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Ichigo and his closest friends had a sort of routine for visiting the soul society nowadays, being that they were humans and had human friends they wanted to stay with, the less familiar surroundings of the Seiretei weren’t as common of a vacation spot. The three vacations between terms they had at their school were separated accordingly, dedicating two of them to Japan and the other to the soul society.
And with the winter break rolling around, they figured it would be best if they used the soul society trip as a way to get out of the cold weather back home, the classic two birds with one stone.
It was a pleasant feeling for Orihime, Chad and Uryu to not have to head to this place wearing battle ready outfits, being able to choose comfort and style over it instead. And Orihime didn’t have to worry about a certain blonde-haired man making her wear something absurd. After a short trip, the four of them were walking calmly through the winding pathways of the Seiretei, the first place they’d agreed to visit was of course, the Kuchiki household. Byakuya owned the place, so he’d probably be there, which meant Rukia was probably there too. And if Rukia was there, Renji probably would be too, then maybe Ikkaku, Yumichika and friends might be nearby… a whole lot, basically.
And as long as they avoided Kenpachi, it should be a nice walk to visit their friends. Which is what Ichigo had assumed would be the case, until he suddenly found himself by Inoue’s side, gently placing a reassuring hand on her lower back as they moved towards their destination. She’d been… unsure, on her feet, he just wanted to help.
“Inoue? Everything good? You’re kinda… goin all wobbly on me.” Ichigo chuckled a little to kill the awkwardness around his question.
“I’m fine! Just… a funny tummy! But all I’ve eaten today was the shrimp and jam sandwiches I made before, so it can’t be that!” She smiled up at him with the warmth of the sun, a smile that made him feel the need to protect.
“It is most likely that, Inoue.” Ishida cut in, adjusting by his glasses. “That doesn’t sound like a particularly great meal at all.”
“Really? But it was delicious! I had it on some Italian bread from the bakery, it was so good! I’ll have to make you some Kurosaki-kun, ‘kay?”
Had Ishida said that to him, he probably would’ve swung for him right there. But saying no to that face seemed like a felony.
“You shouldn’t be eating that, Inoue, let alone trying to rope Ichigo into it.” Chad managed to cut in and save him, and he breathed a sigh of relief, only to then tense when he saw Inoue pouting beside him, her cheeks swelled up in the cutest damn way possible.
“Kurosaki-kun! Did you just sigh?” She raised an eyebrow pseudo-threateningly.
“N-no! I didn’t say nothin! I was just… uhm… oh look, here we are!” He felt real relief this time seeing the Kuchiki residence approaching, pointing at it as a way out.
“Oh, we are!” She beamed, already onto the new topic.
The four of them approached the front door, exchanging some small greetings with the guards out front, knowing them now from a few visits.
“Kurosaki-kun?”
He glanced to his side as Inoue whispered to him, raising an eyebrow and smiling. “What’s up?”
“You can let go now, I’m fine.”
His eyes went slightly wide and the tips of his ears reddened realising he’d still been holding her until now, quickly snatching away his hand like it had been burned.
“S-sorry, it was… uh, an accident?”
“Ah, it’s no problem really! Kurosaki-kun’s hands are pretty warm, so… it felt okay…” The redhead finished with a shy smile, and Ichigo felt like combusting.
…
“Ahem.”
…
Ichigo swore under his breath, slowly turning to his side to see Rukia now stood in the doorway, with Chad and Ishida looking at the two of them.
“Rukia! Hey, we’re here… yeah.”
“I see that.” She raised an eyebrow with a grin that made Ichigo very irritable. “I take it the trip down was… enjoyable?”
“It was fine, can we come in?” Ichigo spoke quickly to cover up his anger/ embarrassment, with Rukia still staring at him with a dumb smile on her face. Eventually she stepped to the side, holding the door open for them.
“Come on in.”
The four of them stepped through, with Rukia shifting the door behind them and following along, Chad eventually breaking the silence.
“Are you home alone today?”
“No, actually, Nii-sama is in the garden, and I told Renji to bring his lazy ass here before you got here, but the dumbass still hasn’t shown.” She scoffed, and Orihime chuckled.
“Oh, it’s okay! No biggie really, he might just be busy!”
“Have you ever seen that man be serious about something? He’s likely just goofing off.” Ishida stated matter-of-factly, to which Rukia raised an eyebrow.
“He can be serious! I guess… well he has his moments anyway.” She sighed, almost not believing herself.
“Well, you’d think he’d listen to you. How does the saying go, happy wife happy life?” Ichigo grinned, and to be honest, he was waiting for a chance to get his own back since she teased him at the doorway.
