Chapter 2: Alteration
"I'll take the blame
And I'll take the weight of your world
The past will remain
The future's still wide open
Will you save me from this misery
My hate killing everything good in me
I am trying to find where I belong"
Nothing To Say - 12 Stones - Picture Perfect - 2017
Ichigo woke to the sounds of the fire popping and crackling. The boisterous group of thieves laughing and joking in the distance filtered into the room. Feeling off without the sunlight to gauge the time of day, he chose to roll out of his cot and get ready.
Looking around Orihime's quarters, he found fresh clothing that had a light scent of lavender folded nicely on a wardrobe for him. A note was attached to the shirt collar.
"Good morning, Ichigo!
I had a few things to do in town, so I left at dawn. Please feel free to wash up! The water in the tub should still be nice and hot. I added a few oils to help ease any soreness. A bar of soap will be on the stool beside the tub on top of the towels. I will be returning in the afternoon.
Thank you for becoming my companion. I haven't expressed how much I've enjoyed your company. Please, take the day to rest and recuperate.
I'll see you soon!
~Orihime"
A smile pulled at the corners of the mercenary's lips.
"There's no way the bath water is still hot," Ichigo said, shaking his head. Padding to the tub, he blinked at the steam wafting off the water. "Well fuck me."
Quickly removing his sleepwear, he climbed into the large tub and sighed a long sigh of relief. Whatever Orihime had added to the water smelled amazing. The salts and tonics made him relax and his sore muscles began to loosen. Ichigo grabbed the bar of soap and started to wash. The water smelled like sandalwood and pine needles while the soap had a fresh mint scent.
After washing thoroughly, he climbed out and dried off with the soft, thick towels. He dressed in a charcoal-colored woolen shirt and tan pants. While he was pulling on the burgundy leather boots, he heard a knock on the door.
"Just a moment!" Ichigo called after getting the other boot on and grabbing his scabbard. He stood and walked over to the door, half expecting Falcon to be on the other side with a prepared glare. Instead, the healer was there, smiling brightly.
"Oh good!" She chirped, clapping her hands together. "You took advantage of the water. I'm sure you feel much better."
Ichigo stepped outside to join her, and couldn't help the soft smile that graced his lips. Orihime was dressed in a forest green dress with a darker green bodice laced tightly over the garment. Her auburn hair was loosely braided and she wore a silver pendant on a thin strip of leather around her neck.
"Let's get something to eat. I was thinking of stopping at a friend's establishment. She makes the best chicken dumplings! Oh and get whatever you want! My treat." Orihime smiled brightly up at him.
Ichigo's smile grew, revealing his white teeth. Something warm blossomed in his chest just seeing her so excited to see him and share the things she loved with him.
"Sounds great," he said, following her out into the cistern.
The Gulch had a few lingering patrons, but Ichigo guessed that most of the ragtag group of thieves were on jobs. Orihime led him to a wardrobe, opened it, and pushed a false back to reveal a pathway to a ladder.
"Wait," Ichigo said. "You've had a secret entrance all along?"
Looking back at him from her spot halfway up the ladder, she giggled.
"Well of course there is! It wouldn't be much of a den of thieves if there weren't multiple secret routes in and out!" Orihime's tone was teasing.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to have chosen one of them than sneaking around the booby-trapped tunnels?" Ichigo asked, crossing his toned arms on his chest.
"Not a good idea to take a path that would have us coming in behind the bar," she shook her head. "My brother would've probably jumped to the conclusion that you were holding me hostage."
"Yeah, good point." Ichigo chuckled as Orihime continued up the ladder. He waited until she had pushed the faux sewer gate up before beginning his ascent.
After exiting the cistern, the pair began ambling around the small city.
"So, I have to ask…" Ichigo said to her as they walked.
"Hmm?" Orihime turned from her position a few steps ahead of him.
"You don't seem the thieving type. You're clever with a lock pick, but you are a healer. Why associate yourself with them?"
"Oh," she said, slowing down to walk by his side. "Because Falcon is my brother. Wouldn't it be heartless to disassociate yourself from your family just because your choices of professions were different?"
Surprised by her answer and even more by her question, Ichigo blinked down at her. She winked at him and smiled encouragingly.
"I suppose it would be pretty senseless to do," Ichigo finally replied.
Nodding in agreement, the healer led them to a building that looked more like a lodge than an eatery.
"Falcon and I," Orihime continued. "We are found family. My only blood-related family, Sora, well died during the war. Falcon was in the same orphanage as me. Him and Starling."
