title. i love you, you know!
summary.
finally, after 400 something chapters, Orihime confessed!
prompt.
M&M
note. i don't have an excuse for this one :)
disclaimer.
applied, a-huh. no not mine, ever. so don't sue. i'm just a poor delusional girl.
warning.

_.


The door leading to the rooftop opened and closed with a dull thud, followed by tentative footsteps. A small smile tugged at his lips. He knew who it was. He knew that reiatsu well. Patiently, he waited for her with closed eyes, furrowed brows, arms folded behind his head, an empty juice box dangling from his lips by the chewed-up straw.

The footsteps stopped.

He cracked one eye open.

First thing he saw was a long, thick cape of auburn hair that swirled around her face as a gust of wind harshly beat at her. His eyes unconsciously lowered to her bare legs, her skirt flaring around her thighs, showing more skin than what was proper.

"Um, Kurosaki-kun?"

Ichigo blinked and lifted his gaze back to her face, still covered with tangled auburn hair. He had to smirk, amused at how helpless she looked with that pout on her face while the wind pounded on her fragile but curvaceous body.

"Inoue."

His eyebrows arched as she blushed brightly, matching her hair.

"You ok?" he asked while standing up, leaving the empty juice back on the ground, and easily towering over her. Amused at her attempts to keep her skirt down and stay upright against the wind with her hair whipping around her, Ichigo reached out and gathered the long strands of hair in his fist, tucking them in one side. As he did this, his eyes watched expressions after expressions flash across her red face.

"Inoue? Hey, what's wrong? You ok?" asked Ichigo, still holding her hair in his fist while several strands flew about her face.

She nodded vigorously, her hands fisting on her skirt. "O-oh yes! T-Thank you… Kurosaki-kun."

"Sure." As the wind died down, Ichigo slowly let go of her hair, letting the strands fall back to her shoulders and behind her. "Is there something you want to talk about?" he continued, watching her underneath his lashes. Instantly, she blushed, much to Ichigo's confusion.

"Y-yes… Um…"

Orihime, on the other hand, started to fidget.

Is this right? What if… What if… A mental image of gigantic and ominous Tatsuki and Rukia towering over her trembling form entered her mind. The girl sighed in defeat, remembering Rukia's threat and Tatsuki's goading.

"What is it?" She jumped slightly at Ichigo's voice and looked up to the teen who was frowning in curiosity at her. Under his intense gaze, Orihime felt her cheeks flush darker.

Can I really do this?! My h-h-heart… is beating so hard! I might die and who will look after the cheese popcorn? No one!

"Are you alright? Is there a problem?" His frown darkened. "Is someone bothering you? Did someone hurt you or –"

"N-No…" she stammered.

The frown lifted a bit and the corner of his mouth lifted in a small smile. "Then, what is it?"

Can I … Can I really… d-d-do this? Unlike Tatsuki and Rukia, she was not as aggressive as her two female friends. Her shyness was so extreme that sometimes frustrate Tatsuki and now, Rukia. "Um…" Her grip on her short skirt tightened as she lowered her gaze, finding the ground more interesting than the face before her.

Ichigo started to worry, not that he'd admit it. He stared at her lowered lashes, small nose and plump lips, the bottom one between her teeth. Unbidden, his eyes dropped lower than her chin, lingered somewhere a gentleman should not stare at. His gaze dropped to her short skirt and finally, to her legs. His collar suddenly felt too tight, but he kept staring at the smooth-looking skin, unconsciously appreciating the view, especially the way the skirt ride up at the every sway of the breeze.

"Kurosaki-kun…" Ichigo quickly lifted his gaze off her legs, and his cheeks burned as he found her looking at his face. She looked worried, scared even. Was she scared of him and his would-be reaction?

He tried to reassure her. "It's alright. What is it?" Ichigo said with a small smile.

"But… But… Um. I… I… I w-want to…" She quickly dropped her eyes, biting her lip hard that they swelled under her teeth.

He raised a curious brow. Want to what? Somewhere inside his mind, he heard a vague snicker. He rolled his eyes and chose not to acknowledge the white menace. "Yeah?" he prodded. "You should stop biting your lip. You'll hurt yourself."

"Y-Yes…"

Without thinking, he reached out and grasped her shoulder. "Come on. What is it? You know you can tell me anything. We're…" The word 'friends' or 'nakama' didn't sound right in his ears, even in his thoughts. Especially now that he can feel the warmth of her skin despite the presence of cloth between his palm and the skin of her shoulder.

When he looked at her face, she was looking at him with wide eyes. She looked startled and Ichigo wondered what it was to be startled about.

