Cloud didn't know if he should be worried or not. For the past few days the stranger with orange hair hadn't come in. Were you supposed to worry when a regular didn't appear? But then Cloud had to ask himself if the orange haired stranger was a regular, didn't you normally know your regulars by their names? And he sure as hell didn't know that guy's name. As far as he knew no one at the club did. He was a mystery, the silent type, but weren't they usually the deadly ones? As there were too many questions were on his mind he'd asked Tifa to come and help him tend bar at the club and thankfully she'd said yes in a heartbeat apparently she was in need of cash desperately.
"Cloud!" she called and he looked up to see the soda pump still running as his mind had wandered again. He cursed quietly and cleaned up the mess. As always the customers failed to notice, but knowing he was ruining his club; he went out for air to clear his head.
He knew this was bad he was letting his private life affect his work life and that was something he had always said he would never let happen. However something about that customer had got under his skin and he wasn't leaving there any time soon. Knowing he had to go back in to the club Cloud ran a hand through his hair disorganising the spikes and breathing in deeply. When he had relaxed again, he walked into the club through the back door and entered the back of the bar not making eye contact with anyone. He went to pick up a glass and froze when he saw the orange haired stranger talking animatedly to a petite dark haired beauty. That was when Cloud noticed he was alone behind the bar and was being waved over by the stranger. He had no choice he had to go over, he had to serve them.
"So what will it be?" Cloud asked feeling the dull pang of jealousy.
"One whiskey sour and a tequila sunrise for the lady," He replied smiling at Cloud who made the drinks and took the bill that was slid towards him, "Keep the change," The stranger said and Cloud smiled automatically and even he knew it was cold and unconvincing.
"Thank you Sir," He said and the female that was the stranger's companion frowned.
"Ichigo you come here every night and the bartender doesn't even know your name?" The girl looked furious "What sort of club is this?" Before Cloud could apologise the customer threw up his hand.
"Rukia I never asked his name either so please don't blame him."
"Idiot!" The woman called Rukia commented as she slapped him around the back of the head, the stranger just smiled as if it were nothing new.
"You just get back from London where you've been for three years and one of the first things you call me is idiot." He shook his head, "So before the pair of us gets shouted at even more..." He said smiling, "I'm Ichigo, Ichigo Kurosaki. What do they call you around here then?" He asked looking at Cloud closely. At the look Cloud almost stepped back, because even in the dim light of the club he could see Ichigo's eyes sparkling. He gulped a few times before he spoke.
"I'm Cloud Strife, I own this club." Ichigo nodded trying to hide his surprise and Rukia blushed.
"Cloud... what a heavenly name. It's so much better than yours Ichigo." At that comment Ichigo pushed her off her bar stool and when she stood her eyes were almost level with the bar. "Well it was nice meeting you Cloud." She said raising a hand above the bar for him to shake, "And Ichigo I'll see you at work tomorrow."
"Ah," was Ichigo's reply as Rukia turned to leave the club. Cloud sighed and let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. He looked at the bar counter and saw that both drinks were finished.
"You didn't let the ice melt this time..." Cloud commented "Are you not planning to stay?" Ichigo followed Cloud's line of sight and smiled.
"The reason for this is because we were celebrating her return that's all. Cloud I would very much like the same again." Ichigo slid the money across the bar and Cloud covered the money and Ichigo's hand briefly shaking his head.
"Like the other day it's on the house." He said and pulled his hand away from Ichigo's impossibly cool skin.
"Awesome," Was Ichigo's only reply, the bar was practically empty so after making a few drinks he was back at Ichigo's side.
"What is it that you do?" Cloud asked leaning over the counter lightly.
"I'm a designer, interiors mostly... I did this place." He said with a smirk. "I set myself a brief of a club that I would want to go to in the Ginza. It would be stupid if I didn't after all my hard work."
"But..." Cloud said confused pushing a hand through his spikes. "I only met a tall guy with blonde hair and a fan and a thin guy with black hair and glasses." He said and then added mentally if I'd met you I would have remembered.
"Yeah they are my business partners Kisuke Urahaha and Uryuu Ishida." Cloud nodded remembering the names, "There are seven us in all that make up the company Urahara Shoten. Don't ask why it's called Urahara's shop when he does hardly anything." Ichigo said shaking his head.
"But how can you design a place you have never seen?" Cloud asked intrigued
"I did see it," Ichigo replied "The video walkthrough was taken for me. I was given the project while I was working in another town so I couldn't get back here to see the place before the deadline."
"So that's why you come here every night?" Ichigo nodded "So where have you been the last few?"
