A/N: This is a Rukia x Ichigo fic, mostly but other couples will be in here. Also, OOC and A/U warning, first time writing Nel x NNoi so...yea.

A/N: As always please read and review, flames are welcome, critiques greatly appreciated! Also this is a re-upload, made a mistake before uploading the unedited version and my Beta just told me about it. LOLOL

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, or the series Bleach it belongs to Kubo Tite.

After he had dropped her off, the bodyguard returned not even thirty minutes later with her backpack. She really should go and try and apologize to him, but she couldn't. He obviously didn't want to see her. She finished up her homework and then stared at the clock. Right about now she would have been sitting on the edge of his bed, spinning her story.

She sighed picking up her cell to call Rangiku, she knew a lot more about this stuff than she did. She and Ichimaru had been together for almost as long as she knew her. They had to have had an argument or two right?

"Hey Rukia, did you confess yet?"

"Straight to the point I see. What happened to pleasantries Ran? And no I didn't, we kind of had a fight."

Ran was silent for a moment, "how did you go from second base to fighting Rukia, what did you do?"

She scowled, "I didn't do anything. He was being a jerk, acting all smug about touching my breasts so I said something to hurt his feelings and I guess it really did."

"Smug? Was he bragging to you about it?"

"Not really…but he said he had just been teasing me, like it had just been fun and games for him. Just trying to see how far he could go."

"I see, so you were hurt because you don't know if he likes you or not?"

"Exactly Ran, I don't want to just let him touch me if its just because its something for him to do. You know what I mean? He hasn't even said he likes me."

Ran giggled cheerfully "Rukia you are so naïve, you're almost too innocent."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well you think he would kiss you if he didn't like you much less touch you in any way if he didn't? Guys are stupid Rukia, most of them don't know the meaning of communication. It's more of do than say for them."

"You're making my head hurt Ran."

"Think it over Rukia you'll understand. Unless you need a demonstration. Then you can just come over and watch Gin for a few hours, you'll get it."

"As fun as that sounds I'm going to pass, thanks anyways. "

"No problem anyways I think you should at least go back and apologize to him. I mean you like him right and he obviously likes you. Just have a frank conversation with him and set some boundaries."

"Ok…umm… Ran do you think I overreacted? that's what he had said."

"Yes and no…but honestly the first time me and Gin messed around I was afraid. It felt weird and we were pretty young, but now it's kinda like second nature if that makes sense. I want to do those kinds of things with him; all the time."

Rukia mulled over her words, it wasn't like it was unpleasant. It had felt good but the way he had so abruptly stopped and then acted like it had been nothing had pissed her off.

"Ok thanks for the advice Ran."

"No problem see you tomorrow Rukia."

"Yea bye."

She hung up still feeling confused on what to do. She decided on just going over there.

She got up leaving her room and going to his house, despite her feelings she still needed the money. She knocked hesitantly and waited patiently. The door opened to his scowling face. "What do ya want Rukia?" Annoyance echoed in his voice and was clearly written on his face.

"I came to work," she shrugged feeling stupid for coming back.

He said nothing as he let her in and escorted her back to his room. He didn't immediately get into bed instead he left her alone in his room.

She sighed this was more difficult than she had thought it would be. She wanted to say sorry she knew she had hurt him.

He came back a few minutes later setting down a glass of water for her. "Thanks" she muttered mutely. The atmosphere incredibly uncomfortable. "Ichigo I'm sorry for what I said earlier."

"It's fine. Go ahead with the story."

She sighed again feeling at a lost. She didn't want to leave it at that. "No its not fine, I shouldn't have said it. It was wrong of me especially since you've been nothing but nice to me."

She set down her water getting onto the bed, and getting close to him, "Stuff like that is just so weird to me, I don't know what I should do or feel. Then when you said you were joking it really hurt." She stared at the pattern in his blanket, "I guess I kinda had my hopes up that you actually liked me or something that was why you wanted to …to touch…" her sentence drifted off, she felt like a stupid little fool. Falling for him because he had been nice to her.

