A/N Sorry for the late update, I hope the last chapter wasn't so bad. . Well, here's the new chapter and jealousy kicks in!

Please read and review as I want to hear your thoughts and what are your views about this story or a particular chapter! It means a lot to people who write the story.

Disclaimer: Bleach is KT's work.

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Chapter 6 – Getting to Know

A week quickly passed by and it was soon Saturday. Rukia had asked Ichigo if he would like to follow her to meet Renji. At first, he did not want to go but he decided that since he had nothing to do on Saturday, he decided that he might as well spend the day outside than being bored to death at home. (He rarely goes out on Saturdays.) He soon got ready and quickly told his father that he was going out. Glad that his father had no time to tease him because he was attending to patients. At least he can escape from the teasing until he comes back home.

He was supposed to meet Rukia at the bus-stop at about 1 plus to go to where Renji worked. He checked his watch and he was quite early. He walked leisurely to the bus stop taking his time as he knew Rukia would not be there yet.

He finally reached the bus stop after 15 minutes and started pacing up and down growing impatient every minute. He was well 20 minutes early and there were quite a few people at the bus stop. He started thinking of what it was going to be like today and dread coming back home with his father questioning him about where he went today.

After 10 minutes, he saw the familiar face of Rukia with not so familiar clothes. He found it odd and it finally struck him that he had never seen Rukia in any other clothes other than in her uniform. She was wearing a yellow sundress and carried a brown sling bag.

"Yo" Ichigo said as Rukia approached. Rukia was mildly surprised, thinking about what he could be thinking about as he had such a serious look on his face. She decided to try and wipe the seriousness on his face.

"Strawberry, why are you so moody today?" Rukia teased. True enough, Ichigo serious expression was quickly replaced with his funny expression that made her laugh inwardly.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that Kuchiki Rukia?" Ichigo retorted, his veins popping out of his head.

"Until I can remember!" Rukia laughed as she saw Ichigo expression changed into 'I'll-kill-you-Rukia'.

Ichigo was surprised that Rukia actually laughed. All the times he had spent with Rukia, he had never seen her laugh so openly like the way she is laughing now. She must be really happy; Ichigo thought and felt his heart lighting up a little.

They walked together to the shop. Rukia suddenly realised that she didn't have the address to the shop making Ichigo wanted to pull his hair out. Luckily Ichigo remembered the shop's name and they walked around asking for the address. After much attempts,(to Ichigo's annoyance) they managed to get to the shop.

They stepped into the crowded shop and managed to squeeze and got seats at the corner of the shop where a couple just left. It was quite a small shop. All the waiters, chefs and cashier were boys. The customers there were mainly school girls who were goggling at the handsome boys that were cooking and serving them ramen. What's with this bunch of girls? Ichigo thought.

"Rukia, go look for Renji, I'll be here." He said as he sat down, not wanting to sqeeze between them. Since Rukia is so much smaller, she'll be able to slip by them easily.

He tried looking out for Rukia through the people but he soon lost sight of her. It is so hard to find her, Ichigo thought.

After 15minutes, Rukia and Renji finally came back with two bowls of ramen and Ichigo saw the girls behind them were shooting death glares at Rukia. Ichigo frowned and he thought, did these people came to eat the ramen or to just look at the people working here?

"Thanks Renji." Rukia said, smelling the delicious smell of the ramen.

"Yeah thanks Renji." Ichigo said.

"Heh, no problem. I got to go work now, I'll be off for a break in fifteen minutes," He said as he checked his watch. "I got to go back to work, it's always so busy on weekends. Loads of people must love the ramen huh."

Rukia raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you kidding? They're obviously looking at the cookers and the waiters. These girls have nothing else to do. Be careful Renji, you might be their next victim."

Ichigo felt a twinge of jealousy. For a second, he felt that Rukia cared about Renji more than him. It was not as if Rukia words had hurt him but why would he be jealous over that? He quickly brushed the emotion off, passing it up as the smell of the ramen must be getting to him.

"Yeah yeah Rukia, see you later guys." Renji said as he disappeared into the kitchen.

"Well, tuck in Ichigo, I'm sure it'll be nice, Renji cooked it especially for us." Rukia said as she began filling her mouth with the delicious ramen.

"Yeah yeah, I don't need you to tell me." Ichigo said as he took his chopsticks in his hands and started eating.

Soon, Renji came reeked with ramen smell and sweat. He heaved a sigh as he randomly took a chair from the next table.

"Whoa, you look tired out." Ichigo said.

"Well, right on, its tough handling those schoolgirls, they're annoying. Especially those really screamy sort." Renji replied, cleaning his sweat at the back of his hand. "Oh I almost forgot, this is for you Rukia." Renji said as he took out a picture from his wallet. I wanted to give this to you when you before you left for your adopted home but you left before I could give it to you. Here."

There stood 3 boys and a girl. The girl was obviously Rukia, with her hair shorter and her face wore a happy smile. The boy standing beside her was Renji with his red hair tied in a ponytail. Ichigo could not reconigse the other two boys.

"Ah, a picture we took on my birthday. It sure brings back memories." Rukia smiled softly at the picture.

"Yeah, remember we were playing tag at the back of the orphanage and you tripped and fell hard on the ground?" Renji replied, "You didn't even cry even though it hurt you so badly."

"It would take a thousand more pain to make me cry." Rukia said as she looked back at the photo of her smiling self when she was 9.

Ichigo sat there, unable to contribute to the conversation. He realised that he didn't know much about Rukia after all. The time she spent in the orphanage or before that.

"Ah Ichigo, you must be bored sitting there." Rukia said.

"What? Ah no, not really." Ichigo replied.

Renji eyed on Ichigo closely, he wondered why Rukia warmed up with this guy so quickly. He knew that Rukia rarely opens up to people.

"Hey, I got to go back to work now." Renji said, checking his watch.

"Ok Renji, see you some other days or something and I need to discuss with you about something." Rukia said, eyeing Renji intently.

Ichigo watched the two, wondering what the hell Rukia is talking about again.

"Yeah yeah, ok, bye Rukia, Ichigo." He said as he waved.

"Bye" both Rukia and Ichigo said as they left the shop together.

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A/N The end is abrupt but I hope it's not too bad, I'm currently putting thoughts for the next chapter. (: Please review!!

MANY MANY THANKS TO: Ishasuki Mitochi, AznAnimeChick, BlackBrightField and andraq for the reviews!! That was what kept me going.(:

Also, to those people who saved this story into their favourites and alerts, MANY MANY THANKS TO YOU TOO. It also kept me going. (: