A/N: Hi there! Thanks a lot for all the great reviews! There's nothing like opening my inbox after a long and shitty day and finding it full of lovely comments from you guys!
Ah~~~ makes me happy to be alive!
I'm really, really, trying not to disappoint. Please send me any suggestions you think will make this fic better.
Thanks to
himelove22, chuchootrain, Hakkyou no Yami, saveme57, AbaraiArekushisu, Goddess of Night Eternal Faith, Shadowfreddy, DreamStar14, nypsy, Zanbandia, The0Blind0Writer, greyearth07, XBluexFlamingoX, smartkid360, Arctic Cheatah, yoyogigi125, MeggzieofHyrule, , marc
Ah, special thanks to the first foreign review I received, Shadowfreddy- it took me to new levels of happiness! Sob~~
And, The0Blind0Writer, I know that you had to go through added trouble to read my fic. It really makes me happy that you still did.
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Soggyfrenchfries presents
Bleach: Redone
Chapter 6
Star of Vega
"Come on, Ichigo-kun! We're almost there!"
"I hope you have a plan. We can't just waltz in there, wake me up, then leave, you know," Ichigo said, hurrying to catch up with Orihime. Tessai had dropped them off in his truck just outside the hospital, and now they were hurrying along its halls, searching for Ichigo's human body. "And how do you know they haven't pronounced me dead yet?"
His idiot friends had, it turned out, called an ambulance after Orihime left. Of course, they hadn't known any better, but things had turned a lot more complicated because of that; and he would have a lot of explaining to do. Orihime didn't seem the slightest bit fazed by the current situation, though. She had made some calls when Urahara told them that they should leave before nightfall, and requested Tessai to give them a lift to Karakura General Hospital.
Ichigo was still in his battered Soul Reaper outfit, bandages covering his torso. His sword hung over his shoulder; Orihime had retrieved it from Sakura Park.
"Ah! Here we are!" Orihime came to a stop in front of a door. It wasn't a patients' ward- quite the opposite.
A large placard above the door proclaimed,
Director- Ryuuken Ishida
Ichigo stopped in his tracks. "Hey, what the hell are you doing?"
Orihime knocked on the door and waited. "Excuse me, Ishida-san?" she asked politely.
No answer.
Ichigo snorted. "He must be sleeping. Come on, let's go-"
"Ishida-san? I called you a while ago. . . My name is Orihime Inoue, and I'm from Soul Society."
Ichigo nearly had a fit. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?" He whispered frantically. "Do you want them to admit you for being mentally disturbed or something?"
A sudden voice from inside the room made Ichigo jump.
"Come in."
Orihime turned to Ichigo and smiled. He gave her a frown in return.
She turned the doorknob and pushed open the door. She went in. After a pause, Ichigo followed.
"It's not like he can see me anyway. . . ."
At the desk, a rather serious-looking bespectacled man was seated. His hair was white and hung slightly below his ears.
He was smoking.
He appraised Orihime as she walked in with a rather bored look. Then he spoke, and his words had a huge impact. "I don't sleep in my office, you know."
There was a pregnant pause.
Then slowly, Orihime turned to give Ichigo a meaningful look.
"Oh! You . . . you're talking to me?" He stared at him disbelievingly. He turned to Orihime. "Hey. . .What the hell is going on?"
"I've been acquainted with Ishida-san before."
"How did that happen? Why can he see me?" Then a sudden thought came to his head. "You. . .you're not like her, are you?" He said, motioning towards Orihime.
Ryuuken's eyes narrowed. "A Soul Reaper? Hardly."
Tension boiled up in the room. Ichigo's antagonistic gaze never left Ryuuken's, who was giving him a particularly menacing look.
"Ummm. . . Ishida-san! We won't take up much of your time, so. . ."
Ryuuken turned to her. "Very well, then. He's in ward 786. It's on the 3rd floor."
Orihime bowed deeply. "I can't thank you enough. . ." She nudged Ichigo.