Oh no… Oh no… his hand… his hand! I… I… feel faint… I need to eat popcorn! I need to eat a sweet potato with cheese! I need to eat—

"Inoue? You're… red. Are you sick?" His voice punctured through her bubble and Orihime quickly shook her head in a negative.

"I… I'm f-fine!" she replied, almost yelling. Ichigo looked surprised at first before nodding slowly.

"Alright…"

Orihime wanted to melt in a heated, purple – pink! And red! – goo as Ichigo slowly, very slowly, took off his hand from her shoulder. His fingers caressed the fabric of her uniform before leaving her shoulder, and the girl shivered in delight.

"So…" Ichigo shoved his hands inside his pockets so as to prevent them from moving on their own. Touching this girl was dangerous to his system. Vaguely, he wondered how it would feel like to touch her bare skin. Huffing to himself, he swept the thought aside. He was not some lecher. He respected Orihime, and having inappropriate thoughts about her was not respectful.

Tch. Whatever, King.

Ignoring the sneering voice at the back of his head, he continued his query. "What is it? Inoue, you can tell me anything and I won't get mad at all."

"R-Really?"

He fought the urge to grin at her hopeful tone. "Yeah."

Orihime swallowed and stiffened her resolve. "I…"

Ichigo waited patiently.

"I… I…" She heaved a deep sigh, and looked up to his curious gaze, red-cheeked, eyes big and moist.

"You…?"

"…Y-your… I…w-w-want…y-you…"

His whole face went crazy red as Ichigo's eyes slowly widened, his heart suddenly jumping and vibrating like crazy. He gulped painfully. He began to lift his quivering hands to grasp her shoulders.

It c-can't be… Inoue…? She's –

Suddenly, the girl let out a wail and pushed her palms to her cheeks. "I can't say it! I… I…"

"Inoue."

"Kurosaki-kun –"

"Say it."

Gray eyes popped out in shock at Ichigo's sudden, low growling voice. "B-but–" She squeaked as the orange-haired substitute grasped her shoulders and pulled her closer, so close she can feel his breath on her face.

"Say it."

At that irresistible, low grinding voice, Orihime felt something inside her snap as she yelled.

"I want to melt in your mouth, not in your hand!"

Ichigo felt like someone hit a gong right behind him.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Um." Orihime tilted her head to the side curiously. "Kurosaki-kun, are you alright?"

Worried, the girl leaned up closer. "Kurosaki-kun, are you there…?"

Kurosaki-kun wasn't moving nor blinking at all, but his mouth was ajar that Orihime feared a rabbit will hop in and disappear. His eyes were popping out as though she had grown an extra large head. His lack of response was disappointing, and when he dropped her shoulders, she felt her eyes burn with tears.

"I-I…I'm so sorry!" she wailed, bowing. "Tatsuki-chan and Rukia-chan said… Huh?" She looked up. Her eyes met air. "Kurosaki-kun?" He was nowhere in sight. "Where did he… Kurosaki-kun!"

The poor boy was unconscious and was on his back. Crying out in panic, Orihime fell to her knees and cradled his head in her arms, hugging his head to her bosom as she cried.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry, Kurosaki-kun! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! I didn't mean to kill you! I swear! Tatsuki-chan and Rukia-chan said I must confess and not waste my life because we'll never know when the sun will stop shining and the stars will stop twinkling and the popcorns to stop popping– Kurosaki-kun!" She shook him and his head lolled back. Her eyes bulged, seeing a trickle of blood dribbling from Ichigo's nose. Panic-stricken, Orihime screamed.

"TATSUKI-CHAN! RUKIA-CHAN! KUROSAKI-KUN IS BLEEDING! KUROSAKI-KUN IS DEAD!"

"Gah. What an idiot," Tatsuki grumbled, watching the scene with a disappointed pout.

Rukia was smirking. "Did you see his face and how his eyes rolled at the back of his head when Inoue confessed?" The two dark-haired girls looked at each other and burst into a fit of hysterical and mocking laughter.

"GAHAHAHAHA!"

"I can't believe you two! Making Inoue say those things!" Renji said, shaking his head.

Rukia rolled her eyes, still laughing. "Blah! It's about time she confessed. And that's one kickass confession." The shinigami added smugly. "We help her look for a tried and tested confession and that line is made of EPIC WIN." The two dark-haired girls laughed again.

Renji looked at her blankly. "Are you freaking nuts? It's a pick up line!"

The laughter stopped abruptly.

_.


Yes, I love pick up lines! And I love M&M's. Heh. XD thanks :)