A/N: I've been in such a hyper mood all day, this came out in less than two hours. I sure hope it won't suck much. Besides almost losing my eyebrows to the oven, I'm in such a dorkily high spirit. Enjoy the holidays, and Seasons' Greetings, everybody. Hope everybody likes. :D
Rukia darted from the sink to the oven and pulled out her Toaster Strudels. She heard the connecting door creaked open and later followed by a pair of feet paddling down the stairs.
"Hey, do you think I could borrow a cup of sugar?"
Rukia raised an eyebrow. She turned from her plate of hot strawberry strudels and looked up at a very scruffy Ichigo. She frowned. She was about to let slide a snappy comment about not opening up a grocery store when Ichigo's weary expression caught her sight. She felt her own expression softened. "Yeah. Go ahead."
Smiling tiredly, Ichigo made his way to the counter and pulled the sugar container from the cabinet. "Ririn's gone to school already?"
"Yup," she answered curtly, eyeing the tall guy, who was scooping her sugar into a plastic cup. "Late night?" she inquired lightly.
"Yeah," Ichigo replied, not turning his back from the counter. "Had an endemic in the ER," he explained.
Rukia nodded numbly. She knew she heard the front door upstairs slammed at such odd hours last night. No wonder he looked like hell vomited over him. He barely had 3 hours of sleep. "Are you going to class later?"
"Yeah. I think I'm going to fall into a coma even before the lecturer greets us 'Good Morning'."
Rukia chuckled. "No offense. But you looked like hell took you for a pimp ride."
Ichigo laughed. He screwed the cap back on and turned to look at the girl. Funny that they were not on each other's throats nowadays. Since that day when Ririn had practically 'invited' him into their household, both Rukia and Ichigo have been civil with each other. He's not sure if he missed being able to argue every chance they were in the same room, but these changes, where they smiled and held polite conversations, are not bad at all. "Are you going to class soon?"
"Yeah. I am. In thirty minutes, perhaps."
"Wait up. I'd crash if I ride today. Might as well join you in the subway."
XXXXX
"I didn't know it's going to be this cold," Ichigo muttered, stuffing his hands into his jeans. The temperature has dropped significantly overnight, indicating the start of winter.
All around them people donned on heavy overcoats complete with mufflers around their neck. He looked down at Rukia's hands covered in purple mittens, feeling slightly envious.
Rukia grinned. "What are you eyeing my gloves for? I'm not gonna offer them to you, you know."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "I'd die before I wear anything with that color."
"Righttt," Rukia replied. She tightened her grip on her bag as they waited for the lights to change. "When are you going home for Christmas?" she asked casually.
He shrugged. "Probably by Christmas eve. We don't really go mad over it. Probably Yuzu will throw a feast, and that's all."
"So what did you buy for the girls?" Rukia inquired. The lights turned to green and together with other pedestrians, they made a crossing towards the train subway.
"Oh shit!" Ichigo wailed, slapping his forehead as he dragged his feet across. "I totally forgot about that part!"
Rukia burst out laughing again. "Probably the most substantial part of the season and you've forgotten all about it. I wonder where you left half of your brain, Kurosaki," she mused. After flashing her autocard at the machine and waited for Ichigo to buy manual ticket from the counter, they walked in line towards the elevator.
"My best bet on the X-ray machine yesterday," he muttered. "Dude, I'm so whipped if I don't show up with some gifts. I'm their only refuge from all the insane gifts my dad gave them each year."
Rukia gave him a sympathetic smile. Luckily the train was almost empty as they were approaching off-peak hours. "You still got a couple more days. Good luck hunting for them."
"I always have a hard time trying to decide what to choose for the twins. It'd save me a lot of hassles if they were boys; I'd pick up a Nintendo and be off with it, don't you think?"
"Think you got it hard, Kurosaki? Try buying gifts for 11 kids," Rukia offered.
Ichigo winced. "Ouch. 11 kids?"
She laughed. "You wouldn't want to know how long I'd starved on instant noodles for the kids' presents. I can't play favorite so I have to allocate fair amount of cash for each present. That's the easy part," she explained.
