Hello friends! Thank you once again for all your kind words! I had planned on having this chapter out last week, but I got overcome with anxiety about starting a really tough rotation and then my schedule got super busy. Hope you guys still like it :)
Ichigo placed the tablet he was currently using down on a nearby glass table, leaning back in the adjacent chair with a warm smile he usually only reserved for his closest friends and family. It was certainly appropriate now as the smiling faces of his twin sisters greeted him through the screen.
"Hey, Ichi-nii! So glad we could finally catch you. I feel like we haven't seen you in so long."
Ichigo's smile widened at that. "Well, technically you're not seeing me right now, Yuzu," he told her playfully. He watched in satisfaction as his baby sister with the long golden hair and the pearly white smile huffed and shook her head at him. His other baby sister with the short black hair and perpetual scowl rolled her eyes and finally spoke up.
"You may not be here in person but this is about as good as it gets with us. When was the last time you were even in Karakura?" Karin asked.
At her words, Ichigo's smile faltered slightly and he let out a small sigh. "Probably not since last Christmas. You guys have no idea how much I'd rather be there."
Yuzu flashed him an understanding look through their video call while Karin scoffed. "Why? You live in a penthouse in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Tell me how the good ole Kurosaki Clinic in Karakura Town is better than that?" Her tone was sarcastic and teasing, but she inadvertently brought up one of the most important parts about how Ichigo viewed his life and his career.
"You guys are in Karakura and everyone who seems to have it out for me is in Tokyo. Makes more sense when you look at it like that."
"Are things getting bad over there again?" Yuzu asked in a concerned voice.
Ichigo couldn't help but look away from the screen at her pointed question before he answered, "As bad as it usually gets around premiere time."
"When's this one coming out again?" Karin asked curiously.
"In a few weeks. Just means the scrutiny is only going to get worse."
"Hang in there, Ichigo," Yuzu encouraged sweetly. "I know you always get stressed out, but it will all be worth it. I hear the movie is already getting lots of hype. Should be a good one for you."
Ichigo rubbed his hand wearily across his face. He appreciated his sister's kind words, but it was always hard to believe in her encouragement. Neither of them truly knew what his life really entailed. To them, he was just their big shot movie star older brother. The one they got to brag about and impress people with in Karakura, but whose life stayed wholly separated from their own mundane ones.
"Yeah...and then it's on to the next one. That prick Uryuu already has me reading through other scripts."
Karin smirked. "Boo hoo, Ichigo. You make millions with all these movies. Just think, in ten years you'll have enough to retire off to some island country with your hot supermodel wife. Yuzu's right...you know it's worth it."
As much as he complained, his sisters did have a point, though his end goal was less about giant mansions and a beautiful wife and kids and more about their own success and prosperity. While from the outside looking in, his life might seem glamorous, it was far more hassle than he had originally anticipated. When he decided to pursue acting rather than settle in Karakura with a job that would pay the bills, he hadn't anticipated he'd ever really make it to this point. He loved the theater. He had grown up reading Shakespeare plays and re-enacting them in his bedroom after he finished his homework. But, he had hoped to do something a bit more meaningful than cheesy rom-coms that made him lots of money.
Still, as he watched the smiling faces of his twin sisters, he knew there was no better place for him than here. He was reminded of that every time he got a bill for their student loans, or the mortgage of their home in Karakura. There was a time when their father could barely keep the the four of them afloat, but now Ichigo could sign all the checks and actually do something to help his family live comfortably. Yuzu and Karin got to pursue degrees at a college they loved and their dad got to keep his small family practice going. That was enough for Ichigo.
Changing the subject, Ichigo asked, "Where's the old man? He must be busy, otherwise he would have already made his overly dramatic entrance by now."
Yuzu's smile was understanding. "Last I checked, he was finishing up with patients in the clinic."
Karin was about to open her mouth to add on something, when the sound of a door bursting open in their living portion of the Kurosaki Clinic rang even through the video call. Both of Ichigo's sisters sighed. "Speaking of overly dramatic…" Karin added sarcastically.
"Is that my son!?" a familiar voice was heard saying before a blur approached the screen, lightly shoving Yuzu and Karin out of the way to make room. "Ichigo! Is it true what they're saying!? Have you found a woman to produce grandchildren for me yet?"
Ichigo's scowl was legendary as the camera finally was able to focus on the form of his insane father, still wearing his white coat after a day in the clinic. "Are you really still buying into all the crap, Dad? There's no woman…"
Isshin Kurosaki's face was affronted at his son's words. "B-but the pictures! They looked so real. I thought for sure my dashing son had come to the rescue of some unsuspecting woman and was producing cute little grandbabies for me as we speak!"
