Main POV

"What do you mean business partner?" Urahara said from behind his fan.

"I mean," I told him. "I'm starting a couriers service, and you need to start offering a home delivery service for your products. Same day delivery or next day delivery for orders after 6pm, your personal guarantee."

"Great idea Uotani," he said. "But how do you know it'll work?"

"I mean do you really think if the shinigami in this town had another choice they'd be on your door step every five minutes?" I asked him. "Any special orders they put in can be hand delivered to them, something that appeals to every consumer. And it means you don't have to work as hard. They pay up front, you only have to get the products and I take care of the rest."

"I could use a vacation," he fanned himself. "Alright, you get a percentage of the profits from every order you deliver."

"What percentage?" I asked crossing my arms as I stood closer to Ichigo. As if on cue the tall carrot top beside me scowled at the man in the hat.

"10 percent!" He said and I scoffed.

"Call it 50," I said, not actually wanting 50.

"20~" He replied.

"40," I nudged Ichigo who gave Urahara an even more menacing stare.

"30," Kisuke said.

"40," I continued.

"35," Kisuke replied.

"Done," I told him. I would have been happy with 30.

"Perfect!" He clapped his hands together. "Pleasure doing business with you old friend. I'll draw up a contract."

"And I'll be sure to go over it with a fine tooth comb," I replied indignantly as I unlocked the car.

"Awww don't be like that Uo-chan," he pouted and I rolled my eyes, getting into the drivers seat. I pulled out of the alley and headed onto the streets of Karakura, driving far, far away from Urahara's Shop.

"Wanna go on a little date?" I asked raising a brow at Ichigo.

"You're in better spirits today," he commented, looking at me. "What, did bullying Urahara do something for you?" I snorted, finding it hard to keep my eyes on the road after a dirty joke like that, from Ichigo. I guess Yoruichi was right, he was a little pervert.

"It's the only thing that does something for me," I continued the joke. "You've got your work cut out for you if you wanna keep me satisfied."

"Please," he huffed. "I can take on Urahara any day."

"Is that so?" I raised a brow as I drove up to the highest natural point in Karakura.

"Where are we going?" He asked and I dropped down a gear, slowing down now we were close.

"I thought this would be fun," I told him as we pulled up at the top of a reasonably tall hill. You could see the sky and all of Karakura below. "I brought snacks~"

"What is this, exactly?" He asked as I got out of the car and he followed. I reached into the back and grabbed a cooler bag. I pulled out some food and hopped up onto the hood of the car.

"Enjoy the view cranky," I told him and opened up my bento. He perched beside me after a moment and started eating, staring at the scenery. He seemed to relax after a while and I broke out the juice. There was something about a calpico shared with someone you care about in a carefree situation like this. I tilted my head back and enjoyed the melon flavouring and I eyed Ichigo from the side. He was watching me more than he was watching the sunset but for what reason I would never know.

Ichigo POV

"Enjoy the view cranky," she told me and hopped up onto the hood of her car, opening a bento box and starting to eat. I sighed internally and sat beside her, grabbing the other one she had packed. I started eating and rolled my shoulders back. It was nice, just doing nothing together as we watched the afternoon sun get lower. It was happening quicker and quicker now that we were entering the worst part of winter. It was unusual to see Uo wear a jacket but even she was rugged up.

'HEY.' That was my jacket. 'Damn it. Damn her.' I scowled at her as she opened a can of calpis and started drinking it. 'Damn thief.' I sighed, I was never getting my t-shirt back.

I looked at Uo again as she drank her calpico and guessed she was right. Doing nothing occasionally was fun. She certainly looked like she was having a good time. The cold air had made her cheeks flush lightly, her skin glowed and there was something about how her hair shone out here. I was glad she'd said yes the other day. I don't think I'd be here, admiring how she looked in the fleeting sunlight if she hadn't. And it wasn't a sight I was willing to give up for anything.

As it got later and everything was packed away into the cooler bag we stared out silently into the sunset, her head resting on my shoulder as I was lost in my own thoughts. Did I really want to find a way to send her back? Yeah I wanted to help her and I would, even if I hadn't already promised her. I'd help her without a second thought, but there was a secret part of me, a selfish part of me I'd shoved deep down that didn't want her to go. I might have made a mistake asking her out, but I knew even if she did have to go back that I would regret never doing it.

"Come on," she sighed. "We better be getting back," she told me and stopped leaning on my shoulder. She climbed off the hood of her car and grabbed the cooler bag, walking round to the driver's side. I sighed and followed suit, getting in the passenger seat.

