Enjoy!
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Auburn Strands and Red Threads #13
She stirred.
He watched.
She moved.
He watched.
Kisuke sat at his position next to the living room door as Orihime awoke, still dazed, and she moved. She moved towards the one known as Inuyasha, unaware of Kisuke's presence, so he watched.
Silently, he watched.
She felt him.
He vanished.
But she felt him.
So she moved.
Orihime opened her eyes, blurriness greeting her pseudo-conscious mind. Her surroundings were a jumbled bath of colors and shapes, and none of it registered with her, but she didn't take much notice. With no idea where she was, she turned on her side and climbed to her hands and knees.
She felt him.
Inuyasha.
He was close.
She tried to let her eyes adjust to the foreign room. Her head felt heavy; she must have had a nasty head cold. Blinking, she willed the blurs to come into focus, but they remained hazy, shapeless figures that gave no hint to how close or far they were. Her body moved forward, pushing through a resistance she wasn't sure actually existed.
Inuyasha was here.
She crawled on stiff limbs until her hand landed on top of something firm. She looked down at the red and silver blur in front of her.
"Y . . . Yasha?" she slurred, fingers running trails through the end of the hair that must have belonged to him.
She didn't know what was wrong with herself. She didn't remember why she had even woken up in the first place because she was so incredibly disoriented that it was hard to keep her balance. She settled next to the form on the floor and, with no shame at all, scooted as close to him as possible.
He was warm.
He was comforting.
She was happy, slowly drifting back into the darkness.
Orihime grinned, no longer aware of her actions, and pleasantly sighed, "Inuyasha."
Inuyasha stood in a dark dimension void of any life, any sound, any light, but it was all rushing by him. The nothingness around him was rushing by him so fast that it should have been impossible his hair and clothing were not whirling due to the resulting wind.
In the distance, a light source came into view. He squinted, dreading what was to come, and was engulfed by the brightness, momentarily blinded. He blinked through the painful light as the merging blur of colors gradually slowed and turned into sights he remembered.
Grass.
Flowers.
Wildlife and the never-ending sky.
The sun and small animals scurrying about.
This was the Feudal Era.
Relief washed over him. He didn't know how to explain the blank world he was standing in just moments ago, but he was glad to be back in his era. He didn't know why he felt as though he had been gone for such a long time.
He looked around and spotted Kaede's hut. It shouldn't be this far into the forest, but that was definitely hers. No sooner had he recognized it, people emerged one by one: Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kirara, Kaede, and Kagome. They smiled at him, pleased to see him, and waved him over. Despite the overall lack of sound, Inuyasha was elated his friends were so happy just by the sight of him. He smiled back, mostly to himself, and began walking their way.
"Y . . . Yasha?"
He stopped, ears nearly ripping off his head to catch every lingering sound of that voice. Inuyasha turned around, and there stood Orihime, looking bashful, reflecting the hesitant way she called his name. His heart fluttered.
Where had she come from?
Why did she look so shy?
She fidgeted, hands behind her back, head slightly bowed.
For the first time, Inuyasha noticed the black void engulfed the entire world behind her. He feared it; he didn't know why. He wanted to tell her to get away from it, to come closer, but he couldn't force his mouth to open.
Orihime looked away from him. Something told him she saw something that intimidated her. He looked back at his friends; they were farther away now, still beckoning him. He had to get back to them, but . . . was Orihime afraid of them? Was she afraid of his friends because she didn't know who they were? He could fix that. But . . . did he even want them to meet her?
He turned back to Orihime, who looked up at him at the same time. Her cheeks tinted pink as she smiled apologetically.
"Inuyasha," she almost laughed, but the tone was far from joyful.
This was goodbye.
She turned, walking into the darkness. He extended his hand toward her.
Wait!
His words wouldn't come out. He walked after her, wanting her to turn around.
Orihime!
She didn't hear him.
