"Kurosaki-san, two éclairs please~!"
The man in the back room scowled, walking towards the fridge and pulling out two éclairs and walked out from the back, the two customers, women, seeing the man's shocking orange hair. He handed the pastries to them, seeing their blushes, and turned around, walking towards the back. He stopped and scowled when the shop's owner wrapped his arm around his shoulder.
"Ah, you have to be more cheerful towards the customers, Kurosaki-san~!" The man sang, his eyes closed with a wide grin on his face.
"I can't when you're always singing!" Ichigo snapped as he turned his head and glared at the man.
"Aw, I'm hurt, Kurosaki-san." The man said with a pout.
"...Urahara-san... let me go, before I do some real damage to you." Ichigo said, glaring at the man.
"As if you can hurt me, Kurosaki-san. Did you happen to forget who taught you how to fight?"
The man smiled widely, making the orange head frown and narrow his eyes. Kisuke Urahara. His dad's best friend, and probably only friend. He always wore the same hat on his head, and green and white striped hat, shadowing his gray eyes, his light-blond hair sticking out from underneath. He wore dark green pants with a matching dark green shirt and a dark greyish-green coat, having large white diamond patterns along its bottom half. But there was something that he wore that always made a sound to show that he was coming. The usual clacking sounds from his traditional Japanese wooden sandals.
"No, I remember." Ichigo ground out, clenching his hands tightly together.
"Then smile~!" Kisuke sang, using his two index fingers and pushing the sides of the orange head's mouth upwards, trying to make him smile, which was really a sad, sad attempt.
Ichigo slapped his hands away, making Kisuke cry comically. The man with orange hair frowned, walking towards the back room. Ichigo Kurosaki, 5'9, brown eyes, and spiky orange hair that reaches the bottom of his neck and almost covers his eyes, a trait he's been ridiculed for years. But just because he was picked on didn't mean he would do a foolish act of dyeing it. He lived alone, his parents still living with his two twin sisters.
Sitting down while looking outside, he sighed.
He worked in a pastry shop, suggested by his father, who he was considering he should beat up. Working for Kisuke wasn't bad, but the man was constantly smiling. But when he would drop something, he would say, "Don't worry! I can just take that out of your pay while you eat it~!" With a dark smile on his face. Ichigo shuddered. He remembered that time he dropped an entire cake, and Kisuke made him eat it, saying that good food shouldn't go to waste.
He was the devil in disguise... while having a cheerful attitude.
The pay was good at least, he could pay off his rent each month. He closed his eyes and sighed happily. Thank god. He had remembered the first month of living alone, trying to find a job but having no luck. So, his father, being the generous, crazy man, suggested that he ask Kisuke for a job. He had did what his father asked, but when he saw the place where he was going to work, he jumped his dad. He worked at a pastry shop. Someone like him wouldn't be caught dead in a place like that, but after almost a year of working there, he managed.
"Kurosaki-san~!"
"What~?"
"Ah, you're singing!"
"I'm mocking you!"
"Kurosaki-san, you're so mean!" Kisuke whined, making the orange haired man frown and roll his eyes.
"What do you want?" Ichigo asked, walking out of the back room with the usual scowl on his face.
"I need help bringing these cakes to put behind the glass." Kisuke said, holding a cheesecake in his hand, four more behind him.
Ichigo sighed and nodded, seeing the blonde man grin. He scowled and walked over to the counter, seeing that Kisuke was busy, and picked one up, since he obviously can't pick two up. He carried it after his boss, setting it behind the glass, walking back to the counter to grab another one. He frowned when he heard his boss humming a tune, turning his head to glare at the grinning man. It was like he didn't know when to stop smiling. Ichigo doesn't even think he remembers seeing him look serious. He probably hasn't been serious before.
After putting the cakes behind the glass, he and Kisuke looked up when the heard the bell near the door, signaling someone walked in.
Kisuke and Ichigo blinked and raised an eyebrow, staring at the pair of unusually customers.
And by unusual, they meant their appearance.
The smaller man wore sunglasses, a frown on his face, the other man holding his arm, tugging him forward. He had shocking blue hair, slicked back, a few strands in front of his face. He wore a white collared button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up his arms, wearing black jeans and black shoes. His mouth was in a frown, trying to pull his arm out of the tall man's grip.
"Let go!"
"Hold on, I wanna check somethin' out."
"Check it yerself!"
The tall man that pulled the smaller man in the shop was tall. Very tall. Both the people in the shop looked upwards, their eyes wide. He had long black hair tied up, both telling it was long. He wore a white bandanna that covered his left eye, wearing a white tank top and dark blue jeans, wearing black sneakers with a white stripe going down the sides.
