DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH!
I apologize for anyy spellings or grammatical errors
After the settlements of their new rules were established, both Ichigo and Rukia explained their situation wholly to Ichigo's gang. Rangiku and Tatsuki helped supporting their facts and everything was cleared up nicely. Fortunately, Inoue didn't question about the coincidence of her first meeting with the petite woman so both Ichigo and Rukia decided to leave it at that.
For the past week, Rukia was convinced that Ichigo was nicer than he actually pretended to be. She wouldn't admit the fact out loud though. She still enjoyed her teasing towards the man concerning his first manner towards her. He did admit that he was guilty but Rukia wouldn't let his past action go that easily, recapping about what he did has become Rukia's favorite counter attack on their usual banters.
"Look, you don't see it in my point of view, so you don't get it." Rukia mimicked the words Ichigo told her when he blackmailed her to help crashing his date with Inoue, earning a scowl from the much-annoyed orange haired medic student.
"When will you drop it and let me live that down?"
"Let me consider…. Never," Rukia smugly answered, "you were a jerk and I'm going to be a living reminder of that."
Ichigo grunts, "now who's acting like a bitch?"
"Nobody, apparently," Rukia shrugged as she faked a clueless expression. "Just admit you were wrong for not doing your own dishes."
"I cooked our breakfast." Ichigo countered. "Washing the dishes was supposed to be your turn."
Rukia peers at him, "and since when did we have that agreement?"
"Since now because I decided so."
Rukia rolls her eyes, "I've been doing your dishes for a whole month, Ichigo. And you bring that up now? It's obviously not fair," she mumbled, "seems like being a selfish, demanding bastard is your actual personality."
"Maybe it is," Ichigo agreed as he smirked, "but you can't expect me to do both jobs."
"Fine," Rukia relented and sighed, "from now on, you're in charge for making the breakfast."
"Fine."
After that, Rukia merely answered him with a glare and then went to wash his dishes because she already did hers. She had to hurry because she had plans in the morning and she decided to get there earlier than the promised time just in case.
Rukia checked her watch anxiously, her eyes scanning towards the whole area as she waited in expectation. Arisawa Tatsuki, Ichigo's childhood friend had invited her for a drink and said that she has something important she wanted to talk about. It was weird because both Rukia and her weren't that familiar with each other, excluding the times they accidentally encountered each other because they had the same acquaintance.
Moreover, Rukia had waited for the past twenty-five minutes with no sign of the woman showing up. She hoped Tatsuki wasn't ditching her at this point as she slurped her lemonade in anticipations. Her worries and thoughts were distracted when a friendly hand wave greeted her from afar and a tint shade of purple filled her sights. She smiled and waved her hand back to acknowledge the appearance of her newfound guest.
Tatsuki settled on a seat in front of her. "Sorry for being late," she apologized, "it was hard to sneak out from the Karate Club when they called me back each time I tried to snuck out." She grinned as she scratched her head nervously.
Rukia smiles, "It's alright, Tatsuki-san." She answered assuredly as she hid her anxieties. "May I ask what you wanted to talk about?"
Hopefully, it doesn't have anything to do with me crashing Ichigo's date with Inoue.
After hearing from Momo that Inoue and Tatsuki were best friends even back in high school, Rukia couldn't help herself but getting anxious. After all, there was no way Tatsuki didn't know about Inoue's first encounter with Rukia at this point of situation. The bubbly orange haired must have shared her experience, and Rukia knows firsthand that Tatsuki was a sharp person.
"Right. About that, let's just get straight to the point." Rukia gulped nervously as her violet eyes focused on her front accompany. "Do you want to participate on Ichigo's surprise birthday party? The whole gang was planning to make one since the date was getting nearer."
What?
Rukia raises an eyebrow in confusion, still apprehending the much unexpected turn of events. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Ichigo's birthday, it's on July fifteenth." Tatsuki inserted. "I thought since you were his roommate and everything was sorted out already, you should join us on planning the whole surprise. Everyone wouldn't be suspicious with your appearance at this point."
"N-No, I mean," Rukia blurted, "I thought you said it was planned by Ichigo's friends, wouldn't I be unfitting there?"
