Sorry for the wait, guys thanks both lalulweeb914 and Nikki3669 for motivating me and reminding me there are people who want to read this, you guys are awesome. I had a lot of work because last weekend was our school play, and I had a lead part, so I was really busy with that. then this past week, honestly, there's not much of an excuse, but because of the play, I was so tired, and kind of sick so I had no motivation, and my creative juices weren't flowing. Then I went to an art show I entered this morning (if I hadn't it would have been updated then) but I got superiors on both my entries yay! Then I came home and nothing (except dinner) could separate me from this computer until I had finished it for you guys, so enough about my life and onto the story! Because that's the best part,

without further ado…. Chapter 8.

As Ichigo entered his house, he was greeted, for once, by a completely serious Isshin. "Did you find anything out?" the man asked. Ichigo debated whether or not to tell his father, should he keep his promise not to tell anyone, or tell his father everything he knew?

"Yeah," Ichigo started, "I should have remembered, he's been having a bit of trouble at school, he got in a fight with some kids who have been picking on him. They pulled some pretty dirty tricks, and he got hurt pretty bad." The lie tasted like bile on his tongue.

"Poor kid," Isshin seemed to believe the lie, "It's sad how people can only look at the outside."

Ichigo nodded, "Yeah, he's a great kid, but no one ever gets to see it because of how they treat him."

"I'm proud of you, Ichigo, because you can treat people like people, as a reward, you get to see the best in them and they in you."

"I had good parenting." Ichigo smiled.

Suddenly, all seriousness was gone from Isshin's face, he started dancing around the room singing, "Ichigo thinks I'm a good parent! Ichigo thinks I'm a good parent!"

The younger man buried his face in his hands. "You're hopeless."

* * *

Renji grabbed his keys and got in the car. It was Wednesday, which ment only two more days before the big rivalry game. His mind had been on it all week. Now Renji wasn't part of the team, no, he was a soccer player and he ran track, but he was an avid fan of the basketball team, especially now that Chad had joined, their team's performance had skyrocketed. Chad had played varsity since his freshman year, and their team was udefeated except for the game between them and the Shinigami. But Renji knew this was their year to beat them, and become the league champions.

Renji looked at the time and silently cursed, he was going to be late. He honked the horn to signal his dad to come out faster. It sucked only having his temps. and having to wait for his parents everywhere. His dad hurried out of the house and sat in the passenger's seat, Renji hit the gas and they were off.

As he got into the school building, he saw Ichigo and Toshiro standing outside the door talking. Ichigo seemed upset by what he was saying and Toshiro was shaking his head at the teen which seemed to upset him further.

"You have to let people know, Toshiro, you can't-" he stopped abruptly as he saw the red-head approach. Renji eyed them both suspiciously, but when he saw neither of them were going to continue, he let the matter drop. He wasn't worried about finding out, if it was one thing he knew about their group, secrets don't stay secrets for long.

"Good morning!" he said cheerfully, to which both of the boys returned their greeting and they walked into the classroom. "Are you to going to Friday's game?" Renji asked them.

"Heck yeah!" Ichigo responded, earlier mood seemingly forgotten.

"I wish," Toshiro said, "But, most likely I won't be allowed to go." Here Renji acted like he was dying.

"It's tradition!" he shouted. "every rivalry game we go and stay at Rangiku's house until it's time for her to be there so she can cheer. We go, watch the most wicked game of the season, and then the boy's stay the night at someone's house to celebrate! This year it's Ichigo's!"

"It sounds like fun, but there's no way I'll convince Ikari."

"He's already letting you go to the game, remember." Rukia, who'd been listening the whole time, decided to intervene. "all you have to do is convince him to let you do the other things as well."

"I'll try," the boy sighed, "but I make no promises."

Rangiku, who had also been listening the whole time, squealed and picked up the child in a huge bear hug. "This is going to be so fun!" she exclaimed. Toshiro clenched his teeth to keep from yelling and closed his eyes tight to hold back the tears of pain as her arms squeezed the burnt, sensitive part on his back.

"Rangiku!" Ichigo yelled at her, getting her to release her captive. He stumbled as she let go, but caught himself on a desk. She looked at him, concerned.

"I'm fine, you just caught me off guard." He answered her unspoken question. Ichigo sent him a glance of disapproval at the lie, but otherwise let the matter slide. He knew he couldn't expect him to spill everything to everyone, he just didn't know that it would be this hard not to expect him to.

