Sento

Rukia woke up to the sound of her mobile beeping. She lets out a huff and turned to the nightstand, grabbing her mobile than lying back down on her back. She looked at the screen and saw the name that popped up.

"Mashiro?" and than she flipped the phone open. "Hello?"

"Rukia."

"Mashiro? What's up? Did you ID my failed-murder?"

"Before I tell you that I want some answers."

"Uhh… O…k?"

"Did you sleep with Ichigo-san?"

"What? No!"

"Were you close to doing it?"

"Well maybe… Wait a minute Mashiro, who tried to kill me?"

"Rukia you sly dog alright his name was Yammy Gilga. Here is the funny thing though, except for two years ago, Yammy Gilga died."

"So it was identity theft?"

"Yes most likely. Listen Rukia, I'll send you a picture of Yammy. In the mean time go and have some fun with Ichigo!"

"Mashiro you know I can't. If I do Ichigo and I won't be aloud to work together. It's the rules."

"Oh Rukia, rules were made to be broken, now go get him!"

"Wait! Mashiro!" but it was to late. Mashiro had already hung up.

Rukia sighed and threw the phone to the end of the bed. Just then Rukia saw her clothes from yesterday, folded neatly, at the end of her bed.

'Ichigo…' she thought 'You really are helping me out big time.'

Rukia stood up and stretched, sorting out all the kinks in her body, then let out a sigh. She left her bedroom and walked down the stairs when she heard the sound of the T.V. Rukia peeked her head in and saw Nel sitting and the ground engrossed in a anime on the screen.

"Nel?" Rukia said quietly. Said girl turned her head around and looked at Rukia.

"Ohio Ota-san." Nel sang.

"What are you watching?"

"Ouran High Scwhool Host Cwub."

"Are you aloud to watch it?" Nel nodded her head as an answer.

"Where is your father?" Rukia questioned.

"In bwed."

"Are you hungry?"

Nel shrugged her shoulders. "A wittle."

"Do you want some breakfast?"

"Okay." Nel smiled at Rukia.

"I'll get you some breakfast. Just continue watching T.V." and so Nel nodded her head and then turned it back to the screen.

Rukia turned her body and made her way to the kitchen. She opened the door and walked over to the wooden fridge and opened it. A variety of food items sat on the shelf. Milk, butter, orange juice, black pudding etc, etc. Rukia pulled out all the essentials for a full English breakfast and began to cook. When she was finished she went back into the sitting-room.

"Nel," called Rukia "Breakfast."

Nel roused from her spot, turned of the telly and silently followed Rukia into the kitchen. Nel spotted the food on the table and smiled.

"Yummy!" she sang and ran over to her usual spot at the table.

"Good thing you like Fry-up's."

Nel took a bite of her sausage and nodded. "It's me and Oto-san's favworite."

"Good good." Rukia smiled and sat down beside her. Just than the door opened and Ichigo walked in. He looked at the scene in front of him and cocked his head a little.

"You made breakfast?" he said to Rukia.

Rukia nodded, took a bite of a tomato than spoke. "Of course."

"Why did you make breakfast?"

"Nel and I were hungry, you were asleep and I can cook."

"Why not just wake me up than."

"With yesterdays events I'm amazed you didn't sleep for longer. Now that you up come and eat with Nel and I."

And so Ichigo did. Taking place between Rukia and Nel and, along with the rest of them, began to eat.

"My god that breakfast was delicious!" Ichigo praised as he flung his head and arms back over the chair.

"Glad you enjoyed it." Rukia smiled and stood up.

"Woe shouwd cook mwore Wukia." Nel smiled.

"Hey, what wrong with my cooking?" Ichigo asked pretending to look hurt.

"Ota-san wuck better at cooking." Nel laughed.

"I know that!" he said then noticed Rukia picking up the plates.

"What are you doing?" he questioned.

"Cleaning up. What does it look like."

"No your not," he said taking the plates off her. "I'll do that."

"I can clean up after myself."

"I know you can. But you made breakfast which was more than enough."

"Ichigo…"

"Go get dressed. We'll go shopping when I've finished cleaning. You too Nel." he shouted over his shoulder. "Up and dress."

Nel nodded and obeyed her fathers orders.

"Ichigo," Rukia said lowering her voice. "I got a call from Mashiro earlier and she gave me the ID of the man who tried to kill me."

"Who was it?" he asked putting the plates down on the countertop than turn to face her.

"Yammy Gilga."

"That can't be right. I killed him two years ago."

"What?"

"Yea. I caught Yammy him robbing a bank. Told him to stop, he pulled out a gun and I put two rounds in his chest. Killed him instantly."

