Wow… thank you so much for your support everyone. *hugs* So now the pressure is on to keep writing this in a way that you all like…
Eeep!
"Ishida. I-shi-da!"
Uryu wasn't a heavy sleeper and he woke as soon as the hushed voice spoke his name. He frowned. That reiatsu. How the hell had she gotten into his apartment? And why hadn't he sensed her the moment she entered? Not like him at all, though perhaps he shouldn't be surprised by the lapse in his abilities judging by how heavy his head felt. Good god, everything hurt.
"Ishida!" the voice was more urgent.
Uryu groaned, but at least her wake up call seemed gentle enough. He blinked. The room was still dark though so he couldn't have been asleep for very long. Probably explained why he felt half dead.
Rukia suddenly kicked him in the ribs. "Oi, Ishida, wake up!"
Uryu instinctively curled his body up on the futon. Ow. Not gentle at all. He moaned as he grabbed his side. "Kuchiki-san, what was that for? I heard you the first time."
"Then get up."
"I am getting up. Just give me a minute."
Uryu was not on friendly terms with mornings. Particularly cold mornings when he could feel the damp chill of his apartment seeping through the fraying bedcovers. Definitely not right for this time of year. Awkwardly he felt across the tatami flooring for his glasses with arms that his sleeping brain couldn't seem to coordinate yet.
The darkened room came into focus. Rukia's shape stood beside the futon, hands on hips and her sandaled foot tapping against the floor. It was too dark to see the expression on her face, but Uryu had a feeling she was staring at him with the disapproving frown she normally reserved for Ichigo.
"You Shinigami are so impatient," he muttered, pushing his hair behind his ears and rubbing his eyes.
Today would be full of painkillers. He recognised this headache; the type that latched onto the side of his head where it would set up a cosy home for the next twenty-four hours at least. And no doubt energy drinks from the store would be required too unless he wanted to fall asleep in class.
And I need to keep an eye on Kurosaki.
Why was this happening to him? This week of all weeks…
He heard Rukia moving across the room and then there was the click of a switch. Uryu groaned as light bled through his still half-asleep eyes. Grabbing the bedcovers, he pulled them over his throbbing head. "What do you want?"
Rukia gasped. "Is this really where you live? It's so cute! You have little frilly curtains! And dresses? Lots of dresses! And frills and pleats and ribbons! Ah…" Uryu could feel her sly look even without seeing it, just as he'd felt that disapproving frown a moment before. "Ishida, these dresses…"
"I sell them! How do you think I afford to eat?"
"And cute little knitted bunnies on the bookcase! Bunnies! And strawberry-patterned aprons!"
"I sell them too. And the rabbits. If you want one, they're five hundred yen each. Aprons are two thousand."
"Ah, there's mould on the walls, Ishida. You need to sell some more dresses so you can afford a better place."
Beneath the darkness of the bedcovers, Uryu massaged his temple. "How do you even know where I live?"
"Soul Society knows where you live."
Uryu peeped his head out of the comforting gloom, squinting in the artificial light. "Why am I not surprised?"
"You're a Quincy. Of course we monitor you. Don't take it personally. It's just surveillance. Not as if we're planning to assassinate you. Yet." Her eyes sparkled as she leaned forward. Uryu could feel her begging for him to react.
"Oh that's nice," he muttered. Just try it, Shinigami. He'd considered setting traps for them about the building before. Maybe it was time to give that some serious thought. He wasn't naive (or trustful) enough to believe they'd continue to overlook him for the rest of his life.
Sitting up, he rearranged the bedcovers carefully, making sure that Rukia couldn't see his pyjamas (because it would feel weird for any girl to see him in his pyjamas). It was awkward enough that she was standing next to his bed. "Now why are you here?"
Rukia looked deflated by his response. "You're so calm it's boring. Do you have tea? You're supposed to make tea for guests."
"Shinigami don't class as guests. Consider yourself lucky that I haven't shot you."
