Chapter 10

Ichigo's Topic: Thanks, Inoue

"In all my life, I told myself that I would never get to the point where I have to sell myself to survive," joked a tired Tatsuki. She let out a full stretched yawn.

The day was ending and through all the fun the entire school went through, tired had consumed each individual. Cleaning was postponed for tomorrow. So every student would find themselves giving up a lazy day off to do some labor work. Bummer... well, not entirely.

Even through one sour apple, or strawberry, the rest of the group managed to gain a little entertainment with the whole soap opera episode displayed earlier that day. Now they were heading out for a pizza dinner.

Hinamori asked, "When's your date with that guy who paid eighty-nine dollars for you?"

She scoffed and glanced over her shoulder to look at Hinamori as she answered with a raised brow. "You mean Keigo?" she asked as she nodded to a knocked-out dunce over Chad's shoulder, courtesy of the wild-haired female.

"Was it him?" asked Renji. "Where'd he get eighty-nine dollars? I thought you took his money and gave it to Ichigo to buy Inoue?"

"From me," answered Mizuiro. "I gave him the money; seemed desperate to buy someone. Arisawa was last to auction off..." He shrugged the rest of his sentence and went back to texting on his phone. Mizuiro was bought buy a first year girl, quite a surprise to the group. Although it wasn't his preference, she was still a nice looking girl.

"Yeah, and I knocked him out as soon as I got off stage. Come on," she looked at them in defense, "if I'm going to sell myself, I would at least want someone good looking to buy me."

The group laughed.

"At least you got someone you know," piped Hinamori. "I don't even know the guy and I have to see him next week Saturday."

"I don't think Toushiro is too happy about that," said Shuuhei. Hitsugaya ignored that statement and kept quiet. "Brooding over the fact that Rangiku-san bought you?" Hitsugaya continued to ignore him. Shuuhei smirked and continued. "Personally, I would be elated to be paid three hundred dollars by an attractive college student," he grinned. He was still ignored.

"Why don't you guys trade," suggested Renji to Hinamori and Tatsuki, changing the subject before Hisagi creates any unnecessary irritation towards the tired white-haired genius.

"We could," answered Tatsuki, "if we were the ones buying instead of bought."

Mizuiro shrugged, "Hey, it's all for a good cause. You don't see Ryou complaining."

The two girls then looked over a Ryou, "Who did buy you?" asked Hinamori.

She looked up from her book, "Ishida," she nodded towards him.

"In return for helping me with the uniforms," he said rather quickly before anyone gets any ideas, if they get any ideas. "Risa bought Kensei," he said accusingly as an extra to get the topic away from him. "Our group surprisingly likes to buy each other. Kurosaki did buy Inoue despite it being under Arisawa's orders." Tatsuki raised a brow, wondering if he meant anything by that statement.

"Where is Orihime-chan, anyways?" Hinamori glanced around the whole group.

Tatsuki shrugged, "I don't know. She left early saying she had something to do."

Orihime wasn't the only one missing from the group. Ichigo wasn't a big surprise either and so was Rukia. Shinji and Hiyori went home early. Chizuru left still disappointed she didn't get to buy her princess. Mahana left feeling sore from dancing. Hanatarou left to catch up with a long time friend named Ganju. Apparently his sister came to visit one of her own friends.

"You know, we still need to discuss the terms of our little side bet. Kira?" a tauntingly Hinamori singled him out. "My class did win after all."

Kira raised a brow at his long time friend. "What did you guys have in mind?" Renji listened and Chad as well. They are part of the losing class and had to know what was in tow for them.

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She finally found him. Ichigo was sitting alone on the bench in the park. The sun was just setting after a long day. From where she stood, she could see him listening to his music. His hood was up and he had his hands stuffed in his pockets. She went up to him and sat on the bench. He didn't pay attention to her. So she tugged off his hood.

Ichigo scowled. He took off his earphones before turning to see who it was that bothered him during his fowl mood. He was half expecting it to be Renji.

"Hey, Inoue. What's up?" he asked, turning off his iPod.

She smiled at him as she always did. "Shouldn't you ask yourself that question?" she asked back.

Ichigo raised a brow. After awhile he let out a sigh and slumped back onto the bench. Orihime watched him. He didn't say anything.

"Can I tell you something, Kurosaki-kun?" She smiled.

Ichigo turned his head to her. "Yeah, what is it?"

"You are stupid, Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo raised both brows, quite surprise. He never thought Inoue would call him stupid; much less pronounce every syllable clearly as if telling it to a baby for the first time to get him to understand.

Was he really stupid to be told that by the nicest female in the school? Apparently, because it's happening right now, and she's even smiling when telling him so.

He scoffed before releasing another sigh and went back to slumping on the bench. "I messed up today, didn't I?" he asked, not to her, but more to himself. She didn't say anything. "Told her to call it a truce yesterday so we could hang out. Figured we haven't done that much, lately." Orihime listened. "I kissed her yesterday," he said and Orihime smiled. "Don't know what made me kissed her then. Senna called me right after and I left Rukia to meet senna even though it was supposed to be a time with me and her. I didn't even tell Senna about the kiss." He looked at Orihime. "Even after Rukia said I should, I didn't." He scoffed. "I really never listen to her."

Orihime smiled and continued to listen.

"It wasn't until I saw her riding with Hisagi, talking to the other guys, dancing with that Ashido fellow and being bid over by the freaking students that I realized why the fuck I was being a jerk and why I kissed her yesterday and why I didn't tell Senna about it." Orihime noticed the way his jaw clenched. She then saw his mouth move but no words came out. She knew he whispered them, because the gentle breeze carried them to her ears. "I like her," was what he said. And his voice was slightly pained. Her heart clenched.

