~How Ichigo Taught Me to Paintball~

AN:

Okay, okay. It sounds random, but I got the inspiration from one of my best friends, so please, read on!

I have no flipping idea what to say about the song to listen to. Ah! How about, 'Pressure', by Paramore? The lyrics may not match too much with the story, but, hey, the song and rhythm is catchy!

Interesting fact- I have started to draw my own manga. Loser-ish? I know… T-T

But I want your guys' feedback on the story so far, so every once in a while, I am going to post two halves of a chapter: One of IchiRuki loving, the other of my manga's storyboard. Please… read it, and tell me what you think.

I am going to use quite a few war terms and gun lingo in this chapter, so have Wikipedia up just in case.

Also, I decided to add a little more swearing in this chapter, basically because… people don't say:

"Ouchie! You threw a very painful grenade at my head!"

Or

"Owies! You shot my chest!"

-Fanatic99


Ichigo strapped down the visor over my eyes and looked at me sternly, his hands rested on my shoulders.

"Our mission is to capture the other team's flag, got it? We are team Red, they are team Brown."

I nodded, unsure of what else to do.

"Everyone on our team is wearing red." He pointed to the red around his visor, at his red Nikes, and red and white t-shirt.

I looked at the gun in my hands. "So… I simply aim, pull the trigger, and I propel a little ball of paint at the target?"

"Yes. This is paintballing."

It was time for the annual Tokyo Annual High School paintball showdown, featuring our team, the Karakura Katanas, versus the Sajiyama Samurai. We were supposed to win this competition, because, according to the school, it's good to win once in a while.

Plus, rumor has it that the school who wins gets $100,000 dollars in American money.

Wow.

Ichigo and I were one of the many victims chosen for the Karakura Katana team. Among us were Tatsuki, Orihime, Chad, and Uryu, along with some kids I didn't know. It was pretty intense.

"So I shoot anyone with brown on?" I asked Ichigo.

According to the video games I play with Ichigo, my paintball gun was a silenced compressed combat SMG, loaded with paint, of course.

"Yes. Red, don't shoot, brown, shoot that bastard to death."

Ichigo was holding a semi automatic compressed combat rifle paintball gun, and he had extra paint ammunition laced around him war-style. He had drawn in red war paint on both our cheeks.

Why was he so dedicated, you ask? Well, let me answer you.

Hedate Takashi was why.

Takashi happened to be Ichigo's ex-archrival, and he was currently attending Sajiyama High. Ichigo and Takashi were known around Karakura town to be the best paintball masters in the world, but each one of them craved supremacy over the other.

Also, Takashi apparently was jealous of Ichigo's ability to get head shots, whereas Ichigo was jealous of Takashi's body shots.

Well, it wasn't just paintball.

It was also partly because of girl problems.

Both of them were equally good looking, so they say, that girls couldn't decide which one to root for.

So as early as the 6th Grade, both Takashi and Ichigo had fan-girls. There were Team Takashi and Team Ichigo. Sort of like Edward and Jacob.

Anyways, Ichigo and Takashi just didn't get along much at all, period. Takashi moved to a different school in High School, and they hadn't seen each other since.

Well, to change the subject…

Our squad members had a variety of weapons.

Uryu had a silenced paintball sniper, Orihime had a paint grenade stash, Tatsuki had double wielding automatic paintball Desert Eagles, and Chad… had something that vaguely reminded me of a freaking paint bazooka.

We were set.

Ichigo never really talked about Takashi. Gee, I wonder why.

I adjusted my visor and put on my silly-looking camouflage hat. I tied my red low top Converse tight.

"It's go time." I said confidently (I couldn't help it, okay?).

The paintball battlefield was a fake looking desert based battle ground, with fake rocks and boulders everywhere to hide behind. The sand was so plastic, but the area around us was huge. The paintball arena was about the size of a freaking football field.

Each team had a base, a small hut which contained the flag. Each hut was permitted two guards, who got to defend the flag. Ours were Orihime and Uryu. Next, each team was permitted two defensemen, who happened to be Tatsuki and me, and finally, two offensives, which happened to be, yes, Ichigo and Chad.

