Here's a super duper long chapter for you guys. Thank you for all the reviews and alerts. I hope you enjoy this Fourth of July Present. Happy Independence day!
Also, lets thank the Lovely Asylum Surviver for help making this possible.
So this is the end. The only thing that's left is the epilouge, which is being edited, probably as I type. So it might be up soon or whatever.
Please Read, especially review, and most importantly enjoy.
Tokyo, Fall 2013
Four months later...
Orihime is impossibly large now. She's ready for these boys to come on out. It's so difficult to just move around and live with these boys in her. And they just keep on fighting with each, she doesn't understand, why do they keep fighting? They kick and punch every few hours. She can already tell that they're going to be a handful once they are born. They have a bloodlust in them that she will have to keep her eye on.
Slowly she makes her way to her seat; thankfully she has an aisle seat for a quick getaway if the urge to go to the bathroom arises.
Still, despite her pregnancy woes, she's still utterly excited. She is at her movie premiere! Excitement courses throughout her bones. Living with a Lie has finally finished in the editing part of the film and here they are, viewing the finished product for the first time.
She sits in the isle next to her costars in the movie and Tatsuki. Normally, friends aren't supposed to sit with cast. They can sit either behind them or in front, but not on the same row. However, it seems that Ulquiorra has a lot of power when it comes to the movie business and rules don't apply to him. He has wanted her to sit on the same row, so she's sitting on the same row.
Something has changed between the two of them, between Tatsuki and Ulquiorra. Orihime just knows that their relationship is different. She can see it in the way Tatsuki would blush, or the way Ulquiorra would just show up, for no reason. Orihime wants to ask Tatsuki questions, but every time she tries, the spiky haired girl would just change the subject, and Orihime would forget to ask later because of this pregnancy, which has decided to be difficult and exhausting.
All her thoughts leave her as the lights dim and the movie comes on. Orihime has to admit that when watching this film, she is at first shy and embarrassed for everyone to see her in such a way, but soon she is as caught up in the film as everyone else, enraptured by the drama of it all, and thoroughly entertained for the most part.
She is happy to say that she has made it through a majority of the film before she has to get up to use the ladies' room. As quietly as she possibly can, she makes her way to the bathroom. However, upon passing the last row of viewers, she could have sworn that she saw a shock of orange hair in the dark.
Her heart races in her chest at the thought of seeing Ichigo. True to his word, he's been gone for months. It's the longest that she has ever went without seeing him, or at least having some form of communication to him.
She remembers a few weeks after he has left, some guys showed up to Tatsuki's house, with a telescope and they set it up in the backyard, the coordinates set to Kumiko's star. She could look at her, whenever she wants to.
She remembers being so happy that she wasn't thinking. She called him.
But he didn't answer his phone.
He was all the way in America. They sleep on a different schedule than they do here in Tokyo. Besides, he was probably in a meeting or something. He never called back, which was probably a good thing. It makes it easier to forget about him. He was helping her forget about him.
But she didn't make it any easier wishing that he would call, or wondering about what he was doing in America, how his trip was going, and when he'll be back.
She couldn't help but wonder about those types of things. Everyday literally dragged on forever, no matter how busy she kept herself. No matter how busy she tried to be, she always found herself thinking about him.
So it was no wonder why, when she hurried from the bathroom, and stood at the doors of the theater looking for him. It's no wonder that when she didn't see him, she was slightly crushed.
BrOkEn
That was a close one.
He isn't sure if she spotted him or not, but he left very soon after she passed him anyway, not wanting to risk her seeing him.
He walks out into the cool night air, running a hand through his spiky honey locks, blowing out a puff of air. He was barely able to make it to the premiere of her movie, his flight was cancel and delayed, he just barely made it to Tokyo a few hours ago.
It's hard doing what is best for her and not giving in and letting her see him, calling her, sending her gifts.
He was in California for 2 months and New York for a month and a half. It's become so natural of him to buy gifts; he has a suitcase full of them. They are unsent because he knows that they'll only remind her of him and he just wants to forget her as soon as possible.
That thing with the telescope; he had set that up before he left, he didn't think that she would call. When he saw it, he wanted to answer it immediately. However, talking to her, it would only make things harder on her, on him. He is doing his best to stay strong and not be weak, but it's so hard. He misses her so much; it's a physical ache. It's literally, a physical ache to be so close, yet so far away.
They say that time will heal all wounds, yet no one ever said that it can't create fresh ones. He's dying to see her, to talk to her, to touch her, yet he will stay strong. For her, he will endure.
However, it will be a bit easier to bear when he has his daughter to take his mind off his everlasting pain. She's really the only other woman that can do that for him.
BrOkEn
Orihime smiles curtly as she is helped out of her car in front of the restaurant. Paparazzi nearly blind her with pictures and questions.
It was terrible when she and Ichigo was in the middle of divorce, but she wasn't as pregnant then as she was now and also, Ichigo was in the country, and everyone knew how crazy he was about her, so on the very bravest paparazzi risked his wrath to bombard her. Now he's out of the country, she's heavily pregnant, and tired, and her film just recently hit the number one spot, so any and everyone is, and she hates to use the word but she is pregnant she has little patience, bothering her.
