For the past few months, two or three, he could not remember, he learned something new.

And that was: don't watch girls when they were asleep.

Especially this girl.

:

Thick lashes fluttered.

Kurosaki Ichigo lifted his narrowed gaze from the glossy Karate magazine Tatsuki left behind.

Reiatsu spiked.

He stood up, dropping the magazine.

And honey-colored eyes opened.

:

Three days after New Years Eve…

"Inoue!"

:

Urahara paused momentarily from his work, his head tilting to the side. Tessai noticed this and asked the distracted shop owner if there was something wrong. Urahara shook his head as a response.

Yoruichi's expression remained bored, her yellow eyes unblinking as she pawed a yellow ball of yarn disinterestedly. Curious, she lifted her gaze to Urahara who had a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

The shopkeeper felt the stare and the smile widened. "Oho! The Sleeping Princess is no longer sleeping~ oya, this resembles my favorite fairy tale!"

The cat rolled its eyes and decided to take a nap.

:

Ichigo stood over her reclining form, watching the pale face that slowly flushed with color, her long lashes lifting and dropping in slow, groggy blinks. They lifted slowly and dropped quickly. His frown deepened as the girl's eyes remained closed, gritting his teeth as he waited for the girl to fully awaken.

"Hey."

To his surprise, at his tensed voice, the lashes lifted, revealing wide, groggy gray eyes. Ichigo was slightly taken aback at first, amber eyes slightly wide. A look of dazed confusion crossed the girl's face; her dazed eyes looked like they were searching for something. Slowly, the girl turned her head to the side and their gazes met.

Ichigo unconsciously swallowed, and despite the cool room temperature, he felt a bead of sweat slid down the side of his face. He wet his suddenly dry lips and blamed his sudden discomfort to the fact that he was hunching over the patient. Indeed, his back was starting to ache a little; however, it didn't explain the heavy uneasiness that sprung up from his chest as honey-colored eyes stared straight into his eyes.

He wished she'd stop looking at him like that.

"…You… You're awake."

He hated how lame he sounded.

The girl blinked quickly, her gaze clearing, the grogginess melting away. "Kurosaki-kun…"

Ichigo stiffened, and later relaxed, a tiny shiver teasing his spine at the sound of his name and of her husky, somewhat-throaty voice. His hand above her pillow that supported his hunched over figure curled in a fist, clutching the white bed sheet as he gulped again.

He told himself to get his act together; it was embarrassing and impolite to stare, he reminded himself, though the girl was doing the same thing, albeit innocently. Ichigo opened his mouth, paused, struggled and opened his mouth again only to realize that he did not know what to say.

But the girl smiled and continued.

"…Are you hurt," Her eyes crinkled in half-moons, "Kurosaki-kun?"

:

Ichigo stared at her for a while quietly. His frown deepened, his mouth curled in a scowl. "You're the one who's tied to a bed, Inoue." Her big eyes blinked and stared. Brows wrinkling, a pout on her lips, the girl looked down and started to pat around. Watching her, Ichigo sighed, "It's a figure of speech." He added. "Don't move around so much."

"But –"

"How do you feel?"

Orihime wet her lips and unconsciously, Ichigo watched her tongue with a frown. Her lips pouted as she tilted her head to the side. "I'm hungry." Her voice was cheerful, and she looked more alert than before.

Ichigo straightened up, his eyes heavy-lidded. Distracted, he lifted a hand to his hair, running his fingers through his thick hair. Realizing he was still looking at the auburn-haired girl who was staring right back at him, he averted his gaze, his hand dropping back to his side.

"Alright," he began. He cleared his throat first before continuing. "I have to go and look for a doctor first." The girl did not reply; he knew she was watching him, he can feel it and it made him uncomfortable. The silence thickened between them and judging at her serene expression, he was the only one who was feeling anxious. He suddenly realized… this was the first time he was left alone with Orihime.

The thought made him even more restless.

"A doctor will feed me?"

Huh? He looked at her, grateful that she broke the suffocating silence with her quirky statement. At her earnest wide-eyed expression, the corner of his tensed mouth lifted in a faint smirk. Ichigo opened his mouth to say something – probably to ask her what she wanted to eat – but they were both startled by a flash of gold light erupting from the right side of her head. The light flew, spun once and hit Orihime's cheek.

"Inoue?"

"Ow!" The girl winced and her eyes crossed as the light landed on the tip of her nose with a screech. "Oh no… It's –"

"YES IT'S ME!" the light zipped backward out of Orihime's reach. Both Orihime and Ichigo followed the flash of gold light. It burst to reveal a dark-haired fairy.

Orihime gaped. "Tsubaki-ku~n!" her eyes sparkled in delight. The girl sat up properly and reached up with both hands. "How are – oomph!" Orihime's head thrust back as Tsubaki launched himself forward, hitting the girl's forehead with both of his feet.

