Bleach: Rukia's Requiem

Chapter 8

The rest of their week together passed painstakingly slow. Ichigo and Rukia barely looked at each other, never mind spoke. Ichigo spent most of his days getting ready for school, or taking long walks whenever Rukia was there, which wasn't often.

Most of Rukia's time was spent with Daniel. She didn't let him kiss her again, because though harsh, Ichigo's words did have some truth to it. Rukia wasn't the type of girl who would let a guy kiss her that easily. She had explained to him that she was caught up in the moment, but that what she had said was true.

On the day of Hana's arrival, Rukia packed her things on carried them all to Ichigo's car, refusing his help when he offered.

They rode to the airport in silence. Hana's father didn't want to buy her a car, because her apartment was close to all the places she needed to be. Instead he paid for her flights when she needed to travel long distances.

"Ichigo! Rukia!" Hana exclaimed when the electronic doors opened and she saw them standing in the pick-up area, a good two spaced apart. She hugged Rukia first before kissing Ichigo.

Rukia averted her gaze as their kiss became a bit more intense.

"Okay, let's go," Hana said with her usual chirpy voice. Ichigo took her bags and together they went back to his car.

<><><>

"The spare room is over here," Hana said as she led Rukia to the room she'd be staying in.

The apartment self wasn't big, a bit bigger than Ichigo's, but not big. Her room had a single bed, closet and desk in it. There was enough space for movement, but not much.

"Sorry, it's pretty small, but at least it's not a couch," Hana said, obviously assuming Rukia had slept on the couch while she was with Ichigo.

"No, it's perfect," Rukia said with a smile before setting her things in the middle of the room. They went back to the living room where Ichigo had made himself comfortable on the couch.

His phone rang and he looked at the screen before answering.

"Daniel, what a surprise," he said, his sarcasm not going unnoticed by either of the girls. "Of course you want to, wait a sec," he said before throwing the phone at Rukia.

She caught it without effort and lifted it to her ear.

"Rukia?" Daniel asked on the other side of the line.

"Yeah, hi," Rukia said, stepping back so that Hana could go sit next to Ichigo.

"I don't have much time, but a friend of mine just let me know that a new club opens tonight and he'd put us on the list of you'd like," Daniel said, speaking very quickly. "Oh, and by us I mean you, Ichigo and Hana. She got back today right?" he added.

"Yeah, we're at her place now, I'll ask them," Rukia said before lowering the phone. "Daniel wants to know if you guys would like to go out tonight. There's a club opening that his friend can get us tickets to."

Hana looked up, "That sounds nice, doesn't it? I haven't been out in a while," she said and looked at Ichigo.

Ichigo thought about it for a moment before sighing, "Fine." Once again he didn't sound like he wanted to do it.

"We're in," Rukia said once she had the phone back in place.

"Great, I'll see you tonight at seven," he said before they said their goodbyes and Rukia handed Ichigo his phone back.

"I didn't know you and Daniel were that close," Hana said to Ichigo, obviously not catching on.

"We're not. Rukia, on the other hand... well, guess you can ask her about that," Ichigo said, some anger returning to his voice.