Kurosaki Ichigo can easily admit that he is not perfect. He's only human (now) after all. So it's only natural that he desires things that are seen as wrong, or illegal.
"I want a fake ID."
Cherī chews and swallows the spoonful of cereal. "Sure. We will need a photo of ya from before Ah dyed yer hair."
Ichigo furrows his brows. "I don't think I have one?"
"Do ya have one where yer facin' forward? It doesn't matter if yer wit' someone else in it."
He thinks again and has a distinct feeling of having taken a photo with Rukia once. It either exists or he is imagining it.
"I'll see what I can find."
The bluenette is looking through the bookcase for the latest album. He ignores the ones that he is certain are filled with photos of a happier time (a time when his mother was still alive, still breathing and laughing and moving and not laying still over him with a wound caused by a hollow that he is respon-) and manages to find a few loose photos that no one had come around to placing in an album. Amongst them is a photo of him and Rukia standing in front of an ice rink.
He examines the photo.
He can't quite remember what had happened that day, nor could he remember when exactly they had gone ice skating. What he can remember is helping Rukia keep her balance – he finds it ironic that she is incapable of skating when her zanpakutō is an ice nature one – and skating with friends.
They... look happy.
He checks through the other photos, picking another four where he is facing forward, and leaves the house.
Ichigo ignores the gaping hole that seems to have widened when he was examining the photos.
"Do ya have a preferred date fer yer birthday?" Cherī asks.
"No, you can choose whichever date you want."
"'Kay."
"Tell me a name ya hate."
He looks up from his bento. She stares back.
"I don't think I hate any name."
She frowns. It looks like she is frowning at least. It always looks like she is frowning when her smile is missing.
"Then who do ya hate?"
He leans back in the chair. Faces and names flicker through his head, but not one stays longer than a moment.
The pinkette huffs. "Anyone that hurt ya?"
Slowly shaking his head, he proceeds to eat his lunch. "No one." His eyes meet hers when he feels her gaze harden.
"That," She rudely points at him with her chopsticks, "Is a dirty lie."
He doesn't say anything, but his silence is an answer in on itself.
They're silent a while longer, letting Cherī's classmates' conversations fill in the silence between them.
A handful of minutes before the bell is to ring, the girl asks, "Who were ya told is yer enemy?"
The question is phrased incorrectly, but he answers all the same. "Aizen Sōsuke."
She nods once, sharply. He doesn't see as his back is facing her.
"Here," She hands him a paper.
"What's this for?" He skims the page. On it are names of professors with their characteristics and classes they teach.
"Well, since we will need ta' be over 20 ta' enter some bars – an' they check ya – it has been decided ta' make ya a uni student. This is a list of professors who have "taught" ya. Things have been gettin' a bit tight ova der, but nothin' we can't work our way 'round."
"So you need me to memorize this entire page?"
"No, only some basics. Yer a tired uni student who finally has da break he deserves after workin' tirelessly ta' get his Bachelor's degree. It's understandable if ya forget da names of yer professors."
"You've put a lot of thought into this."
"We don't half-ass things. If we do, we will get caught, an' if we get caught – a lot more people will get caught. An' that's sumthin' we don't want. It might be unnecessary, but it's best ta' be safe than sorry."
His mind flashes back to when he was nine and working with her. Her and them. And all of those too close calls they had because of him.
Ichigo understands completely what Cherī means.
"When will the ID be done?"
She shrugs. "Can't really say. Hopefully, before we leave."
Before he knows it, it's the last week of school before summer vacation. It's also his birthday, but he ignores that part.
"Come over tomorrow." Cherī says before shoving food in her mouth.
He readily agrees given the fact that the Akao household is practically his second home.
They're celebrating a birthday.
It must be noted that it is not his birthday that they are celebrating.
"Whose birthday are we celebrating?" He asks after swallowing since, apparently, the responsibility of having manners falls onto him.
"Uncle Francis." His friend answers, cheek bulging with the food that she has shoved into the space so that she may answer him. She looks like a cute pink chipmunk with those bulging cheeks. A cute pink chipmunk that a bit a batchmate's finger so hard the skin almost broke. It was the guy's fault. She warned him to not shove his finger in her face.
"He's in America." Says Nagi, whose mouth is also full, though she does cover herself when she speaks.
"He's my brother!" supplies Haru, and the only reason his mouth isn't full is because he was drinking beer.
A small cake is later brought out and neatly cut into four pieces because it is agreed that they all will have onepiece of cake.
He falls asleep like a kitten, his chest used as a pillow by Cherī.
The following morning, he considers moving at least half of his clothes in Cherī's closet and dresser. Might throw in some personal items as well.
The cinema is full of young children and middle schoolers.
"Ohh, this is so excitin'!" Cherī says, eyes on the screen even though nothing is projected.
"It is," He agrees, snagging some popcorn as he observes the people that are slowly finding their seats.
"Oi, ain't that yer sisters?" His eyes flicker to where she is pointing, and quickly slumps in his seat, dragging his body down.
"Don't let them see me!" He hisses.
Cherī, like the good friend she is, drapes her jacket over him. "Ah'll tell ya when they turn da lights off."
The movie, as expected, was great.
The two are gushing about the heroin and Baron, about the prince and Yuki, and about the cat kingdom.
"Man," She places her arms behind her head, looking up at the night sky. "Ah wish Ah could live like a cat. Ma' life would be worry-free then!"
Ichigo smiles at her, "But it won't be worry-free. You'll have to worry about food, shelter, dogs and cars."
She pouts, "Then Ah wish Ah was a house cat! One of those spoiled rotten ones at that!" She grins, "Ah would have medium to long hair an' a fluffy tail. What 'bout ya? How do ya think ya would look as a cat?"
He hums, "I would be orange," He smiles when he hears her snort. "And... I think I would have short hair?"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. And I would definitely be a stray."
"Not wit' me 'round ya won't."
"Then I will be the one to spoil you rotten."
The walk back is peaceful and quiet.
Ichigo likes it, and hopes that it will remain that way for a while.
"Are ya ready?"
"Yeah."
They wave goodbye to Nagi and Haru as Cherī drives away. Legally speaking, the girl is a year too young to drive a car, but she seems familiar with everything so he doesn't worry. He just makes himself comfortable in his seat while she fiddles with the radio.
He looks out the window. The sun is rising over the horizon, waving them goodbye as they leave the city behind. "Stay safe." Ichigo imaginesit saying. "Don't drink too much! Or get in trouble!" The teen doesn't promise anything because that would make him a dirty liar.
An hour later, he says, "Huh. I forgot to tell my family that I will be gone for three weeks."
Cherī cackles and Ichigo tries to hold back a smile.
He fails.
The house they park in front of has – a what Ichigo thinks is – a modern western design.
He turns when Cherī clears her throat, an arm resting on the small of her back, looking as though she is about to try and sell the house to him.
"This stunning, private home is surrounded by a beautiful garden and opens up into a ravishing backyard that is complete with a large pool and a cool outdoor lounge. While the exterior of the house is draped in wood, the interior has a more modern appeal, with concrete and glass being used in a balanced fashion." She says all of this like a real estate agent (she's even dressed like one). She leads him around the building, making a full circle while pointing at the pool, garden and exterior.
"Step inside, and one sees the addition of quirky patterns, colourful shelves and dynamic wallpaper, which give the home a cheerful, inimitable style of its own. Spread across two luxurious levels, the entrance of the home opens up into a simple atrium that organically leads into the living room." The walls are white, the sofas and armchairs are black, and red is used for shelves.
"Adjoining the living room on the lower level is a beautiful dining space that is illuminated by the iconic Caboche Chandelier, and the Arco-style floor lamp in the living room adds to the elegance of the space. The living area is visually connected with the large deck outdoors, while a modern kitchen, gaming room and utility space are located on the opposite side of this floor."
They make their way to the second floor.
"Nestled on the top floor is the luxurious master suite, the colourful children's room and additional guest spaces. A fabulous media room and laundry complete this elegant and creative home that surprises you with creative design solutions, unexpected pops of colour and lavish decor additions." She leads him through each colourful room. "Combining architecture with a hint of playfulness and imaginative design, the house has a style of its own!"
When the tour of the house is done, she looks at him expectantly.
The only thing he can say is, "How loaded are you?" That, of course, makes her laugh. "No, I'm serious. I get that your mom is the CEO of a publishing firm and that your dad is a doctor, but this house cannot be cheap! And for three weeks!"
When she is done laughing at him, she answers, "'Kay, so here's da thing. Pretty much ma' whole family is rich in some way. Ya see, this house," She taps her foot. "Belongs ta' ma' maternal grandpa's ex-wife."
He furrows his brows, "I thought you said you paid for it?"
She nods, "An' we did. She rents it."
"Wait. So you have to pay her for it?"
"Well, yeah. Just 'cuz we're family don't mean we do freebies. It's 3 weeks, Ichi. Do ya know how much money that is? It's a lot. There ain't no way she would ever willingly lose that much cash just 'cuz we're family. I mean, she does give us a discount, but it's around 15%."
"Huh."
They stand in silence for a minute, before Cherī claps her hands to disperse the mood. "Anyway, come help me wit' da luggage."
"Oh, before Ah forget," The girl rummages through her handbag for a moment before handing him two palm-sized rectangles. On closer inspection, they turn out to be a driver's license and an ID. They look authentic but he doesn't know enough about fakes to judge. "While we're 'ere we will be usin' our fake identities. Ma' name's Asaoka Cherī, I am 23 and have a Bachelor of Arts and am currently studying to become a translator." Halfway through, she drops her dialect.
"You are Aizen Ichigo," He glanced down to confirm that it was indeed his new name. "Given your background, we decided to give you a Bachelor of Medicine and working towards getting a Masters and Doctorate. Hope you don't mind."
He shook his head. "No, it's fine."
"Now, some might ask how we met, so here's the story: We studied in the same high school and decided to pursue our ambitions in the same uni. Simple and believable."
"One question tho." He holds up the documents. "Aizen. Really?"
She shrugs. "I asked you who you were told to hate the most and you answered. I don't know the story, Ichi, and will not force you to tell me unless you're ready, but you seem to have memories of this guy who might – from my point of view, and with my very limited knowledge – come off as bad. And those memories will sour the names Aizen and Sōsuke. So for us to sweeten them, what better way than using one of them as your own?"
The first three days they spend going to the beach in the morning, swimming in the pool in the afternoon, and dining, as well as sightseeing, in the evening.
On Wednesday, after dinner, they go out.
The bar is small.
There are two – possibly three – rooms. The first (main) one is where the bar is, along with four booths. The room is small and narrow. The second one is bigger with two large tables, and the third room only has a billiard table.
Ichigo isn't sure how popular the place is, given that it is nestled in an alley that is not really near the main street and doesn't really look like a bar but it's still running so there must be quite a few loyal customers.
They also get carded. He tries not to appear nervous, and succeeds thanks to his permanent scowl.
"Since you're still a virgin when it comes to alcohol, we'll start with cocktails. That okay with you?"
He shrugs. "Fine by me. You choose."
His starting drink is a Cassis Orange, which tastes more like orange juice than alcohol. That is apparently the whole point. A drink served for those who have trouble drinking the harder stuff, or complete newbies like him.
Cherī gets a Fuzzy Navel and sucks on the orange slice that comes with it. She makes a face, "How can one dislike yet like the taste of an orange?"
Unsure of whether that is a legitimate question or not, he just shrugs.
They mostly talk, engaging with the bartender (a friendly middle-aged woman), and drink. He tries Cherī's drinks, and at one point swaps with her.
This is nice, he thinks as he sips his fifth cocktail.
On Friday, they go to a club. It's big, dark, loud and crowded. There is also a bouncer outside with an impressive set of arms and a really handsome face with a scar that starts from his chin and ends at the corner of his mouth. His face is indifferent as he checked their IDs. Ichigo thinks he didn't seriously check them given the fact that he only glances at them, not long enough to spot anything unusual.
The two manage to elbow their way to the bar and order some drinks. Cherī orders a whiskey with coke, while he orders something fruity.
"Ok, so here's the thing." She says, completely pressing herself to his side, lips too close to his ear. "As you can see there is a dance floor and people are using it. Never. And I repeat. Never leave your drink unattended. I'm sure you know why."
He nods.
"If you want to dance, that's fine by me. This night is about us. No school. No shitty friends. The past and real world do not exist here. Got it?"
Ichigo laughs. "Got it."
Cherī pats him on the back. "Do you want to dance?"
He looks at the dance floor where bodies are moving and pressing against each other as though trying to become one.
"Not now." He looks at her. "Do you want to dance?"
Her face scrunches up. "At the moment? Nah. Maybe when I'm tipsy enough not to care about my awful dance moves and the floor has cleared up a bit."
He cracks a grin, bumping their shoulders. "You can't be that bad."
"Oh, I'm worse than that. Which is why I need to unsober myself enough for others to say 'Oh, the reason she dances like an old blind dog that is currently having a seizure is because she is drunk'."
Ichigo chokes on his drink.
Cherī smirks. "You have permission to laugh, it's funny."
He covers his face, but his hands do little to muffle his laugh. He's not even drunk yet!
Three drinks later, Cherī makes her way to the dance floor.
Less than half a minute later, Ichigo is wincing. She really is worse than bad.
"That girl is either very drunk, or very brave." A voice says next to him.
Ichigo looks to see that a man has taken the vacant seat next to him.
"Or she just wants to have fun and doesn't care what other people think of her." He says, even though it's partly a lie.
