Thanks for the Favs and Follows.
*The GrimmNel scene in this chapter is dedicated to JoTerry/ blissbeat and Nolly. By reading your reviews, I thought that you guys must like this couple as much as we do. :)*
Disclaimer: Kubo owns Bleach. Credits to my cousin Ninya.
Chapter Fourteen: There is no good or bad side. There's the truth and the lies.
"You okay?" Grimmjow asked as he lowered himself next to Nelliel on the bench outside of her Dad's operating room. "Are you nervous about the surgery?"
"You know Dad. Nothing ever takes him down," She said with a brave expression.
Well, that was a mild exaggeration.
Isshin Kurosaki had been brought to his knees once in his life. When Masaki died from an aneurysm five years ago, they'd thought he'd follow right behind her.
"He'll pull through," Grimmjow said, bumping her arm with his. "Don't worry."
She glanced at him, noting the light scratch on his chin after jumping into the scuffle earlier, when Ichigo had been furiously thrashing their cousin Kaien in the hospital lobby.
Those two grew up pretty much together since Kaien spent more time with them than his own family, and they've always been competitive.
"I'm fine, I promise." Nelliel handed him a clean spare of table napkin she'd gotten from the cafeteria a few minutes ago.
When Grimmjow just looked at the napkin blankly, she rolled her eyes and pressed it to the scratch where a little bit of blood had dried. He winced but he didn't move away, his hand laying over hers even though the pressure wasn't needed. Nelliel wanted to pull her hand away but Grimm had closed his eyes, the deep crease between his brows finally relaxing. She couldn't find it in her to abruptly take that small relief away.
"Where did everyone go?" She asked, trying to ignore the warmth of his hand.
He kept his eyes closed as he answered. "Karin is wrapping up her statement at the station to make sure neither Ichigo nor Kaien stay for too long there. Rukia took Yuzu downstairs to the cafeteria again to distract her with something to eat."
"And are you up here to distract yourself from a girl you couldn't have for yourself?" The words were out before Nelliel could stop them.
Grimmjow's eyes snapped open and he frowned at her, his hand finally lowering from hers that she was able to easily pull it back.
"I'm here because I'm worried about Isshin," he said. "I love that old man like a father."
She sighed and shook her head. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
Nelliel opened her eyes and studied his brooding expression. She didn't want to go down this road but she remembered his face during the party and as much as she hated the reason for it, she couldn't ignore it. "It's just... I was a little worried about you at the wedding. I know you have feelings for Rukia. It couldn't have been easy for you."
Grimmjow winced. "Rukia's one hell of a girl. And I just adored her more since meeting her. But she's happy with your brother and I could never resent Ichigo for that."
Nelliel's heart squeezed at the affection in his voice. She couldn't make herself un-hear it but like most blows in life, she kept her footing and took it with dignity. "You don't have to stick around if it's difficult for you to be around her. Go. I'll be fine here."
"I'm not going anywhere, Nel," He said with a smile. "If I plan to remain Ichigo's best friend, I'll have to get used to having him and Rukia around."
"Do you just enjoy the torture?"
He chuckled this time. "No. I'm not a rock. There's something bittersweet about seeing them together."
"Why? Because you wish it was you?"
His gaze grew pensive. "In a way, yes. It's not exactly that I look at them and wish I was Ichigo. More like I wish I had what they had. They look so damn happy and content."
Her eyes widened. "What they have is called love, Grimm. Do you remember? It's the thing you avoid like the plague with any woman."
"I know, I know." He rolled his eyes. "I shouldn't have said anything to you. If there's anyone who would gladly throw my past mistakes to my face, it would be you."
He didn't look like he was kidding.
Damn.
"Don't tell me you've gone all soft now," Nelliel said, slumping back in her seat. "You're probably just having trouble coping with Ichigo suddenly going from happy bachelor to happy husband. You probably thought you'd be both old and gray and still having the time of the day with the ladies."
A small smile curved at the corner of his mouth. "For a while, I did. It's partly why it mystified me how Ichigo could've given it all up. But one look at him and Rukia and I totally understand why. So it made me think."
