Disclaimer: Just checked with my accountant and he says the $1.46 in my checking account proves I don't own Bleach. Go figure.
It was one of the strangest things he'd ever seen, and he'd seen some pretty fucked up things. The four of them, smeared across his den like so many breathing stains, all eyes affixed to the TV. Renji slouched on the couch with his legs spread wide and his hand inching to his waistline so it could tuck itself in Al Bundy-style. Orihime cross-legged on the floor with her chin on her knuckles, hair spilling forward. Toushiro perched like some odd snowbird on the back of the La-Z-Boy. Rangiku sprawled on her stomach on the carpet with her head resting on her arms (when the boobs allowed). All of them reverent as churchgoers.
In his newly acquired (but unspoken) leadership capacity, Ichigo felt it necessary to enforce periods of rest upon his comrades. Lacking in money and (occasionally) interest, he used the old trick his father had used on him. He turned on the TV and set them all in front of it.
It had not gone too smoothly at first. Ikkaku and Yumichika had nearly come to blows on the subject matter: Baldy preferred wrestling and the fluffy one only had eyes for Oprah. When they removed themselves from the group to find other amusement, no one was sorry to see them go.
Rukia and Chad. . . er. . . Sado were the next to excuse themselves. Sado said he was now a drummer in a band and they needed much practice. Rukia had taken up sketching more often but anyone who told her she needed practice found themselves in a whole lot of pain. Ishida had never shown up despite the numerous invitations, so that left the motley crew now mesmerized by the tube.
Today when the episode was over, they were all speechless. It was Rangiku who finally sighed, "He died for her... that's soooooo romantic."
Orihime readily agreed. Then she blew her nose.
"Even though she didn't love him. Wow," Toushiro said.
"Well that's the thing. When you really love someone, it doesn't matter how much they love you. If you act based on how much they love you back, it's not really love. That was the point," Renji said sagely.
"And," Orihime said between sniffles, "She said herself 'All love is unrequited.'"
They all drew a collective breath and were silent.
Unable to stomach much more commentary, Ichigo, predictably, exploded. "That wasn't romantic! That was stupid! And just what the hell do you idiots know about unrequited love?"
When all heads in the room turned towards him with bright eyes, he felt himself go crimson. Unlike himself and like Ivanova and Marcus Cole, they understood the whole thing about unrequited love.
Oh yeah, they totally knew.
A/N: For those of you who guessed the show in question is Babylon 5, collect $200, advance to go and dont think of yourselves as too geeky.