Chapter Seventeen

Next Fight Is With…

"You forgot your school uniform at my house so I guess I should come over and give it to you," Ichigo said into the phone.

"Oh maybe I should come over there," Rukia replied.

"No I'll come see you," Ichigo said kicking his door as he noticed his sister and father eavesdropping.

Rukia paused for a long time she wasn't even sure she wanted to go to school and Ichigo didn't know about the Espada guest Orihime harbored. He was far too preoccupied with the date to notice when he came over but how much longer would that be the case.

"I'm already walking towards your place," Rukia quickly said.

Ichigo was hoping he could go to her place but he settled because he really only wanted to see her. Hopeless was what he was.

"So how are things going at Orihime's place," Ichigo said making small talk.

"The repairs are going quicker than expected. I miss your room," Rukia said.

"You didn't need to leave," Ichigo said.

"Yeah I did…Hollows," Rukia said.

"What," Ichigo asked.

"I got a Hollow by the flower shop. Meet you there," Rukia said hanging up.

000

"I hope you like your apartment," Ichigo said leaning against the wall of the flower shop.

"I do," Rukia said joining him at the wall. She must have fallen out of shape because she seemed to have trouble breathing.

"Are the hollows getting worse," Ichigo asked.

"You're getting complacent," Rukia said.

"You really think so," Ichigo asked his eyes darkened. He was breathing heavily as well. Perhaps they were getting worse after all, she thought.

"I was joking. They are getting worse," Rukia said looking him in the eye.

"You know here in this world most guys give girls roses or daisies or something I was here at this shop the other day…I was there for hours trying to think of what to get you and I remember seeing you standing near these flowers," Ichigo pointed in the shop window.

Rukia turned and looked into the shop at the flowers he pointed out.

"This exact shop do you think that it's somehow connected to the hollows," she asked.

Here he was trying to explain his choice of flowers to her and she could care less.

"It's not that I just thought you might be curious about why I picked those flowers," he said.

"They were beautiful but now I really am thinking about that hollow," Rukia said looking around at the buildings.

Hollows were on her mind. Rukia can't you just give me something…some kind of sign that you feel the same way I do.

"Never mind," Ichigo said turning from the building.

"I remember them they were the flowers from that advertisement. The vacation spot that you're going to take me to, the land of Hawaii," she grinned.

"We're not going-

"The flowers were a message so when do we go," Rukia said.

Be careful what you wish for.

"I'm still in High School idiot we're not going to Hawaii and there was no message," Ichigo said.

"So it's a surprise. I understand I'll do my best to look exited when we step off the plane," she said walking away.

"Stop messing with me," Ichigo said.

"You take things too seriously. I know we aren't going to Hawaii anytime soon so relax Ichigo," Rukia said still walking.

"I know you have a uniform at your new apartment. I just wanted to see you," Ichigo said.

Rukia stopped and waited for him to catch up.

"I know," Rukia said leaning against his arm, "what kind of fool do you think I am. I wouldn't have you come all this way for a stupid uniform fool."

"Do you want to go somewhere else and talk," Ichigo asked.

"Yes that was something else with that hollow," Rukia said grabbing his hand and pulling him along with her.

They were on the roof. He figured she would go there. The sun was setting so lights flicked in the distance of Karakura town. Kids came in from their games and human traffic thinned out.

"You're really staying here for a while," Ichigo asked staring out at the skyline.

"Yeah."

"That's all I get is yeah," Ichigo asked.

"Yes."

"Orihime knows about your plans to stay so long and shouldn't you get a job or something," Ichigo asked.

"There aren't any plans," Rukia looked up at him and grinned, "I'm just going to school here that's all. We're friends so why not stay there. A job…what do you think I just got done doing."

"Friends don't stand on the roof holding hands," Ichigo said.

"Even children hold hands so you know that is false," Rukia said.

Not like this.

"I just didn't expect any of this is all," Ichigo said.

"I can't talk about it more than that. Some things do not involve you," Rukia said staring out at the city once more.

"This does," he said blocking her view.

"Not really."

"Then it must be Orihime. What is she hiding?"

"We had this conversation and you said you'd wait for her to tell you…so respect that," Rukia said.

"What is she hiding," Ichigo asked again.

"This isn't like you something else is bothering you-

"You comeback so suddenly and now you're moved into a nice little apartment with Orihime. The two of you are keeping secrets and all the while the Hollows are getting worse. To top it off I don't like the way that Ashido is hanging around-

"Stop Ichigo," Rukia let go of his hand and stood apart from him.

