AN: So I have a confession to make: I did intend for this to be a three-shot but it just got so long that I had to make it so. But I will be writing smut and it will be in the next part. Honestly, this entire fic exists so i can write smut but I needed to have a plot. I can'be help it. I can't really do PWP as well as I'd like. :/

Thank you's for the last chapter:

Guest: Thank you~ I'm glad you like my writing and my story as whole. I hope you'll like this part too. :3

Jannie: Thank you so much. I really try and writor more original stuff. At least, as original as a cliche can be. Haha. There's definitely a little more Ichigo and his thought process here but Rukia is definitely my main focus. And, yep, it got too long to be a two-shot so I hope you enjoy the longer length. Haha.

vampirelover: Aww, you're too sweet. Thank you. :3 I'm extending it a bit so I can have a bit more build-up for my smut. Please enjoy this part too~

Guest: Thank you! :DDD This is really a Rukia-based story so almost everything will be in her POV. Which is why I had to include the part about her being adopted, for perspective's sake. But I'm really happy to hear that you like it~

yuiyuki: Thank you~ I hope you don't mind the little twists and turns I threw in there.

SMILE: Haha, I'm glad that you're enjoying it! Sorry that I'll have to push the smut back. The second part was already 7000 and it wasn't even close to being done. But! It will be in the next part so look out for it.

Guest:Thank you! Here it is and I'm sorry I had to extend it a bit. LOL But it'll be worth it, I promise~

Guest: Thank you~ I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it. :D If I made this a multi-chapter it would've been easier to keep Ichigo in character but I don't really write IchiRuki unless I have a plot I really love. :/

Guest: Here it is~ Please enjoy! :D

Jenny: And I've updated! LOL Thanks for reading the last part as well. :)

Warnings: Some twists and turns for the sake of relationship building and a little bit of character development. :3 But no smut. I'm holding out on you guys. LOL

Part Two: Broken System

One Year Later

"Oi, Kuchiki! Get outta there and breathe some fresh air before your brother massacres us for letting you work too hard."

"Okay, okay, I'm coming," Rukia called out from beneath the racer. Her jumpsuit clung to her with sweat and accumulated grime as she slid out. Her eyes stung from the sudden brightness, as she stood up and righted her clothes.

True to her prediction, Ichigo hadn't won his first major title a year before. He'd come close, placing in the top five when everyone was sure he'd be massacred by more experienced drivers. So while the trophy didn't sit in his home he was still one to watch, even more hotly anticipated as the final drew close. Six months might feel like there was enough to go around but time was of the essence.

Clambering to the main work table, Rukia rolled her eyes at the reason she'd been called over. Ever since she'd started working full-time at the Shiba's racing company, her sister had spared no expense. That meant lunches and even dinners far above the normal cafeteria food. Hisana had always been a bit excitable even with her sickly body, wanting to provide more than she could afford.

Some habits never die, she thought with a smile, grabbing something with her fork since her fingers were too dirty. If her family ever saw in such a state they'd probably die of fright.

"Kuchiki, I would marry you if this is the kinda crap you get every day," Renji managed between a mouthful of food. Like the Kuchiki's would accept him. His table manners were atrocious.

"Please, you? You're so unrefined that her brother would lock her up in some ivory tower before he lets you near his precious baby sister." From the corner, Hisagi snorted out his joke as he finished up his plate.

Kira nodded thoughtfully. "I'm afraid I have to agree. Some people simply aren't made for elegant pursuits."

"You sayin' I ain't good enough for Rukia? Is that it?" Renji roared. Standing up, he pointed his chopsticks rudely. No one mentioned how good he was making their case. "I could be all fancy and shit if I wanted to. I mean, look at Ichigo. That guy was born into money and he still acts like—"

"Do you really wanna finish that sentence?"

All the raucous laughter died down when Ichigo came in, glaring darkly at his old friend. They were two of a kind, really. Their wavelengths ran so close she wondered if they were the same person in a past life. It wouldn't surprise her.

Not the least bit afraid, the redhead regarded his boss with alarming flippancy. "I would but I'm afraid you might get offended. All that blue blood makes a man a little sensitive."

"Alright, that's enough outta both of you," Rukia chided when Ichigo took a step forward in challenge. "Is there any reason you're here, Ichigo? Especially considering you're in that."

