I have stuff to say but I'll wait until the end. So read on my fanfictioners!
Chapter 8 - Time to Leave
Yumichika had learned that when women began slapping either one of them it usually meant they had overstayed their welcome.
He had shown some bravado in stalking off but he still really wasn't up for even walking around. As the world once again seemed to dip in front of him he fell to his knees all ready out of breath. A couple men Yumichika had never seen before rushed over to help him up all talking over each other.
"Is she ok?"
"I don't know she collapsed."
"Miss, are you ok?" As a man extended his arm to him he exploded slapping the helping hand away.
"I'm fine! Touch me and die!" He was crazed and disoriented trying to steady himself when somebody picked him up. His first reaction was to try to reach around and snap the man's neck but in his state all he could accomplish was almost knock both of them to the ground.
"Calm down Yumichika." He flushed as he realized it was Riku. He stopped flailing and threw an arm over his shoulders so that they could get to the dining room. "Are you sure you should be up?"
"Maybe not, but your sister made breakfast sound very appetizing." The sarcasm seemed to get to Riku. He shifted under Yumichika's weight and began immediately trying to apologizing.
"I'm sorry for her actions. She's been acting very ungrateful these past two days to all of us. Did she upset you?" Yumichika eyed the man next to him his breathing hard as they walked at a snail's pace.
"I'm fine! And I was hungry anyway." He felt bad having Riku apologize so he changed the subject as he was lowered into a chair.
"Who are all those assholes?" Riku sat next to him frowning a bit at the state Yumichika seemed to be in. He knew he had to look bad at the moment. That didn't make him feel any better so he smiled trying to get the man to put away that horrible face.
"They are my family's men. They arrived yesterday to pick us up but after I explained the circumstances they stayed to help. I'm going to stay with them to help Shibuya rebuild. Will you be leaving soon?" Yumichika brushed the hair from his face his brow shiny with sweat.
"I think we've stayed long enough. We were only going to stay one night and now because of me we're two day's behind schedule." Though he neglected to mention they had been lost from the beginning. Riku gave him a weird look as he passed over a plate of savory smelling food. Digging in as unpig-like as he could with his body yelling at him to just shove handfuls of the food into his mouth he heard Riku exclaim.
"Because of you? You almost died, saving us no less." Putting down his eating utensil he sighed eyeing a very tasty piece of meat.
"We still have an important place to be and as much as this was an... interesting rest stop, it's time for us to be on our way." He resumed eating hoping that Riku would just drop it but he didn't.
"I want to thank you. If you two hadn't come along I highly doubt me and my sister would be alive." Yumichika didn't like this conversation anymore. He became more and more uncomfortable not knowing what to say. People usually never wanted anything to do with them. They were a legend at bringing misery wherever they went. Even if they did stop some bandit attack usually the victims instead of showing some sort of gratitude would run away scared, thinking Ikkaku was coming to finish them off.
He had, long before Ikkaku, experienced some sexual exploits that ended in thanks however not on Yumichika's part. All of them had been somewhat forced with Yumichika not feeling any gratitude towards the other person involved. So it was safe to say Yumichika was lost in what exactly to respond. In the end he said the only thing that made sense.
"We were just doing what we always do." Riku smiled shaking his head a little.
"Well, never stop doing it." He clasped him by the shoulders and shook him some. Yumichika's eyes widened at the sudden contact but it didn't last long as Riku decided he had said what needed to be said and got up to leave. "I'll talk to my sister about her attitude. If she has any reason to apologize to you she will." He left then as the sounds of hammering and sawing seemed to come to his consciousness. He ate to the rhythms of construction alone with his thoughts.
Ikkaku had decided to talk to the rather unreasonable girl first. He had some trouble finding her but in the end he found her picking herbs in the undamaged garden. She had since this morning picked up her hair into the tightly knit bun he had first seen on her. For some reason Ikkaku didn't think it was much because of the heat although this day was shaping up to be brutally hot.
These past two days she had done all in her power to look as much as Yumichika as possible. That included sneaking into their room and taking his clothes on the pretense that she was going to clean them. In Ikkaku's mind she was as crazy now as she had seemed that first day starting a fight with Rei and Shibuya. When she spotted the bald man she dropped the basket and began walking away from her job.
Already thoroughly pissed at her actions he had no trouble catching her and holding on to her arm rather tightly.
