Chapter 3: Avoiding
Author's note: Thank you all for your support and reviews. I was happy with the response. Anyway, I will try my best to post the chapters as soon as possible. Thanks again, and please Read and Review. D
1 month later, Saturday
" That's it for today then." Inoue whispered, closing the textbook.
Ichigo nodded and he closed his workbook. They were silent for a while it felt awkward then.
" Thank you, Inoue." He whispered.
Inoue nodded and packed her books.
Kurosaki-kun became rather distant from me every since the first lesson. Even though it has already been a month… And because of that, I felt that I shouldn't stay for dinner. Does he dislike me? Is he trying to avoid me? I don't know… But I really want to know why… Inoue thought to herself as she closed her bag.
It just felt so… awkward now, being next to him… He seldom talks to me in school as well… I feel as though I no longer knew him… Silly me, I hardly even know him… Inoue thought to herself again.
Inoue watched Ichigo stack his books up on his table. She felt like saying something, like asking why he was so cold to her lately… She was about to open her mouth to say something when the door opened.
" Inoue-san, are you staying for dinner?" Yuzu asked.
" I er…" Inoue turned to look at Ichigo whose back was facing her.
She looked down and picked up her bag before standing up.
" Thank you for your offer Yuzu-san. But… I promised Tatsuki-chan that I would join her for dinner. I am sorry I cannot join your family for dinner." Inoue whispered.
" Oh, it's okay. There's still next Wednesday, right?" Yuzu asked, smiling.
Inoue nodded and forced a smile. She looked at the motionless Ichigo. Her smiled died. Inoue bowed and excused herself.
After leaving the house, Inoue slowly walked back to her house. Kurosaki-kun…
Inoue was walking home after buying some microwave food from the 24-hour convenience store. She kept thinking about how Ichigo was so cold to her lately. But she didn't know why. She felt like crying… but there was nothing she could do… It's always been like that… She hated watching from the sidelines. She wanted to be next to him, to fight with him as well as to know him better. But then… it seemed more like an impossible dream.
" Kurosaki-kun doesn't even look at you the same way he looks at Rukia-san. Maybe Rukia-san is the cause of the problem. Maybe he just misses her…" Inoue told herself, trying to convince herself into believing that Ichigo was upset because of Rukia.
" It's not like he would be upset over me…" She whispered as she continued to walk home.
She saw a gang of teenagers walking in the opposite direction, towards her. She tried to act like normal, Tatsuki often told her that a girl like her would catch a lot of boys' attention. Especially boys who are curious… They might rape her…
Inoue tried not to think too much into it. Breathe… nothing is going to happen… She ordered herself and continued to walk normally. She walked past them, a boy turned and whistled.
" Hey, pretty girl. Want to come to the bar with us?" He asked.
Inoue tried walking faster but his friends blocked her path. Oh…god… Inoue thought, feeling her heart beating faster in fear.
" No, it's okay." She whispered.
" Oh come on…" They urged.
" It's really okay." She whispered and tried to leave.
One of them grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.
" Let me go." She struggled, but his grip was too strong.
" I hate persistent woman. They aren't that good to play with. Be good and we won't hurt you." He told her.
" Help!" Inoue shouted.
" Hey you! Let her go."
They all turned and saw Ichigo.
" Kuro… Kurosaki-kun?" Inoue whispered.
" Pardon me, what did you say?" the boy holding onto Inoue asked.
" I said Let her go!" Ichigo shouted.
" Really? Don't tell me you don't want to do her too." He remarked.
" I SAID LET HER GO!!!!!" Ichigo shouted.
Before the boy could reply, Ichigo suddenly used flash jump and punched the boy hard in his stomach. The boy fell back in pain, he let go on Inoue.
" Get him!" Someone said.
They stared ganging up on Ichigo. Inoue could only watch as Ichigo tried to fight the five boys off of him. She had to help him… She turned and saw a baseball bat lying on the floor.
Ichigo was punched in his face. Hell… He tried to get up but they started ganging up on him again. He was sick and tired of fighting bare handed. He needed his sword, to teach them a lesson and to not disturb girls.
" Kurosaki-kun!"
Ichigo watched in shock as a bat came slamming down on one boy's head. The boy was knocked unconscious. Ichigo saw Inoue holding a bat. He took the chance and did a back flip to kick them in their chins. One of the boys tried to take possession of the bat from Inoue. Ichigo punched him in his face so hard that the boy hit the wall. Ichigo took the bat from Inoue.
" I know how to use a bat well. Leave now and don't disturb her again." Ichigo warned.
They got up and ran off. Ichigo dropped the bat and looked at Inoue who still looked shocked.
" Inoue! That was dangerous. You don't hit someone like that. You could have gotten hurt!" He told her.
Inoue looked at him and then she started crying.
" I… er… I'm sorry for shouting at you." He whispered.
" No… It's not that. You saved me, Kurosaki-kun… I thought you…" Inoue trailed off as she continued crying.
" It's dangerous for a girl like you to walk on the streets alone at night. Who knows what those perverts are up to!" He commented.
" I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun. I will keep that in mind next time." She whispered, still crying.
Inoue looked down to hide her face from Ichigo.
" Next time? There won't be a next time. Next time I may not be here to save you. And who knows what will happen?" He told her.
" I…" Inoue stopped talking when she saw Ichigo's face.
" You… You are bleeding." She whispered.
Ichigo touched his nose and looked at the blood on his fingers.
" It's okay. I'm not that badly injured, compared to that guy there." Ichigo told her and pointed to the unconscious boy who was still lying on the floor.
" I didn't realise that I hit him that hard. I just… I just wanted to help you, Kurosaki-kun." Inoue whispered.
" It's okay I couldn't have scared them off if you didn't distract them for me. Putting the fact that what you did was dangerous aside … Ahem (coughs)… You did pretty well." He whispered, looking away.
Inoue felt tears gathering in her eyes again. He hadn't really spoken to her for almost a month now. He still cares about her. It was a relief that he saved her. Inoue ran over and hugged him.
Ichigo was so taken back that he fell down too as Inoue hugged him.
" Inoue?" He asked. Looking at her as he sat up.
" I'm so sorry Kurosaki-kun, for making you injured. For making you save me… For making you angry at me… For being so weak and defenseless…" She sobbed.
Ichigo's eyes soften and he hugged her.
" Baka." He whispered. (It means stupid/silly)
Inoue smiled as she cried.
" Yes, I'm a baka." She whispered.
" I… I'm sorry Inoue. That I have been avoiding you lately." He told her as he walked her home.
" It's okay. I mean… everyone needs their personal space…" She whispered.
" No, it's not okay. I need to make it up to you." He whispered.
" It's really okay with me, Kurosaki-kun. I get it…" She whispered.
" No… we need to talk. I need to explain why. I am sure you want to know the reason too, don't you?" He asked.
Inoue nodded and she invited him into her house.
" I believe you should have noticed that I have been avoiding you." He told her.
" I did." She whispered.
" Well… let's just say… er… It's my inner hollow. He's up to something again. And every time when I'm with you, I mean when I was talking to you… I felt him growing stronger. I was afraid that I would lose control of him. That's why I tried to avoid you." He whispered.
" What about during tuition?" she asked.
" I felt his presence growing stronger but I tried to control him so I tried to keep our conversations as short as possible. I'm sorry if I made you worry." He whispered.
" It's okay. I understand now. So… what made you change your mind?" Inoue asked.
" I fought him again and I won, for now." He whispered.
Inoue nodded.
" What Yuzu said reminded me that I shouldn't run away from my fears. She also reminded me that I shouldn't lose a good friend of mine because of that." He whispered.
Inoue smiled.
" I am glad that you managed to defeat your inner hollow." She whispered.
" Yar, me too." Ichigo told her and smiled.
Inoue was glad that he was back to normal again. So it wasn't about Rukia-san after all… She thought.
The next day,
" Morning, Kurosaki-kun." Inoue greeted him first.
Ichigo just smiled.
" Morning, Inoue." Tatsuki greeted Inoue who smiled back in return.
They gathered around Ichigo's table.
" Hey, Ichigo, when did you become so hardworking?" Tatsuki asked.
" What's wrong with that? Studies are important as well." Ichigo told her.
Inoue just smiled and noticed that he had finished the work she had assigned him to do.
" Let me check it later." Inoue whispered.
Ichigo nodded.
After school,
Inoue waved goodbye to Tatsuki and made her way home.
" Inoue!"
Inoue turned to see Ichigo running up to her.
" Yes, Kurosaki-kun?" She asked.
" Can I walk you home?" He asked.
" Oh. It's okay. I asked Tatsuki to train me, for safety measures." She whispered.
Ichigo's eyes widen in shock.
" You asked Tatsuki to train you?" He asked in disbelief.
He pictured Inoue doing karate he couldn't help laughing.
" It's not funny. I appreciate you saving me, but I may not be so lucky the next time…" She trailed off.
" I wanted to talk to you. Besides, who knows if they are still around? I mean… It's not safe for a girl to walk alone." He told her.
