Thank you to everyone for reading, or added a story alert. To those of you who left a review I appreciate your thoughts and consideration. It means so much to know your thoughts regarding this story. Please keep it up. Tell me your thoughts, I love to read them.
A special thank you goes out to Apocalyxtic98 for beta-reading.
Contains: Mild foul language
Legend: Italics–Flashback
"So Rukia, what do you want to talk about first?" Orihime asked as a cheerful yet appreciative grin swept across her face. "I didn't think you would have time to sit and talk with me."
"Why's that?" Rukia instinctively drew her hands around the teacup in front of her.
Orihime shrugged and laughed nervously. "It looked like you had somewhere else to be." She glanced over her shoulder at Renji. "Though I could be wrong."
A nerve twitched near Rukia's right temple. She slammed her hands on the table top, jolting the dishes and startling both Orihime and Renji. The chair she was in slid back, allowing her room to stand and walk around the table.
Excuse us," Rukia said to Orihime. She grabbed Renji's arm and pulled him along until they were outside. "Don't you have somewhere to be?" Rukia hissed. "My brother already left and Yoruichi and Ichigo are in the back so why are you still standing around?"
Although alone outside, Renji couldn't take his eyes off Orihime who sat patiently at the table. "Standing around? That's funny because I thought we had somewhere to be and then you go off and agree to sit with her."
"I know," Rukia looked away. "But I want to know the truth. Seeing her just now brought back so many memories, so many questions, all of them unanswered."
"You think sitting with her is going to tell you all the things you want to know?" Renji placed his hand gently on her right shoulder. "Don't you think some things are best left, as you said, unanswered?"
Rukia contemplated the idea. It made sense as far as she was concerned. Sensible, yet unrealistic. In one swift motion she slid under Renji's arm, removing his hand from her shoulder at the same time. She didn't look at the reaction on his face or the tint of hurt that momentarily recolored his eyes a shade she wouldn't have been familiar with. Had she taken one look at him she might have changed her mind. Causing Renji grief was an act Rukia wanted no part of but her mind was made up.
Renji lowered his head in defeat. "You're being stubborn,"
"Yeah, well, I am a Kuchiki after all," Rukia glanced at Renji and smiled at her play on the words he spoke to her earlier. "I will need a ride home if your offer still stands."
Renji was hesitant but relented and nodded his head. He gave a stiff wave and was on his way without a second glance. Left on her own, Rukia heaved a deep breath and then exhaled before she pulled the front door open. She walked back to the table she and Orihime shared and sat down without a second thought.
"Is everything all right?" Orihime asked once Rukia pushed her chair closer to the table.
Rukia could hear the concern in her voice. She closed her eyes and smiled. "Everything is fine. Renji is on his way to his soccer game."
"That's right," Orihime clasped her hands together and smiled brightly. "He plays for the Karakura Galaxy. They are currently three and one and the season just started!"
"I told him I would come to see him play, but I changed my mind." As Rukia spoke, guilt slowly started to fill her.
"He's been on the team since he was nineteen, the youngest member ever. They recruited him his freshmen year."
"He told me something about that," Rukia lightly touched her chin while trying her best to remember that particular conversation. "They won the championship his first year."
"That's right. Everyone celebrated that night. We had a great time. You would have loved it, Rukia."
The championship was something she had heard about before but the party afterwards was news to her. It wasn't hard to imagine everyone together, smiling, laughing, and having a good time, but hearing about it for the first time from someone she hadn't spoken to for four years bothered Rukia just a bit. While she chewed on the fact that Renji never told her about his celebratory party, Ichigo emerged from the back, dressed in his work attire and carrying teacups and a small kettle.
"I brought you two some tea," he set the tableware down and began serving the brewing hot goodness to each lady. "Can I get you anything to eat, Orihime?"
Rukia watched the subtle interaction between the two of them. Watching their brief conversation, her heart ached a bit. As Orihime rattled off her consumable desire, Rukia studied Ichigo's face as he jotted down her order. He wasn't smiling, per say, but he wasn't frowning or showing signs of anger either. A flash of the last time she saw him radiated in front of her eyes. This time however, his brows weren't pushed together and the tension in his face wasn't visible. She couldn't help but wonder if that was because of the company she was keeping.
"Rukia?" Orihime's voice startled the raven-haired girl and she jumped just a bit. "Would you like something to eat?"
