Chapter 15

THE DAY OF THE PROMENADE HAS COME and Orihime wondered idly if she's wearing the right dress for the occasion. She held the hem of her dress nervously, her thoughts running around in circles. What if Toshiro had changed his mind and decided that it was not worth it? It was no secret that he held no interest about the human affairs and social gatherings, so this is a likely possibility. Or what's worse? He realized that she was not worth asking to a prom and he was already regretting this day and−

Orihime stopped her train of thoughts and gave herself an internal shake. What's wrong with her? She's not too pessimistic like this! Also, thinking Toshiro about like that gave her a ridiculous amount of unnecessary guilt. He's better than that and he took his promises seriously. He's certainly not a flaky and a flippant type of person. Didn't he already prove himself a few times to her during an emergency? If he could put his faith in her, then she can too. She'd hold onto his promise that he'll be her partner in this important event and pick her up.

"Inoue-san! Inoue-san!" A familiar, perky and feminine voice rang outside her doorstep that was accompanied by several excited knocks.

"Ah, Rangiku-san? Is something the matter?" Orihime had quickly made her way towards the door and opened the door of her room. She tried not to blush as her gaze landed on her revealing wine-colored dress that has a low plunging neckline. The dress hugged her figure smoothly and accentuated her…assets. It was probably meant to be an artistic one. But with Rangiku's….well-endowed chest and shapely figure…..it leaves a naughty imagination to the drooling boys that would see her later. She could already imagine Keigo having a massive nosebleed upon seeing her. Her usual, long cascading strawberry locks was now tied into a loose, French bun with some of the few strands hanging at the side of her face in a form of soft ringlets. She looked like an absolute goddess.

"The boys are here! They came to pick us up. Also, taicho would be very pleased to see you. You look like a gorgeous, royal princess from a fairy tale book!" Rangiku gushed excitedly as she made her way inside her room and took something from her nightstand and placed the glittering tiara carefully into her head.

"Ahahaha. Thank you for your kind words Rangiku-san." Orihime couldn't stop her from barging inside her room and even placing the tiara around her head.

"There! All much better! Now look at the mirror to see your pretty, radiant face." Rangiku guided her into the mirror and Orihime's face heated up as she saw her own reflection. Her hazel brown irises popped up with a dash of soft, kohl eyeliner under the rim of her eyes and her usual long, waist dark orange hair was pinned up in a Dutch milkmaid with a sparkling tiara in the middle of her head. The baby pink line off shoulder dress fit to her slender, curvaceous figure nicely with a matching pink hued glove on her hands that made her countenance a regal, princess sweetheart of their class.

She couldn't even recognize herself for a few seconds because of her own transformation. She'd have to thank Rangiku later in helping her dress up and picked up a nice gown that would complement her looks and personality.

"Ah, t-thank you R-rangiku-san." She stammered, unable to look directly into her eyes.

The woman giggled impishly in return, finding her flustered state amusing and a tad bit cute. "Now c'mon. We don't want our grumpy taicho complaining on waiting for far too long." She took her hand and guided her outside of the room.

Orihime tried to calm herself and steady the wild beating of her heart upon hearing that the captain was already waiting for them.

TOSHIRO CROSSED HIS ARMS OVER HIS chest as he waited for Rangiku and Orihime at the living room. He didn't have a fascination with dressing up in formal attire. His skin was already itching and he felt suffocated from wearing a dark blue three piece suit which accentuated his wide, turquoise eyes and spiky, white hair. He tried to maintain his composure and school an indifferent look as he could hear their footsteps from downstairs.

Yumichika was lounging casually on the couch and reading a magazine, seemingly unperturbed at his formal but odd attire. He always had a strange sense of fashion and attitude despite being a member of the 11th squad.

He was about to scold his lieutenant for being slow when his eyes landed on Orihime and his words died in his throat. He studied her frame from head to toe. It made his mind went blank as he was faced with a radiant and ethereal beauty like her.

ORIHIME COULD FEEL THE BURN of his gaze around her as she walked downstairs. She willed herself not to blush as she finally met his eyes with a simple smile of her own. The intensity of his gaze skyrocketed her nerves and she couldn't help herself as her thoughts started to circulate haphazardly inside her head. What was he thinking? Is something wrong with her face? Did he look terrible in her dress? Was the make up too much?

"…. You looked pretty." Toshiro uttered with an unreadable expression on his face, but she could see the faint reddening of his ears.

"That's it taicho? You're no fun! Tell her that she looked gorgeous with a smitten look on your face!" Rangiku huffed, a small pout adorning her face.

"Quit that out Matsumoto. We're going to be late. Now c'mon and let's ride the cab that Yumichika had called around to take us into the school." He shot her a glare and quickly turned away so that he could hide away his face that was beginning to heat up.

