A/N:
I don't really have anything interesting to say..
'cept I kinda feel like I've been stalling the action for a bit too long o.0'

Chapter 8
Toshirou

The sky was dancing with pink and orange as Uryuu walked down the street that would lead him to his front door. He had put on a t-shirt back on, matching the blue stripe on his shorts and a brown satual was casually dangeling from his shoulder. He had been in such a rush to get away that he had forgotten his book at the beach and had called Orihime to ask her to bring it home with her. It had been Sado who had answered though.
When he made the turn to face his house, he stopped dead in track, eyes focused on the figure sitting on his doorstep.
"What particular reason has brought you back here so soon? More specifically, to my doorsted.. Hitsugaya-Taichou?" he asked and walked up to the door, unlocked it.
"I hope it's not too much of a bother. But I need a place to stay for a few days and your company seemed to be the wisest to seek out in my current state of mind.."
"Come inside, I'll make tea.."

Once inside, Uryuu noticed how worn and pale the Captain looked. His white hair was messy and dirty, his clothes torn and dark shadows circled the tired eyes.
He made a pot of tea and a plate of cookies before leading his guest to the livingroom.
"What happened, if you don't mind me prying?" He asked and poured tro cups.
The whitehaired sighed and leaned back into the couch, closing his eyes for a bit before reopening them and focusing on Uryuu.
"I told Hinamori how I felt about her.." His eyes dropped to the floor.
"Oh.." I assume she didn't feel the same. There would be no reason for him to come here if she did. Besides, he looks awful, like he haven't slept in days..
They had their tea in silence and the Captain took small chips of a cookie before Uryuu readied a hot bath in the big bathroom Kurosaki had showered in a while ago. Uryuu rarely used this himself, he had his own, tiny one next to his bedroom.
He had decided not to ask too many questions tonight, the shinigami was obviously exacusted and in need of a good nights rest.
"Go get cleaned up while I prepare the questroom" he ordered and handed a towel and some clothes to the obviously absent minded shinigami Captain. After leading him to the bathroom, Uryuu went changed the sheets in the guestroom.
The scent on the old ones made him consider burning them. They smell like Kurosaki..
It wasn't a bad smell at all, he just could not stand anything reminding him of the other man.
When he was done, he knocked the door of the bathroom and asked for premission to enter. As soon as granted, he went inside and dropped the dirty sheets in the hamper and took a quick peek at the drowsy shinigami soaking between bubbles and soap in his bathtub. He looked alot more relaxed already.
"I'm going to bed but you just take all the time you need here. Your room is the one right next to this.. I do hope you get a good nights sleep.. Good night."
"Ah.. Arigato.." Hitsugaya replied absendly, making Uryuu wonder if it was actually safe leaving the worn out man alone in a bathtub. He shook it off and went to bed.

Strong hands had a firm grip on his hips while a hot mouth trailed scorching kisses down his neck.
"Uuurgh!" Uryuu's eyes shot open and he sat up straight in his bed. This can't keep happening..
Rays of pink sunlight snuck through his curtains, the sun was slowly rising. He strode out to his shower and turned the cold tab, determind to rid himself of the hot tension the dream had envogued.
When dressed, he went to the kitched to make tea, thinking it too early to make breakfast since his quest probably would sleep a while longer. But he found the Captain already seated at the small table with a steaming cup in front of him.
"You're up early, Hitsugaya-san" he greeted and took a cup from the cabin.
"Toshirou.." the whitehaired corrected softly. Uryuu merely nodded in acknowledgement and sat down.
While the sun rose, Toshiro explained how he had confessed his feelings towards his life long friend Hinamori only to learn she had bonded with Izuru Kira over the loss of their beloved Captains and they had fallen in love. That she only had feelings of those for a sibling towards the icy Captain.
In hurt and fury and under influence of alcohol, he had challanged Zaraki Kenpachi who had only let him live in hope of another battle in the future. After being healed by the 4th division, he had asked premission to visit the living world where he had roamed around restlessly, hunting hollows until absolutely exausted from lack of sleep and food. And thus, he ended at the Quincy's doorstep.
"I'd dare say I understand why you wouldn't seek out Urahara or Kurosaki. A man can only hold his temper for so long around either.."

