N/A: Hello! Sorry I missed this past tuesday
Chapter 5: As far as she can go
"Whoa! You have this whole house to yourself, Shiro!" Oreo boasts, excited as she looks around, dashing through the halls to ogle at all the rooms.
"Yeah, I do, but I um... never expected to have company, so there are no guess rooms," I explain, a tad awkwardly. "So we'll either have to set up something in the living room or uh... sleep in my room," I scratch the back of my head.
"Huh, this place looks smaller on the outside.." Ichigo holds his chin for a contemplative minute.
"...Yeah," That was Sado, he was here too.
"Not bad pallet choices!" And Ishida as well...
All the guys are standing in the foyer with me while I finish locking up the door. When I'm done, I turn back to my home, and suddenly every speck of dirt seems like a fucking mountain in my abode.
Crap, I hadn't cleaned up!
Though to be fair, I hadn't been planning to entertain guests. Seriously, they all just invited themselves at the end of class.
Orohime pranced up to me while I was preparing to leave school and expressed how amazing sleep overs were and how I should throw one since it was the weekend. I'd been off in space, so my agreement was very distance and airy, but she took it.
The little Oreo tried to make it an all girl thing, but all the girls were busy, including Rukia, so then it was just going to be Orohime and I. But as we were leaving, Ichigo walked with us like he usually does, and she wouldn't stop talking about how great it would be, and then she invited Ichigo, who invited Sado, and Ishida just tagged along saying he didn't have anything better to do.
Then we stopped by everyone's house to get them clothes. All except Oreo, who I'm convinced was already planning to do this because she brought a packed bag to school.
And now they're here, and I haven't cleaned.
"Excuse the mess!" I pronounce, dashing about like a hurricane of cleaning products and tools. Up until this point, I had been pretty chill about their arrival and accepting, but now I'm worried I'll look like a slob.
"Oh Shiro! I'll help!" The innocent mastermind bounces over, but I shake my head. I'm a hostess now, and the hostesses should be the one to clean. Right?
"I've got it, Oreo" I rest her nerves. I'm sure I look silly, barely keeping these spray bottles in my arm while the other one flails in its annihilation of all dirt.
"Shiro." My hand is halted in its frantic sways by a strong hold on its wrist.
Oh... It's just Ichigo...
He takes a bottle of bleach from my arm and one of the rags on my shoulders, "Calm down, we'll help, all of us," He smiles down at me, and I can't help but huff.
"Are you trying to get me to say you're amazing again? Cause it's not going to happen," I grin, and it only widens as Ichigo's brow sinks.
"WHY YOU!" he chocks on his rage, "Fine! Next time you need help don't look at me!" He glares, slamming his forehead into mine.
Is that a challenge?
I pull back to return the favor, "Well, I-go-chi! I didn't ask you this time! SO THERE!" I bark back.
"Whatever! WIPE THAT GRIN OFF YOUR FACE!"
~x~
"And done! See! That was so much faster with all of us!" Oreo tosses her damp towel into the dirty-towel-bucket.
"Yeah." I smile, picking up said bucket. I should put all the rags into the washer with the rest. "Ok, thanks for your help, I'll be back. You guys decide if you're going to stay in the living room or head to my room," I leave them to themselves.
The laundry room isn't super far, I dump the bucket contents and set the container down besides the washer. Hmmm... there isn't enough towels to start it yet, I'll just leave it be for now.
I head back to the group and...they're huddled together?
They've enclosed themselves in a circle of their flesh,and they're whispering, but I can hear them perfectly.
"Do we just ask? That seems a bit forward.." That was Oreo.
"Ask me what?" I enter the room on quiet feet, and they nearly jump out of their bodies, literally.
It was pretty funny actually.
"Shiro! Back so soon?" two different people say each part, but I'm not sure who.
"H...hey! Did you know I had a brother?" Orohime starts, stumbling over her cover up.
"No,"
"D-Did you know he died?" She looks to the ground.
Whoa... that was pretty heavy to drop that quickly.
"No,"
"Well, he did.. he died in a car accident.. then he came back as a hollow and nearly...killed me," she trails off, losing her bright eyes in the shadow of her bangs.
