The sound of rain continues to hammer against his window even as the coils of oblivion slip away.

Ichigo grabs hold of the pillow that isn't laying beneath his head and shoves it over his face, resisting the urge to scream into it. If only he could let the Hollow take control over his body and get it to smother him. He'd barely slept a wink last night, instead tossing and turning with his head feeling as if it'd been stuffed with bricks.

And once he'd actually managed to fall asleep, he was greeted by a weeping grey sky, reflecting his hesitancy and confusion back at him as if it were an abyss. Why does it insist on haunting him in both the dream world and reality?

As his eyes become too heavy to stay open and start to shutter, his door slams open, a figure bounding in uninvited.

"Ichigooo!"

He doesn't bother moving when the figure lunges at his prone body with a flying kick, instead pressing the pillow closer until it became more difficult to breathe.

The anticipated attack doesn't come.

"Ichigo?" The confused voice is shadowed with a hand snatching the pillow from him and Isshin's face peers down at him with wide eyes.

"Get out of my room, old man." Trying to ignore his dad, he turns his back to him by rolling over.

"B-but you didn't try and kick me back. Don't you love me anymore?" A finger starts to insistently poke into his back. "You're being weird. You're always out of bed at this time. Are you sick? Daddy will make you some chicken soup and feed it to you!"

Knowing that he won't be left alone now, he sits up with a growl, smacking the hand aside. The hand refuses to make a retreat and grabs his chin, turning his face this way and that, dark eyes scanning his countenance with determination. After some awkward seconds of Ichigo contemplating punching Isshin in the throat, the ex-Shinigami gasps, reeling backwards.

"Could it be?! My son is lovesick."

The teen blanches.

"The hell are you on about old man?!

"Eeeeh, could it be? Cute Hime-chan?" Flapping his hands, the older man starts to prance around the room.

"What are you saying? Stay away from Inoue, you creep!"

"Ichigo, what are you implying? You of all people should know my heart belongs to Masaki and Masaki only, ahh my love, our son has finally found someone~" With a wail, Isshin flies out of the room, no doubt to cling tearfully to his mum's portrait.

Rolling his eyes, his thoughts start to race at the man's departure.

Lovesick…I…don't even know what you're saying, old man.

Later, when Ichigo comes downstairs, he heads straight for the exit.

"I'm going out now."

OoO

He'd spent most of his morning wandering around the park, kicking up wet leaves with his hair flattened by the rain, feeding some ducks with chips, but his feet eventually take him to the cause of his downtrodden disposition.

Ichigo can hear Keigo talking loudly as he stands outside Urahara's shop, questioning if he should go inside or not. Urahara himself wasn't there, instead running on some business with Tessai doing god knows what. Ururu and Jinta were no where to be seen. Looks like the responsibility of the shop had been left in hands of two students.

"Yo…yo Four-eyes? Oi…oi. Are you listening? The lack of attention you're giving me today is killing me."

"What is it, Asano?" Comes Ishida's reluctant acknowledgment.

"It must hurt."

"What must hurt?"

"I mean, I could help you take it out. It's no problem, though I might have some difficulty."

"What must hurt?

"That stick up your ass."

A moment of silence commences.

"…I'm afraid you'll have to oil up your fingers first, Asano. It's more than likely that an entire bottle of lube will be used up."

Keigo is sniggering into his folded arms when Ichigo storms inside.

"Yo, Ichigo!" He calls out cheerfully at the sight of him, straightening up from his slouched position on the counter. The Shinigami's attention immediately falls upon the crouched Quincy re-stocking the shelfs, fuming at how the smile slips of those lips as their eyes connect.

The words are spat out before he can stop himself.

"Should you really be flirting with other guys when you have a boyfriend?"

Ishida's mouth falls open in shock, abandoning his task as Kenji starts to laugh awkwardly.

"C'mon man, we were just joking around-" he tracks off when he notices the other two boys are too focused on each other to pay him any mind.

"Boyfriend? What nonsense are you blabbering about, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo's face reddens with frustration as he swipes his wet hair back from his forehead.