"C'mon! It'll only take a couple damn seconds!" The tall man snapped, glaring down at the bluenette. "No need to get all bitchy."
"'M not getting' bitchy. Ya coulda got yer damn sweet while I waited outside." The blue haired man said, arms folded over his chest, a deep frown on his face.
Both Kisuke and Ichigo glanced at each other.
"That bitch Nel said that the pastry here are so great!" The taller man said in a mocking tone, his hand on his chest, rolling his eyes. He put his knuckles on his hips, frowning. "I wanna see if she's right."
"She's my cousin, ya fucking idiot. And ya coulda left me out there. I don't wanna be seen in here." The blue haired guy said as he took off his sunglasses, a deep sigh leaving his lips.
Ichigo stared at the man, seeing that his eyes were blue. Wow. He blinked when he turned his head and stared at him, seeing him raise an eyebrow. Ichigo frowned. Great. He was probably thinking why someone would work there. Kisuke looked between them before smiling widely.
"Hello, there! Is there something you would like?" Kisuke asked, taking a fan out of nowhere and covering his mouth.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. What the hell is that pastry called?" The tall man asked, scratching his head with a deep frown.
"Cream puff?" Ichigo offered, seeing the man shake his head, not realizing he was the one that suggested it.
"Nah, that's not it." He said, rubbing his chin.
The blue haired man rolled his eyes, looking at the door with a longing expression, obviously wanting to leave. Ichigo frowned, wanting to leave as well, and maybe go to his parent's house to grab that game from his sister borrowed. The tall man snapped his fingers.
"She called it a tompouce." He said with a nod. He turned his head, staring at the shop keeper. "Ya have those?"
"Yes. Wait a minute~!" Kisuke sang, skipping away, gaining odd looks from both men.
"What's wrong with that guy?" The tall man asked, looking at the orange haired man.
He blinked a second later, looking the Strawberry over.
"A lot of things." Ichigo answered with a sigh.
"Here you go, sir~!" Kisuke skipped back with a small plastic plate, a rectangular pastry sitting on it.
The tall man raised an eyebrow, grabbing the plate and looking the treat over. The blue haired man also raised an eyebrow and looked at it, both men giving questioning stares. Ichigo snorted with laughter before looking away. It was like they never seen a tompouce before.
The pastry had two layers of puff pastry, the icing smooth and pink with whipped cream on top. Kisuke handed the tall man a fork, seeing him nod and grab it, poking the pastry several times. He stabbed the fork through it and opened his mouth, stuffing the whole thing in his mouth. Both people behind the counter widened their eyes.
Wow.
The blue haired man rolled his eyes.
"There, can we go now?"
"Wait, I need more of those." The tall man said, holding the plate in his hand.
"Kurosaki-san." Kisuke said, looking at the Strawberry.
"Hold on." Ichigo said, walking away with a scowl. "How much do you want, sir?"
"Uh... five." He said, holding up five fingers.
Ichigo nodded and bent down, grabbing five and wrapping them up, walking back to where the cash register was, putting them on the counter, seeing the man nod and grab it.
"That is 1554 yen, please."
The tall man handed the strange man the money, walking towards the door with the bag. Ichigo frowned, staring at Kisuke, seeing him hold the money in his hand with a wide grin, like it was the greatest thing in the world. He rolled his eyes. How stupid.
He blinked and looked towards the front door, seeing the blue haired man staring at him. He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly, wondering why he was looking at him. The man smirked, making Ichigo blink and look at the shop owner, seeing a wide smile on his face.
Was there something he wasn't seeing?
"Hey, kid!"
Ichigo flinched.
"I'M TWENTY-ONE!"
The man's smirk widened, making the Strawberry frown. What the hell was so funny?
"My name's Grimmjow." He said, putting his sunglasses on.
"Huh... um, my name's Ichigo."
The man with blue hair had a strange name. Once Ichigo had said his name, Grimmjow grinned, along with the tall man. The orange haired man frowned and narrowed his eyes. Oh, they better not-
"Yer name's Strawberry?" The tall man asked, throwing his head back and cackling.
"Shut up and get out!" Ichigo yelled, flipping the tall man off.
"Nah, I don't think so. 'M comin' back fer more of these." He said, holding up the bag with a wide grin.
"Shut up an' get out, Nnoitra." Grimmjow said, walking towards the door. "I wanna leave an' get there so she won't yell at me."
"Eh, Harribel's gonna yell anyway." Nnoitra said with a scoff, walking out of the building. "C'mon. Ya wanted ta leave so badly before."
Grimmjow stared at the Strawberry, seeing him head for the back room. A large smirk spread across his face, Kisuke raising his eyebrows, the fan covering half his face. Oh? What was this? He chuckled, watching as the man walked out of his shop.
