Authors note: Hello again, it is I Shirotsuki-Tenchi with another chapter of 'The Catalyst.' Before I continue however I'd like to thank my many reviewers! *Cough* 4 *Cough*. They are Angle015, DeepSeaGuardian95, Sakura Otome, Siksookie. Give them a round of applause! Next order of business is I'm thinking of writing a story of my OC Ren, if enough people say I should then I'll write it after 'The Catalyst' is done. Anyway enjoy another chapter of this lovely story! And sorry this chapter is so short!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, if you thought I did than I'd be obligated to bribe Yumichika to use Ruri'iro Kujaku on you and suck you dry. But I do own Ren! So ha!
The next morning
Ikkaku sat beside Yumichika's bed, in the same position that he was in last night. His hands folded together, resting on his knees. His eyes rested on his friend, never straying to far away. The normal brown eyes were bloodshot, showing how long Ikkaku had been awake.
He hadn't moved since his talk with Ren, yesterday's events still buzzing through his head. His thoughts were a chaotic jumble of information, his mind still coming to grips with all that he learned yesterday.
Not only did he learn that Yumichika liked him, but he learned he liked his friend back. And not just in a friend matter, but more along the lines of romantic and deep seeded kind of like.
Not only that but he learned that his captain the one person he thought that would never ever like anyone, actually like someone. Even more surprising was it was the one woman in the Seireitei that no one wanted to mess with that his captain had fell for. It was almost to surreal to imagine.
Next he learned that his surrogate older sister had a large crush on the 13th captain? It was almost too much for him mind to comprehend in one day.
What next? He'd learn that Hanataro liked someone as well? "Scratch that thought", Ikkaku muttered to himself. It was to much for him to think on, just the thought of the shy Hanataro liking someone caused Ikkaku to sigh.
Thinking back on what started the entire fiasco he absently reached into his pocket and pulled out the black bound journal. Now that he thinks about it he was surprised that Yumichika's journal was so... bland. It was slightly weird that it wasn't pretty.
Glancing at the clock to see the time, he noted it was 5 am. It had only been 6 hours since the realization that he liked Yumichika and yet it seemed forever ago.
Opening the journal back to the page he left off he was surprised to see the written pages were running out quickly, telling Ikkaku that the days were getting closer to present. He recognized the dates getting closer to the current one.
Checking the door and turning on the lamp Ikkaku proceeded to read from where he left off. Page after page he read on for a full hour, until he ran into a passage that caught his interest. Quickly going back to the passage he reread it again more thoroughly.
Dear Journal,
It's just getting worse, so much worse. Today I found myself watching Ikkaku fight again, and started to daydream. I dreamed that we were together and neither of us were fighting. After I was startled awake I was flushed and couldn't look Ikkaku in the eye for the entire day. My feelings aren't leaving, they are getting worse! Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night covered in sweat, and breathing heavily. Having wet dreams about your best friend isn't beautiful in the least. Thankfully Ikkaku is too oblivious to notice my sudden interest, but I fear others are starting to catch on. The first to figure it out was Rangiku, but thankfully I was able to shut her up before she had the chance to tell everyone in the Seireitei. I told her I'd tell everyone who she liked, the threat worked and she promised to remain silent. I have to be more careful, she managed to get me to tell her on one of our many drinking parties. A lot of the upper ranked shinigami went out every week to go drinking, Rangiku had caught me staring at Ikkaku and asked if I liked him. Unfortunately I had already consumed some alcoholic beverages and was slightly buzzed, I had inadvertently told her yes. Now the second person to figure it out was Yachiru, and she was a whole lot harder to shut up. It had taken 3 full months pay worth of candy and a promise to let her borrow my combs before she would agree. It wasn't till this afternoon however that I learned how wide spread the knowledge was. I had ran into the shinigami women's society and then I had learned that every upper ranked female shinigami knew of my feelings. It's mortifying! At least they promised not to tell anyone, and they all agreed to help me even though I didn't want it. I don't want to force my feelings on Ikkaku if he doesn't feel the same, I don't want him to hate me or reject me because of it. These depressing thoughts are not good for one so beautiful as myself so I will sign off for today. Bye.
