The night we met
There were very few chances for Ichigo and Rukia to explore whatever the hell their relationship was. One consistency was that it always seemed to develop under times of stress – so what happens now that they should be settled and happily married to other people? IR
Chapter 1
A sunny fall day greeted Ichigo this morning. A soft flowery smell lingered in the sheets and he wondered what new detergent was used this time. His eyes flickered open, and fell onto a figure that was familiar yet unexpected. Long black hair spread across the white sheets, her porcelain cheek resting on his arm and her arm draped carelessly across his chest. Rukia? She shuffled in her sleep and rested a hand wearing a quaint teardrop shaped diamond engagement ring by her face. He reached out to touch her face, and the woman's eyes opened slowly.
"Good morning," she said with a soft smile. She can smile like that?
Rukia cuddled in closer, her bare large breasts – large?
"Rukia?" He asked, looking down at the figure in his arms.
Ichigo felt himself being gently shaken and he woke once again with a jump.
"Are you okay?" Inoue asked, a face of concern gracing her beautiful features.
Ichigo had to take a moment to orient himself to his surroundings.
"Is it another nightmare?" Inoue inquired, then leaning in to kiss Ichigo on the cheek. Her bare skin touched his so nonchalantly, and she rested herself on his chest. "It's safe now, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Ichigo let go of a deep sigh and surveyed the ring on her finger: a standard square diamond. Inoue was never one for fancy shows of affection, even when asked about her thoughts on an engagement ring. He felt strange underneath his wife, the dream lingered in his thoughts and he couldn't deny the excited – nervous – thrum in his chest.
Shit. He thought, and he proceeded to remove himself from under Inoue. Married men don't dream about married women. Ichigo decided to take a cold shower, hoping to wake himself back to reality. He rarely had dreams, but when he did they had an annoying habit of repeating. Just ignore it, he thought, and he attempted to focus on the cold droplets pelting his body.
Inoue pulled on her pyjamas and then sat on their freshly made bed. She listened to the shower running and felt distant from her husband. He had said her name again in his sleep. In the past, whenever Rukia's name came up it would be in a scream, followed by Ichigo tossing and turning in cold sweats. Inoue was always patient, waking him whenever it happened and soothing him gently. In all instances, it ended with them having intense sex. But these days, mornings were much like this. Inoue had even opted to sleeping partially naked hoping to stir some reaction in him, but so far, nothing.
"Mommy!" Their 6 year old, Kazui, exclaimed, "The ghost from earlier said you should sleep naked more often!"
Inoue turned intensely red, forgetting that her son was privy to such information because of the spirits that always lingered near Ichigo. She made a mental note of speaking to Rukia about possibly putting up wards to prevent any more from entering the house.
"Can I sleep naked too?" Kazui asked innocently as he climbed onto the bed beside his mother.
"You'll catch a cold if you do," Ichigo responded, fresh out of the shower in a white t-shirt and black dress pants.
"But if mommy gets to do it, I should too!" Kazui pouted, clinging to his mother's arm.
"Mommy's an adult, she can do what she wants," Ichigo replied, ruffling Kazui's orange hair as he passed.
There was a silence as Kazui processed the information and Ichigo fiddled with his tie.
"I bet Ichika's parents let her sleep naked!"
Ichigo let out a laugh, and Inoue giggled.
"I doubt that honey," Inoue responded, fixing his hair. "Let's go get ready for school now." Inoue hoisted Kazui up and they exited the room together.
Rukia sleeping naked? Ichigo rolled his eyes and mentally pictured smacking his hollow in the face.
The captain of the 13th division neatly packed her things and tidied her desk. The promotion was a massive change for Rukia, and she sometimes found herself in awe of it all. Little routines like tidying her office helped her transition from Captain Kuchiki to Rukia Kuchiki. She took a quick look at her phone to see if her husband replied to anything she texted to him during the day, and found nothing. The man was always a terrible communicator. She wondered why he would change once they lived under the same roof. Her phone buzzed, she took a quick look and was pleasantly surprised by a text from Ichigo.
