Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
A/N: Happy #FanFicFriday everyone! :D First of all, I want to say THANK YOU! Thank you so much for the warm reviews and comments, and the kudos too. I love you guys!
The final chapter is finally here and I am emotional :") and also this is the very first very long multi-chaptered fic I've ever written so… I am going to ramble a little bit and you're totally free to skip it :")
I published this story on FFN in 2020. It was purely for a fun and really light story with barely a plot in it, because after THAT ending, I just wanted to write something fluff and silly and not at all gloomy. I had this draft on my phone from 2018, so I just uploaded it. I never planned to make it this long but I swear this story refused to end XD
Tbh I almost dropped this story when life got busy. But even when I was on hiatus again, I still received the emails when new reviews came up and I always read them and I was always grateful (thank you!). So in 2022, when I finally have some time, I decide to come back to this and make it a personal project to finish this.
I write fanfiction as a hobby and it feels really nice when I can share my hobby with you fellow IR shippers! Thank you, again, for sparing your time to read my silly 150K something story :D
Warning: It's a long chapter again (sorry), and you're free to pause and get back to working or cleaning or cooking or anything really but please come back to it XD hahahaha. Anyway, THIS CHAPTER IS EXTREMELY SAPPY and fluffy and IchiRuki can't keep their hands off each other!
I hope you guys enjoy it :D
The rest of the 2nd year of high school passes without so much drama after that. Orihime comes clean with the teachers about all the things that led to the famous brawl. She shows them all the evidence.
The teachers offer Orihime guidance and counseling and they do ask her if she wants to proceed with a lawsuit and they'll commit to helping her with her every need, but Orihime Inoue has always been angelic in nature, so she tells them that she is going to rest the case and forgive the girls.
The school policy, however, doesn't work based on forgiveness, the rules must apply and the toxic cheerleaders are expelled.
Orihime ends up coming back to the cheerleading team and reforming it. Since most members are out, she opens up new recruitment and makes a reformation. This time, the application is not solely reserved for pretty girls with bodies to die for.
You can be ugly, you can be fat, you can be a nerd, you can be emo and gothic girl, there really is no exclusivity anymore. They're more diverse and inclusive now. Bullies won't be accepted. Girls that only want to hook up with the jocks in mind won't be accepted.
Rumors spread fast. We can't really hide anything behind the thin high school walls. After the whole video and in-school brawl incidents, Orihime and Tatsuki start having lunch and hanging out with Momo, Rukia, and Hanatarou. And attention never diverts too far from their favorite high school queen, so everyone just plays detectives on every single one in the group.
With more focused attention, they finally find out that the ice queen, Kuchiki Rukia, is not just it. She is indeed THE Kuchiki, something that has been speculated often, but was never confirmed.
Having a power like that, the folks speculate that Kuchiki has something to do with the revelation and falling-out of the dirty cheerleading team (thus the reason why this new group of friends is formed), but she never denies nor confirms it, so just like every enigma surrounding her, rumors just stay rumors.
Everyone at school has suspected that their favorite orange-haired jock is dating the Kuchiki heiress.
And ever since they find out who Rukia truly is, some of them say "of course, Kurosaki will only finally fall for someone like her,"
Some of them swoon, "how did we not ship them sooner? A princess from a rich family and a delinquent that her family won't accept?"
Some of them are still being petty and jealous of Rukia for no reason at all, "oh, yeah, she gets the beauty, she gets the money, now she gets the boy too? So sick of a spoiled rich girl like her having everything,"
And so many people are on to the "engaged theory" because there is no way in hell a Kuchiki heiress like her will "just" date. Kurosaki must have been accepted by the family to be able to "date" her and they're probably going to be married after high school graduation.
But, again, Rukia and Ichigo never care at all about Karakura High's gossip mill. Just like what their friends say, seeing directly how the two interact and behave around each other, the two are just stupidly in love that it is as if they're living in a bubble of their own.
So, no one at school, no one in the Karakura High gossip mill, that is not in their inner circle, ever gets a direct confirmation from the two.
The dating rumor stays as a rumor for a while until that one day it turns out to be a fact.
The final of the football championship for Karakura high schoolers.
The Karakura folks get to see the beautiful Kuchiki Rukia coming to watch the game with Kurosaki Ichigo's family; his dad, and his sisters. Not only does she get to sit and watch the game with them on the front row, talk, joke around, share a snack, and seem so close to his family like she is officially a part of them already, but the Kuchiki also wears the famous white Karakura Football Team's jersey with Kurosaki's name and number 15 on her back.
Nothing screams the fact that they're together more than that.
When the match is over, and the players are scattered all over the place, the football captain approaches his family on the stand, jumps on the fence, and quickly scoots his sisters to the side so he gets to sit next to the Kuchiki princess.
His dad messes his spiky orange mane playfully, telling him how proud he is of his son for the two goals and one assist that secured the win. His sisters complain that he is so sweaty and scrunch their noses.
The football captain only rolls his eyes and takes off his wet football shirt. The Kuchiki heiress gives him a bottle of mineral water and wipes his face with a towel, and there is a tired but happy grin on Kurosaki Ichigo's face when he talks to her about the match–a grin that every other student not close to him rarely gets to see.
Kuchiki pulls a clean and fresh t-shirt out of her bag (like she has been taking care of him forever, some students whisper "see? A total fiancee's behavior!") and Kurosaki puts it on before he gets back to the pitch and goes to the locker room.
It becomes an established fact after that.
Of course, they're dating. And judging from how close and relaxed Kuchiki Rukia is with his family, of course, they must have been dating for a while already.
The conspiracy that says they're not just dating but already betrothed to each other is getting thicker and thicker since the Kuchiki is still a traditional noble family that knows no mundane things such as dating around.
But they see no rings on the couple's fingers so it's still questionable nonetheless, but the majority of the students still are into that engagement theory.
In June that year, Ichigo brings Rukia to his mom for the first time, coming along with his family to the Kurosaki's special day, and things just can't get more intimate than that.
Isshin and the twins are done with their prayers and get back to the temple, because just like any other day on June 17, the rain has poured already.
But Ichigo asks Rukia to stay for a little while. His right-hand holds hers in his while the other holds a yellow umbrella that protects both of them from the pouring rain.
The rain hinders Rukia from hearing it clearly but she still can make out the words Ichigo is saying to his mom's grave.
"Mom, this is Rukia," he says, and Rukia can feel the gentle squeeze of his hand on hers, "The only girl that I'll ever love after you,"
The only girl he'll ever love.
A simple sentence with such a heavy implication, they're only 17 now, but Ichigo is already so sure that Rukia is the one, she's the only one, will always be the only one, and he will love her forever, no matter what is going to come in their way the uncertain future, because he knows they will overcome it together no matter what.
Rukia knows she always finds it amusing whenever Ichigo is being a sap, but in all seriousness, right here, right now hearing his confession in front of his mom, Rukia can feel all of her blood circulating to her face, and her heart is this close to combust for how fast it is pacing.
Ichigo chuckles then, sounding boyish after such a mature confession, "Anyway, she nags. A lot. And all she does is worry. You're gonna love her,"
Rukia tugs his hand in a protest and Ichigo chuckles and only brings her linked hand to his lips.
They spend a few minutes more, just the two of them, under the umbrella.
At the moment, in her silent prayer, Rukia says the words she has not yet uttered out loud to the boy next to her.
A silent promise to Masaki, that just like what her son said, Rukia also believes Ichigo is the boy she will ever love, the only one–for now, for 350 days later, for 700 days later, and the next, and the next after that, forever.
