Hey thanks for the reviews! Since the previous chapter was so short, I updated quickly this time. But the thing is…this chapter is also kind of short…sorry.
Chapter 28 A visit
"Whenever something like this happens, we have a funeral for the person even though we never knew them. We do this obviously to honor that person, and every single time we feel responsible for their death."
"But…why?" Ichigo asked.
"Because we're family." Rukia said. "When one member of the family harms a human, the whole family feels responsible. That's just how we live."
-\/ \/-\/ \/-\/ \/-
It had been a week since the funeral, and it was morning as Ichigo trudged along the sidewalk on his way to school alongside Rukia.
"Hey did you see the new Chappy catalog?" Rukia asked excitedly.
"Why would I have seen that…?"
"They had this toaster that makes Chappy's face on the toast! The things I would do if I had that toaster." Rukia said with a dreamy look in her eyes.
"You mean like make toast?" Ichigo snorted.
"Well it is just a toaster after all." Rukia folded her arms and nodded.
"Hey guys wait up!" They both turned around to see Renji running to catch up to them.
"Ah Renji!"
"Ugh what are you doing here?" Ichigo groaned.
"Geez what's his problem?" Renji asked Rukia.
"He didn't get much sleep last night because of the blood substitute." Rukia answered.
"Oh…well anyways any updates on Ichigo's partner union?"
"No. I guess they're putting it off for a while. So speaking of Nii-sama…"
"No one was speaking of "Nii-sama." So don't start Rukia." Renji sighed.
Rukia frowned. "Fine…whatever selfish pants."
-\/ \/-\/ \/-\/ \/-
"Ichigooooo!" Keigo took a running dash towards the carrot top but ended up crashing into a wall. "Why can't you just let me give you one manly hug?" Keigo cried as he rubbed his red nose.
"Hey Mizuru, what's up?" Ichigo greeted his tamer friend as he entered the school gym for dance class.
"Oh hey guys." Mizuru greeted, Ichigo and Rukia.
"Attention class!" Yumichika walked in with Ikkaku not far behind. "Ok! Is everyone here?"
"Why don't you take attendance and find out?" Ikkaku sighed.
"Oh right…" Yumichika nodded and took the attendance sheet from Ikkaku, stared at it for about fifteen seconds then gave it back. "So let's start class!" He grinned excitedly as he flipped his hair.
"What about attendance?" Ikkaku asked.
"I'm too beautiful to take attendance! Besides you're quite capable of doing it aren't you Ikkaku?"
"Are you trying to imply I'm ugly…?" Ikkaku sighed.
"No of course not!" Yumichika answered, as if he was just insulted.
"Hey Yumi-sensei, bald guy? Can't you save the lover's quarrel for after class?" A male student jeered.
"Hey! Who said bald huh?" Ikkaku exploded, as he picked up the boom box and threatened to throw it at someone.
"Now now Ikkaku…" Yumichika sighed.
"Why don't you finally find a female partner to dance with huh?" Chizuru yelled out.
"That's it!" Yumichika shouted. "The gloves are coming off now! Don't hold me back Ikkaku!"
"I'm not going to. If you beat up a student, you'll get fired and I won't have to do this anymore." Ikkaku smirked as he folded his arms.
"…Darn I forgot about that…" Yumichika put a finger to his chin. "Fine forget it then. Everyone get your partners, we'll be learning the tango today. Oh and has anyone seen Abarai?"
-\/ \/-\/ \/-\/ \/-
Renji stumbled around for his cell phone that he had dropped in the grass while he was napping. He finally spotted it and clumsily picked it up. "H-hello?" He answered.
"Renji, it's me." It was Byakuya.
"O-oh yeah…I-I mean what's wrong?" Renji stammered, as he struggled to stand up.
"An important decision has been made by the council so come straight home from school. Tell Rukia and Kurosaki as well." Byakuya instructed.
"Uh yeah sure." Renji answered, and then realized that he never goes anywhere anyways. "I really need to get a life…" He thought to himself.
"Why aren't you in class?" Byakuya suddenly said.
"W-what?" Renji was caught off guard. "Oh it's a…a break."
"No it isn't."
"H-how would you know that?"
"It isn't is it?"
"Well…that's—."
"Hey Abarai is that you! What are you doing skipping class?" A teacher opened the window and shouted.
"Oh shit! Uh Byakuya-dono I…"
"I understand. Bye." Byakuya hung up. Renji stuffed his phone back in his pocket and ran for his life.
-\/ \/-\/ \/-\/ \/-
Since Ichigo's next class was different from Rukia's, they parted ways after dance class.
"Oh right…" Rukia stopped Ichigo, "If you see Renji, tell him I want to talk to him."
"Renji? Why do you wanna talk to him?" Ichigo made a face.
"Don't be jealous~." Rukia smirked.
"I-I'm not!" Ichigo blushed. "I…just wanted to know—."
"Oh look class is going to start! Bye!" And with that she dashed away.
