Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Odalisque ❯ Chapter 33 ( Chapter 33 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any Bleach affiliates.

 

 

 

 

Odalisque

 

Chapter 33

 

Rukia sat quietly on the sofa of her best friends' house. Her hand was wrapped around the arm of the soft and her body was sitting rigidly in the seat.

 

Toshiro sat in front of them. His arms were shaking and his jaw was quivering.

 

His voice was as tight as could be as he said, “Why didn't you tell me?”

 

Rukia frowned softly, “Toshiro… I just did.”

 

His eyes narrowed angrily and he whispered, “Why didn't you tell me right when it happened?”

 

Rukia's mind whirled as she convincingly regurgitated what she had thought to say before she had arrived. “Momo came to the party with me, Toshiro, I think that after the attack her mind just went to me first just for that reason. When she came to my apartment she immediately talked about seeing you as soon as possible.” Rukia shook her head softly and swallowed, “I just thought that it would have been better if we went to the hospital first. After that I was just so caught up that I forgot to call you. It's my fault. I'm sorry.”

 

Toshiro swallowed hard and nodded once. The sound of rustling clothing brought them both back to their senses.

 

Momo appeared in front of the door frame that lead to the hallway and stood silently.

 

“Momo,” he whispered and immediately rose from the couch.

 

Rukia breathed a small sigh of relief and touched her cool wrist to her heated forehead. She closed her eyes and listened while Toshiro folded a now-sobbing Momo into his arms.

 

It had been one hour since they had left the hospital. Rukia was now sitting on Momo and Toshiro's soft couch. She had just finished telling Momo's fiancé everything that had happened since Momo had shown up at Rukia's door at around one in the morning.

 

The young man had been stoic, solid, and completely silent as Rukia recounted Momo's scarce recollections, her appearance afterwards, and the trip to the hospital. Only his eyes gave way to what he saw. Dread, helplessness, worry, horror, and anger all mixed in his gaze as Rukia spoke.

 

She closed her eyes and slowly ran her hand over them.

 

Getting inside the apartment had been the worst.

 

Toshiro, his hair tousled and his eyes bleary with sleep, pulled open the door and squinted into the light of dawn.

 

Rukia watched as his eyes blinked over to Momo and then to her. He saw her messy hair, her tear-stained face, and her shaking limbs and immediately jerked the door back.

 

“Momo!”

 

He rushed forward and put his arms around his fiancée immediately. Momo sniffled and tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to break from behind her eyes. Rukia swallowed and bit her bottom lip as her best friend's head bent down to Toshiro's neck. She let out a small sob and wrapped her arms around him.

 

“Shiro,” she gasped, “I—I'm s-sorry!”

 

“Shh,” he whispered, his hand rubbing her back in slow, tender circles, “Shh, its okay. It's alright. Just… Jesus Momo what happened to you?”

 

After that Momo had gone into her room and changed into a pair of old sweatpants and Rukia had stayed out here to try and explain what had happened to Toshiro.

 

Rukia wearily rubbed her hand over her face and felt the oil that had accumulated there since she had left her apartment. She sighed and wanted to know when she could go home. It wasn't that she didn't want to stay and help her friend… it was just… she was so tired. She wanted nothing more than to go home and curl up inside of her bed and sleep for ages. It was Saturday after all, she didn't have any pressing appointments to go to or any shopping that needed to be done.

 

She just needed to sleep.

 

Something in the way she was sitting, the way she was breathing, or the way her hand was caressing her greasy forehead must have given her away. The next moment, Momo and Toshiro were standing in front of her. Momo was perched near her fiancé's shoulder and his arm was wrapped securely around her waist.

 

“Rukia,” she wheezed, “I-It's okay. I know you're tired. You can g-go home now. I'll be fine.” She looked over at Toshiro and gave an extremely weak and watered-down smile. “I know that Shiro will take care of me. I know h-he will.”

 

Rukia nodded and rubbed her cool fingers together, dabbing the bags under her eyes, “I don't want you guys to think that I'm leaving just to—”

 

“Rukia,” Toshiro cut in, his arm tightening around her waist, “You've done so much. Go home. We'll be fine.”

 

She looked from one trembling face to the other. Both of them were filled with such… horror. Rukia swallowed and felt the pit of her stomach dissolve. She couldn't even imagine what they must be feeling right now. Momo, who was more than likely raped yet couldn't even remember anything that had happened… and Toshiro, who was probably out of his mind with worry.

 

She just couldn't imagine what they were going through.

 

Rukia nodded softly and rose from the couch with careful, calculating, steps. Her legs wobbled slightly from exhaustion and her arms ached with fatigue. Toshiro didn't offer a hand to help her as she stood but Rukia didn't mind. She knew where his attention was and, honestly, if she was in his position she would have done the same.

 

She moved her gaze from one person to the next and nodded. “Okay… I'll call later just to check on you.”

 

“No,” Momo whispered, her voice watery, “You should go home. Get some rest.”

 

Rukia straightened her dress and nodded. She reached out and placed her hand on Momo's arm. The young woman squeezed lightly and gave her another nod.

 

“Just call me if you need anything else, okay?”

 

Momo and Toshiro nodded as one. “Okay.”

 

Rukia swallowed and turned towards the front door. She opened it, turned, and gave Momo one last look; damn, she couldn't even galvanize a smile for her friend. She walked out into the hallway and shut the door quietly behind her. She paused and softly pressed her forehead against the wood, waiting. She heard gentle voices from behind the oak and she listened for a moment.

 

“It'll be alright.”

 

“We'll find a way to get through this.”

 

“I still love you.”

 

The corners of Rukia's mouth rose just a bit and she sighed against the wood. She pushed herself away and began to walk down the rather long hallway to the stairwell. Her feet were sluggish as she moved from one step to the next. Her hand slid lazily down the rail and, for the first time in months, she ignored how many germs were probably latching onto her fingers. She continued moving even though her limbs encouraged her just to plop down on the stairs and take a rest.

