Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the related titles.

A/N: So, long story short, I've been gone for a really long time and I apologize. I've been busy finishing up my degree, and because I graduated last weekend, I now find myself with a whole lot of free time. I decided on a few fics I would like to at least attempt to finish and this is definitely my most popular, so I decided to pick it up again. I am also participating in a MilWordy challenge, so I need to keep writing almost constantly, which means updates will be fairly frequent. Also, you have all been waiting for this chapter for so long, so I thought you deserved it. So please enjoy!

Chapter 17: The Bedroom

"What is it?" Ichigo asked, arching his eyebrow in confusion.

Rukia drew a deep breath, opening her mouth to speak, but finding nearly impossible to voice just what it was she was thinking. Everything within in the last few hours had happened so quickly. First they were fighting the Hollows and now they were standing in her old room, alone, unable to return to the world of the Living. And it was okay, by Byakuya's standards, for the two of them to be sharing a living space. It was all unheard of.

"What happened in there?" he continued, watching her expectantly. "What did he say?"

Rukia shook her head. "It's not important," she said, although in a way it was incredibly important. Someone was targeting her in particular, and her brother, and without hesitation, Ichigo could be caught in the crossfire. He needed to be on guard at all times, and he needed to know that, but still, there were other pressing matters – at least in Rukia's mind.

"Then what's your problem?" Ichigo turned away from her, his brow furrowing. He didn't understand what she was so flustered with. He scanned the room curiously. It was the first time he really realized where they were.

"You're under my watch for the time being," Rukia settled on. It wasn't what she had been planning on saying, but the other subject just wasn't safe in such a surrounding. Anyone could be listening in, and her brother wasn't exactly the person she wanted finding out.

"What do you mean, under your watch?" Ichigo didn't look at her as he crossed to the large window on the far side of the room. "Am I some kind of child?"

"Here, yes," Rukia said shortly. "They'll treat you like one, especially if you don't listen to what they've got to say. You've been reckless, and so they think you're not capable…"

"Not capable?" Ichigo turned to face her, sharply. "I think I've proved to them I'm more than capable!"

"That's not what I meant," Rukia said quickly, moving away from the door. "That wasn't the right word. I meant, that they think you're just…You're not…" she sighed, finding it almost impossible to form a single sentence. Her frustration was rising and she could feel her cheeks turning red. "You're acting like a teenage boy, Ichigo. A teenage boy with a sword."

Anger rose in Ichigo's eyes as he stared at her. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean," Rukia stammered. "Y-You are!"

Ichigo fumed. "I am not a teenage boy with a sword!"

"But you are a teenage boy with a sword!" Rukia pointed out, almost desperately. "You just…You haven't been exposed to this long enough, and they're not sure if you really understand what's at stake. They've got thousands and thousands of years of history, and tradition to uphold. They take everything very seriously."

"And so they leave you in charge?" he spat at her, jerking his head back toward the window, peering down at the grounds below.

Rukia sighed, her arms hanging limp at her sides. She didn't know what to say to him to make him feel better about the whole situation. It wasn't the direction she'd been intending to go with the conversation, and frankly, it probably would have been best if he had a guest room on the other side of the palace. The silence that fell between them grew thick and almost smothering. She continued to stand in the middle of the room, staring at him, while he refused to look at her. Neither of them knew just how much time passed before Ichigo dared to speak.

"Nice view…" he said quietly, the bitter tone still lingering the edge of his words.

"Ichigo…" she said slowly.

"I'm seriously…" he told her. "You can see just about everything…"

Rukia nodded. "I always liked it. I wasn't in here much though. I liked being down there with everyone else."

Ichigo's response was cut off by a sudden knock at the door. Rukia turned and opened it, coming face-to-face with a small boy, carrying a very large wooden cot. He struggled as he started to push it into the room.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Miss Kuchiki," he said, nearly dropping it onto the floor. "I was instructed to bring this to your room."

Rukia helped with the other end Ichigo watched as the two maneuvered it into the room just enough that they'd still have use of the door. The young boy smiled at the young woman, as though expecting something. His pink cheeks turned even pinker when she addressed him.

"Thank you," Rukia said, unsure what else she was expected to do with the boy. He didn't move from his spot. "You're free to go."

"Thank you, Miss Kuchiki!" he said, beaming. "It's nice to have you back," he added. His eyes fell on Ichigo in the corner, and he stared for a moment before Rukia cleared her throat loudly, and he turned on his heel, scampering back down the hallway. Rukia closed the door quickly behind him, and refused to turn back around, knowing very well that Ichigo was staring at her and the contraption next to her.

