Even though I'd be sacrificed,
You won't try for me, not now.
Though I'd die to know you love me,
I'm all alone.
Isn't someone missing me?
Ichigo didn't know what just happened. He had been so angry, ready to kick Isamu's ass into next week; but by the time Isamu's words had registered in his mind, he had already gone – disappearing too fast for Ichigo to even think. Part of him let him go – there would be another day where they could continue their fight- Inoue was already home safe, and that was what counted.
The other part couldn't help but feel like something was extremely wrong and that Isamu was hiding something. His words had made Ichigo so mad it was probably good that he did not follow. After all, Isamu was a student at his school, not some hollow he could stick Zangetsu through.
Though he was thinking about it.
The way he disappeared rather quickly after tailing Ichigo annoyed him. He was the one who had wanted to fight, so why did he back off?
Ichigo realized that he needed to find out more about Isamu.
What Ichigo failed to notice about the encounter, however, was just how quickly Isamu had retreated.
.
.
Monday morning arrived too early for Orihime Inoue, who had spent the majority of her weekend ignoring the texts and calls from Isamu by burying her head under her blanket and shutting her eyes tightly closed. "Oh please just go away for awhile..."
Orihime arose from her stupor, rubbing her eyes. She quickly discarded all of her clothes and stepped into her bath. The water filled the tub quickly, and she savored the feeling of the bubbles around her. She had always loved baths, and recently more so. She couldn't completely understand what it was about it, but she always felt so…marked; but when she was in the bath, she felt clean and safe and, for the most part, happy.
She rubbed her eyes again. She had gotten very little sleep; one of her regular nightmares plaguing her. This time, like many times before, it was about Ichigo's hollowfication on the dome. All of the what-if's spun around in her head again and again, and when she slept at night they played in her dreams like a movie on the big screen. She sighed.
"When will they go away? I thought I was getting rid of them. It's been months now…"
Orihime quickly finished her bath, getting out and changing into her uniform. She stuck her hairpins on the lapel of her blouse, close to her heart. "Sora will always be close to my heart."
She looked at herself in the mirror. She smiled, wearily. To the others, she looked like her normal, happy self. That was good. She didn't need them to worry about her; she could take care of herself just fine, after all. She just wished she could change a few things in her life at the moment.
Orihime sighed for the umpteenth time that morning, her thoughts wandering to Isamu.
She did like him, she honestly did. He was kind, funny, and easy to get along with. Well, when it came to her anyway.
It wasn't his fault that he wasn't Kurosaki-kun, after all. Those were big shoes to fill, and Orihime reminded herself that she needed to lower her standards considerably anyway.
"I don't really deserve Kurosaki-kun in the first place. All I do is burden him and get in the way, and all he ever does is save me. I refuse to let him save me again... I can take care of myself."
Orihime went into the kitchen to make breakfast. Not feeling like anything special, she poured a box of cereal.
She had twenty minutes to get to class.
.
.
"Hey, Tatsuki, where's Inoue this morning?" Ichigo asked, interrupting Tatsuki's conversation with two other girls. The other girls giggled under their breath at his presence, giving each other looks. Ichigo ingnored them.
"I don't know, I was about to ask you. I didn't see her come in. Maybe she's home sick?" Tatsuki asked, slight concern growing in her eyes. Orihime rarely missed school, especially since she had worked so hard to catch up after the events of the war.
"Hn. Maybe, let me know if you hear from her, okay?" Ichigo said, worry evident in his voice.
"Yeah, sure," Tatsuki said, giving him a curious glance. "I'll text her next period." He nodded, his face serious. Tatsuki scanned his expression, reading it.
"Should I be worried?" Tatsuki asked him, eyeing him closely. The last time Ichigo didn't know where Inoue was, she had been kidnapped and had tried to shut out everyone he cared about. She was not about to be left in the dark again.
"Not that I know of, I was just wondering. I'm sure she's just at home. You just can't be too careful, especially with her." Ichigo said, shrugging. It was true too, except he was more worried than he let on. No reason to get Tatsuki riled up over nothing. He was probably just being overprotective.
"Alright, yeah I'll let you know. I'll call her when I get the chance."
.
.
