Title: Beautifully Habitual

A/N: It's been a while since I've written fanfiction for an anime series so please forgive me if I sound a bit rusty... 0;;


I wished for the impossible.

It rained.

"Ja, Orihime!" Tatsuki called after rushing to put on her shoes, cursing under her breath as the laces became tangle underneath her hurrying fingertips.

Orihime giggled as her best friend tramped through the now muddy path leading up to the main entrance of their school.

"Ja ne, Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime waved, knowing that Tatsuki's brain was too absorbed in getting to karate.

Like always.

Orihime sighed but a smile dimly lit her face. She kicked at the ground aimlessly, hoping that the rain would stop soon. She had forgotten her umbrella. Again. But it was okay because someday she was going to design an automatic umbrella that will sprout from her arm every time she forgot it and then…

"Oy. Inoue."

Orihime tore herself from her thoughts and looked up.

"K-K-Kurosaki-kun…" she breathed.

Ichigo stood with one hand on his hip and a seemingly permanent scowl on his face. He hefted his bag on one shoulder.

"Why aren't you going home?" he asked.

Orihime smiled brightly, "Because I forgot to attach my umbrella to the electric port in my shoulder this morning! Oh, if I wasn't so clumsy! And if I walk out in this rain, I'll short-circuit and I would have to re-charge for 2 weeks and then I would miss school and…"

"Okay, Inoue," the corners of Ichigo's mouth twitched as if he wanted to smile but flattened the desire.

They stood there in silence, the only sound from the smattering of raindrops from the sky. Orihime flushed and turned around to face the schoolyard.

If I were the rain.

"Inoue."

Would I

"Inoue-san."

Would I be able to

"We'll walk you home."

Orihime turned to face Rukia and Ichigo who were standing together side by side. She tilted her head, smiling blindly as she always did.

"It's fine, Rukia-san, Kurosaki-kun. I'll just wait for it to stop," she cheerfully said.

Rukia's brow furrowed, "Are you sure?"

Orihime gave her a thumbs-up sign, "Of course! I love watching the rain anyway!" A strange look passed over Ichigo's face. But he decided to let it go for now.

"If you're sure, Inoue," Ichigo sighed as he unfurled the umbrella Rukia had just handed to him moments ago.

Orihime watched them walk away, her shoulder brushing against his arm. Their pinkies intertwined.

Orihime shivered.

"Ja ne, Kurosaki-kun."

But she knew he would be too absorbed in Rukia-san and getting home, to warmth.

Like always.

I wanted you to fall in love with me.