DEATH GODS

VS

REAL LIFE


Author's Note: Hey there, so I'm uploading my first Fanfiction ever... I'm not a native english speaker (my first language is German), so please excuse mistakes I might make, and of course I always appreciate feedback, corrections and help :) This story is already entirely finished on my computer and I'll be uploading a new chapter each week (it's 20 in total). The events all take place in June 2014, when I started writing. So, there you go, I hope you enjoy reading !

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, they're all property of Tite Kubo. Neither do I own or have any business with the brands, artists etc. which are mentioned, they're merely meant to be a stylistic device in order to make the story more realistic.


Starring

Ichigo Kurosaki, mediocre student and troublemaker

Uryū Ishida, alleged kill-joy and A-student

Renji Abarai, a laid-back motorcycle mechanic

Ikkaku Madarame, a fight-loving gym owner

Yumichika Ayasegawa, an effeminate model and student

Jūshirō Ukitake, a good-natured linguistics professor and author

Shunsui Kyōraku, a charming free-lance artist

Sōsuke Aizen, an ambitious mathematics teacher

Byakuya Kuchiki, an uptight but wealthy landlord

Kira Izuru, a chronically overworked intern

Shūhei Hisagi, editor and journalist for a small-scale magazine

Kaien Shiba, linguistics lecturer and master of family-chaos

Kisuke Urahara, a weird shop owner and hobby-scientist

Szayelaporro Granz, a flamboyant and dubious scientist

Gin Ichimaru, an inscrutable brain surgeon

Kenpachi Zaraki, an intimidating Kendō-master and -trainer

Tesla Lindocruz, an introverted politics student

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, a troublemaking gang co-leader

Nnoitra Gilga, also a mischievous gang co-leader

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Karakura's mayor and High School headmaster

Supporting

Yachiru Kusajishi, Kenpachi's sassy adoptive daughter

Ryūken Ishida, father and hard-working hospital owner

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, a suspicious chemistry teacher

Kaname Tōsen, head editor of a small-scale magazine

Suì-Fēng, Yoruichi's obsessed stalker and biggest fan

Marechiyo Ōmaeda, Suì-Fēng's unemployed flatmate

Rukia Kuchiki, Byakuya's younger sister and art-freak

Isshin Kurosaki, father, doctor and assumed lunatic

Momo Hinamori, an A-student and teacher's pet

Nanao Ise, a housekeeper and involuntary muse

Lisa Yadōmaru, a coquettish biology and sports teacher

Kūkaku Shiba, Kaien's trouble-making younger sister

Ganju Shiba, Kaien's good-for-nothing younger brother

Shinji Hirako, a fun social education teacher

Retsu Unohana, head of the internal medicine department

Isane Kotetsu, a kind-hearted intern

Rangiku Matsumoto, a smoking hot waitress and babysitter

Ginrei Kuchiki, university founder and wealthy landlord

Tetsuzaemon Iba, a bar owner and drinking companion

Tia Harribel, fashion mogul and head-designer of Sternritter

Ulquiorra Cipher, gang member and misanthrope

Yylfordt Granz, gang member and freeloading twin brother

[and lots more]


Word Count: 4926

Inspiration / Notes: The title is a line taken from the song Aerials of one of my most favorite bands, namely System of A Down.

Sub-Chapters: Jūshirō - Yumichika - Aizen - Shūhei


- ONE: LIFE IS A WATERFALL -

- Jūshirō -

It was long ago that he last woke up without searing pain straining his lungs, almost an eternity. But today it is surprisingly fine, and Jūshirō Ukitake loves pleasant surprises.

This is going to be a good day he thinks while pushing back the bed covers and very slowly getting up in order to not overstrain his sensitive circulation.

Quiet snoring is heard from the other side of the bed; with a loving look in his eyes Jūshirō gazes over to Shunsui Kyōraku, whose body is only partially covered by the blanket.

Like every morning his first action is to fully cover up his lover again, thinking about the many sleepless nights Shunsui's strangely restless and fitful sleep has made him go through in his life. The brown-haired man, however, is always well rested when waking up.

