A/N: Please enjoy the IchiRuki fluff and review!

"She doesn't recognize me," Toshiro said, eyes wide with intolerable amounts of sadness. "What should I do? Should I go after her?"

"No!" I said abruptly. "No. That will just scare her more. You can stay here and wait. Maybe I can try and talk some sense into her when she returns."

"That's rough, Toshiro, I'm sorry," Ichigo said with a frown.

"I didn't want to think the damage Aizen had done was so severe mentally," I said.

"If what you are saying is true and that Aizen may have found a way to kill us and tried to use Momo as a test subject, then this is just another difficulty in a long list of problems," Ichigo said.

"I'll call Urahara," Toshiro said.

I frowned, confused. "Whose is Urahara?"

"The keeper of intelligence. We ran into him back in London. He's managed to successfully find his pair. She goes by the name Yoruichi," Toshiro explained as he pulled out his phone.

"You've found others?" I asked, my voice a mere whisper.

"He's the only other one, but his is progress," Toshiro said. "With us, that makes three complete pairs."

"That's pretty good considering we were scattered across Earth. Why the fuck did we not think of having some sort of rendezvous point in case we got separated?" Ichigo said as he ran his hands through his orange hair.

"We are immortal beings, the last thing we typically concern ourselves with is strategy," Toshiro answered. "Rukia, is there anywhere where I can place a call privately?"

I nodded. "You may use the patio. It's a nice night outside. If not, feel free to use Momo's room. It's okay. I give you permission."

Toshiro nodded and left the room, leaving Ichigo and I to ourselves.

My heart started to race.

"Would you like a drink?" I asked.

"Sure, scotch on the rocks, if you have it."

I nodded and went to the kitchen to prepare Ichigo's drink, making myself one too. I returned shortly to find him walking around or living room, observing it.

"For two girls, your interior design is very... plain," Ichigo said. "Invest in some pillows or a lamp. You need a bright pop of color or a statement piece."

"I'll add it to my to-do list," I said, rolling my eyes. "It's good to be with you."

At this, the cocky, witty exterior Ichigo had previously worn melted. He turned to me, a genuine smile on his face. "It's good to be with you too. I hope being mortal hasn't given you much trouble."

I shook my head. "I've been taking care of Momo. That's all. But I'm happy to do it."

"So do you think Aizen can really kill us?" Ichigo said as he sat down on my fashionably mundane tan couch. He began to twirl the ice in his glass.

"I don't know, but I would assume so. You didn't see Momo."

"No I didn't," Ichigo said, taking a sip from his drink. "But fuck, how horrible. When we went to save her, up in the sky all those months ago, there was a moment where I was afraid she was going to be Aizen's captive. But that's all I thought she would be, a captive. I never would imagine she could have potentially ended up dead."

Ichigo had been part of the small group of Lightbringers that had made a last minute effort to try and save Tobiume from Aizen. The rest of us were so deep in our own battles and struggle with Aizen's various subordinates to help. I myself had to abandon my own fight when Momo was finally released and she went tumbling down to Earth unconscious.

I sat down next to Ichigo and felt fully at peace for the first time since our descent to Earth. Even such a formidable topic could not stop this feeling. I-we- were a complete unit again and it felt so right.

"That scares me," I said honestly. "What would happen to this world if one of us dies?"

"I don't know," Ichigo said as he continued to enjoy his drink. He ran his hands through his hair. "But there is a reason we were created in pairs. Thirteen pairs for thirteen aspects of balance. No good can come out of losing half of a pair."

"No it can't," I said. I threw back the rest of my drink and placed the empty glass on the coffee table. I turned to Ichigo and for the first time that night, truly studied his face. He was handsome in the traditional way, with the exception of his hair. "How did you end up with such... colorful hair?" I said as I gently reached out and brushed a stray lock back into place.

"I don't know," Ichigo shrugged. "How did you end up so short?"

"Oh whatever," I said, rolling eyes.

"I'm partners with a midget," Ichigo said as he placed one hand on my shoulder.

"You know what humans say about gingers," I said.

"What?" Ichigo said, leaning closer to me.

"They have no souls," I said with a laugh.

"Well I don't have a soul," Ichigo said. He put down his glass and moved both of his hands on my face and began to caress my cheeks with his thumbs. The warmth from his skin radiated throughout my body. "At least not my own soul. You are my soul, Rukia."

"That's so cheesy," I said; nevertheless, I could not help but look into his deep, amber eyes. I could feel the color rise in my cheeks.

"It is," Ichigo said with a smile. "Doesn't it feel so right to be together? I feel as though I've known you for an eon."

"You have known me for an eon," I said.

"And I'll never get tired of being with you."

