Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or anything associated with it. Title of owner goes to 久保 帯人. :3 Nor do I own anything related to Hana Yori Dango.
Author's Note: I almost didn't plan to write this chapter because two nights ago my car was hit from behind by some woman who didn't bother apologizing and drove off without giving me her information. I luckily was able to get her license plate but I don't know if she has the insurance to pay for the damages. So yeah, I felt pretty pissed that night but I really wanted to finish the next chapter so I made sure not to think about it for the time being.
So just a few messages to some of my reviewers(besides the obvious THANK YOU to you all :D):
BrazeRancor, yea the main character for HYD is a girl but since this is Ichigo and we know he can take that kind of crap, I just added the beatings in. This is like HYD but I realized that I will change quite a few things.
Chocolate and caramel, haha since you know the story I will say that Byakuya's character will be different and not like Tsubaki (as you'll see in this chapter) and I added Hinamori in this one also. :D
Yaya, よろしくお願いします！
Chapter 4
Ichigo felt hands on his body. These said hands were messaging his face in slow circular motions. He could feel another set of hands messaging his feet.
His mind jolted him to wake up, that this was all too unfamiliar. He opened his eyes wearily but in his drowsy state, he could only make out the bright light shining above him. He couldn't make out faces since he could barely move his head in the direction of the person who was touching him.
He felt his temples massaged and with its soothing motions, he couldn't control the urge to close his eyes and fall back into sleep.
DDDDDDDINGGGGG
Ichigo's eyes snapped open once the chimes of what sounded like a grandfather clock met his ears. "What the-" Instantly he tried to recall what happened and closed his eyes in thought for a second. I remember walking to Urahara's from school… some thugs grabbed me… and then… what the hell? Did I just get kidnapped?
Unsure of what he'd find, Ichigo peeked through his eyelids for his surroundings. What he could make out from his peripheral was that he was in some room with what looked to be very fancy wallpaper. Upon widening his vision further he saw an expensive looking couch, a fireplace, and a lengthwise mirror in his view.
He scanned his eyes over the mirror but did a double take once he saw himself in it. "What am I wearing?" He yelled out in disbelief.
He stood up from his seat, which he noted to be very comfortable, and went over to the mirror to fully inspect his clothes. He was decked out in a full black suit with a black dress shirt and white tie. It fit him perfectly, like nothing he ever worn before. The shoes he had on seemed to be made of fine leather and shined with the utmost cleanliness. He took off the jacket to further inspect it and read the finely stitched brand name on the inside: Giorgio Armani.
His eyes almost bulged out from their sockets. This jacket must have cost more money than his entire wardrobe back home! He absolutely couldn't believe this. Who in their right mind would kidnap him and weirdly enough, dress him in these expensive threads? He decided he needed to get out from wherever the hell he was and find his way back home.
Carefully putting the jacket back on (it was too expensive to just leave lying around), Ichigo proceeded out the only door in the room. He slowly peered out with his head and found a long brightly lit hallway with a deep maroon carpet. There was no one in sight so he figured it safe enough to venture out.
He chose the left pathway and passed by a few doors. There was another turn up ahead and this time he decided to go right. This was definitely confusing him and he desperately just wanted to leave this huge place. Randomly he decided to choose a door, figuring that he could find someone and ask them where he was.
Unfortunately there was no person present in the room he chose. Stepping in, Ichigo took a moment to marvel at the finely crafted furniture and art that he never saw so exquisite. He walked over to the mantle where a few framed pictures were set.
In some of them he saw a young girl around 8 or 9 who looked vaguely familiar to him. She had an almost tiny frame to say the least and her raven black hair was cropped short, ending just above the nape of her neck.
She was also present in what looked to be a family portrait. In it were three other people, two Ichigo assumed to be her mother and father and a tall, older boy who Ichigo assumed to be her brother. He took notice of her parents and her brother's faces since they shared an expression that looked snooty and tight lipped to say the least. The little girl was the only one who genuinely smiled.
His eyes roamed over each frame until they abruptly stopped at one particular photo. It was a recent shot of the S4. Rukia was standing proudly in the middle, Renji next to her with a goofy grin, Orihime at Rukia's other side with a cheery smile, and Toshirou next to Orihime with his arms crossed and superior look on his face. It didn't take too long for Ichigo to realize who the little girl in the other photos was once he looked from one photo to the one of S4.
