Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any characters affiliated with the franchise.

Chapter three is here and ready for you, so hopefully you enjoy it.

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Ichigo stood outside of Orihime's apartment, contemplating what type of excuse he could use. The substitute soul reaper could tell her a hollow had presented itself but, as the teenage girl could sense their presence, too, that wouldn't work. As his mind conjured up the following excuse, he stepped back and did a double take: This was Orihime he was thinking about. As kind as she was, he deduced she wouldn't even ask him - she'd merely be ecstatic he came into her peripheral vision at all. Backing his theory was the simple fact he hadn't replied to her message, so there was no real pact he had been obligated to fulfill. Still, the young healer was a dear friend to him, so he wouldn't keep her waiting any longer than he had, or outright abandon her.

The young man sniffed himself, ensuring there wasn't a spec of Rangiku's scent on his person prior to walking up the steps and knocking on his classmate's door. The last thing he needed was Orihime being suspicious of any liasions between the blonde lieutenant and himself - she'd be crushed. Ultimately, he realized the day was soon approaching where he'd almost indubitably have to do so in any event. However, he remained at a standstill about how to do that as easy and painless as possible should that, indeed, come to pass.

But, tonight wasn't the night to consider that, thus he needed to focus on the present for the time being.

Just as he brought himself back to planet Earth, the door opened, revealing Orihime. Or rather ... a sexy goddess?

A dumbfounded expression on his face, Ichigo could barely utter, "O-Ori ... hime?"

Loving the reaction she received in spite of her uncomfortable state, the young healer offered a kind smile, "Yes, Ichigo?"

The teenage boy couldn't take his eyes off the girl's figure. This couldn't be Orihime, just couldn't be. His classmate was modest and pretty, not someone who had the potential to be on the cover of a pervert magazine! He felt everything from anger, to disbelief, to ... arousal?

Something was definitely wrong here.

"W-Why are you dressed like that?" the substitute soul reaper inquired, trying not to look down at the girl's cleavage area.

Looking concerned, she questioned, "You don't like it?"

"Oh, no, no, nothing like that. You look beautiful, actually. It's just ... I've never seen you wear something like that before."

Blushing, she thanked Ichigo, stood aside, and motioned for him to come inside. "Well," she said, shutting the door behind him, "I thought I would try something new."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I just thought it would be nice to be different."

The young man glanced around the small apartment in order to direct his attentiveness on anything other than Orihime's sexy attire. He'd been there many times, so it seemed akin to a second home for him. The place was clean and humble, and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. But then, he observed that there wasn't a solitary textbook or paper or pencil out in the open. Anytime in the past when the two completed homework together, they'd always do it in the kitchen, so that was quite odd. Still, he didn't raise any objection.

The healer offered Ichigo a seat on the couch, which he accepted. She sat beside him and studied him. In her large, grey eyes, Orihime could see that he had a lot of things on his mind. He was stressed, that much was obvious despite his attempts to hide it from her amid the indifference he expressed. The young woman was simply overly perceptive in regard to the love of her life. Witnessing the substitute in pain had been abhorrent to the girl. It affected her to the point that she herself experienced momentous discomfort emotionally, mentally and even physically when he was hurt.

"Ichigo..."

She wanted to soothe him.

She wanted to touch him.

She needed to be close to him.

This precise instance allowed her to misremember the prelude. The fact he'd gone out on a date with Rangiku, the fact she cried herself to sleep, the fact she felt he might not even like her that way; none of it registered in her brain, because it didn't matter. Her burning yearn to be with him overrode everything else. Although, therein lied the issue, however: Orihime lacked the confidence to make a move - even after she'd rehearsed each step a dozen times to herself, preparing for every response or gesture he might make. When the moment of truth faced her, though, she couldn't do it.

Seduction was difficult. Pure and simple.

XOXOXOXOXO

Orihime looked so hot - oh-so hot! - and she smelled heavenly. His hormones were raging as a result of her appearance and he hadn't a clue how much longer he'd last before his carnal desires overwhelmed him, prompting him to ravage her like a wild beast in heat. But how could he think about that? This woman was as innocent as they came. It would be wrong to take advantage of someone as sweet as the healer, wouldn't it?

And how would it seem later when he inevitably stopped hanging out with her intimately?

'Gee, sorry, 'Hime, I just don't like you that way, but the ass was nice.'

Yeah, not really the kind of person he wanted to be. The young man wasn't a heartbreaker ... at least, not a deliberate heartbreaker.