The man laughs. He has a nice laugh. He also has pretty brown eyes. Aaanndd his lips are moving.
"Pardon?" The bluenette snaps his attention back to the conversation he is apparently having with the handsome stranger.
"Hino Taiga. That's my name." Hino says, an amused smile on his lips.
"Ichigo." He says, and he should really stop staring at Hino's lips. It's rude.
"Just Ichigo?" Hino raises an eyebrow with a slit.
"Ku–Aizen." He manages to catch himself. "My name is Aizen Ichigo but I prefer Ichigo."
He thinks he hears Hino hum. "Ichigo." He rolls the teen's name over his tongue, making heat pool in his stomach. Does the alcohol disagree with him?
"I don't think I've seen you around here, Ichigo." Hino sips his drink. It looks like whiskey?
"I'm only here for summer vacation." He checks on Cherī, and quickly looks away before he suffers any second-hand embarrassment.
"Summer vacay?" Hino asks. He then looks him up and down. "Are you even old enough to be here?"
"I'm in uni." Ichigo deadpans.
The brunette shrugs shamelessly. "You look pretty young to me."
He rolls his eyes, huffing in displeasure. "Thanks. I get that a lot." He gets to hear that nice laugh again.
"How old are you?"
"23. You?"
"28, 29 this October."
Ichigo feels his face heat up. That's an 6-year difference. 12 if he uses his real age.
"So," He sees Hino lean forward a bit. "How long will you be staying here?"
Just as he is about to answer, Cherī appears next to him. "Who's your friend, Ichi?"
Ichigo feels a slight displeasure at his friend's interruption which he ignores. There's no reason for him to feel that way.
"Cherī, Hino Taiga. Hino, Asaoka Cherī." He introduces.
"There's no need for you to call me Hino when I call you Ichigo." Hi–Taiga says, once again smiling at him. Is anyone else feeling hot?
"Nice to meet you, Taiga." Cherī says.
"Pleasure is all mine. I have to say, those were some killer moves you did."
The pinkette laughs. "Please, I don't see any dead body around here. Maybe at the next song."
"After that, I don't think anyone will be willing to stare at you long enough to die from second-hand embarrassment." Ichigo says, sipping his Daiquiri. He pulls a face at the sourness.
Cherī laughs. "Dang, really? And here I was hoping that this summer would be interesting."
"You were hoping for murder?" Taiga inquires, both brows raised and grinning.
"Hey, do you understand how powerful I would be if I can kill people with just my dancing? No one would dare to mess with me then."
The two share a laugh.
Ichigo watches them laugh and converse.
I want it to always be like this, he thinks to himself, idly listening to the current song.
I like that you're broken
Broken like me
Maybe that makes me a fool
I like that you're lonely
Lonely like me
I could be lonely with you
They leave sometime after midnight but before two.
As Cherī is paying their tab, Taiga presses a napkin with his phone number scribbled on it into Ichigo's hand. "If you ever want to be shown around. I know some really good cafes around here." He winks.
Ichigo, like the virgin he is, flushes beet red. Thankfully, Cherī drags him away before he could do anything embarrassing.
On their way to the house, the girl says, "So, Taiga." She wiggles her brows.
He blushes again and lightly shoves her. "Shut up." He grumbles. "He was just being nice."
"Mmm-hmmm. Sure, nice. And him giving you his number and inviting you to have coffee is him being 'nice' again?"
He draws his shoulders up to his ears. "I don't wanna have this conversation anymore."
Cherī laughs but drops it.
It takes Ichigo two days to psych himself up to call Taiga. Well, more like a day if he was being honest. The day following their club outing was spent dealing with and recovering from a hangover. Also getting his nails done.
Cherī had bought two sets of gel nail polish (one with 48 colours and another with 16), a professional electric nail file kit complete with different heads, a nail builder varnish and a nail oven, and wanted him to be her guinea pig.
He felt classy after having his nails elongated and done in four shades of blue and one white. "No wonder you girls like having your nails done. I feel like a queen."
"Just wait fer when Ah learn ta' do designs."
"Oh, fuck yes." He holds his hand away to properly appreciate the manicure. "It'll be a pain for when I fight, tho."
"People still want ta' fight ya?" She has a point there. "If anyone tries, just aim fer da eyes. That or use 'em like claws." She mimes clawing and he laughs.
"Good idea."
"Fuck, Cher, I don't have anything to wear." Ichigo is staring at his clothes, none of which look appropriate for his coffee meeting with Taiga.
"Lemme see." The girl carefully examines the clothes he has thrown haphazardly on the bed. "Okay," She drawls out. "Ah think Ah can work sumthin' out. Just turn da iron on."
He ends up wearing a white shirt with a stylized cross and words, ripped jeans, and black converse. Cherī even manages to dig out a black vest with three large silver buttons from his suitcase. He's not even sure why he decided to bring it, but he's happy he did.
"Not too fancy but still not too casual." Cherī says. "Lemme do yer hair."
"It's fine?" He checks on it in the mirror anyways.
"It is, but Ah wanna make it look as though it's intentionally messy."
He is dropped off a block away from the café.
Taiga is waiting for him outside, and, wow, it should be illegal to look that good. He's wearing a maroon shirt that hugs his muscles deliciously and dark jeans that certainly show off his legs.
The teen takes a moment to collect himself – and let his face cool down – before making his way to the man.
"Taiga," He greets. "Thanks for meeting up with me."
Taiga smiles and oh fuck there he goes blushing again.
"No problem. I was quite happy when you agreed to meet up with me." He nods to the door. "Shall we go in?"
"Yeah." He watches Taiga turn and oh God, that ass!
"You coming?"
His head snaps up, squeaking, "Y-yeah. Right behind you!" Mentally cursing himself, the teen follows the man into the café.
The café is nice and smells of coffee but Ichigo's too busy watching Taiga move to pay the place any more mind. The two sit at a table near the window and order. The teen is not much for coffee so drops the name of what Cherī told him to order. She said that it's sweet but still a touch bitter.
"You never did answer me." Taiga looks at him. The slit on his eyebrow is because of a scar and hair refuses to grow there.
"What did you ask me?" He tries playing it cool, trying not to embarrass himself in front of this man who is obviously out of his league.
"How long will you be staying here?"
"Three weeks. That's the plan, at least."
Taiga hums, but it comes out more like a purr. "And how long have you been here?"
"Just a week. We arrived on the 28th."
"Pity. You won't be here for much longer then." He thanks the waitress and sips his cappuccino.
"You never know. A lot can happen in two weeks." Ichigo tries to play coy, like how the female characters of Yuzu's dramas do when they flirt. Not that he's trying to flirt. He's just making conversation.
The brunette raises a brow, intrigued. "Oh?" His voice seemed to drop a bit, and Ichigo feels a touch too warm. "And what can happen in two weeks, Aizen-san?"
