Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Tite Kubo does!
A/N: I want to thank you guys for the support and the review and everything. I love you guys! Thanks for waiting for this. Takes me long? I am sorry! I hope you like it. And this chapter was long, I warn you. Because I want to make Ichigo's progress until he realized he was in love. Hint hint. I tried to put more Rukia in this chapter! Enjoy!
When Byakuya let Kurosaki Ichigo stay in his mansion whenever Kurosaki Ichigo paid a visit to Soul Society, he was doing that only to make Rukia happy. If it wasn't for Rukia, he would gladly see the substitute shinigami sleeping on the street. Byakuya would do anything for his sister. Anything.
So, he arranged a dinner together with Rukia and her orange haired friend. All set. All cool. But too bad, Rukia couldn't make it because she said, well she said Ukitake needed her. It left Byakuya only one option. Having dinner with the man he hated the most.
Dinner time. This was exactly the nerve-wracking situation that Ichigo never wished to happen to him. Ever. But Rukia begged him to accept Byakuya's invitation. She hoped Ichigo could use this moment to make things right with her dear brother because they had been at each others throats since day one. Ichigo refused at first of course. But you know Ichigo... like he could really say no to Rukia.
The clock ticked so slowly. And no one said anything. Beating Byakuya on the soukyoku hill was hard enough but having dinner with him was even harder.
"Byakuya," Ichigo started. Cold glare landed on him. Dear God. He said one word and this insane man wanted to kill him?
"The food.. uh, tasted good." he finished. Smart, Kurosaki. Minutes of thinking of what to say and this was the best you could come out with. Actually the food was not that good. Well it was good, but not very, very good.
"No suprise. The food of Kuchiki household is not to be doubted. Healthy and highly nutritious." Byakuya replied.
Ichigo's eye twitched. What an arrogant bastard.
"But not enough calcium, is it? Well, Rukia's height is kinda.." Ichigo stopped. Alright. Byakuya did not seem too happy to hear what he was about to say.
"You have to be thankful I cancelled my plan to poison your food." Byakuya responded, keeping a straight face and bringing his eyebrows down some in the middle.
End of conversation.
Seconds passed like minutes.
Minutes passed like hours. What took the servants so long to bring the dessert?
"Nice place." Ichigo broke the silence, putting another effort into having a healthy conversation with Byakuya.
Byakuya didn't respond.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
"So, Byakuya," Ichigo tried again. The 6th squad captain looked annoyed by Ichigo's frequent attempt to talk to him. "Thanks, I guess, for letting me stay here."
"Don't get too full of yourself, Kurosaki Ichigo," Byakuya said. "I am doing it only for Rukia."
Ichigo frowned. Like that didn't hurt. If this bastard was not trying to be on good terms with him, then why should he?
"Oh what a caring brother." Ichigo said with a smirk that annoyed the hell out of Byakuya.
"I am not going to be affected by your annoying sarcasm and your complete lack of respect towards me."
Here we go again. Here we go again. Enough, Ichigo. Don't anger him. Back to you intention. You want peace with this man. Peace.
"No, seriously, I, uh, think you're a perfect brother to Rukia." he said, trying to sound believable.
"Enough, Kurosaki Ichigo. Your whole efforts to impress me are useless. I still loathe you. And I am not going to change my mind," Byakuya paused, taking a sip of his wine.
"You're never going to be allowed to date my sister." He continued.
This time, Ichigo choked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Why, why would I date Rukia?"
Byakuya raised his eyebrow elegantly. "Because you embrace romantic feelings for her. And with that dirty, brainless mind of yours you want to own her and claim that she is yours. You even think to elope with my sister."
Oh no.
No. No. No. Not Byakuya too.
And this stupid bastard was taking this way too far!
"I think there's a misunderstanding here."
"First of all, I'm being nice here to you only because I wanna make things fine between us. I think you want to kill me all the time."
"I do."
Ichigo felt the need to go grab Zangetsu in the guest room.
"Second of all, I," he paused, thinking why this would not sound right in his ears. "I wouldn't date Rukia."
"I see." Byakuya closed his eyes. "With your foul mouth, you're now trampling Kuchiki's pride by simply meaning to say that Rukia is not worth you."
"What? No! I wouldn't date Rukia because it would be weird, you know. We wouldn't go down that road." Ichigo said quickly.
"That's a lie."
"It's not."
"Do you think my sister is not good enough for you, Kurosaki Ichigo, so it's highly unlikely to fall for her?"
Ichigo's jaw dropped. This man was hopeless.
