DISCLAIMER: ISHIDA HAS TURNED COATS. BLEACH IS ENDING. NO NO NO! NO I AM STILL NOT KUBO-SENSEI!
AU, OOC-ness, language, spelling, grammar, punctuation, side pairings, BERRY-CHASERS A PLENTY including but not limited to IshidaxIchigo, InouexIchigo, GrimmjowxIchigo, AizenxIchigo, ByakuyaxIchigo, ZangetsuxIchigo…the rest to be revealed/announced in due time.
A/N Okay doke I'll admit I got a bit carried away with Ishida but …this is necessary…the rest will follow accordingly. But only one will come out the victor…but that's a secret so…
Some of YOU asked and so now SLY will answer (well sorta) FYI there is still a long way to go before Byakuya or Aizen show their faces…but Grimmjow…he'll pop up much sooner…and that's all I'm gonna say for now and even that's revealing too much so…you're welcome!
GRINS
~SLY~
OVERALL CONCEPT OF FIC IS: DEDICATED/INSPIRED BY CAS. She's awesome in more ways than one…go read her stuff…especially if you're a big Kuchiki Byakuya fan. GRINS.
SPECIAL THANKS FOR REVIEWING: GOES OUT TO VOLUPTUOUS, NARUTOPOKEFAN, JULEMAKER AND OF COURSE CAS!
Additional thanks to Cas for her awesome taste in fashion and endless ideas/help and Voluptuous for her badass depiction of Halibel, thus the inspiration behind Hali-chan in this chapter. Thank you ladies!
THANK YOU TO ALL 24 FOLLOWERS/AND FAVES!
()()
SKIRTING THROUGH LIFE
005 TRIPLE THREAD
(Scene change/View point change)
A fourteen-year-old girl with short chestnut blonde hair sits inside of a large brightly lit room and fans herself with a crunched up newspaper. One would never guess that it was one of the coldest months out of the year since she's currently sweating so profusely and her dark-haired companion isn't fairing much better.
"I think I'm about to pass out."
"Seriously it feels like a damn oven in here, how can he stand it?"
By "he" the two girls are referring to fellow student and fashion club president, Ishida Uryu. No matter how many times the duo asked the boy never bothered to explain why he insisted on blasting the heat so high even when it was clearly unnecessary.
"On top of that I'm sweating all my make up off."
"Loly, Menoly if you two insist on whining no one is stopping you from leaving, there's the door."
The words did not come from Ishida but a tall and curvaceous upper classmate named Halibel.
Well actually the bronze-skinned blonde was a foreign exchange student from the middle east and her name was technically Tier Harribel but Loly and Menoly had made the "mistake" of mispronouncing her name instead by addressing her as "Hairy-bell" one too many times and so voluptuous beauty insisted that everyone call her Halibel or Hali-chan.
"What are you talking about Halibel? We've only mended about ¾'s of this dress." (and by dress Loly was referring to the silky red backless cocktail gown that that total nitwit "Izuru" had practically stretched and ripped beyond repair)
Apparently the rip occurred during Izuru's mad haste to strip out of the costume before his older sister caught him in it and ran off to tell their parents or so the story went. Loly and Menoly didn't honestly care enough to find out. They simply mended what needed mending and that was it. The two best friends had joined the fashion club for one reason and one reason only. To get out of their music lessons.
Halibel's poison green colored eyes narrowed as she all but hissed out an impatient "Then get to it!"
Loly and Menoly knew better than to argue with the older girls' cool, smooth and bewitching tone and so with a huff and a few eye rolls the duo moved a few feet down in order to distance themselves from the blonde and then waited a moment before they continued their "conversation".
"Geez what the hell crawled up her crotch and died today?"
"Tch, seriously who does she think she is anyway? Always bossing us around, walking around in those 3 inch knee-high boots like she's some kind of goddess or something, ugh I can't stand her."
"That's just it Menoly, she's thinks she's better than everyone else but in reality she's nothing more than second best to Ishida."
"She's bitter and jealous because a boy is a better fashion designer than her and she'll never get over it you know? The fact that Uryu stole her title right out from under her nose-
"I can hear you two crystal clear you know."
