Disclaimer: Kubo Tite owns Bleach.

-Stretches- Okay.

To the Wind
Chapter 8
By Advent Wing

"…This is insane." Ichigo muttered in disbelief.

Rukia agreed, nodding absent-mindedly as she rushed into the bathroom.

"He can't keep doing this!" He protested. "I'm going to go out there and kick his face in."

"You'll do no such thing." Rukia called, a-matter-of-factly. The sound of running water could be heard.

Ichigo scowled, the thought of not doing it sounding decidedly wrong to his ears. "Why the hell not? He's given us this suspicious project, which by right shouldn't have even been able to get out of the Principle's discussion room, he's given alcohol to minors, and now he's taken his students OUT of the class, and on some even more suspicious trip." He finished this list with clenched fist; one that he slammed into the palm of his other hand with zeal. "What kind of teacher is he?"

"An evil one apparently." Rukia ran out of the bathroom, wearing her robe again, but with her hair wrapped in a towel. "AI-san, time?"

T-minus 4 minutes, Madame.

She gestured towards the door. "Go."

Ichigo trudged into the bathroom, his mood the same. "An evil one." he scoffed as he undressed roughly. "You could be right. I mean, what kind of sick teacher derives his joy from the suffering of his students?"

"Yukari-sensei?" Rukia quipped, recalling the complaints of some of her classmates.

Ichigo paused to consider this, before heading into the already running shower. "I mean real joy, not just amusement."

"Ah." Rukia muttered, running her hair through with a brush. "AI-san, time?"

T-minus 3 minutes, Madame. If you would allow it, I would be grateful if you permitted me to accompany you.

Rukia blinked. "So you really do have a…robot body?"

No, no, Madame. If you would please look into the top drawer there…?

She blinked, holding up a sleek, flat, rectangular object. "…This is…?

My temporary residence. I feel it is my duty to accompany you. Given Sir's blatantly prejudiced—

"OI!"

—Yet firmly logical outbursts, I have decided that Katobeto-sensei's risk rating must be updated.

Rukia nodded emphatically, though she didn't really get how he'd be able to come along.

…If you would just turn the laptop on….

-----

"Time!"

T-minus 30 seconds. 29. 28. 27…

"Hold it," she said, sticking a hand out to keep Ichigo from stomping out the front door. "There are a few things we need to cover. First off, no matter what sensei does or says, you will not hit him."

Ichigo frowned. "Cheh." He leaned down to glare at her, an eyebrow reared. "Look me in the eye and tell me he doesn't deserve it."

Rukia leaned forward to flick his nose. "That doesn't matter. He's the one holding onto our grades. If we kill him now, everything we've gone through so far will be wasted."

Ichigo rubbed his nose. "…Fine." He said begrudgingly. A light bulb went on upstairs. "What do you mean, if we kill him NOW…?"

Rukia grinned back, a gleam in her eyes. Leaning forward she whispered, "You're not the only one who'd like a little revenge."

Ichigo leaned back quickly, flushed. "…I'll be good…but no promises on Keigo and Mizuiro."

She shrugged, accepting that his relationship with them was beyond her understanding. "Right, then. Let's go."

-----

"Four, three, two, and…" Katobeto smiled. "Brilliant. Although I don't mark the two of you for something as trivial as time keeping, it's nice that you two put in the extra effort to keep your guests from waiting."

Rukia twitched, and Ichigo noted her annoyance with grim satisfaction. 'There,' he thought impishly, 'I should have smacked him.'

Rukia caught his look and sent him one that clearly said 'Bite me.'

"Well, then, shall we get going?" Katobeto asked, over his shoulder.

"Where are we going…?" Rukia asked.

"Oh…it won't be that long a drive. We're headed north."

"How far…north?" Ichigo asked, matching his stride.

Katobeto grinned, but continued walking.

Rukia and Ichigo paused, a metre or two away from the SUV. Their classmates stared at them expectantly. They shared a brief, unreadable glance, nodded at each other, and walked towards the vehicle with the air of two people following the ferryman of the river Styx.

-----

Cosy. Hmph. This is about as cosy as Satan's closet.

With Katobeto humming obliviously in the front seat, Ichigo seethed silently, his thoughts not on idyllic scenery, but on revenge. His real problem was that he had promised Rukia that he'd be good. Of course, he knew there was time for control. He was no yakuza, but even she must understand that there was a limit to a man can be stretched….

