"Ryo, can I have a word?"
The professor stands at the bottom of the auditorium, and I cringe. As the last student streams out of the room, and the heavy door slams shut with a resounding boom, I make my way down the steps. Okabe-sensei peers down his glasses as he shuffles papers across his desk. I gulp.
"How are you doing, Ryo?" he asks calmly, "Fitting into Karakura University all right? Making friends? Having fun?"
"I'm fine, sir."
"Hmm." He abruptly stands up and snaps close his briefcase. The professor then moves to wipe away the chalk marks on his blackboard. I look out the window and see students leaving for the gates. Rushing out, a few boys jump into a taxi and head into the city as the orange sun dips below the horizon. Night is coming. Biology was my last class of the day, and I was eager to leave for dinner. Turning back to my teacher, I hesitantly bite out.
"If I may ask, am I in trouble...sir?"
"No, no, not at all, Ryo!" Okabe-sensei replies with a startled look, "You've the best marks in this entire university - I'm amazed at your competence actually. Indeed, biology is a delicate subject. The study of life." He touched a plant on the window sill, smiling. "A magnificent study, Ryo. You show great promise, particularly in your knowledge of the human anatomy."
I winced. Well, of course I did. Nii-sama had me study endless manuals on the different fighting techniques in hand-to-hand combat.
"...the most sensitive nerves of the body..."
Necessary to know, if I was to incapacitate enemies quickly.
"...the strongest bones..."
The weapons nature gave us, Nii-sama would say. For example, the elbow was an excellent self-defense weapon. Could easily bruise a man.
"...and even all the hormones! Now that's a feat in itself, Ryo!"
Vital information regarding poisons, potions, and various drugs. Sighing, I realized my work in the police force inadvertently turned me into a star student. Nii-sama teaches me the weirdest things.
"Which is why I have a favor to ask," Okabe-sensei ends apologetically. "Could you possible tutor a failing student of mine?"
"Bakka!" I shout as I burst into my dorm-room. Ichigo is lazing on his bed, flicking through the channels on the screen. He casts a brief glance at me, and resumes staring at the TV.
"Welcome back, Ryo. Something wrong?"
"Something wrong? Something wrong? EVERYTHING'S WRONG!" I yelp as I stomp in front of the TV. The orange-headed boy glares at me and tries to move around, but I quickly block him.
"Come on, Ryo! That's my favorite TV show!"
"Oh yeah? Well maybe if you actually studied, you wouldn't be failing Biology, and I wouldn't have to tutor you!" I scream. He pauses.
"You're tutoring me?" he asks with a grin.
"BAKKA!"
"Hey guys, Hikaru and the rest of the guys were just about to go to a sushi bar! Wanna come?" Jake asks as he pops his head into our room. Ichigo and I look at him, and he visibly steps back. "Ooooh... was I interrupting something?"
"Nope!" Ichigo says, "Count me in!" He bounces off his bed and lopes after Jake before I can say a word.
Grabbing the textbook, I run after him.
"Hey! Did you hear me? You're failing Biology!" He glances over with his shoulder and shrugs. "Then come on - we're about to get real intimate with the human body. That is, how well the human body handles alcohol."
A textbook flies his way, and he ducks with a hurt look.
"Okay, the textbook can come too. Now will you go?"
Damn Ichigo. You know you can't handle drinking! Then slight worry sneaks into my subconscious. What if he gets drunk again and sleeps in tomorrow? And if we're late for class again...
I'd better go. Just to be safe.
The moment I step out the dorm, a cool rush of air sweeps over me. I shiver. Why did I wear short sleeves again? While mentally berating myself, Ichigo turns towards me from a group of guys waiting at a bus stop.
"Finally! What took so long?" he calls. I shot him a glare as I stiffly walk over. Ichigo was wearing a plaid long-sleeves shirt over a white tank top. He had cuffed his sleeves above his elbow, and left the shirt unbuttoned. It made me feel cold just looking at him.
"How are you dressed like that? It's almost winter!"
"I'm not cold. On the other hand, you look like you're about to turn blue."
"Shut up." Although I had long-sleeve shirts, most of them needed to be washed. I didn't have any jackets, and I wasn't exactly rich enough to buy one for myself. Perhaps I should return to Nii-sama's apartment and bring over more clothes to the university. Ichigo's looking at me oddly, as if he's conflicted over something.
