(Thanks for everything. No time to waste. Hopefully I can do updates for all my stories within this week.)
(Enjoy.)
(彼女)
First there was silence.
At least that was what it sounded like to him though he would not have noticed even if a bomb has exploded next to his old man.
Ichigo gazed upon the startled pair of soft brown eyes slowly hiding their luminescence from him and his own eyelids grew heavier till he too shut out the light.
All he was conscious of and all he wanted his senses to be bombarded by was the pair of lips under him.
Soft moist sweet lips that miraculously were not moving away from him.
Could he take that as a sign of sorts?
Dare he take a bold step forward as to actually taste the succulent temptation being offered to him?
They could have hit their noses, her lips could have landed on his nose but fate has deemed it fitting for their lips to be the ones to be joined together.
Should he fight fate?
Does he even want to?
He hesitantly opened up his mouth and urged his tongue to move forth and taste what was being offered to him.
Slowly, very slowly, he could almost anticipate the pleasure it was going to bestow upon him when...
He was jerked roughly from his ambrosial treasure mere seconds before it reach its destination,
"What the bloody hell!?" Ichigo shouted out in anger and frustration. So close, so damn close and yet so far.
"ICHIGO! HOW COULD YOU!?" Isshin bellowed at him. "You've never shown much interest in the opposite sex but the instance your libido wakes up, it's to violate the virginal Hime-chan. How could I have raised such a sexual deviant of a son?" Isshin was inconsolable in his grief, bellowing out his tears in agony.
Libido, violate, virginal, sexual deviant!?
Even before he could digest the accusations thrown at him, his sisters were adding more scandalous charges to his character.
"Ichi-nii, how could you steal your father's girlfriend? Are you that desperate to prove your male vitality against your own father? I'm so disappointed in you." Karin heaved out a heavy sigh.
"Onii-chan,"
"Not you too Yuzu." His baby sister was looking at him incredulously. He was afraid of what she was going to reprimand him with.
"Onii-chan, do you like Orihime-san, oh, may I call you Orihime-nee, now that you and my brother has kissed."
Ichigo's head was twirling liked a propeller and Yuzu has to request Orihime of that.
"Yuzu's right, Ichi-nii. Now you have tainted Orihime and taken her chastity, you have to do the honorable thing and the next logical step will be wedding bells. That's if, if Orihime-nee is willing to have you." Karin could not stop herself from smirking at her brother's discomfort.
"Orihime-nee, do you want to accept onii-chan's hand in marriage?" Yuzu asked her blushing future sister-in-law.
Orihime could feel her cheeks heating up with every words and now with this question directed at her, her cheeks must be erupting into a volcano-like molten lava red. She wished she knew how to answer and most importantly what was on Kurosaki-kun's mind.
"NO!" A rejected Isshin hollered loudly. "The two of you can't address Hime-chan as your sister because she is not going to be your sister," 'sister-in-law, maybe' he prayed hopefully, "Orihime-chan is mine, mine you hear! I am not giving up my princess without a fight!" He threw his son/rival the challenge.
This is getting ridiculous.
"It was just a kiss, a kiss on the lips, a peck, right Inoue..., Inoue?"
If it was just a little kiss, how come she was looking at Ichigo like he has just inform her that her dog has been ran over and...he was the culprit who did the disastrously deed.
"Inoue?"
A little kiss? A light peck on the lips? Was that all to it...for him?
Isshin saw the dejected look on the emotionally drained auburn-haired beauty's face. Stupid dense Ichigo. Doesn't he know how much the wrong words can hurt.
"How can you say that, you callous insensitive son of mine. You might have stolen Hime-chan's first sweet kiss." Isshin berated his clueless son.
Everybody's attention was on the tremendously blushing girl.
"This can't be your first kiss, is it Orihime-nee?" Yuzu ventured to ask what was on everyone's mind.
The lack of response from the supposedly never-been-kissed girl was worrying.
"Orihime-chan," Isshin started concernedly.
"Kurosaki-sensei, as Kurosaki-kun mentioned, it was only an accidental small brushing of the lips so could we not talk about it anymore." Orihime did not want anyone to know the answer.
"Of course Hime-chan, if that's what you want...wait a minute, did you just address my love rival as 'kun'? Isshin wanted his dense 'love rival' to realize that at the expense of Orihime's embarrassment.
