"Lone Panther"
"Maybe we should just stop this facade." Ichigo waited for a reaction from Rukia.
Rukia's ears shut of all sounds; it sounded like she was under water, drowning. "Liar..." she muttered lowly. Ichigo cupped his ear, trying to listen to her. "You're the liar. If you cared for me as much as you claimed, then why are you giving up so easily, fool?" she shouted, suddenly dashing out the door like a rabbit.
"Rukia!" Ichigo called out to her, though she was already gone before he knew it. He looked outside, seeing how dark it was already. It'd be bad if Rukia encountered a bunch of thugs... Ichigo sighed, chasing after her.
Rukia sat on a bench beneath a streetlight. She wasn't paying attention to where she was running to earlier. All she knew was that she was cold and alone. She jumped a few times, hearing the dogs from nearby houses barking and howling at the full moon. A few cats even crossed her path as they scavenged the trash cans... some looked like they were scavenging for souls.
The ex-businessman sighed, extending out her hand to nobody, "Ichigo, I'm sorr-... Ichigo, I am..." She struggled to say the right words. She closed her eyes, irritated at her own pride. She didn't think she was the one at fault. Of course, Rukia would never admit to defeat, but at times, she just had to put her pride to the side. "I apolo-geeze... Apologizing is hard," she sulked, giving up. "Ichigo you useless strawberry; this is all your fault," she grumbled.
Was it wrong that Rukia didn't want to say what she was thinking? Ichigo wasn't even on target - he had assumed all the wrong things. She was just concerned about the Gotei 13 and her brother; it wasn't like she was wallowing because of Renji or Ayame. Rukia's fingers twitched, just wanting to choke Ichigo to death.
"And how am I different?" Rukia asked herself. "I'm not running away from anything-"
"Well well... what do we have here? A damsel in distress?"
Rukia sighed at the scratchy voice. She threw her head to the side, seeing a strange looking man. His spiky hair was a shade of electric blue and he had the smirk of a cocky prince. He had the eyes of a madman with green marks at the edge of them. He donned a sleeveless sweater, revealing a pair of muscular arms. His hands were stuffed in his sweats as he eyed her like a hungry panther. There was no doubt that something bad was going to happen. "Shut up. I'm not interested," Rukia waved him off like a pest before being consumed in her thoughts again.
The stranger glowered at Rukia, "You got some nerve to be talking like a mighty bitch," he said snarkily.
"You're one to talk," she responded, a little too fearless. Someone in their right mind would've ran or screamed for help, but Rukia just wasn't feeling too kind today. "What's your name kid?" Rukia asked, insulting the man all the further.
"I aint gotta tell some midget granny like you. You don't deserve to know my name," he bellowed while laughing maniacally.
'How cocky...' thought Rukia. 'He kind of resembles someone though...' In that moment, Rukia thought of Ichigo. The blue-haired man was rude just like Ichigo when she first met him. Plus, he had that look in his eyes... the look of a lone wolf. "Here," she delved into her pocket, pulling out some change. "Get yourself a soda or something."
The man stared dumbly at her. He was threatening her and she was offering leftover money? Who did Rukia think he was - a baby cat without fangs? "The fuck do you take me for-"
"Rukia!" Ichigo called, arriving at the scene. He froze at the sight of the strange looking person.
The man sneered at Ichigo. He took his eyes off Rukia as he was now interested in chewing up Ichigo. "Your girlfriend?" he asked, cackling like a hyena. Ichigo glared, asking if he did anything to Rukia. "No... but I was about to screw her up-" The man fell to the ground, grabbing his jaw after Ichigo clocked him hard. "You son of a..." he stood up, sending a punch at Ichigo's direction. He missed Ichigo's pretty face the first time but was able to knee Ichigo in the gut the second time.
"Ichigo!" Rukia cried, somehow trying to cheer him on the midst of the fight. The two men exchanged blows at each other. Perhaps they sensed evil in the air, Rukia didn't know, but the dogs suddenly started barking even louder. Minutes passed and at this point, Ichigo was about to go down. He had a cut above his brow and a bleeding nose... The other man had a cut lip and a black eye that was forming already.
"You're going down asshole!" The man shouted. Despite his wounds, he was still grinning maliciously. Rukia figured he probably enjoyed fighting very much. He lunged at Ichigo.
