Running Away
ZTX
3/17/07
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Hence why this is called a FANfiction.
I'll never let you find me.
I'm leaving you behind with the past, no I won't look back... -Midnight Hour, Running Away
Unwanted
He felt childish about it, but in is heart he knew it was the only way. This was for the best, even if it didn't seem like it at the time. To leave. It would be hard for him to go without saying goodbye...but he'd broken one too many promises to stay. Actually... one promise to be exact. And THAT was too many. Not like it mattered too much in the long run, anyway. He was certain in time they'd forget him. Perhaps they already had. No one had ever really cared about him anyway... not even Inoue.
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"Ishida-kun!"
Turning at the sound of a familiar, airy voice calling his name, Ishida Uryuu caught sight of an exhausted Inoue Orihime jogging up the steps behind him. He blushed slightly, absently noting that her chest was also getting a workout,
"I-Inoue-san... what're you doing here?"
She sighed in relief as she reached the top, stooping over a moment to catch her breath. Then, with a bright smile, she straightened,
"I wanted to talk to you!"
-
"To me? What is it? Is something the matter?"
He said as they walked, the trees gently rustling in the breeze.
"Are you feeling okay, Ishida-kun?"
He stopped, gazing into her worried grey eyes for a moment before pushing up his glasses,
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
She lowered her head, nervously pressing her fingertips together,
"Well... it's just... ever since we came back from the Hollow world...you've been acting...not like yourself. You don't talk to us... your grades are dropping...and even when we're in the Handicrafts club, you can't seem to concentrate and well...I... I was wondering if you were okay."
He smiled warmly at her, sighing,
"I guess I have been a little stressed lately... but I'm fine. Thank you for worrying, Inoue-san."
She nodded then, returning his smile happily,
" Oh, I'm glad! I was worried you might be getting sick or something... maybe a cold or a stomach flu since you always had such a sour look on your face."
"O-Oh... I guess I did."
They continued walking, Inoue placing both hands behind her back,
"So, what was it?"
"What was what?"
" The thing that's been keeping you so moody lately? What have you been thinking about?"
He straightened, a strong, deadly voice entering his mind,
' Swear to me... that you will never associate with a shinigami ever again.'
"O-Oh... I was just... I was just thinking... about what would happen.. if Aizen were to return. He might try to harm you... and I wouldn't want that. I'd never let that happen..."
The honey-haired girl smiled at that, tucking some hair behind her ear,
"I see... thank you."
Ishida sighed deeply at her smile, pushing up his glasses,
'It might have been a lie... but it truly is a concern of mine. What if Aizen were to return? He'd be far too strong for any of us to handle...but it doesn't matter. I'd die before I'd let him hurt you...'
As they walked along the bank of a babbling brook, Inoue paused, lowering her head. Stopping a few feet away, Ishida turned, blinking in confusion,
"Inoue-san? What's the matter?"
Biting her lip, she raised her head, gazing at him directly,
"Can I ask you something, Ishida-kun?"
He nodded, heading back over to her,
"Of course. What is it?"
"If you were in love with someone and were unsure whether or not they felt the same... would you tell them?"
He straightened, mildly shocked by her question. He was sure he knew who she was talking about, but it had taken him by surprise. Coughing, he adjusted his glasses,
" I... I don't understand what you mean."
Sighing, Inoue lowered her head, her eyes downcast and sad as she turned to the brook,
" I... I'm in love with Kurosaki-kun... but I'm sure he's in love with Kuchiki-san. They've been through so much together and all... I would talk to Tatsuki-chan about this but she doesn't know the story between them... she'd be biased toward my happiness. I don't want to hear what's best for me... I want to hear what's best for me AND Kurosaki-kun. I want to know if telling him would be the best thing for us... or if it would just be safer to stay friends and not tell him anything. And... I figured you would be able to help, Ishida-kun."
A heavy feeling set itself atop of Ishida's heart, and he silenced for a moment.
"If I were in love with someone..."
She looked up at him with teary eyes. Those eyes broke his heart.
'What makes you think that I wouldn't be biased as well...Inoue-san?'
"If I were in love with someone," he repeated, "I wouldn't hesitate. I'd tell them right away...and not let a moment with them slip through my fingers."
At that, she smiled, nodding shortly as she wiped her eyes of tears,
"I... I was hoping you'd say that. But I'm so scared to tell him, I don't know what to do..."
"Just tell him, Inoue-san. You've got no reason to be scared--"
"But what if he--"
"If he rejects you, he's a fool."
She straightened, hiccupping softly as he calmly wiped a tear from her pale cheek. He smiled again, withdrawing his hand quickly so that he could push his glasses up,
"Inoue-san...you're beautiful and smart...you're the strongest of us all...and Kurosaki would be a fool... if he said no to such a wonderful person."
Sniffling, she suddenly wrapped her arms around him, sobbing violently,
"Th-thank you... Ishida-kun."
"You're such a good friend."
-
As they reached his apartment complex, Inoue gasped, clasping her hands together,
"Is this where you live, Ishida-kun?"
"Yeah..."
They continued up the walk, Inoue following him all the way up to his door. He lived on the second story of the complex, third door from the stairs. Unlocking the door, he turned to her, sighing,
"Would you like to come in for a minute, Inoue-san? I have sometime if you still need to talk--"
"O-oh! No, that's fine! Really! I need to be heading home, anyway."
He nodded, closing his door halfway,
"That's right it'll be getting dark soon...should I walk you home then?"
Smiling, she shook her head, giggling,
"No, thanks! I can handle it! If Aizen shows up, I'll just roll up my sleeves and POW!! He won't now what hit him!"
He breathed a laugh. Her crazy notions always made him smile... and worry for her sanity,
"You do that..."
Nodding, she started down the steps, calling to him as she reached the walkway,
"Goodnight, Ishida-kun!"
Nodding, he called back, his voice fading as she turned and started down the road,
"Goodnight... Inoue-san."
He watched her for a few moments, then, as her silhouette faded from view, silently stepped into his apartment...
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Packing the last of his things into his suitcase, Ishida stood and glanced about the now empty apartment. Sighing, he stepped outside and quietly closed the door behind him. He left behind all that he could not carry on his person...including a love that would never come to be. Not even in his wildest dreams...
"And good-bye."
A/N: Well, I didn't think I'd write another BLEACH fanfiction, but well, here it is! lol It's also my first multi-chapter BLEACH fiction too... which scares the crap out of me. I don't want to get annoyed by it like I did with my KH fictions. I did try to start up again on the KH one, but it was like pulling teeth, so I think I'm going o have to put it on hiatus until further notice. Maybe forever... probably forever... that makes me sad. I even forgot it's plot! Oh well. shrugs Anywho, R&R please! I hope they're not OC...