Story Title: This Twisted Fate
Disclaimer: Sorry, but I still don't own bleach.
Warning: None.
Edit: 8/31/2020
A/N: As promised, here is the next chapter! It's a bit short, but it's also a bit emotional. Before you start reading, I would keep the Bleach OST, "Here to Stay" handy on another tab because I guarantee - you're gonna wanna listen to it.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Here To Stay
Later, after all their morning lectures were over, after the news of Inoue Orihime going on a four year post-graduate internship program spread throughout campus like wildfire, and after her friends have had some time to ponder the meaning of all this, Orihime decided she owed them a bit of an explanation.
But even in a situation as absurd as this, where questions about her very life were being tossed around the lunch table, Orihime couldn't help but notice how Ichigo remained silent through the entire discussion, with a blank expression on his face, completely lost in his own thoughts.
"Orihime?"
"..."
"Orihime!"
"Hu-? Huh?! Oh, sorry!" the said girl yelped in surprise, snapping out of her daze, "What was that again?"
"We were wondering," Rukia started. "When did you decide all this? You know, decided to leave Karakura Town and all that."
Rukia asked in a way that spoke for the whole group, realizing that her friends weren't at all interested in the fact that she wanted to do research on a theory that was taboo to society, but rather more concerned as to why she was leaving in the first place.
"Oh." She paused for a while, thinking of a half-decent answer, "I don't know. I just, I thought I should chase something I'm passionate about?"
This wasn't entirely a lie, she supposed. Ever since Orihime was young, she was a child that thrived from her wishful thinking and desires, and this trait of her's shined from the within.
At this, the table went silent for a while, as her friends looked at each other, weighing the credibility and worthiness of the answer, until one person responded in finality.
"Well, although we're all sad to suddenly hear that you'll be leaving us so soon," Ishida spoke gently, "as your friends, we're so proud of you, Orihime."
"He's right! Where were you able to land an internship like that, Orihime? Literally insane!"
One by one, everyone began to share their congratulatory remarks, complimenting her on her outstanding achievements.
Until one voice cut in without warning, flipping the mood almost instantly.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ichigo finally said, completely disregarding everyone else's sentiments.
The group went still for a while, knowing very well that Kurosaki Ichigo was not happy about the situation at all.
And it was no surprise that he didn't choose to conceal it.
"Kurosaki-kun, I-"
"Tell me." He interrupted her rather impatiently, "How long have you been planning this for, Inoue?"
When the two finally locked eyes, she realized there was more that was said from his expression that words could have never expressed.
A mixture of hurt, betrayal, and confusion smeared evenly across his face, and Orihime suddenly wished she had lied about the whole thing instead because she's never seen an expression so distressed that it pained her to see it.
"Ichigo, there's no reason for you to get mad." Rukia defended, "This is a great opportunity for Orihime and-"
She didn't even have a chance to finish her sentence, before Ichigo stood up and walked away silently.
Orihime watched as he cut through the busy cafeteria and off toward the west wing of campus. She watched as his image grew smaller by the distance, knowing exactly where he was headed to.
"I literally can't believe you spent all of high school pining for that moron." Rukia stressed, with a hint of annoyance in her tone. "You know what, let him be. He doesn't even know what he's - hey, hey!"
Without saying another word, Orihime got up and ran after him.
She only had one place in mind, but she was more than certain that that's where she would find him.
Off into the direction where the sun set, there was an abandoned music room that was left undiscovered.
It wasn't nearly big enough to fit an entire orchestra of any sort. But it was just the right size for an old mahogany piano and two lonely teenagers, who'd often escape their everyday boredom to rest in their little sanctuary, together.
As Orihime turned a corner, she heard a familiar tune echoing down the hall causing her to steady her pace. It was a a faint sound from where she stood, but it sent still vibrations throughout her body, easing her into slow and steady strides, walking along to the beat of the sad song.
Here to Stay.
Moments from the past started to creep its way back into her memory, as she was reminded of the first time she heard him play this piece.
Soon after the two teenagers met during their first year, the Kurosaki family had just announced that Ichigo was going to be the predecessor to the family throne, after the reign of Kurosaki Isshin, the current family head.
The announcement hadn't come as a surprise to anybody.
For Ichigo, being the eldest and the only son of Kurosaki Isshin and Masaki, he had been told this from the moment he understood how his family operated, that he was going to have big roles to fill one day.
But nothing could've braced him for the reality of it all.
