A/N: I don't own these characters, but I wish I did.
You hear that? It's the sounds of unrequited love. Aww...


It was a school day like so many others. Since their return from the Soul Society, life had returned to a comfortable pace and relative normality. Whatever that means for a bunch of teens with various superpowers.

The Home Handicrafts Club had just broken up for the day and Uryū stood near one wall discussing a new stitch he'd mastered. Once again he'd been cornered by half the female population of the school. He knew many of them weren't really listening, but to be fair he wasn't paying them much attention either.

His senses were focused into the middle of the room. He tried to convince himself that he was training to track someones spiritual pressure, but he knew it was a lie. Orihime was tidying up and he was 'watching' her.

After his mini-lecture was over he made it clear to the ogling females that he needed to be on his way. There were many dramatic sighs and moans, but soon they'd all filed out, leaving him with Orihime. He put the strap of his messenger bag across his chest and waited for her. She was about done, having only the two desks nearest to him left to clean. She was carrying bits of cloth, skeins of yarn and spools of thread.

As she approached she looked up at him. "Uryū! What are you still doing here?" She sounded happy but confused – exactly like Orihime.

"I'm waiting to walk you home."

She smiled at him brightly. "You don't have to do that. I'll be fine." She waved a hand in front of her, as if trying to brush away his kindness.

He knew what she was really saying was that she didn't want to be a burden. He hated when she put herself down like that. Like she wasn't important, or didn't matter.

He smiled softly, "Then, you can walk me home."

At that point things started happening in slow motion. Orihime had been looking at him while he spoke, not paying much attention to where she was stepping. Her foot landed on a fallen spool of thread and she slipped. Her arm nearest to a desk was full, but for some reason she didn't toss the things aside to catch herself. Uryū was only a step away and tried to reach for her.


Orihime was humming softly to herself as she picked up around the classroom. She glanced over at Uryū from time to time as he stood talking to a bunch of girls. Those girls were so obvious. She shook her head, she almost felt sorry for them. They stood absolutely no chance with the Quincy. Neither did she, but at least she knew it.

She sighed contentedly. It'd been a great day. Mostly due to the fact she'd spent the majority of it with the blue eyed boy who currently stood across the room.

For all of her trying to avoid him, she seemed to be alone with him more than ever. She also ended up sitting next to him most of the time when they were with their friends.

She hadn't planned any of it. If she didn't know better she would've said it was his doing. But she couldn't see any obvious plots or reasons for it.

Like today; they'd sat together at lunch. He was a little late, and the only open spot on the lawn was right next to her. He couldn't have planned that. Right? He'd been so nice about it too. He'd even tried a bite of her latest recipe, cabbage and sautéed mushroom salad with a cranberry vinaigrette. Everyone else had said they were too full to try it.

Orihime was lost in her own thoughts when she looked up to see Uryū standing alone. He had leaned back against the wall, his arms comfortably folded across his chest. And he was watching her.

She tried not to blush under his gaze when she asked why he was still hanging around. She'd thought he'd want to meet up with the others, or go home and change before heading to the movie they were all going to see tonight.

When he said he'd walk her home she nearly panicked. This didn't fit into her avoidance plan. When they were in a group she could be distracted. But if they were alone she didn't quite trust herself.

She tried to reassure him that she wouldn't need an escort, but could only guess that he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Darn Quincy pride!

His response wasn't quite what she expected.

"Then, you can walk me home." His velvet voice sent a shiver down her spine. But that part of the response wasn't what made her miss seeing the spool on the floor.

He smiled at her.

His smile could knock her off her feet. In this instance it did. She'd been so captivated that even while falling she couldn't think strait.

She closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable impact with the floor. Nothing happened so she opened her eyes. She gasped to see Uryū's face mere inches from her own. He was looking at her with a mixture of amusement and concern.

"Are you alright?" his already low voice was almost a whisper.

She looked around, she noticed that her right hand was gripping his shirt into a tight ball in her fist. Mostly she noticed he had both arms around her. She felt her cheeks burn.

"I think so. Thank you." She wasn't sure why her voice was quiet too. Slowly, as if he was lifting her from a tango's dip, he righted her onto her feet.

She could see his eyes. They weren't far away like most times, they were intently looking at her. Looking into her.

His hands moved from off of her sides but he didn't step away, he was still standing so close she could feel it when he breathed. She didn't want to remove her hand from his chest, but she forced herself to do it.

He cleared his throat, "That's good. I'm glad you're alright." His eyes disappeared behind his glasses again.

She'd almost forgotten what they were talking about. "Oh, yes." She turned quickly to hide another blush, this time from embarrassment. She put everything she was holding back in their proper places, and grabbed her bag. She turned back to look at him, and found him still watching her. "Are you ready to go?"

He nodded and they walked out of the school headed to Orihime's apartment.


A/N: Hope you enjoyed this installment.
I'd originally planned for this to be a three chapter short fic. It looks like as of now it will likely end up much longer.