Disclaimer and notes: Who would think I would claim I own Bleach? Well, no I don't own Bleach. What a strange thought…

Kaien's back-story is explained in Volume 16 - chapter 134 onwards. I'm sorry, but I'll be dropping hints about him here and there, because he's important to Ichigo and Rukia's relationship.

Let's get right into it shall we? This chapter is overdue as it is!

To the Wind
Chapter 5
By Advent Wing

Pain. Her whole world was pain.

Try opening your eyes.

Are you insane? I feel like a million Zanpakuto are contending the right to use my head as their sheath. The feedback I would get from opening my eyes would kill me.

Then, chuckled her mind gleefully, allow me to give you some incentive. Question One – Why are you like this?

Easy. No one forgets the effects of a hangover. I got drunk.

Where?

At dinner.

With whom?

With…kami-sama!

Rukia opened her eyes.

"Morning!" Ichigo said cheerfully, his back to her. The zing of the drapes opening heightened the offensive stream of light.

"Arrrrrrrrgh…Ichigo! The light…!" She cried, roughly throwing the covers over her head.

"Yup, three bottles of that stuff will do that to you. In fact, I'm surprised three bottles didn't kill you."

Rukia let out a muffled groan. "…I can't believe I drank that much."

"Believe it. At least you threw up earlier, when you were half-asleep. You're lucky I was there, or you would have choked and died." He seemed a little…sarcastic this morning. "Breakfast is next to you. Then, get a start on your report of last night for Screwball-sensei."

"…You mean Katobeto-sensei?"

"Unless you know of another Screwball, yes."

Rukia crept out and peered at the food on small, folding table next to her. He prepared this for me?

"I was checking the house out while you recovered. Finish that, and then hurry up with the report."

She sat up slowly. "Where are you going?" Something was off.

"I wasn't finished with the house. You can join me later if you want." He offered, closing the door behind him.

Rukia frowned. Ichigo was being nice. Thoughtful. Amiable, even.

But all she had saw of him this morning was his back. She chewed her food thoughtfully. Her search through her memory drew blanks. What happened last night…? She asked, staring out the window and blinking her eyes to adjust to the light.

-----

Is there a problem with the Madame, Sir?

Ichigo jumped, removing his hand from the doorknob. He took long purposeful strides away from the room. "No. She's recovering fine."

I was not enquiring about the side effects of her consumption of alcohol.

Ichigo stopped, his eyes unreadable. "She's fine. You mentioned a pool the other night?"

Indeed. There is a swimming pool of considerable size and quality, outside—

"Too bad. Since I can't swim."

Ah. Then if Kuchiki-san can, it would be nice if she could teach—

"Show me the pool, Alex."

…AI EX, Sir.

-----

Rukia frowned. She really couldn't remember anything. Everything was clear until Tatsuki and Orihime challenged her to a drinking game. "And," she muttered, "judging by my hang-over, I won."

Something about the way Ichigo acted this morning…

She sighed, letting the warm spray of the shower relax her. His voice betrayed no animosity, but the way he acted…the way he didn't want to meet her eyes….

She slammed her fist against the tile wall. "Damn it…" It was too familiar…someone refusing to meet her eyes, refusing to look at her, refusing to acknowledge her…. "…Damn it…" She muttered again.

-----

"So…this is the pool."

Indeed.

"It's pretty deep looking," he murmured.

This particular area is not wide, but has a depth of 7 metres, Sir. This is the deepest end.

He glanced curiously at the air. "You know, I've been wondering. How do you do that?"

Pardon me, Sir?

He raised a hand to his chin in thought. "Well, we're outside. How do you speak the way you do when you're indoors?"

Ah, excellent query. I also function as security system. Thus, I am able to speak through use of speakers placed strategically around the external perimeter.

"I see," he murmured, enlightened.

-----

Well, okay. He's obviously worked up about something. She thought, drying her hair with a towel.

She glanced at the bed. How did I get to bed last ni—she swallowed her next thought. No freaking way…!

-----

Sir?

"What?"

