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Chapter | 10

In the end Ichigo had agreed to stay home for a few days. He definitely wasn't being easy about it, but Rukia wasn't exactly giving him a choice.

She let her friends decide what was wrong with him, because she knew they'd just settle for a general cold. At least their little secret was safe this way. Or so Rukia thought.

"So, you and Ichigo were out at the same time?" Tatsuki asked as she caught up to Rukia after school.

Rukia inhaled sharply, but managed to cover it up quickly.

"Yeah, lucky that he only had a cold. My throat still hurts a bit." Rukia tried to play it off, but she knew Tatsuki would be harder to fool than the rest. Probably because Tatsuki was the one person who actually wanted them together. Rukia still didn't understand it.

"You know, Karin and I often play soccer together. Last week she told me Ichigo was being a moron by going to school when he had some nasty throat virus." Tatsuki crossed her hands behind her back and leaned in to Rukia.

Rukia narrowed her eyes.

"What's your point?"

"You and Ichigo are secretly dating, aren't you?" Tatsuki asked, coming to a standstill.

Rukia sighed, stopping herself. "No, not really," she admitted, and technically it was the truth.

"Not really?" Tatsuki probed.

"It's more along the lines of friends with benefits," Rukia said, continuing to walk.

Tatsuki fell in step.

"When did this happen?"

"The night of the school bonfire." Rukia could feel a slight blush coming on, but managed to supress it.

"Wow, it's been going on that long?" Tatsuki seemed genuinely surprised by this. "And how far have you gone?"

Now this made Rukia blush.

She turned her head to the side, "Not far."

"But not nothing?"

"No, a bit further than kissing."

Tatsuki cheered.

"You're a horrible friend, you know that right?" Rukia scoffed.

"Might seem that way, but like I said, I really am doing this for Hime," Tatsuki said, the sincerity in her voice evident.

Rukia didn't say anything about that, but Tatsuki still followed her.

"Anything else you need?" Rukia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing, I guess, just thought we could walk together since I'm on my way to visit Ichigo. And now the two of us will have so much to talk about," Tatsuki explained.

"No, please, you can't." The words slipped out of Rukia's mouth before she could stop them.

Tatsuki waited for her to continue.

"Ichigo pretended to be okay for my sake. And then I'm the one who goes and tells someone. I don't want him thinking I don't appreciate what he's doing for me." Rukia explained so quickly that she was practically out of breath.

"Fine, I won't say a word, but only if you come with me now," Tatsuki bargained.

Damn. Rukia knew she was digging her grave when she told Tatsuki, but she at least thought she'd have some time before she was knee deep in the hole.

"Very well," Rukia sighed.

The whole way to Ichigo's house, Rukia pretended to hate going. But, just below her scowl, was smile so big it would probably tear her face if it was showing. It's been four days since she's seen him, and she really missed him.

She had also used the four days to decide that she would let herself feel something for him, but that she wouldn't act on it. Sure, they could continue the way they were, but that's the way it would stay until she figured the rest out.

"Mr Kurosaki!" Tatsuki suddenly called out next to her. Rukia almost jumped.

"Ah, Tatsuki!" Mr Kurosaki waved at her and then noticed Rukia.

"Oh, come to nurse my son back to health?" he asked as they neared.

Rukia couldn't help but laugh. She knew Mr Kurosaki wasn't as dumb as he often pretended to be. Hell, he noticed things that Byakuya couldn't even see.

"Yeah, I don't think anyone's given him a good kick in a while. He'll start going soft," Tatsuki said.

"Yes, my boy won't even let me wake him up anymore." Mr Kurosaki pouted, lowering his hose back to the bushes in front of the house. None of the water actually hit the plants.

"Well, we'll go in then," Tatsuki announced as she grabbed Rukia by the wrist and pulled her to the front door. Rukia could feel Mr Kurosaki's eyes on her back.

Once inside, they took a flight stairs and came to a stop in front of the first door on the left-hand side. This must be Ichigo's room, Rukia thought. She didn't want to think about how Tatsuki had known that.