Luckily, she's able to slip inside the restaurant with ease. She stops at the entrance to compose herself for her meeting. Since her movie came out, she's been called and been appointed for several meetings. Apparently, she can act and everyone loved her performance in the movie. She's had lunch and dinners with many directors and producers to see about roles in which they would like to cast her, she has a plethora of offers.
She has agreed to talk to this man herself because he told her over the phone that the movie he is doing wouldn't start production for another year, so it gives her time to rest and be a mother before working again.
She turns around and spots a brightly orange head of hair. Her eyes widen and her heart lifts in her chest. Is he here to see her? To congratulate her for the movie?
She runs a hand through her hair, checking her clothes, making sure that her dress flatters her, irrationally trying to make herself presentable for him.
She smiles, and walks towards him.
"Good evening, Inoue-san," the man with the movie deal greets her, standing up, blocking her view of Ichigo. Her eyes widens as she gets an eyeful of a black suit. She looks up into the man's soft brown eyes.
"Eto…" She looks past him and see Ichigo talking to a pretty woman. She bites her lip as her heart shatters in her chest. It only makes sense. They are broken up. They haven't spoken to each other in months. It's only natural that he finds someone else. She turns her attention back to the man that she's having dinner with. Isn't that what she wanted? For him to be happy?
Even if it's not with her.
bRoKeN
Ichigo smiles at Yuki, nodding.
"Don't worry; it's not your fault that she's sick. I'll just order something to go and take it to her. You know, you didn't have to come all the way here, a simple phone call would have sufficed."
"Yeah I know, but I've always wanted to try the food here. My boyfriend should be here any minute so I can't wait! We've finally saved enough to just have a night out on the town." The young girl states excitedly.
"Oh really?" Ichigo asks her looking at his menu, trying to decide what Kumiko would prefer.
"Yeah. We don't get to go out a whole lot, because of our busy schedules and because we're normally short on cash. But we've been saving up for this for months, and I'm just too excited for words."
"Are you ready to order Kurosaki-sama?" the waiter asks him.
"Ah yes, I'll have the, ginger prawn soba noodles and the kaarage chicken to go please. And whatever this young woman and her date, who should be arriving soon, could you just send me their bill; I'll take care of that." He tells the waiter.
Yuki's eyes widen as she looks at Ichigo. "K-Kurosaki-san, it's okay, we can pay ourselves," she looks at the retreating waiter, standing up to call him back.
"Sit down Yuki, its only dinner. You and your boyfriend might find something more exciting you want to do tonight than just eat dinner. Don't worry about it. Be sure to order whatever you like or I'll fire you." Her eyes widen significantly, he laughs. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But do make sure to have fun. You deserve it for taking care of my daughter."
Yuki looks down, a smile gracing her face. "Thank you so much, Kurosaki-san. You truly are a kind man." He runs his hands through his hair, blushing and looking around. He spots the familiar orange hair of Orihime. It's piled on her head, curls falling out about her, as if she was some sort of Grecian goddess.
"Sumimasen (excuse me)," he tells Yuki, leaving his seat, his legs having a mind of their own, and makes his way to Orihime. She sat at the table alone, which he didn't really register as weird. She spots him and her eyes are the size of the moon, an expression in which he can't read on her face.
"Orihime," he breathes, a smile settling itself on his face.
"Good evening, Kurosaki-kun. I see you arrived back from your travels, are you well?" she asks him gently.
"Oh, yeah I'm fine and stuff. I arrived last week, gomen that I didn't, uh, call. I was busy." Liar. If by busy he means trying his hardest not to think about her and visit her then yes, he was very busy.
"Oh, that's okay. I was busy as well, you know, the twins being due any day now and with my movie being premiered and everything."
"Oh yeah, I saw it, you were really amazing. You should become an actress full time." He runs his hands through his hair awkwardly, a sheepish smile on his face.
"Your date, she's really pretty. I'm glad you found someone." Orihime blurts out, her face red. Ichigo draws his eyebrows together as he mulls over her words. He turns to Yuki and realization dawns on him.
"Oh, you mean her, she's not my date," he gives a small laugh. "No, actually she's the messenger for my date. She cancelled on me because she took off her jacket in the park and got a cold, so I'm just taking home some food and eat it with her there. Although, I'm thinking that I should have ordered soup instead." He's rambling now.
Orihime's eyes go back to their normal size in relief as her heart stops its rapid beating. So he wasn't on a date. It should unnerve her about the amount of relief she feels, but it doesn't. She's actually really happy that he isn't on a date.
"You know, I had a dream about you while in America," he tells her, looking into her vivid eyes. She cocks her head, a smile on her face.
"What was it about?"
"Um, remember when you found out that I couldn't swim? It was about that. We were in the ocean, which is a terrible place to learn how to swim by the way; there was water and sand inside my trunks, making it uncomfortable and itchy. I had almost drowned several times, but each time you saved my life. It was towards the end of the day and we made absolutely no progress and,"
"Gomen (sorry) Inoue-san for the wait, I'm back." The man Orihime is to have dinner with interrupts Ichigo. Ichigo eyes widen as anger and hurt took a hold of his heart. He kept his face neutral, trying to keep as much hurt as possible from showing.
