Don't act surprised

By Fenris Amon

"That would come to..." The store clerk rang out the price of whatever the patron was buying on the machine. The patron gave exact change, and thanked the clerk as he walked out of the small corner store.

Ichigo wasn't one to buy stuff for people for their birthdays, just give them a nice card and call it off as something he should just not care about. He zipped up his light coat and walked down the street with his bang in hand. It was lightly snowing, not even a centimeter on the ground, but just enough for a light cover of the streets.

He looked in his bag and sighed, "I felt like an idiot buying this." He commented to himself before taking a glance at his watch, "Damn, I'm going to be late. Ms. Ochi is teaching, so it shouldn't be that big of a problem." he walked down the street, quickening his pace.

Rukia sat down in her chair, shivering slightly to the sudden change in temperature on her bum. She looked to her left, only to see the chair open. That's funny, Ichigo was okay this morning. She thought to herself.

"Kuchiki-San...!" She over exaggerated loving, yet somewhat horny voice of her fellow classmate Chizuru rang in Rukia's ear as the large breasts smothered her in a tight embrace. "I missed your beautiful eyes over the- Gah!" Her breasts being forcefully removed from her face by a kick from Tatsuki.

"We just got back from the break and you're already at it? Keep your chromosomes to yourself Chizuru." Tatsuki said plainly, sitting on the desk next to Rukia. "So where's Kurosaki-san? You normally arrive here at the same time as him."

Rukia shook her head, "I don't know Arisawa-san. He said he'd be late, so I think it's okay."

"Not like him, oh well." Tatsuki looked at her watch quickly, "Oh, what's today's date?"

"Um, January 14. Why?"

"No reason." Tatsuki knew in the back of her mind what that meant. He must of gone out to buy her a present. "Have any place you're eating later? Why not come around here? Kurosaki, Hime, Me, and some of the other girls are around here."

Rukia shook her head, "Sure."

Ichigo placed his belongings in his small locker, somewhat uncaring of the fact that he was late to school. He made sure he signed in and put everything away, including the small box that was at his feet.

He walked to the classroom only to hear the bell ring, marking the end of that period. He looked inside the classroom, Crap, I didn't think I'd be this late. It's lunch period. He sighed and walked in, he already grabbed his bento before he left his locker just in case. As he walked in, he saw his fellow students already looking at him. "Ochi-Sensei. I just came in."

"Whatever. You know I don't care, you're here, you're here." His lax teacher leaned back on her desk.

Ichigo made his way over to his friends; Renji, Hitsugaya, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and the others. Before he actually sat down, he glanced over to see if Rukia was with her own group. "I'll be right back, forgot something in my locker." He said simply before quickly walking out of the room.

"Tch, slacker." Renji commented.

Rukia looked over and up at Ichigo, walking back in from his exodus, in his hands he had a plastic shopping bag with some kind of box in it, Orihime taking notice and whispering something to Tatsuki who just smiled.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Rukia inquired.

"Nothing, nothing Kuchiki-san."

"Right..."

"Oh, look here comes Kurosaki-san." Tatsuki noticed, causing Rukia to quickly turn her head.

Ichigo looked at Rukia and tossed her the small white box. "Eh? What's this?"

"Che, don't eh me. Just open it."

"Maybe I shouldn't since you're being such a jerk about it."

"Suit yourself."

Curiosity getting the better of her, her fingers moved to open the box, "You win this time Kurosaki-san." She opened the box completely, inside, covered in wrap was a stuffed chappy-rabbit, Rukia stared at it with her eyes opened and that signature look of appeasement on her mouth.

"Don't look so surprised." Ichigo said coldly, "It IS your birthday."

Rukia looked up, her eyed swelling slightly, ...this is the first time anyone has ever remembered my birthday... "I-Ichigo. Thank you."

Everyone looked at Rukia, as if something was on her face, like a giant Godzilla or something along those lines. Rukia blushed, realizing the mistake she just did. Ichigo patted her on the head and smiled.

Notes: Tamz: 99 Red Balloons is a Song written by Nena in the 80's. it's about a military overreaction to kids playing with red balloons. It was originally in German.