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Chapter 5: Moonlit

The day began at Kurosaki household normally, of course their definition of normal defies common sense. So at the crack of dawn Isshin attacked his still sleeping son but by some weird bond they share, Ichigo could sense impending danger and no one would be crazy enough to attack him save for a couple of people and unfortunately he lived with one of them. He rolled on his right and barely escaped his father's elbow which was directed at his chest but the the old man would not accept surrender, he shifted his body on one hand and launched a kick aiming for Ichigo's head. Ichigo saw that coming from a mile away and lied down to avoid that and when the kick passed him he simply kicked his old man on the midsection, still lying down. Having his balance terribly toppled, he fell on his face out of the bed. Just when he was about to get up Ichigo came behind him and put his head in a sleeper lock. He gasped for breath and was trying his best to break his son's hold on him. Unable to make his hold an inch less tighter, he resigned and tapped the floor continuously to let him know that he has accepted defeat. But his son wouldn't let go and he became fanatic, throwing his arms and legs haphazardly he tried choke out something. Just as he was about to pass out, his son took mercy on him and let him go. Taking a big breath, still panting, he looked at his son with a look akin to admiration and scolding.

"You're getting soft Ichigo" Isshin whizzed out.

"Good morning to you too.." Ichigo let out nonchalantly.

"Usually you'll keep me in a head lock until I pass out, but today you let me go.." Isshin's tone was of a P.E teacher analyzing his star athlete's performance.

"Maybe I was taking it easy on you." Ichigo said looking at his clock.

Big mistake, just as he looked back his father, he was nowhere to be found but only a second later an incredibly powerful fist came swinging at his face, the impact had him reeling back a good two meters. He immediately checked for broken nose or jaw and found them to be intact, more or less. He looked at his father who was smirking at him and that made his blood boil. He let out a battle cry and lunged forward.

"You're really asking for it today old man!" Ichigo said delivering a haymaker to his father's jaw, which he promptly evaded by ducking his head.

"Don't you dare hold back on me! I'm still the man of this household!" Isshin said as he delivered a powerful punch to Ichigo's midsection. Which had his breath knocked out of his. He clutched his stomach and bile threatened to rise up his throat, he ignored that and went after his father with a jab aimed at his right cheek, reflexively Isshin ducked but he didn't expected Ichigo to stop half way. He understood his mistake, that was a faint but it was too late, Ichigo's foot came in contact with his chin which he failed to defend. He flew a good way and after descending he tried to get up but Ichigo straddled him just above his chest and started delivering powerful punches to his face and chest.

"You.." Punch "son of a..." Punch "half troll" Punch "why.." Punch "won't you.." Punch "let me have..." Punch "some PEACE!" Punch Punch Punch Punch

"Onii-chan..." A gentle voice cooed from ahead.

Ichigo looked up and saw his younger sister Yuzu, clutching her apron like a fretting mother and looking at both of them with worried eyes.

"Hey Yuzu" he said looking at her but made no effort to get up from his now unconscious father.

"Onii-chan..." She said again but now her voice carried a slight edge which usually indicated that she was not happy with what's going on.

Ichigo sighed and got up from there and made his way to her and gave her a small kiss on top of her head and said "sorry... But he started it"

"Onii-chan.. You know how Otou-san is, take it easy on him.." She said looking at him with the same eyes he had, both inherited them from the same source.

"I DID take it easy on him but he went on babbling About "being the man of the house" and kept beating me, I have to defend myself you know?" Ichigo gave a small smile to soothe her worry.

Yuzu gave a small pout to display her dissatisfaction and Ichigo lost all his argument and gave her an sigh "alright, alright next time I'll take it easy on him, happy?"

Yuzu gave a smile that reminded him so much of his mother. In some ways Yuzu was spitting image of their mother, down to her smile and pout. He couldn't keep the smile down and patted her head but Yuzu had other plans, she gave him a strong hug to display her delight.

"Thank you Onii-chan.." She mumbled from his chest.

Ichigo stiffened the first few seconds she hugged him, he wasn't big on physical display of affection. But gradually he calmed down and rested his chin on top of her head and hugged her back but said nothing.

Yuzu disengaged from the hug and said "Onii-chan there's rice and fish curry downstairs, be sure to eat plenty. You're still growing up and you need a lot of nutrition and I've washed your clothes and they're at the living room and be sure to apply face cream, its very chilly outside.."

Ichigo stared at her with a twinkle in his eyes and said "yes mom.."

Yuzu went a very dark shade of red and admonished him "Onii-chan!" With a small voice she continued "Please don't tease me.."

"What? You are, you remind me so much of our mother.." Ichigo laughed full of mirth.

