Chapter 01
Can't Come Close
- Now -
"Ichigo! Why can't I go to school?" Rukia fumed on his bed, dangling her feet on the side.
"You just can't, we're really busy and I can't watch over you this week," Ichigo stated while calmly buttoning his shirt, "really Rukia, why don't you go see what Renji's doing, okay?" He grabbed his tie reluctantly and placed it on. "I'll have Kon with me if a hollow comes, and I'll have the badge."
She crossed her arms in defiance. "So?" Her feet kicked back and forth. "I want to go too."
"No." Ichigo stated. "Just stay away from school, alright? Seriously."
"Fine." The young woman turned her attention away.
"Thank you." He replied and headed to the door, "do you promise?"
"Yes! I promise I won't follow you! Just go!" Rukia fumed angrily at him.
After hearing her rather loud outburst, he nodded silently and closed the door behind him, telling his sisters that it was time to go to school and to hurry up. Rukia watched as the three siblings walked together with two friends of his, and she hurriedly grabbed her phone and called Renji, asking him to stalk Ichigo for her. He declined after hearing her say that Ichigo did not want to watch over her because it was obviously some earthling thing he did not want her in. So she ended the conversation with him and thought about Ikkaku and Yumichika, only to find out that they weren't allowed to go to the school either; it was forbidden for the week too. This meant that she had to go to no other than Rangiku and ask her on the phone to do the favor for her, which the large breasted woman easily agreed to while stating she'll keep a sharp eye on him.
Once they hung up, Rangiku hurried to the other room and changed into the high school uniform, and just as she reached for the door, she heard a humming, "oh?" Therefore, she paused to see her captain speak, "what are you doing in that school uniform, Matsumoto?"
She smiled sheepishly, "Ichigo's acting suspicious, so Rukia wanting me to go watch him."
"Why isn't she the one watching him?" The captain crossed his arms, scowling in annoyance.
"Ichigo won't let her come to school, and the others all turned her down!" Rangiku whined.
"That means that Kurosaki doesn't want to be bothered at school, their called 'seniors' at the high school, so perhaps his desire to have no distractions is what keeps her from going." He stated.
"You're so mean taichou," she frowned, "Ichigo has never hid anything from us until now!"
"Don't interfere with the human world Matsumoto." Toushirou demanded.
The vice captain then thought of something, "I might get into trouble though if you're not there to watch over me," she hinted; wanting him to join her, but it did not faze him. "Well, bye-bye—"
"Ignorant woman." He growled and went to the room to change; knowing her, she would get into a lot of trouble before that school had a lunch break. 'Why are we here if there's a representative?'
They were assigned to earth a little over a month ago to make sure that everything was good and not in chaos behind their backs. Everything was just fine though and even the stupid shinigami representative had said this himself, but of course that went on deaf ears. In truth, it was the first time they had contacted Kurosaki Ichigo since the Arrancar war was dealt with two years ago.
Hn, that Kurosaki Ichigo had actually become a little taller, stronger, and perhaps a little more intelligent over the few years they were gone. Rangiku complimented Ichigo on his well built body that she claims to be more muscular than the last time they saw him. All of the others just retorted on how the idiot managed to suppress his reiatsu so much; indeed the teen has gotten stronger. It wasn't like they've seen him at his full strength though, but the fact that he finally had it all under control now had to mean something at least.
Toushirou came out of the room and scowled at his lieutenant. "Let's get this over with."
"Taichou, you're the only one who hasn't seen Ichigo yet, aren't you curious what he looks like?"
"No." He replied, opening the door and walking out first. "I could care less about that idiot."
The lieutenant frowned, "you're so mean to him because he doesn't call you by your title?"
This made him twitch in annoyance; yes, it was definitely a reason he did not want to see him. "…"
"What are they doing?" Rangiku asked in amazement, this was the high school right?
Everything in front of the high school buildings and all around were people building stands and such weird decorations, exactly what was going on? A voice yelled at them; obviously a student that was in charge, "what are you two standing around? If you're not helping, then go home!"
"A-Ah, well, we… um…" Rangiku didn't know what to say.
