Chapter Two: To see only white.

Disclaimer: If I owned Bleach my name would be Tite Kubo. It's not.

Voices. For a long time she heard them. They were distorted and barely audible. They ran together in her head. Hearing was her only remaining sense. She listened for a long time. It was all she could do. She often heard one line: "I'm sorry." She didn't know why. She liked that line. Though she didn't understand why. Why? Why are you sorry? She tried to ask. But she couldn't. She only listened. This voice she picked out of all the others. It was gentle, she decided. Gentle yet dark, and very sharp. Like black and orange. Orange… what a beautiful color. Like the sun. At this she frowned. No, not like the sun! Like strawberries! She let her mind race forward only to sharply pull it back. Orange like strawberries? That didn't make sense. It was a puzzle she couldn't figure out. Strawberries are red. Red. Her heart jumped. Not red. Orange. It was better. She smiled. Lilies. She thought she saw lilies. Six of them. She liked lilies. They were pretty. Lilies protected her. What a pleasant thought. She was a princess in a snow white castle and I'm Sorry-san was her savior, carrying in his arms six lovely lilies and defeating the sun dragon! She said his because she found the voice to be masculine. Like that of a boy who had grown up too fast, carrying the world on his back. How sad she thought. She wanted to lift that weight off his shoulders. She wanted to help him carry it and walk with him. She reached out and her hand touched something warm and soft. She frowned. She traced her fingers along its edge and tentatively squeezed it. It fit perfectly in her own. She smiled again. The object quickly retracted. She frowned. Hearing took over. It was dark for a very long time, it seemed. She opened her eyes. White. Only white. Am I dead? Is this heaven? Slowly, she sat up. A murmur… "I'm sorry this had to happen. He's-"

"An angel?" She asked.

"What?" Bespectacled blue eyes met hers.

"Are you an angel?"

"No! Inoue-san! You're alright! I-I have to tell-"A pause. "You're awake!" He stood up and removed his glasses, wiping them on his shirt. When he put them back on he saw that he was not seeing things.

"Oh… Ishida-kun? You are I'm Sorry-san?"

"What? Oh yes, I suppose I am. Inoue-san, do you know what happened?"

"I died."

"No! You didn't die! You were in a car accident, remember?"

"I remember orange."

"Orange? You don't mean that idiot Kurosaki do you?"

"Ishida-kun! That's not very nice! Don't be mean to Kurosaki-kun!"

"Sorry. I have to tell-"There was a pause. "You're awake!" If you blinked you would miss him leave the room. That's why Orihime wondered why Ishida-kun had super speed. Or teleportation!

The very next thing a nurse flew in to the room and asked her several questions. Orihime answered each with a smile and said she was just fine.

"Okay! Get lots of rest!" The nurse called before leaving. Orihime frowned. She wasn't sleepy at all. How long had she been sleeping? She looked to the right out her window. Like the rest of the room, the curtains were white. They blocked out the sun, but Orihime didn't mind. The room was dark. Black. A good color, Orihime decided. Ishida-kun didn't return. He probably thought she needed her rest too. How sweet of him! She thought. Why was he being so kind to her? She hoped that it wasn't only out of pity! She didn't like pity. It caused sadness to fill where it didn't belong. And why pity her? She hadn't been asleep for that long, had she? She probably only got a bump on her head!

She pounded her head for affect. "I have a hard head!" She sing-songed. That really hurt her hand! She saw that there was a T.V. Maybe she could watch it! Beside her she found a remote control. Scanning the buttons, she saw the "On" button and pressed it. Pleased to see that it worked, she flipped through the channels. A show called Laugh Hour flashed on the screen. She smiled. Perfect! Hospitals made her sad. The white wasn't so bad. It meant purity, and innocence. "Sometimes it was better to remain innocent of knowledge. It can hurt you." She remembered hearing somewhere. Who said it? She couldn't remember. Perhaps some inspirational peace-maker or genius, like Ghandi or Einstein!

