HI Y'all! I'm back and here's another chapter for this story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and the characters in this story.
Ah, the way the fireworks beautifully bloom in the sky is a bit lonely.
Ah, the wind flows along with time.
When Uryu left, with Tatsuki following closely behind, Ichigo was still on the ground. His fierce scowl was gone and was replaced by an expression that Orihime thought was grief, regret, or a mixture of both. She kneeled in front of him and reached out her hand to touch his shoulder for comfort, only to be swatted away by his orange haired friend.
"Get away from me."
"K-Kurosaki-kun? Are you alright? I'm sure Ishida-kun didn't—"
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!"
Orihime flinched at his tone and the gaze he directed at her. "Who the fuck do you think you are? I told you to get away from me. Leave me alone. I already have a lot to deal with. I don't need another fucking baggage."
She lowered her gaze and held her hand at her chest. "I'm..sorry, Kurosaki-kun. I didn't…I…I'm sorry for causing you problems." Ichigo didn't like how her voice trembled when she spoke so he stood up and dusted his pants before heading to the direction of his home.
"W-wait! Kurosaki-kun! Where are you going?" Orihime also stood up and tried to go after him.
"I'm going home," he answered nonchalantly, continuing to trek back to their house.
"But..you said you'd help me fulfill my promise!" she called out, though her voice was starting to tremble. Will I ever get to do what is needed to be done?
"I don't care about your promise. And as far as I know, you're just a stupid hallucination caused by my stress. You're not her, and you'll never be her. No one can ever replace Inoue, even if you're a well-crafted hallucination." He knew his words hurt her from the way her bottom lip trembled and her eyes widened. He turned away from her, not wanting to witness the onslaught of tears that will surely come.
"If..If that's what Kurosaki-kun wants." He stopped walking and turned a little to glance at Orihime, when a strong wind suddenly blew.
When he turned around, Orihime was gone.
"3…2…1..Ready or not, here I come!" And as always, he comes to find her first.
Inoue Sora was content with his life. He has a loving wife, a quiet yet talented son, and another little bundle of joy on the way. He decided to name their new addition Orihime if it ever was a girl; a tribute to his younger sister who died ten years ago in an accident.
Sora kneeled and prayed in front of Orihime's shrine, an everyday ritual he's been doing ever since the death of his only family. The news of her death, when it reached him, took away all his hopes in life. She was so young, so full of life, and he believed that it was impossible for her to be gone so early. And all Sora could do was weep for the loss.
"Honey, you're going to be late for work!" his wife, Emiko, called from the dining room.
"Yes, dear. I'll be out in a minute!" Sora took one last glance at Orihime's smiling face in the picture and said one last prayer before standing up and straightening his pants.
"I'll be going now, dear. Be good today, Kazuki," Sora gave his wife a peck on the cheek and patted the head of his eight year old son.
He was putting on his shoes by the front door when he felt a slight weight upon his midsection. He looked around the area, but so no one there. Not even a slight wind was blowing. He shrugged and went out the door, continuing on his way to work.
"I love you, onii-chan. Take care and do your best at work," Orihime whispered, smiling at having seen and hugged her brother after a long time. A melancholic feeling washed over her at the thought of him having a new family. She shook her head, I'm happy that onii-chan isn't alone anymore.
"Aha! I found you, Inoue!" And she couldn't stop her laughter when he caught her hiding inside the shed.
He was supposed to be heading home, but he found himself going towards a place he hasn't visited for the past ten years. Ichigo went up the small hill that led to a tiny, dilapidated cottage hidden by shrubs and trees. He stopped walking at the sight of the small abode that became their secret hideout, trying to block the onslaught of memories that haunted him for the past ten years.
Ichigo clenched his fists at the sides, taking slow steps to get to the small cottage. It was exactly the same as he remembered—there was still traces of Rukia's small doodles outside the walls of the cottage; small flowers were planted along the sides from Orihime's efforts; the old cloth that he, Uryuu and Renji hanged at the entrance was covered in dust; and the unfinished birdhouse that Chad built with Tatsuki still stood as if ten years hadn't passed by.
