Who would have thought I'd have two updates out in the same week?! Thanks to all of your support and encouragement, I've finally got the creative juices flowing again. I hope you enjoy, and as always thank you for all of your comments/reviews/favorites/follows.
It took Ichigo a little longer than usual to get to Orihime's; in part due to how encumbered he was, in part due to his not-so-slip resistant shoes, and in part due to his own nerves. Once he managed to force thoughts of his run in with his father out of his mind, a whole new set of nerves set loose within his stomach, leaking pleasant and yet fearful heat throughout his veins. Thoughts about how he was going to follow through with his plan and yet ways he could totally and utterly fuck said plan up roiled through his mind with such ferocity that before he knew it, he was at her front door, knocking.
Inside the apartment, Rangiku was just finishing up with Tatsuki's makeup, opting for light and neutral tones – anything else would have looked too fake on the martial arts expert. Rukia and Orihime were in the kitchen, frantically trying to find a place to hide the chocolates that had been in the fridge. It was all thanks to Orihime's excitement about Ichigo cooking for them that they had even remembered, but they were still too giddy to focus properly without breaking out into giggles every couple of minutes. It was Ichigo's knock on the door that sobered them up completely.
"Shit," Rukia cursed, holding three boxes of chocolates in her hands. Beside her, Orihime froze, her eyes on the door with a mixture of fear and excitement before turning to the tiny Shinigami.
Rukia moved first, holding onto the chocolates with one arm and pushing Orihime towards her room with the other. "Go! He can't see you like that!"
"What? Why?" Orihime queried, confusion clear on her face as her brow furrowed. "Don't be silly, Rukia-chan." She didn't wait for the other girl to respond before moving towards the door to answer it.
"Orihime!" Rukia called, keeping her voice low and harsh, but the auburn-haired healer wasn't listening, and she was stuck holding onto the chocolates that she very much so needed to hide. With a heavy sigh, she shook her head in exasperation and hurried to Orihime's room to hide the chocolates.
When she passed the bathroom, Rangiku shrieked, causing Tatsuki to startle and yell just as loudly. A small crash quickly followed – their supplies scattering across the floor. "What are you doing?! She can't be answering the door!" Rangiku's outburst was loud enough Tatsuki flinched before challenging her statement.
"What? Kami, it's not like they're getting married!" Tatsuki tried her best to keep her voice down but struggled with her mounting confusion.
"Yet," Rukia added with a sly wink, just loud enough for all of them to hear before bursting into an uncharacteristic fit of giggles. Tatsuki frowned as Rukia shrugged nonchalantly, her eyes sparkling with scarcely concealed mirth as she headed back to Orihime's room.
From outside, Ichigo could vaguely hear their hushed voices – just enough to know they were speaking, but not what they were talking about. As he waited, he shifted his weight, so the flowers were hidden in his coat (he had decided it was better to be safe and followed his father's advice in that regard) and ran a nervous hand through his hair. It was either that, or burst through the door, which he knew well enough was not the best idea right now – not when girls were getting ready on the other side. No, he'd rather not lose his life just yet.
On the other side of the door, Orihime froze with her hand on the handle, Tatsuki's last statement ringing in her ears and causing her heart to race. The little blue men barely needed any fuel for the fire of images that suddenly sprung to life in her mind. Instead of her dress for the dance, she saw herself in a white wedding gown, with Ichigo in a tux waiting for her next to a grove of trees. She could already make out the heads of their guests – their closest friends, including several members of the Soul Society, along with Ichigo's family as she slowly made her way to him. Ichigo's eyes never left hers and when he smiled, it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. He reached his hand out to her when she arrived at his side, and when she moved to place her own in his, a simple but elegant diamond ring adorned her left ring finger…
Another trio of knocks on the door, this time louder, snapped her from her daydream and she pulled the door open with a beaming smile just as he was lowering his hand. "Hi, Kurosaki-kun!"
If Yuzu's smile had rivaled the sun, Orihime's eclipsed it a thousand times over, and for a moment, Ichigo could only stare at her, his mouth slightly open in surprise, as his eyes raked over the changes Rangiku had made. She was still dressed in her button-down shirt and leggings, but the soft accents to Orihime's already blushing cheeks, wide eyes and plump lips had him mesmerized. Her hair was pulled up high on the back of her head with her bangs swept across her forehead, parted on the left. Several small tendrils of hair were loose, framing her face and the nape of her neck; while a large lock, including her bangs dangled free along the right side of her face. Her ever-present blue pins were used to keep her hair back on the left side. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut at the sight of her, and she wasn't even in her dress yet.
"Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime breathed, concern for him growing in her heart when he continued to stand there, staring. She shuffled her feet anxiously, one of the bunny slippers she had been wearing just that morning coming up to rub the back of her calf. "Are you all right?"
"Stop ogling and get inside!" Rukia shouted from the bedroom, placing the chocolates in a safe place on Orihime's dresser.
Even Orihime's gentle question hadn't been able to shock Ichigo back into the present, but Rukia's harsh command did and he started, visibly shaking himself before smiling guiltily at Orihime. "Oh, right. Sorry." His eyes lingered on hers, eyeliner making her stormy depths even darker while accented by a faint silver eyeshadow. Her eyelashes were already full and long, but now they were even more so, and he was drawn to the way they rested on her cheeks when she lowered her gaze. It took all his will to keep himself from looking at her lips again – the soft pink that shone in the overcast light from outside was all too kissable. Clearing his throat, he decided to bite the proverbial bullet. "Um, you look, uh" he hesitated, not sure he dared to say what he most wanted to say, before plunging ahead anyway. "Beautiful." The last word left his lips in a whispered rush, his cheeks darkening at the thought of saying something so forward.
Hearing such praise from Ichigo of all people, made Orihime's cheeks light up with heat. She smiled shyly, clasping her hands in front of her as she found herself unable to hold his gaze, or hold still as she swiveled her waist from side to side like a giddy schoolgirl. "Th-thank you, Kurosaki-kun," she whispered.
"Orihime! You're letting all the heat out!" Rangiku called from the bathroom, now that she'd picked up everything she and Tatsuki had knocked down.
"Right!" Their gazes met at the same time once more, and this time their smiles were not forced or awkward as Orihime stepped back to allow Ichigo inside. He kicked the snow off his shoes before stepping in, taking his shoes off just inside the door. Then he realized he had to take his coat off, but the flowers were in his coat and Orihime was right there.
Trying to be casual about it, Ichigo looked behind Orihime and saw no one. "Don't let me keep you from any of… that," he noncommittally waved his hand in the direction of her bathroom, where he could hear the others.
"Oh, I'm done!" she cheered, happily bouncing up on her toes. "What can I help you with?"
Ichigo did his best not to frown. "This is my treat," he answered lowly, catching the way her eyes widened. "You are not to do anything."
Although his words were a command, it was a gentle command, and Orihime found her heart picking up in speed at the low timbre of his voice and the way he slightly bent down to practically whisper in her ear. Warmth flooded her entire being, from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes, and suddenly she found herself unable to meet his eyes. It was a good thing for Ichigo, as he was beginning to think he was going to have to just up and give her the flowers right then – or else he'd never be able to take off his coat.
"Orihime!" Rukia called from the bedroom, successfully breaking the spell that threatened to pull the two under.
Snapped out of her reverie, Orihime looked over her shoulder, before smiling ruefully at Ichigo. "Guess I better go."
Not aware of the heat in his gaze, Ichigo nodded. She turned before he could say anything, and he watched her leave with mixed feelings of relief and disappointment. He wanted to see Orihime, to spend time with her, but he couldn't find some way to hide the flowers with her right there. Then again, he was attempting to hide them from her in her own apartment. The odds were already stacked against him. Deciding to make the best use of Rukia's provided distraction, he shrugged out of his coat and made a beeline for the kitchen, stashing the flowers in the fridge and draping the jacket to his tux over the back of a chair before lining up his ingredients on the counter.
It was a simple recipe; one he'd had countless times before without knowing the backstory he now knew. To think he was cooking his friends (and hopefully his future girlfriend) the same dish his father had cooked for his mom on one of their first dates was… serendipitous; the fact that his father mentioned altering which pasta he used to prevent his "date" from getting anything on her, even more so. Apparently, his mother may have been more like Orihime than he'd thought, at least as far as clumsiness was concerned. Even so, he tried to keep distracting thoughts from his mind as he rolled up his sleeves and tackled the prep for their meal.
He'd barely been working for twenty minutes, waiting for the chicken to boil while he readied the salad, when excited squeals distracted him. The voices of the girls were so high-pitched, there was no way he could pick out one from the other, but he still found himself trying to sort out who was who in his head.
Once Rangiku was done with Rukia's makeup, opting for a little heavier approach to match her darker hair and dress, the girls moved into Orihime's room to officially get dressed. Even though they often changed together in the locker room at school, this was different given the undergarments they were going to have to wear, and so it was decided they would each go into the bathroom to change, then come and show the others. This is what started the squealing that so piqued Ichigo's interest, even if he was also glad he was not in the same room, for the sake of his eardrums.
