Take The Ring, I Mean Chocolate

“So...White Day is coming up.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you...you know?”

“Am I what?”

“Giving Rukia chocolate...down on one knee?”

A month had almost passed by. A month! And people were STILL talking about Valentine's Day! If it wasn't about Rukia 'proposing' with chocolate...it was about Ichigo fainting suddenly afterwards. How someone managed to peek at that private moment and even take a picture without either of them noticing was a mystery. But because of it...it became the bane of their existence.

The orangette glared up at Renji, showing clearly he was not in the mood for the conversation. He broke the glare to go back to his paperwork. He had to get this crap done. But Shinigami paperwork...it was worse than high school homework! More boring...more tedious. He really felt for Rukia...since she was the captain of their squad after all. He heard his tattooed friend sigh before sitting next to him and patting his head. An eye twitching was not exactly the best sign...

“Listen...I'll make you a deal. I won't talk about Valentine's ever again and help you with your paperwork...” Renji started before smirking. “If you tell me what you plan to do with Rukia on White Day.”

Ichigo threw another glare, hoping it would chase away his fellow lieutenant. Sadly, it did absolutely nothing. As he stared back down on his paperwork...Renji's proposition didn't sound too half bad. Get help with paperwork as well as one less person harassing him and Rukia about what happened Valentine's Day in exchange for spilling what he had planned for White Day wasn't too bad of a bargain. With a deep sigh, Ichigo moved his entire body, which was sitting on the floor, to face his buddy. A serious expression was planted there – hoping to convey what he was about to say wasn't to be taken lightly.

“If I tell you...you keep it to yourself. One hundred percent. Got it?”

“What? You think I'm gonna run a rumor mill or something?”

“I mean it, Renji. If Rukia finds out before -”

“Take a pill. I got it. I won't utter a word.”

The teen situated himself, feeling his ears starting to burn. “I'm going to my family's place, after I get the all clear from Kyōraku-san, and make her some rabbit shaped chocolate. Yuzu already bought some mold for it. And they'll be in an Easter basket since she's obsessed with the damn thing.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“I'm also getting her an Usa-chan plush. Paid Karin to find one and order it. Said it should be there.”

“A what?”

“It's from an anime she's become obsessed with. Sometimes I wish the Soul Society didn't suddenly develop tech the World of the Living has.”

“You gonna watch that anime thing with her then, too?”

“If she has it her way...”

“Bet she will. You're pretty whipped.”

Ichigo swatted Renji in the back of the head, scowling deeply before dropping this bombshell: “I'm also proposing to her.”

For a moment, judging by the look on Renji's face, the tattooed man thought it was a joke. But after a while of reading Ichigo's face...his expression softened to faint shock.

“You're...serious?”

“Why wouldn't I be?”

“I...uh...h-have you asked the captain?! Y-you better get his blessing! Remember when he thought you were engaged last time?!”

The teen shuddered at the thought. When Rukia had announced their engagement, Byakuya nearly slaughtered him with Bankai. Was fun explaining that the whole thing was a misunderstanding and they weren't really engaged. Which snowballed into Rukia being fairly irritated with him until he promised her that one day they would be engaged. It lessened her irritated blow...which didn't fully end until he asked her to move into his place with him. And again...Byakuya nearly went Bankai on him. The only reason why the noble didn't was Rukia begging him to not kill the man she loved and hoped to marry. Ichigo had never seen her brother look so defeated and raging pissed in his life...

“You help me finish with this stupid paperwork and I will go grab it.” promised the younger lieutenant.

Renji smirked, patting his back. “You got it, Ichigo.”




Well this was a surprise. What was Ichigo doing here in the Squad 6 barracks? And without much announcement...wait...no that was normal. The teen honestly needed to learn about manners. Byakuya peeked up at him from his paperwork, not amused that he was interrupted. Must be important. Why else would the young man stand there in front of his desk with a deeply serious scowl, proud posture, and determination blazing in his eyes? Annoyed yet intrigued, Byakuya set down his pen and gave Ichigo his full attention.

