Beep…
Beep…
Beep…
Besides the soft beep of the heart monitor, silence reigned in the room. The gentle in and out of breath from the bed's occupant was so faint as not to be counted as a sound but the softest whisper of the wind.
From the doorway a woman watched the patient quietly. The oppressing silence was like a weight on her shoulders, pushing her down, crushing what remained of the fragile pieces of her heart. None of this should have happened; she should have been there to protect her right from the beginning.
"…Rukia?"
The woman glanced over her shoulder at the other standing behind her. The brown eyes were dark and heavy with worry, the bright orange hair seeming dull in the stark white of the hospital. Orihime really hadn't changed at all over the years. The little wrinkle of concern in her brow was as prominent as ever and the thought almost made Rukia smile.
"She's going to be alright."
Rukia jumped slightly, startled by the sudden proclamation from her longtime friend. Her violet eyes met the warm determination of Inoue's own and for a moment she wasn't sure what to say. Hisana was as much of a daughter to Orihime as she was to Rukia and, considering the laws of the universe, it was every bit as possible for Hisana to be born of Orihime. Her friend had been worrying all this time and here Rukia had been having a pity party of her own.
"…" her violet gaze fell to the floor for a moment before she glanced up again. When she met the woman's eyes she wasn't smiling, but her voice held all the warmth that her eyes could no longer express "Let's go talk to her. She'll be mad if she falls behind on everything that's happening."
A teary smile found it's way onto the healer's face and she nodded warmly to the yuki onna. Together, the two made their way into the silence of the room and took a seat. Violet met brown and a decision was made between them as they returned their gaze to the sleeping orange-haired girl lying upon the hospital bed.
"…Hisana. Let us tell you about today."