Chapter 10
Hiyori sighed tiredly. Kisuke was pacing in front of her, fiddling with his fingers nervously.
"Can we go now?" Hiyori exclaimed.
"W-what if I mess up? What if she regrets it? What if she never wants to see me again?!" Kisuke was ranting.
Hiyori groaned.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Hiyori looked over to see Yoruichi. She wore a dark blue kimono that was dusted with silver and had silver sequin patterns.
"Get this idiot to stop ranting," she said. "It's almost time to pick up Ichigo."
Yoruichi walked forward and grabbed Kisuke by the shoulders.
"Kisuke, head up, be confident," Yoruichi said. "If Ichigo didn't like you, she wouldn't be going to the festival with you. Let's go."
Kisuke took a deep breath and nodded.
"All right," he said.
The three left the squad 12 barracks.
"Looking good, Hiyori," Yoruichi said.
Hiyori scowled and tugged at the blue kimono.
"I'm only wearing this because Ichigo would kill me if I didn't," she grumbled.
Yoruichi chuckled.
"You two are very good friends," she said.
They made their way to the squad 11 barracks. Kisuke knocked on the doors. A few seconds later, the doors opened.
"Here for Shiba?" the squad member asked. "She's on her way out now, Captain Urahara."
"Thank you," Kisuke said.
The doors closed again.
"Calm down, Kisuke; you look like you're about to have an aneurysm," Yoruichi said. "Don't worry; you and Ichigo will have a lot of fun tonight. I know it."
"I can't help but be nervous, Yoruichi. I mean, this is the first date I've ever gone on," Kisuke said.
Hiyori rolled her eyes. Suddenly, the door opened again. Ichigo stepped out and smiled. She wore the deep red kimono with golden flower patterns that lined the hem, end of sleeves, and collar, lined with sequins with the gold colored sash. Her bright orange hair was put up in a messy bun with two strands hanging down, framing her face along with her bangs.
Ikkaku and Yumichika stepped out after her.
"Hey you three," Yoruichi said, smirking. "Ichigo, you look lovely."
"Thanks," Ichigo said. "Hiyori, I see you wore the kimono after all."
Ichigo then turned to Kisuke and smiled. She walked forward and curled an arm around his arm, causing Kisuke to blush.
"My, for the creator of the Research and Development Institute, you are rather shy," Yumichika said. "Ichigo, you've shocked him speechless."
Ichigo laughed.
"I think it's cute that he's so flustered," she said. "Come on then, let's go."
"Captain Urahara, treat her well and bring her back at a reasonable time," Ikkaku said.
Ichigo rolled her eyes.
"What are you, my parents?" she muttered.
"Just looking out for a fellow squad member," Yumichika said. "Have fun~"
"You two aren't coming to the festival?" Yoruichi asked.
"We might go later, but we have a patrol in an hour," Ikkaku said. "Bye!"
Ikkaku and Yumichika disappeared back into the barracks. Ichigo tugged on Kisuke's arm.
"Come on, Kisuke," she said.
"You look beautiful," Kisuke mumbled shyly.
Ichigo hid a smile behind her hand.
"Thanks," she said. "You look handsome yourself. Now then, let's go to the festival."
"There's supposed to be fireworks later tonight," Ichigo said.
"That'll be fun to watch," Kisuke said, smiling.
"Hey look, there's Captain Kuchiki with his grandson, Byakuya!" Ichigo exclaimed, gesturing with her head.
"I'm not surprised to see them here. It is a festival," Kisuke said. "Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyoraku are over there."
Ichigo suddenly stiffened. Kisuke looked at her, concerned.
"Ichigo?" he asked.
Ichigo glanced around.
"I sense something," she said.
Ichigo abruptly jumped to the side just before a black clad blur could crash into her.
"Ugh...nice dodge," Isshin groaned.
"Damn you, old man," Ichigo growled. "Can't you greet me like a civilized person for once?!"
"Sorry about him," Rangiku said. "I couldn't stop him."
Rangiku looked at Toshiro.
"Toshiro, can you look after the captain? I'm going to go look for my friend, Gin," she said.
"You mean, the creepy snake guy?" Toshiro asked.
Rangiku rolled her eyes.
"Gin isn't that creepy...okay, maybe just a little. But once you get to know him really well, he can be pretty sweet," she said.
"I'll believe that when I see it with my own eyes," Toshiro said.
Toshiro nudged Isshin in the side with his foot as Rangiku walked away.
"Get up, old man," he said.
