Chapter 3 – The Unnamed Feeling

I felt warm and comfortable. A slight breeze was rustling the hair by my left ear. I sighed happily and smiled. I deeper under my old blue and yellow quilt. That's when I felt something shift on the bed behind me. My eyes shot open as I sat up and turned. I let my breath out slowly as I saw Kira laying there, a peaceful expression on his face. I traced his left cheekbone to get him to wake up. He slowly opened his eyes, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth.

"You always look so cute when you smile like that after waking up. It makes me want to jump out of bed and do a stupid little happy dance."

"That would be lovely, Jewelz," he mumbled sleepily. "What's for breakfast? I'm absolutely starving for waffles and bacon."

The lights flickered. Breakfast if ready, sister, Jonah signed quickly. T-o-s-h-i-r-o said to hurry up and get ready. He also said that you will help them find suitable clothing before they go back to Japan. Money issues will be taken care of by them.

I pushed Kira away a little. Thanks for the update, baby. Did T-o-s-h-i-r-o say what was for breakfast? Both of us are hungry like you wouldn't believe.

My younger brother smiled. Your favorite, sister. Waffles, bacon and coffee.

"Looks like you're getting your waffles and bacon, Izuru," I told the man next to me. "I'm getting my coffee, too." I yawned and stretched, my back cracking. "All of it complements of your fellow captain, Toshiro. Come on, before it gets any later."

He nuzzled my elbow before getting out of bed and waving me behind him. I stopped him and pointed out that he was wearing nothing but a pair of Jonah's old boxers. He smiled goofily as I tossed his jeans at him and straightened my oversized night shirt. Kira smiled again as we followed my brother downstairs to the kitchen. I smelled delectable scents wafting up to me when we were halfway down the carpeted stairwell.

"It's about damn time you two got your happy asses out of bed," Renji declared. "I thought for sure that you two would stay up there all day and make us starve to death."

"Morning to you, too, Red," I snapped. "If it were up to me, we would have. If you don't want to starve, there's a Burger King right down the street that's open for twenty-four hours. Now lay off before I bash your stupid red-haired pineapple looking head in. I just woke up and I'm hungry."

I took the only empty chair, Kira taking a rather protective stance behind me. Toshiro set a plate of waffles and bacon in front of me with a bottle of syrup and a cup of coffee. I drizzled the syrup over both breakfast foods as Ayasegawa and Ikkaku got up, heading for the couch and the television set. Kira sat next to me as I began shoveling my breakfast into my almost overeager mouth.

"Slow down, Jewelz," Kira chided. "Unless you want to choke, you should know that I am a little out of practice with what you call CPR here."

I swallowed. "Sorry, Izuru," I said, taking a sip of coffee. "When I'm hungry, don't bother me. Ask Dad and he'll tell you the God honest truth."

"I haven't heard anyone use Kira's given name since we were placed in the Fifth Division. It was always Kira this and Kira that up until now. Man I miss our Academy days. By the way, Izuru, have you heard from Shuhei-senpai recently?"

"You mean apart from the fact that he's keeping your bed warm, Renji?"

"Very funny, Kira," the red-head muttered. "I wouldn't be talking about keeping beds warm when you slept with him the night he graduated."

Kira turned beet red at that. "That was personal, Renji. I would have told you, Jewelz, but I figured that it was too soon to divulge any more secrets."

"I've dated a bisexual guy before, so it doesn't bother me, Izuru," I mumbled around a mouthful of waffles. "I assure you it's fine." I swallowed before turning to Renji. "What's going on between you and this Shuhei person, Red?"

"Nothing of any kind of importance," he chuckled.

I shrugged and finished my waffles. Kira was halfway through his bacon when I pushed my plate away and started in on my coffee. I looked over the rim of my cup at him. He patted me on the back of my right hand lovingly. I smiled into my coffee before setting my cup down and resting my chin on my left fist. I was seriously starting to think that Izuru Kira was stealing my heart. He pulled his hand back and took a sip of his own coffee while I took another sip of mine.

