Standard Disclaimer Applies...You know the one where we praise Tite-Kubo for his awesomeness?...Yeah that one
A million thank you's to Mau-chan, who showered me with divine inspiration...credits to Ichigo's new school activity goes to you!
Kuchiki-Kurosaki
Inoue-Ishida
Arisawa-Abarai
Hinamori-Hitsugaya
Coincidence?...I think NOT!
Question...Is it me or that Ashido dude looks kinda hot?...mmmm...
Chapter 10-Accepted
Karakura High Bulletin Board
Got any questions or suggestion to make this the best year ever? Write it down and submit your thoughts! Suggestions are read on a weekly basis and questions are answered in the Karakura Gazette.
You think you got what it takes to cheer your team? Cheerleader tryouts coming soon! For more information contact Prof. Shihouin or Matsumoto Rangiku
The Karakura Gazette. Now Hiring
If you're interested in becoming part of the high school newspaper, please contact your classroom president for more information and for inscriptions. The list will be passed to the chief editor and you will be contacted. No previous experience required, but we would like it if you have some literature background.
Ichigo tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes as he scanned the bulleting board. It was littered with several colorful looking signs and posters, but a neon-green plastered right in the middle was the one that caught his attention
"Interested?"-
Next to him stood a purple-haired girl, which she had tied up with a red ribbon. Her golden eyes were narrowed as she stepped back and verified the poster she had just pinned
"Maybe, are you the one in charge of the paper?"-Ichigo asked, looking at the board. The girl turned to him and smiled broadly, sticking out her hand
"I'm Tomoko Senna, editor in-chief of the Karakura Gazette and secretary to the president of the junior year Hitsugaya Toushirou. Nice to meet you"-
"Uh, I'm Kurosaki Ichigo and…that's it I guess"-he said awkwardly as the girl shook his hand enthusiastically.
"Very well, Kurosaki, if you're interested in becoming part of my staff then get in contact with your class president and he or she will get back to me with the list of applicants from their year. Isn't your president that Kuchiki girl?"- Ichigo nodded –"Ok, so she should have the information. Do you have any literary background?"-
"Uh, yeah some"-
"Like?"-Senna folded her arms and raised her eyebrows, expecting an answer. Ichigo shifted his feet. This girl made him feel uncomfortable
"I have read…you know…some books"-he scratched his head, looking around. He didn't feel like sharing his secret hobby with this girl. Senna huffed
"Obviously books, I wouldn't expect GQ to be considered literary background. Have you read John Donne, Arthur Miller…Shakespeare?"-
"Yeah"-
"Yeah? Yeah you've read them? All of them?"-she couldn't hide her surprise. Usually guys don't read that sort of things
"Yeah, all of them"-
"Hmm, interesting. Well I hope to see your name in the list. See ya around"-She turned and skipped the other direction, entering her classroom. Ichigo sighed and turned back to the poster. He enjoyed reading, but he had never tried writing before. Oh well, something new wouldn't hurt.
At that moment another student walked out of the same classroom. Spotting Ichigo, she made her way there
"Good morning Ichigo-kun"- Momo greeted, pinning a more simple-looking poster on the wall. She stood back to admire the work, just like the other girl had done before. Nodding in satisfaction, she turned to the orange-head next to her
"Morning. And what are you in charge of?"-he asked, wondering if it was some sort of requisite to have an extra-curricular activity in this school. Momo smiled
"Oh I'm not in charge of anything, I don't have the time. This is for the drama club. Hey, are you going to join something? You should join the drama club, its very fun"-
"Uh, right, I was thinking that maybe I should join something, but I don't think theater is my thing"-he said, an amused grin in his face. Momo giggled lightly
"I guess not. Anyways, see you around"-she waved as ran back to her classroom, since the bell had rang for the next period. Sighing heavily, Ichigo followed suit.
His classroom was as noisy as it always was every time their president wasn't around. The guys were huddled in the back and the girls were scattered around, giggling and shrieking madly about something stupid. He walked towards his desk and sat, thinking about where she could be.