Ichigo watched as Karin rolled her eyes and Yuzu's face twisted in confusion. "Wait...came to the rescue? What are they saying now?"
Karin was the one to answer her in a bored voice. "Ichigo saved some reporter chick from being attacked at his apartment complex and the media is having a field day."
"Wait, really? Did that actually happen, Ichigo?"
Ichigo's scowl intensified at the direction this conversation had gone. He had hoped he could get away with talking to his family without mentioning any of...that, but leave it to his crazy father to stalk the tabloids with the same fervor as all the old bitties far too interested in his personal life. "Yes, I helped out a reporter who was being attacked in my parking garage, but that's where the story ends. The only reason she was there in the first place was to stake out and assault me with questions. My management team made me take her out to lunch a few days later because they thought it'd be good publicity."
Ichigo really considered letting his family in on the specifics of the deal he and his team had made with Rukia Kuchiki, but he held himself back. His sisters were trustworthy enough, but he just knew that if his father was privy to the situation, the whole charade wouldn't last longer than two seconds.
Isshin, of course, was the first to respond. Stealing more of the camera space while his daughters groaned in protest, he quickly spoke, "Never you mind about publicity, Ichigo! The reporter is cute and pretty. You should go for it before you grow old and decrepit."
"Can it, old man. I have enough on my plate to deal with without you pushing me toward every woman who blinks in my direction."
Finally tearing himself away from the screen, all three Kurosaki siblings watched in varying states of disgust as Isshin ran toward the giant poster of their mother. "Masaki! Our son is going to die an old man without ever giving us cute, orange-haired grandbabies. What are we going to do!?"
Karin simply rolled her eyes and turned back toward the camera. "Jesus...why haven't we checked him into an insane asylum yet?"
"You got me," Ichigo answered simply, his face a dull mask of irritation.
Yuzu was the first to shake off the display. "Well, like I said earlier, Ichi-nii, hang in there! You know you still make us all proud over here."
Ichigo sighed and attempted to twist his face into a less annoyed expression. "Thanks, Yuzu. I miss you guys."
"Hopefully we'll be seeing you soon!"
"Yeah," he replied as he finished saying his goodbyes and disconnected the call before his father could go into another rant about grandchildren. As much as he loved them, his family really did zap the life out of him sometimes. He wearily rubbed a hand over his face again and stood up from the chair. He knew he should just go ahead and get ready for bed. The cast and crew of his newest movie were scheduled for multiple media appearances the next day and he just knew he needed to save his energy up for whatever the hell that would entail.
Just as he was heading toward his bedroom, he felt his phone buzzing from his back pocket. He curiously reached for it and couldn't help but lift an eyebrow at the contact name that accompanied the text message displayed on the front screen.
From: Asako 3
Hey, feeling a bit lonely and bored. You up for some fun? ; )
Ichigo sighed as he read the message. As much as his exhaustion told him otherwise, he honestly considered replying and setting up a meeting. Asako was a nice enough girl that he had become acquainted with during one of his many charity event dinners. She was in the PR business so she was always a useful person to have by his side.
But...she ended up helping him in "other" ways more often than not.
In the end, he stretched out his muscles and typed a message:
I have an early wake up call tomorrow. Maybe next time.
He only had to wait a few more moments before his phone was buzzing once more.
Damn. Well, don't be too long on that 'next time'. Feels like we haven't hung out in a while.
'Hung out' being a clear euphemism for what they usually did in their spare time. Ichigo grumpily moved toward his bedroom once more, cursing his luck that Asako would reach out on a night before a busy media day. He really could use that form of release right now. The last week or so had been exhausting and stress-inducing beyond belief. Never mind the usual scrutiny that accompanied a big premier, this whole Rukia Kuchiki mess had just added fuel to the fire.
He thought back to his lunch meeting with the tiny tabloid reporter as he lifted his shirt over his head and started the water on his spacious shower. She was certainly an...interesting woman. Even with some of the mystery of her past solved, he still couldn't help but wonder about a number of things. For someone supposedly groomed by the likes of Byakuya Kuchiki, she was awfully...uncouth. Even giving her the benefit of the doubt that her whole attitude on life was just a response to years of expected perfection, she was still unabashedly outspoken.
