2

Something smells wonderful. Spicy like ginger and fresh like oranges. Uryuu draws in a deeper whiff and breathes out slowly. He is feeling relaxed yet invigorated. A gentle, feathery stirring low in his stomach makes him hum in appreciation of such a pleasant awakening. It has been a very long time since he had one.

"That's right, baby," whispers a familiar voice from the vicinity of his belly button, "Tell me how good it feels."

Whipping his head up to find none other than Kurosaki's Hollow crouched above and pressing light kisses all over his abs, Uryuu cries out in surprise and scurries away from the intruder. He pushes his lifted shirt back down and yanks the blanket up to cover himself for good measure.

"What are you doing in my bed!?"

"Waking you up in the best possible way: by going down on you."

"I didn't ask for that!"

"It's my way of saying 'thanks for having us'."

"That is not necessary," Uryuu firmly states. "Where's Kurosaki?"

"In the shower. Can't you smell that ridiculous shampoo he uses? Now that the guard dog's gone..." Crawling on all-fours, the Hollow gives him the eye and starts forward with the clear intention to continue where they left off. "We can finally have some alone time. No need to pretend with me, Uryuu. I know ya want it."

"You know no such thing! And I thought I told you not to call me that," he snaps with a menacing raise of his glowing bracelet. "Back off, Hollow."

"Ouch. After everything I've done for this world, this is how I'm treated? Ichigo couldn't've kept savin' everyone without my help, y'know."

Pondering that for a beat, Uryuu feels a pinch of remorse. It's true he never bothered asking for a name.

"Okay. Fair point. If you don't want to be called 'Hollow', then tell me your name."

"Ain't got one."

"Everyone has a name."

"Not me. Technically, I'm part of Zangetsu, but so is the essence of that megalomaniac you were understudy for in the Blood War."

"What would you like to be called, then?" This evokes a disinterested shrug. Uryuu's eyes trace carefully over the Hollow's features as he thinks. "You're a perfect contrast with Kurosaki but essentially the same entity. Kurosaki in reverse. Darkness to his light, yet also light to his darkness...How about 'Shirosaki'?"

The Hollow blinks twice and almost seems to perk his ears at the appellation. The corners of his mouth reluctantly twitch into the first genuine smile Uryuu has seen him give, there but for an instant before it morphs into a more seductive version. He leans in close and brushes deathly pale lips against Uryuu's cheek.

"I guess it doesn't suck," officially dubbed Shirosaki says, "Unlike me."

He is confused for a beat, then he gets it because Shirosaki tugs the blanket away and tucks his fingers into the waistline of Uryuu's pajama pants and begins to pull.

"Stop that!"

"Not again," Kurosaki groans, emerging fully-dressed from the bathroom in a cloud of steam. "I leave you alone for ten minutes..."

He can't say he begrudges Kurosaki's timing as he goes around the side of the bed to tear Shirosaki from him. Although he could do without the man's awkward expression as Uryuu straightens his rumpled clothes.

"What time is it?" Uryuu asks by way of changing the subject. "I have an early class."

"Eight fifteen," supplies Kurosaki.

"What? But my alarm—"

"I turned it off."

"Shirosaki!"

"Is that what you're calling him?" Uryuu forgoes answering in favor of scrambling to get ready for the class he is probably going to be late for. Kurosaki continues to muse aloud on his own. "Black and white. A play on words, huh? I like it."

"Me too."

"Shoulda picked something that reflects how annoying he is, though."

"Hey!"

"Will you two please shut up and leave so I can get dressed?"

To his immense surprise, they do. Kurosaki even closes the door behind them. Must be a full moon, Uryuu dismisses. He throws on the first outfit his hands touch and gathers his things in a rush. If he leaves in the next five minutes, he might just make it in time. Of course he walks into the living room to find his unwanted house guests verbally sparring.

"You are not going to make me miss all my classes. Why can't you be a little less selfish for a change?"

