(Untitled)

[kurosakiboy]

A boy his age shouldn't have so much on his plate. This is pretty much the only conclusion Ichigo has been able to reach since coming here. The stuff back home...that stuff was weird. Crazy. Way too much for him, he thought. But he handled it, and did so pretty well. But this...this is different. He can't swing a sword at his problems this time,

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[whatstocome]

"Hey, who's -- Ichido?"

Buffy will never be a speech therapist.

[kurosakiboy]

Interrupted from his sulking deep thought, Ichigo glances at her with a bit of surprise.

"Ichigo. Nice to see ya again, Muffy."

Even if he's bummed out, he hasn't lost his sense of humor, small though it may be.

[whatstocome]

"Oh, burn," says Buffy. "My inner kindergarten is crushed."

"Am I interrupting some quality brooding or something?"

[kurosakiboy]

"No, just kinda, you know, missin' family and junk. I'm still not sure if I'm ever gonna get out of this place. People seem to say 'Maybe, we're looking into it' but really...nobody tells me yes or no. It's got me...kinda messed up inside."

He's lived his whole life being around his family. He's always been close to them, loved and protected them, and now...now he's got nothing.

[whatstocome]

Buffy's eyes drop. Along with her spirits. It's very nicely synchronized.

"Oh."

Discomfort!

"I'm sorry."

[kurosakiboy]

He's only sixteen. He's younger than he looks, younger than he feels. He's been through a lot. Losing a mother, protecting sisters, dealing with a very odd father, and then a whole bunch of Shinigami business that he won't even get into. He just feels tired sometimes.

"Yeah, well, they'll be alright without me. We got on without my Mom. They can do the same without me. Though I'm also kinda worried about some Shinigami stuff. There's this guy who's really bad news back home, and without me around...well, I guess they can handle it too. They have all sorts of real Shinigami. I'm just a lousy substitute. So I guess...everyone back home will be alright."

GOD DAMN IT. Now he's even more depressed.

[whatstocome]

She's taken aback. This is a few months before teenagers started confiding in her regularly.

Eloquently:

"Oh."

[kurosakiboy]

He's not confiding in her. He's just sort of...

Well, the point in, he's not. Really. That would involve trust. Which is something she may never have, just...well, because. He's simply rambling aloud right now. He says nothing, does nothing. He's looking away now, where he imagines the sun or the moon might be at such a time. Sadly, it's hidden away as always.

It...doesn't brighten his mood.

[whatstocome]

Buffy shifts uncomfortably.

"Well, i-it's good that people will be okay. 'Cause the alternate is them being not-okay, which is rarely a good."

[kurosakiboy]

He grunts. Little too much information shared. At least she didn't ask about his Mother dying. Because that would go nowhere. In a very cold way.

"What do you do here anyways? Or are you freeloading?"

[whatstocome]

There are things Buffy cannot handle right now. Hearing about mothers dying: one of them.

She shoots him a look. "You're not big with the tact, are you? I'm defense. Offense. Something ending in 'fense.'"

[kurosakiboy]

He sort of blinks at her.

Looks her up and down.

Then, "You?"

[whatstocome]

How long has it been since she got that reaction? Oh, nostalgia.

"Me."

She cocks her head, quirks an eyebrow, and waits patiently to see if he'll pursue the matter.

[kurosakiboy]

He eyes her. He doesn't have anything against women. Rukia has kicked his ass a few times. Not to mention Tatsuki being something like the GOD OF KARATE.

But those two weren't...well...Buffy.

"You. Defense. Against those monsters that attacked the other day?" Not mocking so much as...confused and curious.

[whatstocome]

"I'm stronger than I look," she says, deadpan.

[kurosakiboy]

"No offense, but you look pretty ordinary. Strength-wise? You don't look like too much. How strong are we talking here?"