Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. It's property of Tite Kubo.

Author's Note: Hey, everyone! I'm back with more! But before getting into it, I just want to say I want to maybe apologize about how harsh I've been treating Ichigo's friends, minus Ishida and Keigo. I just want to reiterate that I like these characters in general. Chad is actually one of my favorites. And Tatsuki rocked on the first arc. But, and here's my big ass but, the only thing I'm really fixing is the canon pairings. The final arc happened exactly in the same way. Orihime and Chad had the exact same character development. The only thing I'm changing is that Rukia doesn't accept Renji's proposal and decides to be around Ichigo instead. She decides Ichigo is her person and Ichigo realizes it is the same for him. So they are essentially together. But I'm not fixing any other characters. And I do think that Ichigo's human friends, particularly Orihime and Chad, don't want to have anything to do with the SS and that includes Rukia. I also never particularly thought they cared for her. Did Chad and Rukia ever talk after the first arc? They followed Ichigo to the SS because they wanted to help him. Not because of Rukia. And I just feel they wouldn't be too accepting of her. Orihime for obvious reasons, but Chad too. And I didn't mean to make everyone that hateful. I just thought it'd fit.

Well, now that that's been settled, let's talk about today's one-shot.

So at first I kinda wanted to make it funny, but then decided it didn't fit the setting, so I had another idea, and that was to tackle down the main IchiRuki issue used by haters and one that has been discussed over and over ever since Kubo described them as not being friends exactly, but also not lovers. I'm paraphrasing here. So this is my take on that.

Hope you guys like it.

As always, let me thank all of you for your support!

See ya!

more than friends (less than lovers)

Prompt: just friends

Summary: If they were to describe it, they wouldn't say they're just friends. But they're not lovers either. There is more than that.

Defining what kind of relationship they have has always been problematic.

The extents of their bond is not something Ichigo and Rukia have yet figured out.

So it is not something they can explain with just a few words and give a satisfying answer.

So… they hadn't.

Before this year at least, they would have simply given a short explanation if asked.

"We are nakama."

For the longest time that single word had been enough.

And it does ring true.

Well…

Sort of.

After so many battles fought together and their immeasurable trust in each other, they are nakama.

Treasured friends.

But lately, that word feels insufficient.

Is that really all they are?

They often wonder.

Because they have other nakama.

Other people in their lives that they treasure too.

And Rukia cannot see Renji in the same way she sees Ichigo.

And Ichigo doesn't see Inoue or Tatsuki, for example, as he sees Rukia.

They can lump their other friends together in the same category ─Ishida, Renji, Chad and Inoue.

But they can't put each other under that same label.

What is the deal with that?

What makes each other so special?

(For Rukia it would be Ichigo's will.

How headstrong he is even when in despair.

How kind he is to others, even when he denies it.

How protective he is of those he loves.

How he never lets any obstacles defeat him.)

(For Ichigo it would be Rukia's kindness.

The fact that she stopped the rain.

How brave she is in the face of danger.

How forgiving she is, even when people don't deserve it.

How she leaves everything behind for the sake of others.)

They admire each other.

It doesn't matter if they don't agree with everything or if they bicker.

They have each other's backs.

They would move heaven and hell for the other.

(They already have).

And if they were to describe it, they wouldn't say they're just friends.

Because friendship is too restrictive for what they have.

They are far above limitations at this point.

But they wouldn't choose the other option either.

The one imposed by society.

Because they do not feel as if they are mere lovers.

They don't consider each other as such.

And the questions about whether or not they are dating are, quite frankly, obnoxious.

It is not the point.

As long as they are together, who cares?

Right?

But they cannot ignore the fact that things have been changing.

Far more rapidly than they can digest.

Rukia spends more time with Ichigo's sisters and they hang out as if the three were sisters.

Byakuya trusts Ichigo's judgement and enjoys his company, even inviting him over to family events.

They have become a package deal for certain events, as they always show up together.

And beyond public appearances, there are quiet moments, with just the two of them.

They are more touchy now.

Rukia has cleaned his face when it is dirty.

Ichigo likes tickling her.

Sometimes, when they are sitting right next to each other, their shoulders brush.

They play footsie under tables.

They have taken naps together on the same bed.

And, on special occasions, they have held each other, maybe a little bit longer than they probably should have.

When no one's watching, they like to hold hands.

By this point, it has become almost instinctual.

If they are walking side by side, they will entwine their fingers together.

They know how it looks like.

They realize they do very couple-like things.

But they're not together.

Because what they have doesn't feel precisely like romance.

Ichigo, ever the romantic, would wager it goes beyond romance.

And sure, maybe both of them are curious about other physical aspects of their relationship.

There are things that are decisively not friendly they would like to try.

But these things don't define how they perceive their bond.

So what are they, you may ask.

If they are not friends…

If they are not lovers…

Just what in the world are they?

Well, if you were to ask them, this is what they would say─

"We are just Ichigo and Rukia."

And that is enough.

A/N: So I've read a bit about queerplatonic relationships and how they are not defined as friendships, but to call them a romance in the traditional way is also not fitting. And I'm not saying that ichigo and Rukia could be in a queerplatonic relationship, but I'm not denying it either. I feel like that could be a good interpretation, especially for the people that don't see that represented in media. So I added a bit of that into this fanfiction. And I say a little because it is not quite that either. And I don't want to appropiate that term. Hope I'm not offending anyone.

I wanted to explore the phrase of more than friends and less than lovers. I think that what Ichigo and Rukia have goes beyond friendship, especially when compared with their other friendships. And the plot time and time again desmonstrates how different and deep is their relationship compared to others. And it does this several times. But saying it's romantic love feels shallow and heteronormative in the way we understand romantic relationships commonly. To be it's not about the blushing, and hand-holding, and kissing, even sex or saying "I can't live without you!" It has to be deeper than that. And it is in this grey area where Ichigo and Rukia are. They are not just friends, but just saying they are a traditional romantic couple doesn't fit either. So that's how I choose to interpret that phrase. Because I do feel like their relationship is very unique and that they somehow managed to get to a place most people want to but never do in their lives. And that's just being with someone who understands you and that you can trust no matter what.

I hope I made myself clear and that you guys enjoyed it.

See ya!