A/N-Without getting into details or worrying anyone, I want to make it clear I have every intention of continuing to write, but I may not be able to update as often as I had been planning. My life just changed hugely today, in a not so good way, and it was unexpected. Like I said, nothing to worry about, but something to keep in mind if I don't update my story as quickly as I'd like. Please enjoy.

Chapter 5

Rukia's Weakness

"I was tempted to turn your system on and play." Rukia tells Ichigo, and he gives her a disbelieving look.

"No way, you don't actually play…" He says, shaking his head, and Rukia flicks his ear.

"The hell I don't! I have owned practically every system that existed since I was seven years old." Rukia reveals, and Ichigo looks impressed.

"I didn't figure you to be into games. You just get better and better." Ichigo says, and instead of blushing, like he half expected her to, Rukia gets a wistful look on her face.

"When I was a kid, I always played video games with Kaien and Renji." Rukia tells him, and he flinches when he hears her repeat the name of the boy who had died. He quickly tries to steer the conversation in a safer direction.

"So you were a tomboy huh?" He asks with an amused look, and Rukia grins at him.

"That's right. My father didn't like it much but my mother kept him from doing anything drastic. He did make the condition that if I started martial arts, I'd have to do gymnastics. I don't mind though, it made me better at martial arts." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo remembers the way she flew through the air to take down his attackers.

"I remember." Ichigo says, and Rukia laughs nervously.

"So since your brother runs the Kuchiki Group, does that mean you have to attend any fancy parties?" Ichigo asks curiously, and Rukia nods her head at him with obvious dread on her face.

"I hate going to those but there are a few I've been forced to attend as a Kuchiki." Rukia says, and once again, Ichigo looks impressed.

They've spent the whole day talking, and Rukia had only left one more time to get something to eat and drink, but she had come right back. Ichigo was forced to eat the hospital food though. It's gotten late, not that either of them realizes it. It seems like the nurse is there telling Rukia that visiting hours are over before she even realizes.

"The day went by fast." Ichigo says, as Rukia stands up.

"You get to come home tomorrow." Rukia says, with a happy look on her face.

"I can't wait." Ichigo says, and Rukia hesitates.

I want to kiss him but that would be weird right? Maybe not any weirder than our conversation about getting married earlier, but even so!

She puts her hand on top of his instead.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Ichigo." She says it softly and he grins up at her.

"I want to tell you something." Ichigo murmurs at her and he uses the hand she's not touching to beckon her closer like he wants to whisper something in her ear.

Rukia is totally unprepared for it when he kisses her ear rather than whispering anything. She sucks in her breath quickly as she feels tingles run throughout her entire body.

"Ichigo!" She finally squeaks since she can do little else, and he chuckles at her reaction.

"Good night, Rukia." He says, and she blushes as she backs away from him.

"Good night, Ichigo. See you tomorrow." Rukia says before she picks up her purse and leaves the room.

She pretty much floats to her car, she's so giddy over the fact that he kissed her ear and she shivers again. She's smiling so much her face is starting to hurt.

He…kissed me!

"Rukia-chan!" Yuzu looks excited as Rukia walks through the door and Isshin gives her an inquisitive look.

"How's my son?" He asks, and Rukia tries not to feel embarrassed, even though she hasn't been able to get his kiss out of her head since it happened.

It wasn't even on the lips! Calm down Kuchiki!

"He's good. He can come back tomorrow." Rukia says, and Isshin nods approvingly.

"Yuzu told me. I hope you're hungry, she made one hell of a dinner for us tonight." Isshin says, and Rukia glances at Yuzu who beams.

"I've never seen my brother look so happy…even though he was stuck in that hospital bed…" Yuzu says, and she looks at Rukia. "…it's all thanks to you, Rukia-chan."

Rukia is starting to get used to the feeling of being embarrassed, so she bows her head at Yuzu.

"Thank you…" Rukia doesn't know what else to say, so she leaves it at that.

"I'm going to start without you!" Karin calls out from the kitchen, and everyone heads in to eat.

Rukia is all alone in Ichigo's bed, and her imagination is starting to get out of control. Remembering the thrill that went through her entire body when his lips touched her ear was enough to bring on all kinds of dirty thoughts.

He's unbelievably sexy…he has a nice chest…I bet the rest of his body is just as nice. I wonder what it would be like to touch it.

