I Hate That I Love You – CH 3: Aching Heart

It was one of those days when I'd walk by Orihime Inoue's room. A stroll through these halls always got me something to do instead of waiting until night to sleep, or lunch to sit with a couple of nut-jobs. The girl was a thrill. Like that time I heard Loly and Melony beating the princess; it got me to beat all three of them. I wondered what I'd catch next… I could sense her familiar scent from a mile, and I was approaching it. Although, I didn't sense Ulquiorra—he's doing a crappy job as a bodyguard again. With my usual stance, I'd walk by and risk it. But this time I had a grin stretched across my face.

I heard her little footsteps echo in the halls. As soon as she saw me, I heard her heart rate accelerate, almost thumping violently. She paused there for a while, thinking over if it was a good idea to cross my path. After a few moments, Orihime decided to go with her original plan to walk pass. I peered at her underneath my eye lashes. The girl ducked her head and folded her hands neatly in front of her. Her eyebrows were knitted together in worry. As we closed the space between us, that heart was racing. We kept walking until our backs were facing each other. She sighed in relief and her thumper slowed. She was scared of me—I liked that idea. At the same time, it was no help in achieving my game.

"Hey," I said, stopping on my tracks without looking back.

She jumped out of her skin. Once again, her heart quickened. Orihime turned around unwillingly, not sure if I was calling for her, although, there was nobody else in these hallways.

"Yeah, you." I looked behind me and grinned at the sight of her grimace. "Hey, Hime-chan."

"Oh. H-Hello, Grimmjow-san," she stuttered. The girl bowed at me—from her head to her torso in a stiff manner. She respected me too; that was a bonus.

"You look a little… shaken," I commented nonchalantly.

"I do? Sorry."

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm just going to roam around the building for a bit," she answered.

"That's too bad. I was going to hang around you for the afternoon." I kept my tone light.

Her eyes widened with surprise. "R-Really?"

"Yeah… but, I can find someone else. You can continue." I began to turn around…

"Wait, Grimmjow-san!" she called after me.

Just as I suspected from an air-head like her. "Hm?" I asked, looking back and raising both eyebrows.

"It'll be better if someone keeps me company." She smiled weakly.

Just like that, I was invited in her room. A small window hung above a nice couch, her bed was queen-sized, and there was a small dresser with a round mirror next to the door… All these things were better than what I had: A seven-foot mattress that didn't even fit two of me, a beaten up old couch that had metal springs popping where you least expected it and a three and a half (yes, a half) legged table that attracted dust.

"Nice," I muttered. Then I settled into the couch at once. It squeaked softly when I threw myself on it—it was comfortable too.

She sat at the armrest to my right and remained silent. Then I decided to ask her one of the questions I pondered about for a while now.

"I want to ask you something—How do you know my name?"

Orihime blinked twice. "Is that a problem for you? I had no idea—" she said in a small voice.

I interrupted her. "Never said that."

"Well… If you want to know… I asked for it. From Ulquiorra, I mean," she replied.

I guess she was wondering what her "friend's" name was, nothing more. It still bothered me that she actually asked for it. I'm nothing special. Nobody needed to know who I was.

Thirty seconds of silence passed by.

I broke it. "So what made you change your mind, woman?" I had to ask, even if I knew she was an air-head. Maybe I just wanted to start a conversation. I studied her face as I waited for an answer.

One of my brows rose when she gave me a sheepish smile. "I guess I'm trying to get along with people too hard." She laughed at herself.

Then we went back to not speaking again for a while. Maybe she was scared to say the wrong things to me. The girl only talked when I asked her questions. I always thought she wanted to say more when she explained something, because she'd stop talking between sentences.

Soon, it was too silent, and I was going no where with the game. I hated how she watched me from the corner of her eye—possibly seeing if I was going to suddenly spring up and attack her. So I brought up a topic that popped into my head…

"How 'bout your… friends? Do they know you're here?"

Her left hand twitched when I said this. "I don't think they know my exact location, but I'm sure they have noticed that I'm missing… I left here without saying goodbye. Well, I did… but it wasn't a proper one. I said goodbye to Ichi-" She stopped short again.

"Are they coming?" I asked absently, cracking my knuckles.

"Huh?"

"To rescue you. Quit being such a dumb ass about these things," I said, scowling at her.

"I don't know," Orihime said quietly. "They shouldn't." She swallowed back a lump full of tears.

"Why not?" I was puzzled. This place wasn't getting to her yet? Even I wanted to get out of here.

"Because I'm here to protect them. It wouldn't make sense if they came and took me. I think I was bringing them down anyway," she replied.

"Which friend would most likely come here? Kurosaki?"

I noticed something when his name was mentioned. The girl flinched. Simillar to what a person would do if they were given the news their house had been robbed. "Y-Yes, I think so," she answered.

"You do know that once Aizen is done with you, he's going to throw you out the window like damned garbage," I told her without looking up.

She didn't jump from her spot as much as last time. That was odd. "Yes, I know… Sometimes I feel like I deserve to be thrown out."

"How's Kurosaki going feel about that?" I questioned with a snicker. In the process of winning the game, it looks like I'm also going to find out if she does like the Substitute Shinigami. It would only make this more interesting.

"I don't know, because he shouldn't have to find out if I'm thrown out or not. That might anger him. I'm not very sure… I've seen him when he loses a battle. He only sulks for a day or two," she replied.

"Is he some sort of avenger? I'd love to see him lose while Aizen doesn't lift a finger. The big man has some scary reiatsu." I laughed wildly just to annoy her.

"No!" she shouted. The chick had a lot more volume in her voice than I thought she could summon. "He shouldn't fight for me anymore! He'll be safer that way!" I saw the tears shimmering in her eyes. Orihime's hands were into fists and on her lap.

I knew what was going on. She obviously had emotion towards him. Kurosaki fights for her, and she doesn't like that. So now she's here, thinking she's protecting him. Wrong. Her powers are being used against him and everyone else. She's too god damn stupid to realize that. I was sure she loved him. That look in her grey eyes had suggested that to me. She didn't have to tell me to know. Though, he doesn't love her back. It seemed that way to me. The way she was crying like that, it approved my theory.

Orihime Inoue lives through each day with an aching heart.

A/N: In this chapter, they've gotten to know each other a bit more. Here's a hint for the next chapter: a battle between Grimmjow and Ulquiorra. Don't miss it!