Okay so this is my very very first attempt at a story of this sort, so please regard me kindly. Of course constructive criticism is greatly appreciated but bashing, ranting about dislike, telling me you hate the story, character use etc. is most definitely not needed. Remember the golden rule. Other wise enjoy my crazy ideas finally put to use

Current song I'm stuck on (has nothing to do with the story, just thought I'd spread the word on some not very well-known music): Trip - Heldley

This is an IchigoRukia thing but includes other couples (HitsuHina, Rangiku and Gin) and many other Bleach characters.

Disclaimer: I do not in anyway own Bleach (Or Hedley) or any of it's characters.

시작

"I'm not going to be an old prude!!" she proclaimed loudly, finally shaking herself out of her earlier stupor. She turned on heel and began the walk back.

It wasn't possible that she was just completely unlovable and forced to live a loveless life on a downward spiral to loneliness, was it? No, she furiously shook her head; she was just waiting for the right guy to sweep her off her feet. The kind of guy that's read about in the stories, charming, kind, protective and most of all drop- dead gorgeous. That kind of guy does exist right?

하루

Rukia wouldn't say she was anything too fantastical to look at, but on the other hand didn't consider herself just part of the room's décor either. She was slim yes, but not so slim that she disappeared from sight when turned, so why did she feel invisible sometimes? Her eyes were shocking, her skin porcelain smooth and her face flawless but for some reason she would always be regarded with as much concern as the next lamp, umm person.

Her routine life had begun to lose its thrill, as she began going out with friends less and less and her friends began calling her less and less. A cycle began, wake, school, home, sleep and of course wash, rinse and repeat.

She pulled herself out of bed begrudgingly and stumbled her way to her shower. Her habit was to wake up extra early, shower, get dressed, then go back to sleep for another hour or so before breakfast and school. It was like two nights of sleep in one and gave her something to look forward to after bathing.

Breakfast was so uneventful, she didn't even notice what she ate and only realized she had even consumed anything after she had begun walking to school.

루틴

Rukia sat in her desk, her dark as night hair framing her face and blocking it from view as she looked down. She was early, but she always was, to be otherwise always made her nervous.

Friends began chatting, conversations brewed and laughter was heard, none of it involving her. She wasn't popular, she wasn't the class clown, not the nerd, nor the weird, scary person everyone would vote "most likely to be in jail" no, she was just there.

Despite not falling in a category she was just like any other girl in many ways, one of them being she envied other girls. One girl that stirred the envy, Inoue Orihime, sat a few seats ahead of Rukia, so Rukia everyday for hours, on end, saw what she could never be. Orihime was beautiful, rich, athletic, out-going and heck she even had some brains that weren't half bad. The trait Rukia envied most though, was her out-going nature. Rukia was beyond shy, although she had never really considered herself shy, until her friend pointed it out, which caused her only to become more self-conscious. She would always let the spontaneous moments, for her to speak out, pass, later regretting it and thinking 'what if… what if…. What if…?'

She let out a loud sigh, blowing her bangs skyward (or ceiling ward, right?)

"You'll sigh away all your happiness that way," a voice said causing her to look up.

"Where have I heard that before Kaien? Nothing original in that noggin of yours?" Rukia said turning in her seat and flashing a smile to the boy as he sat down at the desk behind hers.

"You didn't like that one? Well how about stop your sighing because . . . your breath stinks and all you're doing when you sigh is polluting our o' so precious supply of fresh breathing air," he said with a mock serious face. "Pollution is a very serious matter that has yet to be solved . . ."

"Okey okey I get it," Rukia smiled cutting him off. "I think I preferred your first one better."

"Oh, well how about . . ." but he doesn't get to finish as the teacher enters clearing his throat. Kaien looked up and Rukia turned back around in her seat facing forward.

The teacher cleared his throat again, "Today we will begin the term long project on pollution. Pollution is a very serious matter that has yet to be solved but this term . . ."

Rukia stifled a laugh and began to copy the notes that were quickly filling up the board.

행복

"Eavesdropped on your father's lecture practice again did you Kaien?" Rukia laughed during the break in between classes.

"Not purposely, but you should try living in my house for a day without memorizing at least part of his lecture," Kaien grinned leaning back in his chair. "There is no quiet place, plus his voice carries, it sounds like he's trying to lecture the people from the nursing home."

Kaien was the youngest son of the English teacher and despite his relaxed demeanor was a very diligent student. Not that he could slack off though, when his father was his teacher and expected Kaien to exceed to the same levels as his two older brothers had.

Rukia had meet Kaien in junior high and one day had discovered her true feelings for him. Once they had entered high school Kaien's popularity shot up due to his success in kendo not to mention he was always number one in class rankings. Despite always being number two, Rukia had yet to achieve any increase in noticability, especially in comparison to Kaien's.

Kaien leaned back further in his chair closing his eyes as if he was resting. Rukia watched him out of the corner of her eye. Yes, she had a crush on Kaien but she was over it . . . right? She would spend at least a few hours each week in a mental workout of convincing herself that she was indeed over Kaien. Once she realized that she was indeed having the dreaded inner turmoil again, she would then slip into the phase of mentally scolding herself for even thinking about her feelings regarding Kaien.

