**Hello! This is my first fan fiction up on , so bear with me ^^ I realized that there isn't a fan fiction for the pairing Riruka and Shukuro, so I decided to write it! I can't guarantee updates will be fast, but I'll try to update as much as I can! I am also going to post my Ulquihime fanfic on here since it's already typed up on Deviant Art and what not! Enjoy!**


Chapter One

- Let the Games Begin -

It was because of the fact that normally no one visited her house during normal circumstances did she keep her guard down, and also not expect anyone by her porch—did she jump and scream as loud she did upon seeing the man perched on her porch reading.

He was reading in such a peaceful manner, flipping the delicate pages with his slender digits as a strand of hair fell down to his face. He was behaving as if this were an everyday routine, completely normal for the both of them.

By now the female figured this was his favorite method of appearing—making a sly, casual entrance while reading his book.

She noticed how it was still the same title, that one tiny book that was able to be tucked away into his breast pocket, or his pants pockets.

There was a strong urge to go and kick the other off, demanding to know what in the world he had wanted from her. But the shock that had settled inside of her was too great to think past the how.

"You-!" She choked out, eyes widened in fear and her mouth ajar.

At first he didn't move, aside from the small movements of his fingers to turn the page.

Then suddenly his head perked up, his delayed reaction forming. He looked to the wrong side at first, and then turned to meet her eyes.

She didn't fail to see the usual mysterious, yet cynical look in his brown gaze. His eyes looked empty and emotionless. Cold.

"Riruka-chan." His soft, melody-like voice spoke, the corners of his lips curling up in the slightest. As usual, the smile did not reach his eyes.

She didn't reply right away. Or rather, she couldn't. It was already too much to see the male on her porch, but to see he was alive after having witnessed his death was too much information to take in.

"How did you—" Was all she could manage. She decided it'd suffice for the time being. She knew that if she were to complete the sentence, either way there was a chance she wouldn't get her answer.

And deep inside, she knew the question wasn't necessary, just as much as the answer. How are you alive? How did you get here? Those were all irrelevant. What mattered was that he was somehow alive, and here. She just wasn't sure how to act. She wasn't sure if she was happy that he was back—or mad that someone who had caused her a lot of trouble had returned. No one deserved to die, and so she was happy for him in that sense. But even so, why did he appear here of all places?

The grim look she had once used to greet him with returned as her brows creased. "Tsukishima."

With ease, the tall male was off the porch fence with a small landing of his feet touching the ground softly, his book closing with a light thud. "I am pleased to hear that I was no forgotten."

Her eyes narrowed at him as she slowly closed the door behind her, not daring to look away. "Sadly, no." She replied bitterly.

A small chuckle emitted from his lips as he began to walk closer to the shorter individual. "Cruel as usual, Riruka-chan. What have I done to you?"

"That's my line." She gritted through her teeth.

He stopped in a spot correspondent to her, his eyebrows raising in question. "Oh? Have I done something to have caused your hatred?" He tucked his book into his breast pocket.

She couldn't believe what he was saying. After all he'd done, he was asking what.

Growing annoyed, the female zipped around and headed out to the streets to walk out of her neighborhood and into the city.

Her plan had been to get rid of the male as she walked, but it didn't go as planned when he kept following.

She ignored the sound of his footsteps as she stomped forward with her fists clenched. Her original schedule for the day had consisted of waking up and going to Mister Donut for breakfast, but it appeared as if things were a bit changed.

She stopped walking, and frowned. Why should he ruin her plans? He couldn't just march in like that and ruin her day! She just wouldn't have it.

Picking up her pace she stormed through the crowded city to the one store she visited as often as her bathroom—Mister Donut.

To her dismay, the male had managed to follow along—while reading his book nonetheless—and had the audacity to cut her in line.

A frustrated scream left her lips as she stomped once onto the ground hard with her boots. She crossed her arms across her chest and felt her face grow hot with her anger.

He chuckled; highly entertained by the reactions he was receiving due to his own actions. Although the male never struck Riruka as a man to enjoy sweets, he seemed to have no intentions of stepping out of the line and giving the spot in line that was supposed to belong to her.

Riruka did not speak a word, silently shooting daggers at him with her eyes as she chewed at the inside of her cheek. His back was turned to her, so unfortunately the male wasn't able to see her animosity.

The line moved on slow, but finally reached the male's turn. Surprisingly, the male turned around to face her. "Choose." He ordered.

She gave him a strange look, not understanding his sudden command. He had stolen her spot on line, and was asking her to choose his doughnuts?

"Choose your own." She snapped, irritated by his boldness. If there was one thing that ticked her off, it was when someone messed around with her doughnuts.

"But I am asking you to choose." He replied, gesturing to the arrangement of pastries behind the counter. "I couldn't choose them myself. I find doughnuts rather trifling."

