I know it's been over a month, and I was going to try to get this chapter up faster. However, that didn't happen, and for that I blame two things primarily: Final Fantasy XIII eating up two weeks of my life, and me trying a different approach to this chapter in terms of how I write it out. No, nothing's obviously different or anything, but it was a new method and it took a little longer. And general busy-ness on me and my beta's part and me being distracted. So yes, my bad. I hope you all aren't too mad.
Thank yous and shout-outs for Maeniel Celeres, zodious, Rachel, nekokatnya, Yanaril, MadLady77, AvioNN, Blu inu, ReverIchiHime, anthem2521, war90, shadowanime1, BleachFanJL, and sam for the reviews! I love them so much.
My beta, PL, as usual gets her own paragraph break in thanks for all the awesome work she does. She's a lot busier than I am but she still manages to get all this fixed up and done well.
Without further ado, here's Chapter 12, the last "quiet" chapter for a bit.
Chapter 12
Countdown to the clash
Like the last sand slipping through an hourglass, the weekend disappeared faster than Ichigo would have believed possible. It was as if the dark shadow of the Vasto Lorde looming over them like a guillotine had sped time up, denying the residents of Karakura town the chance to savor what might be their last days alive. The newly emerged threat weighed on the minds of everyone, and the fear was evident in everyone's eyes each time the subject was mentioned in passing. Ichigo was no different. Even his new relationship with Orihime did little to brighten his or anyone's mood. It was difficult to rejoice for a new love when such a terrible and powerful enemy as a Vasto Lorde threatened to destroy them.
A Vasto Lorde. The image of a human-sized, ruthless Hollow kept flashing through Ichigo's mind as he trudged into the bathroom Monday morning. A Vasto Lorde had joined Tousen and Gin, and suddenly Ichigo found the chances of victory uncertain. To make it worse, they had no idea of the enemy's plans or goals and no way to predict their movements. Anyone could be attacked at any time, and they would have to be ready.
I'll stop it, Ichigo thought as he pulled open the bathroom door, and slammed it shut behind him with more force than necessary. I have to. I might be the only one who can. He would find a way to defeat it, he swore, even if it meant worrying Orihime.
The expression she had given him when he suggested he fight the Vasto Lorde was one he'd never forget. Her eyes had widened and her jaw had clenched tightly. Everything in her attitude begged him to reconsider, but she had restrained herself from expressing that wish, torn between her fear for his life and her belief in his strength. That's the worst part, Ichigo thought. I feel bad for worrying her, but I should at least be able to be tell her how grateful I am. Not for the first time, Ichigo wished he was more adept at expressing himself.
He let his clothes fall to the floor, and as he caught his reflection in the mirror, he sighed. The dark circles under his eyes were the most evident result of two sleepless nights. Ichigo closed his eyes and stepped under the spray of hot water. No matter what, he thought, I have to do something. There are worse things than having her angry and upset with me. Not many, but… He winced and shuddered as a vision of her dead body flashed through his mind. I definitely have to do something. If she's alive, at least I can try and make it up to her.
He sighed. What a great way to start off the relationship, he thought dryly. I can't lie to her or anyone. I can't guarantee my safety. But I will guarantee hers, even if it means calling up Tatsuki and-
Tatsuki. Ichigo froze before he started shampooing his hair, his eyes wide in the realization that Tatsuki still did not know about their relationship. Neither did Keigo or Mizuiro. And he would have to face them in school today.
Suddenly, facing a Vasto Lorde didn't sound so bad.
When he later voiced his worries to Rukia after breakfast, she laughed it off as she pulled him out the door. "I'm certain she's been expecting it to happen. Of course, that may still not spare you from getting punched, but she won't be terribly surprised."
"Gee, thanks," Ichigo said.
"Likely, she'll just threaten you as per her duty as Orihime's best friend, and then that'll be the end of it. You two have gotten closer," Rukia said, raising an eyebrow, "and you are her friend, too."
"Yeah," Ichigo agreed, "but she's way more protective of Orihime."
"You're one to talk."
"Shut up," he growled under his breath. He rolled his eyes, and turned his head away from her as she snickered. "I'm allowed to be."
Rukia gasped dramatically, as if offended by his bold assertion. "Now, that's something I thought I'd never hear you admit."
His eyes were tight as he stared ahead. "I have reason to be right now."
The tiny shinigami sighed. Their playful banter had come to an end, replaced with a much more serious topic. "The enemy hasn't struck yet, and we're all in danger, not just Orihime."
"I'm going to protect her," he said, "and everyone else."
He looked at her, waiting for a response. Her face was carefully blank, but there was some complicated emotion hovering behind the façade. It was a spark of anger and frustration and something Ichigo didn't recognize. He expected her to start yelling at him, but she turned her head away.
"Let's go walk with Orihime," Rukia said, giving him a forced smile. "I'm sure she'd like that."
"Rukia-"
She shook her head. "Look, when we're at school, try not to think about it. It'll bring everyone down. Besides," She smirked slightly, her usual humorous spark returning to her eyes, "you have other things to worry about when we get there. Normal things. Focus on that."
Before he could answer, she darted ahead of him. "Come on!" she urged him. He bit back a growl as he hurried after her. He wasn't sure what he was more annoyed about: her running ahead, or him not having the right words to say.
He was still trying to put words to all the things he wanted to say when reached Orihime's apartment. Thanks to Rukia's insistence on haste, they had arrived just as Orihime, Hitsugaya, Matsumoto and Hinamori were walking out.
"Oi!" Rukia shouted.
Orihime turned around, and waved to them. "Good morning! I didn't know you were coming this way!"
"Well, you two are dating now," Rukia said in a sagacious tone. "so it's customary you walk to school together. Don't mind us, we'll walk ahead. Right?" she said, glancing up at Orihime's house companions.
"Of course!" Matsumoto said with a wide grin, happily willing to go along with Rukia's suggestion. "C'mon, taichou! Let's give them some privacy."
"Good grief," Hitsugaya muttered as he was pulled along, with Hinamori hurrying after them. Rukia gave Ichigo a wink and a nudge before walking to join the trio.
Orihime flushed as she was left alone with Ichigo. "A – ah, I wasn't expecting that…"
Neither was I, Ichigo decided with a roll of his eyes, or at least I didn't expect them to be quite so blunt about it. Still, he wasn't going to bemoan some alone time with Orihime. He reached out for her hand, and smiled when her fingers slid in between his. "It'll give us some peace and quiet," he said as he began to walk with her. Their steps were even, and neither of them rushed, leaving plenty of space between them and their friends.
"You look tired," Orihime said, reaching up to trace the dark circles under his eyes with her free hand.
"Lot on my mind," Ichigo admitted. "But I'm going to try not to think about it right now." He would take Rukia's advice and leave those pressing matters at the school gate. "I'm more worried right now about how to keep my balls and my dignity safe from Tatsuki."
The same thing seemed to have crossed Orihime's mind at least once, as she nodded in agreement and gave him a sympathetic smile. "I don't know how she'll take it. I've never had a boyfriend before."
"I've never had a girlfriend before," Ichigo said "so this might be an interesting experience for her in both respects." If not, well, he might walk again. Someday. Far in the future.
Rukia and Rangiku cast occasional snarky comments over their shoulders, but otherwise the walk to school had been peaceful. Orihime spent most of it telling Ichigo about the new dish she had tried out last night, trying unsuccessfully to be subtle about the fact that there was plenty in her lunchbox today. Ichigo's stomach and brain protested, but his heart could not refuse Orihime anything when she smiled so sweetly at him.
"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime leaned up on her toes to give him a peck on the cheek.
Ichigo turned his head, and caught the kiss on his lips instead. Orihime flushed, but didn't seem to mind otherwise. Ichigo smirked afterwards, and for the first time in two days, felt at ease.
They both had been so caught up in their little moment that they didn't see Tatsuki up ahead on the steps leading to the front door. It wasn't until she was almost halfway towards them, her long strides eating up the distance, that Ichigo finally noticed her.
"Oh, hell." He braced himself as Tatsuki pushed through the throng of students to get to them. He wanted to close his eyes, but refused out of sheer stubbornness and pride, even as he met her fiery gaze.
She stopped a few paces in front of them, hands on her hips. Her brow was furrowed, but it was difficult to ascertain whether it was creased in annoyance, anger, or confusion. The spark in her eyes seemed to suggest all of them but none of them at the same time. Maybe she didn't know what to feel, Ichigo decided.
"Wanna explain?" she demanded.
Orihime looked up at Ichigo nervously. Their eyes met, trying to find the strength to explain in the other's eyes. Orihime took a deep breath, and gave Tatsuki a shaky smile. "W – w – we're, um, you know… kind of-"
"Dating," Ichigo finished. He wasn't going to let Orihime do this alone.
Tatsuki's expression turned deadpan as she repeated, "Dating."
They both nodded.
Tatsuki's eyes darted back and forth between them, but she said nothing. Ichigo glanced to the side, and caught Rukia and the rest of his friends watching the tense scene. There were some other students watching as well, but Ichigo didn't care about them in the least. He waited patiently for Tatsuki to speak, maintaining eye contact, as though she were a wild animal that might attack at any moment.
Suddenly, her hand lashed out and grabbed the front of Ichigo's shirt. "With me" was all she said before pulling him away. Ichigo let go of Orihime's hand, not wanting her to get dragged along with him and knowing that this "conversation" was something she had no part in. He heard his girlfriend protest, but it fell on deaf ears as Tatsuki marched on.
She brought him to a secluded spot around the side of the school, and pushed him up against a tree. Ichigo winced as his back jolted from the impact. He glanced down uneasily at Tatsuki as she pressed her foot to his lower stomach, dangerously close to his nether regions.
She frowned at him. "You remember our pact?"
He was mildly surprised that was the first thing she brought up, but he nodded. "Yeah."
"You won't let anything happen?"
It was his turn to frown at her. "You know the answer to that."
He got a smirk and, "Right. And you know I reserve the right to break you in every place imaginable if you hurt her or break her heart."
"Of course," he answered drolly.
She grinned, and released her grip on him. "Good enough for me."
That's it? he thought as he brushed off his shirt. No yelling? No bones breaking? No punches? No bloody noses? Where was the violent, angry, over-protective Tatsuki he knew? Possibly tempting the fates, Ichigo asked, "Seriously?"
"What?" she asked, furrowing her brow at him. "Look, it's not like you're some stranger who's dating her for her boobs. I can actually trust you, so there's no reason to beat the shit out of you." She shrugged. "Why expend the effort? Besides, if you're the one who can make her smile like that, who am I to complain?"
Ichigo nodded in complete agreement, realizing that Tatsuki, as someone who also loved and protected Orihime, probably understood his feelings better than anyone else. "So you're not mad?"
"Of course not. Don't you remember our talk we had that day when we made our pact?" she said. "I saw this coming for awhile. We all did."
"That seems to be the general consensus," Ichigo muttered under his breath.
"Hey, it's not our fault you're so slow on the uptake," Tatsuki chided with a roll of her eyes. "C'mon, let's head back before Orihime gets too anxious."
"Yeah." Ichigo hurried ahead of Tatsuki, thinking once more of all the worry he had caused Orihime over the past few days. She saw him first, smiled, and the others followed her gaze, their eyes raking over his uninjured form.
"Ichigo," Shinji said, looking mildly confused, "you're… unscathed."
"Geez, people," Tatsuki muttered as she walked up to them. "I wasn't gonna kill him."
"We were hoping for at least a bloody nose," Renji muttered in disappointment.
Ichigo took Orihime's hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly. She beamed at him, obviously the most relieved out of everyone that he wasn't injured. Seeing that bright smile brought back that earlier contentment Ichigo felt. For just a moment, everything disappeared and it seemed impossible to think about all the overwhelming problems and worries he had.
The moment was once again disrupted, this time by Shinji, who was snorting and chuckling behind Ichigo.
