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el-yon · 1 year

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Stealing the Sun

What would have happened if Ichigo woke up during Orihime’s goodbye to him?

I’m sure this has probably been done before ^^’

I’m not an experienced writer, so this isn’t very good but I’ve been working on it for awhile.

Angsty one shot with a happy ending. It ended up longer than I thought it would be lol

I waffled about whether I should go with the canon complicit story or not but ultimately I wanted some fluff with the angst otherwise it would be too sad! The second half and ending is probably the weakest part but I’m pretty proud overall. Self indulgence ftw.

Big thank you to my friend Sarah for reading and always encouraging me 🧡 your support means a lot

——————————————-

Ichigo’s defeat in the battle with Grimmjow was humiliating. No, not humiliating but frustrating. all that training, living with the Visoreds for months, to get his hollow mask to last for a few measly seconds and for what? To be defeated by the Arrancars, the same people who hurt Chad and Inoue so badly once before. And it was Grimmjow who had hurt Rukia terribly already once before his very eyes.

When the arrancars abruptly left, they removed his sword from his hand and the pain was so intense he blacked out. Rukia and the other shinigami did their best to heal him, even taking him to the Visoreds, but all they could really do was bandage him up and send him home. His injured hand hurt, but there was a relief in knowing at least Orihime was safe in the soul society, even if that meant he had to live with the pain for awhile.

When he was finally home, he was out like a light. Just exhausted, sleeping like the dead. How he had missed the softness of his own mattress.

Ichigo didn’t wake even when Karin, Yuzu and Rukia ate supper in his room. His sisters were so happy to have him back, he would have been touched if he knew they had fallen asleep on the floor next to him. His training was to help protect them but unfortunately it kept him away from his family too much. The two girls slept soundly, snoring away on the hard wooden floor, keeping watch over their brother.

No one even stirred when the curtains began to rustle.

————————

“You have just 12 hours. You may say goodbye to just one person before we go. However, if that person sees you or becomes aware of your presence in any way, that will violate our agreement. You have until midnight. Do what you have to do by then and report to the designated location.”

It was the oddest feeling, walking through Karakura Town like a ghost. Nobody could see her, sometimes they passed right through her as though she was as insubstantial as air; a living spirit. The words of the Arrancar had played over and over again in Orihime’s head all day, from the moment he had left her in the dangai tunnel. The bracelet on her wrist a shackle and an exacting, punishing promise. There were so many people she cared about saying goodbye to. Tatsuki was her immediate first thought. Her best friend, the only person that had been there for her for years and years. She had said goodbye in so many words to her when leaving for the Soul Society to rescue Rukia before, Orihime wasn’t sure she could do it again this time… this time it felt final in a way she couldn’t bear thinking about and she didn’t know if she had it in her to fully face.

Kuchiki-san was her next thought. They had spent almost a month training together in the Soul Society, growing close in a way no one except Tatsuki and her had. Rukia’s firm belief in her had soothed something in Orihime’s soul that Urahara’s words had hurt. As she thought about things she walked, tracing old routes as she mentally said farewell to the daily sights. Goodbye favourite ramen shop, goodbye favorite corner store, goodbye bakery with the good deals on day old bread. Goodbye flowering bush, goodbye statue of a dog, goodbye park where Sora used to push her on the swings. Goodbye Karakura High. Goodbye Halycon Days.

The afternoon relentlessly faded into evening, and evening quickly turned to night as the sunlight faded and she walked the streets, saying her farewells. Lamps turned on in homes, and businesses closed up for the day as people left. Soon the streets were quiet.

She could say goodbye to Ishida-kun. He reminded her of a cat at times, aloof and pretending to be cold but actually very kindhearted and generous. As she walked by the school that held such cherished memories along with the bad ones, she thought about saying goodbye to Sado-kun, the person she had trained the most with, who always had her back, who would do anything to help someone. She walked past the places they used to train, the warehouses, the cafes she liked to eat at, her favorite spot by the river. If only she could say goodbye to them all, and all her school friends.

