Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. The fabulous Kubo Taito does.

Author's Notes: Ichigo/Rukia. Just recently started watching the anime (up to episode 5). No, I haven't read the manga yet. I have the first seven volumes now. If they are out of character, I apologize in advance but do realize THIS is fan fiction. Do you scream at the doushinji artist because they don't draw EXACTLY like the artist? No. Besides, this is all about getting creative.

And yes, this will be a multi-chaptered story. Yes, this will be I/R. Yes, it will have angst and romance as appropriate for a 15 year old boy and a death spirit. It's a shame. There should be more Bleach fanfics out there. But perhaps, those are just the feverish imaginings of this particular author.

To everyone that told me where to find the manga (and I know who you are because I read the reviews): Thanks! I don't want to download IRC though. If anyone knows of a bittorent site, let me know.

To TheMusesTKandZy: I sort of know about Renji. But not really. Worry not. There will be plenty of angst about that later.

To ilikesaddleshoes: Thanks for the bunnies.


Chapter 3: Homework Blues


Ichigo entered his room and scowled. He couldn't get a single minute of privacy anywhere. Not even in his own room. All he wanted was to catch a small break between school and the rest of his life. He just wanted five minutes. Five minutes when it was just himself. No one else.

But no, she was already there. Doing homework. He couldn't say anything to her. He couldn't kick her out. They both needed to do their schoolwork. Keep up the pretense of being 'normal'. He knew that she tried very hard to appear 'normal' in front of everyone else. Even picking up those horrible horror novels to learn how to speak 'just like everyone else'.

She was already using his textbooks to do the homework they had both been assigned. She couldn't use just one, but seemed to be in the middle of doing the homework for three different subjects. And of course, she couldn't use the desk and confine her mess but had taken over the floor.

"I left you the desk," she said evenly, not even looking up from her work, scribbling calculations on a piece of paper.

Ichigo felt conflicting emotions. It was his desk after all. But it was still considerate of her to let him use it. But he should use it! It was his! Did it matter? She had already taken over his life, his time, his room, his closet, his books, even his floor. Why hadn't she taken over the desk?

He moved to put his book bag on the desk. He happened to glance at her calculations and saw that she made a mistake. "Oi, you made a mistake," he said to her.

She gave him a dirty look.

It made Ichigo want to roll his eyes. She hated to be corrected. It's like she took it personally when he pointed out her flaws. He was only trying to be helpful. But oh no, Miss Perfect Killing Machine Shinigami couldn't make a mistake. Even in math, which he knew for a fact was her worst school subject. What the hell did they teach them at that Soul Reaper Academy anyway?

Aside from being able to slice and dice a Hollow in thirty different ways.

He sat down next to her on the floor and pointed at her paper. "There. You set up the equation wrong," he said exasperated. He took the pencil from her hand and corrected her work.

She snatched the pencil back. "Thank you. But I would have been able to correct the problem on my own," she said.

It made Ichigo want to tear his hair out. Why was she so freaking stubborn? Both she and he knew that she wouldn't have been able to do it on her own. It was exactly like that time when Karin had collapsed and he had to take her home and Rukia had said she'd take care of the Hollow. He had made her promise to take care of herself. He knew that she was still weak.

She hadn't been able to take care of herself. It had been painfully obvious to him that she had been outmatched, just looking at her torn up and bloodied uniform. He had been angry at her then, even when he didn't show it. Hadn't he made it clear that she had to show some reason and not place herself in unnecessary danger? Not that he believed she would listen to him. She never did.

And she had thrown his concern back at him. Saying that he didn't really care and that he shouldn't act like he did.

But he did. Not that he would let her know. So he had replied with his own sardonic comment. Like he couldn't see the relief in her eyes when he had shown up.

Rukia would think he was weak. Or an idiot. Or throw it back on his face. He wasn't supposed to care. She was a Shinigami. She had no use for what she would undoubtedly call 'foolish human emotions'. She would worry that his concern with her would negatively impact his performance of her duties.

"Ichigo, you need to do your homework," Rukia said quietly, bringing him out of his reverie.

He found that she was looking calmly at him. Their faces mere inches apart. Normally, when Rukia's face was up that close, her features would be distorted because she was yelling at him. Normally, he wouldn't notice how soft her skin looked, how bright her serious eyes were, how cute her little nose was. Normally, he'd be yelling back. Now, his throat was dry and he couldn't stop staring at her.

Her eyes narrowed and she looked back intensely at him, moving her fact a few inches closer. "Are you well?" she asked, trying to assess the situation.

The words stuck in his throat. Rukia's face was all he could see. He wanted to jump up and runaway. He wanted to lean forward and kiss her. He had never kissed a girl before in his life. But he wanted to kiss Rukia. Kami, what was wrong with him? He wanted to kiss Rukia! When did his life become such a fucking mess?

So he nodded his head, as the rest of him just stayed in shock over what he had just thought.

She scrutinized him for another second before return her attention to her work. "If you need assistance with your Japanese homework, I can help you," she said quietly.

She didn't like to feel indebted. So she offered her help in exchange of his earlier assistance. That's the way it worked with Rukia. She helped him, he helped her.

Ichigo snuck one last look at Rukia's profile before he started on his own homework. He needed to focus. Perhaps he needed more sleep. That would explain why he came up with the utterly absurd idea of kissing Rukia. Maybe she was right and he was coming down with the flu. His stomach did feel a bit queasy and his hands felt a little clammy. He must be coming down with something. Not that he'd tell Rukia that she had been right. She'd just use it as an excuse to boss him around.

He didn't notice Rukia sneaking a glance at him.


Author's Note: Sorry. Ran out of steam at the end and I couldn't remember the exact phrases in their dialogue when Ichigo shows up (during that parakeet/Chad/Hollow episode). If anyone can remind me what the names of Ichigo's friends are (I have Chad down – what are the names of the other 2, the playboy that looks innocent and the other one), it would be greatly appreciated. I'll try to read the manga sometime before the next update.

Next Chapter: On the roof of the school, Ichigo and the boys talk.