Thanks for the 3 reviews that I've received so far! Any review really encourages me to write faster (unless its really mean) so please review!
Ichigo stared intensely at Rukia who still adorned her unique hollow mask and was now emitting small pants and noises of struggle.
'come on Rukia, fight' Ichigo thought feeling completely hopeless because for once he couldn't jump in and protect her or even see how the battle was turning out.
Suddenly he was enveloped in a warm tingly feeling he glanced over at Orihime to see her turned towards him with her palms reached out.
"I might as well heal you while we wait for Rukia-san" She said smiling. He said nothing and turned his attention back to the small struggling girl in front of him
Nell, who was now sitting on the floor, was also staring up at Rukia with childish curiosity engraved in her face.
"her mathk ith reawy prethy" Nell said suddenly still staring at Rukia.
"Yes its beautiful" Orihime said softly, sparing a glance toward her friend and trying to keep bitterness out of her voice.
-,-
"Doesn't it almost feel like we're dancing, shinigami?" the hollow sneered before laughing mockingly.
Rukia said nothing but went in for another attack that was immediately blocked by her hollow counterpart.
"tsk tsk tsk You're not gunna get your control back with an attitude like that" the purple eyed monster sneered.
Rukia ignored once more and gave her an icy glare.
"A look like that wont save your friends" the hollow said laughing at her.
"be quiet" Rukia said in a calm voice. Her brother always taught her to be calm in battle, giving off any emotion is an easy weakness.
"Quit tryin' to act like some noble or somethin', you're nothing but a waste and everyone will know BECAUSE ONCE I'M IN CONTROL, EVERYONE WILL FEAR ME! INCLUDING YOU!" her hollow screamed as she came towards Rukia at an alarming rate.
Rukia dodged the attack while her hollow destroyed a wall of ice.
"Now look at what you've gone and done, Sode no Shirayuki won't be too pleased to see what you've done to her palace… just stand there and admit defeat it'll save us so much time" she said through wicked lips before lunging at Rukia again.
Rukia prepared herself and saw an opening, waiting for the precise moment she lunged her sword and reached out her hand to grip the hilt of her zanpakuto.
"You bitch" the hollow snarled as Rukia's sword pieced through her.
"This belongs to me" Rukia said firmly as she took the sword from her hollows hands.
"I'M EVERYTHING YOU'D WISH TO BE! I SHOULD BE IN CONTROL!" the hollow screamed dementedly.
"I'll never wish to be anything like you" Rukia muttered darkly.
0.o
Ichigo's eyes widened when he noticed Rukia's form start to move. He waited to see what she was trying to do and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when she started to scratch at her mask.
She managed to break it apart, taking deep gulps of breath.
Ichigo rushed to her side and held her when she collapsed. She was coughing and struggling for breath and Ichigo noticed the blood seeping from her chest and abdomen.
"ORIHIME!" Ichigo shouted desperately as Rukia clutched her chest and coughed up blood.
"Right!" Orihime said snapping out of her daze. She knelt down and engulfed Rukia in her power.
As Rukia calmed down and fell into unconsciousness, Ichigo laid her down in his lap and waited for Orihime to finish her work.
"All better, I guess she's tired huh" Orihime said when she finished.
Ichigo picked Rukia up gently and started heading toward an exit.
"Come on Orihime lets get everyone else and get out of here" Ichigo said hugging Rukia closer to his body.
He felt a slight tugging at his pant leg and looked down to find Nell holding the pieces of Rukia's broken mask.
"Can I keep thethe?" Nell asked hopefully.
"uhh… sure I guess" Ichigo responded not knowing what else to say.
"Yay!" Nell exclaimed as they kept walking toward their friends.
o.o
Rukia felt warm.
She cracked open her eye to see Ichigo's determined scowling face staring straight ahead of him.
She felt a wave a relief wash over her when she realized that Ichigo was safe and remembered that she beat her hollow.
She wiggled a little bit but Ichigo kept a firm hold on her and didn't notice that she had awoken, she tried to speak but found that she was extremely parched and exhausted no less.
Rukia settled for staring up at the boy… no man that was currently holding her close to his warm body.
She remembered thinking to herself, before she had lost control to her hollow, that if she was to die she had to see him one last time, even if it was just to say goodbye.
Rukia felt her cheeks flush a little with embarrassment.
She could no longer deny that her feelings for the orange haired idiot had surpassed the strict boundaries that she herself had placed on their relationship.
She had not even wanted to allow herself friendship with him in the beginning, but as she found herself telling him, when she first appeared in Hueco Mundo with Renji by her side, that he was her nakama. Though she purposely omitted the fact that her feelings run deeper than the closest friendship, but she can't imagine herself telling him that.
Rukia was never truly accomplished at expressing her feelings properly.
After growing up in the harsh conditions that was the streets of Rukongai with Renji, who was far worse than she at expressing feelings, then being passed on to her emotionless adoptive brother who wore the same mask of condescending disdain everyday, one could hardly blame her.
'Besides, with girls like Orihime running around what could he possible see in me?' she thought to herself.
She felt no bitterness of jealousy toward her large breasted friend. It was just fact, in her mind, that Orihime was far more sexually appealing than she could ever hope to be.
No, she would not burden their friendship with her inappropriate feelings. She would just keep them to herself and secretly enjoy the warmth of being in his arms for as long as she can before he finds comfort in another girl and decides to hold them.
Yes, she would allow herself to be greedy for a little bit. And with that thought done Rukia closed her eyes and snuggled into the warmth that she would always recognize as Ichigo.
I'm trying to keep the character's personalities as canon as possible so sorry for any OOCness
Please REVIEW!