This... is something he's never done before and Ichigo is unsure how to proceed or even if he wants to proceed. All he knows is that he is a 17-year-old with a fake ID in a town that is not Karakura, talking to a man a decade older than him that makes him feel hot all over. The guy also appears to have very kissable lips and Ichigo wants to see if that is true.
So, the teen gathers up all of his courage, flutters his lashes and says, "Well, I wouldn't mind getting to know you better, Hino-san. I'd like to leave with some good summer memories and would deeply appreciate it if you would help with that." For extra effect, he lightly traces the man's calf with his foot.
Taiga's eyes darken, causing the bluenette to shiver. "How could I possibly refuse such a request. Have you ever been to Starfish? It's a restaurant near the coast with a fantastic view of the sunset."
"No, I don't believe I have." He and Cherī have been sticking to three family-owned restaurants with great seafood dishes.
"How about I take you there sometime? Let's say, Wednesday at 8?"
Ichigo blushes. Like the coy adult that he is pretending to be, he answers, "Sure. Can't wait."
He is in over his head. There's no doubt about it.
Cherī watches Ichigo pace all over the room, obviously trying to wear a hole into the carpet. It might be best if they went out for a run. That's the best way to get rid of the bluenette's excessive energy, right?
"Let's go fer a run."
"I'm in over my head, Cherī." He tells her, voice slightly high and thin. Hysterical.
Cherī, like the good friend she is, keeps a level head while trying to keep up with the teen who has decided that the run is the perfect opportunity to run away from his problems. "What makes ya say that?"
"I have a date. With Taiga. This Wednesday."
"Congratulation. What's da problem? Ya don't wanna go out wit' 'im? 'Cuz if that's da case just cancel it."
"No – that's not – I –!" He abruptly stops and Cherī silently thanks him. Taking a deep breath, then another since he didn't pace himself, the teen admits, "The date is not the problem."
"Then what is?"
He flushes, looking away. Cherī will have none of that.
"Ichigo, it's me. Ah won't judge ya."
He nods. "I've–... never been on a date before. Not like this one!"
"What's so special about this one?" She keeps her tone even. Like a doctor talking with their patient.
"There's... There's the promise of something more happening. And I'm not sure if I'm prepared for that something more."
"If something more happens an' ya feel uncomfortable or are not ready yet then ya tell 'im 'no'. If he doesn't listen, then ya make 'im listen." Her tone is cold.
He nods, still somewhat flushed. "I know that. I want to try that something more." He rubs his neck. "What I mean is I'm just not sure what and how that will happen."
The pinkette's eyes narrow before widening. "Oh! That!"
Looking away, he says, "Yes. That."
The girl pats him on the chest. "Don't worry. Ah know exactly what ta' do."
He looks back, eyes shining in surprise and hope, cheeks red in embarrassment. "You do?"
What Cherī does is call her parents.
Her parents who are happy to educate Ichigo on anal sex.
He learns a lot that day. He also learns that Haru and Nagi are into pegging.
During his sex (and kinks and fetishes) talk, Cherī had exited the house to gather supplies. When she comes back, she places three bags on the kitchen table. One of them is filled with shampoos, soaps, and pads. The second is filled with food. The third one is from a drugstore and is filled with three boxes of tablets that he knows his sisters use when they have cramps, two boxes of condoms and two bottles of lube – one scentless and one cherry flavoured. He lightly slaps her arm.
"Why two boxes?" He gestures to the condoms.
She shrugs. "Wasn't sure what yer size is so Ah got 'Snug' an' 'Standard'."
"What? You think I'm that small?" He tries to joke, ignoring the feeling of nervousness rolling in his gut.
She frowns at him. "While Ah appreciate that yer tryin' ta' hide behind humour, Ah think we need ta' be somewhat serious 'ere."
Ichigo raises a brow, gesturing to the cherry flavoured lube. Popp'n Cherry was written on it.
She shrugs again. "Fair." Her expression softens. "Ichi, no one's forcin' ya ta' have sex. It's okay ta' be nervous. Ev'ryone is."
"I know, it's just–" He groans into his hands, sitting down. "I want it. I want to do it. I'm just unprepared!"
"Ah know," She places a comforting hand on his shoulder. "An' that's okay. It's yer first time."
"Yeah, but what if I can't satisfy him? What if I'm awkward? God, I just know that I'll do something wrong!"
"Hey, hey, hey, look at me." She cups his face and turns him to face her. "Ya think ev'ryone's a natural in sex? That's bullshit! Ah have it on good authority that ma an' pa's first time was awkward but amusin' fer them."
His brows furrow. "Why do you know what your parents first time was like?"
"Ah asked 'em. Ah was curious 'bout sex an' they told me 'bout their first time. If ya haven't noticed, Ah have a very healthy an' open communication system wit' ma' parents. We talk 'bout almost ev'rythin' an' try ta' understand each other."
Ichigo can't imagine having such a healthy relationship with goat-face. He actually can't imagine having such a healthy relationship with any parental figure, and isn't that sad?
He mentally shakes his head. "So their first time was awkward?"
"Yeah. Want me ta' call 'em again?"
Ichigo thinks that normally this would a very uncomfortable talk, but given the fact that not even thirty minutes ago they were explaining how to properly stretch and that wasn't as awkward as he thought it would be, then neither would this talk be.
He sighs, though a little less worried. "I would appreciate it."
Tuesday, they go shopping.
Unfortunately, everything looks the same.
"Jesus Christ, what's up with this shitty variety? Maybe you should wear clothes marketed for women, at least there you have more choice that three pairs of pants that look virtually the same." Grumbles Cherī, flipping through the clothes rackets.
"I'm not ready for those, Cherī." He sighs behind her, browsing through jeans. Are jeans appropriate for a first date? What about the restaurant? Is it high class?
Ichigo freezes.
"Cherī.
She hums.
"Cherī."
She hums again.
"Cherī."
"What?"
"I don't know the restaurant's dress code." He hisses.
There's a pause.
"It can't be high class. This is a first date."
"What if it is and he's trying to impress me? He's 28, Cherī!"
"...Well shit."
Ichigo whines.
If someone were to tell him a year ago that he would be worrying this much over a simple date, he would have beat the person up and sent them to the psychiatric ward because there is no way Kurosaki Ichigo would ever think about dating when he has more important things to worry about.
But back then he could still see ghosts, still had old man Zangetsu and his hollow, hadn't invaded Soul Society, hadn't fought captains to save Rukia, hadn't fought arrancars, hadn't died, hadn't fought in a fucking war, and wasn't abandoned because of lack of power!
Ichigo pauses.
Was the only reason people even liked him because of his power? No, it couldn't be. But then why haven't his shinigami and human friends talked to him in half a year? Why does Geta-bōshi usher him out of his shop as quickly as possible anytime he would visit prior to meeting Cherī? Was he nothing more than a fucking weapon to them?
