I don't know why, but after an update at closing my laptop last week, my saved spellings of all the Bleach names reverted and now they all flash up as wrong. If you notice any mistakes let me know and I can get the correct ones resaved. Cheers.
"Honestly Kurosaki, the things that have happened since you two got together its quite ridiculous."
"Tell me about it." Ichigo mumbled, head leaning on his arm, sitting sidewards at his desk towards the Quincy who sat on his window sill. He'd been suffering this lecture from the lanky friend for most of the day and he was getting bored now. What did Ishida want, for them to break up? He couldn't even remember the vague lie as to why the guy was even here. Even when he'd wanted to change for work, the guy had sat and watched him in a state of undress and although they'd seen each other naked before, he wasn't comfortable with it. His dreams these past two nights had left him feeling like he was being watched and paranoia had settled in. He tried to hide the fact that he was unsettled by everything happening around him, but without Byakuya's calming influence his mind couldn't get past the fresh memories of his mothers killing. He's seen it now, after raping his mother, hearing her screams and rasping last breath's the man, with his obscured face had been at the point of raping him too when he'd wake with a start drenched in sweat. Whether it ended there or not, Ichigo somehow didn't want to find out.
Ichigo knew however, he couldn't be doing that good a job hiding his emotional state when his friends were on constant vigil. All in all, loss of guitars and lovers too, it was quite a shitty time. He yawned, wanting to curl up in bed and grab what sleep he could before his dreams started again, but he had to get to work in a few minutes.
"No one really worth all this are they?" Ishida was keeping to his end of the bargain, making sure that Ichigo didn't spend any time alone, his 'shift' today had been long and he suspected his friend was sorely tired of his company now. He didn't agree at all that he should be going to work, but that was Sado's turn to watch him then. The sleep over had been planned all without Ichigo being any the wiser to it. Isshin could be quite devious when he wanted to be.
"Ya just haven't found anyone special yet Ishida." Ichigo smiled with a far off look in his eyes. "When ya do, you'll understand." There was a long pause where Ishida was sure his presence wasn't even remembered. Ichigo seemed happy to have that dreamy smile on his face and no doubt with thoughts of a long haired trouble maker in his mind.
"Have you heard from him at all?" Ichigo gave a scowl at the 'him' that implied Byakuya was not the perfect match for him. But he'd had a spell with Ishida as his boyfriend and that thankfully had only lasted a week before they realised they were more suited as friends after all.
"I had a text from Renji, he's been asleep since he got back."
"So what now?" Ishida gave him a calculating look and Ichigo wondered why.
"Whad'ya mean?"
"Where's he going to live? What is he going to do for work?"
Ichigo smirked and decided a little game with his friend might be a lark. "I dunno." He shrugged.
"Honestly didn't you two ever talk about these things? Didn't you do anything but shag each other? That really isn't the basis of a long term relationship." The irritated tone that came back at him was all worth it and Ichigo felt elated at his small victory.
"If you'd let me get a word in!" Ichigo raised his voice. "We talked about a lot of things. About what we'd like to be doing in five years times, or what if anything in the world was possible, what we'd get up to. Dream houses, dream holidays..."
"More shagging, just in expensive places." Ishida mocked his tone of voice.
"You really have a one track mind. Aren't you getting any?" Ichigo laughed as his friend blushed, nope clearly not.
"My brain functions on a higher level. I can raise above such base needs."
Oh that snooty voice just played with Ichigo's sense of humour and the orange haired teen couldn't repress his snigger. "I'll take that as a no then." Ichigo laughed. "My brain functions on a higher level!" He mocked. "I bet even Einstein got desperate for a quickie you know." He heard a beep outside his window. "Kisuke's here." Ichigo said standing and making a swipe for the leather bomber jacket that lay on the end of the bed. "I gotta get to work. See ya laters."
"Erm tell me Kurosaki." Ishida hadn't moved and was turned to look out of the window. "Are the press still following you?" Ishida's face showed no emotion and Ichigo frowned.
"See the cars across the street?" Was the guy blind now? There were blacked out transits and motor bikes with guys hanging around constantly talking into their mobile phones and huge camera's hanging from their necks.
