"As usual, your drawing sucks Rukia!"
Orihime could only watch as Rukia proceeded to throw her sketchbook at Ichigo's face which resulted in a huge argument.
"That hurt, why did you'd do that Rukia!?"
"Well, cause you said my drawing sucked! Tell him Orihime, right it's cute?"
Orihime could only stare and then muttered a soft "yes" before Ichigo barged in again.
"I wouldn't say that if it wasn't true!"
Orihime could only watch in embarrassment as continued to fight. She had recently invited them to her apartment to eat dinner since it was summer again. They were soon to be juniors and Orihime was so happy that Captain Kuchiki and Captain Commander Yamato let Rukia stay the whole year. Lately, both Ichigo and Rukia have been arguing a lot as of lately. There was never a time they did not argue.
"Fine then, I'm leaving!" said Ichigo.
"Then leave!" replied Rukia.
As Ichigo left, Orihime could see Rukia cast her head down. "
What's wrong Rukia?"
"Nothing Orihime. I am going to take a walk." Rukia left but Orihime could swear she saw a tear drop.
The next day, Ichigo woke up and found that Rukia was not there. As he went downstairs to eat breakfast, his father came out of nowhere yelling "SUPER SPIRAL KNEE SPECIAL!!" Ichigo turned and knocked his father down with a well placed roundhouse kick.
"Knock it off! Do you have to do that every morning?"
"Well, ahem, right. Where's Rukia?" asked Isshin.
"How should I know, I am not her keeper. Anyway, thanks to you, I have lost my appetite. I'm gone."
"HEY! Get back here and face your old man!"
"Forget it." said Ichigo as he walked out.
Ichigo was deep in thought. Where was Rukia. Sure, she could take care of herself, but still, he could not help shake the feeling that he caused this. Lately, he had feeling very weird around Rukia. Every time another guy got too close to her, he would feel uncomfortable. Even when it was just Ishida or Chad, he could not help feeling somewhat bothered by them being close to Rukia. And when he was on his own, he could not stop thinking of Rukia. In real life, all they ever did was argue, but alone, he could not stop thinking of her. In the end, Rukia belonged to nobility and he was just a lowly human. It did not matter how he felt. He continued to walk and soon found Rukia sitting on her own near the river just outside Kakura town. He then walked towards her.
"Hey, what you doing here Rukia? Why didn't you come home?" Rukia turned and found that there were slight, very slight bags under her eyes. She hid her emotions well, but something told Ichigo that yesterday he had pushed her too far.
"I felt like going to Uruhara's yesterday, that's all, is that a problem?" snapped Rukia.
"Well, you could have just told me!"
"Who am I to tell you where I should go, Ichigo?"
Ichigo started to think to himself.
"Crap, what am I doing. Here I was worried sick about her and now, all I can do is argue, stop Ichigo stop!"
"You're right Rukia. I have no right to tell you where you should go."
Rukia was taken aback. What was with this change of heart. All of a sudden, Rukia could see that sick puppy look that the strawberry would put on when he felt like he let someone down.
"Anyway Rukia, guess I'll leave you alone then."
Ichigo started to leave, when Rukia called him back.
"Wait, Ichigo."
"What is it Rukia?"
"Ichigo…well…um…stay a bit cause… I forgot Chappy at your place and what if I get attacked by bad guys."
"Ichigo knew that Rukia was a bad liar but he decided to stay."
"Sure Rukia, sure."
So both sat in the grass, watching the water go by silently.
"Kurosaki-kun! Do you and Rukia want to go to the movies with me and Ishida tonight?"
"I don't know Inoue, me and Rukia were thinking abou-"
"Sure Orihime, we'll go, RIGHT Ichigo?"
Rukia gave Ichigo the most menacing glare she could muster. It worked.
"Yeah, um, sure."
As Ichigo and Rukia walked home, Rukia then asked, "Ichigo, what is a movie?"
At that moment, Ichigo felt like falling flat.
"Gosh this is annoying. You mean to tell me that you set up a double date for a movie and you do not even know what it is?"
"Well, it sounded fun."
"Well, I guess it is."
"So, what is a movie, Ichigo?"
"Sheesh, do I have to tell you?"
"Yes!"
"Nah, just wait until later on tonight and you'll find out."
"Ichigo!"
Later on that Friday evening, Rukia was taking what seemed like eternity getting dressed. Yuzu was trying to help Rukia choose what to wear.
"Rukia, what the hell is taking you so long?"
"Nii-chan, please don't yell, we are still dressing Rukia up."
"Yeah Ichigo, I am still getting dressed up!"
"Well hurry up, will ya we are going to miss the movie!"
Another five minutes passed and Rukia was still not out.
"If you do not get out in three minutes Rukia, you can bet we ain't going anywhere!"
"Hold it Ichigo! Wait, what is that shirt, Yuzu?"
"Oh, that's my bunny t-shirt."
"Oh, it's so cute! Can I wear it?"
"Yeah Rukia, as long as it fits."
"Now I need some pants."
"Here, you can borrow Karin's pants. Don't worry, she's with dad right now, she won't notice."
"Ok, sure."
After two minutes, Ichigo was presented with Rukia wearing a tight bunny t-shirt and a rather baggy pair of pants. Ichigo thought she looked cute, almost child like.
"You make me wait over an hour and THIS is what you wear!"
"Cute huh?"
"Yeah, um...sure."
"What do you mean that?"
"Exactly like I said, let's go."
They met Ishida and Orihime at the entrance. As it turned out, since they were late, they could not watch the new 10,000 BC movie that came out and instead, had to settle for "Reptile's Lair", a cheesy B-movie that somehow made its way into theaters. As they walked in to buy snacks, Orihime was going crazy.
"Oh, Uruyu, please buy some Hershey's. And a large popcorn. And a soda. And a pickle."
Poor Ishida watched as his meager earnings from the Teddy Bear Store (his job) dwindled into nothing as he bought Orihime a menagerie of items. Rukia looked at the popcorn, greatly intrigued.
"Can I have some of this Ichigo?"
"Sure, whatever."
"How about these?" She was pointing to a chili dog.
"Whatever."
In the end, Rukia had a chili dog with popcorn and a soda. Ichigo, who thought he spent enough, got nothing for himself. As they were watching the movie (them and only three other people) Rukia started to hold her stomach.
"What's wrong Kuchiki-kun?"
"Nothing Orihime."
Ishida peered at Rukia through his glasses and saw her skin break out into a rash.
"You better go outside for a little while Rukia."
"It's nothing Uruyu, just a slight stomach ache and nothing else."
As they continued to watch the movie and got to the part were a plastic T-Rex was eating what looked like a Barbie doll, Rukia collapsed.
"Rukia! What's wrong?" asked Ichigo. "Oooooh...Ichi-burrrr"
Rukia just vomited all over Ichigo.
"What the hell Rukia! What's your freaking problem?"
There was no response. Rukia was out cold. At once, Uruyu got up and commanded,
"Ichigo, take her home. Obviously, she was allergic to something in here. Probably the popcorn."
Ichigo then bid farewell to Orihime and Ishida and then carried Rukia home. She was unconscious but even so, Ichigo found her very light. It was late and everyone was asleep. Ichigo then got to his room and laid Rukia on the bed. He watched her for a while in the moonlight. Even as pale as she was, she still looked so gorgeous and Ichigo could not help but stroke her hair before falling asleep soon on the floor.