Alright, guys, i know it's been a little while, but before we start the story, i have a few announcements.

first: i am going to start replying to all you wonderful reviewers. i always feel bad about not replying, because you guys realy do make me happy and i love to hear your oppinions and whatnot, i know that i personally love to get replys for the reviews i leave, it makes me feel like i made a person happier, so i want to give you guys that same happy feeling you give me.

second: and i know that this will be posted on my profile, but i can't wait to announce it. for those of you who also read devotion, never fear, it is not dead, i'm just haing a major writers block, but now it will be co-authored by the wonderful hitsu-lover who does not actually have an account here (so sad) but will be helping me with it.

Lastly: i am going to try to give myself a dealine of two weeks and update within that deadline, please be patient with me as it may be hard, especially with school and stuff going on right now, but i will do my best to update more regularly.

and now, without furthur adoo, the next chapter!!!!!

The weekend was over, they always seemed to end too quickly for most students, but for a few, school was their escape. Toshiro, in particular, was one of the few who would choose school over home any day. Perhaps that's why he had moved up through the grades so quickly, he enjoyed learning, it was his one promise of getting anywhere in life.

On this day, he got up and left his house half and hour earlier than usual. He hadn't taken one step out of his small house all weekend, and he was ready to get out. it didn't help that one of his dad's favorite punishments for him was house arrest, probably due to the fact the boy was claustrophobic. He absolutely hated closed in spaces, and being cooped up in his house all weekend, and well…. He was pretty sure the walls were moving in toward him to crush him.

He wasted no time, rushing out the door and into the dark freedom of the outdoors. Before heading down the path of his long, narrow driveway, Toshiro turned to look at his house, even at five-thirty in the morning he could still see the outline, and he knew what it looked like anyway, so he really didn't need to see it. He shook his head, every time he looked at the little shack that served as his home he always thought the same thing. He wondered why his father was so stupid; spending all their money on alcohol instead of the much needed repairs to their house, or better yet, a new one. But no, he wasted all the money he earned on alcohol and occasionally, a small gift for his wife. Toshiro marveled at the fact that they had electricity and running water.

He turned away from his house and headed to school, he took his time in getting there, he had left early, there was no rush. He made his way down his long driveway and into the town that was just beginning to wake up. Humming a tune to himself, he walked along the sidewalk reviewing in his head the history material the teacher had given over the weekend, preparing for a possible pop quiz that were becoming too often.

Toshiro walked for two hours before making it to the school at seven thirty, school didn't start for another half-hour. As he was walking toward his homeroom class, he noticed a figure standing outside Mr. Kyouraku's classroom. He looked closer and realized it was Rukia.

"Hey, what are you doing here so early?" he startled her.

"Toshiro? I could ask you the same thing. Normally my brother drops me off ten minutes early, but today he had a really important, really early business meeting and had to drop me off earlier. I've been here for the past fifteen minutes."

"Ouch"

"Yeah, it's been really boring. But how 'bout you? Why are you here so early?"

"I started really early because I just couldn't wait to get out of the house..."

"Why?" Rukia looked puzzled. "And why would you give up on more sleep to come to school early?"

"Well….um…my house is really …boring and I like school."

"You like school?!?! Is that even legal?" Toshiro looked down at his toes, embarrassed. Rukia put her hand on his shoulder, "no, it's okay, I'm sorry. You can like school if you want."

Toshiro gave her a lopsided grin, "Yeah, I know."

She just laughed, "You have a cute little grin." She blurted out before she realized what she was saying. Toshiro's face got red.

"I'm not cute!" he protested. She laughed again.

"I'm sorry Toshiro; I didn't mean to embarrass you."

He huffed.

At that moment, Mr. Kyouraku came to let them into the classroom. "Good morning Miss Kuchiki and Mr. Hitsugaya, how are you two this morning."

"Fine and you?" the two answered in unison which slightly startled their teacher.

"Umm… fine, thanks." He opened the doors and they entered the classroom. After a while students started piling into the classroom and school had started.

"Hey guys, what's on the menu for lunch today?" Renji asked them when he got a chance.

"I would have thought that would have been one of the things you actually did study." Toshiro stated, causing the rest of them to laugh.

"Oh, shut up, I do study! And I was just wondering about it, you didn't have to bite my head off with one of your sarcastic remarks." Renji fumed, obviously in a bad mood.

