This is Chapter 4, out at last, out at last!
I don't own Bleach, Kubo Tite does.
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IchiHime's Escape from Vegas: Chapter 4
"So Chad, feeling any better?" Ichigo asked as Chad finished his third cup of coffee.
After leaving the karaoke bar and all bad memories, on Ichigo's part, associated with it they had headed straight for a restaurant in order to get Chad some coffee and food, once again with Uryu paying. The behemoth man managed to put down two platefuls of food and three cups of coffee before he even said a word, disregarding that he never said much usually.
Chad nodded that was indeed feeling better as he set his mug down and the waiter took the empty dishes away from the table.
"Do you remember anything about what happened before we arrived at the karaoke bar?" Orihime asked.
"Not really." Chad answered in his deep voice.
"Well this was a bust." Ichigo sighed in annoyance.
"Not entirely." Uryu said as he pushed up his glasses, "Sado, would you kindly remove the contents of your pockets."
Chad looked at Uryu before he reached in his pockets and pulled out the contents. There wasn't really anything of interest: keys, a cell phone, loose change, a pack of gum, and the cardkey for his hotel room.
"Well you two did loose him rather early." Uryu said seeing Ichigo and Orihime's disappointed looks.
"How does that help us?" Ichigo asked, his annoyance peaking.
Uryu looked deep in thought for a few seconds before he grabbed a piece of paper off another table and pulled a pen out of his pocket. He drew a straight line across the middle of the paper and started making other marks along it.
"Let's think things out for a second." He said then pointed to the first mark at beginning of the line, "This is when we entered the club, and everyone was with us." He then pointed to the other end of the line, "And this is earlier this morning when you two-"he took another moment to think, "Just where were you two this morning?"
Ichigo immediately sat up straight, remembering in all too vivid detail waking up and the subsequent events. Luckily he managed to control the red that threatened to overtake his face and Chad and Uryu were looking at him only. Orihime, on the other hand, couldn't control herself and her blush came back in full force.
"I woke up in some cheap motel." Ichigo answered, "Orihime got stuck in some room down the way from me and when I went out to get some ice for my headache we met."
Chad and Uryu turned to Orihime, who now had her blush under control, and she nodded in confirmation. Satisfied with the answer, Uryu turned back to his paper.
"Well, somewhere between these two time you lost all of us." He lightly traced the line between the two points, "Now I was the first to leave the group, getting caught up in that pointless game." He pointed to the first mark after the one indicating when they had started, "And according to the bartender in the karaoke bar, there were eight of you that entered the bar. Since there were eleven of you after I left that means you lost three people before the bar. I think it would be best to find those three first then see what we can put together and find the rest." He started writing down names and checking them off.
"Well that's a good explanation but where do we start looking?" Ichigo asked, his annoyance returning.
"My milkshake brings all the boys to yard, and damn right, it's better than yours. Damn right it's better-"
Everyone looked over as Chad's cell phone started ringing. He reached back in his pocket and pulled it out, flipped it open, and held it to his ear. The only person who could hear anything was Orihime and she couldn't really make out whose voice it was or what they were saying. Chad just made sounds of confirmation as the conversation went on until he was finished and closed the phone. As he slipped it back into his pocket every waited for what the call was about.
"That was Abari-san." Chad said, "We got roomed together at the hotel and he says he needs me to return now. It sounded urgent." And with that, the giant stood up to leave.
The other three were left relatively surprised at the monotone of the giant's voice. Their shock wore off quickly enough for Uryu to toss down enough money to cover the meal along with a tip and run out after him. Luckily the hotel they had all been supposed to stay in wasn't far away and a quick walk led them to the building. A little more and they were on the third floor, where all their rooms were. Despite how badly Ichigo and Orihime wanted to shower and change their clothes they followed Chad and Uryu to Chad's room. As they got closer they could the sounds of an argument inside, and when Chad opened the door it became clear to hear.
"-sn't my fault! You're the one who called him a cheater!" Renji's voice shouted out.
"Well he was!" came a female voice, Rukia's voice.
"That doesn't mean you just go calling the guy a cheater! The house always wins, that's a rule!"
"Says who! If you were just man enough to stand up to them Renji then we wouldn't be in this situation!"
"Pardon us, but are we interrupting something?" Uryu asked as they stepped in to find Rukia and Renji arguing loudly.
The two were glaring at each other right in their faces but turned to their new company at Uryu's question. It became glaringly obvious why they were yelling at each other, they looked like crap. Both had dark circles under their eyes, which were bloodshot, and their clothes had a much worn out look about them. Rukia's hair was messy and at some spots it looked like it sprouted out at all different angles. When he turned to them instead of angry Renji just looked tired, and his hair didn't look any better either.
"You two don't look so good." Orihime stated as they calmed down in the presence of their friends.
"Gee, you think Inoue." Rukia said sarcastically.
"Hey, don't get mad at her." Ichigo snapped at Rukia, "She's right, you two look like crap. You could probably due with a shower and a change of clothes, then some coffee."
"I would love a shower and cup of coffee." Rukia grumbled as she sat down on the bed by the window, Renji yawned and scratched his head.