"Let go of me you snake!" He spun her to face him.
"Like I haven't heard that one before. What is your problem?" She prepared her other hand to slap the man but it wasn't hard to catch it. Holding her arms so she couldn't move she spat at him. Ikkaku turned away wiping his face and expecting fully for her to be long gone but when he opened his eyes she was glaring at him.
"My problem!? They only 'problem' I ever had was love you. I..." Her eyes began to tear up. "Then you're not even in the arms of another woman but a man. You told me there was nothing between the two of you. Why so you could play with my emotions?" Ikkaku sighed. He had talked to her for two straight days, telling her that he had no feelings for her and that Yumichika was nothing more than a friend. He was getting to the end of his rope.
"I have said nothing that has been a lie. I don't see you as any sort of a call girl or a lover!"
"You kissed me!"
"That...I told you it.... You kissed me!" Her face became inflamed and she began poking him in the chest.
"I did but you kissed back and called me your friend's name. How is that supposed to make me feel? And then you tell me over and over again that he means nothing to you. What I walked in on didn't look like nothing."
"Look, he is a friend I've had for longer than I can even remember. I love him because of that, because he's my friend but not in the way you seem to have twisted it in your sick little mind."
"If that's true why can't you love me? I remember the way you kissed me I can tell you want it. Love me for being what he can't be for you, a girl."
He didn't remember telling his body to do it but the anger had compelled his arm to. He hit her across the face with the back of his hand. The skin quickly prickled red as it inflamed and she was alarmed, unable to understand what had happened. Only that it hurt.
"You will go and apologize to him. And don't you dare mention that I kissed you. I don't care what you think about me but I will not allow you to upset him." With that he left. Mina held her cheek and sat in the garden on the verge of crying for the first time being on the other end of this action.
Ikkaku was angry as he walked back to the inn not even trying to hide it as Mina's brother walked passed. Stopping him he not so nicely spat. "Your sister is a bitch." Without as much as backwards glance he proceeded to the inn. He had another person he had to talk to.
Yumichika fully engrossed in his food had not heard the man come in and sit next to him. So he almost jumped out of his chair when he spoke.
"Are you ok?" Takahiro put a hand on his forehead and it emitted a soft green glow. Yumichika not sure what he was doing tried to swat the hand away.
"I got enough of that crap when you tied me up the last time." Takahiro lowered his hand but raised his eyebrow.
"Don't say that. This is what you are good at. I mean if your sword is any indication of what kind of soul reaper you could be it's clear you would be a healer."
"Healer!" Yumichika exclaimed as he began to laugh. "Are you kidding me? I'm a fighter."
"Just because you heal people doesn't mean you don't fight. But you have a large amount of spiritual energy that is perfect for healers. It allows you to steadily release spiritual energy. Your endurance is high so if need be you can release it all in one go to defeat an enemy and then quickly regain it by taking their spiritual energy to replenish yours. Your power, if trained in the academy, could easily put you in a seated position in no time. I wouldn't be surprised if you could be vice captain of the fourth squad!" Takahiro had begun waving his arms around wildly, apparently excited by what he was saying. Yumichika just gave him a confused look; he had no idea what the hell this crazy old man was talking about.
"Yumichika," Takahiro sighed heavily. "Your spiritual energy is not stabilizing correctly. I don't know why. It could be something as simple as your body's just not used to that power yet. I wish you would stay here a while and allow me to look over your recovery." Yumichika began shaking his head already in a definite no. Takahiro tried to raise the stakes. "I'll even teach you some simple kidou to allow you to fight more effectively."
"We can't stay here any longer. We have to get to the soul society as soon as possible." Takahiro smiled grabbing Yumichika's soft pale hands in his own old and scarred ones.
"Wait, you two were already on your way to the soul society? You want to become a soul reaper?"
"I don't know what that entails but if it means we are closer to the captains then yes."
"My boy with your power one day you will become a captain yourself!" Yumichika frowned and suddenly wanted this conversation to be over. This was all very confusing and nothing of what he expected.
He just wanted things to go back to the way they were before. This was too much. He got up and tried to leave but again his body didn't seem to want to comply. His legs felt like they had gone through the floor. He caught the back of the chair allowing him to gently lower himself without actually falling face first onto the wood. He heard the smug voice of the old man over his shoulder.
