A/N: Finally…. I know… I know… I haven't updated this story for more than a month. What to say? I couldn't write the chapter I wanted…. But I guess I should give you guys something. I didn't proof read this chapter. Forgive me for grammar and spelling error. :)

Appreciation Corner:

For the reviewers, please accept my deepest apology for not updating this story soon. And thank you for reviewing my story… I do hope you still can review this chapter and the next chapters… ^^

khfan_forlife; blackteaplease; Black Sun Upon An Icy Sky; xXAnetXx; dayanara; and 0nakimaza0

Thank you for those of you who added this story to your favorite story, and also thank you for those of you who added this story to your story alert

Disclaimer: Kubo Tite owns Bleach, I just borrow it…

Chapter 1

Renji

It's been a week since Ichigo noticed that his small partner was beautiful and all. But that didn't make him tolerate all her bossiness. They kept bickering as usual, with few kicked and punched (mostly from Rukia's). They still fought hollows, did night patrol in turn, and doing their school studies together. He admitted that he felt more protective to her, which annoyed her more if even possible. He, too, didn't understand why he was acting that way.

It was Friday evening, and the evening was unusually quiet. No hollow to fight. Rukia lay on her stomach on his bed, while Ichigo read in his desk. She had been playing around with her soul-pager for almost an hour. Giggling, smiling, and muttering "idiot" while doing so.

"What the hell are you doing, Midget?" Ichigo finally snapped. Annoyed with her giggling.

She shot him a Kuchiki look. "What do you mean, Strawberry?" she answered coldly.

"I'm trying to read here, yet your beeping keep disturbing me. Is there any problem with soul society or the hollow?" he retorted back.

"Nope." she answered. "I'm just exchanging messages with Renji." she continued.

"And why do you do that?" he asked, rather interested, yet annoyed (the latter was not consciously admitted).

"Because he is my nakama, you fool." she answered.

Ichigo felt silent for a moment before he finally asked, "How is he holding up there?"

Rukia raised her eyebrow, then moved to sitting position, legs tucked neatly under her. "Ah… interested, are you?" she mocked him.

Ichigo scowled. "Forget it." he said. "I'm just curious why you texted him, if nothing's wrong."

"I always text him whenever I can." she answered calmly.

"And why is that?" he couldn't stop himself from asking.

"I told you before, carrot top, it's because he is my nakama." she answered annoyingly.

"Yeah, but you didn't texted Inoue, or Chad, or Ishida, do you?" he asked her again, this time he stared right at her violet eyes.

"Why should I?" she confused.

"Because they are your nakama too, midget!" he insulted.

"Well… yeah, sure." she said. "But they are different."

'Different? What does she mean by different?' Ichigo thought. He tried his best to hold the words from spluttered out. He chose to read his book again, letting Rukia finished whatever she texting Renji for.

"Yosh… I'm going to Urahara." said Rukia after she obliviously made Ichigo counted 1 to 100 then repeated it for three times in his effort to ignore the beeping sound from her soul pager and the constant bugging in his inner world about 'What does she mean by different'.

"I'm going with you." he put down his book.

"No need. I'm just meeting with Renji. He's waiting for me in Urahara Shoten."

"Right." said Ichigo short. Bit his lips in order not to ask about what the hell she wanted to meet Renji for. "And you don't want me to come, why?" failed.

Rukia cocked her eyebrow. "What's wrong with you?"

Ichigo just shrugged. "None of your business."

Rukia moved towards him, then place her hand gently on his left cheek. Ichigo heart skipped a beat. He looked up at her, not noticing her left hand moved to the back of his head and smacked him hard.

"BITCH! What was that for?" he shouted.

"For 'none-of-your-business' me." she said smugly. "You better working on your mood swing. Jeez, Ichigo, honestly, you're worst than a pregnant woman."