"What?" I ask with a suspicious look. He blinks and then straightens.
"I can lend you a jacket...if you need one." Before I get the chance to reply, a loud noise announces the arrival of the bus. The boys shout excitedly and clamber on. Ichigo grabs my wrist and pulls me through the crowd of people.
"No more!" the bus driver shouts, "Wait for the next bus!"
Ichigo turns back to look at me, his foot already halfway off the ground. I realize what's going on and attempt to withdraw my hand. The people around me pulse forward, arguing with the bus driver.
"Come on! Just take me!"
"No, take me!"
"Forget them, I need to leave right now or I'll be late for my job!"
The arguing grows louder and louder, and without warning, the bus driver begins to pull away. The doors are closing on us, and then I realize with horror that Ichigo still hasn't let go. Running, I attempt to stay upright as I feel the bus speed up.
"Let go, you idiot!" I yell at Ichigo.
"Jump!" He shouts back.
"Are you crazy?" Ichigo leans out of the bus, and reaches out one hand to me. I groan and push myself a little harder. Then the bus driver catches sight of me and swears.
"Let go of him!" he yells at Ichigo. "We're at the maximum passenger limit!"
"No," Ichigo snaps at the bus driver. "He's my friend."
"Your choice, buddy." The bus driver slows down a little and shoves Ichigo off the bus. With a yelp, the orange headed boy tumbles onto the pavement, dragging me to the ground with him. As the bus speeds away, I hear Hikaru and Jake shouting at the bus driver. I lift my head and meet Ichigo's eyes inches from mine. He smiles.
Leaping off him, I dust my hands with a frown.
"You could have just let go, you know. I would have taken the next bus."
Ichigo cocks his head, a smile playing on his lips.
"I know."
He stands up and brushes off the gravel on his clothes. As his hands sweep down his midsection, I find myself watching. Blushing, I turn away. What was I doing?
"Anyway, let's go on the subway. It'll be faster."
Doubtful, I cast him a look. "Are you sure? The subway's usually crowded."
"Just trust me."
Ichigo led his sighing roommate down to the subway station. Swiping his metro card, he pushed through the metal bar and walked towards the blue line. Behind him, Rukia fumbled through the scanner and then caught up with him. Ichigo studied the map he picked up from the information desk and turned it around.
"It's upside down, dummy."
"No it's not."
"Yes it is!"
Ichigo glared at her, "I think I know what I'm doing."
"Well, the boy's actually right, sir..." one of the security officers mentioned from beside them. Rukia stuck out her tongue and blew raspberries. Ichigo checked the map and found he was holding it upside down. Damn.
"Fine. But I'm still right - we have to take the blue line," he snapped.
Rukia snickered and walked along the yellow CAUTION paint lines. She was nearing the edge of the tunnel, alarmingly close to the tracks. Anxiety bit at Ichigo's nerves, and he refrained himself from grabbing her arm.
"Whoo-hoo! Look at that kid!" a voice yelled. Ichigo barely turned around when a blonde-haired teen and his brunette friend ran past him. The kid had spiky hair gelled upwards, and a ring in his ear. The brunette was short, shorter than Rukia, and had red eyes.
Contacts? Ichigo thought curiously.
The strange kids quickly imitated Rukia, balancing themselves at the edge of the line. Startled, Rukia turned around.
"What are you- Whoa!" she cried as her foot snagged in a crack. Rukia flapped her ams helplessly and then disappeared into the darkness.
"Ryo!" Ichigo yelled, his throat tightening. He ran to the edge, where Rukia was lying unconscious on the subway tracks. "Ryo! Wake up!"
And then Ichigo heard the deathly rattling noise of a subway moving over the racks. He didn't look as it neared closer and closer...
Jumping down onto the gravel, he slipped his arms under Rukia's limp body...
CLUNK-CLUNK-CLUNK
Turning his face upwards, he ran towards the edge. The people in the subway were looking at him in shock.
CLUNK-CLUNK-CLUK-CLUK-CLUK- HOOOONKKKKKKKK!
Ichigo closed his eyes. And then...
WHOOOSHHHHHH! Confused, Ichigo opened his eyes. On the opposite track, a subway raced through the tunnel. It was the other line. Not this one. Ichigo's arms felt weak. How stupid of me.
Ryo's eyes slowly opened.
"Ichigo? What happened?"
