King's Eyes Chapter 2: Her Protector No Matter the Foe, a bleach fanfic

A/N: The PoV swaps around a bit so lemme know readers if it's too confusing how I word it. Enjoy!

Her Protector No Matter the Foe

It was quiet for a long time. When Hichigo was strong enough to take my own eyes and ears from me I sank down and found myself strewn dejectedly on the reflective window of a skyscraper that didn't exist in the World of the Living. I can still feel the bone-aching power of the cursing mask, I don't want to move, there is nowhere to move to.

Honestly it was like trying to concentrate while having a constant orgasm. When Hichigo got excited it was even worse.

When he'd taken my place fighting with Byakuya I'd yearned for what he yearned for, to wipe the superior air right out of the noble.

And I wanted Rukia so much.

Hichigo was right I was surrounded by attractive women, more than one attracted to me in return. I'd always know Rukia had feelings for me, part of the reason Renji told me to back off—Rukia had turned him down and revealed her secret to him. So, yes, I knew about her feelings but found myself a coward.

But Orihime?

Tatsuki had introduced us after she'd noticed my first unsuccessful try at covert ogling of the sweet girl. I met her when we were younger, before she was slapped with puberty over one summer.

I'll admit it; I can bankai with the best of them but talk to a girl? I'm a fucking idiot.

"Thank you so much Orihime-chan!" Matsumoto said a bit too cheerily.

They had just gotten back to Orihime's apartment after the funnest girl's night she'd been involved in. Truth be told before she'd met Matsumoto those had entailed less sake and more sweet bean curd s'mores with Tatsuki.

The shinigami had kept slipping more sake into Orihime's cup when she thought she'd politely sipped enough to put the cup down. If another person asked her who had taught her to drink sake again Orihime felt she would set loose Koten Zanshun. Nobody did silly! First time! At a bar at least.

"Since you and Hitsugaya-kun are staying here I thought it was a good idea to keep your gigai here instead of at Urahara-san's when you went back to Soul Society for anything," Orihime blushed, mostly from the sake, her face glowing with a smile.

"So he just dumps his in the closet?" Matsumoto kicked off her shoes out of habit as they moved inside. "Silly Taichō," She giggled and moved to said closet, opening the door to look down at the white-haired gigai in a somber black polo and skinny jeans. She stepped in where she found space amongst his gangly legs and the shoes and focused on leaving her gigai. She moved out and closed the door quickly ignoring the thump of the dead weight of the gigai hitting something behind her.

"Rangiku-san!" Orihime sang with a laugh. "I'll have to get to my closet!"

Chagrined the shinigami turned and slowly pulled the door open and peeked in to see how the gigai had fallen. After a moment to see the gigai wasn't leaning against the door she let the door swing open as her body trembled with laughter. "Aw that looks terribly naughty."

"What?" Orihime tripped to her side, her mammoth chest almost bowling over Matsumoto. The innocent girl blushed beet red and slapped her hands over her eyes.

Matsumoto closed the door without moving the gigai and turned away to summon the senkaimon back to Soul Society before her taichō dismissed her from vice-captain for shirking her duties. She'd just heard that Orihime hadn't had sake at a bar before and had gone a little overboard showing the teen the bar she'd found only a few hours after arriving in the World of the Living.

"Rangiku-san don't leave them like that!" Orihime pleaded but the teetering lieutenant was already gone, the senkaimon disappearing.

Orihime stood there a moment before looking over her shoulder the expression on her face would have new arrival thinking there was a hollow in her closet.

"All I need in there are umbrellas," Orihime reasoned. "As long as nobody else wants to hang up their coat and it doesn't rain I'll never have to open it!" She closed her eyes and clapped her hands together to pray quickly for such to happen. "Or please have Hitsugaya-kun come back quickly!"

A knock on her front door startled her and she quickly moved to look through the peephole. "Kurosaki-kun!" She felt her heart skip a beat as his unmistakable orange head filled her fishbowl view.

It was probably the sake that made her brave enough to throw open the door and almost bowl over Ichigo as she hugged him.

"Sorry about the time," Hichigo murmured.

"Oh, I just now got back with Rangiku-san! What time is it?" Orihime blushed and turned to go inside.

"I thought she went drinking sake instead of helping that runt Toshiro?" Hichigo glanced around the small part of the apartment he could see from the doorway; would a lieutenant be able to sense his hollowness? Rukia was powerful, he recalled Renji telling Ichigo that her brother had used his sway to keep her from getting placed in a squad seat.

