Ichigo woke up the next morning to delicious aroma of something being cooked. He smirked to himself as he pulled of the covers over him. So the midget was cooking huh? He dressed up into a dark pair of jeans and threw on a random T shirt after his shower and headed for the kitchen where he saw the petite woman working on pouring syrup over a stack of pancakes, her back turned away from him. She wore a halter style apron that tied at her waist and went behind her neck whilst wearing jeans and a green shirt under.
"Good morning husband" Rukia said in a sickeningly sweet voice her back turned away.
"Good Morning wife" Ichigo said while leaning on the counter.
He figured it is some kind of progress if they both were able to use the terms 'wife' and 'husband' without flinching.
Rukia turned to him and smiled a fake smile and said in the same sugar dripped voice "Did you sleep well?"
Ichigo stood straighter and scowled his infamous scowl and told Rukia who stared back at him with innocent eyes "I know we are playing our parts but cut that tone would ya?"
"What tone?" said Rukia smiling innocently. Ichigo stared at her and she smirked back to normal "Fine"
She picked up the plate of pancakes and kept it at the dining table which had the cutlery and silverware for two already in place. She motioned for Ichigo to sit as she took of her apron and hung it on a nail in the kitchen.
Ichigo took a single pancake on his plate and cut a piece with his fork and held it near his mouth "How do I not know this is poisoned?"
Whoosh!
Ichigo removed the napkin from his head that Rukia threw at him and gave her real-mature look. She replied to this by snatching his fork and eating his pancake, she chewed it and swallowed without breaking eye contact with him "Wanna wait and see that I die today?" she said sarcastically and placed her unused fork in front of him.
Ichigo rolled his eyes and took a bite out of his pancake and melted literally he almost moaned at the way it melted on his tongue but he held it in lest he sound like a woman having an orgasm.
Rukia looked at him with a raised eyebrow silently questioning him
"Tch. I've eaten worse" he said instead of complimenting her food. Rukia just smiled at him "Of course you have! Oh I just had a brilliant idea! How about I bring some of Orihime's cooking the next time you don't like my food?"
Ichigo paled at that, his friend might be a kind hearted person but she had the power to kill with her out of this world cuisine. Before he could respond to her smirking face Rukia's phone started ringing with chappy theme song that he was aware of thanks to Yuzu. Ichigo broke out laughing which turned into a yelp of pain the minute Rukia's foot connected with his shin under the table. She got up without a word and picked it up from the counter and headed inside, just as she disappeared from view the doorbell rang. What now? Ichigo trudged along to open the door.
Two women stood in front of him, one overweight and dressed in a green sundress with frilly ends that clashed with her pink hair pulled back in a clip. She appeared to be in her 40s and had a large breasted chest which was revealed by her low cut dress. Next to her stood a girl in her late teens having similar pink hair pulled back in twin ponytails and a well-endowed bust . She wore pink shorts and a yellow tube top.
"Hello there" said the older lady smiling at Ichigo with appreciative eyes roaming over him.
"Uh...Hello. May I help you?" he asked trying to be polite.
"We are your next door neighbors, we just wanted to see who moved in here"
"Oh" he said nodding his head.
"I am Kirio Hikifune" said the older lady "and I" said the girl leaning towards Ichigo with a seductive look "am Riruka"
"Ichigo Kurosaki. Nice to meet you" said Ichigo ignoring Riruka's look
"How old are you?" said Hikifune batting her lashes at him
Old enough to not be interested in you
"22"
"Reeeally?" said the woman with a gleam in her eyes "I am a single mother so I have lots of free time"
Ichigo resisted an eyeroll. It wasn't that he wasn't used to women of all ages hitting on him. Just the fact that he could be her son's age (if she had one) made him disgusted.
"Ya you could totally come over" said Riruka her fingers tracing Ichigo's forearm "we could have so much fun"
He moved his hand away causing her arm to fall down, he was about to give them a piece of his mind when he felt an arm curl around his own. He looked next to him to see Rukia plastering a smile on her face as she clung to him.
"Who do we have here Ichigo?" she said in her nail- scratching- on -the- chalkboard voice.
"Neighbors" he muttered even though he was positive she knew glancing at the two women whose suggestive grins were replaced with narrowed looks.
"Who the heck are you?" said Riruka with a flip of her hair.
At this point Ichigo finally started thinking what they were supposed to call themselves to others. Do they put on the I-don't-know-you act or do they say they are married. What do you do Rukia? he thought as he glanced at their hands, looks like option 1 wasn't an option anymore.