He sat up shrugging off his blanket, "I won't joke around like that again, it was pretty assholey of me. I'm sorry."

She nodded, going back to her spot at the edge of the bed. It wasn't lost on her that he hadn't said he liked her. Of course he didn't, she wanted to laugh at herself. Him reiterating that it had just been a joke hurt her more than she wanted to admit. She kept her back to him, trying to keep tears from coming. "I'll be right back." She excused herself going to one of the bathrooms down the hall.

She splashed her face with water, trying to sober up. What had she really thought? That he would fall for her just because they spent time together? This wasn't some romance novel that stuff like that happens in. She had been so stupid, she stared at her face in the mirror. "Snap outta it Rukia, you have a job to do. After its done you'll have enough money to move on and find someone else." She absentmindedly nodded at her reflection. Leaving the bathroom and taking her usual seat.

"Let's see where did I leave off? Oh yea, it had been a few days…" ~

A few days had passed, and she had an appraiser come and look at what she had. Unfortunately, nothing was of real value, just sentimental value. She sent a telegram asking for an extension and was waiting for the reply, in the meantime, she was going to go into town and find herself some work.

Yachiru had promised to be over after lunch to take her and so she sat there waiting. When she pulled up, they left immediately. It seemed like the trip was shorter this time and already they were in town.

"Yachiru, do you know anyone that would give me a job?"

She frowned, "Right now no, you would have to wait a few months until the mines open. They are always closed for a few months out of the year to give the workers a break. Until then everyone basically works by themselves. There's not really a need for many employees."

"I don't have that much time," she sighed as they pulled into town, she would have to cut back on her purchases and save what little she could.

"You're not in trouble are you Nel?"

"Well, I kind of owe the bank some money, its either that, or sell my land to keep the house. But there would be no point in that."

"Ah, well if ya want I can ask my pops if he needs someone, he's always busy. There's one thing these folks like to do around here, that's drink."

As grateful as she was for the help, she could not lower herself to work there. She was a proper lady, not some harlot. Her parents would roll over in their grave if they knew she had even considered it. "Thanks Yachiru, but I don't think I'm suited for that kind of work." She smiled at the young girl hoping she didn't offend her.

"Well then the next best thing would be to find a rich husband." Yachiru laughed at that, of course not being serious but stopped at the look on Nel's face. "I was joking."

"Actually Yachiru, I have a fiancé." she stared down at her hands, a little nervous.

"How am I just hearing about this?" The young girl gave her a soft smack, "that's not very nice Nel, I thought we were friends."

"I haven't met him yet. We've just been corresponding through letters while I was in the city. In his last one, he asked me to marry him. That's part of the reason I moved back here."

"Oh." Yachiru glanced at her with a thoughtful look on her face, "So what's stopping you from meeting him?"

Nel shrugged, but in truth she didn't want to be disappointed and she also didn't want to disappoint. She was attractive, at least she thought she was, "I'm just worried he will not like me."

Yachiru burst out in a fit of giggles, "Nel sometimes I think you were locked away as a child. You don't understand how men work do you?"

She blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed at that comment, "Am I supposed to?"

Yachiru continued to giggle as stopped the carriage in front of the General store. She got off her seat, "You need anything in here?"

Nel shook her head, was it so bad that she was inexperienced? Yachiru came back a few minutes later with a couple of items.

"I was thinking, since you haven't met him, maybe we can catch a glimpse of him at the Mayor's birthday celebration."

"When is that?"

"Tomorrow"

"When we're you going to tell me this?"

"I just did "Yachiru giggled, "Anyways I gotta stop by my pops before we head back."

"Ok I'll just wait out here for you." She did not want a repeat of the other day.

She stood outside waiting patiently for Yachiru, thinking of what she should do.

"Did you miss me that much? You had to come back?"

She frowned already knowing who it was. "No, I decided to extend my stay." Why had she lied in the first place? Like she would never see him again.