"I vote Orihime goes first," Rukia supplied, holding her dress draped over her arms as she looked up at the auburn-haired healer as though she were challenging her to a duel.
Her cheeks immediately darkening, Orihime lowered her gaze to her dress, likewise draped over her arm, and chewed on her lower lip. She couldn't be certain, but Ichigo had certainly looked at her more openly than he perhaps ever had; and the look had been heated, his eyes lingering in a way a friend's wouldn't (or perhaps shouldn't). It made her that much more excited for him to see the final ensemble, but she still couldn't rid herself of the sliver of doubt and uncertainty that he would find her unattractive.
"Come on, Kuchiki, give her a break. Why don't you go first?" Tatsuki, as always, came to Orihime's rescue.
Nonplussed, Rukia gathered her clothes and turned, marching into the bathroom with a quick, "Fine," tossed back over her shoulder. Even though the word was clipped, it was clear she was not upset, and the others set about gathering what they needed while she changed.
In the bathroom, Rukia quickly stripped, slipping into the matching strapless bra and panty set she'd bought at the mall before stepping into her dress. Careful not to step on the lace that bolstered it, or the gauzy overlay that formed the straps over her shoulders, she pulled it up and slipped her arms through. It was more comfortable than she remembered as she reached behind to pull up the zipper, catching her reflection in the mirror. Rangiku had pulled her hair up, spinning it into a half-bun that was pinned upwards with a sparkly violet clip that nearly matched the color of her dress. This left the ends of her hair to flare upward and out at the top, giving her a look reminiscent of days long gone, not that she minded. A few locks were left free on the sides of her face, and the lock that always fell between her eyes had refused to cooperate with anything else. Her eyes had been lined with dark eyeliner and accentuated with an almost as dark eyeshadow; her eyelashes thickened and lengthened with the same mascara that had been used on Orihime. With her eyes as dark as they were, the color applied to her lips was soft and barely noticeable. Even so, she scarcely recognized herself.
When she turned almost all the way around to check the back of the dress, she was reminded of the soft dip in the back. The dress itself was strapless, the just as deep violet overlay what gave it the appearance of straps and covered the dip of the dress in the back. This brought the neckline up fairly high, but the snug fit throughout the corset still made it sexy. Black lace made up the petticoat that flared the dress out from her hips, peaking out just the slightest where the dress ended in the middle of her shins – it was probably meant to be knee-length, but her height changed that. Quickly (but gently) shaking her head, she gathered her discarded clothes and made her way back to Orihime's room, catching a pleasant scent wafting from the kitchen that made her smile.
"Okay, who's next?" she chimed the moment she stepped into Orihime's bedroom. This brought about a fresh round of squealing from Rangiku and Orihime, while Tatsuki simply smiled and nodded in approval.
"Wow, Rukia-chan! You look great!"
"I never knew you could clean up so nice, if I do say so myself," Rangiku chided, a hand to her chin as she circled the smaller Shinigami.
Dipping her head in a small bow, Rukia genuinely stated, "Thank you, Lieutenant."
Waving a hand in front of her, Rangiku pretended to wipe away a tear. "Oh, stop it or you'll make me cry." Like a switch was flipped, she turned to the other two girls in the room. "Now, who's next?"
Without looking, Rukia could feel the way Orihime was hanging back, and decided to aid the poor woman. "How about you, Arisawa? Then you can go distract Ichigo in the kitchen."
"Distract him? I thought we all wanted to make sure we didn't die tonight," Tatsuki teased, even as she gathered her belongings and slipped into the hallway anyway.
Although she tried to fight it, Orihime felt a strong wave of jealousy flow through her at the thought of Tatsuki getting to spend time with Ichigo before she could. They had been friends since they were kids; she knew there was nothing there, and yet the two of them spending time together, alone, suddenly left her feeling sick to her stomach. It was something she quickly forced aside as she heard the bathroom door close.
Alone in the bathroom, Tatsuki took a moment to take in the appearance of her dolled-up hair and made up face, for once not aghast at the idea of dressing up. She never put much stock in appearances before now, and while that hadn't entirely changed, she was pleased with what Rangiku had done. Despite all the changes, she still looked like her. As she stripped out of her button-down top and sweatpants, she silently prayed that Chad would feel the same – something she would never admit out loud. Meticulous with her movements, as though she could break the flimsy navy-blue undergarments she'd bought if she wasn't careful enough, she still had to fight to get the oddly strapped bra to cooperate. She'd bought one with removable/changeable straps so she could wear it with only one, but it took her several minutes to figure out how to get it to do that. The g-string was much easier to figure out, even if her ears burned at the thought of wearing such a small piece of underwear. Rangiku had insisted it was what she needed with her style of dress. She could only pray the woman was right as she stepped into her dress and shimmied it up, slipping her arm through the single thick strap over her right shoulder. Even though she hadn't been able to before, she still tried to do the zipper on the back, not at all surprised when she still could only move it up part of the way.
