Chapter 20 is here after a long while. Enjoy!
THE CONNECTION
- CHAPTER 20 -
Orihime woke up early in the morning due to a little boy who was stirring in his sleep. It reminded her of the time she carried him in her stomach and once again she could feel her heart swell with love. It was a mystery to her how a woman like herself could have so much love for a little human being. She kissed him on his cheek and cuddled with him before sneaking out to the open field behind the mansion. She had always wanted to walk with her little boy outside in the open and it was unthinkable that she was finally living her dream.
Was she missing her husband? In the late night Orihime had thought long about the situation with Rukia. Did she want to justify her anger and take it out on the woman? Of course. As a mother, she was angry yet relieved her child was okay. But as a person, she felt disregarded and knew Rukia wanted to push her back into that role of being just an insignificant supporting character in their big plan, a plan which obviously had failed. But it didn't mean Rukia's words didn't reach her heart. The pictures Byakuya had shared with her raised a certain suspicion but Orihime felt that if she would obsess over the whole situation it would ruin and always overshadow the real reason she was here, to meet her little prince.
When the morning air hit her cheeks, it was then that she felt she was completed. She was truly free and all that count was spending time with her little boy, until it once again was interrupted by a man she didn't think to see in a hundred years.
"Orihime?"
The happy couple looked at the voice that sounded strained, which was accompanied by a strained smile. Gray orbs met deep chocolate brown ones, the wind bringing movement in a moment that could be captures as a silent picture.
"Papaaaaaaa!" The little boy squirmed itself out of Orihime's hold and ran towards the orange haired male, familiarity in his voice. Ichigo was pulled out of his thoughts and happily picked up the child, putting him on his arm. The boy looked around and also noticed the red head. "Rejiiii!" He yelled, waving at the male. Renji only gave a stern nod, reading the interaction between the two parents in front of him.
"Hime…" Ichigo walked towards the female who witness the scene with confusion. There were so many questions clouding her mind but it was Aizen that luckily came to interrupt the interaction.
"We have some invaders I see. Friends of yours?" Ichigo was instantly frozen in his spot when he saw Aizen stand beside Orihime, a deep scowl covering his features. Kamari tugged on Ichigo's shirt, causing his gaze to flow from Aizen's face to Kamari's. "W-Who…"
Before Ichigo could finish his sentence, Aizen beat him to it. "Did you expect any visitors, Orihime?" He turned to Orihime, a reassuring but very fake smile on his face. "Where are my manners? I apologize Orihime. Good morning." Aizen half bowed down, kissing Orihime's hand. Something snapped in Ichigo and he immediately walked to the two, yanking Orihime's hand away from Aizen's grasp.
"What the heck do you think you're doing to my wife?!" The male with dark hair backed away and stood back upright. The dark suit he was wearing gracing his strong features even more. "So you are Kurosaki Ichigo. Blessed with a handsome built and monstrous strength, at least that's what they say. Nice to make your acquaintance Kurosaki-san. The name is Aizen Sosuke." Aizen extended his hand from the good will of his heart. Against his will, Ichigo decided to return the handshake, sensing Orihime easing up.
"Likewise." Ichigo said calmly. As quickly as he could, he would extract his hand from the handshake. The male gave him goosebumps, which wasn't a good sign. "So, what business do you have with my wife and son?"
"So impatient. Seeing the location we're in it would be better to talk inside. What do you say Orihime?" The female absent-minded nodded, her gaze fixed on Ichigo and Renji before going inside.
It annoyed the orange top prince that the male by her side was acting like her master. But like good kids, both Renji and Ichigo followed Orihime, Aizen and Kamari inside. Aizen led them to the banquet room where breakfast was served. A sweet smell of freshly baked pancakes entered their nostrils. It was Kamari's favorite, and also Orihime's. Ichigo knew that and saw both their expressions turn into a drooling face, giggling like little children.
"I made sure the cook got to make your favorite, Orihime. It's the first time you are staying here so I wanted to make it special." Orihime looked at Aizen and smiled at him brightly, bowing slightly to show her gratitude once again. This man had done so much for her already, why did he keep on being so generous towards her? "Thank you Aizen-san."
Ichigo scoffed at the sight of Orihime's happy reaction. He wanted to interrupt the moment but he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. He looked back and saw his friend shaking his head. Renji knew that Ichigo was not himself right now and anything that would set him off could result into a bloody fight. The prince of the Kurosaki kingdom gave Renji a stern nod and focused his attention on his son who kept tugging his shirt, pointing at the pancakes.
"You want some?" Ichigo grunted, Kamari nodding while his eyes never left the juicy pancakes that were beautifully displayed on the huge table.
"I have to apologize."Aizen his peculiar voice interrupted, looking at the two men. "I didn't expect any visitors for our breakfast. I'm afraid we do not have enough to serve you. Also, you must be exhausted from your journey. If it is okay, I can ask Harribel to prepare some suitable rooms for you. Anything that is fit for a prince."
"No, thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I want to eat with my wife and son." Ichigo's lighter brown eyes met Aizen's darker ones. The tension between the two men could be sensed in the air, making it hard to swallow for all the bystanders. Orihime then looked at all the people in the room and suddenly felt embarrassed by the behavior of her husband. Yes, he was a prince, but that was no reason for him to act like a brat. Aizen was just being honest, wasn't he?
