Disclaimers and Notes: I do not own Bleach…

Meh. There's a lot of fanwork with Ichigo and Rukia in a shopping mall…or store…or shop…. But, never mind. It's fluff, and it's my own spin on a theme. So I shouldn't feel too guilty. But, if you want to see it done right, try 'Void', an IchiRuki Doujin. It's inspirational. It's insightful. It's…cute. You should all read it. …Preferably later XD Okay, one very important note. I do NOT hate shop attendants. Most of the time, they are both helpful and friendly. But you have to admit they can be very evil. So please, no bashing the attendants. They're just doing they're job…and probably trying to have a little fun, too XD

…Hey…I really tried to make this one silly (like the last chapter)

…But it turned out to be of some consequence.

Still, as usual, beware the fluff.

To the Wind
Chapter 12
By Advent Wing

"I've been having shit luck recently." Ichigo mumbled lightly, calmly, chin on the edge of the table, and arms hanging loosely at his sides. "I mean I'd understand if it happened every now and again - But in the space of one week? I mean, what the hell?"

Rukia shrugged. "I still don't see what the problem was."

"Does NOBODY jump to conclusions in the Soul Society?" He snapped..

Rukia ate her pretzel slowly, savouring each bite while contemplating Ichigo's question. "Well…yes. It happens at some point or the other, right? Miscommunication is one of the fallbacks to a large organization." Finishing, she reached for another…and then another…and then another….

Ichigo was struck dumb by her clueless-ness, which very nearly numbed the deep, sinking feeling of defeat in his stomach. "…Just forget it." He said, more to himself than her.

Rukia glanced at him, and reached over patted his head condescendingly. "There, there. Half the week is over. The rest should be a walk in the park."

Ichigo highly doubted that. After all, look at what happened in the first half. "…Yeah…and I really can't wait until this is over."

Rukia paused, and hesitantly murmured her approval. When it's over…what will we be like after that?

Ichigo sighed. "Well…at least it isn't one of the shops my sisters go to." And I have to be thankful that we don't have to shop for lingerie… he flushed. I wonder if that chest-binding thing is painful…

Rukia eyed her stack of pretzels, and let her gaze travel to Ichigo's plate, which only had one. "You going to eat that?"

Ichigo glared at her wordlessly. Rukia was about to take that as a no, before breaking it into half, and offering the other end to Ichigo. "We're not having lunch, right?"

"…This IS lunch."

"Eat it." She ordered firmly, and after a moment's bemusement, he complied. Leave it to Rukia to polish of a whole plate of pretzels, and then decide to break the last one in half.

She took a sip from her pink milkshake. She was wondering when she should thank him for buying her new clothes. Rukia had wanted to thank him as they were leaving the store, but his obvious anxiety and sour mood convinced her to put it off. The more they continued, the more she convinced herself that the present wasn't the right time.

Still, she had to do it sometime. She tilted the milkshake towards him. "…It's pretty good. Try it."

Ichigo glared at the offered shake. "I hate strawberry."

Ah. This was new. "Any particular reason?"

He shrugged. "No."

"Really? I find that hard to believe." She took another sip from the milkshake. How could anyone hate this?

"Well, that's the way it is."

"C'mon! Tell me." She said, smirking. "Does it have to do with something…embarrassing?" He averted his gaze quickly. "Aha! I knew it. Tell me."

"No."

"What's the harm? I won't laugh."

"No. Stop asking."

"I will if you tell me."

"…" He groaned. "Can't you guess?"

Rukia smiled. "It's your name, isn't it?"

Ichigo threw her an icy stare. "It isn't easy to be stuck with a feminine name."

She took another sip from her milkshake. There were so many people there; it made her wonder at what else this mall had to offer. "I would suppose so. And is the fact that you don't like strawberries a desperate act to remind everyone that your name shouldn't necessary mean strawberry? And how IS it written anyway?"

