CHAPTER TEN – posted 06/07
With Ichigo out of the room, kind of, Rukia took a moment to actually look around. This room was definitely much bigger than hers. Hell, you could divide this one room into two rooms the size of hers. She was a Kuchiki; her room shouldn't have be smaller. She didn't recognize Ichigo's or Toshiro's names from any of the other noble families that could have gotten a room like this with clout. Toshiro's family was new money, and she'd never heard of Ichigo's at all.
It looked like a man's room straight out of an old movie with dark wood and antique furniture. It also gave the air of a playboy – the womanizer Ichigo was rumored to be. However, neither Ichigo or Toshiro seemed like the kind of guys who would choose this decor and entertain the way this room appeared to be set up for. It appeared to be decorated with their belongings in spite of itself, actually.
Rukia heard the shower turn off as she walked over to the cabinet that she assumed held his movie collection. Thankfully, he had obviously organized them in alphabetical order, then by genre, which seemed to mean either action or comedy. She smiled as she thought of how Renji just kept his movies in an unrecognizable jumble near his television. None of the movies really caught her interest. She wanted to watch something light and carefree, like Chappy, but had no such luck.
Then, her eyes landed on the plush, comfortable-looking leather sofa across from the television. Hearing the faint click of the bathroom door, Rukia gasped, startled. Without knowing why, she literally dove for the sofa as she heard the sound of the bathroom door opening. Quickly, she adjusted her position and turned her head nonchalantly, as if she'd been sitting in wait. She felt silly. The normal Kuchiki Rukia wouldn't have been so jumpy, especially for no reason. Then again, Kuchiki Rukia wouldn't normally be here in the first place.
Emerging, Ichigo had just started to put his t-shirt on. Rukia watched the hem fall, her eyes involuntarily appreciating the sight being concealed. No wonder he had no trouble splitting a door down the middle, instantly dispatching two guys, carrying her all the way from the party, and scaling a wall, she mused. She managed to raise her eyes and plaster an innocent smile on her face at the last second, when his head popped through the collar.
"I guess you made yourself comfortable. What did you pick?"
Rukia jumped, as if he'd actually caught her gaping a moment ago. She hadn't felt this inwardly disheveled in years. She sighed in exasperation and took a breath to regain her composure. It was like she was bursting at the seams with all of the feelings she tried so hard to conceal.
"You don't own anything good, and I gave up before choosing the best of the worst," Rukia flippantly replied, feeling a bit more like herself upon making the jab.
Scowling, Ichigo flopped down on the sofa and grabbed the remote. He sat on the complete other end from Rukia. She had scooted right against the arm of the sofa with her knees against her chest. Rukia couldn't help but start to relax. This was one of the most comfortable sofas she'd ever sat on; it was like she was sitting among giant pillows. She felt safe with Ichigo too.
"I'll have you know that I have excellent taste in movies," he replied, staring at the blank screen.
Rukia only rolled her eyes. She hadn't seen most of the movie title she saw on his shelves and hoped he didn't want to have a debate or anything equally as asinine. Rukia hated pop culture elitists. She could care less. Ichigo only sighed.
"I guess it really doesn't matter. I doubt either of us are going to be able to stay awake until the end of a movie anyway. I'm actually pretty beat, Rukia. So, what do you want to do?" asked Ichigo, fidgeting nervously.
She desperately tried to think of anything besides "get in bed" for an answer. It was tempting to see how easy it would be for Ichigo to resign himself to sleeping on the sofa in his own room. But she didn't trust herself not to say something or say something in a way that would give away her inner thoughts before she knew his. Her current mood was too precarious to attempt the topic. Only shrugging, Rukia sighed, involuntarily rubbing her chilled arms.
As she was about to demand Ichigo adjust the thermostat, a blanket was thrown over her head. Ichigo only pretended not to pay attention to her, as usual. As she grabbed a handful of the fabric covering her face and yanked it off of her head, she simultaneously glared at Ichigo. He had finally turned to look at her. The sight of her staticky, tousled hair making him smile.
"Hey, how come your room looks like this?" Rukia inquired, eyebrow raised, challenging him to say anything about her apprearance. "You have horrible taste in decorating too. It kind of looks like you had someone come in and try to give you a non-sleazy bachelor pad."
Rukia tried to keep the offensive position and control of the conversation.
"Wow. I really should have brought you to my room sooner if I'd known you'd like it so much," Ichigo said, sarcastically rolling his eyes.
"Psh, like I would have come anyway," muttered Rukia, knowing it was more than loud enough for him to hear.
Ichigo ignored her commend, only narrowing his eyes.