"TAKE THAT, YOU IDIOT!" Tsubaki yelled, his little wings quivering.

Ichigo bristled in the background, surprised at the violent display. The hell…? Who the hell is this little… guy? A vein popped out from his forehead and started to throb as the male fairy continued to holler. For something so small, fluttery and fragile, this fairy can really shout. Ichigo jerked when the said fairy zoomed forward again and with both of its little hands, pinched Orihime's cheek and pulled with all its might.

"Waah!" Orihime's arms flailed. "I'm so sorry, Tsubaki-kun!"

"What the hell!" Ichigo thundered, stepping forward. "What the fuck are you hurting her for? Stop it, you goddamned flying midget! She just woke up from her coma!"

The effect was instantaneous. Tsubaki, still holding Orihime's cheek in his little fists, swelled like a saber tooth tiger and his wings stood up, quivering. It was a wonder how someone so small could glare with such ominous intent.

"Flying midget?" it hollered, a vein pulsing in its temple. "STAY OUT OF THIS, SHOWOFF BABOON." The fairy scoffed.

Ichigo twitched, his aura darkening. "What… What the hell did you just call me?"

Tsubaki huffed and ignored him, turning back to the girl whose spirit was too serene to 'cut' objects, even those who hurt her and her precious friends. She was rubbing her sore cheek with a pout and large, teary eyes. "YOU ALMOST DIED AND YOU ACT AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? You… You're pissing me off!"

Orihime offered a watery smile. "I'm sorry –"

"Don't apologize!" Again, the black fairy reached down and pulled her other cheek. "I told you to put up your shield but you didn't listen!"

"Mou! It hurts! It hurts!"

The vein in Ichigo's forehead stretched and snapped. Glowering, he reached down and grabbed the aggressive fairy, wrapping his long fingers around the hotheaded firecracker. Tsubaki cursed and turned his head around, coming face to face with Kurosaki Ichigo's glaring visage. The fairy huffed and struggled against the hold, but Ichigo's fingers tightened their hold, even though the fairy resorted into biting his hand.

"YOU DARE TOUCH MY MIGHTY WINGS, YOU ORANGE-HAIRED BUFFOON? Let go of me this instant!" shouted Tsubaki, flailing a fist.

Ichigo sneered fiercely, multiple veins throbbing all over his face. "Buffoon, huh?" His hand gave a firm squeeze that made Tsubaki angrier. "YOU TINY DRAGONFLY!"

The last sentence had Tsubaki swell and snap. With his little fists, the male fairy repeatedly pounded on the part of Ichigo's fist that he can reach. He earnestly wished the orange-haired to go closer so he can kick the show off in the eye (and maybe pluck his eyeball out.)

"I'm not a dragonfly – I cut objects! I pierce through things! I can kill! If it wasn't for this weak, bubbly, loud – STOP SQUEEZING ME! YOU'RE CRUSHING MY POWERFUL WINGS, DAMN IT!"

"For someone so delicate—"

"I am not delicate!"

"—you flying pest can shout, huh?"

Tsubaki's arms and legs flailed in an attempt to free himself; Ichigo, however, kept a firm hold around the flying hot-tempered fairy who, Ichigo was sure, will try to attack and cut him into pieces if only his princess had the will for it.

"A flying pest? You absolutely have no respect, human! I am that," Tsubaki whipped a finger to point at Orihime, "annoying woman's embodiment of power, you showoff!"

Ichigo barred his teeth. "S-Showoff? What does that supposed to mean? I don't showoff, damn it, you pest! And don't call Inoue annoying!"

"Kurosaki-kun…" Orihime tried to intervene but to no avail.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM, AN INSECT? Don't go calling me 'pest', ape!"

"APE? You… I'm not an ape!"

"And I'm not a pest! My name is Tsubaki and I destroy things and people!"

"Tsubaki-kun…"

"And I'm not an ape! My name is –"

Tsubaki snorted loudly, cutting him off. The fairy lazily shrugged, "I know." The half of Ichigo's face twitched as the fairy gave him a sly, insulting look before drawling, "You strawberry girly –"

The little hold Ichigo had over his patience snapped. "DAMN IT!" Ichigo squeezed Tsubaki with both hands. Tsubaki matched Ichigo's fury as they shouted at each other.

"YOU BARBARIC MORON!"

"STUPID INSECT!"

"Kurosaki-kun… Tsubaki-kun…"

"Let go! Damn you, punk! I'll kill you!"

"Like hell you can, little bastard!"

"Um… Kurosaki-kun, please let go of Tsubaki-kun. He is very delicate."

Tsubaki turned his head around above his shoulder to snap at the girl. "I AM NOT DELICATE, WOMAN!"