Without him even realizing it, life as he knew it was suddenly swept from underneath his very feet as he was suddenly bared naked to the public for the entire world to see.
Like a little bird pushed off of the highest tree branch, forced to learn how to fly, or die trying.
He learned to deal with it all. He learned how to fake every act and every smile, just as he was told to. He perfected nearly every one of his endeavors, making sure there was no room for any doubt or question, easily earning the respect of those around him.
But no matter what he did or how hard he worked - the stares were endless, and he soon grew to despise every expectant gaze that came his way, as if he had been reduced to nothing but an empty shell.
"As expected of Kurosaki Ichigo, to rank top of his class at Karakura Academy!"
"As expected of Kurosaki Ichigo, to place first at the International Piano Competition!"
"As expected of Kurosaki Ichigo, this and that and -"
As expected. As expected. As expected.
He felt like he was being pulled apart from every angle. Every pitiful day consuming him whole, as if the entire society was counting down the days for this young boy to become their King.
And Ichigo would often laugh bitterly to himself, questioning if this was the only way.
Since when did your idea of me become my responsibility to live up to?
And every time he asked himself this, a piece of his heart would break off into bits and pieces.
Was this life ever even mine to begin with?
To have everything at the touch of his fingertips. Yet having the inability to control any of it.
How fucking ironic. He thought, wondering if this was truly the path he wanted himself to walk on.
And it was during this moment, Inoue Orihime had found Kurosaki Ichigo playing this sad melody, in his quiet corner of the world, where his most vulnerable thoughts embodied the soul of this fine tune.
She was there, watching him engulfed in the twilight's glow, never being able to take her eyes fully off of that expression of his that wanted to say a million words, but only having the courage to say four.
Do you see me?
And it was the first time she ever saw a face that resembled so much of her own that she could never be able to forget it no matter how hard she tried because it was forever etched into her mind.
Because the ever so perfect Kurosaki Ichigo everybody had come to know of and worship and praise, was there, candid before her very eyes - only for her to see.
And she knew, she couldn't afford to go any closer, to dig any deeper, or to test fate any more than she already had.
But, it was as if their paths were defying the rules of gravity, daring to bend dangerously towards each other, just for them to realize that in this moment, there was just him and her and nothing more.
Nothing else that mattered.
"Why did you come here?" he asked back then.
They stopped to look at each other to find the answer they've been chasing all their lives.
"The sound of your voice brought me to you."
Ichigo smiled, for the very first time, knowing that she was talking about his song.
A song that he had hoped someone would hear.
And here she was again, listening to the same song, bringing back memories of the past, slowly coming to terms with how much the pureblood vampire had changed since then.
How much they've learned to change each other.
"Why did you come here?" A voice spoke.
Snapping out of her thoughts, it hadn't occurred to Orihime that the piano stopped playing.
She glanced up from where she stood and stared directly into Ichigo's dark, distant eyes, not a hint of warmth to his tone.
They stood in silence for a while, letting an unwelcome sense of deja vu settle into the space, neither of them daring to speak.
It's only quiet for a moment, until one of them decide to.
"That song." Ichigo said steadily, letting go of his cold demeanor, "I was playing it for you."
He looked away as he said it, and it took Orihime a second longer to get the words through her head.
Something within her flared, hope and confusion swirling dangerously together as she weighed the meaning of his words carefully.
"I don't understand." She responded at last.
Because Orihime concluded, that even after knowing him all these years, Ichigo's always been this way: completely unreadable and untouchable in every regard.
But there were rare moments like these, when he would break down his walls just a little for her to catch a glimpse of his real self, before putting up his guards back up again, pretending to be fine.
And every single time, she felt like she's missed out on something in her life. It's always left her wanting more, and she hoped that this time, he didn't have to leave her hanging like the other times.
Because who knew if Orihime was going to get 'another time' - she needed to know now.
And when his large golden eyes found its way back to her round ashen ones, he closed the distance between them, stopping right when they were just arms width apart.
And Orihime went still.
"Back then." Ichigo spoke, considering a far off memory, never daring to break eye contact, "And even now. This song was always for you."
Orihime shook at the intensity of his stare, suddenly afraid of how much truth it held, and it was as if everything had clicked, and she was struck with a wave of emotions, realizing exactly what he had meant.
Here to Stay.
The name of the song took on a completely different meaning, and Orihime couldn't help but feels layers of regret piling for not realizing the implications any sooner.
