The orange haired teen quirked a brow, confused at why the ice cream didn't taste like it usually had before he took a taste of Orihime's. It tasted more salty and tangy, not to mention disgusting.

Walking past a garbage can, he tossed it in with a deep sigh. Wasted two dollars on that ice cream cone. Noticing this, Orhime's smile flattened a bit, biting her lower lip nervously, thinking that she had done something to upset her new boyfriend.

"Kurosaki-kun," she spoke nervously, "is something wrong?"

"No," he replied simply as he plopped his bottom on a bench, the skinny girl joining him soon after, brows tilted into an uncertain position. "I just...wasn't hungry anymore."

"Oh...okay," she complied, voice gaining back it's usual perk, "um...Ichigo, if there's anything wrong, you know you can tell me, right?"

He looked over at her with apologetic auburn eyes, smiling warmly, but losing it's usual radiance of confidence.

"Yeah, I know," he muttered, dropping his head, mind wrapping around why Hichigo just, flat-out, didn't like his girlfriend. "But it's nothing to fret about...I'm just thinking about something that you don't need to be concerned about."

The bright haired girl nodded slowly, licking her treat slowly.

XXXX

"Thanks, Ichigo," Orihime smiled as they stood at her doorstep, hand-in-hand. "I had a great time."

He nodded, looking away and at the night sky, both teenagers out for two hours just walking and an occasional chat here and there, but mostly walking. His thoughts on Hichigo bothering him throughout the entire date.

"Yeah," he replied in a low tone, "I did too."

"K-Kurosaki-kun...is something bothering you at home?"

"No,"

"You sure?"

He nodded. The bright haired girl nodded slowly, leaning up and connecting their lips, the taller teenager blinked from shock, yet smiled slightly as he pressed back. Both parting after a while with Orihime smiling her usual carefree grin.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he smiled, "goodnight, Orihime."

She nodded, turning towards the door after releasing Ichigo's hand, opening the door and walking in with a wave to the orange haired boy. "Goodnight, Ichigo!" she called while he walked off. Waving back, he broke into a sprint, knowing his father will kill him for being an hour late for supper.

XXXX

"I'm home," he called as he opened the door, knowing Yuzu would still be up cleaning the living room, since his father always made most of his messes in there.

"AND YOU'RE LATE!!" Isshin shouted as he flew at his son with his screwdriver kick. Ducking, Ichigo clamped a hand onto his ankle and spun around, throwing him in the direction he came flying from. "N-not bad my son...I have n-nothing left to teach you..." he whimpered, laying upside down on the floor.

"Tch, I'm going to bed," he sighed, shaking his head. "And try not yelling while you attack me, old man, then maybe you'll hit me."

Turning, he walked up the stairs to his room, stopping at the door with a sigh, pushing it open with a slight frown, hearing Hichigo stir for the first time in two long hours.

"Geez...that was so borin'." he complained. "How can you handle somethin' that borin' and stay awake?"

Ichigo stepped into his room, shutting the door behind him with a sigh. "Easily...I was with someone, so I could occupy my time." He walked over to his bed, plopping down on it with a grateful sigh. "Now...we need to talk."

"'bout what?"

"About you being jealous of Orihime,"

"I'm not jealous,"he scowled,"jealousy is fer the weak."

"Then you, too, are weak,"

"You dare insult me?! How dare you!!"

Ichigo cringed from the shout's intensity. "Well...you shouted like you were earlier before I went out with her."

"'cause I was surprised! I didn' expect ya t' be goin' out wit' her!!"

"That proves that you're definitely jealous," the teenager smirked, "and don't deny it, you are, your tone proves my point. But...you don't listen to it as closely as I do."

"Jerk..."