Author's Note: My first Bleach fanfic. I've been a fan for so many years now it's almost criminal.
Tatsuki
Orihime held her pillow close, while sitting on the floor. It'd been awhile since we got to have a sleep over like this. Summer was finally here. After everything she'd been through she was back. And so was Ichigo...It's not like I'd ever be able to forget about him, but the fog was cleared from my mind once he was back and safe. I had no more worries finally.
Orihime had invited me over a couple days ago with promises of ice cream and girl talks. Neither of these two things were things I particularly liked but I knew Orihime enjoyed spending time with me. A lot of girls at school were jealous of her despite her innocence. Others just judged her by her appearance instead of her heart. That being said she didn't have many friends that were girls.
"So Tatsuki, is there anyone that you like?" The question caught me off guard.
"Well...I've always kind of...liked Ichigo." Orihime smiled.
"We really are best friends huh? We even like the same guy." My stomach dropped. That wasn't something she should be happy about.
"You like Ichigo? Since when?" She shrugged.
"I don't know. I've never disliked him. I was just afraid to get close to him. One day I just decided to talk to him in gym. We had a couple things in common and I realized he wasn't a bad guy. And then all this hollow business started so it was just another way for me to get closer to him. I'm not sure how he feels. He might like Rukia." I'd never thought of having so much competition for one guy. Thinking about it there weren't that many guys like Ichigo around.
"Since when have you liked him Tatsuki? You've always been around Ichigo." I've always liked Ichigo. Even when he was a cry baby. Even those times he was depressed after his mother died.
"A long time I guess." Orihime hugged her pillow closer.
"Longer than me? Well...I still wouldn't be able to hand him over that easily." It was rare to see Orihime that serious. It was almost scary. "Good luck." She smiled and dug into her ice cream like nothing between us changed. Maybe it didn't for her, but I couldn't just return to normal after hearing this.
Ichigo
I would be going away for awhile. It'd be dangerous. I'd already agreed with Uryuu that no one but us would go. Things concerning Chad and Inoue became dangerous. There was only so much they could survive through. With all of us just arriving home I didn't need to rip them out of their lives again. Uryuu agreed to come because going alone would honestly just make things take longer. We'd knock out some annoying hollows and come back. It'd be a little dangerous with just us too, but then everyone would be safer with Chad here to protect them. He was reluctant at first, but then finally agreed.
Orihime
Chad told me earlier today Ichigo would be going away for awhile and it might be dangerous. I couldn't stop thinking about it all day. And although it was a dirty thing to do, I had to talk to him before Tatsuki. I had the upper hand because I knew about things first. Maybe I'd tell him how I felt in case he got hurt, not that I wouldn't go to help him if it was necessary.
During lunch I followed Ichigo out to the courtyard. "Kurosaki-kun..." He turned and smiled.
"Hey Inoue." I looked down at the ground.
"Um...Sado told me that you'd be going away for awhile." He nodded.
"I need you guys here to take care of things. Besides you only just got home after that whole mess in Hueco Mundo. It wouldn't be right to make you go somewhere like that again." He was sweet...
"I'm fine helping out around here although I wouldn't mind helping you out if you needed me." I folded my hands behind my back. "I just want to talk to you before you left."
"Come eat lunch with me then." I followed Ichigo to the large tree in the courtyard. I sat next to him underneath of it. It really felt like a date doing things like this. I could hear people talking around us. Are they going out? They look good together. I shook my head and tried to focus on telling Ichigo what I need to tell him.
"Things might be a little dangerous this time right?" He nodded.
"Only because it won't be all of us, but I'll have Uryuu." Thank god. Chad didn't mention that. Maybe Ichigo didn't want to tell him he was bringing another friend besides Chad. Not that Chad would mind...at least I don't think he would. "What did you want to say?"
"I just wanted to wish you luck. And don't get hurt Kurosaki-kun. We all care about you a lot. I care about you a lot..." He looked a little shocked but he just smiled. He stood up after he was done his lunch. "Can I walk you to class Inoue?" I nodded.
We were almost to the school building when I couldn't hold it in anymore. "I love you Kurosaki-kun." He touched my shoulder and turned and walked to his class. I didn't know what it meant. I felt like I was going to cry for some reason.
Tatsuki
I hid behind the wall like a coward. I watched Orihime confess her feelings. I couldn't tell what Ichigo was thinking, but I could tell Inoue was upset. I didn't hear him say anything to her though. I didn't think Orihime would ever do something like this. She'd always given me anything I wanted if I saw it first. She'd always take something even if she didn't like it as much. I guess things were different with Ichigo. She liked him more than she valued are relationship. Her wishing me luck against her was the biggest slap in the face I'd ever gotten. Because at the end of the day I honestly didn't think I could win against her.