Reason Enough

Ch. 3

Heaving a mental sigh, Ichigo tugged at the stiff white collar and scowled at his reflection in the mirror. Reminding himself again of the reasons WHY he was doing this, he ran a hand through perpetually-unruly orange locks. Not that it would do any good, afterall. Or that it really mattered all that much. The penguin-suit, as he persisted in calling it, was only slightly less galling then having to call Inoue and tell her, through gritted teeth, that he had changed his mind and he would be delighted to accompany her and the others to this vein of teenage torment called a prom. Actually, Ichigo was just glad that his other friends had decided to go as a group. Not only did it make things easier cost-wise, but it meant there would be plenty of people talking, which meant that he wouldn't be expected to carry on much conversation. Turning slightly, he rolled his eyes and wondered for yet the third time why his sisters had insisted he get the jacket with the stupid tails on it. Not like it made any difference to the way it fit, but the extra material just seemed pointless. But noooooo, Yuzu and Karin, once they'd found out he was actually going to wear a tuxedo, had been adament. Apparently, tails on a tux, or the lack of tails thereof, was a very important thing. Ichigo didn't know, and frankly he didn't really give a damn, but then Yuzu had started to pout and Karin had threatened to tell their father he'd made Yuzu cry, and the least annoying thing to do had been to just scowl and agree to the damned tails. Even if it was only to get them to shut up. But he'd stubbornly asserted that no matter WHAT they did, he wasn't going to wear that stupid tie. OR the pansy-ass flower thing on his lapel. And thankfully, it had seemed as though Yuzu and Karin had recognized their victory and decided to settle for what they could get. Still, that didn't stop the giggling he could hear from the other side of the door. With a sigh and a frown, he strode over and yanked the slab of wood aside, glaring down at the two little sisters who were crouched in front of the keyhole.

"What the hell, you little perverts trying to peek at me or somethin? Go fuckin bother someone else!"

Yuzu frowned, while Karin muffled her laughter. Though neither one seemed very apologetic. In fact, Karin stepped back a pace or two and grinned even wider.

"Ichi-nii, say cheese!"

Before he could do anything, she'd pulled out a camera and snapped a quick picture of him. Grabbing Yuzu's hand, the two of them took off down the hall into their room, Karin slamming the door behind them. With a curse and a snarl, he was after them, swearing yet again as he heard the latch click just as his hand settled on the knob. Growling, he pounded on the door.

"When I get ahold of you two, you're dead and the camera's mine."

His angry diatribe was cut off by the voice of Kurosaki Isshin as his father announced quite loudly that Ichigo's "dates" were here. Snarling that he didn't have "dates", he nonetheless grabbed his wallet and stuffed it into his back pocket as he headed down the hall, ignoring his father's posturing and monologues about "growing up" and other such things. Nodding at Keigo, Chad, and the other guys at the door, he followed them out to the long stretch of gleaming black metal parked on the street. Sliding into the spacious interior, he glanced around at the limo with a low whistle.

"Someone rob a fuckin bank or somethin? This thing must cost a ton."

Mizuiro laughed and shook his head.

"No, one of my girlfriends paid for it. Said since she couldn't come with me because of her own business, that she'd make sure I had a fun time."

Ichigo rolled his eyes at his young-looking friend. Afterall, Mizuiro's exploits where women were concerned hadn't ever really surprised him. Keigo, on the other hand, looked positively crushed at the prospect. With a sigh and another tug at his collar, the orange-haired shinigami glanced around, finally coming to the realization that the limo lacked anything in the way of what could be termed female occupants.

"Ne, Keigo. Where's the girls? Inoue, Tatsuki, Rukia? If this is just gonna be guys, I'm out of here."

His friend laughed and shook his head. Trust Ichigo to look for any way to get out of going to the prom.

"No, they're coming. They all got ready over at Inoue-san's house so we're on our way to pick them up. Why? Are you and Kuchiki-san still fighting? You know that's not good for a relationship, Ichigo. You should apologize."

The scowl returned, even deeper then before.

"Shut the fuck up, Keigo. It's not any of your business. Quit acting like she's my damn girlfriend or something. Besides, since when are you the reigning expert on relationships anyway?"

God, if it wasn't bad enough he had Tatsuki and his sisters, and his own conscience on his case, now Keigo too? And it didn't help matters that he wanted to apologize. He just...didn't know how to go about doing it. Maybe he'd get lucky and she'd take his agreement to GO to this stupid thing as an apology. That would be simple, easy, and uncomplicated. It also would mean he wouldn't have to talk about feelings. Things could stay the way they were.

But...is that really what you want? For things to keep going like this?

Well no, he supposed he really didn't. At least...he didn't think he did. Did he? Honestly, he wasn't sure. He knew his own feelings, knew what they meant, but...did he know HER feelings? No, he didn't. He'd never asked, never wanted to ask. No, that wasn't right. In reality, he'd never had the courage to ask. Asking meant getting an answer. And that answer wouldn't necessarily be the one he wanted.

Isn't that what you're really afraid of, Ichigo? The answer you might get? Afraid that it won't be the one you want it to be, the one you need it to be? Afraid that she'll reject you and your feelings?

And when it came right down to the wire that WAS the seed of it. And as much as the idea soured on his mind like milk left out in the sun, it was true. He was afraid. He, Kurosaki Ichigo, who had singlehandedly fought his way through the entirety of Soul Society, who had faced down shinigami and Arrancar, who had stared death in the eyes more times then he could count, was abjectly and utterly terrified at placing his heart into the small pale hands of the very girl he had risked so much for. Petrified at the possibility of seeing those same hands pull away, letting his heart crash to the ground in a million tiny shards as she shook her head and told him "I'm sorry, Ichigo". Because as much as he wanted it, as much as he yearned to do nothing but stare into those amethyst eyes all day, the idea of how much power the tiny shinigami who owned them held over him was a sobering thought.

