Chapter 3
Reluctance
There were several times in Inoue Orihime's life where she felt her gut being turned up in such terror and hatred that she felt like killing herself. The first time was when her brother died. Then when her brother became a hollow and Kuchiki-san was brought back to Soul Society to be executed. 다음 was the time when she was kidnapped and brought to Hueco Mundo. The fifth was when she saw Ichigo nearly die in front of her and the whole incident of the Winter War. The final ones? Well, when she 로스트 her virginity and had to raise a child alone.
Now there she was, feeling it all over again. Kurosaki Ichigo is back – after seven long years. After the 쓴, 쓰라린 rejection and disregard, he came back. What was insulting was that she was asked to be the cook of his 'welcome home' party.
Another issue was that Tatsuki and Chad were expecting her to be the cook. Orihime swore that this would be a good time to tell them why she didn't want to be within ten meters near Ichigo. She had to hide herself. Surely, she would have to bring Daisuke to the party – Tatsuki would insist on that.
All she could do now was call Chad and refuse to come.
Make up excuses, her inner voice said. Make a really good one.
Orihime drew in a long breath and thought of her excuse. When she finally made up a good one, she rehearsed it over and over again in her mind.
She was distracted from her thoughts when the phone rang. She groaned and picked it up half-heartedly.
"Orihime," Uryuu's voice said.
She let out a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't just anyone.
"You heard?" she asked.
"Of course. I was the first one to know," he replied.
"How come 당신 didn't tell me sooner?"
"I couldn't. It seems Tatsuki got to 당신 first. I had urgent meetings," he explained.
"Sorry. I'm just –" she said and paused, "disturbed."
"Who wouldn't be? And I heard they planned on making 당신 the cook of the celebration."
"And that too. What am I going to do? I can't just waltz in and paste a fake smile, telling him everything's fine," she said heatedly. "I bore his son for Christ's sake! And I predict, 100 percent, that Tatsuki would insist that I bring Daisuke along. That would just add up to the suspicions. My son doesn't look exactly like his mommy, does he?"
She heard Uryuu inhale a sharp breath from the other line. "Here's what you're going to do," he said.
"What? 당신 have a plan?" Orihime said in disbelief. Blimey, he is indeed a smart man.
"Attend the party. I'll pick up Daisuke in the morning and let him stay at my house for the 일 while 당신 are busy. I have people here to look after him," Uryuu said. "Cook and be fine and we'll pretend like we're a happy couple so 당신 won't look so distraught and single after he left you. As 당신 said, he knows your feelings about him."
"Are 당신 sure about that?" Orihime asked reluctantly, mulling over the fact that she had to pretend to be 'cozy' with Uryuu. "I mean, it wouldn't be a big bother to you?"
"Of course not," Uryuu said. "I'm good at acting, and I'm pretty sure 당신 can pull it off. Besides, if I have to pretend that I have feelings for you, I wouldn't be acting."
Orihime blushed at this. He was truly a nice man.
"Thanks," she said. "And what time is the start of this party?"
"Five in the afternoon," he replied. "I'll pick 당신 up at around four-thirty and we could drop Daisuke off in my house along the way."
"Is Kourin still there?"
Ishida Kourin was Uryuu's 초 cousin. A high school student in Karakura High, she lived with Uryuu for some time after leaving Hokkaido. She was a bit of a city-lover, that's why she went in the town in the first place. She was always nice to Daisuke and liked him very much.
"Yeah. In fact, she's here with me now, giving me a big nod that she will take care of Daisuke," Uryuu said.
"Great. Tell her that I'm really sorry for the trouble and thanks," Orihime said.
"She heard you," Uryuu said, chuckling. "She's frantically pressing her ear against the phone now. Ouch Kourin, stop that."
Orihime laughed as she heard Kourin's apology.
"Thanks again. I have to call Chad now," she said. "I'm glad 당신 called before I contacted Chad, then I don't have to lie my way out of this mess."
"You're welcome," Uryuu said, then taking on a 더 많이 serious tone. "Are 당신 sure you're going to keep him a secret forever?"
Orihime was shocked at this. "You know I have to," she said in a hard voice. "The father made it quite clear when I was about to tell him that he didn't want anything to do with Daisuke, 또는 myself."
"But 당신 didn't even get the chance to really tell him."
