"Ichigo, are you going back?"

"Yeah."

"You saved me once again."

"You were the one who originally saved me." Ichigo looked down at the grass in front of his feet for a few seconds before he continued: "You know, if death isn't really an end, then that time we met might not have been the first. We might have been connected from long before that. I am not really sure, but I think that once a bond is formed, it never disappears. If that's the case, even if we forget everything, we'll be connected somewhere again in the future. That'll be true for you, and those sibilngs as well."

Rukia closed her eyes before she smiled and said "Yes."

Ichigo smiled back. "Well, I'll be heading back, Shinigami."

"Don't call me Shinigami. I'm Kuchiki Rukia."

Ichigo disappeared and Rukia was now alone on the hill where she had just buried the siblings Homura and Shizuku. She turned away from the spot where he had just been standing and instead turned her gaze up to the sky. She could feel the wind blowing in her hair and clothes, making them move back and forth like a pendulum. She felt a great sadness towards the siblings she had taken care of so long ago and who had met such a tragic end.

Could what Ichigo had just told her about his theory about the soul and the bonds we form with people we meet and get to know, be true? Could it be that sometime in the future she would get to meet Homura and Shizuki again? If so, would she recognize them? Would they recognize her? She really wanted to hope that was the case. They had only been children when they died and were resurrected as Hollows and they deserved to live a happy life.

She also wondered if what Ichigo had said about him and her perhaps having met in a past life could be true. When he said those words, they had felt... true. Something inside her had reacted to his words in a positive way and she had always known that there was something special about Ichigo ever since she first saw him.

Ichigo always makes me smile when I'm down, he makes me laugh at little things, he's always there for me when I need him. He understands me in a way that even Renji doesn't, even though I've known him much longer...

Rukia smiles to herself and closes her eyes. She can't help but think of the feeling that had filled her the moment she regained consciousness and opened her eyes to see Ichigo in front of her, holding her in his arms. The feeling that had come the moment she remembered who he was. She had been filled with such warmth towards him and also an impulse to embrace him and never let him go. She had come very close to doing just that as well, but it was at that moment that she had discovered Homura and Shizuku's bodies and all thoughts of Ichigo had been pushed aside.

Now that she was standing here by herself and finally had time to collect her thoughts and digest everything that had happened to her, she found herself thinking back to that hug she had been so close to giving Ichigo. How much she had wanted to wrap her arms around him and never let go of him…

Sure, they were really close friends and close friends could give each other a hug to show that they cared for each other, but she had never had that impulse towards Ichigo before. The feeling that had occured when Ichigo's body had pressed against her own that she had experienced when she regained consciousness had been pleasant and had made her feel… at home. As if she was meant to be a part of Ichigo…

She shook her head and tried (in vain) to tell herself that she had been extremely confused when she regained consciousness and that what she felt was simply gratitude and relief at being herself again. But the moment she thought that, she saw Ichigo's face in front of her again. She saw that smile he had given her just before he went back to Karakura Town and his family and once again that warmth filled her.

Could it be…?

She shook her head. "Get a grip of yourself, Kuchiki! You have just been through something traumatic and are probably still in shock. You have just lost two friends and been saved from a fate worse than death. Your thoughts are out of order and so are your emotions. What you need right now is some alone time to clear your mind, and everything will be much clearer tomorrow."

Rukia nodded to herself and was just about to use her flash-step, when she noticed that her body wouldn't obey her. Instead, she walked over to the gate that would take her to the world of the living. The guards posted in front of the gate let her pass without asking any questions and she was grateful for that.

She knew that if anyone asked for her, the guards would say that she had gone to the world of the living, but since they didn't ask any questions, they couldn't answer what she would be doing there. The only people who would possibly want to know where she went were Renji and Byakuya, but they would also figure out pretty quickly that she had went there to meet Ichigo. They wouldn't find it strange, knowing that she and Ichigo were good friends. He was also their substitute Shinigami and Rukia had many times asked for his help on orders from their boss.

The moment she stepped out of the gate and found herself in Karakura Town, she couldn't help but smile. The city had become like her second home and she had made many friends here. Ishida, Chad, Orihime... People she never thought she'd bond with, much less get so close to and hold so dear.

Instead of using her flash-step and getting to her destination almost immediately, she decided to take a walk instead. She needed the extra time to collect her thoughts and think about how she would lay out her musings for Ichigo. She didn't even know what she was feeling yet! She had always felt drawn to Ichigo ever since he took her powers from her, but at first it had only been to teach him and to keep him alive. However, she had begun to enjoy being in his company the more she got to know him.

