Asterisks

Today, 3 years later

Greetings!
Thank you for stumbling onto this page m(_ _)m
This is... a participating entry for the Tanabata UlquiHime festival~~
(so it's a Ulquiorra x Orihime fic of course! haha)

Hope that you guys will love it! (^_^)o

Disclaimers: I do not own Bleach and their characters (definitely); they are all masterpieces from Kubo-sensei~

He loved to torment me until he deems fit.
That's kind of unfair isn't it, Ulquiorra-san?

To that tiny little silver dot that brightens a portion of the night sky,
I could stare at you without blinking.
It's true, I would then laugh at how silly I've become when my eyes turn all red.
For they had turned red, tears would flow out more than usual.
Perhaps, I might have just done that on purpose.

If I shut those weary eyes, I would remember that night when my heart shook so violently,
I had always thought it fragmented into pieces.

There must be a reason why I was made to meet you.

"In the real world, the night sky would be filled with white stars," I pointed out to the endlessly piece of darkness that blanketed the sky at Hueco Mundo.

"I see," you would say, with no particular change of expression on your face.

At this point of time, I would pray that you would get a little more curious about the real world; and continue the conversation that had shown signs of a full stop.

"Which sky do you prefer?" Your voice would crack through the silence we held for three seconds.

"That one, of course," It was such an obvious answer.

"Why do you like one that's filled with holes?" You are the only one capable with asking such funny questions in a completely serious tone, complemented with a troubled frown.

I would laugh out uncontrollably; and then I'll get to see a slight change in your expression. It's so insignificant; I bet the others would tell me nothing had changed.

"What is so funny, woman? I'm asking you a question,"

I'm sorry; I should not be laughing because it seemed like a normal question to you. I just could not help it; these things have turned into my form of entertainment during the monochrome days here.

"Not holes. They are sources of light energy. The Sun is one example of a huge star," I read about this particular topic during Science classes.

"How do you even know that? You haven't even been to the Sun,"

That's right; you deny the truth about everything until you have seen the entire process yourself. It fascinates me to an extent; because of this silent denial syndrome that you were born with, my interactions with you gets extended a little.

"I don't know. I read in books,"

"Books? I see," You stumbled upon a foreign word that only people in the real world used; then you would pass off like you knew it from the start. I would spend time studying your response to my answers; how you struggled with the certain vocabulary I used; how you resisted the urge in you to refrain from asking so many curious questions. Such actions may be what I rarely would do over at the real world; but I'm now locked like a caged bird in Hueco Mundo – time hardly budged an inch – I had all the time to invent my own games; my own recreational playground.

I would take one small peek at your somewhat frustrated appearance.
Most of the time, just that frown on your face is enough to make me smile.

I had realized facing you every day was not as bad as it had initially seemed to be.
You could be an interesting addition to this stagnant lifestyle in this world.

Back in the real world,
Summer passed very quickly that year as compared to any ordinary day.
That was because I had spent it with people I loved.
Right now, my somewhat-tense autumn days with you,
whizzed past me like a one-minute hourglass.

Nothing could ever compare to that anymore, I suppose.

How many more memories can I have of you?
How many more left for me to keep them in my head?
I wished you could reply with that straight and solemn face of yours
"That in itself would form an infinite integer."

"What are stars made of?" You thought that question out aloud. It had sounded like a pop quiz on astronomy.

"I don't know the real answer. I can give you a fake one."

"A fake one?"

" I hear from my classmates that when someone dies, they become stars in the sky,"

"I see," I was a little taken aback that you had accepted that superstition so easily – or was that reply just so that you could accommodate my beliefs? You hadn't exactly believed in that, right?

"So stars are dead souls? That's wrong, woman. Souls who die either go straight up to Soul Society; or they sink down to this world. You, of all people, should know it works."
I knew you would say something like that; I should not have expected too much from you.

"That's true," It became my turn to compromise.

Aren't we acting somewhat like … friends?
Friends quarrel and they bicker and they disagree.
Minutes passed, they simmer down and they make up and they compromise.
It was amusing; just plain thinking about the awkward similarities could make me chuckle silently.

"He's here," You commented while you stared at the blank oblong corridor.

"Who?"