"We're working with Kurosaki Ichigo, but we lost him on the way." Toushirou stated.
The student shifted his glasses, "I highly doubt that a boy your size is with Kurosaki-san."
He scowled at him, now turning towards him. "What was that you said?"
"W-What are you two doing here?" Uryuu called out in surprise with bags of cloth in his hands.
"Oh, you know the boy and the woman Ishida-san?" The student asked in annoyance.
"Uh…" Uryuu paused for the moment, not knowing want to say, but his head mentally slumped and answered truthfully, "yes, I know them." He came to the two and whispered to them, "I thought Inoue-san told you two to stay at her apartment, all of you guys are just going to screw things up!"
"It's just the two of us." Toushirou stated.
"She sent you didn't she?" Uryuu referred to Rukia.
"Yes! Yes she did!" Rangiku smiled.
His head slumped and turned to the student. "…"
"Do you have something to say, Ishida-san?"
"These two are in the same class as me and Kurosaki, they said they need to tell him something really important and would be on their way." Uryuu stated, hoping that he would let him go.
The student snorted in annoyance, "they better not be in the gym if I go check."
"I understand," he then shooed the two forth, "hurry and go inside."
"What was that about?" Rangiku whined. "He was so mean."
"He's the president in student council." The quincy sighed.
"So where's Ichigo?" She asked curiously.
"In the gym, rehearsing with some others right now—he's really busy actually."
It didn't matter to them and so Uryuu had escorted them to the gym, only to watch as Ichigo did a back flip on a blue mat, he was in one of those martial art uniforms as were the others that were with him. It looks like they were trying to a routine for something, so Toushirou kept quiet for his sake and Ichigo's in case he were to get in trouble. However, this of course was opposite from his large lieutenant that just loved to make herself noticed to people she knew, yet, it seemed that she was starting to like the shinigami representative recently.
"Ichigo!" Rangiku called out.
Ichigo barely gave her a glance before dodging a kick from Tatsuki who yelled at her, "go away!"
"Who are you to tell us what to do, girl?" Toushirou questioned due to her rudeness towards them.
Tatsuki ignored Ichigo and turned to the boy, "what did you call me you little brat?"
"That's enough." Ichigo spoke out maturely. "Their friends of Inoue and myself."
"We don't have time for that!" She turned and threw a punch at Ichigo's face.
He dodged by side stepping, "I know that already." The teen ducked and kicked her feet.
Tatsuki jumped to dodge, "then get rid of them already! We're busy you know!"
"I know that already." Ichigo repeated as they threw punches at each other's face.
Before they punched one another, they back flipped off the blue mat and then both Yasutora and another student started a different routine. Allowing Tatsuki to come around and smack the orange-haired teen over the head, telling him to get rid of them now because they were practicing. Ichigo understood, even after saying that three times, and came to the three standing there at the doorway waiting for him. Uryuu immediately stated that he only escorted the two to him because they were starting to cause trouble with student council when they arrived, and then he left them.
This irritated the substitute shinigami, "Rangiku-san, please go back to Inoue's apartment."
"Aw, but Kuchiki Rukia asked me to come see what you were doing." She frowned sadly.
"I'm sorry, but like Tatsuki said, we're busy, and I can't watch over you two." Ichigo stated.
"Who said we needed to be watched, Kurosaki?" The tenth division captain questioned.
He took a moment before retorting, but he turned away, "stay out of trouble."
As he was walking away, Rangiku turned to Toushirou happily, "good job!"
They watched as Tatsuki yelled at Ichigo.
"What are they still doing here? This is not a party you know! This is practice! Their going to screw everything up and blab!" Tatsuki roared, literally, in his face as violently as possible.
"Just ignore them, there's only five minutes left before this part is done." Ichigo retorted.
"I swear this attitude of your pisses be off more! You're so smug now!" She hissed.
"Smug?" The taller teen asked. "I'm merely tired from your constant shouts."
Soon the five minutes were up, and the two shook hands with a smile, throwing off the shinigami.
Ichigo began walking away and Rangiku tugged at his arm, whining. "Where're you going Ichigo?"
