Hichigo leaned back against the tree near a bookstore just across the street, lifting his head to see Ichigo rush in with a look that could only be described as panic, standing with a quirked brow as he followed him, seeing a Star Bucks over to his right, seeing Ichigo talk back and forth between the casher and a man with long silver hair, his hair tied back into a braid.

"You looked exhausted, Kurosaki," the man spoke.

"I...ran from..."

"I understand, and that's fine, you need you education. Speaking of which, we have anew staff member, which should –" The man turned, eyes landing on the white haired Shirosaki, whom gulped.

Ichigo works here?! he thought, eyes widening behind the black sunglasses.

"Ah, there you are, Shirosaki," he smiled warmly, turning to face a wide eyed Ichigo, his mouth agape, snapping it shut as he returned his attention to the man, "please show him all he needs to know, Kurosaki."

"Yes," Ichigo mumbled, dropping his head, "Mr. Ukitake..."

Could things get any worse? the orange haired teen thought bitterly as he walked behind the counter, waving a hand at Hichigo, motioning him to follow. I should quit after this, he just...gets me in a mountain of trouble as it is.

Hichigo shoved his hands into his pockets, trailing after the sulking Kurosaki as he reached over, grabbing the uniform, tossing one at the albino, whom furrowed his brows.

"I didn't know ya worked here," he spoke, the orange haired teen sighing, slipping on the apron, turning and facing him, brown eyes narrowed.

"Look, don't get me in trouble, 'cause I don't wanna borrow money from my dad, who has two jobs, just to pay for the private schooling my sisters wanted. I need this job, got it?"

"Yeah, but ya didn't have to sound like such an asshole," he frowned, crossing his arms.

Ichigo shook his head, placing a hand over his face, leaning against the wall. "I dropped out of Karakura High..."

"How?" Hichigo asked, taking his glasses off with a quirked brow.

"I was thinking about my life...I dealt with my mother being killed in a car accident five years ago, but the dreams haunted me years later." he spoke with a soft tone. Closing his eyes. "I was deprived of sleep and couldn't keep up my grades, so when a teacher called on me, I was sleeping. So...you get it, I as dropped out."

Hichigo walked up to him, placing a hand on his right arm, nodding, understanding while he removed his hand, turning and walking out to the job, Ichigo staring after him as he slowly placed a hand on his right arm where the white form touched.

Maybe things are looking up, he thought with a mental smile.

"Ichigo, they need ya at table three," Hichigo called, poking his head in. "A'sides...they're starin' at me like I'm the devil itself."

The brown eyed teen chuckled in a low tone, walking over and locating his left hand on Shirosaki's shoulder. "That's because you do look like it." With that he left, Hichigo glaring after him, then grinning.

They're really looking up.

XXXX

Both classmates sat down across from each other, mug full of peppermint hot chocolate in their hands, Hichigo lifting his cup to his lips, taking a sip, shutting his eyes as he swallowed, placing the mug down with a deep exhale of air. Opening his golden eyes, seeing Ichigo point at his face, snickering as the albino quirked a brow.

"What's so funny?" he snarled, highly offended.

"You got some marshmallow on your face," Ichigo pointed out, reaching over and picking up and napkin, leaning over and wiping off the offending white fluff, Hichigo's eyes wide as he slightly blushed, "there...better."

"I coulda licked it off, ya know."

Ichigo pulled away, shrugging, taking a gulp of his own hot coco.

"Seems you two are getting along well," Ukitake smiled as he walked over, clapping his hands together, "So...how's our new coworker doing, Kurosaki?"

"Pretty well, but he like wearing his sunglasses a lot."

"Oh," Ukitake looked at Hichigo, whom was wearing his sunglasses, "let me see your eyes."

"T-that'd be a bad idea, Ukitake." Hichigo stuttered, hating how much he changed after that incident in that freak-of-a-teacher's lab, being Uryu's partner was the worst idea the albino ever had. "I-it helps me with my uh..." His eyes went to Ichigo, who nodded.

"He's got an illness, you see...and he can't look directly into the light. Any type, he needs to wear sunglasses twenty-four seven...at least until night falls." Ichigo finished, Ukitake giving both a skeptical look for a while until he shrugged.

"All right, but I want to see your eyes one of these days, Shirosaki,"

The albino slowly nodded, a depressed look appearing on his face once the manager left, looking at the orange haired teen, who frowned as well.

"You can't avoid it forever," he spoke, trying to sound positive, yet the look on the other student made his positive attitude falter. "Okay, how about this...until you show him your eyes...I'll...uh,"

"I need help with my grades," Hichigo mumbled, looking down on the tiled floor, Ichigo blinking, staring at him. "I'll be kicked out if I don't get them up."

"Okay, then...until you gather the courage to show him your eyes, I'll help you get your grades up, how about that?"

The depressed look faded into nothingness, Hichigo looking up with a nod, grinning. "And I'll help you out by," His gaze fell to his coco, white steam slowly rising, "I'm not sure...I'll figure something out."

"I'm sure you will," Ichigo laughed lightly.

"All right you two," Ganju called with a slight frown, "we're closing soon, hurry it up with those drinks."

"Ah, we're done anyway, stingy!" Ichigo shouted, standing and grabbing Hichigo's finished mug once he guzzled down the drink, walking over to Ganju and placing the mugs down as he turned and started cleaning them. "Hey Ganju...go easy on Hichigo, he's got a lot on his plate, 'kay?"

"Tch, fine, but I'll be extra hard on you then," he smirked, glancing over his shoulder, seeing that the two boys were already opening the door and walking out while the dark haired man sighed, shaking his head. "Those two are going to get into a fight one of these days...and one might die..." He quickly knocked on wood, going back to drying the cups.

Ichigo readjusted the back pack with a sigh, looking over at the punk beside him.

"So, what do you need help in most? We'll start with that first, then go down the list from there,"

"Well...the one I need most help in is...well...poetry class..." he slowly said, looking away with a blush from embarrassment as Ichigo nodded.