AN: Here's the next chapter, enjoy! I do not own Bleach or any of its characters. P.S., thank you for your reviews Guest, Cormag, & FairyTail123, they mean a lot to me:)

Chapter 9 Orihime's Point Of View

*Three Days Later*

I just finished giving the back story to the police about Joshua. Ichigo came along to testify as a witness for seeing the acts of violence and attempted rape that Joshua committed.

Once we are cleared to go, Ichigo asks as we walk out of the building, "Are you okay?"

"Of course I am."

"Orihime, are you really okay?" Ichigo asks, stopping in front of me and tucking a strand of my loose hair behind my ear.

I grimace unintentionally. He strokes my cheek as he whispers, "It's okay if you're still traumatized or hurt or scared because of what happened. You went through a lot. It's okay to feel those things."

I smile at him, Ichigo is so kind. "I'm not traumatized but I'm still a bit shaky. I'm sure I'll be able to get through this, especially with you by my side."

Ichigo leans over and kisses my forehead gently as he whispers, "I'll be by your side, protecting you and loving you."I blush as I hesitantly wrap my arms around him.

I still can't believe that I'm his girlfriend. I can't believe we're together. I'm afraid that I'm going to wake up and this will just be a dream.

A dream that can be so easily shattered. A dream that can easily become a nightmare.

But yet, I am happy and looking forward to being with Ichigo for who knows how long. I whisper into his chest, "Thank you, Ichigo. I'm really glad that you're in my life. I hope I can protect you while I love you as well."

Ichigo hugs me more tightly before hinting that we should do something, together. I let go of him and lead the way to the coffee shop that I recently discovered.

It's been a year since I accepted to be Ichigo's girlfriend and might I say, it's been the best year of my life so far.

Rukia met someone named Renji whom she seemed to like a lot. And Ichigo and I only got closer throughout the year and little by little more intimate and closer to doing certain things.

For our one year anniversary, I decide to prepare Ichigo some curry, following Yuzu's recipe of course. I had heard somewhere, or from someone, that he really liked the way she prepared it.

Ichigo had to go to school and drop by at the hospital for a while so I had plenty of time to prepare the curry and wrap up his gift that I hid under my bed. It was hard finding a hiding spot for it because he came over a lot.

Anyway, I begin by making sure I have all the ingredients necessary to make the curry.

I let out a heavy sigh as I set the pot aside. I look at my watch and begin to panic. He'll be here any minute. I guess trying to follow the recipe as perfectly as I could took up a lot of time.

I rush out of the kitchen and into my room. I reach under my bed and grab the small box. I look at it for a second and decide to slap on a bow. There really isn't a point to wrapping it, now that I think of it.

Just as I set the box down on the nightstand by my bed, a voice exclaims, not too loudly, "Orihime, you home?"

I can't help but blush at the memory of when I gave him a spare key and a few days after, he gave me one to his apartment.

I rush out of my room and greet him with a kiss in front of the door. I pull away when he doesn't wrap his arms around me. I look at him confused like until, all of a sudden, there is a bouquet of red roses in front of my face. "Ichigo, they're so beautiful!"

I take them as he comments, "Not as beautiful as you."I blush lightly as I smell them.

He kisses my forehead and sets down a bag along with his school bag, by his shoes. So as not to look inside the bag, I say, "I'll go put these in a vase. You can wait in the living room while I set the table."

"No, Orihime. I want to help you set the table. Besides, I need to be with you at all times so you don't take a peek at your gift."I bite my lower lip in frustration but walk into the kitchen anyway.

As I set the roses in a vase with water, I realize I still have my apron on. I mumble something about little green men as I take it off and put it away.

While Ichigo sets the table, I bring the pot of curry to the table. His eyes widen as the scent reaches his nose. I smile as I serve us some curry.

I warn him before he takes the first spoonful, "I'm not sure how it came out, I forgot to taste it but I tried to follow your sister's recipe as best as I could."

Ichigo smiles at me as he reassures me, "I'm sure it came out fine, Hime. Let's eat!"I smile back at him as he begins to eat. After he finishes, he thanks me and says that it was delicious. Am I glad to hear that.

Once the dishes are in the sink, I say cheerily, "Now let's exchange gifts in the living room."

Ichigo nods as he stands to get his. I rush to my room and pick up the box. I clutch it to my chest and hope that he likes it.

He is already sitting on the couch when I get there so I go and set next to him, saying, "I'll go first."

He nods and I place the box in his hand. He opens it slowly and finally smiles as he takes it out to look at it. I still have to ask, "Do you like it? I know you hate not knowing the time and I can assure you that you probably can't check your phone all the time so…"

"Yes, I like it, Hime. Thank you so much."Ichigo leans over, places a hand to the side of my face and kisses me.

We linger over each other's lips before he pulls back and hands me the bag. I squeal like a child as I reach inside and pull out a shirt but wrapped in the shirt is a small box. I look over at Ichigo and he nods. I pick it up and open it slowly.

My eyes sparkle as they see a simple, yet beautiful, silver necklace with a small, silver heart as the pendant. Ichigo whispers, "It's a small locket, you can put whatever picture in there that you want."

I gently set our things aside, on the small table by the couch, before leaning in to kiss him. I really want Ichigo at the moment but how can I let him know?

Suddenly, he takes over the kiss and adjusts me on his lap. He kisses my neck and begins to unbutton my blouse but suddenly stops, apologizing, "I'm sorry, Hime. I got a bit carried away."

I blush lightly as I say quietly, "I won't mind going all the way with you."

"Hime, are you sure? I thought you wanted to wait until marriage."

I blush even more so as I answer, "I wanted to but I don't know if I can wait at this rate."

With that said, Ichigo picks me up and carries me to my bedroom where we have our first night together. How can I not love this man?

AN: Umm…I don't know what to say about this chapter, not my best, sorry. Please review.