Disclaimer: I, ShinigamiKuro, do not own Bleach. My use of these characters (however warped they are from their original intent) does not mean that I own them. This fan fiction is an expression of my fandom, hence the word 'fan' added to 'fiction'.
Now that we have THAT clear…
This will be my second chapter of A Gift of Strawberry. I figured that since I was given no reviews for the first chapter that I should probably spice it up a bit…
So this is where the "smut" comes in; I apologize in advance if I am a terrible smut peddler, but, everyone has to start somewhere, right?
Oh, and the pairing? I'm evil, so I'm not telling. :D
A Gift of Strawberry
Two Minutes… In a Closet
"Listen, asshole!" Ichigo blinked as he lifted his head from a cerulean pillow to glance at the raven-haired female in the doorway to his room. Not Karin, certainly, as she was much too upset to be Karin.
There had been a slight mix-up; Isshin had told Tatsuki that she and Ichigo were to go shopping tomorrow, but the karate expert decided to reiterate the fact that he was going to the party tonight.
"Tatsuki, I already told you; I'm busy."
"Yeah, busy laying in your bed moping! What is your problem, Ichigo? You used to be a good guy!"
Isshin then came behind Tatsuki, laying a gentle hand upon her shoulder. He murmured something to her, to which her eyes widened.
"O-Oh, Ichigo… I didn't mean to… Bring up your mom."
"Don't worry about it. Just go."
"Ichigo." Tatsuki's normal demeanor of pep and anger faded; she sat upon his bed, staring down at him with a tender smile.
"C'mon, Ichi…" She giggled; she used to call him that all of the time while they were enrolled in the dojo. Her fingers ran up his clothed torso gradually, until she could dig her fingers into the side of his neck; her intent was to tickle him.
Ichigo was yet to react. He simply shut his eyes.
"Why are you still here?"
"Can't I just hang out?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you're being a pest."
Tatsuki frowned.
"You know what, Ichigo? You're going. I have an obligation to Orihime to bring her what she wants for her birthday, and she wants you there." Tatsuki easily yanked Ichigo out of bed by his head, simply dragging him out of his room.
Isshin smiled at the pair and began to trot down the stairs.
"Meet you at the party!"
Ichigo, meanwhile, squirmed mid-drag.
"H-Hey, Tatsuki, c'mon! You're gonna' rip my hair out!"
Partaaaaay!
"Ooh! Where is she?" Orihime tapped her fluffy slipper of pink against the floor. Never had she been so flustered in her life; she didn't really want Tatsuki to make Ichigo come, but, seeing as how Miss Arisawa was, it was unlikely that Ichigo wasn't going to show up tonight.
Orihime drew closer her pink robe of the same style as her slippers – the party had originally been intended exclusive for girls – as she felt a few lingering eyes betwixt the fabric of her robe and her flesh.
"Great party, Inoue! I've gotta' say, you're not lacking in… Seasoned friends." Mizuiro smiled innocently, licking his lips.
"Those are my relatives, Mizuiro." Orihime blinked, but soon turned away from him, as another approached. She smiled brightly; Sado always managed to cheer her up, even with the few words he spoke.
"Happy Birthday, Orihime," spoke the bass, not bothering to move any of his wavy auburn from his eyes. Then, he offered a slightly-crinkled box covered in green wrappings. "Here."
Orihime held the box carefully before she knelt down in front of a table, placing the present atop a stack of many others.
"I can't wait to open it, Sado!" She smiled up at the giant and he nodded before retreating; Sado wasn't one for words.
"Hee-hee-hee!" Keigo was the next to approach Orihime, looking positively pink. This alarmed Inoue, thus her overly-large eyes widened at his plight.
"Asano-san! You look ill!"
"N-No, it's fine…" Said lecher snickered mischievously, though he stumbled slightly. Orihime had to catch him in a hug, sighing. "Juss a little tipsy…"
Perfect timing.
"Get off of her, you pig!" Tatsuki drew back a fist to clobber Keigo right in the face; luckily enough, he merely stumbled to collide with the wall. No real damage was done.
