In the time since Ichigo had lost his powers, life had changed dramatically for his friends as well as himself. While he could no longer even see Hollows, the others could, and they had not sat idle. Ishida, Chad and Inoue had all continued to refine their powers, and fought Hollows as a matter of course. As Ichigo smiled and had no option but to live a life he no longer fitted into, the others strengthened their bonds, certain that Ichigo would not be powerless forever, and knowing that they could not remain on the sidelines when he did. For Ichigo's sake, and for their own, they grew stronger, day by day, week by week, month by month. They struggled together and apart, but always keep the information from Ichigo, knowing it would only pain him and seeking to protect him as he had once protected them all.
Once or twice a month, on the weekend, Orihime would take a break from study, work, friends, and her own training, to visit Hachi and the other Vizard. There she would share the latest gossip (generally about Ichigo), give them the leftover bread from her part-time job at the bakery, and occasionally test her powers out on Hachi, who almost always had helpful pointers. Over time the Vizard had grown to accept her; for Hachi's sake, as well as their own curiosity about Ichigo, Orihime privately suspected.
So it was very peculiar that on this occasion, Orihime found she wasn't the only visitor to the warehouse. She knelt in the sand next to Hachi, the other Vizard nearby or further off as their nature determined, watching as Kensei sent Ichigo face-first into the dirt.
"Keep yer guard up!" Hiyori screamed, focussing intently on the pair. "And watch yer stance: you left yourself off-balance and open to attack!"
Orihime smiled to herself. An outsider might think that the two didn't get on; but everyone who knew the pair also knew that this was simply how they communicated.
Ichigo sprang upwards, recovered in his anger. "I know that, damn you! Why don't you give him a go if he's such a push-over?"
Kensei sighed from behind him, arms crossed over his chest. He knew better than to interrupt Hiyori and Ichigo when they started to fight; it was the girl's favourite activity after Shinji-hunting.
Orihime and Hachi watched the pair bicker, heads moving from side to side as though at a tennis match. Shinji just laughed, while Love returned to the manga he'd stolen from Rose and Lisa to her magazines.
Finally, it was Mashiro's warning that broke the two apart – by this point, Hiyori had her sandal off and was waving it threateningly, and Ichigo was waving his arms around as if to illustrate his insults.
"Berry-tan, look out!" Mashiro called as Orihime gasped. Ichigo had long enough to say "huh?", eyes wide, before Kensei sent him flying.
"That wasn't fair!" Mashiro sulked. "Bully! Pervert!"
Kensei scowled at her. "In a fight, you can't get distracted; I am not a bully; and why did you even call me pervert? That doesn't make sense!" Kensei replied, annoyance swiftly turning to anger.
Mashiro gave him the finger, and Orihime watched with interest as a vein in his forehead visibly throbbed. He restrained himself from responding quite admirably, she thought, amused.
"Anyway," Kensei continued, offering a hand up to Ichigo, who was clutching his face and groaning, "I think that's enough for today. I have to get to work in an hour."
"Half an hour," Rose pointed out from the sidelines, checking his watch. "So you'd better hurry." He watched silently, finger-combing the dust the two had kicked up out of his long hair, as Ichigo reached for the offered hand and was hauled to his feet.
"Damn it," Kensei cursed. "Okay kiddo, I've gotta run, but we're working on your technique more tomorrow!"
Ichigo sighed, but didn't look even slightly perturbed by the prospect. "Yah, yah, old man – don't you have somewhere to be?" He clapped Kensei on the back in a friendly manner before making his way over to Orihime.
Kensei snorted and headed for the stairs. Shinji grinned, all teeth, as Ichigo plopped down next to Orihime with a tired sigh.
"So, strawberry," Shinji drawled, eyes alight with mischief. Ichigo lay back in the sand and closed his eyes. "Don't call me that, idiot," he replied, although somewhat fondly.
"But Ichigo," Shinji's shark-like grin widened impossibly, and Orihime was so fascinated by this phenomenon that she almost missed the rest of his sly comment.
"You let Kensei call you 'kiddo' and you even call him 'old man' in return. You share manly back slaps. Why can't I call you by a nickname too? You just like him better, is that it?"
Ichigo sat up on his elbows to stare at him in horror.
Hiyori replied for him. "Who wouldn't like him better, baldy?" she muttered.
Shinji ignored her with the ease of long practise.
"Firstly," Ichigo said, "you sounded like my dad just now, so please, never, ever mention manly back slaps again."
Orihime smiled to herself, well acquainted with the Kurosaki family quirks. Love snickered loudly from behind the manga he obviously wasn't reading.
Mashiro nodded thoughtfully, tapping her finger against her chin. "I can see the resemblance," she noted.
"Secondly," Ichigo continued, still looking vaguely horrified, "I don't like you at all, so it's really not hard to like anyone else better."
Shinji pouted, but clearly was amused rather than offended. "Aw, you're so mean Ichigo," he sulked. "Here I go to so much effort to spend a week with you, and all you do is spurn my advances!"
