Author's Note: Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Bleach, the property of Tite Kubo
Warning: Spoiler through Bleach Manga Chapter 422
If I Were the Rain – Redux
By Songsparrw1
Chapter Seven: Let's Get This Party Started
Bosom Buddies Tell All
Orihime and Tatsuki arrived at the apartment in high spirits. On the ride back with the two of them in car alone, Tatsuki demanded, "Okay girlfriend, it's time to talk. What happened this morning that caused you two to miss the sports rally and the lunch at Aldo's?" she navigated the traffic expertly and quizzed her friend at the same time. Tatsuki was the queen of multi-tasking.
Orihime giggled and said, "Oh, Ichigo was so sweet to me, and we worked out how and where we would merge our lives. Basically it was my return to Japan in ignominy and defeat, to throw myself on his mercy anyway he'd have me. But he was very gracious. He offered to give me a corner in his Dad's broom closet in exchange for wild sex every night. And, you know, I accepted his offer right away."
Tatsuki laughed. "I believe you. I'm about there myself. Now, tell me about Isshin. How did he take it? "
"About as well as I'd imagined. He wants Ichigo to have children right now. He's irritated that we took so long to work things out, so he's trading us free rent for grandbabies. And he wants to watch us through a peephole while we make them."
"I believe that, too. That sounds just like him."
"JUST KIDDING!" she mugged. "No, I meant to come back to Japan. I would have come home sooner if I had any idea Ichigo cared about me. I loved the U.S. but I didn't fit in there as well as I'd expected to, and then, I just missed Ichigo too much. I couldn't forget him. I couldn't even think about dating anyone else, and after a while, it all just felt so meaningless. Am I making any sense?
"I understand completely. We have more in common than you know."
"I know we have more in common than you've mentioned. Are you going to tell me about it?"
"We-ell, yes. Uryuu and I have dated secretly for a year now. "
"Uh-huh! I knew it! I saw him looking at you with those intense eyes. So, how's that going for you two? Do you love him, Tatsuki?"
"I love him something awful, 'Hime. I just wish he'd make an honest woman out of me. He never says anything about his feelings, and I would never have expected that kind of shyness from him. I know he carried a torch for you for a long time, but then, he started calling me. He would ask me out for lunch dates, and sometimes dinner and a slight movie. I didn't intend to fall for him, knowing he still cared about you, but I did, and hard, too. She snorted at her own folly.
That's the reason I would never actually tell you what Ichigo was up to, and I kept him in the dark the same way. I kept both your secrets. I wanted to give Uryuu his chance to tell you he still cares, and I had hoped that would coax Ichigo to make his move."
Orihime thought this over before responding. "I'm sorry you had to go through that for so long. I wish now I had just come home. I guess I thought if I stayed away long enough, I would stop missing him."
"Oh don't flog yourself. You did the best for you, and that's all any of us can do. I admire you for being strong enough to build a life for yourself so far away from any moral support! I missed you too, Orihime. I'm so glad you've come home!" She smiled so sweetly that Orihime's lips quavered, and she had to dab at her eyes.
"I've been an idiot. I missed you too, Tatsuki! I want you and Uryuu to be happy together. Wouldn't it be perfect if Uryuu got ideas at our wedding, and proposed to you? Wouldn't you just die?"
The two women squealed and giggled like the girls they had once been. When they pulled up to the apartment they were breathless from laughing. They pounded up the sidewalk to the door and rushed to get dressed for the evening.
"I wanna see your dress! Hurry up! Oh! Wait, do we need to shower first?" cried Orihime, waving her arms excitedly.
"No, cause if we do that, we won't have time to get our makeup right. Just rinse off your naughty bits. Will you fix my hair?" Tatsuki's plaintive voice echoed in the bathroom.
Orihime popped into the doorway of the bath. "Oh good, you have a sprayer in the shower. This is so exciting. We get to do each other's hair like we used to on sleepovers, except this time, we get to wear makeup." The girls looked at their reflections in the large bathroom mirror. Two friends stood side by side, both strong, beautiful, and fearless, singing "Telephone" while they dressed up for one of the best nights they would ever remember.
