[Watching the tears well up, he's biting back the urge to point out that he makes her cry just as much as he makes her smile... but that's a circle they've already walked, a thousand times. Bringing it up, even jokingly, is just going to make her feel bad for something she just can't help.
So he just nods, trying to be as reassuring as he can.]
Right. And I'm gonna keep fighting, until that day comes. For that day.
[He looks down to the deep wound on his chest, watching it as it disappears. The cheerful front he had fading a little, as he thinks back to the fight he's just lost, miserably. Maybe if he'd had his full power, he might have been able to do something, but this month has been the worst for his power fluctuation.
All he can do is hope that someone can actually stop her, because Usagi--whoever she is now, is on a warpath, and he suspects that there will be a lot of people killed by the end of it. After a long moment, Ichigo looks up at Orihime again, tired eyes serious. Fingers against the shield flexing a little, as if trying to feel hers underneath it.]
no subject
So he just nods, trying to be as reassuring as he can.]
Right. And I'm gonna keep fighting, until that day comes. For that day.
[He looks down to the deep wound on his chest, watching it as it disappears. The cheerful front he had fading a little, as he thinks back to the fight he's just lost, miserably. Maybe if he'd had his full power, he might have been able to do something, but this month has been the worst for his power fluctuation.
All he can do is hope that someone can actually stop her, because Usagi--whoever she is now, is on a warpath, and he suspects that there will be a lot of people killed by the end of it. After a long moment, Ichigo looks up at Orihime again, tired eyes serious. Fingers against the shield flexing a little, as if trying to feel hers underneath it.]
Inoue, can I ask you something?