Ariel: Thanks for the reviews! I'll try to do my best! … Bad flash-backs all week… sorry if this episode seems a little dark… I don't own anything.
Chapter 4: I'm not that girl...
Please don't cry one tear for me; I'm not afraid of what I have to say. This is my one and only voice, so listen close, it's only for today. I just saw Halley's comet, she waved... Said 'Why you always running in place?"
"Are we done yet?" "No! That's the hundredth time you've asked that, Kimiko!" "I told you, I hate having to dress up!!" Kimiko sighs as Yumichika and Rangiku both cake make-up on her face. "Oh, Kimi! You look so gorgeous!" Yumichika says, "Zaraki-taicho wont believe that its you!" Kimiko raises an eyebrow, "What do you mean by that?" Yumichika pales slightly, "N-Nothing, Kimiko-chan! You always look beautiful!" Kimiko stands up and looks at herself in the mirror, "Whoa… Is that really me?" Renji barges in, "HEY! If you don't hurry up, we're gonna be-." Renji stops when he sees Kimiko. She's wearing a black kimono that has designs of blood red roses on it with a red obi. Rangiku fixed her hair up in a bun with a few strands out. "W-wow…" Renji breathes. "Doesn't she look wonderful?" Yumichika gushes, "It took us a little while but it was all worth it!" Kimiko turns to Renji, "Where's Zaraki-taicho?" She asks. Renji is still in shock by he looks, so Kimiko snaps her fingers, "Renji! Wake up!!" He snaps out of his little world as stammers, "WH-what?" Kimiko growls and repeats, slowly, "Where. Is. My. Captain?" "He said for you to meet him at the event. Only Lieutenant's and higher ranked members are allowed in." Renji answers, blushing slightly because he was practically drooling at his best friend… "Alright then… I guess you're my escort." Kimiko states as she walks out the door. "Huh? What do ya mean?" Renji asks. "Well, since my captain isn't here, you are my escort to the event now… so let's go, Ren-chan." Kimiko says, waiting for him. Renji looks back at Yumichika and Rangiku, they both give him the, 'TAKE YOUR CHANCE NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, YOU IDIOT!!' look. Renji walks with Kimiko out the door. As soon as they leave, Rangiku turns to Yumichika, "You had something to do with that, didn't you?" Yumichika smiles, "I thought that Renji should at least make an effort to get her to notice his true feelings… because, obviously, she's too dense to notice it herself." Rangiku smiles, "Yeah… But Renji's just as dense as her… who knows? Maybe tonight he will tell her… or totally fail and wreck their friendship forever…" "You say the sweetest things…" Yumichika says, "But… Aren't you supposed to go to the event also?" "… Oh my gosh!! I almost forgot!!!" Rangiku yells as she hurries to get ready. "That's so typical of you…" Yumichika sighs.
Mean-while, with Kimiko and Renji….
"So, has my brother lightened up on your workload?" Kimiko asks Renji. "Huh? How did you know about that?" He asks. Kimiko smiles, "I asked him if he could lighten up on you… at least a little bit…" Renji blushes lightly, "Why did you do that?" Kimiko looks up at him, "Because… Then I could have more time to hang with you!" She hugs him like she always does but somehow… she ends up face-to-face with him. They both blush and pull away. "S-Sorry about that…" Kimiko says. "…Are you blushing!?" Renji asks, shocked. Kimiko veins a little then yells "Shut up! You're just as red as I am!!" Renji smiles and places a hand on her head, "You haven't changed at all…" Kimiko blushes even redder, "What… is this feeling? My pulse is rushing… my head is reeling and my face is flushing…" They reach the mansion and Renji opens the door for her. "So you do have some form of a gentleman in you." Kimiko comments. "I don't know if that was an insult or a complement." Renji mutters. Kimiko smiles, "It was a complement!" One of the servants walks up to them, "Alright, you both have to link arms and walk through!" She pushes them to the door and Kimiko slides her arm under Renji's. The doors open and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads and their lieutenants among other people are there. No one really pays them any attention as they walk through the crowds. Byakuya walks up to Kimiko, "For some odd reason, most of the thirteen captains wish for you to have a dance with them." "Are you serious?" Kimiko asks. "Yes… You will do it to uphold the Kuchiki name." Byakuya says as he walks away. "Whoa, tough break…" Renji says. Kimiko glances up at him, sadness in her eyes, "You don't know the half of it…" Renji's about to ask her what she means when Gin Ichimaru walks up to her, "May I have this dance, Kuchiki-san?" Kimiko nods and let's go of Renji, "See you later, Renji…" She says, glumly. Renji sighs and walks to the outside of the dance floor. "Hey, Renji!" Hisagi greets. "Hey, Hisagi." Renji replies. "Great turn-out, right?" Hisagi says, proudly, "My