...
…
Tangy, wasabi love.
Maybe this is what a heart feels like
…
…
"Here," Ichigo pressed the end of his sword against the girl's forehead. Almost instantly, she buzzed with energy and evaporated into sparkling essence. She gave a grin one more time, showing off her missing front tooth, before she disappeared into vapor. Ichigo stayed there for a few seconds, crouched down with a small, reassuring smile still on his face. Konso was still amazing to him. Sighing heavily, he stood and replaced his sword on his shoulder.
"Ichigo!"
"Kurosaki!"
He turned to see the two rushing towards him; Chad's arm already morphed and Ishida was poised, a glowing bow and arrow prepared. Ichigo could see his limp body draped over Sado's shoulder. Ishida and him both paused when they saw no threat and Orihime standing awkwardly to the side. They both ran their eyes over her for any injuries, finding none pretty quickly, they sighed with relief. Ichigo stood and another handful of spiritual pressure spilt around his feet. It was easier to control like this though, when he was in this form. Ishida and Chad's knees wobbled at the force of it before Ichigo was able to rein it in for a quick second. "Here," Chad said in monotone, "I found your body on one of those old apartment buildings."
"Thanks, Chad." He easily slipped back inside and Chad put him down gently, even brushing off the remnants of dust off his clothes. Ichigo ran a hand through his hair and looked over to see Orihime still standing there, a hand balled to her chest and her eyes downcast. Ichigo knew he had to speak with her. Turning back to his friends, he muttered, "Thanks for coming, but I took care of it pretty fast. You can go home."
Ishida's eyes narrowed. He may've not had any loving emotions for Orihime, but he knew what was best. She didn't have to settle for Kurosaki, not someone like this, a hot-temper, picking fights, ugly attitude, and stupid knowledge to rush into anything without thinking of his life or people who cared about him, "But—"
Ichigo's glare met his, "I said you can go home." Obviously, he wasn't up for Ishida's advice. It was annoying enough to listen to this guy every day and accuse him of breaking Orihime, but he wasn't going to allow him to get in his way. He then turned away from his friends and made his way to Orihime. She looked up when he stopped in front of her, "C'mon. I'm taking you home."
"I can—"
"I'm taking you home, Inoue." And then he started to walk in the direction of her home. Orihime paused, her eyes wide with shock. Sado was somewhat relieved; it was nice to see life in those deep eyes. She glanced back at the two men then slowly started to follow Ichigo.
"Those two," Chad muttered lowly.
Ishida scoffed, "I hope he knows what he's doing."
"Yeah."
"Kurosaki may be an idiot, but he isn't good with words. Maybe, for once, he'll keep his mouth shut." Then they turned in the other direction, heading to their respective homes.
…
…
She looks good in red
In fact
She looks good with blood
…
…
"Kurosaki-kun…" Orihime whispered into the cold night. He glanced back at her; she had kept her distance, about eight feet away. And he was glad. Just look at her eyes, emotions, emotions, the way he remembered them: bright and golden and honey and happiness and laughter and sticky with sweets. They were now filled with worry and a little fear, wide and taking over most of her face. Her pink lips were turned down, her cheeks lighting up with boiling blood. She was blushing. How good can this night possibly get? He stopped walking and turned to face her. "T-Thank you."
Thank you…
Thank you?
"Say something, you idiot," his hollow was eager. Happy to see her, finally.
"You're…welcome." He said, rubbing across the back of his neck awkwardly. He risked another glance towards her. She was watching him closely, as if her eyes could see through him. He honestly didn't like when she looked at him like that; it made his stomach clench and a sweat break across his skin. She had also stopped walking, only three feet away from him now, her large eyes darting across his face, moving slightly side to side, shining, like an open book, showing all her emotions. How had she kept those honey orbs bottled up like that? When they were so wide and trusting and innocent? She was stronger than he thought. The cold wind blew across them strongly, as the moment was shattered. She shivered and Ichigo realized she was still in her sweater and skirt, high socks that reached her knees.
"I should get home," She whispered, quickly walking ahead of him until she broke into a light jog.
"Wait up." He followed after her, his long legs quickly swallowing hers. She was lightly surprised to see him still following her. She slowed considerably, but Ichigo wouldn't be deterred, he continued to follow her pace.
