Hmmm...

I think that I'll finish up Complete Love sooner than I expected...

this is probably the last one for a while. :(

Anyhow, please enjoy this one...

"Where the hell are they!?"

"Who, Kurosaki-kun?"

"Rukia arranged a 'nakama' meeting. Apparently, Rukia, Sado, Uryuu, and Renji are supposed to be here along with us." Orihime nodded, taking a sip of her bubbly soda. Ichigo grumbled under his breath, something he often did when he was annoyed. "Don't worry, Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime piped up cheerfully, "Rukia-chan will come because she cares about us and wouldn't lie to her nakama!" Ichigo muttered a swift yeah, and glanced towards the door of the burger shop. In came Hirako Shinji. Orihime saw him before he saw her. Now, in the last few days, Orihime and Shinji have become splendid friends. She turned around, on her knees, waving wildly, "Hirako-kun!" Her shouting and waves caught his attention, along with everyone else in the shop, "Hey, is that Orihime-chan?"

"Yes! Come over here, Hirako-kun!" Shinji walked over to her, that lopsided grin on his lips. "Oh ho, so carrot top's here, too? What is this, a date, Orihime-chan?" Both Ichigo and Orihime's face grew crimson in color, "It's not like that, Shinji!" Insisted Ichigo, cocoa colored eyes glowering in the Vaizard's direction. "Uh huh, right, right, carrot top. Better not be makin' a move on my Orihime-chan." Orihime smiled a little when Shinji and Ichigo began bickering. She opened her tiny mouth to speak, "What brings you here, Hirako-kun?"

"I have to get lunch, since lazy ass Hiyori won't do it."

Orihime and Shinji talked for a while, until a voice interrupted them,

"Oi, Ichigo!" He looked up, "Renji?"

"The one and only."

"Where the hell is everyone else?!"

"Oh, Sado and Uryuu are ordering food, and Rukia said she had an errand to run before she got here." Ichigo gave a puzzled expression, "Errand?"

"Yeah. She won't tell me. Guess she's scared I'll blab it to everyone else." Hirako laughed at Renji, then stood, getting ready to leave. "I suppose I'll go off then; Hiyori will be pretty pissed if I return empty-handed."

"Bye bye, Hirako-kun!"

"See you later, Orihime-chan." His grin returned and he left. Sado and Chad sat down with their own food. There was a strange silence among the nakama. Finally, Rukia barged in, a mysterious black box in her hand. "Here!" She shoved the ebony box into Ichigo's chest. "This is what took me such a long time!"

"What..is it?"

"Idiot!" Rukia barked, raven colored eyes narrowing. "Don't you know what today is?"

"I'm pretty sure that it's friday, Rukia."

"Gah!" Her face landed into her hands, obviously frustrated. "Doesn't September 3rd hold any signifigance to you!?"

"Oh..oh man, it's today, isn't it, Rukia?" Renji asked, eyes wide. Rukia nodded, face still in her palms. "Today?" Uryuu questioned, pushing his glasses up. "That's why we were all called here." Sado let out a startled expression. Orihime began to laugh softly, kind of disappointed that Ichigo hadn't remembered, "Oh, no, it's alright that he forgot, everyone. Kurosaki-kun probably has many things to worry about already." Rukia's head shot up, eyes glaring right into Orihime's, as if looking right into her soul.

"Orihime, it's NOT alright, it ISN'T okay. That was the whole point of this nakama meeting!"

"I...I know, but..like I said, Kurosaki-kun probably has other things that are more important."

"He's an orange haired, super-strong, quick-to-anger, punky teen, who has no idea how relevant today is!" Ichigo couldn't take it any longer. Rukia's words were really getting to him, but it was mostly not knowing why today was so great.

"I don't get it, why is today so significant? It's just another day."

Rukia threw a french fry at his face, which he caught with ease. "You're such a moron! It's one of your nakama's birthday. I thought that if we came in late, you'd have quality time with her, and then you'd remember her birthday! Then, I figured, the stupid shinigami wouldn't have a present, so I specifically asked Nii-sama for money, which he generously gave. I tried to make things easy for you, Ichigo, but you're too slow to figure it out."

"It's Inoue's birthday?"

"Of COURSE!"

"D-Damn it! How could I have forgotten?!"

Renji scoffed, "That's what we've been saying this entire time!" Ichigo was red in the face, and Orihime laughed a little. She was beginning to become uncomfortable. Ichigo glanced over at her, then looked away. "Hey..um, everyone, turn around."

Everyone blinked, speaking in unison, "What?"

"Just turn around!"

There were a few mumbles, probably from Rukia and Renji. Ichigo gulped, "Inoue?" Orihime didn't dare to look into his eyes, "Y-Yes, Kurosaki-kun?"

"Here.." Even in all his nervousness, he still was able to look her straight in the eye. It was kind of bizzare; he didn't want to fall and fall endlessly into those giant gray eyes.

"T-Thank you." Slowly, she took the box from him. With a gentle flick of her finger, the box opened, revealing a silver band ring. Incrusted in it were sapphires, her birthstone. Byakuya must be richer than we expected...

"It's...so pretty, Kurosaki-kun. I'm almost afraid to wear it." Ichigo held her hand, slipping the ring onto her finger. Orihime's lips curved upward into a spectacular smile, which Ichigo returned slowly.

"I'm so sorry for forgetting...Happy birthday, Inoue."

Longer than normal.

:)

Hope you liked it.