A young girl, clothed in a sleeveless white dress with two six-petal flower-shaped hairpins clipped to one of the straps, sat crying in a white void, completely alone with no one present to hear her anguish, to soothe her pain, to fill the gaping void of loneliness in her gut. Suddenly, the girl heard footsteps and looked up.
She could see an old woman approaching wearing a red blouse, a purple cardigan, an orange skirt and a smile on a lined face that had no other distinguishable features, clouded by a mysterious light. The woman knelt and hugged the girl and was joined by a similarly mysterious-looking old man dressed in a white T-shirt and beige trousers; he too wore a large and kind smile framed by lines of age, yet his eyes were shrouded by the same white light.
"Keep enduring Orihime, you will find the one who will give you happiness to last lifetimes", the woman said kindly, stroking the girl's hair.
The man, kneeling beside his partner, rubbed the girl's back in comfort. "You have a wonderful life by his side waiting for you", he gently assured.
The girl looked up in wonder with teary eyes; the couple almost seemed familiar.
The world went white.
Orihime Inoue woke up with a start, tears seeping from her eyes. She had had the dream again, a dream that had made occasional appearances in her sleep since her older brother Sora had died. It was a dream that played a part in giving her the courage to keep moving forward, to not let her loneliness and sadness keep her down. She had rejected the crushing reality of that loneliness for years by making wonderful life-long friends and finding her purpose in life as a healer and protector upon awakening her powers, the same way she would reject attacks with Santen Kesshun and wounds with Soten Kisshun.
I wonder if that dream will ever come true, Orihime thought sadly, as she wiped her tears. She would forever be grateful to Tatsuki, Ichigo, Rukia, Uryū, Chad, Keigo, Mizuiro, Rangiku, Renji and many others for giving her the friendship she cherished so dearly. However, at the end of the day, she would have to return to an empty apartment with nothing other than a picture of her deceased brother to greet her. Only the occasional meetings with Shun'ō, Ayame, Hinagiku, Lily, Baigon and Tsubaki broke the monotony of her home life. It was the reoccurring dream that gave her the hope that one day, that would change. And so, she held onto it, believing that one day the orange-haired strawberry would return her feelings. Orihime knew she would forever love Ichigo no matter what, across five lifetimes and many more if possible. But to have a chance at the happy end that she desired, she knew she had to make her feelings known one day. Even more daunting was the fact that she feared that he would not return her feelings.
After contemplating the dream for a little longer in the darkness of her bedroom, the 21-year-old young woman clipped her Shun Shun Rikka hairpins to her collar and slipped out of bed to make herself a coffee, finding herself unable to sleep. The faint light of the stars shone through her living room window and she smiled at them as she walked into her kitchen, appreciating their beauty. After making her coffee, she took a sip while leaning against the counter and felt a soothing feeling flowing through her body. A thought occurred to her that she had not checked the time and upon laying her eyes on the wall-mounted clock, she found it was 2 am. She decided to step out into the open air, feeling oddly stuffy in her apartment. There was an uplifting sensation that permeated the air, despite the darkness the apartment compound was hidden in. It comforted Orihime and gave her the feeling that something wonderful was just around the corner. She decided she wanted to stay outside a little longer, to let that feeling wash over her and explore Karakura Town with the newly discovered positivity in mind; she wore a coat over her pyjamas and some plain slippers before exiting her apartment, locking the door behind her.
Orihime made her way to the local park, reflecting on recent events while observing the stars above amidst a quiet and resting town. Renji and Rukia's wedding had been truly wonderful and she was so grateful to have had the opportunity to not only attend the wedding but also to make the strawberry and flower-adorned veil to complete Rukia's dress. I got so emotional that day, she thought with a light giggle. It had been a week since then and she had gotten back to work at ABC Donuts after that small vacation. The weekend had just begun, which Orihime remembered with a sigh of relief. She didn't want to accidentally oversleep and miss her shift after all. Casting her thoughts back to the wedding, the young woman remembered the last words Ichigo had spoken to her before they returned from Soul Society through the Senkaimon.
There's... something I'd like to talk to you about, so next time, do you think you could you make some time for me?
In her mind, she could still see the slight blush on his face and the odd emotion in his eyes as he had spoken, she could still remember the way her heart had started beating faster at those words. She was still curious about what he had wanted to say. They hadn't had contact since then however, so Orihime concluded that it was a perhaps a matter of insignificance. She didn't want to get her hopes up after all. That's not fair, we've both been pretty busy, she thought. The little blue men were making her have silly thoughts again. However, she had mostly resigned herself to the fact that Ichigo would not return her feelings. It had been years since she had fallen for him and though their friendship had strengthened greatly since then, they had not made progress on a romantic level. Orihime brooded in silence and sadness as her feet continued carrying her to her destination, over the grey concrete of the pavement and onto the green and brown softness of the grass and mud of the park. The curious sensation in the air grew stronger, bringing her out of the mire she had let herself sink into and raising her spirits, making her light on her feet as she walked to the centre of the park. Maybe a miracle will happen soon, one of these days, Orihime thought.
A young boy lay in an expansive green meadow, among a colourful swathe of flowers and under a bright blue sky, illuminated by the brilliant light of the Sun. The boy gazed at it and heard a gentle voice laughing in joy. It sounded familiar and he wondered who it belonged to. There was no one else in sight after all. Nevertheless, he smiled at the sound and felt his heart fill with love, although for who he couldn't say. He twirled a sunflower around his fingers, losing himself in its splendour against the backdrop of the Sun and thought about a girl with shining grey eyes and an equally bright smile. She sounded so familiar; her name was practically on the tip of the boy's tongue.
The world went white.
