A/N: This is the longest chapter I ever wrote (or typed) 25 pages for a single chapter? Ckckck… But I think you guys deserve it. I hope I don't bored you with this loooooong chapter. And oh, I gave a cliffy in the end. Just want to know what your reaction will be… lol…
Thanks for the polls… ^^ I subtly mentioned the result in the end of this chapter. Yes, in the end, not in my A/N…
And oh, sorry for Senna's fans. I don't hold any grudge against her, but her image was fitted in this role (ooopss… that sounded like an insult :p )
And oh, my first thanks goes to my beta: ksko81... thank you...
Appreciation corner:
LIke usual, my biggest thanks for my reviewers:
alero1990 (my first reviewer for this chapter. Thanks for reviewing... ^^);
gnarley- (you can guess where this story will lead? At least, another pairing in this story... lol);
MitsumiYuki (thank you... hope you enjoy reading this chapter);
SinoviVaatell (thanks for the review... hope you'll review this chapter also... ^^);
khfan forlife (you're going to see what Ichigo will do to Rukia because she drank a lot... lol);
0namakiza0 (lol... your review always hillarious... I smile when I saw your review.);
darklover (oh, and thanks for your vote tooo ^^);
(I hope they're still in character in this chapter);
StupidMe (thanks for your review. I use Kurosaki instead of Ichigo to make you all, readers, get used to that name. I plan to put the name "Ichigo" into something special in the end of this story... ^^);
kekisan20 (thanks for your review);
Sam Matthews (I'm glad you found Ichigo is adorable. But don't let him know you call him adorable. lol);
Luminous Snow (I'm glad you asked me about the poll. And thanks for the vote ^^);
ashezo (thanks for the double review... don't feel bad, I understand completely... ^^); and
zxGenesisxz (Thanks for a wonderful review... ^^);
And next thank you for those of you who added this story into your favorite story:
dustoflove; Kari-chan17; MitsumiYuki; and Fire331
And the another thank you for those of you who added this story to your story alert:
Kari-chan17; ; Nicky Eira; flaming-ninjas00; and BleachisAwesome
And a special thank you for Kari-chan17 who added me as her favorite author.
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns Bleach, not me. The right owner of the original plot is Holly Jacobs. I just make a twist and something to her story to match my own version.
Chapter 9
Bemused.
Kurosaki observed his new fiancé and realized that the word "bemused" was the only adjective that suited Rukia's facial expression when he brought up his idea.
Rukia kept her composure while taking a big swig from her wine glass.
Kurosaki was as surprised as she was when he heard himself saying those words, but after the words rolled from his tongue, he knew that he was planning something.
Kurosaki stood up and took her wine bottle with him back to the table and poured some more to their glasses, "There are some advantages for the both of us."
"You must be losing your mind!" argued Rukia while taking a big gulp from her glass.
"Nah, listen. Having a fiancé is good, but having a wife will be better for my career. Not only for my career. Yours as well. If you marry me, you'd gain access to the people from the upper class and you know yourselves that they usually need an interior designer like you, so there'll be financial benefit for you too."
"Did you forget that I'm a Kuchiki?"
"No, I didn't. But I also remember that the last thing you want is to get clients because of your surname. This way, you will be known as my wife."
"And I'm sure there is a special nick name for a girl who married to get some financial benefit like you just said."
"Smart. That's what people called that kind of woman. Besides, for centuries, marriage has been performed not out of love, but mainly for gaining social status and financial support"
Rukia shook her head. "Not anymore. People have learned that if they want their marriage to be last, there should be based on love. And after that… well, if you love your spouse, the rest will be okay."
"In some places, marriage was carried out for social and economy reasons," explained Kurosaki. He didn't tell that he absolutely didn't want to be attached to a woman he didn't love, like Rukia didn't want to be bound to a marriage without love.
'But it isn't going to be a real wedding,' Kurosaki convinced himself. This wedding was just a temporary wedding, full of drama, but simply business agreement and nothing more.
"The other countries might still do that kind of marriage. But not here. And that definitely won't happen to me. I think I'm ready to go home now."
Rukia was about to stand up when Kurosaki grabbed her hand and pulled her to sit. His fingers brushed against the ring – his ring – circling her finger. An unexpected feeling came to him… well, something flooded through his body. He wasn't sure what that feeling was, but there was one thing he was sure of, he liked the fact that Rukia was wearing his ring.
Rukia quickly snatched her hand away from his grip, as if Kurosaki had a dangerous contagious disease. Kurosaki let go of her hand, and satisfied when Rukia took her seat again.
