Chapter 1 - Shall We Dance?
I always made sure that I wouldn't get close to anyone else aside from my family and the two people who are my childhood friends.
I have been through a lot of bad things some others might have gone through, and I learned something from it: Don't get attached to anybody who you're not yet close to, so that harm would not fall on them. Yet no matter how much I try to show them I'd rather be on my own, they would still persist and persist.
Nobody understood it. No one would give up. No one would just leave me alone. Especially a few people who forced me to go to an event that made all that work to keep my life quiet crumble.
That night was something that made my life spiral out of control more than it already was.
Ichigo Kurosaki changed into her school uniform, and as always she is annoyed to how revealing her school skirt is. "So girly." She complained quietly as she grabbed her bag and walked downstairs while holding her bag like a boy would usually do.
For years now, she always acted like boy and hates almost all girly stuff to the core. Whether at home or outdoors, she wears nothing but plain and boyish or unisex clothes. The only reassuring thing is that she is straight but she has nothing against homosexuals.
"Morning, Yuzu, Karin, Dad." After greeting them, they greeted her back. Sitting on her chair she scooped a bowlful and gave thanks, satisfying her stomach with the meal.
"Anything new lately?" Karin asked, wanting to quell her boredom by chatting. "We have an exam in three weeks, and there's a lame 'masquerade prom' this Saturday. Unlike the others who are psyched about a stupid event, I'm not coming."
Her eyes showed sour thought about it, because yesterday her classmates who self-proclaimed themselves as her 'friends' insisted that she go even though she said no since last week.
"What can I do to make you get the point that I'm not going?" While saying that, she was wishing inside her head to send all their heads flying to the wall if that is what will get them to shut up. It was already annoying to how many times she was asked the same thing.
"It's just, you're the only one who doesn't want to go, which makes it feel weird." The sweet but air-headed Inoue replied, and Ichigo scowled at her.
"My decisions are my decisions. I'll do this..." She stood up, sending half of her anger through a kick on Keigo's crotch which made him cup himself and fall to the ground in pain as the others watched in shock.
"... to show you that no means no. If you don't want to be next, piss off." Tatsuki wanted to protest but Rukia touched her shoulder and shook her head. "Even if you persist she won't go." Toshiro explained.
Ichigo mentally thanked Rukia and Toshiro for being understanding as she continued studying for the exam though it was still far away. She hoped it would be the end of it, as they said no more and left her alone.
"Is that so? Well, I don't like proms either."
Ichigo deeply despised her classmates. She couldn't help but wonder why do they always try to get chummy with her though she gives them several signs that she's not interested to hang out with them, especially go to a prom that doesn't suit her interests.
Excluding her two childhood friends and her family, she put up a barrier between her and everyone else.
Three days passed and Ichigo is relieved that they were no longer asking her to go. But she didn't know that they had another plan in store. Physical force is their plan B. She is oblivious to their thoughts, which was unfortunate for her.
At that Saturday in the afternoon, she was alone in the house, with her sisters at camp and her father at the store. She completely paid no thought about the prom and just studied her lessons quietly in the living room, when suddenly she heard loud bangs coming from the door.
Thinking it is a burglar she put her guard up. She was surprised when she saw Tatsuki dressed in a dark blue gown with Inoue behind her, wearing a light pink dress. She hated the spikehead the most because of her extremely unyielding nature.
"What the hell do you want?"
She slowly got the answer when she saw the shopping bag the spikehead is holding. Tatsuki tossed the bag at Inoue and before she could react Tatsuki restrained her with all her strength so she wouldn't be able to break free.
Though an expert in martial arts, she's having trouble keeping the orange head still. Inoue approached her and took out the dress. And just like that, Ichigo's world went dark but the thought that she will kill them after this never left her mind.
Ichigo glared at them while her fingers pressed the buttons of her phone, sending a message to her dad about her situation.
"Promise me that there won't be a next time ever again, or you won't hear the end of it." From the voice, anyone could see that she was doing her best to control her rage at them who were more than happy that they succeeded.
"Okay." Inoue said in an apologetic tone before handing her a mask.
Her eyes coated with light grey eyeshadow looked at it, and for a moment she was amazed at whoever made the mask since the glittering colors of silver and black swan feathers. Ichigo hid it in the paper bag which has her clothes that were 'stripped' off her the minute they parked in front of the hotel where the prom is taking place.