Ichigo felt Orihime's eyes on him the entire time, too, whilst he sat in silence and he immediately realized she was studying him. He could only pray he'd done a great job of masking his confliction from the girl, because he didn't want her to worry.

"Ichigo," the healer softly whispered in his ear, breaking the silence. The tone of her voice sent shivers down his spine given their near proximity to one another.

The teenage boy quickly turned his head to the left to look at her. He saw that look, the look that told him she sought affection.

Despite his not viewing the girl as a lover, Ichigo couldn't say no. Well, his hormones couldn't say no.

Similar to how many good man would, he kissed her, but not like how he normally did. It wasn't subtle or soft. No, it was lust-filled and hungry.

The teenage girl let out a small gasp as she felt her body burn in the midst of the young man's passion.

It felt so good to be desired.

In uncontrolled fury, Ichigo reached for her top and ripped it off. Her look, her taste ... she was irresistable. He couldn't say what had come over him at this moment, but he recognized that stopping was practically impossible.

Pullling his lips away from her, his hands grabbed hold of her waist, and then he told her in a commanding tone, "You're mine, 'Hime."

The substitute soul reaper pulled her into his lap, forcing her to straddle him (not that she minded, of course), and then began feasting on her neck. The girl reacted by encircling her arms around his neck, while her fingers commenced running through his soft, spiky hair. She moaned as the pleasure increased, hoping it wouldn't stop anytime soon.

Ichigo could feel Orihime's subtle movements in his lap, and he could feel her concealed core growing warmer by the second over his clothed member. Knowing the healer actually harbored the ability to experience sexual desire made him feel better about losing control.

The young man abandoned her neck once he got his fill, moving slightly south toward her breasts. Licking his lips, he took one of her large breasts into his mouth and sucked, enjoying the sweet sigh of Orihime. His tongue toyed with her nipple, licking the tip of her hardened pink pearl furiously, boosting her need to have him.

"Ichigo...," the teenage girl cried out, grinding her hips wantonly into him, her nails beginning to pierce the skin of his neck.

Score one for his ego.

"I want ... I want...," the healer tried to talk, but her body was so overwhelmed with the various sensations, she couldn't speak.

Ichigo knew he had her, however, he wanted to warm her up a little more before he took her. After all, he loved pleasing his partners to the fullest.

Switching to the other breast, he repeated the process until she'd had enough. It was at that point he kissed her once more. While doing that, he raised her slightly so he could slip his fingers beneath her skirt, move her red panties to the side, and slide two fingers into her hot, wet core.

The healer groaned into the kiss, shaking, buckling, as the substitute soul reaper asserted himself with her core. Both his index and middle finger inside of her, Ichigo went about two-thirds of the way, then did a come hither motion. When he did that, he came into contact with some skin that felt like a soft, spongy walnut. Recognizing that he found her g-spot, the substitute soul reaper applied light pressure, making Orihime scream.

Her walls hastily closing in around his fingers like a vice, Orihime desperately kissed him with all her might.

She was a mess.

A good mess.

A couple of more motions with his fingers and the girl utterly exploded, her body clinging to the boy's for dear life. She'd never felt so good, so ... alive.

So this was what it was like to be a woman. Maybe, just maybe being a woman wasn't so bad.

Once her body reached post-orgasmic state, Ichigo heard her say to him the last thing he needed to hear:

"Ichigo ... I love you."

There it was. His worst nightmare. Why? Why him?

This was what he worst feared - leading her on. How could he be so cruel?

There he was, with the sweetest girl in his class - and perhaps his life - ready to give herself to him wholly out of love, and yet, he couldn't return her affection. Just what kind of man was he?

A disgraceful one from what he could tell.

He needed to leave before he did anymore damage.

Without saying a word, the substitute soul reaper lifted Orihime and set her down on the couch. He observed her raise her brow at him in confusion, but he wouldn't acknowledge it. His only focus was getting away from her. This was his mistake, and he hated himself for letting things with the healer get this far.

He started marching toward the door. When he got there, he simply uttered, "'Hime, I'm really sorry. I can't do this anymore. You deserve better."

"No, he can't do this to me. After this, after how close we just were..."

"Goodbye," he said, opening and closing the door.

And just like that, Orihime and Ichigo were no more.

Author's Notes: Thank you to everyone who has shown support for this story. It's far from over, so enjoy the ride.

Good fortune to all of you. Peace.