Disclaimer: Now Come on...you think I own Bleach?
Author's Note (to everyone who said Orihime was kind of OOC)I know she has a crush on Ichigo, but as I said before, mostly because I don't support the pairing, I don't plan on including it. At all
Chapter 4 – New Kids, New Feelings
It should have been easy. Pretending nothing had happened? Not a sweat. After all, he had been doing just that since Saturday morning. Yeah. No problem. Pretending nothing had happened should have been a piece of cake.
But of course, nothing was ever easy in Ichigo's life, and the simple act of forgetting something like waking up in bed with Rukia proved to be harder than he'd ever imagined. And Keigo sure as hell wasn't making it any better.
"Come on man, just say it; you like Rukia Kuchiki!"
"Keigo, do you want another bag whipped at you?" Ichigo growled, shoving his hands into his pockets, "'Cause if you don't I'd advice that you shut up"
Keigo frowned. "Fine. If you don't like her, then you won't mind me asking her out, will you?"
"Like she'd ever say yes," Mizuiro shook his head, obviously saddened by the way his two friends were acting.
"Well let's find out!" Keigo declared as the bell rang.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Gonna go down and ask her right now?"
They started down off the roof to class. "So what if I am?"
"That's something I'd pay quite a bit of money to see," Rukia would never say yes to Keigo. That was a completely laughable thought.
"Well cough up the money, 'cause you're about to get a front row seat," they walked into class, and Ichigo saw that Rukia was already there, chatting with Orihime and Tatsuki. "Hey, Rukia!" Keigo instantly went over to her.
Rukia gave the boy a weary look, but her voice never wavered. "Hi Keigo"
"Ah, Rukia, I was just wondering if-ow!" Keigo yelped as Ichigo slapped him over the head, "What was that for?!"
"Trying to save you from making a total fool of yourself," Ichigo rolled his eyes again.
"Yeah right," Keigo huffed and folded his arms, annoyed, "That's not it, you just don't want me to ask her out because you like her!"
"For the last time, I do not like her!" Ichigo exploded, "And if one more person says that they're going to find my fist in their face!"
Orihime and Tatsuki exchanged looks. Rukia's face never changed, but Ichigo could have sworn he saw a flicker of hurt in her eyes. But maybe it was just his imagination. After all, she had been the one who said they needed to forget everything that might have (or might not have) happened. So why would she care if he had feelings for her not?
Ichigo threw himself into his seat. Keigo didn't talk to him for the rest of the day (which was actually an improvement). Rukia didn't look his way again, and when school was over she took off before anyone could stop her. Ichigo ran an aggravated hand through his hair. What the hell was her problem?
"For the last time, I do not like her!" – Ichigo's words rang through Rukia's head as she started down the street. She felt...betrayed, in a sense. Though she couldn't for the life of her figure out why. Who cared what Ichigo thought? And hadn't she just said last night that, no matter what, they couldn't have feelings for each other? He had seemed a little too happy to agree to that...at least now she knew why. Well, that cleared everything up, didn't it?
"Oof!" not paying attention turned out to be a very bad thing when Rukia crashed into someone. She hit the ground, twisting her ankle as she did so. "Ow..." she muttered, rubbing her ankle cautiously.
"Aw man, I'm sorry," a male voice said, "You okay?"
Rukia looked up, "Yeah, I..." she blinked. There was a boy, about fifteen, standing over her. He had pale blond hair and blue-gray eyes. And he was tall. About as tall as Ichigo. Rukia, realizing she was staring, quickly cleared her throat. "Er...yeah, I'm fine"
"Sorry," the boy apologized again, bending down and helping her stand.
"It's my fault," she assured him as she carefully balanced on her ankle. It twinged a little, but other than that she was okay. "I wasn't paying attention"
"You're too kind," the boy smiled, "Oh, by the way, I'm Yukio Ryuichi"
"Rukia Kuchiki," she held out her hand, and Yukio shook, still smiling. "Are you...new?"
"Yeah," he shoved his hands into his pockets, "Just moved here today. Starting school tomorrow"
"Where are you going?"
"Karakura High"
"That's where I go"
"Well then, guess it's my lucky day," Yukio smiled, "Well look, I have to get going. See you around, Rukia"
"Bye," he walked away. Rukia shook her head, trying to clear the fog that had filled her brain.
"Rukia!" she looked around and saw Orihime and Tatsuki walking towards her. "Who was that?" Orihime asked curiously, looking over her shoulder at Yukio.
"Oh, uh, new kid," Rukia rubbed her head, "Kind of bumped into him by accident"
"Oh," Orihime frowned, "Is he going to our school?"
"Yeah," Rukia caught the underlying tone in Orihime's voice, "Why?"
"No reason," she shook her head. Rukia bent down and grabbed her bag, confused. Exactly why would Orihime care about something like that?
"You know, considering you left before me, I figured you'd be home first," Ichigo looked around as Rukia slipped into his room through the window.
"I was held up doing something," she shot back, "And anyways, why do you care?"
"I dunno, thought maybe something happened to you"
"And again, why do you care?"
That aggravated Ichigo. "Well for some odd reason I consider you a friend, and I worry about my friends. I must have been mistaken about you though"
She held her glare for another second before looking away. "Problem?" he asked, standing up. He'd been sitting at his desk attempting to do homework.
"Nope," was all she said before walking over to the closet. She threw her bag in and pulled herself up so that she could sit. Her legs dangled off the edge.
