Chapter 2: Telephone
Yeah, a bit late. Who else cried in Bleach: Chapter 423? It can't be it... they deserve so much more than that...
Please enjoy. And twenty reviews for my first chapter? I remember when it took SMD three chapters just to get two reviews :') Thanks, everyone, for all your support!
OH, and I know jack about their currency, and already made the mistake of using "dollars" last chapter (I think). Please just bear with the use of "dollars" (Thanks!)
Disclaimer: I do not own any brand/copyrighted names used in this story. They will always be italicized. I do not own any songs mentioned, or any characters/concepts from Bleach.
His bedroom door creaked open just as it did five months ago, Ichigo slowly walking in, his hand reaching out to find the light switch; flooding the room with light, the tall male dropped his bags by his feet, his hands in his jeans' pockets as he pushed further in, his amber eyes sweeping across the entire bedroom.
"Just as I remember it…." A soft knock came from behind, Ichigo looking over his shoulder, finding Yuzu and Karin. It still amazed him how much they had changed in just a matter of months since he left for the Winter War; "Hey, you two…."
"Ichi-nii, we're heading to bed; wanted to say 'good night' to you…." The twins stood side by side at his door, Ichigo smiling softly as he turned to hold out his arms to them, Karin and Yuzu grinning as they ran into his embrace, the siblings laughing as they stumbled about.
Ichigo's long, strong arms held them close as he nuzzled their crowns; "Thanks for dinner and the game… I had fun tonight, missed you back at the apartment…."
His phone vibrated in his pocket, ignored as Karin and Yuzu looked up at him, his hands brushing back their hair, both long and soft.
Karin smirked deviously, poking his firm abdomen.
"I believe you owe Rukia twenty dollars…." Amber eyes immediately glared at her, the twins laughing at their pouting brother; "I let you win! I don't owe anyone crap!"
Yuzu shook her head, tugging on Ichigo's white v-neck; "Oh, Ichi-nii…. Well, we'll leave you to rest. Good night, Ichi-nii."
His twin siblings meet him halfway to kiss the corner of his lips, Ichigo catching them before they left, pressing his own kiss onto their temples, bidding them "Good night."
Left alone, Ichigo sighed as he ran his hands through his long mane, dropping them as he kicked his suitcase over to the closet, sliding the door open.
He frowned at the dust on his hand, deciding against being productive and unpacking, simply kicking his case further into the closet, closing it with a slam that let off a cloud of dust; damn it-!
Coughing, swatting at the dust, Ichigo leaned over and grabbed his messenger, heading over to the empty desk he last used five months ago.
Ichigo was surprised to find it completely clean as he ran his finger across the wooden grain, resting his bag on it.
"Yuzu isn't the type to just clean one place…."
He let it go, his hands on his belt to unbuckle his pants, dropping them to pool at his ankles, the tall male kicking them off lazily; grabbing the hem of his shirt, Ichigo left himself bare in only his boxer-briefs, tossing the shirt aside as he dropped onto his mattress flat on his stomach- Rukia's scent engulfing him.
His phone vibrated a reminder for the ignored text, ignored yet again as Ichigo pushed off the mattress and hurried to his pile of clothes on the floor, pulling his jeans on before heading out of his room to find Rukia's.
New Message From:
Kuchiki-san
Inoue's Chocolate rested on the floor, the busty female sitting against the couch, waiting for Tatsuki to come back in from the kitchen, her long-time friend yelling out from her place at the stove; "Hime, so tell me! How's school? How's life with Ichigo and Chad, instead of me, eh?"
Inoue smiled, looking up as Tatsuki walked into the living room with tea.
"School is going well, Tatsuki-chan…." Tatsuki sat down beside her, handing over a cup, Inoue holding it between her hands wrapped tightly around it, her grey eyes on her dimmed screen; "And Kurosaki-kun and Sado-kun have been very nice to me since we've all moved there…."
She placed the cup down, grabbing her cell, Tatsuki turning to face Inoue, her arm on her couch.
"How are things with Ichigo…?"
Inoue bit her lip, sliding the screen up, opening the message.
From: Kuchiki-san
Inoue- hope you got up to Tatsuki's alright. Have a good night.
"Things are… the same as always, I suppose…."
Tatsuki frowned, Inoue sliding the screen back down to her Chocolate.
"Well, it's only been five months… barely two months of classes for you. We can't really say anything with so little time for change."