"…You can be so…"

"Wise…? Why thank you." She pushed the nearly empty cup towards him. "Try it anyway."

-----

"Here. Let's go in here." Rukia said, tugging Ichigo's sleeve loosely.

"No."

"What? Why the hell not?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"No." He said firmly, irritably, tugging her on the escalator, which distracted her for a bit.

Rukia was not to be deterred easily, though, as she saw another such store on the next floor. "…There's another."

"No."

Okay. That's it, she fumed. After stepping off the moving staircase, she grabbed him by his arm and turned him to face her. "Why is it when we pass one of those plushie stores, you let me look, but when we pass a bookstore, you completely refuse me?"

Ichigo gave her an odd look. "Isn't it obvious? You'd spend three hours there. Once I let you go in, I'll never get you out. I'll have to sling you over my back, and then someone will call security for real, this time." He was referring to the time when she had carried out two trays of free samples in a supermarket.

"It said Free Samples!" She said indignantly. "I still think it was a mistake on the salesperson's part."

"Whatever." He glanced irritably at the bookstore, and then at her resolute gaze. "…Okay, c'mon."

Rukia grinned happily and his decision, grabbing his hand and marching into the store. Ichigo couldn't help but roll his eyes at her enthusiasm. It was, he admitted begrudgingly, endearing in a way…. Rukia stopped once they were inside, a pensive expression gracing her features. "It's huge…"

It was one of the bigger bookstores in the industry. Ichigo had never stopped to consider exactly how many books were amassed in just one store. Indeed, he took such things for granted. He gazed lightly at the lines of books, until he finally tugged Rukia's hand, beckoning her to follow. "We have time."

Rukia tore her gaze away, to frown questioningly up at him. "Time? What's going on later?"

Ichigo shrugged. "Oh. Nothing big. We're having dinner with my family."

Rukia's immediate shock that he had willingly arranged such a meeting was replaced with the dread of—

"…Does Katobeto know of this?"

"Well, no, why the hell should he?"

"Because…he'll probably…I don't know, grade us on it or something. You know how he is. He's insane."

Ichigo grinned. "Exactly why we don't tell him."

-----

Katobeto laughed. True, last night, he had been outwitted by some kind of hallucinogenic, but tonight he would have his revenge. The bug he had planted beforehand was working perfectly; as was the little AI program he had inserted to keep track of certain events.

He snickered. Right now, in fact, he knew they were…

…Not in…the house?

Damn! It must have been that annoying AI! It must have found his little program and gotten rid of it!

After a moment's irritation, he relaxed into his chair.

What now?

----

"Are you done yet?"

"Hush. This is a good part." Rukia turned the page quickly, and gasped. "I can't believe he did that."

Out of curiosity, he leaned over her shoulder to get a better look.

"I can't believe she did that!" She continued.

His eyebrows rose in surprise. "I thought you were into horror." He never bought romantic manga…besides, Karin always bought the latest anyway.

…Not that he routinely checked or read Karin's manga.

Rukia shrugged. "Keeping an open mind. It's all good."

Truthfully, he had never met anyone more…complex than the dark-haired girl sitting next to him. Ichigo ran a hand through bright hair. "I've never seen anyone read a novel and five manga in the space of an hour and a half. Do you even remember anything you read?"

Rukia nodded absently. Ichigo's comments weren't that important at the moment. Exactly what the hell this moron on paper was thinking, however…

He sighed. "Hurry up and pick a couple. We need to go."

Rukia seemed to gain focus for a second. "Pick a couple?"

"Yeah. Preferably four." He glared at an attendant. Back off. We're going already!

Rukia stared at the manga strewn around her with a sense of loss. "…Can we come back tomorrow?"

-----

Well, that did it. Ichigo was officially broke. Not just broke as in 'goodbye luxuries', but broke as in 'goodbye lunch'…

…For the next…month or two?

And what? Rukia's obviously pleased expression was supposed to make everything okay?

