Hello lovely readers! Sorry this chapter took a little longer to get out. I got super sick over Thanksgiving and then I had to come back to school and do finals and then I had to drive half way across the country in that crazy blizzard and yeah, my life has been insane lately. BUT, I am officially on Christmas break until the first week of January which should hopefully give me plenty of time to write. YAY! Hope you guys like the chapter!

"I'm worried about you," Rukia said as she grabbed one of the large coffee pots and poured the scalding black liquid into a cardboard cup.

"Why are you worried about me?" Ichigo asked skeptically as he watched her from the other side of the counter.

"The amount of times you come to this damn coffee shop to get something is dangerous. You could caffeine overdose from all that coffee you drink."

"I didn't you know you were so concerned about my health," Ichigo said with a cocky smirk as he accepted his drink from the short, raven-haired girl that had completely overtaken most of his thoughts lately.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh shove it, Kurosaki. I'm just giving you a hard time," she as she got back to making other coffee drinks.

Ichigo shook his head at her attitude and then his expression grew serious. "Listen. I actually came here for a reason today."

"Shocking," she replied sarcastically.

He decided to ignore her sarcasm and continued. "I wanted to talk to you about that agreement we made last week," he said quietly, eyes scanning the shop for any eavesdroppers.

"You want to talk about that here?" she asked in an equally quiet voice.

"Well, not about specifics but I think we should arrange a meeting. There's someone who works at my company who I trust more than anyone there. I think he can help us with whatever we plan on doing."

"Oh. Okay then."

"What time do you get off work today?" he asked her.

"Around two."

"Okay, good. Do you think you can stop by my building after you're done?"

"I have classes in the afternoon. Plus, I don't think me waltzing into your building is a good idea. Most people in the business world who aren't as dense as you are know who I am. Someone's bound to recognize me and put the two of us together."

"Huh. I didn't think about that."

"Yeah, well, that's probably because you're an idiot."

Ichigo frowned and glared at her while she smugly blended a frappuccino. He thought her attitude would lighten up a little once they started to work together but she was just as feisty as she always was. It was bugging him that he had to put a significant hold on pursuing her in order to help make whatever they planned on doing work. His promise not to try anything was pretty difficult to keep when he looked at that smug smirk of hers.

"Whatever. Then if we can't meet at the company I guess you could just come over to my apartment once you're finished with your classes."

"Like hell I'm going over to your apartment. I know what happens there," she responded with a glare.

Ichigo sighed. "I'm not trying to lure you to my apartment so I can sleep with you. This is for business."

"Sure," Rukia answered, her expression all the evidence Ichigo needed to know she didn't believe him for a second.

"Look, let me know what time you're available and I'll tell my friend to get there early to make sure we're not there alone. Does that sound good to you?"

Rukia looked as though she was mulling over her options for a minute before she finally responded, "Fine. But I swear to god, Kurosaki, if you're trying something on me-,"

"You have my full permission to punch me in the balls."

"Oh, well in that case I kind of wish you would try something on me," she said with a smirk before swirling whipped cream on a frappuccino and placing it on the pick up counter.

Ichigo sighed. This was going to be more difficult than he originally anticipated. "Just tell me what time you're free and I'll be out of your hair."

"Hm, let's see. I'll want to get some food and maybe change after my classes so I can probably make it around seven."

"Alright, I'll make sure Uryuu is there well before then. See you later, Rukia," he said with a quick wave as he picked up his coffee and walked out the door. Rukia eyed him wearily as he did. It was unusual for him not to leave her with a cocky smirk or egotistical comment. Maybe he was actually serious about this whole thing and wasn't going to risk ruining everything because of his more base desires.

Rukia inwardly scoffed at that thought. No way was Kurosaki just going to ignore everything he so obviously felt toward her. He might be able to restrain himself a little bit but she still knew she couldn't let her guard down for a minute around him.

Unfortunately for her, work and classes went by way too fast and eventually it was time for her to head to Kurosaki's apartment. During the day she realized that she had no idea where the fool even lived and had to, despite her wishes, text him for his address. She wasn't surprised when she looked it up and found he lived on the top floor of one of the most expensive apartment buildings in the city. Figures.

She took the train to the more upscale part of town and walked the rest of the way to his building. She sighed as she stopped and looked up at the towering structure all the way to the large window at the top that was sure to be his apartment. Going over to his home was a step she did not want to take but it couldn't be avoided. If they wanted to be secretive about this whole plan of theirs, they had to take certain precautions.

After walking into the pristine lobby and talking to the woman at the front desk who buzzed Kurosaki letting him know she was there, she walked into the private elevator that would take her right to his door.

