A/N: This is part two of Steal his Heart, and I hope you all enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or the song Steal His Heart, by Emily and the Woods.
Monday.
"Okay, here he comes... act cool... act... act..." Orihime took a deep breath. She could do it. She could. She just had to believe in herself. She had to have confidence and she needed to take action!
Ichigo opened her gate and walked up the granite stairs. He stood in front of her door and slowly dug around in his bag, stalling for time.
Orihime peaked out the window. Okay, he's here.
Show time.
Orihime picked up her purse and walked to the door as slowly as she could. She whipped open the door and acted surprise to see the orange haired beauty.
"Oh! You again."
"Good morning, Orihime."
"Good morning," she wrinkled her nose, "... Iki... Ihi..."
Ichigo's smiled died a little. "It's Ichigo. Ichigo..."
Orihime tried to sound indifferent. "Oh, well... slipped my mind." She shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway, I have to be somewhere..." She closed her door behind her and brushed past Ichigo, making sure he had gotten a whiff of her perfume.
"Wait, your mail!"
Orihime turned around and took the mail, never meeting his eye. "Thanks. Iki-"
"Ichigo-"
"Ichigo," she breathed. It was hard pretending to be cold. "Thank you Ichigo."
Ichigo followed after as she opened her gate. "Have a good day, Orihime!"
Orihime waved her hand and continued walking down the street, never looking back.
Thursday.
Ichigo lightly jogged down the street. He jammed the letters in the slots house after house. It was crucial that he made it to Orihime's house on time.
Two more to go, he thought.
He quickly ran into the moss covered house and opened the mailbox.
Orihime was surely acting different all week. It wasn't because she forgot his name, people forget names everyday, it was more that she wasn't as bubbly and happy. Something seemed off about her demeanor.
Ichigo had one more house left. He quickly found the mail and slipped it through the mail slot.
"Just, act cool. Normal. You can do this!"
Ichigo stood up straighter and stormed up to the house with fierce determination.
He knew he shouldn't, but Ichigo always stuck Orihime's mail in the bottom of his bag. She was the best part of his day, so he wanted to milk out the conversations as long as he could.
Ichigo opened her iron gate and strolled up the stairs. He then pushed around the mail in the bottom of his bag, hoping that she could hear the noise her making outside.
"Hello- wait," The bright haired beauty thought for a second, "Ichigo?"
Ichigo nodded and flashed a bright smile. "You are correct!"
Ichigo grasped her letters in his bag. He didn't want to pull them out just yet.
"So... it's nice weather today." He said encouragingly.
Orihime had pulled out her phone and was pressing away at the keys. He watched her tiny pink tongue slip from her plump lips. "Mmhm..."
"It's going to be sunny the rest of the week. Are you going out with friends this weekend?"
"Maybe..." She continued to type on her phone.
Ichigo's smile faltered then dropped all together. "Oh... well, here's your mail..."
Orihime lifted out her hand and Ichigo placed the letters softly in her palm. Their finger tips touched slightly and both inhaled sharply and pulled away.
Orihime made the mistake to look into his eyes. His amber eyes.
Without another another word, she slammed the door in his face.
Friday.
This time, Ichigo couldn't possibly wait to be on time.
The mailman plowed through all of the houses, cramming and shoving the cards and letters in every slot or box he could find.
Finally at her house, Ichigo slammed her gate loudly, stomped up the stairs and banged heavily on her door.
There was a minute of silence before the heavy blue door swung open.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry, but I need to know...," his voice became huskier. "Did I do anything to offend you?"
Orihime looked puzzled. "What are you talking about?"
"For the past couple of days you've been acting... strange towards me."
The woman blushed. "This is... highly inappropriate..."
And it was. Ichigo mentally punched himself. What would a woman like her want to do with a guy like him. Don't get him wrong, Ichigo knew he was a catch. But his looks could never stand up against her heavenly beauty.
