Rukia didn't want to wake up; she was too warm and comfortable. She sighed and cracked an eye open, immediately tensing. What was she doing in Ichigo's bed, with her head in the curve of his neck?! But then she calmed after remembering what had happened the previous night and smiled. Who knew Ichigo could be kind?

She yawned quietly and shifted, but something stopped her from sitting up. Looking down she saw that Ichigo's long arm was wrapped firmly around her body. Glancing at his face, she saw he was scowling slightly. Rukia frowned and reached down to his arm and tried to move it off her. Ichigo's scowl deepened and he suddenly pulled Rukia against him and rolled over, so his roommate was draped over his body. Rukia squirmed, but even in his sleep he kept a firm grip on her.

Rukia had to tell herself that he wasn't aware of what he was doing, so he didn't deserve to be hit. Placing her hands on both of his shoulders, Rukia pushed with all her might, but Ichigo only grumbled, not loosening his grip.

Rukia wondered how he could be so forceful and yet gentle at the same time. "Ichigo," she said loudly in his ear. "Ichigo! Wake up!"

He grumbled and stirred, his eyes opening.

"Oh, you're up," he noted sleepily.

She glared. "Let go of me," she hissed.

"Wha…?" he looked down at both of them. "Oh, sorry." Releasing her, Ichigo sat up and scratched his head. He looked out the window and saw that it was still stormy. Today was Sunday, so he didn't have to get out of bed early. He planned to regain those hours of sleep Rukia had kept out of his grasp and he settled back into bed with his back to her.

Rukia scowled at him and looked at the clock. It was only 6:30, and she hadn't slept very well. But then she hesitated, glancing at the closet door and Ichigo's broad back. She didn't want to leave the bed, but the horrible thunderclaps were no longer sounding.

"Hey, Ichigo…?" she asked quietly.

"Hm?" he grumbled.

"Can I stay here?"

"Well duh. It's Sunday, so there's no school."

"No…I mean in the bed," Rukia said, looking at his form nervously.

Ichigo yawned, "Go ahead. It's warmer with you anyway." He rolled to face her and held up the blanket. He was too sleepy to be thinking of anything about Rukia in the way he was last night, and it was freezing. Rukia slid in besides him, happy for the warmth and comfort. Ichigo yawned again and didn't even notice that he had slid his arm around her, quickly falling asleep. Rukia was now happy that she had chosen to stay in the bed, but she wasn't sure why. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that she felt safer with him…right?

She didn't have time to think that through before she fell asleep in her partner's arms.

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Ichigo was the first to wake up this time, and the clock showed he had slept for two hours. He was lying on his side, his face to the side so that his chin rested on the top of Rukia's head. She had curled up into a ball in her sleep, and his body had curled around her in response.

He carefully pulled his arm away and removed himself from the bed, slipping from the room. He scratched his head and entered the bathroom. As he waited for the water to heat up in the shower, he thought back to the previous night, and this morning. He and Rukia had slept together.

Not together, he corrected himself, even as his face reddened. Just, next to each other. Holding each other.

He quickly entered the shower, remembering how every curve of Rukia's body had brushed against his own, how she had clung to him when the thunder struck. Even her scent, it reminded him of snow. And what the hell was that, when she had asked to stay in his bed? She had a perfectly fine bed in the closet! Not that he minded at all. Hell, he enjoyed—

He hurriedly turned the nozzle so that the water turned icy, a hand to his face.It didn't help.

His thought back to when he had sung the lullaby to her. That was something that a lover would do, not friends or work partners! And before he had done that, he could easily remember the feel of her breast he got when she would pull him close, they were actually a lot bigger than he had—

No. Stop that, he ordered himself. Do not think about her breast size! It's Rukia! Little, annoying, pint-sized, bossy, Rukia! She has the drawing ability of a three year old! It doesn't matter if you spent an entire night in the same bed with her as she trembled against you, her soft skin pressing against yours, the way her tiny, delicate hands would cling to your arm—

"Gah!" Ichigo shook his head, groaning. There must be something wrong with him. If he was aroused by Rukia, clearly there was something wrong with him!

Well, it wasn't his fault. He was a teenage boy, who wouldn't be turned on by a young girl pressed against him?Hell, he knew all his friends would. And since Rukia had been so scared, his protective instincts must have kicked in…yeah, that was it. It had to be.

Rukia woke up groggily, her arms wrapped around a soft object. She kept her eyes closed and breathed deeply, noticing it smelt just like Ichigo. Confused, she sat up and saw it was just a pillow.

Ichigo walked in, having dressed in the bathroom. His eyes glanced to Rukia, and then he sat down at his desk, opening his math text book. She saw what he was doing and began her own homework.

Ichigo kept glancing at her while working on the problems. She looked perfectly calm, so what was he worried about? He sighed. His protective instinct? Rukia was the toughest girl he knew, she didn't need protecting. He scowled and turned back to his book.