The orange-headed teen looked down at her. "Dumbass. Next time, don't stand so close to the edge, okay?" You nearly gave me a heart attack.
After they climbed out of from the tracks, Ichigo and Rukia took a seat on the benches. The kids from earlier had scrambled away, but Ichigo would guess from their own dangerous antics and dilated pupils that neither kid was completely sober.
"Thanks," Rukia suddenly said. She looked away. "For saving me."
Ichigo felt himself smile.
"Of course."
The rumbling in the tunnel and the flashing lights announced the arrival of their line. As the subway slid to a stop, Ichigo stood up and walked over to one of the doors. Rukia trailed after him, eyeing the large crowd of people that had begun to gather. Ichigo knew Rukia would never ask, so he reached backwards and grabbed her hand.
"Wha-" she began in protest.
"Just sticking together," he calmly replied, "Nothing more. Like I said Ryo. Even if I was gay, I wouldn't go for you." He stepped into the train and pulled Rukia in.
"You're not my type," he whispered with a smile.
I hate subways, I decided. They really are too damn crowded.
"Are you sure this way is faster?" I breathed to the boy inches away from me. Ichigo looked down at me, his chocolate brown eyes smiling warmly. The boy's arms were raised over me, and he grunted quietly as someone shoved into him. Pitching forward, Ichigo narrowly missed my face. He turned away at last minute, and instead, his cheek brushed against my ear.
"Yup, definitely faster. Trust me."
"You keep saying that..." I look around the subway again. "But it's so crowded here. How can it possibly be faster?
He struggled against the tide of people and straightened so that was he towering over me again.
"Because everyone knows the subway is faster, so everyone wants to use it," he replies. Ichigo's voice is slightly strained, and I can see blocking me from the other passengers is taking its toll.
"It's okay, Ichigo. I don't need you to block them-"
The subway doors open and a new surge of passengers pours into the subway. Ichigo's arms fold, and his body crashes into mine. Looking up at him, I feel myself faintly blush. His adam's apple bobs up and down as he swallows.
"Sorry," he grunts.
"It's okay...I'm fine..." I breathe out. The passengers keep cramming themselves in, and pretty soon, it starts to stink of body sweat. The heavy air threatens to overwhelm me, and Ichigo lowers his hands to press against the doors, one hand on each side of my head. He looks at me, amused.
"Now let's hope no one farts,"
I shoot him a glare.
Ichigo wasn't lying; the subway was faster. But he'd also been looking for an excuse to get closer to Rukia. The girl's head was turned away from him as the other passengers forced Ichigo against her. His hands trapped her in his reach, and it was sorely temping to lean in. Her lips were rather close...
Damn it. Her hair's getting long again.
Ichigo pushed his back against the other people, getting a lot of angry remarks in return. However, he managed to curve his back so Rukia had more room. Looking up, he saw Rukia staring at him.
Wow, her eyes...
She didn't look away.
...are so beautiful.
Ichigo's eyes glazed over, and I raised one eyebrow.
"Earth to Ichigo. Hello?" I said. I would have waved a hand, but currently it was trapped behind my back. He blinked and then smiled.
"You really can't go a second without my attention, huh Ryo?"
Scowling, I look away.
"Says the guy who stares at himself in the mirror every morning."
"I do not!" Ichigo returns hotly.
"Karakura shopping district!" announces a voice from the intercom. "Please watch your step."
The doors slide open, and Ichigo lurches forward, unprepared for the sudden movement. Behind us, people stream out eagerly, and I realize we're going to be run over if we don't move. Pulling Ichigo with me, I dash out and turn to the side of the doors just as a stampede of people floods out the doors.
"Whew," Ichigo sighs. "Thanks."
"No problem," I smile. Then I realize he hasn't let go of my hand yet.
"Ichigo-"
"Relax, relax, I just forgot for a moment." He releases me and walks out to the station entrance. For some reason, I felt bad watching his back.
"Wait!" I call out. His back stops, and I catch up to him. Ichigo turns to me as I look up at him. Breathless, but not entirely sure why, I watch as my breaths become small clouds in the air. Through those wispy puffs of air, I see his dark eyes. Struggling with myself, I force the words out.
"I-I'm cold." My eyes can't break from his. He extends his hand, and I slowly take it. Pulling me close, his eyes linger on mine.
