Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Tite Kubo does. So don't sue.

Song Suggestion: CrushCrushCrush - Paramore

Chapter 2

Raindrops started to fall as Orihime neared her apartment complex. The fifteen-minute walk did nothing to lift her spirits. In fact, she was more depressed than ever – and jumpy to boot.

The poor girl was beginning to notice things that she hadn't before. For one thing, her neighbor's cat sat in the shadows right in front of her apartment door, while the shadows themselves seemed to materialize into a solid being. For an instant, she considered the ridiculous notion that someone was there waiting on her.

As it turns out, she wasn't wrong. Orihime nearly jumped out of her skin as Ichigo appeared in front of her holding a familiar looking paper bag.

"Hey Inoue! You forgot this." He prompted, smiling gently at her rain soaked figure.

"Ichigo!" She breathed, not knowing exactly what to say. "How - how did you?"

"Find you? C'mon, it's not like I haven't been here before. Though I guess it has been awhile, hasn't it?" He laughed, awkwardly placing his hand behind his head.

Reaching out with his other appendage, he gave Orihime back her lunch. The girl blinked, looking ready to bolt at a moment's notice. The pointed look on Ichigo's face made her stay put; but, she couldn't help averting her eyes.

"Thank you for bringing it back. I – I must have dropped it." She stammered, trying not to embarrass herself further.

It was times like this Ichigo wished he weren't so popular. Especially since it was his fault Orihime was getting picked on. Maybe he'd never done anything directly to her, but it's not like he'd ever tried to put a stop to it either.

"We both know that's not what happened." He stated, his voice going quiet.

"It was my own fault. I should have left it in my locker." Orihime explained, trying to shift the blame. Maybe if she learned to stand up for herself, these things wouldn't happen.

Ichigo huffed, averting his eyes as well. He couldn't begin to confront the wide-eyed innocence he found within her gaze. "Looks like they should have left you alone to begin with." He ventured.

Orihime's sad sigh made his heart lurch against his rib cage. He'd give anything to erase her next words from his memory.

"It's something I've learned to live with."

The words echoed in the silence between them.

For the first time in his life, Ichigo ignored his instincts and took his first good look at the girl in front of him. Bringing his pupils back to her body, he looked her up and down, taking it all in. It didn't take a rocket scientist to notice how badly she was shaking.

"You must be cold." He observed, finally breaking the lull in their conversation. "Why don't we get you inside?"

"It's okay. I'll be fine." She promised, still standing with her chin pointing to the ground.

"Maybe so. But you're not the only one who's cold. If it's all right with you, I'd like to wait here until the rain stops. Besides, it's freezing out there and I bet you could use the company."

Orihime's mouth fell open just the tiniest bit. However happy she was at Ichigo's offer, she couldn't help but be suspicious. As much as she wanted to believe in Ichigo's good intentions, his appearance at her door was still very sudden.

What if it was all just another trick? Or worse yet, what if it wasn't?

Despite her misgivings, Orihime knew there was only one way to find out. She answered him with a smile that was genuine, yet guarded. "Yes, of course you can stay. I'll make us some tea to get warm."

Ichigo sighed in relief as she took her keys out and opened the door for him. At least she was going to give him a chance to explain – whether he deserved it or not.

Stepping over the threshold, he took one look at the threadbare apartment and instantly felt sorry for his newfound friend. Not only had she lost most of her family, but it appeared she'd lost most of her furniture as well. In the tiny space of the living room, there was only one table and a mat by the door for her shoes. No tv…no sofa…no chairs. Not even a coat rack.

"Make yourself at home." Orihime invited. "I'll just go put the tea on."

Ichigo obeyed, taking off his shoes and kneeling at the table. Her school books were the only things he had to amuse himself with while he waited.

Calculus…Chemistry…Advanced Lit…Japanese History…

Looking at them made him feel like such a slacker by comparison. The hardest classes he took were based on fighting - fencing, kendo, and mixed martial arts. You had to have a certain type of skill for such things, but intelligence? Well, that was another story entirely.

Ichigo admired Orihime for her intellect. He'd come here thinking that he had something to offer her, but maybe she had something to offer him too.

