Author's Note

Alright, this is my first fanfic ever, so please be easy on me. I will being using the most recent Bleach chapters out there for the story, so you've been warned. This is also an Alternate Universe fic. I'm trying this in first person and who's narrating will change, but I might go back and do it in third person if nobody likes it. Please enjoy The Flower and the Fire.

"That's not what I asked about, Orihime. I asked if you were being treated all right over there. And they better be treating you nicely or I'll have to come over there and crack some skulls!" she replied and I could imagine the flames surrounding her fist with her declaration.

"No, no, Tatsuki-chan. That's not necessary, they all treat me really nicely." I was quick to reassure her, frantically waving the hand that wasn't holding my phone before my face. "Sado-kun said he saw some bunnies today and he loves cute things like the bunnies even when they get into the garden patch. Rukia-chan loves the bunnies too, but Abarai-kun says that we should get rid of them or they'll run the gardens. Momo-chan says the bunnies are fine if they'll just leave the vegetables alone and Rangiku-san doesn't really care. I think the bunnies are adorable, but I know the brown spotted ones are planning to invade the little blue men's home and steal all their carrots!"

"Uh huh. Well, glad you seem to be doing well there, kiddo. You take care of yourself and call me if anything goes wrong, okay? And don't try to reason yourself out of calling by thinking you'll be a burden, remember, I want to be there for you. And don't forget to call me next week, got it! I was worried sick when you forgot to call." Tatsuki sternly reminded me.

"I'm so sorry for making you worry, Tatsuki-chan. I'll definitely remember to call next week. So take care, and good luck in your tournament, Tatsuki-chan! I know you'll win 'cause Tatsuki-chan is a super ninja with super karate powers!" I cheer for her.

Her chuckles sound through the phone. "Yeah, you take care too. I'll talk to you next week." She replies fondly, then the phone line goes dead.

I sighed to myself as I shut my cell phone and returned it to the top of the dresser. I love Tatsuki like the sister I never had, but sometimes I think she worries a bit too much about me. Not that I don't love her caring about me, because I really do like that she cares, it just makes me feel like a burden with her constantly worrying over me. Besides, I've been working at the Daitaiyo temple for almost three months now and it's not like everyone's going to change just because I finally decided to take up the offer of living at the temple. In all honesty, it was one of the offered perks for becoming a gardener/groundskeeper there, the only reason I didn't take up the offer until now was that I had been doing just fine in my apartment until it got shut down for some health code violations found in the lower units a few days ago. I didn't have anywhere to go and Tatsuki and her family had already left for her karate tournament, so I asked if the offer was still open and got lucky.

"Hime~~!" Rangiku sing-songed as she poked her head through the door to my room. "Don't stay up to late, I know you've got school tomorrow and we girls need our beauty sleep."

"Hai, Rangiku-san!" I chirp happily. "I just finished talking with Tatsuki-chan and was just getting ready to go to bed!"

She smiles at me and tells me goodnight as she retreats back down the hallway.

I quietly slip out of my clothes and into my pajamas before turning out the lights and crawling into my futon. I look to the picture frame on a small table next to my dresser and quietly whisper "Good night, Onii-chan." and fall fast asleep.

I sit quietly in my small prison, still wishing for a way out, but knowing that it can only be opened by something from the outside. I really want to see it, the garden she says is now blooming around my prison, the one she so tenderly and eagerly describes to me. I want to see the friends and brother that she tells me all about when she finishes telling me about the flowers. And I want to see her, to see the one who has so willingly given such kindness to a sealed monster like me.

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