"Oi! Toshiro! Jonah told me that you would be providing the funds for your wardrobe while you stay here. And Izuru told me about how your glasses are always getting broken whenever you get into a fight with that Ichigo kid, Red. I'm going with you to find a pair that's in the here and now. And I think that I can raid Dad's closet for you, Ikkaku."

The bald man tilted his head back a little in Ayasegawa's lap to look at me. He smiled at my offer as the effeminate man laid a hand on his rather long neck. I wiggled my eyebrows at him and he chuckled, returning his attention to whatever he was watching with his girly boyfriend. They were staying in the guest room next door to mine, so I heard everything that went on between them. Kira cleared his throat and I looked at him.

"What's up, Izuru?" I asked quietly.

"I'm not really one for shopping. I guess it's because I was always so used to having my clothes being fitted by the people I hired with the money my parents left me after they died. I don't even know what would look good on me anyways."

I laid my hand over his clenched left fist and squeezed lovingly. I knew that it was hard for him to talk about his parents. He twitched his hand until he was clasping my fingers in his thin, pale ones. He smiled at me, let go of my hand and turned to finish his breakfast. We had both finished our coffee when Renji took our plates and cups to the sink and began scrubbing relentlessly on both syrup-sticky plates. I gave Kira a questioning look.

"He always got stuck with Kitchen duty when we were at the Academy," he answered. "So, Toshiro, when are we leaving on our 'shopping' trip?"

"As soon as everyone is dressed and ready, including the two love birds snogging out there on the couch."

I looked through the doorway leading to the living room to see that Toshiro's cold underlying order had broken the rather intimate contact between the two men. Renji snickered at the sink, Toshiro snorted from the bottom of the stairs and I felt Kira's knowing squeeze on my forearm. I rolled my eyes and stood up, pulling Kira up with me. We made our way upstairs so that I could get dressed and ready for the day before raiding Dad's closet for the six foot tall bald man lounging on the couch. I pulled out my favorite pink off the shoulder top, Mom warned me about boys like you…I can't wait! printed in sparkling white letters on it, and my famous Xana Die jeans with a dragon stitched in green and blue just under the lip of the left pocket. I kissed Kira on the cheek, handed him his shirt and made for the bathroom on the opposite side of the room Ayasegawa and Ikkaku were using. I shut the door, turned the water on, stripped and got in. I had just rinsed the shampoos from my shoulder length magenta hair when I heard the door squeak open.

"Jewelz?" Kira asked. "Jonah wanted to know where you went. I told him that you were in the shower. Is that okay?"

I poked my head around the shower curtain and saw that Kira's head was just inside the doorway. I grabbed my towel, turned the water off, dried my wet skin, and got dressed before pushing past Kira and making a bee-line for Jonah's bedroom. I flicked the light switch a couple times to get my younger brother's attention. He looked up at me.

What's up, baby? I asked. What's so damned important that you had to get me out of the shower for?

R-e-n-j-i told me that we're supposed to be in the S-e-i-r-e-i-t-e-I right now. Did he tell you this, sister?

Yes. About a week ago. Besides, you're still not well enough to even travel what they call the P-r-e-c-i-p-i-c-e W-o-r-l-d. remember when the doctor told you that you need at least a two month recovery time? We need to wait at least another week and a half before we go.

I want to leave as soon as possible though, sister, he whined. Both of us are already done with our degrees, so why can't we leave now?

Doctor's orders, baby, I replied. You know how you get when you travel after Doctor M-a-n-i-f-r-e-d tells you get plenty of bed rest. That includes traveling to the S-o-u-l S-o-c-e-i-t-y.

He slumped his shoulders, nodded and lay back down to finish his book. I turned to Kira. The look on his face told me that he understood enough to tell Renji that we wouldn't be leaving for another week and a half. I leaned my forehead against his and wrapped my arms around his neck. He snaked his arms around my waist and held me close. A few long moments later, I pulled away from him.

"I still need to find clothes for Ikkaku, Izuru," I whispered. "Care to help?"

