Pearl is an OC. Mr. Ikkai is an OC.
Chapter Fourteen
Confronting the Tension…
Orihime seemed to welcome Rukia and at the same time avoided her. Rukia wondered what was going on so she confronted her just outside class.
"Are we friends still Inoue," Rukia asked. Maybe demanded…
"Don't be silly of course were friends," Orihime replied sheepishly.
They started the halls to the next class.
"You know how I feel about Ichigo and I'm embarrassed that it's come to this…you're avoiding me-
"I feel I should laugh at you. Seriously Rukia things change. Everyone changes, it was only a matter of time before you realized…,"Orihime trailed off unable to continue.
She couldn't finish. Why should she put on this charade any longer?
Her whole world was turned upside down now with secrets. It just took her by surprise that they reached this point. She had to bear with the burden of her secret houseguest.
"What is it," Rukia said breaking the long silence.
"Oh nothing," she jumped out of her head, "I just forgot I have to get something from the school office from my landlord."
"It can't wait?"
"No. It's an emergency," Orihime quickly said.
"Should I come along," Rukia asked.
"No I'll see you later," Orihime said waving her off as she left.
Strange, Rukia thought.
000
The rooftop was still Rukia's favorite place to eat lunch. The others just followed her example…or so she told herself. While she was gone the school had actually put in some work on the roofing. The dips and rain worn parts were smoothed out.
Orihime stared around the campus sure that nothing unusual threatened. She breathed a sigh of relief that today seemed to shape up as a fairly easy-going one.
"The truth Inoue," Rukia asked.
Orihime nearly jumped at the confrontation in her friend's voice. She looked back around at the others unsure of how to answer.
"What are you talking about Rukia," Orihime asked.
Rukia followed Orihime's gaze towards the guys. Ichigo, Uryû and Sado were farther off and although Orihime kept her voice low they seemed especially interested in the girl's conversation.
"Let's go somewhere else," Rukia suggested leading Orihime away.
The others watched concerned as the two left the area.
"So that war has been over for some time now," Rukia said pausing to open the door to an empty classroom.
Rukia sat on the teacher's desk and Orihime sat next to her.
"The whole thing was my entire fault. If I had just-
"Sôsuke knew what he was doing if you did anything different he would have figured a way to get the outcome he desired. The war was inevitable. He lost," Rukia said with conviction.
"I need to tell someone else about this. Uryû already knows everything but I need to tell…," Orihime breathed in a steadying breath gathering her thoughts.
"You've kept the secret for so long it will feel better if you tell someone already," Rukia said.
"Yes. Ulquiorra the Espada from Las Noches. After Ichigo left to help you I healed Uryû. Then I just felt so bad for Ulquiorra," Orihime said.
"Don't beat yourself up. You only did what came natural to you," Rukia said.
"You don't understand he was changed a little in his own way. When I saw Ichigo with that mask and those strange eyes at first I was terrified…But I saw the real Ichigo. Ulquiorra was-
"You thought you could find some humanity in him. That's right isn't it; because you are Human Inoue? Thank you for telling me," Rukia said.
"You understand and y-you're not mad at me," Orihime asked.
"Of course I'm mad. Don't ever put yourself in this place again. We're friends right?"
"Yes."
"I hate asking my friends this over and over so promise me next time you'll let us in," Rukia said.
"I-I promise," Orihime said.
The bell rang so they knew they had to abandon the classroom. The Espada threat seemed so distant to everyone now. If Orihime had reason to suspect the presence of Grimmjow had anything to do with the Hollows she should have told someone.
The Soul Society was surely aware of Grimmjow's presence, she thought. None of the Shinigami stationed here in Karakura were told about Arrancars. Orihime's story was convincing and although she knew little about the other former Espada Nelliel Tu she knew that Ichigo considered her an ally.
Orihime kept this from them because she knew the Soul Society's rules were absolute. If she considered Nelliel Tu a friend perhaps she didn't want the Soul Society involved. Perhaps Orihime had begun to take on Uryû's attitudes toward the Shinigami.