"What's this?" he asked loftily.

"It's a bed…" she said slowly, her voice low.

"A bed…" Ichigo repeated, eyeing the cot with disgust. "For me or for Renji? You watching over him too?"

Rukia closed her eyes and shook her head just slightly. "It's for you…" she informed him. "My brother said he'd send one over for you."

Ichigo stared at her, slightly stunned. He blinked slowly. "Your brother?"

Rukia nodded, turning around hesitantly.

"He knows I'm staying here?" he asked, skeptically.

"He insisted I keep an eye on you," Rukia explained, although she had already stated that fact. She hadn't been kidding the first time she said it. It wasn't her fault if he didn't believe her.

Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "What did you tell him?" he asked. "Why is he okay with this?"

"I didn't tell him anything," Rukia said honestly, her voice much firmer than before. She corrected herself almost instantly, avoiding his gaze. "There's nothing to tell."

"I'm not sleeping in that," Ichigo said, pointing at the dissembled cot lying between them. "I'll go home before I do that."

"You can't," Rukia told him. "I have very strict orders to keep the two of us here."

"Very well then," Ichigo moved toward her bed. "I'll sleep here instead."

Rukia shrugged one of her shoulders. "Go ahead," she said, without really thinking. When she realized her mistake, she didn't bother to correct herself. Instead, her eyes met with his and they stared at each other in silence for a few long moments. Ichigo's cheeks turned a light shade of red.

"You'd like that wouldn't you," Ichigo tried to brush the thought off absently, shooting her a sneering look.

Rukia didn't respond. She swallowed, and continued to stare at him. She couldn't deny it, nor did she want to at that point. It was partially – or rather, mostly – the reason why she'd asked Byakuya to allow him to stay in her room in the first place. They had unfinished business, so to speak, to attend to, whether Ichigo wanted to address it or not.

But the thought of daring to do anything along those lines here, with her brother only a hall or two away, terrified Rukia. It wouldn't be smart of them to do anything they were comfortable doing in Ichigo's room.

"Forget it," Ichigo forced himself back toward the window. "I'll find somewhere else to sleep."

"You don't have to," Rukia said quietly.

"I know I don't have to," Ichigo snapped, his cheeks growing a darker shade of red. "I just – I think maybe it would be a good idea."

Rukia looked down at her feet. She didn't agree, entirely. Yes, it would be safer, but like her brother had said, if nothing had happened so far, there was little chance of it happening now. But then again, she thought, something had happened. Didn't it? Or was he still pretending it was all some kind of a dream.

"Ichigo…" she breathed, taking a step toward him.

"I'll find Renji," Ichigo said firmly. "I'll find him and we'll find somewhere else for me to stay. There must be hundreds of empty rooms in this building. There has to be something."

"But the Hollows –" Rukia argued.

Ichigo shook his head. "The Hollows are just as much a threat here as they are in my world," he said matter-of-factly. "I don't know why we have to stay here in the first place. You can't protect me there, you're not going to be able to do it here. There's really no reason for me to –"

"It's just better if you –" she really didn't have much of an argument when it came down to it. Even Rukia knew that. She just wanted him to be there; it really didn't make sense to her why. She understood why her gigai felt that way when they were together, but this – in her own world – it shouldn't have been happening. She shouldn't be feeling it still; the burning in her stomach and the tightness in her chest. The tingling sensation along her arms and legs. All of it was unfamiliar to her in this setting.

"Rukia, stop…" he replied softly, the struggle apparent on his face as well. "Just stop."

"Ichigo…I-I want you to stay here," she declared, standing just behind him. "I want you here, right here, with me –"

He turned his head slightly to glance at her. "Why?" he asked.

"I don't know!" she confessed. "Because…Because of what has happened already? You can pretend, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I'm not a humble person Ichigo – and – and I may not be breathing like some of those girls in your class, but –" she was struggling again. She hated this. She didn't know why he made her feel like this. "But I'm not stupid a-about how this works. I-I know I feel something, and I'm not sure what it is, but I…" she looked up at him, weak from even trying. Enough with the beating around the bush, she decided. She just had to say it. Something to get him to do anything. "Would you just kiss me already?"

Ichigo stared for a good minute before his body showed any kind of reaction to what she'd just said. It started with the flushing of his cheeks, which were starting to resemble apples the more she talked Then the corner of his mouth twitched upward into the tiniest smirk. He gave his head a little smirk as he looked down at the floor in front of him, laughing a bit to himself.