Ichigo Kurosaki woke up with a start, feeling unsteady as he sat up in bed and took a bearing of his surroundings. Checking his digital bedside clock, he found it was only 2 am in the morning. He felt the memories of the dream slipping away and did his best to cling onto them, feeling the need to treasure them. Who was that girl I dreamed of and why did she seem familiar? he wondered. It suddenly struck him that he probably knew who exactly she was, but he tried to not dwell on it as he laid himself back down to get back to sleep. Soon, Ichigo found his efforts to be futile and grew impatient, thus resolving to make his way on a late-night trip to the park, to clear his mind. As he sat up and palmed his night table, he felt his plain grey ring underneath his fingers. On a whim, he slipped it into his pocket. He had a feeling he wouldn't regret it. The man exited the Kurosaki Clinic in a simple shirt, a pair of shorts, a sweater and sandals, careful to not wake his father or sisters up.
Ichigo was glad he was on vacation, he had wanted to fulfilll a request that he had made of a certain special someone one week ago. The 21-year-old young man still wasn't entirely sure of just how strongly he felt for the gentle healer, but he knew that he wanted more than friendship from her. If I'm lucky, she'll allow us to remain friends after I tell her, he reflected with a pang of sadness. He didn't have the confidence that someone like Orihime could possibly feel for him that way. He didn't even know if he truly loved her or not. At that thought, Ichigo felt a peculiar sensation, the same type of feeling that came over him when Ochi-sensei reprimanded him over a wrong answer back in high-school.
Weird, he thought. Still, I can't just give up without even trying, and with that in mind, Ichigo sped up his journey towards the park, his sweater jacket rustling around his shoulders. He felt a breeze against the back of his legs, as if even nature was determined to see the Substitute Shinigami to his destination. No Hollows tonight strangely, he thought as he stepped onto the grass; after all, he had his substitute badge in his pocket if he needed to use it. He surmised that Harribel and Nel were doing a good job of keeping the Hollows in order in Hueco Mundo. While lost in his thoughts, he suddenly picked up a reiatsu signature, although it wasn't that of a Hollow's. In fact, it was a very familiar one that had Ichigo's heart beating faster. What luck to find her here, at such an hour no less. Walking into the clearing, he saw the girl he had wanted to talk to gazing at the stars.
Orihime felt the strong reiatsu of Ichigo getting closer and was filled with curiosity and excitement at his presence. She spun around and saw the love of her life looking at her in surprise and another emotion she couldn't quite place.
"Hey Inoue", Ichigo greeted with a raise of his hand and a small smile.
"Hi Kurosaki-kun", Orihime responded softly as he drew closer to her. "How come you're here at this time?"
"I had a dream and I couldn't get back to sleep, so here I am", he replied with a blush. "What about you?"
"Wow, exactly the same reason. Are we actually twins?" Orihime suggested humourously. Ichigo simply shook his head lightly with a chuckle before growing quiet as he returned his gaze to her face. "Let's sit, Kurosaki-kun. Don't want to get sore feet after all."
He assented with a nod and followed her to the bench. The two of them sat quietly together, enjoying each other's company as they let the gentle breeze caress their faces and their hearts fill up with that feeling of hope, that seemed to grow ever so slightly stronger.
"Was your dream a good one?" Orihime asked. She lightly fidgeted with her pyjama pants as he turned towards her. He's so handsome, she thought, feeling a blush creep onto her face at such a revelation.
"It was, I think", Ichigo replied while gripping his shorts. He was too nervous to tell her that he may have dreamed of her. "I don't remember it very well", he said, twisting the truth. "What about you?"
A guarded expression briefly surfaced on Orihime's face before disappearing just as quickly with a light smile taking its place, although not fast enough to escape Ichigo's attention. "It was a good one for me too," she replied easily. The orange-haired man decided to not push her further, knowing it was better to let her come around to talk about it on her own. "That reminds me, there was another time when I dreamed about owning red bean farms and UFOs swooping to take all the beans. Then I turned into a robot and shot them down so I could keep making my special red bean paste ramen and become world famous!" she continued enthusiastically.
Ichigo never failed to find himself amused by the girl's wild imagination and tonight was no different. With a chuckle, he decided to indulge her and play along. "Well you best hope I don't show up and turn the farm into a strawberry one. Then I could make strawberry ramen and become more famous then you!" he declared.
They laughed at their combined silliness, feeling a sense of joy that cheered them up only the way they could do for each other. Despite the darkness of the night, only interrupted by the stars above, the two bright-haired friends didn't let it affect their cheery moods.
Ichigo and Orihime settled down after a few minutes, simply smiling and enjoying the comfortable silence as they sat beside each other.
"The stars are just so beautiful tonight, aren't they?" Orihime murmured after a while, wanting to break the quiet between her and Ichigo. She felt entirely at ease beside her long-time love and turned to him to see him gazing at the stars.
"Yeah, they are", he said. "I think I even see Altair and Vega close together, even though it isn't Tanabata yet."
"Hopefully that's a good sign for this festival. It would be really sad if Orihime and Hikoboshi didn't get to unite this year", she spoke with a wistful smile. The smile turned into an excited grin as she thought of the recent events concerning two of her closest Shinigami friends. "Speaking of fated lovers, don't you think it's great that Rukia-chan and Abarai-kun finally got married?"
Ichigo scoffed. "It was only a matter of time for them. Ever since I fought Renji and found out just how important Rukia was, is, to him, I expected they'd get together eventually". He turned towards the sky again. "Didn't expect those idiots to take so long though", he finished with a smirk.
Orihime laughed lightly at that. "Well you shouldn't blame them too much, there was so much else that was happening after all", she reasoned. She began reminiscing on the event from one week ago. "In the end, they found each other and that's what matters. Also, their wedding was beautiful and I guess you remember me crying a lot that day, got so emotional over it", she said sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head with an apologetic smile.
Ichigo had a soft look in his deep, brown eyes as he gazed into Orihime's stormy grey pools. "I think it's a strength of yours Inoue, being able to show your emotions. You have a lot of strengths." After concluding his little speech, he felt his face heat up. Why on earth did I say that?
