A/N- You know, when I say this fic is AU, it means that Ichigo & Rukia are NOT Shinigami. It doesn't mean I'm going to make all of the characters personalities or pasts unrecognizable. I won't be making Isshin involved with the mob, because I can't see something like that. If you're looking for some kind of whacked out AU like that, then read someone else's work. I'm doing my best to keep it like the IchiRuki we all know and love with a bit more maturity and interest in romance in their lives. If you want a story like that up on fanfic, then I suggest you write it yourself.
To the people who liked it, thanks a whole lot, made my day to see so many nice reviews so quickly, for all of you, I'm posting again now :)
Chapter 2
Mutual Interest
By the time Ichigo makes it out of surgery and in the clear, Isshin is sure that Kuchiki Rukia, and his son, have something going on between them. She couldn't stop fidgeting as they waited to hear news about Ichigo, and the moment he was in recovery, she demanded to see him. Isshin didn't dare argue with her, and nodded to the doctor that it was okay. Rukia is led into the recovery room, where Ichigo's eyes are closed, and he appears to be resting.
Rukia nods respectfully at the staff members, and they leave her alone with him. She walks over to the hospital bed, and sits in the chair next to it. She spends several minutes just staring at him, wondering how on earth he can look so much like Kaien, and how he can stir such strong emotions in her as a result of that.
He turns his face towards her, with his eyes closed, and Rukia takes a deep breath, before she reaches out to caress his cheek. She can't help herself, she just wants to touch him. He's definitely different from Kaien, but he looks so much like him, that she doesn't want to let him out of her sight.
She wants to know more about him, than just his name, or his father's name, or even that he's a talented martial artist. When she looks at him, she's simply drawn in, and that has never happened to her, not in all of her years of living has she felt so drawn in by someone like she is with Kurosaki Ichigo.
It just seems wrong that the most important information I have is that he gets targeted for the color of his hair!
Ichigo feels something really nice and soft up against his cheek and so he rubs his cheek against it for a second, before he opens his eyes and finds himself staring into the same beautiful blue eyes he was looking at when he realized he was badly injured. He can't hide his surprise that she's in the hospital room with him, and touching him, yet again.
"Rukia?" Ichigo says, and she smiles at that, before she forces herself to pull her hand back.
She does notice when his face falls a tiny bit after that.
"You remembered." Rukia says, and he gives her a look of disbelief.
"Who could forget you?" Ichigo asks her, and she blushes at that comment since it sounded more like a compliment than a mere statement.
"I was very happy to hear that you're going to be okay," Rukia says, instead of trying to answer his impossible question.
"You stayed with me?" Ichigo asks her, as he can see blood splattered on her expensive looking blue and white shirt. (It's a designer label, not that he'd realize that)
"Of course, idiot." Rukia says, and Ichigo's mouth falls open at that.
"Why?" Ichigo asks her, and she blushes again.
"I had to be sure you were going to be okay." Rukia says softly, before she looks away from him, not wanting to admit to him that he reminds her very much of a boy from her past, that was her closest friend.
"I'm appreciative...no I'm really glad that you did that, but now that you know I'm okay...why are you still here?" Ichigo asks curiously, and Rukia doesn't know what to say, and so she thinks about it for a few moments before responding.
"That's…because I want to be here." Rukia finally answers, and she looks back at him, to see him grinning approvingly at her.
"You're nothing like other women." Ichigo tells her, and she smiles back at him.
"Thank you." Rukia says, and he realizes he likes her better and better with each word they exchange.
"You're someone I would definitely notice around town…so how come I've never seen you before?" Ichigo asks her, and she smiles at the way he chose to ask that.
"I'm not from around here. I was actually in the process of seeing what homes were for sale in the area, when I happened to come upon you and that situation." Rukia explains, and Ichigo can feel his heart beating in excitement.
"You're moving here then." Ichigo says, and she notices that he seems very happy about that news.
"Definitely." Rukia tells him, and saying it makes her feel better, not to mention the ecstatic look he's got on his face despite being in recovery.
I have two reasons to move here now, I like the town and I already really like you.
"So, where are you going to stay tonight?" Ichigo asks her, and she looks at him in surprise.
"I hadn't thought that far in advance..." Rukia says, and Ichigo grins widely at her.
"Then you can sleep in my room, even though it won't be much fun since I'll be here for a couple of days." Ichigo tells her, and she blushes at the image his words invoke while nodding dumbly at him.
I take it you think it would be fun if you were in your room with me, huh?
"Are you sure you're okay with a complete stranger taking over your bedroom while you're not there?" Rukia asks him dubiously, and he raises an eyebrow at that.
"You saved my life. It's the least I can do to help you out." Ichigo tells her, not wanting to tell her to what extent he likes the idea of her in his bed, since they only just met today.
"Will your father be okay with that?" Rukia asks next, and he grins charmingly at her.
"If I hadn't offered, I'm a hundred and fifty percent sure that he would have." Ichigo says, and Rukia grins back at him.
"I graciously accept your offer, though I'm going to stay right here until visiting hours are over." Rukia adds, and Ichigo just stares at her beautiful blue eyes for a minute before giving her a sexy crooked smile.
