Chapter 23- The Shaman Healers

"You think she'll be okay?" a muffled voice ringed in the girl's ears. Fluttering her eyes open, she tried to take in the surroundings. Currently, she was facing a creaky old wooden ceiling. Her vision was still unclear, so it was slightly difficult to see the face of the woman looking down at her.

"She's waking up!" the female voice rang again. Moaning softly, the girl sat up on the plushy small bed, pushing off the yellowed duvets. Looking down, she rubbed her right temple and pushed a few strands of pink hair off her eyes.

"Yusuke, she's woken up!! She's completely fine!" the woman who had been looking at her, shot out to a young man standing beside her. A napkin was tightly clutched in her hands. Her pale face was topped with a mane of straight chocolate-brown hair and her big green eyes glimmered in happy tears.

"It would seem so…Orihime, I-" Yusuke Itou said, thinking.

"Oh! How are you dear?! What's your name?" the woman called Orihime cut off the man and turned her attention to the silent girl again.

The girl opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out. Appearing to be thinking, she looked down and closed her mouth again.

"Huh? Why don't you-"

"She won't reply, Orihime," an elderly voice cut off Orihime's.

"What?" Orihime snapped her head to the direction of a short old lady worriedly, "What do you mean Grandma?"

"What she means is that," the man so called Yusuke took a deep breath and continued, "I don't think that girl knows who she is herself...right grandmother?" Quickly Yusuke shut his eyes and clapped his hands over his ears, bracing himself for the upcoming storm.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN!? I WORKED VERY HARD TO SAVE HER AND NOW YOU TELL ME SHE DOESN'T KNOW HERSELF?!" Orihime blurted out, her eyes popping out at Yusuke and her grandmother.

"Y-yes," Yusuke croaked.

Tears welled up in Orihime's eyes, "Huh? But I- But- Oh!" the liquid ran down her cheeks.

"Orihime," Yusuke sighed and helped the seemingly stunned woman on a low chair, a worried expression etched over his attractive face. He was tall and normally built. His hair were short and black, which fell over his forehead.

"W-who are you?" a low voice suddenly whispered.

"HUH??" Orihime's head snapped up, her eyes watery and the size of tennis balls. "Did she?" she squeaked, pointing at the pink-head. "Did she just s-speak?"

"Did you just speak?" Yusuke copied Orihime and looked at the girl. "I mean, yes!" he shot his head back to face Orihime, blushing, and cleared his throat, "Of course, she spoke," Slowly, out of the corner of his sharp black eyes; his sight lingered at the girl who was looking at Orihime.

"Well, I'm Orihime, Orihime Yuki." Orihime took a slow breath, relieved that the girl was normal. Smiling slightly, she clasped her hands nervously on her lap.

"And you?" the girl whispered coldly again, this time to Yusuke.

"Huh?" He turned to her, his arms folded across the chest of the off-white loose shirt he was wearing over pajamas.

"I'm me," he smirked indignantly.

"Yusuke!" Orihime nudged him sharply on the leg, as that was her level while sitting.

"What?" he spoke frostily, looking down at Orihime. "You saved her and look at that brat's arrogance! Not even a word of thanks! Maybe we should just dump her back in-"

He did not get to complete his sentence as the chair was knocked back and Orihime hit him across the face. Or at least it looked like she did. The girl in the bed looked shocked, her dark maroon eyes staring at them. She finally took in the scene. Orihime was breathing hard, her wrist caught in Yusuke's hand, near his face. His eyebrows were drawn in anger and sweat drops had formed on his forehead.

Giving a furious growl, Yusuke threw Orihime's hand back down and stomped out of the room. As soon as he banged the door close, Orihime buried her face in her hands and slumped into a sitting position on the ground, her slender body shaking violently with every sob.

"Child," Her grandmother walked to her and patted her gently on the shoulder, "You have to let it go. Itou-san was always like that. You know it."

"Not always," Orihime mumbled through hiccoughs and looked up slowly. Her eyeballs had gone a very dull grey- a flowing smoky color- a color that you could loose yourself looking at.

There and then, she felt herself drifting into a flash back.

"Don't do it! That's crazy! No! Please! Yayoi, stop! You proved yourself now stop!" A scared voice of a ten-year old Orihime sounded from behind a huge willow tree.

A full moon showed brightly overhead in the dark, cloudless sky. A chilly draught hung around the edge of the thick forest, where three children stood. It was a windless, but icy night. Not even the crickets chirped. Everything was probably hibernating…

"I think you're right." A year older Yusuke called out, his voice trembling slightly. "Yayoi, your mother will be really angry if she finds out what you're doing. Really! Just come back! We believe you now okay!"

A pink-haired girl was trembling on a narrow log that was set across a deep gorge. It was at least a thirty feet drop down to the still river. The moonlight gleamed on its deadly still surface. If someone fell, they had no chance of survival, none at all.

"Then-then you also tell everyone at school! Tha-that I did it! I'm not sc-scared of heights! Or water! Or the dark!" The girl seemed even younger than Orihime, about eight or nine. Her round emerald eyes were wide in fear but determination clung to her and she did not move form the spot- or was it fright that held her rooted?

"Alright we get it!" Yusuke cried out and edged near the lip of the gorge, holding out his hand. "Now-now just grab my hand and we'll all go back home!" he gulped, his black bangs sticking to his forehead.

Finally, Yayoi gave in. Sobbing and shuddering in fear, she starting taking small steps back, her pale arm outstretched. Her knees buckled and she gave out small yelp.

"I'll fall" A silent tear trickled down one cheek.

"C'mon Yayoi!" Orihime sniveled, peeking out from behind the tree. She was too scared- too scared that she would have to see her own sister fall down to her death.

Suddenly, an owl hooted and strong gusts of air started blowing up dust and leaves.

"No!!" Orihime shrieked and ran out to Yusuke, holding out her hand too.

Yayoi looked down as her loose white robe blew up. Her eyes widened as the log shook violently and made her loose her balance. She head shot up first, tears already streaming down her neck.

"YAYOI!! NOOO!!" Orihime nearly jumped off but Yusuke managed to pull her back in time. His color paled as Yayoi's figure disappeared before his eyes. The world came crashing down at both of them. Yusuke just stared helplessly, his eyes unblinking as Orihime struggled in his arms and shouted her heart out.

A loud sickening splash was heard, breaking the silence of the cold night...that is, if you counted Orihime's shrieks out. Just an hour ago, they had been happy friends and now…everything was ...gone...

Well there yuh go! Hope yall liked it!

Love,

Saori Eguchi