Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of it's characters, creations, or ideas. If I did no one would like it a hundred and one percent. Literally.
InnerVoice: I know who the bodyguard is! I saw him/her in your dream Zaraawwrr!
ME: Whatever.
InnerVoice: It is going to be-
ME: *covers InnerVoice's mouth and shuts its trap* NO SPOILERS!
InnerVoice: *when I released my hand* Hai....
Chapter 12 – Fabulous Acquaintance
"Byakuya-sama. We've found the culprits. Now we must question them at once. They seemed to be lingering around Karakura High."
"Bring them in immediately."
"Sir! We have a problem! One of them seems to have injected a poison to their body! I think they've commited suicide."
"Assassins. That is the only explanation. Stop the other one from killing himself."
Suddenly a voice from the connected speaker spoke up, "This is agent 6-7798. The two suspects look like they're commited suicide. Although, the other one still has a pulse. We need to get him to hospital immediately!"
"Hurry up. He holds secret information. We need him."
"Roger."
"Byakuya-sama! Wha are we to do? We have assassins after your-"
"I realize that. I know it is not easy to acknowledge but worrying is the last thing that I am trying to do. And the first thing I'd avoid. Rukia is safe in that school."
"Yes...and what about the press?"
"They won't know anything unless we keep all of this clandestine."
"Understood."
___________________Back at school Rukia is in a mess____________________
"Who's responsible for this Tatsuki? WHO?" Rukia cried into her pillow the next day.
Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "C'mon it's not like I'm supposed to know everything. Ishida will be here any minute. He is the one who took the picture!"
"But would he really..?"
"No. This is a prank."
"My life is ruined."
"No it's not" Toushiro pointed out.
"Yes it is!"
Knock knock knock.
Toushiro sprang up, and opened the door. Ishida and Ichigo walked in. Upon noticing this, Rukia jumped into an innocent sitting position.
"I am terribly sorry. I shouldn't have taken that picture of you and Kurosaki, Kuchiki."
"Call me Rukia."
"Uhh...fine. Rukia."
"Who did this?"
"I am guessing..." Ishida paused for a moment and looked questioningly at Ichigo.
He then closed the door behind him and spoke up, "We're thinking Barbie and her cronies did it. Not sure though."
"We can get proof" Toushiro said pointedly.
"We've tried to trace fingerprints. There were none but from various students who didn't know each other from around here. They probably touched them by mistake or unintentionally."
"DAMN!" Tatsuki yelled and Ishida frowned. She didn't react embarrassed at all about it.
"This place is more hi-tech than we called out for" Rukia said sighing. "But all those posters...my life is ruined!"
"Afraid of personal image little pygmy?" asked Ichigo grinning.
"It's not funny!"
"Heck yeah it is. Stop thinking of the worst. We're removing them now."
"Well I don't want everyone to know that I'm some idiot."
Ichigo raised his eyebrows. "If people think we're both dating that makes you stupid?"
Almost everyone gasped. Tatsuki looked at Rukia surprisingly.
"Of course not." Rukia folded her arms and gave a small "Humph!"
"Then prove it." He was laughing in his head now.
Tatsuki started snorting. "Fine. She'll prove it to you ok? She'll go on a date with you then."
"Tats-"
"Fine then. It's a date. When?"
Toushiro put his headphones on madly. Ishida came out of the room and started dialling Orihime's number. Tatsuki forgot about Toushiro's request.
"Um...uhh" Rukia was not sure of what to say. "I'm free tonight. It's Sunday."
"Oh...sure." He felt awkward about asking her to come with him tonight but shrugged it off.
"Movie or dinner?" he asked still unable to erase the grin off his face.
"Umm..." was all Rukia said. Then Tatsuki made it easier.
"She really wants to watch that movie called The Dark, which is in theatres now right Rukia?"
"Um...yeah. Movie."
