Disclaimer and Notes: Own Bleach? Me? Nah.
To
the Wind
Chapter 11
By Advent Wing
No. No one had woken up yet.
Rukia would know if they did. After all, the memories chosen by the modifier were very…random.
So, I know no one is up yet because no one has come into our room to check if we're okay. She sighed, snuggled contentedly into Ichigo, and winced when her muscles protested. Now that she thought about it, she did feel extremely stiff…
A soak in the bath may cure that; and those thoughts brought back a familiar tinge of red in her cheeks. Her stiff muscles could use a massage, and she was briefly tempted into asking Ichigo to return the favour…
I'm falling in love. She decided quietly. Oh Gods. She didn't want to admit it, but she was. Worse, she might already….
At least – she might be wrong. In matters of the heart, she failed.
She sighed. I'm skipping ahead. How do I know he even wants me…that way?
She blocked out the annoying Orihime-like whisper that reminded her of each touch, of each flush, of each kiss—
It was too complicated. She desperately needed to simplify things. Taking into account her feelings, and Ichigo's feelings, and the problems separating them…
She really didn't get it.
It was obvious that a union of any sort between Ichigo and her would be disadvantageous.
We argue at every point. He's always insulting me, and contradicting me. And I don't even want to begin contemplating our more…pressing differences…
She sighed. It was a wonder how Humans stayed sane.
…Human. She was not human, though she once was. And yet, living here had made her realize one very important fact.
Besides the fact that they lived on two different spiritual planes of existence, there really wasn't much that separating Shinigami and Humans It was the little things. The little things were the same. We laugh like humans. We eat, like humans. We befriend, like humans. She raised a lithe hand to the air, reflecting over her false form. We hate, like humans. She coloured, a deep scarlet. We can love…like humans.
Rukia found her gaze transferring itself to the boy beside her. He was a strange one, but undeniably cute…in a harsh kind of way. And when he showed his soft side…
Despite all our similarities…the Kuchiki line has a policy on Shinigami Conduct…
She frowned. The Kuchiki rulebook probably had 'Thou shalt not be joyous' as the first commandment.
"…Rukia?" Ichigo mumbled.
Like it or not, she was stuck with her feelings for Ichigo. There probably isn't a clause in the rulebook for falling in love…
Her head was resting beside his, and when he looked into her eyes questioningly, she smiled, truly, wanly.
Ichigo flushed, and Rukia couldn't stop her smile from turning…feral, at his reaction.
"Good morning," She began softly, sitting up to regard him.
Ichigo, glancing at her from the corner of his eye; took in her dishevelled yukata. He grunted a quick, almost resigned "Morning" as he shifted away from her. He sighed. His obviously involuntary reactions showed that he still wasn't quite used to seeing Rukia wake up beside him. And if his rapidly increasing heartbeat was any indication, he had a very slow 'cool down' time. "How's your wound?" He asked gruffly, and then regretted it. He wasn't supposed to be worried because—
Rukia frowned, pulling his face around by his chin to meet her glare. "Is pain the only way to get my point across?"
He couldn't help but glare into her eyes. The problem with this was that up-close, it was very hard to…control…himself.
Especially this early in the morning.
YES, he said quickly, hormones! It's the only logical explanation to these impulses I keep getting!
…Who was he kidding? Hormones be dammed. It was all Rukia, and he couldn't resist her. Eyebrows knitting, realizing she was still waiting for a reply, he shrugged carelessly in response.
Rukia threw up her hands in frustration, and Ichigo thought he'd get a nosebleed for sure when her yukata nearly fell off. "Did ANYTHING I said last night enter your head? Do you remember ANYTHING?" She asked, glaring at him pointedly.
Ichigo shrugged again, feigning forgetfulness, beads of sweat revealing the exact opposite.
Rukia sighed, and tried not to enjoy herself too much when she moved to all but purr into his ear. "You do realize I'll have to MAKE you remember…" Right now…she felt…
…in control.
She couldn't help but like that.
"Ichigo…" Rukia said, thoughtfully, resting her chin atop his head. Why the heck not? He'd be returning the favour. "Do you remember when I gave you a massage?"