"You are in no condition to leave yet."
"Watch me." He grumbled, pulling himself to his feet. Again his breathing was short and he just wanted to be able to walk out of the room with his head held high but that seemed to be out of his reach. Hunched and trying to keep his balance in a world that felt like it was a ship in turbulent seas he got as far as the door when he ran into somebody. Actually to be more accurate Yumichika was almost run down by Ikkaku as he barreled into the room. Being knocked onto the floor his sight was all flashing white with little stars.
"Yumichika are you ok? You look like shit!"
Yumichika growled angrily. "I'm in no mood for your mouth right now, just help me up." He was back on his feet his arm around a familiar shoulder. "Let's go. I need to lie down." Ikkaku complied with Takahiro somewhat following.
"Please reconsider."
"Fuck off old man! Give him a rest." Takahiro decided to drop it, for now. He wouldn't follow them to their room knowing full well Ikkaku might beat him senseless. Yumichika had to know his body was not responding well. That's what Takahiro was banking on. He was his only source of medical advice.
Ikkaku could feel Yumichika's labored breathing and a streak of worry caught on his mind. He had never seen Yumichika in such bad shape. Had that hollow gotten to him too before Takahiro could kill him. He had wondered these past two days but with watching over the man and that pesky girl he hadn't had the chance to ask what exactly had happened after he had fallen unconscious.
Setting the man down on the bed roll he went to shut the door. This time he thought to lock it so at least the people in this place would learn they should knock before entering someone's room. The harsh breathing continued followed by a horrible coughing fit. Ikkaku could just watch with concern filling his features. Yumichika looked over at him his face flushed red with the power of the spasm. His eyes were languid and his face was glistening with sweat. When Yumichika caught Ikkaku's worried stare he laughed, as best as he could, with his lungs protesting loudly.
"I know I'm ugly aren't I? You don't have to look at me like that too. I'm quite aware of my state from everybody's eyes. They speak volumes."
"Just because I'm worried about you doesn't mean I think you're ugly." Ikkaku approached his distraught partner as he became more and more agitated.
"Really? Then what would you call this pitiful state I'm in. Can't stand on my own, can barely breath. I just... want it to go away. All of it!" Yumichika grabbed for Ikkaku's hands and brought him down to his knee. "Let's get out of this place. I can't take it here anymore. I just want to be back on the road, it's all much simpler when it's just the both of us." Ikkaku's eyes started darting around.
"I think Takahiro's right?" Yumichika looked somewhat disgusted.
"You were listening?"
"I caught the end of the conversation. He says you're in no shape to be walking around and I agree." Yumichika dreaded spending anymore time in this place. "He knows all that freaky magic crap he'll know how to fix you up but if we leave and something happens to you I wouldn't be able..." He stopped as he couldn't find the right words. "I wouldn't be able to do anything for you."
"I thought you of all people just wanted to get going. We've lost a lot of time as it is."
"We'd lose more time if you got sick on the road!"
"Am I going crazy? Do you want to stay here?"
"No!" Ikkaku stepped away from Yumichika frustrated at his partner's accusation.
"Does it have something to do with Mina? Is that why she slapped me this morning?"
"That girl is crazy. I don't know why she did what she did but I swear to you I want to get out of here as much as you do. We just can't deny the fact that you can barely walk to the door!" Yumichika threw his head into his hands and spoke muffled.
"Ugh! I know! I just don't want to be here anymore and I'm redirecting my frustration." Speaking from beneath the cascade of dark hair he sounded somber. "Maybe there's a way to compromise." Ikkaku looked hopeful at the statement.
"I have to stay here as long as my motor skills are out of whack but what if we ask Takahiro to take us to the soul society. He knows where it is and we were lost to begin with. What better way to allow him to watch over me while at the same time teaching us some things we might need to know about what to expect when we get there." Ikkaku didn't like the sound of their duo turning into a trio but it actually made sense. They could get out of here a lot sooner and they would have a professional healer around.
"What makes you think he'll agree to take us?" Yumichika frowned, wiping sweat from his brow.
"I'm not sure. He did sound pretty jaded about the soul society before but today he was almost glad to hear we were going. He asked if we were going to be soul reapers."
