AN: Already another chapter? Yes! This one is sorta filler-ish, but it's got a bit of plot too so... call it what you'd like! XD Thanks to everybody who has reviewed so far, I tried to reply to every one of them, but if you didn't get one, or couldn't, thank you so much! Hope to read more great reviews from all of you with this chapter! (:
~The Next Day, Around Seven AM~
Orihime steps through the narrow and dimly lit hallways of a small hospital, knowing without question where she's going, and who she's coming to see. When she finally comes to the familiar door she's entered in through every day for the past few years, she doesn't hesitate to open it, but steps in easily, a small smile appearing on her face.
A young man with brown hair lies silent and unmoving in his bed, many machines and monitors connected to him, one of which steadily beats with his heart. He's been comatose for quite some time- but even so she comes to visit every day.
"Ohayo Nii-chan!" She says cheerfully, stepping farther into the room and setting down her bag. "I know it's early, but I have a lot to tell you!"
She steps over to the window first, opening the blinds carefully, letting bright May sunshine into the room. She turns to him, smiling.
"It's a beautiful day outside, just like the ones you used to like so much. They should've opened the windows everywhere, but they haven't got to it yet I suppose…"
She gently pulls the lone visitors chair in the room beside his bed, sitting down and putting her hands in her lap.
"I got a new job. I guess I should tell you that first. It pays a lot more than my old one, and I start today so…" She trails off quietly, her cheerful expression slowly melting into a more melancholy one. She gently takes his hand. "…maybe you'll get to wake up soon. I don't know how it'll work out. My new boss, Grimmjow, is a little less than ordinary but… I have a good feeling about this."
She glances over at Sora's peaceful face for a moment, waiting for some kind of response, even if she knows she won't get one. She can hardly remember the last time she saw him smile, and she doubts she will soon, even with her new job. There's already been so many complications with trying to wake him up before, she knows not to get her hopes up too high…
"I just don't know anymore Nii-chan. Sometimes I wonder if you'll ever wake up. I doubt you can hear me now, but I hope you know I miss you…" She murmurs quietly.
She sits there for a while longer, saying nothing, hung between getting up and going and staying just a little longer. She's far passed the stage where she's worried to leave because he might wake up without her, but sometimes it resurfaces for just a moment- just long enough for her to feel the faint anxiety she's used to by now. Eventually, though, she does stand, and she quickly bends down and kisses his forehead, giving a small, sad sort of smile.
"Sora… have a nice day."
She leaves with only one quick and loving glance back, knowing she'll see him again tomorrow.
~Eight AM~
Grimmjow steps into the cramped elevator leading up to his office, hung over and feeling like he's been hit by a train. He pushes his floor button repeatedly, impatiently waiting for the doors to close, sighing with faint relief when they begin to do so.
"Wait! Hold the elevator!" A frantic voice calls.
He groans a little, toying with the idea of letting the doors close anyway but stopping them with his hand, sighing. Orihime immediately steps into the doorway, breathing heavily, not realizing it's him and stepping in quickly, murmuring a quick and quiet "Arigato" to him. The doors close, and, after adjusting her suit-skirt, she glances up at him with a smile, only to turn completely red. He frowns deeply at her.
"O-ohayo gozaimasu Grimmjow-san!" She says quickly, freaking out internally. "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you-"
The man pinches the bridge of his nose at the noise, head pounding, a scowl slowly forming on his face.
"Shut up will you? It's eight in the freakin' morning." He finally says, none-too-kindly.
She quiets down immediately, frowning a little but knowing she can't talk back since she's on the job. He smirks with amusement at this, chuckling under his breath.
"So you do know how to be quiet!"
"Well you are my boss now..." She whispers ruefully, looking up at the floor indicator above the door. "I should be polite. It's different from last night- I wasn't just thrown into a limo by a strange group of men."
"True." He murmurs in agreement, watching as the doors finally open to his floor. "Well Ms…."
He suddenly draws a rather large blank, raising his eyebrow, freezing mid-sentence.
"Oh shit." He murmurs suddenly. "The hell is your name?"
She laughs then, and it catches him off guard. He immediately turns to the defensive.
"Well?!"
"Inoue!" She giggles, raising her hands apologetically. "Orihime Inoue! You forgot to ask last night!"
For a split second a faint red tinges his cheeks, and he runs a hand over his face, looking away.
"I was a little… less than sober last night. I need to quit drinking." He murmurs to himself, stepping out of the elevator without another glance her way. She follows suit, following behind him until he stops at a fine wooden desk outside of a small room (which she can only assume is his office), bare except for a lamp and a phone she knows she'll probably be using quite often.
"Here's your desk. You and I will be the only people on this floor, other than the occasional guest, and Nnoitra and Starrk, whom you've already been acquainted with. You'll get a call if someone is asking to be brought up here, and you'll ask me whether it's okay and do whatever else I ask. I'm sure you're smart enough to figure it out." He murmurs bitterly, stepping for his office. "Don't bug me with stupid questions or if you get lonely, got it? Good."
He slams his office door as soon as he finishes his sentence.
Around thirty minutes after all this, a tentative knock breaks the silence of Grimmjow's office, along with a quiet:
"Uhm… Grimmjow-san?"
The CEO glances up from some rather extensive paperwork, growling faintly.
"The hell did I just tell you…" he glances at his watch. "Thirty minutes ago?"
She carefully opens the door, peeking her head in embarrassedly.
"Well, it's just… isn't there something I should be doing? I thought, I don't know, that I'd be helping you with things and-"
He cuts her off immediately.
"Fine. Go get me coffee."
She blinks a few times at this simple reply, a little shocked that he hadn't started screaming at her. It takes her a few moments after this to register that he just told her to do something, and she steps in farther.
"Uhm, what kind?"
"A large decaf long black with light foam, and I'm talking light foam, layered on top with a sprinkle of chocolate powder. And I'm talking a sprinkle, not a damn spoonful."
She blinks at him again, and he rolls his eyes.
"Hello, earth to red-head! Get the hell-"
"S-sorry! Yes sir!"
She almost trips when she scuttles out of the office as quickly as she can, and he holds himself back from laughing just long enough until she's in the elevator.
Needless to say, he laughs so loudly she can hear it even as the doors close.
And-of course- as soon as she returns with the coffee, he takes a sip and immediately throws it in the trash. The rest of her day only gets worse.
AN II: I really love making Grimmjow such a jerk. It just fits him so well. XD But anyways, hope you enjoyed! Next chapter to be up soon! (:
