Disclaimer: All characters of Bleach belong to Kubo Tite.
Your Hands In Mine
Not long after Rukia had been cleared of all charges, an officer from the detention department paid a visit to the Kuchiki household to return items that had been confiscated from her person after her capture.
In the privacy of her room, Rukia studied the backpack she had shouldered the night she left Ichigo's house. Though she had planned to take only necessities, she hadn't been able to resist tucking in a few mementos- the few keepsakes she couldn't part with even after chiding herself for being a sentimental fool.
What good can come of unpacking items that could possibly stir up memories of the past? She was wary of the uncertain feelings attached to them.
Dismissing her qualms as foolish dramatics, she unfolded a dress that would have made her stick out like a sore thumb among the traditionally-clad residents of Soul Society. Rukia blinked in surprise as something fell out from between the folds of the skirt.
She did a double take as she recognized it to be the swimwear she had worn when her classmates had planned a trip to the seaside one weekend. An impish grin lit her face as she thought of the reactions it would incite if she ever ventured out for a dip in the seireitei lily lake clad in it.
They'd probably haul her to the lock-up for indecent exposure. She wondered if even such an extreme action would move Byakuya nii-sama out of his perpetual indifference.
ooo0ooo
"You don't own a swimsuit, Kuchiki-san? No problem! I can loan you one, if you don't mind," Inoue offered happily, while Rukia gave a nervous laugh in reply.
Don't talk about owning a swimsuit, I don't even own the pajamas I wear to sleep!
Although she had given her usual response- "I'll think about it,"- to this weekend trip to the beach, she was beginning to get the idea that the girls wouldn't be letting her back out of it. So far, all her lame excuses had been shot down like so many pathetic Hollows exterminated by Ishida on a warpath.
"Somehow, I don't think that will work, Orihime," Tatsuki said wryly.
For obvious reasons.
So it was for these reasons that Kuchiki Rukia found herself dragged, shoved, and pushed into a shop featuring bright displays of swimsuits and surfboards while a saleslady eyed the group of girls. With the words 'potential customers' and the ringing sounds of the cash register playing in her head, the saleslady approached them with a wide smile.
"Welcome. How may I help you, dears?"
Rukia tensed. Perhaps it was because of the gleam in the eyes of the raven-haired lady, but her instincts screamed out to her that this was one pushy saleslady. She wouldn't be walking out of this store today without buying something.
"We're looking for the perfect swimsuit for Kuchiki-san." Inoue said, nudging Rukia forward.
The lady stepped up smoothly to Rukia and placed one elegant fingertip beneath the petite girl's chin to tilt her face upwards.
"Let me see," she whispered. And Rukia found herself subjected to the most piercing gaze she had ever experienced. Her eyes widened involuntarily. She felt as if her very soul was being read.
The camellia-pale lady smiled at her knowingly. "As you request, the perfect suit for an unforgettable trip to the beach and.. for a certain boy, hmm?" she teased, arching an eyebrow.
She laughed in delight as the smaller girl flushed and denied the insinuation vehemently. She efficiently ran her hands along the suits on the rails. Her well-manicured fingers came to a stop on a hanger, and she tapped a staccato beat thoughtfully on it before whipping the chosen swimsuit out.
"This.. is the one. See for yourself," she said imperiously, tossing her glossy, straight hair to the back.
Rukia narrowed her eyes at the smiling lady. This was a very unusual and pushy saleslady indeed. She pulled the changing room curtains close, looked down at the suit in her hands and nearly dropped it from her nerveless fingers.
This is no swimsuit! This is Scandal defined in material!
She had been so preoccupied by the saleslady's demeanor that she hadn't even noticed the suit thrust in her hands.
"Is there a problem?" the saleslady sang out from behind.
Rukia jumped at the voice behind her shoulder.
Is there a problem? Of course there is! I'll be arrested for immoral behavior if I appear in public dressed like this!
Instead, Rukia hissed, "Do you always enter a customer's changing room without knocking?"
The lady's laughter rang out like chimes in the wind.
"It would take magic for me to be able to knock on this," she said, flapping the curtain-doors at Rukia's face in the most annoying fashion.
Before Rukia could reply, she had stepped out.
"Don't worry, Kuchiki-san. This style of clothing is normal wear for girls of this world."
Rukia sighed in defeat. Between her classmates and this saleslady, she would just have to adapt and endure another new custom. Nothing to it. Just like getting used to drinking juice out of straws.
She turned around to study her reflection in the mirror and gaped at the expanse of skin the suit exposed. Because obviously, this suit was not made to cover, it just brought to attention what it did not conceal.
"Why look now, it was made for you. Perfect," the saleslady gloated.
Why the little witch had entered again without knocking!
Rukia twitched in annoyance and yanked her school jacket from the peg to her chest.
"Looks fine from the back too," the lady announced without faltering as she studied Rukia's reflection from the mirror.
"I look ridiculous!" Rukia said.
"No, you don't. This mirror does not lie," the lady said sharply. "Trust me. I take every transaction I make seriously."
Rukia paused at the sudden change in the lady's attitude.
She gave Rukia a small, secretive smile, "Kuchiki-san, I guarantee you this. Something.. interesting will happen when you stand before him in this."
ooo0ooo
The saleslady rang up the purchase and handed the bag to Rukia and the girls.
"It was a pleasure dealing with you," she said.
"Thank you..umm.." Rukia's gaze dropped to the saleslady's nametag, where her name was printed boldly in gold against black.
"It's Yuko Ichihara. Pleased to make your acquaintance," the lady said, smiling faintly.
Author's note: The pushy saleslady is xXx Holic's Yuko Ichihara, the Dimension Witch who runs the shop that grants wishes..for a price.
Next chapter: Rukia at the beach; what will Ichigo's reaction be?