Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach!
A/N: Oh hell, I really, really want to just crawl somewhere and die now. Sorry (probably won't cover it but) to all who've been waiting, and hey to any new readers - this is chapter 18!
To the Wind
Chapter 18
By Advent Wing
"Ghrjk," grunted Ichigo into his pillow, as various joints and muscles cried foul.
It had been six days since he had set foot in the Karakura House of Horrors – six days of what he could only describe to anyone else as traumatizing. Beaten, both emotionally and physically, all he wanted to do right now was stay in bed.
After all, if he was unconscious, nothing could—
Something. Something was rubbing against his foot.
"…Mwaaa…"
"OH FOR FUCK'S—KEIGO!" He ripped the blanket away. "WHAT THE HELL!?"
Keigo mumbled something, as he slowly took stock of the fact that he was no longer in Paris, sipping wine while cuddling Rukia…but rubbing his face up against Ichigo's leg instead. "…OH GOD NO NO—
Upstairs, Rukia, Orihime and Tatsuki stirred just slightly at the noise. Rukia was tucked carefully into her blankets, clutching the largest pillow in the room to her chest. Orihime was sprawled atop her wrinkled sheets.
And Tatsuki grinned in her sleep as Keigo's muffled screams filtered gently through the floor.
---
"But don't you see?! This is our opportunity to show them just how awesome we are!"
Off to the side, Ishida wondered how Keigo managed to sound so chipper. He'd almost been strangled to an oxygen-deprived death.
"…That's it. You are not allowed to talk," the orange-haired host stated, clutching a pillow over his head and his ears. "You're banned from talking."
"Just talking?" Ishida asked sceptically. His bedding and blankets were neatly folded, his pillow on top of the pile. Showered and dressed, he looked like he'd been up for a while. "If the problem was his voice, this situation would be a lot simpler…"
Bouncing over to the armour-clad Ichigo, Keigo made one more attempt to plead his case. "C'mon, it'll be great." He leaned over the pillow-armoured Ichigo conspiratorially and stage-whispered - "I mean just think how Mrs. Kurosaki will gush at—
Ichigo shot to his feet before Keigo could utter a 'hruk'. "Gush at…?" He prompted.
"…gush about how decent a guy you are!" he tried as he was dragged up by the collar to Ichigo's eye-level.
From his position as spectator, Mizuiro smiled. "I think Keigo is learning," he commented brightly.
Ichigo threw said-Keigo at him.
"Are you all going to help?" asked in Chad's mellow tone. He was showered, dressed, and currently tying his apron easily. AI had managed to scrounge up one that fit his large frame, and he was feeling rather pleased...and as such, more talkative than usual.
Ichigo however, did not appreciate this fact. "Et tu Chad?"
"Something basic then?" The big man suggested diplomatically. "Steamed rice, miso soup. Maybe natto and omelette…"
"I'm not interested."
Chad sighed, turning to the only other guy showered and dressed. "Ishida?"
"Breakfast for me is usually pretty simple." Not to say he didn't like cooking, it's just he preferred to be efficient about things. He found it impractical to cook regularly for one.
As he gathered his blankets, Ichigo felt the tug of memory slow him down. Assuming he did cook breakfast, there was only one answer. "Pancakes," he mumbled, as little snapshots of making pancakes with Rukia early this week filtered through his mind. He grunted irritably. These days he couldn't go one morning without thinking of her, of the things they'd done….
"Why?" Mizuiro asked curiously.
"Huh?"
"Why pancakes?"
Ichigo pulled the multitude of covers over his head. "…It isn't any of your business." What used to be Ichigo was now a blanket heap – and it shifted around before finally settling down.
"And," Ichigo's muffled voice continued, "if any of you wake me before midnight tonight-
"I don't want to make breakfast," declared Keigo. "I want to make awesome breakfast!"
He skipped past Chad and into the kitchen.
There was a moment of horrified silence.
"GOD dammit!" howled the blanket heap. "BAAAAANNED!"
"At ease," Chad said. "I'll handle it." He still liked to believe all Keigo needed was a firm hand and a voice of reason. He padded out the room after him.
"I'll help too." Mizuiro said brightly. "You sleep."
Ichigo grunted, mollified by the quick response of Chad and Mizuiro.
Ishida, on the other hand, crossed his arms and leaned against a sofa arm.
