A/N: So my surgery went fine~ I still have to have a cast on for a week or so though... But I had free time and decided to sit my lazy ass down and post another chapter. Also, this was a short chapter BUT, it was pretty long compared to the "College" Chapters...And I should have the next one done soon, enjoy~
Word count: 3,294

~X~

Ichigo sighed as he stood in the college soccer fields. It had been three days, and no such luck. He had tried so many times to get information on this mysterious "Ryuu" but no one seemed to know anything—or anything they would give up, for a price.

Whap

"Shit, sorry Ichi!" Renji snickered as he crossed the field.

"Fuck! My nose..." Ichigo tipped his head back as he waited for his nose to stop bleeding. "It's not funny!"

Renji clamped his mouth shut as to try and stop his snickering. "Haha, sorry. I really... didn't mean to hit you." The red head said in between pants.

"Yea, well you did!"

"Jeez, jeez." Renji put up his hands to defend himself. "It's not my fault you weren't paying attention."

Ichigo sighed as he wiped his nose with the corner of his sleeve. "I know Renji...Sorry."

The read head patted the orange haired teen on the shoulder, and joined him to sit at the bench. "So...What's been on yer mind?" When his friend just gave him a confused look he rolled his eyes. "Ich, you've never spaced out this much before, and especially not during gym, so your either dyin' or thinking of something along the lines."

"He's right you know."

Both teens turned, jumping in their seets to see their pink haired friend give them a small wave, standing directly behind them.

"Ah!" Renji screamed as he fell off the bench.

Ichigo snorted and soon burst out into a fit of laughter, followed by Szayel's stifled giggling.

"Feel better now?" The pink haired teen asked, as he stole the read heads evacuated spot.

"Hey!"

"Yea," Ichigo smiled as he watched his friend pout from his spot on the ground and glare at Szayel. "Hey, what are you doing skipping class anyways?"

"Isn't it obvious?" He looked around the soccer field they were currently situated in and motioned around. "Hot, half naked guys! Did I mention they're sweating?" He waggled his eyebrows.

They heard Renji growl and Ichigo chuckled.

"And, I came to see my dear friend who's been spacing out all day, and didn't even say hi to me this morning!" He said sharply staring at the orange head.

"Ah...Sorry. Something's...Been on my mind lately." Ichigo looked down as he kicked at the dirt, scratching the back of his head.

Szayel sighed and shifted over so Renji could sit down. "It's about Ryuu isn't it?"

Ichigo's eyes widened, and his mouth gaped open. "Knew it." Szayel smiled, smugly.

"Ryuu? You mean like the stripper Ryuu?" Renji said aloud.

"Shhh!" Ichigo leaned across the bench, clapping a hand over the red-heads mouth. "Don't say it so loud." He looked around to make sure no one was looking, before backing away slowly.

"Sorry." Renji mumbled.

Ichigo sighed, bringing his legs to his chest, resting his chin on his knees. "It's ok..."

"But I was right wasn't I?"

Ichigo looked the other way and blushed. "Y-Yea."

"I knew it!" Szayel threw his hand in the air in triumph. "...Wait, why would you be worried about him?"

Both red heads stared, complimenting their flamboyant friend. They both shared a confused look before Renji spoke up. "That's right we never told him did we?"

Ichigo squinted his eyes before contemplating what his friend was talking about. "Oh. No, we didn't."

"..."

"..."

"WELL!" Szayel shouted as the two just looked on in silence. Honestly, they could be such ditz at times.

"Oh, Ichi here thinks he knew the guy, but he hasn't been able to figure out who he is yet."

"And you decided to wait three days to tell me!" Szayel made a "hmpfed" sound and put his fists on his hips, glaring at the two morons.

Renji looked at Ichigo and they both shrugged. "We forgot?"

Szayel face palmed and shook his head. He swore, he needs to get smarter friends. "Well, have you tried asking around? Maybe other people who you know?"

"Nah, I've tried everyone I can think of..." Ichigo sighed and rested his cheek on his palm.

"Hmmm," Szayel held his chin with his thumb and index finger. "You try Gin?"

"Gin?" Both teens cocked their heads to the side.

Szayel sighed and shook his head. "Yea, you know our science teacher? The one going out with Sosuke Aizen, the owner of Hueco Mundo?" He went on at the dumb found expression on their faces.