"But –"

Tsubaki struggled; Ichigo, tired from the farce, freed the shouting menace with a grunt, letting it fly towards Orihime who caught Tsubaki in her hands. She gently cradled him and pressed him to her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Tsubaki-kun for worrying you."

"Let go!" Tsubaki thrashed. "Don't hug me! And I'm… I'm not worried!"

Orihime blinked, "You're not? I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize!" Tsubaki wiggled out of her hold and flew up, dodging Orihime's fingers. "I hate it when you say sorry!" The girl smiled patiently. With narrowed, annoyed eyes, Ichigo watched the loud firecracker twitch and spasm before pointedly turning his little face away, arms akimbo. "And don't smile at me like that!" snapped Tsubaki, glowering at something. "It's annoying!"

Ichigo arched a brow and glanced at Orihime who looked puzzled but understanding.

"…okay. I'm sorry –"

"I told you, didn't I? Don't apologize all the time!" Tsubaki flew forward and yanked at Orihime's cheek. The girl wailed and flailed but didn't put up resistance as the aggressive fairy pulled and twisted. There was another burst of gold light.

"Tsubaki!" Orihime and Tsubaki turned to the voice. "Stop harassing Orihime-sama!"

"Ah! Shun'o!" Orihime grinned at the blonde pseudo-leader who smiled apologetically at her.

"I apologized for Tsubaki's behavior. Tsubaki!" Shun'o turned to the glaring fairy. "Stop it this instant before I have Baigon-kun wrestle with you!"

"Damn it, you timid knot head captain!" Tsubaki let go of Orihime's cheek. "Aren't you worried at all? This annoying, weak, loud girl nearly died and –"

"So, you're worried?" interrupted Ichigo flatly. The corner of his mouth lifted as Tsubaki visibly flinched before shouting a loud, vicious "SHUT UP, BULLMAN!"

Before Ichigo could reach forward to teach the little guy another lesson, Shun'o intervened and pulled Tsubaki away from Orihime by yanking on one of Tsubaki's wings. "Gomen, Kurosaki-san! We're leaving now!" Ichigo just glowered in irritation which Tsubaki returned with fervent annoyance.

"Wait, Shun'o… How's everyone?" asked Orihime, worry lacing her tone.

"Worry not, Orihime-sama, we are fine. Please focus on taking care of yourself. As long as you're in good health, we are in good condition as well."

"Whatever. Next time, you better call out to me and use me, you understand? And you better make me cut something or else I'll –"

"Whatever, squirt." Ichigo grunted.

"I AM NOT TALKING TO YOU, I BELIEVE."

Shun'o shook his head, told Tsubaki to leave before Kurosaki-kun could do something to him and went back to Orihime's hairpin with a soft glow of gold. Tsubaki turned to Orihime and snorted, "I'm leaving! You're pissing me off!"

"Geez. You're one hell of a bad-tempered moaner."

"And your hair is orange, punk."

"You…!"

"Meh."

Tsubaki spun once before slamming himself back to Orihime's hairpin. Ichigo grunted and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "He's annoying."

Orihime giggled, rubbing her cheeks with both palms. "I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun. Tsubaki-kun is really energetic."

The orange-haired glanced at her under his lashes. "You ought to be stricter with your underlings, Inoue. He's violent."

The girl cocked her head to the side curiously. "Should I?" And then, she beamed a fond smile. "I like Tsubaki-kun the way he is. He's energetic! I think he's funny and it is amazing how loud his voice is despite his size!" The girl slowly leaned back to her pillow, glancing at the windows covered with white curtains. "It annoys him when I feel unnecessarily sad. I think it's his way of cheering me up."

The fact that the loud flying midget was that close to Inoue strangely made Ichigo uncomfortable. But he shrugged it off, dismissing the weird thought. I'm just being curious, he told himself. It was the first time he conversed (or exchanged insults) with Orihime's fairies, and the first time he heard that Orihime, despite her sunny disposition, can get unnecessarily sad. Watching the girl clad in thin, paper-like hospital dress, with her small hands on her lap, Ichigo realized that he didn't know anything about Orihime. Or rather, there were things that he did not know about his nakama.

And if things ended differently… then, the chances of understanding her and her quirks, getting to know her more and – Ichigo shook his head to clear his mind and averted his gaze.

A millions thoughts crossing his mind just by watching this girl? Not good.

Well, there was no sense dwelling on the what-ifs. The war ended. Aizen was dead. Orihime survived and woke up. Karakura was not obliterated. His family and friends were safe. And he got another chance to spend time with his annoying friends (yes, it was a jab to Kiego) and to keep a closer eye on Orihime.

She became too popular for her own good. He thought with irritation.

"So what do you want to eat?" asked Ichigo, thinking that it was better to introduce a new topic. This perked Orihime up, looking back at him. All she had managed, however, was a confused "huh?" Ichigo unthinkingly stepped closer to the bed, wondering at the back of his mind why the girl suddenly colored. "Is there something you particularly want to eat?"

