A/N: Might as well finish what I started, ne? At most, I am hoping this story will be no more than 5 chapters, unless I manage to tone it down a bit. My writing is kinda rough around the edges due to the fact that I don't write stories all that much. Although I must say you are quite an awesome person venG to kindly leave a review for my fics. Thank you. :)

Chapter II: Instinct, or Infatuation?

"Hey Ichigo, who exactly is this guy anyway?" Tatsuki whispered, taking a quick glance at Muramasa who remained silent, keeping his eyes in front rather than looking around.

"He's just a friend of ours. Umm you can see him?" He asked back feeling uncomfortable that his friend may find out about all that's been going on in the background.

"What do you mean 'can I see him'? With his height, he's not very hard to miss; I'm surprised none of the teachers saw him. What's he doing here anyway and what's his business with Orihime?" She asked sending a suspicious glance his way but he only chose to ignore her.

As the two continued to talk Muramasa stopped in his tracks in front of two large doors, the others didn't seem to notice but he felt no need to alert them. His condition was getting worse at the speed they were going and the mixture of the other's reiatsu, them being Chad and Uryu's, confused him, keeping him from pinpointing where Orihime's location was. Even though Ichigo and Tatsuki knew more of this place than him, something told him she would be somewhere beyond that door and he couldn't help but to go through with. He opened the door quietly and slipped through earning a few stares that could not see him but right now they were of no importance.

Inside there were rows of tables with some chairs in each, and near them were shelves of books stacked neatly. He went by one row looking around until he caught a flash of orange. He stopped suddenly and he couldn't help but listen to increased rate of his beating heart. Relief, he felt relieved again at finding the healer. Everything in him told him to quickly go to her.

"But why?" He mumbled, looking down at the floor in slight confusion.

This was just instinct he reasoned, no living thing wishes to die and in their desperate attempts they will cling to that which could save them. Yes, it was just that and it was pathetic. There was no changing his course, his mind kept on showing him the painful image of reality but his heart would not listen. He thought his soul had suffered enough from all that had happened but either way, whatever path he went to, it would just be met with pain. He quickly figured that if he remained with her here, prolonging his existence, he would only grow attached too much and once it came that her powers would have no affect it would bring the most pain, yet if he chose to leave now and keep away, his heart would truly be broken, filling his head with regret. How complicating this was; he let out sigh and was about to head for the door when…

"Muramasa-san!"

He swiftly turned to see that Orihime was standing right behind him with a bewildered expression. Just as one of them were about to speak Muramasa fell into a fit of coughing. Just as Orihime was about to help him he raised a hand to stop and quietly said he was fine. He was not going to let his resolve go, he did not need anymore delusions to blind him. He stood straight and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Are you sure you're ok, Muramasa-san?"

"Yes." He tried to end the conversation before it progressed but another cough stopped him and it wouldn't let up. Orihime knew if anyone were to pass by and see her so worried at nothing in front of her, they would think she'd gone insane but she couldn't just pretend there was no one there; she had a habit of not being able to turn a blind eye from someone in pain even though sometimes it would lead her to trouble.

Without a second thought she grabbed Muramasa's hand and dashed out the library in a hurry. The sudden action left Muramasa momentarily confused and with the harsh coughing he wasn't able to see clearly for lack of air. There were some swift turns and bumping into walls but it served to keep him from focusing on the pain, so it wasn't terribly bad. He soon realized they were going up a few stairs and he may have tripped from the first step but he was quick to gain his footing.

"Where are we going?" He asked now seeming a bit impatient and confused.

"To the roof, no one goes up there because they think it's haunted but its just hollows." She replied without looking back. They soon slowed to a stop, Orihime let go of his hand and turned to face him.

"Why have you brought me here?" He asked a bit irritated.

The girl in front of him did not answer; instead she brought out her fairies and allowed them to heal him of his pain. He only stared at her with a sharp gaze contemplating his next move. Should he move away and leave, should he speak to her? His mind only came up with a blank but he couldn't deny the warmth that he received, even as it was misunderstood. This was nothing but a means to ease him, like pain medication with side affects. Of course he was aware of this but because of her kindness to him, because she responded to him in his foolish urge to reach someone that could fill that hole left fresh and raw in his soul, he had already tried to connect with her.

He smiled then, letting a soft chuckle escape his lips as he laughed at his own foolishness. He's been isolated so long he's forgotten what it felt like to have a bond with anyone. What a fool he was and what a fool his master was; he allowed others to get into his mind and was driven by rage and humiliation and now he had not found the sense that his master was gone, the person he thought he knew was no more. What was he to do? The smile faded, replaced with another frown; he glanced at her and soon felt the warmth of the shield fade.