2 days had passed since the whitehaired Captain had appeared on Uryuu's doorstep and they had gone about the days, not doing much. Some grocery shopping, cooking, eating, reading books and taking walks. Today, their walk had lead them to Tsubakidai Park.
Uryuu had purchased some food on the way as it was a bit pass dinner time and he figured they would not make it back home any time soon. They were sitting on the grass with the food scattered between them in boxes; Ramen Noodles, mushroom soup, seaweed salad, sushi and two bottles of beer.
"I don't mean to be intrucive, but what's going on with you and Kurosaki Ichigo exactly?" Toshirou broke the silence that had surrounded them for most of the day.
"Uh.. It's nothing. He just irritates me more than usual.."
"Mh.. Enough to make you cry out his name in the middle of the night?"
Uryuu face reddened and his eyes shot to the ground.
"It's not like that!"
Toshirou studied him cooly for a while and sipped at some soup.
"Do you really hate him that much?"
"No.." Uryuu was surprised at his own answer and how his mouth lately seemed to betray him so much.
"I've come to think it was never really Kurosaki I hated.."
Toshiro continued to eat but his eyes rarely left the Quincy.
"It was the loniless he made me feel just by existing...
When we came back, it was as if nothing ever happened, as if we hadn't just fought and saved thw world together.. As if I was never his friend.. Actually, the only one who still sought out my company was Orihime-chan. But I couldn't possibly tell her about my silly nightmares and envy of Kurosaki always being center of attention.."
"Yet, you kept dreaming about him?"
"No that's just recently" his mouth betrayed him again. Toshirou merely nodded and put the plastic bowl down, now empty. Then he leaned back to lay down on the grass. Uryuu's black t-shirt and light jeans was only slightly too big for him, but he had grown quite a bit.
"So you don't hate him.. You miss him.." The whitehaired said and closed his eyes, leaving Uryuu blushing again. I don't miss Kurosakii..!
He followed the shinigami's exampel and lay down on the grass, running various encounters with the redhead in the past two years, through his mind, taking note of the emotions attached to them.
Hurt.. Dissapointment.. Hurt.. Anger.. Lonliness.. Loathing.. Anger.. Lonliness.. Anger.. Loathing.. Loneliness.. Longing.. Anger..
"We should head home soon, rain is coming" Toshirou sighed.

