When was it that she first came to him?
Was it during the seemingly endless war when her all thoughts and memories were of fighting? Was it when the killings in the battlefield had become so monstrous that even Orihime couldn't do anything for the desecrated bodies of the fallen? Or when the death toll had piled so high that even Death gods, feared dying?
Whenever she would take her Shode no Shirayuki in her hands she would ask herself
Is this the last time I am holding my sword?
Whenever she would go into battle she would ask herself
What if this is the last time? What if this time I won't be coming back?
Whenever she would return she would be happy that she had made it this time, but a voice in her mind would sinisterly whisper to her
Yes, but next time you won't be so lucky…and then I'll take you.
Why was it that she first came to him?
She didn't really know. She had returned from battle, her body totally numb from her wounds and even more from the wounds in her soul. As always, Orihime took care of the flesh wounds, but to heal the soul was beyond her powers.
She came to him almost unconsciously that night, looking for a way to stop the dark thoughts that took over her mind and heart. Looking for a way to stop thinking about tomorrow. To feel alive again, even if only for a few precious moments.
He gave her those precious moments. He didn't ask questions when she came and lay beside him. He didn't ask any questions when she took off his clothes. He knew what was in her heart and did his best to help her forget.
Every time he held her, he wanted to tell her he loved her, that he had loved her for so long but he didn't want to place more burden on her. It didn't seem right. He would just hold her and make love to her like he had always wanted.
Every time he held her, she wanted to ask him why he had let her go. But she didn't want to burden him with that. Instead, she would just hold him and make love to him like she had always wanted.
But sometimes she could still hear the sinister whisper in the dark and it would tell her
I will take him too, you know. You waited too long.
As if trying to save him from the cold hands that reached for him in the dark, she would hold him even tighter. She would pull him closer until she could feel his heart racing next to hers. They would fight away the dark together… even if it was only for those few precious moments they still had.