Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor the cover picture.
Chapter 2: Unwilling
Rukia slowly returned to her seat in her classroom, face was still flushed from the prior incident as she kept her hands over her gaping mouth. Orihime noticed something was off with the raven hair girl. She turned back to eye her curiously.
"What is wrong Rukia? Did something happen during lunch?" Rukia looked up to see Orihime eyes filled with concerned for her.
"Oh noth-"
"Didn't I tell you to now worry about the midget? She definitely has no manners Inoue." Rukia looked up to see Ichigo walking towards them with that signature scowl; he then threw a small item towards her with an annoyed look, "You dropped this weird thing earlier."
Rukia cheeks were red from the insult thrown at her as she looked down in her hand at the small rabbit, "This thing is not weird! It's a CHAPPY! It's the cutest thing in the world ever and I have no manners? You are the one with no manners you – you – you STRAWBERRY!"
Ichigo gave his signature smirked as he knew he has triggered something in her as a vein was popping from her forehead.
"Do we need to repeat what just happened?" His amber eyes grew dark as he gave her a devilish glare which Rukia retreated with a blush. Orihime glanced between them wondering what had happened ealier.
"Enough Ichigo," Uryu cut in annoyed with the argument, "I apologize for my friend Kuchiki. I must agree that he has no manners."
"What the fuck Uryu!" Ichigo growled feeling betrayed. Uryu just gave him a smug look and turned his attention towards the front of the class as their teacher arrived.
"Settle down class!" Ms. Ise Nanao yelled over her students. The glint in her eyes hushed the students fast as she gave herself a smile of her control over the first years. "As you may know, we will need to select our classroom representatives." The classroom erupted in groans at the mentioned of representative but Ms. Ise slammed her ruler down to silence them once more.
"This is a big responsibility and will look good on your resume to a university. There will be times where you have to stay late after class helping with the paperwork and doing small errands but it won't be as bad as you think…you will also get to plan classroom events with the other representatives as well as our school trip! We will need one boy and one girl."
The classroom groaned again but immediately stopped when she stood a little straighter.
"We will start off with any volunteers," Ms. Ise said pushing up her glasses. "Do we have any?"
The students were quiet that a cricket could be heard from the silence. Rukia lowered her head to hide behind Ichigo which was not hard at all given his height.
"Please don't let it be me," she whispered to herself repeatedly but Ichigo keen senses picked up on her quiet prayer.
"Ms. Ise, I have the perfect candidate to represent our classroom. Kuchiki Rukia will be a perfect representation of our class."
The classroom stirred as they looked back at a surprised Rukia. Her face flushed as she smacked the back of Ichigo's head.
"You fool! I didn't want to do it, Ichigo!" she harshly whispered at the grinning boy. Orihime looked back at her with a warm smile but was little taken aback from the use of his name.
"If Kurosaki says you are capable then I know you will do well!" she interjected blushing at Ichigo.
Ms. Ise slammed her ruler once more silencing the students, "Very well, Ms. Kuchiki will represent our class."
Rukia jumped up, "Ms. Ise, I really don't think I can-"
"Mr. Kurosaki will join you as well Ms. Kuchiki."
Ichigo jumped up, "WHAT? Hey, why do I have to do it? I don't want to do it with this midget! OUCH!" Ichigo winced as Rukia kicked him in the shin.
"Ms. Ise I will do it with Kurosaki!"
"No pick me, I want to be with Kurosaki!"
"SILENCE!" Ms. Ise yelled to her class. "This will be my final decision, Ms. Kuchiki and Mr. Kurosaki will be your representatives. Please listen and support them from now on."
The female students turned and glared at Rukia. Great, I wanted to make friends and not enemies… this stupid stupid Strawberry ruined it for me. She did however notice Orihime giving her an encouraging smile but couldn't help notice the envy in her eyes. Her eyes rolled over the to the boyish looking girl sitting behind Orihime, glaring at her.
...
"Really, you are classroom representative?" Renji looked shocked on their way back to drop Rukia off at the Kuchiki's mansion. He knew she was shy but who would have known she would volunteer to be, something didn't seem right to him.
He stopped Rukia and looked down at her with fury in his eyes, "Who volunteered you? I know this is something you wouldn't jump at the chance for."
Rukia sighed, Renji knows me to well… "Ummm…" Rukia tried to avoid the question, "I think this will be a good way for me to not be as shy and to open up to my fellow classmates. Maybe I will meet some new friends as well!" She continued walking hoping Renji will just leave it alone. She didn't want him to be fighting for her sake so soon.
He sighed and ran his hair through his long red hair as he jogged to catch up with her to continue walking by her side.
"Idiot," he muttered as he ruffled her short silky hair. "When are you going to grow you hair out? You always look like a boy." Renji laughed as his own joke but was shortly stopped when he felt a small fist on her rib cage. He wheezed in pain as he glanced down at a blushing girl.
"Maybe I will grow it out then…"
...
Byakuya watched Rukia as she separated the rice one by one on her plate clearly with thoughts rummaging through her mind.
