Disclaimer: We all know I don't own Bleach, so lets get a move on.
Three weeks later.
Orihime pushed at her husband's bare shoulder. "Ichigo…" She pushed again and waited for a sound.
His large, limp hand lifted and swatted aimlessly in the air before falling onto a pillow with a "thump".
Orihime sat up caring not for the oversized T-shirt falling at her shoulders. "Ichigo?" She poked and pushed at his shoulder and back again until he stirred.
Ichigo yawned. "Orihime? What is it? What's wrong?"
The woman waited until he caught her eyes. She didn't want him dozing off just yet. "Ichigo, I… had a bad dream."
Her husband sat up. "Oh…" Ichigo scratched the back of his orange head. "Um, tell me about it."
Ichigo's had plenty of experience with bad dreams. Karin and Yuzu would get them all the time, and Hitomi occasionally. There was once when Tamotsu slept in their bed for a night due to nightmares.
"Well…" The woman shifted uneasily on the mattress. "I'm floating down a river. I feel… calm, happy. And then… and then…"
Ichigo watched her chest rise and fall quicker. He touched her hand before she could hyperventilate. "Take your time," he whispered.
Orihime took a deep breath. "Then all I see is red. The water in the river is red and I try to swim out but the water moves faster then I… I can feel a waterfall coming…."
Ichigo heard a small intake of breath.
"And I fall."
Orihime always felt that her dreams represented something. Even if it was something from the past, present, or future, dreams- dreams that felt so real like this one- they always meant something.
"Isn't this one of your weird pregnancy dreams? You got them all the time with Tamotsu. Those didn't mean anything."
Orihime took a moment. She was only five weeks along, maybe it was the baby altering her dreams somehow.
She grinned. "You're right. It doesn't mean anything."
Orihime felt her husband's arms move around her, pulling her closer. "Come here," he whispered and tucked her head under his chin. "Close your eyes." She closed them. "Are they closed?"
"Yes!" she giggled.
They sat in the quiet together for awhile, just laying there. Orihime really didn't want to go back to sleep, she was afraid of that river. Ichigo squeezed her arm, gathering her attention. "I want you to think of the warm, rolling, crystal clear waves, a lowering sunset. I want you to think about Hawaii, okay. You. Me. And our little Kurosaki."
Hawaii in one more week. Orihime had been looking forward to it all month. They had never been and she always wanted to go. Lying on Ichigo's chest, Orihime could his rhythmic heart beat, a constant reassurance to any of her problems.
"Yeah," she slurred tiredly after letting a yawn. His warmth and the gentle rapping of his heart was enough to lure her to sleep for now. All she could imagine was what he said. The rolling waves, the sunset, him, her, and their "oops".
Orihime blinked once more before allowing her eyes to shut. "I can't wait…"
…
Orihime turned to her side and lifted her shirt.
It was there. It was really there. Just a tiny bump.
From what Yoruichi could tell, their little Kurosaki was just developing his ears, nose, and mouth. Small now, but it'll get bigger and bigger.
"Hi." Orihime whispered. Her heart raced yet the little one's raced twice as fast as hers.
"Now, you're just a tiny sea monkey. But later, you'll be mine."
Her stomach grumbled. Orihime giggled. It was her little Kurosaki's only mean of communication for the time being.
The woman walked downstairs to the kitchen where the house was already on the move. Ichigo was making his daily cup of coffee, Tamotsu was doing his homework at the kitchen table and Hitomi was rocking her baby doll as she walked around the island.
"Orihime, remind me to call my dad…"
"Mom, we have to get my physical form filled. I'm trying for baseball again..."
"Look mommy! I'm just like you!"
Orihime smiled tiredly. "Mmhmm…"
"Mom…" Tamotsu came over to her once she reached the counter. "Mom, I'm doing baseball and I need to get the re-insertion form filled." Tamotsu watched his mother pull out a few items from the refrigerator.
"My coach says that if I keep playing, I can make the team in middle school, then I'll be in varsity in high school, then I'll be in the big leagues with the professionals!"
Orihime nodded, listening to her son but mainly concentrating on the concoction in front of her.
"And- and he also said that…" Tamotsu stopped and sniffed the air. He looked over the counter to see his mother spreading what seemed like mustard over a bagel. "…Mom, what is that?"
Orihime poured a dark liquid over the bagel. "Ever wondered what mustard and soy sauce on a toasted bagel taste like?"
Tamotsu shook his head and pulled a face when the two halves were smashed together.
Orihime lifted the sandwich to her son. "Wanna try?"
Tamotsu watched in horror as his mother took a bite. "Mom! Gross!"
Orihime guessed it was weird- to everyone else maybe. Her cravings were always weird and always gotten weirder when she was pregnant.
She sat down at the table and flipped through Tamotsu's physical form, making a mental note to schedule a doctor's appointment.
Hitomi climbed onto a chair and placed her baby doll on the table. She unhooked the tabs on the cloth diaper and replaced it with a different one. "Mommy, I changed the baby!"
Orihime knew Hitomi was full of wonders, but she wasn't prepared for the child's interest in babies. The parents thought it would have been hard breaking the news to their children, Tamotsu was happy of course. He cared as much as a ten year old should care- little to none. Hitomi on the other hand was gung ho! She wanted to talk to the baby, dress it up and play with just like with her baby cousins, Masao and Masaru.
It was only natural for Orihime to buy her a Hugme-Loveme-Always Babydoll that the little girl saw on television. The mother had to divert the attention from her belly. The child switch completely from oblivious six year old to mother-in-training.
It was quite amusing.
"Good job!" Orihime managed between bites of her sandwich.
Ichigo glanced at the clock. "You guys ready? Let's get a move on!"
Tamotsu grabbed his book bag and homework and Hitomi hopped off the kitchen chair, leaving the baby doll on the table. Well… she is a mother-in-training.
"Have a nice day." Ichigo reminded before kissing her forehead. Then he patted her tummy before walking out of the kitchen.
One week later.
It was the same pattern.
Cool, crisp water. Soft, comforting breeze.
Orihime traveled slowly down the stream. Her eyes were closed and she smiled as she felt the sun's warmth envelope her body from head to toe.
Her eyes opened.
It was beautiful here. Everything moved in time and perfect harmony. The trees were high and majestic; every creature knew its purpose. The birds fluttered through the air, singing their songs and the butterflies flutter aimlessly, oblivious of their beauty.
Orihime wasn't sure if she belonged here, but the water carried her anyway. It carried her until it wasn't water anymore.
It was gradual. Creeping like a serpent.
The cool water became warm and sticky. It was an unusual sensation so Orihime would open her eyes again. Her heart would drop and everything would go into a panic.
She would try to swim to the edge, to leave the pool of blood but it was everywhere. Orihime heard the rumbling of liquid hitting hard, jagged rocks.
Orihime pushed against the currents. She could hear it all. The last thing she wanted to hear was the smack of bones against rocks.
Orihime felt her body moving backwards, falling. Everything seemed to move slower then before, the water, the birds, the butterflies. Everything seemed to go pale, hunch over and watch her fall, watch the fear in her eyes as she dropped.
There was the smallest pain, the smallest sharp ache in her belly and everything went black.
"No!" Orihime jumped up in her bed.
It was the same dream every time. Orihime didn't want to think about what it meant for her, or for her baby.
The woman touched her stomach. It was still there, she could fell it. A heavy weight lifted off her shoulders and she sighed.
Ichigo lay beside her, sleeping soundlessly. Orihime moved over and wrapped her arms around her torso, moving against him.
Ichigo's head popped up at the intrusion. "Huh?" Ichigo looked down to see his wife cuddling against him. He laid back down without another word.
…
The bell rung and everyone filed out of their classes, happy the week was over.
Tamotsu exchange a secret handshake with his friend Hiro before walking in the other direction. The boy returned to his cubby and pulled out his bookbag. "Hey." A voice said behind him.
Tamotsu looked over his shoulder and met a pair of turquoise eyes. "Hi."
Misoka pulled out her bookbag which was a few cubbies away from his'. "…Good luck in the baseball tryouts."
Tamotsu nodded, shoving a folder in the top compartment. "Yeah." He turned on his heels and walked away. But stopped. He and Misoka hardly talked anymore. He didn't know why, it just happened that way. She was… she was a girl. Why would he hang out with girls if he had Isamu and Hiro to play with?
