Okay, keep with me. I decided to make this take place in the Arrancar Arc. But i needed to put this in to give a basic outline of their relationship. So basically, before you read this...Kusori has a somewaht crush on Yumichika, not fully awoken.. and then this happens and she...well she doesn't realize her feelings, but she gets a better understanding of them,...kay? now just read. And i also want you to know that today is Yumichika's birthday so

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YUMICHIKA!!!!!!!! (it is Sept 19 when i wrote this)

DISCLAIMER: Dont own bleach, dont own love

Chapter Three

"Is this the place?"

Kusori looked at the small building that resided within the boundaries of the eleventh division. It was nothing special, it looked exactly like every other housing unit in the eleventh division. But this unit, held a certain aura to it. The scent of lavender sifted through the area, almost intoxicating the young substitute. If she remembered correctly, Zakari-taichou told her that Ikkaku was going to be in charge of punishing her. So if that was the case, why did his doorstep reek of a feminine flower? Slowly, she walked up to the solid door. It seemed sturdy, and locked, so she wrapped on the door. Out there, she sat and waited. For what seemed like a minute, the door finally opened. The lavender scent became stronger as the door opened. Kusori took a step back, and looked at the man appearing out from behind the hard door.

"Kusori-chan? What are you doing here this early?" She glared lightly at the sleepy man, who yawned, and rubbed his left eye.

"Yumichika-senpai? I thought you were…."

"Ikkaku?"

"Hai…" She said, he had read her mind. He sighed, and raked his hand through his silk hair.

"You're here for your punishment aren't you?"

"Hai."

"Well," he yawned, "Ikkaku isn't here, he went to go train."

'Bastard!' she thought. 'He was supposed to punish me today! I wasted a whole day going through preparation to get into the Seretei, and he's off training!?' Unforgivable. Just completely idiotic.

"But if you want, you can wait in here with me for him." He offered. She turned her head, and raised her chin high. He was her senpai, but why would she waste her time in the Seretei waiting for a person she could easily find? She could go look for him, and be over with the punishment within an hour, tops! She had a huge assignment to do in the human world.

"I'll make tea…" He chimed in a melodious tone. He walked up to her, and playfully grabbed her shoulders as he said this. She sighed, but in defeat.

"Alright. I'll wait for him…"

He guided her into his abode, and she took in more incense. There was vanilla, and almond and the lavender. They all mixed together in harmony as she stepped out from the crampt hallway and entered his small living room. She could see in the corner, his zanpakuto was firmly placed on a fluffy pillow. She envied that piece of metal. Later, she walked over to his table, and sat herself down near it. After all, you need a place to put your tea.

"Kusori-chan. Listen!"

"Hmm? Oh gomen, senpai. What is it you were saying?"

"I asked you how you like your tea?"

She told him she liked her tea black, and he smiled within the confines of his kitchen. Within minutes the tea was made. He came to the table, and placed the orange clay teapot on the table, and he handed her a rather large clay cup. She took it, and thanked him. He smiled, and sat on the other side of the table. Across from Kusori. Tea in his hands.

"Umm…Yumichika?"

"Hai?"

"Do you know what my punishment is? Ikkaku wouldn't tell me."

He sighed. "Well, he didn't really tell me either. But you want to get back to your own home soon right?"

She nodded. He smirked.

"Alright then…." And he glanced at Kusori in amusement. She didn't know what he thought was funny. So she kept to herself and drank her tea. He smirked again.

"What cup size are you?" He took in more tea. She spat hers out.

Horror was plastered on her face, and glazed over her eyes. This is what he was so amused about. This was her punishment. Funny. Sometimes Yumichika does think like a girl would. So, his way of punishment was to get out any question he asked her, to get her embarrassed. Well, she wasn't going to let that happen.

"32B." she said confidently. She wouldn't let him have fun with her punishment.

"Only?" he said, surprised. "That's sad. If you gained a little more weight, they could be so much bigger…"

She was fuming. How dare he talk about her body as if it's some type of specimen! That was Kurotsuchi-taichou's job.

