An Untouched Heart

Chad listened as Orihime spoke oddly into the phone. It was only after the first couple minutes did he hear the crutch hitting the ground from the her walking. She was moving on her crutch while talking on the phone. The thoughts of possible accidents she could be involved in from the needless distraction made him sigh a little. “What’s the closest place to you for meeting?” Chad asked hoping it wouldn’t be far from where she was and that the auburn haired girl could find a safe spot soon.

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 14:37:00 -0400

Having just exited the school building, Orihime looked across the courtyard and at the neighboring park. A light bulb lit up above her head. “Oh! I was on my way back to my dorm… but if you want to meet up at the park, nearby the fountain? I think that’d be a good meeting place!” Orihime enthused smilingly. The sky was bright blue and reliably clear other than a small cluster of clouds. Spending time outside enjoying the weather with the company of a friend definitely sounded ideal.

Photo

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 14:13:01 -0400

Photo

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 14:10:15 -0400

an unexpected meeting

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 14:02:00 -0400

demonicfists:

Chad simply stood quietly by as the two reunited. The question of Orihime’s leg was brought up and he grimaced inside. At least until Ichigo looked at him with thankfulness in his eyes. The sight was both pleasing and also gut-churning. Sado was happy that it had been him who had saved Orihime, but still annoyed at himself due to the fact he was the one who let her leg get broken. With their old friend here, that wouldn’t happen, but that was also the exact reason for leaving Karakura in the first place. The feeling of dependability on Ichigo just made him more bothered about his own weakness.

“I know a place,” Chad said as the discussion turned to finding a place to talk privately. A dorm room may have been the most private, but there was always the chance of a roommate being there. Expecting the two to follow, Chad turned and began walking to the nearest stairwell. The rooftop had always been their domain and it would get them away from others. It would also give them a heads up if anyone accidentally came up to join them. At the peak of the building though, no one would hear about the spirit world that few noticed floating around them.

“Everything is fine, Inoue. I just messed with the wrong people”

A look of confusion filled her face, trying to discern the meaning of his words. As customary in the past, her eyes swept over his form discreetly, checking in vain for any signs of injury or marks that she may have overlooked earlier due to her being so flustered and surprised by his additional presence. What did Kurosaki-kun mean, he messed with the wrong people? Ichigo may have been gruff in his words and possessing of a rough countenance on the outside, but on the inside, he was one of the warmest and kindest people she knew…The idea of anyone doing something to hurt him caused a pained feeling to lance through her chest.

It was strange. She knew that he had been messed with for the color of his hair in the past - Orihime dealt with the same thing during her earlier school days - but intuition told her it was something much bigger and much worse than that. While she’d been here, Ichigo dealt with his own problems back in Karakura Town, and even Chad apparently, since they both opted to leave and were now here.

Kurosaki-kun…what happened? That was the question she wanted to ask, but refrained from doing so due to a mixture of reasons. The undeniable force of fate brought all three of them here, together. It must’ve meant something, right? And Ichigo told her not to worry, but it was far easier said than done.

“Maybe you can write a letter to her. I bet she would like that.”

Orihime lowered hazel hues to the floor, guilt continuing to churn in her stomach. Lashes fluttered, brushing against her cheeks; finally, she regained the strength to look back up at Ichigo’s face, offering a bright smile. It felt lacking compared to usual, and she could only hope she wasn’t that transparent.

“Eh? Umm…you’re right! I’m sure she would very much like that…”

“I know a place.”

Chad’s deep, baritone voice broke Orihime out of her fumbling musings. Looking back up quickly, she donned a grateful smile, already understanding what his intentions were somehow. The rooftop - it would definitely provide the seclusion and privacy the three of them would need to talk candidly about…whatever it was they were going to discuss now. Orihime began to follow his lead when she noticed him already set out walking; or at least, as best as she could, seeing as how she was still hobbling around on one under arm crutch. Determinedly, Orihime increased her pace, not wanting to hold up Ichigo nor Chad. Her reason for being injured in the first place was troublesome enough as it was.

“The rooftop, huh, Sado-kun?” she asked sheepishly as she stopped a little a ways from the door. The words tumbled out of her mouth, “It feels so nostalgic, you know. All we’d need is Ishida-kun and we’d be a complete set!” As quickly as it was said, she instantly felt foolish.

an unexpected meeting

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:00:00 -0400

deathberry-ichi:

He was indeed very surprised to see his friends here, but also very happy. That means he didn´t have to start from scratch with everything. He looked at both, they seemed the same, but he knew some things may have change since last time they saw each other. “Hi, Inue” he salute with a soft smile.

Then he saw something strange on her leg and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, it has been a long time. Well, I´ve been involved in many problems back home, I needed some fresh air, and something to rely on. I thought that being here would be a good idea. How about you? Tatsuki didn´t told me anything about you” he murmured. Then he looked at her leg again. “What happened to you? Are you injured?” he asked seriously, wondering if someone was teasing her.

Orihime smiled sweetly. Kurosaki-kun hasn’t changed a bit.

Just as quickly as her cheerful and bubbly demeanor settled in, it was replaced by her previously flustered one. It was natural for him to question her on the state of her leg, but she still wasn’t prepared for it. Inwardly, Orihime chided herself for such an assumption. Was kindness not one of the many traits of Ichigo’s that she had come to adore? It should not have come as a shocker, therefore, when he showed an interest and even genuine concern for her well-being. Still, it made Orihime feel both guilty and sheepish. She didn’t want to make him worry!

Not only that, but the mention of Tatsuki also threw her for a loop. It was just the way he said it. His inquiry wasn’t accusatory, but it came out as such a soft murmur that it sparked the guilt inside of her to fester and grow until it felt like she would have a stomach ache. Except, instead of back when she developed pains from eating bad red bean paste with macaroni, this time it was much, much worse.

“U-Um!” she replied anxiously, trying to get her thoughts together. A sheepish chuckle escaped against her will. “It’s no big deal, really! And no, no one is teasing me, Kurosaki-kun! I, ah, just had an unexpected run-in with a hollow but…Sado-kun helped me.”

She instantly continued, jerking her head up with a wide-eyed look adorning her countenance, “Problems…back home? Is everything all right back there, with your family, or…?” Orihime looked around their surroundings, realizing the three of them were still standing in the middle of the school hallway. She stumbled over her words, nerves getting the better of her. “M-Maybe we should go somewhere more private to talk about this. I-If you’d like, I mean!” A bit quieter, she confessed at last, “As for Tatsuki-chan, well, she probably hasn’t said anything since we haven’t actually talked for awhile now…”

Chad had wondered what was going on with the other side until Orihime chirped back her response. The original question had been asked of his own curiosity and in order to look busy. Now, he was stuck making plans for an event which was happening on the spot. “Anytime you’re free,” Sado said while walking aimlessly. He wasn’t even sure where they would meet or how far apart they may have been.

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:57:00 -0400

“Right! Well, you’re in luck~!” Orihime replied, a natural pinkness rising in her cheeks to accompany her words. As she hobbled along on her crutch, she held her phone to her ear using her shoulder. Despite everything that had happened, she couldn’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The two of them still felt as close as ever, if not somehow even closer. “I just got off my last period for the day so I’m as free as a bird!”

“Inoue?” Chad asked unsure that she was the one he had accidentally called. That grey face had resulted in him plucking a random number from his cell in order to end the discussion. “You want to hang out?” Without even thinking of saying who he was after her energetic unawareness, Sado simply asked to meet. Primarily, since calling her due to the odd person earlier, Chad had been curious about why she left. Also, with the resurgence of their old friend, he was sure her mind would be abuzz.

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:09:00 -0400

“Eh? Sado-kun!!” Orihime said with a gasp, smiling even wider. Although, she blinked delicately when she heard his question. The auburn-haired girl pretended she was thinking over her response really, really hard. For a few moments, there was silence on her side of the line.

“Of course, of course! Ah - you mean, right now?” she asked curiously. “Or would you like to meet up later?”

deathberry-ichi: “wovenprincess started following you demonicfists started following you” “I...

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:00:00 -0400

deathberry-ichi:

“wovenprincess started following you

demonicfists started following you”

“I didn´t expect to see you guys here! It´s been a while, how are you?”

“…!! E-Eh?”

“Kuro…saki-kun?” she replied, more than a bit thrown by his sudden presence. Orihime just could not believe her eyes when she first saw him.

But it really was him. It was Kurosaki-kun! She would know that bright, orange spiky hair and grouchy, handsome face anywhere. He looked really, really good in that uniform he was wearing, she could not help but think. Promptly, her face bloomed a faint pink; just the very thought was embarrassing! Orihime would have reached up with both of her hands to clap them over either of cheeks, but due to her current state, was merely reduced to gaping at the teenager standing in front of her, blushing like an overgrown cherry.

Caramel eyes strayed to the leg which was still encased inside of a brace. Orihime tried to act completely natural, even if her face was red and she was standing in the middle of the hallway with an underarm crutch to hold her up.

“U-Un! It has been awhile, ne?” she continued, trying to recover from her shock but still address his inquiry. “Well - I’m just great! I’m fit as a fiddle,” she cheerfully enthused, a bright smile lighting up her face. Orihime’s features became more animated despite her heart beat still racing. “How about you, Kurosaki-kun? If I may ask…what brought you to Astraea?”

to protect, again

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 07:59:00 -0400

demonicfists:

The watery droplets forming in Orihime’s eyes were unexpected, but not surprising. He hadn’t anticipated her to become teary from the compliment, but with how often she tried to keep a cherry demeanor, she rarely seemed to need praises. The auburn haired girl sitting on the bed was smart, intelligent, friendly, and easily one of the best people he knew. Yet, even with those qualities, words of self-doubt had been inflicted on her. Urahara and Hueco Mundo definitely had an impact on confidence and that insecurity was beginning to show.

