I'm sorry for the delayed release. I was working on this yesterday but ran out of time to write. My mom feels it's her job to make sure I don't have time for a job, so she packs my week full of crap. DX

Anywho.

Thank you to my reviewers! The reviews were much loved. 3 They make everything happy. ^__^

Btw, whenever you see a 3, like in authors notes, it's supposed to be a heart (3) but for some reason fan fiction doesn't like the bracket part of it unless I add it in an already uploaded document, so…D: That's what that's supposed to be.

DISCLAIMER: Don't own Bleach. O__O

As a side note, I have discovered that most of my favorite pairings will never happen (i.e. ConanXAi). Ichiruki is probably the only one that will.

That's so sad. ;-;

Recap: (I'm just gonna recap what happened last chapter.)

Rukia discovers that Aizen's class is NOT limited to the male race. The probable reason for the mistake is attributed to the fact that there aren't many females that take the class. So now, properly enraged, Rukia visits her brother to find out why she is, quite frankly, a guy…

~__~__~__~__~__~

"The company is late," Rukia grumbled. She was standing outside the school's gates, waiting for the Lincoln that was supposed to arrive. The wind was strong, and for once she was grateful she wasn't wearing a skirt. The slacks let her worry about more important things, namely her hair and the time. Speaking of time, it wasn't like she had all the time in the world. She had promised to meet Tatsuki and the others for lunch in less than an hour. She checked her watch in frustration before an all too familiar voice broke her thoughts.

"Midget, get out of the bloody way!" Rukia twitched. That better not be directed at her. When nothing followed, she decided to ignore it. She regretted that decision when a bike rammed into her sending her flying into the gate.

"What the hell…" she groaned, rubbing her head. She was sprawled across the grass, Ichigo on top of her. Opening her eyes, she freaked. He had discovered her objective, but he sure as hell wasn't finding out her gender.

"Get off me, hentai!" She put her foot to his head, pushing then kicking him off. Ichigo performed a single graceful flip before landing with a heavy thud.

"You stupid midget, I TOLD you to move! And, what the hell, hentai?!" Rukia's face flushed.

"Normal people respond to names! I'VE TOLD YOU THAT BEFORE!" She roared, decidedly ignoring the pervert comment. "This is the second time you've crashed into me! Are you purposely trying to kill me!?" She stood up in righteous indignation, looking down with ill-concealed contempt at the orange mess on the floor.

"But why the hell'd you kick me?" Ichigo muttered, trying but failing to stand. "I freakin' flew through the air because you wouldn't move and landed on some sort of hard rock," he rubbed his back as if trying to prove his point. "Then you have enough nerve to kick me! You'd think you'd at least apologize."

Rukia's face flushed a deeper shade of red. Her chest was not a rock.

"Shut up!" She kicked him into the gate.

"Freakin' hell! My back!" Rukia stuck her tongue out at him.

"Next time don't crash into me!" Ichigo groaned. He was saved from further torture when a black car pulled up. The driver's window rolled down and a head popped out.

"Kuchiki-dono, please get inside quickly." Rukia sighed in relief.

"Hanataro you're late. And how many times must I say it," she replied, glaring. "It's Rukia." Their conversation was interrupted by the forgotten roommate.

"Who the bloody hell is Rukia?" Ichigo mumbled, finally pulling himself up. Rukia's head whipped around.

"None of your concern," she snapped before rushing into the car. "Drive Hanataro!"

"What the bloody hell…" Ichigo grumbled watching the hastily retreating car.

Meanwhile, Hanataro turned a corner. "We'll be there soon, Kuchiki-dono." When he didn't hear a response, he glanced into the rearview mirror.

His charge was gazing out the window biting her bottom lip, face flushed bright red.

Hanataro smiled.

~__~__~__~__~__~

Renji skulked around the school building. He had just un-enrolled or more specifically, transferred, to another college in another district. The task itself was like wrenching his teeth out. With pliers. He'd spent two years at this school. He had made friends. Hell, he'd even made enemies. He kicked the concrete, trying to vent some pent up frustration.