"Damnit no! Rukia is..." -very beautiful. Very attractive. Cute. Smart. Elegant. Classy. Strong. Has pale, smooth, white porcelain skin. Has the most beautiful eyes in the whole world. Has the most soft lips. Mine. Whoa, whoa, stop right there, Ichigo.
"Is... My sister that you can't have." Byakuya finished Ichigo's sentence.
"Damnit, Byakuya. I suggest you to go to a Psychiatric." Ichigo mumbled.
"Once again, completely no manners."
"Curse you."
"Kurosaki Ichigo, from our conversation tonight, I have made a conclusion."
"Great. I'd love to heart that." Ichigo said sarcastically, arms folded.
"I am glad to inform you now that I will start to consider other noble families' proposals of Rukia's hand of marriage. Good night." Byakuya said with a full hatred, standing up and was about to leave the dining room.
Ichigo dropped his arms and quickly stood up. He what? The bastard will what?
"What the hell, Byakuya! You can't do that!"
Why did Ichigo Kurosaki suddenly jump down Byakuya Kuchiki's throat?
"And why can not I?" Byakuya did not even bother to turn around.
"Because," Ichigo scratched the back of his neck frustratedly. "Because," still couldn't think of something clever! "Because," still no words. Ichigo could see Byakuya was running out of patience.
"Because?"
Ichigo sighed. Why was the idea of Rukia marrying someone else bothering him so much? "Never mind."
Byakuya finally looked over his shoulder. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I see. Looks like I overestimated the number of your brain cells. I should have known your inability to admit what you feel because of your ego."
"Look who's talking."
"Even Renji took this test better than you, Kurosaki Ichigo. Good night."
What fucking test.
And Renji fucking what.
Ichigo decided not to slug it out. He hated that guy.
Oh the night was not over yet for Kurosaki Ichigo. Rukia came home and she found Ichigo standing there alone in front of the mansion's gate, put on his deepest scowl, hands in his pockets, eyebrows furrowed, eyes to the ground. Completely in bad mood Ichigo style.
It was Rukia. She could see through Ichigo. She knew him inside out and she knew there was something bothering him right now.
"Nii-sama gave you a hard time, huh?"
The orange haired shinigami turned a deaf ear. Did not even glance at Rukia.
Rukia sighed. "Sorry. I thought you two could, you know, get along."
"Nii-sama doesn't hate you anyway." she said again.
"He kinda respects you actually, but he doesn't-"
"You're not getting married to some noble guy freak, are you?"
And Ichigo did not even look at her when he said that.
Rukia did not get it at first. "What?" Took a moment before Rukia finally got what her hot headed friend meant. Oh that. Her lips curved into a teasing smirk. "Baka. I'm not." she gently kicked him.
Ichigo was relieved. "Good."
"Good." he repeated, giving her his most breath taking grin.
Here came the moment... until Ichigo had to ruin that.
"You better tell your douche brother about that."
"Don't call Nii-sama that! I am surprised you went through the dinner alive."
"Describes him well. Crazy, insane, annoying, irritating, big headed, robot, irrational, arrogant, cold, somber, bossy, bastard, crap bag, jerk, asshole-"
"Shūkei. Hakuteiken."
Oh God Ichigo wouldn't survive this time.
When Hanatarou was in charge to take care of Ichigo when he had to stay in 4th squad headquarters, Hanatarou paid attention to the orange haired man. He seemed to be in a massive bad mood. His frown was deeper than usual and he hadn't said anything ever since he was brought here.
"You really hate hospital, don't you, Ichigo-san?" He said as he was preparing Ichigo's food.
"Yeah. Which is strange because I am going to work at this kind of place." Ichigo stated lazily.
Hanatarou let out a weak chuckle. "Here's your lunch. You should eat. It will help you gain your reiatsu back faster."
"Nah. I'm not hungry."
"But you should eat, Ichigo-san."
"I don't want to."
"But Unohana-taichou said-"
"I don't feel like eating." Ichigo said. He was gutted and Hanatarou wasn't helping at all.
"Eat, Ichigo-san."
"I said no."
Hanatarou sighed. How could he be so stubborn?
"Ichigo-san, don't make me force you." Hanatarou said then laughed nervously. He was already holding the spoon.
Hanatarou irritated Ichigo more when he started to make the spoon's way to Ichigo's mouth.
Ichigo didn't think that was funny. He pushed the spoon away. "Don't make me punch you, Hanatarou. I can move my arms, you know."