When they are done, as the two walk back to meet Ichigo's father and the twins, Ichigo pulls her closer, his arm around her giving Rukia warmth and protection, he asks then, his voice teasing her as if he knows what is in her silent prayer, "so, what did you say to my mom?"
Rukia smiles and leans her head on his arm, and Ichigo leans closer to her too as if it is possible to be more glued to each other more than this, "it's strictly confidential between the ladies, Ichigo,"
Ichigo scoffs, but he can't fight back a smile. He raises an eyebrow at her, "did you tell Mom I behave and don't get into useless brawls anymore?"
Rukia smiles. That she did.
Rukia rolls her eyes and teases back, "Don't worry, I told her I'll keep you on your toes,"
Ichigo chuckles and kisses the top of her head, he always does, something like leverage for being so much taller than her, and he thinks he just loves having a girlfriend shorter than him.
That she definitely will. After all, they both know who is the boss in this relationship, and Ichigo thinks he is not at all complaining.
They all pass the final exams of the 2nd year. The summer holiday is coming and there is a lot of family and friends time.
For most parts of her life in Japan, summer has always been the loneliest time for Rukia. It is always the time when reality strikes her that indeed she has no friends and all she has is a family that is never there in the first place.
She remembers spending her summer alone; in the lonely spacious rooms with her tutors, or simply traveling alone, exploring cities overseas on her own because her brother and sister are busy doing business.
But this summer. This summer is not that lonely anymore.
Ever since Rukia and Ichigo started dating, Isshin wasn't lying at all when he said Rukia had become his third daughter from the moment he met her.
But it feels like she truly becomes a part of the family in this exact summer.
Rukia's 2nd year to 3rd year summer holiday is spent mostly with the Kurosaki. Rukia's relationship with Yuzu and Karin has always been progressing closer and closer ever since they met, especially with the help of their group chat.
In her summer routine, Rukia gets to Ichigo's house really early in the morning, spending time with Yuzu and Karin. They cook, bake, go shopping, get their nails done (and it is amusing how Karin somehow enjoys it too now), go to an Ikebana class, but mostly just gossip around in the twins' room.
Sometimes Ichigo is just tired that he's now being left out so he goes out with Renji to be with the football boys, leaving Rukia with his sisters at his home.
In the afternoon, Ichigo comes home from wherever he goes (Chad's place, Ikkaku's place, Kenpachi's boxing ring, or simply Urahara's) and Rukia accompanies Ichigo driving Karin to her football practice, and the two waits and watch her train, enjoying their little moment, sitting, having a snack, and talking together.
In the evening, Rukia has dinner with Isshin, Ichigo, Renji, and the twins (and on some days, Ichigo's godparents, Urahara and Yoruichi, join them too).
After dinner, Ichigo will drive her home, it's like the only private time he gets to have with her.
On their way to her home, they always, always don't go straight home. They get to taste multiple street foods that are recommended by some food bloggers and drive to the beach or to the park to enjoy some quality time under the moonlight.
When they get to her mansion gate, Ichigo never really lets her get off his car straight away.
Sometimes he wonders why Rukia does spend more time with his sisters than him these days, and aside from the private moments they share in his room (that most of the time are being intruded too by Karin, Yuzu, or Renji anyway), only now does he have her all for himself.
Being born first and an older brother at that, Ichigo has never had trouble with sharing. But it turns out that when it comes to Rukia, there is this selfish side of him that doesn't want to share her.
So, he cherishes this moment really, in the car, before she gets inside her house and sleeps and they redo their routine the next day.
In the private moments in the car or under the Kuchiki mansion's huge canopy–the place they shared their first kiss–they mostly kiss and make out, like most hormonal teenagers stupidly in love.
Now that they're 17, and still 6 months already into their young relationship, Ichigo is still being careful in their moments together (too careful sometimes that Rukia doesn't even know why it frustrates her sometimes).
"Is it now a thing?" Rukia asks, as Ichigo leaves kisses on her neck.
"What thing?" he murmurs against her neck. Here Ichigo finds out he is completely able to miss someone he meets every day. She does spend too much time with his sisters.
"Kissing in the car," Rukia takes Ichigo's face in her hands, pulls away his kisses on her neck, and captures his lips with hers.
He nibbles on her lower lip, God, Ichigo loves kissing Rukia, he chuckles lightly against her lips, "what? Not fancy enough for you?"
Rukia laughs, her lips are pink and swollen from his kisses and even in the dark, Ichigo still thinks she is beautiful and he's really so lucky to have her as his, "No, but, what if Nii-sama sees us?"
Her caresses on his cheeks are a little bit distracting, Ichigo looks around through the window, the street in front of her huge mansion is deserted most of the time, and he turns to look at the time on the car display, "it's still 5 minutes to your curfew," he kisses the pulse on Rukia's wrist, "technically, I don't break any of Byakuya's curfew,"
Rukia wants to smile, somehow she's reminded of the very first time Ichigo met Nii-sama and he called him 'sir' at that time, and now that the two have spent dinner with each other twice a week whenever Byakuya is in town, Ichigo calls him 'Byakuya' and Rukia is surprised that her brother lets him.
Maybe Nii-sama is fond of Ichigo after all.
Summer passes and here comes the 3rd year, their final year of high school. It is a funny story about the class arrangements.
The teachers pull some strings. The big brawl leaves a permanent note to the teacher, to never put so many delinquents in one class like the infamous 2-2 from last year.
So, they're really, really careful at putting who with who.
They're being careful, but they're not being too smart about it.
Ulquiorra, Uryuu, and Orihime are placed in 3-2–creating another spin-off of a tangled, messy thread of a love triangle that will last for an eternity.
Rukia and Renji are both placed in 3-3, with Tatsuki and Chad. Renji sits next to Rukia in class, and Tatsuki sits next to Chad (they decide it like that since Chad is too huge and Renji is too tall, and it feels like it's just too crowded to have those giants sharing a desk).
Tatsuki complains all the time to Rukia about how Abarai keeps talking all kinds of nonsense when he tries to start a small talk with her (Renji is trying, alright, he is trying).
And Rukia has to listen so much to Renji's nagging, "why the hell does Arisawa keep asking me if I forget to take my meds?"
Rukia shrugs and only says, "do you?" after having to listen to Renji rambling to Tatsuki about all the different kinds of birds.
Momo is in the same class as Toushiro, but there is a new threat called Kira in their class. So, another branch of a love triangle is also happening in 3-4.
Ichigo and Grimmjow funnily enough are placed in 3-1 with no other mutuals, but Hanatarou. Somehow the teachers get a funny idea that Ichigo and Grimmjow get along well since 'didn't Kurosaki try to save Jaggerjacques?'. It is ironic that if the teachers knew better, they should've known what chain of events actually transpired before the famous brawl.
Their class is full of library nerds and closet geeks and emo goths whose names the two have never even heard before.
Ichigo is pretty sure (except for Hanatarou) Grimmjow is the only familiar face in the class and it is the same thing for the blue-haired jock. There are no hot girls or boys around. Ichigo and Grimmjow are actually the only pretty ones in their class.
On the first day at school, Ichigo wants to sit next to Hanatarou, but the timid boy is already sitting with this nice girl from his photography club.
So, the orange-haired teen swallows his pride and places (with a slam) his blue sports bag on the desk next shared with Grimmjow–the desk farthest at the back of the class.
The blue-haired jock mocks, "you gotta be fucking kidding me,"
Ichigo only mumbles, "shut up, there's no one else."
Grimmjow knows no one else either but he just never knows when to shut up.