"I know. I'm sorry." Ichigo grumble and dug in his bag and produced her mail. "Here. I'm sorry I bothered you..."
Orihime slipped them out of his hands sharply, creating long paper cut in his palm.
The woman hopped on one foot to the other, waving her fist frantically. "I'm so sorry! Here!"
Orihime grabbed his arm and lead him into her house. She walked him to the kitchen and sat down in a wooden chair.
"Orihime. It's just a cut. I don't think-" Orihime pushed him forward and shoved his hand in the sink. She flipped on the faucet and let warm water run over the red slit.
"Wait here! I think I have some band aids..."
Orihime ran out the room. Ichigo stood quietly at the sink. He looked around the bright kitchen. He noticed that she had a lot of kitchenware. There were assorted pots and pans and a pink electric mixer.
On the counters, bag of icing and bowls of batter sat waiting.
Orihime shuffled back in with a rather large first-aid kit.
"Okay. So we'll need peroxide, and a band aid, and a rag..." She grabbed his forearm and sat him back in a chair.
"Orihime, I don't think this is nec- Ahhh!" Ichigo yelped as the peroxide bubbled up white hot and sizzling on his cut.
"Sorry..." Orihime mumbled. She took a sterile gauze pad and wiped it against the cut. Ichigo watched her graceful movements as she moved from on cleaning gadget to the next.
Finally, Orihime placed a band aid on his palm. "See." she said. "Was that so bad?"
"Thank you. I don't think I've had a cut this clean since I was three years old..."
Orihime sat up and smiled.
Ichigo smiled back.
"Um..." Orihime fidgeted with her fingers. "...I'm sorry."
Ichigo shook his head. "It was an accident. No need to apologize."
"No. I'm sorry for acting so... strange." She pushed a strand of burnt-orange behind her ear. "Um... it was mean of me..."
"It's okay. Really. And... I'm sorry too. I don't know what came over me when I banged on your door."
Orihime laughed.
Ichigo did too.
The man cleared his throat. "I have been meaning to ask you, like... all month, if you would like to... go on a date with me?"
Orihime's face lit up. She nodded vigorously. "Yes. Yes I would love to!"
Ichigo let go of the breath he didn't know he was holding. "Great, great. So... how does Sunday sound? I'm not working then!"
Orihime stopped smiling. She had to work at the carnival that day.
"Um... I can't that day... I already have something planned... I'm sorry."
Ichigo sat up. "It's not another guy, is it?"
"NO! No. There's no one! I promise. I just have to work."
"Oh... Then how about next next week?"
"Do you really want to wait til next next week?"
Ichigo smiled. "No..."
"We'll figure out something..." Orihime shrugged outwardly, but inside she was screaming her head off and pulling her hair out.
Ichigo stood up and hooked his mail carrier over his shoulder. "Yeah, we will..."
Orihime walked Ichigo back to the front door. A man on his bike rode by, reminding her of wheels...
Wheels...
A Ferris wheel!
A light bulb clicked on in her head.
"I have an idea! Do you know about the community festival this weekend?"
"Yeah, I heard about it. Sunday right?"
Orihime nodded. "Look for the cupcake booth! I'll be working there! Meet me there around... seven!"
Ichigo's face brightened. "Perfect!" He turned and leaned down. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to feel her lips on his. But because of hesitation and awkwardness, Ichigo, instead, gave her a hug.
Orihime breathed in his fresh scent. He smelled like earth, aftershave, and the hint of sweat. The perfect mixture.
Orihime backed up from his grip and blushed. "Be safe.."
"Yeah," he chuckled. "Thanks again. Nothing hurts as much as a paper cut."
The two stared at each other. Neither wanting to leave the other.
A deeper red began to creep up her cheeks again. "Don't you have mail to deliver?"
"Oh," he chuckled again. "Yeah, I do don't I?"
He turned on his heels and walked out the door.
"Bye, Ichigo!"
"Bye, Orihime!"
Saturday.
