Main POV
"Hey," I said as Ichigo sat in my room like most nights, quietly working on his homework while I flicked through a graphic novel.
"Hmm?" He replied not looking up.
"Don't get me wrong," I started. "I'm enjoying the private time of our secret relationship, but how long before you want to tell people? Because I promised Rangiku that if I found out you liked me she'd be the first person I tell. And I think it's safe to say you like me."
"Why would you make a promise like that?" He turned around grumbling.
"Because I didn't think it would happen," I shrugged.
"Ugh," he ran a hand over his face. "Come look at my work for the day, I'll think about a way out of this stupid real world problem."
"Deal," I chuckled as I came over and picked up a pen, going over his work. He was getting much better now that he was using the notes I took for him when I had free time to read through the math book he'd gotten me. Ichigo wasn't a dummy, contrary to what I tell him almost every day. He didn't need a second teacher, he was actually pretty good at math. He just wasn't in class long enough to learn this stuff by himself. And unlike literature and English, he didn't have a natural affinity for it.
"We don't have to tell her we're going out," Ichigo said finally. "You just said you'd tell her if you found out I liked you."
"Oooh a loop hole," I grinned. "Easy."
"I'm surprised you didn't come up with this yourself you little manipulator," he ran a hand over my head, fingers trading over the skin of my cheeks.
"Maybe I did and just wanted you to join me in my evilness," I shrugged.
"I've never called you evil," he smiled. "I'd say you were close though, you little demon."
I leaned up against the school fence in a huddle with Rangiku and Orehime. I felt kind of bad having this conversation in front of her but I didn't want to steal Rangiku away for a private conversation either, that'd be pretty hurtful too.
"You really think he likes you?" Rangiku asked.
"If I had to guess," I shrugged. "We've been spending a lot of time together lately."
"This is so exciting!" She squealed.
"I'm really happy for you, Uo-chan, you two seem to be perfect for each other," Orehime said with absolutely no malice in her voice. It broke my heart her wishing me all the best. I smiled softly at her, thanking her quietly.
"Rangiku," Hitsugaya called and Matsumoto calmed down quite a bit.
"Ooop, sorry, have to go," she wrapped me in a tight hug and hurried over to her captain. Orehime wandered off to go and talk to Uryuu, I hoped they managed to get together.
"So how long before you two actually come clean?" Renji asked, sneaking up on my side. Ichigo, Renji and I usually made the walk together when I could be bothered going with them.
"It's just nice not having everyone else in on everything," I replied. "It's nice having this little secret to ourselves."
"Yeah just tell me if I need to join Rukia in her closet because you two are deciding to dive me out of my own home," he grumbled.
"Trust me, that's a long way away yet," I patted him comfortingly on the shoulder. "You know I didn't actually know you and Rukia were together, I knew it would happen eventually but I'm surprised you don't get more shit over it." He paled.
"I haven't told anyone about it yet," he replied awkwardly.
"Oh?" I raised a comical eyebrow at him. "So how long before you two actually come clean?" I teased.
"Oh shut up," he rolled his eyes and Rukia came over.
"Renji are you teasing them again?" She asked and he shook his head.
"She's managed to turn the tables on me," he replied.
"I'll keep my secret if you keep mine," I told her and she grinned at me. "You know you're always welcome over at my place. I'm sure I could find a small cupboard if you're feeling homesick."
"You're hilarious," she rolled her eyes at me.
"So they tell me," I winked. "Alright, I'm heading off, I need to go and see if I can get a cooler of some kind in my car."
"What for?" She asked.
"I wanna start doing jobs for Isshin as well as Kisuke," I replied. "For the kind of samples he collects you need to keep them at a certain temperature."
"You think you'll be allowed to?" She asked.
"I'm sure Kisuke can forge me whatever paperwork I can't get legitimately myself," I shrugged. "And Ichigo's dad is convinced we're dating. Anything for his third daughter."
"What are you scheming over here?" Ichigo asked coming over.
"My latest business opportunity," I replied grinning at him.
