Hello again. I hope that you enjoyed the last chapter. The idea, thankfully, has kept flowing in my head and somehow I continue to play the entire story in my head with me as Orihime. As I clean and do other chores, I find myself talking to Ichigo and Tatsuki, and plotting out the details. I hope that this turns out as well as the other chapters. This one is for Nypsy, who gave me so many ideas. Thank you Hun!
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, or Bleach. If I did, the story would be very different, and no fun to write fan fiction for.
Chapter 3
Orihime watched, as Ichigo seemed to be having an internal battle. His eyes would darken then lighten every few seconds.
What was going on?
"Ichigo?"
Her voice held a bit of trepidation.
His eyes had looked that way when he fought Grimmjow. She had been scared. She couldn't deny it, but she loved Ichigo. And that meant trying her best to accept him for all that he was. How could she not? He had saved her and never once judged her after what had happened.
Ichigo's eyes flew to hers and he shuddered involuntarily.
She had seen that side of him more than once, but she didn't shy away from him when he touched her. Why was she so forgiving? He had sensed her fear of him, yet she went to him. Did she trust him that much?
The moment was interrupted as Tatsuki burst through the door.
"Orihime? What happened? Why aren't you at school?" Her eyes were wide and she was panting as if she had run all the way from the school to the apartment.
"Tatsuki?"
Orihime couldn't help the look of confusion that settled onto her features.
"She came home because she was feeling ill." Ichigo sat down next to Orihime and motioned Tatsuki to come forward. "You left because you couldn't find her?"
Nodding her head, Tatsuki sat in the chair in front of them.
"So what exactly happened? Can you tell me now?" She crossed her arms and frowned, daring them to attempt to avoid the conversation.
Ichigo looked to his right and saw Orihime stiffen.
"Hime, do you want me to explain?"
"Ummm…. I guess."
Orihime's voice trembled. She didn't want to relive this.
With that, Ichigo hesitantly began to tell the story. How Orihime was taken by Ulquiorra under Aizen's orders, and forced into submission. He told the story as he knew it, what happened with the soul society and Hueco Mundo, and how he had become the beast that had nearly killed his friend, and brutally dismembered his foe. He told Tatsuki how he and Orihime had arrived home, and he had cared for her after her rape.
Tatsuki stared at Ichigo when he began to inform her of how he lost control, and she wasn't sure if she was happy that he saved Orihime or upset that Ichigo had turned out to be exactly what she feared, the things they called hollows.
Ichigo cringed as he saw the look on her face and took a deep breath as Tatsuki began to speak. "So… you're one of those…things? The beasts that took Orihime?"
"Ye-" He began before he was cut off by Orihime's protest.
"No! Ichigo is not one of the hollows. It was my fault that he became that way. I begged for him to not die and leave me, and to protect me he subjected himself to his hollow. It wasn't his fault. It was mine. It was entirely my fault."
Orihime trembled as she sat on the couch remembering what he had become.
It honestly did frighten her. She had seen nothing of her precious Ichigo inside that form. She had been shaken when he fought Grimmjow, but she was still able to see him, even if his eyes were not the gentle brown she knew. But he was still there. With the last form, his entire being had vanished, all of the honor and pride had evaporated.
All that was left was the instinct.
"Orihime…"
Ichigo looked at her with soft eyes. He couldn't help it, even after everything, she protected him and took the blame. He should be the one at fault. He had left her alone for too long, and hadn't gotten to her sooner.
"That wasn't your fault, I had promised that I'd protect you, but he took over that weakness. It wasn't your fault. But thank you… for protecting me." He slowly wrapped his arms around her small frame and drew her to his chest. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let her scent sooth him.
In spite of everything, she was still protecting him, just like his mother had.
Yea, and look where that got your mother, the hollow snickered in his head. She died protecting you. Orihime was abused protecting you, and now she is still protecting you. What will become of her?
Ichigo could practically see the smug look on the fucker's face.
Like I said before, shut the fuck up, horse, or do I have to beat you into submission?
Ichigo couldn't help but feel angry. He had to live with that asshole's voice in his head.
Sorry, King, I don't swing that way. And you can't get rid of me. I am you.
Ichigo felt himself freeze at those haunting words. I am you. He knew that was the truth, but to hear it come out of that creature's 'lips', caused the reality to sink in. That thing was a part of him. Orihime was going to have to get over his demons… literally.
Tatsuki looked at Orihime and let the news sink in.
Her best friend…had been repeatedly raped and abused? Ichigo had taken care of one of the bastards, but the other was still alive?
Her head hurt and her heart broke.
She had exploded at school, after Orihime had merely been afraid of touch, and she had yelled at Ichigo after he had risked his life countless times to protect and rescue Orihime. She had been angry Orihime had gone to her boyfriend to be protected, but didn't that make sense?
Ichigo had saved her, not Tatsuki. So why did it hurt so badly?
"Orihime, I-" Tatsuki's voice cracked and she felt tears slide down her cheeks at the inhumanity of it all.
Pain flit across Orihime's face and in the glistening of her eyes before she lunged out of Ichigo's hold and into Tatsuki's. It scared her, and every drive she had was telling her to run, not let Tatsuki touch her, but she knew Tatsuki wouldn't ever hurt her, and at that moment, she needed her best friend. She needed her sister.
Tears streamed down both of their cheeks and sobs began to wrack Orihime's body again. She cried bitter tears at how she hated how unfair her life had become, but she also cried tears of liberation. She cried in relief that Tatsuki hadn't rejected her, and that she still loved her enough to support her when she was weak.
Ichigo watched as the two girls cried together on the chair.
Orihime had her head pressed against Tatsuki's stomach and lap, while Tatsuki had wrapped her arms around Orihime's head.
