CHAPTER 3

Uryu felt the darkness around him disappear by swirling with the light. He could hear something in the distant. Something familiar yet he couldn't place his finger on it. He pulled the comforter up over his head. More ringing, closer and more insistent and they were vexing him. He groaned and willed the metallic clanging away.

Apparently whichever God was on duty that day had decided to ignore his pleadings and proceed to make his day terrible.

Ring, ring, ring, ring, riiinnnggggggg.

With a resigned sigh he got up from his warm and comfortable bed. As he slipped on a midnight blue sleeping robe he was almost tempted to slide back in-between the sheets. But it seems that whoever that had decided to visit him was persistent. Slipping on some warm fuzzy slippers he headed towards the front door.

Ring, ring, ring, ring, riiinnnggggggg, riiinnnggggggg.

He quickened his pace and called out.

'' I'm coming, I'm coming!''

Then he mumbled quietly to himself.

''Keep your pants on will ya'.''

Keeping the chain on, he opened the door and gazed out to see who his visitor was.

He was met with a small figure with short black hair and a blinding smile. That exuded malice than warmth.

'' Uryu Ishida! How dare you! You came here after six years and did not even call me or visit me! What is the meaning of this?!''

Uryu quirked his eyebrow then promptly shut the door on the person's face.

Only to have the small creature bang on the door with much more force than she should be able to muster.

'' Go away!''

Honestly, it was too early for him to deal with a loud and relentless woman hammering down his door. It was 7.30 a.m. damn it! He needed his morning batch of hot-chocolate before actually allowing his brain to function properly.

''I swear I will bring down this door in the count of three. One, two…''

Uryu knew very well that she was one to keep promises and not wanting any of his property damaged he unchained the door and held it open.

'' Rukia, don't you ever fucking give up?''

'' You and I both know the answer to that''

Uryu sighed.

'' Don't make yourself feel at home. Just sit on the couch and keep quite''

Rukia opened her mouth to protest only to be silenced by Uryu's Index finger and intense glare.

'' At least until I make drinks and properly wake up so please''

Rukia 'hmmphed' but promptly plopped herself on the couch and let her gaze wander around the household.

'Bloody stuck up', she mumbled to herself.

''I heard that Rukia and thank you, it's an honor to rile you up''

The short haired woman played with a loose strand of hair and couldn't help but let a small smile show on her face. When she had heard from Ichigo that Uryu was back in town she was beyond excited. She has not seen him for over six years and wanted to see how he was doing.

Apparently not too bad by the looks of things because Uryu being Uryu was already done unpacking all his things but the décor was sparse. There was a floor to ceiling two door book cabinet made out of polished wood. She strode over to check out the books.

One side of the cabinet was filled with books related to the medical field. Journals, compendiums and biographies adorned the shelves. The other shelves was filled with assorted books ranging from crime novels, fantasy works to hobby-related books like sewing, crafts-making, simple cook books, travelling, archery and kick-boxing.

What caught her eyes were a few photo albums tucked in randomly between those books. She was tempted to browse through them as by the sounds of clanking utensils from the kitchen Uryu was still in the midst of making drinks. But she refrained and went back to her seat.

Despite liking the fact that she could just about loosen up anyone with her unrelenting attitude she respected people's personal space and doesn't like to pry. For one, she knew that Uryu was very reserved and likes to be left to his own devises.

She hated being left in the dark though. She knew only three people who seems to brood all the time without letting anyone know their feelings; Ichigo, Uryu and her brother. It frustrated her to high levels because she wanted to help the people she cares about yet they won't let her into their heads.

She knew for a fact that Uryu leaving for London had something to do with Ichigo. When they had first met there was always bickering between them for no apparent reasons at all.

And then Ichigo with his steadfast way of breaking through peoples barriers had somewhat changed the anti-social Uryu into a person who actually lived in the moment. And Uryu had managed to subdue Ichigo's constant gang-fights though it was a fact that he never picked fights with anybody.

Rukia figured it had something to do with the whole aura around Ichigo. He cut quite the intimidating figure with his lanky muscular build and his attention grabbing orange hair.

But having Uryu beside him had made it seem less patronizing to others. It was as if Uryu's own calm and collected aura neutralized Ichigo's own blazing one.

It also helped that Uryu had managed to convince Ichigo to pour out his energy in kick-boxing instead after finding out that he used to be in the judo club. Until his mom passed away and he couldn't face the one thing that his mother had seemed adamant on letting him learn so he had quit.

Just to make sure he didn't stop halfway Uryu was considerate enough to join in with him despite his own busy schedule with archery, the student council and the arts and crafts club. Ichigo had bristled at him and asked him to mind his own business and stop trying to change his life.

So Uryu had stopped talking to him and went back to his old self. After watching all his efforts crumbling and noting the hurt clearly displayed in Uryu's eyes Ichigo had grumpily agreed a week later, only to find himself loving the sport and enjoying every moment of it.

No one dared to question Ichigo that time in high school purely because of his physical prowess and Uryu was so influential that he would have made life hell for anyone in the school but it was painfully obvious that there was something more between them than simple friendship.