"I didn't pick the decor, if you must know. This is the same room my grandfather had when he was a student. My dad decided to surprise me by having it decorated my freshman year. He has this horrible notion that I need all this in order to live up to his perverted notions of what guys should be doing at my age."
"Perverted notions? You mean like bring girls here? I know you said that you don't sneak girls into your room after curfew... but all the rumors. You must say that to all the girls. Do you bring girls back before curfew and send them home? That's despicable. But, I mean, how else would you deflower so many girls?" said Rukia, raising her eyebrow, daring him to challenge her speculations.
Ichigo turned to face her with a full on scowl as she speculated. Rukia couldn't even believe some of what was coming out of her mouth. Apparently, she couldn't help but be horribly insulting when she got nervous. The fact that she normally loved getting under his skin didn't help either. Still, insulting him was better than what she really wanted – to lunge across the sofa and press her lips against his.
"You can stop right there. Why won't you just believe me? I do not bring girls up to my room before or after curfew, and I have not deflowered or come close to deflowering anyone. Who even says 'deflower'?"
"It's very much a part of the contemporary vernacular," Rukia defended. "And you can't blame me when you're the one with the reputation."
She had a feeling that the direction she took the conversation would definitely not lead to any sort of confession from Ichigo or at least any hint that he really did think of her like that.
"Never mind. Ah, you're actually the first girl that I've brought to my room that isn't one of my very platonic friends."
"But the rumors ...," Rukia continued disbelievingly, Momo's words echoing in her mind.
"Yeah, it's easier to just go with it rather than spend all of my time disputing them, especially when no one is going to think I'm doing anything but trying to be gentlemanly and modest by denying them. It's the girls that start them, and all they do is make me more popular. I've given up trying to deny it and just don't confirm or deny anything."
"Why don't you just not go out on dates with girls in the first place, so they can't start the rumors? That would make the most sense."
"Well, it's all really bothersome either way, especially considering how boring most of the dates with these girls are. But even going on countless boring dates is easier than continually rejecting invitations and having them try to stalk me. They usually leave me alone for a while after an awkward dinner. And I have to admit that it's gotten kind of fun for my friends. They help me come up with tactful ways to end the dates, since I can't really get food poisoning every single Friday night."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
"Yeah, but it's also kind of funny that these girls believe some of the stuff we come up with. Last time I got a call from Rangiku urgently calling me to the hospital after Tatsuki fell on a pair of chopsticks. I still can't believe the girl didn't question it. Another time I said I had to leave to console Chad after his goldfish abruptly died without warning."
"Girls are so silly, but you're pretty stupid yourself. I'd never believe anything like that, because I'm not a totally brainless moron."
Ichigo sighed loudly and turned toward Rukia.
"Yeah. At least I'm not going to have to worry about you trying to spread rumors like that. You don't seem anything like those fluffy airheads. I actually like spending time with you."
"Really?" Rukia asked in a small voice, not wanting to come out and ask.
"Really," confirmed Ichigo, his scowl softening into a smile. "It was so nice to be able to tell that girl at the party that I was already with someone. I mean, technically I was at the party with you, right?
"Well, it's not like this is one of your dates," Rukia replied glumly, looking away.
"No, this is nothing like that. You know, I think this is the longest evening I've ever spent with a girl before doing everything I can do to get away from her."
"Yeah, I but I'm only here for the stupid bet. You're right; spending time with me is nothing like being on a date."
Rukia felt like she was going to cry, saying it out loud. Inwardly, she steeled herself in preparation for what she was sure his answer would be.
"The bet? Umm... there's probably something I should tell you about the bet, now that you're about to become the first girl to have ever slept in my room and all," Ichigo said, starting to look nervous and scratching his head. "But you've probably sort of guessed what I'm going to say already."
"What? Just tell me. I can take it."
He seemed to be thinking about what to say. Rukia started to feel nauseas, imagining he was figuring out how to let her down easy. She was curious about the bet. However, she was afraid of what he would say, now that she fully admitted to herself that she cared. Rukia ached for Ichigo to confess undying love to her. Unfortunately, she doubted that would ever happen. She didn't believe that she was that lucky.
"Well, your friends are pretty easy to manipulate when they're all worked up. I don't think they realized this. Tatsuki and Uryu totally goaded them into betting you, and I couldn't lose after that. I wanted to make you spend time with me, and this felt like my last chance."
"Why would you do that? And how were you so sure that you'd win? There was a lot at stake for Renji and Shuuhei! I don't understand why you would do that just to spend time with me when I thought you hated me."
"Hated? So you think really that I still hate you now?"