Upon reading the words Ikkaku froze, a faint flush to his cheeks. He stared at the book in shock, one sentence going through his mind over and over again... 'Having wet dreams about your best friend isn't beautiful in the least.' He was shocked to say the least, he never knew that Yumichika thought of him in that way.
His face heated up even more as the thought completely sunk in, his mouth hanging open like a fish gasping for water. He swallowed thickly, not sure how to react to that bit of information.
As his mind slowly came to grips with that fact another thing about the journal entry drew his attention. Rangiku knew of Yumichika's feelings? Better yet the shinigami women's society knew?! What in the hell? Was Ikkaku that dense!?
He thought back, trying to pinpoint when Yumichika's feelings had to start originating. He than came to a revelation, he should've known! If he had paid more attention to his friend than he would've spotted it from the main beginning. It had been so obvious.
But he hadn't noticed it, he had to be the dense fool that couldn't see something so clear right before his eyes. It made him feel horrible, not paying attention to Yumichika enough to spot something like this. It had literally ate his friend up from the inside and Ikkaku hadn't been the wiser.
He put the book back into his pocket, not feeling up to reading anymore. The words he read had shaken him to the core, even worse when it was he himself that cause a large part of Yumichika's misery.
And yet his friend still liked him, when Ikkaku himself would've given up on himself. He felt even worse then before, more tired than he was just a bit ago.
He sat back further into his chair, watching Yumichika breath steadily. "Yumichika you idiot." He breathed out lightly, "I could never hate you."
The form on the bed didn't stir, there wasn't even a change of breathing. Yumichika remained in his prone state, hooked up to machines.
"Hey Ikkaku?" The voice carried through the door and he looked up. Peeking her head in the doorway was Ren, and she had a very angry look on her face.
"What?" He asked as she entered, followed closely by Hanataro. Hanataro himself was slightly beat up, bruises dotted his arms and scratches littered his skin. Ikkaku raised his eyebrows at that. "What happened to you Hanataro?"
Hanataro was about to speak before Ren burst out in anger, "I'll tell you what happened!" She said with venom, "You need to tell your little 11th division buddies to leave the 4th division alone!" She hissed, which made Ikkaku look up in surprise.
"Calm down Ren-san," Hanataro said trying to calm the outraged shinigami down. Said shinigami turned to him with a glare, the girl's blue eyes literally flashing.
"No I will not calm down!" She shouted, her teeth gritting in anger. Hanataro huddled back slightly at her glare, she than turned to Ikkaku. "Do you know where I found Hanataro this morning?" She asked angrily.
"Where," Ikkaku said to her. He was still trying to figure out where his own division came into the picture, that was before he realized what the 11's like to do to the 4's.
"I found Hanataro outside of the 4th barracks unconscious this morning!" She said angrily, "He was beat up and left abandoned outside."
"What?" Ikkaku said dead serious, his eyes going hard. He than turned to Hanataro, "Who was it?" He asked the smaller shinigami.
"I-I don't remember really," He said. "I didn't pay any particular attention to them," He said with a smile. Though it looked strained.
"Ren," Ikkaku said and she turned toward him. "I need a pen and a piece of paper immediately." She nodded before leaving to fetch the requested items. Hanataro just looked between them helplessly.
As Ren returned with the items she handed them to Ikkaku. He wrote out a quick note and handed it to Ren, "I need you to deliver this to Captain Zaraki."
She nodded again before taking off, Hanataro just stared after her. "You don't have to do anything," He reassured. "I'm used to it."
"You shouldn't be used to it," Ikkaku said angrily. "Only the weak pick on those weaker than themselves." Ikkaku replied. "Especially if it's a healer that helps them out after they get themselves beat up."
"What did you write in the note?" Hanataro asked curiously, wanting to know what Ikkaku was going to do to the unfortunate 11th division members.