"'Cause it's boring as fuck, that's why. There are so many better things to do than hang around you all day."

"Ugh, somebody kill me now..."

The problem is apparent without having to ask. Uryuu glances at his phone for the time and frowns. The chances that he can get them to leave without resolving this latest spat are worse than nil. He really doesn't want to establish a mediator role between them. On the other hand, if Uryuu is late his professor will dock him attendance points and he can't have that.

"Shirosaki," interjects Uryuu into their brief silence. The Hollow moves to stand before him in an instant. "Would you agree to stay with Kurosaki for the rest of the day and cause a minimum amount of trouble as a favor to me?"

"Mmm, doubt it."

"What if I promise to do something nice for you later?"

"Uh, Ishida, I wouldn't..."

"Hell yeah!" proclaims an intrigued Shirosaki before he can take it back. "I can be a good boy for a tasty treat."

"Then let's go."

Uryuu offers a ride that Kurosaki accepts after making Shirosaki promise to meet them at the university without destroying anything or attacking anyone on the way. Even though the trip is short, the silence between them stings. So many things are going unsaid for the sake of avoiding unpleasantness. Years of dubious friendship couldn't prepare them for this kind of ordeal. All Uryuu wants to hear is the Hollow's behavior isn't based on any latent feelings neither of them is prepared to talk about.

"You don't have to indulge him like that."

"Hm?"

"Shirosaki. He's manipulative, and cleverer than me. He'll use you if you let him."

"I can handle your Hollow, Kurosaki, even if you can't."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Uryuu sighs, unwilling to spark another debate. "I'm trying to say I appreciate your concern but you don't have to worry about me."

"I know I don't have to worry and that you can handle him, but you shouldn't have to. I'm the reason you have to put up with it, the least I can do is keep him from raping you."

It is said so casually but still manages to create a thick ripple of tension in the car.

Uryuu quietly says, "It won't come to that."

"Why, because you're going to let him fuck you?" Applying the brakes too severely, Uryuu throws the car into park in the lot and rounds on him but Kurosaki is already apologizing. "Shit, I'm sorry, Ishida. I didn't mean that. It's just that it almost seems like...you're only pretending not to want it. It sounds so stupid to say that out loud."

"That's because it is stupid, Kurosaki."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"We're here: get out."

"Okay."

Reaching for his bag behind the seat, Uryuu doesn't look up when the door opens and shuts. From his peripheral vision, he sees Kurosaki pause outside the car and stare at him for a long moment before striding off. Uryuu grips his keys tightly, making jagged impressions in his palm with the unyielding bite of metal.

Halfway through his chemistry lab assignment, Kurosaki texts him a request to have lunch. He seriously considers declining but sends the address anyway. Ten minutes later, he and his tag-along join Uryuu at the campus-adjacent cafe that has long been one of his favorite study spots. Kurosaki walks through the entrance and quickly spots him toward the back in a quiet booth by the corner.

"Where's your ward?" Uryuu asks when he gets within earshot.

"Right here."

Shirosaki slides through the wall from outside and takes the seat beside him, laughing when Uryuu scoots away to put more distance between them. Kurosaki plops across from them with a weary sigh and throws his bag next to him. Sympathizing with his plight, Uryuu wordlessly offers up the packet of chips that came with his sandwich. He takes it with a grunt of thanks and starts crunching immediately. In the meantime, Shirosaki is leaning over his lab notebook with an interested hum.

"Why did you leave this one blank? I can give you the answer for the low, low price of a little kiss," he bargains with a wide grin. "See this formula? You use the mass of this element from the spectrometer results to calculate the—"

"I'm sure I'll manage without your assistance, thank you," interrupts Uryuu before he owes any debts. "Since when are you a chemist?"

Shirosaki sits back with a lazy shrug, "I know everything Ichigo knows, even if he forgets. Even the things he tries to repress."