"That's what I said, we just got back from this bar Rangiku-san knew about," She threw over her shoulder as she walked away.

Hichigo's eyes swung around almost immediately to rivet to the considerable jiggle Orihime had in her ass as well, pausing only a moment before closing and locking the door behind him and following her in. It only got better when she leaned over to peek around the corner of the threshold into her kitchen, sticking the pert thing out at him as he walked up behind her.

"Oh my!" She turned to face him after getting a look at the clock set in the stove, and he lifted his gaze quickly to meet her wide eyes. "It's late!"

"I know."

"It's okay, you didn't wake me up," She did a small twirl and Hichigo's hand shot out to catch her as she found she was a bit too intoxicated to do a move like that. She had meant to show off the cocktail dress she wore, made of a slinky black fabric, the top shot through with vibrant thick pink ribbon to accentuate her breasts. Why did they need help?

"Are you wearin' a push-up bra?" The words came out of his mouth before he could focus to think, her breasts pressing into his chest made them hard to not focus on, her cleavage went on forever!

"Huh?" Orihime looked down at her own cleavage following his gaze. She pulled away from him and succeeded in not stumbling. His question and gaze made her body warm, she'd only felt that way a few times always close to Ichigo. "Strapless bra," She shook her head, trying to act mature and answer his question.

"Sorry," Hichigo chuckled at how many blushes he'd gotten already. Sweet, innocent, drunk Orihime.

At her name Ichigo trembled deep inside where Hichigo had shoved him. Aw don't worry Ichi-baka I won't kill her if she fucks me good enough.

…bastard…Tiny and faint like a fevered whisper off dying lips.

"Is there anything wrong?" Orihime suddenly asked. "The arrancar haven't-"

"No," Hichigo shook his head and turned off the lights, she hadn't noticed his eyes yet. Must be the sake. "Do you have any sake left?"

"Oh, I was out with Rangiku-san since school ended, she even bought me this outfit," Orihime fanned herself as she struggled to keep her eyelids from drooping.

"But she's been livin' here…"

"I'm sure there's some somewhere," Orihime mumbled.

"Where?" He asked patiently.

"Kitchen?"

"You go to bed, Inoue," Hichigo suggested. "I'll let myself out."

"I'm sorry Kurosaki-kun I'm just a little drunk, I'm kind of embarrassed," Orihime frowned.

"It's okay," Hichigo turned her and propelled her toward her room, resisting the urge to slap her ass. He watched her teeter to the door on what looked like three inch stiletto heels, and then he turned to go find some sake.

Orihime glanced back to watch him disappear into the kitchen. Why did he want sake? Was something wrong? She had thought Rukia had been able to make him cheer up. She had felt such a twinge of jealousy at her ability to do that so easily, but apparently it hadn't had any sticking power.

Tell him, she bit her lip and squeezed the tears back as she turned to find some PJs and leave him to whatever had him looking for Matsumoto's sake stash.

Why is he here? She wondered as she stood in the middle of her bedroom hugging her waist her fingers caressing in nervous circles on the slinky fabric of her new dress. It's Fate Orihime! Fate getting tired of you being too scared! She frowned as she unzipped the cute dress Matsumoto had bought her as a thank you for letting them stay with her. She was fine with all of the shinigami coming to save her life and all of those in KarakuraTown, but the vice-captain was a good friend.

The slinky fabric fell as soon as she slipped the spaghetti straps off her shoulders. She unhooked the decent amount of tiny clasps to remove her bra, the designer strapless number always made her breasts ache a little. Must be a little push-up I guess, she found a large nightshirt and pulled it on. As she started to close the dresser drawer her eyes fell on her panties, she had them rolled up and packed together like makizushi.

With the dress Matsumoto had bought the suicidal shoes and the matching black lacy strapless-bra and thong, she had told her it was a necessity since the fabric clung so tightly to her curves. She wasn't necessarily a fan of wearing them on a regular basis and only owned two herself. She plucked out a pair, soft white cotton, still a sexy high-cut but with a bit more coverage.

She was tired but her body was still very conscious of Ichigo's presence. She wanted to go see if he'd left. Don't let him do that! Stop him! "I couldn't…" She whispered to herself as she blushed.

"I do need some water," She'd spent enough time with Matsumoto already to know she'd be hungover without at least two bottles before bed.

Turning to move toward the kitchen she saw Hichigo leaning in the half-open door with the sexiest heart-stopping smile on his lips. "How about some more sake?" He held up the large bottle, she recalled Matsumoto being surrounded by numerous empty ones the same size.

