A/N: Something short, but extremely sweet! I must say, I really-really like this! (At least the idea... I won't vouch for how it's written, I did it in a rush...)

Shining

It was a rare period of peace...

The confusing business with the fullbringers was finally over. Ichigo got his powers back, and could protect the innocent again. Rukia and Renji came to the World of the living this time not to fight hollows, not to announce some lunatic planning to destroy the world, but to just enjoy themselves with their friends.

The girls walked a little ahead as the party neared the park. Orihime and Rukia were filling each other in on what happened during last year. Orihime wanted to know everything concerning her friend's promotion, and she inquired her about her other soul reaper friends, especially Rangiku, and Captain Hitsugaia. Rukia was a little embarrassed at first, to be speaking this much, but Orihime's earnest curiosity soon put her at ease, and the conversation turned lively, with both of them laughing much.

Ichigo and Renji were walking behind them, being mostly silent. They were expecting Chad to join them later, and even Ishida didn't decline their invitation outright, so that meant that he would most likely show up too. Renji was balancing a volley-ball in his hands. The plan was they would play a friendly match, and Orihime even brought a big picnic-basket for all of them to share. This basket was now swinging in Ichigo's hands: when he had seen Orihime arrive, burdened down heavily, he had immediately relieved her, without one word, only the scowl on his face speaking his disapproval.

'Hey, I almost forgotten how nice the sun feels in this world!' Renji commented. 'Though I still don't particularity like this gigai of Urahara... It's perfect, of course, but I still feel kind of restricted inside it!' he complained, while throwing the ball up, and catching it again.

They had just went through the park's gate, and were now walking between rollerskating, skate boarding and bicycling kids. Orihime (being too caught up in her conversation with Rukia) wasn't walking in a straight line, and her sudden side-stepping caught a little boy on his bicycle off guard. He almost hit her. But Ichigo reached out to grab the bicycle's handlebar, and pulling it a little to the right, he managed to steer it safely away. Orihime never even noticed. Renji only raised an eyebrow, but decided not to comment.

As they walked on, the sweater that was tied to Orihime's waist have somehow untied itself, and fell to the ground. Maybe it was because the girl was now telling Rukia about Tatsuki winning that tournament a few months back, and she was bouncing up and down in her enthusiasm, illustrating the moment of the big victory with a few punches in the air before herself. Ichigo absent mindedly crouched down, and picked up the blue sweater, and put it on top of the picnic-basket.

As they were nearing the volley ball field, they passed a group of boys sitting on a bench. All their heads turned after the merrily laughing auburn haired beauty. One grinned, and telling something to his friends, he stood up. Ichigo doubled his steps, and headed the boy off, before he could reach Orihime. He didn't do anything, he just scowled, but that was enough to send the boy back to his previous place. Renji shook his head.

They finally arrived. The field wasn't occupied, luckily.

'Look! It's all ours! Isn't that great?' Orihime exclaimed. 'Should we do some warm up exercises, until Sado-kun and Ishida-kun arrive?'

Renji threw the ball to her.

'You go ahead... but I'm thirsty!'

'Oh, there is a bottle of lemonade with mint in the basket! And also some plastic cups! Please! Help yourself, Abarai-kun!'

Ichigo put the heavy basket down to a bench in the shadow of a tree, and Renji opened it.

'I have to ask...' he started, squinting at Ichigo amused. 'Doesn't it ever get tiring?'

'What do you mean?' Ichigo asked, his eyes on the girls. 'Erm... excuse me for a minute!' he added hurriedly, and run a little forward, because he just noticed, that a stray football that belonged to the kids playing on the field next to theirs, was flying in Orihime's direction. It would have hit her head square on, but Ichigo put himself in it's way, and headed it back to it's owners, crying:

'Oi! Watch where you kick it, Idiots!'

'Sorry!' the kids replied quickly.

Orihime turned, with a confused expression, but when she realized what happened, her cheeks heated up.

'Thank you, Kurosaki-kun!'

Ichigo only nodded to her, and walked back to Renji.

'What was it that you wanted to ask again?' he asked, while filling a cup with lemonade for himself too.

'Inoue... a lot seems to happen around her.' Renji stated cautiously.

Ichigo scowled.

'Yeah. You could put it that way.'

'And she is not even your girlfriend... technically. Tell me: is there anything you wouldn't do for her?'

There was a taunting edge to his voice, but thankfully Ichigo was not in the mood to excite himself over nothings. He only frowned.

'Inoue is... special. That's all there is to it.'

'How do you mean special?' Renji asked with glee. Boy the Berry was sentimental today!

Ichigo's eyes were lost in the distance. He was thinking hard.

'She... shines.' he finally blurted out simply.

'Shines?' Renji asked stupidly. He was so sure he was going to hear a confession of love, and he fully intended to take advantage of that, taunting Ichigo later. But this answer confused him.

'I have only met very few people with that ability... To shine light to those around them. To make the world a better place, with just living in it.' Ichigo said slowly, still thinking. 'Inoue... she is one. And my mother was like that too. So, to answer your question: yes. I would do anything for her. Because people like her are rare, and precious...'

Renji fell silent. The two boys just watched the girls throwing the ball to each other and laughing. Finally Renji cleared his throat awkwardly.

'Well... no matter how silly that sounds... I kind of understand what you're talking about. Because... Rukia... she shines too. For me.'

Ichigo's eyes widened a little, but then a small, true smile graced his lips.

…...

A/N: Review, please!