Tale of the Two Lovers

by Ulquiorra9000

Chapter 6

Sure enough, the very second class let out at Karakura High School the next day, both Rangiku and Momo whisked Rukia to Orihime's place to prepare her for this evening.

"Orihime's at soccer practice," Momo explained once she unlocked the front door and led Rukia inside. "She won't mind."

"Okay," Rukia said, suddenly wondering if this was a trap. "So... what big date plans do you have in mind?"

Rangiku grinned widely. "Get your butt in the guest bedroom and find out."

In there, Momo took something down from the closet rack and presented: a low-cut, alluring red dress!.

Rukia stared. "Whoa! Where'd you get that?"

"Oh, a little place downtown," Rangiku said mysteriously. "Now try it on! We'll wait outside."

In five minutes, Rukia invited the girls back in... and Momo whooped and clapped her hands. "Amazing!" she cried. "Just like I imagined. Rukia, you'll be going places tonight..."

"You think so?" Rukia said with false modesty, twirling around in front of a tall mirror. Damn, she did own this thing... it had thin shoulder straps and was generous with her bust, and the skirt only went about two-thirds down to her knees.

"Don't forget these," Rangiku added, handing over a box of classy black heels. "And don't worry, I know your size."

Rukia smiled and put a hand on her hip. "Thanks, girls. Wish me luck."

Both Rangiku and Momo shared a knowing smile that made Rukia narrow her eyes. "Okay, what was that look?" Rukia demanded.

"Nothing," Rangiku said quickly. "Well, maybe one more thing..." She stepped foward and slid the dress's red fabric a little lower on Rukia's chest, showing a hell of a lot of cleavage. "Perfect."

"Lieutenant...!" Rukia choked as she checked out her reflection. "I-I'm not a Playboy bunny..."

"Better: you're the rabbit princess," Momo teased. "Your prince is waiting for you, you know... with that heroic sword of his..."

Rukia slid her dress back into position as Rangiku and Momo giggled, her heart beating a little harder. "I'll decide when and if I'll let the girls out to play," she said loftily. "Now, let's formulate a plan..."

*o*o*o*o*

Ichigo couldn't imagine where in the world Rukia had gone after class, but she sent him a text ordering him to dress up fancy ASAP, and at 6:00 sharp, there was a knock on the door. He answered it and stared in amazement. "There you are... whoa!"

"Like it?" Rukia smiled bashfully and clasped her hands together behind her back. She went pink. "Rangiku and Momo picked it out." She breathed deep, flexing her curvy chest in that little red dress.

"It's great," Ichigo choked out, feeling himself blushing, his heart hammering. Damn, Rukia knew how to tease! He tugged on the collar of his white dress shirt to let out a little hot air.

"Hey, you clean up pretty well, too," Rukia said with a kind smile, giving her fiance a gentle shove on the shoulder. "Look at you! How come you don't go out like that more often?"

Ichigo cracked a grin. "You kidding? I look like I'm about to give a medical lecture somewhere. My dad bought all my formal clothes, but you know his taste. Or lack of it." He motioned to his brown blazer with elbow pads, white shirt and black bow tie, and black slacks and shoes.

"Good enough for me. I, for one, think you're quite the handsome devil," Rukia said, hooking her arm with Ichigo's. "You ready? We've got a fun evening ahead of us."

"Lead the way."

Rukia's first stop: the hamburger joint down the street, which was starting to get crowded at this time of day.

"Oh. Pretty blue-collar choice," Ichigo commented, hands in his pockets. "I didn't think you'd even like this."

"Silly," Rukia said, elbowing him. "The Kuchiki manor chefs are fantastic... but there's something rustic and undeniable about human food like this. I've never even heard of French fries until I came to Karakura Town!"

"Yeah, I can't imagine Byakuya munching down on those..."

They got their orders and sat at one of the round tables in the restaurant's lobby. "Ketchup, too," Rukia added after a moment. She motioned with her burger. "Seriously, who invented it? I wanna thank him or her."

"Sorry, I dunno who that is." Ichigo glanced around and smiled. He shook his head. "You're like a mind reader, you know that? This is really nice. I think I needed a quiet, ordinary evening on the town." He sipped his Coke. "I mean, with exams, looking for a college, and our engagement, I feel like I'm being pulled in different directions. An evening off hits the spot."

