Decoy: Chapter 12
A/N: It's finally time for Uryuu's appearance. Truthfully, I've been waiting to feature Uryuu, because I've always pictured him as this broody person, LOL. I'm glad readers out there find this story decent. Especially because its been years since my previous update (sorry). Thanks again for showing the LOVE! : )
I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo does.
Tokyo University. Uryuu's expression remained disinterested, the edges of his lips tugged downwards as he thought of the name. He recognized his father's multiple accomplishments during his young adult life inside the very building he looked upon. To this day, the Ishida name was recognized for funding and maintaining the Medical wing exponentially.
The boy sighed then adjusted his glasses for what felt like the hundredth time that day. When he'd graduated high school, he'd done everything in his control to place a measurable amount of distance between himself and what he called his home. Luckily his grandfather owned penthouse in Brooklyn, New York. At the quickest chance Uryuu got, he applied to Weill Cornell Medical School. He figured choosing an Ivy League University would please his father, so it didn't necessarily matter where the school had been located.
He was correct in his insinuations. His father approved and even paid for every expense, not that Uryuu thought otherwise. He had already gained a mass amount of scholarships and grants that the only cost accounted for were his living expenses, mainly food.
After a couple of weeks, he couldn't differentiate the distance. The weather in the eastern continental part of the United States resembled that of his Tokyo. Uryuu reminisced as the season changed from rain, sunlight, humidity, cool winds, and eventually, snowfall. In between the seasons, his clothing also changed allowing for him to embrace the environment selfishly. The food choices were immeasurable. People randomly passed him by, and as the days grew into months—nothing around him had felt any different.
Uryuu felt secluded, but not—all at once. At long last, his shoulders eased from the tension of his overbearing father who looked at him with a disapproving glare. He was able to spread his arms wide open, and focus, and breathe deeply as the semesters arrived and gone by. It felt like a blink of an eye.
Just as this moment had, felt the same way. Uryuu blinked once, then twice. His feet remained planted to the ground, while second hand on the enormous clock above ticked and tocked faintly against his ears. The distance didn't account for any changes, Uryuu figured halfheartedly, instead it allowed for him to discern how the world revolved undeniably around him, and him alone. It didn't, it couldn't, be controlled as hard as he mustered. His late grandfather taught him that lesson. Though, his father remained to dominate his life.
Uryuu's lax attitude stayed. Life was funny that way, he presumed. He had all been too content inside the little bubble, watching people indifferently and accounting only for himself, that he refused to believe it could close with something as simple as a mere phone call.
"Ishida?"
Uryuu brushed his hair to side as he looked in the direction of the soft-spoken voice, "Inoue." It was an easy guess, "It's been a while."
He dropped the manila envelope intentionally, causing a moderate 'thud' which silenced everyone's whispering inside the admin's office. He didn't introduce himself, for the simple fact that he didn't have to. The physical similarities of him and his father were painstakingly alarming; the frames, the facial features, and the faint iridescent blue-purple reflected upon their eyes. Take away the rich, navy blue color of his hair and add a few expression lines, and he appeared just like an exact replica.
Or so numerous people reminded him, too many times to count at this point.
"Ah, welco—" The receptionist trembled, muttering the closing part of her statement with a whisper. She bowed in respect, irritating Uryuu's nerves even more, which was evident by the way he furrowed his brows.
Oh, how much do I look like him now? He wanted to cry out loud.
Uryuu didn't choose to respond. Instead, he walked out of the room coolly. The hands that manifested into two solid fists fit snug inside the pocket of his jeans. His heartbeat rang annoyingly against his eardrums. "Tsk." It was too hot, he concluded. Even inside this extravagant building with its blanched-white wallpapers and lack of people, it was still too hot.
Orihime stared, "Don't worry Ishida. You'll get used to it." And as the bubbly girl smiled, she closed her eyes. "You always do, or should I say, you don't really have a choice."
How blunt. Though, surprisingly, it made his conscience feel a tad better. He didn't feel as rigid. Uryuu took a deep breath, "Right." He smirked.
