A/N: So here's Chapter 9! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, I love you guys. On with the story! Oh wait
Disclaimer: I don't any any characters, plot, blah blah blah, Tite kubo, blah blah blah not me. (can I actually be sued if i don't wrote this?)
Chapter 9
Orihime's POV
"Tatsuki-chan! He said he's sorry! You don't have to actually break his arm do you?"
"Yes..Nnghh …...I…do. Thank you for the surprise by the way. It was nngh very thoughtful, unnecessary but thoughtful" she said while twisting Andou-kun's arm in an unhealthy direction.
"OOOWW you're… OW! Welcome" said Andou-kun from his position beneath Tatsuki's foot.
"Not you Idiot! You are so dead!"
"My, my Tatsuki-chan aren't you playing a bit rough? Why don't you go change out of your karate uniform" said Tatsuki's mum with a smile that didn't really leave room for argument.
Tatsuki growled one last time at Andou who was curled up on the floor "fine" she mumbled before going to another room of to the left. The party extended mostly from the living room to the kitchen and everything had gone as planned except Tatsuki's violent outburst. I feel responsible because I told Andou-kun to do whatever he had to, to get Tatsuki home.
"Are you okay?" I said crouching beside Andou-kun.
"Of course I am that was nothing, Tatsuki has been trying to break that arm since we were kids." He said flexing his arm to show me he was fine but his face was still swollen from her earlier punches.
"Well I need you two to circle the room distributing drinks and snacks" said Tatsuki's mum.
"Arggh actually I don't think I can move my arm" said Andou dramatically holing his arm.
"Nice try, the drinks are in the fridge, would you be a dear and help him out Orihime-chan?" she said smiling at me in a way that said 'get moving now'.
Although I had hoped to talk to Ichigo I haven't gotten the chance yet, since we were crouched together in the dark, I've been trying to stop Tatsuki-chan from breaking Andou-kun's arm and now I'm going to circle the room sharing drinks. I don't really mind though, because the party turned out pretty well. Many of our classmates are here only and about two of Andou-kun's friends, just one relative of Tatsuki-chan could make it, so it wasn't too crowded. I went after Andou-kun to grab the drinks.
The DJ was really good and there was good music playing all the time. Everyone was dancing or at least swaying to the music but it was under the watchful eye of Tatsuki's mum who really did not stand any indecent behavior. From the corner of my eye, I could see Ichigo leaning on the wall where the couch had been before it was pushed out of the way to make more space for dancing, I wanted to keep staring at him but I chose to finish passing the drinks around. Once I had thanked everyone for coming, filled everyone's drinks I was finally free to enjoy the party. I stood in the middle of the living room/dance floor and I had no Idea what to do, I just smiled as I looked around.
Then someone bumped into me, turning to apologize I saw that it was Akari-san. "You came!" I said throwing my arms around her. She had told me she might not show up this morning while she was straightening my hair, she even painted my toenails although I have no idea why anyone would notice my toenails.
"Yeah, I decided to be the love doctor and help you hook up with lover boy" she winked and my entire face heated up. "Akari-san! Shh! "
"Ahh! So he is here tonight!" she wiggled her eyebrows and winked again.
"Wait, how do you know him? I don't think I've ever introduced you two."
"I am a lot more perceptive that you think, but don't worry I'll use my entire time to push you two together! Because really I have no other hobbies" she took a sip from her drink then "Uggh why isn't there any booze at this part? Oh right you're all in high school" she walked away pouting.
Tatsuki waved me over from the other side of the room and so I made my way through the crowd. Since the living room was so small there wasn't much room for everyone so bumping into people was unavoidable. When I had finally reached Tatsuki I see that she's with Ishida-kun and another boy I didn't know, probably from her karate club.
"I actually really like the party, Inoue. Thank you" she smiled.
"It was no trouble at all" I lie. "Andou-kun was a huge help" I lie again.
