Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Jealousy ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any Bleach affiliates.

Chapter 4

 

“Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.”

Fulton J. Sheen

 

“Good morning everyone!”

 

Orihime glanced up as Rukia entered the classroom, closely followed by Ichigo. She waved to the people inside as she strolled through the doors, her smile was as large as usual but Orihime knew it was fake. Kuchiki-san always smiled like a good little girl… only she wasn't a good little girl. She was bad. She was very bad.

 

“Ishida, how is your latest project going?” She asked, coming over to his desk and bending over his shoulder, staring at a book of sewing patterns.

 

“Quite well, my third cousin is getting married and I'm making sure she has a fitting wardrobe.” Ishida replied.

 

“Are you making the wedding dress?” Asked Ichigo, standing behind Rukia. Casually, he put his hand on her shoulder.

 

Orihime's eyes narrowed at the action. It was simple, small, and intimate.

 

“Yes, actually.” He answered, pushing his glasses up his nose. “But that is too delicate of a project to take to school.”

 

Orihime tightened her fists in her lap and looked over at Ishida, her expression growing darker. “Are you making the clothes for the wedding night as well, Ishida?” She asked calmly.

 

The three people cluttered around the desk looked up, Ishida's face grew red, he slid his glasses up his nose and muttered a “no,” Ichigo gave her a dumbfounded stare and Rukia leaped over to her with a grin plastered to her face.

 

“Orihime! Did you get that out of Paradise of Passion? I finished reading it last night and it's really good! It's pretty steamy at some points but I think you'll really like it! Or, wait, have you read it before?” She beamed and pulled said book out of her backpack and then pushed it into Orihime's hands.

 

Orihime took it from her but glowered; she muttered a “no, I haven't, but thank you” and shoved the book into her desk. It wasn't like she'd ever read something given to her by Kuchiki-san… at least, not now anyway.

 

Orihime's eyes followed her as she walked back towards Ichigo, her expression turned from one of happiness to one of heat.

 

“So that's where you learned to do… that?” Ichigo asked quietly, his fingers brushing the skin just below her skirt.

 

She shivered slightly and nodded her head, leaning forward to whisper. “I'm reading a new book now, it's even hotter.” She brought her tongue out and lightly licked her lips, “And there are pictures.”

 

“I look forward to hearing about it.” Ichigo murmured, staring down at her with ravenous eyes.

 

“You'll do more than hear about it.” She whispered before getting up and sauntering over to her desk, lightly flopping down.

 

Orihime looked down at her desk and saw the small scar she had looked at yesterday. Gloomily she scratched at it, opening the wooden wound until it was a bit larger.

 

Tatsuki hopped over to her desk and smiled down at her. “Sleep okay, Orihime?”

 

“Worse,” she answered automatically. “The dreams are getting tougher to sleep through and I saw something last night that I—” She stopped and bit her bottom lip. An uneasy silence filtered through them, Tatsuki watched as Orihime simply stared at her desk, not saying a word.

 

She bent down, eye level now with the desolate girl. “Orihime, if there is something bothering you… you can tell me, I can help you.” She reached her hand forward and placed it over Orihime's. Tatsuki's eyes widened when she felt her skin, it was as cold as ice and wet with bits of perspiration.

 

“Tatsuki,” Orihime whispered after several heart thuds of silence, there were bits of fear in her voice, as well as another emotion Tatsuki thought sounded like, well, menace. “Do you—do you think I could ever hurt someone?” She asked quietly.

 

Tatsuki frowned and immediately shook her head. Her short hair flopped in front of her face and her nose wrinkled in protest. “No,” she answered verbally. “Definitely not, Orihime, you're too gentle to be able to hurt someone. You couldn't even kill that spider that bit you last week!” She laughed nervously, trying to keep her mind off of Orihime's chilling question.

 

“Yeah…” Orihime murmured, taking out the books she would need for class. “Yeah, I guess you're right.”

 

“You know I'm right, Orihime.” Tatsuki said gently.

 

Orihime nodded and scowled at her desk. She listened as the tardy bell rang and the teacher came through the door, beginning class.

 

Throughout the lesson, Orihime's mind kept wandering over to Rukia and Ichigo. The two seemed closer, more intimate. There seats were closer, if only fractionally, and they seemed to always be leaning towards one another.

 

Those two have become quite cozy.

 

A cold chill ran up her spine and she buckled unexpectedly. Orihime jolted upwards and whipped her head around the classroom. `What was that?' She thought erratically.

 

There was silence, only silence and nothing more. She swallowed and shook her head, not trusting herself at this point with rational thinking.

 

“Inoue-san, do you need to use the ladies room?” The teacher asked, her eyes peering over her notebook.

 

Orihime shook her head and gave a weak smile before turning back to her book…

 

…Only she didn't turn back to her book. She turned back to watching Ichigo and Rukia, they were… wait… was that a note? They were passing notes?

 

Disgusting. Echoed a voice.

 

Orihime couldn't help the flinch that afflicted her when the voice sounded again. Only this time… she couldn't tell if it was her own voice or someone else's. It didn't matter though, she agreed with it.

 

It was disgusting.