"Okay, here's the strategy." Ichigo said, huddling all of us in. "Uryu, you sniper down any approaching enemy targets from that hill there, okay?" Uryu nodded.

"Orihime, don't hesitate to use the paint grenades on any enemy target within a fifty foot radius of the hut." Orihime blushed and nodded.

"Tatsuki, pistol down those bitches if they cross the freaking blue halfline."

"Hell yeah!" Tatsuki replied, pumping her fist into the air.

"Chad, help me out by flanking the defensemen from the cover in the sides when I come in from the front, okay?" Chad nodded.

Ichigo turned to me. "And you, Rukia… you have the prized SMG. I chose that gun especially for you, although it happens to be my favorite." He paused, clearing his throat, trying to hide his blush from the rest of the team. "You are going to be my assassin. Strike at unexpected moments from cover."

"Yes Captain Ichi!" I told him, grinning.

We all held out our hands in the center, and did this strange sort of High School Musical hand whoop.

"Break!"

All of us proceeded to our positions in the arena.

I hid myself behind a rock which was surprisingly shaped like a giant bunny.

I looked at Ichigo from my position.

He was across from me, his face covered in nervous sweat. I… okay, I loved the way he was so intense. I sort of like a man in charge.

But not abusive, okay? In charge and abusive are two different things.

Just then, the intercom came on.

Attention, students! Here are the rules of the game! You are permitted ten shots to the body, and only two to the head, until you are disqualified. Your headphones provided will beep if you are out. Also, there is no limit to the ammo you can use. Both team's huts contain ammo deposits. While holding the other team's flag, you are permitted to shoot while running. If you see that you are about to be disqualified or are disqualified, a defenseman must accompany you back to the hut to get 'medical attention', and they will simply replace your chest pad. It's an all out battle, and it's going to start in 10 seconds!"

Ichigo looked at me and grinned. "Good luck."

"Good luck right back atcha." I told him.

Ten.

I took a deep breath.

Nine.

I put my visor over my eyes.

Eight.

I adjusted my headphones.

Seven.

I winked at Tatsuki, who winked back.

Six.

I smiled at Orihime, who smiled back nervously.

Five.

I closed my eyes.

Four.

I opened my eyes and exhaled.

Three.

I reloaded my gun.

Two.

I put my finger on the trigger.

One.

I readied myself.

ZERO!

And the massacre began.

--

Paint was flying everywhere. The once dull and orange rocks were now purple, blue, yellow, red, green, and white.

It was a rainbow.

I watched as Tatsuki flew out of her cover when the first offensive from the other team had his pinky toe across the halfway line.

She whipped out her Desert Eagles and shot him with both, flicking her wrists like a cowboy from a Western movie. She shot him at least five times before he flew into cover.

Uryu sniped the enemies' heads, already disqualifying one of the hut guards on the other side.

Ichigo ran into the enemy territory, shooting the other team's defensemen like crazy with his combat rifle. Chad assisted him effortlessly.

Me, I waited. I saw there was one guy trying to sneak past Tatsuki.

Once he turned across and made the mistake of facing me, I aimed quickly and squeezed the trigger.

One by one the paint bullets flew, straight into the guy's chest padding. He looked shocked, but he flew back into cover before he could get disqualified.

Suddenly, I noticed a flash in the corner of my eye.

It was a brown blur.

I quickly turned and pulled the trigger, feeling the bullets squeeze out without end.

But the blur was gone.

I pressed my headphone speaker, pivoting to look for the blur.

"Defenseman Purple here, copy."

"Captain Red here, repeat."

"Ah, we have a situation. A sneaker, around the radius of the inner hut circle. He's fast."

"…I'll be right there, roger."

I was confused. Why would Ichigo rush back to help?

That's when I felt the gun press against the side of my head.

--

It was Takashi. He had chocolate brown hair spiked like Ichigo's, but the most curious green eyes. He had a deadly looking smile on.

