Hello again! I hope you're all enjoying your summers; I know I am. :) I just my new computer for school and it works like a dream! Maybe I'll finally update on time ;)

Girl, I gotta know
how you dance like that, dance like that,
you dance like that
'cause you're putting on a show.

If you wanna **** me, I won't say no.

Touchin' On My - 3OH!3

Chapter 14: On Misunderstandings and the Opposite of Misunderstandings
(This title was too long to fit in the drop down chapter list haha :)

-Ichigo-

For someone who was supposedly completely innocent, Rukia was a surprisingly good dancer.

Ichigo had protested initially, asking, "how can you enjoy all these people touching you?" and "how can you call this dancing? This is the most pathetic excuse for dancing I've ever seen."

But, after a few songs, he fell victim to the pounding bass and the hypnotic pair of hips rocking against him. Ichigo had no idea how long they stayed like that, in the middle of the dance floor, moving with the rhythm yet still maintaining contact with each other as much as possible.

Rukia's hair smelled amazing. Ichigo lost himself, savoring the feeling of her locks brushing against the base of his neck and the way the skin on her torso felt soft and warm between the waist of her shorts and the high hem of her shirt.

And her lips, barely parted, drove him crazy when she ran her small, wet tongue over them so that they glistened when she turned to look at him.

So, really, Ichigo was not completely in his right mind when he took her chin in one hand and, ever so slightly, tilted her head to cover those pink lips with his own.

Rukia was delicious.

Ichigo pulled her in closer, deepening the kiss and letting his free hand wrap around her waist and up the small of her back. Rukia's hands pressed against his chest and her mouth slid open. Ichigo parted his lips and her tongue barely touched his own before he realized his mistake.

Rukia pushed harder away from him, hands curling into fists on his chest, and met his gaze with a look of shock.

His arms were still holding her against him, in an effort to protect her from the world and keep her there with him, but she broke away easily. His hands fell limply to his sides as she took a step back, pained confusion apparent on her elegant face, and then disappeared into the writhing mass.

How many times am I going to screw this up?

-Rukia-

She found Matsumoto on her way to the bathroom.

Fortunately, the strawberry blonde didn't ask questions until they had successfully chased out two people smoking and locked the bathroom door behind them.

"You look like a fright. What happened?"

Rukia sat down on the edge of the bath tub and covered her face with her hands.

"I-I don't know. He kissed me and I got scared." Rukia looked up at her friend helplessly and added, "so I came here."

Matsumoto smiled and sat down on the floor next to her friend. "Well, that's certainly not the conventional reaction. Did you want him to kiss you?"

Didn't I?

"I thought so." Rukia ran a hand through her hair. "It just happened so fast. At first, it was like a scene from a movie and then he kept touching me and everyone was watching and… I don't know."

Matsumoto nodded and responded quietly, "I don't think he meant to make you uncomfortable, Ru. I think it was an honest mistake."

Rukia looked at her friend timidly. "You think he's mad?"

Matsumoto took Rukia's hand in her own. "Of course not, silly! He actually seems like an ok guy and anyone with eyes can see he's nuts about you."

She giggled and poked Rukia in the side playfully, causing Rukia to crack a smile as well.

"I don't think I've ever seen you get this way over a boy. Don't get me wrong, you definitely have good taste, but I'm surprised at you. I didn't think you'd ever find a guy at all."

Rukia was slightly hurt by her friend's brutal honesty and she found herself responding more sharply than she had intended, "I've been busy. It's not easy to keep up a social life when you're expected to live up to the Kuchiki name."

Bitterness clouded her eyes as she continued, "especially with Byakuya being so bossy all the time. It's like I'm just another business partner to him sometimes. He never lets me do anything unless it's beneficial for the company; he barely even let me come out here."

Rukia trailed off into silence. She sighed and found Matsumoto's eyes watching her sadly.

"It's a lot of pressure on him. I'm sure he's just trying to do what he thinks is best for you," the girl said soothingly.

