"I see your spirits are up, Kurosaki-san." Urahara coyly giggles as he pours him tea.
"That's not the only thing that's up." Mutters Yoruichi, chugging back her sake.
Rukia chokes mid sip of her tea, throwing a coughing fit while Ichigo's face colors bright red. "Yoruichi-san!" He yells out, slamming his fist down on the kotatsu. The action causes him to recoil, sending surging pain down his injured arm.
"What?" She questions, causally. "It's nothing that isn't true."
Ichigo stutters on his words, desperately trying to change the subject. Urahara passes Rukia a glass of water to dissipate the coughing spell which she gladly accepts.
As the two young people gather themselves, Urahara clears his throat. "Given your experience Kurosaki-san, feel free to bunk here until you heal."
"As much as I appreciate the offer, Hat-n-clogs, I must respectfully decline."
Urahara's eyebrows raise. "And why is that?"
"I still got school and things to do."
Yoruichi chuckles, closing her eyes and resting herself against the doorway. "Kid, I don't think you understand the gravity of your injuries."
Ichigo stands up gradually, his aching body slowing him down. He stares at the purple haired woman, a deadpan expression across his face. "Oh, I feel it."
"Ichigo." Inserts Rukia, firmly. Ichigo returns her gaze.
"Doesn't look like he's gonna budge much. A stubborn one, he is." Urahara sighs deeply. "The least you can do is check in periodically or be seen by a physician to dress your wounds."
Ichigo peeks at his numerous injuries and studies their bindings. "It's nothing I can't do myself."
Rukia perches her hands against her hips. "It's all fun and games Ichigo till you get an infection."
He pokes her forehead. "You worry too much." In response, she pinches his arm tightly causing him to squeal out. "Yeah, go ahead and give me another injury to worry about." He gathers what little items he has left, rolls it under his arm's grasp and looks up to Urahara.
"Keep the clothes." He nods to Ichigo to which Ichigo returns the gesture.
"Thank you." The young man glances once more over to Yoruichi, who still rests easy nearby. "Thank you both… I don't know how to repay you but one day, I will."
"No need." Yoruichi throws out her palm, sneaking a peek through a slit in one of her heavy eyes. You're one of us. Always has been and I guess...destined to always be.
Ichigo exits the room, Rukia trailing behind him.
"So much for going to school." Smirks Rukia as she rests in her closet, cozingly strolling through her phone. She hears Ichigo mumble back to her, engulfed by his blankets. "It's already been four days."
"What do you expect!? I have pretty bad wounds and my body is fucking killing me. I'm pretty much exhausted all the time."
"Are you seriously asking me 'what did I expect'!? Urahara-san and Yoruichi-sama practically insisted you stay in his dojo to heal you. They know the best healing springs. But no, you had to look like the big macho." She rolls her eyes.
A knock at the door startles the pair.
"Nii-san." Someone softly calls to the door. Ichigo recognizes the voice to be Karin. "Can I come in?"
"Come on in, Karin."
"It sounded like someone was in here." One of her eyebrows extends upward.
"I...I was on the phone." Ichigo replies, still hidden within his covers. He feels her body next to his feet.
Karin sits herself at the edge of his bed and dawdles her fingers. "Brother… I've had so many questions since that day. And I've tried giving you your privacy about the matter but it's been weighing on my mind. Doesn't help that Yuzu and Goatbeard act like nothing happened. Maybe it's easier for them that way." She uncomfortably shifts, pulling hair behind her ear. "I've seen you get in fights and I've seen the people you've fought but this was different. Who was that man? Better yet, who is that girl? Is she really your classmate? What have you gotten yourself into Ichigo?" She peers down at Ichigo's motionless body. A tinge of pain radiates in her chest as her older brother, her protector, remains silent. "Remember when we were kids," Karin swallows down her pain and sorrow. "And I accidently broke one of mom's favorite vases. I was so scared to tell her what happened, to tell anyone what happened. You saw me crying. You came to me and you refused to leave my side till I would tell why I was upset. Do you remember what you told me after I confessed to you?" She waits for a few minutes, hoping to get a rise out of Ichigo but he continues to not budge. "You told me that with any obstacle I face, to talk openly with you about it. That you would help me through anything. Why won't you let me do the same?"
