Chapter Fifty-one
Love Is…
Renji found Tatsuki with little effort. She loved to sit by the water and she loved to stare at the sky. Tonight he caught her completely at peace watching the water. The moonlight brightly lit the sky making the Koi in the Kuchiki's pond clearly visible.
"Tatsuki," he called and she turned to acknowledge him.
"Renji," she greeted.
"There are a lot of things about you that surprise me but I wouldn't expect to find out some of the things I did," he said.
"It terrified me to see what I thought was just my reflection. I can control these powers a little more," she said.
"I saw you earlier. Do you know how long it takes a Soul Reaper to reach that level," he asked.
"But I'm not a Soul Reaper," she said turning back to the pond.
They were still talking and he had to fix that.
"Tell me what you are really thinking," he said sitting down beside her.
"What do you mean," she asked.
"Let's go for a walk," he said standing up and taking her hand.
"Are you trying to take me back to your place," she teased.
"Is that your fantasy," he asked.
She turned red she wasn't expecting him to flirt back.
"Wow that's direct," she said recovering as she leaned against him.
"I'm kidding," he said.
She walked ahead of him and stared at him. He looked very serious to her. His heavy-lidded gaze fixed on hers.
"You really aren't kidding. You really want to know," she said standing in his way so he was forced to face her.
"This is my place you can come in," he said walking around her and inside where he waited.
She entered the room and looked around. Nothing surprised her about the surroundings in his room or the things contained there. He had books and she knew he liked to read. He had a collection of glasses on one dresser. Everything else was clean and organized in its proper place. Nothing stood out everything felt familiar.
He closed the door behind them and sat on the floor.
There was some sort of puzzle he seemed to be working on by his nightstand a cluster of blocks. A stack of paper neatly organized on his desk.
She sat next to him on the floor.
"I could get into so much trouble with you. Do you know how many times I pictured you here in this room with me," he asked.
"There is a private hot springs hidden away in a mountainous wilderness resort. There is a waterfall there that glistens in the night. You climb down as so many others have before you in search of that woman you heard of in legends past.
As you climb down the steep terrain the sky is full of stars. The moonlight is full giving everything this silvery glow," she paused looking at the window.
"Like tonight," he said following her gaze.
"Yes like tonight. You reach the bottom of this place. The assignment given you is an impossible one you soon realize when you see the sight before you very eyes. A woman you swore to kill is your one and only love," she said.
"This woman is you," he said.
"I'll finish my story," she said.
"Fine but you're telling of it is odd," he said.
"I have my reasons," she said.
"Go on," he said.
"She had discarded her swimwear and descended into the warm water as if daring you to carry out her death sentence-
"Wait you can't just throw something like that out without warning," he said his face red.
"It is fantasy try to keep up," she said.
"Did I at least get to watch this happen or was she already…skinny dipping when I got there," he asked.
"In your mind you see it. I didn't need to turn around. Feeling your eyes on me was enough I tossed the material to the water's edge. A great shot they would be there when I got out," she stopped again as he seemed to want to interrupt yet again.
"You just said I-
"She-
"I don't see how she would bother to make sure her clothes were there when she got out if this is fantasy you can leave details like that out," he said.
"Fantasy," she repeated glaring at him.
"Alright continue goddess in the moonlight," he said.
"Whatever look she gave her intended assassin seemed to spur him into action as he discarded his own clothes. He seemed to enjoy the fact that her eyes worshiped his finely toned body-
"You think like that," he asked.
He wanted to hear the story and it was great he was paying attention but he kept interrupting. She almost felt like she was describing a book she read and perhaps it was her fault she should have kept saying I instead of she.
"More than you know," she said.
"Ok I'll keep that in mind," he said.
"The second surprise of your night came as you started to descend into the water. I swam over before you could fully submerge and took you-
"I don't know if I can calmly listen to another word of this," he said.
He had leaned over and was attempting to kiss her but she wanted to finish her story. She stood up and leaned over whispering in his ear.