 

Oh come off it, Rukia chided herself; you've been this tired before. Besides, you still need to walk home.

 

She pushed open the door and walked out into the lobby. An attendant smiled softly at her and she nodded back. Rukia passed a hand through her hair and blinked her gritty eyes out at the bright sunlight that streamed through the revolving doors.

 

Ichigo has probably already gone home, she mused as she pushed that door open as well. But still… after all he's done for me— she shook her head quickly and amended her thoughts; us, he's helped us. Not just me.

 

She moved her hand up slightly to block the morning sun from her eyes. She drew in a deep breath of chilled, clear, air and felt it squirm its way down her entire body. It helped to revitalize her body as she turned towards her apartment. She only needed to go a few blocks but at this moment it felt like she needed to go a few miles.

 

She hadn't gone three steps when the honking of a horn stopped her.

 

Rukia turned around and frowned. Glinting in the bright, December, sun was a shining black Mercedes Benz, parked directly outside of Momo's apartment building.

 

She stood stock still as the engine revved and the person drew the car nearer to her body.

 

Rukia's face was reflected in the glossiness of the window and she had to fight the urge to gasp at her haggard expression before it rolled down quickly and soundlessly.

 

Ichigo's face was visible in the drivers' side.

 

He frowned at her and raised one eyebrow, “What are you doing? Get in, I'll take you home.”

 

Rukia didn't need to be told twice. Her hand was on the knob to the door in the next second. Her tired body slid into the comfortable seat and she instantly placed her head on the headrest. Her grimy hair fell down by her shoulders and her eyelids slid shut as the car started again.

 

“Thank you,” Rukia whispered.

 

Ichigo only scoffed, “Like I'd let you walk home after all that.”

 

Rukia turned her face towards him and allowed her forehead to slip into a small frown.

 

He cleared his throat and she noticed his fingers tightening on the wheel. “What I mean is, I've been here for this long, I don't see a reason why I shouldn't see it through until the end.”

 

Rukia watched as his cheeks tinged a light pink. Her heart warmed at the sight and she nodded in understanding, turning her head back to the front. Her hands twitched in her lap as Ichigo drove on. His fingers were slow and steady on the wheel and the movements he made with the car were flawless. She looked down at her lap and saw her hands twisting slightly. They ached to cross the small divide between them and grab his fingers but she held back. She didn't want him to think… didn't want him to think… well, anything.

 

They wound in front of her apartment building and she directed him towards the underground lot. He smoothly parked his Benz and the two of them got out without another word being said.

 

Silence ensued as they entered the elevator and made their way towards Rukia's door. Her mind was completely focused on getting into her warm, comfortable, bed; she didn't even think to consider Ichigo following her. She just guessed that he would understand how tired she was and go his separate way.

 

She tore off her winter jacket and tossed it somewhere in the hallway. Soft pillows… warm sheets… heavy cover… it all sounded so good.

 

She entered her bedroom and nearly wept at the sight of her plush bed. Her hands trembled as she dragged her dress over her head and stood silently in the center of the room, dressed only in her underwear.

 

She heard the click of the doorknob and nearly jumped out of her skin. She whipped around and stared at the man who was now standing in her bedroom.

 

He's not gone? She thought, half in incredulity and half in confusion. What does he… wait… he better not want sex right now.

 

“Ichigo,” she whispered, her voice filled with evident exhaustion, “I—I'm really tired. I don't think I—”

 

“Please,” he muttered, instantly tossing off his undershirt and fumbling with the buckle on his pants. “I'm tired as hell too. I just wanna sleep and I don't feel like going back to my own apartment.” He smirked as he stripped down to his boxers. “I told you, I've been here for this long, I don't really see a reason why I shouldn't see it through.” He looked up at her and grinned ruefully, “Plus, you were so friggin tired that you forgot to lock your own front door. I'm needed to protect you.”

 

Rukia only swallowed and nodded. Any other day she would have hit him over the head and called him an ass for saying such a thing. However, in the wake of what had happened to Momo… she was glad that he was here.

 

She slowly moved to her dresser and found an old tee shirt, which she slipped on after removing her bra. She quickly slipped into her cool bed and snuggled insatiably under the sheets. Her entire form curled lovingly against her pillow and she sighed happily. As she continued wiggling into her heavenly bed she felt his weight press down on the other side.

 

Rukia was stiff in her bed as he wiggled under the covers as well. It was only when he brought his arm out, wound it around her waist, and pulled her to his chest that Rukia let out the sigh she had been unwittingly holding in.

 

She was asleep within seconds.

 

*~*~*

 

When Rukia woke up the first thing she realized was that she wasn't really able to move. Not that she minded, of course. She just kind of wanted to know why. Groggily, she frowned and wiggled slightly inside of her warm and tender prison.

 

One hand was wrapped around her waist while another was placed underneath of her head, making it one of the most comfortable pillows she had ever used. She shifted again and found that both of her legs were trapped underneath one long, lean, and muscular appendage.

 

She sighed and wriggled further into the warmth that was Ichigo's arms and pulled her hand up to her warm forehead to brush a stray lock of hair. Her soft back was pressed against his pleasantly burning chest and she moaned gently at the wonderful heat. She stilled for a moment and waited for her groggy senses to sharpen. As they did, she began to feel things that she had been ignorant of only a second ago.

 

Rukia could feel his strong and steady heartbeat through the vibrations in her back. She could feel his breathing as he inhaled and exhaled in his sleep. She could feel how his muscles flexed and twitched peacefully as he dreamed. She could feel his warmth and his security and…

 

Oh, she could feel him.

 

Rukia's heart beat faster as she inhaled his perfectly beautiful and spicy scent. It encompassed her and filled her and made her feel so at peace.

 

Rukia fell back to sleep, completely content.