Looking down at himself, he'd forgotten about the three-piece suit he'd been shoved in. An upscale dinner was being held tonight and he was being forced to schmooze while his pit team did some overtime. He'd have done anything short of breaking his leg to get out of it but he was a hot commodity and the admin wanted to made good use of his popularity.

"Got some things to do, is all. Just came to check in and see how you guys are doing on the new motor."

Immediately Rukia lit up, amethyst eyes glowing in excitement. It must've been a productive day because she never looked at him like that if she could help it. The realization made his mood dip unhappily.

"I've made a few changes to the design I think you're gonna like," she chirped, running over to grab her notebook.

"Oh god, here she goes again," an amused coworker grumbled from his stool.

"That girl has nothing on her mind except cars and engineering."

"Is she even female? I've never even seen her with a boy unless he was covered in grease," another laughed. But they all had soft spots for the Kuchiki princess.

"Too bad, y'know. She's quite beautiful," Yumichika pointed out as he served himself another plate. "I'm sure most men are just intimidated by her. I mean, besides the people in our business, who else shows that much enthusiasm?"

"Not to mention she's smarter than most of us. No wonder guys aren't linin' up," Madarame shook his head before grabbing his water bottle.

Watching her rummage around her desk, Ichigo kept his mouth shut. The same thought had crossed his mind on occasion but he wasn't out to get himself castrated. Rukia had all the qualities a man could want but they weren't necessarily things he wanted in a wife, especially not in the tiny, upper crust world they lived in.

Treading towards her, he peered over her shoulder as she scoured for her treasured notebook. He even grinned at the little whoop of victory before she spun back, nearly crashing into him.

"Whoa! What're you doing so close to me?" she nearly stammered, pressing her book to her chest defensively. The cock of his brow spoke volumes and she didn't like a single one.

"I came to see what was taking so long. I have to leave in—" Ichigo glanced at his watch, "—about fifteen minutes. The hotel isn't too far but punctuality is a religion with those old geezers."

"Right…" Suddenly self-conscious, she flipped open her notebook to distract herself. It wasn't often they stood so close. She could smell the spice of his aftershave and the scent of his shampoo. It reminded her that he was a man beneath all that playful haughtiness, a good one even. She'd gotten to know him well enough over the last few months that she could admit that to herself.

She settled on a page in the middle and showed him the calculations she'd been running. Her mind had raced with the possibilities of what kinds of tracks he'd be racing on and had done the math accordingly. Certain parts would have to be built to accommodate tricky roads with narrow turns and she emphasized how to get the most out of their new engine on the straights.

When he asked to take a closer look, Rukia handed it over carefully. It was always weird having someone look over her work. It was one thing if it was the head of a department because they were trained for such work. But it was nerve-wracking when Ichigo asked to see it. Because his mind was astute, almost scarily so, and he could pinpoint her flaws with accuracy that embarrassed her. Maybe because she was still trying to win his approval, as much as she hated to admit it.

It took a second for her to notice her state of dress, painted in motor oil and probably smelling of fumes. She took a step back out of respect for his pristine condition. She'd hate to ruin all the hard work his stylist must've gone through just to get him into that tuxedo.

"What're you doing?" he asked, looking down at her with a glower.

"Ah, I just, um, didn't want to get your, uh, suit dirty." Good grief, she sounded like an illiterate. When had stringing sentences together become difficult?

He had the audacity to give her a onceover. "You're not that bad. Besides, how am I supposed to explain things to you if you hover over there?"

She was about to comment that she could hear and see just fine but he hadn't give her the chance. Instead, he crowded close and leaned down to her level. If he hadn't held up her messy scrawl Rukia was afraid she might've done something mortifying, like flutter.

And let me tell you that Kuchiki Rukia did not flutter.

It was with half-deaf ears that she listened, noting the criticisms and distinct praise he gave. It was rare, like a blue moon in winter, but heartfelt. The first time she'd received a little recognition she'd nearly checked him for a fever, asking if he was feeling okay. And even though he'd reddened and scowled, it didn't take away from the achievement. If anything it added on to it.

"But it's very good work. I'm looking forward to getting behind the wheel of this sometime soon." She received the work back with a nod, a little shy and more than a bit awkward. Interacting with Ichigo had gone from merciless taunts to something that might actually be called friendliness. Now was not the time to ruin it.

