A/N: I sincerely wanted to get this out a lot sooner, but there were a few places/transitions I stumbled over, and my work schedule or migraines/headaches have been killing me. So, I'm sorry for the wait and I promise the next chapter is nearly finished already, so it shouldn't be long for the next update! Enjoy!
PS: If you've gotten this far in this story, I'm assuming you'll be able to tell when Ichigo is talking with his hollow, so I'm going to stop explaining that at the beginning from now on, lol.
They arrived at Orihime's house covered in a dusting of snow, their cheeks and noses flushed red from the cold. Since lunch, the temperature outside had dropped, and considerably more snow had fallen. They hadn't noticed earlier due to their exertions fighting the hollows, but now their breath plumed in front of them and if it weren't for their heavy coats, hats, and gloves (some of which they'd donned on the way to Orihime's), the two would be downright freezing.
As they trudged up the steps to the apartment, Orihime felt her insides quiver nervously. It had been so easy to suggest they go sledding, but as they walked, Ichigo's arm grasped within her own (she still couldn't believe he hadn't pulled away), she'd realized how close they would have to be on the sled. She only had one sled and it wasn't large, but it wasn't small either. She knew from experience that if two people were on the device, they had to be close or risk tipping. Her heart hammered beneath her ribs at the thought, the blood pounding so fiercely in her ears she almost missed Ichigo's soft comment at her side when he felt her shiver.
"You sure it's not too cold, Inoue?"
He was holding the door open for her once she'd unlocked it, his arm freed from her grasp as they'd mounted the stairs. Her eyes widened at his words, the fear he was trying to bail on their plans strong as it gripped her, and she spun quickly on her toes to face him. "Of course not!" When Ichigo pointedly looked at her, his eyebrow raised and his gaze purposely falling briefly to her legs, she gasped, pressing her knees together on instinct. "Oh, right!" Although she was wearing thick and high stockings, she was still wearing a skirt – not good attire for sledding. She'd freeze for sure! Not to mention, if something were to happen, her skirt might flare up at just the wrong time… In front of Ichigo… Her hands flew to her flaming cheeks at the thought, smacking them loudly in the stillness of her apartment as she let out a tiny squeak in horror. "Eep! Let me just go change!" she blurted before running off down the hallway before Ichigo could so much as respond.
Ichigo watched Orihime disappear down the hallway with confusion and mirth written across his features. It had taken a lot of nerve for him to pointedly look at her legs, to acknowledge he paid much attention to them at all. At least he had been able to do so under the true guise of being concerned for her well-being. She shouldn't think anything about it, right? Forcing thoughts of her legs (her legs, damn it) from his mind, Ichigo cleared his throat as he unceremoniously dropped his book bag near the door. It was the same place he'd carefully set Zangetsu after taking down the bear-like hollow with Orihime – the night she'd asked him to the dance. It was a night full of fond memories. Like her, he truly enjoyed the time they spent fighting together and the way it felt to carry her with him as he flash-stepped after the beast. The gentle warmth of her Soten Kisshun as she healed him, and the look in her eyes when she asked him to the dance were still perfect images in his mind. She'd been so nervous… He had to have been blind not to see that, and as he looked back on it, he cursed himself for being such a damned idiot.
Orihime came out as he cursed himself, and he couldn't help the heat that flushed through him at the sight of her. Even if she was covered in warm dark blue pants, a tight white sweater, and heavy boots, the smile she beamed at him as she came out from her bedroom with her hair pulled into a messy bun at the back of her neck set his blood aflame. Her hair was typically down, so he didn't usually get such an uninhibited view of her delicate neck or the gentle curve of her collarbones visible above the scooped neckline of her shirt. Her neck… It was just as inviting as the rest of her, if not more so, and he found himself lost for words as she clomped to his side. "Ready, Kurosaki-kun?"
He had to swallow before he could speak. Kami, I'm in so much trouble… Regardless, he smiled. "All we need is the sled."
"Oh!" she gasped, jumping back from him to turn to the hall closet. "Right!"