"I need to drink two bottles of water before bed, Rangiku-san's orders," Orihime tried to sound her usual chipper self but it suddenly occurred to her- "How long were you standing there?"

Hichigo had seen the whole glorious show, his hands itching the whole time to touch those breasts. "Not long," He slid the door open little more and moved inside. "You didn't want to hear why I'm visitin' you so late?"

"I'm a little silly right now."

When ain't you?

"I had it out with Kuchiki," Hichigo admitted, taking a long drink from the bottle, he'd almost chugged half of it in the kitchen already. "Apparently she had some strange infatuation for me; I look like a shinigami she knew a while back, that she killed."

"What?" Orihime gasped.

"I know!" Hichigo laughed.

"I mean, what about your feelings?" Orihime was bewildered, she thought Ichigo loved Rukia.

"Feelings?" Hichigo put on a surprised look. "Kuchiki? No, I…" He shook his head and moved in closer. "I told her - she was angry - but…Inoue…Orihime I'm in love with you."

Orihime couldn't help the tears that welled up in her eyes. "Oh, Kurosaki-kun…" She whispered touching his face tentatively.

Before she could really distinguish anything odd with his gaze Hichigo scattered her easily-scattered wits with a kiss. He cupped her face so he could coax her lips open and she was very still as his tongue slipped in to explore her soft mouth.

The intensity increased as she began to return his tongue's thrusts. He slipped his arms around her tight, her nipples driving him crazy as they brushed back and forth over his chest. "I can't go back home with Kuchiki there."

Blushing so deep he could see it in the semi-dark she whispered. "Rangiku-san said that she was going to try to convince Hitsugaya-kun to stay in Soul Society so she could go hang with her friends at the sake bar…" She whispered. "Do you want to stay with me?"

"With you? Or in the living room?" Hichigo asked and tried not to grumble when she hid her face in his chest. Damn virgins.

"You would really…" Orihime's voice was so soft he could hardly hear, he put a hand on her chin to lift her face and she met his eyes. "Be with me?"

"I've wanted you since I knew what the words meant, I love you Orihime," Hichigo gave her another kiss, almost chaste…

You almost made me believe it was my idea to gently make love to your sweet Orihime, Hichigo stepped in and deepened the kiss his hands abandoning the sake on the dresser for a good grip on one ass cheek.

You think I'm gone? Don't be a baka, this is my body! Ichigo growled exasperated as Hichigo exerted control over him again. He gave Orihime a second's pause before inching her nightshirt up over her tight tummy, resisting the urge to cup her heavenly breasts so he could whisk the shirt off with her help.

"So beautiful," Ichigo whispered with loving reverence.

With an impatient shove Hichigo crammed Ichigo down, and gently pushed Orihime until she bounced on the bed, her breasts jiggling forever. Just for that, I'm fucking her titties when I come.

Not Inoue, I'll let you fuck the damn gigai…Try as he might every word only made it worse.

Hichigo lowered onto the bed over her legs as she sat shy in the bed, bringing their faces kissably close.

"I'm a little scared Kurosaki-kun," Orihime said timidly. Still with the last name?

I won't let him hurt you! Ichigo fought again for a moment and Hichigo hid the internal fight with a kiss.

"It's okay," Hichigo crooned, I like it. He took her lips for another kiss, this one not from Ichigo, or a distraction. Orihime moaned as he squeezed her breast and she passionately returned the assault of her lips, hands slipping under his shirt without hesitation.

Hichigo reared back up onto his knees so he could take off his shirt, but Orihime sat up trying to follow his lips as he pulled away. He pushed her back down and swept the shirt off over his head and sent it flying into the far wall.

Surprise touched her grey eyes at the rough treatment but it was gone as Hichigo gently bit her nipple. He twirled his tongue as two of his fingers rolled her other nipple, the rest of his hand squeezing that breast.

He could still feel her trembling, her gasps and moans coming almost on top of each other, so he was surprised when her hands fumbled at the buckle of his belt. He let her fumble a moment with the button of his jeans before doing it for her as she did another fumble at the zipper. "If you wanted my cloths off, all you had to do was ask Hime-chan," Hichigo teased as he captured her hands and caught her attention.

A blush of pleasure heated her face at the nickname, only Chizuru had called her that, and it meant so much more coming from the man she'd loved so long. "Kurosaki-kun-" A surprised gasp of pained pleasure interrupted her words as his nimble fingers flashed up to pinch her nipple hard. "Oh!"

