Body Shock

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters, unfortunately. I'm just playing around with them, and making them play around with each other.

A.N: Thank you to everybody who has read the story and thank you to everybody who has taken the time to review, especially if you’ve stopped lurking briefly to do it. Yes, this story is more than one chapter long, obviously. I'm really glad that people are enjoying it so far.

I haven't read much of the manga so things will mostly be based on what's been said in the anime so far.


"Ah, Kuchiki-san," Urahara said with a big grin, flicking his fan in front of his face. "How lovely to see you, as usual!"

Rukia responded with a glare. "What is it, Urahara? You're the one who called me here so don't act like it's a surprise."

Urahara's expression changed and he smiled thinly. "Well, I thought that I might be able to help you." He still kept the fan in front of his face but this time, with that smile, it was as if his face had changed. There was a sinister feel about him that had come about in the blink of an eye. It was the feel of secrets and of danger, not something that came from a simple greedy merchant but something darker.

"What sort of help?" Rukia asked warily, looking carefully at him.

"I thought that I might be able to give you and Kurosaki-san a break tonight." That smile was starting to give her the creeps. It didn't help that his green and white hat kept his eyes in shadow, the one part that would probably be able to reveal exactly what he was thinking.

"A break?" How stupid. She was echoing his words.

She felt almost relieved when Urahara fanned himself briefly and closed his eyes, enjoying the cool breeze. It meant that he couldn't stare at her like that, with that piercing gaze that making her feel so uncomfortable. She scowled. Damn idiot. Never around when she needed him, always popping up in awkward places, sticking his nose where it didn't belong...

"You came to me a while ago about problems with the gigai," Urahara said coolly, looking nonchalantly to one side and conveniently avoiding Rukia's sudden angry look. "And perhaps if you took one night to let yourself...recover...then maybe your problems will be eased a little."

Yes, he was definitely sticking his nose where it didn't belong.

Rukia fought hard to stop the rising blush that was making her cheeks bright red. "What does this have to do with Ichigo? If I am going to take a break for the night, then how can he? He has to fight any hollows that are around. Furthermore, how can I take a break anyway? Without me, Ichigo won't receive any orders." She tried to keep her voice level but the flurry of questions betrayed her curiosity.

Unfazed, Urahara continued. "You are not the only one who can sense and fight hollows. Those two classmates of Kurosaki-san's have a lot of power and it would be a shame to waste that. If they need any help, I'm sure your Quincy friend will step in. Besides, if you're having a break, it seems unfair to deprive him of one too since you both work so hard. You should enjoy this night off...together." With that, Urahara returned his gaze to Rukia, and smiled again except this time it bordered on a smirk.

You bastard… Rukia clenched her fists.

But the offer was incredibly tempting. And what better time to put her plan into action? She wouldn't have to feel any guilt since any hollows would be taken care of and her and Ichigo would hopefully be undisturbed. Still, she wasn't going to show Urahara that she was grateful to him.

"Tonight, then? You've already let the others know?"

"Don't worry!" Urahara grinned. "It's all been taken care of! But right now, I have some business to attend to, if you please. Enjoy your evening!"

Rukia left the shop, not entirely certain that she should trust Urahara so much. But the heat between her legs that she had become so familiar with was starting again and that feeling didn't let her question him any further.

It was the end of another monotonous school day. Days like this, however, weren't so bad when you had friends. The sun was shining as usual and Rukia walked with Orihime, Tatsuki and Chiziru. Everybody else had gone their separate ways and the afternoon was looking perfect. Rukia couldn't relax, though. Her head was filling with thoughts of what was going to happen tonight. What did Ichigo look like under those clothes? The image of a flash of chest disappearing quickly beneath a white school shirt as its owner buttoned it up pushed its way to the front of her thoughts once again and Rukia felt herself stirring. Why couldn't she keep this body under control? This was starting to get ridiculous.

"Kuchiki-san?" Rukia was reminded that she was with other people as Orihime looked at her curiously. "Is something wrong? You're staring into space."

"W-who, me? I'm absolutely fine, Inoue-san! I was just thinking that it's such a nice afternoon." She mentally praised her own acting skills, trying to ignore thoughts of what Ichigo's whole body might look like without clothes. He was slim and muscular, she knew that much. So what did the rest...would her plan...how would it feel when...how should she...what should she...what position should they...what would it feel like if...would she be expected to...would it feel as good as...and most importantly, would he want to...?

"Yeah, Orihime." Tatsuki had overheard the conversation and interrupted before Orihime could say anything else and before Rukia could betray her true thoughts. "You space out often so allow other people to once in a while."

"It's true, Hi~me! I told you that one of these days I'm going to take advantage and kiss you while you're not paying attention!" Chiziru's grin was large and somewhat wicked as she moved forward and puckered her lips together, approaching Orhime's cheek.

"Over my dead body!" Before Chiziru could go any further, Tatsuki's fist shot forwards and connected with the girl's face. "I'll be damned if I ever let you take advantage of Orihime! Why didn't you walk with Ryo and Michiru today?"

Chiziru rubbed the side of her face where Tatsuki's fist had hit it. "Because I wanted to walk with Orihime! You're always watching over her. She doesn't need so much protecting, you know. Why don't you let me protect her for once? I'll be sure to take good care of her! Nobody else will lay a finger on her!"

"But you will!" Tatsuki stood firmly and pointed accusingly at Chiziru. "You're always trying it on and I'm always going to be protecting Orihime. Go for someone else for a change!"