Rukia gave him a knowing look. "Does that mean you're still anxious about our engagement?"

"Well..." Ichigo winced. "I meant to avoid that topic for now."

"It's okay. Tell me."

"Look, it's hard to explain this without sounding selfish, but..." Ichigo swallowed. "I grew up human, living here in Karakura Town. My family, my friends, any future career I might have, all my favorite places growing up... imagine having to leave all that."

Rukia nodded sympathetically. "I can't blame you for getting homesick."

"But if I never joined forces with the Gotei 13, all this could have come crashing down," Ichigo added. "First Captain Aizen, then the Wandenreich... the Soul Society owes me a lot, and I owe them for giving me the chance to fight. I'm linked to it. But part me is scared to just throw myself into it. I wasn't born a soul, much less a nobleman."

Rukia ate a French fry. "You're related to the noble Shiba family, remember? Through your father."

"Oh yeah." Ichigo recalled what Isshin had explained about his heritage, and he grinned. "That hardly counts, though."

Rukia made an indignant face. "What? You ingrate! You're of noble descent!"

"Yeah, but my dad was hardly a nobleman, much less me," Ichigo said with a teasing smile. "He was more like a chimp stuffed in a Captain's robes. And look at me, with my punk hair and mortal lifespan... I ain't some prince."

Rukia chuckled. "Okay, when you put it like that... the apple didn't fall far from the tree."

Ichigo scowled. "That's some way to talk to a Shiba."

"So now you care?"

"I..." Ichigo locked his hard gaze with Rukia's for a second, then relaxed. "Oh, who cares. What difference does that make?"

"Well, you'll definitely be a nobleman once we marry," Rukia said confidently, eating another fry. "I think that settles it."

"Easy for you to say," Ichigo muttered.

Rukia blinked. "Hey, this is your fiancee you're talking to. Don't you think I'm looking forward to it all?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean -"

Rukia made a false, theatrical sigh, glancing away. "How tragic. I was gonna have such a hot date night with you... and show you the perks of being engaged..." She sighed deeper, heaving her chest. Her perky, curvy chest, in that tight red dress... and her smooth, cream-colored skin...

Ichigo felt his face warm again. "No, no! Look, I'd love to finish our date." When Rukia looked skeptical, he added, "I really want to spend the night with my favorite girl. Come on... what do you say?"

Rukia beamed. "Strap yourself in, lover boy."

*o*o*o*o*

"Whoa, whoa! Rukia, I don't dance! Are you trying to kill me?"

Ichigo squawked in protest when his fiancee led him to a dance studio down the street, and boy was the place busy and popular!

Rukia smiled and dragged him inside. "We'll dance together at our wedding, you know. And besides... dancing is how the body sings. That's what my big sister Hisana says, anyway."

"But..." Ichigo sputtered. "How can I... what...?"

"Okay, gather up with your partners, everyone!" the dance instructor said happily, clapping her hands together. "I'm miss Seika, and I'll be your guide to the wonderful world of dance. Pair up!"

Ichigo stood side-by-side with Rukia... and nearby, Momo was here too, with the towering Chad, and Rangiku had Renji as her date! What?!

"There you kids are," Momo said fondly. "Did you take your sweet time getting here?"

"We sure did," Rukia said. "Momo, stand back as Ichigo and I show you how it's done."

Momo looked eager. "Go ahead and try!"

"First dance," miss Seika said, "is the salsa!" She turned on some hot Caribbean dance music on her stereo, and she and some random guy demonstrated.

"The upper body remains relatively rigid," miss Saiko explained as she moved, "while the feet move, and the hips, too. Try these basic routines, everyone!"

The room was suddenly full of moving bodies, and Ichigo felt himself being swept into the whirlwind. And even though Rukia was much shorter than him, she took control, guiding Ichigo through the movements, her dress's short skirt flapping as she went, her heeled feet moving perfectly.

"Hey, that's not bad, Ichigo," Rukia said happily after a minute. Her violet eyes were bright with excitement. "Don't tell me you've done this before."

Ichigo laughed politely. "Hey, until today, I thought salsa was only something you put on food."

