Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop

A/N: Hey again! A lot of reviews were about how Rukia was really feisty here. Yeah, she is. That's how I see her as a character, is all, glad the comments were positive. So, thanks to: Rukes, Romance Without Words (thanks for all the support, my dear! You're too awesome for words!), Sarah1bleachfan (whoa, thanks for all the faving things!), Zangetsu50, Bleachichiruki92, Jessenia-chan, Personal Riot, Aizawa Ayumu, and thesecretfromzaft. Happy thoughts sent your way!

I am not entirely sure yet if she's psychic, magical, lucky, or clever, but Jessenia-chan correctly guessed the relationship on her first guess! Um, how'd you do that? Eh, doesn't matter, just let me know what you'd like me to write, m'dear! And thanks for being such an epic reviewer! On that note, let us begin the new chapter! ~Nana-chan

Chapter 5

Flashback

I think that possibly maybe I'm falling for you

As Ichigo stepped into Rukia's apartment he was greeted by the unmistakable smell of chicken. "What are you making?" he asked.

"Chicken soup," Rukia said proudly. "It's my favorite thing to cook. It should be done in a half hour or so, if you want to get comfortable." She motioned to the couches. "I have to go spice it up some, relax for a second."

For a second...that sounded like she'd be back to freak him out soon, but Ichigo sat down anyway. The couch was purple and velvety with black cushions. He leaned against the soft fabric, enjoying the ability to sit down since he hadn't done so all day.

"So!" Rukia returned, sitting next to him on the couch. "I've been meaning to ask you a few things, Ichigo."

Ichigo sighed. He had been right... "Yeah, sure."

"Sorry if it's too personal," Rukia began.

Ichigo winced. Hearing Rukia say that didn't forebode well.

"But what was up with your last girlfriend? What happened there?" she finished.

Better than he'd expected, at least. "You want to know?" He looked directly at her. "You deserve to know, I think."

~~FLASHBACK~~

"I broke up with Orihime last night," Uryuu mentioned, his voice gettin soft and sad.

"You did? Why? You guys had it going on!" Renji said, surprised.

"That's not the way to support someone, moron," Ichigo said, whipping Renji with a towel. "What happened?"

"She was just getting too close, is all," Uryuu said, shrugging. "I told her the relationship wasn't going to last. She just didn't get it."

"So you broke up with Orihime," Renji interrupted. "D-cup Orihime. Hot Orihime. Orihime-who-is-totally-willing-to-have-sex-with-whoever-asks. Orihime Inoue?"

"Shut up," Ichigo told Renji, kicking his leg.

"Oww!" Renji scowled, limping dramatically to a chair and nursing his wound.

"It makes sense," Ichigo said to Uryuu. "Whatever you wanna do, cool. It's your relationship."

"But D-cups!" Renji said mournfully. "Ya couldn't have pointed her my way."

"Shut up!" both guys told him.

"Just sayin', just sayin'," Renji said, hands up in a gesture of surrender.

"Hello?" Ichigo flipped open his cell.

"Ichigo, it's Orihime," a soft voice said.

"Uh, hi? Why're you calling me? Uryuu told you he doesn't-"

"I don't want Uryuu," Orihime interrupted him. "I want you. Be my boyfriend."

Ichigo was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"Meet me at this address," was all the girl would say, giving him an address and hanging up.

It was a bar. A particularly rowdy bar, and Orihime seemed out-of-place standing outside, a delicate baby tulip in a field of angry horses.

"Ichigo," she called out, holding up a beer and waving it enticingly.

"I'm underage," he told her, reaching her and pulling her into an embrace, as if he could protect the baby tulip from the horses.

"So'm I," Orihime said flirtatiously, taking a sip of what smelled and looked like vodka. "Don't worry Ichi, they know me here."

It was true. Guys catcalled as they passed by. But that might've been because Orihime was wearing a low-cut dress. Cut low at the hips, cut low at the bust. Exposing a good several inches of cleavage.

"Okay," Ichigo said. Why, he didn't know. He was young. He was a teenager. He made crazy choices. And Orihime was practically undressing herself.

That was the first night they had sex. They were both wildly drunk and Orihime had decided to take off her top halfway home, going totally topless to her room.

The days with Orihime - and the nights - were so great that Ichigo forgot Uryuu and Orihime had ever been together. Uryuu never mentioned anything. A little glance or a sigh was all he ever said about the two. But he didn't seem to mind.

Those were the good days, when everything was sex and kisses. It all went downhill from there.

