Chapter 10
Disclaimer: Bleach and all its characters belong to Kubo Tite
Beta chan: DeepWaterBlack. As always, the story shines more thanks to you.
AN: Sumimasen for the long hiatus. Chapter slightly edited to correct an 'Ukitake' error.
Reviewers: Many thanks to the follow who took the time to leave a review behind. They kept me going, so please REVIEW. FreakGirl17, ai-chan, Queen of Tartarus, sess18, Roma88, okamihana, Margaret, senivatar, SilverStella, Kymz, darklover (Thanks point out the punctuation errors. I hope I follow through coz it's become a habit now), Sarah, ashezo, Fire331, XLightningX
Devious Old Men
Ichigo descended the stairs leading to the lounge with a relaxed, haughty swagger. The chiming peal of laughter from within the lounge created a deep urgency within him. An urgency to discover what could amuse her into such seemingly unrestrained delight. What's the big deal, he wondered then, she is just laughing. What is so captivating about her laughter?
It was something new, that's what!
And he was doing it again!
Wasting his time thinking of her, and it seemed to be happening more often than he thought healthy. Yesterday's family event had turned out quite well, apart from the tiny hitch at the beginning-no thanks to Shinji…the bastard! And what does that onna do instead of socking that hentai? She starts arguing with him. Although at one point she had looked at him without contempt and very much with…appreciation, he recalled conceitedly. He had caught her 'checking him out' when he'd gotten a bit too close for comfort.
Yes, he was feeling anything but comforted close to no thanks to his dreams, and it doesn't help imagining her alluring fragrance and her mysterious violet gaze that could wrap the senses like cool silk on skin.
However, the day had turned unbearably hot all of a sudden so it was probably all because of the weather.
Ichigo clenched his hands into pockets of his lounge pants as he got closer to the door and her sniggers became louder, as did everyone else's in the room. His mind flashed back again, when Shinji had lain on the ground below the onna with a look that could only be on one who had just found his haven. If she hadn't been standing between them or about to tumble over, he was sure to toss that teme all the way out. She should be thankful for the fact that he'd been watching her…and Kaien, all along.
A servant opened the door as soon as Ichigo reached it and he quietly stepped inside, now curious to know the reason for such a lively morning. However, masked his emotions and his face showed nothing of his curiosity, remaining as impassive as always when all heads turned to him. Their eyes were still gleaming with humour as he looked at each and every pair in the room. His father was relaxing on a cushioned recliner while Kaien, Ukitake and the onna were comfortably seated on a leather couch. Ichigo caught himself in time to not frown at the proximity between her and Ukitake, but then glared darkly at Ukitake when his eyes fell on the old photo album on his lap. It was an album that Ichigo had been trying to seize for years, and which contained numerous humiliating baby and boyhood pictures.
"What are you doing?" he asked with suppressed temper as he noticed the onna's porcelain-white teeth biting down her lips, trying and failing to hide the laughter. Kaien's smile wasn't hiding anything at all and giggled away at him. He didn't need to ask whose photos they were looking at.
"Uncle Ichigo you looked like a girl," he chortled and Ichigo flashed his outraged eyes at Ukitake. "Why did you wanna to wear a dress and grow your hair long…and why did you wanna be a girl?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Nani!" What the friggin hell were his father and Ukitake telling the kid?
Kaien lifted the album that pictured a six year old, orange haired child in a glittery and flowery pale blue kimono. Oh damn fuck!
"That's not me" he stated calmly with a face of zen-like serenity and grace, and mercifully with years of experience with Uktiake's antics was he able to recover that quickly.
"Ah…that is definitely thou, Ichigo-kun."
Something between a loud snort and a cough behind a delicate hand was heard from Rukia after his denial and Ukitake's reply, and Ichigo directed his molten orbs to her amused and glowing violets.
All humour disappearing now, Rukia reminded herself that the adorable, chubby boy in the picture was nothing like the un-adorable one standing, glaring at her now.
