Resolutions
By: eternalsailorsolarwind AKA youkai_girl
Disclaimer: Bleach and all of its characters are owned by Tite Kubo, his Japanese publishers, and Viz. I only play with them for grins and giggles.
A/N: While in Tokyo to celebrate the New Year, Ishida gets Ichigo to help him check off one of his resolutions. Ishida/Ichigo.
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"Trust you to get us lost," said Ishida with a resigned shake of his head. "Do you have to be led everywhere, Kurosaki?"
"Shut up," snarled Ichigo, standing on his toes to try to see over the crowd surrounding them. "It's not my fault they got separated from us."
"Can't you see Renji?" The Quincy tactfully decided to move on. "That red hair of his should be easy to spot with his height."
Ichigo shook his head. "No. The pineapple-head's gone. Hell, I can't even see Chad over all these people, never mind Orihime and Rukia."
"Looks like we're out of time, too," replied Ishida, gazing towards Tokyo Tower. "The ball's about to drop."
Ichigo's head whipped around just in time to see – and hear – the final ten-count. Like New York in America, Tokyo dropped a giant ball of lights on New Year's Eve. Only the Japanese used the iconic Tokyo Tower instead of a huge skyscraper.
The multi-colored ball fell, and the crowd surrounding them erupted into raucous cheering. After the first few minutes of general shouting and celebration, Ichigo gave the archer a wry smile. "Well, Happy New Year, Ishida. Got any resolutions for this year?"
"As a matter of fact, Kurosaki…." Trailing off, the bespectacled young man snagged the collar of the substitute Soul Reaper's winter coat, and roughly yanked him close. Thin, warm lips descended onto Ichigo's before he could protest, and all thought fled. His brain rebooted a few minutes later, finding his body responding enthusiastically to the kiss.
At least until Ishida broke it, leaving the orange-haired Vaizard gaping.
"Thank you, Kurosaki. I do believe that is the fastest I've ever succeeded in one of my resolutions." The tone of the Quincy's voice was bone dry, but even in the relative darkness of a well-lit Tokyo street corner, it was possible to see the twin spots of high color on his cheeks.
"Fuck, Ishida!"
"Not on the first date, Kurosaki," replied the blue-haired young man primly. "Though you're more than welcome to ask for another."
Blinking stupidly at his sometime friend and rival, the former ryoka could only stare at the archer. Just as the other man began to fidget, Ichigo slowly nodded. "Sure, okay. Next Saturday good?"
"That would be suitable," agreed the Quincy. "Eight o'clock is a good time."
As the two men worked out the details of their "next" date, Ishida decided that this would be a banner year, considering how quickly his New Year's resolutions were getting checked off. At this rate, he thought, giving the other man a speculative look, he'd have the most important ones taken care of before spring.