Shinji was laughing. Loud. At Ichigo.
Which in turn was making Ichigo in a pissy mood. Ichigo tapped his fingers against the table, watching as his friend continued to laugh, slapping his knee, as if that was going to make him stop his laughing. He would punch him if it would make him stop laughing.
"Y-Ya got the job? Ya fooled 'em?" Shinji yelled, tears gathering at the corner of his eyes, laughing harder. "Now ya gotta work as a woman!"
"Shut up! You're laughing too hard!" Ichigo yelled, glaring at the other man.
"B-But other than that... did ya get any clothes?" Shinji asked, looking at his friend with a serious expression.
"No."
"Dammit, Ichigo!"
"They would've fired me if I stole some!" Ichigo snapped, glaring at his friend. "And I just got the job!"
"They'll fire ya if they find out yer gender." Shinji said, sighing, resting on the couch with a roll of his eyes. "Why do ya need this job again?"
"Because the manager of this building isn't going to give me more time to try and pay off the rent." Ichigo said, shaking his head and sighing. "That and I'm running out of food."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Well, then. Let's go out. I'll treat ya to food." Shinji said, standing up with a grin.
"Shinji, I can't do that. Letting you pay again is just going to make me feel bad." Ichigo said, scowling, shaking his head.
"C'mon! I'm treatin'. Ya should feel glad I'm doin' this, cause I don't usually treat people." Shinji said, frowning, folding his arms over his chest.
"I feel so great." Ichigo said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Fine."
Standing up, they made their way to the door, Ichigo grabbing his keys and wallet before they walked out. Locking the door, they walked down the stairs.
"Bet you'd fall if ya were still wearin' yer heels."
"Shut up."
Both walked comfortably down the street, enjoying the quiet. Once they made it to a close restaurant, they walked in and sat down at a table.
"So, yer actually quit yer job." Shinji said, smirking.
"Yeah, I actually quit my job." Ichigo said, rolling his eyes with a scowl. "I may have worked there for over two years, but I wasn't going to work there forever."
"But that's where we met." Shinji said, widening his eyes with a pout.
Ichigo gave him a blank look.
"Don't pout."
"Fine. But why do ya have to work at that buildin'? Who knows what could happen. Men take control of women all the time."
"...I'm a man."
"I know, I know. But bear with me on this. You, actin' as a woman, has to work under a man that has much more power than ya. What do ya think he's gonna do?"
"...Order me to work?"
"Or somethin' else."
"Like what?" Ichigo asked with an exasperated sigh. He had no idea what his friend was talking about.
"They could order ya to..."
Shinji leaned forward and whispered something that Ichigo couldn't catch. He leaned forward while Shinji rolled his eyes and whispered what he said again. Ichigo widened his eyes and gaped at his friend.
"What?"
"Think about it."
"I am, and I think you're nuts!"
Shinji sighed and shook his head. Naïve, naïve Ichigo. He gave Ichigo a knowing look, which the Strawberry did not understand. What the hell was his friend thinking? His boss wouldn't use his power to... take control of him, right? Oh hell, he hoped not!
They turned their heads, seeing a waiter walking towards them, Ichigo already knowing what he wanted, when he looked past the man walking towards them and widened his eyes. He went under the table.
"W-What the hell, Ichigo? What are you doin'?" Shinji asked, looking under the table, raising an eyebrow.
"My... my boss's assistant is over there!" Ichigo whispered harshly, pointing in one direction with wide eyes. "Order me a burger."
"Ya can do it yerself, and where is this guy?" Shinji asked, looking around the restaurant for the boss's assistant, whoever the hell he was. "How's he look?"
"You can tell what he looks like right from when you meet him." Ichigo said, sitting up. He pointed to his hair. "He has blue hai- Shit!" He went back under the table, eyes wide. "My other bosses are here!"
"Really? Where are they? I don't see anyone with a blue bear."
Ichigo frowned, punching Shinji's leg, making the blonde jump and glare at his friend under the table.
"Blue hair!"
"Blue... hair...? Yer sure?" Shinji asked, sitting up and looking around the room for said hair.
As far as he knew, the only guy that had weird hair was the Strawberry hiding under the table. But once he located the guy with blue hair, he had to widen his eyes and gape. Ichigo sat up and covered his head with his hood, looking around with a wary expression.
"That guy has-"
"Blue hair, I know!" Ichigo whispered harshly, glaring at his friend. "Did you order my burger?"
"No, the guy saw what ya were doin' and said he'd be back later." Shinji said, rolling his eyes. "Now it's gonna be ten minutes 'til he comes back ya damn idiot."
"Shut up!"
Ichigo looked out from underneath his hood, locating the table where the people he was supposed to work for sat, seeing the two tall people arguing, the brown haired man resting his cheek on his palm, and the said blue haired man laughing at the two taller men. Shit! They ate supper together? Damn wrong time to go eat at a restaurant! They couldn't see him! He continued to hide, as much as he could hide behind a hood, and hunched his shoulders up.