"Okay, don't panic." Cherī voice is a welcoming distraction from the anger that is starting to bubble inside of him. "Do you know where he's taking you? If it's a local place we can ask about its dress code."
"Starfish. It's near the coast."
"Got it. Come on, let's ask the nice lady over there." She nodded to the saleswoman.
The woman was quite helpful, especially when she learned that it was for his date. They end up picking a white dress shirt, black jeans that Cherī says work great to bring out his ass, and an emerald vest. They also pick out a few other shirts and pants because his wardrobe is seriously lacking. He doesn't remember it being this bad but worrying about what to wear for a date made him realise it is.
And it can't be a complete shopping trip without Cherī also buying something. She manages to find a romper with colours that make his eyes hurt, some pretty nice shorts, a few crop tops – some of which look too big for her but around his size given the fact that she lays them on his chest for comparison – and two dresses.
They then go to a shoe shop and she manages to talk him into letting her buy him red strapped heels with bows at the back. He feels damn sexy wearing them. Cherī is certain that they can go along with some of his clothes. Maybe a black suit.
That image is for another time.
The lingerie that Cherī may or may not have mentioned he would look good in is also for another time.
This is it.
It's currently 7:30 pm and it feels as though his heart is trying to burst out of his chest.
"Would ya like ta' leave now?" Cherī asks. He wants to say that it's too early and they will arrive at the restaurant in less than ten minutes, but the anxiety he feels will not let him so he gratefully agrees.
Cherī makes sure to drive slower than she usually would and takes the long way to the restaurant.
They arrive at 7:47 pm and he has not calmed down an ounce, instead doing the opposite.
The girl turns to him, "Okay, deep breaths." She coaches him through breathing exercises that he already knows while holding his hand. "Da date will be good, so don't worry. Ya have money, rite?"
"Yeah." He pats his wallet that is fuller than it normally would be.
"An' ya have yer phone? Keys? Pepper spray? Knuckle duster? Knife?"
"Yes to all of those things." She made him take them just in case things went south. It's never wrong to be prepared.
"ID?"
"Of course."
"Then go out there an' knock his socks off!"
Ichigo laughs and slides out of the car.
It's 7:54 pm.
The first few minutes are awkward for him but then Taiga asks him about what books and movies he likes and his attention switches to making sure that he doesn't knock something off with his wild gestures.
It turns out that Taiga also enjoys Studio Ghibli films, his favourite being Grave of the Fireflies and Castle in the Sky. He also likes the Harry Potter books and is excited for when he will be able to buy the fifth book in the series and finds the movies lacking.
"You can't just convert a book into a movie and expect it to be less than 90 min without losing/cutting off some scenes."
Unfortunately, the bluenette is unable to contribute to the topic but is more than happy to listen to his date's summary and rant about the series.
The topic briefly changes to family and both share a bit about their siblings.
"I have a brother three years younger than me, and let me tell you, he's a real piece of work. Bastard's always getting into trouble and I have to save his ass." His tone is of annoyance but the fond smile tells another story.
"I have two sisters several years younger than me. Yuzu is a sweetheart and amazing in the kitchen and I'm pretty sure she wants to pursue culinary school, while Karin is hot-headed and impressive when it comes to soccer. I'm not sure what she wants to pursue but there's more than enough time for her to choose." The teen says with pride.
Taiga chuckles, "You love them quite a bit, don't you?"
He laughs, "Yeah. I practically raised them."
He receives a soft smile that makes him blush, the heat that he usually feels replaced with a fluttering sensation in his chest.
They then switch to pets (Taiga has a cat that he swears is from hell named Tora), to jobs (it turns out that the guy is a pet shop owner), to hobbies (the brunette enjoys doing puzzles).
Before they know it, it's already past 10 and nearing 11.
After a brief argument about who will pay the bill ("You can pay for the second date." Ichigo's brain shuts down for the few seconds that Taiga needs to pay) the two leave.
It is as Taiga is driving Ichigo home that the teen begins to overthink things. Mainly how he will invite the older man back to his room for some private time with the possibility of the man staying the night without coming off as too strong and/or desperate.
"We're here." The older announces.
Neither moves. Ichigo because he is still overthinking. Taiga because this is his car.
Just as things are starting to get weird (Ichigo has been in the car for more than 3 min), Taiga coughs. "So," He drawls out the word. "Do you plan on exiting my car or should I just bring you home with me?" He says in a joking manner but the younger still jumps.
"Right!," Ichigo says too loudly. "Sorry! Getting out now." He doesn't move.
"...I'm guessing you don't want the night to end?" Taiga smiles. Ichigo is starting to get annoyed with the whole blushing thing that he has going on whenever the older man smiles.
"No – Yes! – I mean – !" He covers his face, groaning.
Taiga pats him on the back. "Take your time. We have all night."
The teen lifts his face, his signature scowl in place as he faces his date. It's time for him to be honest. "I enjoyed it. Our date and the conversation we had. I really enjoyed my evening with you and I kinda want to kiss you but I don't want to come off as too strong."
Taiga listens to him and smiles, his brown eyes glinting teasingly. "I also enjoyed my night with you and wouldn't be opposed to being kissed as long as you also want it."
Ichigo flushes. He inches closer to the man. "In that case, may I kiss you?"
"Yes."
Taiga's face moves closer to Ichigo's, angling so that their noses wouldn't knock. The bluenette closes his eyes and tries to relax.
The kiss starts innocent, the brunette pressing his lips to Ichigo's. He then caresses the teen's cheek and Ichigo melts. From there the man sucks and nibbles on the lower lip causing the younger to gasp and using the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
Unsure if he needs to do something with his hands, Ichigo places one on Taiga's chest, gripping onto the jacket the man has as though to stop him from disappearing.
Soon Taiga breaks the kiss and leans back. Ichigo follows him because why would he need air when he can be busy kissing the man in front of him. The brunette leans back in for a more chaste kiss that lasts two seconds.
"How was that for a kiss?"
The teen opens his eyes, a smile on his lips. "Not sure. Might need another one to give accurate results." He feels Taiga laugh against his lips before he is granted the desired second kiss.
Kurosaki Ichigo can accurately say that this is the greatest date yet and can't wait for the second one.
Sunday morning greets Ichigo with the amazing sight of Hino Taiga sleeping next to him with his mouth open.
It must be known that they didn't have sex. Their second date ended up with the two going to the brunette's place so that Ichigo could see the cat (and the kittens! Taiga swore when he saw them. Apparently, he didn't know that his hellspawn had reproduced), proceeded with the two starting a new puzzle, then watching a movie, and before they knew it was already past two.
Taiga had offered to drive him home, but Ichigo refused since it was late and the man was tired enough as it was, and Taiga refuse to let Ichigo walk home in the dark. They were tired enough that when the idea of him sleeping over was brought up, neither refused and somehow managed to successfully stumble their way out of their clothes and into the bed.
