That took a really loooong time again - I'm sorry. But here it is: Some shopping time with Ishida^^ Enjoy!
"Kuchiki-san, what about trying this one next? I'm sure you will look stunning."
Ishida was readjusting his glasses in the usual manner, looking back over one of his shoulders just like the gentleman he was, while handing Rukia another matching outfit to her changing room. Ichigo let out a pejorative groan. It felt as if it had been hours spending here. He took a quick look at his watch – twenty minutes? What kind of joke was that? The teenager had been sprawling in a quite comfortable – he had to admit that – red armchair with a view to said changing room since their arrival. His legs were casually placed on one of the armrests while browsing some motorcycle magazines. He had evaluated internally that this kind of lecture would serve the purpose of upholding his preciously built image at least in a halfway satisfactory way – not that he was really keen on that subject at the moment.
The Quincy flashed him a dark glare – after all he was facing Ichigo rather directly due to his position in front of the curtain.
"You should really pay a little more attention to your girlfriend, don't you think?"
Ichigo paused his superficial reading and eyed Ishida annoyed as usual: "I take a look every time she leaves this damn thing, so what's your problem?"
He only ever pretended to actually care about any of this and his comments had been more hypocritical than flattering – a fact that didn't escape the archer's notice, of course. The moment he had opened his mouth to retort something to the orange head's indifferent remark a shop assistant interrupted his thoughts:
"Would you like anything to drink while you're waiting?"
"Coffee. Black. If you have."
The black haired teenagers' eyes switched from the assistant back to Ichigo. His expression delivered plain dismay for this wannabe delinquent's rude behavior. He didn't even look up when he had ordered his beverage without any honorific or respectful intent. The employee just smiled awkwardly, a little embarrassed – she had actually addressed the mindful, neatly dressed young man who would care for his girlfriend so sweetly when carrying new clothes for her to the dressing room. Having her own version of the story in mind she left the young couple and their companion who had a little too much of a punk attitude for her taste.
"Honestly, Kurosaki. If I didn't know you I would never believe that you're in a relationship with Kuchiki-san. I know quite well how you would normally react, so I figure you must be telling the truth this time." Although it seemed as if Ishida had gained a remarkable insight into the nature of his friend's mind there was a disappointed look to his expression: "I mean, we all know: Normally you would have made a misplaced or insolent comment to tease her somehow long ago, but you didn't. Therefore something must have changed between you obviously." He pushed his glasses back up his nose. "Your relationship is not of my concern but if you truly love her you should pay more attention to her feelings." A corner of Ichigo's mouth twitched. Ishida's quasi lecture had scratched his pride on its surface quite a bit so he refrained from protesting this one single time. He did have some objections in mind though but subconsciously he was merely trying to maintain a small part of his self-deception."Yet she looks happy, doesn't she?" He pointed in Rukia's direction who just exited the changing room with a bright smile but his eyes still rested on Ishida. Ichigo waited for the Quincy's reaction to his irrefutable reasoning until a sharp object hit his head. He rubbed his temple indignantly automatically shifting his focus to Rukia – from whom this dangerous flying item had definitely been coming from.
"Are you damn crazy?! That hurt! The hell is wrong!?"
"Oh, you're finally interested in my presence?!" she shot back, her smile completely replaced by an incomprehensive stare.
With one hand still rubbing his head he began searching the armchair's closer surroundings for whatever had been tossed around so carelessly. He leaned over one armchair fishing a dark red shoe off the ground and examined the heel height with a raised eyebrow while turning back to her. "You're wearing that?" She mimicked his facial expression, raising her eyebrow in return: "Why do you ask? Got a problem with me reaching your shoulders?" "Why should I care if you're still way shorter than me?" he retorted without thinking. He sighed inwardly. His urge to state things that better remained unsaid was a pain sometimes. He had got carried away again evidently.
If he had overdone it or not, the atmosphere suddenly tightened. "Are you making fun of my heig…!?" "Your coffee!" The reappeared shop assistant didn't know what had happened but the air had tensed in this corner, hadn't it? It wasn't her job to judge their customers' private affairs though, so she placed the tray with the coffee on the little table beside the chair and left again. Nevertheless she wondered why the young lady was glaring at this scary orange haired guy so furiously. Maybe he didn't like the shoes.
Rukia maintained her intense stare for a little longer to clarify her position. After that she turned around without another word to Ichigo and faced Ishida: "I think I have all I need. Can you help me carry this?"
"I hope you're aware that I'm not able to pay for all this."
The orange haired high school student had followed his friends to the cash desk – though he wasn't entirely sure if one of them could still be counted as his friend. Rukia placed her items on the counter ignoring him completely while handing the cashier her credit card. "You own a credit card?!" Ichigo's eyes were focusing the plastic card bewilderedly, which was now being return to its holder. She took the card, pocketed it and then turned to face him with a look that hinted he'd said something humiliating: "Of course I do, what were you thinking?" She held her breath for a second, than continued, this time with slight disappointment ringing in her voice. "Sometimes it feels like you tend to forget who I am." The dark haired Shinigami took her bags from the counter and headed outside. Ishida shook his head, worn out somehow. That was none of his business.