"T-ta-Takashi!" I stammered.

"Ah, so you are Defenseman Purple of the Red Team? Nice to meet you." He grinned. "What's your actual name?"

"Kuchiki," I said through gritted teeth. "Kuchiki… Rukia!"

At that moment I whipped out my gun and tried to shoot him, but he had disappeared.

"You are one tough one, Kuchiki-chan. I like that."

I pressed my headphone speaker.

"Assistance, Defenseman Cobra!"

"In a scramble, roger. Cannot assist at the time!" Tatsuki replied.

I was worried.

Crap! The flag!

I rushed to the other side of the path, narrowly avoiding showers of paint flying over my head.

I felt a warm hand wrap on my shoulder, whirling me around.

I screamed, and whipped out my SMG.

"Whoa, whoa!" Ichigo said, stopping me before I could shoot. "It's just me." He frowned. "Where is that bastard Takashi?"

"I have no idea. He disappeared."

Ichigo frowned and clapped my hand. "I want you to temporarily take my position as offensive for a while. I have to find Takashi."

I nodded and paused, turning to face him. "See you," I whispered, fixing his hair over his eyes.

I ran off, avoiding bullets flying everywhere. This was insane.

This was the affliction of war.

"My god-damn leg!" Tatsuki cried from behind me. That didn't sound good.

I pivoted, quickly shooting one defenseman too close for comfort to me.

Chad assisted quickly, using a hidden pistol to disqualify him, and pulled me quickly into cover.

"Kuchiki-san," He told me nervously. "The hut guards have a machinegun turret. It'll be impossible to maneuver past it."

"Flank them," I told him. "I'll run in as a distraction."

Chad nodded at me and stood up, taking position with his bazooka.

I took a deep breath and ran out of cover, trying to avoid the bullets everywhere.

The person manning the turret was good. He had amazing aim.

I gritted my teeth and quickly slid into temporary cover. I saw Chad ready his bazooka.

I ran out of cover and shot blindly at the other guard by the turret, missing my target but hitting my intentions.

As I had hoped, Chad had pulled the trigger of his bazooka at the precise moment I rolled into cover just inches away from the blast zone.

The paint flew everywhere, disqualifying both guards. Chad ran in for the flag as I waited in cover to assist.

To my horror, I felt a gun stick at the side of my head again.

It was Takashi, again.

"Damn… you…" I swore quietly.

Takashi shook his head and grinned. "You were the little pest picking off my defense. I have to take care of you."

He pressed the trigger, and I felt that first painful stinging sensation in my body. I heard a long beep through my headphones.

I had been disqualified. I leaned up against a rock, acting dead, as we were supposed to. I gritted my teeth as Takashi proceeded to try and take down Chad.

I saw flashes of paint come from inside the hut, and within seconds, Takashi came out, victorious.

"Bastard," I spat at him. He smiled at me.

"You're a cutie." He told me, cupping my chin. "Too bad we couldn't have met in different circumstances."

He ran off to disqualify more of our players. I frowned.

This wasn't good. Not at all.

I felt a pair of warm hands wrap around me.

"Ichigo?"

It was indeed Ichigo. He looked dead worried.

"Oh gods, Rukia. Did he hurt you?"

"Not really." I told him. "My head stings a little, though."

"That bastard." Ichigo swore, scooping me up.

He pulled off my hat to check, and he discovered a purple bump mark. It didn't look too good.

"Gigais bruise easily," I told him. "It's not that-"

Ichigo shook his head and shushed me. "I'll never forgive him for this."

"But-"

"I'll disqualify that bastard no matter what it takes."

Vengeance, for me? Ohh….

…so… sweet?

Ichigo looked at the scar.

"C'mon, you've seen worse," I croaked. Okay, I had lied. The bruise hurt like hell.

Ichigo looked at me, his eyes lined with worry. "How can I heal it?"

"Well, there is a forbidden healing technique to heal wounds like this," I told him, blushing furiously.

