Chances

Chapter One

My eyes stared unseeingly in front of me as the ceiling above my head. The sheets of my bed were thrown everywhere and yet I found I was not cold or hot. I wasn't anything I couldn't feel anything but the pain of losing her. I almost wished that I had felt death instead of this dull nagging pain in my chest. Hell death was less painful than this. This was painful because it wouldn't go away and everything held some sort of memories. Even the stark ceiling held memories of her and all we did in this room.

"Ichigo…" Her voice carries through the room and I turn my head toward her and as she pulls up the chair to my desk after sitting a tray on the table. Instead of her normal black pants and orange shirt she wore a white tank top and a pair of black shorts that were rather short."You need to eat something…then you need to get out of this house." Her golden eyes are softer than normal and her lips are set in a worried frown that I had only seen a handful of times directed at me. She had been here through it all from that very first night a month ago.

I roll my eyes at the order and the shut them trying to just lie in darkness. "I don't feel like it Yoruichi." I hear cloth rustle before her figners are making contact with my cheek sending my head snapping the other way. The skin around it burns and it's the first thing I've really felt in days. I open my eyes to stare in her anger glazed golden gaze.

She had finally snapped and I knew it because she had never laid a hand on me like that before unless we were training. "Get up and eat something before I have to force feed your ass Ichigo." She quips her eyes narrowing threateningly. Even if I didn't know Yoru-san like I did I would understand that she was being completely serious just by the coldness in her eyes. I sit up and begin eating slowly my stomach rumbling in hunger loudly after I eat the first bite.

"Thank-you Yoru-san…" I rush through bites of food. She snickers and shakes her head as her long hair swings back and forth behind her. This is the first time I had seen her with her hair down but I suppose she would make herself comfortable in my apartment since she's been here for a month now. She leans back and opens a magazine but occasionally she peeks at me as a finish off the large tray of food. She folds the magazine and sits it on the desk before standing and smirking at me dangerously.

I shuffle away from her a bit upon noticing the look. "Now you need to get a shower and I will not hesitate to undress you, if the need arises, Kurosaki." I nod brusquely and stand grabbing my towel before moving out of my room and into the bathroom. I feel the warm water run down over my skin and looking down I notice how absolutely sickly I look. I haven't trained in a little over a month and I only go through the motions. I need to train because it will get my mind off of Rukia.

I shut off the water and place my hand and forehead against the mirror before wiping it off and gazing at my reflection. I didn't bother seeing the sadness and underlying anger in my eyes instead I brushed past that and looked to find the person I was despite Rukia. Upon finding a small sliver of dignity I straighten and run my towel over my slightly longer hair. I pull on my black boxers and grey jeans before tugging a white tee-shirt over my head. I would be a fool if I were to lie and say that I didn't think of her all the time…that I didn't sleep at night because my bed was cold…that I didn't feel like I was used. I can't say that I didn't dream of her whenever I did fall into sleep and I'd be a terrible liar if I said that I didn't cry nearly every night and feel like I might fall apart at any moment. I'd be all those things but not once in any of this has Yoruichi turned her back to me and not helped me through it. Surprisingly I let her in but I suppose it wasn't that surprising considering I trusted her so much.

"Oi…Ichigo are you alright in there?" I chuckle and tug on my socks before opening the door and running the towel through my hair again. She grins and yanks the towel from my hands before tossing it into my room. Her figners latch around my arms and she drags me from the room and down the hallway of my apartment passing by her opened door.

Her room was slightly smaller than my own but it was comfortable and she kept it ungodly clean. Unlike many people who came from a noble house, I have to snort at Yoruichi being a noble woman, she never once complained about how small my apartment was. I now notice that she had changed her outfit into a pair of slightly longer blue jean shorts with slight rips along the edges. She wore a long black shirt that nearly hid her shorts. The sleeves fell off her shoulders and split down the side only to join around her forearm. Two thin gold straps ran along her skin. She wore a pair of black and gold sandals that I believe were called gladiators but I'm not too keen on women's fashion.

We exit my apartment and she locks the door quickly before tugging me down the steps and out into the streets of Karakura. Her figners quickly lace through mine and she leads me through the crowded street until we end up at an arcade. I watch as she turns toward me with a dazzling grin and then drops my hand hurrying toward a game and pushing some coins into it. She motions me over and I give a short smile before following her and participating in the game without having to be asked.

We play a lot of the games and then wind up at a virtual fighting game. Yoruichi give a feral grin and tugs me to the front of the line with her where she pays the high admission fee before entering us both. I chuckle at her child-like enthusiasm before placing the glasses on my head as she does. I vaguely notice a few people crowding around before the game begins placing us in a virtual fighting scene. Yoruichi grins at me as the bell rings signaling that the fight was about to begin. In multiplayer you fight each other I suppose.