Are you planning on taking a swim? You have been staring at that pool for an abnormal amount of time.

"I can't swim, remember?"

Ah. May I ask, why?

He shrugged, squatting down to stare at tranquil blue. "Mom was always the one to take me to lessons like that. Karate, Art Class, school…after she…died…there was just no point."

I…do not understand.

-----

Rukia stared at the mirror at her reflection. He…he couldn't have. "I would know." She said aloud.

She was drunk.

Maybe…he was too…?

She started laughing. It came in little snickers, and quickly became full-blown hysteria.

The very idea! Kurosaki Ichigo, attempting to—

She stopped laughing. "I trust him."

But do you trust yourself…?

Maybe…she remembers a little…it's really fuzzy…Ichigo was the only one there…and she had…wanted him….

She flushed. It had to be the research she had done two nights previous. That infernal manga! She ranted mentally. Putting such perverted thoughts in my head!

But if Ichigo had done something he regretted…

He—

Harsh whispers as she walked by. "Trash. Low-life. She's not a Noble. She never WILL be a Noble."

Of course he would have…

Light, jovial voices despite the sting in them. "Byakuya-sama hasn't even glanced at her since adoption."

…Regretted…

A curt, uncaring reply. "…I see…then, you may leave."

She swallowed the rejection quickly; it tasted foul, but she was used to it….

…I have to make it clear. I can't leave any doubt. What could she do? She didn't want to lie, but…

It's the only way things can go back to normal…

She bit her lip to quell a frustrated scream. Gripping herself tightly, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried her hardest to replace the dejection on her face with focused anger.

I guess I don't want to lose him…

-----

"Of course you don't."

Realizing the tact needed for a situation like this, AI searched his banks for suitable human expression.

Well, Sir, why don't you try me?

Ichigo arched an eyebrow. "…Fine…how do I begin…? When someone of importance…"

Okaa-san died because of you. Don't sugarcoat it.

"…Is taken away from you…then the small acts that only that person did, become part of the mourner's memories. Not many dare to pick them up. My youngest sister tried, but she couldn't get me to do it."

He took in the serene body of water slowly. There was something about the colour blue… he mused. Rukia's eyes flashed briefly, but he dispelled it, angrily.

"So she tried the big jobs. No one stopped her." He smiled a little at Yuzu's childish innocence, her adamant partaking in household affairs.

I…think I understand.

"…No, you don't," he said, standing up and stretching, hearing audible and satisfying pops.

Yet for you to speak in such a deep manner…

"…I've had a lot of time to think about it. Anyway, it's ancient history—"

"—BASTARD!" Rukia roared, tackling Ichigo.

He barely had time to shout before he was fully submerged in the deep blue he was just admiring.

Heck, even an AI would be surprised at such an unprovoked attack. There was no program he could launch into that enabled him to solve a situation where the Madame of the House was attempting to drown the Master.

He'd make a note of it. In the meantime however, like a good little program, he let his users know that he was completely useless.

…FATAL ERROR! FATAL ERROR! This scenario does not compute. IT DOES NOT COMPUTE! ...THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH! BEWARE THE BLUE SCREEN! REBOOTING! I-AM-FREAKING-REBOOTING!

How do I adequately put this in words? Ichigo asked himself, feeling a lack of buoyancy, as he slowly sunk to the bottom, and with it, a sense of calm. Ah yes.

Scrambling to break the surface, and ingesting quite a bit of water, thank you, he howled, "YOU DUMBASS—!" before slipping under again.

Rukia, an excellent swimmer, first decided that this strange, apparently man-made pool of water was VERY deep; indeed, her next thought was that Ichigo drowning was NOT part of the plan. She went under, too.

-----

Rukia groaned inwardly as she watched Ichigo cough and moan beside the pool. It was safe to say that this was not going according to plan. She rubbed his back soothingly. "…I apologize for—"

Ichigo, spent from his brush with blue death, retorted in short, but angry bursts. "What—pause—the hell—pause—was—cough—THAT for?"

What now? "Ah, well, you see…"

He froze, his thought process returning. Shit! Last night! She—"…You…remember…?" He managed brokenly.

