A/N: Alright, chapter 3! Well, I don't really have anything else to say so on with the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or the characters
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"What are you doing?" The auburn haired girl asked.
Ichigo glanced at Orihime in surprise as he handed 2000 yen to the cashier at the pizza joint. "What do you mean?"
"You don't have to pay for my food Kurosaki-kun. I brought money with me." She reached into her purse and started looking for the proper amount of cash.
"Don't be stupid Inoue. I'm not going to invite you out and then not pay for you. Put your money away. Dinner is my treat."
She blushed and abandoned her search for her money. "Thank you Kurosaki-kun."
"No problem." He replied without looking at her as the cashier handed him his change and his receipt. Ichigo crumbled the receipt and shoved it into his pocket with his change. He stepped away from the cash register to make room for the next customer and Orihime followed him toward the soda machine where they waited for their food. "Have you ever been her before?" Ichigo asked.
Orihime shook her head. "I don't go out to eat much. In fact, I've actually never had pizza before."
Ichigo gave her a strange look but before she could decipher what it meant he had gotten his expression back under control and now just looked curious. "You've never had pizza?"
Once again, she shook her head. "My mom is watching my weight. She would never let me eat something like this."
He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "If you want, I could get you something else. I wasn't really thinking I guess. Obviously, beauty queens don't eat things like pizza and fries." He couldn't quite mask the disappointment in his voice at their not-a-date getting off to a bad start.
His disappointment quickly faded as he watched her shake her head vehemently. "No! I've always wanted to try pizza and my mom is not here so now I can finally do it."
He smiled at her amusedly. Eating a slice of pizza wasn't normally an act of teenage rebellion but there was a first time for everything.
"Order number 22!" An employee yelled from the counter.
Ichigo pulled the crumbled receipt out of his pocket to check what number they were. "That's us." He confirmed after checking the receipt. Ichigo went to get their food and Orihime decided to get them a table. She sat down at a two person table and wiped some crumbs off of the table as she waited for Ichigo. "Inoue!" She glanced up from the table when she heard him call her and was surprised to see him standing by the door. "Let's go."
She quickly got to her feet and approached the door. "We're not eating here?"
"No. I want to show you something."
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Orihime gasped as she reached the top of the hill. What a view! From the top of the hill at Karakura Park, they had a perfect view of the river and the sunset. She turned towards Ichigo who was struggling up the hill with their food and a blanket that she had been surprised fit into the trunk of his motorcycle. She had offered to carry the food, but he had told her not to worry about it. She was considering asking him once again if he needed her help but realized it would be pretty pointless since he had only a few steps to go. She went back to admiring the way the sun reflected on the river and left everything with an orange glow.
Ichigo chose a shady spot under a big oak tree and set the blanket down. He put the food down on the blanket and walked up behind Orihime. "Pretty good view isn't it?"
She hadn't heard him approach and jumped slightly when she heard his voice coming from so close to her but she quickly recovered and nodded enthusiastically.
"We used to come up here and have picnics all the time when I was younger. This park was one of my mom's favorite places." Ichigo confessed as he gazed at the river. "After she died, we never came up here as a family again. But I still come up here to think. Being here helps clear my head." He suddenly wondered why he was telling her all this. It was all very personal but telling her didn't make him feel at all uncomfortable. "Well, we should probably eat before the food gets cold."
Ichigo plopped himself down on the blanket and Orihime gingerly sat beside him. Ichigo distributed the food and watched apprehensively as she took her first bite of pizza ever. He quickly found out he had no reason to be anxious since her eyes closed in ecstasy as she thoroughly enjoyed the pizza. He blushed at the trip to the gutter his mind took at her expression and instead focused on eating his food.
"This is absolutely delicious Kurosaki-kun! The only thing that could make it better would be wasabi and red bean paste. And maybe some peanut butter."
Ichigo wasn't sure what the correct response to that statement was so he opted to just nod. For a few moments, they ate in silence while both admired the rapidly setting sun. Orihime finished her food first since she had basically devoured her pizza and fries and with nothing left to eat she decided it was time to initiate a conversation. She leaned back, supporting her weight with her arms as she watched the sun set. "You know Kurosaki-kun, this is pretty romantic for something that isn't a date."
Ichigo choked on his french fries but quickly tried to avoid any more embarrassment by covering up his choking with a cough. He had an awful feeling that he was probably blushing but he forced himself to play it cool. "This surely can't be the most romantic date you've ever been on Inoue. You probably have to fight the guys off with a baseball bat."
She laughed. "I don't really date much. In fact, my last date was 6 months ago. What about you Kurosaki-kun? Do you date a lot?" She had been tearing out grass blades, but with her last question she turned to meet his gaze.
He shrugged. "Not really. I've only been on a couple of dates since me and Senna broke up last year. I think I intimidate most of the girls I know."
"I don't think you are intimidating."
"I'm different around you than I am around them."
She raised a perfectly tweezed eyebrow. "Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe because I knew you before my mom died. Something traumatic like that changes you. But when I'm around you, I feel like I'm eight years old again." After making that admission he could definitely feel his face heating up and he turned away from her to look out at the river.