"Oh sorry for not introducing myself" she said in a way that did not make her sound sorry at all "I am Rukia Kurosaki"
Ichigo resisted a chuckle at their horrified faces "B-But you are so young!" exclaimed Hikifune "girl!" she spat "Go back to your school and let the adults have some fun"
"What did you say?" asked Rukia all traces of her sweet voice vanished and replaced with a quiet deadly tone.
Not good thought Ichigo and He decided to end this. He tightened his hold on her arm and slightly shook his head.
"Actually we both happen to be college students. So it is pretty real and solid"
"I doubt you see anything in her" said Riruka with a twist of her mouth
Ichigo loosened his grip on Rukia's arm and removed it she shot him an unreadable look at this action. He didn't look at her and thus missed the hurt that flashed through them "Yeah you are right" he told Riruka.
Instead he moved his now free hand and snaked it around Rukia's waist, his hand resting at her hip as he pulled her closer "I see everything in her"
Ichigo smirked at the gaping face of his neighbors and added "If you excuse us we have things to take care of" leaving little to a human's imagination.
He closed the door and dropped the hand from her waist already missing the feel of her soft skin through her T shirt.
Ichigo looked at Rukia "Well Well" she glanced up from fiddling with her hands a slight pinkness on her cheeks that she tried to clear "my jealous wife to the rescue"
"You wish" she muttered rolling her eyes "But I did save you, you ungrateful prune!"
"Prune? Really?" said Ichigo exasperatedly
"Uh uh" she said looking smug about it "Strawberry Prune"
Ichigo gave her a horrified look that she laughed at while putting on her coat that was hung in the foyer.
"Uh...Where are you going?"
"I've class soon" said Rukia grabbing her bag from its position near the door "See ya"
Before Ichigo could get a word in she was gone.
That girl
Muttering about the midget Ichigo headed back inside and spotted their breakfasts noting Rukia's untouched one. Not wanting to waste food he took her pancake and put it on his plate carrying the platter to his room. He had some studying to do and since he didn't have a class until later he decided on it now. His dream of becoming a doctor was nearly complete and he really didn't want to slack of now.
-x-
Ichigo stretched his back as he closed the textbook with a thud and right on cue his phone started ringing "Hello?"
"It's me the G-man"
"Really Grimmjow? How much lamer can u get?"
"You are just jealous of my awesomeness I-man"
"Oh shut up" said Ichigo "Why are you calling me anyway?"
"For asking where you are genius"
"I am leaving right now"
"Ok fine. See ya soon"
Ichigo hung up and grabbed his keys as he made his way to his bike.
He reached with 10 minutes to spare and was surprised to find Professor Ukitake standing there.
"Hey Ichigo" he said greeting him enthusiastically
"Hey Prof" Ichigo said shoving his hands in his pockets "you waiting for me?"
"Yes. Just came to tell you that your salary has been sent to your bank account"
Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck "Has it been a month already?"
Ukitake laughed lightly and stared dreamily ahead "Time does fly..."
"Alright...Well thank you professor. Got to go now"
He just nodded his head and Ichigo entered his class and looked for the familiar blue hair but didn't find any. That bastard. He hated it when Grimmjow told him to come and wasn't there himself. He found his raven haired sewing friend instead so he made his way over but stopped when a girl called for attention in front of the class. She told them class had been cancelled due to some 'unknown' circumstances.
Great Ichigo thought Waste of my time.
"Uryuu where are you going?" he asked the said individual who was walking out along with the rest of the crowd.
"To the library Kurosaki"
"Mind if I join you?"
"Yes"
"Tch. Do I look like I care?" said Ichigo as they walked up together bickering all the way to the library.
-x-
The library of SU was a place to behold containing more books in its shelves than Belle could ever hope to imagine. Its decor a rich brown and had the same antique feeling to it just like the university. Tables and chairs lined a portion of the library and usually the students all sat around with books or laptops or whatever minding their own business. But today it was not the case the population seemed to have increased by tenfold as light talk could be heard in the usual quiet place. Students walked around with charts some sat in groups on a table inspecting the papers under them and there seemed to be some senior teachers present too.
"What the hell is going on here?" asked Ichigo looking around
Uryuu glanced up from his book yes, he was the type to read even while they walked. He looked at Ichigo with a raised eyebrow "You live under a rock Kurosaki? Didn't you notice activity around the campus?"
"Now that you mention it..." Ichigo did recall seeing people giving a makeover to the campus, trimming the trees, repainting certain structures...
"Happy Realization" said Uryuu dryly "I hope you know what IAE is right?
"Obviously" scoffed Ichigo "Who doesn't?"
They walked over to an empty table and took a seat while Uryuu continued "Well it's being held in Karakura this year"
"Woah! You serious?"
He nodded in response "and SU is sponsoring the whole thing"
"Why are they giving the campus special treatment then? Since it will obviously be held in the Gotei"
Gotei Hotel was the one and only hotel in Karakura that was fit for huge events like these.