And of course, there was Kurosaki-kun. Would it be selfish if she chose to say goodbye to him? She had deliberately put him out of her mind after leaving her apartment, yet before she knew it her feet had taken her down the familiar street to the Kurosaki Clinic and family home. How strange a feeling to pass through walls, it felt unpleasant. The curtains in Ichigo’s room stirred in entrance, and there he was; sleeping of course. It was late, nearly midnight already. He was injured, his hand and arm wrapped in bandages. She had seen him fighting when Ulquiorra threatened to kill him, thankfully it didn’t seem as though he was wounded too badly.

Part of her was glad he was asleep, it would hurt to have him look through her as though she didn’t exist like everyone else in town had on her way here. At least like this she could say a proper goodbye, one without getting embarrassed or flustered. He looked so peaceful laying there, not stressed or scowling or pretending annoyance at something, wholly relaxed for once in his life in a way that she had never seen. She liked how calm he was. He deserved to get some rest.

A light snore came from below Ichigo’s bed. Startled, Orihime looked down to see the younger Kurosaki siblings camped out on the floor. That made her smile, of course they must miss their big brother so much. She would be the same if Sora was still alive. At least Ichigo had them watching out for him while he was home. They’d make sure he ate enough and got some sleep occasionally.

In the quiet of the night, in the dark room she said her goodbyes to his sleeping form. He couldn’t hear them.

She touched his hand hesitantly, leaning over him, thinking maybe… to steal a kiss… after all this might be forever. The last chance she’d ever have.

But she couldn’t. Of course she couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right. This wasn’t how she wanted to kiss him, anyway. It wasn’t at all like how she’d dreamed it. A few tears spilled down her face, landing on his unconscious one. How she would miss Karakura, her life and friends here, and him…

A sad little laugh at her own ridiculousness escaped as she stood up and leaned back against the window.

“Oh, Kurosaki-kun! There were…so many things I wanted to do with my life. Become a teacher.., or an astronaut, open my own pastry shop…or go to a Mr. Donuts and say ‘give me one of each!’ or go to an ice cream parlor and order one of everything there too…….” She sighed.

“Ahhh if only there were five of me! Then I could have been born in five different towns, and eaten five different lifetimes of meals, had five different careers, and…..” she looked down at his peaceful sleeping face. “…fallen in love with the same person, five different times…” She couldn’t help but look down at his sleeping face and blush. Even though he couldn’t see or hear her, even though he was unconscious, it was strange to finally confess aloud these feelings to him that she had kept locked away for so long. This might be the last time she would ever see him. She would leave her heart with him.

Wiping her tears, she healed his hand in moments. She turned to leave and suddenly heard him moan.

Turning back, she looked at him. He was grimacing in his sleep, an unhappy expression on his face. He looked as though he was in pain. “Kurosaki-kun?” she whispered, “What’s wrong?” Did she hurt him somehow when Ayame and Shuno healed him? A sudden flash of anxiety in the pit of her stomach at the prospect. Perhaps his injuries were worse than she had even realized.

He rolled over in bed, mumbling something again, it almost sounded like her name. Shocked, she backed up against the wall. Had she woken him somehow? If Ulquiorra found out….but she was still wearing the bracelet he gave her…

————

Ichigo groaned and turned onto his side. Then tossed the other way before throwing his blankets down to his feet and sitting up in a huff, rubbing his head as though it ached fiercely. “What was that nightmare about?” he murmured to himself. “My head…” he looked down to see his sisters’ slumber party on his floor and sighed, a small smile on his face. Then he looked at his hand, still bandaged but now completely healed from Grimmjow’s sword wound. His eyes widened in confusion and the realization that he had been healed.

————

She knew she should leave. Right now, before it got even harder to tear herself away or she was somehow found out. Every moment she lingered here put Ichigo in more danger from that Arrancar she had met. He promised to kill anyone who was aware of her presence. She had seen and felt firsthand what he and his companions were capable of. But she found that she was frozen in place, her feet glued to the floor. She hardly dared to breathe.