"You know, the way you say it sounds like you're asking me to marry you or something," he jokes, and I immediately punch his arm.
"I told you to quit it with the teasing!" I growl. He rubs his arm, still smiling.
"Hey, is that you Ichigo? And Ryo?" Jake's familiar voice interrupts. He runs over, and Ichigo and I break away. Hikaru and the other guys look over at us curiously.
"You took the subway?" Jake asks in surprise. "Hikaru got pissed at the bus driver and threatened to beat him up if he didn't go back for you guys! We were able to hold him back, but I'm glad you guys figured something out."
"Apparently, the next bus got into an accident, and rumors are it was a mugging attempt," Hikaru adds as he walks over. "Anyway, let's go! I'm buddies with one of the chefs at this bar, but seats fill up fast!"
Slamming the beer bottle on the table, Jake burps.
"All right! Time for TRUTH or DARE!" he crows. "Except we're going to make one minor rule change."
Grinning at us, he leans in and almost knocks over his bowl of soup. "If you chicken out, you'll have to drink one shot of liquor!"
Oh shit. This was exactly what I was worried about. Glancing at Ichigo, I see the orange headed teen wasn't concerned at all.
"All right, let's begin! Ichigo, you first, since you're definitely an experienced man. Truth or dare?"
Smirking, Ichigo lifts his chin. "Dare. Do your worst, Jake."
Jake eyes his buddy carefully, then glances around the circle of boys seated around the table. My eyes drift to the piece of cooking meat in the middle of the table. The flames beneath the iron grill seductively call to me.
"I dare you... to kiss Ryo!"
The world freezes as I make eye contact with Ichigo. Hikaru and the rest of the guys burst out laughing. "Come on, Ichigo! Kiss your roommate!" I hear them cheer.
Ichigo looks away from me to send Jake a withering look. He grins back at him, like the monkey he is.
"What's the matter? Ryo's not bad looking you know," Jake laughs. I feel sick to my stomach. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten raw fish.
Ichigo looks at me. I try to keep my face devoid of emotion, but something must have slipped through, because he broke his gaze with a frown.
"No."
"Aw come on, it's just a small kiss!"
Heat floods my face, and I stand up. The nausea is even worse now. Sweat begins to slide down my palms.
"...I'm not doing something that makes Ryo uncomfortable..." Ichigo was saying.
"Fine, fine, here drink up." Jake passes a cup of brown liquid to Ichigo. None of them have noticed I'm standing. Ichigo reaches for the glass, and then knowing I would probably regret it, I snatch it first and down it in one gulp.
The boys look at me in astonishment.
"I feel sick," I say weakly before crumpling to the floor. Ichigo pulls me upright and takes the empty cup from my hand.
"What'd you go and do that for?" he hisses.
"You can't drink..." His eyes widen. I add with a mumble, "By the way, I don't think sashimi agrees with my stomach."
Jake laughs. "You're a funny guy, Ryo. Wanna finish Ichigo's dare?" Jake leans across the table, lips puckered, when Ichigo shoves his hand in Jake's face.
"Don't touch him," he snarls. Jake blinks.
"All right, all right dude. It was just a joke you know?"
That was the last thing I heard before the roof disappeared. Well, to be more precise, it didn't exactly disappear as well as fly off, permanent separated. Above us was a very angry Hollow.
"Hey, Ichigo," I begin. The orange-headed boy shoots me a look. "Ever fight drunk before?"
Beside us, Jake, Hikaru, and the rest of the boys are looking up in terror.
"Duuuude, where'd the roooof gooo?" a drunk man slurs to his bald buddy.
"You're crazy, Asuka! The roof is - OH MY GOD WHERE'D THE ROOF GO?"
"Leave this to me," Ichigo whispers in my ear. Ichigo runs out the door, and Jake yells after him.
"Where you going, Ichigo?"
"His sister's in the hospital," I blurt out. "I'm going with him."
"Wait, we'll come too-" he begins.
"No!" I bark. The room spins. "Stay here... I wouldn't want the night to end in the hospital you know? We'll be back soon. Don't worry."
Stumbling outside, I catch Ichigo staring up at the Hollow. He growls and summons Zangetsu in his right hand. With a leap, Ichigo lands on the building next to the two-headed Hollow. Ichigo charges and easily slices off one of the heads.
"You sure you want to be doing that?" a deep voice laughs.