"Obviously because people would visit this place since the dignitaries from all over the world are coming"
Ichigo nodded "I presume the people here are the ones working on it?"
"Most of them are just volunteers, while a few are from the council organizing it" Uryuu looked at Ichigo skeptically "Weren't you there when we were celebrating her being on it?"
Ichigo shot him a confused look "...her?"
"Ah yes you weren't there" he nodded to himself and looked around. He finally pointed at someone in front of them a distance away.
Ichigo looked at the direction and found her standing in front of a table her small hands perched on her waist as she looked at something a girl and a boy were showing her. Her usual ponytail was gone and was replaced by a messy twisted bun done with a pencil. She stood there biting her lower lip as she frowned in thought..
Ichigo felt his mouth go dry and he momentarily lost the power of speech as he gazed at her looking so beautiful. The way a few strands of hair escaped and framed her small face, the way her eyes looked a mix of blues and violets, the way she bit her soft kissable lips, The way her ha-
Shit he mentally hissed at himself nearly cursing out loud. No way was he going to think of Rukia like that. He blamed it all on his hormones. He realized then that Uryuu was still talking
"-only 1st year selected. If she does well it could literally affect her future and career in Arts."
Ichigo continued to stare at her and saw her point out something to the pair. They both broke into laughter and Rukia just smiled at them telling them something before walking away to another group calling her.
In the end the time spent at the library was just a test to see Ichigo's abilities to ignore or follow his hormones which did not go unnoticed by his spectacled friend who just rolled his eyes at him drooling over her.
They soon decided to go when they received texts from Grimmjow that told them to meet out front.
"That bastard I am gonna kill him for ditching me" said Ichigo staring at the text message
They both started walking to the gates when a group of girls walked by them all of them winking or doing something suggestive to get Ichigo's attention
Uryuu was shocked to see Ichigo roll his eyes and ignore them as he continued walking which was the opposite of how he behaved. Normally he would wink at them back and totally agree to go on dates with them.
"Do my eyes deceive me? Did the playboy Kurosaki just ignore the opposite sex?"
Ichigo shot him a look and raised an eyebrow "Got tired of needles and started drama did you?"
Uryuu ignored his retort "Ah I see someone here is interested in a specific 1st year. Is that it?"
"W-What?" Ichigo stuttered "You know that's illegal for me"
Did he just stutter? Poor guy was already lost and he didn't even realize it.
"I know that. But was wondering if you forgot about it"
"Why you little-
"Oh hey guys!" said a voice behind them. They saw Orihime bound up to them in her skirt and full sleeved plaid shirt.
"Hey Orihime" said Uryuu "You going for Grimmjow's message too?"
"Yup!" she said nodding her head. "What were you guys talking about?"
Uryuu began to say about Ichigo when he saw Ichigo smirk at him as he cut in "About how Uryuu thought you look absolutely beautiful today"
Bastard
"Aww thanks Uryuu" said Orihime with a light blush on her face "You don't look bad yourself"
Uryuu resisted his own blush and wondered what caused Orihime to notice him. He was no fool, he along with everyone being their friends knew about Orihime's crush on Ichigo except the guy himself. But he just hoped one day she would notice him too. Maybe that day was near
"Shall I give you two some privacy?" teased Ichigo.
"Of course not Ichigo! You know I like...um...someone" said Orihime not meeting Ichigo's confused eyes.
Or maybe not.
"Really?" said the fool "Who-
"Hey you guys made it!" yelled Rangiku as she waved at them standing near the gate next to a bored looking Toshiro and Mizuiro who was on his phone.
"What's all this about?" asked Uryuu as we joined up with them
"Grimmjow's idea of eating out" said Toshiro dryly crossing his arms over his chest.
"Where is he?" Rangiku whined "I an hungryyy"
"Ya me too" piped up a voice beside us which belonged to Shuhei and next to him his nodding friend, Izuru.
"What about the other's?" asked Orihime
"Uh...Tatsuki and Keigo had something to do so they bailed" said Mizuiro still messing with his phone
"Yumichika and Ikkaku are skipping as usual and Nel had some work to do."
"And Momo is-
-right here!" said Momo running up to them. She stopped and took in deep breaths to clear her panting "H..e..y G..u..y..s" she managed in between breaths
"Last time I checked we didn't have P.E" said Ichigo eyeing her breathing heavily.
She shot him a glare as she leaned on Toshiro who wrapped an arm around her waist looking at her in concern.
"You know how Nanao keeps all the files prim and proper in her fancy little office?"
