Title: Waiting for the Sun.

Author: codegal

Rating: T (for now)

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Bleach.

Summary: An IchiHime drabble collection for the "Ultimate Hali Challenge".

Author's Notes: Oooook. So, this is my third attempt at IchiHime. No, I don't write them very well, it's not a couple that I'm comfortable with. But nevertheless, this is in honour of the awesome Haliparot's challenge, to which I accept. Funnily enough, this first drabble is 1000 words exactly. So 49,000 words more to go. XD And yes, I did steal this title (I'm lame and can't come up with anything on my own DX). It's a song by Powderfinger.

Thanks so much to Eloni for the beta. *3*

I.

Ichigo didn't have to see who it was to know instinctively that one way or another, Orihime Inoue was somehow involved in the altercation that was taking place up ahead in the school hallways.

For such a sweet girl, she had no trouble attracting perverts wherever she went.

He continued on, sparing her but a quick glance to assess whether or not she really needed him to step in before continuing on down the hall, making his way up to the roof, waiting in the agreed spot. It was another ten minutes before the door to the roof swung open, and a harried-looking Orihime rushed through, making a beeline towards where he leant against the railing.

"I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed, her breaths coming in short gasps. "Chizuru and Tatsuki got into a bit of a misunderstanding and I had—"

She broke off as Ichigo drapped an arm negligently across her shoulders, pulling her into his side as he stared out across the school courtyard. The corner of his mouth lifted when he felt her snuggle into his side, her slender arm wrapping low around his hips. They continued in silence before Ichigo murmured, "let me have it."

Orihime stilled before snuggling closer. He smiled at that, and gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist, pulling her arm from around him, turning so that he was facing her. He looked down at her bowed head, waiting patiently for her to lift her head and look at him. Ichigo let out a sigh when several minutes had passed, and she still had yet to meet his gaze. He gently cupped her chin, lifting it up, ducking his head to peer at her closely.

She bit her lip and looked away, and he sighed again, letting go of her chin before wrapping his arms around her tightly. He couldn't help but shake his head as he let out a chuckle. "Shouldn't you be happy? This is what you wanted, right? To help others?"

She nodded silently before speaking up in a tremulous voice. "I know, and I'm being silly, but it didn't really hit me how far apart we would be…"

"Hey, hey, hey. It's not for too long, right? It's only until you get your degree and then you can come back home and work at the clinic, not to mention, I can always come and visit you during the holidays."

He felt her nod against him before pulling back in his embrace, sighing a little. "I'm sorry. I just don't wish to be a burd—"

She didn't finish the sentence. Ichigo's lips took hard possession of hers, effectively silencing her flow of words before he pulled back a bit to glare at her. "I told you before not to say that again. You are not a burden to me. You were never a burden. I don't want to hear you say it again." He sealed his words with yet another possessive kiss, his fingers stroking her jaw line before applying pressure on her chin, parting her lips for his tongue. He slanted his mouth over hers, again and again until Orihime slumped limply against his body.

He pulled back, mentally cursing himself for losing control like that. He needed to be more careful around her; he didn't want to unintentionally hurt her in any way. "Are you OK?" he rasped, taking deep breaths as he tried to cool his ardor. "Did I hurt you?"

Orihime shook her head, leaning into him, using his body to support her weight. "No," she murmured softly on a sigh. Feeling her so soft and pliant against his body, Ichigo had to swallow, willing himself not to make any further move before he introduced Orihime to kisses that were placed on other body parts than her lips.

"So, when are you making the move to Aichi Medical School?"

"The beginning of Spring. I want to get everything set up well before university starts."

"Ah," Ichigo smiled. "So we have about a month left together before I can come and see you during the summer break."

Orihime's expression fell with that comment, and she gave a small, sad smile before she shook her head, a smile bursting through. "But its like you said, we'll get to see each other during the break. And we can always talk to each other over the phone. Oh, that reminds me, Ishida taught me how to set up an email account so I can also write to you."

Her animated face had him smiling, and he lifted his hand to brush the back of his hand against her cheek. "Exactly. We'll work through it all."

She was silent for a moment, and Ichigo could see she was worrying about something more. He waited patiently before interrupting her thoughts. "What is it?"

Orihime blushed before stuttering. "B-b-before I leave. I want to… to strengthen the bond between us."

Confused, Ichigo merely lifted a brow in reply.

She blushed ever more, turning to look out over the school courtyard. "T-t-that is to say. I w-would l-like for t-there to be m-more between us."

Her averted gaze and red face told Ichigo exactly what she was referring to, and he couldn't help but swallow again, his mind already stirring with the things he could do with her. His cheeks stained a dull red, and he turned so that his pose matched Orihime's, leaning against the railing, staring out at the scenery. "Whenever you're ready," Ichigo murmured softly. "No rush, we have all the time in the world."

Orihime blushed some more before sneaking a glance over at him. A delicate shudder ran through her as she imagined his mouth on hers again. She bit her lip and spoke softly. "Now?"

Ichigo fixed his piercing gaze on hers, assessing her certainty on the manner. He must have been reassured with what he saw, because he held out his hand to her after a moment, a grin flirting on his lips. "Let's go then."