"Hey! At least let me finish speaking damn it!" Ichigo yelled after her, but it was too late. He sighed, turned around and began walking to his next class. As he was walking, his hands in his pockets, minding his own business, a group of girls immediately started whispering and giggling when they spotted him. Ichigo didn't really notice and continued on. That is until some guys walked past him shaking their heads, and giving him the stink eye. Ichigo was scratching his head in confusion. What the hell was going on?
"I bet you've been wondering why people are looking at you differently huh?" Ichigo turned around to see Hikari and Miyuki. (Refer to chapter 18 if you don't remember them.)
"Uh…yeah I guess?"
"Well that's because of these!" Hikari announced and shoved a bunch of pictures in his face.
"…What are these…?" Ichigo asked as he gave the photos a closer look. Immediately his eyes went wide and his face flushed. "W-why do you have these? H-how did you—?"
"We have our sources." Hikari folded her arms, satisfied with Ichigo's response.
"This…these pictures are from when Rukia was wearing that bunny eared sweater isn't it?" Ichigo exclaimed.
"Huh? How'd you know about that?"
"Damn I didn't even think about where the pictures ended up…" Ichigo mumbled to himself, ignoring Hikari and Miyuki's surprise.
"A-anyways!" Hikari managed to regain her composure. "Now you're going to be harassed by girls all over school because I sent these pictures to every single one of them!"
"…Why would you do that? Ichigo blinked. "I mean did I do something to you? Who are you even?"
"H-how could you not know who we are?" Hikari and Miyuki shouted in unison. "We've been in the same classes for three years!"
"Hmm…" Ichigo still looked unsure.
"She's the one who has a crush on your friend!" Miyuki pointed to Hikari.
"Friend? Umm…which friend? Tatsuki?"
"No!"
"Uh…Ishida? Well I guess he's my friend. He's kind of annoying but—."
"No! Abarai-kun!" Hikari practically shouted, in an exasperated tone. "Look, it doesn't even matter…the point is that we have these pictures."
"…So?"
"W-what do you mean "so?" Hikari sputtered.
"…I mean you already sent them to everyone is school right? So what else is there?" Ichigo shrugged.
"W-well that's…"
"It looks like this is over…." Ichigo sighed and left.
-\/ \/-\/ \/-\/ \/-
"Ah there you are…" Rukia smirked. School had just ended and Rukia found Ichigo laying on a patch of grass, leaning against a tree overlooking the school soccer field.
"Hmm? Oh Rukia…" He replied drowsily.
"Still tired huh?" She sat down next to him. He leaned his head on hers. "Just sleep for a while. I'll wake you later."
"Rukia…"
"Hm?"
"I'm hungry." He whispered as he began to nuzzle her neck.
"I-Ichigo!" Rukia blushed and pushed his head away. "I thought you were tired."
"It was a trap!" He declared and wrapped his arms around her waist. They ended up lying on the ground, face to face. Ichigo still had his arms around Rukia's petite body.
"You cheapskate…" Rukia grumbled, but she was obviously not unhappy. Ichigo just chuckled.
"Hey Rukia…if—."
"Rukia! Ichigo!" Renji's shouts interrupted Ichigo's words. They both sighed and stood up.
"We're over here Renji!" Rukia shouted back, while Ichigo dusted the grass and leaves from his clothes.
"Ah there you guys are…" Renji paused to take a breath. "Byakuya-dono said he wants us to come home now. Apparently the council made some big decision or something…"
-\/ \/-\/ \/-\/ \/-
As soon as they entered the council meeting room, they were bombarded with people who started shaking Ichigo and Rukia's hands and congratulating them. About a minute and a half later, the room was quiet and all the hand shakers had cleared out. The only people remaining were Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, Byakuya and Yoruichi.
"…What was that all about?" Ichigo asked.
"Congrats you two." Yoruichi grinned. "The council finally gave in."
"Gave in to what?"
"Rukia is Kurosaki's official dhamphir partner." Byakuya stated, not too happily.
"F-For real?"
"And you don't need a supplier." Yoruichi added. "Because pure bloods are officially allowed to drink blood from their dhamphir partners, if their dhamphir partner allows it."
"W-whoa whoa whoa…why this sudden change?" Ichigo asked, clearly suspicious of all this.
"Well…in light of recent reoccurring events, the council figured that it would be better if there were more options for pure bloods to obtain blood. Also dhamphir blood hasn't been shown to have as much of an addictive factor as human blood."
"Wait...but I thought there was that saying that the blood from a virgin dhamphir is the most desirable?" Ichigo asked, while eyeing Byakuya, since he was the one who had told Ichigo that.
"That's all really a matter of personal taste." Yoruichi explained. "It's never really been proven." Ichigo gave Byakuya a pissed off look, which Byakuya chose to ignore.
"Ok so then pure bloods can have blood from both their suppliers and their dhamphir partners?" Rukia said.
