"Wow that so not as easy as I thought. I guess it's to be expected. 5years worth of dust" she said
"True. But it wasn't too bothersome. I don't remember the last time I did a domestic chore, maybe because I have never."
They both laughed and then looked stared into each others eyes for a second. Orihime cleared her throat.
"I'm sure you're hungry by now I'll go pick up somethings from the near by store and I'll make something for us to eat."
"You cook?" he asked
"Umm yes but a lot of people say I have awful taste buds and they can't get down what I cook so please don't be mad if you don't down my cooking"
"Okay, I'll eat whatever you prepare. I'll go take a shower while you're out"
Her thoughts lingered for a bit before she escorted herself out.
…*The store*…
"Orihime?"
Orihime gasped at the sound of her name and the sight of the person who used it.
"Ishida?. Wow. It's been ages how have you been?" she asked.
"I've been good. And what are you doing here and in a gigai."
Orihime drew back a breath.
"How did-" she tried saying
"Remember I'm the best at detecting spiritual pressure, Unlike Ichigo. I've known since the first time you visited Tatsuki"
"I'm sorry I should have told you".
"You have nothing to apologize for. I knew you were happy and doing well so it was fine with me. Let me just give you heads up. Everybody knows except Ichigo. So don't be startled by anybody's knowledge of the truth." Ishida said.
"Wow. So much for keeping a secret..."
"It's nobody's fault. We care about you so of course we'd find out" ishida said.
"So am I right to say Ichigo still doesn't know because he doesn't care?" she looked down casted but tried to hide it.
"Don't be like that. You know he's just a numb scull"
"He's 24 I don't think he should still be a 'numb scull' anyway, that isn't my concern anymore"
"I see. So what brings you here and in a gigai. Are you on a mission?"
"Yeah with Byakuya. Its just a hollow problem. No big deal." She said.
"Okay. I wonder why they'd send two Captains for just a hollow problem though. Anyway, I'm here if you need me Captain Inoue, see you later"
"What – how did he know-I'm a cap- I'm sure that must have been Tatsuki. We are sure gonna have something to talk about."
She continued with the rest of her shopping not missing her regular bean paste.
"I think I'll make eggplant sauce with bean paste steak and pasta"
….
"Captain Kuchiki? Are you still in the shower? I'm back..."
There was no answer so she dropped her supplies and then walked over to the bathroom and then knocked "Captain? Are you in there?" still no answer. She could still sense he's spiritual pressure, "he must be in the house…maybe he's drowning…" 5 years away from the world of the living didn't stop Orihime's wild imagination, (how on earth will a Captain drown, she didn't think maybe he just couldn't hear her or he was deep in thought...or just trying to lure her in. You might be stronger but you are still the same naïve Orihime) She gave it one more thought and thinks he might have been kidnapped by little blue men, that was it she was done over thinking then she opened the door to the bathroom…and Viola…Byakuya in all glory, she was dumbstruck for a minute while she stared blankly, Byakuya barely fought back a smirk which seemed to stir her back to life. As she tried speaking her throat suddenly lacking moisture for some reason… "Ahem…I'm so sorry, I thought… oh God I'm sorry" She immediately ran out and slammed the door behind her, the heavy blush plastered on her face didn't want to go away. (AN: her first real encounter seeing someone naked).
It was hard to forget what she saw for the first few minutes but she eventually forgot the whole encounter as her mind wondered to Ichigo, she missed him, that much she could admit.
"I'm going for a walk" Byakuya said once again snapping her back to reality.
"Okay. I'm almost done with dinner so don't take too long" she slapped herself mentally for sounding like a nagging housewife
"Right…" he said with he's normal Stoic demeanor
….
Orihime was done making dinner and Byakuya still wasn't back, soon she heard a ringing from her soul pager signifying a hollow attack. She immediately got out of her gigai and went to the position she felt the hollow.
The weak looking hollow was about to devour a soul. She didn't bother to use her Zanbakuto. But she was in the mood to show of since she felt Byakuya's spiritual pressure not far from her. She brought out her hand and an orange light engulfed the hollow, the hollow glowed bright orange then white, after then light dissipated, There was now a 'whole'(human soul) standing and touching all over it's face, she used her powers to make the hollow go back in time to before it became a hollow, she walked over to it and performed a console for the now free soul and the one she saved from being devoured.
…*Byakuya's pov*…
When he felt the hollow, he rushed to the scene, on getting there he saw that Orihime was already there, he was not one to fight over weak hollows but this was his chance to witness her skills first hand. He had heard that the fact that she could defend herself without using Kido or Zanbakuto had earned her her spot as a captain, she could not only perform all the kidos with out casting the incantations, she also had attained Bankai. Looking at her simplicity and cheerful appearance, it's very hard to believe.
When he saw what she did to the now former hollow, he couldn't believe something like that was even possible. "Wow. Brain…remind me not to get on her bad side." He thought.
"Earth to Byakuya…" she taunted
He actually giggled
"I thought you'd always call be Captain Kuchiki…"
"That would have been very mouthful for my sentence…"
They both smiled at each other and had that minute of eye contact again. Then Orihime broke the silence. "We should head back. Dinner's ready. I hate cold meals"
"Yes. Me too. And by the way… how you took care of that hollow was amazing." He said making her blush heavily.