A/N- Takes place after Aizen's death. Rukia has still never seen Ichigo's mask. This was done by request and is dedicated to the one that requested it, please enjoy!

Coming Clean

Ichigo stares into Rukia's big blue eyes, and he gets a bit scared at what he sees there.

Is this finally it? The moment we say everything that we've always kept hidden?

Ichigo takes a deep breath. He can't move, and he can't blink, because her eyes have made it impossible for him to do anything other than just stare at her.

Rukia stares into Ichigo's eyes, and she can see the fear. It makes her hesitate, and reconsider her earlier plan. After staring into his eyes for nearly a minute, she finally sighs, and it's a sigh of exasperation.

He's still not ready to hear it. I should have known. I've been ready since I almost died fighting against Aaroniero Arruruerie. How much longer will I be forced to wait?

Rukia crosses her arms and looks away for a moment before she stands with her back to Ichigo.

Ichigo doesn't know what to think. He's a bit disappointed that she's no longer on the bed, sitting next to him, staring at him with that intense expression that makes him believe something exciting is about to happen.

"What were you going to say?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia keeps her back to him, since she can't look him in the eyes when she responds. She clenches her fists.

"Nothing at all, just forget about it." Rukia says, with her voice low. She can hear the trembling in her voice, and she hopes Ichigo didn't hear it too.

"It didn't look like you were going to say nothing." Ichigo mutters as he looks towards the window. Yes, he had been scared but now he's disappointed.

"It's not like you're even capable of having a meaningful and deep conversation anyways!" Rukia snaps and she starts to walk towards his bedroom door, but Ichigo flies out of the bed and grabs her arm to spin her around. He gets right in her face.

"What in the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ichigo yells, a bit annoyed that she would go that far.

"See! Even the words are foreign to you!" Rukia says loudly before she pinches his arm to make him release her. Ichigo frowns and lets go of her, and when she turns to walk away, he runs around in front of her, and blocks her.

"You're the one who can't just say what in the hell was on your mind!" Ichigo growls as he crosses his arms, and gives her a long look of annoyance. Rukia glares at him.

How could I? You were looking like you wanted to run for the hills!

"I would say it if I thought I could get through to you!" Rukia yells, and then her eyes widen, and she turns around quickly to face the bed, so that he doesn't see her blush.

"Get through to me…what?" Ichigo asks, waiting for her to respond.

"Forget it." Rukia says, a bit mortified that she slipped up that much.

"So there's something you want to say, but you don't think you can get through to me?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia just can't stop blushing.

"You could put it that way," Rukia finally mutters, and she is unhappy with how things are going, and so she quickly turns and sidesteps Ichigo to try and run past him and out of the room, but Ichigo is too quick.

He snags her as she tries to run past him and he picks her up and tosses her over onto the bed. Rukia lands with a squeal on her ass and looks up at him.

"I won't let you out of here until you say it. If I have to sit on you to keep you put, I will." Ichigo threatens, and Rukia stares at him in shock at those words.

She crosses her arms and starts to scoff, but Ichigo begins to advance towards her and so she quickly puts her leg out in preparation to kick him if he even tries to sit on her.

"Don't even think about it!" Rukia tells him as she gives him a threatening look. Ichigo doesn't look intimidated, and that's not good.

"Go on, Rukia. I'm all yours." Ichigo says, and then he blushes a little bit, and Rukia does too. "I mean…I'm listening to whatever it is you want to say, even if it's deep." Ichigo says, feeling stupid.

Rukia realizes that it really is the perfect time, and she hopes that was a Freudian Slip on his part. She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.

"Well, I was thinking about us." Rukia says, softly, and Ichigo's eyes widen. He hesitantly steps forward and sits down on the bed next to her.

"What about us?" Ichigo asks, feeling extremely nervous, since he has no idea what will come out of her mouth next. She's always such a mystery.

"You know…us." Rukia says, and her voice is begging him to figure it out on his own. Ichigo stares at her, and he can see it in her eyes, exactly what she's trying to say.

"There's something you should know…before we talk about that." Ichigo says, as he looks away from her. Rukia stares at him. She almost feels like she just got shot down, but she decides to play along, rather than get upset.

"Oh really?" Rukia says, wondering what it is he's about to say. She's certain he cares for her as much as she cares for him!

"It's about me. I have a power that I haven't ever really discussed with you or shown you." Ichigo says, in a low voice. "You should really know about it before we discuss…us." Ichigo says, and Rukia can tell it's hard for him to say that, and so she takes a deep breath.

"Okay, well tell me then." Rukia says, eager to get on to the more important issue of the two of them, being together.

"Remember when you saw Hirako fight Grimmjow?" Ichigo says, and Rukia nods her head slowly.

"He saved my life." Rukia reminds Ichigo. "It's not like I could forget that so easily." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo nods.

"Do you remember the mask that he brought out, to fight against Grimmjow?" Ichigo asks next, and Rukia nods. She had been so shocked when she'd seen it, and she'd spent a lot of time wondering who they were, and why Ichigo was around them.

"I remember all of it." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo takes a deep breath.

"I have that ability, too." Ichigo whispers, and Rukia just looks at him. She had already figured as much.

"I really don't understand what that has to do with us though." Rukia says, and Ichigo jerks his head to stare at her.

"What?" Ichigo croaks.

"That ability doesn't change anything. It's not like you're a monster." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo just starts to smile at her.

"Well…it makes me feel a lot more comfortable about us, knowing that you know the truth." Ichigo tells her, and Rukia smiles back at him.

"Did you really think something like that could drive me away from you? You just don't understand anything, idiot!" Rukia says, starting out soft, but getting stronger as she goes on.

Ichigo gives her a look of adoring amazement. Then he starts to grin, and he stares her right in the eyes when he answers.

"Honestly…no. I couldn't get rid of you if I tried." Ichigo says, and Rukia starts to look indignant, but Ichigo grabs her by the back of the neck and pulls her in to kiss her. When he pulls away, he smiles at her, and makes everything okay. "Not that I'd ever try to."

Rukia kisses him this time and she wraps her arms around him.

No, but if coming clean made you feel better, then I'm glad you did it.