Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters. If I did, Kubo might start crying. You gotta love him for creating the anime.
Chapter 14 – Commencement of the Mystery
"High school...I hate it."
Tatsuki looked up at Rukia in awe. "But...it's the best time of your life in school!"
"It's...humiliating."
"Only for you."
"No...not just me..." Rukia folded her arms.
There first month of the year was coming to an end. Rukia still believed that she wasn't in love with anyone. Not Ichigo. Definitely not him. Even though she was craving for his company when she felt insecure. She believed of him as nothing more than a friend. She was just happy around him that's all. Or was it something different?
'We did go on a date...'
Well about Toushiro, they'd made up in a weird brother and sister way and everything was back to normal.
'I hate high school' she thought once more so that Tatsuki wouldn't roar back at her.
All she did not know was, she was secretly loving everything but the unfortunate situations, far too much, but to her, it was invisible. Even if she had Eidetic memory.
With the thought of going tomorrow to class with Toushiro, she fell asleep not knowing what was awaiting her the next few days.
In the second month, Rukia didn't face more than just one mishap. It was Madison's fault of course, but they couldn't possibly prove it to the principal anyhow.
"HEY!" Rukia yelled as Madison's crony, Sarugaki bumped into her purposely as she had started walking down the jet line after putting her and Tatsuki's cokes into their tray, and then within seconds, her skirt was covered in the brown fizzing liquid. Luckily, the food was what Tatsuki was holding, which meant there wasn't much of a mess. But the lunch lady didn't know of this purposeful act, which lead to Rukia having to clean the floor of the jet line, in front of everyone.
"But miss! She bumped into me on purpose!"
"Well you untidy the floor, you CLEAN the floor!"she shot back.
"Well I get framed....and..STILL GET FRAMED?" Rukia said aloud towards the old fussy lady.
"I'll help you Kuchiki-san!"
"Princess! We'll clean it for you!" Keigo and Mizuiro came running up to their way, as if they were her servants.
People snickered. Few were frozen. Everyone was staring.
"Ok people! Theres nothing more going on here! Look away and get moving!" Ichigo roared but a few students nearer to him and the jet line, were still staring. He reacted instantly, "I said...GET MOVING! You're crowding the place!" to which they quickly hustled away in fright.
"Better luck next time, freak" said the Sarugaki girl and walked away. The lunch lady looked at the delinquent girl in horror, realizing that the problem could've been purposeful after all. She stood motionless until the boy next in line was getting impatient and waved a hand in front of her, and brought her vivid thoughts back to the real world.
The second month continued, the first week of February was full of boring classes, followed by a team meeting again.
"So this time, we're going to have a really interesting task" said Renji to all the members. "Well, we're going to have a play. And all teams are in it. There were no disqualifications as such from the previous quiz.
After a long pause he continued. "We have a few plays but...we need..." he turned to look at Ichigo, who had his arms folded and eyebrows furrowed as usual.
Ichigo sighed and continued. "We just thought you guys could go through the plays, and we could vote for the best one, but if all of you don't like the good one out of them, we could write one. Together as a group. Of course, the editing can be further done by anyone else. Any questions so far?"
The air in dim cafeteria of 7:30pm filled with whispers and squeals of excitement.
"Alright, we have a play called, The Impossible. It's about a girl who loves football, and proves in the end that a girl can do anything. Even football" Renji wiped his forehead, and looked at his clipboard. "The next one is about a normal girl who got blind at the age of 15 and how she got over the dreadful nightmare with some happy ending. It's called the Unseekable. The next one is based on a movie by Lindsay Lohan, Just my Luck. Like the two main people kiss and their worlds turn upside down, and upright. We called it, 'Unfortunate or Fortunate?' "
A few girls were excited at this point, knowing that the third mentioned play was more eligible. All of them loved romance. Rukia raised her hand.
"Yes Rukia?" asked Renji.
"Well, I was thinking that if anyone else had an idea...they could tell us about it? I mean, the plays you have a perfect and all, but we must know of what we all want isn't it?"
"True. Anyone want an idea like how Rukia mentioned?"
Mizuiro raised his hand. "We could do a play about all of us. A play that involves everyone."
"What's your idea?"
"Well...there are few things..like a disastrous camping trip? Or another excursion to a scary mansion? And they see ghosts?"
"Well...I think your idea of putting everyone in the play is very flattering, but don't you think everyone can't fit on the small stage? I mean, our task is to show our true theatrical talents on a small piece of planked deck. So my option is to select the parts and reserve people for the play. The rest of the group can help with the decorating and costumes...and other expenses...hows that sound Ichigo?"
"Yes. I have another thing to say though. Don't feel left out at all. Just because you may not have been chosen for a part of any TASK as a main help, doesn't mean you're no help at all. We need each and every individual here. You'll get your chances through the years...just wait and see."
"Errr...yeah that's right" was all Renji said. "So we'll have a vote, yeah? Now I'll hand out a piece of paper for each with all the three names printed on it. Strike out the two plays that don't interest you."
