Chapter 22: Telephone
I have decided I will not stay in this damn hole of crap anymore. I'm going to view this fall and winter as a chance to rest, study on my own, do all the projects I want, sleep all I want, work all I can, read and write all I want- why rot in misery?
I am touched by your messages of good health and support. And thanks, Valu86: "Though I´d like to say that, maybe what you thinkit´s bad, can be really liked by other people, so don´t give up!"
Let's move along with life. And Strawberry Meets Death's Chapter 58 will get posted this weekend. I want to give it a proper look-over. I fuckin' love you guys. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
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.
Rukia's bare legs cut in front of him, breaking his attention from his textbook spread out on the coffee table, amber eyes following them as she moved to the couch to grab her book bag.
Ichigo leaned back against the larger couch behind him, tapping his pen on his knee as he sat cross-legged on the lush carpet; "How much do you have tonight?"
A heavy text dropped on the dark wooden table, Rukia pulled her hair up into a pony-tail, her thin hoodie riding up to reveal her stomach above her shorts, turning back to her bag to dig through her front pockets.
"Only a chapter, but it's what I had already read from your book last semester. I just have to review…." Ichigo watched her snap a small pill out of a compact, throwing her head back to swallow, his eyes running down her body standing just out of his reach.
"And how many days left before we need a refill?"
Violet eyes looked at him over her shoulder, snapping the case close. Smirking, Rukia turned to her bag, an exaggerated lean of her body to slip the compact back into the pocket narrowing Ichigo's gaze on her, his reiatsu flaring.
"I need a refill in six days…."
Rukia straightened up, turning around and stepping over him, feeling his hot gaze on her until she rounded the kitchen; "Let's head to the pharmacy this weekend."
Nodding, sighing as he turned back to his book, Ichigo looked over his notes and Post-Its covering the pages, scowling at the pages left to read. He had a few hours to go for certain, the spark-ignite from the stove turning his gaze to the kitchen, only catching sight of Rukia's hand reaching for the cupboard above.
"Need a hand that can reach, short-stuff?"
"Go bald!"
Ichigo laughed as he dragged his hands over his face, shaking his head out before sitting up, pen back in hand. His Torch vibrating beside him, he grabbed it and gave his screen a quick tap of his thumb, opening Inoue's text message.
From: Inoue Orihime
Study sessions in two weeks, Kurosaki-kun?
"Strawberry! …come get this for me…." His screen slid up, he quickly replied, sliding it back in place before tossing his phone aside, jumping to his feet with Rukia muttering curses upon everyone taller than her; "Coming, midget..."
To: Inoue Orihime
Four of us- two weeks. See you tomorrow.
The last of the dishes were stacked neatly on the metal rack alongside the sink, a heavy sigh leaving Tatsuki; wiping her hands, she turned out of the kitchen, coming up beside Inoue at the small table, her curvaceous roommate studying.
"Thought you always studied at Ichigo's with Chad…."
Smiling, Inoue looked up, tucking her bangs behind her ear; "We'll pick up on that in about two weeks, like last semester…."
Tatsuki nodded, pulling out the chair beside Inoue, dropping into it with a sigh.
"Look, Hime…."
Inoue's eyes moving onto her, a small frown pulling at her lips, Tatsuki bit her lip, dropping her gaze onto their table.
"I'm really happy you've decided to move on. You've made the right choice… I never should have encouraged you the way I did, so I'm glad you didn't rely on me for this."
Inoue gave her a small smile, reaching over to grasp Tatsuki's hand; "You just wanted me to be happy… arigato, Tatsuki-chan."
Hey Rukia! Yuzu is chatting up the boy, but she says hi. How was your first day? Did Ichi-nii punch anyone?
Give her a hug for me. And it was just fine, Karin. I met some very nice people, just might be new friends. And he hasn't punched anyone- just his textbook.
I hope they are. Gotta go shower before the old man starts yelling. Good night, Rukia! Hope the rest of the week is good!
