Her eyes widened in fear. No, no, no, it can't be... It CANNOT be! She tightened her grasp on the asaguchi in fear. Renji was on her right side, bleeding heavily. The monster turned towards her, red energy gathered between it' horns. Something flashed and the world went black for a few seconds.

"Kuchiki-san, are you all right?" somebody asked. She looked up.

"Headmaster Urahara!" The blonde man gave her an encouraging smile and jumped as claws swung through the air at the very place where his neck was just a moment ago.

"Oh my. What a sad sight... Unfortunately it seems like ex-headmaster Yamamoto was wrong. Kuchiki-san, could you fetch Abarai-kun, then go back to the camp? Then send the teachers here, although I think they've already arrived..."

"We have, Urahara," said a purple haired woman with piercing yellow eyes. However not as yellow as the creatures eyes are. Others appeared, ending their Shunpo. Captain Unohana and some of the elder, stronger students... Professor/Captain Zaraki and Captain Soi Fong, her brother... And a few other people she didn't know.

"Tell us, Urahara. Is he...?" asked Byakuya.

"Unfortunately, yes. But tell me, why did you bring students along with you?"

"They couldn't be stopped. And it's their fault if they die here because of their own weakness."

"Silence, you two! We have a serious matter on hand!" yelled sharply Captain Soi Fong as she barely managed to stop a blast of cero with her own shunko.

"You are right. Now then, Kuchiki-san, it's time for you to go..."

Rukia sat up, gasping. Those damned memories... Well, it's not like drinking fifteen butterbeers (along with something else; she didn't even dare to ask what it was) had been a great idea before coming to sleep.

"Good, you're awake," said an unfamiliar voice. She looked around. Wait... This place is not their bedroom, for sure. Across her there sat the nurse who treated the champions' wounds after the first trial.

"Where am I?"

"At the hospital wing. Your friends brought you here, because you were screaming and throwing up in your sleep, but you wouldn't wake up. But no, no matter how many times I tell everybody that butterbeer is not as good as they think it is if somebody is sensitive to one of its components, which you are."

"I see... So can I go now?" she asked.

"Not yet... We have to be sure you're all right. That means if you don't fall asleep within three hours, you are free to go," the nurse said, then stood up. "If you need anything, I'm in there."

With that, she left. Rukia pulled up herself, scowling, then put her chin on her knees. Great. Now she was being held here, like some kind of prisoner.

"Rukia! It's good to see you awake."

"Renji?" Yes, it was him, standing in the doorway with a grin on his face. "Why are you here?"

"To check on you, why else? Actually, Ichigo asked me to do it, but I would've come anyways."

"Why didn't he come himself? He could at least do that much."

"Actually no, he couldn't," he grinned, barely holding back his laughter. "He is stuck in the library. Apparently some students thought it'd be a good idea to glue the doors together. He could of course easily break them, but then he would've had the librarian at his throat - I heard she threatened him that if he does that he will get the punishment of the century. And unfortunately every - and I mean every teacher - is in the village."

"Why doesn't he just use a removing spell? We learnt those two years ago. Or the librarian?" The red haired guy shrugged.

"You know as well as I do that he never had a talent for spells that need carefulness. He is much more the type of guy who would rather jump in head first, even if a whole army is trying to stop him. It's always been you, dealing with that kind of magic and healing. Like a sidekick."

"A sidekick, huh? And did you know that you're only a third wheel for Momo and Izuru?"

"That won't work, since I'm not."

"Oh? And how do you know that?"

"Instict." The girl burst out into laughter.

"You and your instict! Just like Vice-captain Yachiru's infamous sense of direction!" The boy scowled.

"Anyways, Ichigo sent another message."

"He did?"

"Yes. He found out what might have sang that creepy song. Mermaids." Rukia grinned and boxed into the air.

"Yes! I knew it! Now, again, how much do you have to pay me for it?"

"... I'd hoped you 'd forgotten about that one."

-.-.-.-.-.-

"But I've got another little problem," said Ichigo four hours later. "Apparently I have to spend a whole hour underwater."

"So?"

"So how am I gonna do that?"

"Easy - Bubble-Head charm."

"I don't think so - remember my last try of that one? I blew up everything in a ten metre radius. Besides to keep it up for an hour..."

"Oh, right."

"Well, then how 'bout your mask?" asked Renji. They looked at him, shocked. "Why? All of the charms he could try to use would either - as he said - blow up the whole area, or dry the lake out. Oh, yeah, I guess that's another way to do it, though I don't think that the judges would like that one."

"I dunno... I don't even really know how it is that thing works for things outside of combat."

"Well, then! What's the problem? Worst case scenario, either you kill us, or we kill you."
"Like that could happen."

"I still say give it a shot," said the red haired Japanese man. Ichigo grimaced but nodded.

"Damn. Another conversation with somebody I really don't want to have a conversation with."

"That hurt."

"There you are!" someone yelled.

"Urahara!"

"Professor Urahara!" Rukia shot a look at Ichigo. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm here just to ask him if he has chosen already," said their Academy's headmaster, grinning at Ichigo. He avoided his eyes.

"Yes, I did."

"And? Have you asked yet?"

"... No."

"Well, then you better be fast, before somebody else does."

"Her? No way. She is grumpy, violent and..."

"What are you two talking about?" asked Rukia looking from Ichigo to Urahara. The blonde smiled.

"I think now is the time, Kurosaki."

"Time for what?"

"But..."

"No buts."

"Fine," he took a deep breath. "?"

"Huh?"

"The idiot wants to know whether you'll come with him to the Yule ball on the 24th, or not," said Renji, trying to help his friend out, but all he got as thanks was a smack across the head. "Hey! What was that for? I was only helping you out!"

"Nobody asked you to do so!" They stepped closed to each other.

"Okay, guys, stop!" she yelled as she shoved them apart.

"What did I tell you about her being violent?" muttered Kurosaki, gripping his nose. Rukia's eyes twitched, but in the end she only sighed, then pull out her wand.

"Let me fix it. Chokuchi."

"Thanks, although you were the one who caused it," said the orange-headed boy, after the bleeding had stopped, and his nose went back to its original place. "Well, then, what's your answer?"

"It's a yes."

"Really?"

"No, gee, I'm joking," said Rukia, rolling her eyes.

"Right, but I've been waiting for more... I dunno... Thinking time on your part?"

"Disappointed?"

"Well,.."

"All right!" clapped Kisuke. "Now that's everything is settled let's find a partner for Abarai-kun as well!"

With that he grabbed the said male's arm and dragged him away. The duo was looking after them for a second before Rukia smacked Ichigo across the face.

"And what was that for?"

"For calling me grumpy and violent."

"But if you are... AUGH!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Chokuchi - (Instant healing)

Short chapter, short chapter... xD And not even the best one...

Yeah, Ichigo might be even a little bit more OOC than usually he is... Let's just say that being with the librarian woman (forgot her name, sorry) for hours kinda got onto his nerves.