"Am I yer lover Hime-chan?" Hichigo growled as he released her nipple and dipped his mouth down to capture the rosy nub torturing with his tongue. "Don't call me Kurosaki-kun."

"What do you want me to call you?" She murmured as he suckled on her breast.

"Mm, Hime-chan," He mumbled around her nipple and the vibration of his teeth made her cry out. "Can't you be creative?"

"I want to make you happy Kurosaki-kun—Oh!" Her body jerked as his teeth bit into the flesh around her nipple before he switched to the other breast.

"Heika," Hichigo commanded in a growl as he tasted her.

"Heika-kun," Orihime whimpered as he slipped a finger along her panties. "Oh, yes…"

The hollow couldn't keep the grin off his lips and he rolled his dark eyes up to watch her face twist and wince in pleasure. Beautiful. Hichigo gave a bite to her nipple and she moaned louder her pained wince more pronounced but the proof was wet on his fingers. That's not beautiful Ichi-baka, it's fuckin' hot. Hichigo easily knew his human side had thought the awed word not him.

Ichigo was quiet in reply as he focused his entire will to remove the mask, be a persistent pest while the hollow tried to play. Ichigo Kurosaki. Substitute Shinigami.

Vizard.

Who's Shinji, Ichi-baka? Hichigo's anger rose as he found the boy resisting when he tried to remember more about the blond grinning senpai. He pulled away from Orihime to remove the rest of his cloths.

How could he not know about Shinji? Flashes of odd Urahara-made gizmos taking his memories with a honk and puff of violet smoke were thrust into the hollow's probing thoughts instead as he tried to use Ichigo's memories to find out.

Eyes wide Orihime's lips moved over silent words she was contemplating as his erection sprang free brushing his taunt lower abdomen. "Kuro-" She started to moan but with a gasp cut herself off.

Hichigo watched her eyes shoot up to catch his gaze apprehensively, her grey eyes excited nonetheless. "What?"

"Heika-kun," Orihime bit her lip as she let her gaze lower before she moved up to her knees on the bed and leaned into him. "D-don't let me do anything…wrong," Orihime murmured and Hichigo—whose middle name was depraved-almost pouted at her timid request until she continued. "I've only kissed two people."

"Who?" Hichigo lowered his lips to kiss her neck, teeth and lips marking her soft skin. He let his hands slide down her hips to catch her panties only tugging them half down her thighs before impatient fingers found better places to be.

"K- Heika-kun…"

"I make two?"

"Three," Orihime's eyes slammed shut as his fingers simply played along her opening.

"So yer first n'second?"

"Chizuru-chan."

As she hesitated Hichigo slipped a finger inside her, the wetness inside making him reconsider and he pressed in yet another finger. Her hands grabbed his shoulders as a cry escaped her lips and unsurprisingly, "Kurosaki-kun!"

Hichigo cut off any other words with a fist in her long hair. She cried out as he jerked her head back to expose her neck to more abuse from his lips and teeth. "The second Hime-chan?"

Cheeks blushing in embarrassed excitement her grey eyes opened as he removed his teasing fingers. "Heika-kun?"

"Tell me."

"Tatsuki-chan when we were young," Orihime closed her eyes as he slipped his fingers along her clit, pinching. Gasping, she rocked her hips in time with his strokes, her fingers clutching his shoulders nails digging in.

"And how do I rate?" Hichigo let his tongue lick up the line of her neck to her ear. "Good enough to be yer king?" He released her hair so he could explore the curves of her ass as she moaned assent to his questions. "Eh? Good enough t'fuck you Hime-chan?"

"W-what?" Orihime was able to barely gasp out before his lips took hers. She kissed him back with equal passion as his exploring hand followed the line of her ass to tease her entrance again. "Heika-kun!"

"You. Heard. Me." Hichigo hissed as he nipped and bit at her pleasure-swollen lips. "Hime-chan," His voice was low, as usual lower than Ichigo's, and she looked up at him her grey eyes drowning in lust as he played with her body, not unlike he was playing with Ichigo's. "Yes or no?"

"Yes!" She cried out loudly her fingernails digging in to cut crescent-shaped wounds into his shoulder as an orgasm rolled over her and spilled out onto his teasing fingers.

A guttural growl escaped Hichigo's throat and he brought his fingers to his lips to lick them like they were coated in honey. He caught Orihime's gaze over his fingers and narrowed his eyes at the small smile that curved her lips. "What?"

"Does it taste good Heika-kun?"

Since she looked genuinely curious Hichigo popped his fingers out of his mouth and wiggled them in front of her ravaged lips. She didn't open her mouth but her eyes darted from his fingers to his face curiosity and desire battling on her innocent face.

