A/N: I'm doing this instead of my History project. Sorry for that cliffhanger guys! Hehe…anyway. I own this story however I still don't own bleach!
Orihime smiled at Tatsuki, "Excuse me for a second." She said weaving her way through the crowd; she tapped on the man she assumed was Ichigo. The man turned around and the lights above change to blue…and so did this man's hair.
"Can I help you?" The man said in a rough voice, Orihime blushed madly. "I'm so sorry…I thought you were someone else!" Orihime stuttered before turning around and rushing back to Tatsuki. How embarrassing! It was the lights above him that made his bleached hair look orange. Ichigo is at work… stop being so paranoid.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"I'm driving!" Ichigo said before Rukia jumped on his back, "That was so much fun!" She squealed, her hair tickling the back of his neck. They walked in a group in the parking lot, Ichigo had seen Orihime enter with Tatsuki and he did the first thing that came to mind: get the hell out of there. He could of stayed and owned up to everything, but he wasn't really doing anything wrong. Rukia and him were just friends and yes he lied about working but he deserved to relax and go out with friends without his…spouse.
"Who was that girl Ichi-berry?" Rukia asked resting her chin on his shoulder. Ichigo gulped, "Ah…crazy ex-girlfriend." He answered, Rukia lifted her chin and nodded repeating the words "I see." Rangiku and Renji were walking behind the two with one arm over one another's shoulders.
"God Renji, who would of thought…you can sing!" Rangiku declared with a giggle. Renji scowled, "Thanks." He said sarcastically.
"Oy! Are we heading back to your place Rukia-Chan?" Rangiku asked, Rukia turned her head and twisted her upper body to see Rangiku. "Uhhh…yeah!" she answered before twisting back and resting her chin back on Ichigo's shoulder. "You know the way right?" She said into his ear, Ichigo nodded and set the petite girl down. She stumbled backwards but regained her balance easily, "I call shot gun!" Rukia hurriedly announced rushing to the passenger door. Ichigo ran a hand through his bright hair, it was going to be a long—but entertaining night.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"Orihime, look who I found!" Tatsuki announced pulling a man with glasses and dark hair towards her.
"Uryu!" Orihime squealed hugging him, Uryu blushed gave Orihime a quick hug back. "Would you like to sit at my table?" Uryu asked holding his hand out in a gentleman like manner, Orihime beamed "of course!" She responded taking his hand and following through the crowd. Tatsuki smirked and made her way to the dance floor, she would let Orihime have her fun tonight.
Uryu was seated at a private booth, it was quite but they could still hear the club's music. He sat down across from Orihime and they ordered their drinks, Uryu had tea while Orihime ordered grape soda with cherries.
"So Ishida-kun…how have you been?" Orihime asked not able to wipe away the smile on her face.
"Well…I own my own fashion and designing company. Currently I'm working on a project turning fashion disasters into fashion icons." Uryu said pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.
"How exciting Ishida-kun!" Orihime said clasping her hands together.
"How about you Orihime? Oh and please, call me Uryu remember?" He asked smiling.
"Well…I work as a chef at this seafood place near my apartment." Orihime said taking her drink from the tray.
"Orihime, I have a question…but I don't know how you'll take it." Uryu said blushing.
"What it is Uryu-kun?"
"Would you like to model sometime for me?" He asked his pale cheeks turning a darker shade of crimson.
"Aww that is so sweet Uryu-kun! I'd love to!" Orihime said beaming. Uryu smiled and took a sip of his tea. "Great, I'll have to call you sometime."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Rukia sat down crossed legged on the floor, "Ichi-berry!" She yelled throwing a pillow in his direction, the said man was lying on her couch. Renji and Rangiku were sitting on her beanbag chairs, "Pillow fight!" Rangiku yelled jumping from her seat and smashing a pillow it Renji's face.
"What the hell?" Renji yelped before grabbing a pillow off the couch, and hitting it at Rangiku.