Not wanting to return to the company just yet, he started walking towards the school gate. He wanted to see the school one more time before he had to leave it. But as he rounded the corner, all he saw was his best friend crash into his childhood friend. As Rukia slammed into the gate, Renji resisted the urge to take Ichigo's head and bash it into the ground.

Rukia. That bastard had hurt Rukia.

"Damnit, Ichigo…" he gritted his teeth. Maybe this is what Hitsugaya-taichou meant by him being a danger to the mission. If something happened to Rukia, he'd definitely get involved. This could possibly jeopardize everything the company had worked for, so despite the urge to go and save her from the orange ball of terror, he curled his hands into tight fists and hankered down.

His resolve nearly broke when he saw Ichigo land on Rukia's chest and let out a silent scream of anguish. Just as Renji's resolve was bordering on non-existent, Rukia violently kicked him off her. Renji's anger died down, at least momentarily, as he watched the scene that unfolded curiously.

Seems that the two of them were having an argument…as the argument continued though, he realized that it was merely banter. It had no bite. It looked like more of a freakin' lovers quarrel. Between supposed guys. The hell. He was about to run down there and break it up when Hanataro appeared.

Renji sighed, silently thanking the heavens. Ichigo and Rukia were firmly separated and he hadn't jeopardized the objective at all. And now that Rukia was gone…Renji made his way to Ichigo, whistling under his breath. His best friend had a lot to answer for.

~__~__~__~__~__~

"Kuchiki-san," Rukia looked up to see Tatsuki waving at her. She was sitting with Ichigo, whose expression was a mix between horror and intrigue, Ishida, who looked mildly interested, and a couple others that she hadn't met.

Rukia waved a hand in greeting. "Sorry I'm late. I had something to take care of."

Tatsuki laughed. "I figured as much when I didn't see you at the pillar. But you're pretty good, being able to find the table without any help."

Rukia smiled. Well I am an assassin. "It's an innate talent," she replied, frowning when Ichigo made a disgruntled sound. "That not sit with you, Ichigo," she hissed, glaring at him.

"Pfft. I didn't know you had any innate talents," he chuckled. Rukia fumed.

"For your information, I am highly skilled with the katana as well." Ichigo raised an eyebrow.

"How about you join the kendo club and prove it," he asked her, tauntingly.

"Don't listen to him, Kuchiki-san," Tatsuki interrupted, glaring at Ichigo. "This fool is captain of the club, and he's always looking for more members." She rolled her eyes. "Goodness knows the club needs it."

"Che, what was that, Tatsuki? Aren't you the captain of the martial-arts club? And aren't you also looking for new members?" Tatsuki reddened.

"I-I didn't ask him."

"Yet." Ichigo added, ignoring Tatsuki's furious glare. But he soon decided to let it drop and gave Tatsuki a reprieve. "So what brings you to our table, Ryoko?"

Rukia rolled her eyes. "Arisawa…"

"Tatsuki," Tatsuki interrupted.

Rukia stared at her. "Hah?""No one calls me Arisawa except the teachers, people I don't know, Ishida, and creepy people," she continued, jerking her thumb towards a guy who was, quite frankly, chasing skirts. "Since I know you, you're not creepy, you're not a teacher and you're definitely not Ishida, it's Tatsuki."

Rukia looked at her a second before smiling. "Ryoko."

Tatsuki looked at her, confused. "What?"

"Not Kuchiki-san, Ryoko."

Ichigo, meanwhile, was watching this scene unfurl with a disgruntled expression. The scene looked remarkably like one that unfolded in their dorm just hours earlier. He wasn't sure why, but he didn't like it.

"Oi! Don't you think you guys are being too chummy for just having met," he grumbled. Rukia turned to him and smirked.

"Don't tell me you're jealous, Ichigo."

"W-what," he spluttered. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm trying to eat and the obvious flirting is making me nauseous." Before Rukia could state that this 'flirting' had never been covered in the company and politely inquire to what this deed actually was, Tatsuki had Ichigo in a head-lock.

