Chapter 2
Ichigo woke up with a yawn and stretched.
(AN: Italics in between '…' are thoughts sent to each other mentally. Not out loud.)
'That's the best sleep I've had in a while.' He heard Hichigo laugh.
'That's 'cause ya were here. Yer body gets more rest when yer receded inta yer own head.'
'Hmm…maybe talking to you at night is going to turn out to be a good thing. At least for my physical health. Don't know about my mental health just yet. The Hollow only laughed some more.
'And remember what I said? No talking when I'm with someone else. I can't risk having to explain why I'm spacing out.'
'Yeah, yeah I get it. By the way, yer sis is comin' up.' As if on cue, Yuzu opened the door.
"Hey, Ichi-nii. Just checking if you were awake. Did you sleep well?" Ichigo smiled at her.
"Actually, I slept really well." She smiled back at her brother.
"That's good. I'm glad you're in a good mood. Oh, and your friends are waiting for you. Should I let them in?" Ichigo groaned…mentally of course.
"Which friends?"
"Rukia-chan and…uh…the red-headed one that was staying with us." Yuzu rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment. She was really never good with names.
"Ah, Renji?" She nodded. "You can let them in, but I'm going to be changing, so make sure both of them stay away from my room. Thanks Yuzu." She smiled.
"Of course! Glad to help, Ichi-nii!" She skipped off, humming to herself.
'Aw, yer sis is sweet, Ichi-nii.'
'Oh, shut up. Having you call me Ichi-nii would be worse then King.' Hichigo snickered.
'Ichi-King.'
'DEFIDENTLY NOT!' That sent the Hollow into a mad fit of laughter. Each and every bit of it ringing through Ichigo's head. 'Stop that! You're going to mess something up that way!'
'S-s-sorry, Ki-King! T-to….TO FUNNY!!' Ichigo completely blocked him off as another fit of laughter overtook him. He quickly dressed and made his way into the kitchen.
"Hey Ichi-nii! Your friends are watching T.V. in the other room." He smiled and patted Yuzu's head.
"I figured they would. I'm just going to get something to eat. I'll deal with them in a minute." Karin came in then.
"You better hurry. Renji seems a bit impatient, and Rukia's getting fed up with stopping him." Ichigo sighed.
"Alright, alright." He put some bread in the toaster. "I'll go right now. Damn shinigami, need their own lives. Stop messing with mine." Yuzu laughed and Karin nodded in agreement.
(AN: The family now knows about the whole deal, and Ichigo knows his Father was a Captain.)
He walked into the living room, to see Renji scowling and Rukia flipping through channels. Scratch that, they were both scowling.
"Hey! Why the hell are you here so early!?"
"Finally!" They said together, immediately turning toward Ichigo. Rukia took up from there.
"Did you figure it out? Huh?" Oh god. He re-opened the connection with Hichigo.
'Hey, you got any ideas on what to tell them?'
'I said ya should lie, but no!' Ichigo decided to ignore that.
'Wait…technically you're Zangetsu, right?'
'Yup.'
'Alright, I got it.'
"Well Ichigo? How long does it take you to answer a single question?"
"Zangetsu's angry at me for leaving him alone for so long. He's not answering, but I'm sure if there was something important or life threatening, he'd tell me. There's nothing to worry about."
'Real nice, King.'
'Hey, you can't just not be angry with me in one night. And just because I didn't call him, doesn't mean I still can't say he's not answering. And there's really nothing to worry about. Just because I don't lie, doesn't mean I can't bend the truth.'
"Alright fine, we'll believe you. But if that Hollow pops up, you have to tell us, first thing, alright?" Rukia stated, with the utmost seriousness.
"Whatever."
"She means it, Kurosaki. You'd better tell us."
"Yeah Renji, I get it. Can we go now?" Ichigo went back to the Kitchen, grabbed his breakfast, said bye to his sisters and went out the door.
They made it to school with Ichigo successfully avoiding any topic that had to do with Shirosaki, and…without said hollow bugging him? Seems like he really can listen…
Class was different.
'Hey! Hey, King! What the hell's this Math supposed ta be?! Jus' a bunch a numbers?' Ichigo groaned.
'No, it's supposed to help you with finding a job later, and dealing with finances, and stuff like that. Look, it's pretty hard to concentrate with you yelling in my ear.'
'Ya already know all this stuff anywho…so why d' ya need ta go an' listen?'
'How the hell would you know if I know this stuff or not?'
''Cause I know it, King. When I get bored, I take peeks inta yer memories. School stuff jus' happens ta be there too. I jus' happen ta skip where all this stuff is important.'
'YOU DON"T GO NOSING AROUND IN MY MEMORIES! THAT'S THE ULTIMATE INVASION OF PRIVACY!!'
'Ya just wanted an excuse not ta talk ta me.' Ichigo was silent. 'Aw, King! No fair! That hurts!'