"I just gave the Captain a suggestion to have another surprise intensive training day." Ikkaku replied with a small smirk, Hanataro cringed. The 4th division knew how bad those training days were, especially because they had to heal most of them afterwards.
"But that would just give the 4th division more work than we need." Hanataro commented, "I don't want everyone in the 4th to suffer just because of me."
"Don't worry Hanataro," Ikkaku said as his smirk grew wider. "I specifically wrote in the note that none of them be sent to the 4th," He than chuckled evilly. "Let it be a training exercise in suffering through injuries without the constant help of healers. Like endurance training, just to a larger degree."
"That's evil Ikkaku-san," Hanataro commented.
"I know," He said with a chuckle. "But picking on those lower then you is cowardly, it is not something we want in the 11th division. It also helps that the captain likes these training exercises, it lets him let loose a little more than usual."
Before Hanataro could comment however a knock on the door drew their attention. "Madarame-san?" Lieutenant Isane asked as she opened the door. "I came to check up on Ayasegawa-san this morning and... Hanataro-san!? What happened to you!?" She shouted suddenly, dropping her medical bag to check on Hanataro.
Hanataro himself blushed as she grabbed his shoulder and forced him onto the bed that Ikkaku was given to borrow. He went along meekly, too shy to even think of rebelling.
Ikkaku who was watching the whole ordeal was surprised to see Hanataro's reaction to Isane's attention. He was flustered, and blushing slightly. And when she opened Hanataro's shinigami robes to get to his torso Ikkaku was sure the poor healer would faint.
That was when Ikkaku realized it, Hanataro liked the silver headed lieutenant. He wouldn't have caught it if he hadn't been paying attention and he found himself chiding himself again. It was so obvious you had to be blind to miss it, and yet if it wasn't for what he read not to long ago he wouldn't have noticed.
That depressed Ikkaku slightly, since when had he been so oblivious? As he thought about that Isane had evidently finished bandaging and healing poor Hanataro who's face was still a light red.
"What happed to you?" She asked as Hanataro rearranged his robes, she went back to pick up the medical bag she dropped when she had seen Hanataro.
"Nothing of interest, so don't worry about it." He said with a small smile, hoping that she would drop it.
"Nothing of interest doesn't put bruises the size of my fist on your torso, so please tell me the truth." She said with a strong look, one Ikkaku was sure she learned from Unohana. How a look could be strong was beyond him, only Unohana was able to make that happen. And evidently her lieutenant as well.
"He got cornered by some 11th division members last night," Ikkaku spoke up for him. Hanataro looked a little to shaken from the look to reply.
"11th members? Again?" She asked in anger, "I have to go report this to Captain Unohana. They need to be reprimanded for this."
"Don't worry about it," Ikkaku replied.
"Why shouldn't I? Just because they are your comrads doesn't mean they get to get away with it scot free." She said with a slightly angry tone.
"It's not that," Ikkaku replied. "Action against them should be beginning soon, my method will work a lot more efficiently than yours I can tell you that." He said with another smirk.
"Your method?" She asked confused.
"Intensive training," She winced at that. "Without being allowed to come back to the 4th division to be healed." That made her gape at him. "That way they'll learn to respect those who take away their misery and keeps them fighting for another day."
"That's so evil," She commented moving over to Yumichika's bed.
"That's what I said," Hanataro muttered as he finished fixing the front of his shinigami robes. His face still holding a twinge of red.
"Hey Ikkaku!" Ren shouted as she returned, stopping briefly to gasp for breath. "The note was delivered, and received by Captain Zaraki. He said he'd begin on them right away," She said with a smirk. She had read the note on the way to deliver it.
"Good," Ikkaku said seriously. The captain was going to beat them all into exhaustion and many of them won't be able to walk for a week afterwards. The first time Ikkaku went through one of his captain's intensive training regiments he hadn't been able to walk for 3 days. Surprising though Yumichika had been up and about the day after, even though he had received the same treatment as Ikkaku.