His brow lifted as the girl gawked, stuttered, flushed brighter, and looked at anywhere but him.

"Inoue?"

Orihime jerked and looked up to him, "Ah… Ano…" Her face was flushing deeply and brighter, etching a frown on Ichigo's face.

Is she getting sick? "Are you alright? Your face is all red." He lifted a hand. "Do you have a cold?" His fingers were a scant inch from touching her forehead when the girl jerked back away from his touch, stuttering and waving her hands.

"K-K-Kurosaki-kun! I mean, I… I — A-are you h-hurt?" Ichigo blinked at her, confused. Still frowning, he lowered his hand and shoved it inside the front pocket of his faded tight jeans. The auburn-haired girl continued stuttering, stumbling over her words. "I can heal you n-now!"

"You're the one who was unconscious for months, Inoue." He replied quietly.

"Eh…" She stopped moving her hands, mouth slightly parted as she looked up to him.

He looked down to her with heavy lidded eyes, watching her from behind his messy bangs and beneath his lashes. "You should worry more about yourself."

"Ah~ But I'm really sturdy! My immune system is strong like an elephant!" She beamed, pumping her fists.

He shook his head. "A sword went through your body."

She stopped, "huh?"

"You… Is that all you're gonna say? Huh?"

Orihime scrunched up her nose, comprehension dawning on her face. "A… sword… went… through… my… body."

Ichigo looked lost for a while, then exhaled. "You just repeated what I said!"

"Well…" The girl looked down to her body, her hands feeling up the area above her chest. "I feel… I'm fine now. Just tired and –"

"Right." Ichigo turned his face to the side quickly as Orihime's hands lowered to her breasts. "So, what do you want to eat?"

Orihime went back to stuttering. "Ah~! Y-you… you d-don't have to get me a-anything, Kurosaki-kun! Please, don't bother! I'm fine! I'm not hungry and –"

"Nah. It's okay." He glanced at her cautiously and studied her with an unreadable expression, relieved that her hands were now gripping the blanket. "I'll get you anything you want."

"B-But… I… I…"

"Well, looks like you're not going to answer me." He took his jacket from the backrest of his previously occupied chair. "I'd just get you anything edible. Stay here." Ichigo turned to leave; Orihime called him back, stammering as her face flushed in embarrassment.

"Kurosaki-kun~ you don't have to! I mean, it's okay! I'm not hungry and you don't have to waste your time –" she stopped as Ichigo halted by the doorway, a hand on the door. Orihime watched his back, noting how the boy tensed, stiffened and relaxed in fast but fluctuating succession.

"Kurosaki-kun…? Are you alright?" Orihime moved the blankets off her legs as she prepared to get off the bed. "Kuro…"

"I didn't regret it."

She stopped in the middle of scrambling off the bed, wide-eyed.

Without looking back at her, a fist clenching, Ichigo continued.

"I didn't regret saving you."

:

The door closed quietly.

:

She didn't know how long she was staring at the closed door, eyes wide, mouth slightly parted. A look of confusion filled her face, trying to discern the meaning behind his last words – if there was a meaning at all.

Carefully, Orihime slid back under the covers and leaned back to her pillow, watching the door.

I should have said I wanted some Cheeseburgers with radish relish, strawberry ice cream, chocolate fondue and… and…

Orihime sighed deeply, almost morose.

… I think, I should have really, really, really told Kurosaki-kun just to get me some water.

Her chin dropped to her chest.

I'm thirsty.

:

"I didn't regret saving you."

Ichigo heaved a deep breath and exhaled, long and strained. With a grunt and a scowl, he pushed himself off the closed door and walked off, back hunched, and hands inside his pockets.

Damn. That was embarrassing.

He bet she didn't even remember it, the nagging and infuriating question Aizen had asked months ago as they battled above Karakura.

Again, he groaned, cursing under his breath.

I should have kept my fucking mouth shut.

title. to drop from a singing constellation
summary. "I didn't regret saving you."
note. XDD it's short, but i like this chapter *squeals* hope you all like it! i missed this story *cries* so, i think i'm remembering why i put this thing under the romance genre! but i want the "romance" to be sweet and… slow-boiled. eh? i think i have a thing for the word "boiled". XDD thank you so much for reading! (and reviewing if you'd spare me one juicy feedback, a compliment and a critique XD) thank you for the hits! Thank you, thank you, thank you! kiss, kiss. thank you for your kindness and for being awesome! eh. this a/n is long. don't like. D:
disclaimer. applied.
warning. mistakes, spelling, grammar, weird writing style? heehee XDDD a conversation!chapter, Tsubaki… being Tsubaki, sadly, Shirosaki-kun is not present. if there are glaring mistakes, please, don't hesitate to send a whacking message. :)