Tuition with Inoue
Chapter 2: First Lesson
Author's Note: Hey thanks for all your reviews. I was really touched, to think that you all liked it. I will try my best to update as soon as possible. I know that it's short, but I can't squeeze everything into a chapter just to make it long. And sorry if it's killing you to know what happens next, the next chapter is still in the planning process, so stay tuned.
Please read and review, thanks a lot. (This chapter may contain spoilers)
Wednesday, second week after the New Year
Ichigo yawned and stretched his arms. He had been so busy killing hollows that he didn't have time to sleep last night. He turned to look at Inoue who was walking beside him. They decided to have the tuition classes weekly on Wednesday. Regarding the venue, it would be his house, for now. They tried to keep it low profile, it would cause an uproar if everyone at school found out.
Ichigo slept during classes today but he was looking forward to the classes ever since New Year… He studied Inoue, she looked distracted. They have been walking side by side for so long and the silence was killing him. He thought about starting a conversation.
" Inoue, why don't we have lunch first?" He asked her.
" I don't feel hungry at the moment." She whispered and turned to look behind them.
" Is someone there?" He asked, looking back too.
" No, I was wondering if someone had been following us." She whispered.
" Don't worry Inoue, if it's those perverts, they will have to go through me first. I will protect you, Inoue." He told her.
Spoken like a true man… Inoue thought to herself. She smiled rather forcefully. She couldn't help feeling depressed. Ichigo's stomach growled.
" I guess that's what happens when you use recess for nap-time." He told her.
Inoue smiled and turned to look behind them.
" There's a new restaurant near my house. Let's get going. Karin is expecting us." He told her and pushed her to walk.
" But, Kurosaki-kun, I didn't bring enough cash to dine in a restaurant." She whispered, forcing herself to stop walking.
" Don't worry about it, I can pay for yours." He told her.
" No, I can't let you do that, it's not a very nice thing to let the male pay for the female." She whispered.
" We will settle this later, let's go, my stomach is growling for food again." He told her and took her hand, in an attempt to drag her with him.
Inoue was shocked and she immediately freed herself form his hold. Surprised, Ichigo looked at her. Her eyes were on the floor and she looked rather flushed.
" Sorry, I intended to drag you with me. I guess the sun must be getting to you, we better seek shelter first." He told her.
Inoue just walked off first. Ichigo nearly had a heart attack; he thought that he had offended her. Maybe he shouldn't have taken her hand, but her reaction sure caught him off guard.
In the end, Inoue only ordered a drink. Ichigo had a rather heavy lunch instead. After that, they made their way to his house. After taking off their shoes, Ichigo kept staring at his father and Karin. Inoue bowed as a form of respect.
" I repeat, no distraction and whenever I open the door, no one is supposed to be outside." Ichigo told them.
" You have been telling us the same thing for 6 times." Karin told him.
" And do not disturb." He told them and led Inoue into his room.
After Inoue went in, he hung a rather big " DO NOT DISTURB" sign on his door. Giving his father and Karin one last look, he closed the door. Inoue was looking around the room like she had never been here before.
" Sorry that it's a bit cramp, and sorry that it's messy." He told her.
" It's okay." She whispered and looked around.
I was here before, the night before I went to Hueco Mundo… Inoue thought to herself. She still remembered that day, even up to now. Her hands clenched into fists. She was here, by his bed… And he was badly injured that day. Thinking back now, she still felt horrible, trying to kiss Ichigo when he's asleep and injured. But that time was because she felt that she would no longer see him again. But then, she's here now because Ichigo saved her…
Flashback
Inoue was leaning against the wall of Ichigo's room.
" I wish I could live life 5 times over." Inoue said out loud, looking at the ceiling…
" Then I'd be born in 5 different cities… I'd stuff myself full with different delicious things 5 times each… I'd have 5 different jobs… And then for those 5 times…"
" I'd fall in love with the same person." Inoue looked at Ichigo who was still sleeping.
End of flashback
I'd fall in love with the same person…thought Inoue as she watched Ichigo trying to clear his messy table by stuffing things into his cupboard. Ichigo heard some noises from outside, he immediately opened the door. He saw his father and Karin standing near the door with an empty glass cup in their hands. Isshin whistled and acted like nothing happened. Yeah right, like it was going to fool me. Ichigo thought to himself.
" Ichii-nii, do you want tea?" Karin asked.
Ichigo shot her a look then he looked at Inoue, who smiled shyly.
