The Trouble with Love-games
Eventually you are going to lose…
What is this you say, two chapters in two days? I am the nicest author ever? Why, you are too kind XD
Speaking of kind, thanks to Hinata Rae 7-3.15, Kittenshellfire, Miku Alli, Kalthurin, MitchRyan, Kaileychigago, Paradox-otaku, Otakulove67 and StrawberryLove (and since you asked, I was at V festival in Chelmsford, England, and it was freakin' awesome XD). Thank you kindly for taking the time to review my story, as some of you do consistently, you don't know how big a smile it puts on my face :D
A point which I should mention about this chapter, is that if I could, I would rate it T.5, since it is a little smexy towards the end ;) but not to the M level I don't think. Just to warn you.
Now, to steal / adapt a line from highschool musical 2:
What time is it?
MOOCHER TIME
….
Renji had gone into his kitchen to grab a few beers to take downstairs, only to be met by a most annoyed looking girl in the doorway.
"How much longer am I stuck here?"
"No one is forcing you to stay, besides, do I look like a bloody weather man to you?"
"It's your fault I'm stuck here in the first place" She pointed out, angrily.
"My fault!" the red head yelled "I don't recall asking you to sit on my lap"
"You didn't have to start feeling me up"
"You could have slapped me away!"
"I was in the mood to get some alright, do you have a problem with that, pineapple head?"
"I'm a pineapple head?" He replied, outraged "Look at your dumass bright yellow hair, you're the pineapple here!"
"Uhhh I can't believe I slept with you, could you BE more infuriating?"
"Hey, don't blame yourself, all the ladies find me irresistible" He raised his eyebrows flirtatiously.
"No, you were just there at the right time, don't flatter yourself."
"Whatever. I was going to invite you downstairs for drinks even though you were too much of a high strung anti-social bitch to come play snow fights, but actually, I think I'll just leave you here."
"Er what gives you the right to say where I can and can't go. I don't care for hanging out with your friends. But if me going will make you miserable then I am so there."
"Your so hot when you're angry" Renji said.
Tia looked unimpressed, and walked towards the door. When she noticed him following her like a lost puppy, she waited outside the door till he was almost there, and proceeded to slam the pale wood in his face.
"OWWWW YOU EVIL BITCH!" she heard the pineapple shout through the door. She sincerely hoped the blow had done as much damage to his pride as it had to his stupid tattooed head.
Renji walked back into the kitchen to pick up his precious beer, and just as he opened the door, he caught a glimpse of Rukia leaving.
'What is Rukia doing in our flat? None of us have clothes that would fit…. OH MY GOD' Realization hit him like the door he just took to the face 'She was wearing Ichigo's hoody!'
His brain tried to piece the situation together.
'Have they been alone in his room, all this time, getting UNDRESSED!'
He bolted down the corridor to his best friend's room, not stopping to knock. He found Ichigo spraying on some aftershave.
"You, Rukia, hoody, snow, you, you finally did it!" Renji spluttered.
"Come again?" The strawberry was feeling very confused by the assortment of words flying from the tribally tattooed boy's mouth.
"I just saw Rukia leaving your room, and she was wearing your hoody, and you've obviously got changed, you finally nailed her!" A big smile became plastered on Renji's face as he punched the orange head's shoulder.
"Way to go bro!"
Ichigo took a moment to absorb his friend's assumption.
'He's assuming Rukia and I just stripped off and what not while we were in here alone…' Renji's mistaken logic never failed to leave him in a state of worry as to how the red head actually got into such a prestigious university, money, after all, only got you so far… 'I suppose I could just run with it, and hope this is the end of it and the whole bet thing is never mentioned again…'
A smile forced its way onto Ichigo's handsome features.
"Yup, I sealed the deal, hope you are ready to get your body out for the ladies next week!"
"Don't worry about me bro, worry if the ladies can handle me"
The two laughed, and decided to make their way down to Rangiku's together.
