P.S. In my story, since it is supposed to be placed in 1910-1930 or something like that, girls were getting married at 15 and 16.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters! Thanks to CrystalRaindrop007 for Beta'ing!
If you slip . . . I'll catch you. And if you fall, I'll help you stand. Trust me. Trust me, and let go . . .
Before The Rain — XIII
Ichigo stuck his hands in his pockets as he walked out onto the balcony that he had seen Rukia go out onto only minutes before. She turned around when she heard him, smiling and motioning for him to come closer. He felt a smile coming to his own face, too, as he walked up and wrapped his arms around her.
"The stars are beautiful tonight," Rukia said, leaning back into his embrace.
Ichigo breathed in deeply, then let it out. Rukia shivered in his arms as his hot breath made contact with her skin.
"Hey, Rukia . . . are you really willing to give up everything in order to be with me? Just like that, without even thinking about it?"
Rukia turned around in his arms so she was looking directly up at him. Her violet eyes seemed to be glowing in the moonlight, and the shadows cast around their bodies made it seem like they were on fire. She smiled.
"Yes, I would, Ichigo. Without even thinking about it," she said, leaning her head on his chest and wrapping her arms around his stomach. He buried his face in her hair and smiled when he smelled it.
"You smell like strawberries," he said, laughing softly.
"Hinamori's shampoo. She let me borrow it," Rukia said, punching him softly in the stomach. He pretended to be hurt, and pouted as he broke the embrace and poked Rukia back. She giggled and reached out, grasping the railing of the balcony in both hands as Ichigo walked over beside her. He said,
"Hey, when are we gonna do this?"
"What?" Rukia asked, turning to look at him.
"Get married," Ichigo said, putting his arm around her waist as they stood there. "I know you probably don't want to marry right away, because we're so young, but I don't want you to still be here when Gin comes in three weeks."
"Hmm . . ." Rukia paused as she stared out at the stars. "Soon. I want to get out of here."
"Mm . . . why?"
"Because I've always hated it here. I mean . . . I love my brother, and I love visiting the kitchen to talk with my friends . . . but every night, I can hear the screams of the slaves from my bedroom window. And now . . . and now, even though I know you're here in the castle with me . . . I can't keep but thinking that it's you being hurt down there. And I . . ."
She was cut off as Ichigo took her into his arms.
"Well I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere. But that's just fine with me if you want it to be soon," he said.
"And I don't want many people there. Just my brother and my friends and Yuzu. And whoever you want to invite," she muttered, not moving from Ichigo's embrace as she looked up at him.
"I think that covers it."
"Rukia!"
Ichigo and Rukia both jumped apart as Hinamori's voice joined the conversation. When said cousin saw Ichigo, she blushed, then said,
"Rukia, your brother said it's time for me to haul you upstairs," she said, not coming closer as she watched Ichigo and Rukia smile at each other and roll their eyes.
"OK, coming, coming. Give me a minute," Rukia said, and once Hinamori was gone, she reached up and gave Ichigo a quick kiss, murmuring 'goodnight' in his ear before walking out and following Hinamori up to their room.
Ichigo smiled.
"What were you two doing when I came in?" Hinamori asked, pulling off her skirt and sweater and replacing them with her pink pajamas as she watched Rukia run a brush through her hair, having already changed into her own nightclothes. Rukia smiled.
"We were discussing when to have the wedding."
Hianmori's eyes lit up.
"You found a way?" she asked, buttoning the buttons on her shirt before bouncing over to Rukia and sitting beside her on the bed. Rukia nodded.
"Yes," Rukia replied, and, before Hinamori could ask how, she answered the question for her. "I have to leave the noble family. And . . ." Rukia bit her lip. Not being related by blood meant that Hinamori wasn't . . . "I-I'm not really related to you guys. I was adopted when I was a baby, which means that we're - "
Hinamori cut her off with a hug.
"I . . . I Don't care. You'll always be my cousin, understand?"
Rukia nodded, then said, "But aren't you . . . surprised to learn that I'm not your relative?"
Hinamori shrugged. "Well, a little I guess. But it just doesn't seem right. To me . . . you were always my cousin and you always will be. I mean . . . it doesn't matter that we're not related by blood, it's the relationships and bonds that count," she said, smiling at Rukia.
Rukia, relieved to hear Hinamori say that, nodded.
"Thanks, Hinamori."