"Misoka?"
"Hmm?"
Far off, another girl watched the two exchange once more. Hana didn't know why yet, but she hated it when Misoka talked to Tamotsu. Only she liked talking to Tamotsu and no one else. Especially Misoka.
Tamotsu shifted his bag to the other shoulder. "Do you want to come over some time…? We can check out my telescope I got for Christmas."
Hana scowled.
Misoka's face lit up. "That sounds really good!"
The duo stared at each other for a few seconds before Tamotsu pointed at the door. "I have to go…"
Misoka grinned, her turquoise eyes sparkling. "Oh, of course!"
"Okay," Tamotsu grinned as he walked out the door. "Bye."
Misoka waved a little, oblivious to the pair of seething eyes among them. "See ya."
Later that day.
"Ichigo…" Orihime held her hips. She stood over her luggage. "Ichigo… I'm not feeling too good."
All day her stomach had been churning in the wrong way. Orihime figured it was because she ate too many toast soy sauce mustard bagel sandwiches. Either way, it didn't feel good.
Ichigo walked out from his closet. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know…" Orihime sat on the edge of the bed. "Maybe I'm just nervous?"
They were leaving for Hawaii early in the morning. They were dropping the children off at Isshin's first and then they'd be off on a plane to the big island.
Ichigo rubbed her shoulder, relaxing her muscles. "Probably." He sat down on the bed with her. "We need to get some rest." He kissed her a few times before zipping up his suitcase.
"It's an early start tomorrow!"
…
Orihime could still feel the water slipping through her fingers. The drops would soon slide down her palms a deep red.
Her lids stayed closed through she was awake.
It was different this time.
It felt differently, the ending that is.
It actually hurt.
But Orihime has felt this pain before.
That sticky liquid sliding between her thighs….
It was the unmistakable pain, a hurt that only another woman who's been through the same trial would recognize.
Orihime wiped away the tear creeping down the side of her face.
…
Ichigo grunted, turning over in the bed. His rest was being disturbed.
"..Orihime..."
Ichigo's hand encountered something wet. His hand curled around the sheet. It was damp.
Ichigo lifted a heavy head in alarm. "Orihime?"
That when he heard it, her tiny sobs.
Ichigo sat up and turned on his bedside lamp.
Orihime's knees were tucked under her chin, her eyes were closed and red faintly covered her hands and the area of the sheet near her.
"….Didn't make it…" she mumbled.
Ichigo immediately stood, grabbed his phone and dialed 911. But there was no need. What's done could not be undone.
"Ichigo…" The man looked back at his wife. "The baby… didn't make it…"
…
Hitomi heard the beeping sounds all around her. She hugged her baby doll tighter. It was scary in here. Everyone was quiet, no one was smiling…. She didn't like it.
Hitomi watched her father nod at a man in a white coat. Daddy doesn't look happy… she thought.
The child watched the man in the white coat leave. Her daddy stood there for a moment before walking over to the little girl and her brother.
Ichigo sat down next to his kids.
There was more beeping and soft shuffling. It was an odd melody. The child would have gone to sleep if it wasn't for the eerie feeling creeping in her stomach. Something was wrong. Where was her mommy?
"…Kids…" Ichigo started.
"What's wrong?" Hitomi demanded. "Is mommy sick?"
Tamotsu wanted to know as well. He's seen the inside of an hospital plenty of times… never had the outcome been good.
"She's-" Ichigo rubbed his hands over his tired face. "She's not feeling well."
Hitomi's face scrunched up. "Why?"
Ichigo took a deep breath. They were part of the family too. They needed answers too. "…Because of the baby."
Hitomi hugged her baby doll tighter. "Is the baby making mommy sick?" she demanded.
Ichigo looked at his children. Hitomi looked confused and hurt. But Tamotsu, Tamotsu knew. Ichigo could see it on his calm face. Under it all, the boy was hurting too.
The man held the back of his daughters head and squeezed his son's shoulder. "Kids…. The baby isn't here anymore."
Hitomi blinked. The baby wasn't here anymore? "Where did the baby go?" She slid off the chair and stood. "Can we find it?" Hitomi got to work. She glanced under the chair and in her pocket but Ichigo stopped her with a grab of her arm. He pulled her onto his lap.
