Author's Note: Well, this drabble was awfully short…Sorry about that. And my sincerest apologies to those IchiHime fans! This was just an idea that was rolling itself around in my mind, and…well…it solidified into…this. My apologies.
Yes, I know: this story was just full of angst and tragedy and forbidden love. Once again, I'm sorry. Please don't hate me.
As always, reviews are always welcome, and yes, that includes ranting about how sickish the story was or whatever. Please feel free to do so, if it makes you happy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Shattered
She still loved him.
Even after the Winter War.
Even after Ulquiorra had died,
Crumbled away to dust before her very eyes.
Even after she was positive,
Completely, wholly, utterly positive,
That he didn't love her back.
.
Even after that,
She still loved him.
And,
She thought,
She always would.
.
She would always love that man,
A man,
With fiery orange hair
And a scowl planted firmly on his face.
Yes, she would always love,
Even 'till her death,
It seemed,
Kurosaki Ichigo.
.
Even though she knew that he loved Rukia.
.
She had seen it.
The glances he gave her,
When she wasn't looking his way.
How his scowl on his face would slip,
When he saw her,
Becoming more relaxed and caring.
Seen how frantic he had acted,
When she came into the Urahara shop
With a broken leg.
.
She remembered that day.
.
A horde of hollows had approached her,
Rukia-san,
And,
Catching her unguarded,
They attacked.
.
One picked her up,
And crushed her leg.
.
She let out a cry of pain,
One that Orihime had heard,
Inside her house,
While making dinner.
.
And she called Ichigo.
.
He was over at the battlefield in a flash,
And he started fighting the hollows.
.
No.
It wasn't a fight…
It was more of a slaughter.
.
The hollows were all obliterated in a matter of seconds,
And he took her over to the Urahara shop
To tend to her leg.
.
But she saw the look on his face.
That one face,
Filled with rage,
And concern,
And worry,
And grief.
Grief that he let this happen to her.
.
She saw it.
And she knew.
.
Ichigo Kurosaki could never love her.
Never.
How could he?
He already loved Rukia,
And she loved him back.
.
On that day,
Orihime's heart broke.
And she cried.
.
But the next day,
She hid it well.
.
Her job was to smile,
All of the time,
With a cheerful grin on her face.
.
For her friends.
.
If she didn't smile,
She knew,
They would worry.
They would wonder what had happened.
And they might find out.
.
She couldn't have that,
Couldn't have her friends feel guilty,
All because of her.
Couldn't stop the happy ending
That awaited Ichigo and Rukia,
Her two good friends.
She just couldn't.
They deserved happiness.
.
And she wouldn't interfere.
.
And so,
Life went on.
.
Orihime still smiled
And laughed,
Her light, bubbly laugh,
Whenever the time called.
Ichigo still scowled,
Ishida stayed top if the class,
Rukia still bossed Ichigo around,
Even if he was two times her height.
.
Life was normal.
.
Or so they thought.
.
No one knew,
No one noticed,
That whenever
Ichigo looked over at Rukia,
Concern and love showing in his eyes,
Orihime's smile faltered.
.
Her eyes would dim,
Her shoulders slumped,
And she would seem to wilt.
But only for a second.
.
Only a second,
Every time that happened,
To pity herself.
Just a moment.
.
And no one noticed.
No one wondered.
No one knew.
.
No one realized,
No one at all,
That whenever Ichigo would smile at Rukia,
When his glare would disappear because of her,
Whenever she would smile back affectionately,
.
Her heart would shatter.
.
Into smaller and smaller pieces,
Each and every time.