"No more interruptions?"
"That's all I had on my agenda."
"Aren't you busy with moving in?" Orihime pouted subconsciously at the thought, "You have traveled a long distance."
He didn't bother with that nonsense, "Inoue. How are you and Kurosaki?"
Uryuu didn't stop. The motion of his steps remained a couple of paces faster than the girl beside him. However, Orihime faltered slightly, her face gave away a look of contemplation lasting only seconds, before she eventually returned to Uryuu's side.
"Why do you ask?"
"I miss it already." Rukia muttered to herself, though loud enough so Ichigo could hear as well. She wasn't lying. She really did miss the sudden change of scenery; the salty, crisp breeze that passed by from the flawless currents licking the shoreline. Although, the humidity did follow—she could do well without having her clothing stick inconveniently against the sweat on her skin.
"It was a nice break from the usual." Ichigo agreed, "Though I was a little shocked on how well you dealt with my family, especially with Isshin." He felt increasingly exhausted after saying his father's name.
"I didn't mind it." Really, she hadn't. "You guys are just so, I don't know, ordinary." Rukia couldn't help but express a genuine smile as soon as she finished her statement.
"You think so?" Ichigo almost scoffed at the thought, but decided to cover his emotions by taking a sip of the cool, green tea. The metal can felt nice touching his warm skin. Even though he wore a simple graphic shirt and blue-gray jeans, he consistently felt like he had too many layers on.
"Yup."
The cicadas in the background screeched, probably voicing their frustrations about the incredible heat. The two decided to stop beside a vending machine, which conveniently had large visor placed overhead to block the majority of the sunlight. Rukia rummaged inside her taupe, quilted bag for some loose change. She desperately wanted a drink and it didn't hurt that Chappy had collaborated with some brand of children's fruit juice.
It glimmered, just like her eyes, from behind the mechanic contraption.
Ichigo couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "What?" Rukia asked without looking, evidently she was still missing a couple of change.
"Here." He handed her enough to buy two. Particularly because he knew she wanted to save the packaging for some unknown purpose. It's weird, even Ichigo knew of that fact.
"Yay!" The raven-haired girl was elated, "Thanks Ichigo!"
"Don't worry about it." He took another swig. This time it wasn't intended to lubricate his dry mouth, but to hide the sudden pink hue that appeared suddenly from his cheeks.
It was rare, Ichigo admitted. Rare, for Rukia to call him by his name.
Was it shyness he felt right now?
He stepped outside the comfort of the cool shaded spot to relish the distraction the surroundings provided him with. Outside, a few people endured the weather and they voiced their complaints just as the cicadas did. The sun beamed down to the citizens of Tokyo with all its might, because the clouds were nowhere to be found to shield its rays. With a free hand, Ichigo guarded his eyes.
Rukia returned to his side before he knew it. "Which one's cuter?"
"You're asking me?"
"Just pick one!" The short girl huffed. In her hands she held two flavors: orange and banana. Ichigo could've easily picked the orange one because of the pastel, sherbet-like kimono that Chappy wore. It reminded him of his hair, of his natural, yet, outlandish color of his hair.
He pointed to the orange juice box. "I mean, who ever heard of banana juice?" Upon closer inspection, Ichigo spotted a Chappy dressed as a monkey. Of course, he sighed heavily at the thought.
"I guess it is different." Rukia figured, "But Chappy's just so KAWAII!" And suddenly, the annoyance that brewed inside Ichigo didn't seem as bothersome as he saw the natural and unbiased reaction of the girl before him. "Besides from being cute…this orange packaging does remind me of you, Ichigo."
Thump—Second, right? It was the second time Rukia had mentioned his name unknowingly.
"Okay, I guess I'll just drink this banana flavor then." The straw popped easily against the insert, and with the first sip Rukia made with the weirdest and, from Ichigo's perspective, the most adorable face. "Blech, yuck!"
"Told you." He teased with a grin, "Bananas should not be converted into juice."
