Dessa's Note: It's done! We've reached the Chapter 10 mark! YAY! Sorry this took a little longer than normal. I'm very excited this chapter is out and hope you enjoy it! I finished reading 'breaking dawn' and all I can say is that it reached the full extent of my disapproval.

Chapter 10

As a result of Mr. Asano's intoxicated efforts, it was widely accepted knowledge to all but the bride that Miss. Inoue was now engaged to be married. Miss. Inoue was later made shockingly conscious of the false fact when her friend Kyone Kotetsu came to visit her three days later, congratulating her warmly. Her friend's subsequent sadness at the now corrected news was of a very prominent nature.

Despite having proven the grave differences in the local report to her friend, the remaining community was still ardent to believe a wedding was shortly arriving. These acquaintances were only too happy to congratulate the young lady, whilst truly celebrating the relief that she no longer held power to snatch one of the Brockledale party away from their grasps. Orihime in vain tried to distinguish the fire of their beliefs, which were only stubbornly growing, even at the Brockledale Ball, all continued to wish her the greatest felicity.

The crude exultation of these felicitous remarks wafted strongly over to Mr. Kurosaki, not being able to deflect his attention to any other object but to Miss. Inoue's vivacious presence. He observed with amusement as she was forced to acquiesce to the very eager Mr. Asano as a dance partner. The attorney committed so many mistakes during his performance that Miss. Inoue couldn't help but sympathise, this kind feeling split itself into mortification and regret as she regarded the audiences' looks and correctly interpreted them as only a confirmation of the alleged engagement.

'Are you absolutely certain you are not engaged to be married Orihime?' asked Kyone after observing her friend dance.

'If there had been a proposal, I would have known about it, I assure you'

'Such a pity, really' replied her friend in genuine sorrow.

'I'd rather like to believe myself blessed'

'Mr. Asano, is not so intolerable' Kyone began, but hesitated to continue when she caught him trying to sing along to some of the music being played. 'What I mean to say is, that he would not make such a terrible husband'

'Then maybe you are the preferable wife' Kyone was about to retort when the sudden sight of Mr. Kurosaki standing right next to her made her automatically silent. The gentleman, made a remarkably hasty but firm request to dance with her friend that Miss. Inoue had no time to collect her thoughts and accepted on instinct of civility. Mr. Kurosaki then nodded to her and her friend and left until the next two dances were to start.

Miss. Kotestu was the first to recover, 'How surprising!'

'Oh dear what have I done?'

'There is no need for disappointment Orihime'

'Why would he ask to dance when he only dances with Miss. Ishida?'

'Maybe he has taken a new opinion of you'

'Hardly, I should sooner be called Mrs. Asano before he should find yet another flaw in me'

'You could assume he likes you' at this, Miss. Inoue burst into laughter and replied that no such notion was a possibility. 'Maybe you ought to not dissuade him; he is probably 30 times more a man than your relation'

'Do you mean to say I should encourage him?

'Yes'

'Impossible' but no sooner was she about to shake her head in disbelief that the very gentleman approached her a second time to walk her to the dance.

All was silent, Mr. Kurosaki made no sound, not even to offer his arm and so, Orihime did not encourage him to speak. But the dance had started and quite some time had passed, they moved in order with the other couples, but were a salient oddity by their lack of speech. It was the first time Orihime had been within such a proximity to the gentleman and was startled to find that he locked his gaze on her and no one else. She was no w made very uncomfortable by his continuous scrutiny. Her discomfort heightened when she noticed that all the other dancers were just as shocked to see Mr. Kurosaki dance as she was, but she did not trouble herself to fancy herself lucky like her audience did. At length the silent man did eventually speak.

'There has been considerable talk of your engagement Miss. Inoue, you have my congratulations' said he in a very strained voice.

'Oh! No that is just general chatter, I hope you will believe me when I say you are mistaken, please tell your informant they are too' Orihime was shocked to observe his eyes widen in surprise then relax, as though relieved, but then he was stern again almost instantly.

'Do you mind my asking how such a topic of conversation was conceived?' Orihime blushed in embarrassment at her memory.

'Our guest was a little… inebriated as we dined with my friend Miss. Kyone, unfortunately there were a large number of our acquaintances who made their own conclusions of his behaviour'.

'I see' he replied, and they sank in silence once again. Having now tasted the possibilities of conversation, Orihime found the silence even more awkward and struggled to restart one.

'How do you find the country?'

'Very well'

'I see' and the conversation finished, 'Do you intend to accompany Mr. Ishida on his trip to town?'

'Yes'

'When do you leave?'

