Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

All right people, sorry it's taken a while to update…I've been working like CRAZY! Plus I have another story going and I have to admit, I can get a little disorganized so…that's my excuse. =) Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

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"Inoue, what's the matter?" Rukia asked worriedly. That morning, Inoue had come into the classroom a little downtrodden and hadn't spoken to anyone. This was definitely unusual for the usually perky, happy auburn haired woman. Inoue nodded a little and looked down at her desk. Rukia stood beside her with her arms folded over her chest in disbelief.

"I'm serious, tell me what's the matter."

Inoue sighed. "It's just…I don't know, I've just been feeling… sad… lately..." the woman couldn't even finish her sentence. Rukia nodded knowingly. Sure, Rukia knew Inoue lived alone and didn't have too many people come over and spend time with her, but in Rukia's defense, she never really asked.

"Hey, hey," Rukia offered gently, placing her hand on her friends small shoulder. Inoue looked up at her with watery eyes. "Tell you what, I'll come stay with you this weekend. We can do lots of girl things to get your mind off of things."

"Really?" Inoue exclaimed, perking up at once. Rukia smiled and nodded, sneaking a glance over to her lover Ichigo who had been eavesdropping. She saw his expression harden as he sulked in his chair.

"Sure! I'll come over on Friday, and stay until school on Monday. We can eat junk food and watch girl movies…you won't even remember why you were sad in the first place."

"Oh, Rukia! Thank you so much! I can't wait!" Inoue stood from her seat, giving the shinigami woman a hug so tight, Rukia almost felt the breath get knocked out of her. Rukia nodded again and moved to take her seat, passing Ichigo and stealing one more glance down at him. He looked back up at her with that same, sulky look in his eyes. Rukia bit her bottom lip. "Oh well, can't please everyone." She thought to herself as she sat down.

Friday came faster than Ichigo had anticipated. The whole day after school he sat on his bed as he watched Rukia pack for her weekend at Inoue's house.

"Do you have to go?" He whined as Rukia shoved clothes messily into a bag. Rukia rolled her eyed as she turned to look at Ichigo. "Yes! I have to go. Inoue is our friend; I want to be there for her. Besides," Rukia looked at him with a mischievous grin, "I've done you enough 'favors' over the last few weeks, its time I paid attention to someone else, wouldn't you agree?"

Ichigo grinned in return as he lay back on his elbows.

"Well sure. I just don't think I've done you enough favors. I'd really hate to send you off feeling so…unappreciated."

Rukia couldn't help but laugh a little. "Is that right? Well then, you have approximately thirty minutes to make sure I get what I deserve."

"Is that an invitation?" Ichigo sat up excitedly, looking at his lover with hungry eyes. Rukia looked back at him over her shoulder and bit her bottom lip. "Sounds like it to-" She tried to say, but Ichigo had already hurried from his bed over to her, knocking her to the floor as he moved over her, pressing his body close to hers. His fingers lost themselves in Rukia's hair as his lips found their way to hers. He kissed her passionately; his tongue moving across her lips and entering her mouth. Rukia returned his kiss with just as much desire as she met his tongue with hers, feverishly battling each other for dominance. Rukia rubbed her body against him, growing wetter as his erection teased her. Ichigo moved his lips from her mouth to the bottom of her ear; his hand crept slowly down the front of her dress and had just reached her panties when suddenly…the doorbell rang. Rukia groaned in annoyance and pushed Ichigo off of her. Ichigo lay on his back on the floor and covered his face with his hands in frustration.

"Why? Why now?" Rukia bitched as she grabbed her overnight bag. Ichigo sat up and began sulking again, watching Rukia rush to finish any last-minute packing she could. They could hear Ichigo's little sister Karin talking to Inoue casually as she waited downstairs for Rukia. After five minutes, Rukia rushed to kiss Ichigo goodbye and hurried out the door, leaving her lover still on the floor.

