Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Hapi Mari.

Italic: Orihime's thoughts.

Bold: Ichigo's words in Orihime's mind.

*Enjoy the chapter !:)

It's been four days since he said those words, the last thing I heard from Ichigo before he left on his business trip. From tomorrow on, we have to live together again…

"Orihime !" Rangiku called, startling the auburn-haired girl. "Good morning! you sure took a long break!"

"We heard you had flu ?" Momo added. "Are you all right now?"

"Thanks, I'm fine now". Orihime answered with a little smile.

"Well, well? how did it go ?" Rangiku smirked, getting her face close to Orihime. "Did the undergarments work ?" Momo added as she also got closer to her as well.

"Well…" Orihime blushed, smiling softly, "It was all right…"

Fat lie.

"Come on, be a little more thankful!" Momo grumbled, crossing her arms. "I'll be your treat next time we go out!"

I can't tell them what really happened…

"But I still can't believe someone like Orihime is ahead of us in that department" Rangiku added jokingly.

"I have a lot of work piling up, so I have to get going," Orihime remarked, leaving the girls at the cafeteria's company.

"Tell us all the details later!" Momo replied.

"Yes, yes…" Orihime answered.

"Ah, here it is, the older issues…" Orihime mumbled at her desk, talking to herself. She took a magazine and flopped its pages until she found an article about Ichigo. His picture was in the left corner of the page.

Up until recently, I knew nothing about Ichigo as a president.

"In the business world, it's taboo to aspire too much after business tactics and strategies. I believe that the only true route to success is being certain in what you really have on your hands, utilizing your potential to the maximum, and eliminating as many uncertain or unnecessary elements as possible" Orihime read Ichigo's interview in the magazine.

"Regarding the qualifications of a good manager? A company has no future if the people work less once they get closer to the top. Nobody would follow a leader who doesn't work hard—"

Realistic. Cool-headed. The second or third generation in the business. Serious. And someone like him succumbed to such a marriage. What is the thing he wants to protect so much that he'd go to such lengths? What does he truly want..?

"By analyzing information and research, you learn exactly how the pawn that you are working. And then you can venture into any kind of competition—"

"Pawn…" Orihime read the word out loud. She opened her eyes wide then sadness filled her face.

He sees himself as a pawn and looks at the others the same way. And me, too... I'm one of the many pawns.

Just a pawn. Definitely not a wife.

"Ah Orihime, what are you doing here?" Hisagi asked while carrying his suitcase on his back. "Didn't you take a rather long break?"

"Ah… Yes, I guess" The auburn haired girl replied.

"About before, what happened? Tell me all the details, all right?" he smiled softly. "I was worried you know!" he added, waving his hand as he left.

"Ehm.." Orihime blushed and hid her face in the magazine pages.

You reap what you sow. I'll be a laughing stock. All before I kept dreaming about a certain man. But there's still a part of me who doesn't hate him. Unconsciously.

I was sure everything with Ichigo would go well. What kind of lies do I have to make up now to hide it from everyone?

She lift her head from her desk and saw a pile of files that she didn't bring to the archive room.

"I don't want to go to work anymore…" she sighed as she took the pile and walked towards the room.

"Inoue? Aren't you Orihime Inoue?!"

"Yes, yes" she replied mechanically, the voice was coming from behind.

What is it this time...

"Ye—"

"I knew it, it's you!'

"Eh?" Orihime's eyes opened in stunned surprise.

"Long time no see!" Smiled the man. "do you remember me?"

Orihime's blushed even more as she recognized him.

"Uryu-senpai?!" she gasped.

"Great, you remember me!" he smiled widely at her. " What's going on? Why are you in this company?"

"For work!" she fidgeted.

"But what a surprise! I had no idea you were here, Inoue-san." He gave her his business card and bowed his head.

Orihime read the card and was impressed, a pink blush appearing on her cheeks.

"I was wondering what you've been doing since we last met…" He looked down at his watch. "Ah, I'd really like to take my time and talk with you, but I'm running out of time. Are you free time?" He asked her kindly. "If you want to, we can talk in peace then. It's been so long after all."

"Ehm… I…" Orihime spluttered as she blushed and looked down.

Ichigo is not home yet, so maybe it's all right if I…

"Well?" Uryu asked, bringing Orihime back from her thoughts.

"Yes, I'll come. Yes," She answered with confidence.

"Well then, call me using the number on the business card!" He waved at her and he left. "See you again!

Orihime bowed and kept looking at him until he disappeared.

Uryu was my senpai for some time while I was at my university. When I was a freshman, he was in his fourth year. We met as soon as I entered…

She was brought back to her University days.