"Listen," said Kurosaki. "We both don't have any special relationship to other people, so who will be hurt? No one. We'll just sign a pre-nuptial contract, so both of us could ask divorce without having any difficulty and suffer from any loss. What's mine will be remained mine, before and after the marriage. What's yours will stay with you. We can separate our expenditures. No one will be aggrieved; both of us will gain benefits."
"I…"
"It's perfect. I don't know why I didn't think about this before. A wife will be much better than a fiancé."
"Kurosaki, I'm sticking with a no."
"Why? It won't be a real marriage. Believe it or not, I have a plan that one day I will be married to the girl I love. But right now, I'm not in the kind of circumstance where I have other choices. And the same situation goes for you too. This is not a traditional concept of marriage. This is a business project. A marriage what will help us gaining benefits and we can remain as a friend after this whole ordeal is over."
"A Friend? Is that what you describe our relationship now?" asked Rukia.
"Maybe not yet. But we'd get to know each other, and I thought as the time would pass.."
"And a marriage."
"… and a marriage, we can be a good friend."
"Kurosaki, this engagement is a crazy idea' however I agree because like you said, it won't hurt anyone, and it would help both of us. But this one? What do you offer? My gut tells me that this marriage of ours won't work."
"The only one who might be hurt is us… and because both of us don't fall for each other, we are safe. This is only a fake engagement. Like I said before, we will make a pre-nuptial contract and make it legal and fun. And after this marriage reaches its goal, we can separate as a friend, and here comes the best part, your business would grow, and I'd be a partner in firm, like what I deserve."
"But… " Rukia's voice was fading. She emptied her glass. "Kurosaki, this whole things sound sensible when you say it like that, but I'm sure there are some things in which you overlooked. Few… complications will come and bug us."
"Rukia, I will protect you, but only if you protect me in return," Kurosaki meant to make the words sounded easy, and it just reminded him that protecting Rukia wouldn't be too difficult. He had been watching her for long… longer than this fake engagement.
"Kurosaki," said Rukia, she sounded upset.
"That is not a strong argument."
"You are the lawyer, to win an argument is your specialty, not mine."
"So stop arguing. Just say yes. Say you'll marry me."
"And I'd be making you the happiest man on earth?" asked Rukia sarcastically.
"That will make me happy, Rukia. I think we can get along with each other. I wouldn't suggest this marriage if I don't think like that."
"And if I say yes, how will we go through it all?"
"We can start with making a definite pre-nuptial contract. What belongs to you will stay yours, and mine will remain mine. We'll make a separate household account, and…"
Kurosaki stopped talking when Rukia yawned. "Listen, don't say "yes" or "no" tonight. Just think about it first for tonight."
Rukia nodded. "I think sleeping is a good idea for both of us. Tomorrow you'll get your common sense back."
"I never lose common sense, but perhaps you can find yours in one night. Come on, I'll drive you home."
"To the shop," corrected Rukia.
"House. It's already late at night, you are too tired, plus you drank two glasses of wine in here and I don't know how much you drank on the party."
Kurosaki was silent, watching Rukia closely. Yes. There was something she hid. "Why you don't want me to see your house?"
"Kurosaki, please don't start that again," Rukia sighed and looked through the window. The woman looked amazed with the night view.
Kurosaki could understand it. Even at night, the light shone the bay and the stars were clearly seen in the sky, twinkling cheerfully.
This view was the very reason why he bought this condo. But Rukia was trying to hide something by focusing her sight on the night view. Kurosaki reached out and lifted Rukia's chin, making her look at him directly. "Rukia, what's wrong?"
Violet stared deeply into amber. "If you drive me to my shop, I wouldn't go anywhere. That shop is my house."
"What?"
"I have a sofa-bed in my office. I told you that I'm having financial difficulty. I'm waiting, saving my money to buy my own house. And if Grimmjow paid, I would've been able to have a house by now, but he didn't, so I'm still waiting."
Even though Kurosaki hadn't been given the opportunity to explore the whole shop yet, he was sure that her shop was one of the smallest buildings in the square. Rukia lived there? "You can't live in your office."
"I can't? Does this fake engagement give you any rights to tell me what should I do?" Rukia started to get angry.
"Yes. You can't stay in your office." He stopped for a moment, trying to decide on how to handle this situation.
Since Rukia entered his office, the unexpected events kept happening, and he was slowly getting used to it.
"You will sleep here," said Kurosaki before he even realized it, he had already made his decision.
"Oh, no way," Rukia shook her head so hard that her hair was falling from the messy bun and the long strand of hair back to its usual place, between her two eyes.
Even if Kurosaki really wanted to put the rebel strand of hair back to her messy bun, he was wise enough to know that Rukia wouldn't like it, so he kept her hands on the table. "I have a guest room."