Her grey orbs remained on him for a few more seconds before she too turned to gaze at the river. Behind them, she heard the sounds of children playing and turned her gaze to watch two little girls playing hide and seek. She giggled at their antics. "Is this a popular park Kurosaki-kun?"
He nodded. "Where do you live?" He asked suddenly.
She turned away from the little girls to look at him. Was he taking her home already? Was she boring him or something? "East Karakura. Near the bridge."
"And you've never been to Karakura Park?"
"I've never been to a lot of places and I've never done a lot of things. I told you I don't get out much. I always have pageant stuff to do." She explained.
"You really hate pageants don't you?"
"No. Pageants are great opportunities to meet new friends, they teach girls confidence and poise, they have put thousands of girls through college, and they celebrate community." She rattled.
He sighed as he leaned against the oak tree. "You don't have to do that."
"Do what?"
"Give me beauty pageant answers. This isn't an interview and I'm not scoring your response. So how about how you really feel?"
They gazed at each other in silence for a few moments before she broke the eye contact and looked down at her lap. "Why don't you just tell your mom you don't want to do pageants anymore?"
She laughed, but it wasn't the melodious laughter from earlier in the day, now it seemed forced. "You don't know my mother."
"You're not eight years old anymore. She can only control you if you let her."
He hated that she wouldn't look at him. Her gaze had returned to the river. "You don't understand Kurosaki-kun."
"Then explain it. Why don't you just move out?" He persisted. He suddenly remembered the older brother she had spent so much time gushing over 8 years ago. "Where is your brother? Why don't you live with him?"
She stiffened and he immediately regretted asking but it was out there now and he couldn't take it back. "Sora died seven years ago." She finally turned to look at him. "He died in the same accident that your mom died in."
"How do you know?" His tone sounded more suspicious than he would have liked.
"I read about it in the newspaper. My mom wouldn't tell me where he was and I knew something was wrong so I decided to find out by myself. There were five victims. Your mom, my brother, and a mother and her two young sons." She returned he gaze to the river.
An uncomfortable silence persisted for several moments as Ichigo absorbed everything and Orihime gathered her thoughts. He had wondered why she didn't look surprised when he told her of his mother's death but know he realized she had already known. Ichigo couldn't help but wonder if they could have helped each other through that difficult time in their lives if they had stayed in touch after Yuzu's pageant days were over. But what was done was done.
He was surprised when Orihime broke the silence. "I can't just leave. She is the only family I have. I never met my dad, my brother is dead, as far as I know I don't have aunts, uncles, or grandparents so where would I go?"
"Don't you have money from these pageants? You win all the time right?"
"I don't get the money. My mom does."
"She can't just steal your money! Why aren't you more upset about her taking your money?"
"She's not making a profit or anything Kurosaki-kun. I doubt she is even breaking even. She has to pay all my coaches, my nutritionist, my personal trainer, buy the dresses, baton lessons, dance lessons…" She rattled as she counted off the costs on her fingers. "I don't think she makes me do pageants for the money."
"Then what is it?"
She shrugged. "I think it is more of a pride thing. Since I'm her daughter if people think I'm pretty it means she is pretty too. I think she hates the way her life turned out and she wants to live through me. She was Miss Teen Osaka but they took her title away since she got pregnant with Sora at 16. I think that is why she doesn't let me date."
"Then why did she let you go out with me?" He questioned, forgetting that this wasn't a date.
"Because your dad is a judge. She thinks being involved with you will help me win." She noticed the way he tensed at her answer and even though he tried to hide it, she could tell what he was thinking. "That's not why I went out with you Kurosaki-kun. You already figured out I don't care about winning this pageant or any pageant. I agreed to go out with you because I like you. I've always liked you. You must have noticed the humongous crush I had on you when we were little. I thought it had gone away but as soon as I saw you today I realized it hadn't."
He hadn't noticed, but according to Rukia, he was pretty oblivious in general. He realized he should probably say something. She was starting to look dejected as if his silence meant he didn't like her as anything more than a friend. 'Gotta think of something to say….gotta think of something to say…damn it all! Why do I suck so much at all this romantic stuff?' He thought.
Orihime decided she had already dug herself into quite the deep hole with her admission so she might as well give in to her instinct to kiss him. It wasn't like things could get any more awkward anyway.
Ichigo was still trying to formulate an appropriate response in his head when he was pulled from his thoughts by the feel of her soft lips pressing hesitantly against his own. The kiss lasted for all of two seconds before she pulled back and blushed. "Sorry Kurosaki-kun. I'm usually not this impulsive." She giggled nervously. "Maybe the little blue men are secretly controlling my mind and they are making me do and say things that normally I would just think. I'm sorry Kurosaki-kun."
She let her gaze rest on a procession of ants that had been attracted by Ichigo's forgotten fries. She was so focused on the ants she didn't notice his hand until he had cupped her chin and forced her to look at him. "Orihime, you can call me Ichigo." With that said, he leaned forward and captured her lips.
