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“So, what prompted this?” Rukia questioned Renji, a gentle smile on her face. The two were walking on a beach, the sun setting behind them. Although the two were both busy people, being lieutenants for their respective captains, (Byakuya and Ukitake) they had made a pact to meet each other once a week, rain or shine. They worked with a perfect harmony: Renji balanced out Rukia’s craziness, and Rukia greatly improved Renji’s mood and spirit. Not perfect, certainly, but they had a deep connection and understood each other well.
“Well, I thought it would be nice to see your face, and the weather is lovely,” Renji replied, poking her in the arm.
“Hey!” Rukia protested, bopping him on the nose. “Don’t poke me!”
“Sorry, sorry,” Renji said, grinning. After a while, Rukia smiled back at him.
The two walked in silence, the peaceful sound of the waves acting as a background melody. It was quiet, but the silence didn’t feel awkward, only comfortable. It was so perfectly relaxed.
Rukia glanced at the red-head. He was staring out at the water, looking at the sun. She noticed his face. Contrary to every other beach walk they had taken, Renji looked almost apprehensive.
Rukia laid her head on Renji’s arm. He was way taller than her, so she had learned to get used to wearing heels and the feeling of his warm arm. It had felt weird at first, lying her head against his arm, but now it was second nature.
The sky was getting darker, now that the sun was setting. Rukia closed her eyes and smiled. She loved the peaceful days like this, and treasured every moment.
“Rukia?” She opened her eyes. In front of her was a bench, a wood one. “You wanna sit down?”
Rukia grinned. Man, Renji was such a sap. His favorite thing was getting flowers, or eating a picnic together, or just talking for hours upon hours. The short girl sat on the bench, Renji sitting next to her.
“…Rukia.”
“Yeah?”
“I, um…”
“Yeah, Renji?”
Renji took a deep breath and turned to her, facing her. He looked her in the eyes.
“Rukia. You know, ever since we were young, I had just a small crush on you. You’ve always been amazing: strong, confident, and so, so kind. Ever since you asked me out, I have been… just so, so happy. And since you did the work the first time…” Renji pulled out a box, and Rukia gasped.
“Will you marry me?”
The question lingered in the air. Renji’s eyes scanned her face. Rukia looked shocked.
Then she reached into her pocket. “Dammit, Renji, will you marry me?”
Renji protested, “Hey, I asked first!”
“Is that a no?”
“…Rukia, that’s not fair!”
“Answer!”
“Will you marry me?”
“Renji! Answer the damn question!”
Renji laughed that pure-hearted laugh: such a sweet sound. He kissed her on the lips.
“Rukia? You’ve always been my rising sun. I love you.”
This time, Rukia leaned in for the kiss.