Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Seeds of Destruction ❯ The Heavy Weight of a Goodbye ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: BDP

2. Pained Heart - The heavy weight of a goodbye

“Inoue-chan !”

Orihime turned around to see who it was that was calling her and found herself smiling as she saw that it was Rukia. “Kuchiki-san!” She said and stopped to wait until she had caught up with her.

“Ohayou !” Rukia greeted, once next to her. “Ne, ready to graduate?”

Orihime nodded with an excited grin. “Yes, finally!”

“Sooo—Where's Ichigo?” Rukia nonchalantly asked, or at least, tried.

“I left early this morning while he was still in the shower, he said he was going to meet up with Renji-kun later on—“

“Wait, hold on. What did you just say?” Rukia asked, standing still now and staring at her with a grin.

Orihime blinked and scratched the back of her head. “I left early this morning while he was still in the shower…” She let her phrase die out when she noticed the suspicious look her friend was giving her. “Kuchiki-san?”

“So when Ichigo said to me last night that he was going over to your place to help you with your speech, did you guys actually work on the speech?” the black haired girl asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Ehehehe…” Orihime chuckled, feeling a little embarrassed. “Well, you see, the thing is that err— I had already written the most important part and so eh—”

Rukia chuckled. “He ended up spending the night.”

Orihime only nodded, but Rukia had already seen the tender expression that had spread over her features. “Was he gentle?”

At that the other girl blushed a deep color of red and quickly resumed her walk. The memories of the past night were engraved in her heart and she nodded, having decided not to worry anyone of the angsty part of her romantic night. “He… was.”

Rukia came to walk next to her with a big grin on her face. “Welcome to womanhood, Inoue-chan!”

Orihime giggled shyly and nodded in acknowledgement. “Ne, Kuchiki-san… ano…”

“What is it?”

“Your first time… how was it?” Orihime asked softly, looking to her right at the river that tranquilly flowed by.

“Hmm…” Rukia cocked her head to the side and thought about it for a moment. “Clumsy,” she then decided with a shrug.

“Was it with Renji-kun?”

Rukia smiled gently and turned to give her a look. “Don't tell him I said `clumsy'.”

Orihime laughed heartedly at that and tucked a strand of her long hair behind an ear. She then spun around, suddenly feeling giddy all over. “I can't wait to go to college! I just can't decide on what to study!”

Rukia chuckled and shrugged. “I have no idea either, not that it even matters…”

“How long are you guys going to be around for anyways?” Orihime wondered, walking backwards now, facing her friend with a grin. “Rangiku-san and Toushirou-kun have already gone back to the Soul Society.”

“That anxious of getting rid of us?” Rukia said with a small smile.

“No! No, not at all Kuchiki-san! I was just wondering…” Orihime shrugged and giggled innocently.

“Well, I guess that Renji and I haven't returned yet for the simple reason that we haven't been called back. I guess they think that we can still be of use here.”

“Oh… but it's been over 6months now that Ichigo-kun defeated Aizen,” Orihime noted with a pensive expression on her face. “What if they forgot about you?”

“They did not forget about us!” Rukia exploded.

Orihime took cover behind her schoolbag. “Hai, hai, Kuchiki-san. I was only saying…”

“I just knew it was your screeching voice that ruined this seemingly peaceful morning.”

Both girls turned to look behind Orihime to find Ichigo and Renji standing a few meters away from them.

“Ichigo-kun! Renji-kun!” Orihime happily exclaimed, running up to them. “Ohayou gozaimasu!”

“Ohayou, Hime…” Ichigo greeted her with a soft smile, kissing her fleetingly on a corner of her lips.

Renji took a step away from the couple and rolled his eyes. “Ughh… Just look at them acting all lovey-dovey so early in the morning. You'd think that they haven't seen each other in ages.”

Rukia smiled coldly at him. “At least he got laid last night.”

“Shut up!” The redhead growled underneath his breath, glaring at her dangerously. “That's not my fault, Rukia!”

Rukia gave a high pitched laugh before hitting Ichigo over the head with her school bag in retribution for the comment he made earlier.

“Gah! What was that for?!” He cried out, rubbing over his head angrily.

Rukia didn't bother answering and took Orihime by her hand. “Come on, Michiru-chan and Chizuru-chan must be waiting for us to help them prepare the Sports Hall for the graduation ceremony.”

“Oh! Okay!” Orihime turned to the two guys and waved. “See you at school!”

Renji grinned and folded his arms behind his head while he watched them go. “So it finally happened, eh?”

“Don't start, Renji.”

The redhead shrugged and began walking in the same direction the girls had gone off to. “Congratulations, dude. You've just been promoted to the most envied guy on campus.”

Ichigo only smirked and followed him.

“No. Waaaay!”

Ichigo watched with an annoyed look how Keigo ran from one side of the classroom to the other, hopelessly trying to get a date for the graduation party of that night.

“Why did you wait so long to find someone anyway?” Mizuiro asked and turned around in his seat to watch how Keigo crawled on his hands and feet to his desk in utter defeat.

“Because he's an idiot,” Ichigo said indifferently, blinking sleepily as he waited for the break between 2nd and 3rd period to be over. His eyes rolled towards the clock standing on top of the black board against the wall and he yawned, bored out of his mind. Between his Shinigami duties and the time he spent with Orihime, school just seemed even more of a boring experience than it ever did. Especially when Keigo had one of his crazy days.

“Well excuuuuuuuse me, Kurosaki-sama!” Keigo dramatically said, pointing at him with a trembling finger, his eyes watering up. “I'm no Don Juan like you, but don't I deserve some love?? And I still can't believe you managed to have Orihime-chan as a date!”

“Eh, that would perhaps be because they're already dating?” Mizuiro pointed out, not even looking up from the novel he was reading. “It's been almost 6 months now.”

“No. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!” Keigo cried. His jaw dropped on his desk as he seemingly shattered in pieces at this news.

Ichigo sat back in his chair and stretched out, opening one eye as he felt Keigo looming over him with a murderous glint in his eyes. “You've always known that I like her, Kurosaki Ichigo!!” He said in a deep, raspy voice.

Ichigo sighed and closed his eye again. “Try and find a date for tonight, Keigo, instead of bothering me with your nonsense. Your time is already running out as it is.”

“Waaaaaaaaaah! The indifference! Did you see that Mizuiro? He was totally indifferent to my suffering! Oh why do all my friends forsake me like thiiiiiiiiissss…?”

“Ichigo-kun?”

Ichigo looked up at the proprietor of that sweet voice and he smiled. “What is it, Hime?”

She blushed a little and gave him a radiant smile. “I was wondering if we could go over my speech later on.”

“We looked it over yesterday, it was okay wasn't it?” he asked. “Are you nervous?”

She nodded courtly and reddened some more. “I just really want to do it well.”

“Okay, do you want me to ask Ishida for help?”

Just as she was about to answer, she restrained herself and looked around. He had noticed it too.

The entire class had suddenly become very, very silent and everyone was staring at them, obviously following every word of their conversation.

“DON'T YOU PEOPLE HAVE ANY SHAME??” Ichigo cried to them, a vein popping out of his left temple.

Orihime sighed softly and scratched the back of her head. “I'm sorry, Ichigo-kun.”

“Don't apologize. They're the ones at fault,” he said, still glaring at all those who still dared to look their way. “I'll ask Ishida about it, okay?”

“Actually, ano…” She looked around herself and then bent over to whisper it in his ear. “I would rather it to be just you and me at lunch.”

Ichigo nodded and she smiled. “That's good.”

“Okay.” And with that she went back to her place.

“What does he have that I don't?” Keigo tearfully said, biting on the hem of his shirt as he watched Ichigo lean back in his seat again.

Mizuiro flipped the next page of his book and resumed his reading. “Brains, for starters.”

“Here… Bon appetit!”

Ichigo looked at the green chipped, purple colored muffins with a questioning expression on his face, wondering what he was supposed to do with them. “Eh, thanks, Hime… err— what are these?”

“My special Coconut and Peanut butter muffins!” She exclaimed with a happy giggle, beaming with pride.

Ichigo looked at the muffins again, trying to figure out what part contained the peanut butter and what part the coconut. He wouldn't even ask why the muffins were purple and green in the first place.

“I'll save them for later…” he said with a thankful smile, putting the box with muffins next to him on the grass.

She smiled softly and took a breath. “Ichigo-kun…”

Ichigo turned to her and was surprised as her lips suddenly met with his in an unexpected kiss. “Hime…?”

“I just wanted to thank you,” she reddened a little more and bit her lower lip, “for last night. Thank you for being gentle with me.”

