The Hell Butterfly settled on Nemu's shoulder, and began to move its wings up and down, slowly but surely. She slowly lifted a fingertip, and stared at it as if expecting something to blossom from it. on cue, another butterly alit on the raised digit, and began to beat its wings at a soft, steady tempo. Nemu concentrated upon the new visitor for several seconds, then moved her cheek to lightly nuzzle the creature on her shoulder. It flapped its wings, shivering, and moved to her other arm. The gate to the real world began to open, and light shone out, illuminating the landscape. Nemu looked in Uryuu's direction. He was absolutely transfixed. Her mouth was slightly open, her hair blown back by the wind, the white light enhancing her perfect features- and the way she was looking at him right now...
"Nemu." he said.
"Are you ready?" She didn't nod. She didn't address him. She took his hand, and Uryuu felt himself being tugged forward into the light. Uryuu had never traveled to the spirit world or back using the conventional method. (at least while conscious.) He was expecting something more than just stepping through a wooden gate and suddenly appearing on the street in front of his home. Nemu breathed a sigh. The butterflies took to the air, and fluttered away from her into the sky.
"Will they appear when you need them again?" Nemu turned to Uryuu, and looked at him blankly.
"I will not need them again." She said. Uryuu didn't know how to respond to that. It was quite an ultimatum. The couple stared up at Uryuu's residence, not entirely sure what to do.
"We should consult somebody who can help us. Someone familiar with laying low in the real world, like Ms. Kuchiki." Said Uryuu.
"This is the woman you were attempting to rescue that night." Nemu stated. Uryuu raised his eyebrows.
"Yes. That's the whole reason I came to Sereitei". Nemu looked up at him and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'm sorry that I got in your way."
"Don't worry about it." Uryuu chuckled. "You saved my life. No one needs to apologize for that."
"Where does Kuchiki-san live?" Nemu asked. Ishida frowned. He actually didn't know. Perhaps Ichigo was more familiar with her whereabouts.
"I'm not sure. But we should ask Ichigo. I believe he's good friends with her. He lives about two blocks away." Nemu grasped Uryuu's arm.
"Which direction?" She inquired. Uryuu scratched his chin, and pointed north.
"That way, I thin-" Nemu, with her arm still entwined with Uryuu's, shunpo'd to the Kurosaki residence. When they made contact, Uryuu skidded along the pavement for a good couple meters before coming to a halt. Nemu calmly walked over to him, and knelt by his side.
"Are you alright, Ishida-Kun?" Uryuu lay on the ground, shaking from the surpise.
"Y-yes. B-b-but I was s-still in human form. C-can't move th-th-that fast." Nemu reddened as he stood up shakily. "My apologies" she said. The door of the clinic swung open, and out peeked Karin Kurosaki.
"Hey, mister" she called out. "we're closed. If you're all banged up, you should-" Then something seemed to click when she looked up to see Nemu.
"Oh." She mouthed. "just a sec." She leaned backward into the house.
"Ichigo! Got some friends here to see you!" No response. Karin rolled her eyes.
"Hold on" she said, closing the door. There was some shouting from inside, and then the door swung open to reveal a disgruntled Ichigo Kurosaki with a toothbrush in his mouth. His eyes widened when he looked to Uryuu's companion. With a toothpaste-muffled greeting, he beckoned them inside. He ushered them into to the kitchen and sat them down at the table, only to rush upstairs.
"You guys can grab a drink from the fridge if you want. Give me a second". He hollered from the second floor. Uryuu wasn't thirsty, and without a gigai,drinking anything would be pointless for Nemu. They sat at the table without saying anything. Uryuu mulled over how much he could reveal to Kurosaki. Immature as he was, Uryuu would trust him with his life, but that didn't mean he should tell him the full extent of the situation. Ichigo thundered down the stairs, pulling on a T-shirt. He grabbed a soda from the fridge, and flopped down in a chair across from them. He fixed Nemu with a scowl.
"Aren't you the vice captain from Mayuri's division?" Nemu bowed slightly
"Yes, Kurosaki-Sama. I am the vice-captain of the 12th division. My name is Nemu Kurotsuchi." Ichigo made a quizzical at her formal tone, but didn't say anything. He took a long drink, set it down, and put a hand behind his head.
"If she's looking for a place to say, I can't really do anything to help her. Rukia's already upstairs, and Ikkaku... well, I don't know what his deal is. They're here to deal with this Arrancar business. Along with a few others..." He trailed off.
"I don't really know what the hell is going on." He said, taking another sip. He then addressed Nemu.
"So, are you here for the same reason? I thought your squad was into research and stuff, not so much combat." Nemu responded immediately.
"No. I am not here to assist in combating the Arrancars." Ichigo raised his eyebrows. Before he could ask anything else, Uryuu butted in.
"She is here for other purposes. Ichigo, I would like to speak to miss Kuchiki, if possible." The strawberry shinigami polished off his drink.
"Sure. I'll call her dow-" Ichigo seemed to change his mind.
"er, actually, could you wait outside? She'll be out in a second." Ichigo awkwardly ushered them out of his home, apologizing as he did so. Uryuu sighed, and sat on a bench. Nemu stood next to him and looked up at the clinic, focused and never blinking. After about a minute, a figure hopped out of the second story window. Uryuu frowned. Kuchiki-san? Why couldn't she just go downstairs? Rukia approached them from across the street. She was pulling on her school jacket, and her hair seemed ruffled.
"Miss Kuchiki!" Uryuu stood up. "Why did you not come through the door?" Rukia buttoned her coat.