"This is called being friendly, right Ryoko-kun?" Rukia beamed.

"Right, Tatsuki-chan." Pretty soon, Ichigo's face started to turn blue.

"Uncle," he cried. "I give."

"Pretty weak for a boy Ichigo," Rukia commented dryly. "You'd think you wouldn't lose to a girl."

"She's no girl," he gasped clutching his throat. "She's a bloody monster." Tatsuki threw an empty juice box at his head.

The fight was interrupted by a meek voice.

"Ano…" The trio turned to look at an orange-haired girl looking extremely lost. "This is…?"

"Ah!" Tatsuki jumped up. "Kuchiki, Ryoko this is Inoue, Orihime," Orihime smiled brightly, happy to finally be introduced. "Sado 'Chad' Yasutora," Chad gave a slight nod in greeting. "and Ishida, Uryu," she finished, pointing to a young man with glasses.

"I believe we've already met Kuchiki."

"Ah," Rukia smiled. "Yeah. Ishida was it?" He tilted his head once in reply.

"Why don't you sit, Ryoko-kun? There's plenty of place."

"Sorry for the trouble," Rukia said, grabbing a seat between Tatsuki and Ichigo.

"So about the Kendo-club," Ichigo interrupted. "Definitely a no? I mean, you probably would say no right? After all, Aizen-sensei is leading the class…" he said the latter more for himself than for Rukia.

"I'm in." She said this so fast that the entire table looked at her in shock.

"I thought you hated Aizen-sensei." Ichigo looked flabbergasted.

"How'd you get that idea," Rukia asked, eyes throwing-daggers. He was not going to mention the file. He was not going to mention the file.

"Ah…er…gut feeling?" Ichigo laughed to himself. "But at least you're not joining the martial-arts club."

Tatsuki kicked him. "I didn't ask him to join in the first place. If I had," she crossed her arms. "He would have definitely joined mine instead of yours. His slight physique is perfect for the arts."

She did have a point. Rukia was incredibly gifted at martial arts as well…but these people didn't need to know everything about her.

"If Aizen wasn't heading Kendo, I definitely would have taken the arts Ichigo," Rukia quipped. Orihime, finally facing a topic she knew fairly well, decided to put in her two cents despite it likely being completely off the mark.

"Tatsuki's taking Aizen-sensei to the dance." Silence was imminent. Tatsuki looked like she was stuck between screaming bloody murder or fainting in dead shock. After all, both had its appeals.

In the midst of her dilemma, Ichigo turned to his childhood friend seriously. "Tatsuki, you know it's impossible to go to the dance wi-" He was cut off as Tatsuki's shoe hit him in the face, not only succeeding in silencing him but catapulting him backwards as well.

"She's got it wrong. I have no intention of asking him to the dance," she yelped. Rukia watched the scene in bafflement.

"What dance?" Once again, the table fell into shock. Ichigo was the first to recover.

"Every year, to start of the year or something, the college holds a dance. This year," he said, gesturing around. "is girls-ask-guys."

"Well that's unorthodox," she commented.

Ichigo nodded. "They're getting these crazy ideas from American schools. I mean seriously. Who ever thought of having a girl-ask-guy dance? It's bloody insane!"

"Now, now, Kurosaki," Ishida said. "You probably don't want to be condemning the female race with Arisawa here. She might just decide to flip you."

"Oi, don't give her any ideas. I've been flipped enough today," he muttered, throwing a glare at Rukia.

The not-so-subtle accusation in Ichigo's last comment was sufficient enough reason to torture Ichigo. But she, sadly, couldn't do so with so many witnesses. "For your information, I was not talking about the girls-ask-guys-whatever," Rukia fumed.

Ichigo was staggered. "Then what's so unorthodox about a dance?!" Rukia looked at him with pity.

"Are you seriously asking that," she asked, rolling her eyes.

"Yes, I'm seriously asking!" By now the entire table was curious, even Chad who hadn't spoken two words.

