A/N: Its my first update of the new year! I can't believe how time went by so fast. Alright here's the next chapter. Thanks so much for all the reviews and alerts. =]

Chapter 10 Enjoying the festival

In the morning I woke up to a loud knock on my door. I sat up in bed and realized I was in Ichigo's room.

"Hey Ichigo I'm coming in." I heard a sweet voice say. I was going to say something, but it was too late. Ichigo's little sister entered the room.

"R-Rukia? What are you doing in my brothers bed? Is my. . . My brother there with . . . . . .you?" She said terrified.

I felt my face heating up, she thinks Ichigo and I-

"RUKIA MY SWEET RUKIA WHAT A LOVELY SURPRISE!" Mr. Kurosaki burst into the room. His eyes had a strange glow in them.

"Good morning Mr. Kurosaki. I'm sorry for staying here without your permission." I said apologizing.

"No, no, no my dear Rukia, I'm so happy that you're here. So my son is finally coming out of his shelf. He is now a m-"

"Shut it dad, stop thinking about perverted things. I slept downstairs on the couch. So can everyone please leave my room." Ichigo said walking in shirtless with only sweat pants on.

"Okay I'll go make breakfast then ." Yuzu said relieved to hearing Ichigo clear things up.

I felt so embarrassed, his dad and younger sister thought that. . . Ichigo and I-I-I had—

"Sorry about my family. I'll explain to them why you're staying here during breakfast." Ichigo said. "I'll tell Yuzu to let you borrow some clothes, Yuzu will leave your clothes in the bathroom."

"Umm thanks." I said turning my head away. This isn't the way I wanted things to start in the morning.

I got changed into a blue dress that Yuzu was so kind to let me borrow. I walked down the stairs but half way down I hear the Kurosaki family talking.

"Ichigo I got to say I'm impressed. You finally got a girl to sleep in your room. Changing your appearance actually worked."

"Dad please stop saying that. You make it sound like I was with her." Ichigo said annoyed.

"You don't have to hide, I know you two were having fun together."

"Shut it dad I saw Ichigo sleeping on the couch this morning." Karin said annoyed as well.

Did his father want Ichigo to sleep with a girl. If Byakuya knew I had a boy in my room, her would kill me. I didn't want to hear anymore. I made sure I took louder steps down the stairs.

"Shhhh, she coming." I heard Yuzu say. I reached the kitchen, everyone acted like nothing happen.

"Good morning everyone." I said with a smile on my face.

"Good morning Rukia." Everyone replied.

"Come and sit down I already served your breakfast." Yuzu said pointing to my plate. Yuzu's cooking was amazing. During breakfast Mr. Kurosaki kept staring at me and Ichigo. I started to feel uncomfortable, I hate when people stare at me. Ichigo didn't seemed bothered by it.

"So is my son any good? Did he make it fun for the two of you?" I choked on my toast. What the hell? His father is insane, I turned to Ichigo he glared at his father, he looked like he was going to kill him.

"Mr. Kurosaki I um. . . Um. . ." I couldn't think of the right words.

"Come on don't be shy. It's okay if my son didn't do well, he'll get better eventually."

"Stop talking how can you say this things in front of Karin and Yuzu!!!!!!"

"Come Yuzu lets go to our room. I don't want to hear anymore of this." Karin took Yuzu's hand and headed for the stairs.

I felt so embarrassed, Ichigo probably felt worse since it's his father saying things.

"Listen old man, stop saying stupid things in front of Rukia. I will never be a pervert like you. Don't you care about what she thinks about you. She probably hates you for saying things that didn't happen between us!!!" Ichigo said ready to hit something.

"Mr. Kurosaki I don't hate you. But it would make me feel better if you could just keep quiet. Ichigo is a gentlemen, he would never do such a thing." I said blushing.

"You two are no fun. But fine I won't say anything more about this." He didn't sound like he meant it. God his father is really something.

"Lets go Rukia. I don't want you to suffer anymore." Ichigo stood up. I quickly followed not wanting to be alone with his father.

"May I use your house phone Ichigo before we go?" I still needed to call Byakuya. He's probably freaking out by now. I really need to find my things soon, I don't want to stay another night at Ichigo's.

"Yeah sure go ahead."

I walked over to the telephone and dialed my brothers number. I waited but he didn't answer. I decided to leave a message.

"Hey Byakuya sorry if I got you worried. Someone stole my cell and house keys. But don't worry I'll find my things. I stayed at the Kurosaki's so call me at this number. I hope your trip to Tokyo is going well. Take care, bye." I hung up the phone. Ichigo was already by the door along with his father. I walked toward the door I wanted to leave before his dad said something again.

"You two enjoy the festival!" Mr. Kurosaki said as Ichigo and I walked out the door.

On our way to the festival I felt awkward walking with Ichigo. Neither of us said anything or planned on saying something. I really much prefer if we didn't speak. It wasn't the morning that we were expecting especially during breakfast. Up ahead of us I saw Uryuu waiting at the corner of the street. I was relived to see him, I glance at Ichigo who didn't look to happy to see Uryuu at the corner waiting.

"Hi Rukia, um Ichigo." He looked confused to see us together.

"Hey Uryuu ." We waited for Ichigo to say something, but it looked like he didn't want to.

"Rukia isn't your house on the opposite side?" Uryuu asked pointing to the direction of my house and ignoring Ichigo.

"Yea I stayed at Ichigo's. Since someone took my house keys and cell phone. I couldn't go home."

"What about your brother isn't he there to open the door for you?"

"He's in Tokyo right now." I said.

