A/N: Chapter Eleven will be awesome. This is the "tense setting it up" chapter.

Muwahaha. Get excited my lemon drops.

Ichigo had to carry Rukia all the way upstairs and into her bedroom. He crouched down so she could 'gracefully' fall backwards onto her own bed.

"Thanks." She said sitting back up again.

He took a moment to admire her 'forbidden' room. Sure, he'd gone in before but that was purely by accident. This time he felt like he was allowed. Like when a mother would sneak her child a cookie before dinner, it was allowed but not-allowed all at once.

"Did you have fun?" Rukia asked while taking off her heels. The alcohol was still trudging through her system; Ichigo could see it due to her sluggish movements and random pauses in her sentences.

"Yeah, I'm sure you did too." He said with a slight smirk.

"Ishida always takes me out on this day…" Rukia said with a slight shrug, falling back onto her bed. Her raven locks were splashed against the deep purple of her pillow. Her eyes practically glowed in the darkness. Ichigo's heart jumped to his throat. He wanted to ask 'why' but the words refused to moved past his lips. Rukia Kuchiki. Her navy colored dress clung to her curves laying down more than they had when she was standing up. She was the definition of organized chaos. On the outside, she was calm and cool and collected. On the inside, he could feel her passion—not for him, but for her work.

"Can you leave now?" Rukia's voice felt far away.

"Huh?"

"Can you leave now?" She repeated watching him like he was going to burst into flames.

"Night, Rukia."

"G'night." Ichigo left her room feeling foolish. There she was—still wasted and he took a chance to just gawk at her. The more he thought about it…he had been attracted to Rukia since day one. He wished he could see her in a dress like that more often. Hell, he wanted to see her without the dress. Ichigo felt something foreign slip onto his face. He was smiling. It was small and no one could see it, but it made his heart jump a little.

"Whoa, she's your roommate. Not girlfriend." Ichigo muttered aloud, hoping the words would bring his skipping heart back to earth. He had a feeling that he was going to have trouble getting to sleep tonight.

&3&3&3&3&3

"Donna toki mo (Oh Yeah!) Doko ni ite mo (Oh Yeah!) Just Call me anytime! (Oh Yeah!) CHIKARA ni naru yo"

Ichigo shifted under the covers; with such an annoying ringtone, he knew who it was already.

Happy people's In Tha House!!!

Ichigo's hand fumbled as he tried to reach for his cell phone on his nightstand.

"Hello?" He croaked out blinking his eyes to get used to the bright light.

"Hey son."

"Dad?" Where was the GOODMORNING ICHIGOOO! Or the annoying talk about grandkids? His father was only serious when…something was wrong.

"Did I wake you?"

Ichigo sat up straight and ran his hand down the length of his face. "No! I was up."

"You need your rest…"

"Uh…" Ichigo coughed "What's up?"

"Your mother isn't improving. Some days she's okay. Others…well it's a struggle. She wanted to talk to you, but she's sleeping."

"Oh."

Ichigo was ashamed at how pathetic and weak his voice sounded. What was he? A Child?!

"Do you need me there?"

"No! Stay put. She will call you when she wakes up…"

"I know about your mom."

"Struggling with medical bills."

"I could pay them…"

"I'll have my phone on…tell her I love her." Ichigo felt his chest give an unwavering tug and twist. The conversation ended there and Ichigo held his forehead.

"M-mom…" His eyes were stinging but he had to stay strong! His mother was going to get better…she just needed the right treatment. That's all.

Kaien's words were pressed into his mind and echoing, they were a curse and a blessing at once.

Ichigo looked over at his computer.

&3&&3&3&3&3

Rukia sipped her coffee as her and Ishida sat outside one of her favorite little spots.

"You kissed her?" Rukia asked letting one eyebrow raise.

"What? N-n-no!" Her assistant sputtered while staring into his latte. "I almost did."

"Well? Why didn't you?" Rukia nearly laughed at Ishida's flushed face but she kept it contained.

"She sneezed." Ishida groaned holding his face in his hands now to hide the bright pink. Rukia reached out and patted her friends' arm.