"Kuchiki Rukia?" Could it be possible he was in her home at this very moment? He didn't take the time to think about it twice and pivoted to get out of the room as quick as possible. But when he opened the door, he jumped back in shock at the very person who stood before him. THE Kuchiki Rukia.
Ichigo pointed a finger at her accusingly and stuttered to get out his words. "I-I-I-it was y-y-y-you!"
She grinned and Ichigo couldn't help but see the evilness behind it. "I know it was me, strawberry baka. I finally found you." She took one step toward him which made Ichigo take one step back. She continued walking toward him as he backed up. He eventually hit the couch and fell backward, ending up in an uncomfortable sitting position.
"What did you do to me?" He demanded to know, still inching his body back on the couch.
She didn't answer him until she was standing in front of him with just about an inch or so away from her knees touching his legs. "I made you look better, of course. Those school clothes you were wearing before were just… ugh. What you're wearing now looks much better on you. It even makes your carrot top tolerable."
An uncontrollable blush flushed Ichigo's face at the thought of her taking his clothes off to dress him in what he wore now. He shook his head to rid of this thought. "You're sick! What the hell did you want to see?"
Rukia blinked in a surprisingly innocent way. "I saw nothing. My maids did all the work. I just told them what to do." Ichigo blushed even further.
"That suit you're wearing is at least 350,000 yen." Ichigo's jaw dropped at hearing the price.
"You can also thank me for the massage therapy and spa treatment. I'm sure you feel like your bruises are less sore and your pores are clean and non-clogged." She quickly placed a hand on his cheek to feel his skin but he swiped her arm away.
He glared at her. "What do you want from me? One moment you get guys from our school to try to beat me up and the next you kidnap me only to seemingly pamper me. I told you this was war, Rukia. I'm not taking back my word just because you did this."
She held her head high and peered at him confidently through her soft eyelashes. "Hah, you have no need for your war declaration. It's useless, Ichigo. You've proved your worth to me already."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ichigo asked, fully frustrated with her now. He had no intention of impressing her or proving his worth to her in any way.
"You passed my test." She simply put. "Never in my life has any one fought back with so much boldness and self-assurance as you have shown. I always encounter the most pathetic people. But you, you're not the least bit like those weaklings."
She bent her back forward so that her face moved closer to his face. It was yet again at a close proximity like their previous encounter. Ichigo could feel her breath on his face but he could not inch back any farther into the couch. "So I demand that you come here to spend time with me. But don't tell anyone at school. I can't possibly be seen around with a peasant."
Rukia continued. "Therefore… you have my approval."
Ichigo took in her words and couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it. "I don't need and don't want your approval." He said through gritted teeth. He moved his body sideways and threw himself off the couch, away from her.
Getting back up quickly, he sought to finish this quick. "I'd appreciate now if you give me my clothes back and tell me where the nearest exit is."
She turned around toward him with her arms crossed and scoffed at his request. "You really want to rid of what you're wearing now? You can have that suit."
"I'm not accepting your demands." Ichigo answered quickly. "I don't want to take this if it means I'm automatically your little guinea pig or something. These clothes don't make me who I am."
Rukia rolled her eyes thinking what he said was the stupidest thing ever.
"What you're wearing does make who you are. Look at me." She spread her arms out and did a little turn, modeling the expensive pink dress she had on. "This is a one-of-kind name brand dress that arrived today from Milan along with your suit. This outfit tells people of my status in society. You could use that suit." She pointed at him in an up and down motion. "People wouldn't suspect that you're poor."
Ichigo tried to control the anger that was quickly arising within him. He didn't want to yell. He really didn't. So with as much control as he could conjure up in his body, he calmly retorted: "Name brands may show the world what you're worth, but they don't define my worth. I'm not shallow for something as insignificant as my clothes to tell people who I am."
He made his point by taking off his jacket and throwing it to the ground. Giorgio Armani or not, it wasn't his for the taking and it meant nothing to him. Just a failed attempt from Rukia.
"I know who I am and I don't need you to tell me. I am a no-brand man!" He stood there confidently hoping his little monologue had an effect but didn't fully quite understand the glimmer that was behind Rukia's eyes.
"Now… my clothes?" He would have taken what remained of the suit off right then and there just to get rid of it quicker but had a feeling that probably would have satisfied whatever Rukia wanted further.
