Chapter 7:
"So, where'd you like to go Rukia?" Daniel asked.
Rukia looked out the window in Daniel's living room. You could see most of Tokyo from where they were. "Um, I don't know, where would you propose we go?" Rukia asked, not taking her eyes from the view.
Ichigo's apartment was nothing like Daniel's. Where Ichigo only stayed in it when he was attending school, Daniel and his parents lived in theirs permanently. And they were rich. Very, very rich.
Ichigo had disappeared somewhere with Daniel's dad, doctor Masters, which had left Rukia alone with Daniel for the rest of the day. "How about we go have lunch somewhere? I know a nice little place in the city" he suggested.
"Sure, sounds great" Rukia said, finally paying some attention to Daniel again. "I'll give them a call to make a reservation, if you want to know some more about it, I've got it bookmarked on the computer over there" Daniel said and Rukia looked in the direction he was pointing.
In the corner of the living room stood a desk with a very modern looking computer. She walked over to it once Daniel had left the room, moving the mouse until the screen came to life. It took her a while to realise that the button that said 'safari' was the internet.
"Okay" she said to herself as she scanned through the bookmarked sites, finding that there was only one restaurant site. She clicked on it and the restaurants main page popped onto the screen.
Rukia swallowed and looked down at what she was wearing, immediately noticing that she was severely underdressed. The site even had a notice that said "Suite and Tie mandatory", which made her even more nervous.
"You like it?" a voice asked over her shoulder, causing Rukia to jump. "O, Daniel, yeah…" Rukia said half-heartedly, not knowing how she didn't hear him come in. "You don't sound very happy" Daniel said, stepping away to get a better look at her. "No, I'm happy" Rukia said, waving her hands in front of her, "I just don't think I'd fit in there."
Daniel looked down on her, for the first time noticing what she was wearing. "I see what you mean" he said. "How about we go there for dinner instead and I take you out to get something nice to wear?" he asked, snapping his fingers in a light-bulb-moment kind of way.
"What? No way, I can't let you buy me something" Rukia said, standing her ground.
"Okay, then let's make a deal" he said, a smirk spreading over his face. When Rukia didn't object, he continued. "If I can beat you at one thing, you have to let me buy you something" Daniel said, "I'll even let you pick the challenge."
Rukia looked at him suspiciously, before saying "Anything?"
"Anything."
"Okay, Masters, you have a deal" Rukia said before extending her hand. "Deal, what's you challenge, Kuchiki" Daniel said as he took his hand in hers. Rukia didn't hesitate, "Fighting. First person to land three blows wins" Rukia said.
For a second she thought Daniel might back out and tell her she's crazy, but then he smiled. "Game on." Daniel was quickly able to clear the living room, leaving a lot of space for sparring in the centre of the room. He had also used sheets to set up a circle, where after an out of bounds rule was set.
They quickly took of their shoes, Rukia also removing her extra pieces of clothing before tying her hair back.
They took their spots across from each other, readying themselves. Rukia knew that technically she had an unfair advantage, but she hadn't missed the trophies and photographs when she came into the apartment. They were fighting trophies and photos of Daniel with a black belt.
"You sure about this?" Daniel asked, noticing her sudden lack of attention. "I should be asking you that" Rukia said, rolling her neck once. "Okay, then let's do this thing" Daniel said, still finishing his sentence as he attacked.
Rukia easily dodged his arm, not wasting time to deliver a soft, but definite blow to his side with her leg. "That's one for me" Rukia said, stepping back, but not letting her guard down. Daniel looked at her, obviously having underestimated her.
Without a sound Rukia lunged, her fist aimed straight at his arm. Daniel dodged, spinning around so that he could face her again. Rukia realised he was analysing her, trying to figure out her fighting style. She didn't plan on giving him the chance, and that's when both of them got serious.
"One all"
"Two, one"
"Two all"
Half an hour had passed and by then both Rukia and Daniel were breathing heavily. When Daniel took his stance, Rukia noticed an opening. She pushed herself forward, but at the last moment she ducked, sliding between his legs.
She stopped herself and jumped up before Daniel could completely turn around. By then Rukia had spun, kicking out with her leg, but stopped inches away from his throat. "I win" Rukia said.
Daniel looked at her, but didn't say anything, simply pointed to the ground. She looked down, her eyes widening when she saw she was standing on one of the sheets.
Before Rukia could react, Daniel kicked her leg out from under her. Rukia braced herself for impact, but Daniel wrapped his arms around her waist before she hit the ground.
He looked into her eyes, freeing his one hand and placing it on her cheek- the final blow. "I win" he said.
They looked at each other sternly before Rukia sighed, "A deal is a deal" she said, but Daniel didn't let her go.
"What the hell are you two doing?" Ichigo asked as he and doctor Masters stepped into the living room. Daniel stepped away from Rukia, taking his sweet damn time about it. "Nothing, just getting my ass handed to me" Daniel said and Rukia could practically feel the tension between them.