He was jolted out of his musings by the slowing of the limo, and Keigo's elbow rammed into his side. With a snarl and a curse, he sent his own elbow on an impact-course with the side of Keigo's head before opening the door on his side and stepping out. Stretching, he yawned and scratched the back of his head. He knew where they were, of course. Inoue's apartment building. Waiting for the others, amber-brown eyes stared up at the lit window. Though sounds were muffled, of course, it didn't disguise the raised voices or the laughter that filtered through. Despite his mood, he couldn't help but smile slightly. At least it sounded like everyone was having fun. Keigo took the initiative, practically dancing up to the door and knocking loudly. Stepping back with a wide grin, he elbowed Ichigo in the ribs again, seemingly oblivious to the nasty scowl the taller teen was directing at him. Ichigo, for his part, simply elected to stand by the limo and look bored. Afterall, what was there to get so excited about? It was just the girls, in some sort of fancy crap. Nothing special, right?

After what seemed, to him at least, to be an irritatingly long span of time but was in actuality closer to twenty minutes, Ichigo had finally decided that girls were irritating. Well, moreso then he'd already decided a long time ago. Especially when they had some sort of fancy thing to get ready for. Glancing at his watch, lines in his brow deepening, he scowled as the second hand ticked by. Did girls REALLY need this much time to just get from the upstairs to the door?! What the hell did they DO on the way down, stop and take a nap? Hearing the familiar voices again as the group finally made it's way outside, he opened his mouth to voice his annoyance at the wait and promptly froze. Brown eyes widened impossibly, mouth going dry as there mysteriously seemed to be significantly less air in the atmosphere then there had been before. Not to mention that the temperature seemed to have shot up a degree or two. A small part of his mind spoke up that Tatsuki and Inoue looked quite nice. Tatsuki in her crimson-red dress with the strapless neckline that was shaped like flames and the long skirt that hugged her slim figure, and Inoue a vision in pale blue that matched the clips in her hair, long full skirt and delicate beading reminiscent of some sort of fairytale princess. But it wasn't his childhood friend, or the girl who always smiled at him who had caught his attention. No, all of it was focused on the short, raven-haired goddess who walked behind them. Nevermind that he'd never actually applied that term to Rukia before. It fit now.

The dress was beautiful, but in Ichigo's eyes, it only served to make her look more perfect then she already did. Her hair was done up in some sort of twist, with clear crystals and silver pins in it, a few locks falling down to frame her pale face and amethyst eyes and leaving slender neck and shoulders bare save for the thin straps of the dress. Someone, Inoue probably, had done her makeup, and the subtle effect only served to accentuate already delicate features and draw attention to those eyes he now decided he would most-willingly drown himself in. And the dress… at first glance, it seemed that the spaghetti-strapped gown was black, but her every movement seemed to make the fabric shift, allowing the deep indigo underlayer to show through the black sheer fabric that made up the beaded top layer of the dress. It clung to her torso before flowing out like a waterfall around her, the skirt seeming to move with it's own motion as she walked. Tiny sparkling crystals picked themselves out in minute patterns over the dress, making it look as though she had taken the night sky itself and draped it around herself. In Ichigo's opinion, the night sky was rather a piss-poor rival for Rukia. To his credit, however, it only took a few seconds of open gawking before he realized his mouth was hanging open and he looked for all the world like a stranded fish. Glancing quickly to either side, he was at least marginally pleased to find out that the other guys seemed to have rather similar looks on their face. Especially Ishida, who had somehow been convinced to NOT wear his Quincy outfit to prom. Though he had insisted on a white tux, black being too much of a shinigami colour for his liking.

At first sight of Ichigo's impression of a beached flounder, Rukia had to suppress a giggle. Well, it seemed that regardless of what he'd said earlier, he at least noticed when she dressed up. She started to smile, to greet him, then stopped as her mind shot back to what Tatsuki had said earlier that evening.

"You mean the dumbass still hasn't apologized?! I can't believe him. Look, Kuchiki, I can't tell you what to do, but you shouldn't let him off so easily. Otherwise he'll just walk all over you."

Orihime looked slightly confused for a moment, shaking her head as she fussed with Tatsuki's earrings.

"But Tatsuki-chan, he did agree to come along with us. Maybe that's his way of apologizing."

The brunette scoffed, shaking her head. No. No way. After she'd had to get dragged into this, there was no way the fucker was getting off THAT easily. Especially not with some half-assed and feeble apology attempt like that. With a sigh, she turned to Rukia.

"OK, you can forgive him if you want, but personally I don't think you should. I mean, think about it. You've been avoiding him all week, and has he even bothered to TALK to you? If he wants to apologize, make him work for it. He's too stubborn, you know. You should just keep being pissed at him until he gets over his fucking pride and apologizes for being such a dick."

And…she had to admit that Tatsuki was right, to a degree. If he really felt sorry, then why hadn't he made any attempt to at least TRY and put things right? So maybe there was merit in what the other girl had suggested. So with a raise of her chin and a charming smile, she simply walked right past him to slip into the limo and settle herself between Ishida and Chad.

Hmph, see how you like THAT, Ichigo.

It took a moment for Ichigo's mind to catch up. Had she just…totally ignored him? Shaking his head slightly, he sighed inwardly and simply got into the limo. Great. So she WAS still mad at him. This night was shaping up to be just perfect…