I'm so happy to have this chapter done! It only took me two days to do it, but there's a specific reason behind that and I don't want to spoil anything before you guys read the chapter! So I'll tell you afterwards ;)

I hope you Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with the Anime/Manga. They belong to Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump Magazine. Please support the official release.

-True Feelings-

The rest of the week after their near fatal incident occurred in the sky went by in a complete blur. They became much more cautious when it came to flying, but it didn't stop them from doing it all together. Ichigo's car became nothing more than an occasional transport method as they flew just about everywhere. Ichigo would get in his car and drive over to Rukia's and leave it parked in her driveway and after Renji arrived the three of them soared through the skies towards the school, landing on the roof where no one could see them and they could enter through the top entrance. It became their new system, and all three of them were happy with it.

The bruising and swelling on Ichigo's face had healed up almost completely by the weekend, which he was grateful for. He hated the stares and questions from his classmates about how he received such wounds. Many were spreading around rumors that he and Renji got into a fight over something, but Ichigo just scoffed at them. It was ridiculous to think he and Renji would fight like that. They were best friends and would never really hurt each other.

It was Saturday now, and Ichigo had spent the day hanging out with his two friends at Rukia's place, laughing and enjoying themselves as they toyed with the items in her living room, pushing themselves further and further to test their abilities. Renji was able to lift the couch with Ichigo and him still on it, and Rukia flipped the chair over in a full circle with her still inside of it while Ichigo floated the couch all around the living room. They had come far from lifting the pillow back and forth.

To think it's only been a week since we got these powers and we're already so powerful. Ichigo thought as he lay on his bed, sprawled out in his nightclothes. It was getting late, and yet he couldn't sleep. It wasn't that he was bothered by anything, it was just he didn't feel tired very much. He was still pumping from the excitement of the day's activities, and he wished he could still be at Rukia's right now instead of home alone in his bed. But Rukia's brother-in-law and sister were returning tomorrow and Byakuya Kuchiki wasn't a very tolerant person towards either Ichigo or Renji and wouldn't be happy with the two boys spending the night with his younger sister-in-law.

So, here he was, laying in his bed just after dinner with his family wishing he could still be at Rukia's with his friends. He didn't have much to do by himself here in his room since he completed all of his weekend homework the night before and he wasn't much for playing video games by himself. Out of boredom he turned his head towards his phone on his desk, plugged in and charging.

"Come here," He whispered softly.

The phone slowly levitated from the desk's surface, the plug popping out from the phone's socket and falling to the floor uselessly. He mentally commanded it to come to him, and it did. It floated towards him, and he had it dangle in the air above his head. The phone flipped open, and Ichigo pressed the buttons with his eyes alone, bringing up the pictures and scrolling through them with the arrow keys- all with his mind.

Ichigo wasn't one to take too many pictures, but he did have a few he had been compelled to take with his phone. There were a few of his sisters, Yuzu and Karin, one or two of them with his father, and a couple of pictures of him and his friends. He had a few of Renji making dumb faces at the camera, sticking out his tongue and grinning with his middle finger up, and few more of Rukia posing cutely. He had a picture of her in a wide brimmed sunhat, winking at the camera with a playful grin on her face, another with her giving a peace sign while sitting against a tree at lunch, and one final one of her with her arms around both Renji and Ichigo, all three grinning like morons as Ichigo took the picture.

This was his favorite picture, because it was all three of them at their happiest. He and his two best friends in the world, all grinning and happy with one another- just like life should be. He let a small smile grace his face as he looked up at the picture, looking between the three of them until his eyes rested solely on Rukia. She was grinning so big her teeth were showing, her eyes closed and her arms wrapped around his and Renji's neck affectionately. Ichigo's face was set in a grin, but not as big as hers and he was looking at the camera as he was the one holding it, and Renji's grin was more boisterous.

Rukia's face made the picture. She was the biggest reason this was his favorite picture on his phone, because she looked so happy and, dare he say it, beautiful in a goofy way. His smile softened at her picture, and he couldn't help but stare for a few seconds as his phone floated above him.

His eyes trailed slightly, and he once again caught sight of Renji's face in the picture, and his smile slowly faded away.

He shouldn't be gushing over Rukia when he knew his friend also loved her. Ichigo had made that silent promise to back off and not let his feelings be known lest his friendship with Renji be ruined. And even without his promise to Renji, what if Rukia didn't like him back? It would only ruin everything to say anything...

Maybe in another life... He thought wistfully, closing the picture and letting the standard screen saver take over.

He was ready to close the phone and plug it back in, when suddenly the phone made a loud beep and a new message appeared on the screen above him. He blinked, reading the name of the sender.

Rukia.

What would she be texting him at this hour? She usually was very strict on her sleeping hours, so why was she even awake to text him?

