Author's Note : Hello, lovely Readers! Sorry for the slight delay. I did some stupid mistakes a few days ago. I accidentally replaced my edited chapter with an unfinished one. I ended up having to re-write three pages! Anyway, I hope you guys will enjoy IchiHime scenes in this chapter. There will be more IchiHime in the next two chapters because I will be focusing more on the romance aspect of this story, IchiHime romance. Something in this chapter may raise questions but it will be explained in the next chapter, so be patient! As for now, enjoy, read & have a good day! =)
To everyone who reviewed, faved and alerted, thank you so, so much for loving this story. I wouldn't have the power and drive to continue writing this story if it weren't for the endless support from you guys! Thank you!
And, this chapter is dedicated to MrsMoshae! Thanks for being a wonderful online friend, for reading and responding to my rambling and whining! For those of you who haven't read her story, you better! It's titled "Return To Me" and it's such a funny and lovely story. I love it so much that I kept blackmailing her for an update! Sorry, my friend. =)
Disclaimer : Kubo Tite owns Bleach. The lyrics used in this chapter is from Lifehouse's Crash and Burn.
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Silence just keep screaming back at me
The ones I love I lost in memories
I wish that I could take back what was done
You can only change the person you've become
I've been broken I've been low
I've been hurt but I'll move on
I have to try and find a way
To leave it all behind
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The kitchen was exceptionally huge. An enormous dual-door refrigerator stood proud next to a sleek four-burner cooking range. Electrical appliances; rice cooker, blender, mixer, a microwave oven, toaster and coffee-maker were arranged neatly on the gray marble top counter. Stacks of plates, bowls, cups, glasses, various kitchen utensils, pots, frying pans, and woks were kept inside a large cupboard. Several jars labeled sugar, salt, tea, and coffee were displayed on the shelves. A black granite worktop was placed exactly in the center of the room, a vase of white lilies decorating it.
To Inoue Orihime, it was exactly the dream kitchen she wished she would have.
"It's bigger than our living room!" Orihime exclaimed, wide-eyed with wonder as soon as she stepped into the kitchen.
Hinamori, who was making toasts and fried eggs for breakfast, smiled at the younger woman. "Good morning, Orihime-chan."
Orihime's mouth stretched widely to form a bright smile, "Good morning, Hinamori-san!"
"Feeling better today?"
"Yes!" Orihime answered cheerily as she bounced over to Hinamori's side.
"Hmm... something smells nice," she commented, inhaling deeply the delicious aroma of fried eggs, her eyes closed.
Hinamori laughed.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Hinamori-san?"
"You don't have to do anything! You're a guest in this house, after all."
"But I want to help! I can't just stand here and do nothing when it's obvious you need help!" Orihime protested.
Hinamori sighed, giving in to the pouting beauty. "Okay, you can help me set up the table. After you're done, maybe you can tell Ichigo that breakfast is ready. He's outside, probably still brooding about yesterday's incident."
"I got it, Hinamori-san!"
Ichigo groaned and kicked hard at the ground. He hadn't sleep all night, waiting for Rukia to show up. But dawn had arrived, and there was still no sight of her. Chad was recuperating, asleep in his room. Keigo and Mizuiro had offered to keep him company, but he shooed them away.
Rubbing his eyes, he yawned before stretching his arms and then his entire body. He was in the middle of his light exercise when a cheery voice called for him.
"Good morning, Kurosaki-kun!"
He turned around and saw Inoue Orihime beaming at him, her smile as bright as the first ray of the morning sun.
"Good morning, Inoue. You seem rather... cheerful this morning."
"You think so? Great, because I do feel cheerful!"
He said nothing in response. He'd suspected that the smile was just a front she put up for him so he wouldn't worry about her, but she seemed to be genuinely happy. How can that be? She was kidnapped, being held captive for a few days and only God knows what Grimmjow had done to her.
He watched as the auburn-haired woman stretched her arms beside him, a carefree smile still plastered on her face, the early morning breeze blowing softly against her luscious locks. Such a pleasant sight. A sight he wouldn't mind seeing every morning.
Then, he felt his heart sank when he noticed the bruise on her lips.
