My Life is a big "What If"

AU What if they lived a so called "normal" life? With a twist… hahaha… Did you ever think of what might have happened after years passed? A story of serendipity… The love between a girl who has never believed in love and a guy who once made her see its magic... Only to prove that years and obstacles are not enough to separate true love and that no matter how far apart you may be, you will always find each other… Ichiruki :D

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach :P ( I wish I did XD)

A/N: Sooo this is the second to the last chapter. Yes, it is very long (sorry about that) sooo I cut it into four parts and this is sort of a conclusion to get ready for the epilogue. While I was writing this story, after about finishing three fourths of it, I wrote the ending scene for this chapter "You and Me Forever" (and the ending for the epilogue). Yes, you'll see that later on :D Then followed by some more parts, so I decided to chop the parts off (like so) so that it'll look like a compilation of small one shots haha XD I hope you guys like it :)

Chapter 55: You and Me Forever (part 1 of 4)

The Date

It has been months... four months since, you know, the incident. Everyone was trying their best to go back to their normal lives and so did our couple. Today they were on a date. Yes, an actual date. They've been doing this for awhile now since it helps keep their minds off of things.

So holding hands in public? Check.

Sweet talk? Check.

Sex? No check. Why?

Well a month ago, Isshin got them reservations in a hotel, all expenses were paid of course, since he figured this would probably help our lovely couple relieve their stress and maybe you know... do "stuff"... But the two just used that time to talk. They talked about them, everything that needs to be let out and then they began discussing some ground rules, thus, this happened.

The room was perfect. It definitely helped in setting the mood with matching candle lights, Champagne and all that other romantic crap. There was even music playing. Talk about a very expensive room service. They were on the bed of course feeling all hot in the air conditioned room. She was on top of him and of course he was underneath with both of them surprisingly fully clothed. She gently pressed her lips against his and he responded by trying to deepen it. Yup, it felt like the most natural thing ever. She clutched his shirt as their kiss became more passionate. And through the heat of it all his hand travelled north and began to knead one of her mounds. She broke from their kiss to let out a moan. She was so close into giving in to her desires but she was able to stop herself before it even got further.

"No wait," she huffed putting a hand on his hand to stop it from whatever good feeling it was giving her.

"What's wrong?" He asked back stopping.

"We can't... I just..." She sighed. "I... I want to do this right," she said her eyes looking intently to his.

"O-okay," he said a bit confused by what she said.

Were they doing it wrong?

"By right, do you mean that I should be on top or—"

"No. I mean..." She sat up now, all that hot and lustful desire, gone. He sat up as well feeling the same thing... well maybe the feeling wasn't entirely gone but the seriousness was there.

"I mean I want to do this step by step. You know? We meet, we become friends, then we date, get married, have kids... the normal way... We skipped steps Ichigo, that's why our lives became all messed up." She explained with such a serious tone and a hint of he couldn't figure it out... sadness? Disappointment?

"Then what do you propose we do?" he asked caressing her cheek with his hand. She closed her eyes.

"We could start all over?"She suggested feeling a bit doubtful that he might like that idea.

"Alright, then we meet. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki and you are?" He said with a smirk and an offered hand. She let out a smile as well and went with it. She took the offered hand, shook twice then said, "I am Rukia Kuchiki, it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Rukia would you like to be my friend?"

"Wow. I sure would like that." They were both being childish now but all the childishness was really helping with relieving stress.

"We meet. Check. We're friends. Check. And now..." He moved closer but she tried to move away. Soon enough she was lying back on the bed with him hovering above her. He looked at her with eyes filled with love then he leaned his face closer to hers. His lips were centimeters away from her own when she spoke.

"Ichigo... steps... remember?"

"Yeah, I know." Then his lips met hers for a really slow and gentle kiss. To her, it felt like he was kissing her for the first time, it reminded her of that first kiss... in his room. How it all started. When he pulled back, he smiled then whispered, "First kiss..." It made her lips curl up as well.

He felt it too. She figured.

Then he placed his forehead on top of hers. "So, Rukia Kuchiki... would you like to be my girlfriend?" There was a pause then she began to push herself up as if she didn't hear anything. Ichigo sat up as well feeling really confused. Did he say something wrong? He did say "girlfriend" right?

"Oi, wait. You didn't ans—" She raised a hand at him to stop him from talking. He blinked twice still puzzled. When her hand went down, she crossed her arms over her chest as if preparing for a bargain.

