My Paramour: Chapter 3
As I walked out of my classroom, I was about ready to turn in the direction of the third years to find my brothers so that we all could walk home. But as I lifted my heals, I heard my name called out. Naturally, I turned to face the voice out of pure politeness. To be honest I actually would have preferred to be on my way home to flaunt my new friendship with my brothers, hopefully it would stop their constant worrying for me. Maybe it would save them the white hairs that vainly pop up due to my constant needing to be looked after.
"Kuchiki-san," I saw Orihime smile at me.
My heart felt all giddy once more. I gave an uncomfortably wide grin across my face and heightened my vocals to greet her with just as much enthusiasm.
"Ah," Orihime did an adorable little fidget and shifted her gaze away for a second to just look at me once more, "are you going to see your brothers?"
I nodded full heartedly, "Yes, I'm heading home now." I looked around to see the halls slowly swindling down, "Are you going in the same direction as me? Do you want to walk home together?"
My urgency seemed to frighten her a bit since her head frantically shook, "No, no, I actually live in the other direction. You live by Kurosaki-kun though right?"
"Yes," I did not let the disappointment in my heart show on my face and voice.
Her face lightened up a bit as she smiled more. "If you don't mind, could you bring up a word or two about me?" she then looked down at her feet. Her long and beautiful auburn locks falling gracefully to obscure her face. "Please?"
I returned a wary smile though she could not see it. I agreed and slowly left. I looked over my shoulder only once to see that she had quickly turned to talk to Arisawa-san. I sighed and continued on my way down to the third years. Seeing my brothers patiently waiting for me by the front gates I couldn't help but feel a bitter sweetness. They do so much already.
"Come on Kuchiki," A boy whined, "it's only one Friday night out of all of the ones you have in your life. First Friday as third years in fact, let loose a bit."
Toshiro's eye twitched in annoyance. He and Hanataro were standing there waiting for Rukia to come out from class. This was a topic that the boys in their class had been pressing since lunch and the twins already gave their answer clearly: No.
"I told you all," he hissed through clenched teeth, "I don't have time this Friday or any Friday to play your little games of karaoke." Hanataro found that a good time to jump into the mild bickering of his school mates and brother.
"We would love to go but," Hanataro looked over his shoulder for any sign of Rukia, "our baby sister isn't the best at math and Toshiro here is very good as you all know. And so if she were to have trouble and him not be there," he shook his head, "That would not be good for her."
The boys nodded in unison, "That's not a very good reason but we'll take it. What about you then Hanataro? You can come with us this Friday!"
Hanataro smiled but shook his head once more. "You are too kind but I'm there for moral support, to cheer on my dear baby sister."
Just then Rukia came walking up to the group of boys with her masked smile plastered onto her face. Both Toshiro and Hanataro tried to act as though they saw no difference in her mood. With a tense jaw, she breathed out, "I think I feel my ears burning."
Hanataro's eyes brightened with delight at the sight of his baby sister. "Kiki-chan! You ready to head home?"
She nodded shyly as they began to walk in the direction of their home. There was a faint call from the group of boys that they could bring their sister along. To this, Toshiro turned his head with a sharp glare in his eyes. Oh, if only looks could kill. The boys could feel ice quickly shift up their spines, freezing them in place. It was definitely going to leave frost bite.
The sun was just above the skyline of the houses up ahead. The outline of storefronts and mini-corporate lots had long since disappeared and they were now walking into the peaceful suburbs of Karakura Cho. It was silent among the three siblings as they walked around to the corner of their neighborhood. Out in front, there stood a familiar boy standing looking up to the rosy hue sky.
"Ichigo-kun," Hanataro called out, "You'll burn your eyes if you do something as reckless as looking at the sun for so long."
To this, Ichigo turned his head in question. Seeing them walking toward him, he smiled. "Hey Hanataro, Toshiro…" Then with a devious smirk, his voice lowered, "Kiki-chan."
Toshiro could feel his face burn up with anger. The air he had just inhaled was slowly rotting to carbon in his lungs. Through clenched teeth, he managed to hiss out, "Don't act so familiar with Rukia you teme!"
Rukia couldn't help but grimace a little with the sound of his voice uttering her childhood nickname, but quickly caught herself when the image of Orihime and the girls popped into her head. She then played on an innocent smile. This did not go unnoticed by all three boys in the group who saw the conflicting emotions just beneath the shallow mask.
"It's all right Aniki," Rukia gushed, "I don't mind if he calls me that."
"Huh?" Ichigo gave her a confused look. He was sure that this would have irritated her to no end. Instead, she had made such a comment. He also didn't forget to note Toshiro's twitch of the eyebrow. Ichigo was no fool, despite Toshiro's height may be small, but his strength was definitely far from it.
"You are to call her Kuchiki-sama!" Toshiro gave Ichigo a warning glare.
"Y-yes," Hanataro stuttered out, "you really should be calling Kiki-chan by her sir name Ichigo-kun."