 

*~*~*

 

The second time Rukia woke up she was able to move freely around on her bed.

 

She frowned instantly and shot up in the bed. Her hair flew by her shoulders and the warm sheet fell despondently to her waist. She instantly brought a hand to her face and drew in a sharp breath. Her hand flew to the opposite side of her large bed, feeling the depression left by Ichigo's body. As she pressed down on the mattress a whiff of his delectable scent came back up to Rukia's nose. She shuddered softly and remembered that it was this exact scent that had lulled her to sleep only a few hours ago.

 

She jerked her head over and glanced at the clock beside her bed. It was four in the afternoon. She had been asleep for nearly eleven straight hours.

 

She slowly pulled the sheet off of her body and rubbed a hand against her eyes. “Ichigo?” She called out, hoping against hope that her apartment was not empty.

 

She paused for a moment and held her breath.

 

Yeah, as if holding your breath will make your hearing better, she thought in annoyance with herself.

 

There was a soft clinking of glass outside in the kitchen and Rukia exhaled in relief. It was either a burglar or her lover; and considering that her apartment building had a security system akin to that of a nuclear testing facility, she had to assume that it was Ichigo.

 

My lover.

 

“Out here,” he called back and Rukia's heart sped up exponentially at the sound of his voice.

 

She smiled and slid completely out of the bed. Her bare legs were chilled against the cool air and her arms came up to cross against her chest. She stepped lightly into the hallway and then moved towards the kitchen. As she slowly moved around the corner she was met with the sight of Ichigo in a loose pair of jeans and his NICE VIBE tee shirt, sitting at her island. She frowned a bit as she walked onto the tiles. The cold stone shot tingles up into her spine and she thought belatedly about her nice and warm bed.

 

“Hey,” she said softly, her voice still gritty with sleep.

 

He snorted quietly and stood up from his seat at the island. Rukia's eyes stayed on her marble countertop for a moment and her mind briefly flashed back to Ichigo's nearly identical island back in his apartment. That and what they had done on it the first time they slept together.

 

Another shudder—one that didn't have anything to do with the chilly tiles—passed through her body.

 

“Hey sleepyhead,” he said with a small smirk. He walked over to her and gently pressed a kiss to her waiting lips.

 

“Mm,” Rukia whispered, inching her toes up for another kiss, Ichigo gladly reciprocated and brought his hand up to the back of her neck. He softly delved into her mouth and she groaned as they played delightfully with one another's tongues.

 

Ichigo drew back first and Rukia giggled when his breath tickled her tender neck.

 

She brought one of her hands away from her body and plucked lightly at his shirt. “Where did you get this?”

 

Ichigo snorted and shook his head, “The clothing fairy.”

 

Rukia rolled her eyes, “Seriously.” She crossed her arms again and gave him a small glare, “I don't remember you leaving any clothes here so…” she raised an eyebrow and bit her bottom lip in concentration, “You went home and got some.” It was meant to be a statement but came out as a question instead.

 

“Bingo, you win the prize.”

 

“No need to be sarcastic,” she muttered, her ego bruising slightly at the sound of his irritated voice. “Besides, what crawled up your ass this mor—afternoon?”

 

Ichigo's scowl deepened and he raked a hand through is hair. His expression seemed more contrite than usual—well, as contrite as Ichigo could look anyway—and he wrinkled his nose in irritation. “Sorry… I just keep thinking.”

 

Rukia's raised eyebrow went up even more. “About?”

 

“Momo,” he answered shortly.

 

And Rukia's world came crashing down.

 

Momo.

 

One of her hands went to her mouth and she swallowed hard. “Oh,” she muttered, a wave of worry washing over her entire body.

 

She wondered how her best friend was right now. She knew that Toshiro would do his best to make sure that everything was alright with her but still… would Momo be alright enough to receive his well-meant intentions?

 

Rukia shook her head and ran a hand through her hair; she sure as hell hoped so. Momo would need all the help she could get if she was going to get through this with her head held up. She would need the support from her friend and more importantly from her fiancé. Still, if anyone was to repair the damage done by some sicko it was most definitely Toshiro.

 

Rukia sighed moved in closer towards Ichigo. He stood stiff but Rukia kept moving until her forehead was pressed against Ichigo's chest.

 

“Thank you,” she murmured softly, reaching her hands up and placing her warm palms on both of his pectorals. “For everything you did.”

 

She felt one arm come up and wrap itself around her waist. She stepped forward only an inch more and felt the rest of his body press against the length of hers.

 

“Che,” he scoffed, rubbing her back in slow, gentle, circles. “It was nothing.”

 

“No,” Rukia refuted, her tone stubborn yet soft. “It wasn't `nothing.' Everything you did for me… for Momo… just,” she sighed and let the edge of her mouth quirk up. “Thank you. I know that if it hadn't been for you we probably wouldn't have made it to the hospital fast enough.”

 

She looked up and found a flaming blush skittering over Ichigo's cheeks. She smiled gently and pressed a small kiss to his sternum. He sighed and she wrapped both of her arms around his slim waist. He did the same and continued rubbing her back.

 

“I know you won't accept it,” she said, her voice teasingly chastising but her tone soft, “But thank you, Ichigo. Thank you very much.”

 

“Che,” was all he said.

 

Rukia took a moment and inhaled Ichigo's tempting scent once again. She just loved the way that his smell could comfort her even in the worst of times.

 

She mentally shook her head and told herself to forget that. She'd be able to stew on Ichigo's lovely scent later.

 

She looked up at him and pulled her mouth into a crooked smile, “What were your plans for the rest of the day?”

 

Ichigo leaned back a bit but Rukia did not relinquish her hold on him. She simply looked up and smiled gently at how lingering traces of red were still resting on his cheeks.

 

“I'm not sure,” he mumbled, Rukia raised an eyebrow at his tome. It seemed like he was trying to sound nonchalant about it but was failing miserably. “It's already four in the afternoon. I was thinking I'd go home and watch a game or a movie or something.”