Magical Moonlight and the Archer
Uryuu strolled through the park and looked up at the moon high in the sky. He was devastated by the memory of the radiant joy he'd seen on Orihime's face earlier that day. A long forgotten part of his heart crumbled. He had to admit to himself that he would likely never receive that type of devotion from Orihime. He had a special place in her heart as a friend, but that was all he would ever be. She was still besotted with Kurosaki. Now, the idiot had acknowledged his feelings for her and actually did something about it. So, as they say, that was that.
Tatsuki knew about his crush on Orihime. He hadn't tried to hide his feelings from anyone, but he had been a gentleman about it, never forcing his way into her life any further than she allowed. Tatsuki never even mentioned it. He called her one evening after bumping into her at the market. He actually began to see her for the remarkable woman she became. Her strength and beauty moved him. She had always been a good and true friend; always funny especially when the situation was most grim. They were attracted to one another, and had been comfortable together.
Why can't I forget about you, Orihime? You're not for me. You never were, except as a good friend. I think it's time to say good-bye, my distant Princess. Be well, and be happy.
He fished his cellular out of his pocket and speed-dialed Tatsuki.
"Hey, Uryuu!"
"Are you ladies ready to go? I'll drive you, so you can enjoy the bar."
"Oh, Uryuu, would you really? That would be so niiiiice!"
"Anything for you, dear."
"Anything? She thought, I bet not. "Would that be part of a plan to take advantage of me?" She asked in an ambiguous tone of voice.
"Why don't you wear that new dress and find out? The one with the slits up the side? Those might come in handy. He paused a beat. For dancing."
She was non-plussed. Uryuu smiled at this. "Gotcha."
'Kay, then, be there in a few. I'm about two blocks from the park. Bye now."
He replaced the phone in his pocket and walked purposefully toward the street, whistling a little tune softly in the soft night air.
Where's the Party?
Ichigo rummaged through his closet for the clothes he meant to wear to dinner. He had gone shopping especially for this purpose, because he wanted to show Orihime that he had progressed beyond the hoodie-and-jeans phase. His ensemble was sharp: sophisticated maroon shade for the shirt, elegant, slim cut black sport coat and slacks, smooth dress shoes. His cologne was a smoldering concoction that reminded him of a fireplace in winter, mingled with spices and something dark and sensual. He had gotten good reviews every time he wore it, but its lure was intended for only one elegant nose. He took a final look in the mirror and headed out the door to Tatsuki's.
Uryuu rang the doorbell, and Tatsuki smiled at him as she opened the door. Her scent drifted from her hair tantalizingly, and he was impressed by the care she had taken to dress.
The little black number caught her waist and hips at just the right spot, and the length and position of the slit skirt highlighted her long, toned legs, and led the eye to the elegant black sandals and brilliant red polish on her tiny toes. A red shrug covered her shoulders and made her deep cleavage the focal point. Her flawless skin was a perfect foil to the glossy black hair arranged fetchingly to trail down her bare her neck. He wanted to kiss that neck…
She glanced at him archly, and demurred "You look nice." And he did. His deep gray suit brought out the blue in his eyes, and set off the warm tones in his creamy skin. The black silk of his hair fell just so, always a perfect length for his long neck.
His small smile let her know that he liked what he saw. She pulled him in slowly for a kiss. He lingered close, barely touching her lips, breathing in her scent for a moment, eyes closed. Hearing Orihime's light step approaching, they reluctantly pulled away. Even so, she sensed the quiet of the moment and whispered "Sorry. I'll, um. Earrings." she pointed at the bedroom, babbled breathily and spun on her heel. "Eh? Awkward! I wish they could just relax and let it happen. What can I do to help? She thought as she ducked back into the bedroom.
She checked her hair. It hung in heavy ringlets around her neck, but the back drifted to her waist in longer, looser coils. Her eyelids and cheekbones gleamed with soft colors that emphasized her large gray eyes, and her glossy pink lips shone against the smooth ivory skin. The indigo dress was just revealing enough for evening. Her curves underneath the intense deep blue, together with the rich contrast of her hair to the dress, made her into a goddess of the night sky. Her cherry blossom fragrance was sweet, with a mysterious woody note, reminiscent of tree bark.
The doorbell sounded, and she went to answer it. She saw Ichigo through the sidelight and her breath caught in her throat. He looked so tall, sleek, and powerful, for a moment she was back in time, and he was here to rescue her. She flung open the door, and attacked him with a fervent kiss on the lips, hands fisted in his spiky hair.