He panicked, gradually picking up his speed until he was sprinting after her, but she kept getting farther and farther away.
She shouldn't go in there.
He wouldn't see her again if she kept walking in there.
Inuyasha's body slowly became warmer. His lungs wanted to explode. The grass beneath his feet grew, becoming thick and tangled, knotting his feet in-between them. In front of Orihime, a bright light opened up.
Inuyasha's eyes widened. Something about that light terrified him. It was calling to Orihime, telling her to not turn back—to come toward it and forget about him.
Look at me!
Orihime stopped, turning towards Inuyasha with the brightest, most sincere smile he's ever seen. "Bye, Inuyasha."
She stepped into the light.
Don't leave, Orihime!
Inuyasha gasped, body jerking. The half-demon found himself looking at the ceiling of a foreign room, and his hand was raised towards that ceiling. His body shook as a thick dread stemmed from his chest.
Why did she leave?
Why did she smile so joyfully as she left?
He lowered his arm, fist clenching. Didn't she know . . . Of course not. Of course not because he didn't even know what he was trying to say . . .
"Dammit," he whispered harshly, squeezing his eyes shut. It was stupid to think he'd have a place in her life, but she was . . . different. She was . . . He thought she . . .
He turned his head to the side, dejected, and froze.
Orihime was next to him—right next to him where their noses were almost touching.
He could feel the heat flooding up his neck to the point his face began to perspire. He stared at the sleeping girl—more shocked than overwhelmed. What was she doing here? Didn't she leave? He saw her leave. So . . . why was she sleeping next to him? Why was she sleeping at all? He blinked, looking her over.
She looked . . . soft . . . and comforting . . .
Her eyelashes were dark and thick, her face round and womanly, her lips . . . very inviting.
This made him overwhelmed.
It made him feel overwhelmed because those were the features he forced himself to focus on to distract from the immensely confusing feeling of pure happiness he had with realizing she was here.
His face felt warm. In fact, his entire body felt warm and tranquil. He looked at the ceiling again and at their surroundings as best he could.
Everything was yellow.
His eyes sunk back to Orihime and concluded this couldn't be real. Whatever was going on with his mind made him jump through many different scenarios.
He turned on his side and continued to look at the Orihime his mind made up. This would be alright for now. He was tired, so maybe he could sleep until another scenario forced itself upon him.
Hesitantly, he moved closer to the sleeping dream-girl. He lifted his arm, hovering it above her, and draped it over her, pulling her a little closer. Even if this wasn't real, she made him feel whole, and there was no sense to be found in that realization. He must have done thinking wrong because he never intended to think of her in this way.
He buried his face in her hair and breathed deeply. It amazed him how he could smell her scent. He really loved . . .
. . . her scent.
The shopkeeper didn't know what to make of what took place within those five minutes he watched the two on his floor.
Orihime woke up and crawled over to the one who might be Inuyasha (he still wasn't sure even though the physical characteristics matched up). After she laid next to him, her pocket started glowing. A yellow orb emerged, progressively becoming brighter, then flashed—a tiny person was the result. It appeared to be a female with flowing, glossy black hair, a few strands had red beads attached. She wore a pink, knee-length kimono with a lighter pink trim at the end of her over-sized sleeves. She may have been wearing black tights or thigh-high socks over . . . oddly shaped feet.
Duck feet?
A weird bug, maybe?
Something resembling a red skirt with tiny yellow diamonds decorating it hovered around her hips; there were arched appendages protruding from either side of it.
The tiny woman hovered over the two. She looked herself over as if she didn't know her own body before looking at the pair once more. She opened her arms, her body glowing bright, and turned herself into a transparent, yellow dome. This must have been Orihime's healing ability, but she didn't call for it. Since when could she heal without reciting the appropriate incantation?
Moments after the dome had appeared, the red cloaked boy shot his hand up and gasped. His arm stayed frozen in the air for a minute before he brought it down. Kisuke thought he had gone back to sleep, but then the boy rolled on his side and hesitantly wrapped his arm around Orihime. No more was done after that.
