Orihime awakened in the morning by hearing some strange noises, so she take quickly a robe and she wrapped it around her body after what she went to see what was happening. It seemed that the noise came from Ichigo who was making his morning training. Orihime blushed when she saw him shirtless doing crunches. Although she was a star famous, she saw enough guys in her life, but his body was one of the most well crafted. "He looks pretty good when he is determined to do what he proposes" she thought and a sweet smile covered her face. Seeing him like that she could not stop herself to wonder why he chose this job. Urahara had not told her many things about the orange haired boy, but she knows that he hates stars and the old man had warned her that it would be better not to insist on this, but still the pleasure of the forbidden fruit caused her to want to investigate more. She spent several minutes sitting on a chair and watching carefully his training. After some time her stomach began to make sounds disclosing her position. Ichigo raised up immediately and he explored the surroundings with his gaze and he can not help himself to smile when his gaze met her innocent look. Ichigo placed a towel around his neck in order to erase the traces of his work.
"Morning, I thought you were not already awake." he said while he was continuing his work.
"Good morning, I just woke up and um ... I did not want to bother you. Do you train often?" Orihime tried to distract herself to not stare at him, and the discussion is a good starting point. Fortunately it seems that this topic seems to be to his liking.
"Yes, twice or three times a day. It never hurts to be prepared enough." he said after what he tried to find his T-shirt.
"You have probably someone important to protect because who you're training so much." Her words had no trace of malice, just simple curiosity, but even that made him to break accidentally his T-shirt. Orihime's eyes widened and she ran towards him taking his shirt remains in her hands. "Oh no, I'm so sorry. I did not want that to happen. I know a person who's very good at making clothes and he can make you one like it again." But Ichigo took from her hands the fabric pieces and he throw them in the trash. His gaze was a sad one, and that meant that it wasn't just an object for him. Orihime felt very bad now, but Ichigo started talking to prevent her to say other things.
"It's nothing. It's just a simple T-shirt, who cares?" he said while his eyes were still fixed on trash.
"Ichigo ..." she said more whispering because she didn't wanted to hurt more his feelings.
"Your breakfast is on the table. I woke up too early so I prepared something for both of us." he said moving his gaze to the kitchen.
It seemed like Ichigo had prepared some pancakes with strawberries and although they were her favorites Orihime were not allowed to eat them in order to not gain weight, but she still can make a small exception for his sake.
"Thank you." She said she then gave to him a sweet kiss on his cheek. Her gesture of affection have no impact on the boy who remained unmoved from his position.
Orihime understood that it would be the best to ignore his attitude and to continue her program as usual. She sat at the table with her laptop and she checked her emails while she was eating her breakfast. It seemed that many fans took the time to wish her good luck in her new project and to show their appreciation for her. At her beginning of carrier it was easy to answer to all of them because there weren't so many, but now they were simply overwhelmed her.
The girl giggled when she opened an email in which was a picture of her and Grimmjow and his face was cut. The letter was written: "You're perfect, but you must do something to get rid of the sucker. '
Her laughter made Ichigo to turn his gaze on the screen and he was amused that at least one person had a good taste. Orihime smiled feeling his presence and she turned to face him to thank him for the pancakes.
"Thank you, Ichigo. They were delicious. I did not know that you're cooking." she said while she was eating the last piece of her breakfast.
"Tsh .. it not big deal. I learned to do many things over time. Being a bodyguard is not as simple as it seems and I do not spend much time in a single place." The girl looked sad at his remark so he tried to change the subject. "It does not matter, I love that I can travel everywhere, meet new people and that nothing is never the same."
"I understand," she said looking lost in her plate. "It was the same thing that I thought at first. My parents quarreled often, and my father used to be very violent, especially with me. I lived with fear during the time until Sora became major and he managed to take me with him. We had not too much money at first, and my brother was not able to find a stable job because he had to take care of me so we moved often from town to town. Eventually we arrived in this town, this is where I started my career. I played at first in a piece of charity and in public was a famous director who was looking for a young talent and he took me under his wing. And all started then. I was happy because I was traveling and in the same time because my brother was with me, but it's sad to travel all the time without having a place where you return." A tear escaped on her face, but she removed it immediately. "It was very hard to travel all the time, the friends what I was starting to know, they disappeared because the film production ended and we were not able to keep the touch because we were busy with others projects. I could not go to a regular school. I had to have teachers around me to teach me the necessary knowledge for a normal child. Although a child's dream is usually to become famous I never felt fulfilled. Anyway it was somehow acceptable as long my brother lived, but after he died my whole life changed. And it was not better. But everything ended well when I found a reason to fight. " Orihime turned her gaze back on him and she was surprised by his attention, he was listening to every word. She didn't told this story to anyone so she do not know how to interpret his reaction, but somehow she felt like he accepted her like she is. Maybe that was the reason why she told him her story. The boy said nothing, he was just looking at her face. Her face was calm, peaceful, happy. She probably suffered greatly to be able now to say her story in this way. He understood her. Her story somehow resembled to his, but unlike her he never was alone whatever the situation was. His family was always there and her story made him somehow to respect her more. Orihime raised herself, making him to realize that he been lost in his own thoughts and he was not aware of the notion of time.