" Sure, I want coffee." He told Karin.
Karin carried the tray in, Inoue smiled and thanked her. Ichigo held the door open for Karin to leave. She shot Ichigo a cautious look before leaving. Slamming the door close, he sat down on the floor. He watched in horror as Inoue pulled herself a cup of tea and moved to put 6 spoonfuls of sugar into her tea. She stirred it and took a sip before putting in another 3 spoonfuls of sugar. Ichigo gaped; she likes sweet stuff that much?
Inoue saw him staring at her, she blushed shyly.
" I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun, I have a liking for sweet stuff." She whispered, embarrassed.
" I understand." He assured her.
He poured himself a cup of coffee.
" I noticed that you were sleeping in class today. So I decided to go through what you have missed out." She told him.
Ichigo nodded and they opened their textbooks.
2 hours later…
Ichigo was already half sleeping. His eyes lids were heavy and dying to close… He wasn't even paying attention to what Inoue was saying. He kept dropping his head but snapped right back into attention, and then started to drop his head again.
" The catalyst is used… Kurosaki-kun?" She asked.
Ichigo looked at her with half closed eyes. The caffeine in the coffee wasn't working.
" My bad, can you repeat what you just said? I didn't quite catch it." He told her, feeling sleepy again.
Inoue reached and touched his forehead with her hand then compared it by touching her own forehead with her other hand.
" You do not seem to be down with a fever. Why are you so tired, Kurosaki-kun?" She asked him softly.
Her hands dropped to her sides, she looked at Ichigo with concern.
" Tired? Hell no I am not. I am still full of energy…" He yawned and it proved that he was lying.
Inoue moved and started packing her books.
" Kurosaki-kun, I think we should stop here for now." She told him softly.
" Huh? What?! Why?" He asked, suddenly sounding alert.
" I feel that you should get some rest, besides, if I were to continue, you will fall asleep halfway through." She told him and started packing her books into her bag.
Ichigo reach and touched her arm, in an attempt to stop her from packing her books.
" Don't, I can still…" Ichigo trailed off.
His grip around her arm loosens and freed her. Inoue blushed when Ichigo suddenly fell sideways. His head was resting in her lap.
" Kuro…Kurosaki-kun?" She asked, surprised.
" Sorry Inoue, can we stay in this position for some time? I need… to sleep for a while." He whispered,
Inoue looked down at him, he was looking at the door.
" Get some sleep, Kurosaki-kun." She whispered,
Ichigo obeyed and his eyes closed. Inoue waited for a while to make sure that he had fallen asleep. She tried to touch him, but hesitated at first. She then reached and brushed his orange hair back. He still had the same expression when he was sleeping, the same expression from the day that she visited him. She sighed and watched him sleep.
" Kurosaki-kun…" She whispered, looking down at him.
I will definitely protect you…She remembered him telling her that. But then, Inoue knew where she stood in his heart. He only regarded her as a friend… After all, he was… She almost slapped herself for having such weird thoughts.
With Ichigo sleeping in her lap, she could hardly move… But then, thinking back she remembered how Ichigo was looking at Rukia when Inoue was healing her. It made her so depressed then. That was when she knew that Ichigo loves Rukia…
With a sad look on her face, Inoue looked down at Ichigo again.
" What am I to you?" She asked him softly…
A knock on the door startled her. Ichigo stirred but didn't wake up. That was a relief, she thought to herself.
" Come in." She whispered.
The door opened and Yuzu came in. Yuzu looked surprised to see Ichigo sleeping with his head in Inoue's lap.
" I am so sorry, Inoue-san. I will wake him up for you." She whispered.
Inoue shook her head.
" Thank you, Yuzu-san, but it's okay. Even someone like him needs a rest once in a while. Besides, he was a very good student today." She whispered, looking at Ichigo.
Yuzu wasn't blind; she saw the look on Inoue's face when she looked at Ichigo. Inoue's eyes…they looked sad…
" Inoue-san, would you like to stay for dinner?" She asked her.
Inoue nodded and smiled.
" I would love to, thank you Yuzu-san." She whispered, her eyes on Ichigo again.
Yuzu smiled back in return and looked at her brother.
" He was so tired when he left for school this morning." She whispered, Inoue forced a rather weak smile.
" Oh, Inoue, would you like to help me out? In cooking dinner?" She asked, sounding excited.
Inoue remembered that Ichigo told her that Yuzu wanted to know her better.
