Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach Chapter 21
"Are they ever gonna find us?" muttered Ichigo to himself.
"What was that?" Rukia asked.
"Nothing, nothing…" he replied but in his mind he knew that if they didn't get out of there soon, they would both freeze to death – he definitely didn't want to become a popsicle.
"I wished they'd find us soon," Rukia said sounding disheartened. She tightened the mantels around her small frame.
Ichigo also wanted to be found by the others – so he wouldn't have to endure the cold frost anymore, but there was a part of him that wanted to remain there, with Rukia.
"How do you suppose they find us?" he asked her. "It's not like you use cell phones or anything you can communicate with."
Rukia turned and glared at him, which he in turn gave her a 'what?' look.
"We do use those things to communicate with each other," she said with pride. Ichigo looked at her questioningly. "We only use it in emergencies."
Ichigo stared at her. 'This girl…' he thought.
"Rukia," he said trying to calm himself before he creates another avalanche, "Don't you think this is an emergency?"
"Not really…" she said. "It would just add to our burden and worries."
Ichigo was about to protest against that statement when he heard a high note resonating through the air.
"Told you so," Rukia said happy to hear Inoue's note. 'At least we know she's alive.' She thought relieved.
"What was that?" Ichigo questioned.
Rukia smiled at Ichigo's lost expression. "That was a sign to tell us that Inoue is okay, and that we are going to be found real soon."
"Right…" Ichigo said not believing her words.
"Just wait," Rukia spoke softly. "You'll see."
Silence followed Rukia's words. More silence, and more silence.
"Ichigo," began Rukia. Ichigo grunted in reply. "Did you ever miss me? When we we're separated," she asked and then held her breath, afraid of his answer.
Ichigo froze when he heard her question. He had two choices. He could come right out and say he missed her like hell, or he could say he didn't and possibly, completely and utterly ruin their relationship they were slowly repairing. He would probably kill himself – or at least try – if their friendship went down the drain.
"Yeah, I did," he said, trying his best to not reveal any emotion to her.
Rukia wondered whether he was telling the truth. 'Maybe his just saying that…he might not mean it.' She considered the idea. He wasn't facing her, so she couldn't really tell. Rukia slowly moved from her position and crawled around until she was sitting directly in front of Ichigo. He still turned away from her though.
"Are you telling the truth, or are you lying to me?" she muttered quietly. Ichigo didn't answer. "Answer me, Ichigo,"
Ichigo compressed the urge to shout to her everything he felt when she left, and so kept his mouth zipped.
"Ichigo," Rukia said using her hard-hearted tone. "Answer me." Ichigo remained silent however. Rukia bought up one hand, placed it around Ichigo's face and turned it towards her.
His eyes were cold, solid and blank – a wall built up to reveal no more. Something he had practiced over the years. Rukia froze under his gaze. She felt petrified, weakened down to her bones – helpless.
Ichigo saw her eyes widen in shock. He overdid it, and he knew it too. He didn't intend on scaring her like that. "Rukia?" he said using his softer voice.
She opened her mouth, in an attempt to speak words, but her eyes still wondered around in his.
Her lips, for some unknown reason, looked alluring at that particular moment. Ichigo felt an unexpected desire to meet her lips with his own. 'No,' he thought to himself, 'I'm not that kind of guy.' Even so, why was he getting closer to her face?
Rukia might've backed away when she realised that Ichigo's face was moving steadily closer to hers – but she was still paralysed. She could've shouted at him for what he was planning to do – but she was paralysed – yet she could do one thing, and that was to just give into the temptation that was already flaring up.
"OI!!" someone called.
Rukia and Ichigo immediately backed away from each other, although Ichigo really couldn't since he was against the wall.
"Oi!! Rukia?" the person shouted again.
Rukia recognised the voice belonged to Renji. "Renji, down here!!" she shouted back to him. Rukia looked at Ichigo and saw he had relief yet disappointment in his eyes.
"How the hell did you two even wind up down there?" Renji asked poking his head over the edge. He could see two small figures sitting on a platform. He shook his head. "I bet this was your fault carrot-head!!" he shouted.
"It was not, you tattooed freak-a-zoid!" Ichigo screamed. "It was little Miss Princess here that got us down on this platform in the first place!"
Rukia immediately went to whack his head. "You fool! Don't try to blame this on me!!"
Ichigo heard Renji laughing from above. "Shut-up you bastard and help us get out of here!!"
"Good point" said Rukia. "Hurry with the rope already, Renji!!" she shouted at him in her brilliant bossy voice.
Ichigo smirked. 'A million to one,' he thought.
"Alright, alright!" shouted Renji, who started to unload the rope.
"I think we should stop screaming before we cause another avalanche," spoke Rukia, her voice echoing.
Renji tied one end of the rope to the saddle on his horse and told Chad to tie his rope to his saddle.
As the two were lowering the ropes Rukia decided to ask about the others. "Hey what happened to the others? Are they okay?"
"Dunno," replied Renji
The other end of the rope just barely reached Ichigo. He grabbed onto the end of the rope and looked over at Rukia. She was having trouble reaching it.
"Damn rope, why does it have to be so short?!" she said in furry. She jumped in attempt to reach it but her hand slipped just when she managed to touch it.
Ichigo walked over and picked her up. Rukia, surprised, winced.
"Hurry up and grab the damn rope already," he said looking at his rope, seeing it move up a little. "Do you really want to stay down here any longer?"
"Oh, right," said Rukia as she grabbed the rope. She felt Ichigo's grip on her waist ease. His hands lingered there for a bit before they dropped to his sides. "Okay, Renji, pull me up."
"Yeah," replied Renji. He whispered a few words to his horse. Slowly, the grey mare walked pulling Rukia up along.
Ichigo kept telling himself it was to make sure she gripped the rope tightly and so she couldn't fall. Yet part of him thought otherwise. He grabbed the rope and told Chad he was ready. Chad's own steed, big and strong like Chad, pulled Ichigo up swiftly.
End of Chapter 21
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