"Midget!" Ichigo took the pillow that Rukia had previously tossed at him and hit her on the top of her head. Rukia squealed and stole the pillow that Ichigo's head was resting on, "meanie!" she said before hitting him in the chest, Rangiku spun around and hit Rukia on the head. Rukia turned and hit Renji instead of Rangiku. Ichigo got up and hit Rangiku instead of Rukia. Renji then hit Ichigo just for the hell of it and suddenly it was all out war.
The group of four was laughing and hitting one another with pillows, feathers flew into the air and the girl's squeals and giggles filled the room. Rukia ducked one of Ichigo's blows and tackled his waist causing the said man to trip backwards and land on the carpet floor. "Got you Ichi-berry!" She said grinning victoriously she climbed upwards and rested her chin on his chest. Ichigo lifted his pillow and hit her head, "I'm still moving midget." He retorted with a smirk, Rukia laughed and attempted to wrestle the pillow out of his hands. Ichigo chuckled and held the pillow far from her reach, Rukia slapped him in the stomach and stole the pillow away. "I win." She said hitting his face with the pillow, Ichigo wrapped one arm around Rukia's waist pulling her closer to him. Rukia gasped and for a brief second her guard was down. "Think again." He said stealing the pillow away and throwing it at Renji.
The white pillow hit the redhead squarely in the jaw and he dramatically fell to the floor. Rangiku was laughing her ass off, her body hunched over and arms around her stomach. "You guys are so insane!" Rangiku said in between fits of laughter. Rukia rests her cheek on Ichigo's chest, "Wh-what are you doing?" Ichigo stuttered knowing his friend's actions were just because of that strawberry martini.
"I can hear your heart…" She said softly closing her eyes, "S-so what?" Ichigo grumbled his lips in a frown.
"It's racing…" She whispered lifting her head and smirking at him, Ichigo's cheeks turn a bright red. Ichigo never blushes and yet this annoying smart-mouthed midget was able to make him. Rukia rolled off his body and stood brushing off her clothes, "You guys are so cute!" Rangiku announces falling back onto the beanbag chair.
Rukia stuck her tongue out at her friend, "Nyah! Whatever." Rukia said stepping over Ichigo's body to reach her bedroom. "I'm gonna find a movie for us to watch." Rukia announced opening her bedroom door and walking in.
"Woo-hoo!" Renji said pumping his fist into the air with a grin, Rangiku stands and announces that she'll make some popcorn. Ichigo sat up and climbed back onto the couch, resting his feet on the coffee table, it seemed that everyone was slowly beginning to calm down. Renji yawned, "Do ya like her?" he asked after yawning his eyes connecting with Ichigo's.
"Who?" Ichigo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Rukia."
"Huh? We're just friends." Ichigo answered reaching down to take the pillow off the floor and set it on the arm of the couch. Renji didn't look convinced at his answer, but he shrugged and asked no more.
"Kay! We are watching…uh…Moulin Rouge." Rukia said holding up the disk case, Rangiku cheered from the kitchen, the sound of popcorn being popped was heard in the background.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-..-.-
Nell wasn't sure what was going through his…Grimmjow's head, the cops had busted their weapons dealer and they needed his equipment if they were going to pull this bank robbery off. She stepped into Grimmjow's house kicking away beer bottles and maneuvering her way in the darkness.
She felt a strong arm grab her around the waist, Nell instantly brought her arm forward and prepared to elbow the person in the chest, she wasn't quick enough though. The person grabbed her elbow right before it hit him, she was able to twist her body and smack the person with the back of her free hand. The man's grip loosened around her waist and she spun free, she lifted her knee to kick him but he stopped her, tackling her to the ground.
She felt his breath against her skin, "Nell?" the man said in a voice she knew was Grimmjow's.
"Thanks for tackling me." She growled as he got off her, "How did you know it was me?" She asked her eyes straining in the darkness to see him.
"I'm on high alert now that the cops busted our old friend." Grimmjow said reaching inside his pocket and lighting his lighter to see her face. The warm glow of the small flame filled only a small area, but at least now they could see one another. Nell took out her lighter and lit it as well.