"..." I've never experienced grief before. From outside I mean, and I am greatly unprepared. I mean, I always expected that when something like this was to happen, I would be flooded with sympathy, and my brain would swell with the right words to abolish her sadness. That's how it seems to work on TV.
But I'm not.
I feel like I'm standing outside of a closed door, listening to her painstakingly whale in anguish.
I feel uncomfortable.
I also feel bad for making this about me, when it clearly isn't, but I'm just so...confused. Uncertain. I just don't know what to do for her.
I want to walk up to her and tell her it'll be alright, but I think that's stupid. I don't want to pull her back up the mountain she just fell from with lies and promises I can't keep; then she'll just fall back down. I'd rather let her take her time caring for her wounds so she can be strong enough to climb back up herself, and wise enough not to lose her footing again.
So I just stand there, watching her morn for someone I don't know or care about.
It feels so wrong to do so, even with my rationale, but I refuse to give in. To pull her back up.
...
But I have to do something. I'm just falling deeper within myself while the others sit around her, calling her name in a sentimentality I do not posses.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Why am I so fucked up? Why am I so wrong? Look at me, I can't even rip away from my own little stupid problems to focus on someone else.
Am-...Am I..wired wrong?
Is this why I can't get along with people?
Is this why I am alone?
If so, if I don't do anything now, will they leave me?
The sheer thought sends me into a panic, and I make my way over to them, dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms around her so tight.
I will not say anything, I will let her find her own words in my embrace.
"We know how you feel, Orohime; I lost my mom to a hollow," Ichigo gains the sympathy I yearn for; it's deep in those brown eyes of his.
"My grandfather..." Ishida sinks below with them.
"..." Sado doesn't speak, but you can feel the hurt in his silence.
They fill the room with emotions, and I drown in them. I sense their craving for a touch long gone from this world. It is the only thing that would appease them, but I can not give them that. But I have to do something before they drown.
"But... there were good times?" I ask, trying to refocus their attention.
It works, the somber countenances of the teens part, giving way to aged smiles.
"Yeah, my mom was the greatest,"
"My grandfather taught me everything I know,"
"Hm.."
"Oh yes! My brother and I had so much fun in the kitchen!"
My sparks catch, igniting embers of old memories and fond times, and fueling these big smiles on their faces.
Crisis averted!
Gosh I feel like I just dodged a natural disaster.
"What about you, Shiro?" Orohime beams her smile at me.
Wait a second.
"Is that what you wanted to ask me? About deceased relatives?" I huff when they all look guilty as charged. "Next time, Just ask! I'll answer just about any question if you just ask," I rub my temples. I mean, I'm glad I got to know them more, but that was unnecessary.
"We're sorry if we made you uncomfortable! We didn't want to be so forward" Oreo tries, but I deny the apology.
"Besides, it's only fair we share if we want you to share," Ishida attacks with logic, and he's right, but I deny him anyway.
Sado doesn't try, and Ichigo is more one-track-minded.
"So?" the red head male drops into his resting bitch face. "What happened to your family?"
I sigh, "I... don't know," I shrug.
"Come on! Don't give us a bull shit answer like that! After all you told us to ask you!" Ichigo launches into one of his comedic stages of anger, but I'm not in the mood, making it hit me a bit harder than it should.
I bat it off.
"No, seriously, I have no Idea," I avert my eyes.
"What do you mean, Shiro? Doesn't someone pay for this house?" Orohime tilts her head, swaying her orange hair to the side.
"Yeah, but I don't know who it is. Look, for as long as I can remember, I've been alone, and that's not an exaggeration," I tag on the last bit. "I know that doesn't make sense, but in one of my earliest memories I...think I remember a silhouetted figure that stuck around the shadows," I shrug, "It...watched me, I think, made sure I didn't get in any trouble, but it also made sure I never got near it." This sounds so stupid out loud. Why was I explaining this? Surely they knew what I was talking about?
"Look, All I know, is that it...they, kept the TV on all the time, and there were always meals in the fridge. Then, when I got to be a certain age, money pops up on that end table," I point the the grey marble topped table against the wall.
"What about.. the house?" Orohime tries again.
I shrug once more, "I've never seen a bill for the place, but the lights stay on and the water stays hot,"
"How did you know your name?" Ishida frowns, understanding my story as little as I do.