Ichigo grinned. Rukia made it sound so easy to herd a group of kids under one roof. He had heard countless times from Ririn as she accounted her life in the orphanage. He was secretly awed as how a petite college girl like Rukia was able to shoulder so much responsibility even before stepping into adulthood.
He also noticed how fond Yuzu and Karin of the girl. The twins visited constantly as they turned out to be Ririn's classmates in her new school. Most of the time when the girls showed up during the weekends, Rukia would at least bake some cookies for the girls to bring home.
An idea flashed into his head. "Think you could lend me some expertise as what to shop for the girls?"
Rukia glanced up. She cocked her head to the side, deliberating, before her cellphone went off. "Hold that thought," she instructed as she flipped open the phone. "Speak," she said monotonously.
Ichigo watched as Rukia's face turned slightly pink, and her lips curved up into a pretty smile. What an effect, Ichigo mused. Must be one hell of a caller.
"When did you come back?" he heard her asking the question, her hands toying with the mittens now pulled off and placed neatly on her lap.
"I'm celebrating Christmas at home, as usual. Why don't you come and join us?"
Then the smile turned into a slight frown. Ichigo wondered what went wrong to have the gravity of pulling down the corners of her lips. "Ahh… It's ok. I understand…" she whispered, at last.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. He didn't know Rukia could whisper. All this while they were shouting at each other, he forgot how delicate and soft the girl's voice actually was.
"Well, I hope next time when you're in town I'd be able to see you," she spoke again, this time with much confidence. The smile was back.
"Hmm… I miss you too." The last part was barely audible, but Ichigo heard it all the same. He smirked as the girl flipped her phone close.
"Boyfriend?" he inquired.
Fumbling for words, Rukia felt the heat creeping on her cheeks. "Uh…"
"Somehow while you were busy trying to form a coherent sentence, I've gotten the answer already," Ichigo replied, smirking.
Rukia smiled faintly.
"So, he's not from JNU obviously," he continued, trying to dig deeper. Somehow he felt compelled to learn more.
Rukia shook her head. "Nope. We were classmates in high school. He went off to Seoul for Student Exchange," she explained, a little smile still lingering on her lips as she recalled one of her oldest friends.
Ichigo nodded mutely. Why the thoughts of Rukia having a boyfriend hadn't occurred to him before was beyond him. Not like this girl is not pretty, in fact, he had found her attractive most of the times, even alluring. "So, is he back for Christmas?"
"Yeah…"
"But from the conversation I grasped he will not be able to make it to see you?" he concluded.
Rukia smiled softly. "Do you make it a habit to listen to other people's conversation?"
"Only when the person talking is sitting a seat away. You were not exactly being inconspicuous about it, Kuchiki," Ichigo replied, grinning.
"But was I talking albeit too loudly? Did I indicate for it to be eavesdropped?" Rukia challenged.
"Aww, I liked you better five minutes ago. Can't we not start this? I'm getting a headache," Ichigo whined.
Smirking, Rukia tilted her head to the side. "Hahha. Don't go and develop aneurysm or something. So what were you saying about expertise?"
"Right. Do you think you could help me pick out some presents for the girls?" Ichigo inquired, remembering his request. "That'd save me a lot of time."
Rukia pondered. She rubbed her chin for awhile before answering. "Sure. Not like I've got much to do tonight since Ririn will be back late from choir practice," she answered, shrugging her shoulders.
Ichigo blinked back in surprise. "Sure?" He was hoping for her to agree, but not before several arguments and insults thrown in.
Rukia contained a laugh. "Are you asking me to be sure about my decision now? Cause I could retract it back, you know."
Laughing, Ichigo settled comfortably into his seat. "No, no. Man, you don't know how relieved I am. Thanks," he replied earnestly.
Rukia smiled. "No prob. But tonight's dinner is on you."
XXXXX
"Kurosaki, I said 'think feminine', not go all drag queen on me!" Rukia exclaimed, before cracking up. She pulled on the tacky frou-frou metallic blue shawl dangling on Ichigo's shoulder. "I'd kill you myself if you get that for Yuzu," she continued, shaking her head at Ichigo's taste in fashion, or lack thereof.
