Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or anything associated with it. Title of owner goes to 久保 帯人. :3 Nor do I own anything related to the Hana Yori Dango drama or manga.

AN: Another late-ish update. Sorry -_- I've been swamped with midterms and such but finally had the time to finish this. Once again, thank you sooo very much to the wonderful reviewers and readers. It brings me much joy after hours of studying to see that someone enjoys this story. :)

There are lot of problems to solve in this story that I need to mend and mesh smoothly so therefore expect more chapters to come! Enjoy!

Yosh! Start! よろしくお願いします！

Japanese Notes:

-Wakatta: "Understood"

Chapter 19

After what seemed like hours of negotiating and bickering back and forth, Ichigo and Rukia had finally come to a mutual decision… regarding the furniture.

Rukia had begrudgingly agreed to take back the furniture under the circumstance that it would be kept in storage at her mansion and taken out whenever Ichigo's family had need for it. Ichigo said under his breath that they probably would never need it.

Just after a brief pause following their agreement, Rukia received a call on her cell phone. After a short conversation consisting of 'what?', 'damn it', and 'fine', she hung up. She mumbled something incoherent to Ichigo's ears but quickly stood up from her seat.

"I need to go back home right now." Rukia had a sort of disappointed look lingering upon her features. "The limo can take you back home or you can hang around here if you want…" She trailed off, inwardly hoping for the former to happen considering one of the Renji's girls was stealing glances at Ichigo every so often.

Ichigo scratched the back of his neck, a little creeped out himself since he too knew that girl was looking at him. He glanced over at Toshirou who was immersed in a book, enjoying the calm that came after Ichigo and Rukia stopped their negotiating.

"I think I'll head back home too." He decided.

Rukia nodded, her spirits brightened now, and bid goodbye to Renji and Toshirou. Ichigo gave a slight nod to the both of them and noticed that creepy girl was pouting at his departure. He diverted his eyes away to avoid contact and quickly walked out behind Rukia.

Ichigo walked a few steps behind Rukia for a few meters before she slowed down her pace so that they were now walking side by side, with a short distance in between them. Ichigo stuffed his hands into the pockets of his coat, oddly expecting some sort of action from her that he wasn't ready to receive i.e. holding hands.

But instead she started to speak. "Did your family like the furniture?" She asked, looking straight ahead while walking.

"Ah." Ichigo recalled his father's reaction. "More than like, I suppose. The old man was considering on keeping it to experience a life of luxury even though he could barely move himself around."

"Eh? Old man?" Rukia took a moment to tilt her head curiously and looked up at Ichigo in question because she did not know whom the title referred to.

Ichigo chuckled a bit. As hard as he was trying to deny it, he had to admit the curious gaze was endearing(or was it cute? Ichigo pushed that into the back of his mind) coming from her. Rukia had always been so strong in her actions and words that seeing a bit of naivety from her was refreshing to him.

"I meant my father." He answered as they went down the staircase to the lobby.

"Oh…" Rukia nodded slightly. "He doesn't look that old. I would think that poor people age terribly." She pondered and placed the tip of her finger on her chin in thought.

Ichigo rolled his eyes at the bit. By the time she said that they were already walking out of the lobby doors and out into the open. Rukia's limo was parked right in front of the limo Ichigo arrived in. They stopped a few feet right before Rukia's limo. Ichigo turned his body toward her say a goodbye and another thanks for the furniture and everything else.

But before Ichigo could mouth a word, Rukia quickly encircled her arms around his torso and hugged him in a tightening grip. She bumped her forehead into the front of his chest, hiding the redness flushing her face.

"Uhh…" Ichigo gulped loudly, taken aback by her actions. She could barely encircle his body fully with the short length of her arms but she still managed to anchor his arms to his sides. Ichigo was stuck, not to sure of what to say or how to react.

This was causing a large number of passersby on the sidewalk to look their way with knowing smiles and smirks upon their faces. Ichigo looked around nervously.

"People are looking, Rukia. It's a little nerve wracking." He said, feeling little beads sweat drop down his face even though there was a small breeze flowing by.

"Oh…" She slowly released her grip and lifted her head away from his body. "I will… talk to you later then. And the um, repo men should be coming by tomorrow to get the furniture." She paused and softly bit her bottom lip, not sure herself where she got the audacity to do what she just did.

"Bye." She swiftly pivoted and entered the limo, actually too embarrassed to look Ichigo in the face.

Her limo drove off quickly as Ichigo stood rooted in his spot not to sure of what just happened. The doorman who stood by the whole time signaled a thumbs up toward Ichigo once he got his attention.

Ichigo nodded his head slightly toward the doorman in return then hastily went inside the limo waiting for him.

Rukia was absolutely shocked to find that Byakuya had returned from New York. Nanao called her, informing Rukia of her brother's return and that Rukia needed to return home quickly so that Byakuya could speak with her. Nanao had emphasized that it was urgent.

Of course Rukia dreaded the meeting. Ever since the last time she saw her brother, she could never forgive him for what he wanted her to do. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach that he found about her continuing relations with Ichigo and his instant return from the states had to do with it.