"A-ano..."
Hanatarou didn't get to finish his sentence when the door was suddenly opened. It was Rukia. And strangely, when Ichigo (who was not in the mood to see anyone) saw Rukia walked in, Hanatarou could see some sparks in his eyes.
Hanatarou smiled knowingly.
Right. Who wouldn't be happy to be visited by his girlfriend?
"Hey." Ichigo said to Rukia.
"What happened to you?" asked Rukia, she didn't bother to greet Ichigo back. Hanatarou could sense worry in her voice.
"I kind of had a small accident." Ichigo answered.
"How did that happen?" She asked again, then sat on the chair beside the bed.
"I asked Renji to train me kido. Turned out he wasn't smart at using that either." Ichigo said, scratching the back of his neck nervously.
Rukia frowned. "Baka. You should have asked me. I could teach you some."
"Like you have time for me." he murmured.
Rukia rolled her eyes. "Of course I do." she sounded irritated, then her hand gently touched Ichigo's bruised left cheek, green light appeared, then the bruises on Ichigo's cheek began to disappear slowly.
Only Rukia's healing could make him feel this way. It always felt... good. He was leaning into her touch until... his cheek felt like burning. Alright. Someone slapped him. And that someone was Rukia. Her slap was not too hard but enough to make his cheek red.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"For making it sound like I never have time for you." Rukia said with a frown.
Ok that made he felt bad for making accusing her. And Ichigo almost could hear Hanatarou's small laugh.
Then Rukia slapped him again.
"And what was that for again?" Ichigo said, annoyed.
Ichigo could hear another Hanatarou's small laugh.
"For making me worried." She told him calmly.
Ichigo turned away. His face was a little pink.
"Stupid. You always worry too much." He said.
Ichigo could hear Hanatarou's small laugh again. What a way to ruin the moment and what a good way to annoy already bad mood Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Why are you laughing?" Ichigo asked Hanatarou suspiciously, eyes narrowed at the shinigami.
"No-nothing, Ichigo-san." Hanatarou smiled. "Rukia-san, please one more slap. For me."
Ichigo's eye twitched. "What the-" alright he was slapped again. "Will you stop that!" he glared as he took Rukia's hand in his, just in case another slap was going to land on his cheek again.
Rukia smirked at Ichigo. "What did this baka do that annoyed you, Hanatarou?" She asked the most innocent shinigami in Soul Society.
"He refuses to eat, Rukia-san." Hanatarou smiled.
"Oh." Rukia said then turned to Ichigo again. An evil smirk painted on her face.
"I am not hungry." Ichigo told Rukia.
Rukia looked at Ichigo coldly. Thanks to the Kuchiki manner she always had.
"I eat when I want to eat." Ichigo told her again. Like he couldn't be more stubborn.
"You eat when I tell you to eat."
"Oh right you're the boss." Ichigo scoffed.
"Ichigo, eat."
"No."
"Ichigo."
"Rukiaaa."
"Ichigo, you listen to me."
And with that, this stubborn handsome bastard couldn't argue any longer.
"Fine." He said. Hanatarou gave him his food.
Hanatarou smiled. It was true when people said that Ichigo only listened to Rukia.
"You know I always win." Rukia smiled, punching his arm lightly as she stood up.
"Where are you going?" asked Ichigo, sounded unhappy about the idea of Rukia leaving him.
"To go see Renji, why?"
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. Renji? Hell no. "I, uh. I need help." he said. "Can't move my arms."
Rukia said nothing at first. Confused emotion on her flawless face. Then she nodded. "Okay. I will feed you."
Ichigo gave her the famous cocky smirk. "Thanks."
This vision of Rukia feeding Ichigo was new to Hanatarou. Never thought they two would do this with him around. But probably they didn't even remember that he was there. Hanatarou could see the way they talked to each other. Ichigo asked how was her day. Rukia told him about her squad, her day, her taichou, her lunch, everything. And Ichigo listened intensely, his eyes were never off of her face. Hantarou was surprised that he was such a good listener.
"I've to go now," Rukia said, giving Hanatarou the empty plate. She gave Hanatarou a slight smile.
Then Rukia turned to Ichigo and gave him a really quick peck on the cheek that she slapped before, and then smiled playfully.
Hanatarou, once again, was surprised to see how they interacted with each other. Were they officially dating? Hanatarou always had a crush for Rukia. But seeing who his opponent was, ha. He didn't need to try. Beside, he secretly shipped Rukia and Ichigo.
