My first Bleach fanfic. So be merciful, I beg of ya'll!
Pairings (Main):
Hitsuhina
Ichiruki
GinRan
Pairings(Minor):
UnohanaXKenpachi
IkakkuXMizuho
UruyuuXOrihime
AuthorXYumichika(JUST KIDDING! I WISH THOUGH!)
Disclaimer: Don't own Bleach, because if I did, I would make my pairings real!
Winter was approaching. Small signs told the citizens of Soul Society and Karakura town. Crisp, brown
Leaves furled overnight with tiny, fuzzy frost in Byakuya's garden. Yachiru noticed that every time she blew out or laughed, the air before her would fog up; she pointed this out exuberantly to anyone who would listen. The stores Rangiku binge-shopped in had replaced the fall outfits with warm, fashionable winter furs. Yumichika began rubbing hand cream (imported from Paris, as he claimed) over his cold, reddening hands from the weather. Ikakku pulled on a tuke, reluctantly, as it was made by Mizuho. Kenpachi trained inside more often. Gin stopped roaming around town, creeping people out. Omaeda found the cold as an excuse to skip work, more than once. Shunsui began whining about how cold he was, and hinting heavily that "sweet Nanao-chan" should keep him warm. Momo started making more cookies and other sweets, distributing batches among all the divisions. Toshiro would take walks in the Tenth Division gardens, enjoying the cold as he was the only one who loved it. And of course, Mayuri found the coming of winter just time for his psychopathic experiments.
But in the high school of Karakura Town, however different it may mean to Shinigami, winter meant one thing, just one: the annual Winter Festival. In the beginning, it was just a feeble attempt made by desperate student council members to collect some funds for their Kendo Club. It would include food, games and dancing. Food, for most of the girls in Karakura High only foreshadowed weight gain. Games were childish and unmanly to the boys.
But dancing. That was something. It was only occurred to everyone that you needed a partner. Dance single? Forget it. Ain't nobody got time for that!
And just like that, boys frantically began calling on available girls. They plunged themselves into buying extravagances for the girls, hoping to impress them. Fights were held much more frequently during this period of time. Be it some fellow claiming that the girl was his, or a girl shrieking in tearful frenzy that another female classmate had seduced her date. The student council was cackling in silent glee as money for admission tickets poured in like floodwater held back for too long.
Stories emerged after the Winter Festival about that magical night, how tender the kisses, and newfound love. In fact, because of how much profits were made, and how popular it was, the Winter Festival had become a tradition in the some twenty-five years it was created. Winter was centered on the dance. Snowflakes fell for the dance. Santa was ripping his beard out in anger because most people were not as looking forward to Christmas as to the Winter Festival. So what was held in just a small gymnasium filled with food and makeshift decorations now had its own ballroom complete with beautiful, hand-crafted chandeliers and spiral staircases.
After all, the Winter Festival was were romance blossomed…for a couple of our beloved characters.
Recent Day:
"Ichi-nii! Wakkeeee uuuppp!"
Yuzu's voice sing-songed downstairs.
Ichigo sat up in bed, rubbing his face tiredly; he could smell already, the delicious food that his sister had prepared. He stood up hesitantly, before rapping a few times on the closet door, waiting for his friend to jump out. As if on cue, the closet door slid open, and out came Rukia, fully dressed and beaming. Ichigo immediately recognized the shirt she had on as Yuzu's.
"Oi, Rukia! Why the hell do you have that shirt on?"
He demanded, pointing accusingly at her. Rukia's expression changed dramatically: she flung her arm over her head, and sighed deeply, "Because, Ichigo, I have nothing to wear…you see, my clothes..sob…were…sob-
Rukia started to cry realistically, and was so absorbed in her act she did not notice Keigo jumping through Ichigo's window. Or Ichigo rolling his eyes.
"Heeyyyaaa, Ichigo!"
The young brown-haired boy pumped, flinging his body towards him for a hug, only to crash into Ichigo's wall from a kick he delivered. Rukia hastily wiped away her phony tears, and jumped down from the upper shelf of the closet. She stood beside a pissed-off Ichigo, who was still holding his kicking stance.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING, ASANO?!"
He roared, picking up the boy by the collar of his shirt. Keigo shrank back, trying to free himself from Ichigo's iron grip.
"He-ey..ch-ill…! I just came by to ask you if you would want to invite some of your Shinigami friends to the Winter Festival! Nii-san said it would be nice! You know I can't refuse her orders! She'd kill me!"
He stuttered, eyeing Rukia alarmingly, hoping she would do something to calm Ichigo down.
Ichigo's eyes widened, dropping Keigo, he replied annoyedly,
"No way. No way am I getting those freaks in my town. Again."
You are one of the freaks, idiot.