He lifted his hand, moving his fingers as if pressing the Open Message button. The message blinked, and glowed bright in the dark room:

Could you come over and talk?

Ichigo gave a soft frown as he read the message. He read it again, trying to decipher the meaning. Why did Rukia want to talk at this hour? It must be important for her to still be up asking about it. He closed the phone and let it drop into his open palm. He quickly pocketed it and stood from his bed, slipping on his shoes and opening his window.

[–]

Ichigo arrived at Rukia's house in under four minutes. Everything seem so close when he flew. He checked around the block from high above to make sure there was nobody around before he glided to the ground and landed softly on his feet. He let loose a steady breath. It was getting easier, took less focus to lift himself up and fly around.

They were all getting stronger.

He knocked on the door softly, once again glancing around the street before the door opened slightly to reveal Rukia's slightly wearied face. She looked tired, yet her eyes were alight with something Ichigo couldn't determine.

"Hey, thanks for coming." Rukia said lightly, opening the door wider for Ichigo to enter. He slipped inside, frowning as he looked around the house.

It was so still and quiet. It was kind of hard for him to differentiate this house from the big party central everyone else saw it as and the actual home of a living, breathing person; and not just any person: Rukia. It was Rukia's home, not just some mecca for getting drunk and having sex that you might or might not remember having. It was Rukia Kuchiki's home, and for some unknown reason Ichigo was here alone with said person and he was feeling extremely nervous for some reason.

Just relax, this is Rukia. He thought to himself as she closed the door behind him.

"I got here as fast as I could," Ichigo said after a moment.

"You broke a record, I can say that." She smiled at him and walked into the living room. He followed, unsure of what else to do. The only lights that were on were the kitchen light and the lamp sitting in the corner of the living room.

They sat on the couch next to each other, Rukia on one end and Ichigo on the other. He watched her for a minute as she stared with a furrowed brow at her fingers, obviously contemplating something important.

"What's up? I'm surprised you'd ask for me to come over at this hour." He said, trying to break the ice. How odd that after all of these years of knowing her, being by her side, and constantly wondering what it would be like to be with her from afar that he had such a hard time starting up a conversation. It wasn't that she was hard to talk to, and he usually wasn't so nervous, but that was because Renji was around and they were just three friends goofing around. But this was different. Renji wasn't here, and he could tell there was something important Rukia wanted to talk about.

"It's just..." Rukia began, finally looking up at him, but then looking back down at her fingers. "Ever since this...whole thing began, I've been thinking a lot lately."

"Must have hurt,"

Rukia scowled at him, and Ichigo realized it was the wrong thing to say. She was being serious right now, so he needed to be too. No room for joking.

"Look," Rukia turned to face him on the couch. "I really need to tell you something...and it would help if you just stayed quiet for a minute okay?" She gave him a look, and Ichigo was shocked by what he saw.

She looked so...vulnerable. He had never seen her look like this, ever. He had seen so many sides to Rukia; the tough side where nothing could stand in her way; the party side where everything was just fun and games and nothing should be taken seriously; the down to earth side of her where you could connect intellectually without much trouble. He had seen so many faces of Rukia, and yet he was staring at a completely new person right now.

"Okay, I'm listening." He said.

Rukia nodded, then took in a deep breath and let loose: "Ever since this whole strange business started I've been thinking more and more about something I've known for a very long time. That night...at the party...I went looking for you because I wanted to tell you this, but when the thing came down I took it as an excuse to bail. I chickened out, and I regret it so much. But ever we discovered these amazing new abilities...and as they develop my feelings have been developing as well."

Ichigo's eyes widened as he sucked in a tight breath and held it. What was she saying...?

Rukia took a moment to pause and stare into his face, her violet eyes hazed with emotion. Then, with a steadying breath she spoke again, "I've known it for a very long time...and I've been so afraid of telling you this but now I feel that it would be a crime not to tell you. At least...that's what I'm telling myself to kick my ass into gear." She shook her head. "I love you Ichigo Kurosaki...I said it. I'm in love with you. I don't like you, I love you. Like stupid, gooey gooey romance love where I swoon at your scent and write my name with your last name all over my binder love. And so..." She paused, her eyes focused solely on his own. "...there."

Ichigo didn't know what to say. He just sat there, his hands folded in his lap and his eyes wide as he stared at her in shock. He could faintly hear the arrhythmic beat of his heart in his chest, and for a couple of minutes that's all he could focus on because his brain had short circuited and his vocal chords had taken a holiday to the mystical island of Lump In Throat.

Rukia began to fidget, her brow rising in worry. "So...you can speak now." She said in a small voice.