"And what was that again?" Hanatarou could hear Ichigo ask her that.
"Sorry I slapped you three times."
"Bye, baka." Rukia waved at Ichigo and Hanatarou. Who she called Baka was only Ichigo though.
Her baka.
Ichigo was in his best mood.
Until...
"Ichigo-san, now I know it's true that stubborn man only listens to woman whom he's in love with. If you refuse to listen to me, I'll just call Rukia-san." Hanatarou said with a smile.
To Ichigo, Hanatarou couldn't annoy him more.
"You know that I can move my arms, don't you?" Ichigo said with a death glare.
"A-ano.."
Run, Hanatarou! Run!
When Isshin and Ichigo went fishing together to a very breath-taking viewed lake outside Karakura, Isshin felt this was the right time to have a quality time with his son. It was autumn. The orange leaves shattered on the ground, the breeze, all beautiful. What a moment to have father-son bonding time.
"What a beautiful time. You, me, alone. Father and son unite! Masaki would be happy to see you and me being this close!" Isshin said enthusiastically, wiping his cheek with a photo of his late wife that he always kept in his wallet.
Ichigo gave him the bored look. "Stop talking crap. Look, your fish has run away again."
"Ah... I'm so happy. If only there was a mini, cute next generation Kurosaki boy join us right now. Oh... I would die in happiness."
"Seriously. What the hell have you been smoking out there?" Ichigo said in annoyance. Eyes focused to his fishing rod.
His dad chuckled. Then there came the comfortable silence between the two men, until Isshin had to break it.
"Ichigo, where's my grandchild?"
"Are you crazy?"
"So, can my stupid son explain to me why can't I have any grandchildren yet?" Isshin asked again, giving Ichigo a wink.
Hearing no response Isshin rambled on.
"Oh before that, Ichigo, tell me who's going to be the mother of my grandchildren? I've to make sure she is cute. So if the baby looks like her, we're safe. If the baby looks like you, we're screwed."
Again, Ichigo pretended he wasn't listening to his father. Isshin sensed the orange haired shinigami wasn't happy to hear his joke.
"I'm just kidding." He added.
Ichigo waved his hand, simply wanting to dismiss the matter. "I'm not talking about this with you."
"Oh, come on, Ichigo! You never want to talk about things like this with me! What is it? What is it? Tell me your problem and I'm going to help you solve that. This is our Boys Zone." Isshin gave him his infamous thumb up.
Ichigo glanced at his father lazily. "Do you wanna know what my problems are? One, you won't shut up. Two, Boys Zone sounds so lame that makes me want to kill my self."
Isshin grinned. Oh how he loved teasing Ichigo.
"Stop being so cold, my idiot son! Now be a good son and tell your dad why you never have a girlfriend..." Isshin grinned from ear to ear. "...or a boyfriend."
Ichigo's blood boiled hearing his father's last stupid remark. No words needed to reply that one. A hard punch on his father's stomach was just fine.
"Ni-ce, pu-punch, Ichigo! Can't feel my stomach! I have nothing left to teach you, you smart champion!"
"Served you right! I'm straight. You're so irritating." Ichigo grunted. And then he realized he had lost his fish. Blame his stupid dad.
"Relax, Ichigo! I was just goofing around, you know. Oh I am so funny."
"I'm not laughing."
Isshin laughed. Funny to see his son's nonexistent sense of humor.
"Well back to the topic. No girlfriend. Why? Because you're ugly? Oh no, no, can't be it. You won The Sexiest Shinigami poll last month."
"How the hell did you know?" Ichigo cringed, looking at his father suspiciously.
"Kisuke. Big news. Someone knocks Kuchiki Byakuya off his porch! Knock knock! Who is that? My lunatic son!" Isshin mocked. That proud, wide grin was still there.
"Stop testing my patience or I'll go drown you in the lake, old man."
"Anyway, talking about Kuchiki..."
Oh sweet Lord. Ichigo thought, well he thought, he saw what's gonna come next.
"What now?"
"I think I've known this for a pretty long time. The reason why you don't have a girlfriend is because you're already in love-"
Please don't say her.
Not her again.
"I don't wanna hear what you're going to say next."
"With Rukia-chan!"
"That's so brand new." Ichigo mumbled.
"Rukia-chan. My sweet third daughter. I like her. I love her." Isshin snickered, elbowing Ichigo's arm.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you too old for her, old man? Byakuya's gonna kill you."
"Jealous?"
"Nah." Ichigo looked away, started to focus on his fishing again.
