First Date

Shūhei Hisagi leaned against a pillar by the enterence to the human world with his eyes closed. The guards and some who walked by would have guessed he was sleeping, in a quiet a weird place, but the ones who worked with him, knew otherwise. A soft breath passed through his lips and he raised his hand to rub his temples for the third time. It had been at least an hour since he had escorted the rokai back home, yet he was still confused about why the old man had asked him to do it. Surely there were others around doing nothing that he could have called on, but no a hell butterfly interrupted his training with his captain, which he always enjoyed. Another thought crossed his mind as he thought back to the frightened girl, she seemed to hold a spark in his brain, but that made no sense. He had been in the soul society most of his life, only going out on missions to take down hollows occasionally. He shouldn't be so consumed by this.

"Hey Shūhei!" the lieutenant heard.

He opened his eyes to find Izuru Kira approaching him.

"What is it?" Shūhei asked.

"How about joining me for a drink, Matsumoto is waiting for us?"

"That sounds nice."

"Great, come on."

Kira turned and began to walk off but didn't hear Shūhei following him. He turned back to see his friend still leaning against the pillar. but now staring at the doorway.

"You coming?" Kira asked.

"Unfortunately I was asked to keep an eye on... the human world" Shūhei answered, then he walked through the portal.

Ayame tossed and turned in her bed at home, she had been having nightmares about Siryu for quite some time now. When her and the team arrived home Urahara welcomed them with a dramatic enterence, making the landing a little painless. For a while they sat in his shop where Ayame relaxed and asked him to keep the swords locked up, and safe. But after everything was out in the open Ayame asked to be taken home. No offense to Urahara, she just thought she might sleep better in her own home for once in a long while. The former soul reaper was alright with this but a little saddened, he did have some romantic plans for Uryu and his princess. Though some would ensue that the pair had ideas of their own. Uryu walked Ayame back to her alone, and she invited him in, saying that she couldn't think of falling asleep. They sat in the living room talking for a while then Ayame ended up falling asleep on Uryu's lap after they had turned on the TV. He took her up to her bed but couldn't bring himself to leave her alone, so he sat back down on the couch.

Ayame awoke with a jolt, surprised that a scream didn't ring from her mouth. She sat in her messy bed for a while trying to regain her breath, while she recalled her dreams. Siryu capturing her again, Uryu coming to her rescue, but he lost the fight. His body laided limp in her arms as Siryu stood above them, about to swing his sword down on her as well. A small amount of air finally released from Ayame's lips and she slipped out of her bed, and downstairs. Uryu laided snoozing on her coach, the TV reading of the credits of whatever movie he had been watching. A small smile crept on her face, as she saw he was alright, and quite content. She slowly stepped over to him and grabbed a blanket, draping it over his agile body. As her hand came closer to the top of his body, Uryu's arm reached out slowly, grabbing her hand. Ayame looked up at his face to fine him awake, his blue eyes staring into hers.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

Ayame slouched to the ground and huffed a sigh, he had asked this question so many times tonight. It was true she had been through quite an ordeal, but was it really necessary to keep repeating? Then again all her answers had been lies.

"I just had a bad dream" Ayame started, trying to push it off as something small.

Uryu saw through it though, just like all the other times she said she was fine. He pulled his other hand out from the blanket and ran it through his princess's hair.

"I'm sorry" he spoke softly, understanding by now not to push her. "Would you want to stay awake another hour or so, till you get tired that is?"

Ayame rested her chin on the sofa staring at him.

"No" she yawned. "But would you mind sharing?"

Uryu shyness showed a little on his face as he realized what Ayame was asking.

"It was quite a nightmare" she added quietly, looking away.

Uryu let out a long breath, letting some of his blush fade. Then he moved to lay on his side.

"Come on" he finally answered.

Ayame looked over with a small smile, she pulled herself up onto the couch, laying down on her side as well. Uryu wrapped his arm around her as she nuzzled her head into his chest and closed her eyes. Ayame awoke first the next day, a smile spreading across her lips before slowly releasing herself from Uryu arms and heading over to the bathroom. As she splashed her face with water she thought over the night, she hadn't had that great of a sleep since she lived with Urahara, unaware of her history. Dreams of hollows destroying all that that she held dear haunted her almost every night. Then there was the faint remembrance of her parents death. She did indeed have dreams about them, but once woken the events would become scattered. Her eyes scanned over the clock calender on the counter and suddenly became alert, it was school day. She rushed out of the bathroom and back to her prince.

"Uryu! Uryu! Wake up!" she shouted, well shaking his shoulders.

The archer opened his eyes slowly, yawned, then stared at Ayame confused.

"What...What is it?" he asked, his guard rising.

"We have to get dressed quick, we'll be late for school!"

Uryu face turned soft as he processed her response.

"Is that all?" he asked, re-closing his eyes and turning on his side away from Ayame.

"What do you mean is that all?" Ayame shouted.

Uryu rolled back over and looked her in eyes, then he raised his hand and ran his fingers through her hair.

"We don't have to attend school Ayame" Uryu started.

"I can't just ditch" Ayame complained.

"I'm sure everyone will understand, besides you have already been gone quiet a while. What's one more day?" Uryu protested.

"Not everyone knows what happened!.."

Ayame let out a slow breath and let her eyes wander around the empty house. Uryu looked up at her pause to watch his princess's face go from alert to lost in a mere second. She looked almost as broken as she did back in the tower before she saw him.

"I don't think I can stay in this place any longer" Ayame finally finished.

