Hello to those who are reading,
I welcome you to the world called My Imagination. No, no, I'm kidding. Let's not go down that path.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, although it is my first time doing this at all. I typically don't write fanfiction, but you know.
Carry on, my dudes.
I would also like to specify that I do not own anything. I own my brain and that's pretty much it.
Ichigo had woken up earlier than usual on a Tuesday. It was rainy outside and it felt like today would not be the best day. But strangely, he also thought today wouldn't be so bad. He did his morning routine, consisting of getting dressed, brushing his teeth, getting breakfast from his sister and getting kicked in the face by Isshin, his father. Of course, the mornings always consisted of that routine, and it hasn't once changed.
He walked down the sidewalk to his university, earbuds in listening to his music and occasionally humming along to a song or two. There would be a moment or two where he would be walking into a puddle from the rain, soaking his shoe and sock, but deciding to change it later on when it really mattered. It certainly did matter when walking became uncomfortable after doing it three times. Ichigo took shelter under a canopy in front of a small tea shop to wring out the water from his now completely soaked black ankle sock, mumbling under his breath about how stupid puddles were. Putting the damp sock back on, he looked up and saw two policemen coming out of the tea shop, one of them with bright blue hair. They locked eyes for a moment, the blue haired cop smirking as he sipped the drink he had in his hand.
"Don't lose your shoe, berry," he teased, referring to Ichigo's orange hair. Ichigo could only scoff as they got in the patrol car parked almost on the curb. Ichigo wasn't a fucking berry.
"They give everyone a hard time, don't worry bout it," someone said from behind him. Ichigo was about to snark back when he realized who was speaking when he turned around. Ichigo's words caught in his throat. It was the shop owner next door from the tea shop, the one Ichigo thought fell off the face of the earth two weeks ago. The one that he's been crushing on internally - wait.
"Renji?" Ichigo finally got his shoe on as Renji crossed his arms, smirking a little.
"So ya didn't forget."
"You were gone for two weeks," Ichigo deadpanned.
"Memory works in mysterious ways," Renji retorted, "anyway, aren't ya late for class?"
Ichigo furrowed his brows as he pulled his phone out from his sweatshirt pocket to check the time. There was a text on his screen from Keigo, surprising him a little.
'Don't bother coming, class is cancelled for some reason.'
"Not anymore," Ichigo sighed, putting his phone away. "Class just got cancelled for some reason."
"Professor not show up again?" This was a thing that happened often at the university. Ichigo's professor would get hammered the night before because why the hell not was always the answer when a student asked why he did so. And it was safe to say that if class was cancelled, that was the reason.
"Yeah, probably," Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"Well, ya got any other plans?" Renji looked at Ichigo with curiosity, which made Ichigo turn a little pink.
"No, not really," Ichigo muttered, "you?"
"Just some paperwork back home, the shop is closed today," Renji shrugeed, "nothing fun."
"Oh."
It wasn't a terrible awkward silence but it was enough to make them both uncomfortable. Ichigo wanted to offer to hang out, but he wasn't sure how to ask. It was already eight-thirty, still to early to be social with other people. Get it together, man.
"Come by later."
Ichigo did a double take. "What?"
"Go home, drop your shit off, hell, take a nap if ya want, but come by later," Renji said, pulling a sharpie out of his pants pocket. He gently grabbed Ichigo's hand and wrote down an address. His hands were soft against Ichigo's and it made his heart thump in his chest. Why am I feeling this way? Ichigo managed a nod and mumbled a 'see you later', and began walking at a fast pace back home. Damn it all, now he couldn't stop thinking about it!
Later that day around twelve twenty, Ichigo finally found the redhead's place after getting lost maybe two or three times. It looked relatively decent for size on the outside, and for some reason, Ichigo wondered more what it was like on the inside. Right, that totally didn't sound creepy. Ichigo thought as he knocked on the redhead's door. He thought it was amusing that he had a pineapple instead of a number on the door.
