Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters. They are the property and original creations of Tite Kubo.
Chapter Seven: After Laughter
It had been two weeks since the event at the gym occurred. Orihime noticed that Rukia had somewhat changed, although she doesn't remember anything, somewhere in her heart she felt the missing memory.
Every time Orihime tried to talk to Ichigo, he would simply find an excuse to avoid a conversation with her. He wouldn't even look her in the eyes. What saddened her more was the fact that Ichigo has also been avoiding his duties as Kami. He hasn't slain a single SIN since then.
"Is something wrong Orihime?" asked Tatsuki as they sat on a bench underneath a tree. Orihime decided to have her lunches with Tatsuki to avoid the awkward atmosphere between Ichigo and her.
"Oh, no, it's nothing," she replied as she took a bite on her strawberry filled donut.
"Is it about Ichigo?" asked Tatsuki, not giving up on inquiring her.
"Eh? Strawberry… You mean the donut?"
"No! I didn't mean that," said Tatsuki tapping her head. "Silly girl…"
"I know what you meant," replied Orihime. The donut lingered on her lips before she took another bite. It was bothering her how much she was thinking of Ichigo. All of the things, the emotions welling up in her were new to her. She wasn't human after all. She never gave attention to human emotions before.
Ichigo and Orihime would still walk home together. The silence was deafening and it had been like that since that day. Orihime just couldn't take it anymore.
"Kurosaki-kun… ummm…"
"Oh, Yuzu's going to make spaghetti for dinner, you like that with red bean paste and wasabi right?" blurted Ichigo trying as much as possible to avoid a serious conversation with the angel.
"No, Kurosaki-kun, please, listen," said Orihime.
"Ah, I forgot about the errand dad asked me. I think you should go ahead."
"No! Kurosaki-kun! I will not stop trying to talk to you!" exclaimed Orihime. It was unlike her to suddenly cry out like that. "Please. Don't be like this."
Ichigo looked at Orihime, his eyebrows meeting as usual. But his gaze was that of pain and confusion. "What do you want me do then?"
"Answer me. Why have you stopped fighting off SINS?"
Ichigo avoided Orihime's deep gaze. She was trying to search the boy for answers. But all he gave was a pained look and silence.
Orihime had to fight the tears that wanted to roll down her cheeks. She held her hand over to her mouth to stop from hiccupping. As she continued to look at Ichigo she felt more disappointed making her run off.
Ichigo stared at the pavement as Orihime passed by him. He clutched his hand in frustration. 'Why?' he thought as he searched for the answer to Orihime's question.
At that moment Rukia and Renji slapped him on his back at the same time.
"Lover's quarrel… Already?" teased Renji.
"Get off my case, annoying monkey," said Ichigo slapping his hand away from his shoulders. 'Orihime was one thing to avoid, now Rukia shows up,' he thought as he tried to look on the path where Orihime had run off to.
"Ichigo," uttered Rukia.
"What?" he replied without looking at her.
Rukia raised an eyebrow and her arm and stroke a punch straight on Ichigo's head.
"OUCH! Effing Little Bi-,"
"Say it and I'll punch you," said Renji cutting off Ichigo's comment.
"How about we go over to the playground and talk," said Rukia as she held a hand at Renji. Rukia looked straight into Ichigo's eyes and by that he knew he had to hear whatever she needed to say.
The three reached the empty playground just a few blocks from where they last stood. Ichigo looked back and forth, examining the place.
"Looking for Inoue?" Rukia asked as she gestured for them to sit by the swing. Renji knowing the atmosphere sat a few good feet away, just by the slide.
"I'm not… It's just, the place is familiar, that's all," Ichigo lied. He knew in his mind that he was searching for a glimpse of the auburn beauty. "So what's the deal?"
"I know Ichigo," Rukia said without hesitation. "I don't remember everything, but I know there's a memory of you and Inoue. I know you have a secret, I'm not going to pry because I respect you both."