"I-I… Tatsuki…"
"Oi, Inoue."
Orihime swallowed her heart as it leapt into her throat, all in the duration of a few seconds at most. There stood Ichigo, in her doorway, kicking off his school shoes. It had been chilly, thus he now unzipped a cloth jacket, plain, black, and lay it in a pile that had developed just next to Orihime's door.
"O-Oh! Hello, Kurosaki-kun!" She inwardly chided herself for being so happy at his presence; everyone would notice, as they had gotten the typical 'Hello, thank you for coming'. But, now, she had gone too far; she even waved both of her arms.
Ichigo gasped, making a slight sound of surprise at the amount of enthusiasm she'd put into greeting him. The Substitute Shinigami approached, glancing about to see the party's occupants; Sado, Rukia, Yuzu (who was currently attending to Keigo via a frozen bag of cabbage), Karin (who was scolding Yuzu for treating a pervert), Uryuu, and, of course, Orihime herself.
By this hour, around eleven o'clock or so, the adults had departed; not that this alarmed Orihime any, as she was used to having no authority around. Ever since her brother had been exorcised, she had felt quite at home, if a bit lonely.
Along with them, Mizuiro and Keigo left, Mizuiro rather irate that Orihime's relatives had left before he had gotten their numbers; Keigo was beginning to bruise nicely on his lower and upper lips.
Karin and Yuzu had left with Isshin, upon his request as he pointed a hand-gun at Ichigo, winking. Ichigo pretended he hadn't seen it, but others had.
"Now I know where your idiocy comes from, Kurosaki," Uryuu adjusted his glasses upon his nose, as he often did when speaking; or doing anything, really.
"Oh, don't say that, Uryuu!"
Orihime spoke firmly, though her voice was as soft as ever. It was enough to quiet the Quincy, regardless of its volume.
"I think Ichigo's father is charming!"
"Yeah. He's got a real way with the ladies."
Ichigo barely had time to end his sentence before he felt the searing pain once more in his left breast; that reiatsu!
"W-What the… Hell?"
"Ichigo!"
Rukia trotted over, glancing around casually; Uryuu had already bolted out the front door. Needless to say, Tatsuki was rather confused, thus Orihime surveyed her options.
She decided to lead Tatsuki down the corridor to her room, glancing over her shoulder to see a retreating Kurosaki. He nodded to her.
"We'll be back, Inoue… Keep Tatsuki safe."
The orange-haired female nodded with a flush; Ichigo was trusting her to keep someone safe?
"Tatsuki! Umm… Do you see this painting?"
"Orihime, what's wrong with you? You know I've seen this painting; it's the one your brother got you at that flea market."
"Well, yeah, but do you see it?" This was sure to keep them occupied for a while.
Outside
"Ban – kai!" Ichigo allowed his reiatsu to swirl around his blade to darken its hilt, gradually seeping up to the blade itself. When the metamorphosis was completely, Ichigo stood, clad in his normal Bankai attire; the tattered, black cloak, whose collar obscured a great deal of his face.
Ichigo joined Uryuu, obliterating a Hollow by destroying its mask with an upward slash. The Hollow shimmered into nothing.
"You're welcome, you reckless bastard."
"If I needed your help, I'd tell you."
There they were, Quincy and Shinigami, back-to-back. This wasn't an unfamiliar stance.
Uryuu let fly three arrows of spirit particles, pegging three approaching Hollows in the mask. Ichigo spun his sword around fiercely.
"Tensa Zangetsu!"
An alabaster light, curved, approached five Hollows, easily slicing through them.
Ichigo huffed, allowing his feet to touch ground once more. It was rather taxing for him to be using these techniques in the real world, as physical bodies were more favored.
Uryuu was able to finish off the remnants, as only a few resided after Ichigo had blasted them. The Quincy, too, ceased levitation, landing adjacent Ichigo. The Shinigami sheathed Zangetsu, grasping his badge and, plunging it into his chest, he felt himself make entry once more to his actual body.
The Quincy merely strode inside; he had the luxury of not having to change his body in any fashion to have to use his abilities. He merely made the bow diminish before he entered the party once more.