"Maybe it wasn't meant to be." She said withdrawing her hand to answer her phone.

She and Ishida sat in silence until the bill arrived. "Ichigo…I think he likes you." Ishida said randomly, causing Rukia to drop her pen as she was signing her name. The check now read "Ruk—".

"Don't be ridiculous. I know what you're doing!"

"What?" Ishida said pushing his glasses up on his nose.

"You're just trying to make me embarrassed because of how you felt earlier."

"No! Rukia, I mean it. I think he does."

The petite designer shook her head and laughed softly. She paid for their two drinks and small pastry platter. "I have a meeting to run." Rukia said, dropping the subject and gathering her things. She shrugged on the olive green pea coat that had been hanging on the end of her chair.

Ishida felt his shoulders slump as he watched her go. He wasn't being ridiculous! Ichigo liked her. The orange-haired boy couldn't keep his eyes off her all night. He sighed and slowly got to his feet 'it's going to be a long day…'

&3&&3&3&3&3

Ichigo held his face in his hands, peeping up at the article as it glared at him from inside the computer. He had gotten a whole page done. He felt sick to his stomach. He was breaking their promise. If only he could explain the situation to Rukia…would she understand? If she found out he published this behind her back—god she'd kill him. Any chance of friendship would be ruined.

Even if he didn't take the article to Kaien…he could still get enough money for his mother with it.

"Mom wouldn't approve of this…" Ichigo muttered finally looking back up at the screen.

He seriously wanted to throw up. The black line cursor blinked at the end of his last sentence. It was taunting him. Ichigo groaned and rubbed his temples.

He could see Rukia's face in his mind's eye. Her violet eyes would light up with fury and she'd probably hit him. Ichigo felt as if his mouth had tasted something very bitter.

His long fingers rested on the keyboard again, the smile from the previous night was just a memory. His face had formed into a permanent scowl. He was such a bloody hypocrite. He always believed in keeping promises, friendship and honesty. He was throwing that all away…for money…for his mother.

The only reason he kept typing was his love for his mother.

He glanced at his cell phone making a silent wish that someone would call and 'catch him' so that he could have an excuse to trash the article. However, the phone stayed silent.

&3&3&3&3&3&3

Rukia took a quick stop on her way to work that morning—and now it was turning afternoon. She stepped out of the car and into a small shop known as "White Moon & Black Sun". It was a candle store and run by a small family.

They were the only place Rukia knew of that sold soy candles at a reasonable price. They also sold a special fragrance. The small bell on the door chimed when Rukia walked in, her nose assaulted with several different smells. It wasn't overpowering…it was gentle. But it took some getting used to. The walls were lined with different candles and in the middle of the small store, the owner had two small tables for her favorite scents.

"Rukia! Good to see you, dear." A woman said stepping out from the back room. She had long, pale blue hair that was clipped to the left side of her head at the front, while on the right; it hung was cut somewhat shorter. She wore a Furisode kimono: The top part of her clothing had long sleeves that reach the ground, and the bottom part covers her feet.

This woman was Shirayuki, owner of the "White Moon & Black Sun". Rukia always admired her beauty and grace—her kindness and gentle nature. She reminded Rukia of how a mother would act.

"It's a pleasure to see you as well. How is everything?" Rukia asked while she searched for her candle.

"Good, good." She answered with a gentle smile. "How are you, Rukia?"

The question was a routine one and yet Rukia found herself struggling for words. She wanted to tell Shirayuki everything. That woman had an effect on her, Rukia just wanted to hide in the backroom and pour her heart out. This feeling was one of the reasons why Rukia didn't visit often.

"I'm fine." Rukia managed to say, her voice sounding small.

"Zangetsu has been asking about you."

"He has?"

Shirayuki nodded, "He told me you have a new person in your life."

Rukia felt the room drop ten degrees. Shirayuki's beloved husband, Zangetsu, was more or less known for his intuition. Rukia held no beliefs in such nonsense.

"I have a new roommate."

