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Chapter 9: Gentlemen, Start Your Engines
July 18th
3:00 p.m.
Inoue's first day at the clinic seemed to be going fine. She arrived a little before one o'clock just like she said. I tried to greet her first but Yuzu beat me to it. I said 'hi' quickly and then got out of the way so Yuzu could show Inoue into the clinic and get her situated with an apron and a name tag to look 'official'. I let them be for a couple hours while Yuzu showed her the ropes. It was an average day so far; there hadn't been too many calls, and only one walk-in from an elderly neighbor, who really was only there to chat, by the time I decided to pop in and check how Inoue was doing.
"How's your first day?"
"Kurosaki-kun!" She smiles at me. "It is great! Your neighbor, Nohara-san is the sweetest man! He told me all about his grandchildren and late wife. And Yuzu is so great with people! She calmed down Sato-san so quickly over the phone after she cut her hand while chopping up carrots! And…"
At that point I kind of stop listening, I guess. I am too amused watching her. She is so excited; it's kind of hard to believe. I guess it's not that hard to believe though, she is Inoue, after all. She seems so happy. I would never say this word out loud, but there is no other word more appropriate: she is adorable.
Ring.
"Kurosaki Clinic. How may I help you?" she chirps happily.
Pause. Her face drops.
"Oh no, please come right away! I will inform Kurosaki-sensei* and we will be waiting for you. Please come quickly!"
The tone of Inoue's voice fills me with dread. I have heard that tone before. It can't mean anything good. She looks me in the eye for a moment, then quickly squints and looks away. I can see that she is trying to hold it together as she rushes to my dad's office. I follow.
"Kurosaki-san! Kurosaki-san!" she shouts before she reaches the door. He responds quickly; I am not the only one alarmed by her tone.
"What is it, Orihime-chan?"
She is starting to lose composure.
"It's Takahashi-san. Her son, Ryuuji, has stopped breathing!" her voice trembles.
"Ichigo, please get Yuzu. Orihime-chan, please follow me," he says calmly with a smile I've seen him wear before when he is trying to disguise his own apprehension.
I run to the house to get Yuzu. From my current location, it's faster for me to go outside and to the front door of the house than go back to the interior door that connects the buildings. I call to Yuzu from the front door and then I hear a panicked voice from down the street. I turn to see Takahashi-san carrying Ryuuji. She is a heavy-set woman, and she is running as fast as she can, but it's not fast enough for her liking. I call to Yuzu once more, and she responds, and then I sprint to Takahashi-san.
"Takahashi-san, let me help you!" I say as I take Ryuuji from her and dash back toward the clinic. She chokes out a sob and keeps running. She can run much faster now that her arms are free.
I look down at Ryuuji. He is about two years old, but he is big for his age. His lips are blue and I observe that his skin is getting progressively grayer as I close the short distance to the clinic. The doors open and Dad is there already, and takes Ryuuji from me, laying him an examination table in the emergency bay.
Yuzu ushers Takahashi-san to the side away from Dad so that he can work and starts asking her questions about what happened. Apparently Ryuuji had been playing with his older brother and had gotten into his toys. She suspects he swallowed one and is choking on it. The brother didn't say anything until Ryuuji became unresponsive. She tried the Heimlich maneuver without success and called the clinic on her way here.
Dad works on him and I can see his condition worsen. There are few things I have ever seen, and fewer sounds I have ever heard, more haunting than Takahashi-san's whimpers and gasps as she tries to cling to faith that her son, whose breathing has indeed stopped and pulse is difficult to find, will be alright. I look to Inoue. She is looking toward an empty corner of the room, with a sympathetic, but reassuring expression. Dad stops working, and looks in the same direction as Inoue. I don't see what they are looking at. Then it occurs to me; they are looking at Ryuuji's spirit. I see my dad mouth, "I'm sorry" to him. Then he looks to Takahashi-san, and says it out loud.
I was wrong before. The sound Takahashi-san makes now is the worst, most devastating sound I have ever heard. She wails in absolute despair.
I can't keep the tears from coming to my eyes, although, for Ryuuji's sake, I don't let them fall.
Yuzu and Dad turn their attention away from Ryuuji's ashen body to comfort Takahashi-san.
"No." I hear quietly from across the room. I look at Inoue, who is raising her palms slightly and wearing a determined expression under her tears as she says something inaudibly. I can just barely read her lips.
