…
…
"It's silly, isn't it, Nii-san?"
Silence.
"That I would fall for someone like this."
The tears thickened, and he did not reply.
"I…I'm so silly."
Orihime wiped the back of her hand against her wet cheek and Sora's picture watched as she fell apart from the seams.
…
…
It was raining again.
Tatsuki tapped her foot impatiently, the yellow umbrella over her head. Her friend was late, it seemed. Tightening her hand around the handle, Tatsuki glanced back and forth, searching for the redhead through the thick droplets.
There was a flash of lightening.
Tatsuki's eyes widened and glanced to the right.
"O-Orihime?"
The girl did not respond to her name and continued to walk. Without further instruction, Tatsuki took a hold of the girl's slender shoulder, her jaw tight.
"Orihime!"
Slowly, the redhead turned, and her large honeyed eyes met Tatsuki's. The black-haired flinched back, releasing the shoulder. The girl's eyes were enough to make Tatsuki's stomach churn.
"Tatsuki-chan. Gomen ne. Were you waiting for me?"
Tatsuki's eyes tightened.
I am going to kill that orange asshole.
The umbrella fell. Orihime blinked in surprise as Tatsuki grasped both of her shoulders.
"What happened?"
It was silent for a few moments, Orihime staring at her best friend innocently, but Tatsuki refused to release her or break eye contact.
Finally, Orihime murmured, "I don't know what you mean—"
"Dammit, stop lying to my face!" She shook her by the shoulders, "I'm no idiot! It was him, wasn't it?"
A look passed over Orihime's face before she smothered it and gave a forced smile, "Tatsuki-chan, we have to hurry to class or we'll be—"
"Orihime," the way she said her name had the redhead pausing, "Orihime." To Orihime's surprise, the dojo champion smiled softly, "I told you I would always protect you, keep you safe, and I wouldn't allow you to get hurt by anyone else." She pushed back an amber, sodden lock, "So it's okay to tell me. I won't be disappointed."
The rain continued to fall.
After a moment's silence, Orihime backed away from her friend, giving another soft, forced smile, "What're you…" her voice shuddered and her eyes wavered, "I-I mean…" The tears came without warning. Orihime's bag fell onto the wet sidewalk, and she cupped her hands over her weeping eyes.
"Orihime…"
"I…I tried so hard…Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime's slender body shook, "I tried…"
Placing her hand on the girl's head, Tatsuki sighed, "I know."
…
…
It's raining, he thought sourly.
It had been raining when his mother died.
There was no real surprise that Keigo was stupid enough to approach him with his darkening mood, but that'd been settled all too quickly. The brunette had hit the ground in less than a millisecond and Mizuiro had decided it was best to keep his distance. Sliding into his desk, Ichigo decided today was going to go downhill. He could already feel it in the air.
His thoughts, of course, swarmed back to the main problem at hand. Inoue was probably crying. His eyes tightened at the thought. After leaving her, he felt like he left his own self behind. When he left from home, it didn't stop him from rushing to his mother's grave, asking questions that would never be answered. Now it was raining, as though to show the pain radiating between his world and the next.
Why couldn't it be simple? He knew, he fucking knew nothing good would come from this – this thing they had created between them, this undeniable force of attraction and understanding that would run deeper than any friendship or stupid family blood. They were friends, weren't they? And she had said,
"Friends…Friends don't do those kinds of things, Kurosaki-kun."
His jaw clenched tightly.
He wasn't an idiot – no matter how many times Rukia and that prissy Ishida said it. Sex was a physical thing, but he knew it spurred on emotions. He was a cruel bastard; taking advantage of her like that, breaking the seal that made her available to someone else. He promised his mother, a long, long time ago that he would not give his heart to another, that he would not replace her.
"Because I know there is no way you will ever love me."
He was truly a cold, sick asshole.
Suddenly, small hand slammed onto his desk, lifting it a bit.
