Ishida felt his throat tighten as Orihime's gray eyes searched his for...what? Approval?
"...Are you sure you can't stay?" Orihime asked again, her tone questioning and motherly. "We could drive you home before it gets too late."
"Um..." It's now or never. Tell her and forever hold your peace! Ishida straightened up, closing the door and closed the gap between the two friends. "Inoue-san, may I ask you something?"
Her eyebrows went up in a (cute) surprised way. "Sure, Ishida-kun. What is it?"
He took a deep breath. Breathe, breathe relax. "Did you ever wonder about....us?"
Orihime took an unexpected step backward. "Eh?"
The Quincy flushed red and looked away. "You and me, I mean."
It was Orihime's turn to blush. She opened her mouth in amazement. "Uhhh, well...umm, you see..." She trailed off into an embarassed silence.
Immediately regretting having opened his mouth at all, Ishida replied with a curt "Forget it," just as Orihime said, "Yes."
He blinked. Yes? "You have-- had?"
She nodded shyly. "When we got separated in Seireti, you always protected me. When Kurosaki-kun fought Ulquiorra, you got me up there to help him. You also tried to stop his Hollow side from destroying Ulquiorra, even though you got stabbed in response."
Ishida got closer. "What happened?"
The bright gray eyes turned downcast. "When you left, I felt like I had lost my brother all over again. When I was upset, you noticed even if no one else did. You came to save me with Kuorsaki-kun, even though your father told you not to involve yourself with Shinigami again. You wanted to protect me, and I wanted you to. Besides," she added with a sad smile, "black is a depressing color."
Ishida let out a nervous bark of laughter. "Is that so? Well, I'm glad I came back." His face suddenly turned serious. He stared straight into her eyes. "I got to see hometown, my friends...and you."
Tilting her chin gently upwards, Ishida softly brushed his lips to hers. When there was no resistance, he kissed her harder and his arms went around her, as did hers around him. He ran his fingers through her long, soft, caramel-colored hair. She hugged him around the neck and returned his affections with equal passion. "Ishida..." She gasped. "I shouldn't--"
He put his fingers on her lips. "I don't care. All I want is you right now."
His blue eyes shone with a sad sort of longing, and Orihime kissed him back passionately, if only to avoid those eyes. Their pain haunted her and she wished deseperately she could help him.
"Hey! Do you know if there's any more--"
Gray and blue eyes went wide and Ishida and Orihime split apart as soon as Renji walked in. But it was too late. The damage was done.
Renji just gaped at them, completely forgetting what he came in for. "Did you two just... you know she's... he's your... Oh my God..."
Ishida was very worried now. Renji had seen them. If he told Ichigo....
"Abarai-kun, don't tell anyone. I'll leave right now, I swear. Just please, don't say anything." The Quincy hurridly grabbed his discarded jakcet and walked right past Orihime, who had her hands to her mouth, as if she couldn't believe what just happened.
Ishida closed the door and dashed down the steps. Forgetting any and all sense, he blindly ran the quarter-mile to his apartment. All the way to the door, the scene flashed through his head. Her eyes. Her hair. Her lips.
Not bothering to change, Ishida slumped onto his bed, his head held in his hands. What have I done?