A/N: so the next chapter will be from Rukia's perspective. Additionally, for each pair, I have used their powers to group. Kubo typically makes this easy. Most of his more shipable pairs naturally have contrasting powers, like Ichigo's black bankai and Rukia's white. Some, I've had to get creative, so bear with me. Anyway, I hope you like it. I'm writing this more for myself than anything. I want to prove that I can, in fact, branch out a little from my typical style.
When I finally dozed off into a restless sleep, I found myself unceremoniously awoken by the sounds of Ichigo Kurosaki being... well Ichigo Kurosaki.
At this point, it may be a good idea for you to start getting accustomed to me listing out all the various attributes of my companion. Part of this is because, for some reason, Ichigo manages to have more unique quirks about him than anyone else I know combined.
The other part is that I need an outlet to complain.
As soon as Ichigo crash landed on earth with hair as orange as a carrot and a body as well built as an Olympian, he decided that if he were stuck on earth, he would need a few hobbies.
I've already recounted his love of alcohol and women; the hobby I am currently referring to is his strange fascination for martial arts.
I personally do not understand it myself. As Lightbringers, we have the strength to knock down buildings. We can run faster than the cars humans have so "brilliantly" designed can drive. Why Ichigo sees the need to study something as basic and trivial as martial arts is beyond me.
So there he was, awkwardly practicing his martial arts in nothing but a bathrobe he must have retrieved from the hotel bathroom.
"What the hell are you doing?" I asked him. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Six am," Ichigo said as he continued his practice. "Rise and shine princess!"
"Ugh," I groaned. "I slept so poorly last night. I don't need this."
"Oh shut up," Ichigo said, rolling his eyes. "Stop acting like you actually need to sleep."
He's right of course. Just like we don't need to eat, we don't really need to sleep. Ichigo sleeps because he enjoys it. I sleep because I once overheard a woman telling her young son that if he didn't take a nap, he would never grow up to be big and strong.
I'm not entirely sure it's working, but I tell myself I've gained a few centimeters anyway.
"But I like to sleep," I said with a sigh. Nevertheless, I knew Ichigo had won this argument and I got out of bed and proceeded to change into my clothes. "I'm going to go find some coffee. Would you like any?"
Ichigo shook his head. "Bring me back some tea instead. Green tea, preferably. It's good for cleansing your auras."
"You just made that up," I said as I went to grab my wallet off the desk.
Ichigo shrugged. "You can't prove that."
"Whatever," I said as I quickly left the room.
It was a beautiful spring day in downtown Philadelphia. Ichigo and I had chosen to fly into this city because of the heavy amounts of tourists that were constantly coming and going from America's first capital. We found that it was easier to travel to busier places. We attracted less attention that way. It wasn't like the attention we received was bad, per se, but two young, overly attractive men with oddly colored hair don't blend into crowds easily.
Unless the crowd is huge, of course.
So we prefer to stick to larger cities. London, Paris, Kyoto, Jakarta, Athens. I've been to them all. We try and never stay in a place for longer than two weeks. Not only does that aid our search for our companions, but it makes it easier that, in the event Aizen truly has sent his subordinates to track us on earth, we are harder to catch.
So I continued my stroll down the quaint little sidewalk. It was still rather early for a Saturday, so I met very few people as I wandered along. There were a few joggers, some dog walkers and a single cyclist along the road. Aside from that, I was by myself.
I headed to the first coffee shop my phone had located and walked on in. Instantly, my nostrils were filled with the soothing aroma of overpriced caffeine.
I love coffee. Possibly more than Ichigo loves alcohol.
I ordered mine and Ichigo's beverages from the barista who constantly blinked more times than necessary. If she believed this was an efficient way of flirting, she was sorely mistaken.
I bought the morning paper from a stand outside and sat down for a bit to read the headlines. I occasionally like to scan the affairs of humans. If there was anything ever… noteworthy... I would prefer to know immediately. Unfortunately, today's papers had no mention of any unexplained activity in any part of the world.
I finished by coffee and thanked the barista as I left the shop. I was just about to return to the hotel to give Ichigo his non-aura cleansing tea when my cell phone buzzed with a text message.
"2400 Third Street. Arrive at noon. Arrive Alone." It was from Urahara giving me details as to where I could get an updated ID.
When I walked into the hotel room, Ichigo had finished his martial arts for the day and was currently laying on the bed watching an episode of Friends.
"Here's your tea," I said as I handed it to him. "Also, I'll be getting my ID at noon."
"Good," said Ichigo. "I'll start to look up plane tickets." He then took a sip of the tea and immediately grimaced. 'What the hell Toshiro! It's cold."
I shrugged. "Can't help it."
My attribute of balance is one of those that is not easily summarized in a word or two. There are some, such as Minazuki and Nozarashi, the keeper of healing and the keeper of war, with clear domains. I reside over winter, the moon, the water, the snow and the cold.
They are all related, but I can't think of a category that encompasses them all perfectly. Traditionally, I am the keeper of the moon and winter. I like snow.
Officially, Tobiume is the keeper of the sun and summer but her preferred area of expertise is fire.
Never trust labels. They can be misleading.
In the end, I have a tendency to make what is in my environment a little... cold. It's not intentional. My powers over this particular attribute cannot be fully masked, even when trapped in this mortal body. This would be the official reason why it always rains or snows when I'm upset.
The unofficial reason is that it must be a mere coincidence. After all, even short, snowy haired humans can't control the weather.
By the time Ichigo had finished his lukewarm tea and I had taken a much needed shower, he had booked plane tickets to Las Vegas.
We get our money through the stock market. When you have talents as unique as ours, predicting market trends becomes relatively easy. Ichigo and I make a good living.
"Yo, Toshiro," he called out to me from the living room. "What hotel do you want to stay at?"
"One with a bed," I answered as I continued to get dressed.
"This is our first time going to Vegas," Ichigo said. "Why don't we splurge and get a suite? There's one at Caesars Palace for 800 dollars a night."
"Get whatever. I don't care."
"I'm booking it!" Ichigo said. I could hear the computer keys clack. "Alright done! I have two weeks in Vegas planned right now. We can change it as we go."
"Perfect," I said as I walked out of the bathroom fully dressed.
"It even has a living room and a kitchenette."
"Oh good, a kitchenette," I muttered. "So we can cook all the meals we don't eat."
I give Ichigo a hard time, but I truly enjoy his company. He's smart, resourceful and strong. His power is off the charts and if we were ever to get in a fight, there is no one else I would rather have by my side.
Except Tobiume, of course.
"Our flights leave tonight at six," Ichigo said. "I figured the sooner, the better."
Noon rolled around relatively quickly and I left Ichigo to pack our suitcases. Following the map on my phone, I arrived at the address Urahara had sent to me. The building was shabby and under kept, but I had no problem locating the door. Once inside, I was met by a dark haired man with glasses.
"Toshiro?" He asked, studying me.
"That's me," I said with a nod.
"Here." He handed me a manila envelope. "This has everything you will need. Passport, driver's license, birth certificate. All of it."
I nodded, thanking him.
"I would cut my right off if they get confiscated," the man continued. "I'm the best at what I do. You can guarantee the quality of these purchases."
"You were recommended by a reliable friend," I said. "I trust in your services."
I paid him and went on my way. Only once I had returned to the hotel room did I open the envelope. Sure enough, the documents were fully realistic.
"Nice," said Ichigo as he looked over my shoulder. "It says here your twenty-first birthday was a week ago. Perfect. That will be our story. Friends on vacation to celebrate you now being legal."
With that, Ichigo and I finished packing our bags. Little did we know what awaited for us in Las Vegas.
