A/N: Chapter three is here! *claps* I'm so happy! I've been waiting for this chapter for forever!... Just please don't hate me afterwards.
Disclaimer: I do not own the manga/anime Bleach.
"Fuck me..." Ichigo grumbled as he drove down the road.
If only she gave him one minute, even a second, he could explain to her.
But even then she wouldn't understand.
He's screwed up too many times and has had too many chances.
She just needed a break and so did he.
Ichigo stopped the car on the side of the road. He parked it and walked out into the cool night.
It was darker out then he expected and much cooler. He shoved his hands in his pockets and sauntered down the sidewalk.
Normally, the city was bursting with life around that time of night, but it was oddly quiet.
Ichigo kept moving when he heard a grunting noise coming from around a corner.
"…Hey… Hey, stop!" Ichigo saw the form of a man standing over a heap on the ground, kicking it. More whimpers can from the victim.
Ichigo ran to the back of the alley to save him. "I said stop!" Before he knew it he was staggering back and pain was throbbing up his temple.
"You picked the wrong one…" The robber flashed a knife which reflected off his blue hair.
Ichigo cursed and lunged after him. They both tussled on the ground, trying to get the upper hand on the knife. Ichigo finally got on the top and punch the man repeatedly until he felt something hard and cool on the back of his head.
"Get up." The voice said.
Ichigo stood off the blue haired man and raised his arms.
"What do you want?"
The man didn't respond.
Ichigo breathed deeply. "I don't have any money…" he slowly craned his neck to see his trapper.
That's when fire jetted through his midsection. The sound of a gunshot burst through his ears seconds after, then another.
Ichigo fell to his knees as the fire; the molten lava burned his insides, melting past his ribs all the way up to his shoulder.
It happened so fast, yet so slow. He could see the bullet exiting from the front of him, watching the shells depart but leaving behind the most unbearable pain he's ever felt.
"Hello… no. I've heard multiple gunshots on the side of the building on Thirtieth Street. He needs an ambulance."
Ichigo twitched as the two men stood over him. "What do we do now?" one of them asked. He bent down and picked up his knife from beside Ichigo.
The second one clapped his phone shut and said in a deadpan voice, "We leave."
…
Orihime stood in front of the stove and watched the water boil. The steam rising was so hot, so oppressive.
Well Orihime was tired of being oppressed.
The woman turned the burner until the tiny arrow pointed to off.
She sat down at the kitchen table and continued to watch the rising steam. It blew back and forth from the crushing wind coming from the open window.
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She was just so tired but she couldn't sleep. How could she?
Orihime walked over to the window and pushed it shut.
Ring, ring. Ring r-
Orihime eagerly picked up the phone before it could make another sound. "Hello? Ichigo- ...Yes… yes this is… What! He's where?" Orihime dropped the phone before the woman could finish her sentence.
She ran upstairs and grabbed Tamotsu from the bed. She then came back down and grabbed her keys.
It watched them leave in the car and zoom down the road.
Gently, dressed in all black, it slid a knife against the latch until it heard that sweet clang.
It slowly pushed the window up and crawled through.
It didn't touch or move anything. It only had one goal. It twisted on the burner and let the fire rise.
It then pulled out a concealed match and lit it with the burner. It took the match and placed it on the wooden table and watched it burn.
Soon the kitchen was ablaze.
The counters, curtains, stove and walls, all on fire.
It slid through the window once again, carefully, and left it wide open, just as quietly as he came...
Orihime didn't waste any time getting down to the hospital. She ran to the front desk, still carrying a half conscious Tamotsu, and waited for the desk clerk to give her attention.
"What room is he in?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Who?"
"My husband! He's been shot. His name is Kurosaki. Ichigo Kurosaki, he's my husband."
"I think there was a man who came in with gunshot wounds... Right there where it says outpatients. I don't know what room…"
Orihime looked down the hall and began to cry. Her Ichigo was somewhere down that hall, bleeding somewhere. "Thank you."
The woman pushed Tamotsu up on her hip a little higher. She slowly peeked into every room until she found the familiar spiky orange hair.
Orihime cautiously stepped into the room and cried out at the sight of him.
"Excuse me, Miss! Visiting hours are over." A doctor strode in the room after her and stared at the woman with her sleeping child and tears.
"Please, I just got here…" she rasped. "I have to see him…"
The doctor tapped his pen on his fingers tips. "I can't authorize this."
"He's my husband... please."
He looked her over once more and responded after a moment. "...Fine, but only for a little bit. He needs his rest."
Orihime nodded and turned back to the sleeping man. "What happened to him…?"
The doctor picked up the clipboard on the nightstand. "It says here that he was shot in the cartilage in his shoulder and between the fifth and sixth true ribs. If you'd ask me, his shooter knew what he was doing. The shots were clean and came right out through the other side." He put the board down and place his hands in his pockets. "I'd say your husband is a lucky man."
