Hey. guys here is the Chapter 3.
Good News, I have April Vacation so i have more time on my hands. I am going to try and edit and wrap-up Just Friends up.
ENJOY!
DISCLAIMER: I DO not own Bleach Tite does.
Rukia stood up on a roof, perusing the perimeter. No sign of arrancars in her area. She couldn't help but think about what happened to her; how weak she was in that instance. The fact that She had failed her mission, and Renji had to step in and rescue her ate away at her pride. She knew Renji didn't mind stepping in and aiding her but, she felt as if it would soon become an obligation for him. He had a lot of faith in her; she couldn't argue with that but, if he has to continue putting his own work aside to aid her all the faith he had in her would fade. That's was what worried her most. Him never believing in her again. Rukia felt a familiar spiritual power coming her way.
"Ichigo?" She noticed him from afar and he seemed to have been carrying someone. A girl. As he approached her Rukia noticed the girl being Orihime.
"Ichigo…what happened?" Rukia exclaimed before Ichigo could find the time to land. "She was attacked by an arrancar" He said, his face filled with distress.
"Weren't you there?" From how Orihime looked it seemed safe to say that she was alone, but from the look on Ichigo's face it was also safe to say that he was there and he was unable to protect his friend. Ichigo's Achilles heels was his inability to let go of all despair when he is unable to fully protect his friends, and his biggest weakness was his pride. Those two things did not aid him well in battle at all, they dragged him down, anchoring down all his other strengths.
"I was there." His tone stained with anger and guilt. Rukia knew she had to knock some sense into him, get his confidence back up, but she couldn't find it in her; she too was now suffering from a broken pride. "I'm sure she'll be fine. Bring her to Kisuke, he can bandage her up real fast." Rukia said. Ichigo said nothing, he kept his gaze on Orihime's severely injured body.
"Rukia, can you take her?" Ichigo asked, his gaze still on Orihime. "I would, Ichigo, but I have been given strict orders to stay at my post, Kisukes store is a bit far from here." She felt sick for even denying to help orihime for her obligations, but leaving her post would cause future conflicts not with the enemy but worst; the soul society.
"Damn it" Ichigo said. Orihime winced and opened one eye weakly. She managed a smile.
"Don't worry I'm okay" Her voice strained and hoarse. "How can you say your okay, your covered in blood"
"…I know It looks bad, but I feel better than I look, and please don't blame yourself, it was my fault for not moving and dodging the attack as fast." What she was saying in no way made him feel better. In fact it made him feel worse. Way worse. How could she be so forgiving. Despite Orihime's optimism he could not forgive himself.
"Orihime. I'm sorry" Ichigo murmured. His eyes fixated onto hers.
"It's not your fau…" Her words trailed off and she slowly lost consciousness again. Ichigo vowed he'd always protect his friends and family, and whenever that vow was broken, it felt like the promise he made was broken, and he would never be able to forgive himself if anything were to happen. Rukia watched him sulk from behind, as she watched the two she pictured herself in Orihimes shoes, and Ichigo being Renji. She knew Orihime forgave Ichigo because she blamed herself; in all this orihime felt like she let Ichigo down. She could feel it even if she didn't say it. Ichigo was too blinded by his guilt to even notice that.
"Ichigo I think she needs care right away" Rukia interrupted. Ichigo sighed and got up, he slowly and cautiously picked up Orihime. Her stomach hung from his shoulder while her head hanged from his back. "These arrancars are becoming a real pain in the ass. I swear as soon as I get back, I'm going to kill the bastard who did this to Orihime"
"You didn't kill the arrancar? You let it go?"
"I couldn't I had to retreat or Orihime would have been killed!"
"Ichigo, do you know what you've done. Letting him go-"
"I had to let him go Rukia!" Ichigo snapped. Rukia stopped, surprise at his lash out. Maybe the fact that he was forced to leave a battle against his own will was another thing that added more torment to all of this. Ichigo would never agree to end a fight even if he was left with one leg to fight with. His pride has been severely bruised.
...
