~FIREFLY KNIGHTS~
Bleach Copyright Tite Kubo
Firefly Knights Copyright Illand Girl
'For those that need it.'
Chapter 2: Caught
Ichigo never came by the clinic the next week.
As depressing as it may sound, that was the highlight of my week; waiting on my old friend to come say hi. Which was probably good since I worked in a hospital and all, but still. My work was pretty dull; restocking shelves, making sure everything was neat and organized, cleaning the halls and mopping. Taking inventory was the most tedious since it took forever, but wass oddly satisfying.
About a week later Isshin was insistant that I come over for dinner. However I really didn't want to.
"C'mon! You and your mother are invited! I'm sure it would be a great get together!" Isshin said. I paused before biting my tongue to correct him.
"Thanks, but Mom works long hours and she usually goes to bed the moment she gets home." I explained while busying my hands with sweeping. Isshin paused for a moment before sighing as though I had rejected his confession.
"It breaks my heart when a family refuses an invitation to a free meal!" Isshin cried and I did my best to ignore it.
"I am sorry, Mr Kurosaki, but I... We really can't come. Perhaps once we are both settled we can come over for dinner. I will thank you for the invitation though." I said before putting the broom away. I glanced outside quickly and noticed it was still daylight despite being almost 7. Time to close up.
I ushered my boss out the door, inisistant that I close up alone since he had done so more than once this week alone.
Once I had finished up, locked up, and meandered home, I came in to a very quiet flat. The studio apartment didn't make a single noise as I wandered through it. Light from a street lamp outside flitted through the clear window and bathed the little furniture I had in a warm glow. The sun had set just before I made it home, making me realize just how cold it actually was.
Still wearing my coat, I made myself some instant ramen while huddling bby my small heater. If I could make it just a few more weeks it would warm up. Then I could save up and afford another heater for the bathroom, maybe one for the kitchen too. It would be cheaper than heating the flat as a whole.
I ate my meal, changed, and then huddled in my bed in front of my heater for warmth.
The next day Isshin insisted I take a day off work, despite tomorrow being my official day off. He didn't care and promptly handed me my pay a week early before kicking me out.
Not that I was complainging about the pay, in fact I think I was almost crying that he slipped an extra 6,000 yen in there, as I made my way to the mall to treat myself. As much as I wanted to turn around and give him it back I really couldn't bring myself to. I'd have to thank him somehow later.
I wasn't planning on buying anything per se, just window shopping and maybe if I saw something worth it I would consider it. What I wasn't counting on was the amount of teens in the mall. Was school over for them too? I guessed that to be the case as I watched teen after teen waddle around.
"Naomi?"
I turned at the voice, slightly surprised to see Ichigo standing not far from me. A smile worked it's way onto my lips.
"Hey Ichigo. Long time no see." I said before walking a little closer to him. He looked down at me, being a whole head taller than me now.
"Sorry, I kept meaning to come by and say hello, but my Dad's a pain and I wass finishing up finals." He explained like he was a punished kid. I laugh a little.
"What are you sorry for? It's no big deal. Say, why are you here now?" I asked. Ichigo glanced around then.
"Actually I was here with a friend, but I guess he wandered off. What brings you here?" Ichigo asked as his stance slipped into a more casual curve. I smiled before waving my hand with a flourish.
"Oh y'know, checking out the sights. I was debating on getting a few things but mostly just relaxing. Your dad kicked me out of the clinic today." I explained. We started walking and I hadn't even noticed until now.
"Yeah, he mentioned you'd been putting in a lot of hours. Doesn't your mom get worried? I remember her being super paranoid and protective." He said before glancing around. As he did I flinched from his words before looking the other way.
"Nah, she's gotten softer. Doesn't terrify me anymore- oh look that's pretty!" I said glancing at a cute necklace in the window. A pretty oval of vines was the pendant, all silver too. 8,000 yen... Nevermind. I turned to hear Ichigo letting out a snort.