———

“Inoue…” Ichigo murmured to himself, starring at his hand. He unwrapped the bandages and flexed his wrist. “When was she here…. ? What was that nightmare about her…?” She gaped. “Her reiatsu…. it’s so strong it almost feels like she’s in the room with me,” he continued.

———

Oh no. No, no, no. The stupid bracelet was supposed to hide her spirit energy from detection! Was it broken somehow or were Ichigo’s powers just too strong to be deceived by a device like this? Either way, Orihime had made a mistake in coming here, she knew that now. Ulquiorra would kill him if he found out. That huge giant Yammy he was with at the park had killed so many people and almost killed Chad, Tatsuki, her and Ichigo, and Ulquiorra was to her knowledge even stronger. They wouldn’t have survived if Urahara and Yoruichi hadn’t stepped in to rescue them. What had she done, exposing Ichigo like this? She should have not said goodbye to anyone. She should have just left that note in her apartment and then gone to meet Ulquiorra right away. She had made a mess of everything.

———

“Inoue…” Ichigo murmured again softly . His sisters were still asleep, peacefully snoozing. He looked around the small bedroom by the light of the waning crescent moon illuminating a small patch of window where the curtains were open. “Inoue,” he felt a bit ridiculous asking the quiet room, “You’re not there are you?”

No answer. Of course not. If she was in his bedroom he would know, wouldn’t he? She wouldn’t hide from him. And what would she be doing here anyway? Rukia had promised him she was safe in the Soul Society, so why would she creep around his bedroom in the middle of the night? And yet…and yet. His hand was miraculously healed. And he felt her presence so strongly it was as if she was crying out to him. Something wasn’t right. He reached for his cellphone, to call or email her, before remembering it was the middle of the night, and technology didn’t work in the Soul Society. Cursing softly to himself, he got to his feet, careful not to disturb the girls on the floor. Already Orihime’s presence was fading from him and the room.

He stumbled down the stairs, not stopping to grab a jacket or shoes, only his phone and substitute soul reaper badge in his pocket as an unknown dread in the pit of his stomach was urging him on, urging him to hurry, to go faster, faster before it was too late…

Too late for what? He didn’t know, but he would run to Inoue’s apartment if he had to. Or maybe Urahara’s to see if there was any way to find out what was going on. Then he would laugh things off and walk home in embarrassment, hopefully avoiding anyone he knew on his way back.

———-

She had to flee. The second he was distracted reaching for his phone, she left as quickly as possible. She didn’t know if her flip phone would go off in her pocket, but she didn’t want to find out if he would hear it. She had overstayed her goodbye, it was time to go to the meeting point while Ichigo was still confused but safe. She turned to take in one last view of the yellow house before heading out but suddenly the door was slamming and there he was. Ichigo. Barefoot and still in his pajamas, his hair mussed and tousled with sleep and yawning. He started walking determinedly in the direction of her apartment, feet slapping the pavement and then paused, stopping and turning to face her in the opposite direction where she was standing.

———

Her reiatsu again. It wasn’t in the direction of her own house, but a few blocks away from the clinic. What was this feeling? It felt like he was drawn to her, but she wasn’t there. He couldn’t see anyone. The night was dark, and the street lamps flickered. What would Orihime even be doing out at this time of night? She wouldn’t be wandering the streets like this.

————

Would he follow her all the way to the meeting point at the park? She couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t lead him straight into Ulquiorra. But if she didn’t show up at the expected time, the Arrancar would surely come looking for her, or worse, think she wasn’t coming and start making good on his threats to kill the people she cared about. And one of them was right here, weaponless and barefoot and following her into danger. What could she do?? She didn’t know what the right thing to do here was. She was frozen with panic as Ichigo’s approach got closer and closer to where she was standing. “Inoue,” he called again to the dark street. “Inoue are you there?”

————

Is this some kind of game? He wanted to ask. Was he losing his mind, or did he sense her right in front of him, close enough to touch and yet nothing was there except empty air in the darkness? Maybe this was another dream, another nightmare and he was still asleep?

———

Should she answer? If she did it would be breaking her promise. But he was already in danger. The cold autumn night air was starting to make her shiver. Was there any way she could convince him this was all a bad dream, and get him to turn back before it got much later?

