Chapter Text
Tangled in his covers, Ichigo stumbled out of bed and made a loud thud as he crashed into the wall.
"Son of a bitch!" He fussed trying to free himself to stand properly. "Do they have any fucking idea what time it is?" He shouted once steady on two feet. His day hadn't begun and yet his sister already managed to fuck it up. Who gets drunk on a Monday, of all days? When his cell rang, waking him before dawn he thought some asshole was playing on his phone. Did people not care he was in college and had an early morning class? When he answered the phone and realized it was Tatsuki, he wished it had in fact been a prank caller. A call from Tatsuki meant his seventeen year old sister had gotten herself in some kind of trouble and he would have to be the one to go clean up her mess.
In nothing but socks and boxers, Ichigo threw on a purple, stripped crew tee, gray chinos and a pair of brown Vans. Expecting a chilly morning, he grabbed his orange Aero track hoodie as well. From his desk he picked up a messenger bag pre-packed for school the night before, dealing with his sister there was no telling if he would have time to come back. Rushing out his bedroom he nearly bumped into his scowling housemate.
"Do YOU have any idea what time it is?" Uryu stood in the hall, hands on his hips wearing his red pajama pants set and matching silk scarf tied around his head, cobalt blue eyes were void of glasses and narrowed in anger. "What the hell is all this thumping and yelling?" His eyes then traveled over Ichigo's outgrown, sleep tousled hair and down his outfit to his shoes.
"I have to go pick up Karin." Ichigo stepped around Uryu to the stairs.
"You're going looking like that? How embarrassing that must be for Karin." Uryu shook his head at the ensemble. As a fashion design major, he just couldn't ignore it. "Ever heard of color coordination?"
The colors did clash horribly, but Ichigo couldn't have cared less. "How about I coordinate my foot up your ass?"
"I wouldn't entertain your perversions, you're pretty sick."
"Shut the hell up," Ichigo yelled from the front door then slammed it shut. Uryu sure knew how to press his buttons.
Once outside the red-head hopped in his titanium, silver 650i BMW, the champagne colored leather seat comforting his back while he started the engine and shifted into gear. His tired sepia brown eyes squinted then rolled at the green, digital numbers displaying the current time on the car's dashboard.
"Damn kids these days," He grumbled, sounding like a grumpy, old man while turning around to see the street and safely back out the driveway. He wasn't looking forward to riding through Tatsuki's part of the city. Her house was situated right in the middle of a very dangerous, crime infested neighborhood. If someone wasn't getting robbed they were getting stabbed or shot. Dope dealers hung off nearly every corner and prostitutes roamed the streets. He'd visited the area only a handful of times before and for the wealthy college kid it was like stepping in foreign lands. The subsidized housing and run-down projects differed vastly from the Victorian style homes surrounded by white, picket fences and luxury condominiums in his suburb. His father owned his own very prosperous business and was able to give their family a very comfortable and spoiled life. Ichigo had it good, that much was true, but he was still a grounded young man and nothing like the rich, arrogant snobs around him. Feeling his father's status didn't make him better than anyone, he was very down to earth.
Still, comparing Ichigo's neighborhood to Tatsuki's was like comparing Pleasantville to Sin City. And it seemed the only thing separating the two worlds was a single railroad that met right in the middle. It was against some unwritten rule for anyone like Ichigo to cross those tracks, the reverse also applying. Of course that meant nothing to his sister, Karin, but he understood why she spent a lot of time on the other side. Ichigo was tired of his dry rotisserie of a life and most of the people in it, nothing worth mentioning happened, ever. The young student was also itching for a change and he knew there was no point searching anywhere in his boring borders. However, he didn't intend to be reckless just to see some action. When crossing the tracks he had enough sense to be cautious knowing he's just entered unsafe territory.
As soon as Ichigo rolled on the block a scantily dressed woman in scuffed ankle boots, daisy dukes and a hot pink tube top waved to him. She had stretch marks on a stomach that flopped over top her shorts, her matted wig sat crookedly on her head and to top it off it looked like she had missing front teeth, talk about a mess.
"Hey baby, I can show ya a good time!" she advertised when Ichigo slowed to round a corner. Without a doubt she was a prostitute looking for her next john.