"So, what? Go pick another seat,"
Ichigo snorts and pulls the chair instead, "there is no empty seat left,"
There is an empty seat left, but it's next to an unnamed goth girl (one of the admins of Karakura's gossip mill) with a perverted look and giant-ass nose-piercing that won't tear her gaze away from both Ichigo and Grimmjow. The two aren't sure if she is just attracted to them or just wants to kill them in their seats.
So. No other choice. Looks like they're freaking chair mates now.
Ichigo whines and whines and whines that he is not in the same class as Rukia. During the lunch break he always, always complains about how much Grimmjow pisses him off.
All he talks about is Grimmjow this, and Grimmjow that, and Rukia knows she is happy that the two boys can finally work it out, but she can't just tease Ichigo about it.
During lunch, after another complaint from Ichigo, on the rooftop, Rukia caresses her boyfriend's cheek and asks, tilting her head slightly, one eyebrow raised elegantly, "should I be worried?"
It's so easy to play with him when Ichigo always leans into her touch like a little puppy, "about what?" Ichigo asks, finding it hard to concentrate whenever she touches him.
"You and him?"
Renji chokes on his katsudon and Uryuu's shoulders shake in amusement.
He opens his eyes in an instant and stutters, "what the hell is that supposed to mean, Rukia?"
Rukia shrugs, she is always good at throwing something and acts like nothing's wrong, "I mean, given your track records with your previous chair mates…"
Ichigo frowns and Rukia thinks she just loves teasing him so much because her idiot boyfriend is just that adorable, "First year. Renji. You asked him to move in with you,"
This time, Renji spits his drink and chokes, "oi!" Isn't that a completely different issue?
"Second year…" Rukia caresses his cheek again and Ichigo can't help but graze his lips on her wrist.
"Yeah? What about the second year?" he teases back and murmurs against her soft skin, feeling her pulse on his lips.
What the fuck. Renji and Uryuu curse.
They are doing that again–getting lost in their own world as if no one else matters. Aren't they already 6 or more into their relationship? Just for how long are they going to keep this honeymoon phase up?
Anyway, Ichigo is not done complaining. Ichigo complains again in the hallway after the lunch break when they're walking back to the class. He whines about every little thing, including the petty little ones.
"Do you know how many times he borrows my pen and never gives it back?"
Rukia narrows her eyes and replies, "you don't have a pen, Ichigo," Ichigo never brings a pen, and Rukia always lends him one of her dear Chappy pens from her collection.
Ichigo corrects it, "Alright, do you know how many times he borrows your pen and never gives it back?"
Rukia is not amused. She crosses her arms under her breasts and glares at her boyfriend, "which one?"
Her voice is icy cold and Ichigo doesn't dare to tell her it's the purple one she likes so much, "does it even matter?"
They stop in front of Ichigo's and Grimmjow's class and Rukia takes a peek inside to see the Chappy pen stealer there, sitting on his desk next to Ichigo's desk, his long legs sprawled out, his eyes looking bored, and his arms crossed in front of his chest. Ichigo and Grimmjow basically have no friends in that class.
Ichigo groans every time he has to get back to his class because his class is just no fun at all. He whines again like a baby really, and he rests his head on Rukia's shoulder as if he doesn't want her to leave him.
Rukia scoffs, it's like sending a kid to a kindergarten.
"Gah, I miss my old chair mate," he murmurs against her shoulder and takes in the scent of her hair.
"Really, why? What is so good about her?" Rukia asks, playfully, she pats him on the back as if to say, 'there, there.'
"For one, she doesn't steal my pen, she lends me hers instead," Ichigo replies, "and also she's really pretty to look at,"
Dork.
Rukia glances at Grimmjow again in the class and says, "What do you mean? He's pretty too,"
Ichigo jolts upright in an instant, taking his head off her shoulder, "what?"
Rukia only shrugs her shoulders, her eyes glinting in amusement, dismissing him, "now be a good boy in class and I'll see you after school, okay, Ichigo?"
Ichigo glances at the said blue-haired jock in the class, silently thinking it's weird, 'what the heck?' Rukia has never ever even complimented him that he's pretty (ok, maybe once). Ichigo scowls and muses, he is prettier than Grimmjow, right?
…right?
He is going to ask her that after school.
The third year is basically full of studying. There's no high school drama like the 2nd year anymore. Everyone is so focused on the upcoming national exam and college entrance.
Ichigo knows what he wants to do, and he has already made up his mind. He is not going to try Harvard business as his cousin advised him to. He is going to try medical school in Tokyo–the best one in the country–to be a doctor, just like his dad. Isshin is thrilled and totally supportive of Ichigo's choice. It looks like Kaien will just have to look for some other right hand to run the Shiba enterprise.
Rukia is still going to try international relations at Harvard, just like Kaien and that guy Kaien mentioned at the wedding, Ukitake Juushiro, advised her to.
They both know what they want for their own future, but it is still hard for Ichigo to tell Rukia that he can't go to the US with her, and it's respectively hard for Rukia to tell Ichigo that she still thinks she wants to try for Harvard first and puts Tokyo second.
They both know that separation is just around the corner and it's getting closer and closer with each passing day.
But it's painful just to think about it, and it's even harder to discuss it out loud.
So, they stall it, stall it, and stall it until they really have to.
Their homeroom teachers give out a form to fill out, giving them the information about the students' university choices, and the form needs to be signed by the parents. The submission deadline is on Monday morning.
On Friday evening, Ichigo and Rukia are having their routine dinner with Hisana and Byakuya. And Byakuya–having just signed Rukia's application form–asks Ichigo if he has made his decision yet.
Rukia stiffens on her chair and Ichigo, equally uneasy, replies with a vague, "yeah, I, uh, I have,"
Byakuya and Hisana know about the business school thing and they're actually ecstatic if Ichigo does choose business at Harvard so he can be together with Rukia in the US. Hisana and Byakuya aren't coming with her to the US this time, so they will be more at ease if Rukia has Ichigo by her side.
But Rukia also tells them that Ichigo is still considering his choices and that he wants to be a doctor, so they shouldn't pressure him at all. Byakuya and Hisana understand, and they're impressed that a bashful teen like Kurosaki Ichigo is actually compassionate enough to pursue such a noble career.
Rukia walks Ichigo to his car that evening, and he rests his back against his black range rover and tucks Rukia's stubborn hair away behind her ear.
They just can't stall it anymore. At some point, they both know they'll have to discuss it.
"So, you're going," Ichigo doesn't ask, it's more like a confirmation.
His amber eyes are intense on her violet ones, and looking at him, Rukia finds it hard to say the words.
Rukia nods. She is still waiting for the email.
Rukia is that smart. She is going to get in. Ichigo knows.
"For how long?" he asks, the pain so clear in his voice.
"Four years," she whispers. Rukia has already mapped her plan. She's going to graduate on time and once she does, she's planning to get into an internship for some time after graduation.
Ichigo clicks his tongue and looks away.
Four years is such a long time for a long-distance relationship.
Can they make it?
Can he make it without her?
Rukia sighs, there is a reason why they always postpone this big talk. Rukia knows Ichigo is going to be difficult. She puts her soft hand on his cheek to make him look at her, and there is that frustration in his amber eyes.
"I will come home often," Rukia is always the rational one with a solution in a time like this. That's why she is always the one who can bring Ichigo back on his feet whenever he needs it.
Being as rich as them, the cost of going back and forth between Japan and the US is not going to be an issue. But will she have time? Will he?
"There are summer holidays, and Christmas and New Year, I'll be home often, so if you're putting numbers, maybe it's not 4 years at all, Ichigo," her caress on his cheek is soft and Ichigo thinks he is going to miss this hand on his cheek.