"If you want to be officially my boyfriend we have to do things normally this time." She said in an authoritative tone.

Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed, "What do you mean by that? Aren't we doing it the normal way?"

"No." She said plainly. "I'd like it to be more... how do I put it... hmm... sweet this time..."

"I'm sweet." He reasoned. "I mean, I can be sweet... at times." She rolled her eyes at that comment.

"I meant we go on dates, we see a movie, dinner, you give me flowers, compliment me, stuff like that. Just us you know? You think you can handle that?" She asked with a slight tilt of her head.

"That's all? I can do that."He said pretty sure of himself.

"Oh yeah and one more thing."

"What?"

"I am withholding sex."

It felt like there was a very long moment of silence before Ichigo could process what she just said.

"Eh?" He then let out in shock.

But what's wrong with having sex while dating? People nowadays do that... all the time! Casual sex. He wondered.

"So... still up for it?" She challenged.

"I..." She noticed him feeling hesitant and that made her grimace. She snapped at him.

"Are you that much of an asshole to not survive life without se—"

"Fine!" He yelled back. "I'll do it!"

If that's what she wants then for her... Okay... I can do that... I think...

"Geez... so is that all your rules? What about kisses?" He asked.

"Cheeks mostly and no going below my chin like my neck or on any part lower than that."

"So I have access to your lips..."He grinned at that thought.

"Well yeah but no tongue." And his grin immediately disappeared.

"See? That's harsh."

"It's not."

"Hmm..." He was a bit hesitant about asking since he was afraid that maybe the more he asked, the more walls she'd put up, but it was better to know the walls now than regret it later right?

"Hugs?"

"Just plain ones, no groping." She warned.

"What? That's too much!" He whined.

"Well, hugs with groping leads to more groping which eventually ends up to sex so that's a no." She explained as if it wasn't such a big deal, but it really was... for Ichigo that is.

He let out a big sigh of defeat, "So what happens if I broke the rules?"

"Simple. We break up."

"Break up? That fast? D-don't I get warnings or something?" He posed unbelievably. Rukia rolled her eyes.

"Okay fine, you get three warnings."

"Great then I have two left." He said.

"Wha—" Was all that she could say when in one swift motion she was lying back down on the bed with him hovering above her. He really wants her, so badly. And they were in this nice hotel too. What a waste it would be if they didn't do anything inside it right? He tried to reason that out with her but she still won't approve.

"Kya! Stop! Get off me!" She yelled struggling to push him away.

"Why? Then you can just take out one warning." He bargained.

"Idiot! Sex is equivalent to 10 warnings."

"10? Then my warnings would be negative."

"Exactly and I'll never talk to you again. Now get off!" She growled pushing him off her feeling really pissed. "Ugh... this is why there shouldn't even be any warnings. I knew you can't control yourself for once." She grunted.

He sighed again and scratched the back of his head, "Sorry, I guess I'm just not used to it."

Rukia sighed. Of course she understood what he meant. Heck, she was about to give in herself as well but it was a good thing she had better self control than him.

"Look I'm not used to it either okay?" Her tone was calmer, "But maybe if we work together... you know... I think it's possible."

"Okay I'll control myself more."

"Promise?"

"Promise." He said then he kissed her cheek. She smiled. And that seals their deal.

Which brings us back here in the park where they are having another one of their so called "normal" (a.k.a. sex free) dates. They were getting used to it a little and that was good enough progress.

"So... where are we going now?" She asked expecting that he had planned out everything today. Truth be told, she didn't really want to go out today but he seemed eager to so she had no choice but to oblige.

"We're going to eat at vin et des roses." He said coolly putting an arm around her shoulders. She stopped and pouted at hearing that plan.

"Huh? But I'm not hungry." She said not very fond of his idea.

"Well, later on you would be so..." He tried to change her decision but she seemed to have made up her mind.

"Ichigo, why don't we just eat ice cream and—"

He quickly replied with a "we can't" as if going to the said restaurant was that big of a necessity.

"Why not? Are you that hungry?" She asked suspiciously. Something was up, she can tell. He's been acting like this all morning as if he's trying to hide something. She continued to eye him trying to read his mind but he just looked away like nothing was out of the ordinary. Yup, this was just a simple date.

"T-that's not it." He said, wishing she'd stop trying to figure him out, even just for today.

"Then why? If you're hungry we could just eat at Urahara's—"

"Why do you talk so much? We're just going to eat!" He finally snapped.

Okay, not good... He was fidgeting now.