Loly and Menoly cursed and then huddled more closely together and opted to continue their "trash talking session" through sign language.
Completely unaware of course that they're upper classmate was well versed in sign language as well as several other languages.
Halibel flicked one of her golden blonde bangs out of her green eyes and stood up in order to stretch. She had no idea why Uryu insisted on sitting in such torture contraptions (aka straight backed wooden chairs) but Halibel had never been and never would be a weakling so she went about her tasks with out complaint.
She glanced over at her younger friend and noted that the bespectacled teen was in his zone again, completely shut out from the rest of the world. Halibel smiled fondly.
Not that she would ever admit it out loud because pride prevented her from doing so but she had a great deal of respect and admiration for the younger student.
Uryu was so passionate when it came to fashion and so insanely talented that even in times when she turned green with envy, Halibel could not bring herself to hate the boy.
And despite what the two brainless twits in the corner claimed, Uryu hadn't stolen anything from her, Halibel had graciously stepped down when she saw the boys' talents far surpassed her own.
And what did a title mean anyway? More request/demands from the drama department? More ridiculous deadlines? A few extra credit points? Getting her close-minded bitch of a mother off her back for a couple of hours?
Yes Halibel supposed that getting away from her mother was the biggest bonus of all. Still…in all honesty the blonde rather be fondling her girlfriend Nel behind the alley of the local bakery right now instead of sewing yet another pink scarf for the "prince" of the drama club.
Halibel glanced up at the diamond-encrusted clock mounted on the far back wall and felt a smile pull at her mocha-cinnamon colored lips.
"Uryu, it's a 15 minutes to 4. I'm heading home now."
No answer. Of course Halibel hadn't expected one. It was very rarely that anything/anyone could pull Uryu out of his "zone".
The blonde collected her zebra shark-skinned handbag and matching coat, shut off the little light above her workstation and called out to the twins. "Menoly, Loly let's go!"
Even though the duo clearly disliked her they didn't dare argue. Loly and Menoly quickly and quietly collected their backpacks and matching boysenberry colored down jackets and followed Halibel out the door.
The girls parted at the staircase, which was just as well since Halibel had no desire to be in Loly and Menoly's presence for longer than what was deemed necessary.
()()
Ishida Uryu remained inside the fashion clubroom. This was routine for him. The bespectacled teen usually stayed long after everyone else went home. He enjoyed the quiet solitude.
Uryu was fully convinced that his best ideas came when it was just himself inside the room and the fabrics as his only company.
Talking to fabrics might sound a bit strange but then again the bespectacled teen had always been a bit of a strange guy.
Rather than thinking it to be a bad thing like most, Uryu enjoyed being strange because it meant he was unique and not a carbon copy clone.
Fashion and fabrics always fascinated the teen.
()
FLASHBACKS
As a toddler Uryu had often watched as his mother readied herself for work each morning. He had watched as the woman paired light colored fabrics with floral prints and dark colored fabrics with stripes and plaids. Watched as his mother would wear only certain boots or shoes, jackets, blazers, coats, scarves and hats for certain occasions.
On weekends when Kanae was home, Uryu watched the woman knit and crochet and sew the single most beautiful tapestries, rugs and curtains he had ever laid his young eyes on. For Uryu's 7th birthday, Kanae made him a quilt in rich and bright fabrics of white, gold and royal blue. The bespectacled teen still slept on the very same quilt to this day.
At age 9, after a great deal of begging and pleading, Uryu's father Ryuken, agreed to let him have his very own sewing machine.
'I will allow it only if you promise not to fall behind in your classes and agree to enter this seasons chess tournament.'
Uryu had nothing against studying or chess so he so no reason to argue with the man.
'You have my word, father.'
Kanae beamed at the pair of them 'Good it's all settled then, lesson one starts tomorrow.'
The woman showed the child the little things at first. How to make scarves and hats, socks and mittens and she smiled as she went through each and every step.
()
It didn't take long for Uryu, just a little under 8 months, not that it came as a major surprise to the boy or his mother since he'd always been a fast learner.
And as Uryu became more engrossed in fashion and his bond with his mother tightened, his father became more withdrawn and spent more time at the hospital then he did at home. Like most children, Uryu began to blame himself.
