UraIshi AU Ch. 1
Title: Unravelling Threads of Fate
Rating: PG-13 for now. May change depending on what I decide to do. XD
Pairings: UraIshi (in this chapter, there's IchiRuki as well)
Summary: AU. Ishida has had a hard life. With the help of some friends, it finally looks like things are going to work out. When he meets a bizarre and cheerful man named Urahara Kisuke, the two are inexplicably drawn to each other. But when Ishida discovers the truth about Urahara's past and its ties to his own, difficulties arise.
Notes: Yes, I am odd for being so infatuated with this pairing. Here's my shot at trying to explain it in an AU. And I am determined to finish a multi-chaptered story at least ONCE. lol
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the genius KT. ♥
Ishida Uryuu had always liked making clothes. Being a famous fashion designer maybe wasn’t his absolute goal and dream in life, but if he ever made it to that point, he would be happy. So when he was hired a year ago to work under the Hell Moth label, it was more than he could ask for. Besides, anything was better than the situation he had been in before.
Loud voices could be heard drifting up the staircase into the studio and Ishida twisted around in his chair to watch their arrival. Spiky orange hair was seen first, followed by a scowling face avidly yelling at someone who became visible only after a few more steps, said person arguing just as loudly back at the taller boy.
Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia.
Ichigo had an average family life. His father was a doctor and earned enough to support the family of three children with a decent lifestyle. His mother had died when he was young, leaving him and his two younger sisters to the care of their father (which at times was hazardous). Ichigo had met Rukia in senior year and they bonded, perhaps from the common loss of a mother, and despite almost constant bickering, they were inseparable. So much that when Rukia’s remaining family had ordered her to stop seeing him, she ignored them.
Rukia was from a fairly wealthy family but she had relinquished most of her pampered life to stay with Ichigo and follow her dream of becoming a renowned fashion designer. She had been talented enough to have been accepted into a design college with a scholarship straight out of high school and established her own label only a year later. Fortunately for her, her brother had been kind enough to lend her some funds in the beginning stages, finally accepting that she wasn’t going to change her mind, and she now had her dream. An upcoming show for Hell Moth was only weeks away.
An orange-haired girl bounced up the steps after the other two had moved aside from the stairway and gave Ishida a little wave.
Inoue Orihime.
She had lost most of her family early in life, left only with a brother who also passed away in the early years of high school. Orihime had supported herself through school and with a knack for sewing, managed to get a scholarship to the same design college Rukia had gone to. When Rukia had broken off into her own company, she offered her a job which had been happily accepted.
Rukia was also, in fact, Ishida’s employer.
Ishida’s life had been rough. The basic story was that after graduating high school, his father had left him and moved to another city for his own purpose. With no home or funding for college, he was left at a loss. Luckily, he had something akin to friendship with Ichigo and was able to live in the Kurosaki household on minimum rent. For two years after high school, Ishida picked up various jobs to pay the rent, none of them particularly career-advancing. The day that had all changed was when Rukia’s latest assistant had quit and Orihime had recommended him. She had remembered how he had kept a sketchbook full of designs just for fun, as well as how adept he was at sewing.
The thing was, despite Rukia’s talent… she just could not draw. Everyone had wondered at least once how she had managed to do so well in the college or even get a scholarship in the first place. Before Ishida, there had already been three previous assistants that had all eventually quit. He could understand why, but was getting used to deciphering the odd little doodles into something everyone could work with. He would sketch out his own version and consult back to Rukia on anything she might want to change, the process continuing until they had an image she was happy with. The design would then go to Orihime and other workers who would make the outfit a reality. Both Rukia and Ishida often helped out on the sewing, a sort of break from everything else. Ichigo was still in college and usually hung around the studio with his textbooks, settling down by the large window while everyone else worked.
If anything, Ishida felt content. He had a steady employment that paid well and the job was something he enjoyed. He would have never expected the offer he would receive that day.