"You don't have to walk me home, Kurosaki-kun." She replied, glancing away from his face.
"Didn't you hear what I said in the classroom earlier, Inoue?" She nodded hesitantly, her eyes growing wider and her heart rate accelerated. "Good. Then you know that I'll wait. As long as you need it, Inoue. I'll wait for you to tell me." Then he looked away from her eyes and scowled his handsome scowl, "We're here."
She glanced up, too, and was slightly grateful to see her apartment. She started towards the steps, but not before Ichigo stepped into her path and held out his hand. She stared down at it, blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks, and then peeked at him, confusion clear on her face. Ichigo scoffed softly, "Tch. If you're not going to touch me or talk to me at all, at least give me a handshake." He looked away from her eyes, staring out in the night. She peered back down at his hand, back to his disgruntled face, and hesitantly reached out her hand. Her bare fingertips brushed against his and she tried to ignore the way her body responded: electricity shot through her veins, her tummy clenched, her skin broke out in goosebumps, and her mouth parted, her form completely melting. It felt good to touch him again, to talk to him…finally. When her palm clamped around his, she gasped.
And he pulled her forward.
He twisted their wrists, yanking her body towards his. Her face hit his chest and his arm wrapped tightly around her neck, his hand clenched around hers before his other limb joined and wrapped around her waist, his hot palm pressing against her back, bringing them even closer. She couldn't focus, not with him so close, no boundaries, no friends to embarrass them and break them apart, her apartment only a few feet away, her knees pressed together, thighs shaking. Her lips parted in a little 'o' shape as her hands were splayed across his hard chest, mashed between them. He embraced her tight, way too constricted for comfort, too snug to breathe. She felt like she was going to burst, but she didn't mind. She couldn't stop herself; not from inhaling his scent, not her hands clutching onto his shirt to hold him tighter, not her eyes brimming with tears for this sweet torture.
"Don't do that again," he whispered into her hair, his chin moving against the top of her head.
She frowned, and started to struggle, "Kurosa—"
"First, don't go into battle like that." He squeezed her to his chest even firmer. "And second, don't shut me out. Ever. Do you know what it felt like, Inoue? To have you not look at me, not even spare me a fucking glance? Just…Just don't do that to me anymore. Don't! Do you hear me?" He gripped her shoulders and leaned away, looking her straight in the eye. Shocked, deep amber met desperate, angry brown. She was surprised at the emotion, the violence, the unrestrained hurt in his voice. Had it really been months? She had felt like it was years, weighing her down, slicing through her inch by inch, slowly taking over every limb until she felt herself crumble at night. "Inoue? Are you listening to me?"
She didn't reply. And she felt her eyes burn once again. She wouldn't let him…not like this. Shoving past him, she wrenched from his hold, hurried up the small steps, managed not to trip, jerked the key in the lock with shaking fingers, and pushed her way inside. Before she closed the door, she succeeded to say, "Go home, Kurosaki-kun and leave me alone." The door slammed behind her.
He stared at the only entrance to her house and frowned, as if to wait for her to come out. For once, his hollow was silent, satisfied. Ichigo let out a sigh, ignoring how his warm breath came out in a cool cloud. Tucking his hands in his pockets, he turned away from her home. At least he got one thing accomplished: he got her to talk to him.
…
…
This heart
Can't forget
Its feelings for you
…
…
Finally. She had made it.
Hoisting herself over the rock, she let out a silent breath. Finally. Finally. She rested for a few seconds, it was easy to do. The white, long Arrancar dress is so hard to climb things in. She quickly moved up her legs, straddling the giant rock before she prepared herself to slide down it. Ishida had already made it down, stumbling and running just like her. But when she turned her head…her world shattered. Literally.
She hadn't made it.
Not in time.
"So you came, woman."
Her eyes widened.
Don't.
"Perfect timing. Watch carefully."
Please, don't.
"The man who you entrusted with all your hope is about to die."
"DON'T!"
The hole.
The hole in his chest.
"N-No…"
His limp body, wounded, a hole, vastly falling to the ground. Calling out to her powers, desperation clear in her veins, the yellow dome caught him in time and she panted, trying to concentrate. Don't die, Kurosaki-kun. Please, not for me. She hurried toward where his limp body was, unmoving, unchanging, hole, hole, hole.