A small smile of approval crept upon her mouth when he asked her. She pointed a thumb toward her left. "It's in the next room."
Ichigo nodded curtly and turned to go out the door, taking a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure she wasn't following him or planning some sort of surprise attack. She was still standing there, arms crossed, with that closed mouth smile on her face intact.
Rukia wasn't lying, much to Ichigo's joy when he found his Takaimono uniform neatly folded on a table inside the room along with his book bag. He figured his clothes were washed and ironed when he caught the faint smell of laundry detergent and saw no signs of visible wrinkles the uniform had before.
He left the Giorgio Armani suit on a chair in the room. Before he left the room, there was a faint voice in the back of his head that told him to take it with him and run. Ichigo slapped himself mentally for thinking that and walked out at a fast pace.
When he was out the door he was greeted by a young maid who introduced herself to him with a small curtsy. "Hajimemashite, Kurosaki-san. I am Hinamori Momo. Kuchiki-sama around told me to escort you off the premises. Please follow me." She swiftly turned and started walking down the hallway at a normal pace.
Ichigo followed her throughout the mansion. He finally understood just how huge the place was when it took Momo eight minutes to take him to the foyer. She stopped walking once they were there and turned toward him, bowing once again.
"The door to go out is right there." She motioned her hand to a set of large oak doors. "Kuchiki-sama will be looking forward to your visit again." Ichigo scoffed mentally when she said that but returned a small nod to Momo before she left him.
Ichigo took one last look around him, figuring it would be the last time he would see a place of grandeur and then made his way over to the oak doors. Yet they opened outward quickly and Ichigo stopped in his tracks when two men in black suits entered. They looked like security guards and eyed him suspiciously as he stood there.
The person Ichigo assumed there were security guards for entered. Ichigo instantly recognized his face, the way his head held high and the way his lips were pursed together. It was the same boy in Rukia's family portrait who he figured was her older brother. But he was in fact a boy no more, but a tall man in expensive professional business attire. He strolled along inside with an entourage of people behind him.
The man was closely followed by a tall and svelte woman with her hair tied back in a bun and black framed glasses. She held a ledger in her hands and was saying something to him while he walked in front of her.
As Ichigo stood there he hoped for the love of kami that they would go along their way and not notice him. Even though their path swerved away from him, it didn't stop Rukia's brother from stopping in his wake. His entourage stopped along with him and he turned around toward Ichigo.
His eyes gleamed over with disgust when he looked Ichigo over. "And who might you be?"
"K-Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo couldn't help his slight stutter. This man looked intimidating. "I'm a student from Takaimono."
"Why are you here?" The next question came out quickly.
"…" Ichigo didn't know what to exactly say. Should he tell Rukia's brother the truth and say he was kidnapped, brought to this mansion, given special treatment, and offered a proposal which he declined from his sister? No, too risky. "Rukia invited me here." Close enough to the truth.
Rukia's brother's mouth seemed to stiffen slightly more. He turned back around toward his path. "Guards, take this boy off my property." He ordered and continued on his way with his entourage.
Ichigo stood there in disbelief. This was not a welcoming home at all. The two guards roughly took hold of his arms and dragged him out. "Hey, I can get out myself you know!" He tried struggling out of their grasp but they were persistent and managed to get him outside and threw him down on the ground.
Ichigo softened his fall by landing on his hands and knees but it didn't help much on the hard gravel. He got up and wiped his hands on his clothes, dirtying his clean pants in the process. "Aw, damn it." He cursed under his breath.
Exhaling a long breath of air from his lungs, he examined the mansion in front of him. "Shit, this mansion is ridiculous!"
The front of the stone walled mansion spread out in front of him, the length of it almost the size of two cruise line ships placed side by side. There was a large circular driveway with a stone fountain in the middle of the circle.
The fountain was a masterpiece to say the least. Placed in the center were cherub angels facing outward and encircling two figures of a man and woman who where enclosing their hands together in still motion. Their bodies were formed like ice skaters with one leg raised up behind them in a graceful stance. The water streamed out in an arc from the horns that the cherubs were raising. Ichigo had never seen something so amazing as this.
I should really get going. Ichigo thought when he checked his wristwatch. It was 6:30 PM and the sun was gradually making it's descent in the horizon. He walked along the driveway toward the metal gates. After a few minutes of walking, he saw the gates open and a sleek black limousine entered. "Oh kami, not again." Ichigo muttered.
