A/N: lemony goodness in this chapter, folks! for those uninterested, it begins and ends with asterisks ***
Stand in the middle
And you won't get dizzy
Stand in the middle
And you won't fall down
Karma Slave by Splashdown – Titan AE soundtrack 2000
"You've got to be kidding me!" Ichigo yelled angrily at the ceiling. He rooted around in the clothes hamper like a madman. There's no way he was leaving this spot until he found it.
"Uh, Ichigo?" Orihime's voice stilled his frantic movements.
He stood and turned to his girlfriend with hesitancy. Ichigo's eyes widened almost comically when he saw Orihime holding the very thing he thought he'd lost.
"Is this what I think it is?" Her voice was soft and heavy with anticipation.
Shit. Well, no use in hiding it any longer.
Orihime struggled with her keys, trying to maneuver around her boyfriend. Her arms were full with, well, a very affectionate Ichigo.
"Ichigo!" She laughed between kisses. "Let me unlock the door."
"I would," Ichigo replied and Orihime felt his playful grin against her lips. "But I'm enjoying myself too much."
She pulled back and pouted. "So, you didn't want to go into my apartment, which is empty of roommates and friends for some actual 'alone' time?"
Ichigo's skepticism made her giggle. "Really? No annoyances or interruptions? Are you certain?"
"Well, maybe not something I can entirely promise, but we can barricade the doors!" Orihime used the opportunity to finish unlocking the door Ichigo had pressed her up against.
"Please don't tempt me, Hime." When he followed her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I will do that, change the locks and bar up the windows to keep our 'well-meaning' friends out in the cold."
Orihime laughed and pulled him closer by his belt loops. "Easier there, tiger. Tats is at Chad's and Rukia and Renji are at work. We have all night to have fun."
Ichigo's grin turned playfully wicked. "Oh yeah? Hmm, whatever will we do to pass the time?"
She hummed and placed a finger to her chin. "I'm not sure! I need to wash up. I'm still covered in flour."
Her boyfriend groaned and dropped his head to her shoulder. "You may be better at being a tease than you realize, Hime."
"Am I?" She asked innocently. Orihime's grin grew when Ichigo lifted his head to squint knowingly at her. "Okay, okay. I do need to shower. Why don't you order us takeout and I'll be as fast as I can?"
Ichigo's crooked grin and heated gaze made her shiver in the best way. "Yeah. As you wish, Hime."
When she started to step away from him, he whirled her around and claimed her soft lips in a way that made her body come alive and her nerve endings spark. His kisses left her brain foggy and her eyes dazed. He let her go and licked his lips. "Take too long, and I'll come in and get you myself."
Orihime's eyes glittered mischievously. "Is that a promise?"
Ichigo laughed and turned her, pushing her gently towards her room. "Yeah, it is. But I'll give you enough time and a fair warning before I do so. Now go. I heard your stomach grumbling the entire drive home."
She turned to face him as she closed the door, sending him a saucy wink.
Ichigo let out a sigh, grabbing his phone from his pocket. Opening an app that delivered food, he quickly sent the orders for several different dishes from Orihime's favorite Korean restaurant. He'd made sure to get extra kimchi with the meal, knowing both her and his love of spicy foods would compete against the smaller servings.
Orihime was in her room dressing when she heard Ichigo rustling with the bags of takeout in the kitchen. Excited and hungry, she dashed out to the kitchen, still tugging her tank top over her head.
Ichigo had set out the food on the small table and was busying himself with the dishes when his girlfriend bounded into the room. He had been balancing two dishes in one hand and chopsticks between his teeth.
"Have I told you," Orihime grinned as she took the chopsticks from his mouth and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "That I love you, recently?"
Ichigo laughed softly, turning them so that her back was against the kitchen counter. "Well," he hummed. "It's been a good thirty minutes since the last time. Feel free to remind me."
She giggled when he pulled her to him, keeping her wedged between his warm, lean body and the counter. Orihime pulled Ichigo by his shirt collar to meet her lips and he went eagerly. The caress of her soft lips to his caused fire to ignite in his veins. His right hand slipped up her back to cup his palm against her head and drew her closer, pouring every bit of his hunger into her mouth. The sigh she let out made his knees buckle. Her palms framed his cheeks, holding him where she needed him. Her tongue slipped out to tease his, pushing and probing tenderly, exploring the recesses of his mouth.