Ichigo nodded, cautiously. "What about it?"
"Well…some parts of my body are feeling pretty stiff."
Ichigo cocked an eyebrow. "That's my punishment?"
Rukia, her expression curiously innocent, asked whether or not he would rather she hit him. Rukia then loosened her yukata slightly, just enough to bare her shoulders.
Ichigo was tempted to say yes, just hit me. Only the memory of last night's battle, the guilt fresh in his mind, and a general concern for Rukia's overworked body, made him loosen his frown, and place his hands on her shoulders.
Well, I did it. Rukia decided, face blessedly hidden from his eyes. That dries up my confidence well for the day. For the week, really. In fact, I doubt I'll ever, ever, try something like this again. It has to be the bloody aura of this Inn. She frowned. Well, if he says anything, I'll just turn around and smack him—
Rukia swallowed a 'meep'; when she felt his hands rub her shoulders. "Well? What do you want me to do?"
"W-Whatever feels right." She managed. "Try to rub a little harder?"
Ichigo complied, noting how her body seemed to relax under his ministrations. Beginner's luck? He ventured.
"Ichigo…" Rukia began. "I'm not going to break. You could try a little more pressure." She let out a hiss as his rubbing eased her weary muscles. "A little bit to the right…"
Rukia probably would have enjoyed it more, if she weren't preoccupied with the fact that ICHIGO was giving her a massage. Was, for once, following what she said, with no grumbling, and no complaints.
And who would have thought he would be so good?
She wouldn't have minded spending the morning like that, until she realized that he might be doing this out of guilt. "Hey Ichigo…? About last night…"
"What?"
"…It will heal, you know." She cut in, almost absent-mindedly taking one hand from her shoulder, and placing it gently at her side, where he had cut her.
He really thought she'd understand what he was feeling. I cut her. It was me. Not a Hollow. Me.
"And it's different from Kaien and I. You know why?" She asked, giving voice to his thoughts.
"Why?" He asked, gruffly.
She turned to face him fully. "For one thing, I'm not dead...gone…because you didn't want to cut me."
He snarled in response "You didn't want to cut him either! You—"
She shook her head vehemently. "I did. I wanted to cut him!" Her face took on that drained haunted quality that he didn't hate per say…it just filled him with a sudden need…that he couldn't quite explain yet…
And it sickened him, but he understood. All he could do now was find a way to make her forget about the pain…and so, firm, but gentle, he took her into his arms. It may have been a little uncomfortable, but Rukia yielded to him quickly, expectantly, and if he could ever remember anything, or even begin to entertain the thought of her reciprocating his 'impulses', he'd realize one important fact.
…That Rukia never resisted him, except on that one dark, rainy night.
Rukia inhaled sharply at intimate contact. Your yukata is still loose, muttered a now weary, and defeated-sounding voice in her head. Murmuring his name, she treaded her fingers though his hair. All this, and she was finding it impossible that he didn't feel the same way she did.
So, tentatively, cautiously, she pulled apart, to gaze away, to hide her face from his view. It was this act alone that pulled Ichigo out of whatever haze he had decided to lose himself in. "Rukia…?"
"Ichigo…is intimacy a big deal in this world?" Try as she might, she just couldn't put what she felt for him into words…the swirl of emotions and feelings making it too complicated…it would make what she felt…different…
Ichigo swallowed. Okay. Where did that come from? "Depends."
"On?"
"On the individual. I guess…"
"So…what do you think?" she asked hesitantly.
"About what?" He asked gruffly.
Rukia, who was pretty apprehensive about this whole thing, grabbed his head by the hair and twisted it to meet his eyes, relishing his little yelps of pain. "Intimacy, you spiky-haired idiot!"
Ichigo pried her hand off, rubbing his scalp. "What about it?" He asked doggedly. Rukia growled.
"Okay, okay! Persistent bitch…" He flopped back on the futon, expelling a breath as he did. Well, what can I tell her?
A tiny angelic thought that sounded a lot like Yuzu cried "The truth! Ichi-nii! The truth! "
The truth? What IS the truth? I don't even know the truth myself.
"What's the big deal then? Stall," muttered a flat voice that resembled Karin.
