Ch. 4 Ishida-kun, Master-Fixer

Inoue was left at a loss for words. She was surprised, perplexed, but pleasantly so… Ishida harbored feelings…for me? But I'm clumsy, I'm not beautiful. I laugh at everything…and I cry at everything too now that I think about it…I need to talk with Tatsuki.

Tatsuki needed only a minute to understand all that was going on. So the stoic four-eyes has feelings for her huh? I guess I can deal with that, smiled Tatsuki. Ichigo doesn't deserve her.

"So what do you think about him Tatsuki?"

"HUH? What do you mean what do I think? What does it matter what I think?"

"Tatsuki, please…you are my best friend"

"I know Orihime, but this decision is to make for you and you alone"

"but I can't Tatsuki…I can't" she began to sob.

"I don't want to be heartbroken again…I feel like I can't trust another with my heart. Besides why would Ishida want a heart that has been given away? I can't believe he knows I liked Ichigo! But he was still there…he was always with me…even through Soul Society…" she started to whisper and drone away…

Wait..soul society? That Ishida was with her in Soul Society? Perhaps I have him to thank and not Ichigo for keeping her safe. I truly have been missing out…

"So what will you do Orihime?"

"I …I don't know Tatsuki. I think I need more time."

"Go right ahead, take as much time as you need. Orihime…At first you asked me what I thought of him, that Ishida boy."

"Yeah?"
"Orihime, I think…he is a good one, that he is. He is capable, trustworthy, reliable, and seems to be honest. I trust him," she smiled reassuringly.

"If you give him your heart, he will handle it with the utmost care, if not I will personally see to pummeling him" grinned Tatsuki while showing her black-belt biceps. "So never fear!"

"Hmm thank you Tatsuki-chan!" hugged Orihime like a child.

It's been a while since I've felt this. Ishida, whomever you are, you really have worked wonders on this girl. Looks like I don't need to worry about her.

The next day in school…

"Oi Ishida, help me fix my apron? I ripped it"

"Yo." Ishida then quickly swiped the torn apron and, machine-like, fixed it in a flash.

"Ishida, can you fix this for me please?" a timid voice, different from the previous, asked.

Ishida froze in his seat. He knows whose face belongs to that angel-like voice.

"Inoue-san" he breathed softly.

Hearing her name so gently uttered caused Orihime's heart to seemingly flutter away. She then snapped out of her trance and offered him her "thing" to fix. She handed him a teddy-bear with eyes so big it resembled her very own. Ishida recognized this and chuckled, obviously amused at the strange sight of a chibi Teddy Inoue in his mind.

"Ishida, you see, this teddy is ripped right there, right on the picture of his heart. I don't know how to mend it back. It may never be fixed even, 'cuz the tear is so bad, but I believe in you Ishida, I think that you can fix it." She finishes with a smile.

Ishida, in the dumbest moments, chose to be dense now.

"Oh, no problem Inoue-san. I'll just fix it like this…and right here…and…" he paused. Finally, it registered in his mind. He looked up so quickly and stood up so abruptly his knee hit the chair and he recoiled funnily back into his chair. His body was trembling with the pain shooting up his spine and the class rolled in laughter. The sound apparently attracted the attention and Inoue stood up to defend her man.

"What is wrong with you all? Can't you see that he's in pain! He hurt his knee standing up! Now you all shut up and GET BACK TO WORK!" she finished with a flourish. The class, surprised beyond belief, thought to themselves how Inoue, the sweet, bright, cheerful girl, can defend Ishida so ardently.

"Thank you, Inoue-san." Sheepishly the embarrassed man turned pink and with a smile Inoue returned his gratitude.

"Orihime"
He said my first name…Her heart thudded a bit quicker than before.

"If you trust me with this teddy's heart, I can assure you that I will mend it to the best of my ability and take the greatest care of it while it's in my possession. Would you also be so kind as to tell me the name of the person who tore your teddy so that I may teach him a lesson?" he quirkily added.

He's actually joking with me!

Orihime smiled her first, no, second genuine smile in the longest time as she embraced Ishida. They were both smiling and laughing as the class-onlookers ogled at the happy couple not knowing what trespassed between them. Both of her true smiles were with Ishida and afterwards, for Ishida alone.

I really needn't worry. Tatsuki, having witnessed this, walked on to her next period class.

Everybody wants to be loved

Every once in a while

We all need someone to hold on to

Just like a helpless child (yeah)

Can you whisper in my ear

Let me know its all right

It's been a long time coming down this road

and now I know what I've been waiting for

just like a lonely highway

I'm trying to get home, oohooh

Love's been a long time coming.

You can love for a lifetime

You could love for a day

You can think you've got everything but

Everything is nothing when you throw it away (yeah)

Then you look in my eyes

And I have it all once again

- Oliver James, Long Time Coming

End of the story!

What do you think? Please comment! This is my very first story. If you liked it then also please take a look at my other story : Inoue Orihime's Diary: a Bridget Jones Rendition.

It's of course, on Ishi/Ori again. Kindly give me reviews on that one too so I can improve my writing. I hope you enjoy both stories! Arigato!