Ishida-kun visited her every day. She was glad. Sometimes it was lonely all by herself. She would lift the weight off his shoulders and he would take away her loneliness. They talked about lots of things. The sun, the trees, the birds. They were an odd pair. Ishida-kun seemed to be very careful with his topics. One day Orihime asked him about school.

"It's fine." He said hesitantly.

"And Kurosaki-kun?" Of course she had to ask that! Uryuu thought.

"The usual. Scowling all the time like an idiot."

"Ishida-kun!" She scolded.

"Sorry."

"Where's everyone else? Why are you the only one who visits me?"

"They're all busy with school. I'm at the top of the class so I don't have to study a lot."

"Oh."

There was a silence. Not an awkward one, but a long one. Orihime seemed to be deep in thought. "How long was I sleeping for?" She asked.

Uryuu looked away. "A day or two."

"That's good." She trusted him. It broke him.

"Where did my lilies go?"

"Oh your hair pins?" For a moment an odd look crossed his face but it disappeared before she could see what it was.

"Back at your apartment, I suppose."

"Oh! I wondered why my hair was in my face! It's so long! Why did they put them there?"

"They wanted them to be kept somewhere safe, probably."

"That's nice of them! Say Ishida-kun?"

"Yes."

"When can I go back to school?" She paused. "I can, right?"

"Of course. You just need to rest!"

Orihime rested for a long time.

Everyday Orihime asked him the same questions. It broke him more and more each day. He fought desperately to give her everything she wanted. He couldn't. Soon Orihime became scared.

"Kurosaki-kun? Is he okay?"

"As okay as he usually is." Uryuu said truthfully.

"And everyone else? They're okay?"

"As okay as they usually are." He said honestly.

"You? Are you okay?"

"As okay as I usually am." He said frankly.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yes. I am positive." He said.

Orihime thought for a moment. "How okay are they usually?"

"Okay."

"But how much?"

"That's an odd question. They're just okay."

"I think I am an odd person. Do you think so Ishida-kun?"

"Very." He said.

"Why?"

"You ask too many questions." He said.

"I need answers though Ishida-kun!"

"I always answer you."

"Not really! Please don't pretend!"

"I'm not pretending!"

"You are! You won't tell me anything! Is everybody else dead?" At this tears streamed down her face. Her body shook violently with each sob. She wiped her tears. "Please! I need to know!"

He couldn't lie to her anymore. "Inoue-san I-"

All of a sudden a nurse opened the door. "I need your and her permission for the newspaper to do a story about you, ma'am and waking up like a miracle!" The nurse practically sang, oblivious to the heavy atmosphere. "We need the publicity! Please do it!"

"Alright." Orihime managed to control her voice.

Uryuu hesitated. He would do it! He wanted to give her everything. "That sounds nice." He said.

"Hmm… You're both awful young…. Oh yes! Sign here Inoue-san!" The nurse said. "I mean both of you!" She handed Orihime and Uryuu pen and a contract, and Orihime complied. As usual, she was happy to help.

"Good! I'll be going now! Oh, and sorry, visiting hours are over!"

"Yes. Bye." He was very careful.

"Bye." Orihime said.

After everyone had gone, Orihime poured her heart out. White wasn't such a good color after all.

Author's Note: Told you I'd update quick didn't I! ^^ Lots of questions will be answered next chappy! I know I said that this would be Ichihime (and it will be), but don't worry! We're getting there! I just have to establish everything first, then the story really starts kick'n! I bet your wondering about her hair pins too! You might find out in a few more chapters… Also, I have considered doing next chapter previews. I will try one this time, and tell me what you think…

Chapter Three: To paint everything black.

If only he could find a way for her to forgive him…

To forgive himself.

He must come to a decision,

Strengthen his resolve…

And when he does…

He will get the shock of his life!

R & R please!