Ichigo's eyes widened. "What?"
"I remember the feeling, as much as I try to recall the exact events; all I see is a blur. All I could do was guess at what happened back then. I've thought about it since it happened," continued Rukia. "You're afraid."
Ichigo looked on as Rukia moved her feet in a slow steady swing. "Afraid that you couldn't protect me, afraid that what happened to me might happen to your family. And," she said looking at Ichigo's expression, which read that she was right about him. "And, afraid that you might not be able to protect Inoue," she finally said.
"I…" Ichigo stuttered. The petite girl was right. He was afraid of those things. The reason why he had stopped fighting off the SINS was because he was afraid that Orihime might get hurt again. That he'd be unable to save her. He trusts that his family is safe. Urahara had assured him that, more than once even. Even Toushiro was on the same side. It was just Orihime, the reason why he couldn't fight again.
Rukia stood up in front of Ichigo and slapped him really hard. "That is not the man I know!" she exclaimed.
Renji looked on and smirked as Ichigo yelled a few curse words at Rukia for slapping him.
"In the past you've tried so hard to protect those who are important to you. Your mother knows it well, the kind of man that you are. And now that you have that chance, the power to protect even more lives, do not waste it! I still believe in that person, the you who had the will to fight!"
Ichigo was shocked at Rukia's words. He was even reminded of his mother. He shrugged off the last thought and stood up. He knew all along what he needed to do. Maybe that's what he needed, someone to assure him that his choice was all right. That he just needed a little push.
"Thanks Rukia," he said looking down at the dark haired woman. He looked at Renji who nodded and quickly ran off.
"Why didn't you tell him that you actually remembered everything?" asked Renji.
"What are you talking about?" said Rukia her eyes flickering with mischief. "Ichigo sucks at erasing people's memories."
"He sucks in general," mocked Renji. Rukia punched him on his side. "Ow… Well, he does have some redeeming qualities."
"About that, if you ever tell him that I know… I'll chop 'them' off, if you know what I mean."
Renji froze at the statement. "You won't really?"
"Try me."
Renji held his, 'dingdong' and uttered, "Yes ma'am, roger that. This mouth is sealed."
*.*.*.*
Ichigo ran into his room then into Orihime's, he found that she wasn't home yet and it was getting really dark. He had been looking for her around the park and the streets on the way home.
"Where the hell is she?" he said scratching his head. He threw his bag on his bed and ran off. "I'll be out for a bit," he called out to his sisters and father who were gathered at the living room, chatting.
Orihime watched as the ferry passed under the highway bridge. She looked down at the dark river below and pouted as the water rippled along with the lights of the city reflected on it.
"I don't know how to get back home from here," she sighed as she walked along the side of the railings. She passed by lovers who were out for a night stroll and studied them trying to understand their actions. "A-re? That girl and boy linked their lips together…" she said. "I wonder if it tastes nice…" she said holding her lips. "Kurosaki-kun's lips."
She kept on walking until there was no one in sight. She had walked too far from the crowd. Being ignorant as she was not a human being, she continued to stroll down the path. She passed by three thugs who looked at her hungrily.
"Whoa, look at what the night has brought us. A sexy, busty female," said one of the thugs. He was wearing shades despite the darkness.
Another one licked his lips and followed Orihime as she continued with her stroll. "Hey little missy, where yah going?"
"Huh?" uttered Orihime as she turned around to look at the three thugs. "Who are you?"
The three looked at each other and circled in on Orihime. "We're just normal guys, hanging around. Wanna play with us?" asked the third thug, he was wearing a bonnet covering his eyes.
"Play?" she repeated. Then as what her true nature is, she felt their sinister aura. "I don't have time to play games, I'm sorry, but I have to go…"
Orihime quickly turned but was blocked by the thug who was wearing shades. "Oh, but the night is young."
"Yeah, let's go have some fun," said the second thug, his feline eyes sparkling with mischief. He pulled Orihime's hand.
