Hello! I know I should be updating Her Heart and What You Gave me, and a bunch of other stories. But, I just have to write this one-shot! Blame it on the music! HAHAHA.
Disclaimer: Bleach..not mine.
Prompt: Love Story by Taylor Swift
Summary: In which they loved at the wrong time.
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
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"Ano…Rangiku-san, do I really have to wear this?" a shy girl with long auburn hair asked, trying to cover the upper part of her generous chest that was overflowing from the low neckline of her dress.
Orihime Inoue fidgeted while staring at her reflection. She was never really fond of parties. The girl would stay in her room to draw or read a book, rather than attend the lavish parties her family always throws.
"Of course, silly. It's your birthday! Now that you're of marrying age, every gentleman would have his eye on you!" her boisterous attendant answered while arranging the young girl's hair into an elegant braid.
"But, it's…uncomfortable," Orihime answered, her eyes looking downcast.
"You'll be fine, Orihime. I've never been so proud and happy to see you grow up into a wonderful woman," Rangiku answered.
Growing up, Orihime has been taught to look and act like a proper lady. Her parents forbade her to play outside like the other kids she sees from her room's windows. They even forbade her to read books from the library, saying those were not things that a lady should learn. The only person who have ever allowed her to be herself, apart from Rangiku, was her older brother.
But, he's long passed.
Rangiku tapped Orihime's nose, startling her out of her thoughts. "Now, don't look so glum. I'm sure you'll have a handsome young gentleman asking for your hand by the end of the night."
Orihime gave a small smile. That's what I'm worried about the most.
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I've been feeling so alone
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At the other side of the Karakura town, a boy with orange hair sat alone. With a long sigh, he looked dejectedly at the note he'd received from a maiden. I can't be with you, Ichigo.
Senna. He thought, closing his eyes at the memory of her in the hands of another.
Laughter rang across the street, making the young man look up from the note and at the group of boys approaching him.
"Ichigoooo! Cousin, where have you been all day?!" the gleeful Keigo asked, putting his arms around the other boy. Ichigo grunted and pushed Keigo off him.
"Shut up, Keigo. You're giving me a headache."
"So rude!" his cousin pouted, gathering himself from the ground and standing up. Keigo immediately turned from somber to energetic, waving six stubs in front of Ichigo's face. "Tonight we're going to celebrate!"
Ichigo looked perplexed.
"What? Did you not hear about the party at the Inoue's tonight?!" Keigo asked shocked.
Of course, he heard. Who wouldn't know? The Inoue's and their lavish lifestyle. Ichigo snorted. "I did. Now, tell me why I should care?"
"Asano has acquired these tickets to a bet. He wants us to come," supplied Mizuiro. Ichigo looked at their small friend, wondering if he was going along with Keigo's antics just to meet new women.
"Why? You know the Kurosakis and Inoues have a feud for God knows how long. Do you want to get in trouble again, Keigo?" Ichigo asked.
"I agree. This might not turn out well after tonight," says Ishida. At least, Uryū still has some sense in him, Ichigo thought.
"But, things might turn out to be interesting," answered Chad. Ichigo looked at the quiet giant with surprised.
"Of course, it will be! It's a masquerade party, after all! We can slip in without any of the Inoues knowing we're even there!" answers Renji.
"I heard the Inoues are planning to introduce their one and only daughter tonight," Mizuiro added. "Don't you think it's a good chance, Ichigo?"
"Please Ichigo! Can we come? Pleaaaaaaaseeee?!" Keigo pleaded.
The orange haired teen sighed, catching on to the meaning behind his friend's words. This is going to be a long night.
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We were both young when I first saw you
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Orihime's cheeks burned at all the attention she's getting. Above that, she feels extremely tired. Her parents have been introducing her to one guest after another. It's as if they're putting me up for sale.
Her mother led her to another part of the room where the richest and noblest of the town gathered. "Good evening, Aizen-sama. I'd like you to meet our young daughter, Orihime."
Orihime looked up from underneath her lashes to find deep brown eyes staring back at her. She immediately looked down, playing with the hem of her dress. "I-it's good to meet you, sir," she curtsied politely.
"My, my, such a lovely young lady we have here," Sousuke Aizen took her small hand and placed a chaste kiss on it. "Would you give me the honor of dancing with you, milady?"
Orihime flushed at the contact and words. Losing her voice, she simply nodded at his request. Aizen led her to the middle of the dance floor, one of his hands going to her waist, while the other clasping her own.