"Are you really okay?" he asked, his voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Hm? Of course I'm okay."
"You're not hurt anywhere?"
"No~"
Her sentence stopped midair when he suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her body around to face him. Her eyes widened at the hurt look in his amber gaze.
"Kurosaki-kun?"
He brought his thumb to her lips. She shuddered when he began caressing her bruised lips lightly. "I'm talking about this," he said to her, still speaking in the same low tone. "Does it hurt?"
"No..." she answered, her voice trembling. It felt weird having his rough, calloused thumb touching her lips and the warmth of his palm on her cheek, but at the same time, it felt... wonderful. No man had ever touched her that way, not even her fiancé, and she could feel her heart beating faster with excitement at the new experience.
Unknown to her, Ichigo's heart was also racing at the same pace as he kept his lingering touch on her lips, liking the softness of her plump lips under his thumb. Beautiful, he thought with wonder, his intense gaze fixated on the wide-eyed woman before him. Even with her bruised lips she's so beautiful, he mused, fighting a strong urge to kiss her pain away.
"Don't give me that look," she blurted suddenly, startling him. His thumb stopped moving abruptly.
"What?"
"That guilty, hurt look you're giving me now. I don't like it."
Slowly, reluctantly, he lifted his thumb from her lips. She sighed at the loss of physical contact, scaring herself with the realization that she'd enjoyed his touch a bit too much.
"I don't know what you mean," Ichigo denied, lowering his gaze to the ground.
"Don't lie. I'm not blind."
"Inoue..."
"You're looking at me with guilt in your eyes, as if you're the reason I was kidnapped."
"Inoue..."
"The kidnapping had nothing to do with you, Kurosaki-kun. They wanted... something else from me. So, stop beating yourself up about it."
"But..."
"I might not look it, but I'm a tough cookie. I never fell sick when I was a child," she told him proudly. "And I learned a few karate moves from Tatsuki-chan!" she said and started showing him her karate stance.
A smile formed slowly on his lips at the funny sight in front of him. She directed her puzzled gaze at him, causing him to laugh.
"What? What's so funny? Is it something I said? Is it something I did?" she panicked.
"You're funny," he answered her, laughing and clutching his stomach. "If you ever encounter a bad man in the future, never show him your karate pose."
"Why? What's wrong with it?"
"Your pose looks too cute to be taken seriously."
Lowering her hands, she pretended to be hurt. Ichigo forced himself to stop laughing when he noticed her pouted lips.
"Now you look too sexy not to kiss," he whispered in her ear, causing her face to turn beet red immediately.
Ichigo started to laugh again. "You're so easy to tease."
She hit his arm lightly. "Stop it."
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry."
They both fell silent as they watched the sky lit up, the bright morning sun slowly rising on the horizon.
"Inoue, can I ask you something?"
"Hm?"
"Shouldn't you be scared of me?"
"Why should I?"
"You saw Grimmjow turned into a wolf, right?"
She nodded slowly. "Mm-hm..."
"I was born as the same creature; half-man, half-beast. Isn't that a good enough reason to fear me?"
"No."
Ichigo raised a questioning eyebrow at her firm answer.
"I'm not afraid of you."
"Why not?"
"Because what you turn into does not change who you are."
She paused, allowing his mind to take in her words.
"What matters is the heart. It doesn't matter to me what kind of animal you turn into, Kurosaki-kun, because it's still you. Your heart remained the same even if your form change."
Ichigo was speechless, drowned in her sweet, soothing voice.
"A kind heart is what makes a good man, Kurosaki-kun. And I know you have a kind heart," Orihime said, smiling up at him.
"Inoue..."
"Thank you for saving me, Kurosaki-kun."
He wanted to tell her that he'd done absolutely nothing to deserve her thanks, but the way she said it, and the way she's looking up at him adoringly, he couldn't help but smile proudly. Hearing her praises made him feel like he was the best man on earth.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Can I use your telephone, Kurosaki-kun? I need to call my family."
"I already called them last night, and I told them that you're safe and sound," he explained. "I promised them I'll bring you home after we had breakfast at my house."
"Kurosaki-kun!" she exclaimed suddenly.
"What?" he asked at the wide-eyed woman, startled.
"I forgot! I came here to tell you that breakfast is ready!" Then she started to smack her head repeatedly with her palm, "What's wrong with my brain?"
Ichigo caught her hand, stopping her. "Stop hitting your head or you'll end up stupid."
"Really?"
He was about to tease her more when he heard a familiar female voice called. "Ichigo!"
His face broke into a relieved smile, "Rukia!"
"K-K-Kuchiki-san!?"
"Inoue!?!"
Ichigo stared at the two women. What the hell is going on here?
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Could you remind me to forget?
The things I did the things I said
I hope that you can bring me back
I gotta to make it right
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Breakfasting with Ichigo's family was almost like breakfasting with any normal family.
Almost.
One of his friend, whom Ichigo later introduced as Asano Keigo, came dashing toward her as soon as he entered the dining room. "A big-boobed goddess!" he shouted, his arms extended wide, ready to hug her, but Ichigo yanked his collar before he could.
"Pervert! Stay away from her," Ichigo warned him, causing him to start crying. Orihime watched worriedly at the scene unfolding before her but Ichigo told her it was just an act.
Amid her confusion, Kojima Mizuiro snapped a picture of her with his iPhone.
"Don't even think of uploading her picture on your website," Ichigo growled, to which his friend agreed, albeit reluctantly.
A dark, blind man whom Ichigo called Tousen Kaname, one of his uncle's most trusted men, took her hand and patted it after she greeted him politely, claiming, "It's rare to see young women with such great manners these days."
She was about to blurt out, "You can see?" but managed to hold herself back just in time.
Another man, Ichimaru Gin grinned at her when he laid his eyes on her. "It's wonderful to have such a beautiful woman gracing us with her presence." Scrutinizing her, he commented, "You reminded me of a woman I once loved, Orihime-chan."
She laughed politely at his remark, though deep inside her heart, she felt uneasy. Maybe it was because of the sly grins he gave her, or him addressing her as if they'd known each other for a very long time.
The last person to enter the dining room was Ichigo's uncle, Aizen Sousuke. He was a tall, handsome man, and he carried a charismatic air around him. He smiled at her and greeted her before he took his place at the head of the table, opposite Ichigo who was sitting at the other end.
She remembered him. When she, Ichigo and his friends, along with his uncle's right-hand men, arrived at the house, Aizen was sitting at the living room with Hinamori, sipping his tea calmly as he chatted with her. That was when she saw Hinamori looked up at him with a loving look in her eyes, listening intently to her lover's voice.
Ichigo had pulled a chair out for her and she was now sitting on his right side of the table, across from Rukia who was sitting on his left. She smiled nervously at the raven-haired woman, and when Rukia gave her a reassuring smile, she felt much better.
"Let's begin our meal," Aizen spoke as the head of the family. "Please make yourself at home, Orihime."
She nodded at him and everyone began eating.
"Seeing you in person, Inoue-san, I can see why Ichigo was so obsessed about saving you," Keigo mumbled through his toast-filled mouth. "You're like the star of every guy's wet dreams."
Ichigo choked on his breakfast, Rukia spit out her tea, Mizuiro pretended to hear nothing as he kept his eyes fixated on his cellphone's screen. A few seats away from Orihime, Hinamori turned white, Gin was grinning, and Tousen's eyebrow was twitching oddly. Orihime's face turned red, like a ripe tomato. The only one who managed to retain his composure was Aizen.
Noticing the sudden silence around him, Keigo looked up from his plate to see everyone glaring at him. "What?" he snapped.
Clearing his throat, Ichigo whispered to Orihime, "Don't mind him. He's the most perverted guy to ever exist on earth."
"How many times have I told you? It's just a healthy interest!" Keigo defended, but nobody paid attention.
"So, Orihime-chan, you're studying in the same class as Rukia-chan, huh?"
"Yes, Ichimaru-san."
"What a small world we live in!" Gin exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.
"I bet she's the oldest chick on campus," Keigo piped in. He wailed in pain when Rukia, who was sitting next to him, punched his stomach.
Ichigo laughed, "No, she's the oldest person on campus!"