'I really hope that was the right decision' The strawberry mused as Renji blabbered on, something about Tia being a bitch, he wasn't really listening ' If Rukia finds out about the bet, let alone the fact I just lied to Renji about sleeping with her, she is never gona speak to me again…'
…..
Rukia had managed to secure a dry pair of pink Hollister sweatpants from Momo. They were very comfy, and Rukia felt much warmer now. Furthermore, she was relieved when Ukitake had phoned her to say that the bar would be closing early, so she was not needed to come in that afternoon. Not that she didn't like work, but after the activities of the day, she kind of wanted to just relax with her friends.
Not long after she sat upon one of the sofas in Rangiku's kitchen, the yellow haired girl walked in. She strode in without saying anything and sat on another sofa. Everybody kind of stared at her, looking for an explanation. Gin, who had been at the work surface bugging Rangiku as she made drinks, finally spoke up.
"Harribel? What'cha doin' here?"
"Oh, hey Gin, didn't realise you were here" she went a little red at the thought she was now going to have to explain why she was here to a friend. She didn't care what these random strangers thought of her, but she knew Gin would have a field day… "I, er, stayed over last night, then couldn't get back to halls cos of this damn snow"
Gin's permanent large grin grew.
"Waheyyyy, who was it Tia?"
"None of your damn business"
"It was the red head wasn't it, you two was looking a bit close an' all… Grimmjow is gona have a field day!"
"NO don't you dare tell him!"
The girl leapt up and attempted to beat the grinning boy to a pulp, however, he was much too nimble for her to get hold of him.
Rangiku merely shook her head, and went back to making the drinks.
One by one, the group began to drift into the room, all wrapped up and cosy following their icy antics. Renji and Ichigo were the last to arrive. The former plonked the beer upon the already cluttered work top, and slid onto the sofa next to Harribel.
"Hey babe" He slid his arm around her shoulders.
She decided not to react.
Ichigo sat down next to Rukia. Renji winked at him, and Ichigo flushed pink. This went unnoticed by Rukia, who was glued to the reality TV show on the large screen in front of her. Byakuya did not permit such 'mindless trash' in the house, and so this felt like a complete novelty to her.
The gang were soon all snuggled together, drinking Rangiku's various 'guaranteed warm up concoctions' , including winter pimms with spiced apple juice, baileys hot chocolate, whisky hot chocolate and hot buttered rum.
Rukia was delighted by the warmth spilling through her, courtesy of the steaming mug of winter pimms in her hands.
Ichigo couldn't help but watch as she blew gently on the amber liquid to cool it down. She looked so adorable.
'I never thought I'd end up so fascinated by such a sweet girl. She is nothing like the other bimbos I have gone out with, and frankly I could not be more glad. Rukia is the first and only girl I've met who I could want to ask to be my girlfriend.' And with that thought, he placed an arm protectively around her waist, whilst his other arm supported his whisky hot chocolate. She laid her small head on his shoulder in response. Looking round the room at all his friends, he couldn't help but think: 'This evening is perfect.'
…..
As the evening progressed, and more and more alcohol was slowly consumed, and everyone found themselves sat there rather sleepily, no one could be bothered to move. Eventually, Tia and Renji had been the first to leave, after having a huge shouting match. She screamed that she hated him, and stormed out. Renji had stormed after her, taunting her as to where she planned to storm off to, since it was snowing again and leaving wasn't really an option.
This seemed to give people the motivation they needed to leave.
As Ichigo and Rukia left, he turned to her in the corridor.
"Rukia, I er, I really don't want to sound presumptuous, but, you can't really go home tonight, so er, stay with me? I'll sleep on the couch of course!" He added, looking flustered. She laughed at his uncharacteristically flustered composure.
"That's so adorable Strawberry, of course I'll stay, Nii-sama is about ready to cut me to shreds anyway, but, I do have one condition…"
"Whatever you want" He smiled.
"If I get cold, I expect your services as a human hot water bottle."
…..
The pair returned to Ichigo's room, and passing Renji's door, hearing the unmistakable sounds of bed springs, decided to go in and turn on a DVD.