"Your friend, Kurosaki Ichigo,"

"Kurosaki-kun," I had unknowingly observed the way you reacted to his name – you tried to look nonchalant; but the eyelids would look vaguely lowered – were you frustrated about this name that I had been repeating throughout the sparsely-numbered conversations we had with one another?

"Whatever. Watch how your friend falls under my blade,"You walked a few steps forward and raised your left hand a little.

"Stay very still and do not make a word," He even noticed I had moved my left leg an inch to the front.

"No. Not even that. Just watch it like a broadcast. Don't bother to help, it's futile,"

I simply could not bring myself to stand and watch two people fight to their deaths while I do nothing to stop them.
"I will. You cannot stop me," I insisted, trying to pass off like a heroine in the movies whenever they face a bad guy.

"I can. Today's agenda is just not you, that's all," You replied with your slender back facing me.
I take it as you just gave the green light to do so.

The fight gradually turned into a serious dilemma for me – who should I protect? Kurosaki-kun of course! Then again, I halted because Kurosaki-kun disliked me interrupting the fight – he had reminded me so many times not to get involved with it. When you nearly landed a huge cut on Kurosaki-kun's shoulder, I decided to stop that attack even when I knew there might be a possibility that he can dodge your attack. At this point of time, I was still on Kurosaki-kun's side; for you were still dead serious and aggressive with those attacks.

Somehow, I ended up in frantic when you questioned, "Why did you save him?"

Do you really want to know the answer?
I had wondered which was the "him" you referred to, that's all.
Was it Kurosaki-kun, or was it you, that I had wanted to save?
The question word "why" seemed to have filled me with guilt – that I had just disobeyed your initial instructions.

Why did I even interfere when both of you told me not to anyway?

In fact, I was worried for the both of you.

I did not want Kurosaki-kun to die; nor did I want you to get seriously injured.
Why am I feeling this way towards the enemy?
You seemed like you had already explained earlier, "She's one of us now."
My heart was shivering weakly inside me.

I could hear black shadows drifting across my line of vision and then a loud clang of the dark blade; the white figure would hardly even make large movements – he defended until he spots a loophole and lands a deep cut on Kurosaki-kun. The memories I had of that fight were like an ancient book filled with fatal thorns on its cover – the more I struggle to pry open, the more intense the pain would become. I had so wanted to forget those awful recollections; I would selfishly wished that you won the fight, so that it might have been less painful for me to live through the remaining days – because I'll heal Kurosaki-kun even if you have to kill me.

It was too sudden for me to accept everything; your eyes, that hand and the fluttering diamond dust – they were all saying goodbye to me. I thought you said Espadas have very high levels of regeneration? What is happening to you?

Don't go. This thought floated up in my head.
No, I can't think this way! If not, he'll end up like Sora-nii!!

What should I do?
My heart was experiencing upside-down turbulence.
Even at the very final moment, you were able to calm me down with your voice. I could exhale properly because I heard you.
"Are you afraid of me, woman?" I saw your bony hand reaching out for me, those black nails and the green irises were like telling me those familiar words, "Come with me, woman"
If it's you, I'll go anywhere. To the depths of the darkest places ever, I'll go with you.
Take me, wherever you want to.

"I'm not afraid,"

"I see," My hand tried so hard to reach out for those fingers; but we were just...

We were just too far away.

The desert winds at Hueco Mundo blew in the opposite direction, and I saw your ashes following the trail of the breeze. I ran forward to catch the remaining bits with my palms and screamed out incoherently, the tears fell out and drenched the outfit that you had given me. I could feel Kurosaki-kun grabbing my shoulders and screaming something really loud at me; but I could not make out what he was trying to tell me – it was like watching a mime – everything else seemed so silent now.

"Will he go to Soul Society? Ne, Kurosaki-kun, can we find him at Soul Society? Let's go! I..."
"Inoue..." Kurosaki-kun probably wanted to see him as much as I do; for the fight has not ended.

"Naa Inoue, we'll find a way to get him back. First, heal Ishida."
You just made a promise, didn't you, Kurosaki-kun?

"Okay," I stood up and rubbed my tears away.

Why did the ashes on my fingers smelt of flowers?

My heart shook so violently then, I felt it had fragmented into a million pieces.
I hadn't known why the face that came up in my head next, changed.
It was you; and that fragrance that you left behind.

