Chapter 4 –What's Underneath

He had the I'm not gonna tell you, nan nan na boo, boo, expression on his tan face. "I read a lot." he answered quickly. "But, that is what you said right?"

Yes… no… I never pay attention to what I say in interviews. I just say anything that keeps me looking good on camera. I can't tell him that though. My eyes fluttered. …You were never a good liar, Rukia. My subconscious reminded me of Kojima's words. Still, I smiled. "Perhaps. I can never remember all the interviews I do…"

"Heh…" he nodded. He didn't believe not a word I said. He knew I took the easy way out of that one. It's what I was good at. Yet Ichigo was smart, he knew better than to confront me more if he wanted to keep his job. "Just one more question… If I must ask…" he muttered as the elevator began moving.

The blood drains rapidly from my aching head. "What is it?"

"Why did you go through all the trouble of showing me around? You don't look like the type to do that with your other new employees."

Now my face is aflame. His voice was so soothing even though he was just asking a simple question. I turned around to meet his gaze. "You're right." I must have looked ridiculous.

"So how come?" what was he getting at? It seemed that he was trying to push me to say something I didn't want to.

"You said one more question…" I reminded him, hoping that would give me enough chance to jump ship again with my sanity still intact.

His chuckles sent electric waves down my spine. Then his mouth quirks up and he stares at me carefully, eyes filled with much heat. "If you answer it, then you can ask me whatever you want…" was this a game to him or something?

"Deal." I swallowed, "I usually don't show my new employees around, Orihime does. But for the fact of me giving you that office, I felt it wouldn't be fair to not show you around as well." Or maybe, I hated the fact that none of my relationships I had with my employees were actually close — just strictly business. That's right, I had this crazy idea that if I gave Ichigo the extra office and show him around personally, I'd start some kind of bond with him. Crazily insane. I know.

He lost all emotion. "So you're lonely?"

OH MY GAWD! You're so fired! I almost choked again. "What? No way…" I shook my head, "I'm trying to be nice…"

"Alright." he popped his knuckles, "Your turn…"

That's right. The deal. I turned to him as the doors to the elevator opened. "Why do you ask questions I can never answer." we both walked out, glaring at each other.

"But you know the answer… you just don't wanna say." he cocked his head to the side, wickedly smiling.

I swiftly crossed my arms, ignoring the small attraction I had for him. I stuck my face in his, "Are you a reporter?" If he was, it was over! Fired right on the spot! Cute or not!

"That's two questions…" he replied.

"It's mutual then." I retaliated, frowning. The jump ship method never works with me. "So, are you?"

"No." he parted his lips in question, "Why?"

"Because…" I walked off, my heels clunking hard on the marble floor. "You seemed to know a lot about me…"

He followed after, "I told you. I read a lot." he says that but I think it's all bull shit. "You know, you're not just an owner of a magazine company… you're popular all over Japan. So you can't freak out when someone knows a lot about you then think they are out to get you." he sighed, "…Which I for one, could care less about trying to come after you… if you got a list, mark me off." he walked passed me, opening the doors to my headquarters like he owned the place. Even if I wanted to fire him, I couldn't. Something told me I would be hurting myself if I did. I don't know what was so great about him, but now I was interested.

I watched him sit in my office with the door a tad askew but before I could join him, Orihime's voice rang through the air. "MISS RUKIAAA!"

Fuck. "What now Orihime."

Ichigo raised a brow as the midget fled the opposite way. He smiled lightly. He had so many ways of going about this Rukia situation. First off, it was cute how one of Japanese's sensations was actually a totally wreck. She really needed him. She didn't even amount to what he read in interviews and stories. Still, everything about Rukia made him like her more. Her face, her frame… how short and secretly feisty she was. If he had the chance, he'd kiss her, kiss her till she had goose bumps running down her spine.

He frowned at the thought, as sex wasn't part of the deal. But then again, he would be still carrying out his part of the deal if he could get between this woman's life and job. All he had to do was spy on her and gather personal, embarrassing shit so his partner could blow it up for publicity.

This little deal had nothing to do with lust…

…So he could lust all he wanted to right?

Casually sighing, he glanced at the wall to the left of her desk and saw all the rewards. Then he had a change of thought. "I take back what I said… she amounts up to a little I've read. If that." then his eyes follow to all paintings— then random pictures on the right wall. One of them caught his attention — a picture of Rukia and, her famous billionaire brother, Byakuya. They seemed too distant to be related but, Byakuya's hand is on her shoulder and they are slightly smiling. She's got another picture right by it — a picture of her and that Kaien Shiba kid. Weren't they supposed to be dating? He hadn't read stuff on them in a long time. If they weren't together, the picture told otherwise. In the portrait, they were cuddling one another — both holding wine and he's kissing her on the cheek.

The picture is a tad slanted, so he takes upon himself to fix it. Suddenly, a thick black booklet falls from the back of it. "Huh?" he stooped down to pick it. A diary? His job was waaay too easy. Part of him wants to open it. Hell, if this was a diary then, all he ever needed was right here. His fingers skims a random page— one more current.

