WestSide Story From Hell
Chapter 3
Despite being slightly freaked out, I needed to put my friends first. I pulled into my home, the library, and took Nel under my wing; and Rukia by the hand. Unlocking the door, I pulled them inside. Climbing up the stairs, I decided to try and ease the awkward tension.
"So, anybody want hot chocolate?" I asked opening the door to the second floor.
"Um, no. I mean, I think we're good." Nel said restlessly, trying to chuckle ever so slightly, under her breath. Smiling to myself, I watched as Nel settled herself onto my couch, grabbing the blanket hanging off the back. I turned my attention back to Rukia.
"Does it still hurt?" My fingers drifting across her face; The bruise seemed to get darker and darker by the minute.
"Not as bad as before." She mumbled back, her eyes looking towards the window. I put my hand on her face, and started the healing process. A soft yellow glow formed around the injury. Her eyes flickered back to me. "We haven't hung out in awhile, as friends, have we?" Her eyes showed sorrow, pain, and concern. She may have been asking me the question, but her question itself, was meant for another.
Shaking my head, I watched as the bruise started turning yellow, how it etched across her face, withering and moving back in together. To make the bruise in a circular shape, to make it smaller, less exhausting to heal.
"We haven't spent time together like we used to in middle school. But our lives aren't like that anymore, Rukia. I want nothing more but to stand by your side. I'll watch you grow, and I'll always be there to help you back on your feet. Our friendship is not lost, our link is still there. This war will come to an end soon." I whispered, saying the words she wanted to hear. I wouldn't tell her how much I hated how far we drifted apart. How I felt useless compared to them, how I felt so lost and alone. How I felt that Nel and Rangiku were the only ones left who cared for me. How pathetic and the want to be needed I'd felt when I realized I lost her and everyone else in the mist of madness. I wouldn't hurt her that way, I'd rather hurt alone than to bring someone into my heart only to be trapped in the dark hollow-ness of it.
Rukia left shortly after that, and she seemed better. Physically and Mentally, that is. Emotionally, her insides were buzzing. I walked her to the door, where she gave me a hug. Not a hug that said 'See you soon' but a hug that said 'Goodbye'.
I walked back to where Nel was, she was nodding off, fighting to keep awake. The blanket was falling off her shoulder, and she looked uncomfortable. I walked towards her, picking up the blanket and laying it properly on her, with her sprawled across my couch.
As I was leaving to go to my bedroom, I felt her hand grasp my wrist.
"You wouldn't lie to me like that, would you? You wouldn't lie to make me feel better, right?" Her voice held nothing back, fear was weaved in her words and her face showed panic.
"No, I don't think I would." She seemed calm by my words and drifted back to sleep. What she didn't know was, I was lying. If the truth hurt her, I'd rather lie to her face then to see her fall into despair.
By the time I woke up the next morning, Nel was already gone. Arriving to school that morning was a decision; instead of doing it involuntarily, I stopped before opening my car door. Thinking about Gin's smile, did I really want to go? It would be slightly suspicious if I didn't though.
And that my friends, is how I ended up here. Here being: Chased and cornered into the library, hiding under the table, all the way at the back of the library; the non-fiction side of the library, where no one else goes to.
You see, nobody on the Espada side could find out who else was in the shadows last night, and Gin had a 'feeling' it was important to know who. That ass. So, since I entered the school the next morning, I've been warned by Nel to hide, and so I've been staying close to her because she can pick up whose close, and if they're looking for me.
Somewhere after lunch, we got separated. Grimmjow had caught Nel by the waist, pulling her to the side, and at that moment, I noticed Grimmjow was being accompanied by Ulquiorra. When I saw Ulquiorra, his face was etched in shock. Which, of course, vanished in an instance.
I, being the complete idiot I am, just stood there. Like a rock. Grimmjow then proceeded to put two and two together.
"It's her?" His voice in disbelief. "She's the one that was watching us last night? My girl's best friend?"
"I'm not your girl, Grimmjow!" Nel shouted at him even though her eyes betrayed her. She really like how he called her 'his'.
"I don't know…" Ulquiorra muttered, slowly narrowing his eyes at me, sizing me up. I guess that was the moment that, I too, could put two and two together.
Meaning: I ran away.
I ran down the hallways, down to the library, with loud footsteps following me echoing off the walls, with the occasional "PUT ME DOWN!" from Nel. To be frank, sure, it was scary. But it was nice, I was having fun.
I rushed into the library, and running all the way to the non-fiction section, I went to the darkest corner where shadows hid the table so well, most people didn't see it. I got down on my knees, and crawled underneath, stopping to sit and hold my legs to my chest, letting my back rest against the wall. I was still breathing hard, when I heard them enter the library.
I was laughing under my breath when they, mostly Grimmjow, started chanting out that they wouldn't hurt me if I came out. That dope, did he think I would believe him? I've spent all my life watching both of our sides pummel each other to the ground, fighting all the way until it looked like someone would die. I wasn't that stupid, at least I wasn't anymore. I knew I could get hurt, and I knew not to trust anyone's word.
Of course, I guess I can't laugh quietly either because the next thing you know, BOOM! They're there. Right. In. Front. Of. You.
Of course, they can't see me. Well, Nel can, and Grimmjow is looking around, and Ulquiorra's staring at me. But he couldn't know I'm here, right?
"She's not here…" Grimmjow whined, slightly ticked.
"Since you know that, why don't we get out of here?" Nel asked, staring at me in horror.
