Author's Notes: Another one. Indirect Ichigo/Rukia. Orihime angst? Is there such a thing?
A Frog In My Throat
(Dedicated to PaintedTyrant)
Orihime coughs and then pats her throat with a sheepish smile as she turns to Rukia. She speaks with a gravelly sort of tone and Rukia peers up at her, wondering what's wrong. Orihime swallows.
"Ah, it's nothing!" She grins. "I just had a frog in my throat!"
Rukia's eyes widen and she puts a hand to her own neck, wondering how one got a slimy little reptile stuck in their throat. Surely she had not tried to eat one? She had come to realize that Orihime ate a great many odd things, but frogs?
"I just need something to drink," Orihime continues, oblivious to the immense confusion she has caused. Rukia brightens.
"I can do it! Ichigo taught me!"
The smaller girl runs to a nearby soda dispenser as Orihime watches her put in her money, select a flavor, and pull out the cold can of liquid with a victorious smile and gleeful laugh.
The name Ichigo rings inside Orihime's head.
"See?" Rukia says, coming back to her, holding out the soda. She looks happy, and that name had slipped from her so easily.
But Orihime is not jealous and she knows she should be surprised, but she's not. Instead, she smiles and nods.
She sees quite a bit.
The End.