I do not own any Bleach characters, cities or the like, Tite Kubo is the owner of that.
I write for my own pleasure and yours if you like it ;b. I do not make any money from this or any other fic. I own.
Also I do not own any music or their bands if I mention them, nor any films, TV stations, television programmes, neither do I own Audi, Apple or any other software/hardware etc.
Rated M for; Violence, sex, nudity, offensive language, Yaoi/Homosexuality, Drinking.
Enjoy it :D x
Resignation.
Ichigo sat uncomfortably under the gaze of Aizen Sousuke. Aizen's hair was slicked back and his eyes were calm, a dangerous, menacing calm.
"So," His cool voice still chilled Ichigo's soul, "You wish to leave us?" Aizen's mahogany eyes pinned Ichigo to his seat.
"I do, I have decided to move to another company." Ichigo had attempted casual, though words seemed to tumble from his mouth like vomit.
"I see," Aizen interlaced his fingers and sighed deeply, "I guess I have no choice but to let you go then." Ichigo's mouth parted slightly in surprise, he was letting him go? "On one condition." Aizen's dark eyes sparkled.
"That is?" Ichigo's heart sank, he knew it would be tricky.
"You disengage yourself from Szayel Aporro Granz." Ichigo's brow furrowed.
"And if I don't?" Ichigo had no intention of representing Granz unless he had to but this made him consider it.
"Nothing of course, it is just advised that you don't..." Aizen trailed off with a wide smirk on his face.
"Fine." Ichigo answered curtly.
"Done, your salary for the work this month will be sent to you immediately, I wish you luck in your future endeavours and stay safe." Aizen stood and smiled in a way that unnerved Ichigo, it seemed too nice, he had always been wary of Aizen but now he was truly terrified.
"And you." Was all Ichigo could come up with, he stood and shook Aizen's hand. His smooth skin was cold and lifeless. Ichigo recoiled mentally and tried to keep a straight face. Aizen smiled at Ichigo's discomfort and released him. Ichigo spun around and left the building, an odd, cold feeling spreading up his arm. That was the first and hopefully the last time he would ever touch Aizen Sousuke.
Gin Ichimaru smiled as he watched Ichigo scurry out of the building.
"Gave him the cold hand did ya' Aizen-sama?" Gin turned and smiled broadly at his friend.
"That I did." Aizen smiled back, "Hopefully it will deter him from contacting Granz."
"Mhm, if he did then we'd have heaps o' trouble on our hands eh?" Gin's smile spread so far across his face it virtually touched either ear. Aizen simply smiled and closed his office door behind him, Gin shrugged and began to file Ichigo's letter of resignation, his crazed smile unfaltering.
"Moshi moshi?" Orihime chimed down the phone.
"Hey Inoue, it's Ichigo, I haven't mailed the invite but could I give you verbal confirmation please? I got a lot to deal wit-"
"Sure, sure, Ichigo you have a horrible habit of calling me at the worst possible times." Inoue whined at him.
"Sorry, I'll go, see you tomorrow." Ichigo sighed.
"Kurosaki-kun, I'm sorry." Inoue's tone changed, realising she had offended him.
"Nah don't worry, 'snothin'." Ichigo brushed it off.
"No Kurosaki-kun I'm sorry, meet me tomorrow at six, I'll make some time for us to chat before I have to make the final preparations." Inoue's voice was pleading, she felt stupidly guilty.
"Sure, the small coffee shop by Orihime-sama's bakery?" Ichigo smiled slightly, feeling bad for the guilt but excitement overwhelmed him, he hadn't seen Inoue for months, easily a year.
"Sure, I love walking past that place, it shows how awesome my food combos are!" Orihime said with a vacantly happy tone, her mind wandering.
"See you tomorrow, six on the dot!" Ichigo laughed, she sounded the same as she did in high school.
"Bye!" Inoue called.
Click.
