Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters. They are the property and original creations of Tite Kubo.
Chapter Twelve: Strike with the Guillotine
Ichigo lay on his bed contemplating on the events of that night. The time in heaven was very different, what felt like 5 hours was actually an hour and a half in the real world. It's as if the company itself was in a different dimension.
He remembered the rest of the conversation he and Urahara had before he left.
Flashback
"Kurosaki, I'd like to talk to you alone," said Urahara. He allowed the two women to leave the room.
"The reapers are probably the living legacy to Aizen's evil bout. We don't know who's behind this, but I hope you will cooperate. I hate to admit it, but we need your strength. You have far more greater potential than you think, Kurosaki."
Ichigo looked at Urahara seriously. His mind rang with questions but he doubts that the man would answer them honestly.
"Inoue, she used to be someone in the living world," Ichigo stated.
Urahara raised his head to look at Ichigo clearly. "Why are you so curious Kurosaki?"
"It's just that, nothing."
"Inoue Orihime, she was a victim of a SIN," said Urahara.
"She was possessed? I thought you couldn't die from that," argued Ichigo.
"No. Her brother, Sora Inoue, was possessed. Unfortunately at that time, the angel on duty disappeared without a trace, when I got there, we eradicated her brother, and there was no hope of saving him. We found Orihime clutching a teddy bear and her brother's picture. She was already dead."
Ichigo stared at Urahara in disbelief. He tried to find the words to say but his heart sank at the sad thought. 'Her brother turned into a SIN, he killed her.'
"Kurosaki," said Urahara. "I suggest that you control your feelings."
"What do you mean?" asked Ichigo looking at Urahara with a distrustful expression.
"You should not delve into those kinds of emotions. Orihime is not the same person as she was, she is an angel now, and she's been given a new life. I'm warning you, this is for your own good. Do not fall in love with her. It is for the best."
End of Flashback
Ichigo sat up on his bed. He looked at the clock on his bedside table which read 2:43am. He heaved out a heavy sigh and turned his head facing the other direction. For a moment he stared at a pink door that somewhat glowed in the darkness. 'Inoue's probably asleep,' he thought. Ichigo got up and left his room. 'I'll just go get a glass of water.'
He slowly crept down the stairs and saw a faint light coming from the kitchen. 'Is the old man up at this hour?'
He slowly paced towards the kitchen, cautious of who might be in there. He was about to enter when he suddenly felt a soft pat on his shoulder.
"Kurosaki-kun?" asked Orihime in a whisper. "What are you doing?"
Ichigo abruptly turned his head, "Inoue?" he said. Suddenly getting distracted by the sound of the refrigerator closing, he turned back his head to the kitchen.
To his surprise it was empty. His senses started to sharpen and he quickly looked around for any sign of an intruder. Orihime clutched his shirt as he did.
"Go back to your room Inoue," he said.
"But, I heard you go out and I'm a little worried."
"Just, go, an intruder might be in the house," he warned when suddenly the lights turned on.
"I-CHI-GO!" called out his dad jumping to kick him with both feet.
Ichigo evaded in time and yelled at his father, "It's 3 in the morning! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I got hungry so I grabbed something to eat," said Isshin as he munched on some chips.
"Geez… stop acting like a burglar in our own house."
"Well, yeah, sorry 'bout that. What are you doing still up?" asked Isshin. He turned his glance behind Ichigo. Orihime got confused, 'Can this man see me?'
"I was just gonna get some water," replied Ichigo waving off his father.
"I'll be heading back to my room then," said Isshin.
As soon as his father left Ichigo turned to Orihime, "You should go back to your room; I'll just get you some water if you want one."
"Oh… okay," said Orihime in a worried tone. She headed for the stairs when a hand had patted her on the back.
"It is great that you are worried about my son, but you shouldn't be up this late," said Isshin.
"Eh? You can see me?" asked Orihime shocked that Ichigo's father smiled at her in affirmation.
