First things first, whoa you guys. I usually write HitsuKarin which has less of a following than IchiRuki, so I 'm not used to such as response. Thank you so so much for all of the reviews , faves, and follows, I appreciate it so much. I agree that Ichigo and Rukia are out of character and I would've edited the first chapter already, but as I've decided to continue this in third-person, I was wondering whether I should rewrite the first chapter so the entire fic is in third person?
Chapter 2: Match Meetings
Rukia's head was spinning. She couldn't even recall what had happened in the match meeting. But given that she had gotten through it with relative ease and without paying too much attention told her that it probably consisted of questions she already knew the answer to. All of the other match meetings were centred around finding out basic things about each other, like hobbies and whatnot. Seeing as her matchmaker clearly didn't know who Ichigo actually was, there was no reason that that meeting would be any different. She was glad for it actually. Rukia knew that Byakuya knew that she and Ichigo were close, but she rather he didn't know quite how close they were.
In her matchmaker's eyes, it was an initial match meeting with a Byakuya-approved suitor that had gone well. Rukia guessed that in Byakuya's eyes it was a probably needless meeting in terms of information, but necessary in terms of doing this whole potential suitor thing properly and traditionally. In Rukia's eyes however, it was completely pointless. She didn't need to hear what Ichigo spent his time doing, or his family history. She already knew it all. She was much more interested in why Byakuya had approved Ichigo of all people. She knew quite well that her brother had not approved of the boy in the past. Why the sudden change? And for that matter was Ichigo even serious? A small voice in the back of Rukia's head told her that Ichigo probably didn't even think about it before he leaped into the situation. She did expect him to do something, but not that. He became one of her potential suitors. How? Did he even realise what that entailed? Her mind was buzzing with questions.
"Hey."
Rukia jumped slightly. She had been too focused on her thoughts to even notice him approaching her bedroom. "Ichigo?"
It was more of a statement than a question. Ichigo assumed that Rukia was expecting him. "Is this seriously your bedroom? It's huge."
Rukia turned to face him properly as she nodded. "Yeah. It's a little too big if you ask me. For one person anyway."
"I'll say." Rukia arched an eyebrow at him. "You probably want me to explain me a few things, huh?"
Rukia rolled her eyes at him. "That would be preferable."
Ichigo flopped down on her bed, trying to decide where to start. "Ok, well. After...that night, I knew I had to do something about this whole arranged marriage thing, but I figured I couldn't just fight my way through it, and this was the solution I came up with."
Rukia just stared at him. He really hadn't thought it through. "Ichigo, do you even understand this situation? You seriously became one of my potential suitors because it was the only thing you could come up with? How did you even manage that anyway?"
Ichigo could tell that Rukia was irritated, but he wasn't sure why. He hoped that answering the questions wouldn't backfire on him. "I never said that becoming one of your potential suitors was the only thing I could come up with. It's just the one I went with. As for-"
"Why?"
Ichigo sighed. Neither of them were good at the whole talking about their emotions thing. Truth be told they talked a lot but never actually said anything. Most of their real communication was done non-verbally. But he couldn't really avoid this. Especially as it seemed important to Rukia. "It made the most sense. It was the least invasive for your family. It meant we could actually be together without hiding, assuming that's what you want anyway. At the very least you could use me for a couple years to give yourself some more time."
Rukia stared at him. Had he seriously just used the words 'at the very least you could use me'? Her eyes met his for a moment before he glanced away, looking a little embarrassed. That's when Rukia realised. He wasn't doing this just because she was desperate. He was doing this because he was desperate too. But it worried her. A lot. Ichigo was only nineteen. She didn't want to look down on him as if he was a child, but it was hard not to sometimes. He was nineteen. He could say that he was desperate to be with her, but just how much did he know love? Did he even know if he loved her? She couldn't possibly let him get himself in this situation. She could not trap him here. Divorce was not an option for noble couples. Especially nobles of her family's calibre. It was all well and good, willingly doing this now, but what about in ten years time?
"No."
Ichigo looked at her. "Huh?"
Rukia avoided his gaze. "Ichigo, I can't let you do this."
Ichigo scoffed. He had seen this coming. "Give me one good reason."
"You can't possibly be sure that you want to spend the rest of your life with me. You'd have to give up so much. And shinigami lives last a lot longer than human lives."
Ichigo scowl deepened. "Rukia, I know. Did you think that I just jumped into this without thinking?"
"You usually do."
"I've grown up a lot since you first met me."
Rukia gave him a pointed look. "That was only four years ago."
"My point still stands. I've thought about this. You need to take a breath and stop taking this so seriously. We've got a couple of years before your family start to expect an engagement. We've got time. If we don't work as a couple chances are we'll know by then."
