"You knew that would happen, didn't you?" Tatsuki asked looking out the window.
"Of course, that jacket doesn't really help against the cold for shit." Yuffie replied.
"Then why do you wear it?" Tatsuki asked.
"It...belonged to...my only friend..."
"Oh...do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Well, how about if we watch a movie?"
"If you want to."
"I'll get us some popcorn then."
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"Hey Karin, have Ichigo and Rukia come back yet?" Yuzu asked, "The storm is starting up again."
"No, and the idiot forgot Rukia's coat here." Karin replied. Just as she finished, Ichigo burst in through the door carrying Rukia and slammed the door closed with his back.
"FUCK, first it calms down then it just starts up again!" Ichigo exclaimed.
"Umm...Ichigo?" Rukia asked.
"What?" Ichigo replied, still looking up while catching his breath.
"You can put me down now." Ichigo looked down and noticed he was still carrying her.
"Oh, sorry." He said putting her down, both blushing.
"You lovebirds done yet?" Karin asked from the kitchen, "Because dinner's ready."
After eating dinner, both Ichigo and Rukia went up to Ichigo's room and did their usual separate things. Rukia was reading a manga book and Ichigo was finishing up his homework. Soon Rukia finished her book and was out till the next volume came out, so she looked over at Ichigo's shoulder to see that he was spacing out and scribbling random lines.
"Ichigo." Rukia called out while shaking his shoulder, Ichigo didn't respond, "Ichigo...ICHIGO!" Nothing. 'Hmm...I wonder if he's thinking about that girl Tatsuki told me about.' she thought to herself, '...I got an idea.' She grabbed her book, gave Ichigo a peck on the cheek, and slammed him across the head with the book when he was about to look at her.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?" Ichigo snapped.
"I was calling you for five minutes and you didn't respond, so I hit you with the book." Rukia replied.
"Wait, did you do anything else?" Ichigo asked.
"What else would I do?" Rukia replied while getting back to her book on his bed, taking a quick look at him when he turned away. She had try force back a laugh when she saw his confused expression.
'I could've sworn I felt something on my cheek' Ichigo thought to himself, 'Like...a small and quick kiss...I must be losing my mind.'
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The next day, Tatsuki woke to find Yuffie still passed out on the couch. 'I told her she could use one of the rooms...' she thought to herself and headed for the kitchen to grab some breakfast. 'Hmm...something's different...' Looking around Tatsuki noticed that her kitchen was recently cleaned. "Funny...I don't remember cleaning yesterday."
"I did." Yuffie commented as she entered the kitchen half asleep.
"Really?" Tatsuki asked, "Why?"
"I always like to be even with others," Yuffie replied, "so if someone does something for me, I return the favor...same with anything bad, but at double the pain."
"I'll be sure to stay on your good side." Tatsuki commented, "Hey, I've been wondering...is the...umm...rumor...true?"
"You'll have to be specific." Yuffie replied, "There's a lot of them."
"Umm...that you were...used as a test subject...?" Tatsuki specified while looking away.
"...yes." Yuffie replied, "I suppose you want to see the end result?" Tatsuki nodded. "Fine, but if you laugh, I'll gut you right here and now!" Tatsuki nodded again with a confused expression on her face. Yuffie took a deep breath and from her back emerged...
"Wings?" Tatsuki asked, containing her laughter from the fact that it was due to experimentation...and Yuffie's threat.
"Yeah," Yuffie replied, "Fairy wings to be exact...stupid isn't it?"
"Well...I don't know if this helps," Tatsuki commented, "but they aren't that bad. If anything, they kind of look cool."
"You think so?" Yuffie asked.
"Of course." Tatsuki replied, "They're not those thick girly ones, they're thin and clear black."
"You're the first to say that." Yuffie commented, "Others just laugh their ass off and call me a freak."
"Hey, you're tough enough to kill a dangerous gang leader, so you should be tough enough to ignore people's comments." Tatsuki replied. Yuffie nodded in agreement and sat down to eat breakfast.
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Just when Tatsuki came back downstairs, ready to go, the door burst open with Ichigo and Rukia running through, trying to close the door in a hurry and out of breath.
"CLOSE IT! QUICK!" Rukia cried as she pushed on the door.
"I'M TRYING! I'M TRYING!" Ichigo replied in a panicked tone as he struggled to close the door on something. A deep and menacing bark could be heard on the other side of the door. Ichigo and Rukia finally managed to close the door with their backs and slid down to the ground, trying to catch their breath.
"Uhh...hi?" Tatsuki greeted questioningly.
"Who's dog is that!?" Rukia exclaimed, "It just attacked us out of nowhere!"
"The damn thing is as big as Rukia!" Ichigo included.
"Oh, that dog just came around here a few weeks ago." Tatsuki replied, "Hasn't caught me yet."
"Well it almost got me!" Rukia exclaimed, "I had to jump onto Ichigo's back until he tripped at your front yard!"
"The only thing I can say about that is; either the adrenaline kept me from noticing that you weigh something, or you just don't weigh a damn thing at all!" Ichigo commented.
The sound of a door opening caused everyone to turn their attention to Yuffie coming out of the bathroom with only a towel on.
"Thanks for letting me use your shower, Tatsuki." Yuffie commented, "I can't remember the last time I was clean." Everyone's jaw dropped. "Did...I miss something?"
"These two were chased in here by a large dog outside." Tatsuki replied, looking Yuffie over.
"And what do you mean you can't remember the last time you were clean?" Rukia asked.
"Well...I'm..." Yuffie responded, turned away and muttered, "I'm homeless." The only reaction that came from the others was, "Oh."
"Yuffie, you're welcome to stay here any time." Tatsuki commented, "However long it may be for."
"Thanks, but I don't want to intrude." Yuffie replied, "I've made it this far on my own..."
"Uh-uh." Tatsuki replied, "You are going to stay here until either high school is over, or we find you a new home. Personally, I'd rather you just stay. I could use the company since my family is out of town a lot and Orihime's spending more time with Ishida."
Yuffie went up to Tatsuki and hugged her, "T-Tatsuki...I...I don't know what to say." she said with a few tears in her eyes.
"Think nothing of it." Tatsuki replied as she returned the hug... a little tighter than expected.
"Hey Yuffie, you don't have half a bad figure you know." Rukia teased at the fact that Yuffie was still only in a towel.
"Thanks."Yuffie replied, unfazed as she let go of Tatsuki and turned to find her clothes.
"That was really nice of you Tatsuki." Ichigo commented.
"Like I said, it's nothing." Tatsuki replied with her back to him.
"Or is it?" Ichigo teased as he hugged her from behind, pinned her arms to the side, and lifted her, "Huh? Come on, tell me the truth."
"Ichigo, stop it!" Tatsuki replied while laughing, "This is why people get the wrong idea!"
"Ok, fine." Ichigo commented as he put her down and blocked a series of punches and kicks that Tatsuki threw at him. Ichigo smirked victoriously at his successful block.
"So you got better, big deal." Tatsuki commented, "Bet you can't block the next hit."
"Bring it!" Ichigo replied, only to get the wind knocked out of him by an infuriated Rukia.
"Told you." Tatsuki replied.
"You and I have to talk later." Rukia whispered through her teeth at Tatsuki.
"Alright, let get going then." Yuffie commented as she returned.
"Oh, here Yuffie." Rukia commented as she handed Yuffie her jacket, "Thanks for letting me use it."
"No problem." Yuffie replied.