Despite appearances, Ichigo was a very practical guy.

You can't eat Rukia's smile.

And yet, he took a glance, just to see if it really was worth it.

The girl in question looked up at him, and offered a true grin. One that knew she had been silly; yet it lacked any trace of regret.

It floored him; she was free of the shadows that occasionally marred her face, her eyes bright and cheerful.

That's how it should be. He really just wanted to see Rukia like this, carefree.

Ichigo couldn't help but scoff lightly, a small smile already forming on his face. He diverted his gaze to the setting sun, suddenly aware that Rukia was slipping her hand to entwine with his.

He shifted, so that the clothes and books and manga they had bought were less of a burden.

…Well, whatever. Food wasn't that important anyway. After all, buying eight manga in a day was all right, considering he never really spent money on anything else.

And the clothes were worth it, despite that horrendously embarrassing—

"Are we going to walk all the way? Are we taking a taxi? You haven't let me go on the train yet, you know." Her questions were followed with a curiously accusatory glare.

Ichigo stared up at the fall sky. "It's a nice day for a walk though."

Rukia paused, before agreeing. "Yeah. It is…"

-----

"We're home."

Welcome back, Sir, Madame. I trust you both had an enjoyable time?

Rukia hummed spiritedly to herself, while Ichigo closed the door with his foot. "Somehow, yes." He replied.

I've had a very interesting time playing with this external AI I found in my System MAIN. He's a very good shot.

Ichigo scratched his head. "An external AI?"

Oh yes. He was quite impolite when I found him, so I ran a bit of my own programming through him. He's quite the gentlebot now.

Rukia digested this with a little difficulty. "So, there's another AI like you, in you? And he came from…?"

Oh. He's owned by Katobeto-Sensei. But he declares that he no longer wishes to spy on you.

Ichigo blinked. "Oh. That's nice."

Rukia nodded her accent, and jogged quickly up the stairs.

Ichigo was still a little floored by the fact that he was being spied on.

-----

"Okay, we have thirty minutes, right? Get to it."

"Later." Ichigo muttered.

Rukia hoped onto the bed and grabbed his ear between her finger and thumb. "NOW."

"Okay. OKAY!" Ichigo cried out.

She watched as he sat in his desk, periodically glancing up from her manga. "Don't you have any to do?" He asked irritably.

"Unlike you, I prefer NOT to procrastinate my work."

"Oh. Really?"

Rukia glared at him arrogantly, sniffing at his sarcastic tone of voice. "Yes, really." She put the manga down. "I'm going to get ready. When I come out, I expect all that to be done."

Ichigo grumbled an affirmative.

-----

…A Kuchiki wouldn't have behaved the way you did.

"I had fun." She muttered. "Leave me be."

She embraced the hot water. Telling off your inner voice was really very relaxing…

-----

"Ne, Karin-chan! Help me!" cried Yuzu desperately.

Karin arched an eyebrow. "With what?"

"There are a hundred and one things that I need to do before Ichi-nii and Rukia-neechan get here!

Karin blew a stray hair out of her vision. "Oh? Like what?"

"Like…the curtains! I haven't washed the curtains and—"

Karin rolled her eyes. "I doubt Kuchiki-san will criticize you over curtains you washed last week."

"—And then the laundry isn't done—"

"You're being silly. Why would Kuchiki-san care about our laundry?"

"—And Daddy is trying to cook dessert!"

"…Okay. Now you've given me a compelling reason to get off this couch."

-----

"What…is THAT?"

"Dessert. Or most of it. I'll need to make another one."

Isshin had to make another one because he had managed to burn half a Turkey.

Karin slapped her forehead. "THAT is NOT dessert! THAT is CHARCOAL!" She groaned. "And why the hell are you making TURKEY for DESSERT!"

Isshin seemed to be confused at Karin's outburst. "I like turkey. Besides, it's not done yet. I need to add the ice-cream, after I make another…"

Karin gripped the wall, to keep steady. The kitchen was a war zone.