Ichigo blinked from his thoughts and turned his head in time to see Rukia. She did not look very happy to see him, and he could feel the anger pulsing from her. Scowling, he tried not to snap at her right away, already defensive.
"What?" His voice was low, a warning, but Rukia stayed where she was, her eyes narrowing down at him.
"Don't give me that, Ichigo," she said brusquely, "You can fool everyone else, but you can't fool me." Without warning, she suddenly took a hold of the front of his gray sweater and hauled him upwards, from his chair, and soon from the classroom.
"Kuchiki-chan! Where are you going?" Ochi-sensei called as Ishida and Sado watched from the sidelines.
"Bathroom!" Even though she was dragging Ichigo at impossible speeds down the crowded hallway, and the bathroom was located to the right of the classroom, Ochi-sensei flashed a thumbs-up sign and a wink.
"Take your time!"
"WHAT? When I asked, you said no!" Keigo wailed, thoroughly distraught.
The teacher gave a wide, wide grin, her eyes bugling, "Wanna know the secret?"
Keigo shook as the fires of Hell exploded from the woman. "U-Um…?"
"GROW BOOBS!"
Ishida and Sado sweat-dropped as they watched Keigo soar across the room and land by Mizuiro's feet.
"Good morning, Asano-san."
…
…
Tatsuki trembled under the heavy rain, her eyes narrowed.
"Orihime…"
The redhead did not reply and continued to weep into her hands, her body shaking against the cold droplets.
"I promised I wouldn't do this…and yet…" Orihime blubbered messily, "I-I couldn't hold back my feelings!"
Stooping down low, Tatsuki wrenched the small hands from the girl's face, "Orihime, look at me."
Slowly, the auburn haired girl blinked, and the tears stained her pink, wet cheeks, "…I…"
"Don't," Tatsuki forced a small smile, "I'm not disappointed in you, Orihime. I mean, sure it was brash and you should've been a bit more cautious, but I'm not mad at you. The whole situation, in fact, is completely and utterly fucked up."
Orihime continued to stare down at her friend.
"I know about your promise to Sora. And I'm sure he's not disappointed either. He's probably worried about you up in heaven, you know."
Slowly, the girl blinked, "S-Sorry."
Patting down the sodden, silky locks, Tatsuki's smile grew into a grin, "Even though I think it's stupid that you've fallen in some kind of infatuation with this asshole, I won't hold it against you, got it? You should've told me in the beginning and I would've torn that guy a new asshole already."
"T-Tatsuki-chan, you promised," Orihime murmured softly.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. No damaging his ugly mug, yeah?" When the rain continued, thick and heavy, Tatsuki heaved a heavy sigh and grabbed the yellow umbrella from the bench. Orihime sat in front of her on the bench, the dojo champion on her knees. Placing the umbrella over her red head, Tatsuki continued to smile up at her best friend. "Get home, put on some new clothes, and make some tea, alright?"
Carefully, with a shaking hand, Orihime took the handle of the umbrella, "B-But—School and—"
"Just go, Orihime," Tatsuki urged, "You're bound to catch a cold if you don't hurry."
They stared at each other for a silent second. Something passed between the two girls before Orihime lowered her gaze and nodded softly, "Alright."
Patting Orihime's head affectionately, Tatsuki stood, "Good girl."
When the girl was finally walking back towards her apartment, and vanished out of sight, Tatsuki's jaw clenched tightly. Her smile slowly fell and her eyes tightened, just as her fists. Stripping from her soaked jacket, Tatsuki decided it was time to set the law with a certain orange-haired punk.
I am so going to kill that orange asshole.
…
…
A shudder convulsed up Ichigo's spine, and just for safe keeping, he glanced over his shoulder warily, confusion and suspicion etched on his face.
"What is it?" Rukia paused from her walking, but kept a tight grip on the sleeve of his shirt.
"Nothing," Ichigo grunted, "Just my imagination, I guess."