The boy put his hands up and took a few steps back. "I- I'm sorry… I didn't-" Toshiro stuttered, obviously very sorry for what he'd said, even if it was just a joke. Renji saw the kid's face and felt bad for snapping back; it was just a joke after all.

"Hey, no I should be sorry. I had a bad morning, and you were just joking around. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you." Toshiro just nodded.

"Alright guys, come on, I know it's a Monday, but let's try to get along, okay." Ichigo said. "And the lunch is pizza."

"That's odd, normally pizza's on Tuesdays." Rangiku mused, index finger poised on her chin.

"Well whatever, let's just get to class." Uryu said. They made it to all their morning classes, and after what seemed like an eternity, lunch found them and gave them a much needed break.

"Alright, after school where are we going?" Ichigo asked.

"More shopping!!!" Rangiku exclaimed.

"NO!!!!" the boys shot her down. Rangiku sat down with a pout.

"The arcade?" Renji suggested, and this time it was shot down by the girls.

"The café would be nice; we haven't been there in a while." Orihime thought out loud.

"That's a good idea, Orihime, we should go there today, we'd just go and talk and stuff." Ichigo said as the other's agreed.

Toshiro stirred his spoon through the pudding he'd pact, he was a bit dismal at not being able to hang out with them, but he knew he couldn't.

"How 'bout you, Toshiro?" Ichigo asked him. "Is the café alright with you?"

"I can't go, Ichigo, you know I have to go home after school." Toshiro said, a little annoyed at having to constantly remind the older teen of this fact.

"Yeah, but I thought we figured out that if I drive you home occasionally, you can come and hang out with us sometimes. I mean, as long as your home on time it should be okay, right?"

"You live to try and get me in trouble, don't you."

"No, I'm trying to get you to have fun and hang out with us more than during school."

"Well, call me after we graduate." Toshiro smirked.

"Geez, are your parents really that uptight?" Renji remarked

"You could say that."

"But come on, Toshiro, I'll take you home around the time you should get there by walking." Ichigo persisted.

"Seriously, don't you ever give up?"

"Not Ichigo, he's as stubborn as a mule." Uryu commented.

"Well I can be just as stubborn, if not more so. And I said no." Toshiro crossed his arm over his chest.

"You just don't want to hang out with us do you."

"The guilt trip doesn't work on me, Ichigo."

"Fine, we'll just go and have a good time without you."

"Still doesn't work."

"Come on!!!" Ichigo continued to persist and it was starting to get on Toshiro's nerves.

"Do you ever quit? I said NO! And that's it, Ichigo!"

"Just think about it, okay." Toshiro threw up his hands in frustration.

"GAAHHH!! Does no mean anything anymore?"

"Hmmmm, I really don't think I know what that means." Ichigo smiled teasingly at his friends.

"He doesn't, Toshiro, and you'll learn that soon enough." Renji said.

"If he hasn't already." Uryu remarked.

"Well I know the meaning of that word, and the word obedience, and I will carry them both out. Ikari says come straight home after school, so I do."

"Ikari?" Ichigo asked.

"My dad."

"Oh, come on, kids were made to break their parents rules every once in a while, I mean, why do we have rules if we don't break them?"

"Your not actually trying to teach him how to be disobedient, Ichigo!"

"He doesn't need to teach me anything, I know that one well too, and I will not be disobedient! I don't want to get in trouble."

"Oh, your one of those goody too-shoos aren't you."

"No, I just don't want to-"

"Or maybe you're just too scared to live outside what your parents' rules. Ever heard of the "elastic clause" in the American constitution?"

"Yes we're studying th-"

"Then apply that to your situation, you'll be home on time, you just didn't come straight home."

"I don't think that ap-"

"Come on, Toshiro."

"FINE! JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!" Toshiro gave in, glaring at the triumphant grin on Ichigo's face.

"Lunch is over, guys, lets get to class." Chad said. they all began to clean up their trash and head to their last three classes. Rukia stopped Ichigo and pulled him toward her locker.

"Was that really necessary, Ichigo?" Rukia asked him.

"Ah, come on, it's all going to be okay. I just wanted him to have some fun."

"But I just don't think it was such a good idea to keep pestering him like that."