"Alright then." Ichigo turned to leave, "Rukia can grab a change of clothes and shower in Inoue's room while Renji changes here."
"Sorry, can't." Renji said, stopping Ichigo.
"What do you mean you can't? You were ready to tear each other's head off a second ago and now you don't want to leave each other's side?" Ichigo's annoyance level was reaching its threshold as he turned around to face the two, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
"I didn't say we didn't want to." Renji held up his left hand, which was handcuffed to Rukia's right wrist, "I said we can't."
"I can't shower now." Rukia grumbled again, pulling her wrist down and jerking Renji around, "If I try he'll probably try sneaking a peak."
"Tch, like there's anything to peak at." Renji scoffed, earning him a near hit to the stomach from Rukia.
"I'll have you know I have plenty to look at!" she yelled at him indignantly.
"Short, small, and no boobs." Renji pointed at Rukia's chest.
Just as it looked like they were about to go into round two Uryu cleared his throat loudly to get their attention again. He pulled a large handkerchief out of his pocket and started to fold it over and over again. He walked up to Renji and tied the piece of clothe around Renji's eyes.
"If privacy is the matter then there's only so much that can be provided in this situation. But if Abari will swear not to the take the blindfold off then I'll believe we can take him at his word." Uryu said.
"It's not like I was gonna peak in the first place but if this'll make her shut up about it then I'm fine." Renji lifted up the blindfold just enough to that his right eye was looking at everyone, "But then there another problem. How are we supposed to put on shirts when one of our arms is connected to someone else? Or in my case a midget."
This time the hit connected since Renji didn't really see it coming.
"I have to agree with Renji." Rukia said, dismissing Renji's pained look, "How do we work around that little problem?"
"Well it's for just such occasion as this that I bring my traveling kit." Uryu reached into his pocket again and pulled out a small sewing kit, "We'll simply cut down the side of whatever shirt you two pick and after you're dressed I'll sew it back up."
"Wow Ishida-kun, you're always so prepared." Orihime gushed while Ichigo, Rukia, and Renji just started unbelievingly at the guy.
"Did you actually plan for this situation?" Ichigo asked incredulously
"Not this situation specifically but I always think it's best to be prepared." Uryu said, looking back to Rukia and Renji to see if they agree.
"Just so long as I can take a shower." Rukia said, grudgingly agreeing to it, "Grab some clothes and let's go idiot." She shot back at Renji, "I need to get some of my own clothes."
"You two make sure they don't kill each other." Ichigo said, pointing at Chad and Uryu as Renji gathered a set of clothes to change into, "Inoue and I will go get some coffee for them." He started to massage his temple, "And I could use some more myself, how about you?"
Uryu and Chad nodded and a minute later they all left the room, except for Chad who was going to shower and change quickly himself. Ichigo and Orihime wound up heading to a small stand a little ways from the hotel for the coffee. They ordered eight altogether, two apart for Rukia and Renji. As they waited for their orders to be filled Orihime and Ichigo sat on a bench and watched the almost noontime sky.
"You didn't have to get angry and Kuchiki-san back there." Orihime said suddenly, making Ichigo look from the blue sky down to her, "She was dirty and tired, it was pretty stupid of me to just point out the obvious like that." Her voice carried a tone of sadness.
"Even if that was the case, she had no right to snap at you like that Inoue." Ichigo reassured her, putting a kind hand on her shoulder, "I wasn't going to let her talk to you like that."
Orihime looked at Ichigo and smiled her thanks. After a moment he removed his hand and they went back to looking at the sky.
"Kurosaki-kun, are just being nice because we-" Orihime just let her question go unfinished.
"First of all you don't know if we did or didn't do . . . that." Ichigo was hesitant to bring up that can of worms, "And no, I'm not being nice because of that. Rukia may be a friend but you are too and I didn't like how she snapped at you."
In all truth, Ichigo didn't understand himself why he did what he did. But when Rukia had snapped at Orihime he had suddenly been overtaken by an urge to yell back at Rukia and stand between her and Orihime.
They let silence hang in the air between them again, but it was far from awkward. It was actually rather nice at the moment. The sun was pretty high and there barely any humidity, so it was a pleasant heat that hit them. Despite the part of town they were in it was far from overly noisy. And Ichigo had to admit that having Orihime around was calming in and of itself, there was just something about her presence, that he'd noticed lately, that made him more calm than he usually was.
Ichigo looked down at his right hand, more specifically, at the ring he had found earlier. He actually didn't notice it until it caught his eye. It fit perfectly and felt like he had worn it before, and it tugged at his curiosity. Just how had he gotten it and what was it for? Hopefully he'd eventually learn as they kept searching but there was a nagging feeling in the back of his head as he looked at it, like it was something special and important that he was supposed to know.
"Order up!" came the voice of the stand owner as he slid out the two tray holding the coffee Ichigo and Orihime had ordered.
