A Fairy Tale for Robots
By BukkakeNoJutsu
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Disclaimer: DonÆt own any Bleach other than what is next to my washing machine.
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ôGoddamn it, Orihime! Just confess to him already. You donÆt even have to say anything. Just rub his junk like it could grant you wishesà
àJust do it while youÆre both still alive. ö
-Arisawa Tatsuki (two days ago)
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(Now in the Present)
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Resident orange haired tough guy, Kurosaki Ichigo raced to meet who was widely considered to be the most beautiful girl at Karakura High, Inoue Orihime near the schoolÆs sports supply shed after classes.
She seemed flushed with nerves when she made this request of him at lunchtime.
Was she sick? In trouble? It didnÆt matter as he rushed to her aid, as he always did whether in this world, the next, or someplace in-between. After all, she was a genuinely good person and a close friend.
He efficiently tracked the thread of spirit energy belonging to Orihime, bringing his sprint to an end, but nowhere near winded.
Orihime sat on a nearby wooden bench, waving, then fidgeting. She seemed to avoid his gaze.
ôEh, æhime! Did something happen? You okay?ö questioned Ichigo sitting down next to her.
OrihimeÆs face flushed beet red from his proximity.
ôIàô The burnt orange-haired girl inhaled deeply looking away for a moment, ôI have something IÆve been wanting to tell you for a while, but I donÆt know where to begin.ö
Ichigo sat and thought for a second about his friend struggling.
ôHmmà If itÆs so difficult, try to go back to whatever you think would be a beginning.
Orihime sat and fidgeted some more.
ôIÆve got it!ö yelled Orihime jumping up from the bench excitedly.
ôHuh?ö
ôRemember that art project we had about our future selves?ö
ôYeah I doàö
ôRemember mine?ö
ôYeah, werenÆt you a giant robot with like tank treads andàöIchigo vaguely motioned toward his upper torso, ôàchest missiles calledàuh? Help me here.ö
Orihime beamed at his recollection.
ôShin Orihime-X.ö chirped IchigoÆs friend and current enigma.
ôYeah, Shin Orihime-X. What does that have to do withà?ö Ichigo gestured to the present moment,
ôItÆs everything,ö beamed Orihime, ôShin Orihime-X is a robot who ends up setting the world on fire in that picture I drew, but thereÆs more to the picture than whatÆs on the page. She looks like a completely autonomous robot, but thatÆs not true. Let me sketch it for you.ö
The enthusiastic teen pulled out a notepad and pencil, and in moments had a perfectly serviceable sketch of her robotic future self, at least a rearward view.
ôSee that hand ladder and door?ö pointed out Orihime.
The shinigami substitute nodded.
ôShin Orihime-X actually has a human partner---one who can reign in her more destructive impulses, who performs maintenance and pre-launch checks, and generally makes her happy. Actually, it takes the both of them together set the world on fire.ö
ôIÆm sorry, Orihime. IÆm still a little lost,ö stated the bewildered teenager.
ôNo worries, Kurosaki-kun. ItÆs sort of a metaphor. You see-ö Orihime turned to Ichigo and looked him dead straight in the eyes, her eyes watering.
ôIf Shin Orihime-X is me in the future, who I see as my partner isàö Orihime gulped, ôàyou. ItÆs always been you.ö
Ichigo froze. His eyes wide. Orihime likes---
---ME.
ôI know IÆm silly, goofy even. I donÆt how youÆd ever---ô Orihime turned away from Ichigo as tears ran down her face in silence.
No one had ever confessed to Ichigo before. He had been teased by Rangiku and Yoruichi, but this was completely alien. He was so busy fighting for his life and the lives of his friends that had never really considered a serious romantic relationship. To be honest, he was caught off balance and a little terrified more than anything.
What came to mind were the words from the deepest part of his soul, from his sword and partner Zangetsu, "Abandon your fear. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. You'll age if you pull back. You'll die if you hesitate.ö
Orihime, interpreting IchigoÆs silence for rejection, stood up on the verge of running home and crying herself to sleep when IchigoÆs hand gently, but firmly found hers. Soon, she found herself hugged to his chest, her tears staining his uniform.
ôOrihime, honestly, IÆm an idiot. I donÆt know what hell IÆm doing, but IÆd like to find that out. Together. Sound good?ö
The girl looked up to see a fragile, but genuine smile on IchigoÆs face. Orihime nodded in agreement and her tears quickly gave way to infectious laughter.
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The next day when Ichigo and Orihime arrived at school holding hands, both blushing but with fingers intertwined, people started to get the impression that nothing would ever be the same.
Not in Karakura.
Not in Soul Society.
Not in Hueco Mundo.
Zangetsu just wondered how IchigoÆs inner world got so goddamned sunny. That and why a giant robot was demolishing abandoned buildings with breast shaped missiles and leaving behind fields of sunflowers.
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Hasshin!