Orihime was mortified. It was a slip of the tongue. She has done it unintentionally. And even after Ichigo has belittled their first kiss.
"You call me 'sensei' and yet you addressed my unworthy competitor as 'kun'. Is it because you like him better than me?" Isshin behaved like he has already lost the battle even before the war has started.
"I-I..."
"Shut up old man! She can call us whatever she like. Just give it a rest." Ichigo hoped he can get back into Orihime's good books.
'Kurosaki-kun.' He liked the sound of it.
"So Orihime-nee, how did you and my dad meet?" Karin wanted to keep the dinner conversation going.
"Let me answer, my dear. It was an elderly patient of mine who has forgotten about her calcium and glucosamine tablets when she came to the clinic this morning. Orihime-chan, who's her employee; who's not only beautiful but caring as well made the trip for her employer to collect the medicine." Here Isshin paused to steal a glance at Ichigo who has his gaze fixed firmly on Orihime.
"The minute I laid my eyes on her, I knew in my my heart she was destined to be a part of this family." Isshin finished with with a swab of an non-existent tear.
Yuzu handed him a napkin to show her support for his words.
"Sorry, I let my emotions got the better of me. But when you found the one 'for you, my idiot son', it is like manna from heaven." Isshin made a show of dabbing his dry eyes with the napkin.
"It was love at first sight!" He sang out.
"That is so romantic." Yuzu sighed dreamily.
"It is, isn't it Ichigo"
"NO! It's LUST! You dirty old man."
Karin ignored her fuming brother and so did the rest of the family.
"Was it the same for you, Orihime-nee?"
"Same?"
"Love at first sight?"
"Oh."
"Is that a yes?"
Orihime gazed from the corner of her eyes to the one who has captured her heart and nodded.
"See what did I tell you all. It's Amour." Isshin's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"So if you feel the same way for my dad as he does for you, does it mean that Ichi-nii is already out of the contention for your affection?"
"No!" Her hands went quickly to cover her mouth. But it was too late. That came out a little stronger than it should. She panicked. Orihime did not want Ichigo to not like her even if there was no chance of a romance between the two of them.
All eyes were on her and the ones she was most concerned about has bemusement and a hint of smugness in them.
Although Karin has already heard about the encounter with destiny, she wanted to hear it from Orihime herself.
"What do you mean Orihime-nee? Was it love at first sight or not?" Karin was enjoying herself way too much.
And her stupid old man, he too was having a blast.
"Don't, don't say it please Hime-chan. My poor weak heart won't be able to withstand the truth. Please take pity on a frail old man."
"Ha! You admit you're old, eh?" Ichigo scoffed triumphantly. Acting nonchalantly, he turned to urge Inoue to answer his sister and to just ignore his father. He really, really wanted to know.
Orihime did as she was told but she decided to ignore both the males at the table.
"Yes Karin-chan, it was love at first sight but it was not with your father," A self-pitying sob was heard.
She went on to tell them it happened this very morning, she fell right into his arms and it was love at first sight the moment her eyes met his and she knew then he was the one she has waited all her life for.
"Do you fall into a lot of men's arms?" Yuzu was concerned.
"I am a little clumsy and I do tend to trip now and then but never into another's arms till this morning." She smiled as she remembered how right it felt to be in his arms.
Ichigo noticed the smile and he tried unsuccessful to keep on from appearing on his face. He was relieved he could hide it beneath his usual scowl.
"Does he share the same feelings as you?"
"No. I do not know. I ran off before we can speak."
"What did he look like?" And the questions just kept on coming.
Orihime's mouth moved before her mind could offer her a more appropriate description for a man.
"He was beautiful."
Karin expected the words but it was still so funny to hear it again. Especially when she knew it was her brother that was being praised. Was that a different shade of color on her brother's cheeks?
"Orihime-nee, I don't know how to break it to you but men who are beautiful are usually not interested in women." Her brother's face seemed to be changing into a lot of colors today.
"Is it because they are so beautiful that they do not want the competition from women?" The innocent princess asked in surprise.
"No Orihime-nee, it's because they are, well most of them anyway, are gay."