"Uh… Mashiro sent my a picture of him." Rukia said pulling out her mobile phone.

Ichigo stared at the photo than Rukia. "That's not Yammy. That's his younger brother Nnoitra Gilga."

"Wait so mean to tell me Nnoitra stole the identity of his brother? Why?"

"I don't know but it's our job to find that out."

Rukia smiled at Ichigo and than turned beginning to walk away.

"Rukia."

Said woman turned to face the man who called out her name, only to be catch in a lip lock with him. Rukia gasped against Ichigo's lips, giving him access to explore her mouth. Ichigo towered over, making him have to bend over, but hell, he didn't mind. Rukia grabbed a hold of his tie, pulling Ichigo towards her. Rukia never started a kiss between herself and Ichigo (and she didn't really plan to) but Rukia couldn't help but respond when Ichigo kissed her. It was like Rukia's head separated from her body, no movement that would make her to stop the passion between them. Just one command,

Kiss him back!

Just than Ichigo and Rukia heard a giggle at the door. They both turned their heads to see Nel standing there with her tiny hand covering her large emerald green eyes, fingers wide apart so she could peep through.

"Oto-san, yucky!" she giggled once more.

"Yes it is and that is why you'll never have a boyfriend, right…?"

"Uh-huh." she nodded.

"And if any boy that does come over here I'll…"

"Blow wis fweaking head off."

"Good girl now go watch T.V till Rukia and I are ready to go."

Nel nodded and ran out of the room.

"Are you aloud to teach her things like that?"

"Like what?" Ichigo laughed, turning to the to dishwasher and turning it on.

"That it's okay to blow someone's head off."

"Heh," he laughed "It is when it comes to my little girl."

"O…k, I'm going to go and get dressed." she said and turn away. "Oh speaking of which that reminds me." and Rukia turned back to Ichigo. "Thanks for washing my clothes."

"Rukia…" the orange hair man sighed and turned to her. "Stop thanking me, seriously."

Rukia left the room without and word and went to get ready for some shopping.

Rukia, Nel and Ichigo entered the large shopping centre. Three stories, over 50 shops and more than 5000 spaces in the parking lot that was underneath the building.

"You said this is the smallest shopping centre in Japan?" Rukia questioned as she took a glimpsed at all the shops and what they had to offer.

"Second smallest. The smallest is another 12 miles away and it doesn't have such a variety of shops."

Rukia nodded head and began to walk when Nel grabbed a hold of her hand so that she was between Rukia and her father.

"Where to first?" Ichigo inquired.

"M&S?"

Ichigo nodded his head and walked to the requested store. An hour o so into the shopping, Rukia had everything she needed and was ready to go. They were about to leave when Rukia noticed Nel was doing a little dance. Small, short hops on one foot than the other.

"Nel?" Rukia stared at her "What are you doing?"

The green haired child peeped over at Rukia and the woman knew what the matter was.

"Hey Ichigo," the raven-haired lady gently elbowed the man on the arm to acquire his attention. "Where is the bathroom?"

"Beside Penny's." he replied.

"Okay thanks, you go to the car and Nel and I will be there with you in 2 minutes."

Ichigo than looked at Nel and saw her doing the little jig. "Oh. Alright than."

Rukia held her hand out and Nel took it willingly, than walked away. When out of sight, Ichigo turned and went into Eason's, bought what he was after and left for the car sitting in the drivers seat for less than a minute when he saw Nel and Rukia. Setting Nel in her booster seat (the child fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow) than climbed into the front, passengers seat.

"You alright." Ichigo asked.

"Course." she smiled at him "why wouldn't it be?"

"No reason." he shrugged and started the engine. "How about some ice cream?"

"Sure where are we going."

"Urahara's."

Ichigo began to drive off when Rukia's phone began to beep. She looked at the caller ID before flipping her phone open and putting it on loud speaker.

"Shinji, what news have you got?" she called out.

"The victim was stabbed. The marks on the ribs where caused by whatever it was being pushed into her. The thing is though that it's not a blade. The shape of the object is round. And not only that but the stab wounds are 3 cm's away for each other. So my guess is that the murder pushed the object into our victim with enough force to break the ribs. I'm just not sure what."

"A knuckle-duster." Ichigo said.

"What?" Rukia looked at him puzzled.

"You know a knuckle-duster. Those glove-type things that Goths use to make themselves look more bad-ass. People can get spikes put on them. What if our victim was punched when the murder was wearing a knuckle-duster."

