Ding Dong
Rustling sounds of highschoolers moving around resoting throughout the rooms into the hallway. The class has ended to welcome winter holiday. Unlike years before, this year they got almost a month off because how harsh the blizzard is. Everyone except a few people, the lunatics, stay behind. The orange haired teen sit on his favorite spot by the window waiting for his friends to come and annoy him.
"ICHIGO!" a blur shot from his right periperal view, a mop of brown hair on top of the moving thing. Ichigo punches the hell out of the blur and sends it back to where it came from. Seriously, this particular person never learn how to not annoy him. A row of protest can be heard from the lump on the school hallways yet no one pay attention to it. Next thing he knows is a busty woman sit on his table and another more slender figure sit on the table behind him. Locking him uncomfortably between the raven's legs.
"My, my, Ichigo-kun. Don't you think you're being too hard on Keigo-san?" the big boobed chick comment half heartedly. There are arms folding on top of his head, using it as substitute for table.
"Rangiku-san is right, Ichigo. Poor Keigo-san, are you alright?" to those who never seen the real personality of one Kuchiki Rukia would have think the girl is so sweet worrying about others. Ichigo know that there is fake sweetness to it. Rukia is everything but sweet.
"This isn't fair! How come Ichigo always get surrounded by pretty girls when he's such a jerk! I want girls on my own too!" sobs the still floor grounded guy.
If he only knows that he is not into girls.
"Shut up! I can't believe it's last day of school and all you're thinking is girls. What a pervert!" a short haired busty girl shouted from in front of the class, tugging another sand haired chick by the hand.
"Who you called pervert, huh?!"
"Tatsuki-chan, let's just head out, hm? The bakery's queue will be too long if we wait any longer." said Orihime. The tomboy girl held back her annoyance to Keigo and continue-ing tugging his girlfriend out of the class, shouting for the last time, "Go get your own girlfriend and stop being jealous to Ichigo's girls! Search someone who's in your level!"
"How mean..." sobs Keigo as he turns around to his other womanizer friend. Seeking advice how to get girls before christmass. Ichigo sweatdrop at what just happened. His girls they said. That might be true since they are his girl friends and they always came to him while doing this. While he doesn't like it, he never objects it too because they are girls and he feels rude if he rejects their affection in front of everyone.
"I wonder where taicho is... He should be done by now."
"Done with what?"
"School of course! He was writing notes from last class when I came here."
"Toshiro study?" Ichigo thought that the undercover shinigamis are only here for the Aizen problems and pretending to be highschoolers because who knows why. He never think that they actually give a damn about school stuffs.
"Only him! He's a true nerd. He said he enjoys the lessons and it will be a waste of opportunity to not learn more about humans. I don't get him sometimes..."
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Great. Another reason for him to be more in love than he already is with this man. Handsome, smart, kind, strong, passionate and deep voice? Gods help him. He was too stunned that he lost in his dreamy state that he does not realized the rest of the gang is with them, chatting about something. It is kind of normal for him to shut them off while staring outside until one of them, mostly Rukia, Renji and Rangiku dragged him somewhere. So he let his mind wonders off a bit to a certain someone.
"Ichi--"
"--chigo!"
"--igo!"
"ICHIGO!" a painful spot behind his head has him nearly in tears.
"What the fuck! That HURTS" he cried.
"Serve you right strawberry! We've been calling you nonstop, y'know?" Rukia yelled at him, two inch history book on her hand. No wonder it hurts a lot.
"He's too busy dreaming someone Rukia, he forgot where he is!" a mischiveous glint in the red head's eyes. Feeling all blood rushing to his head, his cheeks in particular, he fumes. He is going to kill that pineapple head! Friendship be damned.
"Eh, don't tell me! Ichigo! Do you have a crush?" that got everyone's attention to him and one nosy woman in front of him.
"Ichigo! Oh, my! Who is it?" Rangiku's body couldn't be closer than it already is.
"Kurosaki-kun has a crush? Eh... That is uncalled for! Would you tell us Kurosaki-kun?" plead the one flamboyant man in their group.
"Never thought you're the type to has a crush Ichigo. With how you act everyday." mentioned Ikakku nonchalantly.
"What's that supposed to mean?! And NO! I wouldn't tell you!"
Eh...
"HAHA! He fell into our trap! Good job Yumichika!" Renji high fived the bob haired man.
"Why, Of course!"
"Ichigo! Tell us who is it!" Ichigo can feel that its hard to breath. One because he is panicking. Two because Rukia's death grip.
"I-I said... I d-don't have a-a-a c-crush...Breath--help!" wheezing as the grip become tighter.
"Is it someone we know? Answer the question Ichigo or I won't let go~"
"Yeah! Yeah!" sliding down the chair, Ichigo gulps huge amount of air. Why is he friends with them again? He needs to start searching for a new one.
"Hmm... I wonder who it is... Orihime-chan must be out of the list together with Tatsuki-chan"
"You're right Rangiku-san. What about Sado-kun and Ishida-kun? Both of them are strong, like Kurosaki-kun."
"Ayasegawa-san! They're males! And Ichigo hates Ishida's gut!"
"Strawberry here never said anything about his preference, right? So a guy is a possibilty, Rukia. What's wrong with Ichigo liking boys?"
While the rest are too immersed in their discussion of his love interest, Ichigo slips away from them. Stalthily walking to the door and off to the hallway. He was scared when Rukia's offended tone about males as his preference went through him. That is one of the reason he does not want anyone to know about his crush. He is sure that most of them thought Ichigo as someone who is strong, kind, closed off and very manly.
He is all of that. However, there are more to that in him, long he buried since he lost his mother. The hallways are deserted. All students except them are already out of the school to their home or to hang out together. Ichigo like this better than the nornally busy and loud hallway. He feel somewhat calm and at peace.
