I do NOT own Bleach or the characters/places/things in bleach that are mentioned. Only the OC.
Intro Theme: Aozora no Namida -Takahashi Hitomi
The dining room was overflowing with an awkward silence. Both Quincy and Substitute Reaper sat at the table, not one word slipping from their lips. Ichigo quietly, but sullenly, poured Uryu something warm. It was probably the most uncomfortable moment he'd ever had. They uttered nothing the entire time, but simply stare.
Ichigo finally handed Uryu the cup with warm coffee and watched as he took it in his grasp, sipping.
"So…why you here, Uryu?" Ichigo lastly asked. "I doubt it's because you want my help with a Hollow…"
Uryu gently placed his cup down and pulled the wallet from his pocket. "I found Aneko's wallet…"
Ichigo received it and examined it. "Yep…it's hers alright." He let out aloud sigh. "Let me guess…it was on the ground?"
Uryu nodded and got up from the chair. Afterward, he positioned his eyeglasses just right. "I'll be taking my leave now…" He grabbed his umbrella—which stood by the door. "I only came to return her wallet,"
Ichigo glanced away uncaringly. "Right…"
"Whoa…Uryu…?"
Uryu cocked his head back. He noticed Aneko standing behind him—clearly just woken up, by the lost look to her face, but also by the fact that she wore white pajamas. "Aneko…?"
She nodded—a fatiguing look to her. Rubbing her weary eyes, she asked, "What are you doing here…? And…so late?"
"I just dropped off your wallet…"
Her bushed eyes widened with interest. "Really!?" She exclaimed. She immediately began to frantically look around until she spotted the beige wallet sitting on the dinning table, right by Ichigo.
"Safe and dry," Ichigo assured.
She ran to it, eagerly placing it in her hands. "T-thank you so much…! You have no idea how much I was worrying over it! You're awesome!"
"I really didn't do anything at all. I only found it on the way back home," He began explaining.
Ichigo sat there bewilderedly, shifting his strong brown eyes to his sister followed by that importunate Quincy. He didn't know what was really going on. He simply watched as Aneko approached the intimidating boy, giving him her most gratified look. "Thank you so much…you really are sweet,"
"U-uh…no, I'm really not…" He hastily glanced away, wanting to make an escape.
Oblivious to Uryu's uncomforting, she continued. "I really don't know how to repay you for all your trouble. You've been very kind to me today, thank you…"
He sustained from looking back at her. "I-it's fine…I'll just be going. Thank you for the coffee, Kurosaki…"
"Are you sure you should do something like that?" Ichigo questioned.
"Why not?"
He sighed. "Idiot, Look outside…"
Within the second, all eyes looked out the window—forced to watch the heavy water pour down the clear window. It made it difficult for any of them to distinguish anything that may or may not have been out there.
Uryu determinedly zipped his jacked up. "I'll be fine. It's just a little storm…Don't go thinking I need your concern, Kurosaki!"
Not being the type to allow any comment directed at him slide, Ichigo got up, ready to strike him.
Aneko abruptly stood in his way. "Stop! Why fight over something so stupid…?"
Ichigo glowered. "…To set it clear, I wasn't concerned for you, Uryu. You do whatever the hell you want…"
Uryu effortlessly began heading towards the entrance of the building. "You should stop thinking you're so high and mighty, Soul Reaper. It's a disgusting personality to possess…"
"Look whose talkin', Quincy…I would have knocked you on the floor if it weren't for Aneko!" Ichigo blurted, provoking Uryu.
Getting his attention, Uryu faced Ichigo. "Wanna bet…?"
"Gladly…"
Aneko sighed and got in between the two once again. "Com'on, stop arguing! What if one of you was to hurt the other!? I'd be stuck cleaning the blood up!"
They both paused and silently looked to her. Ichigo was the first to take a stab toward her confused priorities. "Clearly you need to reconsider any dreams you have of protecting citizens…"
She lightly giggled. "No kiddin'…" She then placed her eyes to Uryu. "You know, Ichigo has a point, Uryu. I mean, when it comes to the weather. You shouldn't walk home in this…"
Uryu's eyes widen.
"I'm not saying you're weak…or anything…but I'd feel a lot better and at ease if you…I dunno…spent the night here," She suggested carefully.
