Author's note: I still can't believe it but I was able to write this chapter in one night. Yehey! Anyway, this story will probably end by summer.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Chapter 9: Getting closer

It was already four in the afternoon but Ichigo and Rukia was still enjoying the fabulous sight at the rooftop. It was too late when they notice that the sky was getting darker and shortly, the heavy rain poured.

"Rukia, we have to go inside." Ichigo said worried about the princess.

"Yeah." She followed Ichigo inside.

The two went straight to the living room and found themselves soaked and all wet.

"It's cold, Ichigo!" Rukia said shivering.

"Don't worry, Rukia." He replied while setting the fireplace. "Sorry. If I did not bring you here, you would not…"

"No! I really had a fun time!" she smiled.

Soon, heat wrapped the room. Rukia sat beside Ichigo in silence.

"Ichigo…"

"Nani?"

"I want to know what you're thinking right now. Can you tell me?"

"Nothing exactly but whenever I'm here I remember my family."

"Family, huh? Do you think I have a family?"

"I can't say anything in particular."

"you know, I envy the other kids when I was little." Rukia continued as ahe leaned on his shoulder. "They can call their parent 'mama' and 'papa' but I must address mine 'your majesty'. Do you think I'm pathetic?"

"No. After all, you still have Prince Toushiro beside you and…me. I'm here to make you happy and smile everyday of your life."

"Arigatou, Ichigo…" then, the princess fell a sleep.

----- Ichigo's POV -----

Rukia, I love you so much but will we stay forever? To be with you is a dream. If this is a dream, then, I don't wanna wake up anymore. We should realize soon that you're a princess and I'm nobody. I have no right to stay in your heart.

----- end of POV -----

Ichigo stared at the princess's face as lovely as an angel. All of a sudden, his attention was shifted to her tender lips. The urge to kiss it flowed throughout his body. Unhurriedly, he lowered his head to reach her lips but he stopped.

"I can't!" he sighed. This woke up the sleeping princess and said "What do you mean you can't? Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing. Shall we go? It's getting dark." Rukia just nodded to agree.

The time was six in the evening when they left Ichigo's house. After an hour, both had gone back to the palace just exactly the queen expected them.

----------ooo000ooo---------

In the garage…

"See you again tomorrow, Your highness…" Ichigo said.

"Take care."

Before he can walk completely out of the palace, Ichigo remembered something he wanted to do. "Rukia…" the next moment his warm lips were already touching hers. The kiss was very gentle and soft but it meant so much for Rukia. It was their first and true kiss after the incident in Okinawa. Soon, the two parted from each other. "I love you." He whispered to her ear and immediately left.

----------ooo000ooo--------

Inside Toushiro's room…

"Shiro-chan, I got something for you." Rukia knocked at the door.

"Come in!" and so she did.

"Here!" she said as she presented a small wrapped box to the crown prince. "This is for you. It's a souvenir from the piano recital."

"You should stop doing such childish things and start it by addressing me properly, RUKIA-HIME!" he replied putting more emphasis to her name.

"Nee, Shiro-chan, do you think that I've grown up?" she asked and sat on a sofa near the prince's bed.

"Well, you sure have grown up by the way I see you now." He stood up from his bed and faced his sister. "I was there last night. I saw everything, nee-san…" this made Rukia's eyes grow big and display her shocked expression.

"You saw it?!"

"I did but…"

"But I'll keep everything a secret.

"Really?!"

"How can a crown prince break a promise?" he continued. "Just tell Ichigo that if he ever make you cry, he'll pay big. Just know your boundaries. Don't get so close to each other in front of the public or else the two of you will be in big trouble." He advised her. Rukia quickly hugged her younger brother. "Thank you so much! I'm so lucky to have you!"

----------ooo000ooo-------

Three years has passed. Unbelievably, nobody ever knew about Ichigo and Rukia's relationship and their love just grew deeper and deeper as time goes by.

"By next month, it's finally your eighteenth birthday, Rukia-hime." The king said happily.

"Indeed. The king and I wanted to know if you will prefer to celebrate your debut in an hotel for a change. Then, we can invite the media and your friends can also come. Isn't that a wonderful idea, princess?"

"It's my pleasure your majesty to be given such privilege. Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome. You may leave now, princess."

Both the majesties were the only people left inside the room and they talked about Rukia's future.

"Your majesty, isn't it so early for the princess to get married? She's only eighteen by the coming month." The queen said her opinion.

"I don't think so my dear queen. We , royalties tend to marry and have children at an early age. We did this to continue our generation. You know that very well, right?"

"Yes but have you found someone to be Princess Rukia's betroth."

"I've found one and I'm sure that the princess will have no objections if she meets him at he party." He assured her.

Author's note: Well, I think it's kind a obvious who's Rukia's fiancé. Hahaha Thanks for your time and please submit reviews. From this point, the couples will now encounter conflicts.