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savior_n_blackAt first, when Ggio called him, Ichigo hadn't really been thinking. But since it had been a little while? Well, the worry had started to set in.
The simple fact of the matter was, this whole situation was getting harder to explain.
Kurosaki Ichigo had tenuous ties at best with Soul Society, and he wasn't one hundred percent sure that they would take his word that Ggio, being an arrancar, was not some sort of spy.
So, in the time since he had spoken to Ggio, Ichigo had done his level best to make this work; a small favor from Hachi, and the teen figured that if he moved fast enough, Ggio could slip in, and slip out, basically undetected.
Currently, though, the high vantage point of standing, midair, over Karakura town, let Ichigo see in all directions....though the view of a shinigami pacing back, and forth was probably giving a bit of pause to those few souls who could see him from the ground.
Absently, he glanced around, again, looking for any signs of a garganta opening.
The simple fact of the matter was, this whole situation was getting harder to explain.
Kurosaki Ichigo had tenuous ties at best with Soul Society, and he wasn't one hundred percent sure that they would take his word that Ggio, being an arrancar, was not some sort of spy.
So, in the time since he had spoken to Ggio, Ichigo had done his level best to make this work; a small favor from Hachi, and the teen figured that if he moved fast enough, Ggio could slip in, and slip out, basically undetected.
Currently, though, the high vantage point of standing, midair, over Karakura town, let Ichigo see in all directions....though the view of a shinigami pacing back, and forth was probably giving a bit of pause to those few souls who could see him from the ground.
Absently, he glanced around, again, looking for any signs of a garganta opening.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 10:54 pm (UTC)terrorizingvisiting Tommy, so he gathered his courage there on a rooftop in New York and ascended into the sky.Despite not remembering if he had ever been there, Karakura seemed far too easy to open a garganta into. It must have had to do with being his 'home world', and the sheer amount of spiritual activity there. Quickly and carefully he made his way through the dark portal on his own unstable power and arrived directly into the sky.
Ggio had unconsciously focused on a point where there was still the faint reiatsu of other arrancar, maybe where the attacks had taken place previously. Ichigo had asked to meet him in the sky, and now he looked around in that sky that wasn't blue but somewhat duller, fading into another color like that of the sun; a pale orange that was only growing more vivid.
The fraccion hoped he would be spotted since he couldn't quite see or sense Ichigo, too overwhelmed by the density of spirits all around even if it wasn't as much as Hueco Mundo. Maybe it was because he'd been off-world for two days now and was only now becoming aware of how different the worlds felt, but in any case he felt rather minuscule and almost lost with all the energy going around.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 11:12 pm (UTC)...Maybe a little too fast since he almost ran into Ggio.
"There you are!"
Yet, for all the anxious tension Ichigo was feeling, the shinigami still grinned at Ggio; pleased to be able to meet the little arrancar in person.
Somehow...well, this just seemed like the right thing to do all around.
my mail was going slow :\;;;
Date: 2009-06-26 11:23 pm (UTC)Startled, Ggio flinched back a few feet, for a moment regretting not having his zanpakuto again - but it was Ichigo, and he broke out into a nervous smile after a moment, though his heart was still racing. It had been pounding since he was just opening the garganta.
"H-hi... Ichigo."
No worries bb <3
Date: 2009-06-26 11:34 pm (UTC)"Hey!"
Ichigo looked around them, again. He was trying not to come off too anxious, but he definitely wanted to get under cover sooner rather than later.
"What do you say we get out of here? I wanted to show you something before it gets too dark."
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 11:45 pm (UTC)He wondered what Ichigo could be cautious about, since now that the shinigami was in Ggio's presence... it wasn't as monstrous as when the Hollow was rampaging, but the arrancar could feel Ichigo's power all the same. Fluctuating, much like his own but even more so, drastically. And he was suddenly very relieved to be on friendly terms with Ichigo.
"Where to?" He asked, also glancing around, growing increasingly fascinated with how the sinking sun changed the colors all around.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 11:48 pm (UTC)Sadly, though, Ichigo was a bit oblivious to his own reiatsu, and how it often felt to others. But, then again, he had nothing to compare with.
"Come on, it's a little ways to the north-" Ichigo smirked at Ggio, with a cocky tilt of his chin.
"...If you think you can keep up, that is?"
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 11:57 pm (UTC)As far as Ggio was concerned he was one of the fastest arrancar that wasn't an Espada. It was in his build, the way he fought, how his mind raced in the midst of battle to make split-second decisions. He was surprised by Ichigo's 'sonido', but arrogance told him the arrancar could easily keep up.