"What?" Rukia asked, suddenly embarrassed and defensive. She didn't understand why he was laughing. It didn't sound like a ridiculous request.

"Nothing…" he replied vaguely, smiling mischievously. "It's just….very teenage of you to ask."

Rukia sighed and rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up…" she turned away, starting back toward the door. He was going to be impossible. Perhaps it would be best if she did just find a guest room for him to stay in. Things weren't going to progress at this rate.

"Wait," Ichigo's voice sounded out. "Where are you going?"

Rukia didn't have the chance to respond before he caught her by the arm, pulling her to him roughly. He bit his bottom lip and laughed, leaning down toward her.

"I thought you wanted me to kiss you," he taunted.

Rukia pressed her hands against his chest, though didn't make much of a struggle. "Not anymore," she said, avoiding looking directly at him. "If you're going to be an ass about it, then I'll just go find Renji and –"

Ichigo's reponse was in jest, though was laced with seriousness. "Don't you dare," he threatened. "I'm not done with you yet…"

Rukia's mouth twisted up in a dangerous smile, her eyes finally locking with his. She wriggled a little in his embrace. "What exactly do you have in mind, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo didn't bother to explain what was on his mind. Instead, he leaned down to meet her, his lips capturing hers in a vicious kiss. Rukia, who had impatiently been waiting for this long before they fought the three Hollows, curled her arm up around his neck and hungrily pulled him closer to her, her chest flush against his.

Her mouth opened to allow his tongue to pass through, gently meeting with hers. Rukia moaned softly, grabbing at any part of his shirt she could reach. They only broke apart when Ichigo's eye caught sight of the door and he recalled how many times before they'd been interrupted.

"Wait…" he gasped, pulling away. "The door…can you lock it?"

"Of course I can," Rukia replied, quite out of breath. "It won't keep my brother out, though, if he wants to speak with me. He'll find a way to get in."

She crossed to it and flipped a small latch. Ichigo watched her, turning toward the window for a moment, contemplating anything else they might have overlooked. They couldn't take too many chances.

"What about the window?" he asked.

Rukia stared at it, frowning a little. "It won't do much," she admitted, crossing to close that as well. She adjusted the thin curtain she had to block them from view, not that anyone would see them from their height. "We should be fairly safe. Unless…" she hadn't really thought of that problem. "Unless someone hears…"

Ichigo grinned, moving back toward her. He caught her this time from behind, his hands falling on her hips as he held her against him. He leaned his head down to meet her ear.

"Then I guess you'll have to be quiet…" he whispered. "Think you can handle it?"

Rukia's knees felt week as his hot breath met the side of her neck. She flashed back to the scenario she'd played out in her head that one time in the bathroom – the room fogging up with their intensity. But that had only been a day dream, something she'd made up entirely. This was really happening. Her mind reeled at the thought.

Ichigo's hands slipped tentatively to the belt wrapped around her waist, kissing her neck gently. She gasped softly every time his lips made contact with skin and Ichigo found himself addicted to the noise. He pulled the robes up around her head and off, tossing them aside. She shivered slightly, standing in front of him, wearing nothing but her underwear. She covered herself, a bit embarrassed, as he turned her around to face him. He was still fully clothed. It didn't seem right.

Realizing this, Ichigo began undoing his own robes. Rukia's hands met his, stopping him. She glanced up, drawing a deep breath.

"I think…" she said slowly. "That's my job…"

Ichigo held his breath as he allowed her to undress him. Standing face to face, it was then they realized really how inexperienced they both were. They chuckled nervously, Rukia's fingers traveling carefully up his chest, tracing every line of muscle she found. After her exploring reached his shoulder, he gently pulled her closer.

"Come here, you…" he said softly.

His hands traveled up her back and released her from her bra. It was the first time he'd seen Rukia in such a bare form, and as she had asked so very long ago, he stared. She was tiny and pink and – well, perfect. Flushed and trembling, but beaming.

Rukia, growing slightly impatient with their little game, reached forward and began tugging his white boxers down. Once again, Ichigo held his breath. When the soft fabric hit the floor, he knew it was his move. This time, it wasn't only Rukia growing impatient.

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to the bed where he roughly pulled the final article of clothing off her body, bringing his mouth to hers. Rukia's eyes closed tight, her heart pounding as he hovered over her, his lips traveling down the side of her neck and toward her chest. He could almost hear it, although he thought he might have been confusing it with his own which was beating just as rapidly. She squirmed a little, biting her lip. He was wasting time – time they really didn't have, and as much as she enjoyed it, she couldn't bear if they were interrupted again.

