Hello again guys! Thanks you so much for the reviews! Here's chapter 4! Sorry for any misspelled words in this chapter. Now i have a favor of you guys which chapter which you like me to update first? Love Conquers All? Or This One? Let me know:) Enjoy. (Check Out the poll my profile:)

Short Summary: "Uh…You wanna taste some of my buns?"Hell yes!

Disclaimer: applied;

Chapter 4 Beautiful Sadness

I threw my head in my hands; my thick locks reached my face as I went down. The sun hid behind the clouds, creating a cooler chill hitting upon my skin. I slightly shuddered. I left my school sweater on my desk, but I didn't mind. I kept my spiritual pressure low, just so no one can try looking for me. I didn't feel like sharing my thoughts right now. I searched through my mind, like I was some sort of mad man. I saw glimpses of Orihime. I sighed and shook my head again.

What the hell is wrong with me?

The brainless notion I thought earlier had me thinking hard. What did that mean?

I…?

I, Ichigo Kurosaki am jealous of Uryuu walking her to school because of me? How brainless, how selfish, how absurd!

Why should I care who Orihime walks with? In fact, I should be ecstatic! She's not walking to school alone. So…I should be satisfied, right?

I'm glad I came outside to come to my senses—worrying over something so meaningless—how foolish of me.

I blamed it on puberty.

Jealously.

"Tch…" I said aloud.

I turned around marching towards the door—confident, might I add—and headed inside again. It was almost time for lunch anyhow.

Uryuu kept a heavy gaze on me as I sat in my seat. I didn't mind it at first but after a couple a minutes it began to irritate me. What was it that made him have an attitude towards me all of a sudden? I didn't really care but I had inking feeling that it had to do with Orihime.

He came towards me.

"Well?" He said, rudely. While fixing his spectacles.

"Excuse me?" I felt like slapping him. "What the hell do you want?"

He leaned towards my face, I backed away a little. His dark hair went over his glasses.

"I know you have something to ask me. I know that something's been bothering you lately, Ever since Orihime's accident." His facial expression was serious.

I arched my eyebrows. Well of course I wanted to know why he didn't walk her home.

"Well…you went with her didn't you? I just assumed you would walk back with her."

He shook his head. "No, no…I met up with her and I offered to walk with her to the bonfire." He sighed heavily and shook his head.

It seemed like Orihime's accident hurt him in some personal way as well.

Hmm. I didn't like that.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know" I muttered.

"I'm just as sorry as you are." He responded coldly.

The bell rang for lunch. The professor was handing out prepared lunches for students who didn't bring their own lunch. I went up and grabbed one.

"Oi, Kurosaki…Pass me one" Uryuu said. I handed one to him. Maybe the cold attitude he was giving me was over? Either way, I could care less.

Orihime and Tatsuki came in the class room giggling. For some reason when Orihime smiled, I felt all tingly. It's when she smiled the dull classroom I sat in suddenly glowed. Her radiant shine lit up the darkest corners of the classroom. Everything she touched was worthy to be touched by her. I felt an ominous feeling when she hugged Keigo before she sat down.

She turned around to look me while I was walking back to my seat. Pink stained her cheeks when I smiled crookedly at her—like she enjoyed my smile.

I suddenly found myself wishing that lunch would never end.

School was out and I was talking to Chad about his football game. I was actually very content with Chad's new hobby. He certainly did enjoy it as well. I opened my locker to get my bag.

"I have practice in a bit." Chad stated.

I nodded. "Okay, wanna grab a bite to eat before you go? I'm not really doing anything"

He shook his head no. I frowned a bit, damn I'm going to be bored again?

"Why don't you join the football team?"

I laughed. I laughed so hard that it sounded like a roar through the hallway. I slapped my thigh to control my laughing. Clearly I wanted Chad to understand that football wasn't my style.

"You laugh now," He started. I shook my head.

"No…I'm good man."

"It's a great way to release stress. And it's kinda like training. I get to hit." He flashed a thumbs up and smiled.

