Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
A heart will not forgive for being betrayed. It may pretend to, but the ache will be sustained … because, the heart never dies.
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Monday morning arrived much-too quickly for Orihime.
She had gotten out of Ichigo's car around six … happy, but pursing her lips. Ichigo recognized that look, and wanted to appease her dampening spirit, but being the realist he prided himself in being, he comprehended that 'good things must come to an end'.
However, he couldn't fault her for her disappointment – the unforgettable weekend he and his wife had was quite possibly the best two days he'd ever lived. They'd gone out of the city to a nearby resort he'd booked in advance as a surprise. Orihime had been floored by the sudden vacation, but packed her belongings all-too hastily.
The weekend was highlighted by some time in the hot springs, swimming, a thorough massage, a round of tennis and a fireworks show on the beach.
... Of course, the sex certainly came in spurts, too (thirteen times, to be precise).
"Look, it'll be okay, Orihime," he began, not knowing what to say.
"Can't we have one more day?" she half-giggled, half-pouted, batting her large gray eyes.
The husband laughed, "Haven't you had enough?"
"I-Ichigo!" she blushed, looking away shyly and nibbling at her lips.
"Babe…"
The woman sighed. "Yes, I know…... But just know that I'll be thinking of you all day…," she exaggerated, forcing another chuckle.
"As will I. ... Have a good day, Orihime."
"You too," she replied, stepping back from the ajar passenger window. Once she stepped onto the sidewalk she and her spouse exchanged a glance and waved at each other, prior to the latter driving off.
The baker watched his car until it was out of her view before she unlocked the door to her shop to commence a day that she truly didn't want to work, which was certainly a first since working was her passion (outside of being with Ichigo).
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Business had been extremely light, with only a light surge of customers early on. Such events didn't often occur, thus prompting Orihime to scratch her head, wondering what on earth happened to the people. It was noon (a time where customers typically flooded eateries of all types) for Christ's sake!
However, that isn't to say it bothered her necessarily. In fact, it genuinely pleasured her, given the dissatisfaction she dealt with ever since she awakened this morning. But still, something seemed abnormal to her.
All-too soon the bakery would cease to be empty as the door in front of her opened, disrupting her long thoughts. Startled, she gazed up just in time to recognize the occupant.
"So, we meet again, Miss Inoue," Koji greeted her with a small smile.
Being the bashful woman she was, Orihime murmured, "Hello, Koji Tenryou."
Letting out a breath, the man said, "Geez… and you say my entire name."
Ashamed, the baker looked down, apologizing profusely. "I'm very sorry," she offered repeatedly.
"Relax, I'm just joking. You could just refer to me as Koji, though,alright?"
Orihime was as fun-loving as anyone could ever be, but she had to admit that his sense of 'fun' would require some growing accustomed to.
Shuffling her feet, the baker's attention was squarely focused on her shoes as she uttered, "But your name is cute. I really like it."
"'Cute?' Of all the terms you could possibly use, you have to say 'cute'?"
The woman couldn't help but find his reaction amusing. His face – he reminded her of Ichigo with his outburst. Of course, physically, Koji didn't resemble her husband at all, but that didn't stall her from visualizing the two of them in the same light, for a mere moment.
She bequeathed yet another apology but stood by her statement.
Awkward silence ensued. Koji stared at the baker, admiring her beauty – and unlike last time, he noticed the sapphire ring on the fourth finger of her left hand, indicating that she was, in fact, married. Meanwhile, Orihime detected his eyes on her during that time. The look on his face made her heart race whilst she speculated on whether she genuinely offended him or not. …In the midst of her musing, she also noticed an aura about him that made her feel quite comfortable.
She liked that feeling.
"How long have you been married?" Koji suddenly asked, breaking the stalemate amongst them.
A fiery red blush instantly appeared on Orihime's cheeks as she glanced down at her wedding ring. "… I've been married s-six years … Six years, yeah."
"That's quite a bit of time for someone so young."
"He's the greatest. It feels like time stands still, so I never truly took the time to think about the length of our love."
He shrugged offhandedly. "That makes sense."
"Do you really think so? I mean, I know it's really weird for me to feel like I'm back in high school … but I… can't help it."