She squirmed inside a little. "I'm not sure you know what you're getting into."
But Grimmjow paid her no mind. "I'm now wondering if I'm missing out on something better because I wouldn't go any farther. And I wouldn't know until I try."
Her eyes widened. "So you're going to go out there and try to get into a serious relationship?"
"Well, I'm not going to put up a billboard ad," he said with a grin. "I'll just be more... open to the idea, I guess. What do you think?"
She didn't want to answer.
It was one thing to see Grimmjow jump from one woman to another the last couple years. At least she knew that they didn't mean that much to him. It was completely selfish but true. And Nelliel could handle it. But to see Grimmjow actually fall in love and spend his life with a woman, to be the man she'd dreamed him of becoming for her all those years ago but to someone else, it's going to hurt more than she'd care to admit.
"I think that you're curious enough to experiment but love isn't a science project, Grimm," she said dismissively, looking away so she couldn't betray anything on her face. "And no one wants to be the test subject."
"Do you honestly think I hurt every woman I'm with?"
Nelliel had to look at him because there was hurt in his voice. He was frowning at her, his brows pulling in as he waited for an answer.
It was easy to say yes— he'd hurt her after all, but it wouldn't be true.
"No. I don't think you ever mean to," she said quietly. "But you can hurt someone not just with what you do but also with what you can't do. So never make promises you can't keep."
She would never know if Grimmjow would remember the promise he carelessly made her when she was twelve but that didn't matter anymore.
"You're right. And I won't," he agreed. He even surprised her more when he reached for her hand and covered it with his much larger one. "But here's a promise I will keep no matter what, I'll be here for you, Nel. I'll be here for your entire family. So don't be afraid."
A sob rose to her throat but she quickly pushed it back. Blinking through a rush of tears, she turned her hand up until his fingers could fit in between hers, grateful for their strength. "Thanks, Grimm."
"We really need to stop hanging out at hospitals like this," he murmured.
Nelliel couldn't help but laugh despite her tear-stung eyes. "I'm with you on that."
"It's good to see you smile, Nel," he said, his voice dropping an octave.
She peered up at him from beneath damp lashes and saw him smiling softly at her. "It's good to have you around to make me."
His grin just broadened before he patted his bicep. "Now, come on. Close your eyes and take a nap. It'll be hours before the surgery's over."
She should've said no because while Grimmjow meant well, her heart wouldn't see it that way. He only offered comfort and that was all she should really take. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his arm, strong and hard with muscle beneath the long sleeves of his shirt.
If only comfort didn't have consequences.
.
.
{ Five days later ... }
Rukia cautiously eyed the elegant, plum-colored invitation Inoue handed her and scrutinized the gold, text written on it.
Inoue smiled. "The Lady Royals Society is an old and esteemed group of influential women in the country who campaign for charity, social reform and many other important advocacies. Many of them use their financial and social connections to further their cause. To be invited as an honoree in one of their monthly tea parties is a big deal because that usually means they're thinking of recruiting you."
"Do you think Ichigo would want me to go to this thing?" She asked Inoue before picking up her tall plastic cup of multi-colored layers of slushies and taking a long sip up the giant fat straw."He might think this is kind of silly."
Inoue shook her head."I'm sure he won't. The Kurosaki Industries is one of their biggest regular sponsors. It couldn't hurt to have someone from the family be part of the Society."
She sighed, unable to decide just yet. "I'll think about it."
Half an hour later, Rukia and Inoue wrapped up. Inoue headed out to run some name-change errands for her and Rukia went to check in on Isshin. He was already awake, the top-half of his bed raised to help him sit up, watching some business news. She smiled at him. The old man looked thin and weary, his skin a bit dry and papery but he smiled back and patted the spot next to him in bed.
"You know that the economy hasn't crashed and burned while you were out of commission, right?" She said teasingly, plopping down on the spot next to him on the bed.
"I know, Rukia-chan." he replied with a nod, his voice still a bit raspy after he'd been able to finally talk properly again." That means I've trained my son well enough in the business to handle it all on his own."
