yes this is the talk chapter.
they got to get to know each other a little and ichigo's needs to tell someone what happened, right,
this is not much of a action chapter more of a everything will be alright, live each day for it's worth and yada yada
thanks for the reveiws i feel special i got nine for the last chapter!
smiles thanks you guys, you know who you are
and hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter to crosses fingers hoping for a succesful amount of reveiws like before
here ya go
Ichigo didn't look at him as she told him about what happened yesterday, instead she looked at her painted toenails. It felt odd telling Ryou something she hadn't even told her closest friends yet...
but she had to tell someone and, and she wanted to tell him...he had looked so concerned.
So once Ichigo got over her initial fright of seeing him pop up behind her, and her graceful reaction--tumbling off the couch with a shriek...she told her story while her heart slowly descended it's rapid thumping.
Tears spilled from her eyes when she was done yet she didn't utter a sound in the still silence.
Ichigo hated crying in front of Ryou and yet here she was doing it.
"heh...i--i must sound like a true crybaby to you..." She hiccupped and sniffed and finally met his eyes, rather tentively.
His blue eyes had softened from his first reaction when he spotted her which was--
Do you want to give me a heart attack! creeping around two hours before work starts! i mean you could have warned me! have you no consideration, i mean sure it's a cafe but it's also my house, Ryou looked at her clueless face, please don't tell me you forgot, are you made of air?
He stopped though, when she made no come-back something which he was used to and seized completely when he saw the watery eyes...
"Hey are you zoning out on me?" Ryou's direct question brought her totally back to focus on the present..
"s-sorry" She muttered " I was thinking..."
Ryou was about to add a snappy insult but clenched his mouth shut as he remembered what had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
"So...that's why you were acting so strange yesterday"
Ichigo looked up surprised, " you noticed?"
"of course, i just didn't know why..."
I was trying to cheer you up, but it wouldn't matter to you anyway...Ryou thought bitterly.
But of course he was wrong, Ichigo cared a great deal
so that's why he was trying to cheer me up last night...and then he asked me to dance because he wanted to make me happy..
Still, uncertain why, it bothered her.
what's wrong with me? he was being so nice...
Still the thought echoed in her head
was he only dancing with me just to cheer me up?
It didn't matter anyway. "thankyou" she said softly and then blushed.
His chest had felt so warm and muscular...his hands so large on her waist...she couldn't help thinking about that dance
Ichigo could feel her heart thumping rapidly, and she fidgeted--embarrassed. Hopefully he didn't notice her strange behavior.
"Ichigo...I'm sorry that maysia did that to you..."
"i..i just thought...we'd stay together forever, everyone said we were so perfect..."
To her surprise he scowled " yeah well...i never really believed in that perfect couple nonsense, everyone has problems and nobody's perfect--every couple has it's up and downsides..." He trailed off.
"you really thought that? i never knew"
He shook his head unbelieving " really? you could never sense the tension between us? anyway i won't go into detail...but i know how it feels.."
She locked eyes and it seemed his were filled with immersible sadness
"to love someone who doesn't return your feelings..."
A rush of gratitude rose through her and also a feeling of curiosity, i wonder who rich wealthy Ryou fell in love with? and who couldn't resist his charm?
"it hurts" she said hesitantly " it hurts...but when i'm with my friends..., with you,she thought silently, i feel happy...i feel better and it ebbs away..."
"Ichigo if he doesn't want you he doesn't deserve you...still, It was difficult for Ryou to say this, still...i'm sure he never wanted to hurt you..love is a special thing and he wants you to have it"
Ichigo was stunned momentarily, she had never had such a serious conversation with Ryou before--it was basically teasing--fun and games--but here he was sharing his thoughts, his values...
She nodded in agreement afraid to say yes because she thought she might start bawling--for what reason she had no idea.
Ryou went on leaning forward, his hands pressed against his thighs
"even...even if those memories hurt you don't want to forget them, cherish the memories you shared with him ichigo--what made you happy--they'll be part of you..."
His words comforted her and she felt awkward at the same time, she didn't know why..but talking to him seriously about love and him comforting her was strange and out of character for him...stll she couldn't say that she didn't like it...
His hands were clasped in his lap, his eyes staring absently into space as though he was lost in thought and in that second she got a good look of him--and her face went bright,bright red.
There was no way he couldn't notice and yet she couldn't tear her eyes off him.
