Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo
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CHAPTER 3:- Can You Cook?
It was a new day for Orihime and what's better than that? A weekend which was today. After coming back from school yesterday Orihime finished her homework as usual and also because she had some plans for today so after waking up she got ready and finished her breakfast before heading out. Today she wore a blue jeans along with her favorite pink full sleeves T shirt and blue jeans as she happily made her way over to Ikumi's house. Orihime was shy and didn't really talk to her but after frequently seeing her often she opened up to her slowly and got familiar with her. They became more like friends and soon after Ikumi volunteered to teach her cooking as Orihime was quite horrible due to not having any means to learn it and didn't really have anyone to teach her except Tatsuki who also wasn't really interested in it.
She was quite excited walking through the streets of Karakura town and breathing in the fresh air that flew through as she was curious what she would learn today. She liked learning something new because it brought her more knowledge and was sometimes fun to gain some unknown knowledge about it and she started to learn cooking from Ikumi for quite a few weeks on the weekends and it was developing up to be her favorite hobby now.
She finally stopped over to see a familiar house which belonged to Ikumi, she adjusted her dress and decided to ring the bell waiting to meet hr friend after a tiring week. Ikumi swings the door open and after realizing who it was a smile was plastered on her face.
Ikumi: Oh hello sweetie how are you?
Orihime: Oh hello Ikumi san I am fine what about you?
Ikumi: Same as you now don't just stand there come in please.
Ikumi makes way for Orihime and she steps in the now familiar inner structure of the house, she then sits on the couch in the living room as requested by Ikumi and just looks around the room in order to suffice her boredom until Ikumi comes back.
Ikumi: Here sweetie take a glass of water, Orihime politely takes the water from the tray that Ikumi was carrying and she then sets the tray on the table in front sitting besides her while taking her own glass as well.
Orihime: Thank you Ikumi san, she takes a sip after thanking for quenching her thirst.
Ikumi: No problem honey and don't need to be so formal you can just call me Ikumi. There is a small pause in between as they both drink until Ikumi starts up the conversation again.
Ikumi: So by the way how is your school going?
Orihime: Oh it's going great in fact in a few months we will be having finals so you can say we are near the ending of the final year of school, she speaks setting her glass of water on the table.
Ikumi: Oh that's nice to know by the way how is Ichigo doing it has been a long time since I have seen him?
Orihime: Oh he is also doing well although he is a little behind when it comes to preparation, she fidgets her fingers knowing how much Ichigo procrastinates when it comes to studying but he does quite good in tests.
Ikumi: Oh well sounds like Ichigo anyways good luck to both you and your friends and I hope you all pass the exam with flying colors.
Orihime: Oh thanks Ikumi san and I will.
Ikumi: Well now that the formalities are out of the way lets start your lesson shall we, she says while setting her empty glass down on the table as well.
Orihime: Oh sure I have been looking forward to it for a long time, she is excited to learn something new to cook after a week.
Ikumi: Well then let's get started shall we? They both stand up and make their way over to the kitchen and Orihime realizes that she hasn't seen her son because usually there would be a lot of noise in the house when he is around.
Orihime: By the way Ikumi san I don't see Kaoru around?
Ikumi: Oh yeah he went to hang out at his friend's house so he won't be here for a while.
Orihime: Oh I see, they both wear their aprons ready to start the lesson.
Ikumi: So today we are gonna be baking a simple cake so which flavor do you want?
Orihime: Oh I guess chocolate?
Ikumi: Ahh~ the classic one so first lets take out our utensils and ingredients.
Ikumi and Orihime both roam the kitchen taking out the utensils to use as well as the ingredients according to whatever Ikumi orders her to.
Ikumi: Ok now that we are ready and set let's start (to which Orihime replied with her gleeful nod).
As the hours pass by Orihime starts pouring the ingredients and mixing it as per Ikumi's instructions it was a very wholesome scene like a mother teaching her daughter how to bake a cake in fact it might be one since Ikumi is kind of like a mother figure to Orihime. Finally the cake was done as the sun set over the horizon inidcating that it was going to be dark soon.
Ikumi: Phew it's finally done well have a taste. Ikumi smiles and encourages her to take a taste of her own hard work.
Orihime nods and hesitantly takes a taste as she was nervous whether it would be good or bad and finally took a slice of it in her mouth and her eyes widened.
Ikumi: So... how is it?
Orihime gives her a thumbs up and licks the remains of the cake off her lips before speaking " wow its very sweet and tasty ". Ikumi giggles at her reaction and takes a slice herself.
Ikumi: Mmmmmm~ not bad it has the softness to it however the sweetness is a bit much but don't worry through practice you will get better at it.
Orihime nods: of course i will remember to practice it often thanks Ikumi san now that its getting late I will take my leave, she packs her things as well as take a part of the cake as Ikumi demands her to since she made it with her own hands.
Ikumi: Ok bye sweetie if you see Ichigo tell him that my fists are itching so he can visit if he wants to a have some fresh knuckles ok? Orihime giggles at her words.