Tried that.
"Something romantic! Say something roman—"
Screw you Pops!
"I…I wouldn't really know." He finally confessed.
Rukia blinked. "Why not?"
"I haven't had much experience with intimacy." He snapped. "I find it too much trouble."
Rukia frowned. She kind of got it now. "So, you're afraid of people?"
Ichigo facefaulted. "No!"
Rukia's frown deepened. "So then, you're afraid of—"
"—I'm not afraid of anything!" He snapped.
Rukia frown turned angry. "Okay, fine, what the hell do you call what we're doing?"
I don't know! Half the bloody time I don't know what the hell I want to do with you, the other half I know EXACTLY what I want to do with—
"Well?" She asked.
"When we do, what we do…I don't know…. It feels…right." He confessed. "But…I…just…can't…" Do it. I can't do this because if I do, I'll end up…like before.
Weak. A brat wandering up and down looking for what he's lost, without the balls to just accept it and move on.
…I just can't do that again.
Rukia felt her heart skip a beat, and shifted so she could study him easier. "When we do what?" She asked, slowly leaning over.
Ichigo swallowed, losing himself to emotion. "When we do this." He whispered, sitting up, and noting the disturbing lack of distance between their faces…
"…What the hell am I saying?" He asked, standing up and stretching, masking his discomfort. …I care about you…a little… He swallowed. Okay, a lot really. And that, as much as he loathed admitting it, scared him…because…it was hard to care about something you knew you'd have to forget…
I'm not afraid of people. I'm afraid about losing them…
Ichigo picked up the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. He turned to the door expectantly.
…Catching her gaze, did he detect a hint hope behind those entrancing midnight-blue eyes? Or was he the one being hopeful? He wished he could swallow his brewing conflict. Part of him focused on self-preservation, and that meant for him to keep his bloody heart closed, thank you very much.
The other convinced him that it was only a matter of time before his actions betrayed his feelings.
The door slid open with a bang.
-----
It was with much annoyance that Rukia found out that she had missed Keigo and Mizuiro in the memory modification process.
Or what Ichigo called the flashy thing.
The morning madness crept in slowly, with Orihime, Ishida, Tatsuki, Chad, Katobeto, and Shigure filing in with identically dumfounded expressions. It was refreshing really; she enjoyed the distraction from the information she had learned. She was still a little sore, though, which warranted a bath. Everyone else was much too distracted with what they had 'seen' last night, to share her sentiments.
"It just…wandered in?" Keigo asked.
Everyone nodded.
Mizuiro arched an eyebrow. "And then, Kuchiki-san was injured by falling over a piece of rubble?"
Rukia nodded solemnly.
"And then a squad of ninjas came in by hang-gliders, to dispatch it?"
Identically dubious nods met his words.
"And after that, a cosplay convention, stormed in to buy the carcass from them?" More nods. "…For a costume."
Chad seemed especially frazzled, but nodded anyway.
"And then the ninja's faded into the night?" After another general accent, Mizuiro groaned, and slumped backwards.
"…Did it shoot a laser from its mouth?" Keigo asked sarcastically, pointing to a large horizontal slash in the interior, which stretched from one end of the room to the other.
Orihime shook her head. "Everyone knows Godzilla didn't, pardon, doesn't shoot a laser from its mouth!" She paused. "On the other hand…I think the old, old Godzilla did…" She frowned thoughtfully. "I'm quite sure it was 'a' Godzilla, though. Right everyone?"
Everyone else just nodded.
-----
Shigure sighed. "Well. What can I say, but one of our businesses stock lines?" He bowed. "We apologize for the inconvenience." Rukia felt a strong sense of guilt. The Hot Springs would need repair before the next batch of guests arrived. Doubtless, they didn't directly cause the destruction, but she felt like apologizing anyway.
"We should be apologizing." Rukia began.
Shigure smiled. "It was no fault of yours." His smile faltered, at his (fake) memories of last night. "…And as long as the Head Estate doesn't hear of it, you're welcome to come again." Though he doubted he'd tell the Head Estate ANYTHING about this.
…Who the hell would believe him, anyway? He was sure someone had slipped something into their tea.
