Ever since Ichigo could remember, he was always a bit odd. He didn't like being alone, yet he didn't like being around others. He didn't know why, but other people, other kids, were always so... irksome. They just... they ran at a different pace than him.

Ichigo would never deny the fact that following his mother like a little duckling was also odd. He was attached to her, almost to an unnerving degree. Well, maybe it was still unnerving, but his mother never made any attempts to stop it from becoming a habit.

Then, the twins were born and it all made sense to Ichigo, even if he didn't have the words for it at the time. He was possessive. Kurosaki Masaki was his shining sun and the twins were his sky. He didn't want anyone to get near them without him there. He didn't want anyone to touch them.

It got too much one day. Yuzu and Karin were two, Ichigo was six. Masaki had trusted him to watch over the twins at the park while she went around the corner to pick up something for dinner.

A boy, a bully, ambled by. Ichigo tried to scare him off, but it only made him more persistent. Yuzu started crying when the bully started to call her and Karin names. Ichigo pushed him back as a warning. The bully retaliated and kicked Karin off the swing she was sitting on.

Ichigo doesn't remember what happened next, not even to this day. He woke up to screams and blood dripping from his hands, the boy screaming and crying, holding his face with his hands, and adults rushing forward, all looking fearful.

Apparently, Ichigo had clawed the bully's eyes out and scratched his face so deeply, it would leave scars. When Masaki came rushing back–only a few feet away from the park when she heard the screams–she was the one that managed to rightfully convince the other adults that it was the bully's fault, but Ichigo shouldn't have gone that far.

Ichigo started crying almost immediately. He wasn't overcome with guilt like what the police thought. He was in despair that he had upset his mother. He was still crying when they all finally made it back home. It was during his bath, did Masaki finally ask him about what had happened.

"No one makes Yuzu cry and no one hurts Karin. I–I wanted to do worse, but I woke up." Masaki had only sighed with a fond smile and a gentle kiss to Ichigo's forehead. Only when Ichigo was older, ever so slowly moving on from his mother's death, did he realize that Masaki was never surprised by Ichigo's behavior. Almost like... like she had expected it, accepted it.

Ichigo was always a bit odd, and unfortunately, it was something he could never quite pretend to be the opposite.

"Fate." Ichigo lightly brushes his pastel covered fingers against the finished art piece, smiling wistfully.

A mermaid lay completely gutted on a decrepit pier. Her head of golden locks hung over the edge, ocean blue eyes foggy after hours of laying in the dead heat. Her limp arms were tangled in a blood soaked fishing net and her tail was getting sawed off by a dark silhouette.

His smile widens as he leans against the tree he was sitting under. Ichigo looks up when a bell chimes loudly. A sigh leaves his mouth before he starts to pack up his pastels and pencils into his satchel.

As Ichigo stands up, Jessie exits the university campus with two other women. Ichigo stares at her for a moment longer before he turns around.

Jessie stops walking and turns towards the park right across from her university. She stares at the large Japanese maple tree, looking for anyone around it.

"Jess-chan? What's wrong?" One of her friends asks, stopping a few feet in front of the blonde.

Jessie startles out of her stupor and smiles at her friends. "Sorry! Just thought I saw someone or something. Let's go!"

"You're so weird, Jessie. No one hangs around that park this late in the evening." Jessie pouts at the statement as she jogs to catch up with her friends. She links her arms with both before they all start walking once more.

"You're so mean to me~!" Jessie whines, making the more blunt friend roll her eyes.

"You deserve it," She states monotonously. Jessie pouts even more and faces her other friend.

"Aimi-chan, she's being mean to me!"

Ichigo leans against the other side of the Japanese maple, listening to the faint conversation. He stares up at the crimson leaves and hugs his sketchbook closer to his chest.

"If I was able to watch him... would Kisuke notice me immediately?" Ichigo wonders with a wistful smile.