She tilted her head to the side to look at him. "Did you ever doubt that he couldn't?
"Not really. Ichigo will learn everything there is to learn and do what is needed to be done to accomplish a task given to him," Isshin explained. " Its his nature. He can't help it. He knew since he was very young that this company would be left in his hands someday. He's persevered in preparing himself for that responsibility."
"I'm sure Ichigo would have no problem being at the helm of the ship but I didn't spend a lifetime training to be the metaphorical ship captain wife," she mumbled. " Sometimes, I wonder how I ever convinced myself I could do it."
"There are plenty of good reasons for marrying my son, Rukia-chan" Isshin said, smiling at her softly. " But I think, for you, the biggest incentive is Ichigo himself."
Rukia opened her mouth to automatically dispute what he said but with Isshin's eyes boring into hers meaningfully, she faltered and shut her mouth close instead. She blew out a breath and rolled her eyes.
"While you're right about that, I sometimes still have to remind myself of it especially when he does reckless, idiotic things like beat up his cousin," She grumbled, shaking her head. "Have I told you that Ichigo has a quick temper? You never told me that about him. And that he reacts so fiercely at the slightest provocation, like someone rambling on something rude to me when it was obvious the guy's just baiting him, or that since the guy can be a bit of a tool that no one should really waste time on anything he says."
"No, not really," Isshin answered, his smile broadening. "In fact, Ichigo can be quite indifferent with things he's not focused on. He usually doesn't care enough to get provoked by things easily."
She frowned."Are we talking about the same person? Or does your son have split personalities?"
Isshin chuckled lightly, quickly catching himself before the strain of his laughter caused him discomfort. He took a deep, ragged breath and closed his eyes briefly before easing back on his bed. "I'm sorry, Rukia-chan. I didn't mean to make fun of what you said. And no, I don't think my son is suffering from any kind of multiple-personality disorder. Maybe he s just finally coming around to caring enough to react to things. That's a good sign." Isshin patted her hand." He's going to be like a child who just realized he could walk. He'll be all over the place, tottering over relentlessly until he gets the hang of it. You just have to be patient with him."
"Did you know that he was going to take me to Tokyo for our honeymoon? He doesn't know that I know but I thought it was the sweetest thing. Tokyo is my favorite place in the world."
Isshin closed his eyes but he was still smiling. "It's good to know that things have their own way of working out."
Rukia stilled." What do you mean?"
"I'm tired now, Rukia-chan," Isshin said without opening his eyes. "I'll rest for a bit, I think."
Rukia had a sudden urge to interrogate the old man because she was certain that there was something else he meant with that statement but she held herself back and slid off the bed, grabbing the remote to turn the TV volume down. She had just settled in the couch with a food magazine when the phone buzzed.
"Mr. Shiba is here to see Mr. Kurosaki," A guy from the security desk said. " I've advised him that he's not allowed access but he said he wanted to speak with you."
She sighed and put the magazine down." Please tell him I'll meet him in the lounge in a few minutes. Thanks."
After a few minutes walking to the lounge, she saw Kaien. His back was turned when she came." You look worse for the wear," Rukia remarked dryly when he turned around to face her. He was a bit bruised and scraped, his jaw unshaven and his hair messy.
His eyes narrowed at her."I want to see uncle Isshin."
She sat on one of the leather sectionals and crossed her legs. "Sorry but you can't. Ichigo had you banned and since Isshin hasn't particularly asked for you either, I figured he's not that interested in seeing you himself."
He snorted and started pacing in front of her."I'm not surprised considering just how accurately Ichigo would've relayed what really happened. He's made it his lifelong mission to always make sure I look bad to the old man."
She raised a brow." Didn'tt it ever occur to you that maybe you just do that yourself with no help whatsoever?"
Anger flashed in his eyes as his face tightened with restraint. "Uncle Isshin has been more of a father to me than my own had ever been. I've lived my whole life trying to be everything the old man wanted me to be. It's not my fault that Ichigo has a problem with that."
