…
…
"Hime-chan?"
The redhead jumped at the voice, startled. Her aunt tilted her head to the side, a lock of golden hair falling over her shoulder. She stood beside her niece, expression concerned and gloved hands soaked from the dish water. The smell of their dinner was still in the air. Even though Orihime hadn't eaten a lot, she had offered to clean the dishes. Rangiku decided to help as well. Now, they stood side-by-side, Rangiku chatting about her day. It was only a few minutes later until the woman realized the redhead next to her wasn't paying attention.
"Are you alright?"
Orihime didn't look at her, instead keeping her gaze on the water in front of her. Was she alright? No, she hadn't been alright for a full week. Eyes tightening at the thought, she nodded sharply, though it did nothing to soothe her aunt. Still, the blonde continued washing, throwing a few glances in the other's direction.
What…does a kiss mean?
A kiss is something you do to another to express your affection for them. Kisses on the forehead, kisses on the cheek, kisses on the lips…What did that even mean? Why did people do it, she couldn't help but think. Her hands tightened around the plate in her grasp. Kissing meant you felt something for the other person.
Even knowing that, Orihime couldn't get it completely through her head. Impossible. It was so impossible and ridiculous. Kensei liked her then, right? He had to. He wouldn't just kiss her, just to do so, right? He wasn't that type of person. Her eyelids lowered at the thought, memories playing as if on screen.
His lips pressed against hers, his warm, rough hands holding her face still, long fingers pressing into her neck, the sound of his breathing and the smell of his skin. It was odd – an intimate sensation that she had only experienced with Kurosaki.
Kissing…was not something she was familiar with. It was such a weird experience. Especially with Kensei. With Kurosaki, there was this overwhelming burning in her stomach, the instant flutter of her cheeks, the thudding of her heart in her ears.
She had never viewed Kensei in a romantic sense. Had barely looked at Kurosaki in that way until just recently. But…did Kensei always feel like that? Did he look at her like Kurosaki? Or was it because he was ill? Was he delusional? Had he thought of someone else?
"Look at me. For once."
"What does that even mean?!" Orihime snapped, dropping the glass bowl she had been scrubbing. Rangiku jumped from beside her, surprised. Her niece was gripping the sink with trembling hands, lips pressed in a firm line and eyes glassy. "What does…" Her chin lowered, "What are you even talking about, Kensei…?"
"Hime-chan."
The redhead looked up.
"You should get some rest," the curvy woman suggested with a small, gentle smile.
Orihime met her eyes, hesitating for a moment before nodding. As she climbed the steps, Rangiku sighed heavily.
High school must be tough.
…
…
Inside of the boys' locker room, the tall figure stood in front of the mirror. Scowling, he placed the white towel upon his head, scrubbing and hoping to soak up as much water as he could. Sighing, he sat down on the bench, locker opened before him, the sound like a earthquake in the empty locker room.
"I'm such an idiot…" Kensei grumbled to himself, kneading a hand into his forehead.
"Tell me about it."
Kensei's eyes shot back open, snapping his head around to glare at the figure, "Mashiro! What the hell're ya doin' in here?! Didn't I tell you to stop comin' in the locker room?!"
Her steps were quick and light as she stopped in front of him, pout fixed onto face, "Stupid Kensei! Not like you have anything I wanna see! Remember? I like chicks, not dick—"
"Says the girl fuckin' around with Grimmjow."
Her reaction was instantaneous – features lighting up a bright red, "S-Shut up, Kensei-dummy!" She squeaked towards him, fists bunching tight before her expression softened, eyes lighting up at the sight of him, "…What's going on?"
Shit. "What do ya mean—"
"Don't pull that with me!" Mashiro snapped at him, crossing her arms over her chest with a huff, "I've known you for years! I can tell when something is wrong with you."
He stayed silent, averting his eyes from hers and to the side. It was no lie that Mashiro knew him better than anyone. No telling how she took how he'd been acting all week. Stand-offish, glaring at everything, and trying to get Orihime's attention after every class. Of course, the redhead hadn't given him more than a few seconds of eye contact before she darted away. Every time he tried to capture her gaze, she would turn a light pink, look away, and rush in the opposite direction. His glare intensified as he thought of the number of times she had ignored his texts and phone calls. It seemed she was even ignoring Kurosaki, who followed her around like a lost puppy.
