sincerely, Chapter 8: on a thursday, i own the universe, a bleach fanfic

Sado: This is your chance.

Uryuu: Don't screw it up.

Ichigo has logged out

Tatsuki: You're kidding me right?

Uryuu: I'm afraid I'm not.

Sado: Hmm.

Tatsuki: Oh god, give the man an award, that idiot!

You have an instant message from: SADO

Sado: You returned two days earlier than expected.

Sado: Ichigo?

Ichigo: Yo

Sado: What happened?

Ichigo: Nothing

Sado: What do you mean?

Ichigo: It doesn't matter. I have to go now.

Ichigo has logged out

"Ichigo, I know you're there. Answer your phone!"

"This is ridiculous, Kurosaki. Are you dead?"

"What did you do to Inoue, you – Rukia-chan, please calm d– Yuzu, is this thing working? – yes, it's – ICHIGO YOU – um, you need not to shout really – BETTER MAN UP AND-"

DELETE ALL VOICE MESSAGES?

Yes

YOU HAVE 0 VOICE MESSAGE

FROM: Tatsuki
TO: Orihime
SUBJECT: EARTH TO ORIHIME

Did you skyrocket away from earth and is now living in a new galaxy where there is no internet?

Thanks by the way for the postcards and souvenirs you got for me when you visited a place called Boston. It seems like it's a beautiful place to have a vacation.

You are cordially invited to our wedding to be held on September 19th at four in the afternoon.

Please send your RSVP.

Tatsuki: So he got married, and you designed and baked them a wedding cake? I didn't know you two are close.

Orihime: He's a good person, Tatsuki-chan. Despite what he did, he's kind to me and we've become good friends. I'm sure you'll like him when you two get to know each other.

Tatsuki: Nah. I don't think I'll be friends with someone who cheated on my best friend. But I'm not going to lie. I'm glad you two became friends. At least there's someone over there looking out for you. Anyway how was the exhibit? Did you have lots of fun?

Orihime: Oh it was all very exciting and wonderful! I felt out of place at first because there were lots of fabulously dressed people and I wasn't sure if I was dressed appropriately. They seemed to enjoy the affair, and we're glad! Actually, an old gentleman offered to buy my painting.

Tatsuki: That's great news! Did you say yes?

Orihime: No.

Tatsuki: What, why?

Orihime: I'm not sure. At that time, I was so excited I can't even think straight. I wanted to say yes but when I looked at the painting, a strange feeling of possessiveness came over me. At the same time I felt sad. It felt like a part of me was breaking apart at the mere thought of giving it away. It was an odd but very strong feeling. So I refused. It was very embarrassing. I didn't know how to tell him the reasons why I turned down his offer without sounding weird. My classmates thought I was silly for declining but I don't think they'll understand. Even I was confused.

Tatsuki: Are you sure you felt that sadness towards your painting? Have you considered that you might have felt that way not because of the painting itself but because of the person on the painting?

Tatsuki: Anyway, it's not weird at all. I think it's normal that artists feel attachment to your work; like you put an essence of yourself into your work. Well, in other news, you're not the only one bearing good news.

Orihime: Oh, did you enter a new competition?

Tatsuki: No, it's not about me. It's Ichigo.

Orihime: Oh.

Tatsuki: He entered a literary contest and won first prize. Who knew that guy can write cool stories, huh? I also heard it might get translated in English and will be sold here as a part of a series intended for students of English.

Orihime: That's great. I'm very happy for him.

Tatsuki: It's about time something good to happen to him. Misery doesn't suit him well.

Orihime: Tatsuki-chan

Tatsuki: Yeah?

Orihime: Did Kurosaki-kun say anything to you?

Tatsuki: About what? His trip?

Orihime: Yes.

Tatsuki: Like you, he's being very tightlipped about it. We tried to talk to him about it but he would just glare at us and be grumpy for the rest of the day.

Tatsuki: With the way Ichigo was acting, I have a faint idea how things went down between the two of you. I don't understand why things turned out that way when I know how much you feel for him. What I'm sure about is that there's a good reason why things happen. I just want to let you know that I'm here for you when you're ready to talk, and I will support you no matter what.

Orihime: Thank you, Tatsuki-chan, for understanding.

Tatsuki: You're welcome. I just hope you two will start talking to each other soon. It's been a month since you two last talked. I know you miss him and I'm sure he misses you too.

Tatsuki: Orihime? Are you still there?

Orihime: Yes.

Tatsuki: Are you okay?

Orihime: I'm so confused. I don't know what to do. I stopped wanting what I want and learned to love what I have. Then all of a sudden he said he

Tatsuki: He said what?

Orihime: He said he loved me.

Tatsuki: And what did you say?