Rukia breathed a sigh of relief. Given her circumstances she knew it was her duty to report all she knew to her Captain yet Orihime was still her friend. Orihime's fears were for her friends and she'd do everything to protect them.
"I'm relieved," Rukia said.
"Why's that," Orihime asked sliding off the table.
Rukia followed after.
"I thought you were upset that I was spending so much time with Ichigo," Rukia confessed.
"No you haven't been spending too much time with him. If the two of you are dating, I think it's really cute," Orihime sang out.
The happiness returned to her friend's eyes. She was different now that they talked.
"Dating," Rukia questioned. Images of what she thought of human dating flashed before her eyes.
"Yes," Orihime said.
"But I haven't gotten a gift…we haven't gone anywhere and the base numbers aren't high enough. Ichigo is always worrying about his reputation so should we be dating," Rukia asked.
Orihime blushed and struggled not to laugh.
"That's not dating," Orihime giggled, "It sort of is but it's not."
"That makes no sense," Rukia said making her way through the busy halls. She pulled a book from her bag and handed it to Orihime. Orihime stared at the book and read the first sentence out loud.
"Guys are all the same with the base numbers. They all want home runs-
"What are you telling her," Ichigo demanded as he caught up with the two in the hall.
"Oh Ichigo we were talking about baseball," Orihime said smiling.
"Not likely," Uryû said having a clear view of the book Orihime was hiding.
Rukia looked lost in deep thought as if piecing together a puzzle.
"What's so funny about baseball Orihime," Ichigo questioned knowing well that wasn't what they were talking about.
"Rukia just misunderstood what I meant by dating. That's all," Orihime said holding back laughter.
"We're deciding if we should do it," Rukia said.
"That's not something you two decide," Ichigo said.
"Stop getting so worked up its obvious what's not going on here isn't it," Uryû said giggling.
"Shut up," Ichigo said.
"Well it is decided. We should start dating Ichigo. Oh and I want gifts too," Rukia said.
"We'll talk later," Ichigo said calming down.
"This is just too easy let me get to class," Uryû said announcing his departure.
"I'll see you later," Orihime waved and caught up with Uryû.
"Sado quiet as ever. What do you think about dating," Rukia asked.
"Do it," Sado smiled and left.
Ichigo glared at Sado as he left.
000
Rukia continued to walk in silence though her mood was suddenly serious. Ichigo knew it couldn't have been related to the jovial topic of dating.
"What's going on," Ichigo asked.
"I made several promises. I'm thinking about them now," Rukia said.
"This has to do with Inoue," he asked.
"Her behavior has nothing to do with us," she said.
"I knew that early on though. So you know what she's hiding," he asked.
"She wants to tell you herself. It can wait," she said.
"Not if it bothers you this much," he said.
They stopped walking as the hallways emptied out.
"The secret has been a huge burden to her all this time. She wants to tell you herself because she needs to face this herself. Besides she is protecting her friends from becoming accomplices," she said.
"Then she'll let me know. I'll trust her," he said.
"I'm not going to class now. There is something I want to confirm and check on," she said.
Ichigo breathed in a cleansing breath before settling for, "Let me know when you get back."
She wrapped arms around him leaning against his chest. She knew it was difficult for him not to rush off and take action. This isn't the first time Orihime's protective actions boomerangs and backfired.
"I'll come back as soon as I can. We still have to talk about this dating stuff right," she asked.
"They were just having fun with me you know," he said.
"I still like the sound of gifts," she said looking up at him.
"We can't be seen hugging in the hallways like this when class is supposed to be in session," he said.
"I'm not supposed to ditch either," she said.
"Doesn't apply to you," he said.
"Then they won't mind if I do this," she pulled him down kissing him.
The sound of heels clicking angrily towards them was the only thing that stopped them.
"I'll see you later," Rukia said knowingly turning to leave.
"Hey where do you think you're headed Kuchiki," the teacher's voice rang out.
Rukia was long gone around a corner.
"Kurosaki-
"I know. I get it I was just headed there," Ichigo said opening the classroom door before Rukia's teacher reached him.