Rukia closes her eyes with a smile as she envisions what a romantic encounter with Ichigo might be like…

"Rukia, you're so sexy."

"We shouldn't be doing this, Ichigo…"

"Why not? I know you want me even if you won't admit it because…" He breathes against my neck making me tremble in his arms. "…you're looking at me like you want me."

"I can't help it…that doesn't mean you can just have your way with me!"

"Then push me away."

He leans down to kiss me, but I can't pull away, I want that kiss…Ichigo!

The instant his lips are on mine, he starts to use his lips to nudge mine apart. The moment his tongue slides in my mouth, his hands start touching me all over….

Rukia trembles a bit at what she's imagining, but since she's all alone in his bed, she doesn't stop there.

He's sliding his hand underneath my top, and moving it upward. When I squirm, he kisses me even more deeply as he touches my body…I want to feel him touching my body….

Rukia suddenly stops with her dream as she realizes something important.

Wait a minute…if a kiss on my ear made me react the way it did, how will I react when he touches me? The way it felt…

Rukia goes from that back to her fantasy, and a moment later she realizes a bit of drool is sliding down from the side of her lip, which she finds embarrassing even though she's all by herself.

I'm pretty sure I'm lacking in self control when it comes to him…

She shivers again from replaying that scene in her head when he kissed her…it's exciting and scary.

I had no idea it was possible…to want someone this much!

Rukia smiles as she enters the hospital. Ichigo's entire family was in a good mood this morning, since he'll be coming home, and Rukia has been designated as the one to drive him home. She touches the same ear he kissed and feels her face warm up. She's nervous, but she's gotten used to that. When she's led in to where Ichigo is at, she hands him a bag with clean street clothes.

"Good morning Ichigo, I brought you some clean clothes to wear home." Rukia says, and Ichigo grins at her.

"Good morning Rukia, and thanks." He says, giving her an intense stare that makes her stomach flip flop.

She smelled so good…I want to get that close to her again…I hope I don't have to wait too long.

They stare at each other a second, and Rukia takes a shaky breath since the effect he has on her is unnerving.

"Are you already able to leave now?" Rukia asks hopefully, and Ichigo nods his head, while offering her his sexy grin.

"The doctor saw me awhile ago. I just have to get dressed, then we can leave." He says, and Rukia's heart speeds up like it always does around him.

"Okay." She tells him, and he takes the bag of clothes in one hand before carefully getting out of the bed.

"I still don't feel a hundred percent though." Ichigo admits, since moving around causes him discomfort.

"Did the doctor give you a prescription for the pain?" Rukia asks, and Ichigo nods his head yes.

"Thank goodness for that. I'll be out in a minute." Ichigo says as he heads over to the little bathroom to change.

Of course Rukia gets the mental image in her head of what he must look like naked again, and she begins blushing. She also doesn't realize how thin the walls are as she makes a comment out loud, the moment he's shut the door behind him.

"It's a good thing he's not at a hundred percent…I already know I can't resist him."

Inside the bathroom, Ichigo smiles.

Good to know, Rukia.

Ichigo had no idea a romance could feel so good. Even with his abdomen sore, he can't stop smiling as he changes his clothes in the bathroom. There's no doubt that she's as into him as he is into her, and since he's sure he's found the girl he'll never want to let go, he's glad that it goes both ways.

The bad news is that the doctor said I shouldn't do anything physical for at least four weeks…will that even be possible with Rukia in reach?

He steps out of the bathroom and meets Rukia's eyes as he does, before offering her the same sexy smile that drives her a little bit mad.

"I'm ready to go home, Rukia."

"Okay," Rukia says, waiting for him to move, and he does, which gives Rukia the first chance she's had to really check out his rear end.

She nods her head approvingly as she likes what she sees, but that's the moment he swings his head back around, and she's caught in the act of checking him out. He gives her a lazy grin as she hurries to meet his eyes, and he looks fairly triumphant.

"You coming?" He asks, and Rukia merely nods her head before she bites her lip.

In more ways than one, Ichigo.

The drive back to the Kurosaki residence is nice, but it's also nerve wrecking. Rukia forces herself to pay attention to the road, even though she can feel his eyes on her. It's enough to make her feel jittery as hell.

