Rant (ignore if you want, it's just me being stupid) - I'm pissed. Seriously pissed. I just bought Bleach volume 64 and I gotta wait till November for volume 65 to be available on Amazon .in ! And damn India's bookstores as well for not importing manga quicker...
I wish I could order from Amazon. com , but shipping is gonna cost a lot...But seriously, I'm so desperate that I'm ready to use that $100 bill I'd been saving. Well, I'm not gonna bore you guys further, so onwards with the chapter!
Byakuya has so little dialogue in this chapter initially...
"What the hell are you doing?" Ichigo asked, as Byakuya got up, and discarded his gigai amd stood in soul reaper form.
"It's here." Byakuya replied calmly and flashstepped away, just as Ichigo was about to ask what was here. Ichigo shot up and looked outside the window through which Byakuya had left. Far in the distance, he could see a few figures, which he assumed to be Byakuya and the others.
"So it's that reiatsu-stealing hollow..." He told himself and sat down on the bed with a sigh. His services weren't needed for dispatching this hollow, and he didn't want to get in the way, so staying out was best.
"I just hope the others don't lose their reiatsu as well." Said a voice from behind him. He whirled around to see Renji and Rukia standing there.
"Who the hell let you guys in?" Ichigo demanded.
"Your sisters, of course." Renji said.
"And why aren't you helping them?" Ichigo asked Rukia, gesturing over to the distance where Byakuya and the others stood.
"Ichigo, there are plenty of people there already. And they aren't idiots like Renji. That hollow will be dead in no time."
"You could at least go help."
"And I'm NOT an idiot!" Renji said indignantly.
"Changing the topic, I heard this reaaaaaaaaaally interesting thing from Renji...about you and my brother...guess what?"
Ichigo paled, and glared daggers at Renji, whose indignation disappeared, tried to shrink behind Rukia, and of course failed magnificently.
"I-in my defense, she's really persistent, okay? That and scary as hell..." Renji said.
"Fuck you. I should've known that telling you something is the same as informing the whole Soul Society."
"Hey, I only told her! No one else knows, I swear!"
"Actually, Renji, many people had a hunch. Ichigo's not very good at hiding his feelings, though he sure takes a long time to realize them." Rukia said.
"Okay, but that's totally not my fault."
"So, Ichigo..." She said, approaching Ichigo, who backed away slowly.
"It took you long enough, fool!" She said and whacked him on the head.
"Damn, that hurts! And what took me long enough?"
Renji and Rukia passed each other an exasperated is-he-for-real look.
"For you to finally make a move on nii-sama!"
"Oh...wait, what?"
Renji and Rukia just shook their heads at the display of obliviousness.
"By the way, you two seem to be acting a bit different around each other."
Renji visibly tensed, and Rukia just looked amused.
"It's nothing." She said, while looking at Renji. Their gazes met but he immediately averted his eyes.
"So, Ichigo, what do you plan on doing now? I mean, about your and nii-sama's relationship..." She changed the topic.
"I really don't know. But, I like him a lot, and I guess he does too. We'll just wait and see where it takes us." Ichigo sighed and turned away
"Oh...And Ichigo?" Rukia said, her voice soft.
"Yeah?"
"Don't hurt him. He's already been through a lot of pain, with my sister dying and the clan members giving him hell, and it's emotionally crippled him, and I don't want to see him get hurt more, okay?"
"I swear I won't, Rukia." He said, staring at her seriously. She did care about her brother a lot, after all.
"And if you do..." Rukia cracked her knuckles, breaking the somber moment.
"Yes, woman, I know. Besides, have you given the same speech to Byakuya as well? You know, about not hurting me and all that?"
"It's funny how you think I actually care if you get hurt."
"Damned midget with a huge brother-complex."
"I-I do not have a brother-complex! Nii-sama's just too perfect!"
Ichigo stared at her with an eyebrow raised.
"You just gave us more proof of your brother-complex." Renji stated, chuckling. "Actually, now that I think of it, Captain is kinda perfect..."
"I know!" Rukia said excitedly.
"Great, now having a captain-complex is a thing." Ichigo said tiredly.
"Shut up."
"Besides, Ichigo, don't lie, you think he's perfect as well, don't you?" Rukia teased him. Ichigo thought of Byakuya's pale, smooth skin, his toned, slightly muscled body, his perky nip- Oh shit, he was definitely blushing now.