Orihime: Alright Ikumi san I will take my leave now and of course tell Ichigo if I see him, she bows to her and she departs waving at her while Ikumi does the same as they both enjoyed this little cooking session.
As Orihime goes into the distance Ikumi finally lets out a sigh along with a smile before closing the door and praying for her safety. Meanwhile Orihime walks along the bright lit streets illuminating the roads as she takes her steps towards the direction of her house, however her moment of peace was disturbed as she felt a faint spiritual pressure in the distance.
She was hesitant at first as it cam from an unknown source but her curiosity got the best of her and she got lured by the sense of it. She follows the trail and as she gets closer the pressure gets thicker indicating that she was close but something didn't feel right so now she picked up her pace and ran towards the direction of the source.
As reached the site she was shocked a young 10 year old kid was laid on the ground terrified as his eyes captured an image of a 10 feet hollow in front of him with improportionately smaller legs in comparison to its bigger upper body which covered 2/3 of it's body and it's arms were muscular and massive as well reaching upto his waist. It let out a roar terrifying the kid even more and he started trembling scared for his life, it then raised it's arm and swung at him as the kid embraced for the punch but it was a few seconds which means the punch didn't reach him so he looked up to see the back of a ginger headed woman putting up some sort of yellow shield in front of them blocking the punch of the hollow.
Orihime: Quickly run away!, she says in her stern but sweet voice to which the boy's body takes the courage and sprints for his life clearing the area of a possible battle.
She lets out a sigh of relief and her demeanor becomes stern knowing the battle ahead she retracts her shield into her hairpins waiting for it to make its next move. It roars and sends another punch towards her to which she reacts by bringing up her shield again but a smaller one to fit his fist as she blocks it again and blows the hollow away by her rejection property of the technique through the shield, It goes back a few meters and stumbles but gets its balance back after which it dashes towards her shaking the ground below with each step and this time she put up a bigger shield to block its rampage but as it's body hit the shield it sent her back a bit causing strain on her.
After it successfully pushed her back it started attacking the shield relentlessly trying to break it as a few cracks appeared on it she stood there sweating and gritting her teeth trying to focus and keep on the shield as long as possible, finally she got an idea as it was attacking it the shield vanished as it was about to punch which made it stumble forward so she used this opportunity to smack its face with a barrier perfect for its head and sent him tumbling backwards which angered it even more.
It then stood up its eyes red with anger and jumped a few feet above and landed besides her which caused her to stumble and fall as she tried to dodge it. It then stood above injured Orihime and roared at her before bringing its fist down on her so she closed her eyes preparing herself to be hit as she didn't have time to bring up her barrier. However it has been a few seconds and it never reached her so she opened her eyes to wonder what happened.
Orihime: *gasp* Kurosaki kun! Ichigo stood there with his front facing her blocking the punch with the zanpakuto on his back.
Ichigo: Sorry Orihime I am late but now that I am here I am gonna give this hollow hell, he gave her a smile of reassurance and turned around facing it while unsheathing his zanpakuto from the back and taking his stance.
Ichigo: You damn bastard how dare you lay a finger on my friend now you will pay for this, it roared in response and charged against him.
He also charged against him and slid from under him taking the opportunity of this vulnerability he sliced the muscle of one of it's legs which made it kneel on the ground but the hollow still had fight left in it so it turned around on one leg and threw a punch towards him which was dodged and instead hit the ground causing a crack. Again as he dodged it left it wide open and due to the sluggish slow movement of the hollow it gave him an advantage so he climbed up the arm and reflexively dodged another hit from the other fist which made it hit its own arm and made it scream in agony.
He yet again used this opening to climb on its shoulder and jumped towards its face while yelling and finally slices off the mask on its head indicating it's defeat, he then lands back on the ground and sheaths his zanpakuto back while the hollow falls on the ground behind him slowly disappearing into dust.
Ichigo: Phew that bastard is gone are you alright Orihime? He turns to face her and helps her up.
Orihime: Oh I am fine just a few scratches that's all, she tries to brush it off as she feels embarrassed being saved by Ichigo which made her feel insecure about her power.
Ichigo: Hey take it easy ok no need to push yourself, he supports her and looks at her upset face as she looks at the ground.
Ichigo: Hey Orihime listen I also felt the same humiliation when I got beaten by hollows before and needed to be saved but in the end I was grateful since I came out alive I did rather see you live then die. He tries to comfort her.
Orihime: Thanks for saving me Kurosaki kun, she throws a faint smile at him feeling warm due to his comfort.
Ichigo: Ok we should go to my clinic dad can fix you up there, he sees that her feet were also injured so he instead decided to carry her on his arms which surprised her as she didn't expect such action from him and a faint blush could be seen on her cheeks.
He walked through the streets now carrying her towards his clinic and she loved every bit of it she has been alone ever since her brother passed away so now being carried in his arms made her feel safe and secured. His steps go further into the distance as the moon gazes upon them making them glow in the darkness of the night.
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