Tatsuki knocked and went in, but Rukia stayed behind. Even though she wanted to let Tatsuki and Ichigo have some time together, her real reason was that it would be the best way for them to have some alone time. That is, if Tatsuki caught on.

With the door open, Rukia could hear exactly what they were talking about. School was the main topic, and their little secret never came up.

"Well then, I'm going to say hello to your sisters. There's someone else who also came to see you," Tatsuki said as she walked to the door. She waved once over her shoulder before coming into the hallway with Rukia.

"Thank you," Rukia mouthed and Tatsuki winked.

Slowly Rukia gave two steps into the room before closing the door behind them. Just didn't want anyone to hear them talking.

"Hi," Rukia said awkwardly.

"Tatsuki dragged you along?" Ichigo asked. The questions actually hurt her a bit… Even though it was true.

"How are you feeling?" Rukia countered, changing the subject.

"Fine, this is actually the last day of staying home." Ichigo sat upright in his bed, making place for Rukia to sit at the end.

Leaving her bag by the door, she crossed the room and sat down.

"I'm guessing you're pretty much filled in about school?" Rukia asked. She was hoping Tatsuki had left a few things out, because then Rukia at least had something to talk about.

"Tatsuki can be pretty thorough." Ichigo laughed and Rukia smiled with him.

Neither one said anything after that and the silence started to weigh down. Not wanting things to get awkward, Rukia spit the first thing that came to mind.

"I think your dad knows about…" Rukia said, but she couldn't think of what to call their little secret.

"Us?" Ichigo finished.

"Our secret, there is no us," Rukia corrected him.

Ichigo's jaw clenched and unclenched. Clearly he wanted to say something, but decided not to.

"Oh, how?" The question sounded forced, as if he didn't really care.

"My brother called him to come do the check-up at our house," Rukia explained. "He made it pretty clear he knew the two of us weren't sick at the same time by pure coincidence."

"Didn't bet on that happening," Ichigo sighed. "I kind of had to tell him about us- I mean our situation, because he insisted I stay in bed. I never mentioned your name, but there's no way my dad didn't figure it out."

"Guess it couldn't be helped," Rukia said. At least she wasn't the only one who let it slip.

"You know, according to my dad, I'm actually healthy. The virus is gone," Ichigo said out of the blue.

Rukia was about to ask him what his point was, but it quickly became clear. Ichigo leaned forward and yanked her onto him so that her chin was planted into his chest.

With big, unblinking eyes, Rukia looked up at him. To her surprise, his expression was dead serious. It was as if he was trying to tell her something, but to say it aloud wasn't possible.

Slowly, she pushed herself up and pulled her legs in closer until she was upright on Ichigo's lap. One of her hands reached up and she let her finger trail down his jaw. She could feel him clench his teeth again.

"What's wrong?" Rukia asked.

Instead of answering, Ichigo brought his own hand up and touched her cheek, their arms crossing at the wrists. Ever so lightly he trailed his thumb over her lower lip, taking with it any words that still lingered.

He never got the chance to kiss her, because Tatsuki decided to make it very loudly known that she was going to get Rukia as she was leaving one of the twins' rooms.

Just as Rukia started to manoeuvre herself off of Ichigo, his hand slipped from her cheek and pulled at the fabric of her shirt until her collarbone was exposed. His mouth found the soft skin above the bone in a second, followed by a burning sensation that was over almost before it began.

"There, just so that you won't forget." Ichigo lifted his head again.

Not having enough time to ask him what he meant, Rukia reluctantly pushed herself off Ichigo and sat down on the edge of the bed. She tugged her shirt back just in time.

"Rukia, time to go!" Tatsuki called as she threw the door open. Rukia couldn't tell whether she had hoped to catch them in the act, or was really okay with pretending she didn't know.

"Well, goodbye, I hope you'll come back to school tomorrow," Rukia said as she stood up, grabbed her bag and left without a final glance.