In one fluid motion, Ichigo's free hand balled into a fist and slammed into Shinji's nose. Ichigo almost smiled in sadistic pleasure when he heard a crunch, and Shinji's howling. "There's your broken nose, Renji," he said.
Orihime glanced down at Shinji, her face pinched in concern. "You should get to the nurse, Shinji-kun," she said, "and I can heal it later."
He nodded, shooting a death glare at Ichigo as Tatsuki helped him to his feet.
Ichigo didn't need to turn around to see the smoldering looks he was getting. He hardly cared, though, and said, "You deserved it. Now, can we get going before we're late?"
With the dramatics apparently over for the morning, the group headed inside, conversation springing up. Ichigo knew some of it was about him, but he was concentrating on Orihime, who had returned to describing her new recipe. Tatsuki stood firmly on her other side, one arm around Inoue's shoulders, occasionally making a sly remark about their new relationship. Ichigo rolled his eyes affectionately at his oldest friend, secretly relieved that she was taking everything so well.
Orihime had begun describing her new recipe to Tatsuki and how Ichigo was willing to try it when a high pierced shriek resounded from behind them. Ichigo resisted the temptation to smack his palm against his forehead, for he knew whose scream it was.
Despite his better judgment, he turned, and found Keigo staring at him. His friend's eyes were bulging out, and he looked ready to faint on the spot. Mizuiro was standing next to him, rubbing his ear. "You sure know how to scream, Asano-san."
"Wha… WHAT IS THIS?" Keigo demanded, pointing at Ichigo and Orihime. "SINCE WHEN?"
Ichigo sighed heavily, wishing he had a bottle of painkillers at that moment. "Saturday night," he answered.
Mizuiro tilted his head to the side. "After the movie?"
"Y – yeah." Orihime scratched her head nervously, and tried to smile. "We really weren't dating when we went."
"Ah, I see." Mizuiro smiled widely. "I suppose congratulations are in order, though I'm not hugely surprised. But you both seem happy enough, so as your friend, I'm also happy for you."
"Wait, what?" Keigo protested, turning on Mizuiro. "How are you not surprised? THESE KIND OF PAIRINGS DO NOT HAPPEN! The scowling punk does not get with the beauty queen!"
"If Asano-san actually bothered to observe, you wouldn't be so shocked," Mizuiro said as he began to text on his phone.
As Keigo tried to argue his case with Mizuiro, Hinamori began walking into the classroom with the other shinigami. She turned to Hitsugaya and asked, "I'm not sure I follow his reasoning. Why is he so upset?"
Rukia stepped in to answer, feeling that Hitsugaya would struggle to answer the question. Besides, she was more experienced with Keigo's nature. She smiled amusedly as she said, "He has this strange understanding of how the world should work and how things are supposed to be ordered. If something disrupts that order, he gets a tad flustered."
Hinamori shook her head in wonder. "What a strange boy."
"To say the least," Tatsuki said in agreement as they passed by her. "Oi, Keigo, calm down," she snapped at him.
"HOW IS IT THAT HE GETS TO DATE INOUE ORIHIME, AND YET I-"
In that moment, a voice lashed out, saying, "Who's dating Orihime-chan?"
Everyone left in the hallway froze. The very world seemed to stand still; the air felt heavy. The very atmosphere seemed to blacken as a fearful and stunned silence filled the hallway. The crowd of students parted to reveal Chizuru, standing a few meters away. Her eyes glinted dangerously as she stared down Keigo. "Who?"
Keigo's mouth hung open. He glanced at Mizuiro, who also seemed glued to the spot in fear. "Uh… no one?" he said in a futile effort to protect his friend. He swallowed audibly, but tried to remain stoic in the face of Chizuru's wrath. It was a rather brave effort on his part.
Despite Keigo's attempts, Chizuru looked past him, and there, in plain sight, was Ichigo, holding Orihime's hand. With the rage of a thousand armies, the aggressive girl descended upon him.
It was rather ironic: Ichigo had faced countless enemies, each more terrifying than the last. He had fought with them, unflinching in his resolve despite the risk of death. Yet now, this human girl was coming towards him and he could not move or even squeak for the life of him. For the second time that day, Ichigo reflected that an angry Vasto Lorde appearing would not have been the worst thing to happen. In fact, he would have rather faced any of his enemies, past or present. Kenpachi? Bring it on. Byakuya? Piece of cake. Grimmjow? A refreshing diversion. Anyone else on the planet but Chizuru.
He wasn't entirely sure what happened next. He was pretty sure Chizuru leapt at him, with Orihime squeaking in either surprise or fear or both. Maybe he closed his eyes; with the amount of terror that had been flooding his mind, he wouldn't have put it past him. Either way, the next thing he knew, the crazed lesbian was on the floor, pinned under Tatsuki's foot. The martial artist slapped her forehead, and said, "Geez, do I have to protect Orihime and Ichigo from you?"
Ichigo released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Thanks, Tatsuki."
Orihime glanced down at Chizuru, blinking a few times as if trying to process what just happened. "Ano, are you okay, Chizuru-chan?"
"I can't believe this," Chizuru said with an added growl. "How did he of all people win my Orihime-chan's heart?"
"By not being a creep, for starters," Tatsuki said.
Orihime's face fell. "Ah, Chizuru-chan. I hope you're not too upset. I really like Kurosaki-kun."
The terror passed, and a new, rather unfamiliar emotion filled Ichigo to replace it. Hearing Orihime's words brought a smug smile to Ichigo's lips. As Chizuru's eyes met his, Ichigo suddenly felt compelled to give Orihime a kiss. He wanted to do something to show Chizuru that she was his and it would remain that way. Still smirking, he bent down and pressed a kiss to Orihime's forehead. His girlfriend flushed furiously. Tatsuki raised an eyebrow, Chizuru shook in rage on the floor, and Shinji, Ishida, and Sado who remained in the hallway with them all seemed taken aback by his overt display of affection.
"Sure, rub it in, Kurosaki," Chizuru snapped.
"I'm allowed to kiss my girlfriend," Ichigo retorted, knowing full well that saying that would further anger her. When she glowered at him and tried to get up, he gave her a feral smile.
