Chapter 12: Sinful voices

Song by Josh Groban and Charlotte Church. I strongly suggest listening to it on youtube.

Ichigo flipped through the air, his body perfectly parallel to the black stage floor before he landed in a crouch. Ichigo paused in his stance then slowly stood up straight, breathing hard. Rukia pushed away from the wall that she was leaning on and walked up to her partner, claming.

"Very good, Ichigo. Didn't think you'd land that one." she smiled when he was in front of him, her face about a foot away from his. Ichigo could only cock a smile as he breathed hard.

Renji and Shuuhei stood up from their front row seats in the auditorium and approached the couple on stage.

"That was cool," Renji said, folding his arms on the stage and laying his head down on them. "No, man, seriously, that was awesome." He repeated, as if Ichigo didn't hear him the first time. Ichigo bowed his head, silently thanking him before looking back at his smaller dance teacher.

"So now what?" Ichigo asked, ready for anything Rukia could throw at him. Rukia smirked, as if hiding something and she bobbed on the balls of her feet for a moment before pivoting and walking to the boom box on the stage.

"Now, you sing."

Ichigo nodded his head at first but than switched to shaking it. "Wait, what?"

Rukia bent down and grabbed a CD holder from her bag and began to flip through it. "What? You didn't get the memo about Mr. Kisuke?" she said almost mockingly. She smirked at him as she pulled out a burned CD from its slot than dropped the holder on top of her bag, not even bothering to put it back.

"Well yeah, I got the idea that he needed us for something, but I didn't know it was for singing."

"Well what else did you think he wanted? He is the head of Tokyo's choir, after all. You choir…equals singing…" Rukia was defiantly mocking him now, but only out of play. Ichigo stiffened and frowned at her, knowing she was just being ornery but all the same he was embarrassed. She looked over at Renji and Shuuhei and snapped her fingers, then pointed to a storage closet in the back. The two nodded and ran over to it, disappearing behind the door for only a few seconds before returning with two cordless microphones and an amplifier.

Ichigo fallowed Rukia when she walked to the very left of the stage and bent down to grab the amplifier and two mikes, the whole time stammering.

"But…but I've only sand in front of a crowd once!! I could, I could choke!"

Rukia plugged in the amplifier in an outlet on the front of the stage as she said, "Oh relax. I trust you'll do fine." She stood up and brushed off her tights, flashing Ichigo a smile. "You've surprised me thus far."

Ichigo couldn't stop his eyes from going wide, and he couldn't stop himself from gulping. He hated the fact she could make him blush so easily. No other woman set him off like she did, and even more so no one ever trusted in him so deeply. With her, he didn't feel pressured into doing anything she demanded. He felt privileged. He was honored to work by her side, and she acted like she honored him too…which was also new. All of the partners he'd had in the past were all stuffed up, conceded bitches with nothing better to do that stand in the limelight and sneak a few gropes of his ass during routines. He hated dancing with people because of that. He always thought that sexual implications were for the male sex only. In fact, he had been guilty of copping a few feels in his time. But he had no idea that some women were just as capable of having wandering hands as males were.

Rukia never did that.

Sure, the first moment he met her, she kissed him with such passion it could have been taped and put in a Hollywood movie and win best hot kiss of the year. Sure she touched him in places he never thought she would wander after just their second meeting. Sure he made him feel hot whenever he was around her…but aside from all that…he trusted her completely.

He had to mentally kick himself for that. She trusted him and he trusted her, but he had arrogantly abused her trust by dodging the truth about his visit to the hospital. It would have been different if it were just stitches or an illness. But no. It had to be a rib…and the one rib that gets most of the pressure when he lifts people above his head or when he stretches his arm out too far too fast. The one rib that disables him from performing the most radical of dance moves that he was more than positive she would throw at him sooner or later.

Sooner or later…

Sooner or later she'd find out. Sooner or later all would be revealed. Sooner or later…their relationship would end. And that thought…. made him feel much more scared about everything.

"Here." Rukia said, thrusting the mike into his face. Ichigo jumped and blinked, having been knocked out of his daze within a second. He looked at the mike for a second before taking it, than he looked down as Rukia turned up the volume on the CD player and amplifier.