She tried her best to glare. "Yes! I remember everything! How could you?" She asked, hoping she wouldn't have to summon tears. "How far did you…compromise me?"

Ichigo stared. "…Huh?"

"You heard me! How far did we—"

He got up suddenly. "YOU DUMBASS! I carried you into the room and you thought I was a stuffed bunny, you idiot! I left!"

Rukia's jaw dropped.

Well girl, time to switch gears.

"Oh. Well, you see…" She pushed her wet hair out of her eyes. "…I couldn't help it!" She cried, placing her hands on her hips. "I was drunk!"

Ichigo tensed, his posture turning rigid. "Yes, I know." He ground out angrily. "And your 'assumption' damn near killed me just now!"

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"

"YOU FREAKING TACKLED ME!" He rumbled. "What the HELL where you thinking?"

"I DIDN'T WANT TO DROWN YOU! I JUST…!" She schooled her voice, and grit her teeth. "I thought that…"

Ichigo's eyes narrowed angrily. "Shut up. Just shut UP."

She threw her hands up. "Today you're being an ass. Yesterday you were nice. You can be so freaking…"

"Yeah, you can be so…"

They finished together. "IMPOSSIBLE!"

They glared at each other for a few moments. Ichigo broke off first. "Cheh!" He snarled. "I'm going to change!"

Rukia stormed up after him. "What about me? It's freezing out here!"

"It's mid-afternoon!" He shouted flippantly, well knowing that even if it was so, the pool was in the shade and it was windy.

"BASTARD!" She cried, the insult coming too easily.

"BITCH!" He retorted, his words laced with more than the usual venom.

Rukia clenched her fists angrily for a while, unsure of what just happened.

Damn it, her every instinct told her something was wrong!

What was there to lose? What friendship? All we had was some bond, and that's more or less intact. Besides, he feels nothing for me. I need not worry.

Objective accomplished.

…Why did she feel so alone…?

-----

Bitch. I'm dripping like a bloody fountain. He thought darkly, walking to the bathroom. I can't believe she remembered.

He remembered her horrified look at his 'bunny excuse'. All right, maybe not…

Besides, if she truly remembered last night, then she'd remember that he had…

"ARGH!" He suddenly cried out. He clasped his hands to his ears. "No. I didn't do that. She thought I was a bunny. I left."

…It was partially true.

His philosophy was in three simple steps, and he murmured it, silently, as he went about changing his clothes.

One. If it hurt, let it.

Two. If it hurt others, make it hurt you.

Three. Once you get it to hurt you, refer to step one.

No, Ichigo had no problem with managing emotion. It was all part of his image. The more or less nonchalant, don't give a damn attitude that he had been working on for so long, it WAS he. His classmates knew him as he was; his family had more or less accepted the fact that 'onii-chan had become mean'.

…I refuse.

I refuse to acknowledge what she can do to me.

It's for the best, anyway. This isn't OUR home. It's mine. My world.

…Why couldn't he look in the mirror?

…And why did it hurt so goddamn much?

He changed slowly, repeating the three steps backward.

-----

AI EX was a learning computer. He was also an initially smart computer. So, knowing that whatever happened while he was rebooting was important, he watched the security tapes.

Besides, if his Master was dead, he needed an accurate account of the death.

He hoped the opposite, of course.

…There is Ichigo standing. Ah, Rukia, barreling down the west staircase. So, she took the staircase from the second floor hallway directly to here…

There was Ichigo being tackled—He paused it. He needed audio.

Ah, there we go.

…Hmm.

-----

"Help me clean."

Rukia glared, ready for another round. "Clean up what?"

"I walked, dripping wet, right through the house. After you get changed, help me clean." He said, tossing her something. "There are two staircases, one that goes directly to the second floor, from the west entrance. It's not carpeted. I walked to the bedroom from there."

"…This is…a towel?"

He glared pointedly. "No. It's a special cape that allows you to fly." He retorted. "Dry up, and use it as a blanket." She blinked. "Move it!" He said, stalking off.