"You're basically his friend as well," Tatsuki pointed out, "and we're even inviting Hinamori and girls from our class who found out about it. We're planning to make it a big surprise."
"Oh." Rukia answered lamely. Momo was invited and she didn't give me any heads up?
"I told Hinamori to keep it a secret until I tell you myself." As if Tatsuki could read her mind, she filled in. "As his roommate, you have a big role on increasing our success rate for this plan so I wanted to be the one to explain the whole thing. We need the key to get inside his dorm and since Rangiku doesn't work at the dormitory anymore, you're the only one who's up for the charge." At the explanation, Rukia widened her eyes in bewilderment.
"The key to what?" Rukia spluttered, remembering their newly-revised arrangement.
"Any girls except Momo are still off limits to visit our dorm, though. Guys are fine, feel free to bring your boyfriend if you will ever have one, but don't bring a suspicious one or I will kick him out. I do not trust anyone else."
Recalling the collected memories, Rukia abruptly declines, "I'm sorry, Tatsuki-san. It's not that I don't want to help but Ichigo and I had an agreement that I am not allowed to bring any other girls inside except for Momo." The raven haired explained, grimacing as she said so. "You know how private he is."
Tatsuki knitted her eyebrows at the rare familiarity and lack of honorifics Rukia was using. She calls him Ichigo now?
"Tatsuki-san?"
Realizing she was in daze, Tatsuki clears her throat in embarrassment. "Ah, my bad, I was lost in my thoughts for a sec." She waved it off as she laughed care-freely. "And about Ichigo, you don't have to worry much. I'll take responsibility for this case. You can put all the blame on me and tell him I'm forcing you in this." Tatsuki assured the raven haired.
Rukia stared at her, still unconvinced. "I don't know, Tatsuki-"
"If Ichigo gets mad at you, I will beat him to pulp." Tatsuki declared, tone certain. "You don't need to worry about that, so what do you say?" She inquired as she grinned expectantly.
Rukia frowned. There was no way she could refuse with Tatsuki being this insistent.
"Okay," she sighed, finally relenting, "so what's my job?" Tatsuki lightened up at the question.
"I'm glad you asked." Tatsuki beamed.
Rukia fumbled her one piece's lower skirt nervously, her eyes focused on the front door as she bit her lip in uncertainty. Truthfully, she was still unsure with the task Tatsuki has trusted on her, but with Tatsuki firmly persisted, she had no other choice.
"I need you to keep Ichigo out of his dorm for about half a day top." Tatsuki filled in, "Make sure he doesn't go back to his dorm until I message you that we are ready."
"Why should I be the one keeping him outside?" Rukia asked in mixed confusion. There were many other options from the list of friends attending the birthday party. Surely, she is not the best person Tatsuki could came up to who's up for the task.
Tatsuki sighs, "Although I think Orihime wouldn't mind assisting him, I don't think Ichigo can last half a day with her," she admitted, "the same applies to Keigo because he's annoyingly loud sometimes. I need Ishida because he's good at designing and Mizuiro has to control the girls' behaviors so they won't cross the line or do anything funny while we're there."
Rukia nodded in understanding, everything makes sense. "You mean there is no one else to do the job?"
"I don't think there is anybody more suitable for the job aside from you," Tatsuki confessed, "the fact that he can afford living with you is proof enough already. He stands you more than some of our friends. I'm pretty sure you can come up with something in case he wants to head back."
That's what Tatsuki had said, but if she was to be honest to herself, even Rukia wasn't sure if Ichigo will stand going out with her for half a day. He is a private person. Although they live inside the same quarter, both of them merely communicated briefly if they passed by each other. They had agreed to respect each other's privacy and the need to be let alone.
The sound of creaked door burst her judgments and let her eyes to land straightly into the incomer. It was no new revelation when her roommate came in with furrowed brows and the permanent scowl that stick to his face like a signature expression, his sight immediately directed towards the apparent petite woman.
"Why are you fidgeting around like that, midget?"
Rukia glares, "I don't fidget around, strawberry."
Ichigo raises an eyebrow, "Your wrinkled one-piece dress that were caused from all the not-fidgeting screamed the opposite but sure," He pointed out as he went to the kitchen to grab his favorite mug and filled it with water.
