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The Journal
Peach Doll
Chapter 10
Dance With Snow White
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The large room immediately grew silent as fearful eyes all laid on Principal Yamamoto, who stood with both Hisagi-san and Rangiku-san- both of which had expressions that clearly said, I couldn't handle this.
Rukia stood tensely, jumping slightly at the feeling of Ichigo sliding his hand in hers quietly. She didn't look at him as he stood next to her, but squeezed his hand gently in acknowledgement.
Yamamoto's keen, squinting eyes roamed the entire room, slowly, going from group to group, eyeing the ones who were a mess, who were obviously drunk. He inhaled. All the students began to recoil-
"I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!"
Hisagi-san and Rangiku-san both winced, and the student body grew tenser.
"YOUR BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN HORRENDOUS! I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I AM SEEING! I AM SO DISAPPOINTED!" Yamamoto's deep voice echoed throughout the large hall. Someone whispered behind Rukia, "How are his lungs so healthy when he's so old..?"
"DO YOU HEAR ME? YOUR BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN DISGUSTING! YOU ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES! AND DON'T YOU EVEN THINK YOU'LL BE GETTING AWAY WITH YOUR ACTIONS! I'VE SEEN EXACTLY WHO WAS DOING WHAT-"
Just then, groaning was heard from the floor. Everyone watched as Yamamoto's eyes traveled down to the corner of the room, where a passed-out Keigo was laying in a puddle of red punch, jacket-less and pants-less.
Keigo remained sprawled on the floor, merely singing out in a dazed, drunken voice, "Baaay-bee girlllll, wass yo nameeee... lemme talk to ya, lemme buy you a drankkkk..."
Tatsuki bit her lip to keep from snorting, glancing at Renji, who looked as if he may explode in laughter at any moment. Momo was watching with her jaw dropped slightly, Shinji shaking his head sadly at the spectacle of Keigo, his hand resting on Momo's waist casually. Orihime covered her mouth with her hands. Uryu looked away. Ichigo rolled his eyes in disgust. Rukia unconsciously moved closer to his body, as if afraid Keigo may magically leap up and attack her- he'd already attempted so twice that night.
Yamamoto's eyes bulged, his wrinkly face growing red with seething anger. He slammed his wooden staff on the tiled floor again, the loud CLANK! sound making everyone wince.
"YOU UTTER BARBARIANS! AS PUNISHMENT, THIS YEAR'S PROM IS CANCELLED! CONSIDER THIS YOUR LAST DANCE OF THE YEAR! NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
Rukia sighed as she pulled up to Momo's driveway, the last person she had to drop off before going home.
"Thank you, Rukia," Momo said tiredly, stretching over from the backseat and pressing an airy kiss to her friend's cheek in thanks before opening the door putting her heels back on, climbing out of the all too comfortable car.
"Night, Momo."
"Night. Text me once you reach home so I know you're safe."
"I will," Rukia nodded, watching Momo move into the house before shifting in drive.
After Yamamoto had made his grand entrance and furious exit, the party had pretty much fizzled. The student council members grouped together to discuss what to do, and everyone else was required to go home- even though it was barely 10:00. It had taken an empty punch bowl of ice water to wake Keigo up, who did so shrieking something about a "hot babe with apple bottom jeans" before he was escorted home by a very generous Sado.
Rukia couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that Yamamoto had to arrive at such a time. She hadn't even gotten a single dance with Ichigo.
She sighed as she pulled up to her home, pressing a button to open the large, iron gates of the driveway. Ichigo had pressed a quick kiss to her neck and said that she should take her friends home, and then had left- she knew he'd come on his motorcycle and wouldn't need a ride, so she'd dropped Momo, Orihime, and Tatsuki home.
She unlocked the door to the mansion, not worrying about waking anyone up, as the house was empty right now- Hisana-nee and Byakuya-nee had gone for a short business trip for a week, and so she was home alone. She locked the doors, quickly sending a text to Momo.
R: I'm home
M: kay. goodnight bby
R: night momo
She went up to her bedroom, getting out of the beautiful but restricting gown and gloves, she laid them on her bed with her necklace and slipped a silky white night dress on. As it was quite a warm night, it was a simple, one-piece night dress that had thin straps and a v-shaped neckline; it stopped at just above her knees- it looked more like a slip or a chemise than an actual nightie, being so short. Usually it would've felt inappropriate to wear in front of her brother or male servants, but she donned it since she was alone. She glanced in her mirror, deciding not to take down her hair just yet, as it looked quite pretty combed and pinned back, instead taking makeup remover and cotton rounds, she sat in front of her mirror removing her makeup when her phone vibrated.
She glanced down at it, raising an eyebrow.
Ichigo: U up doll?
Rukia put down the remover, picking up her phone and sliding the lock button.
Rukia: Yes. y?
Ichigo: we didnt get to dance together tonight
Rukia: I know. im dissapointed too
Ichigo: its not too late, though.
Rukia: what do u mean?
Ichigo: look out ur window
Rukia blinked, putting her phone down, she moved over to the window, pushing aside the white chiffon curtains, her jaw dropped at seeing Ichigo standing there, two floors down outside, looking up at her. He was still dressed in his suit and tie from earlier, and he had a black drawstring bag hanging on one shoulder. He waved.
Rukia pushed open her window, staring down at him, "Wha- Ichigo, what are you doing here?!"
Ichigo just grinned. "I'm here for a dance, my lady." and got down on one knee jokingly.
