Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Tite Kubo owns it.:) I only used his characters.

Secret Lovers

Ichigo X Orihime

Chapter 10: Complicated

After the break, Class 2B proceeded to the auditorium for the practice of their play.

"Here are your scripts for the play, Neliel you sure did like to do this. In just a matter of a day you have finished writing the script." Ochi-sensei announced, she did like the script Nel made for the class. The classic tale was still the same but Nel gave it a modern twist in the story.

"Well of course, I was born to be a writer." Neliel joked playfully. The other girls laugh with her, but Orihime remained silent. Neliel took notice of this and went to her bestfriend's place.

"Hey! Hime are you okay?" asked her busty green haired bestfriend.

"Yeah, Nel-chan, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Orihime waved her hands and smiled. A fake smile that Nel knows she uses when something is bothering Orihime.

"If there something bothering you, you can tell me. I'm your bestfriend, right?" reminded Neliel," You haven't eaten all day right? Want to eat somewhere now?" She was about to stand up, when Orihime stop her next actions.

"No, It's okay Nel-chan. I don't want to bother the others, if I'm not here they will surely can't go on the practice. Afterall I'm Juliet so they can't have a decent practice without me." Orihime explained, afterall she doesn't want to make others worry about her.

Nel was about to protest when everyone were calling their attention.

"Nel-chan, Orihime-chan, let's start!"

Class 2B were dead tired from their non-stop practice. While the others were memorizing their lines, the other half of the class were making the props and when it's their turn for the play they would practice their lines while the first were going to make the props. Now, they are currently cleaning their classroom. Eventhough they are tired, they still spared time in cleaning the room. It is better for them to suffer cleaning than to receive a much harder punishment from their merciless homeroom teacher.

The auburn haired girl was packing her things when Rukia came to her.

"Orihime, can we talk later before we go home?" the raven haired girl whispered.

"Sure. What is it, Rukia-chan? " she asked while setting aside her books.

"Uhmm..it's more like a favor." She says uncertain if she would tell her or not.

"Okay. Rukia-chan, I'll do everything that I can for you." She assured her smiling wide while resting her hands on her shoulder.

"Please—Please, Help me with your brother." She said blushing." I I- I was planning to make him lunch tomorrow, but I'm afraid that he might uh—reject my invite. So, please help me Hime-chan."

"I-I, Rukia-chan, I'm not really close with him. We're not—" Orihime replied stuttering, she immediately regretted she said that she'll do everything just to help her. How was she going to help her, when that would mean she'll be hurt badly."And from what I know, He has someone he likes alrea—"

Rukia cut her off. "Still It's fine because they are still not together, right? And Hime you like me more to be your sister than that other girl, right?"

Orihime bowed down her head when Rukia says the words "They are still NOT TOGETHER". At her silence, Rukia immediately hugged her and thanked the auburn haired girl. Her mind wasn't registering whatevers happening in that moment.

God, this is too much. Knowing that your friend is your rival for your Love's affection hurts but being asked to be their bridge for their relationship is worse.

After her conversation with Rukia, Orihime went home alone. She didn't even walk home together with her friends. As she was walking, She noticed the unoccupied swings in the park and went there first before heading home. How she missed the old days. When they were 8, Ichigo and Orihime would first stop in this park from school before heading home. They will usually play here and wait for their mother in these swings.

"Ichi-nii" as she blurted out his name, a tear rolled down her face.

Suddenly a woman came to her.

"Are you alright?" asked the woman behind her, placing her soft hands on her shoulders. She was surprised at the sudden contact with the stranger.

"Oh? I'm fine. Thank you." she's spacing out again.

"It might be weird to tell you this, but if there's bothering you, you could tell me maybe I could help you?" she said assuringly." It is not good to keep it all bottled up to yourself, you might just collapse there or burst from overthinking."

Orihime remained silent, not sure if she will tell her about her problems.

"Or If you don't want to talk about it, just cry it out. It's about love isn't?" the woman said.

Orihime looked at her, "How did you know?"

"Aww.. Silly, I've been there of course. Oh, teens this days. "She said laughing, Orihime felt secured with the woman. Maybe it is good to trust her. Orihime then told the woman her love problems, of course she didn't mention that the man she likes is her brother. She told the orange-haired woman about her friend asking for her help to the boy she likes and how complicated it was because she agreed that she'll help her friend.

"That's really hard, but maybe you should do what you think is right, and what makes you happy at the same time. Aww, it's really complicated! I can't even give you a proper advice." Said her new found friend. "Oh! I'll think of a good plan if we meet again, I promise to give you a good advice for that."

"No, It's okay. Your right letting that out made me feel better. Thank you so much, err—" Orihime did n't know her name, she mentally slapped herself for not introducing herself. The woman noticed Orihime's reaction and realized too that she didn't even introduced herself.

"Oh. Silly me, I didn't even introduced myself, yet we've been talking like hours in here." She reached out her hand and smiled. "I'm Rangiku Matsumoto"

"Oh. Thank you so much, Matsumoto-san" connected her hands to her. " I'm Orihime Kurosaki"

Orihime bowed and noticed her watch, "Oh my God! It's already 7pm. My mom's gonna kill me." She immediately dashed off, but suddenly halted when she realized what she has done. "OH! Matsumoto-san, Thank you and Bye! See you soon." She walked off again heading home.

Rangiku Matsumoto felt happy talking with orihime, she put her hands on her chest. "Kurosaki eh?"

While walking home, Orihime remembered what Rangiku Matsumoto told her.

"You should do what you think is right, but what makes you happy too at the same time"

If she would do what is right, she should help Rukia with her brother. But if what would make her happy is what she'll do then she should follow her heart. It made things more complicated, but atleast she found someone to talk to about her problems.

"Orihime, where have you been? Come on let's eat our dinner." Masaki said.

"Mom, I don't feel like eating. I want to rest already." Orihime said and went straight to their room.

Masaki then went to the kitchen and found Ichigo eating.

" Ichigo, Is there something wrong with your sister? She doesn't want to eat and she looks really down, did you two had another fight?" ask their mother worriedly.

"No, we didn't talked all day, and besides maybe she just got another failing mark or sort of." Ichigo answered and acted he didn't really care about whatever his sister is been up to. He finished his dinner then went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and after that went straight to their room. As he entered, the lights were off and his sister is already lying in her bed.

"You've been acting really weird and all of the people around you have been bugging me. What the heck is your problem?" Ichigo said irritated while going to the top bed. He was sure that Orihime will not going to answer his question. He was about to close his eyes when Orihime said something.

"Rukia-chan wants to meet with you during lunch tomorrow. She's a good girl so please don't hurt her my friend."

As she said those words, she felt a pang in her heart and tears started to flow from her face. This is what she have decided. This is what she knows that is right.

-END of CHAPTER 10-

Author's note: Merry Christmas everyone. Sorry for the super late update, I hope that you still continue to support my story.

And I didn't scan this again to check for the errors so just bear with it, I hope it is still readable.:))

Rangiku will have a big part in this story so stay tuned for more.:)

Thank you!

RR.

cloverberry15 :3