An obvious pink blush covered Rukia's cheeks as she looked at Orihime and then atIchigo. How long had she been staring at Ichigo, while he and Orihime were trying to get her attention? She was embarrassed and rightfully so. The look on Ichigo's face told her he was weirded out. Rukia looked down at the table, mortified. She couldn't have been staring at him for too long, could she?
"Ah, no thank you. I already had lunch." she replied in haste, speaking much quicker than usual.
Ichigo gave Rukia one last look before returning to the back to turn Orihime's order in. The girls were left alone and in that moment Rukia felt as if she could breathe once again. She didn't know when she first held her breath but relief that her chest could finally expand made her smile.
"I am so hungry," Orihime leaned forward, her arm resting on the table. "Tell me, Rukia, how was America?" She asked, abruptly changing the subject.
The question was broad but Rukia had a simple, closed-off response. "It was nice."
Orihime persisted."How are the American schools? Do they have many cake shops? Did you buy anything while you were there? What are Americans like? Are they friendly?"
Rukia twisted her teacup against the palm of her hands and closed her eyes. "The schools are nice. They do but they call them bakeries over there. I did buy a lot of clothing and accessories. Some American's are nice but not all of them are friendly, sort of like it is here." She sipped her tea following her monotonous reply.
Orihime pouted. "C'mon, you can tell me more than that. Going to another country is exciting! What are American colleges like? What was your major?"
"Business with a focus in marketing. I'm hoping to secure a position within the graphic area of that career but we'll see." Rukia shrugged her shoulder slowly, staring down at her tea.
"Wow, Rukia, you have everything planned out! All I know is I want to be a nurse. I want to help people feel better." Orihime fretted a little. "But I have to finish school first."
"You're still in college?" Rukia was genuinely surprised. "How long until you graduate?"
"This is my last year," Orihime beamed with joy at the news. The expression wasn't shared on the opposite side of the table.
Rukia's head dropped, and the ends of her bangs kissed the rim of her teacup. Her dark eyes wavered and her mouth twisted and formed words she couldn't help but speak aloud. "Like Ichigo..."
As oblivious as Orihime was on other occasions, she could see the change in Rukia's expression, emanating off of her like a bad smell. Her brown eyes melted with concern over Rukia's change in demeanor.
"Rukia, is something the matter? Did I say something wrong?"
"No," Rukia's hands tightened around the teacup. The heat radiating around the porcelain glass stung her palms but she ignored it. "I just thought of something Renji told me earlier."
"What did he say?" Orihime leaned in to ensure she heard the response.
"He told me that Ichigo was in his last year too...he took a year off after high school."
"Yes, that's true. I was already in college when he decided to go to Karakura University."
Rukia's head shot up, a perplexed look on her face. "Wait, how is that-"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was sitting here thinking you knew when you couldn't have. I thought maybe Renji told you." Orihime cocked her head slightly and smiled. "I started off at a junior college and then transferred to the same college as Renji and Ichigo."
"I see." Rukia nodded her head. "By the time you entered Karakura University Renji must have been in his third year and Ichigo in his second."
"Exactly. Going to junior college first didn't do too much for me. I took two credible classes but the school focused more on social credentials. So I'm starting over at the university."
"And that doesn't bother you?" Rukia was intrigued, her voice said so.
Orihime shook her head and smiled. "Maybe at first, but I'm enjoying the experience. Do you remember when you were helping me pick a dress for the grad party? I said financial aid was a deciding factor and the loan I received was for junior college, but my relatives footed the bill for my current stint at the university so I don't owe too much money."
The mention of the party was all Rukia heard through Orihime's confession. A small smile graced her face; she had the opening she was looking for.
"Orihime, I wanted to ask you something regarding the party four years ago." There was no hesitation in Rukia's voice. This was it, the moment of truth.
"Hmm? What do you want to ask me, Rukia?"
"At the party-" Rukia started to speak, but held her tongue as Ichigo arrived back at their table with Orihime's lunch. She silently cursed at the loss of the fleeting opportunity to uncover what really happened that night.
"It all looks so good, Ichigo." Orihime opened her chopsticks. "I don't know where to begin."
Ichigo only smiled only, his attention on refilling the ladies' half empty cups of tea. He picked up Rukia's cup, watching her as she was watched him. Through precision and practice, he refilled her cup without ever looking at what he was doing, an act that made Rukia's eyebrows raise a bit.
"Thank you," she said once Ichigo returned the tea into her awaiting hands. The smell of crushed lavender prompted a startled look in her eyes. "Is this..?"
"Yeah, lavender with a hint of chai leaves. Your favorite tea."