He chuckled quietly as he followed after her. Boots, coats, games, and other outdoor gear were jammed into the closet so much so that he had to pull the sled out for her; not that he minded. She had to crouch below him to move some things out of the way (and hold others in) while he pulled the sled out from above her, careful not to bash her with it once it finally came free. "Got it!" he cheered, lifting it out above her head before she stood up in front of him. Her face was flushed from what he assumed was exertion.
Orihime swallowed nervously before she stood up and turned around, a tight smile on her lips as she looked up into Ichigo's eyes. True, getting the sled out had been a struggle for both of them, but her face was warm from being so close to Ichigo – his legs brushing against her back without him realizing it as they worked together to free their piece of recreational equipment. I've got to get a grip, she berated herself inwardly just as Ichigo stepped back from her. It was then that she realized he was still in his uniform – the pants not the warmest and his shoes definitely not meant for trudging through the snow. He was too busy messing with the sled to notice her wandering eyes. "Um," she hesitated, her cheeks suddenly burning once she realized she'd definitely been checking him out, and it wasn't the first time. "K-Kurosaki-kun?"
"Hmm?" he hummed in response, glancing up at her. His deep voice made her cheeks flush even more.
"A-are you going to be warm enough?" she asked, her voice soft and quiet as she pulled her white hat on and down over her ears. She had to keep her hands busy or risk him seeing their shaking.
Ichigo's own cheeks immediately darkened, his eyes widening as he cleared his throat nervously. "I'll be fine, Inoue," he answered with a smile that looked easier than it was. He wasn't used to being worried over, even if it was Orihime. Deciding it was better to change the subject and get the hell out of the suddenly confined quarters of Orihime's apartment, he pulled his black hat lower down over his ears and swung his arm toward the door. "Let's go."
She smiled, bounding past him as he once more held the door open for her. After she locked it behind them, he kept a careful eye on her as they descended the stairs, more than halfway considering carrying her down the snow-covered steps for her own sake. He didn't, and she made it safely to the ground without his aid, even if it took more concentration on her part than she cared to admit. Without another word, they set off toward Karakura Hill – Ichigo more than a little disappointed when she didn't grasp his arm once more; choosing instead to clasp her gloved hands in front of her while he drug the sled behind them.
Once they found themselves at the top of Karakura Hill, Ichigo both was and wasn't surprised to find the place deserted. Even though it was a Friday and he had no doubt the hill would be crawling with kids and teenagers alike within a few hours, at the moment they were all still in school. They had the place to themselves, the thought of which made a knot form warmly in his stomach as his hollow chuckled in the recesses of his mind.
"Look, Kurosaki-kun! We're the first ones here!" Orihime chimed, excitedly pointing to the virgin snow that glistened before them. There were at least several inches of fresh powder before them, untouched by the likes of man and animal alike.
How long had it been since he'd done this? "You come sledding often?" he asked, his eyes dancing and reflecting back the white powder surrounding them when he looked at her.
Orihime buried her face in her scarf, suddenly nervous under Ichigo's penetrating gaze. "It's been a while," she admitted shyly, her eyes suddenly looking anywhere but his. In truth, she loved sledding. She loved the thrill and excitement that came with barreling down a hill of snow on little more than an elaborate piece of plastic. The problem was, after Sora died, she didn't have anyone to take her. Even when she was older and had Tatsuki, the two rarely did things like go sledding; although they did – it just wasn't as often as Orihime would like. And regardless of how much she wanted to go, she just never felt right going by herself… But was any of that something she should tell Ichigo?
Noticing Orihime seemed lost in thought, Ichigo dropped the sled, clouds of white fluff billowing up from around it and settling at their feet. Orihime giggled at the sudden movement, hiding her jump of surprise. Little did she know, Ichigo's heart was pounding in his chest, tight with nervousness as he realized he'd have to find out how they were doing this one way or another. The hill was tall, known for sledding for a reason, and the trek up from the bottom would take at least a couple minutes. Plus, if they got enough momentum up and didn't stop in time, they would go right into a small copse of trees. Not that that happened often, but with Orihime's luck, Ichigo wouldn't put it past her to go flying right into them, no doubt striking more than one in her flight. The thought alone made him cringe. Regardless, he didn't want to assume anything… "You want to go first?" he offered, begrudgingly.