After the voting was done, Ichigo and Renji sat down on the cafeteria deck, and turned on a small lamp, then continued counting the votes for the next fifteen minutes.
"Hey Toushiro...Ichigo doesn't.... well really... know that much about me does he?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Well...I'm curious..doesn't he bother about it at all? Why he's protecting me?"
"Not unless he didn't care for his job."
"I just want to know why he hasn't been told anything."
Toushiro pondered about something for a few seconds, then came up with something to say finally. He'd started fidgeting, which meant he was either telling Rukia something he'd told not to spread word about, or that he was doing something wrong.
"Well..Ichigo's been only with the FBI for two months. Some fraud-like business went on with his dad in the whole organization which messed up a whole mission. So his dad was fired. And then, everyone in the office didn't know what to believe. They can't fire Ichigo too without reason can they? Everyone suspected him to be a moron like his dad too. I can't say his dad was a moron, because I don't really know what happened anyway."
"Wow...Tatsuki did mention this lately..."
"Yeah..so they don't want to tell him anything yet so that his motives towards you don't change.But that's stupid, the guy isn't even dangerous unless we were of the adverse culture. And it's stupid not to trust people of the same organization. Corruption is all that works behind this I tell you."
"I know..he's fairly a nice guy..."
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing. Look! They've almost finished counting!"she pointed excitedly.
Toushiro looked at her questioningly, but then shrugged it off as Renji read out, "The Impossible, 2 votes." Everyone sniggered.
"Unseekable, 0 votes."
He didn't have to read the rest. Everyone knew anyway.
"Well the parts of the play Unfortunately Fortunate are very simple. The two main characters, Michael and Jenny. Then there is an old lady, the boss of where she works, her two friends...and a band. The play is of 45 minutes. It is the maximum time. Additional parts of the play will be chosen, but you will probably not have to say more than two words, or a scream perhaps." A few laughed at this prediction of Renji's.
"So we shall test your acting skills. Now one by one shall act from this book I have here. It is of various scenes of simple plays. Be original, not sarcastic."
So in the end, they'd selected Orihime, as she showed more emotion and passion. And also Ichigo was the main part for the guy, because all the other guys were cheesy actors. Plus Renji was going to be far more busy than be able to do the part. The fact that Orihime was pretty, and had longer hair, was also what made her much more matching to the main role.
Rukia had gotten the part of being the narrator, as she spoke loud and clear, with distinctive coherence which hung on her every word. Secretly, she was really jealous of Orihime, getting the part with Ichigo. They'd be the ones kissing in front of everyone after all. 'Damn it all...why am I so frustrated now? I am NOT jealous. I repeat, NOT.'
As the meeting ended, and everyone made their way back o their rooms, after the hour, Ichigo jogged up to Rukia and Toushiro. "Hey guys."
"Oh hey." Rukia glanced at him, and looked back to the direction she was walking. She did manage a smile though.
"Yeah, I wanted to know if you were busy on Saturday. Night."
"Oh...I'm not that busy."
"Could you come help me with my lines?"
"Sure, we could go out later or something too, Right?"
"Yeah that's what I thought. So I'll see you around 7:00pm Saturday night, right?" he imitated her previous question sarcastically.
"Whatever." She playfully poked him in the shoulder and walked away with Toushiro to find Tatsuki. Only she didn't see him chuckling.
"Hey Toushiro, when should I tell Ichigo that I know?"
"Never."
"C'mon. It's awkward this way. We must tell him."
"Well, let's just say one day he'll save you from something awful and then he tells you why he did it. Which will be almost never."
"You're a jerk you know that!" Rukia said and hit him on the shoulder. He laughed.
"You're dating the guy. He's bound to know soon." This statement made her kick him on his toes, to which he didn't flinch. Rukia frowned at him from behind, but followed. In huffs surely.
Tatsuki was waiting for Rukia near their room door. "Oh hey! You're doing a play too right? Which one? WHICH ONE?"
"Secret." Rukia folded her arms. "Let me in!"
"Not unless you tell me. Or is it called Secret?"
Toushiro reacted soon enough. "Yeah it is. Now let her in."
"Fine" she opened the door and let her in. Toushiro and Rukia both said their goodnights and he left.
"You know, I've said this once before, but I really think Toushiro would make a good boyfriend."
"Is it me or is Tatsuki inn LURVE?" Rukia giggled hysterically.
"I am most certainly not referring to myself. I was referring to you" She huffed.
"No way. I am not into boys, remember? He's like my brother!"
Tatsuki closed her eyes for a few seconds and opened them again. "You're going out with Ichigo aren't you?"
"What? What are you implying even if I was?"
"Well...when is the next date?"
"Date? We're not dating! The first "date" was because of you and EVERYONE knows that! And the second?"
"Yeah, but you are meeting him sometime? Hasn't he asked you to meet him or anything? I'm sure he has."
The midnight-ebony haired and ever so dainty girl sank on to her ever soft bed. "He HAS."
