She's just hiding, and he knew it.

She is... disastrously beautiful.

.

.

.

Unable to say the things she wants.

Unable to express her feelings.

Unable to trust anyone.

Unable to love herself.

Yet she says what everybody expects her to say, she expresses every emotion her friends expects to see, she trusts everyone like everyone knew she would do, she loves herself even she declares to that she hates it, but everyone expects her to be the epitome of love. So, she chimes: I love myself. How can I actually love someone if I didn't even love myself?

And then she'll smile.

Smile like there's nothing giving her a hard time.

He watches from a far, her hair always shiny and looked definitely soft. His fingers itches to grasp every strand of it.

Thus, he'll just grit his teeth in annoyance, hands curled into tight fist inside his pockets.

There is this fluttering feeling everytime she addresses him, her voice shows no hint of sadness nor loneliness. It was full of life and positive emotions.

He wonders: She deserves someone who understands and cares for her.

Breathing softly, gray eyes filled her small white face. Blinking in the process as he hurries towards her.

From where she stands, she looked like a small child waiting for her parents to pick her up, school was over, children should wait for their parents to fetch them right?

Glancing to her side, another wave of blush appeared on her cheeks, coloring her pale skin.

"Inoue!" He shouted, his pace quickening. Three seconds passed, he is now standing in front of her.

Looking up slowly, she forces a grin on her lips.

"Kurosaki-kun!"

Large hand raised and gave her a small wave with a cool 'yo!'

At this Orihime didn't fake her smile. Her grin widening, gums showing.

"Do you need anything?" asked she, her head tilting to the side as long strands of auburn hair fell to her side.

Shaking his head, "Nah. Just want to check up on you."

Another blush and she stutters. "O-oh!"

His lips curved into a boyish smile. "I'll walk you home." He declares, watching her as she lifts her eyes to him.

An emotion flashed before her eyes, he could not quiet point it but it looked like that she was hesitating and curious.

"No. I-I can manage."

Without any word he walked ahead of her, only giving her a side glance. "Come on, You're going to miss your silly tv shows."

With that, her eyes got bigger and somehow it sparkled. "Oh right!"

–

They say its always easy to convince her.

But as what he can see, she's a little skeptic about things but still putting her positive hopes and had a great talent hiding it.

She squeals when Chizuru hugged her from behind, followed by Tatsuki growling, her fists colliding with the red haired girl's cheek.

From his seat, he watches her as she nervously tried to stop the quarrel.

A cough interrupted him, glancing to his side, he saw Ishida looking knowingly at him.

"Need anything Kurosaki?"

The substitute shinigami's lip twitched and he cursed at the Quincy.

He didn't know when did he noticed the difference between the old and new Inoue. There was a barrier between her and them.

He can see it. He can feel it.

One day, he asks. "Tell me, is there anything bothering you?"

He'll notice the faint blush spreading through her face and she will smile awkwardly.

"There's nothing!" then she'll give him one of her forced bright smile.

–

Believe it or not, but after the incident in Hueco Mundo (which she was held as a hostage and accused as a traitor by soul society.) He found himself slowly opening to her. At first, maybe, because he want to help her recover. He knew she was suffering from the traumatic events, that's why...

And he didn't notice, he is slowly falling to her.

And with that, he is able to see her flaws and insecurities. He's not also saying that she's fake.

She's just hiding, and he is determined to pull her up once again and vowed to understand and care for her.

Of course, because she only deserves someone who understands, cares and loves her.

This will be a collection of drabbles. Thank you for reading!

(Grammars, punctuations, spelling etc. errors will show up! Im sorry about that!)

The first chapter contains only small interactions between the two. Ichigo understanding Hime's situation, blah blah blah. I know it's a little hazy and difficult to understand, so tell me what you think about it! :)