"Hello there Kurosaki-kun"-
Ichigo turned at the mention of his name and was almost smothered by a pair of ample bosoms standing right in front of him. Blushing madly, Ichigo pushed back into the wall as much as his desk allowed. The strawberry-blonde before him seem to take no notice of the uncomfortable situation
"My name is Matsumoto Rangiku, but I'm sure you already knew that, mind if I take a seat?"-she took the chair from Rukia's desk and dragged it next to Ichigo, who was still very red at the ears
"How may I help you?"-Ichigo asked awkwardly, since the girl had propped her head up with her hand and was blinking at him, a lot.
"You now, ever since you came into this school you've been somewhat of a mystery. We don't know where you're from or why you're here. You could be a serial killer for all we know"-she said, although she didn't sound worried at all.
"I'm not a serial killer nor do I have any kind of criminal record, if that's your concern"-he replied, a scowl wrinkling his forehead. Rangiku pouted
"Mmm, ok, although that would've been very interesting. Do you have any diseases?"-
"What?"-
"Is there a history of mental disability in your family?"-
"N, no. Why…?"-
"What about depression? Have you had any suicidal thoughts?"-
"Hells no. I don't see how…"-
"Very good Kurosaki-kun! You might be a good prospect after all"-Rangiku leaned forward and ruffled his hair, her assets dangerously close to his face, which decided to showcase all the shades of red available.
As if heaven sent, the petit president came into the room holding a stack of papers in her arms. Once she spotted her friend and who she was with, her eyebrow shot to the ceiling and a suspicious pink tinged her cheeks
"Kia-chan, hi!"-Rangiku waved, sitting prettily next to Ichigo, whose eyes were stuck on the raven-haired girl. Her hair was pulled back in a twist and several strands framed her face prettily. Rangiku narrowed her eyes and Ichigo gulped. Rukia walked to her desk.
"Good morning Rangiku. Would you mind getting off my chair?"-her voice was low and menacing and her eyes were narrowed, questioning her friend. Rangiku smiled maliciously
"Sure thing"- Rangiku stood up and winked at Ichigo, who recoiled at the action. This girl just jumped him with questions out of nowhere and was acting all weird, considering how she had never spoken to him before.
"What the hell are you doing?"-Rukia hissed at her busty friend once her chair was back into place. Rangiku merely chuckled
"Nothing"-Rukia raised an eyebrow –"I mean it. God, why are you so untrusting of your best friend. I would never do anything to upset you, you know me"-she finished, wrapping an arm around her friends shoulders. Rukia scoffed
"Yes, I do know you, that's why I'm so skeptic. Whatever, listen tomorrow are the cheerleaders tryouts remember? Do you have the list of girls that are trying out?"-
"Uh…no"-
"And why not?"-
"Because I know my wonderful president of a friend has it for me?"-Rangiku asked, smiling hopefully. Rukia shook her head and rolled her eyes
"Of course I do. I swear, your head would me missing if it wasn't attached"-she sat at her desk and started sorting the papers into different piles, giving Rangiku the one for the tryouts. She was about to sort another when someone intercepted the light from the ceiling, causing her to look up
"Working hard there chief?"-
"Hey Kurosaki, you do know I need light to read this right?"-she said with a sardonic grin.
"My bad. Listen, I heard you have the applications for the school paper"-he said nonchalantly, his hands deep in his pockets. Rukia raised a delicate eyebrow
"I might. Why, you're gonna join the high school paper?"-she asked sarcastically, shuffling the papers on her desk. He grinned
"Maybe"-she looked up and their eyes locked for a brief second. Ichigo couldn't help noticing how bright her eyes were and how smooth the skin of her cheeks seemed. His mind went back to the night when she had placed those soft lips on his cheeks, and the blood started rushing to his face again
"Are you ok?"-she asked, frowning. Ichigo coughed lightly and nodded
"Ok. I do have the application, here"-she passed him one of the sheets in the pile before her. "I'm glad you've decided to take part of the high school spirit"-
"High school spirit? What, keep yourself as busy as possible and have no social life whatsoever?"-Ichigo asked sarcastically, a mocking grin on his lips
"Hey, we have a social life thank you very much. No, I mean the involved spirit. I know it's the last year and all but that doesn't mean you have to alienate yourself from everyone"-she said, her eyes back on the papers.
"That's why I would like to join the paper. Are you calling me an alien?"-he asked randomly. Rukia rolled her eyes
"Moron"-
"Midget"-he retorted, causing her to gasp dramatically
"Fruit"-
"Hey, I'm sensitive about my name"-he said in mock hurt. She scrunched her nose
"And I'm sensitive about my height"-
Before Ichigo could reply, the teacher came in, asking for order. Ichigo returned to his desk, not before earning a toothy grin from Rukia, since she had had the last word. He shook his head, smiling slightly.
On the other side of the classroom, there were some peering eyes, having just witnessed a public display of…something.
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"I told you he liked her"-Rangiku whispered to Tatsuki, whose head was held by her hand
"Only because he's nice to her doesn't mean he likes her. A lot of people are nice to Rukia and you know that not everybody likes her"-Tatsuki deadpanned, her eyes droopy from boredom.
"I know that but didn't you see they way he looked at her. Pure lust my friend. Believe me, I know."-Rangiku said, pointing at her ample chest. Tatsuki rolled her eyes. Renji scoffed
"Do you really think Rukia is gonna go for a guy like him? I mean, she's used to guys that are older and more…mature"-he said, his eyes scanning the back of the boy's orange head.
"Age does not mean maturity. Remember the last guy she went out with? College student and what not? Total jerk off; cheated on her and left her with a post-it. I think Kurosaki is a good prospect"-Rangiku explained, folding her arms. The teacher glanced back, looked around and went back to writing on the board
"How'd you know he's a good prospect, you don't even know the guy"-Shuhei hissed, leaning forward.
"That can be arranged"-the busty girl said, grinning.
"What, you're gonna rape him?"-Ikkaku said, causing the guys to chuckle. The teacher looked back again, and they hushed immediately, looking at their notebooks. Once she turned, they went back to talking
"There are other ways of knowing people you know"-Rangiku said, flipping her wavy hair. Renji coughed
"Plah, watch were you flip that thing dammit"-he hissed
"What do you have in mind?"-Tatsuki asked, more to keep herself awake then anything
"Asking"-she answered, as if it was obvious. The guys looked at each other, wondering what kind of devious plan Rangiku had in mind
"Do you guys have something you want to share?"-the teacher asked in an annoyed tone. Everyone turned to look at the group in the back. The guys looked at each other
"Yeah, we were wondering if you could move Madarame because he keeps farting back here and I have a sensitive nose"-Shuhei stated with a dead-straight face. Ikkaku smacked him in the back of his head and the whole classroom erupted in laughter. The teacher simply sighed and called for order once again
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Lunch couldn't have come sooner for Ichigo. His father was still ranting about the beautiful lady that went to pick him up and didn't let Ichigo have a decent breakfast, so his stomach kept protesting all through the morning period. He was carrying his tray to the rooftop were he usually had lunch with Keigo and Mizuiro when a high-pitched voice called his name
"Yoo-hoo, Kurosaki-kun! Over here!"-
Ichigo turned to find the busty strawberry blonde wave at him from a large table in the cafeteria. With her were the other busty girl and the shorthaired one, and around them were all the guys from the doujo. Rukia's friends. He frowned and looked around him, making sure it was him she was calling
"Don't be silly Kurosaki-kun, it's you I'm calling. Come sit with us"-she beamed at him, and Ichigo couldn't help feeling awkward. Why was this girl inviting him to eat lunch with them all of a sudden? And why were they all staring at him like that? Were they planning some prank? He sat between the redheaded guy and Chad, who acknowledged him with a nod
"Oh come on Kurosaki, relax, it's only lunch. Anyways, we've decided to invite you over because we noticed you usually have lunch by yourself and that's just sad"-Rangiku stated, sipping on her juice box. The raven-haired girl next to him rolled her eyes
"He doesn't eat by himself; he eats with Keigo and Mizuiro. Arisawa Tatsuki by the way"-she announced, glancing at him. Ichigo nodded
"Same difference. So, tell us Kurosaki, what are your intentions with Kuchiki Rukia?"-Rangiku asked
"What?!"-Ichigo almost screamed. Annoyed groans, slapping foreheads and shaking heads, and one or two small giggles accompanied his shock.