About three months into the relationship, they decided to wind down, date each other seriously. A stupid idea, since the pact was made at the aforementioned bar, after multiple glasses of alcohol for both of them. They started to be romantically interested in each other, instead of just sexually.

This was about the time they started dating in public. More people than just coffeeshop people knew. Ichigo's dad went crazy when he heard, and Yuzu and Karin were excited for him too.

This was different from other girls. Ichigo felt he'd never get bored of Orihime's attention, or her body, or her sweet, sugary voice. She was just perfect.

Ichigo really, truly thought he was in love.

Eight months into it, Ichigo told Orihime he loved her. For the first time, he wasn't drunk or riding out an orgasm when he said it. Just happy and oh-so-in-love.

Orihime said the same thing back to him, breathless and obviously in love with him, too. Ichigo started scheming that instant.

They were at the movie theater watching some romantic comedy Orihime wanted to see, and as they left Ichigo gave a sly smile to the girl in front of them.

The girl stepped in front of Orihime, sending them both crashing to the floor. "Sorry! I'm so sorry!" the girl said.

"It's okay," Orihime said, getting up, not bothering to help up the girl. She pulled Ichigo to go.

"Wait, you dropped this!" the girl said, holding up a ring.

"I...wait, what?"

"Orihime," Ichigo said, arms sliding around her waist. "Marry me."

"Yes," she said tearfully. "Of course!"

They stopped seeing each other in public. Orihime told Ichigo that she'd probably give away the secret if she saw him at all.

Uryuu and Renji said nothing. Ichigo said nothing. He was waiting for the day when they would announce the marriage.

Uryuu thought they'd stopped dating for good.

"You'll never guess who I got back with yesterday," Uryuu said, smiling hugely.

"Uhh...I dunno," Ichigo said, playing with a towel. "Your last girlfriend?"

"No, Orihime Inoue!"

Ichigo choked on air. Threw his towel at Uryuu. Walked out as quickly as he could.

"Hey, Hime," Ichigo said, trying to keep his voice light.

"Ichi! I was thinking, we should announce our marriage soon," Orihime chirped.

"Hm, yeah, uh-huh, you know, I've been thinking too. And I think you're a lying, cheating, fucking whore," Ichigo said, hanging up as he finished the sentence.

"I swear to God I didn't know," Uryuu said for the millionth time.

"I know, I believe you. I asked around the bar she likes so much. Apparently she's been dating three other men," Ichigo said, pacing, hitting things when he felt like it.

"She lied to us both," Uryuu said.

"Whore," Ichigo said.

"We just need to move on," Uryuu said.

"Whore, that fucking whore," Ichigo said again. He hit the fridge. It hurt. He did it again. "I hope she gets hit by a car. That...Uryuu..." He collapsed into the chair and started to cry.

Uryuu hadn't ever seen Ichigo cry before. He awkwardly patted his back.

"Fourteen months," Ichigo said into the table. "Fourteen...fucking..." He stopped talking.

~~END FLASHBACK~~

"She left the city after a few issues with people hearing about it," Ichigo said, staring at the couch. "I never heard from her again. But I spent two years of my life on a, a cheating bastard. Over one year dating her, one year crying about it. Two out of twenty. That's a whole tenth of my life."

Rukia sat silently. "I can't say I'm sorry," she said finally.

"Why?"

"You don't need pity," she told him. "You just need someone else. Who's not a prostitute like that whore. Who really loves you. I can fill that position. I love you, Ichigo."

He slapped her hand away. "That's what she told me! Just like that! Telling me it was okay and she loved me!"

"I'm not Orihime," Rukia said firmly. A hand clamped down on his shoulder. "Look at me, Ichigo! Tell me right now! Am I anything like Orihime?"

Ichigo looked up, saw black hair and fiery eyes. Not orange hair and wide, pleading eyes. Not Orihime.

"...no," he whispered.

"I will wait until you're ready to say it," Rukia told him, looking squarely at him. "I will fix all your injuries until you can speak for yourself and it's not just the pain talking. I will wait until you tell me you love me. I'll be patient for you, Ichigo."

Her eyes said she would.

Orihime's eyes, back then, had been silly, drunk. Nothing like Rukia's now.

Rukia's eyes. Those were eyes he could trust.

"Okay," he said quietly. Not ready yet, he thought. But soon.

"I'm s-" Rukia stood up abruptly, pulling back her hand. "The soup," she explained hastily, running into the kitchen, arms flailing.

A/N: Okay! How'd y'all like it? Live up to your expectations? Review and let me know! And Jessenia-chan, go ahead and come up with a concept for your oneshot. I shall write it as soon as possible, e.g. probably this weekend. Love you all, Nana out!