"Who's perfect?" Questioned another voice. They all turned towards the window to see Rangiku, Byakuya, Ikkaku and Yumichika trooping in from the window. They had light scratches, but nothing serious. Ikkaku flashed them a victorious grin. It was obvious that they'd won.
"So, who's perfect?" Rangiku questioned again.
"Nothing. Is that hollow dead?" Ichigo brushed away her question whilst fervently hoping his blush wasn't visible.
"Yep! Not exactly a piece of cake, but we've defeated stronger."
"Renji, do you feel anything?" Byakuya asked suddenly. Upon Renji's confusion, he elucidated. "The hollow is dead. Your reiatsu should be back. Do you feel it?"
Renji put his hand on his chest and concentrated hard. "Yeah, it's coming back!" He said excitedly.
"Good. Now all we have to do is wait for it to be restored completely, and our mission shall be complete. It will not take more than a day."
"Sweet." Murmured Ikkaku who was obviously tired of living with Keigo and Mizuho. Yumichika patted his back.
"Awwww, I'll miss Orihime..." Pouted Rangiku. "Oh, guys, in celebration of completing our mission, let's go drinking!"
"No thanks." Ichigo denied flatly. The last time they went drinking, Byakuya got drunk and started stripping...well, if that happened again, Ichigo wouldn't be able to control himself.
"I too decline." Byakuya said. The others murmured in agreement.
"You're no fun! I'll be at Orihime's." Rangiku said and started to leave, probably with the intentions of goading the poor (and underage) girl into drinking with her, but then thought otherwise and stayed.
"So..." Ichigo looked at all the shinigami gathered in his room. "What do you guys wanna do?"
"Oh, I know!" Rangiku exclaimed.
"What?"
"Strip poker."
"Rejected. Anyone else?"
"How about spin the bottle?" Rukia suggested.
"Eh, isn't that a bit childish?" Ikkaku asked.
"We can make it a bit risqué."
"Strip spin the bottle?"
"No, more along the lines of spin the bottle truth or dare."
"Yes! I'm in! And whoever will refuse to do a dare or answer the question will have to drink a shot!"
"I'm underage."
"It doesn't matter, Ichigo!" Rangiku said and produced a bottle of vodka out of nowhere. "Now hurry up and get glasses for us. Oh, and an empty bottle too."
Ichigo went down to get them, grumbling.
"This place is cramped, we should shift to the living room." Suggested Yumichika.
"His sisters are home, I'm sure he wouldn't want to drink in front of them. Besides, you guys aren't even in gigai. His sisters will freak if they see us talking to empty air." Rukia reasoned.
"You're right."
"Well, we can push the furniture out of the way." Renji said. And so they did, and sat in a circle, leaving space for Ichigo, who arrived empty handed. They looked at him quizzically.
"Karin and Yuzu left. Yuzu had piano class and Karin soccer practice. So we can go down." He said.
They all sat in a circle, the game was well underway, and they were all a bit (actually, a lot) tipsy, because of their refusal to do some of the outrageous dares that came their way (except Rangiku, who kept drinking even when she didn't have to). Now, the vodka bottle was nearly empty so they were forced to accept whatever truth or dare came their way, saving the drinking for the truly undoable ones. The bottle was spun by Ikkaku, and it came to rest with its neck pointing towards Rukia.
"Hmm...kiss the person you're attracted to the most in this room." Ikkaku said. Rukia looked flustered, and was about to reach for her shot glass, then decided she didn't want to get drunk, and swiftly kissed Renji. Renji was shocked, and slowly the color crept up his face till his face was the same color as his hair. Rukia coughed a little embarrassedly and spun the bottle. It landed on Yumichika.
"Hmm...Seven Minutes In Heaven with a partner of your choice!" Rukia said. Yumichika quirked an eyebrow. Rukia pointed him towards the huge closet, and he went in and dragged Ikkaku in with him. Rukia locked the closet door. They waited in silence for seven minutes, at the end of which Rukia unlocked the door and called for them to come out. They came out, saying that nothing had happened, but Yumichika's slightly flushed face and ruffled hair said otherwise. Now it was Yumichika's turn to spin. It landed on Rangiku.