"These lips picture it and let me finish the story," she kissed his cheek and sat a little further away.
"Are you trying to torture me," he said staring at her.
His eyes threaten to catch fire as he watched her.
"Funny I believe you said that to me then," she said.
He crawled towards her unable to keep a safe distance, "Sounds like even in your fantasy I was shocked."
"Oh you were more than that. Anyhow when you finished we continued our swim towards the falls. The water there much cooler and we sat in the water watching the stars," she stopped.
His face was inches from her face. His lips grazed hers she moved closer to him kissing him deeper.
"I doubt it went that way sorry to interrupt your version of the facts," he said so close to her ear.
"My fantasy," she weakly protested but his kisses were making her dizzy and his lips lingered on her collarbone.
"I don't care that wouldn't happen," he repeated.
She started to think he meant to give her a demonstration of just what would have happened. As her brain ticked away her body pulled him closer.
Her legs wrapped around him but he stopped kissing her.
"So tell me what really happened next. Tell me what you want," he said.
Tell him she wasn't sure she could form the words let alone breathe. He didn't seem tied down to a promise. He clearly wanted her. He wasn't prudish or blushing. His eyes were filled with lust.
"I took your hand the hand that would kill me and led it where I needed your touch," she stopped talking aware of where his hand traveled the length of her thigh.
"I know the rest," he said as he artfully disrobed her.
Her breath came in shallow gasps as she couldn't figure out where he would touch…kiss…go next.
When he suddenly stopped she wanted to curse at him. Then she figured the reason and sat up quickly trying to fix her clothing. A visit from friends at the worst possible time had them scurrying to fix their appearance.
Pious Renji returned, "I shouldn't have put you in this place, I'm sorry."
"Ichigo's garish arrival could have woke the dead…I'm joking," she said.
"Hey Renji," Ichigo yelled once again.
"Stop yelling I'm in here," Renji answered.
The door slid open and Ichigo let himself in. Orihime followed a few steps behind.
"When we didn't hear anything we were so worried," Orihime said.
"They told us we'd find you here," Ichigo explained.
"It's just the two of you," Renji asked.
Tatsuki took comfort as they confirmed that it was only the two of them. Orihime hugged her and the concern written all over her face lifted.
"Take a minute to say your goodbyes they sent us to get you," Ichigo said.
"They," Renji asked. He thought for sure they had more time.
"Could you give us a moment," Tatsuki asked.
Ichigo nodded and Orihime followed his lead.
They were alone again. She didn't want to give him the chance to apologize or try to take back the true feelings she felt tonight.
"I hope I gave you reason to think of me and only me until the day we can be together," Tatsuki said.
"Whenever that day is will be better than any fantasy I can promise you that," he said.
"You know that it wasn't just a fantasy," she said.
"Whatever it is I know that it has haunted you for some time now and that is why I asked about it," he said.
"It feels real to me. The dreams they feel like memories," she said.
"This can't wait," he said.
"What can't wait," she asked.
"We'll just have to tell them you're staying for a while longer so I can finish what I have planned," he said.
She stared at him he was on his knees in front of her and she wasn't sure if he was alright at first.
"What are you…Renji are you alright," she asked.
Until he lifted his eyes she thought something was seriously wrong with him.
"Marry me," he asked.
She stared blankly at him with those eyes that seemed to shift colors in the light. Her eyes the color of wine stared at him but her hand fidgeted with her hair and she shifted from one foot to another as if waiting for something. Finally she spoke waking from her seeming trance.
"What did you just say," she asked her eyes blinking hands still fidgeting.
"I just want you to say you'll be my wife," he asked.
It looked as if any second she would bolt out the door. He couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.
"Is this because of something my father said to you," she asked.
He hesitated. Yes he had a talk with her father but that had nothing to do with why he was down on his knees. Maybe if she just told him no his heart wouldn't feel so broken. When he decided to ask her there was no doubt in his mind that she would tell him yes.
"I'm asking you to be my wife," he said patiently keeping his voice steady. He wouldn't beg her and try to explain anything.