But enjoying someone's company does not automatically mean that you have fallen in love with the person in question. The fact that I enjoy being around Ichigo could simply be because he makes me feel good and because we are such close friends. It's incredibly liberating to be in someone's company where you can be yourself, where you don't have to play a role. Where you don't have to feel performance anxiety or be afraid of making a fool of yourself by doing or saying something wrong.

She looked up at the setting sun and felt its warm rays warm her tender body. She was glad she had decided to walk as she could feel her stiff muscles begin to soften and slowly begin to feel more and more like herself again. Sharing a body with two others was something she didn't want to experience again...

Before she knew it, she was outside Ichigo's house. She walked around to the back where Ichigo's room was and jumped up to his window. She peeked in to make sure Ichigo was alone before opening the window and stepping into his room.

Ichigo looked up from the book he was reading and looked surprised to see Rukia in his room. "Rukia, what are you doing here? Has something happened? Am I needed again?"

Rukia closed the window before turning to Ichigo. "It's no danger, Ichigo. Nothing has happened, at least nothing that requires your help. I came here because I want to talk."

Ichigo put the book down on his bedside table. "What do you want to talk about, Rukia?"

"About… what happened. I… still haven't quite digested everything. I still can't understand how I could forget you so easily and everything we've been through together…"

"You had your memory erased by a strong Hollow, Rukia. I don't blame you. Now that I know what happened to you, I understand that it must have been terrible…"

Rukia nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. "You have no idea... Not knowing who you are or what you've been through... Not knowing if you have a family and if anyone out there is wondering where you've gone..."

Ichigo walked over to Rukia and took her hand in his own. He led her over to the bed and made her sit down on it. He knelt before her and made her look him in the eyes. When their eyes met Ichigo could see how shaken Rukia still was and Rukia could see in Ichigo's eyes how much he suffered with her and only wanted her best.

"I'm so glad to have you back again, Rukia. If something happened to you… If I hadn't managed to save you…" Ichigo wrapped his arms around Rukia in a tight embrace, pressing her body against his own. "I don't know what I would do if I were to lose you, Rukia..."

Rukia wrapped her arms around Ichigo's shoulders and hugged him back. She let her head rest against his shoulder and closed her eyes. The feeling of being so close to Ichigo and knowing how much he cared for her made a smile form on her lips and her heart beat faster in her chest.

"Thanks again for saving me, Ichigo. You shouldn't have done that."

"Of course I had! We have a special bond, you and I. I meant every word I said in Soul Society, Rukia."

"I know. I'm starting to think you might be right, Ichigo. With you, I always feel safe and can be myself." Rukia raised her head and once again met Ichigo's gaze.

She couldn't help but notice how close they were. She found her heart beating faster and her breathing becoming more labored. Ichigo's lips were only a hair's breadth away from her own and the strong impulse to touch them shocked her. She could see in Ichigo's gaze and feel in his body language that he too was affected by their proximity.

He's also nervous... He also feels the energy between us. Does he also want to kiss me the same way I want to kiss him? Does he want to touch my body too? Rukia thought, letting her gaze wander down to Ichigo's lips. There's only one way to find out.

Before she could think and maybe regret it, she leaned forward and kissed Ichigo.

The exact moment their lips met, it was as if the whole room was filled with electricity. Rukia felt all the little hairs on her arms and neck stand up and she couldn't help but let out a gasp. Her whole body was like a taut bowstring that could break at any moment and all she wanted was to be released.

Ichigo's body stiffened beneath her and Rukia wondered if she had misunderstood the signals when she felt Ichigo's lips press back against her own. He pressed her even harder against him, as if she couldn't get close enough. As if Ichigo wasn't satisfied until he could feel every part of Rukia against him.

"Ichigo…" Rukia whispered, letting her hands wander up to his hair before she pressed his face closer to her own.

Ichigo moaned and started kissing her more hungrily. He let his tongue circle her lower lip. Rukia understood what he wanted and she opened her mouth for their tongues to meet. She shivered with pleasure and felt herself begin to warm from Ichigo's treatment. She took a firmer grip on his hair and pressed her body against Ichigo's. She could feel how hard their hearts were pounding and she knew that the emotions circulating within her were also within Ichigo.

How long has he had this inside of him without daring to tell me? As long as me, or maybe even longer?

As if Ichigo could read her mind, he broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers while breathing heavily. "Rukia… If you only knew how long I've wanted to tell you this. Tell how much I really care about you. How I can't live without you. How I miss you every time you go back to the Soul Society and can't wait until I see you next time. How much I suffer every time you are out on a new mission. How afraid I am that I will get the news that you are injured or worse, dead. How much I want to hold you and never let you go..."