Her face fell at the suggestion. This isn't how I thought we'd be doing this! She panicked inwardly, hiding the fact by toying with the ends of her scarf. "I'm not very good at it," she breathed, averting her eyes as she toed a small mound of snow into a pile.
Inwardly sighing with relief, Ichigo smiled and scarcely suppressed the urge to cup her chin to make her look at him. He hated seeing her look so dejected… "Then we'll go down together," he answered easily, shrugging as though it was the most logical explanation and therefore meant nothing to him; when in fact he was burning with excitement inside, his chest tightening pleasantly as his silent wish was granted.
"Really?!" she squealed, jumping lightly on her toes with excitement. The movement made Ichigo chuckle as he stepped back, giving her space to sit on the sled first while he held it steady.
"Get on," he commanded softly, his heart thudding loudly in his ears as she settled on the sled and he gently sat down behind her, carefully arranging his legs on either side of her. She stiffened as the sled shifted with his weight, his feet touching the front of the sled but no part of him touching her. "You want to steer?" he asked, rightfully fearing for his life, but also too afraid to reach his arms around her and do it himself. It was bad enough he was straddling her with his legs!
"I'll try!" she chirped, grasping the thick corded rope that was connected to the front of the sled in her hands. It was good to have something to hold onto, no matter what it was, as her heart pounded away in her throat. She'd clung to Ichigo's back before, sure, but this felt like something entirely different. This had nothing to do with battling hollows and protecting others. It was just the two of them, doing something simply because they could and they wanted to, which made all the difference in her eyes. If only he'd scoot a little closer… A frustrated cry choked in her throat at the thought, and she barely managed to keep herself from shaking the thoughts from her head. No! I can't think like that!
Behind her, Ichigo was struggling with the same realization. With his long legs, he had no choice but to brace against the raised front lip of the sled, but that also allowed him to hold himself away from the woman in front of him, pressing himself back from her so as not to encroach upon her personal space, no matter how much he wanted to, or how much he knew he needed to under the circumstances.
'You're seriously wasting a perfectly good opportunity here, King,' his hollow pointed out tactlessly and with more than a little disappointment ringing in his hollowed voice.
'Don't remind me,' Ichigo grumbled, gritting his teeth. He'd have to hold on to the sides of the sled rather than the steering cord (which really did very little steering and he knew it) or Orihime – both of which were more appealing options. To Orihime, he leaned forward and asked, "Ready?"
She squealed with anticipation and cried, "Yes!" When he pushed them forward with his hands, she immediately tensed as they teetered on the edge a moment before tipping and plummeting down the hill, her stomach dropping with the sudden change. A happy scream tore itself from her throat as she pulled back on the cord in an attempt to hold on, the wind whipping against her cheeks as Ichigo's joyful whoop was carried away in their wake. It was freeing, flying down the hill on nothing but a heavy piece of plastic, laughing and screaming her fears and concerns away as they plummeted down the hillside, throwing up snow in their wake. Her cheeks burned pleasantly from the wind and cold, her heart light and happy in her chest. It was fun and exciting regardless, but what made it even better for her was the fact that Ichigo was with her, enjoying the moment with her, and apparently just as much as she was. "Kurosaki-kun!" she cried out with joy, wishing more than anything that his arms were around her, holding her in place and grounding her sudden elation.
Ichigo chuckled behind her, the delight and happiness in Orihime's voice completely contagious. They were halfway down the hill before he knew it, her body sliding back toward his from the sheer force of their descent (not that he minded), when they suddenly hit a bump. The sled left the ground, airborne from the sudden change in topography, before landing with a jolt that shifted their weight and caused the sled to turn sharply to the right.
"Ahhh!" Orihime screamed as she felt the sled shifting beneath them.