"I suppose we better," I replied as she tossed the bag in the back seat. The problem with dating Hikaru Uotani was that each time I realised our time together was coming to an end sent me into a brooding depression I didn't know I still carried. I was sulking. I enjoyed my time with her, she gave me everything I felt I was missing. She was my companion, she understood me, I could talk to her, I could talk to her about everything. Damn. I'd fallen hard. I even liked it when she made fun of me.

"See you," she said to me.

"Tomorrow," I told her. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay," she smiled softly at me. "Tomorrow then. Oh and Ichigo?" She slipped my jacket off her shoulders and tossed it to me. "Don't say I never return any of your things," she chuckled.

I gave her a wave as she drove off, shaking off the last of the somber feeling before my dad decided to leap out the front door and attack me. He did shortly afterwards, sending a flying side kick my way the I stepped past and headed in the door without another world.

"You're home late, Ichi-nii," Yuzu commented. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah," I sighed, walking over to the kitchen where she was cooking. "I was just out with Uotani."

"Oh," she replied. "Did it not go well? You look sad."

"No," I shook my head. "Everything was fine, I enjoyed it."

"So what's the problem, Ichi-nii?" She asked, listening carefully.

"It just ended a bit too soon," I explained and she looked at me sympathetically.

"You really like her, don't you?" She asked, I couldn't lie to my little sister like this. I nodded. "If it makes you feel better, Ichi-nii, Karin and I really like her too. You should go after her. Go get her."

The encouragement was nice, but how did I tell her I already did, and I was just sulking for no reason. I didn't. Instead I chose to ruffle her hair and headed up the stairs to put my book bag away and grab a shower before dinner. As I towel dried my hair I thought about the homework I had piling up that I was pretty sure Uotani would beat me with if I didn't finish it. I had no idea why she was so obsessed with my grades, maybe she read somewhere that I failed or something.

I sighed and brushed my teeth, if I was going to keep staying at Uo's I'd have to leave one there. I grabbed a spare from under the sink, heading to my room to pack a few things I could leave there next time I went over. It was a little presumptuous of me to think that I could, but I was pretty sure Uo would just use it as an excuse to steal more of my clothes.

I headed down to dinner and ate silently, thinking about all the things I needed to do, seeing Uo again was getting up there. I'd have to convince her to stay over here sometime, we'd have to come clean to everyone so she could. Then I could get back to doing my homework at the desk while she lay on my bed reading manga and insulting me. I wondered if it was possible to feel withdrawals for a person. I was sick. There was something clinically wrong with me.

"Where are you going?" Yuzu asked as I walked down the stairs with a bag in hand along with my book bag and Kon. I'd left a note for Rukia who was mysteriously not in my closet where I left her.

"I'm going to see Uo," I told her.

"Yes," she smiled enthusiastically. "You go get her Ichi-nii."

"What are you planning on doing?" Karin asked with her hands folded over her chest. "Camp out at her place until she agrees to go out with you?"

"She already has," I told her, decided now was as good a time as any. "And I miss her."

"Dumb," Karin responded. "You really are an idiot."

"Karin-chan, don't be so mean," Yuzu scolded.

"Don't worry about it Yuzu," I ruffled her hair. "That's Karin speak for go get her Ichi-nii, I wish you all the best."

"You've been hanging out with Uo too long if you're making jokes like that," Karin yelled after me as I walked out the front door. I slid on the jacket Uo had been wearing earlier and breathed in the scent. It smelled like her. It was like roses and cinnamon and citrus. A scent I would never grow sick of.

"Ichigo, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Uo asked as she stood out on the balcony, out front of her apartment.

"Uo," I breathed out the breath I didn't know I was holding. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her. It was now or never. My hand knotted in her hair and I leaned down to kiss her. My lips met her soft ones and she responded easily. She was cool about it, like this was an every day scenario, like fireworks weren't exploding around her like they were for me. One of her hands slid up my back and gripped my shoulder, hiding tight like I would blow away in the breeze. Maybe she wasn't as cool about it as I thought.

"What was that about?" She asked as I reluctantly pulled away. She was breathing heavily and there was a very slight pink tinge to her cheeks as she didn't quite make eye contact with me. "Tell me what I have to do to get Ichigo Kurosaki to kiss me like that again."

"Uo," I told her, recovering. "We need to talk."

Main POV

"Something clinically wrong with you?" I laughed as he sat on the bed looking bashful. "Ichigo there's nothing wrong with you. It's puppy love. We're in the honeymoon phase of our relationship. I get why you're all cute and affectionate, your separation anxiety is endearing. I love it. Don't sweat it. I promise I'll call you out on being a creeper."

"I believe you," he replied sullenly and I laughed again.