The shy girl glanced at her mother, who was looking very satisfied. Orihime averted her eyes, only peeking every once in a while at the gentleman who had her twirling at the dance floor. He was kind and gentle, but Orihime felt there was something more beneath this man they call Sousuke Aizen.
As Aizen twirled her again, Orihime's eyes landed on another pair of deep chocolate orbs staring at her. From that moment, she was captivated.
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See you make your way through the crowd
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Ichigo kept his gaze on the young girl who was in the arms of Sousuke Aizen. Her hair was a long auburn tied into a neat braid. She had a mask on like the others, but he could tell from afar that her eyes were kind. She had a small body, but with soft curves at all the right places.
From that moment on, he was captivated.
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Little did I know
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As the beat of the music came to a close, Aizen released Orihime. "I had a good time dancing with you, miss Orihime," he smiled warmly, making Orihime blush.
"The pleasure's all mine, good sir. Now, if you would excuse me, I would need to find some air," she curtsied politely, while Aizen nodded and bowed in return.
Orihime went to the balcony to get some fresh air. She found Aizen-sama a good dancing partner, but the brown orbs she saw from before kept her looking around the room. She noticed the boy's eyes were warm, despite the mask covering the upper part of his face. She wondered how his face would look without the mask when a figure came up behind her and suddenly took hold of her hand.
"Milady."
Orihime was startled and turned around to see who the intruder was, only to meet the owner of the eyes she's been thinking about.
"I'm sorry to have startled you," his lips turned to a small frown, immediately dropping her hand.
Orihime's face felt warm at the contact, but smiled in return. "It's quite alright, sir. I'm sure you mean no harm. For what have you come here?"
"I've come to celebrate with my friends to drive away my woes," he answered carefully, "But, I feel I've found something even more joyous to celebrate."
Orihime inclined her head to the side, "May I know what is it, good sir?"
"You're beauty has astounded me, milady. And, I-I was wondering if..if you'd be so kind to dance with me?" Ichigo replied, feeling bashful at the request he just uttered.
The girl with the kind eyes gave him another warm smile. "Yes, I'd love to."
Ichigo carefully took her hand in his, while the other came to rest at her waist. He directed their movement with slow steps, listening to the faint music coming from inside the hall.
Unlike her first dance, Orihime kept her eyes onto her partner's. It was so different from Aizen-sama's dark orbs. It was warmer and gentler. She felt like flying in his arms, butterflies in her stomach fluttering at their closeness. And, Orihime realized that she didn't want the moment to end.
But, the song did end, and he had to let her go. But, before he did, Ichigo leaned closer to her and touched his lips with her soft ones.
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You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
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Surprise was an understatement. Orihime's eyes widened at the feel of his sleeps on hers. It was her first real kiss, and it was with a complete stranger! But..it feels so…
Ichigo broke away from her, his face red. "I-I'm sorry! I shouldn't have done that! I'm umpph—!" he was cut off when her hands found their way to his hair and pulled his head down to her lips again. Ichigo's hands wrapped around her small body, encasing her in his hold securely.
It was like a dream. Orihime feels like floating, and she had to tighten her hold on him to keep herself from melting into his embrace. His tongue traced her lips, as if asking for permission. She opened them and she gasped at the feel of his tongue enticing hers to answer.
Feeling the need from air, Ichigo broke the kiss, earning a small whimper from the girl in his arms. He smiled while caressing her rose-colored cheeks.
"You kiss by the book," she says, breathless. Ichigo leaned down again to kiss her small nose, smiling.
"Orihimeeee~ You're mother's looking—oh!" Rangiku was surprised to see Orihime and Ichigo together, arms wrapped around each other. Immediately, the young couple stepped away from each other, both red in the faces.
Rangiku smiled warmly, yet with a hint of sadness, "Come, Orihime. You're mother's looking for you."
The girl walked to her maid with careful steps, but not without giving a small glance to the young man.
Ichigo was left alone in the hall, giving him time to collect himself. Wait..Did she just call her Orihime? Orihime Inoue?
Just like that, the moment was lost.
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My daddy said stay away from Juliet
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"Hime," Rangiku says, startling the girl out of her reverie.
"Yes, Rangiku-san?" the girl answered, her cheeks still red and her eyes wide.
"He's quite the gentleman," the older woman teased, earning her another blush from the shy girl.