Ichigo sat in his car outside of Seireitei international and took a deep breath. He slid out of his car and dashed into the tall building, the rain was hammering down. Ichigo shook his head like a playful puppy, sending droplets of water cascading around the brightly lit lobby.
"Welcome back Kurosaki-kun." Nanao called happily from the reception desk.
"Thanks Nanao-senpai." Ichigo smiled broadly, the building itself gave off a warm, welcoming vibe.
"No problem, I'll just inform Kyoraku-Taichou that you're here." Nanao smiled again, holding her hand up to her headset. Ichigo sat on one of the low leather sofas and plucked Urahara Daily from the array of magazines strewn across the glass coffee table. A head to shoulder shot of Urahara Kisuke beamed widely on the cover, a green and white striped hat shadowed his dark eyes and he wore a green suit with a black and green haori over it. Ichigo flipped open the magazine and skimmed through the various stories, business stocks etc. until Ichigo came across an interesting article.
Urahara's marriage plans.
Ichigo smiled at this. Finally he and Yoruichi were getting married, it had only taken eight years...
"Kurosaki-kun!" Shunsui's casual voice called from the reception desk.
"Kyoraku-Taichou?" Ichigo added the honorific experimentally.
"Yare, yare, I said I didn't mind, it's the other 'Higher Ups' that you've gotta be careful around..." Shunsui smiled hopelessly.
"Gomene, I'm just a bit nervous..." Ichigo smiled awkwardly, placing the magazine down and making his way over to the older man.
"Don't be, we're a big, happy family here." Shunsui laughed, "Come on I'll show you your office and then you can meet the rest of the team.
"Sure." Ichigo nodded and followed Shunsui into the onyx black elevator. The interior consisted of mirrored panels and a single gold bar at waist height. It reminded Ichigo of the ballerina studio where Yuzu took lessons in when she was eight.
"So what made you take up our offer?" Shunsui shot a sideways glance at Ichigo before the sleek black doors slid to a close in front of them.
"I hated working for Aizen Sousuke for one." Ichigo admitted casually, "Secondly, I needed the money, I'm beginning to run out." Ichigo laughed bashfully, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Ah I see, Aizen used to be a part of Seireitei international, he never liked us..." Shunsui trailed off, disappointment colouring his voice.
"I see," Ichigo muttered quietly.
"Anyway!" Shunsui clapped his hands together, "Your office is on the fourteenth floor, work hard and you'll get promoted to the lower levels." Shunsui beamed.
"Lower levels?" Ichigo was confused, lower usually meant well...lower.
"We work in reverse here at Seireitei international, Sanbancho heads floor one, the supreme court cases and so on." Shunsui explained as the elevator flashed floor twelve, "Though floors two to thirteen aren't any worse or any better than the other it just depends where you want to specialise, if you do that is." Shunsui continued.
"How many floors are there?" Ichigo asked fascinated.
"Twenty-six in total, floors fourteen to twenty-five are the 'training' floors, where interns and law students come to sit in chambers." The elevator reached floor fourteen as Shunsui paused. They stepped out of the elevator together.
Floor fourteen was neat and tidy, a royal blue carpet lines the halls and the walls were a simple white. A blonde woman sat at the desk to Ichigo's right and smiled affectionately at Shunsui, Ichigo wasn't even looked at. Ichigo smiled at this, obviously this guy had his way with the ladies.
"This way." Shunsui beckoned with his right hand.
"Sorry." Ichigo shook his head and followed him.
"Your office is number fifteen," Shunsui shot a sly look at Ichigo, "It suits you."
"Ah I see." Ichigo laughed softly, used to this joke.
"Sorry," Shunsui shook his head and turned right, all of the offices had glass walls, an open office indeed. "This is your office." Shunsui gestured with his hand to the room to his left. Ichigo looked in to see a silver desk and a leather office chair, a computer, printer, filing cabinet and a small bonsai tree on his wooden desk.
"Nice..." Ichigo smiled, all he had been given at Espada inc. was a small desk and a rusty filing cabinet.
"That it is." Shunsui smiled and placed a dual set of keys in Ichigo's hand.
"Do I get to meet the other Taichou?" Ichigo asked, a slight buzz running through his system.
"Sure, the building closes down at six," Shunsui glanced at his watch, "Well, most of the staff here will be on lunch now, how about we grab something?" Shunsui smiled invitingly.
"Sure, I'd love to." Ichigo returned the smile.
"I've just got to persuade Nanao-chan to come with us and we're set." Shunsui chimed, turning back towards the elevator. Ichigo followed, a slight skip to his step. He was getting paid stupidly high amounts of money, doing a job he loved, with a nice, open office. What could go wrong?
Ichigo sighed as he threw his chopsticks down on the counter, Shunsui had taken him to a sushi bar not too far from the office, it was decorated like a traditional tea room. Paper screens divided the private booths, these had traditional tea tables, tea cups , tea pots and cushions. Ichigo had initially declined the offer for Shunsui to pay for his food until Shunsui had persuaded him otherwise.
"What did I tell you?" Shunsui smiled, placing his chopsticks down on his plate.
"I confess, those were the best California rolls I've ever tasted." Ichigo admitted with a contented sigh.
"Shunsui thinks through two main organs of his body," Nanao teased.
"Oh?" Shunsui cocked a lazy eyebrow at his subordinate.
"Indeed," Nanao adjusted her glasses with a smirk, "Your stomach and your penis!"
Ichigo burst out laughing, what a thing to say.
"Nanao-chan are you drunk?" Shunsui smiled lazily.
"Of course not! Who do you think I am?" Nanao smiled again, "You?" She added.
Shunsui blushed, "That was once." He defended himself calmly.
"Pfft, once every few days more like." Nanao stuck her tongue out playfully.
Ichigo saw a huge change come over Nanao's composition, she was a prompt, formal woman before.
Nanao noticed Ichigo's analysing eyes, "I'm off duty," She sighed happily, "I put on a façade, a stern, cold woman to keep my focus in work and it makes for a better lawyer in the long run." Nanao explained carefully.
"Right," Ichigo nodded, filling it away mentally. This woman could be dangerous if he got on the wrong side of her. "So how did you two get into law?" Ichigo asked, sipping a small bottle of lemonade.
"I wanted to become a lawyer ever since I was young, my mentor is with Vizored law firm," Nanao smiled from the nostalgia, "She used to read to me as I was orphaned at a young age." Nanao smiled grimly at this, "She went off to study law and I was left alone again, I became a lawyer because I wanted to make her proud." Nanao's smile faded, her eyes sorrowful.
"What happened to your mentor?"
"She stopped talking to me the moment I graduated university..." Nanao's eyes were a deep violet, sorrow welled inside of them like a tide of unshed tears.
"My Nanao-chan, come here." Shunsui began to pull her into an embrace but her hand whipped round like a rearing snake head to slap him clean across the face.
"I am not. Your. Anything!" She hissed, her face taking on the blush of anger, replacing the sorrow.
Ichigo couldn't help but smile at Shunsui's tactics, he made her angry to make her forget her sorrow, not a safe replacement, Shunsui's right cheek had turned a startling shade of burgundy, but by the looks a familiar one.
"Itai..." Shunsui grumbled, a comically sad pout spread across his stubbly face.
"Well," Ichigo ventured cautiously, not wanting Nanao's anger directed at him, "I'd like to meet the other 'Taichou' if we're all finished with lunch?" Ichigo smiled brightly.
"Of course," Shunsui chimed, "Come on Nanao-chan!"
"Hai, Taichou." Nanao glared, not over the fact Shunsui had insinuated he owned her.
Ichigo smiled at their closeness, they obviously had something going on, or some kind of a History. A pang of loneliness clutched at Ichigo's heart, he shook himself and convinced himself it was simply heartburn.
"See what I have to deal with?" Shunsui nudged Ichigo in the ribs as Nanao took her seat at reception, her face expressionless.