“You do know how to knock, don't you?” he asked coolly.

Ichigo visibly flinched, a flicker of how flustered he truly was showing. “I...yeah...sorry. Forgot.”

“Obviously.” He held a hand towards an extra chair in the room. “Take a seat.”

“A-actually...standing is good.”

Byakuya raised his brow. Strange...why wouldn't he sit? Was it because it wasn't the manor? No matter. Might as well find out what he was here for. The noble organized his stack of papers before putting them aside. “Now...” He interlocked his fingers, looking regal as he did so. “To what do I owe this visitation?”

“R-right.” Ichigo cleared his throat, gathering his bearings back surprisingly fast. “White Day is in a few days.”

“I am well aware of this.”

“So...I'm giving your sister some gifts.”

“As expected.”

“I'll be making her chocolates in the shape of rabbits as well as getting her a rabbit plush.”

Again, Byakuya's brow rose. He quickly cleared his throat and resumed his stoic expression before the teen noticed. “I see. I'm sure Rukia will enjoy that dearly.”

“Also...I...have one more thing...”

Before he could ask what this one more thing was...he was startled to find Ichigo in the deepest bow he had ever seen the orangette in. Slate eyes studied the bow with curiosity, unsure what to make of it. Once more, before he could ask anything, Ichigo surprised him.

“I want to ask your sister to marry me...”

The words hit him like a ton of bricks being dropped onto his chest. Marriage? They had only been together for almost a month! How could he...

A light chuckle left the captain. Of course. He had always seen it. Had seen what the youth would go through for Rukia...what the youth had gone through for Rukia. If fighting off the entire Seireitei in order to free her from her execution didn't prove it enough...anything he did after sure helped his cause. The love was far different in the way it was showed than the way he had shown Hisana he loved her...but he knew love when he saw it.

Byakuya stood, clearing his throat for a second time, and held the posture he was told to carry from a young age. “On your feet.”

Ichigo wasted no time in doing just that. He hurried to stand, staring back at the captain with unwavering determination. It was a stare that said 'even if you say no...I'm going to marry her'. It caused Byakuya to chuckle again, and make Ichigo furrow his brows in confusion. The moment was short last. Byakuya quickly resumed the stoic...and gave the teen a cold, hard stare back.

“You do realize that marriage is not a game, correct?”

“I do.”

“And if you do not make Rukia happy...I will come after you...do you understand?”

“I do. But I plan on making her happy...whatever it takes.”

“Hmmm...” He nodded curtly. “Very well. You have my blessing.”

The look given by the young man was...amazing. His ambers lit up, his face following close behind. It was as if he was given the entire world just now. In a sense...guess that was true. Ichigo bowed again respectively, straightening himself within seconds and with a wide smile plastered across his mouth.

“Thanks, Byakuya! You won't regret it! I promise to make Rukia happy!”

The sincerity in his voice didn't make Byakuya question his words. “I believe you.”

Ichigo bowed again, that smile still there when he got back up. “I gotta go talk to Kyōraku-san! Kinda can't do jack without that go ahead!”

And with that, he bolted from the office, a spring to his step. Byakuya sighed, slowly sitting back in his chair. He interlocked his fingers, resting his forehead atop them. A gentle smile graced his lips, hidden from anyone that should happen to walk in.

I don't doubt Rukia's happiness. You already have given her much of it in such a short time. She's in good hands, isn't she...right, Hisana?




White Day was a few days away. It shouldn't come as any surprise that a lot of store made or make your own kits for chocolates were selling like they were the new fad. Even the bakery was filled with people wanting special requested treats. Of course mostly men. Lines filled the streets at the vendors selling over priced chocolates and kits to make your own chocolates. It was a madhouse just about everywhere.

Good thing I bought my chocolates early!

Orihime hummed happily as she headed home, just finishing her shift at the bakery. Today she was going to start making her chocolates that she handed out to her friends. She did this for both Valentine's and White Day. Was just too much fun to not do it! So, despite a surprisingly rough shift at the bakery that day, the simple idea of being able to make her chocolates made everything better. She was even going to make chocolates for her friends in the Soul Society!