"Ran-chan that is such an inappropriate question! Ah, Inoue Orihime"-the other busty girl stated, smiling. Rangiku huffed
"It is not! You obviously like her right?"-she asked Ichigo, her eyebrows raised. He felt the blood rush once again to his ears and he started stammering, until he felt someone place an arm around his shoulders
"Oh come on Rangiku, leave the guy alone. He's gonna think we're a bunch of freaks or something"-Renji said, chuckling, he then pushed Ichigo to him to speak closer "Sorry about this dude, this chick is totally psycho"-
"I heard that asshole"-Rangiku growled. Renji let go of Ichigo and shrugged, starting to wolf down his lunch.
"Please Kurosaki-kun, don't fell like you need to give us any type of explanations. Our friend here just likes to be a little too straight-forward. Izuru Kira, nice to meet you"-the blonde introduced himself. Ichigo was getting a small twitch in his temple
"I don't need to give you any explanations because there is nothing to explain! What is with you people? Do you always kidnap people and ask them inappropriate questions or am I just the joke of the day?"-He shot a glare at Rangiku, who merely continued to sip on her juice
"No we don't do this all the time, although it would be fun now that you mention it. Hisagi Shuhei"-the guy next to Renji introduced himself, a mischievous grin on his face –It's just that our friend here is feeling a little to over-protective of her mon ami"-he narrowed his eyes at Rangiku, who stuck her tongue out at him. Ichigo sighed
"But why?"-his questioned lingered around them for a while, and no one dared to answer. The girls were looking at the table while the guys looked at each other. It was the guy sitting next to the bald one who broke the ice.
"I'm Ayasegawa Yumichika. The reason why, Kurosaki-kun, is that we've seen our friends heart get broken once and we really don't want to see her go through that again"-
Ichigo felt his curiosity rising. A million questions threatened to blurt out but he decided to take it one at a time
"By whom?"-he asked, looking around the table. It was Renji who answered with a growl
"By an asshole called Shiba Kaien. I swear if the idiot wouldn't have left Karakura I would driven his skull into a wall"-
"He was, well is, a college student who Rukia went out with for about a year. They were together for her entire junior year while he was a college freshman. It was kind of arranged since their parents knew each other but, she liked him so it was ok"-Tatsuki continued the story. Rangiku took were she left off
"They were so cute together and Rukia was not like she is now. She wasn't so guarded and cold all the time-well sometimes, I mean she is a Kuchiki. But she used to smile more and laugh more…"-
"And then he cheated on her, the bastard"-Ikkaku continued, "Found himself a younger piece of ass and kicked Rukia to the curve. You wanna know how she found out?"-
"How?"-Ichigo asked, his voice low with curiosity
"In a fucking post-it!"-Renji bellowed, slamming his hand on the table "He didn't even have the balls to tell her in her face. Momo found it first and she tried to hide it but, that girl doesn't know how to lie, so when Rukia found out…"-
"Everything changed"-Orihime continued. –"Rukia isn't one to cry openly to anyone, not even us, but you could tell she was depressed. She took on almost every activity she could. She would spend hours in the doujo, then she would take dancing lessons, then she would practice the piano, then she would come here and do whatever the teachers asked of her. It took her asthma to get out of control for her to stop"-she sighed heavily –"She spent three days in the hospital. After that Rukia became the girl you see today"-she ended
Ichigo was looking at the table after hearing about the petit girl's past, and for some reason, he felt like looking for that Kaien guy and punching him in the gut. He looked up and around that table at how everyone was spaced out, reminiscing on old memories.