My phone vibrated in my phone pocket.

'Ichi dad is working overnight again, I and Yuzu are sleeping over a friend's house so we left leftovers in the fridge. Help yourself.'

-Karin

Greeeaaatt— I'm all alone too.

"I'll see you later." Chad said, I nodded and closed my locker.

There she was.

For a second… of course—breathtaking—until Keigo blocked my view.

My jaw grounded together.

I found myself looking for a reason to walk up to her and talk to her.

How's your day? No, too lame.

Ya know, I hate the way Keigo looks at you. Whoa, hell no.

I wanna rip apart the dude who beat you up. I'll scare her silly.

I sighed. When the hell did I become such a coward?

I couldn't find the courage to walk up to a girl and say hello?

Especially a girl I know, whom I've fought alongside with?

This is ridiculous I said to myself.

"HEYYYYYY, ICHIGOO!" Here goes annoyance.

"Hey Keigo." I turned to walk out the school.

"So guess what dude, I'm thinking of asking Orihime out on a date!" He whispered fiercely.

Normally, I wouldn't care, but… I nearly choked him.

"What?—" I cleared my throat "I mean um, wow, nice. Hope all goes well."

Go to hell bastard.

"Thanks! You know, if you found a girl, we could totally double date dude! It'll be AWESOME"

His voice rang so annoyingly in my ears that it gave me a headache. I wanted to elbow him to the face but I sighed and found myself picturing Keigo dating Orihime.

He looked at me with a confused gaze.

Dude

His voice echoed in my head. I forgot that I was still walking beside him.

"Dude,"

"Huh?"

"Dude, you doze off a lot. Is anything wrong?" He gasped and stopped my walking my extending his arm in front of me. "Are you SICK? Do you have amnesia?" He said it like a lunatic.

Once again I was annoyed, before I headed out the double doors I glanced at Orihime. She stood by Tatsuki. Her bruises were healing, they didn't seem that bad. I felt content.

Keigo was about to jump on me to catch my attention once again, but Mizuiro grabbed his collar and yanked him to the ground.

"I think you need help." He said to Keigo. I smiled.

"Hey Mr. Kurosaki, how have you been holding up?" Mizuiro asked. If Mizuiro didn't keep Keigo in check, I probably would have, by placing my foot in his ass. Thank God for Mizuiro.

"Good, good." I responded truthfully.

"So what do you think of Ochi-Sensei's homework huh? Lots of things to go over before the big test." He chuckled while texting on his cell.

Shit. I hadn't paid attention in class. I didn't even notice that we had homework.

Damn it, what the hell was I doing?

Staring at the auburn beauty over there. My perverted thoughts answered or maybe it was that damned hollow in me. I didn't know, however that was the reason.

"Hey, want to join us in the library? I arranged a study group for studying after hours."

This was my chance to catch up in class, I didn't mind slacking but I didn't want to repeat a year again.

"Yeah, sure." I nodded.

"WAIT! Don't leave me!" Keigo yelled obnoxiously. Keigo and I stepped over him and headed to the library.

We sat around one of the big tables in the library. Mizuiro brought a stack of packets to the table.

"This is the study packet." He grinned slyly.

One of the students in the group groaned. I concurred. We all started to study. I read over things, over and over again to finally understand. But it took me awhile because my mind, was filled with her.

An hour passed by. There were six of us at the table including Keigo. He was done, and bored. Keigo threw a little paper ball at me. I sneered at him in annoyance. He read my expression and got up to do something else.

"How many are done?" Mizuiro asked.

Four of the students raised their hands. I was the last to finish. The material didn't seem hard; but I think I could pass the test.

Keigo rolled over the TV cart and turned it on to the news. I was writing a couple things down for notes so I could study them later at home.

"Hey Mizuiro!"

I knew that voice. I snapped my head around and saw her.

"Shh!" said the librarian.

"Ooops! Sorry!" She whispered. She bowed several times and ran to our table.

