Isshin poked his head in Ichigo's room.
"Oh Ichigo I heard you were late today son! Were you picking up some girls?" Said the ever perverse Isshin.
Not getting response from Ichigo, Isshin decided to provoke him more.
"How could you be late to pick up your precious siste-"
A shoe connected with his face.
"LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE OLD MAN!!" Ichigo roared at Isshin from his bed.
"Gezz, what do you have to do to get some peace and quiet around here?" Ichigo wondered aloud. With his dad safely out of his room, Ichigo was free to finish his homework and practice playing his guitar.
The large double doors to the Kuchiki mansion creaked open, letting everyone in a mile radius know that Rukia Kuchiki was, indeed, home.
I really need to talk to nii-sama about this damned door… thought Rukia seconds before she was bombarded by maids.
"Kuchiki-sama!" "Kuchiki-sama!" "Kuchiki-sama!" The words rang through the front entryway of the mansion. Rukia had long since given up waving off the persistent maids and only responded when asked a direct question.
"Kuchiki-sama! Can I get you something to eat?"
"No thank you."
"Kuchiki-Sama, shall I bring your bag upstairs?"
"It's quite alright, I can handle it."
"Kuchiki-sama! Shall I get a bath ready?"
GAH! THE QUESTIONS ARE ENDLESS!!
"Kuchiki-chan!!"
Rukia looked up from the floor, where she had been staring to avoid eye contact with the ever determined servants.
"Ah! Soi-fong!" Rukia said surprised.
"Kuchiki-chan! Would you like me to 'escort you up stairs'?"
Rukia chucked at the inside joke between her and her closest family-like relative.
"That would be delightful, if you wouldn't mind."
"Anything for Rukia-chan." Soifong smiled.
With that the two girls quickly ran up the long winding staircase, both relived to get away from the sea of maids and endless questions.
Rukia entered her big double-door bedroom wondering to herself. What was she going to tell Byakuya-nii-sama?
All of this started with her adoption into the Kuchiki family. Her sister, Hisana, had meet Byakuya-san and had gotten married soon after. Before Byakuya, Rukia and Hisana had lived a very…unpleasant life.
Both their parents had died when Rukia was very little, and the two sisters had gone from one relative to another, being constantly thrown around. With each new 'toss of the troublesome kids' to a new relative, a deeper scar grew on Rukia's heart. She remembered herself wondering:
Why does no one want us Hisana?
Hisana had looked very sad when she turned to Rukia.
It's not that no one wants us Rukia; it's just that we are too hard to care for…
Then one day, they ran away from it all. That was it; they were out on the street.
Rukia shuddered, remembering the long cold months that they cared for each other with no one else… the way Hisana had to …sell herself to various men…just to get by and survive. Rukia was only nine… 'You're to young, and you have to remain pure, unlike me.' Hisana had told her one time.
Rukia remembered how Hisana's health had declined dramatically during the months outside. She was so sick, sometimes she couldn't even move…
Then magically, one rainy day in October, he had appeared in front of Hisana. Byakuya Kuchiki happened upon Hisana and Rukia that day, and finding the state Hisana was in, decided that "such natural beauty mustn't be wasted on that of a prostitute" brought her to the Kuchiki estate. She always called him her angel, and that's how it was. It was obvious how much they loved each other, and it was obvious that no matter how much the Kuchiki family protested, Byakuya would do anything for Hisana.
Rukia sighed and looked at the ceiling of her enormous bedroom. Just then, she heard a knock on her large double doors, and a voice came through.
"Rukia-san," Came the small voice of Hanatarou, one of her favorite and most adorable servants.
"Kuchiki-sama requests to see you in his office immediately…"
Oh shit.
"Thank you Hanatarou," Said Rukia getting off of her bed, and started walking towards her closet. "Please tell him I will be there promptly."
"Very well, Rukia-san!" came Hanatarou's voice from behind the door.
Well here goes nothing. Thought Rukia as she inhaled and pushed through the enormous oak doors of her "brother's" study.
The room was large and well lit; books lined every inch of the wall and large lamps stood in almost every corner. The shelves were stocked with every size and kind of book: Reference, business, economics, art, history, and even gardening (those were Hisana's). Rukia never failed to be impressed by the large collection of books that stretched the around the walls, but her attention was immediately averted from them by the sound of a very agitated "Rukia."
The voice pierced her soul and heart; it sounded cold and civil.
"Good afternoon, Byakuya-nii-sama." She said with a bow.
"Rukia, have a seat." Byakuya gestured at a tall seat in front of his large oak desk, where he sat behind it in a grand chair. His hands were interlaced and were on the laid across the top of the desk, his eyes hard and penetrating.
Rukia swallowed. Byakuya-nii-sama always looked so…intimidating.
She walked slowly, the way she was taught, over to the chair and gracefully sat down the way a noble was supposed to.
"You summoned me, Nii-sama?" Rukia said politely.