Regardless, she took a moment to appraise her appearance in the mirror. The dress took on a whole different appearance now that she was "made up" for it. With the single thick strap over her right shoulder, the neckline and back were not straight, but rather wavy as it dipped low under her left arm. The black satin shone in the light, causing the yellow beads that made of up the stamen of each flower to glitter back at her. While the red flowers were bright and brilliant, the navy flowers were calmer and more subdued – a perfect match of opposites. When she stepped forward and turned slightly, her right leg was visible through the high slit up that side, the crossing of the skirt visible near her hip, with the white of the fabric along the inside in stark contrast to the otherwise dark dress. With no shoes on, the dress did trail slightly on the floor.
Unable to stop herself from smiling at her reflection, Rangiku's proclamation of, 'Your ass is going to look great in this!' ringing true in her ears, Tatsuki squatted down to grab her clothes off the floor – her right leg bared in the process. She moved quickly, just in case Ichigo happened to come around the corner and ran to Orihime's room with her discarded clothes in a heap in her hands. "Orihime!" she breathed the moment she closed the door to the room.
"Oh, Kami! You look amazing, Tatsuki!" From the kitchen, Ichigo's ears immediately perked up. That exclamation was most definitely Orihime.
Unable to stop herself from smiling, Tatsuki dumped her clothes into a semi-organized pile in the corner of the room before presenting Orihime with her back. "Thanks. Can you zip me again, please?"
Jumping onto her toes, Orihime nearly threw her dress onto the bed in her excitement for Tatsuki. She'd never seen her friend look more feminine and beautiful, even if she was always beautiful in her eyes. "Of course!" Tatsuki was barely turned all the way around before the auburn-haired healer was tugging the zipper up.
"Damn. I know we were talking about Orihime wooing Kurosaki's pants off tonight, but are we sure Sado's are any safer?" Rangiku opined from the other side of the room, her hand once more on her chin as Rukia stood next to her, likewise appraising the martial arts expert.
Both girls instantly turned red. "E-excuse me?!" Tatsuki shrieked, causing Ichigo to jump in the kitchen. "No one's pants are going anywhere!"
Sensing the incoming rage, Orihime wisely gathered her things and disappeared into the bathroom, the sounds of Rangiku and Tatsuki arguing just barely muffled behind the closed doors. Once she was alone, she braced her hands on the counter and exhaled slowly, trying to calm her racing heart. This was almost it. Once she was dressed, she only had to put on her accessories, and it would be time to head to the kitchen; it would be time to face Ichigo as she intended to for the night. While she had no outward plans of confessing that night, she fully intended to allow events to unfold as they would, to follow the flow they'd already been sucked into. Although it wasn't quite enough, it was close. She was tired of hiding, even if she didn't have the courage to say anything. With one final forceful exhale, she pushed herself off of the counter and moved to change.
The screaming from Orihime's room had set him on edge, there was no way for Ichigo to deny it as he stood in front of the boiling pot of pasta. Cooking pasta was not that difficult, especially when he wasn't making the sauce from scratch, so he had some time to think, and thinking was obviously a bad idea. The more he thought, the more he dwelled on just how he was supposed to get his whole flower arrangement to work. There wasn't going to be a time that was just the two of them that he could give them to her, there was no way he was willing to give them to her in front of everyone, and he couldn't just leave them in the fridge or anyone who got thirsty might end up stumbling upon them. "Then what the hell am I supposed to do?" he mumbled out loud, dropping his face into his hand.
He'd heard enough to know that Rukia was dressed, and even though he'd been friends with Tatsuki since before he could remember, the course of his life had brought him closer to Rukia. At this point, she knew him better than Tatsuki did and wasn't as likely to murder him if he looked at Orihime in any way she deemed inappropriate. Not only that, she already knew of his predicament, so who better to ask? With a quiet groan, he pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly texted her. "Hey, I need to ask you something."
From Orihime's bedroom, Rukia quickly paused in putting on her jewelry at the vibrating of her phone. When she saw who it was, she couldn't help but laugh. Nonetheless, she headed towards the kitchen without a word to the others, followed by curious looks.