Ichigo swallowed hard, trying to clear his swollen throat as he fought to find the right words. "I..." He said, then stopped. He had nothing, and he was blushing incredibly bad. His face felt like a heater. Just a little while ago he was thinking about how she couldn't possibly like him back, and how he should hold himself back because of it and Renji. But not only does she like him, she loves him? He could barely register the situation.

"You...what?" She urged.

He swallowed too large a breath and shook his head as he released some of the excess air. He couldn't hold it in any longer, and let all doubt and worry fall to the back of his mind. "I...I love you too Rukia."

Rukia's eyes widened, her fingers curling in her lap as she stared at him. "You do?" She asked as if she had misheard him.

"Of course I do," Ichigo said, finally finding his speed and rolling with it. "Ever since we were kids you were the only girl I've been able to see. No one else has caught my eye like you have and..." He stopped, feeling his emotions flaring up. It was almost too much to handle at once. He took a deep breath, letting ice cold calm run through his veins as he forced the courage to rise up and speak. "...when my mom died...you were the one who brought me back...you were the reason I worked so hard to keep on going."

It was true. His mother had died of cancer when he was nine, and it had changed his life forever. He didn't like to think about it too much, because all it did was sting when he did. She had been his whole world, the center of his family. And when she got sick he started down a terrible path of self destruction, and it had been Rukia who had made him realize he needed to be strong for his mother and his family. That was when he realized he loved her, that he had always loved her, because at the time when he thought about how she gave him strength he had finally come to terms with his feelings.

"I've felt like this for a long time as well, Rukia. I love you, and I always have."

Rukia stared at him for what felt like a year, her eyes darting around his face as if searching for any sign that he was lying. Slowly, she smiled, and then reached out to take his hand in hers. He squeezed her hand, and watched as she crawled across the couch to close the distance and kiss him.

The kiss was awkward and hesitant at first, this being both of their first real kiss, but gradually they moved into one another and relished in the new experience. Her lips were so soft, and wet. She tasted sweet, heavenly, delicious. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned more into him as he kissed her back, placing his hand on her hip. He felt her shiver, and it made his heart race to think he could make her do as such.

The kiss deepened, and Ichigo found himself laying back as she laid on top of him, her hands moving to the front of his chest and his moving to hook around the crook of her back. Her hands spread across his abs, fingers dancing over his crinkling shirt. He shivered, his mind hazing over as their lips meshed together.

Ichigo bit her lip on instinct, and he felt her tongue run over the teeth that were holding onto her lip teasingly. His tongue reached out and played with hers, her taste filling his mouth and dizzying him. He had imagined so many times how she might taste, how she might feel under his hands, and it had never come even close to how amazing this was.

The time came when they needed to pull back and breathe. She had her forehead pressed against his, her hot breath blowing across his face to light fires over the skin of his cheeks and chin. Her taste lingered in his mouth, his lips tingling from the feeling of her own. He looked into her eyes, and he was slightly shocked by what he saw.

Lust.

"Ichigo..." She whispered, her desperate voice echoing through his mind, resonating with him. "...I want this..."

Ichigo's eyes widened a fraction of an inch. This was the second side of Rukia he had never seen before. So desperate and needing...

He was slightly ashamed to say it turned him on a bit.

"Please..." Rukia whispered again before kissing him to add onto the growing fire inside of his stomach. The intensity of her kiss sent his head spinning, the genuine passion conveyed through the kiss filling him with as much need as she was showing.

"Okay..." was all he could say, and he cursed himself for that being his answer. What an idiot, he berated himself.

Rukia just smiled at him and stood. For a second he thought she was backing out because of his less than romantic response, but then she took his hand and led him to his feet and towards the stairs. He followed dumbly, still slightly in shock that all of this was happening. Was he dreaming, or hallucinating? Had he actually died that night in the woods and has been experiencing all of this as a false reality?

She let go of his hand once they reached the bottom of the stairs and she turned to him with a sly grin. He was confused for a moment, but then she floated off the ground and began to rise up the stairs, still facing him.

Ichigo watched her, awestruck by the sight before him. His life, all of their lives, had become so different. It was so amazing...he couldn't even fathom how wonderful this exact moment was to him.

Rukia wagged her finger at him, beckoning to him, and Ichigo felt the collar of his shirt tug. She was telling him to follow. He grinned up at her, letting his body rise so that his feet were inches above the floor and he leaned forward to follow her up the stairs, gliding slowly through the air to the top where they both landed and entered her room.

Ichigo's shoes were left in the hallway as they entered, the door closing behind him without any direct contact. He leaned down, their lips meeting halfway as they embraced once again. She laid down on her bed, pulling him on top of her as her hands moved to his shirt, tugging on it. He got the message and pulled back, slipping out of it and tossing it to the floor.

