Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Dedicated to: Shadowfox1949 who gave me the idea for this chapter
A/n: This will have a bit of hollow fighting in it, because I feel like it.
The Best Time of the Year
Chapter 3: The in Between Chapter
Ichigo stood with his zanpuktoh over his shoulder,
"Hello bastard,"
"You smell tasty,"
"And you stink,"
In a flash, Ichigo slashed the hollow's head,
"Behind you," Rukia called out to him. He turned and brought his sword down heavily on the hollow,
"Anymore?"
"Yes," Rukia gulped, they were surrounded by hollows, all chanting:
"You smell tasty,"
"Kuso," Ichigo quickly ran to Rukia to protect her,
"Too slow," a hollow stood between them,
"Move," he pulled Zangetsu around to meet the hollow, it disappeared immediately, but it had wasted his time. More hollows separated Rukia and him. Yet they all seemed to be ignoring her and coming for him.
Ichigo stabbed hollow after hollow in quick succession, they were weak hollows, pointless hollows, yet he had to get rid of them.
As the last hollow broke into a million tiny pieces, he noticed a stronger one was nearing Rukia. Rukia, too busy watching Ichigo, had no idea.
Ichigo ran in between her and the hollow, of course, those other ones were just diversions!
"Aargh!" he felt blood pour out of his shoulder,
"Ichigo-"
"Stay back Rukia!" Ichigo yelled the order at Rukia.
Breathing heavily, Ichigo turned to look at the giant hollow. It was almost twice the usual size, and it's eyes were a bright green with no pupils. It let off a terrible stench.
"Me want Death god. Death god look tasty. Mmamamam," It laughed in a chilly voice, reaching for Ichigo, only to have it chopped off. Before it knew what was going on, Ichigo had sliced behind it's mask,
"Nooooo!"
Ichigo watched it disintegrate into nothing with a look of disgust upon his face. Holding his zanpuktoh in one hand, and his shoulder in the other, he returned to his body,
"Quick, Rukia. Do something," Ichigo suffered silently while Rukia patched up the damage,
"Let's go,"
"But aren't there anymore?"
"It doesn't matter. You need to rest right now," he was about to protest when he received a death glare from Rukia. He held his hands up in submission, but his scowl increased.
They walked in silence back to the house. It was four days until Christmas and everyone was doing last minute shopping. Rukia gave a sidelong glance at Ichigo. She knew that he had already gone shopping.
-Flashback-
"Oi, Rukia, what do you want for Christmas?"
"Why?"
"Because, I'm going to get everything now."
"Oh…"
"Rukia?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know what I mean?"
"Uh, no, not really."
Ichigo sighed. He had told her all about Christmas, but he had left out that people give presents to each other. He had only said that Father Christmas (Santa Claus, Saint Nick…e.t.c) brought gifts to the people who were good. He had been surprised when she had believed him. But, then, he figured, she was a spirit, herself, so why would she not believe it?
"People get presents for each other for Christmas."
"Oh… I knew that,"
Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Sure you did."
"I did, but why don't you just ask Santa what I want?" Rukia thought she had cornered Ichigo,
"Rukia, he doesn't exist. He's just a… person that was created to get parents to control their kids, oww!"
Rukia pulled her hand back from punching Ichigo.
"Why did you lie? Besides, you know so much about him, you obviously believed in him when you were young, didn't you?" Ichigo scowled at her,
"This discussion is closed."
-End Flashback-
Rukia stopped in her tracks (which was right outside the door) she had just realized that she hadn't told Ichigo what she wanted. Damnit. But what did she want?
"Ichigo," they were greeted by Isshin, who looked very solemn.
"There was no space for a patient, so the room Kuchiki - san was in is now occupied by him. Now Rukia - san, the only place there is left is my room, of course, I don't mind if you want to sleep with me," he winked at her while nudging Ichigo,
"Get away from us, she'll sleep in my room."
Isshin looked as if he had just been slapped in the face, "Fine," he sulked off to the kitchen.
"You'll go back to sleeping in the cupboard."
---
"NANI!" the cupboard was empty with the bedding gone,
"That's right, we took the bedding for the spare room,"
Ichigo sweat dropped. Everyone was sleeping, they had stayed up to watch a movie, and now, there was nowhere to sleep except Ichigo's bed.
"I'll sleep n the floor,"
"You can't," Rukia pointed out, "or I'd be sleeping in the cupboard, or on the furniture, or-"
"Yeah, I get the point, just get changed."
Ichigo grabbed a pair of boxers and left Rukia to change in his room.
"I'm done!" she called out to him when she was finished changing. Ichigo got up from the floor and came back in. They both observed the single bed for a second, and then got in.
Ichigo lay on the side, this is so weird, he placed his arms behind his head, while Rukia snuggled up to his side. Putting a hand on his bare chest, she rested her head there also,
"Goodnight," she mumbled,
"Yeah, you, too," thank god for the darkness Ichigo thought, blushing.
Rukia moved a little bit closer to Ichigo and soon fell asleep. Ichigo took his hands from behind his head and wrapped them around her tentatively. One arm around her back and one arm around her front, Ichigo fell asleep, too.
A/n: Now they are together … I am aware that this chapter sucked, but, feel free to tell me as well. The fighting could have gone better. I think that I should stay away from the fighting scenes and rather do the fluff. But, please, tell me what you think, I would love any ideas for the next chapter, the last one, on Christmas day.
What did Ichigo get for Rukia?
Reader's Poll: What do you think Ichigo got for her. I've got an idea, but if someone has a really nice present, a better idea, I might just change it!
Till next time,
FuturePast