Stepping off the huge car that belonged to Tatsuki's father, she nearly tripped from the high heels that Inoue gave her. She really hated stuff that girls would wear.
The spike head tossed the keys to her, knowing that she won't use it to drive away. Taking careful steps to prevent stumbling, she went inside and before going any further, Inoue called her from behind and handed the mask to her which she forgot to bring. "We promise we won't do this again, Ichigo."
An annoyed Ichigo sighed before proceeding as well to the said floor via the elevator. Coincidentally, Toshiro was there, wearing a simple tux and black shoes which made him look formally neat.
"Good evening, Kurosaki." He greeted. "You too, Toshiro." She greeted back.
After the exchange of greetings, he eyed her from top to bottom and became inquisitive. He wondered why a tomboy like her would wear a black dress matched with black high heels, joined with gray elbow-length gloves and a mask that she would never make for herself to wear.
"Why are you..."
Ichigo cut him off, but not in a rude way. "Those persistent jerks won't stop." He got the idea and sighed for her, just before she asked him the same thing. "Why are you also here? You don't like proms either."
He sighed, "I came here to watch over Hinamori. Who knows what crazy things she'll do when I'm not watching her." Ichigo understood what he meant right away, knowing how wild can his cousin be at certain events like dances, parties and et cetera.
When the elevator opened, noise quickly filled their ears and lights nearly blinded their eyes. They walked out, wishing each other luck to survive the night before going their separate ways; Toshiro to his cousin and Ichigo... to nowhere. She rolled her eyes at every sight, people having fun like it's their last night alive.
"There is really nothing fun about a prom." She commented to herself before sitting on an unoccupied chair, passing time by looking at the mask and putting it on time after time.
Somewhere else, a man with the age of twenty-five sipped the last of his wine while standing against the wall. He didn't want to go because he'd rather stay home, but as a teacher it is mandatory.
Knowing that he has to wear it, he reluctantly took out the mask colored dark blue and placed it on his head, the color enhancing his eyes that are as silver as the moon. He frowned slightly, wondering how funny he looked right now.
He could see his sister talking with a naturally happy smile, and he is a bit relieved that his sister is doing fine. That could be enough for him to go through the night.
He immediately walked forward to grab food from the buffet when his stomach growled. But unexpectedly he bumped onto someone who was just on her way to the comfort room.
"Sorry." Both apologized and looked at each others' face, the masks keeping covering three-fourth of their faces that they wouldn't know who each other are.
But Ichigo already knew very well who did she encounter. She may be distant but she knows everybody, especially this person. He is Rukia's older brother, one of their year's eleven teachers who teaches Japanese Literature., Byakuya Kuchiki.
The surprise lasted for only five seconds when she bowed her head as a sign of apology and almost passed through the taller frame until he stopped her from a comment that she wasn't expecting to hear.
"You look like though you're here, you never wanted to be here." Byakuya said, feeling the urge to say it out as he could see himself in her; that both of them didn't want to go to the prom and are very bored at the moment. Ichigo answered his comment briefly and calmly, "That's true. I was brought here against my will."
"I see." He said, seeing her unique sunset hair, and her dark dress that suited her though it was a contrast to her bright hair color.
"You want to pass the time then?" He asked, asking himself the minute it slipped out his tongue why did he ask a girl whose name he didn't get yet for a dance. She read between the lines and knew what he meant, which was pretty a huge shock but she continued keeping up her composure.
This moment was really awkward that she could get bumps on her skin. "Are you sure you're okay with it? You don't mind at all?"
Both were unaware of the tense atmosphere forming around them because of a simple question as they faced each other, the eyes hidden through masks staring deep at the gunmetal and sienna orbs.
"I don't mind. You?" He replied, extending his hand and waiting for her answer. Dancing isn't her thing, she knew that but saying no to someone nine years older would be rude no matter how nice she tries to talk herself out of it.
"I don't mind either." With that reply that clearly said yes she took his hand as the pair started dancing. She just wished that neither Rukia, Toshiro, or the people who dragged her here would see her.
A/N: To those who read the old version of this story, there goes the remake of the first chapter, which is obviously longer and with less humor and more drama, and by drama I mean conflicts with themselves or their pasts.
The romance will be a little different since Ichigo and Byakuya's pasts are a big deal to the story, not just Ichigo's like before. Of course the story will center more on Ichigo since she's the main character but there are several major parts for Byakuya. Is it good? Or did I screw the chapter up?
And to those who just read this now, I hope you like the story, even if you never got to read the old version.