A/N: Sorry about that cruel interlude for chapter 12… I bet I got you all to believe that this was what you were going to get! Hope the suspense makes it better, TGK

A Lonely Park Bench

Ichigo led Rukia beyond a large public offices building and past a rather affectionate couple around the corner. Rukia looked away rolling her eyes, but both could barely admit to themselves that the passionate silhouette had become a shadow of themselves in their minds. Ichigo pulled his date towards a row of benches lining the docks, the view perfect from the quiet, empty pier.

Rukia sat down when Ichigo gestured her toward a seat and sat rigidly, looking at the barge for several minutes. She could feel Ichigo watching her from the corner of his eye, leaning casually against his elbows on the wall behind them. They listened to the sounds of the festival down the road, watched the lights, smelled the aroma of delectable grease, batter and sugar on the breeze mixing with the salts of the ocean.

After a while, Ichigo couldn't take his eyes off her shoulders. The back of her dress was low and sensual, exposing most of her spine save an elegant fold along her shoulders, holding the front of the dress to her chest. The cloth rippled in the gentle ocean wind and Ichigo was mesmerized by it. He let his eyes fall across her beautifully pale skin, so much of her he had never seen before. Her shoulders flexing as she breathed, her bare arms prickling with the slight chill of the zephyr…even her lower thigh seemed different from when she wore her school uniform, as if it were being covered by the silk of a lover's nightgown, not his little sister's casual jumpers. He swallowed and looked away as his eyes trailed her spine, falling in the pool of the small of her back, her creamy skin calling to him like the moon to a wolf. He blinked, finding great interest in the mountains across the channel, gleaming with the cerulean afterglow of the sun's descent.

"When do the fireworks start?" she asked, looking back at him. Ichigo grinned and flipped open his phone. He shoved it back in his pocket after a glance at the blindingly bright screen.

"In about ten minutes or so. They usually start at ten," he said, leaning on his knees. Rukia smiled at him and turned back to the sea, its cleansing air engulfing her. She breathed it in happily and felt the calming rhythm of her heart. A group of men in reflective lime green construction coats appeared from a door on the barge's platform and she watched quietly as the world around her erupted in wild cheers.

"Rukia…" Ichigo said hesitantly. She blinked as she turned to him, her gaze screaming innocence. How could someone be so many decades old, and still be such a pure soul?

"Yes, Ichigo?" Her voice seemed so small to him all of a sudden. Almost frail, like a once-magnificent castle, standing regally upon a hill as its walls crumble. Ichigo swallowed, holding her gaze with his barest emotions swimming in his own pools of sight.

"You're cold," he said softly. Rukia looked down at her arms with surprise, her fingers running over chilled skin.

"I…I didn't notice," she stuttered, feeling the strange sensation frost her flesh. She shouldn't have been able to feel the cold in her gigai. It shouldn't have been possible, especially in such a warm climate, the breeze feeling more like a young spring wisp rather than the harsh gusts of late autumn or winter.

"Cheh, should have worn something warmer," Ichigo grumbled, trying to hide his earlier tone. He felt her shoulders tense and readied himself to cover his vitals for her attack. To his surprise, she let herself relax again and he raised his eyebrow, looking at her suspiciously.

"Actually, I'm quite comfortable. Thank you," she said briskly, turning away to look at the barge. Ichigo looked at her for a moment, jaw slack as he tried to figure out why she had refrained from hitting him in her usual manner.

A few booming ripples through the air signaled the beginning of the fireworks. Rukia turned to watch the sparkling rockets push towards the stars in lazy spirals above them before exploding into millions of shimmering flecks of stardust. Ichigo watched the first few before lowering his eyes to Rukia's laughing face, the lights of the show playing over her skin, goose bumps prickling her smoothness.

"Come here," he said in an attempt to sound annoyed. His voice became teasing and playful, a smirk flickering on his lips. Rukia's smile faded into a look of shock as Ichigo wrapped an arm around her back, his fingers sliding guiltily over her naked spine. Rukia felt her cheeks tingle with heat as he pulled her into his chest. She soaked up the heat he offered her like an eager child.

Ichigo's fingers shook as he settled his hand on the side of her dress, heart pounding, breath shallow. She seemed to sink into his tentative embrace, her skin chilling his molten blood. His hand pleaded with his mind as his thumb found the edge of the cloth covering her side, aching to feel more of her skin. He never thought she'd be so smooth. As they watched the fireworks above them fade away like stars in the morning light, he let his mind's eye unravel thread guiltily.

Rukia calmed her body as Megumi's voice echoed through her mind. She licked her lips nervously, seemingly engrossed in the festival finale, watching explosive after explosive climb into the sky. She was nervous. Adrenaline pulsed in her stomach almost violently, dripping into her core like magma. A white-hot ache.

"Are you warmer?" Ichigo asked, his lips close to her ear, breath tickling her neck. Rukia turned to him, the majestic arc of her neck making him nervous as her beautifully pink lips brushed against his jaw.

"Much, thank you," she said quietly. As she retreated from his ear, noting that he smelled like spiced woods, she looked at how his lips were parted slightly.

Ichigo nearly jumped away from her, his conscience telling him that they were far too close, far too alone. Her eyes kept him still, no matter how hard he fought to get away from the feel of her skin, her eyes pulled him towards her. Warning bells sounded in his ears as he let his thumb trace the seam of her dress, a shockingly strong sense of shame suffocating his thoughts. This was Rukia. He was wrong when he had seen her in the stairwell. This was the real Rukia. Silently fragile like a crystal tear, needing to be protected and fought for. This what was he had been fighting for.

A roar of cheers exploded as the finale of the fireworks began. Ichigo held Rukia tightly. Her eyes were staring up at the sparkling sky as colors burst through the dark abyss. Ichigo couldn't take his eyes off her, despite the beauty of the festival above them. He was captivated, seeing her completely. How could he have not seen her before?

Without a hesitant thought or nervous beat of his heart, Ichigo pulled a stray lock of hair from Rukia's face. She seemed not to notice, but her cheeks became a brilliant rose hue as her eyes smiled up at the fireworks. It was truly comfortable and safe, she thought, to sit in Ichigo's arms.

A/N: Sorry for the delays! Also, I may be posting other stories I have. One Problem!!! There is no originals section for (go figure) SO! Let me know if you'd be interested if I made a storybase website for my original works and your works too!