An evil glint flashed in Ichigo's eyes before he turned his attention to his nephew, "Come Kaien, I thought by now you would know the difference between girls and boys. Remember our talk yesterday in the kitchen?"
Oh dear! Whether Caleb remembers or not, Rukia surely did. That was exactly what Ichigo aimed for, and he waited for the blush to bloom on her fair skin…
(FLASHBACK)
The last of the guests had waved their farewell to Ichigo, Rukia and Kaien after their little party. Isshin had retired for a little rest before dinner, and Ukitake had consumed a little too much sake to utter anything coherent let alone a polite goodbye. He was sleeping the alcohol off in his room.
"Mom, can I have cocoa…" Caleb asked as he was carried inside by his uncle, "also for uncle Ichigo, too?"
"I don't drink cocoa," Ichigo intervened smoothly.
"But you'll love mommy's, she makes it the best," he confided and showed his uncle his cute, pleading puppy eyes, which Ichigo was too defenceless to resist. He hadn't had cocoa or any of those types of warm, soothing beverages in years, not since…
They made their way to a kitchen that was surprisingly empty of any of its usual occupants at this time of the day. "The members of the staff were given a few hours of rest for their early morning start for the party," Ichigo informed blandly before he deposited Kaien in front of the kitchen counter and seated himself beside Kaien. Let's see what she can do without their help.
Rukia nodded, and Ichigo watched her walk comfortably to the appropriate shelf to take out two cups. Mindful of his lack of desire for her son's favourite drink, Rukia picked a tiny cup for uncle Ichigo and a large 'Ben 10' mug for Caleb. That, of course, triggered a series of questions from Caleb on why his uncle wasn't given a similar mug, why a small tea cup, doesn't uncle like 'Ben 10... was mommy angry with uncle because he didn't want to drink cocoa and that's why he was given a smaller cup… would mommy be happy and kiss uncle if he finished all his cocoa please.
Rukia was thankful she wasn't facing either of them during his last enquiry and bit back the gasp of embarrassment that would surely have been loud and audible. She didn't think it wise to inform Caleb that his haughty uncle wouldn't dare touch her with a bargepole even if his life depended on it. So a maternal kiss from her was ludicrously out of the question. They both managed to appease most of his questions, and effectively redirected his attention to other things on the ones they did not want to answer.
With the dark, chocolaty beverage prepared, she placed their steaming cups on the counter. Rukia gently warned them of the hot drink, and served herself the lemonade left from earlier and settled herself as well. If she had known just how curious and blunt Caleb was going to get she would have left the two alone.
I have sooooh many cousins, brothers and sisters, mom!" Caleb exclaimed excitedly in between blowing the steam impatiently. "Are there more, uncle?" he asked expectantly.
"There are," he confirmed satisfactorily. "I'm glad you are here now, to meet all your cousins," he said meaningfully, throwing an arrogant look at Rukia.
"Oh goodie! I always asked mom to apple for more brothers and sisters from Mr. Stork," he announced. "But now I can wait until all my other cousins have grown up."
"Apply, Caleb, not apple," Rukia corrected, slightly worried at where this was going.
"Mr. Stork?" and uncle just had to ask, thought Rukia ruefully.
"Yes, Uncle Ichigo," supplied Caleb smartly. "Don't you know where babies come from?"
"Uh," murmured a tongue-tied uncle Ichigo. Rukia was helpless to stop the perceptive twitch of her lips at Caleb's blatant question and what appeared to be a very rare occurrence in dear uncle's life.
"Mommy told me all about it," he said proudly. "Mom has to fill the forms, like the ones we do when we go to the doctors sometimes, and then she mails it to Mr. Stork (who lives in a place called Birdie-land) and he builds a baby, wraps it in a blankie and just like Santa, he drops all the babies into all the mommies' beds when they are asleep." Rukia pinched her nose hard to stop from laughing at the word for word narration her son had just provided a slightly appalled uncle. Her violet eyes brightened with tears of amusement as she looked at Caleb who was waiting for a response from his uncle. "Benny told me that babies came when mommies ate watermelon seeds, and the seeds grew in their tummy, but he doesn't know anything, right mommy? You've eaten watermelons but you didn't make babies. Silly, Benny!"