"This one sure has some spunk in her" he continued, but Ichigo was already heading for the front door. "Come on Rukia, we're leaving" he said in Rukia's direction. "Thank you, doctor Masters" he said, waiting for Rukia to join him.
"No can do, Ichigo, Rukia here lost our little challenge" Daniel said, "Isn't that right Rukia?" he asked her directly. She looked from him to Ichigo and then back again. "Yeah, sorry Ichigo" she said, not able to look him in the eye.
"Fine, whatever, not my problem. Just don't come home too late" Ichigo said before leaving the room, thanking doctor Masters once again and waving goodbye at Daniel and Rukia.
"Good" Daniel said, "Guess we should get going as well."
They redressed and stepped out into the hall. "Do you mind walking in the snow?" he asked Rukia once they walked out onto the busy street, the cold air cooling them both after their little match. "No problem" she said, trying to hide her excitement.
Rukia didn't like the idea of someone buying things for her, it made her uncomfortable, but she had tried to stop him. The quickly reached a street filled with shops on both sides, and not little shops with cute dresses and hats. No, these were the shops where you didn't enter, because there was a bouncer in front of the door.
Daniel stepped into the first one and Rukia followed, awestruck by the clothes. Everything was arranged neatly according the colour and length, even the shoes. Rukia felt Daniel tug her to the nearest shelf, pulling out something he thought would suit her.
This continued for about three hours before they had some lunch, Rukia insisted it had to be at a vending machine, and then they continued to look for the rest of her outfit. They went back to the house about an hour before they had to be at the restaurant.
Rukia considered calling Ichigo to tell him she'd be home late, but decided against it in the end.
"You can get dressed in here" Daniel said, opening one of the doors in the hallway they were walking in. She thanked him and walked in, putting all her shopping bags down on the bed. She made quick work of undressing and slipping into the dress Daniels had bought her.
It was a tight midnight blue dress with a high collar and twisted back. She liked it, but it wasn't her favourite, she just didn't want Daniel paying the price of the others. After that she slipped into the plain black heels he had also insisted on.
She was quickly checking her make-up when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in" Rukia said politely and watched as a woman entered the room. She was probably in her forties, but beautiful didn't describe her. Rukia instantly knew it had to be Daniel's mother, they had the same colour hair.
"O dear, you really are as pretty as Daniel says" Daniel's mother said and before she knew what was happening, the woman had wrapped her arms around Rukia. "I'm so glad Daniel found himself a girl, I never thought I'd be able to get a daughter" she said and Rukia felt she was going to faint.
Daniel's mother realised she was suffocating Rukia and held her arm's length. "Sorry honey, I'm just very excited" she continued to yap, and Rukia couldn't help that there were certain similarities between her and Ichigo's dad.
"Mom?!" Daniel asked as he burst into the room, seeing a very dilapidated Rukia.
"I'm so sorry Rukia" he said as he pulled his mom away. "Mom, stop this, she's only a friend" he said and his mom looked between him and Rukia. "Friend, go it" she said, raising her hand to the side of her mouth and winking at Daniel, trying, but not succeeding, to be inconspicuous.
Daniel face palmed himself, and Rukia watched as a blush spread across his face.
"Okay, I'll give you two friends some time alone" she said before bounding from the room, emphasising the word friends.
"I'm sorry, my mom can…" Daniel started to say, but trailed off when he saw her. Somehow, for those few minutes since his mom had come in, Daniel had changed. He went from being an airhead to a normal guy. Rukia preferred the latter.
"You look beautiful" he said, so soft it sounded like a whisper. Against Rukia's will, her heart gave a little jolt. No, Rukia thought, this is good, this is progress. "You clean up pretty well yourself" Rukia said, giving him a once over.
"Of course" he said, his cocky side returning. He looked at her one more time before turning and offering her his arm. Rukia sighed before accepting his arm and grabbed her coat before they left for the restaurant.
The arrived at the restaurant just in time. Daniel helped her from his car before they walked up the steps and into the fancy restaurant. One of the waiters quickly escorted them to their table and offered them some wine before giving them their menus.
It wasn't until she opened the menus that she sent a prayer of thanks to Byakuya for raising her as strict as he had. To any normal person, they menu might as well have been in French. They discussed what they were having until the waiter came back with a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass.
"So, tell me about Africa" Rukia said once Daniel had finished ordering for them. Daniel quickly fell into a story about his encounter with a lion, and to Rukia's surprise, she actually enjoyed the story.
It only took her half the night to figure out when Daniel was being sincere and when he was trying to impress her. The only things she couldn't understand was why? He had a great personality when he wasn't putting on an act, so why hide it from her?