Yuzu moaned.

-----

Kon was not amused.

True, he didn't need to eat.

True, what he basically did all day was fool around in Ichigo's room.

True, again, that he would in fact, contribute nothing but the occasional joke and endless torment for his two hosts.

But that didn't mean they could just LEAVE him here! This place was a nuthouse! A prison!

And Yuzu was one scary warden.

He attempted, once again, to break free of the belts that strapped him to a miniature baby carriage. "When I get out of here…." invigorated by thoughts of revenge, he struggled against his bonds.

He collapsed shortly after, sobbing, "…If I get out of here…!"

-----

"Hey. You okay?"

Startled out of her reverie, Rukia jumped at Ichigo's question. "…I'm fine!"

Ichigo rolled his eyes. It was a cool night, and Rukia had selected one of the dresses they had bought today…the one he liked best, though she seemed to look okay with anything she wore.

"Fine, huh?" He muttered disbelievingly. "Okay, spill. What's up?"

Rukia didn't notice her fingers playing with the hem of her skirt. "I'm fine!" She maintained.

"Do me favour." He said, stopping their progress a few feet from the clinic. "…Don't act."

Rukia blinked incomprehensively. "…Don't…act?"

"Yeah. Don't act."

Rukia swallowed. "Why?"

Because, I want them to see you, the way I see you. "Because you being natural is best. They smell fear."

Rukia frowned, her curious expression replaced with an angry one. "You…!"

But Ichigo had already left her side, and knocked on his own door…only to have Karin jerk it open. "Ichi-nii!" She cried. "Kuchiki-san!" She paused for a moment to catch her breath, before putting on a strained smile. "…Come in."

-----

With Karin on his left and Yuzu on his right, Isshin behaved reasonably well.

Reasonably well…despite being Isshin.

"Rukia-chan? When am I going to have grandchildren?"

Rukia choked on her food, about the same time Ichigo cracked the glass in his hand. Karin winced. Plastic next time. Plastic.

Yuzu let out a hollow laugh. "Daddy, Onii-chan isn't really married yet, remember? Besides, he's not ready for that yet…" She trailed off, to stare at Ichigo, her eyes big and watery. "…You're not ready for that yet, right Ichi-nii?"

"On the contrary, Yuzu! I hope that Ichigo and Rukia-chan have consummated—"

"So, what exactly do you two have to do to earn your grade?" Karin cut in leisurely. "I'm curious."

Ichigo glanced around conspiratorially, suddenly getting up to check behind a nearby flowerpot.

Rukia leaned forward on her elbows, and with a deadpan expression replied, "We don't really know."

Karin opened her mouth to say something, but closed it quickly. After a pause she tried again. "What do you mean, you don't know?"

Ichigo sat down. "The teacher is a lunatic. He's insane. I have no idea how the hell he's grading us."

Rukia shrugged. "We have to write reports each night…" She glared at Ichigo. "…And I have a feeling that that will play a big part…"

Isshin's expression turned deadly serious. "This sensei…what is his name?"

Ichigo blinked. "Pops?"

"Well, if he's preventing you from consummating—" Rukia's elbow slipped, and Ichigo growled angrily at his father, who laughed heartily. "Oh yes, I wonder if the turkey is done?"

Karin and Yuzu paled. "You made another one?"

"Of course I did. Since the oven ruined the last one, I popped it in the microwave with the potatoes and eggs…"

Karin groaned, as Yuzu and Ichigo ran into the Kitchen.

"Is it a family recipe?" Asked Rukia, oblivious to Ichigo's swearing and Yuzu's frantic cries.

"Well…it's my recipe. The turkey goes with ice-cream, but I thought of potatoes and eggs this afternoon."

Rukia nodded. "I like ice-cream."

Isshin beamed. "Really? So do I! That's how I thought of it! Actually, my dear wife, bless her, told me that it had a unique taste…"

Karin just took a long leisurely sip form her glass.

