A/N: ok yeah, I edited this and re-post it again because I found mistakes I missed before, plus someone (cough HIRO-SAN cough) said to me "Makino, you really need to learn how to check your work blablabla…" ok yeah, you get the message --
Chapter 8:
Ichigo was sitting at his desk, looking out the window that the whole class was nosily chatting, waiting for the teacher to show up. Without turning his head, he glanced over at Rukia, who was busy talking to Inoue at the moment. Finding nothing interesting, he looked back out the window and continued to daydream.
"Rukia-chan, isn't this great? It's the second week of school; do you know what that means?" Orihime exclaimed happily.
Not knowing what she was so excited about Rukia simply responded by saying no.
"Oh, that's right, you weren't here at the beginning of the school year last year, no wonder you don't know…haha, silly me!" The cheerful girl said.
"So what is so special about the second week of school?" Rukia asked curiously.
So Inoue explained. "The second week of school is 'work-week'!"
"Work week?" The petite shinigami asked.
"Yeah, it's when we have to go to work for a week, and during that week, we don't have to school, all we have to concentrate on is work, and after the week is over and we get back, we share our experiences with the class!" She explained cheerfully.
"Oh, is that so? That sounds fun; at least it sounds more exciting than going to class…" Rukia said. "So Orihime, what did you do last year for this work-week thing?"
"Last year I worked at some restaurant." Orihime said proudly. 'Resturant? So people can actually eat that stuff she cooks?' Rukia thought. Then she shook her head. 'No way…she was probably just a waitress…right?'
So Rukia asked just to make sure. "So you were a waitress?"
"No silly I was helping with the cooking in the kitchen!" Inoue said, with more pride than ever in her tone.
On the other hand, Rukia's face turned green as she recalled what Orihime brings to school for lunch. An example that popped into her head with is this one time where Inoue brought in bread that is orange-color with some brown stuff in it. That time, Inoue claimed that it is carrot bread with sweet brown bean paste in it.
So instead of making a comment, Rukia simply smiled at the innocent girl. Though that does not mean she stopped wondering why the hell a restaurant would ever hire a chef like her.
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Not long after the girls' conversation, the teacher walked in. And that was where the day started getting boring.
So the teacher was explaining to the class about this work week thing, just as how Orihime said it was like. Everyone's eyes gleamed with excitement, mostly because they get to miss school, not because they get to work.
Before the teacher dismissed the class for lunch break, she quickly wrapped up what she was saying.
"So class, work week will start on Monday, meaning you will not have to come to school for Monday-to Friday next week. I hope you will all enjoy this experience. Class dismissed." And with that, the teacher walked out of the room for her lunch break.
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On the roof of the school were Ichigo, Rukia, Chad, Ishida, Orihime, Keigo and Mizuiro eating lunch together.
Orihime was trying to feed Ishida his bento while cooing him to open up, but Ishida turned to face the other way trying to hide his blush out of embarrassment. Since Ichigo thought he should do some payback for the Quincy's cocky attitude, he said in a pretty loud voice. "Oi, Ishida! Quit turning your head to hide that obvious blush of yours, Inoue's just trying to feed you."
Rukia nudged him in the ribs when Ichigo started smirking while Ishida's face burned redder yelling at the carrot-top to keep his mouth shut.
Keigo sighed loudly, catching everyone's attention. Then he stated, in a very dramatic way. "Oh, why does the beautiful Inoue-san have to fall in the hands of Ishida who's always like I'm-too-cool-for-you. Aren't I more fun to be around with? "And tears started coming out of his eyes while Mizuiro comforted him.
So he turned to Rukia. "Kuchiki-san, now that Inoue-san is taken by that Ishida, will you go out with me?"
Rukia just stared at him.
Ichigo punched him.
"Ichigo!" Mizuiro cried while holding his nose. "Why are you always so protective over Kuchiki-san?"
"It's not me; it's just you who's being too perverted!" Ichigo yelled at his annoying friend.
"AH HA!" Mizuiro beamed. "So the rumors are true! You and Kuchiki-san do have some kind of 'relationship', and maybe the rumors about you two making out in the storage room is probably true too!" He said in a very loud and annoying voice, causing Ichigo to boil with anger.
Thus, everyone on the roof turned to look at Ichigo and Rukia, seemingly very interested in what Mizuiro had just yelled out.
Ichigo made a fist, and yelled back at his annoying friend. "Where the hell do you here these rumors from? Making out in the storage room? What the fuck is your problem?"
Without backing down, Mizuiro kept on talking. He pointed a finger at Ichigo. "Ichigo! You're in denial, which means the rumors must be true! Maybe even the other rumor about how you and Kuchiki-san slept together over the weekend is true too!"
That earned him a kick in the guts.
And Ichigo finally cracked, because really, where do people come up with these things? "Denial my ass! Nothing like that ever happened, Rukia and I never made out in the storage room, and no way in hell did we ever sleep together!"
(A/N: that was a lie, remember in the earlier chapters where Rukia was cold at night and Ichigo pulled her in bed with him?)
Then Ichigo mentally slapped himself, as Rukia did too. Everyone, except for Chad, Inoue and Ishida, were surprised. All of them thinking the same questions: Did Kurosaki just called Kuchiki by her first name?
This time, Keigo was the one who broke the silence. "Umm…Ichigo, maybe the rumors weren't true, but it's hard for you to deny that you and Kuchiki-san have a special relationship since you guys are obviously on first name basis." He said a-matter-of-factly.
Now this time, Ichigo couldn't deny it.
