(恋情)
It all started rather innocently.
Abarai Renji was appointed to be the shinigami stationed at their quaint little town which was a magnet for attracting hollows.
A fukutaichou assigned to such a seemingly easy task?
More likely a downgrading of some sorts.
Rumors has it,
It has something to do with kidou, an explosion, a fire and a very angry taichou.
And so it begins.
(恋姬)
"So, Renji, tell us again why you really doing here in Karakura?" Kurosaki Ichigo viewed the red-haired tattooed shiningami with suspicion.
"And as I have told you for the hundredth time, I was assigned here." The red-haired tattooed shiningami answered in exasperation.
"A distinguished fukutaichou such as yourself assigned to such a simple job. I find it rather difficult to comprehend and for once I have to agree with Kurosaki." Ishida Uryuu did the unexpected and went along with Ichigo's uncertainty about the fukutaichou's reason for being at their town.
Ichigo smirked triumphantly and Ishida adjusted his glasses.
Abarai Renji was squirming on the inside, goddamnit! He was a fukutaichou, he must not show any signs of nervousness, but with four pairs of eyes staring at him, he could feel the sweat coming down the sides of his face.
And he needed to ask a favor as well.
"Why can't the four of you just be glad to see me? After all, the five of us have been through a lot of life and death experiences together. Doesn't that count for anything? And... I thought I am a friend. Don't you all consider me as a friend?" For a big guy with red hair and tattoos, Renji sure can look pitiful when required.
The only girl in the group stepped towards him, "Of course you are our friend, Abarai-kun. Isn't that correct, everyone?" She directed her pleading gaze to the rest of her friends.
There was hemming and humming, a nod and a grunt.
Close enough.
Inoue Orihime beamed happily at Renji, "See, Abarai-kun, you are a friend of ours. A very good friend of ours." She added to perk up his spirits.
Renji grinned at the bubbly girl. She was real something. This human girl. So caring and kind.
A princess.
"Thanks, Inoue." He heaved out his breath. Now for the hard part.
"Yes. We might be your friends. But do you consider us to be one as well?" Ishida commented warily.
"What do you mean, Ishida?"
"What I or we were thinking is that, there is nothing extraordinarily happening or going to happen in our town to warrant your presence here, right? Do we need to be vigilant for anything?" Ishida explained.
"But Karakura town is already weird." Renji looked confused.
This earned him a smack on the back of the head courtesy of the orange-haired scowling 'friend'.
"You know what he is talking about. Should we be on our guard for any new danger?" Ichigo enlightened the befuddled tattooed one.
"Oh, no. Nothing beyond what has been happening." Renji assured them.
"Really?"
"Yes." Renji assured them again.
"In that case, we will be going. Inoue, do you need me to walk you home?" Ichigo asked fast and behaved like this was something as common as hollows and their hometown. He ignored the incredulous stares form the three males.
The auburn-haired beauty looked shock for a moment, she blushed beautifully and slowly stammered, "H-Huh!? U-Ummm... R-Really?" She gave him a wide-eyed gaze of disbelief.
Ichigo grinned boyishly, "Really. Should we go?"
Heart fluttering rapidly up to her throat, Orihime could only give a small nod.
All of them were ready to go on their way when Renji stopped them.
"Wait!" He shouted desperately.
"I Knew it. I knew that there was something you are not telling us." Ichigo accused him.
"What!? No!?" Renji denied it vehemently.
"Oh, I see. Does that mean you want to walk Inoue-san home as well?" Ishida asked slyly.
Slow-witted Renji did not understand what was really behind the question and so he asked the princess if he should walk her home.
Before the innocent princess could give him an answer, Ichigo took hold of Orihime's small wrist and glared possessively at Renji, "No. She doesn't. Let's go, Inoue." He gave the gentle healer a softer look and tugged her wrist gently.
The blushing girl kept her head down and meekly followed him as he held on to her wrist.
"No! Wait! I need to ask a favor." Renji called out as he saw them moving again.
"Not likely." Ichigo answered impassively for all of them. His hand still on the gentle healer's wrist.
And Renji, ignorant as ever, and brash, grabbed hold of Orihime's other wrist.
Immediately there was a change in the air, stifling and suffocating.
Ishida and Sado Yasutora looked at each other and then at the princess caught in the middle, they were not worried for their gentle friend. He will never do anything to hurt her, it was the one touching her that called out for trouble.
"Let go of her, Renji." Ichigo warned him in a quiet manner unlike what was happening on his insides. Something dark and dangerous was instigating him to do much more than ordering the bastard to remove his filthy hand off his princess.
"Only if you all can listen to what I have to ask."
"Let go of her first." Ichigo snarled and moved threatening close to Renji.
Was he really going to hurt him?
Orihime decided to do something before blood was shed.
"Abarai-kun, please let go of me. We will stay and hear what you have to say, alright?" Orihime appealed to him.
He took a glance at Ichigo. A real hard look. Finally, recognition seeped into his slow processing mind.
Oh.
He dropped the wrist immediately. "Sorry." It was an apology directed more to Ichigo than to her but Orihime accepted it nevertheless.
"It is all right, Abarai-kun. You meant nothing by it. Now, what is it that you wanted to ask of us." She was talking to Renji but her concerned gaze was on Ichigo.
Ichigo knew she was looking at him, he composed himself before he felt himself ready to face her and to assure her he was fine. He took a deep breath, let it out and turned to face her.
Her concerned smile turned to a confused one when Ichigo leant forward and whispered, "Don't worry about me, I'm fine." He smirked at the stunned expressions on her face and the rest of his friends at his unforeseen act.
Orihime pouted with a ever reddening face. 'Worried? Who was worried.' She tried pulling her wrist free from his grasp. But he was not letting her go. 'Kurosaki-kun is so mean.' She thought childishly as she took in his complacent look. He chose that moment to glance at her and her heart halted to a stop before she quickly turned her attention to the interesting scenery at her feet.
Her heart was speeding on the orange highway. She felt the grip tightened around the wrist and she wondered if he could feel the pulsating throbbing of what he was doing to her.
And Ichigo tried to figure out what is it about her that makes him acts the way he does when he is around her.
(恋情)