Under The Karakura Town

Chapter 1 - Prologue

The sun hanging over Karakura Town carried the lazy warmth of late spring, but inside theKurosaki clinic, the air felt thick with unspoken things.

Orihime Inoue pressed two fingers against the edge of the cotton bandage taped acrossIchigo Kurosaki's left shoulder. Her hand trembled, just a flicker, before she steadied it. Asoft orange radiance flared from her palms, bathing the small examination room inamber light. Santen Kesshun hummed quietly, reversing the torn muscle beneath the skinuntil the violent purple bruising faded into pale flesh.

"You don't need to use your power for every scrape, Inoue," Ichigo muttered, staring resolutely at the floor between his bare feet. "It's just a sprain from yesterday's Hollow patrol. A normal bandage would've been fine by tomorrow."

Orihime didn't drop her hands. "It wasn't just a sprain, Kurosaki-kun. The bone washairline-cracked. You were limping when you walked through the door."

"I was not limping."

"You were dragging your left heel," she countered softly, her voice carrying that gentle,immovable tone she only ever used when he was being completely reckless. "You always do that when your balance is off. You think if you walk faster, no one will notice."

Ichigo's jaw tightened, a faint flush rising up his neck to his ears. "I didn't want you worrying over nothing."

"It's never nothing when it's you," Orihime said.

The words slipped out before she could catch them. The amber light flickered, scattering little sparks across Ichigo's bare collarbone. Orihime pulled her hands back quickly,clutching them to her chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of her school blouse.

"I-I mean! Because you're the Substitute Shinigami! And Karakura Town needs you to beat full strength! And your sisters would be sad if you couldn't eat dinner with your lefthand-even though you're right-handed-"

"Inoue," Ichigo interrupted, his voice dropping into that low, rasping register that madeher pulse skip a beat.

"Yes?"

"Thanks," he said quietly. "Really."

"You're welcome, Kurosaki-kun."

"Hey! Are you two done flirting in there, or do I need to charge by the hour for the clinicspace?!"

The wooden door slid open with a violent clatter. Isshin Kurosaki leaned against the frame, holding a broom in one hand and pointing an accusatory finger with the other, hisface contorted into theatrical outrage.

"Dad! Get the hell out!" Ichigo roared, grabbing the nearest pillow and hurling it with deadly accuracy.

Isshin ducked, the pillow whistling over his head and smacking the wall behind him. "Such disrespect! To your own loving father, who generously provides a private sanctuary for young romance to blossom under the guise of medical treatment!"

"There is no romance! She's healing my shoulder, you old idiot!" Ichigo barked, snatchinghis black t-shirt off the counter and yanking it roughly over his head.

"Oh, is that what they call staring into each other's souls with tragic, yearning eyes thesedays?" Isshin stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Back in my day, we just called it-"

"Get out!"

Orihime let out a nervous, breathless giggle, bowing rapidly. "Good afternoon, Kurosaki-san! Thank you for letting me use the clinic!"

"Ah, Orihime-chan! Always a ray of sunshine in this den of ungrateful brats!" Isshin beamed, entirely shifting gears into proud-father-in-law mode. "Stay for dinner! Yuzu made beef stew! She bought extra carrots because she knows you like sweet stew!" "Hey, don't trap her here with your nonsense," Ichigo grunted, though his handinstinctively caught Orihime's elbow to guide her past his father into the hallway. Thetouch lingered a second too long before he pulled away, clearing his throat. "Do you have homework to finish, Inoue? I can walk you home."