Colors of the Heart
My mouth hung open as I tried to process, no, comprehend what she was saying.
"I-I'm not understanding…?" Oda-san pulled up a chair and sat down. She pulled my hand into hers. By this point I was beyond confused.
She sighed, "This will be a lot for you to take in at once but you need to know." My heart sped up.
"When I spoke to Minoru-kun I did a follow up on the situation at home." She was silent for a moment as I prepared for the worst.
"Apparently he is being mistreated at home. His sisters roam the streets, and his father is abusing him along with his step-mother." Tears flowed freely at this point. Oda-san squeezed my hand lightly. I felt so foolish at that moment, that the loneliness and sadness was so insignificant compared to what Kaito was going through.
The torment he went through every day. I cleared my throat to speak as more tears came.
"I…don't think I can…I can't save him Oda-san…look at me…I can't even save myself."
I shook my head as I pulled my hand away.
"I'm a mess! Look at me!" Oda-san stood up and took off her glasses.
"I normally wouldn't do something like this, but he needs you Orihime! That boy…He needs someone in his life that will love him unconditionally. He needs you." She grabbed a packet from her suitcase and handed it to me with her number attached.
"Call me when you clear your head."
I stared at the paperwork before me. She gave me a police report of Okita Minoru and his wife. They are currently under police investigation and have a court hearing next week. I sat back against my pillow; everything was going at a million miles per hour. That bastard was losing custody of his kids. He doesn't even deserve that title of being called a father. I instantly sat up, where was Kaito? Was he OK? I instantly began to get up.
"Orihime" I stopped in my tracks as I looked up at Ichigo. I didn't blush or get anxious. My heart didn't speed up like it did so many times before.
He stepped closer as he sat down were Oda-san previously was. He lightly touched my arm where the IV was attached and began to take off all the bandages. He began smiling that smile I always craved to see.
"Throughout the years I've known you Orihime I always envied you. There was this thing about you that was so unconditional and warm. When you loved someone you loved them. You shined with such intensity."
He let go of my arm as he gazed into my eyes.
"Even in your darkest hour."
I smiled a real smile for the first time in so long. I took a step closer and let my lips brush his ever so lightly and pull back enough to see his eyes.
"Thank you" I whispered and pulled away.
The first step outside the hospital I saw a boy on a bench with a huge bouquet of flowers sitting beside him. He held his head in his hands and looked…lost. I grab the bouquet and sat beside him. He didn't seem to notice. I didn't really expect him too. I lightly leaned my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes.
"O-Orihime?"
"I find it amazing how similar we are. When we think we're so absorbed in our thoughts. Like nothing can pull us away from it. It consumes us. And when you open your eyes life goes on and passes you by."
I opened my eyes and looked at the broken young boy before me.
"And I think of all the years I've wasted thinking and protecting myself. Thinking what could've been should've been…But I can't anymore. I can't keep thinking with my eyes closed because life would just go on without me."
I cupped Kaito's face with my hands. His tears overflowed.
"Open your eyes. You have so many things you need to see and feel. You can't see the important things in your life with your eyes closed."
"Only if you promise me something," I smiled.
"Anything," I whispered.
"You'd do the same," I stood up and pulled him by his wrist.
"W-Where are we going?" I smiled lightly and didn't respond.
"Out of all the places why am I not surprised you'd pick the amusement park?" I smiled,
"Because you know me best Kaito," We both got on our last ride of the day, the Farris wheel. Kaito sat across from me and looked out the window. The sun was finally setting and cast a beautiful orange glow.
"I'm sorry." I looked up,
"I went to the hospital when Oda-san called me but…I got scared. I couldn't even man up and see you properly." He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair.
"Why were you scared?" I asked. The Farris wheel began turning and rose higher and higher.
"That look my mother had. When all hope just seemed to be gone and there was nothing left. No love, hate…just empty."
I folded my hands on my lap and unfolded them.
"Everyone in their life goes through it…when we just lose it. I did, when my brother died." Memories flooded my mind…the good and the bad.
"Sora made life so easy to live in. Even through the bad I was still happy to wake up every morning knowing he was always there for me."
"But he's gone…just like my mother is." I got up and sat beside him.
"It took me so many years to actually realize Sora was never dead. He's alive Kaito, he'll always live." I place my hand on my heart,
"He'll always live through me, your mother is alive too Kaito-kun." Kaito appeared confused and somewhat…hopeful.
"Where?"
"In your heart, she'll always be there watching guiding you." New tears swept down my cheeks for the thousandth time today.
I grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.
"We're going to get through this; we're going to get through this. I need you Kaito Inoue" I sobbed. The Farris Wheel began moving again and slowly life seemed too as well. But it was going to be different this time.
We'll survive…somehow we always do.
Several months later
"I can't believe he's graduating! He's grown up without me knowing it!" Tatsuki-chan handed me another tissue as I sobbed like crazy.
"He's going to get married and have babies before you know it! I'm not ready!" Ichigo sweat dropped and rubbed my back soothingly.
"It'll be a million years before nii-chan ever gets married, huh Natsu."
"Nii-chan is a loser vir-
Kaito covered both of the girl's mouths,
"Natsu, Mimi glad you could both come." He said sternly.
I pulled Kaito into a bone crushing hug,
"I'm so proud of you!" I exclaimed and let go, I felt so tiny compared to him. He was finally a man.
"Oh nii-chan, dad wanted to give this to you." Mimi handed him a letter.
"One step at a time" He mumbled and thanked his sister.
"Kai-chan finally becoming a man, somewhat." Tatsuki pulled Kaito into a headlock and laughed.
It was the hardest several months of our lives. Kaito and I began going to counseling, Kaito even decided to get emancipated. His band was going strong with even a fan base. He even began visiting his father and slowly he's beginning to forgive him.
Him and his sisters all live together and made such amazing progress. I even visited Minoru-san myself. He's divorcing his wife and wants to focus on his kids.
As for me, I began moving on with my life. Visiting Kaito regularly and spending more time with friends. The company was going great and slowly thinking about maybe dating.
"Eh? Where's Kurosaki?"
Ichigo POV
"I somehow knew you were always alive…"
The man turned around his unflinching emerald eyes still painfully the same.
"Ulquiorra."
THE END
I can't believe I finally finished…My deep apologies for such a long, long wait. Please enjoy. I always knew what the ending would be and even threw in Ulquiorra into the mix! Surprised you, huh? Colors of the Heart is a very important story to me and I hope you all enjoyed it like I did. I put a lot of thought into it and I don't regret a thing. Life is meant to be a crazy roller coaster and I'm sure this story showcased that.
R&R