At first the archer was confused for even though the house is where it began it was not the worse of the problem. Then as he watched Ayame move off his chest and began to search for what he guessed was her uniform frantically, he realized that it wasn't the place that was the issue, it was staying still. If Ayame went to school she'd be consistently thinking and moving a lot as well. This would keep her mind occupied for she feared if she stopped thoughts of her imprisonment would push back into her brain. Siryu still haunted her dreams, Uryu helped a little, but he couldn't always be there. It would be even worse if she had to deal with the nightmares awake. Uryu choked down a yawn and forced himself off the couch, then he sped in front Ayame stopping her from moving.

"We'll go out" he stated simply.

"Where? School? I should probably clean this up first" Ayame rushed out as she tired to look around Uryu towards the mess.

He moved himself to her eyes again, then grabbed her shoulders so she would stand still.

"We can leave that till later. How about we still skip school though, I'd like to take you out to breakfast" Uryu answered.

"I guess that would be ok" Ayame answered with a little pout.

Uryu smiled gently then let go of his princess.

"Alright then you go jump in the shower and I'll take care of this" he suggested.

"But it was my mess" Ayame argued.

"That's to bad" Uryu shrugged.

Then he smirked and flipped behind Ayame and began pushing her upstairs. Once he was sure she had entered the bathroom, hearing the water turning on, he sighed then began picking up the objects all over the room. Hisagi watch the young archer outside the patio window, he had seen the whole scene from when the pair woke up. He hid behind the willow tree in the small yard still in his soul reaper form. Hisagi could tell that the girl was safe with the quincy and even though she was flustered she'd be content soon. Yet that didn't mean his job was done, o how he wished for a drink now. He had actually been here all night as well, just because she was safe now didn't mean she was always going to be. So Hisagi stayed watching the quincy clean keeping his eyes open for any spikes in spiritual pressure, any sign of Siryu.

After an hour or so the pair exited the house pushing Hisagi father back into his hiding spot. Ayame dragged Uryu along the sidewalk towards the closet breakfast joint. Uryu was still not really awake but he didn't protest, he understood her urgency, plus his mind was slightly occupied by the fact that they were holding hands. A while later they sat across from each other in the outdoor part of a cafe that had caught Ayame's eye. Uryu sipped on some coffee well she looked over the menu, for his eyes weren't ready to read yet. Hisagi sat on a bench across from the restaurant watching them now in a gigai. A news paper hid some of his face, but he also made sure to keep his spiritual pressure in check. Uryu reached his finger over and pulled down Ayame's menu a little so he could see her eyes.

"Any idea what we're ordering?" he asked.

Ayame's expression changed to deep in thought as she scanned the items one last time.

"How about this" she suddenly answered, placing the menu down so Uryu could see.

The archer looked over to where his princess's finger laided, and read over the description. A breakfast for two; choice of eggs or pancakes, toast or hash browns, and bacon or sausage.

"Sounds good" Uryu replied.

Once the waitress came back he ordered their specific items and some more coffee for the both of them. Ayame sat twiddling her thumbs along the handle of her mug, taking a sip every five seconds. Uryu watched with a little concern, but never spoke up. The silence was becoming awkward as they waited for their food.

"Did you sleep alright?" Uryu asked.

Ayame nodded her head well sipping her coffee again. A few minutes passed by before she spoke though.

"Uh Uryu?" Ayame started. She sat her cup down and began to push her two pointer fingers together nervously. "Is this a date?" she finished quietly.

Uryu choked on his drink as the word passed through his ears, a little red appearing on his checks.

"It could be" he answered slowly.

Ayame blushed a little now as well realizing what she had just asked. She let out a giggle trying to ease the moment only making Uryu join in on her a few seconds later.

"That would be nice" she finally squeaked out in between laughs.

Uryu stopped and let out some breaths before speaking.

"Then it shall be" he smiled gently.

The archer reached his hand across the table and Ayame took it.

"Would you do you me the honor of going out with me my Princess?" Uryu asked.

Ayame giggle a couple more times at his odd choice of words, but then decide to respond the same way.

"I would, my prince" she answered, making them both laugh again.

Their food came a few minutes later and Hisagi lowered his newspaper, god it felt like he hadn't ate or drank in forever. Not that soul reapers necessarily needed food, but it was nice to indulged themselves every once in a while. His guard and control lowered a little as he actually began to drool watching Ayame dip her pancakes in some syrup, that was one of his favorite human foods. Ayame's fork dropped suddenly as she felt the rise in spiritual pressure, and her eyes began to dart around. Fortunately Ayame was still a little weak to sense the exact point the source was coming from.

"Everything alright?" Uryu asked, noticing her distress.

"I think there is someone watching us" Ayame replied in a whisper.

Uryu's guard went up and he looked around spotting Hisagi almost immediately. His eyes met those of the soul reaper and the lieutenant shook his head slowly. Uryu shot him quite a glare, but nodded mouthing later, then turned back to Ayame.

"Hmm I don't sense anything" Uryu lied, hating himself.

"Are you sure?" Ayame asked, knowing her powers weren't exactly at her best.

Uryu nodded his again with regret this time, he hated adding to his princess's paranoia. Ayame let out a breath trying to search again and feeling nothing this time, but then Hisagi had regained his control now. The couple continued eating, talking about school, Ichigo and Rukia, and a little about their future relationship plans. Once they finished Ayame excused herself to the bathroom inside as Uryu paid the check. Yet when he could no longer see her he stepped over to the alleyway next to restaurant, and soon after Hisagi followed him.

Author's note: I am horribly sorry for the super-duper long wait! I don't what happened, I have no excuses, just a giant apology. I hope you enjoy this chapter I tired to make it good and longer because I took forever. I hope you think the wait was worth and I promise to... You what I'm gonna stop right there so I don't jinx myself. Enjoy, sorry again.