“Hello, Ishida-kun!” Orihime said brightly, wandering over to his work table and examining the new designs.
Ishida nodded at her slightly. “Inoue-san.”
“You’re always so polite. You need to loosen up! We’ve all been working together for a year already!” She smiled, flinging her arms wide open in enthusiasm, then frowned down at the drawings piled on the table that looked like… well, something. “I don’t understand how you know what Kuchiki-san means by all these strange little figures.”
“It’s really not that hard.”
“Well,” the girl beamed, “then that means I made the right decision by telling Kuchiki-san about you!”
Ishida couldn’t help but smile a little at that. “You did. I can never thank you enough, Inoue-san.”
“Well, you should give some credit to Kurosaki-kun. He said some nice things back then to help you get the job too.”
Kurosaki did what? Ishida blinked over at the couple still quarrelling in the corner. I guess it’s not that big of a surprise. I’m not sure I appreciate the pity, but it did get me the job.
“… they’ve been arguing ever since we left the store,” Orihime noted a little helplessly.
He hadn’t been paying attention to what they were fighting about but once he stopped filtering out their voices, it was easy to hear. It sounded serious too.
“Will you just listen?”
“I’m not changing my mind, Ichigo.”
“Freakin’ hell, Rukia. You won’t even consider my opinion?”
“No.”
“You’re so damn stubborn!”
“I don’t see why I should care what you think.” Rukia settled two fists against her hips and glared up at him. “Besides, you don’t know the first thing about picking out fabrics!”
“But it was ugly!”
Wait, what? They’re arguing about fabric? Ishida inwardly sighed, a little in exasperation and a little in relief. He didn’t like to admit it, but he would have been disappointed if the two ever broke up. It was reassuring that they were the same as ever.
“It wasn’t ugly! It’s perfect for my latest design.”
Ichigo just rolled his eyes and pat her on the head, causing her face to shift into a scowl. “Whatever, Rukia. I’ll be back later, I have to go pick up some printer ink.”
As he turned around to go back to the stairs, a little foot lifted and planted itself forcefully against his rear, sending the spiky-haired boy sprawling to the ground. Scrambling back to his feet, Ichigo spun around with a glare to see Rukia smiling innocently up at him. Shaking his head, he smirked and kissed her lightly on top of her head before heading down the stairs.
“I don’t know why I put up with you!” his voice called up to them.
The small, raven-haired girl stuck her head into the stairwell and shouted back in amusement, “Because I’m the only one who’ll put up with you!”
Turning back around, it seemed as if Rukia had only just noticed that Ishida was in the room. It was very likely.
“Ah, Ishida-san! How are the drawings coming along?” she asked, walking over to stand beside Orihime. “You’ve gotten so good at this that sooner or later, I won’t need to correct you on anything anymore!”
“I don’t know about that, Kuchiki-san, as there’s always something that can be fixed. I don’t think I’m ready to be left on my own yet...” Ishida replied, adjusting his glasses with a hand.
“Oh… are you sure about that?”
Something about the tone of her voice made his head snap up to look at her, blinking in confusion. “Eh?”
As Rukia waved her hand in a motion for privacy, Orihime grinned and scurried off to work on something in the other room. She leaned forward, resting her arms on the tabletop and smiled, hoop earrings swaying at the movement. She was wearing one of the Hell Moth dresses: a simple, black knee-length dress of flowing fabric with the bottom edge made to look tattered, a red ribbon tied around the waist for contrast.
“Don’t play dumb, Ishida-san. When I first hired you, it was only as an assistant. But after seeing the kind of work you can do, I started shifting your role into more of an apprentice. You are fully capable of running your own label - you just need a little push. So, I’m going to offer you a chance to start your career… the show coming up in three weeks. If you wish to do so, you’re welcome to add in a few of your own designs. Feel free to make use of the staff here.”
He could only stare at her. What Rukia was offering him was… just unbelievable.