Jūshirō pushes open the curtains and takes a deep breath to test his lungs and find out if the good feeling is about to betray him, but no.

Nevertheless he shuffles into the kitchen and gets his pill case which has every day of the week printed on it, then pours himself a glass of water and swallows all of the little, colorful pills out of the Monday-compartment. Cough relievers, painkillers, vitamins, nutrition pills, energy pills…

»Good morning, love!« a cheerful Shunsui suddenly smiles and wraps his arms around Jūshirō's lean body from behind. »In such a jovial mood, my dear?« he immediately wonders about his lover's disposition; usually Shunsui is not a morning-person.

»I've had some wonderful dreams, you won't believe it! Oh, this is going to be amazing!«

»New artwork?«

»Exactly! Well, all I need to do now is wait for Nanao-chan to arrive and bestow me the final inspiration and I'll be creating magnificence!«

Jūshirō sounds a quiet sigh about these utterances, thinking about their poor housekeeper who will be here in half an hour to maintain the Ugendō's clean and tidy state.

If it wasn't for her, Jūshirō is sure it would be utter chaos, with a visionary free-lance artist lolling about here all day, and since he himself is rarely home… »don't be rude, Shunsui, you know the rules.«

»Sure I do, Shiro-chan. But she is soo ~ cute!« Another sigh of Jūshirō's makes Shunsui roll his eyes; »I'll be leaving her alone, promise!«

»I trust you, my dear. Well, I'll be off to university in a minute… and in the afternoon we're having a conference, so I'll be home late« Jūshirō then informs Shunsui who just moans and stands up in order to make some coffee.

»Want one as well?« Jūshirō shakes his head and politely mumbles no, thanks, »you know my body doesn't do well with caffeine.«

»Ah, right. However… morning quickie, then? Has the same effect as caffeine, on me at least!« Shunsui jokes, being half-serious about it, though.

»I'd only be late for work, you know« Jūshirō declines but, when he sees his lover's disappointed facial expression, adds »why don't you order some nice food for tonight and we'll have a date once again? Haven't had one in ages.«

»Perfect!« Shunsui cheers up again and takes a sip from the freshly made coffee, though burns his lip as it is boiling hot, chokes and spills half of it across the table, getting a disapproving look from Jūshirō at that. »Oh dear… I hope Nanao-chan hurries up.«

xxxxxxxxxxx

Jūshirō loves his office. It is nicely decorated with paintings Shunsui drew exclusively for him, there are some plants to be found, photos, diplomata… he takes a seat at his desk and starts unpacking his working utensils, laptop, notebooks, pencils.

Lecture in Japanese linguistics in fifteen minutes… enough time left to note down an idea he got this morning while driving his beloved white Audi A4 to work.

After his first big novel had been a surprise success some years ago, Jūshirō focused more on writing fiction instead of scientific and educational books. There is already a new idea occupying his mind, but he has been too busy with correction work to write it down yet.

When knocks on the door are heard, Jūshirō wakes from his thoughts and quickly welcomes his visitor, well-knowing who it is.

Like every morning there is Kaien Shiba dropping by before classes start and the two men have a quick chat.

»How's life, Professor?« the black-haired young man asks, displaying his usual bright smile and sipping from his Chai Latte to go.

»I feel really good today« Jūshirō answers truthfully (since he often claims to be well even though he might not be in order to not worry those caring for him so nicely) and offers Kaien a seat. »I even thought about going without some of my daily pills this morning.«

»Nice. Wish I could do that as well some time. Well… look, I finally managed to change my work shift at Pizza Hut's, so I can be present at your interview this Thursday« Shiba then happily declares and Jūshirō's face lights up a little more.

At least there will be some mental support then. »But you know… you're not supposed to always make such an effort just for me, you –«

»But that's hell of a big deal, Sir! Of course I have to hear you talk about your book!«

»Well, as if you didn't hear me talk about it enough already…«

»That's something else! Press, everything… you're famous, you know!«

»Not that I want to be, but I'm afraid you're right with what you're saying.« Jūshirō pushes back his long, light hair and gets up from his office chair in order to fetch some morphology books from his shelf he intends to show around at his ten o'clock class later.