"I want you to take this seriously. I want you to take me seriously. You think all of us media people are just lifeless vultures, but we're human beings too. And unlike you celebrities, we have to think about things like paying bills and overpriced rent. You could at least have the decency to take that into consideration for the first time in your life."
Ichigo stepped into the shower and let the warm water ease the tension on his wound-up muscles as he thought back to what she had said. He still felt a little guilty about the way he had originally handled their meeting, but in that moment he had so badly wanted to tell her the truth about himself and his life. She had a point, certainly, but in the same way she had spent time on both sides of wealth and prestige, he had as well. Now, he was the one with all the money and fame and she was the nobody, but it hadn't been that long since it was reversed. Ichigo had come from nothing and built his success from the ground up. He knew exactly what it felt like to live paycheck to paycheck, to scrounge around for basic necessities and food, wondering if he had enough. And, unlike Rukia Kuchiki, he'd had to look out for the needs of his little sisters and his dad as well.
So Ichigo had certainly taken things like that into consideration plenty in his life, but he didn't see the point in telling Rukia something like that right away. Maybe he would reveal more about his past to her, but for now she saw herself as the one with nothing to lose. Best not to change that outlook, since it really did work in both their favors.
He shook his head as he reached for his soap and began washing up. He needed to stop thinking about her. Some random reporter he was forced to work with wasn't worth the time or the effort. He would make nice and smile for the cameras for a little while to make them both some extra money, and then she would be gone from his life. He would certainly never see her as an ally, especially considering her occupation. As Nanao had said when she proposed the idea to him, her cut of the money would keep her well-behaved...for a while. But she was still a tabloid journalist, and a connection like that was about as dangerous as jumping into a shark tank with an open wound. He needed to keep his distance if he wanted to stay safe from whatever she (or her nosy boss) had planned.
Ichigo switched the water off and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a nearby towel around his waist and shaking loose the water droplets from his hair. He began mentally preparing his mind for the media onslaught the following day, letting thoughts of the short, raven-haired reporter dissipate from his mind. He had better things to worry about at this point.
Ichigo mindlessly flipped through his phone as the stylists attempted to contain his unruly hair and made sure the dark circles under his eyes weren't as noticeable as before. The dressing room was a flurry of activity, as it usually was before a busy media day. His next movie was set to come out in only a few short weeks, and now that his name had been floating around the entertainment circles the past few days, the media appointments would be even more important than they usually were.
And, as per usual, Ichigo was dreading every minute of it.
"Good morning, Kurosaki-kun! I went ahead and got your usual while I was getting Ishida-kun's order," a familiar voice spoke before, blessedly, a large, black coffee was placed on the table in front of where the movie star sat. Ichigo flashed a grateful smile at the auburn-haired woman in the mirror.
"Thanks, Inoue. You have no idea how much I needed this today," he spoke as he lifted the steaming paper cup to his nose and inhaled the heavenly scent.
Orihime Inoue's smile was understanding as she returned his own. "I can imagine."
Ichigo took a tentative sip of his piping hot coffee while Orihime flipped through the pages on the clipboard she was holding. "Ishida-kun told me we should be ready to go by 7:30, so you have about twenty minutes or so to prepare. This interview should be fairly straightforward."
Ichigo scoffed. "As straightforward as they normally are. Thanks for the heads up, Inoue."
"Of course," she replied, before Ichigo curiously watched as Ishida's auburn-haired assistant looked away and began biting her lip nervously.
"Did you need something else, Inoue?" he asked after noticing her begin fiddling with the pages of her clipboard. Her gray eyes immediately flashed back to his own in the mirror, startled at being so quickly caught. She nervously looked away again before she took a step closer and spoke in a lower voice.
"W-well...I was wondering about something."
Given the look in her eyes and the way she quickly shot a nervous glance at the make-up artists and hair stylists bustling around to make sure they weren't listening in, Ichigo immediately knew what she was going to ask.
"Ishida-kun and I have been following this whole...reporter situation. You know they're going to ask you about it over and over again today...right?"
Ichigo set down his coffee and sighed, leaning further toward his director's assistant to keep the conversation private. "Don't worry, Inoue. I may not have been in this industry for very long, but I feel like by now I know what to say and what not to say. I can handle whatever they decide to ask me about it. I'm assuming Uryuu told you the specifics about...all of that."
At his words, Orihime's eyes widened and she leaned away from him, nervously laughing in an exaggerated tone. "Oh, Kurosaki-kun, you're so funny! Why would you just assume Ishida-kun would tell me something like that?"