Grey eyes moved from the Chocolate to meet Tatsuki's brown eyes behind long, messy bangs, Inoue smiling softly, her eyes full of mixed emotions; "I know, Tatsuki-chan; but, I'm just not sure anymore…. He's always on his cell with-."
Tatsuki held up her hand, Inoue silenced.
"…Ichigo has a cell?"
Jeans and black flats laid abandoned on the wooden floor by Rukia's bare feet, her hand running her sweaters' zipper down, the white material dropped to the floor; the petite shinigami stretched out as she stood in her lace intimates, moving up onto her toes, a yawn exhausting her.
"Oh, Yuzu- your food will one day make me look like Ōmaeda fukutaichou…."
A low knock pulled her attention over to her door, Rukia feeling Ichigo's reiatsu beyond it, close against her own reiatsu; "…Ichigo?"
"…yeah." Turning to her closet, Rukia grabbed a pair of warm sweats and a v-neck she had long ago stolen from Ichigo, the petite female quickly dressing, walking over to her door to open it.
She found Ichigo leaning against the frame of her door, his torso bare to her violet eyes, his amber gaze nearly hidden by his hair grown out; "Were you headed to bed, midget?"
Glaring lightly, Rukia moved up onto her toes to grab a fistful of his orange mane, pulling the silent male into her room, kicking the door shut behind them.
"I was planning on bumming it out, enjoying a Hollow-free night, really…."
Rukia walked past the male looking around her room, climbing up into her large bed, sitting back against the headboard to watch Ichigo, her nails scratching at her bare feet practically hidden by her grey sweats; "Did you have fun tonight…?"
Ichigo found himself fixed on the framed picture on her dresser, Rukia and the girls clad in white dresses, the camera focused closely on their smiling faces, a breeze seemingly playing with their hair-
"Of course, I did; even with my father yelling about, annoying me more than ever…."
He tore his eyes from the picture, looking at Rukia sitting on her large bed, surrounded by her white, soft down-comforter and pillows, her violet eyes on him; "Thanks, Rukia… for picking me up."
"…we all needed a good dose of pointless bickering with you."
Ichigo smirked, his hands in his pockets, his hips slowly turned to have him face her.
"And that's why you spend your time drawing at my desk, and sleeping in my bed?"
Son of a-
Rukia glared at the male, crossing her arms across her modest chest, an elegant eyebrow raised at him; "What nonsense are you babbling about?"
Ichigo fought the strong urge to roll his eyes at her, this time.
"Not even your own room smells like you, yet." He felt her reiatsu try to suffocate him. He couldn't keep from laughing, running a hand through his messy mane, looking down at his feet; "I… kinda miss your yelling and kicking, too…."
Her reiatsu faltered before holding stubbornly onto her intent to suffocate him.
He heard her sigh, looking up when he heard her small hand pat the empty side of her bed; convincing himself he just didn't want her to turn violent, Ichigo slowly walked over, dropping into the bed, stretched across its entire length.
They stayed silent for a comfortable while, staring out the window, until a loud vibration broke out from Rukia's nightstand; Ichigo watched her reach over for her iPhone, his brows furrowed, Rukia sitting back against the headboard as she slid the screen lock aside.
We're safe and sound, Kuchiki-san. Good night, and the same to Kurosaki-kun….
"Inoue says 'good night,' Ichigo." She replied to the timid female, Ichigo fidgeting beside her.
Rukia glanced over at Ichigo, the male digging his hand into his jeans' tight pockets; "What are you-?"
"I remember my cell vibrated earlier. I completely forgot about it." Ichigo pulled out his Torch, tapping the screen, groaning at the unread message from Keigo.
From: Asano Keigo
Ichi-goooo~! What the hell man you're back in town, and you don't even tell your best friend? Tomorrow we need to hit the clubs and booze, score some hot-!
Ichigo deleted the message, not bothering to finish reading it; "Stupid Keigo…."
"What?" Rukia brought her legs up close to her body, wrapping her arms around them, resting her head on her knees as she looked at him, the male sighing with annoyance; "Keigo is going to bug the hell out of me tomorrow, to hang out. You know how he is…."
He dropped his phone onto his stomach, rubbing his eyes with his palms, groaning with exhaustion; he flinched when he felt Rukia pick up his phone from his tight abdomen, the female moving to lay on her stomach beside him, resting up on her elbows, his phone in her hands; "Do you have him under 'Asano Keigo' or under 'perverted dumbass,' hm?"
Ichigo frowned lightly up at her from his place, his arm beneath the curve of his neck to his head, his other scratching at his hip, exposed by his low jeans.