With that, she left Ichigo's room and closed the door behind her. Leaving Ichigo swore under his breath. Somehow, the book became uninteresting for him compared with why Rukia needed to meet Renji. Moreover in Urahara's. Usually, Renji just jumped up to his bedroom. Why of all sudden they arranged a meeting. Not to mention, Rukia didn't want him to come.

Then it struck him. "A date?" he didn't realize saying it out loud.

"What do you mean with 'A date?' Ichi-nii?" Yuzu asked from Ichigo's doorway.

'Shit!' Ichigo cursed mentally.

It's almost midnight, yet Rukia hadn't returned to Kurosaki household. Ichigo tried to sleep, but he couldn't. So, he waited in the living room while watching some show in TV. He turned the lights out and the television sound low. He kept glancing to the clock, counting minute by minute. His inner hollow and Zangetsu kept budgering him, telling him that he was jealous to Renji. Truth be told, Ichigo was curious on what was Renji's opinion about Rukia. He kept telling himself (and two other souls in his inner world) that he was being protective because Rukia was his nakama. Besides, Renji was Rukia's childhood friend. Maybe they had something to say in private. (This thought became more irritating than comforting).

Then, he heard someone walked toward his front door.

"Sorry for keeping you this late." a well-recognized man voice was heard.

"It's okay. I just don't like the idea of waking the whole family, because I return home this late." a more familiar feminine voice responded.

"So why don't you jump to Ichigo's bedroom?"

"That… will draw more suspiciousness from the neighbors, you fool!" she retorted. "Besides, I have the front door key now, and Ichigo makes me go in and out using the door."

"Oh… well." Renji scratched his un-itchy head.

"Hm?"

"I guess, good night then."

Rukia nodded.

"And…" Renji voice trailed off.

"Keep this as a secret. I know I know…" Rukia finished that. "Honestly, I don't see the reason why I can't tell Ichigo about you and… mmpppphh….." Renji covered Rukia's mouth with his hand and frantically looked around the neighborhood.

"AWWWW!" Renji yelled as Rukia bit his hand with all her might.

"I'm going in." she said calmly, leaving Renji blowing some air to his injured hand.

"Bitch" he cursed in a low voice…

"What did you say?" Rukia gave him a glare that can make Byakuya's looked like a batted eye lashes.

Oooppss… not too low it seemed.

"Hahaha.. Nothing. Nothing."

"I guess so."

Rukia then opened the door and came inside the house after locking the door again. She was about to go upstair, when she heard someone from the living room said something.

"Do you know what time it is?"

Rukia turned her attention to a certain orange hair who stood in front of her now. Hands folded in front of his chest.

"What are you? My dad?" she asked, mocking him.

Ichigo knew he acted unreasonable. Rukia was capable to take care of herself. There was no reason for scolding her because she returned home this late. But still…

"Damnit Rukia! It's over midnight now." he paused for a second, "What if a hollow appear and I couldn't sense it right away because you brought your soul pager with you."

Rukia raised her eyebrow. "If that happened, Renji and I would take care of the hollow. Besides, didn't you always complain of how you want a free night from hollow hunting? You got it now."

Ichigo couldn't find another thing to say.

"So, if you'll excuse me. I need to sleep now. Night Ichigo."

"Darn…!"

Saturday afternoon was a nice time to laid back and being lazy. No loud midget to ruin the day, life can't be better, though Ichigo. Rukia went out again, telling the family that she needed to do something important, related with school.

Ichigo felt somehow relief. If it was school stuff, maybe she just went to Orihime or other girls, gossiping and other girly stuffs. At least it was not Renji.

"Yo... Ichigo." Speaking of the devil, the red hair shinigami was jumped through his window, right to his bedroom.

Ichigo groaned and sat up on his bed. He tossed his unfinished book aside, knowing that he might not be able to read it right now. Not with a loud-weird-eye-brow shinigami in front of him.

"Renji." He acknowledged his presence. "What's up?"

Renji just shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

"Since when you arrive at the living world? And why on earth you are here?" asked Ichigo.

"Uh... I arrived about two days ago. I took a week leaving, for... personal business." Renji sounded a little bit nervous.

