Ichigo and Rukia in the beginning of Bleach obviously have some sort of buried feeling for each other, but they cover it up with layers of protection, trying to hide it. I'm planning for it to come out, maybe spectacularly, so its going to be a long one. Again, please look forward to it! And review please, give some comment even if you didn't like it.

Strictly Business

Chapter 1 – Black coffee

Ichigo stared into his cup of black coffee.

"Dammit Rukia..." he thought, sipping it sourly. He hated black coffee, but it was the cheapest thing he could order while he waited for Rukia. Ichigo propped his head up on his hand and sighed. "This is such a waste of my christmas holiday. Although," he thought, smirking to himself, "that waitress was kinda cute..."

Ichigo was starting to get nervous "Where the hell could she be? It's not like she has anything else to do..." he thought, turning around to see if she might be sitting somewhere else.

"Ichigo..."

Ichigo jumped, and then looked back across the table to see Rukia sitting right in front of him.

"Yaa!" Ichigo shouted, throwing his arms up in front of his face. Rukia gave a little grin

"Oi, Rukia, you shouldn't do that..." he whispered, a little surprised.

"Hehe... Ohayou, Ichigo" Rukia said, with a smile.

"Eh?" Ichigo said with one eyebrow raised very high. That was not Rukia, something was funny today.

Ichigo leaned back in his chair and looked disinterested. He looked away mumbled, "Ne Rukia, remind me what we're doing here again?"

"Just trust me," Rukia said, sipping her thick strawberry milkshake.

Ichigo's eyebrow flew up again.

"Wha... when did you get that?" Ichigo blurted out. Rukia ignored him.

"I suppose you could call it hunting hollows. We can't just sit at home and wait for hollows to start tearing chunks out of buildings. We've had a few warnings around here, so I thought..." Ichigo was trying his best to look disinterested again, but he kept a check on Rukia out the corner of his eyes. He was wondering where that milkshake came from... and if he'd have to pay for it.

"Well... I suppose you're right." he said.

Rukia suddenly perked up again.

"So Ichigo, if we're going to sit here all day we might as well order something to eat." she said, looking at Ichigo intently. "In any case," she said, shifting her glance, "I think it would be good to sit down and relax a bit. You've been working so hard lately, always fighting and... killing. You know that they are more busy around the Christmas holidays.You look so tired... I was starting to get a bit worried". Rukia managed a hollow little laugh.

Ichigo sat up for a moment. He didn't really know what to say to that. It was odd, but Ichigo could swear felt a little warmer inside knowing that Rukia cared at least a little for him. He had been fighting hollows for so long, maybe Rukia was right. Maybe he needed to take a break to relax for a little while.

"Mnm..." Ichigo mumbled affirmatively. He's grown used to her care, she was always there to look to when Ichigo's eyes flew open wide in surprise and he didn't know what to do. He felt safe having Rukia there beside him to guide his sometimes shaky hand, even though he always denied it. He didn't know it, but Rukia could see through his tough skin and his attempts at convincing her that he always knew what he was doing. He appreciated her, maybe more than anyone else, although looking at Rukia idly sipping away at her pink milkshake, he could never imagine telling her.