Chapter one- Cuts

Orihime

I reluctantly woke up. It was Tuesday. School will start in 2 hours. I looked out the window to see the sun was rising. But for some reason, it didn't make me happy. Not like the other days, anyway.

I slowly got out of bed and into the bathroom. I washed and got dressed slower than usual. "What's wrong with me?" I asked myself while brushing my hair. I was doing that mechanically as well.

As I slid a shiny object into my pocket, it hit me like a ton of bricks. "Ichigo…" I said quietly, remembering yesterday's scene in the bathroom:

"Ichigo!" I cried to no one. Fat tears were rolling down my face. My stomach ached with each hiccup I made. "Ichigo! Why do I feel this way?" I stood against a wall and sobbed loudly. Then I let my body slide to the floor. "Why, Kurosaki Ichigo…do I love you?"

Suddenly, I heard footsteps in the hallway. I didn't want anyone to see me like this, but I was too upset to even stand up. "Inoue, are you okay?" I heard a voice call. I opened my blurry eyes to see Ichigo looking at me. He didn't even care that it was the girls' bathroom. He only wanted to know I was all right.

I blushed and turned away from him. I was ashamed at my earlier reaction to his and Rukia's relationship. "Need help?" he asked, holding out his hand. I grabbed it and he lifted me easily. He was so strong.

"Are you sure you're okay? Do you need me to walk you home after school?" he asked with genuine concern. It warmed my heart in places I didn't know existed. I almost wanted to feign sickness so he could come home with me, but I could never take advantage of his kindness. It was against my nature.

"I'm fine, really. Sorry I ruined your lunch with Rukia." I said, wiping my tears.

"Did you want to eat lunch with us?" he asked, still slightly worried, "I'm sure Rukia wouldn't mind."

I smiled. I didn't know he cared so much as to invite me to their private lunch. But, as a girl, I knew Rukia would mind.

"I'm okay, Ichigo." I said, walking out of the bathroom. "You really have become more considerate ever since you and Rukia got together."

He followed me out, "What's that supposed to mean? Didn't I care before?"

"Well, yeah. That is true. But you just seem more…compassionate."

He smirked, "Really?" then he looked outside and saw Rukia waiting for him at the steps.

"See ya around, Inoue." He said, going after her. I watched them walk off smiling. I felt my body fill with anger

Even though it was still warm out, I put on the school jacket. Then I pulled on my shoes and stood near my front door. I felt my hand shake as I grasped it. I was afraid that I would become angry again. "Calm down, Orihime…calm down." I breathed slowly, letting the oxygen flow through me. Then I opened the door and walked outside.

Rukia

"Good Morning, Ichigo!" I said, snuggling next to him under the sheets. I had snuck into his bed to give him a special good morning kiss.

Ichigo turned and smiled at me. He kissed me back and began getting out of the bed. I watched him begin to get dressed. "Any privacy, maybe?" he said pulling of his shirt. I didn't answer. I was mesmerized by how muscular he had gotten in the past two months. Fighting hollows and Bounto have really boosted his strength.

"I'll take that as a no." He laughed, and grabbed his school clothes. Then he headed out towards the bathroom. I got off his bed and stood in the middle of the room. I was already dressed, so I had nothing to do.

I decided to think about all the stuff Ichigo and I went through to be where we are now. I remembered my inferiority complex and how I hid my feelings for him for a long time. I reminisced about our first sexual encounter. The emotion I felt, and how he held on to me…

After a about an hour, Ichigo came back fully dressed. His new physique filled it out more than it had last year. It seemed like only yesterday that he was out of shape. "Let's go, Rukia." He said, reaching out his hand. I smiled and grabbed it. Then we left the Kurosaki home to go to school.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Ichigo

The day seemed to fly by. One minute, I was ignoring the English teacher, then the next it was lunchtime. "Come on, Ichigo!" Rukia said eagerly, dragging me to the schools roof, "I made the lunch before you woke up. It took me hours!" I smiled at her excitement and followed her outside. The wind lightly blew our hair as we picked a secluded spot near a tree.