"Yes," He said in a deep voice. "Rukia, I've called you here mainly to make sure school is going alright."
"…" Rukia was
slightly confused.
"Are you sure that you wouldn't like to
transfer to a noble school…?"
"Thank you Nii-sama, but I'm very happy where I am now." Rukia said bowing her head. "I've made a lot of friends and I learn a lot in school. I have top grades in all my classes and I accel in all of my courses."
Rukia was sure that this meeting was more of Hisana's idea then Byakuya's. Her sister was always worried about her well being…
"Very well, Rukia. You happiness is important to me, as well as you academic performance, but I can see that you indeed do not wish to change schools. That is all I wished to discuss with you. You may leave now."
"Ah, Nii-sama!" Rukia said without thinking.
Byakuya raised an eyebrow at the sudden interruption, and Rukia quickly caught herself.
"Excuse my interruption, Nii-sama. I just wished to discuss some social business with you before we conclude our meeting." She looked him square in the eyes, so that he knew she was serious.
"Yes Rukia?"
Deep inhale.
"Byakuya-nii-sama, I would like to attend the dance at the opening dance studio this Saturday." Rukia said quickly. She had decided that it was best to just ask Nii-sama instead of making up some kind of excuse.
There was a long strained silence that engulfed the entire room. The minutes seemed to take extra long and each tick of the clock seemed to echo throughout the estate.
"Rukia," Said Byakuya finially, "you know how I feel about that kind of social gathering…"
Rukia looked down at her shoes.
Maybe I should have lied…
"However,"
Rukia's head snapped up.
"I know how Hisana would feel if I restricted your social activities any more, so I will allow you to go this Saturday, under the condition that you be escorted by one of my body guards. That is all."
Rukia was shocked to say the least. Her brother, Byakuya Kuchiki, was actually permitting her, Rukia Kuchiki to go to a social gathering?!
Not forgetting her manors, Rukia quickly recovered from her sudden shock and bowed,
"Domo Arigato gozaimos!" She slowly got up, and walked out of the room, down the hallway and into her own room before she allowed her emotions to show.
YES!! Her mental self shouted. I can't believe that I can go!! This is going to be sooo much fun!! I can't wait! I've never been to a 'dance' so this should prove interesting! And with that she pulled out her homework books, though she was to excited to really work at it. So she set it aside and instead took out her sketch book and began to draw.
Outside the sun was beginning to set, causing long shadows to form across the famous courtyard to the elegant mansion.
The suns first rays began to peek over the sleepy town of Karakura. They moved along the street and washed into the room of a particular orange haired boy.
Ichigo was sleeping soundly, exhausted from another late night of lyric writing. The usually agitated teen looked so peaceful sleeping like that that it was almost tragic when his large, flamboyant and goat-bearded alarm-clock burst through his door screaming his name.
"IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICHIGOOOOO!!"
Oh god, here it comes…
"IT IS TIME TO ARISE FROM YOUR SLUMBER MY SON!! 3"
"Get-out-of-MY-ROOM!!" Ichigo yelled.
Downstairs Karin and Yazu were awake, and Yazu was already working on breakfast.
"Sounds like Ichi-nii is up." Said Karin sarcastically.
Ichigo came rushing down the stairs an instant later
Rukia nuzzled her warm soft pillow. Somewhere, far off, there was an annoying buzzing sound trying to tear her from her current sanctuary in her warm cozy bed. The sound grew louder, and louder and no matter how much she tried to wave it off or ignore it, it wouldn't go away.
"Rukia-san…"
Nooo, I don't want to…
"Rukia-san. It's time get up and out of ….."
Mmm, I'd rather not…
"Rukia-san!"
Her world began to shake.
"Uhhmmmann" Rukia mumbled.
"Rukia-san, I'm sorry to wake you, but you're going to be late to school!" Came Hanatarou's worried voice.
Mmmm…school?...SCHOOL!!
"OH SHIT!!" Said Rukia suddenly sitting up vertically, surprising Hanatrou.
With that, the rich teen raced into her enormous walk-in closet and picked out her pristine, pre-ironed school uniform.
It was bad enough to be late for breakfast, and what's worse facing the wrath of a glaring nii-sama, but then having to miss the bus on top of that?!
Could this day GET much worse?! Thought Rukia riding in the passenger seat of her brothers 2009 black Lotus car.
People stared at the tinted windows as they drove by on the early morning streets of Karakura. For once, Rukia was glad the windows were tinted; otherwise she would get more then her fair share of attention.
As the car rolled up to the school gates Rukia began to wish that her brother didn't insist on her being driven in the most expensive car he owned. Many of her fellow classmates had stopped whatever they were doing and started gawking at the shiny black car in awe. Most of them had never even heard of this kind of car let alone seen the new 2009 model. Rukia started turning pink when the car stopped across the street from the front entry way to the Karakura High school.