"The same way you guys knew. I just knew" I state, "Everyone already knows their name, right?" I get strange looks "Uh... and I guess my tag helped later on" more strange looks. I roll my eyes, they were making this difficult, "You know, the tag!" I pull down my sock to show an elastic band around my ankle with 'Shiro' in a block of silver.
"This has been on me for as long as I can think. And when ever I'd go through the day plagued by how tight it was due to my growth, I'd wake up with a new one, bigger," I explain, and return to their shocked expressions.
"What? don't you guys have one?" I frown, searching their bodies for the name tag.
"No," they all respond, and I my brow sinks even lower. That was weird... I was under the impression everyone had a tag...
Then I shrug; I appear to be doing that a lot tonight. "Just another way I'm weird I guess," I state as a fact.
"Right," Ichigo trails off, noticeably thrown by the new information.
"Any other questions?" I scan the room until I get to Oreo's raised hand, "Yes?"
"How did you get to school when you were little!"
"The...same way you did?" I try, though I seem to be wrong every time I say that. "I followed the basket of sweets," There go those strange looks again! Come on! I knew my upbringing was different, but not this different.
"You're telling me that every child isn't lured to their school by a basket of goodies?" My eyebrows rise when they all shake their heads, "What the fuck is my life?!" I look around.
The world seemed so much simpler a minute ago.
"Ok, ok, but sweets do appear on your pillow every time you get a good grade, right?"
And they shake their heads again.
What is happening!?
I plant my face on the black flooring. "I thought the only difference between me and everyone else was that I didn't have parents or friends..." I slurr against the wood.
"So, this means there is someone in Shiro's life who takes care of her... but wont come in contact with her?" Oreo pieces it together, but it's not enough me.
"So what? Should we try to catch this guy? Find out what he knows about her?" Ichigo proposes.
"I highly doubt we'd be able to, This person was able to dodge an unpredictable toddler. How are we supposed to get a hold of them?" Ishida reasons while Sado waits patiently for a solution.
"NO!" I stop them, "Shhhhhhhhhhhh, no more, I refuse to have my childhood ruin further by this conversation," I reject their ideas.
"..." the group silences itself.
"Thank you," I roll over onto my back and stare at the ceiling.
Around me, everyone grabs a pillow from the couches and forms a circle with their heads and mine, joining me in the ceiling-gazing.
"So, Shiro, have you ever built a pillow fort before?" The innocent Oreo quests for a topic.
"Once, it's super fun at first, but then it gets a little lonely,"
"Well hey! We're here now! It'll be super fun!" She springs up before pulling Ichigo to his feet. I get up and aid Ishida's ascent. Then I went to help Sado up.
"Hey, hey" I smile, "Hey Sa-do, why do you look so Sad-doe?" I grin, extending my hand to his large form.
"Heh heh... good one" He takes my hand and slams me down onto his level.
"Oof!" I sigh. I'm all smashed up against his brick-wall of a chest, and if I had romantic interest in him, I'd be so flustered, but he's more of a brother to me. "Thanks Sad-doe," I adjust myself in his lap to be sustaining my form with knees between his legs and my hands on the ground besides his hips.
"I really needed that!" I make a face of squinted eyes and puckered lips. In hindsight, I'm like half his size, and I wasn't prepared to use my inhuman strength.
I look up to his sun-rich skinned face to see his chocolate hair dangling over his content smile.
That butt, he did it on purpose!
"Sorry..." he apologizes, but I'm on to him! He only pretends to be nice! He's actually a trickster!
"Hmph!" I turn up my noes, sitting back on my heels and crossing my arms.
The jolly green giant gets to his feet with a rumbling chuckle before he picks me up under my arms, holding me with my feet a foot above the ground."There... I fixed it," he attempts to mend the broken bonds, but it's too late!
He has betrayed my trust!
"Thank you," I nod to him as he sets me down.
Then we get to work, scavenging all the pillows, sheets, and chairs in the house and setting them up to makes a big ass pillow fort.
"Hey! Ishi-ishi!" I call, and the Quincy turns to me curiously, and I meet him with a big TH-WAP!- pillow to his face.
He stands there, dumbfounded with his glasses hand on the side of his head, and his hair disheveled. He looks like he was just told he was the father!
I laugh at him, curling into my cramping gut from my mischief.
TH-WACK!
