A/N- Please don't forget everyone, that I aged Ichigo, Karin, & Yuzu. Ichigo is 20 almost 21 in this fic, Karin and Yuzu have recently turned 15 years old as they are just under 6 years younger than Ichigo. Hope this clears a few things up. I really only addressed the fact that they were teenagers in chapter 3.
Chapter 15
Interview
"So how are you?" Isshin asks with a knowing wink, and Ichigo turns red from anger rather than embarrassment, but Rukia answers before he can.
"I'm actually nervous about the interview…did I do anything weird on the way out of the party last night?" Rukia asks, and Isshin gawks at her as he realizes she doesn't remember the end of the previous night.
"Rukia-chan…you don't remember?" Isshin squeaks out, and Ichigo sighs with annoyance.
"I forgot you agreed to that damned interview…and to answer your question, you didn't do anything weird besides hold my ass the entire time until we got to the car squeezing it with all your might. I'm sure the media got some good shots of that." Ichigo says, as he remembers the puppy dog look that the reporter had given to his fiancé.
Rukia has a look of horror on her face and she tugs at Ichigo's shirt sleeve.
"I did what?" She gasps, and Isshin can't help it, he starts to laugh.
"That's not all you did Rukia-chan…when we got home-" Isshin is cut off by Ichigo punching him in the face.
"She knows." Is all Ichigo will hiss and he pulls his arm back like he's going to punch his dad again, but Isshin quickly nods his assent.
"Okay, okay! I get it!" Isshin concedes, and he feels a little bit bad over how red his soon to be daughter-in-law looks.
"I really did that? I held your butt like that?" Rukia whispers, part of her horrified, part of her eager to do it again, and soon.
"Yeah and you smacked my ass on the way into the car too." Ichigo grumbles at her, and Rukia gives him an apologetic look.
"So what if people think she only wants you for your body?" Isshin says next, and Ichigo gives him a threatening look, but Isshin snickers like he doesn't care if Ichigo punches his head clear off his body.
"What! That's not true!" Rukia bursts out and Ichigo rolls his eyes at her.
"Ignore him." Ichigo says, and Isshin snickers some more.
"That's not what you were telling her when she said you two would take a shower together…" Isshin trails off and quickly puts his forearms in front of his face in case Ichigo decides to clobber him again.
"Shut up!" Ichigo shouts, and Rukia gives a small embarrassed smile, while trying to live up to her now wild reputation.
"When he's right, he's right." Rukia says, and Ichigo gives her a wide eyed stare.
"Don't encourage him!" Ichigo snaps at her, and Rukia laughs.
"He helps to take away the tension…and it feels like your father really accepts me as your future wife. I like that." Rukia says, and Isshin winks at her.
"I'm just glad this idiot hasn't messed things up with you Rukia-chan!" Isshin is practically singing, and Ichigo sighs.
"When do we have to leave for this interview…and how long will it last?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia winces as she wonders what kinds of questions Hisagi will ask her.
"After I have a couple of drinks to calm me down a little more. And it'll last at least an hour. Probably two. " Rukia says, and Ichigo doesn't know if he likes or dislikes the sound of that idea.
Rukia drunk is pretty hot…and then to have to be in a stuffy interview for hours…
"Didn't you have enough to drink last night Rukia-chan?" Isshin chortles, and Rukia looks embarrassed.
"I'm not going to get smashed!" Rukia insists, and both of the Kurosaki men look at her dubiously as they think the same thing…
It didn't take all that much to get you wasted last night…
Ichigo isn't sure whether or not he can stand the reporter guy, who is all excited that Rukia kept their appointment and is gushing over her like she's the greatest thing in the world.
She is…but it's my job to tell her that, so back off, bastard!
Ichigo doesn't say anything, but he scoots his chair directly next to Rukia and takes her hand once she's settled next to him, across from Hisagi-san.
"I'd like to start off by saying you looked magnificent when you went to your engagement party last night, and you showed no hint of being bothered by the recent news about your fiancé, and that he'd cheated on you. I'd like to know what you have to say on this." Hisagi says, not even bothering with a few boring warm up questions, which makes Ichigo scowl at the man.
He sure doesn't beat around the bush, does he?
"I'm glad you asked, Hisagi-san. I was mortified by the news that had come out, particularly since it was false." Rukia says, holding the reporter's eyes with her own.
Ichigo looks back and forth between them, and he wonders why in the hell this subject has to be the first one they discuss.
"I see, so it was false. What do you have to say, Kurosaki-san?" Hisagi asks, finally stopping his incessant staring at the girl, and Ichigo squeezes Rukia's hand.
"You heard her." Ichigo says, refusing to elaborate, and Hisagi looks puzzled before turning back to Rukia.
