Everything was groggy and deep red.

Images of a smile radiated as they played beneath the sheets. Obsessive kisses and a suffocating allure that had him possessed. Her touch consumed him so severely that he couldn't turn back. He had done what he couldn't. Only taking what wasn't his and selfishly hugging her warmth in his deprivation.

Soon evading the aching screams that vexed him. He couldn't believe it. The damaged tears like scars down her cheeks. Unsaid truths hid beneath the false exterior that was his reality. Leave me, It had to be a mistake, with her.

Soft whispers of affection were spoken, ending as fast as they came. Please.

Someone violently tore it from him.

.
.
.
.

Waking slowly in a sweat his mind rekindled, inhaling cool air from an open window placed behind dancing translucent curtains. He gave a heavy sigh, running his hand over the tacky skin across his bare chest.

He felt disgusted with himself.

On the roof he watched an unfamiliar and unstable ceiling fan spin, making a quiet racket. He didn't know where he was.

The thought made him swallow and he jolted, examining the furnishings surrounding him. The room was big and painted a light green colour. He had never been in this room before, gawking at his belt laying in front of a large bookshelf. His shirt carelessly tossed on the floor near the bedrooms opened doorway. There was a large dresser and big screen television set up near a decent sized closet where there were at least thirteen pairs of shoes— high heels more specifically.

Shit.

It was a girls room.

Ichigo bit his lip and hard. He couldn't remember what happened the night before and so far it wasn't looking good. He pulled from the sheets to see that he was still in his pants, frantically making an attempt to remember the night. With his fingers digging at his scalp he was reminded that there had been a lot of girls at Legato last night, remembering Orihime.

His guilty heart stopped dead in his chest. If this was her place, he qualified for death.

He didn't want to believe that he could have messed something up like this, when a desperate yearning came over him. He wanted to know where she was.

His lean legs rested over the edge of the bed before he stood, catching a light smell that wandered through the open door. He collected his belt that had been half hidden beneath a blanket and slipped it around his waste, leaving his shirt clutched in his hands. Whoever the owner of the apartment was, they were making breakfast, which he knew like most guys meant was something he couldn't handle.

Carefully he poked his head through the bedroom door as quietly as possible and moved his feet.

He could feel his grip tighten on his shirt when trailing the hallway, nearing the kitchen and the source of the smell that collected throughout the apartment. Hoping that, whoever it was, wouldn't see him so he could take a quick peek to help braise himself.

Before turning he threw a careless glance towards the living room where a used pillow and sprawled out blanket rested on the sofa. It was quite a bit of relief knowing someone had slept in the living room.

When he rounded the corner he saw something he wasn't really expecting. A young woman with tousled auburn hair happily putting away dishes, wearing a button up mens shirt that just barely covered her ass. Simultaneously he fell prey to her long legs and bare feet as she worked in a trance.

It was only inevitable that he would eventually take a wrong step that made her turn.

"Oh," She gasped, clasping the tupperware to her chest, "Ku-Kurosaki-kun."

It was only eight in the morning. Orihime was sure that in Ichigo's state he wouldn't have been up so early; little did she know of the dreams he had been having lately and his insomnia.

Feeling guilty, Ichigo looked away to an unknown dish placed on the stove as it cooled.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out," He grumbled with a faintly tired voice.

Orihime let out a timid huff of breath over the fact he was shirtless. It was a sight that she had seen before, though still had peeked her interest. She smiled shyly and tried to turn away, "It's okay. I just wasn't expecting you up early after last night."

"Yeah," He delayed and adjusted his footing with a culpable expression, "What exactly did happen last night?"

His question had her giggling, "I'm sorry. That was really my fault."

"Why's that," He countered, approaching a stool beneath her kitchen counter.

"I didn't realize you had so much to drink before hand until you told me later on," She watched him shift as she continued, "We talked and hung out with my friends for a bit since it was my friends wedding party," She questioned herself and laughed, "I actually can't remember what the name of that kind of party is called, but that's when you told me. My friends suggested I take you home but I couldn't really understand your directions since it didn't really seem like you knew where you were going."

Ichigo felt greatly embarrassed, arching to reach the seat in front of him.

"I'm really sorry," He apologized, "I probably ruined the night for you."

He waited till she had turned away before prudently slipping on his shirt.

"Not at all," She set the container away and laughed softly, "My friends actually really seemed to like you. Eriko-san said it was nice to have a guy there."

They modestly smiled towards each other before she turned around. That's when Ichigo felt something brush against his leg.

"What the-" He moved quickly, staring at a small ball of fluff that mewed near his stool. Eyes wide with its fluffy black fur as it cried out repeatedly. "You have a cat?"

Orihime laughed, "Yes, that's Arrow. She's quite an attention hog."

He picked up the kitten willingly, resting the small thing on his lap. "Your landlord lets you?"

"Yup," She hummed and looked back at her breakfast, "Do you like frittata?"

He gave her a questionable look, "I have no idea what that is."

"It's good," She prided, but he doubted that.

"Su-ure." Once again the cat caught his attention and he scratched at its neck.

"You can watch T.V if you want. It still has to cool."