"Remember when I told you mommy's body was like a garden." Hitomi nodded and so did Tamotsu. "Well sometimes, when you plant the seed, not every seed grows up completely."
"Can we see her?"
Ichigo looked at his son. He was leaning forward, brown eyes wide open. "Can we see mommy?"
The family filed into the hall and turned a few corners until they came to a door. Tamotsu pushed it open and saw his mother sitting on the end of the hospital bed.
Hitomi burst in tears. "Mommy!" She ran to her and clutched her leg the way any child did when they wanted a parent. "Mommy… mommy!"
Even Tamotsu walked over and wrapped his arms around his mother.
"Mommy…" Hitomi sniffled and lifted her baby doll. "Here. Here we have this baby, mommy. This baby until we find the other one…"
Orihime took the toy into her hands.
Ichigo watched as she hugged it to her chest, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't real. It wasn't hers.
Orihime closed her eyes and let the tears fall.
A few days later.
The bed was empty next to him, but he knew where she was. Ichigo walked down the steps and into the kitchen where Orihime was on the floor, moving vigorously.
"Orihime," Ichigo yawned. "What time is it?"
"This floor was… filthy." She dipped her scrubber back into the hot, soapy water. "I can't believe I've neglected it for this long…"
"Orihime-"
Orihime stood and wiped her wet hands on the cloth around her waist. "And this counter. I found this tiny smudge. I don't know what it is." Orihime took a wash cloth and rubbed at the counter. "It won't get off."
"Orihime-"
"This smudge…." She shook her head. "It won't go away."
Ichigo walked over to his wife and wrapped his arms around her. Orihime sighed heavily. "Ichigo…. It won't go away."
Ichigo let her slump into his arms. Through it all, Orihime had been strong, stronger then Ichigo would ever have thought. She cried only when she thought no one was looking, and put on a brave face for the children.
Ichigo walked Orihime back up the steps and opened the bedroom door for her. "Is mommy okay?"
Ichigo's amber eyes gazed over his shoulder at his two children. They were in their pajamas, staring curiously at their parents.
Ichigo turned around. "Go back to sleep."
The children obeyed and returned back to their beds but couldn't find the power in them to sleep. The house was different since their mother came back from the hospital. The house was… odd, it wasn't a home anymore but a hollow vessel which four people were dropped into. Detached and separate.
"Tammy…"
Tamotsu turned over in his bed and encountered the wide, chubby face of his little sister.
"Yes?"
Hitomi blinked. "I can't sleep."
Tamotsu rolled his eyes and lifted his covers. "Fine." Hitomi crawled in and hugged Tamotsu's old friend, Kon. In Tamotsu's eyes, Kon was exclusive, no one could touch him and he slept with him every night. But tonight, Hitomi could have him. She needed him the most.
The house was quiet again. The way it had been recently.
"Tammy, mommy will get better, right?" Hitomi shifted closer to her brother. "Right?"
Tamotsu closed his eyes. For the past days, his mother wasn't the same. She didn't have the same personality, the same bubbliness. She was lifeless.
"Yes, she will." Tamotsu assured his little sister. He heard her sigh of relief.
"…She has to."
One week later.
"Yuzu, I'm glad I could catch you." Ichigo gave his sister a smile. "I know you're really busy."
The duo sat outside on a bench next to the hospital building where Yuzu worked.
"Onii-chan!" Yuzu grinned and popped an M&M in her mouth. "I will always make time for you."
Ichigo allowed her to take his hand and pour a few of the colorful candies into his palm. "How are the kids?"
Yuzu had identical twins last year, two boys. Masao and Masaru. She and her husband, Shin, were always coming over with the boys, Orihime and Yuzu would go crazy dressing the one year olds up in wacky outfits. Hitomi tagged along too.
"They're great! Shin is good too." Yuzu picked up her sandwich and took a bite. "I talked to Karin yesterday and she and Yuto are talking about settling, but nothing too serious."
Yuzu lifted the half of her sandwich to Ichigo but he shook his head. That's Yuzu, always worrying about others before herself. No wonder she became a nurse.