"Oh, Gomen, this is my ex-husband, he recently came back from America. We were just talking and-"
"Kurosaki-sama, here's your food." The waiter brings him his dishes, in a large paper bag with handles and the restaurant's logo. He takes it, nodding to the waiter. He can't take his eyes off of Orihime's "date", can't keep his heart from shattering in his chest.
"Oh so, Kurosaki-kun, what else happened?" he turns to Orihime, confused.
"What?"
"In your dream, what else happens?" she smiles at him, already knowing. It was one of her favorite memories of them. That was the first time he told her that he loves her.
"Oh yeah…" he looks her in her grey eyes, noting how happy she is. How unburdened by pain she is, she didn't need him in her life to be happy. She didn't need to be reminded of the constant horror he was in her life. He couldn't live without her, but she could very well do so without him and his interference. He won't burden her with memories of their past.
He swallows his hurt and his pain, and like he's done so many times before, he buries it into the dark, dank recesses of his mind. She will never know what she's done to him.
"I uh…I woke up," he looks down, running his hands through his hair. "I'm…going to go now...gomen that I interrupted. Enjoy you date." He turns from them quickly, making his way out of the restaurant.
Of course she wouldn't be single forever. She's amazing. It was only sheer luck that he was even able to have her for the amount of time that he did have her. He just hopes that ends better for her this time around.
He leaves without looking back. He doesn't see her standing, surprise coloring her porcelain skin as she tries to tell him that she isn't on a date. He doesn't see her crestfallen expression, her knowing that she's hurt him once again.
BrOken
Orihime stretches, clasping her hands above her head the loose pink tank top stretches tightly over her enormous stomach, the black yoga pants clings to her hips and thighs. She tightens the silken orange hair of her messily made ponytail that sits high upon her head, swaying in the wind.
"Orihime-chan, are you ready?" Tatsuki asks her, dressed in similar apparel only with shorts and sweatbands.
"Yeah, we can get walking now," Orihime nods, power walking alongside her friend.
There's silence as the two friends walk together. The silence is awkward, most likely due in part to Tatsuki speaking to Ichigo a few months back. Orihime was irrationally furious when she told her that she talked to Ichigo and set the motion for him to go on his extended business trip. She hadn't told Tatsuki that she was angry with her, she's been holding it all inside. But Tatsuki has known Orihime since they were children. She knows when she's angry with her and she knows that she's furious with her. She just doesn't understand why. So it became an unspoken agreement that neither will talk about it.
However, Tatsuki hated that her best friend in the world is angry with her. Orihime had already moved out of her house two months ago and now they barely see each other. Granted, both of them are quite busy, but its like Orihime isn't even putting forth any effort to try and see her best friend.
"Hime-chan…we need to talk."
"About what?" Orihime keeps her eyes straight ahead, walking as fast as one could when pregnant with twins. She wants these boys to hurry and come on out. She is officially done with being pregnant. The doctor gave her a list of activities she could do to put herself in labor, hopefully, before the week is out, she'd give birth.
"About us, Orihime-chan I know you're angry with me." Tatsuki is able to effortlessly keep stride with Orihime, who's breaking out in a small sweat.
"What makes you say that?"
"Come on Orihime-chan, don't beat around the bush with this."
"Fine, I am angry with you."
"Why are you mad? What have I done?"
"You made him leave!" Orihime shouts, halting her stride and turning to look Tatsuki in her face. "You made Ichigo leave! After I told you to butt out, you didn't listen to me. You interfered in my relationship, after I asked you not to."
"So that's why you're angry? Because of what I said to that jerk? Orihime, you just need to get over him. He's clearly gotten over you, I saw in the papers that he was on a date the other night."
"That was his nanny, I was there. Or did you not read that part in the paper?" Orihime snaps.
"Okay, so I misjudge him. It's not the first time I've done it."
"No, it's not. Tatsuki, I love you, I really do, but you have to stop treating me like the 14-year-old girl that lost everything. I'm not her anymore, I'm an adult and it's by time that I start acting like one." She sighs, pressing her hand to her forehead. "Tatsuki-chan, it's really my fault that you're still treating me like this. I've been acting really childish. It's the reason that Kurosaki-kun cheated on me. I pushed him away."
"Hime-chan, no, don't say that. Don't become one of those women who take the blame for their husband's misdoings."
"I'm not those women Tatsuki-chan, those women are nothing like me. It's true; I did push him away. Every day I did something new to hurt him, this time apart, I see now all that I did to hurt him, I see now all that I ignored before. I told you that I was pregnant before him, and those miscarriages, I didn't suffer through them alone, you were always there beside me, like when we were kids, it was just you and I against the world; I've never let him in. He's the one that suffered through those miscarriages alone, not me. I have never once asked him about them, I just shunned him away until you came and made me feel better." Orihime shakes her head. "And he doesn't resent me for it, not at all." She looks her best friend in the eyes, a sad smile upon her face. "People call me a saint and an angel. Because he did the unforgiving sin of lying with another woman, because when I was having so many miscarriages, he got someone else pregnant. Yeah, that hurt. It hurts like hell. That he left me abandoned for almost 3 years to play house with someone else. But I can't say that I didn't drive him to it, because I did. You said that any sane person would have been left after all what he's done to me. But he's stayed with me for years after Kumiko, always waiting for me to let him in. You said that he didn't deserve me, well he didn't. I've done horrible things to him. And in the end, it's good that we're broken up, because I was poison to him. I hurt him. And it's taken weeks upon weeks of therapy for me to finally figure that out. "
Tatsuki looks at her best friend, shocked. She knows that Orihime has been going to therapy; she has been ever since Ichigo left, but if this was the conclusion, she could have done without.