I should probably call Kuchiki-san and ask what kinds of chocolates her and Kurosaki-kun like before I start on theirs. They do live together after all...

Speaking of Ichigo...as she was walking down the street that was a block away from her apartment...she saw a familiar face. She stopped progressing forward, blinking as she tried to register what she was seeing. Ichigo was there...at a booth for a street vendor, looking rather excited. He hadn't been to the World of the Living since before the war with the Quincies. Head Captain Kyōraku had mentioned it would be more difficult to allow Ichigo to come to the World of the Living because his Reiatsu was immense. Maybe Kisuke had developed a gigai strong enough to contain Ichigo's Reiatsu as well as the Soul Society creating a strong enough seal.

She almost called out to him when she registered that it was him she was seeing. But...she noticed something about the vendor he was talking to...

Why is Kurosaki-kun looking at rings?




Strange...Ichigo isn't home...

Rukia kicked off her shoes, sliding the door behind her. He had said he wanted to finish some paperwork and go home early...but he wasn't there. Usually if he had come home early...he was passed out on the couch, looking incredibly peaceful. Sometimes he was cleaning or cooking. Huh...maybe he wanted to have a guy's night or something? He really hadn't had many of those lately. Actually...he never really ever had them in the first place. Whatever the reason for him not being home, the ravnette wasn't going to bother worrying about it. She trusted him. The fool wouldn't go off and do something too stupid without her finding out about it one way or another. Just how things played out.

She sighed, slowly removing her haori as she wandered to the bedroom. Maybe it'll be nice to have the house to herself. She could blast some music and dance around as she cleaned without Ichigo interrupting her. Not that she minded when he interrupted. On the contrary, she found it to be...cute. Usually he would just stare and chuckle at her before shaking his head and leaving. There were times where he would join her, taking her hands and awkwardly dancing which would make her laugh till her sides hurt.

Sighing a second time, the ravenette stripped herself of her uniform, rummaging through the drawers until she found what she wanted to wear. Since Ichigo wasn't home, she could wear what she wanted. He wouldn't freak out that she wasn't wearing proper clothing for her legs nor that she was wearing one of his old shirts he managed to bring over from his old world. Wouldn't blush wildly and protest with her about her clothing choices. Wouldn't squeak as he tried to make a point. Wouldn't flail around when she would tease him about caring about someone seeing...

On second thought...I wish he was home...

It was starting to dawn on her as she slid on the women's boxers she had Orihime smuggle over to her that she never realized how lonely it was to have the house to herself. It wasn't as large as Kuchiki manor thankfully...but...it still felt large and ten times more empty than it should. She felt...surprised...that she felt this way. Then again, she was so used to either walking home with him or having him home already. Her chest began to sting and ache. She scoffed at herself rather quickly, feeling ridiculous for being lonely. And if she told Ichigo...he'd likely tell her she was ridiculous. Or would he say that? Would he say he felt lonely not being home with her? Say that he would rather be home to argue with her about wearing boxers so short that when she draped his shirt over her body that it looked like she was likely not wearing anything underneath? How he would rather bicker until he finally scooped her up, go to their room, sit her on their bed, continue to bicker until -

“STOP!” Rukia smacked her cheeks hard, glowering at her behavior. “What is the matter with me? This is ridiculous...absolutely foolish of me to think like this!” She heaved a huffing sigh, her leg twitching with the need to rise and stomp the floor. Her cheeks flushed and she shook her head. “Fine. I'll call him. That might fix this stroke of idiocy...”

She plopped down on the bed, still irked with herself. Just a short call should fix this. Find out where he was, when he would come home, if he was going to be eating with her tonight – that's it. A simple remedy! She leaned over, rummaging through her haori for her Soul Pager. Once finding it, she quickly dialed his number. Hopefully he would have his on him. That fool had a bad habit of forgetting it in the most inconvenient times...

“Rukia?”

Her heart leapt into her chest when she heard his voice. That was unexpected. Especially for how long she listened to the dial tone. Why would he have it on his person but take so long...?