"I'll pick you at?" he seemed pretty good at asking people out. Rukia now wondered whether he'd dated other girls before.
"7:00?"
"Make that 7:30. Right here."
"Fine."
"Alright. Don't worry about the posters okay? Everybody knows rumours aren't that reliable now. See ya." With that he walked out, and a very maddened Toushiro took his headphones off and as the sounds of Ishida's and Ichigo's footsteps disappeared, he started the argument.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT HIM!" he yelled at Rukia.
"Calm down Toushiro!" Tatsuki yelled back. "It's only a movie."
"But now he...now...I have to go buy tickets too! Then Hirako can follow..." Toushiro looked stricken
"Oh then hurry up!" Tatsuki said.
He got up and stood in front of the mirror and gussied up. Then Rukia asked, "Um, why can't I be serious about Ichigo? We're just friends really."
"You won't understand."
"Hmph. You're mean. And you have to spy on my private life."
"It's public not private."
"Whatever" Rukia rolled her eyes and fell on her back on the bed and drifted off to sleep until Toushiro came back and said that the tickets were sold out.
"It's ok Rukia. I'll wait outside in the cafe'. You can use your phone beeper diamond. Keep your phone in your pocket."
"But inside-"
"It'll be safe. Don't worry."
"But-"
"Not buts. Just go. I don't give a damn."
Tatsuki smiled. "You should go Rukia."
"What should I wear?!"
Toushiro groaned and walked out of the room. 'She should be alright with that bastard.'
"Tatsuki this is all happening too soon. He's Ichigo Kurosaki. I've never met him in my life until now. I got partnered with him in every class together. On the fourth day of school, we get stuck in a closet. Then he ended up being my date for the inauguration thing in the last minute. It's all happening too fast. Why do I like him as a friend when he likes calling me pygmy shrimp!"
Tatsuki laughed. "I haven't got a clue Rukia. But you know he's a pretty good guy as a friend."
"Yeah...I thought so too. But Toushiro doesn't like him."
"That's just because Ichigo's a rank higher than him."
"A what!" Rukia jumped out of her bed.
"Oh...err I mean in class."
"We haven't conducted any tests yet. How would you know who's smarter?"
Tatsuki was in total trouble now. "He is smarter! I've noticed the difference between the two..."
"I don't see any differences. Personally I think they're both smart. Plus Ichigo is a prefect."
"Yeah! He's a prefect and Toushiro's not!"
"But rank sounds like you're talking about a secret agent."
"I am not. What would I know about secret agents anyway?"
Rukia snorted loudly at this. "For a daughter of another agent? She'd know something about it."
Tatsuki gave up. "Fine I'll tell you. But don't tell Toushiro that I told you."
"Sure."
"Ichigo is a substitute bodyguard of this school. He has been ever since he came here years ago. He's assigned to you now."
"What the hell?" Rukia roared.
"Yes I know. And Toushiro hates him because he's replaced Toushiro's previous post as the head of the teen agent group in Japan. Although Ichigo doesn't know who Toushiro is, or who you are."
"Seriously."
"Yeah, Ichigo hasn't been told much about you because he isn't fully assigned, as much as Toushiro."
"And I'm not supposed to tell Ichigo much either right?"
"Well yeah duh. I don't want to be the one to pay all the debts for Toushiro now."
Rukia chuckled. "I won't. But Ichigo...I couldn't imagine him as a bodyguard."
"I can. He's gotten good at fighting."
"Hey I still haven't chosen the four sports I want to do for Physical Education."
"Gym? Oh we got swimming, tennis, badminton, basketball, table tennis, then....soccer of course!" she said brightly and added, "and karate too."
She shuddered upon hearing the word 'karate.'
"I choose badminton, swimming, and soccer!"
"One more."
"I'm thinking.."
"table tennis? I think it goes with you."
"Yeah. That. What sport does Ichigo do?"
"Everything."
"What?!"
