Karakura Days and Nights
by Ulquiorra9000
Chapter 2: Housewarming... and cake
Just as Ichigo feared, Mr. Kurotsuchi's detention bored him senseless: sorting the professor's endless stockpiled paperwork by date, type, category, all kinds of things. Mr. Kurotsuchi's office was famous for its overflow of paper and folders, but Ichigo didn't dare taunt him. He just sulkily did the work for an hour and a half after class until the biology teacher finally let him go.
By now, gold-orange afternoon light poured through the school's windows as Ichigo stepped out of the packed office. He groaned to himself and ruffled his shocking orange hair, then reached into his pocket to send Rukia a quick text message.
"Jeez, finally!"
Ichigo jumped as Grimmjow rounded the corner, a relieved grin on the senior's face. Grimmjow joined Ichigo as they sauntered down the hall, hands in pockets, his uniform once again untidy.
"What, were you waiting for me the whole time?" Ichigo asked, frowning.
Grimmjow shrugged. "Well, not exactly. I didn't wanna get caught, so I hid in various closets to avoid the teachers. Easy."
"Didn't need a bathroom break?"
"Luckily, no. Man, the janitor's closet smells funny..."
"Yeah, didn't need to know that." Ichigo strode into the open front grounds with Grimmjow, drawing out his cell phone again. "What did you want, anyway?"
Grimmjow's face lit up. "I was hopin' that you'd introduce me to that Halibel girl today. Think there's a housewarming party going on?"
"Knowing my dad, there'll definitely be one. He probably had Yuzu bake a cake and all." Ichigo scrolled through his list of contacts.
"Well, that's perfect, man," Grimmjow said brightly as they exited the grounds. Clouds gathered along the north horizon while the sun glowed to the west. He clapped his hands together. "Everyone's together in one big party. Mr. Tier will have to open up for that, right?"
"We'll... see." Ichigo typed a message into his phone.
Grimmjow craned his neck to peek. "Don't tell me you already got Halibel's cell phone number?"
"Huh? No. I'm askin' Rukia to borrow here biology notes. I'm already so far behind," Ichigo complained.
Grimmjow laughed. "You gonna flunk out?"
"Don't be stupid. I'm okay in algebra and Japanese history. It's just biology that's killing me. Mr. Kurotsuchi is impossible to listen to." Ichigo finished his text.
"I feel you. I had him last year. At least this year I've got Mr. Komamura for chemistry. Nice and easy. He lets everything slide."
"Lucky you." Ichigo watched his phone until he got Rukia's response: Fine, Strawberry. I'll give you what I've got, but you should pay better attention. Honestly... There was also a frowny-face emoji.
Ichigo held back a chuckle as he typed back: Can't you come up with a better nickname for me? Anyway, I think my dad's going to set up a housewarming party for the Tiers. Want to come? After all, Rukia and her big brother Byakuya lived just down the street.
All right. I'll wear something nice and bring the biology notes. I hope you make a better impression on the Tiers than you have made on Mr. Kurotsuchi.
You're telling ME, Ichigo texted back. He pocketed the phone and turned to Grimmjow. "Might as well come to my place until we get this figured out."
Grimmjow grinned broadly. "I owe ya."
*o*o*o*o*
Yuzu really had baked a cake, a large, lemon-flavored one with white icing and the message "WELCOME!" in red. Just after 5:00, Isshin escorted his daughters, Ichigo, and Grimmjow to the Tiers, and a few minutes later, Rukia joined them too, dressed in a charming blue sun dress and wide-brimmed hat. And the promised biology notes tucked under her arm.
Ichigo sat in a corner in the Tiers' living room on an ottoman after everyone had slices of Yuzu's excellent cake, waiting for his chance. Isshin made sure to rope Mr. and Mrs. Tier into a lively chat about the neighborhood and its fascinating features, while Rukia sat politely and listened, and Karin looked just as bored as Ichigo felt. Already, Halibel had meekly introduced herself to Grimmjow, Ichigo, and Rukia, but didn't have a chance to say much else. Her father had that effect, it seemed.
All the while, Halibel sat on one end of the couch next to her equally-blonde mom, giving Ichigo and Grimmjow shy but polite smiles. She had on the same white blouse as yesterday, and form-fitting jeans that went down to her knees. She was barefoot.
Ichigo thumped an impatient hand on the side of his ottoman. He'd have to make his chance. "Hey, dad," he piped up, overriding Isshin's ridiculous golfer joke (which the Tiers didn't seem to like anyway).
Isshin craned his neck past everyone else. "Yeah?"