"I'm from the astronomy club! Uryu approached her and gave her an invitation. "we're going to the planetarium today, so come see what it's like!" He was 21 years old at that time. He had black hair and deep blue eyes. He was the top student at that time. He's still the same today.

I had no interest whatsoever in stars but I still went, because he was so cool.

I can't believe we met again like this. And he even remembered me. All right, let's make tonight a memorable night!

Later that day

"What? She's not home yet?" Ichigo switched the apartment's lights. He threw his jacket on the sofa.

"Hm?" He noticed his gift on the living room table and rose his eyebrows at the discovery.

Some hours later

"Hm?" Orihime closed the door. "Why is the light on?!"

Don't tell me…

Orihime noticed Ichigo on the living couch and felt her heart sink to her stomach.

W-why is he home?! Wasn't he supposed to come back tomorrow?

She stuck on the wall as she felt a drop of sweat running down her forehead.

"Hey!" Ichigo called with enthusiasm.

Give me a break! What kind of attitude should I assume when he sees me?! She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"What are you doing?" Ichigo open the living room's glass door and watched Orihime sitting on the ground, taking off her shoes. "have you been drinking again?"

"Eh…yes that's right…" she lightly smiled. "You're home early, aren't you?" she looked down at her feet.

I had no time to prepare…

"This." Ichigo replied.

"Eh?" Orihime raised her gaze to see him.

"Why didn't you open?" The orange-haired man handed her the small gift. "It's a birthday present."

Orihime's eyes opened wide. She tried to hide her surprise but she couldn't.

Oh no! I planned to take care of that before he returned tomorrow!

"The morning I left on the business trip, you were sick and sleeping, so I left it in the dining room." Ichigo frowned. "Why is it exactly where I left it that day?"

"Well…" Orihime answered rapdily.

Because I didn't want to open it. But how can I possibly explain that ?! I'm not who I used to be a few days ago.

I'm not!

"I…" she blushed heavily and took a deep breath. "I didn't receive it directly from you… it was the least you could do."

It hurts…. But I can't think of another excuse.

"What the…" Ichigo raised his eyebrows in surprise. "If that's all, then—here." He placed the lift on the palm of her hand.

Orihime froze in her spot, she felt like she couldn't move anymore. She was looking at Ichigo who had a puzzling look on his face.

Who gives a birthday present with "here"?! What? am I a dog?

Ah… "You're all bark and no bite. Like a Chihuahua."

I should've noticed right from the start, that to him, I'm an idiot on the same level as a dog.

"Thanks" she replied coldly. Ichigo was already on the leave.

"No prob-" the man stopped talking as he noticed her eyes were filled with tears.

I'm so miserable.

"The toilet—I need to use it, so leave me alone!" Orihime left in a hurry, her head down.

Ichigo was stunned by her reaction, he couldn't understand what just happened.

I was so blissfully oblivious to everything. I'm the worst. And still, I can't bring myself to hate him…

She was lost in her thoughts as she was sobbing again against the bathroom sink.

I couldn't bring myself to open the gift, so I shoved it in the drawer unopened.

The next day

"Ahh… that was a great shock…" Mila Rose, a co-worker, admitted.

"What? What happened?" Rangiku asked in surprise.

"Last night, you know, I saw Orihime and her boyfriend."

"Did you?!" Rangiku insisted. "Well? what's he like?"

"Unbelievably cool" Mila Rose smirked. "but not as cool as the president though."

"Seriously?" Momo questioned. "Seriously, we really underestimated her!"

Rukia was walking down the company hallway when she overheard the conversation coming from the cafeteria.

"Where did she find such a gem…? Maybe we should start going to group dates again?" Rangiku suggested.

"Rangiku-san, I can't believe you just said that!" Momo mocked her.

Rukia frowned at what she heard and continued her way.

Some minutes later, the president's office

"She was with an unknown man last night?" Ichigo questioned as a frown formed on his forehead. "She was?!"

"And it wasn't that guy, Shuhei Hisagi"? the orange-haired man added.

"No, it wasn't" Rukia answered.

"Heh…" Ichigo thought out loud. "See what you can find about him."

"I refuse." Rukia objected with a strict voice.

"R-refuse?" Ichigo quizzed with a dumbfounded look on his face. "Hey, I'm the president here, you!"

"That's as much information as I can supply you with." Rukia chided in a cold tone. "It's high time you start communicating with your wife directly about such things."

"Maybe your wife happens to have more male friends than you though, president." Rukia gazed at Ichigo who seemed angry now.

"Besides, the heart of a woman changes much faster than men think." She continued in a serious tone. "That heart which used to beat only for you yesterday might turn towards someone else today."