Ichigo shrugged. "Maybe." Rukia nudged him gently, reprovingly, and went off to join Orihime and Tatsuki with their packing. He rolled his eyes. "We'll try. Thank you for your hospitality." He grinned, truly. "It was fun." Shigure nodded, shaking Ichigo's hand.
Shigure cocked his head in the direction of Rukia. "You two aren't really married, are you?"
Ichigo paled. "Er. Well…"
Laughing, Shigure turned his attention to one of the koi ponds that dotted the Inn, while Ichigo sweated. There was obviously a reason why Katobeto said that they were truly married. He hoped he hadn't set off a land mine by mistake—
"The mirror is broken." Shigure said suddenly.
Ichigo, quelling rising panic with brusqueness, arched an eyebrow questioningly, and asked, "What mirror?" He leaned against a banister, all cockiness.
Shigure observed the fish a little longer. Ichigo had the strange feeling Shigure was letting him stew…
"There was this mirror that was supposed to seal away a certain curse." He paused. "Every married couple that enters that Bath will die, without it." He shrugged. "Or so they say."
"You don't believe in ghosts?" Ichigo asked.
Shigure laughed. "Well, that depends. I've never actually seen one."
Okay. There was something wrong here. He saw me yesterday in Shinigami form, but has never seen a ghost in his life?
"But there was this stench that only seemed to go away when I had put the mirror in its place." Shigure turned to him. "It isn't needed now. For that, I suppose I should thank you."
Ichigo shrugged. So he never really had any Spiritual Power at all. Just enough to smell it. Come to think of it, he wasn't looking at me, last night…he was looking at Rukia. "…Didn't do anything. See ya." He pushed off the banister to leave, sinking a hand into a pocket, before Shigure bade him to stop.
"Hey, even though you're being forced by Katobeto, you should use these opportunities to get closer to someone you obviously care about." Ichigo froze in mid-step.
He whirled, the words coming out in a rush. "I-We…I don't—"
"Ah, but you do. Whatever it is that's holding YOU back, get over it." Shigure smiled.
"…Once, again," Ichigo snorted, "I have no idea what you're talking about." His insides were in turmoil though. First and foremost, Rukia could NOT like him that way. It had been all him, all along. Second, he couldn't afford to care for her.
She was too dangerous.
Shigure chuckled. "Just a guess…though…" Shigure clapped him across the shoulders. "Come back when you two have reached some kind of consensus."
This time, Ichigo couldn't help but answer truthfully. "I'll try."
-----
My system will process the information you just dictated to me, Madame.
"And?"
I regret to inform you that it will process it in exactly 10 seconds, after which my it will crash. Again.
Rukia frowned. "I don't see what's so hard about this. A giant green lizard that Orihime called 'Godzilla' crashed into the—"
—DOES NOT COMPUTE! DOES NOT COMPUTE! THE SITUATION WAS NOT A PREDICTED EVENT! …THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH—
-…Rebooting…-
Rukia sighed. "He's gone."
Orihime nodded sagely. "His processor couldn't handle the information." She shrugged. "But I can tell you I've never seen anything like him."
"Well," Rukia said, "He's helped me out a few times. He's great." She really enjoyed watching the text of the reboot process. "Have you packed?"
Orihime nodded. "Yeah. It's a shame though. Poor Souryu-san. How will he explain this?"
Rukia felt the guilt tug at her again. "I don't suppose we'll come here again."
Orihime sighed wistfully, hugging a nearby pillow close. "I would have liked one more bath…" She smiled slyly. "Did you have a talk with Kurosaki-kun? About your feelings for him?"
Rukia winced, first at the recollection of her decision not to act on her feelings, and second, that someone else had spoken her feelings for Ichigo out loud. "Well…no."
Orihime's jaw dropped. "WHAT? Whyyyy?"
Rukia busied herself with her toes. "I…decided not to."
With a sigh, Orihime got up to sit directly in front of her. "Rukia, is there a reason why you don't want to talk with Ichigo?"
Rukia shrugged, and desperate for a change in topic, suddenly, and with dawning shock remembered - "…What were you and Ishida doing in the bath?"