Rukia took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she's about to say. This is it, Kuchiki Rukia. Your opportunity has just arrived.
"So," she began as casually as possible, "it's your birthday tomorrow, isn't it?"
Ichigo stopped filling his drink, his head turned to the woman who captured his attention with her exclamation. "Where did you hear that from?"
"I hear people talk," Rukia answered, "you have a lot of fangirls so does it really matter?"
Ichigo shrugs, "I guess not." He said before taking a big gulp and then responding. "Yeah, it is tomorrow. Why?"
It's now or never. Rukia calmed her nerves as she readied herself for the spontaneous proposal she is about to make. "I just knew about it today so I have nothing prepared," Rukia lied, "and I don't know you well enough to get you a gift so I need you to help me pick one instead. Are you free tomorrow?"
As she expected, Ichigo stood still at his place as if comprehending the unusual invitation she couldn't believe she was making herself. Inwardly, she winced at the overly friendly offer she had just asked.
He clears his throat, "you don't really have to buy one, you know." He said as if reassuring the woman from any obligation she had assumed.
"I know," Rukia replied as she stared at him, "but I want to." Actually, I don't exactly want to but I have to because it's the only reason that makes sense to invite you out for half a day on your birthday.
Ichigo pauses, "Well, uh, that's cool then." He awkwardly scratched his neck, Rukia observed, as if having no idea how to react at this turn of situation.
"So, are you free?" Rukia repeated her question, hoping he would agree because for the love of Chappy she did not have any other ideas planned.
"Sure." Rukia relieved her breath she didn't know she held. "Where are we going though?"
Rukia grins, "I know just the right place."
The outdoor was bustling with music and lives, people chattering about their day as they walked around the street. Some were holding few items on their hands, such as balloons and souvenirs. Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, looking at his shorter companion as if seeking for an answer.
"Why are we here?" Ichigo asked when Rukia's head turned towards his face.
The raven-haired shrugs, "This is the most common place to search for something you like." She explained. "This street sells everything."
"I would expect you to be more of an indoor person," Ichigo remarked, "I thought we were going somewhere like a mall or a secluded place downtown."
Rukia rolls her eyes, "Well then, maybe you should stop judging people from your own opinion and start asking them who they really are."
"Can we leave the advices after we finish choosing my birthday present?"
Rukia smirks, "fine," she relented because it was his birthday after all. He deserved a break after all the taunting she had done the whole week. "First of all, what exactly do you like or need presently?"
Ichigo contemplated the question. "I don't know." He admitted. "I don't specifically need anything right now."
Rukia raises an eyebrow, "what about something you like?"
Ichigo shrugs, "I don't like anything in particular."
This is going to be hard.
Which actually is a good thing, much to Rukia's luck. She had to keep Ichigo outside as long as she could, so the longer it takes to pick a present, the longer she could buy time without needing to find any other excuses for Ichigo not to go back home.
"We can take our time." Rukia assured, scanning around the area to pick her first attempt. "What about that antique store? I'm pretty sure they have something that will catch your attention."
They went from one store to another, with Ichigo sometimes refusing to even get in and check the shop because of its outward appearance that apparently was not his cup of tea. The later it got, the more difficult Ichigo became, causing Rukia to scowl and finally giving up on looking around.
Rukia fumes, "you've got to be kidding me."
Ichigo shrugs, "what do you mean?"
"Three full hours. One hundred eighty fucking minutes and not even one thing catches your eyes?" Rukia narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "I doubt you are such a picky person. Are you doing this deliberately?"
Rukia wasn't stupid. Ichigo could have chosen a random thing and get done with it out of courtesy. He could even ask to head back to the dorm afterwards because he's getting tired, but he didn't.
"Hey, I've never picked a gift for myself before." Ichigo defended, "like I said, you don't need to buy anything for me."
So that's why he wouldn't even pick any random thing he sees, he doesn't want me to spend money for his gift.
Rukia sighs, "fine." She relented, knowing it was no use to pick any gift if the person wasn't willing to receive it. She could prolong the time by dallying Ichigo picking his present, but Rukia knows Ichigo is getting sicker each store they passed by. If this keeps on, he will get suspicious. "If you don't want any present, so be it." She checked her phone to see any new message from Tatsuki but unfortunately, she found none.