All this time, Rukia has been sitting down quietly without saying a word, but now she figures it's time for her to say something.
So she stood up, and put a hand on Ichigo's shoulder trying to give him the message 'that's enough.'
But before Rukia even made a word, Ichigo quickly pecked her on the lips. Everyone's jaws practically fell to the ground.
"Ok, let me make one thing clear" Ichigo started. "Kuchiki Rukia is my girlfriend, so you guys (he looked at Mizuiro and Keigo), keep your dirty hands off her! Also…IF YOU EVER WANT TO SPREAD RUMORS, SPREAD STUFF LIKE 'KUROSAKI KISSED KUCHIKI ON THE ROOF, BECAUSE AT LEAST THAT'S TRUE!" And with that, Ichigo stormed off, leaving a dumbfounded Rukia who is currently staring blankly into space and everyone else's jaws touching the ground.
From that lunchtime on, the only rumor revolving around Ichigo's love life was "Kurosaki was frenching his girlfriend on the roof."
Because really, some things never change.
After school, Rukia and a still very pissed off Ichigo was walking home in silent. That is, until Rukia started a conversation.
"Ichigo, for that work week thing-"She started but then Ichigo cut her off.
"You can just work at our clinic, when we get home just walk in the front door with me, and I'll tell pops."
"Ah…ok" She said, and continued walking in silence. Guess Ichigo is too pissed off about the rumor shit to ever have a decent conversation.
Once they reached the Kurosaki clinic, they stepped in the front door and was welcomed by a Isshin running strait towards them. Once he reached the two shinigami's, Isshin pointed a finger at Rukia and said, "My son has finally grown up! He has brought home a girl! Masaki will be so proud!"
Ichigo slapped his hand away and coldly said to him that it's rude to point at people.
With that, Isshin calmed down and started talking at a 'normal' tone.
"So, why are you here pretty young girl?" He asked Rukia.
"Ugh…our school is having a work-week thing and Kurosaki-kun has kindly offered me to help out at your clinic, so, ugh, I hope that's…ok with you?" She said nervously, not wanting to sound weird.
"Oh that would be wonderful!" Isshin beamed, and Ichigo growled at him.
"Well then, why don't you stay here for the week?" Isshin offered.
Rukia glanced over at Ichigo, and Ichigo nodded.
"Ah, that would be great if it's not much trouble." She replied.
"No trouble at all! You can even sleep in my room since I have extra space!"
"Shut up you old pervert, she can stay in my room!" He said while he grabbed Rukia's wrist and stormed past his dad who was currently lying on the floor.
On the way up to his room, he saw Yuzu.
"Oi, Yuzu, get me an extra set of blankets, Kuchiki-san here will be staying with us for a week, and she's going to stay in my room."
"Ok nii-chan!" and she turned to Rukia and gave her a warm smile.
Rukia smiled back, a real one.
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Inside Ichigo's room, the orange haired shinigami was setting up the blankets on the floor while Rukia sat on his bed watching him work.
"I'll sleep on the floor; you can sleep on my bed. Dad and the twins will find it weird if they find out you sleep in the closet while you stay." Ichigo said.
"It's ok, I can sleep on the floor, and you stay on your bed." Rukia said, thinking that it'd be better since it is his bed.
"Nah, that's fine, you are the guest after all." He joked.
"Ok, so why don't we both sleep on the bed?" She asked.
"Wha…wha…what?" Ichigo stuttered, his face turning kind of pink.
Rukia smacked him on the head. "I said why don't we share the bed! God…what the hell were you thinking?" She rolled her eyes.
"Nothing! I was just…never mind." He turned to face the closet.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get up here." She said while patting the space on the bed beside her.
He looked at her and didn't move.
"Ichigo…" she started again. "I'm not going to bite."
"It's not that! It's just-"
"Oh my god!" She was loosing her temper. "Here!" she exclaimed.
Rukia snatched one of the pillows and put it in the middle of the bed.
"There, just don't go past this, and everything will be fine."
Ichigo looked at the pillow that was set in the middle of the bed, dividing it in half.
"Well…" he said. He was still unsure about this, he is, after all, a teenage guy with hormones, and she is, after all, his girlfriend.
Obviously wanting to rip her hair out, Rukia finally said to Ichigo, "DO YOU NEED ME TO BUILD A GREAT-WALL-OF-VIRGINITY ON THE BED?"
Ichigo's faced turned red, as he tried hard to hide it knowing very well he's flushing. "It's…it's not like that!" He stuttered.
She crossed her arms. "Oh really? Then what is it?" Rukia said with a mischievous smirk on her face. Teasing him was fun. Really fun. She never suspected that the usual tough Ichigo would be afraid of loosing his pureness.
To Be Continued……
Next chapter: What kind of comeback will Ichigo make after getting his pride hurt badly by Rukia and her stupid wall-suggestion? Also, the work week finally starts and what kind of big mess will our Death Goddess get into trying to work as a nurse in the abnormal Kurosaki clinic? (xD isn't wonderful writing chapter previews in question form?)
A/N: Anyhow, poor Ichigo, first the rumor stuff at school, then even Rukia has to tease him when they get back home. Haha…tough luck. As for the work-week thing, it's actually one of my personal experiences. Except mine was work-day. And yeah, it wasn't too pleasant for me since all I did was stand in front of the photocopier…photocopying. The rumor stuff was also one of my personal experiences, and here I tell you DON'T TRY TO DO SOMETHING SO PEOPLE HAVE REAL STUFF TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE YOU WILL REGRET IT. (ok, you probably get the message since its in BIG capital letters)