[fic] The Princess & The Protector
Mar. 4th, 2008 04:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sweety8587To all who commented…I’m started to get a swelled head you guys…but please don’t stop on my account. -grins-
Lyrics by Garbage, Third Eye Blind,
Previous chapters: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V & Part VI
Next chapter: Part VIII
Part VII
She wasn’t all too sure what made her wake up but still she opened her eyes slowly. Her eyes took in the lack of light and concluded that it was still night. Her gaze drifted to the clock sitting on the bedside table, the green numbers glowing at her. It had been almost four hours since Toushirou-kun and Rangiku-san had left. She wondered if they were back yet.
Her gaze drifted down to the floor and she wondered briefly at the scattered clothes. She usually didn’t leave them on the floor…and she didn’t recall having a jacket like that…A sigh behind her made her freeze before she slowly turned around. The memory of their love making crept into her mind through the fog as she smiled fondly at the picture before her.
Ichigo was lying face down on the bed, his sleeping face filled with a peace that was never present during the day. She giggled slightly as she noticed that even in his sleep, his brows were slightly furrowed. She brushed a hand over his forehead, watching him as the furrows disappeared under her touch and he sighed yet again. Blearily he opened his eyes, looking straight into her grey eyes. A slight blush came to both their faces as they stared at each other. Her hand came down to rest on his cheek as they both wondered what to say to get rid of this slightly awkward silence.
His hand was resting on her hip under the sheets, slowly stroking the skin as he asked softly, “How do you feel?”
Her flush deepened, as she admitted softly with a smile, “A little sore. But…happy.”
He shifted slightly, now lying on his side as he asked with a hint of nervousness clouding his voice, “You don’t…regret it…do you?”
She shook her head, the light bouncing off her hairpins, “No. Do…do you?”
“Hell no.”
She giggled slightly as he gazed over her head and at the clock. He turned his regretful gaze over at her. “I should go. Before Hiyori decides to track me down.” Her hands rested over the warm space that he had occupied as he slipped out of bed and began to dress. She let her head drop down on the pillow and she inhaled deeply. She smiled into the pillow, it smelled a bit like him now. She sat up in bed, pulling the sheets up to cover herself as he came round to her side. He held his jacket in his arms as he sat down beside her, giving her a sweet kiss.
“I’ll try coming again soon.”
She tugged slightly at his shirt sleeve, “Ah actually, I meant to tell you something…”
He waited for her to continue, “I’ll be going with Kuchiki-san to Soul Society.”
Surprise filled his eyes, “What for?”
“To get train. So that I can get stronger.”
“Hime…”
Heaven knows what a girl can do
Heaven knows what you've got to prove
He wanted to convince her to not go, to stay here or better yet, to leave town rather than prepare for the upcoming war. He didn’t want her hands to be stained with blood. They were far too delicate to wield any weapon. They were healing hands, not fighting ones. He would willingly stain his hands for her sake. He would dye himself in blood but he wouldn’t let even one drop of it fall on her clear white soul.
But as he saw the determination and resolve shine through her eyes, he sighed in defeat. Seemed like there was no talking her out of this. He placed a hand on her head, “Can’t be helped then. Tell Rukia to take care of you, or else I’m going to make her regret it.”
Her eyes lit up as she let out a small squeal of delight and hugged him. They held each other for a moment, their joy sobering up as reality slowly started to seep back into their private bubble. Both of them wished that he didn’t have to go. That they didn’t have larger responsibilities and that they could just be regular teenagers in love.
She tightly fisted her fingers into his shirt as she whispered, “Please be safe.”
His hands pulled her closer to him, his hands both hot and reassuring against her back, “You too.”
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Ichigo was twisting and turning underneath the blankets as memories of that night played out through his mind. He sat up in bed with a jerk and ended up falling out of bed and on the floor, right on his head.
He groaned at the pain. That was terrific. What was he…five that he fell out bed in his sleep? He raised his hand to his head, rubbed the sore spot on his head before pausing. Oh man he was definitely going to have a headache thanks to this bump. Wait a minute….
He took off the bandages quickly and was shocked to find his injuries gone. He flexed his hand, closing it into a fist before re-opening it. Thoroughly confused he stared down at the unmarred skin where he knew that Grimmjow had impaled him with his sword. This was impossible…unless….
He raised his hand up to his face and concentrated.
“This reiatsu….”
“Inoue Orihime’s…most likely.”
He stared up at in window, looking straight at the 10th squad Captain as he stood on the windowsill. “We’ve got an emergency situation Kurosaki. I suggest you hurry.”
Any question that Ichigo asked of the Captain was met with silence and Ichigo was starting to get irritated. What the hell was going on? What the hell was the big emergency? And why heck were they heading over to Orihime’s house? What the hell was going on?!
