Disclaimer: check previous chapters
The clock beeped 10 p.m. He swore they just had dinner but does not believe clocks lie, especially digital ones. To bed it will be, as soon as he done with the shower, teeth brushing routine. Then he would call out to the girl he roomed with, the free-loading death god who forced her way in (though he'd never admit it aloud.)
Tonight though, watching her go about getting ready, a unique thought crossed his mind and Ichigo wanted to blame lack of sleep. Her stiff walk and gruff voice shifted from familiarity to peculiar – it was odd, almost manly. She should look to Yuzu for the "modern studying" she does, being that it would be less suspicious. Ichigo pondered for a bit, wondering whether or not he should comment and if it would be even remotely right for him to do so. But before he settled on a choice, the words slipped as soon as said raven-haired woman was spotted and reflexes left him with his head down and shielded with a single hand.
"Excuse me?" what a way to be greeted right before bed.
It was quiet.
"What did you mean by that?"
Ichigo looked up at Rukia with the best puppy eyes he could muster.
"Nothing, just you know…" he drifted off hoping it sounded trifle.
"No, enlighten me." Her tone was harsh as she quirked a brow.
She was angry. Usually little comment like this would be brushed off like random dust particles, but tonight it seemed he wouldn't be so lucky.
"…well…" he swallowed visibly, "I can't really explain."
From the twitch in her eyebrow, he could tell she was not impressed, but more so agitated. Rukia glared at the bright-haired boy. He had the nerve to insult her, calling her of a manlike nature then expect her to brush it off as if he didn't just injure her pride. Okay, so she wasn't that chesty or graceful, but did he not understand that death gods would not be able to survive in that conduct?
"Forget it."
She was much too tired and frustrated to deal with a recondite man-boy. He is such an idiot sometimes.
Ichigo turned toward her; she had looked more her age. Orange eyebrows converged, he actually felt bad. The teen passed another glance at the woman to check if her yielding was indeed just an attempt to guilt-trip him, but failed to see any deviousness in her current disposition.
Uh-oh, how the hell was he going to fix this?
Perhaps a night's duration would give him some hints. He figured sleep was best and resolution would harass his brain come morning.
Loud beeping jerked Ichigo from his dormancy just as his father kicked in the door, preparing for their early, senseless squabbling. The clock read 6:45. Crap, it was still too damn morning for this. He dodged the old man's kick, sending a punch to his face, earning himself a few words of praise of truly being his father's son.
As soon as all the ruckus died down he called for Rukia, telling her they were going to be late if she didn't hurry. After a few patient, intermittent knocks, he opened the closet door with irritation. The clothes were still intact, but there was one missing shinigami.
She probably left without telling him again.
Stupid Rukia.
Oh wait, that's right, she was mad from the night before.
And it was his fault that he had yet to fix.
He could tell this was going to be a hell of a bad day.
Sadly, his predictions came true. As soon as he arrived at school, the formerly missing woman leeched herself onto his arm and with her sing-song voice told him they should get going. He stared at her wide-eyed, clearly questioning what the hell she was doing and if she was out of her mind. She looked back smugly, not caring what they appeared like at the moment. Like hell she was going to let him get away with that comment.
Ichigo was stuck with the "overly girly, fake-voiced" Rukia for the rest of the…week. She was pretty pissed off and damn obnoxious when she wanted to be. The poor boy would now learn to keep whatever comments he had of her to himself lest something like this were to happen again. Damn it, when they get back to school on Monday, he's going to have to fight off rumors of their supposed dating. Ichigo cursed his big mouth and Rukia's silent but deadly temper. Yes, this is the life he leads.