"Oi! Katobeto-yarou. Shut up and put on some real—"

"—Excuse me, Katobeto-sensei," Rukia filled in, very quickly whacking an area in the vicinity of Ichigo's knee, disguising it as a gesture of excitement. "If I may say, your humming is pleasing to both the ears and the soul! Still, it would be in Ichigo's best interests if you stopped, he might shed tears of joy if you continue to indulge him in such fanciful tunes!" Rukia said, her voice honeyed over, and super dramatized.

Ichigo groaned, cradling his numb leg, partly from the pain, and partly from annoyance at Rukia's cheesy lines.

Keigo blinked. "Now, this time I'm sure I saw Ichigo get hit by Kuchiki-san."

Mizuiro nodded. "You know…I'm sure I saw it too—"

Rukia suddenly frowned anxiously; patting Ichigo's hunched over form comfortingly. "Ara, Ichigo! Are you okay? Are you carsick?" She asked bending down to look at him. She winked conspiratorially.

Ichigo frowned angrily, but failed miserably, settling for an expression of mild annoyance as her wink had unbalanced him.

Tatsuki was sulking in the back with Orihime and Ishida, angry at not being able to bash Ichigo's face in for the time being. She switched to a new song on her Sony player.

"…They're awfully close now…don't you think?"

Ishida looked to his right, startled, as Inoue had been quiet since the trip began. "Who?"

She gestured to the front of the van. "…I suppose they were close before…but now…Kuchiki-san even calls him by his first name, as if she'd been doing it forever." Ishida blinked in surprise. "Well. I suppose so. I didn't dwell on the thought but…" Inoue nodded vaguely. "…Inoue-san?" He asked. Orihime picked up a magazine from the floor, and busied herself with it. Ishida's eyebrows came together, slowly.

Innocent observation or loaded scrutiny?

-----

Ichigo drummed his fingers on the armrest restlessly. Question one, he began, why aren't we taking the train? Question two, did the fucker driving realise that he hadn't given them time for breakfast? And question three, who was the smartass who sat him between Rukia, and the window?

"…So what are all of you doing out of school?" He asked. Ishida coughed suspiciously and pushed up his glasses. Orihime giggled nervously. Chad shifted uncomfortably. Tatsuki didn't hear the question. "Keigo. Mizuiro. Why are all of you here?" He continued warily.

It was then that Keigo grinned. "We wouldn't be able to cut classes without a specific reason…"

Mizuiro nodded his ascent. "We're on…" He glanced at Katobeto worriedly. Mizuiro noticed that he had been watching through the rear-view mirror the whole time. "Um…well…" He hesitated.

"It's a secret mission!" Keigo stage-whispered. "Besides, we're not really missing school—"

Ichigo cut him off. "Dumbass. Dunno why I asked." He glanced behind him. "Well, how about you Needle-boy? Have a real answer for me or are you as gullible as this ding-bat?" Rukia nudged him, he was being rude, but as always, he paid no heed.

Ishida stared impassively. "We're not supposed to give any indication of where we're going." He shrugged. "If you're so interested, ask sensei."

Ichigo glowered. Taking a quick glance at Tatsuki, and deciding that he didn't want to bother her, he leaned back roughly, his arms behind his head. "Cheh." What the hell does this have to do with Home Economics? What a quack teacher!

He caught Rukia's glare, and quickly looked out the window. As usual, it was up to her to placate Ichigo's restlessness. Moron. She decided silently.

Ichigo sulked, counting the number of clouds in the sky. He felt Rukia tap him on the leg, glanced at her briefly, before returning to his window. He suddenly swung his gaze to meet hers again, in sudden realization. Where'd she get the notebook and markers?

The picture she drew was done in her usual style, and he was surprised to see a strawberry with a strangely comical frown on its face. He glared at her and resisted the urge to shout that his name DID NOT translate to 'strawberry'; rather it meant something a hell lot manlier.

Rukia smirked at his expression. You're a fruit, and a frowning one at that. She thought smugly, Deal with it.

She flipped the page, and Ichigo's frown broke into a raised eyebrow. The next page showcased a happy strawberry chortling happily to a very…strange looking…cat…with round glasses….