"What?" she groused as she rounded the corner into the kitchen.
Despite himself, Ichigo did a double take. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but Rukia with dark makeup around her eyes, her hair pinned up high on the back of her head with a flourish, and in a dress that matched her eyes was not it. When he didn't say anything, she put her hands on her hips, just above where her dress started to flare out, lifted an eyebrow, and demanded, "What!"
With a sigh, Ichigo closed his eyes and leaned back against the counter. "Sorry. You look… nice," he offered with a nonchalant wave of his hand before he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Rukia scoffed. "You think I look good, wait until you see Orihime."
The comeback was spoken so quickly, Rukia scarcely had time to process it, let alone appreciate her quick wit. Ichigo's eyes snapped open and she watched with pride as the heat traveled up his neck and into his cheeks before he turned around and stirred the pot of boiling pasta. "Right," he breathed.
Risking a glance down the hallway, Rukia stepped closer, standing next to the kitchen table and taking in what he had already done. Chopped vegetables were scattered on the cutting board, but purposefully, with the main greens of the salad in the largest mixing bowl he could find. Some peas sat in a bowl next to the stove, which was steaming as it boiled the chicken and pasta. Several large cans of sauce sat next to the peas, but she couldn't tell what it was. There was also a large loaf of bread set up on a cookie sheet, coated with a layer of butter and garlic, while the oven sat preheated and ready to go. Despite the occasion, he looked oddly at home in the kitchen, something she would have to be sure to tell Orihime later. Heaving a sigh, she looked back to Ichigo, taking in the fact that he was partially in his tux, and smiled. Before long, the others would be arriving and all semblance of calm from the place would be gone. "Anyway, what did you need?"
Licking his lips nervously, Ichigo forced himself to turn back around. This was Rukia. Rukia. The one who changed his life forever. She already knew how he felt about Orihime – not only had she figured it out, but he'd basically downright told her. So, this should be easy, right? "I have something for Inoue," he blurted, somehow managing to keep his eyes on Rukia's. When she merely cocked an eyebrow at him, he elaborated, "And I don't want to give it to her in front of everybody." He lifted his arms up to his sides in a shrug. "What should I do?"
Smiling ruefully, Rukia took a few more steps into the kitchen to make sure they would not be overhead. "First off, I need to know just what it is you plan on giving her," she giggled before adding, "so I know just what kind of advice you're asking for."
Surprised she could say something with such heavy innuendo while maintaining a relatively neutral face, Ichigo groaned and rubbed his hand through his hair again. "Seriously? Not you too!"
This caught Rukia's interest and she folded her arms across her chest. "What? Now you have to tell me."
He waved her off and went to wash his hands. "Forget it."
Seeing the way Ichigo's shoulders slumped, she decided it was a good time to show him some mercy. "All right, all right. In all seriousness, now. What is it you want to give her?"
Ichigo nodded towards the fridge as he dried his hands on the dishtowel that dangled from the oven's handle. "It's a bouquet of flowers. They're in the fridge."
Intrigued, Rukia quickly opened the fridge to peek at his gift. Upon seeing the pristinely white petals with purple and blue tips; a blue that perfectly matched Orihime's pins, she gasped pleasantly and pulled them out. "Ichigo! These are beautiful!"
Surprised by her reaction, Ichigo's eyes widened and his mouth hung open just the slightest. Not only was he relieved that the gift seemed to be a good idea based on her reaction, but he found himself happy for her (and by proxy Renji) that she would have a similar surprise later in the evening. "Really?"
Holding them carefully, so as not to squish them, Rukia straightened out the petals that had been slightly rumpled in Ichigo's coat. "Give them to her before everyone else gets here. Like as soon as she's dressed."
Not at all expecting that answer, Ichigo nearly dropped the pan he had been holding into the sink, along with all the water and chicken he had been trying to drain. "What?"
Setting the flowers carefully on the table, Rukia leveled him with eyes that belied her seriousness. "I mean it. She'll love them. I'll make sure you know when she's coming out, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, she turned and left the kitchen grinning, leaving Ichigo to look anxiously between the pot of chicken he had been draining and the flowers now sitting in plain sight on the table.
"Fuck me," he breathed, and went back to the chicken.
