Hey! Update time! Let's not waste any time then, shall we? Yeah, so Ichigo and Rukia eloped and never came back and lived happily ever after in France! Haha just kidding! I'm sorry this chapter is kinda short. I'll make up for it next update, promise! (-:

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my meager plot, all else belongs to Kubo-sensei.

…

"You're coming with me." He growled as he disappeared with her in another flash step.

Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, and Renji blinked at the spot they had been standing in owlishly.

"What the heck just happened?!" Renji snapped as Matsumoto squealed behind him, making Hitsugaya go from surprised to annoyed in a second flat.

"Ah, if it isn't my favorite soul reaper trio…" Urahara sang happily behind them. They turned to see him smiling at them from behind his fan. "Welcome, please do come in, we have much to discuss." He said over his shoulder as he walked back inside.

"ahhh, I was hoping to do some shopping firrrrrrst…" Matsumoto whined.

"We didn't come here to shop, Matsumoto." Hitsugaya said blandly as he followed the shopkeeper inside.

Matsumoto pouted but followed behind Renji as the trio followed Urahara inside.

"Taichouuu, you're so mean." She whined as she childishly stuck her tongue out at his back.

…

"Ichigo, where are you taking me?" She asked for the umpteenth time. She wasn't surprised when he appeared not to have heard her.

Whether that was because of the wind rushing past them or because he just didn't want to answer, she wasn't sure. They were flash stepping from roof to roof, and Ichigo was still carrying her. She blushed faintly when she remembered that. She had grown tired of telling him she could handle walking – flash stepping…whatever – on her own. She was secretly happy he was still carrying her, though, reveling in the feel of his mock embrace. He was carrying her bridal style, so she had to hold on to the front of his Shihakusho in order to keep their balance.

His arms were warm around her, it was dusk, and as a result, the air was a little chilly, so she was grateful for the warmth radiating off him.

He suddenly stopped and set her down gently on her feet. She looked around and was surprised to see that they were standing on a small hill some distance from the river, somewhere at the edges of the town. That explained why getting here took so long, even though he flash stepped them here. A giant oak tree stood behind them. The sun's setting ray was shimmering on the slowly flowing waters of Karakura River. She smiled gently as she admired the simple beauty of it all; momentarily forgetting that Ichigo was behind her.

She started in surprise when he cleared his throat gently to get her attention. He was looking at the river awkwardly, as if not sure he could meet her gaze. It could have been the tricks of the setting sun's rays, but she could have sworn she saw a faint blush ghosting his cheeks. Then again, it could have just been the sun. Unbeknownst to her, he really had been blushing, because he had caught himself staring at how the sun's rays were playing the colour of her hair and eyes…again.

"It's beautiful here," she said softly, turning to admire the view again, "How did you find this place?"

"It sure is…" he mumbled, staring at her profile, and then caught himself, he coughed awkwardly turning to the river again. "I found it while I was on one my walks some months ago." He said in answer to her question. "I come here sometimes to think."

They were silent for some time, the sounds of the flowing river, the only thing breaking the silence. However, it was a comfortable silence. It reminded her of the few times she would just sit in silence with him, just like the night on the roof at her party. Hard to believe that had only been the night before. So much had happened since then…she closed her eyes and shook her head, slowly letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. The silence was getting awkward, so she decided to break it.

"Not that I don't like it here, but…why DID you bring me here?" she asked curiously, as she turned to face him again. This place seemed to be a somewhat, personal, sanctuary for Ichigo, so while she was flattered that he had decided to share it with her, she was curious as to why too. After a short pause, during which she figured he was trying to come up with the best words to use, he answered her.

"Because we have to talk, and this is the perfect place" he said, and then turned to face her too, "No one will interrupt us here." He finished giving her a look that she had never seen on his face before. She blinked at him a few times, and then when the intensity of his 'look' became unbearable, she turned away again.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he finally asked. He knew she knew what he meant, the fact that she froze when he asked proved that.

For a while, neither spoke as a breeze blew past them. "I didn't want to." She answered simply, after a few more minutes of speculation. He was surprised, and a bit miffed at that.

"Why not?" he asked, not sure he wanted to know the answer. She chuckled dryly, still refusing to look at him. She answered after another few minutes passed.

"Well…there's more than one reason for my refusing to tell you…it wasn't just you, I wasn't going to tell anyone really. Inoue and Ishida only found out by accident, it wasn't my intention for them, or anyone to know." She paused and inhaled deeply. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and saw the thoughtful look on his face. Definitely not what she was expecting, where was the brash hotheaded Ichigo? he would have been flying off the handle by now, berating her for not allowing her friends to help her…and then it occurred to her that his anger, she had seen it brewing behind his eyes when he warned her to stay put, probably just dissipated while she was in soul society.

"I didn't tell you because…well, because of you." She finished, a small smile forming at how odd, yet right, it sounded.

"Me?" he asked, confusion ringing clear in his voice. He frowned when she nodded. "Yes…you." She sighed and then turned to face him. Her eyes looked clouded, a mass of emotions swirling around in the hues of purples and violets. "Let's sit, since you obviously don't intend to go home until you get your answers." She said as she plopped down on the grass.

After a moment, he sat next to her. She was aware that he was sitting closer than he would have in regular circumstances, but chose neither to mention it or think too much of it.