"Good for you," Rukia started to stand up. "I'm going home. By the way, it isn't that far. I can walk there."
Kurosaki abruptly stood before her. Blocking her way. Kurosaki stated: "Rukia this is not a debate."
"Oh, it isn't? Even if I agree with your stupid idea and marry you, I won't ever allow you to command me like this. And if you can get my money from Grimmjow, I will stay in my own apartment."
Kurosaki changed his strategy, forcing himself to sound comforting and soft. "Just for tonight, stay here."
"No, I…"
"Please?" pleaded Kurosaki, surprising himself, and it seem Rukia was too. That girl just stared at him.
What was she thinking when she stared at him intensely like that? What did she see?
Kurosaki knew what he saw. A beautiful, independent, strong-will woman.
"In the guest room, right?" Rukia finally spoke softly.
"Yes."
"Just for tonight?"
'Tonight," Kurosaki convinced her, silently eliminating the word just.
He didn't like to think how Rukia could manage to sleep in her office, and if they were married, even if it was just a fake one, it would only be logical if she lived with him. He had many rooms, and her presence there will make them looked like a real couple.
"Alright," Rukia agreed in the end.
Rukia suddenly stopped in mid-track when she was stretching her body. Something felt wrong.
Suddenly she opened her eyes widely and looked at her surroundings. She wasn't in her sofa-bed. She wasn't in her office. She was in…
Slowly her consciousness hit her. She was in a guest room inside Kurosaki's house, wearing his baggy T-shirt. This T-shirt was soft and looked like it had been washed too often. And the scent… it smelt like Kurosaki. Warm and unique. A lot different than the image he was trying to create.
Ice man… it was his nick name. But Kurosaki wasn't a cold hearted guy at all. Last night, when Rukia confessed that she lived in her office… well, even though Kurosaki was forceful and rude when he asked, or more like commanded, Rukia to stay at his house, he seriously looked like he cared about her.
His concern was so touché. And when he stopped being rude and started pleading, Rukia couldn't say "No". Or maybe she did drink too much wine?
Well, like it or not. Rukia didn't plan to stay here anymore. Last night she was too tired to fight back. And she didn't have many things to fight for.
Imagine this, Kurosaki wanted to change their fake engagement into fake marriage.
Rukia might be desperate, but not that desperate.
Rukia played with her ring – Kurosaki's mother ring – which he slipped into her finger. She had to return it today and told him clearly that she wasn't going to take part in this fake marriage. She had her own dignity.
Of course, Kurosaki would get the benefit from her favor, he'd become a partner in his firm. Kurosaki didn't look like a man who can easily ask others for help, never. But he asked for her help. He needed Rukia.
In fact, Kurosaki showed a plan in which Rukia will also gain benefits, but the truth was, that man was needed her more and asked for her help.
Rukia groaned. How could she say no? That man deserved to be a partner, and it was not fair if the reward should be based on something like marriage. Moreover, you can't force yourself to fall in love.
But how could she say yes?
How could she marry a man who didn't love her and whom she didn't love.
Rukia couldn't answer those questions. She left the bed, walked straight to the bathroom.
Rukia almost moaned with pleasure. It was a delight, she could take a bath without having to go to sport centre first. Rukia enjoyed her long and private bathing time.
'There's one more thing that can make me feel better, a pair of clean clothes,' thought Rukia when she wore her last night cocktail gown.
Rukia spent some time to brush her damp hair and applied light make up in which she brought with her in her purse. Feeling a little bit better, she walked towards the living room and looking for a-man-who-will-be-her-ex-fiancé-soon.
Kurosaki was lying on the sofa. Rukia watched him for a moment. That man looked more approachable this morning. Maybe because he just wore a simple t-shirt and shady jeans. He put his legs on the coffee table while writing something in the notebook on his lap. His hair was messy. He looked so attractive.
Rukia realized that she could simply just stand there and watch him for God knows how long. But she made herself moved.
"Good morning," Rukia said.
Kurosaki lift his head and answered, "Sorry, I didn't hear you come. Did you have a good night sleep?"
Rukia nodded. "Can you drive me home now?"
Rukia wanted to go home, back to her normal life, a life without Kurosaki. She wanted to forget this fake engagement, and the fake marriage. And more importantly, she wanted to forget how attractive Kurosaki was.
"I think we can go out for breakfast." Kurosaki placed his notebook on the table and approached Rukia.
Rukia took a few steps behind, making a safe distance between them. 'I don't think so. I mean, I think my clothes is not appropriate for Sunday morning Breakfast."
"We can drop by at your shop, so you can change your clothes first."
"Thanks. But I think this is the time I…"
"Do me a favor. I really want to continue our discussion last night."
