Hello everyone. This is my second story for my participation for IchiRuki month. I'm actually a few hours late, I wrote this story in six hours. But I hope that you guys will like this story. Please bear with my grammar as English is not my native language.

Prompt: Florist

Author's note: I do not own Bleach, sadly

Florist

Walking in the rain, Kuchiki Rukia smiled when she saw that she had arrived at her location. She gave a happy sigh and entered the flower shop that was right in front of her. Masaki-san always has beautiful flowers and they make mom so happy, she thought by herself.

When she entered the shop, she did not see Masaki-san or someone else. That's weird, she thought, they are still open. Rukia knew that because she had visited the flower shop for quite a while and had gotten to know the owner very well. The owner was a beautiful, sweet woman who always gave warm smiles and her name was Masaki. Rukia had gotten to know Masaki-san's youngest daughter too and Rukia loved to talk to the mother and daughter.

''Soemimasen, is there anyone?''

She heard a soft noise and suddenly she remembered all the horror movies that she ever has watched and specifically remembers all those scenes where the victims are always alone and they know that someone is there, also that, that someone is always a killer. Now she was getting scared and the fact that it was raining and thundering did not help her at all.

''H-h-hello?'', she tried again and suddenly the lights went out. Now she could hear her heartbeat loud and clearly. She gulped.

''BOO'', she heard suddenly and she screamed out loud. In her shock, she suddenly heard laughter and noticed that the lights had turned back on. Turning towards the laughter, she saw a tall, orange-haired, tan boy, who was clearly laughing at her. Realizing the situation, she kicked him in the shins.

''Umpf, what was that for?'', he asked while glaring at her.

''Really, you are asking me what that was for?! What do you think?'', she asked while putting her hands on her hips.

Realizing why he had earned it, he started to laugh again. ''That was hilarious.''

''Really, well I think that it was hilarious when I kicked you, you big baka!''

''Watch your tone, midget!'', he said while glaring at her.

''Who did you call midget, you monster of Frankenstein?''

''Why you…'' and just before they could continue their bickering, they were interrupted by the bell signaling that someone had just entered the flower shop. Turning towards the door, they heard the person say, ''Sorry, I'm late, Ichigo. But your father couldn't come earlier and I could not leave the twins alone, while they are sick. Did you…'' And then she looked up to see Rukia; ''Oh, konichiwa Rukia-chan, how are you?''

There in front of them stood Kurosaki Masaki, the owner of the flower shop. Rukia immediately straightened up and gave an innocent smile.

''Konichiwa Masaki-san, I'm fine. How are you? I was surprised when I didn't see you here.''

Besides her, she heard the tall boy mumbling something about horrible acting, but she refused to give him any of her attention.

''I'm fine too, dear. Actually, I had to take care of my sick twins.'', seeing how Rukia wanted to ask about their health, she continued ''Fortunately, they are better now. But I did not want to leave them alone, so I had to wait for my husband to come home. That's why I had asked Ichigo to help me in the store and he agreed. This is my son, Ichigo.'' Then she turned towards her son, ''Ichigo, I hope that you are helping Rukia-chan. She is one of my favorite customers.'', Masaki told her son. Ichigo gulped seeing that Rukia smirking at him from the side. Crap, he thought, if she will tell oka-san about my prank, oka-san will not be happy with me.

Rukia smirked seeing Ichigo's gulp and knew that she could use it to her advantage. ''Why yes, Masaki-san. He just asked me how he could help me, but I haven't asked him yet if you have received the lotuses yet?''

''Oh yes, we have. Ichigo, please help Rukia-chan, while I will do some administration.'' Masaki told her son sweetly, before walking towards into her office, that was at the back of the shop. When she closed her office door, Rukia smirked at Ichigo.

''Now, be a good boy and help me, Strawberry.''

''Shut up, midget!'', but seeing how she was going to call his mother, he put his hand in front of her mouth. ''Okay, okay. I will help you, just do not call my mother.'', he whispered at her and her eyes beamed at him, before he let go of her mouth and she followed him towards the lotuses.

After a while she had ordered some white lotuses and orange peonies. Ichigo groaned when he realized that he would have to make a bouquet for her, he was the worst for doing that and did not want to disturb his mother. But, he decided, he would try to do it. How bad could it be.