"To change back into my school uniform." He looked at his arm. "Can you let go of me please?"
The lieutenant frowned and let go, "can you take us to lunch later? I'm getting a little hungry."
"You ate a few hours ago Matsumoto." Retorted the irritated male next to her.
Ichigo looked at his watch, "give me five minutes then."
"So Rukia sent you to come watch me because she promised not to follow me." Ichigo took a sip of his coke quietly. "Knowing her she asked Renji first and he declined, then there's both Ikkaku and Yumichika who were also told not to come," he then glanced at her, "how irritating."
Rangiku frowned, "so you knew we were going to come?"
"I didn't expect for a commotion." He replied casually.
Toushirou looked at him, "why did you not take precautions."
"I thought a taichou of your high standard wouldn't draw attention."
The lieutenant looked at them back and forth, "is… something wrong?"
"Not that I'm aware of," Ichigo retorted, "anyway, would you like to attend?"
Her head tilted to the side in confusion to this question, "attend what?"
"The school cultural festival that we're working on, it's going to be Friday through Saturday night." The teen stated. "There's a lot I'm participating in this year, greeting people and then martial arts club at night, after that, I can give you a tour around the festival." He smiled politely at her.
"That sounds delightful! Taichou! Can we please go?" Rangiku asked excitedly.
Toushirou looked at her in annoyance, "he was talking to you only, I was not included."
"You don't mind if I leave now, right? I have to go back to school." Ichigo stated as he looked at his watch. "Maybe Inoue can help you find a good kimono or two."
"Ah, Hitsugaya taichou can come too though, right?" Rangiku seemed a little worried.
Ichigo stood up and paid for the bill with the money he got from his part time job, nearly ignoring her question for a while as if he was in thought. "Of course," he replied rather stoically, yet it was in a polite manner as he added, "though I doubt he would want Inoue to choose his clothes."
Toushirou scowled at him for this because he was right—he would die before going shopping with the two girls, so it looked like he had to skip out this time. Not that he did not mind, all he had to do was ask for some money so he could buy himself something decent to eat. However, his oh so faithful lieutenant had to call out in his defense that was completely unnecessary at the time.
"How about you take him after school today?" Rangiku smiled pleadingly.
Ichigo looked at her, surprised, then finally looked at Toushirou, "…"
"It won't be needed," Toushirou informed, "surely you're busy, Kurosaki."
Again, she looked at the two back and forth, "there's something weird here."
"Well, whatever it is would be beyond me." Ichigo stated as he smiled at her.
"Clearly, it's just your imagination." Toushirou added to the statement.
There really was nothing wrong.
Ichigo sighed and scratched the back of his head, "fine then." He looked over at the small white haired captain, "if you want to, then meet me after school at the gates, alright?" Then quietly left.
Rangiku looked at Toushirou, "taichou, you should be nice to Ichigo, he's your friend after all."
'I have no friends.' The captain mentally replied, not even moving from her words.
She frowned, "at least, I thought you two were friends, he really wanted to be before, remember?"
"Who knows," sighed the annoyed boy as he stood up from his seat. "Let's go Matsumoto."
"So mean, you only made me your lieutenant because I told you to become a shinigami." Her eyes slowly went to the table. "Taichou doesn't have many friends, so why not give Ichigo a chance?" A thought came to her and so she spoke it out, "it'd be nice to know that someone has your back."
"You, Matsumoto, have my back." Toushirou stated. "You, Matsumoto, are my lieutenant."
"Ichigo will always have your back, too, whether you like that or not," she saw him flinch ever so slightly to her statement and was surprised, "…and you know that, don't you taichou?"
"It doesn't matter," the white haired boy stated, "his attention would never be needed for me."
"So, that means that you won't go shopping for a kimono with him?" Rangiku frowned.
"I didn't say I was going shopping, nor to the festival." He stated. "Let's go Matsumoto."
She lazily placed her elbow on the table and leaned her cheek against her hand, looking at him as if he was hiding something from her. "You're so cold sometimes," Rangiku sighed and thought about it a little more. "Other than the taichou, I think Ichigo's the only one who isn't scared of y-"
Toushirou interrupted her with a stern tone. "I said, let's go Matsumoto."