And eventually….
"…Orange or Watermelon?" filtered in Keigo's voice, a little away from the lounge. They were heading upstairs.
Chad's baritone voice came in hesitantly. "…For juice? …I was thinking miso-
"MISO FRUIT SOUP WHOO!"
Chad and Mizuiro's voices started up simultaneously. "…No, wait-
Ishida had left the room at 'watermelon'. Ichigo savagely flung his beloved covers at the wall.
---
Eggs…and egg shells. On the counter. On the stove. On the microwave.
Bits of baking powder, flour.
The waffle machine would never work the same again – well you couldn't really call it a waffle machine anymore anyway.
Smoke - and Ichigo groaned. Even with the ventilation on it hung in the air. The blender – why had it been such a struggle to decide what kind of fruit juice to make?
…My kitchen. AI managed, with as much dismay as his monotone would allow.
"No. No. This can be fixed." Ichigo's eyes darted from one disaster to the other, checking each off mentally. "This can be—" Keigo's soup burst into flames, the oven-door fell of its hinges, the toaster dinged valiantly but then leaped off the counter to its doom.
Silence...
Keigo inched close to Chad, and away from Ichigo. "Can it still be fixed?" he asked Chad quietly.
"K-Katobeto…will…kill us." Rukia's stunned voice—wait, Rukia?
"…No." Chad replied. "No."
---
"What the hell happened?"
The four others (Ishida had been cowed into it too) were on the receiving end of one of Tatsuki's 'seriously angry rants', legs tucked underneath them in seiza position like good, proper, repentant kids. It was a situation out of hell - when they tried to glance away from Tatsuki, Orihime's disapproving glare was there to meet them.
The goal of the lecture was to tell them they were idiots and that they'd clean up—as best as they could—as well as split the repair bills…but….
Ichigo winced as Tatsuki got into her stride, with any pauses for oxygen filled in with Orihime's "Yeah, that's right!"
He wouldn't be surprised to see four quivering masses of sub-human flesh rather than four males later.
"Pay attention!" Rukia snapped, dragging him by the collar to face her again.
He glared down at her. "What the hell could I have done? I was against the whole damn thing anyway!"
"Oh really?" Her angry blue gaze seared him as she crossed her arms. "You're telling me there was no way to keep things under control?"
Okay, so maybe he'd gotten caught up with the idea of grinning smugly when Rukia tasted the food – not that he'd admit that. Come to think of it, they'd all gotten a little zealous for some reason or another. He rubbed his head tiredly. Stopping them became telling them what they were doing wrong - which became competing with them…which became…
It er, all comes up to quite a bit of money, commented AI EX, somehow conveying hesitation in his monotone voice.
"…Oh." Muttered Ichigo wearily.
"…PART-TIME JOBS—!" came Tatsuki's muffled shout, punctuating the end of the AI butler's statement rather gloomily as she continued her rant in the next room.
But, he continued, anxious to elevate the dark mood his master and mistress had fallen into, if you split it, I don't believe it will be a figure your parents will disown you over.
Rukia breathed an audible sigh of relief. "That's great AI-san."
"You don't have—" Ichigo swallowed what he was going to say "—you're staying at my place remember?"
She gave him a bland look, which he read as 'you won't pay for me?'
He slammed a fist down on the kitchen counter. "There's a limit to the amount of freeloading you can do!"
---
"Whiiiiine."
"Biiiiiitch…."
"Whiiiiiiine…."
Chad sighed.
"Keigo…" began Tatsuki irritably as she mopped. "If you think that I think going 'whine, bitch, whine' is better than actually voicing your complaints I think you need another kick to the head."
"Give me a minute, I'll do it." Ichigo said as he scrubbed away whatever psycho-concoction had stuck to the plates. All of them had snapped up the head-scarves and aprons that AI-EX had provided for them, and gotten down to some serious cleaning.
Keigo jerked like he'd been electrified. He turned to everyone else. "HEY GUYS—"
He was met by Ichigo's foot.
Tatsuki sighed as she placed one hand on her hip.
"What'd he do?" enquired Rukia, poking at Keigo with her broom.
"I'd bet every damn thing I own that he was going to say 'Hey guys, let's bring the cleaner-bots online!' or something."
---
"Got it?" Tatsuki asked.