When the two returned, they saw a peculiar sight; Tatsuki was punching Sado in the chest, grinning. Rather hard, too, from the expression on her face. "Jeez, you're an ox, Chad!"
Sado did not flinch, nor did he act any different.
"I don't like to fight, so I had to build up my body."
The Quincy and Shinigami had not been spotted, thus, Ichigo began to plot. He cleared his throat.
"Sorry about that. Uryuu had to stitch up this seam." Ichigo lifted up his arm, pointing to his armpit. Uryuu merely narrowed his eyes, but he wouldn't blow their cover, thus, he had to play along.
"Yes, and, seeing my craftsmanship, you can see that there is no recollection of a tear." Once more, Uryuu readjusted his glasses.
Ichigo had already separated himself from Uryuu to approach Orihime, who currently lay on the couch, staring into the ceiling. A habit he wasn't too distant from.
"Inoue?"
"Mm? Oh, Kurosaki-kun… A-Are you… All right?" Orihime's large eyes widened as she looked him over quickly; she was used to him being covered in scratches, but today must've been minimal.
Even so, he felt he was obliged to answer. "Yes, I'm fine. Listen, Inoue…" Ichigo then averted his eyes, as he was on one knee just before her, and their proximity was unable to become any more so. Even the couch was low.
"Okay, game-time!"
Ichigo frowned, but glanced to Orihime.
"Sorry."
Ichigo was reassured as Orihime gave him a brief nod and he stood, tilting his head as he glanced at Tatsuki.
"Orihime! C'mon, you're playing, too!"
She blushed as she heard Tatsuki say her name; of course she couldn't be forgotten. It was her birthday. Reluctantly, the teenager stood.
Before she knew it, Ichigo and she were being pushed into the closet by Tatsuki, Sado having opened the door. He glanced at the both of them apologetically, though each of them were red by the time they were secluded in the closet. Tatsuki tugged on the beaded string to turn on the light and shut the door.
Sado merely leaned his large frame against the door, thus restricting pre-mature exit.
"K-Kurosaki…"
"Did you plan this?"
"No, no, Ich-… K-Kurosaki…"
She was beet red, though so was Ichigo, hence his eyes staring at the variety of shoe boxes which lay within Orihime's closet. Typical.
"Damn you, Tatsuki. I should've known she was up to something."
Ichigo simply shook his head, though his gaze finally rested on Orihime; why was she so sad? She sighed lightly, much to Ichigo's confusion.
"Inoue, what's wrong? You want me to get us out of he-," Orihime had grown quite bold in that moment as she launched herself at Ichigo, whimpering as her arms flew around his broad back. She sobbed, deeply, into his muscular chest.
"Ichigo," even more bold now, it seemed, "…do you know what it's like to want to protect something, and be so weak?"
Ichigo's eyes widened. He could only wrap his arms around her shoulder, banging against the closet door with his head.
"Let us out. Now. It's not funny anymore." Sado immediately obeyed, opening the door for the two of them once more.
"That wasn't even five minu-… Oh… Orihime…"
Tatsuki hushed herself as she saw the two. Orihime sniffled pathetically, though Ichigo simply guided her to the couch, allowing the teenager to sit in his lap. She did not object.
"I'm sorry, everyone; I'm far too weak."
"Orihime!"
Ichigo snapped, staring right at her, his brown eyes blazing.
"Look at me, Inoue."
She obeyed. She noticed that he was quite angry; most likely at her. Whatever the reason, she felt better. It showed that he cared.
"Someone who's gone through what you've gone through is not weak."
Orihime could only shake her head.
"When nii-sama died… I could barely stand it."
"But you did. And that's what makes you strong."
Only Orihime and Ichigo resided in the house now, as Tatsuki had advised everyone to leave in the midst of their conversation; Tatsuki, as well, had left, grinning.
"Happy Birthday, Orihime."
End: Okay, I lied. No smut, muwahaha! But, I may add another chapter, just so I can say that the story has some smut in it, eh? Good idea, yes, no?
Leave me reviews, por favor.