Keigo sighed again as he looked at where Ichigo had disappeared off with Uzume, his head resting on his arm in utter defeat. There was still pleasant chatter going on around him, but he couldn't get himself to care at the moment, "Mizuiro," he sighed. "Can you tell me just how Ichigo does it?"
"Nope," came Mizurio's reply.
"I mean, he's had Inoue-san crushing on him for years,' he moaned. "And there's the girls he's managed to have crushing on him. At least the ones that he hasn't scarred off with his scowl. Not to mention Kuchiki-san when she was here. I'm so sure she was crushing on him hard when she was around."
"Yep," Mizuiro replied.
"It's not fair is it?" Keigo groaned. "I mean he does it without even trying one lick! Or even aware that girls exist like that! If he had something that looked like a sex drive he'd like you but with girls his age!"
"Yes, but you have a nice butt." Mizuiro said.
"Yes I do have a nice but-" Keigo paused in his response as he rose his head and gaucked at his friend, "What did you say?!?"
"Don't worry about it Misato, I know you couldn't make it to my graduation." Mizuiro continued, a small smile on his face. "I got your gift though, thanks."
Keigo's eyes narrowed as Mizuiro continued to talk, "Mizuiro... are you on that damn earpiece again?!?"
Mizuiro blinked as he heard Keigo's voice, "Hold up a sec." Putting a hand on his earpiece he turned to Keigo, "You say something Keigo?"
"... You know what never mind." Keigo turned away and pouted, "I'll just sit here and continue to be ignored by the universe at large."
"Oh, ok. Good luck with that," Mizuiro nodded and removed his hand, "Sorry about that Misato. So you were saying?"
"Why does life love to pick favorites?" Keigo cried.
Not all that far from the moping teen Tatsuki was chewing on her dinner, but her eyes glided back and forth between where Ichigo and Uzume had run off to and Isshin. She frowned at the elder Kurosaki's face. He had smiled ever so slightly when Ichigo had taken the sekirei away from the table, the only sign of emotion he had shown so far that evening. This could be bad, Very very bad. Or it could end up being very very good.
She didn't know, and A fire of anger burst to life in the martial artist's gut at that fact.
This was the crucial moment, and everything could hinge on how the two came back to the table. Three years worth or plotting, match-making, and encouragement hinged on what happened tonight. Or not. Or maybe it did. Or maybe she just needed to punch Chizuru in the face. That psycho was always good for a charthrisis.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiime~!"
Besides, she was practically begging to be used for a vent at the moment anyway.
"Hm?," Orihime murmured. "Kurosaki-kun and Uzume-chan are back, she said, looking over her shoulder passed Chizuru.
Tatsuki looked up and nodded, "So they are,Orihime. So they are." She turned and gave her friend a determined look, "Are you ready to rock?"
"Himmeeeee....Ne, ne, Himmeeeee~," Chizuru whined, trying to get her attention.
"Huh?," Orihime said, barely hearing Tatsuki.
"Shut up stupid," she growled out at Chizuru. Turning back to Orihime she said, "I said are you ready to rock?" She looked at Chizuru, somewhat confused at what she meant, but nodded, her lips tightening. "This is the moment of truth, Orihime." Tatsuki continued. "It's now or never, you get me?"
"This way, Himeeee~," Chizuru whined again, yearning for Orihime's attention.
Orihime nodded, ignoring Chizuru. "Just remember I'll be here if you need me," Tatsuki said in an assuring tone. "You can do this Orihime." Orihime gulped as her lips tightened again as she noticed Tatsuki's face turn up, looking at something above and behind her.
"Hiiiiiimmeeee~," Chizuru continued on. She let out a yelp as she felt a poke at the back of her head, "What the hell?!" she cried and turned at the offender.
"Yo," Ichigo called out. "You're in my seat."
"Oh..." Chizuru muttered. "Switch?" she asked in an adorable fashion batting her eyes.
"No." Ichigo answered in a flat tone as Uzume re-took her seat to little fanfare.
"Pweassse?" she asked batting her eyes all the more.
"Out. Now," Ichigo answered.
"Oh come on!" Chizuru cried. "What kind of a man kicks a helpless girl out of her seat anyway?!?"