"You've already figured out which way you have to go, huh?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia grins at him.

"I had to use my GPS yesterday to get back to your house, since your sisters left earlier than me. I've got the idea." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo nods.

"You like the town?" He asks, and Rukia shrugs.

"I haven't really gotten a chance to check it out yet…" Rukia says, and Ichigo nods.

"Before we go home, I need to pick up my prescription." Ichigo tells her, and Rukia nods.

"Sure thing." Rukia says, and she can tell he hasn't taken his eyes off of her, which makes her feel like she's about to jump out of her skin.

"I'll show you around Karakura Town." Ichigo tells her, and Rukia's hands tighten on the steering wheel.

"Thanks…" Rukia says, and the car is quiet a minute before Ichigo decides to say what's on his mind.

"Rukia, why do you seem so tense?" He asks curiously, and she nearly loses her marbles.

Because you keep staring at me when I'm driving!

"I'm not really sure…" Rukia says, not wanting to admit why she's this skittish…besides, she likes being this close to him…

"Take a left here." Ichigo says suddenly, and Rukia sees a turn coming up.

"Okay…" Rukia comes up to the light, throws her blinker on, and stops the car. She lets her eyes roam over to where he's sitting, and she realizes he's still got his eyes locked on her.

She moves her eyes back to the road, realizing he's already seen her check him out enough for one day.

"It'll be just past that condom machine over there." Ichigo says nonchalantly, but Rukia turns bright red.

"You are stopping for a prescription, right?" Rukia chokes out and Ichigo laughs at her.

"Yeah I can get my prescription at the store, don't worry, we're not stopping for the condom machine." He assures her, and she turns even redder.

Should I be relieved or excited about that, I wonder?

"Alright." Rukia says, and Ichigo starts to smirk.

"You're disappointed, aren't you?" He teases, and Rukia frowns at him.

"Want me to leave you here?" She asks him with attitude, and he starts to laugh as she parks.

"No, sorry." Ichigo says, before he gets out of the car. "Not that you would anyway." He says before heading into the store, and Rukia stares at his ass the whole way in.

"I just want to squeeze it!" Rukia finally belts out once he's inside, and she feels much better after she does.

She turns her head back to look at the condom machine.

Should I buy some? No…what if he catches me? I couldn't stand the mortification! Wait what in the hell am I thinking! I can't just sleep with him, I've only known him for three days! I feel like I'm losing my mind…

Rukia begins to worry about the fact that she finds Ichigo irresistible, since it's a definite weakness on her part.

"Can I really trust myself to stay at his house with him?" Rukia asks out loud with a sigh.

I can't believe I was just thinking about buying condoms when he hasn't even taken me on a date yet…I must be losing my mind.

Rukia is still arguing with herself when he walks back outside, and Rukia lets out a sigh at his handsomeness.

Maybe I'm moving too fast…maybe I need to slow things down…but I don't really want to! He's going to think I'm a whore!

She watches him as he makes his way back to her car, and she gulps as he's getting in.

He's way too hot for his own good…how is he not experienced with any women!? I can't be the first to have found him this attractive!

"Rukia…tomorrow, I'd like to take you out." Ichigo says quietly, and Rukia smiles before she can stop herself.

"Okay…anything particular in mind?" Rukia asks, and Ichigo nods his head while enjoying the view of her profile some more.

"I'm supposed to be taking it easy, so maybe we'll go out for dinner?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia nods.

"I'd like that."

A date!? He asked me on a date! I'm so happy I'm going to burst!

"Then it's a date." Ichigo says, and Rukia squelches the urge to let out a shriek of happiness.

"And during the day tomorrow, I wanted to check out some of the available listings." Rukia says, and Ichigo nods his head.

"Did you want my help?" He asks, and Rukia grins.

"I might need your help, thanks for offering." She tells him, and he grins as they come up to the street that leads to the area where he lives.

"Turn here, Rukia." Ichigo says, and when Rukia sees the street, she recognizes where she's at.

"We're almost back to your house," Rukia says with a beautiful smile, and Ichigo nods.

"I want to shower right when I get home. Want to watch some old movies and eat popcorn after that?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia nods her head happily.

"Sure!" She says, since it sounds perfect.

Our first date is tomorrow and we already act like such a couple…