"Ichigo-kun." Orihime's small hand touched his biceps, making the male look down at his wife. "I think it's good if you and your…" she looked back at Renji, not knowing what to call him as she had never seen the male before. "Your companion take some rest. You do look exhausted and also, it would be quite rude to decline Aizen-san's offer, don't you think?"
The prince could see the desperation and embarrassment in Orihime's eyes, which deeply saddened him but it brought him to his knees. He clenched his hand and sighed, handing Kamari to the woman beside him. "Fine. Only because you wish to."
"Lolli, take them to the best suites in the house." A small girl with black hair in pigtails walked up to the men, chewing casually on her gum. "No need for greetings. You heard Aizen-sama. Let's go!" She walked before the two and opened the doors back to the hall. Ichigo looked back at the dining table, seeing Orihime now seated with Kamari and Aizen, a smirk on Aizen's face.
Moments later Renji and Ichigo were together in a big room that contained two bunk beds, a sofa and their own shower. It wasn't exactly fit for royalty but it was neat enough for the guys. "That dude has the audacity to talk to my wife like that and take my family as if it's his own? What the heck is this?!" Ichigo was now talking loudly to his friend, who was laying on the top bunk bed, eyes closed.
Renji observed the entire scene and was now replaying everything over in his head. That man was an exact copy of the man that was banned from the Kuchiki kingdom. He had heard Soi Fon complain about it many times. His father was the one that devolved the evil mutant substance that was deemed too dangerous to use, and look at that. Years later the Kuchiki kingdom was looking for that same substance. Renji hated wars and fights and just like his friends he wanted nothing more than peace between the kingdoms.
More than ever the kingdoms were so disconnected from each other, and now with the coming of Aizen he felt more worried than before. He knew that Kuchiki Byakuya was a dangerous fellow, but this male. He immediately got goosebumps as soon as he laid eyes upon him.
And then there was Ichigo's wife, Kurosaki Orihime. She was probably the most beautiful woman he had seen. The stories that he had heard about her were always positive, which made her even more dangerous. That woman was his friend's weakness, he knew it. The way Ichigo became tense when Aizen touched her was something he hadn't seen in a long time. But then there was also the way Aizen looked at her, with such deep and lustful eyes. Kurosaki Orihime was a dangerous person. That was what his feelings told him immediately.
"Ichigo." Renji interrupted the cursing and growling man who stopped his pacing and looked at his friend. "Your son is safe, as is your wife. I think we should look for Rukia and get out of here as soon as we can." His voice sounding firm and serious, Renji's brown eyes staring at Ichigo. "I don't get good vibes from this man."
"What the heck Renji! This man took my son. I need to know why he did that? I have to confront him." Ichigo sat down on the floor with his legs crossed, a scowl resting on his face. "That's not what is important. I really think we should leave this place as soon as we find Rukia. It's not safe… he's not safe."
"I can protect us. I'm sure of it." Renji rolled his eyes and then on his side, his back facing Ichigo. "Whatever carrot. I'm going to sleep." Ichigo's scowl deepened, mumbling: "Didn't you say we needed to leave immediately…?"
Breakfast had left a knot in her stomach. Orihime couldn't eat much mainly because of two things, or should she say two men. Aizen and Ichigo. It had been a big shock for her to meet her husband in a far away place. On top of it, Aizen took him in and had refused him for breakfast.
Kamari was now sleeping and Orihime watched him while Ulquiorra entered the room. "Orihime, you called me?" His cold voice warmed her heart and instantly brought a fond smile on her face. "Ulquiorra-kun, you didn't even bother to come and visit me this morning." She said teasingly, a pout on her face. "You didn't even miss me…" Ulquiorra watched the sleeping boy and didn't mind Orihime's words.
"Woman, why have you called me here?" His question was direct, just like always. Orihime turned around to face Ulquiorra, the smile fading from her lips. "My husband is here… but I couldn't ask Aizen or anyone else about his whereabouts." Ulquiorra folded his arms over each other. "And you want me to bring him to you?" Orihime nodded, a guilty look on her face. "I'm sorry I have to ask you this favor."
"Don't worry about it. Just promise me that tonight you will make some time for me." Grey curious eyes met dark green ones. "Why?" "Because I owe my friend some quality time." Orihime's bright smile returned to her, nodding happily. "Of course Ulquiorra-kun."
"Good. I'll be back in 30 minutes with your husband. Wait here and don't go anywhere." She nodded, grateful for her friend.
Ulquiorra immediately made his way to the other side of the estate. When he arrived in front of the room he knocked on the door, a sleepy Renji opening the door. "Kurosaki Ichigo-sama, where is he?" Ulquiorra immediately asked, trying not to take Renji's yawn in his face to heart. "Ichigo eh?" Renji signaled Ulquiorra to come in while yelling at a male that was sitting in front of the window, staring outside. "Oi Ichigo, visitor."
The male turned around and stared at Ulquiorra. "Kurosaki Ichigo-sama?" The orange top pointed at himself and nodded. "That is me. Anything you want from me?"
"Your wife wants me to escort you to her room. She wants to talk to you."
"Orihime?" a passionate spark appeared in Ichigo's eyes, immediately standing up from the ground and dusting off his pants. "Please bring me to her. I have to speak to her." Ulquiorra stared at him and replied in his usual tone. "Follow me."