"That's the idea."
-\/ \/-\/ \/-\/ \/-
"That was…easy?" Ichigo shrugged, and then noticed Rukia studying a piece of paper with a disappointed look. "What's wrong?"
"Its good everything worked out, but I had this great speech planned out for your partner union meeting."
"A major rule that's been around for ages has been changed and you're bummed 'cause you can't give some stupid speech?" Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Hey, but I thought drinking blood from a dhamphir was treated like some lewd sex act and now it's just ok because the council said so?"
"No, it's still a lewd sex act, but now it's a legal lewd sex act." Rukia shot him a thumbs up.
"It's really amazing how you can say that with a straight face…" Ichigo shook his head. "Anyways…" Ichigo noticed someone standing at the front door of his house. "Hey…isn't that…Mochizuki-sensei?"
"What's sensei's doing here?" Rukia asked. "Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Mrs. Mochizuki decided to drop in and see how all the students were doing at their homes?"
"…Why would she do that?" Ichigo shrugged it off. "And without notice?"
"Think about it…" Rukia began. "After a pleasant dinner of asparagus and ham, Mrs. Mochizuki retires to her place on the sofa, to get in some knitting while watching her favorite movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
"Who the hell knits while watching that kind of movie?"
"She tried her best to let it go, but a nagging thought kept lingering in her mind. That thought was…What am I doing with my life? Whatever happened to those dreams I had of being a professional pet detective?"
"What the hell kind of job is that?" Ichigo yelled. "Seriously where are you going with this?"
"That feeling of accomplishment I could have had when I united long lost Spot with little Billy…"
"Forget it…" Ichigo sighed, and shook his head.
"But wait! Maybe I can't see that bright shining smile on Billy's face, but I still have my students! My beautiful students! That's right…I should check on them and make sure they're living their lives to the fullest, unlike poor foolish Spot…oh why did he have to become a drug addict?"
"Drugs? I thought Spot was the dog!"
"And that's the story of why Mochizuki-sensei is at your doorstep." Rukia finished, satisfied with her explanation.
"I'm not gonna' even bother…" Ichigo groaned. "Let's just go ask her." As they approached Mrs. Mochizuki she immediately noticed them and waved.
"Oh my Kurosaki-kun! Kuchiki-kun too?"
"Yeah…she uh came to hang out." Ichigo lied, not wanting the crazy teacher to find out Rukia's living with him.
"Hm it's a bit late for a young girl to be coming over to a boy's house don't you think?" Mrs. Mochizuki asked, with a stint of disapproval in her voice.
"It was just going to be for a short while." Rukia fake smiled. "Anyways shall we head inside first?"
-\/ \/-\/ \/-\/ \/-
"So, why exactly are you here so late sensei?" Rukia asked, after the three of them had sat down in Ichigo's living room. Isshin was working a late shift at the hospital, and Karin and Yuzu were sleeping over at a friend's house.
"Oh well the thing is, after dinner this evening, I had a lingering thought…"
"It can't be…" Ichigo thought.
"That I don't check on you kids enough." Mrs. Mochizuki finished.
"Oh…" Ichigo breathed out.
"So does that mean you're going to visit Renji's house too?" Rukia asked.
"Of course! In fact I'm going there next!" Mrs. Mochizuki thrust a fist into the air, clearly determined for some reason.
"Oh I see…would you excuse us for a minute?" Rukia asked politely, and proceeded to grab Ichigo and rush into the kitchen.
"What's wro—."
"I'm going with Mochizuki-sensei." Rukia said. "I can't have her thinking that I don't live there anymore."
"Yeah I guess…" Ichigo sighed. "But what about blood…?"
"Just drink the AB-. I won't be here, and nobody else will be here, so it should be fine."
"Really? I mean that's kind of risky. What if I go crazy and rush to your place and you know get all—."
"Lock yourself in your room then." Rukia replied. "You have to get some proper sleep since O-keeps giving you insomnia."
"Fine…but don't blame me if I show up—."
"I get it." Rukia folded her arms, trying not to blush as she remembered the effects of the love spell.
"Kuchiki-kun, are you ready to go?" Mrs. Mochizuki called from the living room.
"I'm coming!" Rukia called back, and then turned to Ichigo. "See you tomorrow then."
"Yeah…" Ichigo nodded. Rukia stared at him, and he stared back. "W-what?" Ichigo found himself blushing from Rukia's intense stare.
"Nothing…" Rukia grinned. "Just getting in as much of you as I can."
"W-what the hell?" Ichigo let a smile slip.
"I don't know." Rukia chuckled. "It kind of sounds like something you'd say." Ichigo sighed and wrapped his arms around her.
"Stupid. I'm not that cheesy."
A/N
I can't tell what's cheesy or not anymore because lately my mind is like a big cheese ball. Oh and a fun fact: Mrs. Mochizuki really does enjoy eating asparagus and ham for dinner. Whether that actually tastes good is a mystery to me.