Rukia tried hard not to smile but the muscles in her face had a mind of its own. "You remembered."
Ichigo stuck out his chest and huffed. He leaned in close to Rukia and whispered. "I never forgot."
With the teacup in her hand, Orihime sipped the warm tea casually, doing her best to push the hot liquid down her sensitive esophagus She glanced between the two, a smile forming beneath the bridge of her nose.
Watching him leave, Rukia was left to ponder over his last words. He didn't forget about her favorite tea, he didn't forget that she ignored him for four years and he didn't forget the pain her actions caused him. Just the same, she didn't forget what she saw that night and staring at Orihime as she shoveled food in her mouth brought Rukia back to the real reason she was sitting at the table.
"Orihime, I need you to tell me something." Rukia spoke as directly as possible.
Orihime's cheeks were packed with food, reminding Rukia slightly of a squirrel, but she managed to release a meek reply. "Tell you what, Rukia?"
"That night, at the grad party, did you-" Rukia paused toswallow a heavy dose of nerves before continuing. "Did you ever tell Ichigo..."
"How I felt about him? I did." Orihime spoke aloud before Rukia could finish her question. "Actually I did a little more then tell him how I felt." She smiled yet her cheeks developed a rosy glow.
Rukia's head drooped once again. She contemplated for the second time what benefit she would gain from hearing the truth. Her hands tightened around the tea cup, the reality of the truth seconds from being revealed almost too much for her to bare.
"I told him how I felt, how I've always felt about him since we started high school." Orihime smiled and looked away in thought. "I can say I was surprised at his reaction."
"Ichigo...I have to tell you something, but I'm afraid to." Orihime raised her right hand, resting her index finger against her bottom lip. She refrained from biting down on her own flesh in order to silence the nerves billowing from deep inside herself.
"Why are you afraid, Orihime. Is it something bad?" Ichigo was genuinely concerned.
"No! It's not bad at all. I just..." Orihime raised her head to meet the quizzical look in Ichigo's eyes. She took a deep breath then expelled her news, both quick and to the point. "I-I like you Ichigo!No! I-I'm in love with you!"
Silence. That was all Ichigo could do after such a heavy bombshell had fallen on him. His mouth opened but no words came out, not that they could even if he willed them to with all his might.
"I'm sorry," Orihime stepped back and apologized with a sympathetic bow. "I didn't mean to spring this on you but I've felt this way since ninth grade. I just could never get up the nerve to tell you."
Silent but not deterred, Ichigo extended his left arm and gently touched Orihime's chin, raising her upper body all at once. Their eyes met before he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. Orihime was surprised, her slender fingers digging gently into Ichigo's back. She welcomed the embrace and settled in close to his chest, her eyes closing slowly.
"That must have taken a lot of courage, Orihime. I really don't know what to say." Ichigo said as softly as possible.
"Ichigo..." Orihime created a small gap between them and raised her head.
She balanced herself on the tip of her toes all the while keeping her head upwards. Her lips brushed his and soon she captured his lips with her own, kissing him with as much passion as she could muster. She could feel his arms tighten around her and a small tear sprung from the corner of her eye. She was happy even after their kiss broke and she found herself back in her previous position, her head cradling his chest.
"I'm so glad you understand, Ichigo." She smiled happily, tightening her arms around his waist. Her bliss was short lived, however, at the sound of a gasp echoing in her ear. She lifted her head, concern in her eyes. "'Ichigo, what is it?"
"Orihime...I'm sorry," Ichigo buried his head against her shoulder, shielding his eyes. "'I am flattered you were able to tell me how you feel but...I-I just don't feel the same way."
It was Orihime's turn to gasp, shock resonating throughout her entire body. Her hands, although still around Ichigo's waist, suddenly became loose.
"I appreciate the nerve it must have taken to tell me after so long and to kiss me as you did but I have to be honest with you, and most importantly, I have to be honest with myself."
"W-what are you saying?" Orihime managed to say as tears sprang from her eyes.
Ichigo was hesitant, his head rising slowly and his eyes focusing on the door that led out into the hall. "There's someone else...someone else I have feelings for." He smiled gently, his eyes still sad. "They just don't know it."
The news hit Rukia with so much force she could barely gather enough strength to take her next breath. She picked through Orihime's story, focusing on a few key points. The way she told him how she felt and delivered a kiss—that drove that point home. But, also, hearing Ichigo gasp during their embrace… She was sure that was due to her showing up at the room when she did and witnessing their embrace.
