In general, Shuhei was a pretty laid back person and the only time he made a truly note worthy reaction was either in the throws of passion or when he was pissed. He'd always been like that, really, it was apparently in his nature, a gift given to him at birth if you will. Even when he'd been a little boy the normal drama and angst of playground affairs barely touched his somewhat reserved personality and, while not antisocial, he'd never really given a crap about what everyone else was doing or relationships floating around at any given time. True enough, most boys are like this, but his disposition towards social status and friends and what have you reached even into his own gender. He'd never tried to emulate another male or gain his own group of 'no girls allowed' friends.
Another thing that had set him apart from most other children and, incidentally, other little boys, had been his seeming ignorance to gender identity. While most boys tried to have as little contact with girls as possible and just stuck to their own kind, he would happily interact with girls just as much as boys.
Because, in the end, Shuhei was only interested in doing his own thing and enjoying life.
As such, it would only make sense that he would have obtained a motto along the lines of 'mind your own business and don't get involved in other peoples shit'. It's just logical. However, seeing the look of nervous despair in Ichigo's chocolate brown eyes and the anxiety he was obviously feeling that made his motions and actions uncertain, almost idle was something he could not ignore. While not prepared to go searching for this elusive classmate and beat him into a bloody pulp for rattling his best friend and roommate so badly (because, in the end, what would that serve to do? Get him a criminal record? Ruin his reputation as a model and as a person? Thanks, but no thanks.) he was more then prepared to help the carrot top out.
Thats why, that morning at the table when they were both eating Trix cereal, not even 15 hours after Ichigo's less then impressive run in, Shuhei announced that they were going shopping.
"But we have more then enough food in the fridge," Ichigo had replied, clearly not on the same page as his roomy. "I mean, all that Chinese food from last night -"
"Not to the grocery store, you dork!" Shuhei laughed out right, honestly finding the others almost hick like mindset rather amusing. He was convinced it must have been a result from Ichigo living in the suburbs before moving into the city. "I meant we're going clothes shopping, and shoe shopping and if we want, we can even get a manicure ..." He made a point to trail off suggestively.
"Do you have any idea how completely gay you sound right now?" The carrot top asked as he fixed him with a questioning look. He had to admit though, he could feel excitement bubbling up in his stomach and it made a smile rise to his face that he couldn't quite seem to fight down. He'd never gone shopping shopping with Shuhei before.
The tattooed male nodded in complete understanding. "It's all the modeling. It does things to you."
"Like, give you totally weird fanboy's?"
"Exactly." A pause. "Actually, he's probably part of why I have such feminine tendencies."
(XxXxX)
Ichigo had never thought in his wildest dreams that Shuhei made enough money from doing nothing more then walking around on a catwalk to buy the sexiest ... tightest ... most scrumptious ... pair of leather pants he'd ever seen in his entire life.
They really did bring a tear to his eye.
Upon seeing the look of true, unadulterated longing on his face, Shuhei couldn't help but wonder if Ichigo was even going to wear the pants or if he was just going to frame them and hang them on the wall above his bed. Knowing the boys somewhat fetishy obsession with leather, the idea wasn't all that far fetched. "You doing ok over there, buddy?" He called over a bit uncertainly. He was sincerely hoping he didn't get a hard on right there in the middle of the store – over pants of all things!
The stripper nodded almost numbly, hugging the pants to his chest as if they were a godsend. Seeing this as the best time to hurry him up before things got too over the top, Shuhei handed his debit card over as he explained to Ichigo that he was going across the street to another store and to meet him over there after he'd paid for his precious pants. With that and a small chuckle, the dark haired male exited the store.
Ichigo's eyes immediately shot back down to the leather in his arms. He was so, so, soooo glad he'd gone shopping with Shuhei and that he was such a nice guy – unbelievably nice in his book, because, in the end, the pants alone came down to over a hundred bucks and that really proved how much his roommate cared about him. It was a comforting thought and it brought a smile to his face (yes, a happier smile then the one the pants conjured.) but it also kind of made him a bit disappointed that he himself didn't have a few hundred dollars to spend on Shuhei in return.
Because, in truth, no matter how good a stripper he might be, his profession wasn't the most rewarding.
... and man, how that admittance left a bad taste in his mouth.
Trying to ignore his own short comings in life, Ichigo shuffled to the checkout counter, barely uttering a 'hi' to the cashier. It was only when she returned the greeting with a choked out 'hello' that he even bothered to look up.
Chocolate brown eyes met large blue ones, the latter of which quickly glanced away. Ichigo blinked.
"Hey, your that girl from last night," He said slowly, recognition dawning on his features.
"I don't know what your talking about!" The girl all but shouted as she scanned his pants and bagged them in what had to have been a record time. "Your total comes to $120! Will that be cash or credit!?"
For a moment, her flustered demeanor made him pause but he decided to plow on. "There's no need to be embarrassed about anything," He was obviously trying to comfort her, but if the way her cheeks turned even redder was any indication, he was failing terribly. "I mean, if anyone should be embarrassed it should be me. I was the one taking my clothes off and showing my goods."
Her (admittedly pretty) eyes looked as if they would roll right out of her head onto the counter. "Do not talk so leisurely about things like that! Have you no decency?!"
Ichigo couldn't help but frown slightly. Depending on who you asked, strippers didn't have any decency at all ... whereas others would say they have some ... and then others would say that strippers were nothing but decent and just living as best they could. Then again, most people with that third opinion either are or were at one point a stripper themselves, so it was a bit biased.
Finally deciding that it was a rhetorical question (It had to have been! He could never answer that without being hypocritical!) he decided to try another approach. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll stop talking about it then if you want." A curt nod from her confirmed that it would be a good idea to do so. "My name is Ichigo by the way. It's nice to meet you ..." Pausing to lean a bit over the counter, he read her name tag aloud. "Rukia."
Her arms shot across her bosom, covering her breasts. "Don't look at my chest, you pervert! Do you want me to call security!?"
Ichigo felt agitation rise from his almost melancholic state. What was this girls deal? "Hey! I wasn't the one in a strip club last night acting all innocent now!"
"How dare you!"
"It was a bisexual strip club, too!"
Her mouth fell open in shock.
"Where both boys and girls get naked and prance around." He all but hissed out.
"Why you -"
It was at this time, as is usual for fate's twisted sense of humor, that Ichigo's phone went off, System of a Down blaring through his pocket. The sound was so sudden it startled both of them, each falling into silence with a yelp. Their eyes met once again and an unspoken truce was made; Ichigo handing the card over as he fished out his phone and Rukia taking care of the payment. The second before he flipped his cell open, he informed her it was debit.
"Hello?"
"What's taking so long over there?"
"Sorry Shuhei – there was a line. I'm done though so I'll be right over, ok?" He took the signing pen Rukia offered and idly scribbled down his roommates name.
"Yeah, see you in a bit."
Ichigo snapped the phone shut, stuffing it back into his pocket before taking his bag and Shuhei's card from Rukia. Giving a small sigh, he hesitated before making his way towards the exit, fixing the raven haired girl with an apologetic look. "Um, I'm sorry about all this," He began uncertainly.
"Oh, it's all right." She immediately replied, glancing down at the counter between them. "It's sort of my fault for being so defensive about the whole thing ... I guess."
Chuckling, Ichigo gave her a small wave. "Maybe I'll see you around some time," She returned the wave, though she didn't look entirely happy. He couldn't tell if she was really upset or if she was still embarrassed but either way he had to admit that her large blue eyes really gave her a somewhat cute look. Maybe he'd come in again ...
(XxXxX)
After narrowly dodging a car, Ichigo found himself in the store across the street, but there was no sign of Shuhei what so ever. Typical. He was probably trying on clothes. However, knowing him, it was more then likely turning into a fashion show. If he had an audience gathering around him or if his own eyes were the only ones seeing his performance didn't really matter because, either way, Shuhei would have been more then happy to try on everything in the store. Applause or no.
With a small sigh, the carrot top began to wander around through the isles, only half interested in what he was seeing. He was already more then content with what he had in the bag he was carrying and he didn't need anything else as far as he was concerned. Nope. Nothing could ruin his mood now. The pants lightly hitting his leg with each step were a dream come true and nothing short of death was going to rain on his leather clad parade.
"Ichigo!"
The young man felt the air catch in his throat and his body seized in on itself.
Ok, so maybe one itsy bitsy little thing could ruin his mood and that just so happened to be a certain red haired demon from the darkest regions of his nightmares ... or if one wanted to be nice, we could always just say Renji, but, thats just so boring. Right?
Spinning on his heel, Ichigo came face to face with the last person he wanted to see. Anger immediately flared up and he found himself easily snapping at the long haired male. "What the hell! Are you stalking me or something?!"
He honestly looked truly perplexed. "No, of course not -"
"Then what do you want!?" Ichigo cut in, none too gently. "Was embarrassing the hell out of me not enough? You want more? Want me to strip right here for you?"
Much to his surprise, Renji's cheeks tinted a gentle pink in response. "No! That's not what I want! Just listen -"
"Oh, hell no," The carrot top exclaimed as if realization was dawning on him. There was no fucking way Shuhei had been right! No way! "You did not come to find me because your in love with me! You did not!"
Renji's eyes widened slightly then an incredulous look crossed his features, though his cheeks still remained a light pink. "Of course not! What would make you think that!?"
Twisting back around, Ichigo began to make his way towards the fitting rooms. He was not going to listen to excuses, and lies and the blabbering of an idiot. He was going home even if he had to drag Shuhei out in his underwear and fend Renji off with a hanger. It was just too much. Too much damn nonsense and he didn't need it. Wasn't everything hard enough already without having to deal with a stalker on top of everything else!? Couldn't he just have a mommen-
A large and powerful hand fell on his wrist, jerking him to a stop. Finally blinded by anger, Ichigo spun to face him, already swinging his free fist with all the intent in the world of slugging Renji into next month.
"They found them!"
His sudden exclamation was enough to make Ichigo pause, fist poised midair as his fogged brain tried to comprehend just what the hell Renji was talking about.
Taking the moment of confused calmness, the redhead drew in the breath to explain himself. He was just glad Ichigo had enough control of his body to stop himself ... it would have sucked to kick his ass before he told him the reason for his 'visit'.
"They found the bodies of your dad and sisters, Ichigo. Not even three weeks ago the police found them in the woods but no one knew how to get a hold of you. So I came looking."
Ichigo could feel his body beginning to shake.
(XxXxX)
Dun, dun, dun. Yay! I can't believe how quickly this chapter spewed out of me. Then again, it was a lot easier because I had everything planned out when I wrote the second chapter whereas the first one was originally just a oneshot done on request. Tee hee. I think I'm getting better at this chapter story thing. XD
I hope you guys all liked this chapter and the revelations. Hope it wasn't too much and it doesn't drive anyone away. That would suck ... a lot. So please review and tell me what you think! I cannot believe the response I've gotten for this, I never imagined people would like it so much and I know that if I hadn't gotten such a reaction from you guys I never would have continued so thank you all so much! This chapter is dedicated to you all!
P.S. If anyone can guess who Shuhei's fanboy is, I'll give you a present. XD And, if anyone can predict the underlying plot that will not only show me that you have a twisted mind just like myself, but I'll give you an even bigger present! Then again, I doubt you'd be able to guess the latter with so little information at this point but ... make me proud!!