Hey kids, welcome to my third fanfic, featuring the characters of Bleach! This story is rated M for language and sexual content later on. Please, read&review!
Disclaimer: Bleach and it's characters are unfortunately owned by Tite Kubo. Fortunately, I do own this story.
The Original Love
Chapter 1: The Shock
Ichigo Kurosaki stared blankly at the dark ceiling. His alarm buzzed loudly, telling him it was 7 o'clock and he was supposed to get his lazy ass out of bed. But Ichigo wouldn't't move. His eyes were strangely transfixed with the ceiling. He was zoning out, oblivious to his buzzing clock.
Every morning was like this. He could never sleep at night anymore. Not since that day, the day which will haunt him in his memories. It wasn't that he couldn't't sleep, but he was afraid to. For every time he closed his eyes, he would dream of her. That day she turned and left. Ever since then he'd lay and stare to the ceiling, as if it held the answers to all his problems. As the alarm clock buzzed on, Ichigo tried to will his body to move, but it didn't seem to follow is command. He sighed and ran a hand through his orange hair.
"ICHIGO! GODDAMMIT TURN IT OFF!" screamed a voice that pierced through Ichigo's mind. Ichigo snapped back to reality and slapped his alarm clock off. "Sorry Kon." he grumbled, and hauled himself out of bed.
Kon crawled crawled out from Ichigo's bed as a small stuffed animal. "Honestly, every damn morning is the same thing. Why can't you get over yourself?" he complained. All Ichigo did was grunt in reply and walk out of his room. Kon sighed in defeat and sat in the middle of the floor. "It's been two years and he still hasn't recovered..." Kon said to himself.
Ichigo dragged himself into the bathroom to wash up. He turned on the cold water and splashed it in his face to wake up. He looked up at his reflection in the mirror and found he couldn't recognized himself. To anyone else, the 21-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki still looked like his 15-year-old self. Ichigo stood up straight and examined himself in the mirror. He had grown to about 6 feet, and his body had become more toned and muscular. His torso still had slight traces of scars from his various battles as a Soul Reaper. His spiky orange hair had grown a bit, but still remained in its short style. His face however, had become strained through the years. Ichigo sighed and splashed more water in his face. He hadn't shaved in a few days, and traces of scruffy facial hair began to grow. But the most disturbing aspect of his appearance was his eyes. Dark circles had formed from the lack of sleep. They looked like the eyes of a tired old man.
Ichigo turned from his reflection and left the bathroom. Downstairs Yuzu had breakfast already prepared. It was Saturday, so Yuzu always made pancakes for everyone. Karin and Isshin were wolfing down their food. Ichigo took his seat next to Isshin. Yuzu came over and dumped a plate of pancakes in front of him. Ichigo gave a small smile, but deep inside he wasn't really hungry.
Isshin was the first to finish. He stood up, slamming his hands on this table proudly and startling everyone else. "Let's go! We have lives to save!" Isshin announced. Karin finished next and stood up. "I got practice." she said, and hurried off upstairs. Ichigo ignored his father and continued picking at his food.
"Hold on old man. I just got here." Ichigo grumbled, and took a bite. Isshin shook his head. "Does it look like I care Ichigo? A sick person won't care if you haven't finished your breakfast, which you barely started anyway." Yuzu looked over and frowned.
Ichigo rolled his eyes and sighed. "Thanks Yuzu," he mumbled and left to change. "You have 5 minutes!" Isshin called, and was a replied back with a "Shut up!" from Ichigo. Yuzu pouted as she collected all the plates.
After graduating high school, Ichigo went to a local college to study medicine like his father. He was no where near done with his studies, but he worked part-time at the family hospital. Of course, he still maintained his job as a Soul Reaper as well. It was a satisfactory life for him, and nothing more.
The hospital work was slow at first, but around noon there was a bus accident so things got more hectic. About 10 people were injured, two of them being in serious condition. Ichigo, working quickly as he could, managed to care for those with minor injuries and released them. Then he helped his father with the more critical patients. By 6 everything was under control, and Ichigo was thankful that all the hard work was done. He felt so exhausted and slumped against a wall. Isshin walked over, exhausted himself. He gave Ichigo a clap on the shoulder. "Well done." he said. Ichigo nodded, giving his father a small smile. Isshin turned and walked away. "You can go now. You look like you're about to pass out." He waved.
Grateful that he could leave, Ichigo forgot about his fatigue and hurried out. He decided to go out to eat, since he didn't eat much anyway today. Problem was he wasn't in the mood for anything, so he just wandered around town, occasionally checking out stores. He settled for ramen in a small shop and sat by himself, munching on his noodles. He looked absentmindedly at the window when something caught his eye. At first he thought maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him, maybe he need glasses. But it was no trick.
