Hearts of Glass, Steel, Fire and Ice

"I've always wondered who came up with the names for the seasons. I mean 'spring' and 'fall' make sense as in the springtime flowers, plants and even people are 'springing' to life, while during the fall, leaves and other plants are 'falling' to the ground."

At first during their journey, Orihime and Norainu had gone along in silence, not really sure how to overcome this first obstacle. Eventually, Orihime's talkative and friendly nature had gotten the best of her and she began chatting away about anything and everything she could possibly think of. Norainu kept up a brisk pace, his gait comparable to a horse's gallop or canter at times, but still managed to take part in Orihime's conversation when required. However, he was mostly content to simply run and listen to her talk about her home, her brother and her friends back in Karakura Town.

Orihime adjusted herself slightly on Norainu's back as she went on, "But winter and summer just aren't the same. Their names don't really and truly describe what happens during those three months. And yet, just from hearing the word 'winter', my mind conjures up pictures of snow, ice, frost covered windows, sledding and all sorts of other things one sees or does during the winter months. Same with summer. It's rather interesting when you stop to think about it."

"That it is, now that you mention it," Norainu said with a smile in his voice.

A smile lighting her own features, Orihime asked, "This might seem like a silly question, but which is your favorite season?"

There was a short pause before Norainu replied thoughtfully, "Well, fall has always been somewhat special to me, but in many ways winter is my favorite of the seasons."

Orihime didn't feel the need to ask the next most obvious question and after a time, Norainu said, "I knew a girl once who embodied the essence of winter. She could be quite icy if you irritated her or did something stupid. She could also sparkle and her eyes would glisten like newly fallen snow in the sunlight when she laughed."

At his words, something clicked in Orihime's mind and she said immediately and with certainty, "You're talking about Rukia," then she quickly stuttered, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blurted out like that. I wasn't thinking."

Norainu slowed his pace down slightly so that he could turn his head slightly and look at her with one of his warm, slightly sad brown eyes as he said, "No, you were absolutely right and there's nothing to forgive, Orihime."

Facing the road once again, Norainu picked up his pace as he said slowly, "Rukia was my dearest friend. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about her and wish that things might have turned out differently."

There was a long pause while Orihime absorbed this new information before she leaned forward, wrapped her arms around the wolf's neck and said softly, "There was a boy in Karakura and his name was Ichigo. We also grew up together and I can only think of a few times growing up when we didn't see each other for a day or so."

Hugging Norainu's neck a little tighter in an attempt to keep herself a little more composed, Orihime went on, "When we were twelve, Ichigo's mom was killed in front of us…by a panther."

The next moment, Orihime thought that Norainu was startled by her words as he seemed to lose his rhythm for a moment. However, as quickly as the sensation happened, Orihime realized they were running along just the same as before, so she gave the incident no mind.

"A panther you say?" asked Norainu, "What exactly happened?"

Orihime took a deep breath and allowed the memories to come to the forefront of her mind and said slowly, "Ichigo and I were talking as we sat next to a river and then we heard Ichigo's mom calling out to us. We turned and saw that she was bringing us out some lunch, so we got up and starting racing towards her. Next thing we knew, there was a panther chasing after us, Ichigo stepped in front of me in order to protect me and…" she stopped for a moment to take a few deep breaths before saying, "Mrs. Kurosaki somehow managed to jump in front of us…the panther just…"

"I understand," Norainu said gently.

Laying her head atop Norainu's as best she could, Orihime said sadly, "After that, Ichigo was never the same. He blamed himself and there was nothing I could do about it. Three years later he just…disappeared."

"He disappeared?" asked Norainu, "What do you mean?"

"It was a cold winter night and Ichigo had become a part of the Night Watch by then, so he was on patrol on the Karakura Wall. The next morning, they discovered that his post was abandoned but there were no footprints in the snow outside the wall so he couldn't have run away. There was no trace of him anywhere in Karakura, so no one is sure exactly what happened to him, but since no one could think of any reason why he would leave his family and the Night Watch with no explanation or warning, everyone simply assumed that he was dead."

There was another pause before Norainu asked, "So you decided to set out on your own to find Ichigo, see if he's all right or find out what happened to him and bring word back to his family and the people of Karakura?"