"Kurosaki. About that.."
Kurosaki held up his hand, as if he could physically stop Rukia's protest. "No. Don't say anything at all before you listen to me."
"I don't think that is necessary." No way will she marry to a man that she didn't love.
"Let's go," Kurosaki snatched his notebook and walked toward the door. "Come on, Rukia."
Feeling like she didn't have a chance winning the fight, Rukia just nodded. She will have breakfast with that man, listened to his words, and then politely rejected him. She will return his ring, and after that she can live her normal life again.
Their trip to Rukia's shop was filled with silence. Kurosaki parked his car outside her shop, and Rukia opened the door and dashed to the door while yelled over her shoulder, "I'll be right back," then she entered her shop.
Kurosaki, being the pig-head that he is, chose to follow her entering the shop.
"You can sit outside and wait for me," Rukia said, pointing at the couch which she used to decorate the outside part of her office.
Kurosaki ignored her offer. He didn't sit on the couch, instead he said, "Show me where you usually sleep," with his bossy attitude.
"Like I said, in my office."
Kurosaki walked passed Rukia and entered the office.
"There?" he asked, shrugged to a sofa.
"It's a sofa-bed. Not too bad, actually." Rukia didn't tell him the joint in the middle of the sofa-bed. No matter how she positioned her body on it, some parts of her body would still feel sore in the morning.
Kurosaki opened the bathroom door. "No shower."
"I practice every morning at sports centre, so I take a bath there. Very economical, and of course it motivates me to train everyday."
Kurosaki shook his head. "You can't live like this."
"Not for long. It depends on how good are you as a lawyer, on how fast can you make Grimmjow pay." Rukia said.
It was a challenge… Rukia had offered him a challenge.
Kurosaki, undoubtedly, accepted the challenge. "I am a good lawyer. Even more than just good. I have assessed your documents, and you have a case indeed. I will win. But all those things need time."
"If that's the case, then all I have to do is just survive." Rukia shrugged her shoulder as if that thing was nothing, even though in her heart she was writhing. She didn't show it to Kurosaki, but her condition was far much worse than she was trying to show.
Last night, in Kurosaki's guest room, Rukia had her first peaceful sleep since she opened Shirayuki Design.
Kurosaki still shook his head. "Hurry up and change your clothes. I have few suggestions."
"Kurosaki," Rukia protested.
"Right now." Kurosaki left her office and closed the door. His attitude was so arrogant, bossy, and I'm-sure-I-know-what-is-the-right-thing-to-do, in fact he knew nothing. It will be even if Rukia let him cold outside for a whole day.
Knowing that Kurosaki was just behind the door made Rukia shivered as she undressed and took her jeans and orange t-shirt from the cabinet. She was about to zip her jeans when suddenly the door swung opened.
"HEI!" Rukia shouted.
"It's just me, Sweety," said a woman with strawberry blonde hair, smiling.
Rangiku Matsumoto owned Haineko Beauty Salon, a couple buildings from her shop, That woman adopted Rukia to be her personal guinea pig. She often sent her friends for a small decoration project, and always there whenever Rukia needed a friend to share with.
Right now, Rukia didn't need either new project or a friend to share with. No, she just needed to "break up" with Kurosaki and return to her ordinary life.
It seemed that Rangiku was oblivious to Rukia's condition, as she casually plopped onto the sofa. "I dropped by to my place to take something I left in salon. I'm going to do Momo's hair today, wavy style, but – just between you and me, I think she looks better without wavy hair. But that isn't important. When I left the salon, I saw Kurosaki was sitting on the chair in front of your table display. And of course, I asked to myself, 'Let's see, what is Kurosaki doing in Rukia's place on Sunday morning? And being myself, you know, I couldn't wait until tomorrow to ask you about that, so I came here to find out."
Rukia sat beside her and said, "He…"
Rangikut cut her speech. "And please be careful with what you're going to say to me, because I love gossip very much, we all know that I am the Gossip Queen and it is my social duty to spread your news to every corner of Karakura square.
Rukia tried to think fast, deciding what version of truth which she would give Rangiku. "Well, the situation is, we are engaged, sort of."
"Sort of? I have an aunt who was sort of engaged. After that, she was sort of pregnant and there's never been a marriage. But the child was then born. Who is my cousin, Senna. I wish I could make her as sort of cousin, because her personality… is something that I find annoying. Let's say… I rather choose to have a conversation with a turnip than with my sort of cousin. So, I need more explanation from this sort of engagement."
"Well, we are engaged, but everything…" Rukia tried to think about another story which she could tell her. "… is not going well, and I'm thinking to end it. That is why Kurosaki is here this morning. We will go to have a breakfast and talk about the possibilities."