"This dance is called salsa because it incorporates elements from other dances, like the many ingredients in salsa sauce," Rukia explained. "Or at least, that's one theory. Can you feel it?"

"I... I think I can!" Ichigo felt his confidence swell as he flowed with the music, Rukia's warm hands soft in his as they went. Miss Seika demonstrated some more advanced moves, and this time, Rangiku and Renji outperformed everyone else.

"You're in our dust, Rukia!" Rangiku teased her.

Rukia scowled. "Not so fast, Lieutenant!" She sped up the routine, and Ichigo tried to keep up... until he felt his feet tangle up on Rukia's, and they both toppled to the smooth wooden floor.

"Please be careful," miss Seika said over the music. "Are you all right?"

"Y-yeah, we're fine," Ichigo grunted. He went red as he felt himself pressing on Rukia's chest, his abdomen pressed on hers, and how close their faces were...

"Come on, lover boy," Rukia told him, getting to her feet. "We have to show them how it's done!"

It wasn't easy, though. Momo and Chad also had a short/tall dynamic, and made use of it in creative ways. Ichigo felt his whole body becoming warm from the dance, his breath coming in rapid panting. He wiped his brow when the last song ended. "This is a real workout," he commented.

Rukia smiled and undid Ichigo's bow tie, then undid the top button of his shirt. "Here, let yourself breathe," she said. "Actually..." She undid another two buttons and parted the top third of Ichigo's shirt.

Ichigo swatted Rukia's hand away. "What the hell?"

"There, much better." Rukia traced a warm finger down Ichigo's chest with a wide smile. "Now that's my dance partner."

"Next dance!" miss Seika announced. "The tango. A classic! Follow my lead."

Again, Momo and Rangiku kept close to the Ichigo-Rukia pair, trying to outdo them. The more they did it, the more riled the Kuchiki princess got, and Ichigo did everything possible just to keep up! The room definitely felt hot by now, and he realized that getting sweaty like this wasn't like getting sweaty at soccer practice. It was... alluring, something sexy, even. He couldn't help but notice the sheen on Rukia's skin, and on her bosom, too.

By the end of the class, Ichigo couldn't keep a wide grin off his face. "Damn, that was way more fun than I expected," he panted. "How come I never knew this place was here?"

Rukia gave him a gentle shove. "Because until you met me, you spent all your time sulking at home."

Ichigo winced. "I can't argue with that."

"Nice dancing, lovevbirds," Rangiku piped up. "Ichigo, with a little practice, you could be a real stud on the dance floor!"

"Thanks." Ichigo nodded to Rukia. "So, what's next?"

"I wouldn't mind cooling off a bit," Rukia told him, taking his hand. "Follow me. See you later, Rangiku, Momo, Renji, Chad."

Ichigo didn't say a word until his date led him not to an ice cream parlor like he expected, but the banks of the small river that ran through Karakura Town. By now, the sun had just set, and Karakura Town was in a sleepy twilight, a cool breeze picking up.

Rukia stood on the grassy banks of the river with her fiance. "You know, I'm not half bad a swimmer."

Ichigo gawked. "Don't tell me we're gonna have a swimming race? I'm beat."

"No, not that. We're all alone, you know." Rukia blushed and smiled. "When was the last time you took a dip?"

"Well..." Ichigo shrugged and watched the water flow by. "I dunno. Not in years."

"Don't you wanna cool off?"

"Sure, but..." Ichigo stared. "No way. No. Way!"

"Why not?" Rukia pried off her black heels and set them aside, flexing her toes. "Don't tell me you're embarassed in front of your fiancee?"

Ichigo flushed. "N-no."

"If that's the case," Rukia said, "unzip me." She turned around, showing the vertical zipper along her dress's back.

"Y-you want me...?"

"Come on, unzip me."

"I..."

"Oh, for goodness' sake." Rukia turned around and, before Ichigo could argue, popped open his shirt. "Take it off. All of it."

"Rukia!"

"Do it for me? I've seen you shirtless before..."

Ichigo felt his heart racing, his nerves tingling. Man, how did he keep ending up in these situations? But he was still a little giddy from the dance class, and Rukia was still looking damn fine in that red dress... and they were all alone, after all...

"Just don't write about this in your poem story thing," Ichigo said, taking off his blazer, then his shirt. "Promise me that."