Everyone laughed at his remark, except Orihime who threw Rukia a concerned look. But when the petite woman who attempted to pull an angry face at first, had started to laugh along, Orihime smiled. Age was nothing but numbers for people who'd lived for hundreds of years, she realized.
"Orihime-chan, why don't you tell us what do you like about Ichigo-kun?" Hinamori blurted out a shocking question suddenly.
This time it was Ichigo who spit out his tea. Everyone else struggled to maintain a disinterested look on their faces, while Orihime's went bright red again. If she were to spend more time with Ichigo and his family, her face would surely burn up.
"We shouldn't put the lovebirds on spot with questions like that," Aizen said calmly. "We don't want Orihime to feel comfortable. She is, after all, a special guest in our house."
Everyone else mumbled their agreements.
Orihime sighed, relief washed all over her.
Ichigo smiled gratefully at his uncle. He stole a glance at Orihime but looked away quickly when he saw the red-faced woman was also looking at him.
This will surely be one breakfast I'd never forget.
Ichigo watched as the auburn-haired woman disappeared into the kitchen with a large tray of dirty dishes in her hands. She had insisted to help Hinamori wash the dishes, completely ignoring everyone's protests. Despite her timid exterior, she proved to be a very stubborn woman, and they ended up letting her do what she wanted to do.
His uncle, Tousen, and Gin left the house for work while Mizuiro and Keigo went to open the music store they co-owned with Chad, therefore leaving him and Rukia in the dining room.
"Idiot! Stop gawking at her!" Rukia's angry voice was heard.
"I'm not!"
"Don't deny it! You were practically drooling!"
"Shut up! She's going to think I'm as perverted as Keigo!"
Rukia shrugged her shoulders and walked over to sit next to him.
"Mind telling me why you're looking so down?"
"What do you mean? I'm fine! I laughed with you guys earlier, didn't I?"
"You should know better than to lie to your best friend, Ichigo."
Ichigo groaned frustratedly. She was right about that. Being his best friend for hundreds of years, she could read him like an open book. There was absolutely no use to try and hide things from her.
Giving up, Ichigo spoke in a low voice, "It's nothing. I just wish I was stronger, so I won't have to rely on you guys to fight the fights that are supposed to be mine. I don't want all of you to get hurt because of me."
"What a rare sight this is! Were you worried about me, Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"Of course! You're my best friend! Chad, Keigo and Mizuiro too! You guys were hurt because I dragged all of you into the fights with Grimmjow and his gang!"
Rukia's small but strong fist landed on his head.
"Ow! What was that for, midget?"
"Idiot!" she hissed. "I'm not made of porcelain, you know."
"Rukia~"
"You are a precious friend to all of us, Ichigo. We wouldn't mind getting hurt for you. There's nothing wrong about relying on your friends, and I think you know that we're strong enough for you to held on to."
Rukia smirked at her orange-haired friend.
"Stop looking at me with wonder in your eyes. You know damn well that I'm a very wise person."
"I was going to say you looked ancient when you said wise things," Ichigo snorted, earning another hard smack on his head.
Ichigo was about to return the favor when they heard Orihime's cheerful laugh coming from the kitchen.
"There's one more reason you want to get stronger, right?"
"Yeah..." Ichigo answered slowly, his eyes staring at the direction of the cheery laughter. Suddenly, he felt Rukia's small fist grabbed the back of his collar, pulling him up. "What the hell?"
"Come with me, Ichigo!"
Orihime stared wide-eyed at the two of them. Ichigo was panting, his hands gripping his knees, obviously being dragged to the kitchen by Rukia who kept her firm grasp on his collar.
"Kurosaki-kun? Kuchiki-san? What's going on?"
Ichigo felt Rukia's hand moved to his head, pushing it down, making it seemed as if he was bowing at Orihime.
"Sorry for being such an idiot!" Rukia yelled and waited for Ichigo to repeat her words.
But he said nothing.
Rukia opened her mouth to say it again, but Ichigo's whisper stopped her.
"Inoue..."
He lifted his head so he could look directly at Orihime. Rukia released her grip slowly.
"I will get stronger!"