After that she left the dishes in the sink and she went into the room to change her clothes. Orihime dressed in a white shirt with floral designs a pair of blue jeans and a pair of converse. After about 15 minutes, during which she caught his hair in a ponytail, she came back in the kitchen. Ichigo changed himself too. He was wearing a pair of camouflage pants, a green shirt and a brown leather jacket. Around his neck was wearing a kind of talisman with a tusk. On it was written something with small letters, but she couldn't see well. She was wondering why she had not noticed it until now, it seems important for him. The girl winced when Ichigo looked at her like he was examining her.
"So where are we going today?" He said cutting off the awkward silence between them.
"Hm .. You do not have to go with me today, you can you take a day off." Said the girl while she was taking a purse from the peg.
"That is out of discussion." He said, taking the purse from her hands. Orihime made big eyes when she saw his gesture. It was not ordinary for people to disagree with her and especially to act without her permission. "I'm here to protect you and I can not do that if I do not stay with you." Orihime blushed when she met his determined gaze. It somehow made her feel like he likes her presence and that somehow warmed her heart. Ichigo looked strange when he saw her sudden changes of behavior and Orihime began to shake her hands chaotic to distract him to not say something else.
"You do not need to be with me everywhere, probably it's stressful for you." She said trying to justify her behavior.
"Tsh .. That's my job. I'm supposed to worry about that, not you. Now no more complaints, we should go." Orihime smiled and she followed him out the door. She began to like him increasingly more.
After they left the hotel building they started to walk on the streets totally random for Ichigo, although the girl seemed to know what she does. The orange haired girl was very concentrated on the road indications. They stopped more times on the road because Orihime had been recognized by several fans and she needed to give them some autographs. Although the most celebrities would have ignored them or they would be treated them with cold attitude, she was not like that.
After a few brief autograph sessions the two finally reached the right place. Ichigo was still surprised that the place where Orihime wanted so badly to go was only a small dojo in the suburb. Orihime seemed to have no doubt and she entered happy on the building's door, followed eventually by Ichigo. The dojo was an ordinary, nothing special. The moment when the orange haired girl entered two boys were having a fight, but the fight stopped immediately when they saw Orihime. The vast majority of boys, if not all began to salivate what disgusted Ichigo. The girl seemed to not be bothered by them, she even seemed to see nothing of what was happening around her. Her gaze was focused on a girl with a boyish look that seemed to watch the match. The tomboy was surprised to see her here. Orihime was enthusiasm and she ran toward her jumping in her arms. The brunette girl's behavior was still so accustomed to her so she managed to remain on her feet despite the heavy impact. All the guys were surprised that their master was so close to another person.
"Tatsuki-chan, I'm so happy to see you. It's been so long." Orihime said while she was hugging her increasingly stronger.
"I'm glad to see you, Hime, but I need some air." The brunette said pointing to her neck area. Orihime released and she began to chuckle to distract the attention from what she did before. All eyes were on them and that annoyed Tatsuki so she led Ichigo and Orihime into another room to talk quietly. Orihime giggled when she recognize the room and she remembered how many things they did together here. Ichigo took a chair and he moved it in a corner of the room to offer more space for the girls. The brunette sat at a small table, in the middle of the room, and Orihime followed her gesture.
"And why are you in town, Hime?" asked the girl while she was trying to find a better position on the chair.
"I have to shoot a new movie and the action will take place mostly here so I'll stay here for a while. I remember that you told me to visit you in case that I will be here so here am I." she said while she was scratching her neck in an attempt to not make any exaggerated gesture.
"I understand, I'm glad you've remembered and you came here." Tatsuki said smiling before she moved her gaze on the boy. "What's with that monkey?" said she pointing to Ichigo.
If they were in other conditions Ichigo would have felt offended and he would have acted appropriately, but over time he learned to not be so effervescent when someone calls him like that. Perhaps he would have done the same if he were in their place. Orihime blushed a little then she smiled strange while she was trying to explain the situation.
"He's Ichigo. He's my bodyguard. He will be around me for a while. Sorry I've not told anything about it." Tatsuki's eyes enlarged and she became increasingly interested about the story behind the new boy.
"Why would you need a bodyguard? What happened?"
"Nothing yet," she answered somewhat nervous. "I need him just because I had a bad feeling lately and you know ... It never hurts to be too prepared." She said trying to smile encouragingly. Tatsuki knew her too well and she knew that's more than just a hunch behind her actions, so she didn't asked her more at the moment because Orihime maybe didn't wanted to reveal the real reason in his face.
"Yes, you're right. But I think ..." and the discussion was interrupted by some noises from the hall. Tatsuki went to check what happened and she saw how everyone was fighting on the premise that the winner will be the one who will invite Orihime to a date. Tatsuki slapped herself hating the fact that boys can be so stupid, after which she returned to the two.
