Yeah this took me forever to update and I feel absolutely horrible, I'm going away for the 4th of July weekend and I just knew I had to produce something before continuing to neglect this story. I love this pairing too much to let it die!
Disclaimer; you know the drill. Thanks for all the reviews, honest.
Do you remember me?"
A moment of silence, she had not seen his face fully, but his spiritual pressure, his presence alone was so familiar. She shook her head. "No."
His grip tightened, only by a fraction-enough for her to resolve to turn around fully, and when her warm yet cold hands met his frigid smooth surface of a face causing a chill to run down her body. Her eyes flickering with a hint of remembrance, she smiled softly, "Yes."
X
For days, she stood locked in that room of hers, only every other meal time would she reemerge to eat some mysterious, naturally repulsive dish clandestinely before hiding her form away once more.
After the incident, the unexpected meeting with a face she dared not remember but couldn't help but commit to memory, Orihime Inoue fainted, the nostalgia of memories, flashbacks hitting at her, pounding and excavating the inner cores of her closed off mind, when she came to, she was securely tucked within the constraints of her bed.
Her…'friends' had come to visit here and there, especially Ichigo Kurosaki and that girl Tatsuki, she was grateful but she had rather stay hidden within herself, for she didn't trust herself, didn't trust what secrets lay within those memories that were locked away for obvious reasons.
It was the space that made her breathe easier, more comfortably. But soon, the same space began to betray her.
Being alone wasn't such a nice idea after all.
"Orihime!" Glancing at the door, the rumbling of soft knocks to gather her attention made her crawl into herself once more. That face. His cold, calculating eyes, his cold yet fiery touch, who was he, she had known him, but to what extent? Was he…an enemy of hers? An enemy within this world of, what was the name of it? Shinigami?
No. "Orihime? Come on, open up!" She felt…calmed, by his presence, safe. Safer than she felt when amongst the people that kept grabbing at her, they made her smile yet hesitantly, for she knew if she didn't smile they would ask once more 'what's wrong' and another one of those questions would kill her for good.
She didn't know what was wrong; she didn't know anything at all. She couldn't decipher, not at this point in time what would be labeled right from wrong, or what would make her smile for real.
She gathered bits and pieces of her memories, and she knew, wanted to fully believe in the knowledge that these were her friends, Tatsuki, a friend that came to her when she needed one the most, her brother Sora…she remembered all of that so clearly. The pain, the misery, her big brother gone, forever.
And with it,
Shattered remnants of a fight, a fight between Ichigo and her brother waged war within her mind, she remembered blood…lots of it, she remembered the tears that soaked her face and blouse, the wound to her shoulder, but then after that, after her brother's fading smile, nothing. Was it a dream? No, he had become a hallow, they told her.
Hallows…still, such a sad and funny concept when she thinks of it. "Orihime, please open up!" She, apparently, fought alongside these people to give Hallows, these once lost or corrupted souls, a second chance.
She stared at her feet, wiggling them until motionless and cramped. "Why…why give them a second chance when…they hurt and destroy so much, take so much away from us…why?" tears blurring her vision, she knew she instantly hated herself for thinking so somberly, so cruelly. But, that was how she felt now, regardless of her feelings in her past, now, her stance had become such as this.
"Inoue-san…its Uryu, please open up, Tatsuki and I are awaiting your presence for a picnic. Wouldn't you care to join us?" Glancing at the door once more she took in a breath, holding it, biting her bottom lip for some time before letting loose and throwing her covers back.
"I'll be right there!" her call may have sent relief to the two persons behind the door but none to herself. Quickly, she made way to the bathroom to shape up slightly, a quick shower, a brush of the teeth, spit, rinse, a comb to the hair and that was when she stopped.
Touching her hairpins softly she frowned slightly, her eyes growing misty. "Sora…" these pins, they held magical powers. They told her once, Ichigo is responsible for this, his immense spiritual pressure had to be released and drained somehow and had flowed to her along with many others, thus giving her such great and potent powers.
A soft knock to her entrance door broke her out of her reminisce and plastering a small yet sufficient smile on her face she walked into her bedroom, put on some clothes and greeted the pair that awaited her.
XxXXxXxXXxXxxXXxXXxX
"You know, we have to do something about his appearance…"
"I don't think he'll stay in Karakura for long, and the fact that he made contact with Inoue first shows what he is after…" Silence ensued before a fist connected to the ground below, the earth breaking mildly in two by sheer force.
"Damn it! Damn him and all to hell! She doesn't need this, not now, not ever!"
"Ichigo…" Glancing at the petite, dark haired girl Ichigo frowned before setting his firm lips into a eased expression.
"Rukia, you've contacted Soul Society right?" a nod. "Well, what the hell do they plan to do?!"
"For now, nothing." "WHAT?!" choosing to ignore the outburst she calmly continued as she sipped a cup of a concealed drink, her legs crossed underneath her, her skirt in her gigai form tightly wrapped around her thighs, nonchalant she spoke, "There's simply nothing we can do at the moment, he is hidden without a trace, we don't know his intensions now that Lord Aizen has…"
"Alright, I know the history, I was there, remember? But he's still a fugitive isn't he? He should be on the top of the wanted list! I'm surprised Tōshirō Hitsugaya and his band of clowns hasn't come around to do some sort of search and destroy mission!" Bawling his fists his eyes glaring and brows drawn together Rukia decided not to speak more on the subject.
