Author's Note:

We are getting so close to the end and I am so excited. Oh, and this is AU.

Kaleidoscope
a Bleach (© Kubo Tite) fanfiction

Theme #86
(winter) formal

Opening Song: "Glad You Came" — The Wanted

Rangiku loves dressing up, dancing, and spending time with friends, so when the opportunity arises to combine all three she's the first to jump on the ship. No one really takes the winter formal seriously because it's too cold and right before final exams, but Rangiku is determined to make it a night to remember. "You're all going and I'm not taking no for an answer," she tells her group of friends, wearing a grim expression. Even if they have better things to do, no one objects because they've never seen her this serious before.

The girls are out dress shopping when Orihime asks, "It's girls asks boys, right? Like, um, what do they call it… Sadie Hawkins?"

Rangiku hums a yes in reply, which brings a troubled look to Rukia's face. "Girls ask boys…? That sounds like a lot of work." She eyes the strawberry blonde wearily out of the corner of her eye when she notices her holding up a backless purple dress. "No," she says immediately when Rangiku holds it up to show her.

"You didn't even give me a chance to ask if you like it," Rangiku murmurs, pouting. "I bet Renji would really like it!"

Rukia doesn't even blink. "No."

"You're no fun…"

They weave around the store in search for the perfect dress with Rangiku and Orihime at the lead. "So," Hinamori begins shyly, "are you going to ask Renji-kun to go with you?"

"Eh, that idiot?" Rukia tries to distract herself with a rack of sundresses, but Rangiku admonishes her for it loudly and steers her elsewhere. "Even if I wanted to, I don't think 'Nii-sama would let me go with him. He's been giving Renji a harder time than usual whenever he comes over." She shrugs, scrunches her nose at the sparkles and ruffles, and sorts through the evening gowns instead. "What about you, Hinamori?"

"M-me?" She yelps in surprise when Rangiku suddenly holds a wispy orange dress against her. "Oh, no, Rangiku-san, I don't think that'd look very flattering on me…"

"Are you gonna ask Toushirou-kun?" Orihime asks. "Or maybe Kira-kun? I mean Toushirou-kun doesn't look like the kind of guy that would wanna go to a dance, but I'm sure he'd go if you ask."

"And we all know Kira would die if you asked him," Rangiku chirps.

Hinamori's face turns as red as the ruby-colored dress in Rukia's hands. "Well at first I thought about asking Shiro-chan but he told me he isn't going."

"He's going out of town to see his grandma isn't he?" says Rangiku, and Hinamori nods. "Well, Kira it is, then!"

"Ack, wait!"

Her pleas and protests go ignored by the other girls, who all nod in agreement with Rangiku. "And we all know who you wanna ask, Orihime-chan," Rangiku says, raising her eyebrows suggestively. "Have you thought about how yet?"

Orihime lowers her gaze in embarrassment as she absentmindedly plays with the soft fabric. "I-I don't know if Kurosaki-kun would say yes, so I'm not sure if I really want to yet."

Rukia's eyes widen in surprise. "You're asking Ichigo?"

"N-no—"

"Of course she is!" Rangiku exclaims, cutting Orihime off.

Before anyone else can make a comment about the berry-haired boy, pink-faced Orihime says, "What about you, Rangiku-san? Who are you going to ask?"

Rangiku blinks, caught off guard. "Me?" Rukia and Hinamori also lean in, waiting for her answer. "Hm, that's a good question. I have no idea." She goes on scanning the different dressed, completely unperturbed by the idea of going stag.

The other three exchange a look in a silence. Then Hinamori speaks up: "I thought you'd ask Ichimaru-san."

She freezes momentarily. "Why'd you think that?" she asks steadily.

"You're best friends," Rukia says. "It's kinda… a give away?"

"But it's the same with you and Renji, then," Rangiku reasons.

"Mm. I guess."

Rangiku sighs and drops her shoulders dramatically. "To be honest, I thought about it, but I probably won't. Gin's friends like to smoke and drink instead of going to dances, so he'll probably go with them. I don't think he'd be too into it anyway."

"Have you asked?" says Hinamori.

"No."

"You should," says Orihime, grinning brightly. "You never know until you try, right?"

When they split up to different corners of the store, Rangiku finds herself looking longingly at a lovely, floor-length, seafoam green dress. All she wanted to do was find something pretty to wear and maybe some cheap accessories, but now she can't even enjoy shopping. Dismally, she thinks, "Gin ruins everything."

Closing Song: "Kiss With a Fist" — Florence + the Machine

Will Rangiku ask Gin? Will Orihime overcome her fears? Will Hinamori pick up the slack? Will Renji be dismembered by Byakuya? Find out next time on High School Woes with the Bleach cast!

(AUs are fun to write.)

xx, der kapitan