"Sorry, Hime, but I had to go back to the rest. Try to use the back door."
"Did something happen?" Orihime asked worried.
"Nothing important, the guys just don't know how to behave when they see a girl." Orihime blushed a little ashamed that she caused troubles to her friend.
"Sorry, Tatsuki-chan, I ..."
"It's nothing." The brunette interrupted. "It would be better to leave until these idiots will break the door to search you." She said with a amused smile.
"I'm happy that I saw you, Tatsuki-chan. I hope that I will meet soon." the girl said after what she embraced her again.
"Hime, you know how I feel about the break ups like this." said tomboy with a serious look on her face what made Orihime to laugh embarrassed by her gesture. Tatsuki sighed, then a smile printed on the face and she placed her hand on her shoulder. "Take care, Hime. Please take care. You don't know what can happen."
"I will." The girl said with a bright smile. "See you soon, Tatsuki-chan."
"See you."
The two leave the dojo and the brunette was looking at them till they exited to ensure herself that all will be fine.
On the road
Orihime smiled and she went this time next to Ichigo. After a few minutes Orihime realized that the atmosphere was a little quiet between them and she turned her gaze on him. She blushed when she saw that he was staring at her.
"Ichigo, is it something wrong?" She asked trying to find out why he's looking at her in that way.
"Huh?" He asked shocked at her question, then he looked around and he saw that they were no longer in the dojo. It seemed that he again thought too much. Orihime giggled seeing his expression. After a few moments Ichigo put his thoughts in order and he formulated a question to excuse his strange behavior. "What's the deal about the girl at the dojo?"
"Do you mean at Tatsuki-chan? She's my best friend and I wanted to visit for a long time, but I was so busy that it was simply impossible. When I learned that the filming will take place in this city I was happy I can meet her again. "
"Are you best friends?" He asked like he heard the most unlikely thing in the world. His reaction made Orihime to giggle, amused by how ordinary people see their relationship.
"Yes, it's so hard to believe?" She asked with a innocent look.
"Well, yeah. You're just opposite. Perhaps something happened between you what made you to become so close." Ichigo's gaze was fixed in the distance and he was unable to see the sad smile that formed on her face.
"Yes, you're right. It's a pretty old story. "said she, after what she took a big mouth of air to help her to continue her monologue. Orihime wanted to open her mouth again to continue the story but she was interrupted by the appearance some motorcyclists who stopped in front of them. Ichigo jumped in front of her without any trace of hesitation, to protect her from the strange individuals. One of the motorcyclists take off his helmet and Ichigo could see behind the helmet was none other than a woman with green hair. She had a strange tattoo on her neck which attracted his attention, but not for long because she took care to hide it. Ichigo's gaze moved again over her face and he realized that she's a strong person does not think twice when she decided to take a person's life. The girl grinned like the scene in front of it would have provided to her an incredible pleasure.
"Well, well, what we have here. Orihime you never told me never about your new friend. I feel offended, I would like so much to know him and I'm sure Aizen-sama would be of the same opinion." she said while she was searching for an object inside her jacket.
"I do not know who the hell you are, but it would be better to disappear before you will have problems with me." Said Ichigo then he moved himself in a fight position. His gesture made her eyes to shine and the orange haired boy could feel that her desire for blood increased. Her desire managed to immobilize some of his muscles. 'Who the hell are they? "He asked himself, trying to understand the situation.
"Oh, boy now I understand everything." Said the woman with green hair right after she took the letter out and she started to move it in the air. "Orihime you did not tell him anything about us, didn't you?" Asked the woman trying to see her face reaction, but it was impossible to see it how long she was hidden behind him. Judging by the silence of the girl, the woman smiled triumphantly, which put Ichigo on more thoughts about why is he here. "I understand that you didn't. That's really funny." She said, then she threw the letter in his hands
The boy caught it and he looked strange at the piece of paper what has just landed in his hands. His gaze moved on woman when she approached to him and she tried to touch him, but he hit her hand, which made the other riders to get off the motorcycles and to prepare to fight. The woman raised a hand up, making them a sign to stop. Ichigo became more aware that the situation was increasingly worse, but he maintained his cool attitude to not give to the strange woman any reasons to suspect his concern. She grinned, enjoying the new discovered toy in front of her. "Look boy, how the things are. Here we are playing more important things than your rank of defender of the justice. If you know what's good for you I'd recommend you return back to your family, to your life and to forget everything what happened here. Do you understand? "she asked with a sadistically smile.
"And if I do not?" He asked, maintaining his decision to protect her. His answer fascinated the woman, and her smile became more evil.
"I guess you will find that out next time we will meet, pretty boy." She said, then put her helmet back on her head and she headed towards the others. Before the woman climbed on the motorcycle she threw to him a silver bullet, after what she winked to him "Until we will meet again." The motorcyclists disappeared in a cloud of black smoke, and Ichigo carefully examined the objects from his hands. It seemed that his mission had become more dangerous than he could ever imagined, and Orihime definitely has some explaining to do.