It could be said that they're moving too fast, but they haven't done anything other than kiss (and Ichigo still doesn't understand why he needs to breath when he can be kissing Taiga) so no harm done.
Gently, Ichigo manages to untangle himself from the sheets. It takes longer to remove Taiga's arm that is draped over his waist since its a really nice and warm weight. Once he has successfully gotten out of bed, he starts to gather and put on his clothes from the day before. Just as he is about to put his pants on his eyes catch the purple short-sleeve shirt that Taiga wore. Before he knows it, it's in his hand and he is considering putting it on.
Would that be too forward? That's the "Boyfriend shirt" stage and they haven't reached it yet. Would Taiga mind? Would he be creeped out?
The bluenette bites his lip. He has no problem when Cherī wears his shirts in the morning since she is a clothes and bed communist but they've known each other for... Holy shit, he's known Cherī for barely five months and has no problem with her wearing his clothes nor sleeping in the same bed with him! How did that happen?
Ah, he thinks as he puts on the purple shirt, It's Cherī.
Smiling, he makes his way to the kitchen wondering what dishes he could make.
He is carefully flipping the omelette when strong arms wind around his waist and a face nuzzles his neck. The bluenette has long given up on controlling his blushing and – by Cherī's suggestion – has chosen to embrace it.
"Hmm, something smells good." Taiga's voice is rough and low enough that it is only heard thanks to the close proximity to Ichigo's ear. It reminds him of his friend who needs a few minutes after waking up to regain her voice. She always jokes that her vocal cords were still asleep. The truth is her throat is parched.
"It's a simple omelette. Hope you don't mind me looking through your fridge." He places the food on the waiting plate and starts on the second one.
"Don't mind." The mumble is turned into a yawn that Taiga politely turns away to do. The hands on the teen's waist lower themselves to the shirt's hem, playing with it. "That's a nice shirt you've got there." He kisses Ichigo's neck and the teen finds out that the feeling is a lot more ticklish than erotic. He feels betrayed by the TV shows.
The brunette laughs when he feels the younger squirm. "Ticklish?"
"Yeah?" He answers warily, half-expecting to be tickled.
Taiga hums and moves to kissing his shoulder which also feels weird but not ticklish weird. Maybe it's because he's not used to it? If that's the case then he should train the feeling out with Taiga's help.
"Breakfast is ready." He says just as Taiga is starting to rub his sides, hands wandering lower and lower to the shirt's edge before rising again.
He should have taken the paper mints that Cherī had offered him.
Ichigo stares at the kitten.
The kitten stares back.
They've been like that for nearly a minute. Ichigo thinks he read somewhere that cats didn't like being looked at but this one certainly isn't shying away from his gaze, so either he read wrong or the cat is different.
He blinks.
The kitten moves towards him and nestles in his crossed legs.
Like any decent human being, he starts petting them. They show their pleasure by purring.
"They seem to like you." Taiga says from where he is trying to bribe the other three kittens into letting him pet them.
"I guess they do." He says.
The kitten looks like any other brown cat. Any other brown stray cat. They are brown. Have a white chest. And there are faint darker brown straps where it is lighter. Since it's still young, the fur is still fluffy and soft. They twist to lay on their back and blink blue eyes up at the bluenette.
Ichigo has a strong desire to take them home and cuddle them.
"What do you plan on doing with the kittens?" He doesn't look up, too busy basking in the holy presence of the kitten that is pawing his fingers.
"Give them away." Taiga says. He has given up on the others and has moved closer to the bluenette. "As much as I like cats, having five running around will cost too much."
"I can keep this one" The teen looks at him, then flushes and looks down. "I mean, if you don't already have someone in mind."
Taiga knocks their shoulders. "I literally found out about their existence yesterday. If you're willing, you can have them." He tries to pet them but they attack him with their tiny claws and teeth. "Yeah," He pulls his hand back with a hiss, "They definitely like you more than me."
Ichigo laughs, pulling the kitten closer to his chest.
Taiga lays his head on the teen's shoulder. He has a fond look on his face as he watches the two.
"What should I name them?" Ichigo holds up the kitten. He's laying on the couch, staring at the kitten that fits in his hand.
Cherī examines the kitten. She then lightly pets it with a finger. "Dunno. It's yer cat."
He frowns, placing the kitten on his chest when they grow restless from being held. "I'm bad with names."
"Then name it a familiar one."
"Which one?" The kitten turns and happily shows the teens that they are a boy.
The pinkette hums, laying her head next to his on the couch pillow, body kneeling on the ground. "Ya can't think of any names, Aizen? It can be one that needs newer, happier memories."
Ichigo stares at the kitten, turning over Cherī's suggestion in his head. He sits up, the kitten sandwiched between his chest and cupped hands. It's so small, all skin and bones and fat belly.
"Sōsuke," He tries, whispering the name.
"Sōsuke," He says a bit louder. The kitten meows, tiny claws catching on the fabric of his shirt, looking up.
"Oh, Sōsuke," He breaths out, in the tone one would use to refer to their old lover for whom they still share feelings – one part awe, one part breathlessness, one part adoration.
Sōsuke tries to climb up and Ichigo makes sure that he has a sure hold on him in case he loses grip and falls.
"That's a lovely name." Cherī murmurs.
"It is," It's so easy to agree, shoulder curling from where whisper-soft fur brushes his neck. He's already halfway in love with this tiny creature that fits in the palm of his hand so of course any name that is bestowed upon them he will also love.
On Wednesday evening, as he is cuddled up against Taiga watching a movie, Ichigo comes to a realisation.
Oh, he thinks as he watches the main character caress their partner's cheek, I'm in love.
Taiga's arm is warm from where it lays around his shoulders, bringing him closer to his equally warm body. Shoko, Sōsuke's only sister, is purring away in his lap. Hinata and Kyoya are in Taiga's lap, finally calm after chasing each other around for the last 10 min. The mother is enjoying her well deserved rest in her bed.
I want to stay like this forever, he thinks to himself. It's nice, this domestic bubble that he is in. The teen glances at his date, specifically his neck. I want more, with that thought in mind, he places a barely-there kiss on the neck. Then another one. Then another one. Then another-
Taiga turns and the kiss lands on his lips. It isn't slotted correctly but he makes sure to correct that as he deepens the kiss. When they separate, Ichigo is breathless but the brunette is annoyingly unruffled.
"Movie too boring for you, love?" He asks, an amused smile on his face.
Love
He really shouldn't be falling in love, not when he will be leaving in less than five days, but he's been doing a lot of shouldn't's for the last few years so what's one more?
"Taiga," He breaths out, unsure how to express what he wants but still powering through with heated kisses. He whimpers when his lip is bitten, then gasps when he is manoeuvred into straddling the older man. He breaks away to check where the kittens are, worried that he will harm them. They are on the other side of the couch, Kyoya is trying to get his sister to play with him.
Ichigo gasps.