He might have continued, by Hiyori had heard enough, and clonked him over the head with her sandal. Shinji squeaked, and the others watched as he was sent flying some distance before crashing to a halt. They turned back to a satisfied Hiyori.
Ichigo looked relieved, and Hiyori stood next to him for a moment, the two briefly united.
A distant "Ow!" was heard. Everyone ignored it, although Orihime winced in sympathy. That had to hurt!
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. Orihime smacked one palm into her other hand. The others turned to look at her curiously. "I've got it," she said, eyes wide, nodding furiously.
"Got what, Inoue?" Ichigo asked cautiously.
"It's obvious," she said, sounding almost feverish in her excitement, "Hirako-san has a crush on Kurosaki-kun, and Kurosaki-kun has a crush on Muguruma-san!" Orihime announced into the stunned silence.
Ichigo choked on air, flailing wildly as an elbow slipped and he fell back with a thump. Hiyori, on the other hand, sighed, eyes squeezed shut, and Love roared with laughter, finally abandoning his manga for the real-life entertainment before him.
"No, Inoue, you've got it all wrong!" Ichigo began, struggling to sit upright again, but any explanation was cut off by a voice from the distance – "I'll never give up on you Ichigo!" – before Shinji distantly dissolved into laughter.
"See, see!" Orihime nodded. "It's okay, Kurosaki-kun, you don't have to pretend any longer! And I'll help!"
The next day, Ichigo was again absent from school, and Orihime was able to tell the others where he had disappeared to this time.
"Huh," Chad grunted, as Ishida pushed his glasses up his nose, face inscrutable.
"I was really surprised to see him there, but he's doing so much better," Orihime babbled, "he doesn't smile so much around them!"
Tatsuki snorted.
"Oh you know what I mean, Tatsuki-chan".
"It's kinda funny," the other girl replied. "He used to hide behind his frowns; now he hides behind his smiles."
"He has been smiling an awful lot the last week or so," Ishida mused, as the others nodded. "Even for him."
Tatsuki looked pensive.
"Oh, I think I know why!" Orihime said, eyes wide. "Hirako-san was telling me that he and Hiyori-chan were over at Urahara-san's for an errand and Urahara-san insisted they stay for lunch! And Kurosaki-kun was there too!"
Ishida looked suddenly amused, and Chad "hmmed" again, more knowingly this time.
Tatsuki sighed. "What trouble is that boy getting into now?" She asked, eyes fierce. "Because he's got something coming if he thinks for one minute – "
"Oh, no, it's not - it's nothing like that," Orihime hurried to clarify. "I think he's got romance-troubles," she whispered.
Chad cleared his throat. "Ah, Inoue, I think we probably shouldn't speculate – " he trailed off as Inoue continued.
"Maybe Urahara-san's helping since he knows them both?" Inoue wondered, half to herself.
"Huh? Huh? What do you mean, Orihime?" Tatsuki demanded.
"Well," Orihime explained, "Hirako-san has declared undying love for Kurosaki-kun, and Kurosaki-kun has a manly crush on Muguruma-san!"
The others looked baffled, and Tatsuki looked at her pityingly.
"No, no, it's true," she insisted. "Kurosaki-kun's too scared to say so, but it's really so romantic!" the others took a step back as sparkles worthy of the absent Rukia reached her eyes.
Orihime decided then and there that if their other friends weren't going to help, then she would help him herself! And the first thing she'd do is go see Urahara-san, who was, after all, already in on the situation and only ever had Kurosaki-kun's best interests at heart.
As it turned out, Orihime didn't need to make a special trip to the Shoten, which saved her thinking up some flimsy excuse for a visit. He came to see her, at the bakery she worked at after school.
When she looked up from serving one customer, she was startled to see Urahara right there, on the other side of the counter, in smart grey pants, and a green shirt under a matching grey jacket. She was surprised she hadn't heard him approach, but supposed that without the clogs there was no warning sound, and he could be surprisingly sneaky when he wanted to be even with them. She shrugged the thought off and jumped in when the manager asked Urahara-san what he wanted to buy.
"Oh, let me!" the girl babbled with a smile. "He's an old friend, and we haven't caught up in so long!"
Urahara looked startled, but then lowered his head, allowing his regular hat to shade his eyes. He chuckled a laugh.
"Indeed, indeed, it has been a while Inoue-san! In fact, if you have a minute…" Urahara trailed off leadingly and Orihime nodded. Her manager sighed.
"You've still to take your break this afternoon; why don't you take that now. But don't talk so long you forget to come back to work!" Orihime was warned. She nodded feverishly and grabbed Urahara by the arm, rapidly leading him out of the shop. He let out an "oomph!" of surprise and let her tow him where she would. She released him as they rounded the next corner, and slowed to a stop. Orihime laughed nervously.
