Author's Note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is AU.
For I'm Longing to Be
Rukia headed off to class in something of a daze. Ichigo had kissed her. He had actually gone and kissed her. Not that Rukia really minded; it had been a very nice kiss. She hadn't thought he liked her that way though. She would admit to herself that she had developed something a little more serious than a crush on her friend. It had been hard not to. Ichigo was incredibly likeable when you got to know him, and his support was truthfully one of the only things that was keeping her going right now. It was extremely nice to have someone she knew she could lean on no matter what.
Of course, Rukia had known better than to think that he was in love with because of that. Ichigo would do the same for any of his friends, and Rukia knew that she wasn't as attractive as someone like Orihime or had known him as long as someone like Tatsuki. Ichigo had never done anything before now to indicate that he liked her more than just a friend, but then, he could be pretty oblivious when it came to girls. The kiss had caught her completely off guard.
And she didn't really know what to do about it. Rukia knew what she wanted to do, but she wasn't sure right now was the best time to start a relationship. And she didn't want to get Ichigo in more trouble than he already might be in for helping her. Plus, Rukia doubted that Byakuya would take her starting to date very well. He had a tendency to be a little overprotective of her at times. Besides, that kiss might have just been an impulse spurred by heightened emotions. It didn't have to mean anything just because she wanted it to.
Rukia sighed and found a seat in the classroom. It was one more thing to figure out, and right now she didn't feel up to the task. Maybe when this whole mess with her expulsion was over with. She had a hearing coming up soon with the university board in charge of things like this. Hopefully, it would go well. Rukia shook her head and paid attention to the professor who was starting the lecture. If she wasn't expelled, she didn't want to scramble to keep her grades up.