Ichigo sighed in relief when school finished up for the day, and the martial arts club was great on their routine, so there was no need to stress on it. All he wanted to do was go home and take a nice long bath before snuggling into his bed to recuperate for the next day. Hearing the annoying voices of a familiar gang ringing through his ears, he glanced up to see them, and another. There was a small boy with silvery white hair with his arms crossed and his eyes closed; it was obvious that he was trying to ignore them. If only the small captain was allowed to harm some humans, like the ones pestering him, there might be some less idiots in the world. One of the guys lifted the white haired boy, lifted him into the air and laughed about his appearance, irritating the teen.
"Do I have to call an ambulance for you idiots again?" Ichigo yelling in annoyance.
Immediately they dropped Toushirou on his feet, and one spoke, "K-K-K-Kurosaki!"
He began to stalk towards them slowly. "What are you doing messing with others?"
"T-T-T-This has nothing to do with you! S-S-S-So just back off!" Another stated.
"Oh?" The teen grinned and dropped his bag. "I've been pissed recently, ya know?"
"I-I-I-Is that so?" They asked; all of them slowly stepping backwards, inch by inch.
"Yeah. It is actually."
He then ran right at them, punching every single one of them in the face with a grin across his own, yeah, beating on these guys were fun despite how annoying the become. After he finished beating them up, he reached into one of their pockets for a cell phone and asked for a couple ambulance before hanging up and placing it on the guy. How boring though, it only took a punch or two to knock them out—training for the three years must've been too much for them.
"Hey." Ichigo spoke out to the small one, standing in front of him. "If humans give you trouble, just let me know and I'll take care of it because you can't, got it? People here remark on weird things."
"Just get your bag Kurosaki." The boy demanded, as if he was exhausted of waiting for him.
"Ah! Ichigo! Hurry, hurry, let's go home!" Keigo called out happily, rushing to him.
Toushirou opened his eyes to scowl at the high school student, "on second thought—"
"Nah, I have to go somewhere," Ichigo grabbed his bag, "I'll see you tomorrow."
The captain scowled at the substitute, "just go with your friend Kurosaki."
"Ah? Ichigo! Don't tell me he's your new best buddy is he?" Keigo panicked.
"Yeah, pretty much, now go home." Ichigo demanded rather coldly to him.
Mizuiro looked at the now sobbing friend, "he's only playing with you Keigo…"
"What, is there a shinigami party and we're not invited?" Uryuu asked rudely.
"I want to come to the party!" Orihime called out happily.
"I'm only here to discuss matters with Kurosaki." Toushirou scowled at the growing group of taller people coming around him. "There is no 'party,' and no, I am not this bastard's friend."
Everyone stared at Toushirou except Ichigo who began to walk off.
"Then let's talk elsewhere." Ichigo spoke out.
Keigo sobbed, "Ichigo! He's so mean to you!"
Mizuiro sighed, "so harsh, I'm surprised."
"He's actually really nice…" Orihime spoke out.
Uryuu waved a hand, "you might deflate his pride."
'Tch,' Toushirou thought silently, 'stupid humans.'
"Let's go, your falling behind." Ichigo called out.
Toushirou merely shifted away from the wall and followed with his arms still crossed.
Once they were finally about four blocks away, the teen spoke out, "there's nothing to discuss."
It was more of a statement than a question, so Toushirou retorted, "it's none of their business."
"So a taichou can lie about things too? That's the first, even Kenpachi doesn't lie about things."
He scowled at the back of the teen's head, "would you rather I say we were going shopping?"
"Whatever," Ichigo replied, "you're not here to make friends, you're only on a mission, right?"
Sensing that there was something that he was leaving out, the captain asked, "what of it then?"
"Nothing." He stated. "I just thought that almighty taichou wouldn't need a petty excuse to shop."