If she revealed herself, if she explained things, what would he say? Would he hate her? Would he think her visit an overstep of boundaries? Her leaving a betrayal? She knew everyone would think that when she was gone, but it had seemed worth it if it could keep them safe. But now….

———-

“Inoue. I don’t know if you can hear me,” Ichigo spoke quietly to the lamppost she was hiding behind. “But if you’re really here…and I haven’t finally gone completely crazy….what’s going on? Why won’t you answer me?” His expression was hard to see in the dim light. “If something is wrong, please talk to me.” He cursed softly to himself. “I hate this,” he muttered.

————

He was so near, her hand was tempted to reach out to him, so she kept it clenched at her side. She had five minutes before she was supposed to meet Ulquiorra. Five more minutes. Five minutes to make a decision. Five minutes to risk everything. Five minutes to break her own heart. It was so much easier facing him when he was unconscious, when he wasn’t saying her name with a pleading sound to his sleepy voice. Now he was there right in front of her, looking in her eyes although he didn’t know it. It made everything sting a thousand times worse. She looked at him one last time, memorizing the lines of his face, his kind brown eyes, the riot of ginger hair, and turned her back to walk away.

————

“Please,” he whispered. She stilled. “Am I losing it?” He stepped forward. He could smell her strawberry shampoo. His hand went through her arm. She shut her eyes and swallowed, mouth clamped shut. Tears had started leaking from her eyes again but she forced herself to take a step away from him and another step. The cold stars shined down on them uncaringly. But every step she took he followed, bemused and haltingly. There wasn’t much time to try and lose him and still get to the meeting point in time. She would lead him right into danger at this point. She had no choice.

With a deep breath, she slid the bracelet from her wrist. It clattered to the pavement, ringing in the cold night air as her form wavered and became corporal again. She stayed with her back to him, afraid to look at him, afraid of whatever was going to happen next.

“You really are here!” He said, coming closer, confused yet happy to see her. “Why were you hiding?” She didn’t respond. “Inoue… Inoue,” concerned, he came closer, lightly grabbing her shoulder when she wouldn’t turn and look at him. “What’s wrong? Please, talk to me.”

Everything spilled out then. On the abandoned street corner, in the last dark minutes before midnight. She told him about the attack, the threats, the bracelet, her imminent meeting. His face grew darker, but his grip on her stayed gentle and reassuring. “You should have come to me or Rukia about this right away, not faced it in your own. You don’t have to go anywhere. We’ll keep you safe,” he said, his mind already racing, mentally preparing a battle plan.

“No!” She almost yelled, protesting. He grew quiet, amazed. He never heard her raise her voice before. “I didn’t want to depend on you for that again. Like I always do. I’m so weak. I just wanted to keep you safe. You and Sado-kun and Rukia-chan and Ishida-kun. It was worth going if you all were safe,” she cried.

She was shaking. It was almost winter, and he had no coat or anything to give her for warmth. Without thinking much about it, he gathered her into his arms in an embrace. “Don’t you know us at all? We’d all come after you. I already led one rescue mission, of course we’d just rescue you as well,” he said into her hair. She didn’t respond, just leaned into him.

They stayed that way for a minute, both wishing time would halt and they could remain in that moment for much longer, hearts and thoughts racing. Reluctantly, Ichigo pulled away. He was planning to go and fight Ulquiorra, just as she had feared. Perhaps she shouldn’t have revealed herself, but then he would have wandered into a trap. She didn’t doubt that Ulquiorra would attack him on sight, just like her guards from the soul society he nearly killed.

Ichigo pulled out his phone from his pajama pants pocket and dialed Urahara. Hat and clogs answered on the first ring. At least Ichigo wouldn’t face the enemy alone. Urahara would rally everyone else, he promised before hanging up.

Ichigo tried to urge Orihime to go back to the clinic or Urahara’s Shoten, to warm up and maybe get some sleep, but of course she refused. She would see this through with everyone, she felt as though she had brought this trouble on to them herself no matter what he said to deny it. She would not let her friends get hurt on her account.

