Heroes

Chapter Fifteen

A few drops hit Ichigo’s hand, and he recoiled harshly, accidentally dropping his zanpaku-to.

BIG MISTAKE.

Sora quickly whipped Ichigo with his tail, sending him slamming inot the concrete.

“ICHIGO!” Rukia yelled, running in Yuzu’s pajamas over to him, most likely to see if he was still alive.

“Ichi…” Orihime cried softly. I tried to comfort her, but she was snatched away from me, Sora’s hand moving too fast for me to even begin to block.

“Ichigo…” she cried, fighting against Sora’s hand, holding her tightly. “Let me go! Let me go! Ichigo’s…” she bit his finger.

“Orihime…” Sora said softly, sadly. “Hve you…really forgotten me? IT’S ME! ORIHIME!!”

“Ka…Kakei?!” (A/N: Okay, I GoogleTranslated this, and “kakei” literally translates to “household.” If anyone can elaborate on that in the comments, 1000 awesome points for you, but I have no idea. Let’s just pretend it means “brother,” even though that’s “onii,” I think.) Orihime’s voice was trembling in fear and in disbelief. “Is…is it really…YOU, Kakei?”

“It’s me…Orihime.” Sora’s voice softened and he let her down to stand in the living room. I thought about going over there beside Orihime, but that would only make matters worse; I’d just make him angry again.

“You haven’t forgotten.”

“But…” Orihime said, “why? Why did you hurt Tatsuki and Ichigo? Why?” Her voice was sad, and she looked disappointed in Sora.

“Why? YOU KNOW WHY! Those two…tried to TEAR US APART!”

“What?”

Oh God, I thought. Here comes Sora’s monologue.

“After I died…you prayed for me every day…I watched you always…I was dead but…your prayers eased my suffering…but a year passed…you became friends with that girl.” He motioned to Tatsuki. “After that…you prayed for me less often! Then you entered high school…and Ichigo Kurosaki showed up. And you…STOPPED PRAYING FOR ME ALTOGETHER!!”

Orihime’s eyes wided. I sighed. Poor girl, I thought. She never realized how much Sora was hurt by her stopping praying.

“At home…all you would talk to me about was Kurosaki! It hurt me. I saw myself…fading a little more from your heart each day!”

“No…” Orihime said weakly. It was obvious she was saddened my his pain and suffering. “No, Kakei! That’s not--”

“I WAS SO LONELY! It was unbearable!! Sometimes, I just wanted to…kill!” On the word kill, Kurosaki showed back up, sword in hand. He artfully leaped through the window and slashed at Sora. But the hollow was quick to retaliate and soon Ichigo was pinned against the wall against Sora’s scaly tail.

“Ichigo!!” Orihime yelled, but Sora quickly grabbed her up before she could do anything. I didn’t know what to do…I knew the outcome of the scene, so I just figured I’d stay back for now.

“Come with me, Orihime…come…back to when it was just us two.”

“Why?” Orihime yelled, trembling, this time seemingly in anger. “Why do you have to hurt Ichigo and Tatsuki? Why, Kakei?”