I wanted to let you know that I love your comments. 3
As always, unbetaed. :(
Nine - CRASH
A month already passed. Ichigo was staring out of the window in Kyoraku's office, not really seeing the green trees outside and not really hearing the chirping birds. «And this is all he said» Ichigo murmured.
Kyoraku-sensei was looking at him. «I see» he said, pressing a finger on his nose. «What you just said is very hard to believe, Kurosaki-kun. Are you sure it's all true?»
Ichigo nodded with energy, determined not to let the older man intimidate him. His goal was too important to lose himself in stupid euphemisms. «I'm more than sure, sensei. Kira himself told me everything just a few minutes ago when I went into his room, and I trust him. He could have never lied about something like this.»
«You're right» the teacher approved. This time, his hand moved on his temple, as if a terrible headache suddenly attacked him. «I'll discuss with Retsu-san, then we'll see what's better. Meanwhile, I beg you to keep this unpleasant story to yourself. Spilling too many details could seriously put Kira-kun in danger, and you too. If Aizen is really involved, and he really did what you just said...
He didn't finish the sentence, but Ichigo got what he implied with no difficulties, and he slowly nodded, scared. He had to admit he didn't think to that aspect of the situation, and putting it in those terms was quite upsetting. He went straight to Kyoraku after that talk with Kira, but he never pondered what kind of consequences that decision could affect Kira.
«Yeah» he mechanically replied, feeling stupid. Noticing his distress, the man approached him.
«Don't be hard on yourself, Kurosaki» he said, gentle. «You behaved like a good friend, taking care of Kira during all this time. You must be proud of what you did.»
He looked old and tired, while he spoke. The lines around his eyes seemed to deepen, and that sight, for some weird reason, saddened Ichigo. Inside of himself, actually, he felt no pride of sort.
«Yeah» he said, whispering. «Thank you, sensei.»
When he got out of the teacher's office, he found Shuuhei waiting for him in the corridor instead of Hitsugaya. «Where...» he began, feeling dead tired, but the other interrupted him.
«If you're referring to the midget, he went to see Kira» he replied. «We thought it's better not to leave him alone for too long, even if in this moment he's sleeping rather peacefully.»
Ichigo sighed. He felt grateful to Shuuhei for not asking anything about the talk with the professor, while the brunette escorted him along the corridor until his room. Kaname wasn't there, since he had class for another couple hours in the afternoon. They laid on the bed together, hugging.
At first, Ichigo thought that, at least for that time, they would do nothing but staying a little quiet, far from the rest of the world which seemed suddenly fallen to pieces. He went on believing even when Shuuhei lifted the comforter on them, trapping both under a sort of tent where daylight filtered just barely among the fabric's pattern. Encased in that warm cocoon, though, Ichigo soon found himself searching for the contact with his boyfriend's lips. He kissed him sweetly, looking for, beyond the usual bitter flavour of nicotine, Shuuhei's unique flavour, spicy and tender too. «I love you» he breathed, his heart swelling in his chest. «I love you with all my strength.»
He was thinking to what Kyoraku told him previously: exposing himself in that way, besides damaging Kira, could have caused serious troubles for him too, and for the other who were close to him. Shuuhei too, he thought, feeling a lump in his throat, and Hitsugaya also. And Renji. And Byakuya. And everyone else.
Shuuhei took his head between his hands, forcing him to meet his gaze. When he got involved in something, his scars darkened lightly, giving him a wild look. «Me too» he whispered, simply, and he kissed him again.
They made love almost immersed in silence, out of air because of the suffocating covers, but the emotion pouring from their gestures and from their gazes was so high it completely carried them away with its flow. Ichigo was so exhausted, so desperate for that love and warmth he didn't ever felt a glimpse of the fear he felt last time. Now it was just different, and it wasn't upsetting anymore. They didn't even bother getting undressed, just unbuttoning the clothes that were in the way. Shuuhei leaned on Ichigo, placing gentle kisses along his bony collarbone, moving his crotch against his own. «I love you» he kept repeating, like a mantra, «I love you, I love you.»
Ichigo took possess of his lips again, forcing him to silence. He moved along with him, meeting his pushes. When he reached his orgasm, he grabbed Shuuhei's head between his hands, staring deep into his eyes. He watched as the other boy's pupils enlarged, his mouth gaped open in need of air and his cheeks reddened. He was so beautiful, he told himself, while pleasure burnt his flesh. So beautiful. His Shuuhei.