"He said there was someone else," Orihime laughed, breaking the silence. "I didn't see that coming for a second."
"I'm sorry," Rukia raised her head, trying to will back her tears. "You were able to tell him how you felt but he didn't return your feelings."
Orihime's smile brightened. "There's no need for that. A heavy weight was removed from my chest that day. I learned that I could approach someone and admit my feelings if given the opportunity. To be honest, I'm glad things turned out the way they did."
Rukia was surprised, and her eyes widened. "You are?"
"Mmhm," Orihime nodded, "I am. If things didn't turn out as they did then I wouldn't have learned a valuable lesson. Since that day Ichigo and I have been close friends and that means the world to me. He's a great guy. I would never want to lose his friendship."
"His friendship..." Rukia repeated those words over and over. That's exactly what she had done and all because she had failed to do what Orihime had done, speak up and say what's on her mind. She felt foolish, immature and stupid all at the same time.
"Also, if things turned out how I wanted it to back then I never would have met Ulquiorra." Orihime announced with pride. She took out her phone and showed it to Rukia.
"Ulquiorra?" Rukia looked at the screensaver on Orihime's phone. It was a snapshot of her smiling with her arms around a guy Rukia never saw before. His skin was paler then any color she'd ever seen and his eyes were more greener than the darkest emerald. He had long, shoulder-length black hair and black eyeliner that made his eyes pop. He wasn't smiling in the picture but he looked content while captured in Orihime's embrace. "Is he your-"
"He sure is." Orihime pulled her phone towards herself and ogled the picture. "We met while I was in junior college. He's nothing like me which is why I think we work so well."
Seeing the joy in Orihime's eyes made Rukia's heat skip a beat. She wanted that look and feeling that was evident the longer Orihime looked at the photo.
"I'm glad everything turned well for you, Orihime." Rukia tried her best to smile.
Orihime shook her head. "It turned out better for you. I mean, you got an education at a university in America. It doesn't get any better than that."
"Yeah..." Rukia sighed, unable to agree one hundred percent with Orihime's statement. An American education was worthwhile but at the cost of her friends, and most importantly her feelings? Rukia wasn't sure about that.
"There he is!" Orihime emphatically stated, pointing toward the front door and rising from her seat at the same time.
Looking in that direction, Rukia saw what had Orihime so happy. Coming through the door was none other than Ulquiorra, the tip of his fingers shoved into the pockets of his black skinny jeans. His stride was slow; he was clearly in no rush to reach the table where they were sitting. Rukia rose to her feet out of respect and watched the two embrace with a hug followed by a peck on the cheek by none other than Orihime.
"Rukia, this is my boyfriend, Ulquiorra." Orihime looked at her boyfriend and smiled. "Ulquiorra, this is Rukia, the girl I've told you about."
Rukia was surprised to hear that she was spokenabout but extended her arm and took a firm hold of Ulquiorra's right hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ulquiorra," she spoke emphatically.
Ulquiorra did not return the sentiment and instead released Rukia's hand without even so much as a hello. Not one to be miffed over a person's lack of manner's Rukia held the smile on her face just as Ichigo approached the group with a piece of paper in his hand.
"How's it going, Ulquiorra? What brings you here?" Ichigo asked, his brown eyes staring directly into Ulquiorra's green gaze.
"Why else would I come here other than picking up Orihime? Don't ask pointless questions." Ulquiorra scoffed in disgust.
Ichigo laughed, a gesture that puzzled Rukia as she watched. "For all I know you could be here to get something to eat. Of course, that's never the case, is it?"
Reaching into his back pocket, Ulquiorra removed a folded black and white wallet and opened it, revealing a slew of bills in numerical order. He glanced up at Ichigo momentarily. "Same as last time?"
"Yeah," was Ichigo's curt response. He and Ulquiorra made a quick exchange, the paper in his hand for the cash in Ulquiorra's wallet.
"You didn't have to pay the bill," Orihime chimed in. "I brought enough this time."
"It's fine." Ulquiorra handed a few extra bills to Ichigo. "For her previous bill."
"That bill was comped already, you know that, Ulquiorra." Ichigo stared at the money like something was wrong with it.
"So you say," Ulquiorra forcefully shoved the money against Ichigo's chest then looked at Orihime. "Let's go."
"Right," Orihime bowed to both Ichigo and Rukia. "It was great reminiscing with you Rukia! I hope I can see you again before the funeral. I'll see you in school, Ichigo."
Rukia waved reluctantly at Orihime as she and Ulquiorra departed. She returned to her seat and watched Ichigo count the money in his hands. "What was that all about?"
