A/N: I am very surprised that some of you thought this was a one shot! Very shocking indeed. I suck at one shots so do not expect any from me!

I'd like to say sorry for taking so long to update this! I've been getting ill lately and Track season has just started so I've been running a lot.

Thank you for all those reviews! It just warms my heart that you can give me the time of day to share your thoughts on this story!

Kiya. nypsy. seireitei reject. Humm. darkest passion of love. yoyogigi125. Blitch. pchan712. halfdemonfan. XxXSkullCookiesXxXSlipknot. (and the last two have no name)

Thank you so much~ T-T

Please read on and find out what happens next.

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Asking Obvious Question's

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"What?" Rukia screeched to the taller red headed shinigami. Her face was filled with anger and denial at what he had just flat out told her. "How could someone break into a heavily guarded cell where the prisoner is sent for a two-thousand years sentence?"

Renji sighed and crossed his arms. He had just been as surprised as her when his captain Kuchiki had told him just a few hours earlier. The older man had said it with anger in his naturally soft voice. But right now wasn't the time to ask obvious questions. "That's what I want to know, but now isn't the time Rukia."

"Then when will be the time," she sneered.

"Whenever Soul Society puts a date for the video they have of them talking to Aizen in his cell," he answered with a deeper frown. "I still can't believe they got that close to him without our knowledge…"

"They really got that close to him?" The petite girl's anger flared more at his comment. What were those guards doing? They could have broken him free! And if they had broken him free….who knows what might have happened if he got close to Orihime or Ichigo in this world….

"Yes," he grunted. "They know someone entered and exited, but they don't know the span of time they were talking. That's why they're holding a meeting in a few days to show the recordings. We'll know the time span by then."

"We're still healing from the war…." Rukia murmured. Most of the captains were still injured and in need of treatment every day. "If he were to come back now we wouldn't stand a chance!"

Renji frowned at her statement. "How do you know that Rukia?" His tone wasn't angry or sounding at least a bit upset. He was being faithful in his friends, unlike her. She was already predicting the outcome of a battle that might never even happen. The raven haired girl hid her face from his view. How could she be like that? What was wrong with her?

"I'm sorry…" she apologized. Rukia felt tears gather in her eyes. She felt weak at the moment for being such a baby about it. Then again she was thinking she deserved it for not having hope for her friends in the future. She crossed her arms and hugged herself tightly. She choked back a soft sob. The raven haired girl felt arms circle around her small waist.

The crimson haired man wasn't sure of what he was doing, but seeing his childhood friend crying like this angered him. She wasn't the type to just break down and cry. She was strong, brave, noble, and beautiful. He was sure of all of that, determined even. And right now she needed someone to cry to, so why not him? He owed it to her for leaving her for over forty years alone and scared with the Kuchiki clan.

Let her cry, she needed it.

Giving out another choked sob, Rukia clutched onto Renji's black shinigami robes not ever wanting to let them go. Her face was against his muscled and hard chest. She felt his hand bring her closer to him in a tight hug. The warmth of his body made her feel better. Her sobs turned into small sniffles. Her hands slowly drove up his tattooed chest making him grunt at the weird scorching feeling covering the area where her fingers touched. She rested her hands around his thick neck. She lifted her head letting her big purple orbs meeting beady brown ones.

The taller man's head was going down for what seemed like hours to both of them. His eyes were locked on her soft lips. His hands gripped her hips. He got closer and closer till he felt her hot breath mixed with his own. None of them bothered to care about the cold breeze starting to blow their way since they were keeping each other warm with their body heat.

Do you feel the same way that I do for you, Renji?

His thin lips lay against her small pink ones. It was a feeling of peace between them. A spark of what could have happened years ago but both were too stubborn to admit to it. Too busy to let emotion take them on the streets of pure ecstasy.

This kiss felt like heaven.

Maybe I shouldn't ask such obvious question's….