"Open up," Hichigo cupped her face and thrust one of the digits past her hesitant lips. With a groan he felt her warm tongue lick along his finger and he watched her lips slide along taking the digit in past her lips to the next knuckle. "Fuck that's so sexy."

Orihime's eyes widened and the corners of her mouth tilted upward, pleased that she could elicit that response. "You make me feel crazy Heika-kun…" She whispered around his finger.

"It gets better," Hichigo reluctantly took his hand away from her face and the sweet suction of her mouth to push her back down to lie on the bed removing her panties entirely. As he crawled up onto the bed between her legs she surprised him again by pushing him back with both hands sitting up. He was going to swat her hand away and push her back down when he caught the blush on her cheeks.

"What about you Heika-kun?" She asked her voice troubled the frown on her face making creases between her eyebrows.

No wonder you love this woman! Hichigo snaked his arms around the redhead's trim waist so he could pull her on top of him. She straddled his waist her moist core sliding along the sensitive flesh running along the bottom of his penis. "Hime-chan blow me."

"Heika-kun?"

"What you were doin' to my finger, on my cock," Hichigo barely resisting the urge to adjusting the angle of his hips and thrust up inside her as she wiggled against him.

"I-I've never…" Orihime bit her bottom lip nervously her hands resting on either side of his stomach. "Help me Heika-kun?"

"Hold it," Hichigo leaned up on an elbow his free hand sandwiching the healer's hand around the base of his pulsing member. "Up and down, squeeze," He pumped her fist a few times up and down his length before letting her hand go.

Only a moment had passed after he fell back and closed his eyes and Hichigo felt a tentative stroke of her fingers to his scrotum. Groaning he encouraged her with a, "Fuck yeah, harder Hime-chan."

The hollow's gruff words and pleased moan emboldened the nervous redhead and she lowered her head her tongue licking along the bottom as her lips slid over like she was tasting the head of his aching hard-on.

Hichigo almost let out an inhuman cackle as she pulled away in surprise the popping sound of her lips an interesting punctuation to her expression. Her fingers touched her lips to catch the salty precum he'd obviously leaked by now.

Fuckin' Kuchiki.

"Taste good?"

"Better than mine," She admitted in an almost inaudible whisper and Hichigo closed his black demon eyes as the words ghosted over his arousal; she'd lowered her face back into place.

"Yes!" Hichigo hissed as she slid her lips down inch-by-inch her tongue teasing as if she were tasting him. Ah, fuck! Hichigo growled as he clenched back the cackle of glee resounding so deep inside him Ichigo heard it rumble like an earthquake where he was trapped struggling to be free.

Baka? Ichi-Baka! Your Hime's eatin' my cock like a fuckin' pro! He mocked as her fingers squeezed into his sack, her tongue driving a loud moan from the hollow. As her nails suddenly dug in he cried out, "Fuck!"

At his curse her squeeze softened and she took him into her mouth as far as she could. The wet pressure of her mouth shot pleasure hot and sharp through him and the hollow's hips bucked. Her throat muscles squeezed the head of his penis like a fist as she gagged and pulled her mouth away from him to gasp and cough.

"Come here," Hichigo grumbled frustrated and set on burying himself deep and hard inside her as she stopped touching him altogether.

"N-no Heika-kun you just took me by surprise," Orihime's fingers circled his length as if holding him in place. It was a pretty good strategy. The hollow was practically a butterfly pinned to a board. "How else would you fit it?"

That is a fuckin' fantastic question! Ichi-baka why haven't you fucked this girl stupid yet? Hichigo wanted to let his new Hime teach herself how to deep throat his penis but he realized after a moment that he was getting nothing from the baka. Ichigo?

Distracted as Orihime resumed her promising first blow job Hichigo closed his eyes and shouted. Heika! The girl's lips slipped down his already wet flesh tasting and sucking even as he hit the back of her throat. Heika? Answer me Ichi—"Ah! Fuck…Hime-chan," His fingers dug into her hair her hairpins stabbing into the palms of his hands as he pressed in to hold her head in place as she relaxed her muscles enough to take a few more inches into her tight throat. "That's it! More…"

As her muscles spasmed around him he grunted, his hips lifting to thrust the last few inches down her throat and her nails dug into the flesh of his thighs as she fought not to gag and pull her head back off of him. "So…fuckin'…good…Ah!"

