Ichigo stood watching everyone as they moved onto the dance floor in pairs.
They were so kind and she was so amazed at what they had done for her.
She walked towards her parents carefully, in the sparkling blue dress that made her look like a goddess.
"thank you mom, dad" she looked at them her eyes shining.
"honey i'm glad you like it"
She hugged them tightly, not wanting to let go, feeling safe...where no one could hurt her...
i feel so happy and sad at the same time is that possible?
Relecutantly she let them go and wandered the edges of the dance floor, music echoing as people danced or wished her a happy birthday.
Finally she found her friends, her close ones.
They were beaming at her.
"ichigo do you like it?" pudding chirruped and jumped around with glee.
"it took her alot not to open her mouth and babble to you--but she did it" Lettuce said with a small smile, patting pudding's blonde head.
She had a proud look on her face.
"you look amazing ichigo" commented mint "which is an accomplisment for you"
"hey!"
But there was a grin on mint's face to tell that she was only joking.
For the first time since the party she took a look at her friends outfits, she had been to stunned before to barely take in everything around her.
"you all look beautiful too" Ichigo said.
And they really did.
Mint wore a flowing out, puffed and ribboned white dress. A diamond neclace hung on her delicate neck and little studs on her earlobs. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a glamorous effect.
Lettuce on the other hand wore a simple dress of emerald green. Flowers decorated the bottom of the dress hiding the somewhat scuffs and simple straps clung tight to her small shoulders. Her hair was out of it's braids for once, loose and flowing down to her waist, a ribbon in her hair.
Pudding wore a pink dress with so many boas that ichigo lost count. There was at least five on her dress and it seemed pudding had only added to that by putting in her hair. She had probably tried to do her own makeup because her cheeks were highly flushed. She looked adorable.
And as for zakuro she looked everything as glamorous as always.
Sure enough she had just opened her mouth to talk when someone asked zakuro to dance. She ushered him off however instead her rapt eyes fixed on ichigo.
"you really think so?" mint turned around for ichigo to get the full effect of her dress.
"yup, i really like the neclace it adds a nice touch" ichigo said, ignoring mint's bragging--she was after all used to it by now.
"I really like your neclace too ichigo, Lettuce spoke with a gentle smile, it really brings out your eyes..."
"oh yeah Ichigo it really is pretty, " Zakuro said.
"i've never seen it? is it new?" Mint said slightly enviously.
Ichigo's heart pounded rapidly as they questioned her about the neclace, the one maysai had given her...the one she couldn't bare to take off...tears swam before her eyes before she could help it...
All she had wanted to do was forget about mayasia and here they were bringing him up, unknowinly...
i should tell them...i should...
Ichigo felt frozen, her heart ached so much...
but, but i don't want to see the pity in thier eyes...then, then it really is over...
A tear leaked from her eye and with a sob she dashed away, disappearing into the crowd of people...
i have to get away...get away from them all!
"Ichigo!" she heard them call behind her, but she drowned them out...
A slow song started up, and Ichigo sat quietly in a dark corner, her head leaning against a wall, one hand placed on the blue-stoned neclace...it was icy cold at her touch...
now what do i say to them?...she thought hazily,she didn't want to think about it. With a sigh she closed her eyes...
maybe they won't find me...
A shadow passed over her face, hiding the beam from the chandelier above.
Ichigo opened one watery eye and intook a breathe...she opened the other...and stared at the vivid blue eyes locked on her own.
"Ryou--um--hi" Ichigo said, rubbing her eyes. He was the last person to whom she wanted to be seen crying.
It would only prove his remarks about being a cry-baby.
"Hey" He looked at her and then easily sat beside her on the bench made for too.
A blush rose on her cheek and she prayed to god he didn't notice. She didn't want him to know he was affecting her so much...
arrogant...ryou, he'd have a laugh
She could feel his shoulder and side pressed against her own however, and felt so small and vunderable...