"Bye, Mr Kurosaki!" Rukia and Tatsuki called at the same time. Mr Kurosaki stuck his head out from between the bushes he was trimming.

"Come again soon!" he called after them.

"So, you and lover-boy have a nice conversation?" Tatsuki asked once they were in the clear.

Rukia rolled her eyes.

"Oh, this is my turn-off." Tatsuki pointed to the bend ahead of them. "Just one more thing. How exactly is the virus spread?"

"Bodily fluids," Rukia explained.

"So, like kissing and stuff?" Tatsuki clarified.

Rukia nodded her head.

"And you haven't been kissing or getting bodily fluids from another guy?" Tatsuki seemed to be leading up to something.

"If you have something to say, then get on with it," Rukia said impatiently.

"No, nothing really. It's just, if you didn't give it to him, he must have given it to you… How did he get it?" With that said, Tatsuki left before Rukia could clearly comprehend what she was insinuating.

There was someone else in the picture.

A heavy feeling settled in Rukia's chest, almost suffocating her. What if it was true? What if Ichigo did get it from some other girl? Rukia wasn't exactly keeping tabs on him twenty-four-seven. She didn't even know how he spent his afternoons and weekends.

No, he wouldn't, Rukia thought. Then again, Rukia wasn't being the most cooperative make-out buddy. There was always the possibility that another girl was giving Ichigo what she wouldn't. She couldn't blame him for that; she had made it clear that there was no 'them,' only 'their situation.'

She was so caught up in her morbid thoughts that she didn't even see the red-haired visitor waiting at her front gate. She practically stormed into Renji as he stepped into her path.

"Oi, where have you been? I've been waiting for half an hour," Renji inquired as Rukia looked up.

"Oh, shoot, sorry. I completely forgot about training," Rukia apologised.

Renji muttered something under his breath, but followed her into the mansion nonetheless. At least he wasn't making things harder for her.

Rukia quickly ran up to her room and put on exercise clothes. This was usually anything she didn't mind sweating in and that could stretch.

Byakuya had built a dojo into the mansion since he would sometimes take on students in his private time. Rukia was even allowed to join in, but she rarely practice on her own. But with Renji, it felt just like old times.

After a few basic warm-ups, they took their positions in the middle of the room.

"We haven't done this in a while," Renji mentioned as his rolled his shoulders.

Rukia bounced on her heels for a few seconds. "You're right. I hope you haven't gotten weak."

"Yeah right," Renji scoffed.

"Guess we'll have to find out." And without warning she pounced, but Renji was ready.

Unlike Ichigo, Renji well aware of Rukia's fighting style. After all, they had practiced together almost every day in the orphanage. Her best chance against him was her size since Renji was just about as fast as her.

For the first few minutes they threw half-hearted punches, and kicks that weren't really aimed at anything. But when Rukia managed to sink her fist into Renji's gut, the game was on.

Rukia wiped the sweat out of her eyes, but it was useless. She was out of practice, and was barely managing to keep up with Renji. He, on the other hand, was very much in shape.

"What's that about getting weak?" Renji mocked her.

"So I might not be in tip-top shape, but that doesn't mean I can't beat your ass," Rukia bluffed. She knew it was completely convincing, but she sure as hell wasn't going to admit that her side stung and her legs were getting wobbly.

But, as she found out a mere five seconds later, her bluff was called. Rukia found herself staring at the ceiling, Renji on top of her, pinning her down.

"This was too easy," Renji started, but stopped for some reason.

Looking up, Rukia realised that Renji's eyes were trained on her chest. She was about to berate him, but then she felt the cool air glide across her collarbone.

With the last of her strength, Rukia pushed him away and pulled her shirt up. The kiss-mark once again covered, but the damaged had been done.

"Do I want to know?" Renji asked, leaning back onto his arms.

"Probably not," Rukia muttered.

"Then I won't ask." Renji pushed himself up. "If you're ready to talk, I'll be waiting, but until then," Renji extended a hand to her, "You should seriously practice more."

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