"Oh hey Lieutenant Isane," Ren said suddenly when she caught sight of the silver headed shinigami. "I didn't see you there."
"Hello Ren-san," She greeted. "I came to check up on Ayasegawa-san today." She said as she pulled a thermometer out of the bag.
"Is he doing any better?" Ikkaku asked her, she just shook her head.
"He's in the same shape as he was yesterday," She said sadly to him. "Though his heartbeat is a little higher than normal, which in his current state isn't so odd."
"Oh," Ikkaku said slightly deflated.
"Don't feel so bad though," She said with a small smile. "He's doing better these last few days then before he arrived, so it means he's getting better."
That made Ikkaku smile as well that was until Ren cut in, "Yeah baldy." She said with a smirk, "Don't give up your hopes yet."
"I am not bald!" He shouted at her which made them all laugh.
"Than what are you?" She asked, "Because you have no hair on your head."
"My hair was shaven off, I am not bald." He muttered rebelliously in the perfect image of an angry 4 year old, which only made them all laugh even harder.
"Give it up Ikkaku," Ren said with a smile. "You can't win against all of us," he sighed at her words, knowing she was right.
"True, though I shouldn't have to fight against you all." Ikkaku muttered, and everyone just laughed again.
As Isane finished up with checking on Yumichika she then proceeded to drag Hanataro out of the room, saying she was taking him to the captain. Ikkaku cringed... Poor poor Hanataro.
Ren herself then made her exit, saying she had a lot of cleaning duties to perform before the day officially started. As he watched her exit he was glad that he had friends to turn to while Yumichika was out. Because without Yumichika who he had usually went to with his problems, he would've went insane without the others.
-------------
Ikkaku moved uncomfortably in his chair, shifting in hopes of relieving the tension in his back. Sitting still in a wooden chair for almost 24 hours was murder on his back.
It was now dark, the sun having set a few hours before. He glanced at the clock to see that it was 11 o'clock, meaning it had been almost a full day since he read that journal entry that had changed everything.
Earlier not more than an hour ago Yachiru had come in to give him news about the training day. Evidently every division member had collapsed only after the 5th hour into training. Yachiru then informed him that she found out who it was that beat up Hanataro, she had been listening to the members while they trained. Evidently it was that new group that had joined just last month from the academy, Ikkaku made a mental note to have a little chat with them after he returns.
Yachiru then happily handed him some food she prepared for him, he was glad. If it wasn't for her Ikkaku would've starved by now, she had brought him food regularly for days.
He smiled at the thought of his lieutenant, though he could do without the biting on his head. He was now supporting a few bite marks on his head, each tooth mark clearly visible. Though he hadn't tried to bat her off with as much vigor as usual, she had brought him food after all.
"Hey Ikkaku?" The voice at the door surprised him and he looked up to see Hanataro standing in the doorway. He was bandaged all over, looking a little like a mummy.
"Yes Hanataro?" He asked, confused to why the small shinigami was here so late. Most of the shinigami were back to their barracks and in bed by 11, that was unless they went out partying.
"I heard from Ren that you helped her out when she had problems, so I wanted to ask if you could help me as well?" He said with a faint blush.
Ikkaku sighed, what was he? A matchmaker? Ikkaku had never known that he was that good at helping people through their relationship problems. "What is it you want to know?"
Hanataro squirmed nervously, his fingers fidgeting nervously. "There is someone I like, but I don't know how to get her to pay attention to me."
"Could this person be Lieutenant Isane by any chance?" Ikkaku asked suddenly and got his answer when the shinigami's face turned a dark red.
"How did you know!?" He asked suddenly, quite surprised at that.
"It took me a while but I figured it out," Ikkaku said suddenly. Though he should've seen it way before now, that thought depressed Ikkaku for some reason.
"Oh," He said slight. He started squirming some more, "So will you help me?"
"What do you need help with exactly?" Ikkaku asked, surprising himself.
"I want her to notice me," He said sadly. "Not just some other healer she works with. But I don't know how to do that."