Not even aware that Ichigo texted Rukia shortly after she left the room, Orihime carefully removed her clothes, trying her best not to let her hands shake as she pulled out the underthings she had agonized over. Her bra was something Rangiku had picked – white and somewhat sticky to help hold her up while leaving no sign of it in the back or straps. She struggled with it for several moments, not entirely sure what to do with it but also much too embarrassed to ask for help. Once she was sure it was as in place as it was going to be, she changed into the matching white panties – which were much easier to figure out, even if they were much skimpier than anything she'd worn before. Try as she might, she couldn't stop the heat from flooding her being at the thought that had gone behind such a purchase. It was the first time she'd bought something with the distinct question in mind of, 'What would Ichigo think of this?' even if the mere thought practically sent her screaming into her pillow with steam blowing out from her ears.
Shaking her head to free it of any impure thoughts, Orihime carefully stepped into her gown and pulled it up, shimmying slightly over her hips before pulling the top up over the bra and fitting her arms through the proper straps – which was difficult given the number of straps crossing the back and the two thin spaghetti straps for each shoulder. Once the straps were in place, she fidgeted with the chest, turning this way and that in the mirror to make sure nothing appeared amiss before she sighed and dropped her hands to her sides, puffing the air out from her lungs with her lower lip slightly protruding. If her hair hadn't been styled, she would have ruffled her bangs with the motion. Instead, she straightened herself back up and smoothed her hands over the corset, the material there slightly stiffer as it cinched in slightly, allowing for only a moderate amount of cleavage, but it was still more than she'd ever worn in public (other than the Arrancar dress she'd been forced into). The tiny silver and white beads caught the light as she gently brushed over them, before her hands caught in the looser fabric at her hips.
Like Tatsuki, she hadn't been able to zip herself up at the mall either, but she still tried, twisting in an effort to reach it and only succeeding part of the way. Deciding it was as good as it was going to get, she picked up her clothes and quietly pulled the door open, peaking down the hallway towards the kitchen. Pleasing aromas reached her, giving her pause for a moment before she tip-toed down the hall and to her room.
"Kami, Orihime!" Rangiku cried, the moment Orihime stepped across the threshold. In the kitchen, Ichigo flinched and carefully set aside the chicken he was doing his best to cut into small pieces while not burning the crap out of his fingers.
Startled by Rangiku's outburst, Orihime jumped. "What? Is it bad?"
"Of course it isn't!" Tatsuki interjected, immediately coming forward and motioning for her to turn around so she could do her zipper. "I didn't think it could look any better than it did, but clearly I was wrong."
Rukia was unusually quiet, her eyes taking in the vision that Orihime had become with a new lightness in her heart. She felt slightly nervous for Ichigo but knew there was no reason. "Come on, Orihime. Let's get your bling on."
It was then that Orihime noticed the rest of them had already put on their accessories. Well, minus Rangiku, who was just disappearing into the bathroom to change. Tatsuki's dangling earrings sparkled, the single cubic zirconium gem moving with her and catching the light just like the single gem on her necklace did. The small bracelet at her wrist slid up and down her arm slightly with her movements, but likewise caught the light and drew her attention, while still managing to be subtle. Rukia's earrings dangled like the sash of her zanpakuto, almost reaching the top of her shoulders, while the short chain around her neck brought the dangling piece that shot off from the main chain right above the gauzy overlay of her dress. While not quite as flashy as Tatsuki's, the resemblance to Rukia's zanpakuto was impossible to miss, for those who knew about it; and the contrast of white against the deep violet of Rukia's dress made it all the more striking – just like her Shikai.
At Rukia's bidding, Orihime took several steps forward, allowing Rukia to hand her her earrings, while stepping around behind her to put on her necklace. The extra piece of chain that came off from the main allowed the flower pendant that so closely resembled her pins to dangle low – just low enough to nestle slightly between her breasts. By the time Orihime realized just how low it rested, she was done with her earrings, the matching flower pendants dangling enough to delicately brush her cheeks when she looked down. "You don't think it's too low?" she breathed, her eyes wide when she looked up to Rukia and then Tatsuki.
Her smile one of the widest Orihime had ever seen it, Rukia adamantly shook her head, while Tatsuki screwed her lips to the side behind her, considering that it just might be too low. Her dress didn't allow for a lot of cleavage, but some was there regardless, and the corset only amplified what she was already well endowed with. When the martial arts expert's gaze met that of her best friend, however, she simply smiled and shook her head. The happiness lighting up Orihime's eyes was too much to risk quashing.
"It's perfect, Orihime."
As though she were snapped to attention, Rukia jolted. "That's right. But you know what we all need in here? Some water. Go to the kitchen and get us some water, k?" She moved to open the door before looking back at Orihime. "And make sure Ichigo isn't secretly planning to poison all of us while you're at it!" she added, her voice unnecessarily loud in order to carry to the kitchen.