The groan that left Ichigo's lips made heat curl in her belly, and she slid her fingers into his thick hair, tugging on the orange locks to make him groan again. She found herself getting addicted to the sounds that he made, his shuddering breaths fueling her desire more. Ichigo's other hand clenched her curvy hip in warning before he hooked his arm under her bottom and hoisted her up. Orihime automatically wrapped her full thighs around his hips and moaned heatedly when the apex of her thighs brushed against his crotch. Even though a thick haze, she could feel him harden against her. She lost any hesitation and nipped at his bottom lip, sucking it into her mouth. Ichigo's grip on her hips tightened before moving to squeeze her ass. The whimper she let out made him stiffen further, and he did it again, high on the trembling his touch caused.
"Ichigo!" Orihime's voice was breathy and cracked at the end with want. It was when she was scraping her nails against where his hair met the nape of his neck Ichigo felt his grasp on reason vanish. His kisses were harder, starving, and lustful, accented with pure passion and need that he had bottled forever. Everything Orihime transcended all logic, and he felt his grip on reality fraying like a rope. Each tug of her slender fingers in his hair spurred him onward, and she relished every sweep of his tongue. They were losing all sense of their surroundings, and any reservations about stopping were dwindling at an impressive rate.
Orihime pulled back from his lips, panting for oxygen. Ichigo's eyes opened, and his grin was boyish and smug, as he took in her features. Her hair was a mess, her cheeks were blushing a lovely dark pink and her lips were perfectly swollen from the kiss. He rested his forehead against hers, pushing her soft, auburn hair from her cheeks.
"Hey," Ichigo grinned.
"Hey yourself," Orihime's impish reply was doing nothing to settle his heart or cool the hot, deep-seated need that pumped through his veins.
When she pursued his lips again, he nearly gave in, but their stomachs growling stopped them. Both laughed, and Ichigo slowly and reluctantly lowered Orihime to her feet.
"I think we should have some dinner." Ichigo chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to her pouting lips.
Orihime hummed in agreement before winking at him flirtatiously. "Yeah, you're going to need the energy."
Ichigo's laugh was freeing and bright, tempting her to kiss him again.
"Is that a promise?" He teased, and she giggled at him using her own words back at her.
"Yeah, it is, but I'll give you a fair warning first."
Ichigo groaned at her claim, taking several breaths to calm himself from his desire to just take her to her room and make love to her. "Careful, Hime. I may just forgo the takeout and eat you instead."
Orihime's eyes sparkled mischievously, her excitement plain in her gaze. "Mmm, maybe later."
Ichigo's laugh was husky, and she felt her body react instantly to it. "Yeah. Later."
Rukia fancied herself a patient woman. She could have a short temper and commanding presence despite her four-foot ten-inch frame, but she was anything but impatient. However, the two men she was dealing with were going to make a liar out of her. The petite woman let out a sigh to calm her nerves. This wasn't exactly what she needed after a long day of working.
"Uryû, I've told you before!" Renji practically growled at his friend. "You can't just waltz into my apartment like you own the damn place!"
"I may as well have! I've bought you enough food to pay your rent ten times over," Uryû groused, fixing a glare at the tall redhead. "We need to talk."
"If it's about Hime and Ichigo, we've already caught them in the process of physically declaring their love for each other." Renji's snide comment wasn't biting, but it bared his annoyance at their friend.
Uryû's face screwed up like he had just sucked on a lemon. "I'm sorry, what the fuck?"
Rukia rolled her eyes at Renji's lewd and somewhat convoluted explanation. "We already know they're together. Kinda walked in on them making out after Tats and Chad did." With her somewhat saintly patience running on empty, she pointed an accusing finger at the man. "What's your deal? And! May I remind you that you entered the apartment like the devil was at your heels, while Renji and I were watching a movie! Spit it out, damnit!"
Uryû's eyes widened at Rukia's words before having the decency to look apologetic.
"Alright, glad to know we're on the same page. However, there's a piece of information that you two have not been privy to." The young doctor's keen gaze pinged back and forth between Rukia and Renji. "Ichigo's planning on proposing to Hime."
Rukia blinked slowly at the information. Renji, on the other hand, had a look of realization lighting his face.