"He's always like that. She didn't have enough to pay her bill the last time she was here so I comped her meal." Ichigo shrugged his left shoulder. "It wasn't a big deal."
"Apparently it was." Rukia added.
"He's a cold bastard, always been that way since I met him, but he treats Orihime well so I don't complain. If he feels better getting his jealousy out on me then so be it." Ichigo scoffed and turned his head to the side, away from Rukia.
"Jealousy?" Rukia raised an eyebrow. "You sounded cocky just then. What does he have to be jealous about?"
"Nothing, it's all in the past anyway. Orihime told him her old feelings for me and since then he's turned into a jackass every time we're in the same room." Ichigo chuckled, not affected by Ulquiorra's actions.
"Why did she tell him that?" Rukia pondered aloud. "I don't see the benefit."
Ichigo shrugged. "To be open and honest, I suppose. It's none of my business."
"But he's so rude to you. Why do you put up with it?"
"I guess for Orihime's sake. I mean, I don't have many people here I'm close with. I'm not looking to lose any more friends."
A twinge of guilt struck Rukia in the center of her chest. "What do you mean by that?"
Ichigo looked at Rukia with a 'you've got to be kidding me' look overcast on his face. He shook his head. "Anything else I can get you?"
Surprise was becoming a natural reaction for Rukia. She settled in her seat and mouthed the word 'no'. She watched him leave her alone with her tea, taking the remnants of Orihime's meal with him. Left alone, Rukia watched Ichigo return from the back of the restaurant to tend to a few patrons in the room. Once again she was left to her own devices, and she opted to flip through the different apps on her phone. Her head occasionally rose whenever Ichigo passed by but the two didn't speak a word to one another for the duration of her time there.
It wasn't long before her cell phone went off in her hand and Renji's name flashed across the display. She answered the call, speaking as softly as she could without giving away any unintentional emotions. Through the corner of her eye she could see Ichigo looking her way, watching her tend to the call from beginning to end. When she finished the call, she looked up to see Ichigo standing over her with a fresh cup of tea in his hand. He set it down and took her previous cup in his hands.
"Was that Renji?" He chuckled at the startled look in Rukia's eyes. "His ringtone hasn't changed since high school."
"He's running late from the soccer game and was giving me a heads up." Rukia set her phone on the table top.
"If you need a ride I can drop you off, if that's okay with you." Ichigo offered.
For a moment Rukia considered the offer that befell her but ultimately shook her head in refusal. "I already told him I'd be here when he arrived."
Ichigo grunted in reply then left Rukia on her own again. He tended to a few tables and carried out his duties like he would any other work day.
That day quickly turned to night and as the last patron left, Ichigo happily turned the front sign from open to closed. He turned and was greeted with Yoruichi and Rukia, who were sitting within close proximity to one another. They appeared to be watching his every move from the front door to the table closest to him. After a while, agitation began to settle in and Ichigo found himself stalking toward the two women with fire in his eyes.
"Are you just going to sit there or are you going to help me clean up?" He looked solely at Yoruichi.
The purple haired maiden rose to her feet and pushed a sheepish grin across her face. Without hesitation she brushed past her employee and walked toward the door. "Have a good night, Ichigo. You, too, Rukia."
The hair in the back of Ichigo's neck stood on end as he heard the door close behind him. Left in silence to mull over his own thoughts, his focus turned toward Rukia who did her best not to appear alarmed by his piercing eyes.
"Well, don't just sit there," Ichigo picked up and turned over the chair closest to Rukia.
"You want me to help?" Rukia asked in disbelief but slowly began to consider her options. "I guess I can do that. Renji isn't here yet."
Ichigo gave Rukia a shot of his back while he continued to turn more chairs over. As time wore on, so did the silence until Ichigo decided he had had enough. "Rukia," he cut a sharp look her way. "I wanted to say I'm sorry."
Rukia's chest tightened at the mere utterance of Ichigo's apology. She kept herself from facing him, unsure of what emotion was on her face, or even more so, what her own face would expose. She clutched the leg of one of the chairs she just turned over in her hand with enough force to split it in two had it been made of wood instead of metal.
"S-sorry for what?" she managed to say under the pressure.
Ichigo wasn't fazed by the stumble in Rukia's voice. "I'm sorry about Hisana. She was like an older sister to a lot of us."
"Really?" Rukia closed her eyes, her grip on the chair leg loosening. "Thank you. It means a lot to hear that."