"You told him that," he enquired flatly.
Sobering somewhat, Rukia stared right back at him and asked even more deadpanned, "Do you have a better explanation, and do you want to tell him where babies come from?" Rukia arched a perfectly thinned eyebrow to an increasingly blanched Ichigo. He coughed into his hand and he closed his eyes for a moment before directing his attention back to his nephew.
"Thank you, Kaien" he intoned humbly with a small fake smile only an adult would understand. "I didn't know how something as important as babies was built before. In fact, I thought it was because of the watermelons as well."
"Well, if you wanna to know anything else, ask mommy. She knows everything," he replied loyally.
"I'm sure she does, Kaien," he stated, and only Rukia caught the sarcasm in it.
They were both given a breather as Caleb sipped at his cocoa. The silence did not last long and the next set of questions nearly sent Rukia off her seat.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, love?"
"That lady, Ms. Inono."
"Err, Ms. Orihime Inoue, d'you mean?"
"Yes, her. Why does she have such big boobies," he blurted.
"Caleb!" she gasped in chagrin (Rukia was pretty lucky she hadn't taken a sip from her drink yet, unlike her other unfortunate drinking companion who nearly choked and suffered the humiliation of spitting his beverage in her presence). Not in front of him please.
"What…" he muttered frankly. "You told me that big boys are not the same as big girls when I asked why Benny's daddy didn't have boobies, right? Then why is she bigger than you when you're both big girls."
She wondered why now, but then realised that in all his four years of living in such a cold place like their little Meryldove village, he hadn't come across many barely dressed women and surely not those that were overly-well endowed. And since Ms. Orihime was the only one who had been suitably dressed for a pool party, Caleb had obviously caught the difference between his mothers familiar 'size' to that which was new.
"They looked like they were gonna fall off," he giggled.
"That's enough Caleb. It's bad to make fun of her bo-ba-bad to make fun of people." If it was just Caleb, she would have explained properly. As it was, she was definitely not going to discuss her 'size', or lack of it, in the presence a man who was already so very judgemental.
"I'm sorry, ma," he said sheepishly, and Rukia sighed in relief. "But anyways…" oh gods why are you doing this to me, "I like yours better coz they're all soft and warm," she heard a definite choking and spluttering noise from beside Caleb but she'd die before looking in that direction. "And I like cuddling and resting my head on 'em." Nooooo!
Spoken like a true four year old, her smiling and pleased son had. And she wasn't angry with him, not at all. She just, only really wanted the floor open and swallow her WHOLE.
Unintentional, her eyes rose and shifted to a set of intense and focused lava-like orbs. Rukia was completely unprepared for the instinctive clenching of her womb and the breathlessness that followed.
(END FLASHBACK)
She had been unable to sleep most of the night thinking back at the unfamiliar sensation she had experienced and why it had been triggered by just that look from someone she knew she disliked. What was with him anyway, looking at her like that? Since she couldn't understand, Rukia decided to ignore it. She was thankful that was not his usual regard, and now that she thought about it, Rukia preferred the arrogant glares more, to the ones she didn't know.
It was dear old uncle Ichigo after all, who that explained to Caleb, very smoothly and efficiently, why there were size differences between women. 'They are from different countries,' was the smart reply by uncle Ichigo. And just with that Caleb was finally quietened.
Back to the warm and cozy lounge room, Isshin's voice penetrated through her wandering mind, "Ah, Ichigo, we received an invitation from the Kuchiki clan to attend one of their celebratory functions next Saturday." Isshin gave Rukia a soft smile and said, "It seems the Kuchiki name isn't as exclusive and limited as the Kuchiki's I'm talking about proudly thought it was, my dear." He regarded his son again before continuing, "Since you have decided to now handle Kurosaki Corp here, and because Kuchiki Corp is a major affiliate of ours, it would be wise to attend and familiarise yourself with the executives you would definitely be dealing with in the coming months. I'm sure there would be other associates present at the party who you could acquaint yourself with."
