Author's notes: Okay, so this story was originally going to be just the one chapter but I noticed that a few people had alerted it (thank you!) and I realised at work today that I could stretch the idea out a bit. And then I thought about Ichigo's and Rukia's reactions to the hat and giggled and then a couple of customers stared at me as though I were crazy (actually, they're probably correct). Anyway, YAY MORE FLUFF! :D

Thank you for the kind reviews, favourites and alerts. I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter! I almost certainly won't post any more after this, though. It's completed. :)


Orihime spent the next few days wearing her hat, puzzled by the fact that while it didn't seem to do anything to stop Uryu from looking at her, it seemed to attract the attention of everybody else in her class.

Perhaps, Orihime reasoned, the myth about cloves of garlic scaring off vampires wasn't correct after all. It wasn't even beyond the realms of possibility that the presence of garlic simply attracted everybody, making the attentions of vampires seem less extreme by comparison.

Yes, she thought. That must be it! After all, everybody loves the smell of garlic, right? And I could have been wrong about the whole aliens-and-circles thing, perhaps the book said that aliens liked the symmetry of circles. I don't really remember.

After three days of wearing her hat, she was approached by Rukia during lunch when the classroom was nearly empty.

"Hey, Orihime, I have to ask - what's with the hat?"

Orihime smiled at her friend. "Oh, okay, well you know how Uryu wants to eat my face?"

Ichigo suddenly cut in from across the room. "It took you that long to notice? He's about as subtle as a brick to the fa..."

However, before he could finish, Rukia slammed her textbook in Ichigo's visage with all the force she could muster. "Oh, you're a fine one to talk about subtlety, Ichigo!" she exclaimed in disbelief. "Go on, Orihime."

"Okay, I'm only telling you this because I know you won't spread it and I don't think Uryu would mind you knowing, but he's an alien vampire," Orihime said under her breath.

"No," Ichigo interrupted loudly. "He's in l..."

"Shut up, Ichigo!" Rukia yelled, swiftly kicking Ichigo in the shins. Orihime watched patiently as the two broke into a brawl, hurling small objects at each other and bickering loudly, before she cleared her throat softly and the two stopped and looked at her.

"Better," Orihime said, smiling gently. "Now, I made the hat so that Uryu wouldn't be tempted to drink my blood or eat me or anything," Orihime continued serenely. "Uryu's my friend, I don't want him to become a cannibal on my part! That's what the garlic and circles are for."

At that, Ichigo just gave up and let the mirth he had been holding in escape, bursting from his mouth in peals of raucous laughter. Rukia gave him a disgusted look, before turning back to Orihime. "Okay," she said warmly, ignoring the hysterical Ichigo. "Do you think it's working?" she asked, a hint of a smile playing about her mouth.

Orihime shrugged. "I really don't know," she said, frowning slightly. "I mean, he's been watching me more than ever, but then again so has everybody else."

Rukia shrugged, the smile still adorning her face. "Well, perhaps you should ask him about that," she said vaguely.

"Good idea!" Orihime responded, reaching into her pocket and withdrawing a spool of sky-blue thread. "I needed to see Uryu anyway," she said thoughtfully. "He was complaining about not being able to find this colour the other day when he needed it."

"I'm sure he'll be pleased," Rukia said kindly, as she glanced up at the classroom door, which was opening slowly. "Actually, that looks like his silhouette. Ichigo, why don't I help you with that homework that's due in next period?"

Ichigo scowled. "Eh, I finished it last night," he said, yawning. "I probably did a better job of it than you would, anyway..."

However, before he could say any more, Rukia had seized him by the hair and dragged him, protesting, back over to the other side of the classroom, just as Uryu entered.

Orihime watched Rukia and Ichigo curiously, before turning her attention to the newcomer. "Hi, Uryu!" she said enthusiastically, frantically waving at him. Uryu turned faintly red, and behind her Orihime heard the sounds of Ichigo sniggering, and what sounded like a mild thump.

"Good afternoon, Orihime," Uryu said quietly, making his way over to his desk and nodding at Ichigo and Rukia in acknowledgement. "Do you mind if I sit here? It's just that I can't find anywhere peaceful to sew; Keigo Asano has taken to following me around with a compressed-air horn and I doubt he would think to look for me in a classroom," he finished, pushing his glasses further up his nose.

"No, not at all!" Orihime stated. "Actually, I have something for you, seeing as you couldn't find it yourself the other day." Uryu's eyes widened in surprise and his face turned a slightly darker hue as Orihime pulled out the spool of cotton and held it out in front of him. "You can take this! Use as much as you like, and you can give it back whenever you're done. Actually, I don't even mind if you keep it, I have another just like it at home..."

"You're too kind, Orihime," Uryu said, a slight smile hidden behind his hand as he once again pushed up his glasses. "Thank you."

Orihime felt the gazes of Ichigo and Rukia on her as she noticed Uryu leaning towards her, his face getting closer and closer to hers. Orihime widened her eyes in astonishment as she felt Uryu's lips on her cheek, lingering for a second or two before he hastily retreated, yet again pushing his glasses up his nose. Orihime let out a breath.

"It worked!" she exclaimed triumphantly, as Uryu turned away slightly, his face still hidden by his hand, and Ichigo burst into incredulous laughter yet again.

"What, you were trying to make Uryu kiss you?" he asked, and Orihime noticed Uryu's face taking on the approximate colour of a tomato.

Orihime frowned. "What are you talking about, Ichigo? Uryu didn't kiss me," she explained, turning around and seeing both Ichigo and Rukia giving her a strange look. "He tried to start eating my face, and the garlic and circles stopped him before he could get any further!" She turned back to Uryu. "Right, Uryu?"

The tomato in question removed his glasses and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Right, Orihime," he said, a slight hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Oh, I give up," Rukia declared in resignation, strolling out of the classroom.