I need to keep writing. XD
"I'm..glad to see you again."
"Yes..the same to you, Kurosaki."
He winced. The familiar suffix he was so accustomed to had been dropped. It was his first time seeing her in a few years. The two were in college. He had been dreading it and looking forward to it. Ichigo knew that he needed higher education, but he also had to come to an awful realization.
She wasn't going to the same college as he was.
The two had conversed through letters and sometimes emails, but he remembered that she always responded faster to letters. They were always much more personal.
"How's, uh, college?" Ichigo slowly rubbed his neck in embarrassment. For a moment, things seemed unbearably awkward. Suddenly, Orihime flashed her bubbly smile, "College is a lot more fun than I thought it would be. But what about you? Kurosaki, college is a big step."
"Yeah.." He wasn't really focusing on the conversation. Where did the time go? Her eyes were still their same deep gray, her hair still a vivd auburn, her body still voluptous; But something was different. Was she taller? Had her voice changed? No, that wasn't it..
"Kurosaki? Kurosakiiiiii. Ne, Kurosaki-kun!"
Ichigo's head snapped up. There it was. That was the difference. Who knew a suffix could have so much impact on his life? He found himself smiling warmly. She was slightly put off by his sudden change in demeanor, "Kurosaki-kun.."
"I want to tell you something." This is the moment he had been waiting for. Sure, it was bizzare; preparing to confess your love of years to the woman you love on a wet street in rainy weather. But things couldn't be anymore perfect. Ichigo took her hands in his, pressing his lips to them. Of course, Orihime's cheeks were redder than any moment before. His cinnamon colored eyes stared into hers, "Inoue, I love you."
She stiffened. Her dreams were always like this, and she had responded with a happy hug, or maybe a kiss. Now that Orihime was actually approached with this reality...
"K-Kurosaki-kun." Orihime took a deep breath. This was real. It had always been real, she had just never realized it. "I love you, too."
And just as her dreams and imaginings had foretold, their lips pressed in a soft, warm touch.
Yes... He thought, This is how things should be.
Argggg.
I hope someone out there liked it!
~Pofa.