"Did I scare ya out of the bar? It's not safe for a pretty little thing like you to be out here alone." He dismounted off his big black stallion, tying its rope to the post.

"No. I just didn't feel like being propositioned again."

"So that's what you thought I was doing, that's why you were acting all shy and blushing like that? You might have the body for it, but I doubt you'd know what to do with a man."

She turned to him then "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Are you sure you want the answer to that?"

She glanced away from him, "Not particularly, I really could care less either way." She sighed in annoyance, "I don't know why you are still talking to me. Can't you see I would like nothing to do with you?"

His grin broadened his eye sparkling with a hint of something, what it was she was unsure of. "Is that so?"

"Yes, I don't know why you chose to approach me, I don't associate with ruffians. I'm not like those girls, I don't flutter my eyelashes, or hang on your every word because of money."

He smirked "I don't need money for that." He pulled her off the rickety boardwalk and to the side of the building.

She was stunned her voice momentarily leaving her "Let go of me!" she mouthed, her voice still muted.

He didn't, instead he pinned her against the rough wood and captured her lips in his. Her small hands came up to beat against his chest feebly. He teased her lips seeking entry. He pulled back to stare down at her flushed face. His grin was devious as he captured her two hands in one of his and held them over her head.

The other came up to fondle her breast. Her eyes fluttered close at the sensation, a soft moan escaping her. He pulled up her dress partly giving him access to her nether regions. He slipped his hand into her knickers, exploring her slit. "What were you saying?" His voice was low and husky, "You should see the lewd face your making as I touch you. The way your hips gravitate towards my fingers."

She shook her head no, but in truth her body was reacting to his touch in a way she had never felt before. The sensation was surging through her, like electricity. It felt so good, yet she wanted to pull away knowing it was wrong.

"Tell me Nelliel do you know what would come next?"

Even with her eyes close she could tell he was smirking, "I… I… don't know…" her voice sounded subdued to her ears. What he was doing to her was muddling her brain. She couldn't think straight, her body felt like it was on fire, every nerve ending sensitive to his touch. Something was going to happen; something was building inside of her that she was so close to.

Abruptly he stopped straightening up and letting her go. She slumped against the wall her body drained. Her breath coming in short bursts. She hauled herself up "What…why did...you stop?" she could feel the remnants of pleasure coursing through her but felt as if she had been denied the ultimate release.

"Run along home little mouse, before I devour you." He licked his lips, in an all too erotic way.

She stared at him, trying to fix her dress. By devour, did he mean continue to touch her? She knew she shouldn't want it, but she did. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Fear aint what I want from you." his eyes roamed over her sending a shiver down her back.

"Nel! Nel!" Yachiru's high pitched voice broke the silence between them, she didn't look at him as she stepped around the corner. "There you are. "

"Sorry I saw a kitten, was trying to catch it." She laughed timidly knowing her face was still red.

"They're sneaky little guys, aren't they? Anyways let's go its gonna get dark soon."