I slam into the ground, "Holly shit that was a hard comeback, Ishi," I look up, but Ishida is still in a shock.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you so hard Shi-shiro!" I roll onto my back to see Oreo as the rueful culprit.
Damn she could hit hard!
"Please! You'll be sorry you didn't hit harder!" I challenge, taking her feet with a sweep of my feather-filled blade!
THUD!
My face go flying into Oreo's stomach by another blow to my head.
Fuck! I hope I'm hitting as hard as I'm getting hit!
"You'll be sorry you messed with Orohime!" Ah! So Ichigo attacked me?
"Oh really!?" I launch the pillow, nailing the soul reaper dead in his head.
"HA!"
SMASH!
Did someone just sandwich me between two pillows? Why am I the one getting teamed up against?
thud! "Even though she betrayed me, I cannot allow such a disgraceful pillow beating to continue!" I turn. Sad-doe was the one who smashed me, but Ishida has avenged me!
Aww, now I feel bad for hitting him!
"Don't worry! I wont do it again!"
I pounce to my feet and attack the large one.
I started this war! I'm going to finish it!
~x~
I smiled wide. Every foe had been vanquished, and my ally and myself have been slaughtered.
And it sure as hell was worth it!
Around me my close people laugh with such mirth, it leaves me content with life. Sure, all of the pillows are fucked, but we can still make the fort out of chairs and sheets.
I glance over at the carnage that is the blanket fort. The jolly green giant fell on it when Ishida and I double teamed him.
It would probably take me a while to replace those pillows...
That would be a lot of money..
...No
To hell with it. To hell with everything that isn't these four people around me.
~x~
"Shiro, tell me, do you know what Bon Obori is?" Urahara asks, summoning up his fan.
Geeze, he sure is fidgety with that thing.
It was the next day, and I was scheduled to have training with the smug hatter; the sleep over was still going on, but I still have my obligations, ya know? So they're stuck at my house.
Hey, I tried to invite Ichigo to my session, but the same thing as last time happened: Urahara shooed him away. I tried asking the hatter why, but then he brought this topic up.
Speaking of which, I still haven't answered him, have I?
"Kind of," I furrow my brow. "I mean, I know it's a more traditional type of dance, but that's about it, why?" I tilt my head. Was he going somewhere with this?
"Here! I'll show you!" he gleefully guides me to a room that is made of the same dark, greenish wood that everything else is in here. In it is just a TV with a tape player and a cushy pillow. "Sit here" he orders
I do as I'm told, curling my feet beneath me as I plop on the soft cushion. Huh... the pillow is actually orange, not red like I thought. It was a little hard to tell in the dim lighting.
He places in the only tape in the room and I really have to wonder if this guy just watches this same tape over and over again.
When it starts playing, I'm shown a group participating in what I believe is the Bon Obori. I don't know. It's graceful, sure, but it's also a little sluggish in pace and a bit repetitive. Though it is still nice. It makes my heart smile, and my face as well.
"I liked it," I tell the shop keeper when the video is over.
"Good! Now let's get down to your training," He beams that silly smile of his.
"Mrow" I jump at the animalistic proclamation. Turning my head, I see a black cat with gold eyes sitting in the window.
"...It's a cat..." I state simply, but it's more than enough to get the hatter excited.
"Yoruichi! You've come back!" He exclaims, like he's just seen a long lost friend. Rushing over, he picks the feline up and expresses his joy to see the little thing in the form of gleeful phrases and childish tones.
"Um... ok," I mumble, looking around. I never took him to be the cat type. It's not like I have a problem with it, I like cats too.
The fondling goes on for so long that my calves begin cramping in this position, and he's still going on. Eventually I shift in position...
Then again...
and again.
Ok, this was getting awkward.
For me, of course... Just me. It's always just me...
Eventually I get to my feet. It's been a full 30 minutes now... and he's still going at it with the little fur ball. I guess I'll just leave, I don't want to leave the crew in my house, they may start another war and might destroy more of my shit.
I step over the cat-lover laying in the door way, and make my way for the exit, "I'll come back later," I throw over my shoulder.
"-One of his closest friends," I catch as I pass Tessai and the children. They seem to be gawking at their boss's reaction to the furry friend.
Was Tessai talking about the cat? Like, was the cat Urahara's best friend?