"The kind that doesn't let others steal his seat." Ichigo retorted. "Now move before I sick Tatsuki on ya."
Chizuru turned to find Tatsuki glaring a hole through her, and let off a nervous chuckle. "You wouldn't would you?"
"You wanna find out?" Ichigo responded as he gestured back to Chizuru's original seat.
"Fine," Chizuru sighed as she stood up and moved back to her seat. "At least I still have a nice view," she muttered.
Ichigo pretended not to hear that as he sat back down. Sitting down he sighed as he looked at his nearly empty plate. "Did you have to steal my food too?" he asked. Taking a utensil and picking at the remains he frowned a bit as he looked up hesitantly at Uzume to find her looking back at him, expectantly and giving him a small smile.
He took a breath in and looked down again before lifting his eyes again towards his father. His father gazed back at him, expression curious but neutral. After a second a wide toothy grin breaks his face before immediately going back to neutral. Ichigo gave his father an irritated glare before he went back to his plate, playing with what little that remained. He looked back at Uzume, a pleading look on his face as he gestured his head towards Isshin. Uzume nodded, gesturing to Isshin with her head as well.
Ichigo sighed, rubbing his forehead irritably. "Pop." he said after a moment.
"Yes, my son?" Isshin asked in a neutral tone.
Ichigo groaned again, fighting down a bit of bile that was forcing it's way to his throat. "Like I said about earlier..."
"Earlier?" Isshin asked in a curious tone.
Ichigo's lips tighten as his irritation grew, 'Dammit dad, don't play dumb now! This shit's hard enough as it is.' Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he continued, "Yes earlier. About your... your..."
"My?" Isshin prodded.
"... Your 'mugging'." Ichigo finished.
"Yes, what about it?" Isshin asked.
Tatsuki's eyes narrowed suspiciously as everyone else watched on in curiosity, 'Bullshit.' she thought. 'No way Kurosaki Isshin gets mugged. Not with all the fighting he and Ichigo do. What the hell's going on here?!?'
"Well, umm..." Ichigo paused and looked down at his plate again. When he looked up, a patient smile was on his father's face. Oh god, he wanted to deck the idiot. This was making him look too damn good.
"Take your time son," Isshin said in a reassuring tone.
'Yeah, enjoy your little moment of glory you jerk' Ichigo thought. Aloud he said, "It's just... just that.... that I..."
"You?"
"I completely... disregarded your... -gag- pain and suffering and I...I..."
Isshin's eyes widened in surprise. Was he about to...?
"I'm.... I'm..."
Reactions were mixed around the dining table as Ichigo continued.
Keigo had managed to gather himself out of his manic depressive state to allow his jaw to drop at what he was witnessing
Mizurio had hung up on his latest lady friend and was watching in rapid attention.
Chizuru let off a bored sigh as she plotted how to remove Tatsuki from her guard duty to 'play' with Orihime all night long.
Chad's eyebrows were raised in surprise. The dreaded double brow.
"I'm... sssssssssssssssssssssss-"
Orihime let out a gasp in surprise at the shocking event being played in front of her eyes. Karin did the same, idly looking up and seeing if there were pigs flying.
Tatsuki was doing an admirable job of keeping her jaw from breaking the table, and cursing herself for not bringing her camera phone to record this.
Uryu watched in awe, careful to make sure that neither Kurosaki male noticed his camera phone recording this moment in Kurosaki clan history.
And Yuzu?
Yuzu was wondering who the heck this man before her was and what he had done with her elder brother?!? And how long was this facade going to go on before they realized that Ichi-nii had brought home a witch?!? A witch who had kidnapped the real Ichi-nii and put this demon in his place!!
Unaware of all this, Uzume continued to nod encouragingly to Ichigo.
"sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss-"
Isshin watched, facial expression slowly losing its neutrality as he was watching something he thought he'd never see. Well, never see directed at him at any rate. Glancing to his left he saw Uzume, watching in unabashed hope as she slowly nodded every few seconds, as if egging him on or trying to will him to do the impossible. Seeing her and her raw emotion and turning his gaze back to his stuttering and reluctant son he felt suddenly nostalgic and something within him shifted, knowing now that Ichigo had made some semblance of growth.
"You're sorry," Isshin said, almost awed.
