Disclaimer and notes: No, I don't own Bleach…

Whoops. Took a little longer to write. I'm not going to use real life as an excuse though. Nope.

Ahem! …Let's see how our newlyweds take on Day One (If…you know, last night was the Honeymoon…) XD

I said I'd keep the main storyline OUT, but bits and pieces of it (I'm not going to spoil you!) are important to the progression of character.

Oh yeah. The fluff in this one may be up-the-wazoo, so, uh, beware that too. IchiRu forever! XD

To the Wind
Chapter 3
By AdventWing

"Aniki-sama…my first evening in the team has ended peacefully."

"…Ah…. What seat?"

"…None. I'm very sorry…with my ability…I couldn't become a seated officer upon joining the division…"

"…I see."

"You may leave."

-----

Those birds. Rukia stretched luxuriously on her side of the bed. She was in that phase between half-asleep and half-awake, that blissful portion of the day when one is aware of one's immediate surroundings, and one simply…doesn't…care….

Well, for one thing, she doesn't often wake up like this! The bed she's on feels great, the sheets are soft and the pillow is soft and she's curled up against something…not…soft. She lazily cracks on eye open to see the back of Ichigo's bright, bleached hair.

The initial jerk of surprise that occurs at the fact that ICHIGO is in the same bed disappears when she remembers it was HER idea. She leans back down with a sigh, more than happy for some more shuteye on this wonderful, wonderful bed.

Her eyes snap open in irritation. Those birds. Every visit after she joined the division, she'd hear those birds.

No. No noble will take her. She'll have to make do as a normal Shinigami.

She is technically; although, she keeps telling that herself she isn't, experiencing married life.

The more she thinks about it, the more it seems plausible.

Phrases like, 'the first person you see when you wake' and 'the first day of the rest of your life' creep in.

And it's strange.

Because she's sitting there, studying Ichigo's bleached hair and noting the lack of a scowl on his forehead…and is tempted.

Tempted. The relationship she shares with him is deep. You don't save someone's life everyday. Staring death in the face together made them…

What? She asks. Friends?

She's stared death in the face with a few other people in her division. Why was it so different with Ichigo?

Tentatively, listening to his soft snoring, she reaches over, with the intention of running her fingers through his hair. She suddenly has this strange impulse to lean over and wake him up like a newlywed, and the notion jolts her. So much that her hand clenches into a fist halfway to his forehead.

She draws back, clutching her hand to her chest.

Caution prevails.

For this morning, anyway.

She turns her head to the window. It's truly a beautiful morning.

She spoils the mood somewhat by dousing his head with a cup of water and demanding breakfast.

-----

Still grumbling about his rude awakening, Ichigo works with a white apron around him, while Rukia bathes.

When Rukia again sees foreign food on the table, she sits down, a picture of innocence, and asks, "How do you eat it?"

Ichigo's eyebrow twitched. "Today, it's pancakes, Rukia. Pancakes." She's wearing one of Yuzu's prettier dresses. It's a soft yellow.

"Ah. I've had cake before, right?" She has a bit of trouble with the fork and knife, but once she actually gets to the pancake, she quickly decides that it's good, and polishes of her plate.

And the other plate with five pancakes on it.

Ichigo sits down heavily, in the chair across her and swearing to himself, I was gone less than a minute!

"May I request another?"

Deja-vu. That's what he's feeling. Now, he gets the feeling he's going to get very acquainted with it during the course of the week.

So he gets up to get more. Like last night. He wonders how someone so petite could eat so much. Like last night. He grumbles about the SPEED at which she eats. Like last night.

Then something new happens.

As he's getting the eggs, mixing powder and milk to make the pancakes, he doesn't hear Rukia sidling up beside him.

"…May I help?"

Ichigo is startled, before raising an eyebrow and asking, "Do you know how?"

Rukia chews her lip thoughtfully, trying to think of the last time she cooked. "Well…no. Not these…cakes, at least."

Ichigo gave her a pointed glare, meaning, 'There's your answer'.

She glared back defiantly. "Oh come on! You could just teach me!"

Ichigo frowned down at her, before schooling his face back to neutral. Yeah, I can do that. "Do you know how to crack an egg?"

Rukia smiles at his consent, and then plays the part of an attentive pupil. "Well, yes, but maybe you could show me how you do it?"

Ichigo grabs a measuring cup (the big kind) and, with a fork in one hand and the egg with the other, whacks a crack in the eggshell, and splits it over the cup (minus the egg shell)

"Try it."

Actually, the way Rukia does it is a little different, but she manages to get the egg into the cup (with the egg shell)

Ichigo hastily grabs a fork to remove the shells. "Oi! You got the shell in!"

"But I cracked the egg didn't I?" She snaps back.

