Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or it's associated terminologies, they belong to Kubo Tite.
How To Tie A Cherry Stem
By: RyuuzaUchi
Part-Two
"Ichigo! Let's get this! This looks good!"
Rukia ran down an aisle, picking up a suspicious bag of 'the-unhealthy-food-that-Nii-sama-say-will-stunt-your-growth' and put it in the shopping cart pushed by the orange haired young man behind her.
"I thought you don't eat junk food." Ichigo grumbled with disapproval, squinting his eyes at the bag as it blended in with a couple containers of dried baby fish with almond, a few packs of dried squid, some bags of dark chocolate, a few packets of strawberry-milk chewy candy, and a sort of other 'unhealthy foods' that's beginning to make a small mountain in the cart.
"Who do you think I'm getting these for? You should never restrict your diet because of me, Ichigo. After all, you're a growing boy." Rukia chided nonchalantly as she counted out the things in the cart.
"Is that right?" Ichigo said, quirking an eye brow at her. "I never thought you'd cared so much about my health, what with my lack of sleep due to Hollow duties, while you snooze away in your comfy bed." he added acerbically. "Oh, did I mention the constantly disappearing snacks that I stocked in the cabinet for late night studying sessions in case I get hungry?"
"A young lady's skin needs a good night of sleep, and a full dose of nutrients." sniffed Rukia.
"Young?" Ichigo scoffed, "Besides, you'll grow fat if you eat and sleep so much."
Thwack! A container of Dried Fish and Almond lightly kissed him on his forehead.
"Anger and violence will deteriorate your cells and make you have wrinkles!" Ichigo hissed at Rukia with irritation, rubbing at his injury in an attempt to ease the slight pain.
Rukia gave him a glare as she threateningly raised another plastic container. A smug curve raised the corner of her lips upon seeing Ichigo wince.
"We have to hurry up and buy the things before the rain starts again!" Ichigo said quickly as he push the cart hastily down the aisle and made a run for the grocery department.
"I'll be at the books!" Rukia called behind him, a small giggle left her lips at Ichigo's frantic 'escape'.
Ichigo checked the grocery list in his hand one more time, making sure he has gotten everything. He glanced around the fruits aisle and landed his gaze upon a stack of boxed fresh cherries for sale. Round and shiny, black purple-ish juicy fruit, it seemed to scream "I'm tasty! Eat me!"
It has been a while since he's had cherry fruits, thus, Ichigo put one in his cart after careful inspections. He wheeled his cart to the book section, and scrutinized the area for a certain raven haired, midget Shinigami in pink PJ. Among the horde of free browsing patrons, it was more or less hard to find her standing by the rows of manga and magazines due to her small stature.
"Rukia!" Ichigo called.
"Be right there." she answered back without looking at him.
"Oi, ready to go?" Ichigo asked in impatience after waiting for five minutes. He move to stand behind Rukia and glared at the man near her. The freaking bastard was raking his gaze up then down the raven haired girl behind his upside down book when he thinks no one's looking. The bastard took another peek, Ichigo fumed but can't do anything as he's in public.
"Mm, almost," Rukia replied as she replaced one book and picked up another. No intention of moving anything soon.
Ichigo continue to throw death daggers at Rukia's unsuspecting admirer, and lightly glanced at the strange looks the others are also giving her, he scowled out: "It's going to rain, hurry up."
"Get that book for me Ichigo! The one on the top! With the red cover and Chappy on it!" Rukia requested, tilting her head back at him and pointed to a magazine out of her reach as she shifted the stack of books in her arm.
Ichigo grumbled as he reached up to grab the book Rukia beseeches, highly aware of, though puzzled, by the growing number of stares and murmurs around them, and quickly handed it to her.
"Oh, cute Chappy! Though it looks a bit strange..." Rukia trailed off as she admires the magazine cover.
"Come on! Let's go!" Ichigo squeeze through clenched teeth as he took hold of Rukia's shoulder and hastily steered her to their cart despite the raven haired girl's protest. Really, the stares were creeping him out, almost like the gawks of one at a freak show.
As Ichigo stood in line at the check out lane, he finally took notice of the number of books Rukia had in her arms. With a sigh he pressed a hand to his forehead and said weakly: "I didn't bring enough money to pay for everything, go put some of the books back."
Rukia cast a glance at her books then back at Ichigo and smiled, she said: "Don't worry. I can pay for these myself."
"How? Don't tell me you "borrowed" my allowance again?" growled Ichigo, narrowing his eyes at her for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day.
"Of course not, you miser," Rukia scoffed, "Nii-sama gave me a card before I came to the human world this time. He deposits a small amount in it every two weeks." and as an afterthought, she added: "For my personal use is what he said."
"Your money have no use in this world." Ichigo whispered in desperation.
Rukia gave him a look of someone explaining one plus one equals two with a roll of her blue-violet eyes before replying, "Urahara has the fix to that. He converts the Soul Society currency to the human world's. How'd you think the shinigami who are in needs of a gigai go about without this world's money?"
By now Ichigo was fuming."Then do tell me, why was it that you used MY money for the competition at the beach when you obviously had the ability to pay for it?" he hissed in resentment.
"Still on about that I see." Rukia responded dryly.
"Of course! I saved up that money for MY personal use!" Ichigo hissed again, "I want my money back!"
"And I said I will. Now stop whining and hurry up and pay so we can go! I'm starving!" the raven haired shinigami gave him a slight push as she waved off his outburst.
Caught in the moment of their little dispute, Ichigo hadn't realize that they were now first in line. He could just feel the disapproving grimaces on the parade of shoppers behind him. With a scowl shoot at the raven haired midget beside him, Ichigo loaded the cart's contents onto the belt, and waited for the cashier to ring up the damage to his wallet.
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TBC
Another short(er) chapter, not much happening in here, personally, I think it's quite boring, lol
I'm working on the third one now, hopefully it'll be out soon (looks away).
zombiegirl: thanks for reviewing on every chapter of OiaB, as for if Ichi will ever hear the story of drunk Renji and Rukia, hmm...who knows, maybe he would, one day (looks away again).