How You And I Came To Be

By: NekoWriter

Chapter 4: The Way I Will Fall For You

"Life can either be accepted or changed. If it's not accepted it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted." -Unknown

We all managed…somehow, to merge back into Urahara's shop. No one had left, but we did manage to gain another person.

"Toushirou What the hell are you doing here?" I questioned, still not in the best mood so a mumbled the question. To be truthful the only reason I asked was because he seemed to be standing just a little too close to Karin for my own comfort.

"To train you." He stated simply not elaborating looking peeved that I hadn't addressed him formally. Of course I knew why he was here; he was going to teach me the inner most workings of being a captain. Clearly he was let in on the secret, but I'm sure most captains had aleady guessed.

"Perfect. Just what I needed. A shrimp tutoring me how to fight." I used that as a cover; everyone would believe that he was here to teach me stuff like kidou and crap.

There's your sarcasm again king. You're forming quite an addiction to it lately aren't you?

What am I not allowed to use sarcasm anymore? Since when were you the boss anyways?

"Shrimp?" He sucked in a breath and held it while turning away in frustration and anger. Whether he liked it or not he was still a kid with a short temper.

"I'll be right back." I quickly stated rushing to the bathroom, there had got to have been away to hide this damn bruise. Rukia, thank god, wasn't back yet. Well, that's what I assumed since she wasn't with everyone else. I figured she was taking a long walk trying to clear her head. Anyway, I didn't want to worry her or cause any blame to be inflicted on Renji.

This damn house is like a damn maze. I sighed to myself trying to think how it was physically possible for such a seemingly small looking shack to have so many long hallways.

No matter how many times I'm dragged into this place I still can't figure it out.

You should ask Urahara to make you a map.

I actually filed that suggestion in the back of my mind, it wasn't a half bad idea.

The door, I hoped, I was looking for was in front of me, I hoped…again. No one could ever be sure what door their opening and to where it leads in this place.

Well, it looks legit considering it has the word 'bathroom' scrolled across it, unless that's supposed to be misleading.

I sighed to myself, what else did I have to lose? My hand twisted the door knob as I closed my eyes, not bothering to knock seeing as basically everyone was in the main room up front. Damn it, I wished I knocked or had my eyes open for that matter.

My eyelids remained closed as quietly walked into the bathroom, the hurtful words Renji screamed at me ran through my head all the while,

"We live for centauries! Hundreds of them! That's a really long time to be unhappy don't ya think?"

That line in general killed me, the fact that I was the soul thing to create many upon many years of unhappiness for her was heart quenching. My fury getting out of control I slammed the door shut so hard I felt the room shake along with a slight clinging sound but I made no notice to it.

"Ichigo!" A soft feminine voice echoed through my ears. Oh god, it wasn't Rukia right? Please tell me I did not just walk in on her. I had no such luck with disproving that, there in front of me stood Rukia.

At least she wasn't taking a shit.

Yeah, but what is she doing in here?

I don't know maybe...wait, I smell blood.

That alarmed my senses rising them all to their peek. My body reacted on it's own moving to Rukia's side grabbing her arm, gently, in my hands forcing it still rejecting her efforts to pull it away.

"It's just a little scratch. Ichigo! Let go!" She started to hit me with her fist as I ignored her attempts to get out of my grip.

"That's not little, what'd you do take a sander to it?" I noted the ground in rocks embedded in her skin. Damn she must have skid, hard.

"No, I fell." She looked at her feet, she was lying through her teeth.

"Stop lying to me Rukia." I kept turned away from her for two reasons, one being I was pretty sure I couldn't handle looking at her and another the huge black and blue was probably still creeping up the side of my cheek bone. Even though I hadn't looked at it in a mirror or anything yet I knew it wasn't a pretty sight.

"What? How can you accuse me of-"

"Because every time you lie you look at the floor. You've done that since I met you. Now I know that you aren't clumsy! What the hell happened?" Why was I getting so worked up over nothing? Maybe I figured it was something…Alright, I guess I was just really over protective of her. I couldn't lie to myself I knew that much.

"I do not." Once again she glanced at the floor; did she realize she did this or was in an unconscious movement?

"You just did it! Again!" My frustration was growing and I guess with that preoccupying my mind I turned my head fully; my bruise in clear sight.

"Shit." I turned my head again hoping she didn't see; and now that I think of it hear the swear I hissed.

"Ichigo! Where the hell did you get that?" Oh so she could ask questions and expect an answer?

"A hollow." I lied, at least it was more believable than her lie.