This left Kisuke . . . confused.
He should have wondered why Orihime decided to go back to sleep or why the boy's injuries were not bothering him (even if Kisuke concluded they were self-healing), but that was not at the front of his mind.
Instead, Kisuke wondered why those two . . . were like that.
Orihime crawled over to him and went to sleep. That boy wrapped his arm around her and settled. They both acted as though these were completely normal acts. Did this mean . . . they were together? Did Orihime find herself a boyfriend this time around? She's left that detail out of their dinner talks. It's been so long since Kisuke could worry over something normal, the fact that Orihime may be dating almost rattled him. He's never seen her date, and he thought she liked Ichigo.
This life was proving to be interesting.
"A boyfriend, huh?" he mused. Was he ready for that? If she started dating, she'd hang around him less and less . . . but maybe that would have happened in the other lives, too. Perhaps–
No.
Of course this was bound to happen. There were too many obstacles in the other times to lead to this point, so he should be glad this was happening. He was glad this was happening. It was just a very bittersweet moment because Orihime felt like . . . Orihime is part of his family, so another unknown in the flow of things had him on edge.
Then again, he was jumping to conclusions. But . . . how wonderful would it be if the worst thing he had to worry about in this world was Orihime getting a boyfriend?
Even if this boyfriend . . . looked a little strange. Though, Kisuke had no room to talk because his significant other fancied the form of a cat.
Kisuke rubbed his chin, diverting his thoughts. "So, this guy fought Ichigo, huh?" He looked at the hidden door. "I wonder if he managed to inflict any damage."
"You should not look so upset, Mr. Kurosaki." Captain Unohana smiled.
Ichigo tried to glance at the woman sitting behind him and tending to his wounds. "I'm not upset," he muttered. He scanned the room.
"You should feel lucky to be alive. If we had not found you when we did, who knows what would have become of you."
His eyes narrowed, body becoming hot due to agitation. "I'm not saying I'm ungrateful or anything . . ." He scanned the room again. As far as he could tell, there were sixteen Soul Reapers surrounding them, ". . . but it's kind of hard to enjoy my good fortune with all these swords pointed at me."
Captain Unohana's voice was light, "Well, what did you expect would happen when you attacked us for no reason?"
"I had a reason." Ichigo looked forward, through the lethal bodies, and straight at the Captain General. Ichigo woke up in this room with Captain Unohana healing him. Apparently, the Captain General ordered Ichigo be brought to him no matter what condition he was in.
"Are you well enough to talk?" the old man asked indifferently.
"Where's Orihime?" Ichigo demanded.
One of the Soul Reapers in front of him pushed his weapon to Ichigo's throat. "Mind your tongue, substitute."
"None of that," the Captain dismissed. He shifted his position. "Tell me, Kurosaki Ichigo, how did you know she would be here?"
Ichigo grit his teeth. "With all due respect, sir, I'm not at liberty to answer that. I simply came here for my friend."
"Again, I see. Did you not learn from your last visit that your hasty decisions lead to great embarrassments?"
"Is. She. Here. Or. Not?"
Captain Yamamoto took a moment to think. If Lieutenant Matsumoto was not the one to find him, he was sure the bright-haired young man would have more mysterious injuries to heal. This boy was an awfully headstrong and persistent human. He emitted powerful strength without putting forth much effort, and he's managed to master his abilities a bit too well. Power like his should have him hungry for domination, like most humans, but he was engraved with a sense of unwavering justice.
The friends he made should feel deeply honored someone like him—someone so willing to put his own life in danger for the sake of others—was born in their lifetime.
"You must have been unconscious at the time, but do not tell me your senses have not told you by now."
Ichigo's shoulders slumped slightly. "Told me what?"
"She is gone. She must have traveled back to the World of the Living."
"What do you mean 'must have'?"
