The following day, Ichigo and Tatsuki rose from bed, their bodies still a little sore from laughter and whispered confessions that had lasted until nearly three in the morning. Sunlight filtered through the cabin window, casting a warm golden hue over the room. They shared a lazy, cozy breakfast together at the small wooden table, Ichigo surprised by how many different things she had somehow packed.
"Seriously? You packed all this?" he asked, blinking at the neatly laid-out spread—eggs, toast, fruit, even a small thermos of miso soup.
Tatsuki grinned as she bit into a strawberry. "I'm not just muscles and martial arts, you know. I'm full of surprises."
After eating, she stood, stretched with a cute yawn, and made her way to the bathroom. Before disappearing behind the door, she leaned out for a second and smirked. "Don't go anywhere. I've got a surprise for you."
He raised an eyebrow, but nodded, leaning lazily against the doorframe as he waited. His eyes drifted to the window and his mind began to wander.
'Ugh, I am so lazy for that arc,' he thought, frowning. 'Won't lie. But it's like, what—seventeen months later, right? So I don't think I should be worrying about it. Umm... I should go look for that milf and get a job. I need a bank account also.'
A few more minutes passed.
Then the door creaked open.
Tatsuki stepped out, and Ichigo's breath hitched. She was wearing a gorgeous blue bathing suit that hugged her body perfectly. It was elegant but daring, highlighting her toned stomach, defined arms, and those curves he already loved. The deep-blue color made her skin glow, and her confident smirk made the whole look even hotter.
She gave him a playful twirl, her hair bouncing gently with each movement, before stopping right in front of him—just close enough for him to feel the warmth radiating off her.
"What do you think?" she asked, her voice light, cheeks slightly flushed from both anticipation and teasing.
Ichigo let out a slow whistle, eyes running up and down before locking on hers. "It's hot. You're hot. Wow, I didn't know I needed to see you in a swimsuit, but now I can die peacefully."
Tatsuki giggled, a cute melodic sound that made him grin. She nudged him with her hip, rolling her eyes as she tried to hide how pleased she really was.
Tatsuki walked over to her bag and rummaged through it, pulling out a pair of pants. Ichigo raised an eyebrow in confusion but said nothing. A few minutes later, she stepped back out—now wearing a stunning blue bathing suit that hugged her body in all the right ways. At the same time, Ichigo had slipped into a pair of dark green swim trunks that Tatsuki had mysteriously packed.
"How do you even know my size?" he asked, quirking a brow as he followed her down the path leading toward the creek.
"Let's just say a little birdie told me," she replied with a playful smirk.
'It was probably Rukia,' he thought, shaking his head with a light chuckle.
They continued their walk, the trees parting to reveal a breathtaking view of the creek ahead. The crystal-clear water sparkled under the sunlight, flowing gently over smooth rocks. It was peaceful, almost magical. Ichigo couldn't help but be impressed—Tatsuki had clearly planned even more than just yesterday's hike and picnic.
It had been ages since he'd gone for a swim, and the thought stirred a bit of excitement in him. But before Tatsuki could say a word, he swept her up off the ground, grinning mischievously.
"No! Don't you dare—Ichigo, I swear!" she squealed between laughs, squirming in his arms.
Too late.
With a quick laugh of his own, he tossed her into the cool water. She broke the surface with a splash and came up gasping and laughing, brushing her wet hair out of her face.
"You jerk!" she said, half-laughing and half-scolding.
Ichigo dove in after her, and as soon as he came up, he pulled her close into his arms. The creek's current was gentle, letting them float together as the sun warmed their wet skin. Their eyes locked, the moment calm and intimate.
"I always seem to have fun when I'm with you," Tatsuki murmured, her voice soft.
"Yeah, same here. There's never a dull moment with us," he replied, his hands tightening gently around her waist.
They kissed then—slowly at first, their lips meeting softly, melting into something deeper. Ichigo's hands trailed downward, squeezing her firm ass beneath the water. Tatsuki let out a breathy giggle against his lips, and Ichigo grinned into the kiss.
