me: Yes I finished! Thanks to the help of my friend from school, introducing…(drum roll) EMILY!

Emily: hi everyone!

Renji: hey Emily girl!

Emily: um…yes?

Renji: how come I'm not in here!?

Emily: cause we didn't want you to be!

Renji: oh god she's just like you!

Me: Isn't she awesome…Oh! Where's Ichigo he shouldn't miss this!

Ichigo(laughing with Rukia)

Renji: hey!


Chapter 9: Prelude to the dance

"I bet he will!"

"Come on why would he!?"

"Have a little confidence Rukia!" Tatsuki said hands on her hips. Rukia sank in her chair.

"I just don't think Ichigo is exactly into the whole dance thing" She tapped her finger on the table. They were in the library pretending to study. Rukia had been the only one actually trying to study but the dance subject ended up arising.

"He would be for you!" Matsumoto chimed in

"I don't know…"

"I mean you've turned down EVERY single guy that's asked you" Tatsuki blurted out

"I'm just waiting for the right guy"

"Right guy meaning Kurosaki-kun" Matsumoto poked. Rukia blushed and sunk lower in her chair.

"No! I just don't think he'll ask me okay? I think I know him pretty well to know that"

"I think he will!" Orihime chimed in cheerfully

"Thanks Inoue but he's not the romantic type" Tatsuki frowned at her friend's lack of confidence in Ichigo. Then a smirk played at her lips.

"I bet you 100 yen that Ichigo will ask you out"

"What!? Why would you make a bet like that?"

"Scared?" She smirked

"Tatsuki you are such a-"

"It's a bet!" Tatsuki grabbed her hand and shook it.


"STRAWBERRY!!!!" Keigo cried dancing down the hall

"Sup" he said dryly closing his locker

"Do you know what time it is!?!?!"

"Err…no…" he raised his eyebrow

"A week from the dance!!"

"Okay, so" he started to walk Keigo following

"I've already asked 20 girls! Ishida is going with Inoue-san, Mizuiro with Rangiku" He cheered happily "Have you asked anyone?"

"Um…no I didn't really think about that" Ichigo scratched his head

"WHAT!!!??? I would've thought you'd asked Kuchiki-san already!"

"What? Why would you think that!?" Ichigo blushed slightly

"I don't know I mean you guys are ALWAYS together and-" Ichigo tripped him making him fall flat on his face for talking to loudly. Ichigo just stepped over the fallen boy and continued to class. Something in him stirred though. The dance was coming up want it…? A date is an important element…but why would Rukia go with him right? He wasn't exactly the romantic type. Shaking the thought off Ichigo decided standing on the wall with Chad would be a lot more reasonable.


It was silent as they worked. There seemed to be tension I the air for some reason. Rukia sat at the register flipping through a manga. As Ichigo swept he glanced up at Rukia reading. He inwardly laughed as he watched her violet eyes change expressions with each page. One second it was sad, then excited, then that 'OMG they just kissed' look. He was mesmerized by the emotions she could display with just those deep eyes. Then she made a surprised face that looked something like sucking on a lemon. He laughed out loud by mistake. She looked up from her manga with a curious look. Ichigo opened his eyes from laughter and blushed.

"What's so funny?" She said getting up from her chair

"N-nothing" He stuttered as she made her way over.

"It something because you're blushing Ichigo…" Ichigo covered his cheeks "Ha! I know it's something! Come on I want to laugh too!"

"Then look in the mirror!" he busted out laughing. She frowned

"Ha, ha that's NOT funny" She made her way back to the cash register sitting in a huff. Ichigo stopped laughing and looked at her curiously. Had he really made her mad? She picked up her manga flipping the pages and glaring at him occasionally. He smirked. He put the broom down and walked over to the cash register while she seemed completely engulfed in the fake lives of the manga people. He bent over the counter propping his head up with his elbows looking at her. Slowly the manga lowered to reveal a pair of irritated violet eyes.

"What are you doing?" She asked squinting

Man I love her eyes

"Ichigo?" She put the book down and looked at his weird expression

Her lips look so soft

"Hey Ichigo I'm talking to you!!" She hollered waving her hand in his face

"You're so cute when you're angry" Ichigo blurted out absent mindedly

"What?" Rukia said eyes wide. Ichigo's eyes went wide when he realized he'd said that out loud. His face turned red and he took a step back.

"Ichigo…what did you say?"

