(Yoshi. A new update before the first whistle is blown. Many thanks, especially to : aiko1991, absolutefaith, silvertwilightgemini, Annabelle4.0, Anonymous Starbucks Lover, LS77, naleah, Ermilus, himelove22, Ichihime94, yoona-unnie, nypsy, Renji4eva, and the two guest reviewers. Oh yeah, thanks to nypsy for telling me about the lack of translation for the kanji or hanzi characters. (恋情) is a play on Renji's name ( 恋次). Separately, the two characters could translate into a lot of meaning and even together, there are two to three explanations but I am going with (恋情) = (lovesickness). And as for (恋姬), (恋) = (yearn) and (姬), hey, you all should know this word, it is (princess). Of course. Hnmm, Renji's name could be a title to a new story.)

(恋情)

Nobody moved.

Nobody wanted to say anything.

There was no disguising it.

They were totally interested in the scene in front them.

It was like watching a high definition movie in true surround-sound stereo.

A romantic movie.

The protagonist, a scowling sullen hero who might or might not understand how he feels about the main female lead. No matter how differently he treats her from all others.

The female character, a blushing beauty, who everyone knows loves the dense hero but is too afraid to say anything lest it would jeopardize their friendship and who fears it is a case of unrequited love.

Whether a tear jerker with a happy ending or otherwise, that was what they were waiting for it to unfold, right in front of their eyes.

And they continued to watch in silence.

The protagonist still has his hand on her wrist, his fingers softly encircled her slim wrist like a cuff. Was he afraid of her running away from... him. He continued to gaze at her with his ever present scowl softening a little at the girl with her head bowing down.

"Inoue,"

And the three males unabashedly, moved closer.

There was no response from the heroine, instead the wind softly answered him with a light breeze making her satiny hair danced and sparkled from the sun's smile.

"Inoue,"

And the hand on the tiny wrist journeyed, slightly wavering down to her small soft hand, he hesitatingly laced his fingers with her small hand, heart pounding furiously as he gauges how her reaction will be.

A soft surprised gasp.

The head remained facing the ground.

But,

Her smaller hand started to intertwine with his larger rough hand.

The warmth from such a small hand jolted him, he forgotten how to breathe, he could not breathe.

He did not care.

All he cared was the hand in his.

And the girl.

"Inoue," He wanted to see her face.

He wanted to see her smiling at him.

But even with her hand in his, she still did not want... or dare? to face him.

He gave her one more chance.

"Inoue,"

Nothing.

And then he grasped her hand tightly and pulled her towards him.

At this unexpected gesture, Inoue Orihime finally lifted her head.

She caught glimpses of playfulness in his rich chocolate eyes before she steadied herself by putting her arm up as her school bag dropped with a soft thud onto the ground.

Her trembling hand,

It landed palm down on his hard muscular chest.

Directly on his frantically beating heart.

The beautiful blushing female lead gazes shyly at the smirking protagonist who actually looks not so surly.

The audience of three moved together as one, even closer to the match made in heaven couple.

They continued to watch with rapt interest.

Abarai Renji wished his short fellow shinigami was here. She could be doing her godawful terrible, (not that he will ever admit to that in her face), drawings of the two sigh-worthy leads.

Ishida Uryuu prayed the obtuse idiot will not say anything to hurt Inoue-san. Inoue-san and her fragile heart.

Sado Yasutora wondered what type of music was most appropriate for the scene playing out in front of them.

Inoue Orihime could not do anything. She was frozen by the rich velvety chocolate eyes and the intensity of his gaze on her.

Kurosaki Ichigo, well, he knew what he wanted to do.

And he wanted witnesses for what he was going to do.

He looked at the girl with her hand on his heart.

Was it a sign?

"Inoue,"

Hearts started to flutter, a large hand tightened its grip on the smaller one, a pair of quivering lips, a sharp intake of air, a dry mouth, a swallow, a look full of heated determination,

"I w..."

BEEP!

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Abarai fukutaichou's hollow detecting device chose at that very moment to go off.

All pairs of eyes were on him as he fumbled to silence the wretched device.

"Sorry, sorry." Renji apologized profusely as he finally muted the damned interrupter.

He felt embarrassed and perhaps, a little worried.

Three pairs of eyes were giving him death glares, well, two and a half. For with Sado, you can only see one eye.

He was not duly worried about the deadly glares.

It was the fourth pair of sweet honey eyes that has him concerned.

They were filled with so much sad disappointment.

And they looked unnaturally bright.

Was he going to make her cry?

He did not want to see that expression on her face.

He did not know why it brought on a tightening of his chest.

Or

Could it be his heart?

What could he do to make that expression go away and this simmering uneasy feeling to vanish as well.

"How many?"

"Huh?" Renji heard the question but he did not understand it.

"How many?" Ichigo repeated resignedly as he bent down to pick up Orihime's school bag. His scowl deepened. "The hollows, you idiot!" He was not feeling so happy right now.

"Oh. It's alright. I will deal with it." Renji gave a sheepish grin. He glanced hopefully at the young couple. "You continue with what you were doing." He almost pleaded at Ichigo for the princess's sake.

"Please check for the numbers, Abarai-kun." Ishida wanted to know if he should lend a hand.

"I told you, I have got it." Nevertheless he did as he was told as he started to look at the screen.

They saw his eyes widening as he seemed to be counting silently as to what was shown to him.

Renji looked up suddenly to see everybody staring intently at him. He was much too late to wipe the shock expression from his face. He knew everyone has noticed it but still he put up a nonchalant front.

He faced Ichigo and Orihime first, "Liked I said, I can handle it. You two continue with whatever you were going to do." He gave them a little confident smirk before turning to Ishida and Sado. "The two of you, don't disturb the happy couple. You are coming with me." Eyebrows twitching and a small jerk of the head, Renji tried his best to be discreet.

Without another word, he went off in a flash.

Ishida and Sado looked at each other warily and then they too were gone.

Ichigo and Orihime were left standing to stare at the backs of their friends.

Ichigo felt the soft hand tugging his rougher hand and even before he looked at her, he knew as to what she was going to say.

"Kurosaki-kun," Orihime started to say timidly.

Ichigo seemed to be in an internal struggle over what she was going to say but, "Inoue, shall we go as well?"

She nodded agreeably.

"And Inoue, don't overdo it." Ichigo cautioned her somewhat sternly as he led her by the hand to the fight of extermination of the hollows.

Orihime gazed fondly at the strong back and instinctively, her hand laced itself closer to his.

She whispered faithfully,

"I know."

(恋姬)

(Are you all excited? Are you ready? I wonder if there are a lot mistakes for this update. I am so giddy with joy over the world cup, I can't see straight. Please forgive any mistakes and do let me know of them. I will try to update as fast as I can but mom has already resigned herself to the fact of two football zombies masquerading as her husband and daughter for the next month or so. )