AN
Hi everyone! Here's another story, Ichiruki of course. I know I need variety, but there are plenty of people like me who just write about one couple. Maybe one day I'll branch out, but I'm still fairly new to FF, and anyway this is going to be my first continued and connected story. So, yay for that! Okay, I'll stop my chatter and let you read.
Disclaimer-I don't own Bleach (sad sigh). If I did, Rukia and Ichigo would've gotten together a LONG time ago. Screw romantic tension, I want lovin. Ironic really since this story is full of tension. Oh, but I do own my OOC'S.
Chapter One
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I DIDN'T GET IT!" Officer Lieutenant Ichigo Kurosaki slammed his fist on the desk in frustration. Sitting across from him, Commander Kenpachi Zaraki leveled him a hard glare. "I know damn well that you heard me and don't you yell in my office, boy." Ichigo scowled. "But I don't understand, I was supposed to be Captain." Kenpachi snorted. "Well your not. We found someone out of town with better credentials and she was chosen instead."
"SHE... SHE... WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE. I HAVE TO SERVE UNDER A GIRL!" Ichigo bellowed, leaping up and knocking his chair over in his haste. "DAMN IT BOY, I SAID STOP YELLING AND SIT YOUR ASS DOWN!" Kenpachi growled. All the energy seemed to seep out of the young man and he flopped back into the chair.
"Now, are you going to have a problem serving under a woman? Because if you are, I have no problem refilling your position," Kenpachi threatened. Ichigo was so shocked out of his mind, he could barely form a response. Finally, he nodded his head in acceptance.
That episode had happened a week ago, and yet, he still hadn't truly accepted it. As if that wasn't bad enough, he was now the talk of the town. Everywhere he turned people were gosiping about him. Nobody dared to spread rumors at the Urahara Boardinghouse, but Ichigo figured it was because his Aunt Yoruichi had threatened to take a spatula to the backside of any of his fellow boarders who so much as mentioned that he had been passed over for promotion, let alone that a woman from out of town was going to take the helm instead of him.
The worst part was that he couldn't understand how it had happened. He had always been Chief Jushiro Ukitake's right-hand man at the Karakura Police station, and hell, he had even been engaged to his daughter, Koyuki back in college. It hadn't worked out, but it had been fun while it lasted and neither held bad feelings. Well, at least she didn't anyway. As his thoughts ran rampent in his head, Ichigo arrived at the dreaded destination, Chief Ukitake's retirement party. The bad part wasn't seeing Jushiro or Kooyuki, it was everyone else.
Over the past week, Ichigo had heard many people betting on whether he would show his face or not at the party. And so, here he was, although he didn't plan to stay long. A half hour or so ought to do it, just long enough to say hello to all the people who might notice if he lacked the courage to show up. Luckily, he had to be back to the boardinghouse by nine to welcome a new boarder on behalf of his Aunt and Uncle who had plans that night. It was also lucky that his Aunt wouldn't be there. As soon as she had found out that the boarder was a woman, she had begun plans to set them up.
Ichigo appreciated the fact that she wanted to see him happy, but he'd rather find a woman on his own. Sighing in resignation, he climbed out of the car. As he pocketed his key and marched up the gravel walkway, Ichigo spotted a pair of slim, magnificent female legs moving at a good clip in front of him. At once he found himself checking out some impressive curves that not even the stylish wool coat could conceal.
Ichigo knew every woman in the police chief's life-there wasn't many-but for a moment he had trouble placing this one. The confidence of that saucy walk had him questioning his memory; besides, there was something different about the hair. Koyuki always wore her hair long and loose, the way he liked it. Tonight it was styled in classy waves that curled at the edges, and it was much shorter than he remembered, but it was still dark and thick and tempting. In fact, in the moonlight, it looked even silkier than Ichigo remembered. Koyuki looked more silky than he remembered her!
Womanhood had been good to her. The graceful way in which she moved compelled him in an alluring way. As Koyuki approached the porch where they'd exchanged fervent kisses so many times before, Ichigo felt an odd sense of deja vu. Was it posible that he still had deep feelings for her? Was that why he had never really found another woman to take her place? Was that why she looked so good to him-better then ever-after all this time?
He had so many fond memories to look back on with her. His favorite was their first kiss, which had happened under a beaming sun. She'd giggled ever after when he'd called her Sunshine. Suddenly, Ichigo realized that he did not want to greet her after so many years under the prying eyes of all the gossip-mongering busybodies in Karakura. Whatever they had to say to each other should be said outside in private. He jogged the last few yards between them, reaching Koyuki just as she pushed open the chain-link gate at the edge of the porch.
Because she seemed to be rushing, Ichigo reached out with a friendly arm to encircle her waist, about to say, "Hey, Sunshine, you never used to be in such a rush to go inside when I took you home." He got as far as "Hey, Sunshine" when the most amazing thing happened. Koyuki grabbed his elbow, jammed her hip into his leg and flipped him straight up and over the gate. Twisting sideways as he struggled to find his feet, Ichigo came down hard on the protruding edge of the chain-link. Raw steel ends clawed his jaw and shoulder, ripped his best suitcoat and bloodied a fair amount of skin before he hit the ground on his side. Gasping for breath, he rolled flat on his back before he caught a good look at his assailant's face.
She wasn't Koyuki! In a dizzying rush, Ichigo realized that this classy brunette was a total stranger. She was beautiful; she was petite; she was pulling a .38 Smith And Wesson out from underneath the left side of her coat. "Don't move a millimeter," she threatened in a dry tone. "Touch me again and your going to loose a vital part of your anatomy." "Lady, I wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole!" Ichigo grumbled, suddenly realizing that fear, not malice, had caused her to react so violently to a simple touch. This stunning female had obviously been trained in martial arts.
She'd also lived with the threat of urban crime or else had watched too many cop shows. "I'm a police Officer and I thought you were an old friend," Ichigo explained, too dazed to sort everything out. His voice sounded odd and hollow. "Sorry if I frightened you. Now can I please get off the ground?" To his surprise, the woman did not immediately except his explanation. She didn't even look embarrassed. In fact, on closer examination, he decided that her beautiful violet eyes looked more fierce than frightened. Sternly she ordered, "Show me your police ID. Slowly."
Ichigo was too angry to be scared, but he didn't like the way she kept that gun trained on him. "Good God, you could shoot someone with that thing, lady." He dug out his ID and pushed it a few inches towards her. "Do you have a permit for that piece?" He didn't ask her if she knew how to use it, it was obvious that she knew all too well. She barely glanced at his identification, unreadable in the darkness, before she barked, "What's your badge number?"
Not his name, his badge number. A curiously eerie feeling, worse than the pain now coursing through his back, began to creep over Ichigo. How many women were so well versed in self-defense, handled a sidearm like a pro and instinctively asked questions like that? Now that he was regaining his equilibrium, he realized what all the signs were pointing to. She was a cop. She was also a rare beauty; she bore no resemblance to the woman who had gotten his former partner killed.
This lady was a tiny thing, her raven locks blowing in the wind. She looked about five foot one or two (if she lost the heels), petite and slim, with high, sculptured cheekbones and infuriatingly well-curved lips. Even in his current situation, Ichigo found it hard to ignore her femininity. He didn't want to think about the effect she could have on him if she ever traded in that scowl for a dazzling smile. Ichigo told her his number, then added darkly, "Lieutenant Ichigo Kurosaki, Karakura Police Department. Go ask my Chief. He's inside."
"Lieutenant Kurosaki," the husky voice countered, "Chief Jushiro Ukitake is now retired and the Karakura Police Department he ran for seventeen years no longer exists. You now represent the Seiretei County establishment. Kenpachi Zaraki is your regional Commander and Captain Rukia Kuchiki will be taking over the Karakura substation." She sheathed the gun in a shoulder holster he hadn't noticed underneath the coat. "I would advise you to commit that to memory, Lieutenant." Ichigo felt the anger boil up inside of him and reach the exploding point. Who the hell did this midget of a woman think he was? "I know who Kenpachi Zaraki is, damn it!" he spat. She looked him over cooly. "Is that so?" "Yes, that's so."
