sigh I still don't own Bleach, you know. Well, what would happen if Bleach characters were "normal" people? That's when this idea popped. Yes, this is totally fluff stuff. Yes, it has nothing to do with Bleach, asides the characters of course. Oh, and of course, yes it is IchiRuki centered. But you might be able to see some other couples tehehe. I hope you'll enjoy... I'll continue to write this thing, because I enjoy it. It's like holidays tehehe.

BTW, I'm still french, so sorry for the errors and such that escaped.

Addendum: I began to repost it, so that the lecture would be easier.

---

Rukia looked at her brother, who was still drinking his tea. She was 17, but seemed to reach only her 15. Well, 1.55m was better than her 1.40m from three years ago, she guessed. Still, she was short compared to anyone. In particular her brother, who was so tall. Not like if they were blood-related, but still it was strange to see them side by side. She had black raven hair, well, just like 90 per cent of the population. Her eyes were still the thing she was the most proud of. Unlike her sister, who had black eyes, hers were violet. She sighed. A new school, I wonder how it will be. Not much better than her previous school, probably.

“I’m going, Nii-sama, or I’ll be late.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to take the car?” asked Byakuya.

“No, it’s ok, really, I’m just going to walk.”

He didn’t answer, lost in his thoughts. Once outside, she looked behind her.

“Stay away from me, Shuuhei. I don’t want to freak out people for my first day at this school.”

He nodded. She was used to him, but still hated the fact that she had to have a bodyguard. She walked down the street, passing near a park. Maybe I’ll give it a shot, after all, September is a great month, and this park seems to be peaceful… After that, she registered in her mind a little house with a clinic. And houses that all looked the same. Turning left, and right, passing a river… the school was right there.

---

“I’m going,” said the young orange-haired boy. He was frowning, in a pretty bad mood. His father had to kick his ass at 6am, once again! It was driving him mad. And right after, he asked him who his girlfriend was! Not like if he had one anyway… they were all way too boring for his taste, even if his bad boy attitude was gaining him more and more fangirls everyday. He frowned more. Just before him, he could see a short girl with raven hair, wearing the school uniform. Never saw her before… I wonder if she’s a new transfer. Then his attention was drawn to a guy, who seemed to follow her. Is he a pervert, or something? The girl didn’t seem to notice him, and he adjusted his footsteps to stay behind those two. But nothing happened, and they all arrive in school without any problem. Then the boy stayed outside, and turned back. Well, not really a boy, thought Ichigo. He must be older… at least 20 years old. And what was this blue tattoo on his face? He was weird, he decided. That was exactly at this moment when he heard the bell ring. CRAP, I’m late!

The hallways were empty, and he ran like if the dogs of hell were chasing him. His first professor hated when he was late. He never saw her, who was coming from downstairs. And, before realising it, he just stood motionless while she was falling on her back. It was the girl that he followed earlier in the morning. Her fault if I’m late, crap! he thought. And while he stared at her, he noticed…

“Aw, crap, can’t you be more careful! You punk!” she shouted. He laughed hard. “What, are you mocking me?” She didn’t notice that he could see her panties in her position.

“Really, I didn’t think I would ever see a girl with strawberries on her panties,” he replied, still laughing.

Her face now turned red, as she stood up, shaking in anger. “Moron!” she cried, punching his stomach. And she left him, quite surprised by her reaction. Damn that bitch, it hurts! Who could have told that a so petite girl could be so strong?

Hastily, he entered the classroom, making apologies while taking his seat. His professor was about to scold him for his delay, but before he could say anything, the door opened on the new transfer student he was waiting for.

“Ah, for the new trimester, we have a new student in our class. Kuchiki Rukia,” he explained, while the girl came in. NO FUCKING WAY! his mind shouted.

“Hello, my name is Kuchiki Rukia…” She then saw him, and frowned.

“Well, take a sit then. There’s an empty one, near Kurosaki Ichigo. Kurosaki, raise your hand!” said the professor, seeing that visibly she didn’t want to speak more.

---

NO WAY you’ve got to be kidding me, she thought. Not only she was in his class, but he dared mock her while his name was ICHIGO? Rukia felt her good mood fade away, as she sat right next to him. Revenge was a sweet thing, and she was thinking hard about how she could just return the favour he did to her. But she had no idea on how she was going to get it. The only thing she knew was that he was going to pay the hard price.