Refusing to rise to the bait, Kurosaki rolls his eyes and continues chewing without comment.

"Somehow I find it harder to believe you are the expert."

"I took that course last semester," he mumbles to Uryuu. "I liked mass spectrometry."

"Really? In that case, would you mind taking a look at this graph?"

"What're you askin' him for, Uryuu? I said I'd give you the solution."

"Yes, but unlike you, Kurosaki isn't charging unreasonable fees for his help."

"Tch," the Hollow scoffs with curled lip, "He would if he had any sense."

Kurosaki looks at him as if to say, 'do you see what I'm dealing with?' Mirroring his sigh, Uryuu tucks his books away and resigns himself to finish this later. They have three more hours to get through before they can get Shirosaki away from campus. Three more hours to keep him from unleashing chaos with nothing but the promise for Uryuu to 'do something nice' for him later. What in the world possessed him to volunteer such an undefined favor? Perhaps it isn't too late to get out of it.

"Aside from irritating the hell out of you, has Shirosaki been behaving himself?"

"Amazingly, yeah, he has."

A hint of foreboding enters his tone as he shoots Uryuu a meaningful glance because they both know what it means.

"That's...good," he lies. "Maybe your souls will merge together sooner if you're getting along better."

"Maybe we'll merge tonight," Kurosaki adds with a hopeful expression.

Then Shirosaki cuts in with, "Only if you play your cards right."

And Uryuu isn't sure if that was meant to be a proposition directed at him or Kurosaki. It's unsettling either way and effectively throws them into a disturbed silence. Shirosaki uses the break to sneak a hand into Uryuu's lap, fingers gently squeezing just above the knee. He pushes it away but it comes right back, as expected, sliding dangerously higher until Uryuu is forced to grip that wandering hand and hold tight.

"Stop that," he hisses, tipping off Kurosaki to the fray.

"Ishida, I give you permission to use whatever Quincy moves necessary to teach him a lesson. Just try not to kill him."

Feigning innocence, Shirosaki acts like he hasn't just twisted his wrist so their palms are pressed together with fingers entwining. It is the first time Uryuu has held hands with anyone since he was a small child. He isn't sure he likes it, strange as it feels. Although he isn't sure he hates it, either. Yet, he would rather stay this way if it means Shirosaki will quit trying to give him a crotch massage in public.

A slight decrease in tension from Uryuu's posture does not go unnoticed by Kurosaki, who raises a suspicious eyebrow and leans forward in curiosity. His face pales to see the chaste connection. No one comments on this development.

One of the cafe servers walks over to greet Kurosaki and ask for his order. Realizing how odd it would look if the young woman happened to notice his seemingly empty hand curled in this position, Uryuu tries to pull out of it. Of course, Shirosaki doesn't make it that easy. Tucking it behind his back is also not allowed. So he drags both of their hands on top of his lap and hides them with the free one.

The entire time this farce is going on, Kurosaki is attempting to politely deflect the girl while fighting the urge to laugh at Uryuu's struggle. As soon as she retreats, Kurosaki loses the battle and muffles his snickering against a fist. Uryuu throws a coffee creamer cup at his head.

"If you wanted my hand back in your lap, all ya had to do was say so."

"When I want your hands anywhere near my body, I'll check into a mental institution!"

"Ooh, kinky!"

Feeling a vein pop on his forehead, Uryuu snaps, "You're going to have to find someone else for him to pester tonight, Kurosaki. I've had enough."

At that, he jerks his arm free of the tenacious hold and grabs his school bag to leave. All humor drains from Kurosaki's face and he pursues Uryuu out of the busy cafe.

"Wait, Ishida, don't say that! I'm sorry I laughed, okay? Having to put up with his antics all day, it was kind of funny watching someone else experience it for a change."

"Keep your schadenfreude to yourself."

"My what?"

"I'm saying 'fuck off', Kurosaki. Is that simple enough for you to understand? You're asking too much!"

