Ichigo sat up with a gasp, eyes darting around the room before he slowly relaxed. 'Just another nightmare…' He ran his fingers through his hair and checked the time, the dim light reading three twenty six. Rolling his eyes, he laid back down with a sigh before frowning. What was that buzzing? What that his phone? He grabbed it on the third ring and answered without checking the ID. "Hello?"
"Hi" a soft voice answered "Are you alright?" "I'm fine, Orihime, why?" he looked out his window at the bright moon. "I felt your reishi surge. It felt…never mind." She mumbled, and he bit his lip "I….had a nightmare." He confessed quietly, remembering his promise to her. His dream had been vivid and violent, and he still felt as though Orihime's blood was covering him. "I'll come over" she said, determined. "Wait!" he protested "I'm fine, really, Orihime. I don't want you walking alone"
She paused, falling silent. "Orihime?" "You can come here, then, if you want." She offered. He froze. It would certainly feel better to see her safe. He shuddered at the image of her limp in his arms "You wouldn't mind?" he asked hesitantly. "Of course not." She replied. "Okay. I'll see you in a minute, then." He hung up the phone and took a deep breath. 'Why am I so nervous?' he wondered, leaving his body. He wasn't about to get harassed by his family again.
Within a literal minute, there was a knock at Orihime's door, and she pulled it open, tying her bathrobe closed. She looked at him quizzically at the sight of him in his soul reaper form, and he muttered "My family is too nosy for their own good." She laughed, and he admitted "I don't want my sisters getting any bright ideas about sneaking out, either."
"You're a good brother" Orihime said unexpectedly, smiling. "I made some tea" she said, leading him into the living room. They sat by the table and Orihime picked up her cup, her sleeve sliding up as she tilted it into her mouth. Something dark on her arm caught Ichigo's eye, and he frowned. "What?" Orihime asked, seeing him stare "Your arm…" he said quietly, frown deepening. "Roll up your sleeve?"
She gently tugged it upwards, a surprised "oh!" escaping her at the sight of the strange bruise on her arm. "That wasn't there earlier" she commented, investigating it. Heart in his throat, Ichigo very gently laid his fingers over the bruise, his hand lining up perfectly to the mark. He snatched his hand back as though he'd been burned, feeling sick to his stomach. Orihime's eyes widened "It must have happened when you pulled me away from the car."
"Why didn't you tell me I hurt you?" Ichigo asked hoarsely, but she shook her head. "It didn't hurt. I guess I was so caught up in the adrenaline that I didn't even feel it." She summoned her healing shield and the bruise faded quickly. Ichigo was stricken silent, and Orihime bit her lip at the guilt on his face. "Ichigo, it's okay." "I-….I'm so sorry." He whispered, but she slammed her tea on the table angrily and he jumped.
"Ichigo. Don't be ridiculous. You saved my life." She glared at him, and he blinked "I… I mean…you're right." He admitted reluctantly "I just…" he frowned, and Orihime asked softly "What was your nightmare about?" He winced, and she laid her hand on his. He looked down at their hands before finally murmuring "You." "Me?" she squeaked. He nodded, pain crossing his face. "It starts on the roof. I see Ulquiorra lying dead and Uryuu with my sword in him. And then, my body moves on its own. I pull out my sword and he screams." Ichigo swallowed, struggling to continue.
Orihime squeezed his hand supportively. "Then, I walk to you, and…I hurt you" he choked. "Then suddenly, I can move. But it's always too late, I'm covered in your blood and…you're gone." He looks like he's a thousand miles away, and Orihime hesitantly hugs him, surprised as he clings to her like a life line. "I'm alive. I'm here and I'm fine." She whispered to him, echoing his words from the previous night. She pulled back and his face still looked haunted.
"I think it's time we talk about what really happened that day." She mumbled nervously. "It's okay, Uryuu told me-…" "Uryuu doesn't know it all" she burst out, interrupting. Ichigo's face was unreadable. "When the two of them were down" she swallowed nervously under Ichigo's intense stare "When they were down, you came towards me." She heard him stop breathing "They didn't hear it, but you….you spoke. You said 'I will protect you'" she avoided his gaze.
"You…you wouldn't have hurt me, Ichigo. Not even in that state." The silence was so heavy it felt like it was crushing her, and after a minute she risked looking at Ichigo. He looked almost peaceful, and he met her gaze "Thank you for telling me, Orihime. That helps, a lot." She nodded, and watched him drink his tea silently.
After a few minutes, he asked "So, you're going to the beach house on Friday?" she bit her lip and nodded. "I'm a little nervous though." He raised his eyebrows "Really? Why?" "Well, I'll be the only girl there" she laughed "but I also…I wake up screaming sometimes." She admitted quietly. They fell back into silence, Ichigo thinking intently before suddenly saying "Room with me."
Her eyes became huge and he blushed "I don't mean…. I mean as friends." He clarified hastily "Sorry, I didn't mean to imply…" he shook his head "If you're worried about someone else hearing, I could share a room with you instead of someone else." He sighed. Then he remembered "Or Rukia might be coming, maybe that's better…" Now he wanted to hit himself.
Orihime was still stunned, but she finally managed to say "Thank you, Ichigo. I actually…" she bit her lip again "I actually wouldn't want Rukia to know, either. She's so strong, and I'm….I don't want any more people worrying about me." She said, determined. "Tatsuki and you are taking good care of me" Something in his chest tightened as he realized how alone she was. "I'd like that, to share a room with you. If you really don't mind." "I don't" he assured her "Take some time to think about it to be sure." He urged, and she nodded appreciatively.
They drank the rest of the tea in a peaceful silence before calling it a night, Ichigo heading home again.