His arms were so muscular, she had never realized, his shoulders twice the size of her own...and a head taller then her...
well he is a year older...
She averted her eyes from his and there was a akward silence.
Still she could picture him, in his white tuxedo...it was the first time she had ever seen him in a suit before...usually it was the black vest and choker.
"are you alright?" He finally asked, staring at his hands.
Ichigo looked at him in suprise, she had never thought he would care, be concerned about her...but at the moment is seemed---
"I'm fine" she said hurriedly and smiled.
His hand reached toward her, and she didn't stop it...,a chill ran through her bones, His hand was on her face...warm and tracing her lower jaw, going upward untill he wiped the tears from her eyes.
"i'm not crying or anything..." She trailed off, twirling her hair again--a nervous habit of hers.
"where's maysai?" He said quietly, his hand was wrapped in a fist.
why...why does everyone have to bring him up!
She wanted to yell,scream, but then her eyes widened as she realized
they're just trying to help, they don't know anything...is it, is it that i'm always with maysai that being without him is that noticable?
have i really wrapped my whole life around him?
She put that question behind her, to worry about later, when she was at home, in bed with a cup of hot chocolate. For now however:
"He-can't make it today, he's uh-he has to go somewhere with his family..." It was rather a lame lie and she expected him to sneer and see right through it. Instead he nodded
"well it doesn't seem right for the birthday girl not to slow dance on her birthday..., he looked at her and her heart thrumed, so ichigo would you like to dance?"
He held out his hand to her and hesistantly she placed her's in his.
She felt so confused...
Ryou whisked her away onto the dance floor of slow moving bodies and he placed his hands around her small waist.
big hands...i never knew...
With suprise ichigo locked her hands around his neck, he himself lowering down so she could reach it, and they started to dance.
He leaded her so she was feel free to think in her own little world...
it's so different then with maysai...
She tried to explain it in her mind
Ryou was much taller and stronger...and he leaded her while maysai guided her...
but still..
Ichigo closed her eyes and without thinking leaned against his chest.
i feel so safe in his arms...like no one can hurt me...that he would watch over me...
like--like---what? Ichigo thought hazily...a big brother?...maybe...but it didn't feel exactly like that...and it definately isn't love...love...maysaia...
She buried her face in his clean white shirt and smiled
at the moment i am content...at the moment it doesn't hurt anymore...at this moment in Ryou's arms i feel right...
The dance finished and as like the sea-shore washing over her awkwardness ran through her once more...
"yeah...well thanks for the dance Ryou" She chirruped.
He seemed a shade red but replied in a cocky tone she was so used to
" it's a one time only for your birthday, aren't you lucky, he leaned forward, to be able to dance way out of your class?"
"ryou!" She said her emotions changing rapidly, face steaming angerily "you are the biggest jerk on the face of this planet!"
He smiled, it was so infuriating, " heh, that's what i wanted you to say...music to my ears"
And things were once more back to normal that night, the arguing,teasing smiling...
She apologizied to her friends and told them she had an "emotional moment" because maysaia wasn't there---which Ichigo thought was somewhat true.
They believed her of course because who would ever believe that the perfect couple would break up?
Ichigo smiled and waved goodbye as the dance ended, and she drove away in her parents car
She would tell them soon...but that night...that night she wanted it to be as normal as it possibly could...with no sympathic glances...
Ichigo leaned against the car's pane, as it vibarated and they headed home...she thought
i really did have a good time even though it was only this morning he broke up with me...i guess i have to owe it to ryou...distracting me...making me angry...being a jerk..
But then she remembered when he wiped her tears,and asked her to dance--that happy feeling...
maybe he wasn't that much of a jerk after all...
Her mother glanced back at her, her face pink from talking and drinking and said cheerily
"you spent most of your time with Ryou tonight, i guess he's more of a friend then you thought"
"i guess so" she said back happily, i guess so"