lastcomfort | [IC] Inbox @ deerington

im back

where are you

[Ichigo tried to get up and go find her, that was and is the first thing on his mind, but the fever and body aches have him so weak that he ate shit trying to stand. He's pissed that he has to resort to texting her when it's this serious, but he's desperate to see her. To apologize, for putting her through this.

Again. He didn't mean to, but it doesn't change the fact that it happened at all. That Ichigo had to watch Orihime fight with tooth and nail to try to save his life, only for her to have to endure watching him die. All over again.

Why is it that Ichigo just breaks his friend--no, his best friend's heart like this, over and over and over again? Why does it seem like all he does is make her cry? There's no fixing this kind of damage, all he can do is apologize and try to put the pieces back together again. Needless to say, this is guilt he is going to carry for the rest of his life... for lack of better words. Orihime deserves so much more than this. Than to shoulder the burden of his mistakes.]

Edited (subtle name shit will bug me oops.) 2020-08-02 13:02 (UTC)

[ She had felt the sudden resurgence of his reiatsu and nearly dropped what she was carrying. It's unmistakable--something she had been attuned to before she ever realized what it was. She's shaking and scrambling to put the baking sheet of buns into the oven, barely paying attention to what she's doing.

Is it really happening? Is he back?

The ding of her Fluid makes her heart leap with hope. A quick shout that she's "taking her 10 minute break!" and she rushes out the back.

It's him! ]

Kurosaki-kun! We've been waiting and hoping!! I'm at work! Where are you? I can be wherever you need to me to be! Are you okay? How are you feeling?

well. surprise?

i woke up in my bed. dont worry about leaving work, it can wait

really sick. ill be fine though dont worr

[That's. Not right. Don't be an asshole, Ichigo, seriously.]

nevermind. im not gonna say that to you after everything. sorry. ill see you when you get home?

[Of course, Ichigo selfishly doesn't want to wait for her to be off work, but he isn't about to say that. He knows how important this job is to her, and he would hate for her to get into trouble on his account on top of everything else.]

You're at the apartment?

[ That is honestly a huge relief off of her shoulders. She's getting the feeling that there may not be any strictly safe spaces in this town, but at least that is a familiar one. It's about as safe as they can get, isn't it? ]

No no, I'll be right there. Manager-san is very nice and understanding!

[ And could probably tell that she's been fretting and not in the best of spirits despite how hard she tries to act otherwise.

Goodness, there's so much that she wants to ask and know. He must be feeling...well, awful, both mentally and physically after everything he's been through. She also knows that he wouldn't want her to go out of her way for him and while a part of her thinks that maybe he may want some space to process these things on his own, he asked where she was--that has to be a clear indicator that he wants company. Maybe just to remind himself that he's really back.

There's no way she can worry about dough texture right now. ]

There's nothing to apologize for, Kurosaki-kun. You said you feel sick? I remember reading that it might be like that... Is there anything I can pick up for you?

yeah, im home

[Maybe the significance of that statement won't be lost on her... maybe it will. But Ichigo is too tired to fight it anymore, to force himself into denial. That this little apartment, covered in remnants of star stickers and glitter and confetti in the hall near his room, is his home away from home. The only place he is okay with being, while stuck here in this hell.]

not that i can think of but thanks

ill see you soon then

[There's that really weird selfishness again. Like he doesn't want her to stop for anything, if it means she will get here quicker. And Ichigo isn't really sure what to do with that.

But damnit, he feels really shitty on so many fronts, and can't help but think of how much of a comfort Orihime was when they had watched the memory of his Mom. Which in and of itself feels dumb, that Ichigo wants comfort, like he's some kind of god damn little kid who needs coddling to get through it.

And most importantly, he needs to apologize to her. Thank her, for trying so hard for him. To save his life. So... the sooner, the better.]

[ No, not lost on her at all. She's been trying so carefully from letting that slip on her end that Ichigo actually typed it out and sent it really does say something. Relief, maybe, that he's...back? She'll have to think on it for a bit. Right now her first concern is his well-being. ]

Okay. Let me know if you change your mind. I'm leaving right now!

[ Just as she says, Hunk is absolutely understanding. Orihime is only too ready to get her stuff together and leave, so much so that she barely notices the flour that managed to escape her apron and make a series of white splotches over her shirt and pants. Oh well, it's easily the least of her concerns.