"Thank you..."
The doctor left the room.
Orihime set Tamotsu down on a chair and sat down on the side of Ichigo's bed.
He had a bandage over his shoulder and one that wrapped around his torso. An IV's tube was wedged into his arm and it traveled all the way up to a bag full of red fluid. Orihime wanted to die just looking at him.
"Ichigo," she whispered and started to cry again. "I'm so sorry! It's my entire fault... If I didn't kick you out… You wouldn't have been out there. And you wouldn't have been shot… And, and…" Orihime wiped away the tears around her eyes but they kept falling. "I'm so sorry!" Orihime threw her arm around his neck and moved closer to him. "Ichigo!"
He grunted but didn't say anything.
"Ichigo… if you can hear me… I'm pregnant…." Orihime bit her lip and tried her hardest not to cry anymore than she already had. "And I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. I should have. But I didn't..."
Orihime searched his face but he wasn't there. He was quiet except for his long wheezes of breaths.
"I'm- I'm only ten weeks now…" Her tears gathered at her chin and fell down with a splatter on his pillow. "...And I didn't tell you because I was scared... I didn't know if… I just… I wanted to wait until I was past nine weeks…" Orihime held his limp hand and curled her fingers tightly around it. More tears fell, this time onto his cheek in circular water pellets. "I don't know what I would of done if I took away another innocent life. I couldn't, I would not be able to live with myself… But I want this child. I want your child." Orihime bent down and lightly kissed his unresponsive lips. "I love you…"
She pushed his orange hair out of his face. "…So much. I don't know what I'd do without you."
She laid her head gently on his chest to hear his heartbeat. Under his layers of muscles she could hear the firm rapping rhythm.
The curtains were open and she could see the bright crescent moon against the dark night sky. She only had so long to be in this moment with him, so she held him tight. Following his every heartbeat and long breathes.
"Orihime?"
Orihime looked up, and for the third time in her life felt that special thump in her heart.
"Wha-what are you doing here?" Orihime pushed her loose strands of burnt-orange hair behind her ears.
Aizen placed his bouquet of flowers on the nightstand. "I'm here to see Ichigo. I heard what happened."
Orihime stood. Her heart thumping in her ears. "How did you know…?"
"I know about all of my investors' whereabouts. I'm his new client."
…
Aizen walked over to the bed and looked at Orihime who sat at the other side.
"I got the call and made sure he was alright. I don't want my business partner getting hurt or even-"
"Stop." Orihime stood up. She couldn't do it. She couldn't deal with Ichigo and him. "I want you to go."
Aizen looked shocked. "But Orihime, I just here to-"
"Don't. I want you to go. You need to leave right n-"
"I'm sorry, but it's around that time to go."
Aizen turned to see the same doctor walking back in. Aizen nodded. "Of course. We were just leaving."
Orihime frowned and sniffled. "You were just leaving."
"You both need to leave." The doctor's voice was stern.
Orihime gave Ichigo one more kiss and a few more whispers and tears. She walked over to hoist Tamotsu up and picked up her keys, but they tumbled out her hands.
"Orihime," Aizen walked forward and picked up her keys. "How about I drive?"
Orihime bottom lip shook and she nodded. "…..Yes please. I would like that very much…"
In the car Orihime broke down in tears all over again. She couldn't control them.
"Orihime, it's going to be alright."
"But it isn't! It's all my fault!" Orihime sniveled and wiped her nose. She didn't want to look like a wreck in front of the man.
Orihime turned her head and looked him. He hadn't change, not one bit.
His hair looked as amazing as before, and even softer to the touch.
His face, just as beauti- she stopped her self- chiseled as before.
Tamotsu groaned from the back seat.
Orihime looked behind her to see him squirming.
"Is he alright?"
"He's fine..." Orihime stared out the window. "My house is down that road."
Aizen smiled. "I remember."
Orihime licked her lips. "When did you get-" She stopped short in her sentence when she saw thick gray smoke rising into the night sky.
"Aizen…"
He growled. "I see it."
They got closer.
"Aizen…"
The car crawled to a stop, blocked from the gathered cars and fire trucks outside the house.
"NO!" Orihime jumped out the car and ran the front of house. "No!" A fireman stopped her from moving any closer the burning building.
Men in yellow suits holding think hoses pointed the water high at the house. It was bright and the air was warm. She could see the swirling golds, yellows, and reds coming together and pouring out of the back windows. The roof, though still intact, let the fire chew into it, giving off the burning stench.
"Orihime!" Aizen's large hand pulled her back. "Look at me, look at me! There's nothing we can do."
"That's my house!" she screamed.
Aizen's chocolate eyes bored into hers. "I know. But right now, Tamotsu needs you."
Orihime looked over at the car and saw Tamotsu staring out the window and at the burning house.
