Chapter 12
The Talk
Inoue stares at the cover of the magazine that Tatsuki has brought over, with her hand over her mouth.
"I don't understand how this is supposed to work." Inoue says doubtfully, feeling her cheeks heat up in shame.
Everyone will know that's me!
"It's like this. That Kuchiki Rukia is a rich girl. In our country, she's practically famous. I'm thinking her family may not allow her to marry Ichigo if they think he's already cheated on her. Then, if and when that happens, you can apologize to him for all the trouble we've caused him, and he'll surely start to notice you then. All we need is this girl out of the picture! If only you'd confessed sooner…" Tatsuki says, and Inoue sighs.
"It sounds possible when you say it like that. The biggest problems with it are what if they don't cancel the wedding, and even if they do, what if Kurosaki-kun never forgives us?" Inoue whispers, and Tatsuki shrugs off that worry pretty easily.
"I think he will." Tatsuki says, as she remembers all of the whispered comments about Orihime made by the majority of the male population in her school
"Eh?" Inoue is startled by Tatsuki's sureness, because she figured they'd done the unforgivable.
"We'll just have to wait and see." Tatsuki says. "Cross your fingers that the wedding gets canceled tonight at the engagement party." Tatsuki says, and Inoue wonders if they've committed some kind of mortal sin with their actions.
I hope not…
Ichigo follows Byakuya with a great deal of dread, wondering what the man will have to say to him, but they exit the party room of the hotel and go down a hall with no other guests in view until Byakuya leads him into a conference room that the hotel provides for its guests. He gives Ichigo an icy stare for a long moment before he decides to speak.
"Kurosaki Ichigo…what is your goal?" Byakuya asks in a quiet and low dangerous voice.
"Eh?" Ichigo is astounded, speechless, and completely caught off guard.
His expression is genuine enough for Byakuya to give him a look before he reaches into his jacket for the same offensive magazine that his father had brought home this morning.
"What is the meaning of this?" Byakuya asks next, and Ichigo gives him a puzzled look.
"I thought Rukia explained it to you already…" Ichigo trails off as he goes over in his head very quickly how his explanation might sound to this man, and he already doesn't want to have to explain it.
"I want an explanation from you." Byakuya says in a hard voice, and Ichigo fights the urge to bite his lip.
I was afraid of that…
"What you see in that picture there isn't anything consensual. I was unconscious when that photo was taken." Ichigo says, and Byakuya slams his fist into the table.
"How did you find yourself in that situation to begin with?" Byakuya asks next, and Ichigo crosses his arms defensively.
"I was forced. My…uh…childhood friend…" Ichigo has a hard time saying it considering how furious he is with the girl at the moment, but he manages to spit it out. "…twisted my arm and dragged me over there saying I was engaged too quickly. She is responsible for my being there and for the photos that were taken." Ichigo says quietly.
"Her name." Byakuya says quietly, and Ichigo feels the blood drain from his face.
"I have known her a long time and would prefer not to give any more information." Ichigo says, instinctively wanting to protect the girl he's known for as far back as he can remember.
"Is the real reason you won't say her name…because you're in love with her and you're protecting her?" Byakuya asks, and Ichigo's face twists into a look of fury prompting Byakuya to reach under the table and draw out a katana which makes Ichigo's eyes go wide in fear.
"Of course not! She's almost like a sister though, and I am hoping that I'll be able to forgive her…but only after Rukia and I are married." He bites off his words, in an obvious attempt to regain his calm, but Byakuya looks at him suspiciously before putting the katana back under the table and out of sight, but for some reason, Ichigo imagines the man might consider carving off his male parts…
"This is the only warning you're going to get Kurosaki Ichigo, and I won't repeat myself. If you are trying to scam my sister, or if you do anything to make her regret marrying you, I'll have you killed." Byakuya says, and Ichigo slams his hands down on the conference table.
"What troubles our marriage may encounter doesn't involve you one bit! I love Rukia, and that's why I want to marry her. I'm sure there will be moments when she regrets marrying a stubborn bull like myself, but I'll do everything in my power to always earn her forgiveness, and to keep her loving me like she does right now!"
Byakuya looks disgusted at all of Ichigo's talk about his and Rukia's emotions, so much so that he appears that he could gag at any second.
"I think you know what I meant. It means no cheating on her, harming her, or being so rotten to her that she would regret her choice." Byakuya clarifies and then holds his hand up to prevent Ichigo from giving another emotional retort. "That is all, Kurosaki Ichigo. You're dismissed." Byakuya says, which has Ichigo inwardly seething.
