Ichigo was woken the next morning by the sound of Kon's screams. He yawned, stretching a bit. Man, I need my sleep, especially after I had to walk back home after that fight. Talk about sore… "What's the big idea, waking me up so early?"
Kon's beady eyes twitched in frustration. "Are you blind?! Look what your sister did to me!!"
Kon was wearing a pink dress that looked like something out of the Puritan era, and had a flower attached to his left ear. Ichigo chuckled. "Well, I guess she wanted to clean you up, but she might've gone a little overboard…"
"I'll say she did! The outfit's bad enough, but why did she have to superglue this flower to my ear?! What kind of self-respecting man would-" His speech was interrupted by Ichigo trying to pull off the flower, and he began screaming again.
Ichigo whistled. "That sucker's on good, all right. Hmm…well, I could surgically remove your ear…"
"WHAT?!"
Ichigo sighed. "Whatever, I'll deal with this later. Since you were nice enough to wake me up so early, I think I'll try to eat breakfast without getting sucker-punched by Dad." He walked out of the room, ignoring Kon's protests.
--
Ichigo's breakfast wasn't nearly as peaceful as he would have liked; his father must have had the same idea, or read his mind, because he didn't get halfway through his breakfast before he was attacked from behind. After a quick round of "Take-this-you-sneaky-old-man", he went back upstairs to change. He looked at his watch. Hmm…an hour and a half 'till I normally leave, huh? Maybe we should check on those Devil Hunters. He knocked on Rukia's closet door. "Hey, Rukia! We got time to visit the Urahara Shop! Let's get moving!" Getting no answer, he kept knocking. "C'mon, we don't have all day!"
The door slid open, and Rukia jumped out, fully-dressed and looking irritated. "I heard you the first time! I'm not deaf, you know!"
Ichigo blinked. She normally would have smirked and made a wisecrack instead of snap at him. Was something wrong? "Umm…is something wrong, Rukia?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine. Let's get moving."
--
As they walked to the shop, Rukia was a lot more quiet than usual. Granted, she was always fairly quiet, but she'd normally break the silence with the occasional question or two. Ichigo frowned, but didn't press the issue. If she doesn't want to talk about it, I can't force her. I'll just have to wait until she's ready.
The reason for Rukia's silence was that she was deep in thought. The purification of that Menos was an impressive feat; there's no way the Soul Society will let it go without investigating. I'd say I have the rest of the day before they find me…
They walked into the shop, ignoring the "Closed" sign out front. They made their way upstairs, walking to Dante and Lady's room. "Alright, Dante, are you-" Ichigo stopped abruptly as he saw them both in bed, Lady's arm and head draped over Dante's bare chest. They were both snoring.
Ichigo gulped. He turned to Rukia, a sheepish look on his face. "Maybe we can wait on that…" he said quietly.
Rukia rolled her eyes. "Do you ever think before acting?"
"If I did, I probably wouldn't have met you."
She smiled at that. "Touché."
They left the room, going to Nero's and Kyrie's. This time, Rukia knocked before Ichigo could walk in. "Come in," Nero's voice called.
They walked into the room. Unlike Dante and Lady, Nero and Kyrie were already awake and dressed. Nero looked at Ichigo and Rukia curiously. "What's up? Something wrong?"
Ichigo shook his head. "Nah, just making sure you guys were ready to patrol."
"Well, I'm ready, but I don't know about Dante."
Ichigo flushed. "He's…um…still asleep. Could you just say we stopped by when he wakes up?"
"Sure. Have fun at school," Nero said, smirking.
--
As class ended for lunch, Ichigo tapped Rukia's shoulder. She turned to him, smiling. That puzzled Ichigo; she'd never smiled at him like that before. It was always the fake schoolgirl smile, or the mischievous troublemaking smile, or even the genuinely happy smile. This smile was wistful, almost sad. "Hey, is something wrong?" he asked. "Is it what was bugging you this morning?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing. Really."