"Why, that a school would have a dance in the first place," she raised her arms for more of an impact.

Ichigo's jaw dropped. "That's it?" Rukia glowered at him.

"What, is it actually common?" Ichigo thought he had but shake some sense into his roommate before he ended up locked in some locker.

"Well…yeah! What were you, home schooled?" Rukia flushed. Tatsuki quickly changed the subject.

"So have any of you guys actually been asked yet? Namely you, Ichigo?" Ichigo scowled.

"Maybe I have, maybe I haven't. What's it to you?" Tatsuki burst out laughing.

"You haven't have you? And you were trying to act so hot just a minute ago." Ichigo's scowl deepened. He was saved from further torture by Orihime.

"He has." Tatsuki stopped laughing instantly. Ishida noticeably stiffened.

"What do you mean," Ishida asked suspiciously.

"I…um…asked him." Orihime blushed. For some reason, Rukia was absolutely furious.

"Well, what'd you say, Ichigo," she asked harshly. Ichigo had decided to stare at the grass and not say anything. With good reason. Both Ishida and Tatsuki looked ready to kill him…not to mention Ryoko was looking highly dangerous as well.

"He said that someone had already asked him already…" Orihime replied weakly. Rukia was now having to restrain herself from ogling at Ichigo. He was actually popular?!

"So who's the girl, Ichigo?" Ishida was now leaning back on his chair, looking much more lively. Even Tatsuki was relieved that her best friend was not dating the hot head. He might break her heart.

"Just some girl…" he muttered. "What about you guys," he asked, changing the subject. "Ishida, have you been asked yet?"

Ishida didn't like this change of tactic, but as the rest of the table was now staring at him he decided to answer. "No. Though I suppose you already knew that, didn't you, Kurosaki?"

"I thought Nemu asked you."

"Ah. She did," Ishida looked mildly surprised.

Ichigo wanted to strangle him. "That isn't the type of thing you forget, baka!" Tatsuki quickly interrupted before the fight could progress.

"What about you, Ryoko-kun?" The table grew quiet. Rukia was now in a predicament. She could not go to a dance, her gender would most undoubtedly be exposed.

"I'm not going…" Tatsuki looked shocked.

"Why not?"

Ichigo laughed. "Isn't it obvious? He hasn't been asked yet! Hell, he didn't even know there was a dance."

Rukia glared at him. "That doesn't mean anything."

"So why don't you go and prove it?"

Rukia needed an excuse. She could not go. She decided to stick with something close to the truth.

"I can't dance."

"Then we'll teach you," Ichigo said, gesturing to his group of friends. "We're pretty good, even four-eyes over there." Ishida glared.

Rukia's jaw dropped. Ok, bad idea.

"I don't really like dances…"

"Oi, now you're just making up excuses." Now Rukia was desperate. Sweat started to form on her forehead.

"Your right. But no one's going to ask me anyways, so why bother? I mean, it's not like I'm popular…" She stopped short when she saw both Orihime's and Tatsuki's jaws drop.

"What," she demanded. "Do I have something on my face?" She started furiously rubbing her cheek.

Tatsuki hurriedly stopped her. "No…it's just that…"

"…you can't seriously think you're not popular," Orihime finished.

Rukia was now sweating profusely. This was totally nii-sama's fault.

"Nii-sama! What's the meaning of this?" Rukia crashed into her brothers room. A secretary appeared just moments after her, looking short of breath.

The room, on the other hand, was not out of breath but rather luxurious. Two large bookcases encased the room, and in the middle sat Byakuya, in front of which sat a large maple desk. Byakuya sat on the leather chair behind it. The window behind him, at this time, encompassed the sun so perfectly that Byakuya himself had a god-like appearance.

But back to the scene.

"She…just…" she said between gasps of breath. "…ran…in here. Nothing…I could do…to stop her." The secretary looked on verge of collapse.

"What is it, Rukia," he asked coldly without looking up. Rukia froze. She had forgotten who she was dealing with.

