#ichigo traveling to the UK for his studies

[bansept]

Ichigo bought funny and cute keychains, those red busses magnets and too many shirts from London for his family and Orihime.

He also bought a good amount of books and gifts for the Soul Society people, because we all know they are the Eastern branch of the Soul Society, and branches don't visit each other.

Cue photos of him in the typical English tourist spots, like London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and plenty others. He looks adorable in every lazy selfies he's sent them.

Orihime printed every single one of them to create an album.

[bansept]

Until I see you again

I... didn't mean to write this??? I was about to rant about Ichigo leaving to the UK and leaving Orihime sad behind, but then it started to look like a small writing thing. So, have at it, hahahahaha

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She's not supposed to cry. She promised him.

Orihime sniffs back the wave of fresh tears ready to breach her resolve, the hand holding onto the plastic bag - which contains the only gift Ichigo agrees to take with him, namely some fresh bread from her bakery - clenching valiantly. Her gloved hands hold on tight, a small lifeline that keeps her from gathering him in her arms and anchoring herself on the ground. Maybe if she turned into a solid bloc of pure metal, she'd be able to keep him well-settled on the ground, and he wouldn't have to take that stupid plane.

She doesn't want to be selfish, and oh well, she knows she won't be. He discreetly rubs her back, the touch reassuring, and somehow that barely helps her greed win the fight.

Ichigo, mostly free of his Hollow-hunting duties, will leave for the UK, right in London, in 4 hours, as a continuation of his studies to become a translator.

It's not really a surprise to anyone who's known him: in classes, he was among the best in English, discussing Shakespeare and his influence and overall works. He'd help her with tests, training her with the spelling, although it flew right at the top of her head at the time ; it took a lot out of her to not blush to death.

And now, here he is, all handsome and adult, right on his way to graduate in a couple of months, but leaving for a foreign land she knows scrap about (except they drink tea and have a monarchy), and he will be gone forever.

She sighs, pouting to herself. Not... forever forever. But 4 months feels like an eternity already.

Ichigo looks from left to right, checking for his luggage while Yuzu fusses about the importance of being early at the boarding gate. Karin elbows Isshin, whose expression is a mix of pride and terrible doom. Orihime heard him mumble things to Ichigo while on the way here, which of course only left Ichigo pissed at his father.

The young man already said goodbye to their friends earlier, back in Karakura. Chad is busy at the Gonzalez gym, his boss not giving him much regard when it comes to breaks, while Uryu is buried under thick layers of medical books and studies. He might not become a surgeon like his father, but he's definitely not lacking work while studying the pediatric field.

Renji and Rukia came earlier in the week. With the recent announcement of Rukia's pregnancy, which was a whole event on itself and brought EVERYONE to tears (no matter what Uryu and Ichigo say) and the incessant work the Soul Society keeps throwing at them, it was very kind of them to travel back to the World of the Living to bid their goodbye.

Which leaves her. Sure she could come by as just the friend who's available to come and see him off, a smile on her face as he waves, flying away like a bird to foreign lands.

Except she's no longer just a friend.

After the war, they spent time with each other. Just them, just the simple reading sessions in his room or at her place. Just the bickering about the bread he supposedly dislikes but engulfs greedily. She was invited plenty of time, gradually, to their home, the warmth of the Kurosaki smiles around her, cautiously tasting her meals before genuinely digging into them. Spending time with the twins, as both of them stared at her with wonder, some kind of urge to be understood as young women. Orihime remembers fondly the moment Karin, quiet, distant and cranky, asked her for help. Nothing overly major, but in that single moment, she wasn't just a friend anymore.

She wasn't simply a buddy either when Ichigo asked for more of her time, which she willingly gave.

Were they dates? Going to a coffee place, or the cinema, or on missions just the two of them? A part of her rapidly thinks it's the way for Ichigo to enjoy some peace and quiet without being alone, while the confident and hopelessly in love part of her rebukes the idea of convenience: it's to spend time with her. And only her.

And so they did, they hung out, discussed, laughed, visited places together. He confided in her, some of his fear, and she leaned against him while muttering about her past, what her brother had told her, very long ago.

Ichigo had shown nothing but tenderness towards her, and the cherry on top was his first hug, the day they'd visited his mother's grave.

She flushes at the memory. Oh, no, they weren't dating... Were they?

Ichigo turns to her after hugging his little sisters, a small smile on his face. He's wearing a thick gray coat lined with fur, the only protection he has against the frigid cold from England he's supposed to have once arrived. His hair has been trimmed one last time by a tearful Yuzu, the short strand on top of his head still somehow foreign after a few months. But who is she kidding, Ichigo looks even more handsome that way.

"Are you alright, Orihime?" His voice is smooth, laced with held-back worry.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." She sniffs again, and she swears she means it. Her heart is aching for him to stay and never ever leave without her for so long, but she can't be that kind of horrible person. Suggesting he misses this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity out of selfishness is out of the question. "You sure you have everything?"

It's one of those phrases everyone asks. He's packed his 2 suitcases over the last month, he's pondered over it for longer than that, his sisters helped him out, his father checked with him and Orihime helped retrieve one last tube of toothpaste, because he has a specific brand he likes and that's one of the many things she's discovered about him that make her melt.

"Yeah, I think I got what's necessary." He grins nonetheless, pulling at the grip of the dark blue suitcase by his feet.

Orihime nods at him, hiding her reddening nose in her coat. It rained a lot this morning. Ichigo comes closer to her, his wide frame hiding her from the rest of his family, some kind of intimacy for them both. He has a small blush on his face when he picks up one of her hands.

"Hey... You promised not to cry."

"I'm not... just the blue men tickling at my eyes." She pouts, letting her hand rest in his bigger, safe and warm one.

Ichigo only raises his eyebrows with a knowing smile, her antics gliding over him naturally now.

"I'll send messages." He speaks, and his tone is breaking a little, because she knows it hurts him too.

Orihime can only nod, although her eyes waver with the silent "please do" plea. She gently holds him tighter, and with a tight smile, Ichigo decides to lean closer, hugging her against him. The warmth invades her, both her body and mind, turning all residual sadness and anxiousness into a mushy pile of love for this man, like pillows of marshmallows. He smells of home, of courage. Of the books he studied, of the iron of his sword, of the gentle dandelion in the wind. His arms, although completely engulfed by the coat, are molted steel bars, circling her while remaining strong. His head is leaning against hers, resting atop her scalp, and in the small instance it took for him to embrace her, Orihime's doubts and fear all but flush away.

A part of her wonders how his family reacts to this evident display of affection, one she herself is almost foreign to. But it doesn't matter.

He pulls away, gently, face red mirroring hers.

Hours later, his plane flies away, and Orihime clenches her phone, the small pastry charm attached to her phone case, a small gift from him, rocks gently against her palm.