Chapter: Fragile… Her Solo Performance

Shalan's Shout Out: Rukia's going to have her first solo performance since they began skating together… it may make her realize that she needs him more than anything else in the entire world… will it?

WARNING: Adult Content

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Ichigo laced his fingers together… his forehead pressed against his fists. Kisuke patted his shoulder. Rukia had avoided him for a good month since the accident and he was ready to break down. She had already told him that she knew it wasn't his fault… she told him that she needed time to think… and to recover from the terrible thing that had just happened to her.

He sat in the dark of the freezing ice ring. His eyes squeezed tight. He picture her laugh in his mind, her smile glittering in the moonlight as he swung her around at the barbeque… her touch, light as a feather on his skin. He squeezed his eyes tighter when he suddenly felt a hand touch the side of his face. A pair of lips brushed his and he smiled.

"Rukia…" He whispered only to have her pull away. He heard her skate back across the ice. He closed his eyes again and smiled. She was still there… Suddenly the lights turned on in the rink and the enormous crowd blinked as they dimmed again, so that a single beam of light was focused on the first skater of the night. Rukia stood in the middle of the ice, one foot out to the side of her body, her arms curved around herself like a cocoon.

Her dress was shimmering white, she appeared to be dressed in diamonds. The skirt was laced with silver strings and hung somewhere near mid-thigh. The long sleeves were held up by a loop around her middle finger. Her long black hair was pulled back in a sleek side-bun, shiny diamonds attached to her hair. The bodice of the dress appeared to be sheer and a white strapless leotard could be seen beneath it, her sleeves also sheer. The opening notes began to play and Ichigo felt his heart sink. He knew the song all too well.

If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one, drying in the color of the evening sun… Sting's song echoed over the speakers. Rukia swirled in a circle, her hands pressed to her heart. She skated a straight line, lifting her leg and pulling it up to touch the back of her head. She skated past the audience backwards and reached a hand out to Ichigo as she flew past him.

Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away, but something in our minds will always stay, perhaps this final act was meant, to clinch a lifetimes argument."I know…" he whispered as she spun faster, swinging into a tight ball, continuously. Ichigo bit his knuckle, wanting to touch her, to hold her and tell her that everything was alright.

That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could, for all those born beneath an angry star, lest we forget how fragile we are. Rukia felt tears prick in her eyes as she listened to the music. She kept her form and glided along the ice… her heart was lifting… out on the ice… she wasn't Rukia Kuchiki the woman who had just gotten into a car accident… she wasn't the woman who had just lost a child… no… she was Rukia Kuchiki… the woman who inspired people to do their best no matter what… she was Rukia Kuchiki… the world class skater…

On and on the rain will fall, like tears from a star like tears from a star, on and on the rain will say, how fragile we are how fragile we are. He had told her that she couldn't run from everything on the ice… but here she was… doing just that… her eyes locked into his as suddenly everything was okay… he was there for her no matter what… She watched his face as she slid backwards then skated to pick up speed. Ichigo bit his knuckle again. She was going into the quad.

On and on the rain will fall, like tears from a star like tears from a star, on and on the rain will say, how fragile we are how fragile we are, how fragile we are how fragile we are… she swung her body up and flew into the air. Ichigo held his breath, waiting to see if she would land it. He heard her skates hit the ice and he let his breath escape his lips as she landed in the middle of the stadium. The stadium burst into applause.

Ichigo jumped the barrier and slid in his shoes over to her.

"It seems that Miss Kuchiki's usual partner, Ichigo Kurosaki, is rather worried about her… Is it just rumor or are they getting married?" The television announcer turned to his partner.

"From what I've been hearing they are getting married… after the car accident that cost them their baby they haven't been talking much though… hopefully this will bring them back together." She smiled as Ichigo wrapped his arms around her, waiting for her scores.

"I love you Rukia…" He whispered and kissed her behind her ear tenderly and she smiled, leaning against him.

"I love you, Ichigo…" she giggled and he buried his nose into her neck.

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Rukia tangled her fingers through his hair their lips clashing together for the first time in a month and a half. His pants dropped with hers as he shredded his way through her leotard. She ripped his shirt open, dragging her fingers down his smooth chest His lips clasped over her nipple and she nearly screamed. It had been too long since he had been anywhere near her.

Much later into the evening Ichigo watched her sleep, her head resting in the crook of his arm. She smiled in her sleep, her breath raising her chest and lowering it. He smiled and nestled his head into her neck. "I love you Rukia…"

"I know you do…" she whispered in reply.

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There will be another chapter soon… just review me and I will appease you XDD

Shalan