Chapter 4-After

As the various captains and lieutenants watch Unohana ride back to the Squad 4 barracks with both Soi Fon and Ichigo in tow, there was about a minutes worth of silence until Captain Kyoraku repeated once more "Guess the bets off then" to which all eyes turned to his direction. He simply shrugged and started off in a random direction away from the crowd, and with his retreating form he said aloud "I need a drink, anyone fancy joining me?" to nobody in particular.

"Well that was a waste of time, come on Rangiku" Grumbled Captain Hitsugya as he started back to the barracks with said Rangiku behind him. It turns out that Hitsugya wasn't the only one grumbling as surprisingly Captain Kurotsuchi was complaining that Ichigo was still alive, and that they could've left his body behind to which he'd heal himself, eventually after he'd experimented as he always needed volunteers as they were a little short or if not he could've killed Ichigo himself. Soon the courtyard was deserted and people went back to their duties.

Back in School, Ichigo and the others had P.E in the afternoon. They all walked together down the hall towards the locker rooms. Chad and Uryu went straight in to get changed into their sports gear. Orihime just stood for a minute and stared directly at Ichigo just as he was about to go through the door, he noticed and panicked for a second.

Orihime felt a little strange as she could swear that something was off with Ichigo, as she'd sensed him to be in danger but what was going on as Ichigo was standing right next to her. "Have fun" Ichigo said and turned to the locker room and followed the other guys.

"Hmm..." and so Orihime went to the female locker room to get changed and soon forgot about her doubts.

Ichigo watched as others went to their assigned lockers and he slightly panicked as he didn't know where his locker was and he didn't want to be caught out. Uryu looked over his shoulder, simply raised an eyebrow and shook his head and called over. "Kurosaki, over here next to me"

"Uh thanks Uryu heh, guess I'm so tired I forgot for a moment where to put my stuff" Ichigo replied as he opened his locker door and deposited his bag inside. Uryu didn't say a single word and started to unbutton his shirt, right next to him and not noticing the blush on Ichigo's face as he saw Uryu's flesh gradually coming on show and Ichigo couldn't help but stare.

Over in Squad 4's barracks, after an hour had passed both Soi Fon and Ichigo were now patched up. Most of the healing done through Minazuki, Unohana's zanpakuto in released form, however they were both still out for the count.

Soi Fon regained consciousness first and opened her eyes. Groaning slightly, she sat up and took in her surroundings. She was in the barracks of Squad 4 and noticed there was nobody around. She stood up, a little dizzy from getting up quick. She went over to where Ichigo was lying down and looked over his unconscious form.

"Pathetic, guess I still can kill you after all as you are my enemy." She said quietly and with that she muttered "Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi " and in doing so she released her Zanpakuto and was poised to deliver the two quick blows needed to end his life. This was where she actually hesitated. She cast her eyes over him, shook her head to bring herself back and before she even thought about it she struck him once in the chest and the tell-tale black butterfly symbol appeared.

With determination she lifted her hand and brought it down again, meaning to end his life here and now. She stopped about an inch above his chest, the tip of Suzumebachi literally almost touching the mark. She lowered her hand as confusing thoughts crept into her mind. Such images as her wanting to kill him one moment and the next she wanted to kiss him and thus the pattern of kill or passion. He was her enemy right, as was most people. She never considered anyone a friend, well unless she counted Miss Yoruichi but that was a different matter entirely.

Shaking her head once again of those thoughts she spent another minute analyzing Ichigo, muttered a few words causing Suzumebachi to return and without thinking she bent over him and just for a brief moment she allowed her lips to connect to his. His lips were actually quite softer than she imagined (not that she was thinking) and when she thought about it, he wasn't that bad looking either. She stood back upright, went to the doorway and was about to leave when she glanced back once at his direction. She started walking back to her barracks and just said one word rather softly "Pathetic..." which was what she never did.

"Kurosaki, Kurosaki hey Ichigo!" came a slightly annoyed voice. Ichigo instantly snapped out of it and looked at Uryu's face and saw again the raised eyebrow.

"Y-yes Uryu?" Ichigo stuttered, whilst blushing again.

"Get sorted already, we're the last to go in and I don't want to be late!" came the annoyed tone of Uryu again, whilst walking to catch up to Chad who had just left.

And with lightning fast speed, Ichigo got ready and almost destroyed all of his uniform in the process and followed suit.

Today's class was running, the coach announced to a less than enthusiastic group of people. The coach told people to line up and do laps around the track. Ichigo then seemed to forget about Uryu for a minute and perked up. Uryu noticed this in Ichigo and looked at him and just as the coach blew the whistle, before anyone could really start running, there went Ichigo like a rocket leaving a stunned crowd behind.

"That's not like him, hmmm..." Uryu said and followed the rest who tried to keep up with the blur in front.

Back in Soul Society as everyone was back to their normal assigned duties, after that brief annoyance from Ichigo and his challenge, a long shadow with a smaller one on his shoulder flash-stepping rather quickly; only to then finally make it to the courtyard with the large White Tower. Kenpachi observed the scene before him, seeing an immense lack of people, and more importantly a severe lack of fighting and Ichigo was nowhere to be seen. Kenpachi sighed, looked over to Yachiru and took a few steps into the courtyard. "Guess we missed the fun Kenny." Yachiru said whilst pouting.

"And whose fault is that hmm? Who got us lost several times?" Kenpachi said. Yachiru said nothing, just smiled and sort of squirmed on his shoulder.

"No matter, if he's got himself messed up then he can only be in once place" Kenpachi turned to the rough direction of Squad 4's barracks and began to walk there with Yachiru still firmly on his shoulder.

Ichigo finally regained consciousness and sat up and his hand went automatically to his lips and he could sort of still feel a ghost of a kiss. He could also detect the faint aroma of something musky, yet sweet. He looked around and found himself in Squad's 4 barracks. He was a little surprised at no one being round but there was at least Soi Fon for company and so he glanced around and found her blanket pushed to one side, the door left slightly opened.

He blinked twice and remembered the match between them. He thought of the intensity of the match, the ferocity of his opposition and actually how much he'd enjoyed the fight, even if his life was on the line at times. It was during the match, when she went Bankai that had caught him off guard as he hadn't expected it and her Bankai was quite a bitch in all due honesty. His instincts came over and he went Bankai just to survive but in the end he lost.

His thoughts kept going back to Soi Fon and during the match the one time he actually began thinking of her. Did he fancy her all of a sudden? Ichigo shook his head and stood up. Looking down at himself he swore that he had felt like he'd been stabbed so where was the butterfly symbol then? He was sure that she'd stabbed him so why was he still alive? And if he'd been stabbed once why didn't she finish him off.

He left through the door that Soi Fon had walked through and started the trek to Squad 4's barracks to find her. He also had a deal to keep to as he lost to her.