(Yoshi! I have fired up my Linux baby and so I should give thanks. but first, let me explain something, I do my typing everywhere on my almost two year old 7 inch tablet and if it's just an update and nothing else. I have just posted the chapter by the said tablet. You try typing over one hundred thousand words and counting, on such a small screen. So now you know about my silent treatment of you, dear readers.)
(Thanks, especially to : absolutefaith, Annabelle4.0, Cries of the Damned, ForTheLoveOfLiterature01, Majestade, drgnl, sweet-penelope, Loverofliterature111, BabeBee, Flower of Night, pythagore29, LS77, ginian05, DivineBarak, MaggiexxLove, NaruHinaFanboy, fallendemonangel, KyubbiNaruto, Lonnie84, lyerlaboys1, Pablo Hirunata, KazumaKaname, SakurA-VioletA, SilverChaser17, meivana, Ichihime Kurosaki, I Am Midnight, Rei Katsuro, LostInADaze67, W-Stars, princessyaca, yonona-unnie, Saint Sita, wat, Fanfic lover aka ImNotOddJustRare, chibisamasempai20, Temarixx, Misha, nypsy, Czexy, all the Guest reviewers,)
(夏の夢)
"Orihime-chan, are you really sure you don't need a big, strong handsome guy such as myself to walk you home? Listen, there's thunder and lightning, you hear that, I don't mean the lightning, haha, and it looks like it's going to rain soon. We could share an umbrella." Inoue Orihime shook her head and smiled appreciatively at her senior co-worker.
"It is alright, Yoshida-san. I have my own umbrella. Thank you for being so caring."
"How many times must I tell you. It's Yoshida or Yoshida-kun. I am not that old. And of course I care. You are going to be the mother of my future children after all."
"Yoshida-san ~ "
"Waitaminute, the four-eyes' doctor's son is not lurking outside waiting to walk you home, is he? You are not being unfaithful to me, are you?!"
"Yoshida-san!"
"Go away, Yoshida. Go make yourself useful in the kitchen. Orihime-chan, you should get going. You have everything? Are the bread enough?"
"Yes. Thank you very much, Bosu-san. Goodbye Bosu-san, Yoshida-san." She bowed and left the shop.
"Orihime-chan! You really, really don't need me to walk you home. I am missing you already!"
Orihime turned, giggled and waved to them.
"Orihime-chan!"
"Shut up! Don't embarrass the poor girl, Yoshida."
"But bosu, I was just trying to put a smile on her sweet face. Did you not notice how sad she was when she first came to work? And she being all alone and such, we must show her there are people who care for her. People like you and I."
"That's rather big-hearted of you."
"Of course! My future wife must know how much I care for and love her."
"I knew it! You pervert! But I'm warning you now, it's going to end in heartbreak for you. And it's Bosu-san, Yoshida-chan."
"Bosu ~ "
(夏の夢)
Orihime continued to giggle softly as she walked home. She counted herself to be very lucky to be working with Bosu-san and Yoshida-san. Bosu-san seemed to be all gruff and tough on the outside. But she knew better, he was actually a big, cuddy softie on the inside. And Yoshida-san, or 'kun', as he has been pestering for her to call him that since she first started working there. He was playful and flirtatious and always like to tease her. But like Bosu-san, Yoshida-san was also always looking out for her.
She was glad she was working at the bakery.
And Yoshida-san offering to walk her home. She giggled even more as she thought how was 'big, strong handsome' Yoshida-san going to fight off any hollow attack.
'Hollow.'
'Kurosaki-kun.'
The giggles turned into a sigh.
A long despairing sigh.
Orihime wished not everything has to remind her of him.
But even at the bakery, everything was mocking her of what she was trying so hard to forget; an orange, a pineapple, a donut, a cup of coffee, a...
A flash of lightning startled her out of melancholy reverie.
She really should rush home.
She started to count as to when she can hear the thunder after the lightning. At the back of her mind, she thought she saw something in the shadows when the lightning lighted up the street.
She counted with her feet as she hurried home.
'One... Two... Three... Four... Five...'
"Inoue."
"Eek!"
Her bag of bread dropped out of her hand. A rather big bag of bread. Bosu-san was really a big softie in regards to his hardworking and polite employee.