 

Rukia's heart, for some odd reason, dropped into the pit of her stomach.

 

“You don't have to.”

 

The sentence was out of her mouth before she could even think about whether or not she wanted to say it. Rukia squeezed her eyes shut and mentally berated herself for uttering such a stupid, idiotic, and mindless thing.

 

Why would you do something like that? She demanded of herself, why, after all you've done to keep it a secret, why would you say something so… pitiful?

 

Rukia bit her bottom lip with her white, even, teeth and inwardly sighed. Keep it a secret? Yeah right, just a few hours ago she had been about to tell him that she… that she…

 

Well, the point was that she had been about to tell him when his head had been in her lap, when they had finished several rounds of hot sex, and right before Momo had come knocking at her door.

 

Am I really even trying to keep this a secret any longer? She thought as she pressed her forehead against Ichigo's warm chest. Or do I want him to know?

 

“What else would I do?”

 

Ichigo's voice jarred her out of her small reverie and she instantly jerked her head up at him. She blinked twice at his warm amber eyes and gave herself a little shake. “For what?” She responded numbly.

 

Ichigo's already scowling brow furrowed even more and he rolled his eyes in exasperation, “You told me I didn't have to go. I'm asking you what else would I do?”

 

Rukia's throat suddenly became very thick with something she could not name. “Ah,” she sputtered, her lips tripping over one another as she tried to get out what she wanted to say, “W-Well… you could always stay here.” She said, forcing the words out as quickly as possible, “We could watch a movie or we could order Chinese food or we could go out to eat or… or… we could… um…” she swallowed again and tried not to choke. She looked up at him and saw amusement glittering in his beautiful eyes. She told herself not to get angry at his smug little expression so she looked away quickly. She stared at the word `NICE' on his shirt as she finished her sentence with a pathetic bribe, “Or we could just have more… sex.”

 

Neither one of them spoke for a moment. Rukia felt her cheeks flaming as she buried her face into his shirt. She didn't want to see the look on his face.

 

Christ, she moaned, I can't believe I just put up such a cheap bribe. That was so horrible even I gagged at it.

 

It only got worse when Ichigo threw his head back and started laughing.

 

Rukia felt the vibrations from his chest as he chuckled, pealed, and even added in a bit of that deep, hearty, throaty laughter that shook Rukia's entire being, even as she stayed vacuumed to her lovers' chest.

 

“Christ,” she muttered, growling into his warm body. His hands gripped her tighter and tighter as he shook with indomitable laughter. Rukia could even surmise that there might have been tears running down his face right now.

 

Bastard, she snarled, pushing herself away from his still shaking form, I know he wants it too.

 

She took three steps away from him and crossed her arms over her chest. The warmth of Ichigo's embrace evaporated like it had never even been there. The cold of the tiles seeped into her limbs once again and she wrinkled her nose in distaste. It was only then, after a few seconds of staring daggers at Ichigo and allowing the cold to wash over her, that she realized she wasn't wearing a bra and that—if she didn't warm up soon—she'd have a rather embarrassing problem on her hands. Rukia growled and rubbed her legs together, trying to find some semblance of warmth from the friction.

 

The chortling continued for another two minutes before Rukia's temper became so frayed that she took three steps forward, bunched her hand into a fist, and sent it hurtling into Ichigo's spasmodic stomach.

 

His laughter stopped immediately but Rukia didn't stay around to find out. She twirled on her feet, set her arms by her hips, and angrily stomped towards her bedroom.

 

“Rukia!” She heard him gasp, “Wait! I didn't mean—okay maybe I did—but I didn't… not like—”

 

“Oh shut up,” Rukia shouted back at him, slamming closed her bedroom door and marching over to her closet. She quickly threw off her small shirt and pulled on a bra. As she fumbled with the clasp she heard his footsteps approaching from the hallway. Snapping it in place, she reached for an older tee shirt and threw it over top of her head.

 

The door opened behind her and she stiffened momentarily.

 

“Go away,” she snarled, her hands viciously opening another drawer and yanking out a pair of her oldest and most comfortable jeans.

 

“No,” he replied evenly. Rukia jerked her head back to him and glared at the cocky smile that was plastered on his face. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, his lanky body filled practically the entire space and he grinned at her. “After all, weren't you the one to suggest that we have more sex?”

 

“Oh bite me,” she seethed, pulling on her jeans and snapping the button closed.

 

“Gladly,” Ichigo sniggered, “But do you really want to get undressed after all of that work?”

 

“Just leave,” Rukia muttered, “Go home and enjoy your movie, Ichigo. Or whatever the fuck you're going to do. I don't care.”

 

“You know,” he said, just as conversationally as ever, “I don't think I want to. Movies just sound so dull in comparison to what you're—”

 

“I take it back!” Rukia shouted, turning around and throwing her hand into the air, “All of it! Okay? I take it back.” She glared at him and huffed as she dashed into the bathroom and instantly set a record time for regaining personal hygiene. Once she was finished she marched outside, past Ichigo's grinning form, went to her closet, and grabbed an old and loose coat from inside. She slipped it over her shoulders and barreled directly past Ichigo—who had, at some point in the past four seconds, been able to teleport himself near her.

 

She trudged into the kitchen and found her purse sitting on the counter. After checking to make sure that her wallet was inside she pulled it off the marble and stomped towards the door.

 

Only to find herself abruptly cut off by all of Ichigo's body.

 

Her blaring eyes met his with an angry heat. He was still looking delightfully amused and completely full of himself. Rukia's hand shot out to grapple for the doorknob but her wrist was instantly grasped by Ichigo's hand. She tried to twist away but absolutely nothing happened. His fingers stayed clenched around her small wrist and she snarled even harder at him.

 

“Just where,” he asked, “Are you going?”