By BukkakeNoJutsu
__________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: DonÆt own any Bleach other than what is next to my washing machine.
__________________________________________________________________
ôGoddamn it, Orihime! Just confess to him already. You donÆt even have to say anything. Just rub his junk like it could grant you wishesà
àJust do it while youÆre both still alive. ö
-Arisawa Tatsuki (two days ago)
__________________________________________________________________
(Now in the Present)
__________________________________________________________________
Resident orange haired tough guy, Kurosaki Ichigo raced to meet who was widely considered to be the most beautiful girl at Karakura High, Inoue Orihime near the schoolÆs sports supply shed after classes.
She seemed flushed with nerves when she made this request of him at lunchtime.
Was she sick? In trouble? It didnÆt matter as he rushed to her aid, as he always did whether in this world, the next, or someplace in-between. After all, she was a genuinely good person and a close friend.
He efficiently tracked the thread of spirit energy belonging to Orihime, bringing his sprint to an end, but nowhere near winded.
Orihime sat on a nearby wooden bench, waving, then fidgeting. She seemed to avoid his gaze.
ôEh, æhime! Did something happen? You okay?ö questioned Ichigo sitting down next to her.
OrihimeÆs face flushed beet red from his proximity.
ôIàô The burnt orange-haired girl inhaled deeply looking away for a moment, ôI have something IÆve been wanting to tell you for a while, but I donÆt know where to begin.ö
Ichigo sat and thought for a second about his friend struggling.
ôHmmà If itÆs so difficult, try to go back to whatever you think would be a beginning.
Orihime sat and fidgeted some more.
ôIÆve got it!ö yelled Orihime jumping up from the bench excitedly.
ôHuh?ö
ôRemember that art project we had about our future selves?ö
ôYeah I doàö
ôRemember mine?ö
ôYeah, werenÆt you a giant robot with like tank treads andàöIchigo vaguely motioned toward his upper torso, ôàchest missiles calledàuh? Help me here.ö
Orihime beamed at his recollection.
ôShin Orihime-X.ö chirped IchigoÆs friend and current enigma.
ôYeah, Shin Orihime-X. What does that have to do withà?ö Ichigo gestured to the present moment,
ôItÆs everything,ö beamed Orihime, ôShin Orihime-X is a robot who ends up setting the world on fire in that picture I drew, but thereÆs more to the picture than whatÆs on the page. She looks like a completely autonomous robot, but thatÆs not true. Let me sketch it for you.ö
The enthusiastic teen pulled out a notepad and pencil, and in moments had a perfectly serviceable sketch of her robotic future self, at least a rearward view.
ôSee that hand ladder and door?ö pointed out Orihime.
The shinigami substitute nodded.
ôShin Orihime-X actually has a human partner---one who can reign in her more destructive impulses, who performs maintenance and pre-launch checks, and generally makes her happy. Actually, it takes the both of them together set the world on fire.ö
ôIÆm sorry, Orihime. IÆm still a little lost,ö stated the bewildered teenager.
ôNo worries, Kurosaki-kun. ItÆs sort of a metaphor. You see-ö Orihime turned to Ichigo and looked him dead straight in the eyes, her eyes watering.
ôIf Shin Orihime-X is me in the future, who I see as my partner isàö Orihime gulped, ôàyou. ItÆs always been you.ö
Ichigo froze. His eyes wide. Orihime likes---
---ME.
ôI know IÆm silly, goofy even. I donÆt how youÆd ever---ô Orihime turned away from Ichigo as tears ran down her face in silence.
No one had ever confessed to Ichigo before. He had been teased by Rangiku and Yoruichi, but this was completely alien. He was so busy fighting for his life and the lives of his friends that had never really considered a serious romantic relationship. To be honest, he was caught off balance and a little terrified more than anything.
What came to mind were the words from the deepest part of his soul, from his sword and partner Zangetsu, "Abandon your fear. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. You'll age if you pull back. You'll die if you hesitate.ö
Orihime, interpreting IchigoÆs silence for rejection, stood up on the verge of running home and crying herself to sleep when IchigoÆs hand gently, but firmly found hers. Soon, she found herself hugged to his chest, her tears staining his uniform.
ôOrihime, honestly, IÆm an idiot. I donÆt know what hell IÆm doing, but IÆd like to find that out. Together. Sound good?ö
The girl looked up to see a fragile, but genuine smile on IchigoÆs face. Orihime nodded in agreement and her tears quickly gave way to infectious laughter.
__________________________________________________________________
The next day when Ichigo and Orihime arrived at school holding hands, both blushing but with fingers intertwined, people started to get the impression that nothing would ever be the same.
Not in Karakura.
Not in Soul Society.
Not in Hueco Mundo.
Zangetsu just wondered how IchigoÆs inner world got so goddamned sunny. That and why a giant robot was demolishing abandoned buildings with breast shaped missiles and leaving behind fields of sunflowers.
__________________________________________________________________
Hasshin!