A/N: So sorry for the late update, I've been very busy for the past few months. (school, school,school sigh) I don't think I'll be updating anytime soon, I have exams in May. sobs

Thank you for the reviews for the previous chapter!! I hope this chapter is interesting to all of you. :D

Please read and review! Reviews are love!

EDIT 24/4/2008: Please note, major changes have been done to this chapter. Please re-read it again as I've inserted some fluff bits.

Chapter 7 – Project

"No Ichigo, that information is irreverent!" Rukiasaid, flipping her literature book for more revalent information.

"Yes it is! It tells us how important the role of Ruth in the story!" Ichigo replied, sticking to his point.

Ichigo and Rukia decided to do their literature project today in the library, because they were bickering too loudly, they were chased out and ended up doing the project in Ichigo's house instead. (Ichigo offered since there is no where else where is quiet and a place where discussion can be made). After narrowing escaping Isshin's interrogations, Ichigo pushed Rukia upstairs and locked the door.

"Your family has quite a charm." Rukia mused, looking around his room. Hm, too clean for a boy.

"Oh shut up, let's continue with the project." Ichigosaid flipping through the pages of the book they were doing.

"Your room is way too clean for a boy. I thought boys like you would have some porn magazines or another." She said, curiosly looking at what kind of books he had on the desk.

"What? I am NOT a pervert!" Ichigo spluttered.

"Yeah right." Rukia said as she rolled her eyes.

"Gah, whatever. Think whatever you want. We HAVE a project to complete."

Rukia looked around the bedroom again; she could feel the family warmness that she never felt in her own house. How nice it felt she thought, she never felt family warmth for years. She felt a deep longing for it.

"Ichigo."

"What?" Ichigo said, concentrating on writing the essay.

"Why do you have a large portrait of your mother in the hall?"

Ichigo paused, he gripped his pen tightly. Rukia took it as he didn't want to talk about it. Guess it was a taboo subject.

"Sorry-" Rukia began but Ichigo cut her off.

"Nah it's ok, she died a long time ago…died in a while trying to save me from a car that rammed into the pavement." Ichigo said as he continued to write, not looking at Rukia.

"…"

"I'm sure your mother was a great woman." She said as she smiled, thinking of her own mother.

"She sure was, our family revolved around her. We all loved her so." Ichigo replied. "We can't bring back the dead, I'm just glad that I had a mother like her."

"Yeah.."

"Whew! Finally it's done." Ichigo let out a sigh of relief as he laid on the floor after much arguments of what to include into the project.

"Yeah." Rukia said smiling, feeling accomplished and decides to doodle a little.

Ichigo, curious at what Rukia is drawing decided to peek over and he nearly faint at the sight of what Rukia has drawn.

"What the hell is that?" Ichigo asked.

"It's Chappy. Can't you see?" Rukia answered, drawing eyelashes for the female Chappy.

"It looks like shit." Ichigo stated, laughing inwardly at her amateur drawings.

"It doesn't." Rukia said as she blushed, "Hinamori said that it looks cute."

"Well, it shows you and her have bad taste." He said, grinning.

For that sentence, He earned himself a punch in the stomach.

"Ouch!! Hey! That hurts!" Ichigo said, rubbing his stomach.

"You deserve it." She said as she continues happily drawing more bunnies, humming softly to herself.

"Whatever." He said, still rubbing his stomach. "Anyway, I really need to take a walk after sitting for a long time." Ichigo said as he got up and started stretching. "Want to come?" Ichigo asked nonchalantly, hoping he doesn't sound too hopeful.

"Sure. I need to go back home soon anyway." Rukia said as she began packing her things.

They headed downstairs and as they were doing so Isshin pounced on Ichigo who narrowly dodged his father.

"Geez old man!"

Rukia just laughed. What a warm family indeed, she thought.

They walked along the streets with no destination in mind. Stopping occasionally to see what the shops are selling. They passed by a shop selling Chappy toys and Rukia was instantly glued to the shop that Ichigo had to practically pry her off the display windows. They soon found themselves in the park.

"What's that?" Rukia said as she pointed at the unique purple flower. It was a lovely shade of purple and white.

"It's an iris, meaning rainbow. It was my mother's favourite flower." Ichigo replied as memories of his mother came flooding into his mind. How his mother would close her eyes and take in the scent of the irises she would buy to lighten the house.

"Mummy, what is those flowers?" The small Ichigo asked his mother, who was arranging the flowers in the vase.

"Why darling, they are called irises."

"Iris?" Ichigo repeated, trying to pronouce the word properly.

His mother laughed and patted his head. "Yes iris, it means rainbow. Next time when you grow up, you must give this flower to the girl you love to show she is the rainbow in your life." She said as she snapped an iris off its stalk and tuck it on Ichigo's small ear. "Make sure you do that so that when you bring a girl home with an iris tucked on her ear, I will know that she is the one you really want to spend your life with." She said smiling.

Rukia looked at Ichigo for a moment, noticing that his expression was more relaxed than usual. His eyebrows less tensed as they usually are. He must probably be thinking about his mother, she thought.

"Hey Ichigo."

"Huh? What?" Snapping back to reality.

"You look awfully dumb with the expression you were wearing just now." She said, as she skipped off.

"What? Hey! Where are you going?"

It was soon evening and Ichigo and Rukia retreated to the riverbank, resting their legs and minds drained after a long day of bickering and activities.

"Today was sure an eventful day." Ichigo said as he sigh and laid down on the grass.

"Mm." Rukia said as she lay down on the grass, happy to finally be able to rest her aching legs and closing her eyes, smelling sweet scent of the grass.

A gust of wind blew over them, making Rukia's fringe covering her eyes. She couldn't be bothered though, she was too tired to care.

"Hey, your hair is all over the place." Ichigo said as he leaned over, trying to help her tidy up without thinking.

"Huh?" Rukia said as she flew her eyes open, shocked at the sudden warmth of Ichigo's hand touching her face as she felt her face grew hot.

"Don't worry, I'm just helping you, no need to be so alarmed." He laughed, though surprised by his own actions. He had never noticed how soft her hair and face perfectly moulded; he felt his heart beating faster.

"Hn, I guess I should say thanks." Rukia said, trying to control the feelings unknown in her rising.

"Yeah yeah." He said as he laid back on the grass.

They laid down on the grass in silence, enjoying each other presence as the sun sets. Each having their own thoughts..

I'm sorry for the abrupt ending, I wanted to save the fun for later chapters. I hope this chapter is alright. .

Reviews are love! hearts I want to know the areas I need to improve on.