Okay. That did it. He grabbed the notebook, and proceeded to roll down the window. Rukia, pissed off, karate chopped a point on his knee (Tatsuki whistled her approval). Snatching her notebook back, she, like any good artiste, studied it carefully, the end of a black marker tapping her chin, wondering how to capture the essence of Ichigo's thick skull onto paper.

Orihime watched this brief exchange with a closed expression. She watched every one of their exchanges with a closed expression. Tilting her head to the side, she caught Tatsuki's glance.

She was watching too.

Everyone was watching.

"Sooo…Kuchiki-san…" Mizuiro began, smiling innocently. "I felt that I should be the first to congratulate you. You must have a Saint's equivalent of patience in your heart."

Rukia blinked. "Excuse me?"

Keigo's face was scrunched up, but one or two tears managed to get out, and he leaned over Mizuiro, grabbing her hands in his. "I—I'm very happy for you Kuchiki-san!"

Ichigo reached over and jerked Rukia's hands out of his grip, twapping their heads angrily. Chad glanced back, his face unreadable. Ichigo…he thought to himself. If he and Rukia had a kid…he began to form a child's face. Maybe a girl? He set Rukia's hair on the child's head. Took after her father…

He coloured her hair orange, and…put…Ichigo's…features….

He blanched visibly, and hunched his back. Ichigo turned to him, an eyebrow raised and a frown in place. "The hell are YOU thinking?"

-----

Rukia frowned. They were heading far North. Sighing, she lightly fingered the bag AI-san was in. She had gotten used to the house…where were they going now? "Ah, Katobeto-sensei," she began, "What time will we be going back? We are travelling quite far."

"Well, Kuchiki-san…to answer your question, we're not heading into Hokkaido. However, we will be staying the night there. We're returning tomorrow night."

Ichigo jerked at this. A night with this crew? He paled. He really was on the way to Hades.

Rukia frowned. "I see…" She caught herself before she could fully form the question of whether she and Ichigo would still share a room.

Katobeto grinned, "We'll get there soon. You haven't eaten yet, am I right?"

Rukia glanced at the consumed packets of chips Keigo had brought. She had eaten them all. "Not really…"

"Are you sure you should be taking your students out of school like this?" Ichigo said, unable to contain his irritation. "What kind of a teacher—" He bit his lip, surprised that he hadn't shouted out when Rukia jammed her elbow into his knee. His acquaintance with her had given him a reasonable tolerance to pain…but today he seemed to be experiencing a little more than usual.

"Don't worry about them Kurosaki-san." Katobeto said cheerfully. "It's…a project." His gaze became pointed, but he didn't lose the grin. "And it's a little…difficult…"

Ichigo suddenly felt everyone's gaze on him and Rukia.

"By the way," Katobeto asked, "Did you two finish your Reports like I asked you to…?" Pausing, they both thought back to everything that had happened during the last two days. Had they done the assignment? Well, to be perfectly—

"Yes." They lied earnestly.

"Ah. Good."

-----

Rukia was tired. True, she didn't get to ride in a vehicle all the tine, and she did find it very enjoyable…but conversation was null, due to the presence of a teacher, and her hunger was making her sleepy.

She wondered if she was allowed to rest her head on Ichigo's shoulder. She nearly snickered aloud at the thought of his expression. Why not? We're married. She reasoned. She focused on putting away all other nagging arguments on why she shouldn't do it. She had gotten better at that, she speculated. A few more tries and she'll shut it up completely.

The others in the van were irrelevant, she would think to herself a little later.

But in truth she hadn't really thought about them at the time…

-----

Ichigo dared them to say anything. He dared them with his eyes. He dared them with a growl. I DARE YOU, KEIGO, MIZUIRO. His gaze swept the interior. I DARE ALL OF YOU.

No, he hadn't been able to get Rukia off his shoulder. He would make a point to berate her about it later. She had single-handedly sealed his fate.

What's he supposed to say? This isn't what it looks like. We're not really together. He winced, imagining their rebuttal.

Hold on. One last, but very lame, loophole awaited him.

"…Accident." He said gruffly. All eyes on him, they blinked. He pointed at Rukia, and repeated. "Accident."