Renji opened the door, seeming to be in the middle of putting his hair up, "finally made it. Did ya get lost?"
Ichigo shrugged, "once."
"Twice?"
"... Three times."
Renji gave a laugh, motioning inside, "come in, just made lunch."
Ichigo's brows shot up as he looked through the apartment. It was really nice for a small shop manager, with dark wood floors and cream colored walls with a dark trim. The kitchen cabinets matched the dark wood, giving contrast and it was satisfying to the eyes. The apartment was clean, and Ichigo always liked a clean house. And whatever Renji made for lunch smelled great.
"What did you make?" Ichigo sat on the bar stool across from Renji.
"Taiyaki." Renji moved the fish pancake to a plate and set it in front of Ichigo, "one of my favorites."
"My sister makes these on occasion," Ichigo jabbed at making conversation, "I think you'd might like 'em."
"Ya think?" Renji smirked a little in amusement. He got a nod as Ichigo took a bite. "Hey, ya go to parties and shit, right?"
Ichigo looked at him and swallowed, "once in a blue moon, why?"
"Buddy of mine is havin' one tomorrow night. Thought maybe I would invite ya or some shit," Renji scratched the back of his neck, his cheeks going rosy.
"I don't think I'll know anyone," Ichigo chuckled a little, taking another bite of the taiyaki.
"He invites the uni's too, so might be someone there ya know besides me," Renji replied, leaning against the counter.
"Why do you call us uni's?"
Renji couldn't help but roll his eyes, "c'mon. All you guys ever do is either go to college for your future or there to just party. Plus, ya come near the small shops from the university anyway for study dates, screwin' around, or for lunch." Renji quirked a brow, "what're ya majoring in anyway?"
"Medical mainly, I don't have a specific type yet," Ichigo shrugged, "I mean I screw around sometimes, but my schooling is important to me, too."
"Honor roll or somethin'?"
"Might as well be." Ichigo took another few bites of the fish pancake. This is really good. Renji's phone buzzed on the counter after a couple minutes of silence, causing both men to be slightly startled. The redhead picked up the device and read the message on the screen.
"Well, I lied," Renji snorted, tapping away on his phone.
Ichigo furrowed his brows, "what?"
"That party I was talking about?" Renji asked, "moved to tonight."
"You still going?" Ichigo raised a brow, not sure if he should go because tomorrow was his last day until break for a few weeks. But something in his gut told him that he should go with Renji and see if things work out for the both of them. Renji nodded, setting his phone down and looked up at Ichigo, "well, I'll go if you're going."
Renji looked at him in surprise, "really?" Refrain from excitement.
Ichigo shrugged, smiling a little, "yeah. Why not?"
"I ain't forcing you."
"I know."
They both stared at each other for a minute or so, daring the other to say something to spark another.
"I'll challenge ya to multiplayer if ya keep staring," Renji retorted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Fight me," Ichigo replied, but in a snarky tone.
Ichigo left Renji's place around seven, not wanting to be late for dinner again. Him and Renji had exchanged numbers before leaving so Renji could get his address. He also told Ichigo to use his number as he pleases, whatever the hell that meant. He wasn't paying attention when he bumped into someone coming out of the bar on the corner of the intersection. Ichigo glared at the guy, but his eyes widened when it was the cop from earlier. That stupid fucking blue haired cop that called him a fucking berry. If anyone was a berry, it was that guy.
The blue haired man, smirked, taking a drag of his cigarette, "watch yourself, berry. Might hafta arrest ya someday,"
"Yeah, you wish," Ichigo snorted and kept walking, his heart racing from internal panic that he probably just pissed off a police officer. He looked back and saw the blue haired man still smirked, looking Ichigo up and down in a hungry way that made Ichigo panic a little more. He picked up his walking pace and got home five minutes earlier than he normally would.
Chapter 1 has finished! After many fixes to this and other chapters, I think it'll be okay.
Reviews are much appreciated, thanks :)