department worked hard on this party." "That's great," Renji says, sounding depressed and pissed off. "What's with you, Abarai?" Hisagi asks. "It's… Nothing." Renji says. He sees that Gin and Kimiko's dance is done. "I had a splendid time, Kuchiki-san." Gin says as he kisses Kimiko's hand. "The pleasure was all mine, Ichimaru-taicho." Kimiko says, twitching a little. Ichimaru walks away and Kimiko sighs. A tall shadow looms over her and she looks up, "Oh, hello, Kyoraku-Taicho." Kyoraku bows to his waist and holds out his hand in a (shockingly) gentlemanly manner, "May I have this dance, Kimi-chan?" Kimiko raises an eyebrow, "Sure." She takes his hand and they start waltzing. Renji sighs from the sidelines. Hisagi groans in frustration, "You're an IDIOT, Abarai." Renji glares at him, "What do you mean?" "Man, if head captain Yamamoto was as dense as you, we'd all die!" Hisagi says. Renji leans against a pillar, "I don't know what you're talking about." Hisagi thinks for a second, then goes up to Kimiko and Kyoraku, "Mind if I cut in?" He asks. Kyoraku nods and lets Kimiko go to Hisagi. As they slow-dance, Kimiko asks him, "Okay, now what are you up to, Hisagi?" He smiles, "Just act like you're having a good time and smile." She's still suspicious but she does what he asks and smiles softly. Hisagi holds her closer to him, making Kimiko blush… and not in a good way. "What the hell do you think your DOING!?!" She whispers. "Just play along, I'm making someone realize how stupid he is." Hisagi answers. Kimiko sighs, "Alright but you owe me for this!" Renji, meanwhile, is pissed the f*ck off. 'What the hell is Shuhei DOING!?!' he thinks. The song ends and Shuhei kisses Kimiko's cheek. "You so owe me for this…" Kimiko growls. Someone taps her shoulder and she turns around. "Hi, Ukitake-taicho!" She says, happily. Ukitake smiles, "Are you enjoying yourself, Kimiko?" She nods, "Yeah! I assume you want a dance, too?" "If it's alright with you, Kimiko." He says. She smiles and takes his hand. Renji, on the other hand, is pissed off, 'what was that feeling… I wanted to kill Shuhei for dancing with Kimiko… but she doesn't belong to me in that way so, I can't get mad at either one of them… she might actually like him…'
Right before the last dance, Byakuya pulls Kimiko aside. "What is it, Brother?" She says, coldly. "If Rukia doesn't come back by next week, Renji and I will go to the human world to retrieve her. You are to come with us." He answers. "What?!" Kimiko exclaims, "B-But I don't want to hunt down Rukia-chan!" Byakuya gives her a cold stare, "You have no choice… Or should I inform the Shiba clan that you are willing to marry their oldest son?" Kimiko looks down, forcing the tears back, "N-No, Brother… I'll do as you ask." He nods and walks away. Renji, who was listening around the corner, walks up to Kimiko, "You okay?" He asks. "… You heard all of that…" She says, tears rolling down her cheeks. Renji pulls her into a hug, "its okay… I won't ever let him do that…" He says, softly. She buries her face into his shinigami robes, sobbing, "I-I don't want to marry someone I've never even met…" She sobs. Renji tightens his hold on her, "I promise, I'll never let you get married to him…" 'Or anyone else, for that matter…' Renji thinks. He places a hand to her chin and tilts her face up to look at him, "Why don't you wash that make-up off and we'll have that last dance, okay?" She smiles and nods, "Yeah, Wait for me…" Renji smiles, "Yeah, now hurry, they're gonna start soon!" Kimiko nods and hurries off. As Kimiko cleans the ruined make-up off and as Renji stands outside, waiting for her, they both think the same thing... But the author wants to tell it from Renji's POV: "... I can't tell her... Even if I did and maybe if she felt the same way... It could never, ever work out... Kuchiki-taicho would never allow it. I can never forget that she's a Kuchiki and I'm... Nothing... And If she didn't feel the same way... I'd lose my best friend ,and if that happened... I could never forgive myself. So for now... I'll just keep those feelings bottled up inside and just wait." Shuhei walks over to Renji, "So, did you tell her yet?" Renji grabs him by the front of his collar, "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?!" Shuhei doesn't even look scared, "Hey, hey, calm down... So you didn't tell her?" Renji lets him go and sighs, "No... I can't... She's a Kuchiki and I'm... Nothing." Shuhei sighs, "You are beyond dense." He walks away and Kimiko walks out, her hair down and the make-up off. "Ready?" She smiles. Renji smiles as he leads her to the floor. He thinks, "She never needed make-up or fancy clothes... she always looks amazing..." Kimiko smiles as the song starts and she hugs him, "...Renji... I wish that you weren't my brother's leiutenant... But I guess... I'll have to hold onto those feelings and just... stop wishing."