"Kyaa! No! I don't want to!" she yelled. She bit on the man's hand and shoved the other thug to run away.
"You little bitch! Come 'ere!" yelled the shades-thug pulling Orihime's hair. "You dare bite Toshi's hand?"
"Yeah, fucking bitch. We just wanted to play," said Toshi blowing on his hand. "Hey, Kazuma," he called the thug with the bonnet. "Help Sato hold her."
The third thug did as he was told. Orihime tried to break loose from the grips of the two men but they held her tight.
"Now, dare to bite me will you? We'll see how you like it."
He pulled on Orihime's ribbon. She tried to yell but Sato covered her mouth. Toshi pulled her blouse until the buttons came off. Orihime looked on in horror as the man came to face her and held her thighs, lifting her skirt slightly.
'No! Kurosaki-kun!' her thoughts screamed for him as the man tried to lay his lips on her now bare neck. She closed her eyes and prayed that he would hear her thoughts.
And as quickly as she called for him, he came punching the lights out of the man named Toshi. The two thugs quickly let go of Orihime in shock. She shuffled to her feet and ran off to the side. Tears poured down her cheeks.
"Who the fuck are you?" yelled Kazuma. But Ichigo gave no explanations. The moment he witnessed and registered what was happening before him, he felt rage take over and just like that, synchronizing with his thoughts, his body reacted. He made sure that no one was left out from his beating.
Toshi regained his composure and quickly grabbed Orihime as Ichigo was beating the crap out of Sato. "Yo! SOB! Stop right there or this babe is gonna get more than a scar." He said as he now held his Swiss knife on Orihime's throat.
Ichigo froze. He looked at Toshi with killing intent. Sato was unconscious and Kazuma struggled to get on his feet. Ichigo raised his hands above his head and looked intensely at Toshi.
"That's right, that's a good boy," he said. "Now then, where was I?" he continued. He pulled on Orihime's hair and licked her neck. Ichigo flinched as Orihime whimpered. He let his hands fall on his side. And he looked at Orihime as she looked into his eyes.
"I will protect you," he said.
"That's nice, but-" but before Toshi could finish his sentence, Ichigo had held him by his collar, his other hand holding tight on the Toshi's Knife hand.
Adrenaline was rushing through him. He threw Toshi on the side and he fell with a thud. Ichigo ran over to him and gave him kicks that he never knew he could do. The rage and adrenaline had mixed, he was unstoppable.
Ichigo piled the unconscious men on the side of the river. He came up to Orihime and quickly pulled her away from the place. Once they reached a clearing he looked at her, she was shivering from the shock. Her hair was a mess, the buttons on the top of her blouse were missing revealing an eyeful of her cleavage, and her skirt was slightly ripped. Ichigo took off his jacket and wrapped it around Orihime.
"Kurosaki-kun I…"
But before Orihime could finish, he leaned his head on her shoulders. "I won't run away anymore," he said in between heavy breaths.
Orihime could feel him shaking. "I'll do my job. I promised that to myself in order to keep my family safe." Orihime raised her hand, she tried to caress his head but her hands were trembling. Ichigo continued, "But I'm gonna do it properly this time. This time, I won't let you get hurt. I won't let any of my friends be put to harm."
"I'll protect you, I promise."
With these words, Orihime's hands held onto Ichigo's head. She bowed hers and laid it on top of his as she cried the tears she held ever since he started avoiding her.
~end of chapter~
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
First of all, I'm sorry for putting Orihime through so much. But that's one of the reasons why I love her; she's so strong despite the emotional turmoil, her depressing past and everything she's been through. She wouldn't be as strong as she is if it hadn't been for her love for Ichigo so I definitely want her to be happy with the one she loves. (Personally I think Ichigo doesn't deserve her... but… meh~)
Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. I'll put up chapter 8 quickly! I'm gonna spoil everyone, cause it's gonna be light and fluffy, like cotton candy, I hope you'll keep reading!
R&R~