The towel; the fluffy white contrasting with Ichigo's apparently black mood, brought her new insight.

Her anger boiled to a simmer. It made sense now.

He was ignoring their fight just now.

He was ignoring the fact that she had nearly drowned him.

He was ignoring what happened last night.

Ichigo simply ignored whatever the hell bothered him; if he couldn't deal with it, he shoved it aside.

So? Why couldn't she just leave it at that?

Because it doesn't feel right. If it was completely your fault, why doesn't he look you in the eye?

She didn't like that. Oh, no. Her eyes narrowed. He just wants to ignore what happened, and carry on. Like hell she'd allow that.

-----

He handed her a mop. "You know how to mop?" She nodded. "Then mop."

"Ichigo." She said, abruptly ceasing the clean up they were performing. Her plan was first to bring the subject up, casually. Subtlety is the key. "I need to ask you something."

"No."

The blunt retort gave her pause. "…What? Why not?"

He was irritated. "Why do you think? You're going to bring up last night!"

"N-No. I was simply—"

"—Like hell." He cut off angrily. He resumed mopping with a vengeance, intent on moving away from her position, and her questions.

She gave chase. "Oh? Well, since it was purely my fault, why are you so defensive?" She commented, calmly, quickly mopping her way up to him.

He moved away again. "What are you talking about? I'm not being defensive."

She began mopping a little bit further up the hallway, away from the stairs. She smiled when he moved towards them, in an effort to put some distance. Checkmate.

"Yes," she said, moving up to mop the base. "You are."

He scowled. Come up with something, he decided quickly. "…It's embarrassing, okay?" He said, using a little bit of the truth….

Rukia couldn't help but grin. She was finally back in control. "Embarrassed? Over such a little thing?"

"It wasn't 'little', far from bloody from it!" he snapped, heading up the stairs, and mopping as he went along.

"Oh…?" She winced inwardly. Was it possible that… "I thought all I did was 'use you as a stuffed bunny'." She said, using his words. "Wasn't that it?"

Okay, a forehead vein showing. That's it.

He went right up to her. "I don't want to talk about it." He deadpanned.

"Aha!" She cried triumphantly. "That's it, isn't it? You don't want to talk about it." She leaned closer and glared angrily. "What really happened?"

"You don't WANT to know."

"No, YOU don't want to tell me." She folded her arms angrily. "You never talk about these things, you just clam up and forget it happened." Her eyes flashed dangerously. "I don't appreciate being lied to, Ichigo."

His entire body tensed, and he spun on his heel, dropping the mop as he went. Rukia, walked after him, roughly grabbing his shoulder. "Oi!"

"This isn't about ME. It's about you!" He ground out.

A deathly silence passed between them. Rukia tentatively removed her arm from his shoulder. "…What did I do?" She asked, her eyes suddenly cold.

Ichigo's fist clenched and unclenched involuntarily. So what if she spoke some guys name last night? It shouldn't matter to me. We're not going out. We're not married. We're not intimate.

It hurt him.

That was the whole reason he had done his best to ignore it.

"…Rukia." He began, "Is Kaien from the Soul Society?" …No answer. "He is, isn't he?" He turned around to look at her. "Oi, Rukia—"

"It's time for lunch, isn't it?" She asked a smile plastered on her face. She whirled around with flourish. "I'll ask AI-san to make something."

He slammed his fist into the wall. Damnit!

Rukia seemed to stop at the sound. "Kaien-dono is dead." She turned slowly to glance at him, her expression unreadable. "Or…shall I say…he was murdered?"

She left.

Ichigo watched her go, dumbstruck.

"No, in truth, that wasn't just the day Mother died…" Ichigo said, gazing out his window at a sharp crescent moon, a towel in his hand and Rukia listening patiently.

"…It was the day she was murdered."

-----

"…"

I trust you find the food satisfactory, Madame?

"Ah," she said cheerfully, "the food is fine, AI-san. This is a…?"

It's a Gourmet sandwich, Madame. Roast Chicken and pineapple, honey and mustard, on toast.