'Next week if all arrangements are met'

'I see' and that was all. Orihime now left the struggle of finding an exchange to the gentleman, who seemed very content at saying nothing and continued to gaze at her. At one point Orihime flattered herself courageous by meeting his gaze but it was to last only a few moments as the strength of his stare overwhelmed her. At length Orihime was surprised to be addressed by Mr. Kurosaki.

'Mr. Asano seems a joyful man; he would do well to marry a woman who could calm his excess enthusiasm'

'I suppose, but I think it remains Mr. Asano's decision who he wishes to marry'

'Yes, but you should not be that bride' Orihime was astonished.

'Whatever may be the case I hope Mr. Asano is happy in his future' to this Mr. Kurosaki made no answer. The dance had finished but the couple were suddenly approached by Mrs. Matsumoto who wished to say something to her daughter but was too impatient to request a private setting.

'My dear Orihime, have you not noticed Mr. Ishida's attentions? He has refused the approaches of every lady and has even insulted some!'

'My sister must be very happy to hold all his presence' replied Orihime, genuinely happy for the first time that evening.

'You must know what this means!' her mother's eyes glazed with a vision only she could see 'They will soon be married! I know Mr. Ishida cannot prevent a proposal for any longer, we shall all dance at the wedding!' Orihime considered it futile to try and compose the elder lady's excitement.

Mr. Kurosaki thanked her for the dance economically and left to stand with his friend, but Orhime was surprised to find a third gentleman stand with him. It was the same hairless gentleman her family had encountered at their departure from the Kotetsu estate.

'Tatsuki!' called Orihime when she found her sister 'That gentleman over there is he not Mr. Madarame, is he not the same person we faced with Mr. Aizen'

After surveying in her pointed direction she replied 'Yes I suppose he is, why should that matter to us?'

'Then it should verify that he is acquainted with Mr. Kurosaki'

'I wonder what his connection is with Mr. Aizen'

'It is intriguing. Actually, do you know where he is? I was hoping to have a dance with him'

'I suppose he would not want to approach the hosts, considering their delicate situation'

'It's a pity' replied her sister but Orihime was more that dissatisfied.

The evening had ended without much amusement to Orihime, the young ladies predicted their mother to deplete all excitement at the ball, but she had held a reserve for the coach trip home. She spoke of nothing but wedding plans. Mrs. Matsumoto had troubled herself to congratulate Miss. Arisawa for being asked to dance by the bold gentleman. Tatuski did not look troubled, nor did she seem to care for any of the features the ball had delivered.

The Livingstone ladies were fatigued from the evening and gladly retired for the night. It was with a certain degree of alarm that they found a frantic knocking on their door. The young maid, dressed in her nightgown and shawl hesitantly opened it and was shocked to find a very small lady with shoulder length dark hair and deep purple eyes. Mrs. Matsumoto came to discern what the matter was and was also shocked to find the much exerted lady dressed in rags and stained with dirt, but more surprisingly… with child.

Dessa's Note: Shock horror! Rukia enters the scene! PREGNANT! And what's going on with Madarame? What's that all about? I'm soo sooo pleased I reached the 50 mark! I'm very very flattered by all your comments, you really are the only reason I continue writing.

See Sell: It's absolutely brilliant to hear from you, I enjoy your reviews very much :D Good luck with the exams, I'm sorta guessing which uni you go to as I also know somebody who's got exams soon. But I don't wanna say it out loud to respect your anonymity. Keigo's speech made you speechles… that's funny cus I was just making it up as I go. I had to put madarame in there cus I'm a very big fan of his! I'm happy you've stopped trying to figure out the plot.. I was worried you were going to unravel it all. Good luck with everything :D

Hibari08: Aren't I sly? :P I dunno about a keigo and a decleration of love.. It was unintentional. You'll get to learn more about Aizen in time.

Slipperbrick: Thanks for sticking with this fic, I hope your pleased with this update.

Snowfur10: I LOVE YOU FOR LOVING MY FIC!!! Make sure you read P+P soon, it's the best novel out there, I don't care what people say about lord of the rings, P+P beats it by a mile.

Altarial Elf: Maybe I'll put hitsuguya in there after all.

Chuchootrain: I'm glad you noticed the 'I am not bald' line, it's my favourite out of all the bleach series, next to when hitsugaya lost it when he was drawn as a primary school boy.

Mmk15: It's nice to have you on board! Thank you for your compliments on my language, I honestly don't see what you mean considering my last chapter had so many typos…

Zodious: when I read your review I knew then that I had loeft out ichihime interaction for too long, did this chapter get a good mark for ichihime-ness?