Chad watched as Orihime kept shyly to herself and attempted to lift the leg. From her obvious strain, it hadn’t healed completely, but was not broken anymore. While the bone had mended, it wouldn’t need the cast, but would at least need a brace. The object would likely require crutches, but at least she would be walking around in a couple weeks. Plus, if it was taking too long to heal, she could always reattempt healing in order to speed up the process. For now though, he could go check back in at the hospital for a brace. With how accommodating the doctor had been previously, it shouldn’t be too hard to get the item.

“Thank you, Sado-kun…but I should probably get some rest, ne? The more I do…the faster I’ll heal. S-So - “

The fake yawn, even while Orihime was turned away, was fairly obvious. The girl didn’t have very good skills at telling lies. Only those who had no observational skills could easily be convinced by the failed fibs. Regardless, what she said had some merit. That leg, even with it not being broken anymore, would need some rest. She had been carried with it from one end of town to the other and only had a single night with rest. Giving it some time with no movement would be helpful.

“…Thank you so much.”
“You really are a good friend.”

The thanks and compliment with a quick smile calmed both his awkwardness and worry for Orihime. While she could be fairly emotional, she could also be strong. It would take some time for her leg and confidence to heal, but at least now she had been found and could be protected. Whether the Hollow attack last night had been random or regular, the appearance of one might mean more. If that was the case, Orihime would need some help, especially in her current state. Once her leg was healed, surely the rest would come along not too long afterwards, particularly if she had also been training on her own.

“You are a good friend as well.” The returned compliment was the highest of truths. Orihime had been an extremely good friend since meeting her. She was naturally a good person, and being on friendly terms just showed more of her kindness. However, just as before, the awkwardness started to rise back up. Not wanting to show that side of him again and not wanting to see the tears swell up once more, Chad scratched his forehead before announcing, “I should head back to the hospital. You’ll need a brace and crutches.” Not giving Orihime time to stop his actions, Chad snatched the key used to open the dorm room and quickly left with a slight wave while walking away.

Feeling a little lazy due to the previous taxi ride, another quick journey was taken to the medical center. There, he found a bemused nurse who became more puzzled at his request. The thought of arguing began to enter her mind, but his size made her rethink that decision. Huffing and puffing while going to get the support objects, she quickly returned with the doctor walking right behind arguing with her. Giving one glance at who was buying the items, the man quieted down and quickly spun his body to return to his office. The nurse, unsure if she should be amused or worried upon returning to Chad, gave him the price for the supplies. Handing over a small card used for his typical payment, Sado gathered up the crutch and brace before walking outside to find another taxi.

“You are a good friend as well.”

Orihime lifted her head from the pillow, staring at him with with a little uncertainty, but felt herself beam all the same. It was not quite as bright and sparkling as usual, but her voice was very much infused with a sweet tenderness for Chad as she said, “Arigatou…Sado-kun.”

After that, she let herself stare at the wall as her head turned, the shadows draping themselves over her face. Perhaps she should try to get some rest after all. It didn’t sound like such a bad idea, and if she could manage to fall asleep, Chad would be too considerate of not disturbing her rest and leave for his own dorm room as well -

“I should head back to the hospital. You’ll need a brace and crutches.”

“Huh?” She looked at Chad, confused, and then understanding broke out on her face as his words were registered. Orihime offered a grateful smile, despite the glimmers of silver staining her cheeks still. She felt her chest swell with appreciation and warmth for her gentle giant of a friend. He’d already done so much for her. It was truly amazing, how lucky she was. Once it dawned on Orihime she should verbally respond, she cried out, “…Ah - um! O-Okay! Thank you, Sado-kun!” She’d called out just in time, she hoped, because right after that the door to her dorm had closed. The corners of her mouth remained upward as she rested her cheek back onto the pillow.

That was when she was startled by a flash of gold, warm light erupting from the right side of her head. E-Eh?! What is that? The light whirled and twirled, spinning, before smacking Orihime’s forehead.

“Ow!” The girl winced and jerked her body up, sitting up slightly in bed and allowing the covers to fall back as her hazel eyes went cross; meanwhile, the light landed on the tippy top of her nose, dark irises glaring into hers. Orihime blinked slowly, stunned. “E-Eh? It’s - “

“WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE?!” The light flew backward and out of Orihime’s reach. She followed the flash of sparkling, golden light. In a burst, a black-haired and very pissed looking fairy was revealed, seething at Orihime pointedly. Floating in the air before her, his angered emotions practically spiraled off of him in waves.

Orihime blinked, again, and then clapped her hands together. “Tsubaki-kun~!” she exclaimed excitedly, her eyes glittering with uncontainable glee. The girl sat up more properly and reached up with both of her hands, gesturing and entreating him to come to her. She smiled from ear to ear. “How are you - oomph!” Orihime’s head thrust back as Tsubaki launched himself swiftly forward, hitting the girl’s forehead with both of his feet.

“HOW DO YOU THINK I AM, WOMAN? I AM ANGRY!” Tsubaki yelled, his little wings quivering. For something so small, fluttery and fragile, this fairy could really shout, not to mention pack a punch! It was why he was so faithful when it came to aiding the auburn-haired girl on the battlefield, she thought proudly. She was so happy he - and then her train of thoughts were broken once again when said fairy zipped forward and with both of his little hands, pinched Orihime’s plump cheek. He pulled with all of his might, making her arms flail out wildly like windmills. “YOU ALMOST GOT YOURSELF KILLED!”

“Wah!” she cried out. “I’m so sorry, Tsubaki-kun!”

Within a few more heartbeats, another fairy had flown out from her pins in a streak of light. “Tsubaki, stop this instance! You are not helping Orihime-sama this way!” The tiny, pony-tailed fairy gave her an apologetic smile when Tsubaki sent a spiteful glare at her, but surprisingly did back off.

“How are you, Orihime-sama?”

Orihime grinned back, rubbing her cheek sheepishly. “I’m just fine. Although, I was hoping to get some help with this…” She wiggled her right leg, drawing the blanket away from it to reveal the cast. “Sado-kun just left to bring me a brace from the hospital. But ah - I’d need this off, first, before I could put that on. It requires a lot of cutting and sawing motions like this -” She illustrated what she meant by making a funny face and moving her arm over her leg, compressing her fingers into a point and going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth; that was when Tsubaki told her to shut up and that he would do it, so stop making that stupid face and annoying noises already! Shun’o scolded him, Tsubaki snapped at her, and then after some more arguing eventually he set to work.

His chiding for Orihime to look better after herself never ceased while he focused on cutting the plaster and fabric containing her leg. All Orihime could do but beam in a self-deprecating way and smile. Once the task was complete, the two fairies discarded of the shredded cast, made their adieus - Shun’o sweetly and humbly, Tsubaki grumpily and with a tad hint of concern - before returning to Orihime’s hairpins. Left behind was nothing but a peculiar, lonely silence.

Laying back down, she pulled her blanket over her shoulders and sighed tiredly. Orihime wondered if she was seriously going to fall asleep at that very moment. As her face reflected wistfulness and fatigue, she contemplated over what would bring Sado-kun to Astraea, lashes fluttering delicately. No, she was not going to get any shuteye just yet, not until her friend returned from the hospital so that she could give him another thank you and a proper goodbye before he left.

Being under her warm, downy covers only gave her a sense of comfort - something she was in desperate need of, or so she told herself…minutes ticked by, and not too long after that, Orihime was drifting off into a deep slumber.

Photo

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 02:20:51 -0400

of fractured daydreams and fairytales

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 02:17:00 -0400

shiroiyuuki:

She was startled at the sudden noise and nearly jumped out of her skin when someone landed on the ground right in front of her.

She could hear her heart thudding in her ears as she looked at the flowing orange hair and her fingers clenched around the hairpins she had just found. She found it extremely difficult to focus on what was going on because her legs wanted her to start running again. Still on edge from the meeting with Kaname, she almost turned around when the girl in front of her got to her feet.

Her smiled soothed Yuki and her voice continued to set her at ease as she slowly felt her body relax and focused on what the girl in front of her was saying.

Before she knew it, she was smiling gently herself as she responded with the hairpins held out in her open palm, “Would these be the hairpins you were looking for?”

She gasped when she saw the girl hold out her hand, revealing the precious object she had been searching for all day long - her beloved hairpins! Orihime’s eyes sparkled like stars in her face from pure unadulterated happiness. Beaming from ear to ear, she stammered out a quick, “Yes! T-Thank you very much!” before taking them from her gratefully. Pulling back her bangs, Orihime was relieved to clip them securely into place once again, her fingers tenderly touching the six-pointed flowers nestled in her coppery-colored hair.

Realizing what she had just done, Orihime paused, blushed out of embarrassment, and smiled bashfully. She hoped she hadn’t offended her by just snatching up the pins from her hands like that. Her jubilation at being unexpectedly reunited with them just overwhelmed her so much she could not hold herself back. Still, Orihime inwardly chided; that isn’t a way to treat the person who was so kind enough to return them to you! What would onii-chan say? “Manners, ‘Hime,” the sweet, wise voice of her brother murmured at the back of her head, prompting her to amend her error.

She laughed and lightly hit the top of her head. “Ah - I’m sorry about just taking them in such a rude manner … ” She blinked then, her lips thinning when she realized she did not know her name. She internally sweat-dropped. How doubly rude of her not to ask, or introduce herself before, either!

“By the way, my name is I’m Inoue Orihime! May I … please ask what yours is? I think I should know so that I can thank the person who helped me more properly, eheh.”

So like

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 02:08:00 -0400

Is Allen x Natsuo going to happen? *wiggles brows*

Godot is up to no good...

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 01:45:00 -0400

coffee-aficionado:

Godot couldn’t help but to chuckle at Orihime once again, she was just too amusing with her dramatic reactions and her blushing face. He looked forward to seeing this girl more often, after all this was just damn entertaining to him.

He then raised an eyebrow when she suddenly changed the topic to donuts. He grinned though. If she didn’t change the topic soon enough, she might’ve fainted, and that wouldn’t be good for either one of them.

He shrugged at her question. “I guess they go nicely with the bitterness of hell itself.” He finally answered.