They nodded.
And with that, the door slammed shut with a heavy bang!
"Shopping." Ishida spat the word out like it tasted bad.
"More like, get out, and get lost till afternoon," muttered Ichigo under his breath as they stood staring at the door.
"You know," commented Chad, "we can actually pick up a few of the things we need at my house."
"I feel we're pretty lucky to escape with this little," Mizuiro said, shoving still sweaty palms into his pockets. He'd been one of the first to scamper out the door. "You really pissed off Tatsuki, Keigo…"
"You think?" he pondered, considering it seriously for a change. "She's surprisingly sensitive about these things huh?"
"Things?"
"Well you know, what's proper and stuff. She rants about not making moves on the new student, tells us not to wake up late when we were carpooling…"
"Goes ballistic when you spy on her at the hot springs, wants to kill you for messing up another person's house…" Mizuiro rolled his eyes. "Dude, I think you're reading too much into it."
"Am I? Just think about it for a second, all of you."
"Well…" began four other voices.
"Maybe you have a point…okay, I got it. Choose between Big sister Complex or High Martial Artist's Honour."
"I would say…"
Ichigo, Ishida and Chad shuddered as whatever senses they'd honed in their short time as spiritual warriors pricked at them.
"…Suppressed Sexual Tension!" crowed Keigo.
The door was flung open savagely, and they bolted immediately…which was good because Tatsuki heard every word.
"Why do you want to die sooooooo bad?!" she shrieked as they sprinted in the general direction of the shopping precinct.
---
"The thing is, we have like four hours till we have to head back."
"Video games!"
"No," Ichigo snapped at Keigo reflexively.
"We'd have time, I guess," Ishida said neutrally, not wanting to admit that he was agreeing with the idiot.
"Yeah, but I don't have cash for the arcade," snapped Ichigo. Rukia's earlier manga spree had made him a very poor teen.
"There's a bowling alley too." Mizuiro chipped in.
"I can't bowl." Chad said quietly. "Is it fun?"
"HELLO?"
"Sure it's fun!" Keigo said, clapping him on the back. "And there's a café there and it's a great place to pick up—meep."
Ichigo tightened his grip on the back of Keigo's neck further. "…No one is listening to me. Why?"
"…guh…keh…merried…can't…."
Mizuiro frowned. "Ichigo you'll have to let up, even I can't translate this."
Ichigo eased up, but didn't release him.
"KAH!" Keigo breathed, suddenly limp in Ichigo's grip. Ichigo let go in mild surprise, and with that the wily teen danced away. "Freedom!"
"Hey!" Ichigo snapped irritably.
Playing dead…is he like, an animal? wondered Chad.
"Allow me to explain! You! Are!" he took a depth breath "…a traitor!"
"…to what?"
"The Bachelor Brigade of course!"
"…the what?"
"I get some on a regular basis." Mizuiro commented.
"Bachelor. I said Bachelor."
"Ah."
Ichigo kept staring. "…the what?"
Ishida looked like he was going to throw up.
Keigo continued.
"I mean, think about it. You're the only guy out of us married!"
"What the hell does that—
"He does not protest!"
—we aren't married!" Ichigo snapped as he dove at Keigo.
"You're as good as!" the youth taunted as he slipped away. "Neeee, Ichigo, could you be a dear and pick up some snacks? I think it's best if you get out the house, and out of my way once in a while." Keigo then held his hands up like a puppy.
"Woof, woof!" he barked cutely, to a steaming and shaking Ichigo.
"Oh fuck Keigo, I'm going to—! HOLD STILL!"
"Ichigo's been whiiiiipped, Ichigo's been whiiiipped~" sang Keigo, using Chad as an obstacle to keep Ichigo from his neck.
"I'M GOING TO RIP YOUR LIPS OFF."
"Can he do that?" Keigo asked, ducking a grab.
"…Yes." Chad said.
"WAIT, WAIT!" Ichigo snarled as Keigo sprinted off.
---
"…And then Katobeto came in with Mayumi."
"…That must have been er…horrible." Tatsuki managed, blushing bright scarlet. She turned to the auburn culprit, who was now incapable of speech…and linear thought.
Tatsuki knocked the red-faced, wide-eyed and open-mouthed girl on the head. "Seduction tactics Hime?!"
