Summary: The both of them were of nobility, and many agreed they would make a most handsome couple, surely to bear equally fine looking offspring, and yet the pair couldn't disagree more. Having known each other since they were children, their parents had planned for the both of them to fall in love, an idea in which Orihime and Ichigo deeply disagreed with. Yet they seem to be unable to keep away from each other; could hatred turn into something else?
I've been really really really wanting to write an IchiHime fic, I just didn't know a plot that could be good enough to go along with the both of them, I just love the pairing so much though you see. But I've suddenly had a bout of inspiration and I'm going to try and write as much as possible! I haven't entirely decided on the rating yet and so I'll put it on T for now, but perhaps in the future it will turn to M, who knows.
This story will be set around 18th century England!
I haven't written a multichapter story for so long, and I'm kind of nervous that I won't finish this, but I'm really going to try because I kind of like the plot that I've thought of! Hopefully you guys will like it too! I'll mostly be making things up as I go along so it may seem a bit sporadic but I'm trying to work on that! Kind of...
Anywho, enough of me, please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters
~oOo~
It was undeniable that Orihime Inoue was one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom, pictured almost as a complete likeness to her mother, who in her youth held the very same ethereal beauty in which the auburn Marchioness held at present, long tresses cascading gently down her back, a kind smile held by full lips, matched with grey eyes which put one at ease with one glance. Not only did her beauty shine outwardly, but it also radiated from within, truly seen as one of the kindest nobles one could come to know, no one competing in the surreal kindness Orihime held. One only had to meet her in order to completely fall for her bubbly personality and warm words. Or so it was thought.
A tug here, a pull there; Orihime was pulled this way and that by her personal maid Rangiku Matsumoto, who tightened up the corset Orihime currently wore, eyes seemingly bulging out of her eyes as her lungs struggled to take in much needed air that she was currently deprived of.
Momo was walking in so as to help Rangiku and Orihime, only for her to begin a panic as she noticed her mistress' face turning blue, "Rangiku! She can't breathe!". Momo rushed over to them and helped Orihime in loosening the corset, and in turn the Marchioness gasped in a much needed lungful of air.
"Wha-a-at?" Sighed Rangiku as she put her hands on her hips, "It's for beauty, Momo! Beauty is pain after all. And besides, if she's wanting to find herself a husband to keep her warm at night then-".
Rangiku was cut off by the two girls' sputterings, Orihime's face a deep crimson as she turned to face Rangiku, hands waving defensively in front of her chest, "Oh no, no, no, I'm really not interested in looking for a... for a husband! Really, it's fine though! I'm fine!" Orihime let out a nervous laugh as she tried to brush the subject off.
"My Lady, your face was turning blue!" Momo interjected worriedly, now at the back of the dress so as to tighten it in a comfortable way for her mistress.
"No, no I assure you, I was fine! And what did I say about calling me your Lady, Momo," Orihime gently scolded, a gentle smile gracing her lips, "Only in front of my parents or in public.
"Yes My-... Orihime." Momo smiled sheepishly, before letting out an exclamation as she and her mistress were crushed against Rangiku's ample bosom, the older woman letting out a loud laugh as she clung to the two in delight.
"Wonderful! Now, let's get onto that hair of yours, Orihime." Rangiku cooed, releasing the two women before straightening out the gown Orihime wore.
~oOo~
"Really now, you'd think that she'd have the decency to at least be on time to her own Goddamn ball!" Barked out a particularly annoyed orange top, ever present scowl adorned upon his features as he leant against a tall pillar, arms crossed over his broad chest.
"Now, now, Ichigo! She's just fashionably late, be patient! You must be very eager to meet her." Isshin teased his son good naturedly, elbowing his side as he let out a loud laugh.
Ichigo scoffed, allowing his scowl to deepen as he looked anywhere but the grand set of stairs of which Orihime Inoue would be descending.
Today was of course her birthday, and also the day of which she turned 21 and came of age in order to find herself a husband. This of course was why so many eligible bachelors, including himself, had been invited to the Inoue residence.
Just after the complaint of the brash comments made by Ichigo, the room went practically silent as the doors had opened to reveal what appeared to be the sun, illuminating down onto the many guests with a gentle glow. Ichigo, however, didn't seem to notice this, only glancing over to his long-term childhood... he didn't know whether to call her a friend or not, because she definitely was not that.
However even Ichigo had to take a double take upon the now grown woman, a royal blue gown hugging her closely at the top, an off-shoulder cut which ruffled at the edges, and at her waist it elegantly flowed outwards and down, continuing with the ruffled theme. Her hair gathered at the top, before it cascaded down in soft curls beside her shoulder, several stray curls framing her face.