Ichigo used his substitute badge to transform and they dragged his physical body into a bush where hopefully the dark would hide it long enough for the fight to end. Then they both headed to the park. The same park they had been beaten badly before. The park where so many had lost their lives in a moment. A deep crater hole still sat in the center of the grounds, no one quite knew what to make or do with it. Standing nearby was the slim Arrancar. He looked over at their arrival coldly.

“So, woman. You broke your promise. Typical for a human, I suppose,” he drawled laconically. Orihime swallowed and clenched her fists, glaring, but said nothing to defend herself. She would not apologize. Ichigo scowled and unsheathed Zangetsu. “You coward,” he said. “Trying to kidnap her.”

“It’s not kidnapping if someone willing decides to join you,” Ulquiorra argued. “She agreed to come with me. Or did she not tell you that part, when she broke her agreement with me?”

“It’s not real if someone promises you something under duress,” Ichigo yelled, almost growling. “It isn’t a choice if you threaten someone.”

“And yet she still promised. She decided to abandon you.” While Ichigo’s voice was indignant with passion Ulquiorra’s remained indifferent, almost bored. “Lord Aizen has taken an interest in her. I thought our agreement would be an expedient way to get her to Hueco Mundo, but since that fell through, we will have to do things the hard way. But either way, she’s coming with me. Lord Aizen gets what he wants, and right now that’s this woman.”

“She’s a person, not a thing, and she’s not coming with you,” Ichigo spat.

“Not if we have anything to say about it,” Rukia added as Renji, Chad, Uryu, Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Yumichika, Ikkaku, Urahara, Tessai, Yoruichi, Ururu and Jinta appeared, each carrying weapons. Some of them were worse for wear from their earlier battles that day during Ulquiorra’s distraction with the other Espada but all were willing to fight.

Ulquiorra’s eyes narrowed, but he knew he was outnumbered. He scowled. “This isn’t over,” he murmured before opening a garganta and leaving through it. “I’ll be back for her.”

“And we’ll defeat you then,” Ichigo promised. “And whatever other goons Aizen sends.”

————

Her friends were safe. The many emotions of the very, very long day hit her then all at once and the exhaustion made her sway with weariness. Ichigo dropped his zanpaktou to catch her before she fell. Rukia and Rangiku came running. “You silly girl,” Rangiku scolded. Rukia put her hand to Orihime’s forehead. “She’s got a fever, I’m not surprised. Ichigo can you carry her back to Urahara’s place? We can look after her there.”

“Of course.”

————

Later

As she was laying in bed being tended to be Urahara and Yoruichi, Ichigo sat in the shop, waiting. Rangiku and Toshiro had already left, to inform the Soul Society what had happened. Chad and Uryu had offered to stay with him, but he urged them to go get some rest. Yumichika and Ikkaku hurried away, something about dinner and a scary lady. Rukia and Renji were at the park, investigating how no one sensed Ulquiorra’s arrival and testing the bracelet he had given Inoue that had caused her to become invisible and ghostlike. “It’s amazing,” Rukia had said. “I didn’t sense her arrival in the world of the living at all. I wonder how you were able to, Ichigo.” He didn’t have an answer to that.

“It might be because his strong spiritual pressure helped awaken the powers of Miss Inoue. I think their powers are interconnected. The same might be true of Sado-kun. The three of them might not be able to mask their reiatsu from each other because of this,” Urahara had pondered. “It would be interesting to run tests on this.”

“Orihime was able to sense Ichigo’s spiritual pressure when I couldn’t,” Rukia acknowledged. “He was being shielded by the Visoreds but she had no problem finding him. I suppose it works both ways,” she confirmed. Ichigo shrugged. He didn’t understand and he didn’t really care, he was just grateful that he did sense her. Now he was just waiting to see if she was alright.

Urahara considered this information. “Perhaps I should apologize to Inoue-san,” he admitted. “Things might not have escalated like this if I hadn’t warned her off the battlefield. I should have foreseen something like this happening.”