Why am I so nervous? Just calm down. He told himself taking a deep breath.

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, a bit surprised by that sudden burst of tone. She sighed, she wasn't in the mood to argue. No. She should just let it go. "Alright fine." She began in a calmer voice "We'll go but I'm not eating I'll just watch you eat."

"Y-you can't!" He said a little frantic then he tried to speak normally, "You have to eat too... or drink..." His last words were a bit faint. She noticed though. There was no way she wouldn't notice that. Something seems very fishy.

"And why is that?" She questioned.

"What's the point in going to a restaurant if you're just going to sit there?" He reasoned.

"Well I did tell you I wasn't hungry! Why are you pushing this anyway?"

"Because... " He was lost for words this time.

This is very bad. They're beginning to argue, if things get worse than this, they might never arrive at the restaurant. He thought.

"Because..." He said again.

Oh god, what do I say? Damn it woman, why do you always have to question what I do? He cursed.

"Because what?" She was getting impatient and he snapped once again.

"God, why do you have to argue with me every time, can't you just go with it for once?" He ended up saying. She shook her head in disbelief and placed her hands on her waist.

"Go with it? How do you expect me to go with it if you're not even making any sense?" She countered just as annoyed as he was.

"Fine..." He mumbles in defeat.

Damn I guess I have no choice.

If this goes on, we might end up arguing the whole day or worse, I'm gonna have to do this some other day.

No, no, I can't do that... Today is the day...

He looked back at her and saw her looking back at him with the "What the hell has gotten into you" look. He sighed.

Damn it Rukia...

"Damn it... if you had just agreed to go then doing this would've been better." He said while he dug his hand inside his pocket.

"What do you—"

She didn't finish her question when suddenly he got down on one knee. She tilted her head in confusion.

"What are you... do—"

"Rukia." He called out in a serious tone. She flinched slightly at his sudden change of tone. It got her to shut up though and give all her attention to the man kneeling in front of her. He scowled. "You are the most stubborn, irritating, little midget I've ever met." She crossed her arms over her chest. She was about to retort when he continued. "Yet... the most beautiful and the only woman I love." Her scowl disappeared and whatever she had to say was gone as well. His eyes remained in hers as if memorizing every detail of her face... and every single second of this moment. "Losing you made me realize how empty my life would be without you and now that you're here beside me again, I still feel restless... And now I know why. I guess having you as a girlfriend is not enough and it would never be enough. So I knew that there's only one thing left to do. And that's to... marry you." Her eyes widened when he opened a small blue box in front of her. And on it was a beautiful engagement ring with purple gems and diamonds.

"So will you... Marry me?" He repeated.

She gawked looking back and forth at the ring and him as if everything is still processing in her mind.

He began to blush. She wasn't answering.

Was he rushing things?

She put a hand on her mouth. All the words she wants to say just won't form and all the emotions she was feeling right now just can't be explained.

"I-I know it was a pretty weak proposal but—" He began a little embarrassed.

And all the emotions burst out of her into one word.

"Ichigo!" She suddenly cried out and jumped towards him. He caught her and they both fell on the grassy pavement. The impact hurt him a little but it didn't matter. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.

"S-so was that a yes?" He asked still worried about her answer.

"Oh Ichigo..." She said again as they both straightened up. Tears began to fall from her eyes and yet she was smiling.

"Sorry..." He began, wiping off her tears with his thumb. "I was thinking of doing it in a more romantic way like putting it in a wine glass or something." She chuckled and shook her head.

"No, this is perfect." She said caressing his cheek with her hand. "It's your way. I wouldn't have it any other way." They kissed softly then she handed him her hand.

"You have to answer first. So will you?" He asked again and she smiled kissing him.

"Yes. Oui. Si. Yah..." They both chuckled. The tears from the overwhelming feeling still fell. She wiped them away and tried her best to look more composed.

"I will marry you Ichigo. Only you." She told him. He smiles then puts the ring on her finger. It fits perfectly and they both stared at it.

"It's beautiful." She said in admiration as she held it up for the sun's rays to make it shine some more.

He looked at her with soft eyes.

"Sorry you had to wait eight years for this." He said kissing her cheek and wrapping his arms around her.

"It was worth the wait." She replied.

"Thanks for waiting."

"Thank you for coming back."