Orihime flushed pink at the remark. "Well, y-you have a lot of strengths too, Kurosaki-kun. You're really strong and brave and even though I think you scowl a lot, you have a really kind heart."
"I wonder about that", murmured Ichigo, to Orihime's confusion. She thought her little jab would get a more indignant reaction out of him. He looked sadly at her. "I'm not always brave. I gave up against Yhwach. If it wasn't for you and Tsukishima, I would've done nothing."
"That just means you're human, Kurosaki-kun. Even I feel confused and melancholy sometimes, like I don't know what to do", she whispered. "Maybe we have more in common than we thought, besides our orange hair, taste in manga and silly jokes", she offered amusedly. That got a small smile out of the man beside her before his expression dimmed again.
"We also know what it feels like to get bullied for that hair, what it feels like to be an outcast, what it feels like to lose someone we really loved", he stared at the ground. He wondered why he felt so glum. Maybe I'm letting that lack of confidence affect me too much...
Orihime became downcast at that. It had been many years Sora had passed away but she still felt a pang sometimes at his mention. Shaking those thoughts out of her head, she quickly came up with a way to cheer Ichigo up. "Well, you're really strong to keep pushing ahead and doing your best to fulfill your goals despite all that!" she said cheerfully, attracting a curious expression from Ichigo.
With a wistful smile, she turned back to the sky again. "And that's why the special, fated someone you end up with will be really lucky to have you", she concluded with a tinge of sadness. There's almost no way it could be me...
Ichigo stared at her in amazement, his heart pounding, as she looked back at him. "So whatever you do, I'll do my best to support you, Kurosaki-kun!" she concluded brightly.
The smile she wore at that moment was bright, so bright. She seemed to illuminate the dimly lit park, bringing more colour to the grass and bushes of flowers beneath the starry sky. It's like she's as bright as...
The Sun.
Ichigo was left thunderstruck as the realization of his true feelings hit him like lightning. He finally understood what his father Isshin had said about his mother Masaki. He finally understood the depth of his feelings for Orihime.
She attracted everything, forgave everything, illuminated and spun everything around. I was... just happy to be spun around by her.
A rush of memories flooded Ichigo's mind. He remembered Orihime smiling as she encouraged him to go to Soul Society, running with him to Urahara Shōten, tearing up in relief over him after his victory against Byakuya, accompanying him around the Seireitei while looking for Rukia. He remembered making a vow to Orihime to protect her, his anguish when he discovered that she had been taken to Hueco Mundo and the great anger he had felt when he learned that Ulquiorra had captured her. He remembered Orihime crying out to him to not get hurt as he fought Grimmjow, filling him with renewed confidence. He remembered her screaming his name when he had died on the dome of Las Noches at Ulquiorra's hand, motivating him and Zangetsu to rise from the grave, to get up and fulfill the vow he made to her. He remembered the times they had gotten even closer after he had lost his powers, sharing manga with her, cracking jokes with her, arguing about her bread with her, fussing over her well-being with Tatsuki, having meals with her at his home. He remembered walking up to Yhwach's throne room in Wahrwelt with her by his side, trusting her with his life and fighting the Quincy King alongside her. He remembered the great fear he felt at seeing her hurt, the equally overwhelming relief when he found that she was alright after Yhwach's defeat. He remembered her weeping by his side at Renji and Rukia's wedding and feeling the need to hug her. He remembered all her smiles and laughs, her kindness and her concern for him, all the small, yet precious moments they had shared together. Not only did he now know with certainty who the laughter in his dreams belonged to, but also just how deep his feelings ran.
Ichigo loved Orihime, completely and unfailingly.
He loved her so dearly that he couldn't even begin to describe the depths of that love. He understood now why he had always felt like smiling around her, why he could let his guard down completely with her, why he felt like he could do anything with her close by and why he would occasionally feel his heart skip by merely laying eyes on her, since as early as when they were 15. His breath was taken away as he was hit by the full realization.
It's now or never. If I don't speak up now, I might never do it, Ichigo resolved with determination as he gazed at the smiling woman. He knew he was ready to spend the rest of his life with her if she would have him, and even his life as a soul beyond his human death. He took a deep breath to muster his courage.
"Inoue, about that thing I told you a week ago I wanted to talk to you about... I want to tell you now", Ichigo began. "It's about my feelings for you."
Orihime's smile slipped, eyes growing wide at the admission and she turned in her seat towards him. Her breath caught in her chest. She dared not get her hopes up, yet the warm feeling permeating her body kept growing. She waited with bated breath for him to continue, listening to her quickened heartbeat as she felt the feeling of hope in the air grow ever stronger.
Ichigo shifted a little closer as he turned in his seat and tentatively took Orihime's small and soft hands with his own large and roughened ones, resting his gaze on them. One pair wielded Zangetsu to harm and kill, the other worked to heal and protect. He wondered how their hands could be so different and yet feel so right clasping each other. Before he let his mind wander, he shook his head lightly to clear his mind and continued. "For a long time now, I've felt differently about you than any of our friends. And I would keep wondering what exactly was it that felt different about you. I found myself smiling more around you, more at ease around you than others like I could just let down my guard. But I'd also sometimes get a bit nervous if it was just the two of us, like I had to make a good impression on you. More importantly, I... I felt a much stronger will to protect you than anyone else and... and all of these feelings have stayed the same, if not grown stronger."
Ichigo felt Orihime's hands starting to tremble slightly in his and looked up to see her lips pursing and her expression slightly contorted in an effort to not start crying. He would have stopped in fear of possibly hurting her feelings, had it not been for the shine in her grey orbs encouraging him to continue.
"I... came to realize that I really liked you and I wanted more from our relationship, more than just friendship. But just now I realized I feel something far stronger for you. After everything we've been through, I now know just how important you are to me."
