Chapter 3

Ichigo landed softly at his home door when Rukia said, "I think you can let me down now." The two of them entered the home only to be confronted by a small girl rubbing her eyes from the grip of sleep.

"Where have you guys been?" said Karin, his younger sister, "out on a date or something?" The comment sent a blank thought through Ichigo's head causing him to blink stupidly for a moment. Suddenly he felt a jab strike his side causing his to double over allowing Rukia to quickly say, "Oh no, I just forgot something at school and Ichigo was just helping me. Isn't that right?" she said looking over at the orange haired boy who nodded painfully. Karin accepted the excuse and went back into dormant grounds. The two of them walked quietly back to Ichigo's room where both of them sighed in relief.

"You didn't have to hit me. I would've just went along with whatever you said." said Ichigo as he sat on his bed. She didn't answer, she climbed into the closet and shut the door. It was so abrupt that he couldn't dismiss it as a routinely goodnight. He went up to the door and held his hand up to knock but was met with her sudden gaze as she opened the door but now sporting her plaid pajamas.

"What do you want?" she asked. Ichigo could only blink as to decide what to say.

"Nothing, just wanted to say goodnight." he said. She stared at him as if confused.

"That's it?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he said shifting his gaze to that of annoyance. She crossed her arms and spoke with slight anger, "I was nearly killed tonight and yet everything is alright to you? I mean since what happened tonight you seem pretty calm."

"There's nothing much we can do. Orihime is going to have to come through and provide us with information and until then we have to bide our time." he said trying to sound professional. Rukia nodded until another thought popped into her head.

"Ichigo?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"What's a date?" she continued. Ichigo felt like falling onto the floor as the sheer notion of what she was asking was driving him to falter. Then again, she was a shinigami that really had no experience in the human world. He sighed as he knew there was no reason to worm his way out of explaining it. He tried to think of a way to explain it as she eyed him suspiciously.

"Well, it's when someone takes another person out to have fun. Friends do it a lot." he said thinking about the shows on television. Rukia nodded as her curiosity peaked, "Have you ever went on one?" Ichigo's face reddened slightly as he couldn't remember the last time that had happened. He looked over at Rukia whose face was brimming with a smile of knowing she caused him to blush. He turned away from her and said, "Yes and its none of your business."

"Oh really?" she said slyly feeding on his embarrassed expression, "With who? Inoue?" He darted around with an exacerbated expression on his face.

"We're friends and that's all we will be." he said in a panicked tone. Rukia crossed her arms and smiled broadly, "I beg to differ."

Ichigo eyed her strongly.

"What do you mean?" he said now sounding slightly serious. She had wished she hadn't said anything. She suddenly felt as if she was being placed on the back burner. He awaited for her to answer but all she could do was pretend she had lost her train of thought.

"You zoned out again?" he asked tapping her head with his finger. She glared at him but her eyes softened. His eyes met hers and the two of them stood in silence. She marveled at his eyes although they were filled with tough character and determination she knew there was kindness within them. From the day he came to rescue her she had never met anyone so willing to lay their life on the line for her own. She knew she was contempt with her life ending but the moment she felt his presence was the moment for the first time in her life she felt she had more meaning than she knew. He was different than any other guy. He was different and that was all she needed.

"Hello?" he asked. Rukia snapped from her thoughts and looked up noticing he was still waiting for her to respond. She thought for a moment and said, "Yeah, I think she has a thing for you."

Oh, how she wanted to drown herself for that.

"Inoue? Yeah, I could imagine that." he said in a matter-of-factly voice. She was surprised at how menial he took it. It was like she really didn't matter.

"Have you been on a date with her?" she asked hoping to get the answer she was looking for. He thought for a moment.

"I wouldn't count them as dates to be honest. I just tagged along whenever she asks." he said. When she heard this she tried to think of something to say but her emotions took hold of the situation.

"Well, we're friends right?" she said trying to sound indifferent. Ichigo looked at her quizzically and answered yes.

"You and I never do anything fun. You realize that?" she said. Ichigo held his fingers under his chin in a thinking manner. It was true, the relationship was almost exclusively a partnership. He always saw her as a partner and that hadn't changed.

You've been ignoring me and shunning me away!...

Maybe he could show her around more, he really owed it to her consider they had been on the lookout for hollows ever since and he hadn't had a chance to relax.

"Tomorrow is Saturday and I think that new cinema has opened." he began, she spun around giving him the illusion she was searching for something but in reality a long and brilliant smile caught her lips.

"I guess we could go and do something." he finally said.

Her heart did a back flip.

"So I guess it's a date huh?"

Ichigo nodded but when the words finally processed through his mind he turned only to see the closet doors had shut and she had disappeared.