"Oh! That's right, he's screwing the owner! You should definitely ask him!" The read head exclaimed as he flashed one of his wide grins, Szayel rolled his eyes.

"Ah, I don't know..."

"Come on Ich, what do you have to lose?"

"My sanity?"

Szayel raised an eyebrow. Renji laughed.

"Don't ask."

~X~

Ishida sighed as he slumped his bag over his shoulder. Shivering, he hugged his arms to his chest and did up the few buttons on his coat. It was cold. But what did he expect? It was his own fault for getting overly drunk the previous night, and having to stay the night at the club. Well, it wasn't all his fault. It was that damn Kurosaki, yes it was his fault. He had to show his face that night of all nights. And he even had the nerve not to remember him!

Ishida scowled and picked up his pace.

"So much for not being gay, ne? Kurosaki..." He mumbled to himself as he walked down the small ally by the club. He could still hear the faint blare of the music and shouts of the many customers coming from inside Hueco Mundo's walls. Ishida frowned as he kicked at a rock on the ground, watching as it bounced slightly and rolled down the side walk.

He couldn't believe the teen hadn't remembered him. It was only four years ago, honestly! How difficult was it to remember someone you went to school all your life with...Were even best friends with...

-Flash Back-

"k-Kurosaki-kun?" Ishida tugged gently on the orange haired teens' shirt to get his attention. He shifted awkwardly at the stares and small smiles directed at him by some of the girls. Blushing he gave another sharp tug on the teens shirt.

"Hold on a sec." Ichigo said irritably to his one friend, Keigo. He turned abruptly to find the cause of annoyance staring up at him, his shirt in the boys hand. "Uryu!" He smiled, looking down to realize it was his best friend. He watched as the already pink face of his friend turned an even darker shade of crimson.

"I told you to call me Ishida, Kurosaki!"

"And I told you to call me Ichigo." He smirked. He watched as the shorter teen let go of his shirt and puffed out his cheeks. Ichigo chuckled at the annoyed glare the boy shot him, but ignored it. "So what do you want?" He offered as his laughter died down. Watching, he frowned as his friend stiffened automatically and scratched at the back of his neck. "Uryu..."

Ishida cleared his throat awkwardly and avoided the teens gaze. "C-Can we talk...?" When his friend gave a short nod he sighed. "Privately?"

This earned him a confused look, but the teen shrugged it off anyways. He waited as Ichigo excused himself from his group of friends, and they walked into one of the schools bathrooms for some more privacy.

Ishida shifted nervously as his friend checked each of the stalls. He sighed. Today was the day that he would tell Ichigo Kurosaki he loved him. Ichigo had never really noticed the bespectacled teen before, even though they pretty much grew up together. Kurosaki's father was a medic, and worked under Ishida's father who happened to own all current hospitals in Japan—mainly Karakura town. Ichigo never paid him any mind, and never really seemed to notice his presence. During middle school, at the age of 10, they were introduced by Ishida's friend Inoue and Ichigo's friend Rukia, becoming best friends ever since.

For five long years, Ishida had been in love with him. Ichigo had never really been popular, always getting beat up for the fact he refused to die his brightly orange coloured hair. Also causing Uryu—the leader of the archers club—to come to his defence. Not that Ichigo couldn't fight, he could. But sometimes there was just more than he could handle. But ever since 10, Ishida had found out his sexual preference had swayed somewhat different than the norm. Ichigo helped him realize that.

Though he never told the teen. How could he? Ichigo had always bragged on at a young age how he loved his dear friend Inoue, and Ishida just couldn't ignore the fact that she too, had admitted to him her long time crush on Kurosaki. But after a while, venting out his frustrated on mindless orgasms, he decided to put an end to it. Today was the day he'd tell him and that was that!

"Ryuu?"

Ishida turned at the nickname the teen had given them when they met and met eye to eye with a smiling Ichigo.

"The costs clear." Ichigo said, closing one of the stalls and stepping closer to his best friend.

Ishida nodded quickly twice and fumbled slightly with his tie.

Ichigo's smile turned into a frown and he watched as his friend stood there shaking. There was sweat forming on the other teens' brow and he was shifting nervously and fumbling with his tie. Ichigo had known the teen long enough to memorize all his nervous habits, and then some. The only thing that was missing was—and there it was. Ishida began to shift his glasses up his sweaty nose as his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. He did that when he was about to confess something very important.