He took another deep breath to steady himself. She was barely restraining herself from whimpering, her lips trembling from the effort and tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks. Ichigo felt a tear of his own escape his right eye as he smiled at her. "My dad once told me that he thought my mom was like the Sun. She brightened his life, illuminated everything around her and he was just happy to be with her. Thinking about it now, it had felt like all the light had disappeared when you were taken to Hueco Mundo and it didn't come back until I saw you again. So the point is, I understand what Dad meant."
Ichigo's smile widened and love filled his shining brown eyes.
"To me, you're like the Sun, Orihime", he said, emotion gripping his voice. She gasped at the use of her first name; it was the first time he had ever called her that.
"I want, no, need you in my life. You... you make me a better person because you're the sweetest, kindest and most wonderful woman I know", he admitted, a few more tears sliding down his face although it did not compare to the sheet of tears on Orihime's visage. Ichigo took another breath to steady himself before he continued. "What I'm trying to say is..."
"I love you, Orihime."
She felt everything slow down around her as those precious, lovely words registered slowly in her brain. Her eyes went wide. Her heart nearly stopped. She thought she knew what was coming but found herself completely stunned by Ichigo's confession regardless.
"I love you so much, I cannot even begin to tell you just how much. I just know that I want to continue protecting you but this time, I want to make you happy too and be by your side from now on, if you'll have me."
A sob burst from Orihime's lips, her heart soaring, her eyes full of love as she desperately tried to keep control of her emotions, to very little success.
Ichigo leaned his forehead against his loved one's own, his shaky breath ghosting over Orihime's tear-stained face. He felt courage and hope coursing through his veins, almost certain that he had won her over. However, he still had to respect her feelings and not jump to conclusions. "If you don't feel the same way for me, it's okay. I hope we can still be friends. I just really needed to tell you how I feel." But he so desperately needed her love though and he truly hoped that she felt the same. He felt greater optimism seeing the loving look in her watery eyes and smiled reassuringly at her, telling her with just a look that no matter what happened next, everything would be alright.
Orihime could not believe it. She could not believe she could possibly feel this happy. Never in her wildest dreams would she have expected the man she loved to lay his heart out to her when she had left her apartment earlier in the night. This is the moment you've been waiting for, a familiar voice in her head sounded.
You have a wonderful life by his side waiting for you.
Memories of a certain fateful night returned to her as she thought about how much she felt for the man in front of her, through her haze of whirling emotions. Taking a wobbly breath, she gripped Ichigo's hands tighter as she swallowed a rising sob. "Do... do you r-remember the night I... I-I was taken away to Hueco M-Mundo? I was... allowed to say goodbye to just o-one person before I went. That night, I-I went to your room." Ichigo's eyes lit up in recognition as he remembered waking up with his wrist injured. He nodded, preparing himself for what was to come.
"I remembering r-rambling about what I could do with a full life because I-I thought I was... going to g-give up my normal life and s-stay trapped in that awful place", Orihime let out a sob, unable to control herself as she relived those memories. Ichigo's hands tightened around hers in comfort. "T-Then I started thinking about what I-I could do with f-five lives. Things like, I could be from five different towns, have five different jobs and..."
"I c-could fall in love w-with the same guy, five different times."
Orihime broke down into another wave of tears as she finished, still clinging to whatever was left of her composure, successfully not letting another sob spill forth.
Ichigo's breath was taken away. His heart clenched in pain at the realization of how long and how deeply Orihime had loved him, and how much of a fool he was to have not realized earlier.
"I love you so much, Ichigo", she cried out, barely registering a sharp intake of breath from the man in question. "I-It's this love for you and the friendships that I-I have that kept me going all this time, that's a-allowed me... to r-reject all this pain and l-loneliness I've felt, that I still f-feel sometimes. I kept t-thinking all this time I wasn't w-worthy of telling you and I-I'm sorry that I wasn't brave enough to tell you b-before", she choked out with another small sob.
Ichigo felt his heart slam down to his stomach at that admission. He was wracked with guilt. He was the one that needed to apologize. How could such a truly amazing woman have to go through so much? It hurt him to know just how much torment she had been through, and how little he had done till now to help her. He continued to let his own tears slide silently as he pulled Orihime onto his lap and opened his mouth to speak, determination to soothe her filling him. He let his reiatsu wash over her, in an effort to calm her.
"No, I'm sorry that I didn't realize sooner. A long time ago, I made a vow to protect you. But now, like I said, I want to do more. I promise that I will protect you, stay by your side, love you and make you as happy as possible, forever."
He cupped her face. "You are the only one for me, I know that now for certain. Over any number of lifetimes that we have. Just give me one word, and I'll stay with you until you tell me to go, no matter what happens", he vowed with passion and resolve.
Orihime hung on by a hair to her fraying composure, her beautiful face contorted as she felt her tears spill uncontrollably. She could feel Ichigo's fingers softly stroking through her auburn hair. Her throat had almost closed up due to her surging emotions, the happiness and relief she felt at knowing Ichigo's love and the grief and sorrow she had long harboured resurfacing.
"Stay..." she croaked out.
"I will."
He wrapped her in his steady arms.
Finally, Orihime let go. She flung her arms around Ichigo's back and shoulders, buried her head in the curve of his neck and wept her heart out in his steadfast embrace, sobbing endlessly as she soaked the collar of his T-shirt with her tears. He rested his head on her shoulder and pressed his face against her fragrant hair, letting his own silent tears be swallowed up by the auburn expanse. As she cried and cried, her poorly muffled sobs ringing through the air as she clutched onto his shirt, a part of her mind thought about the couple of her dream and their reassurances that her life would get better. She knew the moment had come. She could feel the hope of a better future so strongly in not only the air but also Ichigo's reiatsu enveloping her. She could feel years of hurt and loneliness lifting off of her shoulders as Ichigo continued to hold her trembling form close in his arms, their bodies pressing against each other. She's so soft and small, he vaguely thought as he rubbed her back slowly.
After several minutes, Orihime started to finally calm down. She rested her hands on Ichigo's shoulders as he raised her head by her chin and leaned their foreheads together. She continued to sniffle and whimper quietly as she looked into their joined laps.