"I can tell when something is wrong with Orihime, too. You've both been acting weird."
Kensei didn't look at her. Finally, with a sigh, she took a seat next to him, placing her hands within her lap. After a few moments of silence, she said, "I can't believe you kissed her."
Kensei's head snapped up, "H-How did you—"
The girl's mouth fell open, "So you did?!"
"W-Wha—"
"I can't believe this!" Mashiro suddenly squealed, scooting a foot away from him, "You kissed her! You really kissed Orihime-chan! How could you?! Ichihime is my life!"
"What are you, a fangirl?!" Kensei snapped, "You want the whole world to know?!"
"Ah!" Mashiro clamped her hands over her lips, frozen for a moment before she released a small breath, "This is unbelievable…"
Kensei didn't say anything, crossing his arms over his bare chest, "She won't even look at me. I can't fucking apologize at all."
After calming Mashiro casted him a sympathetic look, "I knew…that you liked her." Kensei looked up at this, expression hard, "I mean, you've never really talked to anyone except for me. And you were so comfortable around her. I didn't realize you had it that bad until she started hanging around Kurosaki-san…"
His eyes tightened at the name.
"First loves suck." She said quietly.
Kensei grunted, "Tell me about it."
…
…
Outside of the boys' locker room, the dark-haired third-year stared blankly ahead at the open door. He could hear the voices of Mashiro and Kensei. Both loud and arguing before it dimmed down to shushed whispers.
Ichigo had only wanted to ask Kuna-san if she knew what was up with Orihime. He had grown worried over the last few days, and since the girls were so close, he was hoping she could help him. Instead, he got more information than he could ever wish for.
"You kissed her! You really kissed Orihime-chan!"
His hands tightened into fists inside of his pockets.
…
…
Nervously, Orihime shifted on the carpet. The weekend meant it was time to relax and instead, she was doing the exact opposite. Hands tightening in her skirt, she lowered her head, lids falling heavily over hazel hues.
Kurosaki's home was quiet. If she'd known they would be alone together, she wouldn't have come. But he had gotten her attention with seemingly no effort. Studying somewhere in the sentence as he invited her to his home on Saturday. She didn't particularly think it through. Good thing his family wasn't there, or she would be even more nervous than she was at the moment.
She heard the pouring of tea, shifting her gaze upwards when Ichigo entered the room again. He placed their tea on the kotatsu table, books splayed open and notes written neatly. Orihime didn't touch her steaming cup. Ichigo's brown gaze flickered up to hers silently and she looked away.
He knew something was wrong. He had to. He was Kurosaki. It seemed he could see through her no matter what. All week, she had been avoiding both him and Kensei. She couldn't face either of them properly. She couldn't forget the kiss, she couldn't forget she ran away before Kensei could get a word in, and she couldn't forget Kurosaki's worried looks thrown towards her.
"Thank you…" She mumbled quietly.
Silence.
Ichigo cleared his throat, "No problem. I'm glad you agreed to come."
Orihime didn't reply.
Taking in a deep breath, the dark-haired male shifted, "Orihime?"
"Y-Yes?"
His eyes met hers. There was something behind his gaze, like he could see everything. It made her stomach flip over, "…Nothing." He finally replied.
Instantly, she tensed. She couldn't tell him, right? If she did, he would grow angry. Upset. A part of her wondered when she began worrying over Kurosaki. When she did begin to care what he thought? But she did. If he was unhappy, then she would become unhappy.
These feelings…
"I…" She whispered, voice thin, "I like you."
That's not what she meant to say.
Kensei kissed me. Kensei kissed me and I don't know what to do. How do I make it better? How do I make anything better, Kurosaki?
She didn't see him move. One moment he was on the other side of the low table, and the next, he was in front of her, grasping her chin in his grip. She gasped as soft lips met hers. Almost instantly, there was heat. Dragging down her spine in a light shiver, filling her stomach, across her cheeks and causing her mind to go to into a deep fog.
Her eyes closed.
Ichigo took that as an invitation, snaking his hand over her cheek and underneath her long hair, cupping the back of her neck to deepen the kiss. "…Open your mouth." He whispered against her lips.