"Orihime, nothing, absolutely nothing, there's nothing that you could have done to deserve this. This is just some pathetic BS that some doctor told you to get your money. There's no way that you deserved any of that. There's no excuse for what he's done."
"Tatsuki, you're not listening to me. You haven't been listening to me the entire year, so I'm going to put this in another way. Gomenasai Tatsuki-chan, I love you, I truly do. But if this friendship is going to survive, you're going to have to accept my actions and respect my heart and decisions without judgment. I'm a grown woman with two children on the way; I do not have time to bend over backwards for your approval. This isn't your life I'm living; it's mine. Your opinion matters, but when it comes to my private affairs, unless I ask for you to step in, don't. Because I don't think that I can allow my sons around someone who will disrespect their father."
Tatsuki's brown eyes widens, filing her face as much as possible. She couldn't believe that Orihime just defended Ichigo, after all that he's done. However, that's not what stumps her the most. It's the fact that Orihime isn't defending Ichigo; more of she is defending herself. She has stood up to her best friend, despite the rift that it could have created in their longtime friendship, she has given her an ultimatum.
She defended her actions, her thoughts, and her own feelings. Tatsuki can't help but to see the woman that she's become. So long to the pushover that she once was. Tatsuki can tell that Orihime is ready to become a mother. And what a fierce, proud mother that she will be.
The brunette smiles at the determined faired haired woman, embracing her. "Oh Orihime-chan, I'm so proud of you. Look at you! You're all grown up; you're better than ever before. Fine, I'll stay out of it when it comes to your relationships, and you know that I'll never say anything bad about Kurosaki in front of your kids. I hate him but I love you and I would never do anything to disrespect you. Still, I'm very proud of you." She pulls back from her, trying to fight the ever-growing smile on her face. "It's going to be a hard habit to break, fussing over you…But I'm going to stop playing mom, and start being your best friend."
Orihime smiles, nodding. "That's all I ask." She squeezes her eyes shut as a fierce, all consuming pain takes over her. Her knees buckle beneath her, leaving all of her weight to be supported by Tatsuki. She moans loudly in pain, her heart racing. Every thought in her brain is obliterated; every conceivable emotion is gone as the sharp pain races through. The only thing she can think of is Ichigo.
And how much she wants to kill him for doing this to her.
bRoKeN
Ichigo leans back in his chair, looking over more expense reports. Profits went down dramatically in Japan. It's no wonder, after all that went down with him and Orihime. But surprisingly they went up in America. Apparently his indiscretions interested the people there and made his company popular. Apparently, in America, the only bad press is no press.
He leans back in his chair, mulling over the meeting that was held earlier about what to do about their company stock dropping 20 percent in the last few months in Japan. Many of the board members wanted Ichigo to have a dishonorable discharge from the company, however, his farther threatened that if that suggested such a thing again, that he will force to commit acts of unspeakable embarrassment with the use of only one working leg.
Ichigo has to admit, he's really surprised that his father is still able to stand up for him, considering everything that he's done. It seems as though Orihime was right. A parent will forgive their child for anything.
He drops his pen and leans back in his chair, thinking of his mother. Does she forgive him? For abandoning her and his family during their most trying time? Why is it that when the going gets tough, he gets going? Why isn't he strong enough to deal with strife and heartache? Why is it he was made of weaker stuff than the rest of the world?
He palms his face, releasing a deep sigh. Why is it that he's burden with these thoughts? In truth, he's sick and tired of being depressed and questioning his every move. It's been this way since his mom died and it's only gotten worse when he met Orihime.
Sometimes, he wishes that he never met her. Then he wouldn't be plagued with grief so often. For 7 years of their 8-year marriage he grieved. If he was being completely and bone-baring honest with himself, he even grieved while he was cheating on her.
However, no one cares to hear about his grief. Everyone feels as though he just making excuses for why he did what he did. All you have to see is a hurt girl and immediately everyone takes her side. No one cares to know his story. And as cruel as that may sounds, he does have a story. But who, other than someone who is paid to listen without bias, would care. Japan made him out to be a monster, something in which he's not; he sees that now. He's weak, but he isn't a jerk. He shouldn't be persecuted for a mistake. If that's the case, then what's the point of growing and becoming a better person if no one is willing to forgive? How many times must he apologize? Why is it that every word condemns him because of previous mistakes?
No one cares to hear the cries of a poor sinners mistake. No one ever remembers the good that he does, however no one ever forgets the bad. During the four months when he was in America, he's spoken to his therapist plenty of times over the phone and she helped him to understand that. No matter how long on he begs on his knees, no one will be satisfied. There's only very few people who's opinion matter to him, and the most important one is the only one who understands, the only one who has reason to judge him…she's the only one that doesn't. No one allows him to forget his mistakes for a moment save for her.