That night you left and turned into a single bright star in the sky; I rained like a mad woman.
I had no idea that was how much I had wanted to see you again.

There must have been a reason why you were made to leave me.

***

Today's the Seventh of July.
I wonder how are you feeling today?

I fastened the blue hair clips on the sides of my hair before I tied up my hair in a sideway bun and clipped it with a traditional hair accessory. I checked to see if the back ribbon of my yellow yukata was in proper position and fitted into my clogs which I had placed them by the shoe rack the previous night. I took a final look in the mirror before I waved to the photo frame in my house.

"I'm heading out, Sora-nii!" I jingled the keys as I locked the door firmly.

I flipped out my pink cell phone to double-check on the time that was ticking away on the screen – it was 6.40 – there would be ample time if I ran barefooted towards the bamboo trees that had been carefully grown by the local shrine. It did not affect me when I had to queue up in order to locate the spot to hang my wishes – it is believed that wishes would come true if one hangs it on the bamboo tree today. It was my third time trying my luck at it – this time, I did something different – I wrote two wishes on the paper. I clapped four times at the paper that twirled around above me – twice for myself, twice for you.

Night fell, and the sky was packed with the tiny twinkling lights.
The stars were coming out to play.
The spot where you are at now, can you see me?

The fireworks festival would take place at 8p.m. - I was given tickets to attend that event – wouldn't it be very lonely to watch a spectacular scene like that on your own? I tucked the ticket back into my petite-sized bag. It was then I heard very faint footsteps approaching my right shoulder; it was walking briskly and it tapped me all of a sudden, I had reacted reflexively by blocking the attack by clutching the hand, but it came a little later.

"Santen...!!!" I shouted out.

As I tried to complete the final incantation but a pale hand covered my mouth. That hand that was on my mouth loaded a very familiar image in my head – it had black fingernails. I stopped struggling.

"Don't scream. I just want to ask for directions," My back was still facing this stranger.

Have I heard this voice before?
This frequency came to me like a lost distress signal retrieved by a lighthouse.

I turned around impatiently, like a child desperately trying to unwrap his Christmas presents.

The stranger had dark raven-colored hair and viridian irises; he wore a dark gray jacket with a high collared striped top, coupled with a pair of black denim jeans and khaki colored boots.

There must have been a reason why we have to meet again today.

"It's you," The tears were clouding my vision. My first wish came true tonight.

"I'm sorry. Do I know you?" You asked with a puzzled look.
"It's you! Don't you even remember me?" I realized I was shaking your shoulders very hardly.

"No. I don't think I've seen you before," You shrugged.

I had read of many tales when I was younger.
In those tales, some meet their lost loved ones in a new light.
These people are reborn into the same world with a different name,
and have no memories of their past.

"What's your name then? I know someone like..." I looked up into his eyes – the color was still the same shade; except that the tear lines were all gone. He looked gloomy even without those lines.

So, are you one of them?

"Ulquiorra Schiffer," you replied before I even had the chance to finish my sentence.

No, apparently not.
"What a weird name," I giggled and pretended everything had blown over; yet those tears won't listen – they trickled down my cheeks.

"Are you okay, woman?" You had noticed my tears and rubbed them away with your right thumb. They felt a little warm on my cold cheeks. It was painful to hear you calling me "Woman"; because it would feel like three years had never passed at all.

I tried to correct you, "Inoue Orihime," I spoke softly.
Will you let me be a wilful child for today?
You made me cry, so you have to make it up.

For that, you have to learn how to pronounce my name.

"I see. Nice to meet you," You reached out the wet fingers and gestured to shake my hand.

"O-ri-hi-me," I pointed my index finger at my own face and mouthed the syllables one by one.

"I know," you sighed.

"Nice to meet you," You repeated the greeting.

I giggled at the way some things do not seem to change at all. The similarities were still there – those eyes, the skin color and the dark liquorice-colored nails.

"Nice to meet you too," I finally was able to feel your fingers; they were slender, long and faintly warm.

"By the way, woman," I saw you reaching out for a piece of paper in your pocket – it was light-blue and rectangular; and I gasped silently when you revealed it – the ticket to the fireworks event.