He nodded and smiled, following me like a lost puppy to the master bedroom's rather expansive closet on the first floor. I cleared my throat when I reached the living room. Ayasegawa looked over at me and signed that Ikkaku had fallen asleep. The bald man's bare feet were resting on the arm rest closest to me, so I decided to begin wiggling each individual toe to wake him up. By the time I got to the toe next to his pinky toe, he was still asleep and Ayasegawa was smiling like an idiot. I wiggled his pinky toe and he shot up, reaching for what I guess was his sword.

"Calm down, Ikkaku-kun," the peacock said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "We'll be leaving to find some decent clothing in a few minutes, so Jewelz is helping you by going through her father's closet to find something that fits you a little better before we head out."

"Yeah, what he said, Baldy," I said, hiding behind Kira. "Would you really strike the woman that's trying to help you look even a little normal?"

"I don't care if she's trying to help me get a hard on! If she calls me 'Baldy' even one more time, she's still gonna get it!"

Kira and I slowly backed out of the room while Ayasegawa tried to calm his raging bald lover down. I couldn't help but smile when we were standing just outside the master bedroom across the hallway from the first floor half bath. Kira leaned into me, our lips connecting and his thin fingers running through my still damp hair. My left hand left hand rested on his ribcage while my right arm was draped over his shoulder, my fingers twirling his pale blonde neck hairs. A double vibration under my shoulder blades told me that someone besides Jonah and Kira wanted my attention. Kira pulled away to see who it was and he frowned, turning back to me. I looked.

"What's up, Toshiro?"

"We're leaving for the nearest department store. Jonah gave us his 'cell phone' so that the four of you can find us."

With that, he turned and left, Ikkaku almost immediately taking his place. An evil smile played across his lips before a loud thunk met my ears. Ikkaku was rubbing his bowed head and I could see Ayasegawa holding a bamboo sword over where he had just smacked the bald Third Seat.

"Keep him in line with this, if you can. See you later, you two."

We both nodded as we lead Ikkaku into Dad's closet. I immediately began pulling shirts and pants off hangars and handed them to Kira. I looked at the six foot tall bald man with my left eye while I scrunched my right eye closed. I took a pair of pants from Kira, shoved them at Ikkaku and pointed him to the bathroom that was caddy corner across from the closet. He nodded once, made for the bathroom and shut the door loudly.

"Now what?"

"Now we wait for a few minutes."

I weighed the bamboo sword in my left hand until Ikkaku came stumbling out, Dad's blue jeans showing the waistband of yet another pair of Jonah's old boxers. I almost choked and I heard Kira's quick breathy intake of air. I turned back to the closet to find a belt, which was hanging from the hook on the door. I rolled it up and tossed to Ikkaku, who caught it easily. After looping it through the belt loops, he tightened it until he could fasten it comfortably. He then pulled off the tight little shirt he had on, tossing it on top of the too short pants he arrived in.

"Those work. Try this shirt."

I tossed him a vintage Mountain Dew shirt and he pulled it on quickly. The red Dew lettering was just enough to draw attention to his red eye markings. I smiled at him, gave a double thumbs up and turned to Kira. I held up a vintage Captain America shirt, pointed to his Hello Kitty top and snapped. He nodded and quickly changed them out, tossing the blue shirt on top of Ikkaku's pile. The blue tied in with his eye color while the red of the costume clashed lightly with his corn silk colored hair.

"Now we can leave without drawing too much attention to ourselves. I just need to send a text to Toshiro and the rest to tell them that we're on our way. I almost want to say that I can't wait for this day to end!"

I felt Ikkaku behind me, reaching for the slim bamboo sword. I spun around grabbed it and smacked him neatly on the forehead.

"I'll be holding on to this for a while, Ikkaku. Renji told me about your temper tantrums when someone brings up your rather smooth head. I didn't believe him until a few minutes ago."

He started rubbing the red spot on his forehead, grumbling about abuse. I sighed, pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a text to Jonah's phone. I waved the two seated officers behind me so that I could get Jonah and meet up with Renji, Toshiro and Ayasegawa. I motioned for them to stay by the front door while I beelined for Jonah's room at the top of the stairs. I flicked the lights twice and waited. My younger brother looked up at me, a question in his eyes.