Momentary confusion flitted across Orihime's face before she smiled and waved a hand at Rukia in dismissal. "Of course he's not, silly!" Despite her answer, she moved to do as bidden, doing her best to bury the nerves suddenly coursing through her veins like wildlife.
Once Orihime was out of the room, Tatsuki turned curious eyes on the tiny woman in front of her. "What the hell was that about?"
Smiling, Rukia leaned towards the hallway, indicating Tatsuki should do the same. "You'll see."
As her steps carried her towards the kitchen, Orihime's stomach tightened; more butterflies taking flight in her belly and chest with each step. While it wasn't how she planned her "debut" for the evening, she couldn't help the excitement and fear that coursed through her now that she realized this was it. Oh my gosh, what do I do? Do I act casual? What do I say? What if he doesn't like it? Her mind would not stop running with worries and questions, and once she reached the corner of the kitchen, she hesitated, bracing her arm against the wall as she took deep breaths to steel her nerves.
Before Ichigo even heard Rukia's warning, her cry of 'Kami, Orihime!' told him the time was coming. He'd used that time to set aside what he was doing, wash his hands and pace the kitchen like a man possessed. Then when her real warning came, as obvious as it was, he'd frozen for a moment, his heart racing and his stomach ablaze with nervous anxiety. Panic was racing through him before he could stop it.
'They're just fucking flowers, King. Seriously.'
His hollow's oddly helpful words snapped him out of his stupor, and he grabbed the flowers, attempting to casually hide them behind his back. He tugged the front of his vest down and did a quick shuffle of his feet, trying to find the best way to stand, just before Orihime came around the corner.
She rounded the corner like a vision, her fingers trailing along the wall as though she were in a dream, and Ichigo forgot to breathe. Her seafoam colored dress flashed in the light, the beads of her corset automatically drawing his eyes down. Unbidden, heat rose in his cheeks, his chest suddenly feeling too small for his heart as her gown flowed easily with her movements, the hem dusting across the tops of her now bare feet. He did his best not to linger where his gaze shouldn't, but the pendant resting between her breasts caught his eye and he immediately smiled. It matches her pins, he breathed inwardly.
'She looks like that, and that's what you focus on?! You've got to be kidding me.'
Ichigo ignored his hollow, his eyes roaming over Orihime's blushing cheeks to notice her matching earrings. He normally didn't pay much attention to such things, but every little detail struck him as something to burn into memory. It wasn't until he met her eyes once more that he remembered he needed to breathe.
"Damn," he murmured, immediately wanting to smack his face into his palm when he realized he'd spoken out loud.
While Ichigo had been shocked by Orihime's appearance, she had likewise been in for a surprise. She'd already seen him, but his coat had hidden his true appearance, and seeing him in his tux, even only part of it, made her heart thunder in her chest and her breath catch in her throat. His sleeves were rolled up, she could see that much from where his elbows stuck out from behind his back, and oddly enough she immediately wanted to feel his bare skin beneath her hand – to touch the steel of his forearms that she so often did through layers of school uniforms. The dark-gray vest stood in stark contrast to his white shirt, drawing attention to the broadness of his shoulders and the narrowness of his waist. Somehow, he looked even taller than normal, the looser pants lengthening his already long legs. Then her eyes landed on his bowtie – a matching gray to his vest, and she couldn't help but want to pull it loose and open the collar of his shirt.
Oh my gosh! What am I thinking?! That's crazy! Without thinking, she closed her eyes, smacked her cheeks and shook her head, just in time to catch Ichigo's whispered curse. She'd heard him whisper before, heard him mutter things under his breath that he didn't quite want others to hear, but this was different. This made her stomach feel pleasantly tight and warm, heat flooding her veins with each pounding beat of her heart. Her hands still on her cheeks, she forced herself to look up at him, truly catching his gaze for the first time since entering the room. "Hi."
He exhaled forcefully, his shoulders falling as he smiled crookedly. "Hi."
Finally removing her hands from her cheeks, Orihime took a step closer. "Rukia sent me to get some water," she stated, as though she needed some explanation for why she would go into her own kitchen.
His eyes were burning into hers; molten chocolate swirling into her stormy grays as he took a step closer. "No, she didn't."
Orihime's breaths came short and fast as she now had to look up at him, her eyes unable to leave his even as she felt the blood rush to her already flaming cheeks. "She didn't?" she whispered, not even sure why they were whispering in the first place.