"The ones taking an interest in Kisuke's van? You know the one that says the name of his club in rather large letters down the side?" Ishida's voice was purring with delight, he'd always loved getting the better of Ichigo since high school.
"That bastard hasn't?" Ichigo flew to the window to gaze out.
"What miss up on a chance to promote his club?" Ishida pressed his glasses up his nose with a smug smile. "You didn't wonder at his generosity of picking you up?" Ichigo could just read the insults of his intelligence waiting to be voiced. He wasn't thick, just too naive. "Oh hang on. It seems your father isn't as stupid as he looks, he just punched him right out on the street!" Ichigo scrabled onto the bed to see and sure enought Kisuke's broken nose was being captured by the camera men.
"I only just got that damn job back the stupid idiot!"
"Erm looks like you just lost it again too." Ishida sounded so amused that Ichigo considered punching him in the face as well, but restrained himself. They both watched as the van sped away without Ichigo and Ichigo slumped down onto the bed. "Right now we can get down to business." If Ichigo didn't know better, he would have guessed that Ishida planned all this just for what ever brain wave he wanted to talk about.
"Looks like I've got no choice doesn't it."
"My end of year fashion show." Ishida pulled over the desk chair and sat himself down while his friend laid back on the bed covering his face with his arm. Pissed off was not adequate enough to describe his emotions.
"I ain't being a model." He growled.
"Perish the thought Kurosaki, credit me with a little taste." Ishida shook his head. "This year they've invited Dijuni. You know Alfonze Dijuni?" Ichigo lifted his head looking more than a little vacant with his mouth open with a 'who?' look. Ishida rolled his eyes at the teens ignorance. "Anyway, I want to stand out from the others and the one thing I can do, is borrow your talents. Compose me some music. My theme is Gothic and I want some apt music." Ahh so that was the reason behind the strange outfits of late. Annnnnd the makeup! Oh it was so clear now.
"Over there in my CD's try a bit of..." Ichigo waved an arm and resumed his prone position.
"No, it has to be original don't you see. Everyone else will be using off the shelf music. Its the last piece of my plan."
"Does your dad realise yet, you aren't doing your doctors degree?"
"Shut up and concentrate, will you?"
"You just wing conversations with him don't you?"
"Ichigo!"
"All right. I'll do it. But I don't want to appear anywhere. I've had enough of this publicity crap thank you." Ishida smiled triumphant and nodded his head.
...
It was dark when Byakuya opened his eyes. A light from the city street blared into the void of the room above his head and he bit his lip as he tried to move. He hated to admit it, but those guards knew what they were doing. His body felt stiff and stubbornly resolute it didn't want to move. He ran a hand over his ribs assessing where he felt the worst and hissed at one patch of nasty pain.
"Bastards." He mumbled holding the area tight and forcing himself to sit up on the edge of the bed. He grabbed for his phone beside the bed and looked at the time. Ichigo would probably be working. He selected text message and began to let his thumbs select the letters he wanted before clicking 'send'. Right. Food. Thankfully Abarai was on fine form today and there sat a sandwich in a film of protective plastic. His fingers battled with the clinging bane of sandwiches and finally freed the sad cheese and salad offering. To a hungry man however, it was the finest of things he could have slid down past his tonsils. He looked back as his phone and noted that he had two messages and another arrived as he picked the device back up.
He smiled at Ichigo's simply three worded reply. There wasn't much else to say to each other until they could meet again in person. The second was from Rukia who told him she was back home, the family had summoned her from school. His mind wandered over how quick weddings could be planned and clicked open the last message from Aizen. Things were all set up. His safety deposit box in Karakura held all his documents and keys to the new house. All he had to do now was begin his life. Finally finally begin it for real, being who he wanted to be.
With the plastic wrap bundled into a ball and balanced on the plate, the ex-noble got to his feet and wandered out of the bedroom to see a vibrant spray of red hair on the sofa. The distinct sound of snoring echoed around the room and Byakuya didn't know what he did to deserve this kind of loyalty but it just confirmed that Rukia would be in safe hands. He placed the plate down in the sink and his rubbish in the overflowing bin. Standing tall with a slight grimace, he took in the eclectic room and its business. Without the library worth of books and DVD, Byakuya was sure the apartment was quite big. The room screamed bachelor with its mismatched furniture and lack of aesthetic adornments. Every flat surface was covered with things that could only be described as stuff. The place wasn't untidy, but it had the quality of holding so much clutter, it probably would never be able to get into the category of 'neat'. The TV of course was way too big and hung proudly as a centre piece from the wall. His music hifi was very expensive and no doubt blasted the neighbours with decibels that would rival a jumbo jet. Very manly indeed.
