Love no Refrain - Chapter 25: Prevent

The school bell had rung and class was over.. students rejoiced, teachers sighed with relief and Ichigo stressed. The weeked was just the next day and all he could think about was what Tatsuki had said earlier.. Apparently when you were dating someone, you were officially a 'couple' with said person, and when you were a couple with someone, you had to do couple things..

Ichigo groaned as he slowly trudged out of the schools doors and stood just above the steps of stairway down the path that eventually led home. ...Technically, he was dating the princess of Karakura High, that was nothing to be ashamed of- hell it was a flaunting factor! But Ichigo wasn't that type of guy, he honestly didn't give a damn who or what kind of status the person had, he just cared about the person.. but still Orihime.. she was a different case. She made Kurosaki feel like a completely normal..

During certain times.. well all the time- Ichigo had to always, always put on an act around everyone around him. He was different, his bright orange hair made that obvious, and because of that, growing up he was often targeted and sometimes even bullied, and that left him to do nothing but simply defend himself and take on a role that pretty much told people that he wasn't the person to ever be messed with.. Yeah.. even though that started as a role he eventually grew into it, realizing that he wasn't like his old self at all, but he didn't mind because he liked what he had become.. But Orihime slightly changed that, he felt that even without the role, she'd accept him, still like him.. and that was different.

Kurosaki covered his face slightly as he felt heat within his body, scorch his skin especially his face. Just thinking about her accepting him, or simply just her, he felt hot and honestly.. that sick feeling from Osaka began to act up again.

His hand moved to cover his mouth however he flinched as he noticed Inoue wasn't in class for the final period.. That was odd, considering she rarely missed class for any reason.. he wondered if she was alright.

"Did she get sick after lunch?" he wondered aloud before instantly assuring himself that he would walk to her house today.

As he took a step he was sure to hear a loud and drum-shattering call that could only be made by one student in all of Karakura High. He groaned before feeling the weight of a body crash against his back and hold him for dear life making his sigh.

"Keigo.. get off."

"How can I do that when I know the weekend is coming up! What're we gonna do Ichigo! We don't hang out anymore! We should go to a park or something or some place fun! I know! Lets go right now! You still got money on you don't you!-?"

"Sorry I can't.. I'm heading to Orihime's now."

Keigo and Mizuiro, who stepped onto the scene but paused as he decended down the steps, froze hearing those words. Simeoultaneously, Kojima's cellphone and Asano's whole body had crashed onto the hard Earth- leaving to be nothing less Ichigo could expect from them.. though.. he assumed Keigo would do a bit more screami-

"OHMYGOD ICHIGO ICHIGO ICHIGO ICHIGO ICHIGO!"

"Keigo! Shut up!"

"Ichigo, you're going to Orihime's on a Friday evening? What in the world do you have planned?" Mizuiro wondered with a smirk on his face.

"Nothing you're thinking of that's for sure. I'm just going to check if she's alright... geez.."

"You make it sound so innocent! But we all know you plan on doing more than that- and who can blame you! You're a growing boy and Orihime is hot!" Keigo spoke making Ichigo land a fist atop his head.

"Will you shut the hell up! I told you it's not like that!"

"If it isn't then why is your face so flushed?" Mizuiro teased.

Ichigo flinched, however he was sure to scream, shout, and rant at the two who were laughing and pointing out his embarrassing flaws to which would only make the strawberry boy redder.

"What's all the noise for?" Tatsuki wondered approaching with Hajime just behind her. "You guys makng plans for the weekend or something?"

"No! We're just talking about Orihime and Ichigo's date!"

"Keigo I swear if you keep screaming that I'm going to kill you!" Ichigo threatened as he choked the boy.

Tatsuki let out a nervous laugh, but looked to Mizuiro for assurance. The boy only smiled as he quickly picked up his phone from the ground and eased it in his pocket looking to her.

"Seems Ichigo wants to go over Orihime's later tonight."

"Oh-ho!" Tatsuki laughed.