Ichigo leaned back on the bench, making small talk with his little sister. It was a nice day out. Cold from the January weather, but nothing a jacket couldn't handle. It was nice to get out of the house. It was too quiet to the point where it was loud, the loud, buzzing quiet that pushed on every side of every object of everything.
"You know Orihime had another..."
"Spontaneous abortion."
Ichigo flinched and Yuzu apologized. Her training kicked in and the vocabulary spilled from her lips before she could correct the harsh words.
Yuzu thought for a moment. …Miscarriage… failure…? "…Loss." Yuzu decided on. "She had another loss."
Yuzu couldn't imagine what it would feel like to lose her boys. Masao and Masaru meant the world to her.
"But now she's just isn't the same. She sleeps in all day and mumbles a lot. And when she's not sleeping, she's cleaning everything, like it's an obsession." Her older brother sighed. "I feel like its more then just depression."
"You're right."
Ichigo looked at his sister. She was looking at him as if he was an uninformed patient looking for answers, and yet, he was.
"I believe its postpartum depression."
"I though that only happens to women who actually had the baby." Ichigo remembered that from somewhere. He couldn't exactly put his finger on the definition, but he had definitely read about it online when he was trying to find solutions.
Her brown brows knitted together. "Miscarriages cause depression too." She remembered studying this one night. Was it odd that she though about Orihime then too? "It's different, but not way off. In the books, we place them in the same category."
"Christ-" Ichigo jammed his hands through his hair, frustrated. "Is there anything we can do? Anything I can give her?"
Yuzu's brown eyes widened. "Before you can even think about anti-depressants, onii-chan, think about your Orihime not as a woman but as your wife." Yuzu heard him draw a quick, sharp breath.
"Onii-chan… You need to be there for her this time."
Damn, he would never live it down. Yes he's wronged Orihime, but did it need to be brought up, honestly? He loved his wife, he would never leave, and he would never hurt her intentionally. That was all said and done. Ichigo no longer need reminders. Even with Rukia back on the scene, he wasn't going to indulge. He wasn't going to give in. He wasn't going to resist. In fact, there was no need for resistance; he didn't love that woman, not in that way. He never loved her in that way. He just needed comfort when it should have been Orihime, not Rukia.
"Onii-chan..." Yuzu whispered bringing him out of his reverie. "…I don't want you running off with someone else again-"
Ichigo groaned. "Yuzu-"
"-And nearly ruining this family's honor and reputation because you failed to realize that she needs you."
The duo sat quietly on the bench. A cool breeze brush both of them, it pushed the loose strands of hair from Yuzu's face creating a unmistakable resemblance to their mother, Masaki.
"That's all she needs." Yuzu whispered again.
"You can't neglect her… not… not again."
Later that night.
Orihime sat completely still. She knew she was dreaming again.
It was always quiet here. Nothing moved or had color. Everything sat limp and wilting. The clouds hung low, the flowers, the hills, and so did the trees, bending, bowing down in shame.
She was all alone in her shame.
I don't know what I would of done if I took away another innocent life.
Orihime closed her eyes. All she could imagine was the day she sat over her husband and announced her second pregnancy.
I couldn't, I would not be able to live with myself…
It meant so much. It meant that the UI was wrong. It meant that their bodies were compatible. But it wasn't Ichigo… It was Orihime. It was Orihime who was causing the problems all along.
Orihime let her head fall in her hands making the tears from her eyes slip down her cheeks faster.
Her body just wasn't strong enough….
Snap!
The woman's head snapped up. "Who's there!?"
Orihime knew this was a dream, a vivid one at that. She didn't know what was lurking around corners.
Orihime craned her neck and saw a tiny, untied shoe stuck out from behind a bowing tree. Tiny hands where wrapped around the sides of the tree truck and large gray eyes peeked out from behind short brown hair.
Orihime wiped at her wet face and mustered up a soft voice. "You can come out, I won't hurt you."
The head dipped back and came out again.
Orihime hoped she didn't frighten the child. She stood and walked over to the tree. "I promise I won't hurt you…"
The head came back, slowly, and the rest of its body followed.
Why, it was just a child! Orihime lowered herself to the pale green ground. Everything in this world was pale. Nothing was lively anymore- much like herself.
Orihime lifted her hand out and waited. The child took its time walking over and grabbing it.
"Are you alone?" The woman asked the child. "Where are your parents?"
