Okay, so this is my first HichiHime fic I've written xD I do love this pairing but obviously I love IchiHime more. This is the first one-shot I've written in a while so bear with my lack of plot or whatever. *Shakes head* Either way, enjoy ;)

She ran as fast as she could go. She had to run. Run away from that awful scene. The sight of them in the rain, under the tree, lips locked. It was too much for her and in the end, she broke.

But it wasn't just because of them that she was running. No, it was because a hollow had appeared out of nowhere and was now chasing her. Tears blurring her vision, everything was starting to double. She couldn't think straight. She couldn't see straight. So focused on running, she tripped and yelped as she collided with the cold, wet ground.

Tired of running and the pain in her heart, Orihime rolled onto her side. She panted and fought to regain her breath while struggling to keep her eyes open. Her arms wrapped around her midsection, trying to keep the nausea she felt from surfacing. The roar from the hollow never registered in her head as she couldn't feel her legs. They were numb from sprinting. She didn't see a point to get up and fight. She'd rather be dead than feel her heart splitting into two.

No one's going to save me. I'm not worth it. I don't deserve to be alive at this point. The only thing I'm good for is healing others. I'm so pathetic. I can't even destroy a measly hollow. What's the point of living if I can't be happy? The only choice I have left is to die. I'll die here, all alone with no one even knowing that I'm here. This is what's supposed to happen. The way things should be.

The hollow was closing in on its target. Not that Orihime cared. For a brief moment she saw a flash of her life. How everything had come down to this moment. How the love of her life loves her best friend. She was always jealous of Rukia you know? It was mainly because of how strong her bond was with Ichigo. She always wished she could be that close. How she was a strong woman and can fight for herself rather than be protected. It was silly things, she knew. But she still couldn't help but feel jealousy towards her. She'd always scold herself later on for feeling that way though.

Just then, from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of white. She raised her head as far as she could without hurting herself and squinted. She gasped when she saw a white shihakusho and white hair. The person who was fighting the hollow also had a white version of Zangetsu.

This can't be! K-K-Kurosaki-kun's hollow! What's he doing here? More importantly, how did he get out of Kurosaki-kun's body?

Before she could utter any sort of sound, her eyes closed and her head fell back to the ground. Her world suddenly went pitch black.

With one slash, the hollow vanished into thin air. Hichigo sighed as he wrapped Zangetsu back up in its bandages and placed it on his back. He turned his head towards the healer. His golden eyes narrowed as he walked closer to the young girl. He stood right at her feet and stared down at her angelic face.

The King was incredibly stupid. How could he not notice this beautiful woman right in front of him? He knew she saw the two of them hugging and kissing under the tree. He sensed her reiatsu and saw the horrid look on her face upon hearing their confessions.

Hichigo had always been watching her from the King's inner world. It was the old man who convinced him to go to Urahara and ask for his own gigai. That way he'd have his freedom and Ichigo wouldn't keep nagging him about being a bastard all the time. And that way he'd have his own powers. He noted that he'd have to thank Zangetsu later. Right now, he had to take care of his queen.

Gently and quietly, he scooped her up in his arms bridal style. He began walking before he realized that he didn't know where he was supposed to go. He assumed that he could've gone to Urahara Shoten but he didn't want to explain to Kisuke why she's like this. He could've gone to the Kurosaki Clinic but he knew that the last person she'd want to see was the King. The only place he could think of was her house. He closed his eyes for a brief moment until he could sense her reiatsu coming from her home. His eyes opened and he shunpo'd to her house.

Hichigo didn't realize how close her house was to the clinic. Not that Ichigo ever noticed her apartment to begin with. It was like the only time he paid attention to her was when she was in danger. Even then, as soon as she was safe, he'd go home and just assume that she was fine. In reality, Hichigo knew that she was far from fine. If she was 'fine', she wouldn't have just laid there on the ground and let the hollow kill her. No, he knew that something was up. And he was gonna find out what.

Jumping in through her window was something that Hichigo was used to. Whenever the King had to go on missions in the middle of the night, he'd sneak in and out of his room through the window. He was just lucky that she left hers open wide enough for him to fit. But Hichigo was still concerned. He shook his head in disappointment. He didn't want his queen to ever leave her window open. Ever.