Obviously it made sense, she was two hours early...so he wasn't 'dressed' yet. He wore his normal loose pair of baggy jeans but his shirt...
Ichigo gulped, he wasn't wearing one.
Thankfully though, he wasn't shirtless like the last time she had barged in his room, that had been ultimate embarrassment but still...he was wearing a white undershirt that clung tight to his zero-fat bod and clinging to his hard abs...His blonde hair seemed to glow in the early sunrise--glinting--along with it's usual carelessness.
To her horror she too was in her pajamas, a pair of pink shorts and, ichigo cringed, a top that only came halfway to her midriff--still she was skinny but but...she must look like...
Ichigo gulped, it wasn't like she had done this on purpose--she told herself--she thought no one would be here...She tugged at her top buti t resisted stubbornly.
This was the first time Ichigo had seen Ryou flustered, one hand was scratching his hair as he stood up
"I'll go make some tea, he said quickly, and you probably want to change from...that"
"umm...right" Grabbing her uniform and cursing herself she rushed to the cafe bathroom, quickly stripping and pulling on her uniform.
stupid! stupid!stupid!
Ichigo rubbed her eyes and sighed, last time she had worn this uniform maysai had broken up with her, still when she looked in the mirror--her face wasnt' filled with sadness more it was glowing.
She shrugged and made herself back to table and couch, Ryou was already there. He had pulled on his usual black sleeveless vest and chocker. Two cups of tea were placed before him, steaming slightly.
Ichigo gulped, having no idea what to say to him after the indebt conversation,so she said the first thing that came to mind.
"Hi" Her voice sounded awfully bright which was a good thing.
Surprised he looked up " Hey, here's your tea--do you mind green chi?"
"ah-no, i love it!" She took the pretty teacup and brought it to her lips, taking the sip of the hot liquid.
Really hot liquid.
"ekk" Her tongue scalding, she pushed the tea cup away from her.
"I tried to warn you-you dummy" Ryou said with a sigh.
"Hey! who are you calling a dummy! your so mean Ryou! and i came here to hours early to, eyes twinkling in a joking manner, I'm your most dedicated worker."
"ah-huh right" He snorted, "dedicated you? you wouldn't work here if i didn't pay you"
She stuck out her tongue at him in a cute little pout.
"anyway...since it is your real birthday today, i still have that offer..if your not busy" He took a quick sip of his own steaming tea.
"offer...?" she trailed thinking and then suddenly remembered
"i was -er--well i have a extra ticket for the stage acrobatics performance story of the--er--little mermaid--and i thought since i heard you kinda liked that show--if you would like to come see it tomorrow?"
She was silent pondering
"by myself?"she said finally.
He almost collapsed, sometimes she was to clueless, "no with me you dummy!" he said indignantly.
"oh"
and he had been afraid she had known more about his feelings...now it felt laughable...
He looked at her affectionately hiding it behind an expressionless face as he watched her own brighten
"oh, i'd love to see the little mermaid with you! it's my absolute favorite!--oh wait..., she trailed off, i forgot...i-i was planning on meeting maysai for my birthday...we were going to the movies..." She looked down.
"of for real!" she said excitedly, you mean you still want to go with me? didn't any of the other mews want to go?"
"ah..no" He said lying between his tongue" they were all busy, so still interested in my gift of generosity?"
"yes!"i'd love to go ryou!"
As they trudged out of the cafe, it didn't feel wrong, ichigo thought, walking side by side with him..on...on..would you call it a date?
She didn't know, but she was grateful to Ryou, and felt content.
"oh, ichigo said suddenly, do you mind ryou? if we stop at my house first so i can change?"
She looked at herself, she was still in her uniform--a rather dirty one--since she hadn't been in the mood yesterday to clean it--"
but i'd rather where this any day! then my pajamas...
"yeah.., Ryou said dryly, i don't want to walk around with you in that" He said with a smirk.
Still Ichigo thought happily leading the way to her house, everything was normal between her and Ryou again...as they argued enjoyably and in high spirts down the pathway that led to her house.
No gloom could enter her thoughts on such a happy and bright sunlit morning.
well whadya think? i have definitely a lot of ideas for future chapters.
heh heh
for one in the next chapter ryou is for the first time in ichigo's bedroom and his first time meeting ichigo's eccentric parents
also i'm thinking about making ryou a tad jealous...
and of course i'm bringing a new character in the story that was from the manga that hasn't appeared yet
so i hope you liked it and ta ta for now
send a reveiw and tell me what ya think