Kimiko:Aw... That sucks...
Ariel: DONT GIVE UP HOPE!!!
----- 4 Days later.-----
Kimiko sighs as she sits by a small stream. "Kimiko!!" Ikkaku yells, scaring the hell out of her. "AAK! Don't DO that!!" She yells, her heart beating quickly. "Why is it you jump out of your skin everytime you see a third Seat or higher?" He grumbles, handing her a cup, "You looked depressed, so I brought you this." She takes it, "Thanks." "... You okay? You've seemed... Depressed lately..." Ikkaku asks. Kimiko looks at him, "Have I?" Ikkaku sighs, "What is it? Guy issues?" She looks at him, a little shocked, "Why are you asking me this?" "Don't get all girly on me, I'm your friend, so I have to ask..." Ikkaku grumbles. Kimiko smiles and hugs him, "Thanks, Ikka-kun!" He blushes and pulls away, "Well, It isn't only me who notices these things... Yumichika and the others were worried too..." Kimiko sighs, "I'm so sorry... Yeah... It's something like Guy issues..." Ikkaku looks at her as if she's insane. "What?" Kimiko demands. "Its just that... You don't seem like the type of girl to let THAT get you down..." Ikkaku says. "... It's something that normal people just won't understand..." Kimiko says. "Oh, so you mean us commoners..." Ikkaku replies. "No! But... It's about my brother..." Kimiko says, looking down. "Hm? Is he stopping you from dating someone?" Ikkaku asks. "He may as well..." Kimiko sighs, looking into her cup. Ikkaku sighs and pushes her into the stream... Which is actually, a river. Kimiko surfaces and yells at him, "THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?!?" Ikkaku smirks, "See? You can resurface no matter how hard you were pushed in." Ikkaku holds his hand out to help her up... Sadly, he doesn't think that Kimiko'll do anything. She grabs his arm and pulls him in with her. He gets up and gives her a very evil glare as he grips his zanpakuto. "... I'm gonna run now!" Kimiko says as she flash-steps away. "Get back here!!" Ikkaku yells, following her. Kimiko runs and runs through the streets of the Seireitei. 'Crap!! He's pissed!!' Kimiko thinks as she hurries through. They both make a sharp left and a right and a left. "You've gotten good, Ikka-kun!!" She yells behind her. He smirks and yells, "Complementing me won't save you!!" Kimiko laughs as she makes a sudden stop, Ikkaku still rushing ahead. "Try to find me now!!" She yells as she turns to run again. She stops when she sees Renji near-by... with a blond shinigami girl on his arm! Her eyes widen as she feels the tears start to form. Ikkaku appears behind her, "Gotcha!!" Kimiko turns and hurries away. "Kimiko?" Ikkaku says, looking at her. "I'm going home..." She says as she dissapears. As she runs, not home, she thinks, 'Why? I knew that I should've told him sooner! I'm so stupid!!' She stops right outside Squad 13 gardens. 'He won't think to find me here...' She sits in the large maze-like Sakura Trees. 'Don't wish... Don't start... Wishing only wounds the heart.' She thinks, sitting down, burying her face into her arms and sobbing. Someone walks up to her, "I thought I heard someone crying... Sorry I couldn't come sooner, Kimi-chan..." Kimiko looks up, "U-Ukitake-taicho!" She says. She bows, "S-Sorry! I didn't mean to intrude on your squad's grounds..." Ukitake smiles, "It's fine, Kimiko." He kneels down and places a hand on her head, "Why don't you come inside and we'll talk about what's making you cry?" She nods as she wipes her face on her sleeves.