Fists clenched, Ichigo stands and walks out of the room as stiffly as possible with Rukia's brother watching his every move. Ichigo feels the man's eyes on him, and he scowls at the man before leaving the room.
I need to go wash my face, I feel so heated up and angry…
"Rukia!" Renji's voice catches Rukia's attention and she turns to look for her longtime friend, now distracted from watching her brother leave with Ichigo.
"Renji?" Rukia looks around and spots the signature bright red hair of her best friend, and her breath catches a bit in her throat when she sees him all dressed up in his suit.
He's changed since we were kids…he's almost as handsome as Ichigo!
"Rukia, I saw you come in with him…" Renji trails off, getting a wry smile from Rukia.
"He's amazing Renji…" Rukia says and then she remembers the feeling she gets whenever Ichigo grabs her and kisses her. Shivering visibly, she gives Renji a happy smile.
"You were right. He does remind me of Kaien." Renji says, and Rukia nods her head at him.
"The hair color and eye color is different, but the shape of his face, his features, even his attitude are so much like him." Rukia says, as a nostalgic feeling rushes through her.
"Is he really…okay?" Renji asks, and Rukia nods her head emphatically, showing she doesn't have a trace of doubt when it comes to Ichigo or his intentions.
"He is, Renji. He's nothing like that sleazy magazine made him out to be. He's caring, kind, honest, and he has the best smile I've ever seen." Rukia tells him, willing him with her brain to accept and trust Ichigo in the same way she does.
"If you're sure…but if he ever hurts you, I'll kill him." Renji says, leaning down in her ear to say the last part so that Ichigo's image doesn't suffer further.
"Let me introduce you to his family. This is his father, and these two gorgeous girls here are his sisters." Rukia tells him, and Renji looks at all of them.
"It's nice to meet you, I've been friends with Rukia for ages." Renji says, giving them a bow of respect, which they reciprocate.
"What do you do?" Karin asks him, hoping fiercely that he's not similar to her own brother's childhood friend.
"I work as a bodyguard for the Kuchiki Group, but since I was invited as a guest tonight, I'm not working this function." Renji says, getting a gasp of surprise from Rukia.
"Ni-sama hired you! Congratulations!" Rukia tells him, and Renji's cheeks tinge red at Rukia's obvious amazement at his feat.
"You work for her brother then?" Karin asks, and Renji nods.
"At my job interview, I had to face Zaraki Kenpachi…that was hell. I never want to do it again. I figured I wouldn't get hired when I lost, but when I came to, I was given the job." Renji says, and Karin snorts.
"So you got knocked out in the job interview, and you still got the job?" Her tone sounds impudent, so Renji frowns.
"Nobody can beat Zaraki Kenpachi. If you last more than ten minutes with him, then you're automatically a contender. I lasted thirteen minutes!" Renji says, and Karin nods her head in a condescending manner.
"Maybe you only got the job because of your connections." Karin says next, and Yuzu elbows her sister, but Rukia ends it before Renji can reply.
"Ni-sama isn't like that. He barely tolerates me, and would never hire Renji based on that alone." Rukia's tone ends all further debate, because Karin can see Rukia means every word.
"Rukia-chan!" A feminine voice draws all of their attention, and Rangiku sweeps in, grabbing Rukia into a bear hug.
"Rangiku-san!" Rukia says, pulling away and eyeing her friend's sexy dress.
The black on top and pink on the bottom strapless dress that makes a low cut V down the center of her chest only barely covers her massive bosom. Rangiku's shapely legs are shown off to the max with pink high heels, and it appears her dress only barely covers her rear end. Her hair is in styled waves, flowing about her back, and her makeup looks professionally applied.
"I saw your future hubby in the tabloids! Is he here?" Rangiku asks, and Rukia blushes a deep shade of red, since her friend's voice tends to carry.
"Rangiku-san, that's not any way to say it!" A new voice pipes up and Rukia's eyes widen in excitement when she realizes her cousins are here.
"That's just how she is." Her fifteen year old cousin's voice has gotten surprisingly deep since the last time Rukia saw him, about a year ago.
"Momo! Toushirou!" Rukia says, spotting them standing like decorations behind Renji.
They're both dressed up, Toushirou in a black suit, and Momo in a peach princess gown that flares out for the bottom half. Her hair is in a bun with a peach ribbon holding it into place, with curled tendrils flying loose in the back and sides.
"I've missed you!" Momo rushes in to hug Rukia and Rangiku hugs them both.
"The abnormal trio is back together again!" Rangiku sings out and Rukia nearly snorts.
"Don't bring up that old nickname!" Momo says in horror, and Rangiku laughs.
"It's what everyone called us in school though!"