"I want to know more about you." Ichigo tells her simply, and Rukia blushes again.
"Well what do you want to know?" Rukia asks nervously, and he pins her with an intense look.
"First of all...how old are you?" Ichigo asks, since he has to. She looks like she could easily pass for fifteen, yet the way she carries herself, makes him believe she's an adult.
"I'm twenty." Rukia answers immediately, and Ichigo's eyes widen.
"The same age as me." Ichigo says disbelivingly, and he looks at her more closely.
No matter how you slice it, she doesn't look like she's twenty.
"What do you do?" Ichigo asks, expecting her to say she's a student, but she looks away from him again before she answers.
"Since I graduated, I have been traveling a lot. Now I want to settle down and take breaks in between traveling." Rukia explains, and Ichigo nods.
"You travel for work?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia isn't ready to disclose her life mission of making the world a better place, so she just nods her head yes at him.
"You could say that." Rukia says, and Ichigo gives her a strange look. Usually that would be a yes or no question, but she was very vague about it. He decides not to push the issue.
"Thanks for your help today." Ichigo tells her, so she smiles and stares back into his eyes.
"You're already thanking me by letting me have your bed," Rukia reminds him, and he wonders why he feels like he could stare into her eyes forever, before he nods at her.
"Help yourself to whatever you need in my room. There are tee-shirts in the dresser." Ichigo tells her while eyeing the blood on her top again, and she nods gratefully at him.
"That's really kind of you, Ichigo." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo looks at her, liking the sound of his name coming from her lips.
"It's nothing, compared to what you did for me, today." Ichigo says, and he closes his eyes for a moment before looking back at her.
When he does open his eyes back up, he catches her staring at him with an extremely intense look on her face.
"Are you...in pain?" Rukia asks him softly, and Ichigo holds her gaze while he shakes his head no.
"I'm a bit uncomfortable, but I'm not in pain." Ichigo answers, then Rukia immediately stands and begins to fuss over him.
"Do you need me to fluff up your pillow? Do you need another blanket? A glass of water?" She looks ready to give him whatever he needs, and it's surprising to him.
The last time a person fawned over him like this...it's been over a decade.
Mom would fawn over me like this when I was sick…but that was before she died.
He wishes he had the courage to ask Rukia for a kiss, but he doesn't want her to get offended by him, and so he decides to go for the next best thing.
"My shoulders and neck are tense...that's all." Ichigo says, looking at her hopefully, and she looks like she wants to help him immediately.
"I can try, though you're not in the best position for me to do much about it." Rukia says, and Ichigo disagrees immensely when she leans over him a bit and begins to rub his shoulders.
He definitely doesn't mind her being this close to him. With her face so much closer, he can check out her features much better. She's wearing a minimal amount of make-up, and she's naturally beautiful. Ichigo groans in pleasure as she massages him.
"That feels so good." Ichigo tells her, and she blushes a bit, since several naughty thoughts fly through her head after he says that.
It's strange, she's never had this kind of reaction to a man before, and with his chest exposed from the surgery, well, she's not at all disappointed with his muscular build. She finds that she's quite...turned on by him.
Ichigo notices her checking out his chest and he begins to reconsider asking her for a kiss, since she looks so interested in him, but Isshin walks in the room, ruining Ichigo's chance. Rukia turns a few shades redder when she sees the amused expression on Ichigo's father's face before she sits back in her seat.
"So my idiot son is awake." Isshin says, and Ichigo scowls angrily. He's sure he would have asked for a kiss if his father didn't appear.
"Get out of here." Ichigo says in an angry voice, and Isshin laughs.
"I didn't realize you and your girlfriend were so serious!" Isshin says, and Rukia blushes even harder.
I'm not his girlfriend...wait…does he have a girlfriend?
"Dad, she's going to spend the night in my room." Ichigo says, not denying that she's his girlfriend, which makes Rukia give him a quick look, as she tries to figure out whether or not he's single, or taken.
"Of course she's welcome to stay the night in your room. I'll call Yuzu so that she can put on fresh sheets." Isshin says, and Rukia's eyes widen in shock when Ichigo winks at her.
This is so embarrassing!
"See, I told you it would be fine." Ichigo says, and Rukia just nods silently at him.
"Alright, I'll leave you two lovebirds alone." Isshin says, and Rukia sputters at that statement before she looks incredulously at Ichigo.
"Why didn't you tell him the truth?" Rukia asks hoarsely, and Ichigo looks at her innocently.
"Tell him what?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia narrows her eyes at him.
"That I'm not your girlfriend!" Rukia whispers, and Ichigo doesn't know what's come over him.
It could be the drugs from being in surgery, or it could be the way he caught her looking at him intently, or the fact that he had a scary near death experience, but for the first time ever, in his life, he flirts with total confidence.
"Well...I'm hoping it won't be too long before it's true." Ichigo admits, and Rukia sucks in a quick breath.
"You barely even know me though!" Rukia says as she stares at him with unblinking eyes.
She can damned well understand why she has the feelings that she has for him, but she doesn't get why he seems so eager to reciprocate the sentiment.