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "You're not being any help here. If I don't get out of this mall with two nifty gifts by the time it closes, you're only going to have your saliva as your dinner," he threatened.
"That's not such a nice remark to somebody who burned 4 important hours of her life to assist you shopping. I don't wear the tag of your private secretary, Kurosaki."
"No, but you're wearing the Miss I'm-such-a-pain-in-the-gluteus, kick-me-so-help-me-God nametag," Ichigo retorted.
"If you need to be inflicted with pain in said area so much, Kurosaki, I'd be glad to assist you in that," Rukia sing-sang. She flashed him a toothy grin.
"Kuchiki, help me choose a gift!"
"Did you just wail? No, seriously. You just wailed! Oh my God, the invincible Kurosaki Ichigo just freaking wailed!"
Ichigo rolled his eyes, for the umpteenth time. Frustrated, he hurled the grotesque shawl across the cabinet, getting a dirty look from a sales assistant who stood nearby. "Why don't you go and alert the media?"
Rukia smiled prettily. "I want San Francisco's Grills for dinner. And urm, maybe some Swensen ice cream for supper."
"That's some grub. Are you preparing for a starvation campaign or something?"
"Or I think I have some frozen pizza in the fridge. And you can suffer and bleed a slow death here in the mall. Your pick," Rukia negotiated, shrugging. "Choose wisely, though," she added, the smile was a constant image on her face then.
Ichigo groaned.
XXXXX
"The girls are gonna love the presents. I'm such an awesome brother," Ichigo marveled, gesturing at the shopping bags in his hand.
Rukia rolled her eyes. She zipped up her brown jacket snugly as the chill December air blew to her face. "You're welcome," she said sarcastically.
Ichigo grinned. The trip to the mall that night was a great success, all thanks to the girl walking casually next to him. He had to admit, despite burning a hole in his wallet, Rukia did have fabulous ideas with gifts for her sisters, what's with having almost a dozen siblings of her own. The dinner afterwards was pleasant, and Ichigo was kind of warming to the idea of being friends with the girl.
Rukia stole a glance at him, who went surprisingly quiet. "What's up?" she asked.
"Thinking of how to survive till New Year on barely 100 yen. I'm officially destitute, Kuchiki. All credits goes to you," Ichigo replied, a small smile on his lips.
Rukia chuckled. "Trust me, when you see the smiles on their faces, it's all going to worth it."
"It is, huh?" he replied wistfully.
"I used to hand make most of the gifts when I was still in high school. Working as a cashier didn't exactly call for a hefty paycheck, so when I had about 15 presents I had to prepare for, I resorted to being innovative," she explained. She shoved her hands deeper into her jacket pockets. "Remind me when you'll be leaving for home so that I can pass the girls' presents to you," she added.
Ichigo wrinkled his forehead. "You bought Yuzu and Karin presents?"
Rukia shrugged. "Why not? They visit enough to be considered family."
Ichigo paused in his walk to scrutinize the petite girl.
"Kurosaki?" Rukia called, once she realized that the tall guy was lagging behind. Turning on her heels, she waited for him to catch up. "What happened?" she inquired, curious.
Ichigo flashed a small smile. "Don't freak, but I'm about to declare that you have such a big heart," he replied. He lifted a finger in a mock warning. "Now remember, do not freak. Nor pass out. I only have two hands. I'd choose these shopping bags over you any day, big-hearted or not."
Rukia blinked back in surprise. Then she burst out laughing.
"That's refreshing," Ichigo said lightly.
Wiping off the grin off her face, Rukia raised a questioning brow.
"The laughter. I was immuned to the roars and spitfires."
He laughed as he felt her sneaker made contact with his shin. They continued arguing until they approached the gate of their house. Under the streetlights, Ichigo noticed a red haired guy sitting on the curb, a phone to his ear. Rukia stopped in her tracks. Ichigo followed suit.
"Renji?"
XXXXX