Nanao led Rukia to Byakuya's office where he sat behind his large desk, tending to some paperwork he managed to bring with him from New York. He could not all together leave his work behind.

Nanao stood toward the back of the room as Rukia approached her brother. "What was so urgent that you needed to leave New York on such short notice?" She questioned him immediately.

Byakuya placed his pen down and raised an eyebrow at Rukia's question. "You went against my orders to leave behind that commoner. What is the meaning of this?"

Rukia scoffed at his query and crossed her arms. "Tch, you're neglecting your work in New York because you were worried what I would do?"

"Unfortunately for you, that's not exactly it." Byakuya replied. "It's not you that I'm worried about. It's the company and your future within it I'm worried about. Dating a commoner is embarrassing to you, me, and everything the company is based on."

"The company has nothing to do with me and Ichigo." Rukia shot back.

"That's where you're wrong. It has everything to do with you and that boy. This is no time to be playing around and ruining the company's status by dating a commoner."

Rukia rolled her eyes. If there was one thing she hated, it was the fact that Byakuya was relentlessly drilling into her head about upholding the Kuchiki reputation. She was fifteen, for goodness sakes. She could care less for this business mumbo jumbo.

"But since you are young…" It was if he read her mind. "… I will let this one time slide. It is just a fling after all. I suspect this will end as soon as it took to start." He concluded and regained his work composure by picking up his pen and writing on the paper in front of him.

"It's not a fling! You have no idea how I feel about him!" Rukia vehemently yelled back. "And for your information, I'd rather be with a commoner than become some cold-hearted, uptight person like you!"

Rukia turned on her heel and stormed out of the room. Nanao tried to stop her from leaving but was pushed off to the side roughly by Rukia.

"Sir, should I…"

"Let her go." Byakuya directed to Nanao. He scribbled a note at the bottom of a piece a paper. "It'll start once I give the order."

Nanao nodded but guiltily stole a glance at Rukia's retreating form, knowing far too well for what was about to come.

The next day, F4 were not present at Takaimono so Ichigo had the luxury of finally getting some quiet time to himself during lunch. He sat off to the side, avoiding any invitations to sit with a group of students.

He took a bite of rice when he heard the sound of nervously shuffling feet stop right in front of him. He looked up to surprisingly see… Hanatarou.

"K-k-kurosaki-san." Hanatarou stuttered. "May I talk to you for a moment?"

Ichigo gave him a small smile and nodded. "Sure. Go ahead and take seat." He motioned to the seat in front of him.

Hanatarou bowed his head and sat down, nervously fiddling his fingers. "I-I would just like to apologize for everything that I did to you and Kuchiki-san. I'm really sorry." He bowed his head even lower than before. "And I would also like to thank you for standing up for me yesterday. I did such terrible things to you and yet, you helped me as if nothing happened."

Ichigo nodded in understanding, although the memory of Hanatarou's assault on him and Rukia wiped the smile off his face.

"You've helped me ever since I first came here and I in turn, took advantage of it. I have such an inferiority complex that I could never compare to your determination and power."

"Ah, that doesn't matter anymore." Ichigo replied kindly.

"Yes, you're right!" Hanatarou answered excitedly. "And that's why I'm not giving up on pursuing Kuchiki-san!"

"Huh?" Ichigo sat there dumbfounded by Hanatarou's sudden change of heart.

Hanatarou stood up from his seat and pounded a fist down on the table for emphasis. "I've always yearned for her and I realized that I can't give up. I've changed!"

"Eh?" Ichigo was trying to register this clearly but it still came out muddled in his mind.

"So let's continue being friends, okay?" Hanatarou nodded his head animatedly and waved goodbye. He walked off in a dreamy state of mind, scaring Ichigo a bit.

"He still has a few issues to sort out…" Ichigo thought to himself. The sound of his cell phone ringing brought him to attention. Rukia was calling from her limo at the moment.

"The furniture has been cleared out of your home and stored in one of the rooms in my mansion." Rukia informed him at once.

"Ah, thanks." Ichigo replied gratefully.

"Tell me immediately when you or your family needs it, okay?"

"Sure." Ichigo agreed although in his mind, he doubted that they would ever have use for it.

"And by the way," Rukia continued, "if things start to seem weird, tell me right away."

"Start to seem weird?" Ichigo repeated in question.

"Yes, just give me a call right away."

Ichigo nodded. "Wakatta." It was a startling request, but he decided not to continue prying for further information. He knew if Rukia had left it shot and to the point, asking for more would result in her brushing him off.

"Ano, Byakuya-shachou…" Nanao uneasily bowed before her boss before entering his office and closed the door behind her. "There's a visitor here to see you."

"What?" Byakuya looked up from his work. His eyes would have widened from his inner surprise but he was too much in control to lose his stoic nature. Beside Nanao stood the one person he detested seeing every time they crossed paths.

Shiba Kaien was in his office.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it Byakuya?" Kaien gave him a toothy grin as he settled himself opposite Byakuya on a chair set in front of Byakuya's desk.

"It's Byakuya-sama to you." Byakuya corrected him.

Kaien chuckled. "I knew you would say that. You never change."