"Oh yeah, medical courier or whatever," he nodded. "I'm sure you can always do jobs for my dad. Set something up with Karakura Hospital, Uryuu's dad runs that or something"
"What's this about my father?" Uryuu asked.
"He runs Karakura hospital or something," I shrugged.
"Sort of," Uryuu replied. "Do you really want to know what he does?"
"I want to go into business with him," I told him. "And Ichigo's father."
"You know those two don't reply get along, right?" He responded.
"Ah yes the age old, shinigami and quincy feud blah blah blah to groups of people with the same goal blah blah," I shrugged. "They never have to interact," I explained. "That's where I come in."
"Whatever you're planning, good luck, my dad isn't the most agreeable fellow," Uryuu told me and went back to talking to Orehime.
"Alright," I said to Ichigo, smiling up at him. "I'll see you later."
"Yeah, could you check my math tonight?" He asked and I grinned. "Always."
I wasn't able to kiss him goodbye when we got to school on time, we couldn't risk getting caught or we'd have to tell everyone we'd been dating for the last few weeks. It had it's advantages though, the two of us sneaking around together. It meant every time Hitsugaya thought he could try and convince me to tell him about whatever big evil I saw coming out of the rift Ichigo was around to scare him off.
"A business deal?" Isshin said as I leaned up against the counter of his clinic.
"Mmm," I agreed. "Who do you normally have transport your medical goods and lab samples?"
"Uh," he said rubbing his forehead. "The company information is in the filing cabinet over there," he pointed. "Their contract is actually up for renewal pretty soon."
"Really? Perfect," I told him. "I want that contract," I told him.
"You?" He raised a brow.
"I have a courier service," I shrugged. "I have all the special licensing required and my car has all the equipment necessary. Why not?" I asked.
"Alright," he nodded. "If you're serious, we'll sort something out. I'll have to get in contact with Karakura General though, let them know we're changing services. We use their labs."
"I wondered how Uryuu's dad was involved," I said out loud. "It was actually Ichigo that helped me come up with this idea."
"Huh," Isshin replied. "I guess I owe him thanks for this new prosperous business deal, huh?"
"I guess we both do," I smiled softly.
"You really have a head for business, don't you?" Ichigo commented as I sat with him at my kitchen counter.
"You said yourself I was a little manipulator," I shrugged. "I see something I want, I get it."
"Oh yeah?" He smiled at me. "You try that on me?"
"No way, I tried not to go anywhere near you, remember? You had to convince me to give you a chance and to stop trying to protect you," I laughed. "If I want something from you I'll just ask, I don't need to set anything up."
"You know," he said. "I think the reason you and Urahara get along so well is because you both can manipulate people so easily."
"I wondered," I replied. "He has been way nicer to me than I had expected."
"Let's spend a couple of nights at my house," Ichigo told me suddenly.
"Oh?" I raised a brow.
"Yeah," he agreed. "I think it's time I introduced them to you, properly."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah," he agreed. "Let's have dinner with my family, tonight."
"Tonight," I looked up at him. "That's pretty soon."
"Who cares," he shrugged, leaning in to kiss my forehead. "I really like you."
"Alright," I smiled, getting up to go to my room. "Let me grab a few things."
"Renji, you going to be alright on your own for a couple of days?" I had asked before we left. He rolled his eyes at me and went back to the TV. He had a very lazy life at my house, I was starting to see why everyone at Urahara's shop called him a moocher. I'd parked in the driveway at Ichigo's house, no one else using it. He'd walked in the door first, to make sure there was no random attacks from Issin. He'd tested Yuzu ahead that there was going to be an extra person at dinner tonight, after himself.
"Alright," Ichigo turned around on the doorstep. "I think it's safe."
"You thought wrooooooong!" Isshin leapt off the roof and cannon balled onto the doorstep, ready to land on top of Ichigo but instead landing his rear on the concrete. Comical tears ran down his cheeks as he lectured Ichigo about being unsafe and how he couldn't believe he let him get hurt like that.
"You stupid old man!" Ichigo yelled. "You were the one who leapt off the roof like that, what were you thinking!"
"Now you're just adding insult to injury," I told him laughing. "I think he's learned his lesson about jumping off of roofs."