He is on the first floor, stopping as he sees the library. Might as well check it, maybe he can borrow some novels or encyclopedia to fill his holidays. Ichigo nods to himself as he make his way. Upon opening the door, the librarian make a sign to him that the place will close two hours earlier than usual. He checks the time. It is 2 pm. He has an hour to search the books.
Ichigo goes to the novel sections, looking for sequels of novels. Maze Runner... Mortal Instruments... He finished them already. Hmm.. Let's see... Percy Jackson... Greek Go--Oh! This one's new!
He picks up the thick novel and drops them inside a basket he took earlier. Harry Potter... I've read it twice. Twilight?... It's romance huh...
Ichigo reads the summary and feels excited about the plot. Nothing special, its just that romance with a vampire? Who wouldn't want that? He takes all the books for Twilight series and goes to the reading area as he still have about forty minutes to spare. Half an hour to read and ten to check out. Not bad.
He chokes on his breath at what he sees. There by the window, bathed in cold light of winter is the Captain of Tenth Division, reading with glasses. The rim is black and not too thin nor too thick. Rounded lenses complimented the man's wide turqoise eyes. Toshiro looks serious and deep in whatever he is reading. One hand playing with a pen, spinning it as he continues to read. What makes Ichigo hard to swallow his spit is that the person he is looking right now, is wearing a black leather biker jacket. It suits him...
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A small gasp leave him, making the person he is been staring looked up, meets him dead in the eyes. If anyone asks him whether time can stop or not, Ichigo's answer will be yes. Now, he feels exactly like that. There is a small surprise on the white haired captain's face. Probably not expecting the substitute shinigami to visit the library since the teen's appearance doesn't scream nerd, nevermind his loud and cocky personality.
"Kurosaki..." the captain was about to ask what the other's doing here but it will sound stupid, hence he decides to leave it like that.
"Toshiro..."
It seems like silence is the one who greets them whenever they meet. Not knowing what to do, Ichigo fake cough and gestures to the vacant seat in Toshiro's table. Now, there are six seats, one occupied, leaving another five. Ichigo does not want to sit beside the young captain nor anywhere near him but it won't look logical if he chose to sit like that. It will be too obvious that he has something towards the older and it would seem rude too.
Flushing down whatever embarrassment left in his body, he sits in front of Toshiro, offering a small smile and opening a small talk.
"I never know that you like books. Human fantasy novels nonetheless." that got him a sexy single eyebrow lift from his crush.
"Says the one who borrows a sequence of romance novels."
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"S-shut up! There's nothin' wrong with romance novels..." he whispers the last sentence but enough for the other to hear.
"I'm not judging you, Kurosaki. Merely saying since I didn't peg you as one who appreciate any kind of literature." toshiro absentmindly said as he turns to another page.
"What makes you said that? I've always enjoy literature, though fantasy novels and encyclopedia are my most favorite."
"Oh? It's just that with that kind of personality it's hard for me to imagine you read books."
What did he meant???
"You know there's a saying don't judge a book by its cover." Ichigo throw the snide remark without expecting for a reply. Instead, he gets a really nice chuckle from him. Toshiro is known for his coldness. Not as expressionless as Byakuya but close. The captain only ever shown irritation at best. Today is his first time witnessing him chuckling at his joke. It makes Ichigo feels warm. He feels special.
"My bad, Kurosaki." Ichigo smiles.
"Nah. No offense taken, here. So... What are you reading there?"
Toshiro once again, slowly shifts his gaze from the book to Ichigo's face and smile the tiniest smile in the world. Fuck... What's this? Feels like 40 degree or something. Isn'it winter? Or the heater broke? Wait... it should be cold if its broke. Oh my god, why does he lean forward? Abort! Abort!
Ichigo could not hide his blush this time. It is faint that only those who know him best that can see it. Toshiro has his head leaning on his right hand, book in between his elbows, the other hand folded relaxly near the book. The man is stunning. Trying to act normal, Ichigo reach the first volume of twilight and opens it. He might as well stop as his gestures are stiff as a stone.
"Game of Thrones second book."
"Huh?"
"The book." Ichigo is not a bad student. In fact, he is top five in his school since elementary. However he feels as if he is the dumbest person in his school. The red hues on his cheeks darkens after he sees the mirth in those teal eyes. Altough his composure looks normal to others, to his closest friends, it is easy to tell that Ichigo must has something happening for the ice captain.
"O-oh, yeah. That. It has a good story. I like it despite the really dramatic plot. Its enjoyable. I only read the first one though. I wanna buy it but that time, they hadn't release yet." His brain must have take a toll. Ichigo is rambling nonsense to Toshiro.
Stupid brain
"I agree."
Damn. Ichigo wants to look up but he is so scared in getting caught. He is curious to what the captain is doing now because the reply was short. Ichigo battle his heart with logic for a while but decides to give up and just go with it. He can spit another lies as to why he stares at Toshiro if needed. Yup, that sounds like a plan. Taking a deep breath, Ichigo looks up.
Fuck my life...
Toshiro is looking dead at him with poker face, his face is calculating his every move. What in the world? He only hang the conversation for five minutes. What happened?
"Toshiro?" like a spell, that look vanished in a second and replaced by a normal scowling expression. The man stands and walks pass his place to the librarian.
"It's Hitsugaya taicho Kurosaki! You gonna borrow all of that or what?"
"Y-yeah, I want to."
"Let's go. They'll close in ten." something heavy is thrown to his basket and his eyes widen in shock at what he sees.
Game Of Thrones : Book Two
At least now, no one can see how cherry red his face is.