Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I just borrowed the characters.
The charm I mention in this story does not appear anywhere except in my imagination. It is not in the manga or anime. Does that make it mine? Yay, I have charm. I mean: Yay, I have a charm.
First Attempt
Before she invoked the charm, Orihime staring making a mental list of the things she should remember:
1. Don’t tell Ichigo I would miss him more than my brother;
2. Don’t ask Ichigo for sex in desperation;
3. Don't ask for sex;
4. Don’t tell him I love him;
5. Don’t kiss him, unless the circumstances seem favourable.
She gave up. All the don’ts were depressing her. She needed ideas on what to do.
Thinking about her last conversation with Ichigo made her blush. Why had she said those things? She couldn’t believe it. She had to change the past. It wasn’t the fact that Ichigo had rejected her that hurt. It was her actions. Her self control had slipped to an unimaginable degree. Orihime considered the reasons and decided that the additives in the fast food had probably affected her. It was either that or being alone in his company, his smell; the intimacy of the situation had affected her hormones. She chose to believe it was the additives. It was easier to blame the additives.
Orihime was also a little concerned about having time to plan. With only 4 hours to work with, would she have time in between to decide strategy? She couldn’t remember if Jidanbo had told her. If only the charm came with a manual. Not that she normally read manuals, but they helped sometimes, especially the trouble shooting chapters.
She shook her head. Why did she allow herself to become distracted so easily?
Maybe she should just invoke the charm and for the first attempt she wouldn’t say those things. Nor would she try to kiss Ichigo. They could just work on the project together as friends. If fate didn’t permit a future with Ichigo, at least for now, she could restore their relationship to the correct path. She wanted him in her life as a friend, not some one who would be suspicious of her actions. To be his friend was precious. With time she might find a way to make him love her, but with the events that had already occurred she feared that the friendship was broken.
She invoked the charm, ‘Kurikaesu’.
ooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooo
‘Let’s eat here,’ said Ichigo as they passed a burger chain.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ichigo. I might be allergic to the additives. I know a sushi bar, not far from here. It’s cheap and they have generous serves,’ Orihime suggested.
‘But I ate sushi last night,’ Ichigo complained. ‘Is there somewhere else?’
‘There’s a pizza place just here. They also serve pasta,’ Orihime indicated the restaurant to her left. The red checked tablecloths were clichéd but attractive.
‘Yeah, I’ve heard of this place. They have an all you can eat buffet tonight. Come on. I’m hungry,’ Ichigo said as he opened the door.
As it was early, there were few patrons and they were quickly seated at a table for two in the corner. Orihime mentally hugged herself. This was almost like a date. ‘Control yourself,’ she chided mentally. “Remember what happened last time.’
‘I’ll have the all you can eat,’ said Ichigo when the waiter asked for their order.
Orihime suddenly wasn’t very hungry. ‘I think I might just have a salad,’ she said to the waiter.
‘She means she will have the all you can eat,’ Ichigo contradicted her.
‘Okay,’ she relented. ‘I’ll have the all you can eat, as well.’
After the waiter left, Ichigo looked at Orihime. ‘You don’t normally eat salads, Orihime. I’ve always been impressed by your appetite.’
Orihime was unsure how to respond. Was that a compliment? Or was Ichigo saying she ate too much?
She decided to pretend it was a compliment. ‘Thanks. Your appetite is pretty impressive, too.’
‘Really? I thought I was normal,’ he replied.
‘Oh,’ was the only response Orihime could summon.
There was a small silence.
The waiter came bearing the plates that were used for the buffet. Quickly Ichigo went and filled his plate. Orihime followed.
They didn’t talk much as they ate. Ichigo appeared to be very hungry.
‘Didn’t get much time for lunch’, he explained between mouthfuls. I had to kill a hollow and Keigo threw my lunch at Mizurio because he was jealous about something. I don’t know the full story. Nor do I care very much. I don’t listen to their squabbling, if I can help it.’
Orihime nodded. She ate a little, but was content to watch Ichigo eat. After his third visit to the buffet and dessert, he was finally full.
‘I suppose we should get on with this project,’ he said. ‘Thanks for letting me come to your place. My father likes to interfere and it would make it hard to study.’
They walked to Orihime’s house and commenced studying. Orihime was very careful. She only spoke to Ichigo about the project, asking him relevant questions. After a while she became intent on her work.
‘I hate science projects’, Ichigo muttered. He sounded tired. He yawned loudly.
Orihime looked at him from across the table and smiled. ‘Sorry, Ichigo. I didn’t hear what you said.’
‘Nothing,’ Ichigo yawned again.
There was silence as they continued working. They had been working for nearly 2 hours so far.
After that interruption, Orihime found that she kept glancing at Ichigo, despite her good intentions. Ichigo was not concentrating like last time. She noticed he’d rubbed his eyes a number of times and yawned.
The next time she allowed herself to glance at Ichigo, he’d closed his eyes. She continued to work when the table shook from the impact of a heavy object. The heavy object was Ichigo’s head. After such a heavy meal and the boredom of the project he had fallen asleep.
Orihime stopped working. There was little point. She knew this would not be the last time she invoked the charm. Sitting there watching Ichigo sleep, Orihime noticed that he looked younger. His face lost the hard edges that it possessed while he was awake. She could see the little boy he once had been before his mother’s death, before other events had caused him to become the person she knew. She felt pity for him. Sometimes she believed that Ichigo was kind to her because he knew what it was like to have someone you love die in front of you. Nothing could ever obliterate the image or the sadness.
Possibly due to the strange angle he assumed as he fell, Ichigo started making noises as he breathed. ‘It isn't really snoring’, Orihime told herself. ‘It was more like loud sighs.’ The noise increased in volume. Okay, if she was being frank, sighs usually occurred when the breath was being exhaled, not inhaled. This noise happened when Ichigo breathed in. Ichigo was snoring and the sound was irritating.
She moved around the table and considered moving him into a more comfortable position. She was both scared and exhilarated at the thought of touching him while he slept. In some way she believed it to be wrong, but he did look very uncomfortable. How could she move him? Should she place a pillow under his head, or move him so he was lying on the floor. Or move him so he was lying on the floor with his head in her lap. The last one would really be the wrong choice. Orihime knew that it would be the wrong choice, but the thought enticed her for a moment while she contemplated her next action. If only he'd stop snoring then she wouldn't be in this quandary.
At this moment his Shinigami battle license alerted him to a hollow appearing. Ichigo awoke with a start. Orihime froze. He’d notice that she was not still studying and wonder why she was near him. She must think of an excuse.
‘Huh. Where am I?’ Ichigo looked around blearily rubbing his eyes. ‘Orihime. Did I fall asleep? Sorry.’
He noticed that she was closer to him than when he fell asleep.
‘I was just about to wake you, Ichigo. I didn’t think it was a good idea for you to sleep in that position. It looked uncomfortable,’ Orihime quickly explained. Partial truth seemed the best option.
Ichigo stood up and stretched. ‘You’re right. It was uncomfortable. Anyway, duty calls. Better go.’ Ichigo quickly packed his bag.
‘Can we finish this at lunch tomorrow? We could meet in the library,’ he suggested.
‘Of course,’ Orihime replied.
‘See you,’ said Ichigo as he left.
Orihime sighed. ‘That was better than last time,’ she thought. ‘He didn’t fall in love with me, but at least if he remembers this attempt, we can still be friends.’
Hope you like the new chapter. Please review.