There he goes, always throwing these things in his face, it was something that he absolutely hated about this young adult in front of him. Why was it that any small 'error' the small captain made, it was always shoved right back in his face—especially by an unofficial shinigami. Though he now had decided that he did not want to go shopping with him, he had no choice; they were almost there anyhow. He had to remind himself that he was only here to get one stupid kimono so that he could go to the stupid school cultural festival and watch over his stupid, oversized breasted, lieutenant. It was not an official mission, merely a personal mission to keep chaos under control over the few who were here from Soul Society, and he was not here to make friends.
When Ichigo entered, he kept the door open with the small one who hissed, "I can open a door."
"Doesn't hurt to be generous." Replied the now scowling teen who let the door hit the small one's rear end when releasing the door—so much for the generosity if it's taken for granted.
'You did that on purpose.' Scowled the boy in thought, but really… he probably deserved it.
"Ichigo-sama!" A young girl called out, bowing to the orange-haired teen respectfully.
"Ah, it's been a short while, yet you've grown a little bit haven't you?" Ichigo smiled to the middle school girl who was working at the store. "Why are you working so early, hmm?"
"Mama is in the back, so she wanted to keep me in the front. I'm going to your festival!"
"Oh? Does that mean I get to escort you later?" He chuckled softly.
Toushirou scowled—why was that idiot flirting with a young girl, a hidden fetish perhaps?
The girl somehow seemed to enjoy the playful talk that he was giving her, but why, what type of significance did that portray? Soon, a woman came in from the back and bowed to the teen, giving him an honorable suffix so casually, it was different. There should be a wall between that cheerful attitude if he was so grand to them, humans were just so weird though. A hand patted his small shoulder and saw that it was Ichigo's; somehow he was brought into their conversation topic.
"He needs a kimono for the upcoming cultural festival." Ichigo stated. "My friend wants him to go."
"Oh? So who's the friend of Ichigo-sama?" The woman asked curiously, hinting amusement.
"It's not like that," he smiled, "anyway, can you have him sized up for a kimono please?"
"Of course we can, so long as he doesn't bite." She replied happily as she came around.
'Bite?' Toushirou thought that the woman was crazy and did not want to stay alone with her.
"What's you're name little one?" The woman asked happily, mentally scarring the captain.
Ichigo nudged at the boy to reply properly, and the boy gritted, "Hitsugaya Toushirou."
It was only fair that Ichigo helped him out a little despite how he wanted to see him humiliated just a bit, "careful, Suzuki-san, he's got some attitude for his age, so don't make him seem too young."
Toushirou was just about to retort at the unruly words that spewed from the teen's mouth, but his hand was taken hold of and drifted into a stall to be measured while the teen did other things. 'I'm going to kill him… he may be human… but he's a shinigami as well… therefore, I will kill him.'
"This is the first time Ichigo-sama has brought someone here other than his family," she spoke.
The boy looked at her as she measured his body, yet he did not reply. "…"
"He must think much about you in order to come here without an appointment, are you friends?"
Was this a test? How was he supposed to answer it? "Not… exactly…" He stated hesitantly.
Assuming that she pinpointed his hesitation, she giggled, "ah, I didn't know he fancied other boys."
How did she come up with that assumption? He regained a little composure, "it's not like that."
"Oh, you mean you're not a couple?" As his head shook she frowned, "what a shame, you two looked rather cute outside while waiting at the counter. So then what are you to him?"
Forget the test, he was going to be plain, "an acquaintance of his, nothing more, nothing less."
After she finished, she dared to ask, "then why would he want you to come here for a kimono?"
That was the question.
Toushirou followed her out of the stall and in to the front room where Ichigo was doing something on the counter that he could not see. Curse his small height, and yet he was not going to reduce to asking the representative about what he was doing. Ichigo stopped after recognizing the woman who came behind the counter, then looked to his side to see that the little one was right there. If only he was not so busy with a form would he comment on what an obedient little kid he was being.
The middle school girl giggled at Ichigo and spoke, "you should've done the form first."
Ichigo looked at the girl, "then I wouldn't have any fun doing this would I?"
"Oh? Ichigo-sama customized the kimono already?" The woman asked curiously.