They stood in the schoolyard, the rain was turning into a light drizzle now, and Rukia released him, crossing her arms over her chest. Ichigo's hands remained in his pockets and he kept his gaze safely away from his petite friend.
"You're an idiot, you know that?"
"What?" He snapped, shooting his gaze back to her, "I haven't even told you anything."
"Doesn't matter! You're an idiot to think you can hide anything from me! I already know something weird is going on between you and Inoue and don't think I won't leave you alone just because you're having the typical angst of a teenager right now!" Her eyes were hard as they glared up at him.
Ichigo's scowl deepened, "Stay out of it, midget."
"Get a grip," she said sharply, "I've been your friend for more than seven years, almost as long as Tatsuki. Don't think I'll just turn the other way to make you feel better."
"Nothing's going on!" Ichigo practically snarled.
"Fine!" She threw her arms up, "I was trying to…" She huffed before whirling around, stooping over, and dug into her damp back. Digging his hands deeper into his pocket, Ichigo watched wryly as she yanked out her customary crayons and drawing paper, "I'll just have to show you what I think."
"No one wants to see your ugly drawings," Ichigo said flatly.
A red tic developed on her small head, "SHUT UP!"
The orange-haired open his mouth to shout back at her, but an angry presence cut him off.
"Ichigo!"
Two heads snapped around, one dark and the other bright, and Rukia quickly took a step back to avoid the raging figure rushing towards them. Ichigo's eyes widened as his gaze found demon, fires pulsing behind it, and the eye growing a deadly crimson.
Oh, fuck.
He did not run though, in fact, he was rooted to his spot. Just in time, the monster launched from the ground, and he swore he could see it cracking from beneath its feet. Ichigo flinched backwards, but of course, the small, yet strong foot caught his chest and his legs swung over his head, his forehead hitting the ground, and landed just a few feet away from where he'd originally been.
"Ichigo!" Rukia called, though her voice was not concerned, "Are you still alive?"
"Damn…it…" The orange-haired breathed heavily, wondering if he was bleeding or just heavily bruised. Before he could even get the right state of mind, he was suddenly hauled up from the cold, wet ground and brought clumsily to his feet by undeniable strength. When he met the eyes of Arisawa Tatsuki, he couldn't stop the flinch and grimace aimed towards her.
"I am going to murder you!" She hissed venomously. Ichigo was taller than her, though, with Tatsuki, height wasn't all that mattered.
"What the hell?!" He shouted at her, gripping her wrists so she could stop shaking him, "Let me go, Tatsuki! I'm not in the fucking mood."
Her eyes lit up, "You're not in the mood? You bastard, I'm not in the mood!" she nearly snarled.
Again, Ichigo tried to play the dumb card, "What's the problem? Are you hallucinating or what?"
"You think I don't know anything?" she asked darkly, baring her clenched teeth at him now.
"Know what? You're annoying. Get off me already." Ichigo commanded sharply.
Of course, that did not deter Tatsuki. Instead, she bunched her hands even tighter in his shirt, yanked him closer, and glared up at him as they met nose to nose, "I made a promise a very long time ago, Ichigo. Do you remember what it was?"
Ichigo's eyes narrowed, but he did not reply.
"I promised that I would beat up anyone who made Orihime cry, whether it is a friend or foe. And you're definitely not excluded from getting your ass handed to you!" She spat in his face, growing more furious by the second.
She's crying.
"When we were little I stood up for you, because of all the bullshit you went through, and I thought I could at least trust you and introduce you to Orihime, but you just had to ruin that, now didn't you?"
Ichigo's teeth grounded hard. She was wrong. Why wasn't anyone concerned about him? What about his fucking problems?
"It takes two to fucking tango, Tatsuki. Ever heard of that?"