»However, I'm looking forward to it. It's not that you can avoid press forever, Jūshirō.«

»I know. But somehow it makes me feel uneasy. I didn't reckon with becoming this successful with my writing…«

»Bollocks, everybody wants to be successful, that's just in the nature of mankind!«

»Well, maybe I'm not so human, then? Furthermore, I think that Shunsui… well, never mind.«

But this statement makes Kaien sit up. »Jealous? Eh!«

Jūshirō quickly shakes his head. »Of course not. Well, let's talk about it another time, alright? I'll be late for my eight o'clock lecture.«

xxxxxxxxxxx

While adjusting the microphone and power point presentation, Jūshirō thinks about Shunsui, like he almost constantly does.

His lover is not jealous, he can tell because he knows him inside-out. He is worried. Worried about success, equally as much as Jūshirō is.

Not so much because he thinks it might change the person he loves, but more because he is afraid it might consume him… with his poor health condition… stress… Jūshirō has good reasons for having shunned publicity until now.

However, if it wasn't for him being convinced that he'll be able to cope with it, he wouldn't have consented to the interview in the first place, and therefore there is nothing to worry about. Is there?

All he ever wanted was a quiet life, a little estate somewhere in the green, a functioning relationship and to educate young geniuses.

Which has all worked out pretty nicely, to be honest.

He's got his beloved writing, the teaching, the Ugendō, the car… and apart from reoccurring attacks of his chronic lung disease he has a peaceful life as well.

Things with Shunsui worked out back then, all of a sudden, as if there had never been these nights full of tears because he didn't want to be the gay guy that had a crush on his very best friend.

Shunsui, one night, just decided to put his lips on Jūshirō's and stumble out the words but I do love you too, please stop crying, and ever since the two of them were having a great, loving, perfect… open relationship.

Jūshirō knew from the very start that this would be the utmost he could ever get from Shunsui, the man who is into girls more than any other, and therefore, out of utter love, he accepted it.

An open relationship… nobody would expect him to have an open relationship, right? Him, the sophisticated, literate, kind, very ordinary linguistics professor… but however, Jūshirō doesn't bother.

There's other things nobody would ever suspect him of either. His taste in movies for example. Or music, for that matter. Let alone all the things he tried with his lover in bed… right after stopping to believe he was nothing more than an experiment for the open-minded artist, Jūshirō started enjoying his new love-life, though.

And why not? He is happy. Perfectly happy with how everything worked out so surprisingly well.

And Jūshirō Ukitake loves pleasant surprises.


- Yumichika -

»Oh come on, turn that fucking noise down already, asshole!«

»What the fuck, that's no noise, that's music, homo! Get your facts straight!«

»If that's called music now then I better shoot myself immediately!«

»Yeah, better do that! Long live death-metal!«

»IKKAKU!«

»FUCK OFF!«

Yumichika continues hammering against the bathroom door. His roommate Ikkaku has been in there for more than half an hour by now, even though he knows exactly that Yumichika will miss the bus if he doesn't get out of the house at seven sharp.

And university has fucking priority over Ikkaku polishing his goddamn dome! But his roommate doesn't give a shit about it, he just goes on growling to the horrible, appalling and in every way unpretty music that blasts out of the bathroom.

Yumi decides to give up and retreats to his room in order to at least pack his stuff if there's no prospect of getting made up today; how very clever it was to get up at five thirty and shower earlier than usually, because without washed hair and body… doesn't bear contemplating.

He sounds another deeply annoyed moan at the thought of his make-up collection he should better store in his room from now on, and then starts to neatly arrange his folders and notebooks.

University has priority. And that, after all, is his hard-earned money, and his few and far between time Ikkaku is wasting!

Fucker.

Sometimes Yumichika forgets why he uses to call that stupid, bald numbskull his best friend.