"Sorry about that, Urahara-san! I didn't want to discuss anything at work, but the café down the street is big enough that we can have our private conversation in public!"
Urahara laughed, more genuinely this time, and grinned at her. "I must say, Inoue-san, I think I have greatly underestimated your capacity for cunning."
"Oh," she said sweetly, "I think we both know you've underestimated me in more ways than that," and could have kicked herself when an awkwardness descended.
"Yes," said Urahara quietly, "and here I am to ask you a favour. I really shouldn't have presumed…"
Orihime cut him off, smiling kindly. "It's all in the past, Urahara-san. You did the best for us that you knew. And I don't regret any of it," she said honestly.
Urahara stared at her. "Nothing?" He asked.
She shook her head, and pointed out the café. They resumed walking, although at a more sedate pace.
"Sure, some things were – difficult. But the events in our lives, and the people we spend them with, shape who we become. I am who I am today because of them. And I wouldn't trade my friends for anything in the world."
"Especially not Kurosaki-san," Urahara noted.
Orihime nodded agreeably. "Kurosaki-kun is very special to me," she acknowledged, "but my other friends mean the world to me too. In the end all I want is for them to be happy," she said.
She looked distant for a moment, and Urahara could only marvel at the insight this woman showed; in how she had grown from naïve girl to a strong woman in her own right. Several times in the last ten minutes she had startled him, and he had already felt off-balance simply because of the topic he wanted to discuss with her.
Orihime perked up again as they entered the café. She ordered cheerfully for both of them, obviously a regular, and led Urahara to a table by the window. She sat and watched silently as he peeled off his jacket, and draped over the back of the chair before sitting too. He avoided her gaze.
They sat in silence until the coffees were brought over, and Orihime chatted briefly with the waitress. After the girl left, Orihime turned back to Urahara.
"Now," Orihime said briskly, as they sat at the tiny table and sipped their coffee – well, Orihime sipped, dark eyes intent on Urahara's face, as he wrapped his hands around the warm drink and stared into the depths of it as though it held the answers to the universe.
"You're here about Kurosaki-kun, of course," she prompted.
Urahara nodded glumly. "I just wondered," he asked nervously, clearing his throat, "if you'd been to see the Vizards this week – I know you often go to see them and…" he trailed off at her raised hand, palm out.
"You want details of course." Orihime said calmly, and leaned forward. Urahara leaned forward too, hope and nerves warring to make him feel a little sick.
"Hirako-san is persistent in the face of Kurosaki-kun's refusal," Orihime said.
Urahara looked stunned, and sat back in his chair. "You mean to say – Shinji has been flirting with Ichigo?" he said.
Orihime nodded seriously. "Oh yes! He's not very subtle about it, but then with Kurosaki-kun it pays not to be. He can be as dense as a brick wall sometimes," she said musingly, and Urahara nodded in agreement, then shook himself.
"But – Shinji… and Ichigo…" his stunned look changed to absolute mirth and he burst out laughing.
Orihime looked offended. "I think it's sweet," she said.
The man subsided into chuckles, eyes sparkling. "Ah, but you don't know Shinji like I do," he confided. "I am utterly certain that Shinji has no romantic interest in Ichigo; he just likes to tease." He offered her a broad grin. "I must say, Inoue-san, you have relieved me greatly." He made to go, standing and drinking his untouched coffee down in three long swallows, with a grimace afterwards. "Thank-you," he began, setting the mug aside.
But Inoue cut him off, eyes wide. "But what about Muguruma-san?" she asked.
Urahara sat down again with a thump, seeming to fold in upon himself, all traces of humour gone. "What about him?" he asked, utterly serious.
"Well," Orihime said in bewilderment, "if Hirako-san is only joking, as you say, that only makes things easier."
"What things?" Urahara asked tightly.
"Well, getting Kurosaki-kun to admit his feelings for Muguruma-san of course…" she trailed off as Urahara made a strangled noise.
Orihime continued slowly, staring at Urahara. "I'm sure we can get them together if we can just get Kurosaki-kun to admit his feelings to Muguruma-san…" She fell silent as Urahara looked increasingly desperate. Suddenly, he stood, and Orihime actually squeaked in surprise.
Urahara retrieved his jacket from the back of the chair, eyes shaded by his hat, and smiled at Orihime distantly as he put his arms through the sleeves and fixed the collar briskly.
"Thank-you for your time, Inoue-san." He spoke rapidly. "I really must get back to the shop. Good afternoon…" he drifted off and headed for the door, not even turning at her returned farewell.
He disappeared into the late afternoon crowd and Orihime sat in pensive thought. Apparently she'd read the entire situation wrong; Hirako-san wasn't in love with Kurosaki-kun, and Urahara-san wasn't playing matchmaker for anyone but himself. And clearly, she'd just given the man the worst possible news; that Kurosaki-kun had his eyes set elsewhere. Horrified, Orihime wondered if she'd just broken Urahara-san's heart as carelessly as Kurosaki-kun had broken hers.