The child held its head down and didn't respond.
"Are they here?"
The child gave a nod and looked up at the nice lady. Orihime didn't know what to make of the child. It stared back at her with its wide gray eyes, innocent to say the least.
"What's your name…?"
The child shrugged. Orihime was at a lost on its gender. It looked like little boy or a girl with short hair. Three years old give or take.
Orihime tapped her bottom lip. "Hmm… We'll call you Chīsana ichi." The child squealed in delight. "Do you know what that means?"
It shook its head.
"Little one."
Chīsana ichi grinned at the name.
Orihime smiled back and stood. "Come on, let's go find those parents."
…
"Kurosaki."
Ichigo slowly looked up. When did Uryū and Kenta get in here?
"We can't prolong Gotei Industries any longer." Ishida started. "This project deserves much attention and we can't afford to let this deal slip through our fingers…"
Ichigo watched his friend go through all the points, all the tick marks, yet the man watched the shadow. The strapping young man standing beside his friend. "Kenta?"
Kenta cleared his throat. "Yes, jōshi!"
"I want you to take on this project."
Ishida sputtered. "Kurosaki!"
"Jōshi!"
"Kurosaki," Ishida said quickly, regaining his composure. "He's just an amateur. He's not ready to deal with a task of this caliber."
"I know what Kenta's capable of." Ichigo leaned back in his chair. "He's a man with ambitions. And if he doesn't get his chance now, then when, who?"
Uryū almost growled. "Ichigo. We can not place an investment such as the Kuchikis in the hands of a boy!"
Ichigo closed his eyes and breathed. "We can't. But I can." Ishida growled this time but Ichigo ignored it. "Kenta, I trust you."
Kenta bowed. "Thank you. Jōshi!"
Ichigo frowned . "Just don't fuck up, or you'll be very sorry."
Kenta paled and his eyes widened the size of a fish's. "Yes, jōshi."
Ichigo nodded to the door and Kenta strolled out, more confident then when he walked in.
Ichigo returned to the papers on his desk and crossed out a few notes. It was a few minutes before he spoke but Ichigo didn't forget his friend was there.
"Kurosaki, what has gotten in to you?"
"Like you said," Ichigo spoke without lifting his head from the papers. "We can't afford to let this slip through our fingers. This business will profit from it greatly."
Ishida soaked it in for a moment then shook his head. "I understand why you did what you did just now, and I know what happen to Orihime…. But you can't let your personal problems jeopardize what we built."
Uryū cared for his friend, he did. If they needed to talk, Ishida was always there, but the man absolutely hated it when Ichigo let his emotions blur his judgment. Being a CEO was hard, being a husband was hard and a father harder then that. But it was bed business if the jobs blended together.
"I assure you, it won't."
Ichigo knew what he was doing. He wasn't running away. This wasn't inaction but pro-action. "Kenta would get some experience and prove he is an asset to the company while simultaneously, Ishida wouldn't have to deal with tabloids wondering if this deal is an affair re-upped."
Uryū adjusted his glasses. "Fine." He turned to the door. "I trust you."
Ichigo continued reading the report and crossed out another line. "That's all I ask."
The door closed behind his friend and it was quiet again. Normally the phone was ringing, there were meetings to go to, and appearances to make… but Ichigo postponed them all or sent another in his place. He just needed to think. He thought until he finally came to a decision.
Ichigo pressed a button on his phone. "Yadomaru-san."
"Yes, Kurosaki-san?" her voice waved back.
"I need you to make me an appointment…."
…
Orihime closed her eyes. She was tired all the time, but she always waited until the day ended to visit her Chīsana ichi.
Orihime looked around the forest around her. It was just as gray and damp as the rest of the world around her, something she's become accustomed to. "What is this place?"
Chīsana ichi pointed straight and tugged on Orihime's hand.
The duo continued walking. Orihime felt a weird sensation, warmth.
"Chīsana ichi…"
The duo came to a clearing, and in the clearing was a single white door. It didn't belong in such a dingy, broken world. It was fresh and clean, not the type of clean when Orihime scrubbed the house from top to bottom everyday, but a different clean. A pure clean.
Orihime looked down at the child. "Are you parents through there?"
The kid grasped her hand harder.