He stays silent at first, but after a while, Ichigo sighs and pulls her into an embrace, "I will visit you during my break,"
Rukia smiles against his chest and holds him tighter, "okay,"
He kisses the top of her head, Rukia looks up at him, and Ichigo looks down at her, and no matter how much he has thought about it, she is always so beautiful to him that she steals his breath away. He leans down and nuzzles his nose against hers and murmurs, "Rukia," he whispers, his voice husky and boyish and Rukia loves how his voice always makes her shiver for the overwhelming feelings she always has for him, "You and me. We're going to make it, right?"
The long-distance relationship. The pining, the longing, the wish to be able to hold each other. Just the thought of it already stings painfully in his heart.
They're going to make it, right?
Rukia circles her arms around his neck and looks him in the eyes.
"I don't know that," she whispers. Rukia has always been like this, she is either being honest or not saying anything at all, "you don't know that either, Ichigo," she adds. "No one knows,"
She doesn't know that. Ichigo doesn't know that. No one can know. Rukia is just being honest.
But here in his arms, Rukia knows one thing and one thing only, whatever thing is going to come their way–whatever obstacle they're going to overcome–she will always, always love him.
Ichigo looks away again with a scowl on his face. He's being difficult again. Rukia knows. She is not really surprised.
Rukia's hand is playing with the hair on his nape, and the other is trailing down his chest, and Rukia whispers in his ear, "But I know…"
Hearing what she says to him, Ichigo finally stops being so emo and puts a little smile on his handsome face, and holds her tighter in his arms. Rukia gasps when he lifts her up as if she was made of air, and she wraps her legs around his waist and circles her arms around his neck.
Ichigo kisses her, fully and hard on the lips. They always feel differently amazing–his urgent kisses when he's mad, desperate, or just frustrated–they are the kind of kisses that never fail to make Rukia's legs turn into mush every time.
When they stop for a while to catch some breaths, they both can feel their smiles on each other's lips.
And suddenly it feels like they're definitely going to be okay.
Rukia whispers, 'I know, no matter what happens, no matter how long it takes, I'll always, always, come home to you, Ichigo,'
Uryuu, just like Ichigo, is going to apply for medical school.
Chad is going to take a gap year, he tells them he is going to work some part-time jobs and he wants to explore Abuelo's hometown in Mexico.
Orihime is going to apply to an art school. During her final cheerleading days, her beauty has been noticed by some entertainment agencies. Photoshoots and commercial offers are already coming in, and if she is being serious about it, her friends really think she has it in her to make it big in the entertainment industry.
Tatsuki, always being the smart and snarky one, is going to law school. She will make a goddamn scary lawyer.
Renji refuses to fill out the college application form their teachers ask because let's just be honest, no matter how much he wishes to go to law school and be a lawyer or a prosecutor or a judge, Renji is an orphan, and law school can cost a fortune. He already settles with the fact that he isn't going to college–unlike his friends–and he doesn't like to talk about it.
But on Monday, in Ichigo's car, before he gets off to head to his class, Ichigo shoves him a piece of paper. There is a checklist next to Tokyo University Law School, and there is Renji's name on the bottom next to Isshin, completed by the older Kurosaki's signature.
Renji can't even say anything at that moment. He never asks Isshin, because the Kurosaki has been too nice for taking him in, he doesn't expect or dares to ask for college fees, too. It'll be too much. He knows his place.
But Isshin Kurosaki never does things halfway. When he took Renji in, he really meant it to give a home and family to the poor kid. Besides, Isshin is basically loaded himself, so paying for a medical school for his son, Ichigo, and a law school for his second son, Renji, isn't going to burden him at all.
Renji shoots a surprised look at Ichigo, completely speechless, but Ichigo only smirks and pats him on his shoulder, "you really have some studying to do if you want to make it in law school," he adds, "the last time I checked, they don't accept a dumbass, dumbass,"
Renji grins and blushes when he mutters his gratitude. Ichigo really is the bestest boy he knows.
Renji promises he is going to study hard and not let the Kurosaki down. And when he has become successful, he promises he is going to pay back every kindness Ichigo, Isshin, and his family has offered him.
When Renji arrives in the class, Rukia is already there. At that moment, Renji realizes he does have the best people around him–the bestest friends–because just like Ichigo did, Rukia suddenly shoves him a piece of paper too.
A different paper with Renji's name on it, but this one ticks more options of law schools; not only law school choices in Japan, but also Harvard Law School, and there's the elegant and classy K. Byakuya's signature at the bottom next to Renji's name.
Rukia never told Ichigo about this, and Ichigo never told Rukia about his family helping Renji too. But the two offer help without being asked.
"Rukia…" he is speechless. It's not just Isshin and Ichigo, it's Rukia, Byakuya, and Hisana, too, that also accept him into their family. And it's adorable how they're making him try for Harvard when Renji isn't even that good with English.
As if knowing what runs in his head, Rukia places three or four English books on Renji's side of the desk and tells him, "I'll be your English tutor from now on,"
Renji smiles. While Ichigo is his bestest boy, Rukia is, indeed, his bestest girl.
(In the end, Renji doesn't make it to Harvard, but he gets accepted into a law school in Tokyo, and there is some dispute between Isshin and Byakuya since both of them insist to pay for his education, but in the end, Isshin wins the case and Byakuya just has to let it go).
Ichigo leaves for med school somewhere in July, just some days after he turns 18 even though the school will only start in September.
Isshin and Ryuuken find a flat with two bedrooms for their boys, and Ichigo hates that Uryuu is going to be his new roommate because let's be honest, Uryuu nags a lot like a noisy grandmother. And while Ichigo doesn't pack too much stuff, Uryuu is being extra like usual and his stuff hogs up almost the entire apartment. Ichigo won't stop whining and complaining that Uryuu brings Chinese dining sets that take up space in the entire cupboard.
Isshin is being dramatic that his son is finally leaving home. He won't stop crying for two weeks, and Ichigo thinks his dad is just being extra like usual. Tokyo is only a 40 mins ride from Karakura after all.
Medical school starts on September 15, and Rukia is going to the US on September 1st. So, Ichigo and his family; Isshin, Karin, Yuzu, and Renji are all coming to accompany her to settle in the US (and also for a short holiday).
Isshin, after all, has considered Rukia her third daughter, so he also wants to be there for Rukia-chan when she leaves for college–making sure he knows where she lives overseas, that her school is okay, and that her neighborhood is safe.
Byakuya and Hisana are going too, so the two families spend 14 days together in the US like they're officially in-laws already.
The Kurosaki stay with the Kuchikis at Byakuya's penthouse somewhere in Massachusetts (Rukia is not going to stay there, though, she will stay in a smaller apartment, also near her campus).
Despite being with their family, Ichigo and Rukia spend so much time together before they actually have to part for the first time ever since they got together.
They've been dating for more or less 1.5 years now, but just like Renji said, they never really get over their lovey-dovey-honeymoon phase. It's like they're on a date every day; they're going to the museums, the park, the nice restaurants, the famous landmarks in the city.
And it gets harder and harder by the day when it gets closer and closer to the date Ichigo and his family (and Byakuya and Hisana too) have to go home, leaving Rukia to study in the US alone.
On September 12 evening, the night before her family and Ichigo's family have to go back to Japan, the Kuchiki and the Kurosaki spend a really nice dinner at a really nice restaurant.
Their flight is tomorrow morning, so when the two families make it back to Byakuya's penthouse, they all decide to call it a night and retreat to their own rooms.
Rukia is sharing her room with Karin and Yuzu, and Ichigo is sharing a room with Renji.