"Ichigo! I'm serious!" Rukia glanced around, as if there was someone who could possibly see them- the Kuchiki manor was just too big- "How did you even get here?...You're not drunk are you?"
"I'll explain later- and NO, I'm not drunk! I'm not that irresponsible!" Ichigo called, "Will you at least let me inside?"
Rukia leaned against the window sill with an amused expression, "Hm, I don't know Ichigo. It's quite funny looking at you yelling from down there. You do look so small."
"Come on!" he replied in annoyance, holding up his bag, "I have something for you!"
"You can't bribe me, Ichigo!"
"Rukia, please?! It's cold out here and- hey!" he exclaimed as she suddenly disappeared. The back door opened then, and he walked over, shivering lightly from the chilling night air. Rukia reached up and pulled his ear lightly. "Now what are you doing sneaking around my house?! If someone saw you they'd think you're a burglar!"
"OW!" Ichigo cried, "No one would think that- your house is too huge for anyone to see me- and- Rukia, my ear!" she let go then, and he rubbed it with a pouty expression, grumbling, "I want you to touch me gently.."
"Later, when we're alone," Rukia replied hurriedly, not really understanding how that may sound. Ichigo did, however, and looked at her with a stupid grin on his face as she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. "Hurry up, I thought you were cold."
"I was, but not anymore." he said, reaching out and touching a lock of her hair gently. "..You look like the one that would be more cold anyway."
"Oh? That's true, it is pretty cold tonight." She looked at him then, not really getting what he meant by that as he glanced around.
"By any chance, do you have a music or a dance room in this place?"
"Well, yes. Hisana-nee and I use it to practice violin and piano. I also had dance classes in there before, when I was learning."
"Let's go, then,"
"Why?" Rukia questioned curiously. Ichigo rolled his eyes. "You'll see when we get there."
"Fine, come on." she walked off. Ichigo followed her quickly, and stuck his arm out, making her pause and look at him. "What?"
"You can drag me again, you know," he said, looking off to the side with a blush. Rukia laughed.
She led him to the second floor of the house, pushing open a large door. Inside was a hall, decorated with large paintings on the walls and intricate crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, as well as a grand piano in the corner. The room was dark, only lit up by the moonlight pouring in through the three large windows on one side of the room. It was pretty and looked more like a small ballroom than a simple "music room" as Rukia called it.
Ichigo placed his bag down, rummaging through it, he pulled out his iphone, as well as the white rose he'd previously had in the breast pocket of his suit. He turned his phone on and scrolled, selecting a random song, he placed it down as well, holding a hand out to Rukia. "Want to dance?"
Rukia smiled knowingly and took his hand, letting him pulled her close. Ichigo tucked the rose behind her ear, his hands dropping to her waist in a firm grip, the other taking hers. They danced formally at first, but two songs in had completely melted against each other, Rukia's arms slung tightly around his waist, he did most of the moving while she merely rested her head against his strong, dressed chest. He just smelled so good, and was so warm and inviting and comforting and strong. She felt protected.
"So how did you break into my house anyway?"
Ichigo scoffed. "I didn't break in, you let me in. And for you answer, I scaled the gate. It wasn't easy, you know. You're lucky your boyfriend is so strong."
Rukia smacked his chest lightly, not hard enough to hurt him a bit, before slipping her arms around him again. "Mmm. You're lucky Nii-sama isn't home."
"Why else did you think I asked you if he'd be here earlier?"
She rolled her eyes. "Is my strong, tall, dark and handsome Ichigo scared of my nii-sama?"
"Well I do want to make a good impression, Rukia. He's never quite liked me, even though you and I have been friends since we were 15. Sneaking into his little sister's house at night without his knowledge probably wouldn't add a good mark in my book. I'm just glad your sister at least seems to like my presence."
She blushed at that. "She thinks you're an incredibly kind person."
"I think she's the one that's incredibly kind."
They fell into a comfortable silence before Ichigo spoke again, the fingers of his left hand pressing and gripping the satiny fabric on her back gently.
His voice was low and quiet, thoughtful. "You look beautiful tonight."
She didn't move from her position, remaining relaxed against him as one hand slid from his back to front, her fingers idly smoothing the silkiness of his tie. "You mean, I looked."
"No, you still do." he replied, pausing then. She noticed it and moved back slightly to see him staring at her, and it was then that she realized that she was in a state of quite undress in front of a man and blushed. A skimpy little satin slip that barely reached her knees wasn't exactly an ideal date outfit.
Ichigo only smirked in amusement at her, his hand still gripping the silky, satin fabric of her nightie. "White suits you."
Rukia rolled her eyes, smiling, "You think so?"
"Yes. You glow under the moon."
"Since when have you gotten so cheesy?"
"Why so? A man can't say something honest to his girl every once in a while because its too cheesy?"
"I'm your girl?"
He looked down at her honest, clear indigo eyes, full of teasing and sparkle and blushed, looking away with a pouty frown. "You're my girl."
Rukia chuckled lightly before looking down again, holding him close to her. Her voice muffled slightly from being pressed to his chest so close, "Thank you for coming here tonight, Ichigo. And for being so patient at the dance."
"It'd be unfair of me to ruin Hanataro's night just so I can have you. I was just being a civil person. And besides," he added, one hand reaching and taking her chin gently, tilting her face up to look at him, "Like I'd let you get away tonight without a dance." he pulled her close then by the waist, her body pressing against his tightly as his warm, masculine lips collided with hers.
Rukia realized then that she didn't feel so cold anymore.