I need to buy more time.
"Good. Since we don't have anything else to do, let's go back." Ichigo said, about to leave the street as he walked away.
Fortunately, Rukia's reflex was quick enough to catch his hood and stopped his tracks. "Wait!" She said in rush, "I want to uh, check the rabbit shop."
"Huh?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow in confusion, "I don't see any rabbit shop around here."
"I meant the Chappy store." Rukia corrected embarrassedly.
Ichigo looks around the street, "I don't see any Chappy store either."
Rukia nods in agreement. "Yes, it's not around here. We have to take the train to an opposite direction from the dorm."
"Wow, what a coincidence," Ichigo said sarcastically, "it is a shame but I guess we have to part ways then."
"No, we don't." Rukia responded confidently. "You're coming with me."
The orange haired fakes a pleasant gasp, "to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"There's a new popular shooting game stand next to the Chappy Store," Rukia explained as she ignored his mockeries, "you can get a free limited edition Chappy Body Pillow if you get the right mark, and I heard from Inoue that you are very good at aiming."
Ichigo snorts, "Inoue is biased and you know it." He stated as he folded his arms, "I could get zero marks and she will still praise me for it."
"Well then, you should show me how bad you are in shooting games. It would be entertaining for me to watch." Rukia said, unconvinced with his reasonings.
"You're so insistent on me going there with you, is there something up?" He squinted his eyes warily, leaning closer to read her eyes knowing fully well that Rukia would have preferred to go there alone and find a way to get the body pillow herself.
Despite her racing heart from the sudden proximity and lying, the petite woman pushed his shoulder to widen the gap between them. "Nothing." She shrugged, trying to calm her heartbeats. "I'm trying to be nice. It's your birthday so I just figured you need to go out and liven up. Being alone in the dorm is just boring."
Ichigo smirks, "fine." He conceded, "I'll go along with you although I don't understand why you're the one excited celebrating my birthday."
"Goddamn it Keigo, for the last time just stay put or I'm going to chase you out this instant!"
"T-Tatsuki-chan, calm down!" Inoue frantically tried to tug Tatsuki's shirt to avoid any violence. The so-called Tatsuki massaged her temple in frustration, glaring at the cowering Keigo in the corner.
Keigo was so intimidated that he walked backwards, accidentally stumbled on the adorned table, and messed up the whole decorations behind him. He widened his eyes in surprise along with others in the room.
"Really, Keigo?" Ishida sighed as he rubbed his temple. Keigo knew it must have turned out really bad that even Ishida had to speak up.
He gulps nervously, "It's not like I did it on purpose!" He defended, "I wouldn't had ruined it if Tatsuki didn't threaten me first!"
"Shit," Tatsuki muttered before she clicked her tongue in annoyance, "now we have to start over the whole thing."
Rukia was so ecstatic when she felt a vibrate of her phone underneath her clothing fabrics. The raven haired wasted no time to open her phone and see the ongoing message.
"My bad. You have to buy more time than expected."
Rukia frowned. That was not the answer she was hoping when she asked how much longer would it take.
"Who is it?" Ichigo asked suddenly behind her, causing her to jolt in surprise and quickly shut her phone.
"Nobody." Rukia quickly answered, clearing her throat to calm her nerves. "Uhh, right. After this, do you want to go-"
Ichigo sighs, "that's enough." He cut off. "They're forcing you in this, aren't they?"
Rukia blinks, still no comprehending what he meant. "What do you mean?"
"Tatsuki and the others." Ichigo filled in, "They asked you to get me out from the apartment, right?"
Rukia certainly did not expect that.
"Um," she stammered, "I can't say that for sure. I mean, no. I mean, rather than that, it's more like-"
Ichigo figured it out in a bat. "They're in our dorm, aren't they?"
Goddamnit, she sucks at pretending in this.
"Sorry," Rukia sighs, finally relenting. "I tried telling Tatsuki no, but she said she will be responsible of it."