"I guess," Ichigo grumbled. "Come on, let's go inside."
"Ichi-Nii!" Yuzu called enthusiastically. "I barely get to see you anymore."
"Well you're in luck Yuzu," he smiled. "We're staying here the next few days."
"We?" Yuzu asked.
"I thought it was time I properly introduced you," he said. "Yuzu, this is Hikaru Uotani, my girlfriend."
"It's about time," Karin said from behind us.
"I'm getting grandkids!" Isshin yelled from the front door and charged over.
"NO YOU ARE NOT!" Ichigo and I yelled simultaneously.
"Sorry about dropping you in the madhouse," Ichigo said at his desk as I lounged about flicking through a manga I'd stolen off his bookshelf.
"Don't worry about it," I chuckled. "I knew what they were like before hand, trust me. And plus, maybe after what happened before you can count on a few days without your father's aggressive wake up calls."
"Bruises like that I hope so," he sighed. "But I doubt it. It's so embarrassing."
"Oh cheer up," I told him. "All the shinigami captains are weirdos, at least you can say you're not alone."
"I'm sure you think that's a great comfort to me," he replied and I laughed.
"I don't," I told him "But it's the best I can offer, you don't get to pick your family."
"Boy do I know it," he sighed. "Hey, you know these notes you made me are really helping me out."
"I know, you big dummy," I grinned. "I'm fantastic."
"And here I was thinking you'd stopped with all your endearing names," he replied sarcastically.
"Oh I couldn't do that," I smirked. "Gotta keep you on your toes."
"I'm sure," he rolled his eyes. "Alright," he pushed his book away from him. "Can you check the procedures are right?"
"Easy done," I pulled the book away from him and flopped back down into my spot. I clicked my tongue as I worked over the scrawlings on graph paper. "Not a single answer wrong, Kurosaki, you're getting better."
"Don't sound so surprised," he rolled his eyes. "I'm not stupid."
"I think that's the one insult I haven't used on you," I laughed handing him back the book. "Guess I'll have to stick that one in the word bank for later."
"Great, I'm helping you get better at being mean to me," he closed his books up for the night.
"It's all about give and take," I shrugged. "I make you better at math, you make me better at insulting people."
"People meaning me," he said. "Remind me what I get out of the deal."
"You get math," I shrugged.
"And tell me where I'm going to use that again," he grumbled.
"I mean, I use it everyday," I shrugged. "You should see all my spreadsheets and account books."
"Nerd," he rolled his eyes and I laughed.
"You two actually staying here for once?" Rukia asked as she came in the window.
"Yeah," I told him. "You know, Renji's all alone at my house," I winked at her and she blushed. "You're always welcome to join him."
"Y-you.." She started.
"Hey, if you're not doing the same bed thing yet you can always have mine," I teased her further.
"Oh yeah?" She darkened. "Well the same goes to you with my closet," she joked, blushing, and I burst out laughing.
"I'm so glad you had my best interests at heart, Rukia, I don't know what I would have done otherwise," I laughed. "I'll head in there now," I said and hopped up onto the shelf and lay there laughing.
"You think you're so funny?" She laughed. "How about now?" She asked closing the closet door on me and trapping me inside. I kept laughing from inside.
I sat up with a start, ptsd from the last time I'd stayed the night at the Kurosaki house waking me from my slumber early. I clutched my chest as I looked around, waiting to find Isshin leaping in from the window or the ceiling.
"He's not here," Ichigo stated from the pillow. "He left early this morning for a business meeting."
"Thank god," I sighed and flopped back down onto the bed. I rolled onto my other side and intertwined our limbs, relaxing finally. One of the arms Ichigo had wrapped around me snaked up into my hair like it did every morning and he started playing with my hair. I let out a soft, satisfied hum and he chuckled lightly.
"It's not even 7," he said. "You wanna go back to sleep?"
"Way ahead of you," I mumbled, easily drifting back into my semiconscious state. I felt lips press softly against my forehead before Ichigo wiggled into the pillow farther and did the same. I didn't fully go back to sleep, instead I spent the next few hours in a very warm state of half awake time travel where I would check the clock every few minutes and find a half hour had passed. I ran my hand up the chest in front of me and Ichigo hummed in acknowledgement.
