27. Mistletoe

Rukia had just walked into the living room and curiously watched as the Kurosaki’s busied themselves with colorful decorations. Then she walked over to the dining table which had ornaments scattered on it and casually picked up what looked like some kind of foreign fruit.

She lifted it in the air for everyone to see and slightly shook it. “What kind of fruit is this, Ichigo? Are you supposed to eat this during the winter?” Her expression was that of a curious child.

Yuzu shrieked “No! It’s poisonous!”her eyes widened and Karin shot her older brother a hasty look. Ichigo rushed over to Rukia’s side and snatched the Christmas decoration from her hand before she could put it into her mouth.

He started to mumble under his breath and then raised it above their heads. “Stupid—You’re supposed to hang it up like this and—” At that moment, he felt warm lips on his—before he knew it, it was over—and he was staring into a smug grin on Rukia’s face.

“Idiot, did you actually think I wouldn’t know about Earth’s Christmas traditions? I read it in a book a long time ago!” Her arms were folded over her chest as she smiled proudly. Then, her cheeks tinted into a lovely shade of red. “Merry Christmas, Ichigo.”

“Merry Christmas.” Ichigo was just as red.

Happy IchiRuki International Hentai day!

and also a happy birthday to me. All the IchiRuki on my dash is the PERFECT gift. I love them so much ;__;

022. Nobody

Orihime took one look at Ichigo—the Ichigo that she had gotten closer to since he gained his powers, and she suddenly recognized the changes in him. The Ichigo she saw now looked like he wasn’t carrying a burden on his shoulders anymore. His perseverance was astounding and his will burned more strongly than ever.

Then her gaze shifted to Rukia, who was occupied with another drawing that she was most likely going to have to explain to Ichigo after she was finished and Orihime smiled. She saw the corners of Ichigo’s lips upturn slightly as Rukia hastily reached for another colored marker and it suddenly dawned on her.

The Ichigo she saw now was the result of having Rukia in his life; no one else could have changed his world.  

021. Close

Ichigo sometimes forgot that sliding the closet door would open up to Rukia’s “room.”

One morning, while preparing for school, Ichigo had opened his closet to a petite, dark-haired woman who had only her underwear on and was having much difficulty hooking her bra together.

Without her noticing, he mumbled something about “taking a wrong turn in Albuquerque” and hastily slid the door shut as loudly as he could, hoping that the sound was enough to knock the image out of his head in time before school.

He refused to go to school with flushed cheeks. 

019. Angel

Angel Ichigo had once thought a classic angel had long blonde hair, vibrantly colored blue eyes, a long white dress and pretty looking wings.   After meeting Rukia, he changed his mind. Rukia didn’t have waist-length, blonde hair, or the blue eyes, or the white dress. She constantly smacked him up and said not-so-friendly things to him—and she also may have been the nicest person he had ever met.  She was the person who brought him out of despair and the one person who changed his world. She may not look like a classic angel, but she flew like one.  

020. Power

When he was prompted about his reasons for fighting he’d say “to protect my friends and family,” but when his strength was questioned, he refused to answer. He’ll never admit that he garnered strength from the woman who cleared his world of the rain. 

017. Fear

During his time with Ichigo, Kon had grown immensely curious.  He had always wondered what the bad-tempered substitute-shinigami was afraid of.

Of course, Kon knew that there must be at least one thing Ichigo feared—he was probably afraid of many things—maybe Ichigo had a natural talent for hiding his true feelings. Kon really wanted to see his frightened face.

Then one night, after Rukia had left behind a goodbye note, Kon suggested that she might have already been killed. Ichigo silenced him before he could finish his sentence, however. With his face turned away from the mod soul, Ichigo calmly told him not to jump to any conclusions.

It was at that moment that Kon realized how terrified Ichigo was. 

016. Laugh

Sometimes, it sounded fake—when she laughed in a higher pitched voice. Other times, it sounded half-hearted—and Ichigo knew that she must be upset. When she tried to keep secrets from Ichigo, she’d try to stifle a laugh—and Ichigo would become slightly annoyed.

And when he’d purposely joke around while the two walked home together, she’d genuinely laugh—a low, raspy chuckle and the most loveliest gurgles of laughter he’s ever heard—and he’d remain quiet just to listen to such a harmonious sound.