Theater: The Rehearsal

Ichigo was waiting outside of the school when the bell dismissed all the students. He was hoping to see Orihime, since she is the one he has to interact in the play in a more… intimate level. Though, he kind of wishes he could just rehearse by himself rather than with a partner. The awkwardness of practicing with Orihime was bound to happen since she was his friend, a good friend that he couldn't see more than just that.

The redhead then saw Orihime walking with Tatsuki as they both headed his way. "Oi, Inoue!" Ichigo walks up to her. "I was wondering if you wanted to rehearse at my house."

Tatsuki looks at him with anger in her eyes as she balls her fist. "What! Are you trying to take advantage of her!" she was infuriated at how low Ichigo could be. It was one thing to rehearse at school but a whole completely different ball game outside of the school.

As Ichigo was about to respond to her accusation, a certain Quincy came up and interrupted him. "Of course not, Arisawa-san, I will be joining them." Uryū walks up towards them and turns to face Tatsuki. "This way I can make sure Kurosaki is doing his work."

Eyeing Uryū in a suspicious manner, Tatsuki finally gave a nod of approval. "Fine and you better start remembering your lines, Ichigo!" she then left the three friends alone as she walked away.

Ichigo was scowling at Tatsuki as she departed while Orihime was waving at her. Uryū clears his throat and receives their attention. "Shall we go?" he began walking behind both Ichigo and Orihime. As they were walking, he notices something. Uryū narrows his eyes and could see that Orihime was nervously tapping her fingers on her book bag. Oh no. If Inoue-san can't get over her nerves, then the whole play will be a disaster.

Soon, the three finally arrived at Ichigo's house and follows him as he opens the door. Ichigo was expecting to be bombarded by his insane dad, or be greeted by his sisters, but when none of these things happened, the redhead starts to wonder where they were at. "Huh? I wonder where everyone is at."

"Kurosaki!"

Ichigo walks into the kitchen from where the yell was coming from. "What?" he saw Uryū holding up a note that was left on the fridge, he then hands him the note and began reading over it. "Guess they left for the store. Well that's a relief; at least no one will be bothering us." Ichigo tosses the note on the table and walks into the living room where Orihime was sitting on a couch.

Uryū once again notices that Orihime seems to be very uncomfortable as she fidgets with her fingers. Inoue-san, if there was ever a time I needed you to calm down, this would be it! "I'm going to work on the costumes in your room, Kurosaki." He began walking without waiting for Ichigo to give him permission.

"Oi, don't make a mess!" Ichigo grabs his script from inside his book bag and sits across from Orihime on the couch. "Uh, so you want to get started on this?" the awkwardness really was coming into play as he stares at Orihime.

Orihime straighten up and tightly held the scrip in her hands. "S-sure, Kurosaki-kun," her smile was a bit twitchy which made it indicate on how the rehearsal was going to go.

Uryū was sewing in a fast rate as he finishes another dress in speedy record, pushing it aside as he went to grab for more of his fabric that he brought with him. Hm, I wonder how those two are doing. No! I shouldn't think about that, I need to concentrate on the task at hand. Narrowing his eyes on his project, Uryū began wondering what it would be like if he had kissed Ichigo back when they were at the theater.

No! Do not think of that either! I have other things to worry about than something so pointless. It was probably my imagination; Kurosaki wouldn't kiss someone like… someone like me. Stopping his movements, Uryū let his gaze wander off from his hands to the door that belongs to Kurosaki Ichigo.

It was then that he finally saw that he was in Ichigo's room, though, he was by himself in the room; it wasn't bad. He never even sat on his bed before until now, and that felt nice. Looking down at the bed, he saw that the bed sheets were blue and had a cross going across from them. Uryū's eyes widen at seeing this. The Quincy then places his hand on the warm sheets and softly ran his hand up and down over the cross. How strange.

Smiling, Uryū went back to his sewing and continues with a steady pace. A couple more costumes done and he would see how Ichigo and Orihime were doing.

Placing his script down once again, Ichigo inwardly groans at how slow they were progressing. They couldn't even make it to the end of act one, scene five without her beginning to stutter over her words. She's perfect until it gets to the point where Romeo and Juliet finally meet for the first time. This slow progress is really getting in my nerves; we can easily skip all those intimate things and just keep going with the script! If I had done this by myself I would have already been at the end and be beginning at the start of the script again.

Orihime was becoming red from her cheeks when she saw Ichigo staring at her. It was all too much for her that the only thing that came to mind was: "I-I need to go to the bathroom!" Orihime quickly made her way to the location, script dropping to the floor from her acceleration.

Ichigo was bewildered at how Orihime quickly left. "Damn, at this rate we'll never even make it to the end." Leaning his head down, Ichigo places a hand on his face, as if that would work to end his frustration.

