Story (c) Me

Bleach (c) Tite Kubo

The coolness of the rag made her shiver as it touched her face. The young Samurai general before her gently wiped away the white makeup on the young geisha's face, and he smiled at her when she was clean.

"That's better. You look much more beautiful without all that stuff on your face."

The young geisha merely smiled, pushing the water basin away, "That's enough now, Lord Kurosaki. That's part of my attire. I must wear it in order to properly entertain you."

But I want to see your face. Please, join me." He said, grabbing the pot of sake and pouring her a glass. The Geisha looked as if she saw death.

"Lord Kurosaki, what are you doing? I'm here to entertain you. Not the other way around."

"Exactly. I want you to entertain me by keeping me company."

"But I am keeping you company."

"This isn't company. This is a service. You're far too tense because you're too worried about doing a good job. I'm telling you I'm not into that sort of thing. So please, drink with me. Besides, we're the only two in here, what could it hurt? Please, just this once? If I ever come back to you again I won't ask you to be so unconventional."

He smiled at her and the geisha bit her lip. She supposed it wouldn't hurt just once. "Well, alright. But just this once." She replied, taking a seat beside him and pouring him a cup of sake.

"I'd hate to be nosy, but what's a young lady like you working as a geisha for?"

"I could ask you the same thing. You're awfully young to be a Shinsengumi general."

"You're evading my question with one of your own. But it's a family business I guess. But tell me, why are you a geisha."

"To raise enough money for an education. Currently I don't have enough to pursue in an education, so being a geisha is just to help me out."

"Oh? And what are you hoping to learn?"

"Oh so many things!"

He smiled as the geisha told him all the things she wanted to do. She really was quite the dreamer, and he couldn't help but be attracted to how emotionally invested she was in her dreams.

"That's quite the number of dreams, Miss. It'll take five lifetimes to complete all of those."

She smiled, "I know. And I look forward to those five lifetimes

"Do any of your dreams have anything in common with each other? What is the one thing that holds them all together for you?"

She blushed, "It's embarrassing."

"I'm sure it isn't."

"Well. It's less of a dream of what I want to happen, and more of a belief that it will happen. If I do live for five lifetimes I believe that I'll have the same love. This person will love me, and support me in my dreams. He will be the constant light in my lifetimes."

"I see," he smiled. "And have you found him yet?"

She shook her head, "No. But he's out there. I'll know it's him."

"Well I wish you luck in finding him. I must go though. Thank you for keeping me company."

The two stood up and she bowed, "It was a pleasure to serve you, Lord Kurosaki."

Orihime poured her tea the next evening as she prepared for her guest. She couldn't take her mind off of the young man from the night before. Lord Kurosaki. He was different from the rest of the guests she had entertain in the past. The others were just interested in how well she served them. But he seemed interested in her. No one had ever asked her why she was a geisha, and no one had ever taken the time to listen to her dreams.

The door opened and she looked up to see who her guest was for the evening. She was surprised to see that it was the same young man from the night before.

"Lord Kurosaki, what a surprise. I assumed that the Shinsengumi would have headed out this morning?"

"We were going to, but the other men wanted to stay one more night. Which is a good thing because I wanted to see you again."

She smiled, "Well I'm flattered, Lord Kurosaki."

"Is it alright if I ask you to be unconventional again? Just one more night?"

She had already begun to wipe off the makeup off her face, "One more night couldn't hurt."

He smiled and took a seat beside her. The two talked like they did the night before. As if they had known each other for years. As if they were friends. Orihime raised her eyes in surprise as his hand suddenly reached up and brushed her face with the back of his hand. He pulled away quickly, surprised at his own actions.

"I'm sorry. You're just so beautiful I couldn't help myself."

"That's alright." She blushed.

He suddenly kissed her, moving his soft lips hers. She was absolutely stunned when he pulled away. "Lord Kurosaki, I-"

"Please, call me Ichigo. Please. I'm sorry to suddenly come onto you like this but I just feel such a strong connection with you that I've never felt with anyone before. I think I'm-"

"You think you're my love. The one I'll have for five lifetimes." She removed the black wig from her head, letting her long caramel colored hair fall over her shoulders. "I feel the same. I knew there was something about you, but I couldn't figure out what. Now I know why. You're the one."

He kissed her again before pulling away and resting his forehead on hers, "I still don't know your name."

"Orihime. My name is Orihime."

"That's beautiful," he said, pushing her down onto her back and kissing her once more. Her kimono began to slide of her shoulders revealing her creamy skin. Ichigo's hand reached up, brushing his fingers against the exposed skin. There were sudden noises outside the hall and the two sat up quickly.

"It looks like your men are moving out." She said, covering herself up again.

"I'll come back for you. I promise I will."

She smiled. "I'll be waiting."

He didn't come back the next night. Or the next. A week had past and no sign of him. A month and still nothing. A year had come and gone and he still hadn't returned. Orihime had quit her work as a geisha, having raised enough money to do some schooling. Every day she prayed to the gods that she would see him again. She knew she would. She knew he was her love of five lifetimes. But she wanted to see him. Soon.

She walked down the road, a slight breeze blowing her hair. It was cold, but she didn't mind. A cloak was suddenly draped over her shoulder. She smiled. Even after being away for so long she recognized the touch of his hands on her shoulders. She turned around, smiling at him.

"I've come back for you, Orihime."

Author's note:

Reviews make me smile

Take care and God bless,

Rose