"Shit!" Ichigo barked the moment he realized they were turning to the side and the sled was tipping. "Hold on!" He automatically reached forward and grasped her around the waist just as the sled tipped, spilling both of them from its careening surface and leaving them to roll through the snow.
They tumbled together, a tangle of legs as Ichigo tried to protect Orihime from the worst of it. It wasn't a hard fall, but they had been going so fast they tumbled the rest of the way down the hill before he could stop them, digging in with his heels to slow their momentum as he held Orihime to his chest. They came to a stop fifty yards from the tree line, snow swirling in the air around them, and both of them panting.
"You all right?" Ichigo immediately questioned, reluctant to let the healer out of his grasp.
To his surprise and delight, Orihime laughed. She howled with laughter, her body shaking against his as she cackled. "That was so much fun!"
Her laugh was contagious, wiggling its way through his worry and concern, to make him laugh as well. It wasn't until cold started to seep into his back, a result of the snow that had gotten dragged up the back of his coat and under his shirt, that he let her go. She immediately rolled off him and pushed herself up with her hands. Her cheeks were flushed an adorable pink as she continued to giggle, her hair messy as it stuck out from under her now cock-eyed hat. She was covered in a light coating of snow. It was with horror that Ichigo realized how much he wanted to kiss her then, just grab her by the arms and kiss her without ceremony and without question. He had, in fact, been reaching to pull her back to him when he suddenly realized what he was doing and buried his hands in the snow. No! Stop it!
'Just do it!' his hollow argued.
Blood rushed to his face as his hollow voiced exactly what he wanted. But how would Orihime react to that? He was so lost in thought, that he didn't realize Orihime was pushing herself up to her feet, dusting her pants off and stomping her boots in the snow. "I guess I failed my driving test, huh?" she asked, her smile wide enough to close her eyes as she looked down at him. She also knew the cord did nothing to help steer the sled, but it was a pleasant fiction they shared, and she wasn't about the burst it.
Lurching to his feet, Ichigo cleared his throat, suppressing his desire as he likewise dusted himself off and shook the snow from inside his clothes. He was just as covered in snow as she was, if not more so. "Oh, I don't think you did that bad," he teased, nudging her in the arm with his elbow as he turned to get the sled. "But maybe I'll drive next time!" he called back over his shoulder. Her responding gasp made him smile as she ran to catch up with him.
"Kurosaki-kun!" she chastised with a sly smile, finally readjusting her hat.
Bending down to retrieve the sled, Ichigo cracked another smile at her. Why is it so easy to smile around her? It's like I can't stop… "I'll tell you what," he started, eying the hill in front of them. "If you beat me to the top of the hill, I'll let you drive."
Orihime's brow knitted in a frown that was very uncharacteristic of her, except when she was in battle or solely focused on a task. Ichigo saw this with growing excitement – she was taking him seriously. "Deal," she agreed shortly with a curt nod.
"Starting," he began, tightening his grip on the sled.
"Now!" she shouted, bursting forward with a speed that surprised him. He gaped after her a moment, his heart light and dancing in his chest as she kicked up snow behind her, before chasing after her.
The hill was long and steep, their speed quickly dwindling as they ascended. Ichigo had the sled as a handicap, but even so, his long legs and superior strength quickly overtook the auburn-haired healer at his side, regardless of her surprising speed. When he reached the summit, he was both winded and laughing, feeling freer than he had in months just by playing in the snow with the woman he cared so much for. "I win!" he cheered the moment Orihime reached his side.
Panting, Orihime glowered playfully at him before sticking her tongue out. She turned around as though to shun him, folding her arms across her chest, but Ichigo saw the smile pulling at the side of her lips regardless. He chose to ignore the pink tint in her cheeks as he moved slightly to the right of their original path in an effort to avoid the same bump that had thrown them from the sled. Without ceremony, in an attempt to make the whole situation seem less nerve-wracking than it suddenly was, Ichigo dropped the sled on the ground before settling onto it. "You ready?" he asked, looking up at her for a change and extending his hand as an offer to help.