"Speaking of which…How much do you weigh?" He prodded her from across the table. She glared at him, as he sighed nonchalantly.

'Asshole' she thought, 'but this is a game. And I can't let him win.' She concluded inwardly.

"119lbs." She closed her eyes. Seizing the moment, he stretched his arm and tapped her on the nose. It might have been a playful gesture on his behalf, but she felt as if she were a dog being punished for growling at the neighbours. He sunk back to his original seat, and took another sip of his green tea. She drank her own as well, fully aware of the situation she was in. She was being forced into a very disturbing interrogation, and she didn't know where her breaking point was. He glanced at her, and sensed the aura around her. Either she was afraid, or…

'She's upset?' Yumichika thought, 'Why would she be upset? Unless…' He placed his fingertip to his chin, and with his other hand, he took yet another sip from his teacup.

"Tell me, Kusori-chan…" He began; he knew that this would probably bring her over the edge for sure. "Is it your time of the month?"

She opened her eyes. Anger boiled in her, and she had the urge to punch him, but she knew better. This was her punishment. She had to accept it, and to shed tears at any time would be to forfeit. It would be to show weakness. She didn't want to show weakness to her senpai, and she didn't want to lose. But how could she answer a question like that? If she gives a sarcastic remark, he will think she's being snappy with him and assume that she is. If she answers honestly, he will know. Truth is, it was her time of the month, but that's not something you need to share. Especially to a guy, who happens to be your senpai? But there was no way to squirrel her way around the question. So, she inhaled some air, and exhaled before she answered, hoping to God her voice didn't crack.

"Yes, actually. Now is that all?"

He seemed shocked to hear that. Not many girls would tell a guy that it was their time of the month. And even if they did, they'd expect to see sympathy for it. But she just sat there, showing a poor cover of endurance, and trying to be strong for herself. That's what made her so great. She didn't want or expect to be given special attention. That's a part of her he always admired. But something about the way she sat there. Slouched, trying not to show her face to him. It made him sad. Hopefully his game was soon over.

"No, I'm sorry. Just a few more questions, and then you can be on your way."

She didn't look at him, which he took as a sign that she didn't want to continue, but she accepted, and nodded her head. She was really amazing. He had a few more questions to ask, but the next one was a whopper of a question, and in her state, he didn't know if she could live through it. But he wanted to ask it. More like, he needed to ask it. Seeing as it had been burrowing away in the back of his mind for so long. He finally realized that now it mattered for that question to be answered. If it wasn't, he might go insane. Quietly, he asked,

"Are you a virgin?" It was barely audible, but she heard it.

Purely shocked, she dropped her clay cup. It shattered to the ground, and broke of into hundreds of small sharp pieces. One piece, however, was not that small, and flew its way up to her arm. Its contact with her pale skin slit, and within seconds, thick blood found its way to the surface. Another small one hit the side of her left cheek. Instinctively, she brought her hand to her the open wound on her arm, and cringed in pain. Yumichika, since his eyes were closed and looking down, didn't see the auburn haired girl have her arm cut. He only heard the teacup break. Apparently, he thought she didn't hear his question.

"Well, are you?" He said with his head still down. He didn't want to make eye contact with her for this particular question. And it made sense not to. He only did look up when he heard an "Ow…" escape from her lips. To see why she had said that, of all things. He brought his head up, and his eyes widened in terror as the scene unfolded in front of him.

There, on the other side of the table, was his pupil, and good friend, holding her right arm, and cringing in agony. Her left cheek had been cut too, and a small stream of blood was trying to flow down her jaw line. She was holding back tears to his surprise. He could have compressed the urge to hold her when he was interrogating her before, but at the sight of her on the verge of tears, worry overwhelmed him. He rushed to her, the oak table rattling a bit as he stood, and kneeled down beside her. He made her look him in the eye, and she did. Her eyes were big, and full of tears just waiting to come out.