The quick up and down stroke of her mouth made him shudder with pleasure but before he could cry out from it he felt his power over Ichigo's body switch off. He started to raise his spiritual pressure to combat the violent attempt to seize control by Ichigo.

With a gasp Orihime looked up at the massive flare of spiritual pressure. "Heika-kun? Are you okay—oh!" She gasped as strong hands gripped her arms and yanked her up.

"…"

"Heika-kun-"

"Ichigo."

"What-"

"Please," I gasped as the sweat beaded and coursed down my face from the exertion of tearing free from the mask and taking back my body. "Don't ever call me-"

The spiritual pressure was suddenly stifling but only because I wasn't ready, like breathing in water I had to open my gills. Needless to say I was not thinking of sex even if I was covered in the sexiest redheaded blanket in existence. Before I could try and feel out who the spiritual pressure belonged too a loud splintering sound met my ears and Orihime screamed.

I rolled Orihime off of me onto the bed, closer to the wall so my body was between her and the door, jerking the covers over her as running footsteps followed the crash of the door and a familiar voice shouted, "Inoue?!"

Grabbing for my pants to get at my badge I hesitated long enough-terrified of my shinigami form feeding him-that I was still standing there in my naked human body as the door slammed open and Renji had Zabimaru at my throat. "What the hell Renji?"

"Drop the goddamn badge."

I felt the blade start to break the skin and scowled, "Renji-"

"Don't fucking talk to me mother fucker-"

"Renji!" Rukia's voice called exasperated but as she came into sight she had her zanpakuto unsheathed and unsealed in her hand. "I knew I should have made you stay at the shouten! Lower your sword!"

"Rukia he-"

"Abarai-kun please keep your vibrant head about you," A familiar sing-song voice called. "I'm sure Orihime-chan would appreciate keeping all of her doors intact as would Kurosaki-kun and his equally vibrant head."

Urahara appeared behind Rukia, his cane resting on his shoulder blue eyes peering across at me from under his striped hat. Did everyone have to see me naked?

Rukia shoved Renji and he jerked Zabimaru back least he slice my throat open. "Inoue are you okay?" She moved past me as if I weren't there and I really wished I wasn't.

"Is it you Ichigo?" Renji narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously Zabimaru still held pointed in my direction.

"Yes!"

"Kurosaki-kun if you would be so kind as to leave your body," Urahara requested his words accompanied, as I was accustomed, with the snap of his fan as he put the barricade of it up over his features. "If you need help…" He swung Benihime as if she were just a cane with the uncanny ability to separate soul self from physical shell—heh—guess it does that outside the cane wrappings in a way.

"No, can I put my fucking pants on?" I asked using the irritation to cloud the humiliation of the moment.

"Of course."

The second I had gotten my fly fastened Urahara's hand thrust forward lazily and caught me on the forehead with the tip of his cane. As the flaming skull struck it sunk in catching my soul and making me stumble back a few steps.

Everyone was silent and still the few seconds it took my body to fall to the ground with a thud that had me wincing, glad my hard-on had eased or that face-forward fall might have maimed me.

"You're fine."

I grumbled to myself as I tried to hide my mounting fear. Any of the other times I'd battled back the mask my hollow retreated into whatever hole—skyscraper I guess—he came from.

My guess was he needed to recoup. Maybe recharge?

This knowledge didn't keep me from expecting him to come crashing back as soon as I spent anytime in shinigami form, so Urahara's actions only helped my hollow. I met Urahara's eyes from between his fan and hat brim and suddenly I was itching to ask him if he knew Shinji.

"Urahara-san are you sure-" Renji started, still livid.

"Kurosaki-kun do you need our help?"

"I…" I hesitated and turned to meet Rukia's violet eyes, sensing that she was staring at me from her spot beside a blanket-swaddled Orihime. "Don't worry I'm perfectly fine now," I lied and tried not to grimace outwardly.

"Gomennasai!" Urahara snapped his fan closed again and bowed as he apologized then he twirled on his geta as agile as a fucking ballerina. "Abarai-kun? Rukia-sama?"

"B-but-" Rukia sputtered and looked to Orihime for help.

"It's okay Kuchiki-san," Orihime was blushing and trying to bury her face in the blankets. "Really!"

Rukia stood and kept my gaze until she was only a step away, peering up into my eyes silently a few moments. Hopefully my brown human eyes comforted her—made her believe my lies.

Shit before tonight I'd foolishly believed my lies. The lies I told all my shinigami friends, school friends and Shinji…

The vizards masked face filled my view but I knew I couldn't leave Orihime now. By the look on her face I knew Rukia had whispered an explanation while I was getting inspected by Urahara, whatever it was that they'd decided was wrong with me.