It came sooner than she expected. When the bell signifying the break lunch rang, two boys immediately asked her if she wanted to eat with them.

“I’m Asano Keigo,” said a boy who was acting really weird, “and I would be really pleased if you came with us.”

His friend sighed, but ended up smiling. “I’m Kojima Mizuiro. We usually eat at the rooftop, if you want to come.”

Why not? she thought. Maybe this time, I’ll be able to make some friends… “I’ll come, but I think I forgot my bentô… I’ll be there in ten minutes, for make it up.” She smiled, and looked at the window. He was there. Of course, he knew she would have forgotten her meal, on a day like this. Girls were already noticing him, so she ran through the stairs.

“Missy, you forgot your bentô,” he said, giving it back.

“Thanks, Shuuhei. I think your presence won’t be required, this time…”

“I’ll stay near the school, if you need me, missy.”

She nodded, and came back to the main building. Yet she could hear the whispers around her, asking who he was, and who she was. She sighed. These sorts of things made her angry, like always. Of course he’s there for me, stupid girls! He’s my freaking bodyguard! She wanted to shout, but that was not the best way to make some friends…

---

He was on the rooftop, enjoying the sunny day with his friends, eating the bentô Yuzu made for him. Sado was eating in silence, while Keigo seemed to be under some drugs. The two made a funny contrast.

“So what’s the matter, Keigo?” he asked, frowning. “Are you on cracks? Or what?”

“Nononono, but today I saw my goddess! Yes she is, and she will come here! Soon! I asked her while you were at the bathroom! She did say YES!”

“Uh? A GIRL accepted your proposition?” he exclaimed, took by surprise. Keigo was more the loser style than the heartbreaker, unlike Mizuiro who had a bunch of older girlfriends. Keigo was crying tears of joy, nodding.

“I’m sorry, I’m la…” she stopped, looking at him with anger. “Sorry, I don’t think I can eat my meal with him,” she ended, pointing at him a furious finger. And then, she turned back.

“WHAT? Ichigo, I don’t know what you’ve done to her, but GO AND BRING HER BACK NOW!” Keigo shouted.

“What? But I…!” Ichigo protested, but Mizuiro and Keigo were pushing him towards the stairs. Aw, fuck! He ran through the stairs, and soon caught her. She was holding her cell phone, and was about to dial a number.

“Wait!”

She frowned, and looked at him. “Wait what?” she asked.

He bit his lips. He was sure he was going to regret it. “My friends really want you to eat with us, you know.”

“If I had known that you were part of this group, I would never have agreed first.”

He sighed. There was only one thing left... “Listen, I’m sorry for this morning. I really shouldn’t have talk to you like that…” he mumbled. He always hated when he had to admit that he was wrong. Even more when he had to apologize to a barely known new student.

“Sure, Strawberry,” she said, emphasis the Strawberry. “It’s not like if I could be angry over such a thing, ne?” She was smiling, but he felt just like a chill touch had frozen him. She was daring him to reply.

“My name doesn’t mean strawberry,” he tried to explain.

“Really? I was sure that it was the meaning, though. Or maybe it is just because you’re ashamed to be put on girl’s panties,” she ended, smirking. Ichigo’s blood was boiling, but he just couldn’t see what words return to her. Shit! Did I just lose an argument? With this GIRL? His mind refused to react, and she grinned. “Ok, I come back. By the way, I’m Kuchiki Rukia. Pleased to meet you!” Her voice sounded so false that it irked him.

“Kurosaki Ichigo.” But inside of him, he was asking himself if he could make it until the end of the lunch.

“Kuchiki-chan!” exclaimed Keigo, delighted to see her again. “I’m glad you’re back!”

“Well, I’m glad too!” she smiled, with her so-faked voice.

“By the way, Kuchiki-san, I hope we didn’t bother you too much. After all, maybe you would have wanted to go with the other girls,” noticed Mizuiro. Why is he so considerate towards the girls, that’s beyond me!