"You didn't answer my question." She said frowning. Grimmjow smirked, "I knew because you're the only person in this group whose waist my arm can fit around. You have a slim waist…" He said standing and Nell followed. She wasn't sure if she should take his words as a compliment or not.
Grimmjow flicked on a light and pocketed his lighter. "So? Why are you here?" He asked getting straight to the point.
"I…here." Nell reached inside her leather coat pocket and handed Grimmjow a stack of cash.
"What's this from?" He said flipping through the bills, from the weight of it, there were ten hundred dollar bills in this pile.
"I won a street fight." Nell admitted looking away from his gaze.
"Nell…stay out of those. We need you in top shape for the upcoming mission." He scolded pocketing the bills in the back pocket of his jeans. That's when Nell just noticed he was shirtless. Countless scars raked across his well-toned body, he noticed her staring and grinned.
"Take a picture it'll last longer." He said with a chuckle. Nell glared, "I wasn't staring."
"Sure ya weren't. You want something to drink?" He said walking away to the kitchen.
"No…just tell me something Grimmjow." She said following him, "Huh? Tell ya what?"
"Why don't you like street fights? You get into them all the time!" She said her eyebrows pulled down and face frowning.
"I…get into fights with other gangs to earn the Ancarrs respect." He said cracking open a beer.
"That didn't answer my question." Nell said folding her arms across her chest.
"I don't like them because…they bring back memories of you. How I found you, all broken and…" Grimmjow stopped talking and his eyes locked with hers.
"You get in them for money, I get in them for pride. When people are fighting for cash, they are much more ruthless and they have an intent to kill. When you're fighting for pride…it's to show off your skills and for the love of fighting." Grimmjow took a sip of his beer.
"I don't need one of my members dieing on me." He finished leaving the kitchen, "Night Nell." He said entering his bedroom and kicking the door shut. Nell stood in the kitchen frozen by his words. 'Do you honestly care for our lives Grimmjow? Or just mine?'
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Several minutes later…
Rukia and Ichigo were on the couch, they moved the coffee table so Renji and Rangiku could sit in front of them with their beanbag chairs. Each pair had their own bowl of popcorn and Rukia in all honesty—couldn't of been happier. Her buzz had dimmed down and she could think clearly, she rested her head on Ichigo's shoulder, an action done by her own will not by any affects of alcohol.
She reached over and took a few popcorns from the bowl on his lap, "Renji! Don't hog all the popcorn or you'll get fat!" Rangiku yelled taking the bowl away from the redhead.
"Down in front!" Rukia said laughing, Ichigo beside her was chuckling as well. She hadn't laughed this much in ages. College was fun but Rukia mainly focused on her schoolwork, she didn't have time for friends. Her brother always said "Friends are nice…but they are not necessary to succeed."
2 hours and 7 minuets later…
Rukia and Rangiku's eyes were swimming with tears, "It's so sad that they couldn't be together." Rangiku said holding her hand up to her mouth as she took in a shaky breath.
"I…know. Why are all love stories tragic?" Rukia said reaching over Ichigo's body to grab her box of tissues and blow her nose. Rangiku reached her hand back and Rukia handed her the box, the strawberry blonde dabbed her eyes with the tissue.
"You're such a softie." Ichigo said nudging Rukia in the side, she slapped him upside the head and sniffed her nose.
"You don't understand the complex nature that is women." She said leaning down and grabbing another tissue.
"Renji's asleep." Rangiku said with a raised brow, she thought of waking him up…but there was no point. They were all going to have to sleep here anyways. "You are such an idiot."
"No, I'm a guy. We don't cry over this mushy stuff."
"Well, it's a proven fact that women live longer then men because we show our emotions."
"Eh? I think all that martini is getting to your head midget."
"Oh shut up!"
"What time is it?" Rangiku asked interrupting the two from their argument. Ichigo lifts his left arm, the one resting on the couch's arm, "Two…in the morning." He answered with a frown.
-.-.-.--.-.-
Orihime stepped out of the club with Uryu and Tatsuki. "It was really fun catching up." Orihime said taking his business card and sliding it into her purse.
