𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒚 (𝑲𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒊) 𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 »« 𝙱𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙲𝙷/ᴋɴʏ

iii.

    A bright humming tune leaves Ichigo's mouth as he finishes straightening his hair. He reaches down and grabs his bright blue butterfly clip, lightly caressing the faded red stain on the back of one of the wings.

  "How should I wear my hair today? A braid? Ponytail? The bun?" Ichigo continues to hum as he grabs the hairspray.

  "Nīsan? You'll have to skip breakfast if you don't–oh! Nīsan! There you are!" Yuzu exclaims, walking past the open bathroom door. Ichigo smiles down at his little sister before he starts to spray his hair.

  "Moshi moshi, Yuzu! Did you sleep well?" Ichigo sets down the hairspray before grabbing his brush.

  "You came home late last night. Did you get any sleep?" Yuzu asks instead of answering herself. Ichigo gives her a small look through the mirror before he starts to brush his hair into his hand.

  "I'll make you something to help you to sleep tonight." Ichigo quickly pulls his hair into a high ponytail, clipping in the butterfly clip to hold it in place.

  "Did you get any sleep?" Yuzu asks again, making Ichigo smile. He stays quiet as he leaves the bathroom.

  "Nīsan!" Yuzu follows after him with a frown.

  "Rukia-san and I will be heading to the Butterfly Estate after school." Ichigo walks into his room to grab his haori.

  Yuzu sighs heavily and crosses her arms, blocking Ichigo from leaving. "Sleep is very important for every growing teenager, including yourself, Nīsan!"

  "I think I've done enough growing. I'm already almost six feet." Hopefully. He's already 5 feet, 11 inches tall–and he does hope he completely misses the second growth spurt teenage boys usually have in the next few years.

  "Hmph. That doesn't matter! Nīsan! You still need sleep!" The blonde girl exclaims, pouting heavily at Ichigo. The orange haired teenager smiles softly and pats Yuzu on her head. She huffs loudly and turns around, her fishtail braid falling off her shoulder.

  "Stupid Nīsan... you're already busy as it is. Why are you messing with this spirit stuff now?" Yuzu mutters under her breath, unheard by Ichigo.

  "Hm? Yuzu? Did you say something?" Yuzu continues walking away, giving her big brother the cold shoulder. "Y-Yuzu? Are–are you mad? Yuzu?"

•••

    Tatsuki stares out of the window, sighing heavily. She leans back against her chair to check if her tantō was still hidden underneath her shirt, tucked into her skirt. She has a bad feeling about today.

  "–tsuki-chan... Tatsuki-chan!" Tatsuki startles with her hand reaching back to grab her tantō. She barely stops herself from unsheathing it when she sees Orihime in front of her.

  "O-Orihime! What's up?" Tatsuki asks with a smile, quickly hiding the tantō before anyone could see it.

  Orihime blinks before she starts to frown. "Tatsuki-chan, it's lunch! Didn't you hear the bell?"

  Tatsuki glances around, finally noticing their class slowly congregating to their lunch cliques. Tatsuki still doesn't see Ichigo. He and Rukia definitely should have returned by now.

  "I have a really bad feeling. This is just like that night... Ichigo... where are you?" Tatsuki thinks back on the night she can't quite remember well. She told the story, so has Orihime, but... Tatsuki knows that's not what truly happened.