"Ah! That explains the weirdness." Renji chuckled as he slumped down on the couch.
"Excuse me, but you knew?!" The small woman stomped over to her boyfriend and swung her foot at his shin. Renji deftly blocked Rukia's kick by grabbing the moving ankle before it connected with its intended target.
"I saw Ichigo pacing like a madman before you got back from practice. Calm down. He didn't tell me anything specific and made me promise not to say anything to you or Hime." Renji said placatingly as he focused his brown eyes on her. "It wasn't my call."
Rukia relaxed and then turned her brilliant violet gaze towards their friend. "Okay, then why the hell are you telling us, Uryû? It's clearly not your place to gossip."
Uryû winced at her words, letting out a sigh. "I'm not here to gossip. Honestly? I'm here to spend time with you both and possibly get drunk in the process. I don't usually handle change very well, and I apologize for being so—"
"Dickish?" Rukia supplied.
"- irrational was what I was going to say, but yeah," Uryû grinned dryly.
Rukia exchanged a look with Renji and shrugged. "Yeah, okay. Change is happening quickly. Chad and Tats are finally moving in together, Renji and I are dating, and now Hime and Ichigo are possibly getting engaged. It's a lot to take in. I get it."
The raven-haired man raised a thin brow. "Jesus! That too? Good God people! Give me some time to adjust." Uryû let out a groan as fell back onto the sofa next to Renji.
"Whine any louder and I'll think you're becoming Keigo," the other man jabbed, smirking at the glare he received in return.
"No. Anything but that." Uryû pointed a finger at Renji in warning. "Do not compare me to that wailing buffoon."
Rukia snickered at the strange display of camaraderie, making her way to the kitchen, and grabbing a bottle of liquor and shot glasses. She plopped down on the sofa and filled each shot to the brim, handing one to them each.
"To our friends, Ichigo and Hime! May the alcohol we ingest now help wipe our memories of their almost-coupling." Rukia raised her glass and ignored the horrified glances from the men.
Uryû coughed after struggling to swallow the liquid. "What the hell did I just drink?"
With a smirk and evil glint in her eye, Rukia replied, "Does it matter if it works?"
"I suppose not," the man grudgingly admitted, tossing back the next shot of liquor, and making a face.
"Well, I for one, welcome being dragged into unconsciousness after that attack on my senses. Moonshine will get you there faster than beer." Renji chuckled, pouring three more shots.
"That's what we're drinking? I thought it was paint thinner." Uryû grimaced.
Rukia's good-natured ribbing continued as she leaned back on the couch. "Don't worry, Uryû. You'll still be respectable come morning."
Orihime fidgeted as she watched Ichigo clean up.
"I could help, you know. You don't need to do everything."
Ichigo toweled off the last plate and turned his head towards her. "I'm aware of that, Hime. Thanks, but I'm nearly done."
The auburn-haired beauty sidled up to him, choosing to keep quiet and placed her hand on his strong back. She pressed her fingertips into the muscles in a soothing, massaging motion. Ichigo's body seemed to react and melt against her touch. A quirk of her lips in a half smile appeared on her face.
"You've always been so thoughtful, Ichigo." Orihime commented softly.
"Maybe to you, I have been," Ichigo grinned, placing the final dish on the drying rack. "I think our friends would say differently about how I am with them."
"Uh uh," she shook her head, raising her hand up to tilt his face and look him in the eyes. "You're the most caring, kind, and considerate man I've ever met. I mean it."
Ichigo placed his hand over hers and turned to face her fully. "Even when Renji's being a pain in the ass and Rukia's driving me up the wall?"
Orihime smiled sweetly at him. "Yeah. Even then. You're wonderful because you are you. Your sibling-like relationship with them is deep and meaningful, even when you're bickering. You care deeply for everyone you let into your heart. It's one of the many reasons I fell in love with you."
His gaze was loving and piercing, and she felt her heartbeat pick up and falter as she took in his expression. "You're amazing, Hime."
"I am?" Her words were soft, as if he had stolen her breath.
Ichigo drew his fingertips through her long, wavy hair. He spoke earnestly, stroking the soft skin of her wrist with his opposite hand. It sent a shudder through her.