"Just point the way."
fff, sorry for tl;dr
Date: 2009-06-27 12:20 am (UTC)It wasn't terribly far, but Ichigo had asked a favor of Hachi, and though Ichigo had no idea why the large, quiet Vizard had done it.
There was a little hill to the north. Nothing much, but if one was lucky enough to be there right at sunset, in summer...the entire expanse of Karakura town was laid at one's feet, with all the colors of the sunset painted across a sky that just seemed to go on forever.
It was fairly secluded, with only a part of guard rail protecting the road, but beyond that? Long feathery grass swayed in the warm wind so that the hill looked like a lake of rippling gold.
When Ggio had said he'd never heard of 'dusk', Ichigo figured it was as good a thing as any to show the little arrancar. There was more to this than a nice view, though, since the real surprise came out just after the sun set, but the sky was still painted in it's dying fire.
It was here that Ichigo had asked Hachigen to put up a barrier intended to mask reiatsu. Knowing what little of the older man that Ichigo did, he tended to trust in that whatever it was Hachi was doing to help hide both Ichigo, and Ggio would most likely work exceptionally well.
Racing detection, and now racing Ggio as well, Ichigo kept his grin all throughout.
Ggio was fast, he'd give him that. During the times that Ichigo paused to make sure he hadn't lost the little arrancar, Ggio was, somehow, always a little bit ahead of him.
...Oddly enough, circumstance lended itself to Ichigo not being annoyed by the superior look in those amber eyes whenever the shinigami had the ( unknown to him ) surprised look on his own face
Suffice to say, it certainly didn't take long to get to the barrier.
bb you know I love it ;3;
Date: 2009-06-27 01:23 am (UTC)And he was winning this little race! He told himself the only reason he even kept in Ichigo's sight was because Ggio didn't know exactly where they were going, and wasn't going to look like a fool now. It was worth it to see that bewildered look on the shinigami's face-
But the last time Ggio turned back to look in front of him he stopped dead in his tracks. He was so caught up in the little spontaneous contest he didn't notice how the colors started to bleed in the sky. Everything was... he didn't know. He couldn't name the colors - not quite red, so all he could say was... warm.
It wasn't hot like the sun, nor as bright, but still so... breathtaking. All the hues from rich color to deep shadow, the many distant lights of the town, the sun not blinding but almost inviting. Ggio simply had no words, and could only stare, completely awestruck. For the moment, just taking in these new colors, presented in a way he had never imagined.
He didn't know how the setting sun appeared in his eyes, alighting his amber into a deep fiery gold.
(\(T3T)/) <3 Sorry this is taking so long! It's storming here AGAIN O_P
Date: 2009-06-27 04:12 am (UTC)His favorite place was set far enough back from the road, that the slope of the hill kept the sight, and sound of the rare passing car away, and there were three trees that, at some point in the course of their lifetimes, had become quite tangled amidst their branches, and the knobby root systems that were visible above ground.
Ichigo had idly wondered, once, why those three trees, with all the grassy hill around them to choose from, had grown like that; so close together they might as well have been the same tree with three separate trunks.
Ichigo felt a little less tense once they were inside the barrier, and he stayed quiet when he noticed how still Ggio had become.
Giving the arrancar a moment to absorb the sunset for what it was, he kept his back to the reddish-orange glow, and unstrapped Zangetsu, then left the sword propped against one of the trees.
Once that was done, Ichigo sat down with his back against the same tree, then pulled two packaged ham sandwiches, and two boxed juice drinks out of the pockets of his hakama. Hardly anything fancy, as far as dinners went, but he liked these kinds of sandwiches, and figured Ggio wouldn't mind.
But, when he looked up at the enraptured arrancar, he noticed the awed look on Ggio's features; the way the dusky sun set Ggio's whole being alight with warm colors. The simplicity of the joy that Ggio seemed to find in the normal world made Ichigo smile a little.
...Yes. Ichigo was certain beyond a shadow of a doubt he hadn't made a mistake in trusting this little arrancar.
Sitting cross-legged, the young shinigami balanced one box of juice, and one of the sandwiches on his knee for whenever Ggio felt like taking them, while Ichigo quietly sipped on his own drink.
For a time, they stayed in companionable quiet, just watching first the pink stained edges of clouds fade to violet...then indigo as night spread her cloak out across the world, and one by one, the stars dotted the darkling sky with a different sort of light.
\;3;/ OH GOD AGAIN JESUS it's okay bb! <3
Date: 2009-06-27 05:48 am (UTC)The sky was taking on a deep color, like that of bruises, and it made Ggio already miss that brighter color, the color of... Ichigo's hair.
