Sorry it took me so long to actually upload..hehe :)

Well, here's Chapter 2! Enjoy..FYI: I don't own Bleach, in case no one noticed.

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And so it began.

Oh, the torture. Rukia bowed to yet another of those stuck up, self centered, rich nobles. "Thank you for coming."

A black cape suddenly caught her eye in the back of the room. (Ichigo never thought someone would ever notice him because of his clothes—usually it was his hair.)

Rukia seized the opportunity to get away, and Ichigo saw her walking toward him. "What the—"

"Oh, thank you for coming." One of those stuck ups had approached Rukia. The guy looked stupid with that stupid mask. Come to think of it, everyone there looked stupid with those masks. He looked stupid with his mask. Urahara told him earlier that he'd be the only one there with one of those hideous things. That bastard.

Ichigo saw Rukia smile (fake, of course) and walk away, trying to dodge overly friendly shinigami and avoid their gazes. She walked quickly, occasionally tossing a "Thank you for coming" over her shoulder as shinigami made way for her. She finally made it to Ichigo.

"Thank you for coming."

"Umm, thanks for inviting me," he mumbled.

"You seem very familiar. Have we met before? Are you in squad thirteen, by any chance?"

"Ummm, uhh, no I don't think so." Ichigo coughed. Pleasedon'trecognizemepleasedon'trecognizemeIlooksofreakin'stupid.

People were staring at them. At him, the one person Kuchiki Rukia had given extra attention to the entire night.

The music (the boring kind, in Ichigo's opinion) became louder. Ichigo gulped. Please, Rukia don't say it—

"Dance with me." Rukia looked over her shoulder momentarily at a shinigami making his way toward her (for the fourth time that night—the stalker). "I'm not dancing with that creep," she thought.

"But this music is boring!" It slipped out before Ichigo could restrain himself. Oh shit. Shitshitshit.

To his surprise, Rukia…smiled? She leaned up on her tiptoes and whispered, "I know that the music is boring and no, I don't want to dance, but the elders won't be happy with me if I don't dance with someone soon. And these other bastards here are even less decent than you, so do as I say. I was hoping that idiot would come tonight, but…" Rukia's eyes were downcast for a second. "Just dance with me okay?" Why did I tell him that? Now he might tell the elders and nii-sama what I said about them! NOT good behavior, Rukia.

Ichigo whispered back to her. "Fine." He gulped and hoped he could remember what Yoruichi and Urahara had taught him.

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"No, Ichigo, better posture! Stand straight! Put your arm—"

"Like this! And move your feet—"

"There we go! Come on now, move a little—"

"More fluidly!"

Yoruichi danced with Ichigo while Urahara admired their handiwork. "Not bad, Ichigo-kun! You might have some class after all!"

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"Are you a noble?"

"No," Ichigo grumbled. "Why do you wanna know?" He dreaded hearing that she would only consider marrying one.

"You dance like you've had the instruction of one." Ichigo smiled. (He couldn't help himself.)

"Thanks." The song finally ended, and Ichigo felt very uncomfortable. He leaned down to her (yes, aaaaaall the way down) and whispered, "I'm sorry, but…ummm I don't really like 'social gatherings' so if you don't mind, I'm gonna go somewhere else now." He was starting to wonder why he came here anyway…

Ichigo hid the sadness in his voice well. After all, he really shouldn't interfere. Rukia was supposed to get married, right? It wasn't any of his business. Come to think of it, why the hell did he even come here in the first place? Blame Urahara. He set me up to come to this boring thing.

"Can you take me with you?" Rukia looked up at the mysterious person pleadingly. "I really can't take much more of this." She looked around, trying to convey that she was completely frustrated with talking to those idiots.

"What?" Ichigo failed to hide the surprise in that one word.

"Please, can I go with you? I can make it look like I'm being friendly with someone here, and I won't have to talk to any more of the idiots here. Please! I even know somewhere we can go without being caught…for a short time, anyway."

To her relief, he nodded.

"Follow me." She grabbed his hand (and couldn't help but think there was something oddly familiar about it) and led him away from the crowds. "Can you get up on the roof?"

"Of course." Ichigo and Rukia jumped up onto the roof of the Kuchiki manor. (They really seem to like roofs, huh?) They sat down next to each other and looked at the sky, once again trying to avoid the other's gaze. In the moonlight, the chain on Ichigo's zanpukutou shone for a second.

"You know, I don't know why I told you that I'm irritated with everyone there. For all I know, you could go and tell the Kuchiki elders what I said and—"

"But you know I wouldn't do that."

"I guess so…It's weird, actually." She laughed. Ichigo smirked.

"So…did you meet anyone you wanna marry?" Ichigo asked bluntly, waiting for the dreaded response, that, yes indeed, she had found her perfect groom and wanted to shunpo-off into the sunset with him after a hollow.

"No…" Ichigo and Rukia faced each other. "All the guys there were jerks."

"Wow, thanks." They got closer.

"And the ones I knew already are just my friends…"

"Yeah…" They leaned in.

"This whole thing is stupid anyway." Rukia's voice got quieter.

"Yeah." Ichigo was quiet as well.

They leaned toward each other…

And Yoruichi's reiatsu suddenly surged.

Shit.

"I have to go."

"Wait, what? Where are you going?" Rukia looked at him, glaring, but curious.

"I—just…Bye." With those last few lame words, Ichigo shunpo-ed away as quickly as he could, leaving a frustrated Rukia on a roof.

Again.