"... You really think so?" Yuzu spoke her voice full of uncertainty.

Ichigo suddenly snapped out of his daze and remembered that his twin younger sisters didn't get to spend much time with their mother. They barely had any memory to remember her by. And its all his fault... Why did he had to go save that girl... Why didn't he listened...

"Yeah..." Ichigo said his voice full of self-loathing.

Yuzu sensed that something changed, being the maternal Kurosaki she has become attuned with their mood and behavior. She came up to him and took his hand in her and gave her best smile, her Onii-chan was such a good person, that face that he was making did not go well with his face at all. This gloomy features that he wore didn't suit him at all. So she tried to assure him that everything is alright, they're here for him. That seemed to do a little as he looked a bit less tensed but the vibe didn't change. He let go of her hand and gave her a small and sad smile and made his way to downstairs.

Yuzu was looking at his back and she became sad. Ever since he woke up after the coma he's been like this. They tried everything but her Onii-chan didn't seem to let anyone in. He suffered alone. Many thought that Yuzu was a bit airhead, they were not wrong, she was a bit of an airhead but not to extent of ignoring something of this magnitude. She felt a hand on her shoulder and knew who's it was.

"Otou-san... Onii-chan is.. Onii-chan is.." She was just about to cry but her farther hugged her and consoled her, murmuring soothing words in her ear. When she calmed down a bit she asked her father.

"Can't we do anything Otou-san? Onii-chan is not well... He smiles but he's not happy, i don't want to see him so sad Otou-san.."

Her father sighed and said "he doesn't want help. That idiot son of mine is too hung up on the past. We can't get through and he won't share with us. I just hope he shares with someone"

They both nodded and got up to join the rest of the family at the dinner table.


It seems like fate had a bone to pick with him, it rained the previous night, the water should've been gone by now or so he thought but lo and behold there's water everywhere on the street. As much Ichigo liked winter he absolutely loathed rain and its effects, it reminded him of too much what he wanted to forget. Sighing he started to walk towards Ikumi-san's house and on the mention of his punishment loving boss his ire lessened a little. He granted himself a small smile, ever since that day Ikumi-san seem to be tempered a bit for him. She didn't scream and demanded that he work after-hours when he messed up one of the deliveries. She let him come a little late in the morning, even offered him breakfast. The more she acted sympathetic the more his suspicion became clear that it was her that day on the riverbank, she's the one who left him that sheet. There's also the fact that she smelled of lavender and some exotic spice Ichigo couldn't quite put his hands on, how he knew that was another story in itself, one Ichigo would never forget. Ichigo was absolutely mortified at the prospect of his boss or anyone knowing that side of him, he didn't knew how transparent he was being. He was dreading the day she will bring that matter up but it seemed like Ikumi-san didn't care or hid it very well because she has never once indicated that she'd seen him that day but the nicety of her behavior didn't go unnoticed. He drifted off to an recent memory..

Flashback

"Ichigo, scoot over a little.." Ikumi said pushing the guy in front of her

Ichigo groaned.. Why did he have to come today? He could've been sleeping or practising martial arts, why did he have to bear this punishment? Why god why? He wailed internally. Who's face did he see first upon waking up? Ugh... That goat-face... "I'll kill him once i get to the house" Ichigo thought darkly.

Currently Ichigo was on a train going out of karakura with Ikumi-san in tow. They got a priority delivery service which is to deliver that day but that wouldn't be a problem if the destination was in karakura but fate wasn't so fair. The destination was three hundred kilometers south of karakura, near Osaka. Ichigo forgot the name of that place as usual but Ikumi-san came along. He didn't understand why, he was perfectly capable of delivering the package himself but later he found out that the sender requested that the package must be carried with utmost care and safety, thus Ikumi-san tagged along to keep an eye on him.

When they got to the van, which was ancient and god knows how many years ran, finally broke. With all Ichigo and Ikumi's expertise, the van refused to come back to life and they were at their limit. They had to deliver this by evening no matter what and its already afternoon. It was supposed to be a one hour drive by car.

Ikumi suggested "how about we take the train Ichigo?"

Ichigo huffed and said "its nearly the time when people come back from the office trains will be jam packed more than usual..."

Ikumi sighed "we've got no choice, take that and let's go"

Thus their current situation, into a jam packed train.

When Saporro came, which was one hundred miles from their destination, more people came into their compartment and if they thought it was jam packed before, now it was like a clown car. They were struggling to breath.

Suddenly one guy pushed Ikumi and she couldn't keep her balance and landed straight onto Ichigo. Acting on instinct he switched the delivery to his left hand and circled the right hand around her waist to keep her from falling. He forgot about everything and his protective instinct took over, he glared at the guy who pushed her

"Hey old man, how about you stop pushing her?" He said with a voice that Hichigo would've been proud of.