Orihime's heart caught in her throat at the sight of Ichigo – strong, protective, and often angry Ichigo – sitting on a sled with his legs spread for her, looking up at her with an impish grin and expectant eyes. How did this happen? When did I get so lucky?! She never in a million years thought they would be doing something like this together, having so much fun with just the two of them. What would Tatsuki think? Her brows knitted as she thought of her best friend with a quiet gasp. What would Tatsuki think?
"Inoue?" Ichigo's voice suddenly brought her back to the present with a start.
"Yes!" she chimed, moving forward to gently grip his hand and drop onto the sled before him with his guidance. And just like she expected, wanted, and yet feared, the moment he released her hand he scooted closer, his arms on either side of her as he reached for the steering rope. She quickly handed it to him, warmth flooding her from head to toe at his close proximity and the gentle way his fingers brushed hers – regardless of the fact both their hands were covered in gloves.
Ichigo had to clear his throat before he spoke, his arms already against Orihime as he reached around her. Part of their problem before had been the shifting of their weight from how they were positioned. There was only one real way to fix that, much to his chagrin (even if he was also silently excited about the prospect). "You might want to scoot back," he murmured, startling himself with how close his mouth was to her ear all of a sudden.
A shock went through her at his words; his breath, once more, warm on her neck. Since when was he so comfortable getting so close to her? Not that she minded, but it was now twice in one day that she'd felt his breath on her neck, that he'd been so close they could bump heads if she turned too quickly. Rather than risk her voice cracking, she instead nodded, scooting herself back until she was just shy of touching him. Regardless, his warmth radiated against her back and around her, enveloping her in his sense of strength and security. To her utter surprise, he didn't let her stay there. A strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her flush against him, his legs surrounding hers as his chest pressed warmly against her back. As the realization of their position hit her, she gasped quietly, her breath stilling in her throat as she stared blankly at the snow before them. All thought except that of Ichigo holding her in his arms left her, and she suddenly imagined the feeling of his nose brushing against her neck, his chin resting pleasantly against her shoulder, as he hugged her. The daydream was so real she could feel it…
"Like this," he whispered, his voice gruff at her ear and startling her back into reality. He tensed as he debated not releasing her, leaving one arm around her while "steering" with the other. It was a tempting idea, as irrational as it was. He just couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of her in his arms, her body softly pressed to his. Her hands had fallen to his arm that was wrapped around her, not pushing him away, but gently gripping him as though to hold herself in place, or perhaps keep him in place? "Is this okay?" he finally thought to ask.
Still not trusting her voice, Orihime nodded, her grip on his arm squeezing gently in affirmation. Ichigo didn't give himself any more time to dwell on his motivations or his actions, and instead vowed, "I won't let you fall," before pushing them forward with his hand. This time they immediately rocketed down the hillside, Orihime squealing happily once more as Ichigo's arm tightened around her. It was strangely easy, holding her in his grip, while steering with his other hand. He could feel every bump of the sled as it traveled through both of their bodies, every one pressing Orihime tighter to him with the additional force of their momentum. Without realizing it, he was laughing, right along with his hollow's chuckles, Orihime's shrill giggles reverberating through his very soul.
They careened down the hill effortlessly and without conflict, Ichigo handling the few bumps they hit with ease before they came to a stop just shy of the tree line. Breathless, he quickly released Orihime the moment they were stopped; not wanting to, but also not wanting her to suspect his ulterior motives in holding her. The smile she had when he rose to his feet beside her made it all worth it.
"Let's do that again!" she cheered, bouncing happily up and down on her toes with excitement.
He didn't need to answer her with words. His matching smile said it all as they headed back up the hill side-by-side, not touching but still walking closer together than they normally would. It was a relief to feel so comfortable in each other's presence, to feel less shy about being alone together, while enjoying the fact that they were alone and away from the prying eyes of their friends. Something deep inside Orihime knew that Ichigo would not be behaving the way he was if the rest of their friends were around, and while that bothered her, it also excited her. He seemed freer with her, less guarded, but what did that mean? She no sooner pondered over the question than they were at the top, ready to go once more.