“Well, mmh… that’s not very important, since I usually don’t go along very well with the other girls…” Her answer surprised him. Did he dream it, or was she really sad? However, she smiled and the impression was gone. What was that? She shrugged, and the end of their lunch was far more… happier. Even if she still taunted him, calling him ‘Strawberry’, which pissed him off to no end, and made his friends laugh hard. He was sure it was a joke with no end with them. She dared him to reply, which he didn’t, obviously because Keigo was about to jump on him if she departed again. Not that he feared Keigo, but because he was his friend, after all. However, he had to admit, this girl was really different than the other ones. At least a good point for her. Even if, he noted, she avoided all the questions about her life, her friends, and her family.

They came back to class before the bell rang. While walking toward his desk, he unconsciously eyed two letters in her desk.

“What’s that?” he asked, but her surprised look told him that she didn’t know either. She opened it, read some lines, and frowned. Having a bad feeling about this, he took one letter, and read. His jaw dropped, as he read insulting and cruel words.

“Oh, it seems that at least two girls knew my name...” she mumbled.

“WHAT’S THIS?” he asked again, shouting.

“Only two letters, not too much. I’m quite surprised. I had at least five letters filled by hate last year, every day. Because the girls thought I was going out with somebody they liked. Give me that, I’ll throw it to the trash.” She was talking like if it was a normal event in her life. He was truly stunned.

“This is not normal! Really, why didn’t you say anything about this?” Other students were now staring at them, curious about what happened.

“Really, it isn’t important. Who cares?” Visibly not her.

“That’s why you said you didn’t get along very well with other girls?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

The professor ended up their conversation, but until the end of the classes, he couldn’t help but look at her. She was mostly lost in her thoughts. Sometimes she would write something, but her mind was somewhere else. She’s pretty cute, when she’s not punching me… or calling me Strawberry… Just those two memories made him frown. I take back what I thought, she’s a pain in the ass!

When finally the bell rang the end of the day, he was delighted. It had been a long day…

“What are you doing here?” she looked at him, quite surprised, when she saw him walking in the same direction.

“Uh? I’m going back home.” Of course, she didn’t know. She was walking in front of him. Shit. “I live in the house with a clinic,” he explained. “My father owns it.”

“No way! How come I didn’t see you this morning?”

“I was behind you.”

“Missy, any problem?” It was the man who was following her. The weirdo. Who was actually looking at him just as if he could kill him.

“Uh, no, it’s ok Shuuhei. Just stay behind," she sighed.

“Who is it?” he asked abruptly.

“Nobody.”

“Liar.”

“And what good could it be for you to know who is he?” she asked, exasperated.

He poked her head with a finger. “If I ask you, it means that the answer does interest me.”

“Though, you still don’t have to know it.” She was deadly serious. When they arrived in front of his house, he decided to walk along with her.

“You don’t live there?”

“Yes I do. However I just decided to walk you home.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t have to do that. Shuuhei is there for that.”

“I don’t mind.” Curiosity was killing him. He never has been the curious type. However this girl woke up his curious side. And it irked him that it had to be the girl who called him--

“As you wish, Strawberry. Just don’t tell the others, ok?”

“I won’t, Shorty.” He replied. She sent him a death glare, and he smiled, for the very first time of the day. She lived at only one block away… except that the block was constituted, it seemed, by her house only. His jaw dropped, as he looked the wall which was circling the house.

“You live here?” He remembered clearly passing before this wall, asking himself what it could hide when he was younger.

“Yeah. And Shuuhei is my bodyguard. My brother and I moved in only last week, but this house is in the Kuchiki family for a century now. Please, don’t tell the others, ok?”

He stared at her, wondering if her fortune was the source of her misfortune. “Alright. I won’t tell. But stop calling me Strawberry.”

She grinned. “I’ll call you Ichigo then. After all, you saw my panties, it means that we’re close, no?” she laughed.

“Kurosaki when there is someone else,” he groaned.

“And my name is Rukia. Not Shorty. Or else you’ll have to pay back for that too.” She stuck out her tongue at him, while Shuuhei was opening the door.

“Missy, please. It’s time.” He gave her an overprotective look, and added a death glare for him.

“See you tomorrow then,” he said. She nodded, and wave him goodbye. What a strange girl, he thought, while heading back at his house.