They stood up and took their orders, Ichigo paying the stand owner with a bill from his clip, still curious as to how it came into his possession. The walk back to the hotel was quiet but still not uncomfortable, pleasant even. But in the time it had taken them to retrieve their orders a good amount of people had flooded the sidewalks and it was rather hard to move without bumping into someone. Eventually Ichigo had, had to take both trays in his hands to that Orihime could weave her way through the crowd. Even with her hands free it didn't help much, and eventually Orihime was roughly shoved into Ichigo. The drinks didn't spill thanks to Ichigo's good sense of balance and the tops on the cups, but the drinks were quickly forgotten as they realized their close proximity. Orihime turned bright red and moved to take a step back but Ichigo managed to wrap one of his arms around hers and held her close, noting that people tended to walk around him instead of push by him. So they made their way back to the hotel, and separated as soon as they were inside the cool building. In truth it wasn't Orihime's closeness that had bothered Ichigo; it was the frantic pace his heart had started beating at her touch.
This time the silence was awkward as they made their way to Rukia's room. She had opted to be paired with Rangiku, none of the girls wanting share a room with Chizuru. Chad looked cleaner and more refreshed in his change of clothes and was waiting with Uryu as they knocked and was let in. They could hear the shower going in the bathroom but didn't question anything, setting the coffee down on the table and taking the seats there since Chad and Uryu had taken seats on the beds.
Finally the shower shut off and after a few more minutes Renji and Rukia exited the bathroom, slightly damp and still tired looking but looking better than before. The bottom of the right arm of Rukia's dress and the entire side down was cut, and a quick glare from her made Ichigo and Chad look away as Uryu started on her first. Renji had the same done to his T-shirt but didn't look as worried about it. After a few minutes Uryu was down and the two grabbed their coffee like hungry beasts and started drinking.
"So what happened?" Ichigo asked after Rukia and Renji finished their first cups and started on their seconds, "Orihime and I can't remember anything and Chad passed out at the bar we went to last night. And I'd really like to know how you two wound up handcuffed together."
Rukia lowered her cup as Renji kept drinking and grimaced.
"Well, I guess it happened right after Ishida decided to go off gambling and that friend of yours headed off to meet with his girlfriend." Renji explained.
"The one you called a womanizer." Rukia clarified at Ichigo's confused look.
"Mizuiro got a girlfriend?" Ichigo asked in surprise, "When the hell did that happen?"
"Not sure, I was pretty gone by the time we hit the casino." Renji continued, "Anyway, you decided to keep that other friend of yours from losing anymore money but the rest of us pulled out our extra cash and decided to go a few rounds in the casino. And Ishida wasn't the only one on a hot-streak." He smiled as he thought back to his luck, "I was cleaning up at the craps table but someone," he nodded his head over at Rukia, "came over and when I was about to be given the dice she called the dealer a cheater and started making a scene."
"I did not make a scene." Rukia defended herself.
"You grabbed the stick, stood up on the table, and started swinging at everyone who tried to get you down, including me." Renji finished his coffee, crushed the cup, and tossed it in a trash bin, "I'm lucky I managed to grab some of my chips before security hauled us off."
"That still doesn't explain the handcuffs." Ichigo said, watching them both.
"You tell them the rest." Renji said to Rukia as he took a seat on the bed, scratching his head.
"Fine." Rukia hugged but continued, "Well since it was such a big commotion and I ended up accidentally breaking a few things as they threw us out, we were handed over to the police. And they did this." She held up their cuffed hands, "And while they were 'booking' us they sat us on a bench. And neither of us have really had this happen before so we were kind of nervous." She took a seat by Renji, "After a minute we realized no one was watching us so we just . . . slipped out of the building. Unfortunately we couldn't get the key for these things and we've been trying to find a way to get them off ever since."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Ichigo stood up and pointed at the two accusingly, "Are you saying we're currently aiding two escaped criminals!"
"Pretty much." Renji said, looking at Ichigo with his eyelids half closed, "Why are you making such a big deal out of it anyway? It's nothing but a bunch of trumped up charges. As soon as we get everyone together and get these things off we can leave."
"Wow, so you two are like Bonnie and Clyde." Orihime said with an air of excitement and amazement.
"Please don't tell me you're excited about this Inoue." Ichigo said.
"I just think it's really cool Kurosaki-kun."
"Well if you don't want to help us we understand." Rukia said, although the tone of her voice was making Ichigo a little nervous, "But from what you told us you have no way to find anyone else, and we know exactly where that Mizuiro friend of yours went." She and Renji started smirking knowingly.
"Wh-what do you want us to do?" Ichigo asked hesitantly.
"Well nothing right now, but you're not going to just abandon us either." Rukia said, knowing Ichigo would really like to put distance between himself and the two wanted criminals he called friends, "Now let's go." She and Renji stood up to take them to Mizuiro.
"But Kuchiki-san, won't you and Abari-kun get caught walking down the street with a pair of handcuffs on?" Orihime asked.
"Oh, don't worry about that." Rukia said and wrapped both of her arms around Renji's left, holding him close, "If we walk like this no one notices."
"You know Kuchiki-san," Orihime said as everyone left to find Mizuiro, "when you and Abari-kun walk like that you make a really nice looking couple."
End