"She did not leave by means provided by the Soul Society. My guess is that Urahara Kisuke had something to do with this." The Captain paused. Everyone in the room looked at him because this was a most unusual silence.
"Is everything all right, Captain?" Captain Unohana asked.
"Indeed. That will be enough healing. Kurosaki Ichigo appears to have an escort coming for him."
Ichigo's brows raised. "A what?"
Orihime's mind emerged from the groggy fog of her mind. She opened her eyes and stared in front of her. She didn't understand why she was so tired, but she wanted to sleep more despite this oddity.
The time of day evaded her. She probably had school, but . . .
She shifted her body, and the regret hit her the very next second. Whatever she was laying on made her body stiff. She rolled onto her stomach and lifted her upper body, staring at the floor. There would have been more time to ponder why or how she was on the floor, but there was a faint tugging from across her body. Sluggishly, she turned her head to the left . . .
. . . and stared at a sleeping Inuyasha.
Her eyes opened wider, hoping that would make the sight in front of her clearer. She looked behind her, where the tugging was coming from, and found it was . . . Inuyasha's arm?
Inuyasha's arm was around her while she was sleeping?
She slept beside Inuyasha while his arm was around her?
Her face slowly heated, ensuring her cheeks looked as inflamed as they felt. Why was she sleeping next to Inuyasha? When had they become so tired that they just fell asleep? Why did they have enough time to get into this position before they slept? The whirling questions and jarring implications caused an unintelligible squeal to build in her throat; she couldn't stop the buildup. The more she looked at his parted lips, eased brows, and serene expression, the more it . . . it . . . it-!
"Orihime?"
Her head whipped to her right, coming in contact with green clothing. She looked up to see a curious-eyed Kisuke drinking from a white mug.
"Are you awake?"
"K-K-K-Kisuke-s-san?" She was mortified. How had she managed to get into this situation with Inuyasha at Kisuke's house?
"Oh." He moved the mug from his mouth. "You are awake. I was starting to get worried." He paused, evaluating her. "Well, well, well, Orihime, your face is mighty red at the moment. Do you always get like this after waking next to your," he took a sip from his mug, "friend?"
The high school girl's mouth opened, closing halfway before opening again. Kisuke stared at her, waiting for whatever it was that was surely going to happen. Then, to both of their surprises, her head fell to the floor, and she stared at his feet.
"Nothing happened," she said softly.
He laughed, squatting. "I know that. Remember? One of the members from the Soul Society brought you and your friend here after you visited old man Yama."
She looked at him, trying to remember. There was . . . the moment she was taken to the Soul Society by . . . Rangiku and her captain and . . . Inuyasha followed somehow. He . . . almost fought with Captain Hitsugaya and then they went to visit the Captain General. They talked . . . Why did they talk? The Captain General knew about Inuyasha . . . and there was more talking . . . Did they come to talk about Inuyasha? Then . . . they had to leave suddenly. When did they get back? Who brought them back? Rangiku, maybe? She ran back to aid the other Soul Reapers, though.
Someone was attacking . . .
And then Inuyasha . . .
Because . . .
"Ichigo!"
"Ichigo?"
She moved Inuyasha's arm from around her and sat up. "Inuyasha and Ichigo . . . They were fighting, and I think Ichigo got hurt, too." She looked back at Inuyasha. "Well . . . maybe not. He doesn't look hurt."
Kisuke nodded to himself. She didn't know she was the one who healed him and maybe that was better saved for another day. "Ichigo will be alright."
She frowned at him. "How do you know?"
"Yoruichi went to retrieve him. Knowing her, she'll be back any minute."
"Um . . . and is Inuyasha okay?"
"He should be fine. Like Ichigo, he seems to be stubborn when it comes to being injured." He sipped from his mug. "Speaking of Ichigo, what were the two fighting about?"
"Um, a misunderstanding . . . I think." She looked at her hands, glancing up at Kisuke a few times.