He grabs Uryuu to tug him to a halt just after they round a corner between buildings, quickly letting go with a placating gesture before he can be shoved away.

"I know it's too much. You don't owe me anything. I won't blame you if your decision holds but...I'm begging you, all right? I can't handle him by myself and judging by the things he says, Shirosaki won't put up with anyone else. He tried to duel with Urahara-san! Besides, everything I said last night still stands. I need you for this, Ishida. Please."

Staring into imploring eyes does nothing to firm his resolution to refuse. It's been a long time since Uryuu felt needed for anything. A nagging guilt floods him at the thought that Kurosaki is one of his closest friends, for all the posturing they still do to suggest the opposite. Not to mention it is a rare day indeed that he begs anyone for anything, much less Uryuu's help specifically. He didn't know Kurosaki was even capable of such humility. But babysitting that Hollow is just...

Taking a breath to give his answer, Uryuu's eyes widen as he senses a familiar flare of reiatsu across town. He grips Kurosaki's arm without hesitation and glances around to make sure they won't be seen vanishing.

"It's Shirosaki. Come on."

They find him in the process of dispatching two Hollow near a cluster of warehouses. Uryuu lands in time to watch the first dissipate midair. Shirosaki calls a word of greeting to them as he performs a graceful back flip, beheading the second at their feet. Slinging the blade to holster at his back, he strides over and beams with accomplishment.

"How's that for a mercy kill?"

"What are you doing out here?" Kurosaki angrily starts. "You know you're not supposed to go solo. That was part of the deal."

"But I took those Hollow out for ya," he argues, "And I didn't play with 'em or nothin'."

"A breach is a breach. Ishida, looks like you're off the hook."

"No!"

"Even if you mean well, you have to keep in mind that we are responsible for your actions," Uryuu reasons before Shirosaki throws a tantrum. "Notify one of us next time instead of going on your own."

Kurosaki turns to stare at him in surprise. "'We'? 'Next time'? Does this mean you'll agree to help?"

"Well, you don't leave me much choice," he complains, adjusting his glasses to hide his eyes, "What kind of person would I be to turn you down after that saccharine speech?"

"Ichigo, you smooth-talker! We get to go home with Uryuu? I knew you weren't a complete waste of space."

He wants to remind Shirosaki not to use his given name, again, but he already knows it's a lost cause. Instead, he lets an arrow do the talking as he looses it to pierce the Hollow's shoulder. Even an intentionally weak shot forces a pained shout and summons a healthy bloom of blood. Kurosaki gapes at him for having the gall to fire in the first place.

"That is what you should expect every time you choose to break the rules, Shirosaki. Do I make myself clear?"

For a tense moment, they await the infuriated Hollow's reaction. Uryuu is ready for a skirmish if it comes to that but he has an inkling it won't. Shirosaki snarls as he clamps a hand to the welling wound. Then he meets fierce blue eyes and nods once. Kurosaki relaxes beside him and starts to ask an incredulous question but Uryuu is already stepping forward with a reishi capsule. He flicks it against Shirosaki's shoulder and murmurs a short spell in German. A surprised golden gaze locks onto Uryuu as the flesh knits and heals in seconds. He cautiously rotates the joint, testing its range for constraints and exhaling slowly when there are none.

"You know healing techniques now?" blurts an equally stunned Kurosaki.

"Yes. Enough to handle minor injuries, at any rate. Amazing what you can learn when you bother to study. One would think you could at least use Hirenkyaku by now."

"How am I supposed to learn anything about Quincy abilities when the only Quincy I know barely speaks to me most of the time? Did you forget about that time I asked you to teach me and you 'disrespectfully declined'?"

"As if one of your very first mentors isn't an aficionado. Urahara-san probably knows more about our people than I do."