Ichigo nodded quickly at his father's statement then turned in his seat, hoping to hide his face flushed with anger and outright nausea. Isshin looked at his son in now in stunned silence, what he just witnessed now fulling hitting him. Not since the daily spars had begun had Ichigo ever apologized for his behavior, nor did Isshin look for such a thing. It was just routine. Granted, Isshin was giving the boy an outlet for his rage that did not involve damn near killing punks that got on his nerves, and any other dangers that the boy might have brought. But at some point it had just become a part of the daily grind and it was something Isshin was going to miss.
Isshin was shaken out of his thoughts by a sound beside him, looking down he noticed Uzume giving an approving smile towards Ichigo. 'So... so he did this for her?' he realized, knowing now what had happened when the boy chased after her a bit ago. Isshin continued to look at her for a moment before giving her a small smile, 'My goodness... maybe I was worried for nothing. You just might be good for my boy yet.' Inwardly, he gave a devilish grin, 'Oh I just got an idea.'
Schooling his features he turned back to his son and spoke in a calm voice, "Apology accepted Ichigo."
Ichigo grunted but otherwise did not turn around.
"I must admit that it takes quite a man to admit when he's wrong and try to make amends."
Ichigo groaned inwardly, 'Oh goddammit, he's gonna milk this isn't he?'
Isshin nodded sagely, "Yes, It brings a father tremendous pride when he sees the fruit of his loins mature into a fine, ripe fruit of a man."
'Ah, fuck he is gonna milk this.' Ichigo thought sourly. 'Stupid Uzume and her stupid expectation with her stupid sad eyes. This is gonna be hell.'
Isshin sniffled as he wiped away an imaginary tear, "Truly this has been a glorious day in the holy annals of Kurosaki clan history. My eldest child has managed to graduate high school. He will soon be living on his own with a fine woman," he paused to place a hand on Uzume's shoulder. "A woman who I am proud to call daughter on this day."
Uzume placed her own hand atop of his, "Thank you Papa."
Isshin nodded before he turned back to the group, "Yes! This is a great day in our clan's history! I am proud and honored that all of you were gathered to witness this magnificent event! This day in time were Kurosaki Ichigo began his humble march towards manhood!"
'Stop talking, stop talking, stop talking, stop talking, stop talking, stop talking,' Ichigo repeated in his head, clutching at his hair in irritated anger.
"And it just so happens that in the event that such a historic day should occur while I was still coherent to see it, I wrote a song."
"...What?" Ichigo whispered.
"You!" Isshin cried as he pointed at Keigo.
"Hah?" Keigo intelligently got out.
"Yes you boy!" Isshin nodded. "Stop looking so silly and give me a beat!"
"A beat?" Keigo asked before he felt a cold chill up his spine. Sparing a quick glance to his right, he found Ichigo giving him a glare that would have had Grimmjow shaking in his Espada boots. Keigo gulped, the message clear and turned to the Kurosaki patriarch, "I... I don't think so sir."
Isshin pouted, "Oh fine. You're no fun."
Ichigo nodded in approval, 'At least this can't get any worse...'
"Please tell me you're getting this," Tatsuki whispered to Uryu.
Uryu nodded, "I'll forward it to you later."
"I love you Uryu."
"Yes I know," Uryu smirked.
'Ok, I'm gonna kill my best friends. Question is, where do I hide the bodies and who can I get to konso them with no questions asked?' Ichigo thought. 'More importantly...' He growled as his father gave a dramatic speech that had Uzume enraptured, 'How am I gonna make him pay for this mess?'
Make no mistake about it though, Isshin was going to pay for this mess. Dearly.
=========
The sun had just set under the horizon, the skies above a mix of darkness that encompassed all above except for the last bits of escaping daylight as it followed the star passed the horizon. Still early March, the wind outside was still very cool, though not quite as biting as it was a week prior; a hopeful sign that it would be an early spring.
"Ummmmm~," Keigo moaned as he stretched his arms high above him, holding it for a moment as he visibly shuddered before bringing them down, one going to his stomach to pat it satisfied. He and the others had long finished with dinner, and were now in the process of leaving to go home. With the food paid in full beforehand all that was left was to tip the waitress, something that they all pitched in a bit.
"Man..., that was really good stuff," he said aloud to no-one in particular.