"Do you know how to get to this place?" You pointed to the words printed on the ticket and placed your right hand back into the pocket.

This man is almost you; he even has the same mannerisms.
You shall be my white lie tonight.

I pulled out my ticket and waved in front of you.
"I'm attending too," I could smile out properly now.
Now, where's that reply which I have grown very accustomed to?

"I see," I nodded silently.

"Shall we go together then?" You took a glance at my cheeks, your eyes shifted to the corner; then you took out that hand you hid under the pocket and gestured if I would like to take it.

"Let's go!" I held your warm hand and pulled you forward; causing you to stagger a few steps because I had yanked it too hard. As I apologized while we rushed to the venue together, I noticed you placed the other hand back into your pockets – you are really amusing.

Things that never came out from that frown, sounded like a prank to me right now.
I'm experiencing a very beautiful prank now – so don't wake me up and spoil the fun.

I took a peek at the sky with light bluish gray clouds and patches of purple; I closed my eyes and whispered, "Thank you,"

The festival for the Seventh of July was located along the grassy slopes, overlooking the lake and the brightly-lit bridge. The lights of the bridge would be slightly dimmed so that the fireworks could steal the entire limelight. Food and game stalls were lined up at the bicycle tracks so as to make the waiting time for the fireworks display seem shorter. Karakura Town would always celebrate the 7th of July – it's like a second Valentine's Day for lovers with a touch of Asian traditions – we call it Tanabata. The story of the forlorn lovers would be told on television every year – how they met, separated, reunited and have to separate again at the end of the day; such stories that suspended between hope and despair.

These people who celebrate this event; probably never understood how painful it must have been for the lovers.

The bicycle track that I had always travelled on my way to school was laid with colorful streamers and huge bamboo lanterns. Girls were dressed in individually-unique patterned yukatas, donning intricate hair accessories – everyone had wanted to look their best in front of their loved ones; the guys wore darker colored yukatas, and they held the hand of their girlfriends blissfully. Loud and joyous music filled the atmosphere; people were laughing and chatting excitedly about the grand show. The man whose hand I was now holding onto observed what had surrounded him with those melancholy eyes, as if he was taking silent photographs of the celebration. He had an expressionless and dazed look, as if the festive mood was unable to reach him; he did not even notice me staring at his chin from an angle.

"What is it?" His eyes shifted downwards.

"Nothing. It is just that you resemble my friend a lot," I remarked, while facing his side profile.

"I see," He looked away and kept his eyes on the crowds.

I forgot about that burning curiosity flame in you that never seem to have extinguished no matter how hard I used to cut the conversation.
"Where is he now?" He asked in a very nonchalant tone, his eyes glancing over at the lake.

"He's up there," I pointed to the night sky.

"He works in space?" You gave me a very serious look. I had tried so hard to control myself from laughing out.

"No, he became a star in the sky," I tried to be a little more obvious by wriggling my index finger to show that that person was already dead.

"Oh, in that case you should have pointed to the cemetery," That's right, you were that dense. It was so you not to apologize after saying such blunt remarks – well you don't even know that could hurt someone's feelings anyway; you don't have a heart, that's why.

Just as I was sighing out softly, you let go of my hand and bent down in front of a game stall; you looked up like a child who wanted a lollipop and asked "What's this?"

I bent down as well and pointed to the large glass tank, "Come over here. This is Kingyo Sukui" and I thought him the rules and how-to's of the game. It had brought back certain memories – the times where I explained the differences of our worlds to him.

"Can I have two nets?" I approached the shopkeeper.

"That would be 600 yen, child," The old man smiled as he handed the plastic nets to me. I gave one plastic net to my partner and placed my index finger to my lips.

"Keep very quiet and watch," I grinned at him – this game was my forte – I used to compete with Tatsuki-chan to see who gets the most goldfish when we were teenagers.

I swished the net as if it was a magic wand in front of that clueless young man.
"I'm showing you a magic trick. So be very enchanted by it, " I thought to myself.

"First, you have to dip the net into water to make it damp," I placed the paper netting on the surface of the water.

"Won't the net break faster that way?" Your eyes were following the plastic net I held onto.

"In fact, it lasts longer like this,"

"Strange," You commented quietly.