Page 137

I hired a new employee today. Which never happens. He seems legit. I think he's a little full of himself but whatever. I take first impressions seriously and to me he seems more into his looks and attitude. But how I strange that I find him sorta cute. However, he seems pretty smart he has two degrees.

…Still, I bet he'll last here for six months or less…

He frowned turning to older pages. Like she knew anything about him.

Page 103

Today, Orihime is being annoying. She keeps knocking on my door and asking if I'm okay. I told her yes for the millionth time. She only asks because I haven't left my office all day. Which according to her, isn't like me. I don't care how much she asks, I won't tell her about my relationship with Kaien.

…which by the way, I think it's going downhill. Last night he left me a note on my desk, saying we need to talk…

Usually when he does that, it only means that he knows I was busy and when I have time to come and see him. This time seems different… the way he wrote it seems… eerie.

Page 105

I knew it… Today Kaien and I broke up. I hurt all over from my endless headaches and tears. Can't imagine this getting out to the public. If it does, I'll tell him I told him so… because he still wants to be together publicly to eliminate drama. I haven't told anyone this…

You know, I think he's the only one I have ever loved. It's gonna hurt when I see him at the fashion show. It sucks how we have to play the "fling couple" so the public doesn't suspect anything. It just hurts too much, I don't think I'll get over it…

The page was riddled with dry tear spots… Ichigo grasped the book shrewdly before looking around, then he quickly turned to the next page. No doubt, it was one cheap way to get his reward for ruining someone else's life and because of that, he decided not to take the easy way out. Once he reached that conclusion, Rukia's office phone rang. He instantaneously tossed the book in the air, grabbing the phone in a hurry.

"Hello…" he spat urgently.

There was a pause, "Um Rukia?" the woman questioned.

Ichigo turned to peep out the blinds, only to find no Rukia anywhere in sight. "She's not in right now… Can I take a message?" Just then, Rukia appeared out of nowhere. She seemed pissed and she was yelling at the journalists in the far corner of headquarters.

"Just tell her Nel called?" the woman sounded so confused, "And um… just tell her I couldn't find not one model for the photo shoot this Friday."

"That will add to her frustration alright." Ichigo mumbled, confining his smile from appearing on his lips as he watched her throw her hands up in the air.

"Huh?" Nel murmured.

"Urm. Nothing. I don't think she'll be happy to hear that…" Ichigo sighed, deliberately opening the door for Nel to hear Rukia raging about the crew's poor effort of trying to reach the deadline for the magazine cover. He pulled the phone back to his ear, "…But I'll let her know, thanks." The man responded before hanging up.

Nel blinked hanging up the phone. She was deep in a muddle before the handsome lad before her questioned her expression.

"What's wrong?"

Nel blinked again, merely trying to put the prior events in words. "Some guy answered the phone." She replied.

"Some guy?"

"Yeah." She responded, "I could hear Rukia in the back ground yelling at everyone and I couldn't recognize the voice on the phone." Besides Rukia always answered her phone. If she wasn't there, you'd get her voicemail.

"You sure it wasn't that fag, Hanataro? He's been trying to dress up his voice ever since I told him how feminine he sounded." the man asked.

"No… Hanataro would never in a million years have a voice that deep." Nel thought for what seemed like a long time, then suddenly laughed. She turned to the young man with puzzled aqua eyes, "Wouldn't that be funny Kaien…"

"Would what be funny?" the man frowned.

"If Rukia replaced you finally…" How happy that would make Nel.

"Those are pretty strong words from a minute conversation, don't ya think." Kaien cooed, leaning back in an office chair, his legs propped up on a table.

"It not like you're in to her. At least not anymore." Nel rolled her eyes.

"Now Nellie… don't you put words in my mouth. I never said I wasn't into her. I just needed a break. You know, sometime away."

"Yeah so could enjoy your free paid vacations and hustling for Rukia's cash alone." Nel mumbled under her breath before Kaien could snap his head in her direction. That wasn't something he was supposed to hear obviously.

Kaien groped her arm in irritation, his lips pressed into a thin line. "OW!" Nel tried to pull away, but his grip was firm and painful. "The fuck are you…"

"I don't ever wanna hear you say that shit again…" he grimaced, "What me and Rukia do is our business. Alright…"

Nel whimpered frantically, trying so hard to pull away from his manly grip.

"I SAID ALRIGHT?" he pulled her closer.

"Alright fine!" she yelped. She had no idea what his plan was. She'd know soon enough though.

"Now…" Kaien calmed his anger with a quick sigh. "I think it's time I pay the girlfriend a visit, hm? How about it Nellie…"

Nel was too busy staring at her new bruise on her wrist. She pulled away from it finally, staring at Kaien angrily. Rukia was not his girlfriend. How could she be if he promised her the world? Somehow Nel was in the middle of her lover's greed. She would be glad when all this fake shit was over and she could hold Kaien and roll in her friend's filthy wealth.

"Whatever." She scoffed.