He walked to her bed and placed her on top of it. He hopped over her bed and rummaged through her dresser to find a nice warm nightgown. He found one with little kitties and puppy dogs on it. He smiled. She hasn't changed. He was grateful that Orihime's personality didn't change too much from being in Hueco Mundo. He knew she suffered a lot and he wish she didn't have to, but he was glad that she was back here, where she belonged.

Walking back to the bed, Hichigo took all her clothing off and put her into the nightgown. He was so occupied with making her warm, he didn't think about anything naughty like how big her breasts were or how sexy her body was. He didn't want to think of those things yet. Not until she was ready. He had to make her his first. He lifted her under the blanket and made sure her head was resting on her pillow. Silently, he walked out of her room to put her clothing in the dryer. Surprisingly for a hollow, he knew how modern technology worked. Well, he only learned so much from watching his King do his laundry. He tossed it in and put it on for half the night. Walking back to her room, he took off his kosode and tossed it into the corner. He left his hakama on so he wouldn't scare her off or anything. Gently, he raised the covers and laid down beside her.

Orihime groaned as she opened her eyes. They felt like led but she managed to open them nonetheless. Her vision was blurry from being tired and she rolled onto her right when she banged into another body. Her eyes snapped open when she saw pale white skin and looked up into golden yellow eyes. Normally, she would want to scream. But for some reason, when she looked into Hichigo's eyes, she didn't feel scared. She felt safe if anything. When she first saw those eyes, she was so frightened because it reminded her of her brother. Now she knew better than to think that.

Hichigo grinned. "Hiya queenie. I didn't expect ya to wake up. Feeling better?"

She rubbed her eyes with her hand and stretched when she felt the nightgown. She blinked and looked down at what she was wearing. "W-W-Where are my clothes?"

His eyes grew darker. "I took them off and put them in the dryer. You would've gotten sick if I didn't. We don't want you to get sick now do we?"

She pouted. "I guess not. But that means you took off my clothes!" Orihime started waving her arms frantically. Hichigo moved his head back to prevent being hit.

He smirked. "Yeah and? What's your point queenie?"

Hichigo moved his face closer to hers and she blushed so hard her whole face was red. "That's embarrassing! I can't believe you did that!" She hid her face in the crook of his neck.

He chuckled. "Yeah well, I didn't want to wake you up so I did it myself. It's not a big deal."

She shook her head before looking into his eyes. She shuttered at the way his eyes darkened every time he looked at her. She laid back down and faced the ceiling.

"You didn't have to save me. You should've just left me. It's not like I'm needed here."

His eyes narrowed as he watched her. Anger started to rise when he thought about her dead, blood all over the ground, her eyes blank.

"That's where you're wrong princess. You're needed here more than you know." He murmured as he began to play with her hair.

"No I'm not!" She looked at him, her eyes furious. "If that was true, I'd be able to defend myself. I wouldn't have to be protected all the damn time! The only thing I'm good for is healing. That's it! Even then I'm not the best at it! I'm nothing but a burden to everything and everyone. There's no place for me here anymore. It's lonely." Her eyes looking down at the sheets clutched in her hands.

Hichigo sighed. "Look, Hime, if it makes you feel any better, I need you. I know I'm a hollow and we don't have hearts and shit, but I do have instinct. And mine is telling me to keep you with me; to protect you. I'm not like Kingy who ignores everything and doesn't notice the most obvious thing like feelings. I'm more observant than he is which is kinda sad. But I promise you Hime, I'm not gonna hurt you. Not like Kingy did. This time, I'll actually protect you." His eyes bored into her ashen ones. He whispered. "I promise."

Tears fell from her eyes as she hugged Hichigo. Usually he didn't know what to do when it came to tears. But he knew well enough that when his queenie is sad, he'll hold her and not let her go. He'll actually live up to his promise. And he won't fail her. The way his King did.

A/N: So what do you think? Like it? Hate it? Let me know ^^

I was thinking of having him kiss her or something but it seemed OOC of him to do. So I just didn't want to add that in. Plus I couldn't make it work. I figured that if Hichigo wanted to be with Orihime, he wouldn't just take her on the spot. He would wait until she's ready. That's probably OOC in its own way though. Maybe not?

Ahwell. What can you do right?

Please R&R thanks!~

Tia-chan!