"What is it?" He demanded.

"The highest point of healing reiatsu is actually in the lips. Well, press your lips to a wound…" I said, looking away from his eyes. "And you'll actually construct some skin tissue to repair the damage. That's why when moms kiss wounds they seem to heal quicker."

Ichigo looked at me in surprise. "Why is it forbidden?"

"Kissing is kind of awkward in Soul Society," I replied hastily. "But I know you wouldn't want to do that anyway, so-"

Ichigo threw me off completely. He was so unpredictable.

He gently laid his lips on my bruise. I felt my heart pound faster and faster.

He kept his lips there for what felt like forever. I could feel the tissue reconstruct.

But he kept his lips there, long after I thought the healing was done.

When he finally pulled away, I didn't want him to. I leaned in, this time, kissing him on the lips.

That was a weird place to have your first kiss, at a paintball war, against some plastic rocks. But it was great still the same.

When I finally pulled away, Ichigo looked like he was glowing.

"Let's go win!"

Ichigo scooped me up and ran to the other side, quickly replacing my chest pad in the hut to revive me.

It was on.

I grabbed a couple of Orihime's paint grenades and took out some fools who ran in too quickly unto our side of the line.

Tatsuki was back to kick-ass mode, disqualifying people as soon as they stepped foot into our territory.

We were pwning.

Yeah. Pwnage.

Ichigo and Chad were advancing quickly, disqualifying multiple guards.

But one question still remained.

Where the hell was Takashi?

I felt a gun rest at the side of my head.

"You bastard!"

I screamed, and pivoted, kicking the guy, who was obviously Takashi, in the nuts. He sank to the ground.

As he laid there, his eyes watering, I did a quick but awesome SMG execution.

"Hasta la vista, baby."

I disqualified him. Heh.

Pwnage.

Ichigo and Chad were running in with flag, almost in slow motion. It was epic.

EPIC.

Behind them, numerous paint explosions filled the air. It was like Christmas fireworks.

We had won. We had freaking won.

Eat that, Sajiyama High SUCKAS!

Apparently, at the end of the game, Takashi needed special help to even stand up. It was awesome. Ichigo grinned at me and tousled my hair.

--

Just as we all went into the lobby, the first thing I saw just about killed me.

There, on the big screen, were Ichigo and I, kissing.

"You recorded that?!" I screamed into oblivion.

Everyone stood, watching the scene in utter fascination.

"We have cameras everywhere," The man who was manning the arena shrugged. "The TV plays random footage of the match during recording. It spontaneously chose to show you guys making out."

Tatsuki punched my shoulder playfully. "No tongue?"

I shriveled up and died inside.

Anyways… that's how Ichigo taught me to Paintball.


AN:

OMG! XD XD XD

Please stay tuned, and please vote on the poll in my profile!

~Painfully Obvious IchiRuki Proof~ [Part 2]

-There would be no story if Ichigo and Rukia hadn't met.

-Imagine the story without their relationship.

-Er, give me one good proof that IchiHime exists.

-Um, do Ichigo and Orihime really stay together, alone?

-Ichigo usually treats Orihime's indifference like stupidity (It's true) when IchiHime stories usually have him find her stupidity cute.

-Orihime knows the truth!

-Rukia slept in his closet. C'mon.

-When she came back she still wanted to sleep in his closet. XD

-No IchiRuki= No Ichigo's Bankai

-Er, first book's name… Strawberry and Death…

-Tite Kubo made it that way.

-Renji sees the truth.

-Rukia would never really elope with Byakuya… I mean… well, I have nothing against RenRuki or ByaRuki, it's just that the two are sort of lined with incest… I mean, Rukia thinks of Renji as a brother, whereas Byakuya was her sister's husband.

-Scene in Episode 16 (One of my favs!) where Rukia spits out her milk when someone asks her if she likes Ichigo. You had to realize it then.

I really want to watch episode 16 now. I encourage you to do so RIGHT NOW.

Next Chapter:

Ichigo Teaches Me to Twitter