"She's smart. She's cute. She's polite. She's elegant. She's cool. And the most important thing, she understands you best and she is what you need and she is who you want."
"Rukia's my nakama, Dad." Ichigo corrected, busy with a can of worms for his fishing rod's bait.
"The rumours say you two are more than that." Isshin said, he decided to stop fishing and just lay down. The breeze was good. He could fall asleep in any moment.
"Who told you to listen to them anyway." Isshin heard his son growl, but couldn't see his expression.
"Rumors have been around. You and Rukia-chan are together. So, it's true, isn't it?"
Ichigo didn't look over his shoulder, his back still facing his father.
"Nope."
"Not yet?"
"Never gonna happen."
"Did she turn you down?"
"No."
"You haven't confessed your feelings?"
"I'm not gonna."
"And what would the reason be?"
"We're not like that."
"Not like what?"
"That love thing."
"Oh you two are absolutely like that."
"Sorry, we aren't."
"Ichigo, you big fake liar!" Isshin sat himself up, moving closer to his son.
"Whatever."
Isshin sighed. His son was so difficult sometimes. He hung his arm around his son's neck.
"Ichigo my only son, why are you so stupid and pathetic. Daddy's so sad... Who taught you to deny that you're in love, champ? Who? Who? Daddy's hurt. Hurt. Really hurt." Isshin said, a made-up-wise tone in his voice.
That couldn't annoy Ichigo more.
"Talk with that voice again, we don't know each other."
Isshin laughed. "Okay. Okay. Let's be serious. Boys Zone back on the table. Heart to heart talk. Convince me you're not in love with my third daughter Rukia-chan." He said, giving Ichigo a pat on the back.
"What?" Ichigo asked, facing him.
"Convince me, Ichigo. Say it."
Ichigo's eyes were on the lake when he said this, not daring to look into his father's. "I'm not in love with Rukia."
Isshin scoffed. Smirking widely. "Who taught you to lie, Kurosaki Ichigo? You suck! Are you sure you're my son?"
"Are you friggin kidding me? Are you sure you're my father?" Ichigo said. His lips curled down into a frown.
"We're onto the next round! What's Rukia-chan to you?" Isshin asked, once again hanging his arm around Ichigo's neck.
"I'm not playing this game with you. Totally stupid and pointless!" Ichigo tried to pull of the grip that his father had on him but it was useless.
"The mother of your future beautiful and cute babies?"
"What the hell?"
"Your one and only lover for eternity?"
"Too cheesy, old man."
"Very attractive girl that's gonna be my daughter in-law?"
"Cut it out! Why are you so annoying?"
"The girl whom you're in love with but you just haven't realized it yet?"
"Geez. I'm tired of having this discussion over and over again." Ichigo groaned.
"You wouldn't be having this discussion too often if you're not this stubborn, Ichigo." He stated, finally released his son.
Isshin grabbed a box of cigarettes in his bag. When he was about to say something cool to his stupid son, he needed to smoke. A stream of smoke dissipated into the orange-gold, almost sunset sky.
"Stubborn? I'm telling the damn truth, Dad."
Isshin offered his lit cigarette to Ichigo.
Ichigo waved his hand. "Don't smoke."
Isshin laughed at his son's expression. "Rukia-chan doesn't think you're cool when you're smoking, huh?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "She did tell me not to smoke but that's not the reason."
Isshin smiled. "Good job. Masaki! Look what a good man our son has become."
Ichigo decided not to respond his father. He had just caught another fish. Isshin laid down on the ground again, his legs crossed, his arms supporting his head, still smoking, he squeezed his eyes shut.
"Ah." Isshin spoke up. "Where were we again? Oh the stubborn thing. Now shut up and listen to me well. I'm about to be a serious, cool figure of a father."
"People see and people talk, Ichigo. You two are obviously in love with each other."
"I know you two haven't made it official yet or whatsoever but people don't need that. We know. 'I like Ichigo, oh no he's already with Rukia'. 'I like Rukia, oh no Ichigo's gonna kill me'. You do know what I'm talking about."
Ichigo stayed quiet. He didn't know why. He didn't understand why a vision of Inoue and Renji darted into his mind. Then he felt a fear came approaching him. He was fearful that what his father said was true. What people had been telling him was true. He was in love with the raven haired girl.
Ichigo knew he cared for Rukia a little bit, okay, much more than he cared for anyone else. But it was not because he was in love with her. It was simply because she was the one who changed his world. Of course that made her special. Of course that made them have a deep, very deep bond which people misunderstood that as love.