It doesn't make sense…
If anything, he should be a bit suspicious of her being so familiar with him, so quickly.
"I know you're not afraid of me, which makes you very interesting. I know you're brave, because you helped me out when I was outnumbered by people with weapons. It's not just that either, you're caring because you stayed with me when you could have left after my father showed up. I know you're sweet, because you've done everything in your power to make me feel better, and I could have sworn this morning when I woke up that no female outside of my family would cry, if something bad happened to me. There's something about you...that makes me hope you'll give me a chance." Ichigo openly admits, and Rukia sucks in a breath at that long winded response.
Of course her gut response is to say yes and then kiss him on the cheek, but she can't do that, because that would be beyond weird. Her eyes sparkle when she answers him.
"I guess you'll just have to convince me then." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo grins.
He could tell that what he said had made her happy.
"Do I need to worry about an angry boyfriend trying to get in here, to finish the job on me?" Ichigo asks her pointedly, and Rukia turns red again.
There is no way I'm admitting I never had a boyfriend.
"I'll dump him before he finds out about you," Rukia teases, and Ichigo finds himself feeling incredibly comfortable in her presence.
"That's nice of you." Ichigo says with a yawn.
"I'm very nice." Rukia agrees, and she sees him smiling happily as he closes his eyes again.
She sits there, content to stare at him for a long time, until a nurse comes in and tells her that visiting hours have ended. Rukia actually pouts as she's standing to leave.
She makes it a point to find out the earliest she can be back with Ichigo in his room, and she's told nine in the morning. Little does she realize the director of the hospital overheard her family name when she was inquiring as to when she'd be able to visit again.
It feels like a long time until nine in the morning.
She meets Isshin out in the waiting room, and he grins at her, she immediately realizes that Ichigo got his smile from his father.
"So you're coming back with me?" Isshin asks, and Rukia thinks about her car, which is parked near where Ichigo had his altercation.
"Can you take me to my car, and then I'll follow you back to your house?" Rukia asks him, and Isshin nods.
"I'm surprised you haven't been over in the past." Isshin tells her, and Rukia just blushes as she follows him down a long corridor that leads to the elevators.
"I don't know why Ichigo didn't tell you this, but we only just met." Rukia tells Isshin honestly, and his eyes widen at her.
"Just met?" Isshin utters, and Rukia nods.
"The first time I saw him was today, when he was being attacked. We met then. I helped him out since he was completely outnumbered." Rukia explains, and Isshin just looks at her thoughtfully. The elevators open and they step inside.
"You didn't act like you two just met." Isshin says, and Rukia blushes from embarrassment.
"Well...we did." Rukia says, and Isshin nods.
"Maybe you'll become a couple...it sure would be a cute story to tell my grandkids." Isshin says, and Rukia finds that she can't stop blushing.
I only just met Ichigo! Why does the thought of having kids with him, make me feel so damned warm and fuzzy inside?! He's not Kaien…but I never felt like this for Kaien!
Then Rukia flinches as she remembers the way she felt on the last day of Kaien's life, the way her body had reacted to his touch, and she realizes she's lying to herself.
"Maybe..." Rukia allows and Isshin smiles hugely at that.
I'll do whatever I can to help.
They arrive in the lobby and head out towards Isshin's car.
"So because I'm curious, tell me what the famous Kuchiki Rukia doing here in Karakura Town?" Isshin asks, since he can recall seeing article about her unique approach to changing the world, but he can't remember what her approach is, or if she's still doing that project.
"I've spent the last two years traveling nonstop. I finally decided to settle down, and I was looking for a home around here." Rukia says quietly, and Isshin grins broadly.
"You should stay with us until you find a place." Isshin tells her, and Rukia's eyes widen.
"I can afford a hotel." Rukia reminds him, since maybe he's forgotten that she is one loaded Kuchiki.
"I think Ichigo will be happier if you're with us. He didn't seem too happy that I interrupted your massage." Isshin says, and Rukia turns a bit red at that.
She hadn't even considered what others might think, she just wanted him to be better.
"I wouldn't want to impose-" Rukia starts to say, but Isshin laughs loudly and his eyes sparkle at her.
"Don't worry, it's no imposition. I think that things could become mighty interesting around the house, if you stay there with us." Isshin tells her, and Rukia just nods her head since she can't think of a response.
Isn't this situation strange? Is he only encouraging it because I'm a Kuchiki?
The ride to her car is not quiet at all…Isshin is blasting some very lively music, and he drives way too fast, causing her to feel a great amount of relief when she arrives at her car in one piece.
"Please don't drive that fast when I have to follow you…I don't know my way around…" Rukia asks, and Isshin laughs.
"I was waiting for you to say something, you're a better sport than Ichigo…he doesn't let me drive him anywhere anymore!" Isshin says, and Rukia just stares at him for a long moment.
I don't blame him one bit!
"Thanks…" Rukia says, since she doesn't know what else to say, and she hurries into her own car to follow him back to the Kurosaki residence.
She finds herself getting excited to see Ichigo's room. She wonders what it will be like in there.
It feels like my life will turn exciting in a different way now.