Full Summary: Kurosaki Ichigo is attractive, rich, and smart, but is also arrogant and eccentric. His success is being CEO of one of the biggest mall, Getsuga Enterprise, at only the age of 25. A tomboy named, Kuchiki Rukia, is a barista of Queen's Cup, a small coffee shop inside Getsuga Enterprise, but when business goes bad and Ichigo threatens to shut down her way of living, she challenges him which surprises him and makes him take an interest in her but he finds it confusing and disturbing. He tries to hide his growing affection for her, but gets caught up in a bad wish which makes it harder for the both of them.
It always started out the same way. The vivid lighting made her suspicious to move forward. She felt almost claustrophobic as the red string around her seem to tie her down. There were so many knots and tangles she was tired of seeing the landscape. It always started out this way. No matter how many times she would try to untangle herself from the red string and unknot herself from the seemingly never ending maze she always ended up at the same spot again. The string will always be around her left wrist. When she thinks she has taken off the string, it happens to be right back on her wrist. She would see a silhouette on the other side of the tangled strings, but no matter how many times she would yell out to the person on the side, there was no reply. At first glance it seems like a nightmare because of the darkening mood, but as she keeps following the red string, the room lights up more and more, but dimly. The dream always ended the same way too. Her running up to the other side, almost reaching the silhouette, but blocked by more strings layered upon each other to be as strong as a wall and after this she will experience sleep paralysis. This dream, this reoccurring dream, happens once each month, but never on the same date as the month before.
"Rukia-chan," the bubbly voice said soothingly as she strokes Rukia's hair. It was no other than Hinamori Momo, Rukia's roommate, "are you having a bad dream again? I can tell by the sweat beads on your forehead." Momo puts her hand on sleeping Rukia's forehead. Rukia's brows knit together and Momo sighs.
"My little darling don't you cry," Momo sang to the sleeping Rukia, "Momo will sing you a lullaby. Remember you said Hisana-san sang that to you. I know you- KYAHHH!" Momo screamed and fell off the bed as Rukia suddenly jerked up from her sleep.
"Ah, Momo." Rukia raised her legs to her chest and put her hands on her face. She sighed quietly, "Sorry, I must've startled you, haven't I?"
"What were you doing? You scared me so much Rukia-chan," Momo sobbed climbing up the bed again. Rukia smiled at her overly-dramatic friend.
"You're lucky we only have a mattress. Or else you would've broken your nose or something stupid like that."
"Hey!" snapped Momo, she crossed her arms and pouted. Rukia giggled and headed to the bathroom. Momo got up slowly and tailed behind Rukia nervously playing with her fingers.
"Rukia-chan, you should consider working with me at the cosmetic store here in Karakura instead. I mean Tomi isn't that far from Karakura and it's nice to be in the city once in a while, but-. Wait, Rukia don't ignore me!" Momo cried as the bathroom door slammed shut in front of her. On the other side Rukia smiled inwardly to herself.
"Crazy girl. I wouldn't work here if it was my last option on Earth." Rukia reaches for her toothbrush and laughed when she heard the scoff as Momo's reply.
"Your manager is crazy Rukia-chan!" Momo stuck her tongue out at the door and skipped her way to the closet and changed.
"...And that's what we've produced for the mid-autumn event this year." Chairman Ishida Uryu gave to President Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo crossed his legs and swiveled his chair around and stared at the document.
"Is this the best you can do?" Ichigo asked and proceeded to intertwine his fingers and lay them on top of his desk, "Are you sure?"
Uryu took a step back, "Kurosaki last time..."
"Really? Last time I definitely didn't mean it. Did you hear the dismay in my voice last time?"
"Well..."
"Ishida, you should know better. We've known each other since high school. I'm disappointed. Go along and make some changes." Ichigo said tossing the paperwork to Uryu. Uryu glared at Ichigo while picking up the folder, pushed his glasses up, and turned to exit the room. Ichigo's cell phone suddenly rang and the contact name read, "crazy old man".
"Yes old ma-"
"IS THAT A WAY TO SPEAK TO YOUR FATHER!" the voice on the other line cried, "I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU MY-"
"Geez old man take a-"
"DON'T INTERRUPT DADDY LIKE THAT. WHO TAUGHT YOU TO BE SO RUDE?"
"Well you're the only who raised me."
"IT WAS RHETORICAL!" The voice proceed to sob violently. Ichigo inwardly sighed and was resisting the urge to throw his phone across the room.
"NOW ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE," he stopped and then there were light footsteps waddling up the stairs, "I've arranged a blind date for you this afternoon. Are you free?"
"Look as CEO of-"
"I'M GETTING OLD! IS MY SKIN GETTING SOFTER? AM I NOT SAGGING? MY SKIN IS SAGGING!" the cry grew more distant, "MOTHER! MOTHER MASAKI OUR SON IS OPPOSING THE BLIND DATES I'M SENDING HIM ON!"
"DAD!" Ichigo yelled to the phone. The atmosphere got really quiet and then followed by cries of Isshin and light footsteps coming towards the phone.
"Kuroki Senna. Her name is Kuroki Senna. She's daughter of Kuroki Daichi. She's a good girl. Please.. just make it work."
