She tried not to be disappointed.
After all Kurosaki-kun had promised albeit vaguely to make it up to her later on. Orihime took it to mean he wanted to stay with her but duty called. Sighing softly to herself, she clasped her hands to her bosom, imagining all the times they would spend together and how much she'd make him smile and laugh..So caught up was Orihime in her dream that she almost came upon them, arguing in covert tones around the corner.
..Rangiku?
"-but, Captain!"
Orihime became still, hovering in the shadows of the building.
"I have a bad feeling about this. Kurosaki can't keep his emotions in check when it comes to her! You know this, but you still..." Toshiro allowed his sentence to drop off. All was quiet for a time; Orihime longed to know whom the girl was that they were talking about, but somehow sensed it was a private conversation. If she intruded now, they would--
"You're saying...Orihime-chan doesn't have a chance?" Rangiku sounded, defeated, bitter.
Orihime felt her happiness drain away. In the darkness of the dimly lit street, she raised her fist to her mouth, biting down so she wouldn't let out a cry and betray that she had been listening.
"It's always been..." Toshiro hesitated, a great weariness creeping into his voice that Orihime had never heard before. One of pity. "Kuchiki for Kurosaki."
There it was.
Orihime found herself floundering in the sea of the doubt she couldn't face. Didn't want to. She didn't want to believe a heart as steadfast as Kurosaki-kun's, could hold onto the memory of the dead Kuchiki-san. Orihime wanted to believe in his heart but as holding onto the memory, but not the feelings. She had tried-oh she tried for so long before to look away from their glances to each other. Their deep understanding and of no words needed to convey his hurt and her decision when they had parted after Kuchiki-san's rescue in Soul Society.
Orihime desperately tried to hide her pain when Kuchiki-san came back and brought a smile to Kurosaki-kun's face, knowing she wasn't the one he needed...
" The Senkai-mon is ready." Toshiro's voice brought her back to reality. "I'm going. Don't try to stop me."
Orihime dared not move.
Rangiku called after him, "wait, Captain."
Toshiro stopped. "What is it?"
"What will you do once..." Rangiku seemed unable to finish.
"I will do what is necessary." his tone was devoid of emotion.
In the silence that followed, Rangiku's sigh was deep, "Orihime-chan, come out. I know you heard us..."
~Living world~
"Go...Karin." His voice was strained. His free arm he wrapped about the small trembling shoulders, quiet sobs rocking her body.
His sister stared up at him with eyes he despised.
No recollection, no reminiscence or snapping anger in her eyes.
Indeed it was as if Karin was looking at a stranger.
Ichigo had known the memories of him and of the entire war would be erased. It was easier this way, the one compromise his dad insisted on. No more of his family would be sacrificed to the whims of Soul Society.
Maybe it was better... the old Karin wouldn't have listened to him.
Karin picked herself up off the ground, never taking her eyes off of..Rukia.
It was her. Ichigo knew it was. Who else was so midget-like to fit inside his arms just so, her head resting against his shoulder? He ignored the wet stickiness making the cloth of the Shihakusho cling to his skin. It was Rukia, dammit!
His mind refused to accept the darkness emanating from the hole in her chest.
"Ichi..go."
"Yeah, Rukia?" Karin's hurried footsteps had receded into the old clinic. His old home. In his mind's eye, he could still see the day they first met, the day when his world was changed forever. "Will you do something for me?" Her voice sounded pained, labored as if each breath was a struggle for her sanity.
Ichigo closed his eyes, his hand leaving Zangetsu to slide through her hair. "Anything." It bothered him in some far corner of his thoughts, the reason why Hitsugaya hadn't wanted him to be chosen for the mission to the living world. It was almost as if he...
"Then...kill me..."
~To be continued~
AN: thanks for reading (^-^) and thanks to everyone who reviewed last time!
No flames-haters-stupid comments!
Reviews appreciated! ^^