However, every time he sees hurt in those grey eyes he knows that he's the root cause. He can't see her without her causing him some sort of pain…without him feeling rejected.
The shrill ringing of his phone snaps him away from his thoughts.
"Moshi, Moshi," he answers, sitting up to attention.
"Ichi-ni, could you come over today after work?" his younger sister Karin.
"What?"
"I need your help with my school project. So…actually, could you meet us in the park?"
"Which one?"
"Um…which one?" she asks someone. He hears another voice, actually a bunch of other voices whispering to her on the other line. "I told you this once Ryo-chan, if you're going to disrespect Ichi-ni than you can't be a part of this project."
"…want to be a part of this anyway. It's Sensei-san that's making me do this." An unfamiliar voice responds.
"Then fine, go somewhere else, I will not let you talk about my oni-san that way. You can just tell Sensei that I kicked you out." She replies tartly. There's some commotion on the other line, it seems as though they're arguing.
Ichigo's call waiting beeps.
"Listen Karin, I have another call. We'll discuss this later," he tells her, sure that she didn't hear him because the shouting has begun. He ends the call with her and answers his other call. "Moshi, Moshi?"
"Kurosaki?"
"Arisawa?"
"Yeah, listen, I need you to come to Tokyo General Hospital like immediately."
He starts, standing to attention, his heart racing. "What happen? What's going on?"
"Orihime-chan just went into labor like half an hour ago and…and…I think that you should be here…also…Gomenasai…for everything that I-"
"Forget it Arisawa," he tells her leaving his office, running down the halls of his building. "It doesn't matter anymore. Just tell me what room you guys are in?"
"312M, there's no need to rush, her contractions are 17 minutes apart-"
"OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!" Orihime screams, groaning.
"I'm on my way." He responds, hanging up the phone. Thankfully, the hospital isn't that far away. It's only like a 15-minute drive from his office. However, it's lunch hour and all the streets are blocked up. He will have to make it on foot.
BrOkEn
Orihime tries her hardest to think about anything other than the unbearable pain that occurs every 17 minutes. She's only 5 centimeters dilated; the doctors want to wait until she's more than twice that. She is currently awaiting her epidural; she just doesn't understand what's taking the damn anesthesiologist so long.
She turns to Tatsuki, sweat pouring down her face matting her hair to her skull. "Tatsuki-chan…"she groans out. "What's…taking him so…long?" She asks with labored breaths, her grey eyes filled with pain.
"Eto…I don't know. But I only got off the phone with him a few minutes ago so-"
"What? Why do you have his number?" Orihime asks confused.
"I-uh, I always had it." Tatsuki is unsure of what to say.
"Kami Tatsuki-chan, that's weird," she groans. "But I'm in too much pain to care. I just can't wait until he gets here with the epidural. I don't know how much more of this I can take."
"He gets here with the…Orihime-chan who are you talking about?" Tatsuki asks confused.
"The anesthesiologist, who did you think I was talking about?" Orihime asks, cocking her head.
"Oh I was-"
"Alright, Inoue-san I'm Dr. Takanaka, your anesthesiologist. How far dilated are you?"
"Last time they check I was 5 centimeters along."
"Wow, that's fast. I can tell that this is going to be a quick one. So are you ready for the epidural?"
"Hai! (yes), please give it to me," she asks wincing.
"Alright, well let's wait until your next contraction while I get things ready, that way it doesn't surprise us and you end up only being paralyzed on one side of your body." The man states good naturedly. Orihime can only nod, her face pulled together in stress and pain.
The doctor helps her to a sitting position and wipes her bare back with some cold gel that numbs her skin. She hears the doctor fiddling around with the bucket that he brought in with him, going over her chart, checking her vitals.
"Oh I see here that you're having twins. Wow, that's great. But it's going to be hell giving birth to them from what I see." He laughs.
Orihime grins but it is one without mirth. A sharp pain rips through her abdomen, silencing her thoughts, causing her to scream out in pain.
A few moments later, it's over with, she breathes heavily, her body shaking from the aftermath of the contraction.
"Well that seemed like a doozy of a contraction. Well let's get this into you so you can breathe easy. Now you're going to feel so pressure and some discomfort, but that's just me sticking the needle into your spine. Please, try to be as still as possible, that way it will all go in evenly, okay?"
Orihime nods, biting down hard on her lower lip. Tatsuki moves to her and hold her hand tightly as the doctor inserts the anesthesia into her back.
"Alright, it's going to take a few minute for it to fully go into effect. You can lie on your side now if you'd like or continue to sit. I'll take your vitals again in a few minutes to make sure that everything's going smoothly okay?"
The door bursts open and a sweaty, breathless Ichigo enters. Orihime eyes widens when she sees him.
"Kurosaki-kun," she breathes, unable to stop her heart from lifting in her chest. No matter what, she's glad that he's here. She feels better, it's like the pain is more bearable with him there. A smile makes its way on her face.
"Orihime," he sighs, making his way to her. He stops himself from hugging her, his hands in the air awkwardly. He looks down at her stomach and back to her. She can easily read the question in his eyes.
She nods, a soft, pained smile on her face. "It's happening…it's really happening…we're having children…we're finally having…they made it…" a few tears falls as a soft cry escapes her mouth. Ichigo embraces her, holding her tightly, mindful of the tube in her back.