 

He did it so fast Rukia didn't even know how it happened. One minute his mocking mouth was floating above hers and the next second it was down by her ear, tugging on the distended lobe and playfully licking it with his tongue.

 

Rukia honestly never knew that her knees could actually turn into jell-o.

 

“Out,” she gasped, her fingers curling onto Ichigo's restrictive hand and slowly brushing against them.

 

“Out… where?” He whispered, his hot breath puffing against her neck and swirling around her pulse.

 

“T-To eat-t,” she shuddered, her entire body shivering at the feeling of him inching closer and closer to her.

 

She could feel his chest pressing against hers and she shook even more.

 

“Where?” He demanded softly, pressing his lips against her neck.

 

Oh God, Rukia's mind moaned. If this is how he conducts an interrogation I want him to question me from here until the end of time.

 

Rukia's eyes rolled into the back of her head, “I d-don't kn-know…”

 

“How about,” he paused for a moment to bite down on the juncture of her neck and shoulder and Rukia instantly leaned against him, her will surrendering completely to him. “You and I… go to a very nice… very quiet… and very chic… restaurant near the heart of town.”

 

Rukia didn't even have to speak for him to know that she wanted to go.

 

A low chuckle rumbled against her entire body and she melted even further into the warm hardness that was Ichigo Kurosaki. Her face was pressed completely against his neck and her body was curled warmly around hers.

 

He grinned into her throbbing pulse, “I'm guessing that's a yes?”

 

Rukia just buried her nose into his collarbone and nodded.

 

“That's a yes.”

 

*~*~*

 

Ichigo pulled Rukia's chair out for her and she sat gracefully in the seat. He pushed it in lightly and snickered when she theatrically thrust her nose into the air.

 

“You like it?” He asked her, well aware that—judging by how her eyes were sweeping the room back and forth—she seemed quite enamored by his restaurant of choice.

 

“I do,” she said, her nose tilting back to take in the delicious smell of home-cooked food and warm drinks. She brought her face back down and gave him a skeptical look. “Why do you know where all the good restaurants are?” She demanded, pausing for a moment to shuck off her jacket, “I mean, first it's Urahara's and now this place,” she waved her hand around and snorted. “Honestly, I wouldn't have pegged you for a person with actual perception.”

 

“Oh please,” Ichigo shot back playfully, “I've got more perception in one pinky than you do in your entire body.”

 

“Ha!” Rukia rolled her eyes sarcastically, “Yeah right.”

 

If you'd actually had some perception you would have realized how I feel about you right now.

 

“Besides,” Ichigo said, picking up his menu and scanning over the pages, “I just know this place because my sister told me about it.”

 

“Which sister?” Rukia asked, picking up her own menu and scanning the pages.

 

“Which do you think?” He asked her sarcastically.

 

“I'm guessing it was Yuzu,” Rukia remarked breezily, “I doubt Karin would ever step foot in a place this… cheerful.”

 

“At least she's not gone fully goth,” Ichigo remarked, “She's just surly.”

 

“Yes well be thankful for that.”

 

Ichigo smirked at her and Rukia smiled back, her eyes holding a sort of warmth that they had never expressed before. Ichigo broke contact first and turned to the waitress to give her their drink orders.

 

“Coffee?”

 

“Black.”

 

The waitress nodded, gave Ichigo the once over, glanced at Rukia, saw her glaring, and scurried away as quickly as possible. Ichigo's eyes lingered on her quickly retreating form and then turned back to Rukia. She folded her hands under her chin and cocked her head to the side.

 

“Black coffee this late at night?” He inquired.

 

“Well,” Rukia muttered, staring him straight in the eye, “I figure I might be up late tonight.”

 

“Oh… you do, do you?” Ichigo said, his voice just hinting of things that were to come. “What, pray tell, do you think you'll be doing?”

 

Rukia leaned against the table a bit and allowed her shirt to be pulled down against her breasts. She saw Ichigo's eyes zeroing in on her chest and she smiled. “Hmm, I was thinking that I might exercise.”

 

He leaned in further until their faces were a mere two feet apart, “Exercise?”

 

“And you know how I like to exercise,” Rukia continued, blowing a piece of hair out of her face, “I like to get extremely sweaty… even dirty… and I really, really, enjoy that feeling I get right at the end…”

 

She could see how hungry Ichigo was through the carnal look in his eyes. She grinned smugly to herself and inched further across the table. She wanted him close. Close enough to smell and taste and feel. Her grin widened even more when she saw his smirking, kissable, mouth become feral with want.

 

“At the end?” He questioned.

 

“Right at the end…” Rukia finished on a whisper, her head tilted to the side and her eyes flickered over to the side.

 

Oh shit.

 

She recoiled immediately. “At the end of the fourth quarter,” Rukia said, mustering all of her power just to try and remain calm and seem as professional and normal as possible. “It would seem that Suigetsu's stock is going up, even in light of the recent recession. We'd have to make sure that all of the buyers and owners of stock for Gotei and Suigetsu don't get nervous about the merger and release their… ah, stocks.”

 

Ichigo—who was still leaning against the table—blinked his eyes in confusion and furrowed his brow until a miniature replica of the Grand Canyon seemed to be imprinted on his face.

 

“What the hell are you…?”

 

Rukia's eyes flickered over to the side, to what—or who—she had witnessed not a moment ago. She looked back at him with silently pleading eyes. Begging inwardly that he wasn't so dim that he couldn't even take this pathetically obvious hint.

 

“Ichi…go?”

 

Rukia watched as Ichigo's spine stiffened. His eyes were straight on hers and she watched as he bit his lip and swallowed… hard.

 

“Thank you,” he whispered in a voice so low it was hardly audible.

 

Rukia smiled softly at him, a gentle `you're welcome' to ease him for the moment. As quickly as she could, Rukia steeled her face so it looked like she was terribly irritated and bored. She made it so that… well, she made her face look the way it used to look before him. She watched him turn slightly around and force a smile onto his face. “Yuzu… I—I, ah, didn't know you were here.”