"She doesn't seem that bad." Ichigo lied, he found her terrifying.
"Don't lie, I can see the apprehension in your eyes." Shunsui laughed, he did it often, a habit Ichigo found endearing.
"You got me, she's damn scary." Ichigo began to chuckle, it was infectious.
"We're going to meet my good friend Ukitake Juushiro first," Shunsui motioned towards the elevator.
"Sure," Ichigo nodded, his stomach filled with a slight tension, Shunsui had been lovely but Ichigo knew nothing about any other lawyers here.
"Don't look so nervous." Shunsui drawled, a knowing smile lighting his rugged face.
Ichigo returned the smile meekly, embarrassed that he was so transparent.
Shunsui simply shook his head and pressed the up button on the elevator and waited.
Orihime sat with a discontented look on her face.
"Orhime..." Tatsuki sighed hopelessly, "Ichigo's gunna find out eventually, just tell him tomorrow yeah?"
"No." Orihime's grey eyes were defiant, her lips pursed.
"Orihime..." Tatsuki moaned, her head falling into her palms. Tatsuki had been at it for hours, trying to bribe, blackmail, threaten her dear friend but nothing would sink in. Orihime had been dating him for over a month now and Tatsuki was the only one who knew, she hated it.
"He's not a bad guy Orihime, Ichigo's gunna understand, he had his shot and blew it." Tatsuki smiled sympathetically, "If he doesn't then he isn't a real friend." Tatsuki finished kindly, trying to at least.
"Kurosaki-kun isn't a bad person..." Orihime mumbled stubbornly. She had loved Ichigo since they were in high school and still did. He had broken her heart.
"Ichigo!" Orihime smiled broadly, her eyes had located him from across the corridor.
"Orihime..." Ichigo smiled falsely, his eyes not shining the way they usually did. Orihime hurried to him, afraid something had happened.
"Ichigo? What's wrong?" Orihime's brow furrowed in concern.
"Look, we've got to talk." Orihime knew those words well, they were never positive, they never led anywhere but into despair.
"No..." Orihime's eyes welled up within a second, "You can't..." A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"I'm sorry," Ichigo's eyes had welled up too, "I don't love you, not like I did, not in the same way you love me." Ichigo's tears broke the barrier of his eyelids.
"No." Orihime repeated, her mind screaming for her to say something more, to beg him to see how much this hurt her. It felt like a knife had been slipped between her ribs and twisted, hard.
"I wish I could love you Orihime, I do, I want to..." Ichigo trailed off, he wrapped his arms around her and held her to him. Orihime's eyes were blank, listless, devoid of any emotion, her tears flowed freely from her eyes, soaking Ichigo's t-shirt.
"I'm s-sorry!" Ichigo bawled, pulling her closer to him.
People had begun to stop, stare, whisper.
"Get a room you pieces of shit." A barking laugh echoed from the crowd.
Ichigo's eyes snapped up, he knew that voice.
"Fuck. You." Ichigo snarled, he pushed Orihime behind him as a cyan haired individual shoved a small, dark haired girl out of the way to break the crowd, he was followed closely by a small gang.
"Oh did I get on Berry-tan's nerves?" Grimmjow Jaegerjaues snarled tauntingly. His dishevelled hair jostled as he came to a halt, his aqua eyes glowed with malice. He was dressed in dark, baggy jeans with a chain attached to them and he wore a leather black jacket and a white top underneath. His eyes were painted green against his bottom lid as always, giving him a feline edge to his appearance.
"I dare you to say that again." Ichigo's chocolate eyes blazed.
"Kurosaki-kun..." Orihime whimpered, this sent Ichigo's pulse racing, he turned to see a frightened young girl. Her slate eyes wavering with unshed tears, her bottom lip quivering.
"Orihime..." Ichigo breathed, only just becoming aware of how much damage he had truly done to her.
