Hey! I'm back! The chapter count has reached two digits! Isn't that great! Thank you for all your support, people! Babiip would work hard! ^^ Since Blitch was demanding for an update, so... I tried my best.
And sorry for the lateness... I had exams, and to add to the trouble, somehow, when I saved it it reverted back to the old version, and I had to type everything up again... And then I forgot to save everything. But then, something good came out of these. I added the first part cuz I suddenly got the inspiration!
This chapter is dedicated to my readers! Thank you for your support! *smiles*
Disclaimer: Sometimes, I wonder if people read the disclaimers. If I were the owner of Bleach, I wouldn't need to worry, right? Got the message?
"Kurosaki-kun, you're back!" Happily yelled Orihime, as she ran to the doorway.
"Thanks." Ichigo muttered, as Orihime took his coat. The late October winds were powerful, able to chill a person to his very bones. Ichigo's shoulders slouched a bit, while bags could clearly be seen under his eyes. His frown was in full force, as was the case in the past few weeks.
"Oh my!" Kisuke remarked. "Orihime-chan, your cousin's looks so worn out!" He grabbed a paper fan out of nowhere, covered his face with it, and proceeded, "How about something rejuvanating? Perhaps you can give him a shoulder massage~?" Perhaps because of him obsuring his face, the last part sounded a bit perverted.
"What-" Despite Ichigo's tired status, this remark earned quite a response from him. His face flashed crimson, and his eyes became fully wide.
"What~ You aren't having dirty thoughts about your own cousin, are you?~" Teased Kisuke. "Or are you afraid of a simple, harmless shoulder massage from your cousin?" Somehow, there was something else glittering in his eyes... Not that Ichigo noticed though.
Ichigo was starting to get annoyed. This man...! I will...
"It's okay." Orihime stepped forward, as she pushed Ichigo into a chair. "I'm sorry. Please bear with it for a while."She whispered.
What did she just apologise for? Ichigo wanted to ask. However, once he felt her hands on his shoulders, another thought overan it. Her hands are trembling... She must be nervous. Suddenly, a light bulb lighted up in Ichigo. She's nervous... She's doing this just for the act... She must be scared. "Hey. Don't be nervous. Just try, okay?" He put his hand onto hers, and squeezed it lightly, soothing her. "It's alright." He said. The first thing that came into his mind when he grabed hold of her hand was that it was cold. He held on to it, as long as she doesn't let go. He wasn't thinking. The actions, the words, just came out by themselves.
From behind the chair, Orihime couldn't see his expression, but she wouldn't look anyway. She was scared, she was, but not anymore. His hand is so warm... Just like I remembered. Warmth rushed into her through the touch. She began to feel a bit more wanted his hand to hold hers forever, but she knew that won't happen. I have to start. She told herself. She retracted her hands a bit, letting him know that the massage was about to start.
Ichigo's hand retracted. His hands ached for the sensation of her soft hand in his.
Then, the massage began.
Orihime took in a deep breath, and gathered the last of her nerves. Kisuke-san can't see anything from this. She told herself. It's alright. She lightly set her fingers down, one at a time, onto Ichigo's shoulders. Albeit a bit unsurely, she lightly kneaded the muscles. Receiving no response, Orihime continued. At least he doesn't hate it. She mused.
Ichigo didn't hate it alright. Her hands feel so good... Ichigo thought, as Orihime massaged him. As he prepared to lean back and enjoy the massage, his logical thought suddenly chose this moment to kick in. Why? It said. Somehow, the query frightened Ichigo. His body tenesd up involuntarily.
Sensing Ichigo's discomfort, the action of Orihime's hands came to an abrupt halt. Was that bad just now? She thought. Before she had time to further terrorize herself, however, Ichigo grumbled, "Why did you stop? Continue." Despite his not-so-good attitude, Orihime was happy. She laid the whole of her palms onto his shoulders, and continued the massage. Under her administrations, Ichigo's shoulders relaxed noticibly. Sensing that her job is done, Orihime prepared to lift her hands. However, she found herself reluctant to remove her hands from Ichigo. Somehow, she didn't want to end the massage just yet. It was like holding a giant teddy bear, she presumed. The warmth and security it radiates make you don't want to leave for ever and ever. So, she moved her hands to his right arm, and began kneading the tense muscles there.
Ichigo was slightly surprised when Orihime moved on to his arms. Why is she massaging my arm too? She doesn't need to... Ichigo did not bother to guess. She didn't have to. He repeated. Despite his cluelessness, he was happy. He didn't want her hands to leave just yet. He was content just sitting on the chair, letting her massage his arm.
After Orihime had finished with everything, she slowly removed her hands from Ichigo's shoulders, and cried, "There! All done!" Before she had time to say anything else, Ichigo turned around, and said, "Thanks, Inoue."
The unexpected thank shocked Orihime a bit. She found her heart moved by this simple word, and replied with "No problem!"
Then, she smiled.