Orihime jerked surprise. "…Me…and Ishida-kun?" She flushed. "Well, that's…I don't really…"
Rukia's eyes widened. "He didn't spy on you, did he? That Quincy scum—"
"Ah, no, no…I don't think so…" She placed a finger on her chin thoughtfully. "Well…we were talking…"
"Talking? In a bath?" …Rukia hadn't made the connection that most would…
"Yes. About…" Her eyes widened. "Ah. That was just before Godzilla-san attacked."
"And?"
"And…" She clapped her hands in front of her. "Ah, I sense that Tatsuki-chan needs help with the packing! TATSUKI-CHAAAAAAAN!"
Rukia followed her out hurriedly. "Orihime! Hey! Tell me what you were talking about!"
-----
"You like Kurosaki, don't you?" He asked hesitantly.
Orihime somehow lost her footing, and slipped deeper into the water. "Ah? Aha ha ha…ha ha…ha…" Her nervous laughter died. "Is it that obvious?" She lowered herself to blow bubbles into the water. If she wasn't depressed before…
Ishida shrugged. "I guessed."
"How?"
"Watching…I guess."
Orihime smiled thoughtfully at him. "You must have sharp eyes."
Ishida blinked in surprise. "Huh? Ah…well…probably not…" He stared out into the night sky. Lit lanterns created a surreal effect on everything…he really had to compliment Shigure-san on it. "I do wear glasses, you know."
Orihime laughed. "That doesn't impair your 'vision'."
Ishida paused, before shrugging nonchalantly. "Probably not."
"…What else do you see?" She asked leaning against the rock between them.
"Many…many things…" He cast his gaze to the ceiling.
"…Like?"
"…Like—"
"Ishida-san." Chad asked.
"…Yeah?" Ishida asked, dusting off pants. He was set to go.
"Are you going to do what Katobeto-sensei asked us to do?" He flipped his duffel bag over his shoulder. "About Ichigo."
"You mean report on him?" Ishida paused before shrugging. "Probably not."
Chad jerked in surprise, and then regarded Ishida with a hint of respect. "Yeah. Probably not."
-----
Katobeto relaxed into the driver's seat of the SUV. As it was a rental from one of his many contacts, he felt obliged to enjoy it as much as he possibly could. His friend would be pleased to know that he had squeezed in eight teenagers, one of them overgrown by normal standards.
And without any accidents, too.
Tuning to his favourite radio channel, which was unfortunately Ichigo's least favourite radio channel, he settled into his chair…only to find himself freshly disturbed at last night's chain of events.
EVERYONE knew Godzilla was retired.
"With all due respect, dear Uncle, are you insane?" Shigure asked, his hands in the sleeves of his yukata. "I know you've wanted to develop the theory of psychological stress on married couples…but choosing a couple that isn't actually a couple yet, is…kind of…strange. Even for you."
Katobeto grinned. "One mustn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Fate dropped me two very interesting lab rats. It would be wrong not to take advantage of them."
-----
Ichigo stretched, grabbing at the luggage. "Great to be home." He muttered, stalking through the door as Rukia waved goodbye.
"Take care now." Tatsuki grinned. "Don't let Ichigo's moods get to you."
"Don't forget those reports…I expect them to be reflective and informative."
Rukia nodded, a little too quickly maybe. "They will be, sensei."
Katobeto eyed her, and then broke into a smile. "I heard you have problems with essays. Is it true?"
…Teachers. No tact. "Well, I suppose so."
"Then here's some advice. Try and relate what you've learned to the 'families' section of your textbook. I could send you a copy of my mark scheme…if you'd like. Some linkage separates 'A' from 'B', you know."
Rukia nodded, grateful for the helpful advice. Tatsuki frowned. The only part she remembered was the section on family planning…
"You could have said goodbye, you know." Rukia accused later, carrying her own small bag through the hallway. "And haven't we established the fact that you enjoyed yourself immensely?"
His brief non-comitial grunt earned him a steady glare. "I'll put Alex back." He said, taking the laptop bag with him.
"I'm going to take a shower first, okay?" Rukia called after him.
He grunted an affirmative.