A few minutes later…

Apparently, it could be very bad. After ten minutes, his patience was getting thinner and thinner. He had tried to make a bouquet a couple of times, but it just turned out ugly.

''Ano, should I do it?'', he looked up and saw Rukia staring up at him, with her eyes asking him to let her do it. She took pity on him and saw how thinner his patience had gotten. So, she decided to help him.

''Che, will you be able to do it, midget?''

''Watch and learn, Strawberry.'', she said before walking over to the counter and putting a bouquet together. Ichigo couldn't help but stare at the bouquet that she had made in a few seconds. Rukia looked at him victoriously. Turns out that those Kuchiki-lessons have paid off, she thought. She smirked at him and asked him if she could pay as it had already stopped raining and she needed to go home.

Not long after she left, Masaki returned back from the office and told him to start cleaning as it was closing time.

''Oka-san?''

''Hmmm?''

''That girl, does she come here often?''

''Who, Rukia? Yes, she comes here every week to get a bouquet and once in a while she will also get an ikebana-piece.''

''Every week? Why?''

''Well, the sweet child loves to surprise her mother with flowers.'' Then she gave him a sweet smile ''Just like you, she wants to make her mother happy.'' Suddenly she smirked at him ''Why the sudden interest, Ichigo?''

''Nothing, I was just wondering how you two knew each other so familiarly'', he said while turning red. Masaki giggled and both mother and son continued cleaning.

The next week Rukia had returned back to the shop to get another bouquet for her mother. After paying for it, she wanted to leave, but Masaki stopped her.

''Rukia-chan, do you have a minute?''

''Sure, Masaki-san, what's the matter?''

''Well, if I'm correct, then you still do have vacation, right?'' Rukia nodded and she continued. ''As you are one of my favorite customers and you come here regularly, would you like to work here as a vacation job?''

''Huh?'' Rukia had not expected that question ''Why me, Masaki-san? I do not know how to use the counter and I'm not that friendly or social or anything and I…'' But Masaki interrupted her while laughing ''Do not worry, Rukia-chan. It's just that Ichigo told me how quickly you made a bouquet and I do need some extra help. The twins will help their father at the clinic and Ichigo is horrible at decorating, but he can run the counter. And I think that you are very friendly and social, Rukia-chan.''

''Only with you and Yuzu-chan, but trust me, I'm not.''

Masaki put her hand on Rukia's shoulder and squeezed it ''Between you and me, Rukia-chan, I think that you are friendlier and more social than my son. You always give a sweet smile, while he is always scowling.''

Rukia giggled at this and Masaki smiled at her ''So, will you consider it to work here?''

Rukia nodded ''I will talk about it with my parents and then I will let you know.''

Masaki nodded while smiling and both bit each other goodbye.

Two weeks later…

''Have a nice day, Tanaka-san.'' Rukia said while waving the older woman goodbye. Turning around, she saw that the shop was empty of customers and decided to make some bouquets already as she had the time to do it now. Masaki was right when she told her that Ichigo was horrible at it and he did scowl a lot, which scared a lot of customers. Rukia was glad to take the offer, she practiced her skills again to make bouquets, she brought more flowers at home than before, which made her mother happy and she got to work with Masaki-san, who was the best boss ever.

''How come you are so good at it?'', she heard Ichigo ask her from behind, while she was making the bouquets. And she got to annoy the Strawberry, which was a big plus in her book. She smiled at him ''Are you jealous, Strawberry?''

Now he stood beside her ''Che, no. I was just wondering. Did you teach it at school or something?''

''Not really from school, but I had a tutor who taught me this.''

This made him raise an eyebrow ''An tutor?''

She looked at the side ''My father is a noble man and as I come from a noble family, I had to learn this, ikebana and calligraphy.''

''Y-y-you're a noble?''

She gave him a sad look ''Please, don't think differently about me. Every time someone hears it, people start to act different towards me.''

''Different, how?''

''Let's say that they all stay away from me, ignore me or talk old Japanese to me.''

''I'm sorry to hear that.''

She gave him a happy sigh while working at the other bouquet ''It's alright, it's not your fault. If anything, I like how you have figured my behavior out.''

''Che, it wasn't figuring anything out. I just saw through your bad acting skills and also, you weren't acting so ''innocent'' when I first met you.''