"Ichigo." Sado's voice grabbed his attention, and Ichigo was snapped out of his thoughts. His eyes were wide in surprise as his gaze met Sado's. "Was that necessary?"
"You shouldn't instigate her of all people," Shinji added in a wary tone, his nose still pinched between his thumb and forefinger.
Ichigo shook his head. Sado's gaze had freed him from the consuming conceit that had filled him before. With his mind clear, he suddenly realized how foolish his actions had been. "I…"
Tatsuki quickly pulled Chizuru up. "Oh, knock it off. You'd rub it in too if you were in the same shoes as him." She pushed the protesting girl into the classroom, shooting Ichigo a concerned glance before walking inside.
"Kurosaki-kun," Orihime said, gently placing a hand on his cheek. "What's the matter?"
He looked deep into her eyes, trying to find that reassurance she always seemed able to offer him. When she gave him a small smile, he relaxed. It did not ease his worries, but it made them seem a lot less overwhelming. She wasn't angry with him, and for the moment, that's all that mattered.
"I'm sorry, Inoue," he said. He glanced over at Shinji, and when he noticed his broken nose, added, "Why don't you take Shinji somewhere and fix that? I need a few minutes to clear my head." He gave her a small smile in an attempt to comfort her. Before he could hear her answer, since he was sure she would anyway, he shuffled into the classroom.
He didn't meet the gaze of any of his friends as he walked in. Pushing past his classmates, his eyes slid shut as he sat down at his desk, and he let the world around him fade away as he focused on his thoughts.
Where had that antagonism towards Chizuru come from? Sure, he didn't like the girl, but the last thing he had wanted was to add fuel to the fire. Hadn't he been terrified when she came charging at him? I'm such a coward, he thought derisively. The moment she was unable to do anything, I rubbed it in her face. I'm not that kind of person.
So, what had happened? What caused him to do that? He sorted through the days' earlier events in his mind. He remembered when he backhanded Shinji. Granted, the idiot deserved it in a way, but wouldn't an elbow to the gut or even a glare have done the trick? The sick glee he felt afterwards disturbed him, looking back on it.
"Ichigo, we're starting class."
Ichigo's head snapped up, and he glanced over towards Shinji, who was pointing to Ochi-sensei. She was putting up the day's lesson plan on the board. "Oh, right," Ichigo murmured, and took out his books.
For the first five minutes of class, Ichigo tried to listen to what Ochi was saying. However, it was difficult to take an interest in the general overview of the Meiji Restoration, especially when his mind kept circling back to the incident in the hallway.
He kept turning it over in his head, trying to fit some explanation to it. It wasn't due to stress; he'd been under much more duress before and he didn't usually take it out on (semi) harmless psycho lesbians. He didn't even dislike Chizuru that much, at least as a person.
Hormones? Ichigo frowned slightly. He'd rather gouge his eye out then blame it on something as trivial as hormones.
One lesson turned into the next, but Ichigo barely noticed, so preoccupied by what had happened that morning. He turned the problem over and over in his mind, but it was only in the middle of their literature class that he realized the most probable cause. His inner Hollow.
Instinctively, he reached deeper into his mind, trying to sense his Hollow's presence. "Shirosaki" was quiet, but that didn't mean he wasn't up to something. His Hollow had a way of subtly affecting him, particularly as of late. This was also especially true when it came to Orihime.
That bastard, Ichigo seethed, gripping the pencil in his hand tightly. He had no way of proving that it was Shirosaki, but he was already convinced it was the one responsible. Anger boiled up from the pit of his stomach, coupled with guilt and exasperation.
I'll apologize to Chizuru for my behavior, he decided, trying to fight the overwhelming rage that was building up in him by focusing his thoughts on other matters. I'll tell her – I'll tell her something. Bad weekend, bad mood, self-confidence issues… whatever it takes.
No matter how he tried, it was becoming increasingly difficult to harness his anger. Where is this even coming from? he thought as he tried to calm himself down. I'm pissed at the Hollow, but this is-
He heard a distinct cackle echo from the recesses of his mind, and Ichigo ground his teeth together. I'll get it for this, I swear. His hands began to shake, and he had the urge to destroy something, to unleash all this angry energy in him.
His eyes darted up and swept across the room, looking for some excuse or reason to get up and leave. His gaze passed to the left, and rested on the back of Orihime's head. She turned to glance out the window, her expression thoughtful, and her smile a little dreamy.
Instantly, the rage sizzled out. Order and sanity returned to his mind, and Ichigo sighed in again, she was able to calm him without even doing anything.
For the rest of day, Ichigo concentrated on feeling her reiatsu. It was enough to keep the conflicting swirls of emotions at bay, and enabled him to focus on the lessons. He couldn't understand why he had gotten so worked up, or why Orihime was able to quell it with just her presence, but he wasn't going to complain.
When the final bell of the day pealed, Ichigo was more than ready to leave. What a day from hell that was, he thought as he gathered his belongings.
He slung his bag over his shoulder, and clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle a yawn. Behind him, someone giggled, and he smiled when he recognized the laughter. "Oi, Inoue."
She stepped in front of him, books in her arms. "Tired?" she asked, smiling widely.
"A little." He went to reach for her hand, but realized both her arms were full with books. He was temporarily puzzled by this predicament. However, within moments the proverbial light bulb went off in his head, and he slung his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. "Want me to walk you home?"
"Well, actually-" Orihime twitched violently. Her lips pursed, her face flushed, her eyes blinked rapidly and the words stumbled out of her mouth, "I – I mean, y – y – yes I want you to, I mean, umm…"
Ichigo frowned, since it was unlike Orihime to be so outwardly nervous. "What is it?"
"I was wondering, um…" Her face turned a shade of red akin to Renji's hair. "If you wanted to, um, stay for a bit? At my house? So maybe we c – c – can do our homework together?"
The question caught him off guard, and Ichigo nearly tripped over the classroom threshold. He tried to mask his mild astonishment as he considered the question. He certainly wanted to. There was no reason he could think of that wouldn't allow him to, although he did have one concern. "You think it'd be okay with Toshiro and them?"