"Keep your eyes on me!" Grimmjow snarled, Ichigo turned, his nose colliding with Grimmjow's fist. Blood spurted across the floor and down Ichigo's face as his nose broke with a crunch. Ichigo faltered, stumbling backwards. Ichigo's gaze rested upon Grimmjow's crazed smile, his teeth were bared, his eyes bulging in excitement. Ichigo knew that if he retaliated he was giving Grimmjow the satisfaction but he didn't care. Ichigo was so angry, upset, guilty, ashamed. So many emotions whirled around in his head that he just didn't care any more.
"TEME!" Ichigo roared, launching himself at Grimmjow, his fist collided with Grimmjow's lower abdomen. A snarl erupted from Grimmjow's lips as he fought to regain dominance in the fight.
Orihime watched this with a vacant expression, Ichigo didn't even ignore Grimmjow's taunts to cheer her up like he usually did. Ichigo didn't have the same look in his eyes any more, something had changed.
Ichigo had Grimmjow pinned his knees digging furiously into the crooks of Grimmjow's elbows. He relentlessly pounded at Grimmjow's face, his nose was broken and Ichigo was sure he had at least fractured his right cheek.
"Is-that-all-you-got-Berry-tan?" Grimmjow taunted between blows. Grimmjow hitched up his knees and with great strength lifted himself and Ichigo upwards, gaining leeway to push with his arms, prying himself upwards and unbalancing Ichigo. Ichigo baulked at this and fell backwards. He landed square on his back and was winded, he gasped for breath, his eyes rolling in their sockets. Ichigo's gaze finally rested on Orihime's immobile form. She was terrified, not of him but for him.
Grimmjow's foot collided with his ribs at that second, sending tiny droplets of blood flying from Ichigo's gaping mouth.
"STOP IT!" Orihime screamed. "STOP IT!" She launched herself in front of Ichigo, shielding him from another kick that landed squarely on her left hip. She screamed in pain as the blow landed.
"Ori...hi...me..." Ichigo breathed before he passed out.
"Why do you do this to yourself Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime cried, "Why?" Orihime glowered at everyone around her, faces she recognised. Asano Keigo, Arisawa Tatsuki, Sado Yasutora, all were stunned.
"Woman." Grimmjow snarled, "I don't like hurting your gender but I will if you won't get the fuck off of my prey." His voice was full of venom.
"Do what ever you want, I won't let Kurosaki-kun get hurt any more." Orihime's voice was sharp and surprisingly strong. "I will never let Kurosaki-kun get hurt again." Orihime's voice was cold.
"Fine bitch." Grimmjow snarled ferociously.
"Stop right there." Baraggan Louisenbairn's voice boomed from the stairs at the end of the corridor, Yamada Hanatarou close on his heels. Orihime stood and looked at the headmaster, her face set in a grim line. Grimmjow simply sighed, his face set in an annoyed snarl.
"Grimmjow started a fight with Kurosaki-kun, I stepped in too late." Orihime explained carefully, trying to keep her voice level, adrenaline and pain swept through her emotions.
"Jaegerjaques, my office, now." Baraggan growled.
"Hai." Grimmjow replied lazily, walking over to the headmaster, his hands in his pockets, an arrogant look plastered on his face, which had begun to swell and split where bones had broken.
The ambulance had arrived soon after, taking Ichigo away. Orihime had gone with him in the ambulance and had stayed until Ichigo's dad arrived, she paid her condolences and left. She arrived home and paused in the doorway. She dropped her bag and collapsed to her knees. She finally let her emotions catch up with her, sorrow, grief, loss all tore at what felt like a gaping hole in her chest. She cried until her throat was sore and her tears had run out. She crawled into her bedroom, slid under the covers and spent the night tossing and turning, unsure of how she was going to cope.
"Orihime are you listening?" Tatsuki waved her hand in front of Orihime's face, "I asked if you were actually going to take him to the opening?" Tatsuki was concerned for her friend, she knew that look that had come over her. It was the look she got every time she remembered that Godawful day. The day her world crashed around her and broke into a thousand tiny splinters.