Their tongues clashed hungrily, passion rising as their bodies pressed together in the water. The world around them faded away, leaving just the sound of water and the electricity between them.
Eventually, they pulled back, catching their breath, foreheads resting together as they smiled.
"Wanna race?" Ichigo asked, a teasing glint in his eye.
"Thought you'd never ask," Tatsuki said, instantly competitive.
With that, they shot off through the creek, splashing and racing one another like two carefree kids. Laughter echoed through the trees as they swam and played, completely immersed in the moment. Time passed without notice, the sun climbing high overhead.
When they finally emerged from the water, exhausted and dripping, they dried off and changed. It was time to head back to Karakura Town. The walk home was quiet but comfortable, a peaceful silence shared between two people who didn't need to say anything.
As they entered the city and approached Tatsuki's house, Ichigo reached out and gave her a playful slap on the ass, earning a scoff and a grin.
"When are your parents leaving again?" he asked casually.
"Mmm… they'll be here a while," she said with a wink. "But I don't think that should stop us."
He smirked. "You really are mine, aren't you?"
Tatsuki rolled her eyes with a smile, stepping back toward her door. "Well, go prep for Orihime. Don't screw that up."
"No promises," he chuckled. "But I'll try to be more respectful—unlike how I treat you."
"Yeah, but you know I like it that way," she shot back, closing the distance between them with one final smirk.
He waved as he walked off, hands in his pockets.
She stepped inside with a sigh, only to pause as a thought hit her.
'Damn it… I forgot to show him the lingerie,' she thought with a small pout.
'Next time…'
.....
Ichigo got back home to find Rukia and Nel waiting for him in the living room. Yoruichi had apparently left to take care of something.
"I did say not to expect me to return, you know," Ichigo said as he casually kicked off his shoes, "So the last thing you should've expected… is exactly this."
Rukia folded her arms, giving him a half-annoyed look, but her lips twitched at the corners. "Well, I didn't think you were being literal."
Ichigo smirked and stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "And whose fault is that?"
Rukia didn't move away—quite the opposite. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation as she tilted her chin up slightly. He leaned in and swept her into a deep kiss. She returned it eagerly, wrapping her arms around his neck while Nel sat nearby, watching curiously from the couch.
'I feel a tingle inside,' Nel thought, blinking slowly. 'Do I also want to do that…?'
They finally broke apart, breathless but grinning.
"So, did you miss me?" Ichigo asked, brushing a lock of hair from Rukia's cheek.
"Of course I did. I couldn't even sleep last night… thinking about how you were probably off having sex with another woman behind my back," she replied, her tone dry, but the fire in her eyes said she wasn't just teasing.
Ichigo gave a guilty chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… you probably shouldn't think too much about that going forward."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm heading to Orihime's place later," he said without hesitation. "So… be ready for your turn afterward."
Rukia rolled her eyes but stepped closer again, her voice dropping. "Can't you do something with me before you go? At least help me ease this burning ache you've left behind."
Ichigo paused for a moment, then nodded with a soft laugh. "Alright, fine. But let's not do it here."
He glanced at Nel, who was still sitting upright, her big eyes now fixed on the TV. He grabbed the remote, turned on a kid-friendly movie, and handed it to her.
"There. You good, Nel?"
Nel nodded distractedly, already captivated by the bright colors on the screen.
Ichigo turned to Rukia with a grin. "Come on. Let's head downstairs."
They quietly slipped into the clinic area beneath the house, choosing one of the clean, empty beds used for patient rest. The sterile, quiet air was a strange contrast to the heat already growing between them.
Rukia climbed onto the bed first, lying back with an inviting look in her eyes. "Now, show me how much you actually missed me."
Ichigo chuckled darkly as he climbed in beside her, his eyes gleaming. "You asked for it."
TO BE CONTINUED