She stepped out of the elevator once it reached the top and took a deep breath before knocking on the magnificent wooden door. She waited a few moments before the door opened to reveal the man that had plagued her thoughts in the worst possible way for the past few weeks. He gave her a genuine smile and stepped aside to let her in.

She crossed the threshold into what could only be described as a mansion on the top floor of a building. Rukia had grown up wealthy her whole life so she was used to a lavish lifestyle, but Kurosaki's apartment took that to a whole new level.

"God. This is where you live?" she asked him disbelievingly.

"Yep. Home sweet home," he said with a shrug as he closed the door behind her and walked past her into the large kitchen. Apparently he had been cooking some sort of pasta when she arrived.

After gaping at his apartment, the first thing Rukia noticed was how at ease Ichigo looked as he stirred some vegetables that were frying in a pan. He was wearing what looked to be one of his fancy work shirts but it was untucked and a few buttons were undone at the top. He paired that with some black slacks that she guessed he also wore to work. He wasn't wearing any shoes and his hair was tousled a little. He looked completely comfortable and not at all like the sophisticated and put together bachelor she was used to seeing. For a brief moment she was completely caught off guard.

She quickly shook her head from the thoughts that were creeping up in her mind. This was his house, for god's sake. Of course he wasn't going to be wearing a suit and tie in his own apartment.

"I told you I was going to get food. You didn't have to make me anything," she said once she had returned back to reality.

"I know. This is for me. You're more than welcome to have some if you want, though," he said as he turned the heat down on the stove and went to check on the pasta that was boiling in a separate pot.

"Oh," she said quietly, slightly embarrassed at having automatically thought he was making food for her. As he cooked, she began to look around the apartment, her head turning from side to side as she observed every nook and cranny that was within her line of sight. Ichigo didn't fail to notice this.

"There's not a serial killer hiding in my apartment. You can relax, you know," he said with a slight smile causing her to stop in her tracks.

"Apartment, my ass. How can you possibly call something this big an apartment? I think castle would be a more appropriate term."

"Well, what were you expecting?"

"To be honest, I don't really know. I mean I knew you had a lot of money, but I didn't think it was this much," she said as she left the kitchen and walked into the living room, perusing the various pieces of artwork on display. She stopped when she saw an array of pictures in frames resting on a table against the wall. Various pictures of Ichigo's sisters, both young and old, what she figured to be his parents, and other people were scattered on the table. She picked up one particular photo of a beautiful woman who looked a lot like Ichigo holding a young boy with orange hair.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" said a very familiar voice from right behind her, causing her to jump in surprise.

"Jesus, Kurosaki, don't scare me like that," she said in irritation.

Ichigo took the frame from her hands and looked at the picture with a wistful smile. He placed the frame back with the rest and went back into the kitchen. Rukia couldn't help but follow after him.

"That was my mother, Masaki. She died when I was a kid," he said quietly as he wiped his hands on a nearby kitchen rag and got back to stirring the pasta boiling in the pot.

Rukia was honestly rather shocked he had shared that bit of information with her. She knew he liked her a lot but it wasn't like they were that close. She wondered what had led him to blurt that out.

"Um, I'm sorry," she said unsure of how to respond.

"No, I'm sorry. I don't want to depress you. I was just curious as to what you were looking at and saw you holding that picture of my mom, so I just…" Ichigo trailed off, for once looking rather embarrassed himself. Even though he could play the part of the suave rich man rather well, Rukia could tell he had his awkward dork moments.

"It's fine. I probably shouldn't be snooping around your apartment."

"Eh, I figure with all the shit I've put you through lately you have a right to inspect my house."

Rukia eyed him after he said this. "You're different when you're at home."

"Different in a good or bad way?"

"I haven't decided yet. You just seem rather…normal."

Ichigo chuckled at this. "Yeah, I guess I am."

The two lapsed into silence for a while as Rukia watched him cook his meal. She felt kind of awkward just standing around but she didn't know what else she was supposed to do. This was unchartered territory for her. She wasn't used to being alone with a man in his home.

Suddenly a thought hit her.

"Wait a second!" she exclaimed angrily, causing Ichigo's head to shoot up at her in surprise wondering what in the hell he had done to piss her off this time.

"Didn't you say that your friend was going to be here before I got here," she said, pointing an accusatory finger at Ichigo.

At that, Ichigo began to laugh causing Rukia to get even more angry. "And just what the hell is so funny? You told me we wouldn't be alone together and I don't see this mysterious 'friend' of yours anywhere."

Ichigo continued to laugh at her before he said, "He's in the other room watching TV. God, you don't have to be so paranoid. I'm good at keeping my promises," he said with a smile.