Ichigo had gone home and was now loafing on the couch. He had decided to play some video games, because nobody would mind him occupying the living room for the rest of the evening – no one was home. His sisters were attending a birthday party somewhere and his dad – for whatever reason – was not there either. Otherwise he probably would have been forced to come up with a reasonable excuse as to why he came back home from the shopping trip without Rukia. He took a brief look at his watch. It was eleven already. Ichigo didn't really want to admit it, but he seriously started to wonder where she was. When he had entered his room a few hours earlier after returning home he had noticed that her shopping bags had been placed beside his desk, but no hint about her whereabouts had been left.
The rustling sound of a key could be heard. He pressed the pause button and peeked cautiously around the corner into the hallway – maybe it were just Yuzu and Karin. The light was switched on and gave away Rukia's presence, who was eyeing him a little confused. He couldn't really determine whether it was because she didn't expect him to be the first 'thing' to catch sight of after switching on the light or if it was just because of him staring at the door in a rather awkward position.
"Hey."
It was actually the most informal and casual greeting that came to his mind.
"Hey."
Obviously it was the only thing that had crossed her mind as well at the moment.
She averted her gaze to get rid of her shoes and placed them neatly at the entrance.
"Where have you been?" He pulled a wry face – the atmosphere was tensed, again."On the way."That's it? That was her answer? Ichigo mumbled to himself – he knew she was doing that on purpose. "On the way, huh? On the way to… where?" he asked putting more emphasis on his question than before. She went down the hallway and stopped in front of him:"Why do you care anyway? … Were you worried about me?" she retorted teasingly with a subliminal smile. He looked away to one side feigning nonchalance: "Che, didn't you point out like a thousand times that you are capable of handling yourself pretty well?" Ichigo faced her with a trace of arrogance: "So why would you cause me to be worried?" Her smile intensified. She bit her lip to restrain laughter:
"Fool, you know that only someone who's at least a little worried would say a line like that."
A wave of nostalgia hit him. Yeah, he had heard that before. He sighed. Rukia saw through him way to easily. Probably she was the only one he couldn't fool – never. The substitute turned his back and headed to the living room again: "Whatever." It was needless to say anything else.
He had tended to his video game again, Rukia sitting next to him on the couch observing the strangely dressed game characters. They were jumping all over the place, sometimes disappearing through some odd tubes only to be thrown into yet another dimension. Those tubes were probably working similar to a senkaimon. The time passed. Suddenly something hit Ichigo's shoulder. His finger slipped and the little plumber sailed down the abyss – game over. He looked to the side, annoyed, ready to complain as he realized that Rukia had bumped into his shoulder, leaning against him supposedly asleep, so he put the controller aside and closed his eyes as well.
"Do you mind?"
Her voice sounded cautious, restrained and maybe even a little guilty but the words themselves were sincere.
Ichigo flinched: "I thought you were asleep!"
The minutes went by. Minutes of silence in which none of them moved even an inch; a silence none of them commented on. It was the first time after this farce had started that he really enjoyed her company, that he really felt comfortable around her - just as it always used to be. Her presence had such a calming effect on him, although he would never openly admit that. As much as she liked provoking him he knew she would never judge him. He trusted her and therefore he was able to be himself. Therefore he knew she wouldn't make a teasing remark about their situation.
Ichigo exhaled deeply before breaking the silence: "Rukia?" He waited for a reaction – rather to take another breath than to verify if she was still awake.
"I'm sorry." She frowned, eyes still closed just like him.
"What for?"
"Well, I… I shouldn't have made fun of your height. I… know that hurts you." He could feel that she tried not to laugh.
"It's ok." Her voice was soft and gentle: "I'm not mad at you."
"You sure?" Incredulity was ringing in his tone, uncertain what to make out of her composure. "You didn't seem so back in the afternoon."
Rukia pondered for a second. "Well, let's say I'm not mad – anymore."
The dark haired woman opened her eyes and sat up: "But actually it wasn't fair what I've said to you either." He eyed briefly over his shoulder looking at her before a contemplative 'Mmh' left his throat. She tapped the sofa with both palms getting up slowly – a synonym that to her the matter had been settled. "I think we should go to sleep." When Ichigo had managed to get up and switch everything off he found her waiting at the stairs. He surveyed her closely: "And I assume you'll be sleeping…" "In your bed?" she finished his obviously intended question. After a moment a smirk formed on her lips: "Of course, one half is mine after all." Rukia turned around and walked what seemed triumphantly in his eyes up to his room.