"I also p-promise to do my best to protect you, stay by your s-side, love you and m-make you happy. I love you s-so much", she vowed with a shaky voice. She raised her eyes to see raging emotions in Ichigo's own. Her breath was taken away as she found love, determination, happiness, guilt and desire swirling in those chocolate-brown eyes.
Upon meeting each other's gaze, the two young lovers felt a strong force pulling them closer. Before they could let themselves contemplate their situation any more, they connected their lips together, letting their eyes slide shut.
It wasn't a kiss of lust and passion. It was a simple yet deep and long kiss, allowing the two to convey the extent of the love they felt for one another and to comfort each other, letting each other know that they would always be together. Ichigo used one hand to cup Orihime's right cheek while cradling her back with the other. The girl had her arms wrapped around his neck while gently holding his hair. After an eternity, they parted their lips for air and simply gazed into each other eyes, reveling in the love they found there.
"That was... pretty nice", Ichigo said awkwardly, with a small grin. "You feeling better?"
A watery smile bloomed on Orihime's face. "I've never felt this... happy before", she whispered as she threaded her fingers through his hair.
"Me too", he responded tenderly. However, his smile faded as a dark thought made it's way to the surface. "I thought there was no way you'd accept me", he revealed with a grimace, baring a hidden insecurity to her.
That spiked a feeling of curiosity in the auburn-haired woman. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Because I'm a guy with a bad attitude", he gritted his teeth. "I scowl too much, I'm rude even to the people close to me and it makes me feel guilty that they still accept me all the same. You're the opposite, you're able to make anyone smile, make friends with everyone. I didn't think I could ever match up to you", he ranted heatedly, looking down into their joined laps and trying to force down his frustration.
Orihime cupped Ichigo's face and gently, yet firmly, steered him to face her, sternness emanating from her as she looked at him. "You are the bravest and kindest man I know. You do your best to protect everyone, you take such good care of the people close to you and everyone respects and admires you, even if some may not show it outright. You might not know it but you have a heart of gold and that's what I truly fell for."
Ichigo melted at those words and felt his frustration disappear with ease; only Orihime could work such magic on him.
"And besides, your scowling face can be funny sometimes too", she giggled and was rewarded with a smirk, accompanied by a twinkle of mirth in otherwise serious eyes. Letting go of his face, her lightened mood faltering again, she continued. "If anything, I thought I was unworthy of being with you."
This time she garnered shock from Ichigo. What is she saying, any man would be utterly blessed to have her by his side! He was determined to let her know it, although not before asking her about this newly discovered insecurity. "Why did you think that?" he scowled in confusion.
"Sometimes, I feel like I'm just a burden, I'm useless and I should just stay out of the way. I've tried getting over that way of thinking but sometimes, I can't help but think I don't d-deserve anything, that you'd have been better with s-someone better", she blubbered, with tears beginning to fall once more.
Angered she could even think that way of herself, Ichigo renewed his determination to let Orihime know just how important she was, not just to him but to everyone they knew. He cradled her face and wiped her tears with his thumbs. "I think, no I know, you are the most important out of all of us. We would be dead multiple times over without you. You've saved and helped me way more often than you know", he exclaimed. He wasn't done yet. "It's not just your healing either. Like I said earlier, you make people smile like no else does, you cheer us up all the time whenever any of us feel down, me, Tatsuki, Chad, Ishida, Rukia, Renji, whoever it is. My family loves you and they depend on you more than you think. I know that I wouldn't know what I would do without you in my life", he squeezed her cheeks lightly as she shed more tears at his touching words.
"Thank you... I-Ichigo", she breathed out with a quiver. "That means a lot to me."
"Thank you too. It's really... reassuring that you think so much of me", he said sincerely.
"I guess we have t-that in common too, we think a lot more of each other than ourselves", she mumbled.
Ichigo felt an odd sense of peace hearing that. "Yeah, and I guess that won't change for us."
They cuddled closer, with Orihime letting a few more silent tears drip onto Ichigo's T-shirt. She felt herself calm down in the arms of her beloved as she sat across his lap and tucked her face into his neck; she would be eternally grateful to the dream returning tonight to wake her up, so that she could live this moment.
"We've been through a lot of tough challenges and hardships. But now, we'll be really happy together, I know it", Ichigo said quietly after a few moments, with hope and determination painting his voice. He felt Orihime's nose twitch against his skin and heard a small noise of agreement, as she pressed closer to his neck. An idea to help cheer her up came to him. "We'll go on loads of dates to begin with, although you'll probably have to teach me how to do them properly", he said with a chuckle, which brought a smile and a giggle out of Orihime. She shifted in his lap and wrapped her arms around his shoulders while he let his own wrap around her waist.
"Yeah, we can do stuff like asking for one of every ice cream flavour at Baskin-Robbins and watching three horror movies back to back at the cinema", she said happily. Ichigo took her odd suggestions in stride, delighted that he had cheered her up a little.
"Yeah, we'll do all that and more, for the rest of our lives", he concluded in contentment. With a start and a reddening of his face, he realized the implications of what he had said and judging by the blush and look of pleasant surprise on Orihime's face, she had realized too. "W-Well I mean that comes after dating and-and all that right...!" He stammered out, averting his eyes in embarrassment.
"What you said now and the vows you made earlier... does that mean you want to m-marry me one day, Ichigo?" she asked with a hitch in her breath. Oh no, what am I saying? That's too soon, surely! She panicked before mentally slapping herself to calm down, waiting for his response.
Ichigo took a few moments to calm himself. Perhaps it was because he had recently attended a wedding that he found himself resolute in his thoughts for the future. He knew that he would never love another, that she was the only one for him. He knew it to be the truth. It was time. To hell with the proper order in a relationship, he had known her long enough and he would not wait any longer to have her. "Yeah I do, Orihime. In fact, I want to ask you properly, now."