"So…" he started after a pause, "how am I the reason for you not wanting to tell me what was going on?" he finally asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"I know you Ichigo, I knew you probably wouldn't take it well if I told you, I didn't want to worry you or anyone else." He opened his mouth to protest, but she held up a hand to stop him. "Let me finish first." He scowled but didn't say anything, and she took it as a cue to continue.

"You have this insane need to protect me from everything, even the most mundane things," he watched her pause to chuckle and shake her head, and then sigh before she continued talking. "I don't need you to do all that, but you don't listen to me and do it anyways. I had no idea what you would do if I told you, it would probably get worse. I'm tired of you constantly risking your life to save me, even when you don't need to, I don't want to see you in another near-death state because of me. I refuse to be responsible for another almost-death on your part."

She rolled her eyes when he scoffed. "Right, yeah, I choose to risk my life to protect you and those important to me, it's not YOUR fault if I almost die sometimes, so don't blame yourself dumbass." He paused to frown at her seriously, "I CHOSE to risk my life every time I almost died saving you, I'd do it again if I had to, no doubt. I don't regret any of those times."

He almost laughed at the comical way her eyes widened when she heard him. "Really?" she asked. "Of course." He answered, frowning at the honest shock and surprise on her face.

"Why?", she asked, her voice thick with emotions she would rather not identify, as she stared at him. Her unguarded gaze was making him uncomfortable. This was it; he had to tell her now. However, he couldn't find the right words to use. This love thing was annoying, he thought as he stood and started pacing irritably.

"Why?", he echoed her question. He scratched his head in frustration. She stood up too, his agitation making her feel frustrated too. "Calm down Ichigo, it was just a simple question." She snapped. He stopped pacing and glanced at her. She had her hands on her waist and was glaring up at him, her tiny mouth slightly twisted in a cute pout. He turned to glance to the side, blushing furiously when he realized he had been staring at her mouth.

"It's not that simple…" he muttered. Her annoyance spiked. "Care to explain why?" she ground out. He started scratching his head again, obviously still at a loss for words. As she opened her mouth to snap at him again, she was only vaguely aware of him muttering something under his breath before he disappeared from her line of sight, only to reappear in front of her a second later.

She froze when his hands cupped each side of her face. "Ichigo…", she didn't get to finish her sentence, because he cut her off.

It took a few seconds for Rukia to realize that the reason she couldn't speak was because, he…Ichigo was...Kissing, yes kissing...Her. HER! Somewhere at the back of what used to be her brain but was now mush, what he had muttered a few seconds before finally registered.

"To heck with it, actions speak louder than words right?"

It hadn't been a question, more like a statement, but that was the last thing on her mind as she abruptly pushed him away. The kiss had been simple and chaste, just a touch of the lips, a little clumsy since neither knew what to do as it was a first kiss for both of them. However, again, that was the last thing on her mind.

"What…was that…?", she finally squeaked out, after a few deep breaths. Ichigo gave her puzzled look. "Uh…your answer?" he answered in a confused voice. He was confused? She was the one that had just been kissed without warning. The blush that was already on her face darkened when the fact that Ichigo had just…kissed her occurred to her again. Then his answer registered and she was confused again.

"Huh?", she asked intelligently. He groaned and ran a hand over his face. "You're going to make me say it aren't you? This kinda renders the whole 'actions speak louder than words' thing redundant, you know that right?". She blinked up at him. Still confused, and now very frustrated, she started snapping at him. "Ichigo, stop beating about the bush and just – "

"I love you."

She froze at that. "Huh?", she squeaked intelligently again. She still didn't move when he removed the distance she had created between them when she had pushed him away before. He stopped when no more than inches separated them.

"I said…" he started, cupping her face in his hands as he leaned in, "…I love you."

She knew what was coming next, and her eyes fluttered closed on instinct. This time when Ichigo's lips met hers, she was prepared, just not for the fireworks behind her eyelids or the butterflies that fluttered in her tummy. As cliché as that sounded, it was true. The kiss was brief, and like the other was innocent, albeit a little less clumsy than before, but still sweet and tender, not something she would expect from Ichigo, but it somehow suited him perfectly still. And when they broke apart, it wasn't because she pushed him away again, their lungs just chose to remind them of their need for oxygen.

Rukia didn't open her eyes for a few moments, but when she did and she saw Ichigo looking at her with the same look from her memories that made her heart flutter, her heart clenched painfully in her chest and she pulled away from him and turned away.

"I…I c-can't do this." She finally wheezed out, her voice thick with tears she refused to shed.

…

Wow, I can't believe something so…mushy (in my opinion) came out of me…shrug. If you knew me you'd know what I mean.

Okay, while I know that this is a very MEAN cliffhanger, I have an important reason for it, there are only three more chapters left before this is complete, excluding the epilogue, should I decide to write one. So, pa-lease be patient and don't kill me. (really, if you do, you won't know what happens next.)

Anyway, I know a lot of people read this fic, unless my traffic graph lies( which I seriously doubt). I don't mean to sound whiny, because really just the fact that so many people read my work is flattering enough, but some reviews to tell me what you think, like or hate about this story would be MUCH appreciated!

Hugs,

Chelty-chan.

P.S : my poll is still open on my profile, and will stay open until this fic is complete, so please vote before then! Aight thanks! (-: