Chapter 28: Telephone
HI EVERYONE! It's me, KurosakiLove! :D Ahhh, I cannot believe how long it's been since I've been able to personally upload my chapter and write this! If it weren't for my Ky-Ky, we'd be far behind (: He's been simply one of the greatest friends someone can have...
Well, I'm currently not deathly sick :D Just sick, haha. And sweet, sweet, sweet Ky-Ky had gone on and bought me a laptop... which got lost in the mail I suppose, and he is now raging about it over the phone with customer service :D So, how am I typing up a chapter myself and uploading it, here having a somewhat ramble? I came to visit him and steal his bead, laptop and internet. No shame. (:
I want to go on and on and on and just talk forever! But this chapter, is something somewhat big... I told myself the time to end this story is near, so I'm proud I've written what I have in this chapter, though I myself am surprised at what came out. I hope it all stays true to Telephone because you all deserve no less. I, can't even describe how I feel, reading your messages and reviews during my absence myself, and your kind welcome and thanks to my dear friend... I'm crying like an idiot and I'm so happy to! I want to thank you with my work, so I really really hope you enjoy this chapter, and feel the sense of closure building up as I did...
Please tell me your thoughts, your opinion, your favorite parts, the worst parts, simply everything! I'm so flattered by your support, I don't think I could have continued writing in my hard times without you all. I really, have a special fondness for you all.
Thank you, and I hope to see you all until the end, and beyond that.
Here is Chapter 28, the beginning to the end.
Edit/ 10:50am: Oh my goodness, Telephone was nominated on a blog for Best IchiRuki Fanfiction! xD Does this often happen? I never knew readers and writers did these :D Is it sad I'm excited? LOL, I'm going to go force Ky to wake up and see this ! ! ! :D There's good choices on the poll (: http dot ichirukilove dot wordpress dot com
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."
She immediately recognized the smooth voice, looking up at him with narrowed eyes against the bright sun, pushing herself up to lean back on her hands. Slinging his bag over his head for the strap to cross his chest, Usui crouched down beside the petite raven, grey eyes looking at her above a smirk; "You look cute with that look on your face, you know. Thinking of someone I know?"
Rukia's eyes widened, feeling a fierce, angry blush burn her skin, Mika's sudden snap from her side startling them both-
"Yeah- probably her fuckin' boyfriend, Naoya."
Mika groaned as she pushed off her stomach to sit back on her knees, brushing off the grass from her clothes, looking to the blonde male with hard, green eyes.
She may have well had 'irritated' written across her forehead; "Seriously, saying that to her will get your face broken."
Usui simply ignored her, turning his gaze back on Rukia, shifting his weight on his heels with arms crossed over his knees.
"You wouldn't hit me, now would you, Rukia?"
Her reiatsu flared irritably, running a hand through her hair as she looked to the single wooden arch making way into the garden, wondering how long they had before Ichigo would come and raise hell itself for finding Usui there, talking so casually to the noble heiress.
She simply didn't want to deal with it today. Rukia looked at Usui, her features cold like that of her brother; "I might not, but Ichigo would without a single hesitance, Usui. I thought it was clear we're just friends. Don't ruin it…."
Anger flashed across his features, a look she was not familiar with from him, at all. Usui rubbed at his chin as he stared at her, feeling Mika's eyes on him as she sat silently, tense and wary of one of her closest friends.
There was something about that low laugh he gave them, shaking his head, scratching at his ear. Usui looked back into violet, smirking again.
"Admitting how violent your boyfriend is can only make us men worry about you, Kuchiki-san. See you tomorrow."
He stood in one swift move, dusting at the dirt he didn't have across his thighs, looking at her one more time before turning and walking away, Rukia's troubled glance following him.
Mika sighed as she glared at the back of his head, turning to Rukia as he stepped out of the garden, out of sight.
"Naoya's been my friend since grade school," she muttered, falling back onto her hands like Rukia, lips pursed beneath narrowed eyes; "but sometimes, I just want to punch that pretty face of his."
Yuzu, at the gate. See you in ten?
Already getting my books
Her locker clicked shut, running a hand through her long, thick hair. Biting her lip, Yuzu opened her contact list, a quick scroll of the screen letting her find Rukia, her thumb hovering over her screen.
What the hell would I even say-?
Yuzu jumped at the sharp smack against her bare thigh, scowling weakly as she realized it was Karin wrapping her arms around her waist, her breath warm as she ghosted her lips over Yuzu's ear; "Stop looking like you're about to have your first time as a hooker."
Yuzu rolled her eyes as Karin let go of her, snickering, stepping around Yuzu to lean against the lockers, dark eyes on her twin.
"Saw your boy from the window on my way down. Get going already."
"I am… what are you gonna do? Home or the field?" Yuzu let her screen dim, slipping her iPhone into her backpack, arms crossed beneath her breasts.
"I was thinking field. Anyways, get your sweet ass moving already before I kick it for you."
Muttering beneath her breath, Yuzu glared at Karin in farewell, ignoring Karin's smirk as she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, heading out towards the main gate beyond the double doors.
Lips dropping, Karin sighed, hitching her duffle higher up onto her shoulder; "Find out if he's your smile, Yuzu…."
The door was rattled in its frame, muffled cussing disturbing the silence within the apartment; pushing Ichigo aside, Rukia took the key shoved forcibly into the lock, turning it with little effort and turning the handle, the door swinging open almost with grace.
She gave Ichigo a pointed look, her tall shinigami scowling menacingly.
"Whatever! The door fucking hates me, we all know this since I've moved in here!"
He followed her inside, kicking the door shut behind him, Rukia rounding her gaze on him before leaning over and unzipping her boots; "Maybe because you kick and slam it all the time? I'm surprised your neighbors haven't complained about you."
Hands in his jeans, Ichigo took on a sly smirk, his amber eyes bright beneath his orange bangs teasing his cheeks, stepping on the back of his shoe to slip it off as he watched her pull at her boots.
"If they haven't complained about our rounds of sex, I doubt they'll- fuck!"
Ichigo rubbed at the sting her boot left on his shoulder, still smirking as she glared at him, his reaper leaning over again to take off her other boot. Kicking off his second shoe, Ichigo shuffled into his kitchen.
The fridge and freezer were pulled open, respectively; both making him glare as he looked over the items, not a single piece of food or drink tempting his taste, his stomach ending its bouts of hunger and deciding, as he had, I'm not fuckin' hungry anymore.
Giving up, Ichigo quickly side-stepped the island and avoided another bruise to his hip, rounding the breakfast counter and stepping over their bags and shoes, finding his petite reaper making for the couch, arms stretched up above her head to reveal skin along her jeans' hem.
They stood in front of it some seconds before dropping into it carelessly, practically moaning as their bodies were cradled by the cushions. Rubbing at his eyes, Rukia hugging a throw pillow to her stomach, Ichigo looked over at her and watched her eyes fight the weight of exhaustion, parted lips softly blowing at her bang with every breath, her black hair framing her beautiful features.
He felt his chest tighten, lifting a foot onto the couch's edge, scratching at his knee; "Is Mika coming over tonight, too?"
Rukia shook her head, turning her head to rest her cheek against the couch, looking back into amber with violet.
"She and Chad have their own plans tonight. I think Inoue said she's not coming over, either."
Ichigo raised a brow at her, the lightest of scowls pulling at his lips. Chad hadn't mentioned anything to him, the orange-haired male looking away as he rested his head back, staring at the large television before him. His reiatsu searched out Rukia's, feeling hers low and close to her body, tired.
He rubbed at his neck, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at his television; "We have the rest of the day to ourselves…."
Rukia hesitated before she nodded, staring at the handsome hue of beige the cushions had, her neat brows furrowed in near disbelief.
"When was the last time we had this?"
"Like, two fuckin' months ago." Ichigo scowled as he thought over the time, days and nights filled with either studying or sleeping, some Sundays even tainted and spent with textbooks and coffee instead of movies and pointless napping.
When did school start being so demanding?
Sighing almost dejectedly, Ichigo continued staring at his television, features slowly relaxing as they sat together in silence.
A few minutes had passed when Ichigo turned to look at her, reaching over and running his hand over her thigh, moving up high on her leg and curling into the warmth of her inner thigh, successfully pulling her attention onto him; "…what?"
"…wanna nap?"
His raven broke out into a grin, her laughter small and bright, grabbing his hand at her thigh and pulling him towards her, mouths catching each other clumsily.
Ichigo pulled away and she looked up at him, her handsome male tearing off his sweater and tossing it aside, suddenly grabbing her however he could, the noble heiress nearly squealing as he hugged her against himself, throwing their bodies down into the cushions.
"Ichigo, you fool!" She couldn't help the laughter gently shaking her shoulders, her hair splayed out about her as she laid there, her smaller body beneath his as he held his weight over her, violet eyes bright as they looked up at him, her male laying on his side up on his elbow. A smile teased his features as Ichigo gazed down at her, reaching up to brush her bangs aside, tugging at the strand between her eyes. His fingertips moved to her cheek, lightly tracing the soft curve down into her jaw, moving over her lips; "Missed this…."
Confusion flashed within her eyes, Rukia's brows furrowing lightly, Ichigo's fingers tracing just along her bottom lip.
"Missed what? What do you mean-?"
Rukia's breath caught as he leaned down, pressing his lips against hers as his thumb coaxed her chin down to part her lips, tongue slipping past to slowly caress hers, his hand moving to cradle her jaw.
They moved together slowly and deliberately, every bit of her lips against his, tongues teasing each other softly.
She was losing her breath, yet she circled an arm around his neck, burying her hand into his orange mane, her other clutching at his shirt, pulling him closer.
Ichigo broke away from her, their breath heavy and shallow, teasing each other's skin as he ghosted his lips over hers, their eyes still hidden from one another. He nipped at her lips, opening his eyes with her, running his reiatsu over her, smoothing out their breaths.
Rukia pressed her hand to his forehead, brushing back his hair and combing her fingers through it, running her hand back down to his temple and turning her hand to caress his skin by its back.
She smiled as he pushed into her hand, his amber eyes closing, reiatsu gentle all about her, engulfing her own.
Rukia carefully nudged his arm out from underneath him, Ichigo moving to rest his larger body against her, his arm wrapped around his petite reaper. He folded an arm beneath his head, Rukia's body molded into his, her leg thrown over his hip and holding him close.
Ichigo drew mindless patterns along her hip, breathing out a laugh as her eyes fought to stay on him, nuzzling her forehead; "Get some sleep, midget…."
He grinned as she pinched his side, listening as her breathing grew slow and soft, her hand clutching where she had pinched him.
Ichigo closed his eyes, burying his nose into her crown.
"Hey, Ryuu…."
Yuzu bit her lip as her soft voice drew his gaze over onto her, a handsome smile immediately at his lips; "Yuzu, didn't see you."
Pushing off the gate, Ryuu walked the few steps between them, hand at her waist as he leaned in and kissed her cheek, Yuzu taking in a shaken breath as she closed her eyes to his lingering kiss, finding herself leaning into him.
What the hell was I thinking, being afraid?
She felt him pull away, opening her eyes to look up at him, her senior's gaze on the building behind her.
"Where's Karin?"
Yuzu bit her lip again, brown eyes bright as she looked over his handsome features, smiling at a leaf landing softly within his hair; "She went to the field, said we should just go without her today."
Ryuu's tore his gaze off the building, looking down at his sophomore as she reached up and brushed her fingers through his hair, laughing as the leaf fluttered out onto the ground below, dropping her hand to his arm, Ryuu's hand still at her waist.
He wasn't sure what he was looking for as he searched her eyes, his voice kept between them as students passed them, looking at the expelled senior and Kurosaki's little sister.
"You're okay coming over?"
His chest tightened at her light laughter, Yuzu's hand coming up and taking a grab of his collared shirt by his chest, a playful glare from her beautiful eyes long gone of their childish roundness making him step closer, his hand gently gripping her waist-
"I'm Kurosaki's little sister, Nakamura-kun- I can kick your face if you pull anything I don't like."
Ryuu laughed through a smile he couldn't hold back, quickly leaning in to peck at her cheek, nuzzling her soft skin with a nod, grabbing her waist with both hands and pulling her a step closer than they've ever been; "Good."
From: Sado Chad
Not sure what to wear.
From: Sado Chad
Don't laugh.
Ichigo woke to his cell phone vibrating against his hip, groaning as he shoved his hand into his pocket and dug it out. Tapping the screen with his thumb, Ichigo twisted the slightest bit away from his sleeping reaper, holding his Torch to the open air.
He read his texts, snorting lightly with laughter.
To: Sado Chad
This is so weird
From: Sado Chad
Your turn.
"Ah." His closest friend was right, Ichigo dropping his head back down as he moved back to how he had been lying, his arm wrapping over Rukia's back with his phone in hand, looking at her. She slept with parted lips to breathe in softly, her hair hiding most of her face from him.
Ichigo raised his phone just over her shoulder, keeping to the touch-keyboard so that he wouldn't wake her with the clicking of the keypad.
To: Sado Chad
Least I didn't make you choose my outfits ha ha
He started up a new text, truly going through all the things he can remember Chad wearing, giving him possible combinations. Ichigo figured he owed him at least this, given all the battles Chad followed him into… and he didn't have four years to build up to this.
Amber eyes looked at Rukia, realizing how much harder it could have been for-
Message saved in drafts
From: Sado Chad
Well, they never stay on long.
To: Sado Chad
Oi!
Yuzu's eyes were wide as she looked around, Ryuu chuckling behind her as he closed the door, walking up to stand at her shoulder.
Spinning his keys by his ring finger, Ryuu looked around, as well, wondering when his home stopped feeling exactly that- like home; "This is my parent's house, sweetness. What do you think?"
Opening her mouth, Yuzu closed it, taking one more look around before turning back to him.
"It's… why the hell are you at a public school?"
They stood in a modest foyer, a coat hanger and slim table beneath a large mirror the only furnishings; but steps started the family room, for its ceiling shot up beyond that of the foyer, its walls a clean white, decorated by elegant, traditional paintings and tapestries, the rugs clean and immense, not a single device of entertainment in sight.
A sliding door closed off the rest of his house.
Ryuu ran a hand through his hair, looking around, Yuzu's eyes on him; "Well… soccer means a lot to me."
Yuzu's features fell into a blank look, her senior coughing uncomfortably as he stared ahead, pushing his hands deeper into his pockets.
"Well, your brother didn't end up captain at a private school, did he?"
Yuzu's eyes grew wide, breathing out a laugh as her boyfriend fought back a blush, her arms crossing beneath her chest, looking at him; "You went to public for Ichi-nii?"
"Yeah," Ryuu nodded, "I switched into Karakura when I heard Kurosaki made captain. I had spent all of middle school watching him help Karin at the park. Knew I could learn a lot from him…."
"I thought you felt the same way as the rest of the guys on the team, with how tough he was on all of you."
Ryuu looked right at her, eyes locked with hers as they stood in the foyer. His looked almost sorry, she noticed, as he sighed and nodded; "He was nothing like I imagined. Having him as captain was really rough, but it still got me the scholarship-."
"Scholarship? You have a scholarship for college? Why didn't you tell me-?"
Realization slowly swept her features, Yuzu giving him a look that he felt could have hurt more than a slug from her brother himself. Ryuu immediately turned to face her, grabbing her shoulders as she had made to step away, leaning to level his eyes with hers.
"Yuzu, it's not your fault I lost it-."
"You broke his jaw because he bad-mouthed us, Ryuu!"
Ryuu pulled her closer, his eyes firm as he looked right at her, gripping her shoulders; "He insulted you. He insulted my captain, and he insulted you. How could you expect me to have let him-!"
"It was your future! Damn your pride-!"
He shook his head, his hands letting go of her shoulders to cradle either side of her jaw, holding her gaze on him as he stepped close, brown eyes looking up at him- "You are my pride, Kurosaki."
To: Tatsuki-chan
I'm outside, Tatsuki-chan!
Setting down her bag, Inoue pulled herself up onto the garden wall leveled at her hips, smiling as she lightly kicked her feet to the air, enjoying the sun touching the bare skin of her legs and arms, her dark, orange hair catching its rays.
She can hear the shouts of command and obedience from within, the dojo surrounded by a slim garden lined by the cement wall she sat on, the curvaceous ally to the shinigami smiling as she recognized Tatsuki's voice through the open windows.
Inoue watched people walk by, many men and women in crisp suits and carrying briefcases, taxis pulling off and on along the curb.
She looked up to the tall, majestic buildings, windows reflecting each other and the sky, planes passing over head. Inoue sighed as she closed eyes, remembering the buildings she once thought to be so immense back in Karakura.
"Never would have thought I'd be in the city…."
She remembered the day she stood in her empty apartment back home, only her clothes and personal belongings boxed and piled at the door, all her furniture and kitchenware left in place.
Inoue had decided 'last minute,' some three days before, that she'd follow Ichigo to the city as she had into Soul Society, and accepted her enrollment into the university, gladly packing up her life and moving out of Karakura.
Grey eyes opened to the sky, frowning.
"So much has changed… for you and Kuchiki-san." She was happy having Tatsuki with her again, living together. And yet….
"Orihime!" She jumped at Tatsuki's loud voice, looking over to the dojo's door to find Tatsuki closing it, grinning at her busty friend as she uncapped a water bottle; "Sorry you had to wait. You hungry?"
Slipping off the garden's wall and picking up her bag, Inoue smiled, nodding as she walked over beside Tatsuki, keeping pace beside her as they made towards their apartment, swiping at the air with a victorious 'v' with her fingers.
"I have a coupon for the remodeled restaurant three blocks down from Kurosaki-kun's!"
Tatsuki hummed with a swig of her water, scrunching her nose as she tried to remember the restaurant she could be talking about; "I don't think I know which one… then again, last time I was on Ichigo's block-."
I was underneath their bed while they fucked.
The martial artist cringed, taking another drink of her water, Inoue glancing at her as they stood by the curb, waiting to cross.
"It was a while ago, huh... And well, it's not like we spent any time outside of the apartment-."
"I-Ichi-go! Ich-!"
Tatsuki shut her eyes tight, lying on her back beneath the large bed, hands covering her mouth from letting out another gasp… but she wondered if getting caught could be worse than witnessing- "Ah-h!"
Biting her lip, Tatsuki slapped her hands over her ears, still hearing Rukia's moans, tears pushing past her clenched eyes as she still heard Ichigo's own moan of pleasure.
'Please stop, please stop-!'
Inoue frowned as Tatsuki paled, her lean friend clenching her eyes shut as they stepped off the curb, taking deep breaths.
"Tatsu-chan, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I-I'm just hungry. Anyways, how about we drop that stupid night and tell me about mid-terms?"
Inoue's eyes brightened, hooking her arm around Tatsuki's as they stepped up onto the sidewalk; "Oh, I think I did really well, Tatsuki-chan! The first one-."
Tatsuki nodded and smiled as they walked through the city, looking at Inoue and the suited pedestrians and university students… and wondering if she belonged lost amongst the city crowd, miniscule against the towering buildings.
This isn't home, even if Ichigo and Inoue are here….
So… how's it going with Naka-face?
Yuzu's legs were crossed at her ankles, bending a leg so that her foot rested by her knee, leaning an arm over her bent one; tugging at her uniform's bow, Yuzu loosened its neat form, looking up as Ryuu closed the refrigerator, walking over to her place on the cold, tiled floor.
She was leaning against the Nakamura's beautiful, spacious kitchen's island, watching Ryuu cross his legs and lower himself to the floor beside her, leaning back with a sigh. He uncapped the bottle of water in hand, handing it over to her; "Sorry about that…."
A smile tugged at Yuzu's lips, brown eyes looking at him as she took the bottle, feminine fingers grazing his.
"Nothing to be sorry about, really…."
Ryuu rested his head back against the cherry wood of the kitchen island, staring ahead at the matching cabinets beneath the marble counter.
"It's just that, my parents, as much as they don't spend their time at home… they taught me love does still exist. And then, all my private teachers and tutors, and then at Karakura, taught me everything I know… and your brother- he, he taught me that life is not easy.
"Kurosaki-san," he continued, Yuzu listening quietly beside him; "he taught me to take risks and fight for what I thought was right, and for what I wanted."
The senior grew quiet, remembering all the times Ichigo pushed him to keep drilling, yelling at him to man up and keep practicing, rain or shine. He turned his gaze onto Yuzu's beside him, reaching over and touching the back of his hand against hers.
"That day I decided to go up to you and ask you out, was because of everything I had learned up to that point, both on and off the field. You were finally my one act of everything they taught me… my parents and your brother, especially."
They sat quietly for some time, Yuzu's brown eyes looking into darker hues and gazing over his young, handsome features, moving her hand to gently fall into his.
Yuzu didn't know what to say; so she slowly leaned up, her senior immediately meeting her in a kiss.
To: Kuchiki Rukia
In case you wake up- went for food.
Rukia groaned as she let her iPhone drop to the soft carpeting, rolling over onto her back on the couch, kicking off the blanket Ichigo had draped over her.
Rubbing her eyes, Rukia looked to the door as Ichigo's muffled cursing carried through-
"Sonovabitch-ass door-!"
Rukia snickered as Ichigo managed to push through, his amber eyes immediately glaring at her amused reiatsu and smirk within.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Kuchiki. See if I feed you."
He felt violet eyes watch him toss the keys aside, kicking off his shoes before pushing the door shut, running a hand through his mane as he lifted up a brown McDonald's bag, brow raised in question; "Hungry, short-stuff?"
His reaper nodded, beckoning Ichigo over as she continued on the couch, her hair spilling over its edge. Ichigo walked over to her, setting the bag of food down on the coffee table; sitting down on the edge, Ichigo leaned over Rukia, reaching over and combing his fingers through her hair, amber eyes moving onto hers.
"You know it's only five?"
Rukia groaned, closing her eyes as he continued running his hand through her tresses; "I'm itching to grab my books…."
Ichigo breathed out a laugh, leaning down and pressing a chaste kiss to her lips, grinning against them when she grabbed a fistful of his orange mane, keeping him from pulling away and molding their mouths together again.
They shared a few caresses of their tongues, her male pulling away with a tug of her lip by his teeth. Straightening up, Ichigo pulled her up with him, his reaper sitting up with wild tresses she immediately pulled up into a clip.
"What did you bring to eat?"
Heading home, going to the grocery for tonight's dinner though. Be there in like 40
Uh you don't need to head to the grocery….
What did you do to my kitchen? !
Yuzu and Ryuu stepped into her home to the kitchen's radio on blast, the senior high students raising a brow to the familiar music she often heard from Rukia's iPhone, two voices she knew all too well belting out lyrics at the top of their lungs-
"Yeah, here we go for the hundredth time! Hand grenade pins in every line! Throw 'em up and let something shine-!"
Yuzu glanced at Ryuu with an incredulous look, her senior only shrugging with hands raised in innocence as the singing continued on with "Going out of my fuckin' mind! Filthy mouth-!"
