-Orihime-
Last night I slept on the chair again holding Rukia's hand. I did have more hope after she managed to eat yesterday but that's the thing. She looks a lot better today but as Renji said when the fever died down Ukitake suddenly forgot everyone he was close to. So the way I see it is we might only have one day left with Rukia remembering who we are.
I leave the door half open when I walk into the lounge and can hear Renji in the kitchen. My kitchen is a little weird and has one whole wall cut away so it's sort of open plan but also closed off. I glance around the wall to see Renji frying some eggs.
"Oh good morning." He says noticing me as I lean against the wall.
"She's looking a lot better." I sigh and he nods his head.
"I thought you might be hungry so I just made eggs and there is some bread in the toaster but I didn't know how well done you wanted it." Renji smiles changing the subject.
"Thanks, I'll put it in now then. How do you like it?" I ask heading over to the toaster.
"I don't mind as long as it's not burnt and as long as it has lots of butter." He laughs and I nod changing the toaster setting and then pressing it down before getting the butter out of the fridge.
"I guess we should make more soup for Rukia later." I try and sound casually but both of us notice the shaking in my voice.
"We should." Renji says. "It'll be fine you know. We'll find a way to cure her and then we'll get it to anyone who's been affected in the Soul Society." He assures me but then is silent when I ask him if there is any news from the Soul Society.
"Renji?" A ask and he looks up with a sad expression.
"Apparently Captain Shunsui has been rushed to Squad four due to a sudden fever and the whole thing is affecting the Soul Society because three Captains are ill and two can't even remember what Squad they belong to." He explains and I just nod and butter the toast he serves the eggs onto two plates, neither of us having anything else to say.
-Ichigo-
I spent around two hours thinking about the many things I could start off saying but the moment I saw Uryuu and Chad I knew I'd just lose it anyway. I could tell they were both worried, Uryuu especially in the fear Orihime has been affected. I've known about Orihime's crush on me for a while but I also know how much Uryuu likes Orihime so I could never mess things up. I actually thought after we saved Rukia Uryuu and Orihime would end up together.
Enough of what happened then anyway, we are currently on our way to Orihime's house. It's about noon and though I did suggest we eat first Uryuu and Chad both want to get this sorted out as fast as possible.
"Are you sure Orihime will be in?" I ask nervously.
"Yes because on our way to your house we walked past her house and saw two of the windows open. So unless she wants to get robbed I reckon she's in." Uryuu says as if it's obvious. I scowl at him and he just gives me a disapproving look and murmurs that I'm acting like a child. I would pound him to the floor but then I realise Uryuu is suddenly taller and that's because he's walking up the stairs to Orihime's flat.
I follow after and we all wait by the door for a second before Uryuu takes a deep breath and knocks on the door. We hear the voices inside stop talking and it's as if the footsteps towards the door are amplified by my nerves, I honestly think I'm going to pass out.
"Uryuu?" Orihime asks surprised and then glances from him to me and Chad.
"Hey Orihime, can we come in please." Uryuu asks her and gives her an assuring look. She nods slowly and moves back allowing us to step inside.
I notice Renji raise one of his eyebrows from the couch when Orihime closes the door and offers us a seat. Uryuu gives me and Chad a nod before sitting down. Chad wavers but then sits down on the edge of the sofa leaving only me eventually standing.
"Where's Rukia?" I get straight to the point. No one answers but my eyes trail to the slight ajar door leading to Orihime's room and head towards it. Both Orihime and Renji stand up, Renji steps in front of the door and Orihime steps in front of me.
"Wait Ichigo." She begs.
"Let me see Rukia." I demand and Orihime pushes against me gently with her hands as I try and move forward.
"Please Ichigo we need to explain things first." Orihime begs and I stop. I could keep trying but I can either see Rukia and probably be thrown out or get an explanation first and then see her.
Uryuu and Chad both turn their head and then stand up and head behind me before both grabbing one of my arms and pulling me back a few steps. Uryuu gives Orihime and Renji another reassuring look and Renji sits down on the sofa again.
Orihime tells us the story as well as Renji must have told here. I listened closely from start to end trying to keep an open view on everything that was happening. I don't understand why Rukia lied and told us she was here because she missed us. I mean seriously I kinda had my hopes up but now things have just got complicated and I already knew this must be an attack on the Soul Society.
"In a few days Rukia probably won't be able to remember us." Orihime finishes and I look at her with a shocked expression.
"What do you mean?" I snarl.
"Well I mean that…"
"You're saying basically that for the last day you haven't told us how sick Rukia really is and not only that but the fact that now the time we have with her is so short that by tomorrow she might not know who we are!" I shout and Renji begins to speak at the same time as Uryuu and Orihime turning out conversation into an argument.
-Rukia-
I wake up to the sound of loud voices in the next room. As I sit up the flannel drops from my head and I stare at it confused. Where am I? I look around the small room obviously belong to a girl before noticing a bowl of soup as well as a picture of myself and Orihime at school.
Obviously I know where I am. I've never really spent much time in Orihime's room mind you but I guess we must have been living together a while for her to let me sleep in her bed. I stretch my arms in the air and fling my legs over the edge of the bed. My toes brushing against the cold wooden floor I notice the nightie. She really does know me well.
I stand up before yawning and stretching my arms above my head again and then head over to the chest of draws and smile at the picture. We really do look happy together there. I smile sweetly as if the two girls were looking back at me before I glance at the soup already knowing it's probably cold. I don't remember eating any yesterday but Orihime doesn't seem to have touched it. I shrug with a smile and head towards the raised voices cautiously before opening the door.
"Orihime-Chan?" I squeak suddenly noticing the amount of people in the room. They all stop when they see me and Orihime turns around with a surprised look on her face. I notice a guy with red hair stand up with the same shocked expression. I bring my hand up to my mouth and place the tip of my thumb in my mouth before sucking it gently.
"Rukia-Chan?" Orihime chokes giving me a small smile. I knew this relieved smile of hers so well.
"Orihime-Chan, who are all these people?" I ask gingerly taking a step towards her with my head down but not down far enough to miss the change in her smile. It turns into a more saddened smile as I approach her and then hide behind her slightly, with one hand holding onto her sleeve and the other holding her arm lower down, peering at the three guys in front of her.
One of which is tall with dark hair and quite dark skin. He seems pretty strong but doesn't seem to have much emotion in his eyes. Another was taller than me with black hair and glasses. He was kinda cute to be honest but my eyes lingered on the one in the middle. His orange spiky hair and his light brown eyes made me feel all strange and tingly. I gave a shy smile before grabbing onto her more tightly and tugging on her arm for an answer.
"Rukia-Chan don't you know who they are?" She asks me in a more serious voice. I glance around at the red head behind me and then back to the others and then look up at her with a confused smile.
"Never seen them before Orihime-Chan." I reply honestly but can see the pain behind her gentle smile.