She snapped out of it, flushing an even brighter scarlet at the phrase. "N-n-n-n-n-n-nothing like…that! I wasn't thinking of anything…like that!" She turned to Rukia and averted her gaze quickly. "It…would be really embarrassing!" A hand flew to her mouth, and her tone was awed now. "But you did it!"
Tatsuki sighed. She could see Orihime's definition of 'seduction' – 'How to propose during a wrestling match', or 'Orihime's Cooking Your Way to a Man's Heart (and his eventual death) – 101'.
Yeah. Bloody helpful. "Well, it turned out pretty well. You're really bold Rukia," she said grinning. "It's too bad Ichigo is so dense."
Rukia felt her face heat up. "It-I…I assumed it was the only way!" She tried to glare venomously at Orihime, but all she managed was a plaintive glance for help.
"Wha-I…"
Tatsuki sighed, rocking back and forth while rubbing her soles together. "Yes, yes, that's enough you two…" She stopped, and turned her gaze from the ceiling back to her friends. "The plan is fundamentally flawed. We're making this too complicated. That's no good when it comes to Ichigo. As I've said a hundred times to-" she stumbled at the deadly look in Orihime's eyes. "…myself…to myself…"
"To...yourself?" Rukia prompted curiously.
"…As I've said a hundred times to myself, it's no good planning complicated things around Ichigo."
"I…see," she said slowly, indeed, Ichigo was not one for complicated things. "I can see the wisdom in that." She blinked. "…But then what do you propose I do?"
Tatsuki threw her hands up into the air. "For god's sake - just go there now and confess already!!!"
"Wha?! I…"
Tatsuki stared at her flatly. "Okay. I get it - you need time." She then glanced at Orihime venomously. She was looking at the floor, pink and quite ashamed.
Rukia nodded quickly. "Yes! That's right! I need some time…to…prepare myself."
At the word prepare, Tatsuki nodded flatly. "Uhuh."
Rukia's gaze became steely. "Of course I've decided to do it." And then it melted again. "Just…well…not…now…you see…."
"Okay, fine. How about this. I am 100 percent sure Ichigo likes you. But even if I say it you won't believe me. So…the answer is this – How do we show him you're interested without actually spilling to him that you're totally crazy about him?"
Silence greeted her.
"…A date. Just. Ask. Him. On. A. Date."
---
Bowling. He was bowling.
"I'm…bowling." Ichigo said, dumbstruck.
Chad frowned in concentration. "Me too," he murmured, lining up for his turn.
He glided to the front, and sent the bowling ball off gently…eyes were rooted to it as it glided smoothly to the pins…and then smashed into them, earning him his sixth strike.
"That's…really great…Chad." Keigo said, maintaining a wide grin as he ground his teeth together.
Mizuiro elbowed him. "It isn't about strength…isn't that right Keigo-sensei?"
"…You just watch!" Keigo wailed, hugging his bowling ball to his chest.
Ishida was next. He managed a spare pretty easily.
"You too!" Keigo wailed again.
---
"A…date?" asked Rukia, as Orihime oooooh'ed and aaaaah'ed appreciatively in the background.
"Yes Rukia…" Tatsuki said. "Tonight in fact."
"It's brilliant. What we'll do is…"
"…ditch you two. Tried and true method."
"Ditch?" Rukia asked. Anxiety suffused her body for a reason unknown to her.
"And then, with 'The Chance!' created-
"The Chance?"
"-you tell Ichigo to make it a date!" they finished, grinning at each other the way only true Conspirators could.
"Uh…." She searched her memory for everything she'd read on concerning dates and felt her mind turn to mush.
"…Rukia." Tatsuki began, eying her flustered state carefully. "…You…haven't been on a date before?"
Rukia racked her brain for an experience that even remotely matched her definition of a date. "W-well" she stammered, stalling while she beat down the desire to shriek her frustration.
Her experience and knowledge of matters of the heart was so obviously lacking when put next to that of her two friends. She'd actually only recently discovered and devoured the shelf in Karin's room that was labelled 'romantic'
Romance had never been possible – never even been a consideration. Her life in Soul Society had been…she blinked. …Why hadn't she switched to a Kuchiki breathing exercise to calm herself down? What was happening to her? When did…everything…affect her so much?
"Don't worry," Tatsuki said. "We'll handle the planning."
