Dark blue eyes widen in shock. Did he just...he couldn't have... WHAT THE--
Rukia jumped back from the kiss, bright pink and embarassed. "Ichigo! You--You-- WHAT THE HELL?!"
Ichigo turned bright red himself (This wasn't what I expected) and gaped at the woman in front of him.
Rukia was practically hysterial. Ichigo, worried, tried to calm her down. "Ru--"
SLAM!
A little brown pillow, one that decorated the sofa they sat on, hit its target perfectly-- Only the target just happened to be Ichigo's face.
"ARGH! What was that for?!" Ichigo cried angrily, grabbing the pillow and preparing to throw it back.
"For you trying to come onto me, you idiot!" Rukia shot back, arming herself with another pillow. "You can't be doing that, moron! First Ishida then you--"
Suddenly, the air went serious and tense. Rukia's eyes went wide. Ichigo's jaw slackened and he dropped the pillow. His dark brown eyes suddenly held uncertanity-- Soemthing Rukia rarely saw. "What do you mean, 'first Ishida'?"
"I-I meant you liked someone you can't have--" Rukia stammered.
Ichigo grabbed her wrist. "You're lying, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not!" Rukia protested, looking away, not meeting his eyes. "You're crazy, Ichigo--!"
Ichigo took Rukia's face in his hands, so she couldn't avoid his eyes. "Tell me the truth."
"Truth?" Rukia asked meekly, knowing the secret was out now, whether she liked it or not.
Ichigo stared into her face for a long moment before announcing quietly, "Ishida kissed her, didn't he?"
"Kissed who?" Her voice was higher than normal, a sure sign she was trying to hide something. "Ta..Tatsuki?"
His eyes were dead serious. "Orihime." He answered softly. "He kissed Orihime, didn't he?"
"He's your friend, why would he--" Rukia tried to interject, but was cut off yet again.
"He loved her. I should have known." Ichigo said quietly, his hands retreating. He sat back and stared blankly at the TV.
Extremely worried, as she had never seen Ichigo this way, Rukia tried to comfort him. "Look, Ichigo, it's not what it sounds like..."
Ichigo suddenly got up, and walked out of the room. Rukia scrambled quickly after him, asking, "Where are you going?"
"Ishida's." He replied, monotone.
"Why?" She cried, exasperated. "I'll do it! I'll talk to him instead!"
"No, I'll do it." He said softly, he grabbed his dark gray sweater from the chair table and walked on to the front door, slipping into his shoes deftly.
"Ichigo! Come on, don't do this!" Rukia pleaded, grabbing his arm.
He looked at her, his eyes saying clearly that the news had had a terrible effect on him.
Finding herself suddenly angry, Rukia exploded. "Don't act all innocent Ichigo!" She snapped. "You just tried to kiss me a minute ago, now you're all heartbroken over Ishida kissing Inoue? Don't even try to act like you're the victim here! You knew full well that I knew and you knew you and Inoue are engaged and yet you still try to kiss me!"
(If you can't plead with them, insult them. Anything to get them to listen to you.)
But all Ichigo did was turn away and walk right out that door, leaving Rukia feeling guilty and helpless.
RI-ING! RI-ING!
Lazily rising from his favorite chair, where he was reading a book, Ishida went to answer his door. He had assumed it was just the daily mail, or perhaps the neighbor's daughter trying to sell candy. He opened the door, and you can't imagine the shock that went through him at seeing who was at his door: A panting, disorderly looking Ichigo, covered in snow.
"Kurosaki?" Ishida said in a surprised tone. "What brings you here?"
Ichigo looked up, straight into Ishida's eyes. Hatred and hurt was evident in those amber irises now staring the Quincy down.
"You." Ichigo said simply, his orange hair falling into his eyes.
Nervous, Ishida opened the door a bit more. "Uh, Kurosaki, you oka--" Ishida didn't get to finish his sentence, 'cause of all the things that the reckless Substitute Shinigami could have done, he chose to punch Ishida right in the face.
Ishida reeled back, holding his throbbing cheek. "You kissed her, didn't you?" Ichigo accused. "You kissed Orihime!"
Narrowing his eyes, Ishida stood up straight and replied coldly, "I just gave her the care she obviously wasn't getting from you."
"ARGH!" Ichigo yelled, throwing another punch. However, Ishida was prepared for it and side-stepped it. Ichigo, throw off balance, was hit in the back viciously. An eye for an eye it is, Ichigo decided furiously. Stumbling slightly forward, Ichigo pretend to lean against the wall in pain. Ishida took the bait and swung from behind, but Ichigo ducked and tackled him into the wall beside them. The air being knocked from his lungs, Ishida thrust his elbow downward into Ichigo's shoulder, making Ichigo loosen his grip.
Ishida then tried to escape to the safety of the kitchen but just when he reached it, he felt a sudden breeze.... Dodging just in time, Ishida looked up to see Zangestu slicing the air where he had just been. Ichigo slashed again at Ishida but Ishida rolled to the other side of the "island" in his kitchen. When Ishida was in sight again, he was lying on his back, electric blue arrows stared back at Ichigo, ready to fire at the slightest twitch.
Both men breathed heavily, each one had their weapon of choice pointed at their friend's chest.
The door slammed open just as Ichigo prepared the slice Ishida's left arm. Orihime, her caramel hair in disarray and grey eyes clouded with fear and worry, burst onto the scene.
She stared at the two men she loved and took a step backward, Rukia and Renji rushing in right behind her. The thoughs flew through her mind like frightened, caged birds; Are they fighting over me? Did I cause this? Am I really that important...?
"Holy shit." Renji said, his eyes wide in amazement.
Rukia gasped at the two friends. "No way." She whispered.
At those words, Orihime collapsed to her knees and cried.