"I should probably ask you how managed to meet Kurosaki in this square without being noticed by Lisa, Yachiru, or even Chizuru, those high curiosity women, but I wouldn't do that. What I want to tell you that love shouldn't be ignored just because everything is not going well. That's what commitment is. Be strong in difficult times and waiting until the good times coming."
"But sometimes you need to minimize the loss," said Rukia.
This is one of those moments. Rukia agreed to become his one-night fiancé, and today was already the next day, and she was still Kurosaki's fiancé. She, unconsciously, played with the ring in her finger.
"Minimize the loss? Tch… you sounded like a lawyer. Lawyer*. They are a confused species. That is why God created women… to help them. And I think you're not a wishy-washy girl who surrenders easily once you meet your difficulty. Have I told you a story about my cousin Senna?"
Rukia could feel it, this story was going to be a long, confusing story. It's Rangiku's specialty by the way. Maybe she had to stop this woman now because Kurosaki was waiting for her. But because Rukia didn't want to meet him, she said, "You just told me that Senna is not a nice girl-talk friend."
"Well, I'm right about that. Like I said, a turnip is better than her. But a few years ago she could find an attractive young man named Szayel."
"Szayel?" repeated Rukia.
Rangikut was a bit insulted, "That's a good name. Szayel's grandfather was an army and his name was taken from his grandfather's. The point is, he lost his leg."
"Szayel's grandfather lost his leg during the war?" asked Rukia.
"Nope, Szayel."
"Oh… it's so tragic. It must be hard for him. How was the accident happened?"
Rangiku scooted closer and her voice was an octave lower, as if she was sharing an important national security's secret. "Well, what I heard is, one night he was drunk, and he lost he leg. Just like that. No one knows how could he lost his leg, but anyway, Szayel lost his, and no one ever saw that leg anymore."
"He was a lucky man for not dying because of the bleeding," said Rukia, trying to imagine how it felt to be drunk and lost her leg without knowing it.
"How could losing an artificial leg could cause you bleeding?" Rangiku smacked Rukia's forehead lightly. "Listen carefully girl, he has been wearing an artificial leg since he was 17 years old because he lost his own leg in an accident during a race."
Rukia didn't want to ask what kind of accident. She just wanted to get out from her own office, so she didn't ask.
She didn't ask.
But Rangiku just sat there, clearly waiting for her to ask the question, and ignoring her former plan, Rukia couldn't let Rangiku down. So she asked, "A racing accident?"
Rangiku's face almost glow with joy, "Yap. Szayel used his brother's racing car – Nnoitra. And they both raced. It was the day when Szayel lost his leg, but the race wasn't a fair race at all. Nnoitra had been in touch with racing world, while Szayel got no idea about racing. Szayel was thrown from the car, then Nnoitra's car bumped into him. Since then, he wears an artificial leg. And few years after that, he was drunk and lost his artificial leg."
Rangiku paused for a moment and took a short breath. Rukia was waiting for this moment, ready to jump and trying to get out from this story, but years experience telling the long stories made Rangiku able to take a breath in no time. So, before Rukia could interrupt her, Rangiku continued her story.
"Well, my cousin Senna said that she won't marry a man who gets too drunk that he'd lose his leg, so she ended the engagement. Two years later, Szayel stopped his bad habit. He never touch alcohol anymore, had a new artificial leg and a new fiancé. In the en, the only guy for Senna was marrying another woman and he is still happily married until now."
"Oh," Rukia didn't know what else to say, not knowing the point of the story, and afraid to ask because Rangiku seemed won't be able to give a short answer.
Even though Rukia wanted to avoid a confrontation with Kurosaki, she realized that in the end she had to face it and imagining about their confrontation was far much easier than figuring what the point of Rangiku's story.
"So, do you get what I mean?" asked Rangiku.
"Yes," said Rukia surely, even though the truth was she got no idea.
"What?"
"Ummm…. don't drink too much and lose your leg otherwise you will lose your fiancé?" Rukia tried.
"No… no, silly girl," said Rangiku while ruffling Rukia's hair. "I know you're far smarter than Senna, the talking turnip, but brain has got nothing to do with love. You can't give up easily just because a small hindrance. You have to face it. If Senna chose to face the problem together with Szayel, she won't be a petty single woman, talking like a turnip like now."
"Single is not bad." defended Rukia.
Rukia was happy being single. She can come and go as she liked to, without having to explain it to others (well, Byakuya was an exception). She could stay in her office, sleep in her uncomfortable sofa-bed if she wished to – didn't mean that she wanted to – but the bottom line was, she didn't have to report her daily activity to others (again, Byakuya was an exception).