“She’s awake,” Yoruichi came out and closed the door behind her. “Exhausted from stress but that’s to be expected. What she really needs is some sleep. But she was asking for you. Go on loverboy,” she winked. “Rude to keep a girl waiting you know.”

Ichigo turned a bit red and got up. He muttered a thank you and went into to see her. It reminded him painfully of the last time Orihime had been laid up here at Urahara’s, but at least this time she wasn’t gravely injured. It still felt bad that she was ill at all though.

“Kurosaki-kun?” The room was dark. He sat down next to her comforter.

“How are you feeling?”

In response, she yawned. He laughed. “You should get some rest.”

“I know,” she smiled. “I just. I want to thank you. And apologize. For everything.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” he emphasized. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I should be the one apologizing.”

“But now…Aizen will be mad. And Ulquiorra will come back……” she trailed off, worried. “What if they plan revenge?”

“Let them. We’re already preparing for a war. We’ll be ready for him now, we won’t be caught off guard like that again,” Ichigo promised defiantly. Orihime frowned.

“He promised he’d target anyone I care about. That includes Tatsuki-chan. But she doesn’t know about any of this…Soul Reapers and Hollows and all that. I know she suspects something is going on with us, but…” she trailed off. “How can I protect her from something like this?”

Ichigo reached out for her hand. “I’ve been wanting to tell her for awhile. I think it would be okay at this point, I know she knows something is going on,” he said. “I’ll talk to Rukia about it.”

She didn’t respond. He could tell she was still upset about something.

“Inoue? What is it?”

“It’s nothing,” she said. “I’m fine.”

“Liar. After all that? Come on. What?”

She sighed. “I’m just so embarrassed. All this fuss about me. I don’t even know why the enemy wants me. I’m so weak,” she muttered.

“You keep saying that, but that’s not true.” Ichigo scowled.

“Urahara-san asked me to stay out of the battle, before I went to the Soul Society with Rukia,” she said softly. “That’s how weak I am,” she looked away. “That’s why I went to the Soul Society in the first place. I wanted to get stronger.” He squeezed her hand tightly.

“What the hell does he know? He wears that stupid hat all the time,” he grumbled. “I wouldn’t feel safe if you weren’t around,” he added. “Did you see how banged up everyone is without you there to heal our injuries?” He laughed. “We’d all be lost without you.”

“Really?”

“Really. Knowing you’re with us….” He trailed off, unsure how to answer and embarrassed. “You give me hope,” he said, a blush starting to tinge his cheeks. He was grateful for the darkness of the room as he got flustered and warm. She didn’t respond, but didn’t let go of his hand, either.

“Can I ask you a question?” He said into the silence.

“What is it?”

“Why… were you in my room? How did you know I was injured?” He asked, softly.

“Ahah…. Well um..” with her other hand she nervously scratched her head. “Ulquiorra told me I could say goodbye to someone. Only one person. So… I….chose you. You weren’t supposed to know I was there.”

They were both blushing pretty intensely now. “Why me?”

“I—” she couldn’t get much more out. “I just wanted. Toseeyouonelasttime,” she mumbled quickly.

“Oh.”

They were avoiding each other’s eyes.

“You probably think I’m a creep now, huh?” She said dejectedly.

“What?! No! I’m. It makes me happy. That you picked me,” he blurted.

They both laughed at the ridiculousness of it all, and their own nervous awkward energy. “Just promise me something, Inoue?”

He still held her hand.

“Hmm?” Her voice was sounding sleepy, and she stifled another yawn.

“Promise you won’t disappear like that ever again. I couldn’t handle that. If I had woke up and you were just gone with that guy…” he felt sick just imagining it. The sense of loss. Like a bird waking up without its wings.

She didn’t respond.

He looked down, and saw that she was fast asleep, a little drool in the corner of her mouth. He sighed, the soft smile only she could elicit playing on his lips as he pulled the blankets up snuggly around her and kissed her forehead.

“Goodnight, Orihime.”

#aaaa #this is so sweet #poor pookies they didn't have to go through that they could have been like this #(yes i know they had to but this is fluff so)#ichihime 💕#thanks for sharing this is so tender

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