A/N: If you do not like the plot or character plot, then don't read the fic.

SUMMARY: Orihime Inoue: An 18 year old high-school student has a crush. On her English teacher. Mr Ichigo Kurosaki has been dubbed the sexiest teacher to ever work at Karakura Senior School. He is also battling some highly immoral feelings for a certain pumpkin-haired student. During her walk to school, Orihime was attacked by Nnoitra Gilga, a former comrade of Ichigo's in his teen years. As we learn Ichigo's dark past, we also learn that he will protect Orihime, but she is keeping things from him and Ichigo is resorting to his deductive skills. Can he help her with her own demons and somehow gain her trust? Can Orihime look past his biological make-up and see Ichigo for who he is?

WORD COUNT: 3, 097

RATING: M for very dark themes and sexual content.

DISCLAIMER: All is owned by Kubo-sensei.

CHAPTER 5:

Let's Talk

*THIRD PERSON P.O.V.*

Orihime looks at her teacher, feeling very nervous about being alone with a man, any man. Of course, this is Mr Kurosaki, but if her mind has served her correctly, then she would be cautious about him. Something like this would be hard, and what she is about to attempt to help her own teacher, since he is trying to help her, is very much out of character for both student and teacher. Almost like they are something more.

Ichigo steps aside for her and she takes small steps into his apartment and looks around in awe.

It isn't exactly what she was expecting. She always expected a slightly more messy house, more male and defining his character. But this apartment was rather bare, almost as if he doesn't expect to call it 'home'. All he really has around is a couple of photo frames and his pet dog. Orihime had heard him speak about the infamous Kon and she knew she would fall in love with him instantly, and she had.

Kon, seeing a new face, barked excitedly and jumps from his place on the couch and barrels for Orihime, who looked stunned and completely unprepared for the onslaught. Ichigo takes a step in her direction, "Kon!" He demands full attention of his canine companion and Kon immediately stops, his ears prick downward as he senses the scolding he is about the receive.

Orihime, feeling sorry for the poor pet, catches the attention of Ichigo, "ah, Mr Kurosaki?"

"Hmm?" Ichigo looks at Orihime with an innocent, questioning gaze.

"You don't have to scold Kon. He was just probably excited to see a new face, I'm sure he doesn't get out much, you look pretty busy." Orihime smiles softly, gesturing to the papers that Ichigo had left on the table, still in the middle of marking hers.

Ichigo grins sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as his cheeks turn a little pink. "Well, you're right about that. I've been so busy I kind of neglect him. Poor Kon. I guess I can be a little harsh on the guy." He bends and rubs Kon's furry head, playing with him and Kon rubs against his master affectionately, happy with the attention.

Kon quickly notices Orihime once more and trots to her. Orihime bends down and lets him sniff her hand before making passing judgement.

Apparently, he is overexcited because Kon's head slides right between Orihime's breasts and snuggles in there. "Bwaah~?" Orihime cried in shock, her face going bright red.

Ichigo froze and cried out incoherently. "KON, YOU PERVERTED MUTT!" Ichigo grabs Kon by his collar and drags him away, looking like a teapot he was fuming so much and the embarrassment clearly showing on his face, it makes Orihime giggle as he sticks Kon in his room and grumbles, scowling as he walks back. "I apologise for my dog. I don't know, whenever he sees girls, he goes crazy! I'm so sorry for his behaviour. I took him to an obedience school but it obviously didn't help."

Orihime giggles softly, putting a hand to her mouth as she does, feeling good for the first time in months. "That's alright, Mr Kurosaki."

Ichigo's eyes soften and his heart rejoices at her happiness, no matter how fleeting it is. She's happy for the time being.

(..)

The two of them sit opposite each other, Orihime is working on her homework while Ichigo finishes grading the papers and sets them in the satchel just as Orihime finishes her paper and hands it to Ichigo. "Thank you, Mr Kurosaki."

"Hmm? What for, Miss Inoue?" Ichigo asks, looking up at her, confused.

"For protecting me from that man." Orihime's head hangs low, her hair falling in front of her eyes, yet her voice conveys her sincerity and her somewhat faith in her savior. "But I'm sure you would have done it for any student who was in the same situation."

Ichigo's eyes widen, it was the first time they were speaking of this in detail.

"Miss Inoue, you don't need to thank me. If I went back in time, I'd do it again, but at least I'd have a head start, and I'd save you before he attacked. And you're right, I would do the same for any other student under my care, but I probably wouldn't visit their place of residence to only check up on them." Ichigo says, looking up to see that she had risen her head, looking up at him with an innocent wide-eyed look.

"What do you mean, Mr Kurosaki?" Orihime tilts her head to the side slightly.