"What kind of attitude is that?"
"You're here about Kurosaki aren't you?"
Rukia sat heavily on the edge of the futon as she folded her arms. Uryu clasped the covers tightly. A girl. On his bed. Did she have no shame at all? He cleared his throat as he looked to the side of Rukia.
"I've just spoken with Ichigo and Sado," she said. "And… What's wrong with you? You're not as pale as normal."
"Eh?"
"Ah, are you blushing? Ooooo?" She leaned close. "Amazing. I've never seen you blush before, though it's not very noticeable. You look so unhappy and serious all the time that I didn't know you had emotions like this." She grinned, bringing her face close to his. "Boys really are funny when they first wake up in the morning."
I don't even know you that well. Why are you teasing me?
And if he said anything it would only encourage her. He leaned his head into his hand. "You've just spoken with Ichigo and Sado-kun and…?" he prompted.
Rukia sat back on the tatami. "And before that I spoke with Urahara. Soul Society doesn't usually intervene with vampires, but since it's Ichigo and a request from Urahara, I've been sent as a liaison."
"I thought you were a Lieutenant now?" So isn't this stuff a bit menial for you? Probably better not to say that last part aloud.
"Yes." Rukia grinned as she turned her arm to show off her lieutenant's badge, even though Uryu had seen it before. "And also… I know everything about vampires! I've read every book ever written on vampires! To think Ichigo has become one of those lonesome, mysterious-"
"I'm sure you and Inoue-san will have lovely conversations. I always knew you and Kurosaki-"
Rukia drove her elbow through the bedcovers, right into Uryu's stomach. He groaned as he curled up protectively.
"There's nothing between Ichigo and I! Never has been! What are you suggesting? I'm dead for a start! But there's nothing wrong with just appreciating that fact that he's become a vampire. And I like vampires! That's it!"
Uryu buried himself beneath the covers, pulling them over his head once again. "Go and drool somewhere else. Just go away unless you have anything useful to say."
And why was she even here? They weren't exactly friends. He could probably count the number of conversations they'd had on one hand.
"Twelfth division are working on a cure."
That number was a swear word.
Rukia sighed. "Ishida, Ichigo's really annoyed with you. Do you really see him as a threat?"
When he didn't answer, he felt Rukia grab the bedcovers. Uryu clung to them quickly before she could drag them away. "I'm in my pyjamas!"
"I've seen Ichigo's plenty of times. I'm sure yours are no worse." Rukia pulled. Uryu wrapped his legs around them and pulled back. No. Absolutely not.
"Urgh!" Rukia let go of the covers and settled for stamping her foot instead. "You're so stubborn! He's your friend! He needs your support and he's offended by the way you treated him last night."
"He's a vampire. And he's going to find a partner, right? He could end up raping someone. And he seems to have some new abilities too. Excuse me for being a little concerned."
"Raping someone? You really think of him like that?"
"Vampires don't make any sense! You and Urahara keep saying they're nothing to worry about, but look at what happened last night. Why did that man do that to Kurosaki? They wanted him as a son. Why would they-"
"Because they're vampires. It's just how they work and that kind of sexual act is necessary. It's not just the biting that turns someone into a vampire. Besides, Ichigo isn't that bothered, is he? That tells you how vampires think of all this. And he's not like them. He won't rape anyone. If he wants a partner then may he'll approach a nice girl. She likes him, they have some fun together for a while and then Soul Society finds the cure. La la la, everyone is happy and everything goes back to the way it was."
"What if that someone was you? And what if he didn't bother with consent because he was that desperate for a partner?"
"I'd hit him. Hard. Though I would get to be a vampire…"
Uryu felt like curling up beneath the covers and never coming out. He'll approach a nice girl. She likes him, they have some fun together for a while… How the hell could she say something like that?
He pulled the covers over his head again. "You Shinigami really are despicable. What about Kurosaki? And what about how he feels when this is over and he is cured? I don't think he'll appreciate it if we let him go out of control."