He laughed. "At least you confess to being weird. Imagine if the rest of the world followed your great example…"
She was quickly offended. "Hey…! Now why would you say something like that, Koji?"
"Well, you are weird. It's not a bad thing if that's what you're getting at. … Nevertheless, you opened the door for me to make the comment."
The young male was correct, but that didn't necessarily translate in the baker's brain. "You never tell a girl she's 'weird' or anything remotely close, whether she opens the door or not."
The guffaw the man had progressively grew louder. "…You're giving me advice on women? That's rather satirical for a woman who was as bashful as a six year-old when I first encountered her."
"I was just being polite, Mister Tenryou."
"Call it what you will," he stated flatly, peering deeply into her large gray eyes. "But just remember that it is not a curse to be the person you truly are."
"What do you mean?"
Orihime had no clue what he uttered or why, but it indeed was worth thinking about – the person she genuinely happens to be (whoever that was).
Koji offered her a smug smile. "It's pretty obvious once you really think about it. But anyway, I digress. Let's say we enjoy a cup of coffee and have a light-hearted conversation instead of foolish bickering. What do you say?"
She wanted him to clarify his words; however, seeing as he wasn't intent on doing so, at least at the moment, she just stood there staring at him.
As if reading her thoughts, he said, "Come with me and I'll explain if you're really that curious. Do we have a deal, milady?"
"I can't," the baker hastily answered. "What about my shop? I don't have anyone to cover."
"A half an hour is all that we'd need," Koji pleaded while he walked to the door and opened it. "Chop, chop, we're already wasting time."
"But –"
"The store will be fine. Right this way please."
Her inquisitive nature getting the best of her, she sighed, and then she took a minute to lock the store up. Once that was finished Orihime left a sign on the window that informed any potential customers that she would promptly return within the hour.
"You'd better spill everything too, Mister. And I mean everything," she warned him playfully as they walked off together.
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Orihime and Koji traveled a few blocks to the local coffee shop. It was a modest establishment, much like Orihime's bakery – small, but profitable.
The man paid for their cups and they each took a seat near a window that allowed customers to gaze into the light August sun.
"So, how about explaining yourself, Koji Tenryou?"
He grinned. "You don't waste anytime do you?"
"The suspense is killing me," the woman admitted.
"I have a question. Are you wholly satisfied with how your life is going?"
"Of course I am. I couldn't be happier." Koji studied Orihime carefully as she answered.
"Are you certain … Because you appear a tad scripted with that response?"
"What do you mean 'scripted'?"
"Meaning, I believe you're trying too hard to be perfect. You're living a fairy tale, which, in turn, sacrifices the person you truly are."
Was what he said true? Was she living a lie? And if so… why?
"I'm aware this isn't a fairy tale. But, really, I am very happy. I have my own bakery, my husband and –"
"You're leading the normal life. However, where is the room for you yourself? When does the time arrive where you can spread your wings and fly into the sun – no restrictions or obligations?"
"I'm happy so long as Ichigo is happy. I don't want anything else," Orihime told him, the confliction residing in her heart starting to augment.
The emotion she currently felt just hadn't been something she deemed prevalent or relevant. Nonetheless, there must be an explanation to it, right?
Not surprised by her reply, Koji next asked, "So your life depends on another?"
She nodded.
"That's no way to live!"
The force of his abrupt yell jolted Orihime, making her jump back and open her eyes wider. She wondered why he'd gotten so upset with her. Why did he care? They hardly knew one another.
It didn't make any sense.
"I chose this. I wanted to be in love and own my bakery. I've achieved those things. What more could a silly girl want?"
"There's so much more to you, my dear. I really hope one day you have the courage to find it."
"What do you mean 'There's so much more to me'?"
"Ah… Well I suppose you'll simply have to locate that on your own."
"No fair…"
"Life isn't fair, Miss Inoue. If it were, we'd inevitably take it for granted and therefore become lazy and useless."
Remaining quiet as his final words processed in her brain, Orihime slowly finished her coffee and bid Koji farewell. Perhaps with some time alone she could contemplate everything he said much more clearly and decide whether there was truly any validity to his words. Regardless, her day would be plagued with doubt and that was never a great feeling.
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Ichigo walked into his home around eight amid a yawn. The case he had earlier exasperated him to the limit almost. His bedroom quickly came into his view and he had no reservations about plopping down into it.