Rukia felt tears of happiness forming in her eyes but she quickly blinked them away. She didn't want to ruin this beautiful moment or make Ichigo feel uncomfortable. She knew he found it hard to see her cry because all he wanted was for her to be happy and smile that wonderful smile he loved so much.

"You just showed me, Ichigo. I feel the same way about you. I didn't realize it though until earlier today after you had stabbed your sword through me and all my memories returned. As soon as I saw your face and the way you smiled at me... All I wanted in that moment was to embrace you and never let you go."

"You have no idea how happy those words make me, Rukia." Ichigo smiled and captured Rukia's lips in another kiss.

Rukia grabbed Ichigo's shirt while leaning back. Ichigo's body weight pushed her down onto the bed and the feeling of having him so close to her made Rukia sigh in contentment. She let her hands explore along Ichigo's neck, shoulders and back before wandering inside his shirt. She had seen Ichigo's bare torso before and knew what was hiding inside his shirt, but it was one thing to know and another to feel.

Ichigo flinched at her touch and pressed his body harder against her. He let his lips wander away from Rukia's down to her neck, throat and stopped at the gap between her breasts. He untied the sash around her waist so he could take off her jacket and the white shirt she wore underneath. To his surprise, Rukia wasn't wearing a bra under her shirt.

"You're beautiful, Rukia…" Ichigo whispered before letting his mouth explore Rukia's breasts.

Rukia gasped as Ichigo's tongue found her nipple but it didn't take long for her to moan. She arched her body upwards towards Ichigo's mouth and gripped his hips with her hands. She let her fingers caress along the waistband of Ichigo's pants before unbuttoning his pants. She heard Ichigo gasp as his evidence of his lust towards her was released and she let her hand wrap themselves around him.

"Oh, Ichigo... You seem really happy to finally have me under you. I can't help but wonder how many times you've laid here and fantasized about this very moment as you pleasured yourself. Is it as you imagined?"

"Much better..." Ichigo said and began to move back and forth in her hand causing him to moan in lust and pleasure.

"It pleases me. Just relax and let me take care of you."

Rukia began moving her hand back and forth in time with Ichigo's movements. Seeing how much pleasure just that little movement could give him only made Rukia's lust for him increase. All she wanted was to feel Ichigo inside her. To feel how he filled her. To feel how they finally became one…

As if Ichigo knew what she wanted he pulled off her pants and panties. He let his fingers find their way into her womb and began pumping them back and forth. Rukia threw her head back and moaned loudly at the pleasure coursing through her thanks to Ichigo's fingers. She began to move in time with the movements of his fingers while continuing to caress his cock.

"Ichigo... God... Please take me..."

Ichigo leaned forward and grabbed her bottom lip with his teeth before he began to suck on it. Rukia moaned and tried to get away, but noticed he had her in a firm grip. She felt Ichigo's free hand find its way up her leg and stop at her ass. He started caressing it while letting go of her mouth and looking into her eyes. In them, Rukia could see how much he wanted her.

"Are you sure, Rukia? If we do this, there is no going back."

"I've never been so sure of anything in my entire life."

Nothing more was needed for Ichigo to get her ready. He pulled his fingers out of her before stripping off his clothes and positioning his cock in front of her wet womb. "Here I come, Rukia..."

Rukia spread her legs to give Ichigo full access to her and the moment he sank into her she knew she had made the right decision. She felt as if this was not the first time they had become one, but as if they were meant to be a part of each other. As if they had been separated for a long time and had finally been reunited.

"Rukia..." Ichigo whispered and slowly began to move in and out of her.

"Ichigo… Mm…"

Rukia followed Ichigo's movements and it wasn't long before the pace increased and became more intense. Rukia wrapped her legs around Ichigo's back and pressed her body against him tightly. She felt like she couldn't get close enough. She wanted to feel Ichigo's entire body against hers and not leave the smallest flap of skin bare.

They didn't know how long they clung to each other, but after what felt like hours, both Shinigamis felt themselves begin to approach the end of their love-making. They clung to each other as they began to move harder and faster against each other. Their bodies shook with the pleasure they were giving each other and as they both climaxed they screamed out each other's names.

"Rukia!"

"Ichigo!"

Both shook off the aftermath of their orgasms and felt the adrenaline that had filled them slowly begin to fade. They panted laboredly and looked into each other's eyes before they both smiled. Their lips met in a tender kiss before they embraced each other and sank down among the sheets of Ichigo's bed. It wasn't long before they both drifted off into the land of sleep, holding the other in each other's arms...