It's been almost two weeks and Ichigo hasn't had the chance to meet Kisuke again. He's not too worried, knowing the man is busy, but he can't help but get impatient for when he can see him again. He knows he'll see him again. And soon.

A vibration in Ichigo's hoodie pocket makes him come back to reality. He steps away from the tree while he takes out his phone.

Shorty:

Need coffee. Wanna come with?

Finishing an errand up. Meet you there.

Ichigo chuckles with a shake of his head at Rukia's message. He doesn't know how her heart can take the amount of caffeine Rukia drinks each day.

The orange haired man stretches his back and starts to walk away, going in the opposite direction of Jessie and her friends. Luckily this way was the shortcut.

Ichigo warms his constantly freezing hands with the hot cocoa he got, casually huddled into the corner of the booth. He watches in amusement as Rukia chugs her third iced coffee.

"The case is a hard one then?" Ichigo questions before he calmly sips at his drink. Rukia doesn't even glare at him, groaning heavily as she drops her head into her arms.

"Don't even get me started. Kyōraku-san gave me a break when he saw me almost shatter a window with the stack of paperwork," Rukia mumbles into her arms before she lifts her head and rests her chin on her arms. "You're in a happy mood. What happened?"

"Created a new piece. Naitō-san is such a great muse." Ichigo smiles down at his hot cocoa, his sketchbook open on an unfinished piece of work next to him.

Rukia stares at him from her head rest, completely silent. "...the blonde woman you spotted at the mall? I didn't know you had... met her again."

"We ran into each other at the grocery store the next day. She goes to that women's university, whatever it's called, in the next district over," Ichigo answers brightly, making his best friend sigh with an exasperated smile. She gently shakes her head as she lifts it out of her arms.

"I'm sure Yuzu-chan and Karin-chan will be happy to see the new piece," Rukia states brightly. Ichigo's smile falters a bit at the reminder before the thought of his sisters brings it back.

"...I don't think I'm going to bring my pieces with me... Goat Face... that's what started that argument in the first place," Ichigo says, his tone cold and off-putting. Rukia scowls at the mention and sighs heavily once more, leaning back against the booth.

"And he'll know not to mention anything. It's Masaki-san's anniversary. That bastard knows what will happen if he's not on his best behavior that day," Rukia reassures vehemently, making Ichigo laugh quietly.

"Oh yeah. Tatsuki's wondering if you and the Pineapple Head will be visiting for the festival coming up," He changes the subject from the dreaded day looming over his head.

"I don't know yet–at least for Renji. I'll ask him tomorrow morning when I have breakfast with Nīsama. I'll request the week off. Leaving you alone without supervision would cause the world to end." Ichigo gives Rukia a halfheartedly glare as she laughs.

They both glance at her phone when it starts ringing. Rukia groans before she stands up.

"It's Kyōraku-san. They must have found something new." Rukia waves her hand towards one of the waiters as she grabs her purse and phone. "Miss, please get Ichigo another hot cocoa. He'll want to use this place to draw some more."

"Rukia!" Ichigo attempts to stop his best friend from paying the waiter. Rukia just sticks her tongue out at him before she starts to walk off.

"It's your day off! Relax, Strawberry!"

"Damn Ice Queen..." Ichigo sighs heavily, sitting back down as he tries to stifle his smile. He shakes his head before he drags his sketchbook closer.

"I guess some drawing wouldn't hurt..." Ichigo lightly thumbs at the rough sketch of a male body.

He is tall, taller than Ichigo, but lean. Kisuke still had muscle. Ichigo could clearly spot them despite how well hidden they were during both encounters. He'd be able to pick Ichigo up and pin him against the wall with ease. Ichigo's sure he'd be able to fuck him like–

Ichigo opens his satchel to cut his wandering thoughts off. He takes out his pastels and struggles to pick a color for the new images that take shape in his mind.