Tatsuki stared at him shrewdly. She obviously had a lot to say since seeing him come out of the house, but with a quick glance at Katobeto, she stilled her tongue. Ichigo still wasn't too sure what her problem was, but he had an idea that she thought that he was taking advantage of Rukia.

…Because so was the new transfer student and so perfectly innocent and all.

…Hah.

Keigo and Mizuiro smiled smugly, they knew his excuse didn't wash. They had a few choice words for their buddy, too.

He didn't feel like turning to sample the stares of Ishida, Inoue and Chad, though.

He turned to the window angrily, trying to ignore her strangely comfortable weight on his shoulder…only to find that they had been climbing a mountain.

-----

Words can't describe how much shit I am in. And when I think about it… this is rock bottom. It can't get any worse. He tried to muster a scowl but failed, miserably. He knows. He must know. That sick, twisted, sadistic quack of a teacher! He's figured out that…That I have a…crus—no, it's stronger than that—I have a…that I care—

He scratched the back of his head with his free hand. Damnit! He thought angrily. His scowl was back. With it, he found his voice, harsh as it was. "Why the hell…are we at a Hot Spring?" He asked. "Huh? You son of a bi—TCH!" He said loudly, as Rukia's arm 'accidentally' hit his chin while she stretched.

Giving him a pointed glare, Rukia took in their surroundings…and swore fervently.

-----

"Why are we here?" Ichigo demanded again, outside the car now, and short of grabbing Katobeto by his shirt. Above him hung a sign with obscenely funny looking pink kanji. It read 'Hidden Mirror Hot Springs' and Rukia found herself staring at the sign with everyone else. "Why?" Ichigo demanded again, pissed off, his words echoing Rukia's thoughts. What purpose will it serve? Tell me, or I'll have an excuse to violently hurt you.

He said all that with body language. Ichigo can be quite eloquent when he wants to be.

He cast his glare to the others. Tatsuki and Ishida met him with a glare of their own, while Orihime, Chad, Keigo and Mizuiro seemed to avoid his gaze. Something was up…he narrowed on Chad. He was quite sure that Chad would tell him what the hell was going on, later.

Still grinning, Katobeto walked briskly into the house, obliviously leaving the simmering situation alone "Shigure! Shigure, are you there?" "'Gure!" Katobeto called, pushing his glasses up, and scanning the interior. "Where are you 'Gure?" Frowning, he stomped into the welcome hall. "GU—"

"…In the baths!" said a young man, dressed in a grey yukata. He pushed his wet, shaggy hair out of his eyes. "...Impatient as always, Uncle." He said, with a warm, though exasperated smile. He clapped both hands onto the shoulders of the shorter, older man, holding him at arms length. "Well. It's been…long." He said, and cringed, when Katobeto hugged him tightly.

"Why so formal!" Katobeto said laughingly. "You'll always be my little nephew—"

"Right…right…" Shigure managed. "Can't…breathe…"

"Oh."

Shigure offered a small reluctant smile. "My next guest has a reservation for next week. It'd be okay to let you use the place for a day or two."

Katobeto let an evil smile surface, and chuckled darkly. "Excellent." Shigure chuckled uneasily. As much as he loved his uncle, he would be the first to admit that he was a little…

…Looney.

"…How about introducing me?"

"Ah, yes. You know how teenagers are. These ones are especially hot-blooded."

Shigure nodded, following his uncle. "…I was one not too long ago, you know."

-----

"Students, this is the owner of this hot spring. He's my nephew, Souryu Shigure."

Exchanging bows and hello's, they wasted no time in asking questions about the Hot Spring. "Hold it, hold it." Katobeto chuckled. "There's still one thing that needs to be done." He pointed at Ichigo and Rukia. "These are the two."

Shigure appraised them silently. "Interesting…a little young to be married, in this day and age…when you said students I expected them to be…older…" His eyes narrowed on the two of them, and a sudden controlled surprise flashed, and disappeared.

Ichigo frowned. "We aren't." He glanced at Rukia, who seemed a little cowed at the whole situation. This time it was he who nudged her. "Right?"

Rukia blinked. "…We aren't?"

Everyone shot meaningful glances at Ichigo, and Katobeto smiled a cold smile.

He swallowed. "I guess I'm still getting used to the idea…after all, I was single for a very…very…long…you know." He managed lamely. What the hell? Does everyone want this pretty boy to think we're married, or are they all brain-dead?

