As Ichigo walked through the outside pathways of the Seiretei, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, his mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming date.
Currently wearing the clothes he was given by Isane, which was a pristine black kimono.
The gentle breeze whispered through the trees, carrying with it a sense of anticipation and excitement.
But before he could go any further, Captain Unohana appeared before him, her presence casting a shadow over the corridor.
Despite her closed-eyed smile, the atmosphere around her felt dark and foreboding. "If it isn't Ichigo, are you feeling alright?" she inquired, her voice soft but laced with an underlying tension.
Ichigo offered a calm smile, though a small bead of sweat formed on his brow. "I'm doing good now, just going out for a walk." he replied, attempting to brush past her hurriedly.
But Unohana's demeanor shifted subtly, one of her eyes opening as she spoke with a hint of warning in her tone. "I don't think I said I was done talking to you," she said, her spiritual pressure pressing down on Ichigo, rooting him to the spot.
She took note of his unique clothing and raised an eyebrow, as if it were obvious. "Did you think I wasn't aware of your little meet up?" she questioned, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.
Frowning, Ichigo's expression turned serious as he met her gaze. "What's with the sudden hostility, Captain Unohana?" he questioned, a note of defiance in his voice, displeased by the heavy feeling of pressure on him.
Nevertheless Unohana continued to smile serenely, though her eyes held a hint of disappointment, "Isane may be a kind soul, but I hope you don't think of me the same. I'm not sure what foolish thing you're up to, but if I hear of Isane being hurt because of you, it won't bode well for you."
Ichigo awkwardly chuckled, his demeanor now unbothered by the weight of her spiritual pressure, "Isane can make her own choices, as can I," he retorted, his tone firm. "There's no need for you to be worried, Captain Unohana."
Unohana remained silent for a moment, her smile unwavering. "Is that so?" she murmured cryptically. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
With that, the pressure dissipated, and Unohana simply vanished into the night.
Her figure reappeared inside the courtyard of her residence, her expression softened for a moment, before frowning.
She knew that whatever Ichigo was planning was something that would hurt Isane in some way.
Just based off the way he conversed last night, Unohana could tell Ichigo was the type of person who had a side to him that was very dangerous, a side he was hiding, and the reason she even understood this, was because she herself hides a dangerous side of her.
Not to mention he didn't seem to be the type to lust after women, especially after she gathered information on his past actions in the previous several years of his time in the Rukon district.
However, she soon just sighed as she thought to herself, 'Perhaps this is a good lesson for Isane, some pain will do her good.'
****
Ichigo himself continued on walking through the pathways of the Seiretei, occasionally seeing other fellow Soul Reapers, who would greet him with a bow, assuming he was a new Lieutenant because of his Spiritual Pressure.
After a few minutes of casual walking, Ichigo finally arrived at the restaurant, a quaint little establishment tucked away in a corner of the Seiretei.
As he entered, he was greeted by the warm glow of soft lanterns hanging from the ceiling, casting a gentle light over the room. The air was filled with the savory aroma of cooked food, tantalizing his senses as he made his way inside.
The restaurant was divided into separate rooms, each with its own unique charm. But what caught Ichigo's attention was the design of the rooms - the roofs were open to the night sky, allowing diners to gaze up at the stars as they enjoyed their meal. It was a romantic touch that added to the ambiance of the place.
As Ichigo was escorted to his reserved room by a polite waiter, he couldn't help but admire the simple yet elegant setup. The room was of a modest size, with a table in the center adorned with a crisp white tablecloth. Plush sofas lined up, facing a cozy fire place.
Above them, the night sky twinkled with a myriad of stars, lending a magical quality to the atmosphere.
Upon entering the room, Ichigo's eyes fell upon Isane, who was already seated on one of the couches. She was dressed in modern attire - a green sweater paired with a light green jacket and black jeans, her silver hair neatly trimmed.
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Ichigo couldn't help but be stunned by her appearance, momentarily at a loss for words.
As the waiter left and closed the door behind him, leaving Ichigo and Isane alone, she stood up nervously and greeted him with a shy smile. "Hi, Ichigo," she said softly, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater.
Ichigo blinked, breaking out of his daze as he took in her appearance. "Oh, sorry, I... uh, you look really nice," he stammered, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "I was just surprised to see you dressed up like this."