Suddenly Orihime gasped, causing everyone to look up
"Come on guys, getting depressed isn't going to help anyone. We can't let her see us like this, or she'll start worrying about us. We need to cheer up"-
"You're right Hime-chan!"-Rangiku beamed, punching the air. A mischievous look took over her features once again
"So Kurosaki, I think you can help us bring the old Rukia back"-
"How do you figure?"-he asked, not liking the sudden attention he was getting
"Well for one, I've noticed how you guys talk to each other"-she counted down
"We insult each other"-he corrected
"Exactly! She only talks like that to people she's comfortable with. With all that bantering I'm sure the old Rukia will re-surface in no time"-she stated. Everyone around the table nodded approvingly.
"Hold on, why would you assume that I would be interested in bringing her old self back? Why do you assume I even care?"-he asked hopelessly. Everyone raised an eyebrow at him. Orihime giggled lightly
"Let's just say we know, ok?"-Rangiku said. She clapped her hands together. Ichigo gulped. Was she saying he was obvious?
The bell rang and everyone started to stand up and getting ready to return to class. The girls were talking amongst themselves while the guys started talking about the doujo and some new techniques with Ichigo, who was in the middle. The orange-haired guy started wondering when had he become part of this insane group, although he had to admit it wasn't half bad.
Rukia was walking down the hall to her classroom when she heard her friends laughing, and talking as loudly as usual. What almost caused the papers in her arms to slip off was to see Ichigo, casually walking and talking to Renji, Shuhei and Ikkaku. She frowned and walked up to her girl friends
"What the hell is going on?"-she asked the three of them while looking at the group of boys.
"What do you mean?"-Rangiku asked innocently. Rukia narrowed her eyes at her
"Did you guys have something to do with that?"-she asked, pointing at the guys. The girls shook their heads
"So they're just cool with him? Just like that?"-she asked incredulous. The girls nodded. Rukia looked at them for a while before returning to her desk, where she couldn't help staring at the group. There he was, talking and laughing with them. She smiled lightly.
"Oi, Kurosaki, one more thing"-Renji said, huddling closer. Ichigo leaned in his ear
"Don't tell Rukia we told you all of that ok? You know how she can hold a grudge"-
"Don't worry about it"-Ichigo said, giving him a thumbs up.
Returning to his seat, he turned his head to look at the raven-girl sitting next to him, who was concentrating over a manga. Some hairs fell over her eyes, which she tucked behind her ear. He couldn't picture her sad and broken, she always seemed so determined and confident. He then remembered what the cause of her change was and he felt his blood boil. He wanted to go over to her and tell her to forget that guy.
She suddenly looked up and at him. Instead of looking away, he decided to grin at her, and noticed how her cheeks tinged a pretty pink
"Are you staring at me Kurosaki?"-she asked
"Maybe. Does it bother you?"- He laughed as she rolled her eyes at him
"Whatever"-
"That wasn't a no"-he said, the sardonic grin still on his face. She shook her head
"Listen wise guy, I have some good news for you"-
"Really? And what would that be?"-Rukia passed him a sheet of paper. It was an acceptance letter from the Karakura Gazette
"Congratulation, you are now part of the high school news paper"-she said.
"Thanks"-
Looking at the paper in his hands, Ichigo couldn't help thinking how things had changed. Glancing at Rukia, who was immersed in her manga once again, he thought that maybe taking on her friends little mission wouldn't be such a bad idea after all…
Author's Note:
Hey peeps...here I bring you a nice and lenghty chapter. Hope you guys like it because I had so much fun writing it!!
A few new characters mentioned here. Since Senna was never given a last name, a gave her Tomoko, which means Tornado in kanji. I just though it was fitting you know? Watch out for her because I did mention her for a reason...buaahahaha
Again, a million thanks to all of you who have read and reviewed!! You guys are awesome!!!!...
Some rantings...warning for manga spoilers!!!:
OMG!! Kenpachi is the freakin' man! I just love how he jumps into stuff!!! I'm so glad things are starting to get interesting. And we get to see Rukia again!!! Woot woot!!!! I can't wait for the next manga!!!
I'm going to an anime convention this weekend in my country! I'm so psyched!!!! I love cosplayers and I intend of abusing my camera!!!! I wanted to cosplay myself but didn't have enough time...oh well, there's always next year!!!!