"True, they are young aren't they?" Katobeto sighed fondly. "That's why I've taken a special interest in them. You know how marriage can be…I'd hate to see what it may do to two unprepared teenagers. Some have the fortune to be blessed when they marry young…and others…well…."

Shigure nodded, seemingly accepting his answer, yet as he straightened quickly, he glanced furtively at the 'married couple'. "Well, all right. How about a tour?" He asked over his shoulder, beckoning them through the arc, and into the enclosure leading to the main entrance.

Ichigo slowly turned to Rukia, and she opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly Tatsuki grabbed her arm. "Hey, Kuchiki-san! This way, this way! We don't get to hang out a lot you know."

Orihime nodded, smiling warmly. "Yup! There's a whole lot we want to ask you!"

Being led away, Rukia offered a helpless glance at Ichigo. He shrugged at her, what did she expect him to do? Watching the three girls inside, he felt an odd prickling at the back of his neck. Sure enough, as he turned around slowly, he met Keigo and Mizuiro's identical smiles.

"…What?" He asked testily.

-----

"Just wait a minute! Man, he was just kidding!" Mizuiro pleaded anxiously. "You know how Keigo shoots his mouth off! You gotta understand man, he didn't know what he was saying!" He turned to Keigo. "Right?"

Keigo struggled mightily against a snarling Ichigo. "…That's right!" He choked out.

Ichigo pulled his lips back into a snarl, wondering which part of Keigo he should dismember first. He had a feeling if he didn't do it now, he'd have to do it later.

…And now was better, when he hadn't said or done anything particularly bad yet.

A little to the side and somewhat detached, Ishida stared piercingly at Ichigo, wondering at the situation they were now in. Well, they do seem an unlikely pair at first. Especially since Kuchiki is deceased, he thought.

Ichigo released Keigo, catching Ishida's eye. He returned his gaze with one of challenge.

"I think we should head inside now," Ishida said, walking ahead. "And I suggest you don't provoke Kurosaki on his…marital status. It's bad luck to tease a newly-wed…" He added helpfully, and Ichigo could hear a smirk in his tone.

Chad blanched at this, and moved towards Ichigo to keep him from leaping at Ishida's back.

-----

"Wow…" was the general murmur that went round the group, as Shigure took them around the Hot Spring. The inn was built in an enclosure near the top of the mountain, and it was only open to members of the family, or those invited by a member of the family. The wood, though old, was dark and antique looking, and the inn only consisted of one building, built so that there was a large pond in the middle. The Hot Spring itself, Shigure explained, was in the back.

"In the back, huh?" Ichigo began, a little rudely. "What's so special about this place besides the architecture? Every famous Hot Spring has a special feature. What about this one?"

Shigure smiled complacently, and he took no offence at Ichigo's tone as he noted genuine curiousity behind it. "Well, one of them is the hot spring itself, but you'll see that soon enough. The other…" He glanced at Rukia, who was admiring earthenware with Orihime and Tatsuki, and then eyed everyone else. Ichigo noticed he only continued when Katobeto has his back turned. "Well, you may see that soon enough too." He whispered conspiratorially.

Ichigo's mood darkened. So there was something more to this 'little' excursion. Chad. He thought. Chad will tell me…but I need to find some way of asking him…without everyone else knowing…

"Well, that's it. Now…is anyone hungry…?" Ichigo and Rukia perked up at that. They hadn't had breakfast yet…

-----

"Whew. Thank you for the meal! It was wonderful!" Orihime said, finishing up.

Shigure laughed. "Ah, it was nothing. To be honest, when I was living with my two cousins, cooking became a fire hazard, and any food that wasn't burned was poison. But a good friend of ours taught me a few recipes, in the end. Anyway, the chef in charge of the place is on vacation. I guess I'll have to do."

"We could all help you." Chad offered.

Shigure shrugged. "Nah. I'd like to do it once in a while. She'd want me to. My friend, that is." He clapped his hands. "So, let's get the married couple into the bath first, huh?"

Ichigo choked on a piece of fish, and Rukia fumbled with her chopsticks, finally dropping them with a clatter. The table went silent. Shigure raised an eyebrow slyly. Ah…he thought. Do I sense a couple in need of a push? "It's tradition," he continued. "And before you ask, there is a partitioned area…for privacy."