The auburn-haired woman pushed the door open and Ichigo followed close behind. His eyebrows were furrowed at Orihime's story.
"I thought Starling was a princess?" He pointed out, voice curious. "I think I'm missing a few pieces of the story."
Orihime turned to look at him with a coy smile.
"Let's get something to eat first," she giggled as she led them to the bar. "My stomach is doing more of the talking currently."
Stepping up to the dark-stained oak bar, Orihime called out.
"Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!"
Ichigo became more confused. He opened his mouth to ask when a sing-song voice replied.
"It's only free if you want it to be!" A woman with tightly braided short blonde hair laughed as she entered through the door that led to the kitchen. The buxom bartender stopped and looked at Ichigo, her sapphire eyes scrutinizing him. "Is this another bird of prey, or a suitor, Sparrow?"
Feeling embarrassed and annoyed, Ichigo scowled at the tall woman.
"Neither," Orihime shook her head exasperatedly. The smile stayed on her lips. "A friend and protector. I brought him here to have a delicious meal!"
This compliment drew the other woman's attention to Orihime and a dazzling smile spread on her lips.
"So long as he's treating you right, that's all I care about," she said fondly.
Gaze shifting back and forth from the women, Ichigo took the silence as his opportunity to speak.
"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki," he held out his hand to the blonde. "Orihime said you make the best chicken dumplings in the land."
Turning her blue gaze to the mercenary, she smiled politely.
"Rangiku Matsumoto. I'm the proprietor of the establishment. And you're damned right I make the best dumplings. Also the sweetest mead." Rangiku made a shooing motion. "Please, you two! Take a seat. I'll be out with your orders soon!"
Pulling out a chair at a table by the windows, Ichigo waited for Orihime to sit. She looked at him oddly.
"What?" He smiled charmingly. "Never had a man be a gentleman to you before?"
"Well, to be fair," she giggled softly as she sat down and he pushed her chair in. "I hang out with thieves and brigands mostly."
"Still," Ichigo said, sitting down. "It's the least I can do."
"Oh don't be silly!" Orihime waved her hands in front of her. "You have been more gentlemanly to me than anyone has. Being a decent person is a normal thing. Well, it should be."
Ichigo slid his scabbard from the hook on his leather belt to rest it against the edge of the table. He relaxed back, stretching his long legs out.
"So," Ichigo began as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You were telling me about how you met Falcon and Starling?"
"Ah, yes," Orihime sighed softly. "Starling's story isn't mine to tell, but I can tell you a bit. Falcon would feel like I betrayed her trust."
Frowning at that, Ichigo opened his mouth to tell her that it was okay to not share it, but she continued over him.
"Starling was an orphan. She was the best pickpocket in the city. She taught Renji everything he knows. One day, she was looking for a rich mark. Exclusively one that looked like they were higher-ups. It was my birthday, and she wanted me to be happy. Starling and Falcon had pilfered bread, muffins, and fruits from the vendors." Orihime smiled softly as if she was replaying the day in her head.
"She found the perfect mark. A tall man in expensive armor, wearing a purple velvet cloak. A sign of royalty. Starling met her match that day. When she bumped into him, her hand was already in his coin purse. Unfortunately, he was a seasoned warrior. He caught her by the wrist and swung her around. I've never seen Rukia so angry at someone before. But what was the most shocking was that the wealthy man's face went white."
"Why the hell would he?" Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows.
With a sad smile, Orihime continued.
"Because her face was so familiar," she sighed. "Rukia was the long-lost sister of Queen Hisana. The man she'd tried to steal from was the High King Byakuya Kuchiki. If you've seen the Queen and the Princess side by side, you could've sworn they were twins."
"Ah," Ichigo said quietly. "So I'm guessing she met her sister and was whisked away to be the princess?"
"Yes, but not before asking both Renji and me if she should," Orihime said, shrugging her slender shoulders. "I was not going to stand in her way. She sought counsel from us both. She worried about leaving us behind. Renji was the one to convince her to go."
"That must've been hard to do," he said, watching the sad expression on his companion's face. "To let her go. She was your sister, wasn't she?"
"Yes," she nodded gently. "I told her it was alright. That I'd be happy if she was happy. Renji was upset that I wasn't selling the benefits of being taken care of enough. Perhaps I was being selfish in retrospect."
Before Ichigo could say something, Orihime raised her head to look him in the eyes. Her gray gaze glittered with unshed tears. He swallowed the words threatening to escape his mouth.
"Renji convinced her that she should go. He promised to take care of me. That he would work hard so he and I could live comfortably. He would make sure I could go to the Shun Rikka College of Magic. He swore on his life that we'd be alright."
