"Hey, Rukia! Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Rukia stopped and turned around to see Orihime running towards her. They were returning to class after lunch break.

"Hi, Orihime. How are you today?"

"I'm fine, thanks. I have something important to tell you. Can you meet me after school at the playground?"

"Can't you tell me now?" said surprised Rukia.

"No, please, wait until the school is over. It's important. " Orihime insisted with a strange grin.

'What can be that important she can't tell me now... ? ' thought Rukia but answered: "Ok, I'll be there."

'Great! Objective 1 – cleared.' " Thank you" Orihime smiled at Rukia and run to the class. 'Now for Ichigo...'

It's been few weeks since Orihime started noticing that there was something going on between Ichigo and Rukia. Even before they were together a lot and often left somewhere together in the middle of school for no apparent reasons, but when the rumors started that they were going out, they just laughed and made up some excuses. Orihime found out later about Hollows and Shinigamis and she stopped wondering what's going on. They were never acting like more than friends anyway.

However, when they returned from Soul Society after saving Rukia, letting her behind, Ichigo started acting strangely. He was suddenly spacing out from time to time and fought Hollows with much less enthusiasm than before. A when Rukia finally returned...

They were all walking home from school when Ichigo told them:

"I've got a message from Urahara. He wants to meet us tonight at his shop."

So they went and there was a surprise waiting for them...

"Rukia!"

Everybody was happy to see her; Orihime hugged her, Sado and Ishida too after a little hesitation but Ichigo... He was just standing there, unreadable expression on his face. Finally, after greeting with everyone, she turned to him.

Neither one of the two didn't move, they were just staring at each other for a few seconds.

"Ichigo...", she nearly whispered.

At the sound of her voice he woke up from his frozen state and smirked.

"Got bored back there ?", he asked.

She also returned to normal.

"No, I just figured out that without my guidance you could get easily killed, or make a big mess like you did in Soul Society."

"Stupid, I went there to save your ass and you still didn't even thank me!"

"I told you not to come but you didn't listen. I'm not going to thank you for not listening to me, idiot!"

"There's no way I'm going to listen to you, you little brat...!..."

And they went on and on like back in the old times...

This time Rukia didn't move to Ichigo's house but stayed at the shop. She also continued to go to the school. And it was during classes when Orihime confirmed here suspicions. They were acting normally when surrounded by others, but it were the little things that betrayed them: Ichigo would stare at Rukia whenever she wasn't looking and vice versa; when they coincidently touched they both turned red; they got into quarrels and fights more often but were much more caring for each other when one of them got hurt...

Actually there was an accident two days ago. Rukia got hit pretty badly by a big hollow and lost consciousness. Orihime started to treat her immediately when she suddenly felt this immense spirit force coming from Ichigo. He was literally white from anger and dispersed the monster to million little pieces.

When Rukia woke up, he just scolded her for being too reckless.

But despite all of this it seemed that neither one of them didn't realized the other one's feeling.

So Orihime came up with a plan. 'I will be their Angel of Love, yay!' she giggled at the thought.

'Why did she call me here? And why is she late?' Rukia started to be impatient. Suddenly she heard steps of someone approaching.

"Hi, Kuchiki-san. What are you doing here ?" She turned around. It was Ishida.

"I'm waiting for Orihime. She told me to meet her after school here, but she's late."

"Hm, that's strange because I heard her today talking to Ichigo and she was asking him to come to the back entrance after school."

'What?' Rukia was startled. 'Maybe she forgot... but she was so insistent about meeting me'

"Well, I guess I will go there then and see what's going on. Thank you, Ishida-kun. See ya." With that Rukia left.

" So what's the big deal, Inoue? Why did you call me here?" Ichigo was looking at the girl, waiting.

"Uh, well... I... " 'Go on, Orihime, it's for the sake of their love!' "I... I think ... I like you!" Orihime swallowed hard awaiting the orange-haired boy's reaction.

Ichigo froze in a shock. 'What the hell...!'

"Could you please tell me, how you feel about me, Ichigo-kun ?" 'Now I hope I wasn't wrong...'

Ichigo still stared at her, not knowing what to think...'How do I feel? I never thought about Inoue that way... Sure she's pretty and I know her well... (...but... said his inner voice)' He looked her in the eyes, trying to figure out what to do, what to say, to sort his feelings towards her... ' and we've been through a lot together, she's always so helpful and nice (...but!...) ' He moved his arms and placed them on her shoulders...

'Oh no, was I wrong after all ...?' Orihime was startled by his unexpected proximity as he leaned forward.

'I'm not sure if I love her, however maybe I would fall for her if I give it a try, and I don't want to hurt her feeling either ... (...BUT!...)'

He slowly closed his eyes and moved even closer intending to kiss her. Suddenly he saw a picture of Rukia smiling and calling him in his mind and he felt his heart skip a beat upon a realization. 'I don't want to kiss Inoue! Because ...because...'

He opened his eyes swiftly and let go of Orihime. He turned away from her.

"Uh, I am sorry, Inoue. I don't feel the same about you."

Orihime felt so relieved she nearly collapsed. 'Uff, that was close ... '

"I am really sorry, but you see... I... maybe... I think..." He sighed. "However, I didn't mean to hurt you, that's all." Ichigo thought she was collapsing because of him. "Are you ok?"

"Uhn, I'm fine." she nodded. "Just tell me, is there someone else you like then?" 'Say it, just say it Ichigo...'

'Is there someone?' and then again he saw Rukia, hearing her voice calling his name.

Feeling guilty about him trying to kiss her, he gave a hesitant answer. "I'm not sure. I just..."

He looked so completely lost; Orihime couldn't stand it any longer. "It's Kuchiki-san you like, right?"

"What? No! No... no... you've got it all wrong. I couldn't possibly..." 'Or could I ?'

Orihime smiled gently and I looked him in the eyes " Stop lying to yourself. You're both so funny. Everyone around you noticed but you didn't. I am sure you love her and that she loves you back. Actually I only confessed to you today so you could finally realize your feelings towards her."

'She did this so I could realize my feelings toward Rukia ? By trying to make me go out with her? Eh? A bit twisted logic I would say...although it did work, didn't it? Now I know I can't be with Inoue because... the only person I want to be with is...'

"Sorry for lying to you, Ichigo-kun. But now you know how you feel and you should tell Kuchiki-san that you love her."

"I told her to meet me at the playground. She's waiting there, go!"

Still a bit confused he looked at Orihime then turned around and started to walk towards the playground. 'I should tell her that I like her.' He quickened his pace. '...that I love her...' He was already running. 'I LOVE her'. He could already see the corner of the playground. 'I love Rukia...' He finally got to the playground, stopped and catching hic breath he looked around. There was a couple sitting under the tree, talking; small kids playing in the sand, a few students returning from school. But no Rukia.

'Where is she ?'

'Ichigo and Orihime... she said she liked him and he ... he was going to kiss her ... and so I run away just to give them a little privacy, right? I'm OK with Ichigo dating Orihime, they will look good together. She already knows he's a shinigami so there won't be any misunderstandings... and she can even help him with his fights' Rukia was slowly walking down the street after being secretly present to their conversation. 'Sure it was a little bit unexpected, but there's no reason I should feel ... how? Sad? Lonely? Betrayed? No, why should I ? It's not like if I loved Ichigo or didn't want him to be happy.' She started trembling and stopped.'I'm completely FINE with this situation. But then ...'

'Why am I crying? And what is it with this pain in my chest?'