Sliding Orihime from his lap and back onto the bench, he bent down to kneel before her on one knee. Her eyes went wide, reflecting the stars above as tears emerged once more. She cupped her hands to her mouth in shock. She could never have predicted that she would become the happiest girl in the world that night, while she was still drinking coffee in her apartment.
Ichigo felt a rush of panic and unsteadiness as he realized he had no idea how to propose. I haven't even dated properly before and now I'm proposing? What do I say, what if I completely mess up? he thought, unnerved. Fortunately upon taking just one look at the princess before him, he found his nerves beginning to settle. That's right, she's not the kind to rag on me if I screw up. He decided to speak from his heart, letting it overflow with the warm feeling of his love for her and steeled his nerves further to calm himself. This was the one thing he absolutely could not have go wrong. He suddenly realized he was about to let exactly that happen before he became aware of his ring in his pocket; he thanked the gods that he had decided to carry it tonight.
"Orihime, you are the one and only woman I have loved and will ever love. I cannot see myself in a future without you... and not in any lifetime that follows either." He paused, seeing a watery smile blossom on her lovely, radiant face. He smiled back before fumbling around in his right pocket to pull out his plain grey ring. Taking Orihime's right hand with his left and lifting up his ring with his remaining hand, he breathed out and let himself bask in their shared joy for a moment before continuing.
"I know we might be going too fast with this; we haven't properly dated yet after all. I know I have little to offer you right now. I haven't gotten a job yet, although that'll be soon", he assured. "I don't even have a proper ring to give you, it's just my plain old ring. As... as you can see, I'm not very good with romance and I don't know if I will truly be a worthy partner for you, but I do know that this is right, everything from my feelings to the timing of this proposal", he chuckled, bringing forth a small noise of amusement from Orihime as she continued to cry in happiness, love sparkling in her eyes. "And.. and what I can offer for sure is that I promise to take care of you, to love you and cherish you for the rest of my life. I want to keep making happy memories with you, do stuff like eating your reject bread and trying all your weird food combinations, do other things like exploring the world with you by my side. In the end, I want to grow old with you in this life and live many more lives with you after that." Ichigo's eyes shone with unshed tears as he looked up at her tear-coated face, a smile as bright as the stars above adorning her features. Everything in the world had aligned for this perfect, beautiful moment. Orihime could feel the warm gazes of the kind couple of her dreams on her as Ichigo took one final deep breath to ask the question she had only encountered in her most far-fetched dreams.
"Will you marry me, Orihime Inoue?"
It was a truly surreal moment for the auburn-haired girl. She thought she knew true happiness after their initial admissions of love earlier, but this was something else. She was on cloud nine. She glowed as she let her tears of joy fall before voicing her decision, without a trace of hesitation. She was ready to be with this wonderful man forever.
"Yes... yes!"
For the first time in his life, Ichigo felt everything to be right in the world. The breeze sung with hymns of love, the stars twinkled with happiness at the union of the orange-haired couple and the feeling of hope in the air filled them with great warmth, assuring them that this was right. He thought nothing in the future would make him as happy as he felt now. With unrestrained joy, he slipped the ring onto Orihime's left ring finger and stood, lifting her up with him before embracing her tightly. He let his tears spill as he grinned into her hair with jubilation.
"I also p-promise to take care of you, and to l-love and cherish you too f-for the rest of my life and... and any life that c-comes after", she sobbed into Ichigo's chest. "And I'll m-make sure I get you to t-try all my food combinations too." His smile widened; he felt truly appreciative of the kind, gentle and imaginative woman in his arms. As she quieted, she looked up at Ichigo and brought her face close to his.
Their lips connected again, this time letting their tongues dance in each other's mouths, deepening their kiss. They shared a tight embrace, not willing to let the other go. They made an odd sight, a pyjama-clad woman and a man in shorts and a sweater hugging and kissing in an empty park blanketed by the darkness of the night, juxtaposed with the faint illumination of the stars and yet they glowed ever so brightly together, like they had been imbued with the essence of the Sun. The Substitute Shinigami and the healer parted their lips once more and rested their foreheads against each other's, smiling before laughing in delight, connected by their newfound bond for many lifetimes to come. Nothing could disturb their moment of peace and happiness.
"Hey Ichigo, how about we dance? I've always wanted to dance outside and we can even celebrate tonight that way", Orihime suggested excitedly after coming down from her laughter.
"Yeah, I'd love that", he smiled lovingly down at her. It was worth any amount of embarrassment at his lack of dancing ability to see Orihime beaming at him so radiantly. He would subject himself to anything for this wonderful woman, whether it was making a fool out of himself or giving up his life for her. She guided his right hand down to her waist and clasped his left hand with her right, leaving her remaining hand on his shoulder. Slowly, they began moving around the clearing, swaying together with the occasional fumbling of Ichigo's feet which produced peals of laughter from Orihime, generating mocking scowls that dissolved into smiles and laughs quickly enough. Eventually they settled into a steady rhythm, and she hummed a soft tune for them to dance to. After a while, they ended their dance and stood with their arms wrapped around each other. Ichigo rested his chin on top of Orihime's soft hair while she laid her right ear against his sturdy chest; she listened to his comforting heartbeat and smiled contently, letting tears of joy trickle down from closed eyes. Every moment with this wonderful man tonight had been among her happiest.
"I wouldn't mind staying like this forever", she broke the comfortable silence, feeling entirely at peace in his arms.
"Yeah. I think I actually like dancing now too", Ichigo responded with a chuckle, getting a light laugh in response. "Please don't tell Tatsuki or anyone else I said that, I need to keep up my image", he added nervously. Orihime gave a full laugh at that, feeling great adoration for her lover.
"Don't worry, only I'll know just how sweet you are", she kissed him before hugging him again. They remained there for a few more moments, enjoying each other's company under the stars.
"Let's go home, Orihime", Ichigo said softly.