"My parents said something to you," she asked looking away.
He followed her gaze to the door. Ichigo and Orihime were still out there somewhere in the hall. Unless they had their heads pressed to the door they weren't hearing any of this. Maybe Tatsuki worried that they could hear.
She quickly confirmed his suspicions.
"They probably can't hear us and I'm being paranoid," she said.
He waited until she turned back to him and nodded.
"Knowing everything about your family and the life you could have I am asking you to accept me as your husband," he said.
"Knowing everything about your world I can't accept you," she said staring at him she shook her head, "I choose you…I chose you for all that you are to me. If you are asking me what I think you are ask me the right way please."
Whatever she was worried about seemed to pass and she focused all her attention to him now. The fidgeting stopped and he had to smile looking at her now. The color was still in her cheeks from earlier.
She wore no makeup but she looked incredible. Pleased with her comfortable ignorance about how stunning she looked he smiled. Now was not the time to throw out compliments when she still hadn't answered his most important question. He'd try again…
"Marry me Tatsuki," he asked.
"Yes," she said simply.
"Yes?"
There was something about the way he continued to look at her. She knew that he was sincere. She despised herself for not saying yes the first time he asked.
"Yes," she repeated.
He slid the engagement ring on her finger. He stood up and held her in his arms.
"Do you even know how incredible you look now," he asked.
In her mind he was the one who looked good. If she knew he was going to propose to her she would have taken time to look a lot better than she did now.
"I didn't even do anything," she said.
"Exactly," he said.
She kissed him still feeling like she didn't deserve to even be in his presence. His adorable face, Adonis like body and incredible kissing ability made her wish she were truly alone with him now.
"You could have asked me when I dressed up and fixed my hair or something," she said feeling a little inadequately prepared to be engaged.
"The moment I saw you sitting outside by that lake I knew I'd have to make a move to never lose you…one thing just kind of led to another and I ended up here. When Ichigo and Orihime came here I couldn't let you leave without accomplishing the goal I set earlier this evening," he said.
She stared at her finger. The band platinum and the design reminded her so much of a wave in its design the way it wrapped the diamond stone. It was something that she sketched once and he had it created for her it was unreal.
"So when did you pick out this ring," she asked.
He left her for a moment opening a drawer and pulled out her sketchbook.
"I noticed the design here and I knew you wouldn't want a boring ring. It isn't too extravagant but it had a nice edge to it. You didn't draw it without reason. Here we are separating," he said.
"Think of this as a vacation not some forced separation," she said.
Before she finished her sentence he had already decided a vacation from her would be a forced separation that he did not want.
"Better than that I have a plan," he said.
She turned questioning eyes on him.
000
Tatsuki sat watching the tiny animals in the trees that surrounded the property.
"How long are you going to sit there thinking," Renji asked.
"Not long this place is huge I don't even know how I ended up finding my way here specifically," Tatsuki said.
"This is never going to be easy," he said.
"I didn't come here to create trouble…I not sure I chose to come here at all. I should have just left with Ichigo and Orihime saving you the trouble," she said.
"Don't say something like that. They ordered my vacation time and so far haven't given me any reason to think it is a punishable offense to have you here. If anything I think they are as concerned with your safety and wellbeing as I am," he said.
"They ordered your vacation," she asked.
"Yes," he smiled at her.
"If they did that for you I should return the favor and return home as they wished," she said.
"I know," he replied.
There were no words necessary she stood and walked into his arms and he held her knowing that she was leaving him this time.
000
The night was quiet and unseasonably warmer than expected for March. Everyone started making their way back home. Theaters emptied and restaurants escorted the last of their stumbling guests outside. A few of the drunken restaurant guests migrated to bars around the city.
The Tokyo skyline was lit with various signs and tourist from all around snapped photos from the rooftop garden. Ichigo knew that if he stayed in Karakura tonight they were likely to be interrupted and that was the last thing he needed.