 

Rukia's expression remained impassive as the small woman bounded up to their table and gaped wide-eyed at the pair. Ichigo was sitting and squirming as though he were suffering from some of the worst hemmeroids on the planet and Rukia was placed stiffly in her chair, hands out in plain view, her jaw clenched, and her mouth set in a distasteful line.

 

“Ichigo!” She gasped, quickly jumping over to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. Rukia had to make sure to remain impassive at this rather cute display of sibling affection. It was rather nice to think of Ichigo as an older brother. Well, the kind of older brother that actually cared about more than maintaining family pride.

 

Rukia fought the desire to roll her eyes. She shouldn't be thinking things like that about her brother. He was, after all, on the mend from being shot. Twice. He deserved her support, not her degradation.

 

“And Rukia's here too!” Yuzu squealed, detaching herself from her brother and surging to wrap her arms around the older woman sitting across from him.

 

Her spine straightened immediately and she kept her hands directly at her sides.

 

“Ah, hello… Yuzu.” She said as formally as she could.

 

The young woman released her but kept her hands on Rukia's shoulder. Rukia's sapphire eyes blinked a few times as Yuzu's honeyed gaze searched her impassive face. A warm smile was present and dimples shown on her apple cheeks as she grinned.

 

“Rukia… you're here with Ichigo.” She turned to her brother and raised an eyebrow. “Is this a date?”

 

“Of course not!” Ichigo snapped angrily.

 

Rukia tried not to allow the comment to place a small bruise inside of her chest.

 

But it did.

 

Yuzu had just opened her mouth to argue—with her cute, arguing face of hers—when Rukia slowly shifted her shoulders and detached the young woman's hands.

 

“I asked Kurosaki to come here,” she said briskly—and that was half true at least. “I needed to talk to him about the final touches we were going to put on the merger papers. As I was just explaining, the fourth quarter might become a problem in the growing recession.”

 

“Exactly,” Ichigo muttered, his eyes flickered towards Rukia and then to his sister. “What she said.” He immediately narrowed his gaze and set his jaw. “Forget about me, what are you doing here Yuzu?”

 

The young woman's cheeks colored instantly and Rukia immediately knew that she was hiding something. Rukia blinked and cocked her head to the side, looking at her almost… scientifically. She doubted she'd ever seen anyone blush that quickly.

 

“Oh… me?” Yuzu laughed nervously while her brother eyed her skeptically. “I'm just here to eat.”

 

“By yourself?” Ichigo pointed out, his eagle eyes sweeping the restaurant slowly. “Then maybe you should join us.”

 

Yuzu's face became pinker as she twisted her hands in front of her. “Well, see… I would Ichigo… but I—”

 

Suddenly, a rough and brash voice interrupted her. “Zuzu, our table's over here. Why are you… oh shi—”

 

“Jinta!” She hissed, her pretty face furrowing in a strange likeness of her older brother, “Don't swear!”

 

Rukia swiftly looked to Ichigo and found his face looking murderously lethal.

 

Oh this ought to be interesting.

 

“You're. On. A. Date.”

 

The fragmented sentence was muttered as though they were laced with poison deadly enough to take down an elephant in point two seconds.

 

Yuzu blinked twice and the man beside her—Jinta, apparently—clamped his mouth shut. Rukia sat back in her seat and looked to and from the couple standing in front of her and her lover in the seat across from her. The boy didn't look that bad… a bit rough around the edges maybe, what with his hair the same shade as Renji's and his eyes holding the same arrogance of Ichigo's. But he didn't look terrible. And judging by the way he allowed a small smile to come on his face whenever he looked at Yuzu, he didn't seem like too bad of a guy. Hell, he'd even called her by a cutesy nickname in a public place.

 

That made him alright in Rukia's book.

 

“Y—Yeah,” she sputtered, “But so are you!”

 

“I am not!” He snapped back.

 

“You are so!”

 

“Am not!”

 

“Are so!”

 

“Am—” Ichigo growled and shoved his hand against his face. “I am not going to reduce myself to acting like I'm in the second grade, Yuzu Kurosaki.”

 

“Fine,” she snapped and her hand immediately came out to wrap around Jinta's. His face colored but he didn't shove it away. Rukia's stomach dropped when she realized that if she had ever done that to Ichigo he'd probably drop her hand like it was burning.

 

Yuzu glared at him. “Then we'll just go and eat by ourselves without any interruptions from you. We'll leave you and Rukia alone. And… and…” she paused for a moment, after which her face lit up with sudden and intense inspiration. Her cute, puffy lips pulled back against her white teeth and—for the first time that Rukia had ever seen—Yuzu Kurosaki looked a bit, well… evil. “I'll tell Dad!”

 

Rukia looked quickly back to Ichigo's face. Her mind instantly flashed back to the scant time she had spent with Isshin Kurosaki. Christ, if that crazy bastard knew about this meeting… this restaurant… Rukia shuddered at the very thought. She didn't want another `pregnancy' interrogation.

 

But Ichigo didn't panic like she thought he would. She raised an eyebrow as she watched him lean back in his seat, cross his arms, and smirk like he had never smirked before. It was almost… well, okay, it was evil.

 

“Well sister dearest,” he murmured in a low and malicious voice, “He wants me to start producing the grandkids. He doesn't want either of his precious daughters to get married until you two are fifty.” He grinned again and shook his head. “I think his reaction to you being on a date will be far worse than his reaction to me being on a date.”

 

Rukia's heart leaped into her throat and she had to clench her hands on the table in order to keep her reaction inside. She shot Ichigo an intense glare and quickly jerked her head back and forth between the two. He glanced over at Rukia, saw her intense glower, and blinked twice, clearly not understanding. After a moment, his eyes snapped up to his sister and they widened when he realized that she was grinning.