Ichigo lifted an eyebrow at Orihime's horrible attempt to hide her and Uryuu's rather obvious "secret" relationship. He sighed before reassuring her, "Don't worry, Inoue. I know how to navigate what they'll ask me. The movie will be the only topic of conversation today, I promise."
Just as Ichigo made to grab his coffee again, his head was quickly and aggressively yanked to the side and promptly stuffed into a large, and familiar, bosom.
"What are you two talking about so secretly over here?" An annoyingly familiar and high-pitched voice spoke as Ichigo quickly pushed himself away from the woman currently attempting to smother him in her chest, his eyes flashing murderously at her.
"W-what the fuck Rangiku!? Do you really have to sneak up on me like that every time?" he sputtered.
His rambunctious blonde co-star merely leaned back up and chuckled mercilessly at him. She sauntered over to the chair next to his own and flopped down on it, the stylists and make-up artists flocking toward her to touch up her look. "Oh my sweet, sweet Ichigo. You're too much fun to tease."
Ichigo's eyes narrowed even further and he growled before grabbing his coffee cup, not even paying attention as the liquid gold burned his throat on the way down. "Well how the hell else do you expect me to respond when you greet me by suffocating me in your breasts. I swear I'm surrounded by a bunch of freaks…"
Rangiku Matsumoto responded by merely chuckling lightly at him before checking her make-up and hair in the mirror, not a single care in the world. "You know, Orihime has a point, right? Are you sure you're ready for all the questions about that little reporter you're banging?"
Ichigo nearly crushed the coffee cup in his hands at her words.
"I-I am not-"
"I will say, I am disappointed in you, Ichigo," Rangiku continued, paying no attention to her co-star's vehement protests. "I thought for sure we'd sleep together before you decided to go off and fuck a tabloid journalist."
Ichigo knew Matsumoto was just teasing him like normal, but the direction of the conversation had him angrily standing to his feet, shaking aside the stylists. His eyes flashed to his co-star's before narrowing at the immense amount of glee on her face from his reaction.
"All of you people need to get your story straight before making assumptions. Christ, you're as bad as the media with that shit. Nothing is going on between me and some random reporter. If you want the full story, talk to Uryuu, but don't keep pissing me off with all of that."
Rangiku's smile turned sinister as she listened to his angry words. "My, my, Ichigo. You're being awfully defensive right now. I was only joking. You act as though you're trying to hide something…"
The knowing look she flashed him only made Ichigo angrier. Without another word, he stomped away, ignoring Orihime's worried questions and Rangiku's merciless laughter.
It was going to be a long few weeks if already he was under this much scrutiny from not just the media, but the people he worked with too. It seemed no one was willing to let him off the hook. He tossed his half-finished coffee in the trash as he made his way to where the interview was going to be held, anxious to get this hellish day over with before it even began.
The exhausted movie star slammed the door to his expensive sports car and sluggishly moved toward the elevator of his apartment building's parking garage. The day had completely drained any amount of energy out of his body and he was more grateful than ever to finally be home. He had gone through an entire day of annoying co-stars, pointed questions, and one too many camera flashes. He was more than ready to unwind, ignoring the fact that it would only get worse for him in the coming weeks.
He thought back to one of the day's many interviews, that had really gone just like the rest of them had.
"I know we're here to talk about the new movie, Mr. Kurosaki, but you must tell us what happened with that reporter in your apartment a few days ago. The media has been absolutely abuzz!"
No shit, Ichigo thought bitterly to himself.
Plastering on his most humble, yet charming smile, he answered with well-rehearsed words, "Yeah, it was a pretty crazy situation, but thankfully she's alright now. I'm glad I was in the right place at the right time."
"We saw that you took her out to lunch too! Anything going on you'd like to tell us about?"
Ichigo nearly cringed at the suggestive look the interviewer was flashing him. "No, no...nothing to report. I just wanted to make sure she was really okay after everything happened."
"From the pictures we saw, it almost looked as though she was giving you the cold shoulder. What can you tell us about that?"
And on and on the questioning had gone. Ichigo was certainly not a novice in this particular field, but having to constantly justify his actions to not make them seem like a big deal while also leaving a bit of mystery to keep the media guessing was exhausting.
The lengthy day nearly had his fingers itching toward his phone to call Asako up for a little bit of extracurricular activity.
Just as he was making his way toward the elevator, a peculiar sight caught Ichigo's eyes and his footsteps froze in place. It was hard not to miss it, considering this building housed some of the wealthiest people in Tokyo. With its chipped paint and boxy frame, the old sedan certainly stood out in the row of expensive vehicles.