The two glared at each other for awhile until the brunette had the gall to offer a hand to help him up. Ichigo ignored it. Still steaming, he struggled to get up on his own, but when his wobbly knees gave out he plopped back onto the ground. "I'm Captain Kuchiki, Lieutenant," the beauty informed him, her tone dripping with superiority. Ichigo looked away, his face growing hot. He was not a man to be embarrassed easily, but he knew that only a miracle would save him from the whole damn town's discovery of his humiliation. It was bad enough that the brunette was a strikingly beautiful woman who had gotten the better of him.
Under any circumstances, Ichigo would've hated laying here on the ground, dizzy and wounded with a looker like that standing over him. Knowing that she was the one who'd hurt him, knowing that she was his new boss, knowing that she had stolen the job that was rightfully his and would lord it over him- lady it over him-for as long as she lasted in Karakura, it was just too damn much! Before anything else could be said, the door to the house burst open and none other than Jushiro Ukitake stepped out. "We thought we heard somebody out here. Glad you found the place alright, Captain." Then, after a sharp breath, "What the devil-" "Lieutenant Kurosaki had a little accident," his new captain said bluntly, her husky voice devoid of humor or concern. "He's bleeding."
The next few minutes were a nightmare for Ichigo. Jushiro called out, "Somebody get Doctor Retsu Unohana out here!" and rushed over to his side. "Ichigo, are you okay?" "I'm fine," he answered flatly, wishing Jushiro would stop fussing before he made things worse. But his thoughts were in vain. Koyuki came bounding down the porch after her father and stopped short once she caught sight of Ichigo. And then she started in on him in that loud, dramatic and whiny voice like she used to back when he injured himself playing sports. "Ichigo! Oh, Ichigo, your bleeding! Let Doctor Retsu take a look at you and-" "Oh for Pete's sake," Ichigo exploded, finally managing to struggle to his feet.
His spine ached and the gash on his face was bleeding, but he was pissed. Waving his arms at the crowd that had gathered (no thanks to Koyuki) he shouted, "I, am, fine. Now will everyone just go back to what they were doing and leave me alone, please!" "But Ichigo-" "Listen, I'm going to go," Ichigo announced, ignoring Koyuki. "Aunt Yoruichi wants me to meet some damn boarder at home by nine. I just stopped by to say hello to Koyuki, goodbye to the Chief and to meet Captain Kuchiki. I guess I've done all three so if you don't mind-"
"It won't seem right without you here, Ichigo," protested Shunsui Kyoraku, a former chief of police, a fellow Uraharas' boarder and a member of the town's council. The tone of his voice said more than his words- Shunsui still felt guilty for voting in favor of merging the Karakura and Seireitei Police Departments, even though he'd explained to Ichigo in detail why Karakura's financial situation demanded it. Ichigo was certain that neither Shunsui nor anybody else on the council would've ever guessed that the regional commander would bring in outside talent to run Karakura's police force in the wake of Jushiro's retirement. As Shunsui studied Rukia Kuchiki in the dim porch light, Ichigo read the same look of dismay on the old man's face that he was sure was planted firmly on his own countenance.
"Ichigo, I thought we'd have a chance to talk," Koyuki said quietly, so quietly in fact that he was sure no one else could hear her except for the nearby Captain. "I haven't seen you in years." Ichigo spared his old flame a glance, trying to remember why he had thought there was still some lingering seed of love for her within him. Oh, she was still very pretty in an obvious way; she had gained weight in all the right places and her flowing, long black hair cascaded down past her waist. But she was still a stranger who had chosen another man over him not so long ago, and he knew that his earlier momentary fantasy had nothing to do with her. Trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice he said, "Sorry Koyuki, but I'm busy. Why don't you go talk to Ginnosuke." She flinched away from him as if he had slapped her, and in a tiny voice said, "Sorry for bothering you," before walking away.
Ichigo felt a momentary pang of guilt, but it quickly vanished when he caught the curious eye of his new "captain". He glared at her and she raised her eyebrows haughtily in response. "Are you feeling up to driving, Lieutenant? I can ask one of the other officers to take you home," she said in a buisnesslike tone. "I can take care of myself, Captain," he snapped. If she had been a man, he would have been hard-pressed to keep from decking her. But he had been raised to be gentle with women and to respect his boss. Still, he wasn't used to the raging fury that was strangling him at this moment. It was something new and terrible, a beast he knew he must learn to subdue.