Everyone nodded
"Well let's just say they are not that...proper anymore"
"Momo!" said everyone "You are a walking disaster you know that?" said Izuru
"Oh shut up"
"So who else are we waiting for?" asked Mizuiro
"Rukia" said Momo immediately "and Grimmjow the man with the idea"
"Speak of the devil..."
Everyone turned to see Grimmjow and Rukia walking towards them. Ichigo's eyes subconsciously narrowed at them walking together.
"Hey Guys" said Grimmjow while Rukia just gave them a small wave.
"Don't you 'Hey guys' us!" said Rangiku "We've been waiting forever!"
"Rangiku that's exaggerating" exclaimed Orihime
"Whatever. I don't really care now do I? Said Grimmjow "Besides Rukia here wasn't ready to come so I had to drag her here"
"Whaat?" exclaimed Momo "Rukia"
"What?" Rukia said defensively "It's not my fault things are starting to get busy!"
They all started walking together in search of a place to eat. Grimmjow fell in step with Ichigo as Momo dragged Rukia to her side.
"Where the fu-" began Ichigo glaring at Grimmjow.
"I know. I know" he said quickly raising his hands defensively "But this time I actually was waiting for you but Ukitake dragged me for helping out a junior and in my defense she was pretty cute."
Ichigo just rolled his eyes and turned his attention to Izuru, Shuhei and Rangiku who were arguing on what place to eat it.
Toshiro having the patience level of a squirrel snapped and told them all to shut up. They finally decided on a cafe not far away.
The group sat down and gave their orders to the waitress who looked about five years older to them which caused Mizuro to look up from his phone and charm her with his words.
As they continued to converse lightly. Rangiku suddenly cried "I've a great idea!"
"And that's how disasters usually start" muttered Toshiro.
"Let's go shopping next weekend!" she continued undeterred from Toshiro's remark bouncing in her seat.
Everyone minus Rukia started protesting at this
"Should I even ask..?" questioned Rukia looking at everyone
"Rangiku plus shopping equals early death" said Grimmjow
"And empty wallets" added Izuru
"Hey!" protested Rangiku
"Remember the last time?" said Shuhei and the group shuddered lightly
"It can't be that bad..." said Rukia cluelessly
"Ya Rukia you are right. It's worse"
"First she starts by tricking us all into coming" said Orihime
"Then she makes you buy stuff that you never wanted. ever." said Izuru
"And what's worse is that at that moment she brainwashes you so that you buy it willingly and regret it later" added Ichigo
"And lastly you have to carry the stuff around" said Mizuiro
"She actually made me buy a lingerie once!" exclaimed Momo angrily
"Oh come on it looked perfect on you!" said Rangiku "Isn't that right Toshiro?"
Toshiro just rolled his eyes and muttered "That really is none of your business" while Momo and the others laughed at this.
They paused talking as everyone's orders arrived and they greedily started eating their food.
"I know!" Rangiku suddenly exploded "We should by one for Rukia too!"
Rukia sputtered and choked on her strawberry milkshake and was saved by Momo hitting her back.
"W-What? No way!" she said her cheeks pink as she shook her head.
"Oh come on your boyfriend would really thank me"
"If I had one" Said Rukia "but I don't"
"No prob girly! I will just buy one for your married life! Bet your husband would really love it!" she said wiggling her eyebrows.
It was Ichigo's turn to choke but he managed to cover it up, having a war in his head to stop images of Rukia wearing nothing bu-
Ichigo cut that thought out and glanced at Rukia who was biting her lip. She also looked at him and the minute amber met violet they both turned away.
"Stop scaring the poor girl Rangiku" said Grimmjow laughing lightly "Oh by the way you see yesterday's game..." he began telling the population interested in listening and that's how their lunch passed by with people giving them strange looks as they kept laughing and teasing each other.
-x-
Rukia woke up next morning to the buzzing of her phone singing out its chappy song. She reached her hand out for the offending device that woke her up and answered it.
"Rukia Kuchiki speaking" she said groggily
"Um...Rukia its Hanatarou" the voice answered clearly nervous
"Oh hey Hanatarou"
"Sorry for calling you this early but there is someone here at SU who demands to see you"
Rukia glanced at her clock that read 6:15 "Who is this person?"
"She says she is a fourth year who was to be chosen in your stead"
Understandment dawned on her as she remembered Professor Ukitake telling her about a student who didn't take rejection from the council lightly. She was instructed on dealing with the student personally if she was to confront her.
"I understand I will be there soon"
She hung up and sighed a deep sigh as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling enjoying the comfort of her bed a few seconds longer. She finally got up stretching herself and headed for the bathroom.
So much for sleeping in today
After yesterday's lunch Rukia had headed back to finish of her remaining tasks and had stayed there pretty late. Since today was Friday meaning she only had the orange haired man's class to attend which was around noon. She had decided to relax a bit but fate was a bitch.