Sorry Senna-chan, but this was a lost battle for you from the beginning, thought Orihime. I should've warned you, but I'm sure you already knew that.

"So what are you going to do?" Orihime asked. "You're just going to sit there and beat yourself sorry for the way you acted?"

Ichigo immediately turned his head toward her. Not because of what she said but the way her tone of voice was. Condescending. "Senna-chan left the auditorium depressed. Kuchiki-san stormed out irritated and angry because how you treated her in front of the whole school." Her tone then softened. "It may not be the outcome you like, but you acted on how you felt. You might not always be the person who makes the right decisions and always act on his emotions rather than using his head, but the heart always know the conscience more than the mind does. Today, you figured out you liked Kuchiki-san," she said and continued, "but you always knew you liked her in your heart. Which was why you acted the way you did." She smiled.

Ichigo listened to her. He was thoroughly surprised at how much of an impact her words were. She then yawned and stretched out. "Time for me to go home," she said and stood up. Ichigo stood up as well. "Thanks for buying me Kurosaki-kun, although I should get mad at Tatsuki-chan for that. Well, it's up to you, but I don't think you would want to spend a day with me," she laughed.

"No," Ichigo stopped her. "Thanks, Inoue. I really appreciate it."

Orihime smiled again, "Then let's make today the purchase of the auction."

Ichigo furrowed his brows. "Are you sure?"

She nodded, "We did spend time after all. And I'm sure you have other business to attend to." She bowed slightly, "Goodnight, Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo watched as she walked to the end of the park. "Do you want me to walk you home?" he asked across the ground. Orihime turned around and shook her head. She waved goodbye.

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Rukia plopped down on her bed. Her brother wasn't home, yet. She didn't get to see him much with her being so busy and all. She hoped he at least found something good to eat at the school festival.

Today was a hectic day, mainly because of some orange-haired idiot that made her day a disaster. Well, it wasn't all a disaster. She did get to ride in Shuuhei's new ride and be the object of everyone's jealousy for awhile. She met a few new people and a rather interesting person. And she was bought by that same interesting person at the auction. Also, her class won the festival. Oh, and not to mention that she did win that so-called "fucking bet." She grinned. Take that, you fool.

Buzz! Buzzzz!

Her phone was vibrating. She reached into her pocket and glanced at the screen and raised a brow. It was an unknown number.

"How did you get this number?" she asked to whoever was on the phone. She had a feeling she already knew who it was.

"A friend of a friend of a friend," Ashido simply answered.

Rukia grinned. "Well, you did buy me for... how much? Might as well get the number of something you paid for, no?"

"Two hundred and fifty dollars to be exact. The second highest bid in that auditorium after that little boy," he said rather pointedly.

"Wow, I'm flattered," she said back. "And his name is Hitsugaya. Don't let him hear you call him that. Worse than the short remark. Anyways," she said, "that aside, why did you call me?"

"Well, I was wondering on how I should spend that one day of your life I bought for. And also if I could somehow seal that bet I made with my friends."

"You mean that kiss?" she asked. She pulled a pillow close to her chest.

"Yeah, that one. Have any ideas? Comes I was thinking on another role-playing, but I think you would be onto that. So, you see, I'm in quite a pinch." Rukia could hear that mockery in his voice. But despite that, she was really rather enjoying the conversation. She grinned.

"First, do people rather teens actually say "pinch" when referring to dilemma? Second, if that bet involves me being the target of that kiss, I don't think it's wise to tell me your plans or for me to help you out with that same bet. That whole thing might just turn around on you. Third, yes, I would be onto another role-playing scheme. In fact, if I ever play another role-playing I think I'll find myself thinking of you." She spoke back to the phone.

"Well, for the "pinch" question, I'm not quite sure. True to your second topic, I don't want my plans to turn on me. And for your third topic, I have to say I'm flattered, even if you meant that in a bad way. I do hope then, that you soon would play another role-playing game. It would be nice to have the number one school hostess think of me." Rukia laughed.

"Careful," Rukia warned, "I'm starting to think you're conceited as my friend."

"You mean that scowling fellow? I hope not."

Rukia stopped laughing. "And why is that? Not that I'm saying you are him, but why might I ask?"

"Nothing personal, Kuchiki, but your friend does have a temper. Especially today."

Rukia sighed. "I see what you mean. He still hasn't told me what was wrong with him."

"He hasn't told you anything?" Ashido asked.

Rukia shook her head, but she remembered she was on the phone so she said, "No."

"Hmm, I see" was all the reply from the other end. The conversation fell silent for awhile. Rukia suddenly yawned. He must have heard her yawn for he said, "I guess you're tired. Figures, with what you went through."

"Been watching me?" she asked, raising a brow.

"Somewhat," he said. That made Rukia grin. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow for the clean-up, Kuchiki. Night."

"Night, Ashido," she said and hung up her phone.

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Ichigo walked up to his room and skipped dinner. He tossed his phone on his desk and sat in his desk chair. Today was a fucking screw up. Now, he has to spend a week catering to Rukia's every whim. Not that he has a problem with that... at least not a huge problem. But his relationship with Rukia is the current problem as well as his relationship with Senna.

Senna wasn't answering his calls. She must be really upset. It was the first time she purposely ignored him. But, he had to speak to her first before anything. He owed her that much.