In a blink of an eye, I scooped up three goldfishes in two tries – two orange smaller ones and a white colored one. It was when I spotted the black goldfish. It swam very quickly even when it was slightly larger than the white one I just caught. Just when it was stationary on the paper netting, the net split apart and the goldfish broke free.

Your finger was following at the black goldfish and you sighed out, "It's too heavy for the net."

I should not just give up just like that,"I have to get it. Give me that net," I reached out for the net that you were twiddling with.

"Why?" You raised that hand of yours so as to keep the net out of reach from me.

"It looks a lot like you," I chuckled out without realizing I had blurted out accidentally, until a few seconds later. Indeed, those droopy eyes reminded me of something – but it was not you; not this guy beside me.

I became more confused as the goldfish swam past the both of us.
It had those dead panned eyes that resembled him...and you.

"I'll get it," He waved the net in the same fashion I had just did earlier.

"Well, you can always get the other goldfishes. The point of the game is just to scoop as much as you want, until the net breaks," I continued staring aimlessly at the water tank.

"It's okay, I'll get it," By the time I was looking at his side profile, he was already gazing at the water surface; as if he was applying some kind of psychological tactic onto the goldfishes.

You won't know how elated I was when you insisted on getting it.

It was equally as entertaining observing how you kept following the goldfish with your expressionless irises.
I would see the frown whenever the goldfish swam in a different direction you had predicted.

Were you offended because I said you looked like a fish?

In fact, you just wanted to scoop it out and kill it, didn't you?

That man was excellent, to the extent the shopkeeper stared in amazement as he dipped the semi-translucent net into the surface of the water. He maintained steadiness when he spotted the black goldfish swimming towards him; and scooped it into the girl's pail in a blink of an eye – he could even predict which direction the goldfish would be swimming next. As the fish now swam peacefully in circles within the pail, he seemed to be thinking of something.

"Are there similarities?" You looked up and stared into my eyes. I nodded twice.

"This fish is black in color. I'm not. This fish is horizontally long. I'm not. So what are the similarities?"
I could not even provide with him an explanation justifiable with proof. He would definitely not accept an answer that went around like "I feel it looks like you and that's that".

"It doesn't matter," he concluded and handed over the pail to the shopkeeper where he transferred the fishes into a oxygen-inflated plastic bag.

"Why did you want to catch that fish?" I stood up, with the bag of fishes hanging around my wrist.

"No particular reason," You shrugged and walked off.

Say words that I really want to hear, will you?

"Don't lie," I muttered.
You lifted your left hand and pushed your fringe upwards.

"Because..." you sighed out.

You wanted to kill the fish?

"You smiled differently when you mentioned that goldfish."

Those were words I really wanted to hear.
I consoled myself – this is just a very sweet dream that I'm having for a day.

"Where to?" You looked over to your side, as if signalling me to walk over by your side.

"That way! It's starting soon!" This time you took my hand and followed my directions as we searched for a good spot to appreciate the fireworks display. The organizers of the event provided us with straw mats so that we would not stain our clothing when we sit on the wet grassy fields.

"What are fireworks?" You studied the blue ticket on your hand.

"Stars that explode into a thousand colors into the sky," I directed your attention towards the deep ultramarine sky.

"Stars don't explode under such circumstances,"
I almost forgot this side of you – your stand on what you believed in.

An awkward silence filled the two of us.
"You know the story behind this Tanabata festival?" I tried to keep our conversation going.

"No," You leaned backwards, using your elbows to support your weight as you kept your eyes fixed on the sky.

"I'm not Japanese, remember?" You prompted me to elaborate more on the festival. I did not leave out a single detail, I went on talking about the two lovers; how much they had relied on the weather to meet every year.

"If it rains, then the magpies won't come to form the bridge..."

"What would happen?" You appeared to be very interested in this story.

"The lovers will meet; wishes made by us would come true,"

"It looks like it will rain today," His words came to me like a pail of cold water.

"The weather forecast for tonight is clear!" I retorted.

"The clouds over there, they are piling up at the corner. It will rain," You pointed at the eastern side of Karakura Town.

"What happens when it rains?" You seemed concerned about the change in weather.

"Wishes don't come true," I fiddled my fingers with the grass blades that stuck out of the mat.