"First off you have to get her to notice you," Ikkaku said just going with the flow. Hanataro nodded, "And then you have to prove to her that you're just not some other healer she works with, understand?"
Hanataro nodded again, "But how would I do that?"
Ikkaku scratched his chin in thought, "Well first you have to do something to catch her attention. Something like give her flowers or something. Girls like that right?"
Hanataro nodded, "But I don't think I could give them to her." He said more nervous than he was prior, "I don't know if I have the courage to."
"Well then send them to her anonymously as a secret admirer." Ikkaku suggested, Hanataro had a look of realization cover his face. "That way you don't have to physically give them to her," Ikkaku said with a smile.
"That's a good idea!" He said suddenly. "I can't give up that way!" But then he thought about it more, "What do I do after that?"
"Ask her to dinner or something next." Ikkaku replied with a smile, "Something she'd enjoy.
Hanataro nodded, before he seemed to think of something. "But I'm to nervous, what if I'm not able to ask her?" That made Ikkaku think, how could the shy Hanataro ask his lieutenant out on a date?
"Then try sending a note, so you can't chicken out." Ikkaku told him, "And send it anonymous to make it seem as though you're not insensitive. Sign it from a secret admirer again."
"Okay," Hanataro said. You could literally see him mentally writing this down, "What should I do after that?"
"Get a reservation at a nice restaurant and dress up nicely." Ikkaku said, not really recognizing himself anymore. Evidently Yumichika had rubbed off on him more than he had first thought.
"Okay," Hanataro said again, mentally taking notes. "Then what?"
"Compliment her, and other things that girls like." Ikkaku said, he was officially fresh out of ideas. "I don't know what more to do, I guess just go with the flow."
Hanataro nodded yet again, "Thank you Ikkaku." He said with a smile, "Ren was right. You do know what to say to make me feel better." That made Ikkaku raise an eyebrow, "Though you don't seem the type to go to for these problems." Ikkaku's eyebrows raised even further at that and Hanataro's eyes widened when he realized what he said. "Not that it's bad or anything."
"Don't worry about it, I don't think I'm someone who should know this stuff." Ikkaku said seriously, "I'm actually surprising myself as much as you. I actually think that Yumichika had started to rub off on me, without my knowledge at that."
Hanataro nodded at that comment with a small laugh, "Well I'm off to bed than." He said with a wave as he proceeded to the door.
"At least you don't have to worry about any 11th division members bothering you as you head to the barracks." Ikkaku said with a laugh, "They are all probably to miserable to even move."
Hanataro smiled gratefully again before exiting, closing the door behind him. Leaving Ikkaku alone with the comatose Yumichika, who still hasn't moved. Ikkaku thought back on the conversation he just had with the smaller shinigami, surprised that even the 7th seat was having relationship problems. It seemed like everyone was these days, though with his own it was on a much more serious note.
With Yumichika comatose and Ikkaku struggling with the all knew feelings their relationship was far from perfect. Though if Yumichika never woke up then they would never have a relationship.
He sighed again as he sat back into his seat, hopefully trying to get comfortable. He really should go back to the bed but he couldn't bring himself to leave Yumichika's side, especially after learning Yumichika's feelings for him.
He sighed before bringing the journal out again, staring at it critically. He was almost done with it, telling Ikkaku that it was getting closer to the current date.
Opening it he stared at the page he left off, almost to nervous to read it. After the last one he read he was almost to scared to read what more could happen. Taking a deep breath for encouragement he continued to read.
As Ikkaku read through the pages getting ever closer to the end he slowly relaxed. Reading the days that went past through Yumichika's point of view, it was actually quite interesting.
But as Ikkaku hit the last page he froze, the date being the one right before the large attack on the Seireitei. He straightened up in his chair, becoming more intent on the passage.
