A/N:
I still don't own bleach. If I did, Ulquiorra and would still be alive..

Chapter 2
Questions

Uryuu woke to the sound of birds chirping and a beam of sunlight hitting his face. He stretched and considered going back to sleep before he remembered.
Kurosaki.. Did he stay?
He sat up in his bed, taking his glasses from the nightstand. He put them on ant looked at the clock, also stading on the night stand.
8:15.. I went to bed 3 hours ago.. It's saturday.. Did I finish.. His trail of thoughts died as he looked up. On the wall infront of him, hung two beautiful garments. A pale pink kimonostyle, kneeshort dress with a white edge and sash and an equally pale pink, knee short summer dress with straps.
Beautiful.. She'll love them.. Orihime so rarely spend any money on clothes that fit her womanly figure and she had always admired Uryuu's sowing work. So he had decided to create a little something for her, but being unable to decide what, he made both the ideas that had come to mind. And the party today would be a perfect occasion to give them to her.
I should probably get there a little early though.

He decided to take a quick shower and get dressed before checking to see if the room right across the hall from him was occupied by the former representive shinigami. He had a privat bathroom attached to his bedroom. It used to be his parents room before his mother had died.
After that, his father had gotten an apartment closer to his hospital but kept the house. A year ago, Uryuu had decided to move in.
As soon as he was dressed, pale blue, washed up jeans and white shirt, he went straight across the hall and opened the door slowly.
He was surprised to find Ichigo awake but deeply caught up in his own thoughts. He was lying on the small bed, hands behind his head, staring out the window.
"You might want to be careful looking like that.." Ichigo's head snapped to look at him, quite surprised. Uryuu was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest.
"Someone might actually believe you're thinking.." he taunted and pushed his glasses in place. Ichigo blushed lightly and sat up on the edge of the bed but didn't say anything which made the young Quincey slightly uncomfortable.
"There's a bathroom next to this this room, you should probably take a shower. I believe I have some clothes you can fit somewhere." Ichigo just nodded and got up. He looked like he had not slept any more than Uryuu. Why did he stay if he didn't sleep? Uryuu wondered and went to the kitchen. He made tea and some toast with scramble eggs. His mother used to make that.
"Oi Ishida." he turned around to find Ichigo damp and only wearing a towel around his waiste. His muscular torso and arms had scars scattered all over.
"Did you have any clothes I could borrow?" he asked. There was a weird look in his eyes.
"Hai, follow me."
In Uryuu's bedroom, he roamed around his closet a bit before throwing a white button up shirt, black jeans and a small plastic pack containing fresh, brand new boxers on the bed. He turned around to find Ichigo staring at the dresses. Uryuu blushed and pushed his glasses into place.
"Those are for Orihime. You should get dressed, I made breakfast while you showered"
Ichigo merely nodded and turned to face him.

They ate breakfast at a small table in the kitchen, in silence.
It was some of his fathers old clothes he had given Ichigo to wear.
Why is he being so nice? He looked like he was ready to rip my guts out last night and then he left after telling me I could stay over.. Why did I stay? Sure I can't stand my fathers idea with having girly nights ever so often with Karin and Yuzu but.. Why stay here? Ichigo wondered, starting to enjoy the silence.He realised that Ichida was the only one who never seemed to expect any particular act from him. There was no need for shallow smiles.
A picture of his zangpaku-to piercing the Quinceys guts flashed through his mind. His appetite dissapeared to be replaced by slight nausea.
Uryuu had been secretly studying the redhead in front of him and saw the change on his face and he stared at his food. that he was only pushing lightly with a fork. He seemed troubled, hurting. Uryuu was completely taken aback by the sudden change. What is he thinking? Why do I care?
Uryuu was rubbing the place the black zanpaku-to had broken his skin so long ago. He often did that subconciously.
"Does it hurt?" Ichigo's voice broke his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh. No. The skin just feels a little different. Orihime did well, healing me with the short time she had." It was almost true. Once in a while, he would have a nightmare so real that the pain woke him immediatly.
"Mh. She's quite amazing.. Inoue.." Ichigo concented, not knowing what els to say.
Uryuu got up and put his dishes in the sink before dissapearing down the hallway. Ichigo followed his exampel and put his dishes in the sink and washed everything off and put it away. while considering his oprions. He could leave while Uryuu was busy. He could call Sado and give some excuse not to tend the party. He did not feel like facing anyone but Orihime had made him promise he would come, even if on the brink of death.
"I have some errinds on the way and I would like to get there early.. You still insist on following me around?" Uryuu had apeared behind him, holding two white boxes tied together with a pink ribbon.
"If you don't mind" Ichigo blurted.
"Great.. I could use some help carrying anyway" Uryuu sighed, leaving Ichigo to wonder how much more than the two boxes he planned on bringing.