Rukia picked up her own mike and jumped into place beside Ichigo, smiling widely like a child. She was so cute when she smiled like that. Ichigo couldn't fight lips from morphing into a smirk. Ichigo hadn't realized it, but Shuuhei had disappeared into the control room, and shut off all the light except for one…the spotlight. Ichigo had to squint when the bright beam shined in his face, but Rukia seemed unaffected.

Rukia bounced on her heals again a few times before she looked down at Renji, who was standing by the boom box, his hand hovering over the play button. She nodded once and Renji nodded back, than pressed play.

Ichigo leaned to the side and whispered, "What song are we singing?"

"One I think you'll know. It's very popular" she replied. "It's called The Prayer."

Ichigo froze. The Prayer…was the same song that he played at his mother's funeral… the same song…the only song…he sang aloud in front of people. Rukia, luckily, didn't see his face of horror as he slowly stood up straight and faced the first row just in time to see Shuuhei plant in a seat the next to Renji. He starred in their direction, but he didn't see them. His mind was too busy flashing him images of his other's funeral to really comprehend anything in the real world. He heard Rukia mutter something to him, but he didn't catch it. Though it was enough to knock him out of his daze again.

Even in his deepest, darkest thoughts, her voice was the only sound that could bring him out of the darkness.

He hadn't realized it, but the music had started, and it was already 20 second into the violin intro before he realized what was going on. He blinked and looked around that auditorium until his eyes came on Rukia, who looked like she was in total bliss. She was smiling, more warmly than child-like now, and her eyes were half shut and gleaming from the spotlight.

Rukia put the mike to her mouth, held it there until a beat in the song passed…and than sang.

"I pray you'll be alright… and watch us where we go…" Her voice was unlike anything Ichigo had ever heard. It was so beautiful…too beautiful. It was like it didn't belong in a human. It was voice that belonged to an angel.

"And help us to be wise… in times when we don't know…"

A crystal. A chime. A diamond voice as graceful as the snow outside and as soft as velvet was the only way to describe how she sounded. In the spotlight, with her raven hair up tight in a bun, her ivory skin glissading like there were tiny crystals imbedded in her flesh, her natural red lips and lavender eyelids made her appear like a holy creature sent from heaven. She was inhumanly gorgeous.

"Let this be our prayer… As we go our way…" her tone dropped lower as she sang that verse, sending a chill of pleasure down Ichigo's spine. She was like a siren, serenading him into a hypnotic trance that was nearly unexcitable. All he wanted to do was sit down on the stage and just listen to her sing for the rest of his life. Hell, if she could find the right beat, she could sing him every name in the phonebook, and he'd be as happy as hell.

"Lead us to a place… guide us with your grace… To a place where we'll be safe." He voice dipped high and low, taking Ichigo's heart to his neck than to his stomach. She could control him with every note she sang, every word she pronounced. He knew his part was just seconds away, but he doubted to all heaven that he come close to comparing to her beautiful voice. She looked at him, still smiling as she signaled with a wink that his turn was up.

God. She was just too sexy for words.

Ichigo forced his eyes to look away, but made sure he did it smoothly so it didn't look like he had a stick glued to the back of his neck, and he brought the mike to his lips. His part he knew well, even though it wasn't in English, and he hoped he'd be able to pronounce the words right. It had been so long since he sang this song.

"La luce che to dai…" he sang out, his voice low, masculine, and gentle. Rukia's head snapped over at him, her eyes a gape and her lungs empty. Good lord…his voice was like a God's. Bel Canto; or naturally beautiful Rukia had to breath in threw her mouth in order to gain the air she had lost when she heard him sing.

"I pray we'll find your light…" she sang his part in English, looking back at the seats.

"Nel cuore restero…" his voice echoed with the intensity and strength of the Phantom of The Opera, and she could feel the stage shake whenever he sang out, making her weak in the knees. His voice made her think of things she never should have…things she only thought about when she was around Kaien. His voice was so seductive, sexy, and sensual. Like a Vampire. Trapping, sinking his teeth into every nerve in her body until she felt like she was numb. A sinful voice.

"And hold it in our hearts…" she translated.

"A ricordarchi che…"

"When stars go out each night…" Rukia's voice dipped low than high as she held her note, blending into Ichigo's next verse.

"L'eterna stella sei… Nella mia preghiera…" He did the same; held the night strongly as she sang on.

