Standard disclaimer applies.
Author's notes: Well, I just thought... Rukia got her revenge once. Doesn't Ichigo get that chance too? And uh, this weird thing came up. It is distubring, somewhat, I'd never want someone to do something like that to me... no, definitely not. OH! It is possible that there won't be an update next week. I want to enjoy my one-week vacations as much as I can :D Though there's a possibility mother will kindly ask me study for my finals, considering I'm graduating this semester from high school... ((sigh)). Anyway, enjoy and hope to see you soon!

Settling Scores
30.03.2006

"There's no way I'm taking you to the festival…!" Ichigo scowled. What would he do if anyone saw them together outside of school? No, no, no. "I'm NOT doing it. Besides... it's still as school day and we've got homework to do."

Rukia grinned haughtily, bringing out some papers from her bag and then showing him what turned to be several old photos. Not only that, he knew those… "You see, I skimmed through your family albums," she said, showing him one where he'd been posing as a little duck in a play. There was another one in which he'd been making flip backs, or tried to… "Wouldn't these look nice on the school paper? Itis a school day after all, and the guys from the newspaper could get this printed by tomorrow if I ask them sweetly enough."

Ichigo's features darkened in anger and frustration and his perpetual frown deepened as he found himself forced to give in. He settled for clenching his jaw and pocketing his hands inside his jeans. Her glowered at her, the only thing he could do. "You bitch…"

To this, she only smiled triumphantly. "Don't worry, it'll be fuuuun!"

¢¢¢

"My stomach hurts like hell," the dark-haired, female shinigami announced suddenly, her whole body feeling weak and nausea welling up her throat. And as if to prove her point further, a strange noise emerged from her belly like the cry of a beast crawling up her stomach.

Ichigo glanced at Rukia from his place at the desk and huffed in annoyance before turning back to his reading. "It's probably the six hotdogs and the three milkshakes you slumped down your throat, moron. Plus the caramelized apple and the cotton candy…"

"WHAT?" she shrieked in indignation, the drama queen deep inside her (or, maybe, not so deep inside) getting the best of her, "I did not 'slump' anything down my throat." Rukia spared an angry glance at the orange-haired boy, both of her hands still massaging the throbbing abdomen. "Besides, as part of the modern culture, I am expected to be up-to-date with these human rituals."

"That doesn't mean you had to eat everything on the food stands." He turned over for moment to look at her and Ichigo's frown deepened, a clear sign of his disgruntlement. He scratched his head lazily as he watched her struggle with her ache on his bed; then, he added as an afterthought, "And if I had known I'd lose all my money at the festival, and on food no less, I would have never agreed to take you there."

She glowered at him, but had no energy to come up with a retort. The pain on her stomach intensified, and it instantly made her press her hands harder onto her abdomen. She turned on the bed, clasping her stomach; all of her insides were churning painfully. "Argh…" the rest of her complaint was muffled by the pillow, and once again she turned over on the bed, this time to end up facing the white ceiling of Ichigo's room.

"Oh, crap… Rukia… you're serious," Ichigo amber eyes were wide open now. In response, Rukia simply shut hers close and moaned slightly as she felt her stomach lurching for the nth time. Soon enough, her face turned an interesting shade of green.

Ichigo made a face at her. "Shit. Don't you even dare throw up in front of me!"

The short-sized woman's eyes flew open and she glared at him, blue gaze set on fire. "I'm literally dying here and those are the only comforting words you can say!"

He shrugged unworriedly, once again back to his lecture and turning over the page of his book. "Why should I be comforting you, dramatic wench? I wasn't the one who ate like a cow or was I?"

"Like a cow?" She rose from the mattress, straightened up, and walked up to him while throwing him an intense glare; the twitching on her brow signified the pain it had been to do so. Then she stepped on his foot. It proudly produced a loud, loud yelp from the smirking boy and caused him to drop the book on his own feet, making him howl again in pain. "Do I stomp like a cow too, you bastard?"

But again, the pain returned to her belly. "Damn it."

Her eyes searched for his almost pleadingly, before yelling at him crossly. "You idiot! Hurry up and do something!" Please…

Ichigo let out a tired, frustrated sigh and stood up from his chair to leave the room, returning five minutes later and carrying his usual frown along with an amber-colored bottle in his hands. He tossed the container at Rukia, who was squirming on the bed once again and gripping his pillow forcefully against her.

"Where the hell did you get that?" she questioned, eyeing the medicine inquisitively.

Ichigo glared at her. "We live in a clinic, idiot. My father is a doctor, remember?" He shook his head and sat back on the chair by his desk. "Drink that up, it'll help you feel better." He returned to his studies, after picking up the history book on the floor, only adding "It won't kill you," at her impassive stare.

She did obediently, drinking the medicine in one gulp, and immediately regretting doing so. Her lips puckered up and she made a disgusted face. "Yuck, that tasted horrible, what the hell was that thing?"

"I never said it tasted good." Ichigo's smirk grew considerably and Rukia didn't like it one bit. Her stomach made another turn, unexpectedly more intense than the previous ones. "It's a laxative," he answered a few moments later, looking at her through the corner of his eye.

"What?" Rukia's eyes grew to the size of big saucers. "Ichigo, you… big, idiotic moron…!" Even before Ichigo could retort something, Rukia had long run out of the room, clutching her stomach tightly.

Ichigo smirked to himself as he turned the page of his Japanese history book. Revenge comes to you in different ways, and oh, how sweet it was. "Oh, yeah, that was fun."

Rukia, one. Ichigo, one.

It'd been just about time to even the scores.