Uryuu dried off his hair while Toshirou sat on the couch, starring out of the window. The rain was pouring down outside.
"I think you need to go put on your Quincy uniform.. It seems the storm brought more hollows than Kurosaki can fight off alone.." The shinigami Captain said quietly and tightened his grip on the hilt of his zanpakuto resting between his his legs.
Uryuu strode off to his room and yanked a uniform and the belt with Seele Schneider out of his closet, threw the Quincy cross around his wrist and then hurried to change casual clothes with uniform before striding back to the livingroom where the Captain was waiting, looking the exact same as before; faded demin jeans, black sneakers matching the black v-neck t-shirt and zanpakuto firmly placed by his left hip.
They rushed through the town, aiming for the various Hollows invading the place. Luckily it was late evening and the rain was pouring so the number of people outside was few.
Uryuu stayed focused on Kurosaki's location and distance from himself and even when he and Toshirou decided to split to keep up with the rising amount of creatures appearing. Whenever the redhead seemed to come closer, the Quincy's heart would start racing and he would head further away. Until he suddenly found himself panting, out of breath and surrounded by several huge and vicious Hollows and they had no intention of going one on one with him.
He barely dodged a lashout from a tentacled creature before a sharp pain spread around his wrist on the left arm and he was houled through the air before crashing hard onto a tree.
Blood dripping from his arm, he managed to shoot a few arrows, two Hollows dissapearing before two others attacked him, trying to split him between them, lashing and biting and pulling at him.
When he hit the ground again, he was sure to this was the end of him and expected pain at any moment. It did not come.
"Ishida! Get up, Ishida!" Kurosaki's voice tore through the beasty roars as they dissapeared one by one.
Uryuu struggled to get up on his knees and reached for the small pouch hanging on his belt, using the other hand to pust himself off the ground into a sitting position. He had to stop the bleeding.
From the pouch, he pulled a roll of white bandage that he wrapped around the bleeding wrist.
The roars ceased and through hazey eyes he saw the figure of kurosaki approach him, reaching out a hand. He took it and let it pull him off the ground.
Ichigo studied the bloody ravenhaired before him for a few seconds before reaching up to put the glasses on he had picked up from the ground, brushing the raven locks out of the way, letting the tips of his fingers linger on the pale skin, taking a small step forward, leaning in.
Uryuu gasphed when lips connected with his own, strong hands resting on his neck, softly pulling him closer. But as soon as he relaxed against the touch, parting his lips slightly, the kiss was broken and Ichigo took the pale hand resting on his chest, somewhat expecting the same pain to come as last time he had violated the Quincy's private sphere with a kiss.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have.."
"Oi!" The cool, familiar voice of the whitehaired Captain broke the soft whisper of the readhead.
"I found this one chasing hollows too" Toshirou said and looked at the tall woman with dusty green hair beside him.
"Nel!" Ichigo yelped.
"Ichigo.." she looked utterly heart broken and a few tears made their way down her flushed cheeks.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know all this would happen" her voice broke.
"Apparently this hollow invasion is a biproduct of her crossing between Hueco Mundo and here.. You should bring her to Urahara before Seritei finds her.." Toshirou explained, eyes locked on Ichigo.
"Ishida is hurt" the redhead said, stating the obvious.
"I will take him to Inoue Orihime, he'll be fine." Toshirou assured and pulled the Quincy from Ichigo, putting an arm around his waist and the next second, they were gone, leaving Ichigo and the sniffeling Espada in the now soft rain.

Uryuu woke up, confused about his location until he sat up and found his glasses folded on the table before him. His was sitting on the couch in his own livingroom, a soft blanket draped over his shoulders. On the table sat two cups of steaming tea, he reached out and took one of them.
"You're awake" Toshirou stated, walking into the livingroom while pulling on a clean, black t-shirt. His hair was damp, and not as spikey and messy as it had been the last few days.
"Hai" Uryuu whispered and traced two fingers over his lips, remembering the feeling of the night before.
"I sent Inoue-san home a few hours ago, no reason for her t sit here through the night.. I too will be leaving soon. I need to inform Seritei about the hollow invasion and make sure they stay unaware of the Espada's presence. I believe she is no threat to anyone.."
"Hai. Nel. How is she?" Uryuu forced himself to be more present in the conversation.
"Urahara said she was perfectly fine, however very upset about the chaos she caused and getting you hurt. But he will be her caretaker for now.."
Uryuu had a few questions but decided he could go and see Urahara later. At the moment, all he wanted was a shower to let the water wash away all the dirt, blood and unfamilar emotions fluttering in his chest.
They drank their tea in silence, and Uryuu wondered shortly if his quest had seen what had happened the night before while Toshirou was working on his oral report to Seritei, fully aware of the Quincy's stolen glances.

Ichigo was lying on the bed, a hand behid the head, the other resting on his stomach, music pouring into his ears through white earplugs. His eyes were closed.
Toshirou sat on the windowsil for a while, studying the resting form before reaching a icy hand down to touch some bare skin of an ankel.
Ichigo's eyes shot open and the resting hand went and unplugged one ear.
"Taking a recovery day, I assume" The Captain greeted.
"Yeah, my dads orders. Took a few good hits yesterday. But I got the house to myself so I don't really mind" the redhead replied lazily as he watched the other leap into his room, feet landing silently on the floor.
"I didn't really come here for a casual chat, through. I'm headed back to Seritei.."
"What did you come here for, then. I'm sure Urahara can tell you more about Nel than I can, by now.." Ichigo said and sat up, one earplug still in ear, the other dangeling by his chest.
"Kurosaki.. I suggest you sort out your intentions with Ishida Uryuu and then make them clear to him."
Ichigo lowered his eyes to look at his hands, resting on his ankels. After the encounter the night before, he had been doing nothing but thinking about exactly that and had already come to the result.