Captain Kuchiki, rebuttoning her coat, had the nerve to look downright pretty as she brushed past Ichigo without another word and followed everyone else inside. While the sounds of laughter from inside the house drifted out to his still-red ears, Ichigo limped towards his truck. On the street he ran into two more late arrivals-Sergeant Renji Abarai and tubby Marechiyo Omaeda from the station-but he quickly ducked inside his car before they could see that he had been roughed up. Tomorrow would be soon enough for them to start their ribbing. By the time he turned on the ignition, the scrapes on Ichigo's jaw had clotted, but his back hurt worse than ever. He'd broken up barroom brawls with less pain and certainly much less humiliation! By morning, every damn soul in Karakura would know how Ichigo Kurosaki had been bested by the new female Captain who had been hired instead of him. The gouges on his face would heal a lot sooner than the scars on his pride.
Rukia stayed at the party longer than she had intended, not because she was having fun-she wasn't-and not because she thought courtesy demanded it. It was Jushiro Ukitake's moment of honor, and in a town this size she was sure that everyone would be here. Rukia wanted to study those people with great care, just in case the need ever arose to identify a future suspect, as well as to familiarize herself with the faces. Like the other cops for instance. Lieutenant Kurosaki had only lived here since High School according to her sources, but his family had lived here for generations. That piece of information might be significant.
So might the fact that Kurosaki had been involved with Ukitake's daughter, and not just because it had provided the catalyst for his unfortunate first meeting with Rukia. If only that handsome man had been able to read her mind! If only he had guessed how terrible she felt about embarrassing him, how frightened she'd been by the way he had lunged at her, how his virility had unnerved her even after he'd quelled her fears by revealing that he was a cop! She'd done everything in her power to fool him with her tough-as-leather facade, and she hoped that she had succeeded. She would need a full set of armor to run the Karakura substation and get all those rowdy men in line.
Everything Rukia had heard about Ichigo Kurosaki- and everything she had read in his file-caused her to believe that he was a man of powerful convictions, keen loyalties and devoted to his fellow police officers. Under normal circumstances, Rukia would have looked forward to working with him. But she sensed a hostility in him that warned her he was going to be hard to control. Commander Zaraki had even confessed that he still had high hopes for the Lieutenant's career. Kenpachi Zaraki was a bit of a chauvinist, and so Rukia had glowed when he told her that she had earned his respect since she had moved from Rukongai to Seireitei.
Living under the same roof with Kurosaki would certainly make it easier to ascertain where his loyalties lie, but after that chaotic first meeting, their living situation would soon prove to be a strain for the both of them. Rukia was not disheartened. She'd devoted her life to the badge and she had police work in her blood. From birth, her father had urged her (well, almost commanded her), "You will uphold the Kuchiki name; Do nothing to sully it and stay on the path of honor and duty", so she had devoted her life to doing just that. His death in the line of duty had only strengthened her determination. Rukia's courage, however, did little to squelch the butterflies in her stomach as she rang the doorbell of the Urahara Boardinghouse.
The door was opened on the first ring, which surprised Rukia. The sight of the man on the other side of the door surprised her even more. He was wearing low-slung jeans, thick socks without shoes and a sweatshirt. Droplets of water clung to his freshly washed and wild orange hair; droplets of blooded oozed from three deep gouges on his face. He was about 6 feet; long and lean. His deep brown eyes sparkled with fun and his square jaw was softened by deep dimples when he smiled. It was the kind of smile that could make a woman forget everything else in the world. Rukia found herself wrestling with her memory.
"Hi, there! I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, Yoruichi Urahara's nephew," he greeted her cheerfully, reaching out for the suitcase in her hand. "She asked me to roll out the red carpet and give you the grand tour. Did you have any trouble finding the place?" Rukia stared at him, wondering if Kurosaki had dual personalities. What a joy to find him so forgiving, so friendly, so... So damn male! With a jolt she realized that the man's dimpled smile was triggering an unexpected female response within her, one that she always tried hard to surpress especially around other policemen. Rukia had an uneasy hunch that she was safer with this man when he was angry, but it would be cowardly to provoke him for no apparent reason.