"Here you go." The girl in question offered, setting a cup of tea in front of him.

"Thanks." He answered, returning her half smile.

"Can I get you anything else?"

"No. I'm fine. But do you think you could do something for me."

"Anything."

"I know it's asking a lot, but…" He trailed off, silent for a few moments.

"Just say it Ichigo."

"Orihime, tell me what happened to you. I know it's been awhile since we've talked, but I'd like to know what happened to your family."

"Oh. Well, you know about my parents…"

"Tell me again. I want to hear everything – even the stuff you lied about."

Orihime's eyes flashed. "Why?" She demanded, once again on the verge of tears. "So you and your friends can make fun of me even more?"

"No! It isn't like that. I know what you told everyone at school to save face. But I really want to be your friend. Not theirs. I just don't want you to feel like you have to lie to me anymore."

Water pooled at the edges of her eyelids as she closed them to stop the burning. It took her a few minutes of wrestling with her better judgment, but eventually she relented.

"Okay. But you have to promise to keep it to yourself."

"You have my word." Ichigo vowed, placing his hand over hers as it rested on the table between them.

Opening her eyes again, Orihime looked at her old friend, casing out his every intention. "You're right. My parents didn't die in a car crash. They were just deadbeats who walked out on me and my brother. My dad got drunk all the time, and argued with my mother - who pretty much slept around with anybody. That's why all the neighbors want nothing to do with me. And the ones that do? Well, they only want one thing."

"I'm so sorry Orihime. I didn't know."

"You never asked. But it's not your fault. I never let you come over when they were home. I kept it a secret from everyone."

"What about your brother? I met him, don't you remember? He seemed nice enough."

"He died." The orange haired girl whispered. "He died and he's never coming back."

Traitor was the word that popped into his mind as he closed the distance between them and pulled Orihime to his chest. She was crying openly now, consumed by her grief.

He didn't know what to say. How could he have neglected to know such an important fact? How well did he really know the person he had at one time called his friend?

He remembered complaining about his family to her all the time. But not once had she mentioned hers. He told himself he was trying to respect her privacy, but in truth, he knew he was just being self-centered.

"How did he die?"

"Sora was the one that died in the car accident. He had the right of way, but this drunk driver plowed into him after running a red light. The police showed up here and told me I had to identify his body. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye…"

Placing his hand on the back of her head, Ichigo turned her face to him so that she could cry on his shoulder. With his other hand rubbing her back, he held on as tightly as he could so that even she could feel his protective spirit.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered, as she forced herself to pull back from his much-needed embrace. Though much to her surprise, he wouldn't let her. "Please don't." He muttered into her skin. "I have so much to tell you…" He exerted, his voice breaking.

Orihime clung to him, having lost the battle with self-reliance. "I'm sorry too Ichigo. I should have told you…I just…I didn't think you cared."

"I did. But I was just being a real jerk back then, and had a lousy way of showing it."

"Why now?" She breathed – her hot cheek next to his. "Why after all these years?"

"Because I'm tired of being alone. You'd think with so many friends, I would feel at least one of them knew me as well as you seem to. There's just so much you don't know…"

"Believe it or not, I feel the same way."

"Please forgive me Orihime. I should have been a better friend."

"You've always been my friend Ichigo. Whether you wanted to be or not." She laughed.

"Then let's say we make up for lost time, huh?" Ichigo joked, feeling much like his old self again as he finally pulled away from her.

"I'd like that." Orihime responded graciously.

"Well alright then. Hey! If you're not doing anything tomorrow, I've got something I'd like to show you. It's Saturday so you don't have to worry about missing school."

"Um…okay."

"Great! How about I pick you up at noon?"

"Okay then." Orihime agreed, before looking out the window. "Oh! The rain's stopped. I guess it's safe for you to go home now."

"Yeah, I guess I better get home before my dad makes a fool of himself trying to find me. Thanks for the tea!"

"Anytime!" Orihime beamed.

"Don't forget tomorrow!"

"I won't!" She promised. Thinking to herself I couldn't even if I wanted to…