Like I said on my profile, you guys, I'm terribly sorry to keep all of you waiting for so long. Summer ended, school and marching band started, and I got lost in the ether T-T but now that summer's back with a vengeance, I intend to do the same thing and update as many chapters as I can cram into one summer p
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Andraq- YAY! Somebody loves me! :D
TBFH- I know, right? I realize it's a little idealistic but hey, this is my story :P
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Doctor, Ninja and Tidus: Aw thanks!
Roy: Wow, you actually feel sorry for Edmund? He was the one being a jerk, remember -- And I gotta agree, Ichigo is quite a catch. And speaking of, I realized just a few days ago that in writing this fic I've been living vicariously through Rukia o
Wulffe- Too right! 'bout time I get to writing the fic!
Ninja, Tidus and Wulffe in general- squeal New readers!! giggles Were you guys trolling the Dead Sea Scrolls or something? raises an eyebrow
Chapter 11: Retail Rambunctiousness
Song:
Rukia flippantly strode out of the tuxedo room, into the gown room and stopped dead in her tracks. It was obvious that Mary and Orihime had heard the whole thing. In her mind she imagined a chibi self, the vertical lines and red hue of awkwardness descending upon her face like flies on rotten meat.
"Everything okay?" Mary asked nervously. Rukia shook herself out of her thoughts and nodded.
"Under control," she said nonchalantly. The cartoon Rukia's facial expression faded into a regular face. "So this dress..." she began.
"Oh! Yeah!" Mary remembered that she was supposed to be working. "It looks great... hm?" Mary noticed that there was something slightly wrong. Rukia saw the concern in her face and started to worry.
"What is it? Is it too tight? Too loose? A seam's ripped?" Rukia fretted, chasing her rear end looking for an answer. Mary waved it all away.
"Of course not! It looks great on you! And if there was a ripped seam it wouldn't be on the rack in the first place. It's just that... It's really kind of long." Rukia looked down. Sure enough, the last six inches of the dress dragged on the floor. She suppressed her momentary desire to rip this dress apart and tried to maintain her composure.
"I see. You guys can hem it, can't you?" Rukia asked hopefully. It was such a pretty dress, Rukia didn't really want to just let it go because it was short.
"It'll be kind of difficult at the hem of the cutout, see how it's curved there?" She took a bottom corner of the cutout and folded it inside the dress so it was the perfect length. A good amount of the extra fabric showed past the edge of the cutout.
"What if I took it to a tailor to have it fixed? Could I do that?" Rukia asked, hiding the desperation in her voice. After all, it was a really nice dress.
Mary thought for a moment. "Well, I don't see why not... okay." She handed Rukia a green business card with gold lettering. "And if you can't find one, you can always give me a call and I'll see what I can do-" she dropped to a whisper- "-because that old bat won't trust me with anything but retail, the jerk." Rukia laughed politely as Mary returned to a speaking level. "I actually have a little on-the-side tailoring business. It's mostly alterations and repairs and all that, so I'm fairly sure I can handle it."
Rukia hugged Mary. "Thank you so much!" Mary blushed a little. These kids were really something else.
15 minutes later
Rukia, Ichigo, Orihime and Chad finally emerged from the H.R. Wesley storefront, formalwear in hand. Rukia checked her phone.
"Are you kidding me? Ichigo, it's 6:30 right now. Should we just forget about the dinner reservations or what?" Ichigo checked his watch as if he didn't believe her.
"Seriously? Eh, well..." Ichigo screwed up his face lightly in thought as he thought it over in his head. "Yeah, I guess we'll have to save it for another time." Rukia opened her Chappy-print wallet absentmindedly.
"Hey, we still have 100 left," she said, pulling the certificate from the shopping spree they had won. Together, she reminded herself. "We still have a few hours before your father wanted you home. Was there any place you wanted to go?" She put the certificate back in her wallet.
"Um, yeah, I guess. I gave you my money though, so..." Ichigo pointed at her wallet.
"Oh! Yeah! Sorry!" Rukia opened her wallet again, fished around for a 20 and offered it to him. Ichigo pulled a swift Judy Jetson and went straight for her wallet. Rukia immediately started jumping at him with the ignorant hope of getting it back, Ichigo dangling it all the way above his head.
"Ichigo, give that back!!" She yelled, having finally reformulated her plan of attack and simply climbing up Ichigo's shirt to reach for the wallet. Sadly (or rather not, as we are all grateful for this…), Ichigo is a guy, and therefore most of his weight is centered around his shoulders.
Where Rukia was now reaching.
The two tumbled over backwards, Rukia landing on Ichigo's chest with a soft, hollow thump. Ichigo groaned, opened his eyes and immediately blinked in surprise.
Wow, Ichigo pondered. Since when did Rukia's hair look that soft? Wait a second.
He looked around as Rukia began to stir, taking in her surroundings as well and finally resting her gaze on Ichigo. Pale violet eyes locked with amber, aaaand…
"Wow! Man, are you okay, Rukia?" Ichigo stood up abruptly, pulling Rukia to her feet alongside him. Rukia looked down and brushed herself off, using the gesture to hide her flustered, rosy cheeks.
"Yeah, my goodness,we're in public too! Thanks for the concern…" Thank the gods I'm wearing pants and not a skirt today. Ichigo seemed to have maintained his composure well but since he wasn't checking for injuries she decided to do a quick once-over.
"Err, you know Ichigo, that fall sounded like it could've done some damage, especially with another person landing on top of you," she said, starting to blush at the very recent memory.
Ichigo gave her a funny look. "What are you talking about? I feel fi-OOF," he grunted as his torso suddenly collapsed around Rukia's fist.
"See what I mean? It just took so long for the pain to reach your head since you're so tall! Thanks for the ride, you guys! I can get him home from here! See ya Monday!" Rukia called to Orihime and Chad as she lugged him towards the nearest exit. The two were left outside of H.R. Wesley, exchanging doubtful glances.
"That was… different," Chad finally said, stroking his chin in thought. Orihime nodded furiously in agreement.
"I know! Who knew Ichigo's height could make him register pain at a much slower rate?!" Orihime added, oblivious to the intention of Chad's words. Chad imagined a chibi-Chad in his head, a solitary sweat drop sliding onto the side of his head.
"Orihime, that's not what I meant…"
END OF CHAPTER
Okay, you guys know the drill! I promise I won't take forever to write the next chapter! Seriously! 3 Hannah