Renji had defeated two regular hollows who'd appear near his mission spot. He tried blocking the idea of Rukia getting hurt again, but he knew she was stronger than she seemed, he had to have more faith in her. He sighed deeply, checking feeds on his soul cell, He scrolled down the devise and checked Rukia's area which was about six miles from where he was. He noticed two other spiritual pressures with her
"...Ichigo and Orihime?" He said to himself. He was confused. Why was Orihime and Ichigo there. He felt a bit relieved that Rukia was not alone, she had company. He hated this mission, despite the anxiety he is put through during this mission, no mission was harder than his mission when he had to arrest rukia and bring her back to the Seireitei for an execution. That was the hardest thing he had to do. Picturing that day made him hate himself so much. Why did he ever agree to that? Bringing down his best friend, and turning her in to get killed.
He cringed at the memories of it all. He knew Rukia had said numerous time she understood why he had to do that, but he never found the time to forgive himself. So he made an oath; He'd always be there for her whenever she was in trouble, even if it meant risking his own life. He didn't make this oath out of the guilt he felt for trying to imprison her; he made it because he cared for her. Growing up together they formed a unbreakable bond, trust and care. Either one would kill and die for the other, but the day for her arrest he had let her down, he'd broken that bond. He felt it was right for him to mend it again.
...
"Captain?" Rangiku said, she noticed the uneasy look on Captain Hitsugaya's face. Captain Hitsugaya was aware and felt that someone had gotten hurt from the arrancars, their spiritual pressure decreased exponentially, and he had a pretty good idea who it was. "Did something happened captain?" Rangiku question a bit worried herself now. "Someone had been a victim of an arrancar attack."
"Who?"
"Orihime Inoue" Captain Hitsugaya said, his tone grim.
"Is she alright?" Rangiku gasped. She had formed a friendship with Orihime during her time in the living world.
Orihime was sweet enough to share her home for her, and finding out that her friend was a victim, worried Rangiku greatly. …
...
"Her breathing is stable" Ichigo was able to bring Orihime to Kisuke's in time. He'd been told if he waited any later, Orihime's heart could have given out from the collision and she could have died if she'd arrive a minute later. Upon hearing that, Ichigo felt his heart drop. He wanted to wait till Orihime had regained consciousness before he could leave. The injuries weren't fatal. She suffered from a concussion and a broken right arm; she had stitches near her temples. It amazes him that she made it considering the fact that her temple veins had a small rupture in them. She had many stitches near her neck, and a black eye. Looking at her made him more guilty.
"Ichigo?" Orihime's soft voice averted Ichigo from his guilty conscious. "Orihime, are you feeling okay?" He said, in relief. She nodded with a faint smile. As she inhaled in she winced a bit.
"Don't overdo it" He said alarmed by her pained expression.
"You saved my life. I want to thank you Ichigo" Orihime whispered. Her voice faint and hoarse. Ichigo didn't feel right to take her thank you. He didn't do or prevent anything. "I failed. I wasn't able to prevent you from getting so hurt" He said, his voice trembled in despair.
Orihime knew Ichigo well enough that he always put himself through a lot of grief whenever he "thinks" he didn't succeed in protecting people he cared for.
"If you had not offered to walk me, and if you had not protected me from the arrancar, I would be dead. So I'll take a few bruises if it means I can still live."
"Does your arm hurt?"
" A bit" She said, she knew she couldn't lie and say no it felt fine, it was pretty see through; she winced whenever she moved it.
"I won't be able to 'not' worry. After I find the bastard that hurt you, ill bring you to the clinic to recover, and until this whole arrancar mess is over you shouldn't stay alone defenseless." Ichigo said. Orihime turned her face away from his. She had to hide her blushed face. The clinic was basically Ichigo's house. Staying at Ichigo's house; overnight brought more redness to her face. She couldn't accept the offer, she'd feel like a pain and moocher.
" It's fine, I can stay at my pla-"
"I wasn't asking permission." Ichigo interrupted. A ghost of what seemed to be smile appeared on his lips. Orihime felt her cheeks flushed.
"Thanks" She said a bit surprised and glad.
Did you like it yes? No? Eh?
Please REVIEW!
Chapter 4: Worries of a Soul Reaper
-Rukia starts to worry when she realizes Renji is in fight; will she abandon her own mission to aid him
Or will her insecurities come in the way
-Rukia's worry keeps her gaurd down and posses a potential weak point for a certain enemy; Will renji be there for her again [Suspense builder]
-Orihime packs for her stay at Ichigos house; though she plans on spending only 7 days but her suitcase contradicts
-Ichigo must find a way to avoid embarassment from his family for bringing a girl over to sleep over what will his excuse be?
STAY TUNE
Thanks for reading :]