"We'll be fine!" Rangiku said from behind, making both teenagers jump in surprise.
"Geez, Matsumoto-san," Ichigo muttered as he turned and glowered at her. "Did you have to sneak up on us?"
"Are you sure, Rangiku-san?" Orihime asked.
She nodded. "Sure. Actually, I have a better idea – how about we go to Urahara's, and you two have the place to yourselves for a bit?"
"O – oh, Rangiku-san!" Orihime's blush returned in full force. "I didn't mean it like that!" she said apologetically.
"No no!" Rangiku waved her hand dismissively. "I insist. You two should have some alone time. Right, taichou?" she said, giving her captain a huge smile.
"Whatever," Hitsugaya muttered. "I don't have a problem with it."
Orihime still looked guilty, her gaze cast. Ichigo gave her shoulder a squeeze. "It's all right, Inoue. If they insist, it's fine." He frowned suddenly, and looked over his shoulder. "And not a word out of you, Shinji," he said, having sensed the Vizard come up from behind.
Shinji rolled his eyes, but waved off Ichigo's warning. "Oh come on, like I'd say anythin' to piss ya off further. I only do one broken nose a day, thanks," he remarked drolly.
The anger from earlier flared, and Ichigo was immensely grateful he had his arm around Orihime. It was the only thing keeping him from beating Shinji into the ground. "And yet you're normally so ready with a snarky comment," Ichigo said instead. He turned his attention back to Orihime. "But to answer your question, I'd like to come over." He paused, and added quietly, "Yeah, that's probably a good idea right now."
Orihime gave him a confused stare, and Ichigo mouthed "Later." Trying to explain what was going on in his head in the middle of the hallway was not a good idea. He wasn't even completely sure how to explain it to her; all he knew was his temper was volatile at best and it was safer for everyone if he stayed near Orihime for awhile.
"Oi, Ichigo, Orihime." Shinji strolled up alongside of them. "Just as a heads up, I ain't gonna be here tomorrow. I'll try to be back after school though."
"Where you going?" Ichigo asked.
"Soul Society. Got some business there for a bit."
Orihime glanced over towards Hitsugaya, who trailed behind them. "Aren't you going back tomorrow, too?"
"Just for a little while," Hitsugaya said nonchalantly. "There's a captain's meeting tomorrow. They'll be discussing the new threat concerning the Vasto Lorde, so I need to be there."
"They're talking about it now?" Ichigo asked in disbelief. "It's been almost two days!"
Hitsugaya rolled his eyes. "It's been discussed, but this is a formal meeting about it. A lot already went on behind closed doors." He then glanced over at Shinji. "I take it that's not why you're going?"
Shinji shrugged, and scratched his head. "It's something ta do with it, but not exactly."
Although it was obvious Shinji was being evasive and trying to avoid giving a direct answer, Hitsugaya didn't pursue further questioning. They pushed open the doors, and the chilly air greeted them with a strong gust. Orihime inched a little closer to Ichigo for warmth, and he smiled kindly as he pulled her closer.
Rukia came up from behind Ichigo and Orihime. Luckily, she was courteous enough to tap them on the shoulders instead of taking Rangiku's ambush-from-behind approach. "Matsumoto said you're going to Orihime's house?"
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah. Would you tell my family I'm over at a friend's house?"
Rukia sighed dramatically, but smiled. "So the lying begins. Very well." She turned to leave, but then paused. "You know, Ichigo," she said as she looked back at him, "you're not going to be able to hide this from them forever."
She just had to bring that up, didn't she? Ichigo scowled at her, since she knew full well why he hadn't said anything to them. "Yes, but the longer I can hide it and keep her away from my crazy dad, the better."
"Is he that bad?" Orihime asked.
"Kurosaki Isshin is someone you have to experience to understand," Rukia explained with a grin. "But Ichigo is right: you may want to wait to meet him." With that, she waved to them and left in the direction of Ichigo's house.
"Well, have fun, lovebirds," Shinji said as he walked past them. "But not too much fun. Wouldn't want ya to be getting in over yer heads, ya know?"
Ichigo cursed out loud, and was about to lunge at Shinji when Orihime grabbed him and pulled him away. She was precariously balancing her books with one arm, and tugging on Ichigo's sleeve with the other. "It's okay!" she said when Ichigo tried to break free. "Just a joke!"
The elder Vizard was already making tracks towards the warehouse, shouting back, "I owe ya one, Orihime-chan!"
"Gckt." Ichigo glared after Shinji after deciding pursuing him wasn't worth the effort. "What the hell does he think we are?"
Orihime was gently pulling him in the direction of her house. Ichigo let her, recognizing gratefully that she had taken it on herself to act as his "don't- get- irrationally- upset- and- start- fights" conscience. "I think Shinji-kun was just being helpful," Orihime said, flushing furiously at her boldness in directing him. "He likes to tease, too."
"I know," Ichigo said as they made their way to Orihime's apartment, the school disappearing behind them. "Just not in a mood to be teased today."
Orihime didn't say anything for awhile. The silence was a little unnerving for Ichigo, but he didn't try to break it. Orihime's eyes were distant, and she was caught up in her thoughts for the time being. Ichigo let her think, holding her hand gently as they walked the familiar streets. He wondered if she was thinking about what had happened, or if she had begun one of her bizarre fantasies. What would it involve this time? Aliens? Dragons? The Elder Gods who sleep in regions unknown? Ichigo was so caught up in thinking about what Orihime was thinking about that when she finally spoke, his head jerked up in surprise and he realized they were by his apartment.
"Kurosaki-kun?"
"Hmm?"
She waited a moment, her brow furrowed in frustration. Her lips twitched once or twice, before she took a deep breath and said, "In school… Shirosaki-kun was bothering you, wasn't he? He was why you were acting so oddly."
Ichigo shivered in surprise, not in the least expecting her to predict what his problem was. He didn't deny that Orihime was uncannily good at reading him and understanding what was going on in his head, but this was a little eerie. "How did you know?"