I try to swim beneath
I try to keep awake
but I, I can feel this narcolepsy slide
into another nightmare
In the next fifteen minutes, Ichigo felt as though his world had come crashing down around him. It was like the time he was fighting to regain his Shinigami powers and had almost become a Hollow. But this was worse…far more worse. Because this time, he wasn’t able to do anything. Not one God damn thing…Orihime had been taken away by the Arrancar. She couldn’t have betrayed them. It just wasn’t possible.The very thought was laughable actually and he would have laughed were it not for the fact that she was no longer there to laugh along side him.
Other than the slight humming coming from the large screen, there was complete and utter silence in the room. Both Rukia and Renji looked defeated down at the floor, neither of them wanting to go back to Soul Society but knowing that they had to follow orders. Zaraki and Byakuya waited for the other Shinigami to come with them.
Ichigo’s gaze was resting on the floor, his hands clenched tightly at his side. “I understand.” He spoke up, “I won’t ask Soul Society for any help. But, can you at least tell me how to get into Heuco Mundo?”
He turned back towards the screen, looking at the General Commander as he spoke, “I’ll go save Orihime on my own. I promised her that.” Both Rukia and Renji stared at him, the former saying his name out loud in slight amazement. But he was gazing at Yamamoto, his eyebrows furrowed and his gaze determined, his stance screaming his resolve. But it faltered at the loud and sharp “No.” from Yamamoto.
Disbelievingly Ichigo asked slowly, “What?!”
Yamamoto replied back in his aged voice, “We will need your strength in the upcoming battle. I won’t allow you to act foolishly on your own and die like a dog. Wait until you receive orders. That is all.”
And the darkness that surrounds you makes you feel so small
Ichigo’s hands closed into fists, so tight that he could feel his nails digging into the flesh of his palm. A thousand insults and replies swirling around in his head and danced at the tip of his tongue, itching to be said out loud. He stared at the black screen speckled with static as his mind trying to wrap around what had just happened. He barely noticed the others leaving and Rukia’s apology fell on deaf ears as he stood there, anger and desperation warring inside of him.
Damn that old man Yamamoto! He thought to himself. Who the hell was he to tell him not to do anything?! Act foolishly and die like a dog eh? He was more than willing to give up his life for her. After all, he had promised to protect her. He had promised her God damn it! He had fucking sworn that right in front of her and he had seen it in her eyes that she really and truly believed it when he had said that. What kind of a man was he when he had let her get taken away from him?!
He had told himself that he wouldn’t let her get hurt again, not after what had happened with Yammy. More than anything and from all the people he knew, she was the one he wanted to protect to most. He wanted to protect that innocence that she exuded, that sunny smile that was forever present on her lips and that spirit that never seemed to be dampened by any thing. She was his home…Every time she held him it had felt like he was back home again.
If flesh could crawl my skin would fall from off my bones and run away from here
as far from God, as heaven is wide, as far from God, as angels can fly
Memories of all the times, the incidents, all the conversations they had had together came rushing forward and crashed together in his mind. He could almost see the ghost of her running across the room and jump into his waiting arms as she cheerfully told him that she had prepared lunch for them. He could hear her chiming laugh echo in the empty room as he tickled her pink. He could see her eyes as they gazed up at him from across the table and notebooks scattered across it. He could hear her footsteps as she bustled around in the kitchen making brownies to satisfy his sweet tooth. She was haunting him…
Orihime….He had let her down…again. He could still see those large, bright grey eyes looking up at him with amazement when he had confessed to her. He could almost feel the ghost of her fingertips dance over his face. He could still hear her moans and cries of rapture from the night they had made love. They seemed to echo all around him. His eyes fell on the bedroom door and he slowly entered, hovering beside the bed. His hands were trembling as he gazed down at the rumpled sheets…
What drives you on can drive you mad
He stared at her possessions that surrounded him and he half expected her to burst through the nearby door proclaiming that she was late because she got abducted by aliens who had demanded her spleen for their dinner. But no Orihime came with her bubbly smile. She was well and truly….gone. With a heavy heart he returned back home, re entered his body and wished for the day to end already, though it had barely started.
Yamamoto’s orders rang inside his head, Inoue’s smile flashed before his eyes. He couldn’t believe the insinuations that Yamamoto had made against Inoue. As he thought about them again, anger filled him. What did that old geezer know? He didn’t Orihime so what right did he have to may such stupid ass accusations against her?! She wouldn’t ever betray them, she would sooner die than do that. Hell, she wouldn’t even raise her hand at a fly and that he knew from personal experience! It was insulting to her to insinuate that she would willingly betray her friends… It was nothing short of stupidity in his mind.