That caused her to deflate a little, but she was still mad at him for laughing at her.

"If you're that nervous, I can ask him to come in here. Dinner's almost ready anyway," he said before he walked out of the kitchen and down one of the halls, leaving Rukia there by herself.

That smug, sadistic little…

"Hey Rukia, this is one of my really good friends, Uryuu Ishida. Uryuu, this is Rukia Kuchiki," Ichigo said as he waltzed back into the room with a tall, handsome man with straight black hair and glasses following after him.

"Ah, it's a pleasure to meet the famous Kuchiki heiress that Ichigo has been telling me so much about lately," Uryuu said as he extended his hand for Rukia to shake.

"The pleasure's mutual. Though I wouldn't consider myself much of an heiress anymore," Rukia said as she shook Uryuu's hand firmly just like her brother had taught her.

"Yes, I know. Hopefully I can help change that."

"Hey, Uryuu, you want some food? Rukia's already eaten but I made enough for all of us."

"Yeah, sure. If you don't mind, we can take our food and eat it in the TV room."

"Oh god, you have a separate TV room when you have this massive TV right here?" Rukia asked as she motioned toward the large screen on the wall in the living room.

"Well I have enough money to buy more than one large TV, so I did. You of all people should be able to understand that," Ichigo quipped back at her as he got down a few plates from a cupboard and began spooning the pasta and vegetables onto them.

Rukia narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't get smart with me, Kurosaki. I'm being nice agreeing to help you with this."

"Oh please. Like you aren't in this for your own reasons."

"My, my. You two are like peas in a pod. This is going to be fun," Uryuu commented after he observed the pair's arguing.

Rukia rolled her eyes at that.

"Are you sure you don't want any of this, Rukia?" Ichigo asked as he indicated the food he had prepared. Though she had to admit what he had made did look delicious, she had eaten a quick dinner at her own apartment and wasn't that hungry.

"I'm fine."

"Well, it's here if you get hungry later. Here you go, Uryuu," he said as he handed his friend his plate, grabbed his own, and then led them all down the hall. They walked into a large room that, as the name suggested, housed a large TV screen that took up almost the entire wall, a few couches, a table with chairs, some antique arcade games in one corner, and a billiard table in the back.

The two men placed their food down on the table and sat down, Rukia following after she got a good look at the room. Ichigo's apartment was proving to be exactly how she pictured it, though slightly larger. She was sure that if she explored further, she'd find a large study complete with a wall-to-wall bookcase, a master bedroom with a large king-sized bed fitted with silk sheets, and a bathroom that housed a mini pool sized Jacuzzi tub.

Typical rich man.

"So, Ms. Kuchiki. I should probably explain why I'm here," Uryuu started.

"That would be helpful."

"I work under Ichigo at the company. My job involves relations with other companies, so I'm familiar with the business practices of others in the field, including your brother. I've actually met your brother a few times. He's a very smart businessman."

"Apparently not smart enough." Rukia couldn't help the disgust that entered her tone, which both men did not fail to catch.

"Yes, well I've investigated your brother's case pretty extensively and from what I've been able to gather, I can tell that your brother is not at fault."

"What do you mean?"

"Aizen is cunning. He can manipulate even the smartest of people into believing something that isn't true. He's brought down many others in the past and I can easily say your brother was his hardest case yet. It's amazing he was even able to accomplish it, which just goes to show how capable Aizen is."

"Then how are we supposed to beat him?"

"Well, it won't be easy and it will take a lot of careful work, but I think I may have an idea."

At this both Ichigo and Rukia leaned in closer to the bespectacled man.

"It will require some inside work and will rely mainly on you, Ms. Kuchiki."

"Me?"

"Yes. Because of the relationship you have with your brother, there are people in the business world that will be very interested in meeting you and even working with you. It will take a lot of commitment and a fair amount of acting skills, but I think it can be accomplished."

"So what do I have to do?"

"Well, I haven't figured out a lot of the details, but I can tell you that the first step is to infiltrate the company personally."

"What does that mean?" Rukia asked skeptically.

"It means that, Ichigo, you are now looking at the newest employee of Kurosaki Corporations," Uryuu said as he motioned toward Rukia.

Both Ichigo and Rukia's eyes widened as they looked at Uryuu in astonishment.

They both gawked in silence until eventually Rukia exclaimed, "HELL NO!"

Okay, I know that's kind of a strange place to end but I'm going to save a lot of the explanation stuff for the next chapter since this one was getting kind of long. Again, I know this chapter is filler and doesn't explain a whole lot of anything but things should hopefully start making a lot more sense in the next couple of chapters. As always, I love hearing your thoughts so leave a review!