He eventually waved goodbye to the others, promising to be back to bother them sometime next week. The jeers and laughter followed him out, as Rukia began to fix her work area, feeling completely unlike herself. As much as she wanted to say that it was an arbitrary change, one that would end just as soon as it began, her gut said that she had reason to believe differently. And unfortunately her gut was rarely wrong.

It was late, far past the time she should've been there. But she was so close. Her calculations had been looked over repeatedly, the design was sound, and it wasn't that hard to produce the damn thing. But the actual connection between the car's system and her custom-made engine was proving tricky. All her friends had given up earlier in the evening, leaving it for the next day.

But Rukia just wasn't having it. She was tired and sweaty and probably smelt like her beloved engine but it would be worth it. This was what she'd spent her last year of college doing. Her thesis had been the seed and this was the fruit of her labor. There was no way she was going to go home until that race car started.

Humming some song beneath her breath, she finished tweaking a few of the lines and checked to see that there were no other stray wires. One accident was more than enough for her to learn her lesson. Excitedly she jumped into the front seat, praying to some higher power that the millionth time would be the lucky one.

Turning the key, she clenched her eyes and revved the engine…

Nothing.

"Dammit!" Rukia swore, slamming her hands against the steering wheel. She pressed her forehead to it, trying to fight off the welling of frustration. All her time and effort was refusing to pan out.

She stayed in the front seat for a long while, inhaling harshly to try and get a grip on herself. The shallow steps didn't properly register until someone stopped at the edge of the open door. Without looking up she knew exactly who she was dealing with.

"You're in my seat."

"You can have it…" she muttered, gratefully slipping out. She moved a bit away, crossing her arms over her chest as she pondered her next move.

Settling so he was sitting in his car with his feet on the cement floor, Ichigo regarded her with a worried frown. Rukia was the kind to get strung-up by nature, easily annoyed and demanding compliance when she wanted it. But a race car wasn't as obedient as a person. It either worked or it didn't, and right now it seemed like it wanted nothing to do with her ambitions.

"Do you want some help?" he asked. Renji had asked him to check in on their resident workaholic, afraid she'd sleep in the garage. He thought that that might be the last of their problems. Who knew if she'd ever sleep if she didn't get this thing going?

"No I'm fine." An automatic answer. Her pride and tiredness were coloring her decisions, as she climbed back onto her stool and looked at her plans again. He knew they were flawless. He'd been the one to give the final go-ahead.

So Ichigo took her answer with a grain of salt, as he removed his jacket and reached for a pair of gloves. No use dirtying himself anymore than he needed to.

"Oi, what're you doing? I said I didn't need help!"

"You also need a break and maybe some food so I'm just going to ignore your opinion. I'm helping you whether you want it or not."

It was with great pleasure that he watched Rukia turn a furious red, mouth opening and closing as if she couldn't find the words to nail him with. But that was just as well. He worked better in silence anyway. As he ducked his dead, he kept his head down and surveyed the work that'd been done.

Truly, it was a moment like this that made him appreciate just how intelligent Rukia was. Physically, there not a thing out of place, every part meticulously adjusted while her baby sat rightfully in the middle. It was truly an awe-inspiring machine, something only a visionary could've conjured. He wouldn't have been able to do it.

"So, what'dya think it is?" Perching precariously against the headlight, her nonchalance was as fake as his courteousness.

"I think you've done a pretty good job here. Honestly, at first glance, there's nothing wrong with it."

"Then why isn't it starting? It should've been working hours ago."

"Not everything on paper translates to real life so smoothly. Give yourself some room for error," he chastised, following the endless loops of wires with his eyes. If there was something they missed in production then they might have to scratch the entire thing and start back at square one. It would hurt the company's deep pockets but he was more concerned about Rukia. She wouldn't admit defeat easily.

And neither would he if he could help it. He'd made plans that night to go home and spend time with his family but this took precedence. Ichigo couldn't in good conscience leave the girl there, up to her chin in noxious fumes and wracking her brain for something that might not even be there. The least he could do was lay her fears to rest or deliver the news personally.

Between the two of them, the hours ticked by in moments of sporadic conversation. Sometimes they were snappy, as eyelids dropped and caffeine lost its buzz. Other times it was easier, an exchange about any topic under the sun. But most of the time they were silent, tinkering with plugs and canisters until they felt like the entire inside of his car had been changed.

It was past dawn when Rukia was finally willing to thrown in the towel.