Kurosaki could break in to her office and nag as he like about how Rukia chose her life, but because Rukia was single, and focused her thought to reach her goal, she didn't have to listen to Kurosaki. She could make Shirayuki Design a success, and she was willing to live a hard life in her first year to be successful. Byakuya and Hisana didn't have to know how hard her life was. Rukia was grateful that they had to go to Europe for their business. But somehow, Rukia felt that Byakuya would manage to find a way to know all of this. It was just the matter of time, Rukia just hope when the time came, she had ended whatever crazy thing about this engagement.
"No, I am the image for the poster titled 'Single Woman is not Bad'," said Rangiku. "I'm happy being single. But regretting something is bad. And ending a relationship without fighting for it first, is the worst."
"But…"
Rangiku stood up. "I have to go. There's a guy waiting for you, taking you for breakfast," she added when she left Rukia's office with her straight to the point style. The older woman closed the door behind her, well… more like slammed it.
Rukia sunk to her seat, trying to figure out what Rangiku had said. If she and Kurosaki were really engaged, if they were really in love, she wouldn't give up. She would be willing to give everything she had for this relationship – for their relationship. But it's not real. This whole thing between them was a fake, a short contract between them. Nothing needed to be fighting for. Or that was Rukia tried to tell herself when she was exited her office to meet Kurosaki.
Kurosaki stared at the woman on the other side of their breakfast table. From those days he spent watching her having lunch in the park, Kurosaki never imagined before that he will have breakfast with her, trying to convince this girl to marry him.
"But, let's stop for a moment and think about the advantages," said Kurosaki, emphasizing his purpose.
"You'll be a partner," Rukia stabbed her pancake.
Kurosaki gulped his coffee. He needed all the energy and the caffeine his body could absorb. Rukia was a tough opponent.
"Yes," said Kurosaki soft. "And that is why I offered this idea. But there'll be other reasons that I think you will agree."
Rukia nodded, "Move to a place which is fit for my carrer." She snorted, "Like I can't get that from my family."
"Oh, I'm sure the last thing you want to do is gaining project after project using your famous "Kuchiki" name." Kurosaki smirked.
Rukia couldn't rebut that statement.
"Besides, there's also a problem with a place to stay."
That girl lived in her office.
The thought about that annoyed Kurosaki since he heard that fact for the first time. Someone like Rukia deserved to get the best, not a sofa-bed to sleep and a bathroom without a shower. She had to go to sport centre every morning.
"I have a place to stay." The stubborn expression crossed her pretty face.
Kurosaki won't tell her that she looked so cute. Like Irish setter trying to act like a pit bull. Kurosaki was sure that this girl won't appreciate his dog analogy.
"I speak about house, not just a building with a roof on top of it. And your house can't be considered as a house."
"Let's make this straight – you're talking about a place to stay. A home is where a family stays, and you don't suggest us to be a family. This is just a business proposal."
Rukia stopped eating her pancakes, she just playing with her food. Kurosaki wondered if Rukia had a proper meal. She was too skinny, not too mention she was too short. Well, about her height, maybe that's only her unfortunate (he wouldn't say it out loud, though). But he wondered if Rukia saved her budget for food to save more money. Well, as soon as he brought her home, Kurosaki will make sure she got proper meals.
"Okay," said Kurosaki, agreed with her. "Maybe not a home, but at least you will live in a real house, with a real bed, and a real bathroom. I know at first I suggested a separate household account, but separating the bills seems unfair."
"I can take care of my own expenses," Rukia growled.
"But I am the one who get more benefits from this contract, so it is fair if I contribute more financially."
Kurosaki couldn't take Rukia's money. He had more money than that girl. She didn't have a house and almost starved herself.
Okay, maybe that's exageratting it, but he won't take Rukia's money.
"I am not burdening anyone," Rukia grunted.
"That's not what I meant. Listen, I have paid all my invoice. If you move in with me, it won't raise my household expenses."
"Food."
Oh, if that's the problem it's up to her, their food expenditure would increase sharply. The more he thought about that, the more he felt Rukia looked skinnier. Kurosaki had to find a way to make her check her own health. Maybe she made herself sick.
"Alright," Kurosaki agreed easily. "You will pay a half of our food expenses."
Besides, Kurosaki will try hard to make her eat more. He was good in cooking, courtessy of Yuzu, his little sister. Even though it's been quite a long time since he last cooked. He didn't feel necessary to cook for his own self. But he'd gladly cook for Rukia.
Kurosaki realized Rukia was still talking about money while he was thinking about how to feed her.
"I will pay the whole expenses for food," she said.
"Alright," Kurosaki took his notebook. "I will add that in our contract. You will stay in my house, I will continue pay house expenses, and you will take care of food expenses. We can go shopping on Sunday morning. That way, I can prepare the food ingredients for a whole week."