"And I thought I was lonely," I mumble, sliding open the front door and letting myself out.
The rest of the day was fairly mundane.
The crew and I went shopping and Oreo had me make a mandatory purchase of a bunny hoodie that is identical to the one she bought. I wonder if pretty girls like Oreo just naturally migrate to things that make them more attractive because she didn't pick the hoodie that was all fluffy and warm and hid every feature of your upper body. No, she chose the hoodie that had the innocence of thick, over-sized sleeves and the adorableness of a large hood with floppy bunny ears, but... but but but. It also held the sexiness of a tight, form fitting leotard that snaps together between the legs.
Basically it's a trap for men.
At least she let me buy mines in white instead of her pink...
Meanwhile, Ishi-ishi showed us all the wonders of a cheap craft store.
I bought so much material to make stuff.
Like.
So much...
I don't even have any ideas... but I bought the fabric for when I think of a few..
Ishi-ishi pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, staring condescendingly down it at me as I struggled with my bags, "Do you even own a sewing machine?" he snipped.
I turned my nose up and away in disdain, "Not yet, but I will soon."
"Right." he patronized her as he walked by, and as soon as his back was turned, I screwed my face up and mouthed his own snips at his back.
Sad doe has a nack for fashion and showed us all how to rock the look of a mysterious type. Apparently a baggy jacket is all you need outfit wise.. The rest is attitude! I have a picture of us all lounging on a cluster of boulders in the twilight sun. The 'far away gaze' that adorns all our faces is friggin hilarious. Especially on Oreo!
Some would be shocked to find the quiet giant teaching such a lesson, but said giant would be just as surprised, as all he did was be himself and we all just followed him while Ichi-go-go and Oreo analyzed him and determined the source of Sad doe's charm.
Oreo took us to the strangest restaurant that NO ONE could stomach.
"I thought it would be a nice new place for us to all try together." She defends shortly after the strange-looking dishes are placed on the table before the group.
"Well..." I falter, pausing for a moment to hide the gag trying to force itself out of me, "It'll be a memory we surely won't forget." I grimace- I mean grin.
Lastly Ichigo ended it with showing us the most amazing place to lounge in the warm breeze. Well, more so me, because apparently everyone else knew the chill spot.
I remember being so at peace... I don't think I've ever felt better than I did then, surrounded by amazing people and staring out into the fluid mosaic reflection of the sky. Upbeat, serene music danced from my phone and amongst the breeze, delivering itself to to our ears with promises of calm and tranquility...
. . .
"Ok, I have to head back to the mad hatter's" I sat up, picking up my phone.
"Aww! But Shi-shiro!"
"Sorry, but if I'm lucky, he's probably still fawning over that cat," I go around and help them all to their feet.
Except Sad doe!
Never again...
"Where are you guys heading, back to my place?" I tilt my head to them all.
"Nah, Chad has agreed to let the party continue at his place, so stop by there when that mad man lets you off the hook," I go chi invites. Behind him, The tanned teen nods once.
Oh! So they'll hijack my place! But not Chad's!
No! They ask for his opinion!.
The nerve...
I'm sure my expression is a clear display of my thoughts, "Yeah sure, I hate my house now anyway," I grumble under my breath. "So, what's the address?" I tilt my head. Chad pulls out his phone pressing a few things before putting it back up.
bzzzp!
My phone alarms me of a message.
"Uh... that must be you... alright, I'll be heading back then,"
I wave at them, and make my way to the shop.
~X~
"Hello? Knock knock? Is it still cat hour?" I call into the store, but my voice just runs through the rooms before rushing back to me. "Maybe they all went out for drinks..?"
"Shiro! You actually came back. I'm surprised," Those familiar layers of green come around the corner.
"Oh! Smug hatter!" i raise my brows at him. "Where is the crew? I was hoping to hug Ururu again... and maybe punch jinta one good time..." I murmur the last bit.
"Them? Well, I needed some materials and information, so I sent them out to go get it." he looks to the woody ceiling above us.
"So... it'll be just you an me this round of training. No audience and..." he narrows those mischievous grey eyes at my form. The fuck is he starin' at? "...No rescue team," his voice darkens.
!
A shiver runs through me.
Why do I feel like that's a really bad thing for me in particular?