It was him who lifted up the covers when they both found themselves gasping out of air. They were covered in sweat and their uniforms were in a pitiful state, but the content smiles on their faces spoke clearly.
They stayed together until dinner time, then, when six p.m. started to approach, Ichigo returned to his room to take a shower. He found there Hitsugaya, who was furiously highlighting some sentences in a heavy-looking book while Kira, sitting on his bed, was lazily flipping through the pages of a manga borrowed from Renji.
«Hello» the blond greeted him, with a little smile. Kira got out of the hospital just a couple days before. The doctors said his shape was acceptable enough to let him return to school, even if he still had to wear the plaster cast around his broken arm. Actually, Ichigo thought, Kira looked pretty fine, but it was still early to be sure.
«Hello» Ichigo greeted back, smiling too.
Hitsugaya didn't say anything, just staring at him a little malevolently, and Ichigo decided to ignore him. Mr White Head was reading The Karamazov Brothers, and he was highlighting the best passages with a yellow felt-pen.
«I was just telling Hitsugaya when you came in» Kira begun, putting aside the comic he was reading, «I feel a lot better.»
Ichigo quickly looked at him from head to toe. As he noticed before, he really looked in better shape. His blue eyes had a lively light he didn't recently spotted in them, and even Kira's bony cheeks seemed a little rosier. «Glad to hear that» he said, sincere. «Would you like joining us for dinner, maybe? Or if you prefer, we can bring you something like we did yesterday and keep you company while you eat.»
Kira pondered the idea, looking unsure. «I don't know» he said, vaguely upset. «I think I still don't look that great. Probably I'd better...»
«Oh, please» Hitsugaya growled, closing his huge book, «you look just fine and you're perfectly aware of it! You damn queers are all so vain!»
Ichigo smirked, and even Kira hid his laughter. In front of their reactions, Hitsugaya lost most of his boast. «I'll find you something to put on» he said, opening Kira's closet and looking inside, throwing his head inside just to hide the fact that he blushed out of embarrassment, «something that doesn't scream "gay" far from a mile. Even YOU must wear something normal, from time to time!»
This time Kira approached Hitsugaya, watching amusedly the way the younger one started to rummage among his things, occasionally letting out groans of disgust when he found something that, according to his own taste, was too pink or flashy. Ichigo observed his friend's serene expression for long time, before closing the bathroom door behind his back and getting in the shower. He washed carefully, soaping up more than once before getting out of the cabin and shaking off like a dog.
The uneasiness that dug its claws on his flesh during his talk with Kyoraku-sensei didn't lose its grip. He raised his gaze and looked at his own reflection on the glass cabin, wondering what the hell was wrong with him. Everything seemed alright, finally. Soon, Kira's attackers would be punished, and everything would be alright. Nobody would be harmed anymore, nothing bad would happen anymore. He had nothing to worry about.
Still, he got out of the bathroom feeling strangely depressed, even if the scene he found in front of him was rather comical. Kira was sitting on a chair looking worried, and Hitsugaya was fretting around his head brandishing a comb and some hair gel, trying to tame his friend's golden tuft to make his hairstyle look "less gay". Motivations aside, it was nice to see how the younger and grumpy one was taking care of Kira.
«Would you do something for my hair too, sir?» Ichigo asked, forcing himself to smile slyly.
A blue vein pulsed on Hitsugaya's forehead. «Are you stupid?»
«You know, Mr Hairdresser, I was wondering about changing my style» Ichigo went on, pretending to fix some invisible locks. «What about a Pompadour?»
«Don't fuck with me» Hitsugaya growled, «or I swear I'll...»
Kira interrupted him with a resounding laughter. «You guys» he exclaimed, throwing his arms around the both of them, «I love you. You are wonderful.»
«As you like» Hitsugaya mumbled, trying to wiggle out of that who totally looked like a terribly gay group hug, «now stop with these girly nonsense and let me finish doing your hair.»
«Thank you Ichigo» Kira added, with strangled voice, «and thank you Hitsugaya. You have no idea about how much this is important to me.»