Rukia glared at him. How could she possibly stop taking this so seriously? "But, if we don't work as a couple, then I've pretty much lost you, haven't I? It's a little hard to remain friends after that sort of thing."
Ichigo shook his head at her and got up from the bed, walking towards to her. "Ok, firstly, I'm pretty sure we kinda burned the whole going back to friendship bridge a couple of weeks ago." He sat down on her vanity table and leaned towards her, gently taking out the accessories that were decorating her hair as he spoke. "And secondly, if you're so worried about losing me, what makes you think we won't work as a couple?" Ichigo gave her a rare, gentle smile as he pulled out the last of her hairstyle and ran his fingers through her hair, attempting to get it to resemble her usual style. If Ichigo had to guess, the reason Rukia was doubting giving this a go was her own insecurities.
He bent down again and kissed her on the forehead. Rukia paused for a moment, before angling her head upwards and pulling him down to her, kissing him quickly on the lips. Ichigo knew that this was her way of accepting him as one of her potential suitors. It was a little hesitant, and more than a little nervous, but an agreement nonetheless. "Ichigo?"
"Hmm?"
"How in the hell did you get Nii-sama to approve you as a suitor?"
Ichigo laughed a little awkwardly. "It's a long story. Why?"
"His reiatsu got a little...edgy when you initially came into the house. But it keeps getting worse, I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to be here much longer."
Ichigo grimaced. "Does your brother understand the meaning of the words 'over protective'?"
Rukia glared at him. "Like you're one to talk. Besides you can't really blame him."
"Why the hell not? We're only talking."
Rukia rolled her eyes. "You do realise that all he knows is what he can tell from our reiatsu, which is that his little sister and one of her potential suitors is in her bedroom."
Ichigo paused. "Ok, maybe I see your point. But still," he shrugged at her, "I can take him."
"Do not get in a fight with him."
"Yeah, that would hardly help my campaign to be your future husband huh?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. You only just got me to agree to you being one of my potential suitors, let alone anything else."
Ichigo smirked. "Yeah, but you like me more than anyone else."
"Where do you get that confidence from?"
"Pretty sure it's in my blood."
Rukia smiled slightly, thinking about the whole family. "That wouldn't surprise me."
Ichigo looked in the direction of Byakuya's room. "Ok now even I'm feeling it, maybe I should go."
"Probably. Where are you staying anyway?"
"Your Captain is letting me stay in the squad 13 barracks."
"How did you get him to...Oh god, he's in this as well isn't he?"
Ichigo scratched the back of his neck with as sheepish smile on his face. "Little bit, yeah."
"Wait so how many people know about this?"
"Well your family, obviously, my family too, your Captain, the two third seats of your squad that I have forgotten the names of-"
"Sentaro and Kiyone?"
"Yeah, those two, they kinda butted into the conversation I was having with Ukitake."
Rukia nodded "They do that."
"That's all I think. Why?"
"Just so I know what to expect when I go to work tomorrow, that's all."
"Ah. Anyway I should go."
Rukia nodded and gave a small wave as Ichigo more or less dove out of her bedroom window. She shook her head. This was going to be interesting to say the least.
XxXxXxX
"So are you gonna marry him?"
"Oh, um-"
"Idiot! It's too soon to ask something like that!"
Rukia struggled to keep the smile on her face as she watched her third seats argue, again. As expected she got about 100 questions about her and Ichigo when she arrived at the office today. She was good friends with the two from way before she became a Vice-Captain, so she had never really wanted to use her authority to make them be quiet, but this morning it was very tempting. Especially as they asked questions that she hadn't even asked herself yet. Did she like him? Well obviously she liked him, but enough to think about getting married in a couple of years? In the grand scheme of things, a couple of years was actually a very short time. They had known each other for four years. Take out the 17 month gap and it was actually more like two and a half years. Add in the two to three years before the engagement and you got roughly 5 years. Could she really marry someone she's only known for 5 years? Rukia sighed as she pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind and got on with her work. Paperwork did not do itself, unfortunately.
Rukia stretched after completing a rather large stack of paperwork. Picking up the pile of paperwork that had to be stamped and signed by her Captain, she made her way over to Ukitake's desk and gently placed the pile on it. She went to leave but found her Captain in the doorway. "Captain! I didn't know you were in today."
The older man gave her a smile. "I've only just come in, bit of a slow start this morning."
"Are you sure you're well enough to be in today?" Rukia had been his Vice-Captain for a while now, and she knew that in the majority of cases where Ukitake had struggled to get up and out of bed in the morning, the rest of the day didn't go all too smoothly."
"I should be fine, but thank you."