"Then don't let him go out of control. Ishida, it's simple. Keep an eye on him. Support him. And be a friend to him as well."
"I don't think any of you are taking this seriously."
"I think you have a rosy tint to your glasses. Compared with what we've all dealt with before, this is easy."
It's saying something when you classify vampires as 'easy'. Though it wasn't the vampire part that was the issue.
Silver lips smiling. Ichigo screaming. Hips thrusting. Hands that shouldn't be there caressing bare skin that was nothing to do with them.
How did they deal with this? Or how did Uryu deal with it since everyone else seemed to be dancing around the issue.
And why didn't Kurosaki care?
Uryu pushed his glasses up his nose. "Kurosaki and I are enemies. I'm not supposed to be a friend to him."
"Are you always this grumpy in the mornings? I always thought you'd be a rise and shine and be doing your ironing and sewing with the sunrise kind of guy."
He wasn't even going to dignify that with a response.
"You're worried about him, aren't you? It'll work out, Ishida."
"I'm not worried."
Liar.
Rukia's footsteps moved across the floor. "By the way, I'm going to be staying in the world of the living until this is over. Everything is peaceful in Soul Society so they can spare me. I'll stay with Inoue. I'm going to be coming to school too. I'll transfer into Ichigo's class so I can keep an eye on him."
"Whatever you think is best." Uryu glanced at his cell phone beside the futon. Five fifty. No time for more sleep before school. It would be a miracle if he survived the day.
Rukia jumped up onto the windowsill and then paused. "Ah, I almost forgot. Inoue says there is something called a 'Winter Ball' coming up at school."
Yes. And as President of the Student Council he had to organise the blasted thing. A place for teenage couples to be happy and cuddly. As if he wanted (or deserved) to be any part of such fluffiness.
Well, maybe it would be a little nice… but such a loved-up occasion wasn't a place for someone who didn't even know what happiness was, let alone love.
Probably doesn't even exist.
He shook his head as he turned his thoughts back to Rukia. "So?" he asked.
"So…" Rukia turned, her eyes shimmering at him. "Make this for me?" She was suddenly holding a magazine in her hands (god only knows where she'd been hiding it). There was a smiling girl in a glittering pink ball gown.
"The dress?"
"But not pink! Purple! And I want this bit white! Pretty please?"
"You're asking about a dress now?"
Rukia stared, her eyes still shining.
"All right," he said. Because it was something he would like making. "But I don't have a lot of time. And you'll need to pay for all the fabric. And I charge commission. And don't you dare try to pay me with any fake Soul Society money. Seventy percent to start and thirty when I finish."
"How about I pay with my body?"
?!
Rukia burst out laughing as she jumped out of the window. "Bye bye!"
Uryu rolled onto his side as he rubbed his face with his hands. It had been a long night. And this probably classed as the weirdest morning ever.
"It's going to be a long day," he muttered.
It was a long day. Uryu had gone to bed at twelve and been woken up at one by Ichigo's text. Back to bed at four thirty. Woken up by Rukia at five thirty five.
I hate Shinigami.
And equations that he couldn't work out in class. Equations were supposed to be easy because Uryu could understand logic perfectly. He always read ahead too so that by the time they covered something in class he'd already studied it a month ago at home. He should know everything the teacher was explaining right now.
"This will be on the test on Friday so make sure you know it."
I want to die.
Uryu needed to do well in this test. He had to do well in all of them. Years of Ryuken's stern eyes had drilled that fear into his skull. Besides that, this was his last year of school. He had to pass everything.
And nights like last night were interfering. It wasn't that his grades had dropped. A top grade was a top grade but Uryu didn't like how close he was to the boundary on certain occasions. He blamed Hollows. And lazy Shinigami who couldn't be bothered to arrive in time to battle them.
Just like with Sensei.