The entire way to Orihime's room the two males did not talk. Ichigo was observing Ulquiorra and found him just as odd as all the other servants in this house. Where did this Aizen guy find these people?
"We're here." Ulquiorra said, pointing at the door. "Don't make Inoue-sama sad, or else." Despite his eyes being cold, Ichigo could feel for some reason affection for the girl. "She's my wife. I love her more than anything. The last thing I want to do is make her sad." Ichigo replied before entering the room.
His heart was pounding in his chest when his hand pushed down the door handle, pushing open the door that revealed an enormous room which was thrice the size Aizen had prepared for him and Renji. Orihime room was on the first floor and had three rooms in one, like a hotel suite. There was a small kitchen area with a kettle and chairs, then there was a living room area where a huge royal blue sofa and two comfortable chairs in the same color were and then there was the bedroom, where a tiny Kamari was sleeping, and his mother was watching him, wondering where the time went. Ichigo could feel his chest tighten while watching his family. How long had he waited for such a beautiful sight? His wife admiring the beauty of their child. If only things were different.
Orihime turned her head around once again, now meeting the form of a tall muscular male, which belonged to her husband. "Hi…" was all he mutter, his eyes fixed on the woman that slowly approached him. "Let's talk in the living room area so that Kamari can sleep." Ichigo simply followed her wishes and walked to the huge sofa, standing in front of it rather than sitting down. "Why did you want to see me? No, let me ask why are you even in this p-.." before Ichigo could continue, Orihime had placed her finger on his lips, stopping him.
"Just for once Ichigo, let me go first." She could feel the frustration of her husband as she shushed him, but he complied to her request by nodding. He had promised he would trust her and that also means that he would have to listen to her explanation, no matter how confusing it may be.
The female in front of him was fidgeting with her fingers, sitting down on the large couch in front of him. He got the feeling she didn't know where to start, so instead of sitting down to face her he turned around. "Alright. The floor is yours."
She nodded, but he couldn't see it. Ichigo's back looked so strong yet fragile and for some reason Orihime felt like hugging him, but she heard Rukia's words ringing in her mind.
"Not because you are sharing a bed doesn't mean you know him."
Her hands that were resting on her knees turned into the little fists, gaining the courage to finally speak. "It must be pretty confusing meeting me here and all… especially with our son." Orihime's tone sounded meek and soft. "I'm sorry I deceived you into thinking I was visiting my brother. But there is a good reason for all of this and I really want to tell you everything, but before I can, I need to know some things."
"I need to know how you found this place, and if you really didn't know where Kamari was all this time?" Ichigo's expression darkened, body tensing as he thought back at the moments he shared with Renji and Rukia in the little cottage, raising Kamari away from the woman he said he loved. "Orihime." Ichigo said softly, hanging his head in the process of speaking, his eyes shut. "What makes you question me like that? Do you think I would let you get away from me without knowing where you are?"
Orihime's eyes widened. Was he following her all this time? But that can't be right? Does this mean he knew about Aizen all along? The princess wanted to start doubting herself but then slapped herself mentally. No Orihime, don't ignore the signs. Trust your own judgement for once.
"So you send someone to follow me? How convenient. Didn't you say you were going to trust me more?" The tone of Orihime's voice did not change but she could feel her insides starting to boil. "How can I trust someone who suddenly keeps receiving letters and presents from friends I haven't even met? My mother keeps siding with you, but when I try to ask about your friends you both push me away." Ichigo sighed after loudly speaking his mind. He hoped he didn't wake the child.
"Push you away? Are we talking about the same person here? Aren't you the one who pushed me away first? Y-You didn't even look at me. After that one night, you were disgusted by me." Orihime hugged herself, her eyes closed while she recalled the night where she forced herself onto her husband. "Instead of comforting me you ran away. And then you changed. Don't you think I wouldn't notice you leaving the castle every day between five and nine o'clock in the evening? Each night when you came back a smile plastered on your face. Not just a smile, but a smile of pure bliss. Like the world was complete. A world I was not a part of."
He swallowed.
"And then this morning when Kamari saw you he ran up to you. Like he was so familiar with you and your friend. He knew you were his dad and he even called the name of your friend." Orihime's voice was still soft but now sounded bitter, her eyes staring at Ichigo's shoes. "Kurosaki-kun, did you really not know where Kamari was these past few years?"
Silence —
"Orihime, I don't know what to tell you…" He finally said, turning around to meet the eyes of his wife. "How about you start telling the truth for once." She said coldly, still avoiding his eyes. "The truth? Fine. I knew where Kamari was and purposely kept him hidden from you. He has been in the care of my good friend Renji and… Rukia. They have raised him into this fine and happy child."
Before Ichigo could flinch he could feel his face being pressed to the side by a sudden force that hit him. A burning sensation on his left cheek, while his eyes widened. In front of him was standing a fiery auburn haired woman with her right hand extended, tears rolling from her eyes. Her cheeks were burning red, biting her lips from the strain.
Orihime had hit him.
"Not because you are sharing a bed doesn't mean you know him."
There were many things that Orihime wanted to say, ask or even accuse him from but nothing came out of her mouth. Rukia's voice was ringing in her ears and how she wished for it to stop. It took her a while before she could bring out a loud sob with a broken question.
"But why? Why Kurosaki-kun?"