'Stop with the pity act. It won't work.' Shinzo let out a 'hmpf!' Then fell silent as the bell rang, and Orihime automatically bounded up to him.
"Come on, Kurosaki-kun, lets hurry before everyone decides to leave us behind!" Ichigo looked around to see half of his friends not even out of their seats yet. One or two still sleeping. CoughKeigoCough. Orihime grabbed his arm, seemingly not paying attention, and rushed out of the room, dragging him along with her.
"Wait, Inoue, where are we going? The others are still back at class!" She just smiled back at him and kept running. He sighed. He has MUCH too weird friends. She led him right out the door…and to the…fitness shed?!
"Why--?"
"Kurosaki-kun, what's going on?" He looked at her. Shit, did she find out?
"I don't know what you mean Inoue. Really. Can we get the others now?" She crossed her arms and pouted.
"Do you not trust me Kurosaki-kun?" He immediately raised his arms in defense.
"Of course I do! But really, everything's fine. I don't know what you're talking about."
"You've been smiling more today, and you didn't once tell Keigo-kun to "back off". You've been acting a little weird, Kurosaki-kun. Like you're content…or something. I can't really explain it, but I want to know what makes Kurosaki-kun this happy!"
"Happy?" She looked at him with one of those 'duh!' looks that always makes you feel a bit stupid. "Why would I…" The realization hit him.
'You?'
'Aw, King. Do I really make ya happy? I feel all warm and bubbly! Hehehe. '
"You know now, Kurosaki-kun? I really want to know! OH! You must have found a lover!!"
"WHA--!? NO! God no! He's not my--!" Oh shit.
'Nice one, King.' Orihime had a huge, victory smile on her face.
"He? So there is someone! Tell me, please!? I won't tell anyone else!" Ichigo sighed.
"Alright, alright. Swear you won't tell?" She nodded, in turn causing Ichigo to sigh. "Alright, here's how it is."
He took his time explaining (to Hichigo's displeasure) the attitude of Hichigo before and during the war. And in extreme detail the amount (not exactly word for word, as some were…gruesome to say the least) of insults and threats thrown his way. Orihime even laughed at some parts, which just got Hichigo even more pissed. (He says that, but he was really just uncomfortable with all that being said. As his King could still change his mind.)
Then, he quickly went through the part when they got together. I went something like this:
"Then, he pulled me in one day, after a very long period of absence, and told me he was lonely. He said he'd leave me mostly alone if I went to talk to him once in a while, and I took pity on him. That was last night, which has lead us to here. You get all that?" Hichigo was, not-so-silently anymore, fuming.
'KING! I sound so pathetic! I wanna make a GOOD impression! You're being mean!!'
'Who ever said I couldn't be mean one in a while? Hmm?' Hichigo started to (fake) cry.
"You're so nice, Kurosaki-kun! Forgiving him like that! Aww, now you got me wanting to meet him. Is he nice?" Hichigo started yelling again. Something about telling her yes. But, he wasn't going to be that nice. (Insert Chibi Ichi Devil here. Lol.)
"He's perverted, obnoxious, loud, and an all around nuisance excuse for a Hollow, but if you get past all that, there's nice in there somewhere." He mentally smirked at Hichigo, who went back to his fake crying.
"Aw, he almost sounds like a Hollow version of Kon." She started giggling. Ichigo smiled with her.
"He does, doesn't he?"
'DON' GROUP ME IN THE SAME UNIVERSE AS THA' PLUSHIE!! PLEASE KING I'M CRYIN' HERE!! TAKE PITY ON YER SERVANT!! NEED LOVIN' HERE!!"
'Calm down! We were just joking…jeez. I don't think anything can be grouped in Kon's little category of the universe.'
'YES--!' Ichigo cut him off before he could continue shouting, going back to Orihime.
"You said you wanted to meet him?"
"Yup! I don't know if that would be possible…but I still want to!"
"I'm not going to let him have control of my body. I don't trust him that much yet. But I'm sure I'll find a way." Ichigo shifted uncomfortable on the bag of basketballs he was sitting on. "Now, can we get out of here? Everyone's probably looking for us, and it's really cramped."
"O-of course! Sorry, this is the first place I could think of to talk safely." Ichigo opened the door.
"No it's alright, but we better hurry. Rukia, especially with Renji, doesn't have the best of patience." She laughed and followed him.
They caught up with everyone as they were leaving. A lot of stares, but no questions asked, and they all got home at about the same time. Shows how long it takes to wake Keigo up. Hichigo was still complaining, but silently.
AN: Yay! I got it updated the next day! I'm proud of myself! (That's probably going to be my record...by the way.) Sure, this chapter's a little shorter...but I'll try and make Ch.3 longer, to make up for it.
I know….boring….I'm just trying for a little humor before everything. I have absolutely no plan, and I'm not going to make one. I'm just writing as it comes. Not every point in Ichi's life has to be a life or death fight. Jeez…