Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. I have a Kon though. And he's got a tuxedo and a little microphone. He hangs proudly on the hilt of my Tensa Zangetsu, which hangs on the wall, hopefully next to Sode no Shirayuki soon, when it shows up.


Misplaced

Chapter 1


It took a sleep-over. And a Hollow. The day that set things in motion started like any other.

"Oi, Orihime!" Tatsuki shouted, waving her hand in front of Orihime's face, "Are you spacing out on Kurosaki again? I swear, that boy is so dense, you should really just move on already...."

"I-I was not!" Orihime truthfully said, seemingly nervous. Tatsuki, having been Orihime's friend for a long time, picked up on the honesty.

"Oh? Then what?" Tatsuki asked, "Or, maybe, who?"

"N-no! It's not like that!" Orihime insisted, blushing.

"Alright, alright, no need to get all defensive." Tatsuki said, throwing up her hands.

The truth was, Orihime didn't know what it was. Lately, she'd been feeling like something was misplaced. Not wrong, or entirely weird, but just off, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"So, you're still coming to my house tonight, right Tatsuki?" Orihime asked.

"Aw, shoot! I forgot! I'm sorry, Orihime, I can't tonight."

"What? Why?"

"My parents decided this morning that today was cleaning day. I have to help." Tatsuki answered, sticking out her tongue.

"Oh, okay." Orihime said, pouting.

"Aw, don't look at me like that... come on...." Tatsuki looked around for inspiration to try to cheer Orihime up, noticed Rukia Kuchiki playing chess with Ichigo Kurosaki, and suggested, "Why not ask Kuchiki?"

"What?" Orihime asked, shocked and a little afraid of the idea. Suddenly her expression was confused, almost angry as she wondered, What was that? Such an overreaction to the thought of Kuchiki-san spending the night....

"You know, Rukia." Tatsuki explained, "I bet she's never been to a sleep-over before. You could show her how it's done." Orihime considered the proposal. Then she smiled and nodded.

"You're right, Tatsuki-chan!" she said. Maybe she can help me find out why I feel so lost....

"Hey, Kuchiki-san!" Orihime shouted, running over to Rukia and Ichigo.

Rukia moved one of the white pieces on the chessboard between her and Ichigo and purred, "Checkmate."

"AAAHH! WHAT THE HELL!? I HATE THIS GAME!" Ichigo bellowed furiously.

"You're just jealous that you can't beat me." Rukia commented.

"SCREW YOU!"

"When, where, how hard, and what position?" Rukia smoothly countered, smirking in a way that was dangerous, yet still sweet. Orihime was shocked at first, but realized it was a joke and giggled. She'd heard Tatsuki use the same comeback once or twice before.

"YAAAH! I'M OUTTA HERE!" Ichigo screamed, and stormed away. Rukia crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and smirked to herself for a moment before turning to Orihime and saying, "You wanted something, Inoue?" Orihime shook her head to escape her trance.

"Inoue?" Rukia asked again, "Are you all right?"

"I-I'm fine!" Orihime dropped her train of thought at the sound of Kuchiki's concerned voice. Rukia looked at her sceptically.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah, I just spaced for a moment, that's all." Orihime said.

"Well, judging from what I know that's kind of regular for you, so I won't worry...." Rukia said, "But did you want something?"

"Oh, that's right! I wanted to know if you'd like to spend the night at my house tonight! I can imagine how living with Kurosaki-kun can get, and Tatsuki can't come, so I'd be alone otherwise, so I decided to ask you. I mean, it wasn't entirely my...." Orihime paused, realizing that she was putting to much effort into it. And she was nervous.

"I'd love to." Rukia answered, smiling.

"Really? That's great! I... umm...." Orihime brightened up at Rukia's answer, starting a sentence that had no real thought behind it, so she tried to end it gracefully, "Yeah."

"Inoue, are you sure you're alright? You're blushing." Rukia asked, her eyebrows furrowed and head tilted to the side.

"What?" Orihime asked herself out loud, covering her cheeks with her hands.

"Blushing." Rukia repeated, "That is the right term, isn't it?"

"Y-yeah, that's right...." Orihime said. But why?

Orihime's thoughts were cut off by the bell.

"Let's walk to class together. I'm not entirely convinced that you're fine." Rukia said, frowning.

"Ah, o-okay...." Orihime stammered.

When they got into the room, Orihime noticed Chizuru Honshou staring in her direction. Chizuru was the school's lesbian, and flirted with Orihime constantly. Orihime was not surprised that she was staring... what was surprising was how she was staring. Chizuru's expression showed a curiosity, confusedness, and that she was concentrated on something. As soon as Orihime saw that her mouth was slightly open, she noticed the little bit of awe in her face, too.

"Why is she not saying anything?" Tatsuki asked Orihime form right behind her, "Usually I would have had to hurt or threaten her by now...."

"I don't know...." Orihime answered, staring back at Chizuru. It's almost like she knows something... or is trying to figure it out.... she thought.

"Come on, Orihime, we should sit down." Rukia said, tugging Orihime's arm.

"Oh, yeah...."


Yay! First chapter! XD