Autor's note: So I had a holiday today and I decided to put up the next chapter. I'm sorry it still sounds a lot cliched I just can't help it. Anyways I tried my best to keep them in character but I guess I missed at places. Gomen. And please please pleeeeeease...I need your reviews. if you read it, please take five seconds off your precious time and leave a review :3 you'd be a great help!

Uryu had been trying to concentrate on some assignment all this while. He just couldn't get the image out of his head. Damn that Kurosaki! Of all people… Orihime… why?! He put his head in his hands. It was too difficult to think straight, much less study!

The doorbell went off. Who could be there… he thought as he walked towards the door. He hardly ever had any visitors. He opened it up only to find the two orange heads from his thoughts standing out there, cold. He scowled.

"Oi, Uryu" Ichigo clearly sounded irritated.

Uryu adjusted his specs with his middle finger, as he always did when nervous. "Kurosaki… what brings you two here at this hour?"

"SHUT UP" Ichigo yelled at Uryu, clenching his fist "You already know what it is. Let's talk. About what-"

"Well…" Uryu adjusted his specs again "That's none of my business."

"None-of-my-business my ass" Ichigo glared at him "What the hell are you acting like a jerk for! It. Was. A. Misunderstanding. Did she not tell you that" Ichigo grabbed Orihime's arm and shoved her in. Uryu winced.

"Yeah." Uryu said, looking the other way "I don't… particularly care"

That was it. The last straw. Ichigo took a step forward and punched him in the face, his glasses falling to the floor. Uryu stumbled back a few steps in shock. It hurt. Damn. And it hurt real bad.

"Ishida-kun" Orihime cried as she stepped towards him. Uryu held up his hand to make her stay where she was.

"You damned Shinigami." he growled "You wanna fight me alright"

He straightened up and grabbed Ichigo's collar.

"Sure. I'll beat some sense into you" Ichigo's frown deepened (as if it wasn't already!)

Uryu tried to punch him but missed. Ichigo raised his fist again only to be grabbed by Orihime's cold hand.

"Kurosaki-kun…" sniff sniff. She looked him square in the eyes, her own eyes burning with anger and regret. "Stop. Do NOT lay a hand on Ishida-kun again."

Ichigo let go of Uryu's collar as he stumbled back, dazed.

Uryu looked down at his feet. "Nande…?" he was still shaking "Why, Kurosaki!" he clenched his fists "WHY?! Of all the people… WHY the only girl I cared for…" Uryu's burning eyes were boring into Ichigo as he stared back, open-mouthed. "The only girl I really li-…" As he realized what he was about to say, he covered his mouth with one hand and blinked, blushing hard as he looked from right to left.

Orihime was staring at him, wide-eyed. "Ishida… kun…"

Orihime took a step towards him as he desperately hoped to find a hole to bury his head in. Another step. And another. Before he could warn her, she stumbled over the few blocks lying on the floor that he was working on and she fell head-first.

"Ita ita" she pulled herself up on an elbow, covering her nose with one hand. It felt warm and...wet?

"INOUE-SAN" Ishida dashed to her. "I-I-oh God your nose is bleeding. I am so sorry, Inoue-san… I…"

"Che" Ichigo smirked "See? That's what happened. She just keeps falling all the time!"

"Ita… I-I'm fine, Ishida-kun. It doesn't really hurt. My bad" she smiled at him, wryly.

He smiled back at her with a relieved-still-concerned expression.

"I'm done here then, I guess" Ichigo tucked his hands in his pockets, walking towards the door. "Geez, Uryu, it's time you admit you like her" he turned back and smirked at them.

Uryu looked away, blushing "She… shut up, Kurosaki-she already knows that-" he blushed harder.

Orihime shook her head at him "Ishida-kun would never acknowledge that in front of anyone" she smiled naughtily and stuck out her tongue.

Uryu started hoping to find a hole to bury his head in again.

"Bleh! You're one hell of an idiot couple you know" Ichigo slammed the door behind him as he walked away with a satisfied grin. Damn it's cold out here. Thank God she has the coat. Or she'd probably just freeze to death!

As he reached home, he was greeted by a kick in the face as soon as the door opened. Isshin danced in front of him, tongue stuck out.

"Idiot son of mine" he crowed "You let your guard down again. Baaaaka!"

Ichigo retorted with another kick "How many times do I tell you to not greet me with a kick in the face every time I come in."

"Oh stop it you two" Yuzu said with a sigh "Dinner's ready"

"Just let them be" Karin said with a scowl.

Ichigo washed up and took a plate "I'll take my dinner to my room"

"Ichigo… you're taking only half as much as you normally do" Yuzu pointed out.

"Oh… yeah I'm not… that hungry today…" Ichigo blinked.

She wouldn't be there today. Ichigo sighed as he went up the stairs.

