Chapter Ten:

"That was so SO amazing!" Orihime yelled at the top of her lungs when they reached their destination.

"I'm really glad you enjoyed it!" Uryu replied enthusiastically whilst slowing Cornpone down so they could fully appreciate their surroundings as they entered the woodland. He had a big, nigh-containable grin on his face the whole way as the horse continued to clop steadily on. The view was simply breathtaking, from the gorgeous blazing orange of the leaves, and the sunlight that beamed through them, to the mysterious shadows that the long branches cast on the ground and the little birds that flitted here there.

"How about we explore on foot for a little bit?" He suggested suddenly "Wouldn't that be nice?"

"Ooh, that seems fun! Lets do that!" she agreed.

Uryu let himself down and helped Orihime off Cornpone and then tied the horse to a nearby tree. "What if we forget where you've tied her?" Orihime asked

"Don't worry, I'll remember." He assured as they went off.

The two of them continued to have lively conversations as they explored to their hearts content. They even found a delightful stream that had a bridge going over it leading to the other side. "I wonder where this could lead to!" Orihime cried "Maybe it leads to a witch's cabin!"

They both stopped walking when they were halfway across the bridge "Or, it could be a pathway to Narnia." Uryu joked and held onto the wooden rail whilst gazing at the stream that flowed beneath them.

"Or there could be a portal to the land of Oz at the far end." She suggested

"Now that-" Uryu indicated his finger "That I could see happening"

"Better still, maybe there is some quaint cafe hidden amongst all of the tree's that can offer us up some hearty food!"

"Are you hungry?" he quickly asked, worried she might be famished.

"No, I'm not hungry- but its always a nice thought right?"

He nodded his head "Well I'm glad your not starving, but I'll take you somewhere really nice to eat after all of this- don't you worry."

Orihime threw her hands in the air "Great! I look forward to this promise with great ardour!" She said, leaning her arms on the rail of the bridge.

They both fell into a bit of contemplative silence, and it was then that Uryu realized this was the moment he was waiting for- the perfect opportunity to ask her that life-changing question.

"Orihime," He began suddenly,

"Yeah?" She answered, but she carried on staring at the stream

"O-Orihime," He restated, and this time she looked up. "W-will y-you-" He stuttered and stammered just as he had prayed he wouldn't for hours last night. His earlier confidence had evaporated and now he stood there timidly, self-doubt slowly creeping up on him. He couldn't even remember the speech he had pre-prepared "U-um will you..." He reached a shaky hand into his coat pocket but he found himself being unable to bring it back out.

"Will I?... What?"

Uryu swallowed back a lump in his throat and he could feel his face burning "Should we see what is on the other side of this bridge then?" He finished, cursing himself inwardly for not asking what he really wanted to.

"Sure! Is that all you wanted to ask?" Orihime raised a curious brow "Why did you look like you were about to cry over it?"

"I didn't look like that!" He defended

Orihime watched him carefully. This thought had crossed her mind many a times before, but today felt like a confirmation. Because today she had the most amazing time ever, it was so wonderful and intriguing and fun to be with Uryu. But she couldn't deny that it annoyed her that he hadn't proposed to her yet. I mean after all of this time! And she had made it pretty clear that she liked him. She sighed "Uryu! Will you just marry me already?"

Uryu's eyes widened with shock "W-what did you just say?"

"You heard me!" She tapped her foot "Will you marry me?"

"YES PLEASE! OF COURSE! YES!" He shouted "Will you marry me too!?" He quickly whipped out a small Tiffany box that was in his pocket and untied the ribbon.

"YOU DAWG!" She cried "You were going to ask me this whole time!?" She demanded jumping up and down with excitement as Uryu clicked open the lid of the inner box and presented her with the most stunning ring she had ever lay her eyes on "OF COURSE I'LL MARRY YOU!" she nodded her head rapidly as he slipped the ring onto her engagement finger.

"YOU WILL!?" Uryu shrieked in response. "I CANT BELIEVE YOU WILL!"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU PRESSURED ME INTO ASKING FIRST YOU DOUCHEBAG!" Orihime threw herself into Uryu's arms with happiness "I can't believe my damned forelock!"

"I'm sorry" Uryu apologized "I thought you would reject me..."

"Yeah, good excuse!" Orihime rolled her eyes, but carried on grinning joyfully, whilst admiring her beautiful ring. "I'm actually going to marry you! You, Uryu, You!"

"I can't believe you'll really marry me!" Uryu had never felt this animated in his whole life before. He'd finally gotten what he wanted for so long- it felt surreal. He felt a lump forming in his throat, and he tried to swallow it down but then his nose suddenly went runny and he sniffed it back but then his eyes went blurry. All the emotions were just building up and spilling over with relief and happiness.

'Uryu, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine I just..." he gulped again and clutched his stomach which felt like an army of butterflies were fluttering inside, "I feel kind of sick with happiness." he choked out.

"Eurgh, don't you dare feel sick on me!" Orihime said and shoved him playfully. "Your nose has gone all red. Gasp! Are those tears!?"

"No!" Uryu quickly brushed an arm over his eyes, skillfully wiping away the tears that were threatening to spill out.

"You're so weird and funny," Orihime laughed. "I love you."

That was the final straw. Uryu had spent countless hours dreaming about marrying Orihime, and even in his dreams he couldn't imagine her lips forming those words. He'd never dared to imagine it. It was too much. Unrealistic. Stupid of him.

And yet, here she was right in front of him on this beautiful day, laughing and smiling, and saying it. Saying I love you. The last person to ever say that was... his Mother. And since then, he'd never felt loved or wanted. It pissed him off how Ryuuken treated him, but he never thought he actually missed being loved.

He couldn't stop the tears anymore. And he didn't care. The cold tears felt good on his hot face. He sniffed hard, because no matter how in love you are snot is never pretty, and smiled the biggest, genuine smile he'd given in the longest time. "I-I love you too," he replied, surprising himself. He never thought he could say those words aloud without biting his tongue or choking and suffocating to death, or just dying straight up. But, he realised, this was a day full of surprises. And he hugged Orihime with all the strength his newfound joy and confidence gave him, and hoped the surprises would keep coming.

THE END