"Here! I made you takoyaki, since you seem to eat that a lot, and Negimaki. I also threw in some yakitori. Please eat!" Rukia said all this quickly with one breath. I laughed and picked up the bento box. The food really did look good.

I broke apart my chopsticks and began to lift some Negimaki in my mouth. "Ichigo!" I heard a voice behind me yell. I dropped the Negimaki and turned to the source of sound. It was Orihime. "Hey, Inoue!" I called over to her. I motioned her to sit next to us.

"What are you doing?" Rukia asked me, slightly angry.

"I'm inviting her to eat with us, why?"

"Well," Rukia cast her eyes down, "I thought that…you know…it would be only…"

"Thank-you Ichigo! Tatsuki was absent today, and I didn't want to be lonely." Inoue sat down besides us with her lunch. As usual, it only consisted of sweets.

"No problem." I said, tasting the Negimaki.

"Whoa, Rukia! This isn't bad!"

Rukia blushed and looked down, "Thank-you."

Inoue suddenly held a sad expression, but it passed over quickly. "Kuchiki made that for you, Ichigo?"

I nodded. Inoue opened her bento box and picked up a red bean paste bun.

"Inoue, do you only eat sweets?" Rukia asked. They seemed to be a little tense. It was wierd. After all, they are friends, right?

Inoue shook her head, "Sometimes I make Pork buns with butter and soy sauce."

Rukia and I stuck our tongues out in disgust. How she could eat that, I had no idea.

We ate in silence for a little while. I felt a little tension between Rukia and Inoue. They were ignoring each other. "Ichigo, try the takoyaki. I know it's one of your favorites." Rukia urged. I nodded and lifted the food to my mouth. My eyes widened as I chewed, "This is really good too! You must have had some practice." I quickly grabbed another and ate it. Rukia was beaming.

"Um…Ichigo! Would you like to try my Sakura roll?" Inoue said, picking one up with her chopsticks, "I have plenty to share." I nodded and swallowed the takoyaki. Then I took the roll and bit into it. It was one of the most normal things I've ever tasted from Inoue.

"It's norm…I mean good. Did you make this from scratch?"

Inoue smiled, "Yes! It took me all night, but I knew I could do it!"

I offered the second half of my roll to Rukia. Inoue's smile slightly faded.

"No thank-you." She said. I nodded and popped it in my mouth.

The tension turned to electricity between the girls. I tried to ignore it, but they started to talk to each other:

"The food looks like it took a while to make. Did it Rukia?" Inoue asked in a dark voice. It was very unlike her.

" Yes. It took 8 hours." Rukia replied in the same kind of voice.

"Hump," Inoue said, taking a sip of canned green tea, "was it from scratch?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Where are you going with this?"

Inoue shrugged, "It just looked a little store-bought to me."

I couldn't believe I heard something so mean pass from Inoue's lips. It was like the Inoue I knew had vanished, and some evil twin replaced her.

"WHAT did you say?!" Rukia said, standing up.

Inoue stood up, "Whose to say that you didn't just buy it and heat it up? Everyone knows you hate to cook!"

"Well Ichigo means enough to me that I would still cook for him!" Rukia said, trying to control her voice, "What the hell is your problem anyway?!"

Inoue folded her arms, "I don't have a problem! I'm just saying, before summer vacation, you would always give him the evil eyes!"

"That was because I was stupid!"

"Who says you're not stupid now?"

"I WAS HIDING MY FEELINGS! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" Rukia was getting angry now.

"I WANT THE TRUTH!" Inoue shouted back, "WHY ARE YOU TOYING WITH ICHIGO?!"

Rukia scoffed, "Toying! Nobody is toying with anybody! I LOVE him!"

"NO YOU DON'T! You're just using him to gain social status in the school!"

Rukia was shocked, "What?! I'm not vain!"

"Ichigo is my friend. My best friend besides Tatsuki! I won't let you hurt him!" Inoue was starting to turn red in the face.

"I would never, COULD never hurt Ichigo! How can you even accuse me of that?!"