"Don't lie about it, Ishida. I saw his name on your phone and saw the two of you at that dumb sewing store you like so much. Hell, you were even holding hands with him the other day at school." Ichigo's voice had risen intensely as he spoke, expelling the words out as if a weight was being lifted from him. "Why keep him from us? You blew us off just to be with him?"

"Kenji?"

"Yes!"

"You're talking about Kenji!?

"I just said so Ishida!"

"Kurosaki, you idiot. He isn't my boyfriend."

"You-what…"

Lips pressed together, Ishida's anger soon surpasses his own.

"Not that it's any of your business who I hang out with," The Quincy says, stressing his words painstakingly "but Kenji-san was too embarrassed to join the sewing club, so I offered to help him outside of class. He wanted to make something for his mother's birthday which is why we were at the sewing store. Satisfied?"

Ichigo isn't satisfied.

"He was holding your hand."

"Because I forgot to wear my gloves!"

"You were letting him!"

"Because he's my friend Kurosaki!" Ishida's fists are clenched at his sides now. "What is your problem? You come in here and start accusing me of things that aren't true, then you let it slip that you've been following me around."

Cerulean eyes, like frozen chips of ice, narrow at him with distaste.

"Get out. I'm seen enough of your stupid face today."

"Ishida…" Ichigo bites his lip, unsure of what to do or say.

Ishida ignores him, turning his head away as if he couldn't stand the sight of him.

Swallowing the guilt and misplaced relief he feels, the Shinigami turns around to leave, avoiding the thoughtful looks Keigo keeps shooting his way.

OoO

The playground was empty, save for a lone figure who stood with his head tilted backwards, neck uncomfortably stained, staring at the darkening clouds above him. His fingers clutched the railing of a roundabout which helped him keep poise. His fingers were chilled, though he did not seem to take notice, the tightness at which he held onto the pole of metal had left a certain numbness which spread to the rest of his body, causing him to shiver.

The figure continued watching the murky grey shapes fuse into one another, a thought came forth to him, absentmindedly he went over it:

"It looks like it will rain again."

The voice spoke quietly behind him, coming alongside the sound of a jacket being unzipped.

The figure jumped, slightly startled by the sombreness encompassed to the usually cocky and overblown tone. Looking ahead, he wondered why the other boy was here.

"You'll get cold, Four-eyes, if you keep standing out here like this."

Footsteps sounded behind him and a sudden warmth settles around his shoulders, the smell of cherry gum and expensive cologne heavy in the air, the fluff of the hood tickles his cheeks as it lay enclosing his neck. Uryuu turns around, surprised at the gesture and faces the other.

"Asano-san" he greets.

Looking over Keigo's expression, he takes note of the creased eyebrows and downturned lips – resulting in an eerie resemblance to their Shinigami friend.

"Listen, Four-eyes, I know it's weird that I followed you and all but I just came to, well-" he cuts off, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, he seems to debate with himself but eventually sighs and shrugs. "Ichigo didn't mean to insult you, with what he said earlier. I should know, considering I say stupid shit all the time. He must be kicking himself right about now. I guess he was just worried, and frustrated and-"

Ishida cuts him off this time, his words chilled, "Just what point are you trying to make? Why did you bother coming up here?" The dark-haired boy turns back to observing the sky, annoyance building up. Hurry up and leave me alone already.

"You guys fight all the time Ishida, but earlier, that really got to you huh."

The aforesaid found himself stiffening, then burrowing down into the lent jacket. Since when did Keigo take such notice of me? He wondered.

His unwanted companion came to stand beside him, arms resting on the railing and body relaxed. Keigo turned and smiled a familiar goofy smile at him "Aha. Bet you're wondering why I'm suddenly a pro at observation, huh?" His cocky tone was soon transformed into a more hesitant and uncharacteristic one. "Actually, I'm usually observant, I know I don't seem like I am, I guess I have to constantly stay hyperactive. Because if I don't, people will wonder what's wrong with me and ask why I'm upset." He rubs the back of his head self-consciously.

Watching a mother grab her toddler as the child attempted running into the playground, Ishida listens to the boy with interest; he'd never seen this side of him before.

