Rukia Kuchiki felt as though she had won.
Until now, Muten Natsu had always been the one throwing himself recklessly into battle, leaving Rukia Kuchiki with nothing to do but worry.
This time, it was her turn to help him by using a dangerous power she had yet to fully master.
And then... she could clearly tell that Muten Natsu was sulking.
Serves you right.
Now you know how I feel.
I'm only treating you the same way you treat me, and you're already angry?
Well, I'm angry too.
Where was all this concern before?
Still...
Rukia Kuchiki blinked her large eyes.
This feeling was actually rather nice.
She could sense Muten Natsu's concern for her more strongly than ever. It had always been there, but at times like this, it became especially obvious.
Next time...
Seeing the glint in Rukia Kuchiki's eyes, Muten Natsu realized that she had no intention of reflecting on her actions. If anything, she seemed to be planning for the next time.
"No..." Muten Natsu leaned closer in warning. "I won't allow it!"
"I've told you the same thing countless times. Did you ever listen?" Rukia Kuchiki gave a quiet snort. "And now you're trying to lecture me. Mmph!"
Unable to win the argument, Muten Natsu simply silenced her with a kiss.
Rukia Kuchiki pounded against his chest with all her strength, but he was far too strong. Taking advantage of his larger build, he locked her firmly in his arms and swallowed every sound of protest.
Her blows gradually weakened. Before she knew it, her pale, delicate palms were resting against Muten Natsu's chest, feeling his racing heartbeat.
Her body was held captive, her breath mingling with his. Her fading resistance accomplished nothing. Instead, every struggle only pressed their bodies closer together.
Only when Rukia Kuchiki finally stopped resisting did Muten Natsu straighten the arm braced against the bed, allowing his forceful kiss to release her glistening lips.
Rukia Kuchiki drew in the fresh air she had been denied for so long. Her slightly parted lips glimmered with a hazy sheen, while her large violet eyes remained half-lidded and unfocused, as though they might overflow at any moment.
"Next time..." Muten Natsu shook his head. "There won't be a next time. You and I are different. You can't..."
"Why can't I?" Rukia Kuchiki glared at him.
With a sudden burst of strength, she twisted the unprepared Muten Natsu beneath her. The moment he tried to rise, she forced him back down, planted her hands on his shoulders, and leaned over to seal his lips with a domineering kiss of her own.
Muten Natsu was a little stunned.
Muten Natsu was utterly stunned.
It took him some time to understand what was happening. He gripped Rukia Kuchiki's slender waist and tried to pull away, only to be met with a soft but threatening bite.
Muten Natsu had been subdued.
Muten Natsu tried to fight back.
Muten Natsu gave up fighting back.
Muten Natsu accepted reality...
After keeping Muten Natsu pinned down for quite some time, Rukia Kuchiki finally withdrew in satisfaction. With one hand pressed against his chest, she sat upright against his raised legs.
Her pale fingertips brushed the faintly upturned corner of her mouth. Looking down at Muten Natsu, she wore a victorious smile, her beautiful eyes brimming with smug delight.
You thought you could deal with me that way?
I can do the same thing to you.
Admit defeat... Huh?
The world suddenly spun around Rukia Kuchiki. Their positions reversed once again, immediately followed by another forceful kiss.
Rukia Kuchiki had been subdued.
Rukia Kuchiki tried to fight back.
Rukia Kuchiki gave up fighting back.
Rukia Kuchiki accepted reality... Not a chance!
The moment Muten Natsu relaxed his hold even slightly, she seized the opportunity to turn the tables, rose above him once more, pinned him down, and kissed him.
Muten Natsu had no intention of conceding either. The moment he spotted an opening, he pressed Rukia Kuchiki beneath him again and captured her lips.
The two rolled back and forth until they were practically fighting across the bed.
A battle fought with lips and tongues.
"N-No... this isn't right..." Once again pinned beneath Muten Natsu, Rukia Kuchiki spoke in a wavering voice, her face flushed scarlet. "This isn't fair..."
Throughout their constant reversals, Muten Natsu always held the decisive advantage.
No matter who took the initiative, Rukia Kuchiki was always...
This time, Muten Natsu wore the victorious smile. "It's not too late to surrender. Hiss!"
His triumphant expression lasted only an instant before twisting into something much more complicated.
Rukia Kuchiki pressed her lips together, her voice trembling beyond her control. "I-It's still not too late to surrender."
Muten Natsu drew a deep breath, clenched his jaw, and forced the words through his teeth. "Let go..."
Rukia Kuchiki raised her chin slightly, stubbornness written across her flushed face. "You let go first."
"You first."
"You first!"
Muten Natsu fell silent for a moment. "On three, together?"
Rukia Kuchiki's voice trembled even harder. "Three."
"Two."
"...One." Rukia Kuchiki breathed out the final number, her glistening eyes reflecting Muten Natsu's reddened gaze. "Well? Let go!"
"You didn't let go either!" Muten Natsu protested. "How can you accuse me so confidently when you did the exact same thing?"
"You let go first!"
"You first!"
Rukia Kuchiki fell silent for a moment. "On three, together?"
Muten Natsu's voice trembled slightly. "Three... Isn't this exactly the same as before?"
Their eyes met.
At the same moment, both thought of the same solution. Their faces drew closer, and their lips pressed firmly together once more.
It was impossible to tell who was resisting and who was struggling.
Perhaps neither of them was.
There were only their ever-quickening heartbeats and their intertwined breaths, no longer distinguishable from one another.
After a long while, the chaotic night finally returned to peace.
Their languid bodies remained pressed together. Damp strands of Rukia Kuchiki's hair clung to her flushed cheeks as her petite frame nestled against Muten Natsu's chest, her fingertips lightly hooked around his collar.
Holding Rukia Kuchiki in his arms, Muten Natsu gradually regained his reason.
"I understand that feeling. When you get hurt and someone worries about you, it makes you feel important. But that feeling comes at the cost of causing pain to the people who care about you. Now that I understand that, I'm doing my best to avoid putting you through it again. But our previous enemy was simply too powerful. Defeating them already took everything I had... Will you give me a little more time?"
"I know... That's why I want to become stronger, so I can help you avoid situations like that as soon as possible." Rukia Kuchiki tightened her grip on Muten Natsu's collar. "I'll train carefully and gradually learn to control Sode no Shirayuki's dangerous power, just as you learned to control the Hell Flames... Will you have a little more faith in me?"