It turned out that any subterfuge was totally unnecessary. The instant she stepped into the lighted hallway, the smile on Ichigo Kurosaki's face froze, before being replaced in earnest with a scowl. "Your Aunt's directions were quite clear, Lieutenant," Rukia said neutrally, keeping a firm hold on the suitcase. "I can carry my own things, thank you." Rukia didn't know why it hurt so much to see Kurosaki change so drastically right before her eyes. She didn't know this man and couldn't afford to like him. But she'd been spellbound by his cheerful greeting when he had assumed she was an utter stranger; and now he was smoldering because he realized they'd met before.
"Captain Kuchiki?" His tightly controled tone could not conceal the fury that was now raging in his eyes. "My aunt didn't mention her new lodger's name. I didn't realize that the new police Captain would be-" "Invading your home?" His lips tightened at her bluntness and Rukia regretted the hard words almost instantly. But at least this would help clear the air about their respective positions. Sooner or later, they would have it out over the way she'd been brought in to take over the job he had expected. Better to do it in private than in front of the men. They would all take his side. One to one, she had a better chance of victory.
"Captain Kuchiki, you are free to live wherever you like. I was just... surprised to find out that you were the new boarder. My information was incomplete." He spoke the words with calculated indiference. "I don't like to advertise my private life, Lieutenant," Rukia told him. She didn't need to add the obvious- that she'd deliberately avoided revealing the nature of her job to chatty Yoruichi Urahara when they had made arrangements over the phone. "I don't have much off-duty time, but when I do, I like it to be all mine." "I feel the same way." "Good," she said stoutly. "Then we have something in common."
Kurosaki glanced away. He was fuming, she was sure of that, but trying to show respect. Rukia had to admire that-even more than she had to admire those massive shoulders. Still, she couldn't afford to let his hidden anger smolder. "We have something else in common, Lieutenant. We both want the job that I came here to do." His harsh gaze swung back on her. "Captain, I am doing my damnedest to be courteous to you. Why the hell are you baiting me?" "I don't want you sandbagging me when we're on the job, Lieutenant Kurosaki," she told him truthfully. "I came here to run the Karakura substation to the best of my ability, and I will-with or without you. But as long as you remain here, we will have to work closely together. Whatever you have against me, I'd rather you get it out now." When he stared at her for a long, bitter moment, Rukia had a sense of what it would feel like to be a criminal collared by this man.
His body was a solid wall of muscle that looked as if he maintained it at a gym. Rukia was rarely ever intimidated by a man's physical strength, but this big guy had her struggling to keep her breathing even. And that was unusual considering the fact that not even Commander Zaraki on a bad day intimidated her like this. Suddenly, Rukia had a feeling that it would not be easy to control him, physically or mentally. She'd flipped him over that fence only because he'd been oblivious to danger. She would never catch him off guard again. With slow, measured anger, he closed the door behind her.
"On behalf of my Aunt and Uncle, welcome to Urahara Boardinghouse, Captain Kuchiki," he said as tonelessly as a robot repeating a coded message. Coldly he turned from the door and began to walk towards the back of the house, continuing to talk as she followed him. "Breakfast is served at seven and dinner is served at six. There's a refrigerator and a microwave that you are free to use as long as you clean up after yourself. The living room is for everyone. So is the phone. The den is off limits unless you are invited in." He started climbing the back stairs, two at a time, and Rukia found it hard to keep up with his long, angry strides while dragging the heavy suitcase she had refused to let him take from her.
He took half a dozen steps down the hallway, then dug in his pocket. "This is the key to the front door. This is the key to your room." He dropped them both in to her hand, being careful not to make contact with her skin. Then he opened the door to her room and gestured for her to go inside. With relief, Rukia saw that the room was well-kept and charming. On the old four-poster lay a quilt, although it was a bit old and worn. That was okay. Witha small smile, Rukia thought of the only girly thing she allowed herself, her bunny-printed comforter that she had brought along.
There was also a braided rug on the ground. Before Rukia could comment on the vase of flowers and note she spotted on the nightstand, Ichigo marched over to the door on the opposite side of the room and pulled it open, revealing an equally quaint bathroom. "This is the bath. You share it with the lodger on the other side." He pulled open the door on the far side as if to prove his point, but Rukia could see little of the other room. When Ichigo took a stiff step and grimaced, Rukia felt a sharp need to offer an apology for the way she had treated him earlier. As a woman who prided herself on her quiet compassion and tact, Rukia found it hard to keep from showing concern. "Any questions?" he asked brusquely, interrupting her thoughts. Will you always hate me? Will all the other Karakura cops hate me, too? Will I ever get to see those incredible dimples again?