Shoes slipped off, leaving Ryuu in the living room, Yuzu rounded into the kitchen, brown eyes wide as its inhabitants suddenly froze, Kurosaki Isshin and Karin staring back with mouths wide open in mid singing; pots and pans cooking on the stove, with knives and spatulas in hand as the radio continued on without them.
Yuzu looked around the lively, messy kitchen, staring at her father with tomato sauce staining his clothes except the apron, Karin beside him with her hair pulled up into a messy bun… a ladle acting as the chopsticks they sometimes stuck through their hair.
The young chef gaped, feeling Ryuu come up behind her; "What on earth are you two doing?"
Both raven-haired Kurosaki members puffed out their cheeks, pointing accusing fingers at each other.
"He cried until I joined in on it." "She threatened me into it."
Yuzu couldn't help the laugh, raising her hands to her temples and pressing two fingers against them, trying to put together her thoughts; "I… I, don't think I've… wow."
Karin shrugged, continuing to dice the vegetables she had on the white chop-board, her father grinning enthusiastically. He meant to invite his youngest to join them, but his bright eyes caught sight of the bemused male behind her.
"Well, now… who's this?"
The kitchen grew silent aside from the music still playing at its highest, Karin biting back a devious smile as she simply glanced up a few times from her dicing, Yuzu's words caught in her throat as she turned to look at her senior, the two sharing a glance too short for her to guess his thoughts.
Ryuu stepped around the sophomore, coming up to the oldest Kurosaki male, somehow knowing he wasn't the one he should be worried about, reaching out a hand; "Nakamura Ryuu, Kurosaki-sama. It's nice to meet you."
Isshin wiped his hands on a towel, turning to the young senior and grasping his hand with his own, firmly shaking his hand.
Coming up beside Ryuu, Karin keeping to herself, Yuzu bit her lip as she watched her father and boyfriend straighten out, her brown eyes looking up at Isshin. He didn't turn back to the cooking, looking at the two expectantly.
She made to speak, Ryuu circling his arm around her waist as he met Isshin's eyes- "I've been dating Yuzu, Kurosaki-sama, and I want to properly ask your permi-."
"Great, my boy!" Isshin caught the pair off guard, coming over and stepping between them, a hefty arm swung over Ryuu's shoulders and pulling him further into the kitchen; "Now, show me you can take care of her and maybe I won't tell my boy Ichigo!"
Karin snickered as Ryuu's eyes flashed with alarm, shoved toward the counter with the apron chucked at his head, the senior stuttering with confusion as he looked around, a large dinner already started.
"W-wait, what-?" "Dad, what are you doing to him-!"
Isshin slapped a hand to Ryuu's shoulder, gripping it firmly as he hugged Yuzu to his side, beaming a smile shamelessly; "Cook, my boy! We'll see if it's any good. Let us know when you finish!"
He turned with Yuzu tight in his embrace, her brown eyes looking back into nearly horrified eyes of her boyfriend, Karin shaking her head with a smile. Yuzu was led out into the living room, her father listing off movies they could watch in the meantime.
Looking down at the counter, swallowing uncomfortably, Ryuu looked over at Karin, the raven beauty scoffing as she motioned at the counter with a carrot; "Don't look at me for any help. I can't cook for shit."
Karin bit into the carrot, turning from him before taking a knife to the crisp vegetable.
Ryuu stared at the wall in front of him, lips pulled tight, the radio still blaring loudly from beside the stove.
"Fuck."
To: Sado Chad
You alive, man?
From: Sado Chad
Not sure if I'm losing at billiards on purpose.
To: Sado Chad
She's very likely kicking your ass all on her own.
Ichigo frowned as ketchup covered his fries, his petite reaper lightly bouncing her leg draped lazily over his crossed leg, her violet eyes bright as they watched Nanny 911, a translated marathon oddly having caught her attention.
Rukia leaned over and took another fry from his pile, sitting back as she glared ahead, a family of eight introducing their chaos; "Parasites, the lot of them…. Look at the walls they've covered with marker!"
Biting into his burger, Ichigo licked the corner of his lip, moving his arm to rest along the couch behind her, watching the kids throw blocks at the worn-looking mother on screen.
"They remind me of you- ow, fuck!"
She had rammed an elbow effortlessly into his side, turning her attention back onto the television with a straight back and graceful brush of her hair behind her ear, raising her own burger to her lips. They sat in silence for some time, Rukia eating his fries as he slowly had at it with his burger, kids on screen screaming and yelling.
Ichigo almost didn't hear Rukia, her voice low and soft; "What were you thinking, that day at the pharmacy getting the pill? With what the old man said…?"