Rukia sighed 'I need to get my life back in gear and a gear that doesn't revolve around Kaien and what he's doing, and what he likes, and what he wears, and what homework he's done and oh, God I really am a bit obsessed aren't I? Well more than a bit, argh why am I even having these thoughts?'

Kaien watched curiously as Rukia rolled her eyes and huffed under her breath about something. "Everything okay in there?"

Rukia's head snapped up, his voice breaking her out of her internal, mental beat down. "Er yeah I was just thinking about all the work I had to do, I mean home work, not that I'm trying to take your number one spot or anything, number two is good too, but I don't mean that I won't try, cause I mean you should always try your best but studying is always good right, and I think I actually might be ahead in my studying in fact, so I'm going to do some extra research on gourds!" she was practically yelling at the end of her little speech and slightly blue due to the lack of oxygen and having just blurted out a heck load of completely useless information in under five seconds flat.

Rukia blushed 'Cue the looks of disbelief and humor, I have just set up their introduction,' she thought to herself.

"Um gourds?"

Rukia mentally cursed herself 'What did I just say again? I just opened my mouth and noise came out. Wait, did he just say gourds?! When did I say that, or did I even say that, is he changing the subject to spare me? Agh, why can't I ever say anything clever and witty around him? Aaaah but why do I even care in the first place?' Rukia entered her mental smack down again forgetting to answer Kaien.

Kaien paused "Umm never mind Rukia" he said as he patted the back of a girl he thought at the moment just was lacking order in her duck line-up. 'If she can even remember what a line is' he thought to himself. 'Must be because we have that test coming up.'

조롱박

"Add another mark on the side of why Kaien should not like Rukia," she grumbled walking to go to lunch. "I think that side is dominating too much, a game is no fun if one team keeps winning, so how about some slack?" she muttered to no one in particular as she pulled out her bento.

She ate alone in her classroom, at her desk during lunch. Kaien never ate with her, he would always eat with whoever was his girlfriend at the time, and between girlfriends there was always the popular kids. Today was a girlfriend day, Rukia watched as she pulled him from the classroom shortly after lunch had started. Orihime was his longest relationship to date and he had told Rukia she was "the one." Rukia never saw it coming, but one day they didn't even know each other and the next they were dating. All because she had confessed to him.

Rukia had confessed to Kaien once too, many years ago. He had looked shocked and, after what seemed like an eternity, had awkwardly declined. Rukia hadn't let her pain show, laughing it off and pretending to sigh in relief, saying that she was glad he had turned her down because she had only asked him out as a bet with her friends. Things had been strange after that and their friendship had only recently began to return to normal.

"Hey Debby-the-downer what's got you thinking to hard?" a girl asked pulling her chair up to Rukia's desk.

"Nothing . . . umm of any importance I was just thinking about all the homework I have to do tonight." Rukia said putting on a fake smile. "Not going out to eat today Momo?"

"Nope I remembered to pack a lunch today," the girl happily exclaimed pulling out her bento. "We can share if you like."

"Ooh okay you can have some of mine too!" Rukia smiled at Momo. Momo was one of Rukia's very close friends. They had never really talked too much but suddenly became closer that year. "Where's Senna?" Rukia asked referring to their usual third wheel.

"Out with the boys, where else?" Momo rolled her eyes. Whereas Rukia and Momo had never had a boyfriend, Senna was too damn popular with the boys for her own good. She never had an "official boyfriend" but there was always one willing to be at her beck and call. They both sighed at the same time catching each other's eye and laughing.

매화

"Have fun with all the "super hot" guys during practice," Momo practically yelled to Rukia at the end of school, causing Rukia to blush red and hurry her way to the pool.

This was Rukia's second year on the swim team and Momo thought it funny that the sport with the most revealing uniform had the most unattractive guys on it. Swimming had never been very popular at their school and it definitely didn't help that most of the guys would prefer to get their game on, on the courts rather than worrying about their sexuality in the pool. But that actually suited Rukia just fine. Nothing to distract her from her workout, practice was all work no fun for her.

"So as I hope you all know, which you should because it's on the schedule, we have a swim meet this weekend," her coach began to hash into their heads as practice ended. "Don't be late, get plenty of rest and no we won't be having our group "shave our legs" together fiasco," he said referring to last year's mishap that included thirty swimmers, one tiny bathroom, lots of sharp things and a whole lot of shaving cream. "So rest, stay away from group shaving and don't be late! Dismissed!"

면도 크림

"Don't be late! Don't be late!" where had she heard that before and why was a giant carrot telling her that in the first place. Rukia frowned 'I'm Alice and this is my Wonderland so go away you bossy carrot!'

"Don't be late!"

Rukia sat up in her bed "Crap I'm going to be late!" she practically screamed looking at the clock. "No wait I can make it five minutes is plenty of time!"

Needless to say her coach was not happy with her tardiness but she had made it nonetheless and none worse for the wear.