Rukia was supposed to be proficient in acting. It was one of her quirks since back in high school, almost like a hobby of hers. This was supposed to be an easy task. However, she couldn't bring herself to lie. Not when the agreement had been revised and she still let his friends get inside without his acceptance. She knows how private Ichigo is. The raven haired felt too guilty to even fake another reason.
"I knew it." Ichigo groaned.
"Please don't break in." Rukia looked at him hopefully, almost half pleading. "They tried their best planning out the whole thing for you." She knows without even being there decorating the surprise party with them. She saw how determined Tatsuki was when she planned the whole thing. Ruining it would just be too cruel.
"I told them don't bother but they just didn't listen." Ichigo muttered. "Why did you agree with them anyway?"
"I couldn't refuse," Rukia answered truthfully, "they deliberately planned the whole thing because they think of you as important, Ichigo. You should be grateful they took their time and did all this."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. He wanted to argue, but Rukia had a point. Not long ago, Tatsuki even reprimanded him about his recent behavior being too offending. Maybe he should take this as a chance to reconcile and open up a little bit more to his friends. He owed Tatsuki one for her last lecture too anyway. It did help him realize what an asshole he was all these times.
"Fine," Ichigo relented, "I won't break in now, but you're supposed to be accompanying me until they're finished, right?"
Rukia didn't expect him to agree so easily. "That's right…" She stared at him calculatingly.
"Good." Ichigo said. "Then you're coming with me."
"Where to, exactly?"
Ichigo shrugs, "we don't have anything more planned, so we're going to my favorite place." He smirked. "You're going to like it."
Rukia found her task in this surprise party to be harder than she thought.
The place Ichigo regarded as his favorite wasn't like Rukia suspected. She was expected to be brought to a quiet environment, places with the scent of caffeine or a calming bookstore. Instead, she was brought into a place bustling with lives. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, her eyes palpably asking for answers from her companion.
"You're dragging me to a skating rink?"
Ichigo shares a same questioning look, "what? Did you think I would bring you to some shabby place downtown?"
"No," Rukia denied in a heartbeat, "I was thinking somewhere along the library or café." She answered truthfully. "You did say you're taking me to your favorite place after all."
"Well, you thought wrong." The orange haired shrugged his shoulder. Inwardly, he kind of agree it was a little unexpected of him. "That's why I don't bring many people here."
Rukia raises an eyebrow, "so who else had you bring here?"
Ichigo went silent for a moment, ignoring the inquiring look Rukia gave him. He changed the topic and pretended the question never appeared, so the raven haired decided not to pry further.
Once it was their turn to order tickets, Ichigo wasted no time to ask for two. Rukia swore she could see the cashier woman's eyes lightened up at the sight of their presence. Or to be more exact, Ichigo's presence.
"You're here again today?" The stranger woman asked, a bit too friendly on her tone to be considered fully platonic.
"Yeah," he responded, "I'm here with my friend."
"Well, that's rare! You never bring another person here." She commented. Her eyes suspiciously scanned judgingly towards Rukia's figure.
Rukia on the other hand, didn't take too much attention towards the woman's stares throwing daggers at her. She was much more focused at the statement the cashier had said.
Did she just say that Ichigo never brought another person here before? Rukia wanted to ask it to him, but she decided not to. She didn't want to sound so invading or distrusting.
"It's two tickets then today." The woman giggled before handing out the tickets, batting her eyelashes as she did so. "That will be two thousand yen."
Rukia had learnt it was a customed behavior if she was with Ichigo. After strolling many shops with him earlier, she figured out that most people do find Ichigo attractive. It seems he wasn't one of the university's heartthrobs for nothing. Rukia opened her purse, ready to pay her stead but was slower than her companion who has already received the change from the cashier woman.
"Here's my part." Rukia handed one thousand yen towards her orange haired friend instead since the bill was already paid.
Ichigo waves his hand, "nah, I'm paying."
The raven haired gaped in disbelief, looking at her roommate with expression demanding of answers. However, Ichigo pretended not to notice as he walked towards the shoe locker. "Hurry up or I'm leaving you behind."
Rukia follows him inside. "You know what, I should pay for my share after all." She argued stubbornly with her cash still on her hand. "Inoue specified to me before that you rarely pay for others' stead."
