Author's Note: Wow, too much time has passed since my last update. For that, I deeply apologize. I've started my career in the field that I studied in university and truthfully, finding inspiration and time to write became extremely difficult. Therefore, I was writing on-and-off for about two years to deliver you all this chapter. I appreciate the people who continue to find this little story of mine intriguing or worth a read. It really has been a wonderful experience so far hearing your thoughts on the development of this story! As always, please read, review - and most importantly - enjoy!
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Tite Kubo, the creator of BLEACH.
Warning: There is mature content in the chapter.
Chapter 24 – Finest Hours
After a tumultuous day, dusk had finally descended upon the city of Tokyo. When the trial had come to a close, Princess Inoue and her council departed the courtroom separately from Ichigo. As much as Orihime wanted to run over and comfort him, she understood the danger she would be putting Ichigo in if she acted on her emotions. Consequently, Rukia and Tatsuki had whisked her away from the chaotic scene and ushered her back to her guest corridors at the Imperial Palace. When they entered the bedchambers, Uryu had been pacing the floor waiting for their return.
"How did it go?" the butler asked as he approached the three women.
Rukia sighed tiredly, "Nii-sama declared Kurosaki guilty."
The man was relieved to hear the verdict. However, he could suspect something was amiss based on the facial expression of Orihime.
"What was his punishment?" he carefully prodded for more information.
"He was flogged in front of everyone! He was humiliated because of everything I said!" the princess uttered out before running into the bathroom and slamming the door behind her.
Tatsuki shot Ishida a look of exasperation as she walked over and tapped on the door leading into the bathroom. Without much provocation, the entryway was opened and the close friend slipped inside. Therefore, Rukia and Uryu were left to discuss the next course of plans in further detail.
Feeling a sudden wave of drowsiness, the petite aristocrat took a few steps over to the bed and rested on the edge. Having sat in the wooden pews for nearly four hours did not do her bottom any justice. At last, she could have some reprieve from the event that unfolded before her very eyes.
The butler cleared his throat, "I apologize for not being able to be there. I knew Matsumoto-san, Arisawa-san, and you would be able to handle everything without me."
Rukia fell backwards and laid down more comfortably on the bed, "There's no need for that. It was better you weren't there. I don't think you'd want to hear some of the things that were said today in that courtroom. Regardless, that will be a discussion for another time. Did you make any progress with our ride home?"
During the legal proceedings, Uryu had met with several people within the palace to arrange carriages and a boat which would return the princess back to the kingdom of Karakura. Despite being at the disposal of the countless resources that could be found inside the capital, the teenager almost gave up in his pursuit to find travel accommodations. It was nearly impossible to speak to people who were willing to give him their time. Those he spoke to were almost frightened to have a conversation with him. If he had to pinpoint the exact cause for their hesitation, Ishida believed they may have been warned by an unknown party to stay away. After all, word seemed to travel much faster in the big city.
"I've managed to secure us some carriages and a cargo ship," Uryu shared with the caretaker.
Rukia smiled gratefully, "When are we leaving?"
The question caused the fair-skinned teenager to raise his eyebrows, "Wait…you're coming back with us?"
The aristocrat sprang up, "Of course, why wouldn't I?"
Ishida felt his cheeks begin to burn from embarrassment, "I assumed you would be staying in the capital with your brother. Since you haven't seen each other in some time, I did not expect you would want to return to Karakura immediately."
The caretaker of the princess was thankful for the butler's consideration of her. However, she no longer called Tokyo her home. Although two years was not a decade, she had grown attached to the quieter life of the countryside. Furthermore, she doubted Byakuya would be willing to welcome her back into the palace. As siblings, there was still room for growth on both sides.
"Trust me, there's no need for that. I want to go back to Karakura and leave this all in the past. Moreover, we need to begin to make preparations for Inoue-sama's coronation. I mentioned it to Matsumoto-sama, but she doesn't think she'll be returning with us to plan it," Rukia brought up Orihime's absent relative.
"I'm sure she feels some kind of remorse for what happened to Inoue-sama," Uryu noted.
The younger Kuchiki gave the teenager's words some thought, but in the end, deemed it highly unlikely. Throughout the course of the day, Rangiku had remained closed off from the situation. The usually bubbly personality was plagued by a troubled expression. Even though she wanted to believe the woman felt regretful for putting Orihime in harm's way, Rukia had suspicions there was another reason for her strange behavior.