"Eyes on me, love." Taiga says against his neck, biting and soothing the flesh with tongue.
"Taiga, " He moans out. His pants are uncomfortable. He should have gotten that skirt he saw yesterday at the store.
"Ichigo," The older grinds up, pulling the bluenette down at the same time.
"Taiga, please!" He cries out.
"What do you want, love? Tell me." His neck will be all red and purple tomorrow, he just knows it, but Taiga's mouth is too nice for him to stop it.
"Bed," He manages to choke out as the older starts to knead his thighs and ass.
Taiga stops and Ichigo wants to yell.
"Ichigo, are you sure?" He asks, looking him in the eyes.
The teen is still somewhat breathless, pupils blown, but manages to nod, "Yeah, " He swallows, "I'm sure."
"Alright. Tell me if something is too much or doesn't feel good."
"'Kay."
The two kiss again. Ichigo tangles his fingers in the brunette's hair as he continues to knead his flesh. At one point, once he has gotten a good grip, Taiga lifts the teen, causing him to gasp.
"You-You're strong." Ichigo watches as they leave the living room and enter the bedroom. He is carefully placed on the bed and arms are place on either side, caging him.
"Still sure?" Taiga asks and it's unfair how attractive he looks.
"Yes."
He smirks, "Alright then."
At least the TV shows didn't lie about how amazing sex is.
He should also buy Haru and Nagi some nicer souvenirs.
"Cherī," Ichigo says. "I'm in love."
The girl looks up from her book. She doesn't look surprised at all, only fond as she smiles and says, "That's wonderful. Congratulations."
"Cherī, I'm in love." He repeats, then adds, "And I want to stay here."
She has a thoughtful look on before saying, "We can't stay 'ere fer longer since we're only rentin' fer 3 weeks, but Ah'm sure we can find another place ta' stay fer da rest of summer."
"Cherī, I'm in love." He says for the third time. "And I want to remain Aizen Ichigo, not Kurosaki Ichigo."
Understanding dawns on her. She is silent and he is worried. Finally, she smiles lovingly at him. "Okay." She says. "We can fake some more in-depth documents, birth certificate an' such, da Bachelor will need more work but we can probably speed teach ya wit' some doctors. Find ya an apartment 'ere, sign ya up fer online classes. All ya need ta' do is give us some DNA fer da death of Kurosaki Ichigo."
They stare at each other.
His lips tremble. "Cherī," He says, choked up, "I'm in love, and you are an amazing friend. Thank you."
Cherī smiles, all love and fondness, "Any time, Ichi." She moves to sit next to him, shoulders pressing against each other. "Just say da word an' Ah'll make everythin' happen."
He doesn't say the word. He doesn't say anything.
He spends Saturday night lovesick with Taiga. They go to the same restaurant as their first date, then have a walk on the beach where he runs and laughs and Taiga laughs, eyes bright and hair tousled by the wind and Ichigo's fingers, and Ichigo falls even more in love than before and imagines a future that will not happen. They then spend the night together.
Sunday he spends with Cherī. They go shopping and she helps him pick a plum wine that is sweet enough for her parents' tastes and one for themselves. He finally gets a skirt, then another five because one cannot simply live with just one skirt, and gets another two pairs of heels. They wander the beach at sunset, have dinner, then wander again until they reach the rocks where they share the bottle of wine. They manage to sway their way home in the wee hours of the morning.
Monday morning, after checking that they have gotten everything and have cleaned up after themselves, the two take one last photo in front of the house, the rising sun in front of their eyes and burning them.
"Are ya ready?" Cherī asks, hand poised to start the car.
Ichigo looks back and thinks.
If this were a movie, Taiga would appear, confess that he loves him and would ask him to stay. Ichigo would tear up, say that the feelings are mutual, and stay. The two would build a life together, possibly get a bigger apartment where they will live out their lives with their five – or more – cats. Taiga would propose to him on the beach at sunset a few years down the line and they will have a small wedding – only family and friends.
If this were a TV drama, it would start the same way as the movie's ending, but the following season old characters would appear asking him to come back and fight. He would have to choose between fighting and Taiga which would lead to many misunderstandings and miscommunication between them. Ultimately, he will choose his love for the brunette as more important only to find that the older man had started training so that he could also fight and protect his back. It will end in either one of the two dying or both living but with scars.
But none of those things will happen for this is real life.
Ichigo couldn't just stay, not when he had commitments back in Karakura.
"Yeah," He says, the feeling of regret already settling in his gut. "Let's go."
"Okay." Cherī says and starts the car.
The bluenette looks at the passing streets. It's still early enough for most people to still be in bed.
"Y'know," She starts, eyes not even flickering to him. "There's nothin' wrong wit' wantin' things that ya can't have. It's that unachievable desire that makes us human."
"...But what if what I want means leaving everything I have known and loved behind? Would it even be worth it?"
She shrugs, "Ah can't answer that. Yer the only one that can. But," She stops for a moment to think. "If da choice forces ya ta' think real hard, then it must be worth it."
The silence settles between them. The sun is rising, "Come back, sweetheart." It seems to tell Ichigo, "Come back and be happy. Come back and be in love." Ichigo doesn't like the sun at this moment. Sōsuke meows, tiny claws kneading his knees. He tries to get him to knead the parts that are covered by the shorts, but the creature is stubborn and doesn't want to.
"Cherī,"
"Yeah?"
"...Thank you for bringing me here. I really appreciate it."
"Any time. Who knows, maybe we'll come again next year an' ya will be able ta' get yer heart back. Or stay 'ere."
The regret turns into excitement. "You think so? That's a whole year, Cherī. A lot of things can change."
"If they change – they change. Who are we ta' control da way time passes an' people live their lives? At least ya got a cat out of all of this."
He laughs, "Exchanging my heart for a cat. Pretty nice deal if you ask me."
She laughs as well. "It is." Her blue eyes meet his, all soft and gentle. "An' from what Ah can see, it seems that Sōsuke stole yer heart back."
Looking down at the tiny being that is teething on his short's hem, he says, "I think he did."
They are welcomed home with hugs and kisses. Haru and Nagi coo when they are introduced to Sōsuke who is at first scared by these new people but warms up soon enough. They talk about their little adventure during dinner and afterwards show the photos that were taken, glasses filled with sweet wine.
"How did your date go?" Nagi asks Ichigo.
The teen flushes, "It went really well."
The couple smiles, "That's good to hear."
Ichigo finds himself sitting on one of the chairs on the veranda at the Akao household with Sōsuke in his lap. It's late but sleep doesn't come. Sōsuke, on the other hand, is snoozing away in dreamland.
He is startled by a voice. "You know, there's nothing wrong with falling in love."
"What makes you think I'm in love?" He looks back to see Nagi. She's holding two mugs.
"You have that look in your eye that says that you are." She places the one with a little tiger in front of him and sips her own.