Uryu and Kanae were getting dressed up for a night out on the town when the young boy turned to his mother with a slight frown and said, 'It's all my fault, isn't it? I'm the reason father never comes home and decides to sleep at the office all night long? I'm the reason father barely touches or kisses you anymore. It's all my fault.'
Kanae's makeup brush paused in midair as she turned to look at her one and only son. A moment later she mentally kicked herself-how had she not realized it sooner?
She released a heavy and sad sort of sigh and shook her head. 'No Uryu it is I who have failed both as a mother and a wife.'
Uryu's navy blue eyes grew wide 'No mother! How could you? Why on earth would you even suggest such a thing? It is I who have failed you as a son. I am the one who has driven a wedge between you and father but I don't want you to worry because I have a plan.' The ten year old suddenly declared.
'A plan?'
The boy nodded and continued, 'Yes a way to remind father of your love for him, his love for you and the love you share.'
Honestly the idea had been brewing in Uryu's young mind for quite some time. 'Your anniversary is coming up! It will be the perfect time to renew your wedding vows.'
()
It worked but only for a short period of time. The Ishida family was sitting down to a Sunday breakfast when Kanae dropped the bombshell.
'I've spoken to my lawyers the papers will be on your desk some time later this afternoon. I'm honestly sorry it had to come to this but I owe it to myself and to our son to be honest. This marriage is barely hanging on by a thread and I will not take much more, I will not!'
Ryuken, is not so much oblivious as he was distracted by the newspaper in front of him clucked his tongue, 'Whatever tantrum you intend to throw this morning can wait until Uryu has left to take his exams, now sit down and finish your breakfast, Kanae.'
Uryu looked to his mother then his father and then over at his mother again. Once he saw the look on her face he no longer had any desire to eat.
'You're serious aren't you?' His throat suddenly felt scratchy and dry.
'Very serious Uryu and I am sorry to put you through this but remember you can always come to me if you are in need of anything or if you want to chat.'
'I-I don't understand, where are you going?'
Kanae smiled sadly and answered, 'Not fat from here just a few blocks away. I will leave my new number and address with your father. You are welcome to come over at anytime, be it day or night.'
Well that didn't sound too horrible but still...
'Wait! But why aren't I going with you? I get along with you and I have a lot more in common with you then I do with him!' Uryu grew angrier by the minute and didn't feel his father deserved to be addressed as anything other than "him" at that moment.
'A studio apartment is no place for a young boy, besides all of your things are here.'
'I don't care about any of that! It's just material things, easily replaceable but you-you're my mother how can you just-?'
'Uryu your mother has made her decision. Stop being selfish.'
Uryu glared at his father, not that the man could see it since he was still clearly far more interested in the stupid newspaper rather than his own family.
'I'd rather go live with grandfather in the countryside then stay here with a heartless shell of a man like YOU.'
That seemed to break Ryuken's calm and indifferent façade as he all but slammed the newspaper on to the table and rose to his full height, his eyes flashing dangerously behind his silver lenses and his tone dropping to a chilling degree. 'What did you just say to me?'
Uryu swallowed the lump forming in his throat and then looked over at his mother, hoping the woman would jump in and calm his father down.
Kanae did not disappoint as she quickly moved around to the other end of the small table and placed her hands on top of Ryuken's shaking fist, 'Come now Ryuken our son is not the target here, if you insist upon hitting someone then you should hit me.'
Ryuken blinked as if waking up from a trance and then clasped his wife's hands tightly, the glacier hard stones of his eyes softening, the tone of his voice now colored with hurt and confusion, 'What are you talking about Kanae? You can not seriously be thinking about leaving me after all this time!'
Uryu opened his mouth and then closed it. Was that desperation he was detecting in his father's tone now? He didn't think the man was capable of such a thing.
For the first time in well…ever Uryu felt a certain amount of sympathy for the man but not enough to forgive Ryuken entirely.
'She's leaving because she deserves more. The signs have been there for months you just opted to ignore them like you do with everything else.' Uryu spat bitterly. It was a low blow but he couldn't bring himself to care.