Uryū was coming down from the stairs and saw that Ichigo was looking tired; also, Orihime was nowhere to be found. "Kurosaki, where is Inoue-san?"

Without looking up, Ichigo said, "In the bathroom."

Arching a brow, Uryū walks closer to the Shinigami. "I'm guessing that you two didn't get far."

Looking up, Ichigo grabs the script and waves it around. "We couldn't even finish the whole first act. What's that say?" Uryū reaches out and grabs the script from Ichigo's grip.

He flips through the pages and when he got to the last scene of the first act, he understood why Orihime wasn't giving it her all. I wonder if she got lost in the thought that she might have to kiss Kurosaki. And if that's the case, then she'll never be able to calm her nerves.

Orihime walks back into the room and when Uryū saw her, he knew he was correct. The poor girl still had a flush going across her face that made her look like she just ran a marathon. Inwardly sighing, Uryū walks over to her. "Inoue-san, you do know that you can skip all the more intimate moments and just keep with the script, right?"

The girl let a blush show but merely shook her head, as if trying to get rid of it. "Y-yeah, I was just getting stuck on some of the sentences. The old English language is pretty hard." She let out an awkward chuckle as she set her hands in her palms.

Uryū looks at the scrip and said, "Oh, well I could help you pronounce the words if that's what you need help on." The Quincy took a seat on the couch as Orihime made her way into the kitchen to retrieve a chair.

Gazing over to Uryū, Ichigo gave him a skeptical look. "Can you even read the old English language?" Ichigo should have kept his mouth shut as Uryū gave him a glare.

"Of course I can! I have read some of these types of stories so I have no doubt in my ability," he then pushes his glasses up. "Just try to keep up, Kurosaki."

Before Ichigo could say anything back, Orihime had already returned and she began to set her chair next to Uryū. The Quincy places the script up so that both he and Orihime could be able to see it.

"Hm, let's start on act one, scene five," said the Quincy as he flips the page to get to the desired location.

Ichigo didn't say anything back; he just flips pages as well until he got to the scene. "Uh, are we doing the part where they both meet for the first time?"

Uryū gave a nod and gave Ichigo time to continue since he was the first to speak.

Ichigo cleared his throat and began. "If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

Amazing, Ichigo really does have a knack for this, no wonder he was chosen as Romeo. Uryū came out of his thoughts and paid attention to the line Juliet had to say. He saw Orihime fidget with her shirt, but attempted the line.

"G-good pilgrim, y-you do w-wrong your h-ha-nd too much, which m-mannerly devotion shows in t-this; F-for saints h-have hands that pilgrims' hands d-do touch, and p-palm to p-palm is holy p-palmers' k-kiss."

Uryū analyzes the sentence structure in Orihime's speech and she seems to be having more problems when the scene is close to get more intimate. Maybe if I demonstrate. "Inoue-san, try it like this." Clearing his throat, he began.

"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."

The Quincy finishes the sentence flawlessly, which didn't' go unnoticed by the Shinigami. "Wow, not bad, Ishida."

Uryū just pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Like I said, it's simple to someone who has a sense of the old language." His gaze was then moved to Orihime. "Inoue-san, do you wish to continue?"

Orihime knew that if she stays any longer, then she would be a flaming mess of redness on her cheeks. That would be embarrassing so she just covered it up with a laugh as she stood up. "M-mm, maybe another day! I really must get home before it gets too late." She then moves the chair back to where she got it and heads for the door. "Thank you for the help." And then she left.

Ichigo and Uryū were the only two left sitting on the couch. The Shinigami looks down at the script and said, "You want to help me?"

Uryū was surprised that he asked, but merely shrugs. "I don't see why not." They both settled into a better position of both of them facing each other with their eyes on their script.

"Have not saint lips, and holy palmers too?"

"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."

The Shinigami is amazed at how much more progress they are making than before with Orihime stuttering which caused Ichigo to slow his pace, now he didn't need to hold back.

"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do: They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."

Not noticing what Ichigo was doing, which was the same thing Uryū was doing, they both were scooting closer to one another. Of course, neither realizes this since they kept staring at their scripts. Uryū read the line but at the same time read the gesture of what they needed to be doing, although, he knew that they would skip out on that. He would not kiss Ichigo in his home, no matter if it's for the sake of a play. Uryū would not fall for the old text.

"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."

