Chapter 2:Not You Again

A sigh came from Angel as she walked towards Mark store. It was Sunday, which meant "homework day;" which in turn means "more-sweets-needed" day. She slid the front door open and stomped inside. "Mark! I'm here for the usual!"

Mira, a young, sad looking girl jumped up and bowed. "Welcome back. I'll go grab your favorites."

"Thank you, Mira," Angel smiled as the young part-time worker went around the store to gather up all the goods. She walked up towards the counter, pulling out her wallet from her pocket, when she suddenly noticed something orange from her peripheral vision. Angel looked up only to see the back of a person with a shocking color of orange on top of his head. Before she could even process everything into her head, Mira came back with a full basket.

"Here's everything!" She smiled as she held up the basket.

Angel smiled back. "Arigatou."

Upon hearing a very familiar voice, Ichigo turned around, only to see the same girl he saw the day before (*A/N). He smirked when she turned around and placed her basket of treats on the counter. "Sugar isn't exactly going to help you with your height, midget."

A vein quickly appeared on Angel's forehead upon hearing his mocking voice. With the most evil glare she could muster, Angel turned her head to the side and directed it to the owner of the voice. "What are you doing here?" she growled through her clenched teeth.

An orange brow went up. "You're not exactly appealing with that look. Besides, since when was there a store where only a midget can go and not a fully grown person?"

Angel bit down on her lower lip to stop herself from screaming at him. "Can't you think of something else besides calling me a midget, sherbet?"

"Sherbet?" Ichigo asked. Angel nodded her head upwards. Getting the message, Ichigo smirked before running his hand through his hair. "Well, that was a pretty creative nickname. Made that up all by yourself?" he teased.

Angel opened her mouth to fight back when Mark suddenly popped in front of them. "Ara, although I do love watching young lovers flirt, please remember that you're in the vicinity of young children."

Both parties stopped their verbal war to glare at the shopkeeper. "WE ARE NOT FLIRTING!" They both shouted at the same time.

Mark just smiled and sarcastically responded, "Mmhm, and I'm only wearing this hat to hide my bald spot."

Ichigo leaned forward to look at the older man more carefully. "Aren't you?"

Mark gasped. "I can't believe you would even think that, Walker-kun! This hat is the latest trend for people my age!"

"This is just great," Angel rolled her eyes, "I'm surrounded by the town's idiots."

"Watch who you're calling an 'idiot'. I'm a lot smarter than I look," Ichigo glared at her.

"A-ha!" Angel smiled triumphantly. "So you do admit you look stupid?"

A small twitched formed by Ichigo's left eye. "I'm really close to throwing you across the store, shorty."

Angel glared back as she leaned closer to him. "Oh yeah?! I bet I can beat you up without dropping a sweat."

Ichigo leaned forward as well. "I'd like to see you try, chibi!"

"Stop calling me that before I kick you in the balls!" Angel snarled.

Mark fanned himself while wearing a mischievous grin. "Ara. Youths these days have the oddest way of showing their affection. And they're even willing to kiss in public—augh." His words cut short when two angry fists simultaneously landed on his face and knocked him out. And again, the two slammed several yens on the counter at the same time before stomping out of the shop with their respective bags in their hands.

The two turned into the sidewalk, leaving the store and its perverted owner. It wasn't until they both turned a corner that they realized they were still in each other's presence.

"Will you stop following me, sherbet?" Angel growled.

Ichigo snorted in annoyance. "In case you've forgotten, I live around here. Besides, why would anyone follow a midget like you?"

Feeling stem blowing out of her ear, Angel turned around, ready to give him a verbal lashing, when he interrupted her by sticking out his hand.

"My name is Walker Ichigo. What's yours?" he asked.

Angel looked back and forth between his face and his hand. "What's with the sudden formalities?"

Ichigo shrugged. "Well, I just thought it'd be nice to know my neighbors. And seeing how we met both days since I moved here, I have a feeling we might meet more often. Call it 'fate' if you will."

"How stupid are you?" She suddenly asked.

"Not so much that I'd leave a person hanging for so long," he replied, nodding his head towards his outstretched hand.

Angel snorted before grabbing his hand, hard, and shaking it, hard. "My name is Angel Bushū. It is NOT a pleasure meeting you."

Ichigo bit his lower lip to stop himself from making any sound. How can such a small person have such a strong grip?! "Well, Angel, the feeling is mutual." He finally yanked his hand out and walked on ahead, shoving his injured hand into his pocket. The two continued their silent walk, Ichigo ahead of Angel.

She was looking at the back of his orange head, thinking of other ways of making fun of him, while he was too busy trying to remember why her name sounded familiar. It wasn't until his apartment came into view that it struck him

The charm! "Oi, Angel—" Ichigo turned around only to see no midget behind him.