Just as the raven-haired maiden was about to allude to Matsumoto's change in attitude, the door to the bathroom creaked opened. Both Rukia and Uryu turned their heads to the source of the noise. A moment later, Tatsuki came into view.
"Kuchiki-san, Orihime wants to take a bath. Can you help me?" the tomboy requested the caretaker's assistance.
Before she could answer, Uryu interjected, "Go ahead. I'll arrange dinner for you all. It's the least I could do."
Not wanting to keep the princess waiting, the twenty-year-old pushed herself off the bed and headed to the bathroom.
After having soaked in warm water for a good length of time, Orihime muscles had finally begun to relax. She had felt tense all day because of her nerves. In addition, Rukia and Tatsuki had managed to calm her down following her emotional outburst over Ichigo's flogging. When she finished bathing and getting dressed, she was welcomed with delicious food that Ishida had organized with the kitchen.
Once the plates were cleared away, the aristocrat still felt restless. No matter what she did, her thoughts were still filled with Ichigo. How deeply was he hurt? Where was he right now? Would she ever see him again? Despite how much she wanted to ask these questions to her friends, Orihime knew she needed to keep them to herself.
As it began to approach midnight, the princess insisted that her companions head to their own respective corridors. It had been an exhausting day and she did not want to further impose upon their much needed sleep.
However, just as the group began to depart from one another for the evening, there was a rapping at the front door. Since Uryu was closest, he opened it and there stood three familiar men.
The princess' eyes widened with surprise at the sight of who stood outside of her room.
"Ichi…kun!" Orihime practically choked on his name as she jumped out of bed.
The peasant was being held up by both his father and Urahara. His feet were barely touching the floor due to how weak and unbalanced he felt. As soon as Orihime drew nearer to him, Ichigo attempted to lift his head up. Within seconds, the aristocrat embraced him in her arms as gently as she could. She was hesitant to hold him out of fear of hurting the teenager any further.
"What are you doing here?" Ishida questioned the late night appearance.
"We're sorry for intruding," Isshin could hear the disapproval in the butler's voice, "But Ichigo kept mumbling Inoue-sama's name as we tried to clean his wounds."
Orihime pulled back and met the eyes of the doctor, "Were you able to do everything you could for him?"
Ichigo's father shook his head, "Some of the whip marks are very deep and require stitches. I was able to start on some of them, but my son was very persistent about talking with you."
The princess did not need any time to ponder her next question, "Do you have your first aid kit with you?"
The man raised his eyebrows at her forwardness, "As a matter of fact, I do. Is there a particular reason you're asking?"
"I want to help Ichigo," she said with resolve.
Before someone else could say anything, Urahara interjected himself into the conversation, "And how are you going to do that, Princess?"
His tone sounded mocking-like. Did he think because she grew up sheltered from the outside world for most of her life, she did not know how to stitch up a simple wound? If that had been his train of thought, Orihime had given the scientist too much credit for being an educated man.
The Karakura heir did not back down from her earlier sentiment, "When Nii-sama was alive, he used to get injured from time to time during practice or field assignments. As I grew older, I felt helpless seeing him in pain and read up on medical treatments for various illnesses. I also learned how to treat lacerations. Needless to say, I've had some practice in the artwork of stitching."
Isshin appeared impressed by the aristocrat's medical knowledge.
However, Uryu was not pleased with the idea of Orihime assisting in healing the man who raped her.
"Inoue-sama, I highly advise against helping Kurosaki," the butler warned her.
The teenager was appreciative of her friend's concern, but he had no reason to worry. Orihime trusted Ichigo and was not fearful of him. She had witnessed the man she loved be beaten for crimes he should not have been punished for in the first place. Consequently, she felt responsible for his injuries.
"Kisuke-kun and Kurosaki-kun, could you please take Ichigo into the bathroom? I will be there very shortly," the auburn-haired beauty commanded as she stepped out of the way.
Not wasting a single second to escape the tense atmosphere, the father and scientist continued to support Ichigo's weight as they guided him into the room. Once they were no longer in sight, Orihime returned to the issue at hand.
"I'm safe, Ishida-kun," the princess assured the individual standing before her, "Ichigo won't hurt me again. I promise."
