Huzzah for Bleach.
What's Your Favorite Color?
There isn't a way to express how he felt when he was with her it was just to complicated and magnificent to put into words.
It had to be described by the soul.
He couldn't do that though.
Not with the rules.
Those little subtleties that told you it wasn't really possible.
For her to love you.
He was powerful, but not the kind of power she had.
He was almost a mistake. She would never love him. She was too proud to high up for him to touch.
Touch. He wondered what her touch would feel like.
Ichigo sighed as he sat cross-legged in the sand on the shore. It was amazing how the powerful presence of the ocean made you think of things.
He leaned back his into the soft sand stretching his legs out his hands resting behind his head.
"Ichigo?" He heard a soft voice and for a fleeting moment he thought it was Rukia but it wasn't. It was the concerned face of Inoue that hovered above him. She was staring at his prone form with a mix between worry and wonderment.
"Inoue. What—"
"I was coming here as well." She plopped down in the sand cross-legged in the sand beside him still talking quietly "I just wanted to think. You must be here to…" she paused a moment giving him a look with those pretty eyes of hers. "…to think as well, Ichigo?"
He studied her a moment sitting up and dusting the sand from his strawberry hair hastily.
"I suppose I am" he answered. Regarding her again.
A silence passed between them.
Inoue broke the quiet first.
"I'm glad it's Friday, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I guess" he sounded a little sad and awkward. Inoue leaned close to him.
"Ichigo, I like it better when you smile." She almost whispered softly he caught a whiff of her perfume in the ocean breeze it was a sweet fragrance it reminded him of a candy shop his mom and him used to visit when she was still alive.
He leaned away from her a little his sullen expression not changing.
She tried to hold back the tears but they came any way she played with the hem of her skirt as they escaped running down her cheeks unbidden.
"I'm sorry I-I didn't mean t-to make you uncomfortable" she stuttered hurtfully.
Please don't look at me Inoue, please.
She did.
He realized that he didn't like to see her cry.
"Please, don't" he reached out and touched her shoulder.
She stiffened a little.
"You don't have to put up with me you know? If it makes you happy I will leave I—"
She choked obviously hurt.
He could almost feel her pain he felt terrible. He didn't know what to do so he did what was the least expected. Ichigo embraced her into a hug cradling her head enlacing his fingers in her red locks.
Her eyes widened in surprise but shut contentedly letting him hold her in his arms.
"I like it better when you smile too. Inoue" he whispered surprised to feel comfortable embracing her.
"Ichigo..."she said into his neck he shivered as her breath kissed him.
She moved her head to look at him. "What's your favorite color?"
Ichigo smiled "Inoue…" he uttered giving her a small smile that made her heart beat faster within her chest.
Ichigo couldn't stop the thundering in his chest or this feeling he had never realized before. He brushed her cheek gently and tilted his head forward.
His lips met hers surprised at first but letting her self fall into him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and traced his jaw line tenderly.
They separated hearts beating rapidly they stared at each other both in a surreal state of awe at their sudden expressions of affection.
"I don't know I don't think I really have one." he breathed still a little breathless from the kiss.
"I don't mind, just kiss me again," she said never wanting the moment to end.