This time she settled into his arms immediately and without question, Ichigo still looping one arm around her waist as though it were a seatbelt. Without needing to be prompted, she scooted back against him, the brush of her hips on the inside of his legs causing a hot shock to ripple up Ichigo's spine. He quickly hid the shudder by asking, "Ready?!" from over her shoulder.
His hollow wasn't fooled, knowing full well just what Orihime's position was doing to Ichigo, and reveling in his discomfort. While he managed to keep his mouth shut for the most part, he still cackled mercilessly as Ichigo shoved them forward and down the hill once more. Although this time the sled did wobble, weaving a serpentine path down the hill, Ichigo kept true to his promise and did not let Orihime fall. Time after time, he kept his word, even when he wrapped both arms around her waist and once more let the auburn-haired healer "drive". She steered them all over the place, somehow bringing them to enough speed that Ichigo had to dig his heels into the snow to keep them from flying into the trees. He laughed easier than he had in a long time in Orihime's presence; her child-like thirst for adventure contagious as they climbed the hill again and again, just to plummet back down it. She whooped and hollered with abandon, bringing out the same reaction in Ichigo, except for the times he simply laughed like a mad man. It made the work of climbing the hill and increasing chill to their bones worth it. That is, until they had quite the embarrassing mishap.
Ichigo had lost count of how many times they'd made their mad descent down the hill, the ever-falling snow working on obliterating the paths they had previously taken. Given his lesser attire, his legs felt nearly frozen and his toes certainly were, but his heart felt light and warm – happy – until a particularly rough bump caused Orihime to bounce up and land on his lap – painfully. Ichigo did his best to hide his resulting grunt as her curvaceous backside came down on the most sensitive part of the male anatomy, but Orihime's gasp as his head dropped against her shoulder told him he failed – miserably.
"Oh! Kurosaki-kun?!" she cried, before they had even completely stopped.
Oh, Kami, please kill me now! That did not just happen! Ichigo screamed in his mind, his cheeks darkly colored as he tried to keep his face from pinching in pain and his body from curling protectively inward – just as every man did when facing such a disaster. Judging by the way Orihime glanced at him from over her shoulder before rolling from the sled onto her hands and knees with concern etched into her features, he'd once again failed. Epically.
"Kurosaki-kun, are you all right?" she asked, her eyes searching him for any sign of injury. While she wasn't completely naïve, she wasn't sure exactly how anything could have happened that would hurt him…
Grinding his teeth together so tightly his jaw groaned, Ichigo forced his legs to function, drawing them up toward him (with some measure of relief) before standing up. It was difficult to stand up straight, but he forced his way through the stabbing ache in his groin. "I-I'm fine, Inoue," he choked out, unable to meet her eyes.
Her eyes narrowed as she stood up beside him. Once she took in his slightly stooped posture and the way his eyes were pinched, she knew he was in pain, whether he'd admit it or not. "Let me heal you, at least," she pled, her hands already moving to her pins.
Ichigo went as white as the snow around them. So white, he could almost pass for his hollow as he reacted purely on instinct. The moment he realized what Orihime intended to do and where her Soten Kisshun would end up being directed, he grabbed her hands, forcefully keeping them from touching her pins by restraining them with both of his own. "No!" he cried, his voice ringing loudly in the silence blanketing them. Ironically, the pain in his groin was completely forgotten – replaced by the stark terror flooding his veins at the situation they'd suddenly found themselves in. When her eyes widened at his reaction, her mouth falling open in surprise, he realized his mistake in reacting so harshly. She has no idea… Clearing his throat, he squeezed her hands without realizing it, the fear leaving his gaze as he quietly amended, "Thank you, but it's fine. Really, there's no need."
