orihime "dumpling destroyer" inoue (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lastcomfort) wrote2020-05-10 05:04 pm
lastcomfort) wrote2020-05-10 05:04 pmEntry tags:
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deerington
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lastcomfort) wrote2020-05-10 05:04 pm
deerington
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[ 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?
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[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.]
1/2
Okay. Let me know if you change your mind. I'm leaving right now!
actioooooooon
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?
1/2 shoulda been lights, camera!!!
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
It isn't the first time she's seen him shirtless and it probably won't be the last, and while that may make her heart flutter on most occasions, right now he just looks...sick. Not like death, but like he probably feels like it. She steps in cautiously, looking him over in one part concern and one part wonder.
Is he really here? ]
Kurosaki-kun...
[ Orihime moves to his bedside, worry written all over her face. Her eyes are already shining, but for Orihime she's holding herself together surprisingly well. That is until she dares to reach out and brush her fingers over the back of his hand. She pulls the back just as quickly with a short gasp.
He IS real. ]
Kurosaki-kun!
[ And then come the tears that the probably expected. Orihime falls to her knees at his beside and grabs his hand with both of hers, clinging to it as affirmation. ]
I-I thought you might be a g-ghost or a t-trick or!
[ A laugh bubbles up that she chokes on and she leans forward, resting her forehead on the edge of the mattress for just a second. ]
But it really is you!
it's okay, we have multiples often. this can still happen
Ichigo tries to be reassuring, with his voice and with the way he grips her hand in return, but the apology he has is stuck in his throat, just beneath the words he says.]
Not a ghost, no tricks, it's really me.
[Selfishly, and it could wind up being a weird thing he will also have to apologize for, Ichigo finds himself wanting that contact. It's that sense of comfort he stupidly needs, and maybe it's presumptuous of him to guess that she probably does as well? But he's making the assumption and acting on it, regardless of the consequences. He can’t help it, not after everything they’ve been through together, before the trial, during the trial and the really messed up after. Ichigo doesn’t have the strength to hug her like he wants to, and the lack of shirt thing might make that even weirder than the fact that he wants to at all, so he just settles on bringing his free hand over to touch her head, lightly brushing against the hair there. Any normal day, he wouldn’t even dream of doing this and he would be bright red just thinking about it at all, but… this isn’t a regular day and it’s too damn serious for him to be concerned about giving her the wrong impression.]
Inoue…. [Ichigo starts and stops there, not… even sure which thing he should say first, thank you or I'm sorry. The mix of gratitude and regret is really hard to sort through, to weigh which he feels more… But maybe. Maybe it’ll be better to approach it the way people do when they have both good news and bad news to deliver. Bad news first, so that it’s at least a little easier to swallow when it’s warmed a little with the good news?
Seems like as good a plan as any.]
I’m… I’m sorry.
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I'm s-so happy...
[ And she is. Despite the tears, she's just so elated that he's back. Sickness isn't fun, but he can come back from that. If he can really come back from death, he can come back from anything.
The hand on her hair is new, but she's not going to complain at all. For a second it makes a sob just a little more intense before she feels like she's gotten the worst out of it. When he says her name, she looks up, feeling more hopeful than she has in days. She reluctantly let's go of his hand with one of hers so she can wipe the tears from her eyes. She's all ears.
But she already doesn't like what she hears. Her expression falls just a tad as she looks up at Ichigo and she shakes her head. ]
W...why? There's nothing you need to apologize for. You're here. You came back to us. That's all that matters.
no subject
And then she asks him why, and Ichigo reels a little bit, kind of taken aback by it. He shouldn't be surprised, Orihime is eerily good at finding the positive in any bad situation, but it's still something that catches him off guard right now.
The look is wiped away and replaced with a very serious one in an instant though. His hand never moves from her head as he speaks, and he squeezes the one still holding his gently as if to emphasize the emotions behind his words. It's insistent, the way he addresses it, almost fierce.]
That's... that's not all that matters, though! I know that you're always gonna try to see the positive or whatever, and that you try not to let things bother you but--[A shit, Ichigo has to yank his hand away from her head so that he can cough into his arm for a moment. Once the fit passes, he continues as if nothing just happened at all, though his voice definitely sounds quite a bit more scratchy.] I-I wouldn't take back what I did, I meant that in that trial, but I'm still gonna regret that you had to watch what got me there in the first place, and. And that you had to watch me die... again. You shouldn't have to endure that, Inoue, and I went and made you do it again. So... yeah, I'm gonna apologize, and I'm also gonna promise to do my best to not ever let it happen again. I don't... [Ichigo pauses, glancing away from her with that same hard frown.] I don't like it when you cry, and especially not over me.
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But she listens to each word, considering them carefully. Because these are his feelings and his fears and they deserve the attention and acknowledgment he's asking for. ]
Kurosaki-kun...
[ She breathes out his name finally. ]
Please don't blame yourself...you didn't make me do anything. I-I chose to be there.
[ She straightens a little, kneeling a little taller as if that will add weight to her own statement. ]
When I saw Monokuma announce your trial, I volunteered to be on that jury. Even before I knew what you were being accused of, I knew it couldn't be true. Kurosaki-kun isn't that kind of person and you proved that.
[ Orihime shakes her head, squeezing his hand back just a little. ]
...It bothered me a lot. It still bothers me. But I would rather it bother me and try to have stopped it than to have not taken that risk at all. It wouldn't have been fair for you to face that alone.
[ The sincerity in her voice and in her face should say just as much as her words alone. She shakes her head again, feeling new wetness form at the corner of her eyes. ]
I-I'm sorry that it wasn't enough...
[ She quickly starts to wipe away the building tears. ]
S-Sorry! I'm trying not to--
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The hand he'd had on the top of her head is returning center between them, so that he can brush some of those tears away himself with a thumb. He looks sad, watching her, but he's forcing up a smile anyway, shaking his head.]
No, don't... I didn't. Mean to imply that I don't want you to cry if that's how you feel. I just [A sigh as he draws his hand back and sets it down in his lap. That sad excuse for a reassuring smile is dropping back down again, too.] Have a knack for making you do it, I guess, and that sucks. That's what 'm sorry for.
[Ichigo goes silent for a long moment, trying to come up with the wording for how to address what she's just said about the trial.] I don't want you to be sorry for that, either. They say it's the thought that counts and while it's not usually applied to somethin' like this, it does. I was gonna go down for what I did no matter what, Inoue, but having you fight, for me like that was... [The faint smile curling up this time is actually genuine, and Ichigo sort of absently pulls at a loose thread in the comforter he's sitting on.] ...it was comforting. And kinda awesome, I've never really... seen you get so. I dunno, fierce, or whatever. I'm really grateful, that you tried so hard. More than you could ever know. It's the rest that I regret.