This earned him a glare ''Jeez, maybe that was because you scared the hell out of me.''

''There she is'', he said while smirking at her.

''Huh?'', she asked while looking confused at him.

''There she is, the true Kuchiki Rukia, who can curse and look mad at someone.''

This made her giggle, which made Ichigo smile. Rukia did not pay much attention to the flowers and she accidentally pricked her finger at a torn.

''OUCH!'', she shouted.

''What, what happened?''

''I pricked my finger at a torn'', she said with her big wide eyes. Before she could turn and do something about it, Ichigo took her hand in his and looked at the wound. And before they realized it, he took her finger in his mouth and sucked on the wound.

Rukia stood there in shock to turn red from blushing and could hear her heartbeat loud and clearly, again. His mouth feels so warm, she thought by herself.

Ichigo took her finger out of his mouth and looked at the finger again ''Is that better?'', he asked and Rukia wondered if it was her imagination that he sounded so huskily.

She didn't dare to say anything, so she just nodded at him.

''Come on, let's put a sunny plaster on it'' and he did not let go of her hand while walking towards the office to get a plaster.

When they had just put a plaster on it, they heard Masaki yelling that she got them lunch, while entering the shop. And for the rest of the day, the two of them were bickering as Ichigo would not let Rukia do anything because of her wound too which Rukia yelled at him that it was a small wound and that he did not need to be so dramatic.

Four days later…

Rukia grinned while watching Ichigo helping a customer. The customer was a tall blond young woman, who couldn't decide which bouquet to choose. Every time she thought that she had chosen one, she would walk back to get another one. This had been going on for an hour and she could see that Ichigo was having difficulty with keeping his patience. Just then Masaki had decided to step in. Ichigo quickly walked towards the counter while rolling his eyes and complaining. Seeing how Rukia was smiling at him, he glared at her.

''Not funny.''

''Actually, I think that it is funny.''

''For you, maybe. For me, not so much.''

Then he looked away, ''Say Rukia?''

''Hmmm?''

''Do, do you mind to teach me later how to make some nice bouquets?''

She had to smirk when she saw his cheeks turn red and nodded ''Sure, why not?! How hopeless could it be?''

Turns out, it could be very hopeless. Today was the fourth day and Ichigo still was hopeless with bouquets. Out of frustration, both of them would yell at each other.

Giving a sigh, Rukia tried again with the flowers in front of her. ''Watch me again, Ichigo.'' And she started to make a new bouquet. Meanwhile Ichigo walked closer to her and Rukia had to gulp when she felt his warmth against her backside. She remembered how warm his mouth had felt and tried to focus on something else.

''Ne, Ichigo?''

''Hmmm?''

''I was wondering something…''

''What?''

''Well, I think that it is sweet how you are helping your mother with her shop. But your mother told me that your sisters are helping your father at the clinic and I could not help but wondering…''

''Why I'm not helping at the clinic?'' This made him laugh, ''Took you long enough to ask this question. Actually, my old man is a nutcase and both of us know that if we would work together at the clinic, let's just say that that will not be great for the patients. But my sisters know how to handle the old man and I enjoy spending time with my oka-san and y…'' But he stopped himself before he could finish that sentence and was glad that she did not notice his slip.

Rukia smiled at his answer, she thought it was sweet how he does everything for his mother. Completing the bouquet, she let out a happy smile. ''There, finished.'' Then she turned around, but turning around both of them realized how close to each other they were standing. Both felt a heated temperature and Ichigo couldn't help but gaze at her lips. If her hands were already soft, how soft would her lips be?, he wondered again. Ever since he helped her with her wound, that thought came up his mind. Rukia blushingly looked downwards and felt something funny in her stomach.

''Ichigo, now you try to do the bouquet'', she said as that was her attempt to distract both of them from the situation. Ichigo nodded and she stepped aside to give him the space.

When he wanted to say something, she shushed him as she told him that he needed to be quiet, so that he could completely focus on the bouquet. After fifteen minutes, he looked nervously at Rukia.

''What do you think?''

She looked at the bouquet with an emotionless expression, which made Ichigo gulp. Then she looked up at him and he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw her smiling at him.

''You did it!''

''H-huh? I-I did what?'', he asked with wide eyes.