"That doesn't mean you need to bring it up!" Momo says, blushing brightly.
Like Rukia, she looks much younger than her age, and she's not very large in the chest. Whenever the three of them would walk around school together (which was always) the other girls would refer to them as the abnormal trio due to Rangiku's very developed body in comparison to Rukia and Momo's underdeveloped appearance.
"You're not still self-conscious about having a small chest are you? You're body is perfectly proportionate without all that!" Rangiku says, getting Momo to turn several shades of red.
"People can hear you!" Rukia hisses, and she glances at Ichigo's sisters who look very embarrassed by the content of the discussion.
"I'm going to head over to the bar, who wants a drink?" Rangiku asks next, and Rukia raises her hand.
"I do!"
"But before I do that, where is your husband-to-be?" Rangiku asks, and Rukia rolls her eyes.
"Ni-sama dragged him off for a private talk the instant we got here." Rukia says, and Renji clears his throat.
"I think they're done." Renji's words get Rukia's attention, so she looks at him and then follows his gaze across the room.
Ichigo is staring straight at Rukia, and he doesn't appear to be injured, so Rukia waves him over.
"Damn! That magazine didn't do him any justice, he's a total hunk!" Rangiku practically squeals, and Rukia nods her head in agreement.
"My hunk." She says, and everyone except for Renji laughs.
"But it's still a surprise! You didn't mention anything about him when we talked on the phone last month." Rangiku complains, and Rukia smirks at her.
"Well that's because… I hadn't met him yet!"
Her words make Rangiku speechless for once, all though the sound of her sucked in breath of air is all it takes to make Rukia's stomach hurt from trying not to laugh.
"You hadn't met him yet?" Momo says, her words echoing Rangiku's thoughts.
"It was a little more than two weeks ago, I saved his life and we just…fell in love." Rukia says, watching Rangiku's mouth open and shut like a fish.
"I hope you're making the right decision…" Toushirou trails off since Ichigo is making record speed as he tries to get back to his fiancé's side. Once again, Rukia is nodding her head emphatically.
"I've never been more sure about anything in my life." Rukia's voice is resolute, which gets Isshin smiling like a little kid about to receive candy.
"That's why you're perfect for him, " Isshin says, and Rangiku gives him a wink.
"After I meet her future hubby, want to help me go grab drinks?" She asks him, and Isshin's eyes widen at the flirtatious gesture.
"I could never turn a beautiful woman like you down." Isshin says, and Rangiku gives him a big smile.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Ichigo finally gets to Rukia's side and she gives him her full attention…but not before she gives him a smack on the ass, which everyone sees and starts snickering over. Ichigo casts his future wife a very dark look when he hears everyone tittering in the background.
"What did ni-sama say to you?" She asks, and Ichigo looks irritated as he looks at her, but he doesn't want to say it all out loud, since he doesn't think he can tolerate any other objections to his being with Rukia.
"I'll tell you later." He says, and Rukia nods.
"I want to introduce you to my friends. This here is Renji, that's Rangiku, and over there are my cousins Momo and Toushirou." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo politely nods at everyone she points out, even though he recalls what Rukia had said in regards to Rangiku which is what prompted him to be so serious about marrying her.
That's the one who told Rukia not to trust a man if he brings up marriage within a week…
Then Rangiku leans into Rukia's ear whispering something that Ichigo can't hear, but he's sure he's glad about that when he sees just how red Rukia's face gets.
Renji takes a step forward and gets Ichigo's attention next.
"All I have to say is…take good care of Rukia. I won't forgive you if you don't." Renji's conviction surprises Rukia who smacks his arm rather hard.
"I'll be the one making sure he takes good care of me!" Rukia says, and then Rangiku smirks.
"In bed!" She giggles before she grabs Isshin's arm, dragging him off to get drinks for the group.
Both Ichigo and Rukia are embarrassed by what Rangiku said, but inwardly, Ichigo agrees.
Oh don't you worry, I'll make it my mission to make sure I take care of her…especially in bed!
Rukia tugs on Ichigo's arm and when he looks at her, she seems agitated over something, so he leans down to let her whisper in his ear, and what she has to say in the current atmosphere makes him wish he could drag her up to one of the hotel rooms and have his way with her.
"I want to bite your ass so bad right now, it's practically killing me…you look too hot today." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo sucks in a quick breath as he gets a full body shiver at her words.
"You'll have to wait." Ichigo's low voice turns Rukia on so much, she grabs his ass and gives it a good squeeze.
But she'd probably tell me we couldn't do anything strenuous if I even tried that.
