Chapter 2: Death
She could still vividly remember when the door of the clinic swung open and a certain strawberry head, a boy her age, looked at her bloodied appearance with curiousity.
She was crying then. Her vision blurred by the nonstop pool of tears rolling down her flushed cheeks. Her nose red and puffy. She couldnt get the words out. The hiccups didnt help either. But as if understanding her predicament, the boy opened his mouth and uttered words she couldnt make out.
When a tall dark haired man in a pristine white lab coat came to the door only then did she realized the boy called out his father for help.
Orihime woke early today. She cooked and ate breakfast, then headed for the bath.
She decided to go for a purple blouse and a knee-length skirt. She looked herself up in the mirror and realized something was missing.
She opened up her drawer and took out her most valuable possesion.
She took one last glance at the mirror. With the pins neatly tucked at each side of her head, she was ready.
It had become her routine each and every year.
She had already prepared the usual items and packed them neatly in a dainty woven basket last night.
When she passed by the little shrine in the living room, she lit up the candles and she paused for a short prayer.
"See you later, nii-chan."
.
.
Waking up to the incessant ringing, Ichigo groggily scoured under his bed for the damn alarm clock.
He knocked it down the bedside table when he blindedly attempted to reach for it earlier, trying to turn it off.
Now he had no other choice but to haul ass and get out of bed.
He bent down and felt for the round object when he felt something familiar. He pulled out the plushie and dusted off the fabric.
Kon.
"How did you get in there?"
Yuzu had been looking for the damn toy. She may have left it here on one of her visits.
Speaking of which, he had to move ass if he plans on catching the morning train home. He promised Karin he'd be watching her football game this weekend.
She'd kill him if he missed this one out like the rest. Plus, it be a good time to return the stuffed animal to his other younger sister. Yuzu would stop calling him every now and then.
Way to go hit two birds with one stone. Hallelujah, he could finally get the twins off his back.
Ichigo was crossing the threshold to his bedroom when he spotted Inoue outside on the window.
He glanced back on the wall to where the calendar was and his thoughts were confirmed.
"It's today huh."
He knew it was part of her routine. She had never missed a single year.
.
.
Familiar yet all too new surroundings greeted Ichigo when the cab entered Karakura town. A lot has changed. But the small town remained the same.
A few more minutes and the car stopped infront of a medical clinic. When he looked up, the signage read: Kurosaki.
The house was unusually quiet.
He opened the front door with his own set of key, put down his bag and removed his shoes.
Still nothing.
When he entered the living room, Isshin's battle cry greeted him.
"Ichigo!"
But thanks to his fast reflexes, he was able to dodge his stupid father's surprise attack and was even able to land a decent kick sending Isshin flying to the wall near Misaki's portrait.
"You never learn old man." Karin was at the stairs when the ruckus ensued.
She saw Ichigo arrived and came down to meet him. Apparently, their father did too and got there first.
"Welcome home Ichi-nii!" Yuzu exclaimed, coming from the kitchen wearing a frilly apron.
Ichigo looked from the twins to his father crying comical tears at Misaki's picture and grinned, "Yeah, it's good to be back."
.
.
"So, when will you be bringing Inoue home son?"
Ichigo almost choked on his food. Yuzu was quick to offer him a glass of water.
"Damn it old man."
"What? Isnt it about time?" The older Kurosaki feigned disappointment. "Im starting to think you're gay. "
"But nii-chan had dated a lot of girls." Yuzu came to his defense.
"All the curvy blondes except one." Karin interjected. Clearly siding with their father.
What had his father been telling his sisters?
"That's it!" Ichigo abruptly stood up and planned to pounce on the old geezer but the older Kurosaki was faster and sped off towards his office at the clinic.
The straberry could only huff at the large white doors in annoyance when the older man locked himself from the inside.
Inoue, huh?
He almost forgot but he could still remember. That lounge chair at the corner. The potted plant. That door. This was the same hallway.
Ichigo shouted from the front porch for his father.
Isshin Kurosaki hurriedly ushered the emergency response team inside as they pushed the stretcher where the critical patient laid on.
The doctor instructed his son to look after the young girl as they tend to her brother.
The young boy did as he was bidden. He sat the small girl in one of the benches at the waiting area.
Looking at her, he too became anxious as he waited for his father. The girl only sat there in silence. Her eyes glued to the door where her brother's at. But her gaze was beyond the door, nor on the room behind it.
She wasnt really here.
Ichigo knew the pain of loss. Losing someone you love and hold dear is something he doesnt want anyone to feel. He's lost his mother and that had a devastating blow on the person he is now.
He would hate for the girl to feel the same pain. He looked back to the door and silently prayed for his dad to produce a miracle.
When the door opened after what seemed eternity, Ichigo stood on the corner to eavesdrop.
He couldnt take out what was being said, but when the girl started crying again and run to her brother's side, he knew, the adults couldnt save him.
The girl's cry and wails could be heard even upstairs when he decided to leave for his room.
When he thought of it, the girl looked familiar. She was that same girl he witnessed being bullied by some of the kids at school for her hair color. But despite that, she'd only smile and not so much lift a finger to fight back.
Ichigo had always been a gentle, cheerful kid when Misaki, his mother, was still alive. He wasnt one to get into fights. He was bullied too due to his hair, but Tatsuki was always there to defend him.
But the girl, with her brother gone, had no one.
.
.
"I miss you, Sora-nii." She fondly wiped at the tombstone.
Its been several years since her brother passed away from an accident and she had been used to living alone, but somehow every year, on the anniversary of his death, she would always feel a little bit lonelier.
"Ah, but I didnt come here to cry." She wiped at the corner of her eyes.
"It's been a long time since I got to visit. I have a lot to talk to you about." She continued as she unpacked the picnic basket she brought with her.
"There's work. There's Tatsuki-chan. There's Sado-kun's promotion. And... there's Kurosaki-kun."
Orihime would never ever forget that day. She's been through a lot. But the experiences made her stronger. She could smile now. Because she may have lost a love one then, but she also gained a new one.