«Okay, okay» the white-haired boy blurted out, furious, «but just stop hugging me, Kami-sama! And you, Kurosaki, put on something RIGHT NOW!»
Dinner were pretty normal. Ichigo felt weird, as if none of last month's terrible events ever occurred. As usual, Kira spent long time staring at the self-service counter, trying to choose what to eat, and Ichigo had to shove onto his tray a bowl of corn soup, an abundant plate of meat scaloppine and all the side vegetables he was able to find. «Do you perhaps want me to get out of here rolling on the floor?» Kira protested, indignant, but Ichigo, as an answer, just gave him a dessert too, a small cup of amasake, only gastronomic concession to the country they belonged to.
«Doctors said you need to eat.»
«But...»
«Shut up.»
Kira pouted, but it didn't take long to disappear. Renji and Byakuya were already waiting for them at their table, and the former was waving to catch their attention. Hitsugaya, near the counter, was fighting with one of the canteen ladies because he found a hair in his soup. Shuuhei, calm and handsome, wearing a simple gray shirt, sat next to Ichigo as if coming from nowhere.
Everything was perfect, Ichigo thought. Perfect just like old times, but now Kaname-kun wasn't with them anymore. Now the blind boy sat regularly at their third year senpais, usually next to Ichimaru Gin. That day, though, that unpleasant guy with slitted eyes wasn't there, and Kaname was sitting alone, practically ignored by the older boys sharing his table. Aizen-sensei was absent too, Ichigo noticed, spotting an empty chair at the teachers' table. Was it a good sign? He hoped so. "Hang in there, Kira" he thought, watching as his friend disgustedly sipped on his soup, "soon everything will get perfectly fine. We'll get rid of all the assholes." Under the table, Shuuhei's hand found and held his own. "Everything will be fine..."
They were about to leave, piling up their empty trays on the counter, when he realized about a thing. One of the older boys, a guy he didn't remember he had ever seen before, was looking at them. He stared back in a challenging way, but suddenly he noticed that the guy wasn't interested in him, but in Kira, who was busy chatting with Renji about the last single of a metal band that Ichigo didn't know. He felt an instant hatred for that unknown person. If he was friend with Ichimaru he couldn't be a good guy, and he surely didn't have good intentions with Kira. Sure, he thought again, a little irritated, Hitsugaya didn't really helped Kira, if he had meant to make him go unnoticed. The prodigy boy, in fact, shortened with the scissors Kira's blond hair, and now the blond lock hanging on his forehead was less voluminous, even if it still partially hid his eye like before. Furthermore, the plain blue tee that Kira was forced to wear (since Hitsugaya surely thought it looked "less gay" than the other clothing items in the closet) had the only effect to magnetize looks on his minute and perfectly shaped butt, encased in a pair of jeans as tight as a second skin. Actually, Kira looked exceptionally good that night, Ichigo thought, furious, and that dude totally agreed with him.
When the senpai stood and walked towards them, tension suddenly arose. Luckily, Shuuhei realized just in time to prevent Ichigo from confronting the other guy without even talking first. «Stop» he told him, putting a hand on his shoulder. «Let's see what happens first.»
«Kira-kun?» asked the newcomer, smiling warmly.
«Yeah?» Kira replied, turning to face him and looking a little irritated because of the interruption.
«My name's Otoribashi Roujuro» the other explained. «I heard you haven't been well lately, and I wanted to let you know it's nice to see you're in good shape again.»
Kira remained speechless, in front of those words. Even the others, who gathered around him like bodyguards, suddenly got nervous. It was a fairly weird sentence, especially because it was a total unknown who pronounced it.
«I don't remember seeing you around» Byakuya coldly stepped in, «are you a transfer student?»
«My family moved here recently» the other calmly replied.
«Erm» Kira felt the need to say, realizing about the threatening light flashing in Byakuya's eyes, «thank you for your interest, Otoribashi-senpai.»
The other blond stared at him, and Ichigo believed to see a genuine admiration, in that look. Maybe, he thought, a little relieved, there weren't just bad people, among Ichimaru's friends.
«Were you talking about last single of Nightwish, before?» Otoribashi went on, leaning back against the counter. His long, wavy blond hair brushed his shoulders, and his eyes looked straight and sincere. «I love their music.»
«Really?» Kira asked, suddenly interested. «Don't you think it's a little too emo?»
