Death and Strawberry

Chapter 4: Iridescent

Several minutes had gone since Ichigo left. The clock on the wall says so. It continued to tick by, indicating another minute had passed.

Orihime sat on her vanity, staring blankly at the mirror. She absent-mindedly brought a hand to her lips. Her fingers traced the contour of her still swolen lips.

Did he really...?

Did Ichigo really just kissed her?

She directed her eyes at the image reflected in front of her. Her gaze connected to the ones looking back at her.

Yes, he really did.

And I let him!

The impact of the realization hit her all at once.

What would he think?

Did I seem that desperate for some action?

How will I face him at work?

Orihime sighed. What had she gotten herself into?

The day her heart was broken, Orihime had made a promise to herself. Just asTatsuki said, there was more to life than finding someone who will want you, or being sad over someone who doesnt.

There's a lot of wonderful time to be spent discovering yourself without hoping someone will fall in live with you along the way, and it doesnt need to be painful or empty. You need to fill yourself up with love. Not anyone else. Become a whole being on your own. Go on adventures, fall asleep in the woods with friends, wander around the city at night, sit in a coffee shop on your own, write on bathroom stalls, leave notes in library books, dress up yourself, give to others, smile a lot.

Do all things with love, but dont romanticize life like you cant survive without it. Live for yourself and be happy on your own. It isnt any less beautiful.

And she found that meaning. That purpose. That freedom.

But that kiss.

It had evoked feelings that she thought had long since gone.

.

.

She went about her daily routine when she arrive at work. She brought her badgel and morning cup of coffee. Entered the lift to the 27th floor of the building. Logged in at the biometry. Walked a couple of isles to her desk. Dropped her hand bag at the foot of her table. Placed her breakfast at the corner of her desk. Then turned on her computer.

She went through the investigative files one of her coworkers dropped by yesterday. She was reading one of the reports when she heard his familiar drawl and lousy obligatory good morning greeting.

She swiftly ducked her head behind her desk before he even entered the room.

Her orange locks are her giveaway. It always catches unwanted attention.

Ichigo would have to pass by her desk to his office, since her station was across his. He was the team head of the field agents department.

She waited for several seconds until she could hear no more his footsteps.

It's too early in the morning to face him just yet.

"Inoue-san." Orihime's back went ram-rod straight.

His footsteps stopped.

Oh shoot!

Orihime couldnt help but sigh.

"Can you give me the file for this case number?" Her brunette colleague working under the evidence department handed her a piece of paper with the said digits before going to her own desk.

"Ah. J-just a moment Kotoru-san." She raised her hand to signal for her colleague to wait. She knew Ichigo was still standing a few feet away, and she couldnt really look him in the eye just yet.

She rummage through the stacked pile of folders. She had no other choice but stand and hand over the requested file.

When she crossed the small distance between the desks, she could feel his gaze trailing her. He was expertly answering the inquiries of one of his subirdinates, yet all the while, his attention was on her every movement.

It took every ounce of her willpower not to throw him a glance. She tried to keep her back on him. Trying so hard to concentrate on her pile of work and reports.

She tried to answer as many calls and call back as many clients as she could just so she wouldnt have free time in her hands.

She barely left her desk that day. And it was exhausting.

.

.

She had long since moved on. Really. She could look anyone in the eye and say it proudly.

Or did she just had enough practice, her lies had become her reality.

She was happy for him. She wished he'd found the love he needed so he'd stop looking for it on every girl and or woman he meets. He was hungry for love and affection, that it was almost painful to look at.

She was just sad that it couldnt be her.

She run her fingers over the picture pinned to one side of her work desk. It was taken outside the building after they had solved their first case. She was flanked by both men. Chad with a ghost of a smile on his lips. And Ichigo a proud glimmer in his eyes and a silly grin.

She liked him now with a different fondness. A different perspective from when they were highschoolers. A different take from when they were university students. A different respect now that they were colleagues.

Looking back, she had only this one regret, that when she loved, even if she had the chance, too often, she did not say so.

"Someday someone won't be afraid of how much you love. They won't stay on the shore. They will meet you in the depths. You werent made for shallow waters. Because your heart is an ocean." Her raiven-haired friend cheered her on.

Her phone's ringtone broke through her reveerie. She absent-mindedly picked the pink dainty thing from her desk and swiped left to answer the call.

"Oi, Hime. How's it going?" The cheerful voice of her closest girl bestfriend rang through across the line.

Just the person she needed.

Orihime wailed as she sobbed through the phone. "Tatsuki-chan!"