Uryuu nodded he didn't want to continue the conversation. The three of us started walking again. While we were walking I noticed Ichigo had a scowl on his face. I looked at Uryuu he seem to be looking at Ichigo, more like glaring at him. I didn't understand what was going on between the two. But I think I was the one causing this. I needed to find a way to ease the tension between us. I should probably leave them and walk to the school by myself.

"I'll see you two later. I completely forgot I had to stop by somewhere." I said running away from the Ichigo and Uryuu. I stopped running when I couldn't see them anymore. I needed to ask Uryuu about what that was all about. Yesterday during their rehearsal it seemed that everything was okay.

I reached the school and there was a few students preparing their booths. I went to my area but I didn't see the dunk tank or the pie stand. They must of moved it to a new place. I asked a girl nearby if she knew where they could of placed it. She said saw Renji taking it down, but didn't know the reason why. I guess I have to search for him.

I walked down the hallways and I couldn't find him. I was going to give up when I heard my name. I turned around and saw it was Renji.

"Hey your Rukia right?"

"Yes."

"Well you don't have to work at the festival today. The company that were giving us the pies didn't send any more for today. We also couldn't fill the dunk tank with water. There's something wrong with the school pipes." I was so happy to hear those words. I didn't have to spend another horrible day working.

"Thank you for telling me Renji." I said.

"Alright well then I better go. I still need to finish preparing for the festival."

Renji left me alone in the hallway. I could go home now but wait I still haven't found my stolen things. Well I guess I have to go on a search.

**************

The festival was crowed with so more people today than yesterday. I wanted to find Mizuki since she' s the most likely to take my things. But I couldn't find her at all. I asked many people if they have seen her. There replies were all the same 'no I haven't seen her.' There was a feeling inside me that said that they knew, but were order not to say where she is.

Fine I'll just find her on my own.

"Hey Rukia wait up." I turned around to see Uryuu making his way through the crowd. When he reached me I noticed he had my Chappy bag. I was so happy to see it.

"Uryuu you found it! Thanks so much!" I hugged him. He didn't know how to react at first but then I felt his arms around me.

"Where did you find it?" I asked. He released me from the embrace.

"Well I heard Mizuki say she put in the dumpster. She didn't say which one specifically, so I went to very dumpster in the school. I finally found it by the cafeteria." Uryuu said like it wasn't a bid deal. I couldn't believe he went to all that trouble. I looked inside my bag, all my things were there. I took out my cell phone I had twenty three missing calls and five voice messages, all from Byakuya of course. I listen to each one of them.

As I heard each message, I could tell my brother wasn't to happy. But on the last message he left me he said, 'I'm so glad to hear from you. So you're staying at the Kurosaki's? Well make sure you find your stolen things. I'm heading home Sunday night.' Well I have to go, call me later.'

"Thank you again for helping me Uryuu. Though I wish I could do something to get her back." I said.

"I can help you with that." Uryuu and I turned to see Ichigo standing by us. Uryuu didn't look to happy to see him. I really need to ask him what's going on between the two."

"What do you have in mind?" I asked.

"She's at the kissing booth waiting for me to show up. She send me a note to meet her there. I wasn't going, but maybe I could act like I'm going to kiss her. She'll have her eyes closed, so she won't notice when I switch with a different guy. She will think she's kissing me." Ichigo said explaining the plan. I really liked the idea, Mizuki will be shocked when she realizes she's not kissing Ichigo.

"Okay that's sounds great. Are you coming with us Uryuu?"

"Sure, I wouldn't want to miss this."

The three of us headed to the kissing booth, there were a few people in line. I quickly spotted Mizuki, she was looking at herself in her mirror applying gloss on her lips.

"So who is going to be the unlucky guy?" I asked looking around for someone who's willing to kiss Mizuki. Uryuu pointed to Keigo, "What about him?"

"He'll do." Ichigo said approving.

We walked up to Keigo, he was busy popcorn. "Hi Keigo." We all said at the same time. He looked up and he smiled when he saw Ichigo in front of him. "Ichigo Kurosaki the popular guy at school is talking to me. YEA! Now the chicks will dig me."

"We need to ask you for a favor. . . Would you kiss Mizuki for me?" Ichigo asked. "OF COURSE but that's impossible she'll never kiss me." Uryuu explained to Keigo our plan, he agreed and I could tell he was excited.

"I suggest the three of you stay out of sight. I'll signal you when its time to switch." He told Keigo. The three of us hid behind the kissing booth. We watched as Ichigo approached Mizuki. "Hey Mizuki."

"Hi Ichigo, I knew you would come. So this means you so like me right?"

"Perhaps. . . . You know I didn't come to just talk to you." Ichigo walked closer to Mizuki. She was blushing and tried to say something

"Yea. . . I guess your right." She whisper quietly. It was hard me to stop giggling like an idiot. Uryuu had to remind me not to blow our cover.

"Close your eyes Mizuki." I could tell Ichigo was trying hard not to laugh as well. He signaled Keigo to come. Keigo quickly reached them, he gave a thumbs to Ichigo.

Ichigo joined our group, we all watched the scene before us. Keigo kissed Mizuki full on. It was funny when she responded by pulling him closer to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck. It was such a passionate kiss, I had to look away. But after a few seconds they finally had to stop to catch their breath.

Mizuki screamed so loud that everyone near the booth turn to stare at her. "WHAT THE HELL!!!!!! YOU'RE NOT ICHIGO!!! GROSS, WHERE THE HELL DID HE GO?"

"We better go." Uryuu said taking my hand. We started running along with Ichigo, who was behind us. I laughed so hard that running was hard for me. If it wasn't for Uryuu holding my hand I would probably fall. Who knew I would enjoy the festival this much.

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. In the next chapter Ichigo will finally confess his feelings to Rukia (without being interrupted by someone) You'll find out how Rukia will response to his confession.

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