Ichigo couldn't remember the woman's name but she had an interest in making everyone at the school act properly. The last thing he wanted to do was draw more attention to him.
Too late, damn it Rukia.
"Nice of you to join us Ichigo," Mr. Ikkai said without turning to face his pupil.
Mr. Ikkai continued to neatly scribe equations on the board. Ichigo quickly took his seat and noticed as…he already forgot Rukia's teacher's name, continued down the hall.
Thankfully Mr. Ikkai didn't say anything more about his tardiness. Escaping the torture of being singled out Ichigo began to copy down the assignment.
Ichigo's phone vibrated. It could only be Orihime. He could only hope the settings were still set to silent as he scrolled down Orihime's text message. Thankfully the teacher didn't notice his phone use.
'Where did Rukia go?
Seireitei…Your House…Urahara Shop…?
,Orihime'
He pocketed the phone and shrugged his shoulders at Orihime. Orihime glared at him expecting more of an answer.
Mr. Ikkai turned around and addressed the class. The class had to come up with answers to the questions on the board and hand it in by the end of the class.
It was an unusual style for the laid back Mr. Ikkai. His short brown hair style made him look like the weatherman on the local news station. He was business casual every day. Most days he favored a t-shirt with some mathematical symbol or geometrical shape under a check patterned jacket.
When he left the class for the day he would leave that check patterned jacket in exchange for a leather jacket. He told his students that once he left school he felt "cool again." He was a rather young teacher but constantly complained he was aging too fast.
What was he thirty; the class often wondered and his age remained a mystery.
Murmurs erupted throughout the class.
"Oh and here is the best part," Mr. Ikkai said grinning at the class his grey eyes brightened, "you can all work in groups. In the real world no one really works alone…actually the ones that do are really lonely…anyhow gather in groups…let's say four."
Tables and chairs screeched across the floor and Mr. Ikkai took out his all too familiar PlayStation portable smiling.
"What kind of class is this, gee," Uryû wondered aloud joining Orihime and Ichigo.
"One that doesn't take up my time so much," Ichigo said.
"Fair enough," Uryû conceded.
Ichigo did ditch class a lot with his Shinigami duties in the past. If he had any hopes of pursuing pre-med like he claimed was his goal he'd have to catch up a lot.
"Ichigo you just shrugged at me," Orihime said.
"There was something important she had to do but she said she'd be back," Ichigo said.
Orihime shot a worried glance at Uryû. She hoped that Rukia didn't plan on going after anyone on her own. Unfortunately Uryû had no idea why she was so upset.
"What are we talking about," Uryû asked.
"It's not that important. Someone should start working on these problems right," Ichigo asked changing the subject.
Orihime tried sending text messages out to Rukia and one to Uryû. Uryû read the message and just shook his head. He didn't think that Rukia was going after anyone. This didn't stop her from worrying especially when Rukia didn't respond to her message.
They were short a member of their group of course. Ichigo looked around the room most of the groups were paired off except one girl who scribbled intently on the paper.
Orihime's eyes followed Ichigo's stare. He wasn't bothered at all by her nervousness.
"I'll ask her," Orihime said and got up to talk to the girl grateful for the distraction.
No one remembered seeing the girl before in their class. She had very garish look about her. Her shoulder length black hair was cut asymmetrically. She had a white stripe clipped in the right side. Her boots were grey and stocking had grey and white stripes. She had what looked like a leg warmer on one arm and a cut up sock/fingerless glove on the other. The only similarity to Orihime was the standard issue Karakura School uniform.
"Hello," Orihime said.
"Hi," the girl said looking up from her paper.
"I'm Orihime. We need another member in our group…so would you like to join us?"
"Sure. I'm new here so I was waiting for someone to ask me that. I'm Pearl by the way," Pearl said extending her hand.
Orihime couldn't shake the odd sensation. It felt a little like that time she ran into that strange man outside her apartment. Pearl's accent was strange, Orihime thought.
The team of four quickly made introductions and began working on each problem. Ichigo was grateful for the stranger. Because of her presence they could be normal Senior's in high school for 45 minutes.