"You still get distracted by shiny things too, idiot." He said under his breath. I glared at him.
"Coming from the boy who was so gullible he thought he could reach a magical land at the bottom of the pond if he sung to the fish?" I challenged. Ichigo turned bright red at that before glaring at me.
"Coming from the girl who convinced me of that?! Thanks for letting me get soaked too you brat! I had pond smell for weeks!"
"I know! I was the only one you hung out with!" I said, breaking into a grin and laughing. Ichigo looked away with a scowl as he pouted.
"Hey Naomi? Are we best friends?"
"Well duh!"
I missed him.
Oh man I've missed all of this.
We walked aimlessly around the mall, talking of old times. Teasing each other like 3 and a half years hadn't been put between us. I even managed to actually get that old laugh and grin out of Ichigo.
"You really haven't changed a bit, have you, Naomi?" Ichigo asked rhetorically. I glanced up at him and shrugged.
"Well physically I guess I have but..." I trailed off, not sure what to say.
"Nah, you look just like before." Ichigo said. I snorted, not sure how to take that.
We stood by the entrance to the mall a few hours later. I had decided it was time to go home. It was getting dark after all.
"I can walk you home, it's getting dark and all. And you always were a loser with directions." Ichigo said bluntly while we walked outside.
"It's alright, it's not that far anyway. Closer to here than the clinic." I said while trying to hold back a shiver.
"Yeah well it sounds like it's on the way to my house. I'll walk you until we split paths." Ichigo insisted. I smiled, he really could be a nice guy when he wanted to be. I let my finger run through the snow to scoop some up before throwing it at the side of his face. The snow was probably one of the few clean patches left around the muddy city.
Ichigo flinched before glaring at me.
"Are you kidding me?! You're such a brat!" He shouted in such an angry tone. I just smirked before sticking my tongue out. Only seconds later I deeply regretted that as he shoved a fistful of snow down my collar. A wicked chill ran down my spine as the snow melted inside my old jacket. I did a little dance to try and get rid of the snow from my clothes. I laughed it off though despite the wicked smirk on Ichigo's face.
"That was dirty snow you jerk." I said, wiping the ever so slightly off white snow from my jaw and neck. Ichigo snorted before carrying on his walk.
"Whatever, you deserved it." He muttered. I continued on beside him for a while and we continued to joke about things. My teeth started to chatter though and my neck felt bitten by the frostly wind blowing.
"Yeah we- hey, are you cold?" Ichigo asked in mid sentence.
"Wh-What would give you that idea?" I tried to shrug it off by walking faster. A few seconds later I felt something drop on my head and looked up in surprise at Ichigo's scarf being draped across my skull. I blinked in surprise as he scowl ahead of me.
"Idiot, dress properly or you'll get a cold." Ichigo informed me. I quickly wrapped my scarf around my neck before stuffing the rest down my shirt for warmth. The material was soft and I enjoyed the warm I got from it being on Ichigo just prior. A smile slipped on my lips as I caught up with him.
"You chivalrous dork. How the heck don't you have a girlfriend?" I asked teasingly. Ichigo's cheeks tinted slightly.
"Because everyone thinks I'm a hoodlum who picks fights all the time." He muttered.
"Oh, so they know the real you?" Ichigo glared. "I'm kidding, you only pick fights when they're worth your time."
"Hmph, easy for you to say squirt. I bbet the closest you got to a fist fight was that snowball match we had when we were 8." Ichigo said with an evil grin. I however felt my mood dampen. We were in front of my apartment square though, so I turned to Ichigo and grinned.
"Thank you for walking me home. I'll be fine from here. I'd invite you in but- um well, no one's home." I informed him. Ichigo raised a brow.
"So what? You'll be home, right?" He asked curiously. I blushed slightly.
"Ichigo... I know we're just friends but you're still a guy and I'm still a girl..." I said before looking down in embarassment. Fromt he top of my lids I caught the understanding, then embarassment, and then a slightly mortified look cross his features. I felt a tinge of hurt at that. Even though I only liked Ichigo as a friend, nobody likes being thhought of as 'ew'.