'King... this personal business might be related with Rukia-chan.' Ichigo's hollow taunted with a smirk on his white face.

'Shut up! I don't care what kind of personal business he have here. Besides, Rukia is his childhood friend, maybe they need to catch up.'

Renji sat on Ichigo's chair. Facing him who sat on his bed.

"You see, Ichigo, I need to ask you a favor."

Ichigo raised his eyebrow. What kind of favor this pineapple head asking him to do? Nevertheless, Ichigo nodded.

"I need... to ask you something... important."

Ichigo glared at him, "What is it, Renji. Just say it, damnit. You started to sound like a girl."

"Damn, Strawberry! I'm trying to say it. Can't you, for just a moment, be a good listener and let me finish?"

"You said you need a favour from me, but then you said you wanted to ask me something. Which one is it exactly?"

"Heh, kozo," he smirked. "The favour I asked from you is to give you some questions."

"Why me?" Ichigo groaned. Whatever the question this fuku-taichou were going to ask, Ichigo got a bad feeling about them.

"Well... I asked Rukia before, but she said that maybe I should ask you... after all, you're a guy and you have known her..."

"Her?" Ichigo raised his eyebrow.

"Yes… ehm… her… that's… we'll get to that later. So, I want to ask your opinion. You see… what do you think if your friend dates your friend?" Renji asked, trying so hard to conceal his real meaning.

However, his subtle question was too subtle and even can't be understood completely by a certain substitute shinigami.

"Renji…" Ichigo sighed. "I know you're an idiot, but I never guess that you're this idiot. You can't even make your question clear."

Renji face was flushed red, a vein popped in his temporal. To Ichigo's surprised, Renji took a deep breath and repeated his question, "Okay… Let's use an analogy."

"Wow, do you even know what analogy is?" taunted Ichigo.

Renji glared at him, his hand reached the hilt of Zabimaru.

"Ok… Ok… It's serious. I know. I won't make fun of you again…" said Ichigo. "… for now." He added.

"What do you think if, Rukia and…" Renji, again, trying hard to think about a name, "one of your guy friends" failed, "are dating?"

This question took Ichigo off guard. "Who wants to date Rukia?" Ichigo asked, clearly forgot the intention of Renji's question.

"Don't you want to date her?" Renji, being an idiot plus he was in nervous mode, following Ichigo's flow of conversation, causing both their zanpakutou and hollow (for Ichigo only) shook their head in frustration.

"Me?" Ichigo shrieked. Louder than necessary. "Why I want to date a loud annoying bossy midget like her?"

Renji shrugged, "I just asked, you don't have to be that worked out, you know."

Ichigo realized his reaction was indeed too much. "Right. It's just the thought of dating her never cross my mind. Speaking of which, I'm sure no one in his right mind wants to take that midget for a date."

Renji looked thoughtful.

"Don't say… you and Rukia are dating?" Ichigo asked, praying so hard that Renji will deny it.

'Wait, why I hope Renji will deny it?' Ichigo thought mentally.

'Idiot," his hollow muttered in his mind.

'Will you shut up when I'm talking to myself?' Ichigo retorted angrily.

'Yes, completely idiot. I am you. So, technically, I am your inner self. So, if you're talking to yourself, it's either you talk with me or Zangetsu.' Said his hollow smartly.

'Smart ass' cursed Ichigo.

"Oi…. Ichigo?"

"Huh?"

"I asked you, what was your question again?"

Apparently, Ichigo was not the only one who lost in thought.

"I asked whether you and Rukia are dating."

"Oh… that." Said Renji.

"So? Are you?"

Renji raised his eyebrow. "No. I have overcome my feeling to her."

"Oh… okay." Said Ichigo. Then realization hit him.

"Overcome what?"

"Can we get back to my first question?" asked Renji. Tired of having pointless conversation like this.

"Wait… so you have a feeling for her?"

"Why are you so surprise?" Renji said, ignoring to corrected the word "have" to "had".