It seemed a complete contrast to the rooms of Ichigo. Both the Uni and his room at home were neat and ordered. The teenager who upon appearance would have piles of dirty washing and half filled cups of mouldy coffee was actually neat and orderly. He only had what he needed out, the rest was filed in boxes and hidden in closets. Byakuya had watched him tidy before, it amused him. The boy went around the room – what ever room he was at that time cleaning – in a clockwise direction, always starting at the door. At least they'd never have arguments about dropped towels or underwear littering the place. Byakuya frowned. Just where was his train of thought going? He shook his head catching a glass from the drainer and filling it with water. He downed one then another until his throat felt human again. Of course that just led to an awareness of his bladder and as his phone began to ring he sat himself on the toilet as to chat in private.
"You didn't call me back." The sultry voice spoke into his ear.
"Hungry." Byakuya spoke, suddenly too aware that he really wanted to be there beside Ichigo. "What a mess hey?"
"Yeah." Ichigo replied. "You okay though?"
"I will be."
"Me to." Ichigo knew what his lover meant. "When will we get together again?"
"A few days. I've got a few things to finalise here. You'll be at University anyway."
"You are echoing. Where are you in the bath?"
"On the loo."
"Very romantic."
"I thought you were too masculine for romance?" Byakuya laughed. "Is that what you want? You want me to woo you?"
"I er...well er... Just wanted..." Byakuya listened to the hesitation knowing then that the answer must be yes really what ever he said and smiling when Ichigo coughed catching his bravery in a rush of words. "I just wanted to say that I missed you. I was worried about what they were doing to you. You looked shit on TV. You are all right aren't you?"
"Nothing that a nights sleep won't cure."
"Thought you were sleeping all day?"
"Ichigo, really I am fine. I'd be better laying next to you, but..."
"Funny ain't it? But I sleep really badly without you." Ichigo laid an arm under his head and looked up at his ceiling. He was happy to waffle, he could sense that Byakuya just wanted to listen anyway. "You know, well you don't obviously. Dad punched Kisuke today. It was cool. Kisuke had blood running down his face, stupid fool. It served him right really. Apparently I'm old enough to be sleeping with a man like a, and wait for it, The prodigy of his lustful loins'..."
"No really you didn't have to tell me that!" Byakuya groaned.
"He actually said that aloud with my sisters around! But I'm not allowed to work in the club any more. He even issued me with a curfew of 10 when I said I was going out with Ishida. Suddenly I've become his little boy again. Paranoia central. I only said I was going out to get plastered."
"Everything will be fine." Byakuya responded, wishing he was there to sooth the way for his young love.
"You're sure?" Because Ichigo didn't sound it.
"I am very sure."
"Well, what's going to happen then? You staying there with your sister? You know, finding some work in the city and that?"
"You think I would do that?"
"She's the only family you care about."
"I think you'll find your missing some one out."
"What other family do you have except half dead wrinkly codgers?"
"Possibly a tall gorgeous red head." Ichigo smiled until Byakuya continued. "But he's asleep in the lounge at the moment." Without the laughter in Byakuya's voice, Ichigo would have taken him seriously but Byakuya smiled at the tut down the phone. "Don't worry Ichigo, I won't be living a great distance from you."
...
Ichigo looked a little surprised by the bouquet of flowers the receptionist was holding. It was unusual enough that he was called to the University reception with the message that a delivery had arrived, then even worse was that the flowers she was holding out were indeed for him. Of course the entire female staff had gathered in the front office to see the boy who'd appeared on their news broadcast and was one of their students. He looked mortified that the flowers, a bunch of red roses no less, were all for him. With reluctant hands he took the blooms and thanked the girl.
A smirking Ishida and Sado just had to point out that there was a card too whilst they were all still cooing over him.
"Oh you have to read the card!" The receptionist encouraged him and was promptly backed up by several of her colleges.