"Yeah," Uzume said as she walked out of the glass doors to the restaurant, Ichigo and his family trailing her. "That was good, wasn't it?," she asked in confirmation.
Keigo grinned as she finally gave him a look. He didn't know why, but she seemed a bit happier after Ichigo's unannounced humiliation. He continued to grin as he shook his head in wonderment. Did he lose a bet or something? Damn if he didn't have a picture for this once in a lifetime chance.
"I've no complaints," Uryu mentioned, eyes neutral as he stared into his phone, his thumb pressing a few buttons before turning it off and pocketing it. He sighed as he closed his eyes, preparing to depart so he could get to his patrol.
Ichigo growled at hearing that. Oh, he had complaints... He caught Keigo looking at him and glared back, not forgetting his butt-monkey's roll in this.
"What?," Keigo squeaked. "C'mon, Ichigo, it wasn't that bad," he said, giving a weak chuckle..
"I have to say I never saw anything like that coming," Tatsuki spoke up ruefully, the final trio of Orihime, Chizuru and herself walking out the door, and she closed it behind her. Keigo frowned a bit as Orihime seemed a bit...dazed. However that was put aside as Tatsuki stepped up to him and gave him a wry smile. "I'll give it you Keigo, you picked a good one," she said.
"Yeah, I enjoyed it," Chad confirmed before the others began to nod.
"Ehhehehehe," Keigo chuckled, a goofy smile growing on his face and holding a hand to the back of his head, feeling pretty damn good at this rare instance. "It was the least I could do, though Mizuiro did a lot of the work too," he said, looking at Mizuiro who nodded at him, smiling in another rare instance in that he had his ever-present phone put away.
"It's just really too bad Ryo and the others couldn't make it," Mizuiro said a bit sadly.
"Yeah," Orihime also chimed it, almost looking as if she were trying to get her mind on something else. "They really would've liked it."
"Yeah, but at least we got each of them that cheesecake thing Misato wanted," Tatsuki said, holding up a bag with a small container in it.
Both her and Orihime smiled, knowing that Misato would practically tackle them for this bag later on.
"Yeah, it is a bit bad, but I can't see why we can't do it again later on, right?," Keigo asked aloud.
Silence.
"Right?," he said in confusion as he looked at his friends around him before his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Looking around he saw his friends looking at him not quite amused, but not mad. Almost as if it were somehow... solemn.
"Keigo," Mizuiro said softly.
"Hmm? Oh? Oh," he then said as realization kicked in and then he too took a breath as he found himself looking at everyone, a strange feeling forming in the pit of his stomach.
"What?," Uzume had said, confused at the sudden change in mood.
"This is it," Ichigo said softly, his own gaze softening as he found himself beginning to look around.
Seeing the change in everyone, Isshin for once kept his mouth shut and took hold of Yuzu's hand as he gently pulled her along. "Karin, Yuzu, let's go. Ichigo, we'll be in the car, ok?," he said to his son, who nodded without so much as looking at him, his mind now firmly thinking on the people around him, looking at each of them before finally resting his eyes on Chad, nodding at him.
Chad nodded back, silent but all too understanding of the look Ichigo gave him and returning it.
So many memories here, for both of them before meeting everyone else, save Tatsuki.
A strange silence befell the group as many of them found themselves not wanting to be the first to break the spell, of wanting to be together for just a little bit longer.
"UmHmm," Uryu coughed into his hand after a moment. Sans Ishida, of course, he had work to do.
"Oh that's real nice," Tatsuki muttered at him, irritated at the moment being broken.
"My apologies, but I do need to be leaving soon," Uryu said, taking the chance to readjust his glasses.
"I'll miss you too," Tatsuki muttered back at him half lidded.
"It's alright, Uryu, we all know why," Ichigo said. Uzume blinked, not quite getting it and feeling a bit out of place, knowing this was important to her ashikabi but being able to participate. Ichigo then frowned, his lips becoming tight as he looked downwards, thinking.
"Ichigo," Uzume whispered at him, seeing his gaze.
"Thank you," Uryu said before looking at the group, missing Ichigo. "I know that some of us never quite got along," he started, giving Tatsuki a look, "but I enjoyed being with all of you, both as friends and comrades. I hope for each of your success in the future," he said before bowing to them. "May we all meet again someday," he said as he then began to walk off.