Rukia, a few feet away, flinched when she heard the sharp sound of bone meeting bone. Her eyes widened as Ichigo reeled back, landed on his bottom, and grunted. Rushing towards the scene, she saw Tatsuki trembling above him, her eyes tight with a foreign emotion, and her hands balled tightly by her sides.
Damn. That fucking hurt.
Ichigo rubbed his sore jaw and glanced up at his longtime friend. He opened his mouth to say something, but was unable to even form words when he saw a fine, wet line run down her cheek, and drip from her jaw.
"Tatsuki—"
"Damn you."
He closed his mouth.
"You can be such an asshole!" She hollered furiously, her chest heaving with exertion, "Just tell me! Just tell me the truth for once! We're pals, aren't we? I've always been there! I want to hear the truth from you, dammit! I'm your friend, aren't I?!"
It was silent, besides Tatsuki's heavy breathing.
Rukia's eyes tightened, Ichigo…
Finally, Ichigo said,
"This doesn't concern you."
Tatsuki's eyes widened, Rukia took a step forward, and a light sound of thunder rolled over their heads. When Tatsuki prepared to lunge at the teenager, Rukia grabbed a hold of her slim arm, keeping her at bay.
Ichigo stood casually, retucking his hands in his pockets. There was blood on the corner of his lip, a bruise was already starting to form on his jaw. He stared at the two, watching as Tatsuki lowered her head.
His resolve strengthened even more.
"Sorry," he muttered, "Rukia, Tatsuki, you two shouldn't get involved with me anymore."
Tatsuki clenched her fists even tighter as Ichigo turned on his heel and treaded away. As he got further and further away, she could feel something yanking at her gut.
"Ichigo…" Rukia murmured, her eyes following him.
"You jerk…!" Tatsuki hissed under her breath.
The clouds closed in.
"You stupid jerk!"
Up above their heads, a clap of thunder went through Karakura.
…
…
Please.
She clenched her fists tighter to her chest.
Please.
There was the babble of students in the background, but she paid them no mind.
Please, just let me…
She stood against the wall silently, by the principal's office door, and waited.
"Inoue-san?"
Her head shot up to see Uryu, his expression a bit worried, eyebrows drawn downward.
"I-Ishida-kun! Ohayo~!"
He chuckled, "Good morning, Inoue-san." He paused, glancing at the door, "Are you in some type of trouble?"
Waving her hands in front of her hurriedly, she gave a small smile, "N-No way! I'm…I'm just—"
The door opened.
Both pairs of eyes shot up. Honeyed and indigo.
Orihime flinched backward. Slowly, oh so very slowly, Ichigo's amber eyes slid over to the auburn haired girl. Their gazes met and locked. Ichigo clenched his jaw. Orihime was quiet. Something passed between them, which Uryu did not miss.
"Kurosaki," Ishida said, a lace of irritation in his tone. He was oddly protective of the redheaded girl, and there was no excuse to how she was acting but Ichigo.
The stare between the two broke and Ichigo glanced towards Ishida, his eyes harder than usual, "Ishida. Yo."
"Yes," Uryu adjusted his glasses, nudging them up his nose. "Good morning. In the principal's office so early?"
Ichigo's glare turned deadly, "Excuse me?"
"Kurosaki-kun,"
Ichigo's and Ishida's eyes snapped to the girl. She flushed a delicate pink and tried to smile. Ishida's eyes tightened, it used to be so easy for her to smile.
"What?" Ichigo's tone was low.
"I-I was wondering if I could talk to you, if only for a second."
Without warning, the orange-haired stooped down and picked up his school bag, "There's nothing for us to talk about, Inoue." She flinched at her surname, and Ichigo's eyes narrowed.
"Nothing?" She repeated, "B-But, Kurosaki-kun—"
He turned in the other direction, and started to walk away. Orihime was quick to follow.
"Wait, Kurosaki-kun, please. Just…Just for a moment. I want to apologi—" When she placed her small hand on his forearm, tugging on the fabric of his school apparel, Ichigo nearly snapped.
