Love Me Bitterly Loath Me Sweetly

Chapter 10 *Honesty Encounters*

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Ranji
8:22 pm.
12th july

"Did Ichigo Kurosaki give her any information about the launch of ABCX?"

"Yes."

"What did he tell her?" 

"To be very honest, not so much so that it can be used against him."

"Just cut to the chase and tell us what exactly happened." Starrk hissed.

"I am a bartender at the bar where Ichig usually visits." I glanced at him, who was in a bloody mess of sweat and either unconscious or close to it. The interrogation room was already a musty-smelling place when I entered, and Ichigo's sweat was not helping it.

"Then?"

"That day, Ichigo and Uryu came and sat there together for a while-just then Franceska walked in and caught everyone's attention, then Kurosaki sat beside her." I thought about this. "Franceska started talking to Ichigo, as if they were long-lost friends. She talked about his friends, their careers, and came to a halt with one of his friends, and her name was..."

"Orihime Inoue."

"Yes." I nodded. "The moment she mentioned her name, Kurosaki was not having it. He got to his feet but she immediately stopped him-she offered him a drink, but Kurosaki was persistent on leaving the bar. She started apologising, and that got everyone's attention in the bar, so Kurosaki sat down for only one drink. But..." I looked down at the table.

"But, what?" I heard of Starrk.

"But the drink," I paused. "It was a guy sat beside Franceska a few chairs away. They had been eyeing each other for some time. He passed his drink that had some kind of drug in it."

"How can you say it for sure?" Starrk rambled.

"They must have thought that nobody saw it, but I saw it. My observation skills are great, even if I say so myself." I babbled, then continued. "Kurosaki was a bit dizzy after that drink. He didn't seem to pay much attention because the mention of Inoue girl agitated him, and on the other hand, Franceska started talking about his software while flirting with him." I was disgusted just by remembering that scene, let alone talking about it. "She practically threw herself on him, pressing her body against Kurosaki and biting his ear." My tongue was sore. "Kurosaki appeared to know what was going on; he was not having it and played it smartly, only giving the dates and then banging his head on the table and soundly sleeping." I chuckled. "Franceska seemed annoyed because she hadn't expected Kurosaki to react that way, nor did I." I unttered. "She left with that guy too, and that was all, Sir." 

"What happened to Ichigo afterwards?" The Lieutenant spoke.

"He slept there all night." I said, flatly.

"What about Uryu? He was with him too."

"Kurosaki told him to go home before he sat beside Franceska. So he went home." I shrugged.

"So, whatever she had said on the radio about Ichigo Kurosaki was false; he gave her the details." She commented. "Then who leaked the information?"

I observed that Starrk squard was present in the room. 

"Who was that guy?" Starrk rambled. "Can you recognize him if you see him again?"

I nodded. "What's ironic was that I never saw Franceska and that guy again in our bar or before." I commented.

They didn't comment on this and proceeded with another question and asked me if I knew her brother. Kūgo Ginjō.

I shook my head. It had not seemed like it, but I was a country man. My tattoos say otherwise. Starrk ordered the glasses woman to get Kūgo Ginjō's document file, and she disappeared behind the door.