"Hey, Ishida…"
The school yard was quiet during lunch hour; the air too chilling for most students to venture outside. Normally Uryu avoided the cold since it made his fingers ache but the corridors and classrooms were crowded and stifling, and doing no favours for his headache. The fresh bite of the air wasn't exactly soothing, but at least he felt more awake out here.
"What is it, Kurosaki?" Uryu stared at the open maths book in his lap. It had been open on the same page for twenty minutes, but he hadn't been reading, preferring instead to simply listen to the rustling leaves of the browning tree above him. It was his favourite spot, though sadly it was the favourite spot of a lot of students so it wasn't often he got to actually sit her.
Ichigo made a weary noise. It was Monday. Ichigo had sports clubs meetings almost every lunchtime since he contracted his brute strength out to whichever club was desperate enough to pay for it to win an inter-school tournament. So irresponsible. And so immature. Uryu had chastised him at the start of the year, though he couldn't really condemn the actions because it was a brilliant way of making money. He was surprised Ichigo had even thought of it.
"Don't you have club? What is it you're doing now? Baseball?"
"They're in debt. I'll start again when they cough up." Ichigo was holding an orange juice pack in his hands. Chewing on the straw, he leaned back against the tree, slowly allowing himself to slide to the ground beside Uryu. "I feel kinda weird," he mumbled.
Uryu could tell. Ichigo had a set number of facial expressions. Today's was thoughtful grumpiness tinged with a slight hint of melancholy, which basically meant that Ichigo was thinking a lot about something that bothered him. And whenever that happened he'd usually appear beside Uryu, plonking himself down beside Uryu in the library and start reading.
"Why are you here?"
"Just felt like reading. And I'm sitting here because I felt like it."
Often Uryu would forget he was there at all, only realising afterwards that he hadn't heard Ichigo turn a single page of his book. It wasn't a problem. If something was important, they'd talk. If it wasn't, they'd sit in quiet company.
"What do you think of me now I have my powers back? Are you glad?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course I'm glad. I know what it's like to feel helpless, remember?"
"But I'm a Shinigami again."
"Substitute. It's different."
Being a vampire was probably important enough to justify a conversation. Only it seemed as if Ichigo didn't know what to say. And Uryu certainly didn't either.
At mid-morning break earlier, Uryu had watched from a classroom window as Ichigo sat with Chad, talking about something he couldn't hear. Ichigo looked as he always had, apart from his hidden reiatsu and the colour of his spirit ribbon; a darker red than it had been before. He acted the same as before too.
So why did Uryu feel like he was waiting for something to happen?
And every now and then he thought back to last night's moonlit conversation. Kurosaki had been Kurosaki, and yet…
He'd been oddly talkative. Uryu hadn't really noticed it at the time. Uryu and Ichigo didn't talk much, especially about nothing. Last night, more words had been exchanged in a few minutes than normally would in the course of a week.
"Does it still not bother you?" Uryu heard himself ask. "What he did?"
Ichigo shrugged. "It's weird isn't it?"
Uryu looked down unseeing at his book. Silver smile… His fingers were tightening against the hardback cover and the throb in his head was deepening. He pressed his fingers to his forehead. It wasn't something he'd normally do in front of most people, but he seemed to let slip sometimes during these quiet conversations with Ichigo.
"I went by Urahara-san's this morning," said Ichigo. "He's given me some vampire books to read. I can't stand vampires and the plots are far too mushy and clichéd."
"They'll find a cure." Soul Society was far in Ichigo's debt. And they depended on him. From their own selfish point of view, they would want him back to normal so that no vampire habits interfered with his Shinigami duties.
Though grudgingly Uryu supposed that Rukia might be right. They had dealt with worse. That said, there was a distant tone to Ichigo's voice. It reminded Uryu of the months during which Ichigo had lost his powers. Constant thoughts about difficult times.
"What's it like?" said Uryu quietly.
"Well, I can live like this if there is no cure, providing I'm not going to crumble in the sunlight. I can see things differently. Colours look a little brighter. And things feel different. I don't know how to explain it. It's not bad." He paused, his fingers fidgeting with the straw and juice pack. "I'm sorry about last night. I did feel a bit strange and I think I scared you."