-----

"…Onii-chan…"

"Yeah?"

"…Can you and Rukia-neechan help clean up later?"

"Yeah." He picked wiped a bit of the mess of his face. "Why is it that it exploded AFTER we opened the damn door?"

Yuzu shrugged helplessly.

-----

"Rukia-chan, do you have any previous experience in relationships?"

Rukia flushed, a little indignantly. "Ah…what kind of relationships?"

Karin elbowed her father. "Dad. Quit it."

Isshin face fell comically. "I just want to know!"

Rukia swallowed. "Ah, well, no, I haven't had any real experience…"

Isshin stared incredulously. "So does that mean…Ichigo was your first?"

First WHAT? FIRST WHAT? Rukia swallowed, and went with a vague "I suppose."

She stared back at two gaping goldfish. "…What did I say?"

------

"…What did you say?"

"I don't really know."

"No really, Rukia. I need to know what you said." He asked roughly, scrubbing a plate vigorously.

"I don't know!" She slammed a plate into the pile so hard that Ichigo was worried that it may have cracked. "I…obviously said something stupid."

Ichigo turned the tap off. "Well, whatever." If he weren't so worried at what his father would think and say to OTHER PEOPLE from now on, he'd note Rukia's truly desolate expression.

Her pale face was taught with worry, and she clenched a fist to her side angrily. "I knew this was a bad idea. I should have acted, should have rehearsed."

Ichigo growled. "Stop that. You're being an idiot. You should watch what you—"

Rukia turned on him angrily. "You're the one who told me to act natural!"

"Yeah, I did! You have a problem with that?"

"…I should have known! I should have done what I knew was right!"

Ichigo couldn't help but find the need to defend his choice…without telling the truth. "Yeah, you're always right. You say you're ten times older, but you sure as hell—"

Rukia flushed, angrily, rising fury clouding her judgement. A Kuchiki wouldn't have acted the way I did… "What the hell do you know? I've suffered more in my lifetime than you could ever imagine!"

Ichigo paused, shocked at her outburst. Then, he rose to the bait. "Suffering! I've had my share of suffering! And how am I supposed to know anything about you, when you always close yourself off!"

"Bullshit! You're such a damn hypocrite! I've opened myself more to you than anyone else! It's YOU who's closed yourself off!" She hissed.

Ichigo glared angrily, about to retort, when he heard Karin's voice. "Hey, guys, come here!"

Rukia wouldn't meet his gaze, and instead stormed off in the direction of Karin's voice. Ichigo ran a hand through his hair irritably. "What the hell is your problem?" He asked the empty air.

-----

"I have but one, very simple question."

Ichigo nodded. "Shoot." He muttered, glaring at Rukia, who had her fake smile back on again.

"When am I going to have grandchildren?"

Ichigo groaned. "Never, if you keep this up!"

Isshin frowned. "But…"

"We aren't married. We aren't even IN a relationship. This is a PROJECT. Hell, the last rule IS no se—" Rukia stomped hard on Ichigo's foot. "—Ow."

An uneasy silence settled over the group. "…How about dessert, then?" Isshin asked.

-----

"Hey, you and Ichi-nii having a fight?"

Rukia's smile slipped fractionally, but she managed a vague sound of confusion. She relaxed into the couch.

Karin blinked at her sudden dip in IQ, but pressed on, a little hesitant about talking so frankly with a girl she barely knew…

Or rather…with a girl that she had known for weeks, but never really talked to…

Yes, Karin was quite aware that Rukia was the girl that Ichigo had been hanging around with lately, and, like any good little sister, she was curious about the nature of their relationship.

"He's pretty thick-skulled, and always worried about his appearance, but deep down inside, he's still Ichi-nii."

Rukia paused at this. "I guess…he is frustratingly stubborn…I…can't seem to get through to him sometimes…"

Karin grinned. "That's Ichi for you. He's really sweet sometimes, you know."