The problem was that she wasn't sure how much the boys realized it at that time. It seemed at that time that they were excessively dependent on each other and flirting without them actually realizing it although it never went anywhere more than that.

Though after Uryu left Rukia began wondering if they had gone past the flirting barrier and kept it well hidden from everyone else. Ichigo's crestfallen face as Uryu had told everyone that he was leaving was forever etched into her memory because it was something she had never seen before. It was the rawest emotion he had ever let pass.

It was further confirmed when Tatsuki had voiced her worry that it was the same expression he wore after his mother had passed away. Somehow the fact that he let himself look so vulnerable in front of anyone meant that he was not as okay as he said he was with the news.

Whatever it was had messed up their lives pretty bad. At first, Rukia was worried when she heard that Uryu was back in town. Ichigo was after all just starting a relationship.

Grimm was not exactly the portrayal of a perfect man and worth as much trouble as he looks as but he loved Ichigo more than anything and was not abashed on letting it show. Of course when Ichigo said the meeting had gone well she was relieved. Maybe whatever was that happened between them it was long over.

They were grown-ups now and they had their respective lives to live. Past ghost were better left undisturbed. It brought to mind something else.

Was Uryu in a relationship?

It didn't seem that way. If he did, he would have never left her and come back to the small town of Karakura in the first place.

'But the sudden popping-out-of-nowhere gig could have happened because of a bad break off' she thought.

Uryu may seem cold and distant but anyone can see and tell that he takes relationships seriously. Who wouldn't fall for a successful neuro-surgeon with a sexy looks to match?

Speak of the devil, there he came with a tray of drinks and…was that cookies? What did he think she was 8? Even worse was when she saw that it was those tiny nibbly ones, shaped as adorable bunny heads [1].

Rukia huffed.

'' What the hell are those?''

'' Gold bars. What the fuck do they look like? Its biscuits.''

'' I can see that but why the hell are they shaped like bunnies?''

'' Who gives a fuck what they look like! It's just gonna' go in your stomach!'' Exclaimed Uryu.

'' I am not eating them. Get me something else''

Uryu glared harshly at her and motioned to the plate of snacks. Then he hissed out slowly.

'' Stop bloody patronizing me. Either eat it or go to hell. There's nothing else to serve. I'm all out. I thought I'll go grocery shopping later.''

Rukia returned his glare for all but 10 seconds before sighing in defeat. Then she shrugged her shoulder and said '' I didn't come here to fight with you''.

Uryu leaned back on the couch with the cup of drink in his hand and he too sighing, added apologetically.

''I know and I'm sorry. I have a hangover and not feeling so great right now.''

This surprised Rukia a great deal. Uryu and hangovers should not be in the same sentence. No way!

She sputtered '' You? A hangover? You're joking right?''

Uryu's brow furrowed and he said.

'' There's so much you don't know about me, Rukia. I'm a changed man now. There are things I do now that would surprise you''

Rukia hmmphed again.

Uryu smiled and continued again.

'' Just like you who now hates bunnies''.

Rukia gave him a wistful smile.

'' Yeah, I guess. When I loved it while I was younger others thought it was childish but now that I'm over that phase everyone seems to try and shove the little icon at my face. It's really annoying.''

Uryu chuckled at that. Both of them sipped tea for a few seconds in complete silence.

Until Rukia tackled the situation head on by slamming her cup down and asked '' I need to know this and want you to not lie to me please. Back in high school, you and Ichigo? Was there more to it than just friendship? were you , you know…''

'' Dating?'' Uryu supplied.

'' Yes. Were you?'' she asked back.

Uryu sighed and gently placed his cup on the table. He just knew in his heart this was coming and that there's no a avoiding it. when it came to Rukia, even locking her up doesn't stop the women.

'' yes, we were dating'' he said brusquely.

'' and then you broke up?'' she asked.

'' yes''.

'' can you tell me why?'' she asked curiously.

'' I would rather not''.

An odd look passed on Rukia's face and Uryu realized that he might have hurt her feelings. He amended his stupid mistake. He started munching the biscuits feverishly.

'' I'm sorry, it's not you. It's me. I just…can't think of it right now. But the reason was stupid I can tell you that. Just some insecurities and pride and general lack of common sense.''

Rukia smiled slightly.

'' it's alright. It doesn't matter, I guess. But whatever happened, you're a mess now Uryu. And I think you have been ever since then, and I'm afraid you're going to keep on being a mess, and I don't know how if I can stand to watch you do this to yourself." she said.

Uryu stopped in the act of shoving the next biscuit into his mouth halfway through that; by the time she got to the end, they were sitting uneasily in his stomach. Rukia looked very close to crying, and that was no good at all. That was so far from good that it bordered on an end-of-the-world line.

"Rukia," he said, uncomfortable. "Really, I'm fine." He was not used to women crying around him.

Rukia shook her head, and if anything, the attempt at reassurance made her look like she felt worse. "You're really not fine," she insisted. "You won't talk about Ichigo and I'm sure you haven't dated since back then, and—"

"I date!" Uryu protested the false claim.