"Liar. No hollow was even near you!" She was yelling at me now? I stood my ground staring her down. Her hands found their usual spot on her hips staring up at me with the same intense look I gave her. We were evenly matched.

Being evenly matched doesn't sound like such a bad thing.

Dumb ass! Of course that's a bad thing! She's 4'8" ! We're 5'8"! You're letting a shrimp intimidate you. (Real heights…I did the math!)

How the hell do you know her height? I was too curious to know how he knew her never mind my exact height.

I can estimate right?

"Ichigo!?" She snapped her fingers in front of my face, I guess I zoned out.

"You're acting like you were keeping a radar pinned on me." I shrugged turning half away again hiding the bruise.

"So sorry for being worried about you!" Did she just admit that she was actually worried about me? Wait, she did have a radar pinned on me!

"Rukia! I can handle myself…you don't have to be worried." Well, it stated off as a shout, but then it slowly progressed into my normal talking voice.

"Yeah, well…oh no you don't, I want to know what happened!" Damn she was persistent and had the memory of an elephant.

"You'd get mad." I said honestly. It seemed she was the only person now a days I could tell absolutely everything to.

"Try me." Did she realize that that didn't help her case?

"Well, Renji sort of…" She cut me off before I could say anything.

"Renji!? Why the hell would he do that to you?" She stalked pass me before I even reacted.

"Where the hell are you going?" I said grabbing her arm; her good arm.

"To talk to Renji where else?" She questioned, but stopped her stride.

"I said you'd get mad. It wasn't his fault, I mean yeah he punched me-"

"punched you!?" I wasn't making things much better was I?

"Rukia! Listen, I deserved it." Please no more prying.

"For what?!? I mean yeah I'm his life long friend, but that's taking it to an extreme. It's not your fault-" I let go of her arm which fell to her side; my head following in tow.

"Ichigo! You know this isn't your fault right?" She barked at me. I stayed quiet.

"Rukia…it is my-"

"No it's not! It's completely mine! You didn't really believe me back then when I said it was your fault? I was kidding." Now she sounded heart broken.

"Rukia! How can you say that?" I gasped, the life returning to my eyes. "How could you blame yourself for anything?" I pinned her against the bathroom wall. "I can't even figure out one reason that could lead you to believing that it was you fault!" I truly pondered it. There was virtually no reason.

"Enough Ichigo, let's go back." She squirmed out of my grasp, leaving me leaning against the wall; my head and balled up hands touching. I turned after a few seconds; I still wanted to know where she got that wound; especially now that she can't pin it on a hollow seeing as how she herself said there hadn't been any.

"Ichigo…"

"Yeah…"

"Where's the door handle?" Both of us were stunned by the revelation that there was no possible way out of the room; not even a window.

"How isn't there a-" The clinking sound came back to memory.

"Oh shit, when I slammed the door, it must have broke. Who the hell has metal doors for a bathroom anyway?" Sure enough a broken metal handle was lying on the floor. Why did Urahara's 'uniqueness' have to be so unique?

"It doubles as a shop you know." She was frustrated I could see it. Her pacing though made me want to hold her still.

"Who'd be this far into the shop; a shinigami shop!?" Okay, frustration was contagious. I mean what the hell did we do now? Wait until someone had to go to the bathroom?

"You never know. Plus, I don't think he intended that someone as strong as you would actually slam the door like that." She turned sharply her arm flung against the door, irritating her scrape. All my attention reverted instantly to that as blood slowly dripped to the floor.

"Rukia, let me bandage that for you." I didn't take no for an answer as I was dragging her back to the sink. Her constant protests were well, constant, but I could take a few more well placed punches today.

"I can do it myself you know." She pouted not bothering to fight back anymore. I placed the upper part of her arm under my arm pit in order to keep it from moving around too much and also I had to pour the cleaning alcohol on it and that probably would't be too fun since it's a pretty big area of torn flesh.

"Yeah, I know, but I'd probably do a better job. You were about to wrap it when I came in right?" She nodded stubbornly. "Well, if you did that odds are it'd have gotten infected. You still have dirt and rocks in it." Hey, I knew what I was talking about; I was raised by a doctor after all...I think.

"yeah well…" She turned away, damn was she stubborn at admitting that she needed help with something. Then again I guess she'd always been like that. Always.

Clearly since I wasn't getting an answer from her about her wound I figured I might as well ponder a few answers of my own.

Well I doubt she tripped

And getting mauled by a hollow is out

She was with Tatsuki and Orihime the whole time, so she didn't go off anywhere dangerous.

I stopped in my tracks, I just figured out what happened…unconsciously knowing that there was a slight possibility this could happen.