"Well, his opening remark really put me off Uryuu. To him it was all a stupid mistake and accident," Orihime said, cutting the line.
"Kurosaki Ichigo is the father huh?" Kourin asked her cousin as Uryuu put down the phone.
"How'd 당신 figure out?" Uryuu asked.
"Well, Kurosaki Ichigo is a well-known doctor and I saw yesterday that he's coming back to Japan," she explained, pouting a bit. "And I know he was an alumnus in my school, in the same batch as 당신 and Orihime-san. He's quite good-looking and I as I just observed while watching him in the news, that he looks a lot like Daisuke."
Uryuu frowned at this.
"Daisuke is like his miniature!" Kourin raved on. "Same orange, spiky hair, same brown eyes, same nose, same lips. Only difference is Daisuke smiles a lot and Kurosaki is very serious-looking.
Uryuu laughed. "He was always like that," he said.
"I know 당신 two were 프렌즈 back then," she said, and swooned. "And now rivals for Orihime-san's heart. She's so lucky! And she's really pretty and kind, no wonder you're head-over-heels for her. And you're both doctors. One who broke her 심장 and the other trying to mend it? Jeez, this is like a soap opera."
"I don't think I view this situation that way," Uryuu said. "And I don't want to force myself on Orihime. No matter what she says, I can tell that she's still in 사랑 with Ichigo."
Kourin nodded and said, "Hey, why do 당신 think Orihime-san is so shocked at finding out Kurosaki-san is coming home? Don't they have a 텔레비전 또는 newspaper? It's all over the news."
"Well, Orihime isn't a big 침상, 소파 potato and she often neglects the newspaper. She can be so absent-minded at times, just like her old self," Uryuu explained.
"Hi Chad," Orihime said cheerfully.
"Ah, Inoue-san, glad 당신 could call," Chad answered in his baritone voice.
"Tatsuki told me about the party," she said, and inhaled. "I'd be glad to cook for all of you."
"Great," he said.
"On two conditions," Orihime said.
"What is it?"
"That I get to cook in my apartment and someone should just bring the 음식 to your house," she said. "I can cook freely in my own area and your house is not that far from mine. And I have to take Daisuke to his aunt."
A well-fabricated lie about Daisuke…
"Sure," Chad said. "I'll have Asano and Mizuiro help me bring the 음식 over."
"Thanks," she said. "See 당신 on Monday."
"See 당신 too."
Orihime sat down ungracefully and frowned. First problems solved; 더 많이 to come…
After the weekend…
"So, did 당신 have fun?" Orihime asked Daisuke.
"Yeah," the boy said enthusiastically. "Hiyoshi and Kiyoshi were really great playmates. Hiyoshi likes to invent stuff and Kiyoshi knows how to play the piano! Mom, I want to learn how to play instruments too."
Orihime smiled. "Sure," she said. "I can arrange 당신 to have 음악 lessons."
"Great!"
"And Daisuke?"
"Yes mom?"
"I'll be really busy tomorrow. I have to cook for a party," she explained. Yeah. Cooking for your father's party. "Uncle Uryuu's going to pick 당신 up in the morning and you'll be with Kourin. Sorry I can't look after you."
"It's okay mom. I'm a big, strong boy and I'm with Kourin-neechan," Daisuke said, grinning at her. "Whose party is it mommy?"
She expected this 질문 from her smart son. "For a friend in high school. He came back from US and we're throwing him a party."
"That's really nice," Daisuke said. "How come I can't go?"
"It's for adults only."
"He's really lucky to be in America."
Daisuke always had this interest in United States history and politics. He wanted to go there and often said that it was a 'totally different world than Japan.' Daisuke also spoke of the way he was also proud that his native country made the Americans sweat during the 초 World War. He had always been a 팬 of history and he can memorize these facts after 읽기 it once.
"Don't worry, someday we'll go there," Orihime said.
"Really?" Daisuke said excitedly.
"Really."
"Thanks mom!" the little boy said, hugging her and going to his room.
"Why are 당신 leaving so soon?" she asked.
"I have to list the things I want to bring when I go to America," Daisuke answered enthusiastically.
Orihime smiled and watched her son go. I wouldn't give 당신 up for the world and nothing will change, she thought with determination, even if he's back.
I'll protect 당신 from him no matter what.