Ichigo had to commend whoever had given her such a low neckline, her generous bust very clearly accentuated, giving sight to... Ichigo had to snap out of it, turning his head away from her in a sudden movement in order to peel his lingering gaze away from the woman he'd grown up to dislike vehemently, and also to make sure no one would notice the pink that began to spread upon his cheeks. Damn women and their vixen ways! Namely, one particular woman.
Ichigo jumped when he felt an arm wrap around his shoulders, eyes narrowing as he looked over to the offender which grinned at him almost sadistically. "What do you want Grimmjow?"
"Well, if I currently wasn't engaged to Nelliel, then it would sure as hell be Orihime! Come on, don't you agree?" He snickered as his friend's scowl grew deeper and he looked away, before pulling off and starting to wander elsewhere. "Hey, don't walk away from me, Kurosaki!"
"You're out of your mind. That woman is... trouble." Ichigo spat out, getting himself a glass of champagne from one of the many butlers holding the trays elegantly in one hand.
"You think every woman is trouble, Kurosaki! Besides, she's grown up now, she a Lady." Ichigo only rolled his eyes at that, letting out a bitter chuckle as he downed the champagne in his hand.
Sure she was grown up now, but she was still a woman nonetheless, but to Ichigo all women would always use what good looks they owned for their own personal gain one way or another. And to him Orihime was no exception.
"Who knows, maybe when you've grown up and you're with her, you'll look back to this moment and think of how foolish you were." Grimmjow elbowed his scowling friend, leaning against one of the large pillars within the ballroom, pretending not to see the dark look which was directed at him.
"That will never happen, don't be ridiculous. That's impossible, just... impossible..." Ichigo's eyes appeared to narrow further as he spotted his idiot of a father talking with Lord Inoue, "Oh no."
~oOo~
Orihime shook her head vigorously at the request her father asked of her, eyes large and pleading as she continued to refuse her father's request at her giving Ichigo Kurosaki a dance in order to "strengthen family bonds".
Never in one million years would Orihime want to dance with Ichigo Kurosaki. Especially not on her birthday! However... if it was to strengthen family bonds... Orihime let out a noise of frustration as her lower lip jutted out.
"Now, now, my dear. You are a woman now, and do women pout?" Came the gentle voice of Orihime's mother, and so the woman in question let out a slight sigh as she shook her head no. "That's right. Now, it will only be one dance. And who knows, maybe Ichigo's changed from that boisterous teenager you used to know."
Orihime highly doubted it. She had taken several glances in the direction of the man in question, and of course he had that ever-present scowl seemingly plastered onto his face. Releasing a dejected sigh she thus steeled herself, and allowed a sweet smile to lift the pout.
Of course, the last thing she had expected was for Ichigo to come to her first. She had even been in the middle of preparing herself to go over and request for the man to dance with her, and so of course was a little dumbfounded when he bowed slightly, hand extended towards her in silent invitation.
In her own silence Orihime accepted his hand and let herself be led onto the dancefloor, one hand in his hand and the other on his shoulder. She didn't know where else to look, and so simply stared at his chest as they danced, unable to held the slight flush which adorned her cheeks as they swept gracefully across the dancefloor. Painfully aware of the hand on her hip, she tried to distract herself by thinking of something else like... freshly baked goods, or the smell of a summer morning, or... Ichigo's hand on her hip.
Orihime almost let out a noise of frustration, her brow furrowed in the slightest as her lip jutted out, completely unaware of Ichigo's steely gaze which was upon her face. When she was aware, however, she couldn't help but chance a look up to Ichigo.
She felt her breath catch in her throat as she stared up at the man who currently had his hand on her hip, almost having forgotten what he looked like. But from what she did remember, was that he had never looked so much like a man. He was the spitting image of masculinity, with his chiseled jaw and handsome chin, his hair dishevelled in an endearingly boyish way, and his eyes... they were staring right at her, and his scowl appeared to have softened, although his eyes remained as intense as ever, a deep and dreamy chocolate... wait a minute, dreamy?
Orihime was horrified with herself. Ichigo Kurosaki was the complete opposite of dreamy! And in no way was he endearing! Right...? As Orihime tried to convince herself of this she peeled her gaze away from the man in question.
Slowly Ichigo bent down so that his lips were next to her ear, and she felt his hot breath on her skin as her breath hitched, seemingly frozen in time, having stopped dancing as the music had ended. "Your face has a stupid expression. Could it be that I take your breath away? Remember to breath Orihime."