"Yes. You have no idea how you've impacted me. You stumbled into my world just when I needed someone the most. You turned everything on its axis. It was so dark and cold until you came into my life." Ichigo leaned in and rested his forehead to hers, his gaze intense. "Despite the circumstances that brought you to the door of my dad's clinic, I've never been more thankful for anything in my life. You, Orihime Inoue, are everything to me."
A soft, somewhat tumultuous smile pulled at her trembling lips. "You gave me strength and a reason to keep going. Without you and your family, I don't know where I would be. Don't ever doubt how much it affected me. I may have saved you, but you saved me as well. I love you, Ichigo. I'm forever and always yours."
Ichigo pressed his lips to hers, tugging her to him. Orihime slipped her hands over his shoulders to weave her fingers through his hair. There was something overpowering but freeing in kissing him. It had the power to knock the wind out of her lungs and simultaneously breathe life back in. She nipped at his lower lip, grinning at the growl-like rumble in his chest. Ichigo groaned when she pulled on his hair, sending an exhilarated tremble through her. His arms enveloped her smaller frame and he hoisted her up onto the rim of the sink. His kisses became more heated, and all-consuming. She felt weak and unbelievably powerful at the same time. He held her like she was precious and also the most desirable thing he'd ever known.
Orihime wrapped her thighs around Ichigo's hips, pushing her heels into the backs of his calves in an effort to pull him to her. And like a desperate man, he went willingly. Orihime tilted her head as he kissed down her throat, arching against him when he dragged his teeth against her pulse. It was too much, and yet not enough. He was never enough. She knew then that she was never getting her fill of Ichigo, and it was a need that he was happy to provide.
Breathing heavily, she dug her fingernails into Ichigo's shoulders, drawing another groan from him at the tender skin of her neck. He bit down on the juncture between her neck and shoulder, sucking on it.
"Ichi…" Orihime hiccuped through a gasp. "Bedroom. Now."
She moaned when his strong hands gripped her hips, and pulled her up while hooking his right arm under her bottom. His hot breath against the bare skin of her collarbone elicited intense goosebumps to rise on her flesh. Ichigo maneuvered them down the short hallway and kicked open the door to her bedroom. With a swift movement, he pushed the door closed and pressed Orihime up against it.
To suggest she had the wind knocked out of her would be an understatement. No sooner was her breath stolen, Ichigo was breathing life right back into her trembling body. His lips connected with her shoulder, pushing her back up on the cool wood, making her gasp and shiver. He pulled the strap of her tank top down, exposing the tops of her breasts. His hot breath caressed her skin while his teeth scraped over them, causing her to buck against him. The deep, throaty groan he made had sparks flashing behind her eyelids. Ichigo's tongue flicked and tasted between her breasts, teasing her body and making her squirm.
Orihime tugged at his shirt, leaning in and catching his earlobe between her lips. She pulled and sucked at the flesh, drawing his piercing to her teeth and nipping at the cold metal. Ichigo thrusted into her, sending a fierce flame trickling through her extremities. Her fingers dove into his hair again, crying out when he pulled her top lower and exposed her nipples to the cool air. She opened her eyes to take in his expression. Ichigo's gaze was on her large chest and he flicked it up to meet her eyes. The hunger and heat in his irises sent a clear message of his intent and she squirmed against his tall, sinewy body.
"Bed," she softly commanded. Orihime was certain her request came out more like a plea, but Ichigo wasted no time in moving them.
He tugged her top off and did the same with his. Laying her down lovingly and with purpose, he rose from her after gingerly removing her hibiscus hairpins, and placed them carefully on her nightstand. When he turned back, his gait was leonine, with an almost predatory grace. Orihime clenched her thighs together, biting down on her bottom lip to ground herself. Ichigo crawled over her, his height eclipsing her. She's never seen anything as sexy as that in her life. He drew himself up her curvy, soft body achingly slow, letting his hot breath and warm lips torture her further. Light nips on her flesh as he moved upwards were pressed with tender reverence, were both causing sweet havoc and gradual loss of her senses.
Ichigo swept his tongue over the slope of her hip, the dip of her abdomen, working his way up to her breasts. Her body was a live wire, overly sensitive yet not nearly sated in the least. His warm, somewhat calloused hands cupped them even before his mouth had made its ascent. His dark amber eyes focused on her as he spoke.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," Ichigo's voice was husky and gravely, like he was barely holding back. Orihime wrapped her legs around him, biting her lips in anticipation.
