Author's note: Thank you Copper (again and again, :))
Disclaimer:Bleach and all characters, designs, etc. belong to Tite Kubo.
Reverse Time
Chapter 4:Sweet dreams
"Tatsuki-chan, I'm going!" Orihime yelled at the black haired girl. The lessons were over and Tatsuki had asked Orihime to accompany her to the Karate class.
"See you, Orihime! Take care!"
Orihime found her way out to the courtyard and when she was out of Tatsuki's sight, she let out a sigh. Finally some peace..!
She started walking again until she heard a loud scream not too far from her. 'A hollow again?'
The girl by instinct reached for her hairpins, but she wasn't able to find them. 'Ah... Right.. they are gone now..' Orihime thought.
"Are you okay?" Yoruichi asked her while they both sat in Urahara's place. She had bandages all over her hands and her neck but she replied cheerfully "Yes! I'm fine, Yoruichi-Sama! Thank you all for taking care of me!"
Yoruichi gave her a knowing smile. "Orihime-chan... You don't have to pretend in front of me." Yourichi's eyes softened. "I'm not Ichigo, you know..."
The girl's face saddened. "Yoruichi-sama... Is it okay for me to feel like this?"
"Look... "She locked eyes with her. "You will get better."
"How?"
"Slowly... They say time is the best healer."
"I don't want to make Kurosaki-kun worried again..."
" I think..." The older woman replied with a giggle. "...You should talk to him. He's very worried already! I'm actually surprised he hasn't set the whole town in fire yet!"
Orihime raised her head. "Kurosaki-kun is so kind and caring.."
"..Around you!" Yoruichi added with a wink.
The girl pouted."No! He cares about everyone! Kuchiki-san, Sado-kun, and even Ishida-kun and Renji-kun although he would die than admit it..."
"All those people?... Strange, I didn't see him giving his life for someone besides you."
"Yoruichi-san, that's not true!"
Yoruichi sighed," You are hopeless, Orihime!"
Orihime reached an orange lock that had fallen down from her ponytail and her eyes widened. Yoruichi noticed her action. " Is everything okay?"
"Where are my hairpins?"
"About that..."She stared at her shoes as if they were the most interesting thing in the world." You know..."
"Yoruichi-sama!"
"I'm sorry to say this... but they were destroyed."
"What?... How?"
"I wish I knew.... It seems the hougyokou absorbed them."
"Why?"Before she knew it, she was crying."I mean... There was nothing left?"
"No... Nothing...I'm so sorry..."
Another howl echoed. Please, make it stop!" She didn't realized she had her eyes closed. When she opened them, the screams stopped. The girl noticed someone near her staring to the direction of the hollow."Kurosaki-kun..." He had his usual scowl upon his face and he was biting his lower lip.
"The hollow attacks have been increased lately." He said with a frown.
Orihime nodded."Hai... but the new shinigami does a good work..."Orihime glanced at her feet.
Ichigo's face casted down."Yeah, Probably.."
"Kurosaki-kun, I didn't want to-"
"It's okay, Inoue. I'm used to it." he replied in a hurry. He didn't know what else to say, Of course he would be annoyed but he was always complaining about getting a holiday. There you go, King!
"Urahara-san didn't give you your badge back?" He heard her say.
"Um... Nope... He even got Kon away... I need a break, that's what he says..." Orihime could tell that he was irritated.
"But... That doesn't make it easier, right?"
He raised his shoulders. "No... I guess not..."
They stood in silence for a while, until they realized that they were totally alone.
"So..." He felt his tongue tied up in a knot. 'Well, Say something, King!'
"So..." Orihime mimicked him. She raised her head to look at him and met his gaze. They locked eyes for a minute and turned away, both blushing like mad.
"Let's go."
"Ah! Yes, you are right, Kurosaki-kun! Um..."She looked at him again. "Goodbye, Kurosaki-kun! Have a nice afternoon!"
He stared at her as she waved and walked away from him."Em... Wait, Inoue!"
"Hai?"
"May I walk you home?" He asked, his face colored by the deepest shade of red.
'Go, Go, King!' His hollow shouted at him.
'Shut up and die, okay?' He replied furiously.
"Um... Okay, Kurosaki-kun.. Thank you!"
The two teens were walking side by side, still having a light blush upon their features and occasionally glimpsed at each other. 'King, I told you to say something!'
'Will you shut it? I'm trying!'
'Well, yeah, I can see that! Just let me take over for a while!'