"Is it that obvious?" He doesn't try to deny it, not when there's nothing to deny. He just sips his drink which turns out to be hot chocolate.
The woman hums. "For some. If you know what the look of being in love is like."
"Do you think I did the right thing? Not staying there with Taiga and instead of coming back?"
"Does it feel like you did the right thing?" He shoots her a look. "I'm not trying to be cryptic. It's a genuine question that only you can answer."
He slumps back, covering his face with his hands. "I don't know. It feels like I should have just accepted Cherī's offer of making Kurosaki Ichigo disappear and making Aizen Ichigo real. But then I would have regretted doing that."
"Would you though?" He peeks at her. "Would you have really regretted leaving Karakura and nearly everyone here if it meant being with the one you love?"
"Taiga doesn't love me."
"Are you sure about that, or just saying it because he never told you that he did? Did you tell him that you love him?"
"No, of course not. We had known each other for barely two weeks. There's no way anyone can fall in love in that amount of time."
"And yet you did." Nagi says, face and tone neutral. "It only took two weeks for you to fall for him and consider staying with him. So what on Earth makes you think that the feelings aren't mutual?"
Ichigo stays silent.
"You know, I used to be in love with someone else before meeting Haru."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I was so in love with them that I imagined a whole future with them."
He thinks about his imagined future. "What was that future like?"
"The two of us travelling the world, going from place to place, meeting new people, trying new and exciting activities, trying new and tasty foods."
"That sounds nice."
"It does, doesn't it? But that was the future I imagined."
"What happened?" He sits up.
"The future they imagined was different from mine. What they wanted was to settle down and have a family."
"You didn't want that?"
"No, not in the way that you may think. I just couldn't imagine making such a step with them. It's not that they were irresponsible or anything. I just couldn't see myself settling down with them."
"What happened then?" The answer was obvious, but he still wanted to hear it.
"We broke up. I'm not going to lie and say that it was a clean break up. There were a lot of tears, screams and thrown things, but it was for the best."
He stares up at the sky. At the moon.
"Do you regret it? Breaking up?"
"No, but I did feel awful the days and weeks following. We were together for nearly five years. You don't forget feelings like that overnight. But it was for the best."
"What about Haru? Did you imagine having a future with him?"
"I did." She smiles, all giddy and happy. "It was within the first six months of knowing him that I imagined creating a family with him."
"Six months, huh?" His time was much shorter.
"Yes. Much quicker than the three years it took with the previous one."
"Three years? Wow."
"Hah, yeah." She looks up at the sky as well. "Do you want to know my reaction upon meeting Haru?"
"Yeah."
"When we first meet, he told a pun so awful that I kissed him just so that he couldn't speak."
He looks at her in surprise. "Really? It was that awful?"
"Yes, and I'm happy that he said it, otherwise, I wouldn't have started dating him."
"Huh."
Someone's dog is barking in the distance and a car passes by.
"Not everyone falls in love the same way. And not everyone falls in love at the same time. You could have met someone only three times and yet still imagine a future with them. You could have known someone for nearly your entire life, have dated them for half of it and still not see a future with them. Love is a strange and fickle thing that comes out of the left field, causes you to have sleepless nights and feel awkward then has the nerve to leave as though it has grown bored." She tells him, pulling out a cigarette box from the cardigan's pocket. "And we humans are crazy enough to love it and desire more of it."
"I think–" He thinks what exactly? "I think I'll return to Taiga next year. After I finish high school." He looks at her, half expecting her to disapprove.
She nods. "And what of cover story? You guys said you had a bachelor's degree of Medicine. Do you plan to pursue that?"
Ichigo exhales. That would be a problem. "I don't know. Maybe I can try something else?"
"Whatever you want, Ichigo." Nagi pets Sōsuke. The kitten occasionally twitches in his sleep. Must be dreaming of playing. "I want you to come work for me." She says, finally lighting a cigarette.
"What?" He waves away the offered box.
She exhales the smoke, "Come work for me. My secretary wants an assistant and the pay is good."
"...Why?"
"I just told you."
"Yeah – no – I mean, why me? If your secretary wants an assistant, why not hire someone with experience?"
"Because, you're family." She says it as though it should explain everything, but Ichigo is not sure whether he is ready for that.
"I'm not-"
"You are," She interrupts, and there is something in her tone that makes it sound like a fact. "Ichigo, you became family the moment my sister picked you up from the street and took you in. The moment she chose to teach you how to debone a carcass, how to harvest organs, how to cut meat. The moment she chose to show and teach you those things was the moment you became part of our family. Noriko could have easily made you work at one of her mother's restaurants as a cleaner, but she didn't."
They are silent and he jumps when Nagi places a hand on his shoulder.
"Like it or not, you are family to us and we care about you, Ichigo." She smiles at him. "Now come work for my firm. And who knows, maybe you'll like it and become a secretary in the future." They share a chuckle. "Plus, it will give you something to do and earn money. You can never go wrong with having a view extra bills stashed away. It will help with the apartment payment and rent that will appear next year when you move."
He rubs his neck. "I guess you're right."
The two stay a bit longer, enjoying the evening breeze, before making their way inside.
It's the final week of summer vacation when Ichigo has an unexpected meeting with someone from his past.
"You've been gone for a while, Kurosaki-kun." Urahara says, still wearing that stupid bucket hat and dark green haori.
"I've noticed." He says and continues walking. He had just been in a convenience store and has three tubs of ice cream that will melt if he doesn't return (home) to the Akao household. Unfortunately, Urahara follows him and continues to talk.
"We were worried." He says. "Your sisters were worried."
"But not worried enough to call me?"
"We were unaware of what your state was." Ichigo imagines him lowering that hat of his to hide his eyes.
"That doesn't sound like a reason to not call me. Did you notify the police for my absence?"
"Why didn't you call?" He asks, completely ignoring the bluenette's questions.
"I forgot." And he did forget, several times.
"You forgot to call your worried sick sisters? That doesn't sound like you, Kurosaki-kun."
"I'm surprised you know what kind of person I am given that we haven't seen nor spoken to each other for a while. Since I lost my powers fighting your war if I remember correctly."
"It was the only way."
"Really? I could think of several different ways that that could have gone. Starting with the captains taking Aizen as a threat more seriously, them training themselves and their squads harder, and possibly launching a surprise attack. But what do I – a simple human teenager – know about war compared to beings who are at least twenty times my age who have lived and bled and fought in war?"
Geta clad feet stop. Ichigo stops a few steps later. He shouldn't stop, but he needs – wants to hear what his old mentor has to say.
"We had no other choice."
"No, you did. You were just too lazy to find one when a far easier one was presented in front of you."
"We're sorry."
"Despite popular belief, saying 'sorry' does not fix things."
"Ichigo–"
"Next time, don't go looking for some kid that is in over their head and instead train, because that kid may not be as stupid as I was."
He continues walking, leaving the man behind.