"Er…well, Aizen's class allows girls." She looked at her brother expectantly.

"I know." Rukia looked at him in shock.

"What?!" Byakuya put down the book he was reading and took off his glasses.

"I said, I know." Rukia was petrified.

"But you said that girls weren't allowed. You even cut my hair."

Byakuya looked a tad remorseful, though she might have been imagining it. "That was… regretful."

When Rukia said nothing, he sighed. "I just…"

Rukia looked at him anxiously. Byakuya swiveled away from her and faced out the window using the sun's glare to hide the red tint on his face.

"You just…" Rukia probed.

"Have you seen the hoodlums that go to college!?" Byakuya suddenly exploded. "If you were to go there, who knows what fool of a guy you could meet! He would take advantage of you! Then what?! Of course you with your sentiments wouldn't abort the child," Rukia was taken aback to say the least. Her brother had never, to her knowledge, ever exploded. The secretary took this chance to run and close the door behind her. "and then what!? The company might even assassinate you! And that would leave me with a random child just like Hisana did…" At the mention of his dead wife and, when he turned around, the look of stupor on his sister's face, Byakuya noticeably calmed down.

"Is that all," he muttered, avoiding eye contact. Rukia nodded four times in rapid succession before bolting from the room.

"Oi, Ryoko. Ryoko!" Ichigo waved his hands in front of her face. "Don't try to get out of this by playing stupid." Rukia swatted his hands away.

"What?" Ichigo sighed.

"Tatsuki and Inoue were just saying how popular you were."

"WHAT?!"

"You know, you're so strange that I'm not even surprised you didn't hear them say that." Rukia smacked him upside the head.

Tatsuki laughed. "Maybe that's why you're so popular. You're completely un-orthodox."

Rukia froze. "Wait. How can I be popular when the only class I've been to was all guys?" Tatsuki gave her a look. "And a girl," she lamented.

"Well, you have been walking all over the place since school started. And you did leave Psychology class amidst girls waiting for their boyfriends to come out."

"So?" Rukia looked completely flabbergasted. "What's that have anything to do with it?"

Tatsuki sweatdropped. "They asked they're bf's who you were, and well…girls talk. A lot," she finished.

"Wait. So what's that mean?" Rukia wasn't liking where this was going. At all.

"You…" Tatsuki looked directly at Rukia. "…have you ever actually looked in a mirror?"

Rukia paused to think. After freaking out so much about having to get her hair cut, her brother, for the sake of the frightened hair-dresser, had refused to let her look in the mirror. Not to mention she hadn't really wanted to examine her image. She didn't want to scar herself anymore than necessary.

"Not really…" Ichigo slapped his head.

"Are you serious?!"

Tatsuki silenced him with a hand that read, speak another word and you're dead. Ichigo was dead silent.

Still looking Rukia dead in the eye she said, "You were officially voted the most popular guy in school on facebook…" she looked at her watch. "…fifteen minutes ag-" she stopped short.

Rukia had fallen off the bench in a dead faint.

~__~__~__~__~__~

Next time: Dance lessons, wewt! Kendo club with Aizen and hmmm…some other stuff I'll decide to throw in later. Suggestions are used and much appreciated. Like the kind soul who sorta suggested that Byakuya did it because of the guys. xD

So that had way longer 'parts' if you get my drift. Only three scenes. Anyways. This was longer by about 1000 words (story-line only). Total word count is around 3000 for story-line only. So I have a deal for you guys. ;) If you can get me ten reviews for this chapter, I'll double the word count for the next chapter. So 6,000 words of nummy ichiruki goodness. ^___^

Anyways, that aside, reviews are awesome. The reviewers are the only reason I update, after all. =) So I thank you from the bottom of my ichiruki-loving heart to anyone and everyone who reviews. They tell me what they like and what they don't like. This helps me improve, so tell me what YOU like and don't like too. Don't miss out on your part in this story.

And before I go, I apologize once more for any grammar/typo mistakes that I missed during re-reading.

So until next time,

^_________^