"But, let's just keep that a secret for now, ok?" said Isshin putting a finger on his lips in a "shh" kind of way. "Anyway, I hope he's being a good kid, you should lock your door though, just in case."
Orihime wore a questioning look as Isshin laughed heartily up the steps.
"What are you still doing here?" asked Ichigo from the kitchen.
"Oh, I was… waiting for you," said Orihime as she thought of how peculiar it was for Ichigo's dad to keep it a secret.
*.*.*.*
Ichigo's alarm echoed throughout his room. He had been up all night thinking about the events in HEAVEN. But what really kept Ichigo up was another statement Urahara had said.
"Don't forget to kiss when you take the pill. Kiss before you swallow, 'kay?" said Urahara waving his fan as Ichigo and Orihime got in the taxi.
Ichigo placed his palm on his forehead. "I think I'm going to get a headache."
"GOOD~MORNING~ I-CHI-GO!" exclaimed his father striking him on the gut which unfortunately Ichigo didn't evade.
"Whoa! Ichigo! What's happened to you?"
"Stupid old man… Get off me!" yelled Ichigo shoving his father off the bed.
"Hmm, would you like to talk? You're not yourself today son," insisted Isshin. "Let me give you a hug."
"Will you fucking stop it already!" yelled Ichigo pushing his dad's face away from him.
"Is that how you treat your father now?" cried Isshin dramatically.
The door to Orihime's room quietly opened distracting Ichigo. He felt like he swallowed a rock that wouldn't go down. His hands suddenly got sweaty as he stared and waited for the auburn beauty to come out of her room.
Isshin noted his son's reaction and quickly stood up. "I'll be heading down for breakfast; you too should get something to eat before going to school. Or else Yuzu's going to be mad." Isshin smirked and pranced out of Ichigo's room.
"I…is it safe to come out now Kurosaki-kun?" asked a voice from the tiny opening of the room.
"Huh? Ye-yeah," replied Ichigo shaking himself off his daze. "Dad can't see you so you don't have to hide."
"Oh, but…" began Orihime but as she came out. She looked at the questioning look Ichigo was giving her, "Yeah, you're right. Ahehe."
"Anyway, you should get some breakfast first. I'll head down after I shower a bit," said Ichigo trying to avoid the girl's eyes.
Ichigo had finished his morning routine and went down to have breakfast. It was still a sight to behold that the angel nonchalantly ate her breakfast on the table without anyone noticing her. 'I wonder if they see floating bread. Nah, Toushiro-san said that whatever she's holding becomes masked with her.'
Ichigo sat beside Orihime. He watched as she took a bite of from her bread. He gaped for a moment at her enticing lips. He then slammed his fist on the table which made everyone jump in surprise.
"Ichi-nii, is something wrong?" asked Karin, his dark haired younger sister.
"Nah, it's nothing, there was a fly, on the table," he quickly replied.
"Uwaaah! Onii-chan! There are bags under your eyes! You haven't been sleeping well!" exclaimed Yuzu noticing the dark circles forming around Ichigo's eyes.
"Exams are coming up," said Ichigo trying to avoid any further conversation.
"Is it about a girl?" teased his father.
Ichigo almost choked on his coffee. "What the hell are you talking about?!"
"Is it Rukia-chan?" asked Yuzu innocently.
Orihime who was quietly watching the family scenario felt a slight pain in her chest. She was very happy about their time together at the arcade, the movies, the boutique, the park and in HEAVEN, that she forgot that Ichigo had already been thinking of someone else.
'When Rangiku-san and I talked, I finally confirmed my feelings for Kurosaki-kun. But that doesn't change the fact that he still has feelings for Kuchiki-san,' Orihime thought as she looked down on her lap. 'Why is it so painful to think these sorts of thoughts? Do humans really feel this way?'
"Enough! I'm heading out. See you at dinner," Ichigo finally said. He stormed out of the house as Orihime followed suit.