"You're so naive, Ichigo. So slow. How much longer are you going to deny your own feelings? Afraid that it will ruin your friendship? Don't be a baby."
Friendship. That was the right word to describe Rukia and him. After all what they had been through together, Ichigo liked to say it was friendship. At least, he convinced himself they better off stayed this way.
His father's voice echoed in his ears. He was right. Ichigo was afraid of changes. When he kissed Rukia once, no twice, no three or four times, alright whenever they felt like doing it, he was scared it was going to ruin their friendship. But then he talked to Rukia about it then they agreed it wouldn't ruin their friendship as long as they were not in that love place.
Ichigo liked their agreement even though he was quite unsure about where he was. Then he refused to think about what the hell he felt for Rukia or what Rukia meant to him. He didn't care. It was way too complicated. The more he thought about it, the more complicated it became. As long as she was there by his side, he would be fine.
Friend, best friend, girlfriend, lover. Fuck that. Rukia was everything to him.
Wait.
What did people call it if someone meant everything to them?
Ichigo knew the answer. Four letters. Started with L. Ended with E. But hell no. No, no, that wasn't right. Rukia would break his skull if she knew he thought about her that way.
Where was he again? Oh right. The lake. His father was talking.
"Beside..." Isshin's voice brought Ichigo back to the reality.
"You owe me grandchildren. Since now I know it's Rukia-chan, I'm very glad. Cute grandchildren for me!"
The original, stupid father figure had come back.
"Yeah keep dreaming that." Ichigo sighed. He stopped fishing and laid down next to his father.
"Because you're gonna be a good son and make it come true?" Isshin stubbed out his cigarette.
"Get lost, pops." Ichigo said, yawning. It was true. The breeze made people sleepy. "You know, until now, with your stupidity, I don't know how you got Mom marrying you."
"I don't know! I just confessed because I didn't deny my feelings, kiddo! And she said yes!"
Ichigo wanted to argue but he couldn't find his voice. The corners of his lips curved into a smirk instead. "Ah." He said.
Isshin smiled. His boy really had grown up.
The two remained like that for a while. The orange-purple-golden sky made everything even more beautiful. It was true. This was their quality time together.
Ichigo sat himself up. He almost fell asleep. He glanced at his fishing rod. He didn't drive this far from Karakura to fall asleep anyway. Then he glanced at his basket. Only five medium fishes. Yuzu wouldn't be happy to hear that.
"Hey Dad, we're running out of worms for the fishing rod. You're such a good Dad, you want to be our bait?"
Isshin opened his eyes. Okay, time for fishing until the sun set!
"You ungrateful child! I disown you." Isshin said, handing Ichigo his remnant worms.
"Thanks God." Ichigo joked.
The two started to fish in a very comfortable silence.
"Ichigo?" Isshin, again, broke it.
"What now?"
"Masaki's gonna love Rukia-chan. She loves her. She already has."
Ichigo smiled a genuine smile. Even though he wasn't facing his father, Isshin knew he was smiling. "Tell me about it." His son said.
Isshin smiled. He wasn't going to wait for grandchildren way too long anymore.
When Renji played board games or any games with Ichigo, he wouldn't take it easy. Everything with that orange haired shinigami was a competition. They were rivals after all. Rivals in everything. Zanpakuto spars, fist to fist spar, chess, Ichigo's stupid human video game, Ichigo's stupid human board game, or love. But unfortunately, the red head had given up in this love matter. No one would want to be against Ichigo when it came to Rukia.
This time, Ichigo and Renji were playing chess. Renji set the rule. Who lost had to be topless (the weather in Soul Society was very, very cold that time. It was almost winter) and the loser had to do whatever the winner told him to do. Ichigo told Renji how gay he was but Renji told Ichigo he chickened out. Talking about the hot-headed, cocky Kurosaki Ichigo, he would accept the challenge.
They had played two rounds. First round, Ichigo won. Renji had to be topless. Nice tattoo, man. Nice tattoo.
"Oh, fuck you, Ichigo!" Renji yelled. The wind wasn't helping. He was friggin cold!
Ichigo gave him his cocky grin (which Renji deeply hated). "Not so loud, Renji. Your taichou might hear that."
These two men were playing in Renji's office which unfortunately was located right next to Byakuya's office.
"I demand you to shave Byakuya's hair."
Renji laughed his ass off. "Oi, Ichigo. No taichou related punishment. That's the rule."
The second round, Renji won. Ichigo had to be topless. The weather was not helping at all.