8 AM to 2 PM...class

2 PM to 2:30...lunch break

2:30 PM...castings

5:45 PM...homework, revisions

7 PM...Sternritter casting !

9:30 PM...meet the guys ? SLEEP

He sighs heavily when studying his time schedule for today. Not pretty, not at all.

University is stressful, so is modeling, his sideline, in between in order to earn some money, and he's so very scared of failing that one big opportunity… Sternritter is doing a casting once again, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which is totally amazing, at least in Yumichika's eyes.

When he told Ikkaku some time ago, though, there was no reaction whatsoever. But he is used to his best friend not sharing his interests at all.

»Ikkaku? You finally done?«

»No! Damn, why can't you go without your fancy tranny make-up for once?«

»I'm gonna scratch your eyes out as soon as you leave that room, asshole!«

»Fine! I don' intend to leave it before ya gone anyway!«

Yumichika tries with one last hit against the wooden door and then gives up on the matter entirely. Mascara and eyeliner should be enough for university, though. For once.

He gets ready in high-speed, leaves out breakfast and then runs off as fast as he can in order to catch that bus.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Sitting in a narrow and uncomfortable seat, pressed against the window as an ugly fat guy decided to sit down right next to him, Yumichika tries hard to focus on his smartphone to not have to take a look at the ugly one next to him.

Luckily Ikkaku provides him with distraction by sending him a message via WhatsApp. Sorry for that bathroom shit bro. Need ya help later, k? Fucked up with sth there.

- what'd u do?

- had a lil accident in there, tell ya later

- wtf? but I won't be home til 9, told u

- huh, where ya at?

- you never listen, do u? got work and university

- eh, always forget ya got brains n stuff as well :D

- leave me alone, Ikkaku, I'm fuckin busy -.-

And with that he puts his phone away, even more annoyed by the world and everything within it.

xxxxxxxxxxx

It's listening to his linguistics professor that finally calms him down. English phonetics, phonotactics, morphology… Yumichika loves what he's doing.

Way more than he likes this fucked-up modeling shit.

But well, since he was offered a contract with an agency due to his amazing looks some years ago… so at least he doesn't have to sell disgusting, greasy burgers at McDonald's like most of his fellow students do, and absolutely everything is better than working at a fast food restaurant.

Anyways, it's just for a few more years…

And while listening to Ukitake-Sensei, Yumichika wonders whether his professor's hair color is real or fake.

White and nude shades are so in vogue at the moment… even though he loves the shade of dark violet he uses to dye his normally black hair in.

But a single strand in pastel, or two… then he could match his nail-polish with the color, and maybe the jewelry… depends… mint green maybe? Powder blue? Rosé?

It doesn't matter, they would all look magnificent on him anyway… while being concerned with his looks, Yumichika's gaze slips over to the student sitting a few places away from him.

Yes, mint green does look good indeed, he thinks while staring at the guy's shirt, when he suddenly feels the young man's eyes on him.

Yumi gives him an arrogant problem? look and averts his gaze immediately again. Not that this guy gets the idea to believe he's got any interest in him.

Of course not.

But his look slips over again and he catches himself wondering why that man seems to be so absentminded. Ukitake-Sensei definitely deserves to be listened to.

The honey-blond guy draws into his notebook and Yumi spots that it is dark, thick crosses he's sketching. But not the religious type, no.

A symmetric black cross with a hole right through the middle… that's the symbol which can be spotted all over Karakura lately.

A gang logo or something, Yumi doesn't know exactly and doesn't really care either.

Freak.

