Hey guys, sorry it took so long to update. I had to work on school things, I got sick again, and I had work. Not to mention I had to figure out how to write this chapter. It might not be as good as the others, and I apologize for it. I get really lazy when I'm sick, a very bad habit I shouldn't have.
Things keep on changing, much like time moves on
Yet I'm still stuck in the same position, together with you.
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Yoruichi Shihōin was a very well-known lady. She was the CEO of a huge corporation in Tokyo and always kept herself busy, being known by a few as a "social butterfly". But more so above being a societal ladder-climber and successful business woman, she was an aunt. The aunt of Orihime Inoue.
Yoruichi had always felt horribly bad for leaving Orihime alone, but she couldn't find anyone to take over her position in Tokyo, thus leaving her in a bind. She knew family came first, but as the CEO, it was also her job to put the company first. It had been a hard, oh-so very difficult decision to make, but in the end she had chosen to support Orihime from behind the curtain and guide her along the way…
She stood in the Kurosaki residence, a smirk on her face at her niece's reaction. Truth be told, she needed a long vacation away from her business, as they were going through a very stressful time, and she didn't know what to do. Feeling her niece hug her tightly, she knew she made the right choice.
Patting Orihime's head lightly, she smiled. "It's nice to see you're doing well. I'm sorry I've been gone for so long. I really do hope you can forgive me."
Shaking her head, Orihime waved her hands in the air. "Y-You don't have to worry Auntie! I've been doing A-Okay! Kurosaki-san has been watching over me the past couple days since it seems I've been stressing myself out."
"Are your studies going well? Are you sure everything has been okay? I know I haven't been here much, but I plan on making it up to you." Yoruichi asked, fretting over Orihime.
Nodding happily, the auburn-headed teen replied, "Un! I'm still top of my class, and I've been keeping up well. I've been trying to stay away the drama."
Sensing she wanted to talk about it more, Yoruichi motioned to the door. "How about we go for a walk, and you can tell me everything that's happened in the past few months."
Turning to look at Isshin, Orihime was about to ask before he chuckled. "It's okay Orihime-chan. I trust your aunt. Just make sure you come back so I can check your vitals."
Without saying anything, both females left the Kurosaki dwelling, leaving Isshin alone with Ichigo.
"You see how happy she was? I didn't think she'd be so happy to see her aunt," Ichigo said thoughtfully, yet earnestly.
"Come now, Ichigo! She hasn't seen her aunt in almost two years! She only shows up for the holidays and they only talk to each other once a month over the phone. You can't blame her; she has been alone for four years after all."
Silence reigned over the two Kurosakis, leaving one confused at his son's actions. Ichigo was acting as though he was… jealous?
"Son… Don't tell me you're," Isshin began and leaned over to Ichigo to whisper the rest in his ear. "… jealous of Yoruichi!"
Flustered, Ichigo sputtered, "I'm not jealous! Why in the world would I be jealous over this? If she's happy to see her aunt, I should be happy too! I know making it up to her won't be easy, and I'm not expecting us to be best friends again... But... It just makes me wonder…"
Patting his son on the back, Isshin smiled. "Only time will tell. It seems that things are going good right now. It's like I said son, you don't want to rush her. She has to trust you all over again. It's not easy trusting someone after all the pain they've caused."
Nodding, Ichigo grabbed his bag and headed to his room. He needed to think.
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The walk started out quiet, a habit Yoruichi knew Orihime had when she was thinking. It wasn't something she wanted to push her into talking about, but she was curious to know if she and Ichigo had somehow patched things up.
"Auntie, how long are you staying this time?"
Crossing her arms, she looked to the sky. "Hmm… I'd say a good while. I'm not exactly sure how long, but I do know I'm not leaving any time soon. I'll probably be here until at least the end of the school year."
Orihime's eyes lit up at the news. She didn't expect her aunt to be staying for so long, since she's always had a habit of leaving early. She never held a grudge against her though, for she knew Yoruichi was her own boss, and therefore had to deal with a lot of important business-related tasks.
Seeing how happy her niece was, she chuckled. "I'm trying to relocate to Karakura. Or at least make the main office here. I know it's not a big city, which is why my partners are somewhat wary about leaving Tokyo, but I told them it was for a very good cause."
Turning to look at Orihime, she added. "Besides, I need to make up all the lost time. I still haven't gone to see their graves in a while. I would ask you to come with me; however, I feel this time round, I should go alone."
Knowing what her aunt was saying, she nodded. It was the same reason she would go alone, and everyone else had respected her wishes.
"So… Ichigo finally remembered who you were, ne?"
Nodding, Orihime swallowed before answering. "Yes. He wants to make amends for how he treated me. But I'm still not sure if I can trust him. If he had come to me when we were little, I would've welcomed him with open arms… But since it took so long and so much happened…"
"You're feeling hesitant?"
"I think anxious is the proper term... It's hard to describe how I'm feeling. I want him to be in my life, and yet I want to push him in the river. I still haven't talked to Grimmjow in over a day, and the last time I did, he acted strange. I'm just worried that Ichigo coming into my life will push Grimmjow out."
