Child of the Hogyoku

Chapter 5

Ichigo glance back. Toushrio was starting to limp but only once every few steps determined not to let it impair his walking and make him look weak.
"You'll make it worse if you keep putting your full weight on it." Ichigo told him.
He was completely ignored Toushrio's eyes fixed to the ground. Stubborn. Ichigo gave a small smirk. It would be exactly what he'd expect from him.
"So," He took a different approach, "Lets talk about what happened last night."
"Let me guess," He spoke but still didn't look up, "You want me to come clean it off or you'll turn me in?"
"Been caught a few times haven't you?" The substitute shinigami assumed only to get a shrug in return.
"How's about I make you a deal?" He stopped and faced the boy, "I'll let you off, if you just answer a few questions I want to ask you."
Toushrio looked up confused, his teal eyes trying to find the trick in this treat.
"That's it?"
Ichigo nodded.
"Just answer a few questions?"
"Truthfully." He added.
"I guess..." Toushrio could only agree trying to think of what he would want to ask.
"Alright," Ichigo gave a victorious nod and started walking again, "First question: What were you spraying?"
"A dragons eye," He replied, "Was going to do something in the back ground but you caught me just as I finished the eye."
"Okay," made sense, "What's LD?"
"It's nothing, just a sorta...artist signature,"
"Can't put your own name so you put that?" Ichigo glanced back to see a nod, "Stand for anything?"
"Lone Dragon." He answered.
"Like dragons, don't you?" The assistant teacher smirked
"What of it?" Toushrio send up a defensive glare.
"Nothing." Ichigo put up his hands up.
It was hard to wipe off the smile when he was quite glad to receive the cold and familiar glare even if it wasn't for calling him the wrong name this time. He turned his head forward and tried to think of the next question. He wanted to see if he remembered anything but he couldn't just come out and say it. Toushrio obviously didn't remember him and he wondered if he should wait to see his reaction to Orihime. He knew her better than him.
Then he realised. There was a different question he could ask.
"Do you know what I am?" He looked back to see the reaction to this one.
If he knew nothing he would have stopped and looked back at him very confused but instead he glanced up with a look of cautiousness bordering on fear and uncomfortably adjusted the bandana round his neck.
"Toushrio?" Ichigo prompted.
"Don't know what you're talking about." He replied
"I know that's a lie." He tried to catch his eye but it was difficult when moving.
Toushrio look up to see if he still expected an answer catching his gaze for a second. Quickly he pulled away again and looked at his feet.
"I'm not gonna kill you for knowing." He told him.
"Shinigami," It quietly came out, The enemy.
"Ichigo!"
He looked round nearly walking right into the orange haired woman.
"O-Orihime." He didn't realise how close they were to the nurses office.
As he regained his composure Orihime looked round. Trying not show too much of her shock at of the white crowed boy she covered it with a smile.
"Toushrio, isn't it?" She walked over.
He glanced up and nodded.
"I'm the trainee nurse Orihime," She told him, "And I did tell Ichigo to take batter care of you today but it doesn't seem he'd did a very good job."
"You said the other kids..." He glared.
Toushrio was trying to hide his amused smirk as Orihime gave a giggle and directed Toushrio into a room then asked him to sit on a chair.
"You can go back to your lesson, Ichigo." She told him.
The man shook his head, "Tashimoto probably won't be happy unless I come back with him too."
She nodded and bent down and looked at the cut.
"Nasty," She commented, "Sorry if this hurts."
She began to clean it looking up and watching his expression. Usually the boys were the worst to whine when she disinfected their cuts but Toushrio was pretty much silent only wincing at first contact. But then again she'd be more surprised if he did moan.
"So you got moved up a few years?" She asked just trying to get rid of the silence.
"Three." He replied.
"Oh, so how old does that make you?" She looked up only to see the side of his face and titled her head as she noticed the scar.
"Twelve." He answered once again shortly.
She decided not to ask, "Not nice to have this on you're first day, huh?" she was pretty much talking to herself, "Hope it hasn't put you off but then again what am I saying. Genius or not you probably hate school."
She just got a grunt in reply.
"Alright. All done." She stepped back, "I don't suggest he rejoins the class, Ichigo."
"Got it." He nodded.
"And Toushrio, It'll heal quicker if you don't push yourself." She guessed he'd be as stubborn as his former self.
He also nodded.