While Ichigo's words faintly reached her ears, the only thing Orihime could truly focus on was the fact that he was holding her hands in his own. They were separated by gloves, the outer clothing covered in snow, but she felt incredibly warm from his touch regardless. Warmth spread from her hands up her arms and to her chest, pooling gently around her heart as he gently squeezed her hands with his much larger ones. Oh my gosh! He's holding my hands! We were just sledding down the hill together, and now HE'S HOLDING MY HANDS! Kurosaki-kun is holding my hands! He hasn't done this since… She shook her head, not wanting to think about Hueco Mundo or the Arrancars, or what had happened to Ichigo in his determination to bring her back. Regardless, her mind continued to wander and ramble, the little blue men latching onto her thoughts and running with them as she suddenly racked her memory for a time when he'd ever just touched someone or grasped their hand. The times she could recall had all been after a battle or when pulling someone to safety. She couldn't remember him ever doing it otherwise, even with his sisters. He just wasn't the touching type. And yet, he'd done so with her multiple times, many of which in just one day! What does that mean?!
When his eyes slowly lost their crazed look, the surprise on her face slowly melted into a gentle smile and she finally managed to squeeze his hands back in return. "Okay," she breathed, beaming a smile at him that eradicated the moment of awkwardness.
"Okay," he murmured in response, heaving a sigh of relief as the awkward moment disappeared behind them. He released her hands then, missing the disappointment that flashed in Orihime's eyes as he turned to grab the rope for the sled. Although outwardly he appeared calm and collected, once more his usual self, inside he was screaming. I can't believe that fucking happened!
'You can't be that surprised,' his hollow chimed in. 'She was practically sitting in your lap anyway. I'm surprised your junk didn't get crushed sooner.'
They had turned to walk back up the hill, the snow coming down even more forcefully. This time, Ichigo couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes in annoyance at his hollow, despite the truth behind his words. 'Thanks for that. You could have at least warned me,' he snarled.
'Why would I do that? And miss the look on your face?!' His hollow cackled, the sound echoing in his world within Ichigo's mind. 'Priceless!'
Ichigo's ever-present scowl returned with a vengeance, but he refrained from answering and further provoking his hollow.
They'd reached the top and this time Orihime skipped happily to their starting position. When Ichigo approached her from the side, he realized just how good this afternoon was for him, mishap and all. He needed some time to unwind and act like a kid again, and who better to do that with than the woman at his side? As he came up beside her, he took in the snow blowing around them, the large white flakes cascading downward and twirling about in the breeze as they accumulated on the ground, already working on hiding the evidence of their activities. An absurd idea crossed his mind then, something he would no doubt do to his sisters, but not necessarily the girl he had feelings for… Deciding to go with the flow, since it was serving him so well so far, he bent and scooped up a handful of snow in his hand, grinning mischievously at Orihime.
Orihime wasn't paying attention. She was too distracted watching the snow swirl around them, landing on her gloves and covering her coat like a layer of pristine, white dust. The sky was such a light gray, it almost seemed white – somehow both dark and light at the same time. Although her cheeks and hands tingled with cold, the rest of her was warm and toasty – no doubt some of which came from her interactions with Ichigo, and the fact that he held her each time they went down the hill. Regardless, she'd grown so comfortable in his presence, she no longer felt the need to watch and obsess over his every move – something she'd done before out of pure embarrassment while doing her best to hide her actions. So, when a hard lump of snow suddenly pelted her in the side, she jumped. "Wha?!" she screeched.
Ichigo's resounding laughter greeted her ears and she gaped. Did he?! Did he really just?! She couldn't even complete the thought in her mind. He'd dropped the sled at his feet and by the way his gloves were coated with powder, it was clear he had. "Kurosaki-kun!" she chastised, immediately bending to get her own handful of snow.
Seeing his trick had worked, Ichigo quickly dodged an incoming ball of snow, aimed for his face. "You'll have to be quicker than that, Inoue!" he teased, scooping up a ball of snow and throwing it seemingly in the same motion.
