Standard disclaimer applies.
Warning: Mentions of Shiba Kaien.
Author's notes: WOW! Over 500 reviews! Thank you so much guys! I can't believe this collection has gone so far, but it's thanks to your support, that's for sure.
To be honest, the beginning is a bit rushed, but that's probably because it would have otherwise taken me a whole lot more for the intro. And on another hand, I'd like to think Ichigo would go straight to the point... somewhat. I really liked the ending, though. :PAnd about the title... I felt the need for a slightly cheezy title, 'cuz it's raining... and raining makes me go all... blah and happy at the same time... It could refer to either Ichigo or Rukia, according to your point of view. Ahh... I promise next time there'll be a lot more of fluff and humor. Promise, promise! See you soon!

To Mexicans: July 2nd, 2006. If you're old enough, go vote! I know I will. :D

Shadows in Your Heart
08.05.2006

They rested together in bed, simply enjoying being able to relax by each other's side and hearing the soft music coming off from the recorder. Rukia was wearing the pretty white and yellow dress he'd bought for her as a birthday present and that she'd worn specifically today for the small party that the Ishida's had offered and that had lasted all night long. Ichigo had gotten rid the jacket and his tie was undone; he'd been one of the few more sober ones at the end of the party but still felt slightly dizzy.

"I've been wondering for a long time," Ichigo's voice was heard above the sound of the music, "That Kaien guy... did you love him?"

Rukia looked at him with a genuinely perplexed face. "What are you talking about? How do you know about...?" More so, what confused her further was that he'd chosen to bring this subject out to the light just now. She'd known this would come up sooner or later; guess it was sooner than she thought.

"I found out from Ganjyu at the party. I'd have waited for you to tell me about it, but that idiot got really wasted and he let something about you and... that guy slip. I went to Ukitake-san to get the rest of the story."

"I see..." she mumbled, looking away and staring at the white-washed wall.

He shifted in bed, propping himself up on his shoulders and staring down at her as though he was trying to decipher whatever she was thinking. "Rukia, did you love him?" he asked again.

"That... I..." Rukia fumbled with her words, staring at her fingers, "I don't know."

He was startled at that. His fist clenched on the silvery gray silk sheets beneath them. He glared down at his fisted hand and softly let go of the silk fabric, then he gulped the knot down his throat, trying to sound composed. "You don't know?"

"I might have, I might have not. Most probably I did, I think." Rukia finally looked at him, and smiled lightly at his stressed features. Her fingers gingerly rose to massage the frown in his face.

"What? You think…?" Ichigo mumbled, the feathery touch running down his cheeks somehow soothing his nerves. He'd never been good at handling this kind of emotional stuff.

She chuckled wistfully, her hand falling back to her sides. "Kaien-dono was the first person to ever acknowledge me for who I was, not what my last name meant. He was really nice, not only to myself but to all of his followers. He was strong and I admired him. At some point, I might have fallen for him. But even if I did, my feelings would have never been reciprocated."

"Why?" he couldn't help but ask in wonder. "Weren't you close to him?"

Rukia breathed deeply as she stared into Ichigo's amber eyes. "Kaien-dono... he had a wife. Didn't Ukitake-taichou tell you?"

"Not sure, maybe." He scratched his arm, faking a distraction to look away from her unwavering gaze. "I wasn't really paying attention to that part of the story."

"He and Miyako-dono shared very deep feelings," she mumbled as she closed her eyes. In her mind she could she the stylish lady she had met so long ago, with her elegant beauty and graceful movement, and beside the image of that beautiful lady stood that of her cheerful and handsome vice-captain. They always looked so serene and happy when they were together. "I deeply admired Miyako-dono as well; I could never forgive myself if I ever meddled in their affairs. More so when I knew already that he wouldn't look at me in any other way than a comrade."

"Ho-ho, a forbidden love?" He muttered mockingly, undoing his tie completely and throwing it to the floor. He still wasn't looking at her at all; but he was clenching the sheet under him, and out of her eyesight, once again.

"Ichigo!" She shot her eyes open and snapped at him. If he was trying to be a jerk, in which he was succeeding, it didn't cope well with her. "You're acting like an incredibly irritating brat," she frowned. "And here I am, explaining things to you so calmly, things you'd never understand..."

"I'm sorry," he apologized in the softest of voices, so uncharacteristically of him that it threw Rukia off guard. Ichigo's head lowered. To him, there had only been Rukia in his thoughts; knowing she had loved someone before him made him uneasy. Not that he was just about to confess that. Rukia would probably laugh straight at him. "It's all in the past…," he fidgeted, "Yeah, it's stupid of me, I know."

Rukia stared at him long and impassively. The boy she'd met so many years ago wouldn't have allowed himself to show his feelings so openly. Heck, it would have been a miracle if he actually spoke up if something was bothering him. But now, there he was in all of his grown up glory, more handsome than that time when she'd first met him, and more vulnerable than she'd ever seen him. It made her feel that something was off, that there was that part of their usual bickering missing that moment, though at the same time she found a new sense of serenity in his outspokenness. It was like going up another level of comprehension with him.

"Idiot. You are really, really an idiot," she sighed, "That was before I even met you. Besides, the fact that I loved Kaien-dono once doesn't change my feelings for you now. He's part of my past and I won't ever be able to forget him. But, Ichigo, I met you and I fell in love with you. There's no doubt things could never be any other way, understood?"

"Hai," he drawled tiredly.

His one-word sentence sent her back to frowning. "You say that like you don't believe me..."

"I do," he said, laying down to rest on his side and digging his head into his pillow.

She gripped his shirt's collar and made him look at her. "You know that that depressed aura around is making me think otherwise."

"What depressed aura? I'm not depressed, dammit!" He growled at her, in a loud and exasperated tone.

"I was told once of a good way of getting rid of depression," she murmured to herself, ignoring him blatantly.

He scowled when she rose up from his arms and moved atop of him to straddle him. Part of his mind thought this couldn't be good, the other part told the first to shut up. From above, Rukia looked down at him with strangely glinting eyes. He probably should have heard the first voice.

She cracked her knuckles. "Tickles!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?"

"Get off, get off! Ahh, ahhh, stooooop," he was breathless, "Damn you, stooooop! AHH, not there!"

"Give up already?" She snickered, "Thought you'd give more of a fight."

"You are… crazy! Stop it! OH! Rukia, stooooooooooooooooooooop! No, no, no! Dammit!"

"There, don't you feel rejuvenated?" She chuckled when the reply was only a glare. "Maa, maa, don't look at me like that! That's what you get for thinking stupid things. And remember, Ichigo, I looooove you, so never even think otherwise, okay? I already told you that you won't get rid of me that easily!"

She lowered her face to his and brushed their lips. Before she could break away, Ichigo pulled her down against him, bringing them closer and deepening the kiss.

"You'll be the death of me, won't you?" He whispered against her lips.

She smirked. It was that pretty smirk that only forecasted trouble. "You bet."