"Okay", she responded, pulling back to look up at him. No sooner had the word left her mouth than she was struck by the question of what location he was referring to. Luckily, Ichigo answered her question before she could ask.
"I'll take you back to the clinic, if that's okay with you", he suggested with a tinge of nervousness and a small blush. The thought of Orihime having to return to her empty apartment repulsed him and a fire rose within him. "I'm absolutely not letting you be alone at night from now on, or live alone in general", he added with a determined scowl.
She felt her heart pulse with warm affection for her prince as she smiled at him for the umpteenth time that night. She just couldn't help but break into one when she was with him. "I could go anywhere, just as long as I have you. You are my home now", she sighed comfortably against his chest. Ichigo felt his love for her expand at her sweet assurance, if that was even possible with how he strongly he felt for her already, and planted a kiss on her hair in appreciation.
And you are mine, now and always.
The two walked back to the Kurosaki Clinic, holding hands and completely content. Despite the night wrapping over the town, the hard concrete beneath their feet and the rows of darkened houses and buildings lined up around them, Ichigo and Orihime could have been walking in a sun-lit meadow for all they knew with how overjoyed they felt.
"It stills feels unreal that we're engaged, like I'm still dreaming", Orihime peered up at her fiancé with an excited grin. "I'm not dreaming, am I?" she continued with slight hesitation.
"Best believe you aren't", Ichigo replied with a smirk. "Although yeah, it really does feel strange in a really good way. I left home some time ago with no girlfriend, and now I'm returning with you as my fiancée", he remarked numbly, leading her face to go red in response.
"How about we pinch each other? We could even compare our pinching technique while we're at it", she suggested, pausing in the street and holding his right arm.
"You're on", he replied with amusement and clasped his lover's own right arm. "Three, two, one, go!"
They closed their eyes and pinched each other, both producing winces. They opened their eyes to still see one another, standing in the street below one lamp post of many that punctuated the darkened Karakura Town. A car suddenly drove past them, shattering the quiet of the night and startling them both. The young couple shared a look and felt laughter bubbling up in their chests before letting it loose, lighting up their surroundings. After they calmed down, they embraced and kissed once more, basking in their shared happiness.
"Well with that, it really is time we got going", Ichigo encouraged. Orihime agreed and took hold of his right hand again as they resumed walking to the Kurosaki Clinic.
"From now on, let's do everything to make us the best couple ever! Like winning eating competitions, starting a really big pet shop together or becoming the fastest piggy-back racing couple in Japan! I'll be sure to carry you well", she rambled energetically. The orange-haired man couldn't help but burst out into laughter again at the last one.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be too heavy for that. But don't worry, I'll lose some weight just for you if I have to", he grinned. Orihime beamed back, feeling incredibly glad that the usually rough, no-nonsense Ichigo enjoyed her irrepressible imagination to this degree.
They continued to chat away happily before they finally arrived at the clinic. Ichigo carefully opened the door, once again not wanting to wake up his family by accident. Heaven knows how they would react to him and his new fiancée beside him at this time in the night, especially his mischievous father. Fiancée. Wow. In just one night. Still amazing to think about, Ichigo reflected. Then again, nothing had ever been normal in his life. He let that thought stir as he and Orihime removed their footwear and quietly walked upstairs.
The newly-engaged couple entered his room, producing deep blushes from both of them as the implications of what they would do on the single bed surfaced in their minds. Despite the moment of embarrassment and nervousness, Ichigo closed his door and dumped his sweater on his chair, motioning for Orihime to hand him her coat so he could hang it up in his cupboard. Upon completing his task, he guided her to his bed and raised the blanket to get in, followed by her boldly sliding in beside him. They gazed at each other as they lay together, their eyes shining with all the things they wanted to say to each other. Indeed, there was one thing in particular that Orihime did want to tell Ichigo about. He could sense the heightened urgency in her reiatsu. "What is it?" he questioned, his expression morphing into concern.
"I was just thinking now that we're in bed; r-remember when we were talking about our dreams? I was dreaming of myself when I was 12 years old, crying all alone." At that, Ichigo squeezed her shoulder in comfort. He knew that was how old they were when Sora had passed away. "And then, I saw an old couple walking towards me. I couldn't make out their faces but they seemed really familiar. The woman hugged me and told me that the moment would come when I'd find the one who would give me 'lifetimes of happiness' and the man said I had a wonderful life ahead of me with him", she whispered with a watery voice. "I-I know that moment has c-come tonight."
Ichigo felt himself beginning to choke up. She was too sweet, too kind, too lovely for someone like him and every day he would be thankful that she chose him. He kissed her soft lips and took comfort in her tightening embrace. "You really are too good for me", he admitted with a chuckle, letting a tear escape him.
"I could the same about you", Orihime nuzzled him in response and he could feel her smiling against his neck along with the tell-tale wetness of her own tears. He decided it was time to be fully honest with her too. Pulling back to look at her, Ichigo recounted his dream.
"I dreamed I was lying in a meadow, with loads of flowers around me. I was playing with a sunflower too at one point. Heh, imagine me of all people playing with a flower", he grinned, getting a small laugh from his fiancée. "But anyway, the Sun was bright and I remember hearing a voice laughing when I looked for a little at it, and it sounded really beautiful. Then I realized after I woke up that it sounded a lot like you."
Her eyes widened in surprise as she pulled back. "We dreamed about each other then?" she wondered.
"Looks like it", Ichigo brushed noses with her briefly before pulling back to gaze at her beautiful face. What did I do to have someone so amazing be in love with me? he pondered.
"Guess we really are fated lovers then", Orihime sniffled. Ichigo rested his forehead against hers, remembering her comment from the park with warmth in his heart.
She gazed at him, feeling safe and secure in his arms. "I feel so... so lucky that you're with me, Ichigo."
"I'm luckier to have you, Orihime", he kissed her briefly, making her smile. She's so beautiful, he thought.