Rukia missed Ichigo that night at Inoue's, but was still enjoying her time with Inoue. She didn't realize just how funny Inoue really could be, and how genuine. They both slept in Inoue's bed; Fortunately Rukia was now used to sharing and having a warm body beside her; whereas before, the idea of not having room for herself might have bothered her. It was middle of the night and both women were very, very tired. Inoue was laughing about something, but was nodding off at the same time. Rukia was still hanging in there; she felt tired but wasn't quite ready to sleep yet.

"Inoue, why don't you go to bed? I think I'm going to grab a shower and then I'm coming to bed."

"Alright," Inoue agreed with a yawn as she began walking to her bedroom. "Goodnight! I'll probably be asleep when you get in…"

"Goodnight, Inoue!" Rukia called back, and walked over to where she had left her bad by the double glass doors that led to Inoue's porch. It was at that moment Rukia spotted a dark object standing on the balcony. Rukia shrieked and flew back in shock, grabbing at her waist blindly for her sword in a panic, although she wasn't in her shinigami form. The black-clad figure walked forward, and Rukia immediately recognized that orange mess of hair the intruder donned.

"Ichigo!" Rukia hissed angrily. Suddenly the bedroom door to Inoue's room flung open, and Ichigo disappeared back into the darkness.

"Rukia! Are you alright?" Inoue called in a sleepy, concerned voice. Rukia tried to steady her breathing as she turned back to Inoue.

"Ah…yes! I'm alright…I just found a…uh, spider…in my bag!" Rukia covered and pointed to the overnight bag. Inoue giggled sleepily and nodded. "Alright, I was just worried we were getting attacked or something! Darn those spiders!"

"No, no…I killed it. Crisis over!" Rukia replied with a nervous chuckle, waving as Inoue shut the door to her bedroom again. Rukia whipped around immediately, watching as Ichigo walked back to the doors with a wide grin on his face. His lovers slid open the door as quietly as possible, glaring as he slipped in quietly. Rukia grabbed him by the collar of his shinigami uniform and drug him down the hall and to the bathroom.

"What on earth were you thinking, sneaking up on me like that?! How long were you there?" Rukia hissed furiously as she turned the shower on to cover the sound. Ichigo smiled down at her and leaned against the door.

"I just got here. If you were paying attention earlier, there was a hollow. I decided to drop by and make sure you were alright after I killed it." He replied casually. Rukia rolled her eyes and glanced back at the shower. "Well, just don't do it again. I was about to kill you."

Ichigo stifled a laugh, reaching out and wrapping his arms gently around Rukia's waist. "I saw that. You were going to stab me with your invisible sword."

Rukia couldn't help but laugh as she slid her hands up so that they rested on Ichigo's chest. "That's what you would deserve for being such a stalker."

"Yes," Ichigo argued with a smile as he leaned down towards Rukia, "but you know it turns you on."

Rukia leaned up so that her lips brushed over his playfully. "Says who?" she whispered. Ichigo made no reply, but moved one hand up from her waist to the back of her head, forcing her lips to meet his. He kissed her gently, running his tongue across her lips teasingly as he began pushing her backward toward the shower. She broke away from him, remembering at once where they were.

"Ichigo, we can't! This is Inoue's apartment! What if she catches us?" Rukia protested as Ichigo began lifting Rukia's pajama shirt up.

"Then I guess she'll just have to get over it…or join us?" He added slyly, looking at Rukia with one eyebrow raised. Rukia laughed and pushed him away playfully. "You just keep dreaming…"