"Yeah. I'm putting my form in too. I ticked everything except tennis. I don't like tennis."
"Oh."
"You don't have to do everything. But 4 sports are compulsory."
"Yeah yeah. I'm going to go get some fresh air. Wanna come?"
"You sure?"
"Let's go dudette. I think you need to learn karate."
_______Almost finished Getting ready________
"Are you sure this dress looks okay?"
"Of course it is! Orange is Ichigo. Orange is you. For tonight anyway"
"But I like blue better!"
"Whatever. Then switch to blue. And make sure all that dinner doesn't come out of your stomach while acting all energetic."
"Kuchiki-san! Sorry I mean Rukia..." Orihime winced as she saw Rukia glare at her. "Um..I like blue too."
"Yes. I'll wear blue. Do I look like I'm wearing mascara?"
"Nope. It looks pretty natural!" Orihime said cheerfully.
Rukia blinked and went to get changed again. Now she was ready. She didn't put lipstick, and yes, no make-up but mascara. That was all for Kuchiki Rukia. She liked plain, but not too plain. "I am not calling Toushiro."
Tatsuki did not hear this, she was more absorbed into her laptop. Orihime didn't know why Toushiro was important anyway. So she didn't really care.
She was standing in front of her mirror the whole time until Ichigo knocked on her door minutes later. He expected her to look somewhat different butt he had another thing coming. She looked almost exactly as she did before. Only she was wearing a dress and mascara.
"Hey Ichi." Tatsuki gave him a small wave. Orihime just gave him a small wink.
"Hey guys. And you manikin."
"Did you just call me a manikin?" Rukia's voiced raised a little.
"What if I did? It's not anyone's fault that you're elevationally challenged."
"And you're job is to make fun of it!" she pointed out.
Tatsuki breathed heavily. "Guys, why don't you just go out and have some fun for a change and get over this whole arguing thing?"
"Who asked YOU?" they both yelled at the same time. Only Rukia had said, "What's it to you?"
Truth to be told, they both actually had more fun one watching the other suffer from their retorts. And the aftermath of their constant disputes.
"So you wanted to watch that movie called The Dark right?"
"Oh uh..yeah."
"Its pretty cool. You're not scared right?"
"It's a scary movie?"
"Yeah, don't you know?"
"Oh...yeah I do. I forgot." Like a girl with an amazing memory would forget. Ichigo shrugged it off quickly and started walking, "C'mon, we haven't got all the time in the world."
She glared at Tatsuki who'd gotten her to watch a scary movie. You're so dead you freaking...
"What type of popcorn do you like?" Ichigo asked as Rukia locked the door.
"Mixed. I do like salt but mixed is much better."
"Same here." He grabbed her hand and continued walking. He didn't really intend to do such a thing but Ichigo admits that it was just normal response.
'What the hell is he doing? He is holding my hand! What am I supposed to do now? Ok breathe Rukia. Just told me to BREATHE.'
"You like scary movies?" his mouth curled into a grin.
"Well, thrillers mostly. I just thought I'd try this soon. Never thought of going to a theatre."
"Well this movie isn't the scariest of them all. I think its PG15?"
"Um...I am fifteen."
He chuckled. "Sure."
As the reached Poppy and Jerry's Theatre Ichigo started buying popcorn. He's gotten a small for each of them, and handed one to Rukia. He flashed the tickets to the guard, and old lady with a torch escorted them into the cinema.
"First time here?" she asked Rukia.
"Yeah."
"Oh. Do you know the story of Poppy and Jerry?"
"Umm no.."
"I'll tell her the story" and Ichigo grabbed Rukia away from the lady and quickly entered the dark room. The movie had started, but it was just the first part of it. With eerie music, and the blue sea.
They took their seats. "What was that lady talking about?" Rukia wanted to know.
"The tale of Poppy and Jerry. They were the two partners who made his theatre. Poppy loved making popcorn, and Jerry loved movies. They were murdered here."
