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

Author's Note: Hi! I know I said they'd be a double update but, yeah, it didn't happen. I didn't have the time to upload the new one-shot so... my bad. I should know by now not to make any promises lol. To be fair, I did write it, I just didn't have the time to edit and post it. But here it is. The 17th one-shot. Today I have a free afternoon, so I hope I get to have a double update with today's prompt. If not, well, I'll be a day off the rest of the month probably.

Anyway, today's prompt is another one I struggled with, because originally it was going to be a Fantasy AU, but since all these one-shots tell and overall story I had to make some changes, which I did in my notes but didn't actually write it until yesterday. But other people had a similar idea, as I saw yesterday, so sorry about that. Honestly I just think we all have very similar minds. I still hope you like it even if it isn't the most original idea.

Again, thank you all for reading and reviewing! Thank you for your support!

See ya!

queen of my heart

Prompt: coronation

Summary: In his heart, Ichigo finds, he had already crowned her as his queen.

Zangetsu is an interesting sort of zanpakutō.

Not only because he is a combination of different sorts of power, but because of the way he acts.

Ichigo is very sure no other sword in the Soul Society is as stubborn as his is.

Much less, that any other zanpakutō would challenge their master for the control of their own body.

Yet that is something that Zangetsu has done more than once.

It hurts that it's been because he hasn't trusted him with that much power.

So Ichigo has had to earn his own sword's respect time and time again.

And though he's in charge now, the nickname king still sounds like mockery.

Like he's still not good enough.

Like he hasn't proven himself yet.

Which is why it surprises him when, one day, he sees a throne in his inner world.

That day Ichigo had decided to meditate as part of his training in the Soul Society.

He had thought it'd be good to go and talk with Zangetsu, as they hadn't been in touch that much after the end of the war.

So that morning, he goes, then, to one of the training rooms on the 13th division that Rukia had authorized him to use.

He sits on the floor, takes a deep breath and simply closes his eyes.

When they open, Ichigo is back in his own soul.

The world deep inside of him is all skyscrapers and blue skies.

There's not a single drop of rain.

Those are great news given his past.

It is all back to normal.

But there is something quite out of place.

A single white throne is standing there, on top of the highest skyscraper.

Next to it is Zangetsu, who seems to guard it in an almost protective matter.

"Yo, king! Nice of you to come visit." The white spirit greets him, as he waves his hand.

The other, Ichigo notes, is gripping the sword tightly.

"Hey, Zangetsu." He greets back. "What's with the throne? Is it for me?" He can't help but ask.

Zangetsu merely laughs as a response.

"Of course not, why would it be?"

"Aren't I the king?" Ichigo retorts. "Shouldn't that be my throne? Seeing as this is my world."

The zanpakutō rolls his eyes.

"It's not yours." He claims again.

This is, of course, very confusing to Ichigo.

"If it's not mine, who's it for, then?"

Zangetsu seems exasperated by all of his questioning.

"For the queen." He says at last, as if it were a given fact.

This new information is baffling.

"Queen? What queen?"

Ichigo enquires, still very much confused.

Again, the spirit stares at him as if he were terribly stupid.

"Our queen."

His voice echoes and resounds all around him.

"Come on, king. Don't tell me you don't know who our queen is!"

He truly doesn't have the slightest clue.

"Quit joking, I don't know who you're talking about. Is this another one of your tests?"

Zangetsu laughs some more.

"You're so hopeless." He declares. "I don't know how she can stand you with how dimwitted you are. I'd be a better fit for her."

None of this is making any sense, and the more Zangetsu jokes, the more annoyed Ichigo is.

"Quit joking around! Tell me who you mean!"

He demands, but his sword is not willing to listen.

"I won't answer such an obvious question, especially when you do know."

"What do you mean I know? I don't get any of this."

"You know, I'm tired of this conversation." Zangetsu replies. "I don't have anything else to tell you. Goodbye now."

With that, his very own zanpakutō, a part of his soul, expels him out of his mind.

He does have one last thing he wishes to tell him.

"Send the queen my regards."

Then Ichigo opens his eyes and finds himself staring into a very beautiful violet color.

"Ichigo! Are you okay?"

Soon he's able to focus and he notices that the violet he's staring at belongs to Rukia's eyes, as she's sitting right in front of him.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine. It's just Zangetsu was being a cryptic bastard as always."

He answers her and Rukia visibly relaxes.