Orihime: I didn't say anything.

Tatsuki: Why?

Orihime: I didn't know what to say. A part of me thought it would be better if things stayed the same, that if what we had never changed.

Orihime: Is it weird, Tatsuki-chan? It finally happened and I'm being so stupid. I've had daydreams about this but the truth is I wouldn't know what to do if it ever came true. Right now, my life and future are here. Am I strong enough to give up my dreams and return to Karakura? Can I tell Kurosaki-kun to drop his life in Karakura, leave his family and friends, and be with me in New York?

Tatsuki: Don't be too hard on yourself. Things aren't always easy, you know? Take all the time you need to think this over. But you have to talk to him. Tell him about your concerns. He needs to know that the reason why you two can't be together– for now – is because you have priorities and not because you don't love him. I'm not the kind of person to tell you all these stuffs because I don't have any experience but what I know about life is that fear kills all possibilities of success. And love.

Orihime: Thank you Tatsuki-chan. You really know what to say to make me feel better.

Tatsuki: No problem. That's my job as your best friend. Now go and paint something magical.

Dear Kurosaki-kun,
I miss you and

Dear Kurosaki-kun,
I really miss you and

Dear Kurosaki-kun,
I

Uryuu: The next day, Inoue-san left. Kurosaki soon followed her to New York. He found her apartment on the same day he arrived and confessed. Inoue-san didn't reply. Then a man appeared to pick Inoue-san up. She still didn't say a word. So Kurosaki concluded Inoue-san didn't feel the same, and he left and returned to Tokyo the next day.

Mizuiro: I see.

Uryuu: I am mostly confused about Inoue-san's lack of response. Perhaps Kurosaki's plain confession terrified her? Maybe he yelled it, didn't say the words clearly?

Mizuiro: Well you know very well how terrible Ichigo is with translating his feelings into words. It must have shocked Inoue-san. Ichigo had never showed any interest in her in the past. I can't blame her for having uncertainties.

Uryuu: He's a late-bloomer, what can we do? But seriously, I just want this to end. It is galling to watch Kurosaki's pathetic face.

Sado: Everything will turn out all right.

Mizuiro: Ah optimistic as ever, Sado-kun. Hey, is it true your band will perform at the Christmas concert?

Sado: Yes.

Mizuiro: Cool. We'll be there. Ishida, you're coming too, right?

Uryuu: Despite my dislike for noise, yes, I'll be there to support Sado-kun.

Dear Inoue,

It's been awhile since I last wrote you a letter. I'm sorry about that. I hope you like the postcards I've been sending to you; they're Kuchiki Family's famed cherry blossom printed cards. I helped Nii-sama designed them. Did you like the gift I got for you on your birthday? I hope it was passable. When I first saw that stuffed toy, I instantly thought of you: ah, Inoue would love this; she loves stuffed animals and only she will appreciate such thing.

So I did buy it. The only thing I don't like about the stuffed octopus I bought you is its color. Its orange color reminds me of a certain annoying, pug-faced idiot we both know.

How have you been? You sent postcards regularly but your letters were a bit few for the past couple of months. I didn't even receive one for 2 months which worried me tremendously. Arisawa had assured me when I visited two weeks ago that you were fine and busy at your school. Still it didn't make me feel at ease. So I'm writing a letter and I hope you reply to me as soon as you can. I need to see your handwriting, telling me you are all right.

I can't believe I forgot to tell you my good news first. Don't laugh. Okay, you're allowed to laugh but only a little. It's very embarrassing.

Okay, here goes. Renji had officially started courting me. Actually, it's just for formality or a guise because the truth is we are already together. We still haven't informed Nii-sama yet. Renji wanted to tell him but I said we have to wait for the right moment.

Do you remember what you told me? Enjoy the feeling, explore it more and see where it leads me? Well I did follow your advice. It was really scary at first— but I threw caution to the wind, leapt into the uncertainty, and look where I landed? You know, not doing anything can be far worst than doing the wrong thing. That's what I learned.

I have to go now. Renji has been trying to peek into my letter – now he's backing away because I gave him a look. Write soon and please let me know how you are.

Love from, Rukia

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::::

Days passed.

And eventually the aching faded, but not really.

Before he knew it, winter melted and became spring. He can now open the windows in the apartment and leave them open for the rest of the day. When he came back from university, he'd find petals clinging to the curtains and scattered on the floor like pink stains. His routine returned to running laps around the park and swimming every Saturday morning. The aching was still there, but not as palpable as before.

Still whenever he caught glimpses of Laugh Hour commercials, a sense of dread would creep into his bones, and he would remember standing in her doorway, in her apartment in New York.

