Chapter Three: Meeting
Szayel's POV
It was 7:27 in the morning, and I was at the bookstore. I had been there for precisely 36 minutes now, freezing to death, the cold November air chilling me to the bone. I normally didn't feel such trivial things like the temperature, but in this gigai, I was subject to whatever feelings a normal human would feel. I shivered again at I saw Rosemay come strolling towards me, but it had nothing to do with the cold. Her face was bright and vibrant, and I waved when she flashed me her bright smile.
"Good morning Rosemay" I said politely.
"Hey Szayel, you been waiting long?" she asked as we both entered the bookstore.
"No, I just got here a few moments before you" I lied, not wanting to sound weird. I had stood out in the cold for a good half hour, muttering to myself after all. No need for her to know that though.
"Jeesh, you look more frostbitten than I do. How about we get some coffee first, huh?" she said, already walking towards the cafe at the back of the store.
We sat down and ordered our coffee, and Rosemay began to chatter about something. I was only half way listening, more intent on studying her appearance. She wore a green shirt with blue jeans and a jacket, brown boots and a scarf. Her hair was loose, curling around her face. I didn't notice any makeup, but she really didn't need it in my opinion. A pair of diamond studs and a necklace was all the jewelry she wore. Very simple I decided, but she pulled it off. In comparison, I had my usual uniform of white. A white, long sleeved shirt, white jacket, pale blue jeans and white sneakers. Her voice brought me back from my musings.
"Szayel, did you hear me? The coffee's here." She said.
"What? Oh, sorry. I guess I was spacing out on you there, wasn't I?"
"A bit. If I'm that boring, you could have said something" she responded with a teasing tone in her voice.
"No no, I'm just a bit tired is all. I'm sorry" I mumbled as I sipped my coffee.
"Yeah, it's the weather I think. When it's all dark and gloomy like this, I just want to curl up and go back to bed."
"Yes, I think so as well." I said, watching her drink her coffee. She didn't sip it delicately; instead she seemed to inhale the scent before gulping down a mouthful.
"So about the book. I accidently left it back at my apartment, but if you don't mind the delay, I could run up and get it after the coffee. It's not far from here." she said, her tone apologetic now.
"It's no problem at all. I swear, if my head wasn't attached to my body, I would forget it some days." I laughed. It was true; I tended to be a bit absentminded when I was preoccupied.
"Yeah, I know the feeling" she said and smiled at me again.
We finished up our coffee and started walking towards her apartment. It had started to pour, and by the time we got to her door we were both soaked in the freezing rain. My teeth were chattering and I was shivering. I glanced at Rosemay, who was almost doubled over from the cold. She fumbled for her keys and opened the door.
"C-come on in S-szayel, lets g-get dried o-off." she chattered at me. She went and got some towels for me, and I immediately dried myself off as best I could.
"T-thanks." I said, still cold.
"No problem. Let me get you something to wear, and I'll throw your things in the dryer. The bathroom is over there."
"Uh huh." I said and took the clothes she handed to me. I went to the bathroom and changed, and handed her my wet things, slightly embarrassed. I think she could tell from the look on my face.
"No need to look so shy. These are my brother's old things, its no problem." she said, having already changed herself.
"I didn't know you had a brother." I replied, still uncomfortable in the tight black jeans and sleeveless muscle shirt I had on.
"Well, adopted brother really. I kind of adopted him when I moved here. He was 16. His name was Jailyn, and he died a few years ago, but I kept some of his things. I'm surprised they fit you."
Her voice wavered a bit as she told me that.
"Oh. I'm so sorry." I said with sincerity. I felt almost as if I was defiling his clothes by wearing them.
"Don't be, it's not your fault after all. That was at least 4 years ago." she said, voice more in control now.
Her eyes was so sad, I felt an overwhelming urge to hold her. Ugh, Szayel, get a grip, I told myself. You barely know her.
"Oh, here's the book. I guess we'll be discussing it inside, since its still raining." she said, handing it to me.
"Thanks again." I said, as I sat down and began to read. My eyes skimmed over her notes and markings, and within 3 hours, I had finished. The rain still hadn't let up at all though, but she seemed content to lay on the couch with her iPod. I wondered vaguely what she was listening to, and was about to ask her when she got up to stretch.
"Oh, you're done already? Wow, and I thought I read fast. So how was it? Did you like it? What about the part where he was describing the other planes, the Above and Below, that was pretty cool, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was very...insightful. I really enjoyed it. It makes me want to see one of those creatures from Above. That would be amazing." I said eager to discuss the book with her. The author had actually hit quite a few key points to my world, or 'Below' as he called it. I really must research him more, to see how much he truly knew.
"Yeah, but wouldn't you be scared, to see something other worldly?" She asked timidly.
"Not at all. I honestly would love nothing better. I would probably question them to death though." I said, laughing. I knew of course, the only things that lived 'Above' or in Sinreti, were the soul reapers. I had plenty of information on them.
"R-really you wouldn't like, go tell someone?" she said, and I caught the tremor in her voice this time.
"Of course not. Who would believe me anyway? No, I would want to keep that to myself... Why?" I answered, curious at her change in tone.
She fidgeted a little before answering me, and I became wary.
"You want to see one Szayel? One from Above? Well, Sinreti really, but the name doesn't matter. It does exist though, and it's beautiful up there. Oh, I don't really know why I'm telling you all this, I guess I just need someone to talk to, it gets really lonely here, and I guess I could use kido to erase your memory if things got ugly but..." she faltered, looking at me.
I stared at her wide eyed. What exactly was she getting to anyway?
"Rosemay, are you trying to tell me that...that you're..Who are you then?" I began, not knowing quite what to say.
"Well, first off, my full name is really Rosemay Lillian Ichimaru. I just prefer Matsumoto. My parents are Rangiku Matsumoto and Gin Ichimaru. They are both from 'Above' or rather, they are both from Sinreti. Unfortunately, Dad left us, but that doesn't matter to me. My Dad was a Captain. Captain of the 3rd company and my Mom is the lieutenant of the 10th company. I'm the 3rd seat of the 3rd company. I've been trying to reach up to lieutenant, since Izuru took over Dads place, but...enough rambling. I'm what you would call a soul reaper."