DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters or events from the manga/ anime series "Bleach"which are originally owned by Tite Kubo.
Ichigo Kurosaki left Karakura town to pursue studies in the medical field in order to take over the Kurosak...
As years went by, Orihime had gotten used to living with the Kurosaki household. She had gotten closer to Yuzu and Karin, Ichigo's younger sisters. Yuzu looked more like their mother with light brown hair and brown eyes while Karin had gotten their father's black hair and dark eyes. Isshin had helped her move her stuff from her old home to the spare room they used to keep some old personal belongings. They'd cleaned it out and made it fit for a twelve year old girl to live in. It was hard accepting Sora's death. And it felt worse leaving the home he'd taken care of her in but deep down, she was glad she wasn't going to live alone in their old apartment. She was scared of being alone again. Hence the reason she usually followed Ichigo around at school.
Before the accident, they didn't talk frequently because they weren't in the same class but after, he'd wait for her when school was over so they could walk home together. Orihime looked up to Ichigo because of the kindness he'd shown when he saw her struggling to carry Sora that night. When he'd first given her his name, she'd accidentally mistaken the interpretation as "Strawberry". His face had heated up with embarrassment while he explained to her that his name meant "To protect one thing" rather than the homonym everyone thought it meant. She just smiled and said that she loved strawberries.
During Middle School, Orihime had one day been upset about loosing her hair pins and it took alot of questioning for her to open up to the orange haired boy. He had taken her hand and retraced her steps all the way to their classroom, searching for her turquoise flower hair pins. She had cried more when he finally found them covered in mud in the school yard. He'd been more surprised when he discovered that she was more upset about him getting dirty while searching for her precious hair pins. He brushed it off by saying it wasn't important and she felt her adoration for him soar.
It was in her second year of highschool that she realized she'd been in love with the orange haired boy. He honestly didn't know what to do with those feelings so she hid them. He had already done so much for her as it was. Even though she told herself she didn't regret hiding it, she realized she was greatly heartbroken when Ichigo said he would be traveling to study for a few years after highschool.
She hoped that he would find love and happiness wherever he went. She hoped that he'd come to love someone and cherish that person with all his heart.
She never knew that she'd been that person all along.
-------✿-------
Seven Years Later.
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It had been seven years after they'd graduated from highschool and a total of thirteen years since Sora's death. Ichigo stood infront of the train station, trying to get a taxi. He was back. Medical school had been tough on him but his zeal to fulfill his desire to save lives pushed him to work hard and overcome those obstacles. He had missed his family. College life had been hectic and he wasn't able to come home very frequently because he always had alot to do. But now, he was finally home and he couldn't wait to lay his aching back on something soft and drift off to sleep. He was dressed in dark grey t-shirt with black ripped jeans accompanied by black shiny high topped boots. He ignored the glances he was getting from the passers-by. His orange hair, which had grown a little longer and the two piercings he'd gotten made him look like a delinquent but he was way passed that now.
He had dark circles under his eyes because of the long train ride at night. Apparently the night train was his only option if he wanted to get home quickly to surprise everyone. They all believed he'd be back by next week. He was sure Uryu was already working and from the calls he'd been receiving, his folks were living happily here. He wondered if Rukia and Renji were busy as well. And then there was Orihime.
Orihime.... He thought.
He'd missed her alot. He wondered if she had already gotten a boyfriend. He felt his heart clench at the thought. Maybe she was even married. He tried to think rationally. She wouldn't get married without inviting him so she couldn't be married. He couldn't wait to see her. It had been so long. Most of the times he'd visited home, he hadn't been able to stop by her new apartment. She had moved out right after highschool and started a bakery. He had thought of confessing his feelings to her for a while now but he always found himself unable to. She was so perfect in his eyes. He didn't want someone as bright and as beautiful as herself to settle for someone like him.
She deserves more. He thought.
Even though others thought she was weak, he thought she was strong. Her ability to forgive and live through all the hurt she'd suffered was something commendable. When she'd confided in him about her abusive parents, he was surprised about how angry he'd been. He wanted to make them pay for hurting her but it was all in the past.
He'd successfully gotten a cab to stop for him and loaded his stuff into the trunk. He decided he would drop his things at the old house before going to surprise Orihime at work. His dad could handle a few suitcases. What he didn't expect was the signed note pasted on the front door saying.
"Ha!.... I beat you to it!.... Knew you'd be back earlier so I went on a trip with Urahara and Yoruichi abroad..... We're exploring the world now.... The Clinic's yours son.. And the house too... Later."
-Dad..
Ichigo crumpled the piece of paper with a hiss. He expected it. He knew his crazy father would one day disappear without a trace with Hat'n'Cloggs and Yoruichi. His father had ditched the house and he was sure he hadn't said a word to Yuzu or Karin. They were both in college now. Yuzu said something about wanting to be a writer while Karin was interested in Geography. He picked the house key from under the potted plant and unlocked the door.
The house still looked very much the same. The large portrait of his mother was still sitting on the wall. He smiled fondly at it. He assumed his father had redone the wallpaper so the house still looked neat. He shelves and cupboards were still pretty much the same and he didn't mind at all. He slumped into the familiar brown armchair and sighed. He would be living here now. How strange. He'd wanted to get his own apartment but he didn't see the point if he'd be working at the clinic now. He decided to take a shower before going to see Orihime at the bakery.
He dragged his luggage up the stairs and into his old room. He scoffed when he saw the familiar "15" pasted on the door. He was home.
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