"Um... Kurosaki?" She shifted nervously as she addressed him.
"Hmm? Oh. You're in my calculus class, right?" Ichigo slowed his walk to look behind him. The girl sped up to walk beside him.
"That's right! My name is Yuki. So... I am having some trouble in calculus and it seems to come to you so naturally... I was wondering if maybe you could tutor me... Privately?" The girl blushed as she looked up hopefully at the orange haired man.
"Tutor? I'm probably not the best person. Aren't there volunteers for that?" Ichigo continued walking, not sparing another glance at the girl.
"There are, but they only offer help during certain hours... I could meet you where ever you want... My dorm... Your apartment..." Yuki continued gazing longingly up at him.
"You can schedule time with the tutors any time. They're flexible. I don't have time after class, working, and homework." Ichigo shook his head and readjusted his backpack strap on his shoulder.
Yuki sighed and dropped her head. It was like trying to flirt with a brick wall. A very obtuse brick wall at that. No wonder she had not seen any women with the otherwise perfect man. She stumbled back as she walked into his back. He had stopped. She looked up, hoping he had finally acknowledged what she was suggesting. She frowned when she saw he was focused several yards down the sidewalk.
Suddenly, he was sprinting away from her, leaving her to slowly understand what was happening.
"Rukia!" Ichigo's normal scowl had been replaced by an excited grin as he scooped a short, dark haired girl up in his arms and held her to him. She returned the embrace and buried her smiling face hin his shoulder. Yuki could only stare.
"Ichigo!" Rukia straightened her dress as she regained her feet. "I missed you."
"I missed you too. I didn't think I would see you again until Christmas! How did you get approval to visit me here?"
"I'm actually on an extended assignment from the Thirteenth Division. I'll be stationed here for... just short of four years, as it happens. Strange, isn't that the same length of time your human academy takes?"
"It is, actually." Ichigo felt another presence behind him and turned to find Yuki standing there, glaring daggers at Rukia.
"Who's she?" Rukia raised an eyebrow.
"Some girl who wants tutoring in Chemistry. No wait, Calculus." Ichigo scratched his head.
"Oh. I can tutor her instead. I know you are going to be busy working with your family. Calculus, at least, is something I picked up in the last year." Rukia offered. Yukia scowled harder.
"No thank you... I think I will just see one of the class tutors... You two seem to know each other."
"Yeah. We... We have been through a lot together." Ichigo smiled down at the black haired Shinigami.
"I see..." Yuki turned and walked away from the man, back toward the academic buildings.
"She likes you." Rukia smirked. Ichigo blinked.
"Really?" Ichigo watched the girl go, then shrugged. "Well, she'll find someone else."
"She'll have to. I don't plan on sharing you." She slipped her hand into his. "Do you have time to come see my apartment? My brother insisted I have suitable accommodation while I am here."
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