She's very fortunate that the bakery is just off on Umbrella Road, only a couple of blocks away from the apartments. She could double back and head to the pharmacy, but Ichigo said he didn't need anything and she knows they do have some supplies in the bathroom. Maybe after a better assessment of how he's doing she can make a run over to restock on anything they may be missing.

But just as much, she just really wants to see him. His reiatsu grows as she gets closer, though it's far from the levels she's used to. Still immense in it's own right, but anyone who was familiar with it would know that he's not at full capacity by any means. It makes her heart hurt just thinking about it.

She doesn't chance the elevator, instead taking the steps two at a time to the third floor. The ghost she's somewhat befriended is hovering not far down the hallway and turns to her presence. She offers a smile to him and a small nod as she catches her breath in front of their apartment. ]

It'll...it'll be okay now.

[ The ghost tilts his head to the side before fading away.

Another deep breath as Orihime fishes for her keys and unlocks the door. She's...glad she's taken to cleaning up some things--not decorations, but the potential mess that could have been left from herself and Zangetsu really not feeling up for housework these past few days. She quickly toes her shoes off as the door shuts behind her, leaving her purse and keys unceremoniously on the floor by them.

Bare feet pad across the apartment and her heart beats harder with each step she takes towards his room. Orihime holds her hands together in front of her chest. She can feel him just behind the door. But what state will he be in? For how positive she was trying to be in their text conversation, she's nervous.

She knocks gently on the door frame. ]

Kurosaki-kun?

[Ichigo just lays in bed staring up at his ceiling with a hard frown, finding it too easy to get lost in his sea of heavy hitting thoughts while he waits for her.

His Fluid tells him that it's been eight days since he died. Other than the disorienting feeling like he's been... not quite asleep but somewhere else, he finds that a missing week is an easy enough pill to swallow, for him. But what kind of hell have they been in? Where is Zangetsu, and what kind of fucked up spiral did Ichigo's consequences send him into? He feels a little sick to his stomach as he tries to imagine. Zangetsu's entire existence is forged on the goal of protecting Ichigo, he's said it out right, so what did this do to him? Ichigo knows that Zangetsu will be here any time, that Ichigo's return won't be lost on the zanpakutou, but should he not show up on his own by the time he's had his talk with Orihime, he'll be getting a text too.

Ichigo hears the door to the apartment and he pushes himself to sit up, looking around to try to locate the shirt he'd discarded a few minutes ago. Maybe it's not that it's painfully hot outside anymore, maybe it is just him, but the heat he feels emanating off of himself and in the air around him is just. Ugh. Everything is completely uncomfortable. Ichigo has to give up on finding it, letting himself drop back onto his pillow in defeat. There isn't any time or room to feel all that awkward about it anyway, not as she knocks on his door and says his name.

He would love to get up and go let her in, but every time he has tried to stand, the dizziness just gets to be overwhelming too fast, the aches make his body just want to slump to the floor so he isn't bearing any weight on it... so. Ichigo just stays where he is, scrubbing a hand over his face with a low noise of frustration before calling out to her in return. Why did he let himself lay down? Because now he has to move to sit up again at the very least, and it's ridiculous how much energy even that takes out of him. He moves with a low groan, forcing himself back upright.]

You can come in, it's okay.

[Upon her entering, Orihime will find a pale as hell, sweaty... sick looking Ichigo, who, oddly enough, looks like he hasn't slept in the entire week he has been gone. The harsh cough that he barks out very suddenly kind of makes him want to punch himself in the face--he knows it's only going to serve to worry her even more, but there's no holding that back. Not even if he wanted to.]

i have regrets

lastcomfort - 2020-08-04 04:09 (UTC) - Expand

it's okay, we have multiples often. this can still happen

not_so_hollow - 2020-08-06 01:57 (UTC) - Expand

[IC] Inbox @ deerington

backdated to 7/28

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1/2

actioooooooon

1/2 shoulda been lights, camera!!!

Backdated to 9/3!

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A Gift Has Been Delivered!

text, later that same day

Forward dated to Oct. 18th--text; un; deathberry

she hates this already

sorry Hime, your almost!bf is just incapable of not getting involved in shitshows

she knows this and loves him anwyay

it's part of his charm (1/2)

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Slid under the door with Ichigo's name on it. He is not aware his friend is gone.