Hello everyone, it's me; Just shipping! First of all, I want to wish all of you a happy New year! That all of you will have a blessed 2020 and may all your wishes come true! Let's make this a great year together! Second, I want to apologize for my late update. This is actually a oneshot for the last IchiRuki month and finally I finished it. I hope that you all will like it. Please keep in mind that English is not my native language and please leave a review.
Sweater weather
Ichigo had to smile as he heard the tired sigh from his girlfriend, when she entered his apartment. He already knew that she was not looking forward to this day, as she had at least three meetings to attend and two deadlines were due for today. When he heard the kitchen door open, he looked up and saw Rukia's pouty face looking at him.
He put the fire of the stove low and walked to her to hug her. Rukia immediately wrapped her arms around him and burried her face in his chest.
''Long day?'' he asked.
''You know it'' she grumbled.
''Well, look at it this way; the day is over and for now you have some rest.''
She did not reply and this made him worry.
''Rukia, are you okay? Talk to me!'' he said while breaking the hug to look at her.
Rukia fixated her eyes on the ground and did not dare to look at her boyfriend.
''Rukia, what's wrong?'' He asked while lifting her face up with his finger on her chin.
She sighed ''It's just that, I have been so busy that I did not had any time to think about the holidays, or the gifts, or...''
He laughed and ruffled her hair ''Seriously Rukia, that's what you are worried about? It's okay, you still have some time to do that.''
''But I also did not get anytime to do something with you.''
He sighed and looked into her eyes, while holding her head ''Listen, I don't mind that, because I know that you had a busy schedule these past few days. And sure it sucked, but I get it. I mean, I feel the same way when I get those long shifts in the hospital. So trust me, I understand. Plus, as now your busy schedule from work is done for now, I thought to have some quality time together.''
Rukia's eyes beamed at her boyfriend while looking up at him ''What do you have in mind?''
He smiled ''Well, I am cooking'' he smirked when he heard her gasp and continued ''so you go and take a hot bath. There is a surprise waiting for you on my bed.''
''I knew you were going to get perverted, Strawberry!''
''Rukia, get your mind of the gutter. There is a decent surprise waiting for you on my bed. I don't know what you want, but if you want that what you first thought, then we can arrange something.'' He said while wiggling his eyebrows.
She smacked him ''Still being perverted, Strawberry! But fine, I will go and take a hot bath, while you finish dinner. And that surprise?''
''You will see it when you are done with your bath. Now go!'' he said while slapping her ass, which made her glare at him.
One hour later
Ichigo was setting the table, when he heard his girlfriend laugh. He smiled, knowing that she had seen his surprise.
''Ichigo, when you said that you had a surprise for me, I did not expect it to be this.'' She said while entering the dining table, wearing an oversized red fluffy Christmas sweater with a bunny print on it, who was wearing a Christmas hat.
He shrugged ''Well, our anniversary is almost coming up and I remembered the reason we started to talk to each other, so I thought, what would be a better way of celebrating it, than to wear this.''
''But it's not Christmas yet, Ichigo.''
''I know, but it is sweater weather for the Christmas sweaters.''
Rukia smiled and shook her head, while walking towards her boyfriend to give him a kiss. ''You really are too sweet. You know, I don't regret wearing that ugly sweater that day.''
Ichigo smiled back at her ''I'm also happy that you wore it that day.''
Flashback
'' Rukia-chan, we are not inside, so you can change before it's too late.''
Rukia sighed '' Rangiku, I don't see what's wrong with my sweater.'' Seeing her friend raising her eyebrow at her, she continued '' You told me that this is the theme of the party, so I listened to it. That's why I don't see a problem with my sweater.''
Rangiku crossed her arms ''Honey, the theme may be ugly Christmas sweater, but not that ugly.'' She gestured to Rukia's sweater, who's mouth got open in shock at her friend. ''My sweater is not that ugly!'' Rukia exclaimed.
''It even gives light!''
''That's cute, not ugly!'' Rukia told her friend.
Rangiku sighed and continued ''Honey, the theme actually meant sexy Christmas sweater, it has a hidden meaning.''