He looked at her oddly, but shrugged it off.
She looked at his eyes. "Ichigo, is it all right if I don't eat with you today?"
He nodded. "If you're sure. Why?"
"No reason, really. I just don't feel like eating, that's all."
He shrugged. "Well, all right." He walked past Keigo, mumbling to him about inviting someone new. Much to Keigo's dismay, he walked right to Uryu's desk.
--
Rukia looked off into the distance sadly. Even though Saito's a man of his word, the purification of that Menos Grande undoubtedly caught the Soul Society's attention. It won't be long before they find me…and I'll have to leave this all behind. Ichigo…I wish I could stay with you forever, but…fate isn't quite that generous, it seems.
"Hey Rukia, come down!" Rukia looked down to see Orihime calling to her. She smiled, hopping down to join her friends.
--
With Chad and Mizuiro distracted by Keigo and his story, Uryu got a chance to talk with Ichigo about the lunch arrangements. "So, Ichigo, why exactly did you invite me to lunch?"
Ichigo shrugged. "No reason, I guess. I just felt like it."
Uryu sighed. "If you say so. So tell me, just who is that Dante you know?"
Ichigo sighed. "I don't know much about him, and the stuff I do know is confusing even for me."
"Tell me anyway. Two heads are better than one, you know."
"Already got two. Rukia and I have been talking about it for a while now, and we don't get far."
Uryu rolled his eyes. "Three heads, then. Please."
Ichigo sighed. "All right. His name's Dante."
"I gathered as much," Uryu said with a smirk.
Ichigo shook his head. "What I mean is, that's his full name. Just Dante."
Uryu looked intrigued. "No middle or last name? Curious…"
"You're tellin' me. He says he's the 'Son of Sparda', whatever that means."
"Hmm…Sparda…that name sounds familiar. Isn't that a bank?"
"Hell if I know. But I think it's something different; the way he makes it sound, his dad was some master swordsman."
"That would certainly fit with his abilities. Speaking of which…" he double-checked to make sure that Keigo was still holding everyone's attention before continuing. "Just what is Dante, anyway? A Soul Reaper? A Quincy? Perhaps a combination of the two?"
Ichigo shook his head. "I know what you're thinkin'. But he's not any of those. I mean, he's got a sword, like a Soul Reaper, but then he uses those two guns to kill hollows, too. I've never heard of someone killing hollows with guns before."
"Neither have I."
"I don't think…he's even fully human. He acts like killing hollows is so easy. You know what he called that Menos Grande?"
"What?"
"A workout."
Uryu shuddered. "That thing was a monster. He kills it in one shot and calls it a 'workout'? He must have even greater powers than you."
Ichigo shrugged, finishing his sandwich. "He's not the only one, either. He says that Nero isn't too far behind him."
"Nero…you mean the one who sounds like you?"
Ichigo sighed, palming his face. "Yes, but you could've just as easily said the one wearing the blue coat…More importantly, they're the only two people I know of who have white hair in their twenties."
Uryu rolled his eyes. "I don't care much about their hair. Do you think they're brothers, then?"
Ichigo shook his head. "I asked Dante that, but he said he killed the only brother he ever had."
Uryu gasped. "You mean…his brother became a hollow?"
"Who knows? I'm not gonna ask him about it."
Uryu got ready to ask another question, but he noticed that Keigo had finished his story and the rest of the group had resumed eating their lunch. He decided to ask later.
Mizuiro looked back and forth at Ichigo and Uryu. Wow, they sure became friends fast. Maybe it's because they're so similar.
--
As Orihime began to eat one of her homemade foods (forebodingly named a "Death Tart" and including eggplant, jelly beans, and sponge cake), Rukia sipped on the juice box Ichigo had prepared for her. Mahana turned to Rukia. "Hey, can I ask you a question?" Rukia nodded. "Do you have a crush on Ichigo?"
