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Also, I'm sorry for any errors. I edited this so much I'm starting to see spots.

Chapter 4

It was now three months since Ichigo had been back. His new apartment was finally furnished, and things at the precinct were familiar to him once again. His time undercover in Hueco Mundo was now just an exciting story to tell. Everything was great. Except for the demon woman that was Rukia Kuchiki. By now, the entire station knew of their disagreements. They also knew to stay clear when one of those arguments started. However, Ichigo had to admit that he sometimes enjoyed getting a rise out her, especially when she scrunched her eyebrows at him. He liked breaking that usually jaded countenance of hers.

It had also become part of his morning routine to piss her off before he got to his desk. It was a competition between them to see who got the first dig in. Ichigo pushed the door open only to find Renji spinning in Kuchiki's seat. He looked around the room. Chad and Uryu weren't in yet, either.
'Hey man,' Renji greeted, stopping the chair so that he faced Ichigo. He put his legs up on Kuchiki's desk.
'Hey,' Ichigo said, feeling oddly disappointed. 'What are you doing here?'
'Rangiku's having fit about going under as a prostitute again. So, it's safer up here.'
Ichigo winced as the memory of Rangiku's outbursts came to him. When Ichigo and Renji first became detectives, they were both sent to vice. It was unpredictable and took every ounce of his energy. Ichigo hated it, and transferred to homicide the first chance he got. He found that homicide was where he belonged, where he shined. He learned that solving murders was the one thing he was actually good at. He made is way to his desk and started on the paperwork for the case he just closed.

'Good morning, fellas.' Ichigo swiveled his chair around to see Mizuiro swan in, closely followed by Kuchiki. Ichigo and Renji gave their greetings. He expected Kuchiki to call him a jackass, or some other version of the sentiment, but she just ignored him as she walked to her desk. She shoved Renji's legs roughly off the top. She then pulled a thick manila envelope out of her desk drawer and handed it to Mizuiro. It was probably information he needed for his next trial.
'I would have just sent a courier, you know. You didn't have come all the way.'
'Yeah, I know, but I needed an excuse to beg you to come to my party tonight,' Mizuiro replied with puppy-dog eyes.
Ichigo groaned inwardly. He was dreading Mizuiro's party. He didn't want to go, but he had promised Tatsuki, his childhood friend, that he would be there. For whatever reason, his presence there seemed important to her. He told himself it wouldn't be that bad. But if Kuchiki was going to be there…

'I know you despise being out,' he started, hands clasped together like he was praying, 'but if I went on my knees and pleaded and then sang your praises, will you come? Pretty please? I need you there.'
'What for?' she asked skeptically.
'Well, I kind of told everyone Ichigo finally met his match, and now they're desperate to meet you?'
'His match?' She asked, one eyebrow raised.
'My match?' Ichigo chimed in with her.
'Yeah, besides you, no one really argues with Ichigo. He's kind of a brute, you know.' Ichigo scowled when Mizuiro turned to smile at him apologetically.
'I know,' she agreed, sending Ichigo one of her pretend smiles. 'Kojima, besides you, who am I even going to talk to there?'
'Chad and Uryu will be there. And after a few drinks I'm sure Ichigo could be nice. Right, buddy?'
'Nope,' was all he said, crossing his arms. Why should he be nice to her? She didn't even like him.
Kuchiki though for a while, 'If I come tonight, IF, you have to tell me every embarrassing thing Kurosaki did in high school'
'Done' Mizuiro beamed.
'Oye!' Ichigo exclaimed, giving Mizuiro one his death stares.
Mizuiro shrugged innocently, said his goodbyes, and left.
'You should go,' Renji told her. Ichigo had now turned his back to them, but his ears remained on their conversation.
'You wanna come with?' she asked, hopefully.
'Can't. I promised Ikkaku and Yumichika I'd join their stakeout.'
'Ah well,' she sighed. 'What are you doing here, by the way?'
'Maybe I missed you,' Renji said. Ichigo's ear perked.
'Nice try, get out.'
Ichigo knew that Renji and Kuchiki were close. But exactly how close where they, he wondered. Not that he cared about Kuchiki or her love life. He was just curious about what kind of men midget demon women dated.
He definitely didn't care.
At all.