She nodded at him, while giving him a big smile. ''You finally did it, Ichigo! I'm so proud'' and before she knew it, she had given him a hug, which he returned.

When she heard his heartbeat next to her ear, she realized what they had done and she broke of the hug. Ichigo had to control himself not to sniff her hair, which always smelled like sakura-blossoms. She turned away from him and just then she realized what time it was.

''Oh shit, it's already so late. I need to get home.'', she exclaimed. Ichigo looked at the clock and realized that she was right. Just then, Masaki walked towards them from the office, where she was doing her administration.

''Ichigo, be a dear and walk Rukia home, please?''

''What? No, that's not necessary.'', Rukia said.

''Nonsense, dear. I don't want you walking this late alone. It's not safe.''

''But I don't want to bother, I'm sure that…''

''Nonsense, midget. I will walk you home, oka-san is right. It's not safe, so I will walk you home.'', he said while interrupting her.

Rukia turned her gaze towards Masaki ''But Masaki-san, what about you?''

Masaki smiled at her ''I will be here till late and when I will be done, I will call Isshin to pick me up. So do not worry about me and go home, Rukia-chan.''

And before Rukia could protest, Ichigo grabbed her bag and coat and held her wrist, while dragging her with him. ''Now, do not argue with us and accept the fact that I will walk you home!''

When they had entered the flower shop, Masaki laughed, while shaking her head, ''He can be as stubborn as his father.''

Meanwhile…

Rukia couldn't stop staring at her wrist that was being held by Ichigo. It felt nice, but she would not admit that, ever. She tried to think of a subject, so that her focus would be anywhere else.

''Ano…''

Ichigo turned his gaze towards her and slowed his step. ''Hmmm?''

''You and Yuzu-chan do not really look like each other, right?''

Ichigo smiled ''True, you must have noticed that Yuzu looks like oka-san, right?''

She nodded ''Ah, but I heard that Yuzu-chan has a twin, right?''

He nodded ''Ah, Karin. Karin and I actually look alike.''

Her eyes grew big ''Really?'', she asked in wonder.

He nodded and then started to laugh ''She does not have orange hair, if you were thinking that.'' Rukia looked down in embarrassment, she actually thought that when he told her that they looked alike. Seeing that, he continued 'Actually, I'm the only one who has orange hair, but apparently, that's from my mother's side. Karin and I have the same features, the two of us look like my dad, but because Karin has black hair, she looks more like him.'' This made him laugh from the inside, because he knew that if he would say that in front of Karin, then she would kick his ass.

Then he looked at his companion ''And who do you look like?''

Rukia looked at him ''I look like my mother, the only thing that differs us, is that stray of her in front of us face. Mine goes to the side and that of mine mom is at the middle of her face.''

''So, you both have that stubborn bang?''

She nodded and shrugged ''Yes, it's actually something from her side of the family. Apparently, my grandmother had it also.''

Just then she stopped walking. Ichigo stopped with her too and he looked at her, wondering why she had stopped.

Rukia turned her gaze towards him and smiled at him ''We are here.''

Turning his gaze forward, his eyes widened in shock. There, in front of him, there was a big mansion.

''Y-you live here?''

''I already told you that my family is noble.''

''Well, knowing and seeing are two different things.''

This made her raise an eyebrow ''Now, don't act this weird, Strawberry. Remember what I told you before?''

He smiled remembering what she said and he nodded at her ''Don't worry, midget. To me you still are that evil midget who is terrible at acting.''

Really, he should have seen that kick coming.

Two days later…

Right now, the two of them were once again practicing the bouquets. The shop had just closed and Rukia frowned at Ichigo's behavior. The whole day he had been acting secretively and a few times she caught him whispering with Masaki. Whenever they would notice her, they would quit whispering and acted as if there was nothing. She was surprised when he asked her to practice again, but she nodded at him anyway. He was so cute when he acted so excited. Rukia snapped out of her thoughts, when she heard him call her name.

''Rukia, look at this. How did I do?'' and before he could show her the bouquet, she heard him grunt in pain.

''Ichigo, what happened?'' and when she looked at his hand, she realized what had happened. This time the tables had turned around. Ichigo had stabbed his finger at a thorn and before she realized what she was doing, she put his finger in her mouth, to suck the wound. Really, this time the tables had turned around.