Not likely a dog attack…

A rash couldn't do that type of damage…

I don't suppose there's acid around here is there?

King? Yo? Are you even going to try and help me?

I think I figured it out already. Why are you so nosy today anyway?

I guess I'm bored. But don't leave me in suspense.

You're a strange hollow. You know that?

That's because I'm better then all the rest of them. Now what did you come up with?

Well, I think it was Orihime. She probably got jealous…according to Tatsuki she's liked me for a while, but I thought she got over that and I never thought she could get physical.

So, it was a cat fight!

Something like that…I assume.

Why don't you ask Rukia dib shit?

Well, his somewhat nice side lasted for a good length of time, I guess I couldn't expect miracles.

"Rukia…" Wait, am I taking his advice again? This is so screwed up. "Did…Orihime do that to you?" I spoke calmly still gripping her bad arm to force all thoughts of escaping me out of her head.

"Yeah…but I deserv-"

"NO! Don't you dare finish that word! Your so stubborn! All you know is the feeling of self loathing and guilt isn't it? Everything that happens to me isn't your fault especially this time since your involved. Can you give me at least the attempt showing me that you don't really think you deserved this." I yanked on her arm, very gently, enough to prove my point.

"Ichigo…but"

"Rukia so help me!" I dared her to continue.

"Ichigo! How do you not hate me yet?" Well, it wasn't the question I was expecting. "I've caused you trouble after trouble after trouble. Now this. Are you even furious at me to the slightest degree." She was serious, I just couldn't believe it.

"Yeah, Rukia I am furious," I took out the medical tape, that was luckily in the cabinet, and started to wrap it expertly around her arm ripping away the extra with my teeth. When I was done I restarted my sentence, "I'm furious at you're belief that I was furious at you." My grip on her arm lessened allowing her to regain control over her it.

"I still don't know how that's possible." Her nose shot up like a kids after being proven wrong for the first time. I actually enjoyed that; I finally broke through one of the many layers of Rukia.

"I think we have been stood up." Urahara stated with mock disappointment.

"As long as there together…planning my future grandchild!" Isshin had completely rotated back into the sap of a father that was scarcely present in the past few hours.

"Well gentlemen, I suppose that means you all can leave, it's almost eleven anyway. If they weren't back by now I doubt we'll see them anytime soon." He escorted the partially concerned Kuchiki's along with Toushirou out the door. The said captain was to be staying at Kurosaki's house for the night since Urahara had told him that tonight wouldn't have been a good night. Toushirou left it at that not wanting to know what he was implying while Urahara was glad he didn't pry because he was sure he didn't want to know.

Stupid pervert, he made me stay at Kurosaki's because Karin was there. How the hell did he even know I had a small…miniscule…little…tiny crush on her? You know what I don't want to know.

"You're in Ichigo's room Toushirou. Karin and I are right down the hall if you need something." Yuzu stated as happily as ever.

"Thanks." With that she skipped out of the room.

I couldn't help but compare the two Kurosaki twins. They were like day and night. Yuzu was a bright ray of sunshine while Karin was more like the dark wind enticing as it is.

I like the night better anyway, it's colder. I yawned passing out on Kurosaki's bed not even bothering to change or anything. Today had been stressful; it was the battle to end all battles…at least with Aizen. Aizen was dead, now life could go on like normal. Sleep was creeping through my body; it was a pleasant feeling that I welcomed when it consumed me whole.

Karin…

We basically did nothing but talk about school, comic books, and places for hours. Not a single topic touching on shinigami or my new promotion in general.

"How about ice cream? I've tried chocolate and vanilla. How many flavors are there?" Rukia asked very amused. I guessed that the awkwardness had faded between us, which I was extremely glad about. It was back to normal…wasn't it?

"Well, there's mint, sherbet…fruity flavors in other words, rocky road chocolate, strawberry," her eyes went wide," cookies n' cream, cookie dough…I lost you at strawberry didn't I? Why am I not surprised?" I laughed stretching out taking about the whole enclosed area to flex my limbs completely.

"Well, I've never tried it! Ichigo next time we go to the store can we get some?" Her plea sounded oddly like a little kids demanding chocolate, which I guess wasn't far off.

"Yeah, sure. That is if Urahara ever decides to use the bathroom!" We tried practically everything! Who'd have known that his house was made completely from the stone that created the seiratei walls.

"Well, he's bound to eventually. He doesn't have a bladder of steel." We both laughed; I wasn't completely happy…who could be? But it was petty damn close considering the news I had gotten today.

"Rukia…" Ready to wreck my good mood?, "We do need to talk about what's happening…I mean what's going to happen." I hoped this would be as good of time as any to talk.