We go head to head clashing easily as if we were training underneath Urahara's shop and soon enough the alarm sounds again when we draw to a tie. I sigh and remove the glasses before feeling figners wrapping around my hand to tug at it. I look down meeting her impatient golden eyes with a slightly smile of my own. "I made sure to go easy on you so you don't pout." I chuckle at that and raise an eyebrow allowing her to drag me through the large crowd that had been watching us fight.

A voice causes both of us to stop in our tracks and I groan in annoyance. "I-CHI-GO…" I push an arm out and close line Keigo easily before hearing him begin to sob about how much I hate him. Some things never change, I suppose. His insane crying stops as soon as Yoruichi begins whooping with laughter. She holds her sides tightly while leaning onto me for support while I begin to chuckle at her contagious laughter. Keigo stares at us both with wide eyes as Mizuiro, Tatsuki, and Orihime walk over with soft smile that morph into shock at seeing the two of us.

Orihime has total shock in her eyes apparently having never thought Yoruichi and I were particularly close to one another. "Hello Kurosaki-kun and Shihoin-san, why are you here today?" I take a deep breath as Yoruichi tried to catch her breath after having such a laughing fit. She wipes at a fake tear and waves at me to speak for us both.

I roll my eyes at her antics before smiling lightly at Orihime. "Yoru-san and I were just hanging out before we go to the gym later to spar." Orihime catches the double meaning in my words and nods vigorously before looking away and blushing when Uryuu wraps his arm around her. Chad follows shortly behind the Quincy and takes Tatsuki's hand in his own.

"Ichi's looking a little less muscular isn't he? He doesn't believe me!" Yoruichi pokes at my chest and I swat her hand away before she continues to poke and prod at me. I let the name slip by because she's been so nice lately and she deserves to have a little fun.

Tatsuki eyes me for a moment before sighing and offering a sad smile. "How are you doing with Rukia leaving and everything? We haven't seen much of you lately." I feel my eyes try to harden but push it away in favor I focusing on Yoruichi's fingers grazing the back of my hand offering silent support. Tatsuki catches the gesture but remains silent as everyone else doesn't notice it.

I reach back and scratch the back of my neck trying to think about what I'm going to say and decide against lying. "Well things are looking up I guess. Yoru-san has been helping a lot lately. She's the reason we're here today. What are you guys doing after you leave?" By now Keigo has gotten off the ground and composed himself enough to answer me jovially.

"We're going out for pizza you should come with I'm sure we'll be able to fit into our regular booth." I smile lightly at the thought of hanging with my friends again. I hadn't been with them in some time because Rukia didn't like to act all the time and make up stories. Yoruichi turns her head to the side and looks away from everyone. Her phone vibrates and she types on it quickly before offering a small smile.

"If you're going with your friends I could probably go back and get some things from home." Her eyes portray real sadness but she hides it behind a polite smile. I frown upon realizing that she was worried about imposing on us.

"Ano…if you want to join us you can. I mean, a friend of Ichigo's is a friend of ours!" Tatsuki smiles politely having not exactly caught Yoruichi's full name but not wanting to seem rude. I watch as surprise flashes in Yoruichi's eyes before she nods softly wearing a nice smile.

Her lips part and a soft splash of color paints her cheeks as she chuckles. "I'm Shihoin Yoruichi by the way but you can just call me Yoruichi." Tatsuki nods before I run my eyes over the group of friends.

"Yoru-san you already know Sado and this is his girlfriend and my childhood friend Tatsuki. You know Ishida and Orihime too so the last two are Keigo and Mizuiro." Yoruichi nods but I know she had already met them quite a few time however they have had their memories erased due to the Seireitei.

We walk out of the arcade and down the streets toward our favorite pizza place. We settle into the booth and surprisingly it's not as cramped as I had thought it would be. Yoruichi's body is touching mine but not by much.

Tatsuki offers a polite smile at Yoruichi and I can tell that the questioning is beginning. Here's hoping she plays a better actor that Rukia and is polite. "How'd you meet Ichigo, Yoruichi?" I feel my eyes widen at the direct route but Yoruichi takes it all in stride easily.

She grins lightly. "We met at the place where Ichigo works out…I know the owner and he gave me a job. We met when he was fifteen I believe it's just that I travel a lot so I can't stay around for long amounts of time. My family lives rather far away and I like to visit as often as possible because I have a very close friend at home that would be upset with me if I didn't." She grins and I realize that she had easily flexed the truth a bit but mostly everything supported her simply answer.

"Where do you live when you are here?" Of course Keigo would ask something like the little pervert. I watch in mild fascination as she grins lightly and waves her hand before taking a sip of her drink.

