A/N: "The Plan" is now going to take affect so everyone get ready. Lets see how Tatsuki made this one work.
Tatsuki grinned the evilest grin ever grinned in her whole life. Everything had fallen into place and Orihime seemed to be speechless about the idea. As Tatsuki looked at Ichigo he seemed dazed by Misato's words and by his own thoughts. Not the type of reaction she was hoping to get from him but nonetheless it was a perfect plan and everything was set. Now the only thing getting in the way was time.
"Ichigo? Did you hear me? I said you and Orihime will clean the classroom together after school today."
"Oh, damn, I have to clean already? I thought it was Chad's turn!" Ichigo tried to explain.
"Ichigo, I did it last week," Chad said calmly in his usual monotone.
"Well I guess it's up to you and me then, right Orihime?"
Orihime couldn't even move. She wanted to say something but it was as if her vocal cords had been frozen so they couldn't create a sound. Now she knew why Tatsuki was so happy. Now she knew why she had said, "You and Ichigo WILL be together." It was now all falling into place.
Orihime could only nod at Ichigo when she had finally become aware of his statement.
As Ichigo turned back around to continue his "schooling," his mind couldn't help but wander back to Orihime's shocked expression. "I guess it shouldn't be such a big surprise. I bet just the thought of us being in the same room alone must scare her to death." It was funny to him how Orihime would act after their small "encounters" and "moments." But funny enough, she was just like him; willing but never taking the step.
Orihime wanted, for the first time, to strangle Tatsuki and throw her in a room full of men that disliked non-buxom woman. She had pulled the meanest thing she could have every done. She was forcing Orihime to confront Ichigo.
Yes it was something that she had been thinking about, and yes it was something that she might have been planning on doing, but she still wasn't ready. It was all coming down too soon. She still couldn't find the words she needed to explain to Ichigo how she felt.
Well that part was a lie. She knew what she wanted to say. All she wanted to say was, "I love you." BUT SHE WASN'T READY FOR THAT YET!!!!!!! She needed some time to think it out and have everything not come out so strong. Orihime quickly looked at the clock.
There was an hour left of class and then . . .
Tick . . .
Time was passing by and Orihime had to quickly come up with a way to explain to Ichigo how she felt. She tried to block out every type of sound to try and think, but the sound of the clock and the loud thumps of her heart were pounding in her ears.
Tick . . .
Da-dump . . .
"Quickly . . ."
Da-dump . . .
Tick . . .
Da-Dump . . .
Tick . . .
Da-Dump . . .
"Something . . ."
Da-dump . . .
Da-dump . . .
"Anything . . ."
Tick . . .
Ring!
"Alright everyone, we'll pick this up tomorrow and remember about the test. That Rukia will hear from me yet."
Misato was already saying her goodbyes and everyone else was gathering their things. "NO!" Orihime felt like time had flown by and she still hadn't thought of anything.
She looked over to see Ichigo get up, say his goodbyes, and tell her he'd be back as soon as he got his stuff. She watched him leave.
"No! Not yet!" She still needed more time. Nothing was right. She wanted more time. She wished that she could switch powers just for that second and reverse time so she could have more time. Tatsuki was walking over to her and she knew exactly what she was going to say.
"So what do you think?"
"I think you're evil," Orihime was able to squeeze out of her throat.
"Why? I came through with my part of the deal. You and Ichigo …"
"… are together. I get it but I'm not ready for this!" Orihime brought her hands to her face, trying to hold in the nerves and the anger she felt. She knew Tatsuki meant well but she just couldn't understand what was happening to her at that moment.
"Well, don't worry about it! Just go, tell him, and everything will be off your chest. And just think, things will be a lot simpler."
"God I wish Tatsuki was more 'feminine.' That way she'd at least somewhat get what's going on!"
As everyone had nearly left, including Tatsuki, Orihime started to try and find a way of getting out the cleaning assignment. She thought that maybe she could just get her stuff and leave but when she got her stuff together, Ichigo was waiting for her by the door.