Ichigo grabbed her back in a hurry, taking her shirt a little more forcefully and nearly tore it off of her body. Rukia didn't argue this time. In return she removed his robes skillfully, matching his own fervor. In a matter of seconds the two had managed to completely undress each other, stealing occasional messy kisses as they clumsily climbed into the shower. The water was hot against their bodies. Ichigo watched as Rukia let the water fall down her body. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, her hands running all through her damp hair. Ichigo licked his lips and moved his gaze to her breasts. He loved the way the water was hitting her hardened nipples. He slid his hands along the sides of her body, moving up slowly until his hands found his desire. Rukia moaned as his fingers traced along her nipples, sending shivers down her spine when he began to knead her with both hands. Ichigo maneuvered his body so that he stood behind her, his erection pressing against her lower back. One hand remained playing with her breasts while the other traveled down her body. Rukia leaned back against him, her breathing growing heavier the lower his hand went. His fingers found their way to her wet, hot center. He growled in pleasure when Rukia moaned even louder, moving one hand so it rested on the wall of the shower while the other played with the breast Ichigo wasn't touching. His fingers traced up and down her, causing her body to shake against him. He began sucking on her shoulder, running his tongue up to the side of her neck, as he pushed two fingers inside of her. He didn't hesitate to thrust his fingers rapidly while the water from the shower ran down both their bodies. Rukia thought she was going to scream when he finally inserted a third finger, maintaining his fast pace. Ichigo felt her grow tight around his fingers while Rukia struggled to fight the orgasm building up inside of her. Rukia exhaled loudly, whimpering in pleasure. She was trying her hardest to be quiet, but this was just too damn good.

As soon as she came, Rukia whipped around, her lips crashing on Ichigos passionately.

"Ichigo, please! Fuck me!" She begged as she leaned against the wall, pulling him to her. Ichigo grinned while his lips traced their way across her forehead.

"Well, I did say I didn't want to leave you unsatisfied, didn't I?" He asked gently as his hands reached down for her ass. Her heart leapt as he pulled her up, hoisting her to his level as her arms and legs wrapped around him, and she buried her face in his neck. Ichigo moaned as he entered her. The way she felt never ceased to amaze him. Rukia purred into his neck as he began moving slowly inside of her. Ichigo was normally not one to take it slow, but tonight he just had to savor this. Rukia lifted her head, brushing some wet hair away from Ichigo's face and looked into his eyes. She wanted to say it, she felt like saying it more than she could possibly stand, but she held back for some reason. She wanted to tell him how she was really feeling for him. Ichigo looked back into her eyes in a way that Rukia was convinced he understood what she was trying to say, and returned the feeling. With one small, gentle kiss to her lips, Ichigo began thrusting himself harder inside of her, pressing her even tighter against the wall. Rukia closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his, while both of them gasped and tried their hardest to maintain quiet moans of pleasure. Ichigo had to lean down to her shoulder and practically bite gently on her in order to contain himself as he came. Rukia clenched his hair tightly and squeezed her eyes shut as she tightened around him. She wanted to scream his name at that moment, but somehow miraculously she managed to control it. Ichigo came inside of her, the warmth of him spreading inside of her. Rukia savored the feeling while he let her down, placing her back on the ground. Rukia had to cling to him in order to find her balance. Ichigo smiled down at her and shut off the water, climbing out of the shower and finding them both towels. Neither said anything as they dried off and put their clothes back on, and upheld the silence as they walked back to the balcony. Ichigo slid the door open quietly and stepped through, turning back to Rukia who was staring up at him with a small smile on her face.

"Are you sure you can't come home tomorrow?" Ichigo begged in a whisper, tracing his fingers across her cheek. Rukia hook her head sympathetically and sighed. "You know I promised Inoue. I'll be back on Monday. But Ichigo, you can't do this every night. We have to have some respect for Inoue, you know." Rukia whispered back. Ichigo nodded, lowering his hand and dropped it to his side.

"I know. It's just that…" He glanced down to the ground and felt his face go a little red. Rukia grinned, knowing exactly what he wanted to say.

"I miss you, too." She whispered. Ichigo smiled to himself as he backed away, submerging himself into the night.

"Monday, then." He whispered. Rukia nodded once. "Monday." She replied as she slid the door shut, watching her lover disappear into the night. With a heavy sigh, Rukia turned to walk to Inoue's bedroom. When she climbed into bed, Inoue stirred beside her.

"Rukia? What took you so long?" Inoue asked, half-asleep. Rukia wasn't sure what to answer as she made herself comfortable.

"I just, uh…like showers."

"Oh." Inoue yawned loudly as she fell back to sleep at once. Rukia breathed in relief. She hadn't been caught after all. Rukia smiled to herself as she closed her eyes to sleep.