Challenge- Hello Kiss

It had long since become tradition for me to enter the classroom with a scowl on my face, if I even showed up at all. And I had a perfectly valid reason for doing so. A different reason each morning, but a reason nonetheless. Either Keigo was being an annoying brat or Kon was being a pervert first thing in the morning. Otherwise, it may have been that I stayed up the entire night dealing with Hollows, because the Shinigami that had been appointed was definitely useless. There was also a major chance that it was my father who decided to wake me up with an uppercut to the jaw, or a kick to the gut. Lots of possibilities, really. So, my frowning expression wasn't really a major surprise.

There was one other tradition, which went back almost as long as this one. No matter what happened. It could be pouring outside. The sun could be scorching. There could be a blizzard. Multiple Garganta could be ripping themselves open in the sky. There could be an entire marching-band dressed in Chappy costumes and standing on their heads and playing the sitar. No matter what was going on, I would enter the classroom to be greeted with a blinding smile that could put an entire galaxy to shame, and a sweet voice, positively bursting with energy and happiness, that would shout-

"Ohayou, Kurosaki-kun!"

I swear, those two words made my mornings just a little bit happier.

The only time this tradition was ever interrupted was the time when she was taken to Hueco Mundo. Although, I won't count that, because she wasn't at school. And if I wasn't going to consider her sick-days, then I wasn't going to consider her Hueco Mundo days either. That was just an extended leave. Nothing else. So, as far as I was concerned, the tradition remained unbroken. And that's how it was going to stay, if I had anything to say on the matter.

Because I did not know how to function without that tiny sliver of happiness and energy and affection and ORIHIME. No one else could convey so much feeling in just two words. I might have been able to go without it a few months ago (who am I kidding?), but now that I was dating her? Yeah, whoever thought I was okay with that tradition being broken needed a double-check.

Although, I wouldn't mind a slight alteration. The only thing that could make it even better would be if I could get her to call me by my first name. That was a work in progress, though. Both of us still referred to each other by our last names in company. It was only when we were out of the occasionally-undesirable company of our insane friends and family, that we used each other's given names. We hadn't worked up the courage to reach that milestone yet. We had made decent progress though. With Tatsuki, we were Ichigo and Orihime, rather than Kurosaki-kun and Inoue.

I woke up because my father slammed open the door, and I ducked to avoid his flying kick. I got out of bed, sidestepped his punch and flipped him over and out of the door, which I kicked shut behind him. As usual. I got dressed and made my way down for breakfast. Yuzu gave me a bright smile, and Karin nodded at me, with a half-hearted wave in my general direction. The same thing that happened every morning. I slung my backpack over one shoulder and set off for school.

It was a normal day. Perfectly normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. No Menos Grande were wreaking havoc. No Mod Souls were being perverted idiots. No Shinigami had shown up in my room, or my cupboard or the roof or even in front of my classroom. No Arrancar were demanding fights with me. No Vizards were breathing down my neck. Nothing at all.

I met Mizuiro and Keigo outside the main gates of the school. More like I met Mizuiro, and punched Keigo. I walked to my classroom, and slid open the door. I gave the room a cursory glance when I didn't catch any hint of a "Ohayou, Kurosaki-kun!". My throat went dry for a moment when I couldn't see the fiery hair of a certain girl. I calmed down somewhat when I couldn't see Tatsuki anywhere either. They were probably running slightly late. Nothing very different from usual, right?

My worries were quelled a few minutes later, when the door slid open to reveal the violent raven girl. I caught a glimpse of long auburn waves fluttering behind her.

"Yo, Ichigo."

I raised my hand in response. "Tatsuki."

She stomped in, as was usual, and walked to her seat, which was two seats ahead of me. The other girl walked inside the room, and carefully slid the door shut behind her. There hadn't been so much as a cheep from her, which was sending major danger signals in my head. Orihime was never this quiet, unless something was bothering her. When she turned away from the door, I saw that her pretty face was slightly scrunched up, as if she was concentrating. She had pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, the way she sometimes did when she was building up her determination to do something.

She walked to her seat, which was right next to mine, and put down her things. By now, I was thoroughly worried. She walked up to me, and stopped right in front of me. I started to talk "Inoue-", but I was cut off midway. She gave me her trademark blinding smile, and I couldn't detect a hint of deception in it. It was a 100% genuine Inoue Orihime smile. Maybe even kicked up a level.

"Ohayou, Kurosaki-kun."

To my utter astonishment, she stood on her toes and softly kissed my cheek, before standing normally again. I'd like to say that I gave her a small smile and a 'Ohayou' in return, AS USUAL, but that was not what happened. Not by a long shot. What happened was that I stood there, gaping at her like a fish, my scowl having been long since shot to hell.

And while I was still trying to gather my wits and come to terms with the situation, she giggled, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

"Kurosaki-kun should close his mouth before the little blue men get in, ne?"

Somewhere in the middle of attendance, my brain kicked in once again. And I couldn't stop a small smirk from stretching on my face.

I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this change in our tradition.

A.N. Hey! It's been a slightly late update, but I've been busy with preparing for some exams. Anyway, here you have Prompt 4- Hello. I modified it slightly to be something like a Hello/Good Morning, but it should still fit. Enjoy!

And a major thank you to all those who reviewed, favourited, or followed. I'm still open for any 'situations' you want to see, or bonus prompts.

Read, review, and follow/favourite! Hope you like it!

OnyxKatana :D