"This is Kuchiki Rukia, your host for this week's edition of Bleach B Station!" she announced. When it was learned that Rukia would be hosting this week's show alone, the number of listeners was expected to double, yet that number still wouldn't replace the void of the one who was normally with her. "Ichigo was not present at school today, and will not be attending this recording. If he is sick, I give him his best wishes. After these commercials, I will introduce this week's guest."
This time, she actually listened to the commercials, and found them to be mere boring advertisements. The studio was less empty after Orihime entered. She had volunteered willingly, but Rukia invited her because she seemed to know something about Ichigo's disappearance.
"Hi everyone!" Orihime shouted with true enthusiasm after the program restarted. "This is Inoue Orihime. It's too bad Kurosaki-kun isn't here."
"Do you know where he is?" Rukia asked immediately.
"No, but Tatsuki-chan would know." She gave an honest answer, not knowing what problems it would cause.
"Why Tatsuki?"
"I talked with her this morning. She told me some things. If you're worried about Ichigo, you should probably talk to her, but she said she wasn't feeling well and skipped toady's Judo Club activities. It's really rare for her."
"We've been talking too much about Ichigo, haven't we? It's not like I can't do this show without him. Let's read some fan-mail." She chose an envelope from a large overflowing pile of letters, and read, "Radio name: Keigo. 'Ichigo doesn't deserve to be on the radio! His voice is scary! It's unfair that he gets to work next to the school beauty while all the other men suffer!"
"I don't know why everyone thinks Kurosaki-kun is so scary. Sometimes he is very funny, don't you think, Kuchiki-san?"
"You're right. He's not a bad guy."
"But you're so amazing. Everyone loves you. Even without Ichigo the ratings for this show went up."
"I'm honoured, but he's actually very important."
"How so?"
"I can't explain, really. It's more like a lot of little things. It's just that, it's not the same doing the show without him."
"Oh! I almost forgot! I brought the script like you asked."
"That's right. Today we are introducing a new corner: Radio Drama."
"For this corner, I have personally developed a script that Kuchiki-san and I will act for everyone. I am secretly very proud of it. I tried my hardest! Also, I brought costumes from the sewing club."
"Actually, we're on the radio so nobody will be able to see what we're wearing."
"That's a shame. These were made by the sewing captain, Ishida-kun. He's probably listening. He was looking forward to these costumes. They're very cute. He's a sewing genius. I still want to wear mine! Won't you wear it?"
"You convinced me. After this commercial break we will begin our radio drama, in full costume. Look forward to it!"
During the commercials, they slipped on their costumes over their school uniforms. It was rather silly, to be dressing up for a radio show, but it was kind of fun in its own way.
"Wow! It looks great on you!" Orihime exclaimed ecstatically.
"Yours is very nice too," replied Rukia with prepared formality.
"But yours is really cute. Ishida-kun must have put extra effort into yours."
"Are you and he close?"
"Hmm? We spent lots of time together during sewing club. It's really fun with him. My skills have really improved thanks to him."
"Ichigo doesn't have any clubs." The only they really spent together was fighting hollows.
"This radio thing is sort of like a club."
"with only two people?"
"Two people aren't enough?"
"No, you're right. This is like a club, for two people. I will think of it that way."
"Kuchiki-san, do you have... feelings for Kurosaki-kun?"
"Feelings? It's just that... I'm not supposed to."
"I think he might have feelings for you, but Tatsuki-chan..."
"Tatsuki?"
"No, never mind."
"Welcome back to Bleach B Station! We will now begin our radio drama, entitled: Princess and Dragon! Orihime, playing the part of the princess, is in love with a neighbouring prince, Ryuu. This part was originally meant to be done by Ichigo, but I will have to fill in. An angel, my true part, descends from the heavens to aid her love, but was it really meant to be?"
Orihime, the princess, began to read off the script, "It's been so long since I last saw that handsome prince, Ryuu. We first met a ball, and he asked me to dance with him. He was a wonderful dancer. Our eyes met, and I fell in love with him at first sight, but I haven't heard from him since. When will our fated love finally flourish?"
Rukia knocked on the counter to improvise for a princess's chamber, as a sound effect to signal Ryuu's entrance. "Hime-sama," she said with her best male imitation, "it's been a long time."
"Ryuu-sama! I wanted to see you! I mean, what are you doing here, in my kingdom."
"I regret to inform you that my king has waged war on your country."
"War? But why?"
"I'm sorry. I tried to talk him out of it, but he's keen on your territory. I have no choice but to swear loyalty to my king. If I may offer advice, I would like for you to try and evacuate as many people as possible by tonight. My king's army is unbeatable."
"Tonight? So sudden?"
"There should be at least enough time for you and your family and some of your servants to escape. I will ensure that you are safe."
"I can't abandon my country!"
"You are a superb princess. I wish there were another way."
"There is," Rukia said, in an angelic voice. She switched between the roles cleanly, as talented as a Japanese voice actor!
"Who are you?" Orihimi asked in awe. "You're beautiful, like an angel."
"I was sent here to make your wishes come true, princess. If you two marry, the king will have no reason to attack this kingdom."
"Marry? But..."
"Don't you want to," the prince said, coaxingly. "I think it's a good idea."
"Then... I will, gladly, because I really love you. People shouldn't get married, unless they really love each other, right?"
"I will return to my king immediately to order our troops to a halt. You may sleep peacefully tonight, Hime-sama."
There were explosion sound effects. "What's going on?" Orihime yawned. "The kingdom is under attack! Why? Ryuu must be leading the forces! I have to find him! Ryuu-sama? Ryuu-sama?"
"Hime," the prince responded softly.
"What's going on? Why are your armies still attacking? My entire country is burning!"
"You were right when you said people should only get married if they love each other. I don't love you. I fell in love with an angel."
"Angel?"
"That's right," the angel said. "I have fallen in love with this man."
"I thought you were supposed to make my wishes come true!"
"Love is for angels, and dreams are for men. Even an angel feels loneliness. Come, my prince. We will escape from this fire to the heavens together. Lets leave this dying kingdom, lover."
"I won't let you get away with this! I swear vengeance! I will not let your king take this kingdom! Attack, Orihime robot! With flames spewing from the mouth! Destroy everything! Bohahaha!"
"The end," Rukia said uncertainly.
"Well, what do you think?"
"I think it would have been better without the robot."
"Really? I thought that was the best part!"
"Well, listeners, that was our first Bleach B Station radio drama! That's all the time for today. Don't forget about this month's trivia. Until next week! Bybye!"
Rukia said her farewells to Orihime, pretending to be happy and joyful. She was tired. The radio wasn't as fun, without Ichigo. She planned to go home, and hope that he was there, but her cellphone suddenly began to ring. She looked at the screen, and her eyes widened. There was a hollow, and it was not just a regular hollow, as it was Grand Fisher. She had to find Ichigo.