“Something wrong?”

A squeak froze in her throat. She hurried to straighten herself out, despite him not being able to see her. She cleared her throat to further her little act. “Oh please. You think something wrong has to be happening for me to call you?”

“Er...no...guess not. Uh...what's up? Need something?”

“Yes! I have a series of questions to ask of you!”

A sigh. “What questions do you have for me, Captain Kuchiki?”

There was a sudden chill that danced against her spine. She brushed it off in a hurry, needing to keep up her farce persona. “First...where are you?”

“Che, why? Ya miss me?”

Everything within her buzzed and screamed at those words. It was as if she was betraying herself without meaning to. Her face burned up and she knew she was in trouble now. Still...she would try to convince himself otherwise. “N-no! Of course not! Wh-why would I miss you, you utter idiot?!” Her throat tightened and she began to quiver.   What is the matter with me? Why am I reacting like this?   Finally, she hung her head in defeat, exhaling with the same air. “Yeah...I miss you...”

There was silence. It worried her deeply. Why was he silent? Why wasn't he saying anything?! Annoyed, she opened her mouth to demand answers to these questions...but she stopped herself. She heard shuffling on his end...and held her breath...waiting for him...

“I miss you, too.”

“You...you do?”

“Yeah...to be honest...I kinda feel home sick.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” He let out a soft chuckle as more shuffling was heard. “I'm trying to get these errands done so I can come home. I was hoping to be back before you got out...but I got held up. Sorry about that.”

Errands? That's strange...he usually likes to do those with me...   “Tsk...don't apologize, you fool. As long as you come home in time for dinner, I am perfectly fine with you being held up with errands. I decided to be in the mood for curry tonight.”

Once again...silence. Rukia furrowed her brow, confused as to why this would silence him. Ichigo loved her curry...or at least loved curry period.

“God I love you...” he finally whispered, as if relieved to blurt that out.

Her attention perked. He usually didn't talk like that. At least not when he wasn't at home with her being intimate. She blinked in confusion, trying to figure out why her mentioning curry would create such a response.

“Just make sure Squad 11 doesn't catch wind of this. We'll never get a bite in if they do!” Ichigo's voice snickered, disrupting her thoughts.

She rolled her eyes, scoffing at the comment. “Oh please. You're exaggerating.”

“Like hell I am! They love your curry almost as much as I do! Maybe even more!”

Again, she rolled her eyes. “You're giving me too much credit.”

“Am not!”

She giggled, shaking her head. She could see him making that attempted scowl in her mind's eye, and it didn't help with the giggling. Ichigo scoffed on his end, grumbling about how whatever it was that she thought was funny wasn't actually funny. He heaved an exasperated sigh, more muttering following after that she couldn't discern.

“I gotta go. Faster I get these errands done, the faster I can come home.”

“R-right. I'll see you when I see you.”

“Yeah...”

No need to sound annoyed...   “I -”

“I know. I love you, too.”

“Che...haven't you been told it's rude to cut someone off when they are confessing their love?”

“You confess it. A lot. I do, too. A lot. Everyday. Especially at night.”

“ICHIGO!”

“Gotta go! Bye!”

Before she could say anything else, he ended the call. She scoffed, ending the call on her end and burying her reddened face in her hands. When did he have the gall to say such things?! Sure, he would say something like that at home and easily be countered...but he never spoke like that away from home! Something was going on...

But what? Hmmm...

The petite woman rose to her feet, groaning slightly. What was she going to do with that man? Such an insufferable fool. At least he had his charms that countered it. Even then...it wouldn't have changed her mind with any choices she had made with him. Well...minus the Valentine's incident. People were still pestering and teasing over that. One would think that after having their limbs frozen over countless times they would drop it...

RIIIIIIIIIIIIING RIIIIIIIIIIING!

“Ack!”

She nearly threw the Soul Pager from her hand, startled that it was going off. Gathering her bearings, she held the Pager to her face to read who it was that frightened her from her skin.