She paused however as she noticed Uryuu breeze pass her and the others without so much as a word. This made the girl glare and wave before chasing after him and leaving Hajime with the group of three, though he was hardly paying attention to what they were bickering about. Instead he thought about Orihime.. As if her name alone had caused him concern, he thought back to being in the classroom and noticing how she wasn't in her seat. Naturally he thought food poisoning of some sorts seeing how the last few classes were after lunch, but he more he thought about it, the more he also realized that Tetsuya wasn't in class either.

He paused... Could Tetsuya had gone off and lured Orihime as well?

Hajime seriously wanted to doubt that, seeing as on some occasions, Tetsuya wouldn't show up to class because it didn't interest him, but.. this was just too conveniant.. The pale figure lowered his eyes slightly as he tried to metaphysically feel or sense where Tetsuya had gone.

Since the beginning, he had long remembered being able to locate the troublesome boy by doing this. Even though he found it irking before, he was actually eased to know he had this ability.

Ichigo held Keigo tightly in a headlock, but froze as he glanced at him and felt.. something... It was spiritual pressure and he could see it faintly exuding off Hajime's body as the boy looked off in a certain direction as if he were looking for something. This only made Ichigo glare.. Just what was he looking for?.. and why was he releasing his pressure so openly? Didn't the guy know that he'd be able to sense it?

Keigo blinked within Ichigo's grip as something didn't feel right.. The air around the group had suddenly gotten depressing that or too grave in his mind. This only made him glance at Hajime for a moment then blink again.

"Hey Hajime? You okay-"

Before the questioning tone in Asano's voice could even be shared, Hajime sprinted off, breaking away from the group and leaving the campus in a flat second. This left Keigo and Ichigo to stand and stare with eyes agape. What was he in such a hurry for?

Karakura Town

Tetsuya trudged through the streets of the city he grew to hate each and everyday. His glare piercing the eyes of anyone who dared to give him a glance, or perform those ugly and awkward gestures such as a wave or unwanted smile.. He grimmaced, no one that below him- beneath him should've disrepected him in such away.. In his mind, if you werent on your knee's praising him and the ground he walked on, then you were no one to bare a thought about.. You were someone worth killing.

He sneered as he glanced at yet another awkward glance a person offered in passing, making him scoff. ... These people.. they looked to him as if he were one of their own, and that pissed him off. He was higher than these things...

Pausing in his advancement, he turned, taking over his shoulder and glancing at the woman who followed. She was distracted looking at the watch on her right wrist to check the time making the teen glare. She was another one of those unnappreiciative bugs that didn't understand just who the hell he was.

Though he kept staring, Inoue didn't notice, she was still looking at her watch, realizing that the time had passed and it was too late for her to ever consider going back to class. How could she, when school was already out.

She lowered her wrist and her eyes as well as she could only imagine how worried Ichigo might've been, that or disappointed. The woman flinched to the thought as she looked to her feet timidly. Now that they were together officially, that meant that they could take more walks together and.. spend some time..

She got flustered at the thought, but immediately flinched as she realized Tetsuya had stopped walking and instead was glaring at her as if she had offended him in a way. It made her tense, she didn't mean to ignore him! O-Or show any signs that her mind was wandering..still.. she had no idea how long he had been staring, so the time for apoligy had been overdue.

"S-Sorry.." she mumbled.

The boy rose a brow for a moment before turning to head off once more and go to the destination of choice, to which, Inoue made sure she followed. It wasn't long after that she found herself in a park mostly made for kids, it had long been abandoned though as it always had on days before the weekend. She glanced at the scenery a bit wondering why Tetsuya would want to be here of all places, but jerked as he called her name, making her pay attention.

"Stop staring into space..It's staring to piss me off."

She flinched but nodded before rubbing the back of her head slightly. Though he was new to Karakura with his cousin, he was nothing at all like Hajime.. He was more intimidating and that took her back for a moment..

"Sorry." she managed to say before looking to him. "Tetsuya, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

"I'm wondering at all if you know yourself.." he spoke shoving his hands in his pockets.

"!-!-! Well.." she began in a hushed tone cupping her chin. "Back at school.. you said it had to do with the Osaka trip.. Hmm.. but now that I think about it, you had something to tell me there too didn't you?"

"I said nothing about that stupid trip you and your friends took."