She took off her shirt as well, and before Ichigo knew it they were under the covers, fully naked, and kissing heatedly as they pressed against one another. Her hands moved through his hair, and he shivered at the touch, his own hands holding himself up above her as their lips danced. He could feel his erection pressing against her inner thigh, and before he could move any further he knew he had to say something.

When he pulled back they were both panting, their faces flushed and their eyes locked onto one another's intently. She stared up at him, her hands looped around his neck as her breasts rose and fell with each pant. He couldn't help but stare at them, marveling at the perk, pink nipples atop the supple lumps he oh-so wanted to touch.

"Rukia..." He whispered, tearing his gaze from her chest to look her in the eye. "Is this what you really want?"

She stared back, her eyes soft and hazy as she looked back up at him. She smiled gently, reaching up to peck his lips. "Yes," She said. "I want this."

He couldn't help but smile widely, leaning down to wrap his arms around and kiss her one last time before positioning himself above her.

Her nails dug into the skin of the back of his neck as he slid the tip inside of her, spreading open her petals to make room for his erect member. She seethed as it broke through her resistance, clinging to him as he slid fully inside of her. She whimpered in pain and pleasure, burying her face into the crrok of his neck.

"Are you okay?" He asked, not wanting to hurt her too much.

"Don't stop..." She panted in his ear. "Keep going...I can handle it."

He nodded, beginning the pump back and forth, her mouth opening wide in a moan as she dug her nails deep into his neck. He shivered, not at all minding the slight pain of her nails as it fueled his need. He couldn't believe how tight she was, how warm and unbelievably good this felt. He groaned as he began to move a bit faster, feeling heat washing over his body as the pleasure invaded and hazed over his mind.

In the back of his mind he was still telling himself this was just a dream, that none of this was real- because it was just too good to be true. In reality he was most likely back in his room asleep, dreaming all of this. But damn, if this wasn't a very vivid dream...

"Nng!" She moaned in his ear, her hands moving over his shoulders to grip his arms as he pumped back and forth inside of her. She bit his shoulder, fighting against the pain as she matched his rhythm, their bodies tangling together as sweat poured down their naked skin. He inhaled her scent, the beautiful flowery smell that shot up his nostrils and made his head roll in delight. She was so perfect, so absolutely fucking perfect. She drove him nuts, every single day when she was near him. All of his pent up emotions were bubbling to the surface now, everything he had hidden from the world because of a stupid promise to Renji. He didn't care anymore; he just didn't care because he had her now and he didn't plan on ever letting her go.

"I-Ichigo!" She cried out, holding onto him tightly. "I-I'm gonna..."

He could feel it as well. It was a burning in his stomach, an instinctual clenching of his thighs and grinding of his teeth. The pressure in his head demanded to be released, and he couldn't hold it back.

His hot seed swam up into her womb and she curled her toes as she cried his name again as she released around him. Both lay rigid for a fraction of a second as they rode out their combined orgasm, her nails dug deep into his arms as his arms tightened around her, engulfing her in his warmth.

They both fell limp against the bed, panting and sweaty as they kept each other in their arms, the afterglow of their passionate love making dizzying them both as they lay there trying to catch their breath.

"Wow..." She whispered, pressing her face against his chest, her cheeks flushed and her eyes half-lidded.

He couldn't help but chuckle. "Wow, indeed." He said, making her giggle. "Did it hurt a lot?"

She shook her head. "It wasn't too bad..." She answered. "It doesn't last."

He nodded, leaning down to place his forehead to hers. "Good," He said, smiling softly.

Rukia returned the smile, craning her neck to peck his lips. "I love you, Ichigo."

Ichigo felt his heart skip a beat at those words. "And I love you, Rukia."

Oooooh the IchiRuki-goodness...how I've missed you...

What with Afflicted sluggishly moving when it comes to IchiRuki I've been feeling like I'm depriving you guys of the goodness! So I'm happy to finally have it up in this story!

Before anyone complains, I'ma explain it. The promise Ichigo made to Renji has been sacred to him since he made it, but when Rukia came out saying she loved him he completely threw it to the wind because now he doesn't have to feel like he betrayed his friend. Rukia made the first move, how can he be blamed for that? So don't be reviewing all "Oh duuurrr...but Itsygo said he woodant duurr that ter Renjee!"

Yes, that's what you sound like...at least to me XD! (Kidding!)

Funny...I actually wrote Rukia's confession and the lemon LONG before I started this story officially! As I said at the beginning of this story, I have a few fragmented scenes written up. A total of three. This scene, another scene I won't disclose, and the very final scene for this story. So I know exactly what to aim for in the end!

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Since the scene was already written up all I had to do was lead into it and let it go! So really I wrote a total of 3 pages in the last two days for this chapter and it's still 8 pages long! Woo!

REVIEW!