Chewing what he had bitten, Ichigo swallowed roughly, brows furrowed slightly as he thought over her question, glancing over at her sitting beside him. His arm lifted off the cushions behind her, scratching at his ear.
"I don't really remember, didn't really take it personally since it's not like you can have them… fuckin' shit, what's wrong?"
Ichigo had caught the flash of something in her gorgeous features, leaning over as she hotly denied anything, dropping his burger on the paper bag. He turned his body towards her, his arm behind her reaching up and touching the back of his fingers to her crown; "Where is this going, Kuchiki?"
His reaper huffed, watching as the lady with a highly professional look coached the distressed parents, the children looking up at them in tears during a tantrum. Rukia dropped her gaze, her neat brows furrowed in thought.
"So despite us being on protection, you've set yourself on the idea that you won't have any children if we stay together… and you're alright with that?"
Ichigo's reiatsu unintentionally flared, his reply coming out as a snap; "Well, yeah, because we are going to stay together!"
Rukia's eyes were on him, her orange-haired male instantly bowing his head and cussing himself, looking back into violet eyes, hesitating as he found them soft.
"D-Didn't mean to say it like that… not that I'm planning our wedding or any shit like that…."
'Shit like that.' Rukia let a smile tease her lips, nodding as she dropped her gaze from him onto her lap, fingers twisting about each other. Clearing his throat, the faintest of a red burning his skin, Ichigo looked at her profile, his hand on her crown giving her a small caress; "…I'm alright not having any plans for a kid, midget…."
Rukia bit her lip, staring hard at her hands in her lap.
Rukia practically heaved for air as she fell against the boulder, her entire being shaking and trembling, struggling to keep her grip on her zanpaktou as he appeared before her, robes settling down from the speed of his flash step.
'Kuso.'
"Well, you held up better than I expected you to, Kuchiki-san. How are you feeling?"
Wiping her brow, Rukia gave him a menacing glare, tightening her hand about the hilt of her loyal blade; "What the hell does this have to do with what I came for? Do you know how embarrassing it was for me to even tell you-!"
"You are probably going through what Ichigo did the very first night he stood as a shinigami… probably close to how he felt during his first separation after you were taken…."
Urahara held silent, her attention on him, continuing; "Kurosaki Ichigo is human before anything else. The fact that you are having a painful release, struggling to move and breathe smoothly as you are…."
Rukia's glare gave in to confusion, Urahara swinging his slim blade from his cane's handle.
"Your first gigai, was meant to shelter the Hōgyoku for eternity. It would have been so within little time after you were taken back to Soul Society. As you learned, you were becoming human….
"Since that gigai was meant to turn you, Kuchiki-san; had you separated by a gikongan, you would have been able to even though you felt you couldn't, and only feel a slight difference. But now… your gigai was standard issue, of course. I've had no secrets from you since my endangerment to your life, Kuchiki-san."
"W-what are you saying-!"
He held fast to his blade, taking a step forth, his eyes shadowed from her violet hues struck with anxiety and confusion-
"Kuchiki-san… I think your soul had slowly started to bound to your body since your return. I think your 'first time' was truly this morning… I believe you are now human."
Raising her gaze onto him again, Rukia looked into amber with teasing bangs about his eyes, raising a hand across her chest and clutching her arm, the slightest lift to her body encouraging her.
Rukia took a silent, deep breath, holding his gaze.
"If you could, though, have a child… if I were to stay…." Rukia watched his eyes flash with understanding, her young male keeping silent as she pushed on; "…would you, Ichigo?"
His eyes narrowed ever so little, his hand caressing her crown again, his amber eyes never leaving her violet hues. Ichigo didn't answer her for a while, his voice lightly husked when he did-
"Yeah… I would have a little brat with you, if we wanted one."
Ichigo could see her shoulders relax, looking at her eyes brightening even as her beautiful features didn't betray her thoughts any further, her reiatsu flashing playfully again; "Never thought you'd be one to want one. Can't see you not scaring the poor thing with that scowl of yours."
Rukia slowly turned her attention back onto the television, the parents sitting down happily for a peaceful dinner with their six children and the nanny watching proudly, Ichigo smirking as he looked at her, tugging lightly at her hair.
"Just how I can't see you feeling sorry for the 'parasite,' anyways."
He softened his smirk at her smile she poorly fought back, his death god laughing with a shake of her head, her leg draped over his lap pushing closer to him as she smacked his firm abdomen weakly, Ichigo scowling exaggeratedly; "You know, you better work on your abusive habits with me. It's frowned upon to be so violent in front of the little twerps."
"Oh, shut up, Ichigo!" Rukia swatted him away as he ruffled her hair, her substitute shinigami leaning over and taking a fry from his pile, his reaper flaring her reiatsu as she glared- "Don't take my fries!"