Blinking with a sudden clarity he looked over his shoulder at the shinigami before turning fully, smiling sheepishly. "Um... s-sorry about that, didn't mean to ah... totally zone out on you."
An awkward rub on the back of his neck and a brief tug on his braid accompanied the apology, and noticed those three trees, then focused on Ichigo again and noticed what was on his knee. "What's with all that?"
(;3;)? Also: I'm so soo sorry! I accidentally fell asleep, and this is late (\(ToT)/)!!
Date: 2009-06-27 07:21 am (UTC)"That was what we call 'Dusk', and this--" Ichigo tore open the packaging on one of the sandwiches ( already pre-cut into triangles, so that there was two halves of a sandwich to each pack )"--isn't very fancy as far as human food goes, I know, but it tastes good?"
Smiling a little sheepishly, himself, at being a highschool student, and so a little on the poor side, Ichigo held out the partially unwrapped food to Ggio.
"I..um...I wasn't sure what to get for you, so I just got something I liked? Oh! And, juice to drink too."
Now that Twilight had truly set in, Ichigo was hoping to get Ggio to sit down, and be distracted by the food...so that when the fireflies began their lightshow it would really be a surprise!
^3^ no worries bb, sleep is good! <3
Date: 2009-06-27 07:51 am (UTC)He hesitated only a moment, out of shyness more than anything, before moving over and taking a seat next to Ichigo, legs tucked underneath him and facing the shinigami. He reached out and took what was offered to him, giving it a puzzled look and a little sniff.
"What's juice? And... I think I like this 'dusk'. It's dark - but it's nice. Doesn't feel empty."
Ggio tried taking a small bite of the food, making a bit of a face as he chewed as he got some of the wrapper too.
(T3T)/)<3
Date: 2009-06-27 08:01 am (UTC)He didn't say anything as he removed one of the halves completely from the packaging, then handed both back.
"There. Don't eat the plastic parts."
Annnd, without even asking, stuck the little straw into Ggio's juice for him. Rukia had taught him that lesson already.
"This is juice. I think its...uh." He checked the label. "Mango. It's kind of sweet, so if you like sweet stuff, you'll probably like that."
Ichigo took a bite of his own sandwich, then tried to stifle a smile as he saw the telltale glow of a firefly over Ggio's shoulder.
He said nothing, however, and simply let the little arrancar make that discovery on his own, too.
"Dark, but doesn't feel empty...what do you mean by that?"
*3*/ <3!
Date: 2009-06-27 08:26 am (UTC)"I like sweet things," the arrancar said a little too cheerfully, taking the box into his other hand. He wasn't sure how to work that quite yet, so enjoyed a bite of his sandwich as it was nothing like what Kasumi had fed him. Ichigo was quite companionable, so he didn't feel that usual uneasiness at talking about the realm he lived in. Ggio had explained so many times before.
"Well, there's a lot of things here, compared to Las Noches." He paused as he thought of how to describe it, looking up again at those entwined trees that he was quite curious about. "There's no color, save for what you see on other arrancar, since everything else is black and white. The desert, the sky, the moon - and it's not much different in Las Noches. Even though it's huge it's mostly empty space. Nothing like this."
His eyes darted to what he thought was a little green glow that showed up vividly against Ichigo's black shihakusho, but it was gone, so Ggio dropped his eyes and took another bite. "Um... what I meant by dark is that there's only light in a few places, and under the dome there's a fake sun, though I've only seen it once or twice, and it wasn't warm. Even so, it's still just all really dead.
"Easy to ignore when you're used to it but since coming to the community, I've started to see just what all people have. What the world is really supposed to look like, I guess."
I am made of massive amounts of fail tonight, I'm sorry! ;.;!
Date: 2009-06-27 09:03 am (UTC)A world without color? It wasn't something he had ever considered before, but...Soul Society had shown him that he took parts of his world for granted, already.
He couldn't quite imagine what it must be like for the arrancar, but the ideas his mind came up with only added to his resolve to see them all given a chance at a life, and a world of their own making.
"...I think I know what you mean." Ichigo said. Since stumbling across the community, he too had seen other worlds, and heard amazing things about still more.
Somehow...the way a lot of different peoples lived without fighting each other constantly made him wonder about his own world, and Ichigo had found himself asking questions about 'right', and 'wrong' more, and more often lately.
"Well...whatever you've thought about your world, or mine, they're really the same world, aren't they? I mean, they share some boundaries...so...why couldn't we all just...make the worlds into what we want them to be?"
Ahh, this was the same sorts of questions Ichigo had been wrestling with for a long time, though, and tonight it wasn't about shinigami versus arrancar. This was about two people, two friends, just...hanging out.
