Nine for a kiss
She was different afterwards. She could feel it, see it in her own eyes, but she couldn't say what it was that had changed. Not that you'd know, of course, because she made sure to hide this from everyone. She acted like her old self, distracting them with her apparent obliviousness and flights of fancy. She'd worried that they'd see through the act, but it seems that people only see what they want to, especially when it soothes their conscience to do so.
Only one person saw through it all; Kurosaki-kun. How ironic that the boy who had always been so blind to her was the one who noticed. Of course, he was changed too. Damaged, broken, guilt-ridden. What had happened on that Dome had left a mark on them both, and each saw and recognised it in the other. They started spending more time together, finding comfort in the fact that neither had to pretend in front of the other. They didn't need to be the cheery girl or the unwavering hero here. Sometimes they'd just sit in silence. Sometimes they'd speak a little. Sometimes there'd be tears. Neither tried to console the other, neither made promises that it would be okay. They just existed together in that moment and allowed each to feel what they were feeling, to breathe.
They were sat in the park, each sitting on a swing, silently staring at the inky sky. Kurosaki let out a sigh beside her, his breath forming a cloud as it hits the chilled evening air. "Inoue, I'm sorry". She turns slightly, a small, sad smile that isn't for him crosses her features, and she replies, "I'm sorry too". She drops her gaze to her feet, the tips of her shoes balancing on the ground as she gently swings. "But sorry will never be enough". And it isn't said to be cruel or to hurt. It's the truth, it's their truth. They can forgive each other, but they'll never forgive themselves. She stands up to leave, and he stands with her. He draws close and, without warning, dips his head, his lips pressing gently against her own. Kurosaki-kun is kissing her, and once upon a time this would have made her heart sing. Once upon a time, this was all she wanted. But that was before. This is afterwards. After her abduction. After her weakness. After her failure. After sad, green eyes…after the dust has blown away. The kiss ends almost as soon as it's begun. Kurosaki's eyes swim with confusion and guilt and regret. He looks like he might kiss her again, but she gently presses her palm to his chest. Gentle, but firm. The slightest shake of the head. She knows what he's looking for in that kiss, and as much comfort as they've found in one another, she can't offer it to him. Orihime bids him goodnight and begins her walk home. She can't fix him, and she realises that she doesn't really want to either; much like the kiss, her heart isn't in it.
a/n... forgive me. It's not the kiss you were hoping for, but lets find solace in the fact that it wasn't what Orihime wanted either...