AN: Alright, so I have an important author's note at the end of this chapter. I hope you enjoy! I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.

Chapter 18, Orihime's Point of View

I sense Ichigo stiffen before he scoots back as I greet the couple. I don't think much of it at the moment and instead introduce them, "Rukia, Renji…this is Ichigo. Ichigo this is Rukia and he's Renji."

Renji covers his mouth nervously as Rukia glares in Ichigo's direction. Unsure of what's happening I simply try my best to reassure them, "He's a friend, you don't have to worry about him."

Ichigo clears his throat and begins to excuse himself but Rukia cuts him off, "Right. Ichigo, it would be nice for all four of us to eat together. After all, we are all Orihime's guests."

I give Ichigo a quick apologetic look before ushering the three of them to the dining table. I set the table quickly before bringing out the pot of curry. Everybody is silent while I serve the food causing my hands to tremble out of nervousness. It appears that Ichigo notices as I serve him because he holds my hand for a moment.

I look at him shyly as he gives me a reassuring smile. I blush lightly as he lets go of my hand and I finish serving the curry. Rukia observes the interaction between us but doesn't say anything. I chew slowly as I try to ignore the obvious tension.

After a few more minutes of awkward silence I finally speak, "So how long are you and Renji planning to stay in Karakura? What place are you traveling to afterwards?"

"We're not sure how long we're going to stay but we wanted to travel to Costa Rica next," Rukia responds as she smiles over at Renji. We continue a small conversation while Renji and Ichigo have their own.

However, I notice that the way Ichigo and Renji talk is not the way strangers converse. It's as if they already know each other. Is it possible that they do? The three of them didn't exactly greet each other. Could they know?

I glance over at Ichigo and find him staring at me with a puzzled look on his face. I feel my cheeks heat up a bit as he makes eye contact with me. Rukia clears her throat gently causing us to break eye contact. She chuckles, "Well I think Renji and I should be going. Thank you for having us over Orihime. Ichigo, hopefully we see you around."

As Renji and Rukia stand to leave I do so too and walk with them to the door. I say, before closing the door, "Come over again soon!"

I walk back to the dining table and find that it has been cleared. I look over at Ichigo beginning to wash the dishes. I rush to him, exclaiming, "Leave those there! I'll wash them!"

Ichigo smirks and turns off the water before spinning around and wrapping me in a hug. I'm so surprised that I don't even get to hug him back before he pulls away and begins to kiss me. I kiss him back intently. I begin to lose myself in his kisses when I remember that I wanted to ask him something.

"Hey Ichigo…I wanted to…ask you something," I say between kisses.

"What is it?" He asks after pausing his kissing.

"Do you know Renji and Rukia from somewhere else?" I ask as I hold his hands down. Ichigo tenses up and looks away. "I'm not sure…" He doesn't finish his sentence.

I'm about to ask him to be more specific when suddenly he begins to kiss my neck. I gasp gently and am about to succumb to his desires. "Wait, Ichigo, wait," I breathe heavily, "Tell me what you know first. Nothing is going to happen until you tell me what you know."

Ichigo scowls for a brief moment before saying, "I will tell you, but first I need to clear something up. I'll be back later." He catches me off guard with a quick, chaste kiss on the lips before rushing out of my apartment. I touch my lips gently as a blush appears on my cheeks.

Ichigo's Point of View

I rush out of Orihime's apartment hoping I can catch up to Rukia and Renji. I feel my phone buzz then. I ignore it as I spot spikey red hair inside of a small grocery store, not far from Orihime's apartment. I run inside and go up to the laughing couple. "Rukia, Renji. I need to talk to you guys."

Rukia looks over and glares at me, folding her arms. Renji shakes his head and says, "Ichigo, what were you thinking? How could you get involved with a human right now in this situation; and not just any human but Orihime, Rukia's closest friend."

Rukia places a hand on Renji's shoulder and demands quietly, "Let's go somewhere a bit more private. I have a few things I want to tell you."

I simply nod my head as I follow them to their condo. As soon as Rukia closes the door behind her she explodes, "Ichigo, how could you?! Why would you endanger Orihime's life?! What are you even doing with her? Are you using her for her blood? I swear if you hurt Orihime in any way I will come after you!"

I yell back at her, "Will you calm down?! I started talking to Orihime before Senna showed up. I am not using her for her blood! I want to be with her just as much as she wants to be with me okay?! I am doing everything in my power to keep her from getting injured."

By this point in the crazed yelling, Renji has already disappeared into another room, leaving me and Rukia to have at it. For a moment it appears as if Rukia is going to attack me but then her face relaxes. I wait for her to speak, "But don't you understand, Ichigo? Don't you know how Senna plays by now? She is going to make you hurt Orihime or she will make Orihime hurt you."

I clench my fists as I let out an exasperated sigh. My breathing becomes heavy for a moment. "I can't stay away from her Rukia. I've tried but I've failed. Orihime makes me feel human again. She gives me hope for a future I didn't think I had anymore."

Her face softens as she sighs, "Oh Ichigo, what are we going to do? I don't want either you or Orihime getting hurt."

I feel my face soften as well as I smile slightly and turn from her. "I will do everything in my power to keep Orihime from getting hurt." Rukia seems hesitant but accepts my words with a nod.

After I leave their condo, I remember that I had received a message on my phone. I pull out my phone and read the message, "Meet me at the park, I've decided." I tense up as soon as I realize the message is from Senna. What has she decided?

AN: I hope you liked it:) Anyway, I wanted to say that I might enter this story in a contest. It'd due in about a week but I'm only half ways done. I might not update until I finish it, whether I manage to enter it in the contest or not. So I'll be changing the formatting later on and updating previous chapters. Please be patient with me, I will try and complete the story as soon as I can.