Ichigo scoffed, stepping to the side and extending his leg, "After you suck my dick, of course." The man tripped over Ichigo's leg, falling once more. "Rukia, let's go!" Ichigo grabbed Rukia's hand, pulling her to him and running towards home. Rukia ran behind Ichigo as fast as she could. She grimaced, seeing how badly hurt he was. "Did you see how crazy he was? I haven't fought like that in a while," Ichigo laughed, obviously not concerned with his injuries.
They finally reached home. "Are you okay?" was all Rukia could ask. She couldn't look him in the eye. Ichigo's face was torn up because of her recklessness.
"Yeah-... no," Ichigo winced, suddenly feeling the pain now that his adrenaline rush was going away. He lay on the couch, grabbing his bruising ribs. He could see the guilt in in Rukia's glossy eyes. "I'm not going to die. I just hope this fella," he reached underneath his jacket, pulling out a bunny, "is okay." Rukia's eyes lit up at the sight of the orange bunny. It wiggled it's nose, licking Ichigo's fingertips. It was perfectly fine. "It was really hard to fight while trying to protect him at the same time. If I looked uncool, blame him. I fight better without baggage on me," Ichigo swore.
"C-Can I?" Rukia stuttered. Her hands trembled, wanting so desperately to touch the fluffy rabbit.
Ichigo smiled even though it hurt to do so. "Go ahead; he is yours. I promised I'd get you one last time, didn't I?" Rukia grabbed the rabbit, holding it dearly against her chest. He couldn't help but feel a jab through his heart as he saw how happy she was from his present to her. "It's an apology gift. Sorry for what I said earlier; I didn't mean it. I was just... testing to see if you cared about me or not."
Rukia sneered, angry at his test. Still, she couldn't stay angry after what he went through for her. "Did I pass your test?" she asked, a little afraid to know the truth. Rukia held the bunny closer to her, stroking it's soft fur.
"The fact that you're still here after learning about my past... you passed from the beginning."
Rukia gave a bitter smile. "I'm also... sorry," she said, sighing in relief as she managed to say the last word with ease. "The only reason why I'm 'different' and living in this, as you say, 'shithole,' is because I'm afraid that people will only see me for my wealth and fortune."
Ichigo frowned, "I don't see you for that."
"I feared you would."
"But I don't." Ichigo could care less about the money. All it did was bring back horrible memories of his days as a male prostitute. "Still, that doesn't explain why treat me like a roommate and not a boyfriend."
Rukia blushed. Did she really have to say why? "... shy... all..." she murmured, half her words coming out as slurs.
"Huh?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm shy, that's all!" Rukia shouted in agony, scaring the bunny. She gasped, holding her precious bunny to her face, apologizing. Ichigo glared at the fluffball, a little annoyed... and jealous. "Every girl is afraid of losing their... v-card," she said. "Besides, there are different ways to express love you know. S-sex isn't the only way."
Ichigo couldn't believe it. She was shy? Too shy to even give a simple kiss? "Good lord..." Ichigo threw up his arms, "What did I tell you about confidence Rukia?"
"You said no guy likes a girl who isn't confident in herself..." Rukia turned sour, trembling and ready to cry. Did that mean Ichigo wouldn't like her if she didn't gain the confidence to have sex with him?
"Ah, change of words! I said that when I was still a jerk. What I mean to say now is... there's nothing you need to be afraid of. I don't mind you being shy, but have some confidence and trust that I won't hurt you... and I'm not saying that in the perverted sense." Rukia looked up at him, seeing truth in his golden eyes. "If you don't want sex, that's fine. I'll wait... another month if I have to." Rukia raised her brow. "Okay fine, half a year. No? Fine, a year, deal?"
Rukia shook her head, "You're still the same perverted Ichigo I met," she laughed softly to herself. "Hm," she raised the bunny to her eye-level, staring at its black irises. "I'll name him... Kon."
"Pfft, what a weird name."
"I don't want to hear that coming from you, Strawberry," Rukia mocked, smirking. "But thank you."
"Yeah yeah, whatever-" Ichigo froze, paralyzed as he felt Rukia's lips crash onto his. God damn did it hurt because of the cut on his lip, but damn did it feel so right. Holy cow, maybe he didn't have to wait a year! Ichigo closed his eyes, losing himself to the moment. He could taste his own blood, but he could taste Rukia on his tongue as well. "Rukia," he whispered out, yearning for her touch. "I- eh?"
Rukia pulled away, turning red as a tomato. "That's all you're getting. Goodnight!" She quickly ran off with Kon, slamming the bedroom door behind her and locking Ichigo out.