Her reply was coy. "Why don't you show me?"
***************** begin
A fervent flame flickered in the depths of his eyes when he grinned crookedly. "I intend to. I also said," Ichigo accented each word with a nip up the underside of her breast, until his mouth hovered over her stiffened nipple. "That I would forgo the meal and eat you instead. I plan to make good on that promise."
Orihime's breathy cry when Ichigo's mouth closed over breast sent liquid fire burning through his veins. He scraped his teeth over her sensitive nipple before dragging his tongue over it in a slow circle. Her fingers tugged on his hair at his movements, causing Ichigo to groan over her skin. The vibrations sent static like shocks through her overstimulated nerve endings. His hands slid down her body and hooked his fingers under the waistband of her leggings and panties. Automatically, Orihime lifted her hips when he began to drag the fabric down.
Ichigo leaned back on his heels after discarding her clothes, raking his eyes over her naked body. Orihime's vibrant coppery hair fanned out about her in long, liquid-like waves. With the dim lighting accenting the strands, it looked fiery against her pale skin. Her cheeks were flushed, and her full bottom lip was between her teeth as she took him in with stormy gray eyes. Ichigo leaned down and pressed a slow, tender kiss to her lips, while his fingers brushed over her waist and hips with barely-there touches. He pulled a groan from her mouth as she squirmed below him. His touches became almost branding when he drew his fingers to the outsides of her thighs.
Orihime was growing restless by the teasing, and while it was igniting a fire in her lower belly, the desire for more increased. To make a point, she reached for Ichigo's hand and placed it at her inner thigh.
"Touch me, Ichigo." Her words were soft and breathy, but her gaze was intense. "I'm not going to break."
He pushed her thighs apart, and leaned down his forearms. Ichigo's lips brushed against her skin, slowly mapping out her curves with his mouth. The heat of his breath grazed her as he pulled Orihime's legs over his strong shoulders and she met his scalp with her nails when his ascent had brought his face to her core. Ichigo pressed open-mouthed kisses on her slit, causing her to bend backwards in a sudden movement. Orihime hissed out a stuttering sigh when Ichigo's tongue teased the wet skin and connected with her clitoris.
The vibrations from his throaty groan sent trembles through her prone body. The flicks and rapid movements of his tongue had her tugging at Ichigo's soft, unruly hair. He sucked and dragged the skin into his mouth, and Orihime's moan sent shivers down his spine. The way her hips rolled against his face made him feel powerful and drunk on his lust. He gripped the soft flesh of her bottom and heaved her lower body upwards, feasting on her taste and sounds.
Orihime flexed her back muscles when Ichigo rose to his knees, dragging her legs upwards and wrapping them around his neck. She bit her bottom lip and felt her sanity slipping. Her eyes opened and when her gaze met his, she nearly broke with want. Ichigo's eyes were intense, smoldering with an unbridled hunger. Her thighs clenched when without warning, he thrusted his seeking tongue into her core. He twisted the strong muscle around deep into her, hitting a spot in her that made her vision blackout every time. She rolled her hips against his face when Ichigo replaced his tongue with his index and middle finger, while taking her clitoris between his lips again and lapping at her.
Orihime gasped for air when his fingers thrusted faster and deeper, the tightening in her lower belly and pure, white hot heat curling through her core was building at a rapid pace. When Ichigo curled his fingers inside of her flexing walls and moaned into her again, she felt herself shatter. Her body went rigid and taut, her vision blurring and hearing muffled by the blood rushing in her ears. Orihime's scream as she came echoed loudly through the empty apartment, and Ichigo slowed his fingers gradually as she came down.
He watched her in fascination, the thread holding him from descending on her again was quickly fraying. Orihime's cheeks were flushed and her full lips parted as she tried to regulate her breathing. Something flickered in her eyes when they met his and Ichigo quickly found himself pushed into the mattress with Orihime straddling his waist. His head was swimming and a strangled gasp escaped his lungs when she raised herself up her knees, brushing her core to his.
"Hime," Ichigo groaned when her hand closed around him. Her soft fingers stroked the heated, hardened flesh and he saw stars, thrusting up against her palm. Orihime leaned down to kiss him in a torturous, slow and gentle way.