But like all good things, it had to come to an end when both realized what was happening. The short petite girl looked up at him with a flushed face, not really ready to end that kiss just yet. Her dark violet orbs widened as the warm arms circling her were gone in an instant. She felt cold and alone without them. She reached out to once again grasp the black ropes that she had just cried on moments ago, but her digits curled up only to meet air.

Rukia had wanted to look up and see those warm dark chocolate brown eyes that stared at her with the look of love and care. Her big eyes met only the crescent shaped moon and twinkling stars in the dark night sky.

She had not ever felt this lonely before, not even when she was with the Kuchiki's. She had a feeling of emptiness inside of her now hollow like body.

A single tear was able to roll down from her eye, she walked back to the house and went inside shutting the door firmly behind her.

You stupid pineapple….

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As much as the young girl tried, she just could not seem to focus in school. It was strange that she couldn't get her head out of the gutter. She knew that her usual day dreams were dismissed due to her worry over whether out not Aizen was really locked away or not. She would admit to fearing him, but deep down she knew that Ichigo and the rest of her friends could somehow defeat him again if that ever happened.

But this time, she was helping.

She was tired of being the damsel in distress. She had enough of herself being weak. She wanted to be a savior, not a captive.

In secret, she would go to the Vizards lair and ask Hachi to train her so she could improve with Tsubaki. It was time for her to take part in the battle and be one of the fighters that defended her people. She will protect the ones she loved no matter what the cost.

No more being the princess who needed the darn prince to come to her aid, it was the prince's turn to be saved!

Orihime giggled at the thought of her being the one to save Ichigo from Aizen. It was very funny to imagine him in the uniform she had worn during her captivity. She thought though, that she would look heroic in his bakai.

Oh yes, she would run about the town slaying hollows with Zangestu. She would fight off Aizen and bring peace back to the human world and Soul Society, cause she was just that noble.

When the bell had rang (which was unnoticed be the auburn haired girl who was still having her 'being Ichigo for the day' fantasy), Tatsuki stood up and walked over to her best friend. She watched with mild amusement at how she had an ear-to-ear grin about whatever it was she was thinking of.

I wonder what she's thinking about…. Tatsuki gave her friend a closer look and she saw the small tint of red to her cheeks. The strongest girl in their school almost felt like rolling her eyes, already knowing what her ditsy friend was thinking about. She sometimes wondered about her friend's taste in men. Orihime was very popular with the guys, so she would think that her friend was the type to want a bad boy. And it just so happened that the apparent 'bad boy' was also one of Tatsuki's best friends.

Sometimes I wonder if God brought me here just so I could be the one to get them together. She shook her head and chuckled at the thought. Her two best friends were in love with one another.

A sudden pang hit at her heart.

Tatsuki knew what this feeling was, it wasn't new to her at all.

Jealousy.

As much as she hated to admit it, she was slightly jealous that her friends were able to find their perfect match. She felt a little left out from the circle now though. Ever since she saw that Orihime's feelings for Ichigo had turned into love, the auburn haired girl had grown farther and farther apart from her. Tatsuki didn't know if she should be happy that Orihime was in love and was going to get it back, or angered that Ichigo was taking her away.

She didn't know what to do if these feelings were to grow. Would she try to interfere with their blossoming relationship, or would she back off and let them be happy?

Dammit…. What am I going to do?

Not wanting to wait any longer for the auburn haired healer to wake up, Tatsuki lightly shook her shoulder to wake her up.

"Orihime," she whispered. She shook her body harder with more force now. "Wake up; I have to go to practice."

A sudden blush tinted Orihime's pale cheeks. She shifted in her seat and turned her head to face Tatsuki with her eyes still closed.

"Kurosaki-kun…." she murmured, a bit of drool escaping her pink lips.

Tatsuki frowned. "Why dream of him?" she asked herself out loud, not really caring if someone heard her. "Orihime…. What is he really to you?"

Does he mean more to you now then me?