Ichigo smirked, "What a tease."
Next Day - Dashing Diners
"Oi, Ichigo! Hurry up and finish washing the dishes! Are you king here? No, I am!" Kenji shouted, smacking Ichigo behind the head. Ichigo grumbled, scrubbing harder on the plates. He swore Kenji was targeting him today. The guy was making him take out the trash, mopping the floor, cooking, etc. Meanwhile... Ichigo looked over at Orihime who was busy flipping burger patties on the stove. "Good job Orihime-chan~" Kenji grinned, "Keep up the good work!"
"Eh... but I burned 24 patties already," Orihime pointed her spatula towards the trash can. "And I almost burned down the place-"
"Don't worry about that," Kenji spoke smoothly with a twinkle in his eye. "I just hope your pretty hands," he held Orihime's tiny ones in his large ones, "aren't getting too tired?"
Orihime smiled, "I'm fine! However..." She glanced over at Ichigo who was barely conscious and cursing beneath his breath, "I don't know if Kurosaki-kun is okay. Maybe he should get a break."
Kenji held no pity for the poor Strawberry. He sighed, stomping over to Ichigo's side and elbowing him on the side. Ichigo swallowed a yelp; the bruises he received from that blue-haired man still remained. When Kenji and Orihime first saw him and his beat up self, they both were wide-eyed. Kenji just laughed afterwards though. He was quite the uncaring man. "What?" Ichigo asked, annoyed and teary-eyed from the pain.
"Take a break. Don't think I care about your welfare; I'm only doing this because Orihime-chan insisted." Kenji eyed him with envy. Ah, so that was it. The reason Kenji was slowly killing Ichigo was because he was envious of Ichigo's relationship with Orihime. "Don't try anything with Orihime-chan; I'll be watching." He pointed two fingers at his eyes and back to Ichigo before slithering out of the kitchen.
Ichigo staggered over and took a seat on a large box that was beside the stove. Orihime glanced over at him, seeing his unintentional scowling face. She stood up straight and stiff, her lips pursed, her eyes darted forward and her hand became shaky. How could she focus with him so close to her? "H-How was your day Kurosaki-kun?" she asked, cracking a crooked smile.
"Hm? Tiring, I guess," Ichigo said, squinting his eye while imagining the horrible things he should do to Kenji.
"How's Kuchiki-san?" Orihime jumped, a little started at the sudden dark atmosphere. Ichigo glared at the ground. "Did something bad happen?"
Ichigo held his head, rubbing his temples. Only someone who was indebted to the yakuza would hold such a terrified face! "I made a mistake," he murmured. "I gave her a rabbit, and now it's all she cares about." This annoyed Ichigo very much. Rukia only knew the rabbit for less than an hour and she let it sleep with her! In the same bed!
Orihime blinked her round eyes a few times before giggling warmly. "She must be really happy," was all Orihime could utter. Being around Ichigo like this was so painful... "Today will be my last day working here."
"You're serious about this, aren't you?" Ichigo asked. Orihime nodded. Honestly, she wanted to work there a while longer. Kenji was nice to her, she liked the smell of freshly cooked patties on her clothing, and most of all, she liked seeing Ichigo. "You're making an ug-..." Ichigo didn't finish his sentence, because as he recalled, Rukia said calling girls 'ugly' wasn't a nice thing to say. "You have a pained look."
Orihime quickly rubbed her face with her hands, trying to get the tense muscles between her brows to relax so she'd stop grimacing. It was no use. She was hopelessly in love with Ichigo and there was nothing she could do to help it. She wished Ichigo would be the one to stay by her side; he was all she had. She woke up this morning, thinking about her deceased brother. Her house was so empty. Eating alone was lonely. Having no one to confide in was sad.
"Inoue, if you want to work here, then stay. No one is stopping you."
"I can't-"
"Why not?" Ichigo asked, staring at her with his piercing gaze. She couldn't take her eyes off him. "We're friends, aren't we?"
Friends... Orihime continued flipping the burgers. "That's exactly why I can't work here." Ichigo's eyes widened in shock and confusion. She forced a smile, "When I'm around Kurosaki-kun, my heart beats so fast that it feels like it'll burst. It hurts being near you." Orihime wasn't sure what overcame her, but perhaps she just couldn't contain it in anymore. She just wanted to be honest so that she could somehow let go.