"The montsuki kimono looked wonderful on him... but I feel like the yukata would look so much better. Green–no black. Wait no–red! Dark red. A wine red. If he was covered in blood, it would make his eyes pop," Ichigo thinks, excitement filling him to the brim. His hands shake as he tries to translate his thoughts on paper faster than he could process them.

It has to be loose, must to Ichigo's chagrin, but it fits Kisuke so well! A grey obi belt. Standing in a field of dahlias–no, no, no... thistles... thistle would be better. So much better... What about–

"Oh wow! You draw so beautifully!" Ichigo yelps in sudden surprise, knocking against his new hot cocoa he didn't notice was in front of him. He quickly reaches forward in terror, successfully stopping the hot liquid from spilling and ruining his art before it had fallen even further.

Ichigo whirls around with a dark scowl, mouth open to shout at whomever had spooked him. His breath freezes in his throat when silver eyes are barely a couple inches away from Ichigo's face.

"Ki–Ki–Urahara-san! What–what are you–you–" Ichigo's brain quickly reboots as a heavy blush crawls up his neck "–you a-almost ruined it by scaring me!"

"Sorry, sorry! I tried calling your name, but you were so focused on your artwork... I didn't know you could draw. It's truly beautiful," Kisuke states brightly, leaning over Ichigo's shoulder. His warm breath lightly tickles Ichigo's red neck as he forces himself to face forward.

Luckily he was focused on the body and scenery instead of the face. The yukata was halfway colored and Ichigo was just starting to shade in the blood covering the ground, of course leaving some room for the thistle.

"...I'm an artist–well, I wanna be..." The orange haired man stares at his heavily shaking hand, fingers clenched tightly around the bright red pastel. He slowly starts to shade in the blood and tries to ignore how close Kisuke was to him.

Ichigo takes in a deep breath, his eyes fluttering close at the smell that hits him. Old books, ink, and a faint, but incredibly familiar, scent of a medical clinic. He swallows and licks the inside of his teeth before opening his eyes again.

He's so close... I want to touch him.

I want to run my hands through his hair.

I want to feel his heartbeat.

"What–what are you doing here?" Ichigo glances at Kisuke as he slides into the booth across from Ichigo.

"I don't normally get coffee, but today's been exhausting," Kisuke answers with a sigh, leaning on his hand after waving over the waiter.

"A mocha please!" Kisuke orders brightly, smiling up at the heavily blushing waiter. Ichigo's hand freezes as the air is sucked out from around him.

What are you looking at?

He's mine!

Why are you blushing?

I should gouge out your eyes! I need to–

It'll be so easy to. His pencils are in his satchel. It'll be a waste, but he can get at least one eye gouged before it breaks. It might even kill the bitch.

"It looks like you've been here for a few hours. I didn't take you to be a coffee person," Kisuke starts up a conversation, ignorant of Ichigo's thoughts behind his blank expression.

Ichigo sees the waiter slouch in disappointment at the pale blonde basically snubbing her for him. Smug satisfaction swells in his chest, making him almost lightheaded for the feeling. Good. He should only be paying attention to him.

"I'm not. With or without caffeine, I'm always tired so I don't even bother. Rukia is a caffeine addict though," Ichigo says, putting down the crimson pastel for the purple. "She was on break today, so I met her here. I didn't realize how many hours had passed. Damn Ice Queen paid for my hot cocoa so I could draw some more."

"Do you always draw in pastels?" Kisuke asks, making Ichigo look up. He actually looked genuinely curious. Ichigo couldn't help the blush that spread across his cheeks as he ducked his head.

"I-I use all sorts of mediums... I just decided to use pastels today for the things I was drawing earlier. I prefer pen sketching, but my favorite is painting," Ichigo rambles on with a bright smile.

"Oh? Is there a particular thing you like to draw? A theme?"

"What's with the sudden interest?" Ichigo asks suspiciously, internally buzzing with excitement. It sounds like... it sounds like the man is genuinely interested in him. It might–it might make things so much easier for Ichigo...