Ichigo snorts, "do I look like such a cheap person to you?" Knowing Rukia would reply with a definite 'yes' if he let her, he quickly adds, "I just make it look that way because I don't want her to take assumptions on me."
"Ah," Rukia nods, "that makes sense." So apparently, he's not totally insensitive of Inoue's feelings after all. He tried some ways to reject her subtly.
After that simple conversation, both Ichigo and Rukia went to exchange the tickets with their shoes sizes before sitting on one of the vacant seats. Ichigo was nearly finished changing whole Rukia was still a bit lost on hers.
She swore the shoes were playing tricks on her. At first, it looked like a simple footwear and could simply be tied like sneakers. However, the shoe's tie was already tangled somehow when she received it, causing her inner frustration on separating the twisted tie's ends. She couldn't even fit her feet with the shoes refusing to loosen themselves.
Ichigo seemed to notice it as well after finished tying his skating shoes. Looking at the way Rukia wasn't used to it, he teased playfully. "Don't tell me you never did this before."
She decided to avoid eye contact with Ichigo at all cost.
"Wait, really?"
"Do you want an absolute answer that much?" Rukia grumbled, cheeks reddened in embarrassment upon her roommate finding out another one of her weakness. Why does he always get the foulest information about her?
Ichigo was a bit tactful, at least. He decided not to provoke her further as he stood up and stepped in front of her. It took no more than few seconds for Rukia to register him kneeling across her seated position.
Rukia blinks, "what are you doing exactly?"
"Helping you fix up your shoes, you grade schooler." Ichigo joked with a playful mock tone. Reflexively, Rukia lightly hit his shoulder at his remark.
"I am not a grade schooler." Rukia defensively huffed, hands folded on her chest. However, she let Ichigo untied her shoes and helping her with it.
Once done, Ichigo offered his hand towards her. "Grab me, you have to get used standing first."
Rukia accepted his hand, following his instruction as they slowly walked towards the skating rink. She did feel her balance was a bit off with her new shoes. She realized it gets even more difficult once she stepped inside the skating rink which was made of slippery ice.
Thankfully, Ichigo didn't let go of her hands the whole detour. He did try once, but she almost fell on her butt before the man rapidly caught her. Apparently, skating was not one of her virtue. She had to focus on looking at her feet to make sure her pattern was like how Ichigo had instructed her while they skated.
"You asked who else I had brought here before," Ichigo decided to open the topic after a good silence between them. Rukia looked up, never expected him to actually bring it up himself. "Well, I never bring anyone else here but my sisters. And it has been years since I brought them."
"Oh," Rukia lamely retorted, not knowing how else to respond. Should she ask another question or will it be too intrusive? She decided to just go along with whatever is happening and open up the conversation. "How long has this rink been here?"
"I used to go here with my mom when I was five." Ichigo admitted. There was an uncomfortable pause before he finally continues, "my mom died on an accident when I was nine."
Rukia stared at him with widened eyes, didn't expect that much of personal information from the orange haired. Ichigo had brought her to such an important place? For what reason? Her thoughts occupied her mind and awareness that she had not realized Ichigo had led them to the exit door.
"Let's go back, Tatsuki and the others should finish up soon enough. It's almost sunset already."
The way home was long and suffocating. At least, that was how Rukia felt with the thick atmosphere of awkward silence after Ichigo's revelation. What happened to the closed-up, this-is-my-privacy Kurosaki Ichigo? Rukia surely did not expect that much of exposure from him.
Finally, the raven haired decided it would not be good if they stayed ambiguous like this. She should clear the fog up by asking outrightly. It would not be good if they arrived at the dorm, with all the birthday balloons prepared, with such a depressing air between them too.
Rukia tugs his sleeve, "why did you bring that up so suddenly?" Ichigo's attention darted from the sky towards her. Pair of amber eyes staring intently at her, and she just realized she leaned a bit too close to him while listening to his chatters. She decided to ignore her profound realizations of their proximity before she forgot what she was about to ask. "About your family. And why did you take me to such an important place?"
Ichigo shrugs, "my old man and sisters will visit the dorm in few days. I should tell you this ahead of time so you understand the situation better." Rukia was still staring at him fixedly when he continued. "Also, I kind of accidentally heard something personal about you too when you were drunk, so let's just consider this as even."
