A/N: Ah, sorry for the long wait guys (Yes, I realise I still have yet to update Cataclysm... but it's coming. Maybe P Make sure to check out my other story, Regret, which is dedicated to my all time favourite pairing (GinxRangiku 3). I only have one chapter up atm, but I'll write in when I'm in the mood!
Akihiko - brilliant prince
Cheese Maiden - Haha, I apologize for the cliffy. I suppose it's up to the reader to choose whether to notice that or not, but nice eye )
Snowleaf - Ohhh, I knowww!!! glomps as well
Darkenshadowfire - Hehe, thanks for the review!
Fahyed - Aw, thanks for the support. I think Hollow Ichigo is just such a cool character, and Orihime really is sugoi! I hope you get a chance to see how great she isss (maaanga!!!)
Mikomimaru - Hehe, well I guess you get to see what it'll be in this chapter. It took me a while to decide on something, and I realise it's a bit cheesy, but it really fits if you think about it!
WinterXInnocence - Aw, thanks! Hearing people say that really motivates me to write!
Disclaimer: As hard as I wish, I do not own Bleach.
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"Ow! Stop that!" the hollow muttered under his breath as he was suddenly pushed onto his behind by the shinigami. "Just 'cause I said I'd go along with it, didn't mean I'd let you push me around..." Ichigo rolled his eyes at the man's lack of common sense. "Now, if it were the princess, that'd be a different story..."
The hollow got a punch to the face immediately, and Orihime blushed slightly, kneeling down next to the hollow. She noticed that his nose was bleeding slightly, and it seemed so strange with the contrast of his skin. "Tch, you bastard..."
"Yeah, yeah. You just stay quiet and let us get our job done." Ichigo complained, pointing Zangetsu in his direction.
"Umm... Please just stay still," Orihime pleaded to the man as he fidgited slightly. When they met eyes, she quickly averted her gaze to the floor. It was just too indimidated to see someone that looked exactly like Ichigo this close. "Shonou, Ayame; Souten Kishun, I reject!"
"The hell?" the white-haired hollow exclaimed as a golden glow began to cover him, creating a sort of barrier. He didn't like this. Something told him it was too late to go back now. He had always hated being cornered. Ever since he had been created, the hollow had always been ordered around. Zangetsu, Ichigo, they always both just used him as if he were their slave. Of course, he really never had a choice in the matter, as he couldn't do much either way. It was more interesting then sitting around all day. That went without saying.
"My powers work as a sort of... reversal process. Each of the petals represent one of my powers," Orihime smiled slightly, trying to take his comment as more of a question than an insult. "I usually use this power to heal."
"Uh huh," the hollow muttered, laying back and resting his chin on his open hand. "How long is this gonna take?"
"I-I don't really know..." she replied, lowering her head slightly to avoid his piercing gaze. He sighed, turning his gaze over to his look-a-like, who was sitting cross-legged with a smirk covering his face.
"What're you grinning 'bout, King?" the hollow spat at the orange-haired shinigami. Ichigo laughed slightly at the others' irritation before answering.
"It's just so funny to see you so vulnerable. I'd never expect you to willingly give in." he spoke softly, realising how unrealistic the entire situation actually was. "Further, I'd never expect you to surrender so easily to a woman."
"Tch, you don't know me very well then," the hollow teased, his face twisting into a creepy grin. "I'd sooner surrender to a woman then to someone like you." Orihime's face was slightly flushed as she continued her work. She really hated being talked about so indirectly, but she could be in a few worse situations at the moment.
The time passed slowly, and the silence grew uncomfortable during her work, except for the rare disputes that raged between the two look-a-likes. Zangetsu remained quiet throughout the whole night, and Orihime began to realise that this was perhaps normal behavior for him.
After what seemed like hours, Ichigo finally stood up, informing her that they should be getting back. Regardless of the fact that no time passed in this world, time was still moving in the real world, and it was probably just nearing dinnertime. She returned her Shun Shun Rika, and stood up, backing a few steps away from the hollow. Orihime was much less comfortable around him when the barrier wasn't there, even if it didn't offer any protection.
"Come again sometime. It was charming, really," the hollow grinned sarcastically, letting out a lazy yawn as the made their departure back to the world of the living.
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"Hey, Inoue-san?" Ichigo spoke while gathering his schoolbags from her livingroom.
"Yes, Kurosaki-kun?" she returned, standing a few feet away from the door with her hands behind her back. He stood up and looked her straight in the eyes, regardless of his obvious height advantage.
He scanned her face, noticing her full features, her large grey eyes shining brightly from the lights in the room. Did she always look so frail, so scared? He shook his head slightly, dismissing his concern as he walked over to her.
"Thanks," he concluded simply, giving her a small kiss on the cheek before opening the door and leaving. Orihime's eyes shot open at the contact, and she felt her face heat up to the temperature of a furnace. She raised her left hand and brushed the cheek he had kissed he on slightly, doing her best not to let out a small giggle of excitement.