"Karin… I'm sorry."
She looks down, tracing over her bruises and cuts that decorate her skin. "Thank you, Nii-san. Thank you for saving my life and Yuzu's. And I hope one day I can get to meet that girl to thank her too." Karin walks over to the door to his room and turns aside. "Your tall friend is here to visit you." She then closes the door behind her.
Ichigo closes his eyes, rubbing them furiously with the palms of his hands. He grabs a hold of his bright orange locs, frustrated. He began to ponder about this Shinigami-Hollow business. It comes with so much risk, risk to everything he holds dear. Why was he even doing this in the first place again? That's right, he's covering for Rukia. Yet, so much time has passed already, is it not the time for Rukia to go back to her job? She is healed up for the most part. But why? Why did this job, this lifestyle, attract him so? Ichigo's mind travels back to that day against that Hollow that murdered his mother.
"Why not me?"
"I was there for you."
Why was it there for him? Another knock, this time more forceful, at his door pries him from his thoughts.
"Ichigo?"
He recognizes the voice to be from Chad. He peeps over his blankets to confirm it's owner. "Chad? What are you doing here?"
"I haven't seen you around class nor school for the past week, I was worried about you. Your father said you got into a pretty big scuffle."
Ichigo laughs nervously before steadily sitting himself up against the headboard of his bed. It's then that Chad sees the large gauze to his shoulder, the bruises to his face, and other cuts that are in different stages of healing.
"Jesus, Ichigo. Are you okay? Where is Kuchiki-san, is she okay? Is she safe?"
The closet door slides open to reveal Rukia, donned in pajamas, sitting with her legs dangling.
"Kuchiki-san? What are you doing in the closet?" Chad turns to search for answers in Ichigo's face.
"She's just a visitor."
Chad peeks into his closet to find a cot and some of Rukia's personal items. "Your sisters… I'm just glad you're okay." He sighs and hangs his head.
Ichigo gets out of his bed and walks over to his friend, patting him on the arm. "I'm fine, Chad. Nothing I didn't have coming." He half-heartedly jokes.
"We're all worried about you." Chad sits himself at the edge of the bed.
"I understand."
"It's my fault." Chimes in Rukia, reading the dismay plainly on Chad's face. She springs herself off her cot within the closet, standing some distance from him. "I got Ichigo into this mess." Her voice cracks a little, but she clears her throat to affirm her words. "I never meant for this to go as far as it has. I'm sorry."
"Rukia...what are you saying?" Barks Ichigo. He walks over to her. "I've said from the very beginning that I wanted to help and I knew what I was getting myself into from that very first night. So this isn't anything I'm being forced to do, this is something I want to do." I've wanted it from the very first moment I saw you.
"Ichigo." Rukia whispers, her guilt and conflicting emotions eat at her. She wants to believe him but she knows the truth, she has inflicted nothing but pain and hardship. He is risking everything for her.
Chad clears his throat. "I understand, Ichigo. And I support you. I...I think I should be going." He adds, sensing the rising tension. "See you around Kuchiki-san, Ichigo." Chad nods at the pair and heads out the bedroom door.
Shortly after he leaves, Rukia gathers her things into her backpack. Taking note, Ichigo grazes his fingertips against Rukia's sleeve. Her head sharply turns to face him.
"Where are you going?"
Struggling to find her words, she finally lets out, "I… I… I need to get supplies from Urahara-san."
"Will you be back?"
Rukia's lip quivers. "Before sunset." She doesn't bother to look at his face nor change herself out of her pajamas. Rather, she tosses her backpack over her shoulder and opens the bedroom window to climb onto the piping. Ichigo observes her walk away from his home, disappearing into the distance. He huffs, throwing on a shirt and some cargo shorts. He exits his room and strolls down the stairs to the front door.
"Ichi-nii!" Calls out his younger sister, Yuzu, but it goes unanswered as Ichigo opens the door and walks out without saying a word. "What's with big brother?" She asks her twin, who's perched on the dinner table reading a book. Karin peers up at the closed door then returns her attention to her current page.