Ichigo broke eye contact first, taking a tiny step back – not even sure how they got so close in the first place. "I uh, wanted to give these to you," he blurted, pulling the flowers from behind his back and thrusting them forward.
The moment her eyes fell on the bouquet, Orihime's face lit up and she gasped, her hands automatically coming together just beneath her chin as she bounced up onto her toes. "Oh my gosh, Kurosaki-kun!" she exclaimed, carefully reaching out to receive the flowers.
Their fingers brushed as she took the flowers from him, and it was as though a shot of electricity passed between them. They both felt it, both sucked in a quiet breath, as their eyes finally locked once more, but Ichigo broke it quickly, removing his hand to ruffle the hair at the back of his neck. "So, you like them?" he asked, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward alone with her.
Closing her eyes, Orihime lowered her face to the petals and took a gentle sniff. They smelled just as wonderful as they looked. "I love them," she replied, lifting her gaze to his as she answered. Just as quickly, she rushed forward, closing the distance between them as she wrapped her free hand around his waist and buried her face against his chest. "Thank you!"
His heart fluttered at her use of the L word, but her sudden hug threw him too off-balance to process it. Chuckling softly, he wrapped his arms around her, allowing himself the pleasure of their closeness as her gentle scent of strawberries engulfed his senses. "You're welcome," he rumbled, closing his eyes as his cheek came to rest on the top of her head.
Suddenly sensing another presence in the room with them, Ichigo's eyes snapped open and he jerked back, somehow not at all surprised to see Tatsuki leveling him with a deathly glare that clearly warned, "If you hurt her, no one will ever find your body. And that's after I'm done torturing you."
"Tatsuki," he greeted, removing his arms from around Orihime reluctantly. For her part, Orihime felt as though she should burst into flames as she quickly stepped back, brushing her hair back from her face nervously.
"Thought I'd come see what was taking Orihime so long," Tatsuki dead-panned. Then her eyes landed on the flowers and she smiled. "Now I see." When she next looked at Ichigo, he felt as though he could relax once more, even if his ears were burning from being caught in such an intimate position. Rukia's conspiratorial smile and exuberant thumbs up from just behind Tatsuki did not help. When no one moved or even spoke, Tatsuki stepped forward and grabbed Orihime's free hand. "Come on, Orihime. Let's get those in some water and let Ichigo finish cooking."
As Tatsuki drug her out of the room, Orihime looked back over her shoulder, her heart leaping when she saw Ichigo looking back over his from where he'd turned back to the sink. They didn't say anything – they didn't need to – but the heat passing between them was palpable, and Orihime felt like she would simultaneously start flying and melt into a puddle on the floor. He didn't look at her like that, he just didn't. Nonetheless, it was the look she'd dreamed of seeing, the look she never thought she would see. He looked hungry when he looked at her, his eyes devouring hers in their smoldering intensity. Even so, there was something else, something deeper in his gaze, and that made her want to squeal and jump and giggle wildly. Heat rushing to her face, Orihime smiled before quickly averting her gaze. What just happened?!
At the sink, Ichigo turned back to the running water, gripping the countertop so hard his knuckles turned white. Of course he thought Orihime was beautiful – she was always beautiful – but this was something else entirely. She was a goddess reincarnate. Granted, it felt like she was placed here to torture him, but he couldn't deny that he liked it. On top of that, something just happened between them, something shifted, something big. He'd felt himself unable to hide the heat in his gaze, to smother how much he just wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, to hold onto her and never let her go, but there had been something different about her gaze as well. The violet had shone through her stormy orbs, open and almost pleading for him to give in to his desires. How the hell am I supposed to survive this night, he wondered, exhaling forcefully and shaking his head before he finally washed his hands to resume his task of preparing dinner.
'I don't think you're supposed to, King.'
As he resumed cutting the chicken, which was finally cool enough he didn't have to worry about burning himself, Ichigo frowned. 'No, I suppose you're right,' he admitted, his mind on his other task for the evening – fulfilling his promise.
A/N: There you have it! They finally saw each other! I apologize if some of this got a little too detail oriented. I realized I hadn't described their dresses or jewelry since Chapters 12 and 14, so rather than depend on you to go back and read that (as I had to do) or remember, just thought I'd refresh it! I also finally found the image I had in mind for Orihime's dress (on Pinterest), even if it's not the original one I saw. I also used the reference for her hairdo. It won't let me share it, but I have made the image the thumbnail for this story. Credit belongs to its original author on Pinterest, which for whatever reason won't save here, but is basically Auction Ransky.
As always, credit for Bleach and all characters goes to Tite Kubo. I only own this story.