"I can't say it was Ichigo's fault either for losing it on you when you were talking about his father like he was already dead," she pointed out, raising a brow at him. " It makes one wonder whether you worked hard to please the old man simply because you owed him that much or merely because you hope to gain everything he has to leave behind when his time comes."
"I will not be a hypocrite and deny that I have an interest in taking on a bigger role in the company when the time is right," he answered curtly." But as for speaking as I did, I didn't mean to imply that I already wished him dead because I don't. I was getting very anxious and I rambled on. I would think, of all people, you would know what its like to blurt out something you didn't really mean."
She studied the man. She couldn't tell for sure whether he was being sincere or merely playing her. She didn't know the man all that well and even though she was usually an excellent judge of character, Rukia couldn't be sure about Kaien.
She sighed." Yes, I can be a bit too candid sometimes but you know what I m also really good at other than saying some outrageous things I don't always mean? I apologize really well. Maybe you can try that."
He was quiet for a moment as he deliberated what to say next. She had a feeling it wasn't t going to be an apology to her which was fine because she meant what she told him
"I want to apologize to Isshin," he finally said.
She stood up and tucked her hands into the pockets of her white denim cut offs. "I'll take it up to him. If he wants to see you, you'll know."
"Ichigo isn't going to allow that," he said grimly.
"Ichigo isn't Isshin's father so I don't imagine his preference will not stop the old man if he wants to see you," She assured him a small smile. " And maybe when you do see Ichigo next time, you could roll out one of your apologies his way so you two could stop fighting like a pair of juveniles."
Kaien laughed with no humor, his voice hollow and harsh. "Mine and Ichigo's issues go deeper than that, Rukia. I don't recommend asking him if you don't want to get on his bad side."
She smirked as she paused on her way out."There is no good or bad side, Mr. Shiba. There's the truth and the lies. We all know what it's like to do a reckless dance between the two."
And with that, she left before her own guilt could give her away.
.
.
At around five, Nel, Karin and Yuzu arrived, their arms loaded with take-out food. Grimmjow usually made an appearance as well. Isshin complained loudly about the temptation of the the food they were enjoying while he was stuck with his doctor-prescribed diet but they all knew he was secretly pleased having everyone around.
"This isn't quite working out like in the movies," Nelliel grumbled as she tried twisting off the cap of the sparkling apple juice bottle she'd been trying to open in the last five minutes. " Isn't this supposed to just pop off and spray all over?"
Grimmjow, who had just tossed a piece of barbecued pork into his mouth, went over to her and took the bottle. " It won't spray like champagne, stupid. And I won't attempt opening it with your bare hands, if I were you, because the edges can be sharp." He grabbed a thick paper towel from one of the bags Yuzu was unloading and wrapped it around the bottle opening. "You gotta hold tight and twist without give or you just going to end up scraping your hand."
"Like this?" Nelliel asked, holding up her scratched and slightly bleeding palm.
Grimmjow hissed an unintelligible curse before twisting the bottle open and setting it down quickly on the table. He grabbed Nelliel's hand and led her to the small sink by the kitchenette. He stuck her hand under the water and washed it with some soap while Nel cringed and bit her lip, bravely enduring the sting of her wound.
"You could just asked me, you know?" Grimmjow gently scolded her before grabbing a paper towel and pressing it around her hand after turning off the water. "I would taken care of it for you, Nel. But you can be such a stubborn brat."
Nelliel glared at him. "Calling me a brat isn't convincing me to trust you to take care of things, Grimm."
Grimmjow took the band-aid Rukia handed him and carefully pressed it over Nel's palm. "You can also trust me to point out to you when you being unnecessarily stubborn and unreasonable."
Karin, who came over to look in on her sister's injury, just snorted a laugh. " And you can trust her to shove it right back at you, Grimm-nii. Just because Nel-chan doesn't blabber all the time, doesn't mean she doesn't have a good comeback to dish out to you."
Rukia grinned at Karin." Yup. You got to be careful with these silent types."
Grimmjow scowled at them after lowering Nelliel's s freshly bandaged hand. "And you two aren't helping. You're just encouraging her to be as strong-willed as the two of you."