He sighed and unpinned the white envelope. If this was Byakuya trying to be funny after last nights phone call he'd not live a free life for very long. Trembling hands opened the card and everyone watched as his eyes went wider and wider.
"I've got to go!" He said quickly and set off at a run.
"Your classes!" Ishida called.
"Food poisoning, I'm very sick!" He grinned pushing the large glass doors open.
"Byakuya must be in town." Sado pointed out causing his friend to tut.
"Duh. Of course he is. He left me a message because Ichigo's phone isn't on. I just thought it would be more fun this way." He chuckled and Sado raised an eyebrow.
"You sent the flowers."
"How else would I know to be out of class too?" He pressed his glasses up his nose and walked off feeling elated with his little joke. "Daddies money came in handy at times."
"He'll make you pay it all back when he finds out your not doing a doctors degree."
"By then, I'll be on a plane to Milan and won't give a damn."
...
Masi has lived in the elite development of twelve town houses since they were built some ten years ago. He'd enjoyed a peaceful life behind the security gates that kept the rest of the world away. Being the first house within the elite gathering, he knew everyone living here and their comings and goings. Now that the quiet lady in number seven had moved into a home, there seemed to be a new tenant but as yet, Masi had not seen who. He hoped it was someone desirable with equal moral standings and respect for the others living here. He clipped the dead heads from his flowers with care, dropping each faded bloom into his bucket as he went.
From the corner of his eye, he spied a 'youth' trying to push open the wrought iron gate.
"This is private you know."
"Yeah I know." Ichigo noticed the intercom system and pressed on the number his note had said.
"Its not a short cut to the shops."
"Look old man, I'm here to see someone." Ichigo frowned through the bars. He was dressed for Uni he knew, but his clothes were not the tatters of a beggar, but this pompous prick wouldn't have seen anything but.
"I don't think there is anyone here of interest to the likes of you." Ichigo was taken aback by the man's tone and attitude.
"Likes of me?" That just took the biscuit and confirmed all his thoughts on the old git.
"Yes this area is for members of the public that have a certain standard."
The sentiment dripping from those words had Ichigo narrowing his eyes and clenching his fists. "But no worry about those that are rude and disrespectful then?" Ichigo retorted.
"I suggest you leave before I call the police. I have no interest in being robbed blind! Now shoo!" The grey haired man gestured with both arms to Ichigo to leave but the kid looked at him like he had two heads. This stupid old man was keeping him from his lover!
"Ichigo." Byakuya's smooth tones entered the tense atmosphere. Ichigo smiled regardless of his earlier irritation. The sight of a healthy looking lover, whose eyes were showing how much he had been missed was breathtaking.
"I ran your buzzer." Ichigo said suddenly feeling like an idiot talking through the bars. "But this guy won't let me in." Byakuya looked at the old gentleman and could tell that he had been recognised. Only since the 'coming out' Byakuya hadn't had much to do with the public and he really didn't know how they were going to take to him.
"Kuchiki Byakuya pleased to make your acquaintance." Ichigo frowned at not yet being let in, but he watched the older man take Byakuya's hand and introduce himself. Obviously the posh accent and decent clothing soothed much with the stuck up jerk. Only a moment passed however and the recent news events crossed the old man's memory banks. He frowned and looked from one to the other. Byakuya took the moment to reach forward and release the gate so Ichigo could get inside and as the gate swung open, the old man began to splutter.
"Now, I do hope you know this is a respectable area!"
Byakuya and Ichigo ignored him and smiled at each other as their hands entwined.
"Hello." Ichigo grinned.
"Hello." Byakuya smiled back.
"10 minute run from Uni!"
"I told you I was going to be close."
"Not close enough." Ichigo said stepping closer and wrapping his arms around Byakuya's body. The old man behind them coughed and continued his rant.
"...You're going to upset the residents. Royalty or not, this simply is not acceptable."
Byakuya rolled his eyes and Ichigo chuckled.
"I don't see anyone royal." Byakuya murmured pressing forward to kiss his lover.
"Oh now! I SAY DO YOU MIND!" Byakuya pulled away from the lips he wanted to be glued to for life and took a glance back at the geriatric. His face was scarlet and clearly horrified by what he was witnessing.
"You don't have to watch." He said using his no nonsense tone.