Finally I can post more frequently now that I am on summer break! Thanks for reading and as always I hope you enjoy the chapter!
In simultaneous agreement, Ichigo and I sprint to the door and barrel down the stairs to the classroom where we know Orihime is in. The hallways is full of disarray and panic as kids shriek in fright and sprint away from the classroom where dust billows out from the windows into the hallway.
We rear up to the door to see it ripped off its hinges and a gaping hole leaves the classroom open to the outside environment. I frantically search the area, looking for any sign of Orihime, but I'm greeted with disappointment. She's gone. We have failed. The enemy has her and we did nothing to stop it.
Ichigo has gone over to a motionless Tasuki and begins to lightly shake her to revive her out of consciousness. Tasuki stirs and her brows knit together in pain as her eyes flicker open.
Ichigo quickly helps her into a sitting position and briskly asks Tasuki what happened. Her hand moves to grip her head and when removed there is a smear of blood covering the palm. I turn away then so I can inspect the area more distinctly. Her words follow me with every step.
" Someone just barged in. I couldn't… I just saw a flash of red and I couldn't see and I looked for Orihime but I couldn't find her!" Tasuki makes a whimpering noise and she practically falls on to Ichigo as she grips the front of his shirt and breathes, "Where is she?" Ichigo comforts the panicking Tasuki while I rummage through the scene of the crime.
All around me are abandoned desks, books splattered on the floor, bags carelessly thrown aside and classmates groaning in pain. I make it to the desk that Orihime always sits in. It stands upright as if nothing has happened. Her bag is still draped over the back. But she's gone.
I peer outside the missing wall, searching for a sign. Anything to tell me she's okay, but all that confronts me is the vast field of empty. I hear new voices enter the scene and I twist around to see our fellow friends, Chad and Uryu. They ask Ichigo the same questions we had asked Tasuki.
I don't join the conversation though because I feel something inside me break. My hands begin to tremble and I have to steady my breathing with clear concentration. Orihime is gone and she's with someone who is ruthless and has clear intentions to use her for not just whatever plan they have in the first place, but for other more vile things.
I feel my stomach churn in repulsion and I can only give a sideways glance at Ichigo before I stumble out of the room. I grip the wall as I walk, the feeling of being sick overtaking me. I start to run, in hopes that if I leave quick enough I can get away from everything. I come upon the front doors and I charge through them.
The sudden change in environment brings some relief to my turning stomach as the air caresses my damp hair from sweat off my forehead. Yet, the thoughts that are intruding my head cannot be stopped. "What do I do?" I speak out loud in complete defeat. The bottom of my uniform skirt ruffles against my lower thigh and I look down at it. I couldn't even act as a regular student without trouble so why did I think I could handle this?
No, I reprimand myself. No, you cannot do this. Feeling bad for yourself will not get Orihime back. I give my self a moment to collect my whirlwind emotions and after a brief session of focusing on breathing and not on my thoughts, I slowly start to feel myself come together again.
I lift my head and stare ahead, determination coursing through every fiber of my being. I think about just going in whatever direction my senses lead me, but I realize that I shouldn't carelessly act alone when I could have back up from Ichigo.
I spin around to go back into the school to find Ichigo and in my haste I almost slam into him as he exits the building. His hands come up to steady me before I could stumble and his sudden touch brings a certain calm that makes the anxiousness and the want to act out on a whim dissipate. His presence makes me more aware of the fact that we need to make a plan before we head off into battle.
"We need to get in contact with Renji," I state matter-a-factly. Ichigo nods once and moves away from me, his touch no longer grounding me to security. His expression is scrunched together clearly showing the worry he is feeling. I become aware as I look at him that he's feeling down, which makes me feel bad for jumping the gun and as touchingly I can ask I say, "How's Tasuki doing?" Ichigo and Tasuki are good friends and it must have been hard seeing her hurt.