Kurosaki made a note for himself. "Maybe I should tell you first, I will be the one who cook."
"You? Cook?" asked Rukia, sounding surprised.
"Wait until you try my cooking. The doubt in your voice will be gone."
"I can't imagine that. An ice man in the kitchen." Rukia shook her head, trying to sound serious, but Kurosaki could see a flash of laughter in those amazing violet orbs.
"There are a lot of things about me which you don't know yet." Said Kurosaki, and he reminded himself that there're a lot of things about Rukia which he didn't know yet.
Kurosaki realized he was excited to find out about the things about Rukia. Why?
'This is just business,' he reminded himself. The only reason he was worried about her eating habit was because he didn't want a wife who can't take care of her own health.
"Hey, wait a second," Rukia sounded doubtful. "I just need an explanation about what we will do. We just discuss the possibilities, I haven't agreed on anything yet."
Realizing that he may be too pushy, Kurosaki changed his strategy. "So, what did Matsumoto-san want?"
Rukia looked a bit surprised by the sudden change of topic and answered carefully. "She wanted to know what were you doing in my shop on a Sunday morning."
"Stop playing with your pancakes and start eating it. You are too skinny," he said. He can't stand seeing this girl kept rolling the pancakes on its sauce.
Satisfied because Rukia finally ate the slice, and hoping to keep that girl felt more uncomfortable on that topic, Kurosaki continued, "Then, what did you say to her?"
Finished chewing it, Rukia said, "What we have agreed before, we are engaged but everything is not going well."
Rukia smiled... a first genuine smile Kurosaki saw today. Kurosaki wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he liked Rukia's smile.
Who was he kidding? Kurosaki liked Rukia when she was smiling, when she was frowned, and most of all he liked her when she was asking for his help to avoid his colleagues as they started to plan Rukia and his wedding.
Kurosaki loved to watch her.
Her midnight color hair. Her amethyst orbs which dared to look into his amber eyes without even blinking. This girl was stayed still, challenging him. Not many people could do that. Almost everyone was intimidated by him, and that was what Kurosaki wanted.
But he was relieved that Rukia wasn't like that. Why so, Kurosaki wasn't sure. He concentrated on what Rukia said.
"... then she said that her cousin, Senna, should have stayed with Szayel who lost his leg. Oh... I screwed up the story. I think no one could re-tell Rangiku's stroy and get the implicit moral content like Rangiku did. But the point is, you have to be strong during the hard times, if you really love someone. Of course I didn't tell her that we don't love each other."
"You're right. This is not a based on love wedding. This is business," Kurosaki said, more than for himself rather than for Rukia.
"But I didn't tell that."
"So, back to our core problem, about marrying me."
"Kurosaki, are you always this tough?" asked Rukia.
Kurosaki noticed that Rukia had eaten all her pancakes, so he pushed his untouched hash brown dish towards her. "Try this. I'm full and I don't think I can eat this now, but it's such a waste if no one eats it. It tastes delicious."
"You're avoiding my question again. Are you always this tough?" repeated Rukia, nevertheless she obeyed Kurosaki and started eating the hash brown he offered. "Oh, it's really delicious."
"Yes," answered Kurosaki, and smiled when Rukia continued eating his food. "Because by being tough I can be a good lawyer and that's why deserve to get promotion. A promotion which won't be happen if you end this engagement."
"But you said that you only need a one night fiance," Rukia reminded him.
Kurosaki sipped his coffee, trying to use that little moment to find a perfect answer.
"I though that was enough, but after seeing Juushiro-san and everyone thinking that we are going to get married, well, I think ending this engagement means losing hope to be a partner."
"You're acting unfair if you burden me with your promotion thing," Rukia said gently.
"It is unfair if being a partner should based on my personal affairs rather than my ability. It's not fair if Grimmjow doesn't pay you. It's unfair if a talented decorator lives in her office."
"How could you say that I'm a talented decorator?" asked Rukia suddenly.
"I saw what you did to your office and..."
"And?"
"And I visited Grimmjow's office last week after our meeting. I saw what you did to that office. You are very talented. I'm sure you will be success, as soon as the others notice that."
Kurosaki didn't add that he met Grimmjow and had to take all his self control not to punch that guy right on his face. He immediately hated that man for what he did to Rukia. And seeing how awesome the decoration was – a whole floor, plus the receptionist room – he was more and more hate that man.
Rukia was silent, so Kurosaki continued, "You will be succeed if you can maintain your business until that time. That is what I'm offering you, a chance to maintain your business until you can have permanent clients."