Not to mention easy on the eye.
Quick reflexes caught her bag of bread before it hit the ground.
"Thank you... K-Kurosaki-kun?" Oh, why hasn't she sense his reiatsu. Was he here with his 'date'? Was he here to flaunt his 'date'? Did he want to taunt her as to who he did not mind being seen in public with? No, this was not the Kurosaki-kun she knew. But... the Kurosaki-kun she thought she knew would not go on 'dates' with those who were practically strangers to them.
The auburn-haired princess was giving herself a headache with all the guesses and assumptions swirling in her overactive mind. She wanted to catch all the wild guesses, crumpled them up in a ball and kicked it as far away from her head as possible.
Her hands wanted to...
She looked at her hands.
One hand was clutching the straps of her school bag.
The other were...
Where was her bag of bread?
'Oh...'
She looked nervously at him.
Where was his 'date'?
"K-Kurosaki-kun, may I have my bag please?" She asked him shyly and looked away from his eyes. They shone like little golden suns with the streetlights reflected in them.
She reached out to retrieve her bag.
Kurosaki Ichigo looked at the small trembling hand creeping closer and closer to its destination, if he wanted to, he could capture the fair hand in his own tanned one and he was sure she would not even mind.
But...
"Inoue, are you on your way home?"
The hand halted in its quest.
Orihime pulled back her hand and looked hesitantly at Ichigo.
She nodded.
"Well, what are we waiting? It looks like it's going to rain soon. Let's go." He glanced at her with a softer version of his scowl on his contemplating face.
Orihime was puzzled.
Shouldn't he be on... somewhere else?
"Inoue?"
She saw his long strides has already taken him a few steps away from her. She nibbled on her lower lip as she took in his appearance. He was still in his school uniform. Did he... did he go like that? Has he seen her home? Did she live around here? Maybe that was why he happened to be in this area.
She bit down hard on her lip. She was thinking too much, again.
"Inoue, is anything wrong?" He was starting to walk back towards her.
The gentle healer did not know if she should be happy he was showing so much concern for her.
For was not he the one who was causing her the most pain.
But no more.
She will not let herself be hurt by him or anyone else anymore, just because she wanted to... love.
"Inoue?"
He was right beside her.
Showing her concern for her.
But...
Kurosaki-kun would be concern for anyone and she was sure he was being that way earlier as well, when he was on his...
"Inoue?"
Orihime took a deep, deep breath.
"Kurosaki-kun, could I have my bag please? Shouldn't you be somewhere else? I can go home on my own." There. She has said it. Now she can have her bag of bread back and they can both go on their separate way.
She held out her small hand and bravely looked at Kurosaki-kun.
He was scowling at her as he looked at her hand.
Her small pale trembling hand.
'Why should I be subjected to his frown? I certainly did not ask him to be here. Hmph.' Orihime thought touchily, forgetting how once she has found his facial expression as funny.
"Where are you saying I should be, if not here with you?" Ichigo asked in all seriousness.
Orihime huffed in irritation and glared at Ichigo.
Was he acting stupid?
This was so not funny.
"Y-You know, o-on your... W-With ..." Orihime could not even stuttered out what Ichigo was supposed to be doing and with who.
Ichigo smirked in amusement at the blushing auburn-haired beauty trying to complete her own sentences. He waited for the uncompleted sentences to be filled in by his brain while he continued to stare at the flustering girl.
"Oh, you meant that?"
She nodded. She hoped they were on the same wavelength.
"It's over."
"It's over?" She sounded like a parrot.
"Yeah. It's over and done with. Shall we go? And you should stop chewing on your lip, you know I don't like to see you bleed."
And he started to walk in the direction of her home.
He was confusing her.
She wanted to know where she stood in his heart.
On this hot sultry summer night Inoue Orihime was going to find out.
Starting with...
"One date and it's already Ichigo."
"Me too."
"Me as well."
Once again, Ichigo found the gentle healer was not walking by his side.
Ichigo turned and looked at the auburn-haired beauty who seemed to be deep in thought about something.
He started to walk back towards her.
"Inoue, are you okay?" He asked softly and checking if they were the only two persons out on a night such as this, he laid his hand gently on her shoulder.
