A/N: I want to thank everyone reading and reviewing. If we weren't continents apart i would kiss you.

Disclaimer: None of the character in Bleach belong to me (duh) I'm just a pancake.

Chapter five

Orihime's POV

In all my wildest dreams and I do mean all my wildest dreams; this scene right here is one I could never ever imagine. Ichigo jumping in on me with bloody hands and some guy rolling around in pain (that I caused) it's crazy, ridiculous, absurd but it's true. I didn't know what to say to Ichigo, It looks like I attacked these poor students. I felt incredibly bad like I'd been caught doing something wrong. The guy rolling in pain had stopped his screaming and instead started to crawl away mumbling something that sounded a lot like "Crazy bitch"

"I-Inoue? Umm are you ok? " Ichigo asked. He had his fists raised as if he was about to punch someone but was he looking at me a bit confused and the other two guys slipped away quietly.

"I umm heard you scream so…" Why is he worried about me? I'm not the one hurt. Now I feel guilty for hurting that poor guy.

I was still standing a bit dazed so he came towards me and held my hands which I realized are shaking. "Oi say something, tell me what happened." He looked a bit uneasy like he was worried I might cry. He looked down at my hands and saw the scratches on my wrist caused by that guy's spiky rings and he frowned.

"Those bastards, I'll get each one of them" Well he doesn't have to do that apparently I already got them. I'm still feeling guilty about hurting that guy. Ichigo held my wrist gently and looked at it as if by staring with a deep scowl he could make the scratches go away. The scratch wasn't deep but it was bleeding steadily. Ichigo spoke again interrupting my thoughts.

"Umm here I'll stop the bleeding" He said and then proceeded to rip off the sleeve of his shirt and then wrap it around my wrist.

"Wait, Kurosaki-kun you don't have to-" He cut me off and said "Yes I do Inoue. If I can't even keep you safe here, then what use am I?" His eyes were fierce as he spoke. "You are a precious friend Inoue; I don't want to see you hurt o-or umm sad."

My heart did back flips and I couldn't stop the wide smile that spread on my face.

"What I meant was you don't have to rip off your uniform, I can heal myself" He realized his mistake and actually blushed. I burst out laughing at this and he smiled at me forgetting his embarrassment.

"Well whatever just stop the bleeding." He mumbled grumpily.

I was still smiling as I called on my Shun Shun Rikka. I felt the warm glow as my spirits fixed my arm, in seconds my wrist was healed and clean as if nothing had ever happened. Ichigo was staring at me patiently and I realized he was still holding my hands.

"So what happened?" he asked.

"I umm was looking for Ishida-kun by the faculty building and then I started wandering around and I accidentally ended up here" I don't want Also I didn't mean to rip off that guy's piercing It was an accident I swear and.." my hands were shaking again and I was rambling but Ichigo held my hands tighter in his and it felt like electricity was shooting through my veins, just from his hand wrapped around mine. I looked him in the eye and got that bittersweet ache I always get when looking at him. He's absolutely beautiful but so out of my reach; it's like watching all those cooking shows that show delicious delicacies that you'll probably never get the chance to taste. I look away before my mouth starts watering.

Ichigo realizing he's still holding my hand lets go and shoves his hand in his pockets looking away from me.

"I-I'm sorry" I mumble looking down at my feet.

"For what?" he asked looking at me confused. We started walking back to class.

"Well I did hurt that guy pretty bad and even though I didn't mean to I caused you trouble again" I sighed and looked down at my feet. It's true, I hate being a burden to anyone especially to Kurosaki-kun, and he already has so much to take care of.

"But you didn't cause me any trouble, helping a friend isn't troublesome at all especially if it's you." He said and smiled down at me. I felt warmth seep into my chest as he smiled at me.

Step one: check

"Arigato, Kurosaki-kun" I said beaming at him.

I couldn't help skipping a little bit as I walked back to class with Ichigo behind me. He had his hands in his pockets and I kept glancing back at him. We were both silent but it was a comfortable silence; a silence that I didn't want to break with my nervous rambling. My mind was running a thousand miles per second and I was excited to get my book and find out what was step two!

All too soon, we got to the class and Ichigo went back to his seat. He wasn't smiling any more but I still felt traces of his warm smile a while ago in my mind.

Ichigo's POV

"Real smooth chief you followed her?!"

'I did NOT follow her! I happened to be taking a stroll in the general direction of her riatsu!'

"yeah right, admit you're a sick bastard"

This internal argument with my hollow is beyond frustrating. I want to yell and throw something at him but I would most likely be locked up in an asylum if I made a scene like that in front of my classmates.