A flash of black had her pausing in mid-step. She wanted to scream up at him, into that neutral, dead face, shout at him, why? why? why? The only person she had ever loved. Gone. Why?
"It's useless," he said, staring down at her, without even a glance of sympathy or regret. "No matter how much you wish to help, your meager powers cannot save him from his fate."
Shut up, shut up, shut up! Please, just let me…
She gasped in air, staring past him, onto her friend, her savor, everything to her, "Kurosaki-kun…Kurosaki-kun…"
"Perhaps I wasn't clear," Ulquiorra continued with a blatant glare. "It's usele—"
A wave of blue past her tears. She couldn't focus. A dull place in the back of her mind whispered, 'Ishida-kun'. Whatever he was doing, it distracted him and that was enough for her. Dodging past a blue arrow, she skidded around her captor and ran as fast as she could to Ichigo. Just once…just once…she had done this, to protect him, to make him stop fighting. She had handed herself over to keep him safe. So why? Why was he hurt like this?
Hole, hole, hole…
"Kurosaki-kun!" Her tanned globe instantly wrapped around his still, strong frame.
Don't look at his eyes, don't look at his eyes, don't look…
She glanced into the eyes. Those eyes that were so serious, dead set and burned amber when he was solemn, laughing, smiling eyes that twinkled mischievously coffee when he was joking, the eyes that seemed to look right through her, the eyes that made her stomach clench and her tongue tie and her face blush. But now…
Why'd you look?
No, no, no…
Seconds, minutes, could've been hours…
Was Ishida dead yet? She didn't know.
Seconds, minutes, could've been hours…
No change. No reversing. No blinking eyes, lopsided smile, and a 'Thanks, Inoue,' before he launched powerfully back into battle.
That's when the tears came. Burning, branding into her eyes, staining her pale skin, dripping down her chin, onto the sandy, unpleasant ground that she despised so much. She couldn't stop them now. She could feel the hot droplets dragging out her soul with them, stabbing every corner of her heart, making her stomach burn harshly.
Don't leave me. Don't leave me. Don't leave me.
What should I do?
She had always felt, in some way, he would constantly be alright. She believed he would always win. And she had had so much faith, she reminded herself to not worry, to leave it, allow him to win. But now…
She tightened her hands into fists on the hard ground, allowing the tears to continue, digging her fingernails into her soft flesh.
Ishida-kun, a soft bell rang in her head.
"Take care of Kurosaki."
No. Stop.
He broke right through her barrier, slashed towards Ishida. She hadn't even realized she had put it up around the Quincy. She turned towards the fight, saw his tail whip impressively.
Kurosaki-kun…
Kurosaki-kun…
Kurosaki-kun…
"Save us, Kurosaki-kun!"
"I'll protect you."
She felt it. The overpowering reiatsu that made you want to curl up, so painstakingly familiar. She was too afraid, too afraid to turn around and see what she had created. Her hair whipped around her shaking, sobbing form before she mustered up the courage, pausing the tears, to look back at him.
…
What had she done?
…
…
I'm not afraid
I'm not afraid of you
…
…
"Oh," Kurosaki Yuzu looked up curiously with her big brown eyes, "It's…snowing…"
Karin scoffed, "Ew. I hate snow." She thrust her chopsticks into the rice as Yuzu closed the door again, settling back to the stove. Karin sighed as a couple of ghost clouded around her, staring at her like she was their savoir or something. Ichi-nii would have to do something about them later.
Yuzu squealed, "Snow is the best. You can make snow angels and snow men and—"
"Catch a cold or possibly pneumonia…" She stabbed her chopsticks into one's eyes. it cringed and cried while the other hurried to scurry away. Karin sighed, leaning back in her seat as she finished her breakfast, "I hate the cold."
They heard a clump from upstairs, shuffling of feet, a door opened and closed…
"Three, two, one…" They counted off together, Karin's face indifferent, while Yuzu wore her usual expression of worry.
"ICHIGOOOO~"
"There he goes again," Karin placed her hands behind her head, sliding her eyes closed as she listened to her father scream and shout.
"Oi, they better not mess up…" Yuzu sighed, grabbing another bowl she could dump the omelets in. Placing them on the table, she glanced at the stairs and shook her blonde head. They could at least be considerate enough to come downstairs.