A stare down took place. I felt the anger rising as the girls tried to hold back their words. I started to say something, "Girls…why are-!" "Shut-up!" Rukia screamed immediately. I could tell that even though the fight was about me, I had nothing to do with it.

"Don't tell Ichigo to shut up!" Inoue cried, "This is what I mean! You're so rude and manly!"

That pissed Rukia off. I saw her restrain her fist. She opted for words instead.

"Listen here you balloon-boobed slut," Rukia said in a voice darker than hell, "You insult me again and I promise you I won't hold back!" Rukia inched closer to Inoue. Inoue suddenly became small and took a step back. "If you ever tell me I'm toying with Ichigo again, I'll make your life such a living hell, you'll commit Seppuku!" Rukia was breathing heavily. Rage was clearly visible in her face. Suddenly, Inoue began to cry.

"I'm so sorry, Rukia!" she sobbed. She fell to the floor and bawled. Rukia's anger subsided as she watched the girl crumble. "I'm just…so lonely! If something happens to Ichigo, I don't know what I'd do with myself! I have to protect him! I don't want to be alone!"

Rukia tenderly rested her hand on her shoulder, "Orihime, I'm your friend too. And so are Tatsuki and all the other girls. I would never harm Ichigo in any way. I couldn't even if I wanted to. I love him too much."

Inoue didn't seem to listen. Instead she got up and ran to the bathroom. Rukia started to go after her, but I shook my head. She nodded. Inoue needs some time to think.

Orihime

"Damn her for being so perfect!" I screamed to my reflection. I rolled up my jacket sleeves and lightly touched the marks against my skin.

"I have to protect Ichigo!" I screamed. I whipped out a shiny object from my pocket. Then I grazed it against a clear part of my skin. "I'm weak…" I said softly as the crimson elixir ran down my arm. I sliced again underneath it. Now two rivers were melding on my flesh. I felt a wave of anger surge through me, "I hate her! I HATE HER!!!!"

I began slashing wildly over my arms. I cut over healed scars and over the fresh ones. I didn't aim at all, I just cut. "Why won't she just die!" I screamed, cutting one final time. Breathing heavily, I looked at my arm. "Oh no…" I cried as tears formed in my eyes. My arm was now just one big wound. The cuts seemed to melt into one another because they were so closely placed.

I sobbed as I tried to stop the bleeding, "I did it again…I got angry…" :

I watched Ichigo leave with Rukia. I felt anger fill my body. "I have to get out of here." I said, suddenly getting claustrophobic.

I Ran through the school halls, past the yelling teachers and confused students. I ran outside and towards my house. I need to get home. It was my only salvation.

"They're so beautiful together…" I said softly as I entered the house. I lazily through off my shoes and walked into the kitchen. "I need food…" I whispered to no one. I opened the fridge and pulled out some green onions. I grabbed a knife and began cutting the onions while talking to myself...

"Why her out of all people?" Chop. Chop. Chop.

"Can't he see how I feel?" Chop. Chop.

"I can't let her hurt him!" Chop.

"If Ichigo is hurt, I'll…" Chop. Chop.

"IF THAT BITCH HURTS ICHIGO!" Chop. Ch-

"OUCH!"

I looked down and saw I had cut myself. For some reason, I didn't hurt. Not like last week when I cut myself while shaving. That hurt. But this…this felt different.

"Damn her…" I said quietly looking at the blood. "DAMN HER!" I cut again above the fresh wound. It felt good. I cut again. It felt wonderful. Soon I went into a series of cuts.

"YES!" I screamed. Each wound made me feel more alive. Suddenly I blinked. All of a sudden, the cuts hurt. It was like I just woke up. "Oh no!" I cried, running water over my arm, "Oh no, oh no, oh no!" I turned off the water and wrapped a towel around my arm. "I can't get angry again." I said softly. I was crying for no real reason. "If I get angry again…I'll die."

I slowly ran water over my arms. "It's okay Orihime…" I said with a smile, "I won't let you die…"

Well, there's chapter one. Yes, Orihime has become crazy. The loneliness must have finally caught up with her. Anywho, R & R.