"Orihime, glad you can make it, I was starting to think you weren't coming." Mizuiro stated.

"I'm sorry, I had to attend to my club…but while I was there I studied the packet." She smiled, that smile that I was so fond of.

"Wow. They need to catch this guy." One of the students said. Damn that student, distracting me from my thoughts.

"I know. I knew where he lived but looks like he running away from the cops. Now he's in hiding." Keigo responded.

I craned my head to the screen. Without realizing I dropped my pencil and stood up. My eyes widened as I saw the man—the man who beat Orihime, an innocent girl. I clenched my fist and felt the anger and hate I had for him build up. I had to concentrate to keep myself from running out the library and searching for that man.

"Uhh are you okay?" One of the students asked.

"Well I gotta go home then go to work." Orihime said.

"Oh Tatsuki's waiting for you?" Mizuiro questioned, good thing he did.

"No. I'm going by myself. Tatsuki has practice and won't be home till late."

My heart stuttered.

"Maybe… I could walk you" I said without turning. I felt her breathing stop. She paused. I turned around, met her gaze. Her breathing had stopped and it took a second to restart as she tried to answer me.

"Um…It's-Its okay…I mean uhh…Wha-..Cause I'm fine…Eheh" She forced a light laugh.

"I'll be fine!" She said dismissively.

No.

No, I could not leave her, but maybe she would say no and walk alone.

"Are you sure? I'm going the same way," I lied. "I'm going to the market and pick up some things."

"Oh…Okay" She said.

"Hey thanks Mizuiro, I'm gonna go now." I took one last look at the screen.

"They've just reported that he had killings in not only in Kurakara town out outside of it as well. All of his victims have been found near death and/or dead. Authorities also reported that he only goes after teenage girls. He's raped and killed most of them. Here's a victim's mother with a comment."

"Please…please do something to stop him." She held a picture of her daughter with tears rolling down her cheeks. I quickly turned around and looked at Orihime. I wish I hadn't looked at that victim's mother, the image of her holding up that frame made me replace her daughter's photo with Orihime face instead. Orihime had no family around, no one to be with her.

She blinked. She had no idea what was going through my mind. One thing I knew for sure. Orihime needed someone to protect her from now on. And I knew that I was the one to do it.

"Let's go" I said dead panned without realizing how rough my voice sounded. I startled her a bit, I didn't mean to.

We exited the school and started walking in her direction. I can feel her heartbeat drumming loudly. Her arms wrapped around her textbooks tight against her chest. I tried to start talking but failed. I shut my mouth.

Say something I yelled at myself.

"So…you studied for the test?" Stupid, stupid question.

"Uh…yeah." She answered. Silence again. We kept walking.

Next thing I knew I saw her textbooks flying in mid air as she tripped over a crack. Rukia said awhile back that Orihime was very clumsy. I never seemed to pay attention back then. But now…

Immediately I flash-stepped behind her and wrapped my strong arm around her waist keeping a firm but gentle grasp. She squeaked. Maybe she was uncomfortable?

I, however, was feeling the complete opposite.

But what I should have been worried about slipped my mind.

Exposure.

How could I forget that I was walking in public?

Tons of people were walking by but didn't seem to notice. I guess I was too fast for the naked human eye to see.

"Inoue?" I said urgently. "Are you alright?"

She blinked, "Ye-yeah…I'm fine"

I sighed out of relief.

I picked up her books and handed it to her. She flushed pink and lowered her head; she couldn't make eye contact with me.

I found that interesting. Why couldn't she ever look at me when I looked at her?

"T-thank you…"

We resumed our walking, our awkward, silent walking.

"Uh…You wanna taste some of my buns?"

Hell yes! My perverted mind answered before I did. After a second I realized what she meant. She worked at a bakery.

"Uh…Sure." I said.

