Hmmm…a lot of people seem to like IshiHime. Not that I mind . Written on and in honor of Valentine's Day (yes, very late, I know).
No one dies here, I promise

Review if you like. No flames, please.

AI NO KANSHOKU
Ishida x Orihime

Inoue Orihime was well known as the type of girl who would give chocolates to everyone. It was just the way she was. In fact, she hardly needed it to be Valentine's Day for her to give out chocolate if she had her way, but it being the holiday just gave her the excuse.

It was a good thing she did, actually. It was the only way people like Asano Keigo and Ishida Uryuu got any chocolate at all. The former would have gladly stolen Orihime's attention from the latter, since the latter had never cared about any type of holiday. It always seemed that way, at least.

That was why, contrary to Arisawa Tatsuki's threats of "It's not a big deal…" hissed in a predatory growl, it was a very big deal the year Inoue Orihime brought only one box of chocolate to school on Valentine's Day, and one box of chocolate only.

She brought it to school, a medium-sized box exquisitely wrapped with colorful curled ribbons and delicate bows. For the entire morning it remained in her desk, away from prying eyes and the gossiping stream of other schoolgirls, wondering as to who the recipient would be. Many said Kurosaki Ichigo, but they must have been blind – he looked perfectly happy with his one small box of homemade chocolate from Kuchiki Rukia, who had learned the art from master chocolate-maker Inoue Orihime herself (and quite incidentally, it was the only food to which she stuck to the true recipe...)

First, second, and third period passed...recess and lunch…and still Orihime had not given her box of chocolate away. Eventually it was the end of school, and people wondered if it was supposed to be some sort of joke.

But no. When everyone left to go to their separate clubs, she took her box of chocolate and headed down the corridor, looking like a woman with a purpose. Of course, this piqued everyone's interest. By the time she reached the Arts and Crafts Club, she had a small army following her…to this, though, Orihime was oblivious.

As for the recipient of the chocolate, Ishida himself didn't even look up from his reading until the chocolate was centimeters away from the spine of his book. "Inoue-san?"

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ishida-kun," Orihime said with a warm smile. Her hands continued to offer the chocolate to him, and he finally took it, pushing his glasses up his nose. "I…I made chocolates for you this year, and…I hope you like them."

"I'm sure I will," Ishida said with an air of gallant chivalry, offering her a mildly pleased look – though of course the gravity of Orihime's gesture was completely lost on him. Being so out of tune with the social gossip, did he even know that she hadn't made chocolate for everyone that year?

Hello, this is Ishida Uryuu we're talking about.

"Thank you, Inoue-san," he finished, before turning back to his book. He had assumed their interaction was done, that this was the same Valentine chocolate she gave him every year. Orihime hesitated at his desk, looking as if she wanted to say something else…but ultimately she just gave him another smile and left.

She brushed past the dispersing witnesses. A few were muttering, and few gossiping as they saw the action was through, and they headed off to clubs. A few remained, however. Asano Keigo released his chokehold on Ichigo's head (the only reason the orange-haired shinigami had been dragged along, and Rukia followed) and barreled into the room. In righteous indignation, he slapped his hand on the desk. "Hey! You! Knitting boy!"

Ishida shot him a glare that would've melted ice cubes. Asano backed down a little.

"Asano Keigo, I believe? What business do you have with me?" Ishida asked in a frosty voice.

"You know, you know," Keigo sputtered, "that box of chocolates that Inoue Orihime gave you…they were…they were…" He finally stopped hopping around enough to finally complete his sentence. "…they were the only box of chocolates she made this year!"

Ishida just stared at him, apparently coming to the conclusion that the other boy was out of his mind. "Well, maybe she didn't have time to make more," Ishida said indifferently, and picked up his book again. "If you didn't get one, I'm sorry you're not important enough."

"No, you four-eyed twat, normally girls only make chocolate for special people! And she gave her only box of chocolate to you!" Keigo was wailing. "What is that supposed to say about poor Inoue-san? Is she really so desperate? Is she really forced to sink so low? All she need do is say the word, my dear Inoue-san, and I shall–"

"Keigo. Shut. Up," Ichigo growled, as he pummeled his friend to the ground. Dusting his hands, his eyes met with Ishida's, who was calmly surveying all of this with a slightly detached expression. "Anyway, Ishida, what this idiot was trying to say isn't really of any importance, so I'll get his sorry ass out of here." And he dragged him out, and everything was quiet again.

Girls only make chocolate for special people… Ishida thought over Keigo's words as he put his book away. He picked up the box and carefully undid the ribbons, gently and carefully, as though the box would evaporate from his hands with rough handling. Inside was an assortment of milk and dark chocolate, in creative shapes, and with creative colors and decorations.

Ishida sampled a few before his hand closed the box. The taste was excellent, as expected from a girl who routinely made plenty of chocolate each year. Well, except for this year, it seemed.

He found Orihime still in the classroom, packing the rest of her books together and chatting with a few girls who still hadn't left for their respective clubs. They scattered as he approached, and Orihime smiled at him. "Ishida-kun!"

"Thank you for the chocolates," he said, with a slight bow.

"You said that to me before," she smiled, "and you're welcome again!"

"Do you have any club work to do today, Inoue-san?"

"No, I don't."

"Then, may I have the pleasure of walking you home?"

She tried to refuse, saying her house was too far away, that it was fine, he didn't need to "repay" her for the chocolate, that she was fine by herself…but the light of happiness that had first stolen into her eyes at his offer told him everything.

"I do insist, Inoue-san."

"Well…eh…okay…if it's really okay…"

"Of course it is."

It was strange. Maybe he was sick, or something. But his heart was doing the strangest flip-flops somewhere in his chest.

owari