partner. No one else could ever change that, and he would do anything to make sure that it would remain that way.

"How much?" Rukia continued to ask, and this time she turned to look at him. Ichigo glanced at her.

"A lot. Very much," Ichigo replied just as truthful. He was starting to wonder what was it that made her ask so many peculiar questions, when she cut him short.

"What do you think love is, Ichigo?"

Ichigo stared at her, eyebrows raised.

"Uh, I dunno. Wanting to protect? The will to protect?"

"Protect what? Don't be ambiguous with me, dummy."

"What? You're the one asking funny questions in the first place!" Ichigo retorted, fuming. Rukia rolled her eyes.

"Just answer me already," Rukia said. She held her gaze firmly on him, meeting his ambers.

"Tch. Fine," the orange-head muttered as a reply. He knew Rukia was not going to give this up. Her eyes already told him that.

'Why in the world is she asking such funny questions though?'

"Uhm, how should I put it . . ."

Rukia blinked at him. Her violet orbs seemed haunting. Ichigo knew that stalling the answer is no longer an option. He sighed, and turned to face her fully, allowing his body to lie on its side. Rukia too, did the same.

"Love is obviously, the want to protect someone, or something," he started carefully. He was picking out the right words to use. Rukia did not reply. Ichigo took this as a signal to continue.

"It's something intangible, but when it's there it's there and you know it. You can tell how it feels. It exists inside of you."

"Then when can you tell it's there, inside of you?" asked Rukia again, pointing to him. He looked at her finger pointing at his chest.

"Well, when you feel unhappy or in pain when that someone you love is hurt, then you know that it's there," Ichigo replied just as careful, his voice solemn and penetrating to Rukia's mind. She seemed to be thinking deeply.

"Why are you asking all this anyway, Rukia? It's…sort of out-of-the-blue," remarked Ichigo, his ambers searching for a clue on his best friend's face. Rukia looked up at him. He was always straightforward, much like her.

It was one of the reasons why they knew everything about each other, why they were always true to each other, why they were so connected with each other.

"I watched a movie last night, about a small child and a dying mother."

Ichigo looked at her, but did not say anything. He wanted her to continue.

"And in the movie, the dying mother talked about how much she loves her child, but that she could do nothing. Death was coming up on her."

Ichigo felt like he was the child star in that movie.

"How did the movie ended?" he asked. He could vaguely guess the ending then, but he wanted to know for sure.

Rukia shrugged her shoulders. Ichigo thought he could see a hint of sadness in her beautiful eyes.

Death has always been heartbreaking.

He knew.

He had lost his own mother.

She knew.

She had lost her companion.

"The child grew up with her grandparents," Rukia answered. She let out a strangled breath. She did not say it.

That the child became an orphan because the mother had died.

He smiled a faint smile. The memories of his late mother came fleeting at the back of his mind. He shook his head.

"Either way, I'm sure the child understands that her mother really did love her a lot."

Rukia nodded. She returned him an equally small smile.

The cold morning wind brushed lightly against their exposed skin for a brief moment.

"And I have to wonder, Rukia."

She turned to look at him.

"Do you love me too?"

A playful punch landed on his shoulder.

"You know, you're the biggest idiot that I've ever known."


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