LC333: Thirteen days to write this chapter. That's the fastest I've ever updated. Time to make Ichiruki things happen. This chapter's fluffish so tell me what you think.

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen

"There it is!" Yuzu exclaimed.

A huge white bunny was mounted at the top of the brick building with a sash on its shoulders. The words 'Chappy Country' were written on the sash.

Ichigo and Karin groaned.

The moment the car stopped Yuzu and I let out a joy of glee that echoed in the car.

"Chappy Country!" Yuzu cheered.

Karin huffed as she clicked her seatbelt off. "I can't believe you're making me do this."

"I'm not going to suffer alone." Ichigo tapped his fingers on the door of the car, looking over at me.

I smiled brightly at him. "Chappy Country."

"Child," he murmured, getting out of the car.

I brushed his comment off and stepped onto the sidewalk. The adrenaline from excitement was the only thing keeping me awake. I hardly slept last night, too exhausted from my conversation with Isshin last night. My eyes would begin to close then I would catch the light reflecting off of Sode no Shirayuki.

Ichigo's eyes widened, his voice a velvet whisper. "So he gave her to you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Her?"

"Sode no Shirayuki."

I touched the snowflake tsuba with my fingers.

Sleeve of white snow.

"She's beautiful."

How could something so pure looking be used to kill? Why would I have to stain this beauty with red?

"I thought he was holding onto it until-"

When he stopped, I looked up at him. He shifted his gaze away from the blade to me. His eyes engrossed on mine, unwavering, searching. Searching for what?

"Until?" I asked.

He shook his head. "She's part of a set." Ichigo responded.

A set? "So her other half is?"

"Is with its owner." He rubbed his thumb on the blade.

I grabbed it tighter in my arm, my muscles feeling the weight, the fit perfect for my hand.

"Sode no Shirayuki."

"Sleeping Shorty!"

I frowned at Ichigo. "Don't ruin this day for me, Kurosaki!"

Now he frowned. "Ichigo." His voice was assertive. "I-chi-go."

"Ichigo." I said.

The assertiveness also dropped from his body language.

"Ichi-nii, hurry up!" Yuzu held the door open for us to enter.

"Let's get this over with." Ichigo grabbed my arm and led me inside.

"Where's the candy?" Karin asked as she gazed around the store.

I looked around the cream colored store. Little kids were running around carrying a Chappy plush. Several sales clerks were ringing up the charges from the customers, lines reaching from one end of the store to another.

Yuzu looked at the directory. "Let's see… The first floor-"

"There's another floor?" Ichigo asked with disdain, his eye twitching.

I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply, hearing Yuzu mention where clothes could be located. I could hear the whirring of machines, the sound of people walking around, the racing heartbeats. I heard steps from up above where the whirring increased until a certain scent hit me. Sweet and orange flavor.

"Rukia?"

I opened my eyes to Ichigo looking at me with concern.

"Upstairs with the Make-A-Chappy." Yuzu and I spoke together.

"Cool." Karin went to the stairs, Yuzu following her.

I looked at Ichigo and shrugged, "Lucky guess."

I trailed behind the two but stopped when I didn't hear Ichigo follow. He didn't seem that convinced. I reached for his arm and grabbed his shirt sleeve, making him follow me. I could feel his eyes staring at the back of my head.

"Stare all you want, it won't make time go faster." I informed him.

"Let's make a Chappy, Ruki-nee!" Yuzu exclaimed, taking my free hand and leading me to the building station.

I went to reach for the deflated Chappy's in the bin but stopped. There were so many different patterns. Stripes, polka-dots, plaid, paisley, solid, checkered, chevron, floral, but where was classic?

"Did you find one, Ruki-nee?" Yuzu asked, a floral one in her hands.

I shook my head. "Do you see the classic print anywhere?"

Yuzu shook her head. "Nope."

"You could help look, you know." Karin said as she stood next to Ichigo, licking a Chappy Popsicle and holding a bag of candy.

Ichigo shook his head. "Nope."

I glared at him. "I'll make you bring me here every day until I find one."

"Like you would really do…" his voice trailed off as he caught the seriousness in my expression coupled with the determined look in my eyes.

Karin smirked as Ichigo trudged over to help me look through the bin.

"Don't you want one, Karin-chan?" Yuzu asked, walking away to the stuffing station.

Karin shook her head, raising the bags of candy she had, following after her. "I have what I need."

"Do you see anything yet?" I asked as moved a paisley one to the corner of the bin.

Ichigo had a pile of his own, adding another floral to the mix. "Not yet. Dumb rabbit."

I sighed, too frustrated to comment on his insult to Chappy. "I give up." I walked over to Ichigo and reached for the orange and white chevron he held. Its fabric felt like silk. "This one will do."

"Stuff it."

"What?" I asked, mildly offended.

Ichigo placed his hand on the small of my back, leading me to a machine with cotton fluff in it. "Stuff it."

"Oh."

