Ichigo's brown eyes widened slightly as he stared after the Hollow, his heart slowly pumping, as though something was definitely wrong with what just happened, like he was the one that did something.

XXXX

Auburn eyes slowly fluttered open, staring out the window with his brows tilted into a worried feature, sadness hinting on his handsome teenaged features. He slowly sat up, reaching over to his night stand, coiling his fingers around his cell phone.

Flipping through his contact list, he stopped on Orihime's number, clicking the green talk button, calling the bright haired girl.

Hearing the dial tone for a while, the eldest Kurosaki sibling took in some air, then released it once he heard the dial tone fade, a girlish voice answering happily.

"K- I mean, Ichigo! Hello! How are you?!" she stammered, still not used to the new introductions, new rules. That they call each other by their first name, which wasn't a problem for the orange haired teen.

"Hey, Orihime," he complied, smiling warmly as he bent his left knee, placing his elbow on it as he leaned back against the headboard, "sorry, I couldn't sleep, thought I'd call and see if you wanted to go out to eat later, maybe...at six?"

"Sure,"

"Okay, see you later."

With that, they hung up. Ichigo sighed and shook his head slowly, wondering how she could always be so giddy.

XXXX

The time rolled by quickly, which made six come in what seemed like seconds.

Both teenagers met at the ice cream shop outside the arcade near Orihime's house. Said girl was wearing a bright blue dress, laced with black on the sleeves, rimmed with black lace as well, the tie a midnight blue, her hair tied back into a tight ponytail.

Ichigo, on the other hand, wore skintight deep crimson pants, a half-black, half-white long-sleeved shirt, with the imprint of a bleeding skull on the back. His black Nike's slightly dirty with dirt.

The bright haired girl beamed and waved happily, walking over to him and hugging the smiling Kurosaki, whom returned the warm embrace.

Leaning up, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Bright haired b-"

Shut up, Hichigo, the orange haired teen hissed within his mind as the two teens parted. Ichigo took her hand into his shyly, still not used to these unfamiliar touches, both walking off into the ice cream shop with smiles.

XXXX

Hichigo sighed.

He looked up with golden-black eyes at Zangetsu, who was standing on his prized pole, looking at him with a serious look, and a look of concern.

"You should just tell him how you feel," he said simply, "so he knows what's bothering you and why you don't like Orihime."

"It's none of yer business, old man." the albino hissed angrily.

"I'm just saying," he sighed, shaking his head, "that if you really care about him, or really love him, you'll tell him the truth."

"Ya know what," Hichigo said, tone brightening, yet threatening, "yer right, maybe I should tell...! Yeah right! Get real!" He then flipped him the birdie.

The floating man frowned, sighing heavily.

XXXX

The orange haired teen stuck his tongue out to take a taste off his vanilla flavored ice cream, humming in satisfaction at the cold sensation on his hot tongue as he looked over at Orihime, who smiled at him brightly.

Her ice cream chocolate-mint.

"Want some, Ichigo?" she asked, offering the cold substance to him with a smile.

Nodding, he offered her some while taking a taste of hers. Secretly, he didn't really like the mint and chocolate put together, it just didn't taste right. Pulling his cone back, he took a huge bite out of his, only thoughts on how Hichigo acted earlier.

Frowning, he returned his attention to his snack.