Violet eyes could barely make out Ichigo's slim, fit form through the fogged door in the steaming bathroom, her towel dropping to the floor before stepping into their closet; fingers running over the sleeves of shirts and jackets, feet stepping over their shoes piled about, Rukia moved to their closet's end, digging out bra and panties to match from their drawers, the shower shutting off beyond the door.
Lace hugging every curve about her hips and rear, Rukia barely had her bra straps slipped over her shoulders when she felt Ichigo's hands find her waist, a chaste kiss pressed against the nape of her neck before he pulled away, hooking up the clasp along her spine.
"We gotta hurry up, midget. Inoue and Chad are probably there already."
Puffing out her cheeks, Rukia spun around, pulling Ichigo close by his towel hanging round his hips, bright amber eyes looking down into hers behind damp bangs, a droplet falling onto her lips-
"You were the one who made the alarm another thirty minutes, Kurosaki."
He had. He most shamelessly had, waking up minutes before the set time to find Rukia's breasts against his warm back, her arm hooked around his shoulder while her other hand hid her parted lips along his spine, the length of her body against his with a long, smooth leg hooked over his.
Rukia had buried her nose into his spine when he moved, her warm breath lightly grazing his skin in time with the rise and fall of her chest, her leg curling closer around him.
Circling his arms around her small frame, her own moving to hug his waist, Ichigo shrugged innocently, blowing at her stray bang.
"I have no regrets, woman."
She laughed before pushing him away, turning to her jeans folded neatly above his, Ichigo moving around her to the drawers for boxer-briefs; "You finish two hours before I do- can you grab food while I'm in?"
"From-?" A knock was barely heard all the way inside their closest, Rukia throwing Ichigo a curious glance before stepping into her jeans, pulling them up hastely. Throwing her a hoodie, Ichigo hurried himself to change as Rukia walked out into the living room, coming to the door and opening it to find "Sado-kun, Inoue-san!"
"Good morning, Kuchiki-san!" Inoue beamed as she held up two paper bags, Chad smiling behind her with steaming cups in coupled holders, an elegant brow from the noble heiress raised.
"I-I thought we were meeting you at the café, are we that late-?"
Inoue frowned as she quickly shook her head before Rukia could go further, lifting the bags again with a smile.
"We decided you shouldn't have to deal with barista Rin-san on such a pretty morning, Kuchiki-san! So we brought breakfast here instead! Y-you don't mind, do you-?"
"Of course not," Rukia smiled, stepping aside to let them in; "Even better, as a matter of fact. Just let me hurry Ichigo up."
Chad nodded, turning into the kitchen and setting down the cups as Rukia kicked the door shut, the petite shinigami smiling gently at Inoue before running to the bedroom and slipping in, leaving the door ajar. Feet cradled by the soft carpeting, sun pouring through the open window, Rukia walked over to their open closet, leaning against the frame as she watched Ichigo pull a sweater up over his arms.
"Chad and Inoue are here, Ichigo…."
"Really?" His orange mane peeked through the neck-hole before he pulled the sweater further down, shaking out his head as hands brushed any wrinkles away; "Just give me ten and we can head out-."
Soft, warm material bundled into a potentially dangerous ball flew onto his face as he turned, Rukia's laughter growing at the heavy scowl revealed on Ichigo's handsome features, her hoodie dropping to the floor with amber eyes glaring at her.
Biting her lip, Rukia moved to lean her back along the frame, violet hues playful behind her stray bang.
"They brought breakfast to eat here, instead…."
Ichigo rubbed at his neck, crossing his arms over his clothed chest as his gaze ran over Rukia's modest curves, trying to remember the last time he saw that orange bra of hers- ah, yes. The car wash.
"Well, that okay with you?"
Rukia scoffed as she rolled her eyes, pushing off the frame and pulling a cotton v-neck off its hanger, whirling it around glancing over at him; "Not having to deal with your love-struck barista? I could kiss them!"
His hand shot out to catch her shirt, her smaller body suddenly pulled against him, his strong arm immediately wrapped around her slim, bare waist with the slight roughness of his lips teasing her skin along her temple. Rukia craned her neck to look up into amber eyes behind that fringe of his, her shirt released to fist up his sweater as his hand reached up to grip her jaw, mouth ghosting over her waiting lips -
"You can't."
He pressed a hard kiss onto them, Rukia's hands clutching his sweater to pull herself closer.
Morning, Yuzu
Smiling as she turned over the pancakes, remembering her brother's love for the western breakfast, Yuzu set her phone aside, Karin bounding down the stairs with her duffle bag, cleats hanging off her shoulder.
"Hey, Karin- how many?"
Dropping her bag and shoes by the table, Karin moved into the kitchen, grabbing two glasses from the rack.
"Eh… three." Pouring them juice, Karin sat with her at the table, grinning as three pancakes were dumped onto her plate; "Yosh, so much better than that fancy café of Naka-face."
"Hey! I thought it was nice he took us out…."
Drowning her stack in syrup, Karin scowled at Yuzu, grabbing a fork and knife from the center.
"Yeah, I know. Just don't want him to think I'll cry in some corner if he takes you away for a few hours. He's dating a sister with a twin- not twins!"
Yuzu laughed as Karin stabbed her fork into her pancakes, brushing her lighter hair back as she reached for her glass; "I know, I know… he just doesn't know how to go out with me being glued to you and you only…."
Karin licked her finger clean of syrup, dark hues softening.
"…I know."
"See you at lunch, Kuchiki-san!"
They waved as Inoue and Chad took to the steps leading up to their building, Ichigo continuing ahead towards Rukia's first class of the day; catching up to him, Rukia kept to his side, both shinigami slipping their hands into their jackets, Rukia's red scarf trailing behind her with her quick steps; "I don't think breakfast is the best time to spend together…."
"Hai." Reaching out and grabbing her scarf, he wrapped it around her neck once more, not as long anymore, his fingers grazing the soft material before he slipped his hand back into his pocket; "Maybe we should try lunches instead."
"Well, you could be outside of your class if you didn't insist on walking me…."
Ichigo looked over at the petite woman hurrying beside him, impressed she could walk this quickly in heels, his hand reaching out again to tug on her bang.
"We already went through this at Community- at least I didn't make you give me your bag."
Smiling, Rukia shot him a weak glare, the shinigami quickly taking the steps up to another walkway, her building peering through the trees just around a bend; "I suppose I could let you pretend to be a man with at least this…."
Ichigo fell behind a few steps, scoffing as he glared at her amused hues of violet looking back over her shoulder, shoving his hands into his jeans-
"You're gonna get it once we get back, Kuchiki…."
Rukia turned away from him, shrugging indifferently, the steps to her building just some feet away; "If you can even give it, Kurosaki."
Sly midget-! Ichigo stepped to come at her from behind, both of them freezing at a low, smooth voice at the crown of the steps, violet and amber eyes following them up- "Cutting it pretty close, aren't you, Rukia-san?"
Usui stood at the top of the stairs, his blonde mane catching the sun in the open air about him, Ichigo frowning as grey eyes found his death god at the bottom. Usui smiled as he turned away slightly, calling down to her again.
"Let's go before the seats fill."
Rukia glanced over to Ichigo just steps behind her, smirking with a small wave; "I finish at the same time you do, Berry."
She was quickly taking the stairs before he could reach for her, Ichigo watching her step up beside the male, brushing her hair back as she smiled, both walking out of sight beyond the last step.
Ichigo stood at the bottom, waiting a few more seconds, Rukia's reiatsu fading further into the building, her tall shinigami left standing alone as students passed; eyes heavy as his frown, Ichigo kicked at the paved walkway beneath him, turning to walk back down towards his own lecture.
From: Inoue Orihime
Lecture started already, Kurosaki-kun! Hurry!
Soft shades of browns swayed beside raven-black tresses, Karakura High's Kurosaki twins walking together, arms around each other's waist. Her duffle bag bumping her thigh with every step, Yuzu holding a single textbook in her arm, Karin walked her sister through the gate, coming through between the bleachers.
Handing her duffle over, Karin headed for the field as Yuzu took to the stands.
"Hurry your pretty ass, Kurosaki!" Rolling her eyes, Karin smirked at the obvious nostalgia their coach had, remembering the days he would yell those words to her brother instead.
It was the only reason she didn't take it another way; "I'm going already!"
Stepping onto the grass, Karin snapped the hair band around her wrist, gathering her long, thick hair up, her captain looking over at her from some feet in front.
"What am I starting with, Naka-face?"
"Captain, Kurosaki! And do a run before you take the net." Ryuu scowled at her as she sped past, his striker jogging up beside him, their captain pulling on a tight glove as he held the other between his teeth; "Hey, Ito."
Hand running through his black hair tipped blue, Ito's eyes followed Karin, her long legs exposed up until her mid-thigh, a hand slapping Ryuu's back.
"Your girl puts the girls in our grade to shame already."
Ryuu frowned at him, shaking his head as he adjusted his glove hugging his hand like a second skin.
"Wrong Kurosaki, idiot." Shrugging, Ito crossed his arms, gaze keeping to the only female on the field; "Don't tell me you're not gonna bag both of them- c'mon, twins!"
His captain tensed beside him, Ito laughing as he stood oblivious.
"Man, Kurosaki Ichigo's sisters. If you won't, then I'll definitely take this one. She's exactly like him, it'll be like throwing the king off his horse-."
Kagine dropped the clipboard at the sickening sound of a breaking bone, running and shoving his rushing students aside, Karin speeding across the field as Yuzu bolted up from the bleachers-
"Ryuu!" "Nakamura!"
From: Sado Chad
See you at the west campus café.
Pocketing his Torch, Ichigo sighed heavily as doors began to open, students either slowly making their way out or running for their next lecture, the hallway quickly crowding up as amber eyes searched for his reaper.
Somehow, he missed her after her first lecture.
The blonde male from yesterday and just that morning flashing in his memory, Ichigo clenched his jaw, pretty faces smiling at him as they passed him, his stomach tightening as a particular reiatsu became stronger. Raven-tresses stepping past the doors held wide open for her, a blonde mane he recognized in a heartbeat following, Ichigo pushed off the wall, standing tall amongst the rush.
Rukia smiled her thanks, waving at Usui's 'see you later' as she caught sight of orange, making her way between others to come up at Ichigo's side, frowning uneasily at his gaze fixated on something else down the hall; "Ichigo-?"
He snapped his gaze onto hers, reiatsu starting to weigh down on hers, violet eyes wide at his dark hues-
"Who the hell is he?"
"Usui?" Rukia chanced a glance down the hall, her friend's blonde mane just leaving sight beyond the doors, her gaze back on his as they stood there, students and professors moving around them; "I met him yesterday, he's in all my classes but one. He showed me to this one-."
"I walk you to classes- not stand alone like some fuckin' moron waiting for you to come out when you're already heading over with him-!"
"Ichigo, you can't be serious, he's my classmate-!"
Ichigo rushed her back against the wall, few slowing their pace as his fist slammed onto the wall, Rukia keeping steady as others flinched; arms either side of her, eyes leveled with her, he clenched his hands, reiatsu flaring- "He so much as touches you, I'll send his ass to hell."
Rukia forced out her breath as he pulled away from her, watching him push past a few males having gathered close in worry, jumping at the hand on her shoulder, looking over into familiar, gentle, green eyes from just yesterday.
"M-Mika-san…."
"He didn't hurt you, did he? Do you know him, we can call security-."
Rukia stepped out of her classmate's gentle touch, shaking her head as she pulled her bag further up her shoulder, looking to where her male had left before looking back into green eyes; "No, don't worry. He wouldn't hurt me. But I... I need to go…."
"But Rukia-san!"
The petite woman was gone in seconds, the hallway crowded enough to hide her from sight easily, a sigh leaving her classmates left behind in worry.
Mika glanced at her friends, pulling a sleek Android from her bag, frowning as she opened up a new text.
"I think we should let Naoya-kun know just in case…."
Did you see Ito's face? Nakamura destroyed him-!
I heard that Ito tried to make Nakamura step down from captain.
Definitely over Yuzu.
They were totally fighting over which twin they could have-!
Karin sighed as they waited in the large, dimmed office, loud gossip barely muffled through the walls, the office's secretary tapping her pen impatiently, muttering about kids learning to pick fights after she clocked out.
She had to wait now, looking at the twin beauties sitting in the stiff chairs by the door, waiting for the young senior dragged in by Kagine-sensei through the principal's door. She sighed heavily, turning to the clock on her desk.
Yuzu tore her gaze from the closed door, Kagine's harsh yelling clear, the young sophomore pulling her legs up onto the chair to hug against her chest; "What happened…?"
Biting her lip, hearing a group of students pass the office in the hallway, confident Ito had been secretly going out with Yuzu at the same time- Karin dragged a hand through her hair, shaking her head with heavy eyes.
"I don't know, Yuzu. I was running a lap around the guys, and all of the sudden everyone's running towards the benches… I just don't know…."
"Do you understand what you've done, boy!"
They fell silent, the yelling within the office before them continuing strong, Karin's eyes widening as they heard of Ito's broken jaw, Yuzu jumping at Kagine's final say with a slam of his fist against the wall-
"Expelled, Nakamura!"
To: Tatsuki-chan
We're eating dinner today at Kurosaki-kun's… but could you pick me up on your way home?
From: Tatsuki-chan
Sure not much of a detour from the dojo. But isn't that only an hour?
To: Tatsuki-chan
I think Sado-kun and I shouldn't even go. Kurosaki-kun's really angry….
Their lecture was slowly ticking by to its end, Inoue squirming beneath Ichigo's heavy reiatsu bearing down on their shoulders. His body slouched down with spread legs, elbow on table to hold his chin by his thumb, Ichigo sat with furrowed brows, finger curled against his mouth in a tight frown.
Lunch had been tense under his immense reiatsu, Rukia and Ichigo silent. They had left the café together, but it's been two classes since then, and not once had he gone to walk Rukia to her own.
Inoue frowned, grimacing as his reiatsu slowly grew heavier.
From: Tatsuki-chan
Don't go.
Karin paced between the hallway, Ryuu leaning against the lockers, eyes cast down behind his teasing fringe onto the floor, Yuzu leaning on the locker across from him.
"The hell were you thinking, Ryuu!"
He would have laughed any other time at his given name spat from her mouth, thinking of how people usually thought their surnames meant trouble, but this is new.
"You, our captain, sent our striker to the hospital!" Rounding on him, caring less he stood taller than her, Karin slammed the metal locker beside him, dark eyes burning up into his; "For what!"
Breathing in heavily through his nose, lips tight, Ryuu stood straight, standing even taller, Karin keeping her ground as solid as her glare.
"For your brother. For your respect. For my girlfriend."
He could feel Yuzu's confused gaze on him, Karin's only faltering for a second, her entire being silently demanding him to explain himself; "Ito figured I was going to waste an opportunity to bag you both, skip out on the chance on twins."
Ryuu stepped up further against Karin's ground, the raven-haired beauty falling back a step with shock striking her eyes.
"He was pretty sure getting you would be exactly like dethroning Kurosaki Ichigo-!"
Yuzu pushed past Karin, arms thrown around his neck and fighting for words, Ryuu's hard eyes on Karin as he circled his arms around Yuzu's waist, breaking from her gaze to bury his face against Yuzu's neck.
"N-Naka-face…."
"Ryuu-kun, you fool! You're expelled because of us-!" Yuzu frowned into his grey uniform jacket, feeling him move to rest his jaw against her temple, a sigh leaving him; "Don't worry, Yuzu. I'll figure out what to do…."
Karin looked at them both, dropping her gaze.
… Nakamura.
Ichigo stood in front of his door, thumb rubbing his Torch with keys dangling from his fingers. He could feel Rukia's heavy reiatsu inside, an angry undertow strong enough to make out. Sighing, exhaustion running an ache along his neck, Ichigo pocketed his phone and slipped in his key, a small struggle with the lock clicking it aside, door slowly opened.
He found her perched up on their high counter chairs, her legs up on the seat hugged tightly against her chest, jacket hung up on the back of the chair while her red scarf still wrapped her neck warmly. Stepping inside and closing the door, Ichigo kept his eyes on her as he stepped on the back of his shoes, kicking them off as he dropped his bag on top of them, keys tossed onto the kitchen's island.
Rukia didn't turn to look at him, her violet eyes heavy as they stared into the marble counter in front of her, toes curled. Ichigo slowly walked over to her side, resting his arm on the cold counter top while his other slid across the chair's back, sighing as she had yet to move.
He bowed his head, feeling childish.
"I over-reacted. I shouldn't have said anything I said, Rukia."
He heard her sigh, looking up to see those soft, parted lips close, her violet eyes blinking; "He's just a friend, Ichigo. A friend I made all on my own, and not because I know you."
Guilt punched him in his stomach, dropping his head again, thumb rubbing at his chair's smooth, dark grain. Jaw tight, Ichigo raised his gaze to find hers, nodding.
"I'll try not to see him as a Hollow…."
She smiled, a small smile after a long day. Reaching up to brush her hair back, not even bothering with her bang, he ran his fingers down her temple to her jaw, gently cradling it as his thumb traced her lip, her large, violet eyes looking up at him.
He sighed again, leaning over to rest his forehead against hers, closing his eyes; "Let's just change and watch movies or something, yeah?"
He felt Rukia sit up, pushing against his forehead, amber eyes opening to find hers bright.
"Chappy marathon-?"
"No."
Two days later.
A loud humming woke him, a groan leaving him as he opened his eyes to a bright light, squinting enough to ease the sting. The light growing dim, he realized it was Rukia's iPhone, reaching over for his own cell and checking the time.
"Three in the fuckin' morning?" Scowling, Ichigo dropped his phone back on the stand, grabbing hers while moving up onto his elbow, Rukia hardly stirring from her place against him beneath the covers. His thumb slid the screen lock aside, the screen reflected in his eyes, its light casting his shadow on the walls about him.
Usui Naoya
Want to grab lunch today?
His hand clenched tightly around her sleek device, staring long and hard into it even as it dimmed, breath heavy through his nose.
"He's just a friend, Ichigo. A friend I made all on my own, and not because I know you."
"Fuckin' asshole." Throwing her phone to the floor, its rough landing muffled by the carpeting, Ichigo turned himself before dropping back down into the mattress, hugging Rukia's sleeping form closer to himself, her body curling further into his warmth.
Nose buried into her hair, Ichigo forced his eyes to close, breathing in her scent.
"He's just a friend, Ichigo."
Five days later.
"Chappy is cancelled?"
"Thank fuckin'- ow." Rubbing his jaw, Ichigo went back to the television's channel guide, Rukia settling back down against his chest, pouting as she wrapped her arms around him; "There goes my morning…."
Ichigo frowned as he scrolled through the guide, eyeing her smaller body lying on top of his, her shirt barely reaching the curve of her hips, her bare legs tangled with his, rubbing against his sweat pants' warm material.
"Damn, if only you had a boyfriend to spend your time with instead, in light of this let down."
She dug her nails into his sides with a small laugh, burying her nose into him, groaning before she mumbled against him; "Make it better, Ichigo."
His thumb held still a moment or two before pressing down again, continuing to scroll with furrowed brows.
"…is this a trick, Kuchiki? Trying to make me look bad-?"
Rukia pushed off his chest up onto her hands, untangling her legs from his to straddle his hips, curious, amber eyes looking up at her as she leaned over to graze her lips along his ear; "We'll both look bad, Kurosaki."
It's been days- the remote dropping to the floor, Ichigo shot up to meet her lips roughly, pulling her down with him back into the cushions, delving deep into her mouth for her addictive taste as he turned them over, blindly shoving off the throw pillows around them; fisting up his orange mane, dragging a hand down to pull at his shirt, Rukia wrapped her legs around his hips, gasping for breath when he pulled away.
Ichigo sat back on his knees, arms crossing themselves to grip the hem of his shirt, taking off the cotton in one, swift movement and throwing it wherever it may land. He dove for her lips hungrily, kissing her hard as she pulled him even closer, lips moving against each other with a burning fervor, grinding his hips against her.
He bit down hard at her lip for a moan before pushing off them, leaning back in to suckle her injured lips, their breaths heavy, panting for air whenever he let them; "Fuckin' hell I've needed you."
Rukia grinned wickedly as she moved up to meet his lips, tracing her tongue along his lip. Her hand running up his neck into his mane, she pulled at his hair enough to pull him back, falling back into the couch and looking up at him, her legs tightening around his hips.
Amber eyes looked between her violet hues, her stray bang teasing the tip of her nose, lips parted ever so slightly. She reached up and dragged her thumb across his lip, eyes bright looking up at him.
"Show me."
He would have taken her breath away again had he not lost his- "Nyan, nyan, nyan, nyan-nyan-nyan-nyan-!"
Ichigo stared in near horror at the iPhone vibrating about the coffee table, the dark wood making it louder, that wretched cat thing looping as the caller insisted, his reaper slapping a hand over her cheek and pulling at it with a groan; "I can't believe he actually set it as his ringtone-!"
His gaze struck hers, brows heavy.
"He? Are you talking about Usui?"
Rukia looked at him with regretful eyes, slowly nodding, frowning when he tore himself from her, standing up with his hands buried deep in his orange hair.
"Ichigo, he was just joking about it and I thought he was also joking about setting it-."
"Nyan, nyan, nyan-nyan-nyan, nyan nyan, nyan-nyan-nyan!"
He shook his head, her phone quieting down abruptly before beeping a short notification on its dimming screen.
Usui Naoya Missed Call
Rukia ran a hand through her raven tresses, sitting at their couch's edge; "Ichigo, it's nothing-."
"Nyan, nyan, nyan, nyan-nyan-nyan-nyan-!"
She looked at him as he turned, his jaw tight above crossed arms, amber eyes moving their gaze onto her phone vibrating across the table top, creeping towards the edge.
"Answer him."
Huffing out a breath, a weak shake of her head, Rukia leaned over and snatched her phone off the table, her thumb hovering over Answer with hesitance, feeling his heavy stare on her.
Rukia sighed, pressing down on her screen and raising it to her ear; "...hey, Usui-kun."
Ichigo kept silent as he watched her, his reiatsu slowly growing heavy. Rukia glanced up at him, eyes strained.
"Well, no, I was going to stay home today with- …h-hai, of course. I'll head over then…."
She muttered a bye, hanging up and looking over at Ichigo, biting her lip; "We have a quiz tomorrow, and I'm confident in it so they all want to study with me-."
Ichigo was at their bedroom door before she could do anything about it, grabbing the handle and shoving it open, slamming it shut behind him.
Slumping over her forehead into her hands, Rukia closed her eyes with a tired sigh, her phone ringing shortly.
See you soon, Rukia-san.
Eight days later.
They were under the blooming sakuras studying, the birds' play within their branches dropping petals and pollen into their hair, Inoue smiling softly as Ichigo reached up into Rukia's raven tresses, brushing out bits with a small grin.
Chad had a harder time, his loose curls hiding it all.
"Ichigo! I picked my first quiz today, look at it!" A paper shoved onto his open text, Ichigo picked up the sheet covered in her neater writing he knew all too well, a '15/15' at the top of the page; "Wow, short-stuff. Who'd you copy off of now in this school?"
Their friends laughed as Rukia's small fist punched his shoulder, their male quick to wrap an arm around her, pulling her close and keeping her still, violet eyes glaring up at him.