Orihime didn't argue as she usually would have. Her lips parted inch by inch, and his tongue was suddenly touching hers, a gentle caress. The redhead released a soft sound, trembling at the racing of her heart, her hands rising to grasp at his shirt. Ichigo leaned forward, a sharp groan tearing from his throat as she brazenly bit at his tongue.
The next thing she knew, she was flat on her back, Ichigo over her, his scent, his heat, and his mouth all around her. Her grasp shifted, fisting in the back of his shirt to tug at it insistently. His lips didn't leave hers, mouth opening wider to take more of her in. She responded eagerly, attempting to keep up with the fire of his kisses.
When Ichigo kissed her, it felt like he was trying to consume every part of her there was. As if he was trying to brand her lips, her body, her thudding heart as his own. She was a bit frightened that she didn't mind this in the least.
It was different from Kensei's kiss. It felt like she would drown inside of her mind, melting into Kurosaki's warmth until she didn't know up from down.
Ichigo placed his elbows on the floor to hover over her, kiss slowing to a cooler degree. Orihime thought, for a moment, that he was about to pull away. She took in a deep breath when he moved back an inch, his eyes burning an intense dark ocher. She didn't expect him to shift above her, his knee moving upwards causing her to jolt at the sudden sensation between her legs.
He watched her reaction sharply; lips parting to release a gasp, eyes turning a glassy hazel, and her hands tightened their grip in his shirt. He moved it again, more firmly this time, and she let out a soft whimper, hips slowly rolling in time with his knee.
"K-Kurosaki—"
He leaned down and kissed her again, a growl working from his throat. She never expected to hear such a sound from him. It made her throb, heart racing in her chest, meeting his tongue eagerly with her own. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, dragging his tongue across it before biting into the swollen flesh. She flinched beneath him, not because of pain, but because of the feeling inside of her intensifying.
"It's Ichigo," he whispered, trailing his hand from her hair, down her neck, to her side, and pausing on her hip, "Say it. Once."
She gasped again, struggling to catch her breath as he pressed his knee harder against her. She hadn't even realized she was beginning to grind against it, releasing soft wanton sounds that made Ichigo's eyes darken.
"Say it, Orihime."
"Ichigo."
She couldn't breathe. He kissed her again, muffling her soft cries of his name. He grasped her wrist in one hand, leading it underneath his shirt and to hot, toned flesh of his stomach. "Do whatever you want to me."
She blinked at his words, surprised at the raw emotion behind his voice, "I-Ichigo…" He kissed down her jaw, quick pecks of his lips before he began to drag his tongue to her neck, tightening his grip on her hand and pushing his leg forward between her legs. This forced a moan from her, digging her nails into his stomach without restraint.
He groaned again, a deep, beautiful sound that Orihime suddenly wanted to hear again and again.
What is this…? She couldn't stop it. She couldn't stop her hand from trailing up to his chest, blunt nails dragging across warm skin. She couldn't stop thrusting down in time with his movements. She couldn't stop herself and she certainly didn't want Kurosaki to stop any time soon.
"Orihime…" He was whispering against her neck, "Orihime." She had been ignoring him for the entire week. Is this what he had been holding back?
Oh, God.
She wanted more. He seemed to read this, pulling back a few inches to gaze at her. There was a beat of silence; besides their heated panting. Finally, he placed both hands on the hem of his shirt, yanking it up and over his head. Small red scratches were here and there from her insistent grasping beneath his shirt.
Toned muscles, tanned skin, and warmth.
"Whatever you want," he murmured, hovering above her, "Whatever Orihime wants." His lips lowered back to hers.
For some reason, it felt as if those words had a double-meaning.
…
…
"This one, this one!"
Orihime released a sigh as she walked behind her aunt. "Rangiku, slow down—"
"It's almost Christmas, Hime-chan!" Rangiku butted in with a smile directed back towards her niece, "We have to get ready!"
"We already have a tree and ornaments." They've used the same things since Sora brought the supplies home, "I do not understand why we had to come all the way to the mall to shop. There's a cheap store right around the corner—"
"Hime-chan, Hime-chan! Look!" Rangiku pointed, a hop in her step, "Violet and silver! That's different for Christmas, right? I want to be different this year!" She held up a purple bulb with a smile.
Orihime managed a flat expression, "Sora's decorations are fine."