"I'll survive from raindrops falling on my head…" He wryly assured.
"But…it's crappy out there…! Please?" Aneko plead.
Truth be told, Uryu could have walked right out the Kurosaki Clinic. Well…he would have if his well-bred demeanor didn't prevent him from doing so. Damn downpour. It was only for the night…Would it really damage his dignity?
After awhile of contemplating, Uryu sighed in defeat. "Alright…"
He caught wind of the satisfied smirk lifting her cheeks. "Great…I'll get you some bed sheets and a pillow! Uh, you can sleep on the couch tonight, sound fair?"
"Reasonable,"
Aneko sheepishly grinned. "I'd offer the room that we put the patients in, but I doubt you'd want to sleep on top of the bed that has gained the reputation 'Death bed' here in the house."
Uryu stiffened. "N-no…not really."
"Didn't think so," She then turned around and headed up the stairs. "I'll be back…!"
Meanwhile, Ichigo slightly faced him. "This is only for tonight…" He murmured.
"Shut up…"
Eventually, Ichigo went to bed—although it wasn't quite safe to say he rested in peace. Considering Uryu, the person who pissed him off on occasion, was sleeping under the same roof as him. He would have preferred watching Uryu soak under the downpour. Ah yes, just picturing Ishida grumbling under the heavy rain put a smile on the deputy Reaper's face.
Oblivious to her brother's exact outlook on the situation, Aneko happily placed the folded blankets on the table, effortlessly pulling a part of the sofa out, until the couch was no longer a couch, but a bed. After tossing a pillow on the bed, Aneko stood in triumph, more than pleased with how well she had set it up.
"All done…" Just as she placed both hand over her hips, Uryu had approached her wearing the clothing Ichigo lent—well…forced to lend him.
"Hey, they fit." She observed. "I'm glad…I thought they'd be slightly off, considering you're build differently from Ichigo. Anyways, all set!"
He pushed his glasses up and smiled lightly. "Thanks,"
"Sure," She returned.
Uryu instinctively sat on the bed and took his glasses off. Aneko looked at him dumbfounded. She never essentially realized how different Uryu looked without his glasses. On the other hand, he never took them off, no matter what the situation was.
He took notice of her trance-like stare and gave her an honest look of concern, though it could have been mistaken with an expression of awkwardness.
"Uh…are…you…ok?" He raised an eyebrow.
She instantaneously shook her head. "Y-yeah…! Sorry! I just went blank, that's all…!"
He couldn't help but smile back. "It's fine…"
"Well…I'm…a…going to head off to bed now," She yawned, clumsily taking steps backwards until she reached the stairs. "H-have a good sleep…!" She ran up the stairs, fighting the urge to look back. Once she reached the top of the stairway, she began softly laughing at her absurdity.
Alone in the dark room, Uryu found himself reluctantly looking around. He was comfortably sitting up on the bed—the warm covers provided to him by Aneko over his laps—hands sat themselves on top. The only comfort he had was the street light struggling to get the dim light it endowed him with to shine past the streaks of rain streaming against the window. After momentarily watching water pour, he became conscious of the fact that he was actually getting worn-out himself. Not a second later, he fell back, resting his body on the soft surface.
Silence overcame him…
He absentmindedly gazed to the ceiling, slowly placing his attention toward the rain outside once more. He listened as each heavy droplet hit the stable glass. At that moment he rolled to his side. His attention was suddenly on the bracelet that gave him pride as a Quincy. While simply staring at it with nothing to ponder about, Uryu witnessed a dark glitter in the middle of the crest.
Straight away, he sat up completely startled.
It twinkled yet again.
This time he caught glimpse of a very faint image in the spark. It was as if somebody smacked a photo in front of his face briefly and pulled it away.
Almost like a face…
He continued to stare at his crest wide-eyed. Just what the hell was going on? He liked to think that one of the spirits that were said to usually lurk at the clinic was playing some trick on him, but deep down he knew that wasn't the case. No, that was clearly not the case. He could make out a strong presence that ominously haunted the neighborhood. The well trained boy was able to identify with this particular Reiatsu. Subsequently, he hurriedly got off the bed and attempted to gaze out the dripping window.