"Tamotsu…"
After the firemen calmed and sat her down, they told her that the fire started in the kitchen and chewed its way to the back of the house. They said that a burner was on and there was gas in the air so the breeze from the window made the fire spread.
"But I didn't leave open the window! I didn't have the burner on! I didn't-"
"Mrs. Kurosaki, I think you need some rest."
"I don't need rest! I need you to listen! I didn't keep the burner on!"
The fireman nodded his head. "I understand. But either way, the fire was started and a quarter of your house is gone. We tried to save anything we could in the kitchen and in the backroom but everything was burned down."
Orihime didn't cry this time. Her tears seemed to have depleted for the day.
"Is there any place you can stay for the night? A family member of some sort?"
Orihime shook her head. Isshin lived too far away, and Tatsuki moved out of town. She didn't want Tamotsu waking up in a hotel.
"Anyone?"
She shook her head and sighed heavily in defeat. "No one…"
"She can stay with me." A deep voice suggested.
Aizen stood by her side, smiling. "You and Tamotsu can stay awhile, just until everything clears up."
The fireman nodded. "I don't see why not."
"So what do you say?" Aizen looked down at her.
"I…" Orihime looked over at Tamotsu who was dozing off again next to another fireman. She had to do what was best for him. "Only for one night…"
Aizen smiled. "That's alright with me."
…
Aizen held Tamotsu while Orihime opened the condo's door. The cold AC breeze flew over her skin.
Orihime grabbed for Tamotsu. "I can take it from here."
Aizen pointed. "I have a spare room down the hall."
The woman looked around in awe. How many buildings did this man own in the city? "This place is pretty big …"
"Well when you own the condominium you get the biggest housing."
Orihime made to walk down the hall, but stop and turned. "Thank you… for doing this for us. You didn't have to."
"Well I have my reasons."
Orihime turned and found the room. She placed Tamotsu in bed. She tucked him in under the covers and watched him sleep although she couldn't. After about thirty minutes, Orihime walked out the bedroom.
There was a long hallway and Orihime could see the light at the end of it. She walked towards it and opened the door.
Aizen was sitting down at a desk in what looked like his office, sipping on a glass and typing on a laptop. She called his name softly and he looked up with a smile.
"Orihime. Come and join me."
Orihime walked up to his desk. It was late in the night but Orihime has had her fair share of those.
"I don't normally stay up this late. But I'm working on this-"
"Aizen..." she interrupted and he smirked at her forwardness. "I just wanted to say that me and Tamotsu aren't staying long. But during those days, I don't want any funny business... Do you understand?"
"Orihime, my dear." Aizen stood and strolled up to her. "I'm always doing business and never is it amusing."
Orihime nodded apprehensively and looked him up and down, not sure to completely trust him. Either way, she didn't want him getting close to her son. "Good. I'm glad we're on the same page."
Aizen smiled. He lazily lifted his hand, reached out and twirled a lock of burnt-orange hair.
Physical contact... What a bitch.
She felt it again, the way he made her feel those years ago. She felt like that oblivious school girl. That naive mouse in the hands of a sadistic cat.
"Aizen…"
The man smirked. "All night you've been calling me that. How many times have I told you to call me Sousuke?"
Orihime breathed. She then remembered where she was, who she was with, and who she was. "Sousuke…" she backed away from his hand. "I have a son and a functioning marriage. My life is as perfect as it's ever going to be and I don't want to screw that up…" She turned on her heels, walked away and left him in the office.
What did you think of this chapter? And who do you think the two shooters were? Hmm, you asked to see more of the two in Settle Down, so I decided to give them a little part. Do you think Ichigo had it coming? I sure did! And Orihime's preggers and I tried to drop as many hints about that as I could! And when she was crying over him in the hospitl I wanted to make it seem like that scene in episode 141 (I think that's the number) where Orihime was going to kiss him while he was sleeping, but she never got the chance to do so. But now she did!
Also, I think I need to ease up on the cursing. I don't like to curse and I don't really like cursing in general, but when I was writing a few of them slipped out!
Rocka.
P.S. I was asked by a fellow author if I now prefer Ichihime over Ichiruki. But it honestly depends on the story I'm reading. I can say today that I have a greater appreciation for the wonderful couple Ichihime. They just fit together perfectly and they make a better Romance! But if it's a great writer writing a great story about Ichiruki then yes, I will read it. But to answer the question, I think I like, no, love Ichihime more than Ichiruki!
P.P.S. Another reader asked me which chapter in Settle Down I liked the best. For me, I liked all of the chapters but my absolute favorites were Chapters 1,7, and 11. I love 1 because it was the start of it all! I love chapter 7 because it's the one were Aizen rejects her then she comes running back and sleeps with him (God, I love that scene)! And I loved chapter 11 because Ichigo and Orihime have this huge argument which I thought was extremely important to the development of the story... And they made love afterwards which I had to dial it down because my story was rated T.
So, which chapter did you like the best?!