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Ichigo slowly shut the sliding door of the class room behind him. Tatsuki had told him during lunch that Orihime wanted to meet him about something after school in the class room. He knew that she wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, so he accepted without question.

A few feet away stood Inoue Orihime. She wasn't facing him, but her back was. Her small hands were clutching onto her yellow school sweater jacket which was open. Her ribbon was nowhere to be seen.

That's strange of Inoue…. She usually wears her ribbons with everything… Ichigo thought. He shoved his hands into his pockets. He glanced up at her back.

"You wanted to ask me something Inoue?" He was still looking at her. Her fingers moved up to her white collared. She turned her head to look at him. Her grey eyes were fluttering with her long lashes and her cheeks flustered. She stepped closer to him.

"I wanted to tell you," she gulped with her lower lip quivering, "th-that I…. Kurosaki-kun I-" she stopped and got closer to him. She had undone a few buttons on her shirt revealing her pink laced bra.

Then her grey skirt dropped to the ground so Ichigo could see pink panties with one single strawberry in the middle.

"Inoue…. What are you doing?" Ichigo's back hit the sliding door. His face was completely red from the sight before him. He tried to look away but his teenage hormones were starting to take control.

Her blush was still there as she was only a few inches from him. "I-" she lost her balance and fell into his hard chest.

His hands went to her hips, trying to keep her balance. Ichigo could feel her soft breasts push against his hard sculpted chest causing a small groan to escape his lips. Her big orbs peeked out from his chest to see his reaction. Her small hands took grasp of his shirt.

"Inoue…."

"I really like you Kurosaki-kun," she confessed. She blinked back a few tears that threated to escape. "I guess you could say it's more then really like though…" she giggled at her words. To say she liked him would be a big fat lie.

Because it was so much more then that.

"So…. Just for a little bit…" she cupped his face with her small hands. Her face was growing dangerously close to his. "I'd like to…." Her soft breath left a tingling sensation on his lips," …at least… try."

Her lips crashed into his. Ichigo's hands still held her hips firmly in place but with a tighter grip then before. To him, her lips tasted of sweet strawberries, her skin was like smooth velvet, and her fragrance was of honey and cinnamon. She was just too perfect.

He felt her small hands go from his chest to around his neck. He bent his head down to deepen the kiss.

And just when he thought things couldn't get better, she grasped his spiky orange hair into her small digits.

A small moan escaped her lips. She kissed the corner of his lips then trailed down to his neck giving it kisses that sent him into frenzy of want. How was it that she was so good? Was she truly not as innocent as he and the others had thought? Was it all just one it all just one big act to hide what she truly wanted?

If it was, Ichigo surely wasn't complaining.

"Yo, Ichigo!"

Ichigo paused. "Eh?"

His eyes opened to only squint from the rays of light coming from the window. He blinked a few times to recognize his homeroom but there was no sign of Orihime half-naked….

"Hey," Tatsuki practically yelled into his ear. "You getting up or what? Some people have to go places!"

He looked up at his childhood friend who had her hands on her hips and her brows furrowed, and behind her stood the woman of his desire. Or at least that was what his dreams were trying to tell him.

Damn, I really am a pervert… Ichigo thought. His own signature scowl deepened with the thought. He had to be the type of person who held in their lustful desire.

And so it was decided, well, at least to him it was.

Kurosaki Ichigo was a closet pervert.

Unfortunately, Inoue Orihime was the girl who was once again in another man's dreams.

But this poor man didn't know that she would have loved to be in any dream he had on any day in this lifetime.

He was indeed, a stupid man.

"Kurosaki-kun…. Are you feeling ok?" Orihime looked over her best friends shoulder hoping to get a better look at her crushes position. She hadn't seen him so dazed since their battle with Aizen over a year ago. Was he also having the strange sensation that she was? That weird feeling that their battle might not yet be over?

"Maybe I should punch him or something…" muttered Tatsuki. She glanced back at Orihime as if she was waiting for the "ok" to do so.

"Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime's eyes went wide as she scolded her friend, hoping that she was not being serious.

Tatsuki chuckled. "I was kidding Hime. Although I do think he might need it."

The auburn haired girl pouted. She was nowhere near her friend's laugh at hurting Kurosaki-kun. He was just peacefully sleeping like she was just moments ago. He had done nothing wrong as far she could see. Besides, he deserved to get some relaxation after all the things he has been through because of her.

Yes, she still blamed herself for all of his troubles. He had died twice for her and was forced to come back from death to safe her. She was indeed a sorry excuse for a friend. She could not even protect him the way she had wanted to the day she had left.

In her head, Orihime could only bring herself down mentally. She had been useless during the war. A simple princess in distress from her point of view. All she did was sit and wait for Ichigo and the others to save her sorry butt the whole entire time. She was just dead weight. An extra object that was not asked for.

What good am I to them?

"Have you tried punching him?"

Orihime and Tatsuki both gazed across the half asleep substitute shinigami's desk to see the petite raven haired Kuchiki. Her thin eyebrows were raised with question. She crossed her arms over her small chest.

"I would, but Orihime won't let me," Tatsuki complained, gaining a playful glare from the princess. She chuckled again. "So how can we do it without hurting your precious 'Kurosaki-kun', Orihime?"

The princess's jaw hit the floor at what she had just said. Rukia suppressed her a giggle. I like where this conversation is going, not to mention the baka who is sitting right beside us. He might over hear which is probably what Arisawa is hoping for….

The healer tried her best not to burst out and run for shelter. Did Tatsuki-chan really have to do this just to get her to admit her feelings out loud? Orihime glanced at Ichigo's sleeping form. Was he awake? Had he heard what Tatsuki had just practically screamed out to the world?

Was he discussed with what had just been said?

The last question left her slightly depressed. She had all these feelings bottled up inside of her. She had wanted to let it all out and tell Tatsuki the truth of her demise, but everything that has happened over the past year has kept her from doing so. Rather then explaining every single little detail to her best friend, she shut her out completely. Orihime knew she was being cruel to her friends. Her guilt never stopped eating away at her heart. But all these secrets were protecting Tatsuki.

Orihime promised herself the day she returned that she would never again be the damsel in distress.

This time, she would be the savior.

"Tatsuki-chan!" Never again…. "Kurosaki-kun might be offended by that." The beauty tried to hide her blush by making her hair get in her face a little bit.

She was not going to force him to lover her back. Ichigo was perfectly capable of making his own decisions, so who was she to get in his way? Let him fall in love with some other girl it meant his happiness. If she truly loved him then she could let him go.

Right?

Or maybe…. she wouldn't let him go without a fight.

Yes, because right now, she was a fighter, not a prisoner.

"I…. I think I'm going to go ahead and leave for home," Orihime stated, looking a bit dazed from her thoughts.

Seeming a bit surprised by the healer's statement, Tatsuki just nodded her head. "See you tomorrow then…."

"I'll walk with you." Rukia closed her eyes and gave a small huff at her last remark. She grabbed the auburn haired beauty's hand before she could reject her offer or pure kindness.

"K-Kuchiki-san," Orihime stuttered as they left through the door, leaving the childhood friends alone in the class room.

The shorter girl paid no mind to her small talk. She kept a firm grip on her hand even as they reached the exit of the school. The sun was setting and for some reason the petite shinigami seemed a bit frazzled. She paused making Orihime walk into her back.

"Gomen…"

Rukia turned to face her.

"Sorry to ask such an obvious question, Inoue," Rukia said. "But do you like Ichigo?"

Eh?

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A/N: I had to add Tatsuki's own personal view of course, cuz she needs some emotion in this.

The summary (Which did not match the 1st chapter and led some of you to think it was a one-shot series) will not take effect for a few more chapters, so please bear with me!

And yes I know the title is very strange but I just love it! I don't think I'll change it~!

Thanks for reading! =D

Hope to see you review!