"You're welcome. Anyway, how exactly does this make you able to marry Ichigo?"
"Well . . . " Rukia started, folding her hands in her lap. "Since I'm not directly related by blood, that is the reason that I can marry Ichigo. It's a large possibility that I will be banished from the throne, but I don't care."
"Well, if that's the case, even if you were related by blood, how come you couldn't marry Ichigo if the same things would happen . . . and you don't care?"
"Because I would be ruining Nii-sama's chance at the throne, too, if I were related by blood. I would shame the whole family."
"Oh. Well . . . won't that still happen?" Hinamori asked; Rukia sighed.
"No. Nii-sama will tell the other high-up people about me not bring related, and we're hoping that it will all go over well."
"Ah. Well . . . guess what? Me and Shiro-chan finally decided when we're getting married!" Hinamori said happily, standing from Rukia's bed and walking to her own. Rukia climbed under her covers and snuggled deep into her pillow.
"When?" she asked.
"On Christmas; only half a month."
"Is it really the beginning of December?" Rukia asked, smiling to herself. Hinamori nodded, and Rukia sighed. I've really known him for only twenty-four days.
Twenty-four days . . .
With thoughts of things to come, Rukia rolled over and turned out her light, saying goodnight to Hinamori before turning to look out her window. The sky was clear, and she could see every star out there.
I love you, mom.
The next morning, Rukia walked down the stairs only to see Ichigo, wearing a black turtleneck and jeans, sliding across the floor in the castle, the socks on his feet loose and white. She smiled when he looked up at her and waved, making him lose his balance and fall to the ground. Giggling, she walked over to him and offered her hand. Instead of using it to help himself up, Ichigo jumped to his feet and put his arms around Rukia's waist before bringing her with him as he slid across the length of the hall.
She squealed happily as they slid easily across the polished floor and came to a stop right outside of the kitchen door. But instead of going in, Ichigo whispered,
"Again?"
Rukia nodded, her eyes glowing, as she took Ichigo's hand, and, getting a running head-start, slid across the whole floor again. She couldn't, however, stop in time, and Ichigo, who was holding her hand still, fell with her when she sprawled across the floor. They landed in a pile of arms and legs, and before she knew what was happening, Ichigo had begun tickling her.
When he stopped, Rukia sat up, her legs tucked beneath her, and tried to catch her breath.
"You are way to awake in the morning," she said, speaking the first words between them that morning besides Ichigo's simple 'Again?'.
Ichigo shrugged, "What can I say? I got up hours ago, for your information. You sleep forever," he said, poking her in the stomach.
"It's eight in the morning!" Rukia said, disbelief in her eyes. "And you have had way too much sugar this morning, come on, let's go to the kitchen and have some real food."
Ichigo shrugged again, and as they began walking to the kitchen, he wrapped his arms around her again and slid them all the way there. Rukia would have yelled at him if she had any breath left in her, but she didn't, so she settled for kicking him in the shin.
So, he limped into the kitchen, surprised when he saw Byakuya already in there.
"Nii-sama?" Rukia asked, letting go of Ichigo's hand and walking over. Byakuya turned around and looked her up and down, not missing the fact that she was out of breath. Ichigo just simply commented,
"You can slide on these floors really well."
Rukia kicked him again, then replied,
"He's had too much sugar this morning; ignore him."
Ichigo walked over to talk with Yuzu, leaving Rukia with her brother. Byakuya was the first to break the silence.
"Our plans have to be moved forward. Ichimaru Gin is coming ahead of schedule; he'll be here by the end of the week."
Rukia gasped.
"That . . . that soon?"
Byakuya nodded.
Rukia continued, "Nii-sama . . . after I leave, will I still be able to see you?"
"Yes, I am sure. But Rukia, I need you to be really sure this is what you want. So far, of what I have witnessed, Kurosaki does love you and will treat you as such, but is this what you really want?" he asked, looking down at his sister, his eyes boring into hers.
"Yes, it is. Besides, even if it wasn't what I wanted, I would still be marrying. If I had my way, I would want to wait a while . . . but we don't have time, I guess. Even so, I'm fine with it."
Rukia smiled when she finished speaking.
"Very well," Byakuya said, turning and leaving the kitchen. Icihgo, who had to stop talking with Yuzu because she had to go do something, walked over to Rukia and leaned over and whispered in her ear,
"Come on. Let's take a walk."
