It isn't often that Orihime gets to see Karin, so it's as though she notices something new each time.
She's older now, all odd ends and angles, and perfectly capable of catching attention and holding it. When Orihime sees them together, Karin and Ichigo, she can't help but think about how similar they are: all sullen expressions and stalwart hearts. She finds it sweet that Ichigo worries about his sister (in the shadows of his scowl, in the corners of his eyes, in a language only she seems to speak) while his sister worries about him.
That's the way brothers and sisters ought to be, Orihime believes, a small, painful twinge biting at her heart.
She is mulling this over in the Kurosaki kitchen, humming some ditty she'd heard. She sets the used cups and plates by the sink, listening to the faint sounds of chatter drift down from Ichigo's room, and reaches for the faucet.
"How's the studying going?"
She lets out a surprised yelp, clutching at the mug in her hand and whirling around. Karin is watching her from the kitchen table with solemn eyes. Distractedly, Orihime pushes a lock of hair behind her ear and gropes for something to say.
And she can't help but be unnerved, because each time she sees her, each time she notices something new, she also notices that Karin watches her. Like she knows some sort of secret.
"K-Karin-chan!" she gasps finally. "Oh, you gave me a start!"
Karin shrugs apologetically. "I can take care of those," she says, indicating toward the dishes. "They're probably waiting for you up there."
"O-oh, alright…"
She's turning to leave, slightly relieved, when Karin calls out.
"Hey."
Orihime stops, pivoting. Karin looks unsure, as though uncertain what to do with her now that she was listening.
"Do you…" Karin starts, glancing away. "Can…" She looks up and her gaze burns. "Five lifetimes?"
Orihime swears time stops. The heat rushing to her cheeks is achingly slow, as is the motion of her spine straightening. Only Karin's stare is constant and unyielding.
"Y-yes," Orihime manages to say, her voice barely threading through her tongue and teeth. "And… beyond that, too. Six, seven, eight, or infinite. It doesn't matter."
Karin's expression is unreadable. "Why?"
She smiles in spite of herself. "Because your brother is a kind person with a good heart, and… he's long since stolen mine."
Karin's snort unexpectedly punctures the air and Orihime flushes, embarrassed that she might've said something silly.
"That sounds like you read it out of a romance novel," Karin is grinning. "Don't sweat it, I won't tell him or anything. I just… I couldn't remember if it was a dream or not. But…"
Her tone makes Orihime glance up.
"He trusts you, so I do, too. Don't change that."
Orihime's head spins dizzily, but she finds a way to speak. "I won't," she beams. "It's a promise."
this was something that I'd been thinking about: if either Karin or Yuzu had happened to overhear a bit of Orihime's FLOL speech. they were there too, after all...
this was just something simple and light, but I'd love to know what you think!