Rukia was bewildered. Her lip started to quiver until she held it still with her teeth. She would not admit that she didn't want him to hate her. She couldn't be the first one to say it and leave herself open like that. It would only bring humiliation and intensify the pain she already felt in her chest.
Ichigo leaned over and put his hand on top of hers on the sofa cushion. Rukia gasped and rose her head, eyes wide with shock. She met his fiery eyes. He looked serious. Her mind went blank as he began to speak, nothing but his words running through her mind.
"First of all, I never thought about losing. I had to win, because I wanted you. Just because I don't go around picking fights doesn't mean that I can't fight. I mean, I have to be able to protect what's important to me. I mean,... ah... err... I've... well... it's... I... gah!"
Ichigo broke eye contact and looked away nervously. His eyes wide with panic, Ichigo smashed the palm of his free to his forehead in consternation.
"Just say it, idiot! Making me wait like this is horrible! I can't take it!"
Rukia fought a losing battle to keep her face blank and used her free hand to slap the back of his head in frustration. If she wasn't sitting, she would have kicked him as hard as she could. Ichigo's eyes snapped back to meet hers, after widening in surprise. His hand tightened it's grip on hers, as if to give himself confidence.
"I... well, I have always secretly loved running into you and fighting with you. You were just so different, nothing like other girls. But I just couldn't go up and talk to you for some reason. Everytime I would try to... I... I couldn't help but say something to make you angry."
Ichigo paused, turning red. Almost like leaning in to hear an intriguing story, Rukia had scooted over inch by inch, until she sat almost in the middle of the sofa, staring at Ichigo with wide, disbelieving eyes. If she didn't know any better, she would swear he was confessing to her, but that would be beyond absurd! Everything about the two of them was absurd!
"So what?! Do you mean that it wasn't just to constantly fight with me, humiliate me, torture me?! Why won't you just say it, you fool?! Could you actually...," Rukia began to scream in frustration.
Ichigo smirked, regaining his confidence instantly upon hearing the subtle pleading beneath the frustration and panic in her voice. He swiftly encircled her waist and pulled her onto his lap. She let out a surprised squeak, but didn't speak a word or make a move to protest. Almost as if he was afraid to hesitate, Ichigo crashed his lips onto hers as soon they were close enough to reach.
Her mind went blank. Rukia couldn't do anything but moan into his mouth and melt into his firey kiss, tears falling. She reached up to grab handfuls of his orange hair to pull him closer and opened her mouth at the swipe of his tongue, his taste and heat mingling with her own salty tears. Rukia felt her entire body tingle and burn. The clothes that had made her feel exposed moments ago suddenly felt like a snowsuit. She couldn't get close enough.
The feel of Rukia wiggling her hips to slide further onto his lap made Ichigo groan with pleasure. The hand he still had on her waist snaked its way under the t-shirt she was wearing at her lower back, his fingers kneading softly up her spine on her bare skin, pulling her closer. Rukia arched her back, pressing into his chest. Her breath caught in her throat, as she threw her head back with a gasp. Breath catching at the sight, Ichigo nuzzled her neck before trailing kisses down the side of her exposed neck.
After roughly pulling the t-shirt aside to kiss her shoulder, he grabbed the back of her head with his other hand and reclaimed her lips. She grabbed two handfuls of his orange locks and ravenously crushed her lips against his. Ichigo abruptly broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, causing Rukia to mewl in disapproval. Panting and flushed, Ichigo and Rukia grinned and looked into each others eyes.
"How was that for feisty?" Rukia grinned, surprised she could even manage to form words.
Her entire body felt like it was on fire. Ichigo's skin felt feverish against her own cool, pale skin. Her skin that wanted to crawl off of her body.
"Rukia, I love you."
"What?" Rukia squeaked with simultaneous elation and disbelief.
"I never want to spend time with any other girl, knowing that I could even just be arguing with you instead. I... only ever want you. You are the most amazing girl in existence," said Ichigo with the most serious, determined eyes she'd ever seen. "I love you. I love you. I always have and always will love you, Rukia."
Rukia didn't know what was happening to her. All of a sudden she started crying uncontrollably, still grinning. She wasn't even the kind of girl to cry in the first place, and now she was crying for the second time within minutes when nothing was even wrong.
"This is all your fault," Rukia accused, slapping Ichigo on the back of the head again.
"Owww! What the... Rukia! Are you alright?" Ichigo finished in a whisper, bringing a hand up to wipe away her tears.
"I'm not sure," Rukia wailed. "I was just so happy that you said you love me and suddenly started crying. I don't do stuff like this. This is all your fault!"
"Happy? So, does that mean you feel the same way?" Ichigo asked, looking nervous, despite their kiss.