"This Saturday is it," he intoned contemplatively. "Sounds good to me."
Isshin snorted, "Did you expect anything less," he joked lightly, and Rukia smiled at seeing him so layback and cheerful as she began peeling oranges for everyone. "Of course you would need a companion," Isshin said in a not so genuinely musing stance.
"There is no need for that, and if it's really necessary, I can always take Uryuu with me since he'll be dealing with them as well."
"That won't do, Ichigo-kun." Ukitake added. "You know you need to follow certain social protocols at these sorts of events." Ukitake earned a scowl from Ichigo for his efforts.
"He's right, Ichigo." Isshin crossed his arms over his chest and nodded his head in affirmation of Ukitake's advice.
Ichigo imitated his father and crossed his arms, tilted his head slightly to the side and scowled even deeper than the usual one with an exasperated sigh, "Very well, I'll find someone."
"Don't waste your breath on the impossible," said Ukitake. "Maybe you should leave it to someone else to do the finding."
"You're right, my friend," added Isshin thoughtfully rubbing his chin with a hand.
"Your faith in me is overwhelmingly heartening," Ichigo deadpanned. He didn't miss the twitching lips of the onna. "Very well, I'll let Uryuu handle it."
"But Ichigo-kun," came the whine form Ukitate, "Ishida-kun already has so much to deal with at the moment."
"Yes, and unlike you unfortunately," Isshin said ruefully. "…he had a wife and kid to be with after work."
"Fine," was Ichigo's edgy reply. He hated it when the two started nagging him about inconsequential matters, "I'll find someone else to find me a companion for the party."
"So old fashioned Ichigo" said his father. "We called them companions in our time. Now, I believe they call it, 'dates', isn't it Joushiro?"
"You're right, Isshin."
"Whatever," replied Ichigo with a shrug as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You don't need to concern yourselves with it."
"Oh, but we cannot help it. We will obviously assist you in this." said Ukitake.
"NO!" he said rather loudly. The last thing he wanted was to give them an opportunity to play matchmakers. He knew from experience, very bad experiences!
"Don't be so stuffy, Ichigo-kun," reasoned Ukitake as he hid himself behind his newspaper. Nothing good comes when this happens. "You know we won't get just any empty-headed bimb-errh-girl for you."
"Won't you," asked Ichigo skeptically with narrowed eyes. "It won't be the first."
"We know better now," argued a chuckling Isshin
"Yes, and it's not like we're looking for a prospective Missus Ichigo Kurosaki, are we."
"Hai. We can get someone you know, yes?"
"Hai, hai," nodded an enthusiastic Ukitake. Rukia couldn't help but slightly grin at their pesky antics and Ichigo's irritation, Caleb fed away at the oranges unaware of what was going on with the adults. "Someone who hasn't seen much of our social events, interested in seeing new things, you know…going new places."
Ichigo favoured selective hearing. With a quiet suffered sigh he took one hand out of his pockets, leaned over and decided to taste some of the peeled oranges left on the table.
Rukia decided to ignore the fact that he'd just stolen her share of oranges.
"And someone who isn't going to throw herself at you."
"Hai, we couldn't have that now, can we."
"Definitely not!"
Quite suddenly, Ukitake gasped and snapped his fingers. "Of course, ahahahahaha!" Ichigo looked at him with a 'don't you dare' look. A cold shiver raced down Ichigo's spine…he knew whatever Ukitake had thought up would not be good for him. "We don't have to look far for a perfect 'date', do we Isshin." Ukitake said in a low tone with a sly look over his newspaper at his friend and then at the lone woman in the room.
Said woman stared obliviously at the two men…...
Slowly eyes started to brighten up and a fox-like smile started to spread across the older man's face, "Of course, Joushiro" agreed Isshin.
