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Post by Orihime Inoue on Dec 31, 2014 22:38:44 GMT -6
Inoue nodded. "Vale took me once...When he started being nice. It was very pretty." She pulled the blanket over a spot of dried blood on the couch. "Why do you ask?"
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Dec 31, 2014 22:49:20 GMT -6
Yumiko noted the blood but decided not to ask. She didn't need to know. She shrugged at her friend's question. "I wanted to make sure you had seen it, that's all. When things are difficult, it soothes my heart ... even before -" She shook her head and didn't finish her thought. Her hands clenched on her kimono.
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Post by Orihime Inoue on Dec 31, 2014 22:53:03 GMT -6
Inoue tilted her head. Her eyes beaming with concern as she looked at Yumiko. "What's wrong? Is it Aizen?" she rested a gentle hand on Yumiko's knee. "Is it Vale?"
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Dec 31, 2014 23:06:42 GMT -6
Yumiko closed her eyes until the desire to cry had passed. "I can handle Vale. He doesn't have any hold on me." She looked at Orihime's hand and took it. "I think what hurts the most is that I couldn't help any of you. No," she shook her head again, "that's not true. It's that I didn't want to help and I didn't believe you."
She fell silent for a few moments, a few locks of hair falling out of her braid. "And now that I know," she finally said, "I still can't. Not unless I want to make the situation worse. It's .... wrong. Something is wrong with me."
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Post by Orihime Inoue on Jan 1, 2015 6:35:46 GMT -6
Inoue shook her head fiercely, her brow furrowing as she did. She looked to Yumiko fighting back her tears, and smiled. "It's okay, Considering what we have both been through, I think it's okay." Inoue cast her eyes downward and sighed. "Besides, Vale said that...Well, he promised..." Inoue took her hand from Yumiko's and extended them out in front of them. She looked at them as if she they were not her own.
"Orihime?" said Yumiko. "What did he promise?"
"Vale promised to never lay a hand to me again, if I fought for him. With him." She let her hands fall into her lap and smiled. "Funny how that worked...Standing my ground and demanding he change how he treated me."
She looked down at her hands and the small bead of blood forming on the back of it. Her eyes widened slightly and darkened. "You should stop fighting, Yumiko. It would be easier, if you just gave in."
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 1, 2015 15:53:37 GMT -6
Yumiko became still. She closed her eyes and then rose up from the couch. Feeling around her right wrist, where a shackle used to be, she smiled softly. “Maybe it is easier for you, Orihime - I mean, I am glad that Vale isn’t hurting you anymore - but I can’t do what you suggest.” She lifted her head, meeting her friend’s eyes. “I can’t just accept this. Not anymore.”
“It would be easier,” Inoue repeated, looking at her with a bright smile. “You could be happy again.”
Yumiko shook her head. “I am not going to give in,” she replied. “It was not true happiness.” The noble turned her head aside. “And if I did follow your path, I risk losing myself. I won’t do that.”
"Be careful..."
Yumiko closed her eyes again, setting her hand on her blade. I will, Ukitake-san, Kita, but .... I can't keep doing this.....
She opened her eyes. "I'm sorry, Orihime."
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Post by Orihime Inoue on Jan 1, 2015 18:22:53 GMT -6
"It will be easier, love, if you just give in." replied Inoue. The words came out of her with a harsh tone and bite. She bit her lips in an effort to cease the flow of words. But, it did nothing. Tears began to pour from her eyes as she looked to Yumiko. "You owe me that much."
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 1, 2015 19:03:16 GMT -6
“I…” Yumiko’s resolve faltered at the new tone and the helplessness in her eyes. Yumiko sat back down and pulled Orihime into her arms. “Orihime, you can’t do this…..” she whispered.
It’s eating you up inside…. she finished in the safety of her own mind. Like what is left of my feelings for Aizen if I let it.
"There's got to be another path," the noble murmured, "another way that doesn't hurt."
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Post by Orihime Inoue on Jan 1, 2015 19:12:20 GMT -6
"There is no other way, Yumi." Inoue extended her hand to Yumiko, tears still pouring down her face. "Come now, love. It is easy. She's already done it, sold her soul to the devil. It's easy." A chuckle echoed from the other side of the door.
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 1, 2015 19:17:05 GMT -6
Yumiko's eyes narrowed and her head spun around. Still hold weeping Orihime , she narrowed her eyes at the figure in the now open doorway. “Did you have to do this to her?” she hissed, eyes over-bright. "Hadn't you done enough?"
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Post by Seto Tetsuya on Jan 1, 2015 19:28:11 GMT -6
Vale laughed as leaned in the doorway rhythmically tapping the end of his zanpakuto on the floor. "It's all in good fun, Yumi. She is alright." Vale walked over to Orihime and placed his hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head to look at him. "Oh my, dear. You've been crying." He gently wiped the tears from her face. "What's the matter, hm?"
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Post by Orihime Inoue on Jan 1, 2015 19:35:05 GMT -6
Inoue shook her head as Vale wiped the tears from her face. She gave a warm smile, as he leaned over and left a kiss on her forehead.
"All in fun, Yumi." said Vale as he stepped back and sheathed his blade.
"What's all in fun, Vale?" asked Orihime. She stood and walked over to him, placing a hand on his chest. She tugged on his jacket. "Leave Yumiko alone, please." She spoke softly to him. "Please. She doesn't need you picking on her."
"But, Hime~."
"No buts. Go bother someone else." She turned Vale and pushed him from the room. But, not quick enough. As he was able to glance over his shoulder, passing a wink to Yumiko.
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 1, 2015 20:36:07 GMT -6
Yumiko growled in response to the mocking gesture and turned back to to her friend. “Orihime, I am not worried about Vale. You don’t have to protect me from him. Please worry more about yourself.”
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Post by Orihime Inoue on Jan 1, 2015 20:42:18 GMT -6
Inoue smiled at Yumiko. "I'm alright. Really, I am." She sat back down on the couch beside Yumiko. "Why should I worry about myself? I am fine." Her smile faded slightly. "And, I want to protect you from him. He has made a target out of you. I won't have it!"
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Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 1, 2015 21:07:39 GMT -6
“Orihime…” Yumiko hugged her again. “I am a soul reaper. If he targets me, that means he will have less time to focus on hurting you. I told you before that I can handle him.” Her eyes darkened and narrowed slightly. “Let him target me. I will defeat him and kick him in the face again, and this time I won’t stop there." She set a hand over Orhime's hand. "He shouldn't be allowed to hurt anyone. At least, if he tries to touch me, I can pay him back for the harm he's caused others."
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