Just wanted to say thanks for all the positive feedback!
The Raven
chapter 3
It had been days and still those grey eyes filled with sadness still haunted Ichigo, and the sad smile that went with it. He didnt understand what was happening to him. He stood in front of the school, Grimmjow stood at at his side with Ulquiorra at his. The two had become almost inseprable since Grimmjow had moved into Ulquiorras house, and both of them seemed much happier. A happy Ulquiorra was a strange sight to get used to, but a happy Grimmjow, that was down right terrifiying.
It wasnt as scary as a happy Kensei though, who was happy because Shuhei as it turned out fell the same way he did, "Told you so." Shinji said to his friend, "Painfully obvious, the both of you." he said looking at the inky black haired boy and the larger silver haired boy. Kensei looked at shinji, then back down at Shuhei, and smiled at him. "That doesnt matter now." He had to settle for walking Shuhei to school for now, He had been suspended for beating those three guys unconsious. He was upset that he couldnt protect Shuhei durring school hours, but Shinji had told him he would watch after him.
Byakuya laid in the field behind the school, streched out in the grass looking up into the sky. Deep in thought, thinking about warm chocolate eyes, and his parents, his sister who lived in an all girls bording school. He was upset when his grandfather sent her there, but he come to accept it. He didnt have much of a choice anyway. Until he becomes head of the family anyway, he thought about all the ways he could family was one of the more powerful ones in the always changing economicly unstable Japan. They had maintained their power and wealth since the feudal era. His family had been warlords and wealthy bankers, that was why he had been forced to study and master every style of martial arts. His familys pride, Byakuyas pride in himself and his sister out ranked that of the familys. He laid there and smiled at all the things he would change.
At lunch Ichigo sat by himself. Gimmjow and Ulquiorra hadnt showed up and Kenpachi was still out from his fight with Byakuya. He put his head down and then ehard someone sit at his table, "I hope you dont mind." came the cold voice, "I just couldnt sit there with Shuhei talking about Kensei all the time." Ichigo nodded. "Its fine." and put his head back down and tried to fall asleep. The only problem was he couldnt, here he was sitting across from those grey eyes that had been stuck in his head. He tried not to read to much into him sitting here though, it was the only table with free seats.
Byakuya sat cross from the only person to make him feel anything in years. Not knowing what he should do he opted for silence. He took out his iPod and hit shuffle, he did not regonize the song, but he knew it was by the Sword and finished eating his food. Then the bell rang to signal the end of lunch. He tapped Ichigo on the shoulder to wake him up and then left without a word not even bothering to take his headphones out.
Ichigo didnt want to move. He was finally comfortable and half asleep, when he felt a tap on his shoulder, he looked up to see Byakuya walking away from him, he sat mouth agape. I cant believe he actually woke up me, so I wouldnt be late ichigo thought to himself. Walking to class felt like a blur, it was as if he was in the cafeteria and then he was in his gym class. Thats when he saw his friend Ikkaku and they worked out together, working out was the only thing that took his mind off those painfilled grey eyes.
Ikkaku always worked out harder and longer then Ichigo but he could ever beat him in a fight. Both of them knew it and it made Ikkaku increasingly angrier and angrier. Ichigo always helped and puched his friend to do more of whatever exercise they where doing. Ichigo always cared more about others deep down in his heart, even if know one but his close friends could see it. Thats not the kind of stuff that bothered him, not being able to help someone is what bothered him. Seeing someone in so much visible pain yet hiding it was the kind of things that bothered him. So he wasnt talkitive durring this particular work out session. He focused on the burn of his muscles and ignored every other thing in his mind. To bad it didnt work for long, everytime he would stop, even for just a second, those grey pools filled with sadness would show up in his head again.
Byakuya was in the art room, he didnt pay attention to the teachers name, all he knew was the guy had pink hair and was incredibly annoying. Talking about perfection this and perfection that. Byakuya tuned him out and put on his headphones once more. This time he started listening to classical music, Fryderyk Chopin was one of his favorite composers and pianists. His music inspired him to draw and paint and Byakuya had become and amazing artist, though no one in his family would give him credit for it as they felt art was beneath them. They felt the life of an artist was beneath Byakuya Kuchiki. It was as if they knew him better then they knew himself, which was not the case at all. They only thought they did because they shaped him into what he is, but they did not know who he was.
Kensei sat on his couch fidgeting. He didnt like being away from Shuhei for long, he was anxious and he felt like he was going to punch another hole in the wall. There were hundreds all over his house, he lived alone not none to many people. His parents had died in a plane crash and they left him this house, which had been paid off, his inheritance money paied the bills until he could get a job. He figured he would leave now and take along time to walk to the school. It didnt work like that thought, so he decieded to go for a run, he ran and ran until he no longer knew where he was.
