A/N: This story popped into my head at work and I wrote it down in 5 minutes. :)
I don't own Bleach or its characters.
Of course, it always happened like this. Orihime would stand on the sidelines, and after battling with the hollows (and saving Karakura), she'd heal any injuries he might have sustained. She did it willingly, lovingly, hoping that every time she did, Ichigo would notice. She'd heal Rukia and Renji too, as any good friend would do for another friend. But with Ichigo, it was different.
However, it always ended the same. Ichigo would thank her and say "Let's go, Rukia," and they'd walk back to the Kurosaki Clinic together. Back to his house together. Back to his room together. At the door is where she'd force her imagination to stop. But as he and Rukia walked home ("A little too close together," she'd think), her and Renji would be left behind. They'd tell each other good night and they'd each walk home alone with heavy hearts.
That was years ago, but it still held true tonight. The only difference was that she eagerly participated in battles. Over the years, she and Renji had formed an unspoken bond, what she thought of as "Second Place Love". He helped her become more confident with her Shun Shun Rikka and trained with her often throughout the years. In turn, she gave him what he longed for: someone who needed him. Because they both knew that Rukia was strong-willed and didn't need Renji the way he wanted. That's why she and Kurosaki were equals, in a sense.
That night, after the battle, she wearily walked over to Rukia, who was laying in the grass. Although she had defeated her fair share of hollows, she had sustained only minor cuts and bruising. Rukia was worse off than her, so she knelt beside her friend, and began her rejection.
Rukia opened her eyes slowly as she felt a warm glow envelope her like a hug, and she saw Orihime kneeling by her side, her arms outstretched. That was when Rukia noticed the black band peeking out from beneath Orihime's short-sleeve. She recognized the tattoo and in that moment, her mind was flooded with images of Renji, and how his tattoos ran over his body in electric currents.
"Kuchiki-san, are you all right?" asked Orihime.
"Oh... yes, Orihime. Thank you," she replied, a bit startled. Rukia didn't even notice that she had finished her healing. Orihime smiled down at Rukia and helped her stand slowly.
Ichigo and Renji were standing a few feet away, yelling about some absurd topic, but as Rukia and Orihime approached them, they fell silent as their eyes locked onto the two women standing before them.
Ichigo broke the silence. "Thank you, Inoue," he said, and turned to Rukia. "Let's go, Rukia."
As they walked off, Orihime noticed how close Rukia and Ichigo were walking, and even thought she saw Rukia's hand brush slightly, timidly against Ichigo's hand. Renji noticed it too, and glanced down at Orihime.
"Second place?" he asked her softly.
She looked up at him. "Yep," she smiled. "They're in second place." And with that, she reached for Renji's hand confidently, as they headed the opposite direction, back to her apartment.
Ichigo turned to glance behind him and took sight of Renji and Orihime, so content being with each other under the pale moonlight. He felt Rukia grab his hand and looked down at her. She was staring straight ahead, her eyes cold and dark, mouth set in a firm line. A slight heat was creeping up her porcelain cheeks. He knew that she had come to realize what he had known for years: they were each other's second place love.