"Mhmm!" Her daughter showed two drawings to her, "see! He wants this in the back, and then these in the front! It's really, really, pretty Mama! I want Ichigo-sama to join us here."
Ichigo laughed. "Don't say that, I already have a job you know." He handed in the form.
"Which is why you can afford having us do three kimono's?" The woman laughed.
"It's fine, it's fine," Ichigo waved it off, "it's probably about three months of paychecks."
Toushirou then thought about that—how Ichigo was wasting money on him like this… he glanced up to see the teen smiling at the ones at the counter. Was he happy to do this; to waste his money and his time on a captain who had no interest in this school cultural festival. The girl gave Ichigo the bill and the small one saw the price of the kimono as he slipped the receipt in his pocket.
¥ 58356
He bit his lip in annoyance to how much his kimono would cost the orange-haired substitute when there was nothing he could do in return. There was an irritated tug at his mind about this, about how he had to return the favor of him buying him a kimono—no, for making him a kimono. This was beyond limits for the small captain whose only debt was to Inoue Orihime for allowing both himself and his lieutenant to stay over. It was mainly the reason of why he stayed outside on the roof and cleaned up the house a bit while the young woman was at school. So in other words, it was not a debt, just a mere trade; cleaning up the place in exchange for temporarily living at her apartment.
However, there was no way to repay Kurosaki Ichigo.
"Take care then, we have to get going," Ichigo called out to the two while nudging the small boy out of his thinking trance. "I'll be back to pick up the kimonos later in the week." He waved nicely.
Finally.
Toushirou sighed quietly in relief after they were a block away from the store; he could not think all that greatly in there. This earned him a chuckle from the taller one who was still in his uniform with the school bag draped over his shoulder. A scowl went towards the teen in retort to the chuckle, but it seemed to have gone without notice as they stopped at a stand that said 'ice cream' on it. It confused the small one; do they cream the ice or ice the cream, they didn't have it in Soul Society. Ichigo order two 'vanillas' or whatever and the man understood it and did something behind the cart which Toushirou kept a close eye on it, not trusting new things really—especially in this world. The man then handed over the two ice cream cones and Ichigo paid him before taking the cones and passing one to Toushirou while still holding the bag over his shoulder as they left.
"What is it?" Mumbled the captain who stared at the foreign object.
"It's food, try it." Ichigo stated, licking his own ice cream as a demonstration.
He watched to see if the teen would die from tasting it, then tried his own, "it's cold."
The teen chuckled, "let's sit till we finish," he went over to a table, "it'd suck to get brain freeze."
'How can I get brain freeze if I'm already 'ice' idiot,' growled the irritated captain.
"So how does it taste?" Ichigo questioned, knowing he was going to say it again.
"It's cold." He retorted, only to watch the teen laugh a bit. "I said nothing funny."
"Yeah, but watching you repeat yourself is new," then added, "I meant the flavor."
'Oh,' the captain thought, he ignored the trap he had fallen into, "good, I guess."
"Nothing really amuses you, huh?" Ichigo sighed. "I should stop being so thoughtful then."
When hearing this, the captain then thought about things all the more closely; the entire day has been paid by Kurosaki Ichigo. At noon he had bought him and his lieutenant lunch, a couple of hours later he makes him a kimono and pays for it, and now this… this ice cream? This was going to be the last thing that the idiot was going to do for him or else his mind would itch for a way to return the favor. He was not paying attention to the fact that he was eating his ice cream too fast that he started to receive his first brain freeze and held his head at it.
"Rub your tongue against the roof of your mouth for a bit." Ichigo suggested quietly, yet it looked like he was minding his own business for the most part before he glanced up at the little one.
With reluctance, the small one rubbed the roof of his mouth for a while and it stopped, "…"
"You're welcome," he spoke out casually, then looked to the watch, "I should take you to Inoue's."
"I don't need an escort Kurosaki." Toushirou scowled angrily, "I'm not a child."
Ichigo then looked at him, scowling at the same level as him if not higher, "you may be older on the inside, but for your appearance on the outside, you're just a kid to everyone here who doesn't understand that." He stood up after finishing his cone. "If you haven't noticed, there's a lot of crap that goes around, and a lot of it happens to those that look like kids, that includes you."
