AN- No, your eyes are not deceiving you! After a year and a half, I have updated! This one is placed way back in the way back, before Soul Society.

Theme: Stuck Together

He wanted to groan when he heard the closet door slide open, but wisely stayed silent. He listened as her ridiculously small feet hit the ground and as she tiptoed her way over to his bed.

“Ichigo.” She hissed, her foot tapping impatiently on the ground. He skillfully ignored her and continued pretending he was asleep.

“Ichigo!” she said again, a little more bite in her voice this time. “I know you’re awake!”

The teenage boy finally let out that groan.

“Go to sleep.” He growled at her without opening his eyes.

“I tried.”

“Try harder.”

“I’m not tired.”

“I don’t care.”

“I’m bored.”

“I’m trying to sleep. I’m not going to entertain you.”

“Fine! You’re so useless!” she snapped and was out of his room before he could retort. Ichigo sighed contently as he listened to her make her way down the hall and then down the stairs. He fluffed his pillow a bit and pulled the blanket in closer. Hopefully he’d be asleep before she came back, and then she’d just leave him alone.

He was half way into the plan when he heard the downstairs TV come roaring to life. Muttering under his breath, Ichigo raced down the hall, then the stairs, barely even coming to a stop as he snatched the remote from Rukia’s hand and shut off the TV.

“What was the for?!” she demanded, jumping to her feet and swiping at his arm in an effort to get the remote.

“Do you want to wake the whole house?!” he retorted, keeping it out of her reach.

“Well, if you’d just gotten up when-“

Ichigo covered her mouth and narrowed his eyes at the stairs. Rukia was about to land a very precise blow to his stomach when she heard the sound of heavy footsteps heading down the upstairs hall.

Before she could react, Ichigo had dragged her into the hallway and pulled her with him into the closet. The closet was small, and packed with various junk, forcing Ichigo to stand with his chest pressed against her back. He refused to think about the way she fit against him, or how easy it would be to rap his arms around her, or how good she smelled now that he’d bought her shampoo that his little sisters didn’t use. Glaring at the back of her head (since these thoughts were obviously all her fault) he shoved his hands in his pockets.

They stood completely still and silent for several long minuets as they listened to Isshin wander about the kitchen. Eventually, they heard him go up the stairs and down the hall. After waiting another few minuets to be sure his father had returned to his room, Ichigo sighed.

“Alright, let’s go. I want to go back to sleep.” He told her, reaching past her to open the door. She started foreword, then stopped abruptly, causing him to run into her back.

“Let go of my hair!” she hissed, stomping on his foot.

“Damn it, Rukia! Why would I-“

“I don’t know, now let-“

“You’re caught on my shirt button!”

“Well, fix it!”

“Hold on, I’m trying! Stop moving!”

Rukia held still for exactly seventeen seconds before she began to squirm again.

“Hurry up.” She demanded, reaching up and trying to pull at her hair.

“You’re only making it worse! Just, here.” He said, gently putting one hand on her hip, while loosely rapping the other arm around her waist. “Just tilt your head down, and slowly turn around. I’ll be able to see it better.” Carefully, he guided her as he turned around, then released her and began to work on the knot. She was glad he couldn’t see the blush that had crept onto her cheeks when he had spun her around, her face now buried in his chest.

She sighed at her own foolishness, but kept quiet. Feeling her breathe, Ichigo decided that she was much too close, and sped up his efforts. Only a few moments later, she was free and he was stepping away from.

“There.” He stated, looking away and scratching his head.

“I’m tired now.” She said quickly, and then nimbly ran up the stairs and out of his sight. He watched after her for a moment, shaking his head and muttering to himself about how annoying she was. Finally, he crept up the stairs after her, grateful that he’d finally be able to get some sleep.

END.

Thank you all for your lovely reviews and encouragement! I'm sorry I don't update this one often. While I still love the pairing, the story line has lost my interest for now. Thanks again!