"So much to do" she mumbled as she threw on a pair of cargo pants and a black T-shirt.
She glanced at Ichigo's room as she got out and figured he was still sleeping. She debated on whether to make breakfast now or after she came back because there was no way she was planning on staying late. She figured he would sleep in so she decided to make the food later and just get this situation over with.
After reaching SU, she walked through the scarcely populated campus and headed for the library where he saw Hanatarou talking to a girl. She had her back towards Rukia. She had long black hair with purple highlights and seemed to be wearing jeans and a pink shirt. She saw Hanatarou waving his arms around trying to control her yelling looking panicked. She saw his eyes light up with relief when he saw her coming in.
"Excuse me" said Rukia to the back of the girl "Why are you yelling in a library?"
She turned around and Rukia saw her dark orange eyes narrow as she looked at her.
"What gives you the right to talk to me like that junior? Now get me this Rukia Kuchiki!"
Rukia fixed her with an icy stare that could freeze the Sahara "you must be Senna the girl desperate for position"
"How do you know my name?" she asked momentarily confused
"That's because I was told to deal with you" said Rukia smug as she saw the girl connect the dots.
"Rukia Kuchiki?" she growled and stared at her from top to bottom "They chose you over me?!"
"Pretty much" said Rukia "I don't really blame them...immature people are so irritating. Don't you agree?"
"Did you just call me immature?!"
"A bit slow also I see" said Rukia thoughtfully "Let's go Hanatarou we have nothing to worry about"
"R-Right" said Hanatarou coming next to Rukia.
"Why you little-"
"Stay out of my way" said Rukia casually waving as she walked away leaving the girl screaming "You will regret that Kuchiki!"
"Whatever" Rukia muttered rolling her eyes not realizing how true her words would later prove to be.
"Wow Rukia! You really showed her!" said Hanatarou as they exited the library.
"It was nothing" said Rukia waving it off "What I wanna know is what you are doing here at this hour?"
"Oh I had some things to take care of so I came in early" he said smiling "you heading back now?"
"I was planning on-
"Rukia!" cut in a voice from behind them. They turned to see a busty girl dressed in a floral short skirt and blue T-shirt with her green hair pulled in a ponytail. Her legs clicking in her wedges.
"Nel?" asked Rukia "What are you doing here?"
"Working on providing our share of help to IAE" she said but caught on Rukia's confused look and added "Fashion department"
"Is that so? I didn't know what you were studying" said Rukia
"You are Nel aren't you?" asked Hanatarou suddenly
"Yup that's me!" she replied nodding.
"Wow! You are like the queen of Fashion!"
Nel just laughed at his enthusiasm while Rukia said "Really? Wait. How do you know that Hanatarou? isn't that a 'girly' topic?"
"Oh...I...um...oh look at the time I really need to be somewhere! Goodbye Rukia. See you later. Bye Nel" he said and scurried of down the hall.
"What's his deal?" said Rukia looking at his running form.
"Oh don't let it bother you" said Nel "By the way are you the one who was coming and supervising us today?"
"Hmm? Oh ya it is me" said Rukia but I was supposed to come in later..."
"I understand. Why don't you just finish it off now then?"
Rukia looked at Nel who for some strange reason was contradicting the airhead behavior she usually displayed the few times they actually met and was acting uh...normal for once.
"How about we grab a bite before that. I bet you skipped breakfast!" said Nel
"Uh...sure. How do you know I skipped?"
"Oh that's because Momo always keeps complaining about that habit of yours"
"Does she now?" said Rukia thinking out loud.
"Ya" she replied "Wait here I will be right back"
After Nel returned they headed for a nearby Cafe and sat down and ordered their food.
"Don't mind me for asking but you seem a bit different from...you know...how you normally act" said Rukia slowly looking at the girl's reaction who looked unfazed by the question.
"Oh you mean the whole airhead-blonde pretext?"
"Uh...ya" said Rukia unsure.
"That's because I had a bet with a fellow friend to act that way when around my friends for 2 weeks" she said taking the arrived coffees from the waiter "The bet included me going out with Ichi so I had to act that way"
"What!? You went out with him for a bet?
She nodded taking a sip of her beverage "Pretty much. Else I would never go out with him, not my type"
Rukia stared at her with wide eyes "Seriously? That's news to me."
"Ichigo and I are just friends. He's like a brother to me, dating him would be totally ew, so you don't have to worry about it"
Rukia scoffed "I never said I was worried"
Nel just gave her a knowing grin that Rukia didn't like.
She ignored it and asked her "So did Ichigo know about the bet?"