()()
In the end his mother moving a few blocks away hadn't changed much. Uryu still talked with Kanae daily. He still met the woman for tea and cake hour once a week.
Kanae made sure to attend all important events and occasions. And Uryu never missed a single one of his mother's fashion shows. Even when the woman announced that she was stepping down as the head designer of Q fashions so she could focus on her love life Uryu's bond with his mother on lystrengthened that much more.
His mother was and always would be his greatest inspiration.
He treasured her words and sought her advice.
It was the boy's sole reason for agreeing to enroll in Seirei academy in the middle of the school year. Not that there was anything overly outstanding about the place other than the heavily publicized drama department but the academy was closer to Kanae's new home and that was all the reason Uryu needed.
When the bespectacled youth caught wind that there was a fashion club somewhere with the walls of the academy, he jumped at the chance to meet other young designers who shared his passion. Only to met with bitter disappointment.
The clubroom was nothing more than a storage closet heavily marked with graffiti, cheap metal desks with deep gouges and scratches, a musty rug which had certainly seen better days, boarded up windows, rotten floors and puke green walls. The only positive thing Uryu could find in the room was the tall statuesque buxom blonde with poison green eyes and golden skin standing in the center.
'Halibel I presume?'
Hands poised on her shapely hips, green eyes glittering the blonde stepped towards Uryu. 'The one and only but what's it to a fresh-outta-the-water-fish like you?'
Not one to be intimidated or at least lead his opponent to believe that he was the type to be easily intimidated Uryu kept his voice even and calm as he pushed his glasses up higher on to the bridge of his nose and informed the young woman of his purpose for being there. 'Well for starters I'm here to put this room back into some semblance of order unless of course you have some sort of objection?'
Even if Halibel had had an objection it wouldn't have stopped Uryu. He was now a man on a mission. He would not rest until Seirei Academy had a real fashion clubroom. But if possible he would like to avoid any problems or miscommunications.
Halibel took another step forward, clearly having no qualms about getting into his personal space, easily towering over Uryu with her 5'9 frame. But then again the ebony haired boy refused to flinch. Halibel would never respect him if he cowered here.
And if they were going to bring the dump of a closet up from the ground they would need to work together.
'You've got guts fresh-fish, I've give you that,' she smiled just then and Uryu couldn't help but think the older girls' grin was very shark like. 'I like that.'
Uryu wasn't the least bit amused as he pushed up his glasses again and said, 'My name is Ishida Uryu and since we will be working together from here on out I would like for you to call me Ishida or Uryu and I in turn will call you Halibel-san.'
A thin blonde brow was raised, 'Oh you would, would you? Well in that case I'll just call you Ishida-chaaaaan.'
Uryu scowled. There was nothing child-like about him.
'Just call me Ishida and I'll call you Halibel.'
Halibel snorted, 'Or I could just go right back to calling you fresh-fish?'
'I'd rather you not!' Uryu crossed his arms dropping all pleasantries.
At last Halibel closed the last bit of space between them, instantly awarding the bespectacled youth with a whiff of her champagne scented perfume.
Even though it was not the best time do so, Uryu's mind began to spin wildly. He decided right then and there this woman (because really she was so much more of a woman than a girl) would be his muse.
Yes yes he could picture it now. On the night of his debut…he'd call it 'Desert Champagne' Now if he could just get Halibel to agree to it then-
'And I'd rather you not address me as anything but Hali-chan, if you agree well then we can move on to more exciting things.'
Uryu could not be held responsible for his next move just then since after all he was a growing boy and even though he was quite sure he only held attraction for other boys there was just something about older schoolgirls. Girls like Halibel sparked his interest and awakened his libido.
He would not let their height differences be an issue, Uryu grabbed hold of Halibel's short and feathery golden blonde locks and pulled her down fully intending to find out if she tasted half as good as she looked but rather than being met back with a warm receptive mouth he was only met with teeth!
Instant pain. Mouth tasting of metallic crimson, Uryu stumbled back a bit as Halibel shoved him off and a way from her, the look on her exotic face now looking nothing short of down right murderous!
Her tone sharper than a butcher's blade, her eyes burning holes into him like acid, 'Listen up fresh-fish you ever try something like that again I'll bite your tongue clean off!'