"Unfortunately…..he's Ichigo Kurosaki," Rangiku says seriously, which puzzled Orihime. What's wrong with that?
"The only son of your great enemy."
And with that, her heart sunk.
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So, I sneak out on the garden to see you
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Ichigo was at a loss. He wanted to run after the girl, but knowing she was an Inoue, the only daughter of the Inoues, his actions are restrained. His friends have come to pick him up, after Grimmjow spotted Renji and the two almost had a quarrel. It was a good thing Lord Inoue was in a festive mood, and stopped Grimmjow from crossing with Renji.
While they were walking out the gates of the Inoue household, Ichigo stopped and turned around. His friends called back to him.
"Hey Ichigo! Have you gone mad or what?!" Renji called.
"Go leave without me. There's something I have to do," he answered back, leaving his friends n a state of utter confusion.
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I'm standing there, on a balcony of summer air
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When he found her, she was in a balcony overlooking a small garden. She had taken off her mask, giving Ichigo a full view of her face. And, his heart only rejoiced at the sight of her again. Orihime had her chin in her hands, her eyes with a distant look in them.
Ichigo went out of his hiding spot and called out to her, "Orihime."
The girl started and immediately and her face immediately turned red upon seeing his maskless face. Ichigo smiled at her reaction. He looked around and tried to find a way to get up to her; he'd want nothing more than to have her in his arms. "Wait for me. I'll come up."
Orihime nodded, trying to keep her heart from beating fast. Ichigo climbed up the side of the balcony, using the vines as his grip. It took him a couple of minutes to get to her, and by that time he was up in the balcony, he was breathless.
Ichigo tried to catch her breath. "Good evening, milady," he said with a smile.
Orihime, feeling shy, looked down and tried to avoid his eyes. Ichigo put his hands on her face so she would look up. Orihime's eyes fluttered, her long lashes touching her cheek. The innocence radiating from her only made him want her more.
Ichigo leaned down to capture her lips in a small kiss, which immediately turned into a heated one. His arms wrapped around her body once more, and her hands found their way around his neck. Orihime had lost all reason, everything that her mother and Rangiku-san taught her about being a proper lady went out the window.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself," he murmured against her lips when they broke off. Orihime smiled, burying her face into his chest. "It's alright," she answered.
Suddenly remembering Rangiku's words from earlier, Orihime sadly broke away from his embrace. "We can't do this, sir. I-it's…you're…" her voice trailed off.
"A Kurosaki?" he supplied. She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself, feeling her chest tighten at the thought. Strong arms wrapped around her, making her sigh into his embrace. "I don't care, Orihime. And, I don't care if you're an Inoue."
Her heart floated at his kind words, but she still felt unsure. Her heart calls to him, and she's sure there's no one else she felt this way before. Is this what they call it? Love? Is that it? Did she love him?
Ichigo buried his head into her shoulder, inhaling her sweet and fresh scent. What is wrong with him? Just this morning he was feeling miserable at Senna's rejection, and now he's embracing a girl he barely even know. Damn it all to hell, he's embracing the only daughter of his family's enemy. But, he's never felt anything like this before. And if he had to give up his name just to be with her, he'll gladly do so.
Orihime turned to face him, her eyes boring into Ichigo's before closing. She tiptoed to give his lips a chaste kiss. "Sir, we've already kissed more than we have counted. But, we still haven't introduced each other properly," she giggled.
Ichigo chuckled, placing his forehead against her. "Ichigo. Ichigo Kurosaki, son of Lord Isshin and Lady Masaki Kurosaki. Heir to the Kurosaki household. May I know your name fair lady?"
Orihime smiled and placed her hand onto his cheek,"Orihime. Orihime Inoue, daughter of Lord Barragan and Lady Harribel. Only daughter of the Inoue household. I'm happy to have met you, Ichigo."
He leaned down again and kissed her. It wasn't long before he broke them kiss and caressed her cheeks gently. There's no denying it. He loves her, he really does. And, there's no one in the world he wants to be with.
"Marry me, Orihime."
Her reaction was that of surprise, until it turned into a genuine smile. Feeling like she's lost her voice, she leaned up and kissed him as her answer.
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He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said…
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Okaayyyy. I'm so sorry to cut this chapter just like that. But, I just thought it was getting too long. HAHA. But, don't worry! There's going to be a second part!
I just love Romeo and Juliet, don't you guys? And it fits Orihime and Ichigo so perfectly! Anyway, I'll be updating soon! :D