"Ishida-kun!" Orihime beamed as they approached a little peach coloured house. Then she saw who was walking behind him.
"k-Kurosaki-kun?" It surprised her to see the two young men apperaing to be coming together, she knew Ishida's feelings towards her former crush. And Kurosaki was usually always the last to arrive at any event, not the first.
"Hi Orihime-chan. I know we arrive much too early, but I brought you a few things." Ishida smiled at her. She had been preparing the garden, when they arrived. It looked like she was planning a barbeque.
They all went inside to a rather large livingroom decorated in the same peachy colours as the outside of the house. Ichigo had been carrying a basket full of things like peanut butter, gift vouchers for different pastery, ice cream and doughnut shops, a bottle of strawberry champagne and varuous types of candy and other goodies. He was also carrying a large boquet of pink, red and orange flowers. He put the basket on the coffee table and handed her the flowers.
"It's from Ishida.. All of it is."
"That's not true, you brought some beers for Sado" Ishida shook a plastic bag he's been carrying containing 6 bottles of Mexican Corona beer. He had handed Orihime the white boxes which she was slowly opening. Tears appeared in the corner of her eyes and her cheeks reddened.
"Oh Ishida. You made these? They're so beautiful!" she had pulled out the summer dress while the kimono lay nicely folded in the other box. She threw her arms around his neck, huging him tightly while clutching the dress in her hand.
"Domo arigato, Ishida-Kun! I'll go put one of them on!" she almist cried and ran off to with both dresses.
Sado entered the room with a couple of beers.
"Oi, Chad!" Ichigo greeted him and smiled brightly, amazing Uryuu with the sudden change of mood. Sado smiled and handed the beers out to the guys. It had been a long time since he had seen Ishida and Kurosaki act this casually when in the same room. It had worried him. Orihime had often spoken of her worried for Ishida and his solitude and the anger he seemed to possess for Kurosaki.
"Look Yasutora-chan!" Orihime beamed as she came back.
"Ishida-kun made this for me!" She was wearing the kimono dress and had put her hair up with a chopstick.

It seemed Orihime had invited everyone; Rukia and Renji of course, those two were inseperable now adays, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Matsumoto with whom her Capitain had decided to follow, Urahara, Jinto, Ururu, Ririn, Noba, Kuródo, Tsukabishi, Tatsuki, Keigo, Mizurio, even the Vaizards seemed to be here.
Despite the odd assembly, the garden was fuzzing with happy chatter and the smell of barbeque. It seemed everybody had a question and a comment for Ichigo so it surprised Uryuu a great deal when the icy Capitain Hitsygaya sought out his solitary corner away from the others.
"I don't fancy these things much either," he said and placed himself in the grass beside Uryuu where he had been sitting for a while, studying the group while drinkning another beer slowly.
"-but I know how my leiutenant gets after a drink or two.. Wanted to spare Inoue the embarrasment.."
The comment made uryuu smile. He remembered the busty woman's provocative behaviour all too well. The young men sat there in silence for a while before the Capitain spoke again.
"Oi Quincey.. How have you been holding up? I can imagin it much have be difficult dealing with Kurosaki everyday since.."
Uryuu froze and held his breath for a second. The whitehaired young Capitain was the first besides Orihime to ask a question like that. And it sounded as If he knew what had happened.
How would he know?
"Arigato Hitsugaya-taichou. Not much have changed though.. It's much the same as before I ever revealed my identity as Quincey." He replied with a faint smile. It was true. Except from the previous 24 hours. The Capitain let out a sigh and stared into the sky.
"I figures it would be something like that.. I've been told you don't even chase hollows in the same areas.. I believe I understand your reasons.." He must know.. But how? Have Orihime told someone? Ah, I quess it doesn't matter..
"Taichou-sama! Why're you hiding over here?" Matsumto Rangiku beamed while walking towards them. She was not weraing her usual uniform but gray jeans and a much too revealing button up shirt in some shade of pink.
"Ah! Hello little Quincey, I've actually been meaning to ask you something.. Are you really gay? 'cause everyone seems to think that you are."
"Matsumoto" Hitsugaya yelped.
"It's such a shame, really. I wouldn't mind"
"MATSUMOTO!" Her Capitain growled sternly as he jumped to his feet.
"I do not believe the Quincey's sexual preferences is any of yours or anyone elses business and if I hear one more word from you on this matter, this will be the last time you are premitted to join any festives outside Seritei. Understood?"
"Hai, Taichou! Gomennasi."
He ordered her away, took a deep breath and looked at Uryuu.
"She truely is a handfull, that woman.." He sighed.
"I can imagin.." Uryuu started and hesitated. The abrupt outburt had surprised him. Everyone thinks I'm gay? Why on earth would they believe that?
"The truth of the matter is I wouldn't know if I was.. I never really paid any of that kind any thought." he stated. Then he excuses himself and went inside the house to find the rest room, feeling much in need to splash some cool water in the face.
I think I've had enough to drink he decided and slid inside the small room and let the door click behind him.
"Don't let it.. Close" Uryuu froze at the voice of Kurosaki.
"Damn it" The redhead sighed and Uryuu turned to face him, not quite believing what he was seeing.
"it won't open, i've tried for the past half hour or so." He said and slump down against the wall between the sink and the toilet.