Sorry everyone for the long delay! I was a busy bee for the past week, dealing with three essays and on top of that other committments. Anyways...once again, thanks to all my wonderful readers and reviewers! Just a little comment. THis is not a long chapter. THe next two won't be that long either but after that, I think I'll be able to hit the high notes(Do re mi fa sol la ti...*coughs* DOOOOOO!) The next section is my reply to all reviewers and if you reviewed both chapter 8 and 9, I made it into one reply.

If you just want to read the next chapter, skip right on to where the line is.

nypsy: I totally understand your sentiment about Rukia being Aizen in drag (love the expression, btw) and I'm not trying to defend her character or anything but, love tends to make you blind. However, true love is when you want the person you love to be happy. Rukia loves Ichigo but it is nowhere near true. I just wanted to show that side of Rukia. How she's blindly in love enough to tear Orihime and Ichigo apart but how her love isn't strong enough to think about Ichigo's happiness first. Complex, I know.

Fostersb: Rukia deserves to live alone for the rest of her life (even without the accompaniment of nine cats-even that's a luxury for someone like her) but maybe I'll do that in another story!

Somerlia: At first, I had something else in mind for Grimmjow's secret but at the last minute I scrubbed it out and decided to make him into a virgin. Originally, I was going to make his secret being he was secretly in love with Renji (please don't ask me how I managed to think up something like that-even I can't understand myself sometimes) just to throw in a wild card but at the last minute I couldn't bring myself to make Grimmjow a homosexual. That would be too cruel to the female population.

yoyogigi125: I 'heart' you too for reading my story and being a supportive reader! It really makes my day look brighter! Thanks!

WestAnimeBrigade: Yes, that was the sound of Rukia Kuchiki's heart being shattered into shards. Music to my ears at this rate! Anyways, about Nel and Grimmjow finding out about Rukia's secret, ya got it! Keep on reading to find out. Honestly, it's not really a secret to the readers but to the other characters in this story, besides Nemu and Renji, no one knows about Rukia liking Ichigo.

Zidane87: Nel is kind of slutty in a way but that's a part of who she is. She can't help it if she oozes sensuality without meaning to. Of course, her personality does play a part. The only reason why I did this transversal is because usually all the GrimmNel relation story shows Grimmy being the player and Nel being the submissive partner, so I decided to make it fair and give Nel the upper hand for a change.

mosspaw: hahaha...Really? I didn't know mosspaw meant a smex meower. I just kinda connected paw with a cat's paw and kinda ran away with that idea! I'm glad you liked it! I was kinda worried if I was going to offend you. Anyways, about Grim's virginity, I know there's nothing to be ashamed of but it's just that something bothersome called ego, that turns Grimmjow that way. Haha, guess wat? Not only am I a virgin but I still didn't have my first kiss. It's something I'm going to save until I find someone I truly want to live my whole life with. (I'm a hopeless romantic)

Cehmacc14: I originally, didn't want to make Grimmjow a virgin. I thought it would go way against his character. The only problem was my original idea was to make Grimmjow in love with Renji. (I know, wierd. The wierder thing is Yaio or is it Yaoi? makes me feel uncomfortable-I have nothing against homosexuality but it's just something I'm not familiar with and it's just awkward) which led me to this ultimate decision of making Grimmy into a virgin!

Simply-Ai: Thank you so much! I'm glad my this story is to your liking. Hope it stays that way!

sashikibuta: Aw, sowie. Long chapters for me, at the moment, is a bit of a stretch. I need to let my muscles get used to writing for a bit before going on with lengthier chapters. Well, I wanna thank you for reading my story!

Marvolo-san: It's okay. You guys aren't obligated to review. That's a special treat to the authors, so no need to feel sorry!

XxLonexLovexX: Like what I said to Marvolo-san. It's good enough for me to have readers who enjoy my story and having them tell me that they appreciate my story is a bonus. So no need to apologize for not reviewing. I'm happy enough that people bother to check my story!

A: I'm glad you like my writing! Thanks for your review :)

Paeonin: Yes that was Rukia at the end. I really want to thank you for your kind words. I'm really glad that's how you feel about my story. Honestly Chapter Seven was a wreck for me because I had other things going in my head and I just couldn't think straight. I was completely lost and every time I reread what I wrote, I felt like screaming. I guess that's what happens when you stay up the whole night without any coffee. (High-intensity drama)! Now that I'm over that phase, I won't abandon this story. Besides it's already day nine. There's only five more days to go!

