Title: Thoughts
Characters/Pairings: IchixRuki, IshixOri, IchixOri (one-sided)
Rating: PG
Words: 15, 473
Spoilers: Ch. 195
Summary: After Rukia's injured in battle, Orihime brought her home to heal her. Then they talk about certain things.

Thoughts

The sharp pain was unbearable as she fell down on the ground, coughing up blood, unable to fight. The impact from the sidewalk was hard and old, but the pain inside was even worse. She was unable to fight again. She was losing again. And she still couldn't avenge Kaien's death. Her thoughts drowned out when the Arrancar's reiatsu towered over her, giving her a sinister chill.

She needed to get up. She couldn't just die here! That's not why she returned to the human world! Straightening her arms in an attempt to arise, she realized this was harder than it seemed.

Suddenly an arm roughly snatched her body from the ground and soon after, warmth engulfed her.

She looked up to see Ichigo, his eyes lit with determination as he tried to make an escape while holding her. The idiot! She would've been fine if left alone, but if he takes her with him while running away from the enemy at the same time, he'll get both of them killed! Grasping his sleeve, she choked out. "Leave me here. I'm just slowing you down."

His eyes seemed surprised for a moment, as if he didn't think she was conscious. "No."

"But you can't fight and hold me at the same time," came the silent reply. When he didn't answer, she continued, her voice wistful and soft. "Idiot. Do you want to die?"

"Heh, you should've left her there," a gruff voice spoke. Ichigo glanced back at the Arrancar, seeing a smile crack on his face. "I guess I'll have to kill her first if you insist on talking with her instead of fighting me." With that, the enemy advanced towards them.

Ichigo wasn't sure what he should do, but Rukia was right—he couldn't fight him and hold her at the same time. But leaving her on the cold sidewalk soaked in her own blood would've been cruel. Memories of lying on the ground, bleeding and helpless, while she walked out of his life with execution lying in front of her, were still vivid in his mind. He never wanted to experience that pain again, and he didn't want her to experience it either. For now, all he could do was run away to buy some time.

"I won't let you escape!" shouted the Arrancar as he charged towards Ichigo.

Cursing, the bright-haired teen picked up his speed.

"Kurosaki-kun!" a bright voice shouted from the distance. "Are you all right?"

Darting towards the source of the sound, he saw Orihime walking to him, her face carrying a worried look. His eyes brightening, he yelled back, his voice filled with worry as he felt Rukia's blood soaking into his sleeve. "Inoue! Please heal Rukia!"

Before the tall girl could answer, he shoved Rukia into Orihime's arms. "Thanks Inoue! You're a real lifesaver! And don't let her come back and fight today!" he shouted back as he ran off to face the Arrancar, leaving a surprised girl behind.

"Y—you're welcome, Kurosaki-kun!" she hesitantly shouted in reply. His abrupt actions were quite sudden so she was a bit startled. He seemed quite frantic just now, just like the time when he had fought the Arrancars. What happened to him to make him so frustrated again?

"Inoue-san," Rukia choked out, breaking up the tall girl's thoughts.

"Oh! Kuchiki-san! Are you all right?"

"I am still bleeding. Can you heal me?"

"Of course!" she exclaimed, her mouth widening into a smile. With that, Orihime ran off into the distance, determined to save her friend and help Kurosaki-kun.

She was running as fast as she could. The girl in her arms was hurt and bleeding so she needed to get home and heal her—fast. She could feel the wet blood soaked on Rukia's robes and could tell that her friend must have had an injury serious enough for that much blood to be lost. She couldn't stand the fact that Ichigo was fighting the same people who had defeated him so easily before, but she was still glad that she could be of help.

Suddenly a man wearing a blue cape zipped through the streets, his eyes focusing on something in the distance.

She immediately recognized him. "Ishida-kun!"

The man stopped abruptly and turned around, a nervous look apparent on his face.