"Please don't be against me on this, Rukia; I know he'll have fun."

"Alright, although I don't agree with your method, your intentions were sweet." She smiled at him. And Ichigo could have sworn there was a flirtatious gleam in her eye, or was it just that he wanted there to be. Well it didn't matter now because she had her back turned to him and he was following her to there next class.

***

School had ended, and the group was making there way over to a nearby café that was a "hot spot" for teens after school. Filling one of the largest booths in the place, the friend sat down to have a good time.

"So I treated last time we were here," Rukia said, "Whose turn is it this time?"

"Mine." Renji answered. "What does everyone want?"

"Hazelnut late!" Rangiku exclaimed. "There my absolute favorite."

"Strawberry smoothie." Ichigo ordered.

"Small Sumatra, no cream or anything." Chad said.

"Mocha over ice, small." Uryu said.

"Pina Colada smoothie." Rukia said.

"A Carmel late with strawberry syrup and hazelnut syrup with whip cream on top and extra strawberry syrup on top!" Orihime exclaimed. Toshiro made a face and Rangiku mouthed to him that it was normal.

"How 'bout you small fry, what'll it be?" Renji asked him. He was about to protest when he remembered what Rukia told him. "if someone else was treating me; I'd take full advantage of it." He decided to take her advice, but never having been to a café he wasn't sure what to get. He scanned the menu.

"May I have an iced hot chocolate please?"

"Sure thing, Ichigo, come help me."

"Yeah, coming." The two went up to the counter and ordered. They brought back the drinks without a disaster happening (which seemed to always happen when they went there) and of course they were commended.

Toshiro got his drink and took a sip, he immediately decided it was the best thing he had ever tasted.

"Good huh?" Ichigo said seeing his contented face. Toshiro nodded. "Aren't you glad you came?" Toshiro shot him a glare.

"I'll be happy, if I get home without incident."

"You'll be fine, I promise. And if you do get caught I'll… ummm…. I'll tell your folks it was all my fault and that will make everything okay."

Toshiro rolled his eyes. "honestly, Ichigo, you think too much like a child."

"Hey if anyone should be compared to a child it should be you."

"What was that, Kurosaki?" Toshiro glared.

"Ooh, reverted to my last name, is that supposed to make me feel threatened."

"Would you two cut it out?" Rangiku said. "Just sit back and have a good time."

The two settled down and the friends engaged in conversation. Toshiro started to really enjoy himself and was truly happy he had given into Ichigo. They talked and chattered and it was almost time for Toshiro to leave. He was about to get up to leave, but someone put his arms around Rukia and an all too familiar voice sent shivers down his spine and caused him to stay rooted where he was, even if the voice wasn't directed at him.

"Hey, Rukia, How ya doing?"

"I was doing much better till you showed up." Rukia removed his arms from around her shoulders.

"Don't be so cold, Rukia, you don't have to be shy around your friends, you did promise me a date." His breath tickled her ear, causing her to recoil.

"I did no such thing!" Rukia exclaimed.

"Stop being so shy about it." In an instant, Ichigo was by Rukia's side.

"Back off, who do you think you are?"

"I should be asking you the same question." The other teen answered. "Rukia and I are friends, she's just playing around. Right, Rukia."

"As if, you sicko, just leave me alone. I already told you know to a date, both you and your brother; now get out of here before I call the cops or something."

"You wouldn't do that to me would you now, Rukia." The teen stepped toward her.

"Wanna bet?" she said pulling out her cell phone.

"Do you really think they'll come? They have much more important matters to attend to than a girl who doesn't want to be bothered by me."

Ichigo stepped in between the teen and Rukia, with Renji following Ichigo's example. "They might have more important matters, but we don't, so back off." Ichigo repeated.

"Yeah, just who the hell do you think you are?" Renji reiterated Ichigo's earlier question.

"Kane Hitsugaya." The teen answered. "And you'd do best not to mess with me."

"Just leave them alone, Kane, and get your sorry excuse for an ass back home." Toshiro said. Kane looked dumbstruck for a moment, and then glared at the boy.

"You know him?" Uryu asked Toshiro.

"Yeah," the boy responded. "He's my brother."

duh duh duh!!! what's going to happen? i know hahaha. i promise next chapter will be more interesting, i know this one was alittle dry, but it needed to be done. please review. :)