A/N: Since Rukia's gone we'll have to see Ichigo's reaction. Lets see what exactly distracts him.
Orihime hopped up as the lunch bell rang. Everyone started to flood into the room. Tatsuki got up, gave Orihime a quick grin and headed to the front of the classroom to talk with Misato. They chatted for a brief moment before Tatsuki returned to her original seat.

Ichigo aimlessly made it to his seat and started to focus in class but as much as he wanted to he couldn't. Rukia, unmistakably, was on his mind. She was like a razor, cutting away his distractions and cutting away every happy feeling he felt. But as much as the razor hurt it was something that Ichigo was going to have to get used to. Rukia wasn't going to be able to always be with him. She would have to go back to the Soul Society every now and then. She would need to have her own time also. But as much as reasoning came and made everything logical, it still hurt to know that he will unwillingly be alone. Alone and without Rukia. It was becoming one of his worst fears so quickly that it was nearly overwhelming.

"Ichigo, quickly what is the last digit in the number 89 to the 174th power?" Misato asked Ichigo abruptly.

"Aaaaa …" was all that Ichigo was able to squeeze out of his lungs.

"Nothing? Then Rukia … Rukia? Well it seems as if she has decided to cut my class. Then we'll see how she handles this tomorrow as we have yet another pop quiz."

"I knew she should have stayed," Ichigo thought to himself.

He didn't know what else to do. Everything, absolutely everything that he thought of somehow turned back to Rukia. He searched the room for something else to think about. He saw the boring blackboard with a random number six on it that only Rukia could explain why it was there. He saw the plain light blue wall that Rukia liked because it reminded her of the sky. He saw Rukia's empty seat where her cute butt should be. He saw … Orihime.

Orihime wasn't doing much of anything but working on her school work. She was always hard at work when it came to school, even if she didn't understand most of it. She always had the look on her face that said, "I'm working as hard as I can but I still don't get it." Ichigo just giggled a bit at this simple yet funny statement. It was that face that Ichigo had seen plenty of times. It was almost nostalgic. But as this nostalgia came in, it also brought up another familiar feeling: the feeling of wanting to help her.

However hopeless she looked and however oblivious everything was to her, Ichigo still wanted to help her. And help is all he really did. He never tried to tutor her or try to give her some notes to look over or tell Misato to give her some advice. He was always just there to help—but never anything more.

He had thought of the idea before, a somewhat crazy idea of Orihime and him being a couple. He thought of them being in the sort of relationship where both would give to one another. He knew he could help out Orihime with his company (living alone and all) he could be there to help her with her work (let her look at some notes and try to break things down for her), and even care for her the way any other partner would.

And he knew he could care for her. As much as other people thought that he was oblivious to the fact that Orihime wanted them to be "something else," he knew. He knew it all since the beginning. He knew how much she looked up to him and how much she wanted to be by his side. He knew just how much she really loved him. But all of that was when he was different. Before he knew he could care for someone. Before he—himself—found "himself."

He had found himself on the day he had decided to become a shinigami. The day he chose to protect everyone he cared about and everyone that needed help.

And upon finding himself he discovered that he could be there for Orihime too. He could care for her, want her, adore her, and even love her. He knew he could do it … it's just that … he didn't know if he could take that big of a step. He knew he could give 110 to her but saying he could and actually doing it were to different matters.

He thought to himself, "I'm such a coward."

That was when Ichigo finally noticed Orihime's expression and the words repeating in his ear, "Ichigo and Orihime will be together."

"How ironic."


A/N: Short chapter but things needed to come out.

Next up: We learn about "the Plan."