"Well I-"
"We all know I won't live that long. I've already passed half my life span. Ichigo, I just want to see you prosper. I have all my faith in you," Isshin sighed and hesitated, "and your step-mother is giving all her faith in you too. That is all. Bye son."
Ichigo placed his phone down and massaged the temples of his head. He sighed and placed his head on the table.
"Crazy old man. He thinks I care about her."
The door suddenly opened walking in the vice president, Hitsugaya Toshiro. Ichigo put his head up and glared at him. Toshiro responded with the same glare.
"Have you heard news of businesses going bad Kurosaki?" Toshiro leaned on the wall nearby Ichigo's desk.
"Cut the crap Toshiro."
"I've told you not to call me by that Kurosaki."
"Don't change the subject Toshiro."
"Ever heard of Queen's Cup?"
"Is it a top brand coffee shop?" Ichigo asked intertwining his fingers and placing them on top of his desk.
"No sir,"
"Is it a popular chain making millions?"
"No sir,"
"Then Toshiro, why'd you bring it up to us?" Ichigo placed his hand on his cheek and leaned on it and played with his pen he used to sign papers.
"Well, you've heard rumors of the stocks going down, haven't you?" Toshiro walked towards Ichigo as Ichigo's face turns to horror and he stops playing with the pen.
"Is it possibly,"
"No Kurosaki. Your stocks haven't gone down, don't you worry." Toshiro chuckles at the scared Ichigo and crosses his arm, "I'm talking about the coffee shop downstairs, you know the first one you see when you walk in."
"What, that's bull! I don't remember seeing any coffee shop."
"Explains your business well Kurosaki." Toshiro smirks. Ichigo sends Toshiro a dirty look as a comical little vein pops on Ichigo's forehead.
"What about that coffee shop."
"Well, business hasn't been so well for them lately. They haven't been up to par with what they usually had made and what they promised to make. Seems like they're making barely half of what they started with, and there has been a complaint filed on them."
"Shut them down."
"We tried," Toshiro massages his temples, "but I can't. They're such stubborn freaks. Especially that one girl."
"Why," Ichigo threw his hands up, "does it seem like I have to do everything around here?"
"You are the president," smirked Toshiro. Ichigo got up from his chair and shot Toshiro a glare.
He walked out of the door and passed the elevator. He doesn't take elevators. He won't take elevators. Ichigo goes down the escalator. 5 flights of escalators. Yes, his department store has 5 stories. Top floor being his office. It's deserving of its title as being one of the most successful malls around. Shop owners and his workers greet him. Everyone knows who he is. He's Kurosaki Ichigo, CEO of Getsuga Enterprise. He's also handsome and eligible. He was getting to the last flight of escalator when he bumped into a semi-petite girl with dark purple hair.
"Kyaak!" she screamed as Ichigo snatches her up. Smooth, because that's just how he is. Her big light brown eyes look up at his as he look away.
"Sorry." he said in English making the girl squeal.
"Kurosaki Ichigo," she put her shopping bags down and straightened her leopard print mini skirt and stuck her hand out to him, "I'm Kuroki Senna-chan," a little bow, "nice to meet you."
"And..?" Ichigo asked looking at the young woman puzzlingly. She crossed her arm and made a cute little frown at him.
"And I'm your future girlfriend," she links her arms around his arm, "your dad has set up this for us. Let's get going, I'm sure we both have busy schedules."
"Let's get this over with quick. I have work." Ichigo said and hurriedly speed walked to the parking lot with Senna behind him.
~An hour before~
"I'd like to have a caramel macchiato, medium, skim, extra shot, extra hot, extra whip, sugar free, more on the caramel, and use a light hand on the whipped cream." the annoying customer smiled at Rukia. The customer took out a mirror and face powder compact and powdered her face on the ordering counter.
"That's disgusting, do you mind?" Rukia snapped at the customer. The customer shot her a dirty look.
"Excuse you, I'm helping you poor unfortunate souls by ordering in this poor disgustingly maintenance store. You're not top brand and you have a tacky name, you should be lucky that I even came here to order." The customer tried to cutely pout as she reached into her purse and grabbed a light pink credit card. She set the card on the ordering counter and straightened her leopard mini skirt.
"Your order is a total of 10.50." Rukia glared at the customer.
"What?! Ugh whatever, this is totally cheap coffee anyways, do you have any idea who I am. When you find out I'm sure you'd change your attitude."
"Don't care, you're holding up the line." Rukia blew her bang and swiped the card, "Sign there to verify." she tossed a pen to the customer. The customer scoffed.
"This is exactly why I only go to top brand coffee shops, I shouldn't even be here." complained the customer, "I'm going to report this store right away, you disgusting people. I'm done with helping people like you."
Rukia rolled her eyes to the customer. The customer took out her phone and started to dial numbers like crazy.
She went to the "secret counter" where they make their "secret blend" of coffee. She placed the filter on top of a mini coffee pot and grabbed hot water to pour over the top. Rukia was considered one of the best barista in Queen's cup. Her manager, Renji, smiled at her.