He was surprised when it slowed down and stopped right beside him. The window from the back opened and when Ichigo had walked his way past it, he found Orihime inside waving at him. "Kurosaki-kun! Rukia-chan has finally invited you to her home! Oh, this is great news!" She clapped her hands gleefully.
"Um… yeah." Ichigo said and waved goodbye. "I've got to find my way home now. See you at school, Orihime."
Orihime pouted. "Hey, wait! Why are you leaving so early?"
Ichigo stopped again and blurted it out quickly. "I wasn't invited to her home and I don't feel comfortable around her."
She had a look of slight disappointment when he said this. "Ano… Kurosaki-san, give Rukia-chan a chance. I feel bad for asking, but could you try to…" Orihime paused and looked away, her index finger placed upon her lip. "…please her?"
Ichigo almost choked on his spit. "Wah-what?"
Orihime smiled. "Rukia-chan's a good person, really. She shows you over time. I think she sees that you're just being yourself even though you're the only one who's different at Takaimono. You're a great person. I see it too, Kurosaki-kun."
Ichigo's face turned a light shade of crimson at her comment. "I'll think about it." He said just to end the conversation and waved goodbye again.
"Oh, Kurosaki-kun! The nearest bus stop is down the corner from here. You'll get home much faster that way!" Orihime yelled out after him as the limo drove toward the mansion.
"Thanks, Orihime!" Ichigo yelled back. He waved at the limo one last time and for a lingering moment watched as the limo stopped in front and as Orihime came out and walked up the steps into the mansion.
Once he arrived home, Ichigo was greeted by a hysterical Isshin. "Son! Urahara-san called me four hours ago asking where you had gone and that you didn't go to work! What happened? Did you and that girl go on a date?" He changed his tone and winked at Ichigo in a suggestive manner.
"Where the hell do you get these ideas?" Ichigo spat out to his father and immediately went to his room.
"I am right then, aren't I?" Isshin yelled out before Ichigo shut the door.
Ichigo threw his book bag on the bed and immediately changed out of his school clothes, the fresh laundered scent still lingering on them. He blocked out all thoughts from the day and got out his things to start homework.
His hand briefly felt the pocket where his mp3 player was in. But as his hand felt another object, something in one piece, he scratched his head in confusion. He didn't remember placing any thing inside besides his mp3 player. Taking a quick peek inside, his eyes widened when he spotted a foreign object.
Placing his hand inside, he took out the object and examined it fully. It was a new mp3 player with a much nicer design and perhaps even more snazzy features than his previous one. But it wasn't his. And he knew instantly who placed it there.
The next day Ichigo entered Takaimono's school grounds and again, was met with whispers he knew were about him. This time was a bit different though. There were a few stares sent to him of disgust which only fueled him to glare menacingly at the person who sent it.
"Hey Kurosaki! Did you go to the doctor yet to check for those STDs?" One idiotic student yelled to him when he passed by.
"What the hell…" Ichigo looked back at the speaker who quickly hid among the crowd. "STDs?"
He shrugged and continued walking toward his homeroom until another student passed by and said, "You have some gross taste, man."
A vein almost popped out from Ichigo's temple as he turned and grabbed the student by the collar. "Would you at least tell me where you're getting his information from?" He said through gritted teeth.
The guy nodded nervously. He pointed to the dining area. "R-right there."
Ichigo released his grip on the guy's collar and made his way into the dining area. As he entered he spotted a crowd of students gathered in front of the glass window, many of them laughing or gasping in surprise. He pushed his way through the crowd until the very end when the students yelled out that he was coming. They cleared a path for him and he finally saw what was on the window.
On it were red painted words with what Ichigo read:
Kurosaki Ichigo is a dirty womanizer! He has STDs caught from the many prostitutes he slept with in middle school! Stay away from him or you might catch herpes or crabs!
"Ugh, gross, be careful not to touch him!" Some girl next to him said and scooted away as if she would catch something from skin contact.
Ichigo's adrenaline rose as his anger doubled. He had a feeling the culprit of all this was Kuchiki Rukia. He made his way back into the crowd who scrambled over their friends so they wouldn't get touched by him.
He walked a short distance to the stairs that led to the second story. He peered up to see all of S4 present, sitting around a table. He didn't any take notice of the sign before him that said "NOBODY PERMITTED ACROSS THIS LINE" and stomped his way up the staircase.
