Chapter 10
Kyouraku-sama
00000
Ichigo's apartment, Shibuya District
June 20th, 2:35pm
Ichigo's reluctance to leave the security of the Candy Shop was an understatement. He felt as if it would be the last time he would ever see the place again, but he steeled himself for the oncoming onslaught. He promised himself he would be back and he would stick to it.
His apartment was still the same as it was when he left it, with one exception though. Stark's scent lingered through the air, pushing him, threatening his balance. He felt his heart quiver with hurt and he couldn't do anything about it, even if he wanted to. Even his bed wasn't the same. Stark's absence made it unwelcoming and miserable despite its offering of softness and warmth. He pinched the bridge of his nose; thinking of the man made his head hurt more.
A rather enthusiastic ringing interrupted his thoughts. He stared at his mobile phone dully. He forced himself to reach for the phone, knowing only two people knew of this number. One he just left in his haven the Candy Shop, so it must be the other, his employer's representative Kyouraku-sama.
He reluctantly answered the call.
"Ichigo-kun?"
"Yes, Kyouraku-sama?" he nervously waited for the man to speak. He didn't even notice his hands were trembling.
"We will be meeting at the usual place, about 10 AM tomorrow. We'll discuss your assignment."
"Yes sir." As the man hung up, he let loose the breath that he was holding. He knew this meeting would not end well.
In an unidentified building in Tokyo, Japan
June 21st, 10:02am
Ichigo anxiously waited as he sat in a plush leather armchair. He was in the same room where he received his assignment less than a month ago. The room still had the same sunny and inviting aura but the nature of this meeting kept the berry on edge. He briefly wondered if there was something that he could have done back then to prevent things from happening, not that he regretted any part of it though.
A discreet clearing of throat snapped him out of his reverie. Kyouraku-sama stood by the door which led to his office, wearing a warm smile on his face. Ichigo immediately stood up and bowed in greeting. "Kyouraku-sama."
"Ah, Ichigo-kun, you know there's no need to act so formal when it's just the two of us." The man teased him as he usually did. The older man treated him very much like his own uncle did, though Kyouraku-sama knew where to draw a line, after all, he was a part of the organization which employed him.
Disappointment crossed the older man's face before releasing a sigh. "I really do not want to be the bearer of bad news, Ichigo-kun, but we are rather getting impatient. The limit that we have placed upon your mission is almost up but we have yet to see results."
Ichigo took his time to answer. He had to choose his words carefully; else the man find out that he had gotten himself in seriously deep shit because of Stark.
"I-I need more time Kyouraku-sama…" he began, but found himself unable to continue. If he let more words out of his mouth, it would be easier for the older man to discover what he was trying to hide.
Kyouraku looked at the man before him calculatingly, something he abhorred to do. It was never in his nature, but he could tell that something was up. He took his sweet time to answer as well. The older man was having a mental debate, as to how to proceed, sensing the delicate balance Ichigo seemed to be bearing. He did not like it one bit.
He leaned forward, still eyeing Ichigo intently. "Very well. But do remember that I would only grant your request only because I trust that you would succeed. Please do not break this trust, Ichigo-kun."
The younger man looked almost relieved to hear his words as he nodded restrainedly.
"I will contact you in about a fortnight's time. In the meantime, I will think up a reasonable cover over the delay." He put emphasis on his last few words.
"Thank you, Kyouraku-sama."
8:14pm, same day
The night time view of the Tokyo Bay and the surrounding metropolis was even more spectacular as Kyouraku sat in one of the leather armchairs to enjoy it. It had been several hours already after the tangerine haired man left.
"Kyouraku-sama?"
The man turned his head in the direction of the voice. It was his assistant Nanao Ise. "Ah, Nanao-chan, you're still here this late? How dedicated!"
The severe looking woman just sniffed in disapproval when she saw him drinking sake, rather than looking through the paperwork she just placed in his inbox. "Kyouraku-sama, Ukitake-sama sent a few documents this afternoon. I placed them in your inbox for your perusal."
He didn't seem to be listening though. He was deep in thought, replaying the meeting with Ichigo in his head. Suddenly, he spoke. "Nanao-chan, do you remember the first time you fell in love?"
The bespectacled woman closed and opened her mouth, trying to respond. She blushed furiously then indignantly said, "Sir, that's hardly a topic for conversation!"
He chuckled, noting the obvious discomfort he put his assistant into. He continued anyway, since he rarely got a chance like this. "Nanao-chan is so modest."
Still blushing furiously, the severe looking assistant pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, trying to regain her lost composure. She vaguely wondered where this was leading to, as she watched her boss pour himself another shot of sake. She haughtily cleared her throat. "Kyouraku-sama, I'll have to get going. My elder sister is staying with me; she gets worried if I come home late."
The man looked at her, sadness tainting his usually jolly face. "Of course, Nanao-chan. You can go. I'll be seeing you tomorrow." The woman felt guilty at what she saw, staying rooted at where she was standing for a few moments before she stammered her thanks.
The man sat still, staring at the bottle of sake, almost a third of which he drank. Sudden realization hit him after Ichigo-kun left; the man was in love with the person he wasn't supposed to feel anything for. A small part of himself couldn't help but feel guilty at what he asked the orange-haired man to do, but it was part of business. Anything else became second priority. Yet he felt that he somehow wronged Ichigo by putting him in this situation, no matter how small a role it was that he played.
00000000000000000000
A/N: yes, people, I am back from the dead! Anyhow, I had a lot of difficulty writing this little chapter. (actually, lately that has always been the case) but I'm hoping that you'll like this one.
PS: isn't it a bummer that Kyouraku and Ukitake had to go down like that in the latest Bleach chapter? But I'm still rather optimistic that they would still somehow not die or whatever, because they have not shown their freaking bankai yet, not to mention it's rather unbelievable that 2 of the most powerful captains in the Gotei 13 would go down that easily. I hope that Kubo Tite does not mess this one up or else.
