Standard disclaimer applies.
Author's notes: This is even older than the last one-shot, written way back during the beginnings of the Soul Society arc. These were my thoughts of a post-Soul Society moment at that time, when I had no idea what was going to happen. Not that I know what's going to happen now, of course. Kubo Tite is such a good narrator that his plot is completely amazing and captures you every chapter, especially recent ones. But God, the cliffhangers! Now, what do we have to fear here? As the title says, a pretty much OOC, paranoic Ichigo. I like paranoic Ichigo, though. xD

Overprotection
12.01.2005

"Rukia! Wait up!" he jogged towards her. Ichigo's long legs allowed him to give lengthy and even strides, taking him relatively little to catch up with her.

The petite, dark-haired girl froze in mid-step and turned around just as he came in front of her, her black school skirt swishing as she moved. Rukia looked up squarely at the panting boy, her eyebrow raising questioningly at his sudden arrival.

"Ichigo? Aren't you supposed to be in detention right now?" She inquired acusingly as he caught his breath and steadied himself on his knees. He straightened up, looking disgruntled and flushed from the heat caused by running.

He rolled his eyes at her, breathing deeply one last time and then scratching the back of his orange-haired head. "I was in detention," he told her pointedly, "thanks to you, by the way. But I jumped out of the window."

"You what?" Her eyes widened visibly and her tone was that of disapproving disbelief. Her hands went to both side of her hips.

"I was on the first floor," he defended quickly at her unspoken question, he wasn't up for making longer explanations. "We'll just get early tomorrow and I'll pay up for it with the teacher," Ichigo said indifferently as he shrugged, "I'll tell him I had an emergency or something like that…"

"Hey!" her two brows rose this time with slight anger, "Why should I wake up earlier and deprive myself from sleep for your faults?"

He glared at her, his ever-present frown deepening. "I did to be able to take you home!"

She snorted, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. "That's not a good enough excuse. I can go on my own," she told him sternly, her forehead creasing into a frown. "You know, I thought that by now you would understand that I am sufficiently capable of walking by myself through this town."

"No, you don't!"

"Well, excuse me, but I do," she stuck her tongue at him and smirked, "It's not like I will get lost, if that's what you're worried about. Besides, we go on different routes at the end and…"

"It doesn't matter," he cut in, visibly starting to get irritated, and he crossed his arms as well over the straps of the schoolbag that was slung over his shoulders.

"Of course it does!" she replied, her pride getting the better of her. She poked him with her finger angrily before continuing. "You follow me around everywhere! Even Asano-kun got tired of joking about it!" She looked at him unwaveringly, mustering the deathliest glare she possessed. "Ichigo, I can take care of myself!" she told him. "I can get home on my own!" She repeated exasperatedly.

"What if something happens on the way home, what if you don't get there at all?" he snapped, his arms shooting to grip her arms tightly. She winced, and he backed away, apologizing softly and lowering his head.

Rukia stared at him, wide blue eyes focused on his frowning face. She tried to snap at him, but found out that she couldn't, her brows were knitted together in confusion. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she whispered, more to herself than anything. They were standing barely one meter from each other.

"What will I do then, Rukia?" he broke the gap between them, looking at her and fisting his hands. His tall, imponent figure didn't faze her, and yet…

"I-Ichigo…" The girl was beyond confusion; she had never had seen him act so emotional before and that was what was throwing her off balance. Then again, he had been acting way too strange since they had returned home. He didn't speak, only gazing down at her with an almost angry, almost desperate expression.

"Were you worried about me?" she finally asked, beginning to understand his 'predicament,' eyes curious and suddenly lighting up with mirth and laughter.

He gaped at her and turned his head away, cheeks flushing and lips pursuing. "No."

"Don't you try lying to me, because you can't," Rukia scolded as she eyed him suspiciously, though her eyes showed she was still amused.

Ichigo crossed his arms again and looked at her, angry daggers being directed her way. "What will happen if for some mysterious reason they try to take you away, eh? How am I supposed to believe you won't leave?" he asked heatedly, reproachfully. "I'm not going there to get you back again."

Rukia stared at him with wide eyes, completely baffled. He was fuming, she noticed, seriously irritated. Hmph… What was with him and his mood swings, anyway?

"Forget it, I am going back to school, maybe they haven't noticed I've left yet," he ducked his hands inside his pockets and was about to turn around when her equally angered voice stopped him dead on his tracks.

"You… idiot!" she shouted before he could get away, releasing her clenched fist, "I'm not going anywhere, you hear me! I'm not going to leave you!"

"Huh?" The boy looked at her, startled. Some good ten meters of distance didn't keep him from hearing her clearly. And then, she turned on her heels and strolled down the street to the Kurosaki clinic and leaving him speechless. "Let's go home now…" she said quietly, voice holding the authority only she possessed over him.

"Hn…" He followed.

"And, Ichigo?" she called his attention, looking up at him over her shoulder. She was trying very hard not to smile at his simplicity. "Next time I'll wait for you if you get detention, alright? Don't just run away from school."

He caught up to her, pacing next to her and venturing to tousle her hair. He spoke, a smirk crossing his face. "But you do have to wake up early tomorrow anyway."

"That's not fair!" she argued, hitting his shoulder back and smoothing her hair down.

His smirk grew bigger. "Rukia, just shut up."