XBluexFlamingoX: I "heart" RenRen too. I wanna wrap him up and cuddle him like a teddy bear-I'm starting to ramble, sowie! The thing about Ichigo doing the corrupting, I'm not skilled enough to write lemons. I tried once in another story called 'Promiscuity' but it just was...bland. Maybe some day. Or maybe I should just do what I did in Hime Stayed Out All Night!

Teruhime: Rukia's helping Ichigo solely for the fact that she could perhaps gain Ichigo's attention on her during this 'so-called' relationship. The only problem is, Ichigo's way too in love with Orihime to notice her. Take that, RUkia!

bleachbunny3: Will do!

SailorMeowMeow: Woah! That's a handful of reviews! Thanks so much for reading this story!

Psycosocial: I actually didn't see that one coming either. I just wrote the first thing that came to my mind and voila, that's the final result! Originally I wanted Grimmjow to be secretly in love with Renji...please don't ask me why I thought of something like that.

anubislover: I don't really hate Rukia. I know I'm going around in circles but it's impossible to hate a 'paper' character. I just don't appreciate other people attacking my views and opinions. If I like Ichihime, let me like it in peace. Anyways, thanks for reviewing!

T-Biggz: The annoying one will perish in the hot sands of the dusty stormy Sahara Desert by the way of most painful way of torture along with the...gosh, what am I doing? By the annoying one, you mean Rukia? Because, that's what she deserves for trying to hurt Hime.

lunarstar77: Yuppers, Rukia needs to open her eyes. She's just ignorant. If she realized that there was someone (handsome and kind like Renji) beside her to help her, maybe she wouldn't be so...evil. A previous reviewer called her "Aizen in drag". LOL

Mia Jones: When someone's in love, they are able to see past the flaws of the one they are in love with. I don't know much about Romance personally, and you guys can call me naive and idealistic but that's what I want to believe in about love.

willi890: Must...stop...willi...from...killing...Rukia...until...I...kill...her...off...first. LOL, sowie, I just couldn't resist.

Mochilicious: I'm glad you like my story despite being a Rukia fan. When I first started this fic, I thought I was gonna be done for because of the IchiRuki/Rukia fans but I still didn't get a flame! (not that I'm complaining, of course) I'm not a Rukia hater, so please don't get me wrong. I think it's pretty immature to hate a fictional character. However, in this story, it's hard to not get carried away. I'm a pretty emotional person and I can't help but disliking the Rukia I made.

BleachBoys95: Don't worry about long reviews! I ADORE long reviews, just for future reference (no pressure ;)) Anyways, about Nel being a physics wiz but failing english, I happen to be kind of like that. Despite getting 98% in Biology and 95% in Chemistry, I still managed to get only a 74% in Physics. I don't know why, but everyone's like that. They all have their fortes and...not-so-fortes. Nel's kinda like that. She understands Quantum Mechanics and what-not but the literature world is all just a intangible dream.

RabbitBleachFan: yuppers, Grimmy is definitely pervy. Lol, but I wouldn't mind him being pervy if he's a cuddly teddy bear like he is in this story.

FullmetalGary: You guys are just too generous. I hope I don't disappoint you with this chapter.

Maegan205: Will try to update ASAP. At the moment, I'm working on the next installment of 'Hime Stayed Out All Night'.

himelove22: Awwww, another generous reader. I'm definitely not complaining...but I'm definitely flattered!

Day Nine: The taste of medicine

Nel was tossing and turning in her sleep. Her conscience won't let her rest until she figured out a solution. Nel couldn't believe how she was so stupid to leave her deepest and darkest secret lying around like that. The dirty act was done when Nel was promoted to cheer captain. However, her failing mark in English Literature affected her cheerleading tremendously. Nel, who was a physics wiz, just couldn't grasp the beauty of language molded into an imaginative tale. Her mind was calculative and far too mechanical to process something ambiguous as literature. Therefore, she failed to write a convincing essay for her English class.

"Children, the food was wonderful yesterday. Congratulations to Nel and Orihime for their winning concoction of avocado-chocolate icing on strawberry cream cheesecake. It was delightful treat!" Orihime did a little cheer when she heard her name on the announcement. "For the next assignment, we will actually do something different." Urahara cheerfully stated. The cheerfulness didn't quite reach the eight tired students who were encircling the PA system. "We will do a dance competition!" Nel's cloudy atmosphere dissipated the moment she heard the word 'dance'. Everyone else groaned.