Author: AnnieInWonderland07
Reluctance
There were several times in Inoue Orihime's life where she felt her gut being turned up in such terror and hatred that she felt like killing herself. The first time was when her brother died. Then when her brother became a hollow and Kuchiki-san was brought back to Soul Society to be executed. 다음 was the time when she was kidnapped and brought to Hueco Mundo. The fifth was when she saw Ichigo nearly die in front of her and the whole incident of the Winter War. The final ones? Well, when she 로스트 her virginity and had to raise a child alone.
Now there she was, feeling it all over again. Kurosaki Ichigo is back – after seven long years. After the 쓴, 쓰라린 rejection and disregard, he came back. What was insulting was that she was asked to be the cook of his 'welcome home' party.
Another issue was that Tatsuki and Chad were expecting her to be the cook. Orihime swore that this would be a good time to tell them why she didn't want to be within ten meters near Ichigo. She had to hide herself. Surely, she would have to bring Daisuke to the party – Tatsuki would insist on that.
All she could do now was call Chad and refuse to come.
Make up excuses, her inner voice said. Make a really good one.
Orihime drew in a long breath and thought of her excuse. When she finally made up a good one, she rehearsed it over and over again in her mind.
She was distracted from her thoughts when the phone rang. She groaned and picked it up half-heartedly.
"Orihime," Uryuu's voice said.
She let out a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't just anyone.
"You heard?" she asked.
"Of course. I was the first one to know," he replied.
"How come 당신 didn't tell me sooner?"
"I couldn't. It seems Tatsuki got to 당신 first. I had urgent meetings," he explained.
"Sorry. I'm just –" she said and paused, "disturbed."
"Who wouldn't be? And I heard they planned on making 당신 the cook of the celebration."
"And that too. What am I going to do? I can't just waltz in and paste a fake smile, telling him everything's fine," she said heatedly. "I bore his son for Christ's sake! And I predict, 100 percent, that Tatsuki would insist that I bring Daisuke along. That would just add up to the suspicions. My son doesn't look exactly like his mommy, does he?"
She heard Uryuu inhale a sharp breath from the other line. "Here's what you're going to do," he said.
"What? 당신 have a plan?" Orihime said in disbelief. Blimey, he is indeed a smart man.
"Attend the party. I'll pick up Daisuke in the morning and let him stay at my house for the 일 while 당신 are busy. I have people here to look after him," Uryuu said. "Cook and be fine and we'll pretend like we're a happy couple so 당신 won't look so distraught and single after he left you. As 당신 said, he knows your feelings about him."
"Are 당신 sure about that?" Orihime asked reluctantly, mulling over the fact that she had to pretend to be 'cozy' with Uryuu. "I mean, it wouldn't be a big bother to you?"
"Of course not," Uryuu said. "I'm good at acting, and I'm pretty sure 당신 can pull it off. Besides, if I have to pretend that I have feelings for you, I wouldn't be acting."
Orihime blushed at this. He was truly a nice man.
"Thanks," she said. "And what time is the start of this party?"
"Five in the afternoon," he replied. "I'll pick 당신 up at around four-thirty and we could drop Daisuke off in my house along the way."
"Is Kourin still there?"
Ishida Kourin was Uryuu's 초 cousin. A high school student in Karakura High, she lived with Uryuu for some time after leaving Hokkaido. She was a bit of a city-lover, that's why she went in the town in the first place. She was always nice to Daisuke and liked him very much.
"Yeah. In fact, she's here with me now, giving me a big nod that she will take care of Daisuke," Uryuu said.
"Great. Tell her that I'm really sorry for the trouble and thanks," Orihime said.
"She heard you," Uryuu said, chuckling. "She's frantically pressing her ear against the phone now. Ouch Kourin, stop that."
Orihime laughed as she heard Kourin's apology.
"Thanks again. I have to call Chad now," she said. "I'm glad 당신 called before I contacted Chad, then I don't have to lie my way out of this mess."
"You're welcome," Uryuu said, then taking on a 더 많이 serious tone. "Are 당신 sure you're going to keep him a secret forever?"
Orihime was shocked at this. "You know I have to," she said in a hard voice. "The father made it quite clear when I was about to tell him that he didn't want anything to do with Daisuke, 또는 myself."
"But 당신 didn't even get the chance to really tell him."