"No"
Ichigo was completely ignored.
"Rukia-chan," sing sang Ukitake. Uh oh, warning bells began to ring…should she be scared? The crazy shine in his eyes and the wide grin were not something he should use if he wanted to put people at ease or when he was asking for something. "What would you say to accompany Ichigo-kun to the party this coming Saturday", he asked in feign good nature.
"Err…." That took her completely by surprise. But after a few silent and expectant moments, Rukia replied, "I don't think that's a good idea. I've never been to a party such as the kind I'm assuming this one is going to be." High class executives, arrogant and rich man, majority of them probably just like Ichigo Kurosaki…No thank you!
"Then Rukia-chan," said Isshin. "This is your chance to experience it, neh. You don't have to worry about the language difference either, most of them are foreign businessmen, and even the Kuchiki family isn't that conservative."
"Still, I'm not sure-"
"Come on Rukia-chan-"
"She doesn't want to go, why force her? It may really be too much for her to handle."
An eyebrow slightly twitched…Oh, he-did-not-just-underestimate-her.
"I'm sure she will be alright. After all, if Rukia-chan can handle a class of 5 and 6 year olds then attending a business function as your date won't be much."
"That's completely irrelevant, you know" intoned Ichigo.
"It is, isn't it," murmured Ukitake with a slightly crushed, childish pout.
"Nonetheless, I think it will be good for Rukia-chan to attend. We haven't been able to show her around yet, so at least she will be able to get out of the house for something other than shopping."
"Why force her? As I said, it's not suita- it will probably be more of a business meeting than a party. I will be too busy conversing with our stakeholders to entertain a date." Rukia was internally grateful that Ichigo was saving her from going to an impossibly stiff-necked function but fumed at his subtle underrated opinion. She'd show him!
"It's not going to be hard at all, Ichigo," insisted Isshin. "She will eventually be attending these sorts of things in the future anyways."
Brown eyes suddenly narrowed and took on a cold glare, "What's that supposed to mean," Ichigo asked tersely.
"Ma ma, Ichigo-kun," cajoled Ukitake. "You're being too critical about this."
Yes he was, and he knew it, but he didn't want to take her anywhere.
Rukia knew this as well, and that's why she was going to do what she was going to do!
"I was saving Ms Kuchiki the trouble, especially if she doesn't want to go." The words 'Bullshit' and 'Liar' swam loudly around Rukia's mind.
"Formal much," teased Ukitake, making Ichigo glare at him darkly. "I'm sure Rukia-chan will do fine. Won't you, my little one," asked Ukitake softly, as if he was talking to Kaien and not his mother.
"Whatever she decides," replied Ichigo, completely sure that she would decline.
"What do you say, my dear," asked Isshin.
No one, besides probably Caleb, was prepared for the dazzling and willing smile Rukia threw their way. And after giving the three stunned pair of eyes a few moments, she answered eagerly, "I'm convinced," she stated brightly, uncharacteristically. I want to gag at my own sickly sweet bubbliness. But that did not compare to seeing that man's stubbornness in thinking the worst and lowest of her.
Just then, the door to the lounge opened and Liz and Uryuu Ishida stepped in. With a warm smile on her face and a soft expression on his, they both greeted everyone on the room a pleasant morning before Liz went to sit beside Rukia and her husband made his way to Ichigo.
"The ladies have planned a shopping trip to the city today," Uryuu said, as an explanation for his visit, to Ichigo. "Kaien-kun," he called out softly, "Shiro is waiting for you outside, under the tree." This tree was no ordinary tree; it was the site for a future tree house, a promised venture Ichigo himself would be undertaking. 'We will be making the 'akichacha' (architecture) of the tree house,' an excited Caleb could not stop gushing until he fell asleep last night. And she had no doubt that whatever Kaien and Shiro wanted they would get from Ichigo.
