THE HEART.

hey woman

     wow orihime-chan, ya smell nice!! are ya usin’ a new perfume?? suits ya well!!

          “— ? you don’t think so…? Every time I see him he looks like he’s about to sigh.” Or actually, in fact, does sigh. “I’m worried.” And it is not that he lacks the sympathy or aptitude to be comforting in a need - in his eyes, at the very least - and rather that he not only wants to console but take action and MAKE IT SO that whatever was the source of his captains distress would be gone that he feels the need to get to the bottom of it all. Which requires doing the tracing work first.

Still, he supposes a makeshift solution was better than none - cheering him up might be a good start, and he knew to trust this girl’s intuition. Even if in this case it gave him goosebumps. “A…re they — huh …” As expected, she is amazing. “Orihime-san … are spirits not scary to you — ? W — … well, I s’pose showing me the laugh should be fine, though.”

          ❛ don’t worry! operation make hirako-kun feel better soon is underway, seiichi-kun!! ❜ her smile brightens enthusiastically ( how exciting! ), seiichi coming to her with this type of thing, he must really be worried. and she won’t let him down! ❛ first, what always cheers me up is food! we have to get hirako-kun is favorite food fast. and then maybe he’ll feel better. i remember this one time i was really, really upset because i missed laugh hour, and then tatsuki-chan brought over dumplings and i was back to being - ❜

        she only comes to a very sudden stop when her attention is caught by his question, her head tilts inquisitively, lashes fluttering when she blinks in his direction.  ❛ oh! of course, i’ll show you. don’t worry, seiichi-kun! ❜

          A sight to behold, this healing power of hers. Her golden light splashed color across the barren hallway, a brilliant glimmer in comparison to the eternal night reigning just beyond the white walls surrounding her. There was warmth in how it glowed, a soft surge. Gin let the silence between them linger for a while simply to observe her work in progress. She had many wounds a mere minute ago, distant memories now. Even her uniform, a gown of white gifted via Aizen, revived itself into an untarnished state. Gin had seen her power in Soul Society, and again under the gaze of Ulquiorra…  to be this close in person was another story.

          He stopped his motions as the girl attempted to reply—-not to acknowledge his teasing questions, which was a shame, but nonetheless Gin’s interest spiked. Her appreciation was oddly placed; a fish thanking the shark when the barracuda swam away from it in fear. The misplaced gratitude earned the tilt of his head and a brief weakening in his smile. How he disliked the ache she provided. Someone as good as her, as pure-hearted, in the same vicinity as himself—-it served as a stinging contrast of intentions. Of course Rangiku liked her.

          The traitor was well aware of her scrutinizing stare, he welcomed it.

         ❝ Been happenin’ for a while, hasn’t it? Could’ve spoken up at aaaany time, really… ❞ He turned again to face her fully. ❝ But you know that’d end with’em gettin’ killed. Why’re you protectin’ the people that hurt ya? No sense lookin’ for the good in everyone, sometimes it jus’ doesn’t exist. ❞ 

        her shield is a comfort. reminds her of her elder’s brother’s embrace - warm and soft. and when it dissipates around her, it leaves her cold. her shun shun rikka have done all they are capable of, there’s no more pain in her midsection or dotted across her arms and legs. the bruises are gone, her ribs have been healed. and she stands more straightly, her breathing calming when she’s able to inhale and exhale with ease.

        she drops her eyes from him, away and towards the direction the others had gone. there’s almost a sense of trepidation - whether they come back once he leaves is definitely a worry of hers that shows clear on her features, twisted with a furrowed brow and downturn of her mouth. she can continue to heal what is broken, but it won’t stop them from coming time and time again.

      even so, she is frighteningly aware of just how close he is - whether it be a few feet or inches. his near-silent footsteps, the curve of his smile. he’s so . . . unnerving. cold travels down the length of her spine, but then again, she doesn’t think of him as the worse among the group here. orihime is silent at first, her gaze wavers and darts over to him, the words cut through her thoughts like a scalding knife.