She suppressed a grin at the strangely comforting features of the house she and Ichigo now inhabited. Tossing her bag onto the bed, she went straight to the bathroom. A quick appraisal of her injuries, and Rukia was set for the hot shower. She winced, as the hot water stung her. She was a little worried about the functionality of her gigai…maybe a trip to Urahara's for Souma fixers would help?
So she relaxed into the water, as she finally adjusted to the temperature, sighing as she did. She wanted another massage…
-----
…My system has concluded that the consumption of a hallucinogenic is more likely than the appearance of a fictional, cultural and historical icon…Madame?
"Taking a shower." He said, flopping on the bed. Was it really Thursday already…?
…I see.He said, as put off as an AI could sound. Oh, wait, Sir. You have a message.
Ichigo turned, arching an eyebrow. "Oh? Lets hear it."
-beep-
"Hey, Ichi-nii, this is Karin. Visited last night, cause Dad wanted to. You weren't there, so he assumed you eloped for real. I suggest you visit him tonight so the idiot can stop making preparations for a 'real' ceremony.
There was a slight pause.
Oh, and Yuzu misses you.
There was another pause.
She asked me to tell you that I miss you too.
Ichigo heard a sharp noise of irritation in the background.
…Anyway, come visit. Bye."
-beep-
-----
"So, we are…?"
"Heading to a department store." Ichigo replied.
"Ah." Rukia said. "For what?" She wondered how so many people could be in one place at one time. It was claustrophobic, but…also a little exciting…
"A dress, or two." He accomplished that statement with minimal difficulty. "Maybe we'll look around a bit after that…"
Rukia digested the new information, while struggling through the crowd. "And what's wrong with your sister's clothes? Or the ones in the house?" She felt his hand grasp hers, and allowed herself to be led, until she had more or less slipped into step beside him. Holding hands was no longer necessary, but, distance be damned, she kind of enjoyed it.
"Well, I thought you'd like your own clothes."
My own clothes, huh? "And all this trouble is for…?"
Ichigo paused before replying. "I felt like it."
Rukia frowned distastefully. To be Kuchiki meant discipline and control at all times. To do something simply because impulse dictated it, was…
…Exactly what she had been doing, ever since she stepped into that Hollow's path, that night she met Ichigo.
…Suddenly aware of the hypocrisy, she mentally thumped herself.
-----
Ichigo watched, amused as Rukia took short, furtive glances at the plushie store located directly across the entrance to the clothes section of the department store.
He really enjoyed seeing her like this…it made him feel at ease…because she was at ease. We should go out more often… "Oi. This way." He said, tugging her along as he recalled his earlier answer to the question of 'why he was doing this'.
He seemed to be using 'I felt like it' a lot lately. The rebellious thoughts he'd been having had begun to seem…less rebellious. Heck, he was holding her hand in public. Where anyone from school could just walk up and gape.
And he had even pushed the thought of her leaving away. She hadn't said anything, or even alluded to the fact that she would have to go back. Was he jumping to conclusions? He let go of her hand reluctantly. "Well, let's look around."
Rukia eyed the racks speculatively. "…What do I buy?"
Ichigo frowned. "Hell should I know?"
"You've got two younger sisters!"
"You never went to buy clothes for yourself?" He asked sarcastically.
Rukia stiffened. All her clothes had been given to her. As a Kuchiki, as a Shinigami, even as a street rat.
Hell, the clothes she wore now didn't really count as hers, though she had picked them herself. "Of…of course I have!"
Ichigo gestured to the racks. "Then lead the way."
"How many will we get?"
Ichigo shrugged. "Try on as many as you want…until you're satisfied. But we won't buy all of them. Maybe three." Rukia glared suspiciously at him, and he returned it, before sighing and then taking the lead.
-----
"You're kidding."
"No. I'm not." He said curtly. "You change in there. The lock is kind of like a latch. You shouldn't find it too hard." He tried not to notice the sales attendant's gaze. The place was filled with shoppers, but, he noticed with chagrin, they were the only 'couple' there. He didn't want someone to come along to ask if he would appreciate any help with his girlfriend…
…Like what those attendants were undoubtedly about to do.
