"I don't know why you'd say people hate your cooking. It was nice"

"Is it just me or "captain kuchiki" keeps giving me compliments" she said with a sly look on her face

"I just like to appreciate effort when I see it, just like I appreciate ichigo's strength "

Orihime's discomfort after uttering Ichigo's name didn't go unnoticed by Byakuya. He was just going to let it slide before he decided to talk about it, he can't have a disgruntled colleague just because she can't get over her first love

"You know we'll have to meet up with Ichigo later so you have to get over this…." He said not sure what to classify her behavior as

"I don't understand what you are talking about"

"You understand me and you know it" he said with his voice suddenly becoming husky as he unconsciously walked closer to her

"I really don't get you Captain Kuchiki but like you said we should actually meet up with Ichigo soon, to give him heads up" She said genuinely

"It's fine if you want to avoid the topic but don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about" he said as he intensely stared at her.

"I know he's saying one thing but I don't get it cause he's gestures are plainly saying something else" she thought and blushed at their slight proximity. "Are you alright Captain Kuchiki?"

"I'm sorry. It must be stress, I should retire for the night. Good night Inoue"

"Good – night…" her sentence wasn't finished before he walked away to the room he previously set his futon.

"What was that all about…he was saying something I honestly couldn't understand and he's look said something else I couldn't read also…"

….

"What was that just now…I was trying to stop her from being emotional and then something in her demeanor wanted me to go closer to her, to touch her. I captain kuchiki can't been seen acting so sentimental and there's nothing to be sentimental about because I only see her as my colleague and a strong, beautiful, curvy – shit what the hell am I saying, she's just my colleague!. He thought

He suddenly heard orihime speak . "Are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

"Okay then. I'm leaving, I sense another hollow but far away. I'm sure there's another soul reaper close to it but I'll just go" after she finished speaking and didn't hear Byakuya speak she sighed and left, Byakuya also sighed in relief when he heard the door close and felt her spiritual pressure decrease which actually left him cold and wanting.

….*flashback*….

"You have to bring another Lady into the Kuchiki clan and this time a royal blood. They are a lot of eligible females, there's no downside to this" one of the Kuchiki elders nagged with her bulldog like mouth

"I have nothing to say to you. Please excuse me" he said then walked out of the room.

…presently…..

"I've decided a long time ago to always do what will make me happy, ever since I almost harmed rukia, my resolve has been renewed. But why will I even remember this now…I think I need to visit one of those places captain shunsui kyoraku talked about, a "motel" was it?...ahhhh…" he said rubbing his temples, "what am I saying… I must be really stressed..."

….

"Now why do I feel guilty for leaving the house?... it's not like I did anything wrong, he was the one acting weird" she thought as she walked the streets of karakura now back in her gigai, she was so deep in thought she didn't realize she was in front of a convenient store.

"Orihime?" she heard a familiar masculine voice call. She turned to her side and saw an orange haired young man

"Ichigo?" she spoke in surprise as her heart skipped a beat.

"Wow Orihime. What happened… all these years…you didn't even visit us. The group wasn't the same without you" he said all at once.

(Orihime's brain: "yeah right… and somehow only you didn't seem to notice I actually visited… a lot..")

"Yes…it's really been a while. How have you been doing?" she managed to ask, as Ichigo's lips moved to answer her, Orihime's eyes deviated to the beautiful young lady that emerged from the shop.

"Babe. I'm sorry that took so long…" the young lady said before looking up to see a beautiful orange haired girl talking to Ichigo. "I'm sorry" she said knowing she disrupted something

"Ohh. Kana this is my old friend Orihime. Orihime this is my fiancé, Kana".

Orihime was very surprised at the discovery, thanks to years of training she was able to subdue her emotions. She smiled and shook hands with Kana. "Nice to meet the girl that could melt this block of ice"

"Nice to meet you too" Kana replied.

"Good seeing you again Ichigo. I'll be going now." She said as she turned her back and walked away.

"Wait. We should catch up sometime" he said at her retreating form. Kana was surprised at his enthusiasm so she pulled him away. "We should get going ourselves".

…

As she walked back home she felt the urge to clean her eyes. "What's this. Am I crying?. It must be dust or something because I'm fine with this. He's happy and she's beautiful. She had black hair too just like rukia. He must really hate me. Maybe it's my hair." She said almost inaudible but enough for sensitive ears to pick as she stopped in her tracks and cried harder.

Orihime shuddered when she felt Warm hands on her shoulder. She stepped away from the stranger as she sniffles her cry but relaxed when she saw it was only Byakuya.

"You shouldn't let your guard down Captain."

"I don't need to keep my guard up because I can get out of any situation captain kuchiki?" She sarcastically said

"Ohh? So that's why it's so easy for you to get out of ichigo's love web"

She frowned and turned away from him. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I... I needed air..." he managed to say.

"This far away?"

"Yes. I was walking aimlessly, much like you that was before I noticed something interesting. Ichigo's SP(spiritual pressure) and yours.

"Ohh"

"Tell me something. Why didn't you tell him about the mission and you being a soul reaper."

"It was inappropriate with his fiance present and I figured we'd do It tomorrow, together."

"Cant wait for tomorrow then". He said evilly but still looking calm "And for the record" he said stepping into her personal space as her lifted his hands to lift a handful of her hair. "Your hair is beautiful" he said as her hair slowly fell from his palm. The whole scenario made her blush like wild fire. He was looking so calm and possessive she felt like her head was going to blow up from how handsome he looked , talk less of the compliment he gave her.

Byakuya smirked knowing fully well what he just did to her.

"We should get going. We have a long day tomorrow".

He left her dumbfounded but she regained consciousness and walked behind him back to their apartment.

Sorry for the super later update. I was just enjoying the holidays. Please keep me motivated by reviewing and don't be too harsh or harsh at all. Thanks...happy new year!