Isshin grunted as he got up. He dusted off his simple black kimono before going to stretch Toshiro's cheeks.
"Brat, treat your elders with more respect," he said.
"Let go of me!" Toshiro exclaimed, struggling to get away.
Ichigo laughed before she tugged Kisuke away from the two.
"That goat face will never change," she said.
"So he was like that even when you were a child?" Kisuke asked.
"Yep," Ichigo said. "He's been there for me my entire life, mostly because everyone else was too scared to go near me. I mean, I almost broke his limbs several times since he kept saying I need anger management, but he did teach me most of the things I know today."
"Hey, you over there! The pretty lady!"
Ichigo looked over to see a merchant. He beckoned them over. Ichigo went over, curiously.
"I have many fine things from hair accessories to necklaces to fine jewels. They would go beautifully with your kimono, young miss," the merchant said.
"I'm sure they cost a lot too," Ichigo said, unimpressed. "And I'm not the jewelry type."
Kisuke looked closely at a jewel.
"This one is fake," he said. "In fact, I think all these jewels are fake."
"Some merchants just piss me off," Ichigo said, a tick mark appeared on her head.
"N-now, now, miss, I keep the real ones in here! I have to keep them safe from robbers!" the merchant exclaimed, sweating.
Ichigo's scowled deepened as she began unsheathing her zanpakuto, which was somehow hidden up her sleeve.
"You trying to swindle us?" she growled.
The merchant squeaked in fear. Kisuke sweat dropped as he put a hand over Ichigo's hand and pushed the zanpakuto back into its sheath before Ichigo could maim the poor merchant.
"Calm down, Ichigo," he said.
Ichigo sighed. She glanced over the objects before picking up a plain looking fan. It was a simple white fan and wooden.
"I'm taking this in exchange for sparing you from a beating." she said.
"O-of course," the merchant stuttered, too terrified to protest.
Ichigo flicked the fan open and fanned herself.
"Why do you have your zanpakuto with you anyways?" Kisuke asked. "And how did it fit up your sleeve? And the fan?"
"Thanks to being in squad 11, I tend to take it everywhere with me. You never know when you need a weapon to defend yourself or threaten someone," Ichigo said. "And have you seen these sleeves? I could fit anything in them and that does include a sword. As for the fan...I don't know; I just took it because I wanted to; not to mention, it was fun to scare that guy."
Kisuke couldn't help but laugh.
"That's one of the things I love about you, Ichigo," he said.
Ichigo looked at him with a surprised glint in her chocolate brown eyes. Kisuke realized what he had said and blushed.
"I-I mean-
Kisuke blinked when a finger touched his lips.
"Don't...don't take back your words, Kisuke," Ichigo said softly.
Ichigo had the fan covering the bottom half of her face, but Kisuke could tell she was blushing. For a long moment, they stood there, staring at each other. It was like the rest of the world ceased to exist, like time had stopped.
"Ichigo...I-
A loud boom cut Kisuke off. The two snapped out of their trance and looked up to see fireworks. Ichigo shut the fan and smiled. She curled her arm around Kisuke's and rested her head on his shoulder. All around them, everyone had paused to watch the fireworks as well.
"I've never seen fireworks this close before," Ichigo admitted. "They're beautiful."
"Yeah," Kisuke agreed.
Ichigo looked down at the fan before snapping it shut and holding it out to Kisuke.
"I think this would suit you better than me," she said.
Kisuke smiled warmly and took the fan. He gazed at it before gripping it tightly in his hand and holding it to his chest.
"A gift from Ichigo Shiba; I'll cherish it forever," he said.
Ichigo blushed and whacked him lightly on the arm.
"Idiot," she said, not really meaning it. Then she sighed. "I'm sorry it really isn't a good gift."
"I like it," Kisuke said. "Not too fancy; just nice and simple. Thank you, Ichigo."
Ichigo smiled.
"If you say so," she muttered.
Kisuke was silent for a moment before gathering the courage to speak up again.
"Ichigo..." Kisuke started, shuffling nervously.
Ichigo leaned back.
"What is it, Kisuke?" she asked.
Kisuke took a deep breath.
"Ichigo...I love you," he confessed, his voice almost a whisper at the end.
Ichigo heard him anyways and smiled softly. Kisuke looked away, slightly embarrassed. Ichigo wrapped her arms around his neck, causing Kisuke to look back at her. She leaned up, standing on her toes.
"I love you too, Kisuke," she murmured.
And under the bright and colorful lights of the fireworks, Ichigo and Kisuke shared their first kiss.