"Oh." There was so much feeling in that one word. Orihime shyly glanced at Ichigo and he lost it.
"I AM NOT GAY!" He defended his sexuality. And then he realized they were not talking about him, per se. 'Crap and double crap!'
"Of course you're not, my beautiful son." Isshin cried in relief.
"Do you think my brother's gay, Orihime-nee?" Karin asked.
"No. At least I do not think so. I hope not. Are you gay Kurosaki-kun?" She boldly asked albeit worryingly at Ichigo.
Ichigo fixed her with the most convincing gaze he could and firmly answered her,
"No Inoue. No, I am most definitely not gay." He witnessed the relief coming back into her whole being.
"But you do think you're beautiful, do you find my brother beautiful Orihime-nee?" How he hates his smirking smart-ass sister.
Is the universe toying with her?
"Karin, you can't ask Hime-chan of that," Help was arriving in the form of the wisely doctor, "You should ask her if she find me beautiful?" Or not.
"But otou-san, we already know you are not beautiful." Yuzu said truthfully.
That set off another show of waterworks, dry not wet.
"Orihime-nee, an answer please. Do you find my brother beautiful?" Karin repeated almost forcefully.
Seeing still no response from her prospective sister-in-law, Karin decided to speed it up.
"Look, it's fairly easy. I asked. You answered. Listen. Yuzu, is Orihime-nee beautiful?"
"Yes." Yuzu smiled and nodded.
"Dad, is Orihime-nee gorgeous?"
"ABSOLUTELY!" Isshin declared loudly to the world or rather to the people at the dining table which earned him a disgusted look from his furious son.
"Ichi-nii, do you find Orihime-nee hot?"
"WHAT!?"
It was getting hot. Her blushing must be contributing to global warming due to how her cheeks have not been able to return to her natural color for too long.
"What kind of question is that!?" Ichigo continued to sputter at his sister. "How come mine is phrased differently?"
"It's just a question? Well, do you?" She glared at brother defying him not to answer.
Kurosaki Ichigo does not back down from any challenge especially one from his bratty sister.
"Yes. I find her to be extremely hot. Happy?" He directed his answer to his infuriating sister.
Before Karin can retort back a snide remark, a soft grateful voice was heard.
"Thank you Kurosaki-kun."
Ichigo returned his attention to the seemingly having a permanent blush on her cheeks princess.
He made sure she will know it was not an empty compliment.
"You're welcome Inoue." Three words filled with heartfelt sincerity.
Karin felt bad for breaking up whatever the two were having.
"Orihime-nee, Take a good long look at Ichi-nii. Do. You. Find. My. Brother. Beautiful?"
Honey mixed with chocolate.
The head bowed once. And it stayed down.
"I guess that's a yes." Karin stated in order to ease Orihime of her embarrassment.
'YES! I knew it. She fell into my arms and she finds me beautiful. I am the ONE! And goddamnit, I AM BEAUTIFUL!'
"What's with the look Ichi-nii?" Karin has observed the pleasure a single nod brought.
"What look?" Ichigo scowled.
"The smug 'I'm the one' look."
Ichigo was stunned by what was implied. It was right on target as to how he was feeling. He made sure his normal scowling face was firmly in place before replying.
"You must have gotten it wrong. This is my normal look." He said grumpily.
"No. This is your so-called normal look."
Despite herself, Orihime too was curious as to what was Kurosaki-kun's normal look. She lifted her head and let out a sparkling giggle.
The whole family joined in her merriment minus one scowling sullen Kurosaki Ichigo.
"What's so funny?"
"Sorry Kurosaki-kun, but Karin-chan was perfect in imitating your mannerisms. I hope you are not too displeased with me." Orihime timidly appealed to Ichigo.
How could he deny that face of anything? Ichigo forced the tint of pink from appearing on his face and somehow he managed to assure Orihime that there was no umbrage on his part.
"What the hell are all of you gawking at?"
"Nothing." The rest of the Kurosaki answered in unison.
"Orihime-nee, now that we've all agreed you're a beautiful, gorgeous, hot babe, you must have men taking every opportunity to chat you up. You mjst have kissed a lot of frogs while waiting for your prince. If one finger equals ten kisses how many fingers will we see? "
Ichigo was afraid to know the fingers that were going to be shown.