"I'm sure a lot of our viewers are wondering why you'd say that. So I'll ask you to elaborate." Hisagi says quietly, and Rukia nods her head.
"Ichigo was injured recently, and so when the girl tried to corner him for unseemly reasons, he tried to get away from her, but she dove at him, causing the back of his head to crack against the wall, knocking him out. The girl and her friend, who had helped to get Ichigo to her house undressed him and did those pictures as he was knocked out." Rukia says, and Hisagi furrows his eyebrows at her.
"That seems unbelievable. What convinced you that it was the truth?" Hisagi asks, and Rukia blushes lightly.
"The fact that he had a large bump on the back of his head, and when he became conscious, he knocked both girls out, and called me, even though his hands were tied. I saw the state he was in, and I couldn't possibly believe anything else." Rukia says, and Ichigo squeezes her hand again.
Why does something so embarrassing have to be a matter of public knowledge?
Ichigo's deepened scowl isn't missed by anybody, and Hisagi hurries to change the subject.
"And Kuchiki-sama, how is your work doing? The last time we talked-" Hisagi is now cut off by Rukia who is shooting him an icy look that clearly says don't ask. He searches for a better subject…
"So how did the two of you meet?"
"That was hell. Time I'll never get back…I never want to do that again." Ichigo complains after they leave the annoying reporter's office, and Rukia rolls her eyes at him.
"Be grateful I cut it short. Last time I was in there for several hours." Rukia tells him, and Ichigo frowns at that information. The idea of that Hisagi guy spending hours with Rukia alone just rubs him the wrong way.
"I think that guy wanted bang you." Ichigo grumbles, but then Rukia grabs his butt and squeezes it.
"But I only want to do that with you." She says in a light voice, and Ichigo can't help but smile.
I like it when she says that.
"I feel the same way about you." Ichigo says quietly, and Rukia feels a weight off her shoulders so she releases his rear.
How is it even possible that I've obtained this? Love this perfect isn't supposed to exist! Can this perfect life really be possible?
Then Rukia jams some reality back into her head.
The day I met him they were trying to kill him. I have to remember things in life aren't perfect, and that's what I've been working to fix. I don't even like the idea of being away from him!
"Rukia?" Ichigo says, because she suddenly looks troubled, and she blinks before giving him a smile.
"What?" She asks, and he gives her a weird look.
"You okay?" He asks after a moment of silence, and Rukia nods but then she reaches around and grabs his ass again before they make it to her car.
"I'll be perfect once we're married." Rukia says, and Ichigo nods his head in swift agreement to that.
"Kuchiki-sama!" Hisagi yells as he dashes towards them, out of breath like it's something urgent.
Ichigo struggles not to sigh, and Rukia smiles brightly before she turns around.
"Yes Hisagi-san?" Rukia asks, and he holds up an expensive looking camera.
"Can I have a picture of you together?" Hisagi asks, and Rukia smiles acceptingly.
Ichigo shudders at the thought of his picture landing in yet another magazine but he complies without letting on that he's uncomfortable. He loops his arm around his tiny fiancé's neck and pulls her into him for the shot. Rukia blushes at how close he is to her, since she can feel his hard chest against her back, but she doesn't try to get away.
"You two look great together…perfect." Hisagi says, but Ichigo detects a hint of sadness in the man's voice so the instant the photo is snapped, Ichigo gives him a threatening glare.
"You've gotten enough, right?" Ichigo asks pointedly, and then he feels Rukia pinch his butt hard. He struggles to not show any reaction to her, since he's sure she's going to leave a mark if she doesn't let go quickly.
"Ah…yes, thank you again!" Hisagi bows, and Rukia smiles graciously.
They watch him hurry away and Rukia pinches him even harder, looking satisfied only when he finally reacts.
"Ouch! Rukia you're going to damage the goods!" Ichigo finally bursts out, and Rukia blows a strand of hair away from her mouth before she grabs his arm and lets him escort her to the car.
"Ichigo, there will be reporters from time to time." Rukia starts out, but Ichigo unwisely interrupts….
"Like all the time…" He grumbles, and Rukia rolls her eyes.
"Can you handle that?" She asks him point blank, and Ichigo's eyes widen in surprise.
"What you think I'm going to go back on my word or something?" He asks, his voice starting to raise, and Rukia puts a finger to her mouth, relieved that they'll soon be in the car.
"Ichigo!" Rukia hisses, and Ichigo pipes down, willing to oblige her and wait for some privacy for this discussion.
They both pick up their pace and get into the car as quickly as possible.
"How could you even say that Rukia?" Ichigo demands, as he pulls on his seatbelt and Rukia rolls her eyes.
"You were about to make a big commotion right near the offices of the magazine! I know you're not used to the media, but I am, so you should trust me instead of losing your temper at the worst time possible! Rukia says, and Ichigo realizes she's right.