Still on for drinks?
You bet. Rukia replied, snapping her phone shut with a smile.
She then removed her captain's robe and placed it around the back of the chair. For some reason, she didn't ever feel comfortable wearing it outside of work. She especially didn't like to wear the garb when picking up her daughter, Ichika. *-
Ichika beamed at the sight of her mother. She bowed respect fully before jumping into her arms. Rukia smiled in return, the girl, now 8 years old, was getting high praise from her teachers. She had an affinity for kido – just like her mother, and the brute strength of her father.
"Mother, I wonder if we're seeing uncle this week?" Ichika asked.
"What for?" Rukia inquired, dusting the child's robes.
"I want to show him the new kido I learned!" Ichika exclaimed. "Maybe I can even show Kazui? He doesn't go to school for this stuff."
Rukia laughed, "How thoughtful of you, Ichika. But not this week, both are busy with their own things, as you know."
Ichika nodded, she thoughtfully looked ahead of her.
"Mother," Ichika started.
"Yes darling?" Rukia replied.
"You're seeing Uncle Ichigo today aren't you?" Ichika asked, "Is papa going too?"
Rukia shook her head, "It'll be you and Papa for dinner tonight."
Ichika stuck out her tongue, "But he cooks terribly, mother!"
They arrived at the large house, an extension of the main house that Byakuya lived in. Rukia was surprised to find Renji in the living room across a large vase of flowers.
Ichika beamed at the sight, and eagerly greeted her father. "Are the flowers for me?" She asked gleefully.
"They're for your mother," Renji replied, easily picking Ichika up. "As an apology," Renji looked hopefully at Rukia.
"Whatever are you apologizing for?" Rukia asked, her captain's voice resounding.
"Uh- you know, the stuff you texted me about." Renji replied.
Rukia sighed, and Ichika recognized it to be the sigh of a looming fight. Ichika climbed down from her father's arms, patting him pitifully, and then running up to her room.
"Renji, can't you even be bothered to know why we're fighting?" Rukia asked in an exasperated manner, arms crossed.
"Look, see this as an apology for all the fights, okay? It feels like there's been tons, and I'll be honest – I have no clue what I'm doing to set you off, but can't we start from scratch?" Renji responded. "Look, lilies, your favourite."
Rukia sighed, taking the vase and setting it onto the mantle by their fireplace.
"Thank you." She said. Renji's earnestness always caught her off guard.
"You're welcome, now come here," Renji said, crossing the living room to pull Rukia into his arms.
She shook her head with a smirk and lightly pushed past him. "I've got a few things to do before I see Ichigo, I'll be in my study."
Renji watched as his wife disappeared up the steps. Did he do something again? He collapsed onto their couch, and stared at the ceiling. He never fathomed marrying Rukia Kuchiki – let alone raising a child with her. He was happy, he realized. Every time he was away from home he couldn't wait to see his girls again. Yet, lately, something didn't feel right. He and Rukia had been fighting more and more often over god-knows-what. Rukia had been cold, her thoughts elsewhere. It's as if there was something pressing on her mind, and in the usual Kuchiki fashion, Rukia refused to share. He let out a frustrated sigh and wandered to the kitchen, wondering what to make for dinner.
Rukia sat in the soft lamp of her study, she leaned on her desk, back towards the door and staring out into the cool evening. The sky was aglow in bright oranges and pinks chased by a blue and black that seemed to reach into forever. Renji was right, she had to admit to herself, they had been fighting more than usual lately. For some odd reason that she couldn't quite place, he was irritating her. He was sweet and endearing, like a scruffy puppy you adopt from the pound. There was no denying his handsomeness, the safety of his arms… and yet, nothing. No catch in her throat, no tingling when they touch. They say that the spark disappears with time, replaced by a slow burning fire. She picked up the wedding photo on her desk, where was the fire?
