Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

A/N: Hi, this is my third fanfic!! So please tell me what you think after you read this. :D – Kuchiki-chan

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I don't think he'd have the guts to do it."

"Mm…"

"But then again…life is always full of surprises!"

"Mm…"

"Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Renji walked over to Matsumoto and Kira. "Something stupid, like usual?"

Matsumoto smirked. "I guess you could call it that. We were talking about you."

"What?! Leave me out of your sick conversations." Renji shook his head and began walking away.

"Anyway, Izuru, don't you agree that Renji would never ask Rukia-chan out?" Matsumoto said loudly. Renji froze in his tracks.

"Poor guy. She already belongs to that Kurosaki," she continued. Renji was visibly twitching. "What…did…you…say?"

Matsumoto watched his face contort with glee. It was so fun watching him lose it.

"I – I could ask Rukia out anytime I wanted!" he shot back angrily. Matsumoto grinned. "Oh really? I'd like to see you try it, Renji. Besides, it might be too late…"

"What are you talking about now?"

"Ichigo, of course."

"Kurosaki? That idiot? No way," he said through clenched teeth. Matsumoto was getting to him, and she knew it.

"Last I saw, they were k-i-s-s-i-n-g…" It was a lie, obviously. But it was enough for Renji. He spun around. "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!? RUKIA WOULD NEVER KISS THAT BAS – "

"Whatever, Renji." Matsumoto sighed and stood up, stretching. "All I'm saying is that if you want her to be your girlfriend, you'd better act fast. Kurosaki seems to have a better chance than you." She gave him a wink before walking away.

"Wh-what?! I don't want her to be my girlfriend!!" he yelled after her, but she didn't look back. "Damn Matsumoto…what's she thinking this time?"

"Mm…"

"And besides…I could ask Rukia out any time I wanted. It's no big deal."

"Mm…"

"Izuru?"

"Mm…"

"IZURU!! WAKE UP, STUPID!!!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"IIIIIIIIICHIGO!!!"

"Huh? Oh, what's up, Keigo?"

Ichigo didn't like the look on Keigo's face. It was sort of a combination of an evil grin and pure stupidity. Of course, the latter resided on his face at all times, but…

"I have a dare for you." The evil grin spread wider.

"Good for you. Now go away." Ichigo turned back to his lunch.

"I bet…you don't have what it takes to ask a girl out."

Ichigo nearly spit out his sandwich. "What?!"

"You heard me. You know, there's a nice little café around here…"

"Keigo, what are you talking about?!"

Keigo smirked. "Rukia, obviously."

"Wh-what does she have to do with anything?" Ichigo stuttered.

"Actually, the school dance is coming up too…hmm…that might be even better…"

"You want to go to the dance with her, you ask her." Ichigo shook his head before returning to his sandwich.

"You wanna make a bet?"

"…"

"If you can get Rukia to go to the dance with you, I'll…uh…um…"

"Yes?"

"Uh…I'll…um…"

"Be my personal slave for a week."

"What?!?"

"Say it."

"Fine. I'll be your personal slave for a week," he muttered. "IF you can get Rukia to go to the dance with you."

Ichigo laughed. "Okay, you're on!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Rukia! Has anyone asked you to the dance yet?"

"…Dance?"

"Yeah! Come on, don't tell me you haven't thought about it!"

"Why would I go to the dance?"

Orihime looked surprised. "What?! I thought surely Ichigo would have asked you by now!"

Rukia felt herself turning red. "I-Ichigo? What's he got to do with this?"

"Oh, nothing…except that, hmm, let's see, he walks with you, talks with you, eats lunch with you, and just about everything else. There's got to be some chemistry."

"Chemistry?"

Orihime sighed. "Never mind. My point is – "

"Hey! Rukia!" A redheaded figure was running up to them.

"Renji?! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be…um…" She looked at Orihime, who looked confused. "Aren't you supposed to be working at the, uh, store?"

"Um…yeah! But I have to talk you right now. Please?" He tugged on her arm, trying to get her to stand up. "I'll tell you more later."

"Oh, Rukia! Is this your boyfriend?" Orihime squealed. "No wonder you said no when Ichigo asked you to the dance!"

"Wha…? I never said that!"

"Kurosaki asked you to the dance?!?"

Calm down, Abarai, he said to himself. She turned him down, right?

"As if! Ichigo would never ask me out!" Suddenly realizing that she sounded a bit wishful, she quickly added, "And it's not like I like him either or anything."

Renji breathed a sigh of relief, then regained his posture. "Okay. So. Anyway, it'll be really quick. Okay? Please?"

Rukia sighed, but allowed him to pull her up. "Fine. But make it quick."

They walked until they reached a rather secluded area behind the building. Renji took a deep breath. "What I wanted to say was…"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi again. Please review! I'd appreciate constructive criticism. Any suggestions on the storyline are also welcomed. Thank you to all of you who reviewed for 'Saving Shiro' and 'Are You Annoyed Now?'!!! – Kuchiki-chan