Rubbing her niece's head, she smiled. "Silly Hime. I'm sure Grimmjow has his reasons for backing off. I mean, he's been the one in your life when Ichigo wasn't. He's probably very concerned, but doesn't know how to show it. Besides, he's your best friend, and he'll surely respect your wishes. I think he's already aware that Ichigo has been acting different, and that's why he's not acting the way he used to. He probably doesn't trust him anymore than you do. But you're not going to lose him over something like this. So there's no need to fret, my dear. You'll just make yourself sick with worry. And we wouldn't want that; you just got over being sick with stress!"
Smiling at her aunt, she nodded, giggling a bit.
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Laughter came from the group of four that was walking down the street. Uryū and Renji sweat-dropped at their girlfriends' conversation and hoped it wasn't going to last much longer. The talk about Chappy and cute teddy bears wasn't something they particularly enjoyed hearing about.
"Did you see the new Chappy plushies? They're so adorable! One looks like a nerd while the other one is wearing pajamas!"
"If you think that's cute, you should see the new addition to the bear collection! They have this karate one that looks so cute and it sings when you press a button!"
Renji turned to Uryū, who pressed his glasses up. "I didn't think Tatsuki would talk about stuffed bears. I didn't think she collected any of them either."
"Trust me Renji; it's a bigger shock to me than it is to you. I had to ask her mother because I didn't believe it. And even Orihime-san told me she adored them. But I think she puts up a front around everyone else as she doesn't want others to know."
Snorting, Renji looked at his girlfriend, "Yeah… I know what you mean."
Their laughter was cut off when they saw Senna and Loly at the corner, talking about something. Blood suddenly rushed to Tatsuki and Rukia's heads as their vision went red. Sensing their girlfriends' anger, Renji and Uryū held them back as the two girls walked past them, not even sparing a glance their way.
When they were far from them, Tatsuki let out her anger.
"That damn bitch! Who does she think she is? Walking without giving us a single glance! Talk about being rude, I should have showed her some manners."
"The thing I find the weirdest is that Menoly-san wasn't with them. Do you think something happened between them?"
"Now that you mention it, it does seem rather strange seeing Loly without her sister. But you shouldn't concern yourself with that Uryū, it's not our business." Rukia replied.
"I'm just saying if something is going to happen, we should be on guard. Orihime-san might get hurt again, and she's already been hurt enough. If Senna-san has some idea of taking Kurosaki away from her again, I won't allow her to do so."
Renji, not knowing what else to say, began walking to the noodle shop close by.
"We can warn Ichigo later. Right now I'm hungry."
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"Are we really just going to leave them alone?" Loly asked Senna as they continued to walk away from the group they saw earlier.
"Hush Loly. We don't need to concern ourselves with them. They aren't important to our mission. Besides, they don't even know what we're talking about. It could easily be about anyone."
"Even so, they're going to be more on guard since the martial arts fight. And don't you think they would've noticed that Menoly wasn't with us?"
Huffing in annoyance, Senna turned to look at her. "Are you scared about this plan? Don't tell me you are! I didn't ask for you to help me only to have you chicken out at the last second. We need to put this plan into action as soon as possible. And I'm going to need you to help me pull it off. Now, are you sure you're able to get her to talk?"
"Yes, I should be able to. It's not hard to make her spill her guts out. Surely we can get something from her that would upset him."
"Good. This plan begins when you feel ready. I'm counting on you, Loly. Don't let me down."
"Hai!"
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Ichigo sat in his room, arms propped behind his head, staring into space. He wasn't sure what to make of today's events. Yes, he had successfully gotten Orihime to be his friend again, even if it was a secret friendship. But he still felt that something was off. Maybe it was the way she spoke to him that made him think these things.
He noticed that she seemed hesitant to answer, and it was bugging him to no end, as he just wanted her to say 'yes'. But the look in her eyes made it hurt him more, because he could see all the pain and confusion she felt. He definitely wanted to take it all away, but he wasn't sure how to do that.
The pain in his chest wouldn't go away, not even when he was with Senna and he had no idea of who she was. He didn't want her to think it was out of pity, and he definitely wanted to have her back again.
So then, why did it hurt to think they could just be 'friends'?
He didn't want to admit to having feelings for her, but maybe that's exactly why he'd get the stabbing pain in her chest for being an asshole to her. She didn't deserve it, and yet she was treated that way by him of all people. The betrayal she felt surely would've changed her, both physically and mentally. And yet, he had caught glimpses of her old self, from the little pieces of memory he could remember.
Sighing, he rested his head against the wall, his eyes barely open as he contemplated his feelings. The sound of his cell phone going off caused him to jump, as he turned to look at the screen. Frowning at the caller ID, he answered.
"Oi, what do you want?" he growled into the receiver instead of answering like any normal person would.
"Tch. Is that anyway to talk to someone who's calling you? You really don't have any manners do you, Kurosaki?" the person responded.
It was Grimmjow.
"I have manners for people I consider my friends. You, however, are not in that category. What do you want anyways?"
"You better listen to what I'm about to tell you. I'm only going to tell you once. Make me repeat myself, and I swear I'm going to beat you up."
"Would you just get to the point?"
Hearing a sigh from the other line, Ichigo braced himself for what came after.
"It's about the Princess."
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I've welcomed you back into my life,
But suddenly I'm not sure if it was such a good idea.