"You can go; I know she's in here." Ulquiorra answered, walking towards my table; leaving Grimmjow to glare at his backside a few more seconds before shrugging and walking off with Nel.
"Why continue hiding, when I know you're there?" I didn't answer, maybe if I didn't answer, he'd realize how stupid this was and walk away.
"Are you afraid?" He asked reaching for the chair across from me, pulling it out, and sitting on the floor where it once sat.
"Your name is Orihime Inoue. You work at the library I go to after school. You're best friends with Nel. I know you. So let me ask again; Are you afraid?" I was the person no one ever saw, or considered to know. I lived that way, on purpose. So how could he?
"Are you afraid?" He spoke again, breaking my focus. I could sit here for hours and have more people try and hunt me down, or I could answer now, when there's only one of them.
"What do you want?" I whispered, my voice betraying me, showing how panicked I was.
"So you're afraid?" He asked accusingly.
"Why would I be afraid of you? Why ask a question you could find out without having to ask it?" I snapped back. My question seemed to take him off guard. Rage filled his eyes, boy; was he angry now.
"You, a mere normal human, know?" He spoke in monotone.
"Why, of course not. I mean, Ichigo can fire demonic strawberries out his fingers, and Rukia has the power to summon bunnies that look like her drawings! Oh, and don't forget Grimmjow; he's a super kitty!" My voice dripped in sarcasm and venom.
"A super kitty?" He asked. He didn't seem that mad anymore, in fact; he seemed quite amused. I cracked a smile. He was talking to me, the green-eyed wonder. "So, may I ask, if you could come out?"
Oh, no. That would be a bad idea. You could see me already; you were talking to me! That itself should be enough.
"I'd rather not," I answered shakily, "That doesn't sound like a good idea."
"Of course not. I don't even know what side you're on. If you know of our powers, you could be my ally or enemy. But I guess, you just have to trust me; when I ask, will you come closer?" He spoke in a gentle tone, but, there was no way I would trust him. So instead, I switched topics.
"I'm friends with Nel and Rangiku, an Espada, but," I paused, watching him quirk his left eyebrow, "I'm also friends with Rukia and Ichigo; and Chad; and Uryuu." He stayed silent. I continued. "This fight, war, thing, is useless. What do you get out of it? I help my friends, no matter what side."
"Do you sell us out?" He asked. That question, made me feel ashamed. I did.
"Well…" I didn't want to admit. I don't ever want to admit it. Not when I finally get to talk to him.
"Do you or do you not?" He asked again, slightly raising his voice.
"Yes. But only to be fair!" I yelled. "You guys are so cruel. You set up traps, you steal, and you took our innocence. I'd get information about your sneak attacks, your traps, and I'd tell them. But you're so cruel, you don't care if they die, if you hurt them, you make them fight back. On the other hand, I've helped you guys, too. You've made Rukia so hopeless, and Ichigo so cruel that even now as we're talking, they're falling down to your level. Your level of a fight. I've been able to convince them, what they're doing is wrong, but you hit Rukia last night. Ichigo, he may not know it, but he cares. He cares for her. And you, people, are turning him into a monster!" I moved from out under the table, clinging to the wall, out of the shadows.
"That's fair? Justifying your Shinigami friends? Do you realize why we hate them? Loathe them?" He shot back.
"I help you, too. Nel's a sensitive empath, I take her away from the scene. That time, Rangiku pushed Gin out of the way when Hichigo got control and took out a gun from who knows where and shot with intent to kill? I recovered her. That time Nel's ear, nose, even eye's started bleeding when everyone was so angry and tried to literally kill each other? I made her better. I help those who get hurt in the crossfire."
"And the taking away of your childhood innocence of your pathetic bunch of Shinigami?" He asked, seemingly having an internal battle with himself.
"This war we've created, took everything away from us. Ichigo lost his mom. Rukia lost her older sister. Nel lost the ability to be around people. Rangiku had to give up everyone who went with the Shinigami. Everyone was forced to grow up, way too soon."
"You think it isn't the same for us? Do you even know-no. I will play no worthless games with my emotions. Nor will I play with you," He paused, sighing. Getting up from his sitting position, he got up and walked over to me; towering over me. "What did you lose?"
I could've told him, I was telling him everything anyway. He made me want to talk, to share things I didn't want to even admit to myself.
"I don't have to answer that." I said softly, shifting my gaze from his eyes to the floor.
"You always talk about your friends, and never about yourself," he whispered while putting his hand under my chin, tilting it up for me to look at him, "Put yourself first, not others."
At that point, I wanted to cry. Everyone still had something to live for, I didn't want to care for something that didn't have something to live for. I wasn't the little girl who laughed, who experimented in the kitchen, trying to find something someone could enjoy with her, that girl died a long time ago; and I wasn't there to recover her.
Yeah...I realize this chapter is kinda fast-paced and odd. But it gets better! Especially the ending of chapter six, you'll enjoy that.
Thank you those who have favorited or story alerted my child! You guys make me H-A-P-P-Y!
Thank you those who have reviewed as well!
Deyoki: Thank you! I can't wait for the continuation, too. Sometimes I'll just reread my story, and when I find the spot where I stopped, I'll sit there sulking about how this will never get updated unless I decide to get off my butt and update it :]
fallenangel320: I know! I got four reviews now! They make me all tinglely inside! But even if I decide to listen to you, I'm not going to change the ending...yet. Teehee^^
To those who read WSSFH, 'cause this is how I have it save on my Doc. Manager ;D, I hope you had a great week of school back from the holidays!