They kissed again passionately, yes passionately. He delves his tongue inside her mouth until they were both lying on the grass. Their tongues danced and fought for domination, both of them caught in the static feeling that it sent. Honestly, although they were a bit far from the crowded part of the place, there are still other people at the park too. Some people began to point at them from a far and of course that comes with the murmurs and judgments that can't be helped. Well, the two seem to have forgotten that they were in a public place but heck they don't care. They were having a moment, someone just proposed and no one gives a damn about what other people think. People should know how to just mind their own business. When they broke from the kiss both of them gasped for air.

"Warning one." She huffed and he couldn't help but smirk at that.

She still hasn't forgotten the ground rules? He thought in surprise.

But then he dives down again this time in the crook of her neck leaving a good mark down there. She let out a soft moan while she clutched his shirt. He grinned at her reaction then whispered, "Warning two" to her ear. She wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him closer. He leaned down again for his lips to meet hers in another deep and lustful kiss.

When the kiss was over, and it really took them a lot to stop, they both whispered in chorus, "Warning three."

And that was it. It was like the safe word meaning we have to stop now or else there would never be a next time. He sighed in defeat and got off her. He knew her well enough to know that she was serious about the consequences of their rules. He offered a hand to help her get up.

"So... Is there by any chance I could get back those warnings?" He asked pulling her up. She stood straight and fixed her yellow sundress and hair.

"Nope, you snooze you lose." She said with a smirk. Rukia took in a deep breath and looked back at the beautiful engagement ring around her finger. She couldn't find the right words that can fully describe the beauty of it. Ichigo wrapped his arms around her from behind when he noticed what she was doing.

"If Ken'ichi was here, he'd be very happy." She said in a soft tone.

"He is." He assured her with a kiss on her cheek. But then her smile disappeared when another thought crossed her mind.

"But wait. We still have a problem."

Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed, "What's that?"

"My brother..." She mumbled trying to imagine what her brother might say to this but Ichigo's arms just held her tighter and he rested his head on her shoulder.

"Don't worry about that... I already talked to him."

"Y-you did?" She gasped in surprise quickly turning to look at him and breaking their embrace in the process. He scratched the back of his head when he saw her shocked reaction.

"Yes I did. And surprisingly for a guy who doesn't talk much, he really talked a lot this time."

"Why are you here?" Byakuya asked not looking at the young man in his presence. He talked while his chair faced the window. "I hope you haven't forgotten our deal. You failed and I do believe you know what to do." He added.

Ichigo sighed, "Yeah, yeah. I've already decided."

"I expect that you made the right choice."He replied in his usual monotone.

"I know I did, which is why I came here." This time Byakuya turned his chair around to look at the serious expression on Ichigo's face.

"Have you come to say your good byes to my sister?" He asked with a simple raise of an eyebrow.

"Actually I..."

He took a deep breath.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Then he fell down on his knees and bowed.

For a person who rarely showed any expression Byakuya's eyebrows shot up in surprise of the young man's gestures. "I came here to ask for your sister's hand in marriage. I know I hurt her before, but I swear that I would never do it again. I'll do my best to always make her happy and take care of her. I need her... and I need to make things right this time, so please... I'm begging and putting everything on the line." He looked up."I can't do this without your permission. You're one of the most important people in her life so—"

"Enough." Was the first word that came out of his mouth. Ichigo couldn't deny the shivers that shot through his spine when Byakuya stood up. Little did Ichigo know, that single word signalled the beginning of the longest lecture in his life but he knew he had to endure that if he wants to be in Byakuya's favor.

"W-what did he say?" Rukia asked in worry.

"Well he said a lot of things... something like always treating you like a princess..."

There was no way in hell he was going to tell her how he begged on his knees for her hand in marriage. Oh the shame... but it was worth it. She was worth it.

"Oh..." She nodded suspecting that much. Then it hit her.

"He approved?" She asked unbelievably.

"Don't act so surprised. He didn't really have much of a choice."

"I see." She looked down feeling a little guilty remembering how she acted towards him.

"But you know, unfortunately to him, I can't always treat you like a princess because that would be degrading you." He tried to cheer her up.

"Degrading?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That's right, you see after I marry you," He sweeps her off her feet and looked into her eyes intently. "You won't just be my princess... You'll be my queen." She couldn't help but blush at that statement. He leaned his face closer to hers until their foreheads touch. "Do you want to be my queen, Rukia?"

She could feel the heat travelling on her face and she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I accept, as long as you're my king."

A/N: I just love this. It's soo sweet so I just had to put it hehe. I'll try to update tomorrow, promise :D I just need to patch things up a bit. Thanks for reading and please review! ILY guys and God bless :P

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