DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach. If I did, I'd be deliriously happy.

A/N: Thanks much for all your reviews! I've reached the 20 mark now! Yippee!!! – Kuchiki-chan

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"Ichiiiiiiiiigoooooo!!!"

"Nice to see you too." Ichigo pried Keigo off his arm. "What do you want?"

"Where is our lovely transfer student?"

"Why the hell are you asking me?!"

Keigo narrowed his eyes. "As if you don't know."

Ichigo started sweating. Did Keigo find out about…?

"I mean, come on! You're basically the only person she ever hangs out with. You're with each other so much, I wouldn't be surprised if she lived with you."

"Wha…what're you talking about?!?"

Keigo kept whining. "So spill! Where is she?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Aha!" Keigo grinned. "So you do know where she is!"

Ichigo scowled. "I never said that."

"You didn't need to say anything. It was written all over your face."

"It was not."

"Was too."

"Was not."

"Was to – "

"What are you two bickering about now?" Mizuiro had wandered over.

Ichigo sighed a breath of relief. "Good timing, Mizuiro. Keigo was just bugging me."

Mizuiro laughed. "As usual. Oh, and Ichigo. Where's Rukia?"

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"So she is at your house!" Keigo said triumphantly.

"Stupid, she's only staying as a patient because she passed out last night. Now cut it out."

"Passed out?" Mizuiro was curious. "Why, was she drinking at the dance?"

"No, it was just…too much for her. She's never been to a dance before."

"Well, neither have you."

"Hey, who was that guy with the red hair?" asked Mizuiro.

"Huh…? Oh. That was…Renji Abarai. He doesn't go to our school."

"Yeah, we saw you guys last night when we got there! It looked like you guys were arguing or something."

"We don't exactly…get along very well. See, Rukia – "

"Ohhhhhhhh." Keigo nodded his head wisely. "I see how it is now."

"What?"

"You were fighting over the transfer student! Duh!"

"WHAT?!? NO WAY!!"

"Getting defensive?"

"N-no, I'm just saying that's ridiculous."

Mizuiro raised his eyebrows while listening to them squabble, but didn't comment.

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"ICHIGO, YOU JERK!!!!!!!!" Ichigo turned around, only to get pinned to the wall by Tatsuki. "You set Orihime up!"

"No, I didn't," he said as calmly as he could.

"Orihime is bawling her eyes out right now! And not because you stood her up, because she's worried about YOU! You selfish, ungrateful JERK!!!" Tatsuki yelled.

"I didn't…wait, what? She's crying because she's worried about me?"

"Yeah, 'cause she thinks she might have 'hurt' you or some other crap! Or that maybe she ruined your perfect date with Rukia." Tatsuki narrowed her eyes.

"Look, I never said I'd go to the dance with her! I just asked her if she wanted to go, not with me!" Ichigo said, feeling lamer by the second.

"Oh, that's really nice. You knew she would assume you were asking her out, didn't you? You just used her…so you could get a date with Rukia." Tatsuki paused to take a breath. "She didn't even know that Renji guy! And you were planning for them to get together?!" Tatsuki was fuming, but she let go of his collar weakly.

Ichigo was speechless. Now that he thought about it, it had been a pretty mean thing to do. But…he'd really wanted to go with Rukia…and not just because of Keigo's dare either…

"I'm sorry," is all he said before turning his back on her and walking away.

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"Kuchiki-san, you really shouldn't get up."

"I'm fine! Yesterday I was just feeling a bit…tired…"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! I mean…I'm fine."

"Well…okay then. Just don't strain yourself, okay?"

Rukia nodded and sat up. She had decided not to go to school that day…not that her grades really mattered anyway.

"Hey! I'm home!" She heard the door open and close. "How's Rukia?"

"Ichigo!" She eagerly ran towards him. "Did I miss anything in school?"

"Since when did you care?" he joked. She kicked him in the shin in reply.

Ichigo wasn't sure if he should tell Rukia about what had happened with Tatsuki. After all, it hadn't really been her idea…it had been his. He wasn't sure what he'd been thinking…but in the heat of the moment it had seemed like a good idea. And he couldn't stand the look on Rukia's face when she'd ran over to him, asking him to take Orihime to the dance. She'd looked so desperate…yet so disappointed…

"Hey, so…are you feeling any better?"

"Yeah! Yesterday was no big deal. I got over it."

"Well, that's good to hear." He set down his schoolbag. "So…anything I missed while I was away?"

"I wouldn't know…I only just got up," Rukia said. "Your family is really nice though…Yuzu cooked a lot of stuff for me!"

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Karin suspiciously raised one eyebrow before opening it. There stood…

"RENJI! What are you doing here?" exclaimed Rukia.

"Rukia?! What the hell are YOU doing here?" Renji said. "I thought you were living with Urahara!"

"Hey, Renji. Sorry, but this is the hospital…the insane asylum is over there," Ichigo said sarcastically.

"Why you son of a…" Renji growled.

"Hey everyone! What did I miss? And…who's this?" Isshin had suddenly walked into the room.

"Um…this is Renji…my friend…" (Ichigo's eye twitched visibly) "…and…I guess he's visiting," said Rukia weakly.

"Hey!! No problem! Come on in, Rukia's friend!" Isshin yelled and started walking out of the room. "There's food in the fridge…"

"Hey. Karin. Yuzu. You guys just go upstairs, okay? We have to sort some stuff out," said Ichigo, ushering them up the stairs.

"Whatever." Karin rolled her eyes but kept walking. Yuzu trailed behind her.

Ichigo sighed after hearing their door close. "So…what's it now? Are you mad that Rukia wanted to go to the dance with me, and not you?" he taunted.

"Ichigo…" Rukia warned.

"I'm sure she had plenty of reasons…" he continued.

That was the last straw. "KUROSAKI! YOU ARE SO DEAD!" Renji roared.

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A slightly weird ending. But you know what's going to happen…Renji will challenge Ichigo, Ichigo will make fun of him before beating the crap out of him…now all I need to decide is how Rukia will react about it. Any suggestions? – Kuchiki-chan