"But…why would it work?" Rukia found herself asking.
"It's perfect cause you're implying that you like him, but not actually telling him. Hell, if he says yes, then…"
Wait what? How would this work? If she was trying to look like she was implying then Ichigo could also look like he was implying – and then he could actually not feel—she swallowed. When had it become difficult to even think that he didn't feel the same way?
Ow. She put hands on the sides of her head in an attempt to stop the headache.
"…I am…not sure I follow…" she began, but Tatsuki and Orihime were already well into strategy. "…Hello…?"
---
Ishida was…just about…almost…ready to hate himself. "So uh…how's it been going?"
"How's what been going?"
"Have you come to a decision yet?"
"About what?"
"…about…Kuchiki."
Ichigo eyed him. "…I've been thinking about it." He said, side-stepping the issue carefully as he took a swig of his coke.
"So you're happy with just stringing her along?"
Ichigo choked on his soda. Sputtering, he turned to shiny-glasses-Ishida in disbelief. "What did you say?! I am not…how would…I wouldn't-"
The shine disappeared and Ishida looked at Ichigo with a surprisingly abashed expression. "…is what someone else would say."
"…What?"
"I've…I've been thinking about your situation," Ishida snapped.
"…Why?"
"I don't know!" The Quincy snarled. "I probably can't stand the sight of you two floundering about!" …Is what he said, but why did an image of Orihime watching them flit through his mind?
"…Okay." Ichigo managed, somewhat shell-shocked.
Ishida took a deep breath. "The point is this…"
"The point is?"
"The point is…" he glanced to the side a little embarrassedly, and folded his arms. "You know, put aside the fact that she's a Shinigami."
"…Put…aside?"
"Yeah. If she wasn't one, then there wouldn't be a problem right?"
"I-" He shook his head. He couldn't believe it. "That's the whole problem! That she's a shinigami!"
"Who's a shinigami?" asked Mizuiro jovially.
"Shut up!" they both snapped.
Mizuiro padded away sadly.
Ichigo's scowl faded somewhat. "It ain't like that. It ain't that easy."
"And why?" Ishida asked, pushing his glasses up irritably. "Think about it. Repeat what I just said to yourself if it sounds odd in my voice."
"Again, why?"
"Because that's what you'd say to me if the situation was reversed."
"…It's different…when you care about someone…"
"I don't understand. What's the damn problem?"
"Look, I…" he ran a hand through his hair. He could lose this – whatever the hell 'this' is. He felt like…if she said no…he might not be able to look her in the eye again. They'd become so close since that night when he'd taken her powers-
"She could just decide to leave – decide it won't work. I could…lose her. Things would change."
"From my perspective, you aren't worried about her, you're worried about yourself!"
Ichigo said nothing.
"Dammit," Ishida said, clarity arriving. "You're scared! And that's why you're not doing anything!"
Ichigo sipped his soda, hiding his expression, and Ishida never felt like punching him more.
"Thinking about it!" snapped Ishida angrily. "Yeah fucking right—
"…THIS IS THE KEIGO SPECIAL!" cried the youth resolutely, and Ishida and Ichigo's gazes were drawn to him.
They watched as Keigo wiggled, and then walked forward slowly. Each step was carefully measured, calculated, with a pinch of the killer bowling instinct he had trained since five minutes ago! He wound back and…
Everyone watched as the ball sailed through the air, landed a foot in front of the white targets with a wince-inducing thunderclap, bounced…
—and smashed fully into the pins.
"SSSSSSSTEEEEEEEERIKE!!!" Keigo roared, pumping his fist into the air. Ichigo and Ishida leapt out of their seats to whack him to the floor.
"YEAH, BUT ON THE WRONG LANE!" they snapped simultaneously.
The family next to them stared mutely. The youngest placed his ball back. "I don't really mind, so…."
---
"…We're back."
Tatsuki was waiting. "Great, great, now you all should start getting ready for the festival."
Ishida felt an ache grow behind his eyes. "We're really going are we?"
"Of course. Yukatas all around so-
"No. No Yukatas."
"No thanks."
"Jeans and a shirt for me."
Chad shook his head. It was unlikely they'd found one that fit.
"I call shower!" called Keigo as he ran up the stairs.
"Hoi!" Tatsuki snarled as they shouldered past her.