"It is a possibility," Shiji said "I'll get Mashiro so do a pixel scan on the body and see what comes up. And one last thing Ulquiorra said he found traces of C17H21NO4 in her clothing."

"Cocaine?" Rukia muttered.

"Yea and also C17H19NO3."

"Morphine." Ichigo said.

"Kurakara hospital. Ulquiorra said she was a nurse." Rukia explained.

Ichigo nodded once. "Thanks Shiji, keep us updated."

"Will do." the voice said before the phone went dead.

"Right we'll drop Nel off at Urahara's than go to the hospital."

They arrived at the café and Ichigo lifted the child out of the car and woke her.

"Nel you'll have to stay here with uncle Urahara while Rukia and I go to do some business." he instructed.

Nel nodded and entered the café. Nel knew her dad's job was important and he had to leave randomly. She learned to accept that. Ichigo and Rukia went in with Nel and looked around the café for the blond owner or his family.

"Kiske! Yourichi!" Ichigo called out.

"Out in a minute Kurosaki-san!" he heard the male reply.

Nel ran into the back room to look for Jinta and Ururu, leaving Ichigo and Rukia alone. Ichigo was watching Nel leave the room while Rukia was admiring a picture that hung on a wall at the opposite side of the room when she felt a presence behind her who she assumed to be Ichigo.

How wrong she was.

Rukia turned around to see a man with a woolly hat over his face (with three holes where his mouth and eyes were) standing beside her.

"Go over to the cash register," he told her in a deep voice. "Take out the money and put it in this bag." and gave her a worn-out rucksack.

"What? No!" she shouted.

Ichigo turned around and saw the robber than pulled out his gun. The robber, spotting Ichigo, grabbed Rukia, covered her mouth with his large hand and pulled out a disposable pistol, pressing it against Rukia's head.

Ichigo tried his best to remain calm as he spoke "Let go of the woman, put your gun on the ground and your hands on your head."

"Or how about you drop your weapon and put the money, from the register, in this bag." he smirked.

"Drop your weapon NOW!" Ichigo ordered pointing his gun at the robbers head.

"I don't think so." he smiled and cocked his gun.

While the man was talking, Rukia decided to try and escape the mans clutches. So she head butted the man has hard as she could which caused him to remove his hand from her mouth, but as she tried to run away the robber tightly gripped her wrist and held it up high so that Rukia's feet were off the ground.

"You sly bitch." he hissed than threw her at a wall in Ichigo's direction.

Ichigo ran over and caught her before her head hit the ground and held her tight. The robber pointed his gun at the pair. "You are of no help to me." he told them.

BANG!

Rukia, who had closed her eyes opened one to see a vase being dropped on the robbers head. The masked man dropped his gun and collapsed onto the ground. There Yourichi stood, clapping her hands together as if to get rid of dust.

"Tsk, tsk. That's the third time this week we've nearly been robbed." she shocked her head in disgusted. "Good thing Nel's with Kiske and the kids."

Ichigo turned his attention from Yourichi to Rukia. "Are you alright?"

Rukia nodded her head slowly while a little 'uh-huh' come from her closed mouth. Ichigo tightened his grip on the petite woman and kissed the head.

"Fucking hell what the fuck were you thinking he could have killed you."

"Stop swearing in my ear strawberry." she murmured sleepily.

"Like fuck I will. That stunt of yours scared me shitless."

"So that's the funky smell, and here I thought it was the robber."

Ichigo hugged Rukia tighter, breathing in her scent, trying to remain calm himself, and finding that it actually worked.

"My god. You gave me a fucking heart attack. Don't put yourself in danger again midget."

"No promises."

Ichigo smiled and kiss her head once more before standing up with her still in his arms.

"Ah, Kurosaki-san how are yo… what the hell happened in here?" Urahara said looking at the robber and broken vase.

"Robber." Yourichi told him bluntly.

"Again?" he sighed scratching his head.

"I don't know what your complaining about, that vase was a wedding gift."

"I'll get you a new one."

"Don't bother. That thing was fuck-ugly, I was going to sell it on eBay anyhow."

"Yes, yes. Now Kuchiki-san how are you feeling?" Urahara asked the tiny woman Ichigo was holding tightly yet gently.

"I'm fine seriously. Why is everyone asking me this?" she whined, getting annoyed.

"Well a fat man just tried to smother you than throw you across a room."

"I've had worst." she argued. "Can you put me down Ichigo." it was really a question but a command.

"No." he said sternly as if scolding an enfant.

"Ah to be young and in love again." Urahara sang rocking back and forward on his feet. Yourichi laughed, threw her arm around him and joined him.

The orange hair man glared at the two, giving them a if-you-don't-shut-up-I-swear look.