Orihime gasped, genuinely appalled at his lackluster response to her inquiry. All things considered - despite her prior timid demeanor, her blushing cheeks, and skipping beats - donuts were so amazing that they invigorated Orihime; brows furrowing, she took a bold step forward, looking up imploringly into his face. It was decided; she had to introduce him to the deliciousness that were freshly made and perfectly formed donuts such as the ones she’d brought with her to school for lunch that day, or she could not forgive herself.

“Look! I have many different things,” the auburn-haired girl chirped, holding out the bag so that the elder male could take a peek right inside and see for himself. Her face took on a look of pure bliss as the tantalizing scents of sweet pastries drifted into the air, greeting her nose hello. “It was too hard to just pick one! So… I ended up buying melon pan bread, buns filled with red-bean paste, and last but not least - strawberry-filled jelly doughnuts! They even have chocolate glaze on top, which is really yummy.”

“Why, I think they’d go perfect with your uh - the super bitterness of beep itself, in fact!” Orihime proposed in a cheerful manner. She did not even contemplate how out of the ordinary it was to censor one’s self. “Maybe we could even share! I’d love to try a cup of your coffee if you wouldn’t mind~!”

井上織姫飼う時の十の注意-6。 | 七条橘@原稿中。 [pixiv]

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 01:31:53 -0400

井上織姫飼う時の十の注意-6。 | 七条橘@原稿中。 [pixiv]

A change of pace [@Orihime]

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 01:29:35 -0400

lifecounselingbrother:

[Kyosuke was eating already his sandwich and she seemed to be having trouble deciding on what to choose. He couldn’t blame her because some people would even feel they would be taking advantage by choosing the bigger plate but instead he felt relieved when she decided on the curry and smiled.]

Go ahead then.

[The sandwich he was eating wasn’t bad at all, in fact, it was possibly better than some restaurants he’d been to. It seemed that this school was really looking out for it’s students and the prices weren’t really that out of hand. He thought when he joined through that partial scholarship that the prices would be too much for his wallet but to his surprise he was able to still save up money and even with buying this much for one day, he still could go the week without needed to fund himself through his savings. He was already pleased to see Orihime eating and having a nice chat and before he could do it, she took the initiative.]

Ah, I’m a third year as well actually so I guess we’ll just be here for less than a year now.

[Kyosuke felt also a bit sad about it now that he thought about it but there was little to do about it so he thought it was better not to worry about such stuff and smiled.]

So we should enjoy what’s left of the year, right?

“Y-Yeah!” she replied energetically, pumping a triumphant fist into the air to punctuate her exclamation. Despite feeling somewhat saddened and nostalgic beforehand, she couldn’t help but nod her head in fierce agreement and feel grateful for Kyosuke’s contagious optimism. It renewed her own lively persona and inspired a beaming smile to quirk her lips upwards. “That’s the right attitude to have! And we should do just that; not only enjoy the remainder of our time now, but also truly love and live in every moment! Like…right now,” the auburn-haired girl softly finished, taking another bite of her curry.

Though her voice lowered from its resonating volume from earlier to a more quieter, sweet tone, Orihime’s smile never diminished in its brightness. With each bite of food she consumed, she felt even more energized. When all was said and done, Orihime definitely did not want to have any regrets; she did not want to waste away precious seconds moping and feeling sorry for herself, no sir! She came to Astraea for a new start, and she would make the most of this opportunity.

This meant throwing herself into her school work, getting involved with after school activities, and putting her best foot forward to make brand new friends.

A chuckle escaped her lips at the re-imagining of herself drawing a particularly colorful and elaborate drawing depicting her future self as a futuristic, high-tech robot with lasers shooting out of her chest; But the recollection instantly piqued her curiousity, and after chewing and swallowing down another large mouthful of curry, she managed to get out, “Mmrm so Kyosuke-san, do you have any special plans? Like joining a club or something fun like that?” The metallic scraping sound could be heard as Orihime determinedly worked to get the last of her tasty dish. One more mouthful later, and her spoon clattered downwards inside the empty bowl.

Full - and pleasantly so! - Orihime leaned back into her chair, and contentedly rubbed over her belly. “Ah…thanks so much, Kyosuke-san! That was a lot better than any bag of chips and soda. Oh,” she said, blinking slowly and realizing she had not indulged him with any of her plans for the nearby future. Straightening her posture and stretching out her arms, Orihime continued with enthusiasm, “I plan to join a sewing club when I can! Maybe also a baking club if there is one…”

While Orihime was perfectly capable of baking more conventional desserts and baked goodies, her inexhaustible preference for combining contrasting textures and tastes would prove disastrous for anyone who brave enough to try her cooking. Of course, Kyosuke would not know such a thing.

to protect, again

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 01:01:00 -0400

demonicfists:

Orihime’s embarrassed thankfulness brought a bit of amusement to the situation. Since having arrived there, Chad had rarely seen his friend so lit up and energetic. The only previous times had been around food, but that rarely ever brought out the joyful happiness in the auburn haired female. Now, she was red faced and smiling from having been picked up and planted upon her dorm room bed. That was the typical reaction she had during school days, but that had been usually caused by Ichigo, Chizuru, or Matsumoto. Hopefully, there would be more of that delight as opposed to the sullenness of earlier.