---
"Lousy fucking jackasses." Tatsuki muttered, cursing them foully. "Even when I'm wearing a yukata."
Orihime noted how chagrined her friend must be – her language was never that bad unless she was especially upset about something. "Maybe if you told them you were going to wear a yukata? They'd be more willing to wear one too?"
Tatsuki shrugged as lightly as possible in response. Orihime giggled. She could be cute sometimes. She crossed one fold over the other, frowned, and then tried to reverse. "Ugh, I think I messed up."
"No, you're doing it right," Rukia said, her eyes bright as she helped her along. "It was difficult for me at first too."
"But you're pretty skilled at it now." Orihime replied. "You can even do it on your own."
After helping Orihime, it was apparent that Rukia was well-versed in traditional dress. She offered to use Tatsuki as an example to teach the excited Orihime.
"Can you tie a kimono too?"
"Actually yes," Rukia mused, "I think I could help one put it on." She could count the number of appearances Kuchiki Byakuya's adopted sister made in public on one hand. She'd made them all with a kimono.
"And you've worn one?"
Rukia jerked. Remembering those early days was a chore. She nodded, the memories banished by Orihime's smile. "Actually, yes." She was suddenly reminded just how different her life had become. She wondered if things would continue like this…if she remained…here….
"I see…" sighed Orihime despondently.
"I take it that you haven't?" Rukia ventured.
"Nope," the auburn admitted. "And when I used a yukata for summer, Sora-nii would tie it for me. He was pretty bad at it."
Tatsuki patted Orihime's head comfortingly, while Rukia lowered her eyes. "Mmm."
---
"We're going to be late," Mizuiro sighed. "What are they doing up there anyway?"
Chad shrugged. "Someone should go and call them."
"Me!" exclaimed Keigo happily.
Ichigo pushed him back onto the couch.
"You know maybe we really should just kill him," commented Ishida coldly.
Keigo glared. "If not me, then who?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. 'If not me'. He couldn't believe how freaking stupid he was—"Oh hell no!" he snapped as he turned to face the stares pricking the back of his neck.
---
"Say Rukia," Orihime began suddenly. "Do you come from a really traditional family? I mean, you mentioned your brother was refined, but…"
Rukia's fingers hesitated for second over Tatsuki's light blue. "Yes. I do. It's a very…ah…old…family."
---
"Lousy fucking jackasses." Ichigo muttered as he stomped up the steps.
---
"Is…well, is that why you're having trouble confessing? You think they won't approve or something?"
"…Yes." Rukia admitted. "Among other things. But yes, my…family…is the biggest reason."
"They won't like it?" enquired Tatsuki.
Like it? she asked bitterly. Giving shinigami powers to a human was one thing, but what she was doing went beyond the hell was she planning on doing…stay here? Her eyes began to sting and she cursed herself for it.
Tatsuki's eyes softened. "They aren't here right?"
"Still overseas."
"Then…isn't it okay?"
"No."
"Why?"
Because I'm a Shinigami! She bit her lip to keep from shouting it out.
---
In his anger, he pushed the door open heedlessly.
Rukia's lithe form was swathed with white butterflies on a deep, soft black. Her hair was swept up and clipped to the back of her head – and he stared into eyes made a deeper blue with surprise.
"What are you-" He began, struck down in the doorway. "…Rukia."
All three girls were suddenly aware of a deep-seated emotional hijacking. It was probably caused by the violation of one of the 'laws' that all three had in common.
This particular law was – 'Kurosaki Ichigo could not be in the room while I am changing'.
"K-" Orihime began, crossing her arms over her chest. "KYAAAAAAAAAA—!" She cried, squeezing her eyes shut as she screamed her lungs empty.
Ichigo felt his entire body jerk at that scream – and every fibre of his male body new he was doomed. He was also suddenly reminded as to why they didn't want to send Keigo up.
"I…wha!?" he tried, ducking a comb.
"GET OUT!" demanded Tatsuki, her face bright red. She threw a box of tissues and it exploded behind him after he ducked it.
"WHAT THE HELL WHY?!" he demanded, legs shaking as he stared at what used to be a box of tissues. It wasn't a question. He wasn't asking why he should get out, but rather why the judge had decided on death. He let out a very un-Ichigo like squeak as Tatsuki lifted a heavy mahogany chair.