It's 11 PM already when Renji hears soft knocks on the bedroom door. The redhead is about to sleep, but he is still browsing something he needs for law school preparation (and also giddily waiting for Arisawa to reply to his texts. The two are going to the same law school, and Renji is just making excuses to talk to her really–asking her things he can actually look up on Google).
Meanwhile, Ichigo is still taking his shower, he always takes a shower before he goes to bed.
Renji puts on his rock-band t-shirt before he opens the door and slightly wonders if it is Isshin losing his stuff again.
The sleepiness on his face is wiped off in an instant when he sees someone unexpected at their door.
"Mother fucking hell!" Renji screams, jumps, and almost falls to the floor.
It is Rukia. She is wearing her ghost No Face from Spirited Away sheet mask, standing there in her short-sleeved pink floral pajama set.
"It's me," Rukia says, rolling her eyes under her mask.
"I know it's you," Renji sighs, embarrassed he's caught off guard and screaming like a girl. "What's up?"
Rukia doesn't say anything but Renji watches as her violet eyes drift to Renji's and Ichigo's already packed suitcases in the corner of their room.
Rukia asks, "where's Ichigo?" Her voice sounds low, soft, and almost cracks. Renji has never heard her voice like this before, and even though he can't see her expression–
–Oh.
Renji gets it now.
Renji's eyes soften. He has never seen Rukia so vulnerable like this.
He scratches his neck nervously, and blushes a little as he tries to sound soft to Rukia, "he's still in the shower,"
Rukia doesn't say anything again, her eyes shift to their suitcases again and Renji really feels bad for her.
They're going home tomorrow.
She'll be alone.
And it must be difficult for her.
"I should–," it's clear that she's trying to mask her feelings again, it's probably also the reason why she doesn't take off her sheet mask. "I should get back to my room,"
Renji catches her hand.
Why does Rukia always try to keep things bottled up inside?
"Hey, come on, Rukia," he tells her, he sounds so careful around her, "Ichigo's going to be done in any minute anyway,"
She bites her lower lip, avoiding Renji's gaze, and mumbles, "okay…"
Renji has never seen this side of Rukia before–this girlish, clingy girlfriend side of her, a side of her that Renji thinks she only shows to Ichigo.
Renji rests his back against the wall and Rukia leans on the doorway. "Are you packed?" she asks.
Renji nods, carefully watching her, "I am,"
Rukia's lower lip trembles, but Renji isn't sure if there are tears or not.
Rukia never cries.
He never knows if she actually can cry.
"Is Ichigo packed?" Rukia asks again.
There, her voice almost cracks again.
Today Rukia has been fine. If anything bothers her, if she is sad, she has masked it well–during breakfast, lunch, and dinner–she seems strong and perfectly okay to be left on her own.
"Has he–did Ichigo find his laptop connector, he's going to need it on his first day–"
"Rukia, relax, he found it," it's so much clear to Renji that Rukia's trying to hide her feelings behind her nagging.
"Good," she nods, "that's good,"
When Rukia's shoulders start shaking, Renji lets out a deep breath and pulls her into an embrace.
This is his best friend being soft and vulnerable for the first time ever in front of him. And Renji promises he will always be there for her.
Now Renji knows. All those talks about Rukia being ice-cold and heartless are just mere talks. After years of never seeing her keep her emotions in check behind her mask, Renji finally gets to see Rukia's true feelings.
All because she is going to part with her boyfriend of almost two years.
"Idiot, you don't have to keep it together all the time," he tells her softly. "It's me after all,"
"I'm going to miss you, Renji," Rukia mumbles against Renji's rock-band t-shirt, "A big idiot like you is like one in a million,"
Renji laughs and Rukia smiles behind her mask, "I'm going to miss you too, Rukia," he replies, "Where else can I find a stuck-up-in-the-ass noble bratty-princess like you?"
Rukia pinches Renji's belly and he laughs because it's ticklish.
"Don't worry, I will keep an eye on Ichigo," Renji jokes again, trying to cheer her up, his big hand caressing her back.
"Though I don't really see the point, dude's so sickly in love with you, Rukia,"
There is just simply no way Ichigo will ever glance at another girl when he already has Rukia. It will never happen, it will probably happen only when the pigs fly and hell freezes over.
Rukia stays like this for a while, closing her eyes and not saying anything.
The bathroom door cracks open, and there's Ichigo. He's only clad in a towel, his hair is slightly damp from his shower, and he pauses drying his hair and raises a confused eyebrow when he notices Renji is with someone.
Rukia?
Still having Rukia in his arms, Renji mouths to Ichigo, 'oi, come here,'
Worry crosses Ichigo's handsome face in an instant. He jogs to reach the doorway and almost trips and thank God he doesn't or it would be a total catastrophe.
When Ichigo reaches them, without saying anything, Renji passes Rukia to Ichigo's chest and Ichigo automatically envelops her in his arms.
"Hey," he kisses Rukia's temple, "everything alright?"
Ichigo has never seen her like this. They've shared dozens of sweet and intimate moments but never like this. Rukia has never acted this fragile around him.
Ichigo always feels like there are walls surrounding Rukia. Layers and layers of high walls that he has to crush and overcome with patience. But even when they started dating, and throughout the time they have spent together, he thinks he hasn't yet managed to cross them all.
It is like there is always another wall and another and another and Ichigo wonders if the time she finally lets him in will ever come.
And tonight he finds out it is finally here.
The night before their separation.
Ichigo takes off her ridiculous ghost No Face sheet mask and Rukia's face looks radiant–she always does–but there is a frown on her face and she looks sad, and her cheeks are red, and her eyes are red too, but even if she did shed some tears, they're already wiped away.
Rukia hates that she's being like this and she gets easily embarrassed when she shows feelings so she buries her face in his bare hard chest again, finding the familiar warmth and comfort of Ichigo Kurosaki.
Ichigo thinks it pains him to see her like this but she just seems so adorable, pouting like this just because she doesn't want to be apart from him, and Ichigo feels his heart swells.
Ichigo (and everyone else) is always accustomed to the fact that Ichigo loves Rukia more in this relationship, but at moments like this, he gets to realize that Rukia, indeed, does love him as much.
She hasn't said it to him yet. Not in words. The three words Ichigo wants to hear.
Ichigo is not a patient man. But for her, he thinks he is willing to wait no matter how long it takes.
She's not saying anything and Ichigo leads her to his bed and tucks Rukia in it. After that, he takes a t-shirt and black shorts and changes in the bathroom.
Renji is back on his bed. Looking at them–being so in love and lovey-dovey all the time–Renji just feels so damn lonely sometimes.
When he's done changing, Ichigo joins Rukia in his bed. He drapes his arms around Rukia's smaller frame–pulling her back closer to his torso. He hides his face in her hair and breathes in deeply–taking all her scent and knowing just how much he is going to miss this scent.
Nothing feels awkward even though they have never slept together yet. They have shared a bed before, on some days when Rukia slept over at his apartment in Tokyo during some weeks before they departed to the US or those times she spent taking afternoon summer naps in his old bedroom in his house back in Karakura.
If anything, everything feels right and fitting–to hold her in his arms.
Renji knows Ichigo and Rukia are definitely not going to do anything with him in the room. After all, their love life, up until now, has been kind of PG-13.
It's funny because Ichigo acts like a badass most of the time, but he really is just a careful gentleman when it comes to his little girlfriend, no matter how much the football guys–Ikkaku, Renji, and Hisagi try to corrupt him.
Renji still can't hold the pun and joke though, "oi, just to let you know, I'm still here alright. I will make sure everything stays PG-13 around here,"
Ichigo throws a pillow at Renji to shut him up and pulls Rukia closer to him again.