“B-but, you still need an assistant…”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I can always find another one. Besides, don’t you think I’m getting better at drawing?” Rukia lifted a hand and waved it impatiently in the air. “So, what do you say?”
Ishida opted not to answer the first question. Start his own label? Was it possible? To have his own designs become a reality…
“I gladly accept.”
The girl straightened triumphantly with a bright grin. “I knew you would.”
He smiled slightly in return. It was the start of something new in his life.
~~~
The moon had already begun to set when two figures let themselves into the penthouse of the hotel. The taller one made its way over to the windows and flung the curtains open to stare down at the flashing street lights. He hadn’t been back in this city for a long time. Fifteen years to be exact.
“It’s good to be back.”
“Well, you didn’t have to leave in the first place, Kisuke,” the other, slender figure noted, remaining by the door. “If there’s nothing else you need, I’m going home.”
Urahara Kisuke grinned over at her. “Aww, you’re going to leave just like that, Yoruichi-san? I thought you would have missed me.”
“You wake me up at one in the morning, telling me to find you a hotel, and expect me to stick around and chat? Like hell, I have work tomorrow.” Shihouin Yoruichi crossed her arms, eyes narrowed in annoyance.
“Ah, yes, yes. Sorry, I forgot. Go on home.”
Opening the door, Yoruichi paused as she began to step back out. “It’s good that you’re back but things have really changed with the company, Kisuke.”
There was only silence for a few moments before a quiet voice replied, “I know… but it doesn’t concern me anymore. I have no reason to get involved, do I?”
“It all depends on how you look at it. Good night, Kisuke.”
Once the door locked behind her, Urahara looked down at the city once more. Shaking his head a little to clear his mind, a grin crept back onto his face. He would have to find out if there were any upcoming events that he could attend. Perhaps he’d find something interesting.
A/N: Keeping Japanese suffixes but be reassured that there won't be any random fangirl words littering the fic. XD Please let me know what you think of it. :D
To Chapter 2
X-posted to kurosaki_clinic, asterisk_plus, uraishi
Rating: PG-13 for now. May change depending on what I decide to do. XD
Pairings: UraIshi (in this chapter, there's IchiRuki as well)
Summary: AU. Ishida has had a hard life. With the help of some friends, it finally looks like things are going to work out. When he meets a bizarre and cheerful man named Urahara Kisuke, the two are inexplicably drawn to each other. But when Ishida discovers the truth about Urahara's past and its ties to his own, difficulties arise.
Notes: Yes, I am odd for being so infatuated with this pairing. Here's my shot at trying to explain it in an AU. And I am determined to finish a multi-chaptered story at least ONCE. lol
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the genius KT. ♥
Ishida Uryuu had always liked making clothes. Being a famous fashion designer maybe wasn’t his absolute goal and dream in life, but if he ever made it to that point, he would be happy. So when he was hired a year ago to work under the Hell Moth label, it was more than he could ask for. Besides, anything was better than the situation he had been in before.
Loud voices could be heard drifting up the staircase into the studio and Ishida twisted around in his chair to watch their arrival. Spiky orange hair was seen first, followed by a scowling face avidly yelling at someone who became visible only after a few more steps, said person arguing just as loudly back at the taller boy.
Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia.
Ichigo had an average family life. His father was a doctor and earned enough to support the family of three children with a decent lifestyle. His mother had died when he was young, leaving him and his two younger sisters to the care of their father (which at times was hazardous). Ichigo had met Rukia in senior year and they bonded, perhaps from the common loss of a mother, and despite almost constant bickering, they were inseparable. So much that when Rukia’s remaining family had ordered her to stop seeing him, she ignored them.
Rukia was from a fairly wealthy family but she had relinquished most of her pampered life to stay with Ichigo and follow her dream of becoming a renowned fashion designer. She had been talented enough to have been accepted into a design college with a scholarship straight out of high school and established her own label only a year later. Fortunately for her, her brother had been kind enough to lend her some funds in the beginning stages, finally accepting that she wasn’t going to change her mind, and she now had her dream. An upcoming show for Hell Moth was only weeks away.
An orange-haired girl bounced up the steps after the other two had moved aside from the stairway and gave Ishida a little wave.
Inoue Orihime.
She had lost most of her family early in life, left only with a brother who also passed away in the early years of high school. Orihime had supported herself through school and with a knack for sewing, managed to get a scholarship to the same design college Rukia had gone to. When Rukia had broken off into her own company, she offered her a job which had been happily accepted.
Rukia was also, in fact, Ishida’s employer.
Ishida’s life had been rough. The basic story was that after graduating high school, his father had left him and moved to another city for his own purpose. With no home or funding for college, he was left at a loss. Luckily, he had something akin to friendship with Ichigo and was able to live in the Kurosaki household on minimum rent. For two years after high school, Ishida picked up various jobs to pay the rent, none of them particularly career-advancing. The day that had all changed was when Rukia’s latest assistant had quit and Orihime had recommended him. She had remembered how he had kept a sketchbook full of designs just for fun, as well as how adept he was at sewing.
The thing was, despite Rukia’s talent… she just could not draw. Everyone had wondered at least once how she had managed to do so well in the college or even get a scholarship in the first place. Before Ishida, there had already been three previous assistants that had all eventually quit. He could understand why, but was getting used to deciphering the odd little doodles into something everyone could work with. He would sketch out his own version and consult back to Rukia on anything she might want to change, the process continuing until they had an image she was happy with. The design would then go to Orihime and other workers who would make the outfit a reality. Both Rukia and Ishida often helped out on the sewing, a sort of break from everything else. Ichigo was still in college and usually hung around the studio with his textbooks, settling down by the large window while everyone else worked.
If anything, Ishida felt content. He had a steady employment that paid well and the job was something he enjoyed. He would have never expected the offer he would receive that day.
“Hello, Ishida-kun!” Orihime said brightly, wandering over to his work table and examining the new designs.
Ishida nodded at her slightly. “Inoue-san.”
“You’re always so polite. You need to loosen up! We’ve all been working together for a year already!” She smiled, flinging her arms wide open in enthusiasm, then frowned down at the drawings piled on the table that looked like… well, something. “I don’t understand how you know what Kuchiki-san means by all these strange little figures.”
“It’s really not that hard.”
“Well,” the girl beamed, “then that means I made the right decision by telling Kuchiki-san about you!”
Ishida couldn’t help but smile a little at that. “You did. I can never thank you enough, Inoue-san.”
“Well, you should give some credit to Kurosaki-kun. He said some nice things back then to help you get the job too.”
Kurosaki did what? Ishida blinked over at the couple still quarrelling in the corner. I guess it’s not that big of a surprise. I’m not sure I appreciate the pity, but it did get me the job.
“… they’ve been arguing ever since we left the store,” Orihime noted a little helplessly.
He hadn’t been paying attention to what they were fighting about but once he stopped filtering out their voices, it was easy to hear. It sounded serious too.
“Will you just listen?”
“I’m not changing my mind, Ichigo.”
“Freakin’ hell, Rukia. You won’t even consider my opinion?”
“No.”
“You’re so damn stubborn!”
“I don’t see why I should care what you think.” Rukia settled two fists against her hips and glared up at him. “Besides, you don’t know the first thing about picking out fabrics!”
“But it was ugly!”
Wait, what? They’re arguing about fabric? Ishida inwardly sighed, a little in exasperation and a little in relief. He didn’t like to admit it, but he would have been disappointed if the two ever broke up. It was reassuring that they were the same as ever.
“It wasn’t ugly! It’s perfect for my latest design.”
Ichigo just rolled his eyes and pat her on the head, causing her face to shift into a scowl. “Whatever, Rukia. I’ll be back later, I have to go pick up some printer ink.”