Rukia peered over the ledge of the building down at the people walking. She was completely at ease and enjoying the view. In contrast Ichigo was a nervous wreck. Thoughts rumbled in his head. He couldn't understand the way he felt because the entire night he was completely confident and under control.
Well, might as well get it over.
"Rukia I want to make this official," he said.
"Make what official," Rukia asked turning around.
Ichigo was on one knee. A few people noticed and a couple of girls squealed, it couldn't be helped he wanted to propose here because the view and this is the lightest the crowds would ever be. Rukia just stared at him.
I know this gesture. I've seen it before. Was that Ichigo looking so nervous and…shaking…was he shaking. Why am I standing here looking like a fool…Oh right it wasn't her turn to do anything yet…?
"Marry me, Rukia," he finally said.
Her turn now.
"Yes," Rukia said simply.
Her engagement ring sparkled on her hand as he put it on her finger. His smile was contagious and suddenly she was overcome with emotion. The few people around her clapped but she barely noticed them. All she could see was that smile and as he faded in her vision; she realized she was crying.
"I'll never understand you I come to save you and you curse me for doing so. I ask you to marry me and you burst in tears," Ichigo said standing up.
Quickly she wiped away the embarrassing tears in her eyes. It was true she was always like that with him. She was at a loss for words at the moment looking up into his eyes.
Damn these tears.
"You should be happy," Ichigo said wiping away the stray tears. He was holding her to him.
"You're crying too you fool," she said recovering.
"I'm not crying you idiot those are your tears on my cheeks," he said.
"I don't know why, I'm so happy now," she said burying her face in his neck.
"You're supposed to jump up and down and say 'oh my gosh oh my gosh I love you Ichigo,'" he said imitating her voice.
"I love you," she laughed and kissed him, "I really don't have to jump up and down do I?"
"Love you," he said kissing her.
Things didn't go as he imagined but it was perfect. This was a real reaction. This was real not contrived. This made him happy. She was happy even with all the tears. He was happy his nervousness completely evaporated. She said yes.
000
"Everyone wants to be there you know. But the risk is too much they all have jobs to do," Renji said.
"I know," Rukia said.
"Traditionally a bride's given away at a human wedding," Renji said.
"I know that too," Rukia replied.
"So what are you going to do," he asked.
"I don't know," she said staring out at the horizon
"The others are planning everything then…what the hell Rukia don't you have any say in all this," Renji asked.
"I just wanted to…never mind," she said editing herself.
"Cancel it," Renji ordered.
"What," Rukia stared at him coldly, "I can't do that."
"Let me tell you something. Ichigo isn't as thrilled about how this is going down and that's saying something," Renji said.
"Did he say something to you," Rukia asked.
"This isn't the way he envisioned it that's all," Renji said.
"He told you all this," Rukia asked.
"No I-
"Then just don't say anymore. Don't try to tell me how he feels or what I should do. And stop interfering," Rukia spun around and started walking.
"I'm sorry. Wait up," Renji called out.
"No you're just doing what you always do," Rukia said turning towards him.
"What's that?"
"Looking out for me so thank you," Rukia smiled at him, "we're family no matter what you'll always be my family…maybe more so you give me away."
"Wha- I can't."
"You can. You are the only one who can. If Ichigo asks and you say no, I won't marry him. Simple as that," Rukia said.
"Your destiny is by his side. Who am I to stand in the way," Renji asked.
"Would you stand in the way Renji?"
"No I really wouldn't. You two belong together. I hated the guy for that but it's really hard to hate someone like him. Your poor carrot looking children…you better pray they don't end up like that," Renji said.
Rukia punched him.
"Ouch, I'll stand in the way if you want but it will do little to no good. He'll just keep bothering me until I give up anyway," Renji said.
"That's true."
"You two will make it happen. It will be what you both want. Just don't let us outsiders interfere," Renji smiled at her.
"That's just it you are not outsiders. None of you are that to me," Rukia said.
"I know besides what are we talking about you two already ran off and did it before," Renji said staring past her.
"You're holding something else back from me Renji," Rukia said.