"Err…n-nothing I said nothing at all" he started stepping back and Rukia looked at him weird. As he backed up he ended up tripping over the broom. He yelled "BYAAA!!" as he tumbled to the floor. Rukia covered her mouth trying to cover her laughter. She ran to his side and looked at him as he rubbed his neck.

"Are you okay Ichigo?" She said giggle in her voice

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine"

"Good now get up so you can walk me home" Ichigo slowly stood up trying to catch up with Rukia who had already walked out the door.


"Nii-sama?" Rukia said stepping up behind him.

"Yes?" he looked up form the paper

"Can I have some money?"

"For what?"

"I'm going shopping for the dance!" she smiled. Byakuya grimaced as he dug out his wallet. The money wasn't the problem. He absolutely hated school dances. To him it was just a chance for some random guy to feel up on his little sister. Most of all, he hated the dresses. Usually they were sparkly, short, V-necked, 1 strapped or his favorite NO straps. He hated it all, but of course he had no say in the school activities and dared not to deprive his sister of the "teen experience" He handed her the money and she thanked him with a kiss on his cheek.

Rukia started to walk towards the mall. On the way she picked up her friends who were just as excited to help her pick out her dress. As they entered the store Rukia was bouncing around like a sugar high 3-year-old. The other girls sat down as their friend went into a dressing room with 3 dresses.

"Come on!" Tatsuki hollered

"Okay I'm coming out!" Rukia stepped out with a teal blue dress that touched the floor. It had a flower at the top and spaghetti strings.

"Err…no" Tatsuki shook her head and Matsumoto stuck out her tongue. Orihime just gave a crooked smile.

"Okkkaaayyy next dress!" She went in and came out in 3 minutes. This dress was black and stopped below her knees. It had sleeves that went below her shoulders with silver glitter at the top traveling down the side.

"I like it!" Matsumoto said clapping. Tatsuki grinned in approval. Rukia looked at Orihime and she smiled but the look in her eyes said NO.

"I think I'll try another one" Rukia stepped back in. A couple minutes later she came out with the last dress. The dress was strapless simple at the top, it was long at the back but was brought up showing the front of her legs. But, the best part of the dress was the color. Burnt Orange, with a coat of shiny gold sheen. Rukia's eyes lit up as she looked in the mirror.

"So…what do you guys think?" She bit her lip. She turned and looked at their faces. Matsumoto was grinning, Tatsuki had thumbs up smiling and Orihime smiled sweetly with approval written all over her face. It was the color, definitely.

Rukia hung the dress up admiring its beauty. She had bought the matching gold shoes and now all she needed was jewelry. What was it about this dress that she liked so much? I bet you could guess right? As the dress hung gracefully, Rukia went to sleep thinking of a certain someone.


"Sup guys" Ichigo said coming up to his "friends" They all turned to him with blank expressions. Even Keigo.

"What's up with you guys?" Ichigo asked confused

"Have you asked yet?" Keigo said sounding irritated

"Whoa, where'd the attitude come from?" Ichigo smirked

"Seriously Ichigo! The dance is days away!" Mizuiro whined "I don't want you alone!!"

"Guys come on I'll be with Chad! Besides it's not my thin-" Ichigo looked up and Chad was standing in front of him.

"Standing on the walls my thing" he turned Ichigo around towards where he could see Rukia across the hall "Go ask her" he pushed him.

"What are y-" Chad pointed and Ichigo turned back towards the girls.

"Cant believe I'm doing this" Ichigo mumbled as he made his way over. As he neared them they saw him coming over and pushed Rukia out. She looked at them confused but turned and came face-to-face with Ichigo.

"Hey there! Whatsup" Rukia said smiling

"Err…um…Rukia can I a-ask you something..?" he stuttered scratching the back of his head. Rukia smiled sweetly.

"Of course!" he took a deep breath

"Okay here it goes…w-will you…err…" he looked down

"Yes…?" She said awaiting the much anticipating question

"Willyougotothedancewithme" he mumbled

"I'm sorry could you say that again?" Rukia said biting her lip patiently.

"Um…will…will you go to the dance with me?" There he got it out. His face held a slight red. Rukia's eyes lit up. She playfully punched him. He looked confused. Then she looked up with the biggest smile and hugged him.

"You baka! You just made me lose 100 yen!"


me:yah! it's finished! Oh and please tell meif i was right about that yen thing...i was a little confused so if its wrong please tell me!!! REVIEW KINDLY!!!

emily:BYE!!!!!