"I reject."
Dad spares a glance over his shoulder. His expression is unreadable. Takahashi-san weeps for a minute more.
Ryuuji coughs.
"Ryuuji!" Takahashi-san lunges toward her son, and suddenly the atmosphere in the room switches to one of profound relief.
"Mama!" Ryuuji starts to cry, and reaches for his mother. The pair hold each other tightly and cry at his miraculous recovery. Inoue blushes and looks at her hands.
"Well, I guess Ryuuji-kun was just a little slow to respond to the dislodging maneuvers," dad tells her, clearly just making things up to explain away the impossible. "Sometimes we are able to dislodge an object only partially, and then a patient's reflexes will kick in and expel it the rest of the way on his own, even if his pulse is undetectable. Much of the human body is still a mystery!"
"Well, I don't care how it happened, just… thank you. Thank you so much, Kurosaki-sensei!" Takahashi-san cries, grabbing the sleeve of his lab coat.
"It's my pleasure, Takahashi-san. I would like to keep Ryuuji-kun for an hour or so just to observe and make sure there are no other issues. Yuzu, would you please take the Takahashis into room A and get them comfortable? Orihime-chan, please bring some tea for Takahashi-san and some ice chips for Ryuuji-kun. His throat might be sore. When you are done, please come and see me in my office."
I have heard him speak in that tone before. I have heard it directed toward me when I did something wrong. I follow Inoue to help with the tea and give her a warning.
"Inoue-"
"I know! I know, but I couldn't sit there and let him die. His soul chain was still mostly attached, it had only started to crack, I just… I just couldn't bear to feel Takahashi-san's pain, knowing I could reject it all."
"I don't think anyone blames you, Inoue, but my Dad sounded pretty serious. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. He is usually pretty lenient, but I don't want you to be discouraged if he says something negative."
Inoue nods and takes the tea and ice chips into room A. I wait in the hall, and after a moment she comes out and gives me a tight, closed-mouth smile and a nod, and then walks determinedly into Dad's office. Dad comes out and closes the door with her inside. "Ichigo, don't worry, I'm not going to scold her or anything. I just need to talk to her about using her Rikka at the clinic. Why don't you go take Yuzu's shopping list and go to the store for her, she's going to be busy for a while." My dad might be a weirdo, but I can sense that he's got Inoue's best interests at heart. I nod and leave.
Dinner with my family was peppered with questions about Inoue's first day and interrupted from time to time by Yuzu pondering aloud about Ryuuji Takahashi's miraculous recovery. Each time she did, Inoue and Dad would nod along giving no indication that there had been any supernatural interference. In order to keep from reacting I kept my mouth full, which was easy, because Yuzu's cooking is delicious. Plus, she went all out for Inoue's first 'family meal' with us.
After dinner Yuzu brought out a cake that she had prepared in the morning. It wasn't particularly fancy, but we all felt compelled to have a piece even though we were stuffed already. By the time Karin and I started to take the dishes away from the table, all of us were beyond satiated. Inoue joined us in time to shoo Yuzu out of the kitchen and help us finish up the cleaning.
As we finish, she says goodnight to the girls and dad as we pass through the living room, and I mention to him that I'll take her home after we go out for a bit. I'm glad he doesn't ask any questions. I'm doubly glad Inoue doesn't ask any questions. I have no plan and I am totally out of my depth. I guess we'll just walk until I figure it out. In the meantime, I'll deal with what's been worrying me all evening.
"So, what did my dad talk to you about in his office?" I ask after we're out the door.
"Oh, that," she laughs uncomfortably, and I wonder if I shouldn't have asked. "He said he had never seen my rejection ability before, and wondered how it worked. I explained it as well as I could."
"That's it?" I suspected by his tone earlier that there had to be more to it.
"No, he explained that he wasn't angry about what I did today, but that I ought to be careful about that kind of thing. Something about tampering with time and space and the unknown fabric of the universe," she says with a serious edge, bringing the tips of her index fingers together thoughtfully.
"Oh," I answer carefully, and she turns to me with an unexpectedly excited expression.
"But, he was so cool about it! He said that in the end, it was my unique power, and how I use it is ultimately up to me, but that he would prefer that if I use it I do it in such a way that the people involved don't suspect and that I don't exhaust my own reiatsu."