Orihime flinched before easing her hands behind her back and fiddling with her fingers nervously. "Oh right.. I guess.. I'm the one who assumed.."

"Tch.." It was all Tetsuya could say at the time. His mind was on fire when he tried to talk to this girl, not only because she was so disrespectful, but because he just wanted to get to the point of all this necessary babble..

"Are you aware at all of how powerful Ichigo is?" he questioned bluntly.

Orihime's eyes distended for a moment before she nodded almost robotically which actually surprised Tetsuya, but at the same time got him excited.

"I see I was right.. so this whole time you've been around him, you've been aware.."

Orihime nodded. "Mhm! Ichigo's really strong, sometimes it surprises me!"

Tetsuya flinched growing curious. "How strong?"

"Hm? Well.. really super strong I'd like to think.."

"Stronger than me?"

She blinked but instantly looked to the skies for assurance. "Hm.. I dunno Tetsuya.. I guess you could be than him.. but I'm don't really know.."

"And that doesn't bother you in the slightest?"

She shook her head to which made Tetsuya dull his eyes. In reality, they were both being very vague with their questions and answers. Even though the boy was talking about Ichigo's spiritual powers Orihime was interpreting his questions about physical strength he'd display at school most of the time. Had Tetsuya known this, he'd probably strike her for being so stupid, thankfully he didn't.

"Explain yourself.." He grunted making the girl raise a brow. "Explain to me why you don't fear us- Ichigo and I are in the same boat when it comes to being powerful.." he questioned before tightening his right fist. "You even said that I could be stronger than him, so why don't you fear me, when you're clearly aware of what I am? Tell me exactly what is preventing you from cowering when you know what I'm capable of."

Orihime blinked twice before smiling to which made the boy squint an eye at her. She said nothing for the first few moments, but she was sure to answer his questions in a way only she could.

"I never knew I was supposed to be afraid of you.. I thought we were friends in a way.."

The male actually flinched before grunting once more. "-Are you.. What.."

He hissed these words as he couldn't find himself to form an appropriate question to ask. What did she mean by that? Friends? How the hell could she have possibly considered being something that was of no real worth to him?

She scratched the side of her cheek nervously with a single finger. "Whoops.. I guess.. I assumed we were friends too early.. well still.. if you want me to answer you honestly.. um.. where do I start.." she hummed before remembering. "You said I'm supposed to be afraid of you and Ichigo right? Well.. I can't say I'm afraid of Ichigo now. I mean I used to be, but I realized that Ichigo was actually a good person when it came down to it. No matter what I heard about him, dealing with his fights or the fact that he was different, it didn't bother me. When it came to his fighting.. well I was never really comfortable with anyone who was so violent, but I soon realized that he fought to protect things not really because he just wanted to hurt someone.. And when it came to him being different.. well you can't really control how you're born to be, so to me Ichigo is just Ichigo, no more, no less..." she explained before hitting her head playfully. "Hehe, y'know in some lights you kind of remind me of Ichigo.. you're both are quick to get a little angry, whenever you both speak- it's always loud and proudly.. like you're never ashamed in what you say.. and you're both brave, you never back down from anything even when it comes to fighting with arguing with one another." she laughed but eventually began to ramble.

As she kept wording her thoughts, Tetsuya never allowed them to reach his ears. He was too stuck in thought.. He was.. distrubed, at Inoue's choice of words and her feelings toward his own questions.

Ichigo and Tetsuya were the same.. and she was comfortable with that. She wasn't at all feign about the fact that she didn't mind being around people who were different, it seemed she accepted them no matter what.. Not at all what he expected.. if anything.. Tetsuya expected Orihime to be just as the other poeple he was sure judged him with their certain glances. But it all could've been a lie right? She was just saying that because she knew if she had said anything different he'd hurt her right?

The answer wasn't clear.. but he was sure to pay attention now to what she was saying- she was still rambling and this time, moving her hands about to explain her wording, as if the boy was too slow to keep up with her words.. she was still disrespectful..

"-So in a way I look to you both in the same light as Don Kanoji! He's different but he made a lot of people love him for it, including me! I'd like to think that it's the love of someone else that keeps another person going- makes them stronger in a way! It's all about the heart! Y'know what I mean Tetsuya?"

