Notes: Hello all. I'm back with something new for you. I'm trying to get my writing back into shape and what better than a series of fluffy drabbles for the IchiHime fandom? Haha. So yes, I will be trying to update more often. And in case any you were wondering, I am currently working on Where She Went. I'm about one-third through but I do promise to get to that as soon as I can. So in the meantime, please give this little project a chance and leave a review or two.`

Also, these will very from canon and AU.

Summary: Such a pretty girl is shedding tears over a pair of words.

Rating: K

Word Count: 611

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.


a walking daydream

dream girl


Large gray eyes blink rapidly, thick lashes fluttering like feathers. She averts her attention from the tranquil spring pond she had been admiring and looks back at the person who holds her heart in his hands. He had uttered a phrase that had her blood racing. Unsure that she heard him correctly, she asks, "C-Can you say that again?"

Still rather nervous and self conscious, Ichigo clears his throat and says, "Marry me."

The sparkling tears then make their appearance, trickling down Orihime's face like miniature streams. This throws Ichigo into a panic, backtracking and wondering how the hell he always ruin things. He closes the distance between them but doesn't make a move to touch her due to worry that it'll make things worse. But he hovers as close as he can, hating how he's such an inadequate boyfriend. What makes him think he can be her husband?

But he lets Orihime to cry quietly beside the pond in the park where koi fish swim near the surface to see why such a pretty girl is shedding tears over a pair of words. Desperately, Ichigo searches for something to say, but he draws up a blank. What is supposed to do in a moment like this? Maybe this is too much for Orihime, maybe it's not what she wants.

What if the idea of marriage never crossed her mind? What if she never considered their relationship going this far?

Ichigo starts to feel sick, overwhelmed by his worse fears. Perhaps Karin was right and Orihime was only with him out of pity.

Then Orihime messily wipes her face and peeks up at Ichigo who watches her intensely. "Sorry . . ." she breathes, an emotional smile trembling on her lips like an anxious bird about to take flight. After a shaky breath, she speaks again, "You really want to marry me?"

A tidal wave of relief washes over Ichigo. He places his large hand on her face and wipe away the left over residue of tears she missed with his thumb. Then he suddenly pinches her cheek, gently tugging at it. "Of course I want to marry you, you dummy."

Orihime squeaks and places her hand over his in a vain effort to stop his teasing.

"The question is," starts Ichigo, trying the ignore the voice in his head that reminds him how too good she is for him, "do you want to marry me?"

Without hesitating, Orihime nods vigorously. "I'd love to!"

A giant grin spreads across Ichigo's face, one that reverts him to a nine-year-old kid without the burden of loss. It allows Orihime to get a glimpse back in time when he was nothing more than a boy who followed his mother wherever she went. And it's breathtaking and so powerful that she's afraid it'll knock her dead.

Realizing that Orihime just agreed to spending the rest of her life with him, Ichigo crushes her against his chest. He's never been this extremely happy before, he's never had things turn out the way he hoped. And now he somehow snagged his dream girl.

Not wanting this chance to somehow slip away, Ichigo digs through his jean pockets and pulls out a little velvet box. He's been carrying it around for the past week, waiting for the right time to ask her. Then careful and gentle, he takes Orihime's delicate hand and slips the twinkling ring onto her finger,

Orihime tilts her head back to look at Ichigo as he presses his lips against her forehead. "Is—Is this real? It's not a dream?"

"It is a dream," he tells her, lacing their fingers together like red thread, "but it's real."