Taking control of the situation, she pushed him onto his back and straddled him, very carefully lowering herself onto him. There was no pain, as she had once been told it would be like. Perhaps her gigai would have felt different. But this was quite the opposite. They slid together almost perfectly and instantly, she felt like she knew what she needed to do. Her body seemed to be telling her exactly what it needed.

As she rocked her hips to his the feeling came in waves, building and building in her pelvis. She couldn't explain what it was exactly, but it was addicting, pushing her to move faster, Ichigo's hands on her hips to guide her the whole way. She bit her lip roughly to keep herself from crying out, however, that particular feat grew more and more difficult as he bucked his hips passionately. One hand reached up, twisting in her dark hair to pull her down to his level, his laps almost ravaging hers. He too had to have been fighting the noise as he moaned loudly against them, biting at her lower lip and kissing her with an intensity she'd never experience before.

Everything about it was better than she had been expecting. Despite their awkward start, the heat between them was smoldering, and it wouldn't be long until she couldn't keep quiet anymore. She knew it was going to happen, especially when he decided to take his turn in control, flipping her onto her back. His hands gripped hers tightly, pinning her to the bed as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His thrusting increased, his forehead pressed firmly to hers. Rukia began to quake uncontrollably as the pressure where they met grew unbearable. Her mouth opened wide, though she fought the scream, knowing she would probably lose in the end.

"I-Ichi-" she panted, her voice lined with a faint whining that drove him absolutely crazy.

His movements only quickened, and as she grew tight around him, he forced his mouth over hers, allowing the noise to spill from her mouth into his, muffling it as much as possible. Shortly after she finished, he groaned loudly, coming to the same peak and nearly collapsing onto her, his chest heaving. Rukia held him close to her, her hands forming tiny fists as she too tried to regain her breath. They were sweaty and messy and still wrapped up in each other, but she didn't feel like moving. Her eyes shut tight, she wanted to be able to stay there for as long as they could.

However, as long as they could didn't last very long. As if on cue, a loud alarm sounded from the window, echoing throughout the grounds. They both jumped, staring in the direction of the window. A moment later, several sharp knocks came at the door.

"Rukia!" Renji's voice came through. "Rukia, are you there? Open the door!"

"Oh no…" Rukia scrambled from underneath Ichigo, nearly falling onto the floor clumsily. She crawled over to her discarded clothing and attempted to pull it on, not bothering with her underwear, which she kicked under the bed.

"What is it?" she called out, trying her best to remain calm.

"Emergency," Renji replied urgently. "You're needed downstairs immediately! Would you please open the door?"

His hand fiddled with the handle, but the lock held firm. Rukia was thankful for that, and she knew Renji would respect her privacy enough not to break it down. Glancing back at the bed, Rukia was stunned to find Ichigo still lying there, naked, gaping at her.

"Get dressed!" she hissed at him, mouthing the words insistently.

"What's going on in there?" Renji asked, suddenly concerned. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" Rukia assured him, heading for the door. Behind her, Ichigo started to pull his robes back on. "I'm coming! We'll meet you downstairs!"

"I have strict orders to deliver you," Renji told her.

"I'll be fine, Renji!" she said loudly, reaching for the lock to the door. She opened it just enough for him to see her. Her hair was a mess, she knew it, but she hoped Renji wouldn't notice. "I was just taking a nap. I have to compose myself."

Renji stared at her. Whether or not he believed her, she was unsure, but he nodded shortly, clearing his throat. "Please hurry," he said. "It's important."

"I will," she said.

"And…" Renji seemed disgusted with the following sentence. "Bring Kurosaki with you. He needs to know what's going on."

"Very well," she replied, growing impatient and uncomfortable standing in front of him. "Thank you, Renji."

He stared at her for a moment before bowing low and turning back down the hall. She could hear him mumbling to himself as he walked away, but couldn't make out the words. As she closed the door, she leaned her back against it, heaving a huge sigh of relief. Before her, Ichigo was clothed and looked as though nothing had ever happened. Sporting a casual smile, he marched toward the door, kissing her quickly on the forehead.

"Come on, you," he said, pulling the door back open. "Your brother wants us downstairs."

A/N: So there it was. Worth the wait? I hope so. I'm a little out of practice with this, so I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I'm sorry it took so very long, but the next update will be very soon, and there will be more of where this came from I'm sure before the story ends. Gotta get more into the plot in the next couple chapters, but the IchiRuki-ness is not yet over! Not by a longshot. Let me know your thoughts and keep your eyes peeled for the next one!