'Don't you dare-'
"YOU KNOW ME!"
"What?"Ichigo froze. He dropped his bag and looked behind him."What was that just now?..."
"Kurosaki-kun? Are you okay?"
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"That scream. It was so loud. There's no way you didn't hear it."
"Um...I'm sorry but I didn't hear anything..." the girl replied, her expression full of worry.
"But I..."
"Kurosaki-kun, maybe you need some rest," She grabbed his arm and lifted his bag."There..."
"Eh Thanks, Inoue. Yeah, I might need some rest."
She took a step in front of him and gazed at him."Here we are..."
He shot his head up. "What? So soon?"
The girl looked confused. "What do you mean by that?"
Damn it! I was supposed to talk to her..."I'm sorry..." he bowed his head in regret.
"Eh? Kurosaki-kun, why do you say that? Please get up!"
"I told myself I would talk to you...but" his felt his cheeks flaming. 'There's no reason to be ashamed now.'
"Talk to me? About what?"
"I want to know if you are feeling alright and-"
"Kurosaki-kun, don't," He heard her near tears and looked at her as he put his hand to stop her.
"No. Let me finish! If I can do anything to help you get better... I will do it! Anything!"
"Kurosa-"
"Let me help you! Don't shut me out. I can't..." He couldn't stop himself now. "..I can't stand seeing you like this... I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you... I'm sorry I wasn't there, by your side."
When she spoke her voice was wavering and nearly a whisper."What are you saying? You saved my life! What more can I ask?"
"Anything! Anything that will make you happy again! I swear I will do it!"
I am happy Ichigo..."Stop worrying about me. Then I will feel better."
He closed his eyes. Of course you would say that. He head her speak again." I will be fine! I've been worse and I got through that..."
"But if-"
"If I need something, I swear you will be the first to know..."She smiled at him, even though he saw tears running down her eyes."..Ichigo."
He smiled back. I know you mean it now. He walked away from her and he turned to her again."Oi! Orihime!"
Ichigo saw her widen her eyes."Yes?"
"I like it more when you call me by my first name." He laughed afterwards.
She smiled again and stared at him for as long she could see him. Maybe I will get better sooner than I thought."
~*~
"Onii-chan! You are home!"
As soon as he stepped in the house, Yuzu gave him a tight hug. He looked at her surprised."Um... Yuzu, Are you alright?"
"I missed you Onii-chan!"
"Ichi-nii, don't pay attention to her!" Karin walked in the living room with a bowl of popcorn in her arms.
Yuzu left her brother's embrace." Shut up you!"
"Hey, hey! Stop it! You are sisters, stop arguing anyway!"
"She wants to sleep in your room!" Karin replied with a neutral expression.
"Not gonna happen!" Ichigo shot back and Yuzu burst into tears.
"Come one,Onii-chan! Only for today!"
"Tell me one good reason..."
"Agh! She had a vision!" the black haired girl said in a theatrical manner.
"It wasn't a vision! I had … a feeling!"
"Oh yeah, that's reasonable!"
Before they could start a fight again, Ichigo spoke up." Wait you two! What kind of vision?"
"It's a feeling!"
"Whatever."
"Well, I don't know. I keep getting the same feeling now and then I feel that something bad is going to happen."
Ichigo looked at her shocked." What?"
"She keeps asking if you're home yet or if I called you to see if you're alright. Stuff like that..." Karin interrupted again.
Ichigo clenched his fists. "Don't worry. Everything is going to be alright."
"Are you sure, Onii-chan?"
"Yeah. Don't worry about me. I'm going to go to bed... I feel sleepy for some reason."
"Ichi-nii, don't you wanna watch a movie with us?"
"No thanks. Where's old man anyway?"
"He had an emergency. Do you want to call him?"
"Agh. no. I will see him tomorrow anyway. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Ichi-nii!"
"Goodnight Onii-chan!"
The moment he closed the door behind him, he fell down to the floor.' You felt that too, didn't you?'
'Of course, king. I am you, remember?' his hollow replied.
'Although, I want to forget it. Yes, you are. Then the voice too? You heard it?'
'What the hell was that?'
'That, King, was you..."
He got up the floor where he was lying and reached for his nightwear. 'What?'
'The voice was yours. You didn't recognize it? Man, you are lame...'
'Shut up! You are telling me that I heard myself screaming 'you know me' and you are reacting like that? How normal is that?'
'As normal as having an inner hollow and, furthermore, talking with him!'
