Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

The next morning….
Ichigo's room

Both Ichigo and Soi-Fon were getting dressed in awkward silence. The memories of last night were still fresh in their minds; the conversation, the kiss, getting busted right in front of the SWA and falling asleep in each other's arms.

Sitting back on the bed, Ichigo watched as Soi-Fon got dressed, wondering what he should say to the woman. It was obvious by her blushing face that she was lost in thought too, not giving Ichigo any eye contact. 'Should I just let her leave before saying something? Or…should I…ask her out again?'

Soi-Fon was thinking on similar lines. 'Last night was better than I could've imagined. It was so weird…to just let go of everything like that and have fun. I…I want to go out with him again but what should I say? And am I even ready for a relationship?' She remembered how Rangiku and the SWA had rudely interrupted them while they were in the middle of their kiss. 'This is going to be hell at the next meeting….' Nervously, Soi-Fon sat down next to Ichigo, the two looking away as they tried to find their words. That night when they had sex sort of just happened and the previous night only happened because of Yoruichi's pushing. Now they were by themselves with nothing but an awkward silence between them.

The silence was broken when they heard the window open and Rukia hopped into the room. "Rukia!" Ichigo called out. Soi-Fon cursed the Kuchiki lieutenant for spoiling her chance.

Turning around, Rukia saw Ichigo and Soi-Fon sitting on the bed and blushed, remembering what she saw last night. Not wanting to infuriate Soi-Fon, Rukia bowed in respect. "Captain Soi-Fon, Ichigo. Forgive the intrusion." Lifting her head up she spoke again. "I was asked to come here to see if Captain Soi-Fon needed any assistance to her duties."

Soi-Fon's eyebrow rose at the suggestion. 'They want to see if the helper needs a helper. That's insulting….' "No, lieutenant. I'm perfectly capable of helping Ichigo." The captain stood up and popped out of her gigai with Ichigo's combat pass. "Ichigo? May I leave my gigai here? I don't want to tempt fate by leaving it at Urahara's."

Smiling, Ichigo nodded, picking up the faux Soi-Fon and putting it in his closet. "Of course. Where will you be?"

"I'm going to go patrol the town. You can rest or…whatever it is you Humans do during your downtime." Opening the window, Soi-Fon hopped onto the windowsill.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Ichigo called out to Soi-Fon before she flashstepped away. "Hey…Soi-Fon?"

The black-haired woman turned her head. "Yes?"

"…Would…would you like to go see a movie tomorrow?" he asked, his face starting to sweat, his cheeks red.

Soi-Fon's face matched his in terms of redness before she looked away, a shadow of a smile forming on her lips. "I'd like that. I'll…I'll be here tomorrow afternoon then." And with that she left, leaving Ichigo alone….

…Alone with Rukia, who he'd completely forgotten was in the room. Crossing her arms, Rukia looked at the substitute with an amused smile on her face. "That went well."

Realizing that Rukia was still in the room, Ichigo whirled around and blushed. "Rukia…I uh… can explain."

Sitting in a chair, Rukia smiled wickedly, wanting to exactly why her best friend just asked out Captain Soi-Fon. "Please, explain then…."

Meanwhile….
Urahara Shop

Soi-Fon entered the shop and took a deep breath, her heart finally calming down after Ichigo asked her out. "Another date…and…and…and I'm actually looking forward to it…" she muttered, her cheeks still pink. After mulling over Yoruichi's words, she realized that she did indeed have feelings for Ichigo. Like she told the boy the previous night she felt special around him. Something about the boy drew him to her and she wanted to keep that flame inside her burning.

Opening the door to the main living room, Soi-Fon called out. "Lady Yoruichi, are you here?"

She indeed was. Yoruichi was sitting at the table…along with the entire SWA. Rangiku, swigging a small cup of sake, smiled cheekily at the captain in the doorway. "Captain Soi-Fon! How nice of you to join us. So how was your evening with Ichigo? Did you two have any more fun?" the lieutenant asked, interested on the juicy details. "The headstrong Ichigo and mighty Captain Soi-Fon locked in a blissful kiss! I can see it now in our editorial!" she said giggling.

Suddenly Soi-Fon was interested how the woman would look with a slit throat….

Nanao pushed up her glasses. "Rangiku! Show some respect!" she said, admonishing her fellow lieutenant. "What Captain Soi-Fon does in her private life is none of our business!"

"But it was so sweet!" Yachiru said, bouncing on her cushion. "Soi-Soi and Ichi look so happy together!" Soi-Fon blushed at the notion. A lot of things she was but "sweet" was not on that list.

