Hi All, this is a re-edit. I took a few things out to make things run a little smoother. I think I wrote like an idiot when I first started it, but I'm working on cleaning it up :)

CHAPTER 7

After changing and checking to make sure she looked cute, she walked out of her room only to be greeted by Rukia.

"Happy Birthday, Ayame-san!" She screamed.

"K-Kuchiki-san!" The birthday girl stammered in surprise when she was attacked with a hug. She sighed in physical relief when Ichigo came in and pulled Rukia off.

"Happy Birthday Hanako-san," he greeted calmly as Rukia bounced up and down with a big violet box. "This is for you, from me and Rukia."

Ayame looked shocked. "Huh? Why?"

The male scratched the back of his neck, "oh yeah, I forgot. When it's your birthday, people give you presents."

"I've n-never had a bir-birthday before."

"Well, you're having one now, right? So here!" Rukia exclaimed encouragingly with her gift, "open it!"

"Y-you didn't have to-"

"Nonsense, open it! Please?"

"O-Okay." She started to peel off the clear tape that held the wrapping paper together neatly with a close precision. She wouldn't want to make anyone upset by ripping the pretty paper. Perhaps the pretty paper was part of the gift, in which case, slowly and carefully was once again the better choice.

"Ayame, just tear right through the paper!"

Still weary and careful, she pulled off the paper a little faster and opened the box. After removing the yellow tissue paper, she saw a purple and gold stuffed chappy bunny. Ayame let the box fall on to the floor as she held the doll in both hands; a salty tear gathering at the corner of her eye. Floods of memories and colors swished through her head like an ocean storm in the tropics, and just like that the waves made her stagger a bit until she could lean on the wall behind her.

"A-Ayame?"

She wasn't sure why she was so emotional, but she was. Who could possibly control a storm? Storms stop on their own, as did her's. When it finally settled, the wishy washy feeling still remained, but she was grateful for the bunny and they had to know. "G-gomen. It's just... for a second it reminded me of something. But I love it! It makes me really happy, t-thank you."

"What does it remind you of?" Ichigo asked with sudden seriousness.

"I-I'm not sure. Ah, gomen, f-forget that I said a-anything. But thank you both very much!"

"No problem, Hanako-chan. Well, we're going to go find Urahara now-"

"Ne, Kuchiki-san, I didn't know you had an outfit like Kurosaki-kun's." Ayame wondered out loud.

Rukia and Ichigo looked down and then back at each other. "Oh... H-haven't you heard? It… It's the latest fashion! Everyone is wearing them!" Rukia laughed loudly, nudging Ichigo with her elbow. "Right Ichigo?"

"Yeah...All the rage?" Ichigo looked around for Urahara, hoping he would magically come in and save their skins.

Luckily for him, the blonde shop keeper waltzed into the room, a smile appearing instantly. "Oh, you're all ready?"

Ayame lit up when he walked into the room as well and suddenly became stricken with nerves. "Y-yeah, I am."

"Oh, a chappy bunny?" The blonde asked kindly as he looked at the soft doll in her hands.

"Y-yes..."

Ichigo spoke up for her, "it's from me and Rukia, we won't be able to be here later so we wanted to give it to her now."

"Ah, right," remembering why they were leaving later tonight, Urahara just smiled. "Ayame-chan, let me finish getting ready, and we'll go!"

"S-sure. But you really don't have-"

"Ayame, please enjoy this day, okay? I really want to make it special for you! So don't worry! 'Kay?"

"S-sorry..."

"No apologizing either!"

"Sor-"

Lifting her chin, Urahara smiled, "you're doing it again. Just relax, things are okay."

"O-Okay!"

fhfhfhfhfhfhfhfhfhfhf

How did this happen? Urahara thought grimly as he, Ayame, Yoruichi, Rukia, Ichigo, Renji, Tessai, Ururu, and Jinta all filed in to one row at the movie theatre. Loudly.

Flashbacky time!

"It's a date."

"It is not. It is just a friendly birthday meeting with two people."

"Bull crap!" Ichigo thought loudly as he leaned on the door frame of Urahara's room. "You look pretty nervous for a 'friendly meeting'!"

"It'll be her first time going to the movies, I really want her to have a nice time." Urahara stated, ignoring the suggestive tone in Ichigo's voice.

"You're going to molest her!"

"I am not, we're just going to watch a movie. Her first movie."

"Her first date, too."

"It is not a date."

"It is."

"Is not."

"Is to."

"Is not."

"Is to."

"Is not."

"Is to."

"Is not."

"Is to."

"What!" Urahara yelled, finally too annoyed with Ichigo's ranting. "Do you want proof?"

"Shoot," Arrogent Ichigo argued, "prove

it's a date."

"Then come! Because it's not a date, I don't care if you come. The entire world could come and I wouldn't care."

"Fine, we'll bring the whole lot!"

Flashybacky is over!

Again. How did this happen? Bitterly the blonde cringed as he thought back while standing alone at the concession stand.

Flashbacker again!

"Urahara! Go get some popcorn for Ayame, she'd like that," Yoruichi whispered behind Ayame so she wouldn't hear.