Soon he graduated. He found a job as a contributor to a literary magazine. Time seemed to move quickly at daytime. When it grew dark, however, time moved sluggishly. He would find himself sitting at his desk, facing his computer, playing solitaire to pass the time before checking his inbox.

Today, he had received twenty-seven messages: inquiries about work, his new translation assignment, a short message from Yuzu.

None came from her.

He deleted some mails, replied to few. Then he turned off the computer, finished the last chapter of a translation, and went to sleep.

One afternoon, when he jotted down an appointment on a calendar, he realized:

Six months.

How fast time flew by. He didn't notice; what he knew were the following: there were no letters, no emails, no cards, and no missed calls.

It was frustrating; waiting for something, getting nothing.

He wondered, sometimes, why he had not waited for her reply. Why he didn't touch her, why he didn't hold her.

Why didn't she respond?

I love you, Orihime.

Didn't he say it clearly? Perhaps he should have said it gently, sighed it into her mouth, whispered it in her neck.

But he didn't. He said it in a way he knew how.

What went wrong?

He didn't know. He didn't know how to say it in a way a woman like her would need to hear to fall in love with a man like him.

The entrance to a building came into view. The office belonged to the company that published the novel he submitted to a literary contest. It sold very well, much to his surprised confusion. Well enough for plans of second publication to ensue.

He took the stairs and trudged down the hallway of the seventh floor. An unsmiling lady nodded at him when he reached the publisher's office.

"Good morning, Kurosaki."

He nodded politely. His boss' secretary rarely smiled. Half of the employees were terrified of her; the other half didn't care.

"They're in the conference room."

Ichigo frowned. The message he got that morning said nothing about a group meeting.

"All right, thanks."

He left and walked in the direction of the conference room. Ichigo knocked, opened the door and stepped inside the office. A wave of nostalgia struck him with suddenness. Ichigo had no idea what initiated it. A feeling had crept up into his subconscious. It was familiar yet strange, like déjà vu, but not really.

"Finally!" a man laughed, moved forward, blocking the view of his companion, when he saw Ichigo.

Unlike his secretary, Natsume Soseki was an affable man. He can speak English with an accent that made Ichigo think of Michael Caine.

Ichigo gave a lopsided smile as the older man met him. "I'm not late, am I?"

The publisher grinned and tapped his arm twice. "You're always on time, Kurosaki. Always on time."

"Sorry, I can't stay long," said Ichigo, checking his watch. It was his day off and he had made plans with his sisters. "You want to see me about my new translation project?"

"Later. Actually," he paused and turned to the person whom he was previously conversing with. "You're from Karakura too, right?"

Ichigo turned.

Something lurched inside his body.

The air, all of a sudden, felt stifling and very warm. And painfully familiar.

Then:

"Un. I lived there since I was child before moving abroad a few years ago."

That voice.

Natsume faced Ichigo.

"Inoue-san is from New York. I figure we need a different cover art for the English version of your book. A friend from New York recommended her so I told her to submit a few samples." Natsume gestured to Ichigo.

"Now this young man here is a writer. Mind-boggling, eh?" He laughed. "With that orange hair and scary face… Don't let his façade fool you. He's got a sharp brain between his ears – why, he writes for Chūōkōron, this chap!" Here the older man slapped Ichigo's shoulder hard. "And a sensitive heart. Sometimes I worry because with that face, I fear he'll get rejected and with that kind of heart, such heartbreak will be shattering."

Natsume blinked, finally noticing the strange strain between the two. He looked at Inoue first, then at Kurosaki.

"Have you two met before?"

The silence grew thicker, the stare longer.

Natsume shrugged. "Well, Inoue-san is needed somewhere else. We'll meet again, no?"

"I'll be happy to make another illustration for you."

They spoke in English about Natsume's friend in New York. Ichigo thought how weird and different her voice was when speaking in English.

A phone rang then. She apologized for the noise, thanked Natsume and bowed at them, eyes downcast and hair unbound. The ringing faded as she stepped out of the room.

Ichigo swallowed and flinched when the door closed, as though he had woken from a dream.

Frantic, he looked at Natsume. The old man was smiling. Ichigo turned red and gazed off to the side with a grunt.

"What," he huffed, glaring at the door.

Natsume only laughed, and then said, "You decide which cover art to use. I'll give you two days. As for your new project, I was thinking of giving you My Lost City by Fitzgerald." His expression took on a more serious tone. "It will need a thoughtful and more careful approach, Kurosaki. You're young and still new in this field but your past work was brilliant. I want to see more, see if you can exceed my expectations. Do you think you can handle it?"

Ichigo's eyes caught fire and he nodded, taking the manuscript from his boss.

"Good. That'll be all, Kurosaki."

Then:

"By the way," said Natsume. "She works for a film studio in Minato."