"How does this look?" Orihime smoothed down the dress in the back. It was puffy around the sides and it made her look fat.
Tatsuki yawned and leaned back on her elbows on the bed. "It looks fine. I don't see what the big deal is..."
"This is a very big deal. This is- Why did I buy this dress?" Orihime stormed back to her closet. She pushed around the hangers trying to find something suitable.
Orihime grabbed a yellow dress and ran into the bathroom.
"Everything you wear looks fine to me!" Tatsuki yelled from the bed. "And what's so special about this guy?"
"It's not just any guy!" Orihime banged open the door. "It is the guy. He's perfect."
"He's a mailman!"
"So! There is nothing wrong with being a mailman. If mailmen didn't exist, how would you get your letters?"
Orihime twisted back and forth in the long mirror. She watched as the dress twirled around on her body. It was pretty... but something was off about it.
"That one looks good. It looks nice with your hair-"
"That's it!" Orihime exclaimed. "My hair! This yellow dress makes my hair look red! I can't walk around looking like ketchup and mustard!" Orihime stormed back into the bathroom and started to cry.
Tatsuki rolled her eyes. Orihime could be so dramatic. The woman got off of the bed and walked to Orihime's closet.
"Hey Orihime! What about the dress you got a the thrift shop? You know, the blue one!"
Tatsuki heard Orihime stop sniffling. "Yeah..."
"It looked really nice... Found it!"
Tatsuki took the hanger off of the rack and cracked open the bathroom door. Orihime's hand reached out and grabbed the dress.
Seconds later, Orihime was out of the bathroom and cautiously looking at her reflection. The dress was a deep midnight blue sundress. The bodice made her already curvy body, a slimming silhouette. It hugged in all the right places and was loose in the correct spots. At the bottom, it fanned out with the tiniest of white sparkles which added to the illusion of a midnight sky.
Orihime's eyes watered again. The dress was perfect. She turned around and gave her best friend a big hug.
"Thanks Tatsuki! So much!"
"No problem Hime... Just stop crying for Christ sakes!"
Sunday.
Orihime pulled the containers out of their boxes.
Her volunteer helped her stack the creamy delights on the stands and table.
Orihime squealed in delight. She was so happy to see her creations in a large display, ready for the takings.
It was only 5:50. And other booths around them were setting up shop.
Orihime patted her hands her apron, making sure get nothing on her dress.
"Is he still coming?" Mahana, the volunteer, asked.
"If he doesn't, then I'll just stuff my face with cupcakes!" Orihime joked, but it fell flat.
"If he doesn't, then can you stuff five in your mouth at the same time?"
Orihime quickly rolled her eyes and turned towards the volunteer. "Mahana. There will be no stuffing of the cupcakes. Anywhere." Orihime huffed and organized the mini cakes. "Now help with the cupcakes. Everything needs to be in order."
Mahana did as she was told as placed the cupcakes where they belonged.
The rest of the carnival was coming to life. The booths were alight, the Ferris wheel turning, and even the mini roller coaster was making a few test runs. Orihime connected the plugs to the lights and watched as the cupcake sign flickered on. The women smiled and marveled at the sight.
"Okay! Now lets sell some cupcakes!"
"Wait!" Mahana looked around panicked. "Where's Rangiku!"
"I'm here!"
Orihime and Mahana sharply turned their heads at the voice.
Matsumoto yawned widely, lifting her arms in the air. "I'm sorry," she said as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, "I was out the other day. I guess the time slipped my mind."
Matsumoto staggered against the booth. Orihime and Mahana tried to support her but Matsumoto shooed them away.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Really! I just need something to drink..."
Orihime placed her hands on her hips. Yes, she loved her friend. But, she really needed to get a grip on her drinking.
"Matsumoto, you've got a job to do! Now lets get to it!"
When the gates opened a six, people started to enter the carnival, Orihime couldn't help but look around the crowd heads. She wanted to see the spiky golden-orange hair that she loved so much.