"Really, that's the best ya can do?" Shinji asked, shaking his head in the pathetic way his friend was trying to hide.
"Shut up! What do you expect me to do? Act casual?"
"Yeah."
"That's crazy!"
"Ya look crazy enough with the way yer actin'."
Ichigo sighed and sat straight, though the hood stayed on, still cautious. Shinji rolled his eyes and looked at the table where the four men sat, trying to act casual. One looked weird. He had an eye patch... and spikes were in his hair. And were those... bells? What the hell? One of them had blue hair. Another was skinny, and from what he could tell, tall. He also had an eye patch. He gave Ichigo a look that said "What the fuck?" and gestured to the table.
"I know." Ichigo said, sighing deeply.
"What's with... these guys? They don't look like a boss I've ever seen." Shinji said, raising an eyebrow. "Though the one that looks lazy does... sorta."
"Just... tell me when they leave." Ichigo said, looking very scared.
"Okay... don't look like they're leavin' anytime soon, cause they jus' ordered."
"Dammit."
"I know, eh? Well, let's just order an' get the hell outta 'ere."
"Sure."
Once they ordered, Ichigo went back to hunching his shoulders, still panicking.
"Relax. People are gonna mistake ya fer a perv if ya keep lookin' round like that." Shinji said, shaking his head with a sigh. "And ya know what we should do?"
"I don't look like a pervert, and what? I don't feel like shopping." Ichigo said, scowling, relaxing, a little.
"Not shoppin', ya idiot. Teach ya how to walk in yer heels." Shinji said, loud.
A lot of people looked at them.
"Shut up! And why? I don't want to wear something that's made for women!" Ichigo snapped, glaring at the other man, starting to shake in anger.
"Ya have to work at that place, right?"
"...Yeah."
"It's a rich company, right?"
"Yeah. Where are you going with thi-"
"So, they need a secretary that needs to walk in heels! Simple as that."
"But... Shinji, I-"
"Shut up. Here's our food."
Ichigo scowled. Great. Just... yeah. He pulled his hood down, grabbing his food, about to take a bite, when a voice made him freeze.
"How much is it?"
He slowly turned his head, eyes wide, seeing Stark standing at the check out counter with the other men, all looking really sharp. They all wore suits. Huh. They looked nic- O-Other than that, he had to hide! He went to grab his hood, when Shinji stopped him.
"Hey, ya don't need to hide. Look, they ain't even lookin' at ya." Shinji said, pointing at the men, not even looking at them.
"Y-You're sure?"
"Yeah, 'm sure!"
Ichigo relaxed, a little, and took a deep breath. Ignore the men. Ignore them. Oh, god, ignore them! Ichigo closed his eyes and took another deep breath, trying to get calm again. It was starting to work, until a hand landed on his shoulder, making him jolt.
"Do I know ya?"
Ichigo turned, eyes wide.
Nnoitra.
He was staring at him with a confused expression.
"N-No." Ichigo said, shaking his head wildly, starting to tremble when the gazes from the other men traveled to him.
Shit!
How can this get any worse?
"Hey, buddy! Get lost! We're tryin' to eat." Shinji said, frowning deeply.
Damn.
Nnoitra's gaze went to the blonde, narrowing his eye, frowning deeply. "Who the hell do ya think ya are, talkin' to me like that?"
"Who the hell do ya think ya are?" Shinji yelled, standing up.
His tough act was starting to diminish... seeing that the man was taller than him. Holy shit. He didn't realize he was taller than him. Ichigo groaned, looking around the area, seeing people staring. Damn idiot. He stood up and stepped between both men, his hood now on his head.
"Uh, Shinji, maybe you should-"
"Nnoitra,"
Said man turned his head, seeing Stark staring at him with a lazy look, hands in his pockets. Nnoitra narrowed his eye, clenching his hands, seeing the look he was getting from his boss.
"I already paid. Let's go." Stark said, walking towards the exit, the other men following.
"Tch. Fine." Nnoitra said, following the group of men, ignoring the stares from the people in the area.
Shinji took a deep breath, sitting down, eyes wide with shock. Ichigo sat down as well, apologizing to the people around him with a nervous laugh. He turned his head, glaring at his friend, seeing Shinji shrug.
"I was tryin' to get the attention away from ya." Shinji said, shrugging.
"Well, ya didn' do- I mean you didn't do it right!" Ichigo snapped, scowling deeply.
With all these men talking weirdly, it was hard for Ichigo to talk without their accent hitting his mind and start talking like them. Ichigo tapped his fingers on the table, still scowling, glaring at his friend.
Shinji only shrugged.
It was making Ichigo more mad.
::
Well, after the fiasco the night before at the restaurant, Ichigo and Shinji went over to his house and practiced walking in heels, which was humiliating to the Strawberry. They had succeeded, Ichigo able to walk.
Which... was a big NO for Ichigo.
He was becoming a woman!
So now, sitting in the chair, nervous as hell. They could surely know he was a guy now, right? Shit. Not even a day into the job and they already found out he wasn't a woman. How much worse can it get?
