Author's Notes: Spoilers for recent manga chapters up to 197. Happy Birthday, Loycey.
Redivivus
The night was cool but not cold as they sat on the roof of his house, gazing at everything and nothing, talking about anything except what they should've been. They'd escaped his family's prying ears for the moment but Ichigo knew there would be questions in the morning or, heaven forbid, dating tips from his father. The potential embarrassment was not enough to make him think of sending Rukia elsewhere, though. Not that she'd have gone anyway, noisy brat.
"Ichigo."
"Yeah?" He looked over at her and wondered how it could feel like she'd never left. Sitting there, talking with her, it was as if the last few weeks were simply a dream and wherever Rukia was, that was reality.
"You're really worried about this, aren't you."
He knew what she was referring to and it irritated him that she'd bring it up, especially when he'd been thinking so fondly of her just a moment ago. Then again, that was Rukia, always punching him in the gut when he least expected it.
Ichigo almost smiled. "It's alright now."
A flash of confusion crossed her face and she tucked a strand of inky hair behind her ear. "It is?"
He leaned back against the roof and looked up to the sky. "I know what I have to do."
There was a moment of blessed silence and then, smugly, "I guess I straightened you out then."
He sent a glare her way. "YOU straightened me out? I had it all under control, you little-"
"Hah!" she snorted, but surprisingly she didn't finish that thought because her face softened and she smiled a little. "Well, anyway, I'm glad to see you, Ichigo."
He blinked, startled, and then his eyes narrowed and he pointed a finger at her suddenly innocent expression. "You're not getting my bed, midget."
Rukia crossed her arms over her chest, pouting. "Damn it, I was sure that would work."
"Try batting your eyelashes next time. That's what they do in those manga you love to read."
Rukia sniffed disdainfully but refrained from commenting. Instead, she lay down on her back and, after a moment, he joined her, arms folded behind his head. It seemed forever since he had simply sat and relaxed. He still felt the weight of his responsibilities of course but, somehow, with her there, they didn't feel so impossibly heavy.
"Ichigo?"
His eyebrow twitched. "What?"
"Can we get soda from the machine tomorrow?"
Something warmed in his chest and he closed his eyes, a contented expression on his face. Some things never changed.
"Yeah, we can get soda from the machine tomorrow."
Cause everything's alright now.
We're together.
The End.
Redivivus: latin come back to life