A/N: I'm not even going to try coming up with an excuse. I'll just post this before I change my mind. Sorry if it's short. Make sure to review!

Prompt: uncertainty

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

where she went

uncertainty

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:

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Sure that another glass of wine would be pushing it at such an early hour, Orihime set hers down. She had a much lower tolerance for it and she preferred not behaving embarrassingly in front of everyone.

However, Rukia seemed to be attempting to get day drunk at an alarming speed. It amazed Orihime how easily the petite woman could consume such a large amount of alcohol without almost no consequences; as she enjoyed her meal, she sat up straight, happily chattering away with Renji and Ichigo.

While Rukia laughed heartily at her own flat joke, Ichigo glanced over at Orihime. She had gone strangely quiet for the past minute, missing the lame punch line he was sure she'd find funny. He then took note that the only thing sitting before her was a half empty drink. "You sure you don't want to order anything?"

Orihime broke from her reverie but avoided making eye contact, settling with looking past Ichigo's ear. "No," she said. "It's fine. I already ate."

"Really?" persisted Ichigo, unable to conceal his raging restlessness. Somehow she could get his blood racing at any moment for the simplest things. It was ridiculous but he didn't truly dislike it. He hated to admit it, but being around Orihime reminded him that he was still breathing, still alive after everything that had happened to him. "They have some dishes here I know you'd like."

Orihime blinked, touched that Ichigo was concerned. That despite the time apart, he recalled her fondness for strange foods. But she didn't feel like eating much of anything, not when she was stuck musing over her morning and the sudden turn of events. Gently, she offered him a smile. "Thank you, Kurosaki-kun. But I'm okay."

Ichigo wasn't fooled one bit. He wanted to press the matter but Rukia and uncanny timing, intervened.

"So," she started, setting aside her plate and facing Orihime, "how are things going for you and Ulquiorra?"

Ichigo sent a heavy glare toward his longtime friend. Had it been anyone else, they would have been reeling. But being accustomed to his unruly behavior, Rukia merely proceeded to ignore him.

It annoyed the hell out of Ichigo the way she played her little games, ridiculing him one second and then throwing him a bone when he needed it most. That haughty and strong personality of hers never failed to grate his last nerves.

But it was just what he needed in these sort of situations.

Stoically, Ichigo awaited Orihime's response. She was distracting herself by fiddling with the hem of her burgundy skirt, a habit she had since high school that indicated that she was rather uncomfortable. Over time, Ichigo realized that she was very self-conscious, lacking the confidence most girls had. It was a baffling discovery for him, considering how beautiful she truly was.

"Good," answered Orihime after a moment, smoothing out a nonexistent wrinkled in the fine material. "He's just been very busy lately with work."

Tactfully, Rukia gave Ichigo a quick implying look. "I see," she said, turning her attention back to the unsuspecting Orihime. "But it must be hard on you."

Face blushing into an endearing shade of red, Orihime sputtered out, "I-I don't mine. Ulquiorra is hardworking and likes his job. He's very good at what he does and I'm proud of him for it."

Ichigo frowned at this, wondering if Ulquiorra was as dedicated to his fiancé as he was to his work. He couldn't help but worry that the little incident he witnessed earlier wasn't the first time Ulquiorra disregarded Orihime. Simply reflecting on it had him gritting his teeth in frustration; if he was given the chance, he'd steal her back without a second thought.

Sitting in the midst of it all, Renji made a face. He didn't appreciate how Rukia and Ichigo were squeezing out information from the auburn haired woman. Friends or not, he found it very shrewd that they were butting into her engagement and personal business. And although it was clear that Ichigo was deeply in love with Orihime, he thought it was wrong of him to meddle in her life.

He glanced at Rukia and imagined how he would've felt if he learned that somebody from her past was trying to gain information on their relationship.

Sighing slightly under his breath and wishing he'd just stayed home, Renji said to Orihime off-handily, "Yeah, that guy knows what he's doing. He's the one they call when there's a mess that needs cleaning."

This was the right thing to say to ease the tension. Orihime lightened up, laughing a little. "That's the same at home. He's always picking up after me."

Unconsciously, the edge of Renji's mouth perked up. Now he understood why this girl was such a big deal to everyone. It was more than her un-resistible charm; it was her sincerity and candor.