Kensei stopped and realized that he was outside of a bar and some guy bumped into him, "Hey watch ere yourr goin!" slurred the drunk man. Kensei spat at his feet and walked away, the drunk man pushed Kensei up against the wall, "Look you little bitch, you are going to apologise right now or.." the man didnt finish his sentence because Kensei had slipped his grip and now the guy was pinned to the wall, "You have no idea who I am and I doubt you would even if I told you my name, but I am going to anyway. I am Kensei Muguruma, the number one ranked fighter in Japan. I try not to boast but if I truly wanted to I would absolutly destroy you right now. So please, let me just be on my way." he finished and saw the hint of fear on the mans eyes, so he let the man go and decided to run back to the school, it took him awhile but he made it there in time.
Byakuya was sitting under the same tree reading a different book. Grimmjow came up to him, "I still dont know how you can fight so well yet still be good at art, and read books and shit." he said sitting down on the other side of the tree. "I was forced to." came the cold reply. Grimmjow scoffed, "You mean you where forced to fight or you where forced to learn how to fight." Byakuya closed his book, "Yes I was forced to learn how to fight, My family comes from a line of warlords and Bankers, everyone of us that is destined to become head of the family must be skilled in all aspects of bussiness and martial arts. I was forced to study every style of the art in Japan by my grand father." he finished standing up. Grimmjow was surprised, he had just heard the raven haired boy say more words then ever before. He heard the boy walk away but didnt stop him, he had to get home to Ulquiorra, the thought made him smile.
Ichigo was walking when someone walked straight into him, the two where both on the ground looking at each other, it reminded him of the first day they met. "sorry." muttered Byakuya. Ichigo gave him a surprised look, "Its um. Its ok dont worry about it," he said. "No, I wasnt paying attention, my mind was elsewhere and I need to apologize." Byakuya stated cooly. Ichigo was surprised, "I thought you would hated me." he said still on the ground, Byakuya looked at him with a look of confusion, "Why because of our little scuffle?" he asked as if that couldnt possibly be the answer, Ichigo looked at him, "Well I couldnt blame you for it." Byakuya chuckeled, "I may seem cold but I couldnt hate you for something so small like that." he said with an almost smile.
Ichigo looked at him, "Well thats a weight of my chest." he said, his face turning slightly red. "Well I should probably get going, I have to be at my grand fathers house soom." Byakuya said, Ichigo noticed he said 'Grand fathers house' instead of home. The raven haired boy stood up and offered Ichigo his hand, "Maybe we could give being friends a shot." he said hopfully. Ichigo was surprised at the boys words, "Of course." he said. He took the older boys hand and but when he got to his feet they both tripped and Ichigo ended up on top of the other boy, almost straddleing him. Both of their faces turned bright red but neither moved, it was like neither one of them could even remember how to breath. The world had stopped and they both looked at one another, there faces began to get closer and closer until sunddenly they noticed that someone was there standing over them.
Ichigo looked up to see Grimmjow, with his arm wrapped around Ulquiorra, standing over them, not really sure what he was looking on. "What are you to doing?" he finally asked the two on the ground, "Do you want us to go or something?" Ichigo nodded, "Well to bad we gotta go check on Kepachi." Grimmjow responded. "If you want you can bring him, I doubt he would really care." Ichigo looked down at Byakuya, "Would you want to come?" he whispered, Byakuya thought it over, what was the worst that coulf happen? He thought to himself, he didnt trust his mouth so he nodded, Ichigos face lit up, he jumped up pulling the raven haired boy with him.
They got to Kenpachis house and when the four of them got there the first person he noticed was Byakuya, who he put his arm around and dragged into the house, Grimmjow and Ichigo looked at each other and went in. they found the two sitting on the couch like they had been friends forever. In truth Kenpachi just respected the man for beating him like he did. "So when are you coming back to school?" Grimmjow finally asked, Kenpachi stood up and walked over to the blue haired boy who had Ulquiorra sitting on his lap, while Kenpachi was standing Ichigo took his chance to slide over to the couch and sit next to Byakuya. The other three noticed this, and Grimmjow finnaly broke the ice, "So whats going on with you two?" he asked, as if on que both of their faces lit up bright red, "I dont really know." both of them said at the same time and then looked at each other. Ichigo getting lost in those slate grey eyes and Byakuya in his chocolate collored ones.
Kenpachi looked at Grimmjow, "Im not sure if I like this Ichigo." Grimmjow shook his head, Ichigo and Byakuya were still looking into each others eyes, it felt like time had stoped for both of them, and then Byakuyas phone rang, and just like that the cold mask of indifferance wasup again, "Hello? Ok ill be there soon, I got side tracked in school, I apologize sir. Ill be there as soon as I can." He hung up the phone and stood up, "I am sorry but I have to go." Ichigo stood up to, :I uh, ill be right back guys." and the two walked out. Byakuya looked at Ichigo when they got outside, Ichigo walked with him until they got to Byakuyas grandfathers house, "Ill see you tomorrow?" Ichigo asked leaning in and warpped his arms around the older boy. Byakuya had been caught completely off guard but wrapped his arms around the orange haired boys waist, "Of course you will." he said with a smile that was just for Ichigo.
Ichigo watched a the raven haired boy walked inside the house, he heard the yelling when he opened the door and caught a glare from the old man that had opened the door. He saw why Byakuya didnt call the place home.