It was like Shigure had sprouted dog-ears and a tail, and everyone but Katobeto stared, open-mouthed at him.

"Shall we?"

-----

The sound of the changing room shoji door closing had the same effect of an executioner's axe. I was wrong, he thought, his mind completely numb. There's bad, then worse…then rock bottom…and then a whole layer of shit, where you get a shovel and dig.

Suffice to say, he was digging.

Rukia seemed to be watching him carefully. "What now?"

"…I don't know." He sat on the bench.

"Well," She said, admiring the cabinet near the wall. "Better think of something."

Ichigo glared, annoyed. "Well, I don't know, Rukia. Do you WANT to go in there?"

She looked at him oddly. "Are you asking?"

Ichigo paused, taking a while to digest what she had just asked. "W-What…?"

Rukia turned around to hide a growing blush, fingering the engraving on one cabinet. "We can't back out, or else Souryu-san will figure out we're not married. And it's a tradition here. It's pretty obvious that this place is meant for newly-weds."

Ichigo fought to keep his voice from cracking. God. Weakling! Get a hold of yourself, and say no! He shifted uneasily. "So…"

She sat opposite him, on another bench. "So…what?" She asked, adding that last part uncertainly.

Ichigo shrugged. "I don't…I mean, if there isn't any other way…" What the hell are you doing? A whiny voice asked. Another sharper voice went 'Quiet, fool.'

Rukia smiled, noting his uncertainty. She looked away quickly. "W-Well then…you s-strip first." She cursed her hesitation. She had to be confident.

All the blood drained from Ichigo's face. All of it, he was sure. He could feel it. "What?"

Rukia folded her arms irritably. "S-Strip. I won't look. I'm n—n—Damn, her mind muttered—not going in first." She was a child in the Soul Society, back then, but now…a sudden unexplainable sense of shyness came over her, as she watched Ichigo's incredulous expression. She would NOT get in first.

"…What?"

She glared. "A-And if you peek when I get in, I will really drown you this time." She could feel her voice strengthen, and it gave her heart. "I swear! After I break every bone in your body, I will drown—"

"Okay! OKAY! I won't, damnit!"

"Okay." She said.

"Okay." He stalled.

They paused.

Ichigo frowned. "Well, why can't you go first?"

-----

"H-How is it?"

"…Not bad." He managed, trying and failing to keep a naked Rukia out…not working. He cried. Out!

"I'm coming in. T-Turn around."

"Great." He said, his voice deadpanned. I have two little sisters. I have two little sisters…

That won't work, he decides glumly. He can't see Rukia as a sister… And she's older too…in more ways than one. I wonder-ARGH! NO, NO, NO!

He sank lower, facing his back to the entrance. Control. He breathed in, noting the fumes that rose from the bath. What is it? He asked himself, taking another whiff. Some kind of bath scent probably. Lots of Hot Springs had this. Another whiff. …But not like this. It was…intoxicating. It gave him something to focus on, something to take his mind off—

"…It's…wonderful…"

Ichigo nearly turned around, but froze when a wooden clog flew an inch past his head. "I told you not to turn around!"

"Yeah, and I heard you! …Kami!" He muttered.

"…What do you mean 'not bad'?" She demanded, spellbound. "Have you looked around? Have you eyes?"

"Well…no. I mean, yeah, I got eyes!" He was too caught up with the fact that Rukia was getting into the same bath as him, and well, naked.

"Typical." She muttered. "Look, you dumbass."

Ichigo looked, and his breath caught. This had to be that special feature Shigure was talking about.

The bath was actually located in a small cave in the mountain. By the looks of it, they were near the top, the sprawling landscape beneath them. True, it wasn't a very big mountain, but it was a breathtaking view nonetheless, one of forest greens and blue mountain ranges. Their ceiling was the natural grey of the stone, large stalactites hanging down gave it a very natural look. Ichigo noticed that there was even some sort of sliding door, possibly to keep the rain out, or when the bath wasn't in use.

He jumped, hearing Rukia's voice a lot closer than he expected. "Great, huh? I never thought I'd get to see something like this." Ichigo nodded stiffly. Rukia sighed, relaxing into the water. "As long as you keep a couple of feet distance, and look that way, we can both enjoy the bath."