"S-Since when were you thinking of me as more than a friend?" Was it when they were kids? Was it a year ago? Was it just yesterday? Orihime twiddled her thumbs as she clenched onto her apron. Ichigo looked up, afraid to ask what was on his mind. "Was it that night four years ago?"
On a cold winter night four years ago, Ichigo and Orihime were in need of company to take away the loneliness they suffered. They turned to each other, and by mistake, they spent the night together. Since that incident, Orihime was never able to forget. The way Ichigo made her feel when he touched her, when he kissed her, when he whispered into her ear... it was hard to let go after he made her feel so... loved. Orihime couldn't find the strength to answer, so she nodded, guilty. "I'm sorry," she whispered, apologizing as though she never intended to fall for him but it somehow it happened anyway.
Ichigo shook his head, "You don't have to apologize. I'm the one who's sorry." He felt it was his fault that she was so miserable. "I can't return your feelings."
Orihime nodded, "I know that. Well," she sighed, looking at the clock, "my shift is over. I'm going to speak with Kenji, so..."
"Inoue..." Ichigo struggled to say the right words, "Thank you for being kind to me after all this time," he finally said, feeling that it was all he could say with honesty. "I'll see you around?"
Orihime was surprised, but glad that Ichigo didn't hate her for developing feelings for him. "Yeah," she nodded bubbly. "Bye-" The two heard a faint scream coming from outside - it was Kenji wailing. They looked at each other, "Do you think Kenji-san is hurt?" Orihime asked, dropping her spatula on the floor.
Ichigo leaned back, shrugging. "I could really care less-" Another scream was heard. Ichigo sighed, going to see what the fuss was all about. Orihime followed closely behind. "What are you screaming about?" Ichigo asked, seeing Kenji kneeling on the floor, holding his gut in pain. The customers all whispered to one another.
"D-D-Devil!" Kenji pointed to a certain person.
Ichigo bent his neck, looking at where Kenji was pointing at. "We meet again, asshole."
Ichigo glared, seeing the thug from the yesterday. The man smiled menacingly while eating at the front table. There was no doubt he wasn't going to pay. "You two know each other?" Kenji asked, furious. Of course, seeing his missing tooth and bloody mouth, it was obvious that he just got whooped badly.
"You must've thought I really meant it when I told you to suck my dick. Sorry, but the offer isn't on the table anymore," Ichigo said, snickering a little when the blue-haired man spat on the ground, annoyed. Just like Ichigo, the man wasn't looking too hot either. He had cuts on his face and bruising on his jaw; anyone could see that the two men recently had a showdown. "Did you come back to have my fist in your face again?"
"Tch. I came back to fuck you up. Where's your little girlfriend?" The man smirked.
Ichigo became serious. "She's none of your concern."
"Well if you don't want me paying a visit to her, you better make sure to kill me this time."
"I will."
They pushed their foreheads against each other, glowering and snarling at each other. Suddenly, there was a tune in the air. The barbarian man cursed, turning around and pulling his cell phone. "What the fuck?" he shouted into his phone. Clearly, he was speaking to someone important because after five seconds on the phone, he began to speak politely, if that was even possible. After hanging up, he turned around, looking at his phone like it was a parasite. "Dumb shitstain," he uttered. "You. Shit-tard," he referred to Ichigo, "come with me."
Ichigo just couldn't figure out this man. "Why should I?"
"Because my boss has a job for you," the man uttered grudgingly. It was clear that he was didn't agree with whatever his boss wanted to do.
"I already have a job-"
"Ichigo!" Kenji shouted, grabbing his shoulder. "To think you'd hang out with gangsters like this..." Kenji cowered, whimpering when the man shot him a deadly look. "Get out; you're fired!"
Ichigo was dumbfounded. He felt a tap on his back, "Guess you're unemployed," the man laughed.
Ichigo just couldn't believe how swell his day was going. "What's your name? You'd best tell me, otherwise I'm referring to you as shit-tard #2," Ichigo said, returning the malicious look.
The man's grin grew ear to ear. "Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."
A/N: That is the most cussing I've ever written in a chapter. Thank you Grimmjow, for being so fucking badass t-_-t
Oh yeah, and I named the rabbit after Kon, because well... It'd be nice to have a Kon in this story, and I was not feeling creative to make up a name.
Oh, and if you didn't catch it, yes, the one Ichigo lost his v-card to was Orihime :) Does that make you mad? Huh? Huh? Huh- *is shot.
Grimmjow: You better review, you shit-tards! (please don't be offended hehe)
