The Chemical Reaction

Atagoki: Third chapter! Sorry I've been away! I was at the beach and fanfiction has been rather unkind to me. XD Anyway...on with the story!

Warnings: None aside from the usual language, amores

Disclaimer: I do own some bleach, but not this Bleach.

Chapter 2:

The reverse side also has a reverse side. — Japanese Proverb

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"What the hell? Why are you bringing Kurosaki into my office?" Rukia hissed, looking up from her stack of paperwork.

Her desk, was as expected, organized. Every picture was lined up in a row, her pencils and pens and writing utensils were in an organized tray with labels. The office was a cool green with large windows and tan and wooden furniture. The place was clean and neat and organized. Ichigo expected this much.

"Yo, Rukia. What's up?" he grinned as the escort pushed him into a chair by a table.

"Shut your ass up." she snapped, smacking him on the back of the head.

The escort shrugged. "Look, Kuchiki-san, I'm just here to escort. The psychologist said something about he might cooperate more if he's under less hostile conditions. Just take him and do whatever. Get him a hooker, get him a beer, just do something. Everyone is getting impatient from the pressure the J—the A—the governments are putting on us."

The escort left the room in a hurry and Rukia was standing there, confused and half-irritated.

"So, what's with the green? I took you for a white office that looks clinical. You're so meticulous." Ichigo began before he could stop the words from escaping his lips.

Her eye twitched and she inhaled, as she went over to the bureau and pulled out the box of matches and began lighting a few of the candles and turned on the small water fountain. "It's for my rage issues. It's supposed to be therapeutic. I hope you don't mind incense candles or this fountain."

"Actually, I hate incense and the fountain will make me want to go take a piss."

"Glad you like them. I do too." she answered, gripping the table harshly and ignoring his words, then added, "Now, I've got this note here that says I'm supposed to play music to help you loosen up around me. It also says I should tell you I want us to be thought of friends and make it sound convincing."

"Aren't you supposed to read that to yourself?"

"Probably. But I want you to know I have no intention of paying a speck of attention. To the last part, that is."

He raised his brow as Rukia strode to her desk and plugged in a small stereo and placed an iPod in it. "Pink? I didn't take you for a pink—"

"Shut your ass up." she hissed, then pressed the shuffle button. "Okay, let's begin. What connections do you have to the black market?"

He smirked and raised his eyebrow. Rukia frowned. "What do you want now, Kurosaki?"

"Nothing; you listen to that American band Journey?"

She frowned and looked at the song. It was Separate Ways (Worlds Apart). "So?"

"Nothing; you know, I like that song and band. I just figure I'd share. What bands do you like?"

"Shut your ass up."

"Is that all you say?"

"Shut the fuck up."

"Ooh, that's so much better—OW! Hitting does not solve problems, Rukia!"

"But it makes me feel better, Ichigo."

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Orihime looked up at the clouds and smiled a little bit, then snapped her head towards Rukia's office as a loud crash was heard. It was followed by the door opening and Ichigo being shoved out, full speed. Rukia's hair, was in a puffy mess and her face was red. Her eyes were ablaze and she took a small foot, wearing a leather boot, and kicked him in the side, followed by the thigh, then the leg. "Hmph!" Rukia turned around and walked into her office and slammed the door behind her.

Orihime rushed to Ichigo's side and turned him over, to which he was laughing hysterically, then cringed from the bruises that would soon appear. "Kurosaki-kun? What happened?"

"She's so easy to rile up!" he gasped from laughter.

"Kurosaki-kun! What did you do to Kuchiki-san?"

"I kissed her!" Ichigo managed to get out, then started laughing his head off.

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"HE WHAT?" Renji screeched, slamming his fist on his desk.

"He fucking kissed me!" Rukia repeated, pacing in his office and squeezing her hands into fists so hard, little crescents appeared from her fingernails.

"I'm going to burn his lips off!"

"Burn mine!"

Renji took a deep breath. "Well, what should we do?"

"I swore I smelled liquor."

"What the hell? You think I'm drinking on the job?"

"Not on you, baka! On Ichig—Kurosaki!"

Renji raised an eyebrow. "So get him to pee in a cup and do a test."

Rukia made a face at his grotesque description, then shook it off. "I already called Hanataro to do so. I just want to know how the hell he's been getting it if he is intoxicated."

"The report is here, Kuchiki Rukia-san." a voice from behind stated meekly.

"Well, hand it over!" she snatched the papers from him and scanned over it, then furrowed her brow and handed it back. "What the hell does this mean?"

He smiled gently. "It means he had some alcohol in his system. It's trace, but enough to impair him slightly."

"Who the hell gave it to him then?"

"I don't know, but apparently, when he arrived, Kurosaki Ichigo-kun was highly stressed and irritated in his sober form. I'm sure they gave him just enough to loosen up and see if he would cooperate."

"Maybe I'll just shove my foot up his ass and see if he cooperates. Damn it; why the fuck don't people tell me these things when he's part of MY job?" Rukia retorted furiously.

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"So, Kurosaki-kun, what happened, if you don't mind my asking…?" Orihime began, stumbling slightly.

Ichigo had become less talkative after he was returned to the interrogation room and his lips formed a scowl and his eyebrows formed a cross expression. "I don't feel like talking about it."

"I understand…apologies. Shall I serve you the small amount liquor I was suggested I serve every few hours by Kotetsu Isane-san to calm your nerves?"

"Iie. No. I don't want anymore. Ever."

"Hai." Orihime answered.

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Rukia swallowed a lump in her throat and frowned as she thumbed through the papers for an excuse to talk to him. He was unusually quiet and the situation was awkward. There were no sarcastic comments or spiteful statements intended to piss her off. The only thing there was a seemingly impenetrable silence. And somehow, Rukia's thoughts drifted for a moment about how she felt right now. To be honest, she hadn't been mad about the kiss, but more so, about the fact her face was so red after he had done it.

"Rukia, may I ask you a question?"

"Hai."

"Why do you work here?"

"Because, my brother's family has been a part of this for centuries. This very organization is older than either of us and even my brother and a lot of my co-workers. It would be a dishonor for me to not accept the blessed honor of working here. Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm just wondering how far you're willing to go to know about a few bad deals and choices I made."

"I…am confused."

"Is this place as special as you think?"

"Nani? What? Why are you asking me all these questions?"

"Just answer the goddamn question!"

"I believe this place has good intentions, even if some of the things I—we do are questionable. But I stand by it."

"So ka. I see."

Atagoki: So, this chapter started out fun...but it's about to get more complicated. I think the end is showing you the type of twist. As much fun as it was to write Ichigo as I had the previous chapters, that's coming to a close so I can get him to the state he's normally in so I canset the stage for the underlying plot. Next chapter will spark something with someone you may not expect to appear. The chapter after that will start involving some politics.

For the proverb, I dunno how it came about. I think it was just showing that Ichigo's got another side to him and such...I don't know...it just seemed to fit to me. .::shrug::.

Read and review, amores.