"Hello... Hello! Excuse me! Hello!" A woman with three noisy children behind her waved her hand in Orihime's face.
"Oh, um, sorry. What did you ask for again?"
"I don't even know the options!"
Orihime took a deep breath and answered sweetly. She could handle this costumer. She handled rude costumers all the time.
"Well, if you would look at the menu we have hanging right there, you can see all the flavors we have."
The woman and her three noisy children finally chose a handful of cupcakes. Most of the frosting and crumbs ended up on the ground or on the sides of the children's faces.
The time was moving slowly, and Orihime thought that seven o'clock would never come.
"I think we're running out of cupcakes!" Mahana exclaimed. She looked around frantically.
"No worry! I have more, back there..." Orihime bent over and picked up a box full of assorted cupcakes.
"Are there anymore left for me?"
Orihime's breath caught. She knew that voice. She knew that deep, smooth rumble that warmed her core.
And of all times. He was here while she was bent over a box of cupcakes.
Orihime placed the box back down and turned back to the counter. "Hey you!"
"Hey. So what do we have here?" Ichigo licked his lips.
"We have the famous vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing. Then we have the red velvet with cream cheese. The dark chocolate and peanut butter. A cinnamon roll cupcake. A double chocolate. Oh! And my favorite! Strawberry cupcake, with pink buttercream icing!"
Ichigo smiled. "That's a lot of cupcakes. Must have been a lot of work."
"Well... I try." She gave a light giggle.
Ichigo wrinkled his brow. "I think, I'll have... two strawberry cupcakes please!"
Orihime couldn't stop the smile that spread on her face. "Coming right up!" She placed two perfectly pink delights on a plastic plate and napkin. "Here you go!"
Ichigo gave his head a little nod in the other direction. "Come with me."
Orihime slipped her apron off of her head. As she left the booth and took Ichigo's hand, she heard a quick whisper from Mahana to Matsumoto, and a rather large response: "That's him?"
"Here you go!" Ichigo said as he handed a cupcake to Orihime.
"Thank you!"
Their hands swung together as the walked through the park. Kids with huge stuff animals and toys ran around everywhere, going crazy from their sugar highs. The colors all around were hypnotizing and mesmerizing. Everything seemed surreal next to the golden-orange haired man, and the loud, deafening noises and lights whirling around her.
"How does it taste?" Orihime looked up at Ichigo as he took a big bite out of the cupcake. In the process, he got a dabble of pink icing on his nose.
Orihime giggled when she saw his creamed face. "You look like one of the clowns!"
Ichigo wiped the icing off on his sleeve and laughed along.
As they continued to walk through the carnival, Orihime couldn't help but stare at the giant toys everyone was walking around with.
"Over here!" Ichigo tugged on her arm and lead her to a booth. There sat a man on a stool, beckoning people to try there luck and skill at the game of SkeeBall.
Ichigo smiled down at Orihime. "Which one do you want?"
Orihime's eyes went big. She really wanted the giant Tweety Bird. Tweety was her favorite.
Orihime pointed to the one she wanted. Ichigo slapped down five bucks and was passed nine heavy, plastic balls.
He smiled back down at her again. "I'm going to get you that Tweety Bird."
Orihime nodded excitedly.
Ichigo smoothly rolled each ball up the inclined ramp, making each one into the highest valued holes.
With a few snide remarks and dirty looks from the vendor, Ichigo won, and Orihime got her Tweety.
"Thank you!" She shouted and threw herself against him.
Ichigo squeezed her tightly and slipped his hand back into her's.
They walked hand in hand and talked about themselves.
"So, I have two sisters. They're twins actually. Quite a handful they are. Do you have any siblings?"
Orihime looked away briefly, then back up at him. "Yeah. I did. I had an older brother. But he past away some time ago."
"I'm sorry, Orihime." Ichigo tried to salvage the situation. "Hey! How about we get on the Ferris wheel!"