Nelliel punched him in the arm with her uninjured hand. " I've always been strong-willed. I'm just not excessively talkative like you doofus."
Rukia wiggled her brows at Grimmjow, fighting a laugh."Burn. Now is a good time to shut up when you got nothing else to say but stuff you'll only regret later."
Grimmjow opened his mouth as if to protest but between Nelliel glowering and Karin, Yuzu and Rukia giggling, he closed it and just shook his head before stomping away.
"What's going on?" Ichigo said as he walked into the room and saw her and his sisters laughing.
Rukia's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He was in faded jeans and a gray V-neck shirt that snugly fit over his muscled build. The summer sun had brought out lighter streaks of his hair that they looked almost blonde in some angles.
"I'm congratulating myself on not having sisters," Grimmjow grumbled from the table where he went back to snacking on food he shouldn't even be touching yet.
"I think the girls were ganging up on Grimmy here," Isshin said in amusement from his bed where Yuzu sat with him.
"I'd hardly cut my own hand just to gang up on him,"Nel retorted, rolling her eyes as they all headed back to the table.
Ichigo smiled without sympathy for his friend as he made his way to Rukia and lifted her slightly off the floor— surprising her, for a quick but hungry kiss. She'd missed him all day and she couldn't help it when her arms went around his neck as she kissed him back. Her injuries have been healing nicely in the past several days that she only felt a minor discomfort with some of her larger movements even though the bruise on her midsection now resembled the inside of an avocado.
"I know it's your honeymoon week but could you please wait until you get home and some of us have already eaten?" Karin grumbled with a roll of her eyes. " We aren't exactly a captive audience, you know?"
Ichigo laughed and lowered Rukia back on the floor. Her own cheeks blazed when she realized that everyone was giving them amused glances, even Yuzu who ducked her head back into the book she was reading. Grimmjow had a resigned look on his face as he closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Fair enough,"Ichigo said as he pulled her toward the table. "I'm starving for actual food, even if my wife looks like a feast."
Rukia jabbed him on the side just as Grimmjow groaned loudly.
"Must you really ruin our appetite, Ichigo?" he complained crossly which only amused Ichigo even more.
"I think he's intent on rubbing it in our faces just how sickeningly happy his married life is," Nelliel added with a smirk, handing the their plates and raising a brow at her brother. "We get it, you know?"
"As much as I'd like to brag, I wouldn't want to encourage you to get married just yet, Nel," Ichigo said as he reached out to ruffle his sister's hair which earned him a smack on the arm from her. "For one, you're still my baby sister and two, I haven't met anyone yet that I approve of for you."
Karin snorted. "Nel-chan is as old as Rukia-chan so get off your high horse, Ichi-nii. And I didn't realize we needed your approval."
Ichigo gave her a meaningful look." If you'd asked for it, you might have avoided certain men."
Karin blushed furiously and Rukia rolled her eyes at Ichigo who didn't look the least remorseful at that jab at his sister.
"Ichigo, leave Karin alone," Isshin said firmly from his bed. "A better brother offers advice and support, not I-told-you-so's."
"Sorry, Dad," Ichigo said, instantly looking sufficiently sheepish. He walked over to Karin and put an arm around her shoulders. "Sorry, sis."
Rukia's heart swelled as she watched Ichigo smile broadly at his sister until she couldn't resist anymore and smiled back, laughing and smacking him playfully on the chest. Despite his occasional arrogance, Ichigo was a good son and brother and his family was very lucky to have him.
- He'll make a great husband and father. Some other lucky girl will agree with you someday. -
Pain clenched her heart and she quickly quelled the feeling away. She had a year with Ichigo, a year she'd decided on their wedding night, to make the most of including what they could have between the two of them and she wasn't going to waste any moment of it wondering about his future with someone else.
- Its a risk for your heart but remember, he can fall in love with you just as you can fall in love with him. You just have to hope it happens to the both of you and preferably at the same time. -
She inwardly sighed at her thoughts. As much as she'd like to hope, there was a saying: the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
.
.