As their teacher entered the room, they all took their seats, and class began. The day came and went very quickly, the student's didn't have their brains focused on their lessons, and the teacher's didn't seem to care. It was one of those rare days where the entire school seems to be in the agreement that learning was not essential for that day. Soon three o'clock rolled around and the building emptied faster than if there had been a fire. The only people remaining were basketball players, cheerleaders, and their coaches.

Toshiro made his way to his house, running over and over in his mind how he was going to ask Ikari. There were many possible scenarios that could occur, the best, if he rejected (which was almost a definite), was that the man would simply say no, but there were others which the boy didn't want to think about. Too soon for the child, he was standing on the doorstep of his house, and was opening the door. He couldn't wait to ask, it had to be the first thing he did, or he would never build up the courage to do it.

He walked into the house and saw Ikari watching their small television. He walked up to him and decided to wait until commercial to disturb him, it wouldn't be wise to do it during the program. He studied the man to try and decipher what kind of a mood he was in.

Ikari was lounged comfortably on the couch drinking sprite. WAIT!!! Toshiro did a double take and confirmed that it was indeed sprite! Ikari was not drunk! Toshiro thanked God for this small miracle; he suddenly had a small surge of hope.

Commercial rolled around an Toshiro made his move. "Ikari?" he asked hesitantly. The man turned to face him.

"What?" his voice was gruff, but not as harsh as it usually was.

"Well… ummm… you know how you're letting me go to the game Friday?" he started.

"Oh yeah, I am, aren't I. well what do you want? Don't ask for money, 'cuz you're not gettin' it."

"No, not that, just." He hesitated. Come on, Toshiro, just do it! "some of the guys are getting together before and after the game, you know, staying the night, and I was just wondering if.. maybe.. I could too?"

Ikari looked thoughtful for a minute, then turned back to the television. The commercial break was over. "Sure." He said.

Toshiro was astounded, he wasn't exactly sure he'd heard him right, but he didn't dare double check in case the man changed his mind. He ran up to his room and thanked his lucky stars for the good luck he'd had that day.

* * *

Ichigo sat at his desk doing the homework he'd forgotten to do the night before, hoping to get it done in homeroom. A shadow loomed over his desk, he looked up into the face of Toshiro. The boy was four inches away from his face and he was smiling, a big genuine one.

"What?" Ichigo asked, confused but curious.

"Ikari's letting me go!" he exclaimed, "He's actually letting me go to the game, Ran's house, and spend the night at yours!"

"That's awesome!" Ichigo shouted, "I can't believe it! That's so amazing!"

"What?" Renji came into the conversation.

"Toshiro's allowed to spend all of Friday with us!" Ichigo answered. Renji hooked his arm around the boy's neck in a death grip and gave him the biggest noggie in noggie history. The smaller male wormed his way out of the other's grasp and rubbed his slightly aching head.

"I wouldn't have asked if I knew you were going to do that!" Toshiro commented.

"Aw, come on!" Renji pouted, "I didn't rub you that hard!"

"Yes you did!" Toshiro accused, "and don't pout, it makes you look like Rangiku." Renji quickly pulled his bottom lip back in place.

"And what's wrong with looking like me?" The curvaceous teen asked them.

"Nothing!" Renji exclaimed, then muttered under his breath, "if you're a girl."

They bickered back and forth for a while, then suddenly, Rangiku turned a cheery face to her youngest friend. "You get to come to my house and see it for the first time."

Toshiro nodded dumbly. He found it funny that she was so excited by a little thing like that, but then, he couldn't deny the fact that he was extremely excited as well, he wanted to know more about his friends, and also, this would be his first night over at someone's house… with permission, doing the things teenage boys would normally doing. The time when he was unconscious at Ichigo's didn't count. He smiled at everyone around him, this would be his first real weekend to be a normal kid, and he couldn't wait.

* * *

Friday was here!!! Finally, the halls were decorated in school spirit; the entire student body seemed pumped up with energy for that night. Oh yeah, it was going to be a good game. Rangiku and Orihime were dressed in their cheer jumpsuits, and Chad was dressed in his basketball one. Throughout the day, the teacher's would cheer them on, and say that they couldn't wait to see the game (except Kurotsuchi, he found no interest in the sports, and thought they were useless.)

Morning classes went by quickly, and by lunch, everyone was buzzing with energy. The second half of the day went by slower than everyone would have liked, but soon it was over too.