After a few moments, a worry occurred to Orihime. "Will your family be alright when they find me here in the morning?"
"I'd be surprised if they don't try keeping you to themselves all day", he chuckled, with his lover responding likewise. The thought of seeing Isshin, Karin and Yuzu in the morning led her to contemplate the days of her loneliness at home finally ending and she found herself becoming overwhelmed by her emotions. Upon seeing tears shining in her eyes, Ichigo pulled her closer, running a hand up and down her back with tenderness, feeling her trembling slightly.
"I'm just so relieved and happy I'm here with you..." she mumbled tremulously.
"Me too."
"I'm sorry I'm crying so much tonight."
"I've been crying too. And like I said, it's a strength of yours to be able to show your emotions", he took her hand to reassure her.
Ichigo raised their clasped hands towards their faces. "And from on now, let yourself lean on me. You'll never, ever be alone again. Not for as long as I live, in any lifetime", he vowed with heat and tenderness in his voice. At his precious words, Orihime was overcome with emotion again, with tears pricking her eyes once more. She held her fiancé's face and kissed him sweetly. Words could not describe just how overjoyed she felt at that moment, to have found her new home and family in this amazing man.
"And... And I'll always be there for you too, no matter what. Y-you can count on me too", she murmured, producing a soft smile from him.
"I always have and always will", he responded gently.
A sudden urge to be as close as possible to each other took hold of the young couple as they found boundless love in their eyes. Orihime buried her face against Ichigo's chest as their arms wrapped around each other, their hands finding purchase on backs, shoulders and hair. He rested his chin on her head, afraid that he had been dreaming all along and he would lose her upon waking. He took in her softness and flowery scent, reassuring himself that she was here and ingraining them into his mind forever. He let their legs tangle, pressing closer to her small, warm body. He immersed himself in her reiatsu and felt the surge of love and care that flowed from her arms, reaffirming that she was a treasure he'd fight gods to protect.
She found strength and warmth in his embrace and knew that she would never let this moment end if she had such a power. She had never felt so comfortable and safe before in her life prior to tonight, as when she was in her fiancé's arms. She was afraid that the illusion would break and she would be returned to her lonely life. And yet basking in his warm reiatsu, she knew it was no illusion and felt herself smile in near uncontrolled joy despite her tears. The man she had to promised to love in multiple lifetimes was hers and she would do everything to protect him, cherish him and make him happy.
Ichigo and Orihime met each other's starry-eyed gazes once more as she pulled back, communicating with just a look how much they mattered to each other. With just a kiss, with gentle movements of their lips and tongues, they felt how deep their love for each other ran. One day, they would be ready to go the full distance in their love, for tonight was not that night. After breaking their kiss, Orihime tucked her head back under Ichigo's chin and into his chest.
"I love you, Ichigo."
"I love you too, Orihime."
The clock read 4 am as they finally dozed off in each other's arms, as happy and peaceful as they could ever be.
The young girl sat in a meadow of flowers, with the Sun shining bright above her in a brilliant, blue sky. It was entirely different from the white void she was used to. She felt movement by her side and found an orange-haired boy sitting up beside her. They stared at each other with recognition flickering in their gazes, until they heard movement approach them. The kind, old couple were walking towards them, careful not to trample on any of the flowers and this time, their faces were fully distinguishable.
The young boy and girl realized they were looking at themselves, but much older.
Ichigo Kurosaki, with his swept-back grey hair and deep brown eyes and Orihime Kurosaki, with her grey hair tied in a low ponytail and sparkling grey eyes gave identical smiles to their younger selves, laugh lines becoming more pronounced around their eyes.
"Be happy."
Orihime woke up to the chirping of birds on a bright and beautiful morning, sunlight bathing the bedroom. She sat up in bed and stretched, feeling her limbs loosen in satisfaction. She had had a wonderful dream of the night she and Ichigo had gotten together. Hearing a tiny snore, she turned to see her little boy sleeping on his father's chest on her right, drooling slightly on his white T-shirt. Ichigo must have been woken up by the four-year-old coming to their bedroom and saying he had a nightmare. As she gently caressed his bright orange hair, a little smoother than his father's, Orihime hoped her son was now having a pleasant dream like she had had. My precious son, she thought with great affection. It still feels amazing to know I'm his mother. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her and Ichigo. With warm thoughts of her family in mind, she got out of bed to prepare breakfast, putting on a thin cardigan over her pink nightgown and slipping on the plain grey ring she had received six years ago.
While stirring some miso soup, she thought about some of the moments she had experienced by her husband's side since that night: the reactions to her and Ichigo's night-time engagement, varying from Isshin and Yuzu's happy bawling and Karin's smirking that very morning, to Rukia's excited squeals and to Tatsuki's amused disbelief; the wonderful wedding ceremony, with every single Captain and Lieutenant of the Gotei 13 present in Gigais, along with all of Ichigo and Orihime's remaining Human, Shinigami, Quincy, Fullbringer and Arrancar friends and family; Ichigo crying with happiness after learning of his wife's pregnancy - followed by his amusing and sometimes irritating over-protectiveness over the next seven months - and the most cherished memory of all, the day they had welcomed their precious baby boy into the world. Kazui Kurosaki was the proof of their unshakable love and Orihime was thankful every day that she finally had the family she had always wanted. She would be always be grateful to her father-in-law Isshin, her sisters-in-law Karin and Yuzu and even her deceased mother-in-law Masaki for welcoming her and letting her be a part of the Kurosaki family.
Most of all, Orihime would forever be grateful to Ichigo for returning her love that night to give her that family and make her immeasurably happy, and she would do her best every day to love them, take care of them and brighten their lives forever, just like the Sun.
FIN
A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading. I heard it was IchiHime week, so I guess I made pretty good timing with this.
Edit 1: I edited and expanded on their walk home, felt a little unsatisfied about it initially. Added a little bit here and there too.
Edit 2: Added a bit more.