Disclaimer: I don't own it, I'm just borrowing its inspiration.
She had not given him an answer. This would be her saving grace, the only thing that kept the dark at bay.
At breakfast he would watch her when he thought no one was looking, as if hoping that expressive face would betray just a hint of her thoughts. But aside from being a shinigami she was also an excellent actress. She bullshitted with Karin, flirted with goat-face and cooed at Yuzu as if there was nothing out of place and the world had not caved in on her just a few hours ago.
Inwardly she hoped she was completely pissing Ichigo off. She knew she'd find out soon enough.
The walk to school was damn near intolerable. Again he was silent. So was she. Quiet was nothing to her. If he opened his mouth again, knowing him, he would ask her to give her word.
And she didn't want to do that.
When she spied Inoue out of the corner of her eye, she was relieved. There was nothing on the good green earth as wonderful as the potential for Orihime's mindless prattling at that moment. But even that was scarce in supply. As she fell in with them she looked like a steadily dimming star. Inoue's face was drawn; the telltale dark circles had formed under her eyes. She had put in a long, hard night's work and Rukia cursed herself for wanting the girl to be anything but tired and worried. "Inoue-san, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine, Kuchiki-san, thank you."
"You should have stayed home today, Inoue. You look worn out." His first words of the morning, hurled in an almost unfeeling way at a girl who obviously adored him.
"No, Kurosaki-kun, I needed to be out today." Then more of the not talking.
Then, just when Rukia thought she would crawl out of her skin because of the tension, he asked Orihime a question, his voice gentle. "Are Hitsugaya and Matsumoto coming?"
"N-no," the girl answered, staring at the ground. "Shiro-chan is still weak and Rangiku-san wanted to watch over him."
Ichigo stepped close to her, almost touching. "He was wounded not too long ago. He may still have been a little weak from that, Inoue. You did all you could, and that's more than anybody else." And then he looked up, and Rukia wanted to strike him down. Hard. The words had been aimed at both of them.
But they had their desired effect on Orihime. She smiled, albeit weakly, and thanked him. There was no need for any of them to speak after that.
All the way to school, Ichigo and Orihime walked side by side, while Rukia trailed a few feet behind them. She prayed they would not turn around and catch her wiping her eyes.