“Huh? Inoue?” Hurriedly, she answered and pressed the speaker to her ear. “Inoue? Is something wrong? You usually don't call...”

“Oh no no!” the bubbly girl answered, completely flustered. “I was just taking a break from making chocolates for everyone when I realized that I hadn't called you yet, and I don't know what kind of chocolates you and Kurosaki-kun like!”

“Oh...you really don't have to make us any...”

“But I want to! It's no problem! Really!”

Rukia shifted, adjusting her partner's shirt. “Okay...well...Ichigo likes any chocolate, really. He's addicted to the stuff, I swear. Minus coconut and almonds. He's not the biggest fan of those. Oh! And raspberry. And blueberry. Those make his face do all sorts of weird contortments.”

“Okay...” she muttered, the sounds of scratching, likely from a pen or pencil, coming from her end.

“You'd be better off doing either chocolate filled with more chocolate, plain chocolate, or chocolate full of peanut butter.”

“Oooookay!” Orihime paused to keep writing before she continued the conversation. “What about you, Kuchiki-san?”

“Um...well...just plain chocolate is fine.”

“Plain it is!” Again, she paused to write it all down before speakign again. “Oh! Kuchiki-san...do you know why Kurosaki-kun would be in the World of the Living looking at rings?”

Rukia tensed, violets going wide. “N-no. I don't.”

“Huh...maybe he's doing one of those rings on a necklace thing...”

“Rings on a necklace?”

“Mhm! It was popular back in the old days more. But boys would buy rings and put them on necklace chains to give to their girlfriends to show that the girl was taken! It was cute, in my opinion. Maybe he was doing that? I know when you two get the clear to come visit, you have a lot of guys trying to flirt with you lately. Maybe Kurosaki-kun is getting jealous?”

That was quite the thought...but it wasn't far stretch from the truth. They had only been given clearance to go to the World of the Living twice, both something to do with his sisters, and both times boys tried to flirt with her. She had to restrain him in all sorts of creative ways or else those boys wouldn't have seen the light of another day. Then afterwards, he had to have her on his lap or arms around her to show people that they belonged together...all the while he was scowling or pouting with a blush. Would make sense that he would go off and do something old fashioned that people still knew about to ward them off. And that got her thinking...when they had gone, girls had ogled over him and tried flirting with him, too. Luckily, he was so oblivious to it and too focused on her and whatever program his sisters were doing that he brushed them off and didn't give them the time of day. But she noticed and it irked her to the high heavens. She actually Kidō-ed one of them...

“Inoue...are you busy right now?”

“No, not really. I'm thinking of continuing the chocolates tomorrow. I have so many to make!”

“So...you would be willing to help me out with some shopping?”

“Sure! What are we buying?”

“A ring necklace.”




White Day had finally arrived. Ichigo's palms were sweaty at the thought that he was going to propose today. Actually propose. With a ring. Not chocolate.

While Rukia had gone in early to her office to look over the scores from upcoming graduates of the Academy, he had searched their home for hidden cameras and fortunately found none. Unless they were good at hiding them. Which, if that was the case, they were screwed. But feeling good about it being camera free, he gathered up the chocolates, basket, and Usa-chan plushie his sisters had brought over and set them on the coffee table. He wanted that to be the first thing she saw after they came home. He took careful care in how he set it all up, making sure that the basket was all nice and cute with the chocolate rabbits lined up on the purple Easter grass (thank the gods there was some since Easter was coming up) and Usa-chan sitting beside the basket as if he were holding it. Once it looked perfect, Ichigo threw on his lieutenant badge and hurried off to the barracks.

After arriving, he b-lined it to Rukia's office, having a small box of chocolates in his hand. Why not make her think one thing and then see her face light up once they got home to see there was more? It was Karin's idea. And if this all worked out...he would buy her that expensive soccer jersey she wanted. He was stopped a few times heading towards his goal, just squad members telling him good morning and pestering about if he had gotten the captain something for White Day. Finally arriving to his destination, he slid into the office quietly, glad that Rukia was too intensely focused on the pile of papers she had to read to notice him come in. So when he reached her desk, cupped her face in his one hand, and pulled her in for a chaste kiss...her surprised face was a perfect reward. Especially because he never did things like this. Ever.

