Author's Note: Apparently, I had written this first chapter almost a year ago but had never really gotten back to it since. Speaking of which, I'd never intended for this to turn out into a fanfic; this was actually a comic I made a long time ago using screenshots from the anime and my own speech bubbles, but then I loved it so much and decided to make it into a short little fanfic. I hope you enjoy this little fic as much as I loved writing it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters. KT's the mastermind behind them and I applaud his genius – Ichiruki FTW!


Day 1

I can do this, right? I know I can! This isn't the hardest thing I've ever done before. I've defeated countless of hollows, higher-level Shinigami, and even Arrancar. I've helped so many dead souls, my family, my friends…so what's a little thing like this next to all of that?

Ichigo hesitated for a split second in mid-walk, his backpack casually strung over his right shoulder. He didn't have to ask, he knew that much. The answer was obvious:

Because none of that involved asking Rukia Kuchiki on a date.

Rukia Kuchiki. The Shinigami who'd given him his powers and changed his world, the one person he was so determined to risk his life for in the Soul Society, the one damn annoying midget he somehow got to love so much in the few short months he'd known her. He could easily argue with her about anything, whether it be her "unhealthy obsession" with bunnies or her "poorly drawn" pictures (all of which earned him a punch in the gut, of course). He could talk to her as if it was the most normal thing on the planet. With her, everything just felt so right, so natural.

But apparently, asking the girl out was never something that was covered in Rukia 101. What a strange thing love is.

Groaning in frustration, Ichigo tore his eyes from the ground long enough to catch a glimpse of dark indigo hair before it disappeared around a corner.

"Wait! Is that—" Not wasting a second, Ichigo took off after him, catching him on the stairs. "Hey, Ishida!

The bespectacled Quincy in question turned around, his piercing sapphire eyes matching the same cold tone in his voice. "What do you want, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo tightened his fists, trying to regain his composure. "Well, you're never gonna believe this, but…" I know he'll probably never let me live this down, but I'm running out of options! I have to do this, one way or another!

"I need some advice on how to ask Rukia out!" he choked. He'd said it as quickly as possible, yet still wanted to gag as soon as the words left his mouth. I can't believe I just said that!

Ichigo then decided to focus his attention on Uryu, who now appeared dazed beyond all reason. He looked just about ready to faint, but whether it be because of the shock of the news itself or because of who was asking him for that kind of advice, Ichigo had no idea. Uryu just stood there like a frail cardboard cut-out that could've been toppled over with the slightest breeze. "You're asking me how to…?"

"Why didn't you ask Inoue-san or something?" Uryu snapped all of a sudden, "Do I look like someone who'd know?"

Ichigo just shrugged. "Well, I dunno…you were the first person I ran into…"

Uryu cleared his throat, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. "Well, I must say, Kurosaki, you certainly are full of surprises," he remarked. "But since you insist, I suppose I can offer you my best advice. It's a secret technique I've perfected…"

He pushed his glasses up again, but this time for dramatic emphasis. Close-up on the eyes. "…That will win the heart of any girl." Or so I'd like to believe.

Ichigo could only stare in amazement. "What is it?" he asked, unable to hide the awe in his voice.

"It's my…" Uryu whipped out a thin needle and swiftly threaded a delicate white string through it, his now-shaded glasses white with a burning intensity as he swung the needle in a series of elegant figure-eights. "Secret sewing technique!"

Ichigo looked on at his friend in sheer disappointment, trying to get over the fact that he was actually in awe of Uryu just a few seconds ago. So much for that. "That's your amazing secret?" Ichigo asked, now more mortified than shocked. Seriously, though, Ishida, you're the most girly guy I know… That is, until the image of a certain purple-haired Shinigami of Squad 11 suddenly popped into his mind with his infamous "That's not very beautiful" lectures. Ichigo cringed. Okay, make that second most girly guy I know…

Uryu then pulled out one of his trademark Quincy outfits from his backpack, successfully freeing Ichigo from his thoughts in the process. "See? How do you think I get such cool clothes all the time? It's because I make them myself, so if—"

Ichigo froze in horror. "Hey, wait a sec! Y-You're not…actually gonna make me wear that thing, are you?" he stuttered out. He tried to imagine the prospect of him in the Quincy costume, but the very idea was almost too awful to imagine. All the came up with was the walking, talking definition of Nerd, except this time, rather than it being Uryu, it was a certain Strawberry instead!

Ichigo could've sworn he would've hurled right then if Uryu hadn't said otherwise: "No, of course I'm not going to make you wear this!" Uryu replied, with equal shock and disbelief. "Don't give yourself too much credit! It would dishonor the Quincy name if I ever let a Shinigami wear one of our sacred robes!

Ichigo breathed in a sigh of relief. "Well, that's good. Like hell I'd ever be caught dead in one of those clown costumes anyway."

"What did you say, Kurosaki?" Uryu fumed.

Ichigo just ignored him. "So anyway, if you weren't planning on lending me one of your ner – I mean, Quincy outfits, what was that so-called 'secret technique' you were planning to show me then?"

Uryu adjusted the crisp tie on his uniform, scowling in irritation. "Well, if I hadn't been so rudely interrupted, maybe I would've told you by now…but I'll leave it up to you. If you want to be as stylish as me, I can offer you some sewing lessons."

He pushed his glasses up for the third time. Dramatic close-up on the eyes. "What do you say, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo could feel his eye twitching convulsively in horror as he made his best attempt to force a smile. It was all he could do from going all Shinigami on Uryu, anyway. The things I get myself into… This is probably the stupidest choice I'll ever make, but if it's for Rukia…

"Fine, I'll do it…but this better work," Ichigo decided, though his deep-set scowl and death glare just confirmed that he was more eager to kill Uryu than anything else. A look Uryu apparently failed to notice.

"Don't worry, Kurosaki! It's foul-proof!"


A/N: And that's the end of chapter one, day one! I'm surprised I was actually able to drag twenty-six screenshots' worth of pictures into three pages! Sorry it's so short, but I guarantee that the next chapter will be longer. I should have the next chapter up soon, since the story itself is pretty much done and I just have to translate pictures to text. Still, I have two other ongoing fanfics, so I can't make any promises! Please R&R!

In the next chapter: Will Ichigo actually go through with Uryu's sewing lessons? What happens when Orihime and Renji get involved, and things don't go exactly as planned?