Rangiku shot a playful wink at Orihime's direction and whispered coyly at her ear. "Told you he'll be speechless when he looks at your enchanting beauty." She then grabbed her hand and they walked outside of her house.

Orihime couldn't help the blush that was beginning to spread across her face as she stared at Toshiro's back while they walked towards the direction of the cab. He looked dashing in a suit. Despite his diminutive height, he carried himself with a cool demeanor that made him more manly and imposing.

He wordlessly opened the door for them with him still glowering at the cab's windows.

"I'll take the driver's seat." Yumichika announced and threw a smirk at Rangiku's direction to which the other returned with a sly grin.

"Well then. I'll take the left window's seat. Inoue-san will take the middle spot and taicho will sit beside her in the right window wing." Rangiku answered nonchalantly and didn't wait for her captain's response as she made her way inside the cab.

Toshiro narrowed her gaze at her. 'What could you be scheming now Matsumoto?' He thought inwardly with a sigh.

Orihime bit her lip and made her way inside the cab after Rangiku got in. She sat properly and tried to hold her trembling hands across her lap as she felt Toshiro entered the cab and sat down beside her. She didn't want to make a fool of herself as she stared mutely on her lap while her heart thundered inside her chest. For goodness' sake, it's just Toshiro and not Ichigo! She shouldn't feel this way!

The busty woman just lounged lazily beside Orihime and feigned a disinterested look as she sensed the tension between the two. 'They're both terrible at this department. Good thing that my special skills work here.' Rangiku rolled her eyes as she inwardly shook her head in fond exasperation.

"Ah, I can't wait until we reach the school for that party! Just imagining the spectacular food and drinks makes me all tingly from excitement!" Rangiku sighed dreamily as she clasped her hands gently.

"Don't get drunk Matsumoto." Toshiro glowered at the rearview mirror. "You're still on duty." He added with a scoff.

"So mean taicho." Rangiku replied with a small pout on her face. "Even if we're on duty it doesn't mean that we can't just pass up on this good opportunity to mingle and learn more about each other riiiiggghhtt~" She added and threw him a playful wink. "Besides with a pretty partner here like Inoue-san, you should be a good and worthy consort too!"

Toshiro tried not to sputter at her words and instead settled for a sharp glare at her direction that was only weakened by the faint blush that was starting to creep up on his cheeks. "Shut up Matsumoto."

Orihime didn't missed his flushed cheeks from the corner of her eyes but decided not to comment on it in order not to gain the unwanted wrath of the cute captain. She froze. Cute? Now where the hell did that thought came from?

Mortification quickly spread across her face and she couldn't stop the bright blush that began to cover her cheeks.

"Oooohhh~ Something the matter Inoue-san?" Rangiku asked with a wide grin.

"Ahahahahaha. N-nothing. I'm just nervous and excited about the prom that's all." Orihime smiled sheepishly and looked again on her lap.

Toshiro remained being stubbornly quiet throughout the ride but it just made Rangiku's inner smugness rose as she observed the two in silence. 'Maybe this is going to be easier than I thought.' She inwardly thought in satisfaction.

THEY FINALLY REACHED THE SCHOOL grounds with several students dressed in fancy clothes as they made their way inside the building for the prom itself.

She could feel their gazes around them as they walked along the path. She tried to look nonchalant and cheerful like Rangiku even though most of the boys started to ogle unabashedly at her form and her revealing dress. Orihime could inwardly wished that she possessed Rangiku's confidence and careless attitude sometimes.

"Ah, Inoue-san over here!" Mizuiro spotted them and gave a friendly wave and smile. Beside him were Keigo, who was predictably having a massive nosebleed as he stared at the voluptuous body of Rangiku, Ichigo who was also wearing a standard black three piece suit, Rukia who was wearing a little black dress, Chizuru who started to drool when she saw Orihime and Tatsuki who was also wearing a simple white dress and gave her a wave of acknowledgement.

"You look gorgeous as usual Hime-chan!" Chizuru exclaimed with stars sparkling in her eyes while Tatsuki smacked her head and rolled her eyes. "Don't do something stupid." It made Orihime chuckled nervously.

"Chizuru-san is right though. You look beautiful Inoue-san." Rukia complimented with a sincere smile on her face.

"Ah, thank you Kuchiki-san." She beamed brightly at her. Ichigo just stared at her wordlessly for a few minutes before he shot her an awkward smile and rubbed the back of his neck.

She found it weird and was about to comment on it when the program started, and the organizers ushered them to their designated seats and table.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENT had started, and the festive but also gentle music started to fill the air. The promenade dance was already starting. Orihime had swallowed back her nerves as her eyes flitted around the couple of students who started to gather around the middle of the platform. She could already see Ichigo and Rukia gathering on the area along with Ikkaku being dragged forcefully by Keigo's sister, Mizuho, much to her chagrin. Should she wait for Toshiro? Or maybe she should−

Her spiraling thoughts were cut off as she saw a hand extended in front of her. She looked up to see Toshiro staring intently at her.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked in a voice that almost resembled a faint, mumbling tone.