Rukia looked between the three boys and gave out a long sigh. She truly did lover her brothers, but they could sometimes be just a bit too protective. Not that she disliked their love. She just wasn't worth the trouble most of the time. "Aniki, Onii-chan," She said out loud, "We should be getting home." She pushed for her brothers to leave but could not force their heads to look at the road ahead.
"Ah," Rukia called out catching Ichigo's attention again, "It was enjoyable seeing you Ichigo-sempai."
She turned back around, leaving Ichigo with a dumbstruck face in place of his scowl. It was easy to say that Rukia found it quit amusing the expression. Her brothers though, found it less than such.
"I don't want you hanging around him Rukia," Toshiro commented lowly, his face in total seriousness.
Rukia was a little shocked by the sudden change in mood. It was as if the sun had already set and the moon had suddenly disappeared from the sky. The stars were suddenly flashed out. She didn't give any signs of her small fear but Hanataro picked up the glazed look in her eyes.
"Just don't be around him when we're not there okay Kiki-chan?" Hanataro reasoned with a soothing voice.
Why the change in tone? Rukia thought to herself. Yes, Ichigo was a little bit infuriating without a doubt. That smirk, that voice, his eyes, they all screamed cockiness. Yes, he seemed like those who felt as though everything must be done alone. But he was not a bad kid in any way. In fact, she had seen the rankings of the first years from last year and he had come in fifth teen over all. Someone with those grades obviously didn't have enough time to be messing around. He had a bad mouth but seemed hesitant to even touch her at lunch despite her abuse.
She sighed, and with a shake of a head, lied, "I won't go near him."
"So you are here again?" Rukia smiled at the entrance of the roof.
There sitting was Ichigo. He raised a brow at the smile on her face he knew was phony. It was somehow annoying that face, not for the fact that it was just a bit creepy, but because it was fake. It was not genuine, and a smile that wasn't genuine should never be there at all.
"What do you want?" Ichigo asked.
The mask suddenly dropped and Ichigo gave a small smirk in triumph. "You have no manners," she stated bluntly. Walking over, she leaned herself against the mesh railing.
"Are you joining me?"
"No." she stated.
A cooling breeze brushed through the holes in the mess causing a small whirl pool. She held back a shiver and tucked her hair behind an ear.
"Then what do you want?" He asked again, this time with a little more venom. "Because I'm under the impression your brothers don't want you within a ten meter poll of me." He gave a low chuckle and looked at her, "And I don't know about you, but I really don't feel like dying anytime soon."
She didn't answer right away. All she did was look ahead for a while, thinking of the right words. It was weird. In her head it seemed fine, but her body betrayed her, telling her it wasn't. Her mind soon won the internal war within herself and she said shakily, "Do you like dango?"
Ichigo was a little taken aback by the sudden question. It was slightly out of context but at the same time, somehow natural that she would ask that.
"Yeah…why?"
"Kuchiki-san!" Orihime called from across the room.
Rukia looked up from packing her morning books and gave her an instant smile. "Yes Inoue-san?" Rukia was eager to here from Orihime, practically all night she fantasized about what they would talk about, how would they say it? What would think about her?
"Tomorrow after school," Orihime did a small giggle. Rukia found it a little strange to laugh at such an area in you speech. Maybe it was some kind of inside joke, one that only girls knew. "Some of our classmates are going to a new Dango shop just down the street from school. It would be nice if you could come with us. It's a Friday so there is no school the next day!"
Rukia sucked in some air. It was the first time a girl had invited her to do something and it made Rukia feel good. Perhaps it was a hint for Rukia to try and give something in return.
Without thinking, Rukia mumbled out, "I saw Ichigo-sempai yesterday after school!"
Orihime suddenly stopped fiddling with the hem of her skirt and had her full attention on Rukia right there. Her eyes seemed a little eager but she contained the feeling in her words, "Really?"
Rukia nodded her head in response and smiled at her. "Yes, he mentioned you too." Once the words were out, she automatically regretted saying them. She lied; Ichigo hadn't mentioned her at all.
Orihime suddenly was at eh edge of her seat. "H-he did?"
Rukia bit her lip. A passing group of students made their way past the classroom. She used this as an excuse to look away for a moment to hide the creeping blush on her cheeks. "Yeah, just a little comment. He just asked if Orihime-chan was in my class."
"He said that?" She asked. He eyes were wide like a hungry child, "He asked if Orihime-chan was in your class?"
Rukia looked at her a little oddly, but reluctantly agreed.
Orihime gave a distant look. She seemed as though she were internally debating something. Her eyes were going through a furry of emotion but set on one that Rukia could not read. Turning back to face Rukia again, she said in a nervous voice, "Could you ask Kurosaki-kun to come along too?"
Rukia was a little shocked and regretted her words. Sighing, "Yeah, I'll ask him."
End Chapter 3
I'm sorry guys! I have no excuses right now… I just didn't do it :( bad me! Hope you liked it and I apologize for spelling mistakes and grammar errors, I'm writing this with 4 hours of sleep -_-... Please read and review!