"As long as there's no ballet, I'll be fine." Grimmjow's eyes narrowed. "I'm wearing no fucking tights, Urahara! Ya hear me, ya creep?"

"Actually, Grimmjow, ballerina's also wear tutus. Nice big frilly pink tutus. I honestly think it'll go well with the colour of your hair." Urahara grinned at his own remark.

"So since it's a dance competition, we will be dancing in…PARTNERS." Urahara's voiced was laced with uttermost excitement. "Orihime and Grimmjow will dance the rhumba, Nel and Renji will take on hip hop, Ichigo and Nemu will do tap-dancing and Rukia and Uryu will dance ballet. You guys have all of today to come up with the choreography and tomorrow to practice the choreography of your dance and the day after that for the competition!"

The room fell apart under chaos. Everyone was all shouting at once.

"Ya creeping pervert! I said nothing tight!" Grimmjow growled.

"Hip hop? Are you mental?" Nel screamed. Nel, secretly, wanted to dance the rhumba with Grimmjow.

"Grimmjow, if anyone should be angry, that person should be me. I'm the one who's got to worry about the tights." Uryu tried with difficulty to hide the frustration and contempt in his voice.

"Urahara, if you think I'll enter a tap dancing competition, you belong in a mental hospital or at the very least, a zoo." Ichigo threatened.

The only person who remained calm was Orihime. She had a cute childish smile on her face.

"Actually, Ichigo, I think tap dancing is really sensual. The way the foot connects with the floor, striking a distinct rhythm is very beautiful." Orihime innocently said to Ichigo. Ichigo upon hearing Orihime's hopeful voice couldn't contain his smile.

"Oh dear, Kurosaki's been pussy whipped." Grimmjow laughed out loud. Nel smacked him on the head. Grimmjow pouted but didn't say anything back when he saw the angry look on Nel's pale complexion.

"What are you gonna do? You should be worrying about yourself! You just got Orihime as your partner!" Nel whispered fiercely.

"I…I…don't kn…hey! I got an idea!" Grimmjow's face lit up with sudden inspiration. He fervently whispered into Nel's ears. "Why don't we find Rukia's weakness? You know? The hunted become the hunters! We can use it against Rukia!"

"Grimmjow, are you mentally unstable? You honestly think a midget bitch queen like Rukia will leave something like that lying around?" Nel rolled her eyes.

"You never know…even midget bitch queens can make mistakes." Grimmjow replied. "Well, whatever we do, we better think fast because I'm not doing anything as hideous as rape. Especially to a kid like Orihime." Nel felt a fuzzy feeling spreading through her body at Grimmjow's rough and edgy but kind words.

"I know. That'll be the last thing in the world we'll do. I'm not gonna let Rukia get away with thinking up something as horrendous as that."

When everyone went to the gymnasium, they discovered several DVDs and cassettes that involve the type of dancing that were assigned to them.

"Look at the assortment of music we have!" Nemu smiled. Everyone lunged forward towards the stack of CDs in front of the lot. There was CDs by the Beatles, Bittersweet, Mozart, Rachmaninoff and many more. Orihime picked up a CD that read 'Untold Love' by Dancelife.

"I love this song!" Orihime said. She immediately reached over to where Grimmjow was and pushed the CD in front of his face. Ichigo grimaced. He didn't like the idea of Orihime dancing to an intimate sort of music with Grimmjow. He tried to distract the thought of Orihime dressed in a tight sparkly chiffon dress showing off her creamy legs.

"Nemu, what do you think about Oscar Peterson?" Ichigo showed Nemu a CD with a picture of Oscar Peterson on the cover.

"Sure, why not." Nemu replied. Nemu was rather distracted by the mental image of Uryu in a white tight that shows off every inch of his...underbody. She was indeed curious about a certain body part.

On the other corner, Rukia and Uryu were in a heated debate as to which piece of music they were going to dance to. Rukia wanted Mahler's Symphony no. 5 and Uryu wanted the Nutcracker Flower Waltz by Tchaikovsky.

"You have absolutely no sense for finesse and aristocracy." Rukia screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Well, just because you're tone deaf, that doesn't mean you have to make me one as well." Uryu replied coolly.

Things were definitely better between Renji and Nel. They already picked out a piece of music and they started working on the choreography. Nel, remembering how Renji was close to Rukia ever since they were little, decided to use this chance to pry into Rukia's darkest secrets.