We're ready to leave, baby. I-k-k-a-k-u looks decent and K-i-r-a's outfit is much improved just because he changed his top. I'm glad I talked Dad into keeping those shirts.

The vintage ones? Which ones did you use on them sister?

Yes. I used the Mountain Dew one on Baldy and the Captain America one for my Blondie. Now come on, baby. We have a date with a shopping spree.

He stood and followed me, a great big smile on his face. We met up with Kira and Ikkaku at the front door a few minutes later. I had just locked the front door behind me when my phone vibrated, signaling that I had gotten a text message. I pulled it out, flipping it open. I read the text quickly before closing it and pushing it back into my pocket.

"They're at the Regency Dillard's," I announced to my small group. "I guess that we can get taxi out there. Otherwise it's a long walk. Right, baby?"

Jonah nodded. I lead the way to the top of the street before whistling shrilly for a cab. I saw Kira wince out of the corner of my eye. Ikkaku merely yawned and began twisting his left pinky in his ear. Jonah gripped my hand tightly. I squeezed it in a comforting a living way as a taxi stopped in front of us. I ushered Jonah into the backseat first with me closely behind him and Kira closely behind me. Ikkaku climbed into the front seat with a snort.

"Where to, you four?"

"Regency Square Mall, please. We're meeting some friends out there."

"Did one have white hair?"

"Yeah," I answered. "One had red hair and the other one had feathers attached to his face. Why do you ask?"

"I just drove them out there. The white haired kid paid me to come back and get you for your ride out there."

What's going on, sister?

T-o-s-h-i-r-o has already paid our way to Regency, baby. Don't worry about it anymore. Just worry about how you can help the S-o-u-l R-e-a-p-e-r-s.

He nodded as he turned to the world outside the car window. Kira reached his left arm around my shoulders and I leaned into him. A few minutes later, the cab stopped at the entrance to the Regency Square Food Court. I handed the driver a five dollar bill as thanks and all four of us scrambled to get into the mall. Ikkaku was walking in front of us, his hands clasped behind his bald head, Kira was to my right, our fingers laced together, and Jonah was lagging behind to my left, his right hand knotted in the fabric of my shirt.

We stepped inside and Ikkaku began to look at the map. He was tilting his head every which way to try and understand what he was looking at. I chuckled as I stepped up next to him.

"We are here," I explained, pointing to a yellow marker with my left index finger. "We want to be here." Next, I pointed to large purple area with DILLARD'S printed in the middle. "However, there are a few places that I want to check out on the way there. Of course, I'll have to get a hold of Toshiro and tell him."

"Tell me what, Bluewind?" Toshiro drawled from my right.

"There are a few places that I want to go to between here and Dillard's," I answered. "I promise that I won't take long. And we still need lunch. I'm sure that you won't mind giving my brother his phone back while you're standing here."

The four and a half foot captain handed the slim silver flip phone to my brother and headed toward one of the restaurants on the outer edge of the food court. Ayasegawa looped his right arm around Ikkaku's waist, his left hand held out for the bamboo sword tucked under my own belt. I handed it to him and both men followed Toshiro's lead toward the chosen restaurant. I laced my fingers with Kira's again and allowed Jonah to keep his grip on the back of my shirt.

"What can I get for you today?" the girl behind the counter asked.

"Two orders of General Tso's chicken, three egg rolls and an extra order of rice, steamed and white, if you please."

She nodded as her fingers flew across her register keyboard, buttons beeping as they were hit. She rattled off the total and I dug out a twenty from my back pocket, handing it to her. She gave me the change, I thanked her and the three of us joined the four Soul Reapers waiting for their food.

"What places did you want to hit, Jewelz?"

"Several that you wouldn't know about. There's Hot Topic, Spencer's, Old Navy and a few others that I'm really debating on right now. Oh! And there's a sunglasses store right next door to Spencer's that you would like, Renji. Their prices are much more affordable than that place you told me about that you like to go to in the Soul Society. And they hold up better in fights. I would know because I bought a pair and they busted after my fifth fight."