"Tough customer?" he smirked as he handed her the whipped cream.
"More like needy annoying customer," groaned Rukia as she poured the coffee into the medium coffee cup. Renji chuckled.
"Do your best," he fist pumped, attempting to make her laugh. Instead what he got was a fake half smirk that she would do to not make people discouraged. He would know. Her sister was a former part-time worker here too, but not Rukia. Rukia's life was devoted here.
"Finished?" he asked her. She nodded as she finished the last touches of the coffee by adding extra, extra caramel. He gave her a slight pat on the back in which she responded with the same fake half smirk.
"Thanks manager." she said while going back to the ordering counter faced with the angry needy customer.
"Kuroki Senna. That's my name," she glared at Rukia, "I'm getting this place shut down and reporting you."
Rukia started to laugh which angered Senna even more angry. Rukia handed to coffee to Senna which she grabbed from Rukia and turned her back.
"You're funny. This place has been here for longer than 10 years. Have fun trying to shut it down." Rukia waved good-bye to Senna and helped with the next customer.
"Hey Rukia-chan, isn't she..." Matsumoto, one of Rukia's friend/Ichigo's worker asked point indirectly at Senna..
"The typical rich snob, why yes." Rukia rolled her eyes. Matsumoto laughed.
"Your insults are superior. I'll have a regular. Why so angry?"
"She's an idiot," Rukia said as she takes the customer's order to the coffee counter and Matsumoto follows her, "she threatened to shut down this place."
"Izuru, please watch out for a bit!" Matsumoto shouted to the blonde near the front of the coffee shop and turned to Rukia, "Ugh work here is so tiring, why don't you just work with Momo at Karakura? I mean it can't be that bad. Stop being a Debbie-Downer. I mean cosmetics makes every girl pretty."
"Work here is fine, we're not going to get shut down. This has been here for over 10 years. I'm not working in Karakura ever." Rukia walked back to the counter to give Matsumoto her cup of coffee.
"Geez, I'm just saying this isn't stable. I'm just worried about you Ruki-Ruki." Matsumoto said as she placed ten dollars on the counter, "You don't even get paid that much here too."
"I like it here. Thank you." Rukia snapped. Matsumoto chuckles lightly and Rukia takes the money. Matsumoto walks out with Izuru and Rukia sits down on her chair.
What she can't deny is that Matsumoto is right. She can easily get the job with Momo in Karakura. She can get more pays there. Queen's cup has limited employees which makes her work difficult. In the whole store, there were only six employees, including the manager and the owner. Except the owner was no longer alive and is now owned by the mall itself. The owner of Queen's cup was no other than her sister, Hisana. She owned the store and worked part time, because she was also a police officer. Rukia can't abandon this. This whole coffee shop is a part of her dreams. It's her sister's most loved achievement and one of the greatest memories she has.
"...HEY!" a short guy with white hair in a suit yelled at Rukia. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him blankly.
"Sorry, what was your order again?"
"My order is for you to pack your things and shut this coffee shop down." he said pointing to the whole coffee shop.
"Sorry, I don't think that's served here. If you want an order of that, please order elsewhere." Rukia replied sarcastically, which attracted Kusajishi Yachiru, the young and new co-worker.
"What's wrong Kuchiki-san?" Yachiru asks wiping her hands on her apron. Rukia glares at the white haired guy.
"Sorry, just a pest, no need to worry." Rukia got off her chair and straightened her apron. She's had enough of rich "know-it-alls" today.
"We've got a call asking complaining about your poor customer service. After analyzing your store, we have enough reasons to shut this down."
"That's crap. You can't do that in such a short amount of time."Yachiru chimed in. Rukia signaled her to go help the new customers.
"Like she said, that's way too fast you can't find out all our marketing and everything here that fast."
"Our staff is superior."
"Or unbiased. You haven't even heard our side of the story," Rukia challenged. She leaned closer on the counter, "who was in charge of this? Did someone pay you to kick us out?"
"What? That's outrageous. You work here at Getsuga Enterprise you should know how we-"
"No. I work at Queen's Cup. It's location just happens to be in Getsuga Enterprise." Rukia said crossing her arms and glaring at Toshiro.
"I'm the vice-president CEO of Getsuga Enterprise. We've seen that-"
"I don't frankly care even if you are the president coming here to kick us out. We're not leaving. This business have been here for over 10 years, you shouldn't kick us out just because of a customer complaint. Even if you want to kick our business off, " Rukia straightened her back, "you must have the president here to speak with us."
"He's busy."
"Busy? Oh yeah he's definitely busy. So busy he only comes to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
"Occasionally Sundays." Toshiro said back to her. She raised her eyebrows. That extra day made no effect on her argument.
"My point is,"
"Your point has no effect on us. Send the president here if he has complaints on our business." Rukia challenged.
"Very well. I'll send the president here." Toshiro said and he turned to leave but turned back around, "Miss, what's your name?"
"Kuchiki Rukia."
To Be Continued...
*AN: I don't know Senna's last name and I don't think it was mentioned in Memories of Nobody. Sorry if I made the characters a little (or a lot) ooc and for making the writing awkward and noob-ish.