Death and Strawberry

Chapter 11: Baby hold my hand

It was well past midnight and half the world is now fast asleep. The curtains to her window swayed gently with the wind. The darkness outside illuminated by the little dots of light from the stars above. The streets were empty. It was quiet. It was peaceful.

And there was nowhere else in the world he wanted most to be right now but here. In bed, beside her.

Orihime laid right next to him, her head resting on his arm, one of her hands under her cheek, another on his chest. Their legs tangled beneath the sheets.

He brushed her hair with light caresses, untangling the strands. She had the same color of hair as him. Two orange-head. Ichigo thought fondly. Though hers was a darker hue.

The color used to remind him of bitter memories. But he loved it on her. He doesnt know why himself.

A particular memory crossed his mind and he couldnt help but smile.

.

It was way past his bedtime. He really should be asleep if he didnt want Isshin spouting nonsense the next morning about his height and not growing any more taller.

Ichigo laid on his bed, wide awake, two hairclips on his hand, glistening in blue as he extended his arm towards the light.

It was in a flower shape; six pointed petals on each. Rather girly for his taste.

Earlier the clinic was bustling with people, what with that accident and the regular number of patients coming in for consultation or follow-up.

His father was too tired by the end of the day, he couldnt even lift a spoon to eat the dinner Yuzu and Karin made.

Ichigo decided to help clean up the clinic and discard of the medical wastes. That's when he saw the pair of hair accessory on the lounge chair.

He thought of giving one of each to the twins but decided not to, thinking someone might come back for it later.

.

It has been a week since that day and everyday, Ichigo found himself waiting at their front door for anyone to claim the lost item.

Isshin even teased him once when the old man noticed him spending hours on the family clinic, when usually he'd stayed cooped up in his room after school.

"Looking out for someone?" One time Isshin came up to him, hiding behind the door, making him jump off his skin.

And when he didnt answer, his old man kept pestering him. "Is it a girl?" The older Kurosaki had a silly grin plastered on his silly face.

It was annoying.

.

Ichigo had cleaning duty today so he went home later than usual. He was rounding the corner to the Kurosaki residence when he saw the same girl from before.

The black mourning robes she had made her orange hair stand out more. She was frantically looking around at the shrubs and bushes near their house. A few seconds later she was retracing her steps on the streets looking from left to right. And she was crying.

"Are you okay?" He asked for starters.

She got startled at first when she felt the hand on her shoulders but recognition flicked through her eyes when she realized who he is.

"I lost something." A tear rolled down her cheek. "I didnt notice until the other day." She wiped at her eyes.

"Sora-nii gave it to me on my birthday." At the mention of her older brother, she began to tear up again.