"I didn't think it was going to be that bad." Rukia puckered from the unpleasant aftertaste of what seemed like artificial flavoring. "But this is horrible!"
"Want to wash it down with some sugary filled, imitation orange juice?" Ichigo joked as he twirled the small juice box easily within his long fingers.
"Ugh, no thanks."
He laughed easily at the girl beside him.
"Just wondering." Uryuu replied in a smooth tone. "Though I've heard you and Kurosaki weren't exclusive anymore."
"Yeah, so?"
"You say that so comfortably." He smirked, "Even with a slight smile printed on your lips too. Don't you feel some form of bitterness?"
"I'm only human." Orihime responded honestly, oblivious of Uryuu's fixated and unblinking gaze towards her. "I still can't believe it though."
"Hmm?"
"Kurosaki, getting along with someone like Kuchiki?" Orihime continued to stare casually against the far distance, against the horizon where the bustling towers and the soft blue sky met. "You've heard, haven't you?"
Instinctively Uryuu touched the metallic rim of his glasses. "I've heard."
"You don't have anything to say?"
"I didn't want to form an opinion on a relationship I haven't witnessed yet." He sighed as a feeling of lethargy invaded his body. Truthfully he wasn't interested in the first place, but figured with Byakuya's request he'd check out how this so-called relationship had developed.
"I hardly think she would remember." The boy's dark-blue eyes dimmed in contrast to the incandescent lighting of the restaurant, "Even if she does, aren't you afraid—"
"I'll take my chances."
"Ishida?" Orihime said his name louder this time, "Be careful." She motioned to grab his sleeve before he took another step towards the crosswalk. The red hand on the stop sign blared again and again, as a form of reprimanding Uryuu for ignoring its persistent warning. "You're not the type to space out all of a sudden. Are you alright?"
Quickly Uryuu regained his composure before returning his arm to his side, "Yeah, thanks." He murmured before facing his back towards the girl, "I'll see you later." With a wave, Uryuu continued with his motions, though not exactly sure where this current direction would take him.
The night, cobalt sky crept effortlessly swallowing the setting horizon. It appeared hazy, Rukia pondered, as she made an internal gesture to admire the faint, silver stars that twinkled ever so slightly. Tonight Ichigo made it alarming clear that he needed to research information for the upcoming semester, which meant trips to the library and commercial bookstores to buy the latest version of medical text. It was something totally out of her realm of knowledge. Medical jargon wasn't something she had any interest in ever learning. She just deemed it too complicated and unnecessary to describe a simple meaning of a disease.
Immediately afterwards Ichigo felt the need to apologize, which, in turn, surprised her. He admitted to prefer staying in and ordering take-out and watching the latest episode of Chappy the Bunny, similar to that of their usual nights together. The comment took her by surprise. All this time, she presumed Ichigo had done those actions unwillingly, because he favored the silent, yet relaxing, atmosphere surrounding them both. She often pictured him typing beside the coffee table with large textbooks around his body.
And sometimes, Rukia thought with her lips pursed into a straight smile, sometimes Ichigo would nap and she would consider getting close enough to witness his relaxed breathing, his handsome features soften almost as if he was dreaming a pleasant dream.
"What do you dream of Ichigo?" Purple eyes widened.
Suddenly Rukia's heart skipped an unpleasing beat. She gulped hard and focused on the way that her breathing had suddenly become faster, almost ragged. Her legs remained still, but it didn't feel unstable enough to cause her to collapse. The citizens of Tokyo passed unaffected of the inner turmoil, which Rukia couldn't describe or comprehend at this very moment. She urged her body to take a step forward.
Unexpectedly, a pair of warm hands held her shoulders. The action took place so quickly that Rukia didn't have enough time to retaliate against the stranger's embrace. She motioned to scream but as her body turned to face her captor, her voice strained and unintentionally her fingertips easily touched the pale, but gentle and stoic, face of the man before her.
"Uryuu?"
A/N: Does this count as a cliffhanger? Haha! Hope you guys enjoy! : )