"Just one more start, okay? One more and then we can forget everything," she whispered, sad but sincere. The hope had drained with each grain of sand that'd gone by, leaving sunlight at their doorstep. And while she had nearly none left, she owed it to Ichigo and herself to run one last trial.

Nodding, the other climbed into the familiar leather seat. Honestly he felt guilty about feeling relieved. The sun had already come up and was casting shadows from the windows, signaling that he'd truly gone an entire night without rest. He'd have to cancel a few appointments just to get some much-needed shut eye.

It felt like slow motion, as he dragged the key into a crescent shape and prayed for a miracle. He felt the slight hitch and anticipated the rev, clenching his eyes as I clicked into place.

The buzz of life that filled the garage sounded like a miracle.

"We did it!" Rukia screamed, jumping up and down as Ichigo stepped out. He had a large smile on his own face as the other threw her hands in the air, almost dizzy with fatigue. But it'd been worth it. Just a few seconds of noise and exhaust felt like gold had fallen from the sky.

Bounding over to him, Rukia wrapped her arms around Ichigo's broad shoulders, laughing so hard she felt like she could cry. His surprise was off-set by his own happiness as he wrapped himself around her. So thin, almost delicate, but there was strength in those hands. More strength than most had in their entire bodies.

He wasn't sure how it happened but one moment he was pulling her close and the next he was looking down at her. His clothes were now stained with oil and her scent while her fingers gripped his biceps. Like she needed him to hold her up for a second while her excitement returned the strength to her legs. And she was staring up at him with so much joy his breath caught in his throat, jewel eyes sparkling as if she'd found the secret to life and she would share it with him if he asked.

But instead of asking, he took.

His fingers stroked the side of her face, as he leaned down and kissed her sweetly. The rush of air against his lips might've been a gasp or a sigh but he paid it no mind. Rukia was softer than any woman he'd had before, despite her skinny frame and masculine personality. She was the kind of woman who'd taste of sunshine if one was lucky enough to win her over. And Ichigo was nothing if not lucky.

He could feel her fists ball into the short sleeves of his shirt, making him grin when she pushed against his mouth with her tiptoes. The purr of her voice heated his previously dulled senses, as he opened her lips and swiped at her tongue and teeth, securing her with his hand against her cheek.

A few moments more and he'd have done much more than kissed her. Flashes of stripping her body of that hideous uniform filled his mind, unzipping the front slowly as he made his way down her neck and to those meager but lovely breasts. He'd love to leave the bottom half on her, licking at her skin while a hand skirted down the mechanic's uniform and into her body. Not even her hands against his wandering fingers could stop him.

It was unfortunate that reality stormed in with the morning sun, as the sounds of echoing feet made their way down the hall. Rukia jolted with awareness then, pushing back from him. That had Ichigo grumbling as he dragged his eyes over Rukia's fretful form. If she noticed the heat he was shooting her she ignored it, too busy running her hands through your hair to look presentable.

"Mornin'," Renji greeted, obviously surprised to see them. "Don't tell me you guys spent the entire night here."

"We did and look what happened." Gesturing smugly to the running motor, the boys hooted and cheered excitedly. A few moved straight to it while the others ruffled Rukia's greasy hair and wrapped arms around her shoulders.

"This is great, Kuchiki! Always knew you had it in you."

"We can start doing test-runs in a few days with Kurosaki once we've worked out all the details."

The boys talked excitedly among themselves, making plans while deciding what was best to do next. Their manager eventually had to step away and tell Rukia to head home, saying she looked worse for wear. It was a good thing she wasn't sensitive like other women. To work in a testosterone-laden place like this one had to develop a thick skin.

"I'll take her," Ichigo stepped in. For a moment Rukia wondered why his expression was a little chillier than usual. "I'll have to cancel some meetings today anyway but I can make sure Rukia gets home safe."

Getting a decisive nod from the older man, Rukia was quick to protest. "I-I'm fine! I can just get someone to pick me up. Besides, aren't you tired?"

"Not so tired that I can't drop you off." Waving at the others, he forcefully led Rukia towards the door. She dug her heels in but he was too powerful. Typical. Her small size had never been useful in a struggle.

"Seriously, you don't have to drop me off. I can get someone to get me." Usually she commuted to work since she lived so close but she'd probably fall asleep on the bus. Not the smartest thing to do with her exhaustion.