Mizuiro's apartment was huge, polished to a high shine. The balcony doors were opened, letting in a cool evening breeze. There was a pool table at one end, where some of Mizuiro's lawyer friends were playing. Soft music flowed from speakers set up in another corner. Ichigo had to admit, this party wasn't too bad. There was even a tended bar, where he was now leaning against, with Tatsuki and Orihime at his side. He tried to pay attention to their conversation but his eyes kept going to the door, waiting for Kuchiki's arrival, if she even decided to come. He told himself that it was because he wanted to be prepared for the moment she showed up and ruined his mood.
'Ichigo, why don't you tell us more about your mission?' Orihime's voice broke through his thoughts.
'Huh? Oh, that? We don't really call it missions,' he replied, took a sip of his whiskey.
'Whatever, just tell us something exciting,' Tatsuki said, thumping on the arm.
He was started to tell the story of how he become the right-hand man to one of the Espada, but was interrupted halfway by Mizuiro.
'Ladies, I'd like you to meet Detective Rukia Kuchiki,' he said excitedly.
Ichigo looked at Kuchiki and immediately forgot what he was saying. She wore a black dress that clung to her torso; the bottom of the dress showed off her hips and flared out halfway down her thigh. The spaghetti straps showed off her toned arms. She had a small purse hanging off her slender shoulder. Her hair was down, moving slightly in the breeze.
Ichigo swallowed thickly.
She came to stand in the space next to him. The strappy heels she wore made her come up just below his shoulder. He looked away quickly. He would never hear the end of it if she caught him staring.
Mizuiro introduced her to the girls.
Orihime smiled politely, eyeing Kuchiki's dress.
Tatsuki shook Kuchiki's hand and said, 'I hear you been giving Ichigo a hard time.'
Rukia shrugged, 'Someone has to.' Ichigo scoffed.
Tatsuki snorted a laugh, 'Oh, I like her.'

'Come, I want to introduce you to Keigo. He's the one with the stories,' Mizuiro told Kuchiki. Ichigo watched as he led her away, his hand at the small of her back. His eyes remained on her as Mizuiro introduced him to Keigo. Ichigo saw Keigo's face light up. The three of them settled on one of the plush couches and began to talk. Kuchiki laughed at something Keigo said.
Ichigo frowned.
At first, Ichigo thought her hatred for him was just hatred for all men. Then he'd seen her relationship with Chad and Uryu. She and Renji had whatever it was they had. She often joked with Yumichika. She was friends with Mizuiro. And now she was laughing with Keigo, a guy she just met.
So no, her hatred was just for him. Ichigo wondered if he and her would ever get along. If he would ever be able to make her laugh like that.
He shook the though away and took another swig of his drink.

'What are they even talking about?' Uryu wondered aloud as he watched the trio that was Kuchiki, Mizuiro and Keigo. He and Chad had joined them soon after Kuchiki's arrival. Ichigo knew full well that those jerks were giving her enough ammunition to pester him with for the rest of the year.
'Keigo is definitely falling for her,' Chad stated as he observed Keigo's bright expression.
Ichigo drained his glass and was about to get another when Keigo bounded up to them. Ichigo could practically see the hearts in his eyes as he said, 'Oh my, God. Rukia is sooo amazing! And soooo beautiful! Is she seeing anyone? I'm gonna ask her-'
'I'm going to stop you there, Keigo,' Uryu said as he pushed his glasses up, 'The last guy that asked Kuchiki out…well, I don't think he ever recovered from that kick…'
Keigo visibly paled. Ichigo couldn't stop his smirk.
'We never saw the guy again,' added Chad, dead serious.
Keigo merely walked away, sullen and defeated. Tatsuki and Orihime followed him, patting his back sympathetically as they went.
'Is that true?' Ichigo asked as soon as they were out of earshot, 'Or are you messing with him?'
'It's true, but the guy is fine. That part we exaggerated.' Uryu cleared up.
'What? Did she really kick someone 'cause he asked her out?'
Was Kuchiki really that unhinged?
'In Rukia's defense, the guy had it coming,' Uryu told him, 'He'd been a nuisance for weeks. Always waiting for her outside the station; always buying her things. She was really nice about it at first. She probably rejected him about 20 times before she couldn't take it anymore. I was with her when she landed that roundhouse right in his gut.'
'You're lucky you weren't there the day the captain suspended her.' Chad added, shaking his head.
'Why the fuck did Urahara suspended her?' Ichigo asked. His temper flared on Kuchiki's behalf.
'The guy claimed he was a victim of police brutality. Urahara had no choice.'
Ichigo was silent for a while. He was surprised her patience lasted that long.
His gaze fell on her again. She was still seated on the couch chatting to Mizuiro. She crossed her legs, and the hem of her dress slipped down slightly, revealing more of her thigh.
Dammit, she's…
'What's the deal with her and Renji? Are they together?' Ichigo asked, the question out before he could stop himself.
'He wishes,' was all Uryu said.
Ichigo ignored the relief he felt. He would have liked to blame it on the whiskey, but he only had one glass, and it was barely enough to get him tipsy. Whatever it was, for the sake of his sanity, it had to stop.