Rukia shifts and turns to face him this time, but she still won't look at him, and she hides her face in his chest again.
Ichigo caresses her back softly and murmurs against her forehead, "talk to me?"
She sighs and murmurs back, "I'm okay,"
It is really hard for him too–with all this time they've never been apart, all this time almost seeing her every day.
But he knows that while the decision is never easy, they both make their own choices, and they both need this to grow.
After all, a part of loving someone is letting them go.
Ichigo knows Rukia is going to be a thousand miles away from him, but he will patiently wait for her. He firmly believes she will come home to him, and one day there will be no distance between him and her anymore.
They say waiting is a sign of true love and patience. And if anything, he strongly believes, any obstacles that root from this will only make their bond stronger in time.
Rukia moves a lot. She has been moving around since she was just a kid. But nothing feels as difficult as this one.
"We're going to be alright, Rukia,"
"...I know,"
"I will visit you whenever I can," Ichigo has already checked his schedule and he thinks he can make time to visit her in 6 months.
"Okay…" she looks up at him with those adorable constellation-blue puppy eyes and says, "and we will video call every day,"
Ichigo chuckles. Even before they have to part and still get to see each other every day, they already video call each other every night.
He tucks away her hair behind her ear and stares deeply into her violet orbs, "we will,"
"And you have to start getting used to texting, Ichigo," she sighs, "why do you not text anyway? Why do you always call? It's way easier than making phone calls whenever you want to talk about something," Rukia starts nagging like usual and Ichigo chuckles.
Ichigo thinks texting is a drag and requires more effort.
He shrugs, "I guess I just want to hear your voice," he is at it again–his lousy pick-up line that he thinks is cool.
Rukia pinches his side playfully and Ichigo chuckles again.
"Okay, fine. I will text you," (In the end, he doesn't. They end up exchanging messages with voice notes instead).
"And you'll have to take good care of Kon," Rukia reminds him, snuggling closer to Ichigo.
Rukia has not sorted it yet with her tenant about the permission to bring pets into the apartment. So Kon is staying at Ichigo's and Ishida's apartment for now. Ichigo knows he is still not getting along with her cat, but of course, he is going to take good care of Kon. Rukia is going to kill him if he isn't. Sometimes Ichigo wonders if Rukia loves Kon more than him really.
"And Kon is spoiled and so used to good things, so you'll have to make sure Kon doesn't get have any cultural shock moving to your place or something like that,"
Ichigo sighs, now he gets to share his living expenses with a spoiled rich cat that doesn't even like him that much.
"And you still have to make time for Hisana nee-san and Nii-sama," Rukia nags him again. "They're your family too now,"
"I will," Ichigo nods.
Like he needs to be told that. Ichigo will keep coming to their mandatory dinner. He still needs to win her stuck-up older brother's heart after all.
"Be nice to Nii-sama, Ichigo,"
At that, Ichigo rolls his eyes and sighs against her hair. "I will. I always behave. Will he though?"
This time, Rukia rolls her eyes instead. "How many times do I need to tell you? Nii-sama is fond of you,"
Ichigo snorts–reminiscing about his cold glare and strict rules and strict nagging, "He sure has a weird way to show his affections,"
Rukia decides to just let this one go or she will hear no end of it.
"Ichigo?" She calls him again. He places his chin on top of her head.
"Hm?" He hums.
"I promise I will … I will try to always make time to come home on June 17," Rukia has promised that she will never ever miss that important day. It's an important day for her too now.
"It's ok, I'm sure Mom will understand,"
Rukia nods, but there is her silent promise again to always try her hardest to make it home.
They're silent again for a little while.
Ichigo knows Rukia isn't asleep, she still makes imaginary circles on his chest.
"Ichigo?" she asks him again, she talks in a low and soft voice–probably so that they won't bother Renji who is now already snoring.
"You're not…" Rukia blushes and she crumples his t-shirt a little, "you're not allowed to look at busty nurses, okay?"
Damn, Ichigo thinks. His ice-cold Kuchiki girlfriend is adorable.
He chuckles and raises an eyebrow cockily, "busty nurses?"
Rukia frowns–annoyed. She knows that some men have fantasies about nurses and she hates that. Ichigo is going to work at the hospital when he begins his clinical rounds.
She knows Ichigo isn't going to be one of them, but Rukia just can't sleep yet and she wants to talk about anything–every little thing–with him, no matter how ridiculous they are.
Now, Rukia seems annoyed. She gets annoyed easily when she is embarrassed.
He shifts and adjusts his position so that he traps her underneath him. His eyebrow is still raised. "Why would I look at busty nurses?"
Why would he ever look at busty nurses–or any other girl really–when he has her, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, as his?
"I don't know," Rukia is still frowning. "Just say yes you won't look at them, is it that hard?"
Her thumb brushes his chin and lower lip and Ichigo playfully bites it, "Okay, I won't look at them,"
"And you, Rukia," he replies.
Rukia raises her eyebrow and Ichigo leans down closer and leaves a trail of kisses on her neck, he whispers, his voice husky–sending shivers down Rukia's spine, "you're not allowed to leave me for some lame-ass seniors with leather jackets and motorbikes,"
Rukia laughs and takes his face in her hands to bring back his lips to hers.
She is going to miss this dork. She is going to miss her dorky boyfriend so much.
They pull away, the kiss isn't that deep since they do need to keep it PG-13 with Renji's snoring ass around.
Still trapped underneath his body, Ichigo stares longingly into her violet orbs, "Hey, I have something for you,"
A parting gift that Ichigo has prepared earlier. He is about to give her tomorrow at the airport, but having her in his arms right now, he thinks there will be no more fitting moment than this.
He takes something from the first drawer of the cabinet next to his bed and pulls out a nice and fancy-looking box.
About three weeks ago before he left for the States, Uryuu asked Ichigo and Chad to join him in looking for a gift for Orihime's birthday on September 3. In the end, Uryuu got Orihime a pair of beautiful earrings even though they're not even dating yet. Uryuu plans to confess to her later when he gives her the earrings.
That was when Ichigo saw this necklace. A very simple but classy and beautiful necklace with a snowflake pendant from Tiffany & Co. in Tokyo that actually cost him a fortune.
But what is a fortune, really, when Ichigo is damn sure that the necklace will stay around its owner's neck forever?
The necklace is really beautiful. Tonight Ichigo finds out, it looks even more beautiful around Rukia's neck–like it finally finds its home.
"It's beautiful, Ichigo…" Rukia's voice almost cracks again.
She circles her arms around his neck and pulls him to her. Again. And again. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
There are so many things Rukia wants to say to Ichigo tonight–which she ends up doing.
Renji is an idiot but don't let him be too lonely; don't fight too much with Ishida; be nice to your dad, he loves you; eat healthy no matter how busy life gets at the hospital; don't take a lot of naps during the day so you'll sleep better at night.
But there are also those three words–not yet uttered but already felt so deeply in her heart.
The clock ticks to 00.00.01 AM and a new day is finally here. Today is September 13. In the morning, Ichigo, his family, and her family are going to go back to Japan.
Today is September 13. Roughly 700 days–two years–have passed since the first day they met each other for the first time–Rukia was introducing herself in front of the class when a beaten-up Ichigo abruptly opened the classroom, coming late and interrupting her.
Roughly 700 days since the very first time they locked eyes with each other and the very first of many more to come–Rukia finally said them.
The three words she never utters to anyone else.
The three words Ichigo has been patiently waiting for.
"Ichigo…" Rukia draws circles on his chest again, her voice uncharacteristically nervous, "Can I say something?"