Dinner had been a pleasant and relaxed affair. The food was great, the conversations were full of light banter and fun stories. It was around seven in the evening when Isshin told them to head home early. Nel and Karin usually stayed with him in the evenings but Ichigo and Rukia had been lingering with them after dinner in the past couple of nights that they normally didn't make it home until about ten.
Once they'd arrive at Ichigo's condo. Rukia showered for a few minutes then when she was done, she slipped on a fresh pair of lacy boyleg panties, a loose tank top and a thick, white terry cloth bathrobe. She towel-dried her hair until it was only damp. She put on her moisturizer and brushed her teeth before making her way barefoot to Ichigo's office.
It was a large room with a massive oak desk flanked by two floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on each side behind it. The only illumination in the room came from the light sconces on the walls and the city lights filtering through the large bay window behind the desk. Her husband was sitting in his chair, his head bent and his attention focused on his computer screen.
"Is this a mausoleum or what?." She said, pausing by the door and looking around until she found the audio controls mounted on the wall. The entire suite was wired with speakers and each room had a very similar control panel.
"What are you doing?" Ichigo asked distractedly as she punched her way to the playlist selection and chose the one she'd uploaded yesterday. The first track started to fill the room.
"Its too quiet in here. With your desk the size of a dance floor, I'd expected a party," Rukia said as she walked over to his desk, peering at the papers he had spread around the piano-sized desk. "This must explain why your social skills were pretty rusty when we first met. Your work constantly turns you into a mechanical robot."
He lifted his eyes from the screen to smirk at her. "I don't imagine what else a robot can be but mechanical."
"Smartass." She wrinkled her nose at him as she lifted herself up and over his desk, her legs dangling on the side. "By the way, I wanted to tell you. The esteemed Lady Royals Society invited me to their tea party next week."
His brows shot up mildly in surprise. "That was fast. Its good though. I expected their group would want to include the new Mrs. Kurosaki. God knows it would give them more leverage when they've going after me for funds."
She smiled. "You make them sound like high-class hookers."
Ichigo threw his head back laughing. "If they were, they the most well-dressed, expensively educated and socially well-trained hookers there are."
Rukia smiled. "Well, I'll show up. Inoue made a good point saying that this gives me an avenue to do the charity work I've been wanting to do but I think I'll have to do something about these ridiculous membership requirements."
Ichigo grinned. "You sound exactly like what a Mrs. Kurosaki would be, very determined. If you set the course to change or do something, you have it within your means to accomplish it."
She shrugged. "I can talk them into it, persuade them to my side, but that's about all that I have in my arsenal."
Ichigo shook his head. "That's not all. You have me and what influence I could exert over the Society. You have my entire family to back you up. You even have Grimmjow's support. Plus you have generous funds at your disposal."
When she just raised a brow at him, he rambled on. "I opened your charity account already this morning, the same time I transferred your first quarter million in your own bank account."
Her jaw went slack. "I have a quarter million in my bank account?"
Ichigo nodded, smiling wryly at her. "You seemed shocked. It was part of the agreement, wasn't it?"
- It sure was. Now I truly feel like quarter of a hooker. -
She inwardly sighed and chastised herself for her thoughts.
- Yes, I'd forgotten about the money because I'd gone ahead with this marriage for entirely different reasons now, it would seem. The money had been the last thing on my mind. -
"Other than your charity account which I will match up to each deposit I'll be making to your bank account until they're of equal value, you also have your own checking account for your personal allowance which Inoue has already been accessing for you," Ichigo continued, drawing her back out of her thoughts. "There should be plenty of money around to give you whatever your heart desires, Rukia, and if it isn't enough, you only have to tell me."
- What if my heart desires your heart? What will that cost me? -
She let out a long sigh and pressed her lips together. "I already have way too much money than I know what to do with. I was used to a very simple life before you came along, you know? If you didn't come and tempt me with a million dollars, I would've never wanted more than what I thought was realistic."
"It's never wrong to aspire for something better in life, Rukia," he said softly, his eyes kind and gentle." Hope is like a treasure map. You know there' s something great waiting for you at where the X is marked. Even though the journey to get there is tricky and full of dangers and risks, you know it'll be worth it in the end so you go do it anyway."
