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You're making me forget my past
Never thought I'd feel like that again
I came to peace with my path
Now you got me off track..
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Ichigo arrived in the Seireitei, right on the outskirts. There was a great area of beautiful woods; he could hear the croaking of frogs that were probably sitting in a stream somewhere within.
Finding Rukia wasn't hard- he simply followed her reiatsu, which was strong in this area. He used shunpo to move quickly, not wanting to seen by anyone- though he really didn't think anyone would see, it was a more remote area and it didn't seem that Rukia had any neighbors, something he pondered on as he easily leapt over the large gold-colored gate of her home, landing in front of it.
It was big. Like something out of a fairy tale, beautiful and white, neatly cut hedges framing a stone-tile pathway that led to the front door. There was a beautiful self-contained fountain made of stone in the center, the sound of the running water was soothing to his nerves. It looked a bit like the Château de Bagatelle, he thought to himself, but more polished and elegant.. just like her. He could tell just by looking at it that Byakuya certainly had a hand in it.
He walked along the tile path, growing more an more nervous with each step he took. He wasn't even sure what he was doing- he hadn't spoken to Rukia in person in seven years. What would she think? Would she even let him in? That thought made him feel afraid- he hadn't stopped to think if she would even be happy to see him. It had been so long, and besides knowing she was long divorced, he knew nothing about her personal life. What if she was dating again, and he simply didn't know?
...What if she has a man in there?
He stopped in his tracks for a moment. But we're in the Seireitei, he thought to himself. If she did, I'd have noticed another reiatsu by now. She must be alone. Stop being a wimp.
He continued down the tile path, climbing up the short marbled steps to the arching front doors.
This is it.
He took in a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair. He reached up and pressed the doorbell button, hearing the light chime of the bell ringing inside of the house. He fixated on the clean golden door handle, attempting to compose himself.
There was a heavy click of the door lock sliding out of its place, and then the door opened. Ichigo looked up to meet her eyes.
Rukia stood in the doorway, blue eyes wide with confusion, and a mix of fear and worry. Their eyes met, neither spoke as they stared at each other. The night sky was dark, and so the only light illuminating was the glittery large chandelier that hung behind her, up high on the ceiling. The soft golden light frame her beautifully.
And Rukia was... the same, yet different. It was jarring how she looked exactly the same, and yet completely different at the same time. Her long, dark hair tumbled loosely down her back, reaching to her hips. She wore a satiny little slip in a powdery lavender shade, and he could tell she'd hastily tugged a matching short robe on when she'd seen him through the door-hole.
Seconds seemed to pass, minutes, as neither was able to find words to speak. Rukia took the slightest step back, her eyes boring into his, and it was all the sign Ichigo needed. He took one step into the door, his tall frame almost crashing into hers as his arms pulled her by the waist into his embrace, burying his face in her neck as his eyes sank shut, letting his mind shut off just for the moment. She smelled wonderful and so familiar, like the same Rukia he remembered, but more mature- like clean water, just-picked jasmine and white rose petals. It was comforting, and that thought caused tears to prick in his eyes. He blinked them away, instead focusing on the feeling of her pulse under her skin, nervous and too fast, like a rabbit's. He could feel her arms over his shoulders, her small fingers gripping the back of his shihakusho tightly.
It just felt right.
He was shaken from her thoughts when she spoke, her voice so soft he might not have heard her if it weren't so quiet.
"Ichigo..."
It was slightly strained, and then he realized he'd been almost lifting her off the ground in his embrace- she was on her tip-toes. He leaned forward, gently putting her down, enough of a space between them for her confused, wide eyes to meet his again.
He ran a hand through his hair nervously then, thinking of what to say.
"Yo."
He'd remained there for the next 4 hours.
They had gone into Rukia's living room- a beautiful, rather grand area with white tufted-leather sofas and the most fancy looking fireplace he'd ever seen. There they curled up, both on either side of the loveseat, and just talked about anything and everything that came to their minds. There were some things that weren't brought up- namely the sudden breakup that had never happened, nor that Rukia suddenly one day announced that she was marrying Renji, out of the blue. She served him tea in a pretty chappy-themed tea cup. Eventually, midnight struck.
"I better go back." he said, looking at his phone that was lit up with a text from Kazui, announcing that he'd be home in half an hour. "Kazui'll be back, soon."
"Ah."
He looked up at her, then glanced around the room. "Your daughter won't be here tonight?"
"No," Rukia shook her head, smiling lightly, "Ichika stays here on the weekends, usually. She has more stuff at the manor."
"I see."
He stood up then, retrieving Zangetsu from the corner as Rukia walked him to the front door. "So, do you mind if I.."
Her voice trailed off, and he stopped in front of the door and turned back around to look at her. She had that unsure expression again, like she thought asking something of him would be overstepping her boundaries. "Mind if you what?"
She seemed to grow shy then- or made she was ashamed- of what, he didn't know.
"If I message you sometimes." she replied quietly, looking down at the floor.
He couldn't help it- he reached a hand up and touched her chin with his fingers, just a touch.
"I don't mind."
She stood there watching as he walked away, her tiny frame illuminated by the lights looked even more small then normal in the frame of the large doorways.
There would be more times, Ichigo assured himself. All he needed to know was that Rukia was not dating anyone. He was lucky enough to somehow have gotten a second chance with her- and he was not going to let anyone take her from him again.
..
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got me tripping, falling, with no safety net..
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