"I asked Tatsuki already and I thought about just going ahead and marrying her already but I can't," Renji said.
"So all this talk of how I want to do things had more to do with how you want to do things," Rukia said.
"Her family, the Soul Society and everyone else will have something to say about it so yeah I envy that you have some say in the matter Rukia," Renji said.
"That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. If you want to bolt from everything and marry Tatsuki go for it but I really don't think that is what you want Renji. Sounds to me like you're having a case of cold feet," Rukia said.
"You sound so much like an expert in this way of life now," Renji said.
"You can totally count on me," Rukia said.
"Totally," Renji questioned rolling his eyes.
000
Renji got up leaving the bedroom and returned with a tray and glasses.
"It is too early in the morning to drink that stuff…and I have work," Tatsuki said throwing a sheet over her head and hiding under the covers.
The sheet disappeared giving her goose bumps all over her exposed legs. She shivered and pushed herself to a sitting position. The tray was now on the bed and miraculous hadn't spilled. He somehow managed to pin her to the bed before she could scamper away.
"You're going to break my legs get off of me," she pouted and complained.
"I'm not even sitting on you," he argued.
She didn't want to knock over the champagne tray and he knew it. With a huge grin on his face he balanced on his knees and took one of the glasses.
"We have to do this toast thing right before I let you get up," he said.
In retaliation for the missing warmth of her sheets she ran her cold hand under his shirt. It didn't exactly go as planned. Somehow even her cold hands touching his torso turned him on. Momentarily distracted she thought she could get away only to end up forgetting why she tried to escape.
His mouth caught hers and kissed her slowly and passionately. Her mind wondered what happened to the tray while her body arched to be closer to him.
Suddenly he sat up again.
"Not until after you say yes and do this toast," he repeated.
"We don't have to do a toast and I already said yes," she argued.
"Don't be stubborn," he said.
"Who told you to do a toast," she asked.
"You did," he said.
She knew that he had learned all about Rukia's engagement to Ichigo. Renji took her words to him about doing things right very seriously. So while she never asked for a toast in a way she did.
"The way that you proposed to me was absolutely perfect and I said yes because I love you so much. You don't need to continue trying to prove something to me. If you want to drink champagne with me that is fine but we don't need to try to re-do our engagement," she said.
"That sad speech isn't going to work on me. I'll call your job and tell them you're not coming in if you don't do this toast with me," he said.
"I better just call in sick then," she said reaching for her cell phone.
He made no move to stop her and waited for her to dial before moving to sit next to her on the bed. While she spoke to her boss he pulled the covers back over her and set the tray between them.
"Well I managed to get Sue to cover for me so let's do this toast that you seem to know so much about," she said rolling her eyes.
000
"I don't know why but my mother is here," Tatsuki said warning him.
"Should I leave," Renji asked.
"It's too late she'll see you and besides you have nothing to worry about she loves you," she replied.
"Why would I be worried," he asked.
"You're a man and she wants grandchildren. We have to tell her about the engagement. Ichigo's wedding already has her in full on doting mother mode," she replied as she quickly opened the door.
"Sweetheart," Mrs. Arisawa said hugging her.
"Mrs. Arisawa," Renji greeted.
"Renji so nice to see you if I knew you'd be here I would have brought something nice," Mrs. Arisawa said.
"So grade A slop is fine for your daughter," Tatsuki said shutting the door.
"Oh honey you know I'd bring you something nice too but Renji's family," Mrs. Arisawa said.
"That makes absolutely no sense I'm standing right here too aren't I," Tatsuki asked.
"This is more of a social visit," Mrs. Arisawa said.
"Again I say you make no sense mom," Tatsuki argued.
"So how have you been Renji," Mrs. Arisawa asked.
"I feel in good spirits Mrs. Arisawa," Renji replied.
"Glad to see it but Tatsuki what about you I was so worried that you didn't show up for work today. I rushed over concerned when I ran into Sue," Mrs. Arisawa explained.
Tatsuki glared at Renji before attempting to convince her mother that she felt fine and just needed a day off from work.