Her phone rang, and she saw that Ichigo texted her.
Your world or mine?
Rukia had to smile. Yours. Need a break from mine.
See you.
Ichigo sat at one of the tables in the back of the bar. For a Friday near the suburbs it was quite alive. College kids sat at most of the tables, laughing out loud, with a couple of dates dotting the place here and there. Luckily the booth they frequented was open, and Ichigo started with a light beer. He rarely drank, and it would be impolite to be tipsy before Rukia arrived.
The door rang at another entrance, and Ichigo perked up. No, not Rukia, he thought to himself, and he sipped his drink. Far be it for him to be actually excited to see the girl, but lately because of her captain duties and his at the clinic, they had skipped a few of their weekly meetings. Sometimes, they barely spoke, sitting in silence and watching the patrons. Other times, they were knee deep in battle strategy, arguing about whether or not Rukia should have just left Ichigo behind the first night they met.
At that moment the door rang open with another entrance, but Ichigo failed to notice, deep in his thoughts.
"Hey, drunk already?" Rukia asked.
Ichigo nearly jumped out of his seat, and he looked up, meeting eyes that he thought had gotten impossibly more beautiful than he last saw. In that moment, he was suddenly glad that she had found him that night.
"I'm not you," he replied with a smirk.
"Well, of course not," she sat across him, "I can drink you under the table." She smirked, as she waved down a waitress.
He watched her order the drink, noting her casual attire. Still in dresses, he said to himself, the dark blue material wrinkling with every move she made.
"Something on your mind?" She asked, noticing what looked like… a longing stare?
Ichigo just shook his head. "How's things going?"
How are they going? Rukia asked herself, looking away trying to figure out that answer herself.
"Renji and I are fighting," and Rukia surprised herself at the answer, wondering why she jumped to something meant to be dredged down the road after a few more glasses.
Ichigo tried to hide his surprise as well, "Aren't you always?" he asked.
There was a pause as the waitress delivered her sake with two cups, and a separate fruity looking cocktail off the menu. She poured the sake thoughtfully and slid one of the cups to Ichigo.
"How are you and Orihime?" She sipped the cocktail and stared up at him.
He shrugged, "Married."
"That's good," Rukia smiled, and she tucked her arms at her chest, getting comfortable. "The kid's been giving you trouble with his powers, I heard."
"Yeah, how the hell do I control the runt?" Ichigo chuckled, placing his now finished beer at the end of the table and taking a sip of the sake.
"That's an impossible question – especially being your kid." Rukia laughed.
"I can't imagine how you two are dealing with yours," Ichigo remarked.
"Ah, but see, she's my kid more than she is Renji's." Rukia quipped.
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
"She's graceful, respectful... talented. Yours is…"
"Is?"
"Rambunctious, unpredictable, uncontrollable."
Ichigo glared playfully, and Rukia could only laugh.
"Imagine our kid." Ichigo added casually, finishing his sake.
"Well," Rukia started, the cocktail surprisingly already gone, and moving on to the sake herself. "Probably better than yours, she'll have my genes after all."
"Probably," Ichigo said quietly, as he placed his cup on the table with both hands, and he looked– what Rukia felt – straight into her soul.
"Have some more," Rukia said, trying to wash away the moment.
Ichigo said nothing as she poured another glass.
"Tell me, captain Kuchiki, how is the gotei 13 treating you?" Ichigo asked.
"Oh you know, taken for granted…"
The night continued much like this, as the pair caught each other up with weeks of information missed. Rukia couldn't help but notice Ichigo growing more handsome and confident in his mannerisms. His sleeves were rolled at his elbows and she watched as he loosened and removed his tie. His shirt carelessly unbuttoned, his now short hair still sticking out in spikes, and his infamous frown etched in his features. She ached, for some reason, at the thought of missing his smirks.
"Ichika can do kido now!" Rukia exclaimed loudly, as she stripped off her cardigan.
