Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters
:)
Ichigo-
My yawn was long and loud as our group neared our classroom. Orihime laughed under her breath and bumped her shoulder with mine as we walked.
Glancing down at her I marked the still flushed skin of her cheeks that ventured down her neck, disappearing under her shirt. Then, with near predator focus, I could see the newly formed hickey just barely visible over her collar. I grinned with male pride, leaning over to brace my arm around her shoulders.
She stumbled a step but then pushed back into me, her hand wrapping around my wrist as I spoke softly into her ear, "And what are you giggling about, huh?"
"Oh, nothing," She said, voice filled with humor.
I ruffled her hair and she gasped, swatting my hand away to smooth out the wild mess I'd made. I opened my mouth but lost my train of thought as I glanced over her to see three underclassmen looking our way. Her way.
I felt my usual tension, that always made itself scarce in her presence, return to my expression. Eyebrows pulling together as I glared at her fan club.
There was no way she'd had this many admirers last year, they had to have doubled. I was near exhaustion just keeping them at bay and we were only four days into the school year! Even with my arm around her, they stared uninhabited as she ran her fingers through her long strands.
With a low growl, I leaned down to nuzzle a kiss onto her cheek. Keeping my glare fixated on them, even as I I turned her face toward me and kissed her properly.
They all turned away quickly, as if only now noticing me.
"Bastards," I grumbled when I pulled back.
"Who?" She asked, breathless.
She looked breathtakingly stated and I couldn't help but smile. "Nobody worth your attention."
Orihime looked ready to insist I tell her when a familiar voice cut in, "Mr. Kurosaki, if you would kindly remember your surroundings and release Ms. Inoue. I'm sure you can stand on your own."
I only glanced lazily over my shoulder, "Of course I can, but she makes it so much more enjoyable."
Our new instructor, Mr. whatever-his-name looked anything but amused and so I stood up straight, letting my arm drop back to my side. I missed the heat of her immediately.
He gave a tight-lipped smile, "Much better. Now off to class, the both of you."
Orihime bowed as I turned toward the class door, "Yes, sir."
I could feel her gentle presence following me across the room, and so I leaned against her desk. Blocking her from sitting just yet. "I feel robbed,"
She only patted my cheek, "You can't blame him, we are at school."
The devilish smile that overtook my face made a few people glance our way, "If only he knew the worst of it."
I wanted to take her ear, turning red with her blush, into my mouth. Only her next words made me pause, "You've surprised me,"
"In what way?" I asked, suddenly worried. Had I over done it?
She seemed to have a hard time finding her words, and even when she began she still sounded unsure, "I just, well, I never expected you to be so open. At least not here,"
Staring down at her hands that fidgeted with the edge of her skirt, I spoke low so no one else could overhear. "I just want everyone to know that you chose me."
Despite my seriousness, she laughed, "Ichigo, I think everyone else knew that long before you did."
"That's just a nice way of saying I was an idiot," She shrugged, not correcting me and I continued, "I can tone it back if it's making trouble for you?"
Orihime threw her hands against my chest, and they were hot even through my shirt. "No! That isn't what I meant at all. I am surprised but pleasantly surprised."
With a relieved sigh, I gripped her by the hip and pulled her closer so she stood between my legs, "Good. Otherwise, I would have had to figure out a different way to tell the other beasts you're not open for gawking."
Cheeks flaming she blinked a few times, as if making sense of my words, before saying, "People don't gawk."
I clicked my tongue, "Right, and I don't scowl."
Her eyes grew determined, "And what about you?"
"Me?" I said, genuinely confused.
The cat-like fury in her face was adorable, "Do you pretend not to know the way the first years follow you around?"
I laughed outright. My experience with girls, before her, had been them shrieking as they ran in the other direction. "Now you're just making stuff up,"
She crossed her arms across her chest, "You'll notice it now, just you wait."
I was sure that I wouldn't. I had the reflexes of a hardened fighter, surely I'd have noticed anyone following me- no matter how far fetched.
But she seemed so confident and it made me wonder. I gave a half minded look toward the door and sure enough- four heads peaked around the corner before snapping away once they caught my eye, followed by a sea of giggles.
With our backs to the window, all other desks around us empty… and unless Hime had gained a new all girls fan-club, there was only one person they could be staring at.
That is unexpected.
Orihime was stuck in thought, her attention fixed on the world outside the window. Then it settled back on me as I leaned slightly forward, "I more than understand if that bothers you." I, of all people, know how jealousy could overpower every other emotion, "You could stake your claim, too- If you want. I wouldn't mind,"
She watched as my eyes glanced at the door, then back at her. Understanding widening her eyes. I thought she'd move away, then maybe tell me it would be petty to rub their faces in it. She shocked me when she fisted my collar in small fists and all but threw me into her.
My mouth parted without thought, and our tongues brushed softly together. Her hair was like silk between my fingers, her body fitting perfectly against mine. And regardless of our time on the roof, desire flooded my every instinct.
The bell rang, an unwelcomed clang of reality.
Hime traced the line of my jaw before pulling away. She kept our faces huddled close, "Did they see?"
I'd have preferred to keep staring at her but I forced myself to check on the girls at the door. Only two heads remained, and their mouths were gapped open until the second bell rang and they rushed into motion, fleeing down the hall.
Pushing her hair over her shoulder, I brushed my lips against her forehead, "Well done. I feel thoroughly claimed."
"Seats everyone," The teacher called out as he entered.
My legs were unsteady as I rose, but I managed to move around her. "I'll walk you home," I mumbled to her as I passed, and made my way to my seat three rows back. I was already sitting before she had shaken herself from her daze and practically fell into her chair.
I coughed to cover my chuckle.
School had always been such a drag. Something I had to get through until I could go patrol at night. I hadn't expected something like having a girlfriend to change so much.
My life had been turned upside down and then inside out until I could hardly recognize what it had been like before her. How had I ever sat in a movie theater with her without reaching for her hand? How could I have walked her home so many times without kissing her at the door?
Touching her was so natural, so normal that I barely realized I was doing it. Like I had been doing it my entire life, or been destined to.
I traced her side profile as she took notes, and wondered when I had first noticed how beautiful she was and couldn't. I'd just always known.
I took a steady breath, then shook my head in a failed attempt to clear it of this line of thinking. I should be more like her, focused on what the teacher was saying. Pencil in hand, I opened my notebook and saw a folded note tucked neatly between the pages.
Surveying the room, I unfolded it and my pulse rose as I read:
She doesn't belong to you,
you can't have her!
As if sensing my shock, Orihime turned her head to stare back at me. She smiled warmly, and then turned away again. I stared at the back of her head for a moment longer, allowing the shape of her to cool the burning making its way into my veins. Then I crumbled the note into my fist, hoping whoever had left it noticed. They didn't know who they were dealing with.
They'd better hope they never find out.
.
.
.