Taking another deep breath, Orihime said, "I didn't set out until just recently. Ichigo disappeared almost two years ago, but I didn't do anything for the longest time because I still had my older brother to think about."

"And what does your brother think about your little adventure?"

"Well," Orihime swallowed thickly, "I think he would be fine with this, but he was killed…by a panther…back in the summer."

Once again, at the word 'panther', Norainu seemed to react, but this time he didn't lose his footing. Rather, with her arms wrapped around his neck, Orihime noticed his heart rate speed up slightly at the word.

However, his voice was calm as he asked, "Another panther? That seems rather strange."

Nodding her head against Norainu's neck, Orihime replied, "That thought didn't really strike me before, but now that I think about it, I'm fairly positive that the panther who killed my brother was the same one who killed Ichigo's mom."

"What did it look like?"

Orihime thought for a moment before saying, "It seemed rather large, if I remember correctly. Its head was almost up to my chest and very strong looking. And its fur was a striking shade of blue. Also, both times, it disappeared before anyone else could see it."

Now, Orihime was sure that Norainu knew something of this panther since his pulse quickened again, but he said simply, "I see," before he took a breath and said, "Sorry. This whole discussion must be drudging up some highly unpleasant memories for you. Why don't we talk about something else?"

Even though she wanted to ask Norainu about the panther, Orihime knew that Norainu was right. Despite the fact that she had hope in the success of her quest, as the memories of Ichigo's loss and torn heart along with her brother's death flitted across her mind, Orihime felt her heart becoming more and more burdened. There would be time enough to find out what Norainu knew later on in their journey together.

For a time, they went along talking on more light-hearted subjects. Then, all of a sudden, Norainu stopped dead in his tracks and seemed to be sniffing the air. Sensing his air of suspicion, Orihime bit her tongue and did not ask what it was that was bothering Norainu.

Turning to the right, Norainu called out, "I smell you two over there. Who are you and what do you want?"

There was a series of delighted, childish giggles before a young girl's voice called out gleefully, "Oopsie Kenny! Looks like we've been caught!"

Another voice replied in an irritated, gruff tone, "Why do I bother listening to your stupid directions? You always get us caught!"

"Aww, don't be like that Kenny!" said the girl's voice soothingly, "The game wouldn't be nearly as much fun if we didn't get caught every once in a while."

"That's just the problem!" retorted the gruff voice, "Your lousy directions are always getting us caught, Yachiru! I should just leave you behind and stalk people by myself!"

"But you wouldn't have nearly as much without me, Kenny!"

Seeming to come to the end of his patience with the two voices, Norainu called out irritably, "Would you two quit bickering and come out onto the road where I can get a good look at you?"

In response to his demand, Orihime heard the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs for about ten seconds before a young man appeared beside the path. On his back, the young man was carrying a little girl.

The young man was probably in his early twenties as far as Orihime could tell. He had rough, thick black hair and an eye patch over his right eye. The girl on his back was grinning impishly while waving hand vigorously at Orihime in greeting. Her hair was curled at the ends and a light shade of pink, which really fascinated Orihime.

The young man named Kenny grinned at Norainu and said slowly, "Well, well, well. I hope you are half as tough as you talk and twice as strong as you look."

Norainu sounded slightly confused as he asked, "What?"

Kenny's grin lessened slightly as he replied, "I'm gonna fight you and you'd better be tough enough to give me a little fun."

Sitting up straight, Orihime said calmly and soothingly, "I don't think there's any reason for us to fight one another just yet. We don't even know each other's names."

Jerking a thumb at himself, Kenny said, "Kenpachi," pointing at the girl he said, "Yachiru," before finishing with, "There. Your turn."

Blinking in surprise, Orihime collected herself and said politely, "My name is Orihime and this is my friend, Norainu. It's a plea-"

Beginning to crack his knuckles, Kenpachi said dismissively, "Yeah, yeah, whatever," looking directly at Orihime, he said, "We're gonna fight now, so get off him."

Before either Orihime or Norainu could say anything, Yachiru saved them by grabbing two huge handfuls of Kenpachi's hair and saying forcefully, "Kenny! Don't forget what Rangiku told us! No fighting!"

Lurching backwards, Kenpachi yelled in anger, pain and irritation, "Knock it off you annoying pest! I don't care what Rangiku says, I want to fight this wolf!"