Juice gushed out of Rukia's mouth like a fountain. "Huh?" How…does she know?!
The girl smiled. "I'll take that as a maybe. But what exactly is your relationship with him?"
Rukia, flustered, started to wipe the juice off herself with a handkerchief. "Well, um…he's my friend!"
Michiru frowned. "Mahana, that's not the sort of question you ask directly!"
She scoffed. "What? All of you wanted to ask her anyway, so I did it for you!"
"Well, who says I wanted to know anyway?"
Tatsuki sighed. "What do you have against him, Michiru?"
"Well, um…I don't really have anything against him, I just think his face in kinda scary-looking, that's all."
Orihime giggled. "Scary? I don't think he's scary-looking! I like his face!"
"Well?" Mahana asked Rukia. "What's the story, huh, Rukia?"
"Well, um…" Rukia was at a loss for words. What do humans call it when two people like each other and kiss but they're not married? She decided to risk it. "Well, we've…kissed…"
"WHAT?!" every girl (excluding Orihime, who had taken another bite of her "Death Tart") yelled loudly.
Orihime finished chewing and smiled warmly. "Yay! Now that Rukia likes Ichigo like me, maybe Tatsuki might like Ichigo too, and then we might all start liking Ichigo, and then we could all talk about how much we like him, and the girls' team would win!"
Tatsuki recovered from her shock at this. "Can someone say something normal now?"
Michiru stared at Rukia. "Kissed? Aren't you scared by his face at all?!"
Rukia smiled. "Well, normally when we kiss, I have my eyes closed."
Tatsuki sighed. "Thank goodness. For a minute the nonsense was starting to make sense."
Mahana stared at Rukia. "So are you dating, then? Has he taken you anywhere, like a fancy restaurant?"
Rukia was stumped by this. Dating? What's dating? "Um, no."
Orihime frowned. "Well, is he a good kisser, then?"
Rukia smiled as she recalled his kiss. "Yeah…"
She giggled. "I thought so. Has he bought you anything, like a stuffed animal or a present?"
He hadn't really got her anything special, but about two days after Don Kanonji's Karakura show, she'd found Kon's plushie laying outside her closet door. She'd originally thought that Kon had come to sneak a peek at her undressing, but he hadn't moved at all. She picked him up, noticing a red ribbon holding a card on the back. The card said "For you, Rukia: A little peace and quiet." She'd smiled at that, realizing Ichigo must've pulled out Kon's pill.
She smiled. "Well, he did get me one stuffed animal…"
Mahana smiled. "Aww…I think that's romantic!"
Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "Hardly. So you're boyfriend and girlfriend, then?"
Rukia was confused. Well, he's a boy and I'm a girl… "I guess so."
As all the girls cooed over her for reasons she didn't quite grasp, she smiled bashfully. This is nice. I wish I could stay here longer, but…I don't belong here.
--
Ichigo tried to pay attention to his professor, but his gaze kept wandering over to Rukia's desk. She apparently wasn't bothering taking notes, instead drawing pictures of those rabbits and bears of hers. As much as they drove him nuts, he chuckled softly as he saw her draw more and more animals.
She heard his chuckle and winked at him. She began a new drawing, but Ichigo focused on the teacher as he prepared to ask a question to keep the class awake. And it was fortunate that he did, as he was the one who was selected to answer the question. He did so gruffly, and the professor resumed his lecture.
Rukia tapped her notebook softly to get Ichigo's attention again. When he gazed at her notebook, it showed a rabbit and a bear holding hands, which was outlined by a big heart. It bore the caption "R + I". He smiled at that.
Keigo nudged Ichigo as the class ended. He'd seen some of their exchange, and since he'd already heard gossip from the girls, he decided to ask Ichigo. "Say, Ichigo…so, what's the deal with you and Rukia, huh?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. Just play it cool. It's not like he's actually figured it out; he couldn't even figure out the Menos Grande. He's a complete…
"Are the rumors true? Is she your…girlfriend?"