He pulls back from her, moving some of the hair back from her face. He looks her in her large grey eyes, unable to keep the happiness from swelling inside of him. He can see it. He can see the glowing happiness pouring out of her. He can't even begin to touch the happiness that's consuming him.
She releases a happy cry and pulls him close, burying her face into his shoulder.
"I'm so happy…Kurosaki-kun…I'm so happy…"
BrOkEn
17 hours of Labor later…
Orihime eyes squeezes shut, she releases a scream as she pushes with all of her might. Although the epidural is running it's coarse, she can still feel pain rippling through her body. She can hear Ichigo's words of encouragement as she pushes their first child out, tightly grasping his hand. This pain is ridicoulous. Everyone says that childbirth is a painful experience, but no one told her that it was going to be this bad.
"Come Hime, you're almost there, just a little bit further-"
"Shut up! Please Ichigo Shut up! Shut up! Augh! Kami!" she screams. She didn't mean it. She really wants to thank him for his words. But all that's running through her mind is that he's the reason that she's in this situation. He's the reason that she's undergoing that mind shattering pain. So seeing him makes her angry and irrational.
She grunts and groans as she once again pushes. "He's crowning. Once more Inoue-san okay? Give it everything you got." The doctor tells her. She nods, panting heavily. She takes a deep breath and push, screaming as she does so, clutching Ichigo's hand as tight as humanly possible. "We got him," she hears the doctor announces.
The sound of a crying baby fills the air. Tears falls down her face when she hears him. Wearily, she looks up and she sees the doctor holding up her baby boy, covered in blood and mucus. The nurse wipes him off a bit, and hands him out towards Ichigo.
Ichigo brown eyes widens as he looks from the nurse to Orihime. She smiles, nodding at him to take their child. His face holds an expression, one unlike any other than he ever had before. It's like fear…mixed with happiness. Gingerly, he takes hold of his son in his arms, his face breaking into a heart breaking smile, his eyes wide.
"He so beautiful…Hime…he's perfect…he's…amazing…"
"Yeah, he has the correct number of toes…his coloring is normal..." the nurse tells him. He glances at her for a moment, quickly returning his attention his son.
"I don't care if he had three toes and he was green...he was already perfect the moment he was born…" he tells her.
"Alright, are you ready for the next one?" the doctor asks Orihime. She tears her eyes away from Ichigo and nods. "Alright, give me a push," he tells her. She grunts as she pushes, voicing her pain loudly, feeling her lower body rip apart. She feels Ichigo grasp her hand. She looks to him to see that his does not have their child. He stares into her eyes, pure love and adoration fills his eyes. She returns his stare, gritting her teeth as she pushes, her breathing heavy.
"He's crowning," the doctor announces. Orihime nods, she clutches Ichigo's hand tightly as she gives one final push. "Okay we have him. Great work Inoue-san. Congratulations, you're a mother of two healthy twin boys."
She covers her mouth as a loud sob escapes. The nurse hands her baby. Orihime carefully takes hold of her child, crying. She's done it. She finally did it. She's a mom; she's a mother now. After all the miscarriages, all the strife and heartache…she's finally a mother. She did it. She's a mom. She's a mom.
She's a mom.
"Would you like to cut the cord?" the nurse asks her. Orihime nods, not bothering to wipe the tears from her face. The nurse hands her the scissors and guides her to cutting the cord. Orihime smiles, holding her baby close. She feels a gentle touch on her shoulder. She looks up to see Ichigo standing above her with the other baby.
Gently, he leans down and gives the child. Her heart swells so much that it bursts in her chest. She's holding her children.
She's a mother!
Chest shuddering, she cries, planting soft kisses on both of their foreheads, holding them close. Her heart is so full. It's so filled with love. She loves her boys.
She loves them.
bRoKeN
Orihime groggily awakes to the sound of soft singing.
Soon after she had given birth to her sons, she fell asleep. She was completely exhausted and her head felt as though it was underwater. She doesn't know how long she was asleep for. But it's the soft singing that interests her.
"…Tooku ni ite mo kimi ni todoku darou
Kono boku ga kokoro kome okuru messeeji
Kibou koso rashinban sa Ai wo yubisasu yo
Nemure Sotto nemure Asu wa yume tairiku."
She cranes her neck and sees Ichigo standing over the two boys, stroking their faces, singing softly to them. She bites her lips, closing her eyes, fighting the tears that wants to surface.
Never.
She has never heard him sing before. Even to songs on the radio. She heard him whistle, but never humming, never singing. She doesn't say anything. She lets him continue, covering her mouth with her hand, her tears falling.
"Jidai wa umi ni shizumu yuuhi no you sa
Hoshizora wo tobikoete kimi wo mukae ni yuku
Hoshizora wo tobikoete kimi wo mukae ni yuku."
"What was that?" she asks him softly, when he was done. He doesn't flinch, doesn't turn around.
"Just something my mom use to sing to me and my sisters," he responds quietly.
"It's beautiful," she swallows thickly, bitting her lower lip. He nods, not saying anything. after a few minutes of silence, she sits up, running her hands through her hair. "How are they?"
