Thanks for reading and especially to those who reviewed. Just because I do not acknowledge your reviews does not mean I am not reading them. I do try to incorporate whatever was written into my stories.
I am on a very tight schedule as my subscription plan is expiring soon. I am still shopping around for the best deal. So it is like type, type, type and update.
If I do not update any time soon, it could only mean one thing : NO internet access. NO wifi.
"So when Renji being discharge from the hospital?"
"Rukia, we haven't seen each other for almost two weeks and the first thing you asked me is about the health of another man." Ichigo who was scratching the back of his head almost pulled out a few strands in frustration.
"Sorry. How are you Ichigo?" Rukia asked sweetly. "So when Renji being discharge from the hospital?"
Ichigo sighed. "In the next couple of days."
"That doesn't give you much time to ask Renji's daughter out on a date."
"Rukia, are we still harping on that?" "Besides, I am not a paedophile." Ichigo tried to joke himself out of what Rukia was suggesting.
"Haha. Very funny." "You know I meant Inoue Orihime and not one of the triplets." "And I am not talking about the little girl either."
"Now who's being funny."
"But seriously; all the time we have been together, you have never once push me to see other women ."
"That's because I knew you were still seeing other women when we first become involved." Rukia admitted.
"I'm not going to deny it." "There were other women in the beginning because I was not sure of my feeling but as soon as I knew I love you, there has been no one else."
"So why the need to force me into another woman's arms."
"Is this some kind of revenge on Renji ?" "Using a daughter he loves?"
"Is that how you see me?" Rukia was offended. "Some kind of vindictive little bitch."
"You know that's not true. But by pursuing this matter, I would think there's more to it than meet the eye." "Please either let it go or tell me." Ichigo pleaded with Rukia.
"Do you like her?" Rukia decided to confirm her suspicions.
Ichigo was taken aback. But there's no point in lying, was there?
"Yes, I like her but as a younger sister." That's the truth, right?
"So you are into incest?"
"WHAT?!"
"What the hell are you on about?" Ichigo almost sputtered his words in indignation.
"Do you think of doing what you would with Inoue like you would with your sisters?" Rukia calmly responded.
"Of course not!" Ichigo was trying not to shout.
"Just admit you are attracted to her." "After all she is your type, just liked all your previous girlfriends."
"Fine. I will admit it. I am drawn towards her." "And yes she is my type or was." "That's it until I met you." "Ever since you entered my life, the only type for me is you." Ichigo desperately wanted her to understand.
"That's what I'm talking about." "Though you keep insisting on how much you love me, if that's the truth then why would another should have taken your fancy." Rukia pressed on.
"She is a very beautiful girl." "Who wouldn't notice?" "I have already admitted to that." "She is also a very caring person." "Do you know she bring me something from the bakery every day." "What's wrong with just wanting to be in the company of a charming girl?"
"Why haven't you mentioned about the nurses and doctors I worked with?" "Why aren't you jealous of them?"
"Why this fixation with Inoue?" Ichigo did not understand the obsession being shown by her.
"Rukia." He wanted to be with her. But not like this. Not with all this accusations and not trusting in him. Of them.
"Please tell me what you are afraid of?" He wanted to allay her fears.
Ichigo watched her turn away from him. He thought she was going to leave without any explaination. Again.
"Ichigo." She began softly. " "I am sick of this."
She pointed her finger at him and then back on her.
"What we are doing is wrong." "We should have never started with this betrayal on my husband." She stopped him before he said those three little words again.
"Yes, I know. You love me." "But so did Renji." "He was my first and I thought he was going to be my one and only as well."
"Look at him now. Happy and contented with his wife and children." "Living the life I wanted, with him." She could only ruefully imagined the life he has without her.
"So this is what's it's all about." "Renji." Ichigo was sick of Rukia's past.
When is she ever going to just let it go.
"I am not Renji and I love you."
"Do you?"
This could be the end or it could be the beginning.
"Do you know I am older than Renji?" She decided to open up to him of her fears and insecurities.
Seeing his surprise, she continued. "Not as many years as you and I but yes, I am older than him by four years."
"That is why it hurt when I saw him with someone like Rangiku as his wife. Young, beautiful and vivacious." A snort was heard. She ignored it. "The mother to his children." "Brats." Again she ignored the ad-lib.
"I was afraid I was going to get hurt again should you leave me for someone younger and prettier if we are ever to be together." She waited for what he was going to say.
"Rukia." He touched her face. "Is that what you are afraid of, our age difference?" "I love you, everything about you but especially what's inside. Do you really think I care about something as insignificant as our ages." Ichigo tried to put her mind at ease.
"You said that now but in five years time when you are 32, I will be 47. By then I will truly be like a cougar." Rukia was having none of it.
"If and when you ever leave leave your husband, if not who knows where we will be come next year." Ichigo threw the supposed future back at her.
"Do you think we have a future together?"
"Of course we do."
"Prove it."
"Anything."
"Go out with Inoue Orihime."