He caught her neatly and returned the kiss with passion. As they pulled away to breathe, Ichigo chuckled, " I should dress up more often." He stepped back. "Let me look," he coaxed quietly, as she ducked her head shyly at his wide-eyed gaze. He held her fingertips, lifted her arm and twirled her slowly, regarding every inch of her, from hair to lacquered toes, front, and side, back.
He whistled softly in appreciation. How did I come to be the consort of a princess? "You look beautiful, Orihime," he spoke at last, his voice low and sexy. It sent shivers down her spine. She had waited eons to hear those words from those lips, and see the slow burn in the deep, sparkling eyes. Her heart was filled to bursting, and it threatened to spill out in tears. She forced herself to take deep, slow breaths, and said simply, "Thanks. So do you!" with a tiny laugh.
Tatsuki and Uryuu emerged, shouting "Heyyy, let's go party!" They teased Ichigo about his attire, particularly his shoes. "Like buttah," isn't that what they say in New York, Orihime?" Tatsuki joked. Orihime giggled at the perfect delivery. "Exactly!" She could not stop looking at him; he was so handsome, more so than ever, and the look in his eyes when he regarded her melted away everything around, but the two of them.
Uryuu went to bring the car around and the others waited under the night sky, chatting animatedly in anticipation of a beautiful evening. They piled into Tatsuki's Prius and floated through the lights to the Club L'Etoile. Their friends were scattered throughout the parking lot and foyer, dressed to the nines, looking even happier than they had at their graduation celebrations.
At graduation, they had all still been children, albeit young adults, but with no clear picture of the future. Still young and vibrant but tempered with experience, the group had much to celebrate and share. Each one bore an underlying confidence that lent both beauty and grace. No one was much surprised to hear that Orihime had overcome terrorists and save the passengers and crew on her plane, or that she was about to be married. Expectations ran high among the Karakura set. Many cameras held pictures of handsome families, and pretty homes. Business cards flew like birds.
Inside, the enormous buffet of grilled meat and seafood, succulent sushi, soup, and savory side dishes was lined with happy people filling plates. A rainbow of drinks ranged from fruity umbrella cocktails to vintage wines. Toasts rang out spontaneously, and when the dance music began, the party atmosphere intensified to a full-on celebration.
The DJ rocked the house with a variety of dance music, frequently taking requests. Even the most boogie challenged rose from their chairs to join in the spirited line dances, and slow tunes halted many serious discussions and fish tales as partners retrieved each other for their favorite songs. Mizuiro and his girlfriend stole the show with a scorching tango. "Wow, that was some dancing," marveled Chad. "We've been going to a studio for some time now," he admitted with a small smile. Keigo gushed over his friend's accomplishment. "I never thought you'd ever learn to dance like that – so HOT!"
Ichigo and Orihime danced their first dance together to the delight of their group to an old Backstreet Boys "Quit Playing Games with My Heart." Orihime said, "It's just this, Ichigo, One and two, three four. That's all, and then we can add the turn, like so."
"Like this?" He drawled, smirking, and glided through the steps with hip action. Orihime's eyes widened in wonder. They made a circle around the floor, gliding and spinning through an intricate Latin dance, surprising everyone with their grace. They looked beautiful together. The glittering lights enhanced the dreamlike vignette, causing many to cry Kawaii! Sooo cuuute! "Mizuiro made me learn," he finally told her. "He said it would come in handy someday."
They danced until they were persuaded to leave by the smiling cleanup crew. "I'm hungry again," declared Keigo. "Let's go get breakfast! They piled into cars, and met at a popular all-night venue. Arm-in-arm, the couples strolled into the restaurant still in their finery. They crowded around a large circular table, adjusting to fit everyone in, while the familiar patterns of banter flowed once again. Menus were passed. A good-natured waitress with a streak of bright purple in her hair and extremely long purple nails with jewels on the tips scribbled their orders on a pad.
Many discussions and exchanges of digital photos later, the weary group trailed out to their cars and departed for a long nap before convening at the next event. Riding through the night, they were quiet but satisfied and happy. "Had fun?" Ichigo asked his sleepy bride to be, whose head rested on his shoulder. "The best time I ever had," she murmured. "Me too," was all he said.
In the front seat, Uryuu stole a glance at Tatsuki, and clasped her hand briefly. She smiled, and Uryuu smiled back. He softly kissed her fingertips, and squeezed her hand before releasing it, giving her a significant look.
