A/N: Takes place in Substitute Arc. Technically AU, but we'll just say that it's not so we can all imagine them together. xD No spoilers!
Disclaimer: I do now own Bleach. What else is new?
G: GRUMPY
Kurosaki Ichigo is always grumpy. Always. Never does that scowl leave his face, never do the corners of his lips turn up in the slightest, never does he laugh or look at ease. Honestly, sometimes I get him confused with my brother. But then I remember that Nii-sama doesn't scowl; he doesn't have any expressions or emotions. But Ichigo has one. Only one, no more than that.
Today, I vow to change that. No matter what it takes, I will make Ichigo smile or laugh or even cry. Hey, at least it would be different from his ever-constant state of discontent.
Attempt No. 1:
I got to thinking, what would make Ichigo happy? My first response was, "Well, nothing," but then I made myself think further. What does Ichigo love more than anything else? His family. What does he like to do more than anything else? Protect. So I set out to find Yuzu and Karin.
It was a little awkward, going to the front door of the Kurosaki household when for the past few weeks I've been going in through the window, living in their house under their noses. And it was a little more awkward when Isshin opened the door and I had to tell him I was a friend of Ichigo's. I forgot that the girls only met me once, and I erased their memories of it. After the way that Isshin shouted, "ICHIGO HAS A GIRLFRIEND WHO HE WILL MAKE LOTS AND LOTS OF BABIES WITH, MASAKI!", I think I might have to erase their memories again. It was just too weird.
Anyway, I was welcomed inside once Karin came over and knocked her father out as mercilessly as Ichigo does. Yuzu smiled at me from the kitchen where she was stirring something in a big bowl. Karin led me to the kitchen table and sat across from me, arms folded and looking at me intently.
"What do you need?" she asked.
I explained about how I was sick of Ichigo scowling all the time, and explained my plan. The twins exchanged a look once I was done. "What?" I asked.
"Well," Yuzu started hesitantly, "it's just that... We're sick of Onii-chan being grumpy, but I-I think that plan might just make him more angry."
Karin snorted and looked away. Under her breath, she muttered, "Or make him kill us for real."
I looked at them both hopefully. "Well, will you try it?"
"No," Karin said flatly.
I looked to Yuzu. She hesitated, avoiding eye contact with me. "I don't think so, sorry, Rukia-chan."
Standing from the table, I smiled at them. "Thanks so much for your time." I took a step towards the door and hesitated, turning back to them. "Please... don't tell Ichigo about me coming over, okay?
They both nodded at me and Karin rolled her eyes. With that, I walked out the door.
Attempt No. 2:
So his sisters rejected my plan. That didn't mean I wasn't going to use it. Ichigo likes to protect anyone he cares about, not just his family. I thought about asking his friends, but then I realized that he didn't have any. Well, none that he would actually care to protect, anyway. I mean, he beats Keigo sensless all the time and Mizurio isn't a priority. And then Tatsuki and Chad can both take care of themselves, so Ichigo wouldn't be as worried as he would've been if only the girls had agreed!
My thoughts landed on the only remaining person I could think of: me. I would have to go through with the plan myself, only tweaking it a little bit. Instead of a car, it would be a Hollow, and instead of me telling him, it would be me in the rough of it, risking my life. He would actually be protecting me, saving me.
...Oh, man, I was never going to live this down.
The next time my pager went off, I told Ichigo hurridly and then ran out myself, right into the battle, leaving him behind. I didn't have my powers, I didn't even have a sword. I had nothing but my sight and body. If Ichigo wanted me dead, this was a perfect opportunity.
The Hollow got in a big bite of my shoulder before Ichigo got there and shoved it out of the way. It only took a second for him to slice it clean down the middle, causing it to disappear.
He turned to me but wouldn't look me in the eye. Without a word, he reached a large hand to help me up from where I had been tossed on the ground by the Hollow. I accepted the gesture, somewhat surprised that he was offering, and stood up. He still wouldn't look me in the eye, but he spoke. "Are you all right?" he asked gruffly.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you," I said with as much dignity as I could as I brushed of my dress. "Are you happy now?"
Maybe I wasn't very good with human communication skills yet, but I meant it in the nicest way possible. However, Ichigo's scowl grew deeper and anger flashed in his eyes. "Happy?" he whispered harshly.
I nodded, hesitating only slightly. "Yes, you protected me, you saved me. Doesn't that make you happy?"
"You're injured, aren't you?" he said a little bit more harshly, gesturing to my shoulder. "I didn't protect you."