"My family will be at her wake to show our support and love for Hisana. You know, I owe her for all the talks she and I had. She helped me realize that I should take a year of school, get my head on right then go for it the following year."
Rukia, eyes opened, turned toward Ichigo. "Do you regret it, waiting a year to go to school?"
"Do you regret leaving your sister and everyone behind to go to America?" Ichigo fired back. He didn't mean to sound snappy but once the words left his mouth there was no turning back.
"How dare you?" Rukia's face scrunched up in anger. "I didn't leave everyone behind. I called my sister every single day, I flew home for holidays and even wrote letters and sent them out once a week. I was in constant contact with everyone."
Ichigo smirked and released the chair in his hands. He maneuvered across the floor until he stood directly in front of Rukia's path. He loomed over her, intensity burning in his eyes. "Not everyone. It seems I wasn't included in your desires to keep those you cared for under close communication. I've always wondered, why was that?"
Rukia tried to take a step back but found it futile with a table and an upturned chair blocking her way. She felt her face flush scarlet. "I-I don't know why."
Ichigo chuckled, taking her right wrist gently against the palm of his hand. "I would come over and speak to Hisana, asking her why I hadn't heard from you the few weeks after you left or why my calls were unanswered and my letters returned." He watched as an alarmed look flashed over Rukia's eyes, full of surprise that he was able to snake his hand around hers. His thumb gently caressed her wrist, his eyes never leaving her own. "She would always tell me you were off finding your own way but soon you'd finally realize."
"R-realize what?" Rukia asked, more confused than ever.
Ichigo leaned in close, his mouth opening ever so slowly. "Realize that I was sorry for kissing Orihime. I saw you standing there that night. I didn't understand at first why it bothered you but I figured it out once you ignored my every chance to talk to you about it."
"Your kiss with Orihime meant nothing to me. Why would I have cared about what happened between you two?" Rukia did her best to look as rigid as ice when she spoke.
Ichigo shrugged. "I don't know, but I know why it bothered me. Maybe one day I'll share my notion with you." He raised her hand and slowly placed a kiss against her wrist.
Once released, Rukia was lost in a trance. She could hear her heart beating enthusiastically in her chest. She couldn't move and speaking was obviously not an option. She stood idly by while Ichigo resumed turning up the remaining chairs, then retrieved a mop from a small utility closet when he had finished. She didn't regain her wherewithal until the sound of the front door jarred her senses. Her violet eyes blinked in rapid succession until she felt a warm set of hands rest gingerly on her shoulders.
"You all right, Rukia?" Renji's voice seemingly brought her back into reality.
"Renji," She gave a forceful smile. "I'm fine. How was your game?"
Renji was skeptical but replied. "It went well. I called Byakuya after I called you to say I would be late picking you up." He pressed the hardest part of his palm against his left temple. "You would think you were twelve years old by the way he reacted or by how loud he called me irresponsible."
Rukia was amused by Renji's story but she couldn't contort her face to show it. Her thoughts were elsewhere, thinking things she really did not want it to. She snatched her purse as it hung against the back of the chair she occupied and walked toward the door, leaving Renji behind.
"We better get going then," She glanced at Ichigo once more as he mopped the floor then left out toward Renji's car.
Left alone inside the restaurant, Renji watched Rukia disappear inside his parked car out front then turned his attention to Ichigo. He watched as his co-worker swayed the mop from side to side, ignoring his presence, or so it seemed.
"So what did you and Rukia talk about?" Renji's words were swift and his tone was sharp.
"Old times, nothing wrong with that, right?" Ichigo replied, stopping the progression of the mop for a second only to start up once more.
Renji could hear his teeth click in the back of his mouth as he ground down on them. He had a sinking feeling he walked in on something; he just couldn't grasp what that something was. He scoffed, shoving his hands into his pocket before walking toward the door.
"See you later then," his words somehow managed to sound forced yet sincere at the same time.
"Yeah, see you later." Ichigo was left alone as the front door closed and the sound of Renji's car flooded his ears.
Alone with his thoughts, Ichigo chuckled at his evening alone with Rukia, focusing on her inability to tell him what he already knew was true. He dragged the mop across the floor until a gleam from the table furthest from him caught his eye. The mop followed as Ichigo dragged it toward the source which was revealed to be Rukia's cell phone.
He took it in his hand, turning it to the left and then to the right. He tossed it in the air, caught it in one hand and then slipped it into the front of his apron next to his notepad and pens. He resumed tending to the floor, a smile spread across his face.