Nel nodded glancing back to see his smirking face. ~

Rukia got up frowning as she stared down at his sleeping figure. What had she really been thinking? She shook her head, heading out of his room and closing the door behind her. She took up the white envelope and stuck it in her pocket heading home.

~~~~Next Day~~~~

She felt like the day had dragged on. School took forever and now as she sat in her room all she could think about was Ichigo. As sad as that was, she still couldn't get him off her mind. She liked him; she knew that and not just as a friend either. She wanted to be more to him than he wanted and that hurt. Maybe she should distance herself for a while and let the feelings dissipate. Better yet she should just find something or someone else to occupy her time.

She rolled her eyes at that thought. She wasn't interested in the guys at her school, in the four years she had roamed the halls none had caught her attention. She couldn't ever picture herself liking any of them. Why now was this so difficult. It had never been like this.

Rukia wanted to scream out her frustration, but instead she took a quick shower and changed. Grabbing her purse, she headed to his house. She could treat this exactly like what it was, a job she was getting paid to do.

When she pulled up, another car was in the driveway. That was a first. She parked and slowly got out of the car. She knocked on the door glancing around the quiet neighborhood. The sun was getting ready to set. She went to knock again but the door opened, a tall older gentleman stood there.

"Yes?"

"I'm here to see Ichigo." She said sheepishly, she felt nervous under his scrutiny, she had no clue who he was.

"Rukia?"

She nodded and was surprised at his total change in demeanor his face lit up with a dazzling smile.

"Come in, I was wondering if Ichigo would ever let me meet you. I heard you liked my cake. I brought another one just for you."

She followed him as he rattled on, her gaze never leaving him. This was Ichigo's father. As she surveyed him, she could see the slight resemblance. They ended up in the kitchen where sure enough a delicious strawberry topped cake sat on a pedestal. "It looks scrumptious. Strawberries are my favorite."

He grinned cutting her a piece, "just like my Masaki."

"Thanks," she said taking the plate and siting at the table. It was as good as the first one, "Is that your wife?"

"Hmm?" he had been staring off into space lost in a daydream, "Uh yea, sorry my head was in the clouds for a second there."

A small smile came to her lips, "its ok, I find myself doing that a lot lately too."

He took a seat across from her a huge grin on his face, "Because of my Ichigo?"

She glanced down at her plate unsure of what to say, "Something like that." If possible, his grin grew wider, "What?" she asked sheepishly.

"I thought Ichigo had made you up."

She giggled at that, "Like an imaginary friend?"

"Exactly, I was getting worried about his mental health there for a while." He sighed "but I see he wasn't lying, I guess I should trust him a bit more huh?" he laughed getting up and putting the cake in the fridge. "He's just such a loner sometimes, never wants to come visit his loving family. If I didn't come over, I wouldn't get to see my precious son."

It sounded as if he was on the verge of tears, Rukia sat there trying not to make eye-contact with him.

"I guess at least he's doing something right if he has a girlfriend as cute as you." He set down a glass of milk for her his smile never leaving.

She glanced at him unsure whether to correct him or not. "I guess so um … Ichigo's dad…. I didn't catch your name sorry."

He scratched his head for a second then chuckled, "I guess I got ahead of myself, I'm Isshin but you can call me pops or papa or whatever you want. I'm pretty easy."

"Oi Old man, didn't I tell ya to get out." Ichigo walked in a frown of his face, "and stop creeping her out."

"I was doing no such thing son; I was just having a delightful conversation with your girlfriend." He pouted.

Ichigo sighed, "Telling a young girl you just met to call you 'pops or papa' is not part of a delightful conversation."

"That was just the last part, we were talking about other stuff too."

Rukia watched their interaction trying not to laugh. Their playful banter bringing a smile to her face, "don't be so mean Ichigo, your father was just trying to friendly. He even brought me a cake."

"You mean he brought me a cake."

"You hate strawberries Ichigo, this is for Rukia."

"Then why the hell would you bring me a strawberry cake old man?" Ichigo rubbed his temples, "Just go home, before mom comes looking for you."

Isshin glanced at his watch, his eyes widening, "Your right it's been almost ten hours without having seen her beautiful face. I need to go rectify that. Bye bye my sweet son, take care. Bye bye Rukia."

"Bye Isshin."

Ichigo shook his head, grabbing a bottle of water. "Don't pay attention to him, he's a little bit eccentric."

"I don't think that's what I would call it, but he was great." She followed him to his room, taking her usual seat. His father was over the top, but in a good way. He seemed like a great guy.

Ichigo got into the bed, stretching out.

"You talked to your dad about me?"

"Yea," he shrugged "He's like a blood hound but for secrets. He can tell when your hiding something. And apparently a girl friend is something you absolutely can't keep from him."

Rukia glanced at him, but said nothing. "I'm just going to pick back up where I left off."

"Ok." He said closing his eyes waiting for her to start. *

A/N: OK so that's the sixth chapter. Hopefully you guys enjoy it.