“I-Ichigo?! What are you -”

“Happy White Day!”

He held out the small box, grinning ear to ear. She blinked, taking the box with suspicion. When she opened it to see the heart shaped chocolates, that was again Karin's idea, she looked almost confused. It was as if she was expecting something else. Then, she chuckled and rose from her seat. Next thing he knew, she was on her desk and pulling him back in for a more proper kiss. His face flushed almost neon red – heart pounding and likely to explode at any second. She knew this. Oh boy did she know. Because she chuckled and pulled away, patting his cheeks with cooled hands.

“Did you make these?”

“N-no. Yuzu did.”

That wasn't a lie. Ichigo had Yuzu make this batch of chocolates while he made the rabbit ones. And, although Yuzu's chocolates were pretty good...the ones they saved on the side to taste test from Ichigo's batch were surprisingly better than most of the store bought ones. Who knew he could make damn good chocolate? Not him.

“Awwwwww! Were you struggling to make them?” Rukia teased, popping one into her mouth.

Ichigo dipped his head, hoping he was convincing in his acting this time around. “Y-yeah.”

The tiny captain giggled, chewing on the chocolate in her mouth. “Remind me to tell Yuzu thank you. These are pretty good.”

Wait till you taste mine!   “Sure.”

She smiled softly, embracing him in a tight hug. “Thank you. This was really sweet of you.”

“Che! You make it sound like I don't have my moments!”

“You really don't.”

“Oi!”

She pushed him away playfully, smirking like she always did. He scowled at her, not too thrilled about her comment. But the scowl didn't stay long. Next thing he knew...Rukia had shoved this chain in his face. He blinked, confused as to what it was. That is until he saw the ring on it. It was black with silver lining, inside, and sun-like designing with a stone in the middle. Ichigo tilted his head to the side, his brows furrowed and eyes studying the ring and chain like it was foreign.

“Um...” he started.

“It's a ring necklace!” she chirped, sounding proud of herself.

“A what?”

“A ring necklace!” Her face faltered, as if he had ruined something for her. “You know...something you give your significant other so everyone knows that they are taken?”

Ichigo blushed, feeling stupid for not knowing this bit of info. “O-oh! A ring necklace! Cool! So...why do you have one?”

“It's for you, fool!”

“Eh?”

She sighed, throwing it over his head and situating it to her liking on his neck. “There. It looks good on you.”

He blinked, eyes narrowing in slight disappointment. “You know...White Day is for guys to give chocolates and gifts to the girls they like...”

“I tried to propose to you with chocolate on Valentine's Day. World of the Living customs aren't exactly done correctly by me.”

“That's true...” He ran the ring through his fingers, wondering what possessed her to do this. “Thanks. It looks really nice.”

Rukia beamed, her face glowing. He chuckled, tousling her hair and shrugging. She always looked like a little kid whenever she did small things like this. It was cute. Really cute. Ichigo pulled up the spare chair in the office, setting it right next to hers.

“Off the desk. Got papers to read.” he hummed.

“Oh? You telling me to do my work?” she cooed teasingly, sliding off her desk nonetheless. “Strange coming from someone who despises paperwork.”

“Tch...shut up...”




It felt weird. Rukia had given Ichigo her ring necklace...but he hadn't given her one. Maybe Orihime was wrong? Maybe Ichigo was just browsing for some odd reason at a vendor of rings? She didn't know...but she could say she was secretly disappointed. She wanted a ring necklace from him. Thought it would've been silly but adorable for him to do it. She even had imagined how he would give it to her. Sadly...none of it happened.

What made it better, though, was how he seemed to be fixated on the ring necklace she had given him. She kept catching him running his fingers across it with studying ambers. He even slipped it on his fingers a few times, trying to find which one could fit it. She chuckled at his innocent behavior, teasing him here and there about it. Of course when he realized that she had noticed him doing this, he would go red and bark at her to quit staring. More teasings would commence until his voice rose to mousy squeaks. Once the squeaking reached that point...she would make it worse by kissing his cheek. That was when he would literally shriek, demanding to know what she was plotting and why she had done that.

