Affected By Death

Chapter 22: Workout

"It has been way too long since I've had a serious day of workout." Rukia announces, and Ichigo lifts an eyebrow at her.

"What do you call what we've been doing? We've hardly left this hotel room, if you consider how much time we've already been here." Ichigo objects, and Rukia grins at him.

"Honey, that's an awesome cardio workout, but I feel like my muscles are starting to become weak! I was sore after I lobbed that thug when working with the FBI!" Rukia admits to Ichigo, and he frowns at her.

"I'm sure the way I treated you prior to leaving had more to do with that than you tossing that douche bag down the road." Ichigo says, and Rukia sighs.

"It doesn't matter Ichigo, there's a gym here, and I'm going to be making up for lost time. I've gotten a bit lazy since I met you." Rukia says, and Ichigo frowns again.

"I'm coming with you."

"Why do you sound angry?" Rukia asks, and Ichigo doesn't lose the sour look on his face.

"This is coming from the wife I thought spent hours playing video games..." Ichigo grumbles, and Rukia realizes his feelings are hurt because she made it sound like it's his fault she's lazy.

Well it is, but not in the way he took it...

"I have spent hours playing video games...but I've also had serious workouts, since I was thirteen." Rukia admits quietly, and Ichigo bites his lip since he's going in blind on this one.

"How serious?" Ichigo asks, and Rukia holds his gaze with her own.

"Very serious. There were even weekends where I trained in the mountains, and deep in the forest, where I'm sure few men have been before." Rukia says, and Ichigo isn't sure what that means.

"What did you do?"

"Many difficult training exercises." Rukia says distantly, and Ichigo isn't sure what to make of that, even though he knows she's ridiculously strong.

"Sounds dangerous."

"It was, but Ichigo...when I said I've been lazy since I met you, I wasn't insulting you, it was more like I was admonishing myself. The priorities in my life quickly changed, and I forgot all about working out when you came in my life." Rukia says, and her husband finally starts to smile.

"Does this mean the honeymoon is over?" Ichigo asks, since she's thinking about working out now.

"Not really...I was reminded that I need to work out after the whole FBI deal, not to mention, you and I are supposed to go train some of their best guys...I want to prepare and give those men the respect they deserve." Rukia says fervently, and Ichigo nods his head.

"I'll come with you, but you're going to have to help me, if working out with you gets me rock hard. You'll make the swelling go down, won't you, honey?" Ichigo says using his hands to indicate he is talking about his erection, and Rukia smirks at him.

"No. I'll let you suffer. I'm going to be selfish today Ichigo, so maybe you'll have to get some help from your right hand until the workout is complete." Rukia says, and she nearly laughs at the way her husband gasps, at her response and is now visibly pouting.