"Things like wishes...they are just mere coincidences," Your eyes shifted onto me.

"Wishes, they don't exist at all," That was your forte isn't it? Denying existences in this world solely because you can't determine them with your own eyes.

I kept quiet for I knew that was a very difficult topic to start arguing with. If that man sitting beside me right now is really you, I'm sure I would be listening to your one-liners on why you think wishes do not exist. I already have one wish granted by the heavens today; it may or may not be a coincidence – but does it even matter at all?

The skies exploded into colors of yellow, blue and red in a simultaneous manner, shattering the awkward silence that had engulfed the two of us. The lights come on first, and then sounds like the sky is splitting could be heard. While everyone seemed to be enjoying the fireworks, I could not bring myself to smile at these colored sparkling flowers.

"These are fireworks?" You clarified with me.

"That's right,"

"You don't seem to be happy about them,"

"Because, this way, the lovers don't get to meet,"

"Why so?"

"The sound of the fireworks would scare all the magpies away,"

These flowers that shimmer in the sky; they are just selfish things we invent to keep ourselves smiling. I hadn't exactly paid attention to what you had said; but it seemed to me like an uninterested response towards that what-seemed nonsensical sentence. That was when I began to take a longer glance at your face. As of now, the fireworks had appeared to be rather meaningless too.

I may see the world in a strange way.
It may sound like a foolish remark.
What if there were lovers who really waited for the magpie bridge to meet one another?

I don't rule out possibilities like you do,
or coincidences like the way you would put it.

When the audience began to let out a disappointed sigh in unison, I knew the fireworks display had ended. My encounter with you would be ending soon as well.

You are just a temporary existence, because of the wish I made.
If I do not leave you now, I will turn into someone addicted to you.
"Thank you so much for today," I bowed in gratitude and turned away.

Footsteps followed me in the same speed I was walking.
It picked up speed as I began to walk slightly faster.
When it began to run, I had insufficient time to react – my wrist got pulled back,
by his right hand.

You never did such things before.
It's just a prank set up by Kurosaki-kun right?

"Why are you crying?" You asked with an aloof look, like you were asking that question without actually being concerned at all. It felt like another memory being pulled out of my heart and forced to playback right in front of my eyes – I had used to ask why there were tear lines under your eyes, in the same fashion like how you were questioning now. It's tormenting.

"It's nothing," I tried to shake his hand away, but he had held onto it quite tightly.

"Why won't you let go?" I raised my voice and more tears fell out.

"Why are you crying again?" Your eyes narrowed a little.

I looked away and replied softly, "For I'm a very foolish person."

The hand that I had been holding onto felt colder than before.
"It doesn't make sense," You commented bluntly.

Why did I end up wishing for your return for three consecutive years anyway?

I had realized my other hand had been all clenched up.

There's nothing to lose right now, Orihime.
It's your chance to punish him!

"For liking someone so much that when he does unexpected things like this, I can't stop my tears from falling out!" I closed my eyes and shouted out those words; knowing that my listener would take some time to digest what I was saying.

"That someone..." I could see that you were extremely confused.

"He's you," I looked away once more. I wasn't sure if I should even tell him that – for the guy that left a scar inside me had fluttered away from me in the form of dust particles. Yet, it doesn't matter anymore – I'm more than contented to have met a guy that was eighty percent close.

"Why aren't you rebutting?" It did not feel right that he took so long to conjure up a rejection reply.

"I don't know," You shrugged and tilted your head slightly to the left. The frown on your face drooped a little more.

"Girls don't usually confess first, you know," I could not believe those strong feelings had not got into this person – not even a single bit!

"I feel weird now," You breathed out those words quietly as your eyes cringed in pain. Were you disappearing?

"Where?" I was fearing the possibility that this would be our goodbye.

The hand that had gripped mine throughout the evening was exerting more force than usual; I had no strength to fight back that sudden movement he made as he pulled me closer towards him – I landed up bumping against his inner shirt.

"Here," You spoke indifferently, as if nothing had happened previously.

I was shaking for it was my first time getting so close to this man, that I was approximately a finger's distance away from his chest. As he pushed my head onto his chest, I thought what I heard next was just a made-up illusion. That palpitating sound that came from inside him was powerful enough for me to drench his shirt in tears.

