Edit because messed up my formatting.
A/N: Hey you guys, I'm back with a new chapter. This one is kind of short and mostly building up to the next one, I'm sorry. But the next one is going to be awesome. (At least in my mind it is. I haven't written any of it yet lol)
(On a different note, I recently reread the alternate ending that I had uploaded and realized a plot hole that I missed, so I took it down for now to fix that. I will reupload once that is done. But for now, I will focus on this ending.)
And now, enjoy. And please review!
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Chapter 9- dating
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Hesitantly, she turned to face her crush. He looked at her with a curious solemnity.
"Please don't go on that date tomorrow."
Her eyes widened and while time slowed down, her heartbeat accelerated. She tried to find her voice, but it was stuck in her throat. He took her by one arm, making use of her silence to drag her out of the school courtyard that was still swarming with their peers. She walked behind him as he dragged her along, trying to cope. He stopped underneath a tree in a small park that Orihime passed everyday on her way to school.
"Why not?" She finally managed to breathe.
He didn't answer right away. Their eyes were locked. His seemed to search for something in hers.
"Because I don't like it," he said eventually. This time, it didn't take her as long to answer.
"Why not?" He broke their eye contact, looking away from her. His eyebrows furrowed together as he thought.
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Why not? Why don't you want her to go out with that guy? There is an obvious answer, you know. Is that it?
Gaaaah, why does this all have to be so complicated? I just don't want to see her with any other man.
Any other man? Other than you.
Yes. NO. I don't know!
Well figure it out, because if you don't, you just come across as a territorial jerk.
I know that.
Do you like Inoue?
Of course I like her. She's my friend.
You know that is not the question.
I know.
So do you?
…
Yes.
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"I…," Ichigo broke off helplessly.
"I'm not completely sure," he managed.
Her eyes softened at his dismay.
"I know that's not a good enough reason for you to cancel your date," he added penitently.
She stayed silent as if waiting for him to continue.
"I can't tell you what this is. I can't tell you what I want. But what if we go out instead on Friday? Would you cancel your date then?" He heard the desperation in his voice.
He observed her. Her small frame stood across from him, her beautiful hair swaying lightly in the breeze. She had her arms wrapped around herself to shield herself from the cold. He frowned at the realization. He wanted to wrap her in his arms to warm her. The notion felt out of place. Finally, he looked at her face. A small smile was tugging at her lips.
"Yes."
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To: Takahashi Akihiko
07:46 p.m.: Good evening, Takahashi-san. It seems you were right. He did come around. I'm sorry. Sincerely, Inoue Orihime
07:52 p.m.: That was fast. There goes my chance with you.
07:53 p.m.: But I'm happy for you. I hope it all works out now. Glad I could be of help. See you around, Inoue-chan.
07:54 p.m.: Thank you Takahashi-kun. :) See you around.
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Orihime took her pillow, raised it to her face and squealed into it. She had a date! With Kurosaki-kun! She jumped in place a little, giggling happily into the pillow. She was going to go out with him! Hugging the pillow to her chest, she did a little twirl on her left foot. Naturally, she lost her balance. Her almost-fall caused her to snap out of it and sober up a little. Now is not the time to be idle, Inoue! You may have made it to the semi-finals, but you still have a way to go! You need to make a plan. How are you going to reel him in?
She pursed her lips. How was she going to reel him in? What were they going to do anyways? He hadn't disclosed that information. But then again, he probably didn't even have a plan yet, she had forced him into a rash decision after all.
She sat down on her couch, took a note pad from the table and stared at it, lost in thought.
When she put it down again, she had scribbled down three bullet points.
1) Look hot.
2) Physical contact.
3) Tell him how you feel?
She bit down on the pen as she stared at the last line. Then she added a second question mark. She still wanted him to make the first step. With a frown, she crossed out the last line and replaced it.
Then she got up to grab her phone. She needed her best friend's help.
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To: Tatsuki-chan 3
08:31 p.m.: Tatsuki-chan, I have a daaaaaate!
08:32 p.m.: I know, so you've said. So Ichigo couldn't change your mind, huh?
08:33 p.m.: … It's with him!
08:33 p.m.: WHAT? Why didn't you say that right away? This is huge! I can't believe that dumbass finally made a move!
08:34 p.m.: He's not a dumbass, Tatsuki-chan!
08:35 p.m.: Yeah yeah, I know, he's kind and caring and handsome and his frown is funny, blah.
08:36 p.m.: You are right. He is all those things. :D But anyways, can you come home with me tomorrow after school to help me pick out what to wear?
08:38 p.m.: …
08:39 p.m.: I mean, sure. I'm not sure I'm the right person for that, but if you want me to, sure.
08:41 p.m.: Thank you Tatsuki-chan, you're the best!
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He had asked out Inoue. He had asked her out! What the hell was he thinking? He couldn't go out with Inoue. Why had she even agreed? That other guy sounded perfect!
Maybe she wants you and not him. Haven't you realized that she has been all over you lately? All that touching… At least now you're finally doing something about it! This is the perfect chance to finally get close to her. And I mean reaaal close. Ichigo scowled at his obnoxious inner voice. What did it know anyways?
Oh, for fuck's sake King, his hollow voiced suddenly.