"Let this be our prayer…" her voice stayed high, a chime in the breeze; her beauty unsurpassed.

"Quanta fede c'e…" his voice flowed like the ocean, untouched, powerful and gorgeous; his grace consummate.

"When shadows fill our day…" she sang her verse at the same time he did, blending perfectly with his voice, even thought they were singing in completely different languages. Both voices held the last note, letting each other's voices melt their bodies like a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer after you get out of the snow. They made each other feel so warm together… no freshly dried blanket could ever match it. They let the notes cut off short; their voices echoing threw the auditorium.

Ichigo took in a breath, knowing that his English verse was coming up. He let a soft smile cross his face, suddenly not afraid anymore, and he held up the mike closer to his mouth. " Lead us to a place…" Ichigo made his voice vibrato; or smoothly vibrate when he held his note, giving it a sexy, beatific feel.

Rukia turned to him, smiling as she sang, " Guide us with your grace…"

Ichigo turned to her as well as they sang in tandem the next verse, making Renji and Shuuhei tremble with pleasure.

"Give us faith so we'll be safe." Ichigo made his voice lower than Rukia's, making a perfect chord

They felt exited, their adrenalin pumping and their hearts flying. When they sang to each other…actually to each other… they both felt as though their eyes would never forget each other's faces. Their noses would never forget they're sent. Their skin will never forget the warmth of their breath on each other's faces.

They turned at the same time and sang out to the back wall, their chests puffed proudly and their eyes gleaming from the spotlight.

"Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza…Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza…" They sang out; loud, strong, in unison, blending beautify together; or in Legato. Renji couldn't breath. He just sat there, his entire body frozen into a shocked face. Shuuhei had his moth a gape, but he chuckled with amazement as the two sang on.

He was perfect for her in every way.

"Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino…" the music gained momentum, a drum rolling quickly and piano playing a fast chord. The music blasted, resonation causing the walls, chairs and floors to quake with a blood pumping force, it made Renji and Shuuhei jump. And their voices….

They let loose. Turing away from each other and facing out to the auditorium. Their voices sliding high and dipping low. Holding a few notes and cutting a few short. It was beautiful.

"Simbolo di pace e di fraternita…" They held out the last note, sending shivers down their two-audience member's spines. It was unexplainable.

The auditorium door opened, and a brown haired man slowly and silently slipped into the theatre. He heard even from his place outside on the sidewalk, that people were rehearsing in there, so he made it his task to slide in undetected and without disruption. He positioned himself in front of the door, holding tight to the handle as he gently and ever so quietly let it shut.

He looked to the to performers in the spotlight, a entertained smile on his face as the two sang to each other. He didn't let his eyes waver as he took a seat in the nearest chair to his side.

"La forza che ci dai…." The orange haired one sang strongly.

"We ask that life be kind…" the small woman at his side sang behind his verse.

"E'il desiderio che…." His voice was so powerful, enticing, and masculine. Inhumanly splendid. "And watch us from above…" he smiled and nodded, as if approving something as he listened to the woman's voice. He was obviously please by what he was hearing.

"Ognuno trovi amore…" His voice went low.

"And watch us from above…" her voice went high

"Ognuno trovi amore…" his went low.

"We hope each soul will find…" hers went high.

"Intorno e dentro a se…" Low.

"Another soul to love…" high.

They looked over at each other as the music began to soften, their eyes shining from the light and their faces bright. They sang the next verse in unison, both hitting a different pitch to make a beautiful chord.

"Let this be our prayer…"

Rukia repeated the line alone, letting her voice vibrate.

Ichigo sang the next verse alone, but when he held the last note, Rukia repeated it. "Just like every child…"

"Just like every child…"

They sang together again, softer, smoothers, letting the words slide like silk. At the end, they hit separate notes, making yet another chord. "Needs to find a place…Guide us with your grace…"

"Give us strength so we'll be safe…" they let their voices grow just a bit harder when the music picked up momentum.

"E la fede che… Hai acceso in noi…" They held it strong…the song wailing indicating the end of the piece. And when the note cut off short, their voices echoed in the silence. Rukia seemed stunned at first, when Ichigo held that note so strongly. It was different when he was looking her in the face; much more intense. Much more seductive. God, she wanted him now. Now, more than ever. That sinful voice of his made her want to do things to him she should never allow her self to think about before. She leaned into him slowly, feeling herself nearly float closer to him.