"I have a lot. My boss gave me a raise so I went on a shopping spree at the market to buy buns!" She exclaimed. She seemed giddy. Pink resumed staining her cheeks. I could tell she was trying to break the silence. Usually a girl would go shopping for clothes or buy a pet. But Orihime… bought buns? A chuckle slipped through my lips. She was interesting.

Before we knew it we were in front of her apartment. We stopped in front of her door. She jiggled around in her bag for her keys.

"Um…I'll heat up the buns for you…" She said shyly.

"Uh yeah…I'll wait here." I said with a friendly smile.

Her eyebrows pulled together with her lips parted open. I stared at her in astonishment. Was she perhaps going to invite me inside?

"Oh…okay." She said low.

You fool! You arrogant, arrogant fool! I yelled at myself.

She came back a few minutes later with wrapped steamed buns.

"I…I didn't know how much you needed, but…"

"Oh this will do. Thanks Inoue." I answered. I'm so pathetic.

She shoved a lock of burnt orange her behind her ears. Revealing her gorgeous doe like brown eyes, they were so inviting. My body went weak for a second.

"Thanks for…w-walking me home…you really didn't have to…" She said timidly. I shook my head.

"Its fine, I didn't mind. I was already going this way remember?"

She smiled and nodded.

She then looked up, grinned widely. "Hey Uryuu!"

She waved high. I turned around and saw Uryuu waving back. He nodded at me, I nodded back. My guess was he was making sure she was home safely. He began to walk home again.

"So…" She began. "I guess I should get going."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot you gotta go to work." Idiot.

"Yeah…So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked.

I didn't wanna leave her. "Yeah…I'll see you tomorrow."

I've never felt so brainless in my life. I trotted down the steps. I didn't really have to go to the market. I just used that as in incentive to walk her home. To make sure she was safe from that lowlife rapist.

That bastard I can wait to injure.

It sucked feeling normal. I wanted that rapist to have a taste of my Getsuga Tenshou—with my mask on.

I couldn't do anything. The soul society wasn't involved, no soul reapers.

Nothing.

It was normal.

"Tch.." I said through my teeth as I walked back home.

Never have I felt so weak to protect someone or kill an enemy.

Oh shit. I thought.

Orihime was alone. I could not leave her, that'd almost slipped my mind. I ran back to her apartment but kept myself hidden. What the hell was I supposed to do, go up to her door and say:

Hey Inoue, I'm back, I'm going to walk you to work now and then after work, I'll walk you back.

Hell no. I'd be a stalker—well I already am a stalker, hiding behind to a tree peering out to her apartment.

Her bedroom window was left wide open.

Damn it Orihime. Practically opening herself up to danger. I placed the steamed buns she had given me down and pulled out my cell.

'Inoue, before you go to work, make sure all your windows and doors are closed and locked.' I texted. I felt like a damned stalker. An obsessed stalker.

She stood by the window, facial expression sullen. I stood up, worried.

She shut the window closed, locked it and closed the blinds.

'Mission Accomplished' She texted back.

I forced a smile, why did she look sad for a second?

I texted her back and smiley face and she did the same. I wanted to text back two smiley faces but figured that'd be too lame. So I didn't text back at all.

I slid my back down on the tree and waited for her to leave. I wouldn't have felt right without knowing if she made it to work.

She finally came out, Wearing casual jeans and a white t-shirt, carrying an apron and her bag.

I tried to keep my spiritual pressure so low, lower than ever.

She locked the door and paused.

I nearly had a heart attack.

Fuck! What if she saw me, what the hell would I say?

Damn I am such a coward!

She gazed out to the direction I was in. I cursed nonstop—inwardly of course.

She smiled sadly, then started to walk to her job.

I, however, was sweating bullets.

I followed her reiastu and made sure she went to work safely. I focused on her reiastu so hard—like a damn lapdog—that I knew if it fluctuated, she'd be in trouble.

It was stable; I was content, for now.

Although I didn't like the look on her face, it made me worry all night.

End of Chapter 4. Review Please and check out the poll! (sounds desperate i know .-.) lol