"Naah. Even he wasn't interested in going out. He just went because I was pestering him" she added as an afterthought "Later I suppose it was because you were there and since you already saw me that day"
Rukia looked away trying to act ignorant "I don't kno-
"Save it. I already figured it was you that day, sorry for laughing at Chappy. It was necessary that time even though I really like that bunny too"
"Is that so..." said Rukia and they continued talking over breakfast. They talked about how she became friends with the gang and her irritation with Grimmjow. Rukia enjoyed talking with her and was glad she made another friend. Soon they headed back and Rukia did what she had to do and before she knew it. It was time for her English class.
She bid Nel farewell and headed to class where she found the usual students leaving the class rather than entering it. She saw Momo and Tatsuki among the leaving group. She greeted them and asked what happened "Apparently Ichigo didn't come today" said Momo frowning.
"I hope that idiot is not with Grimmjow skipping" said Tatsuki
"I don't think so" said Momo "Toshiro has Ukitake's class today, which all of them never skip"
Rukia frowned at this and wondered if he had overslept or something. Tatsuki tried calling him but the call was unanswered.
"What's with the worried look Rukia" said Momo "I am pretty sure he's alive"
"Tch. Like I care what happens to him" she said trying to act like she didn't care
"They have the class by 3. Right?" asked Tatsuki. Momo nodded
"Well maybe he will show up then"
Rukia felt her phone vibrate and ring with the message tone. She checked it to see it was from Hanatarou telling her about something they had to do.
"Guys. I better go now. Later"
Momo called behind her as she walked off "Be sure to eat lunch!"
-x-
Rukia walked with Hanatarou to his class after having lunch together. He was telling her some tale of something but she had tuned him out long back. She finally paid attention when Hanartarou asked a question to a boy walking out of class "Did come in?" The boy shook his head and Rukia asked Hanatarou "You know Ichigo?"
"Sure. I am the third year assigned to him to help me out" he said "you know him?"
"Sorta" said Rukia simply "Wait!" she called after the leaving male "Why didn't he come?"
"Dunno..." he said as he walked away.
A sense of dread settled in her stomach "Uh...Hanatarou I need to go now"
"Sure. See you on Sunday"
"Ya" she said and quickly walked away. She made a beeline for their home and quickly unlocked the door to their silent home.
"Ichigo?" she called as she threw the keys in a bowl in the foyer. She glanced at the sink where no dirty utensils were there. She made her way to his room and opened the door quietly, she dimly realized she had never been inside this place before. She stared at the lying form of Ichigo on his bed. He was sprawled face first into his pillow and so she couldn't see his face. His leg was hanging on the edge, he was dressed in a dress shirt and black pants. It was as if he had dressed up and fallen back on his bed without moving.
She gently touched his arm and pulled back when her skin came in contact with his burning skin. She quickly placed a hand on his forehead and her senses confirmed her findings. Ichigo Kurosaki was burning with fever.
A sense of guilt rushed through her as she took in his drenched shirt which made her wonder just how many times his fever had gone up and down causing him to sweat so much. He had been passed out like this since last night, which was like 15 hours!
"Ichigo" she called out to him shaking him gently "Ichigo. Wake up"
A moan resounded from his throat as he stirred and turned over facing her.
"Rukia?" he said squinting at her "What are you doing here? What time is it?"
"Ichigo it's four in the evening" she said softly.
"What?!" he exclaimed weakly shooting out of bed but the minute he stood up he started falling face first. Rukia stepped closer as she held him steady by placing her small hand on his shoulder and the other on his chest.
"Fool!" she exclaimed pushing him back down "You are sick! So stop moving around!"
"What?" he asked his eyes in a daze as he placed a hand on his dizzying head. His tired amber focused on her as she pulled back to stare at him "I am not sick!"
"You have a fever Ichigo"
"Uh uh I don't"
"Yes. You do"
"No I-" he winced and clutched his head again. Rukia quickly dashed out to the kitchen and pulled a thermometer from a drawer and headed back.
"Open your mouth"
He glared at her through tired eyes and shook his head.
"Ichigo" she said in a warning tone
"Ruki-aaah" her last syllable elongating as she stuffed the mercury tipped digital tool inside his mouth.
"Don't take it out!" she said keeping her hands in front of him "And don't bite the mercury"
"Wike I Non't doe zat" he mumbled, his speech blurred because of the thermometer "Idiot!" she hissed "If you know that then stop talking"
They both glared at each other in silence until the thermometer beeped, Rukia gently took it out and read the reading with narrowed eyes. She then held it near his face willing him to read.
"What do you call the temperature of 104?"
Ichigo sighed "So what? It's not that much"
She glared in response "you have been sleeping for the past 15 hours! Is it not enough?"