"Really, Rukia!"
Karin shoved her father up the stairs, caring less for his protests as they left the pair alone, Ryuu stepping into his sneakers without unlacing them.
Checking his pockets for his key and Android, Ryuu smirked as Yuzu brushed her hand over his hair, laughing as she got the last of the flour he had managed to get into it. Moving to the door, Yuzu unlocked it and pulled it open to the night sky.
Ryuu stepped out beyond their home, turning back as Yuzu leaned against the frame, her smile wide as she looked up at him; "So I guess you'll have to break the news to Ichi-nii since my dad won't…."
The senior breathed out an uneasy laugh, scratching at the nape of his neck with tight lips, thinking back over the past three hours and wondering how the hell did I pull that off?
Despite Karin's teasing and sneaking random food into his cooking, he managed a decent meal he once prepared with his mother during his freshman year, Kurosaki Isshin booming with pride and demands for grand-children.
He shook his head, smiling at the first dinner he spent with her family- well, most of it- stepping in close to grip either side of the frame, dark hues on her.
Yuzu was a growing beauty, her eyes shaped with promise.
"We'll worry about writing my eulogy later. For now, have a good night, Kurosaki…."
He leaned in and captured her lips, mouths locked together gently, her senior pulling back to rest his forehead against hers, Yuzu's breath ghosting over his lips; "Goodnight, Nakamura."
Tatsuki and Inoue sat quietly on their couch, their small television on low volume, cups of warm tea in hand.
They sat in nothing but over-sized shirts, windows open to the comfortable night air, the city loud and awake behind them.
Inoue glanced down at her feet curled up onto the couch, her voice soft and small; "I still, feel very… strongly, about Kurosaki-kun."
Brown eyes glanced over at her, caught off guard as Inoue slowly brought herself to tell her how she felt about all this at last, Tatsuki holding back her breath, watching Inoue struggle with admitting it all.
"I really am happy for him, Tatsuki-chan. I can promise with all my heart that I am… and they've been so kind to me. This semester has been the sweetest and most honest Kurosaki-kun has been with me… and yet, it hurts to be there with them, in the end…."
Letting out a stuttering breath, Tatsuki leaned over and set her cup on the floor, straightening up and reaching over to grab Inoue's hand between hers, turning grey eyes onto her.
Tatsuki rubbed her thumbs over her soft skin, smiling gently.
"I think, you've secured something so much more precious, Hime… his friendship. Believe me… I once had it…."
Her eyes grew regretful as she bit her lip, Inoue's breath caught as she sadly watched her friend, gripping her hand tightly; "T-Tasuki-chan-."
"Come back home, with me, Hime?"
Inoue froze as she stared into brown, hopeful eyes, Tatsuki shifting closer to her on the couch, pulling their hands against her smaller chest; "You're almost done with the semester, and Ichigo found his place here. Let's go back, and find our own…."
Inoue's lip trembled and she brought a hand to her mouth, looking away.
"K-Kurosaki-kun… I got accepted into the same university-!"
"Kurosaki-kun is always on his cell with her…. He has really changed ever since we left in May…."
"Hime, a few text messages or phone calls doesn't call for such exaggeration-."
"No, Tatsuki-chan; I mean, he's truly always on his cell phone with her…." Inoue picked at the cup before her, Keigo and Tatsuki frowning at the female's sad gaze; "You can even ask Sado-kun…."
To: Tatsuki-chan
I don't think he feels at home with me around.
"Do you want me out of here that badly, Kurosaki-kun?"
"K-kuro-saki-kun! He, he and Kuchiki-san are toge-ther!"
Tatsuki's breath slowed as she stared at Inoue, eyes wide; "…they… when did they tell you this-?"
She was put off when Inoue huffed, suddenly standing, twisting her long locks of hair as she blindly paced the small room, fresh tears brimming her eyes. "They didn't tell me, Tatsuki-chan…," she confessed, her voice small; "I-I left classes earlier than usual, a-and I went in, and their… their clothes were everywhere-!"
"I know, of your feelings for me, Inoue. I know they are not easy for you to have."
"Hime, 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."
"You just wanted me to be happy… arigato, Tatsuki-chan-."
Grey eyes turned onto brown, glazed as tears brimmed her eyes-
"Hai… let's go back home, Tatsuki-chan."
We have yet to become what we are.
A fond reference to one of my favorite parts to Of Fries and Napkins... and Inoue's flashbacks! Yuzu and Ryuu finally kiss! Ichigo and Rukia... I don't know where that came from, haha. It's 6:05am... 18 pages on Word... I'm so, so tired... but I love you all, and your support. I hoped to deliver the last chapters myself.
Please be well, and smile, and tell your best friend you fuckin' love them.
Much love, KurosakiLove