Her fists now landing each in his chest with force. "Why did you take my baby away from me? How could you let a Kuchiki raise him?! How could you let him stay with someone you said you loathed!" Ichigo could feel Orihime's anger while mentioning the Kuchiki name. She was right. At the beginning when he opened up his heart he said he would never let Rukia in again. But rather than keeping his word he decided to put his trust in his longtime friend over his trust in his wife.
"Orihime, I am truly sorry. Renji and Rukia begged me not to tell you. They were afraid that Byakuya would then find out and take him away for good." Ichigo took her wrists into his hand so that she would stop punching his chest. "So you listen to their pleas rather than the pleas of your wife who was ready to kill herself at any time? Don't you even know how much I suffered? It's all because of you Ichigo!" She yanked away her arms and pushed the male away from her, taking off her wedding band and placing it on the counter near her. "Get out."
The female pointed to the door, her eyes big and red with adrenaline surging through her veins. "Get out! " While she was screaming at him Ichigo felt a familiar yet unfamiliar feeling return to him. His heart rate increasing as a result of Orihime's yelling. "I don't want to see your face." The crown prince could barely swallow and nodded, taking his leave.
As soon as he left the room, he could feel the air disappear. His breathing heavier and shorter, the hallways looking as if they were coming at him. As usual, Ichigo kept his calm posture, but inside he was going insane. His biggest fear became reality. Orihime hated him and she even threw him out of her room. What was he even hoping for? This must be the end of their relationship.
In the corner of his eye, Ichigo could sense someone coming. He walked up the huge stairs and ran as far as he could from the room where he just met his wife and child. His biggest desire was to run away from the palace, but he knew that he couldn't just leave. Instead of going to his room, Ichigo kept on walking and miraculously ended up in the huge library of the estate. It was a big room with around 5.000 books stored in it. In the middle there were two tables, some chairs and a couch. Ichigo let himself fall down on the couch, tears escaping his eyes.
Soon after, his eyes closed and he felt into a slumber.
The whole afternoon Orihime had been distancing herself from everyone. Aizen, Ulquiorra and even Momo. After Ichigo's confession she was more than determined to break off her marriage. No matter how much she loved Ichigo, she couldn't forgive him for betraying her. It was now evening and Orihime had promised Ulquiorra that she would make time for him, despite her feelings. She made a promise and she was going to keep it.
"Woman, are you ready?" Ulquiorra was standing in the doorway, looking at the auburn woman who just finished braiding her hair. "Yes! Momo is with Kamari, so everything should be fine. Let's go." The instant that Orihime opened her mouth, Ulquiorra knew that something was off, but for the sake of the surprise he let it slide. "Did you eat dinner? I heard you didn't join Aizen-sama today."
"No… I'm not that hungry. Actually, I'm quite exhausted but I made a promise to you…" Ulquiorra looked back and noticed her sad face. He was going to beat up a certain carrot top. He mentally sighed and took her to an indoor open space that looked as if it was outside. It was a square where workers of the household would come together and eat, have parties if there was something to celebrate or just hang out. Normally, this place would be filled with subjects hanging around, but today it was empty.
Sitting at a table at the square was a short-haired girl with raven hair shivering from the cold. Ulquiorra left his coat with her, but it didn't seem to help her shivering. She blew into her hands and looked up to the entrance, seeing her auburn haired friend and Ulquiorra walk into the place. Tatsuki sighed relieved as she saw that Orihime looked okay, just like he had said, but then suddenly a fear overtook her. She wanted to disappear, but on that moment the voice of her one and only friend stopped her. "Tatsuki-chan? Is that really you?"
Not even in her wildest dream did she dare to dream about her friend. Her best friend that she had seen for the last time when she was taken from the village. Orihime's heart leaped from joy as she ran towards her friend, hugging her tightly.
"Tatsuki-chan, it is you! Let me take a look at you." As soon as Orihime had spoken these words, Tatsuki pulled the coat tighter over her body, smiling sheepishly. "Orihime… you're okay." Tears were flowing from Tatsuki's eyes, which touched Orihime and ended up crying with her. Ulquiorra watched both girls, a very faint smile appearing on his lips.
"Of course I am okay! You don't look bad yourself. Tell me where you have been." The princess seemed to forgotten her own worries and listened attentively to her friend. "I-I'm so sorry, Orihime. I thought I put you in danger. That Urahara man said that if I wanted to save my parents I had to give information about you. I-I was afraid he would kill you?"
The name Urahara brought back old memories and Orihime's body jolted from the memory of being inseminated by the people in the facility. The woman's reaction did not go unnoticed by Tatsuki and frowned. "You okay Orihime?" The female nodded, smiling at her friend. "I don't have good memories about that man. But please Tatsuki, don't blame yourself for what happened to me. Of course, you would choose to save your parents. I probably would've done the same if it was about Sora. Besides, there were also good memories that came from it all." A fond look in Orihime's eyes, accompanied by a sad smile.
"Orihime…" The girl met Tatsuki's eyes and chuckled. "A-Ano ne, Tatsuki-chan. There is so much I want to tell you. It might be hard to believe but I'm a mother now and then there is Masaki-san who's my mother-in-law. She's the greatest and then there is Momo." It was hard for Tatsuki to keep up with the rambling woman, who just looked like a grown up version of the girl she met on a dark day, covered in mud and soaked from the water.
Tatsuki leaned forward and reached out her hand, placing it on Orihime's hands that were resting in her lap. "Don't forget to breathe when you talk. I won't go anywhere."