Rukia realized arguing further was pointless. Matsumoto was one of the few people that had known both Rukia and Byakuya before the accident and still maintained contact.

Being two years older than Rukia put Matsumoto directly between of the ages of the Kuchiki siblings, meaning that she had been friends with both almost equally. Of course, Byakuya had cut off most of his childhood ties when he became president of Kuchiki Inc. at age 12.

Though a Board of Advisors ran the company until Byakuya could legally accept his title, he was consumed by the business at a young age but Rukia knew Matsumoto had never given up the image of her brother as the carefree little boy that visited every summer and often played with the girls during the long hot days.

Rukia pushed against the sad memories. She and Byakuya rarely spoke of it and now the suppression was habit. She searched her mind for a different topic.

"You know, Ichigo asked me out earlier." Rukia said after a pause, causing the older girl to gasp excitedly.

"Really! What did you say?"

Rukia smiled despite herself. "I said yes. But I can't imagine he'll still want to after...you know."

Matsumoto rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. Just tell him you want to take things a little slower. I'm sure he'll understand."

Rukia giggled, most of her concerns put to rest by her old friend's unwavering support.

"You're probably right. Thanks." Rukia smiled sheepishly, aware now that she had overreacted.

Matsumoto smiled and pulled her into a hug. "Anytime, Ru. Now, let's get back out there before the sun rises and everyone leaves!"

Rukia allowed herself to be lead back out into the quickly dwindling crowd of people.

Much to her surprise, the two girls found Gin talking with Ichigo in the kitchen. Rukia immediately became worried but their conversation seemed civil enough. Gin even smirked slightly at something Ichigo said before grinning widely at his girlfriend's return.

"Sorry, boys. We had to freshen up." Matsumoto smiled brightly, giggling as Gin placed an arm around her shoulders and kissed her gently on top of her head.

Rukia risked a cautious glance at Ichigo but he didn't return her look.

"Shall we go find the rest of your friends? I believe most people are starting to leave now." Gin suggested, politely addressing the tension.

"Yeah, good idea." Ichigo turned to walk away and Rukia started after him.

"Thanks for the party! I'll see you before we leave on Saturday!" Rukia called over her shoulder once she realized that Matsumoto and Gin had become too preoccupied with each other to find anyone else.

When she turned to continue following Ichigo, she found him stopped in front of her.

"I'm sorry about earlier."

He truly did look sorry, his shoulders sagged and his eyes almost refused to meet hers.

Rukia instantly felt guilty for upsetting him. "Don't be. I just… needed some time to think."

Ichigo looked at her with a guarded expression. "Think about what?"

-Ichigo-

Of course…

Ichigo looked at the girl in front of him carefully.

She's going to run away now. She's going to leave. Just like-

"I want to take things a little slower."

What?

"What do you mean?" Ichigo forced down the hope that was rising inside him.

Rukia spoke slowly, blushing as she finished. "I just think we should wait and see what happens before we get too serious. I don't want to rush into anything."

Ichigo felt the heaviness evaporate from his chest and he exhaled slowly. She wasn't going to leave just as he was really falling for her.

She was still here, looking at him with eyes full of concern and kindness; eyes just like his mother's.

Ichigo felt a relieved, goofy grin tug at his mouth and he was unable to fully conceal it.

"That's just fine with me."

Rukia smiled back at him and shyly intertwined her delicate fingers with his.

"Ready to go home?"

Their hands fit together comfortably and Ichigo had to force himself to respond as they walked into the living room.

"Chad and Uryuu agreed to help clean up but we'll be there soon. I'm pretty sure the girls are waiting for you by the front door."

Rukia squeezed his hand slightly.

"Well, then, good night, Ichigo."

He squeezed back before she left him to catch up with Orihime and Tatsuki.

"Good night, Rukia."

Aww! I hope you enjoyed reading that as much as I enjoyed writing it :)

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