"So what were you doing that made you late?" he finally asked, getting annoyed with the silence.
"Why, you clocking my movements now?" Ichigo was ready to snap. What the hell was with her?
"Nope"
"Then don't ask," Ichigo resisted the urge to strangle her.
"Fine. Fine. I don't care," he waved his hand carelessly and started to walk out, "Do whatever you want, no skin off me"
As he walked out he could have sworn he heard mutter, "Sorry," but again, it might have just been his imagination.
Rukia left the next morning before Ichigo even woke up. Said orange-haired teen was now grumbling as he pulled on his school uniform. He'd spent ten minutes trying to wake her up, only to yank open the closet door and find out – hello – she wasn't even there.
Now that was aggravating
Ichigo darted out of the house, just missing being attacked by his dad, and started down the street, munching on a piece of toast he'd snagged from Yuzu before leaving. For some odd reason, his mind was focused completely on Rukia. He just could not for the life of him figure out why she was acting so weird towards him. Was it because of what he said yesterday? No way. Just because he had announced, rather loudly, to the entire class that he didn't have feelings for her, that wouldn't make her mad. It was probably the exact same thing she would have done. Thinking that made Ichigo feel a little better. Not much, but enough. He was actually in a good mood when he walked into class. Not that it lasted long.
He looked around as soon as he entered, and saw Rukia. Sitting at her desk. Talking to another person. Who just happened to be a boy. Ichigo blinked. What the hell? "He's new," Ichigo looked around and saw Uryu was standing behind him, "Do you mind moving? I'd like to sit down"
Ichigo grumbled as he stepped out of the way. "Who is he?"
Uryu just shrugged, his back to Ichigo now. Ichigo huffed, annoyed. He'd settle this once and for all. "Hey, Rukia," he walked over to her desk, "Mind introducing me to your friend?"
The boy looked around at Ichigo. "My name's Yukio Ryuichi," he held out his hand, and Ichigo took it.
"Ichigo Kurosaki," he said in a flat voice, "How do you know Rukia?"
"Oh, we kind of uh...bumped into each other yesterday," Yukio laughed and rubbed his head, embarrassed.
"Oh really?" Ichigo gave Rukia a look, but she was determinedly looking anywhere but at him. "So you're new huh?"
"Yeah"
"Well, that sucks"
"Not really, I'm used to it"
"Move a lot?"
"Yeah"
If it had been a week earlier, this conversation would have topped all of Ichigo's past awkward situations. But after the past two events with Rukia...the conversation was almost comfortable.
Nobody said anything for a second, and finally Yukio looked back at Rukia and said, "So...think about it, all right? I'd really like to get to know you better"
"I will," Rukia smiled as Yukio walked to the back of the room and sat down.
"Think about what?" Ichigo asked suspiciously.
"You really that interested?"
"Just answer the damn question"
"You'd better be careful, Ichigo," Rukia smirked as she opened a book and started reading, "Someone might actually think you're...jealous"
"You know, Rukia, you seem like an interesting person"
"There isn't anything interesting about me, really"
"Well I think so. And I think I'd like to get to know more about what makes you so interesting"
The conversation played in Rukia's head for the rest of the day. Humans still kind of confused her, even after all the time she'd spent on Earth. But she knew when she was being asked out. And Yukio had definitely asked her out. Now the question was, how did she say no without hurting him? It wasn't like I it had been with Ichigo, she couldn't tell Yukio that she couldn't go out with him because she was from another dimension that would never allow it. Plus, Rukia still had her status to think about; adopted or not, she was a Kuchiki. True, she'd already disgraced the family name so many times, one more offense probably wouldn't matter. But could Rukia really take that chance? And even if she was willing to, there was still that outlying reason; the Soul Society would never allow it. And if Rukia was going to break the rules for anyone, it wouldn't be for a person she barely knew.
Why not? A voice in her head nagged her, That's what you did when you gave Ichigo your powers
That was different, she insisted, It was a matter of life or death
And this is a matter of just going out for coffee, the voice shot back, Just give Yukio a chance, I'm sure you won't be sorry
Good grief, Rukia shook her head. She was talking to voices again. There was definitely something wrong with her. "Hey, Rukia!" she jumped as Michiru tapped her lightly on the head, "You in there? 'Cause I've asked you the same question about ten times, and I don't think you heard me once"
"Sorry," Rukia apologized, putting on a smile, "What was the question?"
"I said, did that new kid, Yukio, really ask you out?"
"Well...yeah"
Everyone exchanged a look. "And?" Chiziru asked, looking intrigued. Rukia wondered why, then remembered that they all thought she liked Ichigo. This was her perfect chance to put an end to all those rumors once and for all.
"Well...I think I might just accept"
Author's Note: I had a total brain-freeze as to what to do. Then I figured, "Well, if Rukia's really going to try and forget what happened with Ichigo, and try and make him not like her, then she's going to want to try and make it look like she doesn't like him...right?" And thus, Yukio was born. And before you ask, yes, the entire scheme will blow up in Rukia's face. There's a special reasoning behind why I chose the name Yukio. It means, "He who gets what he wants". See if you can figure out my plan from there /evil grin/ Anyways, I was very happy that I got (and went over) fifty reviews, so try and make my next dream come true. I'm at sixty-teightt now, by the time I update I'd like to have anywhere between seventy and eighty, and maybe more if people really enjoyed it. So can you make that happen /points to review button/ You'll get a cookie if you do! – Sam PS- Last update for awhile, I'm going on vacation. See ya soon!
