I'M BACK!

Sorry for the long wait. College is starting to pile up along with work.

Yes, I know many are mad about the whole ordeal in the other chapter but there is a reason behind everything. But each review is appreciated.

But please enjoy this chapter!

Edit: 28/07/2023

The Morning After

Orihime sat staring at the ceiling of the penthouse trying to figure out what had just happened for the past couple of hours. She slowly shifted her eyes to the curtains that blew in the early morning breeze.

'How long have I been here?' she asked herself. Feeling a small twitch on her rising chest, she saw an arm wrapped around her. Sighing, she turned back towards the ceiling when her mind began to wander back to Ulquiorra and how he kept whispering sweet nothing in her ears. He never did that before when they were together. So why now? Why did he change now? The real question is, did he really change because of her?

Orihime turned her head towards Ulquiorra who was sleeping soundly without a care in the world. She grew angry. But who was she really angry at? She submitted herself willingly to her ex-boyfriend, but he forced her… right? She shook her head and focused back on reality, she had to get out of there.

She slowly pulled the covers off her body and slowly got out of the bed pushing Ulquiorra's arm off her body. Sitting on the edge of the bed she looked over her body. Still naked and she noticed she had bruises on her thighs. Tears began to cloud her vision; Orihime slapped her hand over her mouth trying not to let a sobs escape.

She turned back around with her mouth still covered and noticed that Ulquiorra turned his head away from her. Orihime got off the bed with her body shaking from the rough activities last night and quietly made her way to the bathroom.

She looked around the bathroom for the clothes that she had neatly folded. Searching she came across her reflection in the mirror. She couldn't help but flinch at her face. It didn't have the usual glow to it; instead, it was a dull reflection looking back at her. Tears streamed down her eyes. She was going to look like she did in college.

Unhappy.

She quickly turned away from the mirror and turned on the shower. She had to leave before he had another round with her.

Orihime sat at the bar downstairs of the hotel lost in thought. The bartender hadn't arrived yet because it was too early to drink or even to be open for that matter. She had to talk to someone because every time she would close her eyes all she could see was Ulquiorra having his way with her. She did not have her purse, her cell phone, or her car keys. She looked at the front desk and walked over to the receptionist at the desk.

"Are you checking out ma'am?" the small petite redhead receptionist asked.

"Umm no. I need to use a phone."

"What room would you like to call?" The receptionist smiled.

"Not a room, I need to call someone outside the hotel." The receptionist looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What?" Orihime asked with an attitude.

"Well ma'am during this day and age everyone has a cellphone."

"Does it look like I give a damn about everyone? I'm asking you to use the phone so I can call someone. Unless, during this day and age they don't make telephones that people without cellphones can use?"

The receptionist nodded her head and pointed at the end of the long desk sat a telephone.

"Thank you very much," Orihime smiled before rolling her eyes.

She dialed Tatsuki's number. It rang twice before Orihime hung up the phone. She just remembered that she couldn't face Tatsuki after what her fiancé Uryuu did to her in the couple's own living room. She tried to think of someone else. Suddenly Momo popped into her head, but she shook her head. She couldn't remember her number to save her life. Picking up the phone again, she decided to call her office and see if Momo was in today, even though it was a weekend.

The sound of the elevator dinged and Orihime's concentration broke. She turned to the elevator and saw Ulquiorra step out scanning the hotel lobby. His eyes landed on her. She dropped the telephone headset and gasped. He stared at her with dead eyes.

He slowly made his way toward her. She couldn't go back with him. She turned her back away from him and made her way to the hotel's front entrance. As soon as she came through the revolving doors, Orihime quickly ran down the valet driveway and down the main street of Tokyo.

Orihime tried to run quickly as her stilettos could take her. She looked back and saw Ulquiorra right on her trail. She screamed and made a sharp right onto another busy street. She tried to dodge the other pedestrians walking, but her heels twisted, and she fell face first on the pavement of the busy sidewalk of Tokyo. She quickly tried to scramble herself to stand up until a pair of strong arms wrapped their arms around her waist.

She started to kick and scream.

"Let me go! SOMEONE HELP ME!"

"Oi, shut the hell up I'm trying to help you!" Orihime stopped kicking and snapped her head around to look at the man.

"Ichigo!" Orihime cried out. She turned her whole body around then wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into it.

"What were you running away from?" he wrapped his arms around her to calm her down. Orihime peeked up from his neck and looked out onto the street searching for the man that wanted her. She saw him standing in the middle of the busy street staring right at her as the whole scene played out with her and Ichigo.