"T-Tasuki… I-I…" The female chocked up. Her old friend was finally here, there was finally someone she could confide in without any give or take. She needed to vent, but wasn't she being too selfish?
Ulquiorra joined the two ladies, standing behind them. He startled the girls when he placed his hands on their shoulders. "Don't hold back, Orihime, Tatsuki. The time we spend here is precious, make it last." Tatsuki shot him a glare, saying with her eyes 'no need to lecture me.'
Orihime was the first one to speak up, looking at her two friends. "Sorry if I'm bothering you with my situation, but I haven't been all that happy lately." Tatsuki shook her head, saying that she understands. Orihime took a deep breath before continuing. "Kurosaki Ichigo… I married him." she had barely finished her sentence or her friend jumped up.
"WHAAAAT? You, you, you married that bastard prince?! How did that happen?!" Tatsuki's face was now totally red from the emotions she felt, her hairs standing up and her eyes wide. Ulquiorra blinked a few times. He did not see that coming.
"Ehh…" Tatsuki's female friend scratched her head awkwardly. She was at a loss for words, luckily Ulquiorra came to her aid. "Sit down Arisawa." She shot him another deadly glare. "Don't tell me what to do! And you!" She pointed once again to Orihime. "Tell me everything! What did that bastard do to marry you? Don't tell me you had his kid or something?"
The two other friends looked blankly at each other before looking back at Tatsuki, whose mouth was falling open from shock. "N-No, no… no, this can't be right. You are far too good for someone like him." Ulquiorra uncharacteristically smirked agreeing with his good friend for once. "I leave you out of my sight and someone like him steals you away? That prince everyone used to fangirl over? Unbelievable… where is your husband then?"
Orihime could feel palms become sweaty, shooting a glance at Ulquiorra. The male, however, looked into another direction, avoiding her obvious cry for help. "You should tell her." Ulquiorra nudged her, still avoiding her stare. She felt grateful for having Ulquiorra by her side at this moment. Her best friend could react unpredictable, it was good that there was someone who could handle her.
"I'm leaving him." Her voice sounded determined, like her decision was absolute. It wasn't Tatsuki who spoke first, but the pale male that had a questioned expression on his face. "Why would you do something like that, woman?"
"I-I can't stand being with someone who kept my son away from me. Who lied to me while watching me suffer with such heartless eyes!"
"He did what?!" Tatsuki spat again, rolling up her sleeves while to her friend. "Where is this twat?! He will receive the honor to meet my fist!" Orihime stood up and wanted to stop an angry Tatsuki, but soon let go of her arm, noticing the purple and blue marks on her body accompanied by scars.
"Tatsuki-chan your arm…" The brave tomboy first looked at Orihime's worried face and then back to her arm, immediately rolling her sleeve down. "I-It's nothing Orihime, I'm fine."
Orihime might not know a lot about her own background or about politics, but if there was one thing she knew was when her best friend was lying to her. Tatsuki would barely hide something for the girl, but when she tried to she always failed to.
"You're hurt. What happened?"
"Just like you, I've been through quite a lot. But really it's nothing to worry about."
"Don't hide your pain from me Tatsuki-chan. Please tell me what happened."
The tomboy broke down, seeing the worry of her longtime and most trustworthy friend. "I'm so disgusted with myself Orihime. After leaving the facility I was reunited with my parents but they were almost of the verge of death. We looked for a cure, but being dirt poor it meant that there was nothing we could do. We barely could find any food to live off."
"But then… there was a male who approached us. He told us that we could live if we would agree to partake in his clinical trial. We really didn't have a choice…"
Big heavy tears were falling off Tatsuki's eyes. "So… we had to take this drug three times a day. It was supposed to take away hunger and enhance our healing abilities. If we were to be injured, our bodies would be able to heal itself. But instead of getting those abilities, we became addicted to the drug."
"I really wanted to stop, but having no money and food I couldn't stop. After the trial ended my parents and I were staying at the gates of Hueco Mundo, hoping and looking for scrapes of the drug that guy would usually dispose there."
"If it wasn't for Ulquiorra, I wouldn't be here and my parents wouldn't been recovering." A warm smile appeared on her lips, looking at Ulquiorra who briefly met her eyes and quickly looked away. Feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Ichigo groaned and felt himself feeling disoriented. Sweat covering his face. Once again he had a nightmare, but this time it was a nightmare where Orihime spit in his face and jumped off the tower of the Kurosaki castle. He couldn't save her and he regretted it with his life. These dreams were becoming more common and it didn't sit well with him.
He sat up and looked around, remembering that he ended up in the library after the fall-out with his wife. Slowly he got up and decided to roam around the library. He walked to the back of the room, but suddenly stopped, his head turning to see a painting. The painting was of a big family. Four men and two women, one of them looking identical to Orihime. His eyes widened as a cold chuckle could be heard behind him.
"You have no idea who she is, do you?" Ichigo turned around in a reflex, his defense shooting up. It was the man he met in the garden, no one other than Sosuke Aizen. "Easy easy, prince Kurosaki."
"What do you want, Aizen?" He snared at him.
"Such an obvious question. Why don't you ask the real question that has been clouding your mind?"
"Tch, you sound as if you can read my mind."
"Isn't it obvious? You're trying to figure out my relationship with Inoue Orihime, aren't you? Don't worry, our relationship is not of that nature, yet." He smirked.