The small captain lost the taste of the ice cream and just threw it in the trash. "You know nothing."
"Think about it," Ichigo demanded, catching Toushirou off guard. "You can't hurt humans."
"Do you really think a human being can hurt me? Did you forget who I am?" He scowled.
"I don't know who you are because you never show it." The teen stated. "If that's really how you think, then why did you let that idiot pick you up and threaten you? I doubt you enjoyed it."
"What I do or don't do is my business alone, it has nothing to do with you." Glared the boy.
Ichigo took this very second to close his eyes and take a deep breath; he was going to hit this white-haired kid in the face real soon if he did not calm down. "Let's go." He grabbed his bag and started to walk off, only to realize Toushirou was not following, so he stopped in place. How obvious it was that the small one did not liked to be ordered around. "Do you want everyone to worry then?"
"I said I don't need an escort." Toushirou sat at the table with his arms crossed. "Go home."
Hah, that superiority was just hilarious, and yet he was doing it too. "Can't." He replied.
This angered him and just as he was about to yell, Ichigo laughed, and it startled him, "what?"
Before he could even blink though, Ichigo turned around and began walking towards him, which unnerved the captain. He glared at the taller teen who now stood in front of him, only to be lifted over his free shoulder like a bag of potatoes. Immediately this angered the captain for having this idiotic bastard humiliate him like this, it was completely unreasonable to be carried. Never had he felt like punching, kicking, or even yelling at someone like this before, and yet not do a thing.
"You're more than a taichou." Ichigo stated. "You're Hitsugaya Toushirou."
The tension that was building furiously inside the small one's body had slowly began to loosen up at these two statements. He understood that Ichigo was telling him that he was not just a captain, but an individual as well, yet he did not want to hear that. His temporary retreat came due to all of the frustration for having twice as many thoughts running through his head. This was why he did not like Kurosaki, he always managed to say something decent through his idiotic rambling.
Toushirou spoke out quietly, "you can put me down now." It went on deaf ears though as Ichigo continued to walk. "Kurosaki," he called out, getting a little annoyed now, "Kuro-!" The boy was placed down on his feet, and he glared at the teen, "why did you completely…" he stopped talking.
Ichigo looked stern at the moment, "I meant it, what I said."
"You mumbled a lot of it." Retorted the white-haired boy.
"I meant all of what I said." He stated more thoroughly.
The captain tried to ignore him, "so what of it then."
A strong hand grabbed the collar of Toushirou's shirt and Ichigo spoke, "if you didn't notice, the only reason why people don't get close to you is because you don't let them." As Toushirou was about to retort, he continued. "I don't have to know what happened in the past, but I do know that if you keep it up, you won't have anyone to help you. From what I noticed, shinigami can still die, and eventually you might end up disowned like so many great ones before you." Ichigo then let go of his collar. "Now you need to realize something before that taichou crap takes over that brain of yours. People can decide whether or not they want to help you, and it's your choice to let them help you or not. But if you don't let others help you, then you really will be alone."
"I am strong enough to take care of myself and the ones by me." Toushirou defended himself.
"One man can't take a burden alone." He stated. "At least you have Rangiku-san."
"Again, Kurosaki, my business is mine alone." The captain replied sternly.
"Yeah?" Ichigo tempted. "Then let's see how long that excuse works."
"Are you implying that I'm actually lying Kurosaki?"
"Wouldn't be the first time, would it?" Ichigo then waved as he turned away. "Good night."
Toushirou was about to follow him but then noticed that he was already at the apartment where he was staying along with Rangiku. He glanced over to the teen, only to see how far he had gotten as he walked up the street, causing the captain to notice. In return for all of the food and the kimono of the day, he argued with the teen, and not once gave gratitude for his hospitality. Thoughts of how Rangiku said Ichigo should be given the chance to be his friend and to watch his back. But he didn't need friends, nor did he need others to watch his back, he didn't need Kurosaki Ichigo.
He went up the stairs and into the apartment before going to the room and going to sleep.
"Damn you Kurosaki."