He just plopped down face first into his pillow "Ukitake is going to kill me" said his muffled voice.
"Change out of your clothes, they are drenched" said Rukia eyeing the shirt "I will be right back"
He mumbled something inaudible as she left his room leaving the door open.
She pulled of her backpack that was still hanging on her shoulder and tossed in her room, then heading for the kitchen where she quickly filled a pot with water and set it for boiling, adding some spices into the liquid. Then she proceeded to chop the vegetables in record time which would have put the greatest chefs to shame. Seeing that the stock still had to boil she went to check on Ichigo and resisted hitting him when she found him in the same position.
"Ichigo! Change your clothes!" she yelled and headed back to the kitchen to put the vegetables in the boiling stock. Vegetable soup would be perfect for him she concluded. It would provide him energy and would be easier to consume. I should have cooked in the morning...
Leaving the food to cook she went back to his room to find him leaning on his wardrobe panting lightly. Rukia steered him by his shoulders and guided his dazed self and made him sit on the bed, where she pushed his torso against the headboard. He leaned back on it, his face tilted upwards with eyes closed as he softly breathed. Rukia wondered if he had actually fallen asleep or was just dazed.
She went to his wardrobe and pulled a simple off white shirt and proceeded to sit on his bed. She contemplated leaving him in his current shirt but decided against it. Dreading on what was coming she gulped and quickly set to work unbuttoning his shirt and thanking the gods that he couldn't see her flushed face. She unbuttoned it and nearly awed at his tanned, toned abs that moved up and down as he respired. Resisting running his hands over him she cleared her head and moved closer to tug of the shirt from his arms which caused the momentum to shift and he fell forward on her shoulder, his breath fanning the side of her face. She felt her face grow warmer as she quickly took of the shirt with ease in their position. She stiffened when he shifted and she felt his lips graze her skin just beneath her ear causing her to involuntarily shudder at the touch "you are so warm" he murmured against her skin causing her to wonder if he was awake but she discovered it was not so as she gently pushed him back and buttoned the new garment he was wearing.
Grumbling about how he couldn't wake up to dress up, she made her way to the kitchen and was pleased to see the soup ready. She turned off the stove and poured the soup in a bowl setting it on a tray along with a glass of water and ibuprofen.
She carried it to his room where she placed the tray on the side table and proceeded to wake him up.
"Ichigo"
"Mm"
"I brought food"
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her and said "Not hungry"
"I don't care. If you wanna get better you have to eat"
"Don't want to"
"Ichigo"
"Rukia" he said weakly imitating her.
A nerve popped in her head "Or you just don't want to admit that you don't have the energy to lift the spoon"
He snorted weakly and tried to take the bowl of soup. 'Tried' being the key word because the whole thing nearly slipped from his fingers.
"Drama King" muttered Rukia as she straightened the mess and spooned it and held it near his lips. In response he pursed his lips and shook his head.
"Geez! Will you stop acting like a baby and just eat it"
"NO" he yelled and Rukia stuffed the spoon in his mouth causing him to swallow on reflex.
She smirked
He glared
"Can't believe you fell for the same trick twice" she said chuckling to herself. After this she met no resistance and managed to make him eat the whole thing. In the end, she gave him the medicine which he swallowed with the water "Happy?"
"Overjoyed" she said sarcastically as she picked up the food tray "Rest for now"
"Wonder who the doctor here is" she heard him mumble as she smiled to herself and closed the door.
-x-
Ichigo slowly opened his eyes and squinted at the dark ceiling. He felt something cool and wet against his forehead. He removed the object and found it to be a wet rag. That girl.
He got out of bed and realized he felt a lot better, with the exception of a slight headache.
He glanced at his phone on the table which blinked on and off indicating messages and missed calls. He decided to check them later and headed out of his room. He glanced at the wall clock that read 9:30 and peeked into Rukia's room which was empty. He heard the sound of running water and presumed she was in the bathroom. He made his way to the living room and switched on the LCD through the remote and sat down on the sofa. He started flipping through channels when suddenly chappy's theme song blasted his eardrums
"What the-?"
He spotted the offensive device buzzing around with its lethal ringtone playing. He decided to ignore the ringing but his patience snapped when the phone started ringing a fourth time.
He slid his thumb over the touchscreen and held it to his ear and the emotionless voice of Byakuya Kuchiki greeted him
"Rukia why is it that you delayed in answering the phone? What were you preoccupied with that you could not answer? A Kuchiki should always be responsible in every aspect of life"
"Shut the hell up Byakuya" said Ichigo angrily "Rukia's activities are none of your concern anymore and did you forget she's a Kurosaki now?"
There was silence on the other end. "Why is Rukia's phone with you?"