Rukia giggled. "How can I not? It's the tale of how two lovers from different worlds meet and fall in love, and overcome monsters and jealous rivals along the way. It's just a story."

"Feels a lot like real life," Ichigo muttered.

Rukia stepped forward and patted Ichigo's stomach. "This whole thing is making me wonder: what is a story, anyway?"

Ichigo shrugged.

"Is a story really just reality through a different lens? Or maybe fiction with the potential to be real?"

"I dunno, Rukia." Ichigo unbuckled his belt and slipped it out of its loops. "You sound like my literature teacher."

Rukia smiled, getting an eyeful of Ichigo's bare chest. "What if this life is just one big story? A narrative written by the cosmos? I mean, sometimes it feels like one. Growing up, I never could have imagined meeting someone like you. It almost feels like fate... or a fairy tale."

"What about it?" Ichigo asked, slipping off his shoes, then his socks. "If this was all one big story, and someone was reading it all and knowing every intimate detail, would you do anything different?"

Rukia's smiled widened. "Would you?"

Ichigo paused just before he slipped off his slacks. "Well... um..."

"I can't imagine how the hero Kuzo would act in Tale of the Two Lovers would react if he and the rabbit princess Raiko learned that their very lives were open for all to read," Rukia commented. "After all they've been through... what if you were the lead, Ichigo? What if Tale of the Two Lovers was real?"

Ichigo grinned. "Come on, this isn't some story. This isn't Tale of the Two Lovers. You just made it up."

"I guess the debate will have to wait," Rukia said in teasing tones. "For now, let's think that we are alone. What will you do now?"

"You... you can turn around," Ichigo said, going red again.

Rukia turned.

It's no big deal, Ichigo told himself as his trembling fingers held the zipper on Rukia's tantalizing dress. You're 18! Buck up. He slowly eased the zipper down, and Rukia's dress parted as he went, revealing her black bra strap. The zipper went down to the small of Rukia's back, and once there, he helped her climb out of it.

Rukia gently set the dress aside. "Your turn."

Ichigo tore his eyes from the sight of Rukia's nearly-nude form and slipped off his trousers, more eagerly than he expected. If this is a story, he thought, are we getting to the climax?

"Now, turn away," Rukia told him.

Ichigo turned and watch the water. Then he glanecd to the side and saw Rukia toss her lacy black bra onto the grass, and he felt his heart leap into his throat. He felt a thrill down his spine as he saw Rukia's thin black panties join the rest of her clothes, and he turned further away as he heard her step across the shore and into the water.

"The water's fine!" Rukia told him. "Join me!"

"O-okay." Ichigo removed the last of his clothes and immersed himself to his shoulders in Karakura Town's tiny river, and though it was chilly, like he expected, it felt great, too.

"See?" Rukia was up to her shoulders too, her black hair still dry. "Was that so difficult?"

"Hey, I'm in here now. Relax," Ichigo said shortly. He checked out the city skyline, with its skyscrapers and the little blue and red lights on thin antennae and the lines of traffic with headlights on. A passenger jet glided by overhead, leaving a thin white contrail on the twilight sky.

College, classes, money, jobs, engagement... it all seemed so far away. Like in another world. A different story.

"You know," Rukia said gently, "this is the happiest I've seen you in weeks."

Ichigo blinked. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." Rukia grinned. "One would think you like my company."

"And why not?" Ichigo shrugged. "We're friends. I trust you. What else would I feel?"

"Gee, you totally know the way to a girl's heart." Rukia swam closer. "You're not the most romantic person I know, Ichigo, but you know what, you have it where it counts."

"Could you be any more cryptic?"

Rukia made an annoyed noise. "And now the magic is gone."

"Magic? I thought we were just cooling off," Ichigo teased her.

"Dammit, carrot-top!" Rukia splashed water in his eyes, and Ichigo raised his hands to shield his face. Buy the time he lowered his hands, Rukia had grabbed him from behind, like she wanted a piggy-back ride.

"R-Rukia!" Ichigo cried. He could feel every bit of Rukia's nude body pressed against him underwater, especially her breasts squished against his back, and her perky, rubbery nipples...

"Swim me to the other bank," Rukia told him. "Do something nice for me. I've been pulling all the weight for this date so far."