"Since when did he think he was so cool all of a sudden," Chizuru muttered as he went out of sight.
"Didn't think he had it in him," Tatsuki agreed giving a wry smile.
"Tatsuki-chan," Orihime chided.
"It's not like he won't be seeing some of us soon, especially you."
"Hmmmmmmmm~," Chizuru fumed, not liking that both her Hime and Ishida would be attending the same University. Dammit, why didn't she think of going into medicine!
"Uryu, hold up!," Ichigo then called out after him. Uryu paused and turned, a bit of an irritated look on his face. After a moment he sighed and made his way back.
"Yes, Kurosaki," he asked, keeping his voice even.
"Sorry, but, just wanted to say something while everyone's still here, ok?" Ichigo then sighed, his mouth opening and closing a few times before taking another deep breath.
"Kurosaki-kun," Orihime said in concern.
The others turned to give him their full attention now, and he was silent for another moment. He smacked his lips a few times, and at the moment Uryu was about to simply give his adieu once more when Ichigo closed his eyes and rolled his head downwards as he brought a hand up to scratch the back of his neck. Standing straight again he looked at each of them and then bowed deeply to all of them, causing the rest to look at him in unfeigned shock.
"Thank you," he said, still holding the bow, his voice deep with emotion. "These last few years... its been hell, y'know? Not being able to do anything, not being out there." He then stood straight again. "But you've all still stuck with me, still keeping me in despite not being able to do jack. Thank you for putting up with me and that flack, you really don't know how much I appreciate it."
"It's gonna be weird for awhile, getting used to Teito and not many people I know around," he continued, taking the chance to look at Uzume who smiled back at him. "But I wanted all of you to know how much I've appreciated it and that I'll miss these times we had together," He rose a bit more and smiled slightly. "I love you guys. All of ya. And I'm gonna miss the hell outta y'all while I'm in Teito."
An eyebrow rose as a soft sobbing sound could now be heard. Turning his head slightly in it's direction he found Orihime crying. Her mouth attempting to muffle her sobs. He sighed as he then walked up to her and reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. She sniffed and hiccuped as she brought a hand to wipe her eyes, her heart already beginning to hurt while at the same time feeling the warmth of his hand on her shoulder.
"C'mon Inoue," he said softly. "Ain't no need to act like that. It ain't like we're never gonna see each other again, right?"
Orihime nodded as her tears faded away. Ichigo smiled softly as she calmed down, finally taking his hand away. She sniffed a few more times and smiled at him, nodding.
"Hime," Chizuru whispered in concern at her object of affection's current state.
Uryu then locked eyes with Ichigo, both Quincy and former Shinigami giving one last measuring look at each other before nodding.
"Until then, Kurosaki," he said before finally turning around and walking off into the night.
"It is getting late," Chad then said as he was looking after where Uryu had gone before turning back to them, "and I got practice in the morning." Chad then looked at each of them before stopping at Ichigo. "Give us a call if something comes up," he said, causing Ichigo to roll his eyes.
"He will," Tatsuki said, turning her head to give Ichigo a hard gaze.
"Take care of yourselves," Chad said, also bowing to them all before rising up and walking off in the opposite direction Uryu had taken a moment earlier.
"I know he'll still be here for a bit, but I will say that I'll miss the guy when all is said an done," Tatsuki said, smiling after him.
-Sigh-
Blinking, she turned to who made the audible sound and found Keigo looking downward, his hair covering his eyes.
"Asano-kun?," Orihime said, wiping another tear away.
"This is really it, isn't it?," he said a bit shakily. He looked up at them, and even his eyes were a bit red now. "Its almost not fair, all you guys goin' off, y'know? Could've at least stayed a bit longer before you all go off on your own, right?," he said, turning to Mizuiro, who gave a soft shrug.
"Don't worry Keigo, I'll be here just a bit longer if you want someone to keep you going," Tatsuki called out, causing him to cough heavily for a bit, eliciting a few laughs.
"Yeah," Keigo then said. "That'd be great." All of them rose an eyebrow at that.
"You be up early then, I'll make you jog 'til you wished you hadn't said that," Tatsuki said, not unkindly.