"You!" Ichigo lunged forward and pushed Aizen against one of the shelves, causing the entire case to shake.
"Where are your manners, prince? Haven't you learned that it is rude to attack your host?" Aizen pushed the young male away, his smile disappearing, now dusting off his suit. "It truly saddens me that princess Inoue is married to a pathetic prince who cannot even control his temper. I expected more of you, Kurosaki Ichigo."
"W-What, do you mean? Princess Inoue? She is princess Kurosaki! She is a Kurosaki now."
"Oh foolish boy. Look at the painting." Ichigo turned around to look at the painting.
"Doesn't she look like Orihime? From the shape of her face to the color of her hair. She is the former princess of the Inoue kingdom and guess who her daughter is?"
Ichigo frowned, staring at the man in disbelief.
"I guess you were only showing interest to the things you liked rather than looking at the things that matter. Even your parents must know who she truly is."
He looked confused, his eyes shifting between the picture and the male beside him. "That can't be. She came from Haiku. Born and raised."
"Did she really tell you she was born and raised in that place?" Ichigo started doubting, thinking back to the first time she told where she was from. Shoot! She never told him she was born there, only that she lived there with her brother. He turned a bit pale, eyes shifting back to the painting that suddenly seemed ten times more interesting.
Aizen laughed, hands folded over each other as Ichigo's change of statue did not go by unnoticed. "Just a piece of advice, prince Kurosaki. When you speak to your wife, really try to listen. Women love men that listen to their problems, and perhaps fix some of them. That's what a good husband is supposed to do."
He smirked, feeling obviously superior to the young prince.
"If you can't handle it, then just be honest. It's better to be honest. It's an attractive trait."
"So you're saying you're totally honest to Orihime? I'm sure she has no idea about your true intentions."
"She's a lot smarter than you give her credit for."
Ichigo grew annoyed by this male. Why was everyone lecturing him on his woman.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, I have a proposal for you. Why don't you take Kuchiki Rukia and that red monkey with you and leave Orihime here with your son? That way you can pursue happiness with that low life supposed to be heir."
Ichigo clenched his teeth.
"You can finally go and play that happy family you always wanted to be. Or, even better, you can make one yourself with her. Isn't that wonderful? A woman for a dream?"
"Who are you to propose such a disgusting deal. Orihime and Rukia are not objects you can just trade. Besides, they have their own decision-making function working for them."
"The man has a brain."
"But I do need you to let Rukia go." Ichigo replied.
"For what reason? She's an enemy of Orihime. I can't let enemies walk away unscratched. She at least should lose an arm."
His eyes widened, blood turning cold. How could a man be so cruel? "She took Kamari to protect him from her brother. Who knows what happened if he actually got his hands on him."
"And that should be sufficient to let her go? Do you even know what the Kuchiki's are responsible for?" Aizen's superior smirk turned into a dark expression, his eyes showing dominance and anger.
"Luckily, we have already made sure that she will never see the light of day again. Go try and save her, Kurosaki Ichigo." He whispered, a crazy smile appearing on his mug as hysterical laughter filled the room.
Ichigo found himself moments later hurrying to the cells where the prisoners were kept. It was a dark and musty place all the way in the basement. A place with rusty bars everywhere.
He slowly walked into the prison that was currently unsupervised as there was a change of guards. He sneaked around the corridor, whispering. "Rukia, where are you?"
The petite girl was lying on the ground in one of the cells, but heard the familiar voice and immediately ran to the door, her hand sticking out of the bars. "Ichigo, here!"
Orihime went back inside after her talk with her friends and saw Ichigo run towards the basement and for some reason she followed him. She wanted to know what could make him hurry. It was no surprise to her… he was visiting Rukia. Orihime sat down near the door that led to the cells, an earshot away from the two that were reunited despite having prison bars between them.
"Rukia, are you okay?" He asked worried, sweat over his face. "Aizen didn't hurt you, did he?" The female wasn't used to Ichigo's concern and blinked a few times before answering. "I'm alright. Where's Renji?" She peered into the dark, in the corridor. "He's upstairs, probably cracking his brain how he will get you out of here." He chuckled. A frown appeared on Rukia's face. "What do you mean? Aren't you here to get me?"
Ichigo took a good look at the woman in front of him before shifting his gaze to the ground, shaking his head. "You must know by now that my wife is here, Inoue Orihime. The plan was to get you out and save Kamari, but I can't save someone who doesn't need saving, right?"
"What do you mean, doesn't mean saving? I need saving, you idiot!" She badly wanted to slap the back of his head, but unfortunately the bars between them wouldn't allow it. Ichigo smiled sadly, shaking his head. "Renji is here to save you, I came here to save Kamari. Just like I told you before."
Her eyes became teary, the light of the night reflecting the teardrops. "Then why did you come here? Ichigo, you can't leave me here… it's Aizen. You know about the Kuchiki's history right? He hates me from the bottom of his heart, just like your wife."
"Rukia." Ichigo held her fingers, sighing deeply. "I have always been honest with you, haven't I?" The female nodded, sniffling as he continues. "My loyalty to our friendship and the promises I made were the only reason I left Kamari in your care. I'm truly grateful that you gave him a warm home, together with Renji, and that you let me see him. Without that… I don't know how I would get through it all."