That again.
"Why?"
"Prove that you won't be sway by a beautiful young girl and then I will believe you."
"What if I should fall in love with her?" Ichigo tried to get her to realize she was playing a dangerous game with his feelings.
"Then I will congratulate you on getting yourself a beautiful wife and hopefully Jushiro and I could be the godparents to your first born."
"After all I did play the match maker."
There's just no fighting her.
"I will think about it."
"When you decide to ask her out, call me and let me listen in to the conversation. If she reject you, at least I will know and you were not lying about asking her out."
"I said I will think about it."
"Didn't you say you will do anything to prove your love." "Was it just lip service?" Rukia knew she was going to get her way.
"All right. You win." "I will do it." Ichigo threw his hands up in defeat.
She won. But will she regret it.
"Speaking of lip service." He leaned towards her face. "How about a kiss to seal the deal?"
"No." She pushed him away.
"What...? Why...?" He thought she was joking.
"Liked I said, what we are doing is wrong." "There will be no more unfaithfulness till I decide what I am going to do." Rukia said firmly.
"But I have my needs." As soon as the words escaped from his mouth, Ichigo knew he has stepped on a mine.
"What does that make me?" She felt like striking him. "Don't answer." She was furious.
"Use your hands." Introduce Mister Right and Mister Left to Mister Prick and let them satisfy your needs." She instructed coldly.
"Maybe I could get Inoue to do it." Ichigo taunted at her.
"You are both consenting adults. As long as you do not force her, it is not a crime." "But remember, her father has a gun or guns and he knows how to use it." Rukia warned.
"Come on, Rukia. Just a kiss."
"Come here, you big baby." She said and kissed him on the forehead.
"When am I ever going to hear you say those words?" He asked in a forlorn voice.
"When you woo me, ask me to marry you and I will maybe, say them at the altar." She smiled.
"Is that a promise?" He asked even though he knew he wouldn't be getting an answer.
'Yubikiri.'
A vision of shiny auburn hair and an angelic face appear in his mind at the promise.
(*_*)
"No, Rukia. I haven't ask her yet." Ichigo told Rukia over the cellphone as he walked his rounds at the hospital.
"I haven't the chance." "Hold on, I think I am going to do it now."
Sounds of running feet. A frantic voice.
One, two...
The two terrors glared at him as they hurried past him.
He scowled back at them. "Hey, no running in the hospital."
Three.
"Raidon, Renzooo..."
"Kurosaki-sensei, you were supposed to move out of the way when you saw me coming." Orihime chided Ichigo when she banged into him.
"I thought you were going to have a little accident."
"I wasn't and if I did, you were the cause." She huffed in annoyance.
'Cute.'
"Sorry, my bad." He smirked at her pouting.
"Ah; Kurosaki-sensei, you can let go of me now."
He was so enthralled that he did not realize he was still holding on to her.
"Sumanai." Why would his hands feel regretfully of letting go?
"Kurosaki-sensei, did you see where my brothers go?"
"They went that way." Ichigo pointed to the direction as to where the cheeky boys ran to.
"Thank you, Kurosaki-sensei." Orhime was getting ready to chase after her brothers.
"One moment please, Inoue." He put the mobile phone on speaker.
"Yes, Kurosaki-sensei."
"Inoue, are you free this Saturday?" He decided to cut to the chase.
"I don't know. Why?"
"Do you want to catch a movie and maybe have dinner with me?"
Slowly, her eyes got bigger and, "Are you asking me out on a date?" She did not trust what she has heard.
"Yes, if you want to put it that way." He confirmed and saw the blush blossoming on her cheeks.
She nodded and replied. "I will think about it." 'Sounds familiar.'
"Just don't take too long." He teased.
Leaving the dazed girl, he asked rukia if she had heard.
"Are you happy now?" He asked Rukia.
He was confident of what the two women were thinking now and how the younger one was going to reply.
But before she got get a word in, he told her to continue listening in.
Footsteps were approaching him.
"Kurosaki-sensei, I have thought about it."
"Yes, Inoue?" He waited expectably for the affirmation.
"I am afraid I am going to decline." Orihime was filled with apprehension at her timid answer.
"Where shall I meet you," Cocky Ichigo began but then the words sank in,
"What...?"
"Did you just reject me?" Ichigo was dumbfounded. He did not expect this.
How could he have gotten all the signals wrong?
Or have he, really?
"I have to look for my brothers now." Orihime noted the bewilderment on Ichigo's and she did not want to add more confusion for him.
Hence, the getting away from him.
She was running away from him, again.
Not so fast.
She has some explaining to do.
"Look, I will talk to you later." He told Rukia and hung up hastily.
He chased after the fleeing girl.
"Inoue, wait up." Ichigo caught Orihime by the arm.
Just like bambi caught in the headlights.
Orihime shyly glanced at Ichigo and then at the hand restricting her escape.
Ichigo followed her line of vision.
This time he was not going to let go till she soothe his dented manhood.
"Why?"