"Well, unfortunately I haven't met many artists in my life and... well, all the previous ones weren't... as intriguing as you, Kurosaki-kun. I'm a scientist at heart and seeing you draw was like discovering something fascinating." Kisuke rubs the back of his head in a sheepish manner, ears slightly pink in his embarrassment.

Ichigo stares at him with wide eyes, his mouth slightly ajar. A small whine leaves his throat when he tries to speak before he snaps his mouth closed. He ducks his head, face burning bright red.

"Y-you–don't–don't–don't joke about that! I–I..." Ichigo covers his face with his hands, his stuttering tapering off in his embarrassment.

"I'm not joking, Kurosaki-kun! Why would you think that?" Kisuke states with a dark frown, unseen by Ichigo. It quickly disappears when the orange haired man peeks from in between his fingers.

Ichigo clears his throat, hiding his hands underneath the table. He's acting like a damn schoolgirl!

"...I like drawing what a person's appearance and personality would fit in if they interest me... but... N-not many people like those, so–so I usually just draw around modern things..." Ichigo answers Kisuke's original question, voice barely above a whisper and eyes staying locked on his unfinished work.

"Have I interested you?" The question makes Ichigo's face feel like lava was pouring on it.

"Think you're so great that you seem interesting to everyone?" Ichigo instinctively snarks, giving the older man a suspicious glare. Kisuke grins knowingly, making Ichigo blush even more.

"That cute blush tells me that I'm interesting to you, I think."

Ichigo stares at Kisuke, completely gobsmacked. "U-um... I... I..."

"Oh! I guess I went too far... I should know better than to ask an artist if I gain their interest," Kisuke easily downplays his apparent flirting.

"Did he do it purposely? What if he honestly didn't know he was flirting? What–what do I say?" Ichigo internally panics, fighting between snarking at the scientist or going along with the flirting.

"You–you said you're a scientist... what–what field are you in?" The orange haired man changes the subject, opting for the never used third option... pretending nothing happened.

"Oh, I guess you could call me a jack of all trades... I don't really work in a specific field, but if I had to put a name on it, I work in a field of research and development," Kisuke answers, easily going along with the change of subject despite how clear his amusement was on his face.

"Like... developing new technology and inventions?" Ichigo asks quietly, curiosity growing more than his embarrassment.

"Mm. Yes, something like that." Kisuke smiles gratefully at the waiter when the mocha is placed in front of him. "My research is mostly independent work."

"What's your favorite field?" Ichigo can't help but buzz with joy. It was a sudden thing, but he's able to get to know Kisuke! Maybe... just maybe he can start everything soon.

Kisuke hums quietly to the music playing from his radio. He taps his fingers against his steering wheel, thinking of all the things that had happened today.

He's quite glad that it all worked out when he decided to follow the Kuchiki girl. At the beginning, he thought it was a fruitless adventure, but then he spied the shock of orange hair through one of the coffee shop windows.

Kisuke guessed right that Rukia would take the chance to hang out with Ichigo when she had the chance. Ichigo looked even more beautiful outside of work and stuffy rich parties, even if it worried Kisuke with how exhausted the young man looked.

His hair was left by itself, falling in waves over his eyes. Dark bags made it appear like Ichigo hadn't slept in days, yet the light of the midday sun brought out the glow of peach skin. He wore a baggie hoodie, a pair of faded skinny jeans, and worn out sneakers. Bright silver glittered underneath the sunlight in his earlobes and his fingertips were stained with bright splashes of colors.

When Rukia finally left to go back to work, Kisuke took the time to observe him, just outside but still hidden. It didn't even feel like hours had passed as he watched Ichigo work in his element. Kisuke faintly wondered if this was how he looked when he discovered something new.

Shaking hands moving faster than the mind could process information. Eyes dark with focus and borderline obsession to get thoughts on paper. An almost too jovial smile, silent and unsettling to those that never truly appreciated beauty.

