Title: My only love sprung from my only hate. Part 3

Disclaimer: May purple bunnies chase after me if I ever claim to own any of these characters.

Summary: So, while Byakuya is being harassed by Yoruichi, Ichigo tries to sleep in. Rukia has other ideas.

This is the chapter that never ends!!! Originally only a two-part chapter, now it's up to four (I couldn't resist throwing some Ichigo/Rukia romance fluff). Some more swearing in this chapter, because our two lovebirds are arguing. But, when are they not?

Happy New Year!

Meanwhile, at the Kurosaki residence…

"ICHIGO!!!"

Rukia's piercing voice rattled the windows of the house. "ICHIGO!"

Ichigo peered blearily from beneath the covers of his bed. Aw hell, did he leave the cookies out on the counter?

"Ichigo!" With a bang, Rukia slammed open his bedroom door, and Ichigo quickly hid an amused snort into his pillow case. Her hair was standing up in tufts, and she was half-wearing a mint green dress over a pair of purple bunny pajama pants.

Yeah, his fiancée was hot.

"What are you still doing in bed?" She reached down and grabbed a fistful of his blanket, trying to tug it off. "We're supposed to meet with the manager about reserving the park for the wedding in half an hour!"

Ichigo grumbled, tugging back. His bed was warm and fluffy, and he had no intention of waking up. "I cancelled it."

"You did what!?!" Rukia growled, jerking harder. "We had to schedule that meeting three weeks ago!"

Like he would ever forget talking to that sadistic secretary. "I cancelled it." He scowled, rolling so that the blanket was cocooned around him. Try pulling that off, you half-pint she-demon.

"ARRGH!" In frustration, she delivered a kick to his lazy, lumpy ass. "We had to wait three weeks to even talk to the manager about reserving the park! Where are we going to hold the damned wedding now if you cancelled our damn meeting with the damn park manager?"

As she delivered another kick, Ichigo decided he had had enough abuse. Growling, he shot an arm out from beneath the covers, grabbing hold of one ankle and tugging. With a yelp, Rukia tumbled to the floor.

She rubbed her sore rear, glaring at him. "Ichigo, you moron!"

Before Rukia could regroup and launch a counterattack, he snagged his arm around her waist and hoisted her beneath the covers with him. She wiggled around trying to get free, so he hooked his leg across hers and pinned her down.

While his original intention was to stop her squirming so he could go back to bed, the male part of his brain was now wide awake with the realization that he was alone…with Rukia…in his bed…

Fiancée in bed good.

She froze as he nuzzled against her neck. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Getting comfortable," he grumbled, breathing in with a slight hum. "You smell good."

She made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a disgruntled growl. She was probably blushing, Ichigo decided. Either that or preparing to kick his ass.

"Are you going to be this much of a pain in the ass to wake up when we're married?"

"Only when your brother comes to visit at three in the morning." He winced as the words slipped out. Now there was no way she was going to let him go back to sleep.

"Nii-sama was here?" Rukia started wiggling again, and he grunted as she elbowed him in the stomach. "Why?"

"He's going to arrange the ceremony and reception." Ichigo choose to put off mentioning the person guest list until Rukia was a little less tempermental. If choosing a wedding cake turned her into a pint-sized general, he didn't want to be around when she found out that she would have to plan for 400 guests. "He went to speak with Sandal-hat about using his big spirit room for the whole thing. I decided that with that out of the way, we could cancel with the park manager."

"Oh." Rukia was thinking, which meant she was holding still. And holding still meant that he didn't get kicked in the shins as he propped himself on his elbow to look down on her. Or punched in the face for what he was about to pull.

"You know, a normal fiancée would try kissing me awake or some romantic shit like that."

Rukia eyed his grin suspiciously. He was definitely up to something. "Yuza is making breakfast downstairs."

His grin widened. "So she's busy."

She began to catch on, especially when he started to softly stroke her side. "Karin is still in her room."

"Probably still sleeping." They both knew the dark-haired twin could sleep through a heavy metal concert.

Ichigo swooped down expectingly for a kiss, only to be stopped by Rukia's finger across his lips. "Your dad's a pervert, and I haven't seen him yet this morning."

He groaned. The old man was probably waiting for a nice touching moment to dropkick him in the head.

Rukia laughed as he flopped back on the bed in frustration. She leaned down to peck a quick kiss on his cheek, rubbing her nose against his jaw fondly. He grumbled, but gave her a small smile. She laughed again, throwing the blankets off his bed and across the room before bouncing out of bed.

She turned back to look at him, and turned up her nose. "Are you wearing an orange shirt with purple pants?"

Ichigo tossed his pillow at her, hitting her squarely in the face. What, were all Kuchiki's fashion critics?

She shook her slightly more tangled head of hair at him, and then sashayed out of his room still wearing her colorfully mismatched outfit.

Ichigo grinned as he watched her go. Yeah, his fiancée was hot.

Over 50 reviews! I feel so loved!

Sorry to all my loyal readers for not updating sooner, but between school and the holidays, it's been a bit hectic. Maybe I should make working on this more often my New Year's resolution ;).

I'm so glad so many of you enjoyed the interaction between Byakuya, Urahara, and Yoruichi in the last chapter. I really enjoying writing Yoruichi, so I think we might be seeing more of her in the chapters to come!

Some reviewers I'd like to take the time and respond to:

Green Amber: Ringbearer…hehe…I have plans for that…

SwordoftheJedi: Yes, Byakuya skinny-dipping sigh . If only he was three-dimensional…

Emerald-eclipse: I'm so glad you think everything is canon, because I try very hard to keep everyone in character, and it's great when my readers think I've done a good job at that!

And to everyone else, keep reading!