"Anytime, Kurosaki-kun."
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"Morning, Inoue-san," Ishida smiled charmingly as he walked up to her at her desk. His dark hair slightly shrouded his eyes, but a soft blush faintly covered his pale skin.
"Morning Ishida-kun!" she chirped happily, tucking her orange hair behind her right ear. He sat down in the desk next to herself, hanging his bookbag off the corner of his chair.
"So, where have you been all the time lately? It seems are if we never get to see you anymore."
"A-ah, I've been spending time with Kurosaki-kun lately. You know, just hanging out and stuff," she spoke absently, not noticing the frown that appeared on the man's face. She turned towards him, peering harshly into his face.
"I'm sorry I haven't been around. It's probably been really tough for you without Kuchiki-san..." she did her best to cut herself off before she finished, but failed miserably. She brought her hand up to her mouth, letting out a small gasp, "Oh, I'm sorry Ishida-kun! I shouldn't have said that out loud!" Inoue then began to palm herself in the forehead, muttering something about how tired she was.
He watched her, an extremely confused expression on his face as he wondered what she might have meant by him missing Rukia. Of course he missed her, but surely not as much as someone like Ichigo did. He shrugged it off, turning forward just in time to see a rampaging Tatsuki run into the room, stopping abrubtly at the girl's desk.
"Orihime!!! Is it true what I heard that you've been spending all of your days afterschool with Ichigo!?" she demanded, smoke literally bursting out of her ears from irritation and misguided ideas.
"Eeeh?" she replied simply, not at all sure how to respond to her enraged friend. "U-ummm... Hai?" Tatsuki (along with many other female characters in the classroom) let out a gasp of alarm. Just in the nick of time, Kurosaki Ichigo walked through the door, carrying his pack over his shoulders, curious as to what all the commotion was about.
"You bastard..." she fumed, raising a fist towards the orange-haired boy. Seeing the teacher walk into the room, hitting Ichigo on the head with her attendance book, Tatsuki walked to the desk behind Orihime and sat, glaring at Ichigo.
"Yosh! Looks like everyone is here and in good health!" the teacher exclaimed loudly, obviously missing the three empty seats in the back row. A few people gaped in disbelief, but most just smirked softly, beginning to see the pattern in their sensei's attitude.
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"Kurosaki-kun... Are you feeling alright?"
Ichigo looked up from the ground ahead of him towards Orihime, and his eyes met with her grey ones. "Huh? Yeah, of course I am." She nodded slowly, turning back to the road, biting her bottom lip softly. "Why do you ask?"
"I-iie, I just thought you looked a little pale..." she muttered softly, holding her bag in front of her with both hands. Ichigo shrugged slightly, dismissing her concern as they entered her house once again.
"Kurosaki-kun, isn't your family a little suspicious of you coming over here every day?" Orihime inquired, locking the door once both of them were in.
"They haven't said anything. Why?"
"O-oh. Nothing."
"Inoue-san, what's wrong? It sounds to me like you're stalling..." Her looked down at her, crossing his arms sternly. "What's wrong?"
She plopped down on her soft couch, grasping her hands together tightly before answering. "Umm... Well, I guess I'm just a bit nervous to go back there." As much as she hated to admit her fears to the one person she thought was invincible, she continued, "that man frightens me."
Ichigo sat down next to her, trying to think of the best way to consol her without having her draw back. As much as he didn't want her to be hurt, it was too far to stop now. "Inoue-san... When I was only about two years old, I was always afraid of the rain. You know why?" She looked over towards him, interest covering her eyes as a little child would look when a story was being read to them.
"When I was two, I never knew what rain was. I never knew how it worked, or what it was called. Now I know that it's nothing to be afraid of, because I understand it." Her grey eyes slowly filled with understanding, realising what the orange-haired boy was trying to portray with his story.
"I think I get what you mean. Thank you Kurosaki-kun. I think I'm ready to start again."
Orihime said nothing at all after this, while Ichigo constantly tried to imagine what she might be thinking. Different ideas racked her brain at the same time until she disappeared into the darkness she was slowly becoming used to.
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"Back again I see?" the hollow smirked, seeing his new "friends" appear before his eyes. "It seems like you never left."
"I know what you mean," Ichigo groaned, pointing to the spot where the hollow was to sit. "Lets get this over with so I don't have to see your face again." The white-haired man's face twisted into a frown, almost as if he were to spit in Ichigo's direction. Orihime went to kneel beside him, placing her hands on her temples to call her Shun Shun Rika.
"Yes, now please stay still, Akihiko," a small smile set on her lips as she spoke the name she had created for him. Ichigo raised an eyebrow at her, and the hollow nearly mimicked it right after. She blushed as she looked to the floor (or more precisely, window). "Shonou, Ayame; Souten Kishun, I reject!"