Ichigo was surprised how loud she was. Hell, he was struggling just keep his voice was loud as hers was, and he was surprised he hadn't passed out from how hard he was pushing his voice to go so loud. But just by looking at her, he thought he'd stop breathing all together. She had it all and more… more than anything he could picture. Anything he could want. Oh, how he longed to have her. The contact in her eyes made him never want to look away, and he couldn't help but let himself get drawn closer to her.

They were getting closer to each other as they sang the last verse, hardly realizing that it was the end it. It was more out of impulse that they sang now, too absorbed in each other to really comprehend any coherent thought.

"Sento che ci salvera." They held the note, long and clear. Rukia's voice went higher and higher and Ichigo's stayed low. They were nearly moth to mouth now, having to hold their mikes nearly flat against their chins just to make sure they didn't touch. Rukia felt herself lift onto her tiptoes, matching her lip's height to his. They moved fast; their mouths ready for each other, their hearts pumping so hard in their chest, they barely heard the song's end echo threw the auditorium. They were so close; they could feel and smell each other's breath; so tasty. But when they were just a hair away from touching, they both hesitated.

They couldn't.

They could. The just shouldn't.

Rukia's mind flashed the image of Kaien, and her heart lurched when she realized what she was about to do. She bit her lip just barely, wishing she could just once taste him…just once more feel his mouth on hers. That first time she kissed him; it wasn't a last resort to convince him to join her. In truth, she had given into her thoughts that she had kept secret for so long. She wanted to know him more than that…wanted to know what he felt like on her lips. All she wanted was to do one more time…just once. It was almost too tempting to allow Kaien's image stop her.

But it was enough.

She pulled away slowly, not opening her eyes until she was flat on her feet again. When she looked up, she was glad to see she wasn't the only one who had had second thought about it. Ichigo was looking to the side, avoiding eye contact narrowly as he licked his lips and cocked his head to the red backdrop curtain.

Ichigo was telling himself over and over again that she was his dance partner and not his 'partner' partner. Though he wished she was both. He had to look elsewhere in order to rid his mind of the thought of him kissing her rosy lips. The drive to let his hands slide up and down her form, to memorize her by sight, sent, taste, and touch was growing uncontrollable. The red curtains that were beside him didn't help either. They were just as red as her mouth. Ichigo closed his eyes and shook his head.

Lord, he was pathetic.

Clapping began out of nowhere. Rukia and Ichigo looked down at Renji and Shuuhei, but than realized that it wasn't them by the way their eyes shifted in curious circles around them. They slid sideways in their seats and looked behind them, drawing Rukia and Ichigo's head up to the back of the auditorium. They could just barely make out a dark figure standing up in the back row. He was clapping ferociously.

"Bravo! Bravo! That was splendid!" The brown haired man scooted out from his chair and began to walk down the isle, making hard eye contact with Rukia as he walked down to them.

"I can graciously say that you've improved, if at all possible…" said the ghostly figure as he made it to the stage. He stepped into the light, his face being unveiled from the darkness. He glanced up and smiled, " Miss Rukia Kuchiki."

Rukia's eyes went from confused to uneasily shocked at the sight of him. She drew in a sharp breath, but covered it up with a smile and a hand gesture. "Aizen."

She lept from the stage, landed right in front of him, smiling uneasily at him. He smiled back, obviously way more happy to see her than she was to see him.

"It's nice to see you too, Rukia."

Ichigo stood on the stage, starring down at the brown haired man with a confused, raised eyebrow. When Renji and Shuuhei came up and shook his hand, he figured he must have been an old friend. He could hear them muttering their hellos, and a few comments, but everything else he couldn't understand.

Aizen had nodded to something Renji and said when Shuuhei walked up and shook his hand. They exchanged hellos and smiles when Aizen drew his head to the uncomfortable little woman in front of him. Rukia brushed a lock of hair from her face and tweaked a smirk. "So Aizen, what are you doing here?" Her eyes darted back and forth between Aizen and Renji, her eyes telling the red head ' what the hell is he doing here?' Renji could only shrug.

Ichigo had to cock his head when he heard Rukia talk like that. She sounded scared. Like this man was someone she didn't really want to see…. at all. Ichigo began to get suspicious.