Dear Journal,
Lately nothing has been happening in the Seireitei, meaning it was boring to most. Ikkaku is going crazy, the boredom is too much for him I'm afraid. I myself however enjoy the quiet and can spend my day thinking about my current obsession which just happens to be Ikkaku himself. I finally figured out my feelings for him, it seems that I have moved past a crush into full blown love. Yes I wrote that right, Love with a capital L and everything. They say love is beautiful but I'm starting to disagree. Lately however I've been trying to find a way to express my feelings toward Ikkaku, I mean he deserves to know about them. I can never hope for him to return them, but I can let them out. I mean, keeping them bottled up inside is not very beautiful. So I have decided to tell him... tomorrow. I'll tell him and hope he won't laugh in my face, because I don't think I'd be able take it. The one person I love in this world is Ikkaku, and if he rejects me than I don't think I will be able to face anyone anymore. And yet knowing what the risk is I still have to tell him, it isn't only my feelings that come into play here. So I'm going to tell him tomorrow, and hope against all hope that he won't laugh or anything at me.
Ikkaku stared at the journal in surprise, Yumichika loved him? Not just like but full blown love? It shocked Ikkaku, to the point in which it had him reanalyzing his own feelings.
He didn't know if what he felt for his friend went as deep as love but he did know he had a deep affection for Yumichika.
But another thing that bothered him was Yumichika's fear that he would laugh or reject him. Did Yumichika actually think this? Did he honestly think that Ikkaku would laugh at him for something so personal? Or reject him?
Truthfully though he hadn't given Yumichika any reasons to think that he wouldn't laugh at him. Ikkaku did laugh when Yumichika was thought of as a chick.
That still made him angry, he shoved the journal into his pocket. Sitting forward he stared at his friend, his normal brown eyes intense.
"How could you think that?" He said to the prone figure, not at all surprised when he didn't react. "How could you think that I could possible laugh as something so important?" Ikkaku continued, his voice thick.
The figure didn't respond, but Ikkaku had a feeling that Yumichika was listening. He didn't know why but he felt like his friend could hear him. He felt his eyes burn but he ignored it, too intent on the emotions burning inside of him.
"How could you think I could hate you for something you had no control over?" He looked down in sadness, "How could you believe I'd reject you for something like that?"
Ikkaku quickly stood up, to worked up to remain sitting down. "All of this time you never told me that you felt like this, and when you finally decide to tell me this happens to you?"
"Especially considering what I learned about myself, and my own feelings." He said, continuing his rant. "It's only been recently that I've discovered these feelings, and they are confusing me."
"I'm horrible at expressing my feelings, I never really tried to before." He said, "So when I try to find words for them they never come out right."
"And when I think about how you protected me it makes me hurt worse, because you almost killed yourself to save me when you shouldn't need to." He gritted his teeth, "I hate that I had to put you in the position to protect me. It feels as though I'm suppose to be the one protecting you."
He than took a deep shuddering breath, "I hate that there is nothing I can do to help you. I can't just go kill something and make everything right, the only thing I can do is sit here and watch you lay there. You're slowly wasting away before my very eyes, and it's killing me."
He wiped his eyes, surprised to see tears on his arm. "It hurts to know that I'm partically responsible for your coma, that it was my fault you're in this predicament." He than swallowed thickly, "All these new emotions are playing havoc on me and driving me insane."
"And I'm afraid that my feelings go deeper then I had originally thought, and I don't know what it means." He spoke a little quieter, his voice filled with conflicting emotions.
"My feeling has changed and I don't know what it means," Ikkaku murmured. "You're the one that is more in tune to emotions, I bet you'd understand what this meant. But without you I don't know what to do."
"I never realized until recently how big a part your existence played in my life, but I've figured it out as I waited for you to wake up." He said still facing away from the bed with his face bowed. "And your a very important person in my life, I can't even begin to image life without you in it."
"And when I think of you never waking up..." His voice cracked at the end, his throat closed up. "It scares me like nothing has ever in this world."
"Ikkaku..?" A hoarse voice asked, weak and thready. Ikkaku's eyes widened at the word, his entire body froze. That voice, one he hadn't heard in so long startled him. He quickly turned around, surprised by what he saw.
"Yumichika?"
End