"That's because she is my wife and I have access to her everything" said Ichigo dramatically trying to piss the man of.
"Don't get so cocky boy. This marriage will be a thing of the past soon and will leave Rukia open to hundreds of suitors"
"Tch. I can bet your precious daughter will choose to suffer with me forever rather than any of the men you provide"
He heard the door of the bathroom open and so he yelled "Isn't that right sweetheart?"
Rukia appeared in the doorway wearing her earlier clothes and Ichigo nearly laughed at her expression when he said on the phone "She totally agrees with ne Byakuya"
Rukia gasped and ran to him and wrenched her phone away "Dad?" she squeaked biting her lip nervously.
"I was in the bathroom" she said "My phone was where the fool was sitting" she said glaring at Ichigo
"Hey!" he exclaimed indignantly but winced when a wave of dizziness shot through his head. He clutched his head with his hand but suddenly he felt hands pushing him down on the sofa so now he rested on it. He opened his eyes and met a pair of concerned violet eyes. He saw something flash through them but before he could see what it was it disappeared.
"Yes. Goodbye" he heard her say then she reeled on him "Idiot! Why are you out of bed? Didn't I tell you to rest?!"
"I didn't feel like it" he mumbled "So what did daddykins say?"
"Just called to check up on me" she said sauntering of to the kitchen.
"He expected me to kill you or something?" he asked irritated.
"I don't know" she said now coming back with a food tray and placing it on the center table "Here, eat up"
"What is it?" asked Ichigo sitting up and eyeing the covered food
"I made soft rice, figured it would do good to that orange head of yours"
"Well where is yours then?" said Ichigo raising an eyebrow at her.
"I had some fruit earlier so I am full" she said leaning back on the sofa
"With the appetite you have no wonder you are a midget" said Ichigo as she yelled "Hey!"
"You had some 'fruit' for lunch too?" said Ichigo sarcastically
"Nah. I ate out with Nel" she said
"Really now?" she just nodded "Did you know she went out with you because of a bet?"
"Bet huh? I figured something was going on" said Ichigo
"I meant to ask you why you ran away that day" said Rukia inquisitively crossing her arms.
"Uh...Ya..." said Ichigo squirming in his place but was saved as Rukia's phone started ringing again.
"Rukia Kuchiki speaking" she said rolling her eyes at Ichigo who mouthed 'Kurosaki' to her.
"Oh hey how are you?" she said with sudden politeness "Oh I am fine"
"You wanted to know about our plans for tomorrow?" said Rukia and Ichigo immediately got up "give me the phone" he told her.
"We are completely free tomorrow" she said and took of in a run as Ichigo almost pounced on her. She ran to the dining table and they both circled around it Ichigo moving left and right as he tried to catch her.
"Rukia!" he hissed as she stuck her tongue out at him as she continued her talk "oh? What did they say?"
She finally dashed up to the rooms where she flung open Ichigo's door and slammed it back hoping to squash his face but he diligently stuck his foot inside causing it to open. "That's good I suppose" she said as she tried to step aside but Ichigo tackled her on the floor and the phone went flying out of her hand and clattered near his bed post
"Move Ichigo" she hissed trying to push him off of her. "Let me get the phone" he said as he outstretched his hand towards the phone where he could still here his dad talking oblivious to the wrestling going on between his son and daughter-in-law. Ichigo's hand was almost near the phone when he suddenly found himself flipped over and under Rukia, how she managed to do that was beyond him. She climbed on him and made it there when he grabbed her hips and yanked her down. She glared at him and kneed his groin and he immediately let go of her groaning in pain. She shot him a triumph look and an "oops" and got up to pick up the phone. She took two steps over the male and picked up the phone when she felt a hand wrap around her ankle and again she fell this time on the bed. Ichigo appeared on top of her and growled "Oh no you don't" he trapped her underneath him and was about to take the phone when she yelled in the mouthpiece "Yesyoucancomeover!"And that effectively ended the call. Ichigo stared at het flabbergasted as she suddenly started shaking underneath him. He looked at her to see her laughing at him. "Oh shut up" at which she continued laughing harder "Payback's a bitch Kurosaki". He suddenly realized their position and how close he was to her flushed face and the way her chest moved up and down against him making him nearly groan. He got of her in a flash not trusting his hormones as she the oblivious girl finally quieted down, she stood up "Let's go eat"
"Rukia"
She turned halfway to look at him "What?"
"My sickness wasn't your fault so don't beat yourself over it"
"I was doing no such thing" she mumbled turning to face the door.
"Yes. You were"
"No. I wasn't"
"Yes"
"No- ah forget it!" she said marching out the room.
Ichigo smiled to himself at the antics if the stubborn woman "Thank you"
A/N: R&R!