"Hello, Ichigo," was his wife's greeting.
"Hello. How are you doing, Babe?"
"I'm fine," she lied. The conversation she shared with Koji remained fresh on her mind.
"Good."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm decent, I suppose."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. But you know what would make me feel even better?"
"What?"
"You," the husband stated, rolling over and settling between his wife's long legs. He watched her shiver when he began kissing them.
"Ooh…," she moaned, arching her back.
He was hungry, his desire building as her moans increased in volume. Thankfully, only her satin panties and a white t-shirt obstructed his path. He slid her underwear off with ease (using his teeth), eyeing her womanhood. The blush on her face the moment he did that was priceless.
Licking his lips, Ichigo steered himself headfirst for her bundle of nerves, flickering her nub like a starving dog once he met her tantalizing flesh. The sensations burst through Orihime as she bawled heavily, clutching the strands of her husband's spiky orange hair.
"Ichigo…! Don't stop…! Ah~! Don't stop…!"
Her taste pleasing, the man eventually sucked her clitoris, forcing a high-pitched scream. In the midst of his skilled tongue gratifying her in every way viable, Orihime struggled just to hang on to her sanity.
His hands, idle to this point, made their presence known on her breasts. His godly fingers pinched her rigid pink pearls, sending shocks of pleasure to his wife as he twirled them somewhat roughly.
Ichigo became aroused whilst his wife writhed in pleasurable agony. The tip of his manhood brushed the side of Orihime's knee as he licked and sucked her. Though it remained concealed in his slacks, it was as hard as can be and couldn't wait to be inside her.
He inserted two of his fingers inside her scorching core to speed up her orgasm. His thrusting was steady, forcing his wife to buck repeatedly, screaming his name.
Soon after he began, his spouse couldn't take it anymore.
"Ichigo…! I'm coming…! I'm coming…! Don't stop~!" she begged, her breasts heaving while experiencing the ever-familiar sensation of releasing her desire upon him. Ichigo didn't stall, and soon her juices drenched his adroit tongue.
Once her orgasm faded, Orihime offered him a sultry look as she pulled him towards her face. They exchange lustful kisses as she suddenly reversed their positions. Now on top, her hands fiddled with his zipper, and when she got it loose, her hands reached inside his boxers and impatiently gave his throbbing length of flesh a tug.
"Oh… Orihime…"
"I want you, Ichigo…"
"I want you too, Baby…"
She climbed atop her husband, straddling him. Her top was lifted over her head and discarded, leaving her breasts available to his lusting eyes. He had never seen a more perfect chest or body in his life. His wife was a true goddess – and all for him. Ichigo happily acknowledged that he had been fortunate to have her.
Her hand around his manhood, Orihime rose slightly and guided herself down onto him. Both parties gasped as he gradually filled her. Temporarily rescinding her many doubts, the wife instantly rotated her hips upon their unity. Ichigo's roaming hands came to her luscious globes, making her moan. Her hands were on his shoulders, rolling her hips around and around in hard circles. Ichigo groaned continuously, experiencing her leaking warmth pleasuring him.
The duo relished in the prospect of taking their time. Their lovemaking had been slow and passionate. However, the urge to up the ante eventually overtook them when the wife commenced speedily bouncing up and down his hard length.
His manhood that much deeper inside her core, Orihime panted and impaled herself harder atop his rigid member. Almost immediately she was a woman possessed, her panting gradually boosting as she felt herself about to cum. From the twitching inside her, she could tell Ichigo wasn't too far behind.
"Ichigo…!"
"Orihime…!"
Her nails dug deep into the skin of his shoulders, drawing blood. Neither of them registered it as they finally came to their release.
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Ichigo drifted to sleep shortly thereafter. Orihime, however, couldn't sleep despite the sex. Her mind just wouldn't relinquish the seed of uncertainty Koji placed in her brain.
Was she truly not in control of her life and destiny? Was she capable of more? She just didn't know – but she knew one thing: she'd undoubtedly find an answer, one way or another…
Every man or woman is responsible for their choices. They must leap with eyes wide and hearts open as they journey the blue skies. Fly … and don't look back.
To be continued…
A/N: The next chapter should appear soon. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my story.