As if on cue, that depressing air began to form around the two once more. While the glow of the healing fairies lit up the room, Orihime’s energy turned purely towards concentration on her powers. That glowing dome had brought him back from death multiple times since first coming aware of Hollows, and now it was being used to heal a bone that never should have been broken. If anything, it should be his skin underneath that light. Fight after fight had toughened his body to where even broken bones were only nuisances if helped correctly. Now, from beneath shaggy brown hair, he could only watch as the leg was healed within the cast.

Then, that single, quick glance from the corner of Orihime’s eye looked upon him. It was obvious what was running through her mind. That simple thought which Urahara had planted inside her before their travels in Hueco Mundo. She had been told she wasn’t a fighter and to stay out of it, yet Orihime had proven that wrong just last night. None of those who dealt with Hollows had figured out the extent of their powers, even Ichigo once his returned. Always, they managed to evolve with enough training, and Orihime had obviously been doing some on her own recently. Still, having had to be saved from the world of evil and being told she was only useful as a medic had surely done some damage on her confidence.

“You did a good job last night.” In truth, Orihime had done very well defending herself, especially against an Arrancar which she’d had no experience with. Had the damn beast never thought to use the surrounding area to draw away her shield, she could have held on or even use Tsubaki with enough destructive intent. Of course, had he gone all out immediately, she wouldn’t have even need to protect herself. “That new technique was impressive,” Chad said with a light smile. Again, while all their powers had grown steadily and no one knew their complete form, Orihime’s fairies had shown considerable flexibility and improvement and it could be assumed hers were capable of growing far past what anyone expected.

Feeling a bit awkward at giving a compliment, Chad glanced around the room once more while fiddling with the ever present coin around his neck. The sounds of nature outside the room caught his attention and triggered a glance towards the window. With the peacefulness outside, it would almost seem like last night had never happened. Unfortunately, the proof lay on the bed next to him. Hopefully, whatever injury was left over would not become a bother to her and allow for more mobility than a simple wheelchair.

Eyes still crinkled, she watched her healing fairies work their magic. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest, it was almost hard to breathe; the goldenrod light that warmed her fingertips glowed brightly, although it did flicker every now and then, almost like a candle threatening to go out with every gust of wind. Typically her healing shield would never do such a thing; it would grow, and it would blossom, enveloping the injured or mangled limb - or even an entire, whole body - with a warming light, remaining steadily in place until the task was completed. But this wasn’t like her typical healing. Whenever it came to fixing up herself, her results were always far more lackluster.

Orihime knew from the way her leg was snapped like a thin twig and from overhearing the doctors that the damage she suffered was called an “avulsion fracture”. The femur, the largest, strongest bone in her limb was broken, and the muscles were torn; that meant if left unattended it would take months to recover. An allotted and extended period of time in which she would be confined to her bed, where she would be forced to remain, completely useless to anyone, even more so than she was now.

Caught up in her whirling melancholic thoughts, in her steely determination at least not to screw thing one task up, Orihime was taken aback by the matter of fact statement uttered by Chad thereafter.

“You did a good job last night.”

“A-Ah, well…that’s very kind of you to say,” Orihime replied graciously, and ducking her head in a shy manner. Chocolate hues shifted to steal a look at Chad again, before hastily veering away to the dome of Santen Kesshun. She did not know what else to say in response. Nibbling her bottom lip, the auburn-haired girl held back the denial she so desperately wanted to let tumble out. It was difficult, trying to find the words, to tame them into something appropriate but still ringing with ingenuity. “B-But, I…”

And then he had to compliment her again.

“That new technique was impressive.”

She bit her lip so hard, she was unsurprised at the slight taste of copper in her mouth. Why did she have to always be like this? Why did she always have to let her emotions get the best of her? Yesterday getting herself injured and forcing Chad to not only finish off the Hollow but carry her on foot clear across town to the hospital clinic was not bad enough, no; Orihime had to add onto his burden by feeling like this. By feeling so pathetic and unworthy of his praise that he was considerate enough to give out, even when she did not deserve it. How did she reward Chad for his efforts? She rewarded him by sniffling pitifully. Tears pooled, which Orihime tried to blink away discreetly, and without Chad’s noticing.

For a moment, she felt disjointed, like her arms and legs were not in their proper places. Her hands clenched to hide the tremble of her long, splayed fingers. Twisted, gnarled ligaments stitched themselves back together, fractured bone pushed and grinded and finally, semi-settled. A puff of hot breath escaped her trembling, pink lips; when her work was finished, she warily tested out her leg’s strength, managing to lift it up slightly. Sweat broke out on her forehead from the effort, but despite that a small grin was still able to lighten up her features. It may not have completely been restored, but now Orihime would at least be able to walk around campus with a crutch. That small happiness and relief, however, was quickly extinguished.