Orihime's face brightened. "Sure!"
Ichigo squeezed her hand lightly and lead her towards the giant, spinning wheel.
When their turn finally came, Ichigo helped Orihime and Tweety Bird into the box cart and clamped the metal bar down onto her lap.
The cart swung forward and the couple started to rise.
"This is fun!" Orihime shouted into the wind. She had never been this high before, but she wasn't scared. She felt free and alive.
"Ever been this high before?"
Orihime shook her head. "The highest I've probably been was in a office building of some sort."
Orihime accidentally on purpose shuddered from the wind.
Ichigo slipped of his jacket and wrapped it on her shoulders. She snuggled down under his arm and sighed.
She always imagined she'd be like this with him. But her imagination was never good enough. Reality is something you could never imitate.
"I've wanted to do this for so long..."
Orihime looked up at him.
Ichigo pushed a hand through his hair. "I mean, I always wanted to ask you out. But I never could..."
"Well, I always wanted you to ask me out, silly!"
"Really! For how long?"
Orihime blushed. "Since the first day you handed me mail..."
Orihime apprehensively looked back up at him. The woman hoped he wasn't turned off by the you-had-me-at-hello theme. Surprisingly, he was smiling.
Ichigo bent his head down towards hers. He was about to kiss her when a giant wet plop hit his forehead.
Both looked up to see huge dark cloud lingering over the carnival.
Before the knew it. People were scrambling like ants to get out of the heavy ran.
The couple finally left the Ferris wheel and ran to the nearest exit from the park.
Ichigo covered them both from the ran with his jacket. It didn't do much, but it helped them make it through the street and crowds of people who were soaked.
They finally made it to Orihime's doorstep. Orihime opened the door and they stood they both stood there catching their breaths. The wet Tweety bird was dropped on the floor
"You're drenched!" Orihime laughed and wheezed at the same time.
"So are you," Ichigo coughed out a snicker.
The two stood up straight as watched the rain fall outside.
"It's really coming down heavy..." Ichigo observed through the open door.
"Yeah," Orihime agreed as she stared out too. Orihime could see the thick droplets loudly pitter patter on the glossy black road. Buckets poured down all at once making a dense gray haze over the world.
"I thought all girls hated to get stuck in the rain?" Ichigo said jokingly with a lifted brow.
Orihime gently giggled. "Well, I'm not your average type of girl..." Orihime stared into his deep amber eyes. They swirled around and had a honest twinkle to them that reflected of of the glistening street.
Matsumoto's word quickly flashed through her head.
"If you don't take some sort of action, you'll regret it..."
Orihime grabbed dripping shirt and yanked him down to her.
The woman felt bold and free.
She was tired of waiting.
Ichigo's lips were on her's.
His hands wound there way around her waist, slowly creeping up to her wet hair. His fingers cupped the back of her neck for support and stability as he pried her lips open with his.
She let him in.
Orihime closed her eyes and watched the magical colors swirl in circles and fireworks throughout her head. Orihime felt the cold, rainy air fly through her open door, seeping into her bones and skin, through her shirt and chest. Her breast compressed between his sculpted chest. She shuddered and wrapped her arms around the commanding man.
The cool sensation mingled with the warmth from Ichigo's mouth as their tongues danced together with a unique harmony. A dance that only the knew.
Ichigo moaned and pulled away, but only a little bit. "So soft..." he whispered against her lips.
They were round, pink, and full. Her words slipped from her lips with mystery and sweet promises that always drew him in. And they were, most of all, heavenly soft.
They kissed again with reckless abandon and the sky cracked a roar of thunder.
Orihime, boldly, stole his hand and lead him up the stairs.
They discarded their cloths and made love like there was no tomorrow.
The front door was left open.
Again, thanks guys for taking the time to read this story! Sorry for all the inconvenience!
And yes, I'm updating Settle Down tonight. It is not on hiatus!
Rocka.