"It sounds like you missed me..." Ichigo said smirking and Cloud had to look at the floor his face red with shame. Ichigo laughed playfully and replied; "overtime at work I'm designing a restaurant down the street," Cloud nodded and wandered up the bar to make some drinks. Cloud couldn't believe how much it embarrassed him that Ichigo had found him out, but after chatting to a female customer Cloud turned around and found that Ichigo had gone.
Ichigo couldn't understand it; why was he still waiting outside the club two hours after he had left it? Cloud had been making drinks so Ichigo had thought it was better if he vanished, but as soon as he'd gotten outside he didn't want to leave. He just stood leaning against the wall opposite the door. He watched as the lights went off and the remaining customers blew through the doors in a rush. They all looked at Ichigo and smiled invitingly; Ichigo smiled back, but didn't move so the group moved on. He stood for a further half an hour before he saw the blonde spikes and red shirt walking towards the door, but with Cloud so near Ichigo's nerve wavered and he hid in the shadows.
Cloud came out the door and locked it feeling eyes on the back of his neck, when he finished he turned and saw a shock of orange hair in the shadows of the building opposite and smiled at Ichigo its owner. At the smile Ichigo strode across the road and pushed Cloud up against the glass door, he was about to say something to Cloud, but he never got the chance as Cloud firmly pressed his lips against Ichigo's. Cloud stepped forward sliding his legs between Ichigo's and held his face firmly between his hands kissing him deeply. When Cloud broke the kiss the only thing Ichigo could say was,
"Wow!" The only person that had been that forward with him before was Grimmjow the property lawyer and since that had ended a few months before on a low note Ichigo had been robbed of company and was lonely.
"Wow?" Cloud asked his voice hitched due to lack of breath, "Was that a good wow or not?" He seemed so self conscious that it made Ichigo grin, he felt stupid that he had even compared the two even for a second when they were nothing alike. Grimmjow had never cared for the consequences of his actions and the fact that Cloud had warmed Ichigo deeply. At the worry on Cloud's face all images of razor sharp cheekbones and spiked blue hair were gone. He leaned into Cloud and whispered into his ear.
"That was a really good wow." At that Cloud chuckled,
"I'm glad because I thought it was good myself." He confided innocently,
"Ah," Ichigo replied "But I think I need one more try..." With that he pushed Cloud back, "I need a second taste." Cloud's eyes widened and his mouth became the most adorable O as Ichigo pressed closer to Cloud and kissed him licking his lips lightly when he had done. Cloud felt himself sigh and as if a floodgate had been opened his head was tilted back and he felt his knees buckle slightly as he slid down the glass as Ichigo became more ferocious and hungry. As the pair were of comparable height to get a better angle on the kiss one of them had to crouch a little; this time it was Cloud as Ichigo had robbed the higher ground so Cloud had to hold the door frame for support. He felt Ichigo's tongue outline his teeth and then pull back. Ichigo's hands were in his hair raking though the spikes and then suddenly Ichigo's hands were on the nape of his neck and Cloud shivered in delight and at that physical response Ichigo chuckled. Ichigo broke the kiss with a sly smile on his lips and rested a hand on Cloud's chest.
"Yeah wow... good wow." Ichigo said seductively "You taste good," Cloud blushed and felt the heat rise all over his body, that comment had robbed him of all rational thought and notions of words, his head was spinning. Ichigo smiled again and rubbed Cloud's lips that had now become swollen from the prolonged contact. "See you tomorrow Cloud," He chuckled again and turned to leave. He took a step away and his hand was grabbed and turned palm up. Ichigo felt the heavy indent of a pen on his skin and looked to Cloud to see a pen cap between his teeth and a phone number being written on his palm. He grinned when he took his hand back. "What's this for?" He asked
"In case you know... you want to talk anytime outside the club." Ichigo nodded and took out his cell phone to programme the number in. With that done Cloud turned to leave and his phone rang; he took it out to check and not recognising the number he picked up.
"Well you know we are outside the bar..." He heard Ichigo say in his earpiece and out loud, Cloud spun around and watched Ichigo snap his phone shut.
"Was there no other way to give me your number?" Cloud grumbled his blue eyes wide and as turbulent as a sea storm.
"At that moment... no not that I could think of," Ichigo said truthfully. Cloud shook his head gently his spikes swaying and his earring clinking gently. He felt Ichigo's scorching chocolate brown eyes on him and looked up. "I was going to leave." Ichigo said, "But now I very much want to stay," Cloud gulped loudly, "Too fast?" Ichigo asked his eyebrows rose in shock and Cloud nodded.
"Just a little bit," the club owner clarified. Ichigo kissed him quickly robbing Cloud of breath and then smiled at him again. Cloud loved his face without the permanent frown it was so much more open and young.
"Ok," Ichigo sighed, "I'll go and I'll see you tomorrow." He walked off and this time Cloud let him leave crumpling in to the side of the building his knees weak.