Uryu shivered with a mixture of fear and delight on the inside but on the out side he kept his tone sincere and apologetic. 'My mistake.'
'Hmm mistake you say? Nice try but you don't have me fooled for a minute.' Her green eyes flashed and she continued, 'The small ones are always the biggest perverts.'
Uryu opened his mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again. 'Okay you got me,' he swept his fingers through his silky dark bangs, 'I'm a bit of a pervert but its your own fault in a way for dressing so provocatively.'
The shark grin returned, 'Provocative you say? Tell me how is wearing a turtle neck, a sweater vest, a skirt and a simple pair of clogs provocative?'
Uryu rather not answer the question. But he knew Halibel would not let it drop so he had no other option but to answer, 'It's in your eyes, your stance, your voice…' He paused letting the words sink in before finishing with, 'Even if you were dressed in overalls and a flannel tee right now nothing could conceal your well…you know?'
Yes Uryu admitted he was a bit of a pervert but there were still certain things one should not say while in the presence of a lady.
'You mean my tits? You can go ahead and say the word, their nothing special just extra globes of flesh.'
Uryu cleared his throat ignoring as his face flushed as the young woman squeezed herself through her clothes
'Yes well I think it would be best if we forget that any of this just happened and get to the real reason we're both here.'
'As you wish, come step into my office.' She turned over an empty paint bucket and sat on it gesturing for him to do the same. 'Let's chat.'
()()
It took about a month in order to get Principal Bach to agree to let them move the club to an actual room rather than a closet. Took an additional two weeks for the school to agree to properly funding their club but during this time Uryu and Halibel grew close-he would even go so far as to call the older girl a best-friend. No sister-yes more like an older sister he could confide in and depend on.
There weren't that many students interested in joining the fashion club, only 2 snobbish girls with too much time on their hands but it was fine.
Uryu preferred to work in small groups or by him self anyway.
It was his big dream to start his own fashion line even though Halibel had declined when he asked her to model the piece he designed with her in mind and even though his father loved to point out that he was 'too ambitious about something that would obviously never come true and that he should pour his energies into something more sensible and realistic' Uryu refused to give up.
And with his mother in his corner supporting him every step of the way he knew it was only a matter of time before he succeeded.
()
On this afternoon however Uryu's focus and attention was not on his big dream, no the sketches, the fabrics, the patterns, notes were set to the side so the ebony haired teenager could pour his energy into his second love, carving and painting miniature figurines.
It was his hobby. Something he did for fun and fun alone. Whoever said it was impossible to have a dream and a hobby at the same time was a damned idiot.
The kind of idiots Uryu did his best to steer clear of.
Uryu's hobby required the same amount of patience and precision that he used with a needle and thread or a pad and a pen. He found the act to be enjoyable and therapeutic.
()()
Guilt. It was only because Ichigo felt guilty for ripping the skirt in half that he was now making his way to yet another club. The name was 'Ishida' still dancing around in his mind. Why did it sound so familiar? Why was he growing more and more curious with each step he climbed? Hadn't Ichigo had enough excitement for one day?
()()
Ichigo knocked on the solid white wooden door feeling like a bit of an idiot as he stood outside in the empty hallway.
No answer.
He frowned and pressed his ear to the door, listening for the sound of voices or footsteps.
Complete silence.
Ichigo glanced down at his watch. It was only a few minutes after 4:30pm but it was watermelon casserole night and goat face was expecting him for dinner. Growing a bit impatient Ichigo knocked harder.
When still no sound was heard the berry teen decided to just say 'to hell with it' and turned the knob.
()()
The moment Ichigo stepped inside the room he found it was so damn hot he was almost having a great deal of difficulty breathing. What idiot turned the heat up to full blast?
Rolling up the sleeves to his mother's military jacket to about elbow length Ichigo stepped further into the room and did his best focus on anything but the heat.
Brown eyes scanned the area and Ichigo was beginning to wonder if he had made some sort of mistake or if Ilfort had just been pulling his leg.