Yes, why? Rukia had already heard him asking Orihime and being rejected. There is no reason for him to pursue this matter.
Is there?
"Why do you want to know?" "Couldn't you just accept a no?"
"Just satisfy my curiosity, Inoue."
"It is because you are a doctor."
"And." Ichigo urged her to continue when none was forthcoming.
"And I do not think we will have much in common. I do not want you to waste your time on someone like me." Orhime confessed.
'Someone like you?' 'What's it with pretty girls and their insecurities?' Ichigo thought wearily.
"Inoue, just let me be the judge of whether I want to waste my time with you."
"But we have nothing in common."
"How would you know?" 'I know for certain one thing we both like, you.' Ichigo mentally suggested.
"Why not take a chance to find out?"
Orihime mused over it.
"What movie do you think I would like and we will both enjoy?"
"What's this? Questions and answer?" Ichigo joked.
"I am just making sure we have something in common." The optimist hoped.
"So as long as it's something you like, it's a date?" Ichigo wanted to make sure she won't squirm herself out of it.
"Um."
He did not like the smile she gave him.
'Fukuyama Masaharu.'
"Soshite Chichi Ni Naru." Ichigo answered confidently. 'Everybody loves Masha.'
"I like Masha-nii, 'See.'
"But not in that movie."
"Then which movie did you like with him in it?"
"You promise you won't laugh?"
"No promises, but I will try."
"Eiga Doraemon Shin Nobita to Tetsujin Heidan -Habatake Tenshi Tachi-."
He tried not to grin too widely. 'Really, just how old was she?'
"So you like Doraemon, how about a Doraemon movie?"
"But you did not guess the right movie."
"I was right about Fuku-chan."
"Everybody loves Masha-nii." Orihime defended.
"Two out of three?" Ichigo pleaded. "And please make it easy."
Why not?
"What is my favorite fruit?" Orihime asked.
'This is easy?' 'For once, don't let me down.'
"Strawberries."
Ichigo looked at Orihime. She nodded with wonderment in her eyes and he felt like he has achieved something tremendous.
"How did you know?"
"I'll tell you on our date. Now's what's the final question?" He was feeling smug.
"My favorite manga?"
'Crap and double crap.'
"There are so many titles, give me more guesses." Ichigo bargained with Orihime.
"I will let you have three chances, if any of them is considered my top three loves then you win." "Fair?" She presented.
"Five chances." He wanted to win.
"Oh, alright." Did she want him to win too?
'Doraemon is too obvious and this girl has a quaint taste in what she like.' Ichigo thought about it thoroughly.
'Here's goes nothing.'
"Naruto, Kaichou Wa Maid-Sama, Vampire Knight, 'Thank God for little sisters.' "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi and Beelzebub." He finished and waited anxiously.
He could not decipher the look in her eyes. "I have to go find my brothers." She bowed.
He did not understand. He was wrong on all of them. He felt... What was he feeling?
"What's the manga?" He wanted to know so he can buy copies and burn them.
"Ore wa Kaizoku-o ni nari tai."
How he hate Luffy now.
He watched her walking away.
"Onee-san."
"Rie, do you know where you brothers are?"
Ichigo decided to take a chance. "Rie-chan, what are your aneki's favorite manga?
"Come on Rie, let's go." Orihime was close to dragging her sister away.
"Wait onee-san. Just let me answer." Rie was a polite girl.
"Onee-san loves One Piece." Orihime let out a sign of relief. "She also like Kaichou Wa Maid-Sama and Vampire Knight." "She has a crush on Takumi and Zero when she was younger." Rie said innocently.
"Rie!"
"Rie-chan, I need to talk to your aneki. Do you mind going ahead and look for your brothers by yourself first?"
"Okay." Rie skipped away.
"Rie, wait up."
"Inoue, you lied."
"No, I didn't. I liked them." She emphasized the past tense.
"It's a date, Inoue."
"No."
"Yes."
"Come on, Inoue. It's just a date." "What are you afraid of?" "Are you scared of me?" This girl is always making him beg.
She shook her head.
"Just agree to it." "You know you want to." He knew because he wanted it badly as well.
She stared at him. She was thinking. "On one condition."
"What?"
"I bring my brothers and sister with me." Orihime invited her siblings on their behalf.
"Then it won't be a date but babysitting those two horrors from hell." Ichigo was frustrated.
"Hey, my little brothers are angels." Orihime defended her heavenly beings.
"Maybe to you." "Can you change your mind?" Ichigo really did not want to beg.
"No." Orihime was staying firm.
"No? I will think about it." He was losing.
"Give me your answer before Oto-san is discharged." Inoue Orihime gave him a bow and went to find her brothers.
Kurosaki Ichigo was not looking forward to this family outing.
Thanks for reading. Comments and suggestions are warmly welcome.
Question : Seduction and/or almost rape scenes considered as 'M'?
Correction of any mistakes, grammar or otherwise will be deeply appreciated.
Remember, no internet access, no update. Sorry.