35Disclaimer: I don't own BLEACH.
Chapter 7: A New Rival
Ichigo sat there a bit irritated, Toushiro and Hisagi had pissed him off and now Rukia was no where to be found. 'I mean what does it take to find a short midget around here?' he thought to himself and he smiled at the thought of her reaction.
He then saw Rukia enter with Kazumi and Matsumoto, who were laughing. "I can't believe it Kaien?" Kazumi said laughing, "That jerk didn't say he was coming!" she shouted a little ticked.
Flashback
"I met someone today." Rukia told Kazumi over the phone.
"You?" Kazumi teased as she giggled, "Oh, really who is he? Casper?" she asked laughing.
"If I remember correctly Kaien Shiba…" Rukia said as she heard Kazumi gasped, "That man hoe!" she shouted on the phone, "I'm going to kick his ass!" she shouted over the phone.
"Why does it sound as though you know him?." Rukia asked very curious.
Kazumi sighed, "Because I do." she paused, "He and my brother were partners in crime." she said being to laugh, "Literally."
"Really, I've never heard you mention him before." she said wondering why Kazumi never brought it up.
"Oh, a few years ago he moved to Italy I think." she paused, "The only connection we have is through letters, and he calls me on my birthday every year." she stopped, "Maybe that was the unknown caller that was on my phone." she started laughing.
End of Flashback
"Class I'd like you to meet Kaien Shiba." the teacher said as she gestured to the good looking guy that walked in, "He will be my assistant for the rest of the school year." she said as she signaled him to step forward.
He bowed to the class, and put on a smile, "Hello, everyone I'm Kaien Shiba, nice to meet cha." he said with a smile that all the girls screamed to.
The teacher told him to sit at the back of the class, right behind Ichigo. Ichigo shot him a glare and when Kaien saw it he just smiled and sat behind him. Kazumi watched as Ichigo looked angry and just smiled, 'This'll be very fun.' she thought as she looked out the window.
After the class ended Kaien stood and looked around the room. Kazumi smiled, "Hello, chicken shit." she said as and that caught his attention.
He walked over to her and grabbed her head with his arm around her head rubbing her hair with his fist, "Aw! You must have missed me a whole lot." he said laughing, "I'm flattered." he said smiling at her.
Kazumi's fist flew to his side, "Aw! I was so embarrassed to tell you the truth." she said faking an innocent face.
"I really missed you Kazumi." he said grabbing her and hugging her tightly.
He felt repeated slaps on his back, "Can't….breathe…" she managed to say. He immediately let go, and scratched the back of his head, "Sorry but its been too long." he said smiling at her.
She looked up at him, "Yup! It has." she said smiling at him. He put his hand on her head and patted her head messing her hair, "Man! Kaien!" she shouted at him, and he look go and smiled at her.
Toushiro watched as she smiled with the new teacher's pet. He turned and found that he was feeling sort of disappointed. "How have you been?" Kaien said trying to sound very innocent.
"Fine, how about that girlfriend of yours?" she asked not knowing the incident that occurred about two years back.
Kaien's face turned sad and he didn't answer, "Kaien, what aren't you telling me?" she asked very concerned.
"Miyako, isn't here with me anymore." he said in a soft tone.
Kazumi's eyes widen, he was deeply in love with her. At times Kazumi was even jealous of how much they loved each other, though she was completely happy for them. Her expression turned sour at the thought of what might of happened to him, he turned around to see a face that he didn't like, "Hey, that face doesn't suit you!" he said as he rubbed her head. "Stop that!" he said as she softly punched his side.
"You're a fag." she said that caught his attention, "What?" he said in an annoyed tone, "Oh, Sensei, did I mention how cute Kazumi was when she was kid?" he said giving her a 'try it' look.
She shut up, knowing that he'd leak some embarrassing information to people. "You're still a troublemaker." she whispered.
"Yes, and you are still that little princess." he said as she got angry and was about to hit him. "How's things going?" she asked.
He gave her a confused look, "Better then ever?" he answered.
"Don't answer my question with a question you idiot!" she shouted about to hit him again, "Hey, there's someone you should re-meet." she said as she pulled him to Rukia.
Kaien's eyes widen, "Rukia?" he asked a but confused, she turned to see the same guy she met the pervious day, "Kaien?" she answered.
"Well, it appears that what Rukia said was the truth." Kazumi said laughing.
Rukia glared, "How rude." she said as Kazumi smiled at her.
"Well, whatever." she said as she sat on the chair in front of them. "You better watch out Kaien, has been know to woo any girl." she said Kaien looked at her in surprise, "That is not true! I only woo girls I like." he said with a blush.