He decides to give Ukitake his full attention once again and continues noting down the difference between fricatives and affricates.

xxxxxxxxxxx

»Sir? May I bother you for a second?«

»But of course, Ayasegawa-kun, what's the matter?«

»Well, I just wanted to ask you whether you could have a look on my seminar paper? I'm halfway done and want to make sure that I'm not on the entirely wrong path.«

»Sure, just hand it to me and I'll write a few sentences about it for you, alright?«

»Thanks a lot, Sir.« Yumichika fishes the paper out of his retro-style leather school bag and Ukitake-Sensei takes it from him. »How many pages have you written so far?« he asks him while giving the sheets a first, scrutinizing look. »Twenty-two.«

»And you said you're only halfway done?«

»Yes. Ahm… is it too much already? You said we could write more than the obligatory ten pages, so I thought I'll give it my all and just…«

»I'll have a look at it, alright? Don't overstrain yourself, Ayasegawa-kun, please.«

»Don't worry, Sir, I'm not. It's fun, I love it! Well, however… is it true that you'll be having a public interview next Thursday?« he dares to ask and Ukitake nods even though looking a little apprehensive.

»Yes, I do indeed.«

Yumichika smiles at his professor, hoping to encourage him a bit, knowing about his fear of the public. »I'll be there. Downtown Library, right?«

The professor nods while packing in Yumichika's seminar paper. »But don't forget the homework that is due at Friday!«

»Of course I won't, Sir« he promises but inside freaks out a little.

Right. Shit. He fucking forgot about that.

There's tons of homework to be done. Tons, literally.

»Great, then see you tomorrow in class, Ayasegawa-kun.«

»Yes, thank you, Professor.« And with these words Yumichika rushes off, fearing to be late for his next Japanese class.

Well… then he should probably reschedule, right… the paper is due in three weeks, the translation work until next Monday, Shakespeare to be read until Tuesday, phonetic transcription until Friday… fuck.

Fuck!

But what if he got the job at Sternritter? Then there surely won't be any time left for that goddamn homework… the paper will be fine, but the other stuff… alright, no hanging out with the guys this weekend.

No helping out Ikkaku at the gym for the next months.

And he should better skip the lunch break as well today.


- Aizen -

Coffee. Shower. Shaving. Getting dressed. Toast. Radio for the seven o'clock news. Hair. Packing. Morning paper, morning cigarette.

And go.

Isn't this the most generic morning routine, Professor Sōsuke Aizen thinks, black leather bag in one hand and car keys in the other, while stepping out of his medium-size apartment of a multilevel multifamily house.

He adjusts the doormat to lie exactly parallel to the threshold, locks the door and switches his bag from one hand to the other in order to be able to grip the handrail while walking downstairs, having a spring in his step.

Just like every morning.

And just like every generic, normal morning he kindly greets the little girl who lives two floors below him and who, just like every day, fetches the letters exactly at the time he leaves the house.

She shyly bestows him one of her cute little smiles and then quickly averts her gaze again, mumbling good morning, Sensei.

She is one of his students at high school, an excellent one at that. Her huge brown eyes he would recognize anywhere, staring at him full of admiration and respect, just exactly the way Aizen likes to be treated.

»Good morning, Hinamori-san« he answers with all the kindness of the world in his voice and slows down his steps a little.

Maybe it is time for a little addition to his morning routine.

»Can I give you a ride to school today?« he suddenly offers her, noticeably surprising the little girl with the sweet red jacket that has tiny bells sewn on instead of buttons, and the cute bun on top of her head.

»Ahm…« she stammers, looking awestruck above anything else and overwhelmed by the friendly offer of her professor's.

»I figured that it would be a good thing to do, since we have the same way anyway« Aizen goes on explaining himself, thoughtfully giving the girl some time to calm herself, »would be more fuel-efficient, don't you think so? Then your aunt doesn't have to take the detour every morning.«

Aizen knows that every day, Hinamori-san gets fetched by her cousin and his mother, who drive her to school and then go straight towards university, where the boy genius works.

Of course he knows.

He has always been interested in young geniuses. And Hinamori is one as well, after all.

Maybe…

»Oh, but they… ahm, but of course, Sir! Of course I'd love you to give me a ride, Professor Aizen!« she happily utters after quickly contemplating the matter.

»Very well. Why don't you give your aunt a quick call and get ready? And please send Hitsugaya-kun my nicest regards, will you?«

»Sure!«

xxxxxxxxxxx

Aizen waits for the girl until she steps out of the door for the second time, now smiling even brighter.

