31_days | [09 April] [Bleach] Saying Goodbye

Title: Saying Goodbye
Day/Theme: 09 April/Silent Passage
Series: Bleach
Character/Pairing: Orihime x Ichigo
Rating: G

The curtains hardly parted as the girl phased through the window and into the room. Standing by the bedside, she paused for a while, taking it all in, knowing full well that she might never return. The room was surprisingly neat, but then again, she'd never seen Kurosaki's room before. The soft snores of the two girls, sleeping near half eaten plates of food on the floor, contrasted starkly with the labored breathing of the injured boy on the bed. His scent permeated the room, mixing with his reiatsu to produce a heady mix that reeked of power. Yet his was not a power to hoard but to be given generously, in service of his friends.

She touched his bruised and bandaged hands gingerly at first, afraid to rouse him. The boy remained sound asleep, perhaps worn out from the day's grueling battle. Emboldened, she leaned over him, her hair brushing his face lightly. His lips were parted in sleep, his expression open and innocent, shorn of the worry he felt for his friends, clean of the anger at his own impotence that he tried so hard to hide. Hovering over him, her heart beating furiously, she hesitated, hot tears pricking at her eyes.

I'm terrible aren't I. Its my last time to see you... I really can't.

Standing back, she leaned against the wall, waiting for the pounding in her ears to cease. Looking at the battered youth, she sighed. He might never know, but there was at least one thing she could do before going. Orihime took a deep breath and focused her own powers.

Thank you. Kurosaki-kun. Goodbye.