"I had a feeling you weren't feeling well." She whispered smiling up at him. He couldn't look away, he didn't understand.

Why couldn't she see what it was that was really troubling him? He remained silent, waiting for her to speak.

The bell rang.

Orihime flinched at the sound and for a moment she didn't know if she should go back to class or stay with him. Did he even know the way back home? Was he lost, is that why he came here? So many questions filled her and most of them morphed into things that were far off from the possibilities.

"It's time for me to go back to class. Will you wait for me here, or will you go back home?" She asked. Truthfully he didn't care but since it felt nice up here on the roof he decided he would wait. Uncertain at first Orihime looked at him with a small frown but when the second bell rang she jumped and quickly ran back to her class leaving Muramasa alone again to think with the company of the calm wind.

He silently placed his hands in his pockets and allowed the wind to play with the strands of his hair. Often he would wonder what had gone wrong. He wondered and thought of the past; trying to recall the events and se if there was a gap he had missed. Something crucial that would have saved him all this trouble but he found none. Nothing gave him a hint, his memory soon became fuzzy and he let it be. It wouldn't help him to dwell on the past and find a mistake that could not be corrected.

Right now all he had was her and that was it.

Soon the last bell rang and after saying a quick goodbye to her friends went back to the roof to find that Muramasa remained where she had left him.

"You didn't have to stay up here." He quickly followed her down the roof to walk through the halls.

"Kurosaki-kun and Tatsuki-chan both spoke to me about you coming and truthfully I was worried that you had gotten into some trouble when I saw you at the library." She smiled as she continued walking.

"I was merely going for a walk; my body is simply weak from absorbing hollows." He replied bluntly but it didn't seem to bother her, if it did then she hid it well.

"You shouldn't try to hide, if you don't say anything than how is anyone supposed to help?"

"There is no one that can help." He stopped, making her stop as well.

Muramasa had grown angry now, why did this subject always come up? He didn't want to deal with it anymore. There was no one that can help him and there were no alternatives to his path. Nothing could erase what had been done and no one can bring back the lost that's just how things were. He was tired of the pain that would come back, tired of the reminder that he was a broken sword, not in the physical sense but there was no denying reality. His grudge would grow from the reminders and he did not want that, it would only serve to morph him into an arrancar again and risk hurting anyone that was not involved in any way; they would only get hurt.

"Why did head Captain Yamamoto allow me to live? Surely my actions are enough to call for execution." He wasn't being suicidal it was a simple question, one that confused him either path he was give it would only lead to the same destination just a few alternations with the length of the unseen road.

"I'm not sure, I can't really speak for anyone but I would consider it luck."

"Luck, you say?" No, it was no such thing, it was pity. He shook his head and glared at her.

"Why have you decided to help me? I've hurt your friends and tried to use their own zanpakutou to kill them." He stated.

Orihime continued walking and curious for his answer, Muramasa followed. She remained silent to avoid stares from some students that had stayed for club activities. It wasn't until they came a ways from the school that she resumed their discussion.

"I know that you can't reverse some things, but there's no reason not to forgive those you hurt. Kouga-san didn't do that." She glanced at him but his face was unreadable so she continued.

"I'm not completely sure what has happened in the past but it must've been something so unpleasant to have your friend abandon you and I can't say I understand because that would be lying." She wasn't sure if this was helpful but she was only speaking the truth and he seemed to felt that she was trying to understand him which brought some ease to his aching soul.

"I see." He murmured lightly staring straight ahead. He only became that much more attracted to her, whether by emotions or simple curiosity, it didn't really matter anymore. Maybe she could ease his anger and sorrow but he still had doubts.

"You shouldn't really place your trust to someone that is no more than an acquaintance, Inoue." She looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Acquaintance? I honestly didn't really see it that way Muramasa-san. It may be a bit silly but I was becoming to feel like we were becoming more like friends." She let out a nervous laugh. "Unless you're uncomfortable with that reasoning…"

"No, it's not that. It was just an assumption."

She smiled feeling happy that she had gained a new friend. She never really thought of him as a stranger ever since he reached for her. She could relate to his loneliness and having something in common helped to ease each other's pain therefore gaining their trust. There was sadness everywhere no matter where you look or where you go there is always something unpleasant in life.

She can't erase the troubles he's gone through but she could help him in experiencing something better, maybe that will make him genuinely happy and maybe for once have a smile instead of that frown.

-X-X-X-

A/N: I think I'll stop it there for now since it's a little late and I've gotta have something, ne? This chapter was kinda fun to write although it's a bit short.