For a moment, she was silent, and felt totally awkward. Then, her fingers fumbled with the edge of her blanket; Orihime dragged it over herself and turned over to face the wall to the best of her ability. Hiding her face in the safety of her large, fluffy pillow, and voice muffled, she feigned a yawn before murmuring out quietly, “Thank you, Sado-kun…but I should probably get some rest, ne? The more I do…the faster I’ll heal. S-So - “

She trailed off for a second, attempting to collect herself, and despite the tears speckling her pillow, the pained emotions warring inside of her heart, Orihime still found it within herself to raise her head and flash a quick smile at the brunet-haired teen; “…Thank you so much.”

The last sentence was additionally whispered in a tender tone, unbidden, but still true, “You really are a good friend.”

Room 176: Meeting the Roommate

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:47:00 -0400

perfectophobe:

Even if Orihime only meant to be nice, nothing was said. In fact, Machi pressed her lips tightly together, afraid something might slip out. How could she talk about something that seemed so large and frightening? When Machi was so frightened of being rejected? Orihime would most likely learn about her past anyway, whether it be from her or not, and most people didn’t believe her side anyway. For now, it seemed best to speak nothing more on the matter. Nothing at all.

But the chocolate seemed to do it’s job by calming Machi down and helped her to forget her woes momentary. It was a soft spot for Machi, and she nodded her head slowly to answer the other girl’s question. Chocolate just happened to be one of Machi’s favorite foods, something her brother Manabe found ironic because of her hair and eye color. Her brother always got a slap to the arm whenever he tried to make a joke about it too.

Without a word, Machi sat next to Orihime on the bench but still kept a little distance between the two. Whether Machi didn’t this out of politeness or feeling awkward, Machi didn’t know. She continued to take small bits from her cupcake, glancing at the copper haired from the corner of her eye. Yet again, the anxiety of not knowing what to say began to build, but before it could reach painful heights, Orihime spoke.

“What other things do you like?”

Machi blinked. The question was vague, open to free interpretation. Anyone could have answered it in a numerous amount of ways, but it only left Machi stumped. What- What did she like? Could she say something about, or did she mean what sort of things MAchi enjoyed doing, or what she did for entertainment? Or course Machi had things she enjoyed, she liked tennis and she loved playing piano. She like Mogeta and kids movies; she liked so many things. But everything was erased from her mind, and all she could do was stare at the half eaten cupcake in her hands.

“…red pandas.” She all she uttered, her words coming out before she could help it. She must have sounded like a dolt, giving off a silly answer like that.

Following her offer to listen to her whenever and if ever she needed someone to confide in, a long silence fell between the pair. It was not necessarily companionable, comfortable silence, nor was it awkward and hushed. Nonetheless Orihime merely observed the compression of Machi’s lips into a taut, thin line, and nodded, knowing better than to pursue the topic. She did not want to make Machi feel anymore uncomfortable in her presence than she already was. The goal to taking up the brunette on her offer to show her around, or part of it anyway, was to hopefully become more acquainted with the person she was going to be living with for the duration of a year.

She certainly didn’t want to completely dash their pleasant tour so far by being pushy and nosy; so that was that.

Orihime donned a thoughtful expression as she took another large bite out of cinnamon bun. The creamy topic paired with the soft pastry and cinnamon and sugar was an explosion of yummy goodness in her mouth. Looking over at Machi as she continued to munch away on her chocolate cupcake, she grinned happily. At least it looked like whatever unhappy tension radiating from her was dimming now to be replaced by relaxed contentment. That was the power of delicious baked goods for you!

She allowed herself to finish off her bun as Machi deliberated over her response to her and ever so softly settled upon a curt, and simple answer to her broad question. Red pandas? Well, she did not expect her to tell her that! It sounded fitting though, Orihime noted, smiling widely. “Eheh…that’s so cute.” She paused, but only to properly use her hand to wipe her face free of some icing and crumbs, and lick her fingers, eyes looking far off; then as swiftly as brown orbs glazed over, they twinkled like stars.

Leaning in towards Machi, hands clasped together over her bosom, Orihime exclaimed in an earnest way, “That’s very cute, honestly, Kuragi-san! And I can see why you’d like them so much - why, you must like many, many cute things if you like red pandas so much! You know what I think would be a great idea?”

A natural, rosy blush painted her pale cheeks from sheer excitement for what she was about to suggest; honestly, it was the perfect idea, she thought, a great opportunity and fantastic match for someone like Machi…plus, she’d always been curious about checking it out herself, and this would be her chance to go with someone willingly; “There’s this new American store called “Stuffed Teddies R Us! It’s where you can make your own stuffed animal, of your choice.”

Orihime lifted up a balled up fist and began to tick off a list of things you could do, raising a finger with each one; “Not only can it be whatever animal you want, but I’ve heard you can even pick out: a voice box, shirt, pants, skirt - or dress! - shoes, and the most important of all - a heart~! What do you say we go there together?” she inquired.

Okay let's see!