Rukia frowned ''Yeah right! I bet that only you will be wearing a sexy Christmas sweater.''
Rukia told her friend while gesturing at her sweater, who was wearing a red lacy top with white stones on it.
Rangiku smirked ''Wanna bet?''
''Sure, why not?'' Rukia shrugged.
''I bet for a can of sake that you will be the only one who is wearing an ugly Christmas sweater and it will also not get you a date.'' Rangiku said while uncrossing her arms to take her hand out. Rukia shook her hand while telling her it's on.
''So, tell me again whose party it is? I mean I thought that since we are graduated, you are not up to date anymore with the student parties?'' Rukia asked, which made Rangiku laugh.
''Come on, Rukia-chan. As if! Just because we are graduated, does not mean we may not party. And our graduation was last year, you make it like it was twenty years ago.''
''I'm just saying.''
''But to answer your first question, the party is of the girlfriend of my neighbor boy.''
''I did not know that Toushiro has a girlfriend.''
''Neither does he.''
''Is this one of those cases again where you think that two people are falling for each other, but they are absolutely not?''
''Trust me, when you see those two together, you will know what I am talking about.'' Rangiku opened the entrance door and Rukia already knew that she lost the bet. Apparently no one came in an ugly Christmas sweater, but her.
''Kuchiki, what on earth are you wearing?'' Rukia turned towards the source of the voice and glared at the white haired boy in front of her. ''Something that is too big for you, Toushiro!'' Rukia spat back at him. If it were not for the other raven haired girl who was laughing, Toushiro would have argued back at her.
''She got you there, Toushiro'' the girl laughed and Rukia immediately knew who Rangiku was talking about before, as she saw the boy staring at the girl who was laughing. Rukia looked at her friend with a questioning gaze and Rangiku nodded to confirm it.
''I'm Karin by the way, the one who is holding the party.'' The girl introduced herself to Rukia. Rukia shook her hand and introduced herself. Looking at what Karin was wearing, she asked her why she was not wearing as the theme said.
Karin shrugged ''This theme was not my idea and I wanted to wear something I'm comfortable with.'' She said while putting her hands in the pockets of her hoodie. ''But I have to say, I love what you are wearing.''
Rukia frowned ''You really do not have to say that to make me feel better.''
''Trust me, I don't. But it's nice to see that someone is not following the crowd. Plus, you are not the only one who is wearing an ugly Christmas sweater.''
''I'm not?''
''No, Yuzu, my twin sister, also is wearing one. I'm sure she must be glad to see that she's not the only one.''
''Karin-chan, now Rukia-chan will absolutely not change anymore.'' Rangiku whined.
Rukia turned towards her friend ''And I was not going to, Rangiku.''
''But Rukia-chan, if you are going to keep wearing this, you never will get a date. And honey, you really need to get your first boyfriend sometime.''
Toushiro started to laugh, but Rukia shut him up by asking him how long he and Karin has been dating. Not only were both of them sputtering that they are not dating, but seeing Toushiro's face getting red, Rukia was happy that she shut him up.
Turning around, she saw one of her other friends and walked up to her.
''Nanao, I did not expect you here.''
The bespectacled raven haired girl turned around and smiled at her friend. ''Neither did I expect you here, Rukia. Rangiku told me about this party and I really need to let it go. But what the hell are you wearing?''
Rukia glared at her friend ''At least I did not come in my work outfit.''
Nanao laughed ''Still so cruel, Rukia. We still need to go shopping some time. I don't have anything to wear after my working hours and I am still waiting for when you can.''
Rukia sighed ''I know, I'm so sorry. But after tomorrow the hectic days will finally be over.
But why did you not go with Rangiku?''
Nanao's eyes widened ''Are you crazy?! You know what kind of things she will make me wear!'' Nanao exclaimed. Rukia laughed at this.
''Hey, I need to go the little room. I will talk to you later.'' Nanao told her friend, while walking away.
Rukia realized that she wanted to get a drink and walked to the bar. After she got her drink, she was watching the people at the dance floor.
''Nice sweater.'' She heard a smooth voice next to her. Looking at the source of the voice, she saw a orange haired man with amber eyes.