Ichigo and I turn at the same time to see a hooded black figure riding on the back of the Hollow. I swallow, immediately guessing what the figure meant.
"Blood Lion!" Ichigo growls. And then the severed head regenerates - as three heads.
"Great, I just love dealing with hydra-like serpents." I mutter from the ground, and leap up to Ichigo's side. Except, I misjudged my distance and ended up crashing into him. The boys falls onto his butt.
"Ryo? I said I would take care of this!"
"I know. I'm just making sure you don't get yourself killed."
"Don't go stealing my lines. You're the one who's drunk here!"
"And for which idiot did I do that for?" I retort. Ichigo opened his mouth, apparently ready to snap something back when the hydra-serpent thing whips out a limb and strikes Ichigo off the roof. He flies backward, then flips and with a swing of Zangetsu, unleashes a massive black wave. The strike cuts into all four heads at once, and the Hollow wails.
Staggering, it crashes into a few buildings, and the Blood Lion nimbly jumps off. Then with one last cry, the great monster dissipates and the night is still again.
"Not bad. I see you're still pretty strong," the Blood Lion remarks. "Perhaps I should bring a stronger pet next time."
"Forget pets!" Ichigo snarls from the air. "Fight me yourself, Blood Lion!"
The man pauses. Then he grins. "No thanks." And then a blast of energy shoots out from his palms and strikes me in the chest. I blink. What exactly had happened? Was I just hit? It was so fast...or had it only felt fast? My mind couldn't even fathom the situation.
"Ryo!" Ichigo shouts, his brown eyes round with - what? What was that emotion? I stumble backwards. My body feels warm... and gooey.
I look down and see a dark liquid.
"Until next time, Ichigo," The Blood Lion laughs and escapes across the rooftops. I dimly see Ichigo stare after his arch-rival, eyes burning. Then he looks back at me. He can't decide, I realize. I smile at him, hoping it would be enough to convince him I was fine. Oh...the world is shaking. I tremble a little. Right as my eyes close, I see Ichigo running towards me.
Why are you crying Ichigo?
The soft moonlight spills in through the windows, and I open my eyes. Ichigo's sleeping form slouches over the chair next to my bed. His head rests on my stomach, and I slowly allow myself a small smile.
"Ichigo..."
It was different from the many times I saw his face while we shared a room. It was even different from the memories I had as friends, and our time as shinigami. It was peaceful...and sort of sweet.
The sleeping boy frowns, and then raises his head sleepily.
"Ryo?" I smile. "Thank god...you're okay."
Ichigo looks at me, his brown eyes murky. I brush away the hair from his eyes and touching his cheek, I notice his skin is dried with tears.
"I don't understand."
"What?"
"Why were you crying? I was fine." Ichigo almost laughs, and then he slides the blanket away from my stomach. I could feel my mouth drop open as I take in my own bandaged body.
"You almost bled to death, idiot." Ichigo covers my body with blanket again. "Can you please be more careful? I'm getting gray hairs worrying about you."
"Worrying?" I repeat, like a parrot. He looks away, his ears flushing red. Then he gives me a weary smile. Reaching out, Ichigo brings my face closer to his. He rests his forehead against mine, and stares at me softly. I never say a word, but I didn't need to. Ichigo wraps his arms around me, and sighs.
"Thank god you're okay, Ryo."
"I still don't understand."
"You don't need to."
Ichigo holds me in his arms gently, burying his face in my shoulder. For some reason, I feel like this soothes him as much it calms me. Eventually, I feel my eyes drop close. The world fades away.
AN: Wow, I love reading everyone's thoughts! Thanks to those who left a review/messaged me - it's fun to hear what you think! And for those who I couldn't reach through PM-ing, here you go:
To Day: I don't understand Spanish, so I took your comment and Google-translated it. Forgive me if I misunderstand, but yes, all that was missing was a kiss. (I think EmpressMinea would agree with you on that) Thanks for reading! ;)
To qwerty: Yeah, you're right, it's a hard plot-line/AU to work with. Thanks for sticking with me and appreciating the story! IMO, Byakuya makes one helluva sniper ;) Yup, lots of readers were asking for ichiruki moments, and hey, gotta deliver! Dude - you're the best! Memories in the Shower was a play on "Memories in the Rain."
Keep enjoying ILMR everyone! I know I keep saying thank you, but it's hard not to with such a cool audience.