"JUST. GET. OOOOOOUUUUTTTTT!"
"A-ALRIGHT!" he managed, eyes widening as said chair flew towards him. "ALRIGHT!" he screamed again, to make sure another one wouldn't be on the way. He held out his hands and caught it…more like received it – stumbling back as he did. He fell over, the chair thumped to the side, Tatsuki stormed up to him, over him, drilling a red-faced glare into him while Orihime and Rukia watched, both equally scarlet.
He squeezed his eyes shut…and then the door slammed closed, Tatsuki had left.
He crawled away.
Inside, the three stood, searching each other's face…when… "Hey," Orihime commented. "We're mostly dressed."
Something that might have been regret shot over Tatsuki's face but she squashed it down easily. "I…It's the principle of the matter. He should've knocked." She glanced around, looking for an ally. Her gaze zeroed in on Rukia, Rukia would definitely agree with her. "Right Rukia?"
Rukia fought her blush down. "Huh?!" she exclaimed, shaken out of thinking about how dumbstruck he looked. "Er, principle! Right."
Tatsuki eyed her. "…Right." Orihime was stifling giggles. "…And what the heck's so funny?"
"K-Kurosaki's face!" she said, in between fits. "When you threw the chair at him!"
Tatsuki thought about it for a second before bursting out into laughter. Rukia pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle hers, but she eventually joined in.
Tatsuki's yukata would have to be redone, Rukia mused. She and Orihime had ruffled theirs a little too.
She supposed they'd have to retie them.
---
It was amazing how Keigo's tear-speckled, starry-eyed gaze still had space left for deep, glowing admiration. "Brother!" he sobbed, holding his fist to his heart. "You've come back to us!"
Ichigo stared.
"Go on!" Keigo continued. "Tell us of the glory thine eyes hath seen!"
Chad and Mizuiro stood as one to save Keigo.
---
"Fina—" muttered Ishida, but the rest died on its way out.
Orihime was clothed in reds, Rukia was a deep, soft, black, and Tatsuki was in blues.
"Surprise!" Orihime cheered.
"Wow," muttered Mizuiro, echoing the sentiments of the rest of the gang.
Tatsuki hmphed as she pulled Orihime and Rukia along. "We weren't planning on wearing them, since you guys refused to wear yours, so be grateful."
"I-!" Keigo began.
Mizuiro punched him. "Don't ruin it," he mumbled hazily.
"We'll be waiting outside, so when you're all done staring, follow."
Keigo scrambled up, his feet kicking at the floor. "HOW DO WE BE DONE WHEN YOU'RE WALKING AWAY-"
Ichigo head bowed and teeth grit, snatched him by the collar and tossed him to Chad.
"…No one will know." Ishida mumbled, any patience for the hyperactive youth long-expired. "We could do it now."
Photo op! AI interjected gleefully.
---
Keigo knew exactly who he had to thank for all this.
Ichigo.
And God of course.
Thanks God! he cheered.
It'd started with Rukia, and now Orihime was hanging out with them on a regular basis.
It was…amazing, he decided, ogling them as they walked ahead. "Aaaaah." He sighed happily. "Is this what it feels like to have a girl in each arm?"
He kept a safe distance of course, wouldn't want Ichigo slamming on him anymore than he already had, asking with grit teeth—
"Why are you ogling Orihime and Rukia?" demanded Tatsuki, just barely masking the murderous intent behind her question.
"Hiiiii!" he squeaked—"Hiiii…hi. HI." He said, stiffening, his step faltered and he forced his legs to move.
They did so woodenly.
"Hello." He continued.
Tatsuki sighed as she glared at him, one eye open like she couldn't believe it and the other closed like she wanted to erase the image. "…I've got something to tell you so listen carefully."
"Hm?" Keigo asked curiously. "For me?"
"Yeah," she sighed despondently. She leaned in and told him.
He blinked once he'd heard and she rolled her eyes as she watched the gears in his head rotate…
…inch
…by
…inch—"Just say something stupid already so I can ask Ishida," she snapped.
"…Well…"
Tsuzuku
A/N: OKAY. NEW TACTIC. Chapter 19, out in three days! Even if I have to write all night for three nights! Even if I have to resort to questionable and dangerous substances! Real life be damned and sleep is for the weak!