He looked at the clock on the wall. It read 12:14, so it had taken three hours to explain to Tatsuki what had happened.
Standing, he decided that the next step was to make lunch, since that was all he could do at that moment. If he didn't leave he just might end up falling on the floor next to the girls crying, and he couldn't do that to Orihime. He was going to be strong for her, because if he wasn't, his bastard hollow would try to take over again.
Tatsuki looked up to meet the world with blurry eyes, but with a keen nose, as she smelt something cooking in the kitchen. Orihime was slumped against her thigh, having cried herself to sleep.
Tatsuki slowly moved her into a comfortable position, and placed her head on a pillow. She rubbed her eyes, then stood and stumbled into the kitchen. "Ichigo, has she gone to see a doctor?"
He looked over his shoulder to see Tatsuki in the room with him and slowly shook his head, "No, there's nothing a human doctor could do, and I wasn't going to trust her to Urahara." Ichigo stopped abruptly then felt a sly smile settle on his face, "Actually, now that you mention it, I know just who to take her to."
"Who?" Tatsuki looked perplexed.
"My father," He said, cringing.
He hoped his dad could be as professional about it as possible. And since Orihime refused to be around males, this might end up being a little more awkward than usual. Maybe his dad could recommend a woman.
.
.
.
Orihime woke to smell something akin to miso soup. She opened her eyes and groaned as the eyelashes stuck together and her eyes felt sore.
Oh that's right…I fell asleep on Tatsuki.
Wiping her eyes she walked into the kitchen to see Ichigo dutifully standing in front of the stove with a strange look on his face.
"Hey Hime, are you hungry?" He looked over his shoulder and chuckled at her stunned expression. Had she seen a ghost? Oh wait, that wouldn't have shocked her. So what was that look about?
Almost as if breaking off from a daze Orihime nodded and began to walk forward.
She hadn't meant to stare, but he had looked as if he was trying to glare at the soup until it cooked itself. She couldn't help but giggle at the thought, which made him give her a dubious look, which only caused her to collapse into a fit of laughter.
Ichigo blinked at his girlfriend as she wrapped her arms around her body, and began to laugh hysterically. Something was wrong with her. Before, when Tatsuki had been there, she had been bawling her eyes out… Now she was laughing. Laughing.
What was going on with her?
But it was obvious, she hadn't had enough time to heal… Maybe… she had suffered a memory loss?
No. Ichigo sighed to himself and began to glare at the soup again. He had left something out. What had he forgotten to put in the soup?
Orihime slowly stopped the fit of laughter and sobered. It felt good to laugh. In the back of her mind, she could feel a nagging impulse that she should be upset, and while she wasn't happy completely, the crying and understanding from Tatsuki had made the dark feeling drift away for now. Laughing didn't change the fact that she had been hurt, but she had drained herself of everything else.
The kitchen went silent for a minute, until Ichigo again tried the soup only to end up coughing and spitting the contents out into the sink. This wasn't working. Why didn't she have anything normal to eat in the house?
"What's the matter with it Ichigo?"
Orihime stared into the pot. She didn't exactly like miso soup and she would have been happy with bean paste and a loaf of bread, but if he took the time and effort to make it, she would eat it.
"I have no clue... But I think we're going to my house for dinner." He cringed and backed away from the soup. As he turned around he saw the flicker of fear flash over her features. "Hime, it's a good introduction back to people, and besides…" The last part, he barely admitted, but he knew if he didn't tell her, she'd probably be hurt. "We… need to talk to my father."
.
.
Orihime's Journal
Hueco Mundo -Entry Three
My body is nothing more than a piece of property. That's what Ulquiorra says.
So why don't I believe him?
My body must be more than property. Property doesn't feel. And I… I feel more than I want, even when I try to feel nothing.
I wish I could ignore what Aizen is doing to me. But all I can do is lie there, trying to keep from betraying myself. He laughs when I come and I know he finds it fun to break me to his will.
I hate my body. I hate what it does to me. I used to think sex was going to be enjoyable and romantic, but this violation and embarrassment overwhelms me. I don't know if I'll ever be able to make love… He has ruined me.
I used to want Ichigo to stay away, but I take it back.
I want him to save me. No, I need him to save me. I can't do this anymore... This nightmare is consuming me.
A/N: At the end of the chapter(well close to it), I attempted to put some humor, well as much as I could allow of this fiction. Also, thank you to the 2 reviews I got for last chapter. Please keep reviewing, it gives me inspiration to know that people are taking the time to read and review. Total of 8 reviews so far! Wooohoo! I would love to reach around 50, and I know it is a lot to ask, but I would be ecstatic if by the time I am done with the story I received that many if not more.
Guest: Thank you for the review of chapter 3. Also get an account so I can thank you properly instead of just saying 'guest'…However, thank you so much, I love that you like the plot and want me to update, so I will keep doing so. I will finish this story
Nypsy: Thank you so much for the review. I have had some very close friends in this circumstance, but usually it was before I met them, or when I was not close enough to them at that time for them to come to me for comfort or help so I was trying to make everything believable from just research…Which made me worry about the portrayal. Also, thank you for the advice, if you cannot tell I took some of it to heart. I was thinking about making her see a doctor at first, but I forgot who was a doctor that I could make her see. (Since like you said I didn't want her to be seen as insane or to have to make up a lie to tell a human doctor). Then when you mentioned Isshin I got a light bulb, (I will not give it away, but while I may not use him directly, I will be using him ^_^). The counseling is also a wonderful idea… You gave me so many light bulbs to work with, and I had been having an awkward time writing it. I erased half of what I had written in this chapter twice…. Which made me sad… But anyhow, thank you so much for the review and input, it makes me get my butt in gear and write.
