Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach,or any of the characters used in this fic. They all belong to Tite Kubo. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.

Reputation

A/N: Pre-TBTP; academy days


"I don't understand why you're so upset," Shunsui muttered, waving as giggling girls passed by. "The way I conduct myself has never bothered you before, so why now?"

Jushiro grimaced, smacking his friend's hand in an attempt to get his full attention. "It wasn't causing me problems before." He crossed his arms, pouting. "Now that everyone's seeing me as your sidekick, your lackey, your wingman, I have a bit of a problem with it. Your happy-go-lucky, let's-all-pick-up-girls-and-have-a-good-time, attitude."

They had started somewhere along the grapevine, as all rumors did, and had managed to make their way back to him. And, at what worse place than in the middle of a class, where he had voiced his utter disbelief and slammed his book shut. Fortunately their instructor had only given him a disapproving glare.

"That only says that you have a problem with my attitude, which shouldn't bother you at all with your thick skin, and the rumors spread by students worse off than myself," the other replied with a laugh, peering down the hall in hopes of another group of his fans. "Frankly, it says very little about you as a person, which is why it shouldn't be a problem."

Evidently, Shunsui didn't understand the damage that came about following rumors. Thus far, the gossip that insisted he was his player friend's backup, also stated that he, the seemingly perfect student, was the same way. It was going to end up trashing his reputation, and Jushiro did not want to be seen as a carbon copy of his skirt-chasing friend.

"People think I'm like you!" Jushiro hissed, eyes wide. "Are you making fun of me, or are you really so thick as to not understand what it is I'm telling you?"

"Relax," his friend laughed, turning to head off down the hall. "I promise, nobody thinks that way of you."

"What kind of fool are you? Everyone's talking about it!"

"Let me correct you, Jushiro. See, there are only three people in the entire academy talking about this: You, me, and my date for this weekend, who was so kind as to instigate this whole thing for me." Shunsui dashed around the corner, still laughing, as Jushiro began muttering to himself. "Just wait! In fifty years, this will be a fantastic memory!"