Confession The Color Of White
"Ishida-kun!" Orihime screamed. The Quincy had fallen, blood coating his stump where his hand used to be. What had caused her to scream was the black hole in Ishida-kun's chest. Orihime had faltered, thinking vividly of the time when Kurosaki-kun had the same wound. Only her screams had brought him back. "If you do this, that means you are no longer human! You hear me, Kurosaki?" Orihime had held her breath, aware of the screams clawing at her throat as Kurosaki-kun attempted to kill. His beautiful face no longer reminding Inoue-san why she loved him so much. He had become a monster, another Hollow, and Ishida-kun had tried to stop him.
The cero Kurosaki-kun had been aiming at Ulquorria embedded itself in Ishida-kun's chest. The Quincy appeared beyond stunned, his face blank as his chest had a gaping black hole. Orihime screamed for him. She found herself running, heedless of danger. Heedless of Kurosaki-kun. Ishida-kun! Orihime thought as she ran to reach him. She found him lying on the ground, breathing fiery gasps as he tried to breathe. "Ishida-kun!" Orihime shouted. She took his remaining hands in his and swallowed the guilt burning inside her. "Ishida-kun, don't worry!" Please… she thought desperately. Don't fail. "I can –" Orihime's tears faltered as she saw Ishida-kun shake his head.
"It is too late, Inoue-san." Orihime's stunned face stared at his own. Resigned. Calm. "You should…focus your energies on something else."
No... Orihime thought. No…please…no… "Don't say that, Ishida-kun!" Orihime stated as her voice cracked, her hands tight as she looked down at the Quincy who was staring at her sadly. "I can heal you! This time," she sobbed, "I can…"
"Inoue-san." Orihime's breathe faltered when she saw Ishida-kun's face. He looked…as if she was the one dying. Helpless for him to save her. "I'm sorry…but I have a…confession to make."
"What is it?" Orihime rasped as tears continued to pour down her face. "What is it, Ishi –" The orange-girl's breath hitched, tears marring her vision as she stared at the young man before her. Dying… "What is it, Uryū?" she breathed. The agony in his eyes would not fade, and Orihime inwardly berated herself. If I hadn't asked him…he wouldn't have…none of this would have happened….
"Anata o aishiteru."
"Huh?" Orihime rasped, her eyes searching the dying Quincy's but found nothing to suggest that his pain had impaired his mind. He's…telling the truth… Orihime's eyes widened, her expression filled with guilt as she started to sob.
"I thought…you wouldn't believe me…" Uryū stated with a smile. His gaze seemed peaceful. "Orihime…" he whispered. Orihime inwardly panicked as his reiatsu started to lower, so low as she grasped his hand in his that she could barely feel it. He spoke her name similar to a prayer, and he continued to whisper her name as her tears fell on his face.
"Orihime o…aishiteru…"
Suddenly he stilled. Orihime stared into his eyes, tears rolling down her face as she looked into his open dead eyes. Uryū… she thought. Uryū…!
"Inoue?" Orihime froze at the sound of Kurosaki-kun's voice. "Inoue?" Orihime didn't respond. Her breath seemed to have been taken from her, her eyes drying as the emptiness came. "Ulquorria's dead. His body became ashes, and I…"
Orihime couldn't hear him. She could only hear the sound of her dead heart.
Anata o aishiteru - I love you.
Orihime o aishiteru - Orihime, I love you.