Ichigo stood looking at the run-down car (knowing exactly who it belonged to) for far too long before he sighed and walked over to the decrepit pile of metal. He observed the car's many imperfections before his eyes caught on a small bunny charm hanging from the rearview mirror and piles of old notes littering the backseat.
"This isn't a fucking joke to me. My cut of the money isn't going toward extra beach vacations and a new Lamborghini. It's going to pay my rent, my insurance, the gas for my shitty beat up car. It's going to hopefully get me to the place where I can finally say this entire experience is actually worth something. That me being here pretending to give a shit about you is actually going to get me to a job and a career and a life that I actually want. But sure, go ahead and have your little fun. It's not like you need this to actually work. Not like me."
He promised himself he would stop thinking about her. And yet, here he was overcome with guilt once more. This was all far too convoluted.
Ichigo heaved a long sigh. "Goddammit," he muttered under his breath before he pulled out his phone and began calling a familiar number.
Rukia Kuchiki stuffed her hands further into the pockets of her jacket and cursed her fate once more that she was forced to walk home from work in this weather. It wasn't like it was too terribly cold outside, but the wind blowing past her face made her shiver as she fought against the chill.
It had been a strange past few days. She had gone back to work Monday morning with the same uncertainty she'd been having since the whole Ichigo Kurosaki thing had happened. Urahara still hadn't addressed everything yet, which couldn't possibly mean anything good. She just knew that once he was done scheming, she would be in for it. She already dreaded the day he'd finally let her in on his plans.
In addition to that, her random run-in with Renji had been on her mind for far too long. She didn't like to dwell that much on the people from her past, but she was finding it hard not too. Renji's warning about her older brother was constantly at the back of her mind. She knew how it would look to have her name attached to this whole situation, but she didn't think Byakuya would send his lackey out so quickly. Having to deal with the two of them was just one more piece of wood to add to the bonfire that was her life at the moment.
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of an incessant horn honking in her direction. She stopped and turned curiously toward the street, one of her eyebrows immediately lifting at the sight of an expensive black sports car in such a run-down part of town.
An expensive, distinctly familiar, black sports car.
Rolling her eyes, she merely turned back in the direction she was walking and continued along. The car honked a few more times before she heard it slowly following her path, thanks to the decidedly empty streets at this time of night.
She listened as the window of the car was rolled down and a familiar voice called out to her. "Hey, Kuchiki! It's me."
She scoffed and continued walking, not caring about how absurd this must look to anyone passing by. "I figured as much. Not many people with Jaguars rolling around this part of town."
"Would you stop and listen to me before I wreck my car?" Ichigo Kurosaki's annoyed voice continued on.
"It would serve you right. I'm over here just minding my own business…"
Even given the fact that he was driving a car on the street and she was strolling down the sidewalk, she still heard his frustrated sigh. "Get in the car, already. I need to talk to you about something."
At this, Rukia's steps finally came to a stop as she turned toward the orange-haired man in the car. She watched in satisfaction as he slammed on the brakes at her sudden stop, before he pulled over to the curb.
"You know I was always taught it's bad to get in a car with a stranger," she eventually told him, her expression making it obvious how over this surprise meeting she was already.
"Am I a stranger to you?"
"About as strange as anyone else."
"Come on, Kuchiki. Just get in the car. I have something to show you," Ichigo spoke, his patience dwindling before her eyes.
"If it's your dick, I'm not interested," Rukia responded, delighting in the look of pure disdain radiating from her orange-haired companion.
It was silent a moment as Ichigo attempted to contain his growing anger at her usual antics. Eventually, his face twisted into a more confident expression before he retaliated. "You know, if you plan on always using sarcasm as a weapon, you might want to think of a better strategy. I invented that coping mechanism, sweetheart."
Rukia couldn't help the scoff that escaped her lips "Yeah, you seem real jaded to me."
"You clearly don't know the real me, then."
"Kind of difficult for me to considering you've been acting in almost every interaction we've had."
Ichigo sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He clearly was as done with her as she already was with him. "Look, I know I haven't exactly given you a lot of reasons to trust me, but I'm serious. I wanted to make up for how I acted at lunch the other day, and I figured this was the best way to do it."
His explanation had Rukia's eyes narrowed warily at him. "What does that mean?"
Ichigo Kurosaki didn't back down as his heated amber eyes met hers. "Get in the car and you'll find out."
