Sacrament
Episode 7: Somersaults
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"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind." - Bruce Lee
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I really shouldn't let her have such an intense… hold on me. Ichigo thought as he grabbed Rukia's hand and led her into through the massive Kuchiki estate gardens and into the dark, green woods.
I never thought I could have such a strong feeling for anyone. Ichigo mused, and gripped her soft, small hand tighter. Ever since my mother died, I haven't really been close with a woman at all. Sure, there were a few… distractions from my hormonal need but I've never felt anything so…
Close.
Ichigo loved the feeling of Rukia hands molding into his like bread dough –as if it belonged there- as he lead her through the thick woods. He wasn't exactly sure where he was going, but Rukia didn't want to stay where they might be caught by that thick-headed bastard knight Renji.
But caught doing what exactly? It's not like they were fucking in the leaves. (He blushed at the thought). Kissing, maybe. But that wasn't a capital offense. Ichigo was sure that Rukia must have kissed other boys before him, right?
Right?
Ichigo preferred not to think about it too much. Little did he know that Miss Rukia Kuchiki was thinking the exact same thing.
You just don't have an instinct to kiss like he did. Rukia pondered. He must have had… practice. But with who?
Rukia cast Ichigo a quizzing glance. He was tall, muscular -but still agile in shape. His movements were deliberate and determind… but graceful. His orange hair was strange, but for some reason Rukia liked it that way. It was natural, but still different, unlike other guys she's had a "thing" with.
Above all, Ichigo was her best friend.
But the recent events have proven otherwise. He's more than that. Ever since they were kids, Ichigo had always been kind, and gentle. Even when they fought (not counting the first time,) he had been kind to her. She knew that Ichigo had let her win in some fights, even though he was very competitive. He was mature beyond his ripe years. He was a good friend overall.
God, she was screwing this all up. She was risking her relationship with Ichigo over her lust for him.
She almost loathed herself.
"Oh." Ichigo said, coming to halt in front of Rukia, making her bump into him roughly.
"Hey! You idiot—"
"Hush, midget." Ichigo whispered. "You're ruining that quiet. Don't you see where we are?"
Rukia looked around, her eyes straining in the dark, with only the light of the moon to guide her. They were at their training grounds, under the big willow tree that Ichigo had found her crying under the first day they met. The ground was so used and beat up from their fights that a long strip of the land had been reduced to dry dirt. Rukia even saw a couple gashes in the ground where they had their last fight just three short days ago.
"Ya. We're at the training grounds. So?" Rukia asked, raising her eyebrow at him.
"I don't know… We've never been here at night. It's kind of eerie, isn't it?" Ichigo examined. "In the light of the moon?"
Rukia gave the training grounds a longer look. Yes, the willow tree's drooping leaves cast long shadows over the dirt, but it was more beautiful than anything else. Sure, there was a dead silence that you could never get used to. There wasn't even any white noise to be heard. No crickets. No leaves brushing. No wind. It was dead silent accept for the sound of Ichigo and Rukia's breathing. But that wasn't so bad, right? Rukia liked to listen to heartbeats.
"I think it's beautiful, actually." Rukia let go of Ichigo's hand and sat down under the willow tree with her knees pulled up to her chest and her brown wool cloak flowing behind her in the soft emerald grass. Ichigo mimicked her actions and sat down next to her, closely, to make sure Rukia was warm enough.
"So your old man let you sneak out of the house, eh?" Ichigo teased, lacing his fingers in between hers, playing with them. God, they were so tiny. Delicate.
"Shut up, fool." Rukia said. "As a matter of fact, Byakuya is out of the village on business."
"Oh. What kind of business?" Ichigo asked with polite curiosity, tugging on her pinky finger, which made Rukia blush considerably.
"I'm not quite sure, actually." Rukia said, her eyebrows furrowed suddenly. "He never told me."
"Does he usually tell you where he's going?"
"Yes." Rukia huffed, feeling left out. Her father usually told her where he was going in case she needed to contact him. You can't send a letter if you don't know the address, right? "That is a very strange thing for my father to do."
"I'm sure that bastard Renji knows." Said Ichigo dully. "He worships the Duke Kuchiki like a God."
"For once, you are right Ichigo." Rukia said spiritedly. She raised her eyebrows at him. "Usually, you're pretty dense."
"Hey!" Ichigo mocked hurt. "That's offensive to my intelligent and sophisticated lifestyle."