"Huh? Oh, right . . . Thanks, I guess." Then after a moment's pause. "What are you, anyway?"
"Ichigo-kun!"
"Oh, that's all right, Inoue-san." Ryuuken had stood up and crushed his cigarette in the ashtray. "Measly little substitute Soul Reapers must be educated about those which are superior to them!"
He cleared his throat. "Though we Quincy are superior to Soul Reapers in a way you would not be able to imagine . . . Though we would have surpassed you if we had survived!" He pointed at Ichigo, who was taken aback by the sudden melodramatic speech being directed at him. "You are looking at the Last Quincy!"
Orihime quickly broke in. "Ishida-san! That's terrible!" She looked indignant. "What about your-"
"Silence. I won't be questioned, Inoue-san. I am the last Quincy left in this world, and that is all. You may leave now." He sat back down, and lit another cigarette, not attempting to hide the fact that he didn't have anything to do but smoke.
"You Bastard!" Ichigo's fury unleashed on the man he barely knew. "Don't talk to Inoue like that!"
Suddenly, Orihime coughed. She covered her mouth, and swallowed. But she coughed again. And again. She had a coughing fit. "E-Excu-use me. . ." She managed to choke out. But it didn't stop. There was silence in the room, apart from the deep coughs which rocked her body back and forth.
Ryuuken's eyes widened, and the hostile atmosphere around him disappeared.
Ichigo was surprised at Orihime's fit. "Oi, what's wro-"
"Forgive me." Ryuuken quickly crushed his cigarette- the second within a few minutes- and stood up. Walking over to the water cooler, he filled up a glass of water and handed it to Orihime. She took it with a trembling hand. "Th-thank y-you. . ."
Ryuuken's eyes never left Orihime as she sipped the water, bit by bit; which irked Ichigo.
"You should have said something before. I wouldn't have smoked."
"Ah. . .No, it's fine. . ." Orihime finished gulping down the water. Her coughing subsided. "But really, Ishida-san. . .How can you disregard your own family like that?"
There is really no need to mention that Ichigo was completely lost at this point.
Ryuuken remained silent. Orihime went on. "Won't you ask about your son? He came here, you know. I know that you know!"
"It's been years . . . Don't you want to see what he looks like?" Orihime was almost in tears. "He . . . He looks so much like you, Ishida-san . . . And your father? He misses you as well, you know. . .Even though I haven't seen him for quite some time. . .In Soul Society, he was always thinking about you. . ."
"A Quincy. . .Does not make a living. It isn't a lucrative career." Ryuuken's face was completely unreadable. His glasses reflected light, shielding his eyes from view.
Orihime thrust the plastic cup towards Ichigo, who held on to it. She took both of Ryuuken's hands in hers, an act which surprised both men present.
"I know that you're lonely, Ishida-san. Even if you don't talk about it. . .Even if you act like you don't care a bit. . .No person in the world could be happy that their family is so far away. . ."
Ryuuken cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up his nose. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave now."
Ichigo expected Orihime to protest, so was surprised when she bowed to Ryuuken and started to leave. He looked her departing back, and glanced at Ryuuken. He had collapsed back into his chair and was staring at the ceiling.
So much for this conversation.
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By the time Ichigo exited the office, Orihime was already turning around the hallway. He had to run to catch up to her, and when he did, she barely spared him a glance.
"Upstairs," she said when they reached the end of the corridor. Ichigo followed her closely, his gaze fixed on her back. He wanted to ask her, but at the same time. . .
It ad suddenly dawned on him again, just like the other night, the fact that she had a life outside their current situation. That Director guy seemed to know more about Orihime than he did.
And maybe it was just a stupid hunch, but there seemed to be something hidden between the lines of those two's conversation.
It bothered him more than he cared to admit.
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By the time they left the hospital and got back to Ichigo's house, it was already 10 PM. "My old man's gonna have a fit when I walk in," Ichigo groaned.