He looked at her sadly, and motioned for her to move her hand. She refused, shaking her head, but he needed to see what happened. Reluctantly, she gave in and removed her hand, exposing the stain of crimson blood on her arm. There was still blood spewing out from the 'flesh wound'. He smiled at her sadly, and said,

"This isn't so bad." She wanted to hit him, but her arm wouldn't allow it, she just gave him a look to stop joking around. Inevitably he did, and continued,

"Well, never fear. I have some bandages in my bedroom. I'll go get them."

Against her will, and his own, he left for his bedroom. He turned back to her, she with wide wondering eyes, and he with a wink. She smiled slightly at his comforting gesture. And before she even knew he was gone, he came back. In his right hand, a bottle and in his left, cloths and gauze. She looked at the bottle, back at him, the bottle, narcissist, and the bottle. She stared at that bottle for a very long time, before he spoke. He had opened the bottle, and used the cloth to place some of the its content on it. It was a clear liquid, and it had a strong scent. It wasn't vanilla like his room, or lavender like himself. She could have sworn she had smelt it before. In an incident just like this.

"This might sting a little." He said, unsure of her reaction.

He took her right arm, and placed the strip of cloth lightly over the bloody cut. She knew what it was now. Iodine. She lightly winced as the medicine was sent into her body, and muffled a scream. He had the cut on her arm clean, and was now using the white bandage to cover it. Many times he twisted the mesh-like gauze over the wound, and finally he tied it up. Now he took another cloth, and put some Iodine on it too (after he tossed the other cloth). He folded the fabric and placed it lightly on her left cheek. Once in place, he covered it with his hand, so it seemed as if his hand cupped her cheek. Since this cut wasn't big, it didn't cause her a lot of pain. She look up to him, and smiled, as heat reached from her gut and tinged her cheekbones.

"Try to be more careful please."

He said, with his hand still on her cheek. By now, he had forgotten that the iodinated strip of fabric was underneath. The only thought in his mind was his hand making contact with her face. And the fact that she did nothing to remove said hand. Anxiety and pride flew within his heart, as he thought of what to do next. As of right now, that moment, all he wanted was her warmth, and to obtain it by his embrace. Realizing what he wanted to do, he released his hand, and wrapped his arms around her. She was secured in his chest, and they both wanted it to stay that way. Their auras mingled and they absentmindedly took in each others lingering smell. Yumichika smelt of lavender, but he couldn't find out hers.

'She smells magnificent. Like some type of exotic flower.' He thought blissfully, as he rested his head within her shoulder, and buried his head in her neck. 'Orchid, maybe? Who knows? I'll just enjoy it for now…' And that is just what he did. A smile began to tug on the ends of his lips when he noticed she did nothing. She didn't pull back. She had given him free access to his neck, and he took it. Meanwhile little did he know that the young woman encircled in his arms was blushing furiously.

"One more question…" His neck still within the warm confines of her soft neck. "Out of Ikkaku, Ukitake-taichou and Kuchiki-taichou, who would you choose?"

She was shocked by his question. Never, had she expected to have a question like that asked to her. But, she had to say the truth. Her lips curled upward as she stated her answer to him.

"None of them." He snapped his head away from her neck when she said this. He had expected to hear at least one of the names be called, but her answer was different. And he needed to know why.

"Why?"

"Well, they're not the most beautiful men in the Seretei. I'm not a big fan of Kuchiki-taichou, I haven't even heard of Ukitake-taichou, and Ikkaku isn't for me."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well..." She sighed, "I guess, umm, I mean, There's nothing we could even base a relationship on!"

"But..." He asked, pulling away slightly, saddened by the fact she didn't pull closer, "Who do you think the most beautiful man in the Seretei is?"

Her eyes seemed to gleam in joy, and she wrapped her arms around his chest. He was shocked at first, but then he began to smile too.

"I'm not telling...yet."

He realized something, she did nothing when he embraced her, and when he pulled away, she embraced him. She wanted to stay with him. She wanted to have his company. And that fact could even make the happiest man even happier. He wrapped his arms around her, and placed his chin on her head. Everything felt so in place.

"Let's keep it that way."

Yes, everything in life was now perfect for him.

NOW IM DONE AND I NEED TRO GIVE MY SIS A BATH JA NE!!!!!!! ♥