Ichigo walked to her house, her bag was close to her body. She walked to the front door and unlocked it with her strawberry key, her friend Renji thought it would be funny, she opened the door she was greeted with a brown cat sitting patiently for her. Ichigo removed her coat and placed her bag on the small table next to the door, she threw her keys into a bowl and picked up the brown cat. She turned on the light in the kitchen, she placed the cat on the counter and grabbed a glass of the self she filled it with water and turned to the cat.
"You will never guess what I had to deal with at work today." Ichigo said the cat's ear twitched and then the cat looked at the white cat walking into the kitchen. "How nice of you to join us Shiro." Ichigo rolled her eyes, she hopped onto the counter. Shiro jumped up and pushed at the brown cat. Ichigo glared at the cats. The brown cat swatted at Shiro and Shiro fell off the counter. Ichigo laughed.
"That's what you get for messing with Zangetsu." Ichigo said, her house phone rang then. Ichigo ignored it and walked into the living room. The phone stopped ringing and Ichigo's voice rang throughout the house.
'This is Ichigo Kurosaki I'm not home right now so leave a message.' BEEP a sigh came over then a 'Hey Ichigo it's Renji. I wanted to let my best friend know Rukia said yes. Guess your not home from work yet, who knew selling flowers could be such hard work. Anyways give me a call.'
"Can't believe they are getting married." Ichigo mumbled. She walked over to the phone and picked it up and dialed a familiar number.
"Hello?"
"Hey Renji."
"Ichigo. That was quick."
"Yeah, I just missed your call, so Rukia said yes?"
"Yeah, but she said I have to talk to her brother and get his approval before I can actually marry her."
"That sucks."
"Yeah I am meeting him tomorrow."
"Have fun with that."
"Ichigo? What are you doing tomorrow?"
"No."
"Ichigo please, it wont be that bad maybe he is hot, you can soften him up. Look Rukia and I are meeting him tomorrow at Benihime. You know right across from your flower shop so you can come."
"Renji I don't think it is a good-"
"Thanks Ichigo you're the best." The phone clicked and Ichigo placed it back in the socket.
"Renji, the next time I see you, you better prey it's not alone." Ichigo mumbled before heading to her room. Zangetsu followed after her, while Shiro sneaked behind Zangetsu pouncing on him when Ichigo enter her room. The two cats rolled around and hissed at each other. "I guess you two don't want to hear what's happening tomorrow." Shiro instantly looked up at Ichigo, Ichigo crawled into bed while the cats jumped up. Shiro sat in front of her face while Zangetsu laid next to her feet.
"Renji set me up on a blind date with Rukia's older brother for tomorrow." Ichigo said. Shiro growled and laid down next to Ichigo's face. Ichigo chuckled and petted the cat behind his ears. Zangetsu mewed, Ichigo rubbed his ear with her toe and the three fell asleep.
Ichigo woke up the next morning, she got in the shower and let the water run down her back. She washed her body and rinsed off, she wrapped her towel around her body and stepped out. She walked to her closet and pulled out a pair of light jeans and a purple blouse, she placed the outfit on her bed and walked back into the bathroom she brushed her teeth and apply light make up on. She walked back into her bedroom and got dressed, she went to her jewelry box, and grabbed out the heart-shaped necklace and two sliver hoops. Once she had everything in order she left her room, she walked to the kitchen and fed her cats. She walked to the door and put on her black flats, she grabbed her black jacket and her black bag and keys.
"Be good!" She called into the house before she left. Ichigo walked down the streets. She stopped at the flower shop and unlocked the door, she pushed the door open and the ringing of a bell sounded her arrival. She walked to the back and place her bag and keys on a desk, she pulled off her jacket and placed it on the back of the chair. She grabbed a green apron and walked back into the flower shop portion. She was tying her apron on when the bell chimed, she looked at the door. A blonde woman came in, Ichigo smiled at one of her workers.
"Good Morning Kira." Ichigo said, the blonde smiled.
"Good morning Ichigo." The bell chimed again and a small white haired woman came in.
"Toshiro, good morning." Ichigo stated, the white-haired woman rolled her eyes. Toshiro walked over to the green aprons and grabbed one, Kira and Toshiro were tying on their aprons when the bell chimed.
"Hello, welcome to Kurosaki flowers. Can I help you with anything?" Ichigo said looking at the door. A muscular man with blue hair was standing there bewildered, Ichigo walked over to the man. "Sir? Can I help you with anything?"
"So it is true?" the man said, Ichigo was flabbergasted.
"I'm sorry?" Ichigo asked the man looked Ichigo up and down. Ichigo looked towards Kira and Toshiro, they both shrugged their shoulders.