But her hands stayed down on her laps.
"Alright. Forget about the kisses. Hime-chan, I'm more interested to know how you handled the advances of those toads." Isshin played the jealous boyfriend.
"They do not really bother me. As long as they know I am not interested in them they would back off. But sometimes I do get the most fascinating quotes."
"Beauty a slander but in her face," She started to say,
"There is no summer but in her cheerful looks," Ichigo continued.
"Edward 3."
"Shakespeare."
What a scum bag using Shakespeare as a pickup line. How ludicrous. Conveniently forgetting he has used the same quote in his mind earlier.
"Kurosaki-kun, you like Shakespeare?" Orihime could not control her excitement over a shared interest with her prince.
"He should. After all he did one of his major in English literature and graduated with honors." Isshin said with pride.
Ichigo was uncomfortable of how proud his father was of him. He decided to change the subject.
"So Inoue, you like Shakespeare."
"I love him and Dickens, Hardy, Fielding,"
"Tom Jones?" Ichigo interrupted her with a grin.
"The singer?"
Ichigo turned his gaze from Orihime and glared at his father.
"The book! You ignorant Imbecile!"
"Ichigo, I'm your daddy. How could you be so mean to me?"
Blatantly ignoring their father, Yuzu pointed out that the young couple has more in common than her father and his girlfriend. Karin even suggested to Ichigo to lend Orihime his books.
"She's right," Isshin said. "After dinner, you can show Hime-chan your collection of classics and maybe offer to lend her those she hasn't read yet."
Ichigo was suspicious of how his family was behaving but the next words being spoken by her blew away his wariness.
"Kurosaki-kun, if it is not too much trouble, could I take a look please?"
Ah! Not that look.
"No trouble at all Inoue. I'll show you after dinner."
"Thank you Kurosaki-kun." A little smile and his toes were curling in his slippers.
The rest of the dinner went fairly peaceful. Till Karin cautioned Orihime against sitting on Ichigo's bed.
"He's rather particular about people sitting on his bed."
"I do not. Don't listen to her." His own sister was making out like he has a condition.
"Tell that to your friends during your school days."Karin reminded him. "Especially the female ones."
"Kurosaki-kun has girls in his bedroom?" Orihime blurted out. "Sorry I did not mean to pry."
"It's alright, Hime-chan. They were more like boys disguising as girls. If you know what I mean. That's why I was worried about my only son." He emphasized only and son.
Orihime certainly did not understand but sensing Kurosaki-kun's mood rapidly darkening again, she just concentrated on her own meal.
(彼女)
"Thank you for the delicious dinner Yuzu-chan. Are you sure you do not want me to help you with the washing up?" Orihime cheerfully offered her services.
"What are you saying Hime-chan? You're our honored guest. When you're a part of this family then you can help out with the household chores, right Ichigo."
His son threw really sharp daggers at him. Oh, if only it was not mainly a glare.
"Come on Inoue." Ichigo led the way to his room.
Orihime bowed at Isshin and followed Ichigo.
As she followed Ichigo up the stairs, she began to look carefully at Ichigo's back.
'Kurosaki-kun sure has board shoulders and his back looks so strong,'
She was concentrating so hard on the back that she missed what Isshin shouted to his son.
"Ichigo! Keep your bedroom door open. I want to be able to rescue Hime-chan should you decide to ravish her. I want to hear her cries of help. Do I make myself clear?" His father warned him.
That stopped him right in his tracks and Orihime into his firm back.
"Owiee. kurosaki-kun, is anything wrong?" Orihime asked Ichigo as she rubbed her nose.
"Are you alright Inoue?" Ichigo turned and looked at Orihime rubbing her very cute nose.
Cute?
"Yes I am. Why did you stop Kurosaki-kun?"
"It was what my stupid old man said."
"What did Kurosaki-sensei say?"
"Didn't you hear? Never mind, here we are." He stood at his door.
She started to trace over the numbers on his door with her fingers.
What's she thinking?
"Inoue are you afraid?" He asked her once they were in his room.
Not waiting for an answer, he slammed the bedroom shut with a hinge-shattering loudness.
(彼女)
(Thanx for reading.)
(No time to proofread. Please do let me know of any mistakes. Thanks.)