author's note: been a long time, hasn't it? what's changed since then...(CANON) (CANON) (CANON)...anyway, this chapter has actually been in the works since this story was last updated, just never got around to finishing it up and posting it! thanks again to everyone who has reviewed, followed, and faved this story even though it hasn't been active. i love you!

disclaimer: same old, i don't own Bleach (shoutout to the actual owner Kubo for making my dreams come true, though)

guard.


Orihime slowly opened the door, peering inside cautiously. His car wasn't in their parking spot, but she had a creeping suspicion that he was around. She gingerly put her weight on the door, using herself to push into the apartment further.

At once, the room was filled with the sound of paws against the linoleum floor.

"Shhh!" Orihime bounded to the culprit, making sure to land on the tips of her toes. She squatted once she reached her little friend, eyeing it with what she hoped was a chastising look. "We don't know if Ichigo-kun is back, Kei-chan!"

The tiny puppy simply returned the look from behind those tufts of black and white fur, tail motionless, head cocked. Her tongue was absently stuck out, presumably because she had forgotten to retract it after running into the house at full speed. She really was quite cute. For a moment, everything was quiet.

That was, until her canine companion decided to let out a small bwark – it was hardly a solid bark, Orihime noted, Kei-chan was too small to let out a full bark, it was definitely more of a bwark – and scamper away.

"Ahh!" The noise, although not loud, was enough to startle Orihime so that she stumbled ever-so-slightly. This small opening allowed the dog to dart around the corner and out of sight. "Kei-chan, you mustn't run around like that, come back!"

She huffed. Who knew that such a small animal could make such a big fuss?

"Oh, Orihime."

She whipped around amidst her thoughts, only to be affronted by the sight of his chest. Startled, her honey eyes shot up towards his face, meeting his inquisitive gaze. The smell of soap lingered on him, and his hair appeared to be slightly wet. He had just gotten out of the shower, she surmised. It explained why she had the feeling he was around, but usually he was easy to sense. His spirit energy was an ocean – vast, lilting and swaying out of him in large, steady waves. Orihime was puzzled as to why she hadn't realized sooner.

"I-Ichigo-kun!" She sputtered nervously, absentmindedly twirling a few strands of her auburn hair between her fingers. "I, uh, didn't realize you were here!"

"Not like you to not notice." A small smirk crept across his face. "Feeling a little distracted, Orihime?"

"Th-that's not it!" She blurted out, even though she knew he was completely right. The stress of sneaking in an animal into a clearly-marked "No Animals Allowed" arrangement was getting to her. Orihime paused just momentarily so that she could listen for the tippity tap of Kei-chan's paws or her painfully adorable yelp. Thankfully, there was none.

"Hm?" Ichigo gave her a quick once-over, and Orihime noted something intangible behind his eyes. "So what was it?"

"Your car wasn't in the parking lot, so I just assumed you weren't here…I guess I just let my guard down," she laughed sheepishly.

In a heartbeat, his face was within an inch of hers, so close that she could make out the small, sun-kissed freckles along the planes of his face, the flecks of gold hidden within his irises. His aftershave, mixed with the crisp scent of shower gel and fresh laundry wafted towards her. It was strangely intoxicating, being so close to him. It made her weak.

"Right," he replied, looking upwards in thought, "I lent my car to Karin, she said she needed it for one thing or another…" It was almost as if he didn't seem to realize the effect he had on her. He looked so cool, so casual. She felt breathless. "But Orihime," he continued, and she could hear the smile in his voice before seeing it, "never let your guard down. Even around me."

Her startled glance was met with a nonchalant shrug and the ghost of the grin. His face was back to looking at her with the utmost normality. As if nothing was wrong, no suspicion evident in his face. He turned away from her, leaving her feeling cold and confused. What did he mean by that?

Orihime cleared her throat, trying to get her muddled thoughts straight. She needed to find Kei-chan, and then sort out where to keep her. Not to mention the problem of telling Ichigo once she had sorted this all out—

"Oh, and the mutt can stay, I guess." He brought the clockwork inside her head to an abrupt stop. She gulped. "Until you find out whoever it belongs to…the landlord's gonna lurk if he hears her yapping, so maybe try harder to keep her quiet," he started to walk back into their room, "eh, Orihime?"

So, that was what he meant.