Ichigo shrugged. He didn't know why though. He should've thought about that before, but still, hearing from Renji himself that he had a feeling for the petite shinigami still shocked him.

"I just never guess that anyone can fall for her." Ichigo stated.

"Well, I don't know what about in living world. But she surely is popular in Soul Society. After the news that she defeated the 9th Espada alone, without her bankai, more and more recruits applied to the 13th. Even long before that, most male recruits' motivation to join the 13th Division is because of her." Renji explained.

Ichigo absorbed the information, 'So, she is popular, huh? Bet that weird eyes of her that make her that popular.'

'Now you're thinking about her eyes. Is that your reason?' again, his hollow butted into his own thought.

Ichigo ignored him at this moment. "What about you? If you have feeling for her, why didn't you join the 13th instead of 6th?"

Renji stared at Ichigo, considering whether he should told this teen about his reason.

"It's… personal. I can't talk about that now. Maybe later." He said.

"So…" Ichigo hesitated, "You like Rukia?"

Renji closed his eyes, and then nodded. "I knew her since a long time ago, long before you were born, I'm sure."

Ichigo knew that Renji didn't mean anything by that, but he felt a stab of jealousy.

"She helped me and my gang when we were chased for stealing water. Our life was once difficult and so, we were what you called street rat. But, even she lived in the shabbiest rukongai area, she looked different. She's beautiful, strong, and tough. She never cried, at least in front of me."

Renji reminisced his childhood time with Rukia, something he did a lot after Rukia was taken into Kuchiki family.

"She was the one who suggested we both became shinigami. And if she didn't say that, I might not be like what I am now. I tried so hard so I can be a fuku-taichou in order to reach her again."

"Again?" Ichigo asked.

"Ah…" Renji nodded. "She is the closest person I can consider as family."

"Family?" Ichigo repeated Renji's last word.

"At first, I thought I like her like, you know… man to woman, but then… I feel I like her more like a brother to a sister."

"Sister?" Ichigo kept repeating Renji's word.

Renji looked at his companion. "Will you stop repeating the last word of what I am saying?"

Ichigo held up his sense again, "Um.. yes… Sorry." He smirked. He didn't know why, but he felt like a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders.

"So, what was your first question again?"

"What?" Renji asked him in return.

"You said that you want to ask me a question." Ichigo stated.

"Oh… yes, about that…" Renji paused. "I think I'll ask you another time. I have to think about that question again."

"I have to go now." Renji said after he glanced at his watch.

"Where…" Ichigo was about to ask, but Renji had already jumped from his window.

Ichigo shook his head. 'That idiot…'

However, their conversation lingered in Ichigo's mind.

Ichigo knew that Rukia was adopted by Byakuya. She told him before that she ever lived in Rukongai, but what Ichigo never imagined before was that she went through a difficult life, as a street rat.

'Maybe that is why she is so tough,' Ichigo thought.

'But, even she lived in the shabbiest rukongai area, she looked different. She's beautiful, strong, and tough.' Renji's words echoed in his mind.

Later that night, Kurosaki Family plus Rukia were having dinner when the phone rang. Yuzu ran and picked up the phone.

"Rukia-nee… Ishida-san is on the phone. He wants to speak with you."

"Ah… Thanks, Yuzu." Rukia put down her chopstick and walked toward the living room.

"Why does Ishida want to speak with Rukia?" Ichigo asked Yuzu.

Yuzu just shrugged. Karin was happily chewing her dinner. Isshin looked at Ichigo and gave him a goofy smile,

"Ah… jealous, are you?"

That's it! Ichigo sent his father flying from the dining room, still clutching his chopstick.

A/N: I have re-written this chapter for eight times! But I still didn't satisfy with this chapter. – sigh – don't know what to do again. Arrrrggh….

Enough with my ranting; hope you guys still found it amusing… I should take a long break for this story… T_T

By the way, I'm sure you've already known who will be the next unfortunate guy.