"Ichigo…" said man turned his attention to the sapphire eyed angel in his hold. "If you don't mind but we have a murder to solve."

"Yea yea I know. Ye don't mind looking after Nel for a few minutes do ye?" Ichigo asked the married couple.

"Not at all! Go, go" Yourichi waved them out the door.

Ichigo nodded than left the café, carrying Rukia.

'Now I know how Paris Hilton's dog feels.' thought she as Ichigo set her in the Mercedes than got in the drivers seat himself.

"You know," she began as Ichigo put the key in the ignition "I am a grow woman and I know how to walk."

"I know. I just like carrying you."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "I'm not sure. I guess it cause, even though I've been your partner for 2 days, we've already had 2 near by death experiences. I just feel like that if I let you go or take my eyes off you for a second something will happen; That's all."

"Nothing will happen…" she sighed.

"You don't know that. And I made a promise to, not only to your brother, keep you safe, but also Nel, my father, siblings and myself. I'm not having you end up as another case." he stared at her.

"Ichi-go." Rukia was amazed at his confession. She knew he was sweet and all, but this… it just amazed her, awed her, and touched her. He actually cared for her.

Ichigo pulled into the Kurakara Hospital car park.

"We're here." he pointed out. Rukia claimed out of car, as did Ichigo, and made her way to the building.

"Let me talk." Ichigo ordered Rukia as he caught up to her.

"Why?"

"Cause it's my job."

"That's unfair. What if I have a question or information that you don't?"

"Than put your hand up."

"Screw that." she mumbled as she entered the building.

"Rukia." Ichigo growled as her walked threw the automatic doors.

They went over to the receptionist who looked uneasily at them when Ichigo pulled out his badge.

"I'm detective Ichigo Kurosaki." he told her "This here is my partner Dr. Rukia Kuchiki. We just want to ask you a few questions about a Miss Orihime Inoue." and he should her a picture of Orihime.

The receptionist sighed "What did that bitch do this time?"

"That 'bitch' is dead." Rukia told the lady bluntly. Ichigo glared at Rukia.

"Bout time." she grumbled.

"Don't like her?" he applied.

"Who did. That woman was nothing but a cheap whore." Ichigo looked at Rukia who stared back at him with the same stunned expression. "Listen," the lady continued. "I'm not a murder but I would sure thank whoever killed that prostitute."

"Do you know anyone who might have held a grudge against her Miss…"

"Isane Kotetsu. And yea, nearly everyone held a grudge against Orihime. But if you want someone in particular, ask Uryu Ishida."

"the son of the man who runs the Chinese restaurant?"

Isane nodded her head "Uryu and Orihime were dating for 3 years, but she cheated on him with loads of men. When he found out he confronted her, but she dumped him saying he wasn't good enough for her. His neighbour filed a complaint saying her heard shouting and loud crashes and bangs from furniture and cutlery being throw about."

"Thank you for your time." Ichigo said walking away.

Once outside Ichigo spoke to Rukia "Do you think she did it?"

Rukia shock his head as an answer. "No. Shiji said the victim was punched with enough force to break her ribs. That receptionist is to weak to be able to break a pair of ribs with a single punch."

"True," Ichigo took out his phone and dialled a number before putting the phone to his ear. "Tatsuki… yea, I got a suspect for you."

"So Uryu, can you tell me who this person is." Ichigo asked, throwing the picture of Orihime on the table.

Uryu took a quick glance of the photo, sighed than leaned back in the chair. "Orihime Inoue. Anyone with a yen in their pocket can tell you that."

"What do you mean by that?" Ichigo interrogated.

"That bitch was the towns bicycle that came with a ridding fee."

"Are you one of those riders?"

"Sort of, I was dating Orihime while she slept with a different man, every night, behind my back. Why did she get caught and arrested?"

"Well… lets just say that that 'bicycle' isn't getting anymore nuts or screws."

"Wait, she dead? Orihime's dead? Oh my fucking God." Uryu chocked, covering his face with his hand.

"You seemed shock." Ichigo told him.

"Well my ex is dead… how did she die anyhow?"

"She was murdered."

"And you think I killed her?"

"We heard before ye two broke up ye got In a fight. Furniture and cutlery were throw."

"That was her. That night I found out she had been sleeping around with people and I confronted her. She got pissed off and said I wasn't good enough for her. So I ended it."

"Can you give me a few names of the people she slept with?"

"Ehh… Mizuiro Kojima, Jin Kariya, Kensei Muguruma, Sosuke Aizen, the list can go on and on."

Ichigo nodded his head and stood up. "Thank you Uryu."