"Oh nothing. A couple of guys at work said a smoking hot babe ran this flower shop and I wanted to see if it was true. And it is." the man said. "The name is Grimmjow."
"You came into my flower shop with no intentions of buying flowers?" Ichigo said, Grimmjow smirked.
"No I would like a dozen red roses." Grimmjow said. Ichigo rolled her eyes then went to the rose section. She turned around with a dozen roses.
"12 dollars." Ichigo said, Grimmjow reached into his wallet and grabbed a 20 dollar bill. "I'll get you your change." Ichigo said, she walked over to the cash register and punch in a number and the drawer opened. She grabbed a 5 dollar bill and 3 one dollar bills.
"There you go, have a nice day." Ichigo said handing the man his change. The man smirked at Ichigo one more time and then left. Renji walked in as the man left, Kira greeted him with a smile.
"Hello Renji." Kira said, Ichigo stood straight and glared at Renji. "How's miss Kuchiki?"
"Soon to be Mrs. Abarai." Renji smiled. Kira beamed at him.
"Renji, what the hell do you think you are doing here." Ichigo said, Renji turned his attention to his best friend.
"Can you please do this for me? I've never asked you for anything." Renji pleaded, Ichigo rolled her eyes.
"I am not going to flirt with Rukia's older brother so he will accept you. Win him over by yourself." Ichigo said. Kira glared lightly at Ichigo, Kira walked over to Ichigo and placed her hands on Ichigo's shoulders.
"Ichigo how can you turn down a chance to help your best friend. Plus you love meeting new people." Kira said, Renji smirked. Ichigo rolled her eyes.
"Renji is the one who wants to marry Rukia he should win over her brother on his own." Ichigo said. Kira rolled her eyes.
"Ichigo we both know Renji can't do this alone." Kira said, Renji frowned.
"Hey!" Renji growled. Kira ignored him.
"He can't possibly win over a world class novelist without the help of his lovely assistant." Kira and Ichigo both looked at Renji and shared a similar look. "Ichigo if he didn't love this girl he wouldn't bother you with trying to win over this novelist."
"Why do you keep mentioning he is a novelist?" Renji asked, Toshiro rolled his eyes and punched Renji in the stomach. When Renji doubled over Toshiro grabbed his ear.
"Ichigo has a thing for guys with a way with words." Toshiro whispered in Renji's ear.
"What about that Shinji guy? He wasn't good with words." Renji said, through breaths of air.
"Yes he was he was a poet idiot." Toshiro said. "Wasn't famous for it but still a poet none the less." Toshiro said in a matter-of-factly voice.
Renji looked at Ichigo, she was wearing her I-think-I'll-do-this look, and Renji grinned. Ichigo sighed.
"Fine." Ichigo said, Renji punched the air. Kira gave a knowing look. Renji pulled Ichigo behind him, Kira waved them off.
Ichigo and Renji walked across the street and into the small restaurant, a small raven haired girl waved them over, next to her was a pale male with long raven hair. Renji and Ichigo sat across from the two.
"Renji, Ichigo this is my brother Byakuya." the small girl said, Renji nodded towards the man.
"It's nice to meet you Byakuya." Ichigo said, the raven haired male looked up from the book he was reading.
"I imagined you taller." Byakuya said, he looked back down at his book.
"I'm sorry?" Ichigo asked, a little unsure. She looked to Rukia for answers, Rukia shrugged and turned to Renji.
"Rukia talks about you and I picture you taller." Byakuya said, "I'm sure I didn't stutter." Byakuya said he never looked up from his book.
"I'm sorry I can't say the same about you, I didn't even know Rukia had a brother." Ichigo said, she looked at Renji and Rukia. They were looking at her. "I mean I only went to college with Rukia and I was her room mate. And she has never mention you. So I guess we are going to have to get to know each other."
Byakuya looked up at Ichigo, Rukia laughed nervously. "You are Ichigo Kurosaki, you own the flower shop across the street, you moved away from you're hometown with Renji. You graduated college with a P.H.D, You are the closest thing to family Renji has. I don't need to know anything else about you." Byakuya stated. Ichigo glared slightly at the man.
"However I know nothing about you." Ichigo said, Rukia coughed and Renji interrupted Rukia.
"Byakuya I would like to asked for Rukia's hand in marriage. I know you are the last family member Rukia has so I figured I would get your permission." Renji said, Byakuya looked at Renji.
"Absolutely not, I don't see what Rukia sees in a man like you. She has had better offers and doesn't need to marry a man that can barely take care of himself." Byakuya said, he stood up and looked at Rukia. "We are leaving." Rukia stood up apology dancing in her eyes.