"Ichi…" she whispered in a choked gasp. Her eyes sought his, and when he nodded, she gradually slid down, until Ichigo was deep inside her.
There was no way of describing the sensations rocking through his body. His fingers flexed and his body shuddered while he waited for Orihime to adjust. Her brows were pinched and her teeth were embedded in her bottom lip. Ichigo felt everything as her walls loosened and gripped him. When her face relaxed, he grabbed her wide hips and thrusted up into her. Orihime tossed her head back in a loud moan, her long auburn hair tickling against his finger tips. The flexing of her inner muscles and the warmth of her was driving him slowly insane.
Finding a rhythm, Orihime raised herself and angled her hips when he hit something that had her craving it again. Ichigo's grip on her hips became more desperate before he flipped them and pulled her thighs over his shoulders again. With a quick snap of his hips, he was back in her, moving frantically as the need to to reach the precipice increased. Ichigo's gaze flitted between Orihime's bouncing breasts, parted lips and closed eyes.
"Hime," Ichigo gritted his teeth as he felt her grip him within her, pushing him closer to the edge. "Open your eyes."
And she did, the emotion in them sent a shot of pure heat and sense of unabashed desire. Their silvery depths reflected the love he felt for her right back at him. Ichigo placed his fingers on her clitoris to rub in slow circles, and watched her come apart. The way her body clenched him when she shattered drove him over his ledge and the feeling of soaring and falling consumed him. Ichigo felt the blood pounding in his ears, feeling like he'd lost his hearing and sight, only for all sensations thundering back at once. He shakily lowered her legs back to the bed and collapsed beside her.
************end
Orihime steadied her breathing and smiled dopily as Ichigo gathered her in his arms. "Wow," her voice still shook as the aftershocks shivered through her sated frame.
"Yeah," Ichigo breathlessly chucked. "Funnily, 'wow' feels like an understatement."
Orihime giggled and pressed quick kisses to his lips as she snuggled him. The warmth of his embrace was slowly lulling her to sleep.
"Mmhmm," she murmured, placing her hand in his hair to stroke the messy locks soothingly. "Definitely need to do that again."
Ichigo's shoulders shook in silent laughter. "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. Never gonna say no to that," Orihime yawned and burrowed her face into his chest as sleep pulled her under.
Ichigo grinned drowsily and boyishly, feeling complete for the first time in his life.
When Ichigo woke, he found his girlfriend in a deep sleep with her arms loosely wrapped around his waist. He carefully and gently slid out of bed, making sure not to wake her.
After using the bathroom, Ichigo returned to her bedroom to get dressed. He struggled to find his clothing and gave up, choosing instead to get the clean clothing she kept of his in her drawers. Pulling a t-shirt over his head, Ichigo turned to look at the sleeping beauty.
"Hime?" He whispered softly.
"Hmm?" Orihime murmured sleepily.
"Did you move my clothes?"
"Mm, the hamper."
"Okay," he smiled down at her. "I'm gonna put our clothes in the wash. Go back to sleep."
Orihime's affirmation was a hum and Ichigo chuckled to himself when he left the room, closing the door behind him quietly.
He was halfway to the hamper when a sudden uneasiness went up his spine. Oh shit, he thought. My jeans!
Scrambling like a mad man, Ichigo threw open the lid and shoved his hands about in search of them. A triumphant grin pulled on his lips when he pulled them out, but was dampened completely when he found the pockets empty.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Ichigo yelled angrily at the ceiling. He rooted around in the clothes hamper like a madman. There's no way he was leaving this spot until he found it.
"Uh, Ichigo?" Orihime's voice stilled his frantic movements.
He stood and turned to his girlfriend with hesitancy. Ichigo's eyes widened almost comically when he saw Orihime holding the very thing he thought he'd lost.
"Is this what I think it is?" Her voice was soft and heavy with anticipation.
Shit. Well, no use in hiding it any longer.
"Um," Ichigo stammered stupidly. He took a few moments to compose himself before stepping over to her. Orihime's eyes were wide and uncertain, fixed on him. "Yeah, Hime. It is."