"You stopped just now. Then why are you crying again?" Your frown was much better now – I could take that as a smile, can I ?

Can you believe it? Two wishes came true today!

There must be a reason why we should not leave one another anymore.

"You just proved to me that wishes aren't coincidences," I smiled as the remaining teardrops trickled down those flushing cheeks. That's how his heartbeat had sounded, monotonous yet calming to the ears; like the way he had always been to me.

It didn't matter to me anymore, even if he was no longer the same man where we had shared those memories. We can always start anew, and create more sparkling memories.

"Asters," you remarked out of the blue. As I looked up in curiosity, you tried to look away by staring far at the silhouettes of the trees.

"You told me a story, so let me tell you a made-up tale about stars as well," you continued.

The man talked about the flower, that it was placed on the graves on soldiers to signify the wish that things could have turned out differently. The shape of the flower took the form of a star, and people believed these flowers originated from a goddess; who dwell in the sky as the Virgo star. She pitied the humans who had underwent a huge flood created by Zeus and her tears fell onto Earth, forming the flower.

"Why am I saying so much?" You muttered.

You have no idea what the existence of "that" would do.
It works wonders.

"I don't know," I imitated his movements by shrugging my shoulders and studied his reactions before I broke out into a soft laughter.

"Why do you know so much about asters?" I was too keen to know why he would know a story like that.

"I had wanted to give someone that," I could even see your eyes shifting to the side, then the line of vision would focus on the floor.

No way. It can't be.

I turned around and shook his shoulders hard.
"Do you remember who?"

"No," You replied with a straight face.

I had once heard from Rukia-chan that there were many ways to convey a message.
Sometimes, spoken words alone would not be sufficient to complete the job. I touched both of his pale cheeks with my bare hands and stared into his green eyes. When you touch that person, he gets the message clearer for his heart receives it before his brain does. Rukia-chan would chuckle and remark, "It works even for the most ambiguous signals."

"But..." The slender-built man panicked for a split second.

You see, when you have a real heart, it reaches so much faster.
"You had the same scent... So I thought I had already passed them to you,"

Those flowers that you left it back at Hueco Mundo,
are they still blooming beautifully right now?

You probably held them so tightly in your hands that the scent lingered on even after your departure.
How could you even know the real meaning of those flowers?
You silly boy; you just hadn't realize "that" then.
That's right, the reason must be...the existence of that.

The shiny existence of the tiny little star forming inside you.
The gradual longing I have for your presence – our interconnected hearts.

Droplets of water fell onto the ground as I remained astonished at the last sentence.
"I told you it would rain today," You gave me a contented look and unbuttoned your collared shirt - your Hollow hole was filled up with pale skin.

"I...I have a foldable umbrella!" I snapped out of my daze and reached out for the umbrella inside my bag. It had always been my childhood dream to share a umbrella with a guy when it rains.

"Nah. I can always use Sonido...or something like that, fool," You bent over and took a glance at me.

"You...!"

Walking under a same umbrella? Not going to happen, it seems.

It just occurred to me that he was playing pranks on me the entire time.
That's really unfair, Ulquiorra-san!

yu-pon's note:
Iyaaa -- it's been a long time!!
Today, I'm here with an entry~
Just when I thought I won't be able to complete this story; I filled up the last few parts at work - like scribbling down on paper and then typing work-related emails on the keyboard.

I joined the competition with the sole intention of having fun (gets beaten up)
Happy Tanabata~!!
It's told from Orihime's point of view.
At times she describes the man in front of her in a second-person approach, sometimes third-person~
that's inconsistency on her(and my) part XDD oops~ =DDD
she was confused who this guy was in front of her that's all.

Tanabata is a festival in Japan -- on the 7th of July~
when there's a festival over in Japan; it would be accompanied with game and food stalls; most of the times, a mini firework display too~
That's why I had the couple play Kingyo Sukui (the goldfish-scooping game) and watch the fireworks.
Karakura Town is a small town; so let's keep the fireworks a little less grand than the ones we usually catch on TV haha.

till we see one another again! thank you so much for the reviews!!
i might not have the time anymore to reply to everyone but still thank you!! (^_^)o
yu-pon deshita!