The execution isn't going to be until the day after next, thought the bespectacled teen as his eyes flitted restlessly from his friend's composed face to his own hands. Had he been as reckless as Ichigo, they'd have charged out immediately after Orihime's outburst, guns blazing. He was more the type to think things over with a level head before performing such tedious and dangerous tasks.
"Alright... But, we need a plan of attack before we head back into that place." He spoke quietly, thoughtfully interlocking his hands and propping his elbow up onto his knees, his chin leaning against it. Sure, her sudden surge of power was impressive a spectacle, but she herself couldn't keep up. After all, she was only human. They both were.
"Ishida-kun, if we stay, Rukia may die... And Kurosaki-kun will be sad too.. I do not wish to see him like that.." Her voice came out in a half whisper, a barrage of emotion in every single word that left her lips.
So, she loves Kurosaki that much that she'd put his happiness first? How does that even make any sort of sense...
He exhaled deeply, eyes closing.
"The best course of action is to work out a plan, Orihime. It's not safe out there that /I/ would allow you to roam aimlessly about while the Soul Reapers are on high alert like this..."
He continued after a brief pause, his gaze meeting hers steadily.
"They seem to be completely worked up lately, and maybe it's because of that psycho we dealt with, or who knows, but where ever Ichigo and Yoruichi-san are, they're safe... Have a little faith in him.."
For the first time in a while, he watched as her soft features brightened up almost imminently at his words, those lovely doe eyes scrunching at the corners. It seemed that he had indeed calmed her, and she'd regained her sensibility. Looking at her smile though did nothing but make his heart pang with jealousy. What he'd do to make her see him not just as a friend....
--- Dawn of the Execution ---
H-how long have I been sleeping? When did I.... The groggy teenage girl propped herself up and rubbed at her sleepy eyes, taking a moment or two to see the room before her was empty.
"I-Ishid-da-kun?" She faltered, swinging her feet over the bed and putting her full weight on them, teetering about the cramped space to find that it was, indeed empty.
Why? Where did Ishida-kun go...?
Though still dark out, there in the distance was a slight sliver of pink tinting the indigo, cosmic filled sky. The wind gusted through her long hair, brushing it back from her face just as a small tear fell from her eyes. She was worried, and though she knew he'd most likely be back, she didn't want to be left behind in such a manner.
Plucking up her few strands of courage, she slipped back into her shinigami attire and as she was about to leave, she heard what sounded like footsteps on the roof.
Very quiet, precise footsteps.
Her breath caught in her throat, but she was not going to be a sitting duck. She looked around and saw the window nearest to the bed was left open and with that, flung herself out and onto the cold, hard dirt with a surprisingly loud thud. But as she was pressed for time, she took off as soon as she managed to gain the strength in her legs back, running as fast as she could muster even though she wasn't entirely healed.
The footsteps behind her sent her brain into overdrive, her instincts screaming at her to flee away from the sound and before long, she had reached the first set of barracks. It wasn't until she looked back at her assailant that made her stop short, her vision slowly sharpening to gaze at him in disbelief.
"Ishida-kun! Don't scare me like that!" Her voice rose, cheeks flushed from running and her embarrassment. To her surprise though, he just laughed at her expression and brushed past her, laying a hand on her head, rubbing it softly.
"I was scouting out the best path after you passed out on me, Orihime. I didn't mean to startle you so badly.." He snickered, clearly enjoying himself.
She blanched, face reddening even more.
"W-well you did! I just about freaked out looking for you and you were gone!"
He gave her a light smile, though they didn't reach his eyes.
"I'd never leave you unprotected... Do you not know me at all?"
She looked at him, and he looked back, but his eyes didn't match his expression. They looked like pools of dark blue ice..
She opened her mouth to ask, but then a loud roar echoed from high atop the hill where the prayer cell resided, violent snapping sounds coming from above.
Was this to be the start of the execution..? She didn't know. All she knew was before she could think rationally, her legs had moved on their own towards the sound.
To the sounds of Rukia's impending death.
Sorry! Writers block sucks. Thank you so so much for reading! I really do love to write and your responses are something to be admired.