Rukia thought, fighting an urge to slap him on the head for insulting her kind. Keigo fell at Ichigo's feet, clasping on to his leg as Ichigo tried to shake him off,
"Ichigo! Please! Nii-san really, really, really, wants to see Ikkaku-san! She's been beautifying herself for the past few weeks, just for him! If she finds out your refusing…She'll kill me and then burn my body and dump it into the ocean! Literally!"
He begged. Ichigo sighed. He knew Mizuho's temper, but he really didn't want to invite them here. One thing was that they'd for sure stay at his house, eat his food, sleep on his bed, and go to his school.
"Ichi-nii?"
The door opened a slight crack, as Yuzu and Karin's eyes peered in. Rukia could see their eyes pop out as they saw Keigo kneeling in front of their beloved, kind, caring, and trustworthy brother. Ichigo backed away from Keigo, who stood up sheepishly, uttering a awkward, "Hey."
For a moment, everyone was silent.
"Care to explain what's going on, Ichi-nii?"
Karin asked, folding her arms suspiciously in front of her chest.
"Whaaaat?!"
The two girls chorused after Ichigo had been forced by them to tell the truth.
"Ichi-nii! They're your friends! They can come! Besides, dad won't mind!"
Yuzu persuaded, latching on to her brother's arms pleadingly. Keigo beamed his appreciation at the twins.
"It's true. I do look forward to playing soccer with your friend, Toshiro. Or maybe go to the dance with him too."
Karin mused, unaware of Ichigo's horrified expression.
Hitsugaya? And MY sister? Hell no! I won't allow that! An I doubt Momo will either!
For a second, he nearly forgot that the middle school also participated in the Winter Festival's dance.
"So, Yuzu, who are you going with?"
Rukia asked motherly, putting on a soft facade, which nearly made Ichigo puke up the breakfast he was eating. Yuzu reddened slightly, before leaning towards the older girl, whispering a name no one else could catch. Rukia nodded, then radiated a proud smile, "That's great, Yuzu! Someone asked you, and he's not all that ugly either!"
Ichigo strained his ears, cursing that he missed the name. Yuzu then turned back to Ichigo,
"Please…please! Ichi-nii!"
Ichigo sighed gravely. He knew he couldn't refuse Yuzu's begging, and eventually he gave in, albeit bitterly. Keigo let out a yelp of joy, and bounded out the door, happy that his sister would be in a better mood for the rest of the week.
"You want us. You want US to go to the Winter Festival your school's hosting?!"
The captains of all thirteen divisions demanded incredulously. Ichigo felt a surge of relief going through his veins. No way they'll agree to some freakish dance. But unfortunately for him, there are two interpretations of the captains' responses. Happy and excited, or annoyed and refusing. Sadly, the captains were excited. Yes, even Yamamoto and Byakuya, on the inside.
"OF COURSE WE'LL COME!"
Kenpachi boomed, smiling wickedly. "I have heard they hold matches for Kendo. I'm going there to whip some ass!"
"Goooo Kenny!"
Yachiru chirped, pumping a small fist into the air.
"Yes, I shall go too, it has quite a beautiful ring to its name, and therefore, it must be beautiful."
Yumichika sniffed, stepping out from behind his captain.
"Do you have a science lab, or whatever you call those experimentation rooms, in your school?"
Mayuri inquired queerly, cocking his head at an angle.
"Uh..yes?"
"I'm going! Nemu! Get over here! Start packing for a trip to the human world!"
Shit. I bet he's gonna strap down some unfortunate victim and slice him in half.
"Oh, and everyone, please bring a date."
Ichigo reminded, over the chatter of the captains, which had gone silent as soon as the words left his mouth.
"Partner?"
Komamura asked, as if he was unsure of the word.
In a brisk five minutes, Ichigo explained the tradition of their school's (now town's) Festival rules.
After explaining, Yachiru quipped, "I'll go with, Ken-chan!"
"No, Yachiru-san, I think I will go with Zaraki-taichou."
Everyone turned their head towards Unohana, who had spoken. Stepping forward, she smiled elegantly.
"Do you agree, Zaraki-taichou?"
"Uh-h…fine."
"Lovely. I look forward then, to the dance."
Unohana's actions broke the barrier of comfortableness, soon every captain was naming off the possible dates they could bring on their fingers.
"I guess I could ask Omaeda…"
Soifon grumbled grudgingly, knowing that asking Yoruichi would be out of line.
"Ran-chan'll definatly go with me."
Gin smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits.
Soon the word spread around Soul Society like wildfire. Only captains and lieutenants could come, with only Yumichika as an exception.
Shit just got real,
Ichigo thought.
And he then realized, he didn't have a date yet.
But he wasn't the only one. Sitting on the chair behind his desk, Toshiro Hitsugaya's brows furrowed as he wondered, Is it proper to ask a childhood friend out?
Please Review!