"A person's heart makes another person stronger?" he questioned, really thinking hard on that sentence.

Orihime nodded before allowing her cheeks to turn a lighter color of pink.

"Sometimes.. I'd like to think that my heart is what makes Ichigo so strong.. He's important to me and I think he knows that so he's able to get through any and everything y'know?"

"... I think I'm starting to get it now.." he mumbled, taking careful steps toward her.

"Glad to know!" Orihime spoke saluting for some reason. "I thought you'd gotten lost with what I was saying! I've been told I speak a mile a minute so I was kind of concerned when you-"

She paused as she felt an almost disturbing energy in the air, and it seemed.. to emit from Tetsuya.. or at least that's what she thought. His energy felt strange and dangerously dark all of a sudden, and the closer he approached her the more darker and stranger the feeling became. She took a step back when she felt he was getting too close, but she couldn't move any further- it was as if her body wouldn't react even if she wanted it to.

So.. she was stuck to watch Tetsuya take two final steps, standing before her in the process. His eyes were darker than what she'd usually see in them- and she wasn't refering to the hues.. It was as if a different person was in front of her..

Moments were becoming slower as time started to get remissive, and in the time Tetsuya was left to think harder on what he had learned today and finally take action. His left arm twitched for a moment before he ordered it to lace around Inoue's middle and pull her closer to him- all the while raising and angling his right hand in the air.

Orihime widened her eyes- taken back to this sudden action, but as she quickly found her courage, she began to try and pull away.

"T-Tetsuya! What're you doing!"

"...Orihime.. You said that your heart is what makes Ichigo strong.." he began as the fingers of his risen hand began to tense. "So.. If I tear through your chest and pull out your heart.. I'll become stronger..right?"

His words were careful and yet so empty.. the only thing Inoue got out of that was growing curiosity, no remorse, nervousness at all. The princess took in a sharp breath, watching Tetsuya's right hand and instantly pull back then instantly begin to plunge. She gasp locking her eyelids tightly, however she was soon to reveal one gray iris that triggered her to jerk.

As if out of nowhere Hajime had appeared, holding on to Tetsuya's wrist firmly- leaving Inoue to feel traces of dark energy slowly diminish and yet be replaced with a serious and yet more vicious air. The girl let out a breath, watching both boys exchange glares as their arms struggling against another- fighting for the next action in a tense silence- but Hajime was sure to break it as quickly lifted Tetsuya's struggling hand away from Orihime.

"..I have no idea what is going through your mind Tetsuya, but that's enough.. Let her go."

His cousin glared in response. "And if I don't?"

Hajime's eyes narrowed slightly as his fingers clamped around Tetsuya's forearm. He was being pushed now and honestly, he didn't feel like calming. He was almost sick of being patient and careful with his cousin.. now he didn't want to hold back.

"Listen to me.." he hissed, his words almost cold.

Tetsuya lowered his eyes, before smirking and raising his left arm- allowing Inoue to stumble back a bit. She panted softly though due to the moment that had passed and to what she was noticing.. Hajime was starting to get that dark energy too, but why? Why were he and Tetsuya exuding such frightening energies?

"Inoue, leave and go home." Hajime spoke still holding on to Tetsuya, who wasn't even bothering to struggle now.

She took a step back, but she was still concerned. "H-Hajime-"

"Go home Inoue.. Ichigo is waiting for you.."

She flinched, but was sure to nod and run off leaving the cousins to themselves. Hajime lowered his head slightly, staring at the ground to where his bangs fell and covered half his face. He wasn't so much focusing on the ground as he was the sound of Orihime's fading footsteps. He was waiting until he couldn't hear them anymore..

Tetsuya dulling glanced to his left- the area Inoue ran off and disappeared to before shutting his eyes for a brief moment.

'Three...two... o-'

The psuedo-Grimm flinched as he quickly brought his left arm in front of him, stopping Hajime's right arm from crashing down on him and inflicting pain. The power in the strike alone caused the air to snap and force back the dirt and broken leaves around them leaving Tetsuya to struggly slightly. He was flinching as he felt Hajime's arm slowly weigh down on him, spasming as it drew near. Tetsuya gave Hajime a glance as he tried to push him back, but the look in his cousin's eyes were truely dispiriting. The pupils in the pale boys emerald eyes were miniscule and the face he bore was no longer stoic, he instead showed how angry he was. This made the arrogant teen smirk.