"That boy needs to be honest with his feelings," whispered Isshin as he looked up at his wife's portrait.
*.*.*.*
Ichigo had been avoiding Orihime the whole walk to school. Every time Orihime would start a conversation he would side track it and leave the talk hanging.
'Mou… what is wrong with him? Does it have to do with him talking privately to Urahara-san?' she thought. 'Ah! That's probably it. Then something must be making him upset.'
"Inoue," said Ichigo as they reached the school gate. "You don't have to worry about me, I'm fine."
He turned to look at Orihime and attempted to smile. "I'll go ahead; I have to check on something. See you in class."
Orihime watched as Ichigo ran off. "You tell me not to worry but it's obvious you are not fine Kurosaki-kun."
Orihime continued to walk sighing every time she thought of Ichigo. Distracted by her thoughts she suddenly bumped into someone. "Ouch," she yelped as she held her nose.
"Huh? Watch where you're going, woman," said a husky voice. Orihime turned to look at the person she had bumped into and saw a tall young man with icy blue hair. His eyebrows met as he stared down at Orihime.
"Ah, err, I'm sorry," she said bowing her head.
"Hmph, whatever," he said as he waved Orihime off. He started to walk when, "A-ta-ta-ta…"
He looked behind him to see that Orihime's hair was tangled on the strap of his leather bag. He wore an annoyed expression and started to walk again.
"Umm… wait! Can you please stop for a moment? I just have to untangle myself," Orihime said keeping up with the young man's pace so that her hair wouldn't get pulled off.
"I'm going to be late," he replied as he walked faster. Orihime jogged after him until they reached the classroom.
"This is my room," said Orihime. "You're a classmate of mine?" she asked.
"I'm new here," he replied with a grunt and opened the classroom door. Everyone turned their heads their way and started murmuring. Ichigo sat up as he saw the Orihime was beside another man, one he didn't know.
At that point, the teacher had entered the room. "Oh, you're here early Jaegerjaquez-san," greeted Misato. "Hmm? Inoue-san? You two know each other?"
"Eh, no sensei, not in that sense," replied Orihime.
"Well then, why don't we start the class, go ahead and introduce yourself," said Misato gesturing over to the front.
Orihime's hair was still tangled up and she felt a blush crept on her face as everyone stared at the two of them. She glanced at Ichigo whose eyebrows met at an angry stare.
"Yo, I'm Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. I'd rather be called Grimmjow, so If anyone calls me by my last name, I'm gonna punch the lights out of you."
The class was quiet. Misato felt sweat ran down her forehead. "Well then, umm, Grimmjow-san, you may take a seat. Errr, probably beside Inoue-san since you two seem to be stuck together."
Ichigo eyed Grimmjow as he sat at a seat beside Orihime. Orihime finally got her hair unstuck. "Umm, Jagerjaquez..."
Grimmjow glared at Orihime before she could finish her sentence. "What did you call me?"
"Errr, Grimmjow-san," she corrected. "Sorry for bumping into you."
Grimmjow merely waved off Orihime's apology and gave his attention to the teacher.
"Oi, she just apologized to you, don't you think you should say something?" said Ichigo, frustrated at Grimmjow's haughty aura.
"What's it to you?" replied Grimmjow.
"It's called being polite."
"Tse—Whatever."
Ichigo and Grimmjow stared daggers at each other. Orihime tried to relax the atmosphere but failed miserably.
*.*.*.*
"The plan is in gear," said a deep monotonic voice of a man. "Heaven will fall."
~end of chapter~
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Waaah! I'm really sorry this took longer to put up than I planned… I promise to put up at least once a week. Whew. So much is happening this August. Anyway, any theory's on Grimmjow? Is he a Reaper? A Kami? Or just a regular human being? Hmmm… anyway, tell me what you think. Ichigo and Orihime's kiss next chapter! Thanks for being patient. I'll put it up as soon as I can!
Thank you to everyone who's been reading, reviewing, following and favoring this story. :)
R&R~