As he turned around to go back to the stairs, a little foot lifted and planted itself forcefully against his rear, sending the spiky-haired boy sprawling to the ground. Scrambling back to his feet, Ichigo spun around with a glare to see Rukia smiling innocently up at him. Shaking his head, he smirked and kissed her lightly on top of her head before heading down the stairs.
“I don’t know why I put up with you!” his voice called up to them.
The small, raven-haired girl stuck her head into the stairwell and shouted back in amusement, “Because I’m the only one who’ll put up with you!”
Turning back around, it seemed as if Rukia had only just noticed that Ishida was in the room. It was very likely.
“Ah, Ishida-san! How are the drawings coming along?” she asked, walking over to stand beside Orihime. “You’ve gotten so good at this that sooner or later, I won’t need to correct you on anything anymore!”
“I don’t know about that, Kuchiki-san, as there’s always something that can be fixed. I don’t think I’m ready to be left on my own yet...” Ishida replied, adjusting his glasses with a hand.
“Oh… are you sure about that?”
Something about the tone of her voice made his head snap up to look at her, blinking in confusion. “Eh?”
As Rukia waved her hand in a motion for privacy, Orihime grinned and scurried off to work on something in the other room. She leaned forward, resting her arms on the tabletop and smiled, hoop earrings swaying at the movement. She was wearing one of the Hell Moth dresses: a simple, black knee-length dress of flowing fabric with the bottom edge made to look tattered, a red ribbon tied around the waist for contrast.
“Don’t play dumb, Ishida-san. When I first hired you, it was only as an assistant. But after seeing the kind of work you can do, I started shifting your role into more of an apprentice. You are fully capable of running your own label - you just need a little push. So, I’m going to offer you a chance to start your career… the show coming up in three weeks. If you wish to do so, you’re welcome to add in a few of your own designs. Feel free to make use of the staff here.”
He could only stare at her. What Rukia was offering him was… just unbelievable.
“B-but, you still need an assistant…”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I can always find another one. Besides, don’t you think I’m getting better at drawing?” Rukia lifted a hand and waved it impatiently in the air. “So, what do you say?”
Ishida opted not to answer the first question. Start his own label? Was it possible? To have his own designs become a reality…
“I gladly accept.”
The girl straightened triumphantly with a bright grin. “I knew you would.”
He smiled slightly in return. It was the start of something new in his life.
~~~
The moon had already begun to set when two figures let themselves into the penthouse of the hotel. The taller one made its way over to the windows and flung the curtains open to stare down at the flashing street lights. He hadn’t been back in this city for a long time. Fifteen years to be exact.
“It’s good to be back.”
“Well, you didn’t have to leave in the first place, Kisuke,” the other, slender figure noted, remaining by the door. “If there’s nothing else you need, I’m going home.”
Urahara Kisuke grinned over at her. “Aww, you’re going to leave just like that, Yoruichi-san? I thought you would have missed me.”
“You wake me up at one in the morning, telling me to find you a hotel, and expect me to stick around and chat? Like hell, I have work tomorrow.” Shihouin Yoruichi crossed her arms, eyes narrowed in annoyance.
“Ah, yes, yes. Sorry, I forgot. Go on home.”
Opening the door, Yoruichi paused as she began to step back out. “It’s good that you’re back but things have really changed with the company, Kisuke.”
There was only silence for a few moments before a quiet voice replied, “I know… but it doesn’t concern me anymore. I have no reason to get involved, do I?”
“It all depends on how you look at it. Good night, Kisuke.”
Once the door locked behind her, Urahara looked down at the city once more. Shaking his head a little to clear his mind, a grin crept back onto his face. He would have to find out if there were any upcoming events that he could attend. Perhaps he’d find something interesting.
A/N: Keeping Japanese suffixes but be reassured that there won't be any random fangirl words littering the fic. XD Please let me know what you think of it. :D
To Chapter 2
X-posted to kurosaki_clinic, asterisk_plus, uraishi