"Yeah right, but anyways thank you for this." She says but I don't hear her because I am focused on Ichigo, who I can see perfectly from this spot. He's standing in a corner with Sado-kun and Keigo-san beside him. He looks so handsome wearing that plain long sleeved black shirt. It fits him perfectly and I find myself squinting to see if I can see his well-toned muscles through the shirt.
"Inoue-san, are you okay?" said Ishida-kun.
"What? Yeah, I'm fine" I said turning red that someone had noticed me ogling Kurosaki-kun.
"You were squinting with your eyes" said the boy from Tatsuki's karate club.
"Pfft I was just practicing my Jackie chan impression… uhmm excuse me" I said walking away from them. As much as I wanted to hang out with Tatsuki-chan longer I wasn't so confident I could do so without drooling. I gulped down my fizzy apple juice because my throat suddenly felt dry but then I ran straight into someone.
"Oh I'm so-" I looked up and saw it was Andou-kun. He was beaming at me although I didn't know why. He didn't just look excited he was overjoyed. Maybe it's because of the party I think to myself.
"So the party's a hit huh?!" He said still sounding excited.
"Yeah I'm so glad, we did it!" I smiled back because his smile was contagious, but then his face suddenly became serious
"Listen, Orihime-chan can we talk-"
"Hey Inoue! What's up!" I turn to see that it was Keigo-san who had interrupted Andou-kun. He is always so enthusiastic; I couldn't help but smile as I turn my attention to him.
"Are you enjoying the party?" I asked him.
"Enjoying it? I love it! You organized this?! Amazing! The decorations are off the hook and can I say you look smoking ho-" But he was interrupted by another new comer only this time the hair at the back of my neck stood up when I heard his voice. Kurosaki-kun was right behind me. I turned around and he grabbed my hand pulling me away from Andou and Keigo-san.
"Keigo! What are you disturbing Inoue for? Here let me take her of your hands" He said, he frowned at Keigo and Andou-kun one last time and then moved me to the other side of the room almost to the door (which was left open to let some air in) and then finally turned to face me. He held my other hand and sighed.
When his eyes finally landed on me they widened in surprise like he didn't mean to drag me all the way here. "Inoue I-" he said but froze like he didn't know what to say, I didn't either so we just stared at each other. After a few seconds I decided to diffuse the tension so I said the first thing that popped into my mind.
"Do you want to dance Kurosaki-kun?" My voice was surprisingly calm, given the fact that there was a stampede of butterflies in my stomach. Ichigo blinked twice and then a small smile curved his lips
"Why not?" he said. But just as he said those two words, the song changed, from the pumpy party song to a slow dancing song. I turned around to the dining area that was being used as the DJ's space to see that Sado-kun had taken over as DJ although I have no Idea why.
I look back at Ichigo and I see his eyes are wide and he's sweating a little bit. I can't help giggling a bit.
"We don't have to dance to this song we could wait for the next one?" I say but he shakes his head at me.
"No, that's okay. I got this" he said, taking a deep breath as if he was about to jump into a pool of cold water. His face scrunched up in concentration, he carefully put his right hand on the middle of my back which of course was bare, right in the middle. The skin where his fingers touched was tingling and my heart began racing. He looks at me nervously and I smile to tell him he's doing fine. He holds my hand and I internally panic wondering if my hand is clammy and sweaty. I place my left hand on his shoulder just as I'd seen on TV. Slowly he starts to move and I follow him although the dance floor cleared a bit when the song changed, Ichigo twirled me around our little corner away from everyone else. The soft music was nothing like the rapid drumming of my heart.
Ichigo was surprisingly good at this, his brow was still furrowed in concentration. I wanted to help him relax so I move closer and whisper in his ear.
"Relax, you're doing great." His eyes met mine for the first time since we began dancing and he lets out a breath he's been holding. This must be uncomfortable for him. "Really! You're unbelievably good at this!" I say smiling at him. He scoffs and shakes his head lightly.
