Rukia and Momo laughed as Rangiku burst out of the dressing room, displaying the latest thing she had tried on. She now draped in the most ridiculous looking dress Momo had ever seen. It was lime green, with hot pink frills almost everywhere. It completely enveloped Rangiku, it almost seemed as if it were eating her.

"How do I look?" Rangiku said, adorning a new bizarre accent of some sort.

"Gorgeous darling!" Rukia commented.

"I'm speechless!" Momo cried.

All three laughed as Rangiku examined herself more fully in the mirror, "Not extravagant enough."

More laughter ensued. They had been dress shopping for awhile now, and without having any luck, had just decided to kick back and have some fun, as all three took turns trying on bizarre dresses.

Rangiku headed back into the dressing room and quickly stripped of the 'dress.' She shoved another bizarre dress at Rukia and smiled sweetly, "Your turn!"

Rukia smirked back, and went into the dressing room, as Rangiku and Momo laughed at what they had selected for Rukia.

Rukia was to try on the most ridiculous looking dress Momo and Rangiku had been able to scrounge up. It had little loop shapes all the way down to the ankles alternating in deep purple and dark green. The top sported two fat straps covered in bright purple lace.

Rukia came out her face twisted in disgust, "This is the ugliest thing I have ever seen." She glowered.

Momo and Rangiku laughed hysterically at their friend.

"Yeah, yeah." Rukia said, "Laugh all you want," She looked at herself in the mirror, her arms crossed upon her chest, and a pout on her face. She really did look silly. Storming back into the dressing room she quickly rid herself of the ugly dress.

"We've been out here for like an hour and a half," Rukia commented, "And haven't made any progress. Maybe we should go get something to eat to get our minds back on task? Besides… I can't bear having to wear another one of these monstrosities."

Rangiku chuckled, "You know you love it, Rukia. Anyway, that sounds good. How bout's we head to the food court?"

Rukia opened the door, dressed in her normal clothes again, "Okay."

Momo stood up from her spot on the floor and dusted herself off a bit, "Let's go!" She said cheerfully.

The girls made their way over to the food court, and each ordered. They sat down at a nearby table.

As they began to eat their lunches, Rukia decided to bring up a new topic, "So, Rangiku… Are you going to go to the dance alone?"

Rangiku, for once wasn't all happy and cheery, she adverted her eyes and sipped quietly on her straw, "Yeah. Probably."

"And Gin…?" Rukia asked, as Momo looked on confused.

"What about him?" Rangiku said, seemingly uninterested.

"Has he-" Rukia started, but then was cut off.

"I don't care about him anymore, Rukia!" Rangiku snapped, and then became slightly flustered.

"You obviously do." Rukia retorted, "Otherwise you wouldn't be going to the dance alone."

Rangiku was silent, then slowly raised her hand and sat it under her chin, she gazed through her friends mindlessly, "Whatever."

Momo turned to Rukia confused.

"Tell you later…" Rukia mouthed and gestured.

Momo narrowed her eyes questionably, but then towards Rangiku's dejected spirit she smiled and said, "Who's ready to go shopping again? I hear it's 20% of all shoes at the cute shoe store on the other side of the mall…"

"SHOES?" Rangiku said, perking up, "Let's go!" She dumped her and her friend's trays into a nearby trashcan and practically dragged them out of their chairs and towards the shoe store.

It relieved Momo to see her friend looking less dejected, but Momo was seriously worried, and could tell something was up. But somewhere she knew that Rangiku was a strong woman and could deal, still, she would not let Rukia get away with not spilling the beans. They'd have to have a little talk later…

Upon arriving at the shoe store, Rangiku seemed to have completely forgotten about whatever it was that had been bothering her before. In fact, she had almost tried on every single shoe in the store, and had picked out 5 pairs, which she had exclaimed that she 'most absolutely HAD to have!'

Momo had actually found a really nice pair of shoes too. In fact, it had almost been like love at first sight.

They were light blue colored flats, with a thick white ribbon stretching across the arc of her foot, and a small bow on the corner of each shoe. Momo had immediately tried them on, and surprisingly they actually fit, and they were comfy. They were like the most perfect pair of shoes to ever exist.

"Oh my gosh, Momo you have to get those!" Rangiku exclaimed, "You should wear them to the dance! I'm sure Toshiro would love themmm!"

Rukia laughed but agreed, "Yeah, Momo. You really should get them."

"I don't even have a dress to go with them though…" Momo pointed out.

"Well we'll have to find one then won't we?" Rangiku said, and then put on her 'thinking face.' "Hmm, what would go good with those shoes?"

"Something simple, and white maybe?" Rukia suggested.

"Hmm…" Rangiku's face suddenly lit up, "Hey Rukia! Do you remember this past summer when we went into that boutique and they had that dress that we both tried on but I was too busty and you weren't busty enough and so neither of us got it because it didn't fit even though it was really, really cute?"

Rukia was silent, then said slowly, "Uh. No."

"What? You know," Rangiku continued, "The one that was white and went like this?" Rangiku motioned her arms outward from her waist and down to her knees.

"Oh yeah!" Rukia exclaimed in realization, "That one! Hey that would look really good on Momo don't you think?"

"Yess!" Rangiku cried, "That's what I was saying."

All three girls laughed before Rangiku continued, "Anyway, Momo. It's really cute, it's like white and poofy and it was only like 30 dollars or something… we're going over there as soon as we get all the shoes!"

True to her word, Rangiku pulled her two friends right out the door after the shoes were purchased. They headed to the other end of the mall and into a small almost hidden boutique.

"Hmm." Rangiku said, "I saw them over here like last month… I wonder if they have them anymore…" She rustled through racks of clothing.

"Maybe it's in clearance?" Momo suggested.