It was silent for a few moments before Rukia guffawed, filling the woods with her laughter.
"Shh-!" Ichigo put a hang over her mouth but Rukia was still shaking with giggles. "The mighty Renji will hear you and behead me where I stand!" He smiled.
"You—are—a—a… fool!" Rukia managed to say in between fits of laughter. The thought of Renji galloping on a noble steed with his sword raised high to defend her honor and had Rukia roaring with laughter all over again.
"You have a cute laugh." Ichigo said and touched the side of her face that was blushing from the laughing fit. "I never hear it enough."
"You've heard me laugh plenty." Rukia said, wiping her eyes.
"Not like that."
"Well there's a first time for everything." Rukia supposed, laying down flat against the ground to look at the stars. Ichigo copied her movement, laying himself flat against the ground with their hands intertwined. "Like… this is the first time we've watched the stars together, right?" She whispered.
"Right." Ichigo squeezed her hand. He never really noticed how beautiful the stars were until this very moment. The beauty of the stars could not hold his gaze for long though. They had tough competition with the lovely black haired beauty lying beside him.
"Can I kiss you now?" Ichigo asked, propping himself up on one elbow to get a better look into her piercing lilac eyes.
"If you must." Rukia smiled, and wrapped her arms around his neck as he leaned forward to leave a soft kiss on her lips that was much different than their formal hungry, animalistic make-out sessions. It was… intimate. Then he retreated slightly from her lips, shocked by the feeling that just ran through his whole body. He stared into her eyes, and it felt like a magnet. Like she was pulling him in, pulling him closer. He just couldn't get enough of her.
Rukia lifted her head and placed a kiss on Ichigo's cheek. "I never in a million years think I would feel like this towards my best friend."
"Likewise." Ichigo almost gasped. What was wrong with him? He never got this flustered over a woman before. But… Rukia was different. Their relationship had been building for years. All this love they felt for each other has to be more than friendly.
Rukia hummed with satisfaction has Ichigo's lips connected with hers once more, and she turned him over in the soft grass so that she was on top to deepen the kiss.
When Ichigo had stormed out of his father's house earlier, he had expected to tell Rukia everything upfront. Blunt. To the point. But he couldn't. Honestly, he didn't have the ball to. Rukia was happy. She was smiling and blushing and laughing hysterically for Christ's sake. How could he ruin this moment with her?
He just couldn't do it.
So he just kissed her back, happy for the distraction as his mind did somersaults.
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Renji sat at the foot of his massive bed, shirtless, his violent red hair a disheveled mess. Contemplating. His brain had refused to shut off and let him sleep even if it was late into the night.
Earlier that day, Rukia, very bluntly, rejected him in the gardens. His pride wounded, Renji couldn't help but just run away with his tail in between his legs. And he really thought he was beginning to warm up to her up, too.
Renji had been trying to capture Rukia's heart ever since she turned sixteen. He had just become a knight then, and had been assigned as the Duke Kuchiki's personal bodyguard. Yamamoto told him it was a high honor, so how could he refuse? He took the job with pride.
As soon as Renji had moved into the Kuchiki estate, he had also been infatuated with the Duke Kuchiki's daughter, Rukia. With her long flowing hair, desirable petite body, and esteemed family name, she was a grand prize. The only bad thing about her was her sharp tongue, though. Renji liked his women submissive, and timid.
Damn her. Why couldn't she just see that he's meant for her? Damn it all.
When Byakuya first told Renji of his and Rukia's arranged marriage over two years ago, at first Renji was thrilled. He had been admiring Rukia from afar for a while now, hadn't he? He was delighted to be engaged to Miss Kuchiki. But, Byakuya had insisted that Renji did not tell his future wife of their arrangement because she was too young to be married, and Byakuya wanted it to be a surprise. Renji didn't worry about it at all though. Eventually they would get married and Rukia would produce a Kuchiki heir.
He'd been waiting a damn long time though. Three years was a damn long time. Rukia was nineteen, well over the marrying age, but Byakuya had insisted that Renji court her first. It wouldn't be that hard.
I mean, they're soulmates, right?
Byakuya said so.
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A/N: Hey there, Readers! I know this update is short but I wanted to update early since I got such nice reviews! A big thank you to: MindlessAbandon, Ashezo, 09ice, panianime, and Personal Riot for reviewing! Oh, and to answer alero1990's review/question from Episode 5, I hope this chapter cleared it up for you! 私はあなたを愛して！