He coughed slightly grabbing her attention as she looked up at him inquisitively, "So how was your first day at your high school? You teacher was very informative as I have hoped."
Rukia went back to picking at her rice, "It was okay Nii-sama. I did meet a girl in my class."
Byakuya brows perked, "Oh? This is a new friend of yours?" He had hoped she would meet a girl in her class she could befriend instead of hanging out with her best friend. Rukia is growing to be an attractive woman and he didn't want unnecessary things to happen between the both of them as he was protective over her younger sister.
"Well, we aren't exactly friends yet besides, I don't think her friends like me as much…"
Byakuya frowned in displeased, "Why would they not like you? You are a Kuchiki-"
"I am classroom representative!" Rukia interrupted her Nii-Sama. She didn't want to be lectured for an hour on the pride of their family name.
Byakuya eyes lit up which Rukia found funny because she never had received such a look from her stern Nii-Sama before. "That is delightful news! I know you will be excellent representation of your classroom along with your other fellow classmate."
Rukia internally groaned at the thought of working with that stupid fool but blushed behind her napkin at the memory of their accidental kiss.
"Is something else bothering you Rukia? Your face is rather red, you aren't getting a fever are you?" he peered at her face making sure she wasn't about to vomit.
"No-no Nii-Sama! I am fine, I just got hot all of a sudden," Rukia said as she blushed a deeper red.
Byakuya eyes widened as he choked on the water he was drinking, "I… I know that you haven't had any woman figure in your life since your older sister has passed. I apologize I haven't been there for you until recently… but…" His cheeks turned rosey as he stared at Rukia, "It is perfectly natural. All woman go through-"
"NII-SAMA! I am not- I!" Rukia was lost for words as she burrowed her head in her hands from embarrassment.
...
The school weeks has been going fast as Rukia was settled in her new school routine and life with her step brother. Orihime and Rukia had talked a bit more when walking about the school grounds but not much during class as Ichigo is always messing around with her and giving her such a hard time.
"Rukia, do you really like Chappy that much?"
"Oh Yes! I-"
"It's annoying, shut it midget."
...
"Rukia! I hear you live in a big mansion! Is it really that big?"
"Ah well it's-"
"No one cares shorty."
"I really hate that orange hair freak!" Rukia growled as she bit into the rice bowl prepared for their lunch. It was too hot to sit on the roof so they settled in a private area underneath the shading of a large blossom tree.
Renji took a large gulp of his soda as he eyes the flustered girl. "Why are you allowing him to be so hard on you? I would have fucking ended it ages ago if you would let me Ruks." He sighed as he leaned back against the tree.
"I have to stay late today so don't wait for me to walk me home," Rukia said as she remembered she had to stay late to do some paper work. She put her hands in her head to mentally prepare her for the time she will be with Ichigo after the class. This will be the first time they will stay late.
"Oh didn't I tell you?" Rukia looked up at Renji with a confused look. He smiled proudly at her, "I am the new class representative. Some guy name Yasutora Sado who volunteered couldn't do it anymore since he is too quiet… I haven't heard him speak a full sentence in two weeks."
Rukia looked surprised at him, "You? But you don't ever like doing things like this either…. Why would you do it?"
Renji looked at his best friend with a dumb expression but sighed once more, "It is both out of our norms… but now I can walk you home anyways since I will be staying late as well." He ruffled her hair as he stood up from the ringing bell.
"See you after school Ruks."
...
Ugh damn it, where the hell is Ichigo?
Rukia worked on the paper work alone after class as she stared at the large pile that was supposed to only take an hour but now doubled since Ichigo was not there to help her. She furrowed her hands through her hair in anger as she thought of the stupid strawberry leaving all the work to herself. She promised herself she would make him pay tomorrow in class. She fumed to herself while working when she finally heard the classroom door open.
"Finally! Where have hell –" She stopped with a surprised look on her face at the unexpected visitor, "Renji?"
Renji shoved his hands in his front pockets as he walked over to Rukia to sit at the desk in front of her but facing her. He flashed a cool smile at her.
"I had a feeling the fucking bastard wouldn't show up so I came to help you out Ruks."
"But- but you have your own work-"
Renji lifted his finger touching Rukia's lips to silence her. She blushed at her best friend sudden movements. Renji has always known when to come and save her and each time he achieved so.
"Well I have a lot of girls that said they will be willing to do my work happily for me, so I just picked one." He smirked as he grabbed a pen from her hand but stopped as he stared at the pen.
"Really Ruks, you have to have everything Chappy?"
Rukia blushed as she grabbed her pen back from her best friend, "You can't use my favorite pen, and no one can! You can use this boring pen!" Renji laughed as he looked at her dusting off her favorite pen.
They worked in a comfortable silence for the time being. Renji looked up and saw a beautiful smile on her face as she stared down at the papers.
To be continued…
This story is so fun for me to do! I post as I go so there won't be any set schedule.
Thanks for reading and your reviews are appreciated!
xoxoxo-iheartkiwi