He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn’t even blink an eye when his father crashed through the door, taking the door down with him in his morning greeting. He didn’t even notice when Yuzu came in at the sound of the ruckus and found her father staring at her stoic brother in surprise. Dragging her father out with her, Yuzu cheerily asked him to come down for breakfast. He spent the rest of the day in a daze, barely noticing the murmurings going on around him as he walked down the halls. He didn’t want to be here, pretending that everything was normal in his life when it was anything but that. The sight of her empty seat upset him far worse than the time when Rukia had to leave.
And he had not been the only one upset at Orihime’s disappearance as he was confronted by Tatsuki. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice had been warning him not to push her buttons, not today. But a large part of him relished the pain as her fist connected solidly with his jaw and he crashed backwards into the window. A small part of him felt that he deserved the punch and a more severe beating for letting down Inoue Orihime, a girl who had never asked much from life. He winced as he felt the bruise and flinched inwardly at Tatsuki’s words. He never expected that she would have seen him in his Shinigami. But enough was enough…none of his friends were going to get hurt anyone. Not any more.
He had to break off his friendships with those people who didn’t know about his Shinigami duties. It was the best way for them to avoid getting caught in the cross fire. So he brushed them off, coolly telling them to stop associating with him. It for the best, he told himself, even if they never fully realized his exact reasons for cutting them out of his life. But in the long run, he didn’t think it was that important that they knew his reasons just so long as they were safe and unharmed. That was all that mattered.
The anger that had been bubbling inside of him since morning had ebbed away, being replaced by a dark, heavy feeling of melancholy. Arriving home, he fell face down on his bed as he stared out the window. It was too God damned sunny and cheerful. What was the hell was wrong with the world? Didn’t they realize that Orihime was no longer present among them? It ought to be raining...not so fucking cheerful and bright. Twisting around to lay on his back, he stared up at his hand that he knew Orihime had healed before she left.
It just didn’t make any sense…If she had been taken away by the Arrancar then when did she heal him? When did the Arrancar contact her anyways…maybe after she came back here? If she had been kidnapped then why let her heal him? He placed his hand over his eyes with a deep sigh. Everything pointed to the fact that she went willingly but…he knew her. She would never have gone willingly. So then…what the hell had happened? He stared out at the sky, Orihime….
He drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
---------------
Here comes the cold again, I feel it closing in
It's falling down and all around me, falling
She had sat down in the small patch of moonlight that came filtering in through the bars of the high window after Ulqiuorra had left her new room. That had been quite a while ago, though she wasn’t exactly sure of how long ago that was. Though the feeling of creeping numbness in her legs was an indication that she had been sitting there for quite a while now. Ignoring the feeling, she stared up at the incandescent moon that rested high over the rolling
She wondered if Toushirou-kun and Rangiku-san had found the note that she had written. She wondered if Tatsuki-chan had noticed that she had gone and wondered if anyone else had noticed that she had disappeared. And by anyone else she specifically wondered if Ichigo had realized that she had gone missing. And she worried over his reaction….he would likely be angry and would be feeling betrayed.
No! She couldn’t think like that! Ichigo would know that she wouldn’t willingly come to Hueco Mundo. She worried that after finding out; he would come to save her or at the very least come to get some answers. As much as she liked the idea of comparing Ichigo with a knight and herself as a princess locked away in a tower by an evil wizard (known throughout Soul Society as Souske Aizen), the very idea of him coming to save her, sent a shiver of fear creep down her spine. For as much as she liked the idea of him coming to save her, she didn’t want him to risk his life to save her when she had given up her freedom for his life. It would make her sacrifice worthless if he ended up dying anyways while saving her.
Tearing her eyes away from the moon, she sighed softly as she stood up and made her way over to the large couch, limping slightly due to her numbed legs. She pressed her hand on the sofa, trying to judge how comfortable it was. It was a little too hard but what other choice did she have. At least the pillows were quite soft. Gingerly she lay down on her side, one arm under her head in an attempt to get more comfortable. The feeling of pins and needles ran up and down her legs as the blood began to flow through them again and she tried not to move her legs too much in an attempt to lessen the slight pain.
Her eyes felt heavy with sleep, weariness seeping into her bones yet her mind felt more awake than it had in days. She knew that she should get some sleep yet every time she closed her eyes, she would see Luppi’s body as it fell to the ground and she could still hear Grimmjow’s crazed laughter ring in her ear. A wave of nausea passed through her and she quickly shook her head and tried to think about something else. Anything else.
She wondered what her friends were doing right now. She sighed as she plucked at the cuff of her sweater. She never thought that she would, but she missed school. She would much rather be in Maths class right now than stuck here. She would be gazing out the window at the leaves as they would sway with the wind, or maybe she would be counting how many birds came and sat in a tree during one class. Or she might be staring away at the bright orange head that sat a few seats away from her. Longing swept through her as she thought of her lover, sleep edging into the corner of her eyes as her body caught up with her mind. Ichigo….