Rukia sighed. "I know that."

This time, Karin cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "You do?"

"Well…yeah. He's…he can be really doting sometimes…" Rukia muttered, aware of Karin's stare.

"Oh." Karin stared, wondering how anyone out of her family could draw to a conclusion like that. "Okay."

Rukia fidgeted for a while, before deciding it was safe to ask Karin about what she had told Isshin and her. "I…I said something stupid…to your dad, didn't I, Karin-chan?"

Karin scoffed. "Well, Dad kinda took it the wrong way when you said that Ichi was your first."

"…I see…" She didn't, really.

"Yeah. He's like that. Always obsessed over…stuff like that. He's got pictures and videos of first everything…"

It looked like Karin didn't get it, either.

Karin continued. "But I don't see what the big deal is, about this."

Rukia shrugged. "Me neither. Surely, you've had many firsts."

"Sure I have, heck, just yesterday…"

Rukia frowned. "But you know…er…which 'first' was he referring to?"

"…I thought you knew."

"I thought you did."

"Well, I don't. That's why I asked you."

"…Didn't I ask you?"

They bought paused for a while, slow and easy smiles growing, as an understanding was reached. "Here we go!" Yuzu interrupted, carrying three bowls of ice cream.

Rukia blinked. "This is…strawberry?"

"Yeah. We have to hide it 'cause Ichi-nii hates strawberry."

Yuzu giggled, sitting down next to Rukia. "Yep! But since he's helping Dad with the kitchen, we can eat all we want." She beamed good-naturedly at Rukia. "I hope Ichi has been nice to you."

Rukia shrugged. "Well…I guess so…"

Yuzu eyed her critically, before nodding, seemingly satisfied. "…What's your hometown like, Rukia-neechan?"

Rukia couldn't help but smile at the suffix. "Well…it's a lot different…in comparison to here."

"Oh. Where is it exactly?"

"Oh…far away, I guess."

Karin fit in a question of her own. "Any family?"

Rukia paused. "…Not really. I…have a step-brother."

Yuzu clapped her hands enthusiastically. "You have an older brother? That's great!"

-----

"The girls like her, you know." Isshin commented, watching as Ichigo paused in his cleaning in an attempt to catch a bit of their conversation. He straightened at his father's words.

"I guess." He moved to the sink.

"Well, what do YOU think of her?" Isshin asked, mopping the floor.

Ichigo shrugged. "Not sure."

"Hey! A man needs to take charge or—"

"—Whatever. This is just a project anyway." Sooner or later, I'll force down all this crap that I've been feeling lately…

"Ah, but you're enjoying yourself, aren't you?"

Ichigo snorted. "Bull. I've had the most crap luck—"

"Ichigo," Isshin began, ceasing his mopping. "You're enjoying yourself, aren't you?"

Ichigo sighed, memories of the week beginning to weigh down his shield of indifference. "Kind of. Some parts were exceptionally bitchy…" And others…like that rainy night…were really—

"But it doesn't matter."

Isshin raised an eyebrow at that. "Why not?"

"'Cause." Ichigo replied, lamely.

"Cause you're a wimp."

Ichigo stared at him oddly. "I think that maybe, just maybe, you're insane."

"Insane? On the contrary, I'm perfectly right. If you truly desire something, with perseverance and the power of love, YOU CAN PREVAIL!"

Ichigo pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache coming fast. "…How can ANYONE say that with a straight face?"

Isshin continued, oblivious to his son's aggravation, slamming one foot onto a stool in the classic 'I proclaim' pose. "YES! WITH THE POWER OF LOVE!"

-----

"Good night! Take care of Rukia-neechan, Ichi!" Yuzu shouted happily.

Karin grinned. "When you come back, bring Onee-san with you, okay?" Rukia couldn't help a happy flush from spreading across her face.

