A/N: Wow, over a dozen to thank for reviews again! Rukia Kurosakii, KurukiXV, Amaterasu Ai, mrsbieber, theaCoi, Rukia's Reflection, bcsaturdai, 1290r5, ichigo's future wife, starsandstuff, CharmedNightSkye, okami11235, falconrukichi, Chichita, and sblack13. And thank you to everyone who put this or its author on their lists. Okay, gang, same warning as before: tissues, glass of water, gag, and a quiet corner so that you can laugh and not embarrass yourself.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Bleach character, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Tite Kubo et al.
Saying I Will
The Gotei Thirteen, Isshin, And Urahara Are Involved
Yoruichi stood on top of a ten story building watching as Rukia and Ichigo left the restaurant. Beside her one of Soi Fon's men was video taping what they were doing and behind her were two men, bound and gagged by kido. "Follow them discreetly but don't involve yourself unless it looks like they're in danger."
"Yes, Yoruichi-sama." The squad member took off quickly, leaving her alone with Isshin and Kisuke.
"You two will stay out of their business. I don't know what devious plans you had in mind but letting you run loose while those two enjoy a romantic evening is not an option."
They made muffled noises and tried to look innocent. Neither were very good at it and Yoruichi merely shook her head. "Not on your life. The only reason I agreed to ask Soi Fon for her men was because I thought Byakuya-bo would take the opportunity to use the Stealth Squad for covert spying. I'm just as interested as everyone else in what goes on but I don't approve in active meddling." She had half a mind to go lecture the noble but to do so would mean to leave the two at her feet without supervision. Eventually they would work out how to disable the kido and she needed to be there to stop anything they might try. She was tempted to rifle through the shopkeeper's pockets just to see what he had planned but thought better of it. Any disruption of the kido could break the spell. The two would take off and while she was faster at shunpo than both, she could only go after one at a time.
"You can just sit there and think about what you have done and what you wanted to do. Right about now Ichigo and Rukia should be sitting down to a movie."
Ichigo slid into the seat half way down the isle and made himself as comfortable as he was likely to get while Rukia did likewise. Two rows back he could sense the two Shinigami who had followed them in, not bothering to try to hide their presence. Toushiro looked like he was facing a fate worse than death and the girl with him had waved, seemingly delighted to be watching a movie about romance.
"Who's the girl again?"
"That's Hinamori-fukutaicho. She was the one tricked and hurt most by Aizen," Rukia whispered, not wanting the younger girl to hear her.
"Ah, and she's dating Toushiro?"
"I don't know about that but they did grow up together." The room darkened and the screen opened wider so that it could be used fully. Ichigo stayed silent, wondering if he would get in trouble with her if he dozed.
Rukia's attention remained fixed on the screen, her hand traveling to her necklace every so often. She could feel Ichigo's gaze on her each time and eventually pulled away from the story long enough to meet his dark honey gaze. The look in his eye was softer than his normal frown and she smiled happily. Giving a satisfied sigh, she laid her head on his shoulder and continued to watch the movie. Since she could feel the utter boredom in Captain Hitsugaya's reiatsu, she had little to fear that he was paying attention to what she and Ichigo were doing.
After several minutes of comedic high jinx on the part of the characters, Rukia shivered, noticing the significant drop in temperature of the room. Her sweater had been enough outside but for some reason she was beginning to get chilled. She hadn't felt any spike in the ice captain's reiatsu so couldn't figure out why it was suddenly below the normal temperature.
"Toushiro…" Ichigo growled.
"I'm not doing it," the captain hissed back. Momo shivered next to him and Hitsugaya took off his jacket and gave it to her. She'd always chilled easily. A down side to having a fire type Zanpakutou.
The teen turned around, staring intently into the teal eyes of his friend. "If you're not doing it, how is it getting colder in here by the second? Are you sure your dragon isn't mad or something?"
Hyorinmaru?
It is not I, little one. The ambient temperature is changing by itself.
"He says it's not him," Toushiro returned, his angry gaze daring the other man to disagree.
"And it's not Sode no Shirayuki?"
"No," Rukia hissed.
"Then how…Oh, hell." If he concentrated hard enough he could feel the reiatsus of his father and Urahara. "I'm going to kill them." Ichigo stood and shucked off his jacket, wrapping it around Rukia's shoulders. "I'll be right back."
"Wait, Yoruichi-san is coming," Momo said, holding up a hand. "I think I can at least warm the air with my kido."
While Momo tried to keep the room at a comfortable level, the others focused their senses on the irate cat woman that was heading for the roof. "I wouldn't want to be those two," she whispered to her friend.
"Che, they deserve anything she does to them," he returned.
Yoruichi scolded herself for taking her eyes off the two men for a moment. Her childhood friend must have anticipated her reaction because her kido had been effectively neutralized once she wasn't paying attention. They had taken off in two different directions, just like she knew they would, both ending up at the cinema. There they apparently had some prearranged scheme, lowering the temperature of the theater enough so that the teens and anyone else in the room would get chilled.
"Kisuke!" she shouted, hardening her fist with Shunko, ready to pound both into the ground.
Isshin looked up and yelped, leaping away just before she hit him. Urahara rolled away but not before taking a blow to the side from the energy of the attack. "We just wanted them to cuddle!" the blond defended.