"Strip one article of clothing from Abarai." He said amusedly, knowing that Rukia and Renji had a thing for each other and wondered how Rukia would react. Rangiku grinned and reached out and unbuttoned his shirt, taking it off. Rukia pointedly ignored them. Rangiku spun the bottle. It landed on Ichigo.
"Who's the sexiest person you've ever met? And if they're in this room, make out with them." She said evilly. Ichigo gulped, wondering whether to do it or pass. His brain was screaming for him to pass, but the alcohol said otherwise, and he got up, grabbed Byakuya by his shihakusho, and kissed him, slowly slipping his tongue in the other's warm mouth, which tasted strongly of vodka and and faintly of lemon. Byakuya was taken by surprise, but kissed back.
After what seemed like an eternity, they separated. Ichigo saw Rangiku staring at them, scandalized, Ikkaku and Yumichika wearing an expression of shock and amusement, and Renji and Rukia smirking away. Renji even clapped him on the back, muttering 'my man' as he sat down. Ichigo fervently wished that Rangiku was drunk enough to forget it. He knew that the others wouldn't tell. Just as Ichigo was about to spin the bottle, the doorbell rang.
He got up to answer, and Renji hurriedly started started slipping on his shirt, and a Rangiku hid the glasses and the bottles.
Karin and Yuzu entered. The first thing Karin saw was Renji hurriedly slipping on his shirt, and thought that her brother was cheating on Byakuya with him, and then say Rukia, and dismissed her previous thought, feeling slightly guilty for assuming her brother to be a cheater. Rangiku, Ikkaku and Yumichika hurriedly left as Ichigo held the door open for them. Byakuya went upstairs to change into his gigai.
"Oh, Rukia-san, you're here!" Yuzu exclaimed. Rukia smiled at her.
"What were you three doing?" Karin asked, when she saw the glasses and bottles that Rangiku had tried to hide. She frowned when she saw six glasses instead of three.
"Ichi-nii, you're underage." She said, gesturing towards the vodka bottle.
"I wasn't drinking!" Ichigo lied. Karin was going to say something else, but was cut off by Byakuya who was coming down from upstairs, having changed into the gigai.
"Oh, Byakuya-san, you're here too!" Yuzu said. "Oh...what're those for?" She asked, noticing the glasses and bottles.
"Nothing." Ichigo said hurriedly, cursing Rangiku in his mind for suggesting the stupid idea of drinking. He hoped he didn't reek of alcohol.
"So, Renji and I'll get going now, bye, Karin, Yuzu, Ichigo, Nii-sama!" Rukia said and grabbed Renji out with her.
"Bye~" Yuzu waved them off.
"Pssst, Ichi-nii, you stink of vodka." Karin whispered. Ichigo panicked, then realized that his sister shouldn't know what vodka smelled like.
"Why do you know what vodka smells like?" He asked suspiciously.
"I don't, I guessed." She smirked and gestured towards the bottle again, upon which 'vodka' was written in bold.
Ichigo grimaced and went upstairs, gesturing Byakuya to follow him. They went into his room.
"See, Byakuya, I'm sorry that I..uh...you know, kissed you in front of them..."
"It's okay, Ichigo, I don't mind."
"You don't?" Ichigo perked up.
"No. Third Seat Madarame and Fifth Seath Ayasegawa will not say anything, and Lieutenant Matsumoto...she was too drunk. She won't remember."
"And if she does?"
"I'll make sure she doesn't." Byakuya said, his face as impassive as ever, but the way he said it gave Ichigo shivers.
"Damn, you're evil."
"..."
"Say, Byakuya..."
Byakuya looked at him.
"Will you guys be going back tomorrow?"
"Our mission is complete."
"I know."
"You're always welcome to Soul Society."
"Not to your house?"
"Especially to my house. And even more so to my bedroom."
"...Perv."
"You bring out the pervert in me."
The story is coming to an end...? I'd chalked out a plot and everything, but I ended up winging it anyways. Anyways, if I follow the plot, there's still a lot more, if I don't, there's...probably not a lot more. Yes, I'm not the best at planning. Or plotting. Or following the plan. *sighs*
Tell me what you think, please? And tell me if I've made any mistake somewhere, I'm too tired to check T-T