Renji had been aware of the ruckus beforehand and quickly stood at the top of the stairs to block Ichigo from entering. "Get your ass back down there!" He spat out and readied his stance.
"Don't fuckin' block my way!" Ichigo snapped back. He charged at Renji and managed to tackle him hard to the ground.
"OW!" Renji yelled out in pain, landing a foot away from the S4 table.
Rukia and Orihime got up from their seats while Toshirou sat casually watching with his hands behind his neck. Orihime went over to give Renji a hand up while Ichigo stood and dusted his clothes off. Ichigo went over to Rukia, noticing the smug expression painted on her face.
Ichigo had every urge to punch that smugness off her face but he decided long ago that he would never in his life strike a woman, even if she was a bitch.
"Have you come to-"
"Don't you say anything, Rukia!" Ichigo cut off her words before she could finish. "You don't know shit about me! For your information, I have never slept with a prostitute or any girl for that matter! I don't have STDs because I'm a fuckin' virgin! So before you go slandering my name, get shit that actually is true!" Ichigo was literally fuming from the ears as each person of S4 stood there in shock.
Rukia covered her mouth in shock. "I-"
"I don't want to hear it." Ichigo interrupted her again. Before leaving, he fished into his pocket for the mp3 player. Once he got it out, he slammed it on the table. "This is yours." He pivoted and nodded slightly to a confused Orihime who was standing next to an equally confused Renji. Before they could say anything, Ichigo hastily walked down the staircase.
"What the fuck is his problem?" Renji questioned once Ichigo was out of earshot. "Who wants to know that kind of stuff?"
Rukia thought about it for a moment. A blush crept its way to her face once she realized what he told her. "He… told me he was a virgin…" She giggled, causing Renji and Toshirou to form sweat drops at the awkwardness. "Hahah, he told me he was a virgin!" She went over to Orihime and grabbed her hands while jumping in place. "This is unbelievable!"
"I know, Rukia-chan! I know!" Orihime chimed in happily and joined in on the jumping.
"The ways of women I'll never understand." Renji commented as he took in the scene.
Toshirou grunted in agreement.
This is the worst week of my life. Ichigo grumbled in his thoughts during class. The teacher's lecture felt longer than usual and due to the uneasiness he started to feel from the students around him, Ichigo wanted to get out of the class as fast as possible.
He waited until the first break was given and blew out a sigh of relief. He walked over to his locker to return some books but when he arrived, he found certain people standing there. The three boys that were ordered to gang on him earlier were waiting in front of his locker. They saw Ichigo and immediately smiled in the friendliest light. Ichigo could still spot the fear behind their eyes as he approached them.
"What do you want?" Ichigo asked when they moved so he could open his locker. One of the boys pushed Ichigo's classmate to the front and nodded toward Ichigo.
"Hello Kurosaki-san. We, Hisagi Shuuhei, Ayasegawa Yumichika," He gestured to the boys behind him, "and I, Madarame Ikkaku want to apologize to you for our actions."
Ichigo stared at them in disbelief. "Apologize? Hah, stop fooling around."
"No, no, we mean it." Ikkaku shook his head. "We felt bad that we were forced by Kuchiki-san to do something we never wanted to do. We never had any feelings of contempt toward you. Please accept our apologies." As if on cue all three of them bowed their heads.
Ichigo sighed. "Fine, apology accepted. Now just leave me alone."
"But wait!" Shuuhei said and moved Ikkaku out of the way to go to the front. "To show that we're truly sorry we want you to come to a… casual party we're having at Ikkaku's place." He handed Ichigo a lettered invitation. "Ikkaku always has the best parties of the year. Nobody misses out on this. Nobody." He emphasized.
Ichigo eyed the invitation and looked back up at the three stooges. They all nodded their heads in agreement as Shuuhei forced the letter into Ichigo's hand. "There will be great food and good drinks. You'll have the best time in your life, trust me."
Ichigo reluctantly took the invitation and slipped it into his shirt pocket. "I'll see. Now will you please go away?"
Shuuhei and the others grinned and backed up, leaving Ichigo to ponder on if he would go or not.
Author's Note: Whew, I just noticed this is the longest chapter I've yet written. Hope it wasn't too boring for ya. D: Anywhoosle as always I hope you enjoyed it and please leave a review with thoughts, love(always love that), and reactions! Thanks a lotta!
ありがとうございます！