A/N: Hooray for me.... and thanks for the kindness of my reader, especially my reviewers. Love you all... so without futher ado, I present Chapter 5...

Appreciation corner:

As usual... Special thanks for those who reviewed my story:

gnarley- (who reviewed not long after the last chapter was posted);

Liz (I can't reply your review in person. So... I'd like to say thanks for your review and your encouragement about my spelling and grammar. I'm glad you can understand what I want to say in this story... ^^)

Nica (See, I updated this story... ^^)

khfan forlife (let's watch what will happen with Rukia's head. Lol...)

headyzest (I think the concept compliment should be directed to the plot's owner: Holly Jacobs. lol... But I'm glad you enjoying this story)

darklover (let's see what Ichigo can come up with)

...... solstice442 ...... (I actually was waiting for your review before posting this new chapter... -_- )

And my gratitude for those who added this story to story alert:

ShatteredViolet; Bloomer123; dustoflove; and alero1990

And also a big thank you for you who added this story to favourite story: Wicked0813

Special thank you for Thornspike who added me to his/her author alert. :)

Disclaimer: I never ever gonna own Bleach... but I have fun writing fan fiction about it. Oh, and the plot... it's all thanks to Holly Jacobs.

Chapter 5

Previously

Before Kurosaki can debate her again, Rukia exited the room and closed the door behind her. She leaned her back on the door and released her breath (she unconsciously held her breath).

She did it. She had...

The door was pulled open and Rukia, who was leaned on it, fell backward because she lost her balance...

Kurosaki caught Rukia's body. For a moment, it felt more like hugging than catching. This man might be known as an Ice Man, but his arms were so invitingly warm.

'Invitingly warm? What was I thinking?' Rukia's mentally said.

"Thank you." Said Rukia, she then created a distance between them. "Do you need something else?"

"Your ring size," said Kurosaki.

Rukia unconsciously touched her ring finger. "Ring size?"

"You need an engagement ring. I mean, if you worry about what others' reaction will be, you should impress them by showing them an elegance ring. I just need to convince the seller to let me return it back later."

"Well, as long as you can return it back later, it might be a good idea. I think seven will be okay."

"Seven," repeated Kurosaki. "Alright. I will meet you at six." Kurosaki entered his office again and closed the door. Spontaneously, Rukia descended the stairs.

'I did it,' she thought when she arrived at the corridor. She was so confused that she just gave a weak waving hand when Tatsuki called her name. She exited the building and walked back to her shop.

'I did it.' Rukia put her hand on her face and groaned.

'I did it.'

The problem was, she didn't sure with her own decision.

Kurosaki felt like he was a school boy when he patted his pocket for God knew the nth times, to convince himself that the ring still in there. It was still there.

He was mad at himself. There's no reason he had to be nervous. It wasn't a real proposal. He almost didn't know Rukia Kuchiki. But that girl was just fitted the role. Rukia needed Kurosaki, and Kurosaki needed her.

There were times when marriage was held based on worse reasons that his own – their own. It didn't mean that their engagement will end in front of the altar.

Rukia was not his real fiancé, it was only for one night.

Well, the party will be held next week, so it was actually more than one night. But as soon as the party was over, this whole engagement thing will be over too. 'And that is why I don't need to be nervous,' Kurosaki said to himself.

Kurosaki realized that there is a difference between saying something and feeling it, because no matter what he kept saying to himself, he was still nervous.

"Are you okay, Kurosaki-san?" asked Tatsuki.

"I'm fine," said Kurosaki. He asked himself whether it was true. He will be engaged with a woman he barely knew.

"I'm sorry, but you don't look fine, if you don't mind I'm saying that," said Tatsuki again.

"And If I do mind?" asked Kurosaki rudely.

He wished he could take back what he said before, seeing a flash of anger then an upset expression crossed Tatsuki's face. Tatsuki only worried about him. He didn't have rights to wreak his anxiety to that girl.

"I'm sorry," said Kurosaki. "You are right though, I don't feel quite fine. I got headache."

"Oh, if you say so, don't go before you got something for your headache." Tatsuki started roaming her desk.

'Rukia was right,' thought Kurosaki. This reception desk was not suitable for this room. They needed something older, something that can be fitted in the elegance atmosphere this 150 years building emitted.

Maybe he could persuade Juushiro-san to hire Rukia to redecorate this building?

No. What was he thinking? After this whole engagement thing was over, and he lost his fiancé, he didn't want Rukia to be near him too often. It wasn't wise to let that girl worked here.

"Here," said Tatsuki while offering him two white pills. "I'll bring a glass of water for you."

That girl had already run before he said that he didn't need that, and she came back in a few moments with a paper glass on her hand.

"Thanks, Tatsuki."

The girl smiled. "No problem, Kurosaki-san."

Kurosaki drank both the pills and emptied his cup. He threw the paper glass to the bin and asked, "Tatsuki, how long have you been working here?"

"Two and a half year, sir." The girl looked nervous.

Ice Man. That's what people called him behind his back. Did he scare Tatsuki? He never thought about that before, but now after he thought about that, he felt stressed out.

To calm the girl down, Kurosaki said, "After those years I called you Tatsuki and you called me Kurosaki-san. Isn't that supposed to change now?"

"Change, Sir?" asked Tatsuki, her voice, despite her nervous feature, was still steady.

"Kurosaki, Tatsuki. Dropped the suffix, at least when there wasn't any client around here."

She gave him a genuine smile. "Thanks, Sir."

"Thanks for your help and the aspirin." said Kurosaki.

"You're welcome… Kurosaki."

Realizing that he was wasting his time and couldn't prolong his conversation with Tatsuki, Kurosaki exited the office and walked for a couple steps to Rukia's shop next door. He opened the door, and the bell on the door chinked cheerfully.