He remembered when they were younger and played hide and go seek in his father's hospital. Ishida told everyone that he really couldn't, sometimes being more accident prone, and didn't want to break anything meaning he's have to deal with his dad. Ichigo couldn't blame him—Ryuuken could be very mean sometimes, and especially to Ishida. Anyways, they – Chad, Tatsuke, Keigo, Orihime, Rukia and himself—had convinced him to play. Which wasn't such a good idea. They ended up breaking a really, really, REALLY – honestly why did his dad buy stuff like that?—expensive vase. Ichigo, seeing his friend go teary-eyed had went to take most of the blame, but Ishida not being able to control his mannerisms, had been found out right away. Ichigo chuckled at the memory.

Looking up he sighed, and stepped closer to his nervous friend and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's alright Ryuu, what's wrong?" He gave him a small smile which calmed his friend slightly.

Ishida gave Ichigo a half smile, and removed the hand from his shoulder, backing up slightly, until the back of his legs touched the sink. He watched the confused expression come across his friends face and let out shaky breath.

"Ichigo?"

Said teen stiffened right away. It had to be important. Ishida never called him by his name, always preferring to stick to formalities, using Kurosaki, unless it was something important. 'This must be really important.' Ichigo concluded in his mind.

"What is it?" Ichigo asked as he too, shifted his position.

"Ichigo...What I have to say...Is really important." Ichigo nodded. "It has to be taken VERRY seriously." Another nod. He watches as Ishida sighed. "Ichigo," He looked up. "I-I'm...In love with you."

"..."

"..."

"W-What?"

"I-I said I—"

"N-No, I heard that..." Ichigo held up a hand to silence the other teen. "It's just...Your joking right? This is just some sort of gag right?" Ichigo mumbled as he paced around the room. " I mean...your straight so you obviously don't like me. And I've seen you flirt with other girls and—"

"KUROSAKI!"

Ichigo flinched and stopped in his tracks. He turned slowly and looked over at his bespectacled friend. His bangs were shielding his eyes, and an intense aura filled the room.

"R-Ryuu...?"

"I told you to be serious."

"But—"

"Be serious Ichigo!"

Said teen flinched and took a step back as brown irises met teary navy ones.

"I-Ishida..."Ichigo bowed his head, eyes being covered up by orange bangs. "You're not joking then?" He asked between clenched teeth. Out from the top of his vision he saw a curt nod come from the teen frozen by the sink. Ichigo's hands balled into fists and he scowled. "That's..."

Ichigo glared at Ishida, as brown irises met blue ones and he screamed. "That's disgusting!"

Ishida gasped as he took a step back. The anger radiating from the orange haired teen shocked him. Ichigo's face was tightened into a scowl and his fists were clenched tightly at his sides.

Ichigo watched in anger as his friend looked to take a step back, but was as far as he could go. Ichigo shook his head to try and clear his thoughts. 'His friend..no best friend was, gay? And...in love with him? Gross! That's not right, it's not supposed to be that way! Boys are meant to be with girls! Not even thinking about being with other boys! That's just wrong' Ichigo looked back up at the teen, a look of disgust on his face. Ishida flinched and took a step forward.

"Ichigo...?"

"Don't call me that!"

Ishida stopped in his tracks and looked carefully at the teen scowling at him. "But, Ichigo why wo—" He tried to say as he took a step forward only to be cut off.

"Don't! Just...Don't come near me!" He watched as Ishida's brows furrowed in confusion and he took another few steps, a little less than arms reach away from him. "I said don't!" Ichigo yelled as his arm moved, effectively punching the bespectacled teen in the jaw. He watched through lidded eyes, as the boy fell backwards landing flat on his ass in front of the sink, holding his jaw in pain.

Ishida touched his cheek gently, only to wince in pain as a few tears escaped him involuntarily. "What the hell Ichigo!" He spat out in pain. His jaw throbbed and he let out a silent grown, as he stood on shaky legs.

"Your gross..."

It was said as a faint whisper, but Ishida still heard it. "What..."

"You..." Ichigo looked him straight in the eyes and scowled. "You...Your disgusting!"Ishida's eyes widened and he flinched, not because of his jaws, but because of the harsh words being literally spat at him by not only his best friend, but the man he loved. "I can't believe you'd do that to me!" Ichigo stopped to shake his head but continued. "Were supposed to be friends! Were not suppose to 'love' each other! Don't you know how wrong it is to love another guy, Ishida." The last word was stretched out meant to come out harsh.