"Hmm?" He asked, assuming I wanted something. I leaned up and placed a light kiss to his neck. "Oh, I see," he replied in understanding. "Trying to convince me to get out of bed, are we?"
"Not at all," I replied genuinely and kissed across his jaw. "I thought we'd stay right here."
I met his lips and kissed him softly, he had a just woken up taste but I never had a bad morning breath situation which was lucky. My last boyfriend could kill a goat with his morning breath.
"Mmm," he said after a moment. "Sure seems like you're trying to coax me into something."
"You say that to everyone you kiss?" I laughed and kissed him slightly more passionately.
Eventually he pushed himself up, propping himself up over me as he kissed me back heatedly. Our intimacy level before was spending the night in each other's arms, a few light pecks and Ichigo had seen me in my bra a couple of times. Other than the night a month ago when he'd knocked on my door and taken me in his arms had we kissed like this. I was looking forward our first make out session and here it was budding between us.
We kissed each other feverishly, lips barely breaking from each others for air. I slid a hand up his back and gripped one of his shoulders. I could hear my pulse hammering in my ears as his warm chest pressed softly to mine. I licked across his lips and slid my tongue into his wet cavern, running it across the roof of his mouth pulling a startled moan from Ichigo. Eagerly, his tongue followed and they danced together in harmony. His hand slid under my shirt and rested on my hip, skin on skin contact filling me with warmth but also a craving for more.
I ran my hands over his chest, hoping to encourage him to do the same, remembering that I would have to take this slow with Ichigo as this was all new to him. Not that he acted like it, developing a natural affinity to everything we did just like he had with all his shinigami stuff. I arched up into him, chest meeting chest and kissed him aggressively. This seemed to unlock the competitive side in Ichigo and he started battling me with his mouth. The hand on my hip slid up my side with a featherlight, explorative touch. I let out a content sigh and he continued his discovery expedition under my shirt.
His hand brushed against my breast and sent jolts of electricity through me. I let out a soft moan and he paused for a second, I could see slight worry on his face like he thought he had hurt me but then I watched the realisation on his face and the smug look that accompanied him. Jerk. He took this new information and brought his hand back around to my boob and deliberately brushed his fingers against it. I whined, asking him not to play with me and he readjusted his hand to massage it under my shirt. I gripped his hip as we kissed hard and he continued the assault on my breast.
"And you were worried," he smirked when we pulled apart for air and I glared at him.
"Shut up and kiss me," I grumbled and he laughed softly, leaning down to press his chest to mine. He kissed me again with expert skill, the half hour of practice he'd just had, had him close to mastering the sport. I would have been content to lay like this for the rest of the day, would have, had my phone not gone off on the night stand. I grumbled and reached for it, pulling away from the kiss. He moved across the side of my face, continuing to explore new worlds down my neck. It was incredibly distracting as I tried to read what Kisuke had said.
"Who is it," he asked, hot breath on my wet neck making me shiver.
"Urahara," I replied. "Three scheduled deliveries and he just got the stuff in for two private orders. He's reminding me to come in at 12 to get the car loaded up."
"Ugh," Ichigo groaned as he went back to kissing my neck.
"Are you two going to get up for breakfast or not," Yuzu yelled from outside the door and Ichigo grumbled into my shoulder. I chuckled and looked at the clock.
"Shit! It's 11," I said and scurried out from under him. He lay back down with a sigh as I went for some clothes in a fluster, although I did notice him peaking as I got changed quickly into an Urahara ShÅten t-shirt and tugged some jeans up over my butt. He seemed to have lifted the ban on me changing in front of him suddenly and I wondered it it had anything to do with the constant laughter he gets from me every time he scolds me.
"You getting up or are you just going to stare at my ass all day?" I asked and a blush slid over his cheeks, knowing he'd gotten caught out.
"Fine," he grumbled sliding up on the bed and sitting upright.
"I'll meet you downstairs," I told him and closed the door behind me as I hurried down the stairs.