I stood up on my tip-toes, holding the Chappy up to where the stuffing was coming out. It was too far out of my grasp. Ichigo took it out of my hands and held it to the machine, Chappy ballooning with life and handed it back.

I hugged Chappy tightly, its cuteness making me forget my frustration. "Thank you!" I beamed at him brightly.

He looked at me with surprised before it morphed into a warm smile. "Let's go sew it together."

We walked over to where Yuzu and Karin were sewing hers together. "We saved you a seat." Karin patted the yellow bench beside her.

I sat down and began to thread the needle with white thread.

"Ow." Yuzu shook her hand, soothing her thumb.

No blood.

"Give me it." Ichigo took it from her, narrowing his eyes in deep focus. He held the needle between his right thumb and index finger and made a stitch. I turned back to mine, and quickly made four stitches.

"Damn needle" Ichigo said under his breath, moving his hand faster. "Ow." He said a moment later.

I relaxed and went back to focusing on my rabbit and quickly made the rest of the stitches.

"You work fast." Karin took Chappy in her hands and looked at all the stitching.

"I learned at an early age." I responded.

"Did the Kuchiki Clan require you to learn feminine crafts?" Karin asked.

I shook my head. "Clothes were something my sister and I couldn't really afford so we had to learn to make them last as long as we could."

"Your sister?" Yuzu asked.

I nodded. "She tried to the best of her ability to take care of me, but sometimes things are still rough."

"She's not… around anymore, is she?" Karin asked.

"No." I looked back down at Chappy's smiling face and rubbed my thumb on its ear.

"Finished." Ichigo handed it back to his sister.

Yuzu hugged it tightly. "Let's go pick up an outfit for it."

Ichigo sighed deeply. "We're never going to leave."

I elbowed him.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Your sisters are enjoying this." I looked over to Karin and Yuzu, Yuzu suggesting that she would dress it like her sister and Karin refusing. Yuzu teased her a bit more and began to laugh, Karin threatening to tear Chappy into two.

Ichigo smiled as Karin and Yuzu laughed.

"Dress it like Ichi-nii!" Karin laughed louder, holding up a little plaid shirt similar to the red one Ichigo was wearing.

"What?" Ichigo shot out of his seat and ran over to his sisters, trying to stop them.

Yuzu held up small black jeans like the one Ichigo was wearing and began to put them on Chappy.

I snorted and covered my face with my hand.

"Yuzu!" Ichigo reached for Chappy as Yuzu ran to the other end of the display. Karin ran behind him and jumped onto his back and latched her arms around his neck for support.

My body shook with laughter.

"Karin!"

"Quick, put the shirt on Chappy!"

I ran over to the stand and pulled an accessory off the rack and held it up. "Don't forget the beanie!"

"Rukia!" Ichigo looked at me with dismay.

I laughed louder and rushed to Yuzu.

Yuzu held her Chappy to me and I secured the hat onto it's head.

"There!" Yuzu held it up. "It's Chappy-nii!"

Ichigo's body relaxed in defeat. Karin jumped off and grabbed Chappy-nii and held it to his face.

"Ichigo," she spoke in a deep voice, "I am your twin. Ha-ha-ha-ha."

He ran a hand through his orange locks before he looked over to me.

I shrugged, trying to contain my laughter. "Long live Chappy-nii."

He groaned.

"What about you, Rukia?" Karin asked. "Going to dress him like Ichi-nii?"

I looked at my Chappy and then to Ichigo. He shook his head vigorously. "Nope. Just a black kimono will do."

Ichigo sighed of relief. "Then let's get it so we can leave already."

Yuzu and I explored the store afterwards - much to the disappointment of Karin and Ichigo. Karin with Yuzu and Ichigo with me. Ichigo was attempting to persuade Karin on letting him have some of her candy ("If I don't have some sugar, the boredom will end me!") when I spotted a pair of Chappy ears. I grabbed them and snuck behind Ichigo, Karin was about to give in when she threw me a glance and smirked, realizing my plan.

"Fine." Karin agreed.

Ichigo reached for the bag and I moved in.

"On one condition."

I lurched forward and placed them onto his head.

"Wha-?"

He turned to see me smirking behind him.

"What did you do?" he asked.

I pointed to his head. He touched his hair and looked into the full length mirror next to him.

"HELL NO!"

"Say cheese!"

"Yuzu don't!"

There was a bright flash and Yuzu giggled. "You look nice, Chappy-nii."

Karin smiled. "That's black mail material."

There was a slight growl from Ichigo.

"Wait until we show your friends." Karin commented.

"Imagine what Inoue-san, Sado-kun, Arisawa-san are going to think when they see this." Yuzu added.

Ichigo threw the ears off, where they bounced off a Chappy mannequin and fell to the floor. "Don't show them that!"

"Ishida-san will love this." Karin added.

"That bastard!"

"Wait until they show Isshin-san." I mused darkly.

Karin and Yuzu's eyes widened brightly. Ichigo's eyes widened at the possibility of what could happen.

"Delete it!" Ichigo demanded and reached for the phone. Karin took it from Yuzu and ran.