"You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago. You aren't exactly like her, but little things in your personalities that are similar. My friend, she was amazing. She was fierce and kind, strong and compassionate. She would always speak her mind. But she would always act like there was nothing wrong. She'd never tell me what was going on in her life even if it caused her grief, she'd never talk about it, but just add it to the weight on her shoulders. I guess I see that similarity. You're fierce, in your own way. You're kind and compassionate to an almost saint-like level and you never ever, let anyone know just how hard your life really is, by covering it up with one of your smiles. So I guess, I would protect you, just like I would protect her." Ichigo concludes, looking almost forlorn at the mention of his friend.

"So, you're saying that the only reason that you're protecting me, is because I remind you of your friend, not for any other reason?" Orihime's stormy gray eyes lift to look into Ichigo's brown with a ferocity swirling in them like a hurricane that made Ichigo lean back slightly.

"No, Miss Inoue, you misunderstand," Ichigo put a hand up in a 'stop' motion, as if to halt her thoughts from progressing further.

"How could I misunderstand? It seems pretty clear to me." Orihime rises from her seat and Ichigo sees her face and she looks. .hurt. "I'll be taking my leave now. Thank you, Mr Kurosaki, I'm glad we had this talk." She picks up her things and before Ichigo could say anything to get her to understand she strode out the front door, leaving him, mouth gaping and eyes wide.

"Orihime. . .I didn't mean it like that. ." Ichigo whispered.

(..)

Ichigo walks through the halls of the hospital to the Intensive Care unit and stops at the desk. "Hi, Mrs Masahashi, I went to check on Rukia Kuchiki but she's been moved, do you think you can tell me where she is now?" Ichigo's smile is forced, like it always is, but Wakumi Masahashi always knew better than to call on him about it. She was 45 years old now and she was 38 when the same boy came running in the Emergency Room, screaming for help as he carried the poor bloodied girl in his arms. He was no older than 18. Wakumi was a nurse at that point in her career and she had helped Ichigo and Rukia.

Wakumi checked her computer and clicked on the necessary files. "I've been keeping an eye on her progress. It's the same. The swelling is gone, but we believe it's mentally trying to heal, keeping her locked in. But the brain is still so new to the medical world, it's unpredictable. She's also been moved to one of the more permanent private rooms, Room 471. Keep going straight."

"Thanks, Mrs Masahashi. I'll keep that in mind." Ichigo waves his hand in farewell before following the directions and came to his friends room. Ichigo takes a deep breath before walking in, to see Rukia laying there, on life support. Her older brother, Byakuya, refuses to let her off the machine, allowing her to heal and recuperate, even though the doctor's think it won't help. Ichigo agrees with him, if there is the slightest chance, that Rukia can come back, then he has to believe that she can.

Ichigo sits on the chair next to her motionless form and takes her hand. "Hey there, Rukia," and he tells her everything that's happened, "and now, this poor girl believes that I only look after her because I remind her of you, which I don't really get why she was . . hurt about it, I mean, it's not like she likes me or anything." Ichigo scoffs at the idea before he looks away. "But I want nothing more than to keep her safe, and I don't know how to do that. I have strange dreams about her and I have this compelling urge to keep her safe wherever she is. I don't know what to do, Rukia. I never had this feeling with you. I always knew you would be alright. Yet with her, I feel helpless. I feel helpless like I was when my mother passed on. .I felt useless because I couldn't save her, like I couldn't save you or Mum." Ichigo's hands tighten and clench into fists against his thighs, his head hung low, teeth grinding against each other, "why do I feel this way? Why do I feel I need to keep her safe? Keep her in my arms and hold her tight just to have the reassurance that she's there?!" Ichigo opens his eyes and looks at her prone form, as he calms himself down. "Her name is Orihime Inoue and she's beautiful. I know it's wrong to feel this way for a student. . but it's like I don't care about the rules. I know I've been careful for seven years, and I'm older than her by seven years which is a coincidence, but I just don't care about anything else but her. . ." Rukia's breathing is the only response to Ichigo's revelation, to which he sighs in defeat. "I'm sorry, about all this. I know this is all my fault, you being in her and locked inside your own mind. I also know that you'd probably punch me and tell me to stop being so glum." Ichigo takes her hand softly and rubs it, gently. "If you are hearing all of this Rukia, please, don't judge me. When you wake up, and if you remember anything that I've told you, hear me out and let me explain myself, before you beat my ass. Oh, and Renji says 'hi' by the way and that he's still planning on kicking your ass for leaving him like this." Ichigo grins slightly. "See you tomorrow."

Ichigo lets go of her hand and takes his leave, closing the door behind him, he started his way down the hall, sifting through his conflicted emotions and the same recurring question kept running through his muddled thoughts.

'What do I do about you, Miss Orihime Inoue?"