"…under 'Asano,' but your name for him isn't so bad of an idea."
He watched Rukia laugh, her fingers tapping lightly at his cell's screen to open a new text message, her fingers sliding the screen up, typing quickly and silently.
Curious, Ichigo rolled onto his side, nearly crashing against her, his arm over her back to rest his hand on the mattress beside her body, amber eyes looking past his orange bangs to read the message.
To: Asano Keigo
Sorry, man- I owe Rukia twenty bucks, plus gas for driving me down. I'm taking her out all day tomorrow.
Rukia quickly sent the message, Ichigo smacking her with a pillow, the pair bickering over the legitimacy of a bet via text.
The morning chill was long gone by noon, under the sun, Tatsuki and Inoue making their way to a small coffee shop, both clad in comfortable shorts, their long legs for show under their fitted t-shirts.
Tatsuki slung her arm over Inoue's shoulders, ruffling her strawberry-orange hair; "Just five months ago, Hime, I would have never imagined you drinking coffee."
A small laugh left Inoue, the pair reaching the small shop.
"I know, Tatsuki-chan; but, Kurosaki-kun immediately took to the small shop with Sado-kun, so I took up the liking as well…."
The door was pulled open, the girls walking past the small bell announcing their entrance; "Welcome!"
Tatsuki and Inoue greeted the kind, elderly barista, their eyes moving up to the menus overhead; Tatsuki nudged Inoue playfully, rolling her brown eyes as she teased Inoue-
"So, what favorite drink of Ichigo's has become your favorite, hm?"
Inoue frowned, Tatsukia thrown off; "Actually… he changes his drink almost every day. I think we've had every drink of the menu at least twice!"
The two friends settled on sweetened tea, finding a small booth in the corner of the shop.
"Well, at least you spend time with him now. Actually, why don't we call him up, and see what he's doing today?" Tatsuki leaned back in her chair, Inoue fingering the pocket holding her cell in debate, her black-haired friend sighing; "Oh, come on, Hime! I haven't seen him in five months- ask him to hang out with us."
"Well, alright…." Inoue decided on texting him, instead.
Ichigo woke with a start at the feel of his cell vibrating against his pelvis, smashed between himself and the mattress; rolling his hips onto his side, Ichigo dug his hand into his jeans' pocket, pulling out his Torch.
He groaned lightly as he fell back onto his stomach, rubbing his eye as he tapped the screen with his thumb, reading the text from behind his long, messed bangs, moving his arm to rest his head on.
From: Inoue Orihime
Konnichi wa, Kurosaki-kun. Tatsuki-chan and I are wondering if you'd like to hang out with us, today?
Ichigo's amber gaze moved to the raven-haired beauty sleeping beside him, Rukia's soft hair pooled about her head on the white pillow, her stray bang fluttering lightly with every silent breath Rukia exhaled.
She was on her back, curved erotically with her hip on show, a slender arm across her firm, flat stomach, the other propping up her pillow; Ichigo fixed his gaze on her lips just barely parted to breathe by, her violet eyes hidden from him, her modest chest rising and falling peacefully.
She may be in sweats and an over-sized shirt, but he couldn't help but wonder, why didn't I see this before?
She was simply… beautiful.
He slid the screen up, forcing his gaze off Rukia.
To: Inoue Orihime
Hey, sorry, but I have plans with Rukia all of today. Tell Tatsuki hi for me
The shinigami were supposed to have woken up hours ago, supposedly needing the entire day to "shop and eat and run after Hollows," and looking at the clock hanging above her bed, Ichigo smiled, the day well past noon.
"Rukia…." Pocketing his phone, ignoring the vibration as he reached over the little space between them, grasping her thigh, Ichigo gently shook her, running his loud reiatsu over her; "Oi, midget. C'mon, wake up…."
Rukia's calm reiatsu hitched as she slowly opened her violet eyes, the male feeling it irritated and confused, her gaze moving onto him lazily.
"…Why the hell are you in here, Berry?"
Rolling his eyes, Ichigo moved away from her onto his back, his hand leaving her thigh; "Ah, we fell asleep, I guess."
Scratching at his hip, Ichigo moved an arm beneath his head, glancing at Rukia still fighting to wake up.
"You know it's almost two in the afternoon, right?"
Silence held between them, Rukia's violet eyes staring blankly at the male beside her, soon moving into a glare as she fisted her small hand around a pillow's sham, swiftly bringing it around to smack Ichigo, fully in the face; "Why the hell didn't you wake me up, fool!"