The smile Rukia gave him was distressingly watery. "Taking people home from the bars and sleeping with them isn't dating, and you know it. And I know this because I saw the jacket your 'date' had left behind and the condom packet under the chair you are sitting in''.

'' tell me straight to my face that you haven't had done that before because I know you have before you got engaged to Renji'' if he was going down it won't be without a fight. A damn good fight.

"But the difference between you and me is that I have had relationships," she said, doing that scary women intuition thing. "I've had several relationships since we graduated. And the only reason I did that was because Renji was being a dick and ignoring me even when I shamelessly made a pass at him"

Uryu's mind raced "I've had relationships."

She gave him her famous glare. '' I dare you to name at least four''

Oops. Work brain work! '' I only had a few short flings here before having more serious ones in London'' he said calmly.

'' name one of your short flings. Here And it damn well not be Szayel. He doesn't count'' she countered.

'' why not?!''

''Keeping someone around and sleeping with them several times over a long weekend doesn't count."

Damn. Though maybe he could see where she was coming from on the Szayel front, since it wasn't like he was really ever in town enough to count as anything but a pretty reliable drinking buddy and hookup. "Well, maybe I don't really want to get into a relationship, huh? Did you ever think of that? I know you know there's a lot of fun in meaningless sex."

'' don't you dare change the subject!'' she said, suddenly fierce. "This isn't about me, it's about you. If I thought you were happy just sleeping around, that would be one thing, but you're not happy and I know it's because you're too afraid to let yourself try for anything that even looks like it's a relationship, and maybe if you'd just deal with whatever it was that happened between you and Ichigo, then maybe you could stop going around in circles like this and maybe you'd actually let yourself be happy!"

He wanted to argue with her—he was so happy right now, why did Rukia think that she knew him better than he knew himself, for fuck's sake—but being irritated and defensive took a back seat when Rukia reached up and dashed the tears off her cheek. Fuck. "Hey." He put the forgotten plate of biscuits down and slid over to her on the couch. "Hey, please don't do that, Rukia, c'mon, it's nothing serious enough to be worth fussing over—" And because it was Rukia, it was easy and not awkward to put his arms around her and pull her against him. she was always hugging him or tackling him back then anyway.

She made a sound between a hiccup and—something else. "Why are you so stupid?"

Uryu cocked up an eyebrow and said '' really? Because I've been called a genius actually''.

It made her sock him one on the shoulder, but the bruise was worth when she let loose a hiccup and a giggle. He tucked her under his chin and patted her back gently. "Seriously, it's okay. I'm okay. I promise I am. I've got a great friend and I'm not gonna date anyone who isn't at least as awesome as she is. Since I'm pretty sure that's impossible, I'll just have to make do with all the meaningless sex I can stand. It's a hard life, but I'll soldier on somehow. I'm just all noble that way." He said straight faced.

The emotional woman drew a shuddering breath and let it out slowly. "You're an idiot," she said again, very softly. "You really are Uryu."

"Yeah if you say so but it's worked out pretty well for me so far." He patted her shoulder. "Try not to worry so much, huh? You're just gonna wear yourself out."

She sighed again and pulled away from him. She wiped her eyes and didn't look at him. "If you change your mind about talking about this..."

"I'm not going to change my mind, because there's not anything to talk about." he said it firmly and hoped that she'd take it to heart, but when she bit her lip, he relented. "I know where to find you," he said as gently as he knew how.

'' fine then'' she said, wiping her eyes one last time and straightening her shoulders. She looked at the empty plate and gaped. "Uryu you fat-ass did you finish all the cookies?"

'' what?! I'm a nervous eater ok? Now you know my deep dark secret.'' He said with a smile.

'' I don't believe it! You stuff your face and yet you're so skinny!'' she huffed.

After half an hour of discussing the perils of carbs to her body, Uryu dragged her out to go grocery shopping so she could stop her headache inducing talk about weights and woman figure and Renji being a bastard about not noticing how much effort she puts into maintaining her figure.

But secretly he was glad she was fine again. The loud Rukia was what he was used to not the crying mess she was before. Especially when it was about him.

She was right. He was not fine. Seeing Grimmjow and Ichigo together had crushed his spirit. But he'll keep it to himself. She will distract him from the heartache with her cheery presence and that's everything that he needs now.

TBC

A/N: phew, that was one darn long chapter. I hope this format is ok now. I know the past chapter formatting was shit. I'm too lazy to take it down and change it so I'll leave it be right now. I wanna' thank Isame sempai for the idea to this. She said that just because it's a yaoi story doesn't mean Rukia or Orihime need crap thrown at them so I just had the prompt to do this scene.

In the next chapter Uryu gets to meet Szayel and something important ensues. Will Uryu give up on Ichigo and move on? Let's see shall we?

I'm not giving up on this story yet despite how freakin hard it is to write it down the way I want it and the way that readers might enjoy it. Seriously, I'm shitting bricks trying to move this story on. Apparently having the start and the ending but not the middle part of the plot is a stupid way to write a story.

Anyway, thanks for reading and supporting despite how awful I am…;(. I love you guys!

*dramatic sobs*