Disclaimer: Bleach is not mine

25/4/08 EDIT: I did major changes to this chapter.

Chapter 4: Work?

Sun rays filtered though the curtain, spreading across the room. Rukia woke up as the sun rays was too bright for her to continue sleeping. Where the hell, she thought as she shielded her eyes from the bright rays from the sun. She looked aroung the room and flashes of images from yesterday appeared in her mind. Oh right, she thought, they were stuck here and they were suppose to get the gigai from Urahara and start to find work today.

She slowly got up as to not wake Ichigo up. Rukia looked over and see Ichigo still sleeping soundly but with his knitted eyebrows which made him looks like he's having a bad dream. A small smirk crept into her face. She has never seen anyone eyebrows knitted together even when asleep. She silently laughed to herself. She got up and walks over to the bath room; there are already two new toothbrushes and toothpaste at the small cupboard which also serves as a mirror. She quickly brushes her teeth and washes her face and dried with the towel at the hanger which was also provided.

After she is done, she looked at the clock that was hung on the living room wall. It said 9.30am. It's still early, she thought. She then walk over to the bedroom and peek at Ichigo whether he has woken up yet. He was still sleeping so she decided to 'explore' the house before she wakes Ichigo up. She walks back to the living room and see what is there. There was a television, with sofa, a coffee table and a few magazines and newspapers stacked together. She quickly flipped through the pages of the magazine. Good, she thought, they were last month issues so there might be some jobs that are on offer. She doesn't know what job requirement to have to get these jobs so she decided to ask Ichigo later. She placed the magazine on top of the stack of magazines proceeds to the kitchen.

There was a table with two chairs, and the rest of the appliances which Rukia did not recognise. She decided it was time to wake Ichigo up and walks back to the bedroom. She then took the pillow and hit it hard on Ichigo face. Ichigo stirred a little but it was not enough to wake him up.

"Oi, Ichigo." Rukia said as she took the pillow and hit him again harder than the first time..

"What the" Ichigo said as he sat up dazed and had to blink a few times to get a clearer vision.

"Time to wake up Ichigo, we got to go to Urahara to get our gigai and maybe ask him for breakfast or money."

"Oh. Right." Ichigo said as he rubbed his eyes and slowly got up and went to the bathroom. After a few minutes Ichigo got out of the bathroom to see Rukia waiting patiently on the sofa with her Sode no Shirayuki already attached to her shinigami robes and his Zangetsu lay out beside her. She handed him the magazines silently as he took his seat beside her.

"I found these magazines on the table and wonder whether we could take any of them." Rukia said.

"Right, we'll bring some of these magazine out too and see whether we can get jobs." With this, Ichigo stood up and grabbed Zangetsu and headed out of the door, closely followed by Rukia.

"Ichigo, where are we heading first?" Rukia asked.

"We got to get clothes first before getting the gigai right? So we are heading to my house." Ichigo said, quietly.

"Right." Rukia said and kept quiet, she knew that visiting his family now is still a very hard thing for him as he was only dead for a month.

They soon reached the foot of the house and Ichigo opened the front gate. The same as always I guess. Ichigo thought. He gestured Rukia to follow him as they pass through the garden and to the back of the house.

"I'll go ahead and check first." Ichigo said, before Rukia could reply, he already jumped up to the on the second floor and stood at the ledge and tried to open it the window. Good, it's open Ichigo thought. He carefully opens the window and slip inside.

"It's alright Rukia, the coast is clear, hurry up and jump." Ichigo said as he stretches his hand out of the window to help Rukia up.

Rukia then jumped quickly and grabbed Ichigo hand. She wobbled a little but manage to not fall on Ichigo.

"Thanks" Rukia said.

"Yeah." Ichigo said as he went over to the cupboard.

The house was abnormally quiet. There wasn't a single sound; there was not even the sound of droplets of water dripping from the tap. Maybe they are out, Rukia thought as Ichigo began to find any clothes that he could use.

"Is this your room?" Rukia asked with the genuine curiosity in her voice, looking at his room in wonder.

"Yes, but it's not my room anymore though." Ichigo replied, not looking at her. Rukia waited for Ichigo to continue but he didn't.

After a few moment of awkward silience, Ichigo decided to break the ice.

"Looks like they did not throw away my things yet, which are good, we could use some of these as well." He said as he grabbed a nearby bag and began filling it with clothes, manga, and other things.

"It's a good thing isn't it?" Rukia replied as she looked around the room. She spotted a few photos at the desk and decided to look at them. The photos were when Ichigo was younger, about four to five years old; with a woman who Rukia presumes were his mother and some other graduation photos and special occasions.

"Oi, stop looking at the photos, I don't know where did they came from. I didn't have them there when I was alive."

"I see." Rukia replied, Ichigo did not know what Rukia saw but decided to drop it.

"Let's go to my sister's room, we could borrow some of Yuzu dresses." Ichigo said quietly as he headed out of the room with Rukia following behind.

They opened the door quietly and hope no one inside; they quickly crept in and closed the door quietly.

There are two beds, on opposite walls, one with colourful cartoon design bedsheet the other one is a football design bedsheet. There are also two desks and chair, also with photos on top of it. Rukia went up to look at them, there was one photo frame for Ichigo and the other one is the same woman from the photo in Ichigo's room.

"Oi, hurry up and choose sets of clothes you want, don't take to much, they probably will notice." Ichigo said.

Rukia nodded and went over to choose some clothing and put in the bag as well. Ichigo stood next to her and looked around the room and a small smile crept into his face. After she is done and put them in the bag that Ichigo had provided her with. She turns around only to see Ichigo staring at the wall. His eyes looking very far away, she didn't like it. It made her feel somewhat far away from Ichigo.

"Oi Ichigo." Rukia began.

"What? Oh right." Ichigo snapped out of his trance. He wasn't his usual self, he didn't even retaliate. Rukia found it strange but didn't say anything. They quickly exited the room and went back to Ichigo's room to get out by the window.

Rukia jumped off first and Ichigo took a last look at his old room. He smiled at the photo of his family and jumped off.

A/N: I actually found this quite a serious chapter. I hope it is okay though. There wasn't much ichiruki interaction. I'll write more in the next chapter, and I hope I could include some fluff or something. ) I hope to get more reviewers for this chapter!! So click the review button. XD

Special thanks to Mochirabbit and LoneIgadzra.