Rukia weighed her options for a split second before she begrudgingly walked toward the passenger door and yanked it open. She knew this was probably a dumb idea, but her curiosity combined with the strange amount of sincerity in Ichigo's gaze had her going along with whatever he was doing.
They drove in silence for a while, Rukia feeling decidedly out of place sitting on the cushy leather seat and admiring the state-of-the-art interior. Only after realizing the cold chill was gone from her body did she take the time to notice the seat warmer setting turned on.
Seat warmers. Should've known.
Rukia's eyes widened as the unfamiliar streets become a touch more recognizable. Only after Ichigo Kurosaki finally turned into the parking garage of his building did Rukia turn accusatory eyes on the man sitting next to her.
"You know, when I said I wasn't interested in seeing your dick, I wasn't lying."
She watched as an infuriating smirk took up residence on his face before he replied. "Relax. We're only going as far as the garage."
Rukia had no idea what the hell that meant, so she stayed silent as her movie star companion parked his car and casually got out. She followed him, her eyes still narrowed murderously in his direction, tempting him to try something on her now.
Instead of walking toward the elevator, he led her toward another part of the garage, all the way up to a very familiar sight. When they stopped in front of it, Rukia turned her exasperated expression on the orange-haired man at her side. "You brought me all this way to show me my shitty car?"
"Your shitty repaired car," Ichigo corrected, his hands resting casually in the pockets of his jeans. When he didn't explain further and Rukia's frustration only grew, he rolled his eyes and continued. "I remember you telling the cops the other night that you got stuck here because your car broke down. I called up a friend of mine and he took a look at it. He had to replace almost the entire interior, and while it may still look like shit, he assures me it should run like new."
Rukia was silent for a moment, unsure what to make of his explanation. Before she could attempt to string a sentence together, Ichigo kept talking. "Look, I know I acted like an ass the other day. You have no reason to trust what I say, but I can tell you one thing: we're not as different as you think we are. You assume I was born with all of this, but I had to work my ass off to pay bills and buy food too. I understand what this means for you. I know how important it is. I guess this is just my way of promising that I won't waste any more of your time."
Rukia's mouth sputtered and her eyes widened at his mini-speech. She really didn't know what she was expecting from him when she got in his car, but this was certainly the farthest thing down on the list. She shook her head and finally managed to say the first thing that came to her mind.
"I...you...how much did this cost?"
Ichigo shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know, a lot. Does that really matter?"
"Y-yeah it matters! I would've never been able to afford something like this on my own."
Ichigo sighed. "Well, now you don't have to."
Rukia let out a frustrated noise at his flippant statement. "You ignorant ass, were you not listening to me the other day? I'm trying to make it on my own. How am I supposed to do that if random rich guys are paying to fix my car?"
Ichigo scoffed. "Come on, Kuchiki. You hear stories all the time about people getting random donations that cover the cost of something they thought they wouldn't be able to afford. Call it an act of generosity and walk away." Just as Rukia was about ready to fire back at that comment, Ichigo surprised her by quickly grabbing one of her hands. He spread her fingers, placed something metal in the palm, and then closed her hand into a fist. With one final annoying smirk, he turned and walked away.
She had just enough brain power left to call out desperately after him. "I-I'm going to pay you back!"
"No you won't," he answered in a shockingly bored tone. "See you around, Kuchiki," he finished with one last casual wave. Rukia's eyes narrowed decisively at his retreating form.
She must've stood stewing in her anger for a solid five minutes before she remembered the thing Ichigo had placed in her hand. When she opened it, her eyes widened at the sight of her car key resting there. She didn't even want to think about how Ichigo had gotten his hands on it, but she was too busy wondering curiously at the addition of a small strawberry keychain (that looked quite similar to the Chappy charm hanging from her rearview mirror) to care.
"I guess this is just my way of promising that I won't waste any more of your time."
Her eyes went back to the direction Ichigo had left, finding him nowhere in sight. As much as she wanted to grumble and complain, she couldn't deny how...thoughtful of a thing it was to do. She certainly hoped he wasn't lying about wasting her time. If they were going to do this, they had to do it together...and she had a lot more to lose than he did.
Without another thought, Rukia sighed and unlocked the car, turning the key in the ignition and marvelling at the sound of the brand new engine. Just as she was about to pull out of the garage, a thought hit her like a brick in the face when she realized she wasn't enveloped in the usual chill she got everytime she was in her car.
Bastard...he even fixed the damn heater.
