A/N: Since I've gotten my first review (YAAAY thank you, that makes me so happy), I decided to post chapter 3 now. I hadn't originally planned to write this chapter, but it just came flowing out nicely and we're gradually picking up the pace of this story. Buckle up, the sexual tension will slowly be rising (not quite yet, though).

I am almost done with chapter 4, and I've written put a couple of key scenes from the entire story. It's coming together quite well.

Forgot to do a disclaimer: Bleach does not belong to me. All I own is this specific story line. This goes for the whole story.

Please review to make my day.

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Chapter 3 – Flirting

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Orihime was hurrying to the gate to meet up with the man that had gone to hell and back to save her. She saw his orange hair from afar, he was leaning against a wall looking aloof and so devilishly handsome, she almost swooned. She didn't want to seem too eager, but she was loathe to make him wait and so she alternated between running and walking. "Inoue-senpai," someone suddenly called, and she turned around.

"Uhm Inoue-senpai, thank you for waiting." A young man she hadn't met before stood before her. He was tall and not bad looking although he had an arrogant air about him. He seemed a little nervous.

"My name is Tagawa Shinichi, I am in junior year. I was wondering… I have never seen anyone as pretty and as nice as you. You know, there are a lot of girls that are in my grade who would like to go out with me, but I have come to realize that I only want to go out with you and so I was wondering if maybe you would want to have dinner with me on Friday?" He rambled.

"Oh, uh, thank you Tagawa-kun," Orihime smiled sweetly, yet slightly uncomfortably. You would think she'd have gotten used to rejecting guys' advances, but she really hadn't. From the corner of her eye, she realized that Ichigo wasn't leaning against the wall anymore. Had he left without her? Her face faltered dejectedly for a second. Then she remembered the younger man in front of her.

"I appreciate the compliment, but –," she started, only to be interrupted by him. There was a sudden change in his awkward demeanor.

"You know I could make it worth your while! I've heard that you like people with skillful fingers and well, I'm virtuous with the piano, if you know what I mean?" With his last words he had reached out and trailed his fingers over her arms. She froze.

"I'm afraid I don't, and I am not interested -," His hand gripped her wrist firmly. "Come on, it's not like I'll hurt you or anything. We could have some fun!"

Suddenly his grip loosened. A big hand had grabbed his arm and was bending it backwards easily. "She's not interested in disgusting bastards like you, Tagawa, and if you ever touch her without consent again, I'm gonna make sure you don't walk upright for a month, do I make myself clear?"

Orihime saw the young man gulp in fear.

"I was just –"

Orihime felt the familiar reiatsu rise. It was smoldering and heavy and she shouldn't have liked it, but she did. She loved being enveloped in his powerful spiritual energy. She loved that she was standing so close to him. The young man probably couldn't feel the reiatsu but he seemed to understand that he was in danger.

"Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?"

"Yes, Kurosaki-senpai."

"Good. Now scram."

Ichigo took her by the arm and looked her up and down. His spiritual energy lowered gradually. Orihime's heart fluttered.

"You okay, Inoue?" She nodded a little lightheadedly and thanked him. But then she remembered the plan. The plan was to not always play the same role. To switch positions sometimes. To spice things up, so to speak.

"But you know, Kurosaki-kun, I had it under control, you don't always need to save me. I can hold my own."

He frowned at her. They were walking past the gate, leaving the school behind them.

"And besides," she continued, "You should really watch your spiritual pressure a little bit, you know regular souls can just perish when you give off too much of it. That would have been kind of awkward to explain to soul society. You know how they technically want you to have a Gentei Kaijou anyways," she scolded him.

He looked confused for a second. She was delighted by the cuteness of his face. Then, realization about the truth in her words seemed to dawn on him and he sighed. "You're right. I just hate all these bastards that just think they can speak to you like that. Seriously, don't parents teach their kids any manners anymore today?"

Orihime couldn't help but giggle. "You sound like an old man complaining about the rotten youths of today!"

"But it's true," he muttered. "None of the young men treat women with respect."

Orihime panicked inwardly. This was her opening; she had the perfect retort to that. She had resolved to flirt with him when she saw an opening. This was it. But boy, this was hard.

She smiled brightly and clasped her hands together under her face, looking up at him. "Oh no, that's not true, Kurosaki-kun, you have never been anything but chivalrous to me," she exclaimed theatrically and fluttered her eyelids at him for a couple of seconds before she burst out laughing at the incredulous look he was giving her.

He scowled but she saw his eyes twinkle with the slightest hint of amusement. Score.

"Hm, you might be right. Would you give me that in writing? I think I could use that when my old man won't get off my back about being a delinquent." The left corner of his mouth turned upwards slightly. Orihime's heart skipped a beat. He was going along with it!

"I'll do you one better: I'll come to your house and tell him about his son's valor in person. He'd have no choice but to believe me." She beamed at him and he… actually smiled back. It almost took her breath away. Kurosaki-kun, who was infamous for never smiling was now smiling at her, at something she said.

"I might take you up on that offer," he said.

She blushed.

They were close to her house now. She had barely realized they were walking at all.

"Listen Inoue," he started, suddenly serious again.

"About before. I know you can hold your own. You're plenty strong. It's not that I don't believe in you. It's just… You shouldn't have to. You've been through so much shit already… I don't know. You just shouldn't have to. Won't you just let me handle those jerks when I'm there? For me, not for you?" He wasn't looking at her. "Actually, even when I'm not there. Just, come to me when someone bothers you, okay?"

They had reached her apartment complex. He looked at her hesitantly. She felt her eyes get teary. How could she not love this man? He was perfect. Thinking of everything that had gone well today she gathered all her courage and touched his arm lightly.

"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun." She smiled at him. "And thank you for walking me home."

He just nodded at her, his walls suddenly up again.

"See you tomorrow, Inoue."

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Review pleeeease.