"Is something wrong?"
"No . . . No, I just . . . think we should go. Um, Inuyasha and I—before Ichigo gets here. I wouldn't want to cause more trouble."
"Is that all to it?"
She nodded, trying to think. She was definitely forgetting something, but she knew it wasn't going to come to her . . . Whatever it was.
Waking Inuyasha had been more intimate than she thought it should have been. It may have been due to Kisuke watching her, and it may have been because she still didn't know how this all happened.
She shook the sleeping boy, earning groans and half-conscious responses. He didn't open his eyes until she summoned the courage to call his name; the unease and volume of her voice made the sound almost endearing. He opened his eyes, blinked a few times, and stared at her through droopy lids. She was unable to say anything as his eyes registered her face . . . and then continued to stare for reasons she couldn't identify.
Finally, he mumbled, "Okay. This is real."
She sat back as he sat up and yawned. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, scratching his head. Looking around the room, he noticed Kisuke; the man had been staring at Inuyasha the entire time. Orihime looked between them before becoming flustered. The two hadn't been properly introduced.
"Ah! Um, Inuyasha, this is my good friend Kisuke-san. He's very kind, so don't be wary of him. Kisuke-san, this is Inuyasha. H-he's the one I've-"
The man grinned. "So this is the boy you've talked about so much?"
Inuyasha's ears twitched. "She talks about me?"
"Sometimes!" Orihime blurted, face reddening again. "N-not in a creepy way, if that's what you were thinking."
"Quite the opposite." Kisuke waved his hand. "So, tell me, Inuyasha, how has my little Orihime been treating you?"
"Huh?"
"Kisuke!"
"What? I'm curious, seeing as how you both can so comfortably sleep with each other."
Inuyasha's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Nothing!" Orihime grabbed Inuyasha's sleeve and stood up. "W-we have to go. I'll see you tomorrow, Kisuke-san!"
Kisuke called his amused goodbyes as Orihime dragged Inuyasha out of the room and into the darkness of the night. Inuyasha fully awakened as the result her forceful tugging.
"O-Orihime-"
"It's not what you think! We just fell asleep!"
"That's fine, but-"
"I-I don't know how it happened. I didn't mean to!"
"Mean to wha-?"
"A-and I'm sorry for-"
"Orihime, yer gonna make me fall!"
"Oh!" She stopped, letting go of him. "S-sorry. I just . . . th-thought you were eager to get home."
He straightened himself. "Is that what you're worried about? Don't you remember that . . . All that weird stuff that happened?"
"Um . . . yes. It's just . . . we're okay now." The two began walking again. "And I'm used to things like this."
Inuyasha didn't understand how she could be accepting of these situations. Sure, it was a different time, but Kagome never had a society coming after her. If anything, his time was much safer than this one. Demons (and Miroku) were the only dangerous entities, but Orihime proved she had the abilities to fend for herself. So . . .
He looked at her; he was put into a state of paranoia. He wasn't the type to look too far into anything (especially dreams), but for now, he couldn't help it. In his dream, Orihime walked into the black nothingness, which started to cause problems for them. Well, it was dark now . . . and she was walking in the dark. Would he not see her after tonight if he didn't change something? Is it because of the guy he fought? Would he come back for her or . . . was it . . . his friends? She was almost scared in his dream because of his friends . . . So, what did it mean? What could his friends possibly have to do with them?
Or maybe he didn't want to think about whether or not his friends would accept her . . . He just accepted her himself, dammit!
He grit his teeth, wondering if he was being too cautious. "Hey . . . Orihime, uh, about where I come from . . ."
She waited, looking up at him.
"The thing is . . ." His cheeks tinted, trying to force the words out.
"The thing is . . . ?"
"Do you want to see it?"
She looked at him, and he started to feel the impact of those eyes again. "What do you mean?"
"Do you want to see where I live?"
"In . . . the Feudal Era?"