Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

A Birthday To Remember
Chapter 6
The Calm Before The Storm

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUKIA-CHAN!" the Kurosakis yelled out to Rukia as she walked dazedly into the dining room. The first thing she noticed was that Ichigo was not there, not that she cared anyway…or did she? Rukia shrugged it off and put on a smile. "Ooooh, thank you, Yuzu-chan, Karin-chan and Isshin-san! I'm so happy today!"

"You're welcome, Rukia-chan!" Yuzu and Karin said simultaneously.

"None of that 'Isshin-san' stuff, Rukia-chan. Just call me dad!" Isshin said with a hearty laugh.

Rukia smiled and laughed along.

"She's not your daughter, what the hell?" Ichigo scolded as he walked into the room.

Isshin's eyes widened at the sight of Ichigo, "MY SON! I HAVE FORGOTTEN OUR DAILY BONDING SESSION!" He launched himself at Ichigo.

"WHAA?!" Ichigo yelled as the leapt aside, just in time, to send Isshin crashing into a wall.

"Ahh. Your speed has increased drastically! YOU REALLY ARE MY SON!" Isshin announced proudly. "Now, dodge THIS!" Isshin grabbed a pretty, china vase with flower prints on it and sent it hurtling towards Ichigo.

Ichigo ducked, forcing the china vase to smash into a wall and shatter into a million pieces. Yuzu screamed.

"DAD! That was my present to Rukia-chan!" Yuzu wept.

"Old man, don't just throw anything that's lying around on a table!" Karin roared.

"W-what?" Isshin stammered. "Yuzu! Daddy is so sorry!" He started pulling funny faces and dancing around the room to try and cease Yuzu's crying.

"Idiot…" Karin and Ichigo muttered.

"A-ano…Yuzu-chan. Isshin-san, let's just have breakfast," Rukia said with a nervous laugh.

"I-i'm sorry, Rukia-chan! I'll get you another present!" Yuzu said, bowing to Rukia.

"No! That won't be necessary," Rukia insisted.

"I'll pay for it, Yuzu!" Isshin said, looking rather deadpanned.

"No, no, it's alright," Rukia said, "besides, you're already holding that birthday party for me."

"Are you sure?" Yuzu asked.

"Yes, I'm sure," Rukia said with a laugh.

"Can we have breakfast now?" Ichigo scolded as Isshin opened his mouth to say something.

Yuzu nodded and began serving 'Rukia-chan's Special Birthday Celebration Breakfast' which actually turned out to be pancakes and orange juice…

"You can eat yummy things at the party tonight," Yuzu had stated.

After the breakfast, Rukia followed Ichigo up to his room so he could collect his school bag.

"Rukia-nee-chan!!!" Kon yelled as he threw himself at her.

Rukia didn't even respond, she merely kicked him square in his lion face and let him drop to the ground.

"Ahh…what a familiar feeling of pain…" Kon sighed. Then he stood up, "Hey, Nee-chan, what's up Ichigo's ass today? He looks extra scary."

Rukia smirked, "I dunno, but it must be something big…"

Ichigo coughed, "Can you PLEASE not talk about me as if I'm not in the room!?"

"Awww, Kurosaki-kun, we we're just joking," Rukia feigned hurt in her school girl act.

Ichigo pushed all the thoughts of how cute Rukia looked like that to the back of his head. Yet, he couldn't help the blush that was creeping it's way to his face.

"Hey, Ichigo, are you alright?" Rukia asked in a worried tone. "You've turned red of a sudden…"

Ichigo scowled, "O-of course I'm alright!" he then walked to the doorway of his room.

"Whatever," Rukia shrugged as she followed Ichigo.

"Well, I'll be going to check out the goddesses in this town," Kon said as he proceeded to run out of the room. Unfortunately, he caught his plushie leg on the foot of Ichigo's bed and went flying towards Rukia's back.

"GAH!" Rukia screamed as she was pushed full throttle at Ichigo.

As Ichigo turned around to look at all the commotion, his eyes widened at the sight of Rukia flying at him.

OOF. Ichigo's back had hit the opposing wall behind him and Rukia was pressed against his chest, she had also grabbed the front of Ichigo's shirt to keep her balance. Ichigo had also unconsciously wrapped his arms around Rukia's waist to steady her.

"Ouch…" Ichigo groaned, his eyes widened as he looked down and saw Rukia looking up at him. Rukia squeaked…

"Uh…are you alright?" Ichigo asked dumbly as he felt a blush creep to his face again.

"Y-yeah…" Rukia answered, also blushing as she let go of her grip on Ichigo's shirt. Being so close to Ichigo made Rukia want to stand on her tippee toes and…ki-

"ICHIGO!" Kon yelled, "What are you doing to my beloved, Nee-chan?"

"WHAT? NOTHING!" Ichigo yelled as he quickly let go of Rukia and grabbed his bag that had fallen on the ground.