"Urahara-san! I'm going to go now!"
"Okay, Kurosaki-san~! I'll see you tomorrow~! And don't forget that bag~!"
"Yeah, yeah." Ichigo muttered, taking his apron off with a scowl, hanging it up and grabbing his coat and the bag near the door. He walked out the back, shutting the door behind himself, putting his hands in his pockets. "Damn that Renji."
Made him take his shift so he could go to a party.
Damn tattooed bastard.
He walked on the road, heading for the street, a deep scowl on his face. Going home. Going to get his game first. And maybe dig into this bag and have a few pastries while he played games. He nodded. Yeah. What a great plan. He rolled his eyes, heading down the street, wearing blue jeans, wearing a white shirt underneath his jacket.
It was too warm to wear a jacket, but he didn't want anyone to see Rukia's gift.
It was a chappy shirt.
When Kisuke saw it, he only grinned and patted his head.
He was a strange man. He was made to be his father's best friend. He turned his head and paused, widening his eyes when he saw a parked car, crossing the street and staring at it as he passed by. It was a dark red and black Bugatti Veyron. Wow. He continued on his way, hands in his pockets, a sigh leaving his mouth.
Making it to his parents house, he walked inside.
"Hello-"
"ICHIGO!"
The Strawberry quickly moved to the side, seeing his father go flying by. He scowled and turned his head, glaring at the heap of mess his father made. Ignoring the man, he continued into the house, walking up the stairs.
"Ichigo! Your mother and sisters went out to go shopping!"
"Yeah!" Ichigo yelled, hearing his father run up the stairs while he looked through Karin's room.
"What are you doing home, son?"
Ichigo scowled and turned around, seeing his father standing by the door with a goofy grin on his face. Isshin Kurosaki. The father of him. Which is what he hated in the whole world.
"I came to get that game Karin borrowed." Ichigo said, seeing Isshin blink.
"Oh. Well, then, go find it!" Isshin yelled with a wide grin.
Ichigo gave him a blank look before looking through the stack of games, finding it and grabbing it. He stood up and put it inside the bag, walking out of the room and downstairs. He stopped and turned his head, staring at his father when he reached the bottom of the stairs.
Isshin grinned.
"...I'm going." Ichigo said, heading for the door.
"Already?" Isshin asked, giving his son a sad look.
"Yeah. I don't want to deal with you while mom isn't here." Ichigo said, turning his head and giving his father a glare. "Remember that one time last month when I came over to visit?"
"I only meant to test you."
"You kicked my head and knocked me out!"
Isshin grinned while Ichigo scowled and walked towards the door and opened, walking out with a wave to his dad. Isshin waved back before bouncing away to do something else.
Ichigo rolled his eyes.
Was he even related to him?
He made his way down the street, his hands in his pockets, a looking at the clear blue sky, wondering where Renji and Rukia was. Shinji was probably waiting at his door with a wide grin.
When he made it to his apartment, he frowned.
Yep, he was right.
"Ichigo!"
The Strawberry scowled when he was in a hug, looking down at the blonde man, seeing him stand away with his hands on his hips, a wide grin on his face. Shinji Hirako, Ichigo's best friend. He looked at his bag.
"Is there-"
"Yeah, there's sweets in here." Ichigo said, giving his friend a blank look. "C'mon."
"Ya should be more nice, Ichii!" Shinji whined. "I am yer landlord, after all.
He should be glad, but how could he take him seriously when he's always whining.
"Yeah, hurry up! I got my game back and I have snacks." Ichigo said, taking out his keys and opening his door, walking inside, Shinji skipping after him with a wide smile.
"Yer so lucky ta work in a pastry shop." Shinji said, looking through the bag with a hungry look. "Kisuke-san is nice enough ta give ya a bag every time ya go there an' work a shift."
"He gave me extra because I took Renji's shift." Ichigo said, setting up his game system.
Shinji turned, a cookie in his mouth. "Renji's shift? Where'd he go?"
"He went to a party." Ichigo said with a roll of his eyes. "C'mon. Let's play." He said, putting the disk inside and grabbing two controllers.
Shinji nodded, walking towards the couch with the bag and setting it on the coffee table, grabbing the controller Ichigo offered him, sitting down with a determined look. Ichigo smirked.
"'M gonna beat ya this time, Ichii!"
"Think again, Shinji! You always lose to me." Ichigo said with a cocky grin.
"That's 'cause ya always play this game." Shinji said, turning his head and giving his friend a glare.
"You should play this game as well. Just go and buy one."
"But I don't wanna waste my money on a game."
"Then too bad."
I thank anyone who reads this. ^^