"So, what are we having for this picnic?" She seriously contemplated kicking him in the head when he didn't respond but as the others started to show up she kept to herself, opting to smile politely and wave. "Hi guys!"
"Rukia!! It's so great to see you!" Keigo, as per usual tried to jump and land within her chest area but missed and hit the bark of a tree when she side stepped easily.
"Great to see you too! Hi Chad! Where's Orihime?"
Sitting upon the floor with a small thud, causing Ichigo to finally break out of his trance Chad replied with his usual soft voice, concern obviously lacing the tips of his words. "Uryu and Tatsuki went to go get her, they should be here-"
"Hey guys! What's up! We've finally arrived sorry for the long wait!" Happily sitting down Tatsuki motioned for Orihime to join her, to which she did happily. "Hey, Orihime, what would you like to eat? Your usual pickles with Ice cream?"
Nodding vigorously in response, Ichigo watched the girl silently, her usual appetite still being intact yet, as he had noticed, her personality ever-changing with each new day. "Uh-Orihime…" Turning her head to acknowledge her name she smiled brightly at the orange haired male. "Um…never mind, I hope you enjoy the food." Blinking for a few seconds she smiled once more, albeit a little confused before returning to the scrumptious meal before her.
"Hey! You remember that time we all got in trouble because of Don Kanonji, haha our principle really didn't matter but our coach, whoa! Was he sweating!"
"Yeah! And Rukia pulled that elaborate act to buy time for our escape, it was classic!" As the laughter commenced Orihime looked from one laughing friend to another, trying to place the event but failing, when they looked at her expectantly she smiled and nodded her head.
"Yeah! That sure was funny…haha, was laughing about it for days!" closing her eyes, a signature move on her part when laughing mirthfully, she tried her best to make them 'buy' her glee, after awhile, it seemed they did.
"Hey! You know, I bet we can gather some fireworks and make our own fireworks display! How about it guys?"
"Keigo! That actually sounds like a good idea! We can also grab some food to grill!"
"Mizuiro! Don't you ever stop eating? Come on; let's go get the grill from my house!" As the two scampered off, Chad following due to a shouting plea from Keigo himself, Rukia, Ichigo, Ishida, Tatsuki and Orihime sat alone.
"Hey, Ichigo, why don't we go buy the fireworks, I want to try and get ones with smiley faces!" smiling, somewhat strained, Ichigo raised his eyebrow in Rukia's direction before nodding cautiously. "Sure…"
"Great! Ishida! Tasuki! Why don't you show Orihime to the river bank again, I'm sure-"
"It's okay, really," her voice placidly sweet Rukia stared openly at the cheerful girl. "I can find my way, I remember from last time, honest." Nodding her head she raised her hands in a shooing motion. "Go, go, I'll be fine, I…really don't like burdening you guys…"
"Inoue-san…" when he caught the look in her eyes, one that cringed at the informality of their friendship he grimaced before correcting himself lightly. "Orihime," after her smile Ishida continued gracefully. "You are no burden; don't ever think such a thing, please. You are a dear friend to us all, and we just wish to help you, that's all."
"Thank you, Ishida-kun…but like I said, I will be fine, I'll meet up with you guys soon, half-hour, promise." Winking and holding her fingers up in a peace sign like fashion the four friends nodded at her before walking away.
Sighing Orihime held her hands within the other, fumbling as she made her way down the increasingly darken streets. She was trying, forcing her mind to work to her need, she wanted so desperately to remember, what had happened to her to have made her forget it all in the first place?
That one day, the last day, something that haunted her, light…she remembered, seeing light. Light before darkness overtook her, before his face overtook her. She remembered the smell of that day. There was some draught in that time of year yet for that one day...
It was summer time.
As she looked about the overcast of the skies, she frowned. Looks like there would be no fireworks display after all.
That summer night smelled like it was coming back.
Orihime…
Is this a dream?
Her eyes wandered across the empty space of her surroundings. She was alone once more. She hugged herself tightly, felt the same flesh, like she does during those countless nights of longing. Then she recalled his smell.
He smelled like summer. The dryness of air and the warmth of the sun, the bitter coldness when summer rain came and it was, much to your surprise, colder than you would have expected amongst the heat.
Her legs moved on her own, and the feeling that something was chasing her, something more than just a physical being, a memory trying to catch up to her, but too far out of reach wouldn't leave her side. She said she would be there, a half hour at best, she wondered, back then, did she always break her promises?
She turned around beside her, caressed the pillow, and the warm yet cool hand that nestled upon it. She moved closer and pulled it nearer. The hand moved and touched hers.
The smell of summer… was beside her…
The feeling embraced her, and she moaned against it. She wrapped her arms around him as the tears escape from her eyes.
"Tell me…a story."
"A story of which to recall?"
"Of how, everything came to be." A pause, a heart beat against none, she froze, was she so deaf and devoid of feeling pain beside her own, was the grief consuming her to such great heights that she couldn't feel another's heart?
No, that wasn't it…for when she looked at him, his eyes boring into her own, him being the one truly devoid of emotion, she knew then. He held no beating heart.
"Of how, you and I…"
The darkness enveloped them as the cold dissipates into the night. But it was the fields that she saw, and his warmth that she felt.