"They're sleeping so not much is going on…you made some really beautiful babies Hime," he tells her.
She smiles, shaking her head tiredly. "We made some beautiful babies Ichigo…Can you bring them to me?" He nods, standing up, and pushing their beds over to her. He lifts up one and hands him to her.
"He's the oldest," Ichigo tells her, handing her baby. She smiles, holding him close nuzzling him.
"Hi…it's me…it's mommy…how are you? Are you happy?" she looks up at Ichigo who's holding their second child. She notices that his eyes are rimmed red, as if he was crying recently.
She can't handle that. Of all the things in this world that she had to endure, Ichigo's tears is not one of them. She can't see them. She just can't. She turns away from him, choking on her own tears.
"So…have you given any thought to names?" she asks him.
"What?"
"Names. I think its only fair that we each name one. Besides, I can only think of one. I would love it…very much if you were to help me name our sons." She tells him quietly.
He looks at her, his brown eyes unsure and questioning. He looks down at his son, so many emotions coursing through him. Feeling swells in his breast as he looks loving at the beautiful baby boy, a smile making its way across his face.
"Kenji…he looks like a Kenji to me…" Ichigo says softly, his eyes slightly unsure as he looks up to Orihime for confirmation. She smiles at him, nodding.
"Kenji-kun…I love it." She looks at her first born, tightly held in her arms. "I think I'll name you Ichirou. Kenji and Ichirou Kurosaki." Ichigo heads snaps up as he looks at her, confusion coloring his face.
"Wha?"
"You're their father. You're going to be in their life, they'll have your last name."
"But-"
"There's no but's Ichigo…However, if you don't want them to have your last name-"
"NO!" he shouts, his face tinted red. He calms down. "Uh…no…it's actually a really huge honor…a really…Orihime…these boys are the greatest gift that you could ever give to me…Arigato."
BrOkEn
8 weeks later
Winter
Orihime leaves her boys room, ensuring their peaceful slumber. She leans against their door, smiling, still can't believe that she's a mother.
She's a mother.
She bites her lip, and makes her way to her kitchen in her spacious four-bedroom home. She searches the cabinet for some raspberry leaf tea, frowning when she sees that she is out.
It's been 2 months since her children were born, but it doesn't feel that way. It feels as though they were only born yesterday. But they weren't.
They were born October 21st, 2013 at 2:13 am and 2:24 am. Both of them weighing 3lbs and 4 oz. perfectly healthy and beautiful with bright orange hair. Obviously, they were the spitting image of their father. It seems that Ichigo have strong genes.
She's pulled from her thoughts when Ichigo enters her kitchen, grocery bags in tow. She gave him a key to her house so that he could come and visit the twins whenever he wants. Some people would think that it's weird, but he's over every day, sometimes with Kumiko so that she can see her baby brothers, and it's too much to answer the door, especially with twins, so she didn't see it as a big deal.
"Ohayo Orihime, I brought some snacks for you and the boys." He tells her stocking the cabinets with stuff from the bags. Her eyes widens when she sees the raspberry leaf tea and rushes to take it from his hands.
"Arigato Ichigo-kun," she tells her, solely focused on the tea, making a pot of hot water for the tea.
"So how are the boys? Is it warm enough in their room?" he asks turning to face her.
"Yeah, they're fine. They're sleep right now, so shh." She whispers. He nods, closing the cabinets quietly and putting juices in the fridge. "Ichigo-kun, they're only eight weeks, they can't have juice yet, only milk and sometimes water."
"I know that…of course I knew that..." he runs his hands through his hair, slowly opening the fridge.
"Just leave them, Kumiko might like them. When are you bringing her over again? I saw the cutest little dress and I want to see her in it."
"Um…well I'm taking her to a party tomorrow, I can bring her over before and she can try it on then?"
"That's wonderful. It's such a pretty dress. It's a sweater dress really, cream with little bows on it. I hope she likes it."
"She will. She loves everything that you buy her." Orhime nods, smiling.
Thiers slince for awhile, the sound being only that of the tea kettle. Orihime sighs, ready to get what's been on her chest since she was at the hospital off.
Yeah, Ichigo comes over everyday and spends time with the boys, but…he still gives her her space. He doesn't hang around unessairily, doesn't stay for tea. There's nothing wrong with it she just…she just wants to talk to him before he leaves again.
"Ichigo-kun…can we talk…like talk talk?" she asks him, turning to face him. His orange eyebrows draws together, a subtle fear leaks into his eyes. Suddenly he's afraid that she'll ask him to visit the twins less and he isn't sure if he'll be able to handle that.
"Yeah…sure…what's up?"
"I'm…not so emotional now like I was when I was pregnant, or even those few weeks after I was pregnant. My…hormones have been normal for a few weeks now and I have been…thinking…about us." She tugs on the long, thick braid that fell down the side of her body, pushing her bangs back. She takes a deep breath. " I can do this…by myself. I can raise our children without you. I'm happy and I don't wake up confused or angry or hurt anymore. I realize that I can be happy now…without you. I don't need you in my life anymore. I'm good. I thought that I needed you, but I don't. My boys, our boys…they're enough, they're all I need. I'm good. I really am." She looks him in his eyes, hers clear and determine while his hold hurt.