"Look, you and I are both dead on our feet but I know for sure I can get home safe. You, on the other hand, are the type to get kidnapped in your condition."

"Excuse me?" She punched him in the ribs. The flinch was only vaguely satisfying.

"It's not an insult, midget. I'm just trying to help," Ichigo growled, rubbing at his side before grabbing her wrist. "We gotta look out for each other."

"Oh, and what makes you think I need you?"

"Everyone needs a little help."

The pointed look he gave her made Rukia look away, embarrassed. It was true. Without him she doubted there would've been any reason to celebrate. But that didn't mean she was comfortable being alone with him. The memory of his lips against hers seared through her mind, making her face flame up as they arrived at his car.

She hesitated to open the door while Ichigo climbed in. When he saw she hadn't sat down, he exhaled noisily before rolling down the window.

"Is there a problem? Forget how to open doors?"

She glared tiredly. "Do you really expect me to get in that car with you?"

"Yeah, why? What's up?"

He can't seriously have forgotten, Rukia gaped. His confused frown said that he had. "Ichigo, you just… Back there…" She missed the guilt that filled his face, too busy staring at her hands in uncertainty.

Instead of acknowledging it, Ichigo turned his gaze ahead. "'Back there' what? What's going on with you, Rukia?"

The words stung hard enough to make her eyes widen. Glass shattered at the bottom of her stomach, jangling as she swallowed a mouthful of dry air. Was it really so easy to overlook? That kiss had shaken her, made her toes curl, stolen away the good sense she had left after a sleepless night. But maybe she was the only one who felt that way.

Climbing in, her stare remained resolutely forward. She could feel his glare on her, sizing up the sudden chilliness but decided against commenting. Good, he was smarter than usual. Or maybe just tired. No doubt there was someone else he'd happily spend his time with, a girl worth more than a passing glance.

It wasn't important that that girl wasn't her.

Shifting gears, Ichigo felt his body run on autopilot as he took the turn at full speed with ease. The last few weeks had left him grossly irritated. And as much as he hated it, he was the kind that was easily distracted by things that he deemed important.

And the way Rukia was treating him was definitely important.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? The question sat on his mind as he finished the test lap and went around for one more. The heat made his helmet even heavier than usual, his gloves already slick as he sped along the asphalt. But there was only one thing running around his head as he finished the lap in record time, all thanks to the engine Rukia had designed.

She'd been right that night over a year ago, and he was beginning to understand just how talented she was. If there was any way he was going to win the championship in two months, it was going to be with this car, this motor. It was smaller, lighter, but it packed a punch so hard it'd shocked Ichigo the first time he'd stepped on the pedal. He'd taken to extra gym sessions so he could handle the pressure at full-throttle.

Climbing out of the racer, his team was already there to meet him. Someone was running off times significantly lower than his previous ones, as others congratulated him on a good run. It'd taken a while to get used to the new handling so the last month had been only average times. Today was going to be the first of many personal records.

"Lookin' good, Ichigo. Looks like you're not burning out another set of tires," Renji laughed, walking back with him as the others checked for any damage.

"Cut me some slack. That thing pushes hard. I'm just glad I haven't spun out yet."

"Yeah, I heard Rukia's been trying to make the steering a little heavier after hearing about your complaint."

"Is that so?" Immediately he began to search for her in the midst of the team, peering over his shoulder and coming up empty. He'd complained about the system being too sensitive after a particularly light turn had him nearly losing control. It'd been the first day and he hadn't been ready for it. Ever since Rukia had made it her personal business to figure out how to fix it, nearly perfecting it a week ago.

It was only when they were working did he see her and even then she avoided him like the plague. Whenever he tried to confront her about it, the cool detachment on her face only left him even angrier. Those bright eyes that used to stare him with every emotion—anger, happiness, reluctance—showed absolutely nothing now.

It was time to do some digging. If Rukia wasn't going to give up why she was mad, then he'd have to use another means.

"So, what's new?" A bit too broad but better than nothing. He didn't want to be obvious, even to an oblivious guy like Renji.

"Nothing much. Stuff, I guess." Never mind. He needed a better guy than Renji.

"Oi, Rukia! Looks like you finally finished all that math you've been messing with," the redhead called out, grabbing Ichigo's attention. In front of them Rukia was giving orders to a few of the technicians, instructions about fine tuning her otherwise perfect car.