They walked up to the second floor, Orihime keeping quiet until she unlocked her apartment and let them in. She shut the door behind Ichigo, and finally answered, "I'm not sure, exactly. I can just… I sort of felt him."
"Felt him?"
Orihime nodded. "I didn't hear his voice or anything like that. I just…" Her voice trailed off as she glanced down at her books. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped them tightly, and her lips were pursed together, like she was afraid to continue. She forced herself to as she said, "I don't know. It's – I… I just know." Her eyes met his, pleading for his understanding. "I get this feeling in the back of my mind whenever he's more present in yours. It worries me, especially after seeing how you were suffering today."
Ichigo felt his heart break a little upon seeing her look so distraught. He set his bag down next to Orihime's couch, and reached out his hand towards her. She handed her books over, looking slightly baffled as he set hers down next to his. Giving her a smile, he extended his hand again. Orihime blinked, and glanced down at her bare hands. "Um, I don't have anything else, Kurosaki-kun."
"I know," he said, reaching his open hand a little further. "I want your hand."
"Oh." Orihime laughed nervously, and placed her hand in his.
When her palm fit into his, he closed his fingers over her hand and pulled her to him. He was careful as he guided her to him, making sure that she didn't stumble. Their eyes met as he wrapped his arms around her, and bumped his forehead against hers. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Being yourself." He threaded his fingers through her hair. "I would have gone berserk in class if you hadn't been there."
He almost laughed at how wide and innocent her eyes were. She put a finger to her lips, and pondered his statement for a few seconds. "But, um, I didn't do anything."
"You didn't have to," he said. "I'm sorry about everything today." He pulled her closer, and rested his cheek on top of her hair. "I'll apologize to Chizuru tomorrow, too."
Her hands came around him, and rested gently on his back. There was another long stretch of silence, the comfortable kind that fills the room with peace. Then, slightly muffled by his school vest, Ichigo could barely discern Orihime's whisper, "I'm worried."
He sighed. "I am too. I don't know what the hell's going on." Everything seemed to be a jumbled, horrifying mess. A battle loomed over their heads, one they weren't sure they were going to win. His Hollow was causing more problems and wreaking havoc on his emotions. He somehow had to draw out that form from the dome and then harness it against a Vasto Lorde in a short amount of time. If it hadn't been for Orihime's comforting presence, Ichigo was sure he'd have lost his mind already.
"But you know, let's not worry about it right now," he said, tilting her head up so she could look at him. "I know there's a lot going on right now, but I don't want it to interfere with us. If we let this whole bond and all the crap that goes with it define us, we're not going to make it."
Ichigo watched the minute changes in her expression, going from surprise to worried and then to determined. He smiled when she nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right."
"What should we do?" he asked, looking around her apartment. "Homework?" he suggested hesitantly, scrunching his nose at the thought. "I mean, that's why you invited me up, right?"
Orihime hunched her shoulders, and blushed again as she stared into Ichigo's chest. "Um, not really."
Ichigo gave her a blank stare. "But that's what you said before."
"I – I know," she said, "but, um I kind of just said that." She scratched the back of her head.
Ichigo's smile grew a little wicked as he said, "So you lied."
"F – fibbed! I just fibbed a little!" Orihime protested, her eyes wide in horror. "I…"
He couldn't help himself; he burst out laughing. "Geez, Inoue. You didn't have to lie to get me to come here."
"I know!" She buried her face into his school vest. She muttered something, but Ichigo couldn't make it out.
"What?" he asked, glancing down at her. "I don't understand gibberish."
Her head snapped up, and she playfully frowned at him. "Hey!"
Maybe it was the way her lips were formed into a cute pout, or how adorable she looked, so childishly put off. Hell, maybe he just wanted to. Whatever the reason, before Ichigo was fully aware of what he was doing, his lips were crushed against hers. Orihime squeaked in surprise as they both went stumbling back, eventually falling onto the couch.
The kiss was long and languorous, and filled with emotion as potent as any drug. Ichigo eventually sat up, pulling her up with him. She let out a gasp as his mouth left hers, and he focused his lips and tongue instead on her neck.
"K – kurosaki-kun…"
His hooded eyes lifted up, and met hers. When he saw the surprise and shock reflected in them, his own eyes widened in a similar manner, and he finally realized what it was he was doing. He pulled back, and shook his head, dislodging the haze that had started covering his mind. "Shit. Where the hell has my head gone?"
Orihime brushed his bangs away from his face. "I didn't mind," she said with a firm voice, despite her faint flush. "and it's understandable, considering your state of mind all day."
"Guh." He leaned his forehead against her shoulder. "This can't keep up. One day is bad enough."
"We'll figure it out," Orihime said with conviction. "I promise."
Ichigo smiled, despite his worry. "Yeah, we will," he said. I'm going to understand what that bastard's up to, and put an end to it. I can't be worrying Orihime and everyone else like this. I've done that enough, especially the past couple days.
He glanced up when Orihime didn't say anything, and caught her staring thoughtfully into space. He frowned, and nudged her neck with his nose. "You okay?"
"Huh?" She blinked, and met his gaze. "O – oh! Yes, I'm sorry! I was just thinking."
"Oh."
Her eyes widened, and then her arms began to flail. "Not about that, I swear! I – I was thinking about Shinji-kun, actually."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Shinji?"
"Yeah. I was wondering why he's going to Soul Society again. I just never pictured him doing that."
Ichigo thought back to when Shinji told them about tomorrow's trip, and how he avoided giving them a direct answer. "Yeah, it is weird. I mean, what kind of reason would he have for wanting to go back?"
If Shinji had his way, Ichigo and Orihime would never find out the answer to their query. Really, it was just one of those things, in his opinion, that they were much better off not knowing.
He set off on his hastily planned trip at noon, skipping school altogether in lieu of having to explain his absence to Ichigo and the others. He didn't want to spend another day trying to dodge their questions, and anyway, he didn't want to miss training.
Shinji frowned as he stepped through the senkaimon. Training… more like preparing Ichigo to initiate a suicidal charge against a Vasto Lorde. What the hell was I thinking? He shook his head in disbelief. Hard to argue with him at the time. Still, what part of 'We don't want you to fucking die' does he not get?