He had a tight grip on her wrist before he even knew it, "Don't touch me, Inoue." Her eyes widened before he released her roughly, uttering, "You should know that by now." He turned away again and walked down the crowded hallway.
"Kurosaki!" Ishida reprimanded harshly, "What're you—"
"It's alright, Ishida-kun," he glanced at Orihime and was surprised to see a small smile on her face as she rubbed her thin wrist, "I'm fine."
But Ishida knew she was far from it.
…
…
Orihime hummed the song softly, her eyes distant, the wind softly breezing through the thick, green trees.
So in love…
So in love…
So in love…
Maybe not the proper song for the moment.
It had been exactly two weeks since the entire breakdown of the group. Still, Sado-kun and Ishida-kun were not full on the details, that didn't stop Ishida-kun from glaring at Ichigo whenever he had a chance. Sado, though, stayed loyally by Ichigo's side, sometimes offering an ear even. The group had been split in half.
Even though Tatsuki-chan, Ishida-kun, and Rukia-chan gave all the support they could, Orihime could not stop the disgusting guilt from gnawing at her stomach. Whenever she got a glance at Ichigo in class or the hallways, she was thoroughly ignored. Whether it was to speak with him or she tried to apologize for the entire ordeal, nothing worked.
Tatsuki was still quite furious and Rukia wasn't any better. Renji decided to stay oblivious to the entire problem until it blew over. True to his word, Ichigo did not involve himself with anyone, except Chad or maybe Keigo and Mizuiro. He didn't eat lunch on the roof anymore, and he didn't walk with anyone from or to school.
The guilt was getting worst, and Orihime could taste the regret in the air. If she hadn't been so naïve, if she hadn't been so desperate for any kind of attention, this wouldn't have happened, none of it. The sex, the tears, the feelings she could feel blossoming inside her whenever she thought about Ichigo.
But these thoughts would also bring the thick tears, would also bring the regret, would also bring the heavy pain that wouldn't stop she fell asleep, having dreamless dreams.
Tatsuki-chan called this an infatuation,
"A stupid infatuation."
It doesn't not matter.
There's nothing that can turn back time.
There's nothing that can stop him from hating me.
Brushing back thick lock of hair, she pulled back her hand, "Oh. Silly me. Look. I'm crying again."
"Because I know there is no way you will ever love me."
"Well, I guess it's time to go see Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime shot to her feet, and wiped away the remainder of tears.
From behind a bush, Rukia placed down the binoculars, and her expression saddened tremendously. Renji glanced up and frowned, rolling his eyes when he saw the dramatic tears.
"What now?"
"It's just…so sad~!" Rukia wailed unhappily, throwing her arms about.
"Ch," Renji turned his face away, "That's their own faults."
Slap!
"Ow! Dammit, Rukia!" Renji hollered, cupping a hand to his burning cheek, "That's it! I'm really leaving now!" He stood, his bright crimson hair standing out in the green plants.
"Eh?" Orihime glanced around curiously, "Was that Renji-kun's voice?"
Tackling her comrade to the ground, Rukia clamped a hand over the redhead's mouth, who flailed beneath her petite body, "Shut up, you dumbass! She'll hear us!"
Orihime looked over her shoulder, and then pouted when she did not see or hear anything else, "Maybe those little blue men really are messing with my emotions…" She trailed off as she continued out of the park, humming again.
Rukia wiped the imaginary sweat off her brow, "Damn. That was close."
"GET OFF ME!"
Slap!
"SHUT UP!"
…
…
(So in love…
So in love…
So in love…)
…
…
Sorry this took so long. I had a bad case of writer's block on this one. I can be good at angst and drama one second and then for some reason, I can't do it the next second. I hope you liked this chapter. Any suggestions, I'm happy to listen. And don't forget, we still have to hear Ichigo's feelings. I have a feeling this isn't going to go well with everyone else.
-Star