He stopped at the entrance, debating whether to go inside or not. He took one big breath as if gathering some form of strength before drawing the curtain and entering their secret base.
"Ichigo?"
He stopped and turned around to face the source of the voice that called him. A teenager who looked bigger than his actual age greeted him. The boy's eyes were covered by his shaggy hair, his toned body hidden under the same uniform Ichigo wore. Despite the difference in their height and build, Ichigo never felt any intimidation from the other teen.
"Chad, what are you doing here?"
The gentle giant shrugged, walked past Ichigo, and entered the small cottage. Ichigo debated whether to follow suit or remain outside. Deciding to take things nonchalantly, he followed Chad inside and was surprised at what he saw.
The interior of the small cottage has been refurbished—a small, round table was placed at the center of the room along with a few chairs around it; a couch was set against the wall, covered with a deep blue sheet; and a couple of lanterns hang on the ceiling.
"Wha-what is all these?" asked the astounded Ichigo. Chad was seated on the couch, opening a manga Ichigo presumed the giant recently bought.
"We decided to make use of it as a new place to hang out," answered Chad quietly.
"We?"
"Oi! Chad! I've brought some mea—" the red-headed teen paused at the doorway upon seeing Ichigo. "What the hell! What are you doing here, Kurosaki?!"
"I should be asking that to you, as well. You're skipping class?"
"Tch. Doesn't matter. We're kinda bored so we decided to skip today," answered Renji who decided to settle on a chair in front of the small table. He threw one meat bun to Chad and offered Ichigo one, which the latter took quite hesitantly.
"So," Renji started. "What's this we heard from Tatsuki about you and Ishida going into a fight this morning?"
Ichigo sat at one of the chairs opposite Renji, settling his bag at the ground before unwrapping the meat bun. "It was nothing. Just Ishida getting on my nerves again."
"Was it about Inoue?" Chad asked, one of his eyes peering at Ichigo's still form. "Ichigo, if the past still haunts you, it's best to face them head on than run away."
Ichigo looked over at his friend, "I don't intend to run away. It's just…It's just that..I've been seeing her."
"Seeing who?" asked Renji.
Ichigo was quiet and looked down when he answered. "Inoue."
Renji choked on his food upon hearing Ichigo's answer. "Ha-have you gone crazy, Kurosaki? Inoue's dea-"
"Dead. Yes, I know that quite well, Renji." Ichigo glared at Renji before looking back down at the meat bun in his hands. "Well, I wish I was really crazy. But, I do see her. She's asking me to help her fulfill a promise."
"And?" Renji pressed on.
"And what? I don't know. I have no idea what promise she's talking about. Hell, I don't even know if she's real or if it's just my brain playing tricks with me."
"It's Inoue," Chad spoke up. "It doesn't matter if she's real or not. What matters is that she's Inoue, right, Ichigo?"
The orange haired teen looked at the gentle giant, confused at his words. "She says she can't cross over."
Chad looked deep in thought, mulling over Ichigo's answer. "All the more reason to help her."
"Oi, Chad. You can't seriously believe what he's been saying?!" Renji cried exasperated at their seriousness.
"Muh. Inoue will never lie. Even if she's a ghost or a hallucination, Inoue will always be Inoue." Chad answered.
Ichigo suddenly stood up, startling both Renji and Chad. He's been deeply engrossed in the idea of Orihime being a product of his stress that he failed to notice what's real about her—the smiles, the way her hair flutters in the wind, the calm gaze from her wide gray eyes, everything about her was real. And he's been such a jerk for driving her away.
"I'm sorry. I have somewhere to go." Ichigo picked up his bag and strode over to the entrance but stopped when a thought came over to him. He faced both Chad and Renji once again, a new determination in his eyes. "Will you help me?"
Renji's tilted his head to the side, still confused over the matter. "Help you with what?"
"Help me fulfill Inoue's wish."
So happy, having so much fun, we had so many adventures
Inside the secret base that belonged to the two of us.
A/N: YAY! I finally have this chapter finished! I'm sorry for the delay. The heat was making it difficult to think and write in front of my laptop. Hehehe.
Drop a review? Mwuah~