Morning was more of a curse than a blessing. Ichigo woke up, with only minutes to spare, his eyes burning and his chest heavy. His limbs weren't any better, as they wouldn't cooperate with any of his wills. Each minute that passed was a rueful reminder of what he had done and, most importantly, who he had lost.
Changing in taut, languid movements, Ichigo changed from the street clothes he had worn to bed to his school uniform. His managed to drag himself to the kitchen and slumped at the counter where little Yuzu was placing little plates of toast, eggs and bacon. She looked at Ichigo, worry clearly visible on her young features, and sighed.
"I would ask you what was wrong but I already know the answer is…" The now thirteen year old said, her usually cheerful oak eyes downcast. Ichigo couldn't help but feel a little bad but said nothing as he poked at his cold breakfast.
"I'm not hungry." Ichigo choked out, surprised by how low and gruff his voice sounded to his own ears. He dropped the piece of toast he held in his hand and shook his head. "There's nothing to worry about, Yuzu." Ichigo said with a fake little smile that did anything but help Yuzu feel better, "I promise."
"Ichi-nii…" Yuzu whispered as her older brother walked out the door, "Why can't you talk to me like you do to dad and Karin?" Yuzu sighed and shook her head as she picked up Ichigo's untouched breakfast.
Ichigo walked down the street, mind in a haze. He didn't notice when he walked by Keigo or Mizuiro, and didn't even realize they had been calling his name until Keigo landed a fist against his cranium with a satisfying crack. Ichigo still didn't do anything except for staring in utter silence at the annoying teen.
"Hey Ichigo! WASSUP!" Keigo squeaked and Mizuiro sighed. Ichigo simply continued to stare at them with a blank expression-one that seriously troubled his friends.
"Hey Ichigo, are you okay?" Mizuiro said absently, clicking away at the buttons on his cell phone, most likely texting some random girl. "You don't look so well."
"Ehh…I'm…fine." Ichigo said, his voice wavering uncertainty. Mizuiro glanced at him over his cell phone and shrugged. If Ichigo wanted to lie about feeling bad then he would just have to wait until the teen wanted to talk: he wasn't one to force people to blab.
Ichgo got up and trotted with his oblivious friends, well one of them was anyway, and clambered up the school stairs to enter the classroom. The door is thrown open by a blatantly loud Keigo and Mizuiro and Ichigo silently follow. Wide eyes look deep into equally wide, azure and then oak eyes. Ichigo feels his throat constricting painfully, and then a warm hand gently pressing onto his shoulder.
"Hey, Ichigo, you okay?" Rukia's voice resounds and then there she is, in her usual manner. She smiles gently before looking back at Uryuu and Orihime. "Hiya guys!" She calls out and Orihime manages a meek greeting. Uryuu, on the other hand, picks up his hand and then turns away to continue to speak to the teenage girl.
"Yeah…" Ichigo says absently, still looking at the duo's direction. Rukia's cheeks puffed up in annoyance and she huffed. She turned towards Uryuu and Orihime, something akin to anger boiling through her veins. In a quick movement she was clinging onto Ichigo's arm, her eyes downcast.
"What's wrong with them? They just gave me a look that…" Rukia shivers, "Chilled me to the bone!" Ichigo looks over his shoulder at them and says nothing. He walks over to his seat, Rukia Kuchiki still clinging to his arm and pressing herself close to him.
Uryuu tries his hardest not to look, he truly tries his hardest, but his heart is palpitating oddly and it's making him feel uneasy. He turns slightly, eyes hidden from Orihime's view, and looks at the Shinigami. His heart jerks and his mouth goes dry. Rukia is holding Ichigo like some petty love-bird and he does nothing; he doesn't remove her nor pushes her further away. He just leaves her be. Uryuu's eyes fill with unwanted tears and his throat feels raw.
Uryuu gets up, grabs his bag, and rushes out of the classroom.
Ichigo turns around at the sound of a chair scraping and watches as the Last Quincy takes his leave from the classroom. Ichigo wants to go, wants to follow the Quincy to the ends of this world and the next as long as he can explain himself-as long as he can make the Quincy not hate him. That's what he fears the most: the hate. He wants to get up and run after Uryuu, shouting his words of love and apologize but it's too late-much too late.
He, as everyone has before, given up on himself.
Orihime is rushing behind Uryuu, her stride as heavy as her breath. She doesn't know what set off her dear friend, and doesn't know what to do other than follow him to wherever he is going. Uryuu turns once more and ends up in a dead end. The hallway is dim, empty, and full of half-empty lockers. It seems Uryuu has given up and the Quincy simply collapses onto the floor, back against a set of lockers.
"O-Orihime ch-ch" Uryuu stutters and muffles a sob. Orihime kneels before him and wraps her arms around him, allowing him this small opening of weakness. Her next words are tender and seem to bring more sapphire eyes.
"It's okay, Uryuu-kun." Orihime runs her fingers through his raven locks and gives him an innocent, tender peck on the cheek. "Talk when you're ready. I will be here."
"It…all of this started six months ago…" Uryuu starts, and his hand travels into his bag, which he had almost dropped numerous times ever since he had started out the door. Uryuu reveals a thin black notebook, looking ragged; the spine is tattered and the cover looks old. "It all started with this…"
A/N: I am in dire need of a Beta! I need someone who can help proof read, add info and details and most importantly a brainstorming buddy! Comment if u want more info or volunteer! TwT