«Good music shouldn't wear labels.»
That last sentence made Kira laugh. «You're right. Do you have all their CDs?»
«The whole collection» Otoribashi replied with a smile.
«I'd like to have a look, sooner or later.»
«Sure, when you want.»
«Hey Kira» Renji interrupted, without being able to fully hide his worry, «we are heading to the dorm. I think it's better if you come along.»
«I'm coming» the blond said, before turning towards the senpai. «Then we'll see around, Otoribashi, okay?»
The other just smiled, without even replying properly. He kept his hands in his pockets, Kira noticed, as if he didn't know what to do with them. Or maybe his palms were sweaty and he didn't want him to notice. Maybe he was shy.
«Sure. See you around, Kira.»
He had called him by his family name, without honorifics. His heart suddenly accelerated, while he ran to join Renji and the others. Did it mean something? He had no idea. Then, what was the reason behind all that enthusiasm he felt because of the simple interest of an older schoolmate? Hadn't he had enough yet, after last time?
While he got ready to sleep, that night, he noticed with relief Ichigo and Shuuhei saying goodnight to each other in the corridor. At least, he thought, if Ichigo stayed and slept in his same room he would feel more secure. Not that he was scared of Otoribashi-senpai, not really. It was just... now he felt it. He barely noticed before, but that first contact after dinner filled him with... what? Embarrassment? Yeah, embarrassment, but sort of a positive one, just like when you guys that like each other begin to exchange the first pleasantries and everything is still a little weird and bizarre.
That was the problem, he thought, uneasy. It shouldn't have happened. Not after last month.
Otoribashi's words sounded clear, though. The older boy didn't know a thing of what happened to him for real. Maybe he heard somewhere that he was in a coma, probably he knew of the suicide attempt as well, but... Well, not that Kira really cared. He just had to forget about that dude. In a moment like that, he didn't really need to worry about anything similar.
His shower, that night, lasted for something like three quarter of hour. He went on thinking and thinking, while water poured on him, about the curls in Otoribashi's hair. It was something he barely noticed beforehand, during their quick talk. Why did he remember about it just now? And how come he hadn't realized before that his new senpai was singularly attractive?
«Hey Kira, is everything okay in there?»
Hearing Ichigo's voice, he quickly switched off the water. «Yes» he replied, «I'm coming. I was falling asleep.»
When he got out, he was as red as a tomato and his hair was all puffy because of the vapour. Hitsugaya glanced at him from behind his book, looking at him with evident worry. «Holy God, Kira» he blurted out, «just how much water were you planning to waste? Put that damn pajyamas on and go to sleep.»
Kira nodded, gloomy, obeying without talking. He discarded the bathrobe without even bothering about Hitsugaya's eyes, who were promptly lowered to respect his privacy, and he put on some boxers and an old tee he lately used to sleep. Ichigo, apparently, was already asleep, curled up under the covers.
«I'm turning off the light, okay?» Hitsugaya said, when Kira slipped under the covers as well. Obscurity fell over him. Kira watched as under the futon's comforter filtered a tiny light, since Hitsugaya was using a small flashlight to go on reading without bothering the other two occupants of the room. Kira waited for the light to switch off, and for the child's breath to become slow and regular, with a faint snoring.
Then he got up, carefully crossing the room on tiptoes. Once he reached Ichigo's bed, he took a deep breath before raising a corner of the covers and slipping underneath. «Kira» Ichigo murmured, sleepy, «what happened? Are you okay?»
«Yes» he lied, curling up against the warm body of the other boy and closing his eyes, feeling grateful for not having been pushed away. «Can I stay here?»
Ichigo hugged him tightly. «Sure» he replied, kind.
Kira hugged him back, snuggling between the soft mattress and the bony body of his friend. Then, breathing in his comforting scent, he finally fell asleep.
Next day, Ichigo was walking in the corridor, alone. He talked with Shuuhei a while before, and they both agreed it was absolutely necessary talking with this Otoribashi guy. Even if the senpai didn't mean any harm, Kira's emotional state was still too frail to let the approach attempt of the day before go on.
Actually, Ichigo was still convinced that Otoribashi was a good guy, but it was just an impression. Too many things could still go wrong, and surely he didn't want Kira to get involved in something bad another time.
He was so immersed in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice the dark shadow who was following him.