Noticing someone called her name, she dismissed them before waving brightly at her friend, her eyes then settling on Ichigo's visage. Even after a hard run, he was still so cool and collected. It made her want to kick him in the head again. To go back in time and undo that little slip-up would bring her so much satisfaction.

"It looks like all those all-nighters have been working. No one can stop talking about your machine," Renji praised, rubbing the back of his neck with a toothy grin.

"Well duh. It's only my life's work on the line."

"You're twenty-three. You have a whole bunch more time before you need to start worrying about that kinda thing, ya damned overachiever."

"Someone has to be. I don't wanna end up a loser like you," she taunted, sticking her tongue out ungracefully. Renji returned it with a screwed up face, eyes narrowed as his lips fell into an ugly snarl. But they laughed at the end of it, shaking hands before the older man was called over by their supervisor.

Which left Ichigo in his place.

Darting a glance up at him, Rukia did her best to pull of haughty. But it was hard when Ichigo regarded her with that easy confidence he always had. Dressed head to toe in his racing gear, it was still weird seeing him without the screen and flashing lights and microphones in his face. The discrepancies made him shine brighter in her eyes, making her look away uncomfortably.

"Are you really still pulling all-nighters?" The hint of disapproval didn't go unnoticed, as she tilted her head back with a defiant headshake.

"I am."

"After you almost killed yourself over the last one, I'd have thought you'd learned your lesson."

"Look, if you want to win this year you've gotta let me do what I do best. And yeah, that means a couple of late nights. So what?"

Their confrontations were always like this, him trying to browbeat her just because he was larger, more masculine, and her boss. Stupid. If she had no issues going up against matrons and their nitpicking, Ichigo was a poor replacement.

So what if he was sort of attractive? Nii-sama was much better looking and far more gentlemanly. And maybe he had a fairly good head on his shoulders, one she could admire even if he wasn't nearly as educated as her. The few redeeming qualities Kurosaki ichigo had weren't enough to balance the strangeness that tickled her gut when he was around or the madness they seemed to inflict on each other.

And then there was that kiss…

"Kurosaki-kun!"

The high-pitched call broke off their staring contests, two noses going up in different directions. But Rukia didn't miss how the other softened when a beautiful woman bounded up to him, matching bright hair and a smile she would've never been able to pull off. Smirking and eyerolls, those were her signatures. Not like this tall, buxom woman who probably had men eating out of her hand.

A tinge of envy shot through her when she realized it was Inoue Orihime speaking so earnestly to Ichigo. The fledgling celebrity was making her way up in the world, gaining attention for that sweet personality on top of her perfect form. Every man's dream, her coworkers had agreed over coffee one morning, debating their favorite rising stars.

But it wasn't her presence that had Rukia on edge, as her eyes slid inconspicuously to her companion. For a moment she wondered if he looked at everyone that way. Everyone but her. His shoulders relaxed and his face smoothed out, polite for once. And at just the right height, Orihime came to his chin, smiling cheerfully as they discussed a topic that had fallen on uncaring ears.

It was the first time Ichigo ever looked pleasant in front of her, and Rukia hated how she cared.

"I'd like to introduce you to a friend," Ichigo said, snatching back her attention. "This is Kuchiki Rukia, one of our engineers and our only female mechanic. Rukia, this is Inoue."

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" the girl said. It hurt that she sounded so eager, as she held out a hand for Rukia to shake. "It's always wonderful to meet Kurosaki-kun's friends."

"A-ah… Me too," she replied. She grinned lamely before pulling her hand back, feeling awkward for even being there.

"Inoue and I have some business we need to talk with the higher-ups about so we have to get going." Gesturing towards the building, Rukia wasn't prepared for the stern look Ichigo gave her. "Don't do anything reckless. If I have to drag you outta that garage kicking and screaming, I'll do it, Rukia."

"Whatever. I'll do what I want," she stuck her tongue out at him as he glowered but nodded for them to leave anyway. Despite turning away, it was hard to miss the worried glance Inoue sent her, a little lost and confused, like she didn't know what to make of their relationship.

Well then, that makes two of us, Rukia thought as she made her way back to the garage.

AN: And that's it for the second part. Please look forward to the last one, guys. I think it'll be out next weekend as long as I get some free time to just write. We'll see what I have schedule-wise. LOL

Thanks for reading, everybody! Until next time~