"So she left," Orihime's voice quivered with emotion. "Renji did indeed work hard. He formed the Midnight Mockingbirds and used their skills to pull capers. He was able to 'earn' enough gold to send me to school. I wasn't sure I should leave. To be on the other side, the same Rukia had been on, unsure if I should leave my brother behind, made it all the more difficult. I had a new appreciation for how hard it was for her to leave."
Ichigo nodded slowly. His dark amber eyes took on an almost gold appearance as light poured in from the window. There was a warm and stark understanding in his gaze.
"Renji's more than that to Rukia, isn't he?"
"Oh most definitely," Orihime let out a quiet giggle. "Those two have been in love for a long time. I think even as kids. They were close friends before I joined them in the orphanage."
"So," Ichigo nodded. "He wanted you to be safe and happy. He wanted that for her as well. Renji is certainly a noble man."
Orihime snorted at that, trying to mask her dry humor by covering her mouth. She shook her head at Ichigo when he raised an eyebrow at her.
"While I agree he had the best intentions, my brother would rather give her and my opportunities than talk about his feelings," Orihime explained. "We were sixteen when Rukia left us. Three years later, I left him. He waved me off with a similar smile he had done for Rukia. Too forced to look natural. I know my brother, probably better than he knows himself."
The conversation was interrupted when Rangiku waltzed over to their table with a tray full of chicken dumplings, two tall tankards of mead, and bowls of hearty vegetable stew.
"Here we go!" The tall woman beamed. "The specialty of the house. Please! Enjoy."
Orihime's demeanor quickly morphed into a happy smile, her earlier sadness forgotten.
"Thank you, Rangiku!" The woman said gleefully. "Smells and looks amazing."
When Orihime pulled out her coin purse to
pay, the bartender waved it off.
"Think of this as my thanks for the excellent healing you performed on my broken wrist," Rangiku smiled. "Without it, Toshiro would be cooking and we both know he hates that."
"He is a nice boy, but he's better off training to join the Gotei Guard than attempting to cook," Orihime giggled. "Thank you, regardless. You're very generous."
"Not at all! You're one of the sweetest and loveliest beings in the province! You give more than any other person and refuse compensation from almost anyone. You deserve this," the blonde smiled fondly. "Now eat up before it gets cold!"
After she departed their table, Orihime grabbed her spoon and eagerly dug into the stew. She let out a muffled, happy squeal. Ichigo laughed softly and followed suit, enjoying the meal even more with her company.
The two continued conversing, staying on lighter topics. He could tell that what Orihime had told him wore on her emotions. Just recalling it, Ichigo saw glimpses of self-doubt and disappointment flicker in her expression. It tore something deep inside his chest, and it didn't sit right with him.
When they had finished their meal, Orihime called out a goodbye to Rangiku who was manning the busy bar. The dinner crowd had filled the lodge, swarming the room.
"So," Ichigo said softly. "Where will we be heading after meeting up with Falcon?"
"We'll leave at dawn to get a head start on the road. I have a few patients to check in on," she said while opening the fake sewer grate and climbing down the ladder. "Hopefully my brother finished his reply for Rukia. I'll tug on his ear until he does it, otherwise."
Ichigo laughed at the image as he joined her in the descent.
Following the cacophonous rousing voices from the Gulch, Orihime's steps were quiet as she stepped up to her brother. Renji's mirthful grin spread when the woman sat down across from him.
"Hello, Lil' Sparrow! Where's your guard dog?" He smirked, knowing that Ichigo was a few steps away.
"Be nice, Falcon," Orihime admonished softly. "Did you finish your letter for Starling?"
"Yeah, yeah," Renji rolled his eyes in a mock show of irritation. He pulled out an envelope with a crimson wax seal. "It's all there."
"Good," she let out a sigh of relief when she pocketed the letter. Noticing her brother on the brink of sulking, Orihime reached out, placing her hand over his. "I don't want to mother you, Renji. It's not my place. However, I know firsthand how much you two care for each other. You need to visit Gotei City. It's been six months."
Her brother winced at his sister's bluntness, obviously not happy to be reminded.
"Orihime," Renji said softly. "I don't mean to be this way."
"Oh no?" She looked at him in disbelief. "You're not purposefully evading and recusing yourself from communicating your feelings?"
Renji opened his mouth to retort, but being slapped in the face with his sister's 'don't try to hide it from me' look, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Okay," he grudgingly admitted. "I am avoiding seeing Rukia. I'm a coward and a fool."