Rukia's mouth stretched to form a smirk. Orihime's eyes grew wider.
"I will get stronger, and next time, I will definitely protect you!"
"Kurosaki-kun..."
She was surprised by his sudden vow, but at the same time, she was glad to see the darkness clouding his eyes before had disappeared. His amber eyes were now glowing with sheer determination, making her feel as if she could hang on to his every words.
Rukia watched them silently before she tiptoed out of the kitchen, looking back in time to see Orihime mouthed a "Thank you" at her.
"I'm nervous," Ichigo confessed as soon as they reached her house, suddenly feeling reluctant to leave the comfort of his car.
"Don't be ridiculous, Kurosaki-kun."
"I'm certainly not on your brother's favorite list, and I have never met the rest of your family, so of course I'm nervous."
She grabbed his arms, and he marveled at the softness of her palm. "You saved me, Kurosaki-kun. Even if they don't like you, they would treat you nicely."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"Stop being such a baby. Now let's get out of the car," she directed, pushing him toward the car's door.
"Okay, Madam Inoue!"
She got out of the car and began walking toward the house. Ichigo jogged lightly to her side after he locked the car. She flashed him a comforting smile.
As they walked side by side, Ichigo grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him so he could whisper in her ear, "Thank you..."
"Eh? What did I do?"
"Nothing... But being with you have always made me feel better."
Me too, she wanted to say, but decided against it. "You're welcome..." she said, and pulled her hand free.
It turned out that Orihime was right about her family. They welcomed him warmly. Even Renji acted civil around him.
The busty woman Orihime called "Mama Rangiku" came rushing toward the door and enveloped Orihime in a dead hug as soon as she opened the door. A tomboy girl, Tatsuki, followed closely behind Rangiku and hugged Orihime too. They started crying and Orihime was screaming in pain at the same time because her body was crushed by the two women.
Ichigo had to stand and watch until the whole drama ended.
When they entered the living room, he shook Renji's hand. Orihime and Tatsuki went to the kitchen to prepare tea and some cookies.
Ichigo sat awkwardly on the sofa, but Renji soon engaged him in a polite conversation after he and his mother thanked him for saving Orihime. Ichigo began to relax, and by the time Orihime returned to the living room with a plate full of cookies, he was already feeling comfortable.
They chatted on unimportant stuffs as the weather, being extra careful not to bring up the subject of Orihime's kidnapping. Ichigo had explained on the phone that she was attacked by a group of thieves and they should not mention it to her because it might upset her. Although Renji knew what actually happened, he kept his mouth shut.
As the conversation went on, Ichigo finally mustered up his courage to say what he wanted to say. "The reason I came here is to ask for a permission."
Everyone gaped at him, shocked.
"I wish you'd let me spend two more days with Inoue."
"Kurosaki-kun?"
"I'd like to bring her to meet two important people in my life."
Renji stood up, "Hey, punk! Are you stupid or something? Why should she meet them?"
Ichigo kept his eyes locked with Rangiku's, "Please, Rangiku-san..."
"There's no way in hell I'll let my sister~"
"Renji," Rangiku said without looking at her son, her tone firm. Orihime began to squirm uncomfortably in her seat. She was as shocked as the rest of her family. Ichigo hadn't said anything to her about his plan.
"Since my family owe you, I'll have to say yes."
"Mama!" Renji protested.
"And I think we can count on Kurosaki to keep her safe," Rangiku continued, ignoring Renji who groaned frustratedly. He knew her mother wouldn't budge once she made up her mind.
"I will do everything in my power to protect her, Rangiku-san."
"Good." Glancing around at her son and daughters, Rangiku asked, "Does anyone have anything else to say?"
Renji merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Yo, Ichigo! If you let anything bad happen to Orihime, I'll kick your sorry ass!" Tatsuki warned.
Ichigo smirked at the feisty woman. He'll get to spend more time with his auburn-haired beauty. Nothing else in the world could make him happier.
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If I fall and crash and burn
At least I know you're by my side
As I crawl that lessons learned
It reminds me I'll survive
I've been hurt and I've been scarred
At least I know that I'm alive
And if I fall and crash and burn
At least we both know that I tried