"Can you help Kurosaki-kun? He's fighting right now, and I think he'll get hurt again!" she shouted, her voice desperate and pleading. She hadn't seen Ishida in a while.

"Inoue…" His voice fading off, he quickly glanced at the man standing near a tree, then turned back to face the girl. He had to refuse. Even though he wanted to help her and Ichigo, he couldn't—he made a promise to his father, and he needed to keep his word even if it meant he couldn't help the shinigami anymore. This was the price of getting his powers back.

"Inoue-san, I can't. Sorry." With that, he ran off just as abruptly as he stopped. Inoue had seemed so sad, so desperate, but since she was holding a shinigami, he couldn't help her, especially not with his dad standing so nearby.

----

A bright blue shield encircled the petite girl, creating a magical glow as it rapidly healed her wounds.

She felt her wounds close up and warmth enclose her. This was truly a wonderful experience—her wounds closed up, she didn't feel groggy over the blood loss and it didn't take long for this to happen at all. Inoue's power was simply amazing. It would've taken a lot of energy to heal her own wounds with Kidou so she was thankful that Inoue had healed her instead.

----

Sitting down in a chair, the petite girl sighed. "Thank you, Inoue-san. But I think it's time I g—"

"You're welcome! I'm glad you're fine now. But you really should rest for a while. Would you like some treats?" Orihime chirped, making sure she didn't let Rukia return to battle yet.

"Sure."

A piece of bread with dipped in chocolate syrup and honey along with fish lied on a plate in front of Rukia. The raven-haired girl wasn't sure if the food was okay to eat, but it could've been an Earth treat, such as the juice boxes. Lifting the treat to her mouth, she was about to take a bite when she heard a muffled up voice come from the sofa.

"Ew! Don't eat that!" a voice whispered.

She turned to see Rangiku's gigai, who began to wave her arms up and down in a frantic manner. The food couldn't possibly be that bad.

"If you don't mind me asking, Kuchiki-san, what happened?" Orihime asked as she sat down, her voice tinged with concern and worry.

"We were fighting the Arrancars."

"Those half-shinigami half-hollow monsters?" The redhead remembered what those monsters were like. They defeated Ichigo, who blamed himself for being so weak and for being unable to save his friends. She winded up in a cast for several weeks. And Ichigo…his eyes were constantly filled with pain and sorrow at that time, especially when he apologized to her for being unable to protect her.

Why did he need to blame himself like that? She was the one who jumped out and therefore, got injured. It wasn't his fault at all. The pain her wounds gave her were bearable, but seeing his face that way…was even worse. It wasn'tuntil Rukia returned that he finally returned to normal.

"Yes, them."

"Oh. Kuchiki-san, thanks for returning Kurosaki-kun to normal."

"Hm?" Rukia lifted up her eyes while eating the treat, which surprisingly, was quite good despite its appearance. "It wasn't a big deal. I was annoyed by that defeated, helpless look on his face and couldn't stand it. The Ichigo I remember never had that pathetic look on his face." When her execution was approaching, she had the same defeated look on her face. It was Ichigo who had removed her doubts and given her hope and strength at that time. Seeing him looking defeated like that was just so…awkward.

"You don't think Kurosaki-kun will get hurt again, do you?" the human girl broke her thoughts.

"I don't know, but he might." She still remembered the overpowering reiatsu and how it had shaken her. "You sure care about him a lot."

"Well…" The tall girl blushed, unsure of what to say. Rukia and Ichigo were perfect for each other, and she didn't want to come between them. She wondered what was up with Ishida. He kept avoiding Ichigo, her and the shinigamis at school. He seemed very anxious today. Did something happen to him?

"Well, thanks for healing me. It would've taken so much more energy if I would've tried to do it to myself. It's getting dark so I'll leave now. Bye!"

"Bye Kuchiki-san!"

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A/N: Originally I was going to make this set after 205, but then I remembered Orihime's injury. Well, this still only has spoilers for the Arrancar part.