"Well, I can't agree with my dad being 'cool', but I'm glad you two have an understanding," I tell her, relaxing considerably. She nods and smiles. She is adorable. There I go again, with that word. What am I thinking?
What am I thinking? I'll admit, I'm not an especially thoughtful guy; I'm more of a 'man of action', if I do say so myself. Do I 'like' like her? Yes, I guess I kind of established that the day before my birthday, but I haven't really analyzed it any further. Until now, this thing with Inoue has just kind of taken me along for a ride. But, here we are, alone together, and I asked her out. I guess this is kind of like a date. Crap. I should have planned something. What should I do?
"What do you want to do, Kurosaki-kun?"
Whoa! Does she read minds, too?
"Uh, huh huh, well…" Think, Kurosaki! "Well, I thought we were both probably pretty full, we could just walk around for a while until our stomachs settle and then maybe, uh, get some coffee or something…" Oh, real smooth, dude. Way to go. I look away from her and actually roll my eyes at myself.
"That sounds perfect!" She says, and it sounds like she means it. She sure has a generous spirit. She exhales comfortably and looks forward, her shoulders relax, and she looks at peace. Her eyes catch me looking at her and she gives me that little squinty grin she always gives me when she catches me.
"Sorry," I say impulsively.
"For what?"
"Um, looking at you?" It is a question, I guess. Is it alright with her that I keep staring at her?
"Why would you need to feel sorry about that?"
"Um, I don't know,"
"I look at you." She blushes shyly as she admits it, but holds eye contact, managing to maintain a cheerful vibe.
"You do?"
"Come on, you can't say you've never caught me."
"I guess I have, but I never thought anything of it."
"Oh," she shrinks somewhat and I know I must have said something wrong.
What was it Rukia said? It is so hard to listen to her when she yaps on and on… Oh yeah, 'look at things from her perspective'. Ok, so how would I feel if she said she didn't think anything of it when I look at her?
Shit. I'm an idiot.
"I mean, I didn't think you were checking me out or anything…" Oh shit, there I go again, why can't I just think for a second before I open my mouth?
"What?" She is unable to hide her surprise. Luckily for me, she seems delighted that I might have just admitted to checking her out.
"Uh, nevermind…" I say, scratching at the heat prickling on the back of my neck as my embarrassment paints my face and upper body red.
She laughs gently. It sounds like windchimes;
soothing. I want to be nearer to her. I also want to tease her for laughing at me.
"You find my torment funny, do ya?" I ask using the same voice she's heard me use on Renji, or even Grimmjow. Then she looks at me with those huge, shocked eyes, and I know it's time to strike.
"How do you like it now, Inoue?" I growl as I lunge behind her, pick her up by the waist and start spinning in a circle.
She shrieks and then erupts into a peal of laughter. "Let me down, we'll both be sick! We just ate!"
I do as she commands after a few more turns. I am dizzier than I expected I would be, and I have to stop and regain my bearings as I laugh at her from under my bangs.
She is trying to catch her breath between waves of laughter, wiping tears from her eyes.
I can't remember the last time I had this much fun. As the dizziness passes, I straighten. I know what to do now.
"There is a Mr. Donuts about three blocks from here. Let's go get an iced coffee, yeah?"
"Mmm!" She beams at me. My chest swells. The effect her approval has on me is warmer and brighter than when she uses her Shun Shun Rikka. I start walking. I don't realize that I had taken her hand until she squeezes it in return. It is new. It is different. It is not weird. It feels right. I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face.
I do, however, realize that we have a ten minute walk ahead of us at our current leisurely pace, and seeing as this is a first date, it ought to contain some conversation. I start.
"So, how are the hollows these days?"
"Surprisingly, they have been almost non-existent since Rukia-chan and Abarai-kun came back yesterday."
"Huh, that's weird. Hey, when did you and Rukia start calling each other by first names? And what is the deal with you calling Renji 'Abarai-kun'?"
"Rukia-chan asked me to call her that when she invited me to your birthday party. Abarai-kun initially wanted me to call him 'Renji-kun', but I couldn't do that!" she laughs nervously, remembering how she felt then.
"Yeah, that would be too weird," I agree. "You are pretty formal with people, Inoue."
"Yes. I just don't feel comfortable being too forward," she says apologetically.
"I don't think it's a bad thing, Inoue. I think it's charming."
"Oh," she says. She blushes. I've embarrassed her. In a good way, I think. But I'm curious, "Why don't you want to be forward with your friends?"