"Ichigo… I'm saying this for your sake, president." She sighed. "So this doesn't become the first failure in your life."

Later that day

Ichigo entered his apartment, and when he turned on the lights, he noticed Orihime's red shoes at the entrance.

"If she's home already, why is the whole house pitch-dark?" he whinged, a sulking look on his face.

As he stomped the hallway, images of Orihime started to pop into his mind. "You're late again. I'm going to bed first." A second one popped, "What? I'm on a diet!"

"Damn!" he hissed, a vain pumping on his forehead. He was pissed.

Knock knock.

"It's me!" Ichigo called, knocking on the auburn-haired girl. "We have to talk. Come out".

Orihime's face turned crimson red as she was startled.

T-talk? About what?

"What do you want to talk about?" she opened the door with a sad look on her face.

I want to avoid looking at him in the eyes as much as possible…

"Last night," Ichigo spoke. "Who's the man you went out to drink with? It wasn't Hisagi, so who it was?"

"Eh?" Orihime was astonished, feeling her heart pounding fast against her chest.

"He's a senpai from my university." She added. "His name Is Uryu…"

"Senpai?" Ichigo interrupted.

"We hadn't seen each other for a long time and wanted to chat" the girl explained.

How does he know that?! Argh, I've had it!

"Why didn't you tell me last night?" the orange-haired man questioned.

Does he keep a watch over everything I do? I'll suffocate! And this is like a cross-examination…!

"Well…the topic just didn't come up…" she answered. "there wasn't anything in particular to hide…"

"I didn't intend to pry into your business, like whom you go out with," Ichigo looked down and frowned.

"But don't you dare do, what people call 'infidelity', wife" he stood over her and put his arm against her door.

Orihime felt her heart stop for a second and sink inside her.

What are you talking about?! 'Infidelity'! 'betray!' There's nothing like—

"I thought I had driven that into your head, but you're a weird one." Ichigo sighed.

Such things… exist only between a husband and wife who loved each other to begin with!

"Of course, I know that!" Orihime fumed as her face turned red and tears start to fill in her eyes. "That's what our contract is!"

"You're weird that I thou—" She pushed him back.

"Who's weird?!" Ichigo exclaimed, startled at her gesture.

"If you have time to bug me, why don't you go to bed already?" Orihime kept trying to push him away. "You're tired, right?!"

"W-wait!" he urged.

"Good night!" she retorted, slamming her room's door in his face.

Orihime rushed to her bed, hot tears running down her cheeks. She heard his steps, as he turn around and walk away.

go away already…. Hurry…

Riiiing…riiiiing

"Yes?" she mumbled picking up her phone.

"Ah, Orihime-San? It's me."

Uyru senpai!

"Thanks for yesterday! It was great. I'm glad we got in touch again." The young man thanked her.

"No… I mean it was my pleasure!" Orihime blushed.

"Hm? Isn't your voice a little strange? Are you alright?" he puzzled.

"It's nothing! I'm all right!" she reassured him. "but why are you calling at such an hour?"

"Ah…Well, I thought you might have some free time tonight, Inoue-san." Uryu cleared his voice. "I have something I want to tell you… do you think you can make it?"

"Yes, it's no problem." Orihime smiled as she answered him, her blush deepening.

"Well then…"

Orihime hang up and looked at her phone, seeing her tears falling on the screen. She crawled in a ball and hid her head against her knees.

Senpai…

There's something I didn't tell you yesterday, too.

I got married.

I chose to do it myself but… but now I'm really broken. I had no idea it would be so hard to live with a man who doesn't love me.

The man I love doesn't even return my feelings. It seems that I'll never be a real woman…

Will this drag on for the rest of my life?

No, I don't want that to happen.

I don't…

Later

"Sorry, sorry!" Uryu smiled. "I'm really late!"

"Hm? Why are you dressed so formally?" Orihime was puzzled as she looked at his dark blue suit. She wore a yellow dress with straps that reached above her knees.

"This is how I usually am!" he blushed slightly. "Today I came straight from work, so I'm in my business suit!"

"Senpai, what did you want to tell me?" the auburn-haired girl was getting impatient.

"Let's go grab a bite somewhere and we'll talk." He suggested. "My favorite place is nearby."

They found a small restaurant hidden near a fountain and a park.

"Senpai… you were always very good at cooking such things…" Orihime looked over his plate which was sizzling.

"You think so? Really?" Uryu questioned.

I'm sure Ichigo had never been in a place like this.

Or maybe, he hasn't even seen this type of food before.