She took another hit to the leg, her brows drawing together in a frown. He was clearly holding back, the hit from the snowball nowhere near as powerful as she would expect it to be. Regardless, she was grateful – she wasn't sure she wanted to experience a snowball delivered with all his force behind it. Ouch! Nonetheless, a smile crossed her lips as she quickly compacted the snow into another snowball. "I'll get you for that!"
Once she released the snowball, Ichigo turned his back, taking the hit high in his shoulder rather than his chest. Orihime's resounding squeal of triumph rang through his ears before he whipped around and flung another. This one went wild and to the side, completely missing her, but giving her the opportunity she needed to throw another one his way. This went on for some time, neither willing to give ground, but with nothing to hide behind, there was no way to escape. In the end, Orihime attempted escape by throwing herself onto the sled, the plastic sliding forward on the snow as though the hill were a giant slip-and-slide. Seeing her pending flight, Ichigo also threw himself forward, catching her in his arms as he managed to get her off her knees (and out of such a precarious position) and into his lap. She settled there comfortably and easily as they picked up speed, their descent fast and furious. The ride was even more heart-pounding due to their positioning – Orihime because Ichigo had her fully enveloped in the safety of his arms, and Ichigo because he had Orihime in his arms in the first place, his legs completely under her rather than surrounding her.
They slowed and immediately collapsed onto their sides in a fit of laughter, the sled continuing on without them. Ichigo released Orihime the moment they stopped moving, but she remained close by him nonetheless, her excited giggling like music to his ears. Their fit of laughter didn't stop until they sat up, breathless and rosy-cheeked, their mouths actually sore from smiling too much.
"I win!" Orihime suddenly proclaimed, just before smashing a hardened mound of snow on top of Ichigo's head. It immediately broke into pieces of powder, dusting his hat and face with white, some of which slipped underneath his coat and his shirt, bringing fresh goosebumps to his skin as he yelped with surprise.
If it had been anyone else, Ichigo would have retaliated, retaliated with much greater fervor and force. In fact, he wanted to. He wanted to grab Orihime and pin her in the snow beneath him before claiming her lips with his own. It would be easy. All he needed to do was roll over, and she'd be pinned… Ugh, he groaned inwardly, the image all too real to dismiss from his mind. I can't… He shook his head to clear his thoughts, tossing the remains of the freshly crumbled snowball to the ground before running a cold and damp glove down his face to shock him back into reality. It was then that he noticed Orihime shivering.
It was cold. There was no mistaking it now, no hiding the fact through the exertion of sledding or an impromptu snowball fight. The sun was heading closer to the horizon, hidden behind blankets of clouds, and with its descent, the temperature fell with it. The crowds of students freed from school never came – they were smart enough not to come out in such weather, now that the skies had well and truly opened up, dumping snow in liberal buckets of white powder that was so thick they could scarcely see fifty feet in front of them. When did this happen, Ichigo idly wondered, eying the falling snow with new-found concern. His situational awareness was usually superb…
Now that they were no longer running amok, the chill that had begun to take root in Orihime's bones finally found its grasp. The exertion of dodging Ichigo's snowballs, as well as delivering her own, had warmed her momentarily; but it wasn't enough to keep the cold at bay and she ran her hands up and down her arms in an attempt to stave off the cold just a little bit longer. Without a moment's hesitation, Ichigo pulled his scarf from around his neck and carefully looped it around hers. "Let's get you inside so you don't freeze, huh?" he murmured, his voice softer and gentler than usual as they slowly rose to their feet.
The deep timbre of his voice rippled down Orihime's spine, making her shiver for a much different reason. Ichigo, who bravely put his hand on her back to finally steer her forward, felt it but mistook it as a result of the cold. Orihime found herself glad for the extra coverage on her face, hiding the brilliant blush painting her cheeks at his gentle (and casual) touch.
A/N: Ugh, I'm sorry to have to break it here, but what I had intended for this chapter just wouldn't fit on one document on DeviantArt, so rather than get the two off with each other, this was the best place to split it. I promise we are nearing what y'all are waiting for! As always, I do not own Bleach or any of the characters. They all belong to Tite Kubo.