It didn't take Orihime long to get over her shock and start responding to his kisses. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against his chest as she continued to respond to his passionate kisses. He carefully lowered himself until he was laying on the blanket and she was lying on top of him. One of his hands tangled itself in her long auburn hair while he rested his other hand on the small of her back. With his hand in her hair, he gently guided her head until it was tilted in the perfect position to allow him to deepen their kiss. Ichigo had kissed his fair share of girls, but he had never experienced anything like the sensations he was feeling now with Orihime. When she opened her mouth to allow his tongue entrance, he had felt fireworks when his tongue tangled with hers. After a few moments, he pulled away and trailed kisses down her neck.
"Ichigo-kun." She murmured huskily as he started to suck on her neck. He really liked when she said his name with that husky tone. He could definitely get used to hearing that. He stopped sucking and placed a soft kiss on the red mark forming on her neck before returning to her lips. Orihime removed her arms from around his neck and placed them on his chest. She broke from his lips and placed a kiss on both of his cheeks and then brought one hand up to caress his cheek.
He ran his fingers through her hair before letting that hand cover the one she had placed on his cheek. He gently brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss to the front of her hand. The smoldering look he was giving her almost made her forget why she had stopped the kiss in the first place. She forced herself to focus and gently pushed herself away from him. "It is getting late."
Ichigo looked around and noticed that he had been so preoccupied with Orihime he had failed to notice all the other occupants of the park leave. He did a double take when he realized the street lights were on. Despite this, he was still reluctant to end their semi-date. "Do you have a curfew or something?"
Orihime shook her head. "No. But I am supposed to take glamour shots today. I already missed my walking lesson and I think my mom will be really mad if I miss this photography session. Apparently, you have to make reservations months in advance to get your picture taken by Yumichika."
"Alright. Let's get you home."
As Ichigo gathered up the blanket Orihime threw away their trash. He threw the blanket over his left shoulder and after a moment of hesitation he reached out his right hand toward Orihime. She blushed as their fingers intertwined but he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "So, do you always kiss like that on a first date?" He asked teasingly.
She laughed but her blush grew darker. "This isn't a date. Remember Ichigo-kun? We're just 'catching up'" She punctuated 'catching up' with a one handed air quote.
He smiled. "Well, now that we're all caught up I guess this can now be officially considered a date."
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"You don't have to walk me all the way to the door you know."
"I know. But I want to. So humor me."
They climbed the two flights of stairs until they were standing outside Orihime's apartment. Orihime turned to face Ichigo. "Thank you for dinner Ichigo-kun. Goodnight."
She stood on tip toe so she could plant a quick peck on his lips. He tried to deepen the kiss but she quickly pulled away. She knew her mom was probably watching. Just then, the door swung open and both teens stepped away from each other.
Orihime's mom stood leaning in the doorway. She smiled at them, but as usual her smile lacked any real warmth. "Did you kids have fun?"
Neither teen said anything but after an uncomfortable silence Ichigo forced himself to nod. "Good." Orihime's mom said in a fake cheery voice.
"Well, I should get home. Goodnight Orihime. See you tomorrow" After a moment, he added "Goodnight Inoue-san."
"It's actually not Inoue-san. I was never married to Orihime's father. I'm Fujita Ayako." She corrected.
"Sorry Fujita-san. My mistake." Ichigo said.
She waved him off. "Don't worry about it. Drive safe!"
Ichigo nodded and walked back down the stairs toward his motorcycle. Both women watched as he revved up his motorcycle and drove off into the night. Ayako noticed the hickey on Orihime's neck. Her eyes danced with merriment. "I think he likes you. That's good." Orihime glanced at her mother but didn't bother to respond. Ayako didn't seem to mind. "Well, hurry up and get dressed and put some make-up on. You look terrible without make-up. We're going to Yumichicka's Studio." Orihime slipped into the apartment to do as she was told.
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End of chapter 3! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and alerted last chapter. Now for reviewer responses.
Fostersb- I hope you enjoyed the date scene. Lol. I don't even know how Aizen fits into the story yet. I was writing the chapter and suddenly had the idea to throw him in so I did. I'm pretty much making it up as I go along. Thanks for reviewing!
Miss L- Yep. Orihime's mom is really conniving and willing to do anything if it means she wins. I'm actually not sure what something rotten in denmark is. It sounds like something from Hamlet maybe? Lol. English was always my worse subject since I never seemed to actually get around to reading the book. Thanks for reviewing!
Babiip- Doesn't Ichigo just seem like someone who would always think people have ulterior motives for everything? This definitely isn't the end of him questioning what she really wants out of their relationship. Yeah, Orihime is a bit OOC. I think she is more in character this chapter. Thanks for reviewing!
Twi-Hoster girl- Ichigo always has really good timing doesn't he? : p. I'm glad you like the story and thanks for reviewing!
ShatteredDistance- I'm so glad you like my story even though you don't like the IchiHime pairing! Hopefully this chapter didn't disappoint! And thanks for the compliments! (And every week the toddlers and tiaras moms get crazier!
So that's it. Please review!