"Oh yeah, speaking of cooking, I remember the incident at that freshmen's welcome party in May when we were at University…" Uryu smiled, remembering how Orihime couldn't eat her pancake made of cabbage, noodles, and meat.

"Eh, ehm…" Orihime blushed deeply. "I had never eaten that dish until then and … ". She was at a loss for words from embarrassment.

"You learned a lot about stars for the sake of the club, right Orihime?" Uryu kept remembering their University days with a nostalgic smile on his face. "I remember thinking how serious you were about it."

"You can say I remember quite a lot about you, don't I?" he praised her. "You left a deep impression on me."

Uryu-Senpai…

"I couldn't keep up with you unless I studied a lot. Besides, I wasn't the only one who knew a lot about stars." Orihime started eating her noodles and she was blushing from his compliments. "And my motives for entering the club weren't entirely pure."

"Hm? Ulterior motives? Like what? Uryu puzzled.

"Well, well… there were many reasons." She answered with a little smile on her face.

"It was too bad I couldn't make it to the summer party though. I was really looking forward to it!" He admitted, presenting her with a plate of grilled meat to help herself.

"So did I!" Orihime gushed. "It was because something happened to my father. I didn't want to quit school too!"

"And senpai, you were busy looking for employment, wasn't having a party too much for you?" Orihime added.

"No, I was already accepted in the company I currently work at. And speaking and which, I wanted to talk to you about that company…"

Orihime's eyes open wide with what he just told her.

"Orihime… won't you quit your company and come work in mine?" He clarified with a soft smile on his face.

"Wha..eh…?" The young woman was still in shock as she couldn't understand his proposal.

Wha… What? What?! That was way too sudden!

"I think I've already told you about the company right? It's a joint venture and I'm one of the members of the foundation board." He explained, snapping his chopstick to eat.

"One of our employees suddenly got pregnant and had to leave work in a hurry and get married. We're short on capable people." He admitted.

"But why are you telling me this? I'm not really—" Orihime hesitated.

"Well, I can't force you." He interrupted her. "If you feel motivated to work for your current company and feel at home there, then there's no helping it… but…"

Feel at home…

As soon as she heard these words, Orihime felt a stabbing pain in her chest.

"But Orihime, aren't you just beating yourself against a wall these days?" He inquired.

"Eh..?" she looked at him surprised.

"When I met you, it felt like you were troubled about something" he looked down at his plate. "as if… you felt unless looking for a way out… or so I thought. Maybe it's just a groundless feeling I got."

"I… I see…" she mumbled.

He's sharp! Or maybe I was more transparent than I thought.

"But if I happened to hit the nail on the head, then I think the reason is in your company." He continued. 'But to be honest, my company is not as secure as your company. Even so, we don't keep any pawns in the game if they are useless."

Pawn…

"It's a small establishment, so everyone has to work hard." He continued. "Thus, we're very busy."

"but you can be sure that it's a job worth doing. I think it will help you raise your skills. You will learn to do everything on your own, without help". He paused and smile. "I'm sure you can do it, Orihime. You've always been a person who works very hard".

Orihime stared at him, her blush getting wider on her cheeks.

At that moment, I felt that the wall standing in my way, there appeared a little crack.

"Ah!" Uyru remembered. "And I think we can offer you more money than you get now, too!"

The wall I'm talking about is the fact that my work and my future, even my love, are all in the palm of Ichigo's hand.

But if I can manage to pull one of those things from his hand, things will change, won't they?

If that happens, maybe the type of relationship I have with him now will change…

"I'm not telling you to answer right now." The black-haired man reassured. "You take your time and think it over."

Orihime's heart skip a beat at his statement.

"But we're really short on people, so we can't afford to wait forever and –"

"No need to!" the auburn-haired girl exclaimed, interrupting him. "I will think about it … positively, I mean." She admitted, avoiding looking at him. "What I really want to say is…"

I will change, just watch me.

Later that night

Orihime was sitting at her desk in her room. She took a pen and paper and started writing her resignation letter.

"All right, that's a draft…" she thought out loud while reading her letter all over again.

I want Ichigo to look carefully at the person that I am.

"She has closed herself in her room again…" Ichigo thought to himself while standing before her bedroom door.

"Hey," he called softly, but he heard no sound back.

He looked down and walked away, sighing at the situation.

Just watch me break out of here. Out of this place.

A/N: I can't believe it's been two years since I updated this story... I intend to finish it so I'll do my best to keep updating it as soon as I can. As much as I love writing it, life happened and it kept me away from writing it. Anyway, I hope you're all doing fine, and thanks for all the comments, I love reading them and it motivated me to keep writing it after all this time :)

Take care ++