[ At first, he just makes a non-committal sound at Byakuya's quick reassurance about Rukia's and Renji's well-being, relieved in some weird way that the man could read his mind and knew what was coming next. Then, at what follows, Ichigo halts mid-motion, staring up at Byakuya's face, his own gaze sharpening, growing focused, growing ready. For whatever it is he should apparently have been informed about. Rukia hasn't contacted him for weeks now, not on their group chat and not in private either. It's fine, it's like that sometimes, when you live in different worlds and besides, he knows she's busy.
At least it's not 17 months of silence and invisibility, right?
With a hard shrug, he pushes the thought away forcibly, it's a long time ago now and it never mattered in the first place. ]
Informed of what?
[ His voice is casual, but to the skilled listener, it's probably evident that he's suddenly feeling extremely worried. What hasn't Rukia told him? He thought they were close enough that she'd trust him with anything, they've fought together, they've won together. Shouldn't that --
Ichigo stops himself and looks down again, into the swirl of melting cream in his hot chocolate, listening intently for Byakuya's next breath and the words on it. ]
You said they were fine.
[ This time it's more of a reassurance to himself. ]
no subject
[ At first, he just makes a non-committal sound at Byakuya's quick reassurance about Rukia's and Renji's well-being, relieved in some weird way that the man could read his mind and knew what was coming next. Then, at what follows, Ichigo halts mid-motion, staring up at Byakuya's face, his own gaze sharpening, growing focused, growing ready. For whatever it is he should apparently have been informed about. Rukia hasn't contacted him for weeks now, not on their group chat and not in private either. It's fine, it's like that sometimes, when you live in different worlds and besides, he knows she's busy.
At least it's not 17 months of silence and invisibility, right?
With a hard shrug, he pushes the thought away forcibly, it's a long time ago now and it never mattered in the first place. ]
Informed of what?
[ His voice is casual, but to the skilled listener, it's probably evident that he's suddenly feeling extremely worried. What hasn't Rukia told him? He thought they were close enough that she'd trust him with anything, they've fought together, they've won together. Shouldn't that --
Ichigo stops himself and looks down again, into the swirl of melting cream in his hot chocolate, listening intently for Byakuya's next breath and the words on it. ]
You said they were fine.
[ This time it's more of a reassurance to himself. ]