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 07:32:00 -0400

I owe replies to the following:

~~Yuuki~~
~~Kyosuke~~
~~Godot~~
~~Chad~~
~~Machi~~

I’m going to see the movie “Brave” and I’m kind of busy at the moment, but today I’ll be sure to get to everyone. <3 Let me know if I forgot anyone else, or even if you’d want to plot something out with me. =] I’ll be back for sure later regardless~!

to protect, again

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:43:00 -0400

demonicfists:

Shortly after finishing the delicious cheesecake, two nurses came in to help Orihime off the bed and into a wheelchair. Granted Chad said he was fine walking, his petite friend insisted on a taxi ride. Even he knew how stubborn she could get once decided upon something. The drive itself only took a few short minutes and the bronze haired boy was quick to move to the other side and help the auburn haired female back into her mobile seat. Luckily as Sado found out, Orihime lived on the first floor.

Walking in after the rolling girl, Chad saw the room and remembered their times back at Karakura. The few times they needed to study at her apartment, he had caught glimpses of her living space. The dorm room the two now were in looked just like a smaller version of that same area. The picture of her deceased brother along with her favorite plush animal and even a mess to go with it. A feeling of remembrance passed through him as fun times floated through his memory.

“May you please move aside everything on my bed? U-Um…you can put it onto the floor if you’d like! I don’t mind. I just feel that’s where it’d be easiest to heal myself.”

The question barely had to be asked. Not only that, but there was no way he would be putting the books and papers on the ground. Orihime would be moving through here on a hurt foot and placing random items on the carpet would just make that harder and lead to an even worse injury. With his body loosened some after moving around more, Sado picked up the items and placed them in a pile on her nightstand near the photo. By the quick glances at the paper, it could be inferred she had been writing a paper. Hopefully it wasn’t something that had been due today, else the fact he had messed up her grade would also linger in her mind.

Turning back to Orihime, he wondered how in the world she would make it to the bed. Sure, the girl had learned some martial arts moves from Tatsuki, but her physical build wasn’t much at all. If she expected to simply lift herself over, it was possible she would simply fall. Ensuring no more pain was caused, Sado quickly brought his arms underneath her and scooped the light female out of the chair. The old pain from his arms made him wince for a second, but it was quickly pushed away. She was easily more important than a simple cut.

Gently setting his auburn haired friend on the mattress, Chad moved back to give her room to heal herself. Thinking back, Sado wondered if she had really ever healed herself. The group knew her powers relied on emotion and considering how selfless she was, he could only guess at how effective healing her own injury would be. Regardless, it would easily be faster than sitting in the hospital. At the same time, the brown eyed teen had to wonder when Orihime’s roommate would be back. If she came back while the healing process was going, some odd questions and answers would ensue.

It happened rather quickly. Before Orihime knew it, the injured girl was being gently pulled out of the wheelchair, and once more the feeling of being cradled against a firm, strong body overwhelmed her; she let out a small “eep!” and unconscionably looped her arms around Chad’s neck tightly, eyes rounding widely in her face as she looked up at him in a stupefied manner. She was in no place to turn down his kind gesture, but still, it both embarrassed and troubled her - he really didn’t need to overwork himself on her behalf. Once Orihime was settled onto the bed, she released her iron-clad grip around Chad’s neck and adjusted herself to be more comfortable.

Back against the pillows, sitting up straight with her legs out, she scratched the back of her head out of nervous reflex. Cheeks flushed a rosy hue, and without looking up, she stuttered, “A-Arigatou, Sado-kun! I…I very much appreciate it!” And she really, truly did. Still, it was just another thing to add onto the unofficially titled and very long list of Things Inoue Orihime Was Indebted To Yasutora Sado For.

Orihime had always been the one who needed to be protected by her friends. She was always the one losing control of her turbulent emotions on the battlefield, always the one putting herself into harm’s way – accidental or not. It made her disappointed in herself yet again, to realize she had failed her original purpose for her coming to Astraea; the reason for her leaving was to protect her friends, was it not? And yet why was it Sado-kun of all people was in her dorm room, more likely hurt but too heroic to admit it, and on top of all that her leg was broken? It was because, when things came down to it, she failed.

At least she was not completely useless. With that thought, Orihime furrowed her brow and went to work.

In the past she’d attempted to heal herself, with little to no success. Healing her own broken body and absolving it of its wounds was far different than when it came to healing other people. For whatever reason, her abilities were not nearly as efficient. Orihime had the power to turn back the hands of time and restore limbs but when it came to fixing up herself? More often than not, she was forced to rely on others to heal her. But right now, that was not an option or a luxury she had. So Orihime summoned forth three of her fairies - they shot out in an arc of gold, only to create a familiar half dome of glowing light above her right leg. She did not expect to be able to walk normally by the time the task was completed, but hopefully she would be not confined to her wheel chair.

Being in such a seriously incapable state would not help matters any. It also would not stem any questions she already knew to expect from her roommate and classmates alike.

She frowned slightly, as she concentrated. Thick, long lashes batted whilst peering down through the see-through golden glow of Soten Kisshun. For a brief moment, she glanced up at Chad out of the corner of her eye, and then, she looked away again. As that one saying went, it was the same old song.

lovehasnoform: 落書き詰め by ソウノ

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 07:40:36 -0400

lovehasnoform:

落書き詰め by  ソウノ