So I guess it starts today, Rukia thought to herself as she stood facing her closed homeroom door. Her hands were clenched by her sides
as she stared at the pale white door which contained the rest of her class and her rival.

Rukia had been tossing and turning all night, thinking of ways to undermine her teacher. Or better still; embarrass him in front of the whole
class. She had so far, not been very successful. Indeed she had thought of the idea of slipping a heavy dose of laxatives into his morning
coffee; she had grown very fond of that idea during the long night. Only to realise a few hours later that he doesn't drink morning coffee.

Or any other morning liquid to be precise.

In the end, no good ideas came to me. Damn, what should I do? I have no time left…

"Ahem?"

"Nyaaaargh?" Rukia shrieked loudly, her hands flailing in the air as she spun around and stepped back. "What the?"

"Sorry," the girl said quietly, "you're kind of in the way…" she gestured towards the door. "I need to go in."

"Ah," Rukia squeaked embarrassedly, "go ahead." Rukia stepped to the side and allowed the girl to pass.

The scent of watermelon and papaya brushed passed as the girl's long auburn hair flowed behind her.

Rukia stood there for a few seconds, entranced by the pleasant smell.

Inoue Orihime. The school's prettiest and most popular girl, and also, sister to Inoue Sora. Rukia had never spoken to Inoue, but from what
she has overheard, she is meant to be a nice girl. Hence her growing popularity between both the girls and boys.

It is also interesting that Inoue never engaged in the bullying of Rukia that often occurred during class. Instead, she took a back seat and
avoided eye contact.

Rukia was jolted out of her thoughts when the bell began to trill loudly.

"Shit!" she cried out and slammed the door open. As she leapt into the room, she could see her classmates turn around and look at her
strangely. A few girls started giggling near the front, and Rukia felt her cheeks flush slightly.

Nowadays, I'm flushing a lot, Rukia noted to herself.

As Rukia looked away from the giggling girls and to her seat, she walked quickly over to the familiar window sill.

After flinging her school bag on the back of her seat, she sat down quietly and looked at her arch rival.

The familiar grin was plastered on his face as he leaned against the desk and stared right back at her.

"So glad for you join us, Kuchiki."

"But pray tell…" he continued. "Why are you late?"

"Late? I was only like, a few seconds late…" Rukia retorted.

"Hmm… even so, that doesn't change the fact that you waltzed into my classroom late, Miss Rukia." Ichigo countered. "How do you intend
to make up for that lateness?"

"Lateness?" Rukia snapped. "Look here you-"

"Umm… Professor Kurosaki?" a soft voice interrupted her.

Shocked and slightly annoyed at the interruption, Rukia's head whipped around to glare at the interrupter. She recoiled slightly as her eyes
landed on the familiar auburn haired classmate she had encountered earlier. Inoue Orihime was leaning forward in her desk, with her hand
reached out into air.

"Professor Kurosaki. Rukia wasn't late…"

Ichigo's eyes widened slightly. "Huh?"

"She wasn't late." Orihime insisted. "She was standing outside the door earlier for some reason… but she was definitely here before the bell."

A surprised look registered itself on Ichigo's face before he let out a sigh and sank into his chair. "I see… Well, if you say so Inoue. Rukia, you
should be thankful to Inoue. She just saved your backside."

Rukia gritted her teeth as Professor Kurosaki waved his hand at his students, and told them to do whatever they want.

What the hell? What is with the: "If you say so Inoue." So when I protest that I wasn't late, he just shoves it back at me. But when she says
it… Argh!

Anyway…

Rukia turned her head slightly to look at Inoue, who as usual, was surrounded by both female and male classmates.

That was surprising. Who would have thought that the Inoue Orihime would stick up for me?

Subconsciously, Rukia's cheeks coloured a rosy pink as she smiled to herself.

That was nice though…

Breaktime

"What the heck Inoue? Why did you stick up for that little…"

"She's right Inoue! She's just a spoilt brat! Walking around and thinking she owns the place, just because her brother is a little influential..." Tatsuki
Arisawa chipped in, whilst swinging her bag in circles around her wrist. "Look we're here…"

The three girls sat down at the bench that was located in the middle of a grassy pitch, surrounded by trees and flowers.

"I know!" Chizuru Honsho agreed energetically, grabbing Inoue Orihime around the waist and squeezing tightly. Inoue gave a little yelp of protest
before Tatsuki slammed her kitbag into Chizuru's back.

"Watch it Chizuru. Hands of Inoue you scum…" she snarled, as her fists shook with anger.

"What was that you tomboy? And don't you use violence in front of delicate and pure Inoue-"

"Have you ever seen her like that?" A quiet voice spoke softly.

The duo ceased their argument to turn around and look at Inoue. Lying in her lap was a pink lunchbox, open with some unknown substance being
revealed.

"Huh?" They said simultaneously.

"I mean," Inoue faltered, "have you ever seen Rukia on her 'high horse'?"

A few moments of silence passed.

"Now that you mention it…" Tatsuki started.

"I have never seen her act like that…" Chizuru finished slowly.

"Hnnn." Inoue mumbled whilst reaching into her bag for a pair of chopsticks. After finding a pair, she snapped them open noisily. "You see," she
continued with her chopsticks poised over the open lunchbox. "We only heard from the other people in our class that she was a spoilt brat. We've
never actually seen her act that way…"

"Well…" Tatsuki spluttered, "She does have that sort of… 'aura' around her."

"Aura?" Inoue questioned.

"Yeah yeah! You've noticed it too? That 'high class' and 'royal' feeling you get from her. You know the sort of 'I'm untouchable for you commoners'
feeling." Chizuru pondered out loud.

"I see…" Inoue murmured, chewing her food. "So, basically, we're all being mean to her just because of the 'aura' she emits? But what if that 'aura'
isn't what she's really like?"

A sudden gust of wind blew Inoue's long auburn hair violently.

"Inoue…" Tatsuki whined, whilst placing her head in her hands, "You make me feel like a total bitch…"

"I second that." Chizuru grumbled.

"Oh girls, don't feel like that." A masculine voice echoed.

Like a rocket, Tatsuki jumped to her feet and readied herself into a karate stance. "Who's there? Show yourself you filthy-"

"Woah woah! Calm down Missy." The voice interrupted. "It's me… Your beloved homeroom teacher! Look behind you!"

Inoue turned around to see the figure of her homeroom teacher emerge from the shadow of the trees. "Ah!" she said cheerfully, "hello Professor Kurosaki!"

"Hey girls!" he replied. "Wazzup?"

Tatsuki relaxed her stance and propped herself back onto the bench. "Nothing much over here Prof. What are you doin' over here?"

"Nothing much." He uttered. "I was just taking a stroll until I heard my precious students have a little gossip about a… girl I know…"

The faces of Tatsuki and Chizuru turned a sickly white.

"You heard us?"

Ichigo nodded grimly. "And I must say you are very…"

Chizuru's face had by now turned a faint olive colour.

"…right…" he finished.

"Eeeeeeeh?" the pair shrieked noisily.

A faint smile played on the orange headed man's lips, before he turned to Inoue, who had returned to eating her unidentified substance.

"You are right Inoue. Rukia is indeed a misunderstood girl. She comes across as a rude and bratty person, but she is merely a… misinterpreted
character…" Ichigo declared.

Inoue set down her finished lunchbox as she looked at her teacher. "Your point is…?"

This time, Ichigo's face brightened as his mouth stretched into a warm smile.

"Please, be her friend?"

As of this chapter, all the main characters of this tale have been introduced! Let the real story begin…