He holds the car door open for her, even adjusts the seat belt so that it wouldn't hurt her fragile, little neck as she is so tiny, and considerately asks her which radio station she'd like to listen to.

When she says whatever you pick is fine, Aizen has to restrain himself from patting her head for being so sweet like sugar.

They talk about the weather for a bit, and about school; Aizen thinks that it is very refreshing to bathe in her radiating happiness and lightheartedness and decides to incorporate offering her a ride to school in his morning routine indeed.

In front of Karakura High School he drops her, smiles at her when she waves and says see you in class, then drives away in order to find a parking lot.

While getting out of the car he wonders how the girl's face would look when her happy smile would fade.

But today he won't be able to see this, though, as he would later hand Hinamori another A+ in the surprise mathematics test he had his class write last week.


- Shūhei -

Proudly Shūhei Hisagi turns the page of the magazine which is lying in front of him and which is the fruit of his labors.

Well, at least some of the articles are.

He skips three pages which are filled with another interview of local superstar Miss Shihōin, the actress, because it is the fifth one in two weeks and by now he feels like he knows everything about the undeniably good-looking, tan-skinned woman with the flashy hair color.

However… he is sure his own article about the new medical research wing of Karakura's biggest hospital that will soon be opened will be perceived with the honor and the interest it deserves.

It took him almost a month to get an appointment with Ryūken Ishida, the obviously more than busy head of said hospital.

With a satisfied grin on his face, Shūhei skims his own article and once more breathes in the sweet scent of success.

Or at least what he expects success to smell like.

Soon… Tōsen will surely make him employee of the month again, and then his long-desired promotion would only be a matter of mere days.

For sure.

However, he knows exactly that this is the happiest he will be all day, thinking about the exhausting work shift which lies ahead of him.

Interviewing people whose name he never heard of before, taking pictures of brand-new park benches sponsored by Ishida, the Kuchiki family or other people who have the money to do so, listening to his annoying colleagues and being mad about the fact that still nobody made an effort to repair the fucking coffee machine in the office's kitchen!

Oh, and not forgetting the fact that, when he comes home in the evening, there will be his ex-boyfriend hanging about in their shared flat since neither of them had the time to find himself a new one after they broke up a few months ago.

Absentmindedly Hisagi turns the page once again, scans the vacancies out of the habit he somehow maintained from a time when he hadn't been able to make ends meet by journalism alone, and finds himself surprised when spotting a little box entitled 'Easygoing salesman wanted – Ren's Motorcycles'.

Remembering his good friend Renji Abarai's recent financial situation, he wonders why the redhead would want to employ somebody now… but admitted, Renji has never been good at economizing… maybe he should point it out to him that most people would regard this as a bad idea?

Not that it is any of his business, though, but the well-being of his friends has always been very important to Shūhei.

He makes a mental memo to give him a call later if he isn't too tired after work and turns the page again.

Letters to the editor, another article about various damages to property occurring all over Karakura lately, the columns… the so-called joke of the day (which, and he almost can't believe it, seems to only become lamer and lamer every time he accidentally reads it)… and then a whole bunch of print-ads.

One of them, however, catches his eye, like so often these days.

Haven't seen him in person for quite some time Shūhei thinks while having a close look at the jeans-ad.

There he really does look quite manly after all… Yumichika Ayasegawa's intentionally aloof face shines from the page and Shūhei can but trace his lean legs which look absolutely amazing in these jeans he's advertising.

With a quick look left and right Shūhei performs an inconspicuous gesture with his hands, ripping out the ad-page, and then immediately shuts today's edition of Karakura Communication.

xxxxxxxxxxx

»Eh, what's that? Your jerk-off material?«

»What the hell!? Stay the fuck out of my drawers!«

»Calm down, pervert. I was just looking for some tape.«

»Then ask me! And not just rifle my stuff!«

»Well, sure, that guy is pretty… but why don't you get yourself a real girl if you obviously are into femininity?«

»Fuck off« Shūhei hisses and rips the collection of loose magazine pages out of his co-worker's hands. »Go stalk Shihōin again or something, but stop annoying the crap outta me!«

»I'm not stalking Miss Yoruichi, you rude twat!«

»No, sure you don't… and you just needed that tape for… what? To hang up that XXL poster showing her right above your desk?«

Suì-Fēng lets out an angry snort but goes on unrolling the huge poster anyway.