"Geez.. I must've really pissed you off.."

Sitting at the base of the steps to Inoue's home, Ichigo stared to the ground in thought. Though he wanted to think that Orihime was alright he was starting to get worried.. but he knew he shouldn't have, she was smart and strong, so she was alright..

The Kurosaki boy groaned as he cradled his slammed both of his hands onto his face and groaned. All this self assuring was such bullshit! He needed to see if she was actually alright before going on and assuming so! But still.. he didn't know where she had gone and he was actually getting frustrated because of it!

"Starting now, I'm not letting her out of my sight!" he promised, but sighed shortly after.

Great.. now he was sounding like a paranoid and slightly clingy boyfriend..

"Ugh.." he groaned straight from the gut.

Just the thought of being Inoue's boyfriend was still a shock to him.. he wasn't used to labeling himself that at all. He sighed and groaned once again before looking into the almost crimson sky and attempting to keep his mind at peace.. It was difficult, but the sound of approaching footsteps made him twitch and stand as he watched Inoue run from down the road, and cross the street over to Ichigo. She stopped a short distance away from him, hunching as she held her stomach to pant and breathe heavily, but she quickly lifted and gave her guest a weary smile.

"Ichi.. go~" she tried to sing, but couldn't due to lack of breath.

Kurosaki approached as he hunched down to her a bit and rose a brow. "You okay Orihime?What had you running so hard?"

She froze, and actually stopped breathing for a moment as she relived that scary encounter with Tetsuya in the park. She wondered what in the world she said or did to make him snap like that and threaten her so apathetically.. She could only think back to the feeling she had just seconds before she shut her eyes and pretty much watched him attempt to harm her.. She had never felt so terrified and confused..

"Orihime?" Ichigo pronounced before grabbing her shoulder.

It made her twitch, giving Kurosaki all the reason to let her go, however he watched her quickly glance at him and stare as if she were seconds from crying. This only made him glare and ready to question but before he could, she jumped to him. She fastened her arms around him, immeiately clinging onto the backside of his shirt as she buried her head into his chest. Because of what happened, all she could really think about was what Tetsuya was attempting to do to her.. was he intentionally trying to kill her? But for what? Why? That whole experience played out time and time again in her head, driving her emotions to a line it hadn't been before in a long time.

"Ichigo.." she cried softly in his chest as her tears wettened his shirt.

He couldn't respond.. all he could do was stare into space as he heard her tears and felt.. pathetic, but he knew he had to do something. The minutes of the moment were slow to pass- but it was enough to leave Ichigo to look down at a head of strawberry locks that trembled and yeildingly rubbed against him, to which only made his right arm cradle from behind and allow him to lower his face just atop.

"Orihime.. don't cry.." he uttered against her soft strands.

Though.. she continued.. and he stood in silence. He didn't respond, nor did he question. He knew this wasn't the time for that, so instead he comforted her, pulling her closer to him and watching the scene he had seen before so long ago in his head.

Orihime was crying, and he hadn't done a thing to prevent that.

A/N: If anyone remembers chapter 12, you'd know that feel :c
Had to make Tetsuya the bad guy in the chap.. though he is normally the bad guy in the story, but don't blame him though, could you actually imagine Grimmjow or any Arrancar for that matter, understanding how a heart would make someone stronger. I'm sure they'd react just as Tetsu/Grimm did..

Anyway! onto my responses to the questions- sorry how I have to do it on here sometimes guys, my reply button doesn't exactly load sometimes due to my slow internet = =

sorakun9 - Don't worrry, Ichigo and Orihime are actually going to *SPOILERALERT* go out on a nice date next chap, and everyone will finally know who Eiji is!

ranipaki - Hajime will eventually be accepted don't worry- I dont' plan on having the group feel so awkward around him for a long time, after all it kinda hurts me when I kind of outcast Ulqui T_T Glad you're liking the story though!

InoueR0xO - I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

nypsy - I miss you xD