"Maybe…" Rangiku murmured as she hustled towards the clearance section in the back.

It wasn't but a minute after they got back there that Rukia called from the dense racks of clothing, "Found it!" Her friends quickly rushed over.

"Oohh." Momo uttered, as she stared at the dress. It really was quite as amazing as the girls had described.

Despite being quite a simple dress, it really was captivating. It was strapless, had a thick white ribbon right below the bust, and then flowed out from the waist, down to the knee. Poking out from under the main fabric at the end of the dress was simple white frilly lace, which caused the dress to poof out even more.

"Stop your gawking and try the damn thing on!" Rangiku said playfully as she lightly pushed Momo into the nearest dressing room. Rukia passed her the dress and shut the door.

Momo looked at herself in the mirror in the dressing room, her arms clasped around the frilly dress. There was no way she was going to look good in such a beautiful dress. She was sure of it. But there was no way of getting out of trying it on now. Rangiku and Rukia were so excited for her…

Momo temporarily hung the dress on a bar, and lifted her shirt over her head. Might as well get it over with. She pulled her bra straps under her arms, and quickly grabbed the dress and pulled it over her head. She hated being so exposed, even when she was changing.

After straightening the dress, she zipped up the side, and slid her pants off from under the dress.

Without even inspecting herself in the mirror, she opened the door for Rukia and Rangiku, "Okayyyy."

Her two friends were silent. Before Rukia broke the silence, "Oh my god. You are so gorgeous Momo."

"W-what?" Momo stammered.

"It's true!" Rukia exclaimed, "Turn around!"

"Wait!" Rangiku cried and her hands flew up to Momo's hair. Momo felt her hair bun loosening, then her hair fell around her face.

Rangiku grinned wildly, and then grabbed Momo's shoulders and twisted her friend so she could see herself in the mirror.

All three were silent, as Momo looked in the mirror.

She really did look pretty, she thought to herself.

Her hair was kind of messy, but in an attractive way, as it framed her face with a personality seeming of it's own. The tips of her hair brushed her collarbone, and the skin on her shoulders was completely revealed. Her bust looked full, her waist looked tiny, and the shape of the dress just looked absolutely stunning on her.

Momo turned around some to examine herself from all sides. She had to admit, the dress really did highlight her figure, and she looked pretty damn attractive.

Rangiku suddenly laughed heartily.

"What?" Momo said turning around, suddenly worried there might be something wrong with her appearance.

"It's nothing really," Rangiku said, still giggling, "I was just thinking that as much as I'm sure that Toshiro will love seeing that on you, I'm sure he'd love taking it off of you even more."

Momo's face immediately turned the reddest either of her friends had ever seen it. "Rangiku!" She exclaimed.

Rukia and Rangiku both simultaneously broke out in fits of laughter at their poor, innocent friend.

Momo pushed them out of the dressing room and proceeded to immediately, and hastily change back into her old outfit.

When she finished she burst out of the room, dress in her arms, her friends still laughing.

She fumed past them, faking anger, and proceeded to the checkout line.

Rukia and Rangiku quickly caught up with her, getting over their giggles.

"I'm just kidding." Rangiku said, "Besides, Toshiro would never do something like that. Although, you never know. I'm pretty sure you could seduce him in that dress if you tried."

Rukia and Rangiku laughed again, and Momo spared a quick chuckle. They were now in the check out line, and Momo pulled out a 20. Turns out the dress was on sale for $17. It really was her lucky day! She had found the perfect dress and the perfect shoes and both were on sale!

"Hey check out that top!" Rangiku said pointing at a nearby shirt.

"We'll be right back, Momo." Rukia said as she and Rangiku made their way to another part of the store.

"Kay." Momo responded cheerfully as she waited patiently in line.

Finally she was at the front of the line.

"Hello. Find everything you were looking for?" A cheerful voice greeted her.

Momo looked up to see a tall teenager who looked about her own age. His blonde hair covered up part of his face, but his kind expression reached Momo's eyes.

"I did, thank you." Momo said as she placed the dress on the counter.

The man took the dress and looked at it, "Ooh. Nice choice. This is one of my favorites. Is it for some special occasion?" He said as he rung up the price tag.

"School dance." Momo said cheerfully.

"Do you go to Parker High?" He asked.

"I do actually." She responded curiously.

"Really?" He said turning to her from the cash register.

"Yeah…"

"Me too. I haven't seen you around though."

"I'm new." She responded politely, handing him her 20.

"Ahh. Freshman?" He asked as he began punching in numbers and getting her change.

"Sophmore. You?"

"Junior." He handed her the money, "1.81 is your change."

"Thanks." Momo said cheerfully.

"Well it was nice meeting you…." He trailed off as he began handing her the bag.

"Momo Hinamori." She said accepting the bag.

"Nice to meet you Momo. I'm Izuru Kira."

"Okay, Momo! We're ready!" Rangiku approached her friend from behind, then suddenly saw Kira, "Oh. Kira! Hey!"

"Hey Rangiku." Kira smiled weakly, "How've you been?"

Rangiku returned the weak smile, "I've been better. You?"

"Same. Well it was nice seeing you guys. Maybe I'll see you around school sometime." He said.

"Nice meeting you!" Momo exclaimed as the three friends walked off.

Once they had long exited the store, Momo asked, "Do you know him from school, Rangiku?"

Her friend seemed to be contemplating something before she finally answered, "Um, Yeah."

Behind Rangiku's back, Momo shot Rukia a questioning look. Once again, Rukia motioned to her, 'later'.

Rangiku once again seemed quite solemn as she had earlier. What was going on here?

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I am so so so so sorry this took so long. I'm working on the next chapter right now! My goal is to get this chapter out in a week! I shall update quickly! I SWEAR! : O