"Good. I thought something else was going on as you kept grumbling."

"Nah. Everything's fine."

He shrugs her worry off and stands up with Rukia following.

"If you say so."

And with that, it is all over.

Except, it is not.

Because Ichigo can't forget his conversation with Zangetsu.

Why did he have to speak in riddles?

Why did his own power refuse to be direct, ever?

It just doesn't make any sense.

Ichigo has no queen.

If you had asked him that same question when he was a little boy, he would probably have said that his queen was his mother, hands down.

But he's not a little kid anymore and his mother has been gone for too many years.

So who could it be?

Not any of his sisters, that's for sure.

The connotations of "queen" aren't lost on him either.

Clearly this woman has to be incredibly important for Zangetsu to have named her queen, seeing as he had barely given the title of king to him.

Which means she is very important to him as well.

Perhaps too important, even.

"What are you thinking about?" Rukia suddenly asks, as she sits next to him, both watching the stars as they shine outside the Kuchiki Manor.

"Nothing." He lies.

Ichigo's not about to explain this situation to Rukia.

It is embarrassing to say the least.

"It's not nothing." She tells him in her no-nonsense voice. "You wouldn't have been thinking so hard if it were nothing. There was even steam coming out of your head. You must have a headache from using your brain so much."

She jokes as he rolls his eyes.

"That's so funny, Rukia."

"Thanks, I know."

She cheerfully replies and he can't help but chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah."

They fall into a deep silence as they gaze at the stars.

In the Soul Society, they shine particularly bright.

Ichigo still has absolutely no idea why there is a soon, moon, stars, rain and clouds in the Soul Society like there are in the human world, but he sure isn't complaining.

They are a sight to be seen.

And he can see the stars more distinctly than he can do back in Karakura with all the pollution.

They feel like long lost companions.

They are always there to welcome him home.

"You know,"

All of a sudden, Rukia breaks the silence, prompting him to look at her.

"Whatever it is that's been bothering you, I'm sure you'll figure it out. And if not, then I am here if you want to rant or if you need any help."

Her voice is sincere and it fills him with joy.

So he smiles and nods.

"Thanks, Rukia."

"Hey, it's nothing. You know I always got your back, right?"

And this statement is true.

Since Rukia came back into his life, she's been here with him one hundred percent, even making the time so the two can hang out together.

After two years of almost zero communication, Ichigo's glad to have her back.

It had felt lonely back then.

After the war, he was confused and, most importantly, alone.

He had wanted someone to confide in, but his friends, it seemed, had wanted to forget the war ever happened.

But now she's here.

Rukia's here and she's not going to leave him.

Not anymore.

Ichigo feels as if he can breathe easier with Rukia right next to him.

As if all were right in the world.

Like right now.

With just a few words, she had managed to calm him down and he wasn't even upset in the first place.

She's truly amazing, he thinks.

Incredible.

Spectacular.

And just like the stars above them, beautiful─

Oh.

Oh, Ichigo gets it then.

What Zangetsu had tried to tell him.

He sees it with such clarity he wants to smack himself.

The answer was staring right at him the whole time.

Literally.

The answer is Rukia.

Always has and always will be.

The only one who could ever take that mantle.

In his heart, Ichigo finds, he had already crowned her as his queen without even knowing.

It had just happened naturally.

As if that's how things are supposed to be.

And Ichigo doesn't mind it one bit.

Because of course she is his queen.

No one else could be.

"Hey, Rukia."

"Yeah?"

"I've already figured it out. Thanks."

He grins at her as he says this.

"What? So fast?"

She's clearly confused.

She makes such a funny face he can't help but laugh.

"Yeah. Turns out the stars are very inspiring."

"Well, what was it?"

Oh, if only Rukia knew!

She would definitely slap him.

"Maybe I'll tell you one day."

"Come on, Ichigo! Don't be so mean."

She complains.

And he's definitely going to tell her.

Someday.

When the time is right.

Just not yet.

A/N: So this is basically Ichigo finding out he's in love with Rukia, because of course he is. He just hadn't wanted to label his feelings, but it becomes impossible for him to ignore them any longer, thanks to Zangetsu spelling it out for him.

I have always loved the idea of Zangetsu seeing Rukia as the queen and I think that's a sentiment many an IchiRuki fan has lol.

As for the continuity, this story takes place about 6 months since Rukia came back.

I hope you guys liked it!

I'll see you guys soon!