A/N: Sorry for the long wait! I've been slowly working on this chapter, and I started another fic, "And We All Have Hell." So check that out if you haven't! I'll start picking up the pace on that one as well. As for this fic, it's starting to get good, I think.
Please, please, please, read and review! Reviews give me so much inspiration to keep going!
This is going to be short, and I'm sorry for that. I just have so little time! Next week is christmas break, so expect more!
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Far, away from it all, you and me with no one else around
A brand new start is all we need, it's all we need to mend these hearts
Back to the beginning;
Be still
Let it go
Before we lost hope, when we still touched and love wasn't so hard
Be still, I already know
Foolish one with the smile, you don't have to be brave every time we fall down
-but we're falling from grace
I'll gladly climb your walls, if you'll meet me halfway
Here's my hand and my heart
It's yours to take
Be Still. – Kelly Clarkson.
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Ichigo walked out of sight, stopping some meters away from the couple behind him. He scowled, angry at how the evening had just turned. "Inoue…," he thought to himself, "please be careful." He could feel the sweat forming on his brow as his nervousness got the best of him. "What does she see in him, anyway?" He asked himself angrily.
"What's it to you, king? It's not like you were gonna ask her out anytime soon."
Ichigo sighed. His hollow had a lot more to say than usual.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You seem awfully….jealous. You always do when it comes to guys trying to have their way with Orihime. You sure you just don't like that Isamu guy 'cause he has more balls than you? You can't hate him just because he's got more game than you, kingy."
"That's not it at all! Inoue is one of my dear friends, and I'm just looking out for her. Over half of the males in our student body are perverted weirdos, and Inoue is so naïve and innocent. I just can't sit by and watch her get hurt."
"Are you sure that's it? Cause I know all your thoughts and I feel all your feelings, whether you want me to or not, and gotta tell ya, King, sometimes it sure as hell seems like you just want her for yourself."
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"Sorry about that, Inoue." Isamu said, apologetically. "I don't know what happened. Sometimes, I just get lost in the moment…. I am so sorry." He said again, ashamed. He buried his head in his hands, rubbing his temples.
"It's okay, Isamu-kun. I get carried away all the time! I think it's because of the aliens in our heads! They beam down thoughts directly into our heads!" Orihime began, starting on a rant about little blue aliens.
"Um…yeah. Anyway, sorry again…. but Kurosaki needs to back off. He doesn't have the right to intrude on our date like that. I'm not going to hurt you..."Isamu said, trailing off. He looked at Orihime to see what her response would be, and he noticed her fidgeting with her hair. She always seemed a little uncomfortable when he mentioned Kurosaki...
"Err, Kurosaki-kun is just really protective of all of his friends. I don't think it's anything personal." Orihime lied. Kurosaki-kun really doesn't like Isamu, it seems….I wonder why? Orihime had always been good at reading Ichigo, she just usually kept it to herself. It was true that he was protective of her and his other nakama, but at the same time, you could tell he also had resentment towards Isamu that he was trying to hide. He was failing miserably.
"I don't care what he thinks; I don't appreciate him just budding in. I don't like him, Inoue." Isamu said.
"Go figure, my one true love and my date hate each other." Orihime thought to herself cryptically. It was all she could do to keep from laughing at the thought - her one true love and her date weren;t even the same person.
Orihime didn't bother responding to Isamu's comment. She just looked up into the stars, hoping that she'd be taken away. Somewhere. Anywhere.
"I've got to get you home, Inoue. Tatsuki will kick my sorry ass if I don't." Isamu laughed, helping her up with an extended hand. Orihime grabbed his, and he helped her off the ground. She brushed off her dress, as it was covered in grass and dirt.
"Sorry if I got your dress dirty." Isamu sighed. Orihime gave him another nervous glance, and smiled.
"It's alright, Isamu-kun. I have more dresses."
They then walked in silence back to Orihime's apartment, where Tatsuki was waiting. The silence wasn't as comfortable as it has been prior, but more awkward and full of tension. Orihime's head was empty, blank. She didn't know what to think about anything, nonetheless what to say. All she knew was that she was in way over her head and she wanted nothing more to go back home and hide under the covers of her futon, hoping tomorrow would never come. The two men in her life - well, the one who wanted her, and the one who didn't - ruled her already depressed thoughts.
"Kurosaki-kun…Isamu-kun..." she sighed to herself, more lost than ever. Her heart beat was making itself known, causing Orihime anxiety.
"It…hurts...but I suppose this is what I deserve..."
These thoughts spun around in her mind, over and over again. She wanted to make them stop, to make the pain disappear; but with each passing day, each passing moment, it became more intense. She wanted to scream from the agony.