"Fine, fine..." Ichigo's well-toned body swam across the narrow river, and not even Rukia's weight slowed him down. He climbed onto the opposite bank and sat, and Rukia settled next to him. Then Ichigo lay flat on his back. "Crap! Okay, now I'm feeling it... let me catch my breath."

"Tired already?" Rukia kneeled next to him, a smug grin on her face in the fading dusk. A half moon was rising. "I thought you were the big, tough hero, Ichigo."

Ichigo gave her a grumpy look. "Fighting Quincies is a piece of cake next to living with you, rabbit princess."

"I know I'm hard to handle," Rukia admitted, "but hey, it's totally worth it, isn't it?"

"I... guess."

Rukia giggled, her face red again. "I think your sword agrees."

"What? I'm not in my spirit body... What?!" Ichigo looked down and realized what Rukia meant. That tricky little rabbit princess!

Rukia leaned forward, her wet, bare breasts jiggling as she moved, hanging close to Ichigo's face. She smiled. "Admit it, you want me."

"I want you to back away!"

"Somehow, I don't think so..." She leaned a little more, a hand on Ichigo's bare chest to keep her stable.

Ichigo swallowed, his heart galloping. "Are you taking advantage of me because I'm too tired to run away?"

"I dunno. Am I?" Rukia ran her hands across Ichigo's chest, panting for breath. "Or maybe I just like my fiance like this. You've always been a fighter. But now you're all mine." She leaned even closer and kissed him on the lips, tender and hot.

Okay, she's got a point, Ichigo realized as Rukia held the sides of his head. A very good point!

Rukia parted from him, wiping her mouth. "Now me."

"Now... you?"

Rukia lay flat on her back next to Ichigo. "What will you do, heroic wanderer?"

"Maybe a little of this." Ichigo sat up and knelt down to kiss her, and he totally felt Rukia leaning into it. He was acutely aware of Rukia's nude form, and all of its curves and smooth skin... before he knew it, he gently cupped a hand on Rukia's right breast, kneading the flesh in his fingers.

"You naughty boy!" Rukia panted.

"You were leading me on," Ichigo said. "Don't pretend like you weren't." He rolled Rukia's nipple between his thumb and forefinger, testing its rubbery skin. He definitely felt his sword stay at attention.

"More," Rukia said, still panting. "I'm all yours."

"Oh yeah?" Ichigo ran his hands down Rukia's bare chest, his hands now on her side haunches. His hands moved on to the wide curve of her hips, savoring the feeling. His heart beat even harder.

"Too much?" Ichigo asked.

"Just right," Rukia breathed.

Ichigo ran his hands down Rukia's thighs and across her knees, then down her shins. He held one of her feet in his hand, toying with her toes. "You know, you used to kick me sometimes with these feet," he commented. "You're not gonna do that now, are you?"

"Only if you ask," Rukia said, and they both burst out laughing.

Ichigo calmed down after a moment. "So, uh... was this date as good for you as it was for me?"

"Y-yeah," Rukia panted. "I love you, you know. I feel like I should tell you that more often."

Ichigo nodded. "Right. And I love you too, Rukia. Really. I don't know what I plan to do about Karakura Town and the Soul Society, but whatever happens, you'll make it worth it."

"Ichigo, that's the first properly romantic thing you've ever said to me..."

"I had to start somewhere, right?"

It was getting pretty dark by now, so the both of them swam side-by-side to the other shore, and hunted down their clothes. Which were gone.

"Hey!" Rukia cried. "Where..." Then she picked up a hand-written note. "Rangiku...!"

Ichigo took the note. You lovebirds won't be needing those anymore, will you? -Ran

Ichigo sighed. "At least she left my cell phone. Let me call my dad."

Fifteen minutes later, Ichigo saw the bright headlights of Isshin's car, and as promised over the phone, Mr. Kurosaki kept his eyes closed as he opened the car door and tossed out two towels. Ichigo and Rukia covered themselves, then sat together in the back seat.

"So, got your clothes stolen?" Isshin teased as he made a U-turn to go back home. "It's happened to me a few times, too."

Ichigo ran a hand over his face. "Dad, not tonight. Please."

If this is a story, Ichigo thought, some mean author has a wicked sense of humor!