He closes his eyes and nods, understanding what she's saying. Yeah, it doesn't hurt him anymore to be around her, but he still…it's pointless for what he hoped for. It didn't matter.
"I can do this without you. I just wanted you to know that…I'm happy. Something that I haven't been in years, I'm finally happy." She smiles at him.
"I'm glad…that you're happy. I am. It actually," he makes a sound that resembles a strangled chuckle. " It makes me happy to see you doing so well. I'm proud of you Hime, I really am."
"Arigato, but I wasn't finish. I can do this without you and I am happy without you but…I miss you. I miss us. My head its clear now, I don't have hormones and stuff yelling at me, well, atleast they're not yelling at me loudly and it's clear…I miss you and I want you back…in my life. I want you to be with me…and I don't care what anyone says I don't care how wrong this may seem, but I just want to make it clear that I don't need you. I don't need you for the boys, I don't need you to be happy. But I want you. It's something that I want. You…I want you Ichigo…I want you.
"I don't want to live the rest of my life without you in it. Our old releationship…we wrecked that…we wrecked that pretty badly. But we can start over, we can start again. We…as individuals, we're not broken. We can start over, from scratch, we can do that. If you want to that is…" she clasps her hands behind her back, looking down. She glances at him to gauge his reaction.
His brown eyes are impassive, searching her as if he's not quite believing what she's offering.
"You…you want…me?" he asks her…scared that this might be a trick.
She nods shyly, biting her lower lip. "Yes…I do…do you…do you want…me?" she asks him.
He shakes his head, closing the distance between them, holding her tight, crushing her small body against his. "I've never stopped wanting you," he whispers, a singular tear falling down his face. She wraps her arms around him, trying to calm her heart, not wanting to get lost in this sea of emotions.
"Kami Ichigo…I love you…I know some people through that around but I honestly love you and I love being with you. This is my reason. My love for you is my reason, not to fight for our old relationship, but to try for a new one…" He nods, holding on to her tighter, his broken heart mending.
"But Ichigo…we can't…we have to take it slow this time…we can't rush into things…I don't know, I can still be influenced by other things. We can start as friends and maybe then it can develop into something more. Hopefully it can develop into something more…But we need to take things slow…because I want to fall in love with you….and I want to make you fall in love with me…I want us to build this relationship so it does…fall apart…I love you but I want to love you the right way…and maybe…maybe we can teach each other how to love again…we just…we just need time…we need a lot of time…but I'm willing to put forth the effort if you are." Ichigo nods, not letting her go, never wanting to let her go ever again.
Slowly, she pulls from him, wiping her eyes, sniffling and smiling. She thrusts her hand out to him, a smile on her face.
"Ohayo…I'm Inoue Orihime." He looks at her, smiling, he barks out a small laugh, grasping her small hand in his larger one.
"Ohayo Inoue…I'm Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Ohayho Kurosaki-san…I hope we can be friends." She smiles, shaking his hand.
He nods.
"I hope so as well."
BrOkEn
Tokyo winter 2007
Ichigo shuffles in to his home, irritable because his father is trying persuade him to go to China for business.
"Hime I'm home!" he calls out, stepping out of his shoes.
"In here Ichigo-kun!" he hears her voice coming from the livingroom. He smiles, shuffling out of his coat, making his way to her. He rounds the corner, spotting her on the couch with Tatsuki. He nods to Tatsuki, making his way to Orihime, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"How was your day?" he asks her, walking to the kitchen for a glass of water.
"It was great, Tatsuki and I went to the mall and to the gynecologist, and to get our nails done!" she shouts from the living room. "What did you do?"
"Work, work and more work. Oh wait, I fought the old man, but that's work as well, so nothing new." He comes back in with juice and water for her and Tatsuki.
"Arigato Ichigo-kun, so are you excited?" Tatsuki asks him.
His eyebrows draws together. "Excited? Why would I be excited?" He sits on the arm of the couch next to Orihime. Tatsuki frowns.
"It's just that most people are excited about their first child, but I guess you're one in a million."
"First child? What in the hell are you talking about?" He looks from her to Orihime. Orihime eyes widens as she realizes that she neglected to tell her husband the news.
"Hime-chan…did you not tell him that you are pregnant?" Tatsuki asks her.
"Wait you're pregnant?"
"Oh, Gomenasai Ichigo-kun," she smacks herself in her forehead. "I forgot to tell you. I guess I was so excited that it slipped my mind. Gomen, please forgive me," she looks at him with large, pleading grey eyes.
He is angry…he's angry but he can't be angry with her, he loves her…but…she didn't tell him…she forgot…she's really forgetful so it's okay…she didn't do it on purpose…she didn't mean it.
He shakes his head, smiling at her. "How can I be mad when you're pregnant? You're pregnant! We're having a baby!" he tells her, lifting her from the couch, spinning her around. He pulls her close to him and tenderly places a kiss on her plump lips. "I love you so much. You're going to have my baby for me…thank you…thank you so much Hime."
"No thank you Ichigo…for making it so that I can have you baby. We're a family. We're going to raise a family. I love you so much Ichigo-kun…" she whisper tilting her head to that their lips can meet once more.
Questions, Comments, and/or Concerns?