"Will it ever end for me?"
"We're here, Inoue." Isamu said in a whisper, standing at her doorway with Inoue. He grabbed her hands, rubbing her fingers.
"You're cold, princess."
Inoue forced a smile, but it did not reach her eyes. Isamu did not notice. He removed one of his hands from her aching fingers, and took a strand of her hair in his hand, feeling it's softness before putting it behind her ear.
He leaned in for a kiss, to which Orihime flinched. Isamu did not notice, and continued to move forward.
"Hey! You brought her ba-," Tatsuki's voice came from inside, as the door swung open. The light from the room hit Orihime's eyes, blinding her momentarily. Silently, she thanked her friend for interrupting. She wasn;t ready to kiss Isamu again. She wasn;t ready the first time…
"Oh. Hey, Tatsuki," Orihime said, giving her a nervous smile. Tatsuki raised an eyebrow at her friend, but brushed it off.
"I had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you for letting me take you out." Isamu said, politely. Orihime flashed him a small smile. She nodded in response.
"Goodnight, Isamu-kun."Orihime said. When she shut the door behind her, she felt a little bit better.
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Ichigo had walked quite a distance behind Inoue and Isamu, making sure he was hidden in the trees or the shadows so he would go by unnoticed.
Though Ishida would claim he was dense, Ichigo did not make the same mistakes twice.
He would not leave Orihime alone with Isamu, not until he was sure she was okay.
He was happy to see Tatsuki there at Orihime's apartment, waiting for her. He really appreciated Tatsuki at times, she could be there at times when he couldn't, and really, Ichigo knew Tatsuki was just as capable of protecting Inoue when it came to normal situations.
After seeing Inoue arrive home safely, Ichigo turned around to head home. He stopped midway when he heard footsteps trailing behind him. He turned slowly, his jaw clenched tight.
"I thought I told you to bud out," came a voice from behind Ichigo. Ichigo clenched his fist, feeling the anger brewing beneath his skin.
"He really does not want to do this."
"And I thought I warned you that you better not treat Inoue inappropriately." Ichigo said confidently, calmly. He turned so he was standing face to face with Isamu Yamauchi.
"I will treat Orihime how I please," Isamu hissed, his eyes flashing. Ichigo was slightly surprised by the hatred in his voice, but did not hesistate to respond.
"If that's the case, I will treat you how I damn well please. I will not hesistate to keep her safe, and anyone who stands in the way of that I will deal with me." Ichigo said, his voice filled with venom. Only a fool would stand between Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends.
"I'd like to see you lay a finger on me. Besides, I think Inoue made it quite clear she didn't want or need your company earlier this evening- and if I recall, she said yes to the date in the first place, so really, you are not part of the equation. If I want to see Inoue, I will."
"And what are your intentions with her, anyway? You just moved here, and you're already getting a little too comfortable, if you ask me." Ichigo asked, glaring.
"My intentions are none of your business, but I will tell you one thing: I just can't wait to run my fingers across her supple flesh." Isamu said, flashing Ichigo an evil grin. Ichigo did not bother to think; he lunged at Isamu, ready to attack.
"Bastard!" Ichigo yelled, feeling his fist collide with Isamu's jaw. Isamu laughed, stepping away.
"I would really love to sit here and have a brawl, really I would, but I have stuff to do and plans to execute. So, if you don't mind, I'll be going home."
"Like hell you will-," Ichigo started again, preparing to attack once more. He was interrupted by Isamu's laugh.
"Another time, Kurosaki; though I promise I'll treat Inoue the way she deserves to be treated." And with that, Isamu turned and disappeared into the night.
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"So how was the date, Inoue?" Tatsuki asked her friend, handing her a cup of tea.
Orihime took it gratefully, curling up in a blanket as she sat across from Tatsuki. She had just gotten out of the shower, feeling surprisingly dirty. She loved the clean smell of her shampoo and conditioner, the freshness of her damp long hair cascading over her back, and her skin's tingly feeling. She could shower forever, washing away unwanted dirt…
"I wish I could wash away some memories. The one thing I can't reject…"
"It was alright, Tatsuki-chan. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant, and we went for a walk." Orihime said, shrugging. "It was better than expected, although…" Orihime traile off, unsure if she should tell Tatsuki what happened.
"What? I know that face, Orihime. Tell me what happened."
"Well…." Orihime started, getting a little uncomfortable. She sat her tea down and began explaining everything to Tatsuki. Tatsuki looked awe struck by the story.
"Well who knew Ichigo had it in him? Wow."
"Yeah. Who knew?"
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