Ichigo reaches out and took Uryū's hand like the script said, and held it as he said his line. "Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take…" he trails off as he brought his gaze on the young man who was still looking down at his script. Then by some force, they both began to stare into each other's eyes until they soon found themselves leaning closer. It was like in the theater, but the mere sway of the words was playing them as they were mere inches from closing the gap. Two lips met in what Ichigo could consider a sweet kiss. But as they pulled away, both of their eyes still shut, Uryū felt the kiss still on his lips and then his eyes widen. He pulls away from the Shinigami and began to stand up, as he tried to escape by running, Ichigo quickly caught his arm. "Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."

Uryū was confused at what he was saying but then remembers that that was a line from the script, the script that was lying lifeless on the floor. And even without it, he could still recite, "Then have my lips the sin that they have took," whispering in a barely audible voice, but Ichigo was still able to pick it up as he stood up from the couch, his hand still clutching Uryū's arm.

Ichigo leaned closer to Uryū and said, "Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged. Give me my sin again." Moving closer so that their lips were again merely inches apart, Uryū stops Ichigo as he placed his hands on his chest.

He looks into his eyes and then brought his hands up to Ichigo's face, placing them on his cheeks and then slowly leaning in as both were closing their eyes to have another taste of that fiery passion. Their breathes mingled for a bit, until Uryū closes the gap and lets his lips rest on the more colored ones as his paler ones covers them up. The kiss was merely lip on lip, no other contact. Uryū then pulls away, eyes still shut and deeply breaths in the air that he shares with Ichigo. The Quincy barely opens his eyes and sees that Ichigo's eyes were still closed. Closing his eyes back up, Uryū leans in once again and lightly sprinkles kisses on the Shinigami's. Uryū is merely kissing Ichigo's lips once, pulls away, then kisses again, repeating this until he finds himself unwilling to not plunge his tongue into the slowly parting lips of the Shinigami.

Clasping his hands on the back of Uryū, Ichigo brings him closer and slightly parts his lips to see if Uryū will take the invitation. Taking the hint, Uryū also parts his lips and begins to map out the mouth of the Shinigami. All thoughts of the play were put off their minds as their kissing became so intoxicating. Neither was paying attention to anything which allows a certain plush lion to get the element of surprise.

"Ichigo! Where—?" Kon stops whatever he's going to say as he stares at both Ichigo and Uryū. The only reason he came out of his sister's room was because she had given him another embarrassing dress to wear and wanted the Quincy boy to turn him back the way he was. He was never expecting to get an eye-full of Shinigami sucking face with Quincy boy! His mouth was practically on the floor as he just gapes at them, embarrassing dress forgotten as his eyes twitch when he sees a string of saliva part between their lips as they pull away from their activity.

Uryū and Ichigo part which in turn makes a smacking sound with saliva coming from their lips. Uryū quickly wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and hurries up the stairs on where Kon was standing on to get to Ichigo's room and retrieve his belongings, embarrassment settling in as he was caught with the redhead in something more than a rehearsal kiss, a kiss that doesn't even happen between their characters.

Seeing as Uryū was leaving, Ichigo glares at Kon and starts heading up the stairs only for him to stop as he hears his sisters calling for him outside.

"Ichi-nii! Give us a hand with the groceries!"

Ichigo stops and balls his fist at the bad timing his family had on returning back from the store. "I'm coming!" he yells back. Turning his head to look back at up the stairs, he could sense that Uryū had already left since he couldn't feel his reiatsu in his room anymore. Giving a sigh, he picks up the scripts and sets them aside, heading out to help his sisters. I'll talk to Ishida later.

Uryū drops his bag on the couch and his body soon follows as he lifelessly drops his body as well. He slowly reaches his hand up to touch his lips but quickly retrieves it back and looks away. Shame was beginning to settle in as he thinks back to the way he had kissed Kurosaki Ichigo. He was never supposed to kiss Ichigo. And not only did he allow it, he continued it. Shutting his eyelids tight, Uryū shook his head as to remove the image of him and Ichigo touching, but the more the tries to forget, the more he remembers the feel of those lips on his. The taste, the scent, even the way Ichigo held him as they surrendered to the blissful touch of temptation. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged. I wish that was true.

Standing up, Uryū heads to the bathroom and turns a knob to start the shower. Hoping that a shower is what he needs to stop thinking about Ichigo and the play and everything else in between. Stripping off his clothing and settling his glasses aside, he drops his clothing to the side and enters the warm water of the shower. Letting pound all his stress away, he closes his eyes but the moment he does, the image of him and Ichigo kissing comes back and he quickly covers his mouth with his hand. Damn! Why can't I stop thinking about him! He's just a stupid, idiotic, thickheaded, unselfish, handsome—no! He's not handsome, he's anti-handsome! With really soft hands and—gah! I need to stop thinking about these bad thoughts!

The Quincy leans on the wall with his back towards it and lets out a sigh, opening his eyes back up, Uryū looks down and notices that he has a problem. His eyes widen and his face begins to turn red. D-did thinking about Kurosaki cause that. If Uryū was embarrassed before, it doesn't match as how much he is now. Closing his eyes back up, the Quincy groans. I hate Kurosaki. Slowly, he begins to reach one of his shaking hands to his erect cock. He begins to slowly pump his cock in hope that it will settle down and stop being aroused by the thought of Ichigo. Groans soon begin to come out but the more he tries not to think about Ichigo, the more he feels frustrated for not coming. Clenching his eyes tightly shut, Uryū decides to let his mind wander to the redheaded Shinigami and the moment it did, his cock gave a small twitch. He moans and then gasps from the pleasure he just felt. He then begins to think about Ichigo and as he does, his stroke's get faster until he finally comes and bangs his head on the wall behind him. Wha-what has Kurosaki done to me?

Ichigo taps his pencil on his desk as he has his palm propping up his face. He had long since given Yuzu her precious Bostov back, suggesting that she gives him another cute dress. But that wasn't a problem anymore; the problem was that he couldn't stop thinking about the kiss he shared with Uryū. His lips were soft. Safe to say, Ichigo couldn't get his mind off from the lip to lip contact he had with the Quincy, and that, was irritating him. Maybe I should go visit him—no—he'll think I'm stalking him or something. I'll just wait until tomorrow.

The Shinigami glances over to the script of Romeo and Juliet and lets out a sigh. What a rehearsal that was.

A/N: Sorry for such late update, my new dog keeps me busy and way more tired than I usually am. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Also, if I hadn't said it before, I've decided to do the London series next after I finish this one. But for a heads up, its back in the old London time so there names won't be all with formal or anything that usually is normal. It will be more like AU to put it simple, hope you're all okay with that.

Review Response:

MermaidPriestess: I haven't yet revealed that until later on, maybe in the next chapter.

Gemini24: Thank you for your compliment, it's very much appreciated. Also, I like how you and shionch are helping me come up with a plot for the next series. I like both your ideas and hope to place the ideas on the story. Out of topic: I just read Batman on the review and became sidetrack with the Dark Knight that I found myself watching the whole Animated Series on my computer! Another reason for late update, sorry. I'm a HUGE Batman fan that I even made a Fanfic about the movie verse about my favorite couple… Anyway, thanks for the review!

Reina De La Noche: Thanks for enjoying that scene; I also found it funny as I incorporated it in. If you liked the almost kissing part, then you're going to like this chapter! The electric jolt is from… hard to explain… on episode 11 or 12, when Uryū grabs Ichigo's zanpakutō he gets a huge charge of his reiatsu that makes his bow grow in size. That's the way I see it when they seem to have sort of contact, hope that made sense.

Cammy: Thank you for the review! You'll love this chapter then!

SweetPurebloodAngel: Thanks for the review and the role Uryū has is still a mystery, and I hope you enjoy this chapter if you're looking for some kissing! And Uryū is a nice sweet talker!

chibishueiri: Thank you for the complement! I will surely keep writing more if people enjoy them!

Substitute Quincy: The costumes are in the works but I'll think of something. And I probably give a sorta mix with the old costume with something more… stylish, per say. Actually I was thinking on adding that scene you mention in this chapter but decided to add that in the next chapter. I never really thought why Ichigo would love Shakespeare, I just thought that he just randomly fell upon some of his stories and instantly liked them. I know when I read a couple of his works I enjoyed them. But your theory does make sense, it would be interesting if Masaki did read to him Shakespeare when he was a child or that she kept a collection that he fell upon… I really never put that much thought to it. Now that's interesting.

Nano: I'll hopefully have the play up soon! Glad you enjoyed it!

shionch: Thank you for such a wonderful compliment! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. The scarf came to me when my sister said something about scarfs and how sometimes some exaggerate it a tad. The color… wouldn't it be fun that it was a 'rainbow-colored' scarf! I like how you said 'destiny awaits'! I like when people use this line! And Ichigo really does fascinate Uryū, so much that he… well, I'm not going to spoil the chapter for you. The new arc feels like it's starting slow and I'm kinda sad that Uyru still hasn't come out yet, but the suspense is killing me! It's true what they say, save the best for last! Thank you ever so much for the compliment towards my sis, though, she does like them. The London AU is slowly coming into a more darker side with all that medicine and how Uryū is an orphan due to some lady obsessed with Ryūken that she actually made him a street child. But I do like ALL the ideas, there truly a big help! I can't wait to start that AU. Also, I don't remember if it was you or Gemini24 that mentioned Jack the Ripper but I (somehow) will incorporate this into the story. I just find the subject interesting, and it makes sense for what I have planned for Ichigo and Uryū.

Please review!