AN: There's more Japanese in this one than the last, but the notes are there to help you at the end!

Chapter Two: Taking Action

Ichigo was lying on his bed when he heard the front door open almost ten minutes later. He didn't move, merely opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling, glad for once that Rukia was staying in Karin and Yuzu's room so he didn't have to see her right now. He heard his locked door knob rattle, then footsteps continue down the hall. Rukia understood to leave him alone.

She could be more, Ichigo thought, remembering the hollow's statement not for the feeling he had sensed behind it, but for the words themselves. Rukia. . . .

He sat up, pulling his window open and taking Kon from his backpack. He ignored the stuffed lion's protests, merely saying, "Na, Kon. I'm going out for a bit. Don't do anything stupid in my body."

Kon broke off in the middle of an expletive, saying, "Hah? Really?"

As an answer, Ichigo smacked the doll with his shinigami daikou badge, catching the little green pill before it could fall to his bed. He wiped it off on his shirt, then popped it into his mouth and swallowed, his soul breaking away from his body.

Without another word of explanation to Kon, he jumped out the window, using a few steps of shunpo to distance himself from Rukia even more.

*Hey, king, you know I'm stronger in this form, right?*

"Yeah, I know," Ichigo murmured, "but at least now we're away from her."

#

Rukia sat on her bed in Karin and Yuzu's room, knees pulled up to her chest, thinking. She'd wanted to know the reason Ichigo had been avoiding her all day, but had never guessed it would be that. She wondered what had spurred it on, for that stupid boy to finally decide he had feelings for her. Truthfully, she'd been glad he was putting off the realization, for she knew that she now had to come to terms with her own feelings as well, the ones that sometimes kept her up at night, especially now that she felt so far away from him.

She'd grown quite used to be able to slide the closet door open at night just to confirm he was still there, sleeping peacefully. His quiet breathing was enough to lull her to sleep any night, and no matter how many times she teased him about snoring, he rarely did. Yuzu was another matter . . . but that wasn't the only reason she wanted to be back in his closet. She enjoyed living with him, basically being his roommate. That was what she missed most, his constant presence, that continual wash of leaking reiatsu that he never bothered to find a way to rein in.

"Baka," she murmured, drawing her knees in a little tighter.

She then came to her feet, knowing he couldn't avoid her forever, though if she didn't intervene he might try to. She rattled his locked door knob again, then pounded on the door, calling out, "Na, Ichigo!"

To her surprise, the door opened instantly, and Ichigo leapt from the room, pouncing on her and pulling her into a tight hug.

"Ichi-" she began, but quickly realized her mistake as 'Ichigo"' called out "Nee-san!"

"Kon," she growled, pushing him off of her and standing on his head, "where's Ichigo?"

"Dunno," Kon said, his idiot smile firmly in place as he nuzzled against her foot. "He just popped me into his body and left."

"That . . . bakamono!" she muttered, half cursing herself. She should have anticipated this reaction, especially since he'd run away immediately after kissing her.

Now that she wasn't lost in thought and actually tried, she could sense his reiatsu; a bit distant, but still strong.

There wasn't a hollow, she thought. He must have just wanted to get away.

For a moment she wondered if she should respect his want to be alone, but she then reminded herself that he was stupid, and she should trust her own instincts in handling this delicate manner much more than his.

Another moment of indecision, then Rukia released Kon, then popped Chappy into her own body, hoping the two of them wouldn't cause too much havoc if left alone together. She could always use her memory modifier if things got too far out of hand, but she had no control of what memories it would give Ichigo's family, and possibly the surrounding neighborhood, and didn't want to unless it was absolutely necessary. Besides, she needed to use shunpo to get there quickly, and having people seeing her gigai, still in its schoolgirl outfit, seemingly appearing and disappearing in random places would necessitate a need to modify some memories much more than a potential pyon battle would.

She jumped out his already open window, using shunpo to quickly reach her destination, a small grove of trees in a park a few kilometers from Ichigo's house. Ichigo had his back to her, and since she doubted he would sense her reiatsu she took a breath and called out, "Ichigo," her tone asking if he wanted to talk.

His reaction wasn't quite what she'd expected. He spun to face her, his expression shocked and . . . fearful?

"Rukia!" he called out, his voice slightly desperate. Then he shifted.

She felt it this time, the difference in his reiatsu subtle but definitely there. His expression changed to a wide smile, and he was suddenly beside her, tossing her sword away and pinning her against a tree.

"Rukia," he said again, but this time she could hear the hollow in his voice, the odd, evil tone that seemed to echo against itself.

And then he kissed her, and she realized why Ichigo hadn't wanted to talk to her. He hadn't kissed her. His hollow, this thing, had been the one to hold his body against hers, the one to leave her lips burning. It was the same, rough and forceful, demanding and dominating, and it scared Rukia more than she ever thought a kiss from Ichigo could. No, this wasn't Ichigo. She couldn't forget that.

Rukia found she couldn't move, not only from the fear and shock, but because the hollow was using Ichigo's body quite effectively to keep her still, to make sure he kept the upper hand. His nearness was painful, especially since it wasn't actually him.

The hollow ended the kiss, but not the assault. He leaned in to bite at the lobe of her ear, then began trailing kisses and bites down her neck. She was breathing roughly, and she didn't seem to be able to close her eyes. She couldn't quite come to terms with what was happening to her, and no matter how many times she told herself this wasn't him, she was having a hard time keeping herself from lapsing into a fantasy where Ichigo was the one making her heart pound and her breathing difficult.

His mouth had found the collar of her kimono, and she was terrified for a moment of just how far he intended to take this, when he suddenly released her, stepping back, eyes downcast. Rukia blinked twice, feeling her eyes water, wondering if Ichigo had regained control like he had last time the hollow had kissed her. Then he met her eyes, and spoke.

"I'll stop. I can see you don't like this. But . . . I just wanted to touch you. Just wanted you to notice me."

Before Rukia could react or even comprehend the words, she felt his reiatsu change, and it was suddenly Ichigo standing before her. He looked away from her, then turned back, and she could see him struggle to meet her eyes, shame working its way into his expression.

"Rukia," he murmured, and she could suddenly breathe again, his familiar voice the final thing needed to confirm that he was okay.

"Ichigo," she said, then found she was the one turning away, unable to meet his eyes.

There was a long silence that neither seemed to be able to break, then Ichigo spoke suddenly, his tone quiet.

"Rukia, I-" he paused and took in a breath, as if what he was trying to say cost him a great deal. Then he spoke again, his tone quiet, but decisive.

"Tasukete."

A/N: The phrase "sharp pants" (which was in the first draft) makes my beta/sister laugh, because as I was reading the story aloud she pictured it, well, literally. So as Rukia is ravaged, she breathes sharp trousers at her attacker. Sexy.

Translation Notes:

Na - basically, hey, yo; masculine way of saying it

Shinigami daikou - substitute death god/soul reaper

Shunpo - flash step

Reiatsu - spirit energy, spirit power

Baka - moron, idiot, stupid . . .you name it, it means it (depends upon tone of speaker)

Bakamono - complete idiot; literally 'stupid thing'

Tasukete - help me