Pulling harder, Yachiru said more insistently, "No, no, no Kenny! Rangiku said no fighting before the wedding and we promised we wouldn't! We pinky promised! So NO FIGHTING!"

With an almighty yank, Yachiru caused Kenpachi to completely lose his balance and go crashing to the ground. Somehow, Yachiru managed to disentangle herself so that she wasn't crushed under Kenpachi's weight.

Hands on her hips, Yachiru frowned down at Kenpachi and said disapprovingly, "If you break a pinky promise then you'll get cut with a thousand hundred million knives and you won't be able to see the princess get married or eat all the yummy sweets they'll make for everybody! So no fighting Kenny!"

Slipping off Norainu's back, Orihime walked quickly over to check on Kenpachi and was immediately relieved to see that he was all right other than looking slightly dazed.

Turning to Yachiru, Orihime said politely, "My friend and I are traveling through here-"

Yachiru interrupted Orihime saying cheerfully, "I like you! Let's be friends!"

Blinking in surprise, Orihime couldn't help but smile and reply, "I would like that very much, Yachiru."

Grinning up at Orihime, Yachiru said, "I'll call you Ori-Dori, ok?" but before Orihime could reply, she grabbed Orihime's hand and said, "Now that you're my friend, Ori-Dori, you're coming with me to the castle to see the princess get married! And we'll eat all kinds of good sweets together and play games and have tons of fun!"

Nodding her head slowly, Orihime said, "That does sound nice Yachiru," looking at Norainu, Orihime half said, half asked, "If my friend thinks it's all right, I suppose we could postpone our trip for a few days."

Pulling Orihime along with her, Yachiru said, "Okey-dokey then! Let's go!" and without another backward glance, Yachiru set off with Orihime behind her.

Looking back, Orihime was relieved to see that Kenpachi seemed to have gathered his wits and was following them looking rather sulky while rubbing the back of his head and muttering. Norainu was also coming along behind them.

Yachiru was still chattering away and Orihime was only half listening to the little girl when suddenly something Yachiru said caught Orihime's attention.

"What did you just say, Yachiru?"

Not looking back, Yachiru giggled and said, "You're silly Ori-Dori! I said the princess is going to marry a man who scowls all the time, so I call him Mr. Frowny-Face. She didn't smile much before, but now that Princess-Peachy has found Mr. Frowny-Face, she smiles a lot more!"

For some reason, Orihime felt a little tug at her heart and so she asked, "What are Princess-Peachy and Mr. Frowny-Face like?"

Yachiru said brightly, "Oh, they bicker a bit and that just makes Princess-Peachy giggle and Mr. Frowny-Face go 'hmph' and cross his arms. Princess-Peachy like Mr. Frowny-Face's eyes. She told me that his eyes were sad at first when she met him, but now he doesn't look so lonely anymore.

"Princess-Peachy said that she was also feeling lonely before she met Mr. Frowny-Face, but now she feels happier because she has him around."

At Yachiru's words, Orihime felt a weight settle over her heart. Could it be? Could it really be Ichigo? Could she have already found Ichigo so quickly? And if so, why didn't she feel happier at this news? Ichigo was happy. He had found someone who loved him and who had managed to heal the hurt she hadn't been able to. And also, this princess seemed to have gone through some terrible pain of the heart just like Ichigo had and now with Ichigo by her side, this princess was able to find happiness again as well.

If this was the case, then Orihime should be overjoyed to be able to celebrate this wonderful occasion with her best friend and take the news back to Ichigo's family. Maybe she could come back again, this time with Isshin, Karin and Yuzu so that they could meet the newest member of their family.

As she continued walking and half paying attention to where she was going or what Yachiru was saying, Orihime found herself wrestling with those thoughts and the idea that she wished she and Norainu had never run into Kenpachi and Yachiru.

Author's Note:

Ok, just to reassure some of you, keep in mind that this story is FAR from over. And that's all I'll say about that.

Yachiru and Kenpachi were fun to play around with here and I hope you enjoyed their appearance as well. Hopefully, they seemed pretty much the way they usually are with a few exceptions. (P.S. I know Orihime's name was 'Boobies' but, call me a prude, I didn't want to have to type that one out all the time…)

More new characters to pop up in the next few chapters, but are there any requests for characters you'd like to see?

As always, hope you liked this chapter!