He knows. Ichigo already knows what she is going to say. Suddenly he is reminded of that night. It is 17 months, almost two years since that night, but the memory is vividly clear in his mind. It is so clear as if they're back to that moment, after their first date when Rukia opened up and confessed to him while Ichigo had a jacket draped all over his face.
"Rukia," why does he always sound like that when he calls her name?
Then Ichigo smirks, "should I, I don't know, hide under the cover when you say it?"
This dork.
Rukia frowns but the way her eyes glint in amusement gives it away, "you're an idiot,"
Ichigo grins, overly confident, and cocky and arrogant like he always is, "And yet you're in love with me,"
Ichigo pulls her close, and again, and again, Ichigo's kissing her–open-mouthed, soft-lipped kissing her–and at first Rukia is nervous to say it–she is never used to saying her feelings out loud–but then Ichigo puts his hand on the back of her head, and he strokes her hair in a reassuring way, and suddenly Rukia is not so nervous anymore.
Here in the middle of the night, safely tucked in the arms of the only man she has ever loved, Rukia says it then.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Ichigo keeps his promise. He visits her within 6 months since they parted on September 13 at the airport.
They will have their two years anniversary this month although both of them never say out loud. It is like a mutual understanding that one of the reasons for Ichigo's visit to the US is to celebrate it together.
Ichigo has got a 2-month break and he's going to spend one month with his girlfriend in the US and spend another month being an assistant researcher in the hospital.
This time he's not coming with his family, or Byakuya and Hisana. Ichigo is coming alone–with Kon. Rukia has already settled it with her tenant and she is allowed to bring a pet now to the apartment.
"I'm taking off," there's Ichigo's face on Rukia's laptop display. They're video calling just a moment before Ichigo's plane departs. Rukia is studying in her apartment–Rangiku, her old friend in the US, is there with her.
"Love you," Ichigo tells her nonchalantly before turning off his video call. He always says that when he ends his calls.
Rangiku is watching with that suggestive look on her face. She shakes her head, amused.
"What is it?" Rukia sighs at the older woman with strawberry blonde hair.
"Nothing, nothing," Rangiku giggles again.
Rukia raises her eyebrow but decides to get back on her laptop again.
Rangiku, however, is speaking again without being asked. "It's just…"
"Rukia, baby. I love you, okay, but you're dating an afternoon delight like that and yet you still manage to keep everything so… vanilla, just how…? Why?"
Rangiku laughs, "how come you never jump his bones? Is it a Kuchiki thing to have self-restraint like that?"
Rangiku knows if it were her, she would have jumped Ichigo every time she had the chance. After all, although she has never met him in person, even just from the pictures and some sneak peeks when Rukia is on video calls with him, Rangiku has already gotten the gist of it. Kurosaki Ichigo is a blessed, blessed man.
Rukia narrows her eyes at Rangiku, "vanilla? I am not vanilla,"
Rangiku laughs. Her laughter sounds like a melody. "Yeah, yeah, sure,"
Like Rukia didn't bring her whole family and his family to send her off to college when it simply could be just her and her boyfriend–just the two of them–spending their last, intimate moment together.
"He's coming alone now tho, right, Rukia?" Rangiku asks, twirling her blonde hair, "Brother and sister dearest, father-in-law dearest, little sisters-in-laws dearest aren't coming with Ichigo this time?"
Rukia blushes and pretends that she is still focused on typing her essays.
She is fully aware of what Rangiku is implying.
"And this whole month, Ichigo is going to stay at your place right?"
Ichigo and Rukia both decide that looking for a hotel won't be necessary since Rukia's apartment is pretty huge enough for only two people.
Rangiku laughs again, taking a cherry from the fruit bowl on Rukia's mahogany table, "Rukia honey, it's time to…" she bites the red fruit on her finger and makes a pop sound with her full lips, "pop your cherry, don't you think?"
Rukia blushes again and clears her throat. For a Kuchiki, she masks it pretty well. Sipping her warm chocolate, Rukia mumbles against the tip of her cup, "I don't know what you're talking about,"
Rangiku laughs, "sure, sure," she shakes her head. The blonde gets up and takes her purse to leave but her head pops out again from the doorway and the busty model winks and makes another pop sound.
"Pop!" She giggles.
And Rukia can't even get her essay done.
Rukia picks him up at the airport at 6 PM. The moment she sees Ichigo, Rukia remembers she almost runs to him and hugs him and wraps her arms around him and he lifts her up and envelopes her smaller frame in his arms and suddenly, for Ichigo, life makes sense again.
They have a dinner reservation at a pretty nice restaurant not far from Rukia's apartment and they get back to her apartment pretty late at 11 PM that night.
The moment they get back to her apartment, Ichigo seems to be in a hurry.
He impatiently asks her–while Kon is growling in a pet carrier backpack on his left shoulder, "okay, which one is Kon's room?"
Rukia knows spending six months with Kon will finally make Ichigo stop calling Kon 'the cat'. She raises an eyebrow, busy hanging her coat and Ichigo's on the coat hanger near her doorway, 'what is he so in hurry for?'
Rukia's apartment is two-bedrooms only. She tilts her head to the room on the left.
Rukia gets into her room, takes off her earrings, and combs her hair in front with her fingers, and looks at her reflection in the mirror. Her fingers play with the snowflake pendant. She always loves looking at it.
Rukia leaves the door open and a few moments later Ichigo shows up–standing there at her door.
She looks at him. All of him. And Rukia's violet eyes soften.
She misses Ichigo. She misses Ichigo so much.
"So, which one is my room?" Ichigo asks, his eyebrow raised, his toned arms crossed in front of his chest.
Rukia can't contain her smile. She knows what he is implying.
Ichigo welcomes himself in and closes the door behind him softly. He comes up behind her, and looking at their reflection–together–in the mirror, Rukia feels warmth and there are butterflies in her stomach.
She misses him so much.
Ichigo bents down and his lips feel warm against her cold cheek. It is only a light touch and yet Rukia feels shivers running through her nerves. His hands slide down from her arms and stop beside her hips.
"You can share a room with Kon," Rukia tells him.
Ichigo scoffs. Kon is a cat, why does he get his own room every time? Even in his apartment, Kon gets to sleep in his room.
"I don't want to share a room with Kon," Ichigo complains, "I've got enough of him in the last 6 months,"
Ichigo turns Rukia around and his gaze lowers to Rukia's pink lips,
Rukia raises an eyebrow and shrugs, "Then maybe you can sleep on the couch,"
He nods multiple times and shrugs back, "fine…" his fingers playing with her snowflake pendant as he leans closer, his eyes dark and sharp with inten, "...but only if you join me on the couch, Rukia…"
Dork.
And then…
Rukia remembers staring longingly into each other's eyes.
And…
And. Ichigo kisses her.
And things just happen the way they're supposed to happen.
There is no hesitation in his kiss. He doesn't kiss her gently or carefully like he sometimes does.
And Rukia thinks it's okay. She knows what she wants. It isn't his gentleness she wants, not now, not after all this time missing him like crazy.
Ichigo's hands are on her hips again and he lifts Rukia up easily as if she was made of air. Rukia wraps her legs around his waist and her hands knot in his hair, clutching him to her. He groans softly, low in his throat.
She can't think straight and suddenly Rukia realizes they're on her bed and she is trapped under Ichigo's body.
Ichigo places his hands on each side of her head and he leans in, "I miss you," and when he tells her over and over again, miss you so goddamn much, Rukia can feel his breath on her lips.
And Rukia wants to say, I miss you too, I miss you too, but her words are lost against his mouth. He captures her lips with his again and again and again and Ichigo parts her lips and deepens the kiss even more.
He kisses her neck and moves dangerously low on her collarbone, he is breathless and dazed when he tells her if you want me to stop, tell me now.
