.Epilogue.
Staring aloofly at the white, bare wall in front of her, she couldn't shake it off the overwhelming gulf of darkness that seemed to draw her heart into a void. It clung to her like a disease, and with each passing day, the virus seemed to consume her every action and smile. It was harder and harder to tap into her reservoir of strength—she forced herself to keep a bright face, but every time she was alone, she wanted to sob her sorrows away. What was more frustrating was that she had no idea why, other than the fact that Ishida, Ichigo, Orihime and Chad had been gone for the past three and a half weeks. Surely she couldn't be that worried about them?
'There's no point in falling into a depression. There's no use in crying or praying. I know they'll come back just fine, and stronger than they were when they left. Especially Ishida, that brat... when he comes back, I'm going to drill so much make-up work into him that he wishes he had never returned.'
Her lips curving at the prospect of sweet revenge, the apprehensive feeling in her chest became more abstract and imaginary. She wondered what type of reward she should treat them to when they got back. 'No, no, I can't reward them for missing four weeks of school.' But just knowing they were safe... she would give up anything at that moment to make sure. Recently, there were these ridiculous, fanciful dreams about them waving around crazy swords (Ishida was using a bow, of course) and looking cool when they were being slashed around painfully. Thankfully, those random episodes had ceased from her sleep, but the fear continued to gnaw at her.
When her pencil rattled as it dropped on the ground, she was snapped back to her homework. 'I really can't concentrate today. I'm getting nothing done.' Sighing, she realized that this was nothing new. Her fingertips scanned the shiny turquoise surface of the mechanical pencil, smiling mournfully in retrospect. She had borrowed it from Ishida-kun not too long before he left.
The sharp ring of the phone jolted her awake. She considered picking it up for a moment, but thought it was best if her mother picked up. 'Come on, Maeda Miwa, you have nothing to lose from a bright face, and everything to lose. So just... get over yourself.'
"Miwa! The call's for you. Some guy called Ishida-kun, I believe," her mother called from the kitchen. Her heart lurched. Before she realized it, the speaker was already at her ear.
"I-I-Ishida-kun?" she called hesitantly, her head reeling with conflicting emotions.
"Miwa-san, we've arrived, and we're all at Ichigo-san's house." His voice was crisp and clear, and for a second, she doubted her ears.
"Are any of you hurt?" Her voice was desperate for relief.
"No, we're all in perfect shape, thanks to Orihime-san." She collapsed in her chair and found that she could actually breathe properly for the first time in a month. "How have you been, Maede-san?" He was teasing her, and she knew it.
"You'll know soon enough when I get there." She paused to keep her voice from shaking. 'You see, Miwa-san? There was no need to worry.' "I know you'll laugh, but I've been having some pretty ridiculous dreams about you guys. I'm glad that it was just my imagination."
"What kind of dreams? I'm curious," he asked politely.
"Well, you were carrying a bow of strange blue spiritual energy, and you defeated the weird whore who could transform herself into a bug-shaped figure. She really got on my nerves. Then you helped another good guy blow up this immortal monster called what—Syzael, no, Szayel... but anyways, he healed himself and that's when I woke up. The next day, it was the epic struggle between good versus evil, or should I say the Black Robes Wielding Crazy Sword versus Deformed Monsters with Semi-Skull Masks." She laughed with relief. "It was pretty intense, and now I don't remember much of it."
He was extremely silent, and she was left wondering if she embarrassed herself or she offended him. "Pretty ridiculous, right?"
"When did you have the dream about my battle with Szayel?"
Surprised that he would find this topic mildly interesting, she replied, "I don't remember, it seems like one huge glob to me. Maybe a week ago or so?"
"I see. So you broke your promise," he conjectured bluntly.
"I did not! I've always had these ridiculous childish battles in my dreams. They just tend to hazy with memory," she cried in self-defense at the false accusation. "Ishida-kun, there's something I need to ask you."
"I'm listening."
"During exams, I scored first place for the first time. It didn't mean anything to me though, because you weren't there. I wanted my first victory to be your first taste of defeat, but I suppose life doesn't work that way, eh? There was this childish kid claiming the title of second place because Orihime-san wasn't here either." Her voice became soft. "I know you guys went to retrieve her... Ishida-kun, do you like Orihime-san?" She was challenging him, and he knew it. It was so blunt and simple, and both of them saw it coming.
"I don't know," he replied carefully.
"So you like her, eh? I thought so." When he began protesting, she added, "If you didn't like her, it would have been easy to say so, but it doesn't matter, Ishida-kun, you know why?"
"No, I don't, but continue anyway," he retorted.
"Because I'm going to make you fall in love with me," she laughed. To her surprise, she could see him smiling on the other side.
"Well then, you have my good wishes, but Ishida Uryu is not so easily conquered by anyone," he snorted.
"Well, I guess my grandmother's words always turn out right. Everything has a tendency to turn out all right somehow."
...Akebono no Owari...(The End of the Beginning)
Well then, believe it or not, this is the first OC story I've actually finished. Surprising. I had this chapter finished a long time ago, but I wasn't sure whether I should continue the story from Ishida's point of view, but I figured that I'm too lazy. So thanks to White Alchemist Taya for being a consistent friend, as well as all others who enjoyed this story.