I apologise for the late updates and all. the next chapter for Undecided will be posted up shortly. meanwhile, this is just another (drabble, was it?) to pass the time. So yeah, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, nor do I own Inoue's POV.

OH! Btw, this is from Inoue's POV. I know, lots of oneshots are based on this concept but I thought I'd give it a try! :3

I guess all I could have done...

Was watch.

I watched them from afar, envy and admiration mixing in the pits of my stomach. How I wished that I could have been in her place.

Love is such a devastating thing, isn't it? Funny little thing...

It toys with your heart, makes you go dreadfully insane and at the end of the day, it lets you down when you're finally giving it a chance.

How I despise this feeling. But you know what they say... once you caught the bug.... well, just goes to show that one sting was enough to bring me to tears. Death, as a matter of fact too.

"Rukia for the last time; put that thing back! I'm not getting it for you." Kurosaki-Kun said exasperatedly. I couldn't help myself giggling at his comical expression. My eyes softened as I remembered that I used to be somewhat afraid of that scowl.

Then I grew to like it because it made him look funny; almost like my private joke which I can laugh it all to myself. And then... I grew to love it... and everything about him.

Even though he had on that permanent scowl on his face, I knew that it only represented what he had wanted it to be; who he had wanted everyone to think he was. But underneath it all, underneath that frown, those knitted eyebrows, that intimidating facade; there was a kinder Kurosaki Ichigo which, not many people get to see.

I got to see it. It made me feel happy; very happy.

But I had to fully admit that without Kuchiki-San, I would have never come close to actually see a glimpse of it.

"Ichigo, please?!"

"No."

"Why?!?!?!"

"I blew my whole allowance on you last week buying you that new manga you wanted and a new sketchbook." Kurosaki-Kun said, wagging his forefinger at the small girl.

She was smaller than me... in all aspects. Well, except for the amount of courage she had which she beats mine by a milestone...

She had short hair, raven coloured and her skin was pale white. Her expression somehow reminded me of a very independent and strong lady and her voice puts her diminutive size to shame.. and her eyes were a beautiful shade of dark blue.

"Well, those weren't necessary items. This on the other hand..." I saw Kuchiki-San shove something up Kurosaki-Kun's face to which he backed away almost instantly. It was a massive sized plushie shaped like a rabbit. Its fabric was soft and cuddly and apparently, Kuchiki-San wanted it.

Nobody knew why she was obsessed with rabbits. But that was about as girly as she could get. I giggled at them but inside I was feeling sick and a bit jealous. Just a bit.... just a tiny bit....

I saw Kurosaki-Kun shaking his head and grabbing the massive sized plushie from Kuchiki-San's small hands. He sighed.

"Look you little midget. This will be the last time, I repeat last time I'm going to splurge for you. You're not asking anything from me for the rest of the month, understand that?!" he asked, fishing out his wallet.

A pang of what it would seem jealousy overwhelmed me. It wasn't just a little bit now... well, maybe a bit more than what I had felt just now. Just a little bit more...

I looked at Kuchiki-San's face brightening and her eyes sparkling as Kurosaki-Kun heaved the big doll and gave it to her. She cracked a small smile and cuddled it closer to her. I smiled. My eyes could have been a dead giveaway if either Chad or Ishida-Kun had seen me but they were too busy manning something else on my left.

"Arigatou, Ichigo!" Kuchiki-San said, still smiling. How was it... that she could call him by his first name so... nonchalantly?

"You'll be the death of me someday Rukia..." Kurosaki-Kun had muttered bleakly.

And how was it that he could call her by her first name so casually like that? Even I have tried doing so... but I could never...

But she could and he was fine with it. And that was what mattered. Everything was fine with him when she was around; everything.

Everything was right with him when she was around.

She was the one who had made him who he was.

She was the one who had slapped him back to reality when he was feeling like he was on the brink of life itself.

She was the one who had actually done something when he was in trouble.

She was the one who had turned his life the other way.

She was... she was the one that had stopped the rain in his heart.

And how... how could someone like me compete with that? How could I have done all those things without making him hate me?

But strangely, he never showed any sign that he detested Kuchiki-San. Quite the contrary, I could see it in his eyes; his warm amber eyes...

That he loved her.

Why wouldn't he? She had done all those things for him so naturally he would have felt the need... to love her.

But what did I do? I was always the one who had worried far too much and did far too little.

So how did I expect him to feel what he felt for Kuchiki-San to me?

"Come on. Inoue, we're leaving."

His voice jarred me out of my little daydream. I smiled and nodded.

"Coming!" I said and followed my friends out the shopping mall.

"You're naming it Chappy?"

"Is that so wrong?"

"Can you be a little bit original? You named the key chain I gave you Chappy too. Hell, you name every bunny-related thing Chappy."

"And now you know."

I bit my lip. The conversation just flew out of their mouths without a hint of hesitation. Me? Whenever I tried to talk to him, I would always feel the need to think before I say anything! Anything at all.