"WERE YOU TRYING RA-" Kon's words were cut short when Rukia kicked him into a wall. The stupid toy had just ruined a perfectly nice moment- ew. Gross. She so did not want to kiss that stupid strawberry…

"Come on," Ichigo scowled, "We'll be late for school." He then grabbed Rukia's hand and literally dragged her out of the house while yelling to his family that they were leaving.

This time, there was a rather awkward silence, but it didn't really matter to the two. They were both so lost in their own thoughts anyway… As they neared the school, Ichigo gingerly, almost hesitantly, let go of Rukia's hand.

Rukia glanced at him, there was that usual scowl upon his face, she sighed.

"Good morning, Kurosaki-kun! And…HAPPY BIRTHDAY! KUCHIKI-SAN!" Orihime yelled out as Ichigo and Rukia walked into the room. Orihime skipped over to Rukia and engulfed her in a tight embrace.

Rukia made choking noises and spluttered out, "T-thank you, Inoue-san…"

Ichigo just nodded at Orihime and walked over to his own group of friends. Everyone; Ishida, Chad, Keigo and Muzuiro were already there. Ichigo could still hear the girl's squealing and screaming about the party from the other side of the classroom.

"Hey, Ichigo, why is Kuchiki-san's party being held at your house?" Keigo asked, looking very puzzled.

"Ahh…" Ichigo strained to find a good excuse. "Well…she…her…Her parents are close friends with mine and…uh…they said their…house was too small…?"

Keigo nodded and grinned, "I see…I was beginning to think that you guys lived together!"

Ishida slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose and Chad coughed slightly.

Ichigo laughed nervously, not knowing what to say. He should thank Keigo for being such an idiot…

"So, she ended up inviting the whole class?" Mizuiro asked.

"Yeah… I guess…" Ichigo replied. "So..are you guys all going?"

The guys nodded.

"I don't think everyone will fit…" Ishida murmured

"Well, what are you gonna do about it? Let me hold a party in the hospital?" Ichigo asked sarcastically.

"Well, your face, Kurosaki, should get most of the patients out of their beds and scampering away…" Ishida replied.

"Oh..you bastard…" Ichigo growled as his face darkened.

"KUROSAKI, mind your language!" the teacher said as she entered the room. "You morons, get back to your seats." She addressed a group of punks at the back of the room.

The school day went by pretty normally up until lunchtime, when Ichigo walked up to Rukia and dragged her up to rooftop. He could hear yells of "Ichigo! What are you doing to Kuchiki-saaaan" from Keigo.

"Uwah, what was that for, idiot," Rukia said as he let go of her. She then kicked Ichigo in the shin.

"Ouch! Damn you, midget!" Ichigo yelled.

"All the girls are coming tonight, to my party…" Rukia said suddenly.

"I'd assume a majority of the guys are coming too…" Ichigo said with a yawn.

"…Are they all gonna fit?" Rukia asked.

Ichigo shrugged, "Who knows…who cares."

Rukia rolled her eyes, "So what did you drag me up her for?"

"Uhh…nothing…"

"What the hell? You freaking moron," Rukia growled as she kicked Ichigo in the shin again.

"Ow! Crazy bitch!" Ichigo said as he fell to the floor and nursed his shin.

Rukia stuck her tongue out at him and started to walk away.

"Hey, Rukia!" Ichigo called after her.

Rukia turned around, "What?"

"Happy Birthday…" Ichigo said, with a slight blush.

Rukia smirked, "Thanks, Ic-Kurosaki-kun." She had resorted to calling Ichigo 'Kurosaki-kun' because Keigo had just appeared on the rooftop, along with Mizuiro. "Hello, Asano-kun, Kojima-kun, Bye," she added as she jogged past them and down the stairs.

"What were you and Kuchiki-san talking about?" Keigo demanded as he sat down next to Ichigo.

"The party," Ichigo answered, it wasn't a lie.

"Oh, Ichigo! I know what we can do at the party! We can watch por-" Keigo stopped abruptly as Ichigo knocked him unconscious with a punch.

"Stupid hentai…worse than my dad!" Ichigo muttered.

"Ichigo, you're so mean," Mizuiro sighed.

"Shut up!" Ichigo growled.

"Speaking of the party though, it'll probably be the biggest one of the year. I overheard people saying that they were going to bring their girlfriends, boyfriends, brothers, cousins or whatever along." Mizuiro said.

Ichigo's mouth dropped open, there was no way everyone was gonna be able to fit in his house… "It's not gonna be the party of the year…it's gonna be the disaster of the year!" Ichigo moaned.

A/N: Sorry, sorry. I was going to put the party in this chapter too and finish this fan fiction off… But then I kind of went off track…xD
Next chapter, definitely. x)
Once again, thanks to the reviewers.