"Renji, tell me about Rukia." Nel asked carefully masking the maliciousness in her voice.

"Uh…She's cranky most of the time?" Renji shrugged. "I don't really like talking about Rukia. She's actually a sad being. Depressing, actually." At this comment, Nel felt a sudden surge of excitement coursing through her veins. "You know Rukia really loves Ichigo, don't you?" Nel's eyes finally sparkled. Her mind was connecting all the pieces together and she finally understood Rukia's hostility towards Orihime. However, even if love can make people blind, Rukia's plan was unforgivable. Nel's eyes flashed anger at the thought of Rukia's proposal.

"That's all? That's what you call sad? She was practically born with a silver spoon in her mouth! You can't have everything in life! There's a reason why something called justice, exists…" Nel replied hastily. Her mind was still processing how to use this information to give Rukia a taste of her very own medicine.

"Anyways, what do you think about this move?" Renji interrupted Nel's train of thoughts. He showed her a intense move which involved a backflip.

"Where did you get moves like that? You should join the cheer team! We could use…" Nel was interrupted with Renji's snort.

"Don't even think about finishing that sentence." Renji gave her the don't-go-there look.

In the meanwhile, Orihime and Grimmjow were actually having lots of fun. Ichigo on the other hand, was trying to distract himself from all the touching and grabbing going on between Grimmjow and Orihime but nothing worked. His face was getting redder and redder from the stress and anxiety he was feeling. However, it was not only stress and anxiety making Ichigo redder than Renji's ruby hair. He couldn't help himself from feeling aroused by the sensuality and femininity in Orihime's movement. Her graceful legs sliding across the glistening floor and her hips were lightly swirling to the soft delicate rhythm of the music. When Ichigo noticed Grimmjow's hand travelling a little bit farther down Orihime's back, he tensed up. He was about to go and give Grimmjow a piece of his mind (or rather fist) but he accidentally tripped over his untied tap-dance shoes and went tumbling into the ground. This did the trick for him. Orihime who was nearby, immediately came over to Ichigo's aid, leaving Grimmjow behind. She was covered in sweat.

"Ichigo! Are you okay?" Orihime helped Ichigo up. Ichigo used this chance to show Grimmjow, who Orihime belonged to. He marked her. Right on the neck. A moan emitted out of Orihime's mouth. Orihime blushed heavily. She couldn't believe she just made a noise like that in front of others. She was beyond mortified. Ichigo on the other hand smirked at his little revenge on Orihime. He pulled her in for another kiss, but this time he aimed for Orihime's pink delicate lips.

"Ew, Kurosaki, if you want to do something rated R, at least try to be decent and get yourself a room!" Nemu frowned. "If we wanted to watch something nasty, all we had to do was invade into Grimmjow's private video storage."

"You, back off from Grimmjow!" Nel shouted at Nemu. Everyone gave Nel a questioning glance, wondering why Nel was all of a sudden so protective of Grimmjow.

"Uh…Nel, can I see you for a moment, while Orihime and Ichigo use this time to make babies?" Grimmjow teased Ichigo and without meaning to, Orihime.

"We weren't making babies! I was only marking her to show you who she belongs to!" ichigo shouted mindlessly. Orihime slightly punched Ichigo in the arm.

"Ichigo, I'm not an object!" Orihime frowned.

"I…sorry Orihime. I just…you see…I." Ichigo closed his mouth, stupidly.

"Definitely pussy whipped." Nemu whispered to herself.

"Orihime, just don't do so much touching with another guy right in front of your boyfriend. I hardly can't contain myself from beating Grimmjow into a meat pulp just for looking anywhere other than your face but to have him groping you, I…" Ichigo was interrupted when Orihime placed a light kiss on his lips.

"Good to hear Grimmjow and I are convincing rhumba dancers. Just in case you forgot, you're supposed to grope your partner when you're dancing rhumba." Orihime smiled.

"Maybe we should try some rhumba moves before Nel and Grimmjow come back." Ichigo mirrored Orihime's look but Nemu pinched him out of his reverie.

"You can grope Orihime after the competition!" Nemu winked at Orihime before pulling Ichigo by his ears. Orihime smiled and returned to practicing her swirling movements.

End of Day Nine

Another shorter chapter. The next two will also be pretty short but please, bear with me. The last three or maybe four will be lengthy for sure! Come to think of it, there's only five more days left...and maybe an epilogue!

Love y'all
AZLCIKOI