Kuchiki Rukia woke up the next morning at the sun's dawn. She sat up in her bed, carefully recalling the events of the night before. She knew it wasn't a dream; it really happened. Everything was so dreamy, but definitely real. She was a…what did Ichigo call it? She was a substitute shinigami. Rukia clambered out of her bed, and hastily straightened her bunny-print blanket. Then, Rukia headed out of her room, and climbed down the stairs.

She entered the kitchen, and stepped out onto the linoleum tiles quietly. Her older brother, Byakuya, was sitting down and eating his breakfast. His facial expression showed no emotion whatsoever; it was just a blank, placid face…as usual. "Good morning, nii-sama," Rukia greeted politely.

Byakuya nodded in response as he ate silently.

Rukia went to the refrigerator, and grabbed a carton of orange juice. She poured the cool drink into a glass with cute little bunnies on them. Replacing the carton into the refrigerator, she got a quick breakfast by pouring herself a bowl of dry cereal. She sat down across from her brother, and ate her breakfast silently. She sipped her orange juice, and stole a glance at Byakuya a few times. He seemed to be thinking about something. Whatever it was, Rukia left him alone.

After finishing her breakfast, Rukia placed her silverware into the sink. She said softly, "I will be going to school now…" She left the house and called over her shoulder, "Bye!" Her brother didn't say anything; he usually ignored her anyways.

Rukia walked down the street steadily, making her way to the Karakura Town's high school. The school soon came into view, and she entered alongside the bustle of students around her.

"Hi, Kuchiki-san!" a pretty girl with long orange hair and bangs called out.

"Hey, Inoue!" Rukia said to Inoue Orihime. "And hi, Arisawa-san!" greeted Rukia to Orihime's best friend Arisawa Tatsuki, who was running toward them with a grin. Tatsuki was also Rukia's old childhood friend.

"Hey!" Tatsuki replied with her hand up in greeting. The three girls started walking to their homeroom class together, idly chatting about random things. Rukia was only half paying attention, since her mind was wondering about the things she learned the afternoon before – like how shinigamis actually existed. And, those strange monsters were called Hollows. And…she was now a substitute shinigami. It was a bit freaky to think about.

"Hello? Kuchiki-san?" Orihime cocked her head and waved her arm in front of Rukia's face.

"Oh!" Rukia smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry… What were you saying?"

"Hehe, I think I forgot too!" Orihime burst out into little fits of giggles as they all ran into homeroom and took their seats. The classroom was already almost full of students. Standing over by a wall chatting were Asano Keigo, Kojima Mizuiro, and Sado Yasutora. Well, Sado wasn't actually chatting with them, but listening quietly and making short comments here and there.

In one of the middle rows of seats sat Ishida Uryu. He was currently working on sewing something. So far, no one could decipher what it was…but it would soon transform into something recognizable as he made the quick, but careful, stitches.

In the row of desks behind Rukia, Tatsuki, and Orihime, Honshou Chizuru, Natsui Mahana, and Kogawa Michiru were whispering and giggling about who-knows-what.

All in all, the classroom seemed normal, like any other regular school day. But then, as Rukia laughed at Orihime's funny comment about a cake that she tasted that morning, she looked at the classroom's doorway. What the hell?! she thought.

"What are you doing here?!" she yelled as she leaped out of her seat, pointing at the person who had just walked through the door. He was none other than Kurosaki Ichigo, the shinigami that Rukia met the day before. The classroom grew quiet, and all eyes turned onto Rukia. She swallowed, and felt a blush rise to her cheeks. I shouldn't have yelled out like that…Rukia sat back down in her seat.

Ichigo glared at Rukia and pretended not to know her. "Excuse me?" he asked innocently. "Do I know you?"

Rukia gasped, "Well, you – "

Then, she got cut off by Ichigo as he introduced himself, "My name is Kurosaki Ichigo."

Mizuiro said a-matter-of-factly from over at the wall, "This is the new transfer student!" Rukia still appeared to be shocked. Sado and Keigo nodded in unison.

Tatsuki murmured, "Yeah, I think I heard about that the other day." Rukia still stood there, gaping.

Ichigo muttered, "Yeah, I'm a transfer student, so I don't think I know anyone here…"

"You can sit next to us!" Orihime offered with a friendly smile. "Sit next to Kuchiki-san!" Orihime waved a hand at the empty seat beside Rukia.

"Thanks," Ichigo uttered. As he slid into the seat next to Rukia, he shot her a look that seemed to say, 'play-along-or-else-you-will-be-sorry.'

Rukia managed to say, "Hi, Ichigo, it's nice to meet you! My name is Kuchiki Rukia."

Orihime started introducing the people in the room, starting with herself: "I'm Inoue Orihime! That's Arisawa Tatsuki, and behind us is Honshou Chizuru, Natsui Mahana, and Kogawa Michiru, and…" Orihime continued pointing and gesturing with her arms around the classroom, and presented the various people to the transfer student. Ichigo just nodded after every few names to show that he was paying attention.

Rukia sighed, letting her head stay propped up by her hand, whose elbow was on the top of her desk. This is going to be a long day…