4:50pm – end of school

We had agreed on that night to indulge in such human tendencies as movies, and since Rukia, and the rest of the class had surely overheard I did not bother informing her. Furthermore since Orhime and the lot of them knew Rukia was back they expected for her to reside in her usual spot – my cupboard- during her stay.

As we passed through the schools rusty iron gates, I glanced to my right to see Rukia regard me with a nod to which I returned, the nod which implied she got the situation at hand, as she turned and brushed past us heading the opposite way toward town.

"So what do you have in mind for a good movie" I questioned Orhime appearing interested. Truth be told, I held nothing against her, and she did undeniably have a certain lure to her, though nothing in comparison to what Rukia held on me, nevertheless she had more of a draw to her than most other ordinary girls, so In some way I wasn't feeling deprived of anything, so instead of disappointment I basked in the calm, peaceful atmosphere that befitted the age I belonged to, and the age I'd been so long out of.

"Anoo, well…. I… you know… kind of wanted to see Ninja Assassin, I heard its really good and full of blood and gore" – (as if she hadn't seen enough in her time) her words poured out in a tumult as the glint of pure excitement and joy settled in her eyes. That was one aspect of Inoue Orhime I would never get enough of- she was straight forward and didn't try to hide her opinions. Evenmoreso her rush of excitement proved we have similar likes. Always a good thing.

I tried fining comfort in that feeling, as we headed towards our destination.

11pm - outside Orhime's house

Orhime looked up fervently expecting a kiss yet not expecting it at the same time, and as predicted I pecked her lightly on the forehead genuinely feeling warmth towards her. Not ready to depart just yet she tip toed up to whisper something in my ear, before giving me a warm smile and parting with:

"Thanks Ichigo I really had fun" with that she waved and slipped inside her empty home, where no one was anticipating her arrival but the shadows.

11:30pm – Ichigo's room

"So how was you're movie, Ichigo? You and Orhime really get along well, do I see sparks" she winked.

I was annoyed, mostly that she could so easily dismiss an obvious action, like the one preformed last night with her, for such a vague one with Orhime. Suppressing disturbing memories I guess.

"Yeah, great, Orhime's pretty hot isn't she" worded like a question but sounding more like an ending statement, it came out more curtly than expected as the lies smoothed out my lips with ease. I stayed turned away from her whilst saying this, and just as the words began to settle in, a loud bleeping noise broke through the tension

"Hollow" I sighed, touching the blinking badge and trespassing from human to soul reaper territory. I turned to face Rukia who was preparing to do the same. Not seeing the use of it, I turned away from her again, "I can handle it myself" I muttered icily, yet loud enough for her to her, as I slipped out the open window into the bitterly cold night.

Why did she have to accept everything so easily! I cursed inwardly, annoyed and infuriated more than anything. However more than her accepting it, it felt more like she was toying with me, and that's what annoyed me – I was putty in her skilled hands.

Mentally scolding myself, as I suppressed these thought and feeling to the back of my mind, I forced my focus to the task at hand.

Closing my eyes I breathed in deep, inhaling the stale night air, sniffing out my prey. I navigated my way through the winding streets to end up in the familiar space, of an open area filled with vibrant greenery, and a large slowly closing – over ditch in the middle of it. It was the same clearing in which two memorable foes appeared in around two years ago, thus leaving the area filled with a slightly higher reiatsu concentration than others.

As my eyes soon became accustomed to the darkness, I located my prey, closed my mind and opened my senses, centring my whole being on the hunt. Right here and right now there was nothing more than the predator and the prey. And I lost myself in it. Entirely. All was focused on the kill. Nothing more than an aimless fallen espda, left behind after the unforgettable disaster that often haunted my very thoughts.

Holding my stance I drew my large sword, gleaming in the moonlight as I brought it down, slicing through the cold air towards my side, as I launched myself forwards, springing to my prey, seeking nothing less than blood.