"I didn't mean to-

"Yes you did. It's alright you should have an explanation and you'll know soon enough. As far as Orihime's concerned you'll just have to trust her," Rukia turned back to face him, "I don't know why the Hollows are getting worse. Finally I think it's cute that you're jealous of Ashido but you can't tell me who to hang around."

"I'm sorry," Ichigo said putting a hand on her shoulder. He really was sorry for bringing this subject up.

Damned possessive streak of crazy came out.

"Noted," Rukia smirked.

000

Orihime noticed immediately the sleeping couple on her couch. Ichigo's orange head leaned on Rukia's shoulder as they slept on the couch. Orihime tiptoed through her apartment towards her bedroom. She paused for a second contemplating whether or not to turn off the television. But then she would be caught so she left it on.

000

Rukia sat up on the couch. It was morning time now and Ichigo continued to sleep on her shoulder. She watched him sleep until he finally stirred and opened his eyes.

"I had a dream last night," Rukia said, "This was strange though not like usual."

Ichigo sat up as Rukia tried to wake her sleeping shoulder.

"Sorry," Ichigo said rubbing her shoulder.

"I'm fine. I didn't want to wake you up. We've been so busy lately you could use the rest," Rukia said.

"So a dream," Ichigo asked stretching, "what like a vision or something."

He wondered just how he managed to sleep on Rukia's shoulder like that without crushing her.

"No I guess it was very humanlike," Rukia said.

"I wouldn't even know what you mean," Ichigo replied laughing a little at the absurdity of the statement.

"I guess you wouldn't," Rukia said.

"Let me guess there's Chappy and please don't try to draw it," Ichigo laughed harder.

"You love my drawings," Rukia said.

"I what…never mind what was this dream about," Ichigo forced himself to straighten up.

"This movie," Rukia said holding up the box.

It was the movie they watched last night. Ichigo suddenly realized he was supposed to be at home getting ready for school. This was pretty bad. He hoped that he wasn't in trouble with his father or worse his sisters.

"Relax we have plenty of time if you don't mind borrowing one of Inoue's uniform's," Rukia joked.

Yuzu's going to kill me and she can tell jokes at a time like this.

"Funny," Ichigo said looking at the clock they had three hours until school started so he did relax.

"In the dream…I was in this movie," Rukia said.

"You may be taking that acting class a little too far," Ichigo said a new round of laughter erupted, "you…can't…shrink anymore-

Rukia punched him.

Straightening up and rubbing his shoulder he said, "I guess I asked for that."

"Kon was there as this giant Lion," Rukia continued telling her dream.

"There is no Lion in this story. Did he have stripes by any chance," Ichigo asked.

"No I think that was Yoruichi…anyway I ended up at this crazy tea party," Rukia said.

"Mr. Hat and Clogs," Ichigo said laughing.

"Mr. Urahara and then we met," Rukia said.

"Which one was I," Ichigo asked.

"Will you just let me tell the story," Rukia asked and continued as Ichigo nodded, "I was chasing you the whole time."

"Oh no…I was Chappy….noooo don't make me a cute rabbit," Ichigo said hysterical.

"Kon was the king who kept plotting against me with Orihime the Queen of Hearts," Rukia said.

"You should give this story to the Seireitei Bulletin I'm sure Hisagi will run it and what about Byakuya," Ichigo asked in tears.

"Shut up," Rukia said.

"We have to get going before were late anyway. I'm going to be thinking about this all day now. Let me guess he was the Mad Hatter," Ichigo said jumping away from her punch.

Orihime came out of her room, "Hello Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-san what are you too laughing so loudly about."

"It's nothing Inoue," Rukia said from the couch.

"I'm sorry for making so much noise," Ichigo apologized.

"Oh no I was already up," Orihime waved him off, "there's school silly don't you remember."

"Is there someone else here," Ichigo asked looking at the hallway. He could swear he felt a familiar spiritual pressure.

"Let's get going," Rukia said pushing Ichigo out the door, "let us women get ready in private. See you at school later."

The door slammed.

Strange, Ichigo thought staring at the closed-door that just slammed into his face.

He knocked on the door to make sure that Rukia wasn't really upset at him.

Rukia answered the door, "What is it Ichigo?"

"Are we alright because you just slammed the door in my face," he asked.

"It just slipped out of my hand. You better get going thought because you'll be late. Also your family might be worried that you never came home," Rukia said.

"Alright I'll see you later then," Ichigo said and turned to leave.