He ran a hand over his long face, and muttered something unintelligible into it. And really, worrying Orihime-chan like that… I oughta kick his-
Voices drifted down the pathway, pulling Shinji from his thoughts. With a blank stare, he leaned over to look, wondering what division he was in. He caught a glimpse of a few shinigami, the ones making the noise, walking in the opposite direction. Their shihakusho were sleeveless.
Ninth squad, it seems. He gazed ahead at the white tower that was at the center of the Seireitei. He stared at it, trying to determine which way the first division was. It had been so long, and he struggled to remember the pattern. He then nodded as he finally able to recall it. All right. First division's gotta be that way, he thought, glancing to the northeast.
Making sure the coast was clear, he hopped lithely up onto a rooftop. Been a damn long time since I've done this here. He grinned at how nostalgic he was sounding. Rooftop jumping just isn't as fun when you're not in Soul Society… Eh, whatever. He rolled his eyes, and took off for the first division before he started sounding like a complete sap.
As he flash-stepped across the rooftops, Shinji's thoughts circled back to Ichigo and Orihime. What's been up with that kid? he wondered as he crossed the dividing line between the tenth and eleventh divisions. Breaking my nose like that, and then freaking out on Chizuru. I mean, I know I tease and she's a pain in the ass, but was it necessary?
He turned the events of the day before over and over in his mind, trying to reach a satisfying conclusion. He was most troubled by the way Ichigo's reiatsu had fluctuated. Just after the first class began, it had spiked so violently that Shinji had been on the point of dragging Ichigo out of the classroom and (in a kindly fashion) banging his stupid head against a wall. Before he could make a move, however, Ichigo's energy had collapsed, returning to normal. Shinji had kept an eye on him for the rest of the day, but though his energy dipped and soared, it never reached astronomical levels.
Now, what was that about? It was undeniably the most mind-boggling incident of the day. Why had his reiatsu risen so high, and what made it stop? More and more questions… I guess I'll ask him in training today.
Shinji came to a halt on a roof when he realized he was in the first division. His eyes became unfocused as he searched the reiatsu in the area, trying to locate Yamamoto's. He knew it would be weak, considering the commander-general was still comatose, but it was the only other way aside from peering into every building.
There, he thought when he felt the commander's reiatsu. It was much lower than normal, but it was still strong enough to be detected easily. Shinji adjusted his cap, and with a determined face hopped off the roof and made his way towards the commander's quarters.
He stepped inside, and frowned. It's pretty damn quiet, he thought as he glanced around. The hallways were empty, and the lights were dimmed. Shinji's instincts were heightened as he sensed something was amiss. He was guarded before. Where are they?
It wasn't until he took a few steps down the main hallway that he realized he had walked into a trap. He heard a strange hissing noise. A purple gas rose up from the ground, and Shinji's eyes widened. Oh fuck. What the hell is this?
He whipped his head around, and cursed when he saw more gas behind him. You gotta be shitting-
His body went immobile, and he hit the floor, wincing as his head slammed into the ground. Nerve gas. Shinji tried desperately to move, but his arms and legs wouldn't respond. He was stuck staring at the far left wall, contemplating his situation and cursing his luck. Why does it have to be so damn difficult? I'm trying to do the right thing.
His already unfortunate situation got much worse when he heard a voice drift up from the other end. "Excellent. It worked. Nemu, go see who the intruder is."
Kurotsuchi, Shinji realized, feeling both dread and irritation.
He forced his eyes to look up, and met the stare of Nemu Kurotsuchi, who looked perplexed. "Mayuri-sama, it is one of the Vizards."
"It's Shinji," he corrected through gritted teeth.
"Hirako Shinji?" Mayuri stood next to Nemu. "What an unexpected subject for my test."
"So glad I could help," Shinji remarked sarcastically. "Now why the fuck was I gassed?"
Mayuri knelt down, and prodded at Shinji incessantly. "No response from your arms or legs?"
"Of course not!" Shinji tried to move them again, and groaned in frustration when they still refused to budge. "I'd have kicked yer ass by now if I could move 'em!"
"Vulgarity will get you nowhere," Mayuri said with a small 'tsk' sound. He turned to Nemu. "The gas worked wonders, but it released too slowly. Make adjustments to the gas lines as soon as we're finished here."
Nemu bowed and said, "Yes, Mayuri-sama."
A creeping sense of panic crawled up Shinji's spine. "Finished with what?"
"Examining you. It'd be far easier to do in the lab. Nemu, pick him up and we'll-"
Before they could begin to move Shinji, and before the poor Vizard could protest, a voice called out, "Please stop."
All three of them glanced in the direction Shinji had come from to find Hitsugaya standing there, arms crossed.
"He's with me," he continued, wisely not entering the hallway right away. "So I'd appreciate it if you don't drag him to your lab, Kurotsuchi-taichou. Also, is there any way I can enter without getting gassed myself?"
"You're clear to walk down here," Mayuri said with a sigh. "The system recognizes certain reiatsu and can discern between those who have clearance to come here and those who don't." He pulled out a needle, and jammed it into Shinji's arm. "Give it a minute and your motor functions will be restored."
"Gee, how kind of ya," Shinji drawled. He strained to see Hitsugaya better, and said, "I owe ya."
Hitsugaya shook his head. "It's nothing. I was looking for both of you, so this is somewhat convenient, despite the circumstances." He glanced at the needle Mayuri pulled out of Shinji's arm as he walked over to them.
Shinji followed his gaze, and then realized what Hitsugaya meant. "Oh, right. That incident on Saturday morning."
Mayuri raised an eyebrow. "Incident?"
"Yes," Hitsugaya said. He recounted what happened in the restaurant with Ichigo and the strange man with the needle, describing it in the same manner he'd give an official report. As was his usual style, he didn't miss one detail, and explained everything as clearly as possible.
When Hitsugaya was finished, Shinji was frowning, despite being relieved to have feeling in his arms and legs again. "Wait. So he got stabbed as a human, right? But there was a needle hole in his shinigami form."