Ichigo frowned. Hey wait a minute… "How come you don't have to look away?"

Rukia tilted her head to glance at the back of his head, flushing as she stared at his back, going down, the shoulder blades, the muscles on his torso…up. Look UP. Her eyes snapped back to his head, as if she had accidentally looked at the sun, and her blush worsened. "B-Because."

"Because…?"

"Just do as I say and keep looking that way." She snapped. "And relax. We have the whole place to ourselves."

Ichigo growled out a-"Whatever bitch."-And sank into the water, moving to rest on a stone.

Rukia snapped a "Jerk" in reply before settling herself on a wall. She sighed, though not in relief, and watched him go out the corner of her eye. He'd been good so far. In fact, she mused, I'm the one who's been sneaking peaks. She flushed. Okay…but I'm not apologising. Hell no. I don't even know what he's so pissed off at. I didn't do or say anything wrong.

The little voice once again stressed the fact that she hadn't done anything wrong, and glumly, she moved to his position to talk to him.

-----

"RUKIA! What the hell are you doing!" Rukia stamped a fist down on his head, and he almost whimpered. She was out of the bath, kneeling behind him, wrapped in a towel, another one in her hand.

"I'm going to wash your back." It was more a statement than an explanation. "And, I'm wearing a towel." She watched his head turn back, and she twisted it forward viciously. "That doesn't mean you have to look!"

He jerked, feeling the wet towel and her hands on his back. "And you're doing this why?"

"Because…" 'Because' again. He thought darkly. When was he ever going to understand what the hell was going through her head? "—Because I felt like it."

He blinked. "Felt like it?"

"Yeah." She said carefully, noting that the tension was seeping out his shoulders.

"Well, you can stop now." 'Cause if you keep doing that, I'm going to do or say something I don't want to do. He stifled a groan when he felt her hands begin to massage his shoulders. "What…are you doing now?"

"Do you want me to stop?" She asked hesitatingly.

He shut his eyes tightly; trying to block out any thought, just the idea that Rukia was behind him, in a towel—"N-No."

"Y-you're—she tried to get her own voice under control—you're tense again." She accused.

"Okay, Okay." I can't relax. I can't. Why is she doing this to me? Why am I letting her do this to me? Last night…he swallowed. She had said…there was nothing to forgive…. He cleared his throat lightly. He was getting dizzy in here. Why?

"Ichigo…just because…I mean…I hope that you don't…when I hit you...you deserve it, you know." He was silent. She took a breath and continued. "And when I shout at you, it's because you're so…stubborn. Strong. That's just how you are I guess, but…" She swallowed. You're babbling!

"…So?"

"So…don't…" Rukia closed her eyes and let her hands travel from his back to past his neck. Her hands trembling, she ran them down his chest, her chin coming to rest on his shoulder. Don't think, don't think, she chanted. Ichigo's breath caught in his throat. He was stunned with the feel of her pressed against him, but only for a moment. He turned, wanting only to confirm her position with his eyes, and ended up kissing her on the cheek. And then on the neck. Then he turned around and, gently taking her face in his hands kissed her slowly but surely on the lips. Wrapping her hands around his neck Rukia surrendered, she melted into it, and just plain let go.

He couldn't help but murmur her name in between kisses, and she didn't resist when he pulled her, into the bath, gently, a voice in her head thanking god that the towel stayed on. She let out a moan, suddenly aware of his need, and she pushed against him for another kiss…

"Are you two done?" Called a voice. Breaking away, Rukia's fuzzy thought process recognised the voice to be from—

"Shigure." Ichigo muttered, his breath coming to him slowly. He pulled away slowly. "Uh. Yeah. We're getting out!" Despite his embarrassment, he couldn't help but glance at Rukia—

"Rukia?"

Her face was strained, and she seemed to have trouble breathing. She leaned against the wall, head down, but eyes on him. He asked again, failing to keep his anxiousness out. She was fine just now—

The smell. It was stronger. What was it…? Rukia's eyes seemed to widen, something akin to panic growing…. "Rukia! Rukia, are you—"

Rukia managed to shake her head, before moving towards him and collapsing in his arms.

He was vaguely aware of Shigure shouting.

Tsuzuku

The plot thickens.

And if Shigure is familiar to anyone, chances are he is.