'Damn, this rain is making it rather difficult for me to get a good view of anything…!'
"You sense it too…don't you?"
Uryu coked his head back to Ichigo and Aneko. They stood behind him more than aware of the position they were put in. He instinctively narrowed his navy eyes. "Yeah…I've never felt such incredible spiritual pressure from a Hollow…"
Ichigo's face appeared stern. "Yeah, I thought the same thing…We must be dealing with something massive here."
Uryu faced them, placing his arms at his sides. "So what are you proposing we do?"
Ichigo looked to Aneko. "Aneko, I need you to stay here and watch over Karin." His eyes soon flickered to the Quincy. "Uryu, you and I will check it out. There's nothing more we can do."
Aneko clenched her fists, taking a step forward. "W-what?! But I want to go too…!" She cried.
Ichigo shook his head in protest of the idea. "No…it might be too dangerous for you. Besides if Uryu and I go, it would make things quicker. I can't risk your safety."
She gave him one quick glare before turning to Uryu. "Uryu, you'd be fine with me coming along, right? Tell this ass-wipe that I'm also capable of fighting! Please!"
Uryu was caught off guard by her pleading eyes. Yet, this time he wasn't going to concede to them. He witnessed her tactics earlier. She wasn't quite prepared for this type of battle. Neither he nor Ichigo even knew how treacherous their foe was. Uryu mustered the strength of character to look away. "I'm sorry…but I actually agree with Ichigo on this one. I think it'd be best if you stayed behind…"
She stood there at a loss. Did no one believe that there was a slight chance she could wow them with skills? Subconsciously squeezing the collar of her white pajama top, she felt like the one person she counted on…
…betrayed her.
She thought he had faith in her and her powers. It all seemed like wishful thinking…
Staring to the ground, her lips quivered. If her bangs weren't curtaining her clouded eyes, they'd reveal the deep resentment and disappointment she felt. "Alright…I'll stay…"
Ichigo gently placed his hand on her shoulder, causing her to momentarily look up at him. "Don't worry…we'll be back…"
"O-ok…"
Ichigo made his way towards the door, grabbing his coat. "Let's go Uryu, we can't waste anymore time!"
"You don't have to tell me twice, Kurosaki…!" As he took one step, he found himself placing his eyes to Aneko. At that given moment, both their eyes met.
Unable to really feel any type of bitterness towards the single Quincy, Aneko frowned. "P-please…be careful."
Slightly surprised, Uryu nodded. "Y-yes, I will…" He then ran out the entrance, leaving Aneko in the dark room.
Dragging her feet, she made it over to the bed—which Uryu was to sleep in—and sat down, miserably gazing at her knees. Her fist tightened as they nonchalantly sat themselves over her laps. "Nobody…thinks I can handle myself…"
With one hard sigh, Aneko briefly gazed up, only to discover Uryu's glasses still on the table. "O-oh, wait…" She automatically picked them up and studied them. "Uryu's…glasses…? Uryu's glasses?!" She stood up, panicked. "…H-he needs these! What do I do?!"
She sought to run after them but recalled Ichigo's instructions. Karin couldn't be left alone. 'Ugh…crap!' She bit her bottom lip, looking to the pair of glasses in her grasp. She could feel the intense feeling that gripped her gut—the sense of panic that so desperately wanted to escape her lips.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Ichigo needs help, doesn't he?"
Aneko shifted her eyes to the stairs. "K-Karin…?"
The younger sibling calmly approached her. "You should know I'm more than aware of Ichigo and his little secret. And, that you've joined it all."
Aneko quietly stared at her.
She knew?
It was so unexpected to her. She could feel her lips tremble uncontrollably.
So what did this all mean?
Does Karin want her to follow Ichigo?
She looked down, completely lost. "I…I don't…"
"If you have somewhere important to be—go!" Karin demanded. "The longer you stand there so idiotically, the more time you're wasting! I'll be okay, just go!"
Aneko simply shook her head in objection. She couldn't…
"Please, just leave! Ichigo needs you!"
"What? Didn't you hear…?" She forced the tiniest of tiny smiles, diverting eye contact from Karin. "I'm not needed. I'll only be in the way. Karin, I appreciate the encouragement…but…"
Before the unsettled girl could continue, she felt two hands forcefully place themselves on her back, shoving her to the door. "Go! You have no time!"