"Like hell," Ichigo mumbled trying not to make eye contact. He was hardly across the tracks and already attracting unwanted attention. He expected as much though, driving a new BMW on this side of the city would get attention. New car meant good money, or better known as a good target. Staying focused on his goal of retrieving his sister, he drove in the direction of Tatsuki's home trying to ignore the few but annoying incoming hoots and hollers from the dope boys as he rode through the streets. He didn't want to entertain any of this attention or he might find himself in a bad situation.
Once at his destination he parked on the street behind a dark blue, 2008 Acura TXL. Ichigo could see Tatsuki sitting on the porch of her single story home, unlit joint hanging from her mouth and wearing navy coveralls with her short, black hair tied behind a black bandana. Stepping out the car, a boom of shrieking laughter radiated from Tatsuki's front door.
"Yo, Prep," Tatsuki nodded at her visitor. She called everyone by a nickname and hers for Ichigo was Prep because of his usual style of dress.
Grass on each side, Ichigo walked up a narrow cement path leading to the home. When he approached the steps Tatsuki pointed towards the open door, as if the noise emanating was enough indication where Karin was.
"It's shocking you're not as drunk as she is." Ichigo teased.
"Got early mornin' shit to handle, can't get nothin' done all fucked up."
"I have shit to handle too, ya know. I have class in the mornings and should still be sleep." He informed the dark-haired woman.
"Good for you." Tatsuki clapped her hands sarcastically. "On the real, I would let 'er stay, but I gotta leave for work. Plus she got school, ain't skippin' here so yer pops can send a brigade to bust down my door."
Taking a moment to think about it Ichigo had to agree, their dad could be rather dramatic and would go to any extreme to find one of his children. Tatsuki also had no real responsibility for his sister.
"I guess you're right. Thanks for lookin' after her." Ichigo said appreciatively.
"Man, chill wid all that, ya know Rin's my peoples, I get 'er."
Tatsuki and Karin met last year at a community center, both participating in karate classes. Their dad wanted to get Karin private lessons, but she refused saying she wanted the chance to be around normal people, or so she called them. She connected with Tatsuki because they're similar in a sense. No matter your social or economic background it's always possible to find common ground and their friendship grew from there. There had been plenty of times where Tatsuki watched over Karin while Ichigo couldn't be present. He still didn't trust the neighborhood, but Tatsuki was a good person.
"I'm 'bout to hit this herb before the nine to five." Lighter in hand, Tatsuki lit her joint and took a short huff. "Get yer sis 'cause all that loud shit is gonna fuck wid my high." The dark-haired woman then held out the weed and nodded at Ichigo.
It's been some time since the red-head smoked , but he figured what the hell, it was the least he could get out this situation and accepted the pass.
"What kind of work ya do anyway?" He asked, then inhaled deeply with a slow, deep pull. He savored the taste with the almost forgotten feeling of smoke filling his lungs.
"Damn, don't hit my shit like that, I need it to last." Disgruntled, Tatsuki held her hand out wanting her herb back. "And I'ma mechanic, nosy ass."
Ichigo passed the joint wordlessly trying to hold down the cough forming in his chest, guess it had been longer than he remembered. Tatsuki would have a lot to say about him hitting the bud like that only to choke on it. So he moved up the porch steps and into the house where he spotted his sister from the doorway. Karin was settled on a burgundy sofa, Tatuski's orange haired roommate, Orihime, perched in her lap. They appeared to be watching television, Karin's drunken laughter as loud as ever.
"Karin," Ichigo managed before that suppressed cough burning his chest worked its way to the surface.
"Knew it," Tatsuki sniggered from the outside. Had Ichigo not been currently hacking into his fist he would have barked a "Shut the hell up," in her direction.
"Hey Rin, look your brother is here." Said Orihime as she struggled to get loose of the grip Karin had on her waist. "Hi Ichigo, are you ok?" she asked concerned about his coughing.
"Nooo Orihime, I don't wanna leave you yet." Karin whined then laid her head on Orihime's large chest.
"R-Rin, your brother," Looking over at Ichigo, Orihime's face broke into a rose colored blush.
Karin had a crush on Orihime, and Ichigo could understand why. Even though he was gay, he knew a beautiful woman when he saw one, and Orihime was indeed beautiful. Burnt orange colored hair hung waist length down her back, she had big brown eyes and a slim but curvaceous figure. She also seemed to have a sweet personality. Ichigo talked with her a few times when she called to inform him of Karin's status, she was always very polite.
"Yeah, I'm cool, Orihime." Ichigo said after getting the last of the cough out his system. "Karin, stop fuckin' around and come on."
"Chill bro, yer trippin'." Karin squeezed the squirming woman in her lap into a hug, "I'm comin' back girl, know that." She told her.
"I-I know, Rin." Orihime crooned, patting Karin's arm and trying to conceal her blush by hiding her head on Karin's shoulder until she was set free to stand.
"Oh for fucks sake," Ichigo whispered, he was more than ready to leave. Although he had to admit the display was kind of cute. He could still remember when his sister was a little thing running around in matching dresses with her twin breaking valuables and blaming it on him. Now, here Karin stood about 5'6, wearing her shoulder length black hair back in a pony tail with her red fitted cap twisted to the side. Red skinny jeans, a black polo shirt and red on black Chuck Taylors made her look more like his brother than his sister as she favored the skater boy look. Although that was nothing new, Karin had been dressing like a guy since she was allowed to pick out her own clothing.
Finally saying her goodbye, Karin wobbled to her feet and swayed to Ichigo. Supporting her by her arm, Ichigo wanted to make sure Karin didn't fall down the porch steps.
"Aight Rin, Prep, I'll get up wid ya'll. Be breezy." Tatsuki threw two fingers to the side at her departing guests.
Ichigo's eyes tapered looking off to the side in confusion."Yeah ok, later." He had a slim understanding of street slang and didn't understand a lot of the terms used. Most things were easily picked up on, while other things left him scratching the side of his head.
"Later Tats," Karin tossed her arms in the air, slipping away from Ichigo. She stumbled into the grass where she lost her balance and fell on her behind.
Tatsuki threw her head back and hooted at the drunken clumsiness. Ichigo wasn't amused as he picked his sister up off the ground.
"Come on," He ushered her along and practically shoved her into the passenger's seat of his two door car, then hurried around to the driver's seat.
"You're a pain sometimes," He complained while starting the car then sniffing as something different was beginning to bother him. "What the hell is that smell?"
"Yer breath, bitch!" Karin laughed, she found her own comment knee-slappingly funny.
"Seriously, what the hell," Ichigo glanced in Karin's direction. "What's that all over your shoes?"
"Maaaan, there was mud in the grass."
"You dumbass, that's not mud, it's probably dog shit." Ichigo said, nose turned up. "Now I have to get my carpet cleaned.
Karin didn't seem to care, already ignoring him and content with her phone, laughing nonstop at whatever text she was receiving. They probably weren't even funny; the liquor in her system seemed to make everything hilarious. When the giggling ceased Ichigo looked over in her direction again noticing the serious look on her face.
"Karin, what's wrong?" he asked.
"I feel like," Karin said, then stopped mid sentence and held her stomach.
"Like what, you'll puke? You'd better not throw up in my car." A crease formed in his brow and he mashed the automated button rolling down her window. "Stick your head out th-."
Unfortunately the instructions proved too late as Karin twisted around in her seat and released her last meal along with whatever alcohol she drank on the back seat.
"You have to be fucking kidding me!" Ichigo fumed. He couldn't believe this girl just throw up in his car after her shoes got dog crap all over his floor mat.
"I feel better." Karin stated nonchalantly, turning back around and going back to her phone as if nothing happened.
Ichigo was so mad he had nothing to say to her. Being how she wouldn't remember most of it in the morning once she was sober, it was pointless to say much of anything anyway. About to pull off the curb, he stopped when a blue Corvette pulled across from him on the other side of the street. A car he knew belonged to his other sister, Yuzu. Becoming excited once seeing her twin's car, Karin decided to climb out the window of Ichigo's coupe and toppled on the sidewalk. "Yuzu!" She yelled loud enough to wake the dead.
Yuzu rolled down her window and stuck her head out. "Hey, Ichi," She smiled then immediately frowned upon seeing her sister stagger towards her Chevy.
"What are ya doin' here?" Ichigo asked rolling down his window as well.
"Karin called and said she needed a ride home."
"Well why the hell did Tatsuki call me?" Ichigo shot a confused glare out the window.
"Beats me," Yuzu shrugged. "Don't you have school today?"
Fooling around at Tatsuki's, Ichigo almost forgot he had a class due to start soon. "Yeah, you got Karin?"
"Yup," Yuzu nodded and pushed the door open for her twin letting her in the vehicle. "I'll text you when we get home." She said rolling up her window and pulling off down the street.
Ichigo had to laugh to keep from punching out his windows in frustration, that entire trip was pointless. He'd have to remember to cuss Karin out tomorrow; in the meantime he would head back through town. His class would be starting soon and he was really pushing it for time. Of course to slow him down he got a red light at the first traffic stop. His little reminders on the back seat and floor mat were kicking him in the nose.
"Hey there, ya wanna step out the car?" Said a voice from Ichigo's right. Looking over, a man wearing a white, fitted cap, white bandit bandana mask and a white wife-beater leaned in his window.
"How about you get the hell out of my window." Ichigo snapped, only partially registering the situation. He knew this neighborhood had all kinds of characters, but this guy had some nerve hanging in his car like that.
"I don't think ya heard 'im pretty boy, get the fuck out the car." At his driver's side now stood another bandana wearing thug, this one's was green and he also wore a green hoodie. Strange how he never even noticed either man approaching. "Don't even think about tryna pull off." Reaching behind his back the thug pulled out a .357 Smith and Wesson and pointed at Ichigo's head. At that very moment Ichigo's eyes widened with awareness as he was beginning to understand the predicament he was in.
"I was tryna be polite and ask, but ya had to get all snappy wid me." Said the white bandana robber. "Guess it can't be helped." He signed then pulled out a Lupara shotgun. "The car or yer life, yer choice."
Although he tried to hide his fear Ichigo's hand and knees were trembling. He could hear his own heart thumping in his chest sounding like hooves galloping across a dirt road. Ichigo really liked his car but sure wasn't ready to die to keep it from getting stolen. His entire body felt numb and he didn't think he could move, although the guns pointing in his direction were great motivation.
"O-Ok, but could ya get the gun out of my face?" Ichigo muttered, raising his quivering hands and trying to not make any sudden movements.
"Stop talkin' and just get the fuck out." Blurted the green bandana robber.
Cautiously Ichigo unlocked the doors, green bandana then jerked his door open and grabbed him by his jacket. Roughly he pulled Ichigo out his BMW and tossed him to the side of the road like a bag of garbage. The robber then placed himself in the driver's seat, his partner riding shotgun.
All Ichigo could do was lay on the cold asphalt and watch as his BMW was driven away. Now he was really starting to understand why this neighborhood had its reputation. Everything happened so suddenly he had to ask himself if it all had been a dream. He'd just been car jacked, at gun point in what was now broad daylight. If matters weren't bad enough, small, black dots started staining the road, when he felt wet drops trickle down his face it was then he realized it had begun to rain.
"Wonder-fucking-ful," Ichigo sighed, still shaking from his previous encounter. He wanted to be happy he walked away with his life, but the situation was too depressing. What was he supposed to do now? Not like he could hail a cab. Unfortunately Ichigo's wallet was zipped in his messenger bag, the same messenger bag that was in his now stolen vehicle. With little over two dollars in change in his jacket that wouldn't get him around the corner. Even if Tatsuki and Orihime hadn't left yet they wouldn't have the time to drop him home. The last thing that came to mind was a bus stop another street over, he could remember that much. Buses ran all day; it made more sense to catch a bus than walk who knows how many miles through this treacherous territory.
Ichigo hopped to his feet, zipped up his jacket and tossed up the hood, which really didn't do much at this point. His bright orange hair was drenched and clinging to his face and neck, he tried wiping his face as water ran down into his eyes. The rain had switched from a soft drizzle to heavy downpour while he laid in the road dumbfounded by the carjacking.
The robbed man huffed and sighed as he walked down the sidewalk tired, irritated and wet, still not believing what happened to him. Ichigo heard a vehicle in the distance riding up behind him, maybe the thieves were returning, he was starting to not care at this point. The vehicle didn't slow down, instead it passed by driving through a deep puddle that splashed him thoroughly with cold, filthy water.
"This shit is just unreal," Ichigo shook the arm splashed by water, as if that would make a difference.
He was almost at the corner and could see the bus stop at the end of the street. He only hoped a bus going to the other side of the city, or anywhere out of this zone would arrive soon. It seemed the day couldn't get any worse.
"I don't give a fuck 'bout yer fam, fool!"
Ichigo heard a man yell from an alleyway up ahead. "Oh great, what the fuck is going on now?" He wondered what he was about to come across. He kept his stride, the bus stop was close and he could actually see a bus rounding the corner.
"Fuck dat bitch and fuck you too!" He heard more yelling, this time it was followed by a piercing bang that rang out like a sudden crack of thunder. His body reacted to the noise and jumped abruptly.
"W-What was. . ." Whether he really wanted the answer to that or not, his feet were moving unconsciously. When he came to the opening of the alley his eyes enlarged at the picture before him. A man was slumped over against a building, a thick painting of blood trailing down the wall behind him. Above him stood a figure in dark jeans and a black hoodie holding a chrome pistol in his hand. Ichigo never heard a gun fired in real life before and it was nothing like what he heard in the movies. Seeing a dead body in real life wasn't the same either, he was frightened and sick to his stomach all at once. With nerves on edge the rain hitting his exposed skin suddenly felt like needles of ice.
The darkly clothed individual turned in Ichigo's direction, pistol still in hand. He couldn't register his face, all he saw was that gun. "Oh shit," Ichigo wanted to run but it was like his feet were rooted to the ground. Then the hoodie wearing shooter took a step in Ichigo's direction. "Move! You fucking idiot!" Fear for his life must have given him a burst of adrenaline. Ichigo took off like a sprinter in the hundred meter dash, his feet moving a pace he didn't know was possible.
Pulling to a stop, the bus was just opening its doors when the red-head made it to the corner. When he got up the first step he felt a vice-like grip on his shoulder, and before he could comprehend he found himself lying face up on the wet sidewalk, the dark clothed man he was just running from now stationed over him.
The man wore a black cap under his hoodie, the brim of which was tipped up just enough to reveal eyes like blue topaz, they were cold and sharp yet shockingly stunning. Ichigo felt frozen, the look in the man's eyes made him feel like there was a knife to his throat and he should fear for his life. Yet oddly, while feeling this way he couldn't dismiss how beautiful these same eyes were.
"Ya betta not snitch." Was all he said and walked off.
Still on the ground, Ichigo rolled over and watched as this guy saunter off in the rain.
"W-Who the hell was that?" He asked after the guy was far off in the distance. Ichigo was hoping for a change from his boring everyday life, yes, but this isn't exactly what he had in mind.
Chewing on a toothpick, the bus driver sighed, clearly annoyed. "Are ya gonna get on the bus or not?"
The two thief's fist bumped to another successful carjacking.
Now in the clear, Ikkaku pulled down his white bandana and let it sit under his chin.
"How much ya think this one's worth?" he asked, rubbing the dashboard of the freshly stolen vehicle.
"Not sure," Renji talked through the cloth covering his face before pulling the green bandana off. "Best believe we gonna find out at the end of the week." He said, driving to their designated storage unit.
"Ay Renji, you smellin' that?" Sniffing, Ikkaku was getting hit with a strange odor now that his mask was off.
"I was 'bout to ask the same thing, cuz that shit ripe." Renji said, sniffing as well.
"Smells sour," Ikkaku added.
"Nah, smells like somebody ain't wash their ass." Nose turned up, Renji looked over at his passenger.
"Fuck outta here," Ikkaku shot Renji a dirty look. "You know it ain't even me."
"For real though, what the fuck was pretty boy doin' in this bitch?"
Shaking his head, Ikkaku wondered the same thing.