Aizen chuckled and bowed his head. "Oh you know, out and about. How 'bout you?"

Rukia rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Yeah well… just brushing up on my singing skills."

"I see you haven't given up on dancing quite yet." Aizen said, eyeing her ensemble with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. Renji, Shuuhei, and Rukia's eyes winded briefly before going back to normal. They all took a breath in, hoping Ichigo didn't just hear what Aizen had said. He was dangerously close to exposing her secret. Rukia looked down at herself and rolled her eyes again, hoping she could cover up their shock. "Yeah I uh… well…W-why would I?"

She cracked a smile and cocked her head, feeling even uneasier about her past friend's surprise visit. Aizen laughed loudly and draped a huge arm around her neck, pulling her into a relaxed hug. Rukia instantly tensed.

"That's what I like about you, Rukia. You never give up no matter what happens," he kind of pulled away from her just to look down at her with a playful glare, "God, I envy you. Let's just hope Ryuu doesn't take this the wrong way, hu? Ha, it wouldn't be good if he thought your going this as a career again." He added with a chuckle.

A nervous chuckle and quick glance Ichigo's way was all Rukia could say to that, and her timid chuckle was lost under Aizen's loud laugh.

Aizen's eyes traveled and landed on Ichigo, and instantly he cringed with disgust.

"Who's that?" asked Aizen flicking a finger Ichigo's way. Rukia looked up and suddenly looked relived. Finally an opening to get away from this man! She managed to wiggle her way out from under the lead weight of Aizen's arm and jump up on stage to Ichigo's side.

"Oh, this is my dance partner Ichigo," Rukia latched an arm around his own and held tight; clinging for was felt like moral protection. Ichigo felt her grip tighten on his arm and he instantly knew that this guy was no family friend. Ichigo stood up straight and kind of stepped in front of Rukia protectively.

Aizen tilted his head in Ichigo's direction, as if examining him for purchase. Ichigo didn't much like being looked at like that. He made solid eye contact with Aizen and frowned with hazard, not going to show this man any ounce of vulnerability.

Aizen hummed to himself as he examined Ichigo further. He put a hand on his chin and rubbed it as he began to walk to a set of stair located at the far end of the stage. Ichigo's eyes fallowed him the whole time. Aizen climbed the five stairs until he was on the stage and he approached the two, still humming to himself. Ichigo turned, putting himself between Rukia and Aizen before maintaining his glare.

Aizen looked unaffected by Ichigo's menacing looks. Or at least that's what he thought. Aizen pushed Rukia's hand off of Ichigo's arm than grabbed him by the wrist and forced his arm out straight.

Ichigo lurched forward, nearly being knocked off balance by Aizen's yank of the arm. Aizen held tight to his wrist, as he looked it over, twisting it back and forth as if to check durability. He kind of threw it back down before humming again and walking around. Ichigo grunted when his arm was forced back, but he kept solid eye contact until Aizen circled behind him. Rukia stood a few steps back, her eyes wide with fear and her hands up to her chest.

She didn't know what Aizen was doing other than hurting and pissing off her dance partner, but she was too afraid to even breathe.

Aizen looked Ichigo up and down as he walked around his side. He looked intense the way he was looking at him. But it wasn't in the businessman way he was trying to make it look. Aizen was more concerned about pissing Ichigo off than inspecting him. And it was working.

Aizen moved on from there, looking at his posture, the way he stood, the way he held himself. He was perfect. There was nothing about him Aizen could find to prod at. His posture was great, his shoulders were back far enough, his back was in deep enough, and his legs weren't locked.

But his side….

Aizen stopped abruptly when he reached Ichigo's right side, and his eyes seemed to lock onto a curtain spot. He reached for Ichigo slowly, making Rukia hold her breath. Aizen grabbed hold of Ichigo's elbow and forced his arm out at his side. Rukia, Renji and Shuuhei all gasped and jumped. Ichigo cringed instantly and his arm collapsed slightly, but he forced it straight again.

Aizen smirked evilly. "What's wrong with your side, boy?" his sympathy was false.