Looking up, she saw him looking at her in wonder and with red cheeks. She pulled his finger out of her mouth and looked first at the wound before looking at him again.

''Does it still hurt?'', she asked.

He shook his head and she told him that she would get a plaster for him. Still, not trusting his voice, he nodded at her and she quickly went to grab him a plaster. When she had put the plaster on his wound, her tummy grumbled so hard, that she could die of embarrassment. She did not dare to look up at Ichigo and looked sideways.

''Rukia?''

''Hmmm?''

''Go and wash your hands.''

She frowned at this order, but seeing how he silently plead with her to do that, she shrugged and walked towards the bathroom, in the office, to wash her hands. When she had finished washing her hands, she walked back towards the shop, but got surprised as the office door to the shop would not open.

''What the…? Ichigo, Ichigo?''

But she did not get any reply. Trying to get his attention, she knocked at the door and fumbled with the handle, but to no avail. He did not notice her.

A few minutes later she heard a click and opening the door, she saw Ichigo standing in front of her, scratching the backside of his head. Looking behind her, she saw that the lights were dimmed. Frowning, she stepped aside to look what was up and she gasped.

The flower shop had gotten a full makeover. In front of the windows there were placed lotuses and in front of the walls there were placed lilies. The full floor was covered in petals of different flowers and in the middle of the shop, was the table, which normally was used to make bouquets, but right now there was a table cloth on it, with three candles and a vase with roses in it. Besides the vase and candles, there were two plates, two glasses and some dishes on the table.

Rukia turned towards Ichigo, who was still scratching his head.

''I-Ichigo, you did this?''

He looked nervously at her ''Do you like it?''

She looked incredulously at him ''Do I like it, I love it! But why did you do it?''

Now, he turned more red ''Isn't it obvious?'' Seeing her confused expression, he continued ''I-I like spending time with you and I thought, that maybe if you will let me, I could take you out on a date. Oka-san thought that it was a nice idea to do it here, as we met each other in this shop, but if you don't like it, you may leave and I won't blame you, nor will I be angry at you and…'', but before he could continue, he heard her giggling. This made him look at her in wonder.

''Rukia?''

She walked up at him and looked up at him with beaming eyes ''Yes, I would like to have a date with you. I also have to agree with Masaki-san, it's nice to have a date here. Especially, with the way how you have decorated everything. I did not know that you had it in you, Strawberry!''

Ichigo shrugged ''I aim to please. Also, I have to thank oka-san for it, who has helped my very much.''

''So that's why the two of you were acting suspiciously. For someone telling me that I'm a bad actress, I have to say that you are in desperate need of acting skills. You cannot act very subtly.''

''Che, I only did it for now. It wasn't easy to plan this, but I'm glad that you like it.''

She smiled at him, which he returned, but then they were interrupted by the sound of her tummy, again. Rukia felt so embarrassed and did not know which way to look.

Ichigo smiled at her reaction and dragged her towards the table. He pulled a chair for her and when she sat down, he helped her before he started to sit down across from her.

The aroma made Rukia smile. ''This smells amazing, how did you get this food?''

He smirked at her ''That I have to thank Yuzu for''

''Yuzu-chan made this?''

He nodded ''She is a great chef and somehow she heard about all of this and offered me to cook for us, as she knows your favorites. And if you think that this is amazing, then you should taste it''

Rukia looked at him in wonder. All of this and just for her. She felt very happy.

The two of them started to eat and talked about everything.

When they were done, Ichigo looked at her in wonder.

''So…?''

''So?''

He took a deep breath and told himself that it was now or never. ''Would you like to go out on a date with me, again?''

She smiled at him ''Sure, but I will have to warn you.''

He looked at her in shock ''W-what's that?''

Then she gave him a smile ''Nothing will beat this date in this flower shop, I doubt it.''

He shrugged at her and gave her a lazy smile ''We will see about that.''

And both of them smiled at each other, knowing that all of this was thanks to this job.

So, here it is. Confession: I thought that the prompt was flower shop and when I had finished it, I realized the prompt was florist. But I really wanted to share this story with you and it a bit in that prompt. Still, I hope that you guys will like it and please do leave a review. They really motivate me.