"Us, soul reapers? I just want to beat the crap out of Kempachi." He blinked and thinking a bit about it he tilted his head in a half shrug gesture. "I mean I never thought about it. We might have to become soul reapers just to get to him."
"Either way," Yumichika had started fanning himself the heat really affecting him "we should ask so if he doesn't agree we can at least get directions." He became very agitated. He pulled a long and rather plain looking hairstick, painted black to match his hair, from one of the nearby packs. In an effort to reduce the heat he was feeling he began the intricate movements to hold up his hair. He had done it so many times he could pick up his hair only using one hand. With a swift fluid motion his hair was up and off his shoulders.
Ikkaku couldn't help but dislike that hairstyle on his friend. He looked much more elegant with his hair down for one thing and another was that he now associated Mina with an up do. Yumichika unfastened his clothes enough so his shoulders could be fanned by his tired hand.
"Is it really that hot?" Ikkaku asked watching his friend intently. He was himself warm but not uncomfortable. The room provided enough circulation for it to stay cool but his friend looked like he was boiling.
"I don't understand. I thought it was because I was walking around but even resting it just seems to be getting hotter." Ikkaku walked over quickly and placed his hand on Yumichika's forehead. It was burning.
"You may have a fever. Let me go get Takahiro." Ikkaku left assuring he would be back soon. Yumichika turned to the window wishing the sun would not be shining so much. Was it so much for a storm to roll in? His arms became itchy under the sweaty fabric to the point he could not stand it. Ripping his arms out of the sleeves he let his sweaty torso be hit by the very few gusts of wind that came in through the window. It felt like hell. When the door opened he could not contain the happiness in his voice.
"Oh good Ikkaku, I thought you'd take forever to get back." When there wasn't a response he glanced back at the door. Mina stood a step into the room her gaze averted.
"Mina?" He was surprised to say the least. "What do you want?" She shifted nervously before bowing deeply.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I slapped you this morning. It was wrong and I apologize." Yumichika wasn't good with apologies either. He held some animosity towards the girl and didn't want to forgive her. Be that as it may this didn't sound like a real apology. It sounded like someone had put her up to it. Yumichika didn't like that.
"Really? You don't know? There has to be a reason. A person doesn't just get smacked. Did your hand slip? Was there a fly on my face? What is it!?" He wanted to get up to confront the girl but try as he might his breathing was still heavy.
"I...I'm sorry. I just overreacted." Yumichika didn't understand.
"Overreacted to what?" Trying to stand he was able to get on both feet with considerable work as he tried to stare her down.
"I just I saw you two and... I mean I thought that... You know..." If that was supposed to be a sentence it hadn't made one bit of sense to Yumichika who was using all his power to just stay standing. When she caught the confused look on Yumichika's face she went into more of a babble. "I wanted to just be there and then I tried it and he didn't seem adverse to me. I wanted so badly just for something to happen and it did and I was happy but I was tormented because you! You are a guy and that doesn't matter!? The kiss was never meant to happen but that's what he says. I think he did want it and it torments me to no end because I see you...." Yumichika raised a hand to stop the rant while trying to actually process what the hell she was talking about.
"First of all who the hell are you talking about? Who did you kiss?" She looked away wringing her hands suddenly quiet. "Well!?"
"Did I say kiss?"
"Don't play with me. I'm hot and sweaty and not in the best mood right now!" The yell had him breathing hard, a combination of frustration and whatever his body was going through. Mina looked like she was debating exactly what to say. Sighing and pushing hair away from her face she spoke more sincerely then he had ever heard her. Her true voice was somber but relieved.
"I love Ikkaku but he doesn't love me even half as much as he loves you. I was upset and I slapped you. I see now that what I did was selfish and delusional." She laughed her eyes glistening but she didn't cry, she was done crying. "I just want you to know that I really am grateful to both of you for everything and I'm sorry if my crazy little girl crush caused any problems." Bowing once more she left and Yumichika allowed himself to fall back onto the bed tired out in both body and mind. Had he heard that right or was the heat creating mirages for him to follow in the desert. He wanted to shut the world out and sleep until this inferno lessened to at least that of a dying blaze.
Had Ikkaku lied to him? Why would he keep that hidden from him? Was he really trying to keep them there because he had unresolved feelings for that girl or what? When Ikkaku finally returned with Takahiro in tow Yumichika just eyed him suspiciously not sure what that man wanted anymore. As soon as Takahiro got near he stopped him.