"You idiots, they probably would have. Now they're too cold to enjoy the blasted movie!" Her fist hit the roof of the theater again and the trio stopped at the unmistakable sound of an alarm going off.
"Oops," Urahara snickered, and found himself on his knees whimpering.
"Great, just great."
Ichigo swore, Toushiro silently echoing the sentiment as everyone made for the exit while the sprinklers tried to put out an imaginary fire. "Let's get out of here," he said, grabbing Rukia's hand and leading the Shinigami trio out of the screening room.
"That was interesting," Momo said, trying to lighten the mood. "The Living World is so much more fascinating than you said it was, Shiro-chan."
"What did I tell you about calling me that?" he grumbled, trying to wring the water out of his clothes.
"Yes, yes, I know."
Rukia looked at her superiors and then at Ichigo. Gazing down at herself, she couldn't prevent the giggle that came bubbling out of her mouth. "What could possibly be funny about this?" Ichigo glared down at his date, wanting to know what she found so amusing. "My father and Urahara ruined our date and Yoruichi inadvertently caused the fire suppression system to activate in an attempt to punish them. Your brother had us followed, spied on and even chaperoned. These two I don't mind but Rangiku-san and Hisagi-san? And if that didn't beat all, a Gillian and several Hollows showed up."
"Oh, come on, Ichigo, think about it. We wanted a nice, normal date. We should have known something like this would happen. We are not, nor have we ever been, normal. We shouldn't have expected our first date to be that way." Rukia tugged on his soggy shirt, pulling him down until she could kiss his cheek. "It was perfect, no matter what actually happened. Thank you."
Toushiro snorted, deliberately turning his head so that he could honestly say that he hadn't seen the deeper kiss that followed. "Let's go, Momo. Our job's done. Do me a favor Kurosaki. If you want another date, don't tell your father about it."
"Next time we'll just stay home." Ichigo was about to take Rukia home when a thought occurred to him. "Hey, Toushiro."
"How many times do I have to say it? It's not Toushiro, it's Hitsugaya-taicho!" A vein popped in his forehead, causing his childhood friend to giggle.
"Whatever. I was going to ask you to help me train."
Mom nodded, answering for him. "Oh, sure, he won't mind, Kurosaki-san. Shiro-kun is a good teacher."
"Ah, thanks, Hinamori-san."
"Don't mention it," she smiled, turning with the intent to return to the Seireitei.
"I can answer for myself," Toushiro growled. "Sure, Kurosaki. When you can use your Zanpakutou again, I'll help you train." He left with his friend without another word.
"This has been one strange night." Ichigo removed his jacket from Rukia's shoulders, glad to see that her sweater was only a little damp. The heavy wool of the suit must have protected her from most of the water. "There, you should be all right until we get home."
Rukia smiled, slipping her hand through his arm, despite his wet sleeve. "There, you see, you protected me and you didn't even need your sword."
"It's something, I suppose," he said quietly.
"It's everything."
Four Shinigami and two members of the Stealth Squad watched the couple walk home from their positions in the sky. They had left their gigais with Urahara who was still moaning on the roof of the cinema. "It could have been worse, I suppose."
"Matsumoto, don't even think about what could have made it so. No couple that I know deserve to have a date like what they just had."
"Yes, Captain."
"Che. I suppose it's too much to hope that the water short circuited your camera, Momo."
"Of course, I even caught that last kiss." The bun-haired girl sighed wistfully.
"Hinamori!" Toushiro shouted as the Senkaimon opened. He was pushed through by his lieutenant, having no chance to go back and warn Kurosaki that Byakuya was likely to show up as soon as he'd seen the evidence.
Momo just laughed, amused at his consternation.
Ichigo steadied Rukia while she took off her shoes. They had wrung their clothes out as much as possible and tiptoed into the house, hoping that the girls would let them wait until the morning before asking about the date. He walked her to the room she shared with Karin and Yuzu, her hand securely locked in his. At the door, he waited for her to turn to him. "Shall we end this in a normal way?" he asked, a smirk forming on his lips.
"And what way would that be?"
"A kiss," he said, amusement clear in his voice.
"You mean, that one back at the cinema wasn't it?"
"Of course not, you weren't home yet."
"My, Kurosaki-kun, you are bold tonight."
"Just shut up and kiss me, midget." Pulling her close, he kissed her gently and lingeringly before letting her go. Rukia had no choice but to lean against the door for support.
Before either could say anything, the door swung open and his sisters caught the petite woman by both arms. Looking at their brother evilly, they pulled Rukia into the room. "Goodnight, Ichi-nii," they chorused and shut the door in his face.
Snorting, he left his girl in his sisters' tender mercies and went to get out of his wet clothes. Falling into bed after a shower, Ichigo stared up at the ceiling, aware that he was uncharacteristically happy. "Ichigo! What did you do to Nee-san?"
"I took her out on a date. Go to sleep, Kon."
He listened to the feminine laughter and giggles from the next room and smiled into the dark. Whatever hassles his father and her brother had put them through, it was worth it to hear her laughter. Ichigo thought that he just might make it his personal mission in life to hear it for eternity.