I sighed. "You just hate being happy, don't you?" I said aloud before mumbling to myself, "Karin and Yuzu were right, this wasn't going to work..."
If I thought I saw anger in his eyes before, it was nothing compared to what I saw now. "You did this on purpose?" he hissed. "Are you really that much of an imbecile?"
Crossing my arms defiantly, I stuck my nose up in the air and ignored the pain in my shoulder. "You never do anything but scowl. I was just trying to-"
"Are you serious?" He was yelling now, looking me directly in the eyes and towering over me. "Are you really that reckless and stupid?"
"You should talk," I shot back angrily. "You're the most reckless and stupid person I know!" Hurt was coursing in my veins, an emotion I wasn't used to. It was a human emotion, not a shinigami feeling. Not for Kuchiki's. Not for nobility.
He scoffed and turned his head away. His whole body was shaking in rage and he pursed his lips. Looking back at me swiftly, he said in a low voice, "Don't ever do that again, got it? It doesn't make me happy. Ever. I can't believe that you thought..." he trailed off and looked away from me again. For a minute and a half, he stood in that pose, scowl still on his face. Finally, he turned back to me. "Just don't," he said and then started to walk away.
I stood, shocked in silence behind him. I had made it worse. I felt horrible, but knew that I had to keep trying. I just... had to find a better way of going about it. But first things first. I had to make things right with him first.
Attempt No. 3:
"Ichigo!" I ran after him and fell into step beside him. He didn't look at me, just kept walking. I looked down at his hand; it was still shaking. Tentatively, I reached out and touched his shoulder. He stopped and with a sigh, he looked down at me.
"What?" he asked quietly. I could still hear the undertones of anger in his voice.
"I just, well, I-I'm sorry." Searching his eyes, I saw them soften slightly as he again sighed.
He looked away from me again, but it wasn't in anger this time. "It's okay," he whispered. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at my shoulder, trying to gauge the damage. "You should get that looked at."
After looking down at my shoulder, I shrugged, ignoring the stab of pain I felt. "It's nothing," I lied. I'd heal it with kido later. It would take a lot out of me, but it was better than going to one of these human hospitals.
Ichigo opened his mouth to protest, but he shut it again soon after, recognizing defeat as he saw the determination in my eyes. It was silent for a moment before he looked back down at me. "Why did you do it?" he asked quietly.
"I'm sick of seeing that stupid scowl on your face," I told him teasingly. "It's ugly."
"Hey!" he said, angry again. He pointed an accusing finger at me and sucked in a big breath in order to shout at me, but stopped when he saw the amused expression on my face. "Jerk," he said before lowering his arm.
We began walking in silence again before I voiced the question that was humming along my brain. "Why... why did you care so much?"
He cast me a sidelong glance and muttered, "You know why."
I nodded, but in truth, I had no idea what he was talking about. What was I supposed to know?
After a moment of silence, he looked at me again. He was blushing furiously, but his eyes were curious. "You do know why, right?"
"Of course," I said, unwilling to admit that I didn't have the slightest clue. He shrugged and turned back to face forward. Unless I was mistaken, I detected a hint of disappointment in his eyes. Finally, my curiousity got the best of me. "Okay, no. I don't know what in the heck you're talking about."
He stopped suddenly then, and when I turned back to face him, he was blushing again. "I-I-I... uh..."
"Spit it out, Strawberry," I said flatly.
"I like you, Rukia." It came out as one long, blurt out sentence. His cheeks went even more red.
I shrugged and walked up to him. "I like you too, Strawberry," I said in a mocking tone and patted his head roughly.
"No! I mean, I like you, Rukia!"
"Okay, then, I like you, Ichigo!" I had no idea what he was going on about.
He huffed and glared at me. "Are you really that dense?" he said before grabbing me roughly and smashing his lips to mine.
After a few tender moments, including the time it took me to get over my shock, we pulled apart. I could feel my cheeks burning, but I smiled. "Oh," I said softly. "I-I like you, too, Ichigo." I smiled up at him.
I was surprised to see him smiling back at me. Smiling. I won!
"Good," he said, quickly turning his face back into a scowl at the look on my face. With that, he put his lips on mine once again.
I smiled into the kiss. Ha! I guess three times really is the charm!
A/N: Yup. Hope you liked it! You guys are awesome, I just want you to know that. I love you all. :)
Thanks to all of those reviewers, favoriters, alerters, et ceteras out there! And thanks for even reading my silly stories. It means a lot! :)
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