They talked about a lot of things until the night grew late. With every conversation, Rukia started to like Daniel more and more. She wouldn't say she was falling in love, but she did like him more than simply a friends, which struck her as strange since she only met him that day.
Rukia had always had a hard time connecting with people, but it felt so easy with Daniel, so normal. There was no talk of hollows, he didn't ask about her mission, he didn't look at her as if she might fall apart at any moment. Rukia liked the normalcy they had.
"So, tell me Rukia. What's your real relationship with Ichigo?" Daniel asked once their desert had been served. Rukia looked up at him, trying to act as if she didn't understand the question. "I don't know what you're talking about" she said before taking a bite of her chocolate cake.
"Both his parents were an only child, my father told me, which means he doesn't have any cousins" Daniel said, "Should I continue?"
They stared at each other, daring the other to say something. Finally Rukia sighed, a little impressed by him. "Okay, so maybe we're just old friends, without a family member in the way" Rukia said, looking down at her spoon.
"You're in love with him? Aren't you?"
Rukia's eyes shot up, giving Daniel all the answers he needed. "I was, I'm letting go now. He and Hana are good together, I'm not messing with that" she admitted out loud for the first time. Once again she found herself staring at her spoon. She didn't look up until she felt something resting on her free hand.
She looked up and found that Daniel had rested his hand on hers, a look of complete compassion in his stunning blue eyes. "I know it's hard" was all he said, but it was all he needed to say.
She smiled, a sad, but thankful smile.
"Oh, I am stuffed" Daniel said as they walked the last of the stairs to Ichigo's apartment.
Rukia looked at him, laughing at the way he was rubbing his stomach. Daniel noticed the way she was looking at him and raised an eyebrow, "What?" he asked.
"O, nothing, just thinking that I like this Daniel. The one that jokes, but then laughs at his own jokes" Rukia said as they reached Ichigo's number. "The one that trips over his own feet and gets excited about a lion attacking they're car, not the one that acts all high and mighty" she continued, but stopped when she saw the way he was looking at her.
"I'm sorry, I crossed a line" Rukia said when she realised she had said too much. She waited for him to say goodbye and leave, completely offended by what she had said.
She was about to bend down and get the key from where Ichigo always hid it, but before she could, Daniel pulled her into his arms.
"Let me help you, Rukia. I want to help you forget him" Daniel said, his head in the crook of her neck. Rukia stood still, completely shocked by his response. "Daniel…" she simply said, not wanting him to think that she was rejecting him.
"I know we only met today, and I know this is rash and unexpected, but I will treat you decent Rukia, I will love you the way you're supposed to be loved" he said. "You may not care about me that way now, but maybe one day you will."
Slowly he lifted his head, but didn't step away. "Let me help" he repeated before softly pressing his lips to hers.
When he pulled away they stared into each other's eyes.
"Okay" Rukia whispered, and Daniel kissed her again, both of them unaware of the person leaning against the other side of the door, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
Rukia watched as Daniel waved before climbing into his car and driving off. She lifted her hand and touched her still tingling lips, finding that they were smiling. She then set out to do what she was doing before her and Daniel's little escapade.
The key slipped into the lock and Rukia opened the door as quiet as possible, expecting Ichigo to be asleep.
Once inside, she closed the door and was about to look for the light switch, but the fact that she could see clearly stopped her. She turned around and found Ichigo sitting on the couch, a book in his hands.
"Had fun?" he asked without looking at her, but Rukia wasn't paying attention to that. "Where you eavesdropping on us?" she asked, rage starting to build up in her tiny body. Ichigo looked up, "What makes you think that?" he asked.
"You're holding the book upside down" Rukia said flatly before stripping off her jacket and hanging it on the hook. He knows, that was the only thing going through Rukia's mind as she slowly walked to where Ichigo was sitting. There was no way he didn't hear what Daniel had said about her feelings.
Ichigo remained seated, even when she stood in front of him. "So what if I heard?" he said, using a tone Rukia had never heard from him. It was monotoned, devoid of any emotion. Slowly he stood up and looked down at her, his eyes lingering on her a dress for a second.
Then he laughed, a sick, twisted laugh that sent shivers down Rukia's spine. "Wow, Rukia, I never knew you were the type of girl that only needed a new dress and a few nice words before she let a guy touch her" Ichigo said, but a loud cracked stopped him from saying anything else.
Slowly he reached up and touched the burning sensation on his cheek before looking down at Rukia's trembling body.
"May be, but at least the next time I see him, I know he won't have another girl with him" Rukia said before she walked into the bedroom and locked the door behind her.
First off, I won't say "I'm sorry about the OOC-ish Ichigo", because I don't think it was all that much OOC. We all saw what happened to him when he lost his mother- a person who he loved a lot. So why wouldn't he act harshly towards Rukia? Sorry if that came out rude, I mean it nicely :)
Rukia's dress: /look/229393
So yeah, please review
xx