Orihime gave him a surprised look. "Oh, did I forget to tell you? Ichigo-kun, I called your father and told them that you would be late coming home."
Ichigo stopped in his tracks. "When the hell did you do that?"
"While you were unconscious at Urahara-san's place."
"Uh, and, what exactly did you tell him?" Ichigo tried to not let the nervousness show in his voice. He did not want his father to get any wrong ideas, or he'd never hear the end of it. . . .
"Oh, Ichigo-kun, don't worry! I only told him that I was your classmate, and that we were going to a karaoke bar! See, I handled everything alright, didn't I? Oh, but I didn't even know when you would wake up, so I told him that we might be out all night!"
Orihime wrinkled her eyebrows when she caught the look of pure horror that Ichigo was giving her. "Oh. . . .Did I do something wrong? See, Tatsuki-chan lent me some manga, and in it, the main characters go to a place called a Karaoke Bar and come home in the morning after staying in some sort of Hotel-"
"Shit. . . ."
Ichigo clutched his head in his hands and sat down on the pavement. He sure would have some explaining to do. . . .
"Ichigo-kun?" Orihime now looked worried. "Did I do something wrong?"
Ichigo uncovered his face and looked up at her. "It's not your fault, Inoue," He gritted his teeth. "I'll have to have a word with that damn Tatsuki . . ."
"If you're sure . . . . I'll be going home then . . . . "
Her words distracted Ichigo's thoughts of his father throwing boxes of condoms at him, and he turned towards her.
"Home?"
"The apartment I rented out. It's close to here, remember?"
"What about my closet?"
She smiled at him. It was a sad smile. "Your closet won't get lonely without me. Also, the sky is clear tonight. There won't be any Hollows, Ichigo-kun. Trust me."
She gave a small wave and turned around. Ichigo watched her back as it disappeared off into the distance.
A small part inside Ichigo realized that it wasn't his closet who would be lonely without her.
He got up from the pavement and started towards the front door. It was time to face the music. . . .
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Keigo latched onto Ichigo the moment he walked into class. "Ichigo! Good morning!"
Even after he shook him off, Keigo followed him around persistently. "You know what day it is, right?"
"Don't know, don't care," Ichigo muttered, setting his school bag on his desk.
"You're kidding! Didn't you see the decorations on the way to school?" Keigo was practically bursting with excitement. "It's Tanabata!"
"The Star Festival? Oh yeah, it's July 7th. . ." Ichigo suddenly remembered the colourful hangings and lights all over the city. He hadn't given the decorations much thought, but his eyes had certainly passed over them.
"We're going, right? We're going!" Keigo jumped around. "And, Ichigo, since you're so close with Inoue-san, you have to make her come!"
"Oi! Who said I was close to her?"
Keigo gave a very annoying laugh. "Come on, Ichigo, everyone knows about yesterday. She asked you out didn't she?"
"No! D-Definitely not!" Shit. Ichigo had forgotten all about that. But Orihime had mentioned that she had asked Urahara-san to wipe the memory of those people who had seen Ichigo unconscious and called the ambulance. So she didn't bother to erase the part where she slapped him and broke down crying?
"Hehehe. . .You don't have to lie to me, Ichigo. But what does she see in you. . .A girl like that. . .It breaks my heart!"
At that moment, Orihime walked into the classroom, chatting animatedly with Tatsuki.
Tatsuki saw Ichigo and made for his desk. "Are you guys going to the Festival tonight?" She asked, looking from Keigo to Ichigo.
Before Ichigo had opened his mouth, Keigo replied with great enthusiasm. "Yeah! Ichigo, Mizuiro, and I are all meeting by the river at 7!"
"Oh, you are?" Tatsuki asked thoughtfully, as Orihime joined them near Ichigo's desk. "Then should we all go together?"
"Inoue-san too?" Questioned Keigo, trying to keep his voice normal.