Rukia nodded and followed Ichigo out of the kitchen, out the door, and smiled when she realized where he was leading her. As soon as she stepped a foot inside the beautiful garden where they had shared their first kiss, Ichigo reached out and took her hand in his, holding it tightly as he walked over to the rock that they had placed their handprints on.
The snow had had no effect on it, and it looked the same as ever.
"Hey, Rukia . . . how do you feel about all of this? I know that you're willing to go through with it, but how do you really, truly feel about it?" Ichigo asked, sitting down on the bench; Rukia sat next to him.
She sighed and folded her hands in her lap.
"When I first found out that I was getting married . . . I felt sad, angry . . . anything but happy. I didn't want to have anyone else control my life. I wanted to live by myself, and after Kaien, I didn't want to love again. I wanted to live like normal girls and wait to marry. But you know, Hinamori, my cousin, she's getting married, too, and she's only sixteen. It is not unusual for a woman to marry young. Now . . . I guess I'm kind of looking forward to it. I'm scared, too. I've never thought of being married before. What is it going to be like? I mean . . . and what about a family? Are . . . are you going to want a family?" Rukia asked, turning to look at Ichigo. He reached over and gently placed his hand on hers.
"Maybe later. I mean, if you're uncomfortable thinking about it now, then . . ." he trailed off and shrugged, smiling slightly.
"Thanks," she said, then continued, "I know most girls my age are already thinking of marriage, and some are starting families, but . . . aren't we a little young?"
"Yeah, maybe a little. I'm seventeen and your fifteen . . . but you would have to get married, anyway, even if it weren't to me. And Rukia?"
"Hm?"
"I heard your brother this morning. He said that, basically, we have to speed it up, right?"
Rukia nodded and smirked at Ichigo's choice of words.
"When and where do you want to have the wedding?" Rukia asked, pulling her feet up under her on the bench; the cold was nipping at her bare ankles. Ichigo wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she laid her head on his chest.
"I dunno. Somewhere pretty, I guess. As for when . . . what about next week?"
Rukia nodded.
"I really wanted to wait a while; I mean . . . it's not like I'm uncomfortable around you or anything, but . . . I'm only fifteen. I just . . . I don't know. It just seems so sudden, don't you think?"
Ichigo nodded.
"Yeah. Just a little. But our relationship was sudden, too, wasn't it? We crossed the final line already when we made love, so why should marriage be so hard for us?" Ichigo said, looking up at the sky as he unconsciously rubbed Rukia's cold hands in his to warm them up.
"I don't know," Rukia said. "I guess it shouldn't. It just sounds weird. When I think of people getting married, I think of older people. Not people my age. It's just a little difficult to wrap my mind around. But we can do it; I know we can. Because I love you," she said, looking up into his eyes and kissing him briefly on the lips.
Ichigo smiled and leaned back on the bench, taking off his coat and wrapping it around Rukia's small, shivering body.
"Love ya, too."
She smiled.
Over thirty minutes later, Ichigo looked down at Rukia. She was warm now, she had said, and had eventually fallen asleep against him. Smiling to himself, he picked her up gently in his arms and stood to his feet, beginning the short walk back to the house.
As he looked up into the sky, he thought on the question Rukia had asked him earlier that he hadn't had an answer to.
How do you feel about our marriage?
He sighed. He really didn't know.
When he had asked her to marry him, he hadn't really known that there would be a way. He just wished and hoped that he would be able to stay with her, but now that it was happening . . . he just didn't know what to think. But he did love her, and he knew that they would both be fine. They would make it through. And one day, they might just start a family. He knew that Rukia was afraid, but the truth was that most girls her age were marrying. Fifteen . . . sixteen-years-old and you usually were at least engaged.
But being engaged yourself seemed . . . different somehow. It seemed scary, impossible, and . . . it made him really think about what he wanted in life. And he knew that he wanted to be with her forever.
Shaking his head, Ichigo pushed open the door, Rukia still in his arms, and walked into the living room, where he laid her down on the couch and gently pulled off her shoes, wet socks and coat.
Ichigo reached out and took her hand as he sat on the floor next to her.
Soon, he felt his own eyes drooping, so he laid his head against the couch and let the darkness take over him.
He would worry tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.
But for now . . .
He was with her, and that was all that mattered.
Fluff. Fluff. Fluff? Ahh! Gin and Aizen come into the story in the next chapter, BTW.
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