Rukia shivered. "They were killed?"
"It's a rumour. Dunno really. Now concentrate on the movie."
Moments later after the flying camera showed above the sea, and rocks, it showed the view from underwater suddenly. Then, the sun from above disappeared, and the words "The Dark" appeared. Rukia chewed and crunched on the popcorn faster and faster. During various scenes of the movie she got shocked, jumped, or yelled just like a few other girls sitting around. Ichigo laughed, and sniggered as she reacted in certain girly ways.
As the movie ended Rukia was terrified. She could recall every move and feeling of horror the precise way it was. That is how she was born of course. She tried not to show it though. Ichigo wanted to go to the cafe, nearby. So they started walking. As the natural reaction went, he was forced to grab her hand again.
"I don't get the part where the mom tries to save her kid though. So in the end she kind of...risked herself for nothing?"
"I guess." Rukia shuddered upon remembering the mother confined in the darkness of Annwyn. But the warmth emitting from Ichigo's hand snapped her out of those dreadful thoughts.
"I like that movie. I hope it gets a second one."
"Um...yeah that would be...amusing."
"Tell the truth. You don't like scary movies do you?"
"Of course I do!"
"Stop it. You're face is very readable. I know a lying face."
"Oh."
"Is that all you're planning on confessing?"
"Well you want me to say, 'I'm sorry. It's true, I hate scary movies. I love thrillers."
"Why?"
"You wouldn't understand my life. I've had enough trauma for once."
"Fine pygmy."
"Whatever." When she became conscious of the fact that he called her a pygmy, she added, "gingerhead."
"I'm used to that name now. Nobody calls me names much you know. I didn't know I'd find it this entertaining."
"Is it?"
"It sure is."
She looked at him with an eccentric look. "What would you like to drink?"
"Oh it's fine."
"I insist, that you have something."
"And if I don't want to?"
"I don't care."
"Fine. I'll have a coke."
"Coke is not good."
"Why not?" Rukia asked looking bewildered.
"It contains cola. Meaning, you'll be prone to kidney stones."
"Seriously?" she asked as he let go of her hand. They entered the drinks corner called, Juices Joint.
"I'll have a lemonade" Ichigo said to the counter.
Rukia looked at the menu, and was unable to recognize the peculiar names given for each drink. "Make that two." Ichigo took out his wallet, a sleek looking Mont Blanc.
"Wow, nice wallet!"
He smiled. "Thanks. You noticed? It's new."
"My brother has one of those."
"Sure he does. What's your brothers name?"
Rukia thought, 'Ichigo, you know exactly who he is. Ha. I know you're my bodyguard, you dope.'
"I won't tell you."
"Oh seriously Kuchiki. You can tell me."
The guy at the counter came with the two drinks with the trays. "That'll be 635 yen please."
Ichigo handed Rukia her drink, and they walked out as the counter boy called out, "Have a nice evening you two sweets."
They both exchanged a surreal look as the door of the place closed, and burst out laughing. "Sweets?" Rukia asked.
"Wow, he's such an blockhead."
"Sweets are we."
"Let's rephrase, 'friends.'
"Best friends?"
"Sure, anything you call it." He sipped his drink. "By the way. You were real great at the quiz."
After taking her first gulp, "Really? It was nothing."
"No you were very cool. Not a single question was dropped. I chose the right girl."
Her cheeks turned pink. For a second, she'd imagined he was calling her the 'right girl' although it was just a compliment. No romantics feelings. 'Why am I disappointed anyway?'
"Well. That was a fun movie. I like you Rukia." He winked.
She smiled at him. "I like you too."
She was going to face a million rebukes and lectures from Toushiro by arriving at her room. Of course, Toushiro doesn't know that Rukia now knows that Ichigo is the substitute.
(A/N: What are the mistakes! TELL ME SOON!)
Thanks. LOVE YA'ALL.