"Don't be impressed, I am just copying everything Ishida is doing with Tatsuki's mum over there." I look where he indicates and I see Ishida-kun expertly twirling Tatsuki's mum right in the middle of the room. They both look so engrossed in the moves I can't control the laughter that bursts out of me.
I bury my face right in Ichigo's chest as an attempt to muffle my laughter. Ichigo doesn't stop swaying us in a circle so I assume he doesn't mind me keeping my face pressed against his chest. The song is sad and happy and inspiring at the same time. It makes me feel calm but the slight upbeat rhytm keeps me excited.
Ichigo smells so good I think to myself, a kind of minty smell mixed with a fragrance that should be called Ichigo by Ichigo. I was to nuzzle my whole face in his chest and just stay there forever. My Imaginations are interrupted when Ichigo spins me around. I laugh out loud and then he pulls me back against his chest after spinning me twice. I press myself closer to him and smile up at him. He continues dancing and I follow him.
There is a 90% chance that this is a dream I think to myself. I'm dancing with Kurosaki-kun! Me! I look up at him and I'm met with his warm chocolate brown eyes gazing down at me.
"I guess you don't need Ishida-kun's tutorial anymore, huh?" I say, unable to tear my eyes away from his.
"Nah, I think I've got the moves down" he says smiling slightly.
Before I can reply, I am interrupted by Akari-san, "Oh my! Orihime! Could you help me find the bathroom? I am totally lost!" noticing Ichigo she added "sorry to interrupt kid" She turned back to me smiling expectantly.
"Oh uhmm sure" I say even though I wanted to grab Ichigo and run away to a corner on this earth where we can dance uninterrupted forever. A bit reluctantly I walk away from Ichigo whose hands went straight into his pocket when Akari-san pulled me away. I want to tell him that I'll be right back but Akari-san had slung her arm around my shoulders as we walked to the other side of the house.
"It's just down this hallway." I say pointing.
"Oh that's great" she says but doesn't move.
"Uhmm Akari-san?"
"Hmm?"
"Aren't you going to go in?"
"Oh yeah well…" she scratched her neck awkwardly. I'm a bit confused at her actions but just then Andou-kun comes down the hallway and Akari-san sighed in relief.
"Oh! If it isn't Andou! How weird you would be here, and Orihime's here too, perfect opportunity for you two to be alone eh?" She winked at Andou-kun.
"I'll just go grab another drink, you two kids talk" and then she winked at me before leaving. Now I am absolutely baffled by Akari-san's behavior.
"Yeah she's right let's talk somewhere" Andou-kun says breathlessly as he pulls me through the kitchen and out the back door. Now Andou-kun is acting strangely too.
"Is there something going on?" I ask him. He is acting so unlike himself, he keeps pacing and I can see his hands are shaking.
"Okay Orihime, I have to ask you if-" his next words are interrupted by Keigo-san, whose head just popped outside from the kitchen window.
"Oh! Orihime-chan! What a coincidence to find here! It's a lovely night isn't it? I like to star gaze sometimes on nights like these. Do you star gaze? I bet you do. It's always nice to see-" but then he was interrupted and this time by Tatsuki's mum, whose head aso popped out of the window right beside Keigo-san's.
"Orihime-chan, Andou! Come in. The cake is ready! I need your help to arrange the presents"
I want to hear what Andou-kun was going to say but Tatsuki's mum was smiling expectantly. So Andou-kun stomped his way back into the house with me behind him. When I go in, I see that the dining table was pushed to the center of the room and the cake was already on the table.
I start arranging all the presents in a pile while Andou-kun lights the candles.
"So? Did it work?" whispered Akari-san who had come up behind me.
"Did what work? What are you doing?" I whispered back.
"Didn't you hook up with Andou? Wasn't that the plan?"
"Hook up with- WHAT? NO! That was not the plan! You've got it all wrong!" I whisper shouted.
"what? so…Andou isn't lover boy?" she said
"NO!"