It bugs me to think that I have to carefully lay out my lines in my head before reciting them to Kurosaki-Kun. How come she could talk to him like that?

Jealousy hit me yet again, this time stronger. I pushed it down to the depths of my heart where it should stay.

"Ne, Ishida, I need you to take a look at Kon again." Kurosaki-Kun spoke up after I had finished my strawberry ice cream with banana toppings. Ishida-Kun rolled his eyes behind his glasses.

"Why?"

"Well I've been stepping on him a lot lately and when Rukia had thrown him out the window... well, let's just say he wouldn't be able to hear anything if you don't fix him."

I looked at Ishida-Kun who just pushed his glasses up and sighed. He finished the last bite of his chocolate ice cream and shrugged. "I'll see what I can do."

"Ne, Inoue, are you feeling alright?" I heard my name and spun to see Kuchiki-San addressing me. A faint tinge on my cheeks appeared.

Had I been spacing out again?

"Yeah, are you okay? You look kinda... under the weather lately." Kurosaki-Kun piped. I shook my head, fully blushing now.

"N-NO! everything's fine! I was just... it's really hot nowadays." I said lamely, trying to cover up my thoughts.

Kurosaki-Kun looked worried and I couldn't bear to look at his face. He worries. He worries a lot for other people but never himself. I smiled at him reassuringly. "Well," he sighed and got up. "if you're really not feeling well, why don't I walk you home?"

My face flushed and I launched a good laugh. "That would be unnecessary!" I said, still laughing. "It's just a waste of time, I'm feeling loads better. I guess I'm just tired!" I rambled on and on.

"That's a good idea. Ichigo, you should walk Inoue home." Kuchiki-San said thoughtfully while slurping her vanilla ice cream.

I laughed awkwardly. "No, no! That's alright! Really! See? I'm not sick; I'm just feeling a bit dizzy. Which reminds me, I have to get home! Dinner's not going to cook itself!"

I could tell Kurosaki-Kun wasn't buying it but he didn't want me to feel pressured. So he shrugged.

"You sure though?" he asked and when I nodded, he sighed. "Well, then there's no need to stick around here anymore. The sun's getting pretty warm for my tastes. Might as well go home."

"But I haven't finished my ice cream!" Kuchiki-San complained and gulped down her treat.

"You shouldn't do that!" Kurosaki-Kun had scolded her. "You'll choke, for God's sake. Just take it easy. Geez." He said and turned to me. "Why don't you guys go home first?"

Ishida-Kun and Chad agreed and I watched them leave. I smiled and got up from my seat. "Bye, Kurosaki-Kun, Kuchiki-San!" I said and proceeded to leave.

"Inoue," I heard Kurosaki-Kun mutter as he looked at me with those eyes. "Be careful." He said.

I felt my heart squeeze and I closed my eyes for the briefest moment that could have been passed off as a blink to him. I nodded and grinned. "I will."

"Eugh-ack!" I gasped a little, seeing ice cream dribble down Kuchiki-San's mouth.

"Damn it, Rukia!"

I saw Kurosaki-Kun uncap the bottled water in his hand and shove it towards Kuchiki-San's face, telling her to drink.

"I told you! See? You almost choked to death." Kurosaki-Kun scolded.

"I can't die twice, moron."

"don't smart-ass me, midget. How's your nose feeling?"

"Uncomfortable."

I watched the little scene and then decided it was the perfect time to leave. I walked away, feeling terrible.

Layer after layer after layer after layer of raw envy enveloped my aching heart. I found myself running back home as I tried to shake these feelings away but who was I to kid now that I was alone with myself?

I was jealous. Jealous of everything that has to do with their relationship. And I could no longer deny that.

Those concerned looks were never meant for me solely. No, that much deeper worry was and had always been for her. And her solely.

I shut my front door and squeezed my eyes shut.

And for now.... I let the green-eyed monster eat me up. Just... for now.

OK! A/N: How was that? was it too OOC for her? gomen, this is my first time ever trying to delve inside Orihime's mind. she's a complicated little thing (to me) because she has these different feelings depending on different situations but mostly it relates to the whole 'Kurosaki-Kun' name calling thing.

another thing is.. well. i was really worried whether I had made Rukia too OOC. or even Ichigo. well, whatever. if i have, SORRY!!! :3

OH! By the way! OK, lemme straighten this out. I do NOT like Orihime but I do NOT hate her either. she's an important cast in the show so I must learn to love her even if she acts like an annoying bitch sometimes.

Now this situation got me thinking. what if... well, what IF Tite Kubo decides NOT to pair Ichigo up with anyone? I mean what if he ends the manga just like that? Like NC's ending, it was so cut SHORT and not satisfying at all!

well, that's just a 'what if' but it could come true, considering the fact that it IS a shonen manga. but oh well, that's just my theory.

erm yea, too long... a/n very long ...

will stop here.

review, no?!?! YES!