"It's great!" She exclaimed, not knowing half the ingredients.

"Oi, Alex."

AI EX had decided earlier that correcting Ichigo was really a waste of RAM. Yes, Sir?

"It's kinda hot out." He said, noting the change between the relative coolness of the morning and now. "Do you know why?"

Weather report say that it an unusual and abrupt shift in weather. If it pleases you, it may rain tomorrow.

Both Rukia and Ichigo jumped at that. Rain.

Rukia got up suddenly. Ichigo traced her movement out the corner of his eye. "In the Soul Society, if it's hot, we swim." She commented, as if she felt his gaze.

He grunted, and continued eating. Man, it was hot. …And the tension in here is unbearable, he thought angrily.

…But it was for the best. In a way, they were getting too close. What would my classmates think?

He put his glass down roughly. There was something between them, but it was simply the business of Hollows. Rukia had given him strength…

So, wouldn't it be nice not to have to hide your relationship with her from your friends? Wouldn't it be nice to call her Rukia in front of them? Wouldn't it be nice not to have to watch your words, your actions, your smiles—

ARGH! A mutiny! Such rebellious thoughts must be silenced!

A sheet of paper slowly floated its way to the dinner table, landing in front of Ichigo. "…What's this?" He asked.

It is a list of marriage counsellors, ranked in order of best to wors—

Ichigo clenched his fist, crumbling the paper he was holding. A vein throbbed angrily against his forehead. "…Now, why would you give this to me, Alex?"

You see, Sir, I noticed earlier how you and the Madame simulated an actual marital argument. I decided your next step would be to—

"…We aren't going to get counselling."

…Ah, I see. You are not yet ready to—

"—NO Alex!" He exploded. He halted, and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to calm himself down.

…Then the other scenario is that the argument earlier was real.

Ichigo nodded his approval.

AI decided to drop the subject. Kurosaki-san. I have an idea.

…Not this again. He was sick of questions.

"What?"

If Kuchiki-san doesn't have a swimsuit, it would be wise to get her one from the closet upstairs.

"…" No, he was in too stunned to answer.

-----

Ichigo silently praised the gods. At least she was able to put the suit on correctly. "It's a lot like one of the Shinobi suits in the Goutei 13." She muttered, intent on pinching the close-fitting material. "Just…a lot tighter…."

He didn't need to hear that. "Great," he said. "I'll be going now."

She picked up a pair of swimming trunks. "I take it you aren't going to swim?" She said, remembering his lack of ability this morning.

"Oh, in this heat, I'd love to, but I don't have a pair," he said sarcastically. No, bitch, I don't want to drown.

"Will this do?" She asked, holding up the pair she found.

"…" God. What is WITH this girl? "Do you have short-term memory loss?" Ichigo said irritably. "I can't swim."

If I may Sir, from the way Kuchiki-san rescued you earlier—

Oh yes. Rescued me after pushing me in.

—It seems that she is an accomplished swimmer. It may be wise to ask her for lessons.

Rukia had already walked out of the room. "I don't mind!" She called. "But it's understandable if you're afraid." His eyebrow twitched at the accusation.

Aha, he thought darkly, right.

-----

…I love this… She thought happily. The water was so cool, and it gave her a feeling of weightlessness that only flying through the air as a Shinigami could beat. How ingenious for the people of this time to make pools.

She swam with long, lazy strokes, on her back. The suit she was wearing was vaguely uncomfortable, and she actually felt that it would be better to swim without it.

I mean, if Ichigo or AI-san weren't around, of course. She sighed, happily giving in to the water, letting it cool her head and thoughts. So, she had mentioned Kaien…what a brilliant move.

Well, now that she thought about it, they were really quite alike…

But they were different. She just couldn't explain it. Like night and day. The same, but different.

She dove under the water suddenly, swimming along and skimming the bottom. She had to stop thinking, now.

Ichigo's arrival gave her a little amusement. The way he stayed near the shallow end was especially comical. Still, she thought, swimming over to him, he had fulfilled his part of the deal, now it was her turn.