Ichigo gulped. Maybe he's not so dumb…wait, rumors? "Rumors?"
"I heard the girls talking about it! SO?"
Ichigo smirked. Go figure…I probably should've explained things to Rukia about dating better. Oh well. Me and Rukia dating…why not? "I guess."
Keigo patted Ichigo's back vigorously. "Oh, way to GO, man! Aren't you the smooth operator! Dating the new girl…I'm so proud!"
Ichigo shoved Keigo off him. "Alright, I get it. Get off, already."
Rukia smiled sheepishly at Ichigo as Keigo ran off, twirling in joy like a ballerina. "Sorry. The girls started asking questions, and I got confused…"
Ichigo shook his head, smiling. "It's okay. I kinda like the idea of going out with you."
She smiled. "Me too." She cocked her head. "So, what's going out mean?"
Ichigo slapped his forehead.
--
Rukia packed up her books and left the now-empty classroom. She walked outside sadly. She spotted Ichigo waiting for her, and made her way to him. She started running toward him, glad to finally be out of school.
Ichigo, however, was nervous about her running. "What is it? A hollow?"
She smiled. "No, nothing like that. I'm just glad to see you is all." He smiled at her. "Say, Ichigo…are you…feeling all right?"
He nodded, stretching an arm to make sure. "Yeah, great. Why do you ask?"
"No reason."
"Is there gonna be another one like yesterday?"
She chuckled. "If a Menos Grande showed up every day, we'd be in trouble, even with the Devil Hunters."
He frowned. "Say, you're acting kind of strange. What's bothering you?"
She sighed. "I…just…" she shook her head, unable to finish.
Ichigo leaned down, giving her a quick kiss. "It's all right. Any time you're ready to talk, I'll be there."
And as Kon ran up to them with a torn arm, Rukia could tell he was completely honest.
--
"Hey, Uryu, I need a patch job."
Uryu rolled his eyes as Rukia held up a ripped Kon. "Shouldn't you treat your girlfriend's toys better?"
"Just shut up and do it."
"I don't have to do something just because you tell me, Ichigo."
"Fine…Oh, wait, I get it! You're on edge and saying no because you can't do anything with those bandages, can you? Looks like you're pretty useless, Mr. Handicrafts!"
Ichigo smirked as Uryu grabbed Kon angrily. Guess we're even, then. You goaded me into doing what you said with that duel, and I'm returning the favor.
As Uryu set down the finished Kon, Ichigo and Rukia stared in amazement mixed with horror. Kon was fixed, but now he was barely recognizable with a queen's regal dress and blonde wig. "Nice job. Is that Kon?"
Rukia gulped. "Well, it used to be."
"Now what is he?"
"A nightmare!"
Kon flew into a rage, trying to attack Ichigo but ending up subdued by his larger and stronger hand.
--
"Hey, Ichigo."
He turned to Rukia as he closed his room door, dropping his book bag by his desk. "Take it easy. If my dad heard I had a girlfriend, he'd go into a long speech about being a teenager and hormones."
"Sorry. I was wondering something, though. Some of the girls asked if we ever went to a fancy restaurant. Why?"
He sighed. "Usually it's traditional that the guy takes a girl to a fancy restaurant on a date. I would, but I don't exactly have time for a job to get the needed money, so it might be a little while yet." He smiled. "Don't worry, though. Even though my dad's weird, he's always taught me to be a gentleman if I do ever date someone. I'll take you to one as soon as I can."
She kissed him lightly on the lips. "Thanks Ichigo." He smiled, and went back downstairs to eat dinner. She sighed. I can already sense them here. Goodbye, Ichigo. I'll never forget you.
Well, there's Chapter 8! Sorry for the wait again, but I'll try to get a chapter or two per month if I can.
Now it's your turn. I kid you not, those reviews are an inspiration. So tell me what you think!