He knew he should not be seen touching her in public.
He knew touching her will be dangerous.
Time and time again, touching her only proved what he has always suspected.
What he has always known.
She was different.
And he missed touching her.
"Inoue?" He asked softly and his hand instinctively tightened its grip on her shoulder.
Her skin tingled under his touch.
She ignored how her helpless body was responding to his touch as her mind cried out,
'Don't call me that! Don't call me that!'
She shook her head sadly.
The grip on her shoulder tightened to the point she could feel the pain cutting through her sadness.
It was now or never.
She met his eyes with a determined look,
"I am fine, Ichigo-kun."
And the strong hand lost its grip and fell immediately from her shoulder.
"W-What did you call me?"
She fixed her eyes on him,
"Ichigo-kun." She repeated softly and slowly for him.
"Don't call me that!" He almost shouted at her though the tone of his voice did raise a few level.
She continued to look at him, "Why not? You let everybody and anyone call you that so why can't I call you that?"
"You are not everyone!" He answered hastily and then he realized suddenly it sounded harsh, even to his own ears.
He saw her eyes widening.
What could she be thinking of the meaning behind the words?
'I am not everyone? Is Kurosaki-kun saying I am not everyone because I am special to him. But that cannot be the truth, for all the lies he has been feeding me. I guess deep down I am just not good enough like everybody else to even call him that.' Orihime thought dismally. She could feel her tears stinging her eyes.
No! She cannot cry.
She must not cry...
For him.
Anymore.
"Inoue?"
'Yes. That is correct. I am Inoue to you. Just 'Inoue'. And you are...'
"Kurosaki-kun, I understand."
But she did not. She really did not understand.
She tried to make a grab for her bag of bread.
She wanted to take back what belong to her and get as far from him as possible.
She made contact with his big hand instead.
"I also got to hold his hand."
She held the hand that was clutching the bag with her small trembling hand.
''Would I rather hold his hand.''
'Please.' Orihime thought hopefully, desperately, 'Please give me a sign as whether it will all ends tonight.'
And she got the unwanted sign as soon as she felt him shook her hand off him.
"What are you doing?"
She looked up to the skies. She bit on her lip so hard, she tasted her own blood swirling in her mouth. She prayed.
"Nothing, Kurosaki-kun. I just wanted to take back what is mine and make my way home." She answered him unemotionally with her face still looking up and praying.
"I told you I will be walking you home and I will be carrying it for you till we reach your apartment. So, no more arguing it over it and let's go, Inoue."
There was no answer from her.
He looked at her.
He was struck speechless by the surreal scene in front of him.
She was still facing the skies but with her arms stretched wide.
She looked like a virgin sacrifice offering herself up to the Gods.
When the flashes of lightning illuminated her, her shimmery hair glow, her skin danced with the light, she seemed so ethereal, so unreal,
So beautiful.
"Thank You."
The weaver princess mouthed gratefully to the heavens.
And she thanked him, at which he was named after.
She has always loved the rain and now with the light summer rain hiding the tears that could not be stopped from escaping from her eyes, she was sure it loved her too.
Though her tears merged with the rain, the rain whilst it could bind together the heavens and the earth, she doubted her tears could ever join her heart and Kurosaki-kun's heart as one.
Ichigo continued to be caught spellbound by the beautiful girl being caressed by the light summer breeze and... the mist of rain.
Rain!
He has not let the rain registered as he was so captivated by her.
The rain trickled down from the front of his hair to drop onto his sharp nose.
How he hated the rain and yet...
She was so angelically radiant in the rain.
He shook the hatred droplets off himself.
"Ori..." His heart almost stopped beating altogether. He almost called the weaver princess by her name. He looked fearfully at the celestial creature being sprinkled in liquid moonlight. She was still too engrossed in what ever she was doing in the rain to pay him any heed of attention. He heaved a sigh of relief. He collected himself.
"Inoue, let's go!" He shouted at her.
Slowly, Orihime looked away from the night skies being set ablaze by Thor's hammering of the clouds.
Staring at him with confused innocent eyes, she must have forgotten he was even there with her. His heart was seized suddenly with an invisible fist making it difficult for him to breathe.