"Okay, Ichigo, the first thing you need to do is accept the fact that you're scared of water," she said, relaxed enough to tease him.

He sat down in the pool, and the water went up to his chin. "First of all," he growled, "I'm not scared. If I were scared, and that is a VERY big if; I wouldn't even be here." She nodded, trying to look thoughtful.

"I see…then let's move on a deeper area."

Ichigo hesitated for just a second, before coming to a decision. "This is enough." He said firmly.

Rukia suppressed a smile and put on her best stern expression. "…I can't teach you how to swim here."

"Yes, you can."

A smile cracked her expression, and she swam behind him. "You don't want me to tell your classmates that you can't swim right?" She threatened, shoving him forward. "Besides, I wouldn't let you drown."

His suspicious glare was met by a Cheshire Cat grin. "Uh-huh."

After a little more coaxing Ichigo decided to move a foot or two. Before he knew it, the water was up to his chin.

"This is the first thing I learned. It's a basic float technique." Rukia demonstrated it by floating on her back herself. "Here, you try. I'll support you."

"I'd rather not." He muttered, content to just stand there in the cool water.

Rukia glared angrily and grabbed him by the hair. "On your back. NOW."

He winced, returned the glare, but got on his back. Crap, I'm gonna sink like a rock, he thought glumly, but suddenly felt Rukia's small hands supporting him. He panicked at her touch, and earned a noise of impatience from Rukia. "Just relax." She stressed. "Close your eyes."

"If I drown," he said before complying, "I'll haunt you."

Rukia smiled at this. "I'll perform your sending." Grumbling, he closed his eyes, and was surprised to hear her continue. "Just picture yourself floating…do you feel it? The water flowing around you…the way it moves, slowly lapping away…"

He relaxed, listening to her voice till it tuned out. She's right, he thought, giving in to nothing-ness. This IS relaxing. His earlier irritation from the heat seemed a mile away…as did their fight earlier. I wonder if I was jealous…? He held back a scoff, and entertained the idea for a while, until it just wasn't funny anymore.

He knew why, but it was absurd. There was no reason why he should feel…hurt…over the fact that Rukia, in the end, did not belong here. I knew it from the beginning. I should have kept my damn distance.

"—Ichigo." She said softly, breaking his reverie. He nearly opened his eyes until he felt her hand cover them.

"What…?" He asked, a little annoyed.

Rukia swallowed. She had to know…she had dropped enough hints. Kaien's death was her fault, just as Ichigo felt that his mother's death was his. In a way, it was this sick, tormented knowledge that caused her to trust him. We are alike…in all the wrong ways… she thought sadly.

"…Aren't you going to ask me about…Kaien?" She asked, her voice wavering somewhat. She had dropped hints that she was responsible, by using Ichigo's own description of his mother's death. It was up to him to decide if he wanted to judge her.

Ichigo paused at this, before scoffing. "I'll bet it's a long and boring story."

Her jaw dropped, then clenched angrily. Her vision slowly turned red. Why you insensitive…

"…So," he continued, "I want to be sure that I WANT to hear it BEFORE I ask you." The corner of his lips quirked into a small smile, knowing she was probably about to go into a fit. "But, you know…if you were to tell me on your own, I probably couldn't stop you."

Rukia smiled, truly, at his choice of words. Then her smile turned playful. "I think you should open your eyes now."

Ichigo realised that she wasn't supporting him anymore. His eyes widened. "Oh shit!" He cried, sinking.

Rukia couldn't help but laugh. He emerged, flustered, intent on some sort of revenge. Her small stature gave him an idea… "I wonder how far I can throw you?" He asked, advancing quickly.

Rukia stopped laughing, and, realising what he had in mind, started swimming for shore.

She wasn't quick enough.

With a shriek of fear that Ichigo knew he'd remember for the rest of his life, Rukia went up into the air and landed with a splash.

Although his mirth was cut short when she dunked him under water, their laughter echoed till evening came.

Tsuzuku

I need a light chapter to make up for all the angst XD I do believe its Rukia's turn to make dinner!