Mayuri's usual bored expression turned intrigued. "Oh? Now that's not very common."
"Neither is getting stabbed the moment you walk into a restaurant," Shinji remarked with a roll of his eyes.
"I wanted to ask you if you had any idea what the man was trying to draw out of Ichigo," Hitsugaya said to Mayuri. "It couldn't be blood; he didn't have the needle in his arm long enough."
"Certainly wasn't DNA, either," Shinji added. "Coulda just used a hair fer that."
After a moment's consideration, the twelfth division captain snapped his fingers. "Spirit energy," he said. "If the needle was in for a short duration and the resulting wound appeared in his shinigami form, then the man was drawing out spirit energy from Kurosaki. It doesn't take long to get a little sample."
"It's possible with just a needle?" Hitsugaya asked, surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Of course. I invented-" Mayuri stopped in mid-sentence when he realized what must have happened. His expression immediately contorted into anger. "Are you suggesting someone broke into my lab and stole such a thing?"
"Possibly." Shinji got to his feet at last, dusting off his pants. "Dunno. You need to tell us that. If you invented the thing, how many copies of it were there?"
"Only very few," Mayuri said. "They're not the easiest things in the world to make. Nemu!"
His vice-captain nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll go through our inventory."
"I'm holding you responsible if one's gone missing," Mayuri said, clutching his fist in anger. "I won't tolerate laziness! Something like this should not have gone unnoticed!"
Shinji glanced over at Hitsugaya, not willing to stand around and listen to Mayuri yell at Nemu for something that was likely his fault. The captain sighed, and nodded in agreement. "Kurotsuchi-taichou, please let me know if you find anything."
Mayuri nodded. "Very well. I can't say for certain why someone would require Kurosaki's reiatsu. I can assure you, though, it was no one from my lab."
"Thank you." Hitsugaya nodded to Shinji, and they both took their leave. Once they were outside, Hitsugaya asked, "Are you all right?"
"Yeah. Kind of pins and needles, but I can move okay."
"I'm sorry you got caught in that," Hitsugaya said. "Kurotsuchi-taichou and the twelfth division have been working on a security system for the Seireitei. Along with improved alarms and sensors, they've set up traps in certain locations. The first location they were testing was the main hallway that leads to Yamamoto-soutaichou's quarters."
"That explains it, then," Shinji muttered. "So basically, they're putting booby traps in spots that are important. I'm betting the fourth division's gonna have one."
"More than likely." Hitsugaya lead them away from the first division. "Why were you going to see Yamamoto-soutaichou, anyway?"
You don't want to know, kid. Shinji scratched his head, and shrugged. "I can't go and see 'im? I saved his ass, after all. I got blocked by guards last time, so I tried again."
Shinji wasn't certain whether Hitsugaya believed him or not. His usual neutral expression revealed nothing about the nature of his thoughts. Whatever Hitsugaya believed didn't seem to matter; he didn't press the issue further. "I apologize. Right now is not a good time. The news of the Vasto Lorde has gotten out, so there's heightened security." He paused. "And fear," he said with a low voice. "A lot of fear. Uncertainty, too. What do you do against an enemy that's stronger than your best fighters?"
"Group effort," Shinji said, his face determined. "We're gonna make it."
"Kurosaki-"
"I'm not gonna let him lead a solo suicide charge against it, either. I don't care what the hell I said; it's not gonna happen." What made him change his mind, Shinji wasn't certain. Perhaps it was a feeling of concern for Ichigo, no matter how idiotic the boy might be, or maybe it was a reaction to his feeling that this was somehow his fault. Perhaps it was something even more inexplicable.
Hitsugaya remained quiet, walking slightly ahead of Shinji as his eyes glanced down at the ground. Then, "I hope you succeed, and I hope you're right."
"We survived Aizen." Shinji's gaze turned skywards, recalling that final battle. "I've gotten too far in my life to be stopped now. No one's gonna die on my watch, ya hear?"
Shinji reached into his pocket, and gently touched the item which he had failed to return a second time. It ain't gonna happen. I'll keep everyone alive, including myself, somehow. He pulled his hand out his pocket, and inhaled deeply. I'll protect this thing, too. Can't say fer sure if they're after it again, but if they are, the last place they'd look is in the human world. Maybe it's safer with us then, for the time being.
"You know," Hitsugaya said with a smirk, "you sounded like Kurosaki a little."
"Ah, shut up," Shinji said, crossing his arms. "Don't compare me to him."
"It's not necessarily a bad thing," Hitsugaya added. "That kind of attitude is something we all can use more of, but it's better when it's with someone who's a little wiser about it."
"Yer making me sound old," Shinji teased with a grin.
"No. I say that because I trust you. I trust you enough to keep Kurosaki alive. You say you won't let it happen. I'm going to hold you to those words." Hitsugaya walked farther ahead, but his words still carried on the wind. "Don't let him die. I won't be able to bear seeing the look on Inoue-san's face if he does."
That instantly made Shinji think to the day back at the Shouten when Ichigo said he would fight the Vasto Lorde, and the look of pure terror that was in Orihime's eyes. It made his heart wrench, and he winced. Hit me right where it hurts most. He sighed, and hurried after him. "Aw, come on. You know I wouldn't let anything happen that makes Orihime-chan cry."
"I know." The captain turned, and gave Shinji a stern look. "That's also why I know you won't let her down. Now, come on. Don't you have training today or something?"
Shinji nodded. "Right, right. Not that we're gettin' far or anything."
"You'll figure it out," Hitsugaya said before flash-stepping away.
"What the hell? When did everyone start puttin' so much faith in me?" Shinji pondered out loud before flash-stepping after him towards the senkaimon. He hated burdens, and responsibilities and anything that took him away from his extensive music collection and the simpler life he had taken up in the past century, but he had also served as the captain of the fifth division for a hundred and fifty years, and he knew in his gut that he could not let Orihime or any of the others down now.
A/N: I abuse Shinji too much. I really do. But I love him to death, which might be a part of the reason why. I'm a sick individual.