"Don't be stupid, strawberry! Of course I do! I love you, Ichigo!"
Rukia screamed her answer at him, still crying and grinning. She hit in upside the head again to drive the message home before throwing her arms around his neck. Ichigo held her as close as he could with a dopey grin to match hers.
"Oh, Rukia..."
After a few minutes of just holding each other as close as possible, they started to relax, crashing from their surges of adrenaline. Ichigo let his arms slide down her body to loosely hold her waist. Rukia rested her head on his shoulder. She suddenly felt so sleepy.
"Nothing made sense, but now... That explains why your friends treated me more like your girlfriend and not part of a bet. It was like they didn't know anything about the bet when I knew for sure that they did. And everything that Momo said."
"Even my friends wouldn't be as nice as they have been if they didn't really like you too."
"This is going to be a scandal when everyone else finds out, you know. By everyone else, I mean your fan girls."
"I've seen what the girls have been doing to you. Orihime didn't even realize that it was you in her ballet class until she saw you at the dance, but she told me about it then. We won't let anyone mess with you. Now that you know I'm crazy about you, it will be easier to deflect the assassination attempts. And my friends will have your back too, now that we all expect it. You really do belong to me now, you know. Well, only if you want to."
Rukia lifted her head off Ichigo's shoulder and met his eyes with her own.
"Idiot. You are so full of yourself. I'm not your property, but of course I want to be yours," Rukia rolled her eyes, still grinning. Didn't I say that I can take care of myself? I just... "
As her words trailed off, Rukia's thoughts drifted briefly to the Kuchiki family and what they expected of her, but she pushed the thoughts from her mind before they could sour her mood.
"Psh, that doesn't mean you can't let your friends get your back sometimes. You are anything but weak, especially when you beat me. And I think being full of myself is alright if it means you'll have to get all feisty and assert your dominance to keep me in line," Ichigo quickly kissed her before continuing. "I can think of something even more fun than how shocked everyone will be when they find out, though."
"What?" Rukia asked confusedly.
She blushed at what he said about liking her being feisty and dominant. Ichigo liked everything about her that they were trying to change.
"If we don't say anything and keep up the ruse of just spending time together for the bet. Then, we use all the pent up excitement from all of our fights to run off and secretly make out."
"That's the stupidest... Well, that actually does kind of sound like fun, especially the part about making out whenever we're alone," Rukia agreed with a naughty grin.
"Great. It's a plan that we can start tomorrow, then."
"Uh, we aren't going to try to fool your friends are we? I think they might already know."
"Of course, my friends already know. In fact, I think they'd be surprised if this hadn't happened. They were so sure that you liked me, or at least that's what they said after the dance."
"And they made it clear that they thought your were taking me on dates. Momo even insinuated that I knew full well that the bet was just some kinky foreplay thing."
"Meh, that sounds like something the two of them would think up. Toshiro and Momo are both deceptively quiet; watch out. Hmm... You know, I think I'm going to head to bed and take you with me." His grin vanished as Rukia punched him hard in the chest.
"Absolutely not! Just because you've confessed and I've agreed to a scandalous and exciting secret relationship, don't think I'm going to jump into bed with you! What kind of girl do you think I am!? I knew you were just trying to sleep with me!"
Rukia hoped off his lap indignantly. It would have been more effective if she hadn't still been smiling.
"Y-you've got the wrong idea," Ichigo cringed and waved his hands in front of him defensively. "I'm tired. I don't want to try anything."
"You don't even want to make a move, but I thought you loved me?" Rukia asked, faking offense.
"Well, it's not like I don't want to try anything. It's just that I'm not like that; I mean, I don't just want that. I only meant going to sleep, not that. I really am tired, and I really do love you!"
Rukia didn't think it was physically possible for Ichigo's face to get any redder. This was great!
"In that case, what are you waiting for. After being dragged shopping with your friends and that party, I don't even know how I'm standing up right now. Now, which bed in yours?"
Relieved, Ichigo grabbed her hand before turning out the light.
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A/N: Sorry for the super late, barely even still Sunday post. My boyfriend didn't end up having to go into work today and made me do yard work during my designated computer time :( Also, I'll get caught up on my review replies tomorrow morning. I should be alright for another post on Tuesday or Wednesday, par the usual.
One thing I do want to say in my author note is that I know Rukia has seemed like a weak damsal in distress recently, but I never have intended and do not intend to have her be a damsal in distress in my overall story by any means. All the recent events for Rukia and the guilt she still carries regarding Hisana came together to put her under emotional duress. When exactly what happened when Hisana died is explained in detail, her unappealing emotional (and resulting social) state that climaxed last chapter will make a bit more sense.