"Ichigo doesn't want his father to see me. I'm not sure why." The lights of Ichigo's room suddenly flicked on, and a dulled yell came from the house.
"I'VE FOUND IT, ICHIGO! PROOF! A RAVEN HAIR!"
"THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING!"
"WHO'S THE LUCKY LADY! OH! MY HONORABLE SON! YOU'RE BECOMING A MAN! I MUST FIND THIS DARK-CREASTED GODDESS AND THANK HER!"
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM!"
Uryuu heard a dull thud, and the light flickered off. He decided not to make an inquiry.
"Miss Kuchiki, This is Nemu Kur-" Rukia cut him off.
"I know who she is. hello, Kurotsuchi-san." Nemu bowed deeply.
"Good evening, Kuchiki-sama." Rukia bowed back, and said,
"Did Mayuri send you here for research purposes? We don't have any remains of the arrancars." Nemu replied bluntly.
"Initially I was sent here for research purposes. But I became sidetracked. I do not believe Mayuri-sama knows of my whereabouts." Rukia frowned, and glanced at Uryuu with a look of concern.
"If you say..." she said with suspicion in her voice.
"Why did you wish to speak with me?" Nemu grasped Uryuu's hand. Uryuu's eyes shifted. now was not the opportune time for a display of affection...
"This has something to do with Miss Kurotsuchi's predicament." He said.
"You have some ability with blending into human society, correct?" Rukia looked at Uryuu, and then Nemu. She answered slowly.
"Yes." she began.
"But I'm not a vice-captain. If you're trying to stay concealed from humans, you can do that relatively easily. But if you're attempting to hide from Shinigami... that will prove difficult. You have a high rank. Lots of notoriety..." She crossed her arms and cocked her head at the quincy.
"And how do you factor into this, Uryuu?"
"I do not wish to go into detail." He adjusted his glasses.
"But she saved my life. I am indebted to her, and she is in need of aid." Rukia turned to Nemu.
"Kurosutchi-san. Do you mind if I have a moment to confer with Uryuu? In private?" Nemu, who was now sitting on the bench, bowed her head slightly.
"No, Kuchiki-sama." Rukia turned and began to walk. Uryuu followed. Her pace was quite quick, for a woman with such small legs... She stopped abruptly next to a lamppost, and turned to face him with her hands on her hips. A frown was etched on her features.
"Uryuu." she said in serious tones.
"What are you getting yourself into?" He pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose. He often did this when he was feeling unsure about something. It helped him look more sophisticated and confident. Now... how much of this story could he fabricate? And how much could he reveal?
"I will attempt to elaborate, miss Kuchiki." he breathed a sigh.
"I believe she was in the process of collecting reiatsu samples from arrancar battle sites when she was injured. I found her severely wounded, so I took her to my home, and administered care to the best of my ability." yes, he certainly had... "When she awoke, she seemed distraught. She seemed to not wish to return to Mayuri's custody, nor attend to her duties as a vice-captain. I felt- obligated to help her." He paused.
"Rukia, she saved me from Mayuri's poison..." more then once, in fact, but no matter... "I owe my life to her." Rukia did not respond. She simply stared at him. Uryuu stole a glance behind him to look at Nemu. I spike of sadness bit into him, seeing her sitting alone with her hands in her lap- she looked so pitiful. Rukia suddenly spoke.
"I can get her a gigai if need be. And provide her with shelter. You as well, if necessary." Uryuu perked up.
"Fantastic. I will inform her." He turned around to walk to Nemu. Rukia put a hand on his shoulder.
"Uryuu." she said with concern in her voice. "Please." she paused.
"Please be careful." He nodded.
"And, that should do it." said Urahara, snipping a small clump of hair from the end of Nemu's braid.
"I should be able to have your Gigai ready by the morning. Now! I'm afraid my rooms are taken up due to the recent influx of shinigami-" one of Renji's loud and irritating snores rang through the wall, making a vein in Uryuu's forehead pulse.
"So, I am afraid you will have to sleep downstairs." He finished, opening a trapdoor. Uryuu remembered this room. Nemu began to descend down the ladder first. Uryuu followed.
"Goodnight Mr. Quincy! Oh, and Ms. Kurotshuchi!" he closed the opening with a bang. When they reached the bottom of the ladder, Uryuu took a look about. He had never been in this room at night. The environment seemed to reflect the actual time of day. Stars winked across the ceiling. Though artificial, it was a beautiful sight. If only they had beds to lie on... Nemu walked over to one of the futons that had been arranged on a rock near the hot spring. That was convenient.
He paced slowly to the futon adjacent to hers, and stripped off his shirt. His clothing ensemble consisted soft cloth pants borrowed from Choji, along with a top from the same source. He was fearful of how people on the street actually perceived him... since these clothes were from the spirit world, did he appear naked in public?
"Uryuu." Nemu heard a soft voice coo from beside his feet. She was laying on her bedspread, gripping her ponytail. She looked up at him with longing.
"Will you sleep with me?" Uryuu wasn't sure she knew what this statement implied- but he would certainly be willing to comply weather or not she meant what she said. He nodded, and smiled down at her. Throwing his shirt aside, he lowered himself onto the sheets. Nemu snuggled close to him, pressing her body to his. She felt her breath on his neck, and her hands finding comfort on every inch of his body- her ran his finger through her hair and kissed her on the forehead. Right now, he was glad for what they had.
Wow. I'm a shitty updater. my B. I know you guys want some romance and some smooches soon, so I'll get on it quick as I can, mkay? R&R! reviews make me ever so happy!
