Standard disclaimer applies.
Author's notes: I tried to keep Ichigo and Rukia as IC as possible; and RenRuki fans, please do not kill me? Anyway,I hope you enjoy reading it. This one is dedicated to SxStrngSamurai13, for your constant support and wonderful comments; you give quite helpful reviews, not only in my stories but in other people's fics too.

Candy
03.06.2005

"Here." Ichigo tossed at Rukia a small, transparent plastic bag the very moment he entered his room, dropping his brown schoolbag on the floor as he did.

He had arrived even later than usual, as Rukia couldn't help but notice. She, on the other hand, had left school early, claiming that she had been feeling unwell as of late, a cold or something of the likes; nothing too important in her own words.

She caught the bag swiftly with one hand, staring down at it with narrowed eyes as it rested on the palm of her hand. "What is this?"

"Candy," Ichigo replied easily, sitting moving towards his bed while she sat on the edge of the open closet.

"It looks different." She uttered absently, her voice slightly raspy from the cold as she peered inside the bag and took a green colored one. Rukia didn't remember candies having these oddly bright colors; instead, in her mind she only saw white and amber ones, the ones Renji had given to her when they first met.

"Say what?" Ichigo was busying himself with taking off his scarf and jacket.

"These look different from the ones I'm used to." She repeated for him to hear this time; and her eyes were glued to the tiny sweet in her hand. Yes, they definitely didn't have these forms either. The raven-haired woman looked up at Ichigo and showed him the parrot to emphasize her question. "Why do they have shapes of animals?"

He paused thoughtfully and shrugged. "Because people like them like that."

"Oh. And you're giving it to me?" At a mere, uninterested nod of his head from the boy who now sat on his bed and was staring off at the window, Rukia frowned. "Are you trying to poison me with it? Because there are better ways to do that, you know."

Ichigo turned to look at her incredulously but then his look changed into a blank stare. "If I wanted to kill you, I'd done so a long, long time ago and in a more painful way. Besides, you're sick, aren't you? You're not supposed to be able complain this much…" he said impatiently.

"Hmph..." Rukia grunted under her breath. "It's been a long while since I've eaten one of these. I'm not sure I like them still." She eyed the candy inquisitively again. It was the first time she had these many too; back at Rukongai candies were a luxury for the kids of Inuzuri. "And this thing looks too suspicious."

"C'mon, that's stupid. Sweet things don't kill people, Rukia, you're just being paranoid," he groaned exasperatedly. "Everyone likes candies!"

She looked at him skeptically. "Do you?"

"Hn..." He flushed slightly and ignored her snickers. "Yes, so? No big deal."

"Ah, so you do like sweetness in your life from time to time, eh?" Her devilish smirk grew wider and the boy frowned darkly. Her mocking was ticking him off.

"Shut up." He yelled, turning his head to stare once again at the window. "If you don't want to eat it, then don't. Geez, that's what I get for buying you things." His voice sounded annoyed, more than anything.

"It's only candy!" her red-haired friend yelped as she continued laughing at him. Renji's cheeks were tinged with a bright pink.

Rukia arched a brow, and then she simply popped the candy into her mouth. A smile grew on her features, one he was only able to see through the corner of his eye as he glanced at her. "It's good," she muttered softly.

An 'I told you' was his mumbled reply as he took out a similar bag from his pant's pocket and brought out a small piece for himself.

Rukia rolled the candy in her mouth with her tongue experimentally. "It tastes the same, except... what flavor is this?" her eyes widened a little in surprise as she recognized it. "Orange?"

The candy she ate as a kid was merely sugar sprinkles, the only type of treat they could get. It's not like she liked this candy better, but it was an unusual taste in her tongue.

"Hn." Ichigo was eating the candy too; his animal-shaped one being a small tiger.

Rukia pondered about the piece of candy as it melted in her mouth slowly.

Like you and Renji, Ichigo. You two are so different, from two completely different times and places, with completely different characters. Yet, you are so alike, equal hot-tempers and strength, equal passion when you have to protect something dear.

It's just that you have that strange, extra-flavor, Ichigo.