Ichigo rests him against a bench in the middle of Karakura Park, intently surveying each and every passerby. The sun hovers high above him and there is a breeze that shakes the trees. He hangs his head aback, letting the wind dance through his hair.
"For someone who is keeping on guard, you sure are blind to a pursuant." A voice behind him banters.
Ichigo's head twirls to see another young man on the bench behind him haphazardly resting while glancing at a novel within his grasp. Ichigo tenses up, shifting from his relaxed position. "Pursuant, you say? And I'm guessing that's supposed to be you."
The stranger lets out a small chuckle. "For your sake, you wish." He does not tear his eyes from his book.
"Then what do you want?" Ichigo demands brashly.
The young man slams his novel shut and rotates his head aside to face Ichigo. His glasses slip slightly down his nose to which the stranger uses his finger to push them to their original position. The sunlight reflects off his glasses. "To get a good glimpse at a fool."
Ichigo's eyebrow furrow as his eyes squint after getting a peek at the man's piercing blue eyes. "Hey, I know you from somewhere." He taps his finger against his lip. "You look so damn familiar. And wait a minute, who are you calling a fool?"
"You're way in over your head."
"What are you talking about?"
"Now, I don't take you for that stupid. I think you have enough sense to know what I'm talking about."
"What are you, holier than thou type? A know it all? Wait… I remember you know now. You're that snobbish son of that doctor my dad's known forever."
"Snobbish?!" Shouts the young man. "I'm surprised a bumbling idiot such as yourself would have such a word in your vocabulary." He attempts to remain his cool composure.
"Who you calling a bumbling idiot, four eyes?" Ichigo aggressively flings his arm over the stranger, grabbing the collar of his shirt tightly and pulling it towards him.
"You think I'm scared of a snivelling kid such as yourself?" The stranger begins, pulling his fist back to throw a punch at Ichigo's face. Which Ichigo makes note of and thus mirrors his motion.
"Kurosaki-kun? Ishida-san?"
The two young men turn to see Orihime, her face scrunched up at the rivals.
"Inoue-san!" The black haired young man straightens up, instantly pulling away from Ichigo. He bows to her in the form of a greeting.
"I didn't know you two know each other."
"Regrettably." He mutters. "How many times have I told you Inoue-san, you can call me Uryū. In fact, I insist."
She smiles warmly at him. "Only if you call me Orihime. Anyways, is everything okay? I heard shouting."
"Just a little squabble, is all." Uryū hesitantly chuckles before rubbing his arm.
"Kurosaki-kun?"
"Hm?"
"Where is Kuchiki-san?"
Ichigo blinks. "She's...she's around. Why you ask?" He scratches his head.
"You just look like something is on your mind. Did something happen between you two?"
Uryū's eyes rove over to Ichigo.
Ichigo studies the ground for a moment before meeting Orihime's eyes. "Nah. We just do our own things."
"I see." She replies quietly. "Well I must be going. I left a pot of butajiru on the stove. See you around Kurosaki-kun, Uryū-san." Orihime waves behind her leaving the two men to watch her.
"Uryū, right?"
"It's Ishida to you." Uryū smarts back.
"Whatever. What were you talking about earlier, about a follower?"
"You don't sense him?"
Ichigo shakes his head to which Uryū sighs.
"Some shinigami you are. Aren't you all supposed to be all powerful and all knowing?"
Ichigo stutters on his words and disbelief. "H...how…"
"How do I know about you being a Shinigami? Or about your companion shinigami? I'm a sworn enemy of the Shinigami thus I keep tabs on them."
"If you're such an enemy, why are you telling me this and why are you helping me?"
"Helping you?" Uryū gnashes his teeth before regaining his composure. "Who says I'm helping you?"
"You sure are looking out for me."
Uryū's tongue gets stuck on his words until all he can do is frown at Ichigo's reply. "I feel pity for you. You obviously have no idea what you are getting yourself into and you're way over your head." He repeats.
"Yeah, I haven't noticed." Ichigo bites back sarcastically. He sits himself back onto the bench. "For what it's worth, thank you."
Uryū blinks, releasing his arms from his chest. He likewise sits on the bench, far from Ichigo. "Quit while you get the chance. If not, watch your back." Uryū raises his glasses by its rim toward the bridge of his nose before standing up and walking off.