Ichigo rose from his seat after her suggestion, wandering freely with the small cat in hand.

He had to admit that her place was a nice one. There was a large deck outside that he noticed through the patio window in the eating area; It actually had an eating area. The roof was high set and the rooms were as spacious as they could get in Japan. He knew it was nearly impossible to get a place like this where he lived so he was curious as to how she stumbled across it. He also didn't seem to mind Orihime's home sense at all, even the boxed furniture looked homey.

"You can open the patio door if you want." Ichigo heard Orihime's proposal from the kitchen.

He reached for the screen lock, watching Arrow's curious gaze as the door pulled open. Ichigo himself poked his head through only to take a quick glimpse, leaving the door open after Orihime advised and continued exploring the make of her living room.

Placed on the ledge of a bookshelf were a few photos all with brightly coloured frames, aside from the frame that held the photo of her brother which made him pause. Ichigo understood that Orihime would still be holding on to it.

There was one photo of Orihime with a group of girls that he particularly liked. Orihime's smile looked so perfect and everyone seemed so happy caught in the moment. Then he saw Orihime in a photo with a man that didn't look at all familiar to him. His shaggy hair was deep dark brown, his eyes blue and piercing. He appeared about Ichigo's own age with a crooked smile as he sat proudly with the happy girl next to him.

"Orihime?"

Something struck across Ichigo's mind seeing as how Orihime had three photos of the guy.

"Yes," She called back from the kitchen, soon meeting him in the living room.

Ichigo couldn't help but point it out, "Who's the guy in the picture?"

Orihime's smile faded slowly, hating that he had to ask that question. She gripped the rims of her shirt between her fingers and figured that he was bound to find out at some point, her reply hesitant, "He's my boyfriend."

Ichigo's hands lowered to pet the small cat that had jumped up and perched on the cushion next to him.

It was obvious now why she had been wearing a mens shirt that clearly wasn't his own. "Ah."

"His name is, Keiji. He'll be by later if you want to meet him?" She struggled with her words, not knowing what else to say.

It's true that her and Ichigo had never been a couple but she had still loved him. Being a young girl in high school he had always been her first choice, her first love. She knew Ichigo would never realize that, and always remained cowardice against confronting him herself. That was what made Orihime grow distant.

But Orihime did love Keiji now, and she should have been proud to show him off; where instead it almost hurt to admit it.

"I really should be out of here by then," He trailed off.

It was so unfair, she thought. That in the mist of everything Ichigo had shown up again right when she was feeling comfortable with where she was.

She understood and nodded, now hoping she hadn't pushed him away.

"How long have you been together?"

She gazed right into his amber eyes that she had so fondly remembered. He appeared sincere, though his sudden question caused her stomach to stir.

Bidding to herself, she wished that he wouldn't ask any more questions after this. "Almost a year now."

Ichigo nodded trying desperately to show some form of approval. As Orihime looked to the ground he watched her eyes fill up with an unknown pained expression. He was so happy with her earlier and she was smiling last night. He wanted to know why it had to be ruined.

"Well I should get back to my place." Orihime looked to him as he gave the cat one last small pet before rising. "Thanks for dealing with me last night. You really didn't need to give me your bed though."

Orihime closed her eyes when he passed her to braise herself. Once he was gone she felt he wouldn't come back. "How long are you in town for?"

"Two weeks." He motioned for the door, realizing he was obviously forgetting something as he looked for his shoes. "Oh yeah, where's my jacket?"

He saw she wasn't behind him, soon appearing from the kitchen before pulling open the closest door. She handed him his jacket and held up a piece of paper in her other hand.

"Here. Call me if you have free time and I'll show you around, okay?"

He gave her a small smirk when accepting the number.

"Yeah, sounds good. I'll see you later then."

Orihime watched Ichigo's tall figure slip through the door frame after she said goodbye.

The door shut and she wrapped her arms around her waist, watching Arrow paw at the door and mewl. "Sorry, Arrow. He's gone."

In the silence Orihime waited a moment before picking up the small cat, coiling her arms around her as they walked to the bedroom. She realized her bedding would need to be washed since her boyfriend would have something horrible to say if it smelt like a man. She also prayed that none of her friends would let Keiji know, already having warned them the night before. As much as Orihime wished she could tell Keiji, she knew it would be a horrible idea.

There had to be no trace of Ichigo left behind.

She needed to change her clothes and start cleaning up but she was still feeling so tired after the night they had. Placing the frisky cat on her bed, she nudged Arrow slightly to get her to play in the sheets.

"What do you think? You like him?"

Orihime dropped to her mattress alongside her cat, finding she was attempting to answer herself the same questions. She was in love with Ichigo for years, half her life almost. He had protected her so many times that she couldn't even count and was always there when she needed him.

The heat he left on the bed was still there along with his smell. It had been years since she had felt this way, her cheeks flushing by the mere thoughts of him. He still had a hold on her heart after all these years.

Looking to the ceiling fan her smile broke. The small kitten nudged her cheek to soon curl inside the bridge of her neck as she purred. Orihime excepted the comfort and closed her eyes. In the end she knew she wasn't willing to give up everything she had for him.

She just couldn't fall for him, not again.