"We're leaving for the soul society tomorrow. I want you to take us." Both Ikkaku and Takahiro stared at him wide eyed.
"I thought we decided we would wait a couple days before leaving." Ikkaku growled.
"I lied." He threw daggers with his glare. "What do you say Takahiro?" The man frowned.
"I can't go to the soul society. I swore I would never go back."
"Then you'll tell us how to get there."
"You're not ready to leave. You can barely walk and now Ikkaku says you have a fever. No. Extraneous activity is out of the question."
"You won't tell us what to do old man!"
"Yumichika, why are you acting like this?"
"Why didn't you tell me you kissed that girl?" The room became very quiet.
Takahiro shook his head knowing he would not get to treat Yumichika while an all right war was going on between the two of them. He got up and decided to check Yumichika when the white flags had been drawn. The two of them were glaring at each other and Takahiro found it relatively easy to just slip out. The silence seemed to permeate the room leaving it thick with the sound of Yumichika's panting.
"She told you."
"Why were you afraid of me finding out?"
"Why! Look how you just reacted."
"I'm just trying to follow your dream! But it seems you're willing to throw away your desire to reach Kempachi to stay with some girl you barely know!"
"How could you think I would do that for some little girl!?" He was fuming by now. He walked to Yumichika and in anger grabbed him by the collar emphasizing his point. "The only person who can change my life is you. It's always been you! When I had doubts about going to look for Kempachi I was thinking about you and all the trouble I've caused you. For you to not even recognize that...." He let go and sat down across from him not willing to look him in the eyes. "Believe me if I could carry you out of here I would do so gladly and I'm mad we can't get going. I'm mad that you're hurt but I'm not selfish enough to take you away from the only witch doctor because I want to get our asses back on the road."
"Do you mean that?" Yumichika was searching for those brown eyes to know if he was telling the truth and he wasn't just lying again. Ikkaku was quiet rubbing his bald head for a long time staring anywhere other than Yumichika's way. Saddened, Yumichika's voice was a mere whisper. "Please answer me."
Ikkaku winced at that and finally turned to his friend. His actions were unexpected and Yumichika had no way of responding. Ikkaku was on him faster than he could react. He was pinned under the man his breathing suddenly heavy for a whole different reason. Whispering into his ear Ikkaku sent shivers down his body.
"What do you want me to do to convince you. I would do anything you asked of me. Just tell me what you want." Yumichika wanted to cry. Had he really brought this great man to begging? He felt suddenly very bad but strangely so relieved at having this body weight pushing gently on his own. Cupping the man's face he forced him to face him. There were so many things he wanted to say. So many things the devil on his shoulder wanted to ask for. Biting his lip he kissed the man on the forehead and whispered.
"I want to leave. Just take me away from here." There was silence as Ikkaku intently viewed him contemplating that statement.
"As you wish." Ikkaku was emotionally tired and so he ever so gently lied himself down next to his friend. His head gently rested on Yumichika's chest his warm breath tickling the bare skin. His arm was draped over his friend's abdomen gently falling and resting with the labored breathing. Yumichika held on as tightly as was possible feeling better than he had in his whole stay here. Ikkaku's voice permeated the comfortable silence. "We need to stop ending up like this." As Yumichika laughed, some tears seeped from the corners of his eyes.
As I got halfway through this chapter I realized I was sick and tired of writing about this goddamn inn so I told myself that by the end of it they either had to be out the door or had decided to be out the door by the next chapter.
Next thing if anybody is watching the Bleach anime at the moment you know there is a filler arc that is just starting. And of course since I wanted to write a fanfiction about Yumichika's zampacto T.V. Tokyo and Tite Kubo just had to give us what his sword really looks like. Just going to say that I got one thing right. He has a long ass braid! -.- Anyway I'm not going to change the way mine looks in anyway cause I like my own characterization of him. When I write about him if you see him the way the filler shows him I don't mind but I'ma keep him the way I wrote him so screw T.V. Tokyo and Tite Kubo's characterization of Ruriro Kujacku. (Can you tell I'm just a little bit angry XD) I'm going to stop there because I have some beef with actually showing Ruriro Kujacu on the basis that if I get started this story will be another five thousand words long. So goodbye from your disgruntled, self-loathing, author, MyValentina.