"I'd like to come," Orihime said, smiling. "I haven't attended a Tanabata Festival in this worl-"
"Inoue!" Ichigo cut across her before she could complete the very suspicious-sounding sentence. Keigo and Tatsuki stared at him while Orihime blushed and covered her mouth with her hands.
"What is it, Ichigo?" Tatsuki asked, curiously.
"Um. . .I mean. . .I reall think Inoue should come! Yeah, that's it!" He finished lamely, before bursting into short, forced, fits of laughter.
"Eto. .Of course! I'll definitely come, Ichigo-kun! Hahaha!" She joined him with her own awkward laughter.
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"Where are they?" Ichigo sat down on the river bank. The sounds of the ongoing festival being held on the other side occupied the air that night. Mizuiro was texting on his cell phone, while Keigo swayed around him, trying to read his messages.
"Hey, hey, I want to see Inoue-san in a Kimono!" Keigo was practically jumping with excitement.
"Tch. . .Who cares about that?" He really didn't want to come. But on this side of the river, things were relatively calm. The stalls were on the other side, and people rushed about- young girls and women in colorful Kimono, men accompanying them.
"Are you kidding? This is a festival! Nose-bleeds when looking at the girls wearing Kimonos! That is the essence of youth!"
"Get outta my way!" A foot landed on Keigo's unfortunate back and he was knocked away.
"Hey, Tatsuki. You're late." Ichigo greeted her as she smoothed down the fabric of her Yukata. It was white, with Blue butterflies scattered across the fabric. She looked quite decent, almost feminine.
And next to her, was Orihime. "Good evening!" she chirped. Her hair was done into a half-bun of sorts, with stray strands lying on her shoulders. Mauve flowers adorned the midnight-blue shade of the Yukata she wore.
"Oh, Inoue-san looks so lovely!" Keigo almost sang, eyes straying to the area above the sash.
Before Tatsuki could react, Ichigo had knocked Keigo away, and he lay on the ground, cowering about how he couldn't even appreciate the essence of youth.
"Don't mind that idiot," Ichigo growled, turning to face Orihime. He looked her up and down. In a shocked tone, he said, "It suits you."
"Well, duh! Ichigo, you really don't know how to compliment a lady!" Tatsuki scolded.
Orihime half-smiled, not quite sure if she was being complimented or not. "Well, At home, I always wore Yukata in the summers."
"Ehh? Is that true?" Tatsuki turned to Ichigo. "Hey, Ichigo, doesn't Orihime give off the impression of being from a really traditional and rich family?"
"Huh? Uh. . . I don't-" Ichigo didn't know anything at all about that.
"No! That's really not the case!" Orihime cut across him, flailing her arms wildly. "Tatsuki-chan! You're embarrassing me!"
They roamed the grounds, visiting all the stalls, and becoming part of the rest of the Tanabata crowd. They separated for short periods of time, but got back together to explore the remaining attractions.
"Wah! That's so pretty!" Orihime cried, when she caught sight of the bamboo braches which already had many pieces of colorful paper tied to them.
"Can we write our wishes now?" Keigo asked, looking around.
Many people were still in the process of penning down their wishes. Giggling girls, hoping for love; stern-faced fathers, wishing for the health of their children- all sorts of people had come to wish.
Tatsuki approached a stall where a woman gave them each a paper and a pen to write their wishes down.
"Hey, there's one extra. . .Ichigo, don't you want one?"
"What'll I do with a wish?" Ichigo grumbled. "It's for girls anyway."
"Ichigo-kun, don't be like that! There must be something you want, right?" Orihime asked, a tone of worry in her voice. Ichigo looked at her. Oh, if only she would stop looking at him with those delicate grey eyes-
Get a hold of yourself!
"Fine! I'll do it!" Ichigo reluctantly snatched the paper offered to him. What should he write?
He had once wished that he couldn't see ghosts. But do I still want that?
As he thought of a wish, he watched Orihime write hers down. She bit her lip in the process and pursed her eyebrows together- not unlike himself, he thought.
