SUMMARY: Orihime hasn't been to school for three days and Ichigo wonders why, he decides to investigate over at her home, but when he arrives, a portal envelopes him and he finds himself in 1926, without his Shingami powers, in the Private Investigator profession, can he use his deductive reasoning to find Orihime?
A/N: If you do not like the plot or the character plot, then do not read this fic. This is specifically IchigoXOrihime. You have been warned.
DISCLAIMER: All belongs to the genius himself, Kubo-sensei and I do not own It Had To Be You.
'He could feel her Spiritual Pressure emanating from within the room, but it felt...old, as if it was just lingering around.'
CHAPTER 2:
Scent of a Strawberry
'Did you see that handsome man that came in here? Wonder why he wore that hat, he must look so much more handsome without it.'
'Yeah, I see what you mean, one look from those dark eyes and he had me swooning! I'd have loved for him to hear me sing. Apparently he's looking for a girl. Says she's important to him. Very important.'
'Really? Should we ask next time we see him?'
'What are the chances of that Hana-chan? He probably never saw her in here and is now trying somewhere else.'
'Yeah . . I guess you're right Atsuko-chan, but you know . . I hope he finds her, it looks as if he's really worried about her, as if his life depended on finding her.'
Orihime listened to the conversation between Hana and Atsuko, a few of her colleagues who sang as well, it sounded so much like Kurosaki-kun, yet she knew it couldn't be true, Kurosaki-kun probably thinks that she's on one of her expeditions trying to find the little blue men's safe haven, to stop their evil plans of stealing all of the red-bean pasted donuts filled with wasabi. Her eyes sparkled with her favourite food. . . she couldn't have it here.
But then again, Kurosaki-kun wouldn't be thinking like that at all. He must be very worried about her.
'And now, please put your hands together for the amazing, talented and gorgeous Inoue Orihime~!" The MC announced and Orihime took a deep breath, bringing her signature smile forth, she walked to the stage and looked upon her audience with tenderness.
"Ohayo! I am Inoue Orihime for those of you who do not know me. I am a regular singer here and I wish to convey my thoughts through this song I have had a lot on my mind."
A certain hatted man cocked his head to the side, while making sure his face remained unseen, listening to her soft melodious voice.
Orihime took a shaky breath and steeled her nerves, and the orchestra played.
'It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around and finally found
The somebody who
could make me be true
Could make me be blue
and even be glad, just to be sad
Thinking of you'
The man listened to her sweet, sweet voice crooning to the song and his eyes widened as he knew what she was singing about, who she was singing about.
'Some others I've seen,
might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do
for nobody else gave me a thrill
With all your faults I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you'
Then the orchestra lifted the tempo and a male dancer joined Orihime and together, they took the stage.
Jealousy burned in the pit of his stomach, but he found it impossible to turn his gaze from her. Her long reddish-orange hair flew around her in a curtain. A silky, soft curtain of loveliness, with the scent of her favourite fragrance:
Vanilla, strawberry cinnamon shampoo and conditioner.
He could smell it from where he was at the bar, downing his whisky shot in one gulp, the burning liquid scalded his throat and he welcomed the acidic boil, it got his mind off of dangerous memories, he still had to get paid and as much as he wanted to get close to Inoue, to hold her close, to tell her that she was safe, to kiss her soft lips as he had done last night. (He was going to surprise her with the money he would be gifted with his client and he would buy a whole bunch of strawberries covered in chocolate and wasabi along with red-bean paste and bring her a dozen roses.) Having snuck into her apartment with his newfound lock-picking skills, he watched her sleep like he used to, only it was much more illegal. Yet when her strawberry-coloured lips parted to let a soft sigh escape, he had to taste her.
And so he had, and by Kami did he want to taste that sweet confection once more.
The spice of wasabi, the sweet undertone of red-bean paste and sour contrast of strawberries. He had come undone by just that deed and he was hungry for more.
And when Kurosaki Ichigo is hungry, he always found a way to satisfy himself.
Always.
The song ended and Inoue took a step back from her dance partner and bowed gracefully, the audience clapped, many whooped and asked for another song, along with the excited audience, Ichigo also clapped but painfully denied himself of speech, she would pick his voice above the rest. He was sure of it.
Inoue gracefully declined -much to his disappointment- and walked to the bar. His heart fluttered as she walked closer, his lips parted and his eyes followed every sway, every tense and bunch in her muscles, the way her hair bounced from side to side freely and for a moment, he had a vision of her walking in her Karakura uniform. His heart beat so fast it hurt.
Sharply, his hand smacked against his chest, to stop him from going into cardiac arrest. Orihime's eyes immediately turned straight toward him, her eyes connected with his hand on his heart, her gray eyes assessed the position and changed course, walking straight toward him.
'Uh-oh. Not good.' Ichigo thought and stood up, towering over her easily as he stood stiffly and walked away quickly.
"Wait! Wait!' Orihime yelled, running after him.
Ichigo pretended not to hear her and walked out of the Blue Violet.
"WAIT ONE MINUTE!" Orihime yelled sternly, causing Ichigo to stop in surprise.
"When a lady tells you to wait, you do not ignore her. Do you understand me? I don't care who you are." Orihime's facial expression turned into that of a scowl.
It seems staying with Tatsuki really did rub off on Orihime, in more than ways than one.
"I'm sorry Inoue-san. Please continue." Ichigo said, raising his voice and putting on a southern drawl to stop her from suspecting.
"Are you okay? What's wrong? You were holding your chest!" Orihime spoke, all traces of firmness and command draining away, her eyes softened and shimmered slightly.
"I'm perfectly alright, Inoue-san. You're a very nice person to care for a stranger." Every word he said was like a blade piercing his heart over and over again.
"Thank you, but I'm doing what I think is right." Orihime said. "I protect my friends. A good friend of mine taught me that a long time ago." Orihime said and her eyes threatened to overflow with sympathetic tears as she remembered the Kurosaki-kun who was right in front of her.
Ichigo's eyes widened underneath the brim of his hat. "Really?" He asked, feigning indifference.
"Yes. He's an amazing friend. I had hoped to tell him something, but I left before I had the chance." Orihime reminisced, looking toward the sky with a slight smile on her lips.
"What was it you wanted to-" The wind picked up suddenly, blowing Ichigo's hat off his head.
"SHIT!" Ichigo yelled, dropping all pretence of a southern accent and tried to hide his vibrant hair.
He wanted to surprise Inoue!
Hey guys. Cliffhanger! Muhahahahahahahahaha!
Do you think Ichigo will hide in time and cover up his sudden lapse in accent? Or will Orihime figure it out? ;)
Orhime: Figure it out! I wanna be a Nancy Drew RIKO-chan!
RIKOREN: Give me a moment Inoue-chan. I still have to figure out what will actually happen next episode. I mean Ichigo was being a pervert. Who watches women sleep?
Ichigo: WHAT THE HELL!? YOU MADE ME! YOUR WROTE DOWN WHAT I'VE DONE! I'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE!
*looks unfazed at Ichigo*
RIKOREN: Pervert.
*orihime blushes as looks away*
Ichigo: SHUT UP!
RIKOREN: Whatever you say, pervert-san.
Ichigo: Why you-!
*Orihime rejects Ichigo's attack*
We'll see you next time. review, follow and favourite if you haven't already!
RIKOREN xD
*Orihime heals Ichigo and they kiss secretly, yet I get it on video* MUAHAHAH!
Orihime + Ichigo: EHH!?