Ichigo never had any idea that alcohol could make his innocent Rukia into such a bad girl, but because of that damned Matsumoto Rangiku, that's exactly the situation he's experiencing as he tries to help her up the stairs of his house, but she keeps stumbling and then insisting that she can do it on her own without any help from him. At the top of the stares, she gives him a vacant eyed smile, before she says what's on her mind.
"I think Rangiku-san liked Sado." She says, and Ichigo snorts.
"I think Rangiku-san liked every man she met, including my old man." Ichigo retorts, and Rukia giggles.
"I can't hold back anymore!" Rukia exclaims before she grabs Ichigo's ass and squeezes it for the umpteenth time that night.
"You were holding back before?" Ichigo looks so horrified that Rukia crumples to the ground, laughing very hard at him.
"I thought I was going to die of laughter when ni-sama grabbed my arm and told me to control myself…" Rukia's giggling into the floor now, and Ichigo shudders at the memory.
"I thought I was going to die for real…" He remembered the look of death that Byakuya had given him, and Ichigo had shrugged helplessly at the man, as if to say… there's nothing I can do to control her, she's nuts!
Rukia laughs so hard she snorts, and Ichigo can't help but to chuckle at her then. He shakes his head at how far gone he is from being in love with her.
He leans down to grab her by her shoulders and lift her back up into a standing position, but she has issues with it, and before he even realizes what's happened, she's pulled him down to the floor and she's holding onto his neck tight.
"Kiss me Ichigo." Rukia's breathless voice makes his heart start to pound harder, and he pulls back a bit to look her in her eyes.
He can clearly see she's wasted off her ass, but he doesn't hesitate to give her what she's asked for. He starts kissing her, and her fingers start to move their way along his neck, and then she runs them through his hair, kissing him so soundly, he's forgetting where they are. He presses the evidence of his arousal into her leg getting caught up in the heat of it until he hears a familiar sound…the snapping and flash of a camera.
Ichigo snaps open his eyes and pulls away from Rukia to look at the bottom of the stairs where he dad is taking pictures, still.
"Stop it you pervert!" Ichigo yells, and Rukia moves her hands from his hair to his ass with lightning speed.
Ichigo flinches as Rukia squeezes his ass with a grip so tight he's sure to wake up with marks all over his ass.
"You don't even know…I want to-" Rukia is cut off by Ichigo clapping his hand over her mouth while his father wails in laughter at the scene before him.
"You're the ones doing it right in the hallway!"
"We're not doing it!" Ichigo yells, and then Rukia begins to lick his hand which makes him gasp, and he has to struggle from grinding his arousal into her leg anymore than what he already did as they were kissing and being photographed.
"I bet I can make some good money with these pictures!" Isshin teases, but that really angers Ichigo.
"You better not! Rukia! Stop it!" Ichigo is trying to yell at his dad, but with Rukia's tongue working his hand, he's beginning to lose his train of thought.
"Relax! I'm not going to sell them, I was just kidding! I'm just making a scrapbook for my future grandchildren to show them how their parents fell in love!" Isshin declares, and Ichigo unsuccessfully tries to pull himself out of Rukia's grasp, but she's hanging on to his rear tightly, and locking her legs around him preventing him from moving at all.
"No kid wants to see their parents like that!" Ichigo shouts and Isshin just keeps snickering.
"I'll be the judge of that." Sauntering off with his trusty camera in hand, Isshin whistles a happy tune, causing Ichigo to groan in frustration since his hand is now tingling from Rukia licking it.
"Rukia…can we please go to my room?" Ichigo asks, and then he pulls his hand away from her mouth.
"Only if you get naked immediately once we're in." Rukia says, slurring her words enough to make Ichigo feel a bit guilty over how turned on he's getting.
"No way…I can't have you hating me and canceling the wedding if you wake up mad tomorrow." Ichigo says, even though his nether region is at full salute in favor of Rukia's idea.
"I love you, there's no way I'd be mad. In fact, the whole time I've known you I've wanted to tap that ass." Rukia says fearlessly, and she shocks Ichigo so much that a squeak sounds out of the back of his throat.
"Really?" He asks, unable to believe what she just said, and he stares he in the eyes as if he's seeking reassurance.
"You got me so wet that time you got us both naked in your bed, and the feeling of your skin on mine…I was so turned on it scared me. Then the moment I laid down on the floor I regretted it….well except that you're injured…" Rukia trails off, and then frowns.
"Rukia?"
"That's right! You're injured! So you take off all your clothes and let me do all the work!"
"Oh my god my son is so lucky!" Isshin's voice makes Ichigo want to run down and punch his father.
"Come on, Ichigo. Lets get you naked."
Oh my god is this really happening!