He put a hand on Ichigo's back side, feeling the muscles tense instantly. Ichigo jolted a little, more out of surprise than pain. He raised and eye brow before frowning, feeling a little uncomfortable. What was this man doing? Aizen used his middle and pointer finger to walk his hand to where Ichigo's ribs start, and he began to walk to two fingers down. He reached about the middle when Ichigo gasped and cringed away from his touch.

Ichigo let his arm fall and drew his other arm around his middle. He glared at Aizen with pain and hatred burning in his ember eyes. Aizen just smirked.

"Yeah, you got a good one here, Rukia," he said aloud, still facing Ichigo. "He's all you could hope for, right?"

Hey, for once he was right.

Rukia didn't answer. All she did was breath deep and glare a hole in Aizen's back. The big, broad, brown haired man turned and looked at Rukia, a look in his eyes that made Rukia feel sick and every male present fearful. "Well, I must go no. Pressing business to attend to elsewhere."

He walked up to Rukia and stopped in front of her. She tried her best not to glare, but she didn't succeed very well. Aizen ignored it and reached for her hand. He drew it up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles before standing upright again. He turned and bowed to Renji and Shuuhei, who had positioned themselves behind Rukia like guard dogs, and than he looked back to Rukia.

He smiled one last time at her, letting his eyes wander one more time before turning and walking away.

"I'd beware of this one, though Rukia," Aizen began as he walked up to Ichigo. He stopped when he was at Ichigo's side and looked him dead in the eyes. "He just might…. Get 'ya." He acted like he was going to step at him, making Ichigo jump a little. Aizen smirked at the reaction, than turned and walked away. Rukia, Renji and Shuuhei all walked up beside Ichigo and watched as the sinister man walked up the isle and out the door.

They were silent for a few beats, when Rukia heard the labored breaths of Ichigo. She turned to him, her eyes suddenly soft and caring.

" What did he do to you? Here let me see." She reached for the arm holding his side, but Ichigo flinched away from her hands.

"I'm fine." He mumbled, venom dripping from his words. Rukia let her hands hover for a little bit, but she decided it was best not to push him further and she let them fall to her side.

Ichigo forced himself to stand straight, forcing the pain of his rib to be subdued at least until he was out of their sight.

Rukia bit her lip when she watched Ichigo cringe a littlie when he stood up and she clenched her eyes closed. "I'm sorry about that."

About what?" Ichigo said behind a grunt as he finally stood up straight again. He felt his muscles lock into place and he knew he was going to be stuck in that position for a while. At least until he got into a hot shower to relax them.

"About… him!" Rukia replied, her voice rising as she looked at the door Aizen left from and threw her arm out at it. She turned and walked up to her boom box as she mumbled to herself.

"Who was that guy, anyways?" Ichigo asked.

"No one. Just some…jack ass from the past." Rukia said, trying to keep her voice down. She bent down and popped the karaoke CD from the player and put it in the CD holder.

Ichigo just nodded and turned away.

Rukia looked over at him, seeing him slump away from either pain or frustration…or both. She remembered all the secrets she was keeping from him. All the trust she was putting in jeopardy. This Aizen guy wasn't even that big of a deal, and she was still trying to hide it from him. She cursed when she realized it was becoming impulse to hide things from him.

Son of a b…

"Wait, Ichigo," she began. Ichigo stopped on the stairs and looked up at her, his anger still fresh in his face. She had to look away his eyes were so intense. "I'm sorry…" she rubbed her brow and said, "He was my ex way back when and a spoiled little brat who's the son of Mr. Ryuu, the head of Tsushima…. We used to work together and that was when he developed his feelings for me." A shiver ran up her spine when she said that.

"Anyway…he was a bastard from the get go, but I thought that it was just because he wanted to go out with me. So I agreed when he asked me over dinner." She sighed and looked away, seeing all of the memories come back to her. "At first, he was fine, but it didn't last long. Soon enough he started acting all high and mighty; ordering people around, including myself. He acted like he was the boss of Tsushima and the king of the world. Needless to say, our relationship didn't last month. But apparently he's too dense to figure out that the words 'we're threw' means 'we're threw'. And he's been chasing after me aver since."

Ichigo raised his eyebrows and looked away. "Wow…creepy stalker much?"

Rukia chuckled, "Yeah. Much."

Renji and Shuuhei, who were busy putting away the things when they looked at the two laughing together and then to themselves, the look on their faces said it all.

Ichigo and Rukia were in love.