That perked up the woman's interest.
"What do you mean as something personal?" Rukia asked, way too interrogating to not be suspicious. "You said I didn't say anything worth mentioning."
Ichigo smirks, "well, wouldn't you like to know?"
The raven haired had gone relentless, glaring at her companion threateningly. "You better tell me what I said, Ichigo."
"Well, would you look at that? We've arrived already." Ichigo said as he swayed her question off nonchalantly. Rukia was about to argue more or even kick him in the shin to beat some answers out of him. However, Ichigo has already unlocked the door and opened it for her to even complain.
"SURPRISE!" The two of them were greeted with the loud cheers of the crowds inside their dorm and the sounds of party trumpets. Rukia winced at the sudden loud welcoming, however quickly hid it with a planted smile on her face cheerily.
"Don't blame this on Kuchiki, I forced her into this." Tatsuki quickly stated, not wanting to see a negative reaction of her friend about the birthday surprise.
Ichigo rolls his eyes, "I know. I found out about it midway." He quickly admitted.
"Aw, poo." Matsumoto pouted, "I was looking forward to see your shocked expression. It would have been priceless!"
"I am sorry, Tatsuki-san," Rukia quickly apologized, "he found out about it because I dragged him around too much-"
"No need to apologize, Kuchiki-san!" Inoue quickly assured with a smile, "Kurosaki-kun is a sharp person after all. It must be hard hiding it from him."
"ICHIGOOO!" Keigo shouted enthusiastically, "Happy birthday, my man! Take a chance and hit on many gorgeous women THIS year!"
"Wha- Keigo, calm down- Is he drunk already?"
"Not really, he's just excited because there are many girls here." Ishida quickly swept away the loud Keigo, "you're disturbing the neighbors too much with your shouts." Ishida reprimanded him before he sighed. "Although we did tell them beforehand. I had expected it would turn out rowdy with this much people."
"Thank you so much for that, Ishida." Rukia deadpanned. She surely didn't need any angry next-door neighbors. Knowing Ichigo, he would fight off the complains and earn more troubles to both him and her.
"So how do you like the décor, Ichigo?" Mizuiro decided to change the topic. "We had lots of revising to do and your fans actually bought a cake for you too."
Rukia saw some of Ichigo's so-called 'fans' are actually leaning towards Mizuiro, most of them looked like mature, older women. She cringed at the proximity of the girls clinging to him, no wonder Tatsuki needed Mizuiro personally to control the fangirls' behavior. They turned submissive, alright.
The party turned out to be quite organized. Tatsuki really did put a lot of efforts on creating the whole thing. Ichigo got told a dozen times by her that Orihime put most efforts on planning out the whole thing, and the orange haired woman deserved more than half credits for the whole party. After finished singing the happy birthday song and Ichigo blowing out all the candles on the fangirls' cake, Ichigo cut the first slice of the cake.
Tatsuki nudges him, "give the first slice to Orihime, Ichigo. She really worked hard on making this whole party operated out for you."
"I-I'm not that special! Everyone works hard too." Orihime explained, cheeks flushing in embarrassment after Tatsuki called her out. "Tatsuki-chan should receive the first slice, she did most of the actions."
Well, Rukia kind of agreed it does look way too organized for Tatsuki alone to pull off. Orihime was also the one who prearranged the girls' day out a while back, so maybe she wasn't lying when she said Orihime indeed was the mastermind of the surprise party. However, Ichigo probably wouldn't give the first slice to her, considering he was trying to lay the sweet girl down slowly.
What she didn't expect was for Ichigo to hand her the first plate. "Oi, midget. You get the first slice."
Rukia blinked, still comprehending the situation. She stares at him agape. She could feel the daggers shot from the jealous fangirls, obviously not understanding why she gets the privilege. She stared at some of the people she was acquainted with as well to see their reactions.
Momo wiggles her eyebrows and giving her the I-knew-it looks. Orihime blinked in bewilderment and Mizuiro merely smiled sketchily, pretending he wasn't grasping the situation. If Tatsuki was also confused, she did not show it on her face.
Rukia snaps back her attention towards her roommate, "W-Wait a second. Why me, exactly?"