Unlike most people, Orihime was as expressive as a child, behaving honestly. And it was utterly refreshing from the falseness Renji usually encountered in the business world.

Rukia was enticed by this intimate piece of information that implied that Ulquiorra wasn't as stark as everyone believed. Driven by her curiosity, she cocked her to the side and leaned forward. "He does?"

Orihime nodded. "Yes, he's a bit like a mother that way," she said softly, a gentle gleam reflecting in her eyes. "He'll scold me when I leave my clothes on the floor. But he always means well."

Rukia's fine brows puckered slightly. Hearing about this gentler side of Ulquiorra rattled her to an extent. But then she recalled the couple at the last mandatory meeting where Ulquiorra treated his fiancé specially. Almost dejected by this, Rukia gave Orihime a small smile. "He sounds like a great guy. I'm glad you two found each other."

As Renji gave a nod in agreement, he caught Ichigo scowling into the distance.

Blushing at their considerate words of approval, Orihime replied, "Thank you."

Standing up and stretching, Rukia took the time to check her cellphone. "I'd love to stay," she began, scrolling through a string of messages, "but my office is demanding my presence, so I need to get going." Rukia slipped her phone back into her purse. Smiling, she went on to say, "But we should set something up sometime and catch up. I'd love to hear all your stories from New York."

Orihime brightened up, nodding eagerly. "That would be great," she chirped, giving her friends a warm hug.

They paid for their meals and then exchanged goodbyes at the front of the chic restaurant. Ichigo stayed behind, watching Orihime wave ant Rukia and Renji as they drove off together. He felt an awkwardness set in once the car was out of sight. Suddenly, she was very fascinated by the way the sunlight reflected against her engagement ring.

Seeing it on her thin finger always got the best of Ichigo; it should have been his hand picked ring announcing to the world that she was unavailable. It should have been his last name that she'd inherit. It should have been him.

"Hey," he said gruffly.

Flinching at the sound of his voice, Orihime peeked at Ichigo. "Yes?"

"Where are you heading?" he asked, unable to take his eyes off her, examining her pleasant features, certain she could physically feel his gaze on her. "I'll give you a ride."

Orihime bit her lip, unaware of how it drove Ichigo insane, how he wanted to nibble on it himself. "You don't have to do that. I can walk or call a—"

"Orihime."

The rumble of Ichigo's voice was just like a wave of thunder, crawling beneath her skin and making itself at home. And no matter how many times she told herself that she should keep things cordial it was impossible not to enjoy the rough but tender way he said her name.

Ichigo stepped into her orbit, throwing everything off balance. "Come on. I'll take you."

Orihime wasn't able to pluck up the strength needed to fight as Ichigo grabbed her delicate hand and slipped his fingers in the spaces in between hers. Keeping a firm grip, he guided her to his car and helped her in, treating her with the utmost care.

Orihime tried to stay calm when he buckled in her seatbelt but her stubborn heart thundered away in her chest. It was such a simple and harmless act but it left the air charged with a silent longing that they both struggled to ignore.

Audibly, Ichigo swallowed as something shifted within him, an instant change that he knew would come back to haunt him. Being so close to Orihime wasn't good for his head. Everything went out the window the second he caught her flushed expression. The unbearable urge to taste her lips was slowly consuming Ichigo and he was counting the seconds until he finally gave in and ruin whatever they had.

Orihime leaned back, trying to create some space between him. But as much as she hated it, a part of her wanted to close the distance instead and find out if his mouth was as demanding as his attitude. Reminding herself that there were lines that couldn't be crossed, she stuttered out, "K-Kurosaki-kun—?"

With a tinge of disappointment, Ichigo snapped out of his daze and quickly straightened himself up. "Sorry," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I—I kind of got distracted there."

Unable to properly face him, Orihime bowed her head and folded her trembling hands in her lap. How she hated herself for reacting so childishly, like a love-struck little girl who didn't know any better. "Y-Yeah, me too."

Trying to clear his head, Ichigo closed her door and went behind the wheel. Silently, he started the car and pulled out of the restaurant parking lot. He took a moment at the exit, considering his options before he made any decisions.

He could take the high road and be a good man by taking Orihime back to her home. Let her go about her business and spend the remainder of the afternoon away from him. Away from temptation and his itching hands. And it would be the right thing to do, especially when it appeared that Ulquiorra cared for her deeply.