"Then move aside if you're not ordering." She said curtly, pushing him aside with her hand and moving up to the counter. When he didn't move in her desired amount, she bumped her hips with his and caused him to slightly stumble back.

To be accurate, he simply felt pushed into moving so he had moved back out of his own will. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he remained silent.

The shorter female proceeded to order a dozen doughnuts, quickly forgetting her anger and only focusing on her current happiness.

When the pastries were filled into the box, the worker told her the price and placed her box in a bag. But the female had already taken out the exact cash and was about to pay when suddenly her hand was pushed away.

The same hand that had pushed away hers took her bag of doughnuts, and paid the worker the money.

That hand belonged to Tsukishima.

"Oi!" She snapped, reaching her limit. "What do you think you're doing—"

Tsukishima grabbed her thin wrist and pulled her away from the counter without a word. Before the worker could shout out "You forgot the change" or something along those lines, he waved a free hand at them dismissively while saying, "Keep the change!" and pulling Riruka away.

Riruka tried to snatch her hand away but the effort was feeble. His large hand was wrapped securely around her wrist. "Let me go!" She barked, resorting in verbal complains until she decided to smack his arm.

He didn't reply, completely disregarding her words and smacks to his arm.

Finally when they reached an isolated area of the store, he forced her to sit in the empty booth.

"Ow!" She complained, glaring at him before she got up to leave.

He was quick to stop her, grabbing onto her wrist again. "Stay."

She gaped at him, then yanked her hand away, this time succeeding. "What makes you think I'll stay?" She demanded.

"If you leave, these doughnuts will go to a waste." He replied.

"Like I care! It was your money!" She pointed out, again trying to leave.

This time she was yanked down to sit, the male looking clearly unamused. "Stay." He repeated firmly, his empty eyes looking scarier than usual for a split second.

She began to sputter out a response, but gave up after trying to form the second word, huffing at the end and facing the window in defeat. "Hmph."

"Good." The male smiled, going into the bag and taking the box of doughnuts out. He opened the box and placed it in front of her. "Take. They are yours."

She merely glanced at them before looking away. "No." No matter how much she wanted them, she wouldn't. Only because he was the one who had bought them.

He stared at her, already seeing through her behavior. "Riruka-chan, stop being childish and take one. You know you're hungry."

And on cue, her stomach growled. Face heating up, she snatched a doughnut from the box without even looking to see which one. "Ittadakimasu." She grumbled under her breath before biting into it.

The male chuckled and watched her eat with his elbow propped on the table, holding his face. The female ate while strictly facing the window.

"What happened to your love for me, Riruka-chan?" He asked. "Were we not lovers?"

"Who knows? Maybe that was only your Fullbring messing with me." Riruka replied, uninterested with the conversation topic.

"And if it weren't?" he asked.

She stopped chewing, and faced him with a scowl. "It was, so don't ask such a thing." She said, strongly emphasizing the 'was'. "And it is."

As if the male hadn't heard a single word she had said, he reached over and stroke a thumb across her cheeks, brushing against the corner of her lips.

She flinched from the touch, and frowned.

He pulled his hand away and casually licked his thumb before explaining. "You had a piece of frosting on you."

Her eye twitched. "I could have done it myself."

"Oh? But I'd have preferred doing it myself…- Unless you'd have it that I did it with somewhere more pleasing for the both of us instead?"

She wasn't stupid. What his words implied were nothing innocent and short of mischief. The smirk on his lips didn't doubt his words either. With a squeak of embarrassment and dislike, she dropped her doughnut into the box and turned her entire body to face the window.

"But I would not do such, for I respect you. However, is it still hard to believe we were lovers?" He asked, trying to get her attention once more.

Truth be told, she wasn't too sure anymore. She was confused. She had originally thought that the both of them being lovers were a triggered memory by his Fullbring, but the way he acted around her countered it. Just what did he want from her?

"What will it take to prove it to you?" He asked.

Honestly, she didn't know. She knew she didn't exactly want him around. But at the same time, she did because even if she wouldn't admit it, she missed the old days of Xcution. He was the closest to the real home she could ask for.

"Just... Try to convince me somehow." She was speaking before she fully snapped out of her thoughts. "I'll give you six months. If you can't convince me by then, you have to leave me alone."

"How will I know whether or not I have convinced you?"

"I-if I fall in love with you, you win." She bit her lip.

From the corner of her eyes she saw his eyebrows arch high. "Interesting… But how will I know that?"

"Y-you won't!" She snapped facing him abruptly. "And i-it's not like I'll admit it t-to y-you either so you won't be aware!"

"…" He stared at her silently, scrutinizing her before a small smile took over his lips. "Amusing. Yes, let's do it."


**Well, did you enjoy it? I really hope you did! It's my first time writing on here so hopefully you'll give me a chance ehe. But yes. Thanks for the read! Feel free to leave comments below on whether I should continue or not! Feedback always helps.**