"If I may," Captain Unohana cut in. "If Captain Soi-Fon is serious about pursuing a relationship with Ichigo Kurosaki, we should be supportive of her." The smile from her fellow captain made Soi-Fon's blush all the more apparent.

"Thanks," Soi-Fon reluctantly said. But her fellow captain's words rang in her ears. 'She brings up a good point. Am I really willing to let this go any farther? Or is this just a passing fling?' She immediately shook the notion from her head. She still might not fully understand her feelings for Ichigo but she did know that they were real and that this wasn't just a temporary affair.

As Soi-Fon sat down at the table, her mentor grinned at her. "So, Soi-Fon, any plans for you and Ichigo? If you want I can set up at a place where you two can be as…private as you want," she offered, knowing a few love hotels.

Blushing like a high school cheerleader being asked to the prom, Soi-Fon looked away. It was a new experience for many of the SWA members. Soi-Fon generally didn't show any emotion except for annoyance, indifference and anger. "Well…Ichigo and I are going to go see a movie tomorrow," she said, her eyes not meeting anyone's. She wished she didn't have to say this in front of everyone but when Yoruichi asked her something she was compelled to answer, consequences be damned.

The drunken Rangiku almost seemed to have fox ears as her drunken eyes lit up. "Ooooh! Another date night! How romantic!"

"Rangiku!" Nanao scolded.

Patting her protégé's head, Yoruichi smiled. "That sounds lovely, Soi-Fon. You and Ichigo make a good couple." Hearing her words made Soi-Fon smile, feeling a little better about herself….

Meanwhile….
Ichigo's Room

"I gotta say, Ichigo. You've done a lot of brave things but this one tops the list." Rukia smiled at her friend as she sat on the bed. "But I've a question for you."

Sitting in a chair, Ichigo leaned back and nodded. "What is it?"

"Are you serious in pursuing a relationship with Captain Soi-Fon?" Rukia asked, concerned for her friend. "From what you've said, everything that's happened to you two has been because of outside influences. The hollow, Soi-Fon's poisoning and Yoruichi. And I know better than you that she's not the easiest person to get along with. So are you really serious about being her boyfriend?"

Ichigo's mouth moved before he realized what he was saying. "Yes. I won't deny that I've feelings for her." His eyes widened when he realized what he said but he knew he was too committed to back out now. "I know that things have only happened because of that night but… I want to keep seeing her."

"See her with her clothes on or off?" Rukia asked with a smirk.

"RUKIA!"

The lieutenant merely laughed at her friend's embarrassment….

The next day….
Karakura Movie Theater

Ichigo and Soi-Fon exited the theater, Ichigo's hand holding hers tightly. While Soi-Fon would've been opposed to the gesture, feeling Ichigo squeeze her hand gently felt nice and she let him continue holding her hand as they walked. The two had seen the movie with little incident, though they were unaware that half the SWA was spying on them from the opposite aisle. "Thanks for inviting me, Ichigo. I actually never really enjoyed movies until now."

"Really? What about that film festival the Soul Society had?"

"Yeah, but we were all too busy trying not to blow each other up with the special effects," she replied. Reaching the Kurosaki Clinic, Soi-Fon turned to face Ichigo. "Ichigo, there's been something I've been thinking about since last night…"

Ichigo stopped and looked at the small woman. "What is it?"

"How far are we going to go with this?" she asked curious. "Do you really want to be my lover?"

Ichigo stared at Soi-Fon before turning to the side, letting the idea bounce around in his head. "I…" he turned back to Soi-Fon. Remembering the past several days with Soi-Fon, Ichigo made his decision. "I do. I like you, Soi-Fon, so I want to see where we go from here."

Leaning forward, Soi-Fon kissed Ichigo lightly. In response, Ichigo wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back, this time much more deeply. When they pulled away, Soi-Fon gave the boy a smile. "Alright then. I'll return to the Soul Society in the morning and inform my family's elders that you're courting me." Ichigo opened the door and the captain followed him inside….

The Next Day….
Soul Society

Soi-Fon knew immediately that something was up. Everyone was smiling at her, especially her own subordinates. Just when Soi-Fon was about to bark at Captain Ukitake and Kyoraku for grinning at her when she walked by she saw something in Ukitake's hand and snatched it from him.

In her shaking hands she saw that it was the latest edition of the SWA magazine. And on the front cover was a picture of Ichigo and Soi-Fon kissing, a photo taken secretly by Rangiku the night before. Shoving the magazine into Ukitake's chest, Soi-Fon stormed off to Squad Ten and kicked Hitsugaya's door open. Rangiku, sitting at her desk doing tedious paperwork, gulped when she saw the venomous look in her eyes.

"Lieutenant. We are going to have words."

To be continued….