The Picnic

One afternoon, Uryu and Orihime were at the park, sitting atop a blue-checkered blanket that Orihime had bought for the occasion. Uryu tried to tell her that she didn't need to buy a new blanket for their picnic, but she insisted and told him that he was worth it.

Their picnic basket lay at their feet, and it was propped open, revealing all the food and drinks they had brought along with them. Uryu could see Orihime's sandwiches in there, and he cringed at the thought of what she put in them.

Luckily, she was happy with the riceballs he had provided. She munched on them eagerly.

"These are so good, Uryu." His face flushed. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I guess I'm not used to you calling me by my first name… I like it."

Orihime smiled. "I like you when you call me my first name, too."

"Orihime," he said in response. He said it often, and yet, the name still tingled on the tip of his tongue. It made him happy because it was proof of their growing relationship.

She laughed and finished off the riceball in her hand. "I'm really enjoying myself here."

"I'm glad. What is it?" he asked when she arched an eyebrow.

"Nothing," she said, but he heard the laugh in her voice. She pretended to be interested in one of the checks in her blanket, and suddenly, she pounced. She pinned Uryu to the ground by his shoulders. Her hair hung down her face and tickled his cheeks.

A laugh escaped his lips. "What are you trying to do?"

"Playing," she answered simply. She lifted one of her hands to brush against his cheek. "You're so handsome, Uryu."

Again he blushed. "And you're beautiful." He gazed up into her eyes, and he felt an overwhelming rush of happiness hit him. He moved so quickly that Orihime didn't have time to react. Soon, she was the one who was pinned down underneath him. He grinned. "Looks like you're at my mercy."

"Looks like it," she said. She glanced over at their picnic basket. "My sandwiches are still in there, you know. We should…"

Uryu cut her off by pressing his mouth to hers. Orihime's eyes fluttered shut and wrenched her arms free. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. Luckily, she was so distracted that her sandwiches lay forgotten.