"Oh crap! Oh crap and I just told him- oh man" she slaps her hand across her forehead and shakes her head.
"What? What did you tell him?" I'm panicking now, I start shaking her shoulders but her face remains sheepish.
"Well…I told him that you feel the same way about him and that he should show you how…he feels about you " her voice got squeaky and my face got pale.
"You didn't" I whispered, horrified. She nodded solemnly.
"Akari-san!" I said just barely stopping myself from having a panic attack. I wanted to run around in circles till everything made more sense but Tatsuki's mum called everyone over.
"Now everyone lets sing for the birthday girl" Her mum said loud enough for everyone to hear. I came closer and stood around the table like everyone else but I was still freaking out inside so I was probably singing the national anthem instead of 'Happy birthday'. We all clapped and Tatsuki blew out the candles.
I just wanted to stick my head in a hole like Ostriches do, do they need training for that? Or can anyone just stick their heads in holes when something this terrible happens to them. Just when I was thinking that Andou-kun and I could be just friends something like this happens.
"What are you thinking about?" said Akari-san who had moved beside me.
"Oh uhmm just Ostriches" I said
"Ostriches?"
"Yeah they're so cool you know" I said smiling slightly.
"Look I'm really sorry I made a mess of things, I guess I'm not as perceptive as I thought" she said in an apologetic tone.
"That's okay, you were just trying to help, It's fine. Thanks for trying"
"So…who's lover boy then?" she said. Reluctantly I discretely pointed at Ichigo who all the way at the other side of the room.
"Oh… now that makes a lot of sense, Wow! You have a good eye! I mean look at that boy!"
"Akari-san! Stop staring!"
"Oh right sorry, but wow!"
I covered my face in embarrassment.
"Listen you don't have to worry about what I told Andou, okay? I'll straighten it out." She tells me, patting my back. A lump forms in my throat and I feel so bad for Andou-kun. It's horrible that I've already hurt him once already but now he's about to be hurt again.
"No, don't tell him" I say to Akari-san.
"Why not? Unless you're going to"
"I'll handle it, it isn't a problem, Andou-kun and I are friends, I can talk to him about it" which is not entirely true since I can't bring myself to tell him that I only want to be friends with him and nothing more. Maybe he'll forget the whole thing, I convince myself. It's probably not that big of a deal, I lie to myself.
Ichigo's POV
"Now let's open presents!" Tatsuki's mum announced.
Everyone groaned at the same time but Tatsuki's mum paid no attention. A few minutes later Tatsuki was unwrapping her gifts with an annoyed look. She had stopped smiling five presents ago, and now she just mumbles a forced 'thank you' only because her mum was watching. All her gifts were books. Each and every gift was a book. I kinda started feeling bad about it, I thought it would be funny to give her a book but I have no Idea how Andou got everyone to get her a book. He was laughing his head off and Tatsuki was glaring at him.
"This one isn't even wrapped!" she grumbled loudly. Fuck that's probably mine.
"oh wait there a post-it stuck on it, 'from Ichigo'" she read, "Thank you, how thoughtful of you" she said sarcastically. I waved and tried to smile but I'm sure it looked more like a smirk. After she had gone through the whole pile of gifts, Tatsuki's mum started sharing goody bags which was a very polite way to say 'you can get the hell out now' It was already dark I notice. Tatsuki started moving away to leave but her mum coughed, "Isn't there something you want to say to all your guests before they leave Tatsuki-chan? "said her mum, smiling. She was a scary woman, I did not want to mess with her.
"Uhmm thank you so much for the party and the…books, I can open up a library now." She said scratching the back of her neck.
After that everyone started pouring out of the house. I looked around the room and saw Keigo taking two goody bags but he wasn't who I was looking for. I turned and for the hundredth time this night my eyes were met with the most heavenly sight on earth. Inoue's back. In that dress. With her hair over her shoulder. She looks like an angel.
