Ha ha! Tenth Chapter! Woot woot!

Anyways, this chapter was pretty fun to write, once I got out of the heat of my room and went and chilled in the now carpetted basement! It's like, 35c outside and it's 8 at night! We had to run last period, which was awful since it was really hot out. Like, really, really hot.

And we got a new TV! It's the first time in my whole entire life that we've had more than one tv in the house at a time! It's also the biggest tv we've ever owned, and it's not actually that big compared to most of them... Oh well, I'm still pretty excited. We also got new couches for the basement, which we just finished after living in this house for just over five years... Yay!

If I owned Bleach, there would be a purely fun episode where all of the Shinigami are introduced to cars. Both the movie, and the actual real thing. If I owned anything else referenced in this chapter I'd be a genius. Trust me, I'm not a genius...

"There were cars on the screen," she sobbed. "And they talked!"

Byakuya and Renji stared down at her for a moment, before glancing over at each other. "Talking cars?" Renji asked.

"We watched the Pixar movie 'Cars'," Mrs. Grant explained. "She cried through the whole thing."

"I can't blame her. That's terrifying!" Renji pointed out, gently stroking Kaili's hair.

"This is for children?" Byakuya asked, sounding slightly stunned.

Mrs. Grant stared at both of them. "It's a children's movie," she said, looking exasperated. "It's about courage and doing the right thing."

"And cars that talked!" Renji exclaimed. "That's not a children's movie. That's pure horror! I wouldn't be able to watch it without crying!" Byakuya nodded his agreement. Mrs. Grant looked in between the three of them.

"How do you get everybody to school every day?" she asked.

"I drive, they scream," Byakuya explained.

"It works," Renji agreed.

"Not for me! I'm not allowed to shut my eyes every time another car comes at us!" Byakuya contradicted.

"Thank goodness." Renji said.

"…" Mrs. Grant gaped at them. So did many of the adults listening. Then, she slowly began to shake her head, a small smile scampering up over her lips. "You are the oddest family I've ever met," she informed them.

Renji bent down and picked up Kaili, who was still traumatized. "Thank you."

They had made it halfway back to the car when Kaili remembered that Byakuya was clearly breaking her rules. She then proceeded to lecture him all the way back to the hotel.

Renji settled himself at his assigned spot at the cafeteria table. He had learned quickly that the little group was very protective of their spots. They sat in the exact same spot every day. In Social there was a spot that was all Bren's. She'd had it both terms so far, and was very unlikely to let go of it. In art, Gwen, Mel and Jess had claimed a table for their very own and they sat there every day. During Math, Ash refused to give up her seat by the window for anything, and in science, Tara had claimed a desk for her very own. Nobody else ever sat in that desk, not even in the other classes. Nate stole Bren's spot occasionally, but she got him out with a well aimed kick, and several sharp insults. Nate had also tried to steal Tara's seat once, something that he was unlikely to ever try to repeat after she had kicked him in the face while he was standing. It had been the most impressive kick that Renji had ever seen, especially since she'd been wearing jeans at the time. Noah had stolen Gwen's spot once, but she had floored him in seconds. Ash had described it as funny. Mel had said it was hilarious, between giggles as she explained the incident. Noah had said it was very painful.

"Hey, Renji," Grace called. She was currently sprawled out over Mel, Tara and Bren, staring up at him. "What's with the tattoos?"

Everybody at the table froze and turned to hear the story- even Bren and Tara who were currently discussing something about a 'dragon ring' that sang when you dropped it and glowed light when you wore it, but only if you were the master of the dragon boat. Renji didn't get it, but the two of them seemed very passionate about it. (What series were they talking about? Bonus points if you can tell me which book that particular incident with the dropping and the singing and the glowing light came from)

"Um…" Renji paused. "Well, they're sort of like… Soul markings?"

"That made no sense." Grace said plainly. Renji fidgeted a bit.

"Well, they're supposed to reflect my inner spirit really," Renji said. They'd think he was crazy if he told the truth- that the spirit of his sword had put them on him when he'd first learnt its name.

"They're cool," Gwen commented. Tara and Bren went back to their original discussion.

"Nothing like the usual crap," Jess agreed.

"Thanks…" Renji replied, anxious to switch topics. The others seemed happy to oblige, because quickly Gwen, Melissa and Grace were singing about the differences between two people. (If you can figure this one out you're amazing)

When I rule the world I'll plant flowers!

When I rule the world I'll have snakes!

The song continued. Bren pulled herself away from the conversation long enough to join the chorus.

I think it's plain to see,

When you look at you and me,

We're different, different as can be!

They then started up on a song about going back to school, and magical creatures, and how… they were excited about it? Renji didn't get it, but then again, he didn't get almost anything about these people.

Nate and Noah talked about long boards. Ash, Chrys and Jess were involved in an animated conversation about batman. Since Renji knew something about that, he joined in, and soon the question about his tattoos was forgotten.

Kaili fidgeted a bit in her seat, longing to punch Annica in the face. It had been two weeks since Byakuya's injuries, and he seemed just fine, so now Kaili was having difficulties concentrating on something other than her own discomfort. And she was very uncomfortable.

Annica insulted her at every chance she could get, using everything as why Kaili was stupid to why everybody Kaili defended was wrong, and she, Annica was right, all the time.

After weeks of listening to the other girl blab on and on and on, Kaili finally snapped. It happened while they were walking out of the school at the end of the day. Annica was informing her, once again, that there were no numbers in math when Kaili stopped and spun around, facing the other girl square on.

"You're wrong."

Hope you liked!

-Stormy