Flowers For Ichigo

Author’s Note: Thanks to all of those who reviewed! : D I’m sorry again for the long wait! This chapter was literary fighting me. It was suppose to be out MUCH sooner it was already done but then I had to go back and fix things and fixing some errors turned into me redoing it. ^^; Also my beta’s been busy. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.



Flowers for Ichigo chapter 3: Gratitude

“So you got another flower?” Rukia asked looking at Ichigo closely.

“Yeap, this morning.” He answered with a slight smile on his face. Blinking rapidly, Rukia stared at Ichigo.


“A-A-Are you smiling?” she asked, shock written all over her face. Shock was definitely what Rukia was feeling-was she seeing things right? Ichigo… Ichigo was smiling? Smiling about receiving a flower? Wasn’t it just yesterday he was cursing and getting sick over the thought of someone having the balls to give him a flower? But instead of seeing him flare up, making her want to crack more jokes and have this be an ongoing event… He…He was smiling?


Now she was completely lost. Ichigo wasn’t just smiling to smile. She knew what type of smile that was. It was a smile of intrigue and anticipation.


Ichigo was anticipating his secret admirers next move.


“That’s just creepy as hell,” Renji said, interrupting Rukia’s train of thought.


“Huh?” Ichigo asked, snapping out of his own world.


“I said it’s fucking creepy. You smiling like that with that look on your face.” Renji said as he wrinkled his nose in disgust.


“No one asked you for your opinion, pineapple head,” Ichigo retorted, getting some of his wits back.


“Look, don’t get bitchy with me. Who told you to stare off into space with a creepy look on your face?” Renji asked, emphasizing his point by reenacting the face.


“Like I said, no one asked you to look.”

Narrowing his eyes, Renji contemplated the events of the past two days. Even thought he thoroughly enjoyed poking fun at the Strawberry’s predicament, he had to admit things were getting strange. When Ichigo first received the flower, Renji predicted that it was from some fan from his fan club or maybe someone trying to pick a fight with the substitute shinigami, but those were blown out of the water when Ichigo received the second flower.

Now the redhead wasn’t sure of much anymore.

Finally coming back to her senses, Rukia looked at Ichigo. “What kind of flower was it this time?” she asked with a serious look.


Ichigo then proceeded to fill Rukia and Renji in on everything, including the message and how it was locked with someone’s reiatsu.


“So at least we know whoever it is isn’t a normal human, or for that matter human at all.” Rukia said, feeling that things hadn’t been as simple as she thought before.


Running a hand through his hair, Ichigo looked at Rukia seriously. “Doesn’t this pose a problem though? Isn’t there a high chance that I know this person first hand? It could be someone we all know for that matter.”


“Especially since whoever this person is a master at concealing their reiatsu. We should definitely take a look at the flower to examine it.” Renji said, suddenly getting more into the whole ordeal.


“You guys can come over today if you want,” Ichigo offered.


“Today isn’t good for me. I’m meeting up with Taichou later on to help him find housing,” Renji said.

“Byakuya nii-san is coming?” Rukia asked, bewildered. She had no idea her brother was coming to Karakura.

Ichigo turned to Renji. “Byakuya needs housing? Why?”

“Taichou said he had some stuff he has to do here so he wanted to me find him somewhere to stay. I would offer my place, but I’m already staying with (insert someone).”

“I wonder what’s going on…” Rukia said in confusion. It was highly unlikely that whatever her brother had to do would take long enough for him to need a place to stay. Something must be going on.

“Maybe he has some urgent business to attend to? You know how busy he is,” Ichigo pitched in.

“True…” Rukia replied. “By the way, what type of housing?” she asked, looking over at Renji.

“What type? Just a normal one bedroom with the necessities I guess. Taichou didn’t really specify. Why?” he asked, wondering why Rukia was asking so many questions.

“Well, why have him spend money when nii-san can stay with one of us? Not only that, if he needs help, then one of us can be of assistance.” Rukia said matter of factly.

“I don’t know anything, really. He said it was just some mission he needed to complete in a few days,” Renji answered, shrugging. Even though he was vice-captain, there were certain things that he didn’t know. Especially when they concerned Byakuya’s personal matters.

“I see…hmm…” Turning and looking Ichigo dead in the eye, Rukia got a certain gleam in her own. It was a gleam he knew all too well. It was the gleam that screamed he was fucked and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

“Ichigo…Nii-san will be staying with you.” She said, crossing her arms and nodding her head in agreement to her own statement.

“What?” Ichigo sputtered. “Stay with me? Why can’t he stay with you or Renji?” Yeah, why couldn’t he stay with them?! Why him?! Not that he had an issue with Byakuya or anything, but didn’t the 6th division captain hate his guts?

Looking at Ichigo with that ‘I’m glad you aksed’ face she replied. “Well for starters, Renji is staying at Urahara-san’s your father’s away you have room.” She concluded.

“….So because my father is away and I have room you feel the need to place Byakuya in my house?” Ichigo asked incredulously.

“Yes.”

Holding a hand to his face and the other in a stopping motion Ichigo continued. “Okay so let’s say I do have room and he can stay with me. Do you think Byakuya would even want to be in the same room as me for a couple of days, let alone the same breathing space?”

That’s right, even if he said okay to Rukia’s idea that didn’t mean the Kuchiki head would want to be in his company. Like he said, didn’t he hate him?

“Nii-san doesn’t hate you per se. Nii-sama just thinks you’re a fool to some degree and your existence is a waste to the world.”

“…..Thank you, I now know he doesn’t hate my guts- he just thinks I shouldn’t have been born because I’m a waste of chromosomes.”

“Oh come on! You know I’m just joking. Trust me, everything is going to be fine. I’ll go with Renji after school and let Nii-sama know he will be staying with you. I knew I could count on you, Ichigo!” Rukia said excitedly, heading to the door for her free period at the sound of the bell.

“Wait! I didn’t say he could stay! Rukia!” Ichigo shouted after her.

“Your life sucks but you shouldn’t worry so much, Strawberry, it’s not like Taichou will agree to Rukia’s suggestion. So you have nothing to worry about.” Renji said giving Ichigo an ‘I pity you’ look.

“Fuck my life…” Giving up and laying his head on his desk, Ichigo thought he life couldn’t get any worse. Renji had a point though. It wasn’t like Byakuya wanted to stay with him. Not only that, it wasn’t like he wanted Byakuya to hate him, he had hoped that after the war they could get close to some degree.

He admired Byakuya’s strength, cold aloofness, and distinctively dangerous beauty. Hell, he had spent a good amount of trying to prove his strength and usefulness to the Kuchiki head many times during many battles but it seemed to not work. Getting more depressed,
Ichigo sighed and groaned. He couldn’t help that he kind of wanted Byakuya to want to stay with him. Thinking about it more it seemed strange.

Very strange indeed.

Why did he want Byakuya’s approval so much? Maybe it had to do with Rukia? Or just to prove to someone strong that he was strong too?

Maybe?

Possibly?

‘You keep telling yourself that, king.’ Shirosaki piped in on Ichigo’s last thought

‘Shut it asshole. I’m not in the mood.’

Chuckling at Ichigo’s predicament, Shirosaki faded, but not without sending Ichigo on final chuckle of amusement.

For fuck’s sake, couldn’t he be left alone to his own thoughts for a day? Closing his eyes tighter, Ichigo tried to get through the day in peace.


If he could get that much, that is.


After school ended, Ichigo’s body felt heavy. He would go home, eat, take a shower and crash.

All in that order.

Leaving school, Ichigo sent Rukia a text telling her that he was leaving first. He didn’t feel up to finding the short shinigami. He just wanted to go home and think about today’s events. Making it home Ichigo looked around for Yuzu. Not seeing her anywhere, Ichigo made his way through the house and spotted his sister nowhere. That was strange. Scratching his head, Ichigo rummaged through the fridge and fixed himself some leftovers from the night before.

While eating, Ichigo thought over the notion of Byakuya staying with him for a few days. That is, if he agreed.

Yeah, right.

Just thinking hypothetically for a moment, Ichigo considered the positives. It wouldn’t be so bad. He had wanted to become closer to Byakuya anyway and maybe become a ‘friend’ to some degree. Not only that, but his sister would be here with him. So things wouldn’t be bad…besides Byakuya hating him.

Ah, the hate part…that was the problem. He didn’t feel up to dealing with that shit either, especially when he has the ‘flower’ issue to deal with.


Just too much shit and no toilet in sight.


Finishing his dinner and washing his dishes, Ichigo headed upstairs feeling exhausted. All this crap was too taxing in one day. Stopping at his door, Ichigo noticed a note taped to it.

‘Ichi-nii! I’ll be staying with a friend for the next couple of days. I left some food in the freezer, and I made extra just in case! I know you can take care of yourself. If you need me just give me a call!’


Love Yuzu.

What the hell!?

Why was everyone leaving so conveniently?!?!? Especially with all this shit happening?! Rubbing his temples, Ichigo walked in his room and set the note down before collapsing on his bed. Ichigo looked over at the two flowers in the vase he had put on his windowsill. Picking up the white bellflower he found this morning, Ichigo stared at it. What did this flower mean? Rummaging through his bag, Ichigo found the flower dictionary Rukia had given to him after the first flower. Flipping through the pages he finally found the white bellflower page.


Admiration

It meant admiration. First this person wanted friendship, now he admired him? What had he done to gain this person’s admiration? If it was someone who knew about the battles with Aizen, then that was one thing. Then he could understand. It didn’t make sense though-why was this person doing things from afar? Whoever it was, if they really admired him and wanted to be his friend, why the flower bit? Why not just confront him and tell him? Lying on his back, Ichigo looked at the flower more closely in the moonlight. Maybe this flower had a note like the last one. Sure enough, the same funny looking symbols appeared and Ichigo found himself again in a dream like state with nothing but words flowing through his conscious.

‘Do you know what it means to admire someone? If you do, then you know the feeling I feel the most. I admire you, Kurosaki Ichigo. Your strength, your preservation in the belief in the bonds you have acquired through your endless efforts.

Admiration…

It only exists when things are out of your reach.

You are someone I cannot reach but dream of reaching some day.

If you will allow me to.’

Waking up to the sound of his doorbell ringing, Ichigo groaned and rolled out of bed. Looking at his clock it glowed, blinking 5:45.

“Shit, who is it this early?!” Ichigo said, running a hand through his hair before hearing the doorbell again.

“I’m coming! God, who the hell is it?” Storming downstairs, Ichigo threw the door open to be face to face with none other then Byakuya himself.

“I’m glad you finally decided to join the living. “ Byakuya said in all his glory.

“B..B…Byakuya?” Ichigo practically screeched. What the hell was happening?

“I assume by the look on your face you did not receive Rukia’s message.” He said.

“Message? What message? Looking through in his pocket he noticed his cell phone was on silent. Cursing under his breath, he looked at his messages. Sure enough, there was a message from Rukia.

Ichigo! Nii-sama said he would be staying with you! Didn’t I tell you! Nii-sama doesn’t hate you. I trust you to make sure nii-sama gets done what he needs to. Oh by the way school is out for a couple of days, you left early so you didn’t get the announcement- some thing about renovating some of the classes. Lucky you! You get to spend time with nii-sama and find out who your secret admirer is!


Good luck!!

Dropping his phone, Ichigo looked up at Byakuya.

“By the way, do you always just have random flowers laying on your door step?” He asked, lifting said flower up in front of him.

Still unable to speak, Ichigo continued to stare at Byakuya and the flower in shock.

Yes, someone must have hated his guts