"Well, honestly, it's because I have no family. Don't get me wrong, Kurosaki-kun. I love each of my friends like they are my family. Tatsuki-chan has been like a sister to me since middle school, and more recently Rangiku-san and Rukia-chan have. But I would have never addressed them by their given names without first being invited. I don't want to burden anyone with my loneliness, you see."
"I can understand that, Inoue. You are very considerate. I just wish you would depend on us more. You are not a burden. We all care for you very much and I don't like to think of you feeling lonely or isolated."
"Kurosaki-kun…" She looks up at me, apparently speechless.
"Don't worry so much, Inoue." I tuck the hand I've been holding into the crook of my elbow and give it a pat. "You can depend on me." I say it on impulse, and I mean it, but I don't dare look at her. I don't think I could handle the embarrassment.
She gives my arm a squeeze and says, "Thank you, Kurosaki-kun."
My dad might be right.
After a bit of awkward silence, Inoue speaks up.
"Do you still miss it terribly, being a shinigami?"
I'm surprised she asks that now, honestly. But then, her question hints that she knows I did, and she just wonders if it has gotten any better.
"Yes." I decide to be honest. "But, honestly, since Rukia and Renji came back and decided to hang out in gigai all the time, it's been easier, somehow. Before, after my reiatsu faded, it felt like my whole shinigami experience was part of an alternate universe, unreal and unreachable. Now it's different; it may still be just out of my reach but at least I know it's there, that whole other world. I mean, I know there is nothing I could do if we were being attacked by a hollow now, except provide moral support. But having a tangible connection to Rukia and Renji takes the sting out of it. Not to mention Chad, Ishida, and you are keeping me in the loop now."
"I'm sorry we kept you in the dark before."
"No, don't be. I was the one who pushed you and Ishida away. That was selfish on my part. I didn't consider how you two would feel at all. It was childish of me. I'm sorry."
She doesn't say anything. She gives my arm another squeeze though, so I guess she forgives me.
"So, I guess Ikkaku and Yumichika went back to Soul Society, now that Rukia and Renji are back." I say, trying to restart the conversation.
"No, it's weird. After Rukia-chan and Abarai-kun came back, I sensed their reiatsu go to your house, but then later they went back to Urahara-san's for a while. Then after an hour or so they went back to your house. Madarame-san and Ayasegawa-san are still at Urahara-san's; I can feel their reiatsu hasn't left there since Rukia-chan came back. I guess they have no reason to leave since there haven't been any hollows."
"Don't you think that's weird, though? They were only here to fill in for Rukia and Renji. Why didn't they go back Soul Society right away?"
"I don't know. Do you want to go ask Urahara-san?" she asks, concerned.
"Maybe tomorrow. I still have to buy you a coffee." She lights up. I made the right call putting off getting my answers for her sake.
"Um, Kurosaki-kun, you don't have to buy me anything…" she starts.
"What do you mean I don't? I asked you out afterall, it's my treat!"
"Well, thank you, Kurosaki-kun, but I just started working, so I will have some extra spending money…"
"Well, Inoue, I don't want to brag, but I am making a small fortune filling in with various clubs around school," I exaggeratedly inform her. "I just got 5000 yen for one bout at the Judo club's meet last week. And that was just for one bout, not the entire meet." I say with false modesty. "I think I can afford to treat you to coffee," I add with a pleading edge.
"Oh, alright, if you insist," she giggles as we arrive.
We get to the counter to order. "I'll have I black iced coffee with sweetener. What do you want, Inoue?"
"Um, I'll have café au'lait. Hot please." I raise one eyebrow at her in surprise. Although it's after dark, it's still hot outside.
We take a seat at a table near the window and a server arrives a moment later with our simple drinks. As our drinks are set down I ask, "Why the hot drink?"
"I'm a 'hot' girl, I guess." I nearly snort, and then chuckle. She was completely serious, and has no idea what she just said.
"Yes, it's safe to say the general consensus is that you are a hot girl," I tease, then look down and blush. I can't believe it. I'm flirting. Me. Ichigo Kurosaki. What happened to me? Then I look across the table at my blushing companion and take in her loveliness. Her long, dark lashes shade her eyes as she averts her eyes and takes a sip of her drink. She is wearing the same thing she wore at the clinic under her apron – just a plain green knee-length skirt and a yellow t-shirt with a flower embroidered over her heart - but she makes it look good. Although, I suspect, she could wear nearly anything and it would look hot. I should probably think of something else now, my thoughts are wandering into dangerous territory. I change the subject.