"Oh yeah? Kazui can fucking teleport." Ichigo said in equal volume, slamming his cup on the table.
"He's been teleporting since he was a baby! That's nothing new!" Rukia replied, waving down the waitress for another bottle of sake.
"Oh yeah? Call me when your daughter starts teleporting." Ichigo replied and his words began to slur a little.
"You're drunk." Rukia laughed, the sleeve of her blue dress slipping off her shoulders.
"Impossible," Ichigo replied, absentmindedly reaching over and replacing the sleeve onto Rukia's shoulder.
Ichigo flinched back at his action, and Rukia placed a hand on the shoulder he touched.
"Thanks," Rukia said, uncharacteristically quietly.
Ichigo cleared his throat and looked away, scratching the back of his head, "Yeah."
There was a silence that seemed to linger for ages, and Ichigo finally asked, "Why are you two fighting?"
Rukia sighed, "I don't know, Ichigo." She played with the cup at her fingers, "I love the guy –"
Ichigo felt his chest tighten.
"To be honest, it's like being married to a plank of wood." Rukia replied.
Ichigo's serious face turned into an amused one.
"Don't laugh, it's not funny!"
"I'm sorry, that's what I've been telling you all along!" Ichigo laughed.
Rukia shook her head and smiled.
"He loves you, you know," Ichigo started, once he had taken a breath and sipped his drink.
"I know."
"Is it not enough?" Ichigo asked, looking straight into her eyes.
Rukia sighed, "It is. It's enough."
Ichigo's chest began to ache.
"It's getting late-"
"No, hold on, how are you and Orihime? 'Married' is not a good answer, though it seems like you two are getting along," Rukia smiled.
"We're not fighting," Ichigo said, realizing he couldn't get out of this one.
"Kurosaki, don't tell me you're not appreciating the beauty before you!"
Ichigo laughed, drunken Rukia was always hilarious.
"We haven't had sex in a year."
Rukia sat stunned, drunken Ichigo was always honest.
"Don't look at me like that, I can't help it if I'm busy with work and…"
"But she's Orihime Inoue," Rukia interrupted, genuinely confused.
"You're telling me, that with all the fighting you and Renji have been going through, you're throwing yourself into his arms?"
Rukia visibly withdrew, and stared at her drink.
Ichigo finished the rest of his sake, and waved the waitress over to take the bill.
"You love her, isn't that enough?" Rukia asked.
Ichigo looked back at her and let out a sigh, "It's enough."
Once he had paid for them both, he stood, and helped Rukia out of the booth. Both were teetering out of the bar, which was still busy and noisy. Yet, the silence they shared seemed louder than the room, and louder still in the crisp fall night.
"Where's the gate?" Ichigo asked, as they walked down the street.
"Just down there," she replied, "being captain has its perks." She tripped on a pebble and Ichigo quickly caught her.
"You can't walk," Ichigo laughed, "I'll carry you."
"Screw you!" Rukia exclaimed, shoving him away. "Well, not literally, anyway." She laughed, tipping over again and grabbing Ichigo to right herself.
Ichigo huffed and glared, "Like you're getting any," he kept an arm around her shoulders and this time Rukia didn't push him away.
"I'll have you know – whenever I want, I can get it." Rukia replied triumphantly.
"So can I," Ichigo replied.
"So, why don't you get some?" Rukia asked.
Ichigo stopped and Rukia looked up at his face lit by the streetlights.
"What if it's not from the person I want?"
Rukia stared up at Ichigo in silence, taking a second to digest the information. It required her usually quick mind a second to digest the thought of the disgustingly loyal Ichigo Kurosaki in love with someone that wasn't his wife. "Ichigo," She said seriously and thoughtfully.
"Rukia, hear me out," Ichigo started.
"No." Rukia said, she stepped back and suddenly felt chillingly sober. "You-"
"I was joking," Ichigo interrupted.
Rukia's serious face did not falter, yet she returned to his side, afraid that she would fall over.
"Where the hell is this gate?" Rukia asked no one in particular.
They sat at a bench in what looked like a park, and Ichigo rummaged through her purse, looking for her phone. He pulled it out and handed it to her.
"Shit," Rukia said, reading her texts. "It's gone, how late is it?"
Ichigo glanced at his watch, "2 AM, can you summon another?"
"I could, but I don't think I can properly incant it," Rukia said.
"You could come back to my place," Ichigo said casually, "you're too drunk to even properly read, hell, you squinted at the screen."
Rukia sighed, how irresponsible of her.
"Will Orihime be okay with this?" Rukia asked.
"She thinks we're in Soul Society," Ichigo replied.
Rukia looked suspiciously at Ichigo, "You didn't tell her we were here?"
Ichigo shrugged, "You changed the plan."
"You asked!" Rukia let out a frustrated sigh, "Well, you're going to have to explain this to her when we get to your place."
Ichigo shrugged, "Or we could wait until you're more sober to chant your way home."
"What?"
"Think about it," Ichigo said, "If I don't come back alone she probably won't mind, but if you don't get back by tonight, Renji will get suspicious."
"What's there to be suspicious about?" Rukia asked.
"I don't know, it's late, we're drunk, and we're alone."
"Fuck you, Ichigo Kurosaki." Rukia retorted, for drunken Ichigo was far too honest.
Ichigo glared, "Fuck you too! Now get up and get walking, because I told Orihime I'd be home at a certain time and she's probably up waiting."
"What a considerate husband, just a second ago you were seriously implying that you were in love-"
"You know what, you can stay out here I don't care." He pulled out his keys and his car beeped awake.
"Don't do that idiot! It's not safe!" Rukia attempted to swipe his keys.
Despite being drunk, Ichigo was still quick. "Don't be stupid, I'm sleeping in the car, that's easier to explain than bringing you home."
"I seriously don't think Orihime would mind," Rukia said, crossing her arms.
"I would." Ichigo stared down at her in frustration.
Rukia looked up at Ichigo in confusion. "Okay, what the hell is wrong with you? What did I do to you?"
"Just forget it," Ichigo replied.
"No," Rukia exclaimed angrily, she grabbed his arm as he turned away. "We're friends, aren't we?"
He looked at her in a glare, "That's all we are." He pulled his arm out of her grip.
"What do you mean?" Rukia asked.
"I mean, that's literally all we are!" He replied angrily.
"So why the fuck are you so mad?" Rukia asked, his anger lighting hers.
"Because… that can't be all we are!" Ichigo breathed hard, suddenly noticing that his heart was racing.
The silence between the two seemed to last centuries. Rukia stared at Ichigo in confusion, her heart racing. Ichigo was livid, his eyes wet with emotion, and she didn't know what to do. She didn't know what she could do. Was it possible that he had been sitting with this for years? She didn't want to think about it.
"Ichigo," Rukia started.
"Forget it." Ichigo said, "Just… forget it." He said in defeat. "Let's walk to my place, I'll call Orihime so she can have a bed ready."
"I'll call Renji," Rukia said, her eyes began to wet. She turned away; Ichigo had never seen her cry. "You go ahead."
Ichigo opened his mouth to say something, but decided instead to just walk away.
"Ichigo," Rukia called out.
He turned, and Rukia was still turned away, "We can't be anything more."
The tension was palpable. Rukia still didn't hear his footsteps receding, and she refused to turn and look for fear of falling apart. Ichigo watched her back and could read nothing. Was it possible she had been thinking about this too? He didn't know what to say, and he so desperately wanted to say something.
"Where's Renji?" Ichigo asked, settling on the question as the only appropriate answer.
"I'm not calling him until you've gone," Rukia replied after clearing her throat. She finally turned to face him.
Ichigo swallowed hard, his throat was dry. "Right," At this, he turned and walked away.
A/N: Somebody save me from these two.