Kurosaki went in and realized he never visited Rukia's shop after that rainy day. There were many boxes back then.

Now? He stood at the door frame and looked around the room, as if by doing so he could get a single glance about the owner's personality, whom he will propose soon. This room was in blue. All the different shades of blue, with a little splash of red and yellow. Several soft couches, small table, and a table lamp substituted the light from the hanging lamp. Kurosaki was not a design interior expert, but he liked the effect from this room. This room was so invitingly warm. Just like Rukia.

Where did that thought come from? Invitingly warm? No, Rukia was desperate. It was the only reason why that girl agreed with this fake engagement.

Well, he will keep his promise as long as Rukia did the same. He will help her get her money from her ungrateful ex-client, and maybe help her get some projects.

"Kurosaki," greeted Rukia.

Kurosaki didn't hear that girl entered the room and was surprised to hear her voice. He couldn't ignore Rukia's attractive appearance. She wore a red dress from a light and soft material. The gown rippled when she walked. Kurosaki loved how that gown hugged her tiny figure. If she were another woman, Kurosaki would hug her in an instant. However, this was Rukia. His 'business' partner, Kurosaki reminded himself.

Out of sudden he felt awkward and he didn't like that, so he got rid that feeling and said, "Are you ready?"

Rukia nodded.

"I parked my car across the park."

They walked in silence, side by side, crossed the street and passed through the trees inside the park which became the centre of Karakura Square. A fat squirrel sat in the middle of the pedestrian walk, undisturbed when they walked toward the police station.

"I love this park," stated Rukia. "I like to sit at the gazebo and have lunch there."

"I know." Kurosaki felt like kicking himself as soon as the words left his lips.

"You know?"

"Well, my office facing right through the park, and sometimes I see you have your lunch here. You often feed the squirrels with your leftovers."

"You watch me?" asked Rukia.

"Not watch, just be aware of your presence from times to times."

Ever since the rainy day, Kurosaki seemed couldn't not see Rukia. He just nodded when they passed. But he could see the girl came to and went from the park, just because he had a special spot in one of his window's office.

"Oh," she responded.

That girl looked uncomfortable. But Kurosaki was much less comfortable. "It does not mean that I spy on you or something like that. It's because my office is in the second floor and facing the park…"

"It's okay, Kurosaki. I trust you. Besides why someone like you spy on someone like me?"

"What do you mean by 'someone like me?"

Rukia shrugged. "I mean… I sometimes see you left your office with women.."

Kurosaki wondered whether that girl also noticed his presence. She saw Kurosaki left his office with women? Yes. That thought was lifted his mood, a little. Kurosaki realized the girl was still talking and put his attention on her words.

"… and I know, I'm not your type. Short black hair, tiny composure. I always feel others treat me as a younger sister, not as other women at my age."

"You are a beautiful woman, Rukia." Kurosaki felt as if it was someone else who said that words. ('Thanks God, that freak old man was not here.' he thought).

He was trying to think of other words to say, but thinking and speaking of Rukia wasn't a part of his plan.

There were more and more random words coming from Kurosaki's mouth, which are out of his own self-control. "You are not my type just because you are a kind of woman who can make a man want to settle down. It doesn't mean I don't want to settle down. I have law practise which needs to be developed, and it takes all the time I have for other things. If I get married, I want to focus on my relationship. Not to the time which I wasted. The women whom I dated before understood that those dates won't go anywhere. You are not a kind of woman like that."

Finished. He might be in difficulty at the beginning, but he can finish it nicely.

"Not for-fun type," Rukia said. "That is why I fit this lie."

"Oh, but it's not a lie, is it? We will be engaged for real. You don't have to lie."

Rukia shuddered at the thought of how Byakuya nii-sama will react if he knew she was engaged to a guy, without noticing him about that first. Between fake engagement and Byakuya's reaction, Rukia couldn't say which one was the worst, so she kept her mind away from any thought about "those".

They finally arrived at Kurosaki's car, and he opened the passenger's door for Rukia. The short journey across Karakura Main Street was filled with a comfortable silence. When they arrived at the last hill, Soukyoku Hill, before the bay, Kurosaki looked at the Rokungai's Harbour. That place was crowded with cars, people, and their activities.

Kurosaki loved the bay. He remembered coming here with his friends in his childhood time. Long time ago, this bay was dirty and wasn't a tourist spot like today. It was an industrial district, with a lot of fishing boats.

Ten years ago, more or less, the bay had started to change from industrial district to be a tourist spot. New restaurants, new port which called Senkaimon port. Permanent housing and museum was built around Gotei 13, a rebuild-ship from the famous Winter War time. And there was also a new library.

Kurosaki loved to be here.

He realized Rukia sat in silence by his side. "I thought we can have dinner on the yacht," said Kurosaki, tried to break the silence. "I called, and they have reserved a table for us. Is giving you an engagement ring on the deck while sunset romantic enough for you?"

"Yes." answered Rukia shortly.

"Good." Kurosaki parked his car in an empty parking space and looked at Rukia. That girl looked like trying hard to hide her nervousness, like Tatsuki before.

Ice Man.

Did he intimidate her? He didn't know why but the fact that Rukia was nervous while around him, made Kurosaki anxious.

"Let's go." said Kurosaki, trying hard to sound comforting, "They are ready to sail."

A/N: Yea… finished… Next chapter: The proposal… If I get good respond, I will immediately post the new chapter. So, be kind and review please… Btw, do you think I should write a longer chapter? If so, I'll try to post a longer one started from the next chapter... Thanks for your kindness in reading and reviewing my story... ^^