"But there could be no one for me but my 'Hime!"

"Shut up!"

As Tatsuki shouted at Chiziru, Orihime and Rukia continued walking. "Umm...You're always looking so flushed and awkward lately, Kuchiki-san. Are you absolutely sure that nothing's wrong?" As Rukia nodded trying to reassure her, Orihime then hesitated before her next sentence.

"I heard about tonight."

Rukia's eyes widened. How much had Orihime heard? Had she noticed anything? Had she known all those times that Rukia was struggling to keep still and ignore the feeling welling up inside her during class as Ichigo sat next to her? Did she suspect anything unusual? Had Urahara told her what she was planning with Ichigo tonight? She would kill him if he had. "O-Oh, is that so?" She forced a smile and was met by Orihime's genuine cheerful expression.

"Me, Sado-kun and Ishida-kun will take care of everything so you and Kurosaki-kun can take care of that special training you guys have to do." Orihime danced a few steps forward and spun around, her long hair flying behind her. She turned and looked at Rukia, who smiled weakly. "Wow...special training! I suppose tonight will be a kind of special training for us, too."

"Yes, I suppose so." Rukia hid her sigh of relief. Perhaps she could trust Urahara after all.

"I~chigo!" Keigo's happy cry pierced the air as he slapped a hand on Ichigo's back. "Come out with us tonight! We're going to see if we can meet any cute girls! There are loads of beautiful women out there for the taking."

"Sorry," Ichigo said flatly. "I'm busy tonight."

"What?! What do you mean busy? You should always have time for girls! What kind of healthy male high-school student are you, anyway? First you study and now you say you don't want to go out?"

"Shut up."

"Hmph." Keigo turned to Chad and looked up at him. "What about you, Chad? Come out with us! You like girls, don't you?"

"I also have things to do," Chad said in his usual quiet and serious tone of voice. He walked on, not bothered by Keigo's anguished scream.

"What is the world coming to?!" He stopped walking and stood with his hands on top of his head, his face twisted into an expression of disbelief. "We should all be crowding to go out together!" He rushed forwards to catch up with the others. "Fine then! As a last resort, what do you say?" He clapped a hand on Ishida's shoulder. "You look like you could use some help from the master!"

Ishida shrugged Keigo's hand off. "I don't need any help. I have things to do as well. Besides, I highly doubt that you are the master of anything." He punctuated this with a haughty look, pushing his glasses up his nose and refusing to acknowledge Keigo any further.

"How cruel!" Keigo turned to his last remaining hope. "Mizuiro! It's just us, then!"

"Sorry, Keigo. I promised that girl from last week that I would call her tonight." Mizuiro smiled and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly as Keigo's face dropped.

"Sc-Sc-Screw you all, then! I'll never forgive you guys! Girls hate a loooooooner!" He ran off down the road, cursing everybody, his cries echoing as he got further and further away.

There was a brief pause before Mizuiro broke the silence. "Well...I suppose I had better go after him. See you guys later." He followed Keigo with a tired sigh, waving goodbye to the others.

The remaining three walked in silence for a while, each thinking their own thoughts about tonight. Ichigo looked up at the sky, his bag slung over his shoulder. What was this all about anyway? Sandal-hat had said that perhaps it was time for him to have a break after working so hard. Even if that was true, he had somehow gotten used to his broken sleep patterns and fighting hollows that he wouldn't have minded not having a night off. What surprised him was that Rukia was actually agreeing to this. She had always been the one that had told him he could never take a rest from fighting hollows. What would happen if a hollow attacked and killed someone on his night off? Ichigo knew that he would be responsible for their death and he didn't want to have that guilt on his shoulders. He had enough problems as it was.

Maybe it was different because of Chad and the others.

"Hey," Ichigo said suddenly. "Are you sure you're going to be ok tonight?"

"Of course I'll be ok." Ishida sniffed a little, almost as if he was offended that Ichigo even dared to ask such a question.

"I wasn't asking you." Ichigo looked up at Chad this time. "So, what about it?"

Chad continued to walk, his face expressionless as he pondered his answer for a moment. "I'll be fine."

"As long as you're sure. I don't like making you guys do this."

"Didn't I just tell you that I'll be ok?" Ishida cast a look at Ichigo.

Ichigo glared back furiously. "And didn't I just tell you that I wasn't asking you, dumbass?"

"In any case, there are always others besides you that will help if needs be. Not that we will need your help."

"Ungrateful little shit. You didn't have to walk with us today."

"But I felt I should if you wanted to discuss anything for tonight."

"Not with you I don't."

Chad put an end to their banter by pausing, bringing the other two to a stop as well. He looked straight ahead. "It's late."

"Yeah." Everybody had to go home and get ready. Ichigo looked at Ishida and Chad. Rukia's worrying was rubbing off on him. He was sure that Chad and Orihime would be fine, and as much as he didn't like to admit it, Ishida could hold his own as well. He should just enjoy the free time. Rukia had told him that she was intending to use the time to relax a little as well. Perhaps he could stop by the store and get something nice for tonight if they were going to stay indoors. A dessert of some kind? Would she appreciate strawberry pudding? He felt like a treat himself, anyway, especially since this night was to be all about enjoyment. And he would check the TV listings as well; see if there wasn't something interesting that he could watch. How long had it been since he had such time to himself in the evening?

He was looking forward to it already.