"What..." Ishida licked his lips and drew in a breath. "What do you mean...It's not wrong to like another guy, and seriously Kurosaki, I thought you of all people would take this more calmly." He spoke, his voice not faltering once.

"Yea, well excuse me for not looking up to your standards...and no! It's not right! Being gay is wrong Ishida!"

"No it—"

"It is! And...and, if your gonna be gay, fine! I'm not and never will be and you!...Are no longer my friend!" Ichigo yelled and turned abruptly, he stopped before leaving with his hand on the door, and looked over his shoulder. He only muttered faintly, but Ishida could hear him. "Don't even come near me anymore."

With that Ichigo ran out of the bathroom and down the hall, the door slamming after him. Ishida stood silently in shock as he let the tears flow out. 'Why...' "WHY?" Ishida screamed as his feet gave out and he fell to the floor in silent sobs. "Why..."

-End Flashback-

Ishida scowled as he looked down the alley. Honestly, Ichigo shouldn't of—

"Ish...iii~...da!"

"Ah!" Ishida jumped as a body landed on his back, and small arms wrapped gently around his neck.

"Hahaha~"

"Not funny Kaelyn-chan!" Ishida pouted as he dusted off his pants. Kaelyn let go and slid off him to land gently on the ground. She continued to giggle as she walked around to face the startled teen.

"Scared ya didn't I?" She smiled, leaning to the side.

Ishida's eyebrows furrowed and he scowled as he watched his friend continue to laugh. His only current "true" friend stood before him and his face softened at the sounds of her soft chuckling. She was a pale girl—but not as pale as him— with medium length, dark brown hair. She was only a few inches shorter than him and rather on the slim side. Ishida sighed as his friend calmed down and rolled his eyes.

"You did not scare me." He smiled as he continued to walk down the alley. He chuckled at the startled gasp and heard the echo of feet as she ran to catch up with him.

"Hey! What's the rush Ishi-kun?" She caught up to the paler teen, latching onto his arm, and soon both were walking in sync.

"Nothing...Just something's on my mind."

Kaelyn frowned as she looked over her friend. His smile was slowly fading and he looked to be upset about something. She watched as Ishida sighed and ran a hand through his raven hair. Something was bothering her friend, and she was going to figure it out.

~X~

Ichigo sighed as he leant his face into his hand. He had to go visit that club again, but first he would have to find Hisagi to get him in or—

"Kurosaki-kun~?"

"Huh?" Ichigo snapped out of his daze and looked around. His eyes widened as he looked around the class and noticed everyone had left. He groaned and jumped as a face peered right close to his. "AH!"

Ichigo scowled as he watched the bemused look spread across the science teachers' face. "Ala~ Did I scare you Kurosaki-kun?" The older man teased as he pursed his lips.

"N-no." Ichigo frowned as he started to pick up his books. Sighing, he looked around and groaned, this meant he would have a hell of a hard time finding Shuuhei, and he didn't have soccer today, so he couldn't find him there so...

"Kurosakiii~ Ello? Earth to Strawberry-kun~"

Ichigo could have sworn he felt a vein pop. "Yes, Ichimaru-sensei?"

"Tattoo-kun told me that I could be some use to you~ So if you need to ask anything, just ask~" The older man explained as he walked around to sit at his desk, sipping a cup of tea.

'Tattoo-kun...? Oh, he must be talking about Renji.' Ichigo mentally rolled his eyes. "No, it's fine. I don't need your help." Ichigo shifted his bag over his shoulder and headed for the door.

Gin smiled and set his cup down on his desk. "Are you suuuure~? I do know a thing or two about Ryuu-kun...and his history."

Ichigo's eyes widened and he turned abruptly, staring at the smirking teacher. 'Could he really...Know anything about him...?'

"After all, I am dating his boss~"

'Oh yea.' Ichigo straightened and walked towards the teacher desk. Slamming his hands down in front of the man, he stared blankly into the teachers face. "What do you know about him? I need to know everything!"

"Ohh~ Many, many things. I even know...how he knew you. But, I'll only tell you...For a price~"

Ichigo stared hard into the man's squinted eyes and narrowed his own. Slowly he caved and sat in the chair in front of the man."Fine...Help me."

Gin slowly opened his eyes and smiled at the teen. "Of course."

~X~