And all the love that you gave to me
Time goes by without you
I still dream about you
-----------------
The sheets were slipping and sliding between their moving bodies. Faint light illuminated the bodies as they twisted and turned together. His bright tangerine hair contrasted sharply with deep red sheets upon which he was resting. His hands were traveling restlessly all over the woman straddling him, never resting in one place for too long. They moved over the round of her hips, the sharp curve of her waist and the lush fullness of her chest before traversing the path all over again.
Her rhythm faltered slightly every time his hands would come up to her pale globes and brush lightly against her hardened peaks. Her head fell to her shoulder when he thrust up into her, raising both of them up from the bed. She gazed down at him with half open grey eyes, enjoying every moment of their coveted time together. He stared back at her as they moved together, watching with heated eyes as she let one hand slip down to where they were joined. Slowly her slender fingers crept down into the shadows, lust filled eyes following their path carefully.
Her whimpers grew in frequency and sound as his hand joined hers in pleasing her. She was smiling as she rocked into him and his hand, enjoying this dance fueled by desire and characterized by an insanity that they both relished. She bent down over him, her hips continuing their maddening dance as she kissed him fervently. She broke away to pant his name into his ear before she crashed around him. Her body clenching around him tightly, her fingernails digging into his shoulders, she shattered around him .
He flipped them over, keeping their bodies joined. He waited for her to come back down from her high before he increased both his speed and force. While her love making had been slow and leisurely, his pace was harder. Still breathless from her last orgasm, she couldn’t even formulate his name now. He could only hear sharp gasps in his ear as he took her. She was trembling and he could feel her spasm throughout his entire body. She was close.
He slipped his hands down her legs, raising them up and urging her to lock them around his waist. She happily complied, granting him a better angle to slip into her welcoming core. Only her upper body now rested on the red sheets and he relished the sight of her sweat covered body writhing beneath him. Her hands were clutching at the bed sheets, running up and down his arms, tracing his shoulders. Her touch left a burning sensation in its wake and his passion burned at a fever pitch. She managed to moan out his name in her musical voice, her face turned to the side and buried in her auburn hair.
Tears of pleasure rolled down her flushed face, a soft sob falling from her lips that vaguely resembled his given name. She cried out to him, begging him to stop, begging him to make her his, pleaded with him to never stop and to go harder. She cried out to God, again and again, expressing her pleasure in jumbled words and phrases. He returned them with words of devotion and love but they were just as broken as her words.
He pulled her up into his arms, his hands on her hips as he guided her down on him. Her pace this time was desperate, both their breath short and her nails leaving marks on his shoulders as she held on tightly. He took her hand and guided her down their bodies purposely. She bit down on his neck as their conjoined fingers brushed against her nether regions. He pushed her hand further down, making her feel the point of their joining. Her moan reverberated through out his body. This time when she came, she turned his name into a long wail and he could only groan her name against her ear. Sweat matted their foreheads as they fell together amidst the hopelessly tangled sheets. Breathlessly they looked at each other and smiled.
He brushed away her sweaty bangs from her face and fixed his eyes on hers.
“Wait for me. I might be late but I’ll come for you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
-----------------------
Ichigo stood in front of the dark void that Urahara had opened in front of him, Ishida and
In Las Noches, Orihime lay on the large sofa and stared out into the inky sky of Hueco Mundo and seemingly answered him. I’m waiting for you Ichigo.
For all my life and forever
There's a truth I'll always know
When my world divides and shatters
Your love is where I'll go
Alas….only one more part left. As sad as this chapter was, I think I like this one best.
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 01:40 pm (UTC)My favorite part of the story so far. Beautifully written. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 03:22 pm (UTC)Thank you kindly :)
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 06:23 pm (UTC)And totally seconded :D This was my very favorite chapter. Depressing, yes, but ugghhh. I feel like telling everyone "OMFG I KNOW THIS GIRL WHO WRITES PHENOMENAL LEMONS GO READ THEM."
I mean, even my friend, who doesn't care fo IchiHime, is reading this and totally amazed by your ~*mad skills*~.
Straight up.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-05 03:22 am (UTC)Honto? :D Its depressing but it ends at a nice hopeful note :D Phenomenal? *blushes* Oh please yer too kind!
Really? Wow....im....wow....im blushing!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-05 03:55 am (UTC)I must say, you expressed Ichigo's frustration SO perfectly.... I could really see him, for lack of a better word, freaking out :o
Very good job ^^
no subject
Date: 2008-03-05 03:58 am (UTC)Thank you! :D