The majority of Lightbringer pairs do not get the opportunity to reign together. Many spend years, even centuries apart if that what it takes to keep the universe in balance. This was not the case for Zangetsu and I. Even in our true spirit forms, we have always been together. The times we are apart are far and few inbetween.

We work well as a team and we know it.

"In all seriousness, I've miss you," I said to Ichigo. His deep amber eyes were staring straight at me, as though he was worried I would disappear at any moment.

"I've missed you too. Toshiro's rotten company in comparison."

"Speaking of Toshiro, what have the two of you been doing these past months? You've yet to inform me."

Ichigo moved closer to me and wrapped his around my shoulder to pull me closer. "We've been traveling the world, always hunting, searching and looking."

"Looking for what?"

"You."

At this, the blush I had been developing deepened. It amazed me how no matter how long Ichigo and I were a pair, he could still get the smallest reaction from me. Even in heavens this went on.

"And do you like what you've found?"

"Indeed. I never thought the mortal representation of my other half would be so... perfect," he breathed the last word into my ear. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as a shiver ran down my spine. He returned his gaze to my own eyes. "Tell me, Rukia, have you had your way with mortal men?"

"I technically am human."

"It's okay, Rukia," Ichigo said to me. His voice was low, husky and dripping with sex. "We all need distractions. But none of that matters. There is nothing you could do that would make me not want you for you are everything I've wanted." With that Ichigo pressed his lips on my mouth. He kissed me, taking my breath away before abruptly ending the kiss. He returned his lips to my ear and whispered, "Oh, do I want you right now."

Before I could react, Ichigo put both his hands on my shoulders, pushing me into my back. He crawled on top of me and placed his lips back on mine.

His kisses were aggressive, as though I was about to disappear at any second and he had to make sure to enjoy as much of me as possible. His lips tangled with mine and he took my bottom lip in his own, biting down on it. I moaned, granting him access to the inside of my mouth. His tongue moved gracefully with mine.

We continued to kiss on the couch, and Ichigo's hands began to wander up and down my body. He traced my sides with his palms, before rolling down the top of my strapless dress, exposing my breasts to him. He immediately stopped kissing my mouth and took one of my breasts in his mouth, kissing and sucking them.

"Ichigo," I moaned through the pleasure. "We are in the living room. Let's go to my room."

You may think what you want about how quick we were to jump in bed. Many may judge, but few will know the overwhelming joy reuniting with your other half brings.

I, it seemed, would have to wait a bit to find out.

Before Ichigo and I could retreat to the privacy of my room, the door to the patio slammed shut, alerting us of Toshiro's return inside. Quickly, Ichigo and I jumped apart. I hastily fixed my dress and attempted to pat down my hair.

After one look at Toshiro, it was clear that he was still clearly distraught with the events of earlier.

"I should have gone after her."

"No you shouldn't of," I said insistently. My breathing was still uneven, a lingering result of Ichigo's desperate kisses. "She would have panicked even more."

Toshiro sat down on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair before sighing in desperation. "Then what do I do?"

"I don't know man," Ichigo said beside me.

"I'll text her," I said. "I'll tell her it's best if she comes home. That we need to have a chance to talk. But there's no promising she will be back soon. She could just want to disappear for a bit."

"And if she disappears forever?"

"She's not going to run away. She's not... she's not strong enough and she knows it." I said the last bit of the sentence as quietly and quickly as possible.

At this, Toshiro swallowed, clearly trying to accept the reality he was in. "Fine." He said simply. "I want to sleep. Where's a good place?"

"You can have the couch," I said. "I'm sorry. I would offer Momo's bed but if she were to come home to find you wrapped up in the sheets... And we don't have a guest room."

"It's fine," Toshiro said as he sprawled out on the couch. "I can sleep anywhere."

"That he can," Ichigo said next to me. "We should leave him to rest."

I nodded and grabbed Ichigo's hand, leading him to my own room. After changing out of my evening clothes, I turned to Ichigo. "On second thought, I think sleep sounds the best."

He did not hide the disappointment on his face.

"I'm sorry," I said rationally. "It's just... I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long, long day, both emotionally and physically."

"But we don't need to sleep," Ichigo said, attempting to persuade me to change my mind.

"So? That doesn't mean I don't need it right now. Please, Ichigo. It's going to get rough. I have a feeling."

He looked at me and eventually let out a sigh and threw back my comforter. "Fine," he said. "But we can at least cuddle."

We got into my bed and quickly found that it was perfectly natural for us to lay wrapped up in each other. This was no surprise, after all, Ichigo and I are inseparable up in the heavens.

With Ichigo providing me with warmth, I soon fell asleep listening to nothing but the steady beat of his mortal heart and the soothing sounds of his breath.

Tomorrow would be a long day, but for right now, all I needed was a nap and the company of my other half.