2. Honeysuckle and Peppermint Soap

Pairing: IchiRuki
10/16/05

She was a soul reaper for god's sake. Her job may have been thrust at him, but at one point, his mask cracking, hollow smashing duties were done by her.

She was bossy too, so unladylike, always throwing high kicks here and there (mostly there, the sole of her foot right smack in his face). So uncouth, that bossy, foul mouthed, napoleon-complexed, workaholic tomboy.

Brows furrowed, fists clenched, the adolescent approached the bathroom door armed to complain. The hardened tissues of his knuckles, formed from years connecting with ugly delinquent faces, pounded against smooth oak.

"Oiiiiiii, Rukia! Just how long are ya planning on stayin' in there! You wanna blow our cover? My family should be back any minute now. And we need to leave soon. Rukia? You listening?"

Still nothing. What was she doing, primping? Feh!

"RUKIA?" He rapped his fists once more but his knuckles hit air. With the door swung ajar, the scent of honeysuckle and peppermint wafted by his nose; it was a mingling of sweet and spicy.

Not that he was an expert-perfume scent-identifier. Not his kind of thing, it's just that Yuzu had begged, eyes misty, lips quivering and all (forcing him essentially), for Ichigo to buy her the specific soap. No, not one that smells like bubblegum, but a sophisticated one such as honeysuckle and peppermint.

Soap is soap. Why couldn't she use a regular one? Good thing Karin wasn't a girly girl like her.

"I heard you the first time. And why are you scrunching your nose up in the air like that?"

"What took you so long? Why do you smell like Yuzu's soap…." He trailed off yet she didn't seem to notice as she was mildly amused with pissing him off.

He received a smart look back, one that irritated him to no end.

Or at least would have been if he wasn't so distracted.

"Why, were you saving it all for yourself?"

Ichigo forced a frown back at her. "Sh-shut up, we're going to be late."

She strutted by callously, retorting without looking back, "It's funny you should be so punctual after complaining the other day how much you hate festivals."

Ichigo's usual wit driven replies failed to retaliate. His eyes were fixed on the back of the trailing cherry blossom patterned, pale saffron yukata-wearing shinigami. The attire was utterly feminine.

He didn't like it at all.

Not at all, because…well…thick black cloth was… more…more appropriate? More appropriate because…

And then he finally admitted it to himself.

A Death God yes, but she was also just a girl…

One who inspired his heart to get stuck in his throat.

AN: Okay, so not angst driven like last time. What? I was feeling positive and cutesy today so I decided to finish this nearly ditched idea.

Thanks Reviewers!

YL: Reading your fics was one of the things that inspired me to write my own Bleach fic. And about the one-shot you wrote using Inoue's pov, reading the latest Bleach chap makes me realize how right on you were… imagine the look on that flamer's face..Lol!

Ringo Nonohara: It made happy that u saved this as a fave. That is great encouragement, and I really did move to write another IchiRuki (w/a little bit of Renji).

Seal-chan: He he. You made me all smiles. And thnx for taking the time to review my other fic too.

Kupo Stiltzkin: Please spare me though I lied about writing a longer one. But with you in mind, I did start a multi-chap one to incorporate the character development. Again thnx for your constructive feedback.

Ray-chan: Ah! I love Renji too, and I especially love him all lonely and tragic. I appreciate the reassurance that they're IC.

KuroganeAremias: though it's late, here it is, hope you're not disappointed!

sinmay: ur nameis familiar, think I've seen it while treading thru And yeah, I'm anti-fluffy (well at least against the OOC kind of mush).