 

“Idiot,” Rukia muttered, rubbing her nose in agitation.

 

“Not that this is a date!” He snapped. “And neither is what you're on.” He pointed to Jinta and gave him one of the hardest glares Rukia had ever seen him give anyone.

 

“Oh come off it.” Yuzu snorted. She shook her head and grasped at Jinta's hand. “We're going to eat. We'll see you guys later.” She turned to Rukia and lifted her nose in the air. “It was good to see you, Rukia.” Her eyes glittered a bit and she raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you should come to our Sunday picnic Rukia. I know I'd enjoy it. Karin wouldn't mind. Dad will be ecstatic. And, well, I know that Ichigo would just love for you to come.”

 

“I would not!” He shouted, slamming his hand down onto the table. Rukia had to fight not to look away from him. Because really, she couldn't pretend that she didn't know him. She'd almost made out with him a few minutes ago. In public!

 

She slapped a hand to her forehead. What the hell has happened to you Rukia Kuchiki?

 

“See you on Sunday Rukia,” Yuzu sniffed into the air. “I'll be expecting you.” She shot Ichigo a hard look and glowered, “And so will Karin and Dad.”

 

Without another word she turned around and tugged Jinta off to another corner of the restaurant, leaving Ichigo steaming in his seat. He glared in their direction and Rukia watched as he clenched his jaw hard.

 

She simply sat in her seat and looked casually at her lover. His face was turning red in increasing shades, his eyes were flashing a rather interesting shade of onyx, and his lips were twitching.

 

It was almost funny.

 

Rukia bit her lips and tried to keep from laughing.

 

“So…” she said, leaning over the table and moving her hands up to link them under her chin, “Do you know that kid?”

 

Ichigo's hard eyes came up to Rukia's and she simply smiled. He nodded once and then indicated towards the table where Yuzu and Jinta were currently sitting.

 

“He's one of Urahara's adopted kids.” Ichigo muttered, “He's not that bad…”

 

Rukia waited for the `but.'

 

“But,” Ichigo seethed, not daring to disappoint, “He curses too much, he has no career goals other than becoming a professional baseball player, and his hair is red.”

 

Rukia raised one eyebrow, “What, exactly, is wrong with red hair?”

 

Ichigo gulped down his waiting cup of coffee and Rukia watched as he winced at the temperature. “Red hair… reminds me of that circus freak of a friend you have.”

 

Rukia couldn't help but allow her heart to skip in her chest at the sound of his angered voice. Her cheeks turned an interesting shade of pink as she tried to avert her eyes. She needed to keep her expression solid. She couldn't show any weakness when his sister was sitting only a few tables away. Rukia looked to the side and realized that Yuzu was staring at the two of them over the top of her menu. Rukia smirked, raised her hand a bit a waved. Ichigo jerked his head in her direction and glared while Yuzu sneakily hid her head behind the bulbous waitress taking their orders.

 

“Damn… siblings…” Ichigo muttered, waving for another cup of coffee.

 

“At least your siblings like you,” Rukia muttered, clearing her throat and nodding towards the exit. “We can always leave if you want.”

 

Her stomach shriveled at her words and she had to bite her lip not to say anything else.

 

If they left now Ichigo would surely drop her off at her apartment and go home in a mood. She didn't want him to do that. She wanted to eat dinner with him here, go back to her apartment, and have several rounds of scintillating, sweet, and sweaty sex.

 

Rukia fought a blush from wrapping around her face and swallowed hard. Hell, she even wanted to sleep curled up next to him again… with his arm around her waist, his chest on her back, his leg thrown over hers.

 

“No…” Ichigo muttered. “If she sees us leave I'd never hear the end of it.”

 

“I'd never hear the end of it.”

 

Rukia's stomach continued to shrivel as the same plump waitress came up to them and asked for their orders.

 

“Turkey club,” Rukia said in a soft voice.

 

“Same,” Ichigo muttered, his eyes fixated on Yuzu and her date.

 

Rukia rolled her eyes and sighed. “Ichigo.” She snapped and his eyes immediately shot back to hers. Her gaze was earnest as she spoke, “Just forget about her. If you don't acknowledge her she won't acknowledge you.”

 

Ichigo smirked, “Old Kuchiki mind-trick?”

 

She shrugged, “It's how I tried to ignore you at first.”

 

“But that didn't work, did it?” He grinned and Rukia saw a spark of his cocky, egotistical, bastardly self showing through.

 

“Of course not,” she answered breezily, flipping her hair behind her shoulder, “I mean, after all, how could I ignore you after you half-fucked me in an elevator?”

 

“How could I ignore you when your ass is so tight and your pussy is so hot?” He asked as his mouth spread into a grin.

 

“So what we're saying,” Rukia continued as though her stomach wasn't twisting at such a public display of dirty sex talk, “Is that it is simple because we both couldn't ignore each other that we got ourselves into this situation?”

 

Ichigo shook his head, “No… I'd have to say it was about eighty percent on you and maybe twenty percent on me.”

 

She scoffed and pelted a pepper shaker at his head.

 

“Hey!” He half-shouted, half-laughed. She watched as he inhaled sharply and immediately let loose a tremendous sneeze.

 

Laughter bubbled inside of her stomach and escaped her throat before she could reign it back in.

 

“Sh—ut up-p-p-achoo!” Ichigo shouted, sneezing three more times before finally wiping the rest of the pepper off of his face.

 

“Christ woman,” he scowled—even though Rukia could detect a bit of laughter in his expression, “Just when I think I have you figured out… or tamed… you pull some stunt like that!”

 

“It was no stunt,” Rukia sighed as she leaned back and allowed the woman to put her turkey sandwich in front of her, “I merely had a rather abrupt hand spasm and knocked the pepper into your face.”

 

Ichigo sneezed once again and brushed even more pepper out of his hair. Rukia thought about sticking out her plate and catching it for her food but after a moment realized that it would be nothing more than glorified dandruff.