"Yeah, and do you know how much he wanted to charge me per lesson? Anyway, I'd be the idiot you always label me if I didn't prefer instruction from a so-called prodigy. Didn't you master most of the traditional abilities on your own before you even met me?"

"This lover's spat is cute and all, but aren't you two missing a class?"

Checking the time on his phone, Kurosaki curses under his breath to see the Hollow is right. Uryuu holds out his hand without being asked. Kurosaki takes it and they appear back on campus behind the liberal arts building where no one ever hangs out due to perpetual paint fumes. They disengage and start to walk separate ways to make lecture in time. Uryuu notes Shirosaki's telltale spirit joining Kurosaki's within moments.

Uryuu tries to focus on his professor's words, he really does.

He follows along on the PowerPoint handouts and takes detailed notes. The students around him wouldn't dare doubt his focus. In actuality, he is running on autopilot while his mind goes over and over the situation with Kurosaki and his displaced Hollow. Particularly the question of what will happen this evening when they meet up at Uryuu's apartment again.

Given what he has observed of Shirosaki's personality, he isn't about to accept that he forfeited his reward when he stole away to deal with those Hollow at lunch. Then again, Uryuu already disciplined him for that bit of insubordination, technically. Is it really fair to punish him twice? The better question is: can Uryuu deliver on his side of the promise knowing what Shirosaki wants from him?

The issue can't be avoided anymore. Either Uryuu is comfortable with the idea of Shirosaki being attracted to him, or he isn't. There is no middle ground. So, he lets himself consider it. Uryuu nibbles at the end of his pen as he recalls what it was like to have the Hollow's power coursing into him through their contact. That's one thing he never planned on telling Kurosaki: how much of a rush it is whenever they touch. He always figured it was just an energy cycle thing, like charging a low battery. Apparently, he was very wrong about that. While Shirosaki's reiatsu is different in many ways, it is essentially similar enough to elicit the same response.

Fingers trace idly over the open page of his notebook as he remembers paper-white lips pressing against his. Had it really been so awful? For all his protesting after the fact, Uryuu isn't sure he really disliked the experience as much as he should have. Does that mean he wouldn't mind allowing more than a kiss? Envisioning a scenario where Shirosaki is granted the kind of access he sought this morning, Uryuu bites into his bottom lip and feels his blood heat.

Another problem is how Kurosaki doesn't seem to approve of his Hollow's intentions. Would he be angry if Uryuu ceased to thwart Shirosaki's advances? Or has he just been protecting Uryuu's honor out of principle all along? He was fairly relaxed at the cafe, laughing at his distress when Shirosaki kept trying to feel him up under the table. Kurosaki shouldn't get a say in the matter if he's going to be that immature.

So why is Uryuu desperate to know what he thinks about it?

Because despite how deeply he buried it, Uryuu has had these kinds of thoughts about Kurosaki before. Briefly, in moments of panic and moments of calm. From times they've fought together and times they've lingered quietly in the same room. He recalls reasoning the inclinations away as trivial mistakes, temporary insanity, or reluctant admiration. Hiding them so far from his conscious musings that even dreams were off limits. It just wasn't worth risking their friendship to go there. Yet, if things continue as he predicts, Uryuu will have to figure out what he wants and make a choice.

Which brings him right back to his original dilemma, further complicated by the fact that the man he might want more than friendship with is currently divided into two functional beings. Then Uryuu has to backpedal fast because his mind is all too eager to explore the possibilities of being with both men at once. It's wrong on so many levels but that doesn't keep him from imagining it.

Suddenly he is thrown into a vivid fantasy involving the three of them in his bedroom and—Uryuu nearly falls out of the seat when his phone vibrates in his pocket. Suspecting he has been caught via some weird psychic ability Kurosaki never told him about, Uryuu is relieved to find it is only Sado-kun asking if he wants to study tonight. He answers with a resounding 'no, thanks' on account of his anticipated company.

Uryuu tries to go back to focusing on his professor's words. He really, really does.