He knew their type. These people took joy in embarrassing him. Like that time when Yuzu wandered into the Lingerie section and he had to be the one to get her out. He was at an awkward age then. He was lucky he didn't pass out from embarrassment. Oh, when he was older, he wanted to get Karin a dress for her birthday, and the attendant had protested (very helpfully and very loudly) that it was much too small for HIM. Or that other time when he had knocked over a rack by mistake, and SOMEONE had told security that a youth with dyed hair was tearing up the store.
He waited, calmly, until they had established who would approach him.
When she made a move towards him, he smiled, and shook his head.
The attendant's smile seemed to widen, and she continued to advance towards him.
Ah. Step two, then. He creased his forehead a little. Not glaring outright, but it would make any normal person hesitate.
Unperturbed, she continued on her path, and Ichigo pointed to a well-dressed woman with a shiny gold badge. The attendant frowned. The General Manager.
The attendant slinked off.
"Ichigo?" Rukia asked, snapping him out of his smug disposition.
"I'll be out here." He replied.
Watching her disappear into the room, he leaned against the wall, holding her other garments; you could only take in three. "Hey…uh…when you're done, come out if you want me to take a look."
The rustling of fabric stopped. "Why the heck would I do that?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "I don't know. Yuzu and Karin always ask me to look."
"Aha!" She called triumphantly. "I knew it! You HAVE done this before!"
Ichigo pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are not my sister." He caught the eye of a hawkeyed attendant, and glared at her. She bustled off hurriedly.
Some time and rustling later, Rukia and stepped out. "How's this?"
Ichigo glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. Why did he have to offer? He'd make a complete ass of himself now, surely. Studying Rukia intently seemed to have that effect on him. "…Not bad."
Rukia nodded. "I thought so."
She went in, and came out wearing another. "This one?"
"…Not bad." He said, scarcely looking at her.
She frowned this time. "Okay…" She went in to change, and came out again. "This one?"
Ichigo nodded. "…Not bad—" Rukia kicked his calf smoothly, cutting him off. He grimaced, mindful of the attendants hovering around them. "…The hell was that for?"
Rukia glared at him. "This was the first dress."
Ichigo rubbed his calf. "Okay, okay." He looked at her fully. "It…looks good on you."
"Really?" She looked into the mirror. She really liked the material…and the embroidery was nice too. It was a very soft yellow, and the skirt wasn't too short… "Why?"
The main problem with looking at Rukia was that he found he couldn't stop looking at Rukia. "…Just get in and try the next dress on."
…This time he growled at the sales attendant.
She took longer than usual.
Ichigo tapped on the door, and found that it was unlatched. "…Rukia? Why didn't you lock the door?"
There was no answer for a while, before he received a muffled reply. "…In case a Hollow attacked."
Ichigo snorted. Yeah, okay. "…Are you having trouble with the dress?"
"Maybe."
Glancing for any attendants, and swearing under his breath, he quickly went in, closing the door behind him.
…He was surprised to see her, with only a skirt on, and with her arms folded protectively over her bound chest. She grabbed a hanger with one hand, and used it to avert his eyes…by slapping him with it.
"…Never seen chest binding before?" She asked, flushing indignantly.
"…Where's the dress?" He asked, blushing furiously, finding the wall very interesting…
"I took it off, because I couldn't get it on." She said a matter-of-factly.
"…Well, come on. It has a zipper at the back that probably got caught or something."
"I'll do it."
"How would you know how to put it on?"
"Just tell me how, and I'll put it on!"
He showed her the zipper.
"…Well? Rukia asked, finally, turning around. "How is it? Is it on right?"
Ichigo opened his mouth to approve, until a knock on the door interrupted him.
He paled. "I'm very sorry, but we have strict rules here." Said a stern voice.
When he stepped out, half the store was staring back at him. "...I can explain."
Rukia poked her head out irritably. "Ichigo, we're not done. If you think I'm satisfied, then you're wrong. Get back in here."
Tsuzuku
XD Ichigo has a great 'Oh shit' expression.
Next up, dinner at the Kurosaki's! It's time for Rukia to get to know her new family…only at this point, she doesn't know that she's going to meet them XD