Burden

"Well, here it is!"

Ume exclaimed, unlocking the door to a shabby little apt. Theirs' was on the 6th floor of the complex and from that height, one could see almost see over the city's skyline. As she opened the door, Yuri ran inside giggling loudly. She let Ishida in next, sighing as she shut the door behind her,

"Sorry about the mess. I haven't had the chance to clean, yet."

Ishida glanced around with a twitching eyebrow. The space was thoroughly untidy. Pots and pans rose to unreasonable heights in the sink. Dust visibly caked itself on the counters, table, and television. It was pointless to take his shoes off as dirt, among other entities, had embedded itself in the carpet. This place was a mess...to put it nicely. He turned to Ume, pushing up his glasses,

"Obata-san, would you mind if I helped you clean up? It's the least I can do to repay you for--"

"Don't be silly, Uryuu-kun! You're a guest here. I can handle the mess!"

"Are you sure? I don't mind--"

"I said, 'No'. I can handle it myself, okay?"

She growled, scowling in annoyance. The bespectacled boy nodded, gulping harshly,

"All right...if you say so."

The dark-haired woman then sighed, sitting down in the recliner nearby,

"I'm sorry...I'm just so tired of everyone..."

Pausing, she bit her lip, quickly offering him a smile,

"You know what? Forget I said anything. I'll go get some sheets and make up the couch for you. You just make yourself at home, Uryuu-kun."

He watched her silently as she made her way into the hall, disappearing into another room. Then sighing, he headed across the room to the window. It was covered in dirt as well. Gritting his teeth, he forced the window up, coughing as dirt and dust exploded into the air around him. Once it had cleared, he gazed out at the deep reds and purples of the sunset, the slight breeze battering his raven hair,

'I wonder it they've even noticed yet...'

ø

'...that I'm no longer there.'

"Ooh! What's this, Ichigo?

Rukia exclaimed, stopping abruptly at the contraption before her. Ichigo groaned, placing both hands on her shoulders as he pushed her through it,

"It's called a turnstile. You walk through it like this."

" I see. Interesting..."

After walking only a few feet away from it, she turned, and ran back to it, Ichigo calling after her,

"Rukia! What the hell are you doing?! We'll miss the train if you don't get your ass back here!"

Inoue sighed deeply, lowering her head. She was completely oblivious to the episode of Rukia's Turnstile Escapade which was airing right behind her. Instead, her thoughts dwelled deeply on that day... his last day among them...

-ø-

"Wow, Orihime! 3rd place again!"

Tatsuki exclaimed, patting the girl on the head. Inoue smiled, a fevered blush crossing her cheeks as a voice came from behind her,

"Say, where'd I rank, Tatsuki?"

"Last as usual, loser."

"Oh really? If I remember right I scored higher than you."

"Sh-shut up! You're such a liar!"

Inoue grinned then, pointing to the board,

"You're ranked 23 like last time, Kurosaki-kun! Sado-kun is 18, like last time and Ishida-kun is--"

"Two."

She gasped, glancing back at the orange-haired boy,

"What?"

Tatsuki raised an eyebrow, leaning forward as Ichigo pointed to it,

"Oh, wow... you're right. Ishida is in 2nd place."

Inoue glanced back up at the board gasping softly as others began to gather. Sure enough, Ishida had dropped to the 2nd highest ranked in their class. Whispers from behind her began to worry her, and she frowned, unable to stop staring at it.

"Look at that! He really DID fall out of 1st place!"

"Whoa! How did THAT happen?"

"I dunno... he's always been first hasn't he?"

"Yeah..."

"Do you think he'll kill himself?"

"Over a rank?"

"I dunno... Usually a drop in grades is a sign of depression--"

"Well, it doesn't mean he'd kill himself--"

"This is four-eyes we're talking about. His top priority is grades."

"True... oh man. That's crazy."

As they walked back to class, Inoue lingered, still gazing at it,

"Ishida-kun... kill himself?"

