Chapter 9
"You've gotten stronger, Ichigo!" Ikkaku exclaimed, grinning with bloodlust.
"Thanks," Ichigo said, her own grin filled with bloodlust.
Ikkaku ducked under a lightning fast swipe from Ichigo's zanpakuto.
"Just so you know, I'm not letting you take my seat away from me!" Ikkaku exclaimed.
"Not planning to," Ichigo said, ducking. "I think I'll settle for fourth seat!"
"Right between Yumichika and me, eh?" Ikkaku stated. "I'll hold you to that!"
Ichigo leapt back before Ikkaku could stab her shoulder.
"That was close; you're getting better, Ikkaku," she teased.
Ikkaku growled and lunged forward. Ichigo blocked quickly before smirking.
"Hey Ikkaku, remember this?"
Ichigo released one hand and slammed her fist into Ikkaku's face. Ikkaku grunted and stumbled back, holding a broken and bloodied nose once more.
"Damn it! You broke it again!" Ikkaku exclaimed.
Ichigo shrugged nonchalantly.
"A wise friend once told me that not every fight is fair and you should use everything to your advantage," she said.
"Wise friend, my ass! I know the only other friend you have besides us is Sarugaki!" Ikkaku exclaimed.
Yumichika sighed as he walked over to check Ikkaku's broken nose. Ikkaku hissed as Yumichika poked the tender spots.
"I think a cheek bone is fractured as well," Yumichika said.
Ikkaku growled, glaring at Ichigo.
"I'll get you back for this, Ichigo," he exclaimed.
Yumichika rolled his eyes and dragged Ikkaku away, undoubtedly to squad 4. Ichigo went back inside after sheathing her zanpakuto.
"You've been awfully quiet, Zangetsu," she muttered.
I can't complain, Ichigo. All these fights are very satisfying!
Ichigo sighed.
"When are you going to teach me something new?"
When I feel up to it...which isn't now.
Ichigo glared at the blade. Her zanpakuto spirit was too complicated for his own good.
"You give Ikkaku another broken nose?" she heard Kenpachi ask behind her.
"Yep," Ichigo replied.
"Heh. Anyways, you have a visitor waiting for you outside the barracks," Kenpachi said.
Ichigo blinked before nodding. She flash stepped to the entrance of the squad 11 barracks. She opened the doors and slipped outside. She looked around and saw a flash of white in the corner of her eye. She turned towards it and couldn't help but smile slightly when she saw it was Kisuke.
"Captain Urahara," she greeted, nodding slightly.
"Hey, Ichigo," Kisuke said, smiling nervously. "Ah, listen...I was wondering if you'd...want to..."
Kisuke was blushing beet red by now, too nervous to finish his sentence. Ichigo chuckled inwardly; it was cute. She blushed slightly at that.
"If I want to go to the festival with you?" she had an idea of Kisuke was trying to ask her.
Kisuke nodded.
"Yeah...that..." he mumbled shyly, suddenly tense.
"You need to calm down and take a deep breath," Ichigo said. "Hiyori told me you locked yourself in your office all of last week."
Kisuke's head snapped up in surprise.
"She told you that?" he asked.
Ichigo chuckled.
"My father did too," she said before smirking slightly. "Was it because you saw me in a fancy kimono?"
Kisuke sputtered, making Ichigo laugh more. She took Kisuke's hand.
"I'd love to go to the festival with you, captain," she said, smiling genuinely.
"Kisuke."
Ichigo blinked.
"You can call me Kisuke," Kisuke said.
Ichigo smiled.
"All right then, Kisuke," she said. "Meet me here before the festival starts?"
Kisuke smiled back, a little more confident now. He nodded.
"See you then," he said.
Ichigo's smile widened and on an impulse, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to Kisuke's cheek. Then she slipped back into the squad 11 barracks, leaving Kisuke standing there in shock.
Ichigo chuckled as she walked back to the barracks; Kisuke looked cute when he was flustered. She totally ignored the fact that she was blushing a little from doing such a bold action.
"Hey Ichigo!" she heard Yumichika behind her.
Ichigo turned around and waited for her friend to catch up to her.
"I thought you were with Ikkaku," Ichigo said.
"He insisted on going to the squad 4 barracks by himself," Yumichika said. "Anyways, who was your visitor?"
"Kis-I mean, Captain Urahara," Ichigo said.
"Captain Urahara? Why was he here? Does he want you back in his squad or something?" Yumichika asked. "You know, I've seen him hanging outside the barracks a lot recently. Did your meeting have something to do with that?"
"Yeah," Ichigo said. "He asked me to the festival next week."
"Like as a date?"
Ichigo nodded.
"Then as your personal stylist, you must let me help you look absolutely beautiful for your date," Yumichika said, placing a hand over his chest.
"All right, pretty boy, sure, you can help," Ichigo said, snorting slightly. "But on one condition."
"Anything."
Ichigo pointed at her friend.
"No make-up!"
"You don't need it, my dear friend." Yumichika said. "You will look more stunning without it."
Ichigo blushed slightly at the compliment.
"Shut up," she grumbled, a hand resting on the hilt of her zanpakuto.
Yumichika chuckled lightly.
Kisuke groaned, his face planted against the wooden floor. Yoruichi sighed.
"What is it now, Kisuke?" she asked, leaning her chin against her hand.
"Yoruichi, is it possible to die from embarrassment?"
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.
"Not that I know of," she said. "Did it really go that badly?"
Kisuke sighed as he sat up.
"I couldn't even talk properly," he mumbled.
"But you did ask her, right?" Yoruichi pressed.
"She knew what I was trying to ask her," Kisuke said.
"What'd she say?"
Kisuke smiled.
"She said she'd go with me," he said.
Yoruichi smiled.
"See? That wasn't so hard, right?" she exclaimed. "You didn't fail too badly."
"And then..." Kisuke blushed and his hand shot up to touch his cheek.
Yoruichi's smile widened.
"She kissed you on the cheek?"
Kisuke nodded, somehow blushing even more. Yoruichi laughed.
"I've never seen you look so flustered. You've really fallen for Ichigo," she said. "It's good to see you like this, Kisuke...you're a lot happier now."
Yoruichi stood up and went over to Kisuke. She helped him up and then pushed him out of the room.
"Go back to your squad now," she said. "I'll come by soon to help you pick out a nice kimono for the festival. You have to look nice for your date with Ichigo, especially if she's wearing that fancy kimono you saw last week."
Kisuke smiled slightly.
"Thanks, Yoruichi, for giving me the push I needed." he said.
"Don't mention it; I'm happy for you," Yoruichi said. "Now go! I have work to do and so do you! Just because we're captains doesn't mean we can just goof off all day."
"You do," Kisuke muttered.
"So do you," Yoruichi retorted.
Kisuke laughed before the two friends said goodbye and went their separate ways.