"It's so nice out. Why don't you guys take this to the back yard, and we'll get cold drinks together?" Ichigo invented.
Isshin slapped a hand to his thigh. "Got a point there, son," he said brightly. He stood and motioned to Mr. and Mrs. Tier. "What d'you folks say?"
"I suppose, yes," Mr. Tier said flatly, pushing his glasses up his nose and getting smoothly to his feet. He wore a dark green vest over his dress shirt today, and dark slacks and house slippers. He offered a hand to help his wife up, and the three of them slid open the back door and stepped into the late afternoon sunlight.
"Sorry about my dad," Halibel said, hands clasped on her lap. "He's a department manager at his company, and the stress gets to him."
"It's okay," Ichigo said bracingly. He glanced at Grimmjow. "Hey, um... I don't want to be forward, Halibel, but could we see what your room's like? I bet it's nice in there."
Halibel beamed. "Oh, I don't mind! Not everything's unpacked, though. Come on." She rose and led Ichigo and Grimmjow through a short hallway to a closed door, while Rukia, Karin, and Yuzu checked out the other rooms at Ichigo's suggestion.
Ichigo's first impression was the rustic scent of a large guinea pig, whose wire cage sat on a large desk along the far wall. The scent of its fur, bedding and food definitely made this place feel more like a home than Mr. Tier's icy glares dad. Halibel had also put up a rack over her window to hold up her light purple curtains, and she had a queen-size bed along the north wall. A poster diagram of sea creatures was taped on the wall above the bed's headboard.
"Nice place you've got," Grimmjow said with a quick smile.
"Most of my stuff's still packed, though," Halibel admitted with an abashed return smile. She knelt by a stack of taped-shut cardboard boxes. "My books, most of my clothes, stuff from vacations, all still in here. I'll be more relaxed with them all out and on my shelves. I like my creature comforts."
Grimmjow went pink. "Can't argue with that. You oughta see my room. All kinds of stuff. My mom calls it a 'disaster'. I call it free expression."
Halibel giggled behind her hand. "You're so funny." She led the boys over to the guinea pig's cage. "Though I did make sure to get my little pet set up right away. I'd feel bad if she weren't!"
"Nice." Ichigo leaned over a bit to get a closer look. The plump guinea pig, which had short white fur and black paws, romped all over the cage, curiously approaching Ichigo and sniffing madly. It chirped and scampered to the far end.
"Her name's Appaci," Halibel explained. "I just got her last year. Dad finally let me have another pet."
"What was the old pet? I don't see it anywhere," Grimmjow said, giving the room a quick look.
"They're already gone," Halibel said, clearly embarassed. She fidgeted. "I had a few fish in a big tank a few years back, but when the table the tank sat on had a leg come loose, the whole thing crashed down and soaked the carpet. The poor fish all died! So now, after more pleading than I'd care to admit, dad let me get a dry pet. So here's Appaci."
"Well, she's a cutie, all right," Grimmjow said brightly, also leaning over to look. The energetic guinea pig scampered around, then raced up a little ramp and perched on a plastic platform. Her small, beady eyes glared back at the two teenagers.
"Oh, Ichigo. You live next door, don't you?" Halibel piped up with a small smile. "Does that mean I'll see you around?"
"Well... sure. You're welcome to visit the Kurosaki family clinic if you like," Ichigo offered. Then, seeing the hopeful look on Grimmjow's face, clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Grimmjow, too. He's been kinda... lonely lately, you see. He's a great guy. Don't be fooled by his bad dressing habits."
Halibel giggled again as Grimmjow went a deeper shade of pink. He cleared his throat and ran his hands through his gelled blue hair, hands on his hips. "Hey, I'm a good student and loyal man. You can count on me."
"Well, he's some kind of student," Ichigo said, unable to resist. He sniffed and noticed how strong Grimmjow's cologne was today.
"Don't worry 'bout what he says," Grimmjow said hastily. "He's just messing with you. So, um... where's your bathroom?"
Halibel pointed. "Second door on the left."
Ichigo waited until Grimmjow shut the door behind him before speaking up again. "So... you like ocean stuff?" he asked awkwardly, pointing at the poster.
"Oh. Yes!" Halibel stepped up to it and pointed out different features on it. "I'm thinking of going into marine biology. Maybe at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. Dad's looking into colleges for me. But I'm not going to worry about it too much about it until next year."
"Oh. So, you'll move away again?"
Halibel smiled meekly. "I'm afraid so. It's a shame, because Karakura town looks nicer than the other places my parents considered."
"Where're you from originally?"
"Yokohama."