"I wasn't scared. I doubt you'll be interested in biting me after all."
"Hmmm." Something that sounded like a laugh or a grunt.
"Though that speed was a little unbelievable. How does it work? Reishi?"
"You know I can't explain things like that. Sorry, Ishida. I'll try and pay more attention next time."
Quiet. Uryu vaguely wondered what it was like for a moment. Different colours and feelings? Urahara had said something about vampires being very emotional. Uryu supposed it was pretty obvious from the way Blue Hair had jumped to his death. Proof of the burden that emotions could bring.
In that case, maybe it was better to have as few emotions as possible.
Ichigo stared at his juice packet. "Ishida… Who do you prefer: Rukia or Inoue?"
Uryu froze. Just as he was starting to feel like his old self, everything drained away. Please don't do this Kurosaki. Don't look at them.
"I'm just curious about who you like," Ichigo said quickly. "I'm not going to attack them. I'm just… curious."
Uryu took a quiet deep breath. He moved his hand back from his face and delicately closed the maths book. "Kuchiki-san is a Shinigami. Inoue-san is a friend. That is all."
"You look out for Inoue a lot. I've kinda wondered about you two before…"
EH?!
Uryu's mouth had dropped. He could feel it. And nothing would come out. Not even a splutter.
Ichigo laughed as he scratched the back of his neck. "Ah, forget I asked. It was a weird question." Staring hard at his juice pack, Ichigo's smile faded into something more strained, an almost awkward expression that Uryu wasn't sure how to read, which was odd because Ichigo usually broadcast his emotions and thoughts like a television signal. But the one thing Uryu didn't miss was the flush to his cheeks.
"Kurosaki, if you go near Inoue-san I'll rip your arms off. And Sado-kun will no doubt rip your legs off."
Ichigo looked up quickly. "What's with that attitude!"
"You have never asked about Inoue-san before." He'd never even thrown a second glance in her direction, no matter how short her skirts became. Not that Uryu took a second look either (of course), but he'd just noticed that Ichigo didn't. "And the only reason I think you're suddenly thinking about her in a different way is because you're a vampire. Stay away, Kurosaki. When this is cleared up and you're back to normal, you can ask her out or do anything with my blessing."
"What about Rukia?"
"She'd rip your arms off if you went near her. And then her brother would rip your head off."
Again Ichigo laughed. He crumpled the juice pack in his hand and then was quiet for a moment. "I'm being weird aren't I?"
"Yes."
"I don't know why I asked. I'm not going to hit on them. Trust me on that."
He sounded sincere, but then…
Why was there something about his eyes that Uryu couldn't understand?
Uryu opened his book again, positioning it so that he could look at the page as a pretense whilst still having a clear view of Ichigo's face. "For your own safety, I advise you not to."
"Would you really rip my arms off?"
"Yes. And I'll warn you that it hurts more than you can imagine."
"Some talk. I'd mop the floor with you in a fight."
The book closed again. Oh? "And why do you think that?"
"I'm stronger than you. We both know that."
"A Menos is also physically stronger than me, but I've exterminated many of them. Brute strength doesn't matter if you're an idiot."
"Eh?"
"You're an idiot! A lug! You may have the strength to rival an orang-utan, but you always lumber in without thinking! I'm amazed that you're still alive. And one day you really will get yourself killed. Why is there no common sense in your head? Before taking on any enemy, you have to analyse their attack patterns and then you can implement an effective strategy." Uryu took a deep breath. He was on his feet? When had that happened?
And more importantly, when were his painkillers going to kick in because his head was really, really hurting now.
Kurosaki, barging in is the reason that man was able to…
Ichigo blinked. "Um… what does all this have to do with a fight between you and me?"
Uryu folded his arms. Don't shout. Kurosaki wasn't worth shouting about. It was annoying that he'd made Uryu shout in the first place. He never shouted. So why was Ichigo capable of bringing that out in him? Thank god there was no one here but the two of them to see it.