Ichigo shrugs, "I don't know which of them works the most preparing this because I didn't see them doing it." He reasoned. "You were the one with me outside the whole time, and I thought you did well on your part."
"Well, I agree on that one." Matsumoto chimed. "I was so sure if Ichigo found out, he would break in and starts chasing everyone out." She winked at the raven haired, backing Ichigo's reason up.
"Seems like Kuchiki-san did a good job on keeping Kurosaki from ruining the plan." Ishida agreed, trying to be logical about Ichigo's decision.
Rukia could only breathe in relief that Ichigo gave a reason that makes sense. "Well, I guess that makes a point." She accepted the plate and everything went smoothly afterwards. Ichigo gave the second plate to his closest childhood friend, Tatsuki. After much considerations and Tatsuki's insistence, he finally gave Orihime the third slice.
At the midst of the party, Rukia was caught up in the middle of Ichigo's friends. The petite woman was getting her sparkling water in the fridge when Tatsuki called her out and now she couldn't find the right moment to excuse herself. Right now, Tatsuki and the other girls, whether it was the fangirls or their regular friends, are cheering and supporting Orihime after Ichigo downright ignored her attempt to ask him out in the weekend.
"Really, Orihime. There could be another chance! Look on the bright side, he gave you the third slice of his cake!" Tatsuki consoled, pointing out her most recent achievement.
"You're right," Orihime weakly smiled, "this isn't the first time he rejected my offer. I get it, he might be too busy with college."
They all know Ichigo would have crammed some time if he wanted to, but decided not to argue with Orihime's assurance to herself. Rukia just became a casual bystander with all these commotions with the girls. Honestly, she wasn't suited to emotional supports. She'd rather stay silent before she says something that might backfire her initial attempt.
"I don't get why Arisawa didn't get the first slice, though." One of the girls sneered, obviously pointing the message to Rukia as she narrowed her eyes towards the raven haired. "I mean, she is his closest friend."
Great, her plan to stay low had just gone downhill. Now most of the girls gave uncomfortable glances towards Rukia, giving knowing looks towards each other. Someone finally had enough courage to voice out what most have questioned the whole time.
Momo frowns, "hey, it's not Rukia's fault Ichigo gave her the first slice." She tried to back her friend up. Tatsuki and Orihime frowned as well, about to agree with Momo before their chance to do so was cut off by another commenter.
"I've been wondering for a while now but," another girl chimed in, ignoring Momo's remark, "Kuchiki-san, I heard you were also influenced with Kurosaki's conflict with Grimmjow."
Rukia instinctively scrunches her face at the memory. She did not need to be reminded about that ordeal.
"Just what is up with you and Kurosaki-kun?"
Rukia wondered how many times she had been asked the same question this past month. She inwardly lamented, knowing this wasn't the first and won't be the last time such a thing will happen. She definitely had to get used to this kind of situation from now on.
She was about to argue back, giving some logical counter back and calm the current riled situation. It wouldn't be good if things took a swift turn. This was supposed to be a birthday party, for goodness sake. She had just opened her mouth, about to voice her thoughts when a deeper voice from behind halted her plan.
"Something up with me and her, is none of your business."
All attentions darted towards Rukia's back, according Rukia herself. Ichigo's figure was towering her much, the distance between his chest and her face was too close so Rukia decided to turn her head and faced the gaping fangirls instead.
Author's Note: I know. It took me SO LONG to finally update lol. This was something that was supposed to be updated on Ichigo's birthday last year, but I had so many things going on that I had postponed it until now. We are finally getting to the plot now! Well, not exactly getting to the plot extremely because this is a slow-paced fic.
I made this fic, specially this chapter Ichiruki-centric because I know we have all been lacking quite some. I also tried doing as many canon reference as I can on all my stories and I see that some of you guys also noticed in my last one-shot: "meet me in the coffee shop" XD. If you guys haven't read it, go check it out because I might make it multi-chap real soon if there are many positive reactions.
This chapter might be off date and late due, but I hope you guys will let me off ahahaha. FYI, this is also my longest chapter yet, because I wanted to make it up to you guys somehow. So make sure you guys drop a review to help motivate me updating this story quickly :)