"Uh..." I trail off, peeking behind me to see how far away the exit is. Dammit, why did I come to him instead of the other way around?!
"Right this way, little Bokuso-chi," He rests his cane upon his shoulders, turning his back to me.
Shifting my feet subtly, I try to make some head way back to the door. This guy is too freakin' scary sometimes...
"Ah-ah~!" Shit! Please tell me that stern tug on my collar is something on the wall. Oh wait! I'm not near any walls!
I almost lose my balance when I feel the backwards jerk from Urahara.
"The training room is this way silly~" he splurges the most sadistic euphoria into his words.
"Please don't kill me..." I plead. allowing my heels to drag upon the flooring to slow my progress to my death.
"It's funny you'd say that." he smirks, kicking open the hatch and hopping down. Anxiety swells in my gut, It feels like I'm on a roller coaster!
"I SHOULD HAVE JUST WALKED!"
"Oh come now, no need to be so loud," he lands with such grace, tossing away me from his being.
Crap!
I skid upon my side, flinging my legs to shift my weight and catch myself.
"Alright. This training exercise will be simple," he starts. "Release your spiritual pressure," he states.
"Oh... is that all?" I smile as relief floods me, and I close my eyes to focus.
"Let me stop you right there" flak! He summons his fan. "I need you to release a lot of it. To go beyond your limits and all that and I'll be honest, I don't think you can do it without a little help from me and benehime," Unsheathing the goddess that is his blade, I stare in awe of her simplistic beauty.
Sure, I've seen it before, but something about her calls to me and makes me shudder.
"Unfortunately for you, nothing releases quite as much raw spiritual pressure as when a soul is in danger," he explains.
oh shit...
"And, as I mentioned earlier, there isn't anyone here to patch you up if I get carried away," he pins me with that storm of thought exploding just behind his eyes. "But don't worry, I wont let that happen" he watches me and I reserve my reaction, because it feels like he has way more to say
"Because I plan on actually killing you here,"
Oh fuck.
Someone help me.
Please.
"Let's begin," he comes for me.
"I'm going to die," I dodge. Oh yeah! That's right! I'm faster than him!
I use my speed to my advantage, pouncing about the terrain with the ol' man lagging behind me.
"I see you remember that you have speed on me, but I have a couple things on you," he grips his hat and flings a wave of blood lust at me.
CRASH!
I grunt as I combine with a rock.
"Ow... is that my blood?" I look at the tiny puddle beneath me. "Oh my gosh... He can calculate my speed and trajectory while factoring in the speed and depleting strength of his own blast to nail me like that! All in a matter of second!"
TH-THUMP!
My heart pounds in my ears, but, unfortunately, it's not from fear of my life or of his strength, but in unrivaled giddiness and a flustered heat that fills me.
Ah! Fool! Cover your face! Cover your face! I bet I'm blushing!
"I freakin' hate you..." I growl, pulling my body out the rock. It's too hot in there now...
I hate him so much...
I rub my blush out my face. I need to focus, I may be fawning, but he certainly isn't.
"Pay attention..."
"!" I fling myself away from him, turning around to face his awaiting attack.
Ok! I'm literally getting hit by every single strike here!
"Wait! you'll- You'll actually kill me!"
throw myself around to dodge him, but's weakened my speed to his level and does not intend to let me recover. He plays with me, bouncing me around like he's playing catch with himself, and I just simply can't keep up anymore!
I feel my body falling apart bit by bit, each blow taking a chunk of me with it, but that earns me no sympathy from him. No mercy.
He watches me the entire time, Watching for my decisions, watching to see if I'd take my last breath or take my final stance...
I can't keep up!
He knocks me down for the count and lands before my fallen form.
"Get up, Shiro,"
I grunt, attempting to do just that but my...body...won't let me...
"Get up," I tell myself. "Get up!" I bark at my pathetic being. Come on! Ichigo does it all the time! How many times have I heard of that man coming back from the brink of death! Yet I can't even lift my hand!
"That's it. . . You're spent," Urahara narrows his eyes are my trembling form. He'd raised his sword and charged it. He even swung at her. But he stopped just centimeters from her actual being.
This is it.
This is all she can muster.
"Let's get you upstairs,"
A/N: I love this little story ^_^ I'm glad I'm finally sharing with you all!