She walked over to the bamboo branches, chose one closest to her, and tied it. She smiled with satisfaction when the knot was secure.
Turning to his own paper, he thought of what he wanted the most in the world. Nothing came.
"Ichigo-kun?" Orihime was looking up at him now. "Can't you think of a wish?"
"No. . .I can't really think of anything right now. . ."
"Then. . .Is there anything you don't want to lose?"
"Something I don't want to lose?"
Orihime explained. "Why don't you write down something that you want to keep, at all costs?"
"That's not a wish." Ichigo scowled at this useless advice he was being given.
"That's not a greedy wish, you mean."
Ichigo sighed and stared at the paper. Orihime drifted away, and was talking cheerfully with a vendor. Watching her laugh, it came to him.
He leaned down on the counter, and wrote his wish. As he tied it on to the bamboo branch, his eyes strayed and he read a few others which had been recently tied.
.
Heart-soaring romance,
With my closest friend, I wish to dance.
.
Ichigo threw a disgusted look at that one. It was cheesy and sappy.
.
I wish for my family,
Their health and prosperity.
I wish for myself,
That I may keep them happy.
.
Huh. This one was a little better. Probably a young father's desire.
.
Time after time, the seasons go.
My time gets shorter with each blow.
All I want is to live,
But God says no.
.
Ichigo paused. He suddenly felt as though he had intruded about an extremely private thing. He turned away from the bamboo branch. Wasn't there a superstition that if other people read your wish, it wouldn't come true? He had to forget about it. Yeah, that was right. He had to forget, and it would come true.
Keigo pulled him along soon after, trying to get him to buy an alien mask from a stall.
Orihime was walking around with Tatsuki. "What do they do with all the wishes?" She wanted to know.
"They set them afloat on the river around midnight. Hey, Ichigo! " She cried, catching sight of him. "The fireworks are about to start, can we go somewhere less crowded?"
The gang headed back to the opposite side of the river bank, where it was much more peaceful. "I think we'll get a good view from here," Mizuiro said, looking at the sky above.
They sat down and waited.
Orihime raised her head and looked up at the sky. The Crescent Moon dominated, casting its elegant glow around itself. The stars were especially bright; each determined to outshine the others.
"The sky is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" She remarked, and Ichigo, who was closest to her, was the only one who heard.
"What? Oh yeah, you're right."
She smiled at him, and when he met her gaze, he couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Hey, look up!" Tatsuki's cry could be heard only for a fraction of a second before the sky exploded with noise and color.
Orihime jumped up and clapped her hands, enthralled by the extravagant fireworks display. Ichigo's eyes stayed on her throughout. While everyone marveled at the fireworks, he marveled at her.
Perhaps seeing someone in the night sky effects the way you look at them. Perhaps he had had too much to drink. Perhaps it was moon magic.
But to him, she was like a star all by herself.
The things she said, the words, they all had a glow around them. It was all around her, a sort of light. Maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Shining. Sparkling.
A ray of light among the darkness.
She was blinding.
A star.
Orihime.
Vega.
Tanabata.
He wished these days would last forever.
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A/N: Thoroughly unsatisfying, wasn't it? I thought to add the Tanabata bit at the last second, in an attempt to keep the fic in-season and all. Hopefully that'll make me less lazy.
Perhaps you should read up on Tanabat- The story of the Princess and The Weaver. Most Ichihime fans are already familiar with it, but if you're not, check out the wiki page.
Before the next chapter, I'm going to be writing something else. I already have the rough ready, but I thought I should finish this one first.
Later this month-
Ulquiorra and Ichigo get into a heated argument over who Orihime should choose.
Pure humour/crack.
Romance(?).
No story/plot.
One-shot.
Argument between two inexplicably hot men over a certain auburn haired girl.
Featuring unwanted cameo by yours truly.
Put me on Author Alert if you're interested.
I really want to hit 100 reviews with this chapter. Make my dream come true, okay?