Shrove Tuesday

Several bodies entered Karakura high, in time for the bell. Like any other Tuesday, and all the other school days, Ichigo entered his class with his bag over his shoulder and a scowl on his face. He sat casually in his seat beside the window.

Rukia entered a few minutes after him, and she took her seat beside his.

"Morning, Strawberry!" She smiled happily and took out her books, ready for the lesson. "Do you know what day it is today?" She asked him.

Ichigo laid his chin on his hand and moaned. "Yeah, Shrove Tuesday."

Rukia looked at him quizzically. "What is shrove Tuesday?" She tilted her head, as Ichigo gave her a shocked expression.

"You mean, you don't know what Shrove Tuesday is?" He sat up straight and looked to Uryu, sitting behind him. "How can somebody not know what Shrove Tuesday is?"

"I'm quite surprised you knew, actually, Ichigo." Uryu teased as he pushed up his glasses.

Ichigo growled at his four-eyed friend and then turned back at Rukia, who was still waiting for an answer.

"Well…?" Rukia folded her arms and gazed at Ichigo.

"Shrove Tuesday is also known as 'Pancake day'." He stated. "It's a day when you have traditional pancakes."

"I know that, stupid! I meant what actually is it?" She whispered loudly.

"Well…It's…Uuuhhh…It's like…Uuuhh..."

"You don't know, do you?" Uryu leaned forward in his seat.

"Shut up!" Ichigo grunted at the boy behind him.

"I could tell you, if you want!" He smirked and kicked the back of Ichigo's chair.

"No thanks, Ishida." He spoke through gritted teeth.

He knew what Shrove Tuesday was! It was…Well, you know…It's about that, uuhh…Thing that happened…Ages ago…Right?

"Rukia, if you want to know what Shrove Tuesday is, don't ask Ichigo. He's not into holidays." Tatsuki spoke to Rukia from behind her. "Trust me, he thought that Christmas, was made by a guy called Chris Mass, who enjoyed getting gifts!" She teased.

Ichigo turned red and refused to have any part in the conversation. "I was five…How could I have known?" He mumbled to himself.

"So…What is Shrove Tuesday?" Rukia whispered to Tatsuki.

She explained Shrove Tuesday to Rukia, making sure that Ichigo didn't hear.

"Oh! I get it now! Thanks Tatsuki!" Rukia nodded politely to her tomboy friend. She smirked at Ichigo. "I know something you don't know!" She sang quietly.

"As if I care!" He scoffed.

The bell rang and the group dispersed to their homes. Ichigo was left with 'shortcake', who was teasing him about Shrove Tuesday.

"Did you seriously think that Christmas was about a man named Chris Mass?" She mocked.

"Shut up! I was five!" He yelled at her.

Rukia let out a giggle and sighed. "You know, I will tell you what Shrove Tuesday is, if you want!"

"Really?" Ichigo widened his gaze, as Rukia nodded.

"This is what Tatsuki told me anyway…Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day. Making and eating such foods was considered a last feast with ingredients such as sugar, fat and eggs, whose consumption was traditionally restricted during the ritual fasting, associated with Lent." She explained to him.

Ichigo's mouth dropped. "Uuhh…Yeah! I knew that!" He rubbed the back of his neck.

"No you didn't!" Rukia scoffed.

"Okay, so I didn't…Happy?" He said, grumbling along. He placed his hands in his pockets and watched his feet.

"So, Ichigo." Rukia said happily. Ichigo lifted his head. "What is 'Christmas'?" She looked at him, puzzled.

"Uuhh…It's, uuhhh…Let's just get over with Shrove Tuesday first!" Ichigo sighed, as he and Rukia made their way into the Kurosaki house.