Disclaimer: I do not own BLEACH. Hi guys! This is my second story. I hope you'll like it too. This is also a thank you for supporting STHY, STLY. Well, on with the story!

Summary: Ichigo loses powers and Orihime breaks her ankle. Where does this story lead to? An absolutely fluffy IchiHime story! Takes place after Bleach Manga Chapter 423.

It Takes Two Of Us

By: bluebloodedphantom

Inoue Orihime's apartment. Saturday, 10:00 am

" I'm glad you asked for me Tatsuki-chan. Orihime-chan's bone is really broken." The black-haired doctor turned to the auburn haired girl who stared at her toes. "Looks like it'll be hard for you to be on your own since you can't walk around much because of your ankle."

Tatsuki sighed. "It's because I always tell her not to place her things on the stairs outside. She never listens. Instead, she runs while hurrying to go inside her apartment." She stated.

"This isn't so bad, Tatsuki-chan." Orihime waved her hands crazily in front of her chest. "Thank you for treating my injury Kurosaki-san." She bowed her head down.

Isshin was about to respond when...

"Inoue!" the door to her apartment burst open and revealed the figure of an orange-haired guy who wore a worried look on his face. "Are you alright?"

Isshin stood up and went by his son. "Good timing Ichigo." Isshin patted his son's back. "I'm worried about Orihime-chan. She's all alone and her ankle's badly broken."

Ichigo's scowl grew larger as he looked at Orihime. Ever since he lost his powers, Ichigo was so depressed. He would often dream of himself surrounded by his shinigami friends or him wearing his shikakusho, holding his zangetsu and doing his job but, when he wakes up, everything was just a distant memory. Nobody dared to cheer him up.

All, except the girl who was currently sitting down a chair with her ankles casted.

He started walking towards Orihime, not erasing that scowl on his face as a sign of his disappointment. "Hey you." He called out as he knelt in front of her, his eyes directed towards her ankle.

"Hey me..." Orihime tried to joke around but, Ichigo didn't seem to buy it since his eyes now met her gaze and she became nervous.

"Didn't I tell you to be careful?" he asked. The scowl was still plastered on his face but a tone of concern was detected from his voice.

Tatsuki sighed. "This is bad. You most probably can't move much because of your ankle and, leaving you alone would be the most dangerous thing to do since you, being a magnet for trouble, could kill yourself." She stated which made Orihime pout.

"Can't you sleep with her?" Ichigo asked.

"I could but, I can't. Apparently, you know how it goes. We now have part-time jobs and stuff and I have my parents always making sure I'm not lazing off an-"

It was now Ichigo's turn to sigh. "Okay I get it." Ichigo stood up from his crouching position and looked at his father.

"You know, she could stay over at the clinic till she's fine." Isshin said.

Orihime's eyes widened at the thought. "There's absolutely no need for that! I'll just be careful from now on, Kurosaki-san." Orihime started, stumbling at her own words. "Besides, I can't afford to be a burden to your family if I stay there and be such a worthless girl who'll just sit all day! I can manage on my own!" she added as an afterthought.

She stopped rambling when Ichigo shook his head and looked at her with an even bigger scowl than earlier. "Look, Tatsuki and Goat-chin are right. Seeing what happened to you, I can't risk leaving you alone." Ichigo said, putting his hands on his pockets. "Stay in the clinic."

Orihime felt her face heating up as she tries of another way to escape the situation. "B-But..."

"Okay then. It's settled. Orihime-chan will be staying at the clinic." Isshin declared. Ichigo sighed at his father who obviously was glancing his way and raising his eyebrows again and again.

"Will you shut up? Go home already. It's gonna be a long way back. I'll accompany Inoue home. We'll just get a cab or something." Ichigo ordered his father.

Tatsuki glanced at Orihime who took hold of her hand. "Hey don't worry. You'll be fine. It's not like they're gonna eat you or something." She smiled at Orihime. "I'll go pack your stuff. You stay there okay?"

"It's not like I have a choice." Orihime pouted at Tatsuki. It should be obvious that she couldn't even stand alone. Once Tatsuki left for her room to pack Orihime's things, the auburn-haired girl notices that Ichigo managed to send his father away.

Now, they were alone in the living room. They both fell into silence. Orihime just sat down the chair, looking at Ichigo's back which was facing her. He was still a bit mad at her for being so clumsy and hurting herself and Orihime knew what he was feeling.

"Kurosaki-kun." Orihime called, breaking the silence.

"What?" his tone came out rudely than expected. He noticed that she was taken aback by his reply since he heard her gasp silently.

Orihime seemed hesitant to talk to him after his rude response but, it was her fault to begin with. Ichigo always looked out for her. He always tried to keep her safe these past few days even without his shinigami powers but, it looks like he's mad since it only takes herself for her to be hurt.

"I'm sorry Kurosaki-kun. I know you always reminded me about this but, I was still clumsy and I got hurt." She started but it seemed like Ichigo didn't want him to continue.

She got hurt and now she's apologizing to him. What kind of situation was that? "Don't worry about it. I just don't like the thought of you getting hurt Inoue." He sighed. "I couldn't protect you now so, you should be careful." He still wasn't facing her.

Orihime felt the hurt in his tone despite him trying to lighten up his voice. "K-Kurosaki-kun."

What was the right thing to tell him? He's obviously not getting over his shinigami duties or anything about it. He's still hurting inside and he doesn't seem to show it to anyone but her.

Orihime let out a giggle which caught Ichigo's attention. He slowly turned to her with a scowl on her face. "Anything funny?"

"It doesn't matter if you have your shinigami powers or you're just a normal guy now." She started, giving him a smile. "I'm here, still in one piece. Isn't that enough to prove that you protected me? Karakura Town is peaceful, no more arrancars, isn't that enough to prove that you did all you could while you were a shinigami?"

Ichigo went near her. "Yeah, but..."

Orihime took hold of his hand. "You did everything you could, Kurosaki-kun. I know you miss shinigami duties but, don't you think you deserve rest from all of it?" she asked.

Ichigo felt the warmth spreading all over his body. He was really thankful that Orihime is there. "Thanks Inoue." He said, smiling at Orihime.

"Ehem..." someone interrupted which made Orihime automatically let go of Ichigo's hands. They both turned only to see Tatsuki smiling playfully at them.

"Getting the hang of being together, I see." She said. Before Ichigo could even respond to this, she dropped the bags she was carrying on the floor. "I packed her things already."

"Oh, thank you Tatsuki-chan." Orihime mumbled.

"Well, I have to go now. Part-time job." She said looking at the wall clock. "Take care of her Ichigo."

The orange-haired guy sighed at her. "No need to tell me that." He said as he reached out for Orihime's hands. "Let's go too. I'll call a cab."

Orihime hesitantly took his hands. "O-okay, Kurosaki-kun."

=/=

Author's Note: Here's my new story! I hope you'll like it. Oh, don't worry. I'll still be working on Scared To Hurt You, Scared To Lose You. What do you guys think about this one? Read and Review okay? Well, see you next chapter!

-Phantom-chan