"Same difference." she said crossing her arms. "Trust me, Kaien is a chick magnet." she said as he looked at her with a slight anger.
"Kazumi, you should shut up, before she thinks that I'll get with any and every girl." he said with a serious yet playful look on his face.
"Fine, fine. But don't worry Rukia, if any guy can be trusted its him." she said as she looked the other way.
"Yeah, okay." she said as she looked away.
Then Rukia felt a hand on her forehead, "Are you feeling alright?" she said Kaien ask. "You have a slight fever." he said as Rukia gently pushed him away, "I'm fine." she said to him with a smile, "Don't worry." she said as she sat down with Kazumi.
Kaien felt the sudden urge to bring her to the infirmary and so he decided to do so. He walked over to Rukia and softly grabbed her arm and lifted her. Kazumi gave him a confused look and he answered with a serious one so he reassured her.
Rukia didn't understand but she was feeling a but lightheaded. Kaien helped her walk out of the room and held her close to him.
Ichigo was walking back to class after being called into the principal's office, for fighting. He was told to behave or they'll contact his mother and he didn't want to bother her. She was already going through the stress of Yuzu and Karin's school work and such he didn't feel like burdening his mother.
He was walking when he saw a familiar looking guy from the morning and he looked down to notice a recognizable midget in his arms. Ichigo stood a little stunned at what he was seeing but then a sudden burst of anger maybe jealousy blew inside of him. He said took a deep breath and continued to walk to the classroom.
When he entered the classroom, he felt he should talk to Kazumi. He sat down beside her and didn't say anything, "What?" she spat a bit irritated that he was being so quiet.
"What do you know about Kaien?" he asked not sounding to interested.
"A lot I guess." she shrugged and looked down on her desk, "Look Ichigo, if you seriously want to win Rukia over Kaien I suggest you get your game on, because Kaien is every girl's dream guy. Trust me, I used to have feelings for him, but that was a long time ago." she said as she turned to see him but realized that he was gone.
'I'm rooting for you Ichigo.' she thought as she looked down again.
Rukia had fallen to sleep and Kaien placed her on the bed. He quietly pulled the blanket over her and stared at her. He smiled at her sleeping face, she was absolutely breathtaking. He walked towards the door and quickly closed it as he looked up he saw an orange haired guy looking down at the ground.
Kaien stared to walk, "I won't lose to you." he heard the orange haired guy say.
He turned to see he had a serious face on, "Well, for her, I guess I'll say the same thing." he paused, "I won't lose to you." he said with a serious look.
"Ichigo Kurosaki." he said, "Remember, my warning, I won't let you take her from me." he said with a deadly look.
"Aha, Kaien Shiba." he replied, "Remember this, I won't let you have her." he said as they looked at each other. "Let the best man win." he said to Ichigo as he walked away.
Ichigo just stood in front of the door and suddenly his body made him walk into the room. At the corner he saw Rukia fast asleep, she looked so peaceful when she slept. Ichigo sat next to her, "You remind me a lot of a light." he said, "That must sound crazy, but you shine brightly." he paused, "Maybe, that's why I selfishly want you to stay beside me." he said as he looked at her.
"I don't know why, but I just want to be beside you." he paused, "I want to see you smile and laugh." he stopped, "But none of that matters if you cannot feeling the same way." he said with a serious face.
"So, I won't force you, I'll wait." he said to her, "no matter how long." he said with a soft voice.
'Do you know Ichigo-kun?' he heard her say. 'I always wondered why the sky was blue, and the clouds were white.' she said to him.
'You're weird Mai.' he told her.
'Now you're being rude.' she said with a laugh, 'But I wonder what I will be someday.' she said with shining eyes. 'I want to be a teacher, or maybe a nurse.'
'Those categories fit you perfectly.' he said with a convinced face.
'Aha, that's what everyone says.' she said with a bright smile. 'And I also what one more thing.' she paused, 'I want you to be happy.' she said to him with a smile.
Ichigo cared a lot about Mai, he wanted her to be happy, and he wanted her to pursue her dreams. No matter what she did, Ichigo just wanted her to be happy. Like she always used to make him, he wanted her to forgive him. He needed to be forgiven, by her, for what he did, he just wanted to say goodbye.
Ichigo didn't realize he had drifted to sleep next to Rukia. He felt a somewhat secure with her beside him, he felt that this longing feeling for her was lifted a bit.
A/N: Sorry for the late chapter, and for the shortness. Stress from, family problems made me have a writer's block.
But please review. :)