The Shinigami's Girlfriend

"Good morning, class. We have a new transfer student," said the teacher. "Her name is Ruine Otoski."

I stood next to the teacher at the front of the room. My bag in hand. I was staring at my feet. I felt everyone's eyes on me. Knowing that I figured the view of the floor was less intimidating.

"She's cute," whispered one of the boys towards the back.

I didn't hear a response, not that it was required. I blushed and looked toward the window. I wasn't usually this shy, but when he said 'transfer' student it made me stand out more. I was from the U.S. so I being a foreigner was something I also had to deal with. I was fluent in Japanese, as well as other languages, in both written and spoken form.

"Ichigo, who sits in the seat next to you?" asked the teacher.

"Huh? No one," he said.

"Ruine, that will be your seat," he said.

I mumbled 'thank you' and went to my seat. I tried not to make eye contact, failed when I looked up to find my seat. I made eye contact with Ichigo. He had a bored expression. He had bright orange, wild hair. When he looked at me, he smiled. I blushed and looked away. The guy next to him chuckled. I quickly went and sat down at my desk. The guys chitchatted as the teacher turned back to his desk. The words 'cute' and 'hot' were thrown around.

Well, at least I knew where I stood with the male students in my class. The teacher started the lesson and it went as a normal lesson would. Lunch was going to be the next period. When the teacher left for lunch, I was almost immediately surrounded by most of the girls in my class. They all started asking questions. Most of them were predictable.

"What kind of stuff do you eat in the U.S.?" asked a girl with pink-red hair and glasses.

"Um, well, hamburgers or salad or tacos, stuff like that," I said. "We had three different lunch lines in our cafeteria."

"Wow, I wish our school had that. It sounds pretty cool," she said.

"Yeah," I said with a little laugh.

I was looking out the window when someone's belt buckle blocked my view suddenly.

"Huh?" I whispered looking up.

It was Ichigo. He was holding his lunch in one hand and the other was scratching his head.

"Do you mind if I eat lunch with you...girls?" he asked carefully.

I saw his friends, the guys, snickering. My guess was that it was some sort of bet. I wondered what the prize was.

"Uh, sure," I said moving my notebook.

"Thanks," he said as he pulled up a chair.

All the girls started giggling.

"Uh, so, what's your school like in the U.S.? Is it different from schools here?" he asked.

He sounded more nervous than I did.

"Uh, kind of. I mean we usually have lunch in a cafeteria. All the grades have different lunchtimes," I said.

"Oh, how does that work?" he asked.

"It depends on what grade you're in and how your schedule is set up," I explained.

"You have a schedule of classes?" he asked.

"Uh-huh," I said reaching into my purse. "They look like this."

I took out my schedule and handed it to him.

"Hey! Is that the new Versace bag?!" asked a girl with purple-blue hair.

I turned slightly, blushing, to look at her.

"Huh? Oh, this. Well, yeah," I said.

"Where'd you get the money to pay for that?" another asked.

"I got it as a birthday present last year," I lied.

"Wow, that's awesome. When is your birthday?" asked Ichigo suddenly.

All the girls turned and looked at him. He jumped and his facial expression told us he hadn't meant to ask that out loud.

"Oh, uh, June 24th, I'm a Cancer," I said quickly.

"Really?! Me, too," said one of the tallest girls.

That seemed to lighten the tension.

"Hey, Ruine, aren't you going to have lunch?" asked Ichigo.

"No, I have to leave early. I'll get lunch then," I said not looking at him.

"Huh? It's your first day!" said the pink-haired girl.

"I know. I tried to get out of it, but it didn't work," I said.

I, purposely, didn't say why I was getting out early. I couldn't take that kind of attention right now. I get enough of it back home.

"Ruine, your father is here for you," said the teacher.

"Well, it was nice to meet everyone," I said standing.

I bowed and started to leave the room.

"Wait!" I heard the teacher call.

"Yes," I said as I stopped and turned back to him.

"Do you want someone to show you to the entrance?" asked the teacher. "The layout is kind of confusing."

"Uh, sure," I said.

I wasn't all that sure of where I was going to anyway.

"Any volunteers?" asked the teacher.

I was sure one of the girls would be glad to escort me, but to my surprise, it was a boy. And it was Ichigo.

"I'll show her," he said softly.

"Thank you, Mr. Kurosaki," he said.

Ichigo got up and out of this seat. He walked over to me.

"Ladies first," he said putting his arm out.

I started walking in front of him. Then he switched to my left side.

"So, why do you have to get out early?" he asked.

"Doctors' appointment," I lied.

That wasn't even close. Unless you call my make-up artist a doctor.

"Is it for school stuff?" he asked.

"Uh, sort of," I said.

We went into a short silence.

"Turn left down this hall," he said.

I nodded.

"Is your family wealthy?" he asked suddenly.

"What?" I asked jumping slightly.

"Are you wealthy?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah," I said awkwardly.

"Turn down this hallway," he said.

I wasn't really paying attention to the area around us. I was wondering how I was going to keep my personal life, work, and school life in order.

"So, what does your dad do?" he asked.

"Oh, he's into fashion. So, he's a designer," I said.

"My friends," he said smiling. "Think that you are kind of tall for an American girl."

"There aren't a lot of tall girls where I am from," I said.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"The entrance is right down this hall on the right," he said.

"Thank you," I said. "You didn't have to, but thank you."

"No problem," he said smiling.

I saw my dad's car, a Mitsubishi Evo, sitting in front of the school doors.

"Jeez, Dad, I said less extravagant," I said to myself.

"Nice car," said Ichigo.

"Thanks," I sighed.

"Can I ask you a favor?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said.

"Don't tell anyone about the car or the whole money thing," I said.

"Uh, sure, but why?" he asked.

"I'll tell you tomorrow. Meet me on the roof at lunch," I said.

Then I went through the doors and got into the car.

"Dad, I told you to bring the Jeep," I said.

"I know, I couldn't find the keys," he said.

"Dad! I put them in the order they are parked. It would have been on the third keyring," I said.

"Oh," he said.

"I love you, Dad," I smiled, sighing.

"I love you, too," he said.

"Did you bring the clothes?" I asked.

"Yes, you can change in the backseat," he said.

"Thanks," I said crawling into the backseat.

He's brought my white tank top and black jean shorts. He also added my J-Lo black and white heels. I changed quickly and got back into the front seat. I put my seat belt on.

"All ready," I said.

"Good. We're almost there," he said.

"Hey, Dad?" I said.

"Yeah," he said.

"What do you think about me dating?" I asked.

"Did you snag one already?" he asked looking at me sideways.

"No, I just want to know ahead of time," I said.

"I take it you were a hit with the boys," he said.

"They made it obvious," I said.

"You bring it upon yourself. You create that shy image. Guys run to you," he said.

"I'm a shy, quiet person. So, shoot me," I snapped.

"I'm just kidding," he said smiling.

He parked in front of a tall building.

"Time for glam," he joked.

I rolled my eyes and got out of the car. He walked around the car and hooked his arm around my neck. So, we walked into the modeling agency laughing as if we were a couple. We were always like this. Especially after my mom died.