"I know we do, but maybe we could let it be till tomorrow?" She yawned practically slamming into the floor; Was she really that tired? What time was it anyway? Hell I had no idea.

I decided to take a look around the room to see what I could scrimmage up so Rukia wasn't laying on a hard cold bathroom ground. There was cabinet at the far end which I guessed was used for towels or something but to my surprise held pillows, a comforter, and a fold up mattress that was about the size of a full.

What the hell do you do in the bathroom Urahara?

I'm not sure I want to know.

Well it was better for us this way anyway. At least we, I meant she didn't have to sleep on the floor. I was going to probably stay up all night anyway. How could I sleep in a bathroom?

After completely setting up the mattress which just barely fit in the space that Rukia wasn't passed out in, I walked over to her thinking about what to do next.

Do I pick her up?

It's not like you haven't in the past.

Yeah, but this is different. I mean her life isn't in danger or anything.

So?

It seems inappropriate.

She's going to be your fucking wife in a month. King, grow some backbone. You're pathetic.

I hissed inwardly at my inner hollow, I didn't need to be reminded that this was pathetic. With all the confidence I had, yes I needed that much of a boost, I placed her on the mattress tucking her in. Her body in my hands felt unbelievable. I couldn't imagine why her body felt so different; so enticing to my touch. Maybe it was all in my mood. Any other times were times of panic and distraught. This time I was actually kind of…dare I say happy.

Aw, king has a crush!

My hollow mocked me for the hundredth time today.

NO I don't! I barked at him inwardly, not daring to make a single sound in fear of accidentally waking Rukia up.

In the most serious voice I have ever heard him talk in he spoke, "Well, then you better get one pretty damn fast." I knew his words were true…Wait what the hell? He was being so damned nice? Why? Something was off, no way he would ever help or guide me when I'm doing something stupid.

Before you ask, I'm part of you dumb ass. I feel the emotions you feel…for the most part. When you get depressed it annoys the shit out of me. So, if I help you, after all you need so much help it's pathetic, the annoyance is lifted. Get it?

Thanks?

I couldn't really agree if that was right or not, but I couldn't care less at this point.

That bed looks really nice though. I did a damn good job.

Why don't you go sleep in it instead of sitting here boasting about it?

But Rukia's sleeping in it.

You're so damn naïve. You make me sick; why couldn't I get stuck with one of those hormonal teenagers?

I ignored him for the rest of the night, his ignorance for me made me ignorant of him. Eventually though, I did end of taking his advice and laid down on the bed on top of the comforter.

"Alright," I whispered to myself, "I'll just relax for a while. Might as well, odds of someone coming to use the bathroom at this time of night would be rare." My relaxing took me deeper into sleep, before I knew it I was under the covers almost completely gone.

"Hold on a minute Yoruichi, I'll be right back." Urahara sang as he exited the room in his boxers…that's it.

"Damn it bathroom!" He ran down the hallway mad fast, it probably could have been taken as mistake for shunpo. Then again he had to go really bad so he might have cheated a little.

"Finally…Why did I put this room so far from all the others?" He amused himself with his question but quickly resumed opening the bathroom door. He hadn't expected to find the two engaged shinigami to be laying on a mattress in his bathroom that's for sure.

"Hey that's mine and Yoruichi's." He wined to himself before eyeing the broken door handle on the ground.

"Oh." a mischievous smile arose to his face. "On second though I'll let them sleep." With that he, tightly, closed the door. After all this was his way of helping out the IchiRuki cause.

"Oh crap bathroom!" He darted for the other bathroom which was even farther away. "The things I do for you people." He sighed but at the same time slammed the second door to the second bathroom shut. This door being perfectly normal in every aspect.

A/N: Okay, yeah I admit there was some OOC with the inner hollow, but I realyyy enjoyed writing for him, so I got kind of carried away lol. Yeah, if you didn't figure it out by now the people who have read "Why Does One Thing Always Lead To Another?" Yep! i'm the author of that one too and yeah, i do like them get stuck in secluded situations...it's just sooo much fun! I'm sure there will be a few more in this story a the vey least! Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! LOADS OF REVIEWS MAKE FOR A HAPPY WRITER!

*Okay I want and need some feedback from you guys what should happen next?!?!?!? Like I have a very vague idea, but I need help nurturing it!- Your NekoWriter

*Oh also, did you guys seriosly dislike the OOC-ness of some parts? Because if you absolutely hate them I will go back to 100 percent IC. (I don't know how I can change the story like that especially after this chap., but I would give it my best shot!