"I didn't kill her." Uryu said suddenly "no matter have much I hated her for betraying me, I loved her to much to harm her."

Ichigo nodded once and left the room. He opened the door to the small room on the other side of one-way mirror. In the room, Rukia and Isshin stood.

"What do you think of him?" the orange hair detective asked his father.

"He didn't kill her." Isshin said shaking his head. "he wasn't lying when he said he loved her and didn't kill her. He was open to you, so he is trying to help you catch the woman's killer my boy."

"Great, we are out of suspects now." Ichigo muttered.

"No we are not." Rukia said, arms crossed and watching a guard let Uryu out of the interrogation room.

"Um… if you anyone in mind, please share." Ichigo pushed.

"Did none of the name Mr. Ishida give you not stand out from the rest?" she cocked her head to the side.

Ichigo found this extremely cute but tried his best to recall the names.

"Nope." he said after a moment.

"How about Sosuke Aizen?"

"Of course!" Isshin boomed "He and his wife are the owners of Kurakara Hospital."

Rukia nodded her head "He is also the richest man in Kurakara. Orihime sleeps with him, he pays her but for Orihime…"

"it's not enough," Ichigo continued "She tells him to give her more or she'll tell his wife about the affair."

"Aizen panics knowing that if the wife finds out, she'll divorce him than take and run his company, his main source of income."

"So Sosuke tells her he had to pay her somewhere more private…"

"The Aite Iru Woods."

"Out of sight of the public, he kills her and hides the body."

"See son," Isshin laughed throwing his arm around Ichigo and shaking him lightly "I knew she was a keeper for you."

Ichigo let out a huff of breath before elbowing Isshin in the gut. "You really can't be serious for once in your life?"

"I am being serious," Isshin said in a shaken voice. "Miss Kuchiki can become Mrs Kurosaki and provide me with more grandchildren."

"That's it. Let go Rukia."

"Where?" she asked.

"Home. We can go and get Nel and put her to bed, it's nearly her bedtime."

Rukia nodded her head "Goodnight Isshin, tell Karin and Yuzu I said 'hi'."

"Will do Rukia see you later."

Nel (as she usually does on the car-ride home at the end of the day) fell asleep. Rukia looked at her from the front seat, noticing that Nel seemed to be at piece in sleep. Ichigo pulled his car to a stop and got out and, like yesterday, picked Nel up and carried her to bed. Rukia began lifting her clothing from which she bough earlier, into the house. Ichigo was outside helping her within two minutes. Everything was carried up to her room where she unpacked and Ichigo cooked dinner. After dinner she and Ichigo were sitting in the sitting-room. Ichigo channel-surfing and Rukia reading the weeks T.V. guide.

"Oh," Ichigo said, surprising Rukia "I almost forgot to give you something I bought for you earlier on."

"Ichigo," she sighed as he turned to grab something he hid behind the couch. "You really shouldn't-"

Rukia stopped talking when she saw what Ichigo was giving her.

A book.

Jane Eyre.

"Ichi-go." Rukia whispered taking a hold of the book.

"You said you enjoyed the movie and never got to finish the book. It is a really good book if you ask me."

"Thank you Ichigo." and Rukia looked up at him, her sapphire-like eyes sparkling with the light that was given by the fire. "How do I repay you? You've been to kind and generous to me. If there is anything you need, help, money, hell babysitting, I'll do it. Anything."

"Fine there is one way to repay me." he told her his eyes keeping hold of her.

"What?"

"Kiss me Rukia."

"I have kissed you before." she pointed out.

"No; you've kissed me back. You have never actually began the kiss."

Rukia was silent, unbeknownst of what to say. Ichigo stared at her for a moment without speaking, letting Rukia try to solve the conundrum that has decided to rear its unappealing head and challenge her. Ti see if she would pick her heart over her job.

After another moment Ichigo sighed, guessing he would not get an answer out of the vixen. So he tried to get up only to be stopped by a small hand grasping her suit-jacket. Rukia turned he stare back to Ichigo before pushing the orange haired man back gently so that he was lying on the couch. Without saying a word, Rukia climbed on top of him, straddling him. Rukia bent down and kissed Ichigo which such passion and eagerness, like a starving man eating his last meal. Both of her hands grabbed fistfuls of orange locks while Ichigo put one hand on her hip and the other cupped her face.

'Fuck it' thought Rukia 'I don't give a shit about work or what people say anymore. All I care abut is Ichigo.'

An so for the first time in a long time, Rukia felt loved,

Needed,

Charest,

And alive.

For the first time in a long time; Rukia felt alive.