But this could possibly be one of the few opportunities to be alone with her.

When else would he encounter this sort of luck?

Ichigo cleared his throat, keeping his gaze forward. "Orihime?"

From the corner of her eye, she glanced at him. There was something in his tone that had her on edge, almost eager to find out what it was. "Yes?"

His grip on the steering while tightened as he willed himself to buckle up and make a move. He could not afford to lose any time by hesitating simply because of righteousness. Times likes these called for craftiness and an unwavering will to succeed. "What are your plans for today?"

Orihime's thick lashes fluttered in surprise. "My plans?"

Ichigo nodded. "Are you busy today?"

The honest answer was no, she wasn't. Any possible plans Orihime had vanished with Ulquiorra's sudden departure. However, it was better to lie than to take such risk; she knew how rationality failed her whenever she was with Ichigo. The incident moments prior validated this.

Ichigo glanced at her, reading the conflict written across he pretty face. Like him, she was deciding on what the right thing to do was. He already knew what she was going to say, so he called her out on it. "Before you say anything, please be aware that you're a God awful liar and it will insult my intelligence if you try doing so."

Orihime jolted, completely caught off guard. Did he actually just tell her that?

The corner of Ichigo's mouth inched upward. "I'm guessing your afternoon is free then?"

Knowing what he was trying to do, Orihime shook her head. "I really shouldn't, Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo grimaced. "And why the hell not?"

His words hit her straight in the heart, unleashing a river of emotions. There were so many reason why this was a bad idea. She didn't want to imagine how wrong it was for her to spend time with Ichigo when she already had someone else.

"Because," she said, turning away, "you confuse me."

Ichigo remained silent for a moment before shifting the gearshift and turning onto the street. He heard Orihime flinch beside him when she noticed they were heading the opposite direction from work.

"W-What are you doing?" she asked.

"Giving you a chance to figure things out."

:

If Ichigo had his way, he would've merged onto the freeway and drove away from Tokyo, taking Orihime away with him to a place where they could start from scratch. It was a wild fantasy that he never allowed himself to imagine until now. Because that was what Orihime did to him, she made him want things he knew he didn't deserve.

Instead, Ichigo brought her somewhere he was sure she'd like.

Tokyo Tower was surprisingly busy for a weekday. For that reason, Ichigo was on edge, focusing on keeping Orihime in sight and within reach. In the sea of strangers, he worried he'd lose her all over again.

It was silly but her presence beside him was too good to be true.

And Ichigo could tell she was conflicted. Her front teeth were roughly abusing her bottom lip as they maneuvered through the crowd. She stayed close but there was a measured distance between them that she continued maintaining.

Creating distance was Orihime's specialty.

Eliminating it was Ichigo's.

So the second someone bumped into Orihime, Ichigo took the initiative and wrapped an arm around her frame and pulled her against him. She squeaked at the sudden contact with one another and immediately tried wiggling out of his grasp.

"Y-You don't have to do this, Kurosaki-kun!" she stammered out, still unsuccessful in her escape. "I'm fine!"

Shaking his head firmly, Ichigo tightened his hold on her.

"Kurasaki-kun," pleaded Orihime, her gray eyes flickering around, "people are staring."

"Let them."

Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She recognized the stubborn set of Ichigo's jaw and knew it was futile to argue with him. Keeping her gaze lowered, she allowed him to guide them into Tokyo Tower.

Once inside the elevator, Orihime managed to detangle herself a bit. She caught Ichigo frowning at her but immediately looked away. Orihime feared that he might see through her again and realize that a part of her disliked pulling away from him.

However, when the elevator began moving Orihime gasped a little at the sudden speed. Her eyes widened and a smiled etched itself upon her small face while she watched the numerous building zoom by.

Ichigo's own attention belonged to Orihime. He found pleasure in her familiar child-like wonder. He took careful note of the way her lips parted and how her brows shot up in surprise, tucking these observations somewhere safe in the back of his mind. He'd treasure the smile that widened when they finally reached the top.

With excitement running through her veins, Orihime rushed forward with Ichigo trailing lazily on her heels. The view Orihime encountered was nothing short of gorgeous. The sky was kind and the clouds were gently painted against its skin, allowing the buildings to stand proudly in the sunlight.

