This is it...the final chapter, I hope you guys like the outcome, now (rubs hands greedily) to get to work...

Note: italics mean thinking.

Croak in the Night

Chapter 4: Hopping High

Ichigo sat in a meditative pose by the river, finally, a clear night. He had many things to mull over. Fuck Renée he thought. Now, what else?

Ah, Rukia. He dunked his head in the water to clear his mind. Kuso, why did he have this effect on her, o.k., I need much more than just a head full of water, he stripped down to his boxers, "Aaa," the water was almost warm, he rolled around in the water, splashing in and out, all the while thinking.

"I like her," he suddenly stood up, it took me long enough, he hit his head with his hand.

"I gotta tell her," he was suddenly on a whole new outtake, but what if she doesn't like me? He sank back into the water, "No, I have to, I mean, she obviously cares," No, she doesn't, that's just what you want to think, "No! She cares, she noticed, she saw beyond my scowl," that was just a slip up, and you know it, "She has to care, I can't not tell her, I will regret it later if I don't."

"It's better to love a loser than lose a lover," he stood up, and ignored his inner voice that was calling him an idiot.

He pulled on his clothes quickly, he had to tell her now, before he chickened out.

"I do care," Kurosaki Ichigo whipped his head around.

---

Kuchiki Rukia had followed silently behind Ichigo as soon as he had stepped outside his room. She had watched him, for some reason, dunk his head underneath the water and then, she had watched how he had pulled off all his clothes, except a pair of silky shorts.

She had stood, hidden behind the trees, watching as his toned body then dive into the water. And then she had listened intently to his argument to himself.

At first, she wasn't sure, but as the argument went on, Rukia became sure that he was talking about herself. And just as he had said that he had to take the risk, she had decided it too,

"I do care," she stepped out from where he couldn't see her. A single tear fell from Rukia's smooth face, she looked up at him, smiling widely, "I do care," this time she said it more confidently.

---

Ichigo stared at Rukia, he couldn't believe it.

He smiled back at her.

She ran towards him, and he stood there, waiting for her. She hugged him tightly, absorbing some of the wetness, but not caring.

They stood there, in each other's arms for what would seem like an eternity to someone else, but they didn't want to let go of each other. Eventually, they looked at each other, and their lips met.

Ichigo, was surprised by Rukia's passion in the kiss, but quickly returned it, they explored each others mouths with their tongues, and were gasping for air after a bit of playing around with their mouths.

They smiled at each other again, and leant forward to kiss…

"Aargh!" Rukia jumped into Ichigo's strong arms, "What's that?" she pointed at something on the ground, her hand shaking,

"You mean that frog?" Ichigo smiled andput Rukia back on the ground, picking up the frog and throwing it back into the river, "Now, where were we?" he turned back to Rukia.

A/n: THE END hope you guys will read and review my other stories. and plese, if you haven't, review on this one.

Thanks for all your time!