Little shivers of pleasure shoot through Rukia as Ichigo leaves a trail of open-mouthed kisses on her neck and sucks hard enough to leave a mark.
If you want me to stop. Tell me now, Rukia. Or now. Or now. He says with every kiss.
Rukia knows she wants this. She knows Ichigo wants this too.
So, Rukia never tells Ichigo to stop. Instead, she helps him yank his shirt up and Ichigo only breaks apart long enough to pull it over his head and toss it aside. Soon after, her shirt joins his on the floor. And Ichigo keeps telling her, you're beautiful, you're so goddamn beautiful, and is this okay, is this okay, are you okay–over and over again–
–and Rukia can't even remember–can't even count how many times she has Ichigo's name on her lips.
It's Rukia's first time. It's Ichigo's first time too.
It is so easy to wish everything is all lovey-dovey forever with the two of them. But this is real life and relationships do fall apart.
Ichigo and Rukia have been together since their second year of high school. They've been together for one and a half years since they graduate and start their long-distance relationship.
Things are going pretty well at first. For the first 3.5 years.
But long-distance relationships are never easy.
And Ichigo and Rukia are still too young, still too selfish, to make it work.
Ichigo starts his medical internship and gets so busy–as expected as someone who studies to save lives–and Rukia is focusing so much on her thesis and research with Professor Ukitake during her final year.
Five years and a half into their relationship, Rukia breaks it off after one stupid fight and another. They may have broken up for 17 months–but only five months do they spend without each other in their life–a time they both need to heal.
In those 17 months, things change but one thing stays the same; they never stop loving each other. Ichigo never moves on and finds another, and neither does Rukia.
In the end, Rukia comes back to Japan, and just like she promises, no matter what happens, no matter how long it takes, she'll always, always, come home to him.
They get back together and make it really work this time. Their first break-up may be the end of their young love but it's also the beginning of their adult relationship.
Ichigo becomes a cardiothoracic surgeon and Rukia works at the ministry of foreign affairs.
Another 5.5 years into their adult relationship (11 years in total together if we count their young love days), another obstacle happens and they're apart again for almost a year.
But just like everything that has happened between them, they overcome it like they always do and their love gets nothing but only stronger and stronger each time.
After eleven years–roughly 4000 days–being in love with each other, being each other's first and only love, Ichigo and Rukia get married at the exact same classic church where Isshin and Masaki tied the knot.
They finally get married when they are 29.
Everyone is there at their wedding. His family–Isshin, Yuzu, and Karin, and Urahara and Yoruichi. Her family–Byakuya and Hisana. Uryuu and Orihime with their beautiful two daughters. Renji and Tatsuki with their cute son, Ren. Keigo, still enjoying his bachelor days. Mizuiro and his wife and his three daughters. Momo and Kira. Hitsugaya and Karin. The Shiba. Kaien alone and his 8-year-old son. The football guys; Ikkaku, Yumichika, Hisagi. Hanataro and his wife. Rangiku and Nanao. Everyone is there.
Giddily waiting for her bride at the chapel before the wedding ceremony begins, Ichigo is being prepped by his best men–Renji, Grimmjow, Chad, and Uryuu.
The groom–extremely handsome in the tuxedo his bride picked for him–won't stay still. Ichigo tries to memorize his vow over and over again. He is so happy and nervous and so much in love that it clouds all of his senses and thinking ability to the point it gets difficult to memorize his own wedding vow.
Ichigo practices reading his lines with Chad of all people (because Uryuu isn't willing to play Rukia's part).
And Grimmjow finally loses his patience and just steals his paper and puts it into his breast pocket, "You're fucking helpless, Ichigo, just forget this stupid piece of paper. You're a fucking sap, just say anything from your heart,"
Renji just has to add, "if you suck along the way and need to save your face, just quote Shakespeare, no one will know shit,"
When the typical "Here comes the bride" plays out, Ichigo turns to the aisle and sees his bride.
His bride. His first love. His last love. His only love.
Rukia is dressed in a white dress made of ivory silk and delicate lace adorned with thousands of pearls. Her dark raven hair is styled in a neat elegant low bun bridal updo. Her slender arm is linked with Byakuya's arm as the cold head of the Kuchiki clan walks his sister down the aisle.
And just like the very first time Ichigo saw her–young, brash, and only 16–everything just stops and Ichigo forgets how to breathe.
A day passed, 700 days passed, 4000 days passed, nothing changed. Rukia is still the most beautiful girl Ichigo has ever seen.
In the end, Ichigo also forgets all the lines in his wedding vow draft earlier, but looking at her looking back at him, with her beautiful constellation blue and purple eyes, in the most simple, and yet elegant, classy, and beautiful wedding dress he has ever seen after he puts Masaki's wedding ring on her finger, Ichigo knows he doesn't need to memorize his wedding vow at all after all.
And being the sap he has always been, Ichigo delivers the most beautiful wedding vow that makes almost everyone shed a tear. Isshin is crying with Yuzu, hugging each other. No matter how much he denies it, Hisana is sure Byakuya chokes in his seat too. Even the football guys–Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Shuuhei are sharing some tissues.
"You may now kiss the bride,"
Ichigo kisses Rukia, his bride, his wife—the only love of his life–in front of the people closest and dearest to them.
Still holding her face in his hands, Ichigo smiles against her lips, and hers against his.
And just like the very first time they shared their first kiss–in the rain, under the huge canopy, after their first date–Ichigo asks her the same question he asked her that day.
He wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her forehead and murmurs, "So, you and me?"
Rukia hugs him back, pulling him closer to her as if it's possible to be closer than they already are. She smiles, all perfect and beautiful. That smile–reserved just for Ichigo, only Ichigo, and Ichigo alone.
Rukia, not at all showing yet, corrects him, "You, me, and the little you and me,"
Ichigo chuckles and kisses her forehead again, "you, me, and the little you and me," he repeats.
THE END.
A/N: [SORRY FOR THE LONG AN!]
Yes... Rukia is already pregnant on her wedding day hahaha *please refer to my other fic Little Miracle if you want to know more*
Guys, it's done! Tbh writing a very long fic is really tiring XD so I guess I am not going to write something this long again in the near future hahaha.
But I do love this background AU and I want to keep writing little snippets about Ichigo and Rukia from 700 Days. Maybe some one shots about their slice of life, their long-distance relationship days, their married life, their parenting days, or anything really.
Actually my other FF, Little Miracle, is part of that slice of life too. It focused more on their break-up part and IR.
Aaaah, I do have a lot of ideas in my head. I just don't have the time to write them XD so, really I hope it is not really a goodbye! :D
I will try my best to come back to Little Miracle and finish it too! I am going back to the hospital soon (and there is a chance life at the hospital is going to eat me alive XD). So even though I can't promise regular updates like #FanFicFriday anymore , I will see what I can do!
In the meantime, I wrote IR wedding here so if I ever don't get to finish LM, rest assured everyone, IR is happy and married (so the rest of the LM chapters are just the little details of some scenes that happened).
So for now, since I was on hiatus since 2016 and only came back in 2020 and went on hiatus again and only came back to the fandom in 2022, there are a lot of IR fics that I haven't read! So I probably will enjoy my sweet time as a fellow reader and read them all and leave comments as my contribution to the fandom :D
Thank you everyone!
Really special thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story. I continued this story all for you guys! :D (I am sorry I haven't been able to thank/reply to you guys properly! But I want you guys to know I read them all and they all made my day, so thank you!)
See you later, thank you for being around until the end!
PS: Sorry for the grammar mistakes and the plot-holes if you find any XD