It's Saturday afternoon.

Two seventeen year olds bask in the breezy air, the somewhat awkward atmosphere dissolving when they comment about the sapphire sky, or maybe how the other was doing recently. At times like this, things that seemed meaningless brought them closer together.

"Naaa, Kurosaki-san, how do you feel lately? Yuzu-chan and Karin-chan said you had a summer cold not too long ago." Comments the auburn haired girl, digging her bare feet into the golden sand. The young man nodded curtly, watching her scribble pictures absentmindedly in the sand, "Yeah. I'm better now, Inoue."

She flashed one of those huge, cheesy grins that absolutely warms your heart.

Ichigo couldn't resist a smile back at her, happy only because she was happy.

Their feelings related almost entirely to each other, whether they were aware of it or not. The two fell into a more comfortable silence, Orihime cheerfully digging cute faces into the sand. He only watched, content that she was enjoying herself in the sun. Ichigo didn't particularly like sitting in the sand, partly because it usually stuck to unwanted places whenever he got wet from the salty ocean. However, he could ignore all of that when he was with her. Ichigo was going to say something sweet and romantic in a rough sort of way before her stomach growled so loudly, it seemed to echo.

"...Inoue?"

The upbeat female only smiled sheepishly, knowing that Ichigo wouldn't hesitate to spend gracious amounts of money on her enormous appetite.

"You should have told me you were hungry before we left. I would've bought you something." Ichigo stands quickly, offering a hand to the slightly timid girl. She takes it, feeling bashful that her stomach, of all times, decided to be undesirably noisy. Ichigo walks out the beach after their shoes are on, looking around frantically for a food stand or something of the sort. "Kurosaki-san, it's okay, it's okay, I'm really not that hungry." She chants, wishing he'd calm down and not be so serious.

After many failed attempts to stop his hustling about, Orihime finally ate a few slices of pizza before returning to the beach with Ichigo.

"Thank you, Kurosaki-san, but it wasn't necessary..I don't like it when you spend so much on me."

Ichigo waved off her complaints, leaning against her shoulder.

Suddenly, Orihime forgot about complaining her discomfort, and found that Ichigo was much more loving when she just let him do what he wanted. She found that the more she tried to stop him, the more he tried to make her happier than before.

A gentle smile appeared on her face, and she turned ever so slightly, letting him wrap his arms around her tiny waist. "I love spending time with you, Inoue." Ichigo started, brown eyes glancing at her tenderly, "And even when you don't like that I spend so much on you, I really can't help it."

She blinked. Orihime knew for sure that he was just spending to brighten her mood, something voluntary, not because it was something out of his control.

"If you're the least bit unhappy, I'll fix it...it's a promise I plan to keep," A rare smile cracked onto his features, softening his face and giving off a lovely glow, "Whether you want me to or not."

Orihime looked away. She was never used to his romantic talk. A heavy blush settled on her cheeks, which he immediately noticed.

Perhaps he was moving too fast?

They weren't exactly dating, no one had asked the other if they wanted to go out. Maybe she was scared that he was going to do something.

Orihime drew pictures in the sand again, averting her eyes and trying to keep herself occupied, if only for a few minutes. She drew what she scribbled on papers at school: hearts, cupids, stripes, polka dots surrounding a bright, highlighter pink 'Orihime + Ichigo = Love' equation slapped in the middle. Ichigo, being a young man that doesn't miss much, watched intently and finally understood the faint blushes that suddenly popped up during class.

Quickly, he added 'forever' to the side of 'Love', inwardly smirking in delight when she gasped slightly and glanced at him feverishly.

Ichigo stood up, dusting off the sand that stuck eagerly to his jeans, offering a hand to her like before. Orihime took it hesitantly, and almost instantly regretted that she did. He had pulled her close, hugging her tightly before releasing her, scowling, and walking away. That was Ichigo for you. He was frustrated with himself for showing that much emotion at one time, and causing her discomfort, despite acting like he didn't care. He grumbled a 'See you' and quickened his pace.

"Wait, Kurosaki-san!"

Chocolate colored eyes glanced back at her, his nervous walk stopped.

"Will I see you tomorrow?"

Ichigo knew he couldn't wait that long. Orihime's blush started up again, especially when he walked back to her, hoisted her over his shoulder, and ignored the weak punches against his back. He knew that she was capable of stronger punches, being a black belt in karate, and figured that she wanted to be carried back to his house, and into his room to be embarrassed again.

"Put me down.." Orihime whined, sending one last half-hearted pound to his back.

"Not happening." Came his reply, walking jauntily to his home, opening the front door and striding in cockily.

His sisters were used to him bringing someone home, but never like this. But once they saw the face of the girl, their shocked faces faded, and they resumed their day. Thankfully, Isshin wasn't home; his teasing would be the death of the strawberry.

Up the stairs they went, walking into his bedroom and plopping her down with a soft thud.

A grin that seemed to be dipped in triumph, "That wasn't too hard, now was it?"

A pout, and a 'Let's just get on with it' were all that was heard before the orange haired young man shut the bedroom door.

This was long.

But I really wanted to write something IchiHime, since I haven't for so long.

Geez, it's been almost a year since I wrote anything for this...

Please forgive me. TAT