What if they snapped a photo of us arguing and her brother decided I needed to die before the wedding?
"Fine, let's go home so I can demonstrate how I really feel to you since you seem to have forgotten since last night." Ichigo says in a serious voice, and Rukia immediately blushes.
"Shut up Ichigo!"
"I will not, I've made up my mind. This time, your ass is mine, and all of your opinions are rejected!" Ichigo snaps at her, and Rukia lets out an indignant gasp.
"What kind of tyrannical way is that to show someone you love them?" Rukia quickly demands, even though she can feel the heat radiating from her cheeks still.
"Shut up! The one questioning my love doesn't get to say anything! I'm just going to make sure I leave you trembling and breathless…what's with that face? Try acting a little happier!" Ichigo's voice is much too loud, and Rukia knows immediately where he inherited that ability from.
"You're not allowed! You'll hurt me!" Rukia snaps at him, and Ichigo gives her a mischievous crooked grin.
"Rukia…would the man who loves you, show you how much he loves you by hurting you if he doesn't have to?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia gives him a puzzled look, like it's some kind of trick question.
"Eh…"
"The answer is no! I won't do anything to hurt you, but I'll tell you right now, it is going to happen. Make no mistake about that."
Rukia trembles a little bit and hopes he doesn't notices. She's anxious but excited to see how Ichigo will show her how he feels about her. She's sure he'll have her in the exact state he wants to, since she becomes putty in his hands every time he decides he wants to start touching her.
As Ichigo and Rukia turn the corner of his street, they can clearly see Inoue and Tatsuki dressed up and outside of his home. Inoue is wearing a pale lavender one piece sundress that emphasizes her large chest, and Tatsuki looks like she's ready to go play some tennis somewhere, wearing a short white skirt with a blue top.
"Damn it…what are they doing here?" Ichigo asks, extremely annoyed that his time with Rukia will be slowed down even more than he'd wanted.
"I can't believe it myself. After everything they've pulled." Rukia says, as she eyes the two girls.
"Lets just keep going." Ichigo grumbles, glad that Rukia decided to let him drive.
"They've already seen us…" Rukia objects, but that doesn't stop Ichigo from whizzing right past his house.
"How about I take you out for some ice cream? It's warm enough that I'm in the mood." Ichigo says, and Rukia's eyes light up immediately.
"That sounds like a great idea!" Rukia exclaims, since she hadn't realized how much she wanted it until he said it.
Inoue and Tatsuki stare, mouths agape, as the sporty car flies right past them and continues down the road before turning at the next road up.
"Did Ichigo just run away from us?" Tatsuki asks in shock, and Inoue nods her head slowly.
"It sure did seem that way." Inoue whispers, and Tatsuki clenches her fist.
"Damn you, Ichigo! Don't think you can run forever! I live right around the corner, I'm not going to give up!" Tatsuki yells, but Inoue tugs at her sleeve.
"Tatsuki-chan…they can't hear you." Inoue says, and Tatsuki breathes heavily, with her cheeks red from the insult of Ichigo ignoring them.
"I know." Tatsuki grumbles, and Inoue squeezes her arm.
"It doesn't look like the plan worked." Inoue says quietly, but in a way that makes Tatsuki stare at her.
The light…the light that usually shines in Orihime's eyes is gone! Damn it! Why'd she have to fall so deeply in love with him anyways? I can't stand to see her in this kind of pain!
"Don't give up!" Tatsuki says, but Inoue shakes her head.
"It's not like I have a choice!" Inoue's voice waivers, and Tatsuki sighs as she gathers her friend up for a hug.
"Don't give up until the end, if you really love him." Tatsuki whispers urgently, and even though it's delayed, Inoue nods her head into her friend's shoulder.
"Okay…"
Tatsuki seethes at how everything has happened. She once again wishes Orihime had confessed her feelings long ago. Maybe then Orihime would be the one Ichigo had proposed to, instead of the rich and famous Kuchiki Rukia.
"Butter Rum, two scoops!" Rukia exclaims, and Ichigo gives her an astonished look.
"Rukia…that's what I was going to get!" Ichigo says, and Rukia grins at him.
"Great minds think alike." She says, sticking her tongue out at him, and Ichigo feels an ache in his pants.
I want to feel that tongue running up and down my dick again…
"Yeah…" Ichigo says, and Rukia recognizes the look of desire in his eyes, and so she smiles, very aware of how attracted he is to her.
"I wish I could eat it off your butt!" Rukia says loudly enough to earn a dirty look from a mother with her child in a nearby booth.
"Be quiet!" Ichigo hisses at her, blushing from the public embarrassment, but he knows he'll have to suggest that activity in the future.
You just wait until we get back home…