She didn't disagree. She just decided that some treasures were harder to find than others. Hoping for a perfect happy ending with Ichigo would be like looking for Atlantis and its futile. It was nearly as mythical as the lost city.
- Which is why you don't think about it. Don't look for what's not there. Just make the best of what you could have, here and now. -
Forcing herself to lighten up and change the topic before she got too maudlin, Rukia smiled and reached over to pick up some important-looking papers off the desk and scanned them. " ... facilities expansion... safety standards... requirements stipulated in the proposal... overarching authority for the operations... blah, blah, blah. Hmmm. Mind-blowing stuff. I can see why you can't resist." She kept reading on, dodging his reach.
"Give it back, please," he said with a visible effort at patience as he held out a hand to her. "I was trying to work, if that wasn't obvious yet."
Rukia held the document out of his reach, pretending keen interest on it as she crossed her legs and leaned back, resting her weight on the heel of her other hand which was propped against the desk. "Oh, it's obvious, alright. Can't miss it if I tried. You look as stern as an evil school principal in those movies made to frighten children into becoming real miserable adults who hate the world and everyone in it."
His mouth twitched with a reluctant smile which he smothered right away. "In that case, I'm tempted to subject you to some kind of disciplinary action right here in my office."
She smiled and raised a brow at him. "That sounds like something that totally shouldn't sound like it."
She hitched her leg up to drape it over the other, causing the robe to slide open enough to reveal much of her bare thighs and a hint of her lace panties. Rukia felt an immense sense of satisfaction watching Ichigo's eyes follow the movements, flaring with heat as they went along. She lightly rested one hand on her knee, flexing her fingers as they slowly traced the line up her thighs in a seemingly casual gesture, which wasn't really casual at all, before lifting it to flip her hair over her shoulder, covering her slightly bare shoulder where the robe had slid off. The neckline had gaped and showed off the inner swell of one of her breasts through the low cut of the tank top, hiding the rest away for imagination.
She wasn't a trained temptress but after over a week of living together, it was easy to figure what tormented Ichigo sexually. If she wasn't enjoying this so much, she'd remember to feel nervous and probably fall off this desk.
"I have a feeling I'm the one being punished here," he croaked in a low, strained voice as he swallowed hard and glanced up to meet her eyes.
Flashing him a crooked smile, She shrugged casually. "Punishment is only for those who don't know how to play the game. For the rest of us, this is merely strategy."
Ichigo groaned and shook his head before hauling her off the desk and down on his lap. She shrieked a little, losing her balance momentarily, but his strong arms easily caught her around the waist and trapped her against his powerful legs as he leaned back against his chair.
"You're a handful, you know that?" he said with a resigned smile. " You're an exasperating, cheeky little troublemaker who will plague me for the rest of my life."
"I would hardly call a year the rest of your life."
"It would be if I were to die before the year's over," he quipped, his hazel eyes bright with teasing. "If not from a heart attack from one of your antics, possibly from a blood clot in certain parts of my body."
Rukia flushed, knowing his unworded implication, but she rolled her eyes in defense. "Yes, body parts like your brain, I'm well aware. I think your overly puffed up chest is to blame. Blocks the blood to the brain."
He laughed and stretched his legs forward to accommodate her weight better."It can't if its going down a different direction."
Her cheeks were warm and probably as red as a baby's diaper rash. "Maybe, we should probably go to bed."
He sighed. "Fifteen more minutes. I just have to read this report."
She shook her head. "You're not even really supposed to be working yet. This is our honeymoon week.
"Ten minutes?" he appealed, giving her the full impact of his puppy dog eyes.
"No,"she said as she scrambled off his lap and climb on the table. "We're going to bed now or I'm dancing."
He looked up at her, his eyes twinkling with laughter. "No, you wouldn't."
Rukia planted her hands on her hips and looked down on him. "I believe I just got taunted with a dare, Mr. Kurosaki. And let me tell you that I, Rukia Kuchiki Kurosaki have never backed down from a dare before." She pinched each side of her robe's skirt and did a deep curtsy, grinning at him. "I believe I shall dance."