"W-what the hell are you doing!? I said—"
"—Stop arguing with me! Ichigo knows nothing! You can handle yourself! Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise!"
Once they reached the door, Karin shoved Aneko's shoes in her face. "…Are you honestly going to let those two boys get you down? I say show them a thing or two!"
Aneko carefully took her shoes from Karin, gently smiling. "Thanks sis…"
Karin confidently smiled, assuring her she would be fine. It wasn't so bad. At least Karin showed she had faith in Aneko as a fighter. But how the heck did this child know about Ichigo? Aneko knew she'd have to remind herself later to lecture Ichigo about his lack of stealthy coordination.
Oh, that didn't matter at the moment. Aneko shook her head, grabbing her red raincoat.
"Alright, wish me luck then…"
The race against time was too much to bear. As she sprinted under the heavy storm, Aneko could feel the chilly air crowd her lungs—taking deep breaths. Running as fast as she could, although she knew she'd regret it in the morning, Aneko barely managed to make it into the city without taking a second or two to pause for air.
As she bent over, placing her hands over her knees, she could hear the rain hit the plastic material of her coat—naturally streaming off. Panting as lightly as she could…it hit her.
How would her going to them make that much of a difference? For whom or what was she trying to protect? She frowned, watching the water beneath her feet flow past her, into the street drain.
"I…can't do this…" She uttered, clenching her fist tightly. "I…there's just…no way I can…help anyone…"
"Ah, it is you! Aneko, Aneko!"
Aneko stood up, looking across.
Her eyes widen. "O-oh…! Hello!"
There stood Orihime Inoue. She wore a light pink raincoat swarmed with buttons and stylish lacing. Her big beautiful smile is perhaps what complemented the adorably put together look.
Before Aneko could say anything, her eyes caught sight of a much larger figure standing next to Orihime. "C-Chad…! H-hey there…"
Chad wore a heavy grey sweater—looked incredibly comfortable, and reacted quite surprised himself.
A natural expression during moments like these.
"W-what are you two doing here…?" Aneko finally queried quizzically. She was left puzzled—no doubt, but a little relieved to have found someone. Now that she pondered more on the subject of being alone so late at night…
…What if she got jumped, mugged, stabbed? Or worst—
"Well, while I was getting ready to go to bed, I sensed an unusual pressure, so I followed it! But then realized that I forgot my umbrella, so I had to run all the way back home, but once I got home, it hit me that I had locked myself out! So then—"
"—S-somehow you met up with Chad, r-right…?" Aneko carefully asked. Orihime was cute, but man was the girl absentminded…
"Yes…I also went to investigate. We were on our way to Urahara's shop. It seems that this opponent is much stronger than what we've ever faced before…" Chad added.
Aneko nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes…but I'm not here to fight…or to go to the shop…I came to deliver these…" She carefully pulled Uryu's glasses from her pocket.
They both gawked at them.
"So…you're going to an optometrist…?" Orihime arched a brow.
"U-uh, no…these are Uryu's. He left them at my house, but the dumbass went out with Ichigo to find whatever it was that was sending off spiritual pressure everywhere!" Aneko cried. "So I wanted to find him and give these to him…I'm worried without them he won't be able to see very well…especially in combat…"
"What was he doing at your house so late?" Chad managed to question. Orihime's face brightened.
Aneko flinched. "N-nothing inappropriate, I assure you!"
Chad slightly stepped back. "I-I wasn't implying anything of the sort…"
Aneko huffed, letting her face cool off. "Anyways, I need to find Uryu and Ichigo. Unfortunately I can't really sense someone's spiritual presence so well and track them down using it…Plus, I'm kind of direction-challenged,"
"We'll go with you." Chad said—Orihime simply smiling in approval. "Wherever Ichigo is, there's bound to be trouble…"
Aneko sighed. "That's what worries me…"
Ending Theme: My Everything - Tenjochiki
Ok, that hopefully wasn't to long...I hope. So...ummm yeah, it seems that the story has sort of gone somewhere...i hope, at least in you guys, being the readers and all.
Ok, well yeah...Plz comment!