Two days later, Senna was still sleeping on the futon. Things hadn't been the same since Uryu's admission, and the two hadn't spoken much either. Not that Uryu didn't try. He was shocked how stubborn she could be. It was like she was part cute, and part Kurosaki. As awkward as that thought was, he couldn't help but smile, only a bit, as he shook his head at how ridiculous it all was.

She had kept to herself, and strangely enough, he was beginning to feel lonely at home again. There was something nice about having another individual with him, who seemingly liked him - as a friend. A friend was the only way he saw it, because he didn't want to see anything else, if it was there. He didn't want to complicate things. Things were already complicated enough, and he made them even more complicated when he revealed to her his feelings for someone else.

Who he had a hunch wouldn't return them.

It was like this when he walked home from school. Handicrafts club didn't even work to calm his nerves. Direct confrontation was never his style, but Uryu knew that if Senna was going to continue staying with him, something he wasn't sure about himself, living in a hostile environment wasn't going to work. It didn't work for him before, when he lived with Ryuken, which contributed to one of the many reasons why he moved out.

Entering his apartment, Uryu found that there was no sign of his guest. She had actually folded her sheets this morning too. With a curious eyebrow raised, he wondered if she left, for good. Taking his shoes off, and replacing them with his house slippers, he walked over to his desk, and began work on his homework, not wanting to dwell.

His eyes closed as he let out a sigh. It was too quiet. But only for a moment.

Before he knew it, a slam hit the desk and he shot up, to see Senna standing next to him with a piece of paper under her hand, and a pen in the other.

"You said we'd write the letter together. We never did, and I want to."
"Letter...?"
"To Ichigo. What, did you forget?"

Honestly, he did. So many other things were going on in his mind, the letter slipped from his thoughts easily.

"I'm sorry. I did. You want to write it now?"

He turned his head so that his blue eyes could see her amber ones. He found it strange he didn't sense her riatsu upon entering. Like Kurosaki, she had a difficult time controlling it, but hers wasn't at such a high level, nowhere near it. But her eyes, they were hardened, and he'd never seen them like that.

"That's why I'm over here. I'll do it myself if-"
"No. No, I'll write it with you, I told you I would."

He sighed, as she dropped the pen on top of the paper, and carried over a chair from the table.

"You're wearing your sneakers."
"Sorry, I forgot to take them off."
"You left?"
"Yep."
"You don't need to act so cold towards me."
"I'm not."

He sighed again. He could feel a headache coming on. He watched her every movement, as she walked back over to the door, and took her shoes off. Uryu knew he was going to have to clean later- he hated things not being in order, and he hated dirt even more.

"So where do you want to start?" He asked as she sat down in the chair.
"Where am I supposed to start?"
"Don't ask me. I've never written a letter before," turning his head, his eyes met hers again. He was surprised at his own thoughts, but he wanted to test something. "Particularly not to someone I like."

"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You like Kurosaki, don't you?"
"No! I did, at least I think I did. But not anymore."
"You had a change of heart, then."
"I don't even know if I liked him in the first place. Why do you care?"
"I-I don't! You're free to have feelings for whoever you do."
"I'm not."

Looking away from the violet-haired girl, the teenager felt his stomach turn a bit. He didn't mean to start this, or upset her, or for it to upset himself.

"Let's leave it at that."

Of course he had questions, but he had no desire to ask them. If the feeling in his stomach was any indication of what could come, asking more questions wasn't a good idea.

"Thanks. I guess."
"So what about the letter-"
"I don't like him anymore. He's busy. I understand he's busy, he's Ichigo, and he has things to do. I know how he is, once he sets his mind to something he doesn't give up. He's a shinigami, right? I don't know much about him, but there's something big. He doesn't need to worry about me, because I'm here. And I'm going to try to be better, and make things easier for you too, Uryu."

His eyes widened as she spoke. What was she talking about? She helped him by making meals, doing the dishes, keeping him company... He felt less lonely.

"But Ichigo doesn't need to worry about me. You can tell him that he's free."
"Kurosaki never found you to be a burden, you know."
"That's how he is. He doesn't find anyone to be one. Even though he'll complain," she let out a giggle, "he's always there for other people."

"Exactly," the Quincy muttered under his breath. It's a no wonder why the girls, particularly one of them, liked Kurosaki. He was selfless, and didn't push others away in the strong manner he did. He found that he was changing a lot himself, opening up more, but he still preferred to be alone, and attend to his own affairs. "Is that what you want me to write?"

"Is there anything you want to say to him?"

Silence befell the two as he thought. There was a lot Uryu wanted to say to the shinigami. But he had no reason to.

"I'll write a draft."

At least three were written before they agreed on a final product.

She wasn't going to worry Ichigo with her words, but for some reason, tears were falling from her face, while she dictated the letter. Putting down the pen once he finished writing the last sentence, Uryu let Senna sign her own name, as his hand awkwardly reached up, in attempt to pat her back.

"What are you doing?"
"You're crying."
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to."

Every time she talked about Kurosaki this happened. She cried. Never a big cry, always just a few tears.

"You've been through a lot...he was always by your side."
"Was. I'm letting him go, now. I've slowly been letting him go since..."
"'Since'?"
"I met you. After you hand this to him, everything will be better."

He awkwardly continued to rub her back, in attempt to comfort her. He hated seeing women cry. There was nothing he could do about it right now either.

"I'm not sure that's the case."
"Right."
"Please remember no matter what happens, I never asked you to detach yourself from him."
"I know that, Uryu. It's me who wants to break away from those feelings, not just because of you either."
"I'm...part-"
"Forget I said that."

Watching as she stood, she walked to the bathroom. Turning his head back to the desk, he reread the letter, knowing it was the right thing to do. He vowed that when he returned tomorrow, they would talk about his own Kurosaki. It was only fair.

Kurosaki,

I am merely writing words dictated to me after this short opening. I beg of you, stop being so dense. It's that behavior which gets you into trouble. As much as I hate to admit it, we're friends, and you have others out there as well - so stop acting as if you need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, and your shoulders alone.

-Ishida Uryuu

Ichigo-

Why did you stop talking to me when I left your family's clinic? We're friends, I thought we were. I'm glad I got to see you the other day, but you didn't seem so happy. You're a shinigami. I'm a shinigami. But you're different than me - because the others, they like you. You never give up, and I admire that. U/r\y/u\ d\o/e\s/ t/o\o- Please stay safe, and I don't think you are now, but don't worry about me. I'm happy here. Thank you for everything. Good luck. I promise, I'll help you again. You won't even need to take me to dinner, and I won't ask you to bring me on the ferris wheel. I'll see you when you're ready, and things will be like they were before, I hope.

-Senna