Zangetsu broke through headfirst to the stomach of my prey, drawing back as I toyed with my prey for a while. Time and the battles that resulted it the scars over my body and on my companion blade, had changed my countenance during battle, leaving me with a colder approach, sharper blade and best of all, allowing me to enjoy the fight. The bloodshed. It was now a source of relaxation that washed over me as a played with my easy prey, obviously no match for me.

Finally the Scarlett tears of blood, streamed and dripped down the length of my gleaming companion luminescent in the moonlight, as my prey glittered away into the depth of the omniscient night. A sigh blew from my lips as I dropped onto the damp dew of the midnight grass, completely disregarding the fluttering , dregs left of my prey as they silently blew away with the wind.

As I leant back, staring straight back at the brilliant moon, challenging it, an earlier conversation with Keigo came to mind, of him telling me I needed to "Get some", and personally I thought he was bloody right. I cringed, even Keigo had got laid, and here I was a pathetic excuse for a guy, a day away from 18 and still hung up on some girl. My next preceding memory was of a one from only an hour ago, of Orhime, "Offering", she'd said she could tell I needed "relief" and that she didn't mind, even though she knew It would never be mutual, when I'd asked her why, she merely replied that it was a debt she had to pay, and that it was nothing big anyway. I guess it made sense put that way, and then I'd made the decision to take her up on her offer soon, very soon, if required, which right now, that point was pretty close.

8:30am next day

Why? Why the hell didn't I break that bloody alarm clock when I had the chance!

Accepting my inevitable fate, I arose once more to get ready for school, slowly becoming accustomed to the ring of the alarm clock.

For once not late I strolled out the front door, without bothering to check if Rukia had left yet, because I already knew she had, I could, and always had been able to feel her presence that way, though it never seem to work in emergencies.

Greeted by a string a "hellos" and "happy birthday", from the usual throng of people, I settled in my seat not feeling all that festive when a softer voice greeted me and wished me happy birthday. I smiled in reply happy for the gesture.

Instinctively I turned towards where Rukia sat, and when my eyes finally lay upon her, she seemed shocked by the whole ordeal. So she didn't know. Why should she anyway? My thoughts resigned, though mentally suppressing the thought that I even knew when her birthday was. Well either way it didn't matter, as I hadn't been expecting anything.

12pm – Ichigo's house

The party was just clearing out, and I was grateful for it all, it had really taken my mind of things. It had been fun with the usual gang and their surprise party which really did surprise me. One thing that didn't surprise me though was that Rukia wasn't part of the planning and I could instantly tell this by the hint of remorse in her countenance throughout the whole thing.

Tired and exhausted from the hours of partying I trudged upstairs into my room, to find Rukia leaning against the cupboard anxiously waiting for me. When I walked in her expression changed, shifting to something more devious and cunning and in some way slightly seductive.

"Hey Rukia what's up?" I asked suddenly feeling more tired as I slumped on to the edge of my bed, facing her, expecting her reply

"Nothing, I just felt a little bad that I didn't really give you a birthday present"

"No, really, it's ok, I wasn't really expecting anything" at that her face fell slightly almost losing her seductive posture.

"Well here's just a little something from me to make up for it"

She slowly crossed the meter distance between us, not stopping at the radius of my legs instead walking forward more until she was between them, standing face to face, with me sitting and her standing.

Slowly yet fluidly she brought her hands up and placed them on either side of my face, then in the same movement she bent her head down, bringing mine up with it to face hers. Within that moment she brought her lips to mine in so many ways which I didn't expect. Lightly, carefully her lips touched mine as she pressed hers to them, for I was still as stone. She then lightly touched my lip with her tongue without changing any other body posture. She was provoking me. And it was working.

Just as my lips parted to continue with what was much longed for, she pulled back letting go of my face in the process, and walked towards the cupboard door, turning around again to give a light "goodnight" her voice filled, with self-satisfaction and amusement.

She knew.

Knowing more than anything she was teasing me, yet unable to let go of the feelings that arose at her kiss, I left the bed to get what I really needed to get at that moment – relief.

Turning towards the door and not hers Rukia questioned me on where I was going, and at my reply her face fell.

"To Orhime's"