"Damn cold." Ichigo commented.
"I know. But I am always hot." Renji snickered.
Ichigo threw one of his chess pieces at Renji's forehead, causing the red head to wince in pain. "Sorry, my hand slipped."
"I demand you to confess your feelings to Rukia, you big coward."
So this was the red hair idiot's motive from the beginning, huh?
"No Rukia related punishment. That's the rule." Ichigo said, arms folded.
"There's no rule like that, Dumbass. I invented this game." Renji snapped.
Ichigo pointed his finger at Renji. "I just made it. No Kuchiki related punishment."
"New rule rejected!"
"I am not going to confess. End of conversation."
Renji chuckled in a mocking tone. "You do know you love her, don't you?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Are you sure you wanna hear my honest answer?"
"Why? It's gonna break my heart?"
Ichigo smirked. "Maybe."
"You're way too cocky, you know that." Renji scoffed. "I could be a threat, you know. 50% I am going to win."
Ichigo laughed.
"But I decide to let her go. Like I said, no hard feelings. I am over her."
Renji threw one of this chess pieces to Ichigo, aimed for his forehead but the orange haired shinigami's reflex was good, Ichigo caught it. "It's totally cool?" Ichigo asked.
"Totally cool." Renji grinned from ear to ear.
Ichigo squeezed his eyes shut, leaning into the chair. "What if she says no."
"Then it would be my turn to try, Ichigo." Renji replied, smiling arrogantly.
Ichigo's face collapsed in the palms of his hands, a grin was hidden behind those palms. "Bastard." he mumbled.
Renji threw his chess piece again, harder, and this time, Ichigo couldn't dodge.
"Ready for the third round?"
"Always."
"Any ideas to make it more interesting?" Renji asked.
"Byakuya related punishment enabled!" Ichigo answered with a very cocky smile, offering Renji a hand for a male handshake.
Renji took Ichigo's hand, shaking it. "Deal. Shave taichou's hair or burn his kenseikan?"
"Both." Ichigo said confidently.
The awkward part was when Byakuya came in to Renji's office right at the moment and found those two topless idiots discussing what to do with his hair or his kenseikan.
"Pardon me." Byakuya said coldly. "Renji, I believe you have some paper works to do."
"Err... taichou..."
Byakuya was gonna kick some ass again.
When Yuzu went home after breaking up with her now ex-boyfriend, she found Ichigo and Rukia his dear friend, or girlfriend (Yuzu couldn't tell) sitting on the couch together. Dangerously close to each other. Arms touching. Legs touching. Her brother was playing his video game and Rukia was reading a magazine. Oh. And her brother's arm arm stretched along the length of the couch. Rukia leaned her head on Ichigo's shoulder. They were so close.
"Onii-chan, Rukia-chan, you're home!"
Ichigo paused his video game, Rukia stopped reading her magazine.
"Day off. I was in the neighbourhood so I decided to pay you a visit." Ichigo said, giving his little sister an embrace.
Yuzu hugged him back. Then turned to Rukia and gave her a tight embrance. "Nice to see you, Rukia-chan. It's been a long time!" She said.
Rukia nodded, smiling. "It is."
Ichigo noticed there was something bothering Yuzu. Her eyes were red. She looked sad and miserable.
"Yuzu, what's wrong?"
"No-nothing's wrong, Onii-chan! I'm fine."
"Yuzu."
"I'm fine, really..."
Ichigo gave her 'the' look.
"But you have to promise me, you won't jump down Takeshi-kun's throat. You won't do anything stupid. Okay, Onii-chan?" Yuzu said and plopped herself down by Rukia's side.
Ichigo folded his arms. "That depends."
"And who the hell is Takeshi anyway."
"He is, he is..." Yuzu started sobbing again. "We... We... We.. have just broken... up!" Yuzu answered between her hard sobbing. She started to calm when Rukia gave her a box of tissue and gently caressed her back. Yuzu thought Rukia was the older sister she never had.
Ichigo was surprised at first. He never knew Yuzu had a boyfriend. "Did this Takeshi guy hurt you? Or cheated on you?" He asked, feeling sorry for Yuzu.
"No, no. He didn't. He was sweet, he was charming, he cared for me, he-" Then Yuzu started to cry again. Harder this time.
"He did cheat on you, didn't he?" Ichigo guessed.
Yuzu nodded.
"Jerk." He murmured.
"But, Onii-chan! You promised you wouldn't beat him okay?"
"I said that depended."
"Onii-chan!"
