Chasing the Sun

Part 1: The Guest
“Ah I’m sorry,” the ginger haired women exclaimed as she sprung to her feet. “I completely forgot about the kettle!”

It was a wonder she had, as the tea kettle on the stove was whistling at an ear-splitting decibel. She dashed over to the kitchen and removed the nuisance before switching off the heat. But it didn’t take long before she returned to the living room, as she had already set out the tea cups on a tray along with a sugar owl and a plate of round berry tarts. Western style tea was one of ’s current obsessions, and she set the tray down on the coffee table with obvious delight, happy to be able to share it with her guest... a Shinigami from the Fourth Division.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said with a smile. “But you have to try these raspberry red-bean jam tarts. I know it might sound odd, but they actually have a very unique flavor!”

In reality, Orihime was a much better cook and patisserie than the red bean raspberry tarts would have let on. She had had years of practice after all, first working at a local bakery as well as cooking at home. The tarts happened to be one of her most recent experiments, although truth be told, she was only serving them because she didn’t have anything else on hand.

The visit had been entirely unexpected.

“Now then,” Orihime began. She plopped down on the cushion on the other side of the table, causing her voluminous bust to jump up and down with her. “One lump or two?” she asked innocently, waiting for the response before putting two into her own cup. “And if you don’t mind, well... it’s just so unusual to have a visitor from the Soul Society that I just have to ask right away. What did you want to talk to me about?”