Rukia nodded. "Still, let me make you some tea." Ukitake tried to protest but Rukia was having none of it. As he sat down after being handed his tea, he took note of the paperwork on his desk. It was more than some officers could complete in a day, but Rukia was a very hard worker and could usually complete a lot more in the time she had been in the office. "Rukia, is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine. I'm just..." She trailed off as she caught sight of the expression on her Captain's face. "I guess I'm a little distracted today, that's all."
"This wouldn't have anything to do with Ichigo would it?"
The look on Rukia's face told him that it was. Ukitake doubted she had anyone she could talk about this with. Or at least anyone she thought she could talk to.
"What's wrong? I would've thought you'd be happy."
"I'm fine, really. It's just...I don't know, I'm probably still in shock about it. That's all."
"You're nervous." Rukia paused before nodding slightly. She shouldn't be surprised that her Captain of several decades knew her so well. "Well, if I were you, I would talk to him about whatever it is that's bothering you."
"Really?"
Ukitake smiled. "Really. Communication is key when it comes to relationships."
Rukia paused for a moment, considering what her Captain had said. She nodded, a slight smile on her face. "Thanks Captain."
Ukitake gave her a warm smile. "I'm always here for you Rukia."
XxXxXxX
"So how does this whole matchmaking thing work exactly?"
Rukia sighed as she put her book down on her bedside table. "I need to finish all of the initial match meetings first, then I pick a suitor I want to continue with."
"So when do you finish these initial meetings?"
"A week or two."
Ichigo huffed. "That long?"
"Work gets in the way. What exactly are you spending your time doing at the minute anyway?"
"Running away from Kenpachi mainly."
Rukia smiled. "It's a good thing he hasn't got much of a sense of direction."
"You're telling me!"
The two of them ended up falling into silence, so Rukia picked up her book again, only to get interrupted a couple of minutes later. "What's wrong Rukia?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're quiet. More than usual anyway."
"I'm..." Rukia paused, looking up at Ichigo, remembering what Ukitake had said. "Nervous."
Ichigo couldn't stop himself from scowling more. "About?"
"Everything. What if something goes wrong?"
"Like what?"
"Like what if you feel differently about me in the future?"
"Rukia I've put up with you abusing me for years and I still wanna stick around, what does that tell you?"
"That you're a masochist. And that you get a lot of things wrong."
Ichigo glared at her. "Not really the answers I was looking for. But come on you know what I mean right?"
Rukia nodded. "Yeah. But still, a couple of years isn't that long."
Ichigo shrugged. "Plenty of humans get married after a couple of years and it works out fine. From what I've heard plenty of nobles get married after a couple of years and they work fine too."
"On the surface anyway."
"Well, true, but we've always been a good team. I know this is worrying you, but there's nothing to worry about at the minute. You won't know anything till you try. No one's forcing you to marry me specifically, so if we don't work it's not like we'll end up trapped together. Just see what happens for now, yeah?"
Rukia sighed and nodded. It was a little more difficult than just deciding to stop worrying, which she couldn't do anyway, but it helped that Ichigo clearly wasn't nervous. It reassured her that the two of them could work. If she was left to her own thoughts she had a tendency to focus on the potential problems rather than the potential benefits.
"Out of interest, can I actually see you outside of your bedroom, or what?"
Rukia shook her head. "Probably not the best idea. This whole thing is supposed to be done properly and traditionally. I'm not supposed to see any potential suitors outside of meetings. So it's probably not a good idea to be seen together outside of here."
"That seems ridiculous. Surely everyone knows that we're friends?"
"You'd be surprised how sheltered some nobles can be. It's not worth risking. Besides, give it a week or two after I finish all of the initial meetings, and then no one would see it as weird or scandalous."
Ichigo spoke with a cheeky smile on his face."So you're definitely picking me then?"
"As if you're even asking me that."
"Oh I dunno, for all you know you could meet your soul mate next week in a match meeting."
Rukia shook her head. "Nope."
He smirked. "You suddenly seem sure."
"I can't say for sure that you are my soul mate, but you are definitely more likely than some pretty faced noble who doesn't understand the meaning of the words hard work."
Ichigo pointed a finger at Rukia and spoke in a fake offended tone. "Are you saying I'm not pretty?"
Rukia burst out into laughter, making Ichigo smile.
This chapter probably isn't the most exciting one, it's more of a build up of things to come. The next chapter will probably end up being similar as well. If things go the way I've planned the one after will have more substance. I've got plot points planned, but they'll take a while to build up to, so bear with me. Still trying to figure out how to write the characters really. I think I wrote Rukia better, but I still need to work on Ichigo. It'll get there eventually. I hope you liked this chapter, and please let me know if you think I should rewrite the last chapter. And thanks again for all of the reviews, faves, follows and views!