The blonde's express fell a bit, "Ah…yeah. But don't you think it would be nice to switch it up—"
"No." Orihime replied bluntly, wrapping her scarf around her neck tighter. The mall wasn't necessarily busy today, but it was a bit annoying not being able to move freely with so many people going in different directions. Sunday was usually the day she studied, her cheeks reddened at the thought.
Oh. She had "studied" on Saturday.
Well, studied something.
Her lids lowered at the thought, keeping her chin low so Rangiku couldn't see her red face. Her aunt was busy looking around anyway. Gushing about this and that. Orihime rolled her eyes. It had only been thirty minutes and she already had two armfuls of bags.
"Hime-chan, this too—Ah! If it isn't Strawberry!"
Orihime jerked, slowly craning her head around to see the tall male. W-What was he doing here…?
He blinked at the sight of Rangiku. The dark-haired eyes flickered up, landing on Orihime. Almost instantly, a bright smile stretched across his face, "What a coincidence!"
"I was thinking the same thing!" Rangiku replied with a beam, "Hime-chan and I are shopping! What about you?"
"Here with my family!" He said, though his eyes remained on Orihime, who kept her distance a few feet away, "My sisters went to the toy store and my dad is here to pick up some materials for work. They kinda ditched me…"
"Hey, Strawberry-kun," Rangiku said, her head tilting to the side, "You have a hickey on your neck."
Both teens jumped. Orihime turned her back to the two, her cheeks burning a bright crimson. Ichigo wasn't doing any better, raising his hand to scratch at his red cheek. "A-Ah…it's not a—"
"It is!" Rangiku butted in, "I know a hickey when I see one~!" Her sky-blue gaze darted to Orihime's back, a blonde brow crooking upwards, "Ehhh? You two…are dating?!" Once again, the two jerked, "You are! I knew it! Who knew Hime-chan could leave a hickey, though?"
Ichigo pulled his scarf up higher, rubbing the back of his head with a frown, "I wouldn't say…we're dating."
Orihime blinked, carefully looking over her shoulder to see Ichigo gazing right at her. Something about his gaze – tired and soft.
"Right, Orihime?"
I like you.
Orihime's lips pressed together in a firm line. Ichigo's smile widened, though it was anything but happy.
"I should go…My family is probably looking for me! See you, Rangiku-san!" And then nodded at Orihime, turning in the other direction. Orihime's hands tightened inside of her pockets.
I like you.
"I wonder what that was about…" the blonde muttered underneath her breath before glancing towards the redhead, who had suddenly tensed, "Hime-chan? Orihime—" A hand around her mouth, her niece's insistent, sudden tugging towards a store. When they were safe from the walkway, Orihime released her, "Orihime, what're you—"
Silver hair. Piercings. Tall.
Rangiku's arm shot up, "Kensei-kuuun~!"
…
…
"Goddammit, Mashiro, where are you?" He muttered to himself, tucking his phone away. To be dragged to the mall on a Sunday was one thing, but to ditch him was another. With a sigh, he pocketed his hands. He knew he shouldn't be angry at Mashiro, she was just trying to cheer him up.
Unfortunately, she was doing a pretty shit job.
He paused where he was. He didn't know the mall that well. And Mashiro was so fucking small, it was easy to miss her. Maybe if he stayed where he was, he would catch her. After a few moments of darting his eyes over every mop of messy brown hair, he decided it was time to head home. She could find her own way back.
But then he heard, "Kensei-kuuun~!"
His head snapped up to the general direction. To his surprise, no one was there. "Rangiku…?" Orihime's aunt, right?
Or maybe he was hearing stuff. Maybe he was that desperate to hear from Orihime. His gaze flickered over the area, frown deepening. He continued on his way.
Didn't have time for this shit.
Just as he turned the corner, he debated whether he should go back to check it out or not. He really was that desperate to see her. He turned in the direction, only to freeze in spot.
Standing in front of him was none other than Kurosaki Ichigo.
…
…
Haha! Cliffhanger! I know, I'm the worst. How'd you like this chapter? I'm trying to get back into my writing mood. Ahhh, it's been a while since I've written Ichihime, forgive me if I'm a bit rusty. Tell what you think, yeah? And don't worry. I have no intentions of abandoning any of my stories, since most of you seem worried about that.
I'm just so busy. Oh! Don't forget to review for me, guys!
-Star