Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters. The creative storyline of this fic ended up being mine though. :P

After saying goodnight to Ichigo, Orihime walked up the stairs, deep in thought. She opened the door to her room, and stepped inside.

She had said that she couldn't face him because of her not being in presentable shape.

That had been true when she had just said that.

But then, when they walked, that look on his face when he had looked at her resurfaced in her mind. It had held betrayal, hurt which had appeared and diminished in that split second. But it was enough time for the expression to leave a permanent mark in her brain, to scorch itself onto her retina.

Sure, he hadn't pushed her away when she had held onto him, which to a certain extent meant that it's okay, but…

It's not okay. Orihime knew. It's definitely not okay if that look is on his face.

I am going to talk to him tomorrow. Orihime thought. Because it's not alright.

Somehow, when Orihime fell asleep that night, she remembered times when Ichigo had said "It's alright" to her.

But is he really alright? Orihime's mind raised the question.

Meanwhile, Ichigo had gone back to Earth from his joyful state. A question had been raised by his mind.

True, Inoue hadn't let me go when I was leaving, and that's great, but… Why? Ichigo thought. Why did she say she wanted to stay by me?

Ichigo closed his eyes. For a second, he could still see Orihime's fear-filled, disgusted face when she had seen him fight. It was undeniable that she hated what she saw.

In short, him.

Anyway, I wouldn't care if she had let me go. I will stay by her no matter what. Ichigo told himself. Nosiree, he did not have to, nor did he have any desire to know the reasons behind why Orihime had asked for him to stay.

At least, that's what he told himself.

And so, with their respective thoughts, came another night.

Orhime had planned to speak to Ichigo the moment she sees him, but for some reason, when she saw him, she couldn't pry her mouth open.

The conversation had started while they were still eating. Having been totally silent since she had gone through the canteen doors, Orihime couldn't hold it in anymore, and murmured, "Kurosaki-kun, about yesterday, when the fight had ended…"

Her voice kept getting softer and softer, as she lost more and more of her original courage. However, she closed her eyes, and went on, forcing herself to go back to an audible range, "I mean…" She tried to formulate how to put her thoughts into words, then uttered, "Are you alright?"

Ichigo caught onto that, more or less. With a confused look, he answered, "What do you mean? Of course I'm alright. I'm absolutely fine."

Orihime didn't know how to carry on with her point, and so she shut her mouth for the time being.

Ichigo didn't get to ask what he had wanted to ask.

Orihime failed to get her point across.

That was the outcome of the meal.

After silently finishing the meal and washing the dishes, the both of them got onto Ichigo's bike, and rode in the melting snow.

Ichigo, after Orihime's question, felt an increasing compulsion to ask Orihime why she had stayed with him, no matter how much he had told himself he didn't care. In the end, he told himself he had to ask, even if it was just to get it out of his system. What matters isn't me. It's her.

Orihime, on the other hand, found herself unable to speak after her initial failure. Just how can I… How can I get the point across to him? She thought vigorously.

Soon, they approached Orihime's house.

After this turn… Orihime suddenly realized, frantically ransacking her brain for a viable way of expression.

We take this turn, and… Ichigo thought in his brain, and as he realized it would probably get even more difficult the longer he had stalled, he asked, "Inoue. Do you hate violence?"

That was not what he had really wanted to know, but it was the closest thing he could allow to get out of his mouth. In his logic, what he had asked was: Do you hate me now? He told himself he didn't care, but his pedalling had got slower by the minute.

The whole world seemed to have slowed to a still.

And then, the answer came, "Yes, I do hate violence."

The bike went screeching to a halt. Silence ensued. For some reason, for an answer that he had previously decided not to care about, Ichigo sure was affected. A wave of nausea caught him, as a weight claimed its territory in its stomach. What is this? He asked himself. Why can't I breathe?

Other matters were being processed in Orihime's mind at that time. Should I explain? But would that be annoying for him?

As they stayed motionless in the middle of the lane, Orihime decided that she had to do something.

Maybe Kurosaki-kun wouldn't really care about this, but... Orihime thought herself. I don't think it's alright if I leave it at this.

"But… I don't hate Kurosaki-kun." Orihime carried on, "What I hate is the use of violence for fun, for scaring people, or for self-gain. Kurosaki-kun is not that kind of person."

Somehow, that didn't serve to lift Ichigo's spirits. His negativity persisted, and he said, so rationally and steely truthfully, approaching spitefully, "It's alright if you hate me. It's… alright."

Was he speaking to himself? Was he speaking to her?

Even if Orihime had knew his mindset, it still came as a shock to her. That line... Something snapped inside her.

"No, that's not alright!" Orihime cried indignantly. For the first time, a forceful pull came from her. He was turned around, and Orihime said, almost shouted. "It is not alright. It's not alright for me to hate Kurosaki-kun because I don't. I think… Kurosaki-kun is an amazing person."

Somehow, a spark crossed both of their minds at that instant. It was as if something awakened in their minds. Something, which had been repressed and held down for an indefinite period of time, had been roused from their slumber.

Kurosaki Ichigo found that he was happy because of her answer.

Inoue Orihime found that she had actually meant what she had just said.

The shock caused the both of them to cease going after the issue. "Let's go back." Ichigo turned, and stepped on the pedals again.

He tried long and hard to suppress a grin. Or was it a smirk?

Either way, as usual, the two of them walked to the front of Orihime's house, and as they approached the door, Ichigo said, "Sleep tight, Inoue."

Orihime said, "Sweet dreams, Kurosaki-kun."

The atmosphere was the same as always, with the same amount of tranquility, peacefulness, and warmth.

As the door was closed, each of them said their vows again,

I will stay by her. Vowed Ichigo.

I will stay by him. Sworn Orihime.

For some reason, even with identical surroundings as before, a question popped up in their minds this time around,

Why?

And they swiftly proceeded to ignore that question.