 

“Besides,” she added, “You were the one who most definitely had the eighty percent. I merely acquiesced to your rather insistent demands.” She shrugged, “After an appropriate time of refusal, of course.”

 

“Please,” he retaliated, digging into his own sandwich. “It was you who came to me the first two times.”

 

“Let's not get into semantics.” Rukia said, her own mouth filled with delicious food. “How about we compromise and say that it's a fifty fifty thing?”

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

Another scoop of pepper made its way into Ichigo's eyes.

 

“Ack! Fine! Bitch!”

 

Rukia grinned, “Oh come on now, don't cry Ichigo. Thought you were more of a man than that.”

 

“I'll show you man,” Ichigo snarled at her, “Later tonight I'm knocking you unconscious again.”

 

Rukia just smiled and took another bite of her sandwich.

 

I certainly hope so.

 

*~*~*

 

Ichigo stepped outside of the warm restaurant door and instantly felt a cold blast of air shove its way under his skin.

 

“Shit!” He cursed as he wrapped his jacket tightly around his body. He instantly stuck his hands under his arms and frowned as an even colder draft snaked around his neck. If that wasn't bad enough, pregnant snowflakes were falling from the sky at an alarming rate. Already the street was covered by about an inch of the powdery substance. Ichigo crunched a bit of it under his shoe and shrugged when he realized it was packing snow. At least driving in this crap wouldn't be as hard as driving in fluffy powder.

 

“Damn Rukia,” he muttered, hearing the door open behind him, “Be careful. It's snowing pretty—”

 

At that exact moment Rukia did one of the most un-Rukia-like things he had ever witnessed before. It was even more un-Rukia-like then her taking off her shirt at the park that day. It was even more un-Rukia-like then having desk sex during the middle of the day. It was even more un-Rukia-like then leaving work early.

 

“SNOW!”

 

She immediately shot past him and launched herself at his car. Her body was stopped by her hands but Ichigo didn't even yell at her—damn girl could have put a ding in the car with how fast she'd been going—before she was scooping snow up in her hands and patting it into a ball.

 

Oh no.

 

Two seconds later a ball of wet, icy, and very cold snow hit him squarely in the face.

 

Ichigo stood frozen as Rukia laughed like a child in the middle of the street. Her busy hands were already preparing another snowball as she giggled helplessly. Passers-by watched them curiously and shook their heads as Rukia aimed the second ball.

 

Ichigo shot from his position and dodged the oncoming ball, not willing to just sit around and be pelted with snowballs. Before he knew what he was doing his hands were diving into the snow and he was shaping himself a very firm ball of white fluff. “Payback time.” He growled as he hurled it in her direction.

 

His ball missed.

 

Damn midget was fast.

 

Another ball hit him on the back of his head and Rukia laughed from behind him.

 

“I used to whip Renji's ass at snowball fights every year.” She taunted him, juggling three premade snowballs—when did she even have time to make those?—in her hands. “You'll never beat me.”

 

A snowball hit her square in the face.

 

Ichigo grinned and tossed one ball up and down.

 

Rukia slowly wiped the remnants away from her face and raised one deadly eyebrow. “This means war.”

 

“Winner gets to pick the position?” Ichigo proposed, getting even more stares from people passing them.

 

Rukia grinned. “Hope you won't mind being my bitch.”

 

Ichigo smirked. “Hope you won't mind being tied up.”

 

Rukia just smiled. Ichigo knew that whether or not he won they'd both have an extremely good time afterwards.

 

*~*~*

 

Yuzu Kurosaki stared wide-eyed as she watched her brother engage in a snowball fight right in the middle of a public sidewalk.

 

“Zuzu…” Jinta sighed from beside her, “Come on, we've been here for twenty minutes already.”

 

“Shh!” She squeaked. “My brother might see us!”

 

Jinta observed the fight through the window. “He looks pretty preoccupied.”

 

“Exactly!” She whisper-screamed. “I don't think I've seen my brother get into a snowball fight since he was… since he was… well, since before Mom died.”

 

“Damn,” Jinta mumbled, “Guy must be in love.”

 

Yuzu grinned happily and turned to face her boyfriend. “My thinking exactly.”

 

Jinta raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “What do you have up your sleeve, Zu?”

 

“Oh nothing,” Yuzu giggled, secretly loving the fact that he called her `Zu' and `Zuzu.' “I was just thinking how nice it would be to see Rukia at our house for Christmas.”

 

“That should be entertaining.”

 

“You're coming too.”

 

“Aw shi—”

 

“Don't swear!”

 

“Shitake mushrooms,” he muttered, amending his statement quickly. “I was going to say shitake mushroom, Zu. Don't you need some of them for that dish you want to make?”

 

She gave him an exasperated look and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Come on,” she motioned to the door, “I don't really think they'll notice. Besides, I need to think of what I'm going to say to get little miss Rukia invited to our Christmas dinner.” She shrugged one shoulder, “It shouldn't be too hard… considering my dad loves her.”

 

Jinta smiled and threw his arm over his girlfriend's shoulder. She grasped his dangling hand and smiled. “You're sneaky,” he said, “I knew I liked you.”

 

“I like you too.” She said as they discretely exited the restaurant.

 

In the background, she heard her brother laugh as he pelted Rukia with another snowball.

 

Yuzu smiled as she walked.

 

 

 

 

(A/N: I decided to update this chapter a little bit earlier than normal because, as of last night, I got past page 700 of this particular fanfiction. I know… I told my mother and she asked me `I thought you said it was only going to be about 400 pages?' Um yeah. I'd originally planned that but… hey, plans change.

 

So, as celebration for reaching page 700 I decided to update. Actually, I only have about 60 more pages to go before I write the big The End. No need to worry though, you guys still have over 150 pages left before you get there.

 

Wow, I'm rambling on a bit. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!!!)