"Right, gotcha. Well then I guess I'll see you around. Bye." He said before wandering off to his house. I watched him go before making my way up to my flat.
It was only when I was upstairs that I realized I still had his scarf on.
"Naomi! Naomi! Where are you?"
"Here!" I called back to the voice. My slim fingers gently rolled tthe perfectly crisp snow beneath me into a ball. A devious look on my face.
"Naomi, you can't keep running off alone." Mother said to me with a frown. I frowned before looking at her and pausing my activities.
"I'm 11 Mom, you don't have to worry about me so much." I said before standing on my feet and picking up the smaller ball.
"I suppose, but you have been wandering too far from home. Come now, it's not safe to be out here by yourself." Mother said while offering me her hand. I frowned before looking from her to the person beside me.
"But..." I looked at mom again with a confused look. "I'm not alone."
I woke with a slight start, nearly coughing out a lung.
Immediately I tried sucking in as much air as I could in between coughs. Getting lucky enough to breathe in some raspy breaths a few moments later. I noticed that my lungs were on fire along with my throat, and that the heater next to me had short circuited.
This was not going to be good.
I checked the time on my tiny alarm clock and noted it was already 9am. I was late as it was so I skipped showering and simply went about my morning routine sans shower, made my tea and toast before slipping my hair into a bun and leaving out the door.
I coughed a few more times butt after sipping my tea in a travel mug I managed to ignore my sore throat enough to eat my toast and walk to work.
It was only when I got to work that it dawned on me today was Sunday and the place wasn't even open. So I stood there, muttering curses and multiple profanties to myself, before I cosed my eyes and hit my head on the door once. Looking down I realized I was wearing ichigo's scarf still. Might as well return it... If he lived where I remembered him living then his house was only a ten minute walk from here.
I gave a slight cough before rounding the final corner to the house, glad it was in view. Although the weather was getting warmer by the day it was slight a little too chilly for me. Granted I was always a little cold.
The house came to my view and I smiled before taking off the scarf and neatly folding it over my arm. Not that Ichigo would care, but it was common courtesy nonetheless. I knocked on the door and waited for a while before a girl answered it.
"Hi, I'm a... Well a friend of Ichigo's. He lent me his scarf yesterday and-"
"NAOMIIIIIIII!" Isshin shouted as he greeted me from behind the girl. I smilled before giving a wave at his antics. "Did you come all the way here just to see Ichigo on your day off?! Oh you are way to good for that boy! HEY ICHIGO NAOMI IS HERE! Oh you look cold please come in!"
I only laughed lightly at Isshin before stepping inside after they moved.
"No no, I actually forgot that work was closed today and since I walked all the way here I figured I could at least give this back." I explained despite Isshin hustling around to fix me some tea. He had caught on that I loved orange pekoe and insisted that Yuzu, the girl at the door, make me some.
She happily obliged as Isshin took my coat from me and ushered me in.
"Really, I don't need to stay. I just figured I could take a walk is all." I explained hesitantly.
"Nonsense! You came all this way! You could at least stay for a short while." Isshin said before grinning at me. I laughed at his insistancies; he really must be a great dad.
"Would you shut it already? She's just being polite you creep." Ichigo's voice carried in from the doorway of another room. I laughed at Isshin's positively crestfallen appearence. He took off pouting in another room.
"C'mon Ichigo. Lighten up. He means well." I said with a grin. Ichigo scratched the back of his head, looking pissed off. As per usual.
"Yeah well it gets on my nerves," he said before looking down at me. "You don't have to stay either, it's not likke we're going to be disappointed if you leave."
Well that was a blunt way too put it. Instead off feeling crestfallen though I felt a wicked grin slip onto my face. Ichigo noticed the change in expression and hesitated from where he stood. I took in a big breath and Ichigo made for me as though to stop me.