"Right," the blonde nodded and stood up. "Ayame, I'll be right back-"

"Hat 'n' clogs! Bring me back a large lime soda!"
"Yeah! And bring me back those chewy things!"
"Ooh! And some popcorn!"
"Pockey!"
"I want something salty!"
"Nachos!"
"Lemonade!"
"Bring me a chocolate bar!"
"Double stuffed mint oreos for me!"

End the flashback!

uiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiuiui

Ayame waited patiently for her favorite blonde to come back and assume the seat left of her. Her feelings were less than joyous when the seat was filled suddenly. Expecting it to be Urahara, she turned and grinned, but the grin soon turned into a deep set frown when she saw that it wasn't. Panic grew inside her, what was she to do? He was far larger than her and she couldn't possibly have the courage.

Yoruichi looked to her left to see Ayame struggling to tell the person sitting in Kisuke's seat that the spot was taken. While her attempts were strong for her, they were deemed ineffective by the man's disgusting nature. "U-um s-sir...t-that seat is t-taken by my f-friend." The man ignored her pleas and continued eating his popcorn as if it were his only means of survival. The sloth would have nothing to do with anything she said or begged. "Pl-please..."

Noticing his behavior and blatant ignorance toward Ayame's pleas, Yoruichi's tolerance ran low. Just as she began to stand, Yoruichi spotted something ahead and thought better. She smiled. The most of her concern now was that Ayame would not see her backing away from the man. After a few tortuous minutes of watching Ayame's breakdown, Urahara returned with arms full of goodies. While she hated the face he made when he saw his seat was no longer vacant and the disappointment in his voice when he said, "what the?" she knew it was about to be worth it. "Drop the food and go sit somewhere else," she told him as everyone took their food and drinks from his hands. To lighten the tension, she winked at him, but he only rolled his eyes and left.

Ayame cast a sad look as she watched her friend walk by dismally and find a seat seven rows ahead. Turning to Yoruichi desperately, her hopeful eyes told all. "C...can I go sit with K-kisuke-kun?"

Yoruichi smirked, jutted her chin forward. "What do you think you should do, Ayame?"

Without a second glance, or care toward the rude stranger, she pushed into the isle with a stagger and purpose. Her feet carried her slowly, but the second she set eyes on his side, her blood ran faster.

"K-Kisuke-kun? May I sit with you?"

His eyes went wide with relief and suddenly the ruined trip to the movies was no longer disappointing. "Certainly." Just as she made her way to sit down, her foot caught on the back of the seat in front, causing her to stumble forward. But Urahara reached his hand out to her's and steadied her. "Woah, careful there!"

"S-s-… I'm lucky you were th-there. Thank you."

Hoping to relieve her embarrassment, Urahara patted the back of her and guided her into her seat. "I'm always going to be there, Ayame-chan. But for the seconds I'm away, I should get a helmet for you, huh?"

As he had hoped, a smile crept onto her lips. "N-no," she chided, but the words were caught between giggles.

"And gloves and knee pads too?"

"No!"

"Or maybe I should just go all out and get you a plastic bubble?"

"O-oh Kisuke-kun! S-stop it!" She had never been so happy before, but perhaps that was because she had never been with anyone like this before. Whilst laughing Ayame barely noticed everyone around her blurring, every sound other than their laughs fading to silence, and the entire world melting around her. It was as if time stopped around them, leaving her and Urahara to enjoy the moment alone. Ayame was okay with that. Into Kisuke's eyes she stared, finding every answer to every question she didn't know she had. Vaguely she felt herself still laughing, making her come back to present time. After finally tearing her eyes from Kisuke to the screen, she realized no time had passed. The hours spent staring into his eyes wasn't more than a second, as the screen showed the same boy, picking up the same can, in the same place.

Before she could catch up, Kisuke hadn't missed a beat and was already talking. "Aw, why would I stop when you've got such a cute laugh!"

"C-cute?!" Flustered, Ayame stuttered out in disbelief.

"Extremely adorable," Urahara charmed.

"N-no way..."

Flashing her a goofy grin, he argued playfully, "yes way!" The theater then got darker and the noise around them subsided, which Ayame was grateful for, considering it hid the rose tinting her cheeks.

thththththththththt

Half way through the movie, a question came to Ayame's mind, one that she wanted to ask him before but forgot to. "Kisuke-kun..." she whispered softly and sweetly. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, ask away," Urahara whispered back, resting the side of his head on the back of the chair, giving her his full attention.

Ayame mirrored him, resting her head and looking at him. "Why is Uzakara doing all those things for Kayumi? It's just a burden on him..."

"Well, he's doing those things because he loves her."

"C-can I ask you another question?"

"Of course you can," he whispered back, grateful for the light scene in the film that lit up her face. "What's on your mind?"

"Well, y-you do so much for me... and you're so nice... but you..."

"I what?"

"You... tire yourself out and I know you're working reallyhard. You're working too hard..."

"For you, Ayame."

"But... You don't have to!" Ayame said, her voice a tad bit higher. "I don't want you to over work yourself f-for my sake!"