"So, what's new?" Idiot, you already know the answer to this! You've been with her all day! Fix your question! "…with Ishida?"
"Huh?" She looks at me surprised. "Well, he asked to make alterations to my school uniform for me, which is nice. It was getting kind of tight, and I can't really afford to buy any new pieces. Other than that, hmm. Oh, yes, he mentioned that his relationship with his father has been a bit smoother recently, so that is good!" she smiles.
I am kind of taken aback by her answer. I had no idea he talked to her about that kind of stuff, I mean, that's kind of serious. It makes me feel uneasy. I clench my teeth and try to shake it off.
"Yeah, that's great... Do you guys talk about that kind of thing normally?"
She nods exuberantly. "Yes, all the time. He opens up so easily when you spend time with him one-on-one. He is actually very easy to talk to. Ishida-kun is a very good listener and he is very interesting; he knows a lot about a wide variety of things."
What is this feeling? Why do I feel so angry? I can't be jealous. I can't be. It's Ishida, for god's sake. That fancy-pants Quincy. That irritating know-it-all. The one who has feelings for Inoue. The one who is 'a very good listener and is very interesting'. The one she spends 'one on one' time with. Oh fuck, I am jealous.
I am scowling before I know it and when she notices she becomes concerned. "Is there something wrong, Kurosaki-kun?"
"No. No, Inoue, everything is fine, it's just…"
"What?"
"Um, I guess I'm just surprised. He always seems so closed off," I say to distract her from my real feelings.
"Well, he is at first, Kurosaki-kun. But if it bothers you, you could try to get him to open up a little more. I know your relationship with him is a little, uh, tense. You have always competed with each other about Quincy and Shinigami stuff, but despite all that you are his closest male friend. I think if you wanted him to talk to you about that kind of thing he would be great at listening to you too!" she says, apparently pleased.
I am surprised by what she said. I wonder if it's true. Inoue is not prone to making things up about people, so she must mean it. Anyway, I am getting distracted and decide to put the thought of my relationship with Ishida on the back burner for the moment.
"I'll think about it," I finally answer.
"Good. I hope you two can work it out, I know Ishida was very lonely after…" she trails off, but I know what she means. After I cut her and Ishida off from my life like a dickhead.
"Anyway," she starts mercifully, "How are Rukia-chan and Abarai-kun at your house? I have been dying to see them outside of school and battles with hollows. Are they like a regular couple?" she asks, excited.
"Um, they are mostly the same, I don't really notice that kind of thing. Sorry," I say as her face falls, disappointed that there is nothing more juicy to share.
"Oh. Well, I'm just so happy for them. They deserve their happiness," she says, her cheer recovering.
The coffee has moved through me and I have to use the restroom. "Excuse me for a minute, I'll be right back."
She nods and smiles, taking another sip of her drink as I go.
When I come back out, she is not alone. Two guys are standing at our table and another has taken my seat across from Inoue. They appear to be speaking to her respectfully, and she laughs easily. They don't seem to be a threat to her, either. They are, however, a threat to the claim I have not yet made on Inoue. As usual, I don't think, I act.
"Ready to go, babe?" I ask from behind her, putting both of my hands over her shoulders and giving a squeeze.
"Uh, Ok," she says in a daze as I pull her chair out. As she stands, I snake an arm around her waist, resting my hand on her hip, looking at the guys with an expression that clearly communicates that they should back the hell off.
Inoue waves to the guys and says, "It was nice meeting you," in a detached voice and I turn her around and walk out of Mr. Donuts with my hand still glued to her hip possessively. I start walking toward her house wordlessly.
She doesn't make a peep. I can't look at her, I don't want to see her face if she is unhappy right now.
We make it until the end of the block, and she stops. Uh oh, here it comes. I let go of her and close my eyes and ball my fists, bracing myself.
After a tortuous pause, she speaks.
"Kurosaki-kun, um… What is this? What are we doing?"
Wait, she doesn't sound angry. She sounds almost scared. I open my eyes to get a better idea what I'm dealing with. She is just looking at me with an apprehensive expression. Waiting. Crap, I have to start talking….
