Chad sighed to himself, it looked like there was going to be more shouting and broken glasses. Ichigo was beyond drunk, smashing glasses every so often but she hadn't said a single word yet. That would take the rest of the bottle of tequila to get her talking about what was troubling her, it was also why he hadn't cut her off yet. She needed to get it off her chest and Ichigo wasn't going to do that willingly. That girl carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and refused to share the burden with others. Pouring her another drink, he stood there just watching her. The bar was almost empty, the last few patrons unfazed by the angry red-head.
"I fucking hate him Sado." He didn't ask who, he knew she would never say. That was the annoying thing about the twins, since coming back they didn't speak about anything and when they did it never made any sense. Chad knew he shouldn't pry but the girls were like family to him, he only wanted to help and protect them from whatever it was that scared them. Especially Ichigo who was so independent that she refused help from everyone, even when she knew doing it alone would hurt her or possibly kill her.
"Sorry but I'm going to close up early." Nobody argued with him, the three men still there just finished their drinks and left. Leaving Ichigo where she was, bottle in reach, he locked up grabbing empty glasses on his way back to the bar. Sticking his arms under hers he picked her up with relative ease.
"Up we go," he mumbled walking her to the stairs. Chad actually owned the bar that the fighters frequented, he had for the last five years since moving to the city from Karakura. The rooms upstairs were where he lived, it was just easier on him then catching the train from the apartment he had once owned on the other side of the city. Ichigo climbed the stairs using her hands to stay up right as she walked, Chads hands never leaving her waist. She'd already fallen over twice, the first time she'd almost bashed in her nose on the edge of the stair. They had almost reached the top of the stairs when Ichigo feel down, giving up and deciding it was a good enough place to sit. Chad climbed the last few steps sitting down at the top.
"I just wish I never left, if I hadn't of met him things would have been fine," she drawled, patting her pockets, pulling out a carton of smokes and a lighter. That surprised him, he'd never pictured Ichigo as a smoker but the way she lit it with ease suggested she'd been smoking for years. Blowing out perfect smoke rings she leaned back, the sharp corners of the stairs digging into her back but she didn't care. The sweet toxic voice of the man she hated was running through her mind, repeating the words he had whispered in her ear the day she met him.
"Stupid idea, but it was mine, nobody to blame but the emotionless rock," she muttered, laughing. It scared Chad how weird she got when tequila was involved but he wouldn't say a word to her, he'd seen her fight once and that was a scarier sight.
"Oh if I had just walked away, wouldn't have been addicted to fighting. The sight of your enemies crying in pain, begging to be let go is so intoxicating. If only I had never met that snake man." Her words were slurred, anger gone. The ashes from her cigarette tumbled onto the stair beneath her, Ichigo watched the paper burn brightly before taking another drag.
"He smoked, or he used to. Said it helped him think, fucking asscake. I would've screwed him if he weren't so stoic." Now Chad was lost, was she talking about the same man or somebody else altogether? He'd never know, even drunk Ichigo kept a tight hold on her many secrets.
"Stupid bitch left me for a man, me!" She shouted, thumping a heel on the stairs. "I'm her fucking mirror thingy, she's mine. But no second her gay ass husband shows up the bitch cuts all ties with me." Shakily she stood, only to sit herself in Chads lap confusing the poor man.
"That's why Sado is better than the bitch, you'd never leave me for your husband." It wasn't long before she started crying, slamming her fist into the wall and leaving behind a sizeable dent.
"Why did he have to do that? I could have done it alone and the fucking bastard would still be here. I miss him!" She wailed. Burying her head in his shoulder she cried, cautiously Chad placed a hand on her back unsure of how she'd react. She just continued to cry.
The sights and sounds of the spectators didn't excite her, nor did the prospect of a good fight get her blood pumping. All of it, the shouts and taunts, was just making her furious. Unohana stood before her the figure of grace, her polite smile still in place. That irked her, she wanted to rip it from the woman's face. Ichigo had arrived alone just going straight from Chads even though Shiro had promised to pick her up but as she glanced at the fighters seat's Ichigo saw that her twin was nowhere to be seen. Shiro deserved happiness, not her but she still couldn't let her sister go. Cracking her knuckles one by one, she glared at Hanataro not willing to wait any longer for the fight to begin. He shrunk under her gaze, eyes darting towards Kisuke seeking help. The second he nodded, albeit reluctantly, Ichigo jumped into the ring scowling at the people watching as they shouted at her to win. Kisuke watched as she paced the ring, like a tiger ready to pounce. Something was wrong with his daughter. Her edgy behaviour riled up the crowd, annoying Ichigo further.
"Shut the fuck up," she screamed, slamming a hand into the wire cage the surrounded the ring. Everyone backed away falling silent, it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
"Now now Silence, that is no way to speak to people," Unohana chided that care smile still in place. Ichigo growled stalking up to the older woman, swinging a fist into her jaw at the hinge.
"Got anything else to say to me bitch?" She asked, smashing her foot up into her sternum. While Unohana gasped in pain trying to regain her breath Ichigo grabbed her hair, ripping it out of the braid. Wrapping her hair round her wrist she dragged her up to her feet. Quickly she slammed the heel of her hand into up Unohana's nose and then let her fall to the floor before digging her foot into her spine. Kisuke watched in silence worried about what would happen to Unohana if he let the fight continue on for much longer.
"Hat 'n' clogs." He jumped at the voice, turning to face the speaker.
"Nnoitra, it's good to see you," he murmured, worry lacing his voice.
"What's up with the death berry? She looks sad." That shocked him, anyone else, even Yoruichi, would say she was angry. Only Shiro and himself could tell that she was upset.
"Surprised huh. I spend a lot of time with the berry and Grimm, after a while I noticed a few small things about her but it was Grimmjow that figured out the difference between angry and sad. When I first met her at Grimm's apartment she slammed me into the wall face first, didn't say a word. Then there was a day where she punched me out of the blue and shouted at me to shut up, Grimm said not to get mad and just let it go since she was upset. I didn't get it then but I do now." Kisuke nodded impressed by the blue berry. He didn't think the artist would understand her moods so quickly. Glancing back towards the match he noticed Ichigo was seconds from wrenching Unohana's leg from the socket.
"Stop, this match is over," he shouted rushing to the ring, grabbing Ichigo by the shirt he hauled her off to the side. Within seconds she collapsed in his grip, unable to hold back the tears. She couldn't deal with it anymore, the memories flooded her every waking moment and always ended in his death. Sinking to the floor Ichigo felt like she was about to faint. Kisuke sat down with her, hugging her tightly as she cried.