"In fact, it's kind of tiring sometimes, to crack jokes and act silly just because everyone now expects it from me. But honestly, I don't mind, if I'm able to put a smile on someone's face, I'm down with it."

Keigo now turned to Ishida, who flushes slightly at the dark eyes boring into his own.

"Say, Ishida, do you continue to distance yourself from Ichigo because it's expected of you? Is it what you expect from yourself? You're probably so used to being cool and collected, on your own, that you push away those who want to get closer so you act like a total tsundere, which is actually kind of cute." Keigo winks. "But hey, maybe you should give us a chance, especially Ichigo. I'm pretty sure it's hurting his feelings when you reject his offers to hang out, you know? We want to be your friends so stop pushing us away."

Ishida thought the words over in his head, turning away and biting his lip, eventually saying with feigned disinterest "Who are you and what have you done with the real Keigo Asan-"

"He's also jealous." Keigo interrupts.

"What!?"

Ishida jumps as if electrocuted, head whipping around to ogle the brunette, a strange hope rising within him. He fiercely tries squashing it down to a pulp, yet the tiny spark starts to grow into a flame.

"C'mon man, didn't you notice how possessive he was acting. Like, if he ever ran into Kenji, he'd probably knock the shit out of him unprovoked."

"I'm not sure what you mean." The Quincy tries to hide his feelings, pushing his glasses upwards.

"Eh, really? Well, that's enough advice for one day then, I'll head home now. You can give me my jacket tomorrow – I've got an umbrella anyway."

"W-wait, explain yourself!"

"You'll figure it out on your own, four eyes…I hope!" With a wink, Keigo bounds off the roundabout, waving over his shoulder with a "See you at school!"

Little droplets fall from the sky, gradually gaining speed. Uryuu sits there for a while, enfolded by the jacket, warm despite the chill in the air.

OoO

Ishida was having lunch with them today.

And ignoring him too. Ichigo tried catching his eye several times but the other boy was acting like he wasn't there at all.

All he really wanted to do right now was get Ishida to talk to him alone, so at least so he could apologize for jumping to the wrong conclusions. There were other things he wanted to discuss but he was having some trouble pinpointing what exactly he needed to say.

But first things first – the Quincy had to be cornered before he could get away.

Staring fixatedly at Ishida as he conversed with Orihime, Ichigo willed the other to react for the billionth time today. His efforts were in vain. Ishida continued on without stiffening, or flinching, or glaring, or making some scathing remark. Feeling dejected, Ichigo starts to brood, chewing his food without really tasting it. He almost doesn't hear Keigo addressing the group.

"Oi, oi you guys," Keigo waves his arms about impatiently "I was thinking, next week after the exams, that we should go camping together for a day."

"Eh? Camping…" Orihime's chopsticks are poised near her mouth mid-bite, turning to the brunette with wonder. "I've never done that before."

"I have." Tatsuki declares. "It's pretty useful, you learn how to survive in the wilderness and make do with rations."

"Woah, we're not camping in a jungle or anything. It's a place that's popular with campers, so we won't be in danger at all. C'mon guys, it'll be fun. I already asked Mizuiro and he said yes."

Tatsuki sighs disappointedly while Orihime thrusts her hand up.

"I'm going!"

Chad raises his hand too.

The martial artist shrugs.

"Guess I'm coming as well."

Ichigo had already made his mind up the second Keigo had opened his mouth. There was no way he could go, hell, he didn't even want to. Not with all this crap going on.

"I'd like to come."

Surprised, the Shinigami starts at Ishida's voice.

If Ishida was going, then there was a chance to apologise and make amends. If Ishida was going, then they couldn't really make a scene in front of their friends. There was a chance Ishida would agree to listen, with Orihime there to keep the peace.

"Ichigo?" Keigo focuses on him expectantly.

Mind racing with all the scenarios that could transpire, Ichigo changes his answer.

"Yeah, sure."

A/N:

ichigo this chapter while sporting an emo haircut: you were even holding hands with him the other day at school (you're supposed to only hold hands with me) why keep him from us (from me)? you blew us (me) off just to be with him

I swear I got second hand embarrassment from writing this chapter lmao…remember kids, never jump to conclusions.

(also – I love Keigo)