"Well, his opening remark really put me off Uryuu. To him it was all a stupid mistake and accident," Orihime said, cutting the line.
"Kurosaki Ichigo is the father huh?" Kourin asked her cousin as Uryuu put down the phone.
"How'd 당신 figure out?" Uryuu asked.
"Well, Kurosaki Ichigo is a well-known doctor and I saw yesterday that he's coming back to Japan," she explained, pouting a bit. "And I know he was an alumnus in my school, in the same batch as 당신 and Orihime-san. He's quite good-looking and I as I just observed while watching him in the news, that he looks a lot like Daisuke."
Uryuu frowned at this.
"Daisuke is like his miniature!" Kourin raved on. "Same orange, spiky hair, same brown eyes, same nose, same lips. Only difference is Daisuke smiles a lot and Kurosaki is very serious-looking.
Uryuu laughed. "He was always like that," he said.
"I know 당신 two were 프렌즈 back then," she said, and swooned. "And now rivals for Orihime-san's heart. She's so lucky! And she's really pretty and kind, no wonder you're head-over-heels for her. And you're both doctors. One who broke her 심장 and the other trying to mend it? Jeez, this is like a soap opera."
"I don't think I view this situation that way," Uryuu said. "And I don't want to force myself on Orihime. No matter what she says, I can tell that she's still in 사랑 with Ichigo."
Kourin nodded and said, "Hey, why do 당신 think Orihime-san is so shocked at finding out Kurosaki-san is coming home? Don't they have a 텔레비전 또는 newspaper? It's all over the news."
"Well, Orihime isn't a big 침상, 소파 potato and she often neglects the newspaper. She can be so absent-minded at times, just like her old self," Uryuu explained.
"Hi Chad," Orihime said cheerfully.
"Ah, Inoue-san, glad 당신 could call," Chad answered in his baritone voice.
"Tatsuki told me about the party," she said, and inhaled. "I'd be glad to cook for all of you."
"Great," he said.
"On two conditions," Orihime said.
"What is it?"
"That I get to cook in my apartment and someone should just bring the 음식 to your house," she said. "I can cook freely in my own area and your house is not that far from mine. And I have to take Daisuke to his aunt."
A well-fabricated lie about Daisuke…
"Sure," Chad said. "I'll have Asano and Mizuiro help me bring the 음식 over."
"Thanks," she said. "See 당신 on Monday."
"See 당신 too."
Orihime sat down ungracefully and frowned. First problems solved; 더 많이 to come…
After the weekend…
"So, did 당신 have fun?" Orihime asked Daisuke.
"Yeah," the boy said enthusiastically. "Hiyoshi and Kiyoshi were really great playmates. Hiyoshi likes to invent stuff and Kiyoshi knows how to play the piano! Mom, I want to learn how to play instruments too."
Orihime smiled. "Sure," she said. "I can arrange 당신 to have 음악 lessons."
"Great!"
"And Daisuke?"
"Yes mom?"
"I'll be really busy tomorrow. I have to cook for a party," she explained. Yeah. Cooking for your father's party. "Uncle Uryuu's going to pick 당신 up in the morning and you'll be with Kourin. Sorry I can't look after you."
"It's okay mom. I'm a big, strong boy and I'm with Kourin-neechan," Daisuke said, grinning at her. "Whose party is it mommy?"
She expected this 질문 from her smart son. "For a friend in high school. He came back from US and we're throwing him a party."
"That's really nice," Daisuke said. "How come I can't go?"
"It's for adults only."
"He's really lucky to be in America."
Daisuke always had this interest in United States history and politics. He wanted to go there and often said that it was a 'totally different world than Japan.' Daisuke also spoke of the way he was also proud that his native country made the Americans sweat during the 초 World War. He had always been a 팬 of history and he can memorize these facts after 읽기 it once.
"Don't worry, someday we'll go there," Orihime said.
"Really?" Daisuke said excitedly.
"Really."
"Thanks mom!" the little boy said, hugging her and going to his room.
"Why are 당신 leaving so soon?" she asked.
"I have to list the things I want to bring when I go to America," Daisuke answered enthusiastically.
Orihime smiled and watched her son go. I wouldn't give 당신 up for the world and nothing will change, she thought with determination, even if he's back.
I'll protect 당신 from him no matter what.
Author: AnnieInWonderland07