Her heart leapt in her throat. "A-ah yes of course!" She answered quickly and accepted his hand and tried in vain to keep out the bubbling excitement in her voice.

Orihime knew how to dance. She always aced her academic subjects and that includes P.E. lessons in basic dancing and sports. So why was her body felt like a frozen popsicle in his grasp?

"Relax. We're just doing basic foxtrot." Toshiro whispered soothingly in her ear. She could feel her face burn and her body shivered from the sensation and contact.

"O-of course Toshiro-kun." She muttered before she steeled herself and tried to follow his movements smoothly, focusing her attention on their dance rather than the wild beating of her heart and his proximity that tangled her nerves in an instant.

"Are you scared of me?" Toshiro asked bluntly.

Despite his usual straight forwardness, it still caught her off guard most of time since he's usually quiet and only spoke up whenever he needs to or when the situation calls for it.

'Not really. But the way you make me feel is making me confuse.' She inwardly thought but she wouldn't admit it. Her pride and fragile heart was on the line and her complicated feelings towards Ichigo still reeled her mind and body.

"Now what makes you say that Toshiro-kun?" She asked with a nervous smile on her face.

"Your body language itself Inoue speaks in volumes." He sighed.

"Ah, my nerves still get in the way because of my excitement at the prom. It's my first time after all!" She tried to put more energy behind her words and looked at him in the eyes this time to prove her point.

Toshiro would've argue more but a certain expression she couldn't identify passed his face for a few seconds and made him rethink his words briefly before he finally conceded. "Alright. Look I'm not a big fan of social events like this Inoue and we're here because of our duties as Shinigami but I want you to enjoy this okay? I'll…I'll try my best to be a fitting consort for you so you'll have a great time." His last words were spoken in a faint murmur and she could see the tinged of pink at the tip of his ears at the sincere admission.

It left her breathless and her pulse raced once again. A feeling of sweet contentment buzzed around her nerves which she didn't want to analyze and simply savored the moment.

"I….I'm enjoying my time here with you Toshiro-kun. And I'll be forever grateful to you. So I hope that you're also enjoying your time here too with me as your prom partner despite your duty here in Karakura town." She murmured.

"I am." He answered simply and it made her own heart soar completely.

They both finished the dance with a genuine smile painted across their lips.

"THE KING AND QUEEN OF the promenade dance event for this year is no other than Hitsugaya Toshiro and Inoue Orihime!" The female organizer announced brightly after the several scheduled events had passed at the party.

Cheerful applause from the crowd and hollering acknowledgment from their friends filled around the room.

A faint blush sported around her cheeks as Orihime heard her name on the announcement but she couldn't stop the exhilarating smile from forming around her lips. Toshiro only grunted in response and shove his hands inside his pockets but nonetheless made his way towards the stage along with Orihime. The organizers put a sash on each of them and handed them both a staff and placed a crown on both of their heads.

"Now look at the camera and smile! A friendly wave could also be added as a bonus!" The cameramen jested as he started to count with his fingers and signal them that he was about to snap them a picture together.

Orihime beamed at the camera and waved gracefully while Toshiro tried to muster a sincere smile despite his growing discomfort at being the center of attention in the middle of the cheering crowd.

Three.

Two.

One.

The camera flashed as the familiar and terrifying growl teared around their nerves which made both of them froze.

The unsuspecting and oblivious crowd continued to cheer for them and snapped them some pictures from their phones altogether.

It can't be. Orihime stood rigid and wide eyed at the camera while Toshiro quickly regained his senses and locked eyes with Rangiku, Yumichika and Ikkaku. They all silently nodded and quickly moved in stealth to take on their Shinigami forms.

But a more terrifying sound had reached thru Toshiro's line of hearing and it made him sick to the core.

"Snap, Tobiume."

(A/N: I know it's been awhile since I've last updated. Life happens ig and the manga itself has already ended ages ago. *sighs* I'm still wishing and hoping for an anime of The Thousand-Year Blood War arc since I think it would be really interesting and intriguing. And Giselle is now on my list of top favorites in the franchise since she is an entertaining and interesting character despite being an antagonist. I have not abandoned this story yet or any of my other stories that are still in progress. However, it will take me sometime to update them again because of my busy life and my inspiration going on and off. Sincerest apologies for the long hiatus and if some of the characters are OOC. I tried my best to still capture their canon characters in the series despite being absent from the fandom for far too long. Kindly let me know your thoughts about the recent chapter).