In his room, Shuuhei opened his eyes and he sat on the bed, absent-mindedly scratching his head. A quarter to nine a.m., he noticed, glancing at the alarm. He was late again.
Too bad, he told to himself. First class was already gone. Why renouncing to another quarter of hour of sleep? He just regretted a thing: not having kept company to Ichigo during breakfast. He wondered also if Kira spent a tranquil night after what happened the night before.
He laid under the covers again, but he wasn't sleepy anymore. Kaname's bed was untouched: the blind boy didn't sleep in their room last night too. It had become an habit, in the last few days. Just where the heck did he go? Asking was useless. Now Kaname barely talked to him.
It made him sad, more than angry. He really should have gone and look for him, later, to have a little talk.
Ichigo coughed, struggling with the person who suddenly pusher him against the wall. «Who are you?» he growled. «What the fuck do you want from me?»
His opponent panted. «You should know» he said, a smile trembling somewhere deep in his adult, manly voice, and Ichigo instantly felt scared, dead scared. He attempted a karate kick, but he somehow missed the man's crotch.
«Nice move» the other said, before tightening the death grip on his wrists and nailing him even more firmly to the hard wall. Ichigo groaned when he felt his own bones creak.
He could do anything. Aizen-sensei was tall and well-built, and he should weight as two of him... he tried to cry out, but a cloth impregnated with something acre was pressed on his mouth. He managed to emit just a faint sound, while his senses abandoned him.
Shuuhei suddenly opened his eyes, a horrible sensation gathering in his stomach. He grabbed his belly, feeling about to throw up.
Was he perhaps getting sick? He believed no. He never got sick.
Then, what was that? He had no idea, but that terrible feeling seemed not wanting to let him go at all costs.
Aizen appeared at the bottom of the corridor, Kurosaki's lifeless form in his arms. «All clear?» he asked to the boy who was on lookout.
«Clear» this one replied, after a quick hesitation.
Aizen snickered. «Isn't it a little weird of me to rely on a blind guy?»
Kaname Tosen shrugged, without taking offense on the rough reference to his handicap. «It's not my fault, if Ichimaru got expelled.»
Aizen burst out laughing. «Neither is mine, from a certain point of view» he said. «That Gin was just a dumb little whore. He was the one dragging that useless boy in and causing all the ruckus. He just couldn't keep it in his pants.»
Look who's talking, Kaname thought, but he didn't dare expressing that sentence aloud. Deep down, he agreed with Aizen.
«You are better than him» the ex-professor added, with a sly smile. «Way less boring. More... complicated, though. And I like it, you know.»
«Yeah» the boy replied, thinking to hear some steps approaching. «It's better get going, now. You can't show up freely in this school, remember?»
As an answer, Aizen grabbed him by his shirt, dragging him along the service stairs.
Shuuhei was running in the corridor, breathless. When he arrived in the classroom, every head turned towards him. He didn't really notice, though, because his attention was focused on Ichigo's empty seat, and when he realized what it meant, he started to tremble from head to toe.
«It's nice having you here, Hisagi-kun» Kyoraku mumbled, scribbling some Latin poetry on the blackboard, «and it's even nicer thinking that you tried to escape today's surprise test coming so late...»
«Kyoraku-sensei» the boy interrupted him, «have you seen Ichigo, this morning?»
The teacher's face fell at that question. «No» he replied. «He hasn't come to class too.»
It was like someone hit Shuuhei on his head with a hammer. His sight got confused, and for a moment he felt like fainting.
«I... I can't find him anywhere» he panted, finding difficult to speak. Kyoraku stayed silent for a while, and the whole classroom stopped breathing, waiting for his reaction.
«Fine, Hisagi» the professor said, in the end, grabbing his cell phone. «Guys, get all out of here and lock yourselves into your rooms. I'm calling the police.»
The pupils immediately stood when they heard those words, obeying to the teacher's orders. «Let's go, Kira» Hitsugaya commanded, seeing that the other was still sitting at his desk. «Kira?»
It took a moment, for him, to recognize that the blond was in a shock, and that a single word, repeated countless times, was escaping from his lips: «No... no... no...»
TBC
Next chapter's teaser: Loving a man like Aizen-san... is a little like taking a knife and pushing it into your flesh, sliding it a little deeper day after day.
