Lightning and Thunder



By: Neokura

'Where am I…? What happened…?' Rukia asked herself as her lavender lids fluttered open. Everything was blurry at first; so she could only make out faint images.

She was in a small room with simplistic furnishings; such as a desk and a closet, nothing much really. The room, however, seemed strangely familiar and comforting. It was like she had been here before. Her gaze slowly drifted upwards and she suddenly realized a large figure with flaming orange hair was above her.

"I-Ichigo?" Rukia croaked her voice surprisingly coarse. "W-Where am I? What happened?"

"Um… you kind of fainted when we were in the rain and so I took you home." Ichigo quickly answered as he put an uncertain hand behind his head.

Rukia studied the room and stifled a gasp of surprise. She had finally realized where she was and what had happened. The hollow had attacked her and Ichigo tried to save her…

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Flashback

"Oi Rukia, are you ok?!" Ichigo yelled out as he ran to her side where she laid, twitching.

"I-Ichigo it's burning me! Make it stop!" Rukia let out another scream of pain.

"Rukia…!" Ichigo grabbed her and hoisted her on his back again.

"Don't worry; I'll get you to a hospital or something!" Ichigo took off even faster than he had before. Suddenly a few rain drops hit his face. Another wave of the storm was almost upon them. 'Oh great! Just what I need, more rain and thunder. God will this day ever end! Wait a minute. Rain… maybe… maybe if I just lay her out in the rain this green stuff will come off!'

Ichigo gently set the girl down on the pavement and allowed the rain to cover her body. It seemed to work as he watched the burning goo wash away and go down a nearby storm drainer. Rukia's pained look slowly went away and her eyes opened. "I-Ichigo?"

"You ok now Rukia?"

"I-I think so."

"That's good. Come on let's go home."

Rukia nodded and attempted to get up but failed. Her body was simply too weak.

Ichigo rolled his eyes and offered his hand, which Rukia took gratefully yet somehow at the same time reluctantly.

"I-Ichigo!" Rukia cried out as Ichigo pulled her up. He had done so with a little to much force and Rukia was thrown against him, their lips millimeters apart.

'Whoa! Whoa! To close! Way to close!' Screamed the voice inside Ichigo's head. He had never been this close to Rukia before in his entire life. Though for some strange reason he wanted to close that gap between their lips. He wanted to so badly it hurt him inside; burning away at his very being. The rain was coming down even harder now. Everything more than 5 feet away seemed to disappear in a thick grayish blanket as Ichigo leaned forward. Rukia's eyes went wide at first but fluttered closed in anticipation.

A minute went by, then another. Rukia cracked one eye open to stare at Ichigo. Ichigo smiled slightly and gently pushed her away from his body and steadied her.

"Come on Rukia let's go home…"

"Hai…" Rukia whispered, her voice desperately trying to mask its disappointment. Just as the two Shinigami were about to walk away Rukia collapsed to the ground.

"Oi Rukia! Rukia! Rukia!!"

End Flashback

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"Oh…" Rukia said almost in a whisper as her cheeks tinted red, half from remembering how they had almost… she refused to acknowledge the word… and how she had foolishly played along and half from realizing that she was in Ichigo himself was sitting on a pillow, his legs crossed, holding Rukia's head in his lap.

"Are you ok Rukia?" Ichigo asked as he leaned down to stare into her deep eyes. He so badly wanted to kiss those sweet, tempting lips of hers.

"Yeah, just a little tired that's all."

"Alright then get some sleep." Ichigo whispered into her ear as he slipped out from beneath her head. "I'll be right here if you need me." With that he slipped under the covers to his bed and scooted to the far side of the bed.

Rukia lay there watching Ichigo as he silently fell asleep; listening to the rain outside gently bounce off the roof top.

'At least it's not a thunderstorm. I really don't want to seem even more pathetic than I already am. I can' believe I let a weak hollow injure me. It was so embarrassing!'

Suddenly a huge lighting bolt struck across the sky, followed by a monstrous crack of thunder.

Rukia yelped in fright and dove for the safety of Ichigo's warm and inviting chest. 'So much for the not looking pathetic plan.'

Ichigo's eye cracked open and he glanced down at the fearful Rukia. 'Could this day be anymore torturous?' Ichigo let out a small inner sigh. 'Why must she tempt me?'

With a quick roll of the eyes Ichigo raised his arm and wrapped it around Rukia pulling her closer to him.

Rukia smiled and gently rested her head on his chest allowing her left arm to glide over him and clutch his right shoulder.

Ichigo's face heated up as he felt her move against him. He so badly wanted to simply roll over and pin her down. He wanted to taste her sweet lips, the lips of the angel that so gleefully tempted him and played with his heart. He wanted to take her into his arms and never let go. The feelings washed over him like he had just been thrown into the middle of the ocean of emotions that drenched him every time he saw her. Rukia was successfully driving him insane.

'Argh, wake up Ichigo! This is Rukia were talking about! Rukia! Little petite, annoying as hell, Rukia!'

Suddenly he felt something soft press against his skin and then trail down across his toned chest. Ichigo's eyes drifted down to the sleeping figure beside him, his heart racing faster than any normal persons ever should. His eyes softened and he smiled. While Rukia was asleep her hand had slipped from its hold on Ichigo's shoulder and had gently trailed down him. It was nothing to be alarmed about.

With kind eyes Ichigo gently raised his right arm up and lifted her chin ever so lightly. He then turned his head and calmly kissed Rukia's forehead.

"Goodnight Rukia." Ichigo whispered as he fell asleep.

Little did Ichigo know that as soon as he had fallen asleep two shimmering eyes had opened and a small arm had slid back up the boys chest to rest where it had once been.

"Goodnight Ichigo."

Owari