"Yeah if angels were as fucking hot as she is" I didn't even argue with that. The pale lecherous bastard had a point. I had tried to think of ways to tell her how stunning she looks tonight but I suddenly forgot how to speak whenever she was even a little close to me. At least I managed to keep Andou away from her.
"Oh please you didn't do shit, you only sent that Keigo to interrupt them"
'That is more than enough! I'm pretty sure I blocked all opportunities for them to talk all day!'
"Oh! I have an idea how about you stop being a pussy and make it fucking clear to him that she's your woman!"
'Shut the fuck up, she isn't mine yet!'
"And whose fault is that?"
'I'm working on it!'
"Are you referring to that shitty book you bought? If you follow that shit you'll have your first kiss when you're thirty!"
'As if you're an expert'
"Actually I kind of am, so listen to me and she'll be yours in no time"
'The day I ask you for love advice is the day I jump of a bridge'
"Fine, be a little pussy for all I care"
All this time I'd been arguing with that bastard I didn't notice that the room was almost empty. Actually it was empty except for me and Tatsuki's mum who was looking at me with one of her eyebrows raised. I start sweating nervously as we stare each other down.
"Did you enjoy the party young man?" she said smiling.
Shit, I nod quickly and then turn around to leave because I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine because of her. As I rapidly leave through the front door I bump into someone. In a split second I realize that;
1. It's Inoue and
2. She's about to fall on her face.
I reach out to help her, wrapping an arm around her stomach I pull her back and instead of falling on the pavement face first she falls back on my chest.
"Oh! Thank you" she turns around and smiles brightly at me. "The party is over and I didn't ruin this dress, success!"
"Tell her she looks hot in it."
"You looked beautiful in it" I said after thinking about it. "Close enough"
Inoue looked down at her feet and bit her lower lip shyly, her cheeks turning pink.
"Thank you" She smiled with a smile that could knock me right of my feet. I smiled back at her and we just stood there for almost a minute, looking at each other. I was thinking that the evening moonlight made her look like she had a halo, which I think she deserves.
"Would you, walk me home tonight, Kurosaki-kun?" she asked softly. I must have nodded but I don't remember because, we're walking towards her apartment building next thing I know.
"Sorry our dance was interrupted" she said breaking the silence of the night.
"That's fine, you were pretty amazing by the way." I say smiling at the memory of her pressed so close to me. Her body molded so perfectly against mine, I never wanted to leave her side. Even if we danced to dreadful 80's disco, I wouldn't have minded if it was with Inoue.
"Oh please, I just copied what I've seen on TV" she said waving the compliment away. "I wonder where Ishida-kun learnt to dance like that though! Him and Tatsuki's mum owned the dance floor" she said bursting into a fit of giggles.
"I know! I could barely keep up! "I laughed along with her.
"Well good thing you got all the moves down, huh?"
"Tell her you've got moves she ain't even seen yet", said that damn hollow. 'No fucking way am I saying that' I thought angrily.
"So thank you for walking me home" Inoue said while fidgeting with her fingers. I looked up to see that we were already at her place. Curse it, why does she live so close. I just wanted to keep talking to her, to keep sneaking peaks at her.
"Goodnight Kurosaki-kun" she smiled then turned away to go up.
"Ask her if you can stay with her tonight"
"Can I …uhmm I mean can we…like uhmm meet up tomorrow? I know it's a Sunday and all but can we just…go somewhere? Just…the two of us?" I said trying to keep my composure, although my whole body was twitching nervously. Her eyes widened in shock and my stomach sank. Of course she's be freaked out, I've been acting like a love crazed moron the whole day, dancing, complimenting; I must have freaked her out!
"Just the two of us?... like a-a date?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"Uhmm well yeah I guess, unless you don't want to-"
"Yes!" she says her smile brightening up again.
"Really? You mean you want to? Seriously? O-okay yeah that's uhmm great I'll come by and pick you up" I'm nodding a lot and my voice sounds shaky, my hands are shaking so I shove them into my pocket.