Ichigo pulled her closer and kissed her back softly. “It's okay…”he whispered against her lips, “you were wonderful last night. I should be thanking you…”

She gasped in surprise at that and could feel her eyes water up. “Ichigo…” She looked down at the balled fists on her lap and sighed again.

“What's wrong?” Ichigo whispered.

“I…” Orihime bit her lower lip and looked up at him, revealing her teary honey brown eyes. “I've decided to—”

It was the sudden cry of a new Hollow that kept her from finishing her phrase.

Ichigo turned to look at her and sighed. “I'm sorry, Hime.”

“It's okay, just go…” She whispered with a brave smile.

At that same time, Shinigami Rukia jumped out from a nearby tree with Kon in her right hand. “Ichigo!”

“Nee-san! Noooooooo! I don't want to!” The stuffed animal protested, but as usual, it was in vain.

The Rukongan was rapidly removed and a few moments later Orihime watched how both Shinigamis jumped from tree to tree out of her sight. She then turned her face to Ichigo's head that lay in her lap and closed her eyes.

“Inoue-san looks sad…” Kon whispered, sitting up now.

“Oh… I do?” She whispered with an unconvincing smile. “Well then I guess I need to turn that frown upside down and keep on keepin' on!”

The modsoul mentally sweat dropped and watched her stand up, but held her back with his hand on hers. “Experience has showed me that oppressing your feelings is never good for anyone.”

She chuckled shyly and nodded, but continued her way, and Kon could clearly see the tears that glistened in the corner of her eyes as she turned.

He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest with a pout. “Man… Why doesn't anyone ever tell me anything?!” His eyes then fell on the white box next to him in the grass. “Oh! Muffins…”

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the graduate class of 2007!!”

Caps went flying in the air as the group of youngsters congratulated each other for finishing High School.

“That was a great speech, Inoue-san!” The principal told Orihime, shaking her hand enthusiastically. “I see a bright future ahead for you!”

“Thank you, sir! I did my best!” She smiled back before she got tackled over by an overly excited Chizuru.

“We made it Orihime-chan!” She exclaimed, taking the opportunity to hug herself against the other girl. “I can't wait until we're two hot college students! Oh, I have an idea! Why don't you and I share a dorm room, eh? Oh, it'll be sooo much fuuun, Orihime-cha—“

Her left cheek suddenly collided with Tatsuki's right foot and she flew a few meters away. “You seriously need to give it a rest, Chizuru! She already has a boyfriend!”

“Ehehe…” Orihime uneasily chuckled. “Thanks, Tatsuki-chan.”

“As long as I'm around that pervert won't get anywhere near you, promise!” The dark haired girl spoke with a glare towards Chizuru who was crawling back on her feet in the distance.

Orihime chuckled again and expressed her thanks.

“Great speech. And oh, by the way, your boyfriend was searching for you,” Tatsuki informed her with a small smile. “He's outside by the grand tree in the park.”

“Ok, thank you,” She said and waved at her. “I'll see you at the party?”

Tatsuki nodded and held up her right thumb. “For sure.”

Orihime made her way through the sea of red and golden togas that obstructed her way to the double entry doors of the large hall. She stepped out in the dark night and walked around the building towards the School's small park. A few meters further she saw him sitting underneath a tree, patiently waiting for her.

“Ichigo…”

He looked up and stood with a smile. “I loved your speech.”

She chuckled and scratched the back of her head. “Thank you.”

“I noticed you changed it here and there,” Ichigo whispered, bringing his hand up to her face and cupping her cheek. “You did great.”

Orihime took a step closer and pressed herself up to him, wishing she could feel safe in his embrace like she always used to. Everything was so messed up now…

“Arigatou…”

“We got interrupted this afternoon. What was it you wanted to tell me, Hime?”

She held him closer and closed her eyes, just wanting to enjoy these simple instants of togetherness but unable to shake the growing feeling of fear she felt each time she thought about their possible future together.

When she had asked to be with him earlier, she had hoped that they could spend the entire day together before she would…

“Ichigo…” She started, knowing that she wouldn't hesitate this time. She kept telling herself that it was for him that she did this and that he'd be better off without her.

“Ichigo, I'm leaving.”

Ichigo let go of her, and frowned with a smile. “What do you mean, you're leaving? Hime?”

She faced away from him and closed her eyes. “Ichigo-kun, please. This is already hard enough for me. I've decided to leave Karakura.”

He shook his head, still not understanding. “Don't say it like I have no say in this, Orihime!”