"I have no need to." Byakuya countered arrogantly. "What are you doing here? Rukia is out and we have are on no business terms." He added curtly.

"I'm here to talk you..." Kaien smirked, a mischievous gleam passing through his irises. "…about Rukia and Ichigo. I want you to accept the relationship that has formed between them."

Byakuya narrowed his eyes at the mention of his sister and Ichigo. "And what gives you the right to pry into her life and tell me what to do? You're not her brother."

"With all due respect, I'm more of a brother to Rukia than you are, Byakuya. I care about her well being both physically and mentally." Kaien responded boldly, his face now wholly serious. "If you take away her one chance at happiness, what chance does she have of living a life she won't regret?"

"Are you doing this to fulfill what you missed out in your life?" Byakuya questioned him. It was his turn to smirk, knowing full well the question would play with Kaien's mind.

Kaien's facial features hardened at the question but he answered Byakuya with all honesty. "I missed something but I don't regret it. I can say that now I do have happiness in my life. Rukia's love for Ichigo will bring her the same."

Byakuya scoffed at the word. "Love. What a useless emotion. Rukia is too young to understand such a concept."

"That's where you're wrong." Kaien argued back, keeping his temper in check. "Rukia may be young, but I believe she's at the point in her life where she recognizes that love exists to change her for the better. This is a learning experience for her."

He paused, trying to find the right words to leave some sort of impact on Byakuya. "Unconditional love has been neglected from her for most of her life."

It seemed as if Kaien's words left an impression on Byakuya as Byakuya sat in his chair silent and unmoving. But ultimately, he disregarded Kaien and removed his attention away from further explanations.

"Love has no meaning in Kuchiki Enterprises." He simply finalized.

Kaien nodded, understanding that it was no use to change the opinion of man so stubborn. He quickly got up from his chair and left Byakuya's presence without a word of parting. He only thanked Nanao for her assistance and left.

The next day at school was uneventful for Ichigo to say the least. It had become a custom for S4 to skip school on Fridays so Ichigo was comforted by the fact that he finally had some time to himself to catch up with his schoolwork that day. Of course it wouldn't have been complete with some intervention by Rukia. She managed to call him midway through his math lecture, earning a glare from the teacher. Ichigo quickly apologized, and turned off his phone mentally reminding himself at the same time to put the phone on silent when in school.

After class, he returned Rukia's call. Surprisingly to Ichigo, she wasn't angered by the fact that he didn't answer her call in class. She merely asked him once again if there was anything happening to him that was out of the ordinary. After the brief conversation, Ichigo once again pondered on the significance of checking up on him for something slightly weird to happen.

Work after school was normal for the most part except with Tatsuki and Urahara teasing him about Rukia. Even Chad had put it a word or two, shockingly enough. Ichigo kept a straight face the whole time and instead occupied himself with restocking.

While Ichigo was in the back, he heard Tatsuki sigh out loud in admiration. Needless to say, Ichigo had never witnessed such an action come from her in his life so his ears perked up, curiously listening in.

"Welcome, sir." He heard Tatsuki say sweetly. Ichigo almost gagged at the sugary tone she was using.

"Hello." The voice was familiar. Ichigo had to make sure he wasn't imagining things. He quickly strode out to the front and almost jumped back in surprise at the person standing before Tatsuki.

"K-Kaien-san?" Ichigo stuttered in shock and pointed his index finger at him, making sure he wasn't the only one seeing things.

"Kurosaki Ichi-GO! YO!" Kaien greeted enthusiastically.

"Ichigo, it's rude to point!" Tatsuki chastised and moved Ichigo's hand away. "And why are there always people here to see you?" She added, a bit jealous that this good-looking dark haired man knew Ichigo.

"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Ichigo shot back. He looked back to Kaien, confusion written all over his face.

Kaien gave a salute. "Surprised to see me at such a random time, eh?"

Ichigo nodded. "You have no idea."

"What has happened? Have the young masters come back to buy more candy?" Urahara tumbled out from the back and skipped over to them. He noticed Kaien, looking nonetheless wealthy, and jumped with glee. "Young sir! Please help yourself to our selection of the finest candy in Japan!"

Ichigo's eye twitched. "This is not the time to-"

"Actually I would like to buy a few things for my wife." Kaien answered. "But I would also like to have a talk with Ichigo. I do owe him a meal and I would like to take his friends with us, so after the store closes..."

"No problem at all!" Urahara cut in. "Buy whatever you like and after you're finished you can take Ichigo, Tatsuki, and Chad with you. We're closing early today anyway!"

"Ehhh?" Ichigo and Tatsuki cried out in unision.

Urahara ignored them, and instead led Kaien away to a display of boxes of chocolates. "Now this is a great gift for your special lady..."

"No surprise. When the old man senses money, he acts on it instantly." Ichigo muttered.

AN: Now... we have Kaien intervening in all this! Hmmm... Due to the cold winds, my allergies have been acting up lately. Ughh, runny noses here and there! Haha, sorry for bringing up my misery. :(

As always review with thoughts, concerns, questions, etc. Or just about how your day was! Hope your winter season is enjoyable so far! :D

Thank you! ありがとうございます！