Ichigo sighed and lied on his bed. 'Yeah. You are right on this one.' He still hadn't figured out what was that voice exactly and how did that happen, when he felt extremely dizzy and a heavy headache. Damn, he was also feeling really sleepy.
He closed his eyes and he fell asleep almost immediately.
He was sinking. Deeper and deeper. Only he didn't know where. Everywhere was blank. It had already began.
"Sweet dreams, Ichigo."
~*~
"Oni-chan. I'm feeling better today," Orihime started to say as she sat down in front of Sora's picture."Actually I'm very happy..." A light blush was visible on her cheeks."Kurosaki-kun told me to call him by his first name and he calls me with my first name too! Also he lifted me in his arms... KYA!" She gave a big smile but after a minute it faded away."I am selfish, aren't I? He does all those things for me. He also said that he can't stand seeing me sad, that he will do anything I ask him. He was looking me again with those eyes, I know he meant what he said..."
She lowered her gaze to the floor. " I wish I could protect him for just once, and be the one to cheer him up when he is down...like Kuchiki-san is doing. He must be missing her now..." she raised her head to her brother's photo and checked the clock above him.
"Ah...Well... I have to go to sleep. Goodnight, Onii-chan!"
Orihime closed the lights and made her way to the bedroom. As she walked towards her bed she felt a shiver going down her spine. A huge amount of reiatsu exploded in the night. Kurosaki-kun!
She ran to the window and gazed the road below. What's wrong, Kurosaki-kun?
~*~
It was blank.
Everything around him was blank.
He realized that he was having the same dream again. Yet, now something was different. He heard a giggle somewhere near."Who is there?"
"Welcome, Ichigo." the voice said. He could hear it clearly now but he couldn't recognize the owner of the voice.
"What are you talking about?" He tried to keep all his senses focused but something distracted him. Come on, Ichigo! It's a damned dream!
"Really?" the voice asked. This time he heard it from somewhere else.
"What...?"
"You think that's a dream?" Ichigo felt that it was everywhere near him.
Damn you, you bastard! Don't play with me! "So... You can read my mind now?"
"Hehe... You are so easy to mess with..."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ichigo was looking furiously around him for a presence.
"Don't get mad, Ichi-kun. Besides you ought to treat me with kindness. You will beg for my help later."
"You scum! Get out of my head! Is it you, hollow? I swear if it's you, you are dead! I mean, seriously D- E- A- D! I'm going to kill you, you-"
"Shut up!" the voice shouted and Ichigo thought his head was under attack. He fell to his knees with his hands on his head." I'm warning you, Ichigo. You don't want to see me angry."
The bells in Ichigo's head started to fade slowly." Yeah? You think so? You know what? I'm just going to sit down and stay silent for the rest of the dream!"
"Come on, Ichigo! Don't make me laugh!"
"What are you going to do? Wake me up? You are only in my head!"
"Maybe... But the head controls the rest of the body and is able to play millions of games."
"Okay, whatever you say," Ichigo sat down as he said. " Do what you want."
The voice gave a wicked laugh that made Ichigo shudder."You are such a fool..."
"And what about you? What are you?"
"Me?" the voice giggled again."Your worst nightmare!"
~*~
He felt like suffocating. He was panting hard, trying to steady his breath. Ten minutes had passed since he had woken up. It was already morning. Strange... I don't think I slept that much.
"I really have to buy a dream catcher..." He breathed and looked around the room. What the...-?
Something was different. What the hell did Karin and Yuzu do in my room? And where's that crazy old man, anyway?
He got off his bed and put on a T-shirt as he gazed at his room again. Okay, seriously... What happened here? It was like it had been robbed.
His TV- missing.
His guitar- missing.
His posters- missing.
He rolled his eyes. Karin and Yuzu are doomed! His father too. Maybe it was the old man's new way to piss him off. He closed his bedroom door behind him.
Walking down the stairs, a smell came to his nose. Wait a minute. Is Yuzu cooking mom's recipes? I would like to see that.
He came down to the living room but he didn't find anyone. Where did everybody go?
"Ichigo, you are up!"
Ichigo froze. He could have swore his heart had stopped. He turned slowly to look in the kitchen and his jaw dropped.
"... Mom?"
Merry christmas everyone( OMG I'm sorry, I'm so late!) and a happy new year!
Okay, I was a little bitchy last time but I'm happy today! So I will be nice!
-Thail
PS:Don't make me repeat myself, every review is welcomed! :)