When she didn't reply, Ichigo's nervousness took over. "Look," he started shakily, already cursing himself for the tremble in his voice. "I know this is, well, kinda fast. And I know that we've only just begun dating, but Hime…"
He waited a few seconds before continuing, his dark amber eyes fixed on hers. "The day I met you, I knew in my gut and in my soul, that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. No, more than that. I wanted forever with you."
Orihime swallowed audibly. Her gaze was hopeful and she kept quiet, giving him the strength to continue. Ichigo cleared his throat and got down on one knee, taking the jewelry box from her hand and flipping it open.
"Orihime Inoue, there is nothing that I'd want more than to have you by my side in every lifetime we are given. You are my light, my warmth, and my calm. You make me a better person because you, Hime, are so innately good. I knew the very moment you entered my world, that I loved you. And," Ichigo took a deep breath before speaking. "I will wait as long as you need, if this is too soon. But please, will you marry me?"
A broken sob racked through Orihime's body. Her eyes filled with tears while her lips trembled in a watery smile. "Oh, Ichigo." Her voice was unstable and cracked at the end. "I've loved you since forever. Of course I'll marry you, silly."
Ichigo's smile was bright when he pulled the ring from its box. He slid it onto her left hand's ring finger and lept up to kiss her, twirling them about. Orihime giggled gleefully as he kissed her over and over. When he set her down, she raised her hand to admire the ring. The silvery metal was embellished marcasite, housing a small and well polished sapphire within. It reflected brightly in the dim hallway light, capturing her attention.
"It's so beautiful," she smiled, pressing another kiss to Ichigo's grinning lips. "Thank you so much."
He scratched at the nape of his neck in an unusual bout of shyness. "I'm glad. I picked it out right after graduation and I wanted it to be perfect."
Orihime blinked at his words, feeling floored by the confession. "You really knew you wanted to be with me forever even then."
"Did I not make that clear just a few minutes ago?" Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"No you did. It's just," Orihime mulled over her words. "I'm in awe of this. We were just on the fence about telling each other how we felt, and now I know everything. It's all falling into place quickly. And I'm grateful. We have a lot to make up for."
Ichigo's shoulders relaxed and he leaned down to rest his forehead against hers. "Any time with you is always enough. We're just starting a new journey. No time before or after with you, Orihime, is ever wasted."
Orihime smiled lovingly at him, caressing his jawline with her fingertips. "Good," she grinned sweetly. "Then let's at least make up for the physical bit we took our sweet time getting to."
Ichigo's answering grin as he swiftly lifted her into his arms caused peels of giggles to overtake her as he carried her back to bed.
Uryû blinked blearily when he woke, awakened by Renji's loud snoring. He righted himself on the couch all three of them had passed out on after a night of drinking. Grumbling under his breath, he pushed his friend's long legs off of his and stood up to stretch, wincing when lightheadedness and nausea assaulted his clouded mind. Blinking a few times to ground his swimming head, Uryû made his way to the kitchen to grab painkillers and water.
His head felt like it was going to explode from the thumping pain. He sighed internally with regret, knowing his body was going to punish him for drinking clear liquor in such excess.
Returning to the living room with two other bottles of water and a bottle of ibuprofen for his friends, Uryû searched the cluttered coffee table for his phone. When he found it, a wry chuckle escaped his lips at the text message lighting up his screen.
"Well I'll be damned," he muttered. "He really did have the balls."
Rukia murmured in her sleep and curled closer to her boyfriend. Renji's snores were louder still, and it grated the dull throbbing of Uryû's headache more.
Exasperatedly, he pushed the tall redhead over until he slid off the couch entirely.
With a loud snort, Renji startled awake, his words slurred. "Da fuck?"
"Stop snoring like a chainsaw, idiot. My rattled head can't take it." Uryû groused.
"Oh fuck off, four-eyes." Renji returned grumpily. "You can leave at any time."
"I will as soon as my brain isn't trying to escape its confines. I'll brew some coffee. Get Rukia up." Uryû called over his shoulder when he went back to the kitchen, causing Renji to grit his teeth. His own headache making its presence known.
"What the hell for?" Renji griped. "You know what she's like after a night of binge drinking. I'm not waking a dragon. You take one for the team this once."
"Check your cell. If you got the same message from Orihime that I did, not waking Rukia will be one of the worst choices you'll ever make." The other man's warning was smug, and once Renji saw the text notification on his phone, he was more than inclined to agree.