It seemed hat-and-clogs knew what to look for. I resisted peering out the door over Renji to see his green and white hat. He knew to look for a hollow mask on my shinigami form…I can't forget to ask Shinji about him.

"All right, let's go Renji," Rukia turned to her childhood friend. "Ichigo is okay," Their eyes met and he was still very angry. "Don't avenge me to make it right, it won't."

Renji wanted to object but Rukia put a pushing hand on the small of his back. "Rukia-"

"He wants to stay with Inoue," Rukia whispered and I wasn't sure the girl in the bed could hear it—or the bitterness in those words. I watched her go; having a much commoner battle of wills with myself—still no hollow—wanting to let Rukia know my plight.

I love you too Rukia…I gritted my teeth. Renji let himself be pushed as I caught the sleeve of Rukia's shihakushō. "Rukia?"

"Ichigo?" She didn't turn to look at me and I let go of her sleeve.

"Some of it was true, still…I-I can't really be with anyone right now...but," I closed my eyes as she finally looked at me my words sounding so feeble to my ears. "Rukia, Inoue needs-"

"Don't be a baka Ichigo," Rukia's face was solemn, I'd seen it like this a few times. Mostly it was when she fought someone and got wordy, a trait I think she learned from Byakuya, must be a nobility thing.

I called it the "Good-Bye Face" because it was reserved for when she meant business and a foe was close to saying good-bye to life. Also, she had worn it the night Byakuya and Renji took her back to Soul Society to be executed.

"I'm almost a hundred Ichigo, with the emotional maturity and experience to go with it. If Inoue could boast that much you'd have a cat fight on your hands right now baka," Rukia whispered since Renji was waiting across the living room at the front door. "I…understand. She needs you. Be happy, Kurosaki."

I gave a single soft nod as she moved to Renji and they locked the door behind them and the obviousness of their spiritual pressure faded. I turned and Orihime was still swathed in her blankets standing behind me.

"Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime whispered her voice trembling and almost too quiet for me. Sharper ears in shinigami form.

"Could I get back in my body?" I asked.

"Of course," Orihime nodded vigorously.

I quickly climbed in, feeling safer in my skin. With the hollow weakened even a little I've been given just a short extension, enough time to show Orihime how sorry I am before I have to hunt down Shinji.

He had said vizards, like there were a lot more of them than just he and I. I bit my lip in worry before turning back to the beautiful girl. Maybe I shouldn't go alone?

"I love you," I blurted out and frowned, not my usual scowl. I realized I had to go alone, the fucking hollow made it too crowded and too dangerous for my Hime.

"That was you?"

"No," I looked down as her eyes lit up with that sure optimism she always had in overabundance. "But it was in my mind to read easily," I admitted. "I felt it—still feel it, Orihime."

"I've loved you a long time Kurosaki-kun-"

"Ichigo?" I suggested.

Orihime nodded in agreement, "Ichigo-kun?"

"Ichigo," I corrected again and she blushed and nodded. "I'm so sorry this happened."

"What?" She surprised me by having tears in her eyes when I was finally able to meet them. "Why would you regret…"

"I don't mean…" I floundered as my inexperience and total ineptitude with girls made me let slip, "T-the sex—shit!" I grimaced and turned away to hide a blush.

A soft giggle and I jumped slightly as warm arms curled around my waist blankets and the hint of her shape pressed against my back. "I thought you regretted being with me."

"Never!" I turned in her arms and she looked up at me with a small smile. "I wish it had been me."

"Are-are you leaving?" She murmured.

I nearly bit my tongue; I was brave enough to put my arms around her, blankets and all, after all I'd held her before, carried her places while I flash stepped. "You don't want me to leave? I thought after what I'd done you'd never want to speak to me again Orihime. You should!"

"But…" Orihime objected softly as she lowered her eyes to stare at my chest. "I love you, and you were there weren't you?"

"I was. I was trying to get free…" I started and she struck me mute with a soft finger across my lips.

"I'm tired of not telling you how I feel inside. I've loved you for so long…" Orihime's eyes were luminous with tears and I had no idea how to stop them. "I want to make you happy…Like…Rukia," Her nose crinkled and the tears tumbled over her lashes and down her cheeks to catch on my thumb as I cupped her face for that purpose. "When she came back from Soul Society that was the first time I've seen you smile in a long time."