"See? You're dating Ichigo Kurosaki."
"I am NOT!"
"Is TOO!"
"Am NOT!"
"Before this could go on forever I'd like to tell you something. There has always been this warning that's become less likely to be a MYTH. Because it's 90% reliable."
"What?" asked Rukia irritably.
"Well...they say on the second date on the second month of the year...you will end up kissing the guy no matter what."
The girl who'd sunk into her bed fell down onto the floor carpet and rolled on in laughter. Tatsuki just rolled her eyes. "Dudette! It's true!"
"Kiyaaaaa. Haaaahaahahaaa!" was all Rukia could reply.
"Fine. Don't believe me. Oh I know! You'll kiss his ass instead!" Tatsuki was boiling mad now. But this only made Rukia laugh harder.
After she'd finshed her giggling fit, she told Tatsuki who was lying down on her bed now, eyes furiously shut. "I can assure you, I will not kiss him."
"Why are you assuring ME? You want to prove you're not in love with the guy?"
"Yes. I am not in love with-" she was shortly cut off by a knock.
"It's me Toushiro. Something's happened."
Tatsuki jumped off her bed and rushed to get the door. Rukia knew Tatsuki could get panicky in a millisecond.
"What? What happened?" She'd opened the door to a purple eyed Toushiro. He'd been punched in the eye.
"Toushiro!" Rukia also jumped off of her bed and made her way to the door. "Come in already! What happened?"
"It's not me. It's Mizuiro and Ryu! They've been poisoned!"
"WHAT?" screamed Tatsuki and Rukia. As Toushiro sat on the desk chair in their room he continued.
"Well some say it's food poisoning. But I'm sure he was poisoned."
"Does this have anything to do with that?" Rukia pointed at Toushiro's eyes.
"Um...no. I was punched by Kaien because he told me about some staying away from you."
"ME? Ok let me get this straight. Mizuiro and Ryu get poisoned, and then Kaien punches you?"
Toushiro shooked his head. "No, he punched me, then Ichigo ran in the corridor frantic about the situation. That's not the point Rukia. Don't care about Kaien now. Thing is..the poison was in the two glasses offered by Renji at the cafeteria during teatime. And you didn't drink it, then offered your glass to Mizuiro."
"Oh my god! So that means.."
"Someone tried to poison you. In other words, they're after you."
"Oh no!" Rukia's body froze. She sank to her knees.
"So, we ..."
"Wait a minute! If someone tried to poison Rukia that means they know her identity?"
"They might. Or it could've been a prank. You know Madison-" he was cut off by her again.
"But this is MORE THAN A PRANK!" Tatsuki was angry now. More than mellow madness.
"We have to report this!" The dainty little girl was now crouched on the floor. She'd buried her face between her knees.
"Who do you think did it?"
"We have to report this!" Rukia repeated. She looked up.
"Ichigo will take care of that! Now..."
"Now what? You're saying I'd better leave this school?"
"No...there wouldn't be a better school. Or safer."
Rukia fidgeted. She was afraid. Frightened out of her wits.
"Guys! Let's go see Mizuiro."
Toushiro shook his head. "I have to go do some investigation. You guys go meet up with Kurosaki. Rukia, you'll be safe with Tatsuki."
Tatsuki nodded, and she and Rukia slowly went to the nurses office.
Mizuiro and Ryu were both resting on the two beds. Both of them were covered in clammy sweat, and were shirtless for now, but the nurse made no protest as their friends came in. Renji sat in the corner, trembling.
"In ten minutes, I'd like all of you to clear up" the nurse concluded and left to her room.
Rukia walked stiffly to the crimson headed guy. "Hey Renji. It wasn't your fault."
"What? Oh yeah...but who will believe?"
"Don't worry." As she smiled at him, Ichigo entered the room.
"Rukia..."
"Yes, Ichigo?"
"I...um..nothing. I think you should just go to your room and rest. That's all. They're both doing fine."
"C'mon Rukia. Let's go." Tatsuki took her arm, but Rukia let it go.
"No. I'm going anyway." She looked back at her two friends on the white beds, then looked and Ichigo and Tatsuki.
"Rukia-" Ichigo began but she ran away. Away into the rain of the nearby forest which they were forbidden to go to at night. Ichigo made a step to run, but Tatsuki held his hand and puled him back, shaking her head.
The forest they used only at daytime for camping or environmental purposes. The Midnight Forest of Karakura. And it was lonely at night.
(A/N: Just click the next chapter and then put your review. I don't mind people not reviewing here!) Or maybe you owe me a double review for a double treat :P
InnerVoice:Then again, when you look at the slow updating...
ME: HEY! I moved to Sri Lanka goddammit!
InnerVoice: Wow. Yeah I guess you're busy and all, but instead of looking into facebook, why dontcha make an effort to please everyone here?
ME: Isn't that what I'm doing? Otherwise WHY am I even writing a story here?
InnerVoice: Good point. *rolls eyes*