"I'll see you tomorrow then " she said smiling again before she turned around and climbed up the stairs to her apartment. I stood in the same spot because;
still faintly smells like her
legs don't work anymore
Yes! Fuck yes! That's just fucking amazing! She said yes! We're actually going on a date! I don't know what I did in this life to deserve such good luck but Thank you! It actually takes too much effort to stop the grin on my face so I just walk all the way home like that, grinning like an idiot.
When I get home, my family is in the living room, I go in and sit with them. My dad, Karin and Yuzu all look at me.
"Ichi-nii are you okay?" says Yuzu staring at me strangely
"What? Yeah of course! I'm just great"
"Is your face broken or something?" said Karin indicating with her own face, I realize I'm still grinning but when I try to bring my face back to normal it just goes right back to the way it was.
"I'm fine and I stole some goody bags for you two" I say handing the bags filled with candy and cake to both of them. Karin was still looking at me like I had two heads. Is it that weird to see me smiling?
"What about me? " said my dad actually pouting.
"Sorry, pops, next time" I say before going upstairs to my room. I take off my shirt and pull on a loose sweat shirt instead. As I'm about to crash on my bed something catches my eye, It's that book I bought. I pick it up and read the first page. Maybe there are tips on what to do for a first date.
Step One:Identify what you are to this person and just what her feelings are for you
Rubbish, I'm her friend that's why I need your help genius, I think as I tear of the first page.
Step Two: Subtly let her know that you see her romantically. You can do this by complimenting her on any feature or by even just laughing at her jokes. It lets the other person know you enjoy their presence and with time, they would come to rely on your companionship.
I already did that, I plucked up the courage to tell her she looked beautiful, and I always laugh at Inoue's jokes, she's the funniest person I know. I tore of the next page
Step Three:Try to spend as much time with her as possible. It might be that she's not yet comfortable to go on a date so just ask her to hang out occasionally till she feels comfortable spending time with you.
I just asked her out! Why doesn't it have any advice on where to go on a first date? Shit. How the fuck do I do this? Well now that I've started worrying about tomorrow there's no way I'm getting any sleep now. I have no idea what to do on a date. I mean, it is a date, she knows that right? She knows it's not just hanging out, right? And she said yes? Does that mean she likes me too? Or did she just say that so I'd leave?
"If you had listened to me you'd be in bed with her going for round two."
'Just don't say anything! Just shut your trap!'
"Whatever"
I open the book and flip to the next page, there has to be more.
Step Four: Break the touch barrier. For many people, a big distinction between "friendship" and "relationship" is the way they touch, Take a few little "touch risks". Reach for their hands, hair, shoulders, ankles, and back. But touching someone communicates to them that you find them attractive, and also that you're reasonably confident. Both of these things can make someone feel more attracted to you.
What the hell? I don't have the right to touch her yet! I haven't even… I can't just touch her! Besides that's a problem for another day! I have to not fuck up the first date first. Uggh what do I even do?! How do people do this?! All traces of my earlier happiness and excitement are gone, now I'm just flipping out.
I start pacing around my room then I give up trying to calm myself and instead I change into my shinigami mode with my spirit badge. I'll ace around Karakura town instead, I decide. Maybe I'll come up with Ideas for the first date.
"Here's a thought how about you skip the first date and pop into her bedroom window?"
"Here's another thought, How about you die in a hole?"
I know I'm not catching a blink of sleep tonight. I am on edge all night and I still don't have any ideas. I circle the town all night, to distract myself. At five am when I crawl back into my room, I decide to sleep a little bit. I don't want to show up for the date looking like my hollow.
A/N: So there it is, Thank you so much for reading, I'm working on making the chapters longer so just be patient with me for a while. Let me know what you guys think, I love your reviews like seriously I do, they are the highlight of my life day.
Oh and if everyone wants the link to the song our young love birds danced to,
here's the link :::::: watch?v=Yv0ixjeowwY
Till next time!