They work together at removing the shells. Once they're satisfied, Rukia grabs another egg, hell-bent on redeeming her culinary skills. She stifles a gasp when she feels Ichigo take her hands in his from behind.

"Jeez, Rukia. Relax a little. It's not like swinging a sword. It's a fork." His taunt earns a glare from her, but the close contact seems to have impaired the use of her voice. "Okay, now, gently, but firmly tap the shell." He does the egg in her hand for her. Content, he pulls away and passes her another egg. "Try again." I can't believe I'M giving cooking lessons.

She can feel her pulse quickening and her face heating up. "Like this?" she manages to get out. She does it perfectly.

Ichigo smiles a little. Well, being the teacher here is actually a little fun. "Okay. Now, the milk and the mix. These instructions say 2 cups of milk right? But since we used another egg more than usual, we'll add a half cup."

She nodded, interested in the measuring bowls and instruments along the counter. He steered her back towards him. "I don't mess with those. You shouldn't either."

She frowned. Cooking seemed like a science.

Ichigo felt a grin forming, watching her interest from the corner of his eye.

"So," she said, watching him add the ingredients, "What's this powder do?"

He added another cup of mix to balance the additional milk. "Pancake mix." He explained.

"…What does it do?"

"Stuff."

She smirked knowingly. "I see. You don't know either do y-"

"Mix this, while I heat the pan." He broke in, passing her the bowl.

She watched in doubt as the mixture transformed. "Ichigo, is it supposed to do that?"

He looks up from the pan. "Yeah, you're doing good. Try holding the bowl at an angle."

Well. If there's one thing I can do, it's make pancakes, he groused. "Bring the bowl here."

He grinned. "This is where we cook." Carefully, Ichigo poured enough for one pancake on the pan. "See?"

She peered at the pan in concentration. "Ah. I see…."

After a while, he flipped the pancake over, so it would cook on the other side. "That will take a little practice. I found it kinda hard at first."

With a flourish, he loaded the pancake onto a plate. "There you go." He grinned. "Now you try."

"Ah, okay..." She nodded.

He leaned over her shoulder, watching her pour the mix with exaggerated caution. "Oops. Too much." He teased. He had to stifle a laugh at her expression.

She glared over her shoulder. "Now, the cooking shovel right?"

"Spatula." He corrected.

"Whatever."

She swallowed. Okay. How'd he do it again? He sort of held the pan with one hand…

"Need help?"

She flushed. Kami-sama, why does this happen every time…

"You could just ask…" He drawled. He was sure that she'd glare indignantly and try it on her own.

That's why he was so off-balance when the hand holding the spatula reached out for his hand.

"Just guide me like just now." She said edgily. He couldn't see her blush. She couldn't see his.

"…Tilt the pan a little, and scoop up that end with the spatula. There, now before it slips off, just flip it over…there you go!" He smiled triumphantly.

Rukia beamed at him happily. "There, you see!" Her smile turned playfully cocky. "I'm not such a hopeless case when it comes to cooking!"

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "…Sure about that…?"

Sensing a challenge, Rukia smiled. "Fine, tonight, I'll make dinner."

He gazed at her incredulously. "Seriously?"

"…Is there a problem…?" She asked dangerously.

Ichigo frowned for a minute, before shrugging. "…Do what you want. Just don't screw up too bad; I don't want pizza for dinner again. I'm saving my cash."

Her gaze hardened. "Hmph, you'll see. I get a little off-balance with this modern food." She turned back to concentrate on the pancake.

"Jeez." He muttered. She was a fiery one. One little comment here and another there…and….

But you like teasing her. I haven't seen you do this to any other girl.

He sighed, gazing down as she bent other the pan, focused and devoted to such a simple thing as making breakfast.

This is dangerous. He decided dimly. She's really, really dangerous. Still…a word of encouragement, something like 'I'm looking forward to it', or 'I wonder what you'd make' or…

So intent on the pancake she was watching, she only felt Ichigo's grip tighten when she noticed him leaning down to whisper something in her ear.

She quickly tells herself that if she hits him, they'll argue and forget about the pancakes.

"…Rukia, you-"

Pardon my interruption, but I have discerned a situation.

The effect was instantaneous. Ichigo jumped back about a metre and Rukia let out a very un-Rukia like squeak.

"What the hell do you want Alex?" He snarled.

AI EX, Sir.

Rukia cast her eyes to the ceilings, thanking…that thought gave her pause. Should she be thankful?

I feel that I have two options to resolve the aforementioned situation. Would you kindly help me choose the correct one?

Ichigo growled suspiciously, but answered anyway. "Okay, shoot."

Shall I turn off the stove first, or shall I alert the two of you that your dish is on fire, first?

"Ah, Ichigo!"

"I know, I KNOW! Turn off the stove!" He ran to get an extinguisher.