Ichigo skipped his morning class, heading onto the roof to think. He was worried about Inoue, but he figured he was overreacting. He breathed in the fresh air, enjoying it. It had been awhile since he skipped class, and he was glad he did. There hadn't been many hollows since the war ended, and he had been playing catch up for so long, that it was nice to be out of class; and he finally had some alone time to sort his thoughts. There was still so much he needed to work through.
None of his nakama had discussed with him the incidents that had happened in Hueco Mundo. They probably figured he didn't really want to, which was mostly true. He would have no idea what to say about any of it, especially about what happened between him, Inoue, and Ishida on the dome. That one was better left for another day far in the future.
Besides, it seemed like everyone was dealing with things just fine. Chad and Ishida were the same as always, brushing it off and putting it behind them like it never happened. Inoue was still her bubbly self, though a little bit more spacey than usual. You could never really tell with her though, since she was always one the weird side. Ichigo smiled, thinking of his beautiful friend. He liked her quirky personality. It was refreshing, her innocence and naivety.
He sighed. It was also what put her in danger more times than he liked. Inoue was always quick to trust and always found the good in everyone. He admired that about her, but he hated the people who tried to take advantage of that. The Espada, especially Ulquiorra, knew just how to mess with those qualities.
He still wondered about their words.
"…but you can't see what's going on inside of her," Grimmjow's words echoed in his head. He shuddered.
How was Inoue on the inside? Was she okay? It seemed so. He was thankful for that.
They probably should've given Inoue more credit than they did. Though she wasn't a fighter, always shying away from battle, she was a lot stronger mentally than any of them. Though, he still couldn't help but wonder what she had endured there all alone in Hueco Mundo.
His fists clenched in anger. He should've stopped it. He would never forgive himself for that, even if everything did turn out for him in the end.
"It never should have happened..."
.
.
Ichigo stayed there until lunch time. He got to his feet, running a hand through his orange locks. "I really need a haircut."
"Oi, Ichigo! I got a text from Orihime," Tatsuki said, running up to him.
"Oh, yeah? What does it say?" Ichigo asked, curious. He felt relieved to know Orihime was alright.
"She said she's home ill. So we can stop worrying. It's followed by a smiley face," Tatsuki laughed, and Ichigo smiled, letting relief flow through him.
"OI, ICHIIIIGOO!" Ichigo didn't even bother to look up, sticking his leg out for Keigo Asano to trip.
"Yo, Keigo," Ichigo said, not sparing him a glance.
"You are ALWAYS so mean to me! What have I EVER done to you, ICHIGO?" Keigo wailed, grabbing onto Ichigo's foot, getting his drool and tears all over his shoe.
"Oi, Knock it off, Asano!" Ichigo said, kicking his friend away.
"Fine! I just came to ask you where Isamu Yamauchi was, since I noticed the sweet lovely Inoue-san isn't here today. You don't think they're playing hooky, do you? No! He cannot touch my lovely Inoue-san! She is too pure and perfect! NOOO." Keigo wailed again, still lying on the ground. He began pounding his fists and kicking his legs, tears pouring out onto the ground.
"Woah, what? Isamu wasn't in class today?"
"No, he wasn't." Mizuiro said, walking towards the group. He had his cell phone out, taking pictures of the wailing Keigo on the ground.
"Damn it! The one morning I skip class… any idea where he is?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Keigo asked, standing up and brushing himself off.
Tatsuki looked at Ichigo, worried.
"What are you thinking right now, Ichigo?" Tatsuki asked, raising her eyebrow. She knew that look, and that look told her she should be worried.
"I don't know, I mean, I know Inoue said she's fine, but I just don't like that they're both missing today. Something could be wrong…"
"I'm sure she's alright, Ichigo. Maybe they just got each other sick from their date on Friday…" Tatsuki trailed off, watching Ichigo's face turn into a deathly glare. Ichigo pictured the pair, tangled up in each other, Orihime trying to get him to stop, and Isamu ignoring her. Anger flooded his body.
"Yeah, maybe," Ichigo said, turning to leave. He didn't bother looking back to see Tatsuki's worried expression, or Keigo and Mizuiro's curious ones.
...And if I bleed, I'll bleed,
Knowing you don't care.
And if I sleep just to dream of you
And wake without you there,
Isn't something missing?
Isn't something...
Uh-oh! What's going on? Well, the more reviews I get, the faster I will update this baby! (: So PLEASE! REVIEW! I love reading them, and thank you to all who do!