"C'mon Keigo," Mizuiro said, trying to save his friend a bit of dignity. "Ichigo, you watch yourself out there, ok? Teito's a lot different than Karakura."
'Understatement', Ichigo thought. "I will," he called back. "You take care of yourself at Waseda, ok?"
"Trust me, I will," he said, smiling as he pulled out his phone, causing all of them, sans Uzume, a still slightly sobbing Keigo and Orihime, to roll their eyes.
"Until we all meet again," Mizuiro said, echoing Uryu from earlier and bowing. "C'mon Keigo," he called out, pulling on his friends shirt to bring him along.
"You all take care of yourselves," Keigo called back.
"We will, Asano-kun!," Orihime shouted back, another tear falling.
"Just us, now huh?," Tatsuki said.
"Yeah," Ichigo said.
After a moment, Tatsuki smiled and held out a hand to Ichigo, who looked at her oddly before holding his out. Grasping his hand Tatsuki pulled him towards her and embraced him. Blinking, Ichigo's mouth couldn't find the words to say as he then held her back.
"Don't do anything stupid," she said as she pulled back.
"I won't."
"I would hope not, you don't have me to look after you anymore."
He snorted at that, "I'll get by."
"We'll see. Oh?" she then said.
"What?"
She then pulled him downwards and whispered into his ear. "I'm still better."
He smiled. "You wish," he whispered back before they both pulled away completely and shared a small laugh with each other.
Uzume blinked at them both. "Huh?"
"They've known each other since they were four," Orihime supplied, her damp face turning to her briefly.
"Oh," Uzume said, unsure of what to say, feeling all the more like an outsider from the last few minutes, before gasping softly as she then realized that Tatsuki was the other kid in that photo she saw the other day.
Silence again befell those who were left, and Orihime found herself lost in thought, her mind on Ichigo, looking downward as she then wrung her hands, the concrete below blurring as her tears began to fall in earnest.
"Orihime," Tatsuki then said as she put a hand on her friend's shoulder. Orihime turned to face her, and Tatsuki gave her a stare and a nod.
"It's time," she said. "For real now."
Her lips becoming a thin line, she nodded as she sniffed and turned to Ichigo.
"Kurosaki-kun?"
"Yes, Inoue," he said, not sure how to respond when he saw her begin to cry again.
"I... I have something I need t-to tell you," she said a bit shakily.
"Yes?"
Tatsuki nodded again, trying her best to send all of her confidence to her friend, who needed it now.
Alongside Tatsuki, Chizuru watched both of them, her face turning from Ichigo to Orihime to Ichigo to Orihime and back again. She then paled and gasped, realizing what was going to happen.
"Ori-URK!!," she barely got out as Tatsuki's arm looped around the girl and brought a hand to her mouth, muffling and silencing her as Tatsuki then tightened her grip, holding Chizuru close to her chest as she made sure that the girl absolutely would not ruin this last chance.
"I... I... ll...," she said shakily, doing her best to muster up her courage.
"Orihime-chan," Uzume whispered, walking up next to Ichigo as she looked on in concern, hoping the girl was alright.
Orihime turned to look at her, and realized that her view had both Uzume and Kurosaki-kun side by side, looking at her with mirrored gazes of concern and her heart twisted, remembering what she saw earlier.
After Kurosaki-kun's odd and completely shocking apology to his father, both he and Uzume again walked off towards the restroom area. With a hard nudge from Tatsuki, she got up and followed them, knowing that Tatsuki wanted her to grab Kurosaki-kun on his way back from the restroom to try to confess then.
What she saw was another stake through her heart. She had turned the corner as she followed them and stopped, as both of them were down the small hall to the restroom, and both of them were talking to each other, Ichigo with his head bowed low and red with embarrassment, and Uzume looking up at him with what looked like both relief and pride.
From where she was at she couldn't hear them, and she had taken a step back enough that she wouldn't be seen as she was still a step in the dining area.
After a moment of talking Uzume then stepped up to Kurosaki-kun, giving him a hug to then tiptoe up to kiss him on the cheek. She had gasped again as she saw it, but what floored her was after that Ichigo had then encircled his arms around her and pulled her to him, and they held each other tightly.