"Um, Inoue, I," I start, and then I can't stop. Verbal diarrhea, I think it's called? Anyway I have no control at all as I continue. "I just can't take it. I can't take seeing those guys chat you up, or hearing you talk about how close you and Ishida are, and knowing that nearly every guy who passes you by wants you for his own, and I am RIGHT. HERE. I mean, am I invisible? Do they not see me? Do you not see me?" I am going off the rails now, I know. I'm not making sense anymore. All my insecurities are just jumping into a barrel together to ride down the waterfall of verbal stew spewing from me. She is looking hurt. I gotta get it together.
"Inoue. I'm sorry, I'm letting my emotions take control of me. Give me a second".
She does. After I count to ten in my head, I look back at her. "Inoue, I like you."
I didn't say it out loud.
I can't. I can't even breathe.
I do the only thing I can do.
I grab her into a tight hug, holding her head to my chest. My heart is pounding. I wonder if she can hear it. I hope so.
I breathe in the scent of her hair. It smells like almond shampoo again. It is a soothing smell. I exhale shakily, and slowly the tension in my body releases.
Her hand starts creeping up my chest and I release her head. She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. Without thinking, I wipe them away and bring my forehead to rest on hers, still holding her body close to mine.
"Will you be my girlfriend, Inoue?" I whisper.
"Yes." She whispers back, and wraps her arms around my neck to hug me back.
That actually happened. I can't help it. I grin like a fool. I want to pump my fist in the air, but I don't. I give her a squeeze, and then let her go, except for her hand, which I take now with confidence.
Her blush is nothing compared to mine as we start walking toward her house.
When we arrive, I walk her to her door and she opens it without unlocking it.
"Inoue," I say with a disapproving voice. "You can't leave your door unlocked! What if you have a stalker or something waiting in here for you?!"
"What? That would never happen. Come on in and check for yourself."
I do. I march straight to the bathroom and check behind the doors, look in her bedroom, round the kitchen, and behind the living room curtains, before I declare the place safe for her to enter.
"So, Kurosaki-kun," she says in a shy voice, "are you really jealous of Ishida-kun?" she asks with a humorous lilt.
"Well, kinda… hey, it's not funny!" She is giggling at me.
"Yes it is funny. I kinda think he likes you." She giggles some more, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Oh you poor, deluded woman." I shake my head. "Ishida is definitely not gay."
"Are you sure?" she asks with a pout.
"It's the truth." She looks disappointed. "Poor Ishida," I say to myself.
"What?"
"Uh, nevermind. Hey, do you still want to go to Urahara's together tomorrow?"
"Sure, I guess I can go."
I take her hand and give it a little tug. "What, do you have to check with your boyfriend first?" I tease her for her somewhat strange choice of words. She bites her lower lip and looks up at me from under her eyelashes, blushing. She looks good enough to eat. I have to get out of here or I might. I laugh awkwardly.
"Well, I was thinking we could go over in the late morning, like 11:00. How does that sound?" I ask, backing up toward the door slowly.
"That sounds great," she answers, smiling. She lets me go and I make a beeline to the door. Once I'm outside I turn around.
"Goodnight, Inoue. I'll talk to Renji and Rukia tonight and then text you to let you know for sure."
"Ok, Goodnight, Kurosaki-kun."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight"
"Um, ok, see ya."
"Mmhmm. Get home safely,"
Why won't my feet move?
"Inoue, why won't my feet move?"
She shrugs and smiles. She is looking at me like I can do no wrong. This is a good, good feeling. I don't want to end it. I have to, though. I can't get drawn back inside or I won't leave. I make an executive decision. I lean in and kiss her cheek. She gasps. Like I said before, she is adorable.
I straighten up and turn around and start walking down the open hallway toward the stairs. "Goodnight, Inoue!" I call and wave without looking at her, right as I start to go down the stairs.
"Goodnight, Kurosaki-kun!" I hear her squeak in response as I walk out of her sight.
Then I hear a quiet, giddy squeal.
I allow myself that fist pump now.
*If you didn't know, the honorific 'sensei' applies to doctors as well as teachers.
A/N: Well, that didn't go as planned. How did you like it from Ichigo's perspective this chapter? I started it just to see how it would go and then the chapter sort of wrote itself, and despite my best intentions, the chapter decided we wouldn't get to the Soul Society mystery this week. Next time. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think in the reviews!