“Hmmm...I wonder...” was all she would say.

“You're frickin' weird...” was his reply to that.

Shortly after that, they would resume their readings of the scores before the cycle began all over. Sometimes they would take a break to munch on chocolates together. The batch Ichigo had brought from Yuzu went out fast, making them eternally grateful for when Orihime dropped in with her batch. They were surprised how normal they were and how amazing they tasted. Both of them sent the bubbly teen a message to go into a chocolate business because her chocolates were so good.

Finally, it was time to head home. Neither of them got any proper paperwork done. Between their endless routine when Rukia decided to tease her partner over the fiddling of his ring and chocolate eating, they ended up taking a long nap on the couch Ichigo convinced the captain to purchase. When the nap had ended, unfortunately rudely by Kiyone teasing them to hell and back, they locked themselves in the office and shared a moment of spontaneous intimacy. It was then when they decided that maybe they should go home since they clearly weren't in the mood to get anything done.

“Your hair is sticking up...” Ichigo muttered.

“And who's fault is that?” Rukia huffed, hurriedly trying to fix it so no one would see.

“Yours for having such soft hair.”

“Y-you can't just blame me for having nice hair! You n-need to control your urges!”

“Says the one who started it.”

“Hmph. I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Again, says the one who intentionally nipped at my ear.”

“It makes you squeak. It's funny.”

“No it isn't!”

“You're getting red.”

“S-so?! You're making all these...you know...”

“Remarkable comments that speak truth to your well-being?”

“None of it is about my well-being!”

“Hmmm...”

“Don't 'hmmm' me!”

“I believe I just did. Hmmmm. Oops. Did it again.”

“Tsk...you're a royal pain in my ass.”

“If I'm such a pain...why do you love me?”

Silence. Intense silence. Rukia smiled smugly. Ah yes...the sign that she had won this round. She would never allow him to live down this round's triumph.

“Because you're kind, talented, beautiful, highly intelligent, get excited about stupid stuff, tease me, cute when teased...”

The ravenette halted in place. Was he...was he listing off his reasons? He never did that. Ichigo was...he wasn't the best in expressing himself. And when he did, he usually brushed it off with his 'whatever' persona. But he wasn't...not this time...

“You have a weird obsession with rabbits and cute animals that's annoying but goofy, your nose wrinkles when we're alone, you squeak when I tickle you...”

She held her breath, feeling her lungs constrict under the intense beating of her heart. Which shouldn't happen. She wasn't in a gigai. But he sure was making her feel like she was...

“You kick my ass into shape when I'm being stupid, you know exactly what to say to rile me up, you're stronger than anyone I've every known...”

Why were there tears welling up in her eyes? How stupid...  She wiped at her eyes, finally turning around to face him to scold him for being so sentimental. But her words dropped into her stomach. What...what was he doing? Why was he down on one knee? Her head began to buzz and the gears creaked to a stop. Ichigo's cheeks were a tint of pink and his ambers were blazing with that inhuman determination of his. He let out a shaky exhale, his hand reaching into his pocket.

“I've been connected to you since we first met. Maybe even before that. But...I...I kinda wanna keep being connected to you. Actually...I NEED to keep being connected to you. I need you, Rukia. And I need you because I...” He swallowed, his voice now starting to quiver. “Because I love you.” A small, genuine, glowing smile emerged. “I love you. I know I teased you about how we always say that...but...it's usually not verbal. And if it is...it's...it's when we're being intimate. But I want to say it more...more out loud. Hell...I'd scream it to the heavens if that made you smile. Your smile...it was one of the reasons I saved you in the first place. You deserve to smile. It's...god..it's like the moon and stars...”

“Ichigo...?”

He cleared his throat, pulling a tiny box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing a silver ring with crescent moons and a stone that looked like a dark and stormy sky. Rukia couldn't suppress the gasp that came from her throat. It clicked. It all clicked. She covered her mouth, hiding the hideous choking sounds she was making from forcing back the tears threatening to pour. His small smile grew, radiating like the sun.