"Don't worry, Yuzu. I'll make sure your brother here won't do anything stupid. I can handle him." Rukia said, grinning. She jerked her thumb towards Ichigo.
"Thank you, Rukia-chan. I know I can count on you."
Rukia nodded. Grinning proudly.
"I don't want Onii-chan to beat him up because it's over. I have decided to move on. He hurt me, I hate what he did to me but no one's perfect."
"I guess, if I love him, I'd have to let him go." Yuzu started crying again.
Ichigo was staring at his little sister talking big about love and such emotions. Arms folded. Mouth in O-shape. Who the hell taught his little sister to talk like that?
"It's okay, Yuzu. That's just how guys are. You can't simply trust them." Rukia commented.
Ichigo narrowed his eyes to Rukia. Ah-ha. Talking big now, missy.
"They're pricks." she added. Kuchiki's arrogance tone in her voice.
"Well, not all of them." Ichigo poked Rukia.
"Oh, really? So, tell me." Rukia turned to Ichigo, smirking.
"I'm not like that, Rukia."
Rukia scoffed mockingly. "Sure you're not."
"I hate you."
Rukia ignored Ichigo. "Anyway, Yuzu, I'm sure you'll find better boyfriend. You're a wonderful girl. You deserve to be with a guy who appreciates you. Like this magazine says, many fishes in the sea."
Yuzu hugged Rukia. "Thank you, Rukia-chan! I love you. And I envy you," Yuzu let out a weak laugh, wiping her tears away. "You've found your fish."
Ichigo dropped his video game stick to the floor.
"Who's the unlucky fish?" He asked quizzically.
Yuzu smiled. Naive brother. "Onii-chan, right?"
Rukia let out a nervous laugh. "Oh no. No, Yuzu."
What the hell did she just say again. Ichigo mentally cursed.
No?
"No?" Yuzu asked curiously. She sounded confused and disappointed. "Aren't you guys together?"
"We aren't." Ichigo and Rukia answered at the sime time.
"But, but you two love each other, right?"
No one dared to answer first.
Not Ichigo's first time to be asked like this. But definitely his first time to face this stupid question with Rukia around.
Yuzu faced Rukia. "Rukia-chan is in love with Onii-chan, right?"
Ichigo wished someone would kill him now.
He couldn't breath. His heart beat so fast. He was absolutely not ready with this.
He wasn't even 100% sure of his feeling towards Rukia. And this happened. Why was universe against him.
"Well," Rukia said. She glanced at Ichigo then back to Yuzu then back to the ceiling. Completely uncomfortable and awkward.
"I'm... not."
Yuzu was sad to hear her answer. "Ah. This can't be it... Seriously, Rukia-chan?"
Ichigo felt like being stabbed in the chest. That surprisingly hurt.
So she wasn't in love with him. Right. Like he didn't see that coming. She never looked at him that way anyway.
Not a big deal, he thought. He wasn't in that place either.
Win-win situation.
He felt his heart ache though.
Like a broken heart.
Like he was being turned down.
"Unfair. Onii-chan is in love with Rukia-chan! Right?" Yuzu's voice echoed in Ichigo's disturbed head.
Oh this again.
How should he respond this. How, how, how... How the hell did he usually respond this kind of thing.
Ichigo looked up, only to find a pair of curious violet eyes staring at him.
It was usually easy for him to simply say 'I'm not'. But now, Ichigo couldn't find his voice. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to deny. He couldn't deny, not when those violet eyes that drove him crazy staring so deeply into his hazel ones.
He broke the eye contact. Frustratedly scratching the back of his neck.
For the very first time, Ichigo couldn't deny. He couldn't say anything.
And when he felt Rukia's hand gently held his face and made him face her with that soft hand, Ichigo just knew he would never be able to look at Rukia the same way again.
Rukia's hand lingered there, still holding his face. Her eyes locked his, searching for answer. Answers for why he didn't answer Yuzu, why he didn't dare to look at her in the eyes, why he looked so troubled, or why his reiatsu flamed.
Ichigo took her hand off his face. When he felt her hand in his, he just knew it fit.
That was when he realized he was in love with this girl.
Just when he thought he was good at playing this denial thing, Rukia could play it better.
A/N: Sorry this chapter is way toooooo long. I just can't stop if it's Isshin! Haha. i love how Isshin interacted with Ichigo. Ah finally Ichigo realized his feeling! I think next chapter will be the last! Just confess, baka Ichigo! Please tell me if you like it. Constructive criticisms are welcomed! :-)