"Byakuya I think that is a little rude. Renji can provide for himself just fine." Ichigo said standing up. "You are such an arrogant bastard. Renji is head over heels in love with Rukia and Rukia loves him. Get off your high horse and notice true love when you see it."
Byakuya turned around, Renji's jaw dropped. "Very well, I'll give this a chance. I hope you're right Ichigo." and with that Byakuya left. Rukia looked at Ichigo.
"Wow, he likes you." Rukia said, Ichigo scoffed.
"Yes his insults to Renji totally gave away his undying love to him." Ichigo said sarcastically. Rukia shook her head.
"Not him, you. No one ever talks to Byakuya like that and gets away with it." Rukia said, "let alone give in to someone else." Ichigo rolled her eyes and moved to leave the shop.
"Good, somebody needed to kick his but off his high horse." Ichigo said, she left the couple and back to her flower shop. She walked in and Kira was watering the plants.
"So how'd it go?" Kira asked, Ichigo scoffed.
"He is an arrogant bastard, who thinks lowly of Renji." Ichigo said. Kira grinned.
"You like him." Kira said, Ichigo glared.
"I just called him an arrogant bastard. How do you figure I like the man?" Ichigo asked, Kira gave Ichigo the all-knowing look.
"You called Shinji a bastard the first time you met him." Kira said.
"Yeah look at how well that turned out." Ichigo said, Kira laughed. Toshiro greeted the man that walked in. Toshiro helped the man pick some flowers and put them in a vase. She tied a red bow around the vase. The man left and Kira and Ichigo continued their conversation.
"You should call him and get to know him." Kira said, just then the shop's phone rang.
Ichigo walked into the back and picked up the phone "Kurosaki's flowers, this is Ichigo how can I help you?"
"Ichigo this is Byakuya." Ichigo's eyes went wide.
"Would you like to order some flowers?" Ichigo asked.
"No, I have a banquet I have to attend and Rukia said, you have been to many before." Ichigo cursed Rukia and sat at the desk.
"Byakuya with all do respect, I don't know you I think you should take someone that actually knows you." Ichigo rubbed her temple.
"I suppose I could but nobody has answered their phone and the banquet is tomorrow night." Ichigo scan the documents on the desk.
"I suppose I could go." Ichigo said.
"Excellent I will pick you up at the flower shop tomorrow around 9-o-clock dress appropriately." the phone went dead and Ichigo placed the phone down.
"Great." Ichigo said, she left the back room and saw Kira and Toshiro putting away their aprons. "Hey I'm closing the flower shop tomorrow I've got some things to do tomorrow so I'll see you Monday, since the shop is never open on Sundays." Ichigo said, the two employees looked at their boss.
"Okay Ichigo have a nice weekend." Kira said, Toshiro nodded in agreement.
"Say hi to Shuhei and Gin for me." Ichigo said, the two wave goodbye and walked out of the shop Ichigo watered the plants and turned off the lights. She walked out of her small flower shop and walked home.
Ichigo stood in front of a mirror, she wore a sleek black dress the went to her knees. The dress had one strap over her right shoulder, Ichigo turned around and looked over her shoulder.
"It brings out your hair color." The sales lady said. Ichigo looked at her reflection. She nodded and went to change back into her street clothes. She bought the dress and went home, she hung the dress up in her closet. She walked back into the living room when her doorbell went off. Ichigo went to the door and answered it. Renji was leaning against the door frame when she opened the door.
"You little sneak." Renji said, Ichigo rolled her eyes. Ichigo walked into her house and Renji followed closing the door behind him. Ichigo sat on the couch as Renji plopped down on the couch. "I can't believe Byakuya is going to take you to the banquet tonight."
"I am just doing him a favor, nothing more." Ichigo said, her house phone rang. Ichigo ignored it yet again. Renji rolled his eyes at her and relax a little into the couch as Zangetsu jumped on his lap.
"Hello, Ichigo." Both Ichigo and Renji froze at the voice. "I suppose you are out of the house. I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be in town tonight and wanted to see if you wanted to meet up like old times right?" a chuckle then a goodbye then a click.
"Well isn't that just dandy?" Ichigo said, Renji groaned and grabbed Ichigo's wrist as she got up.
"Don't." Renji said, "He his only in town for a day, it's not worth it." Ichigo growled and shook Renji's hand off her wrist.
"I was just going to meet up with Stark just see what he has been up to." Ichigo said crossing her arms. Renji stood up.