Rukia didn't think for a second uncle Ichigo would even lift a nail for the tree house, and would most probably have hired-help, and stand on the side dictating irritating set of commands for some poor, unfortunate souls.
Rukia heard Ichigo tell Uryuu about the party while Ukitake (gleefully) informing the couple that she would be going as Ichigo's date. She knew she was blushing when Liz turned her twinkling eyes at her. As the men got back to discussing about the Kuchiki's and the upcoming gathering, Liz said to Rukia. "That's great. We are going shopping for Kaien's necessities anyways, now we can also look for something for you to wear to the party.
"You've read my mind," replied Rukia with a playful smile. "When do we leave?"
"We can go as soon as you're ready. Isshin-sama has arranged a chauffeur for our trip, hasn't he?" she asked, impressed. Rukia nodded, and then smiled thinking of Ukitake and Isshin's indulgent suggestion –more like persuasion- to be driven around by a chauffeur, first to shop and then for some sightseeing around the city. Not that their home was boring or unlikeable, sans the uncle of course, but she was getting slightly tired of not putting herself to something useful. It probably had a lot to doing never having such a free holiday. Always, there was Caleb to cater to whether at home after work or out for holidays, not that there were many of that for the both of them. Rukia had to save money if she wanted to take Caleb somewhere exciting, for kids at least. Now, Rukia found so much time to herself, she was discovering she didn't really know how to utilize it.
Excusing herself from the little crowd, Rukia made her way towards the bedroom. She was glad Liz had agreed to take her shopping. While there was ample supply of provisions for Kaien, he still wanted what he was most used to back home. His favourite drinks, cereals, and what not. She also wanted to buy him a few more day-wears since their holiday was now surely extended. As she extended her hand to the door handles of her room, Rukia heard footsteps behind that were striding purposefully towards her. Rukia looked over her shoulders and discovered not only Ichigo Kurosaki but also the fact that she knew it was him before even turning, just from his footpaces. Luckily she had no time to analyse that piece of discovery.
"I hear you are going shopping for Kaien." She marvelled at his good hearing ability. Eavesdropper! Instead of replying, Rukia pretended to look impatient and waited for him to state his purpose. When he realised she wasn't going to answer, Ichigo narrowed his eyes. Rukia watched him drop his hand to his pocket and bring his leather wallet out. Ichigo fished out a card and pushed it towards Rukia.
Rukia gave him a blank look before asking, "What is-"
"It's for the shopping. For both Kaien," he stated arrogantly, "and yourself," looking down at her. Rukia looked down at the credit card he was offering before snapping her chin up again regarding him with furious purple, glowing eyes.
What was wrong with her, Ichigo wondered. He was giving her a little piece of heaven really. The gowns he had bought for her in the first week were still somewhere in his closet but she seemed not to like them, so he was now giving her permission to get whatever she wanted. Did she want cash in hand?
"If you want to buy something for Caleb, you are very much free to do so yourself," Rukia intoned coolly. "As long as you do so in moderation." She didn't want him spoilt after all. "And as far as my shopping goes," she continued, "that is none of your concern, Mr Kurosaki. We were not living in destitute before you came to us, and although I did not have a highly paid job, I was and still am able to cater to Caleb, and myself."
That stunned Ichigo into a few seconds of silence. A sharp as blade straightforward reply from a woman was something he was not used to. More so because he stayed away from confrontational issues with them. And most women, and men, would not dare talk so insolently.
She hoped her point was made. Nothing would please her more then to prove this man wrong in each and every negative assumption he made of her. Rukia calmed herself down enough to plaster a tight smile, "But I appreciate your thoughtfulness all the same," she said before giving a slight dismissive nod and stepping into her room.
As the door shut with a decisive snap, Rukia had no way of knowing she had left a thoroughly confused and astonished man standing at her door for a few long moments.
AN: Hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as my beta did. Do drop in a little review please and let me know what you liked and disliked about the chapter. The next will be the 'party' chapter, which I'll start writing as soon as I'm done with a one shot of 'Darker than Black' anime I'm working on currently.