As if on cue, she spotted the boy out of the corner of her eye, gasping softly. His head was bowed, so low that she couldn't see his eyes. She smiled at him as he walked past, waving slightly,

"Good morning, Ishida-kun!"

He kept walking. She gasped, silently watching as he stepped inside classroom. Placing a hand to her heart, she lowered her head, biting her lip,

'Ishida-kun...'

-ø-

"Inoue?"

The honey-haired girl gasped, glancing up with a faint blush of embarassment as she spotted Ichigo standing before her. He had the back collar of Rukia's dress clenched in his right hand, his other on his hip,

"You alright?"

She nodded sharply, making sure to wipe away any tears she might have unknowingly shed,

"Y-Yes! I'm just fine, Kurosaki-kun! Guess I was just staring at the ceiling lights for too long!"

She nervously scratched the back of her head, Rukia frowning up at him,

"She wasn't even looking at the ceiling."

"I know. Let's just give it to her, though... okay?"

Forcing a smile, Inoue brought up a single fist, and rested her other hand on her bicep,

"All right!! Let's go everyone!!"

Then, with a determined face that looked more like that of a puffer fish, she marched toward the closest subway car, Ichigo and Rukia staring blankly after her. Ichigo blinked,

"Sometimes I wonder if she's really all there."

"Me too."

"Kuchiki-san! Kurosaki-kun! Hurry up! The train's leaving!!"

"Right!!"

They started heading toward the car, Ichigo glancing back at Rukia,

"Don't even think about going back to the turnstile."

The raven-haired shinigami whirled around, wearing a smile so sugary that Ichigo thought his teeth might rot and fall out,

"Oh, would I ever do a silly thing like that?"

"Yes."

SLAM.

The orange-haired boy rubbed his head painfully as Rukia marched past him, scowling,

"Let's go, idiot."

"Y-yeah sure...of course."

ø

"Can't sleep?"

Ishida glanced up from his spot on the couch to see Ume standing in the door way of her room. She wore a peach night gown, one that hung down very low on her, he noticed. Blushing, he coughed, pushing up his glasses,

"Yes. I-I mean, no, I can't..."

Laughing softly, she put on a white robe and tied it up, walking over to the chair nearest him,

"Better?"

He raised an eyebrow at her as she sat down,

"What?"

"Nothing, nevermind."

They were both silent for a moment, and Ume, clearing her throat, looked to him curiously,

"So, what brings you here, Uryuu-kun?"

The boy frowned, turned back to what he'd been doing,

"What do you mean?"

"What brings you here? You know... to this town?"

"O-Oh... well... I'm just passing through."

"Oh, really? Where are you headed?"

He paused, biting his lip.

As far from them as I can go...

He didn't even realise he'd said anything until he looked up at Ume. The woman had an expression of deep concern on her face. Gulping harshly, he pushed up on his glasses again, clearing his throat,

"N-Nevermind. Please don't worry about it, Obata-san."

They sat in silence for awhile. Ume raised an eyebrow, leaning forward some,

"What are you making?"

Ishida glanced up at her, his voice squeaking some as he caught a glimpse down her shirt,

"N-Nothing!"

Ume caught the blush on his face and gasped, pulling her robe up,

"Geez! I'm so sorry, Uryuu-kun!"

Quickly, she stood, scratching her head nervously,

"Well, I-I guess I should just head onto bed now... before I traumatise you anymore, huh?"

She hurried to her door, stopping a moment and turning back to him,

"Get some sleep, though, Uryuu-kun. You look as though you really need it."

He nodded silently, keeping his eyes focused on the material in his lap. As soon as she shut the door, he sighed deeply, leaning forward. Burying his face in his hands, he closed his eyes.

'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea afterall...'


A/N: Sorry for the shortness of this chapter, but I felt I had to get something posted. Anywho, I's gradiated!! WOO! Go me! Didn't think that would happen. I was missing half a credit and all. And apparently I was Cum Laude at that! shrug Yays! N E Way, hopefully now there won't be anymore long pauses. R&R please!!