Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or these characters.
AN: Contest entry for the Orihime x Ichigo Fan Club over on Bleach Forums.
The first time she embraces Ichigo, it is nothing like she had imagined.
She never really expected the whole prince or knight in shining armor scenario that she often dreamed about to actually happen. And of course, the aliens and giant robots were out of the question as well. It's not that she's disappointed, she just expected something different.
Sure, she blushes as she feels his strong arms wrap around her and she gets light headed as he buries his face into the crook of her neck and his warm breath tickles her skin. But, something isn't how it should be.
He's hurting.
He's desperate.
He's afraid.
Ichigo holds her so tightly that it actually hurts. He holds her like she would slip away if he were to let go of her. Now that she thinks about, Ichigo knew full well that she loved him, knew it for some time. He couldn't face it, that intense emotion that had caused him so much pain in the past. He had loved his mother with all his heart; she was the center of his universe, and when she was taken from him, a piece of his heart had vanished as well. He couldn't take a loss like that again, so he locked up what was left of his heart and his love.
She could see the logic in his reasoning. If he didn't allow himself to love, he couldn't be burned so deeply. For this reason, he had avoided her feelings for him. She hadn't allowed him the luxury of avoidance any longer. Orihime reasoned that she could more than likely die young considering the upcoming war. With life so precious and fleeting, she knew she had to tell Ichigo how she felt.
And so now she's in his arms and she realizes that he isn't the only one holding on too tight. She won't let go. Can't let go. Ichigo doesn't need someone to protect him by dying for him. He needs someone to live for him. So she will.
She won't die.
She refuses to die.
She can't die.
This is her resolve. She will be damned if she'll let someone take this away from her. She's not afraid anymore because she knows with every fiber of her being that she'll keep that promise. She holds him tighter and drinks in the moment. She'll lend him her true strength, her invincible love, and he won't be afraid anymore.
Her love is stronger than death.