"WHAT? Turn it off! Which-"

Do not fret, Madame, I'll do it.

After liberally spraying the food with white foam, Ichigo took a deep breath, shrugged nonchalantly and said, "Pass me the other pan?"

-----

"I-I'll go get ready for our trip to the supermarket." She did not stutter. She couldn't possibly be stuttering.

"Yeah, okay. I'll dry these." He motioned towards the plates they had washed.

She nodded somewhat stiffly, and the second she was out of the kitchen, he rested his head over an overhead cabinet.

"Wonderful." He muttered, "Just freaking wonderful." She's probably freaked out at how close we were to…

He blinked. What were they close to? It's not like he was going to-

He shook his head to clear it. It's a matter of personal space! I violated the personal space!

He groaned. That's right. Now…

What was I going to say before Alex interrupted us? It was hard because when they were…close…all he could do, was do. There was no thinking involved.

Was it a compliment? A confession?

Ah, Sir, if I may so bold to apologize for the previous intrusion.

Ichigo looked up. "Huh?"

I feel that I interrupted an important time between you and Mrs. Kurosaki.

He stiffened. "There's only ONE Mrs. Kurosaki, and Rukia is NOT her."

…The she is your Mistress.

Holy-"Absolutely NOT!"

…I do not understand the situation.

Ichigo sighed. "You mean that bastard, Katobeto, didn't tell you what the heck we're doing here?

Correct.

"Well…we're…pretending to be husband and wife. It's like an…experiment…I guess. Like theatre." He felt a little frantic.

I see. Then, if I may say so, you are performing very well. I assumed at your obvious intimacy that-

"…Say one more word, and…."

-----

If you thought Rukia had gone upstairs for makeup, you thought wrong.

"ARGH! I CAN'T BELIEVE MYSELF!" She cried out, hands clenched at her sides. The carpet groaned pitifully, it being the recipient of her frustrated pacing.

That was completely OUT of line! I should have known better! It was…it was… She blushed, recalling the sensation of hearing him whisper her name in her ear. Very…very enjoyable…

-But completely out of line! She did NOT want Ichigo to get the wrong idea.

Which was…?

"Control woman. Control." She stared at herself in the mirror for a minute. "Okay. Go."

-----

Sir, a Mr. Katobeto-sensei on line 2. Shall I put him on speaker?

Ichigo finished up his shopping list, before he turned to the disembodied voice that was AI-san. "Um…sure."

"Ah, Kurosaki-kun! How are you?"

"…Hn," he grunted. When this is over, old man, I intend to pay you back a hundred-fold…

"Oooooh. I sense bad vibes over the phone…having problems with the Mrs?"

Aha. Sir, that was a cruel joke! Kuchiki-san IS your Mistress!

Ichigo glared at the disembodied voice. "No you moron-ARGH!" He cried out as a foot connected with the back of his knee.

Rukia glared, her eyes alive and her voice dangerously low. "Who's your mistress…?"

"Damn," he muttered. "That one hit spoiled the 'Longest time in a day not hit by Rukia record."

"K-Kuchiki-san. Is that you?"

She jumped. "Katobeto-sensei?"

"…D-Did you just hit Kurosaki-kun?"

"Uh…" She beamed suddenly and lightly slapped a hand to her cheek. "Oh me? I could never go that!" She kicked Ichigo to still his groaning.

"Ah, oh course. Now, I couldn't help but overhear that the two of you will be going out to the supermarket."

Ichigo frowned thoughtfully, from his position on the floor. "Now…how did you hear that…?"

"And I've decided to warn you and Kurosaki-kun, that I will be coming over for lunch, to personally see how you two are getting along."

"Ah." Rukia said. "Well, as long as it is-"

"I'll be arriving in…30 minutes."

Rukia's jaw dropped. Ichigo, who had JUST picked himself up from the floor, slipped and fell again.

"And since you two newlyweds are hosts, I expect to be treated accordingly. Your grade depends on it. Understand? …Hello?"

If I may, Katobeto-sensei, they've already left for the supermarket.

-----

"…Get on," he said pointing to the motorcycle.

"…Kami-sama! What the heck does he expect us to…excuse me?"

"I said, 'get on'." He grabbed two helmets and tossed her one.

Her eyes widened, and then she met his gaze with a stubborn one. "Uh-uh. Hell no. I've seen these things in action," she frowned suspiciously. "And from what our classmates say, you're not the right age to drive this thing…"

"Look, the place is close by. We just need enough to make him lunch and we'll only make it back in time with this thing! Besides, I've done this before, and I haven't been caught."

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" She said, donning the helmet and sitting behind him.

"Hold on tight. Besides, even if I crash this thing, it came with the house, so it's okay."

"WHAT? OKAY? WHAT PART OF THAT OKA-AAAAIEEEEEE!"

