A Missing Moment

8/14/2019 A Missing Moment

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-missing-moment 1/5

It wasn't that Ishida was jealous of Ichigo.

Okay, maybe it was. The young man had a tight family, people who loved him andcared about his well-being. Ichigo was so confident, and despite his brashmannerisms the bright haired boy managed to attract all sorts of people,effortlessly making friends and earning their respect (or scaring the hell out ofpeople, but Ichigo also possessed the quality of not giving a damn). Ishidastruggled to connect with anybody, even those older than him and just as

intelligent. It annoyed Ishida, it made him want to shoot an arrow up Ichigo'sass, and yet...it drew him in. After confronting Ichigo that first time - how hadthe idiot managed to not notice me in the time we've been in school, I'll neverknow - the dark-haired boy had been secretly happy that his temperamental rivalinvited him up for lunch.

Ichigo truly was an idiot - he wasn't smart enough to pause and think beforerushing in to something, and he said what was on his mind whether it was the timefor it or not. He never seemed down, always standing tall and determined.

So seeing him like this was bothering the Quincy. So they weren't able to get into Seireitei right away, there were other options - Youruichi-san didn't seembothered or worried, so why should Ichigo?

But that didn't explain why Ichigo was sitting on the top of a roof, staring atthe closed off area with a blank expression (which was another thing that botheredthe last Quincy - the substitute shinigami was horrible at hiding his feelings).Sadly, it bothered him, and he wanted - no, needed - for Ichigo to return to hisnormal, annoying self.

"As nice as the sunset is, I don't think it's good enough to result in suchintense scrutiny," Ishida murmured as he approached Ichigo from behind. The boy'sshoulder's stiffened in response, but he said nothing. Sighing, Ishida sat downnext to his comrade and slipped his glasses off for a quick cleaning.

"She's in there somewhere," Ichigo said quietly, his gaze never wavering from the

white stonewalls. "She's in there somewhere, and it's up to me to save her."Ishida returned his glasses to the bridge of his nose and raised a quizzicaleyebrow.

"Saving her really does mean that much to you?" Such strength of feeling wasn'tsomething the Quincy could comprehend. He'd been alone for most of his life - hisfather had abandoned him long ago, and his grandfather wasn't around anymore.Since Ishida had difficulties relating to people in general, loneliness had becomesomething comforting familiar, if that could be said. So hearing Ichigo sound sosure, so determined to save a young woman he hadn't known for very longseemed...weird.

Ichigo sent Ishida an exasperated, angry look. "Why else would I come here,

idiot?" The expression, such a normal one for the other boy, made Ishida relax.Not bothering to response, both boys returned to silently staring at the skybefore them.

"I came," Ishida began hesitantly, not sure if he wanted to tell his rival such aprivate thing, "to get stronger. I need to get stronger. I don't understand adriving need to save someone important to me. I don't have important people. Mygrandfather...he died a long time ago." Ishida's throat constricted, but hemanaged to squeeze the words out anyway. "My father never cared either way for me,and I haven't seen him in a long time. He sends money to support me, though." Theblue-eyed boy made no mention of his mother, and Ichigo didn't ask.



Still unsure of why he was baring his soul to someone like him, Ishida fellsilent. The distant sound of people talking and moving about filled the air, butneither of the two boys spoke. Oddly enough, it wasn't an awkward silence. Ishidafelt better now that he'd finally told someone of his problems, even if it was tosomeone who wouldn't care.

"Are you sure there's nobody who's important to you? Nobody you'd give your life

for in a heartbeat?" Ichigo turned intense-looking eyes toward Ishida, whosuddenly felt nervous. He'd never seen such an expression on this boy's face.Ishida didn't know how to begin to describe the emotions written upon hiscompanion's face.

"Uh," was all the blue-eyed boy could think to say. "No?" He didn't mean for it tosound like a question, and realizing that he sounded unsure had him scrambling fora more definite sounding response. "No. I have no family, and no friends. Who isthere to care for?"

This seemed to upset the taller boy. He jerked upright, shooting a death glaretoward the surprised Ishida. "The only reason you came here," Ichigo whisperedharshly, "is to get stronger? I don't fucking believe that. You might not give a

damn about me, but I've seen you interact with Inoue and Chad. Don't you dare saythey aren't friends, because if that's not how friend's treat each other, then Idon't know what the hell is."

Surprise turned in to confusion, and Ishida furrowed his brow in an attempt tounderstand. "Sado-san and Orihime-san? But...Orihime-san is nice to everybody, andSado-san is too. He doesn't go out of his way to talk to anybody, but he's neverrude or...and Orihime's very friendly, she talks to everybody!"

If possible, Ichigo's glare intensified. "You fool! Chad talks to you, doesn't he?That's more than most people can say. And you're right, Inoue does talk toeverybody, she IS very friendly. But Inoue is the type to be friends with anybody,and I know she thinks of you as a comrade." At Ishida's surprised look, Ichigo

returned to his slumped over way of sitting. "And you say I'm clueless?" The boymuttered.

Still confused, Ishida forced his thoughts about his relationship with Orihime-sanand Sado-sun away, and focused on something else that'd been said. "Where did youget the idea that I don't care about you?" Wincing, Ishida realized it made himsound rather girl-ish, but he really was curious.

Ichigo blinked. "Er...well, you said you hate all shinigami, and you definitelydon't treat me the same way you treat the others."

Ishida smirked. "That's because you're an idiot."

"The fuck? I am not, you're the idiot!" Ichigo snarled.

"You're the one that didn't notice me, even though my spiritual pressure should'vebeen enough to guarantee you do!"

"Yeah, well you're the one who doesn't even know he has friends!"

"I don't! Sado-san and Orihime-san are just too polite and kind. Which is morethan I can say for someone like you, who also doesn't have two brain cells to rubtogether!"



"What the hell do you call me then?" Ichigo shouted, losing his tenuous grip onhis temper. "I think of you as a comrade!" Ishida couldn't think of a singleresponse to that, and could only gape like the idiot he called Ichigo. Stillfurious, the taller boy jumped to his feet and began to pace like an angry cat ina cage. "Dammit, I protested you coming here because I didn't want to see you orthe others get hurt. I have a reason for coming here, but you guys don't! If yougot hurt because you followed me, I'd never forgive myself!"

Ishida pushed his glasses up his nose. "How conceited of you, to think we came tofollow you. The others want to free Rukia, too, you know. You're not the onlyreason they came." A low, angry growl from the pacing young man was the onlyresponse. Ishida felt his smirk returning.

Ichigo still made no response, continuing his pacing over the roof, paying noattention to where he was going. Finally coming to some sort of a decision, hesettled back down next to the Quincy. Aiming his gaze toward the bright walls thatsurrounded the Seireitei, Ichigo spoke.

"You are," he began, "annoying, pompous, conceited, and too concerned with lookingcool. But you're also smart, and...talented." The last bit was said grudgingly,but Ishida was surprised to hear it at all. "When you don't blather on about

stupid things, you can be...nice to be around."

"Why, Kurosaki!" Ishida said cheerfully. "You sound as though you like me."

"Idiot, that's what I've been TRYING to say! Just forget it!" Ichigo snapped,jumping once again to his feet and stomping off toward the edge of the building tojump down. Without thinking his actions through, Ishida rushed to catch up.Reaching out with one hand, he gripped the back of Ichigo's outfit and pulled.Off-balanced, Ichigo fell backwards in to Ishida. With a loud crash, the two boyslanded in a heap on top of the roof.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Ichigo yelled, struggling to get up. Saidstruggles were only making things worse, entangling them further. Finally Ishida

smacked Ichigo upside the head, startling the other boy enough to stop moving.

"Kurosaki, I wanted..." Ishida said nervously, one hand still holding a handful ofthe other boy's clothes. Hearing his 'comrade' begin to speak, Ichigo wentcompletely still, eyes on Ishida's. "I just wanted to say thanks... for talkingsense in to me." It was an embarrassing thing to give thanks for, but the finalQuincy needed to say it.

"You needed me to fall on top of you to say that?" Ichigo asked incredulously.Ishida huffed with indignation.

"Of course not, but you were rushing off like a rampaging hippopotamus. I had tostop you."

"I don't rampage, and definitely not like no freakin' animal!" Ichigo shouted, hisface turning red.

"Yes, you do. I'm surprised you didn't fall through the roof with the way you werestomping." Ishida snapped, his patience finally faded.

"Shut up! If I was stomping, it was your fault!"

"Don't blame me for your antics!"



"I will if it's your fault, which it is!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

Realizing they were sounding like children, the two teenagers went silent. After afew moments of peace, in which each boy was lost in his own thoughts, Ishida

spoke.

"How is it that you're the only person that can reduce me to arguing like I'mfive?"

Ichigo glanced over, his eyes meeting Ishida's. Opening his mouth to reply, Ichigofroze. Ishida cocked his head to the side, wondering what had made his...friend goso still. Are his cheeks turning pink? They are! Ishida thought, quickly followedby the realization of why. The boy pressed in to the roof could feel his cheeksturning pink too, but seemed unable to tear his gaze away from the one laying ontop of him.

The two boys had been lying in a compromising position for some time, and if they

hadn't been on top of a roof, it was with no doubt that they would have beendiscovered like this. Pressed chest to chest, with Ichigo lying a little sideways,legs tangled together, faces inches away...oh yes, this was compromising.

Swallowing, Ishida's thoughts were a tumble of confusion, mostly consisting of'why hasn't he gotten up? Why do I feel weird? I haven't been this close tosomeone since Grandfather was alive. He's...really warm'.

"Ichigo..." Ishida said uncertainly. He wasn't sure if that was a plea for him toget off, or a plea for him to stay right there, where his body heat could soakthrough their clothes and in to Ishida's own cold form. Ichigo drew in ashuddering breath, and his eyes fluttered closed. His breath came out in a quietwhoosh, one that sounded suspiciously like the dark-haired boy's name. Feeling

something in his chest - a warm, pleasant feeling - Ishida too closed his eyes.

And so they stayed, until they heard Orihime calling their names.

Snapping their eyes open, realizing they'd been just lying there, in thatposition, they scrambled to their feet. Refusing to meet the other's eyes, bothboys turned their backs to each other and brushed off non-existent dirt from theirclothes. Ishida was pleased to see that it wasn't only his hands that were shakingin response to what had just happened.

"Over here, Inoue!" Ichigo shouted, moving to the edge of the roof.

"It's time to come inside! Youruichi-san wants to have a word with all of us!" The

girl shouted, waving one arm around unnecessarily. Sending a quick glance behindhim, Ichigo smirked.

"Need help getting down, Ishida?"

Ishida glared back. "Of course not. I can handle myself."

"So glad to hear," Ichigo replied. Without a moments pause, he leaped from hisperch and fell quickly out of sight. Fighting sudden panic - what if the foollands on his head? - Ishida calmly walked forward and jumped, making sure to landsafely.



It seems Ichigo hadn't waited for him, and was dragging Orihime along, who waslooking back with concerned, apologetic glances. Smiling reassuringly, Ishidastraightened and strode forward.

It seems Ichigo is no longer worried or unsure, Ishida thought with satisfactionas he watched his friend up ahead.

That's good. Dismissing all other thoughts - including those lingering about whathad happened up on the roof - Ishida hurried to not be late for the meeting.

A Missing Moment

Documents

Transcript of A Missing Moment