Ichigo sighs and motions me to start walking. We walk side by side and the school is long behind us before Ichigo finally says, "I hate lying to her. I hate lying to them all. Chad, Uryu and Orihime. They all deserve to know." I feel sympathetic towards him as we walk and realize that even though my emotions have opened up to him, I haven't really let anyone else in to the point where I worry about their safety. Well, all except for Orihime. But Ichigo has become attached to these people on a level that I don't think I will ever reach.
"We have to do what we can to protect those we care for," I state. I stop walking and turn Ichigo to face me as I continue with, " If they knew, it would put a target on their backs." Ichigo eyes hold my gaze and I have the urge to kiss him; to kiss all his worries away. To make all the feelings of despair and uncertainty disappear. I know for me if I let him kiss me back, I would be lost from this world enough to let me become levelheaded.
But I don't kiss him. I just nod my head in the direction we should head in to indicate we should keep moving and I walk without confirmation that he's following. I don't have to check because I can feel his presence like some invisible force attaches us. I casually glance back at him as I say, " we'll go to my house and call Renji from there."
I'm about to cross the street that leads to my house when Ichigo grabs my wrist. I turn my head to face him and before I can say anything he says, "You don't have to act tough around me." He drops my wrist, but steps closer to me, " I want you to talk to me. You don't have to act like you have all the answers because we both know you don't," He smirks at that but finishes off with, "so you might as well tell me how you're actually feeling."
I raise my eyebrow at his last statement as I slowly nod and say, "Fine. I don't like you using my feelings as a joke." I flip around and walk across the street and I here him let out a chuckle, " That's wasn't suppose to hurt your feelings," he calls out. I shout back, "Whatever," not actually hurt by his remark, just wanting to get off the topic of friendship. I look back to see Ichigo coming closer as I reach my front door. I turn back towards my door and try to quickly open the door but I fumble with my keys as I feel Ichigo final reach me. His hand comes down upon mine that holds the key and steady's the shaking which helps place the key into its proper place.
The door cracks open, but neither of us enters. I feel my breath slow as I concentrate on the obvious pressure of Ichigo's stare as it glides over my body. I think to myself I shouldn't be thinking about such things at such a time and if there is a hell I belong there because instead of calling Renji like we planned, I end up tearing the keys out of the door and tossing them into my house as I turn to kiss Ichigo. He is just as hungry for me as I am. His hands wrap around me and he lifts me up into his strong hold all the while his lips don't miss a beat as his tongue slithers along my bottom lip.
He walks inside my house and closes the door by leaning me against it. We stay like that for a while, both of us consumed by the need to taste each other. The urge to have him is too strong for me to resist so I tug at the bottom of his shirt and pull it up over his head, breaking apart our kiss. He stares at me while he places his forehead against mine. He angles his stare down to my shirt and one hand glides to the hem at the bottom. He stares into my eyes as he lifts my shirt up and slowly rolls it up my arms and throws it to the ground. His eyes shine down at my semi naked torso as my bra still is on, but seems to enjoy the view just as much as he would if it was lying next to my discarded shirt.
The sight of the lust in his eyes as he looks at me makes me want him at an uncontrollable level and I hungrily kiss him by grabbing the back of his head and bringing his mouth roughly to mine. He meets my greed with passionate kisses while he walks away from the entrance through the hallway to the living room. I break away from the kiss, but that doesn't stop Ichigo movements. He begins to trail kisses down my neck and I moan as I close my eyes in pleasure. I trail my hand down his exposed back and trace the muscles as they flex as he adjusts his hold of me. I open my eyes while Ichigo still traces kisses along my neck and the area above my breast, the pleasure so unbelievably good. I let my nails run along his skin and he moans in respond to my touch.
I move my head to return my lips to his when my eyes catch a glimpse of a mass that drapes on my couch. I let out a startled gasp and Ichigo immediately stops kissing me. He looks worried that he overstepped his bounds but I don't pay him mind. I unwind myself from his grasp and stand on my own. I walk over to the light switch and flip it on to reveal the mass to be a body. My eyes grow wide at the site as I gasp, "Orihime?"