Staring out at the bright scenery of the city, Orihime felt a nostalgic feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Suddenly she was back in New York at the Freedom Tower holding hands with Ulquiorra.

"Orihime."

She jolted at the sound of her name.

Ichigo's brows furrowed. "Are you okay?"

"I-I—" Orihime swallowed and sucked in a shaky breath. "Hai, I'm fine."

Ichigo opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted by a soft voice.

"Onee-chan?"

The two of the glanced down to find a child staring up at them from underneath the brim of a baseball cap. His large eyes were looking at Orihime pleadingly.

Something shifted within Orihime and she immediately bent down to the boy's level. "What do you need Otouto?" she asked gently.

The child's eyes were watery as he confessed. "I can't find my Okaa-san, Onee-chan."

"Is that so?" In order to stop his tears from shedding, Orihime pouted and began tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I guess we need to find her then, right?"

The boy nodded eagerly. "Un!"

Orihime reached forward and took the boy's hand. His tiny fingers easily slipped between hers and clutched desperately for hers. "Onee-chan will help you."

Silently, Ichigo watched. A moment before Orihime had gone rigid, a pale parlor washing over he flushed face that seemed to be the result of the ghosts swirling behind her eyes.

And now warmth and energy radiated off her. She was engrossed with the boy's well-being, taking care of him as they searched through the crowded landing for his mother.

Deciding it would be best to return to the main floor, the three of them took the elevator back down. As they waited, the boy peeked curiously at Ichigo.

He returned the gaze with a quirked brow and slight smile.

"Ne, Onee-chan," said the child, tugging on Orihime's hand and motioning towards Ichigo. "Is he your boyfriend?"

Instantly, Orihime's face reddened, cheeks flaming in embarrassment. Frantically her eyes flickered to Ichigo to read his response, but she immediately turned away when he met her gaze in amusement.

At a loss, Orihime tried to come up with a proper response to the child's question. "A-Ah—well, Otouto, he's actually—"

"I love her," answered Ichigo. "I'm in love with her."

Orihime went rigid.

The boy grinned and playfully nudged her. "Do you love him, Onee-chan?"

A pain erupted in Orihime's chest. Once again, she felt the fragments of her heart shattering even more. She feared that the men of her life would leave her with nothing, making her incapable of loving herself, let alone another.

Ichigo stepped forward and patted the top of the boy's head. "I'm going to make her fall in love with me again."

The elevator came to a stop at the main floor. As they stepped out, an older woman at the main desk caught notice of them and swiftly approached them, the evident worry on her face shifting into relief.

"Akira!" she called out, outstretching her hands to the boy. "Akira, are you okay?"

The child rushed into his mother's embrace. "I'm fine!" he chirped. "Onee-chan helped me!"

Orihime smiled at the woman and gently dismissed her thanks. "It was nothing, really."

Ichigo stood beside Orihime as they watched the mother and son leave. Akira gave them one last wave over his shoulder as he stepped out, his smile taking up his entire face.

"You know," started Ichigo, noting the bittersweet expression on Orihime's face, "you'd make a great mother."

She blinked and then looked to him. "You think?"

He nodded. "You're a natural with kids."

At this Orihime smiled softly. It was lovely, however there was something melancholy about it. "Being a mom would be wonderful."

The tone of her voice bothered Ichigo; there was longing and a hint of sadness. Carefully, he asked, "Doesn't Ulquiorra want kids?"

"Ah. . ." Orihime pushed her hair behind her ear. "No, not really. He's not really fond of them."

"But you do," said Ichigo. "You want a family."

"Y-Yes," admitted Orihime, her gaze focused on anything but Ichigo. "But it's fine. Ulquiorra and I are both still young and we have our careers to work on."

Ichigo wanted to probe some more but he could tell the topic made Orihime uncomfortable. He wouldn't push her; he'd wait and coax her away from Ulquiorra until she finally walked towards him on her own.

But as he dug deeper into her relationship with Ulquiorra, Ichigo couldn't help but feel unsettled and somewhat angered. Underneath the happy engagement, he found some issues that were slowly hurting Orihime.

And in some twisted way, Ichigo was grateful. If it had been clear that Orihime was better off without him, in a much happier place, then stealing her back would've been difficult. He would've ended up hating himself in the process.

Fortunately for Ichigo, the engagement wasn't as stable as it seemed. So he was determined to catch Orihime the second it crumbled.