"Come here you dummy," I said and pulled him in for a hug. He rested his head in the crook of my neck and pressed a soft kiss onto the skin. "So," I pulled away going for a duffle. "What new clothes did you bring me?"

"Hey!" He called after me as I started going through it.

"Hey," I said pulling out his 'Talking is not communication' shirt and smiled at it. As far as I was aware it was a manga only shirt and I lifted it up to my nose. It smelled like him, like all his clothes did. "I love this one."

"Is there anything of mine you don't love?" he asked in a grumble.

"Your attitude towards me stealing your clothes," I replied and tugged my shirt over my head to pull on this one.

"H-hey, you can't just do that in front of me!" he stuttered and grew a little pink. He'd already seen me with my shirt up around my boobs just the other day.

"Who, my boyfriend?" I asked, quirking a brow.

"I-it's just," he started and I ran a hand through his orange spikes.

"Chill out, I'm only teasing," I told him. I got up then, walking over to my dresser and rearranged my things to clear a drawer for him. I picked up his duffle bag and sat on the floor, carefully putting all his clothes inside. Then I got up and went to the clean laundry and picked up his 'Nice Vibe' t-shirt and put it in there as well.

"You need to wear that one again soon," I told him. "I've worn it so many times it doesn't smell like you anymore."

"Is that the reason why you kept ahold of it for so long?" He asked and I nodded slightly.

"It's one of them," I replied dropping back down beside him on the bed. "Don't you have homework?" I asked, changing the topic. "Go get working on it you dummy or you'll flunk out and have to start your own couriers business."

I went back to the drawer and pushed it closed before I milled about, doing housework while I waited for Ichigo to ask me for help or tell me he was ready for bed. Renji had already folded out his bed for the night and was in his pyjamas watching tv. I did the last of the dishes, the ones that wouldn't ft in the dishwasher and then yawned, heading to my room. I brought a chair with me and sat beside the desk where Ichigo was working away calmly, looking a lot better than he had when he first arrived. I rested my head on his shoulder while he worked and pointed out he was doing a question wrong.

"Ugh," he grumbled. "Let's go to bed."

"Perfect, my plan worked," I said happily as I headed to bed and threw back the covers.

"Was I actually doing that question wrong?" he asked as he stripped down to his boxers. I turned off the main light by the door and headed over to my side of the bed.

"Yes," I said staring at his chest. "But I also wanted to go to bed and I was hoping you wouldn't ask me to help you fix it."

"Diabolical," he replied sarcastically and I rolled my eyes, dropping my jeans and climbing into bed.

He walked over to the other side and climbed in beside me and I turned off the bedside lamp. I was a little nervous and I was glad the dark wouldn't show my blush. I'd slept in Ichigo's room while we were both in pyjamas, I'd shared a bed with him fully clothed, and once he brought pyjamas but night three of sharing a bed he was just in his boxers, chest fully on display to me. I couldn't tell if it was because he found sleeping in the same bed as another human simply too warm, he had grown more comfortable with me to the point of sleeping his most preferred way and the pyjamas all the other times were just niceties or he was trying to seduce me. I hoped it was the third. Although it was most likely the first and second.

To be fair, I was usually a sleeper who wore shorts to bed, not panties, but two could play at the taking off unnecessary amounts of clothing for seduction game. It seemed to work too, he actually seemed a little nervous to wrap his arms around me like he usually did.

'Heh heh heh,' I thought. 'Perfect.'

He wrapped his hands around me eventually as I had my back pressed to his chest and they rested on my tummy, providing the protective warmth I'd felt the time I was sulking on my bed after I found about the rift. I relaxed instantly and seemed to start a chain reaction where me relaxing seemed to eventually relax Ichigo.

"Night," I said quietly and he kissed the side of my neck once.

"Night," he replied and I drifted off moments later.

I started waking up as the sun shone in the window and I whined internally. It was selfish, but I wanted to just roll over, forget I'd just woken up and keep Ichigo from going to school by trapping him in hugs. I ran a hand over my face and a hand creeped into my hair like it did every morning like this. I sighed contently and moved my face further into the pillow, enjoying the warm body behind me howling me tight.

"Ugh," Ichigo shot up from behind me after a sudden beeping. "What the hell is that?"

"It's called an alarm clock," I replied, reaching up to turn it off. "I was worried without Isshin trying to attack us first thing we'd sleep in."

"It's amazing," he replied. "These past three days I've had the best nights sleep not worrying about an insane man leaping in my bedroom window at me."

"If an insane man has leapt in your window more than once you should probably call the police," I replied, resting my head in the crook of his neck.

"Don't give me ideas," he muttered and I chuckled.