"Even though I'm grateful I also realized I made foolish mistakes that were not in the best interest for my whole family, especially Orihime. I don't blame you for not wanting her to know about the situation. The only one I can blame is myself. I-I just came here to see if you're okay and… to say goodbye."
"Ichigo, just tell me one thing." She pulled her fingers away and touched his face. "Do you truly, like really love her?"
Ichigo looked down once more before nodding. "After you left me, I was an empty and angry shell. Orihime was the one that brought me back to life with her warmth."
"I… I can't live without my love. Orihime is the only woman I love. My behavior of the past two years was despicable, that's why I need to make it up to her. I need to atone for my sins, even if it means losing my friends. I made a promise to her brother, you know…" He started right at Rukia, which made her retract her hand, finally understanding the male she had loved her entire life.
"I won't apologize for being disloyal, Rukia. Disloyal to the promise we made as kids, that one day…"
"One day to bring peace to this country." Rukia finished his words, her cheeks stained by the wetness of her tears.
Orihime had listened to their conversation and suddenly felt as if she had heard something she shouldn't have. It shook her heart as she could feel it accelerating in her chest. He wasn't lying, he truly did not love Rukia. He even said it in her face. The female felt terrible and decided not to hear the rest of the story. She walked up the stairs to the main corridor, and to her surprise a male with red hair and tattoos stood in front of her.
"Before you go Ichigo, I want you to know a few things." She wiped her face, bringing herself to be strong. "Y-Your wife isn't who you think she is… I saw her carrying the house of Inoue emblem when I met her. She even confessed she is keeping things from you. Ichigo, I know you love her, but be careful. I don't trust them…"
Ichigo smiled warmly at his friend. He knew that despite it all, he could still count on Rukia's care for him. "I will be careful." His smile, however, faded quickly away as he thought back to Aizen. "That dude is ticking me off. Aizen…"
Renji had been looking for the prison cells for a while but couldn't seem to find anything as he lost his way in Aizen's huge estate. Passing the same rooms over five times, the male wanted to give up but then it was a miracle he saw a creak of an open door that showed a pair of stairs going down.
Unexpectedly when he wanted to descend the stairs, he saw a woman appear in front of him. She was slightly panting, her face flustered and her pupils wide like a deer in danger. He stopped in his tracks, staring at the woman. Renji was unsure if he had to speak, but then reminded the scene of that morning.
"Inoue, isn't it?" The female took a step back, her eyes never leaving Renji's form. "Yes. Aren't you Kurosaki-kun's friend?" He looked away, nodding. "Yeh, the name is Abarai, Abarai Renji."
"Nice to meet you Abarai-san. If you don't mind, I'm just on my way out." She wanted to pass him, but Renji stopped her, his hand on her arm. "Now that we're here, do you mind if we talk for a bit?" There was no feeling of threat or hostility around the man, which made Orihime calm down a bit. "S-Sure, please follow me."
The two walked away from the stairs, back to the corridors Renji had seen countless times that evening. "So, what is it that you want to talk to me about?" She faced the male, an unsure expression on her face as she did not know what posture to take. Renji, on the other hand, had his arms folded over each other, observing the face of the woman.
"You're as pretty as he said you were. I thought he was just exaggerating." A playful smirk appearing on Renji's face. Orihime did not expect a compliment and became red. "Kurosaki-kun said that about me…?" Renji nodded, chuckling at her reaction. "Ichigo isn't as bad as you think. Actually, I have a little secret to share…" The red stains on her cheeks disappeared, and her expression now changed into a curious one. "A secret?"
He nodded. "Yes, but before I can tell you this secret I have a few questions for you. Can you please answer them for me?"
"That depends on the questions. Please tell me what you want to know."
"You're from the Inoue family, aren't you?"
The girl swallowed. It was for the first time that a stranger that she had no connection with whatsoever asked her this question. What was she supposed to say. Orihime could only stutter, which confirmed Renji's suspicions. "I'll take that as a yes. Heck, how special. I finally get to meet the new heir to the Inoue family. Who would've thought that family would still be alive?"
"You know about my family?"
"Just a little. There's enough about ya in the history books."
"I see." Orihime was always kept away from history books thanks to her brother. He made sure she would in no way find out about her background.
"That brings me to my real question. What do you have planned with Aizen? I don't believe you're just on good terms because you have so much in common."
"We actually have quite a bit in common… it looks like both our families were outcasts in this kingdom…" She whispered, thinking back at the story she heard from Masaki. "Is that why you guys are in cahoots together? Tell me, Inoue-sama what do you have up your sleeve? Ichigo has already fallen for your antics, but not me." He leaned in real close to her, almost as if he were going to threaten her. She swallowed and looked away, her neck exposed to her enemy. "There is nothing I have planned with Aizen. He just sought out to me and helped me find my son. I promise, there is no plan or ulterior motive. At least, not from my part." Her eyes had found their way to Renji's, the innocence radiating from her eyes.
"Why should I believe such a beautiful woman like you? You've got Ichigo all wrapped around your finger, even Aizen is backing you up. You're more dangerous than Kuchiki-sama at this point. How could a little girl like you become this way? Are you going after the man who brought you into this misery?" The female flinched as Renji referred to Byakuya. Even in her hard times, despite Byakuya being the cause of all this chaos, she did not hate him. Not anymore, he had been showing remorse for his actions.
