How to Tie A Cherry Stem

By: ryuuzauchi

Part-five

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of it's related terminology, they all belong to Kubo Tite.

A/N: First, I'd like to apologize for the long delay. I know I said I'd update sometime last fall, but I've been so busy with school and work and family that I just didn't have the energy to spend on anything else. I actually had this chapter written soon after the last one, but some last minute editing had put it off for such a long time. I'm soooo sorry. Secondly, I'd like to thank you for all your support and patience, I hope you'll continue to be there for the rest of this story. :)

Now on to the chapter.

Where we left off...

"I-I mean, i-if you must find out...then, um..." stuttered Ichigo, his face burned with embarrassment and he wondered if Rukia could feel the heat emitting off of it. "I can- I will show you." he paused and swallowed, then with all seriousness he's capable of at the moment, he said: "Rukia, close your eyes."

"...Why?" Rukia was quite confound by the request, squinting her eyes as if that would make his statement easier to understand. After all, if he's going to show her shouldn't her eyes be open? But she wasn't even half way through deciphering his words before his large hand blinded her view, and she was shrouded in darkness.

Perhaps due to her lack of sight, she could hear his breathing much more clearly, and feel the heat giving off of his body due to their close proximity. Wait! Were they that close moments before?! Rukia thought frantically. It suddenly became hard to breath, her limbs felt weak, and her heart pounded harder inside her chest. She could feel his breaths tickling her face, heck, she could even smell that they were cherry flavored! With a strong hint of curry too! She tightly pressed her eye lids together, despite the fact that she can't see anyway, feeling that doing so would suppress the nervousness from within.

Subconsciously, Rukia raised her trembling hands and wedged them between their bodies, thou the instant shock she felt when her fingers and palms come in contact with the firm muscles—being a substitute shinigami really paid off—of his chest through his shirt almost made her withdrew, and pushed. But Ichigo didn't budge one bit. Rukia pushed again and opened her mouth to protest, only to feel something warm and slippery slid in. All coherent thoughts were lost as she stay frozen, unable to comprehend her current situation; it's not like they've never kissed before, ever since his birthday party at the beach, they've shared a few more pecks on the lips and exchanged a few aqueous secretions, but each time were always timid and gentle, never with the amount of intensity or ferocity such as of this one.

The burning sensation of his open mouth over her own and the velvety of his tongue was all Rukia could feel as it stroke over hers, probing, testing, tugging for her to join the dance. Ichigo's free hand took hold of the back of her neck and he deepened the kiss. He ran his tongue across her teeth, under her own writhing appendage to draw it into his mouth and sucked. A moan bubbled it's way out of her throat and the hands that were pushing him away moments ago now clutch at his shirt, drawing him closer. He released her tongue, letting her roam her way through his mouth then crash into her again with fervent need, thrusting back into her mouth. She reciprocated his actions, earning herself a deep groan from him.

Rukia found her eyes relieved of his yielding blindfold, in lieu, she felt it running up the side of her pajama clad abdomen, his fingers slithered across her body to delve under the thin material of her attire, calloused palm grazing the dip of her lower back to danced up her spine, and she shivered at the sensation of his caress. His lips left hers to travel down her jaw, placing open mouthed kisses as he went, occasionally nipping at the delicate skin then soothe the bite with a gentle lap of his tongue. Rukia whimpered, gasps escaping her lips at his doings. Her hands, desiring the feel of him, snaked up his chest and around his back, his toned muscles contracted in response to her touch. Her fingers weave through his orange mane as his kiss wandered to the collar of her gown, sucking, nipping, savoring the flavor of her skin, she moaned deep in her throat, tugging at his hair, needing for something to hold on to.

Something stirred in the depth of her being, something burning and struggling against her senses that foretold the release of forbidden acts which should not proceed at the rate of what they're doing. In the back of her mind, Rukia can hear faint beeping sounds coming from somewhere far away, steady and persistent. She briefly wondered if that's her consciousness placing a warning bell inside her head until she realize the sound was from her phone. It had slipped from the pocket of her gown to lie at the base of the couch, humming in vibration with each beep.

"Ichi-Ichigo," Rukia spoke in trembling tone as she tried to collect herself, "I-I need to an-answer my phone."

Ichigo kissed his way back to her mouth, his sly tongue prying her lips open for another round of fierce dance, then suckled her bottom lip once more before lifting his head. Panting hard, he opened his eyes—which he must have unconsciously closed earlier—to gaze into hers. The blue-violet orbs that stared back at him were unfocused and heated, reflecting his own erratic emotions. He sat up abruptly, chocolate eyes swept over her features, mumbled something incoherent under his breath then bolted out of the room, leaving the bewildered shinigami with swollen lips and flushed face to herself.

Ichigo emerge from the restroom feeling fresh and clear minded. He heads toward the living room to take a seat on the sofa beside Rukia and gave an awkward cough, an attempt to draw the petite girl's attention from reruns of Don Kannonji.

She paid him no mind.

He tried again, calling her name this time; however, to his slight disappointment, Rukia only spared him a dismissing glance before fixing her eyes back to the screen, even though she appears to not be concentrating on the show at all, as her blue-violet orbs were glazed with a hint of mischief. It annoyed him that she'd neglect his presence.

Tilting his head, Ichigo leant forward on the couch to peer at her face; Rukia does not seem to notice him move as she rests against the arm of her seat at an angle. He took the remote from her loose grasp, switch to a different channel, repeated the same action several times when the expected whack to the back of his head fail to come; finally, he opt to press the power button, set the remote down on the coffee table in front, and scrutinized her with pending annoyance.

He waved his hand in front of her face, snapped his fingers, flicked the wisp of hair that always fall between her eyes, he even got up and did a round of jumping jacks while singing the theme song from Don Kannonji's show; but his one and only audience didn't even bat an eye to his performance.