"Don't cry Orihime-"

"But I was so jealous," She whispered and instead of either sadness or remembered jealousy it was anger glaring in her beautiful eyes. "I couldn't make you happy. I thought of so many things…" She lowered her eyes staring at my bare chest and I felt as if her gaze was burning my skin. "But I was scared. I'm so tired of that," Orihime closed her eyes and leaned forward to rest her head on my chest her arms squeezing tighter around me.

Her voice was muffled but as she spoke her warm breath flowered out across my chest, "All she did was…be there…"

"I'm sorry, I've been having problems," I tried to take a deep breath but my body shivered as I exhaled. "See what happened tonight?"

"I'd be moody too," She teased. "You weren't there with us in class everyday, your face was so dark, it wasn't even close to the usual bad boy look you try to hide behind," Orihime lifted her head again and I was surprised when she tilted her head back and rose on tiptoe until out lips met.

"Orihime?" I groaned as I pulled my head back, tall enough to keep our lips inches apart.

Eyes roving over my face as if committing it to memory Orihime's expression brightened significantly as her grey eyes fastened on my lips. "You're still going through it, yet…"

"Yet?"

"You're smiling," She whispered and had enough tiptoe left to catch my mouth again. I didn't resist this time; let our tongues play together between our lips my fingers sinking into her soft hair. It was much different to kiss her while I had control and was alone in my skin, she tasted so good. "Don't leave."

I had to focus to stop trying to devour her from the lips down as her words had meaning I knew I'd better pay attention to. "If I'm not there for otousan's morning wake up ass kicking he'll freak out. I'll never get to stop him from talking to that damn poster—Shit, Rukia…" Where the hell could I go, Rukia would be at the clinic?

"She's going to stay at Urahara-san's with Abarai-san," She blushed and tightened her lips into a line, as if that had been a little too much information divulged.

I told myself I didn't deserve to feel jealous. Not only did I have the most spectacular girl in my arms, I knew I couldn't be with either of them right now. I couldn't be with anyone right now. Even if Rukia was staying at Urahara's shouten I shouldn't go home. I couldn't imagine what that bastard might do to my family, Karin, Yuzu. I shivered but hid it easily by stepping away from Orihime.

I'd have to find Shinji tonight.

"I have to go."

"Why?"

"It's not your fault," I said immediately. "I'm…I lied."

"About the hollow?"

I nodded and saw the widening of her eyes, "I told Urahara I was fine. Truthfully Orihime, I'm fine now but I don't know how long it might last, and I have to search KarakuraTown for the person that has the power to help me."

"Who?"

I shook my head, who knew how Shinji would react, he was a freaking weirdo. I guess I really have no room to talk, look what I've been doing tonight to the women I care about. "I have to go; I don't know how much time I have."

"Will you…" She stared down, her eyes somewhere above my belly button, and I flexed self-consciously. Way braver than me, she was able to meet my eyes as she asked, "Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?"

"Of course," I leaned down to grab my shirt off the lamp it had landed on after being carelessly tossed away by my hollow. I felt Orihime take my hand and pull me away from the article of clothing and back to her small bed. "My shirt-"

"When you leave…" Orihime said with a soft shake of her head releasing her tense grip on the blankets as she crawled into the bed. She let go so she could arrange the blankets back on the bed managing not to let even a brief flash of-oh fuck, she was still naked!-skin show as she fumbled around. "Come hold me?"

I always thought a shunpo was impossible while inside my body, but that was the only way I could explain how I got in Orihime's bed so fast. A giggle floated over her shoulder as she presented her back to me, her hand reaching to grab mine to guide it around her. She pulled until my bare chest was pressed to her naked back, our bodies fitting together, making me thankful-and yet so utterly disappointed-that I'd put my pants back on.

The warmth of her breasts pressed down against my forearm and I remembered—oddly like a third person—the feel of them in my hands, my mouth. I gave a small cough to clear my throat and tried to relax my body and spiritual pressure so she could sleep. I was lousy at hiding it but I had enough control over it to keep it calm, it could be abrasive when I was wrecked emotionally and it didn't make for the best sleeping situation. It could be bad, Rukia had complained about the depressing dreams I'd been making her have since she returned from Soul Society.

The fact that the girl I'd loved for most of my adolescent life was naked, in bed, and already in my arms seemed to be the only thing I could fit in my head. To tell you the truth I think the head I was presently thinking with couldn't hold much more than that on a good day. Today was a bad day. Go to sleep so I can get out of here, I thought desperately. Who thought I'd want to leave Orihime naked in a bed to find that freak Shinji?

Must be the tongue ring…

Chapter Two