"You know, those two are completely baffling" Remarked Rukia.
"I don't know" Ichigo replied. "It has been drawn to my attention lately that affection can present itself initially in the form of hatred" He smirked, she punched him.
"Point proven." He said, ruffling her hair as she sat on his bed. He joined her and put his arm around her waist again, only this time, now they were alone, his hand rested on her upper thigh.
Rukia was very aware of where his hand was resting. Not in a bad way, in fact, it was making her feel all warm and tingly inside.
After a few minutes, she found herself reaching for his other hand, holding it in hers.
'I haven't felt this comfortable with another person since Kaien.' She thought to herself, as she stroked the strawberry's strong hand with her small thumb. 'And even then, it took me months to allow him this kind of physical contact. Perhaps it is because I have grown up and several years have passed.' She began to rationalize the current physical contact she shared with her new boyfriend, and her desire to increase it, which, was rising steadily by the moment, especially since his hand was sliding higher and higher up her leg. 'Or' came a little voice in the back of her head 'It's cos you like this guy more'.
A year ago she would not have entertained such a thought. She had loved Kaien until the moment he broke up with her. And even after that, she thought she would never feel this close to a guy again. But this boy, Ichigo Kurosaki, law student, soccer captain, idiot strawberry and her own boyfriend, seemed to make all such thoughts seem foolish.
Before Rukia could think anymore, she found herself reaching round, kissing her strawberry. He welcomed her advances, pulling her round so that her body was on top of his.
"Mmm Rukia" He moaned.
Rukia felt on top of the world. She loved the way he moaned her name, and was so encouraged that, before she knew it, she was grinding her hips into his. He moaned some more.
He began to tug slightly at her (well, technically his) hoody. She lifted her arms so he could remove the pesky thing, then went right back to running her hands through his hair. She could feel his hands running under her shirt and up her back. His touch burnt like fire, as though sparks were flying from the warm trails his fingers left.
She began to moan herself, as she felt Ichigo reach round and start massaging her breasts with one hand, his other hand was still pressing her hips to his.
Suddenly, he rolled them over, and sat up briefly, whilst Rukia helped him remove his own hoody and T-shirt in one go. She stared in awe at his muscles. Last time she had seen them during their first tutoring session, she had not taken the proper time to admire the beautiful sculpture of human anatomy before her.
"I know I'm pretty sexy midget, but there is no need to drool" He teased.
"Drool? You're cute strawberry, but you're not that good…"
"You're gona regret that" He growled, playfully, grabbing her arms, putting them above her head.
She moaned into him as he kissed down her neck, then lifted her own top over her head. She felt his warm skin on hers, and it was absolute bliss.
The two of them allowed each others hands to roam their bodies, exploring.
That is, until Ichigo's supple fingers tried to sneak their way under the waist band of Rukia's lacy panties. She grabbed his hand, stopping his progress. Ichigo halted.
"Too much?" He asked, looking a little hurt that he had offended Rukia
"No it's not that, its just, perhaps we shouldn't dive into this all at once"
"No you're right, I understand, sorry, I got carried away"
He was now lying next to her, one hand in her hair, one resting on her stomach.
"Don't be sorry" she said, kissing him lightly. "All in good time"
They smiled at one another, and continued to cuddle, and make out a little until the film ended, at which point, they drifted off to sleep, Ichigo with his arm around her waist, pressing her tightly to his chest.
'And I'm never letting go' He thought, his resolve setting as he allowed his eyes to close, cuddling the petite girl closer to him.
…..
Well there we have it. Chapter 20, who knew I would come this far! I think, at this point, it would be fitting to aim for the 100 reviews mark. So, I am going to be cruel, and say no chapter 21 (which, by the way, will be a dramatic one if I do say so myself) until you give me my hundred reviews! Muhahahaha! I don't think its too much to ask of a story nearing its 9000th hit?
Also, I would like opinions, once again, on rating. The end was a little lemony. Baby lemons XD