Inoue smiled and they started walking.
" I have been thinking. Since I have been avoiding you for so long, I felt guilty about it and hence I wanted to make it up to you. So, is there anything you want me to do?" He asked.
Inoue looked at him.
" I mean it as in if it's something I can do, I will." He whispered.
Inoue bit her lower lip and pondered, she could ask him to kiss her. No, it would be too obvious that she liked him… What should she ask for?
" If not, then let me decide for you then." Ichigo told her, breaking her thoughts.
" How do you plan to make it up to me?" Inoue asked him softly.
" Well, I'm… free on Sunday. And I was thinking maybe we go out and have fun? No… that came out wrong… Inoue, would you like to go out with me on Sunday?" He asked her.
" As in… a date?" She asked.
" Er… yar." He replied feeling a little embarrassed.
Inoue couldn't believe her ears, he asked her out! But she knew he asked her out as a friend, not as someone he likes and wants to woo.
" I'm… free on that day." Inoue whispered, walking first.
" Really? So, let's meet on the bridge in the park at… How does 1 pm sound?" He asked.
Inoue smiled and nodded.
" Sounds good to me." She whispered.
Ichigo smiled and caught up with her. They walked to her house.
" So, Sunday then?" He asked.
Inoue smiled and nodded. They bid goodbye, Ichigo watched her enter her house.
He was glad that she agreed to go out with him. But then he realized something. He hadn't planned anything yet! Like what to do, where to go, what to wear… What to WEAR? He must be getting a little crazy! He's even thinking about what to wear for the date? It's not like he was trying to impress Inoue…
Damn it Ichigo, put it together. Relax, you still have 3 days… More than enough time to plan… Ichigo thought to himself.
He hoped that his hollow don't interrupt their date, looks like he have to make a trip into his own inner world again…
" No wait, King that's unfair!" His inner hollow shouted.
" All's fair in love and war." Ichigo replied.
They were playing Chinese chess in his inner world. Yes it was stupid, but his Inner Hollow wanted to beat him in it to prove that he was cleverer. Since he couldn't win Ichigo by force…
" Yeah right. You don't even let me have a chance." He told Ichigo.
" Meaning?" He asked.
His inner hollow smirked and started laughing out loud.
" For a king you are truly an idiot when it comes to love." His inner hollow sneered.
Ichigo picked up a piece of the chess piece and threw it at his hollow.
" That's cheating." He howled back.
" That's for disrespecting your King." Ichigo shouted.
" Fine, Chinese chess is stupid. Let's play poker! I can and will beat you King." His hollow told him.
Ichigo ignored what his inner hollow said. What did his hollow mean he doesn't give him a chance?"
" Don't tell me… you like Inoue!?" He asked.
His hollow started laughing.
" King, you truly are an idiot. If I like her, where does that leave you? You know that I am a part of you, if we learnt bankai at the same time…"
Ichigo's eyes widened in shock.
" I like Inoue?" He asked
" Bingo King." His hollow told him.
" Impossible. I don't like her. I only treat her as a good friend." Ichigo defended.
" A good friend? Stop lying to yourself… Why were you so anxious about her lately? Especially when I wanted to gain control of your body. And why did you follow her when she left the 24 hour convenience store?" His inner hollow asked.
" I wanted to talk to her." He said simply.
His Inner hollow started laughing again, it sounded more like he was mocking Ichigo.
" Idiots are always idiots. You must have felt good, when you two were hugging. You wanted her, don't you?" His inner hollow asked.
" No! I don't!" Ichigo shouted.
" I think we should stop here."
Both of them turned to see Zangetsu. He walked over to their table and took the General chess piece. He placed it at a spot.
" Ichigo won." He announced.
" Old man…" Ichigo whispered.
" Think about what I said King. Next time, bring poker with you." His inner hollow sneered before he vanished.
Ichigo looked down at the vanishing table.
" One good thing about him is that he knows what's going on. And he's right, it's abut time you found out for yourself, Ichigo." Zangetsu whispered.
Ichigo's eyes widened in shock.
" No way." He whispered.
" Only time will tell, it's already dinner time." Zangetsu informed him.
Before he knew it, Ichigo was back in his room again. Karin was knocking on the door to ask him to come down for dinner. Ichigo looked at his hand.
" I like her?" He asked himself.
Author's note: I know, it's a bit sudden to make him realise that he likes Inoue. I have always wanted his hollow to appear less bad. Yes, his hollow is evil and all… but then… I guess it has its good side too? Please read and review, thanks for reading!
Next chapter: The date! What will happen and will the dense Ichigo finally realise that Inoue loves him?