Guess what?

Chapter 15: The why of some things

"Now then, you can go home now Ichigo!" Riruka ordered.

"Huh? You sure? I thought for sure I'd be staying here to train…" Ichigo said, slightly startling Riruka and making Nozomi's eyebrow twitch.

"Haven't you been here long enough?" Nozomi whispered as she looked away.

"Right! And there's no way we can let a creep like you stay here! Are you stupid? Morooooonnn." Riruka said after crossing her arms and blushing.

"You little-" Ichigo attempted to complain but was cut short by Ginjou.

"They're right. Whatever the reason, it'd be crazy for you to stay here and train." He said, catching the attention of Ichigo and Nozomi. "Fullbring manipulates the power of souls using a living body. Doing that puts more strain on your body than you feel. It's best not to push yourself, once you wear yourself out, your whole body will fall right into pieces."

"I see…" Ichigo replied with a hint of disappointment. He wanted to regain his powers as soon as he could but still complied to Ginjou's order.

"There's no need to rush, I'll give you a call once your body has recuperated. You've put up with not having powers for a year now, a few more days won't hurt right?"

"Alright… let's go, Nozomi." Ichigo said as he gestured to Nozomi to follow him.

"R-right!" She replied.

"Wait." Ginjou said as Ichigo and Nozomi approached the door.

Nozomi turned her head to check what Ginjou wants.

"I believe we haven't properly met. My name is Ginjou Kuugo. May I have yours?" He asked rather politely.

"Kujou Nozomi." She answered with a serious tone and gave Ginjou a hostile glare.

"Hey now, no need to be so hostile. Geez, you're just like Ichigo."

"What do you want?" Nozomi cut right to the chase and directly asked Ginjou.

"Hey Nozomi, calm down." Ichigo attempted to calm her down but was paid no attention.

"Simple, we want to restore Ichigo's powers by sacrificing our powers."

"…how do I know that you're telling the truth?"

"Man, you're persistent. Look, we have no ill intentions towards you or Ichigo. We simply want to get rid of our troublesome powers." Ginjou explained, slightly lessening Nozomi's glare but still hostile nonetheless.

"Oi, Nozomi!" Ichigo called out but was once again ignored.

"Listen, if you ever do anything that in some way causes harm to Ichigo, I will come after you." Nozomi threatened before exiting the room.

"Aye." Ginjou said as he returned to the couch and asked Giriko for a glass of wine.

"Hmph. Your girlfriend is really something." Riruka commented, slightly jealous.

"She's not my-"

"Save it. Get going Ichigo." Ginjou said before starting to drink the wine.

"Yeah. See you later, Chad!" He said before rushing out of the room. "Nozomi! Wait up!"

"Uh yeah." Chad replied.

"You could at least close the door you moron!" Riruka complained as she closed the door herself.

"Kujou Nozomi… who is she, Chad?" Ginjou asked.

"Kujou-san? She's a Mod-Soul with the abilities of a Shinigami. She's been living with the Kurosaki family for a while now." Chad gave a brief summary of Nozomi.

"I see… interesting…"

"Oh who cares about her?" Riruka burst out. "Let her babysit Ichigo as much as she wants."

"Riruka-san… are you perhaps jealous?" Giriko suddenly asks her, causing her to blush heavily.

"WHAT!? Why should I be!?" She lashed out, causing Ginjou and Jackie to burst out laughing.

"Daw, how cute! Our little girl is in love!" Jackie teased, making Riruka blush even harder.

"It would seem that it's definitely the case." Giriko commented.

"That explains a lot." Ginjou said as he held back his remaining laughter. "But it seems you've got some tough competition. Nozomi-san is really protective of Ichigo."

A vein popped in Riruka as she lost all her temper.

"SHUT UP!"

…

Ichigo and Nozomi walked down the streets on their way home. They had a very awkward atmosphere around them, mostly because of last night's events. Both were looking away from each other, but passed quick glances at each other on random intervals. The silence was deafening, until Ichigo decided to break it.

"Say, Nozomi…"

"Didn't I tell you to never talk to me again?" She interrupted coldly, even causing a shiver in Ichigo's spine.

"…sorry." He replied, looking down at the ground.

"Just kidding." Nozomi said, smiling slightly as an annoyed Ichigo looked at him.

"Look, Nozomi, I'm really sorry about last night… I don't know what came over me… I'd never want to say those things to you… truth is,I-" Ichigo said but was once again interrupted by Nozomi.

"Oh just shut up already. I know you were tired, it just… shocked me." She looked away for a while before facing Ichigo again. "I'm sorry too… I kinda overreacted."

"Yeah now that I think about it, I guess you did…" Ichigo said, earning a stomp on the foot. "Hey. That hurt!"

"Ichigo, I understand why you want to regain your powers. Don't worry, It's alright with me if you meet up with those weirdoes again." Nozomi stated, changing the conversation's mood.

"Really? Wow, thanks Nozomi! That really means a lot!" Ichigo exclaimed, clearly relieved at the fact that Nozomi finally believes him.

"But I still don't trust them, especially that Ginjou. I don't know why but he just seems so suspicious." She replied, slightly making a hostile face at the thought of the man.

"I don't fully trust them too but I need to do this. I want to be able to properly protect you again."

"Properly protect me?" Nozomi questioned curiously. "Ichigo, is it because you think you almost failed to protect me from Kageroza?"

Ichigo felt a slight hint of anger after hearing that name. He hated him for what he did to Nozomi, his friends, and Soul Society.

"No, it's because I DID fail." Ichigo admitted, slightly in a shouting tone. "In fact, it's all thanks to my Reiatsu being unstable that you're here now."

"Ichigo…" Nozomi said in a sad tone. She didn't want to see Ichigo in this state. She wanted to see his smile, the one that always reassured her when she was troubled. Realizing that she would be unable t produce a meaningful word at a time like this, she pulled Ichigo into a tight embrace.

"Wha- Nozomi…?" Ichigo said, blushing at the physical contact.

"Don't say that, you idiot." She said as she buried her face in his chest.

"Nozomi, I… alright." He hesitated at first before returning the embrace.

They released each other after a few minutes, heavily blushing. It was Nozomi who spoke first.

"Ichigo, I allow you to meet up with Xcution, but on one condition." She paused for a while before looking at Ichigo. "I go with you."

"Wha-…?" He stared at her for a while, noticing the seriousness reflected in her eyes. "Alright."

"Thank you, Ichigo." She smiled at him, a slight blush evident in her face.

Ichigo returned the smile and they continued to walk home, but he suddenly stops and stares at her as she stops walking as well.

"…what's wrong…?"

"I'm hungry… want to eat lunch?" He asks.

She stares at him in disbelief and annoyance for a while, before smiling and giving him a nod.

And that's the fifteenth. I gotta say, writing kinda relieves stress from schoolwork. Well that's all I can say right now. Thanks for reading! Ja.

P.S.

I know, this chapter's kinda short. But I'll make up for it. Swear.