It was Orihime.
Ichigo hadn't seen her in years since that day. She stood on a street corner, looking like she was impatiently waiting for something. She didn't change one bit. Her hair was still its gorgeous length, but now it looked slightly curled. She wore a pink sun dress that complimented her figure very well. Ichigo blinked and shook his head. Orihime still stood there. His eyes registered it was her, but his mind could not. Was it really her? He swallowed hard. He didn't want to believe it, but he did. Ichigo slowly stood up, but hesitated. Should he say hello? She was still standing there, looking around. His feet began to walk as if they had a mind of their own. They led him out of the shop, across the street, and a few feet away from her. It isn't her. It can't be, he thought. He stepped closer. He wanted to say her name, but it felt as thought he voice wasn't there so the words couldn't come. Orihime...
She turned around and saw him. Ichigo froze. Their eyes met, and at that moment Ichigo knew. A look of recognition shot up in her face, and she smiled. "Ichigo Kurosaki? Is it really you?" she asked. He nodded and cleared his throat. "Hi. Orihime." Her name sounded so foreign on his lips. She gave a squeal and jumped into his arms. "I knew it! How are you?"
Ichigo was taken aback. He gave her a stiff hug and pulled away. Touching her sent an electric shock through his body. She smiled at him. "I'm-I'm pretty good." I miss you. "How are you?" he asked.
"I'm wonderful." she said. They looked at each other for awhile. The awkward silence was killing him. "So, um, what have you been up to?" he asked. She shrugged. "Not much really. I've finished my studies so now I'm back. Are you still in Med school?" Ichigo nodded. She smiled even bigger. "That's great! I know you'll make a great doctor." He smiled at her, but before he could respond, someone else called her name.
"Orihime! There you are!" A very tall man ran up and took Orihime in his embrace. Orihime squealed in joy and they kissed. Ichigo felt himself tense up very quickly. They pulled apart and laughed. "Kenny, I want you to meet a friend of mine. This is Ichigo Kurosaki. Ichigo, this is Kenny Watsuki, my fiancee." Orihime said. The man smiled and offered him hand. Ichigo politely shook it. "Nice to meet you, Ichigo. I've heard a little bit about you." he said with a big grin. Ichigo nodded. The man looked to be older than Orihime. He had very dark brown hair and green eyes. He looked to be some sort of businessman.
"We better get going if we want to get the restaurant. I've made reservations." Kenny said. Orihime nodded excitedly and gave Ichigo another quick hug. "It was so nice seeing you. Maybe we can meet up sometime to catch up." she said, a tinge of hope in her voice. Ichigo nodded again, and managed to say "Sure." Kenny gave Ichigo a nod. "Nice meeting you." Ichigo nodded again, and the couple turned away.
The walk home felt like it took forever. So many thing were going in Ichigo's head. Fiancee. She had a fiancee. Every time he played that moment in his head, it made him more and more sick. It was like a punch in the face. Where did she go and find a guy like that? He looked so fake and pretentious. What was she doing with him?
This is Kenny Watsuki, my fiancee.
Ichigo reached his house. He didn't remember entering the house and going to his room. He found himself laying down on his bed. My fiancee. Ichigo felt sick. He hadn't seen her since that day. Since that day she found a better life. Became even more happier. Got engaged. And what did he do? He wallowed in his own misery. He couldn't move on. Apparently she could. He tried so hard to fight those memories, but seeing her today opened the door that he tried to lock, and now the flood came. Those memories, the good and the bad came back to him like an onslaught. He tossed and turned, his body shaking.
"I'm so sorry Ichigo. But I have to do this."
"Please, Orihime, don't. Just stay here with me. We can work things out..."
"I know we can Ichigo, I know. But this is what I want."
"What you want? You don't want to stay here and be with me? Is that it?"
"No, no, that's not it! You know I love you-"
"THEN STAY!"
Ichigo had never been so angry with her. When he looked back at it, he realized he was being selfish. Of course she could leave. He couldn't stop her from pursuing her dream. But it killed him to know that he wasn't apart of it. He remembered how hard she cried, how hard he cried. They yelled at each other. Ichigo was torn between his love for her and his love for his family. In the end, he had to choose to latter and let her go. Ichigo turned to his side and clutched the bed sheet. He felt like he was going mad. Why did she still have that effect on him, even after all those years? She looked so happy today. She really did find love. Ichigo felt like screaming.
She said she would never love anyone else. What happened?
I'll leave it at that. I hope you guys like it. Please, R&R! Next chapter will be up soon. Until next time...