This completely snapped Orihime out of whatever dreamland she had been in. "You haven't grown up." Orihime whispered back with as much vehemence she could muster, before stepping back and curtsying and stomping grumpily over to her two dear friends Rukia and Tatsuki, who had been watching the whole ordeal in obvious bemusement.
~oOo~
Ichigo couldn't help the grin which was plastered on his face as he watched Orihime walk off, her hands clenched at her sides. What he'd caught of her face as she was turning away was certainly a sight to see, her lip jutting out whilst she attempted something similar to a scowl. It was hilarious! And although Ichigo had been slightly truthful in what he'd said, even he had to admit, the expressions she'd been pulling as she'd been thinking to herself were... well, they were winsome, to say the least.
Ichigo blamed the mild attraction which he'd felt when he'd been so close to her on his male genes, and that alone. There was no way he would ever like Orihime Inoue, not one chance in hell! But the way the pink had spread across those soft, fair cheeks... no! He had to get himself together. Damn his male desire. It was just because she happened to be of the opposite sex, and happened to have very agreeable genes... that was all.
Ichigo turned to walk back to where he had planted himself previously before his idiot of a father came bounding up to him, before he felt a tap on his arm, and he turned his scowl on whoever had the gall to interrupt him as he was going back to the safety of the wall. However he was met with the raised brow of a certain midget, and he rolled his eyes as he began to turn to walk away.
"Hey! Dance with me you big oaf." Rukia, dragged at his arm, and he begrudgingly complied. "I saw that smile on your face when she was walking back to us."
"What smile? I merely insulted her and she had a hilarious expression is all." Ichigo huffed at having to explain himself, letting his attention fall elsewhere.
"Whatever you want to tell yourself, of course. Orihime was quite flushed after she came back..." Rukia let a sly grin take over he features as Ichigo turned his attention back to her, an inquisitive brow raised.
"Why? Is she really that unfit." Ichigo let out a scoff, completely unawares to the meaning of Rukia's words, much to the frustration of the black haired Countess.
"Nevermind." Rukia released a sigh, rolling her eyes to her friend's obliviousness.
~oOo~
"Thank you so much for coming Lady Kurosaki, and Lady Kurosaki. Our balls are so much brighter with you, Lord Kurosaki!" Orihime beamed at the other members of the Kurosaki family as she curtsied to each of them, before the object of her frustration came in front of her, giving him a brief curtsy as she shot him a tight lipped smile, "Lord Kurosaki."
"Lady Inoue." Ichigo gave a slight smirk as he gave her a bow, before leaving to reach the rest of his family.
"Everyone's gone now, my darling. Go now, get ready for supper and then it's straight to bed for you!" Orihime's mother gave her a warm smile, and Orihime obliged without complaint.
After having eaten, Orihime decided a bath would be in order, and currently sat within the warmth of the water lapping at her skin, letting it soothe her after a long night. Why did he have to always come to these gatherings? She was almost annoyed at his family being dear friends to her own, however she couldn't. She simply loved the Kurosaki family! It was just Ichigo that seemed to irk her. She let her head slip under the water, before resurfacing, a pout evident on her mouth.
She could remember back to the last time he had been nice to her. It had been about one week before the sudden death of his mother, Orihime remembered sadly. He had been so full of joy, and they had seemed to get along just fine! But after the death of Masaki Kurosaki... he always seemed to have a scowl after that, seemingly lost his joy for life. He didn't play with her again after that, and they grew distant, only ever seeing each other at some party or family get together, and even then the two attempted to avoid each other.
Their parents of course misjudged this as two children having a crush on each other, but Orihime definitely didn't have a crush on Ichigo. Sure, he was now a handsome man but in many ways he was still that child that always picked on her.
She sank down as she let her arms rest on the sides of the tub, letting her head fall back against the edge as she let out a puff of air, frowning lightly at the ceiling. In many ways she wished they could just be friends, or at least be courteous to each other. But he just irked her so much! Of course she was never the one to initiate said irkings, always retaliating back in some way, but it still happened!
Maybe one day they could grow to accept each other... maybe... and with that Orihime let her thoughts drift off, letting her eyes fall shut as she mulled over the possibilities of friendship or... perhaps even... but no, there was definitely no way their relationship could grow to more than friendship. Of course not that she hoped that would be the case...
~oOo~
Okie dokie, that's the first chapter done! Wasn't entirely sure how to end this one ahah, but hey at least I did it!
Please tell me what you think, and of course constructive criticism is always welcome!
If you have any suggestions of course on how this story could go, please feel free to message or leave something in a review! It's always welcome. I'm just kind of writing whatever comes to mind, and I'm not entirely sure which direction I should pull this in.
Anywho, thank you so much for reading, and of course I'll try as quickly as possible to get the second chapter out!