"Kurosaki, this won't work." Rukia shook her head. "Someone will get hurt."
"No. We will plan everything before the wedding. We wouldn't give in to fate. As long as we make a written contract no one between us will get hurt." Kurosaki touched his notebook. "That is what I'm doing."
"But..."
"Look, I have written it." He passed the notebook to Rukia.
"Oh, please just read them for me. Oh, and don't use that formal lawyer language. I don't understand any of that. Talk normally, will you?"
Kurosaki chuckled. Maybe he needed to hang out more with non-lawyers friends so that he can remember how common people talk or write.
"The point is, what belonged to me will be mine, and what's yours will be yours, at this moment or even after this marriage end. And while I was waiting in you office I got more ideas. We will stay in my house, not yours."
Kurosaki realized that what he just said sounded cold and harsh, so he gave Rukia a slight smile to soften the meaning.
"Kurosaki, is that a joke?" asked Rukia, she put her hands on her left chest. "Oh, calm down my heart. This ice man is joking?"
Kurosaki consciously smiled, returning Rukia's smile. "Don't insult me before dinner. I could be dangerous."
Rukia looked at her 'fiancé' intently for few seconds, then she went to silent mode. "I'm starting to have this suspicion that you just want others to believe that. I don't know whether I should believe in that or not."
Kurosaki felt… naked.
Yes, naked. It was the proper word. As if Rukia knew something about him, which he didn't even know. And he didn't like that. He wasn't used to that. He wouldn't get used to that either.
"You have to believe," said Kurosaki, giving her a dagger glare – a glare which can make other lawyers and witnesses creeped out.
Rukia smiled, not believing in a single word he had just said. Confused, Kurosaki cleared his throat and checked his notes."Back to the business. We have agreed on some things. Like, I'll pay the house expenses."
"Other expenses besides that will be my responsibility." said Rukia.
"Even though I don't see why it should be written on our pre-nuptial contract," he added.
"You said it yourself, we need to put everything's there. If we written it all down, no one will get hurt when this whole marriage is over," explained Rukia.
"Alright," Kurosaki wrote on his notebook. "I will make another note, if we want to end this marriage – both of us or just one of us – this marriage will end in a good way. No financial support for spouse, and neither for children, because we won't have…" Kurosaki paused.
Sex. They won't have sex. That's what he was trying to say, but when he looked at that girl, Kurosaki realized that he could never have sex with Rukia, never. He would make love to her. That's what a girl like Rukia deserved. But it didn't mean that they will do that.
"Children," Rukia completed Kurosaki's sentence.
"What?" Kurosaki's thought still clouded with his wild imagination about making love with Rukia.
"There'll be no child," repeated Rukia. "Because this marriage was, well, a physical marriage, so there's no need for financial support for our child."
"Right," Kurosaki, suddenly, felt very hot. He took a big gulp of his coffee to cool himself. Where was they waiter? "Can you think of anything else which should be written in this contract?"
"We should write that we won't tell the truth about this marriage to others."
"That's good," Kurosaki wrote it down. "I can make the draft by Monday."
Rukia spoke softly, "I haven't agreed yet. These all are just hypothesis."
Kurosaki put down his pen. "Just say yes. Don't think about it, don't analyze anything, just say yes."
"But talking about pre-nuptial contract is easy. Going through a fake marriage… I'm not sure I can do that, Kurosaki. Even though I want to help you, maybe I can't."
"Rukia, this marriage may be not a conventional marriage, but I think we both have something to be offered. And honestly, I need you."
Rukia paused for a couple minutes, and Kurosaki was sure that girl was going to say 'No'. He felt a wave of… what was this feeling? Disappointment?
Perhaps.
But it's not because he wanted to marry Rukia for a personal reason. No. His needs for Rukia was business. Purely business.
He wanted to improve his career, being a partner, and then he'd settled himself by finding a wife to make a happy family, when he was ready for that.
But, if he was looking for a woman…
He glanced at the girl sat in front of him.
Yes, if he's looking for a woman at this moment, he won't looking anywhere else.
"Yes," said Rukia.
"Sorry?"
"Yes, I will marry you."
"Rukia… I…"
"But…" Rukia silenced him, "You should ask my hand on marriage from my brother."
Kurosaki's smirked widen. How hard it was to ask for her hand in marriage from her brother? Kurosaki bet he would easily get her brother's permission.
A/N: Oh ho… how wrong he was… Hm… will next chapter be a debut for Byakuya in this story? Lol… be patient my loyal readers, for I got a lot of things need to be taken care of (I'm organizing a painting exhibition this week, so I'm kinda busy). But don't worry… I'll update as soon as I'm able to. And oh, your review… will definitely help me updating sooner… ^^