She thought she'd been alone. That nobody in this world understood her pain of being a complete misfit. The fear of always having to hide and pretend to be someone else never quite faded away no matter how long time surpassed, and for years, she always thought that she'd end up dying before getting the chance to share her story with anyone.
But now, she realized he'd been here all along, showing her bite-sized pieces of himself that he couldn't allow anyone else to see.
She recalled every moment shared together, him and her, speaking about the impossibilities of their lives and why society had placed such irrational expectations on them. All the times he would play the piano for her, asking her to listen because he could never quite put his emotions into words because Kurosaki Ichigo was never good with words.
And she was there, listening to every song, to every note that pulled on her heartstrings so hard that they threatened to snap at the tension, but never quite able to do so because the feeling of never wanting to let him go always persisted.
Because it absolutely broke her to see him mask this part of him for the sake of something called family, wealth, and honor.
The two of them weren't the same - they would never come close to that. But in some sense, Orihime realized, they weren't exactly different either.
And she could hardly swallow the thought of that herself.
Because in the end, after everything they've been through, after all the moments shared, she was the one leaving him behind.
She was going to be the one who betrayed him.
Leaving him all by himself again in this lonely abyss of a place.
"I wish you would've told me." He almost whispered, "At least I could've tried to prepare myself."
She could hear his hurt. It didn't speak volumes, but it was fresh, and it was raw, and Orihime struggled the urge to pull him into her arms, telling him that none of it was true and that she wouldn't be leaving him.
But she couldn't find it in her to lie to him like that.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you." she replied, tears burning in the back of her eyes, "I couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell anyone."
How was I supposed to tell you I'm human?
She wanted him to yell at her, to scream at her, anything to show that he was beyond furious.
But instead what she saw was a reassuring smile that didn't quite meet his eyes.
"I know." he said, not letting his voice falter.
"To be honest, I was a little angry." He confessed, a bit of muse to his tone, "But when I thought about it. I realized I wasn't angry at you." A sincere smile formed on his face, as he thought about what he was about to say next, "I was just angry at myself."
With that, he finally closed the small gap they had and slipped his large hand to the side of her flushed cheek, tilting it gently so she would meet his eyes.
"Inoue, you're different." he said, a hint of envy laced in his confession.
"You speak your mind, even if it means to be different. You do things that nobody else does because you believe it's the right thing to do. You act from the goodness of your heart because that's who you are." His fingers slid through her soft, auburn hair with every spoken sentence, and she could feel her heartbeat accelerate with the feel of his warm hand cradling her temple.
"And I realized I was angry, and the reason was because I couldn't do any of that." And Orihime knew. She knew he was referring to the insurmountable pressure of being a Kurosaki, the countless stares that looked his way in vain, and the inability to speak for himself because it would only take one wrong sentence for everything to crumble to ashes.
And something sick twisted in Orihime's gut.
"Unlike you, I grew up being told what to do, what to think, and what to believe. I'm not even my own person anymore; I'm just a puppet." There was an upsetting pause, and Orihime realized Ichigo was struggling to say his next line because the moment he said them, it would become reality, and reality was a scary thing. But he managed to speak anyways, as if he was finally coming to terms with everything he held dear in this very moment.
"But Inoue, you're free. You don't deserve someone like me, who's been nothing but a lie his whole life."
And that's when her world shattered.
No, it wasn't supposed to be this way.
She felt the weight of his hand linger against her face, both of them wishing for this very moment to stop in time.
She let a single tear stream down her face, letting a gentle thumb catch it and wipe it away.
She heard a faint, hearty chuckle as she heard someone say: Princesses aren't supposed to cry.
I'm the goddamn lie.
Slowly she could feel his hand slipping away from her.
She could feel him distance himself - physically, only a few feet away, but mentally, entirely unreachable.
She could hear him say something in finality: Take care, Inoue.
I'm the one who doesn't deserve you.
She could hear his footsteps walking away, and she felt fear creep from within.
This time, it wasn't the fear of being left alone.
No, she found something far scarier than that.
Was this it? Was this how everything was going to end?
Hurting the very person she wanted to protect with her life?
"I'm not who you think I am."
She didn't hear her voice, but she heard his footsteps stop.
...
...
Her world moved all too quickly.
As her mind couldn't catch up to the movement of her feet.
And she was falling.
A/N: idk, i'm crying too.
But feel free to favorite/follow/review the chapter!~ Would love some input on what you think is going to happen :D