"Do you really think you could win against me, Kurosaki? I know all of your attacks. And I can predict how you'll react to everything I do."
Ichigo snorted. "I know your attacks too."
Uryu reached behind him beneath his school uniform. He swung a seele schneider from his belt. He always had them with him. A habit from the two years Ichigo had been without his power, leaving the hollows to Uryu and Urahara. He waved the silver tube in front of Ichigo's face. "What's this?"
"It's a sword thing. And you can plant them in a circle to blow things up. Renji told me."
"You've never seen me use that technique. And you know nothing about my 'sword thing'. You're unprepared. Monstrous strength isn't everything."
"Well, you never talk about attacks! How am I supposed to know?"
"Correct, Kurosaki. I don't broadcast everything about me to you because we are enemies. I could easily set a trap for you and I'd beat you. So stay away from Inoue-san. In fact, stay away from everyone while you're a vampire. I won't just cut your arms off either."
Ichigo folded his arms. "You're not as clever or as perceptive as you think. How the hell did this conversation even start? You know I was teasing you, right Ishida? You still seem to think I'm going to bite you all."
The problem, Kurosaki, is that Inoue-san would fall at your feet if you even smiled at her because your smile has that effect. She would give her consent to you for anything. And when this is over, would you still care about her? You could destroy her.
And he didn't realise that because he was an idiot!
And this going round and round in pointless circles to form a pointless conversation was not something Uryu was interested in doing on any day, particularly after one hour and five minutes' worth of sleep.
"Are you looking for a partner?" he asked bluntly.
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Here we go again. I wasn't asking because I was interested in Inoue or Rukia. I was interested in what you thought about them. Though of course you don't believe me. I wish I'd never asked at all. I was just trying to make conversation."
"You're weird."
A wintry breeze rustled the branches above, dislocating brown leaves around the two teenagers. Uryu shivered a little. Too cold outside. Too stuffy inside. Pushing his hair out of his face, he sat and looked up at the leaves above. Autumn was a beautiful season. A shame it had to be so cold. And full of bad memories.
Autumn leaves stained with blood. Screams from someone trying not to scream that would echo in Uryu's ears relentlessly for weeks.
And white-faced anger from Ryuken like Uryu had never seen before.
"Why didn't you run away you stupid child? You could have been killed!"
"Ishida, you never smile."
Uryu snapped his thoughts back to the school yard at the sound of Ichigo's voice. He turned his head slightly, so that he wouldn't have to meet those brown eyes. So dumb most of the time and so penetrating at others. "Yes I do."
"Not often. Having a girlfriend would do you the world of good. And you must know that half the girls in school have been eyeing you ever since you became president of the student council."
"E-eh?"
"You seriously haven't noticed?"
Uryu stared at Ichigo's small smile and then shook his head blankly. He wasn't sure what to say. Why would they be after me? It was confusing to say the least. He shook his head again. "Just because I don't grin like a moron doesn't mean I'm not happy."
Another scattered breeze that made the dry leaves dance. Autumnal quiet and unspoken words that Uryu knew Ichigo wanted to say.
Liar.
And what exactly do you think you can do about it, Kurosaki?
Standing, Uryu tucked the maths book under his arm. Smiling was an easy enough expression to perform and it didn't matter if he didn't necessarily feel happy when he did it. He smiled when he was content and that was satisfying enough.
"Where are you going?" Ichigo asked.
"Library. By the way, Kurosaki, what I said still stands. I will cut you to pieces if you go near Inoue-san."
As he walked away, he didn't hear Ichigo's soft voice behind him. "Inoue? Ishida, you really don't get any of this do you? For someone so smart you're ridiculously dumb."
Chapter four is drafted but needs some work. It's pretty long so may take me a week at least. But I promise it will be worth waiting for and will have some more interesting action in it.
And maybe some biting...
