A/N: Alternate Universe Ichigo/Orihime

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"Run away with me."

Startled orange-brown eyes met her companion's amber orbs. She could swear that his gaze was boring into her. It was so intense. "W-what?" She asked, thinking she must have misheard him.

"You heard me. What's keeping you here?"

He had a point. What was keeping her in Karakura? She had no family. Tatsuki had all her international karate competitions and was rarely here anymore. She had just graduated high school but couldn't afford college so she would just be here working at a dead end job.

"But Kurosaki-kun-" He interrupted.

"I told you to call me Ichigo, Orihime."

She blushed before correcting herself. "But Ichigo-kun, what would I do in the circus?"

The circus acrobat shrugged. "I don't know. There's a lot of behind the scenes stuff you could do. Or you could do nothing. It doesn't matter to me whether you're in the circus or not. I just want you with me."

Orihime sighed and pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her head on her knees. She watched the roadies take down the circus tents and pack up the carnival stands. Tomorrow, Urahara's Circus was leaving Karakura after a month in the small town. "This is all very sudden Ichigo-kun."

"Falling in love with you was very sudden too." Ichigo rebutted, lying down on the top of his trailer where the couple was sitting. He patted the spot beside him before crossing his arms behind his head, looking at the stars.

Orihime lied next to him, resting her head on his chest. "Do you….do you ever get lonely? Don't you ever want a home that's not on wheels? Don't you sometimes wish you could be normal?" She asked.

He would have shrugged had he not been lying down. "I don't know any different. I'm 5th generation of circus. To me, this is normal." He wrapped his arm around the petite auburn haired girl. "And why would I be lonely? My sisters and I are in the same flying act so we're together all the time. And Dad is here too. And I have friends you know. Circus is family, we're all close."

"I miss having a family." Orihime confided.

"Then come with me." Ichigo responded.

"It's not that simple." She mumbled.

"It is that simple. You love me, right?" He asked.

She sat up so she could look into his eyes. "Of course I do. I love you more than anything. Which might sound silly since I've only known you for a month, but it's the truth."

He smiled. Hearing her say that always put a smile on his face. He sat up too, gripping her hand. "Then come with me."

She blinked and looked down at their intertwined hands. "Okay."

His grin widened. "Okay?"

She nodded. "Let's run away together!"

Tatsuki-chan was going to be mad. But the next time the circus came to Karakura, she would make sure to introduce them. Tatsuki-chan would like Ichigo-kun. And even if she didn't like him, once Tatsuki saw his abs she would understand. Apparently, acrobatics was great exercise.

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A/N: I really like writing these shorter one shots, so expect many more! Please review!