I'm tired of listening to you talking to yourself! It's not as crowded in here as you think it is! Just accept that that voice that you're so annoyed with is part of you! You're so in denial! It makes me sick to listen to your goddamn holier-than-thou replies to your own fucking sexuality. Grow a pair! You're a teenager. The princess is hot. There is nothing wrong with wanting to bang her. Just face it already!
'The only voice I'm currently annoyed with, is yours, asshole!' Ichigo snapped back without any real venom. What his hollow had said rang true inside of him. He didn't want to admit it. But he had known for a while that these annoying thoughts were his own. Although he had done his best to push that truth to the back of his mind. He sighed.
Told you, the hollow said with a smug smirk before fading away.
Ichigo sat down at his desk and rested his head in his hands. Fine. He had admitted it. He liked Inoue more than just a friend. And he was also attracted to her. And now he had a date with her so she wouldn't go out with a perfect Karate champion with a female fan club. No pressure, though. He squeezed his eyes shut and started to massage his temples. What the hell was he going to do for that date tomorrow? He didn't want to something as cliché as a dinner and a movie. Anyone could do that. He begrudgingly had to admit that he wanted to dazzle her.
Damn it, things had been so much easier when he had no romantic interest in Inoue. When did that change anyways? He was sure that only a couple of weeks ago he had seen her as just a friend. It confused him how quickly his feelings had developed. And now he had a date with her! He supposed that was a good thing but at the same time he did not feel ready for this step. He had had no time to mentally prepare himself for it. All of a sudden, he was in this situation. And now he needed to deliver. He sure as hell wasn't going to lose to that university student. He wrecked his brain for ideas.
There is that one place that is kind of romantic… The corners of his mouth briefly curved upwards. A plan started to develop in his mind. And it was something that only he could do, too. He grinned. He only needed to make a few preparations for this.
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Orihime scrunched up her nose while she waited for Tatsuki to finish putting on her jacket. She had already donned her light blue coat and her white hat, scarf and gloves and was beginning to feel hot in the heated classroom. This school day had been unexpectedly uneventful. Mostly, because her favorite substitute soul reaper hadn't shown up for it. Walking to school this morning, she had been jittery in anticipation. How would he react to seeing her toady? Would it be awkward? She had been sure she would blush upon seeing him. But all that worry had been for naught.
Tatsuki was finally done and was walking towards her.
"Sorry that took so long," she said. Orihime only shook her head at this with a smile.
"Let's go then, time to get you all ready for your date!" Tatsuki's grin faltered as she saw Orihime's expression. "What is it Hime?"
The redhead looked at her a little downtrodden. "He didn't come to school today…" She explained quietly. "What if he changed his mind about the date? And now he will say that he's sick and that we should take a rain check and that we will do it another time. But then, he will secretly move to Europe because he doesn't want to see me anymore and fall in love with a beautiful French girl in Paris! But he will have terrible trouble with finding a job in France because he doesn't know any French and then his girlfriend will leave him because he can not provide for her. And so, he will fall into a deep depression and –"
Orihime was snapped out of her fantasy by Tatsuki flicking her forehead with her index finger. She smiled at her blabbering best friend.
"As usual you have a vivid imagination. But remember, it's really not that uncommon for Ichigo to play hooky. I'm sure he has his reasons not to come to school. And if he was sick and couldn't make it, don't you think he would have texted you this morning? So relax, and let's get to planning!"
As if on cue, Orihime's cellphone vibrated and she pulled it out of her coat pocket.
From: Kurosaki-kun
03:44 p.m.: Hey Inoue, hope school was good. Just wanted to ask you: I'll pick you up around 6, is that okay with you?
03:45 p.m.: Oh and dress warm! We'll be outside a lot!
Tatsuki chuckled as she watched her best friend's face light up with happiness and excitement. Then her eyes widened.
"Tatsuki-chan, 6 p.m., that's so soon, quick, come on, we have to hurry!"
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Tatsuki flopped down on the couch and glanced at her watch. 5 p.m. She was exhausted. It had taken almost an hour for them to decide what Orihime was going to wear. It wasn't really easy to pick something "ravishing" (as her exuberant friend had put it) and at the same time practical, that is warm. Now Orihime was in the shower and she had insisted that Tatsuki stay to see the final result. She groaned. She was not used to girly activities like this. But this was for her best friend. So she would bear it. She decided to just go for a run once she got home. To sweat out the girly so-to-speak.
Opting to watch some TV while she waited, she reached forward to grab the remote, when she spotted a little notepad that lay on the table. Curiously, she picked it up. Her eyes widened as she read. She realized this was probably not meant for her eyes. Carefully, she placed it back on the table. She leant back and shook her head with a frown. Still, she couldn't quite fight the smile that was stubbornly trying to make its way on to her face. She just wished it would work out for the best.
With a quick glance to the bathroom, she picked up the notepad again and stared at it. What a strange woman her best friend was.
It read:
1) Look hot.
2) Physical contact.
3) Tell him how you feel? (crossed out)
Make him lose control and kiss you.
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A/N: So this was it. I hope you enjoyed. Next update might be around Christmas because I kind of have to get to studying if I want to do well in my medical licensing exam in 2 weeks and become a doctor. Whoops.
Anyways, please leave me some love in form of reviews because they fuel me and make me happy in this dreary finals-phase.
Also, I keep thinking how Orihime's plans would totally work IRL. What do you guys think? :D