Just like the drama hall. The fashion clubroom was nothing at all like Ichigo had been expecting. Lilac and cranberry colored paper lanterns were strung from ceilings, the walls painted soft baby blue with white washed base and floor boards, the charcoal gray granite flooring mostly covered with Celtic stylized area rugs, beautiful tapestries and curtains decorated each corner of the large room and everywhere Ichigo turned he was greeted by mannequins-no wait!
There in the far back corner an actual living breathing human being sitting behind a long cherry-wood colored oak desk.
'Could this be that Ishida?' Ichigo wondered.
()()
Uryu frowned down at his latest piece of work. Mika-chan did not turn out the way he wanted her to. Her nose was too narrow and her eyes too spread apart-she was not nearly beautiful enough to be the empress in the kingdom. At best she'd be seer from the underworld. Hmm well all was not lost he suppose since Raiji needed a mate.
Feeling a little bit better about his slight error, Uryu reached for his paintbrush and dipped it into the cinnamon red-bottle and then went about painting Mika-chan's skin-completely unaware that he had a visitor.
()()
Ichigo wasn't really sure how he should approach the fashion club president. He didn't think it would be very mature to sneak up on the guy. Last thing he wanted to do was piss the guy off especially if it turned out to be the 'Ishida' he was thinking of.
()()
FLASHBACK
Years ago…
When things were still good between Isshin and Masaki, the couple attended a lot of fancy galas and garden parties and brought Ichigo along to show him off because like all parents they were proud of their one and only son.
Ichigo was often bored at these events because there was nothing for him to do and often more than not he went looking for (well not trouble exactly but adventure and excitement)-
Normally Ichigo would have Chado as his partner in crime but the older boy was spending the summer in Mexico with his grandfather so Ichigo was left to his own devices.
It was fine at first (he snuck into a pantry and entertained himself with the pots and pans for awhile) but there was only so many times he could play space astronaut before that became boring and so Ichigo ventured into another room.
He could tell right away that the room was off limits by the sight of all the glass and expensive looking furniture. Look but don't touch. Easier said than done since Ichigo always had a fascination with all things shiny and the glass chessboard placed in the very center of the room was begging to be touched-well not really but he did it anyway.
'You're not supposed to be in here.'
Ichigo jumped at the voice, felt the tiny knight slip from his grasp but thankfully did not drop the piece. He set the knight back down on the table and then turned.
It was another boy who looked to be about his age only an inch or two shorter with ebony black hair and silver rimmed glasses.
Yes another boy who was sending which surely had to be the single fiercest glare Ichigo had ever been on the receiving end of.
Ichigo raised a brow 'Who are you?'
The boy narrowed his navy blues eyes 'Excuse me I'm the one asking the questions here, who told you that you could come in here?'
'Uh um no one' Ichigo answered truthfully.
'Then get out before you break something'
Jeez this other kid was kinda bossy.
'I wasn't doin' nothing.'
Ichigo noted that the other boys' glasses were slipping down the bridge of his nose, with a huff the kid pushed them back up
'The correct response is 'I wasn't doing anything' but there's no sense in pointing out such things to an idiot.
Now it was Ichigo's turn to glare 'I'm not an idiot you're just mean.'
A snort 'I'm not mean I'm honest and anyway its only because you insulted me first.'
At these words Ichigo scratched his head. 'Huh?' What was this kid talking about? 'No I didn't!'
'Yes you did.'
'Fine I give up, tell me how did I insult you just now.'
'You failed to introduce yourself' navy blues rolled towards the ceiling 'That's bad manners.'
Hmmm sounded like something Kaa-chan would say now that Ichigo thought about it still…
A shrug, 'What does it matter? Why should I introduce myself?'
Another eye roll, the other boy was beginning to sound impatient as he continued to lecture the berry 'Because it's the proper way to conduct a conversation with a stranger.'
Ichigo cocked his head to the side studying the other boy curiously.
'Okay well if it really will make you feel better than I guess I'm sorry and uh in answer to your question, I'm Ichigo, Kurosaki Ichigo. I was named after the guardian of the sun, my sole purpose is to protect and defend. What's your name?'
The ebony haired boy opened his mouth to respond but was cut off mid sentence 'I'm Ishi-
"Ryu-tan we're leaving.'