Isane's cheeks flushed with color as she looked down, a bashful smile gracing her lips. "Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've had these clothes in my closet forever, but I rarely get to wear them since I'm always working."
Ichigo nodded understandingly, a warm smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well, I'm glad you decided to wear them tonight. You look great," he said sincerely, his gaze softening as he looked at her.
But inwardly his expression was indifferent, he was initially surprised by her appearance, and her beauty had definitely risen, but not enough to gain a blush from him.
Nevertheless Ichigo had to play the part, in order to charm her, however he would still remain honest, as he spoke once more.
"Isane to be fully honest, I don't intend on having a long term relationship with you."
Isane's eyes widened at his words, before lightly smiling, "I kinda had a feeling you'd say that..."
Ichigo nonetheless smirked, "But I promise to give you the best time of your life tonight, regardless of what happens after."
Her expression brightened afterward, "Is that so?... Then perhaps I can change your mind during this night."
He could only chuckle, "Haha, I'll be looking forward to it."
Isane's eyes turned determined once hearing his response, 'I-I have to try my best! Rangiku always said that the first date matters the most, then maybe I can make him have such a fun time that he'll change his mind!' A shade of red appeared on her cheeks, as she thought that perhaps her love story is starting, just like how Rangiku describes it.
As they settled into the cozy confines of the room, Isane mustered up the courage to break the ice and ask Ichigo about his life. "So, Ichigo," she began hesitantly, "tell me about yourself. What's your life been like?"
Ichigo's gaze softened as he considered her question. "Well," he started, "it's been... interesting, to say the least. I've spent most of my days on the run, trying to survive in the Rukon district. But I've also tried to help out whenever I can, you know, stealing food and supplies for those who need it."
Isane's eyes widened with admiration as she listened to his story. "That's incredible," she remarked, her voice filled with genuine awe. "To risk your own safety to help others... it's truly selfless."
Ichigo shrugged modestly, it was more something he did to make himself feel good, rather than just wanting to help others, "It's nothing, really," he said, trying to downplay his actions. "Just doing what I can to make a difference."
Encouraged by his humility, Isane couldn't help but smile. "Well, it's certainly made an impression on me," she admitted, her admiration for him growing with each passing moment. "You're a good person, Ichigo."
He smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Isane. That means a lot."
As their conversation continued, they delved deeper into each other's lives, sharing stories and experiences.
Isane spoke of her own dreams of how she always wanted to be a Healer in Squad 4, her voice filled with passion and determination.
Ichigo listened intently, hanging on her every word.
Eventually, the waiter discreetly brought them sake and other drinks, adding to the relaxed atmosphere of the evening. With each sip, their conversation flowed more freely, and they found themselves growing more comfortable in each other's presence.
As they continued their conversation, the alcohol seemed to have gotten to Isane as her face had a light shade of red, but her curiosity got the better of her as she couldn't resist asking Ichigo about his future plans.
"So, Ichigo," she began, her tone playful yet curious, "have you given any thought to which squad you might join?"
Ichigo's expression remained composed, demonstrating his tolerance to alcohol as he replied, "Honestly, I haven't really thought about it yet."
Isane's eyes widened in mock indignation, and she playfully scrunched up her nose. "Hmph! Are you saying you're not thinking of joining Squad 4?" she teased, crossing her arms in a mock display of offense.
Ichigo couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, finding her playful demeanor endearing.
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he rose from his seat and closed the distance between them, his arms resting casually on the back of the sofa.
Isane turned her head to the side, a surprised expression on her face as Ichigo's proximity caught her off guard. "Eh!?" she exclaimed, her heart racing at the sudden closeness.
Undeterred, Ichigo's lips curved into a teasing smile as he posed his question. "Do you really want to feel pleasure?" he asked, his voice low and husky with a hint of amusement.
Isane's breath caught in her throat, her cheeks flushing crimson as she struggled to form a coherent response. But amidst the flurry of emotions, one thing was certain - she couldn't deny the thrill of anticipation that coursed through her veins.
"Yes," she finally managed to whisper, her voice trembling with excitement. "I... I want to feel pleasure."
With Isane's whispered affirmation hanging in the air, Ichigo didn't hesitate as he leaned down, he closed the remaining distance between them, their lips meeting in a gentle, yet passionate, entwining.
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