It was a radiant smile. Her lips were stretched to pink coloured thin strips, and her eyes also shone brilliantly, despite the fact that it was closed a bit. The smile shook Ichigo. He had never seen anyone smile like that. He found himself captivated by that smile, and a warm sensation slowly spread from his heart to his whole body.
All too soon, the smile disappeared, and Orihime said, "I'm going to prepare the bath water now!" And she ran up the stairs.
Ichigo stood there, still captivated. Why would she have such an effect over me? He questioned.
Ichigo groaned as he descended upon the bed. He covered his eyes with the back of his hand, and recalled the events of the day. His mind had seemed particularly jumbled up after the massage, even after his bath. His mind had been revolving around the auburn-haired girl, and what she had done and said.
Then, he shook his head violently, as if to get rid of the thoughts. Why am I thinking about her!? She's nobody to me! Once the act is over...
Somehow, Ichigo's chest clenched at the idea. The idea that they would pass each other on the streets, and Orihime would go on without noticing... Somehow, the idea made him sad. Stop thinking about her!
As if it was predetermined, his phone rang at this moment. Ichigo glanced at the screen, then flipped it open. "Renji, what's up?" he spoke. Even though it had been a week since he had known Rukia would come, he hadn't told Renji yet.
"I know Rukia's coming next week, and I am telling you you don't need to do anything." Renji said, not bothering for a greeting.
"Have you forgotten what happened three years ago?" Ichigo shouted to the phone. "Don't worry, I'll make sure she won't set foot in the hotel!" interjected Ichigo. "I still can't contact her yet, but in thee worst scenario, we can always just blockade the entrance-"
Renji cut him off. "I haven't forgotten anything. The more the fuss, the more she knows we still care for her. And the fact is, I don't. To me, she's as good as dead. So don't do anything. She's just another celebrity who is coming to stay in the hotel. That's it."
"Look, you may be able to do something like that, but I am not prepared to let such a person stay in my hotel! I won't let her in!" Ichigo yelled.
"You will, if you don't want your father to know that Inoue-san is not your cousin." Renji replied calmly.
"What... What did you just say?" Dumbfounded, Ichigo asked again.
"I said... INOUE ORIHIME IS NOT YOUR COUSIN, SO YOU'D BETTER LISTEN TO ME!" Renji's patience was wearing thin, and he wasn't going to repeat it a second time. "Look, I love that old goat as if he were my father, and I don't want him to die either, so... you know what to do."
With that, Renji hung up, leaving Ichigo staring at his phone.
And leaving his secretary standing on the other side of the closed door.
And... Where this chapter ends... An unusual thing for me to do: Posted review replies!
Lunar Iris: How many chapters did you review in one go? I thought I lost you about at chapter 5... Or 6. Sorry if the "her" was a bit confusing... I wanted to build up the mystery. I'm going to do time lapses from now on, since I thought the first few days deserved more work. Yeah, the plot's gonna be tighter now... And about Yamamoto... He will have at least one more appearance. That's all I can say.
zodious: Yeah... Ichigo's going to be nicer from now on. He's got to be suspicious cuz he had to protect his family, right? He had made a rash decision, and now he had to keep an eye out for bad things.
DancerGrl16: Yeah, Ichigo's understanding... Though the reason why Orihime lies... and why she does not most of the time... Will be discussed in the later chapters. This story has a theme of "lies". So... There would be many of them. And I know which one you're talking about! It's in the 190s or one of the early 200s... I don't remember the exact number though...
kally-kal: Glad you liked it! I'll keep up the work!
Emuri: Yeah, Kisuke and Yoruichi have their suspicions alright. I love casting them as the dodgy duo. They're so funny to write about. You got the first one right. I haven't introduced the real reason for the second though.
animeistight36: Thank you! I actually spent a bit of time drafting that up. I wanted to do smething about sweet potatoes, and making Ichigo do something he didn't expect himself to do.
SunsetRainbow: Thanks! It actually relieves me that you think it's cute. Idon't have much talent in fluff... I am more into inner thoughts & emotions.
Blitchie: Well I can't say much things about Orihime's identity... But let me assure you, there won't even be a hint of incest in the story. Cuz it makes me barf. Period. Ichigo's supposed to be like that... But he's not really that stone-cold. He'll be better later.
wombat123: Thank you! I didn't want Ichigo to warm up to her too soon, cuz it would be weird...
Sweet Yet Painful: Thanks! Actually, I had felt like that when I saw the original Korean drama. Too bad the storyline turned a bit stereotypical later on.
Jhay: Thanks! I work hard to keep the storyline from being too boring and slow, so I add stuff into it.
And that was the chapter! I actually planned another thing for this chapter, but then I had to study more, so it's going to be in the next.
Many many thanks to all of my reviewers, and for those who haven't reviewed... Please review! I want to reach 3-digits before my next update! Tell me what you think of this chapter!
Bye for now~
Babiip 6/6/2009