"Send me a copy!" I shouted as the two ran in the store.

"More Chappy shopping?"

"More Chappy shopping."

An hour and one broken Chappy display later we were standing in the line to pay for the items we had chosen. I had Shinigami Chappy in the crook of my arm, looking at the picture of Ichigo in Chappy ears.

"That's Christmas card worthy." I told him.

"Wait until I get an embarrassing picture of you." He whispered.

"That does not exist."

"Sounds like a challenge." He smirked at me.

I smirked back. "Maybe it is."

He swirled the tea Yuzu had gotten him as an apology, his face was contemplative. "Then I plan on winning."

I smiled at him.

"Next!"

We went to the counter and Karin placed her candy onto the counter followed by the items Yuzu and I had chosen. As the sales person scanned the bar codes, our Chappys were placed last.

She grabbed Chappy-nii and looked up at Ichigo. Recognizing who it was modeled after, she looked up at him and smirked, an almost laugh passing through her lips.

Ichigo scowled. "Just scan it."

Her laugh died away and she placed Chappy-nii into a clear box and looked at my Chappy with a smile. "I didn't know we had any in this color."

"Orange and white?" I asked.

She nodded. "Orange isn't a bestselling color."

I looked at my Chappy.

"Why did you pick it?" the sales lady asked as she scanned Chappy and placed it in a white box like Yuzu's. The sales lady's eyes shifted from Chappy to me.

I smiled. "Orange is my favorite color."

There was a small gasp.

I looked back and over to Yuzu. She had a blush on her face, hands covering her lips.

I followed her gaze, noticing Karin's wide eyed look. Something in her eyes changed.

My eyes stopped at Ichigo. His face wasn't red, but he didn't move. My eyes moved to his hair which looked brighter in fluorescent lighting.

Oh.

I moved my gaze back to his face.

His eyes moved onto mine, neither one of us saying a word.

"That'll be fifty-five dollars and eighty-three cents."

Absent mindedly, I handed a card to the sales lady and barely registered walking out of the store and stepping into the car, Karin and Yuzu the only two who seemed to have resumed a conversation. I remember hearing the click of my closed door, but there wasn't a conscious recognition yet.

I grabbed my seatbelt and tried to fasten it but it kept on sliding and missing. I looked down at it and grasped both pieces tighter. Still, I missed.

"Here."

Ichigo's voice.

"Why are you having such a hard time doing this?" he asked.

I shrugged.

"You're supposed to do it like this."

He placed left hand on my right and brought it back to the bottom piece. His right hand landed on my left.

All I could notice was Ichigo.

The tune of his heart. The softness of his hands. The forte of his eyes. The kindness in his tone. The warmth of his personality. The aura of bliss he was radiating.

Ichigo.

Ichigo Ichigo Ichigo.

Click!

My eyes focused on the seatbelt, noticing our hands were still together.

The two pieces were together.

"Thank you." I looked up at Ichigo.

"Don't mention it." He smiled.

And the world came back into focus.

Ichigo let go and started the car and we were off again.

"Ichi-nii, how about we get some food?" Karin asked.

"You've been eating for an hour."

"Candy isn't food. And besides," she held up her candy bag, "it's gone."

Ichigo sighed. "Fine. We'll get some pizza or something."

The ride was quiet again until Yuzu broke the silence.

"What made you change your mind about coming, Karin-chan?"

Karin let out a deep sigh. "Nothing."

"Karin-chan."

"Okay, the candy."

"No, that's not why either."

Karin's heart rate spiked slightly.

"Yes, it is."

Yuzu's voice was coy. "Or is it because you're avoiding Hitsugaya-san?"

"Toshiro?" Ichigo's voice rang. "What do you have with Toshiro?"

"Nothing," she replied defensively.

"They went out for ice cream yesterday after practice." Yuzu responded.

"Yuzu!"

"Since when?" Ichigo asked.

"Since-"

"Don't worry about it." Karin cut off Yuzu.

Ichigo scowled. "Gotta have a talk with that kid."

"Leave him alone Ichi-nii." Karin protested.

He scoffed, his attention back on the road.

"Do all brother's act like this?"

"Only when their sisters start to date." Yuzu responded.

"I'm sure your brother acts the same way." Ichigo spoke.

"Nii-sama wouldn't really care." Besides, dating was hard enough as a human, finding someone who would live forever wasn't easily found.

The car turned to the left onto a vacant road and accelerated.

"So he wouldn't care when you went on dates?" Yuzu asked.

I stared at the road-

"I don't really-"

- and then-

"The road, Ichi-nii!" The twins screamed.

-something jumped in the front at an alarmingly fast rate and hit the car.

The car skidded to the right.

I pressed my body back into the seat, grabbing the door with one hand and my seat belt with the other, and looked out to see what had hit us.

And I couldn't believe it.

He smirked as he saw the car start to roll over. He seemed glad at what he had done. Then his smirk fell when he saw me look at him.

He had hit us.

Kaien-dono.