Disclaimer: I don't' own Kubo Tite's Bleach. I just really really really wish…that I do.

Otherwise…enjoy the story!

Ch.1 Searching for Genuine

Hmmm..August 11, 2005….

You see, my sad story begins with the annual Tanabata festival our little Japanese-invested town holds every once a year in August. Tanabata festival is like the Japanese version of New Year's. From there I acquired the lovely taste of butter and cheese together. Eversince then, I've stuffed my lunches with butter and cheese, all melted in between my favorite brand of wheat bread. Don't get me wrong! They are VERY healthy I was told. All the carbohydrates you get from them…preps you for a good workout you know. Unfortunately, I guess, as a consequence of daily habit, I now suffer a morbid body distortion. Sadly, the first thing people notice when they meet me are…(sigh) my boobs. I've secretly had self-confidence problems since I was a child because of them. People say it's because of the cheese. I don't believe them. Here's a little ramble of my daily life I'd like to share with you. It's like, whenever you stop in front of a counter to say, pay for your groceries right, you bump the little shelves set atop of the counter with your boobs and you clumsily and REPEATEDLY apologize KNOWING that this is NOT the first time you did it…yeah, that's me. Please, do me a favor. If you see someone commit such an embarrassing accident, it's probably moi. Stop by and say hi so we can get better acquainted and you can get to know my boobs more! (that's what seems to constantly attract men to me….figures, not my personality, not my smile, not my eye-popping, intelligent, witty remarks, but my boobs). I guess these things of mine are a fascinating subject to both guys AND girls…(as Chizuru-san, my colleague, has kindly shown). I wonder whether they actually see my eyes or my boobs when they talk or say hi to me.

That's it! Will put a stop to endless manly (or womanly) shallowness. Will find a sensible man tomorrow! Will not discourage and will persevere! Will find a good friend to confide this in like Tatsuki. She's my best friend and I think, my only true friend, besides Kurosaki-kun and his girlfriend that recently moved, Rukia-san. We usually hang out at the local karaoke pub together just down the street. Chad occasionally joins us too. Hehe, sometimes he says, he feels like he's my protector. He walks me home every night while Kurosaki walks Rukia to his apartment…(I will have a talk with that Ichigo soon about Rukia-san's innocence. That boy better not mess around with her or I'll personally kick his ass!)

Yes, that's it. Tomorrow will be a better day!

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RING! "uh…urm, hm…"

RING!

"uh..I'm up I'm up, you stupid clock…"

RING!

Orihime sat up and immediately remembered, "Oh, MOM!" and she ran to the phone.

"Mowning dear!" chimed a cheerful voice of Japanese dialect from the other line.

"Mom… when you told me that you'd call, I didn't expect it at…let's see ooh…seven in the morning. Bad time, Mom. You know I'm not a morning person."

"Yes, yes! Iz okayy. Well, you know we going to have Tanabata dinner next Monday after festival… I'm inviting the Ishida's. You know their son? Ishida! Ishida Uryuu! You two very close! You used to play naked in his paddling pool!"

"MOM, I would NEVER do such a thing!"

"Ah grow-ap Orihimeh! Anyways, I want you to meet their son! And show him round town! Show how nice be living in America TODAY! Be nice to him Hime! (my mom likes to chide and call me that) This is Ishida's first time in America you know! Ah, don warry, he can speak Ewnglish very very well and I have NO doubt you two can speak SPEAK a lot! Have one of those… strange convewrsations you like to have wiwth da people whenever they round…"

"Awh, Orihimeh before I fowget, do me favor dear, bring your crusty tuna sandwiches wrapped in kuoh-san."

"It's croissant Mom"

" Those things are really yummyh! I don't know what you put in them! They just canned tuna and store-bought kuoh-san! Can't beat my unagi and sashimi! I'm gonna have your favorite Hime! Your Otoro sushi with buttah!" (otoro is fatty tuna)

"Yes, anything for my okaa-san" (mom)

" Oh, Hime, you make me proud! Hm..well bai-bai deary. I wish you well and don't forget to eat bweakfast! (with a slight –uh sound in the end like how most Japanese people sound when they end English phrases).

"Please Hime" added Mrs. Inoue, (apparently she's not finished with me yet.)

"Bring nice dress when you come my house-uh Hime! Sayonara! Hm hm..bai baih" and the line on the other end was cut.

Orihime puts the phone down and sighs for what is like the millionth time today. That was a pleasant morning wake-up call. First I have to make tuna kuoh-sans for at least 100 people AND I get to show this Ishida Uryuu around town! As if I don't have enough to do like a job and studying for my bachelors Mom! Yup, time to get ready for work now, and heaving, Orihime pushed herself to get ready for her very exciting day job as secretary of Mr. Keigo, the manager of a manga publishing company right here in little Japan town, LA.