Aloud she said, "No, Lieutenant. Thank you. Good night." "Good night," he said, moving cautiously as he went through the far door. It took Rukia a moment to realize the significance of that simple act. He's the boarder living next to me! she realized in dismay. We'll be sharing the same bathroom! She had already known that it would be hard to live with him, but this was ridiculous. Resolutely, she closed and locked the door separating them before going over to read the note. It started personally-
Dear Rukia,
I'm sorry we couldn't be there to greet you personally, but we'll be there in the morning to help you with whatever you need. In the meantime, you can count on my nephew to make you snug as a bug in a rug. Isn't he adorable? He's Karakura's finest police officer, and single too! I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to get acquainted. We're so glad to have you with us. Just make yourself at home.
Yoruichi Urahara
Rukia fought back a lump in her throat. Mrs. Urahara would never know just how much it meant to her to know that at least one person did sincerely welcome her here. The officers she'd met at the Ukitakes' had made it abundantly clear that they had been hoping for Ichigo Kurosaki as their Captain. And Kurosaki himself (why the hell did he have to be so handsome, and why the hell did he have to greet her with that damn smile) was probably already making devious tactical plans to oust her. Wearily, she began to unpack the things she would need for the first few days- her uniforms, a warm robe, jeans, sweatshirts and sturdy ties she would use to keep her shoulder-length hair pinned up in a neat bun when she was on duty.
Near the bottom of the suitcase, she found her beloved comforter, and folded securely within it, a glossy framed eight-by ten photo of her father in uniform, taken shortly before his death. He looked serene as ever, almost as expressionless as he had been in life, but nonetheless, Rukia felt his confidence in his only child buoy her. "I'll do it, father," she said softly. "I'm going to make you proud." She touched his face through the cold glass, then placed the frame on top of the desk, removed her gun from its holster and laid it next to the flowers. Quickly, she took down her hair, shed her heels and peeled off her stockings.
She was standing in her bare feet, still wearing the black slinky dress and shoulder holster when she heard a knock on the adjoining bathroom door. "Yes?" she asked as she opened it uneasily. Rukia was not used to being in such close proximity with a hostile stranger. Maybe he had come to clear the air, she told herself hopefully. Belatedly, Rukia realized that she truly did not want to go to bed in a strange place with her housemate and second in command furious with her. Maybe she could make amends. But the minute she caught sight of him; his square jaw still a bit bloody; his brown eyes dark with rage, Rukia knew it was way too late for reconciliation. As she gazed up, up, up to meet his hard glare, she suddenly wished she still had on her 3 inch heels. Then, maybe her modest height of five foot two wouldn't feel so dwarfed compared to him. Back in High School, she had only been about 4 foot eight, and to her great annoyance, no one had taken her seriously. So she had been ecstactic a few years later when she had finally grown enough not to be mistaken for a child. However, looking up at Kurosaki now, Rukia wished she was a lot taller so that he wouldn't be able to intimidate her with his size. "Captain Kuchiki, I've changed my mind. There is something I'd like to say to you," Kurosaki said flatly, his size seeming to fill the room. "I'm damn proud to be a Karakura cop, and that's not going to change. Reguardless of what Zaraki says, if you can't stand to work with me-" his tone grew feral, "-then your the one who will have to move on." Rukia fought back a shiver and stared at him disdainfully. "How nice of you to finally reveal your true feelings. But don't you forget, Lieutenant, that I'm the one who's in charge here. Now get out of my room!" He did as she asked without another word, slamming the door behind him. Sudden weariness overcame Rukia and she collapsed tiredly onto her comfortable bunny cover. Closing her eyes, she felt a headache coming on. It looked as if the war between her and Ichigo Kurosaki had just begun.
AN
Yay, it's done. That was long wasn't it. Let me tell you, it took forever to write. But it was fun and I hoped you guys enjoyed it. So don't forget to tell me what you think on your way out, and sorry for any mistakes.