Deep breath. Focus. You can do this without everyone thinking you're a complete-
"Kuchiki-sama?" Kira's voice cut through her concentration.
"We're here now. Would you like me to escort you to the front of the school?"
"Ah, no thank you, Kira-san. I'll be fine from here. Thank you again for driving me this morning." Rukia said turning to look at him one last time before she was 'fed to the wolves'.
"My pleasure as always, Kuchiki-sama." Said Kira.
Rukia reached in and grabbed her Chappy backpack, which was heavy due to her course load and attempted to sling it over her back as she watched Kira drive away. Rukia turned toward the school and began to cross the street quickly without looking. She was determined to get into the school building as fast as she could, and maybe that way no one would know that she was the one that drove up in the shiny new car.
Just then, she saw something come speeding at her out of her peripheral vision.
A screeching of tires was heard, and all was still.
Ichigo had been late that morning, and to make matters worse he had been parked in and couldn't find his dad's keys.
"Gaaah!" Ichigo growled mostly to himself. The angry teen ruffled his blazing spiked hair and continued to pace about the house waiting for his dad to get out of the shower.
The rest of the morning hadn't been much better. He had been racing against the clock all morning getting stuck behind traffic lights and a very nice looking car, which could only belong to one of the noble families in Karakura.
He had been speeding into the parking lot of the school when, out of nowhere, a small figure suddenly was in the middle of the road!
Ichigo slammed on the breaks to his car, leaving a trail of skid marks across the long pavement.
Ichigo sat behind the wheel of his car stunned. What the hell just happened?!
"HEY!! WATCH IT YOU ASSHOLE!!" Came a shrieking voice from out in front of his car.
Ichigo jumped; his heart leapt into his throat.
"JUST WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" The petite girl slammed her fists on the hood of his car!
Ichigo recovered from his shock; no one hit his car! He had paid for it with his own money! He'd be damned before he let some girl wreck it!
"I'm drive'n obviously!! And what were you doing shorty?! Not looking that's for sure!" He spat at the girl through his open driver side window. Unfortunately, this wasn't a girl he should have chose to pick a fight with.
"Wha-what?!" She said enraged.
"I said, you should watch where you're going midget!" Ichigo growled.
Then the short girl did something he didn't expect. She walked around to the drivers side window and stared him square in the eyes. If looks could kill, Ichigo felt he would be long dead by now. Her piercing violet eyes bore into him, and probably were causing damage to his retinas.
"What did you call me?" She said coldly.
"Which? Shorty or midget?" He smirked watching her reaction turn steadily darker.
Suddenly a hand came through the window and grabbed his shirt collar and dragged it so Ichigo's upper torso was almost out of the car!
Holy Hell this girl is strong!
He was now eye level with the strange girl.
"I swear, if you ever call me that again I'll-"
Both teens tore away from each other for a single second distracted.
What was…
"OH SHIT!! SCHOOL!!" They cried in unison both forgetting about the incident that had just occurred
Without warning, the strange, short girl let go of Ichigo's collar and ran towards the school building, while Ichigo recovered from the second heart attack he had received that morning, grumbled and attempted to find a parking spot. He was going to be a few minutes late to class…
Both teens were now more concerned about getting to class, reasonably late and trying to come up with a liable excuse for their tardy-ness.
"Kurosaki! You're late!" Cried Ichigo's teacher, throwing a whiteboard eraser at his head as he entered the class room.
"Sorry Sensei, I, er, had car troubles this morning."
"Oh, well, that's ok then. As long as you didn't run anyone over."
The class stared at their sensei. Sometimes she could be so weird…
Wow, that was…ironic? Oh, I wonder if that girl is ok… Then Ichigo remembered the conversation.
….Oh yeah. Maybe I should have hit her harder…then at least I would be doing the world a favor by subtracting one less bitchy girl…Ichigo thought to himself angrily.
Orihime wouldn't leave her alone.
"RUKIA-CHAN!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WERE HIT BY A CAR?!" Orihime gasped.
"Are you sure you're alright? You aren't hurt are you? Should we take you to the nurse? The hospital? Are you hungry?"
Rukia was now strongly regretting telling Orihime and Momo about the incident earlier that morning.
"Rukia-chan, are you sure you're alright?? You aren't too hurt are you? And to think you didn't even go to the nurse…" Momo said with a frightened voice.
"I told you two already, I'm fine!" Rukia said annoyed at her friends persistence.
"Well at least tell us who ran you over! I'll kick the snot outta em!" Said Shuhe Hisagi.
"Ah, that's alright, Hisagi-kun. I can do that myself." Said Rukia. "Arigato, for the offer though." She smiled.
"Teh, that jerk will get what's coming to him soon enough." Scowled Hisagi.
"So Rukia-chan, can you still go shopping with us right after school right?" Orihime said in more of a begging tone then an asking one.
Rukia sighed to herself.
"Yes."