"I usually crash with the owner of the gym I work at but Ichigo offered to let me take his guestroom for my stay." Keigo nods softly and snickers while wiggling his eyebrows. "He's been the perfect gentleman despite how horrible of a mood he's been in lately. It's alright thought because my friend back home acts the same way all the time." I snort because if she's talking about who I think she is then I am not as back as the nibantai taicho. Yoruichi turns her eyes to me and raises one silken black brown at me.

"I am not as back as her…" Yoruichi begins laughing and it's not those little giggles Rukia always had its laughter that wafts over the table and ends with a soft snort.

She waves her hand dismissively at me and I roll my eyes before tucking my hands behind my head and closing my eyes. "You mean you've been to her house before Ichigo?" I open my eyes startled slightly at hearing Mizuiro speak. "She seems older than you so are you turning into a womanizer?"

I watch as Yoruichi chokes on her drink and begins coughing loudly into her napkin. Her eyes are wide as she begins dying with laughter. "Oh that's a good one…Believe me I've tried to get him to loosen up with the women thing many times before this and he hasn't. As it stands when I visit I don't actually go to my home I have an apartment back at home that I stay in with my friend. Ichigo usually stays there or with a few friends that live up there. I think you all met Renji, Toshiro, and Rangiku before right? Ichigo met them through me…" I chuckle at the thought of a town filled with the shinigami…that high school would be absolutely crazy. Honestly if you threw the Espada into there it would make one hell of a drama series.

"Isn't Toshiro the short midget?" I snort at how angry he would get if he heard Toshiro say that. Yoruichi nods and recognition dawns on everyone's faces aside from the three who knew our little secret. The pizza arrives and we all eat our share. It's now that I notice how impeccable Yoruichi's manners are when she is around people she needs to be polite to.

"We should be going…" Orihime stands after taking Ishida's hand and everyone nods saying about the same thing. We all pay for our share and when Yoruichi goes to grab her wallet I still her hand and pay for the both of us. She nods lightly in acceptance before smiling lightly at me and allowing my arm to fall onto her shoulder. Unlike most time we've done this neither of us are hurt or close to death.

"Are you two together or something?" Tatsuki's sudden question causes both of us to look at one another for a brief second before Tatsuki continues darkly. "Obviously Ichigo has just gone through what one would assume is a terrible break up with a girl he 'loved' so if you are together you better not be using him. AS it stands if you hurt him in any way I'm going to hurt you twice as badly Shihoin." At her words Yoruichi's eyes narrow sharply before she begins laughing loudly like she had in the arcade. I join her laughter after a few moments before we're both leaning against one another for support.

"Ano…Tatsuki don't worry Ichi and I aren't romantically involved we're just close friends. We've been through a lot in the time we've known one another and I can promise you that despite first impressions I am not as dense as Rukia." Tatsuki's mouth falls open in shock and she nods before allowing Chad to tug her away. Yoruichi tugs me the opposite way leading me toward where Urahara was so that she could retrieve a few belonging from him. My mind kept wandering to her figners laced through mine before their suddenly gone and she placing a hand on my chest to tell me to wait.

She disappears into the Shoten and then come out with a small shoulder bag handing over her left shoulder. Without much thought I remove it from her body and tug it onto my own shoulder. Her figners lace through mine and she allows me to lead her toward the apartment instead of her dragging me there.

I've got to admit that even though I thought about Rukia a lot today that spot in my chest that always ached was surprisingly quiet and a soothing calmness we placed over me. Maybe this was how healing was supposed to go.

Her figners grab my keys from my front pocket and she opens the door easily before flicking on the lights and slowly walking into the living room. She falls down onto the couch and kicks her shoes off. I drop her bag by the door and join her in the living room only to fall onto the end of the couch by her head. She tucks her arm under her head like a pillow and reaches forward to grab the remote and flick on the television. An action movie begins to play and I watch as she curls up farther and starts to doze off to sleep.

By the end of the movie and the beginning of the next movie I too am dozing off and allow my eyes to fall closed. In the middle of the night I awaken and feel a weight on my hips. I realize that I had slouched down sideways on the couch and that Yoruichi was laying across my hips with her face buried into my stomach. Her lean arms were wrapped around my waist and her small fingers were curled around my shirt at the area around my lower back. I watch as her body vibrates with what appears to be purring and I nearly chuckle at the irony of it before her lips part and she releases a soft breathe. "I…chi…go…" Her lips form my name in a sigh before she snuggles closer to my stomach and releases a soft purring sound.

In a sleep induced haze I allow my arms to fall around her and I gently tug her up until her head rests on my chest and our bodies are running parallel on the wide couch. I kick out of my shoes and wrap my arms around her to keep her from falling off the couch. I feel my body fall back into sleep rather easily after that.