"Oi, Berry."
It just got worse.
He watched as the tall man walked up to him, expecting him to start bullying him to give him information. He wasn't expecting him to give him a bunch of papers and a number.
"I need these faxed. Thanks." Nnoitra said, a grin adorning his face, turning and walking away.
What.
The.
Hell.
Ichigo tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. What just happened? Wasn't... he supposed to ask if he was male or not? Wasn't he supposed to get fired? Wasn't he supposed to get kicked out of his house and move back in with his father?
"Strawberry, I need ya to have these-"
Grimmjow stopped, raising an eyebrow, looking at Ichigo's incredulous expression. He waved a hand in front of the Strawberry's face, snapping him out of his stupor.
"I need these to be faxed." Grimmjow said, holding up a pile of papers.
"Oh, ah... yes, sir." Ichigo said, nodding, grabbing the papers.
So... was he off the hook?
Oh, he hoped so. He did his job, noticing no one was giving him strange looks, ignoring the leering looks from Grimmjow and Nnoitra, and slightly relaxed.
"Hey."
"Yes, Mr... Um..."
"Zaraki." Kenpachi said, rolling his eyes, sighing.
"Uh, yes, Mr. Zaraki?" Ichigo asked, looking at the taller man questioningly.
"I need you to call this number and tell the girl that answers I'll be home at eight." Kenpachi said, holding out a slip of paper, walking away.
"Yes, sir." Ichigo said, nodding.
He sighed, looking at the number, grabbing the phone and dialing the number. He relaxed, hearing the phone start ringing on the other side.
"Hello?"
"Oh, I'm phoning on behalf of Mr. Zaraki." Ichigo said, waiting for a response.
One he got... was unexpected.
"KEN-CHAN?"
"Um, yes." Ichigo said, nodding, his ear ringing from the loud response. "He said he would be home at eight."
"Okay! What's your name?"
"Um... Ichigo."
"Ichii?"
"Ichigo."
"Hi, Ichii!"
"It's Ichigo-"
"Bye bye! Tell Ken-chan I miss him!"
Ichigo heard the dead line, wondering what just happened. It was a little girl. Slowly, he stood up and made his way towards the office, where the tall man resided and looked in, seeing him typing on his computer with a frown.
"Um... Mr. Zaraki?"
"What?" Kenpachi snapped, turning his gaze away from the computer to the Strawberry.
"Uh, a little girl answered and said she's... going to miss you." Ichigo said, blinking several times.
Kenpachi nodded, going back to his computer. Ichigo, not knowing what to do, walked back to the desk. How strange. Who would call that scary guy by... an adorable nickname? He didn't know.
Sitting back down, he looked over the work he had to do, making calls. Just when Ichigo was about to grab the phone, he widened his eyes, feeling someone breathing on the back of his neck, making him shiver. He jumped out of the chair, glaring at the tall skinny man.
"What is it do you want, Mr. Jiruga?" Ichigo ground out, teeth clenched.
"Jus' wanna know somethin'." Nnoitra said, standing straight, the grin on his face widening.
"And... what's that?" Ichigo asked, getting a bad feeling.
"What're ya doin tonight?"
Ichigo blinked.
The grin remained on the tall man's face.
"...Huh?"
"Watcha doin' tonight?"
"Um... going to... hang out with my friend."
Nnoitra started to frown, narrowing his eye. Ichigo raised an eyebrow, wondering why his boss... looked pissed. Ignoring him, he sat back down, looking back at the papers, still wary.
"Who's this friend?" Nnoitra asked, folding his arms over his chest with a deep frown on his face.
"No one you know of." Ichigo said, closing his eyes out of annoyance.
Nnoitra frowned deeply, walking away, making Ichigo sigh out of relief. At least he left. He looked at the computer, grabbing the mouse and was glad he changed the screen saver. Had been awful to see that.
"Ms. Kurosaki."
Ichigo scowled and pushed the button on the intercom.
"Yes?"
"Come here."
"Yes, sir." Ichigo said, standing up, walking over to the office.
Man, he felt like an expert with the way he was walking in heels.
He walked into the room, staring at the man questioningly, seeing Grimmjow look at him and grinned lazily with a wink. Ichigo widened his eyes and turned scarlet, turning away, shocked at himself. He blushed... for a man? Shit. He looked towards the tired man.
"Ah... I need these people to come here at four tomorrow." Stark said, handing the Strawberry a slip of paper with names on them.
"Yes, sir." Ichigo said, walking towards the exit with a scowl, looking the names over.
Once he was out, he stopped and sighed, closing his eyes. Two more hours. To more hours until he could leave. He only wished that none of the men mentioned the night from before.
He would surely be fired if they knew.
Damn, he only wished that the heels weren't uncomfortable and that the top people didn't find out his true gender and fire him.
Oh, he wished they didn't.
I thank miszxbrii, RamecupMiso, greenpanic6, and happygirl24 for reviewing and those for favoring my story. It is greatly appreciated and I hope you review again.