Let school be over already! I feel so agitated and restless for some reason. My palms are sweating, my heart is beating like it's on vibrate and my palms are sweating for God's sake! What is wrong with me?! I glance at Inoue again; she's smiling and doodling in her notebook. Watching her, I calm down for just about a second until I remember her smile when I held her small hands in mine, my heart speeds up again and I turn away from her quickly.

"Haha I think you need to punch something to regain your manliness, want me to rough you up a bit?"

'Will you shut up?! Why the hell are you so talkative lately any ways?'

Unexpectedly he didn't answer me. At least he's quiet now. I make an effort to listen to sensei but it's like she's speaking a foreign language. I'm definitely failing math. Staring at the wall till school is over is all that's left for me to do.

Orihime's POV

I'm so excited to get home I almost run out when the bell finally rings signaling the end of school. Tatsuki has practice today so she hastily waves goodbye as she runs out. I'm so happy I can't stop smiling. I turn around to face Ichigo and he stops packing up his bag when I call out to him.

"Thanks for your help today! Kurosaki-kun" I beam at him and walk to his desk. He looks startled for a bit before he replies.

"Well I didn't do anything, you were fine on your own" He smiles a bit and I beam at him.

"You did more than enough" I smile looking into his eyes. He looks away and clears his throat.

"Well umm I'll see you tomorrow I guess" He scratches the back of his neck, grabs his bag and leaves.
I'm still smiling to myself and everyone else is pouring out of the class room. I'm about to leave too when I notice Ichigo left his notebook. It's his math book. I pick it up and out of curiosity I flip through it. Well if there is something even Ichigo is bad at and that's math. I giggle to myself and hold onto it, I'll give it to him tomorrow I decide as I skip out of the class.

When I reach home, I change out of my uniform, eat some lunch and crawl into bed to take a short nap. I do all this while smiling and feeling excited but I can't remember why I'm so excited. I just keep picturing Ichigo's smile (he did that a lot today!). As I remember the way he held my hands I feel my fingers tingle all over again.

"You are a precious friend Inoue; I don't want to see you hurt o-or umm sad"

You see! I am a friend to Ichigo and a precious one at that, i think in triumph. Wait… Step one is check! I suddenly remember why I was so excited. I jump out of bed and zoom to my sock drawer where I kept my precious book. Step two here I come!

2. Break the "nice guy" or "sweet girl" stereotype.

Most guys and girls who find themselves in the "friend zone" are usually the "nice guy" or "sweet girl". If you're someone who wants to avoid making other people uncomfortable at any cost you probably fall into this category. When you're romantically attracted to someone but you don't want to "ruin" the friendship by expressing your interest or making a move, you'll end up holding yourself back in many ways. The trouble is, when you make other people's feelings more important than your own (instead of finding that happy balance), you're unconsciously communicating to people that your own feelings don't matter.

· If nothing else, inaction tells the other person that you're simply not interested

Try behaving in a different manner, so that he/she sees you in a different way, as more of a romantic interest than a friend. Prepare yourself for this; Are you ready to put yourself out there?

I read this twice and turned it over in my head. Ok fine I guess I do kind of maybe fall into the sweet girl category. Then how do I change that? Should I? How do I behave in a different manner? I don't want to change who I am. Breaking out of the sweet girl category seems hard.

This step is hard! Why aren't there any clues in the book?! I'm not getting any ideas and when I look at the wall clock I see it's almost time for me to go to my part time job. I get up to change still contemplating my dilemma.

As I dress into my long skirt and button up sweater it hits me. I should mix up my closet a bit! But Then I realize Ichigo isn't really the type to notice any change in the way I dress; unless I do something drastic like dress like Rangiku-san. I blush red just thinking about doing that. How would a scene like that even play out?

Orihime walks into the classroom dressed in a short skirt and a tight red tank top that showed half her cleavage. Every student turns to look at her; she's like a goddess. Her orange hair falls in waves around her shoulders. She turns her stormy grey eyes to the strawberry haired boy staring at her. She smirks as he stares at her awestruck. She walks confidently towards him swaying her hips provocatively, ignoring all her drooling admirers. "Inoue? You look… different" he says when she reached him. Smirking again she pulled him from his shirt and brought his face closer to hers. With a spark their lips met with a heated passion that neither of them could ignore. The room seemed to fade away until it was just the two of them; lost in the moment but then… someone coughed.

Wait what?

I blinked twice and snapped back to reality. What am I day dreaming for!? I would never do that! And… wow just wow… I mean I just can't even… It would be so…

My brain is all muddled up and I'm sure my face is as red as a tomato. I finish dressing up fast and hurry to the bakery where I work after school.

A/N:So there it is folks! As always thank you so much for reading, I love everyone who takes the time to leaves a review so much.