"And so, Ichi-nii lives!" Yuzu laughed softly beside Karin, her twin tipping the chair back with an arm slung over the back, smirking at Ichigo; "About time you two woke up…."
Ichigo slowly made his way across the living room, glaring weakly at his siblings as he made for the stairs.
"Yeah, yeah, just please fix me up some breakfa-." A sharp smack stung the back of his head, Ichigo snapping his glare over his shoulder, finding Rukia at her door across the living room, hips cocked and arms crossed, tapping her bare foot annoyingly with a glare.
He chanced a glance at the floor, a small shoe at his feet- she had the balls to chuck a shoe at me!
"Don't ruin your appetite! We're going out to eat, remember!" With that she slammed the door shut, Karin and Yuzu snickering prettily, Ichigo certain he felt his brow twitch as he glared at the small, black sandal on the floor.
Deciding his sisters were guilty of betrayal with their snickering, unworthy of his attention, Ichigo silently continued on his way, heading up the stairs, having completely forgotten about the text from earlier-
From: Inoue Orihime
Would you mind if we joined you?
Minutes passed of staring at her silent, motionless Chocolate, Inoue frowning deeply, her hands wringing the napkin tightly in her lap.
"M-maybe he didn't get it?"
Tatsuki sighed lowly beside her, her brown eyes on the cell phone resting beside Inoue's cup; "We'll just have our own fun, Hime- who needs Ichigo to enjoy such a great day out?"
A small smile barely pulled at Inoue's lips, the busty female simply nodding as Tatsuki pulled out her wallet, leaving a tip.
They stood, Inoue hesitantly pocketing her cell.
I do, Tatsuki-chan….
To: Kuchiki Rukia
…you look funny driving.
A swift punch met Ichigo's arm, the male laughing at the fuming woman behind the wheel, his tall body slouched comfortably beside her in the passenger seat of her TSX.
The windows were rolled down, Rukia's black tresses billowing in the wind, Ichigo leaning his head back against the seat, his mane blown into a mess; their sunglasses reflecting the sun, Rukia drove them down the winding highway along the large mountain range beside them, the gentle coast beyond the beaches on the other side.
Ichigo scratched at his jaw, watching the cars drive beside them; "I thought you wanted to drag me though shops, sucking my wallet dry on Chappy?"
He turned to look at her at the sound of her laugh.
"That was the original plan… but, you work hard at school… why not, just relax?"
Ichigo frowned at her, glaring from behind his dark lenses; "Who are you, and what have you done with Rukia?"
Her lips simply pulled into a smirk, Ichigo unable to hold back his own.
Damn it, midget.
Slender legs swung out to step onto the hot pavement as Rukia pushed open her door, standing to meet a gentle breeze laced with the ocean's scent, the sun beaming down on her skin; she turned her gaze over her shoulder, finding Ichigo's hidden gaze behind aviators across the roof of her car, the male closing the door.
Leaning his arms on the roof of her car, unfazed by the hot sting of the car, Ichigo stared back at her silently, chewing on his bottom lip.
He could barely see the bare skin of her shoulders from his place on the other side of her car, remembering the tight, white sundress she wore, her black, shoulder-length hair and sunglasses framing her face.
What was going on with him?
College- it sure ruins some people. He almost didn't catch the smirk on her lips before she teased him; "So, you won't faint from just looking at some skin, will you?"
Yoruichi-san has teased you enough to keep your shy, virgin self in control?"
Sometimes he wondered how he had yet to threaten her with Zangetsu; "W-what the hell, Rukia!"
His partner threw her head back in a delightful fit of laughter, her hands holding desperately onto the door to keep herself from falling over.
Ichigo growled menacingly, pushing off the car; "Demonic bitch…."
Slamming her door shut, Rukia grinned widely, practically skipping as she made for the trunk, Ichigo opening it; "Oh, Ichi- you prude bastard."
Her taller male simply frowned at her, grabbing the towels, Rukia grabbing her "hobo-looking, sorry excuse of a bag" as Ichigo called it earlier; trunk slammed closed, the pair made their way for the sand, Ichigo's jeans low on his slim, definied hips, his white v-neck matching her dress, its skirt lifted playfully in the small breeze.
New Message From:
Asano Keigo
"Hold this, will you, Strawberry!" Rukia chucked her balled-up dress at the male, laughing at his irritated protests of holding her things, sprinting towards the cold water washing over onto the shore; "Rukia! I didn't come to babysit your shit, you hear!"