"I'll tell him, just not while we're on our own, I'll show and tell, at the club." Orihime tried to fake a smile, negating the painful memories.
"Thank you so much it's nice to meet you!" Ichigo called, waving goodbye to Shunsui as he slid into his car. The other 'Taichou' seemed fairly pleasant but that Sui Feng was a demon.
"Cross my path while I'm on a case and I will plough you into the dirt."
That was the only thing she had said to him, her 'Fukutaichou' Omaeda was far kinder, talking to Ichigo with interest. Ichigo started his car and drove off down the busy road that led through the centre of Karakura City. It was rush hour, five seventeen and stuck in traffic, all Ichigo wanted. Ichigo turned on the stereo and cranked it up to 78 on the sound system. He slotted in Rise Against – The Sufferer And The Witness and Chamber The Cartridge came on. Good, raging music to help keep Ichigo's buzz alive. Ichigo was home by six twenty on the dot and got dressed into his pyjamas, a pair of jogging trousers. He slouched down on the sofa with a can of beer. One won't hurt. He flicked on his DVD player, The Hangover was already in the machine so Ichigo pressed play and lost himself for almost two hours, after that e set about cleaning his kitchen and bathroom, jobs to be done while in a good mood. He scrubbed everything clean and as he came out of the bathroom working a crick out of his neck he noticed the answer machine by his phone was flashing.
"Kurosaki-kun, are we still on for tomorrow? It's Orihime by the way." Ichigo laughed at this as the machine asked if he wanted to replay the message. Typical Orihime, he picked up the cordless phone and sat on the sofa, dialling her number.
"Moshi moshi?" Orihime's voice sounded stressed.
"It's just me, Ichigo, confirming that we're still on for tomorrow." Ichigo smiled, she always sounded cuter when she was stressed.
"Awesome!" She cried, "Thanks for calling me back, see you tomorrow then?" Orihime sounded as if she were smiling, her tone had become more upbeat and positive.
"Sure will, bye!" Ichigo hung up, feeling relieved that he was going to see her. Ichigo missed Orihime but not in a, wishing they were still together, way. It was only eight o'clock but Ichigo was tired, meeting new people and sorting out his office was hard work. Ichigo padded into his bedroom and flopped onto the bed with a contented sigh. Soon he was asleep, darkness folding around him like a welcome embrace, things were beginning to pick back up.
Szayel Aporro Granz sat in the police station, they had kept him here since around eight that morning.
"Mr. Granz, thank you for your time," A female police officer on the other side of the desk began to speak, "We will phone you if we have any news."
"Thanks..." Szayel nodded, he stood and exited the room, heading towards the door.
"Szayel!" Harribel Tier called from her desk.
"Harribel-san!" The corners of Szayel's mouth perked up slightly, "Nice to see you again."
"It is, I'm so sorry about Nnoitra, he was a douche at times but he really did care for you..." Harribel rested her hand of his shoulder.
"I know..." Szayel smiled meekly.
"Don't get too down about it, how about you come out with me tomorrow? That new club is opening in town."
"That sounds good." Szayel nodded slowly, he needed to have a good drink to drown his sorrows.
"Good, I'll meet you there at eight." Harribel smiled, "Cheer up." She hugged him briefly before hurrying back to her desk.
Szayel smiled and turned on his heel and strode out of the police office. He had survived the journey to the police station, surely he could survive the journey back. Szayel left with a spring in his step as he traversed the dark streets of Karakura back to his apartment, unaware of the tall, broad stranger shadowing his every step.
A.N - Hope you enjoy it so far, sorry for the amount of time it took for me to update, laptop malfunctions followed by writer's block! I know I promised pairings in this chap but I changed my mind sorry, had to set the scene a bit more, there will be a pairing or two in the next but nothing super, sorry the story will unfold onto a good, solid pairing soon. - Esuta ~^-^