»Shut your mouth, Hisagi. Or I'll tell Ayasegawa you're secretly jerking off to his model photos« she threatens him and climbs on a chair in order to reach up all the way since that poster indeed is quite big.

Shūhei just rolls his eyes over the half-assed, surely-not-to-be-taken-serious threat and leans back in his office chair.

»Gods, can't you see I'm needing a hand? What are you, not only a perv but a douchebag as well?«

»Seriously, I don't want Shihōin to stare at me all day from that wall, Suì-Fēng!« Shūhei complains but nevertheless gets up to hand his co-worker some tape to fixate the picture. He's a gentleman after all.

»Yeah, right, you're into guys now, I almost forgot. But I want her to, alright, so shut up. And Tōsen said we can decorate our office to our liking.«

»But he didn't mean it to go overboard!«

»You know I have Ayasegawa on Facebook and follow him on Twitter, so you better stop being a pain in the ass!«

Shūhei hands her another piece of tape while giving her the death-glare at that. Who's the pain in the ass here? »Did your roommate keep you awake all night again or why are you so unbearably bitchy today?«

»He had to have that fucking LAN-party last night with his horribly obnoxious brothers. Again!« she immediately starts complaining, »I fucking hate Ubisoft for releasing that new shitty Watch Dogs game!«

»Do I hear envy in your voice?«

»SHUT UP!«

Shūhei can but secretly be quite fond of Ōmaeda for annoying the shit out of Suì-Fēng on a constant, dependable basis.

He sits down again, tries to ignore Yoruichi Shihōin's bright, cocky grin and especially her skimpy cat-woman outfit and with a defeated sigh opens his MacBook Pro in order to start writing.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Shūhei gets woken up from a fitful sleep on the sofa when he hears the front door being shut in a noisy way.

He sits up with a start, annoyed by the fact that he obviously passed out due to pure exhaustion during a semi-interesting TV show once again, at that keeping the empty tortilla chips wrap from falling to the ground and staining it with crumbs.

»How was work?« he asks his flatmate Izuru Kira while risking a short glimpse at his phone's watch.

2:43 AM. Well.

Kira just throws a dark look at him and then immediately vanishes in his room; Shūhei hears the door being locked from the inside.

Yes, the whole we're staying friends thing works great.

But with Kira being even more exhausted after work as he always is, and with the blond's capricious disposition to begin with… this strange relationship they started had been doomed to fail anyway.

Crackpot idea, really.

A relationship with one of your best mates. Genius.

Before Kira, Shūhei had never dated a guy, and he came to the conclusion that it is basically the very same as dating girls – exhausting to no end, a whole lot of drama, and in fact a ton of unnecessary stress. The sex might be worth it, though. A little. Kira is quite open-minded, as he found out.

»Hey… tell me if you need anything« he shouts through the locked door after quickly knocking once, having decided to try and be a little nicer to his ex-lover and (ex-?)friend.

No answer is heard, though, and Shūhei shuffles back to the living room in order to maybe clean up a little and then finally go to sleep.

When walking past Kira's room for the second time to get to the bathroom, he hears quiet sobs coming out of it; Shūhei silently sighs but decides to better leave the blond alone.

If it wasn't for him knowing so well that Kira actually loves what he's doing and that it has always been his goal in life to be a doctor one day, he'd definitely say this is the wrong profession for the man he considers to be a little more on the fragile side.

Lying in his overly comfortable bed, Shūhei checks the schedule-app on his smartphone one last time, remembering to having wanted to call Renji. He postpones it all to tomorrow evening, and also adds another name to his to call-list. He hasn't seen his friend Yumichika in ages after all.


END OF CHAPTER ONE.


Next week: Renji - Kenpachi - Kaien - Kira - Jūshirō