"No… I don't know why I should betray my values and believes to seek revenge for Kuchiki-sama's deeds? What happened in the past stays in the past, Abarai-san. Concerning my relationship with Aizen Sosuke, he sought out to me and he got back my baby, something Ichigo couldn't even do for me despite knowing where my son was all this time. All because he had some vow to protect."
"I do not appreciate you invading my personal space and privacy like this, Abarai-san. You care for Kurosaki-kun, I get that but don't see that as a free pass to question me like a criminal." Oh, how the tables have turned. The man must've thought he had driven the princess in a corner, but Orihime wasn't the same anymore. Yet, she didn't know that Renji anticipated her reaction from a mile away, confirming his thoughts.
Renji took a step back, his smirk wiped off his face. Instead, a low chuckle escaped from his mouth. "I can see why Ichigo digs you. You're quite the feisty one."
"Does Ichigo know about my… my background?" She asked. If Renji was aware then her husband must know something as well. "Nah, not that I know. He's never really had an interest in history, unlike me, heh."
"Well, care to tell me the secret you are withholding from me?"
"Alright, I guess I need to tell you it now." He sighed, rubbing his neck as he did not know how to break the news to her. "First of all, I want to apologize for taking your son from you. We did it as precaution, what doesn't make the pain or guilt less."
The female remained quiet, not planning to accept his apology easily. "But ya know, Ichigo is really going through. H-He… he had a weird episode where the became all jumpy and dizzy, scared and… vulnerable. It's all because of the aftermath of holding this a secret from you, which is something we asked from him. I know you are mad at him, but please give the man another chance."
"You want me to give him another chance only because he had an episode?" Orihime felt truly upset because who was there when she had her depression episodes? But somewhere in her heart she couldn't help but to feel bad for her husband. She couldn't act ignorant because she knew how horrible it was to go through such experiences alone. "Renji-san, I feel bad for Kurosaki-kun but right now, I really need some distance." Her eyes were shiny as she was doing her best to keep herself from crying. In her mind she couldn't believe a strong man as Ichigo could crumble down.
"M-Maybe after a few days or weeks we could try and mend things again, but not right now. Not when I have thoughts to order and have to take care of my son. Please… take care of Kurosaki-kun for me, just until I'm ready to face him."
The good friend of the prince hoped for another answer, but could understand where the female was coming from. That was the reason he couldn't refuse her request. "I promise to watch him and make sure he's alright."
"Thank you. You truly are a kind man, Abarai-san." The female bowed before walking to her room. Renji watching her go.
The next morning Orihime was summoned by Aizen who had not seen her after breakfast the day before. She entered his personal chamber and admired the change of atmosphere and interior his room had compared to the rest of the estate.
The Aizen mansion was cold, emotionless and empty. It brought shivers to her spine. But his room, on the other hand, was warm, dark and ordered. The entire room was covered in dark wooden furniture that suited Aizen's hair and eyes.
"Did you have a good rest, princess Inoue?" Aizen was sitting behind his desk, making a gesture that Orihime could sit down in the chair in front of him. "Good might be a bit too positive to describe my rest, but it was sufficient." The bags could clearly be seen under her eyes and Aizen could guess what the reason was for her disturbed night.
"You know, I don't like to beat around the bush, princess. I have summoned you here for a reason." He said, taking a sip of his coffee. "How long will you put up with the behavior of your husband? You know what you promised me, right?"
Aizen-sama…" She said in a breath, looking up at him. "Please give me some time. I beg you. Kamari is just back into my life and I'm still trying to make sense of things. Honestly, I would lie if I say that I wasn't shaken by Rukia's words. Before I can do anything, there are some things I need to clear up."
"Such as?" He rested his right cheek on his right arm, staring at Orihime. "My own feelings and most of all the future that I want for Kamari. If I am going to cut ties with people, I need to do it in the right way at the right time."
"Does that mean you will leave Kurosaki Ichigo?" Orihime swallowed and bit her lip. "I-I am not sure. A royal divorce is not as easy as it sounds. Do you require me to leave him for this plan of yours?"
"I'll allow you some time to divorce yourself from him and his family. We can't have a queen being married to an enemy, now can we?" Orihime sighed, not really liking Ichigo being called an enemy. "How long?"
"Let's say about a maximum of six months? You can do that, right princess?" It was a hard choice to make, but Orihime knew that she couldn't avoid it any longer. "I'll comply to your request. As I said before, you kept your word and now it's time to keep mine. I'll trust you Aizen-sama."
"But, I do have one request." Aizen was happy with Orihime's answer, no he was over the moon but simply did not show it. "Tell me princess." "Before I go back home, please allow me to leave my son her with Kurosaki-kun for a day. There is a place I want to visit before I go back to the Kurosaki kingdom."
"Since we're already a team, I'll allow it. Go ahead, but make sure to come back. I don't know what I'll do when I'm alone for too long with a Kurosaki and a Kuchiki." Aizen stood up and took a strand of Orihime's hair, gently stroking it.
"You won't regret choosing my side, princess."
THE ENDDDDDD! This was the last chapter... just kidding! But honestly, I had another writer's block this past few weeks. It was really hard for me to keep on writing, but I'm lowkey proud I finished this chapter. Thank you for all the kind reviews. I hope Ichigo is suffering enough, since many of you guys wanted him to suffer. Don't worry, it's still an Ichihime story!
leave a review and until next chapter!