She didn't know if it was the dying sun or the way he leaned against the door or the way he held his grey school blazer over his shoulder. There was only one thing she felt at that moment as she looked at him—blissful happiness.
And when she thought about it, it didn't make sense. Yes, Ichigo looked like God's most divine creation, the way the sun touched him and the pose he chose to look at her with, but the thing that got to her the most were his eyes.
His eyes said everything. And in them was something that she had wanted to see him express since that day she'd wanted to express it to him.
His eyes—in the strongest, most fierce way possible—simply stated, "I want you." And in that moment, surreal as it seemed, it was all real. There was no doubt about it. Those eyes. Those very eyes that were staring directly at her, into her, said this.
"Are you ready?" Ichigo asked.
"His voice, oh my god his voice." Orihime thought Ichigo's voice sounded as if it had come out of an angel's horn. It was perfect and so well toned. There was not doubt in it, no worry in it …
"Yea give me a sec."
… unlike hers that seemed scratchy and disgusting, as if she had just finished drinking spoiled milk while waking up.
Even as Ichigo turned to leave, Orihime though his simple movements were just so utterly graceful, that she felt inferior; inferior to the type of beauty he portrayed.
Finally, Orihime decided it was time to face the facts. It was time to get down to it. It was time … to clean.
"Wow that took longer then I thought," Ichigo said as he took a look at his watch as it read 7:00.
"I guess it's because the school's so big and … well … we are the only t-two people cleaning it."
"Yeah, I guess."
It had been a very quiet cleaning session. Not much talking went on, just every now and then, Ichigo called out, "Everything ok over there?" Whenever he did, and a few other "moments," during the cleaning, Orihime tried to start a conversation. She tried to think of ANYTHING that could possible give her the courage to finally say something. But as much as she tried to hold on to a conversation, everything seemed to turn back around on her and force her to stop it. She just couldn't handle the pressure. Ichigo and her ALONE in an empty school was something she, and maybe he, would have fantasies about.
And what a fantasy it would be. She could just picture then … him putting down his broom … her just casually mopping away … him turning her smoothly, pressing her up against the wall … her releasing a small, yet sexy, groan … him joining their lips together … her accepting his with an open "mouth" … him fondling every part of her body … her embracing him as much as she could … him starting to caress her breasts … her starting to run her hands through his hair and into his shirt … him starting to take off her clothes …………..
"Hey, Orihime, we're done," Ichigo said as he snapped his fingers in front of her drooling face.
She quickly snapped out of this somewhat "hypnotized" state, wiped her chin, and shook her head a bit to try and get the mental pictures out of her head. "Ok."
"Well, I'm heading home. It's late and that broom really makes your back and shoulders stiff. See ya tomorrow."
Shoot, she was out of time. She had lost her time to think. Instead of thinking about what she needed to say she was off in some world fantasizing. And what a fantasy it was, but that wasn't the point. Reality was way more important then a fantasy.
Ichigo started to head towards the door. He picked up his book bag and tossed it on one shoulder. He was leaving and she knew it.
She needed to say something—anything! "Ichigo!"
"Huh?"
That was the "something" she needed. She had his attention now but what next? Nothing came to mind. Her mind was completely blank. During the single most important moment in her life, her brain decided to not cooperate. "What the &!!! Why now? Why?"
Ichigo just looked at Orihime. He laughed a bit, inside, at her somewhat foolish face. She seemed to be frozen in time or something. Her jaw hung open and her eyes were dazed like never before. It was like nothing Ichigo had ever seen but in the end—it was funny.
"Well, hope you get that fixed Orihime. See ya."
There was only one thing that Orihime could manage to force out of her mouth, "ICHIGO, I LOVE YOU!!!"
WHY?
A/N: I LOVE CLIFFHANGERS. Especially this one. It came to me out of no where. I love it . . . anyway
Next Up: We answer the question.