"Stark is a great guy but he is a musician. He is never going to be in one place for long. Besides you are going to a banquet tonight remember?" Renji stated, Ichigo scoffed.
"I don't even know why the man invited me anyways." Ichigo mumbled. Renji walked over to the phone, pulled the cord. Renji turned to Ichigo.
"You have an hour before Byakuya picks you up at your flower shop. Get ready." Renji said, he left with that the cord to the phone. Ichigo rolled her eyes at her friend's antics. She showered and curled her hair, she dress in the black dress and grabbed a strawberry necklace. She grabbed her black heels, and left her bedroom. She walked out the door.
She reach the flower shop, she looked inside to make she everything was in order.
"Are you ready to go?" Ichigo turned around and saw Byakuya in a black suit standing next to a limo. Ichigo nodded and walked over to Byakuya. Ichigo got in the limo then Byakuya. The ride was long and silent, Ichigo was staring out of the window when the limo stopped. Byakuya got out, the gave his hand out for Ichigo. Ichigo took it and Byakuya pulled her softly out of the limo. Byakuya tucked Ichigo's hand under his arm and walked down the red carpet not bothering to stop and talk to the camera people. The camera men were shouting out questions, and flashes came from everywhere. Once inside the flashes stopped and the noise dropped, Ichigo stay next to Byakuya not knowing where to go.
"You don't have to be so close." Byakuya said, Ichigo step away a little.
As the banquet continued, Byakuya and Ichigo where holding champagne glasses nearly full.
"Byakuya." a voice said, Ichigo and Byakuya turned to see who call for Byakuya. A man with brown hair slicked back with one strand out.
"Aizen." Byakuya said.
"Please call me Sosuke, Byakuya." Sosuke said, he turned to Ichigo. "Byakuya, how rude not introducing me to your lovely companion."
"I'm hardly a companion." Ichigo mumbled. Byakuya glared lightly at her. Aizen grabbed Ichigo's hand and kissed the back of it. Ichigo blushed.
"Then want are you to Byakuya?" Sosuke asked, Ichigo pulled her hand lightly out of Sosuke's grip.
"A friend of a friend." Ichigo smiled. Sosuke smiled.
"Then Byakuya shouldn't mind if I steal you for a dance?" Sosuke said, Byakuya made no objections and Sosuke grabbed Ichigo's hand and tucked it under his arm and walked to the dance floor. Once on the dance floor Sosuke grabbed Ichigo's hand and pulled her into him. The dance a little in silence, Sosuke was the one to break the silence.
"I still don't know your name." Sosuke said.
"Ichigo." Ichigo said.
"That explains the necklace." Sosuke said.
"I guess my sister got it for me a few birthdays ago and I didn't have the heart to give it back." Ichigo said with a slight laugh.
"Can I cut in?" a sly voice said behind Sosuke. Sosuke turned around and Ichigo's eyes went wide.
"Gin!" Ichigo yelled and hugged the fox man. Sosuke gave a confused look. Gin laughed, Ichigo stepped back a little. "What are you doing here?"
"I work for Aizen." Gin said, he gestured to Sosuke.
"Sosuke?" Ichigo asked, her eyes went wide again. "Aizen Sosuke the founder of Espada Records?"
Sosuke nodded, Ichigo's jaw dropped. "I think I need to sit down." Ichigo said, she stumbled a bit but Sosuke wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked her to a table. They sat down and Ichigo stared at the man.
"Is there something on my face?" Sosuke asked, Ichigo shook her head.
"No, I um knew one of your musicians." Ichigo said, Sosuke raised a brow.
"Which one?" Sosuke said, Ichigo opened her mouth to answer when Byakuya interrupted.
"I'm sorry Aizen but I should be taking Ichigo home." Byakuya said, Ichigo shot up not wanting to tell Sosuke her relationship with his Primera. The two left the banquet, Byakuya dropped Ichigo off at the flower shop before Ichigo got out Byakuya asked a question.
"Do you honestly think Renji loves Rukia?" Byakuya said, Ichigo frowned a bit.
"Can't you see it in his eyes? Renji would never hurt Rukia." Ichigo said, Byakuya nodded.
"I'll keep in touch Ichigo." Byakuya said, and the driver opened the door. Ichigo stepped out and watched the limo drive away. Ichigo started towards her house, she was looking for her keys when the house came into sight. She stop short when she saw a tall man sitting on her steps was a brunette.
"Stark?" Ichigo asked, said man looked up and smiled.
"Been a while Ichigo."
Hahahahahaha cliff hanger got to love those, well I don't own Bleach or the Characters. The plot I do own. Questions? Request? Just ask.