About a month passed, the days following a pattern. Ichigo would get up earlier then everyone else, run, shower and partake in her favourite hobby, insulting Gin. He would scowl and twitch, wanting to hit her but refusing to since he believed her to be a girl. It made her smile. Ichigo was still weaker than most of the men but she managed to complete the course more often and when it came to combat training she was holding her own for longer. One day at the beginning of September things started to go south.
Lazing on her bed she was smoking while she read, growling at anyone that came near her period making her more hostile than normal.
"Kurosaki put the book down and come play shogi, I'm pretty sure you've read it about five times now," Byakuya said, in his most demanding tone he could muster. He grabbed the book out of frustration, ripping it from her hands.
"Fuck off Byakuya, 'm not in the mood," she hissed, picking up another book from the pile on her bed.
"Somebody's on their period," Nnoitra sung being a jerk like normal. Ichigo growled at him, muttering a yes that nobody heard. Byakuya snatched up the pile of books and the one from her hands, it seemed he was determined to play shogi with her. Ichigo grunted and stretched, cracking her shoulders and elbows.
"I'll play but don't expect me to be nice about it," she said, walking over to the table that had been set up in the middle of the room. Running a hand through her shaggy hair Ichigo realised she was going to have to cut it soon. Then again almost everyone in her squad had long hair, Renji's the longest.
"Let's make this interesting, if I win you have to stop smoking. It's vulgar habit." She raised a brow, the man was being prissy again.
"Fine, I win and I get to embarrass the fuck outta ya," she said, setting up the board. Looking more alert then before she moved the first piece, there was no way she wasn't going to lose.
Before long a crowd began to gather around the pair, since both were genius strategists a lot if time was wasted thinking about what moves would give them the best advantage. Gin eventually drifted over to the crowd to watch. Shiro might have been a complete jackass but he had a brilliant mind. Ichigo let her brothers trade mark feral grin cross her face, she'd found an opening that would allow her to win. She cackled in her victory, lighting up another smoke and took a long drag. Standing she walked around the table and kissed Byakuya, watching as he turned various shades of red, mouth opening and closing in shock. Gin grabbed the back of her shirt ripping her way from the other man.
"Your behavious is unacceptable Kurosaki, apologise to Kuchiki now," he ordered, shirt still in his grip.
"Just admit Gin, ya wanted in on the action." Leaning up she placed her lips right next to his ear whispering, "I've seen the way ya look at Aizen, ya wanna ride him dontcha?" Gin was furious, glaring at her with his eyes open. He wanted to beat the shit out him, almost had once. Shiro was a rude bastard, he did nothing but disrespect his superiors though he was smart and never whined about the harsh training. It was the reason why he hadn't sent Kurosaki to the hospital but today had sent him over the edge. The little brat needed to learn some manners. Letting go of the shirt he'd grabbed his hair instead, forcing Shiro down onto his knees. Placing a foot on the back of his knee, he slammed his full weight down, grinding his knee into the hardwood floor. Everyone watched in shock, it was like Gin was trying to pulverise his knee cap into dust, some reckoned you could hear the bones grinding against each other. He pulled Shiro to his feet, the man favouring his left leg and punched him in the gut.
"This is what you get for disrespecting your superior," Gin growled, smirking. Ichigo turned to face him and grinned.
"Cock sucker," he muttered, laughing. Gin's eyebrow twitched and he punched the young man in the face. Twice.
Ichigo wiped the blood away from her lip, spitting the rest of it on the floor. She collapsed back on her bed, her knee throbbing in pain.
"You should probably go see the nurse," Chad mumbled, she glanced at him surprised. It was the first time she heard him speak.
"I will take you," he insisted, stepping towards her.
"Nah but thanks, 'm fucking fantastic. Don't even hurt," she growled going back to reading, having retrieved her books from Byakuya.
When she got up that morning her knee was swallow so badly she couldn't bend it. Hobbling stiffly, she made the bed and slowly dragged herself to the shower block. When she made it to the shower block, Ichigo collapsed onto the bench and peeled back the pants leg to her knee. It was a black, splotchy red color with brilliant blooms of purple decorating the edges like lace. Hauling herself up she twisted the tap manically letting the hot water gush over her knee, trying to relieve the ache.
When her knee would bend again, she washed quickly. Then jogged the short distance back to the barrack. Looking at the sky, she noted the dark clouds gathering overhead 'looks like a bad storm,' she though and frowned worried.