Urahara frowned and squeezed the hand that he never did let go of. "Ayame-chan... I do these things... for somany reasons... I like you; I think you're something rather spectacular. And your unyielding kindness is something to admire. Ayame... I'm fascinated by you, and I want to learn more and more about you... If you don't mind, that is."

"O-of course n-not!" Ayame blushed. "But... Kisuke-kun... Could I ask one more thing of you?"

"Anything."

Ayame looked away to hide her face, which was growing pinker by the second. "I-I think my other h-hand is c-cold..."

Urahara pulled his lips up into the biggest smile he was sure he'd ever had. "I think I can fix that." And indeed he did.

cfcfcfcfcfcfcfcfcfcfc

When the movie was over Urahara and Ayame waited for the theater to clear out a little bit. "What did you think of the movie Ay- Are you crying?"

Ayame shook her head and looked away. "N-no, I'm n-not..."

Normally Urahara would just pull her face so that she was looking at him, but his hands were still occupied by her's. "What's the matter? Did you not like the movie?"

"N-no, it-it was really good!"

"Then why are you crying, Ayame-chan?"

"It-it was just r-really sweet! Th-these are h-happy tears!"

" 'Happy tears'? Alright," Urahara remarked slowly, a little confused. While most females confused him, this one was just a littlemore confusing than most. But that was alright with him. Letting go of one of her hands, Urahara wiped away her tears and smiled, "you know, it's just as easy to smile at happy things!"

"Heheh, probably Kisuke-kun," Ayame sniffled a little, now that her tears had stopped.

Looking around, the shop keeper noticed that they were the only ones left in the theater. "We should probably get out of here, we still have the rest of your birthday for you, remember?"

"R-right!"

"Come on then," Urahara helped her up and led her out of the theater by her hand, passing a boy with a broom and a trash can. "They're probably outside waiting for us."

hjhjhjhjhjhjhjhjhjhjhjh

Sure enough, when Urahara and Ayame walked outside, the rest of the gang was hanging around outside waiting for them. "Geeze! Where were you guys? We've been waiting out here for like five-freakin'-minutes! You're holding her hand?" Ichigo yelled, annoyed at waytoo many things at once.

Ayame looked up at Urahara, slightly scared, "is t-that w-wrong?"

Yoruichi slapped Ichigo in the back of the head, sending him flying to the concrete sidewalk. "No, not at all Ayame, Ichigo is just a deadidiot."

"Oh..."

Ichigo growled at Yoruichi as he got up and dusted himself off, then he turned to Urahara, "Shop-keeper! I need to talk to you!"

"Whatever for?" The said shop keeper asked, a bit annoyed at how much of an ass Ichigo was acting like. "It better be important."

Pulling him off to the side so no one else could hear, Ichigo let out a frustrated sigh. "Look, I'm going to be frank with you. Whenever you act all cute with Hanako-san when you're not even dating, Rukia gets mad that I don't do that with her, and we aredating!"

"So... Do that with Rukia? Smarts-kun."

"Look! Just don't do that with Hanako-san! Plus! She's young and you're like four hundred years old!"

"And?"

"Hat 'n' Clogs!"

"Get over it, Kurosaki-kun. Because the sexy ladies love me!" Urahara then struck a dramatic pose and began to rant on and on how women love him.

"You're terrible." Ichigo walked away from him and back to where everyone else was waiting for them.

Meanwhile...

"So, Ayame, what did you think of the movie?" Yoruichi leaned against the brick building behind her, filing her nails and pretending not to have an ulterior motive. "It was your first movie experience, right?"

"It was, and-and it was really fun!"

"Just fun?"

Ayame grinned, almost like she had a secret. "Ne, Yoruichi-san, why does Kisuke-kun have such warm hands?"

Yoruichi held a devilish smirk on her dark lips, "well, it's because his heart was beating extrafast today!"

Ayame's face turned concerned in record time; she couldn't hide the panic in her voice. "W-why?"

" 'Why'? Well, you should ask him when he comes back."

When Urahara came back, Ayame came dancing happily over to him, but a rock appeared out of nowhere and tripped the poor girl. Strait to the ground she fell, failing to balance herself, she earned some nasty scraped hands and skinned knees. "Shit! Ayame! Are you alright?" Urahara ran over to her as fast as he could -probably too fast for public- and flipped her over so she was on her butt. "Listen to me. I want you to look only at me. You don't need to look anywhere else, okay?"

Feebly, Ayame gulped and tried not to cry, "o-ok-kay."

When Urahara was sure that she would keep her eyes on his face, and not on where he was looking, he took a look at the damage. Her hands were all cut up and dirty while he knees were skinned and bloody. She had just healed up from her other accident. To avoid her seeing her own blood, he picked her up in a bridal fashion and told her, "let's get you home."

"B-but I'm heavy!" She protested weakly.

Everyone started giggling, knowing full and well that a scrawny light-weight like her would be no match for the strong, muscular ex-captain. "Ayame, really, it's like carrying a big ball of flower petals." Just as she was about to look down again, Kisuke repeated, "Ayame, just look at me, okay?"

"T-that won't be too h-hard, huh?" she finally agreed.