Shirayuki smiled at this, "That's great to hear!" A small timer went off in the other room. "That's the tea, would you like any?"

"No, I can't stay."

Rukia picked up the candle after what felt like hours of searching. 'Cherry Blossom' was printed across the front in elegant script, with a picture of the pink tree next to a small lake. Rukia stood by the small front counter as she waited for Shirayuki to return.

"Here" The older woman said setting a small cup on the counter. "It's going to rain…I figure you should have something warm in your system before you head home." Shirayuki smile and titled her head slightly to the left. Rukia smiled back and set the candle down.

"The candle's on the house."

"Shirayuki…don't say that." Rukia said quietly taking a sip of the tea. "Let me pay for it."

"Why?"

"This store will be overrun by the bigger companies…I want it to stay here." Rukia mumbled staring down at the liquid in her cup.

"Oh Rukia, don't be like that. My business will do just fine. Get home before it starts to rain, okay?" Shirayuki reached out and touched Rukia's shoulder. The dark haired girl almost pulled away but something in Shirayuki's clear blue eyes stopped her. Her hand fell from Rukia's shoulder and the woman disappeared once more into the backroom.

Rukia finished the tea and left 5000 yen banknote on the counter, underneath the cup.

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Ichigo had a headache by the time he was finished. His heart jumped when he heard the front door open. Ichigo closed the document, glaring a little at the 'save' button. However, he did save the article. He just sold his soul…at least that's what it felt like.

"Hey Rukia!" He greeted standing at the top of the stairs.

She gave him a lazy wave before retreating into the kitchen. Ichigo quickly followed her, almost tripping down the stairs, "Hey. You okay?" He didn't know why he was asking. Curiosity? 'No, not curiosity! She's just more information for your article, right?' His conscience asked him with a sneer.

"Mm. Tired, that's all." Rukia answered quietly as she opened the fridge. Ichigo leaned against the doorframe as he watched her. Her eyebrows were knit together, her shoulders down, and her hands shaking—slightly.

He was about to ask her about dinner but her words quickly cut him off. "I'm going to bed." She brushed past him. He stood there, listening to her footsteps and then the resounding click of her bedroom door shutting.

What had gotten into her? Was she sick?

"Ishida always takes me out on this day…" Her words from last night had a completely new meaning, what was Rukia hiding? Ichigo didn't want to tear apart her personal life. 'Hypocrite! Isn't that what you're doing now? Those pages you wrote today…remember?' Ichigo scratched his head.

He turned around to go back upstairs, seeing a soft pink candle on the coffee table.

"What's this?" Ichigo picked it up and examined the obviously new object. The price tag was still on it. Rukia didn't have any other candles in her house…what made this one special?

His mind was rocketing with questions that had no answers. His father hadn't called back about his mom. There was a document on his computer that could destroy everything with Rukia. He'd have no chance at becoming more than a ro—whoa. He didn't want to be more than friends with Rukia.

Well…maybe he did. But it wouldn't happen anyway. Ichigo had a full blown migraine at this point.

'Knock Knock'

Ichigo sighed and opened the apartment door to see Urahara.

"Ichigo! How are you?"

"Fine." He lied as his landlord leaned on his cane. The man was dressed in a purple button down with white pants. Like something out of a bad seventies movie.

"Is Rukia home yet?"

"She went up to bed." Ichigo doubted that Rukia wanted to deal with Urahara. Hell, she didn't even want to deal with him.

"Ah…good…she needs her rest." Urahara nodded thoughtfully. "Take care of her." After those words, Urahara just left. Ichigo shut the door and his shoulders slumped. His feet dragged as he walked back upstairs and collapsed onto his bed.

Sleep wasn't going to come easy tonight.

A/N: Episode 232 of the anime, if you have not seen it…GO WATCH IT NOW! I'm not a fan of the anime, too many filler episodes; however, we saw Shirayuki! And there was a brief IchiRuki moment—we love those too!

I used that Shirayuki in this chapter. XD YAY!

(5000 yen banknote is about 53 U.S dollars. I googled it.)

Okay, that's all…reviews/questions/etc are loved.