Ichigo tugged at her bang, her quiz held in his lap as he looked over it again.
"My old man would put this on the fridge…."
Violet eyes softened, looking to Inoue and Chad across the table, smiling at them; "How are your classes, Inoue, Sado?"
Chad raised his pen, nodding once with a simple 'good, Kuchiki-san.' Inoue beamed across the table, clapping her hands together and about to answer her when crisp blades of grass folded beneath steps, the four students looking up as Usui walked up beside them; "Usui-kun!"
"Rukia-san, good morning. How'd you do on our quiz?"
Taking her paper from Ichigo before he could shove it away, Rukia handed it over to her blonde classmate, grinning proudly.
"I got full marks, just like Mika-san. What about you?"
"Ah- full marks, as well, thanks to you, of course…."
His handsome smile made Inoue blush, looking away from the strange male, her gaze falling on Ichigo. He had dropped his arm from Rukia's frame, arms crossed on the table and looking away, scowling like the days in high school when he sat too close to Keigo.
She looked over at Chad, the gentle giant silent and reading again, keeping out of it all.
Inoue frowned, looking back at the chatting pair.
"Well, I'll just see you in class, but… why don't you walk with me, make sure no one harasses-?"
"I walk her to class, she's perfectly fine." The air was tense at Ichigo's snap, his eyes now burning into Usui's, his reiatsu weighing down on the oblivious male.
Holding Ichigo's stare, Rukia frowning uncomfortably between them, Usui nodded, handing Rukia back her quiz; "Hai, I suppose she would be, long as you decide not punch any walls beside her head…."
Violet eyes were wide as she stared up at him, Chad immediately on his feet as Ichigo bolted up onto his, amber eyes dark behind bangs, staring long and hard at him, fists clenched as he tried to hold his reiatsu.
They held silent long enough for Inoue and Rukia to stand, burnt-orange hair whirling as Inoue rounded the table and stood by Ichigo's shoulder, eyes heavy as they looked to the offending male, Rukia's gaze moving off Ichigo onto Usui-
"You need to go, Usui."
The slightest of smirks pulled at his handsome features, Ichigo's reiatsu flaring dangerously. Bowing his head to the petite female before him, Usui turned his hips, glancing back at her; "Just looking after you, Rukia-san. Call if he loses his temper again."
Ichigo held at the hand Rukia slammed against his tight abdomen, trembling angrily at her pleading 'don't, Ichigo….'
He dropped his gaze, feeling Inoue's gentle hand on his back, hearing Chad's heavy steps before he dropped his hefty hand on his shoulder, gripping and releasing his tense muscles.
Rukia watched Usui walk away, her gorgeous features heavy.
Grey eyes looked up as his open textbook was slammed shut, finding violet staring down at him within her loose, raven tresses.
"Rukia-san, did he do something again-?"
"He will never hurt me, Usui. Don't insult him again."
Her blonde classmate frowned, their lecture hall beginning to fill, Rukia standing within the row of seats beside his desk, bag still slung over her shoulder .
"That's not what Mika and the others thought, nor countless others who saw. I like you, Rukia-san, I won't let you get hurt-."
"Ichigo protects me. I don't need you, or anyone else, keeping me safe from him."
She pushed off his textbook, turning and carefully walking through the narrow space between rows, making her way a few rows back. It was obvious she wasn't going to sit next to him today, an irritated huff leaving him as Mika and his other friends came down his other side, curious eyes following after Rukia.
"Naoya-kun, what happened? Why isn't she sitting with us?"
Usui leaned back in his seat as they dropped their bags into their own, resting his chin on his hand, gaze heavy as he stared at the immense board up head. Rubbing at his lip, Usui turned his eyes onto Mika, her green eyes filled with worry.
"Was it that guy again?"
"No, but he could be…."
Ugh, I hope it's fine. I need new glasses, my eyes are getting worse by the day. If I made any horrible mistakes, please point them out in detail so that this blind bat can find them :P
Again, thank you. You are all so fuckin' great.
Much love, KurosakiLove