Ichigo was ignored just as his cell vibrating in his pocket, Rukia wading in the small waves, watching small fish swim about her as amber eyes watched her from afar; dropping the towels onto the sand, her bag and dress abandoned on top of them, Ichigo stood silently with his hands in his pockets, watching Rukia slowly move further into the ocean, eyes on him, eyes on her from the people about them.
She had apparently been to the beach before, with Karin and Yuzu, during the five months since he'd left for the university; must have been during the two weeks he didn't have his phone yet- because he'd definitely remember her telling him about buying her first swimsuit.
He felt his phone vibrating, ignoring it again as he took in Rukia's slim, but firm, curved body clad in a white, halter 'two-piece' as he had heard his sisters once call their swimsuits, similar to Rukia's.
Ichigo found it ridiculous how well the top cradled her modest breasts.
Kicking off his sandals, Ichigo removed his shirt in a single, smooth pull of the hem, the appreciative girls about him ignored with his gaze fixed on Rukia ahead of him, the tall male stripping of his jeans to leave himself in board shorts.
Even in his body, he held the fast, sly movement he learned from the Goddess of Flash, herself.
He wished he could have recorded Kuchiki Rukia's noble shriek of surprise as he literally swept her off her feet.
To: Kuchiki-san
Kuchiki-san, how are you?
Inoue was never really one to feel disappointed with herself.
She had always cared for others and got along well with everyone, and never started fights, never stepped over limits, never disrespected those around her.
Inoue had never felt disappointed with herself, until the time Rukia first walked into their lives.
Who am I kidding… she plummeted into our lives. Not even ours- into Kurosaki-kun's life….
She pocketed her cell phone as the usual previews began on the large screen before her, Tatsuki beside her in the crowded movie theatre, a small soda in hand; "Who were you texting, Hime?"
"O-oh, no; I was just going through my messages, deleting what I didn't need."
Times like these were part of those disappointments.
"Oh, the movie is starting!" Grey eyes on the screen ahead, Tatsuki passing her drink to share, Inoue waited for a response to her text, hoping to satisfy her ridiculous need to know what the shinigami pair were doing.
She waited, hand on her pocketed phone.
To: Ichigo
Hey what the hell? Answer me! No one ignores Keigo! What the hell are you doing with my dear Kuchiki san?
The sun hung low in the sky, Rukia burying her feet into the wet sand, small crabs skittering about them; the tide pulled in to wash the small creatures away, the cold water barely managing to tease Rukia's curved end as she sat in the sand with Ichigo beside her, Rukia's sunglasses propped up on her crown.
Violet eyes had long ago appreciated the bare, sculpted torso touched lightly by the sun's rays beside her.
"Want to get going, Ichigo?"
Amber eyes moved onto her, Ichigo leaning back on his arms, a leg stretched out before him, the tide washing over it; "Nah… let's catch the sunset, before leaving."
Rukia moved her gaze off her feet, staring at Ichigo's gaze behind aviators; his reiatsu had a pained slither laced into it, her thin, elegant brows furrowing at the feel.
Wordlessly, her hand lightly covered in sand, Rukia raised a hand to Ichigo's glasses, gripping the frame beside his temple between her thumb and index, sliding them off his nose; the aviators were dropped in her lap, Rukia holding her gaze with Ichigo's.
"I'm listening, Ichigo."
The young male breathed in deeply, his eyes narrowed on her, the sun lowering itself further, caught in his bright, orange mane.
He was never one to talk so easily- her just knowing his needs and emotions, well… he realized he took it for granted sometimes.
He pulled his gaze from her, his eyes on the ocean before them; "I remember my old man used to always compare my mother to the sunset, on the beach shore, tide washing his feet."
My mom used to tell me they'd someday take us…."
Rukia kept silent, Ichigo looking back to lock amber with violet; "This was my first time at the beach, today with you…."
She didn't say anything, her warm, powerful reiatsu simply running over him, pushing beneath his chaotic rage of power, Ichigo resisting the urge to close his eyes and let Rukia's reiatsu lull and caress him to sleep-
He kept himself awake, watching the sunset in the reflection of her violet eyes.
He just couldn't bother to answer his vibrating cell, in his pants tossed on top of their belongings, Keigo leaving a voicemail for the male.
"ICHIGO-OOOO! Where are you!"
No; he couldn't bother to look away from Rukia's deep, violet gaze.
Hope you enjoyed (: I have no idea how their coasts look like, so forgive me for anything wrong. A bit slow, but no worries, next chapter might pick up a bit.
Much love, KurosakiLove