"Take care and drive safe." Uryu said smiling, heading in the opposite direction to his car.
Orihime smiled and followed Tatsuki to her jet-black jeep, she climbed into the passenger side and took out her cell phone. No missed calls. "I'm just gonna call the hospital to see if Ichigo is okay. He's probably asleep in the off duty room." Orihime said dialing the number to the hospital.
"Hello Kakura Hospital…" a kind voice on the end of the line answered.
"Yes, is Ichigo Kurosaki there?" Orihime asked holding the phone to her ear.
"He's not here…would you like me to leave him a message?" the nurse asked lifting a pen and paper, she failed to tell Orihime that Ichigo wasn't even on the clock.
"Oh, well just let him know I called." Orihime said with a defeated sigh, it seemed that she could never get a hold of him. 'He's sleeping I bet…'
"Orihime right? Okay well, I'll tell him when I see him." The nurse said placing the pen in her front pocket and setting the notepad down.
"Thank you so much!" Orihime said exchanging farewells and hanging up.
The nurse sighed and rubbed her temples, "Ah…Kurosaki. I can't cover for you forever you know that right?" She said quietly before returning to her work on the computer, her fingers moving quickly on the keyboard.
"Tatsuki…I was wondering…" Orihime began watching the streetlights pass them outside. "You're a detective right? That's your job?"
"Mhm."
"Could you keep an eye on Ichigo for me?" Orihime asked blushing.
"No way!" Tatsuki said glaring at her friend and slamming on the breaks. "Orihime, you really have lost that much faith in him?"
"What no! It's just—"
"Ichigo is an honorable man. I will not go snooping around one of my childhood friends, I'm not like that Orihime! You should know that I would—"
"Tatsuki, I'm sorry but—"
"That's enough Orihime!" Tatsuki yelled visibly fuming, she looked back at the road and continued to drive. Orihime looked away and stared out the window, she was ashamed for even asking.
-.-.-.-..-.-.
Rangiku was asleep by now, her head on the beanbag chair. Rukia stood and went to her room to grab some blankets for them, she draped a red one over Rangiku and a dark green one over Renji.
"How kind." Ichigo whispered when she sat back down next to him, she placed a pink blanket with white bunnies all over it on their legs. Ichigo's eye twitched, "What is with you and bunnies?" he asked as the petite woman took a pillow and set it against his side before placing her head there.
"I just like them…" She whispered back closing her eyes, "Why are you the only one that gets to be comfortable?" Ichigo growled poking her stomach. Rukia opened her eyes and scooted to the other side of the couch.
"Better?" She said with a grin, Ichigo frowned, 'no.'
"Hm? Do you like it when I'm next to you?" Rukia crooned scooting back to him and throwing her arms around his neck, Ichigo turned red. "Is that better Ichi-berry?" She said nuzzling his neck. She was having way too much fun, "You're evil." He growled pushing her away.
Rukia pouted, "Ichigo! I was comfortable!" She said keeping that pout on her face, Rukia stood, "I'll just go and sleep in my bedroom then." She said taking her bunny blanket with her. Ichigo yawned and stretched out on the couch, he grabbed the remote off from the floor and clicked off the television. He closed his eyes, hands behind his head and back resting against the couch's cushions. Sleep came easily and he was off in his own little dream world. Then he felt a weight press against his chest, his eyes fluttered open, and the room was pitch black. Somehow he knew it was Rukia, but what possessed her to come and lay on top of him like this? He gulped as he felt her soft hair caress his skin and her slender arms wrap around his neck. 'She's sleepwalking…yeah…she's sleepwalking.' He thought closing his eyes again, the words repeating like a mantra. Ichigo quickly fell asleep, his dreams filled with annoying bunnies and a certain raven-haired waitress.
A/N: Review! Or seriously…I'll send Byakuya after you in Bankai! Haha::Runs away::
But in all seriousness, review and tell me what you thought of the chapter because Reviews are like a drug for me. Haha, I love you all!!