"Hmm What's the matter Inoue?" Ichigo asked a bit confused as to what Orihime wanted to ask him.
"Well, yesterday night I was attacked by some strange creature and was knocked down unconscious...." Inoue paused to look at Ichigo's reaction.
Hearing Orihime's words Ichigo suddenly remembered the ghost of her brother who got turned into a hollow. It was only now that Ichigo noticed that Orihime was not in her school uniform but was wearing normal clothes and along with it his eyes fell on the gauze bandage that was applied on her arm and leg.
After noticing her unsure gaze Ichigo couldn't help but say, "You look to be injured! You should have just called me if you wanted to tell me something."
Hearing Ichigo's concerned words Orihime kind of felt warm inside as she replied while looking downwards, "I-I tried...its just the telephone line wouldn't connect."
Thinking over her words Ichigo immediately remembered his father muttering about how it would take three more days for a new telephone to arrive as the previous one broke from the truck incident. He could only smile wryly and say, "My bad, I forgot that our telephone got broken because of the truck accident."
After saying that Ichigo inquired Orihime, "You don't plan to go to school right?" to which Orihime nodded like a literal chick and said "Yes, I just came to inform you something."
"Inform me? Ab-" Ichigo had just said that when he felt someone's penetrating gaze on him. Ichigo slowly turned towards his back and saw the smiling lecherous face of his father peeping from the wall. Orihime also noticed him just now thanks to Ichigo and couldn't help but weird out...
"Old man, what the hell are you doing there? Don't you have some work to do?!" Ichigo shouted a bit frustrated because of the face he was making, he was obviously making fun of him by making that face."
"Watching my children grow up is exactly my work as your father! Ah~ It's so good to be young. I won't disturb you anymore." After saying that Isshin slowly retreated his head back into the wall.
Frustrated Ichigo could only turn back to Orihime just to see the weird face she was making. "Don't mind him. Let's go to some other place to talk." Ichigo said to which Orihime nodded.
After walking for a while they soon reached a park and sat there on a bench, "So, What did you want to inform me?" Ichigo asked
"The thing is after being knocked out...it may sound weird but..my soul left my body as I saw the creature's full view which was earlier just a projection. It was wearing a white mask and the rest of its body was black. Its sharp claws still send a shiver down my spine..."
While hearing Orihime recall the incident Ichigo got confused by the way she was describing the hollow. "Did she not know that the hollow was her brother?"
Not realizing what was going on in Ichigo's mind Orihime continued with the horror of the incident still evident on her face "...When I had completely given up hope and was being strangled by the monster a black cat suddenly appeared and made that monster disperse in the surrounding as it howled greatly...after defeating the monster it walked towards me and told me to approach you and tell you about the incident, that was the only thing I remembered because soon after that I lost my consciousness."
"It must be hard for you Orihime. Thanks for telling me this." Ichigo said as he stood up from the seat and continued, "Let's go."
Hearing Ichigo Orihime looked confused as she asked, "Where?"
"Ofcourse, to your home. I can't let you go back alone now can I?" Ichigo said while meeting his gaze with hers which made Orihime look downwards to avoid his eye contact as she said in a low voice, "It's alright, I've already troubled you and made you late for school. You should hurry up to school instead."
"You've encountered such a horrifying incident, do you think I would be able to be at ease after leaving you here?" Ichigo said as he forwarded his right hand towards Orihime who was sitting on the bench.
Seeing his hand in front of her Orihime couldn't help but feel her face warm up as she slowly placed her hand over his. Feeling Orihime's soft hand over his Ichigo grabbed it and gently pulled her up. "Then, shall we go?" He asked as he enjoyed watching Orihime's face changing colours.
Orihime's pounding heart made it difficult for her to voice out any words as she meekly nodded while staring straight forward, too afraid to make eye contact with Ichigo. For the rest of the journey, Ichigo held Orihime's hand as he walked her home. He was clearly taking advantage of the situation and Orihime was too embarrassed from her bashful thoughts that she couldn't tell Ichigo that he was still holding onto her hand when it was not necessary.
"Inoue, you might have many questions regarding what exactly happened last night but bear with the curiosity for a while. I'll slowly explain to you what is happening." Hearing Ichigo's words Orihime nodded.
They soon reached Orihime's apartment and Ichigo guided her to her bed and told her to rest so that her wounds could heal quickly. After saying that he noticed the time on the clock. With Orihime's leg injured, he deliberately slowed his speed as a result he was more than just 'late' for school.
Orihime noticed his gaze and realized what was going on in his mind as she said with guilt clearly on her face, "Sorry for making you late, Kurosaki kun. I could have told you this in the evening too but I ended up ruining your day by telling you about this incident in the morning."
"What are you talking about? It's only right for you to approach me first thing in the morning after this incident. Don't blame yourself. It was my own decision to guide you back home. Anyways, it's better this way. I'll just stay here and take care of you instead of going to school, I'm already absent for the day so it's better to not go at all." Ichigo said in a carefree manner.
Realizing that Ichigo was gonna remain with her in the same room to take care of her, Orihime's heart once again started pounding but it was soon interrupted by Ichigo's following words. "You had breakfast right?"
Ichigo's question was met with silence, a silence that was soon broken by Orihime's stomach which made Orihime want to cover her face in the blanket to hide her embarrassment.
"Grghhhhh"
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