Ichigo put her down and grabbed her face to look at him. Her tear-stained face tore at him. She looked petrified of whatever demons were after her.

"Are you okay?" he asked wiping the tears from her eyes with his thumbs. Orihime nodded slowly. "Okay, come with me so you can get cleaned up." Ichigo took her hand and pulled her with him in the opposite direction of where Ulquiorra continued to stand watching them.

Ichigo placed a hot cup of coffee in front of Orihime as she sat at his kitchen island.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Yeah, no problem." Ichigo stood taking a sip of his own coffee eyeing Orihime as she only stared into her cup. She looked so innocent staring at the steam that left the cup. He gave her a change of clothes, a pair of old sweats and a T-shirt while her clothes were in the washing machine. He couldn't help but notice she wore that same outfit the day before when she suddenly showed up at his office for a surprising sex session.

Feeling himself get hard, he cleared his throat to break the silence. "So, do you mind telling me what the hell that was? Why were you running like a madwoman at 8 in the morning down Tokyo, and who were you running away from?"

Orihime slowly lifted her eyes to meet his dark brown eyes. She eyed him. "What about you?"

Ichigo raised his eyebrow. "What about me?"

"What are you doing out so early in the morning?" '

She can't be serious.

He put his coffee down on the counter and folded his arms. "I was working out."

Orihime looked him up and down and notice that he had on a tight Under Armour shirt with sweat around the collar.

"Oh," she shifted her eyes back to her coffee.

"Well?"

"It… it was nothing. Thank you for helping me by the way." She stood from the countertop and made her way to his window. Ichigo watched as her small feet pitter-pattered towards his living room window. Ichigo followed her to his living room with his coffee in hand.

"That wasn't nothing. You were practically crying in the middle of the street. I don't know what was chasing you, but whatever it was I can help you. You just have to tell me."

Orihime was silent. Seeing the busy life of Tokyo usually calmed her down and his view of Tokyo was breathtaking. Noticing that she was not going to answer, he sat down on his couch and threw his feet up on the living room table. Sipping his coffee his eyes never left her figure.

Orihime leisurely opens the doors of his balcony. The breeze felt good on her skin. She smiled.

Ichigo stopped sipping his coffee with his mug in midair taking in the sight of her and the way her long auburn hair blew with the morning breeze. But what made him stop breathing was her carefree smile. He had never seen her smile like that before, and he rather bit enjoyed it. He blushed.

The sound of the laundry alarm went off indicating that the load was done. Orihime heard the sound and turned towards Ichigo who was still staring at her. Noticing her looking back at him, he snapped his head away from her and forgot his coffee was still in midair. He accidentally spilled his coffee on his clothes and a little bit on his couch.

"Shit!" He stood up brushing the hot coffee off his clothes.

Orihime giggled at the sight of him. She put her hand over her mouth to hold in her laughter.

"Are you okay?" she asked between each giggle. He was still trying to brush off the coffee with his face deeply flushed.

"Yeah," Orihime quickly ran to the kitchen and grabbed a hand towel. She made her way back to him and helped him dry off. "Hold on," Ichigo said.

He put the coffee mug down and grabbed the bottom of his shirt pulling it over his head. Orihime gripped the hand towel tightly. His upper body was like a god. From his well-defined collar bone to each muscle was well-toned, it shifted and curved with his body. The sight of his well-toned stomach muscles and his inny belly button was gorgeous. She started blushing at the sight. She looked down to hide her face from him.

"I'm just going to take a shower. Just grab your clothes from the laundry room." Ichigo threw his shirt over his shoulder before picking up the coffee mug. Walking to the kitchen, he paused for a moment. "Hey listen."

Orihime jumped at his sudden voice.

"Y- yes," she choked out.

"Since it's a weekend, let's do something together. You know, to get our minds off work and from other things. Is that cool with you?" Ichigo asked with his back still turned to her. "And you still owe me a date," he blushed.

Orihime smiled, nodding her head even though he could not see her. "Thank you, I would like that."

"Cool, I'll drive you to your house so you can put on something more comfortable."

"Okay." Ichigo placed his mug in the dishwasher and walked back to the living room where Orihime stood still gripping the hand towel tightly. He smiled.

"Don't be nervous." She jumped. "I promise not to walk out of the shower naked." She blushed. She threw the towel at him. He caught it easily. "Just think of places we can go." Turning away from her he made his way to his bathroom. "No peeking Ms. Inoue," he chuckled.

"As if asshole!"

Chapter 11 COMPLETED!

Finally, the next chapter will help them build a relationship.

I can't wait.

Please REVIEW!