"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM, OLD MAN!"
"WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT? DINNER STARTS AT SEVEN!"
"I WAS HELD UP BY GHOSTS, WHAT'S IT TO YOU?"
"OH, GHOSTS? FINE, BLAME IT ON THE GHOSTS! I GUESS GHOSTS IS THE REASON YOUR ROOM IS A MEEEESSSS! When are you going to start gaining some respect for this family?" There were sounds of cries of agony and shouts and low curses and rumbling feet over the twins' heads.
"Oni-chaaan! Come eat breakfast! The Tamagoyaki is ready!" Just then, there was an almighty crash. The girls watched, preparing to see who would step out of the room first this time. Ichigo walked out, running a hand through his unruly, spiky orange hair. He was already dressed and started to eat on his own, grabbing bits of food and sighing unhappily when their father burst through the door, glass stuck in bits of his face.
"So cruel!" he cried on the ground, wiggling his bottom and slinking around the room like a worm in dirt. Karin jabbed her foot into his kidney, watching as he wiggled and whined, eyes filling with tears. Karin sighed and hurried upstairs to grab her seasonal clothes.
As Ichigo headed towards the door, he heard, "Oi! Oni-chan! Here!" Yuzu thrust a coat, mittens, hat, a dark jacket with a hood and white faux furs. He put them all one, wrapping a dark scarf around his neck and thrusting his fingers into the burgundy gloves. He patted Yuzu's round head and she smiled brightly as he walked into the snow. A snowflake instantly stuck to his nose and he grimaced unhappily.
Oh, well. He would have to deal with it.
…
…
Running won't solve the problem
It'll just draw it out longer
…
…
He didn't want to look at her.
He knew if he did, he would do something stupid, like say something out in class, completely ruining his image. He could feel Tatsuki and Ishida both glaring at the back of his orange head and as much as he wanted to lash out and tell them to 'Fuck off', he knew that wasn't the way to handle things. He just needed a distraction…it's really cold outside…Shit. He couldn't do this. He had already finished the test in front of his and there was no reason to go over it since he had studied the night before. Even though, Orihime was locked in his head seventy five percent of the time and he fell asleep with her running through his head.
He stared down at his hand again. The healed hand. The one he was sure that had been shattered completely when he had fought, but somehow healed in the morning he had woke, detecting Orihime's power covering his fingers. He curled and uncurled the digits, as if to wait for it to smash again, but it didn't and it hadn't for the last few months. When had she come and healed it? While he was out? No, that was impossible since the captains had said she had been taken captive one day prior. He scratched his bright hair then turned his attention a few chairs in front of him, one seat to the left to be correct.
He trying to recover from that bizarre sensation – the funny, but hefty flurry of his heartbeat, the peculiar feeling in his abdominal, this, this extraordinary, weird feeling that made his palms sweat, made his throat arid.
"Oi! Inoue! Inoue!"
He jumped in his seat as the teacher stood.
And then he saw the problem.
She was…sleeping?
"Inoue! Inoue! Wake up!"
Thick eyelashes fluttered to show off amber eyes, "Oh…" She sat up, the waterfall of copper hair falling around her. She balled her hand into a tiny fist and rubbed it across one eye, blinking wearily, "Ano…sensai…"
Snap!
Ichigo hopped out of his seat as soon as the teacher smacked Orihime on the head with the tan ruler, "Stay awake in my class, Inoue Orihime!"
She didn't even seem affected by it and blinked again, "Hai, sensai!" Her chirpy voice was back. Ichigo slowly relaxed, but his hollow was growling protectively. Ugh. Could he catch a break?
"Kurosaki, is there a problem?" The teacher waved his ruler at him.
Ichigo opened his mouth.
"Sit down, idiot!" Tatsuki hissed at him.
He hesitated then sat down, plopping roughly in his seat. "No, sensai."
"Thought so. Now…whoever is done with their test can…"
He allowed himself to drift away again, keeping his eyes on Orihime. She hunched over her desk, lying her chin on the wood. She was sleeping in class? That was unheard of.
Inoue…
…
…
Tell me lies
That's how
I know
I'll survive
…
…
Tell me what you think. Reviews are great, by the way. Loving the advice and thoughts.