Disclaimer: Bleach© Tite Kubo

A/N: This idea came to me just before I went to bed (14/06/09). I'm not really a fan of this pairing but the idea evolved into this monster and it clawed its way out of my head and onto the computer so here it is for your reading enjoyment.

Hope all you IchiHime fans enjoy :)

Bathroom Floors and Hot Water

Chapter 1

Orihime turned off the shower and stepped out of the bath stall and onto the tiled floor. She was grateful for being able to take a shower in this time. No Chizuru to barge in and try to molest or rape her if she could. That girl really was too much sometimes. She sighed audibly as she began drying her hair. Just then she heard the door opening.

Guess she spoke too soon. The bare-skinned teen wrapped her towel around her hips. Some protection was better than none she supposed.

"Chizuru could you please just leave me alone for today? I'm really not in the mood to be sexually assaulted right now okay?"

There was complete silence and then a strained, "Eh...I'm not Chizuru..."

She looked up to find a rather red-faced Ichigo Kurosaki before her, too stunned to even blink she assumed, by the expression on his face.

This was something her brain and eyes were having trouble processing. He just stood there, one hand still around the doorknob, stock still and unmoving. Seemed that she couldn't move either.

She's naked, she's naked, she's naked...

That was all his brain and eyes could process at the moment. Of all the times for his guy genes to kick in, it had to be now. He swallowed nervously and tried to look anywhere other than her chest. It wasn't really working. Her skin was still damp from her shower and her long hair clung about her, trailing down over places that he'd rather not mention.

Orihime debated about the best course of action here. This was the boy she had been in love with since they first started school together. The boy she was still in love with. The boy she would give anything to have him feel the same about her.

He was the first to find his voice, "Uh, g-gomen ne, I-Inoue...I didn't realise anyone was..." he cut off and scratched the back of his neck embarrassedly.

She smiled gently, wondering what had him so flustered. Surely it wasn't because of her ? He should have been used to them, his dad being a doctor and running a clinic and all. He must have seen more than his fair share.

"Kurosaki-kun,"

He forced his eyes to hers, "...they're only breasts you know, nothing to feel weird about."

Ichigo stared at her as though she had grown a second head.

"Surely you've seen them before..."

He turned a deep shade of red.

"...since you have a clinic and all..."

Then he looked as though that wasn't where he thought she was going with this.

"Gomen Inoue, for intruding," he turned on his heel to dart back out the door, "I'll just-"

She never knew what made her stop him.

"Wait!"

He never knew why he stopped when she called out to him.

"Kurosaki-kun..."

Maybe it was the steam in the room from the hot water, or the pounding in his chest, or the lilting way his name rolled off her tongue, soft and...luring almost. His brain kicked into hyper drive, racing a mile a minute.

There was a miniscule pause.

He should go, he should move, he should...

And then she said,

"...don't-don't go..."

He swore he had an instant heart attack. This was in no way good for his self-control.

She was behind him, one hand gripping his sleeve,

"Don't go..."

She pressed even closer to him, "...please..."

He could feel her through his shirt. All of her. He swallowed.

What she was asking...he didn't know if he could give...

The door shut in front of him. His gaze dropped to the floor. She reached for the lock. It clicked shut. She leant her forehead against his back.

"Don't go."

This time it was softer but firmer. She wasn't asking him to stay. She was telling him to stay.

"Please."

She wanted him to want to stay.

Ichigo never knew why he stayed.

That's it for chapter 1...Reviews anyone?