Said man took a step back seeing the feral look on the other man's face and looked panicked and was just about to bolt, he would've, if he was not in a crowded compartment he would've bolted. He settled for being as far from them as possible

Ichigo looked back Ikumi and said "Ikumi-san are you al..."

The words died in his mouth, he became extremely aware in what position he was in with his very beautiful boss, yes he finally admitted to himself that he worked for a rather very beautiful woman and was very aware of her.

Her face was in the nape of his neck and very close to his throat, she seemed satisfied with their current arrangement as she made no move to move away but only clutched him tighter on the collar of his shirt. His chin rested on top of her head and his nostrils were suddenly invaded by a beautiful but faint scent of lavender. "This smell is coming from her..?" Ichigo thought and suddenly something clicked inside his mind. The day he spent on the riverbank, there was a sheet there that smelled exactly like this...

Ichigo was sure he was so red that his name was justified. Just as he was about to push her away he saw there's no space behind her. People took the opportunity and moved up to the space she granted them and now even if Ichigo wanted he couldn't let go because there's simply no space.

He felt that his body has gone rigid and he was sure she could feel him being rigid. For both of their sake he tried to calm down but his stubborn body and mind wouldn't listen. Meanwhile another guy was worming his way to them and Ichigo didn't like a bit of that. He said

"Ikumi-san... We..uh" he stuttered

Ikumi looked up and gave him a nod as if to say "continue"

"We need to move Ikumi-san..." He finally blurted out

Ikumi said nothing and put her head down on his shoulder and he didn't know what to do, should he move her? She'd kick him in the groin if he touches her any way she didn't like, of that he was sure but it was better than any random guy groping her. Steeling his nerve he got to work.

Tightening good hold in her waist he gently tugged her towards him and when she followed without hesitation, he kept her close and in a single move reversed their position so now his back was on the people side and was still facing him but now her back was in the window side.

Constant pushing of people forced them to be much more closer than any of them would like to be, it wasn't good for their sanity, being so close to each other. Their minds may have been neglecting the possibility for more sane reason but their heart was another thing altogether.

Ichigo looked down at her and she was looking down at their feet, for trying to keep his balance he had to put one hand right above Ikumi's shoulder and onto the window pane and had to lean into her. He noticed that he stopped being frigid and was looking at her. His conscious mind was screaming "this isn't right! You must stop at once!" But his mind could take a backseat once in a while, for now he settled for looking at this beautiful woman in front of him.

Ikumi felt his piercing gaze and looked up and gasped, she hadn't seen such an expression on Ichigo's face, ever. It was a gaze of a lover or of a fond one. Had she really been that careless? She had only meant to help when she was being sympathetic. Never did she one realised that Ichigo might not think that. He was quite young and they do make mistakes but right now the gaze he was giving her, did not promise such things.

Suddenly their compartment jerked and everyone in the compartment shifted somewhat. Ichigo came face to face, nose to nose with his boss and was aware of her strong brown eyes widening at their closeness but not withdrawing, she couldn't even if she wanted. They looked at each other's eye and saw each other's intention as clear as water from the purest stream.

One pair had astonishment written all over them, another pair had an unidentified look in them that promised of something far more dangerous than a jerky train ride.

They arrived at their destination and the door opened and suddenly as if their haze cleared up they both jumped from the other as if the other person was holding a live electric wire.

Ikumi looked at him for a second and saw him mortified at what just happened and took the package and just started waking towards the exit, not looking back.

Ichigo was just behind her and was trying to be a step behind, which was hard beacuse she walked slow. Of course she walked faster than any normal female but still slower than him.

They delivered the package and got out of there and took the returning train an hour later and took extra care to be as far away from each other as possible.

No one said a word to each other ever since.

Flashback end

That was two days ago, he didn't go to work yesterday and she didn't call him. As he was thinking these things he realized that he was quite close to her house and he crossed the road and was walking to get house again. Suddenly a red sports car blasted through the street with speed easy above the limit and drenched him with the water that was in the street. He looked like he just took a bath. He screamed curses at the car and the driver and thought he m that he had to go to his house again and change but first he thought he should let Ikumi-san know or she'll hunt him down. Yesterday she was lax because... Well, because something weird happened between them but she's not gonna tolerate two days of absence. He shrudderd,

"I better let her know it she'll skin me..." He thought and with this last thought he arrived at her doorstep.


A/N: They are such complicated people with their own brand of insecurities, ideologues and indomitable character/attitude that its difficult to write and keep them in character, on top of that there aren't any romantic affliction between them in the first place (i.e Cannon). So if they seem a bit/a lot OOC, I apologize.