"Hey, Naomi-"
"ISSHIN! ICHIGO IS PICKING ON ME!" I cried.
Within seconds Isshin came flying from another room and roundhoused Ichigo into the wall. Yuzu walked into the room carrying a tray of tea.
"Ichigo stop picking on Naomi!" Isshin shouted.
"Hello! You must be Naomi. Dad and Ichigo have talked about you a lot." Yuzu said. I snickered a little, watching the father son duo fight nearby.
"Bastard! I was being honest!" Ichigo shouted.
"Only good things I hope?" I asked. Yuzu smiled back.
Ichigo crashed into the wall.
"Of course! Let's go to the dinner table to have this tea." Yuzu offered before leading me to another area of the room.
Isshin slammed into the ground before Ichigo tripped and fell on him.
"This house is really nice." I said while taking a seat at the table. Yuzu poured me some tea before offering it to me. I took it with a thanks before giving a slight cough and sipping my tea.
All at once the fighting ceased and Isshin slid up next to me.
"See! I knew you'd get sick wearing that ratty jacket!" Isshin pointed accusingly at me. I pursed my lips and looked to the ceiling in complete denial.
"Dammit you cracked my neck." Ichigo whined while rubbing the nape of his neck. His orbs caught mine and I gave him a devilish grin. "You must be satan." He muttered darkly.
"I'm fine Mr Kurosaki. It's probably just a cold." I insisted. Ichigo glanced at me but didn't say anything as Yuzu buzzed along about how nice it was to meet one of Ichigo's old friends.
Karin entered a while later and althought she was brash like Ichigo I found I related a lot more with her than Yuzu. Still, both girls were very sweet, and watching Isshin interact with his kids was just too adorable.
I stay for tea, and somehow was roped into lunch though I never ate much. Finally I called it quitting time at two. I really needed to grocery shop and then sleep early to make up for the crappy sleep I just had.
At the door Ichigo stood beside me, having been threatened by Isshin to see me out.
"You don't actually have to stand here, I am capable of walking out a door by myself." I teased. Ichigo smirked.
"You sure? Remember first grade where you always crashed into the glass door at the front of the building?" He taunted. I couldn't help but laugh at the memory.
"Okay, fair enough. I said before pulling on my shoes. Ichigo frowned as he glanced over my ratty old jacket. The same one I had had for three years and torn a little in places. I loved it though, it was my favorite jacket.
"My old man's right. You'll catch a cold in that thing." Ichigo said while he pulled a loose string from one of the frayed ends. I swatted his hand away though as hhe rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" I insisted before waving goodbye and nearly jogging out the door. There was no way I was going to get sick from such a small thing.
I got sick the next day.
Just to make sure Ichigo and Isshin weren't right, I was fairly positive it was the broken heater and not the ratty jacket's fault.
Not just 'my throat hurts and I'm dizzy' sick, but 'I'm vomitting and I think that cloud's a mushroom and my temperature so cold it's on fire' sick. I didn't even bother going to work and just called it in.
Forget work, I had a hard time getting out of bed. My heater kept quitting and I decidedly cocooned myself in my blankets and wanted to wait it out.
So imagine my surprise when I got a knock on my door at 8pm. When I swung it open I was even more surprised at who was standing there.
It was Isshin.
Within a matter of seconds I could see the understanding of my situation come onto his face as he took in the chilled apartment in a rundown location along with the lack of lights or much furniture visible in the room.
Within a matter of seconds I realized that everything I had built up over the past few months had just crumbled and washed away.
I was caught.
Hello! How are y'all?
Thanks for the reviews! Very happy!
Sooooooo Naomi is gunna have a lovely story to explain to Isshin next chapter... I really like writing about Ichigo and Naomi. Like I feel like they really are good friends. Don't you?
Really happy somebody made a comment about Hollow Ichigo. Ohhhhh I really have ann interesting idea with him, but we'll see how this pans out.
As a side ship; is there any characters you guys think would go well with Naomi?
Bye Bye!
Iland Girl