Isshin gave her a hug and whispered very quickly – "Grandchildren. Grandchildren. Don't forget. And you may need to be a bit more aggressive…"

Ichigo grabbed his father by the back of the shirt, but was enveloped in a hug. "OI!"

"My little boy is a man!"

"Why don't YOU be a man?"

-----

"…Things turned out okay, Rukia." Ichigo said, after a long period of silence. Rukia nodded, lightly, but said nothing. Ichigo sighed, glaring at ground, and the occasional stray dog. He couldn't for the life of him, figure out what was making her so testy. After enjoying the cool breeze of the night for a moment or two, he tried again. "…I was right, you know. They liked you."

Rukia jerked, and after a moment's hesitation, a soft smile formed on her features. "I guess."

Ichigo took this as a very good sign. "So…about what happened in the kitchen…you want to talk about it?"

She glanced at him, briefly, out of the corner of her eye, before going back to staring at the path in front of them flatly. "Not really."

Ichigo sighed. "Look, what I said…I wasn't thinking."

Rukia snorted. "Which happens often."

"Hey! I'm trying to apologize here! You're making it difficult to—"

Rukia slowed to a stop. "…Maybe I am…" Ichigo eyed her warily. "…What's over there?" She asked, looking over to a fairly dark area. Despite it being a forest, she could see stone paths, and architecture that was comfortingly familiar…

"Shrine grounds. And a park next to it." The river to their left had cut across them, into the forest to the right. The road ahead had become a stone arch, a bridge.

"Park? Where they put the vehicles? Or the one where people have picnics?" She leaned against the stone when they had reached it, not too surprised to see her own reflection staring back at her, the moon at her back.

"…Why? You want to have a picnic?"

"Maybe…"

"Then we'll have a picnic…under two conditions."

It was Rukia's turn to eye him warily. "What?"

He moved closer, and Rukia found herself backing against stone. Her surprise was momentary. She sent him a flat look that said Try anything, and I'll kick you where you'll feel it.

"One, you tell me why you made such a big deal out of tonight."

Rukia sputtered. Ichigo arched an eyebrow. "Hurry up."

Rukia shoved him away, and went to the other side of the bridge. The water reflected the moon. "…It's stupid, but…I…" She sighed. "I just wanted them to like me…" Ichigo remained silent, choosing to listen, rather than blurt out a what's not to like? "…I never had a family that liked me…always screwed things up somehow. Decided that…you know…" She exhaled. "…Maybe it was me." Ichigo embraced Rukia from behind, allowing himself the little display of affection. She needs it…"Maybe it was my fault." She continued. "Even when the Kuchiki adopted me…"

"You're always blaming yourself," he muttered. Rukia jerked, as if she'd been hit.

She laughed, hollowly. "Please. You said it yourself…how I am…"

"I find it appealing…" He swallowed. "…Sometimes…" Shut up. Shut up, now.

Rukia felt the heat overtake her face. "W-What…?" She was suddenly aware of his proximity….

He pushed away quickly. "…Anyway…."

"…Yeah…" She mumbled.

The silence was getting to him. "You know…Karin and Yuzu like you a lot…and my Pops too…" Rukia glanced at him quizzically. "…Maybe you don't need to hide, from now on. You can act like you're visiting…or something. In the daytime, at least."

Rukia gazed up at him, surprise etched in her face. "Are you sure—"

"What? You think I'm lying when I say that they like you? Moron." He grinned toothily at her. Rukia couldn't help but smile back.

"…Let's go home." She said, as she slipped her hand into his. "…Oh, wait. What's the second condition?"

"Oh yeah…uh…I wanted to read the manga you bought today…" He shrugged embarrassedly at Rukia's dubious expression. "…Keep an open mind, right?" His eyebrows arched as he saw Rukia hide a growing laugh behind her hand.

"…I don't see what's so funny…!"

Tsuzuku

Isshin's got a point. He married Masaki-san, didn't he?