Orihime's gaze softened as he spoke harshly of himself.
"You aren't a coward or a fool," she immediately shut down the spiral he was going down. "You are avoiding her, and you see yourself as unworthy. That is one of the dumbest things you've done repeatedly."
Renji looked surprised at her, feeling embarrassed for forgetting how observant his sister was. She was sweet and kind but had a way of making a person see who they really were. It was like she held up a mirror and he saw the undeniable truth reflecting back at him.
"I'm not good with communication, Sparrow," Falcon sighed.
"There are other ways to communicate without using words, brother."
"So what are you suggesting I do?"
"I'm not suggesting anything. I'm telling you to find other means to show Rukia how you feel. Use your actions and your words. She's worth the smoke coming from your ears when you overthink," Orihime's tone went from serious to lightly teasing.
Orihime stood from the table, pressing a light kiss to the crown of her brother's head, before ruffling it goodnaturedly. He laughed and playfully swatted her away.
The auburn-haired woman stepped over to the mercenary. She looked at his face and was taken aback by the sadness in his eyes.
"What's wrong, Ichigo?"
"It's just—" Ichigo struggled to explain before letting out a breath. "Your conversation made me miss my family."
"Oh," Orihime replied quietly. "How long have you been away from them?"
She and Ichigo started walking to her quarters. He was silent until she closed the door behind them.
"I haven't seen my father or sisters in several years," Ichigo explained. "My mother passed away six months before I left. With what you were saying to Renji, it hit home."
Orihime sat down on her bed and watched Ichigo kneel by the fireplace to feed more wood into it. She knew that the topic was painful and Ichigo busying himself probably helped him think.
"I didn't handle her death well," Ichigo said, his voice filled with heavy emotion. "My sisters were at our cousin's for tutoring, and my father and I had met up with my best friend and his caretaker. We spent the day sparring, fishing, and joking around. Near nightfall, my dad and I headed home, picking up my sisters on the way. When we got home…"
Orihime saw the tears filling his eyes and the sorrow and rage warring for dominance on his face. She held back from reaching out to comfort him. The conflicting emotions and the weight of his words needed to come out, so she let them. Ichigo cleared his throat before continuing.
"The house was destroyed. Flames ravaged the wooden walls, windows were shattered, and the livestock was slaughtered. Everything we owned went up in smoke," his voice cracked as he relived the memory. "We began calling out to my mom. I was frantic. I have never been so scared in my life. When we did find her, she was at the brink of death. Her body was covered in burns, her dress was torn, and she was bleeding from her stomach. We couldn't-"
Ichigo drew in a breath and exhaled it shakily. "She was crying, shivering from the pain. Her voice was so broken. She told us that bandits attacked. She said that she loved us and that it would be okay."
Tears dropped slowly down his cheeks as he stoked the fire with an iron poker.
"I was overtaken by rage and a horrifying desire to find that group of bandits and make them pay," Ichigo said with anger and shame in his words. "After my mother died, after we had buried her, I began training harder. I left at dawn and didn't return until I was exhausted from sparring with my best friend. At first, Chad was glad to spar. He saw it as a way of me sorting out my grief. But when I became too singularly focused on fighting, he stopped. He refused to be a tool for my self-destruction."
Ichigo sat back on his heels in a crouched position near the hearth. Orihime could see how much it hurt to share his past. She stood and slowly approached him, sitting down on the soft rug beside him.
"So I left," Ichigo said. "I left in the middle of the night, leaving a letter to my father and sisters. My hunger for retribution outweighed my need for comfort. It was easier to be angry than to work through my pain. I spent three years hunting down those bandits. I never found them."
"Then," his voice calmed. "I got captured by the Order of the Blood. I had a lot of time to think about my actions. To see how impulsive and blindsided my choices were. I figured at that point, I was going to be killed, so I may as well face the truth of my actions."
"Just as I was making peace with inevitability, you came," Ichigo looked at her in awe. "You saved me. You cared for me. You opened your mind and heart to me. You shared your family and trusted me."
Orihime inched closer to him, lifting her hand to wipe away the rest of his tears. Ichigo took her hand and placed it on his sternum. Her fingers clenched a bit, tugging at his shirt unintentionally. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers.
"Thank you," he breathed. "Thank you for saving me."
The healer nodded slowly, stroking his cheek with the slender fingers of her other hand.
"You're welcome," Orihime whispered to him. "Thank you for trusting me. For being vulnerable with me."
"Always," Ichigo promised, gazing into her eyes. He punctuated the vow by squeezing her hand against his chest. "Always."