Good to You

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters. I'm simply using them for my own personal enjoyment, and hopefully yours too!

I also do not own the lyrics or song "Good to You" by Marianas Trench, ft. Jessica Lee. (Though I do a mean ballad of karaoke to it!)

CURRENTLY UNDER RECONSTRUCTION: I'm updating this chapter to inform my followers that I'm not really happy with my story thus far. I'm adding to it and refining it. I hope when I update you all will like it!

Chapter 1

Somewhere Between the Lines

Everyone's around

No words are coming now

And I can't find my breath

Can we just do the rest with no sound?

It was late in the evening. Pacing the corridor, back and forth was Orihime Inoue. No sudden changes had happened in the past four hours. She tapped her foot impatiently. Could it be that I was mistaken? Maybe I am too early, or...

It made little sense to her. She overheard (unintentionally, of course) that some one of great importance was arriving to the Inoue household that evening. Now, she thought perhaps she heard wrong, since it was going on nine. She began to wonder if she should just go back to her room.

Orihime's long time best friend watched her from where she sat in a soft chair. She shook her head at the young woman as she watched her pace. Tatsuki Arisawa chuckled beneath her breath. Surely this indicated Orihime returning to her old self.

The sound of a car pulling up in the Inoue's drive way indicated to Orihime that some one had arrived. Swallowing thickly, she looked to Tatsuki.

"Orihime, why are you so excited?" Tatsuki chuckled out loud, this time.

"Eh! I'm just wondering who my brother requested to come take care of me. It's been several months since... well..."

Tatsuki nodded, not speaking, but her mind flashed back to the incident Orihime was referring to. It had been almost seven months since the death of Sora Inoue, Orihime's older brother and beloved businessman of Karakura.

"Remember, he's your bodyguard. You've had me to protect you all this time, but I'm not really qualified, nor did your brother leave me in charge of your well being, unfortunately..."

Orihime looked from the vast window, that let the moonlight into the dimly light hallway, to her strong friend, noticing the woman trailing off.

"I know, Tatsuki. You'd protect me with your life if Sora-nii had chosen you, but you're still welcome to watch my back."

Tatsuki grinned lopsidedly at her friend.

"Yeah, well if this new bodyguard doesn't carry his weight around or protect you to my liking, I'll kick his ass."

"Tatsuki! I-"

That's all Orihime could utter before she heard someone opening the grand front door to the massive mansion. She and Tatsuki moved from the corridor to the foyer, looking at the entryway where the butler was letting taking someone's coat.

Orihime's eyes widened. There stood a man, tall and lean, with oddly colored orange hair. It was unruly, spiky looking and full. She couldn't see his face, as his back was to her. She watched his broad shoulders roll, as if he was working out the kinks in his muscles.

"Thanks," she heard the deep voice of the man utter as he turned to face the foyer. Orihime studied him as he faced her. His features were certainly handsome. Fine features that were angular an sharp. Dark chocolate eyes and brows furrowed into a serious scowl. His lips were soft looking, but were pulled tight as he observed his surroundings. He was dressed in a dark suit, with a white button up shirt and a black tie. The overcoat of the suit parted a bit as he strode into the room, revealing a holster and gun.

Orihime swallowed slowly, and shook her head free of whatever cobwebs were still lingering from her stare.

"Orihime Inoue?" The man stated, more than asked as his deep amber gaze fell on her.

"Yes, I'm Orihime." She timidly answered, despite his curt statement.

"Ichigo Kurosaki. I'm your bodyguard. I am sorry for Inoue-san's passing."

Orihime let her gaze remain on the man, though her voice faultered a bit.

"Thank you, Kurosaki-san. I appreciate your words."

Tatsuki watched the interactions between the tall man and her best friend. She tilted her head to the side, assessing the man called Ichigo Kurosaki.

"I take it that you've been doing this awhile, Kurosaki?" Tatsuki interjected.

"Yes," came the gruff reply.

"Good. How old are you?"

Orihime blushed at Tatsuki's forwardness.

"Tatsuki-chan!"

"What? Think I'm going to not interrogate the man protecting my best friend?"

"No, it's alright." Ichigo spoke, noticing the woman shifting uncomfortably. "I'm twenty-seven."

Tatsuki grinned slightly, the light sound she emitted was more of a snicker.

"Orihime's eighteen."

"I know that. Inoue-san's letter provided all the information I needed about her."

Tatsuki raised a brow. "Is that so?"

Orihime blushed at the forwardness of her friend.

"Yes," Ichigo stated loudly. His amber gaze fixed on Tatsuki carefully. "He even wrote about an over-protective, sister figure. I can only imagine he meant you."

"You son of a-"

"Tatsuki-chan!"

Tatsuki shook her head and sighed, her black spiky hair tousling a bit as she moved.

"Alright, alright, Orihime. I'll let that one go." She fixed her darker gaze on the man again.

"You take care of Orihime, you hear me? Otherwise, you'll have to deal with me."

The threat was clear, though Ichigo simply chuckled, letting it slide off his back.

"Yes, ma'am." He said, smugly.

Tatsuki looked like she was about to retort to the inflection. Noticing this, Orihime spoke up.

"Kurosaki-san, thank you for coming so quickly. I know it must've been hard to withdraw from protecting Aizen-sama's. My brother spoke highly of you."

Ichigo snorted at the young woman's words.

"No problem. Infact, I wasn't taken from Aizen's company."

Orihime, oblivious to what Ichigo was getting at, blinked at his words.

"Well, thank you anyway. I don't mean to cause you any trouble."

Ichigo laughed loudly, shaking his head at the auburn-locked woman.

"It's my job to make sure there isn't any trouble for you, Miss Inoue."

"Uh, right! Sorry, I-"

Tatsuki rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, Orihime!" The dark haired woman said, shaking her head. "The man's right, he's here to protect you. Don't forget that. And don't apologize."

Tatsuki eyed Ichigo for a while, studying the man closely.

"Careful, buster. I'm watching you."