She didn't know when they parted, as by that time she had turned around to go back to her table to find an exasperated Tatsuki. She gave her friend the best smile she could manage, as at that moment she couldn't ever remember feeling so empty.
Seeing them side by side now drove that point even harder now.
"Kurosaki-kun...I...."
"C'mon, c'mon," Tatsuki silently whispered, urging her friend onward.
She sniffed as she could feel her heart beginning to empty out, its contents now falling as tears as they now made their way freely down her face.
"I just wanted to wish you well in Teito," she said, bowing to him. "I'll miss you so much," she said, her voice cracking.
To the side Tatsuki's mouth dropped, not quite believing what she was seeing.
"Inoue," Ichigo then said.
"Yes," she said, still bowing. "Huh?," she then gasped as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Lifting her head she saw Ichigo giving her a small smile and surprised her more as he brought her close and hugged her.
"Ku-kurosaki-kun," she sniffed as her shoulders suddenly rocked hard.
"I'll miss you too, Inoue. Thank you," he said as he held her. She held on tighter as her sobs then increased. After a moment he patted her on the back and pulled back slightly. "It's ok. Remember? You'll be at Tokyo Medical. With that being so close I'll probably see you more than anyone here."
She shuddered again as she pulled away, not looking up at him but nodding.
"Uzume-chan," she then said a bit shakily.
"Yes?"
"You'll... take care of Kurosaki-kun, right?"
"Absolutely," Uzume confirmed, bringing a hand to her chest for emphasis.
Orihime wiped her eyes with a wrist and looked at both of them and bowed once more. "Take care." And with that, she turned to both Tatsuki and Chizuru, who watched in stunned silence.
"Orihime..."
"C'mon Tatsuki-chan. Its time to go home," she said with a smile. A hollow smile, both girls could tell.
"Ah," Tatsuki confirmed. Gulping in some saliva, she looked over at Ichigo and Uzume. "Good luck and take care!"
"You too!"
Chizuru looked back and forth between Tatsuki and Orihime several times, unsure of what to do herself before fuming at it all and turned to Ichigo and then bowed herself.
"Good luck and thank you. I... I know we wouldn't be here if it weren't for you," she said.
Ichigo blinked but nodded, and Uzume looked on in confusion.
"Good luck to you," she then said and turned to follow both Orihime and Tatsuki.
"And good luck to you, Honshou!," Ichigo called back, but by then she had already made good distance.
"Hn...," Ichigo sighed, moving his head back and forth. He continued to stare in the direction the girls left in for another moment.
"Everything ok, Ichigo."
"Hn...? Oh? Uh, yeah, I'm ok, Uzume. Just... just unsure, y'know. Inoue's always been... y'know, but... I, I just wasn't quite expecting that."
"Do you think she's ok?"
"With everyone going, probably not for a bit. Tatsuki'll be with her, and Tatsuki will kill just about anything that tries to hurt her, but..." he then shrugged, not quite sure of himself.
It was then that the headlights to his dad's car shone on both of them before veering to the side. The noise of the engine getting slightly louder as the car pulled alongside them both. Letting his dad know everything was ok, both he and Uzume got in, and Isshin turned the car out onto the street to go home.
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"Please tell me we're almost done here," Kurokawa asked almost hopefully. Jiro eyed him impassively as he re-entered the car.
"I think we basically are," he admitted. "Looks like this was just one big goodbye."
"Great, so I got a nice sob story to go with my dull ass report," Kurokawa groaned. "You get to hear when he and Number Ten were leaving?"
He shook his head negative, "But it probably won't be long."
"Let's hope so," Kurosawa grinned as he put the car key into the ignition. "The sooner I'm outta this place, the better I'll feel." Jiro nodded. "That said, let me congratulate you fatty for not eatin' out the place and blowing our cover! I know that took a lot outta ya."
Jiro groaned, "Is that all you got? Gay and fat slurs? Can't you come up with something better?"
"I'll try to when you don't give me such material to work with." Kurokawa responded as he pulled out into the street. "Y'know, my sister knows a guy who loves fatties like you."
"If you don't shut your trap I'm gonna sit on you," Jiro warned.
"Oh, that's perfect! He loves when a fat guy does that!"
"God, shut up!" Jiro groaned as they followed the Kurosaki clan back to their home.
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And by next post, I mean after this one...
h43r:
