I'm going to post 2 chapters today, I could just make it one but I didn't write it with that intention. Hope you love it!

…..Byakuya's POV….

I couldn't believe I kissed her or she kissed me right back. I had to break apart for a second to take it all in, she ended up making me feel hotter with how sexy she looked with her lips glossy and a bit swollen from the kiss. God she didn't know what she was doing to me right now.

I had to lean back in to continue the kiss. As we both started to really relax into our embrace and the kiss. I heard kurosaki call out orihime's name and felt a jolt of the hidden anger in his spiritual pressure.

We broke apart and I could see Orihime had lost composure. Not only did ichigo see her in her soul reaper form but he caught us kissing and from the way it was he'd think that it was a regular thing for us.

I myself lost composure but only from being interrupted.

Orihime finally gained herself but still sounded timid when she spoke, like she was a young teenager caught having sex in her parents garage. She had to stand her ground because he didn't care all these years and he even got himself a girlfriend or fiancé or whatever their relationship was. I'll make sure I have it known to her that she has nothing to be reserved about, he isn't the boss of her.

"Ichigo…" she said dragging his name a little bit while sounding like a kitten.

"What in the hell is going on here. Byakuya?, explain! Why does Orihime look like a soul reaper, what did you do to her." Ichigo said while taking a hold of his Zanbakuto.

What is this kid trying to do I thought, yes his strong but his power is all over the place I could easily take him down, especially when he jumps into a fight like a mad dog.

"Ichigo it's not what – " Orihime said still sounding too timid for my liking.

"Know your place Kurosaki. We are here on official business so we should get right to it." I said in the calmest way possible

"I swear. I never knew kissing was an official business" he retorted with spite then spoke on "The soul society told me they were sending you and a newly instated captain. What is confusing me as hell, Is what Orihime is doing here and why were you guys kissing" Ichigo said looking really confused.

"As for why we were kissing, that's none of your business. What you should know is; Orihime is the newly instated captain."

"You are shitting me right? How can Orihime be a shinigami let alone a captain?" I couldn't help but think how he never saw the signs even before she left karakura that she was getting stronger, even I who wasn't close to her could tell she had potential.

"It's best we just find somewhere to sit and talk about everything calmly, if we are to work as a team, we need to understand certain things right?" Orihime said finally sounding like the woman I know.

Ichigo nodded his head a bit signifying he understood. Without warning or any further statements, Orihime flash stepped away, one more time leading the way for us to follow but I kind of liked it in this instance because the look on Kurosaki's face was priceless.

She halted at an empty playing ground "it's still school hours so we could just stay and talk about everything including about the mission." She said as she sat down on a bench but I wasn't really in the mood to sit and apparently so was Ichigo.

"So could you tell me now. What's going on?"

…..

….An hour later….

…..Ichigo's POV….

I can't believe I've been so dense and oblivious to what was right in front of me.

All that time I went to the soul society and all that time I felt a jolt of her spiritual pressure. I never knew…

"I'm sorry for keeping it from you for this long. I was just trying to get away from it all. But know that this is what I truly want and this is the path I really want to walk on so you have to accept my choice as my friend." After I heard her say that, I couldn't help but echo the word 'friend' in my head. She still thought of me as a friend after everything I did to her. I still remember some years ago when she tried to tell me something, I knew how she felt about me and I knew she wanted to confess her love but I bluntly changed the topic and ignored her, it wasn't long after that I heard she moved to her relatives abroad.

I didn't think much about it then, only now I see she must have done that because of me. She left to the soul society because of how stupid I was.

"Now that that's done we can talk about the mission." Byakuya said bringing me back from my trance.

"Right" I said almost absent mindedly. Orihime looked so different. I wonder how much stronger she is now to be given the post of captain.

….Orihime's POV….

After we figured out our strategy on taking out the hollows whenever they arrive we found ourselves bored. There wasn't any hollow alert of the sort, none at all. And the sun was burning hot so we decided to call it a day then agreeing to immediately track down any hollow we encounter.

As Byakuya and I walked back home in silence. I reflected on the day. I was glad I finally got everything out of my chest and I had no more secrets. I was happy. I blushed so hard when a picture of what Byakuya and I did crossed my mind. I never knew I could feel so hot just from a kiss before. It was going to be awkward when we get back I thought, it always is when nobody is willing to talk about it. It wouldn't matter because I am more mature now and I'll just go with the flow, not really excepting anything to happen. I mean for all I know he could have been thinking of Hisana when he did that.