Ichigo was beginning to feel aggravated; he pointed an accusing finger at her and hissed, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you ignoring me?! Uh...Chappy is a dumb rabbit! Byakuya has a sister-complex!" he paused to wait for a response, or maybe to receive a punch or two for bad mouthing her adoptive brother and the rabbit.

And what a blow to his agitated expectation, and ego—Rukia only gave a sigh of pity for his endeavor.

Ichigo crouch down in front of her to continued his pursuit, he asked, "Rukia, a-are you mad? About..you know. I-I was just- It was- you wanted to know, so I just..." he groaned, waiting for a reply, "Rukia, talk to me! Hit me! Just do something! Why are you- why are you ignoring me?!" he let out a frustrated sigh and ran his fingers through his orange tress, "You're angry that my hand was...uh...wandering? Or..or uh, I cover up your eyes?" Ichigo pursed his lips, "Don't tell me you're still upset that I accidentally saw you in the bathroom earlier? I apologized already! Rukia? Hey! Are you even listening!? Midget! Height chall-"

"What are you doing?"

Ichigo started, he cranked his neck at the source of the rather familiar voice to see the object of his frustration standing behind him, don in water soaked shihakushou, with her hands on her hip and a skeptical look upon her delicate face. He shifts his gaze between the "Rukia" on the sofa, who's now laughing hysterically, and the skeptical faced Rukia behind him. A mixture of confusion and relief broke his concerned mien before realization dawned on him that the one he'd been desperately persuading to was none other than-

"Chappy, you little-" Ichigo grounded out through his teeth after the initial shock wore off.

"Welcome back Rukia-sama! Pyon!" Chappy, the gikon in Rukia's gigai, chirped, bouncing off its seat to greet its mistress, "Ne, ne, Rukia-sama, Ichigo-sama was so funny! Pyon!" it laughed and waved its arms about excitedly, "He thought I was you and just kept on rambling-"

"Go back to being a pill! You damned rabbit!" hissed Ichigo in humiliation. If only the gikon were alive in the first place with its own corporeal body, he'd definitely strangle it until it turned blue. The urge is just so strong, and seems to get worse each time.

"Ichigo-sama is a tyrant! Pyon!" Chappy sang, bending back the teen's arms when they struck out for its neck.

"Ow! Why you- let go of me!" Ichigo howled in pain and frustration.

"Enough you two," Rukia sighed. Every time it's the same, no pun intended, but these two just can't keep their hands to themselves. "Chappy," she addressed, "I'm tired, I need my gigai back."

"Yes, Rukia-sama! Pyon!" Chappy released Ichigo to knelt down before her addressor. It made a face at the fuming carrot top before being turned back to its original form by Rukia regaining her temporary body.

"You should do something about that gikon, Rukia," Ichigo reproached with bitterness as he rubbed at his aching shoulder. "It has a few screws loose in the head." he grumbled. If looks can burn, the little yellow pill now laying silently upon Rukia's palm would sure be ashes now.

Rukia shot him a disgruntle look before pocketing her gikon. She replied, "Says the one who constantly fought with her."

Ichigo glared with a huff. "Was there a Hollow?" he asked, sitting back on the sofa.

Rather than give a reply immediately, Rukia passed a tired sigh and plopped down beside the young man to lay her head on his lap.

"Yeah, rather vexatious one. It kept dashing in and out of the river and had me chase it for nearly twenty minutes," she sighed again. "Ichigo, can you grab me a blanket? I'm cold. And I have a headache." She stared up at him through bleary eyes, reaching out to twist a few wisps of his damp orange hair around her slender finger.

He smelled nice, she thought faintly, of lavender and citrus burst, the body wash and shampoo respectively, stationed inside the shower stall.

Ichigo raised an eye brow. If the higher than normal temperature exuding from her hand when it brushes against his skin wasn't a hint, then her display of affection undoubtedly suggested her mind isn't in its usual alerted state.

He placed a palm upon her forehead. "You have a fever." he stated with mild surprise.

"Perhaps." she mumbled, "Probably due of the rain earlier."

He gave her a skeptical look before voicing his question, "Is it possible for you to get a fever? You don't even have a real body."

"Of course," she sniffed, flicking his forehead lightly for the remark, "It doesn't matter if we're in a gigai or not, shinigami still do experience the same sensations and get afflicted with illnesses as any human, since we all were alive once."

Ichigo nods his head absentmindedly, peering down at her with an discernable look on his face.

Uncomfortable with the way he's looking at her, Rukia adjusted her position on his lap to avoid his gaze. "Blanket, please," Rukia requested once more. Her face felt hot, maybe the fever was worse than she thought. But no sooner had she shifted, she was tumbled to the floor with a surprise yelp; Ichigo had abruptly stood up from his seat sending her to role off her spot.

He turned his back to her, suddenly very interested in the opposite wall as he cleared his throat, "Why don't you go rest in your room," he mumbled, "I'll bring some soup later." Then, without another word, he left the room. Again, leaving behind a very confused shinigami.

I really don't like doc manager, it keeps auto-editing my uploads!

What do you think of this chapter? It's a bit longer than the previous ones, but not much going on really...R&R! I love your comments!

This story is coming to an end, probably one more to go and then HTTaCS will be finished. I am think of starting a long story, an AU, the base storyline goes like this: Rukia is married, but no to Ichi; Ichigo is the new employee at her company and her partner to solve cases. Ichigo falls for Rukia, and then some infidelity ensue...things like that. There will be some themes unsuitable for minors, and perhaps will be uncomfortable with some older readers regarding marital loyalty, and maybe reference to pro-life/pro-choice, but give me your thoughts about this possible story. I'm up to fish for some ideas to put in...