Honey brown eyes continued to stared at his chocolate brown eyes.
There was no emotion in them.
This was what it felt like to be forgotten by her.
"Inoue." He choked out.
She made no attempt to walk to him.
'To hell with everything!' He scowled.
Ichigo walked quickly towards her, without another word took her small pale hand in his own bigger hand and started to bring her home.
Orihime almost stumbled a few times as she let Kurosaki-kun held her hand and she has to walk fast to match his quick pace.
She gazed at her hand entwined with his.
He was confusing her, again.
Should she go on loving him?
Will she be love back?
She looked at the big strong back and the bright orange hair.
She will try to find out.
One last time.
She felt the warmth disappearing from her shivering hand before she heard him speak,
"We're here, Inoue."
Indeed they were.
Ichigo started to walk up the flights of steps leading to her apartment.
Orihime followed.
'One last time.' She promised herself.
"A fast-food restaurant for me."
"We just hang out at the mall."
"He brought you to a movie on your first date,"
"Kurosaki-kun, there is a movie starring..."
Ichigo interrupted what she was going to say, "Are you saying you want to watch a movie?" He turned his head and looked curiously at her.
Orihime nodded and her head stayed down due to the intense questioning stare she was receiving from him.
"Sure, why not."
Her heart leap at the three little words, she lifted her head to look at him, joy was written all over her face, she was feeling so happy...
But his next words caused her world to come crushing down again, when he suggested,
"We can make it a group thing. We can ask Tatsuki, 'crack', Chad, 'crack', Mizuiro, 'crack', Keigo, 'crack', right,"
And, finally,
"Inoue."
Every name, every step caused her fragile heart to crack a little till...
How do you heal a broken heart?
Was he so ashamed of being seen in public with... her?
"Inoue."
Her name again.
She could feel her tears threatening to make a reappearance.
No. Did she not assure Ishida-kun, she was going to be all right and everything will be fine.
Everything Will Be Fine.
Once she let go...
Of Him.
She saw him stepping aside and she realized she was at her door.
With shaking hands, she searched her school bag for her keys. When at last, she has them in her hand, she started to open her locks.
She kept her head low and did not speak a single word.
Ichigo was a little baffled. He thought she would be pleased at him for the arrangement to watch the movie with their friends. She thought she would be nodding her head enthusiastically and agreeing. But she has not uttered a single word since then. Maybe, she was disappointed that he did not mention Ishida.
Why should he invite him?
The door was opened.
"Inoue," He started to say,
"Goodbye, Kurosaki-kun." Orihime said softly as she stepped into her apartment.
"Should it not be goodnight, Inoue?" He corrected her with a smirk and handing over her bag of bread.
The playful smirk was wiped from his handsome face when he saw the tears in her eyes and blood on her lips.
"Inoue," He reached out to touch her face but he did not forget to canvass the area for another living soul.
That inspection caused her tears to cascade even more freely down her flushed cheeks.
"Inoue, what's wrong?" He asked gently as he bent slightly over in an attempt to wipe away her tears.
She flinched away from his touch.
He arched an eyebrow and even before he could open his mouth to ask her what was the matter.
She moved towards him, placed her shaking small hands on his chest, tiptoed, leaned upwards and kissed him.
A short sweet chaste kiss.
"Goodbye, Ichigo-kun." She whispered against his lips.
Too stunned to react, he let her take her bag from his hand.
"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun." Inoue Orihime, being the gentle healer, she did not slam the door in his face, instead she gave him a small sad smile and slowly closed the door to his face.
Kurosaki Ichigo tasted the tears and blood that still lingered on his lips.
Has he caused her so much pain?
And he just stood there looking at her sad face, as his princess, the beautiful girl who has timidly confessed of her love for him, closed her door and maybe, her heart to him.
On this hot sultry summer night, Inoue Orihime has finally found her answer.
(夏の夢)
(I have this tiny question to ask of you, dear readers, do I write angst or comedy better? I do not know why I am torturing myself but I do have a few new stories in mind and I was just wondering, angst or comedy? Anyway, the gates of Hell are opening this Sunday, so I should do updates for my supernatural and spiritual stories. :) )