In the six months that had passed since the war ended, she had tried to get on with her life. To let go. To forget. But there had been that small part of her that had refused to believe it was over, that he was gone forever. That it was her fault. Longing seemed to be the only emotion she was capable of, and gradually that faded too, until all that was left of her was a shell, a mannequin with her face.
So she lay alone. Home in the dark. Eyes wide open and but never really seeing.
At first the knock didn't startle her. Tatsuki came to check on her even more than before now. She had a right to be worried, Inoue conceived.
But that was when the knock came again, softer, weaker than before. An irregular knock.
Now she was on guard. Tatsuki- and well, everyone who knew her- knew she was home. She was always home it seemed. Why would the knock have come twice?
"Tsubaki," she whispered, as she approached the door. The fairy landed on her shoulder, apparently as on edge as she was. She gave him a meaningful stare and, pressing a finger to her lips, turned the doorknob with her other hand.
And that's when she stopped dead.
"I'm- so sorry."
A raven haired boy stood in front of her, wearing what looked like the remains of a white cloak. The same cloak. He was covered head to foot in deep cuts and bruises. One of the lenses in his glasses has been smashed, and the same eye was black and swollen. She didn't say anything. She couldn't.
"But this- only- safe- place."
Her breathing grew heavier, and a tiny cry escaped from her throat.
"Oi, what are you freezing up for?" Tsubaki hissed in her ear, "Guy needs help doesn't he?"
"Inoue-san, are you oka- ?" The boy in front of her collapsed into a fit of coughing, and had to grip the railings for balance.
"Ishida…-kun?" Her eyes were wide. "It- it's you! But how-" She shook herself. Answers could wait. She moved to support him, putting his arm over her shoulder. She could tell he was barely conscious, his breath raspy. He was light. Worryingly so.
She lay him on her sofa and instinctively reached for her hair clips.
Even in his current state, Ishida managed to grab her arm before she could call out her fairies.
"Can't- do- that-" he managed, "They'll find- you, they- track- reiatsu." His voice was quiet, little more than a whisper.
"Please, you have to stop talking. Don't put any strain on yourself, I'll find something just- Hold on a little longer okay?" Inoue grimaced. His reiatsu was incredibly weak, but if what he said about them tracking reiatsu was true, then that could be deliberate, she supposed. She hoped.
Inoue placed a hand to his forehead and almost recoiled in shock. He was burning up.
She chewed her lip in thought, pushing the hair away his eyes absentmindedly. Did she even keep medicine? She entertained the idea of calling Kurosaki, but decided against it. If she asked him for pills he'd immediately get the wrong idea. She knew she didn't have enough time to go out and buy some, so she'd have to do without.
She gave his hand one final squeeze before hurrying to her kitchen and waiting for the water to run cold.
The boy stared at her from the sofa, only one eye half open. Even from here, he could see her pained expression. He silently cursed himself for being so selfish. For not telling her before that he was still alive. If she thought I was dead, she probably blames herself, if I die here then it's a definite, he thought. She's right though, I can't speak. Don't suppose her fairies can read minds can they?
Inoue returned with soaking towels and kneeling down beside him, she folded one and placed it over his forehead.
"You can sleep, if you want, Ishida-kun. You don't need to explain right now. It's ok, I- I'm just-" She looked away. She could feel herself tearing up, "I'm so glad you're… alive."
Author's Note: This is probably gonna be an ongoing series just so you know