Rain and Ashes

[leekspins]

[It's the third time this month that she wakes up with a jolt. It takes her a few moments to catch her breath and loosen the knotted blankets in her pale and shaking fist. Slowly her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, finding the familiar shapes and outlines she knows by heart. The table. The picture frame on the dresser. The empty glass. It's just her apartment, and she's alone. But that dream...]

['Woman.']

[Her head sinks into her hands as she sits up. It's been over a year since she last heard Ulquiorra's voice and it still haunts her to remember the look on his face as his body disintegrated into ash right before her eyes. Ever since Shigaraki showed up and she learned what he could do to people, her sleep has grown troubled when she's alone. She has a busy day tomorrow, and she knows she should get some more rest, but looking at her pillow fills her with a quiet dread. She can't bear to see him die again.]

[Ordinarily she'd make herself some tea, or read, or try to figure out more of the riddles in the paper until she's too tired to dream. Maybe she'd even head downstairs and get a head start on baking. But she's restless tonight, and the sound of the rain pattering against her window is oddly alluring. She pulls on her clothes and heads outside.]


[24-Hour Convenience Store]

[By the time she walks through the automatic doors, she's pretty wet, but she still greets the sales clerk with a cheerful smile before heading toward the freezer section to buy an orange popsicle. On a rainy September night. At 2:30 in the morning.]

[And a strawberry milk.]

[The cashier doesn't pass any judgment, just ringing up her purchases while she digs out her communicator, looking at the list of names she knows. She kind of wants to call someone and talk, but... They're probably all asleep, and even if they weren't, what would she say? 'I sure do miss my friend who turned into dust and I'm worried the same will happen to you so please tell me a joke and make me laugh!']

Mm...

[She lowers the communicator, troubled, only to blink in surprise and hastily apologize when she realizes the cashier has been waiting for her to pay. Hastily she digs out a pair of red bills and bows her head before hustling outside. She unwraps the popsicle and pulls up the hood of her jacket. If anyone thinks it looks weird, she'll just say she's getting used to late night patrols.]

-----------------

[Two Hours Later]

[It looks like Orihime was trying to headbutt a vending machine. She's sleeping straight up, arms limp and swung forward, her body tilted into the machine at a perfect 45-degree angle. Her communicator is sticking halfway out of her pocket with a nonsensical message sent out to one or more people:]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Chicago

[And there's a popsicle stick hanging out of her open mouth.]