Ichigo froze. His heart started thudding so hard it hurt. He felt dizzy with hope, what-ifs, and maybes. Fuck, he thought when he noticed his palms were sweaty. He rubbed them against his jeans.

The older man smiled at Ichigo's expression. "Coincidence, huh?" He laughed. "But there is no such thing as coincidence." He gave Ichigo the briefcase containing Orihime's portfolio.

"Burroughs said: this is the magical universe."

There are no coincidences and there are no accidents.

Nothing happens unless someone wills it.

He skidded to a halt, turning his head left and right, looking for a familiar hair color.

"Shit."

Ichigo took a deep breath, ran a hand through his thick hair. Several passersby gave him questioning glances; some were annoyed because he, a man with tall height and broad shoulders, was standing in the middle of a crowded sidewalk.

He started walking, carefully this time, mouth dry and heart racing as though he were still running. He tried to track her reiatsu; unfortunately, he was still terrible at it. The crowd thinned when he reached an intersection. He looked to his right and decided to cut through the park.

Natsume-san said she worked in Minato. What did it mean? His first impulse was to call Tatsuki. She'd know. Then a spark of irritation tore through him briefly; why didn't she say anything about Inoue? Who else knew she was here?

How long had she been here? How long had she known he was working for Natsume's company? Why did she come back?

Sullen, Ichigo stopped near a flowering tree. He wanted answers but he had no idea what his reaction would be.

"Fuck," he hissed, jaw tight, raking a hand through his hair. When did he become a faltering idiot?

He didn't know where to find her, but she was here and he will find her. There are 13,216,221 people in Tokyo, and 217,335 in Minato.

What were the odds of him finding her?

A hand touched his arm.

Too preoccupied with his thoughts, Ichigo jerked, hissing a curse, and looked to his right.

"Are you still having trouble sensing reiatsu? Or are you spacing out?"

13,216,221 people.

All he wanted was one.

"…Orihime."

She smiled. It was windy so her hair flung this way and that. They curved and twisted through the air, like shiny streamers.

Orihime dropped her gaze, her face pink. "You walked very quickly, Kurosaki-kun. It was hard keeping up with you."

He swallowed. His mouth felt dry, and his heart seemed to contract, vibrate, and change shapes before calming down.

"You were following me?"

She was bright red at this point. Orihime dropped her hand and looked down, clutching the front of her flowery skirt. Her hair shielded her flushed face.

"I—" she began timidly.

"I was looking for you."

Orihime looked up, eyes wide.

"You…" His frown deepened, jaw tightening. "I didn't know you're here. I mean, in Japan. Does Tatsuki know?"

She gave a small shake of her head. "Not yet."

"What?"

"She doesn't know but I'm going to call her later and surprise her."

Orihime began to walk in the opposite direction. Ichigo caught her wrist.

"Are you going to stay?" he demanded.

She didn't turn around to face him.

"Do you want me to?" asked Orihime in a small voice. Ichigo noticed her fingers were shaking.

"It's either you're staying here or I'm going to follow you to New York."

This time, she turned her head to face him. His frown softened; her lips were quivering, and she looked like she was about to cry. "Kurosaki-kun…"

He grinned and slid his hand into hers, their fingers interlacing. She held his hand back with both of hers. Carefully, tenderly, like she was holding a flower. Her eyes were brighter, and she was smiling a smile he knew from high school: a pretty girl was waving at him, wishing him a good morning.

Even with tears sliding down her cheek, her smile widened.

"You're awfully forward."

Today, today, each day, I have waited for you.

On a Thursday of the month of April, everything began.

Again.

notes-

-Natsume Soseki is named after a Meiji-era novelist (who went to London and liked Shakespeare and stuff.)

-Thank you wiki/google for the links of population

-Chūōkōron is a monthly literary magazine

-according to a supplementary material Karakura is a town near Central Tokyo (which consists of Minato, Chuo, Bunkyo, Chiyoda)

-My first draft didn't include their reunion; just a hint of Orihime going home, but I recalled how I ended my first 2 fics. Both of them didn't have 'proper' endings so I figured, at least this fic should have one. Although I held back and didn't make it very fluffy :D

-a guest reviewer asked if this was a prequel to the rated M fic "rough" from mock tale. I re-read that fic and whoa what a nice coincidence! Because they fit! Thank you, guest-tan, for pointing it out! :D

-oh my god finally I finished this! For something simple and short, it took me 3 years to finish. UGH/slaps self. Ok i was distracted by writing new AU fics (medieval, crime, drama) which will probably remained unfinished D:

-Thank you for your kind words, thank you for your time to read, thank you for your reviews and messages, thank you for your patience, thank you!

-leave a comment to help me improve? :D