"Yeah?" she called out from the side.

Ichigo turned to his right to see Angel, frozen in mid step, facing a parking lot in front of an apartment. "Where are you going?" He asked.

"Home," she replied.

Ichigo looked at her, the apartment and back at her before shouting, "You live here?!"

"Why else would I be going here?" she snapped back, her hands at her hips.

Ichigo scratched his head. "I just didn't think you lived this close to me."

Angel sighed before asking, "What do you want?"

"What—oh yeah! Um, yesterday I found this Chappy cellphone charm with your name—"

"You have it?!" Angel suddenly appeared right in front of Ichigo with wide, sparkling eyes.

Ichigo couldn't help but take a step back, feeling rather insecure with such eyes staring at him. "Y-yeah, well it was on the ground and so I picked it up. It's back at my apartment so if you want it back you can come back with me and I can give it to you."

At those words Angel stepped back and looked away, uncertainty in her eyes. "I don't know…"

Understanding what she was thinking, Ichigo snorted. "Please, like there's any chance I'd jump a midget like you."

Angel glared before stomping on his foot. "Who would be afraid of an idiot like you?" She turned around and headed towards his apartment, "Let's go, carrot top."

Ichigo cursed as he limped after her, trying to keep his weight off his bruising foot.

They approached his apartment but once they reached the side of the building where the stairs were located at, Angel stopped and turned around. Ichigo halted to a stop, almost running over the smaller person.

"Why the hell did you suddenly stop?"

Angel rolled her eyes. "Duh. I don't know where your apartment is."

"Oh, right." Ichigo quickly walked past her, avoiding whatever look she was throwing his way. They made up to the second floor and stopped when they reached the end of the hallway. "Now, don't mess anything up when you come in here," he teased while inserting the key and opening the door.

Angel snorted. "Che, like it wouldn't be a pigsty already—"

Have you ever eaten your own words?

Well Angel did the very moment the door opened, showing a very clean and organized apartment.

Seeing her shocked expression, Ichigo smirked. "Come in," he said, leading the way with his hand.

Angel took one step inside and entered the genkan. Without even realizing what she was doing, Angel slipped out of her shoes and stepped into the apartment to get a better look at the place.

It was a total bachelor pad. It was a two bedroom apartment with one bathroom, a large living room and kitchen. It was well furnished; the living room had a wide screen TV against one wall and on the opposite side was a large, leather black couch with a single-sitter companion to one side. They surrounded a glass coffee table in the middle of the room. The kitchen was full of stainless equipment, immediately bringing a question to Angel's mind: can he cook?

Angel aimlessly walked around the apartment. He just moved in here and this place already looked really good! Not to mention the fact it was cleaner than her apartment.

After a few steps, Angel stopped when she came across the wall that hung several pictures. She stopped upon seeing a picture of a family. There was a father who was smiling like an idiot while holding up two young girls. And a young mother, smiling, with her arms around a young boy with orange hair. "Is this your family?" she asked, pointing to the biggest photo on the wall.

Ichigo walked over and stood behind her. "Yeah, that's my family."

Angel smiled. "How old were you when you took this picture?"

"I think I was around eight or so." He then pointed to the two younger girls. "These are my sisters, Megan and Megumi. They're fraternal twins. And that's my crazy old man."

Angel chuckled while still looking at the picture. She then noticed he hadn't said anything about the woman in the picture. "You're mother is very beautiful," she said.

Ichigo was silent before letting out a breath. "Thanks."

"I'm guessing you got that crazy hair of yours from her," she teased.

Ichigo smirked. "Thanks for noticing it's real. Others keep bothering me thinking it's bleached or something."

Angel was about to comment when suddenly her phone started ringing. "Moshi-moshi?"

Ichigo watched from behind at the sudden transformation on her face as she talked to whoever was on the other line.

"Okay…yes, I know. I just forgot for a bit—well sorry for being human!…What does that mean?! FINE! I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!" Angel shut her phone while glaring at it. When she heard small snickers from the side, she directed her glare to the owner of it. "Shut up."

Ichigo raised up both hands in defeat. "Sorry. Anyways, what was that all about?"

Angel sighed. "My friends are waiting for me. I totally forgot I had plans with them." She walked over to the door and slipped on her shoes. "See 'ya later, strawberry!" She shouted before quickly running out of the house.

"Don't call me that, midget!" He shouted after her before the door closed. Ichigo rolled his eyes and walked towards his kitchen when he suddenly remembered why Angel was here in the first place. "Shit. I forgot to give her back that stupid bunny." Ichigo went to his room and opened the drawer where the Chappy cellphone charm was placed on top of his papers. He smirked before closing the drawer and walking away. "Hopefully fate will let us meet again, midget."