"You look like crap and a half" Soi Fon, one of the few people Rukia actually talked to on the swim team, said peering at Rukia. "Rough morning or perhaps a rough night?" her eyes twinkled with the suggestive meaning.

"I'm glad I was able to provide entertainment for you but if you don't mind I plan on using the trip up to get some more shut eye," Rukia said grumpily trying to get comfortable.

"God knows you could use it," Soi Fon cheerfully said dodging as Rukia attempted to pounce on her. "Save that energy! I'll wake you when we get there."

Wake her she did indeed, the "when they got there" part, not so much. So by the tenth time Soi Fon had woken Rukia up, Rukia was a bit skeptical, to say the least.

"Okay this time I swear it's the truth," Soi Fon said with a smile making Rukia doubt the statement's credibility.

"Oi Kuchiki can I at least see some attempt at moving from you?" her coach shouted causing Rukia to jump out of her seat. Yep, the coach definitely counted as credible back up.

"Y-yes sir!"

"Good now get to the locker rooms. You're in the first event," the coach said heading to the pool. Rukia threw Soi Fon a dirty glance before gathering her swimming stuff and dashing to the pool.

늦은

Rukia loved backstroke, she was the backstroker of the team. She did backstroke on the relay and an individual backstroke event. Rukia didn't like to brag, but she wasn't varsity for no reason, no matter how sad and small her swim team was, Rukia could hold her own in the pool. She was no feared prodigy but she was by far the fastest on her team.

"Hey Ruk did you see the dandelion over there?" Soi Fon asked, prodding her in the side. "I wouldn't mind some resuscitation from him!"

"You do know that these days they usually have masks for those things?" Rukia smirked but spared a glance to the lifeguard nonetheless. "Hmm looks average from here."

"Average? Ouch, I know you don't wear your glasses when you swim but when did you go completely blind?"

"I didn't say he was bad looking, just not my type but anyways," Rukia said loudly cutting off Soi Fon's retort, "where are we on the order of events right now?"

"One more event!" Soi Fon happily said forgetting the previous conversation and putting on her goggles. "And this event we're in together!"

"You're anchoring the relay?" Rukia asked as they headed to the starting blocks.

"Yep and your starting!"

"I hate this relay."

"Don't be such a parade rainer, it's the last event and it's not like we've got a lot of swimmers to choose from."

"I lost you after rainer, is that even a word?"

"Yes!" Soi Fon said raising her arms in exasperation and almost smacking a swimmer from another team. "Just be glad you get to start, I hate anchor."

The whistle blew signaling the start of the event.

"Good luck Rukia," Soi Fon said patting her on the back and pushing her forward towards the blocks.

"You too," Rukia said quietly.

Rukia stood behind the block pulling down her goggles. The four short whistles were blown and she began to step up on the block. Began, but didn't finish due to her slipping once she was at the top.

She fell backwards quickly and shut her eyes tight. She landed hard on her shoulder, cursing as she felt the ground's cruel bite.

"Rukia!" she heard Soi Fon's muffled voice. Her vision faltered and her whole body ached.

"Let me through I'm the lifeguard, let me through!" a flustered voice said. Rukia felt her goggles and cap being pulled off as someone leaned over her. "Hey are you okay?"

Rukia slowly opened her eyes and wished she hadn't as her eyes began to work correctly again. She stared into the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. A pair of dark brown, gorgeous eyes stared at her, something in them making her heart race. It was the so called "dandelion" from earlier, and Soi Fon was correct, maybe she did need to have her eyes checked. The man didn't withdraw his gaze as she felt herself begin to blush. She meekly nodded and heard Soi Fon's sigh of relief.

"Does she need CPR? Or how about some mouth-to-mouth action?" Soi Fon said adding to the embarrassment of the moment.

The man continued to look at her, the scowl on his face slightly lessening, his stare increasing her discomfort at their proximity. She could've sworn he began to lean towards her so she hurriedly pushed herself up, accidentally head butting him in the process.

"Soi Fon!" she seethed rubbing her head. " I wasn't even in the water why on earth would I need mouth-to-mouth?"

"You don't need water to drown silly," Soi Fon gleefully smirked. "Perhaps you were drowning in love. But more likely, in your case it was mortification, because that fall was a far from graceful. You looked like that fat seal I saw at the Zoo."

"Thanks," Rukia said gritting her teeth "Well you look like-"

She was interrupted by a fist, lightly thumping her on the head, "Jeez what is your head made out of? I think you caused some brain damage with that deadly cranium of yours."

Rukia turned to retort but was met with the lifeguard, so that was what her head had connected with. "Oh sorry," she mumbled avoiding his eyes.

"Don't worry, just make sure the next time you make someone see stars, its not using that method," he said with a slight smile.

"Thank you very much for all your help," Rukia said bowing her head, partially to help hide her ever-increasing blush. "I'm Rukia, Rukia Kuchiki."

He grabbed her hand, shaking it, "Nice to meet you." And with that he turned and walked away, a smile playing on his lips.

루기아 쿠치키

I hope you enjoyed! If it just was too confusing or something let me know. If you want to know the meaning of the Korean words send me a message but don't worry their meaning isn't needed to understand the story.