12.
Going inside, ichigo shut the door, securing it.
Orihime immediately went into the kitchen to prepare some water. As ichigo was about to follow she called out.
"Watch your step."
He looked down and saw a single step leading down into the living room. Hard wood floors, a kitchen with a bar and stools. Looking to his right he saw the hallway. It was a pretty neat setup, and she lived here all by herself.
She walked into the living room and plopped down on the sofa.
"The water should be done shortly. Did you want coffee or tea?"
"Tea." He spoke.
"Good, because I just remember I'm out of coffee." She said untying her boots.
He chuckled.
She laughed. "Yeah, I gotta start keeping a grocery list on the things I need to stock up on."
Pulling off her boots, she got up, and set them by the door. She then removed her jacket, and hung it up in the closet by the front door. Ichigo found himself watching her every move like a hawk.
He made himself look away. Orihime stared at his back, even that looked muscular.
She shook the naughty thoughts going through her mind, and walked passed him.
"You want to watch some t.v. or something? You're standing there like you don't know what to do."
He smiled, and plopped down on the couch. "No, I'm good."
"Okay." She said.
The water was boiling. She grabbed two tea cups, and poured the water into them. Also grabbing a tray, she placed everything on it. Slowly entering the living room, she set it down on the coffee table. Taking a seat next to ichigo, she began preparing her own cup. Adding in the tea bag, two teaspoons of sugar and a little vanilla cream, she stirred it all together. Ichigo just placed the tea bag in.
Tapping her spoon on the rim, she brought the cup too her nose and inhaled.
"Ahh." She said.
"Smells good." Ichigo said.
"Hmm hmmmm. I love the smell of the vanilla; it reminds me of my brother. Anything vanilla he liked. He even slept with a stuffed vanilla cone plushy."
They laughed.
"He sounded like an awesome guy Orihime." Ichigo said.
"He was, he really was. I can't recall our parents, but I do recall him just scooping me up into his arms, and running as fast and as far away from the life we had." She said taking a sip.
A lump began to form in her throat.
"Gosh I miss him Ichigo…I really do…" her voice cracked.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly.
He gripped her shoulder gently.
She wiped her eyes. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Ha-ha. I don't know why I do this to myself. Every time I bring my brother up, I start crying. It's like I set myself up."
"It's okay to cry every once and while over someone who's no longer here. It's what makes us human." Ichigo said.
She looked at him. "I know ichigo, but what's the point when your tears can't bring them back. When you ever so often find yourself remembering the times you had with that person, only for the painful truth to hit you and you realize they aren't-"
She put the cup on the coffee table, and got up. Blowing out, she ran her fingers through her hair.
"This is depressing, why don't we change the subject huh."
He placed his cup down, and gently grabbed her hand. Her whole frame was shaking. While he fought and freed her brother from his hollowfication, that still didn't change the fact that he was gone. It was the same with his mother. She was never coming back, and every now and then, when he was alone, he would shed some silent tears.
He began pulling her down. She stiffened.
"I'm alright ichigo."
He pulled harder, forcing her to sit down, or lose a limb.
"Ichigo really I-"
"Hush hime." He said pulling her into his arms.
He rested her head on his chest; his body heat engulfing her, his heartbeat soothing her.
Within moments she drifted off to sleep, warm tears coming down her cheeks.