Inspired by "Orange", the 15th ending to Bleach, I send you this little song fic! I also put up a version of this on my tumblr, also known as Exotos135, but the lyrics are a bit different there. Also, it doesn't have accompanying imagery to make the symbolism more painfully clear, so there's that.

Anyway, let's move on, and remember to read and review!


In the middle of Lori and Leni's bedroom, Lori was checking something out on her computer, the screen's light glaring back at her as she opened her emails. It was very late at night, probably around 11, and her sister, Leni, was already fast asleep, and yet Lori continued to check her emails.

I'm staying up all night long,

Checking out every single email.

For each email she checked, Lori's already exhausted neutral look slowly grew more and more worried and terrified. She even looked like she was about to cry at one point!

They're filled with much hatred that,

It feels like my own personal hell.

After checking all emails, Lori turned the computer off and caught her breath as she clutched her chest... Then wiped off the tears on her cheeks. However, she gave the tears in her palms a longing look before she went to sleep.

And yet once I finish,

And decide I gotta go to bed.

However, despite having her own bed, the instant she sees Leni has a spot left in her bed, she quickly takes it and hugs her sister, who unknowingly hugs back.

I can't help but sometimes,

Wish that this negativity was dead...

Next day, Lori walked alongside the sidewalks, and though she forced a smile and greeted everybody she came across with a cheerful mask, if one were to look at the mirrors, they would see the reflection showed Lori's true self: A crying girl.

Smiling outside, yet crying inside,

That describes my mood,

Then she stopped and looked at a couple kids playing, which made a memory of her and Leni playing flash. However, that image was soon replaced by Lana and Lola doing the exact same thing they did, followed by Luna and Luan, Lynn and Lucy, and the other remaining pairs doing things both Lori and Leni did when they were younger.

'Cause I can't help but feel,

All my efforts will,

Be rendered moot.

And so, she walked forth, looking at the ground somberly.

Crying inside, yet smiling outside,

For how long must that be?

She sat down next to a cantina, drinking a soda as she watched people pass her by. All these people shared one thing in common: They felt genuine. A feeling that Lori lost a long time ago.

Before I can,

Act just like I was,

The real me?

Suddenly, a bus appeared next to the cantina, and Lori caught a particular glimpse to a shadowy figure.

And as I rest and take a look,

At all the things I could be,

I see nearby, in a bus,

Someone who looks just like me!

Lori spat out her drink as the lyrics basically described what she did next.

Once I see them,

All I can say is "No way!"

Before I see them leave,

And before I know,

I give chase!

As the song continued, the teenager ran and called as loud as she could in hopes of catching the figure's, or even better, the bus driver's, attention.

Smiling outside, yet crying inside,

As I chase after,

Luckily, she managed to catch up to the vehicle when it stopped in a nearby bus stop. This gave Lori the chance to enter the bus and head to the shadowy figure she saw...

What could be,

My only chance,

To truly start moving on!

However, she got a nasty surprise when the figure turned out to be Carol Pingrey, who was eating an orange while looking through the window. However, while Carol reacted with surprise and happiness at seeing Lori, the teenager was less than impressed, as her ensuing glare proved.

Smiling outside, and crying inside,

The road will be long,

Regardless, Carol offered Lori to sit down with her, and once the bus started moving, the young adult begrudgingly accepted and sat down, upon which Carol offered her part of her orange. Lori accepted that too, though she hesitated before taking a bite out of it... And liking the taste of it. She then turned around and, alongside Carol, watched the sunset.

But until then,

I'll watch in awe,

The setting sun!

Finally, Carol gave Lori a reassuring look, which the teenager returned... Alongside a blush. And then the duo engaged in a hug.