"Oh you're home" the familiar voice said as he opened up his door. He jumped, startled.

"You… you're here!" Ichigo stared at the petite girl sitting in his closet, feet dangling down. He didn't know why in the first place he'd thought she wouldn't be there. Something about what happened last made him think she would keep away. But there she was-just like always.

"You ate already?" She stared at the plate. Her stomach growled. "Is that mine?"

"Uh no… yeah… I mean…" he offered her the plate "You can eat this."

Rukia took it willingly and started at once. Ichigo plopped on his bed with a sigh.

"What happened?" she tilted her head and blinked at him. "Uh… not that I want to know… I mean… eto…" she fumbled.

Ichigo smirked. That's so cute-wait… whaaaaat?! He blinked and sat up straight, scratching his head. Where have these weird thoughts been coming from, lately?! He looked up at her curious eyes.

"Oh… that…" he tried to think straight. "Hmmm… I went to Uryu's…" he related the whole incident to her and she chuckled.

"What? It's not funny!" Ichigo scowled "You don't know…"

Rukia sighed-as if relieved. "So that's how it is. Well it can't be helped. That scene did look kind of…" she trailed off.

"Kind of what?!" Ichigo raised an eyebrow.

"Uh…" Rukia turned red. "As if… you know… like you… and her…"

"I knew it-I knew it!" Rukia stared at Ichigo's irritated face "You misunderstood too…"

"Well…" Rukia looked away. "Not that it-"

"Yeah" Ichigo snapped. "Forget about it."

He got up and went downstairs to return with a bag of chips. Rukia looked at it with sparkly eyes. Ichigo gave her a mean look.

"This is mine. You ate all my dinner. I'm hungry" He opened the bag of chips and started munching. Rukia pouted. "What?! I had to make an excuse of studying late so Yuzu would let me have it. I'm not giving you any."

"Fine!" Rukia retorted "I don't even want any."

Ichigo chuckled as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why did you not get more to eat like you always do?" Rukia asked.

"Well…." his mind was somewhere else "I thought you won't be here."

"And what made you think that?" she asked "Where else would I go? This is pretty much the only place I have."

"Yeah but…" he wasn't paying attention to what he was saying "After what I did…"

Shit! He realized he'd gotten off the track. He didn't really plan on bringing that up now. He looked at her as she looked down… blushing?

"Yeah… about that…" she spoke before him "I uh-"

"I'm sorry" Ichigo interrupted. "I didn't… mean it… I don't know… I just… sorry… I got impulsive, I guess…"

Her head snapped up and she stared at him as he fumbled uncomfortably, a slight shade of red in his face.

"Yeah? You didn't mean it?!" she yelled before she could realize "You don't just go kissing someone randomly because you got impulsive! You really are the worst. Do you have any idea how your 'impulsive' actions could hurt another person?!"

"I admit it was my mistake, okay" he muttered "I said I am sorry."

Rukia smacked him on the back of his head-twice.

"You jerk" she was shaking with rage, her fists clenched, her face wasn't visible as she looked down and her hair covered her face.

"What the hell?! That HURT, you dumbass!" he snapped "I APOLOGIZED, did I not?! What do you want? I can't time travel, okay"

She smacked him again and punched his arm. "You're the worst… the worst… that… was my… first…" she trailed off "I hate you, Ichigo, I really do… just… go kill yourself!"

"You dumbass! What the-" Rukia leapt up to the window and disappeared before he could finish. "Ru-" but she was gone.

He sighed as he rubbed the sour spots. Geez. What an idiot. He was mad at her. But more than that he was mad at himself. Why did I have to bring it up now?! Why did she have to overreact like that! Even more, he was mad at himself for kissing her in the first place. He wasn't sure of how he felt about her. No-he was pretty sure-they were friends… right? He sighed again and plopped down on his bed again. Like hell I'm goin' out in this cold to look for her! He frowned as he slid into his blanket and shut his eyes. It was going to be a long night. He could feel it. sleep was nowhere near his eyes.

In the dark street, she sprinted in random direction without a hint as she felt her cheeks wet. She furiously wiped them with the back of her hand. Why the hell do I feel so upset?! He's always been the same jerk! And it wasn't a big deal… was it? Then WHYYYY?! She slowed down to a jog as she tried to figure out where she was. Baka! It was dark and she had no idea where she could go. Baka! She decided she should go to soul society then. She sighed. It had been a while since she had gone there. Suddenly she longed to see the people there. I won't come back. She came to a stop. I don't know why I feel this way. We are friends… right? Then whyyyy…?!

Author again! : So I guess it's kinda clear now that Ichigo and Rukia haven't quite figured out their feelings for each other yet. But don't worry, it'll creep in into the next chapter or summin :3 I'll try!

And, please, readers...review! I just started... need some motivation you know x3