Navy blue eyes widened at the voice and the strange kid jumped as if startled 'Ah um I'm on my way Okaasan,'
'Huh? Wait! So this isn't your home?' Ichigo felt confused.
'Ryu-tan' shook his glossy head. 'No its not but I come here often with my mother and I know for a fact that-
'Ryutan! Come along let's not waste any more time.'
The boy cursed lowly and sent Ichigo a slightly apologetic look 'Trust me Ichigo you don't want Omaeda-san to catch you in here. Get out while you still can,' and with this cryptic type of warning he turned to leave.
'Wait!' Ichigo called after the other boy 'You didn't finish telling me your name.'
The boy only looked mildly irritated as he answered 'It's Ishida, goodbye!'
()()
FLASHBACK END
()
The temperature of the room pulled Ichigo from his brief moment in to the past. He wiped sweat from his brow. The sooner he could get this over and done with the sooner he could get away from this uncomfortable heat.
Deciding he had wasted more than enough time standing around Ichigo quickly approached the fashion club president almost positive that it was the Ishida he remembered from his child hood.
"Uh you probably don't remember me but we met years ago as kids, at a garden party."
The ebony haired teen didn't even so much as flinch or shrug at Ichigo's words. Concluding that he should just skip what ever reunion he had been half attempting and get to the point Ichigo cleared his throat
"So anyway I have a skirt here that needs to be uh fixed and a note from the drama director stat-hey! Are you even listening to me?"
"…"
Apparently not.
Rolling up his sleeves hadn't been enough. Ichigo had no choice but to remove the military jacket entirely and was honestly half tempted to remove the collared shirt he had on underneath it.
If this dragged out any longer he might just strip down to his underwear. Ichigo shook his head a moment later he really didn't want it to come to that.
So he tried to get Ishida's attention again. "Hey I know you're busy and all but so am I so if you could just take this skirt off my hands I'd greatly appreciate it!'
After what felt like an eternity Ishida acknowledged him…well sort of if waving his hands in the opposite direction and saying 'Yes, yes you can set it down over by the mannequin' could be considered acknowledgement.
Ichigo scowled at the back of the other teen's head almost instantly concluding that this was in fact the same Ishida from years past.
That same condescending slightly nasal drip tone only an octave or two lower than he remembered.
Ichigo was unimpressed. Ishida couldn't even be bothered to turn around and look at him. What the hell was this?
"You know for a guy who preached so much about manners in the past you sure seem to have lost yours some where along the way."
"Hmm."
The most annoying part is when Ishida actually did choose to comment after a moments pause he wasn't even talking to Ichigo but at whatever he was fondling between his fingers.
Annoyance still present but being pushed to the side for the moment Ichigo bent over in order to see what currently had the other teen so distracted.
A tiny figurine made from well he honestly wasn't sure what it was made from…looked like some type of stone maybe? Not that he knew much about Ishida (actually he knew next to nothing about the other guy) Ichigo couldn't mask the surprise in his voice.
"Did you carve that?"
"Hmmm you're still missing something aren't you?"
"Huh?"
"Yes wings…you need wings and perhaps a tail."
"Uh-?"
Of course it wasn't until a moment later that the berry teen realized Ishida wasn't talking about him but to the 'doll' in his hands. He was beginning to think the guy was doing it on purpose.
'Bastard.'
He'd show him. An idea quickly forming in his mind Ichigo crossed over to the other corner in the large room in 3 quick steps and decided if Ishida was gonna insist on wasting his time then he might as well make the most of the situation at hand and try on some of the clothes the mannequins were wearing.
He reached up and selected a black and red long sleeved sweater dress with a cowl neck and held it up to his slim form.
It wasn't a skirt like he originally been planning but Ulquiorra had said he should explore more options and really what better opportunity was there than now?
Ichigo quickly chucked off his boots, stockings, skirt and oxford dress shirt all in one go.
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Ichigo had only gotten his head through the top part of the dress when slight hitch of breath and a stifled moan reached his ears, making him pause and turn to find a red flush faced Ishida with glazed over eyes, glasses askew and a lily white hand down the front of his pants.
TBC
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