Chapter 1: Once the battle is over
The Quincy War. It killed many and broke even more, but so many more lives would have been lost if one young woman by the name Orihime Inoue hadn't set pushed through and healed all who she could. Now she sat waiting anxiously to see if her healing was in time at the foot of a bed in fourth division housing Lieutenant Izuru Kira. Though she didn't know him well she feels compelled to wait for him to awaken. She sighed as thought back to the stubborn struggle he'd put up in refusal of being healed but thanks to Shuuhei Hisagi and Rangiku Matsumoto holding him still Orihime was able to heal him despite his protests.
When she'd completed healing Kira her next patients had been Captains Kensei Mugurama and Rojuro Otoribashi, though while she attended to their 'zombie' state, as it was called, she felt eyes on her the whole time.
Kensei Mugurama didn't seem to be waking up any time soon, but Orihime wasn't too worried about it. Toshiro slept through his healing waking up about an hour prior to her arrival to Kira's room. Rangiku awoke automatically the day before when she'd been healed and dragged Orihime to tend to Hisagi. When she was looking down she noticed the kind visored Captain Otoribashi awake and looking at her.
"Orihime-chan, hello again. I believe I owe you thanks for saying my life?" He whispered softly.
Orihime giggled softly shaking her head, "Of course you don't. You know me Otoribashi-taicho that I am happy to do it."
Rose chuckled lightly, "I know you are a kind young woman who will drop everything for her friends. So, since I know you that well feel free to call me Rose." Orihime smiled at the offer, nodding slowly as she agreed, "Okay Rose-kun, you are all finished." Turning her attention to the silver haired captain across the way she murmured, I don't know why Mugurama-kun won't wake up. Toshiro had multiple wounds so, I understand him taking a while. But-" her musing were cut off by a laugh from Rose.
Returning her attention to him she smiled as he explained, "He is faking it to hide from Mashino. She drives him nuts. But no matter how much he says he doesn't enjoy the attention, he does."
Orihime giggled then noticed Rose's attention was now behind her looking at something across the room. Turning around she found Lieutenant Kira looking at her. Again she heard the man behind her laugh but maintained her gaze on Kira as Rose chided, "My lieutenant apparently struggles with how to speak to a beautiful woman. Though given what happened to him and his heartbreak I can understand his reservations I guess. I just wish I knew how to help him but who really knows how to help fix a broken heart?"
Orihime looked down keeping her sadness inside before once more turning back to the prone captain offering a light smile, "If you like I can talk to him, I mean if you think it would help?"
Rose sat up slowly, his smile increasing and nodded, "Who knows? No hurt in trying is there?"
Orihime simply nodded and walked over to Kira's bed stopping at the foot of it to bow respectfully. As she stood she asked, "Lieutenant Kira, may I sit here and speak with you a moment? Unless, of course, you wish to be alone?"
Momentarily stunned that she would even want to sit with him Kira looked back her to find Rose nodding at him. Trailing his eyes around the room he took in the sight of his fellow patients, noticing that Rangiku and Shuuhei had left, most likely to pick up food for themselves as well as their captains. Knowing the two of them they most likely planned to get him something as well though he'd not asked it of them. Bringing himself out of his haze he nodded slowly, "Yes of course Inoue-san you can sit."
Shifting to the left slightly to give her more room she asked as she took her seat, "What did you wish to talk about Inoue-san?"
Orihime smiled timidly at him. "I don't think we've ever really talked that much have we? I mean, other than just in passing of course."
Kira simply shook his head not sure how to proceed. Orihime looked down at the floor also unsure what to do or say. Scratching arm she sighed, unable to meet his gaze again from embarrassment. She'd come to try to comfort him and she ended up tongue tied!
Noticing the faraway look in her eyes Kira said softly, "Thank you for healing me Inoue-chan. I know I didn't make it easy for you but I appreciate you pushing through to do it anyway. When Captain Kurotuschi told me that I couldn't be healed I just gave up especially after Momo came to see me. It just felt like…like I had nothing more to live for so why have you waste your time and energy on me?"
The healer still couldn't meet his eyes but nodded her understanding whispering almost more to herself that to him, "You felt at a loss. I feel at a loss. How do you deal with the one person you love most, loving another? How do you deal with it when you didn't even get the chance to tell him? I mean he.. her. I don't get it. I just don't."
Despite her efforts to hold them back Orihime felt tears spring to her eyes and begin trailing down her cheeks. On impulse Kira sat up quickly and before he knew it found his arms full of the beautiful healer. At a loss of what to do next his head shot up upon hearing a gasp from Rangiku. "Of course they would show up now !" he thought sending a withering look to Shuuhei who'd flung him a thumbs up when he saw what was going on.
Rangiku had begun to move forward but Kira shook his head slightly and for once she took a hint, leaving the food on a small table by his medical bed before making her way back to Hisagi to join him next to his and Kira's captains.
Moving carefully Kira gently lifted Orihime's head and asked, "What's this about Inoue-san?"
She pulled back, trying to dry her eyes quickly her voice shaky with emotion as she replied, "I just… I came over to tell you just that I understand how you feel but instead you're comforting me. I'm such a fool."
The lieutenant shook his head, a slight smile now present. Reaching up he brushed away the rest of her tears before looking into her sorrow filled eyes, "You are many things but a fool is not one of them. From what I've seen you are sweet, kind, and smart. Though maybe a bit naïve at times." She smiled slightly at his gentle teasing. He asked again, "Won't you please tell me why you're crying?"
She sighed, working hard to not cry again, as she replied, "Earlier I was talking about Ichigo. He and Neliel-chan are together now which given how beautiful she is I can understand. But I had been planning to confess my feelings for him when we got back home but…before I got the chance they kissed after I finished healing him. It was…" she trailed off, unsure how to describe the turmoil she'd felt in that moment.
Taking a deep breath Kira offered with just as much brokenness in his tone, "Disturbing? Depressing? Eye opening?" She nodded, thankful to have found someone who truly understood how she felt.
Deciding to take both their minds off their unrequited loves Kira smiled and asked, "Are you hungry Inoue-san?" Looking at his face Orihime was surprised by her thoughts, "Kira-kun has a handsome smile, it's a shame he shares it so rarely." Shaking her head of such notions she nodded, "Yes, very, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon, just been focused on healing as much as I could."
Looking at the food Rangiku brought him Kira reached for the tray to set it between them keeping the smile on his face when he noticed Orihime's countenance perk up, "I'm not very hungry so, if you'd like, we can share. You need to keep your strength up, we can't have the best healer in the living world and Soul Society falling ill now, can we?"
Orihime blushed picking up a piece of bread as she replied sheepishly, "I guess not."
Kira watched as she nibbled on the bread before moving his gaze back to her eyes. "She has such beautiful eyes, they are truly windows to her soul." Then he shook his head, berating himself for how stupid he sounds in his own head. However, as they sat in silence enjoying their share meal, neither realized they were under observation by two captains and two lieutenants. Rangiku smiled at Shuuhei who looked at his captain but Kensei just shrugged, unclear what was going on, though Rose met his eyes to both lieutenants in understanding. At that moment Rangiku began formulating her plan.