-----

"I'm thinking-"

"Noodles?"

"Right. Simple, traditional, and easy to prepare."

"Cheap."

"Yeah," he muttered, running down the shopping aisle with her. "That too." He jumped over a startled toddler, while Rukia waved at a startled mother. "Time?" he called, grabbing what was necessary, the shopping list forgotten.

"Twenty minutes," She said flipping her phone closed again. "It'll take five to ten to get back to the house."

"Here, pay. I'll get the motorcycle. When you're done, hop on."

"Understood." They were oblivious to the attention they were attracting.

"In a hurry?" asked the cashier.

She nodded. "…Family visiting."

"I see. I hate it when they just spring it on you like that."

"OI, RUKIA! MOVE IT!"

"Thank you," she said, grabbing the goods.

"Take care now!"

-----

Rukia REALLY would have enjoyed the trip back. She was now only PARTIALLY nauseous from the speed, and there was no downside to being able to hug Ichigo.

But, c'mon, it was life and death here.

"Time?" he asked, killing the engine.

"…He'll be here in about ten minutes."

"Damnit. We need at least fifteen."

"Then you stall him when he gets here, I'll finish the noodles."

He paused. "You sure?"

She glared assuredly. "Trust me."

-----

"Katobeto-sensei! Welcome!" If Rukia can act pleasant, I sure as heck can too.

"Would you like to see the house?" Say no, say no. Rukia and I haven't had time to look around at all.

"Oh, no," he said, removing his shoes. "I know the place by heart."

"Great-I mean…that's really…professional of you."

Katobeto nodded humbly. "So, where is your lovely wife?"

Ichigo twitched. "Ah. Rukia. She's-"

"Oho!" he exclaimed. "First name basis already?"

Ichigo twitched again. God, he was bad at this acting thing.

"K-Kuchiki-san is making some last minute preparations." Smile. Smile. "…You did alert us rather…late." He couldn't help the involuntary grinding of teeth.

"Ah yes. So, how are you too faring?" Katobeto's look became sly. "You did read the rules, yes?"

No. "Of course!"

"Then you know the last rule, is no se-"

"Katobeto-sensei! Kurosaki-kun, are you taking sensei on a tour?" She asked, the sparkles and glitter about her to back her up.

How does she…? "No…actually, we were headed to the dining room."

Rukia grin slipped fractionally. "…Really…?"

If I may be of service, Sir... AI EX toned in. The dining room is in the opposite direction.

Ichigo twitched. "Hmm."

-----

"Please try it first. We decided on a simple dish."

"It's pleasing to see you two making decisions like these together." Katobeto smiled. "Very well. I'll try it first."

Kami-sama. Please tell me I didn't mess up. Please.

Hey. If you're there, Kami, dull his taste buds for a minute or two? Ichigo asked. Just a minute.

"…Passable. Tastes pretty good. Whose recipe?"

"Mine." They called simultaneously.

"…"

"Hers." Ichigo said.

"His." Rukia chipped in.

"…"

"…Ours." They finished weakly.

Katobeto blinked, then chuckled. "I see." He sat back, dabbing at his mouth with a handkerchief. "Well, it's fine. I had a hearty breakfast, so this compliments it rather well. It never hurts to ask the guest what he'd like."

They nodded vigorously.

"Well then, that settles it. I've got class in the afternoon, so I'd better go."

"Oh? That's too bad. Let me show you out." Ichigo got up a little too quickly.

Please visit again, Katobeto-sensei.

"Take care of them, AI EX." He said. "And make sure there's no hanky-panky."

Ichigo flushed and Rukia raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Error. The phrase 'Hanky-panky' is not in my dictionary.

"Oh, well, you see-"

"Okay! Class in the afternoon, right? We'll be seeing you!" Ichigo exclaimed.

"Ah yes. I thank you deeply for the hospitality."

"Pleasure's ours." Rukia called.

He was halfway out the door. "Ah yes. I've taken the liberty to select several volunteers from your year to observe how you're doing. They'll be arriving for dinner tonight. After just now, I see no reason why they shouldn't come." He chuckled. "I expect the same quality of hospitality, you two!"

The watched him drive away.

"…"

"Ichigo?"

"…Yeah."

"…I think…I hate him now."

"…Yeah."

Tsuzuku

Notes: Oh yes Tsuzuku means 'to be continued'. It sounds much better though, don't you think?

Well, there ya go. I admit the beginning may have been a little serious, but sometimes it's needed.

So…Rukia's got the biggest stumbling block in the relationship, I guess. She'll get over it though. I'm working on it. XD

Well, what do you know! The day's not over yet! Poor Ichigo. He's really going to go insane huh? XD

Ah. Still having fun. Are you?

XD More insanity next chapter!