Orihime stared at the door and stood still. Tamotsu used to hold her like that when he was scared, and so did Hitomi.
Orihime got down the Chīsana ichi's level and looked at the child- really looked at the child.
She saw herself.
Her eyes, her nose, her mouth. This child was her's. "You're mine… aren't you."
The child bowed its head.
Orihime covered her mouth to keep the cry from escaping. She shook her head. "I never gave you a name so you didn't know it…" Her voice trembled so she took a deep breath. "You don't have a specific gender… You didn't know who I was because I never met you…"
The child touched her cheek and Orihime kissed it.
"It's all my fault…"she rasped.
Orihime picked up the child and it wrapped its legs around her torso. "Baby… What happens if we go through that door?"
The child dug its face in her chest and clutched her shirt tightly.
Orihime touched the doorknob. It burned cold. She squeezed the child tighter as she opened the door and walked through. On the other side, Chīsana ichi was gone, no longer in her arms… Orihime broke down in tears.
A few days later.
The female opened her office door and grinned down at the sitting patient. "Kurosaki Ichigo, hello. I am Arisu Iwamoto."
Mr. Kurosaki stood and shook her hand.
Arisu walked around her desk and switch on her computer. "How are you feeling today?"
The man lowered himself back into his chair. "Fine."
His filed pulled up and clicked the first textbox.
"Have you taken any aspirin or ibuprofen recently?" Arisu asked. "It's just that we want it all out of your system before the actual procedure."
Mr. Kurosaki shook his head.
"Now," The older, silver haired woman faced the patient. "I'll give you a quick examine today, but first, let's talk." She folded her hands. "There are no real risks to a "sterilization", no one has ever died from my knowledge, or at least, from my hands. You will be awake during the procedure; you'll receive a local anesthetic which will numb the pain but not the sensation. Don't get too excited if you feel some tugging or pulling."
Normally Iwamoto made jokes to lighten the mood on suck a dark subject, especially since she was a female working in a field meant for men. But Kurosaki just kept a straight face.
The urologist cleared her throat. "Then the incision will be made, I'll cauterize the ends of the snipped vas deferens and you'll be on your merry way."
"And afterwards?"
Iwamoto waved her hand carelessly. "You will feel some soreness but it'll last for a day or two. Nothing too painful."
His orange eyebrows came together and he nodded. "I understand."
Iwamoto continued. "The bruising on the other hand will last about a week or two, depending. If it begins irritating you or swelling, use an ice pack and if it persists longer or if bleeding begins, contact my office."
"Anything I can do to take the edge off?"
Dr. Iwamoto considered. Many men wanted to know the ins and outs after their "snip". Though recovery didn't require much effort.
"I'll give you a set of basic instruction for the following day's maintenance. Get lots of rest. Wear tight underwear to help support your scrotum and try to refrain from sex if you're still feeling the 'edge'."
"That won't be a problem," Ichigo wanted to say but he took a deep breath instead.
Iwamoto turned back to her computer and typed in more information before printing the report. "Kurosaki..."
Her patient glanced up. Arisu stared back. She's been in the business long enough to know when someone really didn't want to do this with a look in their eyes. But with Kurosaki, in his eyes emitted determination and regret. Regret fro what was to come or for a past deed?
The doctor exhaled and folded her hands again. "I ask all my patients this before it's all set in stone: are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Arisu watched his knitted brows lift in surprise. "Isn't that putting you out of business?"
The older woman finally saw a flicker of amusement come from him in a quick smirk. Arisu shook her head, serious.
"My business is giving people what they want to live a healthier, happier life. If this is what you believe will give you and your wife a happy life, then we will proceed. If you have any doubts, speak them now."
It came down to this question, Ichigo knew this. It was always something he thought about once in a while, but never actually considered until… until it happened again. He talked to his family and his friends, gathering any and ever piece of advice, considering every option.
But this, this seemed to him the only way to insure his wife's safety and his sanity.
"Yes." Ichigo sat up straighter. "I want to go through with this procedure."
Do you think this vasectomy is a good idea on Ichigo's part? Especially doing without Orihime's permission? How do you think it will all play out. And, how do you guys feel about this story so far. Please tell me!
See you next Sunday!
Rocka.