Orihime Inoue was stunned to see the woman Mizuiro introduced as Detective Rukia Kuchiki. When he spoke of her and how she and Ichigo fought, she had always pictured someone less feminine, less pretty. But here was Rukia Kuchiki in a dress that Orihime would never have the courage to wear. She was stunning. And Ichigo couldn't take his eyes off her. Every time she glanced at him; he was looking at Rukia. Orihime wondered if Rukia knew that his gaze followed her like that of a jealous boyfriend.

It was disappointing, to say the least. Orihime had hoped that when Ichigo came back, she would have the chance to finally confess to him. She was tired of keeping her feelings to herself for so long. She had wanted to tell him before he left, but she couldn't find the words. She had told her herself that she would confess when he came back. However, she rarely saw him. And when she did, she could never find a moment alone with him. So, she decided she would tell him at this party. Tatsuki even made sure that he would come. She had finally worked up the nerve to go up to him and ask if they could talk privately.
But then she saw the way he looked at Rukia.
'Hey,' Tatsuki said coming to stand beside her, 'Did you tell him yet?'
'No, I, er, I changed my mind.' She looked to Ichigo. He was now out on the balcony, back against the rail. He was on the phone, but his eyes were on Rukia as she spoke to Uryu.
'What? Why?'
'I think he likes Rukia. He's been watching her all night.'
'Don't be silly. Mizuiro says they hate each other. You're just looking for excuses. Come on, you promised yourself, remember.' Tatsuki pushed her forward.
She did promise herself that no matter what, she would confess to Ichigo.
'You're right. I have to do this!'
Started towards Ichigo, but he began to move to where Rukia was. She pulled her phone out and put it to her ear. She frowned. She looked at Ichigo and her frown deepened. They exchanged words and then left together.

Rukia was actually having a good time at Kojima's party. Especially when Keigo entertained her with stories of Kurosaki's youth. Needless to say, she was disappointed when she had to leave. There was a call about a body found in an alley and Tessai had ordered her and Kurosaki to check it out. She tried not to let her irritation show as she drove them to the crime. Kurosaki had taken a cab to Kojima's place. Now she was forced to share the space with him. At the party, he didn't say word to her. She expected him to make fun of her for getting dressed up. But he just ignored her.
Good. The less he spoke to her, the better.
But now the car ride was awkward. Silence between them was a rare thing.
'Look, if you had too much to drink, it would be better if you stayed in the car,' she said as she parked the car as close to the scene as she could.
'It was just one drink, Kuchiki. Relax,' he said, annoyed.
'Okaaaay then.'
She reached across to the glove compartment and pulled out her badge with her gun and holster. She felt Kurosaki shrink back into the seat. She rolled her eyes. Was he really that immature?

As they walked toward the yellow tape, Rukia clipped on her holster and put her hair up into a ponytail. She couldn't believe Kurosaki didn't even have his badge on him. When she berated him on this, he said 'Some of us have lives outside the station, you know,'
She stuck out her tongue at him.
'What, are you six?' he teased.
'Six and a half, if you must know,' she retorted. As she walked ahead of him, she could have sworn she heard him chuckle softly.