" Sure, I will be there in a while." She told Yuzu and smiled.
" Okay, I will get the ingredients ready." Yuzu told her and left the room quietly.
Inoue was left alone with Ichigo, she looked at him again. If only he knew…
2 hours later,
" No, you can't take Zangetsu!" Ichigo shouted, sitting right up. God, what a nightmare, his stupid hollow was up to something again… He looked around the empty room. " Inoue?" He asked, he noticed that her bag was still there. So she hadn't left yet…
He went to the kitchen to find Inoue. He was right, he saw Inoue talking to Yuzu.
" Oni-chan! Where are your manners? Knock on the door first!" Yuzu told him.
" Sorry." He muttered,
Ichigo's eyes were on Inoue, she seems to have noticed, cause she smiled at him in return, he smiled back.
" Looks like you woke up." She told him, turning back to flip the fish in the saucepan.
" Yuzu-san asked me to help her cook dinner, I hope that it's okay with you." She told him.
" Inoue, you are a guest, we can't let you do the work by yourself." He told her, trying to step into the kitchen.
" It's okay, Kurosaki-kun. I wanted to help her, I will be staying for dinner too." She told him and smiled, and then she and Yuzu exchanged smiles.
" Why are you two smiling like that?" Ichigo asked.
" It's a female thing." Yuzu answered.
" Female thing? Why don't you tell me about it?" Ichigo asked Yuzu.
Yuzu shook her head and smiled at Inoue.
" It's ladies' secret. We cannot tell you, Oni-chan." Yuzu told him happily.
" Fine, is there anything I can do to help?" He asked Inoue.
" No, we can handle it from here." She told him and assured him with a smile.
But Ichigo wasn't convinced…
" Oni-chan, go find Karin or something. Inoue-san and I will settle dinner. Come on, hurry up, we don't want to start dinner late do we?" Yuzu asked, pushing Ichigo into the living room.
" But…" Ichigo whispered, still not convinced that he should let Inoue cook.
" Have faith in her." Yuzu whispered before closing the kitchen door.
Leaving a confused Ichigo there.
" Huh? What did Yuzu mean?" He wondered out loud, he turned to see Karin watching television.
Looks like he had no choice but to let the two ladies do their stuff. He joined Karin watching television…
Ichigo and Karin helped to lay the utensils and Ichigo helped Yuzu carry the dishes to the dining table. Inoue and him exchanged smiles when they walked past each other. After setting up the table, he was amazed that Inoue cooked a lot of dishes for each of them.
Isshin made Inoue sit directly opposite Ichigo. Everyone seems impressed by Inoue's cooking. Inoue smiled shyly when they complimented her.
" Itadakimas!" (Bon Appetit) they all said in unison and started eating.
" Oh, Inoue-san, your cooking is excellent. This taste better than Yuzu's." Isshin commented.
" I guess when you live alone, you have to learn how to cook well for yourself." She whispered, and smiled at Yuzu.
" How I wish you could cook for us everyday." Isshin said.
Inoue smiled and thanked him for liking what she had made. Ichigo agreed that Inoue was a great cook, it was the first time he ate something she made. Usually, he would reject, because they look too different from other foods. But Rukia once told him that the food Inoue made might look different but they taste better than normal. Looks like Rukia was right…
" That would be possible if you and Ichigo get married right?" Isshin said out loud suddenly.
Ichigo flushed and his face was totally red, he even choked on the food.
" Can't breathe!" He nearly shouted, with his hands around his throat.
It was only when Yuzu gave him some water that he managed to swallow it. He saw that Inoue was blushing badly too, she was looking at the floor to hide her face.
" Dad! What are you talking about!? She's our guest, don't scare her off like that." Ichigo shouted.
" I am correct aren't I? If you two get married, Inoue-san will be my daughter-in-law…" Isshin trailed off when he saw the angry scowl on Ichigo's face.
" What about that?" He asked in a flat tone, his eyes were burning with fire to show that he was serious.
" I was only joking, relax, son." Isshin told them, forcing a fake laugh.
" It's okay, Kurosaki-kun, I understand that he was only joking." Inoue told Ichigo.
" Inoue, you shouldn't defend him." Ichigo told her.
Ichigo and Inoue looked at each other, their eyes met for a while. They both looked away at the same time, this time, both of them blushed.
" Haha haha! Young people these days are getting so shy." Isshin laughed.
"Dad!" Ichigo shouted…
God, that was a really bad moment to be caught in.