"Right." Ichigo tried to look nonchalant, but there was a funny look in Halibel's eyes as she approached him again.
"And that Rukia Kuchiki girl. Is she a friend of yours, too?" Halibel asked smoothly.
"Well, uh..." Ichigo tried not to go pink. "We hang out and we're study partners, but I dunno where our relationship is, really. She's been to my house a few times, though I haven't been to hers. Byakyua doesn't like a lot of traffic."
"Mmmm-hmmmm." Halibel smiled coyly and traced a finger down Ichigo's chest. "You're so modest. Kind of cute." Her smile broadened.
Oh, crap! Ichigo hastily glanced at the door as though expecting a furious Grimmjow to storm in. Maybe he was gathering his nerves in the bathroom, giving himself a pep talk in front of the mirror?
"Eh, I'm just a guy," Ichigo said with a shrug, unsure how to handle this. He felt his heart race. Come on, play it cool. There's gotta be some way to -
There was a knock at the door.
Halibel jumped. "Hello?"
Keito Tier's rigid voice leaked through the door. "Halibel? May I come in?"
"Sure, dad." Halibel steered Ichigo into the open closet with an apologetic look on her face. "Just stay here 'till I get rid of him. Sorry about this."
Ichigo didn't say a word as Halibel gently snapped the closet doors shut on him.
Through the closet doors, Ichigo heard Keito step inside. "Well, Halibel, dear, the party's winding down," he said. "Though Mr. Kurosaki seems determined to keep the 'festivities' going all night. He's an... odd one, that man."
"Oh, he seems nice to me," Halibel said casually.
"I... see."
Even from the dark, box-filled closet, Ichigo could hear Keito's chilly disdain. Was he separated from Ryuken Ishida at birth? Heck, throw in Byakuya and Mr. Tosen in there, too. Mr. Tosen taught sophomore English.
"Anyway," Keito said, clearing his throat, "please say good-bye to our guests. Our cookware's still mostly still packed, so your mother and I decided to take you to a nice restaurant downtown like yesterday. How does that sound?"
"Thank you, dad. Just give me a minute, okay?"
"Very well. Please be ready to go in ten minutes." Then, Ichigo heard Keito's footsteps leave the room, and the door shut again.
Ichigo stepped out of the closet. "Close one, huh?"
Halibel shrugged. "I'm sorry. But my parents don't like me having boys over. Not yet, anyway. My dad already has an iffy impression of your family. I can't make it worse."
"Noted. Well, uh..." Ichigo glanced at the door. "I'll see you around, I guess. You know where to find me."
Halibel smiled again. "I'll remember that, Ichigo." She patted his shoulder and escorted him down the hall, and Ichigo knocked on the bathroom door to collect Grimmjow.
"I was just... whatever," Grimmjow blurted as he stepped out, hands hastily tucked into his pockets. "What's going on?"
"Party's wrapping up. We're all going home," Ichigo explained.
"Oh." Grimmjow turned to Halibel and put on his most polite face. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Halibel. I'm sure we'll get along great. You seem like a great girl."
"Thank you." Halibel led the boys back to the living room, and after a few more good-byes among everyone, Rukia headed off for her house while Grimmjow followed the Kurosakis across their front lawn. Ichigo drifted a few steps back with Grimmjow.
"So, d'you think she likes me?" Grimmjow quietly, but urgently, asked Ichigo. "I didn't have time to get back and talk some more..."
Ichigo felt his gut squirm as he recalled Halibel's advance. What to say? He hesitated, then admitted, "she likes us both, man. Definitely friends. Plus Rukia. Halibel got a good impression of her. I think."
Grimmjow looked crestfallen. "Just friends? Did she say that?"
"Well... more or less." Ichigo winced. "But hey. I don't think all is lost yet. Give it time."
Grimmjow swallowed. "Okay, sure. Later." He sauntered off across the street, headed for his own house a few blocks down.
A street sweeper truck ambled by as Karin met her big brother's gaze. "What're you muttering over there?" she asked with a teasing grin.
Ichigo hurried to put on his usual scowl. "Nothin'."
"Yeah, sure."
"Now, Karin," Isshin said sagely. "A man's business is his own. Manly silence is the way; it's the height of coolness. Confucius said that."
Karin gently kicked her father's shin. "No, he didn't."
Yuzu giggled.
"He might as well have!" Isshin said indignantly, unlocking the front door and leading the family inside. This earned him another kick, and Isshin bristled as though to make an outburst until Yuzu calmed him.
Ichigo made his way up the stairs, snorting to himself. I'm glad neither Rukia nor Halibel were around for that.