Kisuke only wanted to observe him... but for the first time, he was curious about something other than science. He was dying to know what caused such a beautiful smile to alight Ichigo's face.

The art he saw, despite being unfinished, was absolutely and utterly beautiful. Kisuke was never one to be interested in art. He could appreciate it, and understood the concepts and meanings behind any piece that caught his eye, but it wasn't something he wanted to get interested in. Not until now.

Ichigo drew like he was almost completely reverent to his art. He worshipped every stroke like it was a predestined fate. Crimson, reds, and grey filled Kisuke's vision. An unfinished scene of gore and beauty.

It made Kisuke's hand itch to take apart Ichigo at that very second. To figure out how his brain ticks. To understand what in Ichigo's mind brings such horrendously beautiful art to life.

Kisuke snaps out of his thoughts at the muffled buzzing of his phone. He glances through the windshield of his car before grabbing his phone from the passenger's seat.

"Hello, this is Urahara Kisuke! How may I help you?" Kisuke answers in his usual cheerful persona. There were only four people who knew his personal number, but only one who had the courage to call him so late at night.

"If you're not doing your... experiments, where are you?" Shihōin Yoruichi's voice cuts through almost immediately when she realizes how quickly Kisuke had answered. Kisuke gasps dramatically at the question and suspicion of his best friend and sister in all but blood.

He leans back against the car seat, an almost manic grin growing on his face when he spots a shock of orange hair hiding underneath a hood. "Yoruichi~! Why must you be so suspicious of me? I haven't done anything!"

"You saying that definitely means you did something. Hiyori told me you hadn't even shown up to your office today," Yoruichi answers Kisuke's hidden question. Kisuke hums in distracted acknowledgement, watching Ichigo stop before a crappy apartment complex. He watches him adjust the bags in his hand before opening the door and walking in.

"...I'll catch up on any work I missed tomorrow. I'm a bit busy at the moment," The pale blonde states a bit too cheerfully. He waits for any lights on the floors above the first.

"Something good must've happened. You sound distracted." Kisuke expertly ignores the well hidden worry in Yoruichi's tone. So many things can be good to him... normally she should be worried for him.

"That party you missed, Kuchiki-kun's. I spotted something. Such a pretty little thing," Kisuke states wistfully, love bursting at the seams of his twisted heart. "It's been hard to be patient, but today was such a good day! I think you'll like him."

Yoruichi stays completely silent on the phone, shocked at the revelation. "You haven't... you haven't taken him yet? That's–that's surprising."

"Oh, but Yoruichi! He's different! I know he is! I have to be careful with him... I don't want him to run away. He's perfect!" Kisuke says almost breathlessly. His eyes widen in his excitement when he sees a window on the third floor light up. That one!

"...well, you better hurry up whatever stalking you're doing. I'm not saving your ass when Hiyori breaks your nose again for not getting your paperwork done on time." Yoruichi abruptly ends the call, making Kisuke chuckle. He watches Ichigo open the window and leans out before he turns on his car.

Ichigo leans on his hands, looking at the sleepless streets of the district. A car passes under his window, driving away unnoticed.

"Kisuke doesn't seem to separate work from his life... but that doesn't mean he uses the same number..." Ichigo sighs with a smile. He turns around and walks back into his apartment, impatient to finish the piece he started at the coffee shop.

A small white flash appears in a window across from Ichigo's apartment. It goes unnoticed and unseen.

Hey! Hope you all like the new chapter! Let the stalking begin... dun dun dun!

A bit of a small time skip, but we're starting to truly get into it! Woot woot!

Next chapter will be the day Ichigo's been dreading... The first day he saw his father in almost a year and his mother's death anniversary. I wonder how horrible it'll go?

Oh, and maybe a bit of Kisuke breaking into Ichigo's apartment. Who knows?

I hope you all like the story so far! Bye!

WhovianWhoudini