I sighed trying to wipe everything from my head. "It feels good doesn't it"

"Huh?" I replied to his out of the blue speech.

"To not have secrets to hold on to. It's like being finally free."

"Yeah that's true. I do feel better"

"I also felt this relief when I told Rukia about Hisana being her sister. It even brought us closer as siblings ".

I just smiled at him, I never knew him to open up about anything. It was surprising and it also made me feel very happy that he could talk to me.

I wanted to make a playful comment but I don't think at this moment it will suffice, I'm pretty sure he'd be thinking about Hisana right now.

….

Everything seemed normal when we got back. Now I was bored, bored and kinda hungry

"Are you hungry?" I asked him.

"Not really but something do might suffice" he answered. I was growing fond of him and I felt like he was growing fond of me too.

"We got go grab a bite in any of the restaurants or if you are a sweat tooth, we could go to a dessert bar." I suggested

"I rather eat home made food so that leaves the dessert bar then." He said looking Stoic but with some hidden emotions in his eyes.

"Alright then. Let's do it" I said rather excited, maybe too excited. To be honest, I actually hoped he chose the dessert bar, I needed to be cooled off both physically and well…mentally?.

He got up from the couch and I did too. I was already in my gigai, I feel more comfortable in it so I don't waste time getting into it. "I'll get into my gigai" he said as he left to his room, to get ready.

He came out some minutes later. "Okay then let's go".

…Byakuya's POV…..

I kind of lied. I'm not much of a sweet tooth and I really don't like eating out but I also wanted to go out with her. I chose the dessert bar because I knew she looked like the kind of girl that's heavy on sweets and I wanted to see her smile.

….

The place wasn't really crowded. Orihime seemed to be acquainted with the owner of the bar so I just listened while he explained to Orihime why the place seemed almost empty, not like it was any of our business, he had a new rival down the street and they stole most of his customers, Orihime just calmed the man down. "I'm sure they'll come to their senses soon enough and if it's any consolidation, am here aren't I?" she said

"Yes you are and am guessing this is your husband?" the man insinuated while looking up at me smiling.

Although it shocked me but I know how to keep my cool, Orihime on the other hand gasped and blushed as she stuttered her response " o-oh no no no, he's just my colleague and my friend"

"Oh I see, sorry for the misunderstanding, you two just looked good together. Please order anything it's on me this time." The man said

"There's no way I'd allow that. I don't remember anytime you allowed me pay but I'll pay this time no matter your arguments" she retorted.

The man just laughed and sighed.

We both ended up with simple orders. We both got strawberry and lavender ice cream.

We planned to stay in the bar but she decided we'd see around town.

She looked so cute with that ice cream and the way she licked it with her tongue got me replacing the ice cream with something else. I couldn't help but growl at the thought and shit she heard me.

"Are you okay Captain?"

"Ahem-" I cleared the imaginary lump gathered in my throat "I'm fine." I said, then she surprised me with her words.

"You aren't much of a sweet tooth are you. You didn't have to force yourself to come out here. If you had declined, I would have prepared something for you"

"You didn't force me to do anything. I came because I wanted to -" I hadn't finished all I wanted to say before a group of kids ran past us and made me spill the ice cream on my shirt.

I was so mad. They didn't even know what they had done or to apologize. Then I heard the prettiest laugh ever. "They are just kids, getting angry is futile" she said as she still giggled. She removed a pink handkerchief from her purse as walked closer to me, she still wore the happiest expression ever as she tried to wipe some of the ice cream off of me.

"Hey, how did it get way up here", she said as she wiped the corner of my lip. Her touch was so soft, I felt like I was in wonderland, I continually stared at her, like she felt me staring, she caught my eye but I didn't look away, her eyes always puts me in this blissful serenity. She was too beautiful for me to look away. She then broke the silence and eye contact.

"We should hurry home to get this out, it will be harder if it sets."

I knew she just wanted to avoid the moment because she could easily use her powers to remove the stain.

I wasn't sure what she was thinking of so I just agreed as we headed back to her apartment.