The group met outside the school and made their way to Rangiku's house. Chad rode with her, leaving his car at the school since they had to be back at the same time anyway. Uryu drove Orihime and Renji, and Ichigo took Rukia and Toshiro. When they arrived at the house, Toshiro couldn't stop his mouth from flying open. Rangiku's house was not a house, but rather a mansion! A big white one with a beautiful garden in the front with a stone path going through it that led to a large porch with a chair-swing and some other nice chairs.

They entered the house, the first room was large and tile floored, it connected to two rooms and in the middle was a large, winding staircase with ivory railing. They all went up the huge flight of stairs and started down a long carpeted hallway.

"This is your house!" Toshiro whispered, astonished. Rangiku laughed and explained.

"My father owns the largest fashion industry in Japan, his company ships to the majority of the counties retail stores, and my mom is the chief designer for his company, so combined, their income is extensive." Toshiro could only nod.

"Well, here's my room!" she exclaimed as she opened two white doors, each with an R carved into them. The room was large, with a walk out window to a balcony. Shear pink curtains were on each side of the window, her bed was a queen with light pink bed sheets, and a white canopy overhanging. There were mahogany drawers and two doors leading to a walk-in closet, in the corner of her room was a seventy-two inch screen TV.

"This is you're room!" Toshiro whispered.

"Well, you're reaction is calmer than Orihime's," Rangiku laughed, "she ran around the room freaking out at every little thing." Orihime blushed.

"Come on!" Renji exclaimed, "let's get this party started! Go get the snacks, Ran"

"Don't be so impatient and rude!" Uryu exclaimed.

"Come on, Uryu, you know I don't care. Renji, why don't you come help me while the other's pick out a movie."

"Alright." Renji quickly got up and followed her out the door. They returned a little bit later with a ton of junk food and soda.

"Que pelicula?" Rangiku asked.

"Geez, Ran, can't you speak in your own language!" Renji exclaimed.

"If I'm going to be an internationally known fashion designer, I must speak all languages, so I ask again, quell film? Welcher Film? Movie nini? Do any of these languages work for you?"

"Dammit, Ran-"

"She's asking what movie we picked," Toshiro intervened, "and it was Shanghai Knights."

"I love that movie!" she exclaimed, and quickly took her seat among her friends.

They ate and laughed at all the hilarity of the movie, loving every bit of the fun they were having together, they even got in a small food fight. As soon as the movie was over, though, Chad and Rangiku had to leave.

"Don't wait up." She winked as they left. Not long after, it was time for the rest of them to go as well.

* * *

"Go! Go! GOOOO!!" Renji yelled. "that's it! Yes….Ohhh… watch out!...Dunk it!...WOOOHOOO!!!!"

The Ryoka had scored a point bringing them in the lead. The cheerleaders did a cheer as the boys got ready to go again.

"Take that you stupid Shinigami!" Ichigo yelled, "we're in the lead."

"Not for long," Toshiro said as the next play started. "Watch number fifty three, Izuru Kira, he's got the ball, he'll do a slide to the left, twist around player sixty-four from our team, then shoot it from the three-point line." True to his words, Kira did that exact move, bringing his team ahead by one point.

"Those stupid Shinigami." Renji muttered, then turned to the boy, "How did you know what he was going to do? And how did you know his name? he wasn't announced in the starting five."

"I used to go to that school, and I went to one of their games. That was Izuru's favorite move."

"You were one of them! If I had know that, I never would have befriended you!" Renji joked.

"You memorized his favorite move by only going to one of their games?" Rukia was astonished.

"Well, I was paying really close attention, it was my first game, and I had to figure out all the rules."

"You've only been to one other basketball game! This is only you're second!?" Renji was floored, his whole life, outside soccer and track season, revolved around basketball.

"Yes, but this one's more fun."

"You understand the game? Did anyone explain it to you?"

"No, but I figured it out."

"You are some kind of freaky genius, boy."

"I guess." Toshiro shrugged, turning his attention back to the game. "Chad's in."

"Alright Chad!" Ichigo yelled, "show these pansies how to really play this game!" the group cheered as their friend scored a point, bringing their team ahead again.

Suddenly, a voice was heard behind them.

"Shiro-Chan?"

Hahaha! Cliffhanger! I'm so mean, but you all can probably guess who it is, but what's going to happen? O.o who knows? I'm not telling mwuahahahaha!!! please review