“Fool-! Y-you shut your mouth!”
Ichigo grinned, and subtly shifted his eyes towards Inoue as he spoke. “Truce?”
“Fine.”
She sighed but smiled again, nodding at him in acknowledgement, before moving round him to speak to the other three.
“Orihime, you want to come with me to see Nii-sama in the garden? I think he mentioned something about showing you flowers last time…?”
“Yes! Oh, he told me some super exciting stuff about the most beautiful flowers…”
The conversation faded as the two left out the sliding glass doors at the back, and Ichigo stood awkwardly for a moment next to his other two friends, all of try em having been suddenly ditched.
“So…”
“I have to go see the head captain. Part of the deal after the whole… Quincy kerfuffle.”
Ichigo snickered, and even Chad smiled slightly. They’d gotten used to addressing it at this point. Even making jokes to make light of the situation, but it didn’t make it any less weird.
“Sure, yeah… go deal with the consequences of the… kerfuffle.”
“Shut up.”
Ishida did his version of a pout before leaving the house, heading presumably towards the squad one barracks. Or maybe the nearby bar, Kyoraku could be at either.
“Oh, yeah, Chad… I’m gonna wait out front for Renji, you wanna join or…?”
“Nah, I’ll head out to Inoue.”
Ichigo nodded, heading towards the front door. “We’ll meet ya out back when he gets here.”
He’d felt his friends Reiatsu getting closer when they were in the house, which is why he was waiting outside. He did have some rather… pressing matters to discuss with him. Matters that they’d actually discussed over the phone during the last couple of months, so getting the red-haired man alone was important to start with.
He leaned against a pillar at the side of the front door, the two guards below him at the bottom of the steps engaging in casual conversation while he waited for his partner in crime.
“Yo Kurosaki, brought your girl this time huh?” One of the guards he’d come to recognise spoke, while the other chuckled.
“Hah? The hell ya talking about?”
“That red haired girl with the… yknow…” he made a crass gesture with his hands on his chest, and Ichigo’s eyelid twitched in annoyance.
“Yeah yeah, we saw her come in with ya. Honestly man good job landing that, ya gotta introduce us to someone if ya ever find another like her.”
Ichigo grit his teeth, letting his clenched fist relieve more of his stress so he wouldn’t lash out.
“I can introduce ya to someone alright.” The substitute Shinigami spat back with a barely contained annoyance in her voice.
“For real? Who?” One of the assholes guards said with a wide grin on his face.
“Their names Zangetsu. I got one for each of ya if ya carry on.”
“Well, well, ya threatenin’ the guards Ichigo, ya big idiot. Want me to tell Byakuya?”
Ichigo looked up from his momentary anger to see Renji walking over, that same stupid grin on his face, but despite that the orange haired boy couldn’t repress his smile.
“Ugh, you?” He sarcastically groaned back. “Tell Byakuya whatever ya want, I’ll just tell him his guards are sexual predators.”
“Hey-!”
“We ain’t-!”
Ichigo shot his piercing gaze back at the two of them, and the promptly shut up, the turning and heading inside as Renji climbed the steps and came in with him.
“Should I ask?”
“I’d just suggest watching those guards around Rukia from now on.”
“Really?” Renji shook his head. “She doesn’t exactly need my protection from anyone to be honest. But… I’ll do it anyway.”
“Hehe, ya big softie.”
Renji promptly flushed red ever so slightly, slapping Ichigo on the side of the head.
“Says you! All that whinin’ on the phone the last few months!”
“Hey! We agreed to keep that secret… and you did it too!”
“That’s beside the point!”
“That’s exactly the point!”
“Oi! Idiots!”
Both of the men turned to their side suddenly, separating their foreheads that were pressed together in a face off, seeing an irritated looking Rukia at the back door.
“What the hells all the shouting about? I heard you from the end of the garden!”
They both looked at each other for a moment, then shrugged, kicking at the ground and looking up to the sky.
“Nothin. It don’t matter.”
“Ugh, just, get out here already, we’re all waiting!”
“We’re comin!” Renji shouted back as a reassurance, and Rukia turned to leave for the garden again. A small awkward silence descending on the room after, only being broken by Ichigo’s amused snort.
“Whipped.”
“Fuck you!”
“RENJI!”
Shit, I thought she left.
…
“We’re back! And I brought this random guy I found along the way.” Ichigo grinned and quickly hopped to the side, knowing a slap was coming his way.
“Abarai-kun! Hi!” Inoue sent him the regular warm smile she wore, a bushel of pink flowers in her hand while she did, and Renji waved back, looking to his side and grinning at Ichigo, who was getting heart palpitations from the image before him.
“Hey Inoue. Chad, what’s good?”
“Just here for our visit. We decided to stop here first.” Chad replied in a fairly indifferent voice, but Renji could pick up the happiness in his tone.
“Exactly! And you took so long to get here!” Rukia put her hands on her hips, frowning at him.
“Haaah? What’s the problem? They’re here for a while anyway!” He scowled back, leaning his head down to closer to her level.
“It’s common courtesy! You should’ve been here!”
“I don’t even live here! What’s the issue?”
“Maybe I just wanted you here earlier!”
“Why? That’s pointless!”
“You- ugh!”
Watching them go from side to side like it was a tennis match, the others cringed a little as Rukia stormed off towards the house, leaving him in the garden with them. Ichigo sighed, looking at his Shinigami friend.
“Nice, dude.”
“What? What did I do wrong?”
Everyone sighed again, Orihime clicked her tongue in disappointment, and even Byakuya shook his head from his spot near the flowers.
“Fool.”
“Even you Captain?!”
“So… you guys havin fun over here…?” Ichigo started awkwardly, aiming his question mainly at Inoue.
“Yes! Captain Kuchiki has been showing me all these amazing flowers he’s got, I didn’t even realise stuff could grow so well here!”
The captain in question stood up from being crouched near the flowerbed, shaking his head.
“I told you, Inoue-san, you can call me Byakuya if you so desire.”
“E-eh? But I couldn’t! That wouldn’t be respectful at all, and… and maybe Kuchiki-san would get mad! And then maybe she’d report me to Captain Kyoraku, a-and I’d be banned from the soul society forever unless I served him drinks every day, and-“
“Inoue.” Ichigo smirked, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Your imagination is spiralling again. Besides, I don’t think Byakuya’s the typa guy to say something if he doesn’t mean it.”
“I-is that so? I guess you’re right.” She looked down slightly, embarrassed.
“Pay it no mind. You have earned our trust enough to have these liberties.” He waved his hand in dismissal, walking towards the house. “It’s time for me to leave. I have some matters to attend to with the head captain. You’re welcome to tag along if you see fit.”
“I dunno… what about you Chad?”
“I’m gonna go. Ishida’s already there, I’ll meet him and bring him with me when I come back.”
Ichigo’s tall friend walked towards the house with Byakuya, placing a hand on the orange haired boys' shoulder as he walked past, a sort of mischievous smile on his face. “Have fun.”
“Huh?” Ichigo looked as they left, then turned to his side to see only Inoue, clocking on to what he meant. “H-hey, wait-! They’re gone.” Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he turned to his side again. “Uhh… shall we head out then? Anywhere ya wanna visit since it’s… just us two?”
Orihime smiled shyly, trying to conceal the small blush on her cheeks. “U-uhhh… I-I wanted to visit Rangiku-san, m-maybe we can visit her and Toshiro-kun?”
“Yeah… sounds fine with me. Shall we?”
“Mhm!” She nodded happily, following after the arm he was gesturing with, keeping sure to stay in step with him. At most an arm's length from the boy, just in case…
“Are they serious?”
Renji stared blankly as Ichigo and Orihime walked into the house and away, sighing in exasperation and putting his head in his hands.
“Are they really so damn lovestruck they don’t notice me standing right god damn next to them?!”
He shook his head and started to walk inside anyway, maybe he’d catch up and they’d-
“And another thing! You’re so damn- huh? Where’d everyone go?” Rukia looked around confused, her eyes eventually settling on Renji.
“They felt insulted by you leaving, so they’ve gone home.”
“H-huh?! Wait… I have to go stop them!” The shinigami woman turned and charged out for the exit, leaving Renji laughing on his own.
“I might have to pay for that.”
…
“Rangiku talks to you pretty regularly doesn’t she?”
“Yeah! She got a phone so she pretty much always does, she’s like a big sister, I appreciate her a lot.”
Ichigo smiled at the thought as the two of them walked through the various alleyways of the seiretei, he was thankful for Rangiku, he got the feeling that Inoue felt lonely being home alone sometimes.
“That’s nice of her. Isn’t it weird that they can talk to us over the phone from the soul society? It seems like it shouldn’t be possible.”
“Right? It’s like… like a parallel world or something! Wait, do you not talk to Kuchiki-san or Abarai-kun over the phone?” Inoue tilted her head up at him quizzically, and Ichigo pondered whether or not to let some secrets slip.
“Yeah, I guess they do. Not so much Rukia anymore, but Renji does quite a lot.” He shrugged his shoulders, they both had pretty big responsibilities, it didn’t surprise him that they didn’t contact him as frequently.
“Ohhh that makes sense. What does Abarai-kun talk about? I bet it’s all tattoos and swords and man stuff.”
Ichigo chuckled at the frown and deep voice she put on, emphasising the word ‘man’.
“No actually…” he trailed off for a moment, weighting up whether it was worth telling her the truth if it meant taking a hit from So-oh Zabimaru. “I can’t say…”
“Kurosaki-kun… you have to tell me now!”
She pouted, and he went weak in the knees.
“Umm… he’s been messaging me about Rukia.”
“Kuchiki-san?! What about her? Tell me, tell me!”
Ichigo chuckled, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
“He likes her duh! Haven’t ya noticed? I’m surprised, who knew ya were so immature eh?” The orange haired boy grinned teasingly at her, looking down on her like he was so much smarter.
“I-! Hey! I am so mature! I am way more than YOU!” She accentuated it by poking his chest playfully. “Y-you big dummy!”
“Big dummy? That’s sooo mature.”
“K-Kurosaki-kun! I swear you better… I dunno what you should do, but you better do it!”
“That comeback lacked bite Inoue. I think you’re too nice for your own good.” Ichigo grinned, gaining a spout of confidence and patting her cheek condescendingly.
“H-hey…” Inoue pleaded unconvincingly, subconsciously leaning into the touch as his hand settled on her cheek. “That’s…”
The two of them looked at each other in silence, transfixed on each others eyes and the once awkward physical contact now seeming like the most natural thing ever, and as natural as breathing, Ichigo started to lean his head down, moving closer to-
“THERE YOU ARE! I KNEW IT WAS YOU ICHIGO!”
For fucks sake.
“Inoue, you got me?”
“Yes! Santen Kesshun!”
The orange barrier immediately materialised before them, blocking a swing from the sword of a seriously insane man.
“Kenpachi! What the hell?! You nearly hit Inoue!”
“Huh?” The man in question tilted his head to look around Ichigo’s body. “Oh, well, I didn’t.”
“Well obviously!” Ichigo scoffed, then turned to look behind him with a smile. “Thanks, Inoue, I owe ya big time.”
“Ahh, n-no problem really hehe.”
“Long time no see Ichigo. I was waitin for someone who can actually give me a fight to show up, I was gettin bored.” He grinned, gripping his sword handle.
“Like I care! I’m in the middle of somethin here Kenpachi! Go ask Mayuri or someone to fight!”
“Hah? That guy fights like a bitch, I want a real fight!”
Ichigo sighed, glancing back at his crush as he now found himself in an awkward in between. His hands moving slowly towards his Zanpakuto. Ugh, I just need to entertain him for a minute, then we pick up where we left off…
“You’re coming with me Captain Zaraki!”
Before Ichigo could decide what to do, the extending blade of Zabimaru was wrapped around Kenpachi’s torso, holding him like a straight jacket. Followed quickly by its red haired owner, yanking the captain up into the air and jumping off into the distance.
“Wha-? Let me down-“
“I’ll entertain this guy! Good luck Ichigo!”
With that the two of them flew off out of view, leaving Ichigo to lower his hand away from his blades, sighing in relief.
“Well… I guess I should thank Renji?”
“I’d say so too! Captain Zaraki is a lot to deal with huh?”
“You have no idea… anyway, uh, w-we were headed to Toshiro’s place right?”
“O-oh yeah! Let’s go then!”
There was a small unsure silence, then both of the orange haired high schoolers friend and started walking again, both with heads filled with the memory of their interaction only a minute ago.
“Uh… I just wanna say thanks, Inoue, for always bein there to, yknow, help me I guess.”
“I-it’s no problem at all! That’s what these powers are for! And, and I’m happy I can help Kurosaki-kun like that! It makes me especially happy!”
Ichigo smiled fondly as he looked at her beside him, she really was like the sun. Everything she did has a way of making him feel warmer, and lighting up his life however possible. He felt an overwhelming desire to express that, so he reached out and took her hand gently with his, ignoring the little shocked flinch from her as his fingers met hers, bringing her hand upward a a little.
“I wouldn’t have gotten this far without you. Thank you… Orihime.”
The girls eyes went wide, a blush overtaking her face as she averted her gaze towards the floor, not letting go of his hand life her life depended on it as she walked in a stunned silence.
“Hehe, thanks, Ichigo.”