The sun was no more than a smear of warm colors in the west, now, and Ichigo smiled as two fireflies decided to light up simultaneously between himself, and Ggio.
Deep philosophy could damn well wait.
((OOC: I sowy! Tags ( and HOPEFULLY AIM in the A.M. mon petite ardour (T^T)/)♥ ))
;3;!! don't worry Angel, it's all good! <3
Date: 2009-06-27 09:35 am (UTC)Although Ggio didn't mean himself and Ichigo so much as arrancar as a whole; try as they might, struggling against their cage was about as effective as roaring at the moon. Their prison was even smaller in Las Noches, and even for one who now knew better... Ggio couldn't find it within him to change now, when all he knew was how to survive. And survive meant obeying, and it was a rule he had broken irrevocably now which his choice to leave Las Noches for a while. Just for a chance to see what could have been.
And as grateful as he was to see this before he went back to no doubt face a final, fatal punishment at Barragan's hands, to finally see this people he had come to consider so much and now Ichigo who so new yet still so intriguing - Ggio felt guilty, that he couldn't share these final days with Grimmjow. Indeed, things hadn't exactly been well, made no better by that damn virus and Shito and especially Tyki's words. Maybe it was over, and maybe it would be easier on the Espada he was sure he loved to move on after this fraccion.
Deep thoughts of change though are interrupted by those twin glows, which Ggio definitely spotted this time as they stood out brightly against the growing darkness. Bringing him back to this moment and this other person. He's almost startled, rearing back a tiny bit. The arrancar was only used to seeing such lights as attacks, though he felt no significant energy.
"...What are those...?"
((ooc: ;o;!!! Let us hope so! :< Hope to see you mi amor! T3T/ ♥))
FML!! Insight was out working on the line all damn day! Jacking a friends net to tag DX
Date: 2009-06-28 02:51 am (UTC)The fireflies would be out by the hundreds along this hillside, but once it got dark, the little insects became hard to track....
...Ah! There's one! Standing, still without answering Ggio, Ichigo gently caught one of the little bugs in a cage of his cupped hands, then sat back down.
Scooching close to Ggio, he swallowed the food, and let just a small gap between his hands open. The firefly within lit up as he did so, and Ichigo smiled.
"They're called fireflies. They can't hurt you at all...but I thought maybe you'd like them?"
Holding his cupped hands out to Ggio, Ichigo raised both brows at the little arrancar.
"Wanna see him?"
yosh >:|b stick it to the man!
Date: 2009-06-28 03:45 am (UTC)Ggio looked with widened eyes again at that little light in the teen's hands. So it was an insect... some little part of him both marveled and resented at how this tiny thing was alive and had it's own light. He didn't notice how close he was to Ichigo, head bowed almost their cupped hands, and Ggio was already reaching out for the firefly.
"Can I...?"
nIn /=< FUCK YOU INSIGHT!
Date: 2009-06-28 04:16 am (UTC)Ichigo grinned, transferred the little firefly to Ggio's hands, watching it light up again once it was inside the little arrancar's fingers.
"The ones that light up are all boys. They do that to attract mates."
What? Ichigo took biology in school, too.
"...Although, sometimes the boy bugs end up attracting each other. Heh."
Ichigo, likewise, didn't notice his proximity to Ggio...until a lock of tousled, black hair brushed his hand.
...And for some reason unknown to him, a tingling sensation lingered.
Blushing slightly, Ichigo leaned away, and coughed. God, sometimes he truly hated being a redhead, since his fair skin showed a blush way too easily for his tastes. Hopefully it was dark enough that Ggio wouldn't notice.
>.<! *will compensate with lots of love*
Date: 2009-06-28 04:53 am (UTC)Ggio actually leaned forward a little, to follow that heat, before he was able to stop himself. "Um..." Something shifted in that moment, so he returned his eyes to the firefly, as the little bug spread his wings and kept crawling on his hands. "How do they know which one to go to? Are the lights any different in others?"
(\(T^T)/)!! Dear lord...I love this log ;.;!!!
Date: 2009-06-28 05:42 am (UTC)Oddly enough, he actually could tell a difference in being closer to the little arrancar?
It was like...like some part of him, deep down inside, wanted to sniff out, and examine something...something about Ggio's reiatsu?
Ichigo blinked to rid himself of the thought, since it was unsettling at best.
"Um, Y-Yeah...it's odd for bugs to attract other bugs of the same gender."
He shrugged.
"Take him for example--"Ichigo gestured at the firefly busily inspecting Ggio's fingers with it's antennae."-- He's lighting up like that to find a girl bug, so they can make babies. Keep the species going."
Although, Ggio's last question brought Ichigo up short, and thinking about it helped him not to think about why he felt so fascinated with arrancar reiatsu.
"Um...I don't know, actually? Hmm."
The young shinigami looked out at the hillside, and the flickering of hundreds of fireflies winking glows.
"Maybe...Maybe the light they make looks all the same to us, but to them? To them all their lights are different. Special."
;O; me too! :< lovely things happening all around T3T
Date: 2009-06-28 06:53 am (UTC)"Well that's stupid, guys can have babies too! Girls are nice and all but they shouldn't have to depend on them to survive or whatever."
Maybe Tommy and Maraich didn't make the best people to learn the ways of reproduction from. At Ichigo's questioning hum Ggio glanced up, following his gaze... and again, was mesmerized by the site, and the firefly in his hands fluttered away unnoticed.
It was almost completely dark now, but the sun's light had been replaced by a more subtle luminescence. His sharp eyes could pick out the hundreds of fireflies but he couldn't count them, didn't even know how to count that high. There were so many, yet those lights were frantic or flashing at all. Just lazy flickers and glows here and there.
"...Not all the same..." Looks were deceiving. Not all who wore the black cloth were out to kill them all, Ichigo proved as much, and Toshiro too. Ggio hoped it applied to arrancar too - but then again, wasn't that exactly what he and Ichigo were proving to each other?
/)TxT(\ bb is such a wonderful writerrrr ( Forgive my tl;dr too /)__-;; )
Date: 2009-06-28 08:49 am (UTC)...But, before he knew it, he was watching several fireflies flit closer to the two of them. Then, as the little lights flitted in, and out of existence, Ichigo found himself watching Ggio's wide eyed wonder at this simple beauty.
It was...bittersweet, really. Ichigo was pleased that his initial impressions had been correct; the little arrancar was anything but the blood thirsty monstrous image that the arrancar had become in too many minds.
But, the young shinigami also felt a low, simmering anger at how...how wrong it seemed that Ggio's existence was so devoid of the simple joys. That low simmering anger grew a little more each time Ggio expressed a lack of knowledge in life, or whenever Ggio said, or implied that servitude was the arrancar's only purpose in this 'life' he had been given as an arrancar.
He doesn't have to live like that. None of them should have to live like that! And just because this 'Segunda' guy didn't kill him outright, doesn't mean Ggio should have to serve him.
Damnitt...I don't understand how Grimmjow can stand--
Ichigo sighed quietly, and ran one hand through his ginger hair. He was back to thinking about the Sexta Espada again, and by now Ichigo's thoughts would just go in the same circles they had been, then he would end up frustrated, and irritable, which wasn't fair to Ggio.
The warm, summer wind ruffled the branches overhead; the soft sound adding itself into the night chorus of crickets, until the very darkness itself seemed to be alive; not in a menacing way, but a comfortable one.
...But, the warm wind brought just the slightest touch of Ggio's scent to him, and Ichigo's eyes suddenly were back on Ggio as that spicey-sweet trace of scent caught the attention of something deep down inside; something with yellowed eyes, and a crazed smile.
Still, Ichigo continued to look intently at the little arrancar, and he was not even aware that he was purposefully studying the slight form, and the erratic pulsebeat of reiatsu coming from it--
What...what is that?
Suddenly Ichigo blinked, becoming aware that he was feeling Ggio's reiatsu, and more; that some part--the dark-- part of Ichigo had responded to the little arrancar.
Quickly raising one hand to rub at his eyes, the young shinigami shoved the darkness down again. Silently reminding the hollow within that he, Ichigo, was still king, and the hollow had best behave.
Thankfully, Ggio's first statement finally registered then, and offered enough of a distraction from these very dangerous philosophical wanderings.
"Huh? Er...guys can raise babies, help take care of them, sure, but they can't actually give birth, Ggio."
o////o no u! and bb I eat up your tldr XO
Date: 2009-06-28 05:57 pm (UTC)It's not my fault I don't know... right?
He grew quiet again, to better take in everything, glancing upwards for a moment feeling that... rush of coolness against him, and hearing that rustle above them. All these little things he didn't know, even though something in the deepest part of his soul told him he really should. Ggio didn't know if it had to do with being an arrancar or if that memory or instinct was another thing scattered when Barragan struck him down so long ago.
Just like his power. Though at times like this, which were becoming more frequent, Ggio found it so much easier to ignore that part of him that simmered and jumped at the most erratic of times. It was the very thing that made him impulsively rude, or angry, and just as quickly despondent and moody. Almost like he was two separate people, like the two forms of his Resurreccion, or that boy those dying people would scream at in his dreams...
Ggio heard his name, realizing a bit belatedly that Ichigo had spoken to him. This wasn't the time to get lost in his own thoughts; after all, a big part of the reason why he wanted to see Ichigo was to find out more about this person, who should be an enemy, but somehow with just words was touching some part of Ggio that perhaps not even Grimmjow had.
It both fascinated and horrified him.
"Sure they can! Maraich did... though he never did say how, and apparently you can't learn to have babies. Hm..." Thankfully the talk brought him out of his musings, so that after glancing at the shinigami Ggio resumed consuming his sandwich half as he pondered life and just how to make it, not even aware of the dark reiatsu that had been seeking out his own.
T^T! <33333
Date: 2009-06-28 09:29 pm (UTC)Sadly, Ichigo wasn't going to be much help in explaining reproduction, either.
He was just too easily flustered by talking of sex on even the most clinical levels.
Coughing, to clear his throat of the tightness born from nerves, and the weird sensation of feeling the arrancar so acutely, Ichigo tried to at least clear up some of Ggio's misconceptions?
"See, girls are the only ones who can have babies. B-Because they have different..er...'parts' than boys do. And having babies isn't, like, a skill or anything. I-It's a, um, result of...of--"
Poor, Ichigo. Xanxus was right in this one thing; when it came to sex, and things related to it, Ichigo was still very young.
"Of-a-guy-and-a-girl-having-sex-but-it's-always-going-to-be-the-girl-who-has-a-baby!"
Phew!...Well, it all came out in a rush, and Ichigo was now an interesting shade of strawberry red. But, hey; at least that time he was able to get at least that part out without ( hopefully? ) sounding like a perv.
8D woke up from a nap just in time haha! <33333
Date: 2009-06-28 10:18 pm (UTC)The arrancar shook his head, and picked up his juice box since he had finished his sandwich, even though he had no idea what to do with it. "Babies have to come from girls, but what about when guys are together? Where does it leave those fireflies? Or are guys together an accident or... weird, here?"
Even among arrancar Ggio was rather sheltered, but even he knew that sex between guys was likely more common around Las Noches. Males outnumbered the females, and it really came down to whomever wanted to fuck whomever. Something he had learned, or rather heard from Avirama and how the avian arrancar was rather... not picky in his exploits.
But the fraccion picked up on Ichigo's sudden uncomfortable state, and certainly didn't help it by leaning in curiously and peering up at his reddened face. It wasn't hard for his to see, by the natural light provided in this world and his own exceptional vision.
"Ichigo? What's the matter? You don't like talking about sex or girls?"
FORGIVE MY MASSIVE FAIL T^T!!!
Date: 2009-06-30 11:16 pm (UTC)Damnitt.
"I-It's just, um, I..."
Ichigo groaned, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Cut straight to the hard questions, why don't you?
"I'm not very good at talking about...about that stuff. I've got nothing against girls, or anything! Um...just...don't understand them, really?"
Oh god, this was so embarrassing. Ichigo hated admitting to any kind of ignorance, or weakness.
"And, no...no I don't think guys who like other guys are weird really. That's more about whatever a person prefers."
Ichigo shrugged, and rubbed his nose, hoping that stupid blush would go away, already.
8)b
Date: 2009-07-01 05:43 am (UTC)He blinks softly, contemplating for a moment. Ggio really didn't know anything about being with other people, as he'd only known Grimmjow and the Espada had kept the little arrancar to himself... except...
No. Giving his head a brief shake Ggio looked to Ichigo again. He didn't want to think about that, nor how with whom he had talked to just before he left, it was looking less and less like he would return to Grimmjow.
"Who do you prefer? A lot of people seem to like you already."
<3 *Loves on*
Date: 2009-07-01 07:31 am (UTC)...The next thing, though, brought that damn blush back with a vengeance. Not that Ichigo noticed with how shocked his brain was!
Surely...surely this was Ggio misinterpreting things.
"W-What?! No it's--!"
Ichigo stopped, coughed, and tried to level his tone out a little. It wasn't like he was mad at Ggio, or anything, just...yeah. All uncomfortable emotions have a tendency to shift into anger for Ichigo. Because anger he knew, and understood.
"I think, maybe you're confused? Um, I have friends, and stuff, sure! But...Eh-heh...uh, I'm pretty sure no one likes me...like...uh likes me?"
*O* <3!!!
Date: 2009-07-01 08:48 am (UTC)And suddenly Ggio remembered his dare: that he was to kiss Ichigo because he found him attractive, and the remembrance and realization made his stomach flip and twist into a sick knot. He hadn't even thought about it because it felt so natural to just sit here and be and not feel pressured or any kind of anxious from sexual tension. Again he was finding himself relaxing in ways around the shinigami that he hadn't with anyone before.
Hardly noticing that his own face had heated up, Ggio mumbled an apology and hurriedly directed his attention to his neglected juice box, chewing on the straw.
oh dear lord, I'm sooo so sorry this is so late (T3T)/)
Date: 2009-07-06 05:06 pm (UTC)Ichigo coughed, and glanced over at Ggio from under rust-colored bangs...and noticed the trouble the little arrancar seemed to be having with his juice.
Unthinking about anything more than fixing the problem at hand, Ichigo reached over, and likewise plucked the box out of Ggio's grasp. The straw was a loss, now, so the young shinigami frowned. It took a minute, but he managed to work his thumb nail under one corner of the box top, and eventually rip the top off entirely. Now it was a cup! A..square cup, but a cup!
"Here...just drink out of it like normal." Ichigo mumbled, handing the box back, and sighing as he let himself lean against the tree again.
"....And I might have a temper, but it's not that bad." Ichigo insisted ( only a little huffy at the idea ).
♥♥♥♥! C:
Date: 2009-07-06 08:57 pm (UTC)Chuckling quietly at Ichigo's huffiness, Ggio just watched the fireflies and night, but it wasn't long until his eyes drifted back to that shinigami, then glanced up at those trees. He was certain there were three, but they were so entwined - and it intrigued him since the first and only tree he had seen previously stood majestic and alone on a hill.
"...Why are these trees like this?" the arrancar asked softly, reaching a hand out to lay against a rough trunk. For one who only knew dead neutrality, it felt warm.
(>w<)/) ♥♥♥♥
Date: 2009-07-06 09:56 pm (UTC)He looked at Ggio, then up at the three trees twined together into one.
The redhead smiled, then. His annoyance at being caught out with his temper flitting away as easily as it came.
The memory that went with this place was a nice one, after all.
"...You know. I asked that same question once...a long time ago."
He shrugged a little, brandy eyes not really even seeing the occasional glow of a lightening bug against the living darkness of the leaves above.
"See, these three trees were pretty small at first. Life was hard, see. They couldn't get enough food to grow all by themselves, and so first two of the trees said, 'Lets lean on each other. You dig deep in the soil, and I'll grow far so that I can find water.' "
Ichigo shrugged again, smiling fully, now.
"And it worked! They both became strong...but then one day, they started to fight, see. The two trees couldn't agree on who was stronger."
He turned a little, and reached out to pat the smallest of the three, illustrating his story further.
"And then, this third little tree came along, and told both the big trees they were being stupid. Neither one was strongest!"
Ichigo looked at Ggio with a smirk.
"Neither one....because they became so much more when they were working together."
...Somehow...it seemed like there was another lesson in here. And not the one Ichigo's mother had told him in relation to how siblings fought...something else he couldn't put his finger on...
"Well...anyway the two bigger trees felt pretty dumb when that was pointed out to them, and decided that they wouldn't fight anymore. And the littlest tree, who was so smart in seeing that, stayed with them, and kept them in line when they would fight about stupid stuff...and they all three grew together, see. Because all three were a lot better off together than they ever could have been alone."
(>3<) bawww diabeetus! 8D
Date: 2009-07-07 12:52 am (UTC)But he kept smiling at him... and eventually the arrancar had to stop meeting his eyes, biting his lip and laying down on the grass for something to do, looking up at how the leaves nearly blended in with the dark sky, and catching the glow of one of those insects occasionally.
"...Gotta wonder why the other two would even listen to that little tree, if it just came out of nowhere. But through all that they lived, huh? And they're still together."
It reminded him of the law of survival in Hueco Mundo, how the strong devour the weak in a constant battle. It was almost pathetic that something as simple as a tree had it better, these plants so silent yet alive and with some purpose.
"They're pretty lucky, that they can stay here like that in such a nice place, just with each other." Ggio folded his hands on his stomach, trying not to think of what this reminded him of, and failing.
diabeetus indeed :|
Date: 2009-07-07 05:52 am (UTC)"Yeah, I suppose.", Ichigo answered.
"Although, I think it's more to do with how they all three just...worked together.
They found a nice place, but they had to work at surviving. It was better when they sort of...I dunno...pooled their resources."
Ichigo shrugged again, and looked back down at Ggio...who shivered a little.
Without even pausing to think about it, Ichigo untucked his black kosode from the waist of his hakama, and after a little wriggling, then scooting over to be right next to the little arrancar, he flicked it out over Ggio.
He didn't say anything about it, just leaned back against the tree again, and likewise looked up into the canopy, and the way the fireflies seemed to coalesce under those leaves in particular.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-07 06:59 am (UTC)Because Grimmjow hadn't really talked to Ggio, not since Ichigo came into both of their lives, and the little arrancar was feeling more and more lost and doubtful about everything... and Ichigo had been there.
Ggio blinked when that cloth was placed over him, not having paid any mind to Ichigo moving or the changing temperature. He didn't protest, just gently grasped the kosode. How many times now just tonight had Ichigo given him something without Ggio having to ask or beg? It was unusual, but not unwelcome.
And the revelation was just as enlightening as it was terrible. That accidental talk with Tyki and Shito came to mind, and the guilt was sinking. He wasn't supposed to be wanting anything more than he had been given, but he would be lying if he denied that there was something here. Something that he wasn't so ready to relinquish when he hardly knew what it was.
But Grimmjow was never far from his mind, and that's who Ggio thought of even as small fingers reached out to grasp a leg of black hakama as he turned to lay on his side, facing Ichigo. A root, perhaps, in contrast for what reached far and wide to ensure both of their survival.
I don't want them to fight...
"You... do you really think it's worth it, working together? If you couldn't survive on your own, it made you weak. That's all I - all we know. Can accepting another really mean something? It's not wrong or pathetic to admit when you need help, when you need someone else?"
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Date: 2009-07-10 04:34 am (UTC)It was a warm night, and quiet, for once. Plus...well, Ichigo had gotten used to days, and days on end of training, going to his limits, then past them. He hardly registered fatigue, if he could help it....but he did have a tendency to push himself until he literally dropped from exhaustion.
But, he had really wanted to talk to Ggio in person...so the little arrancar didn't need to know all that.
Ichigo shrugged, and looked down at Ggio. He entertained the thought of moving away again, but then the little arrancar had hold of his hakama...and he just didn't have the heart to make Ggio let go.
"Yeah. I really think that. But it's more than just opinion, it's true."
He leaned against the tree, and gestured vaguely all around them.
"Look at nature. People say it's all about the strong weeding out the weak, but it's not. Everything in nature needs other stuff to survive. Even the really big predators. They wouldn't be able to live if they didn't have places to sleep, or other animals to hunt with, right?"
He stifled a yawn, then gave a lopsided smile to nothing in particular, since this wasn't a difficult subject...just stating the obvious, he felt.
"Sometimes, it's the same with us. People need other people to survive. Nothing wrong with it...just the way of things."
...But...after a pause, brandy eyes sought out amber.
"And the strong should protect the weak. That's what their job is supposed to be."
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Date: 2009-07-16 07:52 am (UTC)Ggio blinked as he murmured, mostly to himself, before his eyes dropped. But he kept his hold on those hakama, as he wondered... if perhaps he had it wrong from the start. He wasn't meant to be a sacrifice to Grimmjow, but an equal; as blasphemous as the thought was for their kind of society.
At the same time, he didn't want to be so weak that he needed that kind of protection... that could be futile, anyway, if that skirmish with Eris a while ago proved anything.
"I don't want to be weak." Even if it was predetermined. His power would never be what it could have been, now that it was broken. "But I don't know how to change that, or if it should be changed. ...You really think it can get better, Ichigo?"
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Date: 2009-07-18 04:10 am (UTC)"Yeah. I know it can, Ggio." He answered quietly, though not looking into a pair of amber eyes...if only so that he wouldn't fall into them again.
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Date: 2009-07-18 05:04 am (UTC)...But his grip started to loosen as he found himself actually falling asleep. He hadn't really rested since he left Las Noches a few days ago according to the time of the living world, and maybe it was more than exhaustion - he actually felt safe enough with Ichigo to let his guard down in this way.
And he was so warm. His reiatsu, his soul - whatever it was, Ggio was curling up closer to the shinigami to get more of it, feed off it even, as he was a bit 'hungry'.
So the little arrancar was curled under that black cloth and against Ichigo's head, mask just resting against the other, as he fell asleep to the lullaby of life around them.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-18 08:35 am (UTC)...He never realized that the proximity of the little arrancar's reiatsu had made something inside him ease; feel like he could breathe easier.
All he registered in this moment, was warmth, and a peaceful sense of watching the lazy flickering of fireflies, and beyond them, the stars.
And so, the pair of them drifted off that way. Neither realizing that in drowsing, these two boys who so often disliked physical contact, were tangled up in one another.
Neither realizing that it was within the presence of a so-called 'enemy' that each felt so much ease.