After dinner,
Ichigo and Inoue were washing the dishes together. Inoue insisted that she do the dishes, feeling guilty, Ichigo volunteered to help Inoue.
" Erm… Inoue, I am sorry about my father. He doesn't think before he speaks." He told her, trying to explain.
" It's okay, I am really happy that I stayed for dinner. It seems fun, to have such a happy and united family." She whispered.
Inoue scrubbed the dishes clean with soap; Ichigo washed them in the basin.
" Inoue…" He whispered, sounding and looking sad.
She smiled at him. Even though she was smiling, he knew that she was forcing a smile. She was upset…
" I am sorry Inoue…" He whispered.
Inoue looked at him.
" What for?" She asked, handling him another soapy dish.
" For falling asleep, for making you help out, for making you think of your brother." He whispered softly.
Inoue was silent; she washed the soapy dishes under the tap. They were silent for a while. They then took turns to rinse them under the tap.
" It's okay, Kurosaki-kun. It's not your fault, besides I had fun…" She told him and smiled again.
" Inoue…" He whispered, watching her.
After they dried them and stacked them in the cupboard, Inoue stood back and admired their work.
" Do you do dishes often, Kurosaki-kun?" She asked.
" Yeah, since it's the only thing I can do to help out." He told her, she nodded and smiled again.
She was smiling like nothing had happened, like she wasn't depressed. Ichigo's hands were clenched into fists. He wanted to so something for her…
" I think that…"
Inoue was cut off when Ichigo suddenly pulled her into his arms and hugged her. Colour flew to her cheeks as she blushed.
" Kuro…Kurosaki-kun?" She asked, surprised by his reaction.
" Sorry, but then I guess it's the only thing I can do now, to make you feel batter." He whispered.
Inoue's eyes that were wide with shock, softens…
" Don't hide your feelings from us, Inoue… If you are upset you should cry. If you are really happy, then you should smile." He whispered
Inoue felt tears gathering in her eyes.
" Kurosaki-kun…" She whispered, sounding teary…
She closed her eyes and wished for this moment to last longer. She was touched that Ichigo was trying to comfort her…
" Thank you, Kurosaki-kun." She whispered very softly.
" You are welcome." He whispered back.
There was a knock on the door. Ichigo immediately let go of Inoue, he stepped back from her. Yuzu looked surprised.
" I am sorry if I am interrupting." Yuzu whispered, looking embarrassed.
Inoue was blushing as well.
" No, we… er…" Ichigo looked like he was speechless.
" Karin wanted dessert, so I came to take it." Yuzu explained.
" I… er… will be in my room." Ichigo whispered and left them alone.
Inoue looked at the window and caught her own reflection on it. She couldn't help looking sad...
" Are you sure you don't want me to walk you home?" Ichigo asked Inoue again.
She shook her head and slipped into her shoes.
"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun. I had fun today." She whispered.
" Oh… You are welcome." He whispered, feeling embarrassed as well, after what happened.
" You know, you should remember what I said." He whispered, his eyes were looking somewhere else as he said it.
Inoue blushed a little, but she smiled.
" See you tomorrow, Kurosaki-kun. Bye!" She whispered and waved.
Ichigo waved back and watch her leave. He felt bad leaving her in the kitchen like that. Well, he hugged her to comfort her; she really needed a shoulder to cry on… His hollow charm blinked, signaling that a hollow had appeared. Well for now, it was Shinigami time.
Inoue was making her way home; she could still feel her heart racing when she thought about what happened today, especially when Ichigo hugged her. Her heart was beating so fast and loud that she almost felt that he could hear it as well. She knew that he did it to comfort her, but she still wished that he did it for some other reason…
He did that because he knows that you are upset and he feels that you are a friend. Inoue thought to herself. Kurosaki-kun…
She felt a familiar yet strong flow of spiritual power. She turned to see Ichigo on the rooftop of a building, in his Shinigami clothes, with Zangetsu behind him. " Bye Inoue." He shouted and used shinpo (flash jump). Inoue smiled and waved to the thin air… No wonder he was so tired today. Looking up at the stars in the sky, Inoue admitted that today was indeed a day to remember.
Thank you all for reading. Sorry that it's long, anyway, Inoue feels that Ichigo loves Rukia. As for Ichigo? He doesn't know how he feels about Inoue yet. But, well, he's going to find out, isn't he?
Hope you all like it, please read and review. Thank you D
Stay tuned for the next chapter!