''You are being sarcastic, right?''
He smirked. ''No, I really like the sweater. At least you followed the theme.''
''Was it really the theme? Because according to my friend, there was a hidden message in it.''
He shrugged. ''Hidden message or not, I like that you stick to the theme.''
''Even if I tell you that the nose on my sweater can light up?''
He looked amused. ''Really? Please show me!''
Rukia pressed a button and the red nose of Rudolph on her sweater lit up.
Ichigo chuckled. ''Amazing!''
''So, you still think that it's a nice sweater?''
''I take it back, I don't think that it's nice, but a great sweater. Plus, at least my sister is not the only one wearing an ugly Christmas sweater.''
''Oh, so you are the brother of the one who is hosting this party.''
''Kurosaki Ichigo.'' He introduced himself while taking his hand out.
Rukia took his hand to shake it. ''Kuchiki Rukia.''
''So tell me, why are you not wearing something according to the theme.''
He shrugged ''I wanted to wear something that I'm comfortable in.''
She smirked. ''You sound just like your sister.''
''Well, we may not look like each other in our looks, but our character can be the same. Yuzu is the soft one of the tree of us.''
''I think that's sweet.''
''How about you? Any siblings?''
Rukia looked amused at him. ''Why the interest?'' she knew that her drink was getting to her, because normally she would not flirt with someone.
He smirked. ''Well, seeing an interesting girl in an interesting sweater sparks an interest in me.''
Rukia laughed and he joined her. ''That was really lame.''
He ruffled his hair. ''I know, so sorry for that. Normally, I'm not that lame.''
''Really?''
''Really?'' He looked around. ''Hey, do you want to grab a bite? That way we can talk more in private''
Before she could answer him, her stomach made a noise that made it clear that she was hungry. And the worst part was that he could hear it, even with the music playing around. Rukia looked embarrassed towards the ground, but when he took her hand, she looked up.
''Come, let's eat something.'' He said while walking with her out of the dorm.
Rukia nodded at him and saw that Rangiku was watching her from the corner in shock. Who would have thought that Rukia would get a date in an ugly Christmas sweater.
End flashback...
''I forgot about the bet with Rangiku until the next day, when she called me.'' Rukia said while smiling at her boyfriend. Both sat down at the table and Ichigo shook his head.
''Well, you can say whatever you want, but that sake of Rangiku was really good. I remember we had it for our second date.''
''In our ugly Christmas sweaters.'' Rukia added amused.
''Hey, I am thankful to ugly Christmas sweaters, they got me you.'' Ichigo said proudly.
Rukia blushed at this and shook her head. Leaning forward she stared her boyfriend. ''And that's why I am also thankful to them, because it got me a great boyfriend like you.'' She whispered before she kissed her boyfriend.
''Hey Rukia, let's make a pact.'' He said when she pulled away.
''Hmmm?''
''Let's wear every year during this month those ugly Christmas sweaters.''
Rukia thought for a moment and agreed. ''I like this idea. And maybe we should also host one ugly Christmas party, without a hidden message.''
He chucked ''That sounds good.''
After dinner the couple sat down. Looking mischievous, Ichigo looked at his girlfriend.
''Oiye Rukia.''
''Hmmm?''
''You know that I like seeing you in these Christmas sweaters, right?''
Rukia nodded.
''Well, there is one other thing I like you in.''
Rukia raised one eyebrow. ''Where are you going with this?''
Ichigo shrugged. ''The other thing I like you in is nothing.'' Wiggling his eyebrows, he was looking at her.
Rukia looked thoughtful at him. ''You know, Ichigo?''
''Hmmm?''
''That can be arranged, but...''
''But what?''
Jumping behind the couch, she looked at him. ''First you will have to grab me!'' Running away, she shrieked when she heard him follow her.
''You will never get me, Ichigo.'' She sang while running away from him, while he followed her.
This was my story for Sweater weater, the last theme of IchiRuki month. I am not going to upload it on Tumblr, as I really am ashamed of finishing this so late. But I hope that you all like it and please leave a review!
