Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop

A/N: Wow, I'm glad my Hime story got such a positive response! I almost feel bad for her. Almost, but not quite. And all these reviews? How could life be better? (Okay, well, there's always ways. Money. And if Gin Ichimaru was real. Hhhhyum... C:)

Anyway! Thanks to you all: Ishmu the Crazy (sorry, I didn't quite catch you for chapter 5), Romance Without Words (never fear! I always anticipate your reviews, whether long or short! :)), Jessenia-chan (working on your IchiTats, m'dear, but the going is slow :U), Sarah1bleachfan, Personal Riot, Angelcute72, Aizawa Ayumu, and thesecretfromzaft. Every one of you is sexy, smart, and awesome for reviewing :) Now! Enjoy the last chapter without smut! (Oh, did I say that? I meant...this chapter, pff.) ~Nana-chan

Chapter 6

Progress

No one understands me quite like you do

"Rukia," Renji yelled from the other side of the room. "Mind coming over here for a second?"

Rukia gave Ichigo a confused look, to which he offered no answer. She obeyed the redhead, eyebrows raised and coffee held in a way that could only be described as brandishing.

"Yes?"

Renji jerked a thumb at the kitchen. "Can we talk?"

"This sounds suspicious," Rukia informed him, but she followed him anyway. "What?"

Uryuu came up from behind and forced her into a chair. Rukia yelped. "What's going on?"

"Relax," Renji said, rolling his eyes.

"We just want to talk," Uryuu said. He sat down next to Rukia. "You two are dating, right?"

"We've been dating for a month," Rukia said, slowly, like Uryuu was five years old. "Is it not obvious?"

"I mean dating, dating," Uryuu said. "Not like Orihime dated him the first few months." He shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"If you're asking about our sex life, no, we have not yet slept together," Rukia said bluntly.

Uryuu sighed. "You have no sense of tact, do you?"

"You should see me at my brother's house. I'm a tactful little angel," Rukia said with a decidedly not angelic grin.

"We just wanted to make sure you weren't taking advantage of him," Renji spoke up. "He was this happy with Orihime, you see, so we had right to be suspicious. Uh...how are you keeping him happy?"

Rukia shrugged. "I don't know. I kiss him, yeah, but we haven't even really talked about sex yet."

"Do we need to go into this?" Uryuu asked awkwardly.

"You're just jealous because your sex life is lacking," Renji told him.

Uryuu held up his hands in surrender. "Fine. Invade my sex life, too. I don't mind at all." He banged his head on the table, knocking his glasses askew.

"Are you planning on it?" Renji asked, ignoring Uryuu.

"Maybe...no...yes," Rukia said. "I'm going to his house tonight. I figured, you know, I could at least ask. I'm not really afraid of losing him, not when he has that goofy smile on his face whenever I come into the room."

"Aah, so you've noticed that too," Renji said, nodding. "Well, you seem okay. But if you take advantage of Ichigo, me and Uryuu won't rest until you're ruined." He poked Uryuu, who was still slumped on the table. "Right, Uryuu?"

"Right," Uryuu said, voice muffled.

"Like I would do that," Rukia scoffed.

"Hey, we have a right to be concerned," Renji said.

"You do. I respect that. But now, if you please, Ichigo is off work now, and we have a date. I'd appreciate you respecting me." She got up. "Goodbye, gentlemen."

Uryuu looked up. "So you do know tact."

"I told you," Rukia said as if it was obvious.

"Nice place," Rukia said, dropping her bag on the ground. She looked around. It was pretty, well-furnished.

"I try," Ichigo said. "So I suck at cooking. Can we just order pizza?"

"If you can't cook, absolutely," Rukia said, smirking.

Ichigo ordered a large pepperoni on the phone and then sat down on the couch. "Half hour."

"Got it," Rukia said. They sat in silence for a second, and then Rukia leaned over and grasped Ichigo's hand. "Will you kiss me?"

Ichigo decided to test her a little. "Why?"

"I like it when you kiss me," she said. "Because I love you, remember?"

Ichigo grinned. "Right answer." He kissed her.

"Just...keep kissing me until the pizza comes," Rukia begged him.

"I won't argue with that," Ichigo said, pulling her into his arms and another kiss.

When finally the doorbell rang, Ichigo had somehow managed to straddle Rukia, pushing her into the couch, kissing her fiercely. He didn't hear it the first time. The doorbell rang again before he sat back, red in the face, and got up to answer it.

Rukia waited on the couch, a half-smile on her face. She accepted the pizza offered to her and took a dainty bite.

"Sorry," Ichigo said after a moment of silence.

"Sorry for what? Kissing me?" Rukia looked genuinely interested in Ichigo's motives for apology.

"I...it almost turned into..." Ichigo gestured blankly. "You know."

"We've been dating a month, right?" Rukia turned to him, eyes dark.

"A month," he repeated. "Yeah."

"And do you know why?"

"Why?" Ichigo seemed lost for words. "Why...because you're you?"

"Because it happened," Rukia said. "We met. I love you. You at least like me." She took another bite of pizza.

Ichigo said nothing.

"Ichigo," Rukia said suddenly.

"Yes?"

"I want to stay over tonight," Rukia said, looking directly at him.

"Stay overnight? H-here?"

"No, in the elevator, you moron." Rukia almost said. She didn't, though. "Here, Ichigo."

"On the..." Ichigo trailed off, pretending he didn't know what Rukia was saying.

"Ichigo!" Rukia grasped his chin and turned hs face towards her. "Will you please let me sleep with you?"

Ichigo trusted her, that much was obvious. And this wasn't the way Orihime had asked. Orihime had asked with alcohol and stripteases. Rukia asked with voice.

The silence was almost painful.

"Tonight," Ichigo said quietly. Rukia wasn't sure if it was a question or statement.

"Okay."

Rukia let out breath she didn't know she'd been holding, dropping her hand. "I told you I'm not like her."

"You're nicer," Ichigo said, to Rukia's surprise. "Funnier. Prettier. Better." He blinked. "Thanks."

"Thanks for what?"

"After her, I didn't want to date," he said. "But you...if you hadn't come along, I don't know what I'd do."

"Love hurts," Rukia said. "But some love is so great that the love that hurt doesn't matter anymore. That's how it is for me." She cocked her head. "Not you, though."

"Why not?"

"Aren't you still in like?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe," Rukia said, smiling. "First you agree to my crazy request, then you say you might love me, at least indirectly. Ichigo, we're making progress."

A/N: sorry if that was too short! But I'm too excited! I have to start writing the smut scene now! *happy dance* Review people, and maybe I'll give you smut early... ;)