“Rukia...will you...um...will you marry me?”

The softness of those words, the almost pitiful way it sounded...it broke her resolve. She burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms. Luckily he caught her, despite how surprised he was by her reaction. She sobbed into his neck, not caring if anyone saw. This idiot...this utter fool! How dare he do this to her! How dare he...but...thank god he did...

“R-Rukia? You okay? Did I say something wrong?”

She laughed weakly, shaking her head. “Heh...you fool...you said everything right...”

“Th-then why are y-you crying?”

“Because I'm happy.” She pulled away, wiping at her eyes. She sniffled before staring into his bewildered stare. “Yes. The answer is yes.”

He perked, his face re-lighting. He grinned like some kind of moron – chuckled like one, too. He took her hand, slipping the ring on her finger. Again, she started to sob. How long had this idiot been planning this? Probably after he found out that she loved him like he did her. Or last minute. Last minute wouldn't surprise her. But whenever he did plan this and for however long didn't matter. That ring mattered. It meant that she was his...all his...

He sighed, running his thumb carefully across her cheeks. “Quit crying. You're giving me a heart attack over here.”

She scoffed, swatting his head. “There! Better?!”

“Actually...yeah...” He continued to grin, tapping their noses together. “That's the you I know and love.”

Her face scrunched up, her nose wrinkling like he had mentioned. “You're such a fool...”

“I know.”

“But you're my fool.” She tugged slyly at the necklace around his neck. “This says so.”

He flushed, attempting to scowl but made a childish pout instead. “Che. I know.” His eyes rolled as he helped them both up. “Let's go home. There's something waiting for you there.”

“There's more?!”

“Yeah?”

The captain squealed, high tailing it the rest of the way home. For once, she bested her lieutenant in speed. He kept calling out to her, pleading with her to slow down. Of course she didn't listen. She wanted to see what else he had planned for her! This was better than Christmas!

She burst through the door, eyes wide with excitement. There, on the coffee table, was a basket full of purple plastic grass and rabbit shaped chocolates, and an Usa-chan plushie. She shrieked her giggles and dive bombed that basket and plush. By the time Ichigo made it into the house, she was squeezing and nuzzling and cooing at the plush on the couch. The orangette rolled his eyes, closing the door behind him.

“Shoes are still on.”

“I don't care! I care about this!” She held out Usa-chan, violets seemingly sparkling with glee. “You bought me Usa-chan!”

“Actually...I paid Karin to buy it.”

“So?! You still technically bought it!”

He shrugged. “I suppose.”

“Hmph! Quit being so humble!” She reached into the basket, snatching up a piece of rabbit chocolate. She popped it into her mouth and immediately straightened her posture. “This...this is the best chocolate I've ever tasted!”

The teen chuckled, smirking crookedly as he sat beside the basket. “Better than Inoue's?”

“Yes! They melt into my mouth and...and...it tastes like heaven! No wonder you love chocolate! If they're like this all the time...” She did this little shivering dance to show how much she did love this piece of sweet. “Who made it? Yuzu? Karin?”

“I did.”

Her jaw dropped. “You...you made these?”

He nodded. “Surprised?”

“Y-yes! They're amazing, Ichigo!” Now it was her turn to smirk. “Maybe you should quit your job and go into chocolateering.”

“Pft! Like hell! I'm enjoying my job too much!”

“Despite the paperwork?”

“Despite the paperwork.”

Rukia snorted, popping another chocolate into her mouth. This man...so full of surprises as usual. She hummed with content as the chocolate melted, and she leaned into the couch. Ichigo picked up the basket, setting it back onto the coffee table, and scooted closer to her. She smiled up lovingly at him, feeling his warmth already tickling her cool skin. He connected their foreheads, closing his eyes and grinning with the same amount of love.

“Happy White Day, Rukia.”

She rolled her eyes, gently nudging her fiance away. “Happy White Day to you, too, Ichigo.”