She faced him now, steel determination in her eyes. “You don't have any say in this, Ichigo!” She bit her lower lip and sighed. This was not supposed to turn out in a fight, she definitely did not want for them to part this way. “I've been accepted at the Nakase College for Girls a while back.”

“Yeah, I know that, Hime. But didn't we decide to stay together?” He tried, not believing she was actually doing this.

Tears were now beginning to form in her eyes and she nodded sadly. “Ichigo… If you truly love me, you'll let me go…”

“You can't give me that excuse, Hime!” Ichigo whispered, taking her shoulders in his hands. “At least give me a true reason!”

“I… I can't… I want to, but I can't. Ichigo…” She was looking up at him now, her pain and sadness apparent in her eyes. “Trust me, it's for the best. I would only be putting you in more danger if we stayed together.”

At that Ichigo furrowed his brows in suspicion. “Hime…What—?”

She took a startled step back and shook her head. “I've already said too much…”

She turned and wanted to run, but he held her back, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and placing his face in the crook of her left shoulder and neck. “Hime… talk to me. Please.”

“I can't love you anymore, Kurosaki-san!” She tearfully, yet sternly whispered and turned away from his face near her shoulder. “Please let me go…”

“Orihime…” He felt his insides shatter at the distance she put in her words and she broke free from his grip.

“I'm so sorry, Kurosaki-san!”

And with that she broke into a run and disappeared off the School grounds.

He remained there, the full facts not yet registering to him. What had just happened?

“Ichigo! We have a problem!” Rukia emerged from the Sports Hall and came running up to him with her Soul Phone beeping alarmingly. “Menos! 2 of them!”

“Right…” He thoughtlessly said, still shaken by Orihime's sudden departure. He barely realized it when Rukia extracted his soul from his body with her glove and left his body on the ground near the grand tree.

Unbeknownst to the two Shinigami that rushed off in the distance, the previous inert body of Ichigo suddenly stood again, with eerie amber eyes that glowed fiercely in the shadow of the tree.

With an exhausted sigh, Orihime let herself fall on her bed. She knew she had done the right thing.

By tomorrow afternoon she would be far, far away from Ichigo and the others so she couldn't hurt them in any way. Her letter to Tatsuki lay ready on her key table near her door; she would drop it in her mailbox tomorrow morning before she'd go for the train station. She would call her later to apologize for missing the party. She'd come up with something to keep her from worrying.

She had packed her clothes after she came back from school, she already cleaned her apartment and emptied the fridge and left a letter for Shinmura-san in which she told her that she would no longer need her apartment.

As she lay there on her back, contemplating her ceiling she couldn't help but think of him again, wishing that everything hadn't gone the way it had gone once again. No matter how many times she beat herself into thinking that nothing could've changed how things were now, she still found herself wishing otherwise.

She curled herself up and turned on her side, hoping that Ichigo would find it in his heart to forgive her.

“Ichigo…”

She could still smell him on her sheets; she could still feel his presence… Everything they shared last night was no short of magical.

“I hope you'll understand…”

She stood up again and walked over to her small kitchen, took out a glass for water from one of the top cabinets and filled it underneath the faucet.

When she turned to go back to her room she found a dark figure standing in the door opening of her kitchen. A spiky haired, tall young man.

“Ichigo?”

A cackling laughter was then heard and amber eyes suddenly lit up in the moonlit darkness. “Guess again, Orihime-chan!”

The glass of water she had been holding hit the tiled floor and shattered into a million glittering pieces.

Japanese Vocabulary List Chapters 1 & 2

-Aa: Yes/ Yeah

-Aibou: Partner

-Aishiteru: I love you

-Ano…: Euhm…

-Arigatou: Thank you

-Berry-san: Ichigo can mean `Strawberry' in Japanese. The Hollow uses this form as an insult in Ichigo's regard

-Hai: Yes

-Hime: Ichigo's pet name for Orihime, it actually means `Princess'

-Kirei: Beautiful

-Ne: an Interjection that can be loosely translated in English as `So', `Well', `And?', `Hey' or `No?', depending on its position in the phrase

-Nee-san: Big sister

-Ohayou (Gozaimasu): Good morning.

-Okaeri (nasai): Welcome back

-Reiatsu: Spirit Pressure

-Rukongan: Spirit Pill or Soul Candy

-Yamete: Stop

Next Week: 3. Prelude to Dawn - Midnight Mayhem

To be continued…

-BDP-