"Rukia!" Ichigo groaned, running a hand down his face. "I was just kidding! Get down from there, please, before you hurt yourself."
"Don't be such a grumpy old man, Ichigo," She said, giggling at his mortification as she twirled around his expansive desk, humming and moving to Christina Perri's melodious track Distance which filled the room. It was a slow, light-hearted romantic song the kind that would play as a soundtrack on a Sunday morning while snuggling in bed. "Join me," she said, extending a hand down at him. "Show me you can be fun and spontaneous."
He firmly shook his head. "I would rather not have the desk collapse with my weight, thank you very much."
She winked at him. "Unless you weigh like a tank, you should be fine."
"This is a bad idea," he countered although she could see him eyeing the space around her feet. "Which is probably why the number of times I've danced on table in my entire life is zero."
"Come on, Ichigo. Dance with me."
His hazel eyes were locked in on hers and she could see the smile playing tug-of-war with a scowl he was fighting hard to give her.
"I have a feeling I'm going to regret this," he finally said with a loud, exaggerated sigh as rose to his feet and pushed himself up on the desk.
"You don't know that," She said, wrapping her arms around his neck as he pulled her close to him, edging them away from his laptop and files and further into the vacant space beyond them.
"You know, the reason I'll regret this is because this desk is going to mean a lot to me now," Ichigo continued, brushing the tip of his nose with hers. "Because you and I slow-danced on it one late evening, with bare feet and in our pajamas, and with the city lights as our audience."
Her heart pounded in her chest just as the sweet, heavy ache settled around it at Ichigo's words. He was smiling down at her, his eyes luminous in the sparse light of the room, his mouth turned up on one corner.
"Is it such a bad thing that you'll regret it?"
He shook his head and brushed a kiss on her lips. "I'll regret it because I've now gotten myself attached to a giant piece of furniture I was already thinking of getting rid of. I can let it go even if it's a piece of history. But I can't let it go if it's a piece of Our history."
- I think... I think I'm in love. -
She stopped the words before they could slip out. But to say them now would put out whatever was burning between her and Ichigo because to say the truth would complicate the lie.
She just kissed him and tried to tell him without the words.
If she could pick out letters from each touch of his lips, each stroke of his tongue, each of his heartbeat that reverberated through her as they held each other tight, she'd form the three words she secretly wished she would hear him tell her one day.
The music played on as they broke off the kiss. Knowing she was bound to blurt it out if she'd looked longer into his eyes, she lowered her head, pressing her cheek against his chest just as he tucked her head under his chin, his arms wrapped around her, his hand stroking her back gently.
- I couldn't t be sure how long we danced but it felt like a lifetime. -
Me: This story is already planned out. ( Thank youuuuu Ninya!) Everything that happens here, every scene has a purpose, every character has a big role for our main characters life. And that's that!
Soooo, what do you guys think about the GrimmNel scene? Or Kaien in this chap? How about the Ichirukiness?
Man! I'm totally addicted reading reviews, pleeease keep em' coming.. *puppy eyes*
Due to my hectic schedule I won't be able to reply ( I can't even read my favorite fics anymore huhuhu ) but if you guys have a question I'll do my best to provide an answer. But it Depends on the question, hehehe OK? I don't want to spoil the story anymore, seeing that most of your guesses are accurate. Well, that's what happens when I have YOU Intelligent people as a reader. :D makes me soooo darn proud!
A Huge THANKS to: Guest/ JoTerry/ RukiYuki/ Kidzin/ Amethyst hazel/ achalida/ Break blade/ Nolly/ ChocoLava/ Sara1991/ Dorothytd/ Jobananasan/ Insomiac1970/ Cc/ Ichiruki4vr/ Mbravesgirl7/ Guest/ han-ichiruki/ Uin/ Ichirukifan94/ Christopher/ Guest/ anonymous2234/ blissbeat/ Yemex/Gin/ Guest and Only Luna, for the wonderful reviews. You guys are the best!
Once again I want to welcome a new reader/reviewer:
Dorothytd
Ichirukifan94
Yemex