Rukia and Tatsuki were the only people who knew about the relationship between Orihime and the peasant—besides Isshin. Although both did not understand how the aristocrat could forgive the man who put her through so much pain, they couldn't deny her the right to fall in love. The girl had been a part of a broken family as a child. Her brother stepped in as a father figure, only to be taken away from her at a young age. Despite having a royal court of friends that surrounded her on a daily basis, Orihime deserved to explore the world she had been protected from and meet new people. No one could have predicted that Ichigo Kurosaki would enter her life under such unique circumstances. Nevertheless, he had captured the princess' heart in a way that only she could explain.
"How can you be so certain, Your Highness?" Uryu argued.
The future Queen grabbed the butler's hands and held them tightly within her own. The friend she had cherished for many years was justifiably concerned for her well-being. In his eyes, Ichigo was a low-life criminal who deserved his punishment. Regardless of what she felt, Ishida was going to make his own judgements. Rather than expose her secret, Orihime decided it was best to convince Uryu that she could be trusted.
"Everyone deserves a second chance," she countered.
As much as the teenager wanted to protest the idea, it would be futile. The maiden had reached a decision and clearly nothing was going to get in her way. Her look of determination silently indicated to Uryu that his words of caution would go unheard.
"Even so," Ishida grumbled, "I don't think putting yourself in danger is worth the risk. However, throughout this entire situation, I've realized a great change in you."
The sole survivor of the Inoue household blinked absently at her friend, "What are you talking about, Ishida-kun?"
Lowering his gaze to the floor, the butler's face burned red.
"The amount of strength you have displayed throughout this entire ordeal is something that is truly admirable. With each day that passes, you've grown into your role as the future leader of the Karakura kingdom. For that reason, I need to allow for you to make decisions without my interference," the often more serious one of the royal court explained.
After Uryu spoke his earnest words, he retracted his hands from Orihime's grasp. He had been meaning to tell her his feelings for a while now, but the timing never felt appropriate. As someone who had grown up alongside her, the personal assistant knew her better than most did. Consequently, he had watched her evolve from a young, innocent child to a confident woman.
"Thank you, Ishida-kun," the aristocrat smiled.
"So what will you do?" Rukia wanted to know the teenager's plans concerning the orange haired boy waiting for the princess.
"I'll tend to Ichigo-kun's wounds myself," Orihime earnestly told her caretaker.
Uryu coughed into his clenched hand, "I only ask that you be careful, Your Highness."
She nodded to ease her friend's worry. Right after the discussion concluded, the teenager insisted that the trio needed to rest for tomorrow's long journey. The aristocrat meant no ill-will against her royal court, but she desperately wanted to speak with Ichigo. In a haste, the maiden pushed her friends towards the door and thanked them for all that they did for her during the course of the investigation and trial. Once the three were gone from the room, Orihime retreated to the bathroom to discuss the next move with Isshin and Urahara.
After sending Isshin back to his room to retrieve his medical kit, the homely-looking scientist and the princess assisted Ichigo into the elegant bathtub. Orihime's own bathtub could simply not compare to the one before her. It wasn't oval-shaped, but rather circular. Its size was also quite large, but the gold trim inside was definitely worthy of praise. As they waited for the doctor to return, Orihime turned on the water to get it started. Although her beloved still had on his pants from earlier, she did not want to leave him completely bare. His father said he would bring a fresh set of clothes with him for the boy to change into after the treatment was finished.
"How is it?" the aristocrat asked, referencing to the temperature of the water.
"It's fine," Ichigo responded curtly as he closed his eyes and laid his head against the wall of the tub.
The future Queen nervously glanced in the direction of Urahara, who was silently observing the situation. His trademark stripped hat that he removed during his cross-examination found itself back on the top of his head. In addition, his clothes were much more casual. Aside from his unkempt appearance, the one thing that struck Orihime as odd was the smirk that had spread across his lips.
"Is there something you wish to say, Kisuke-kun?" she urged the man to share his thoughts.
"Oh, it's nothing!" the scientist snickered, "I was only thinking about my lovely fiancé back home. As I watch you with Kurosaki, I am reminded of her. Although, she would never go to such great lengths like you have done for him."
As Orihime began to open her mouth to protest, Ichigo growled, "Leave her alone, Kisuke."
Before another word was exchanged between the two men, Isshin strolled through the entrance of the bathroom with two bags in his hands. One contained a clean outfit for Ichigo to wear and the other held all of the utensils Orihime needed to stich his open wounds.
"Do you have any questions regarding the process?" the father of three asked the princess as he delivered to her the medical bag.
She shook her head confidently, "I used to do this for Nii-sama. I appreciate you lending me your equipment."
The doctor waved off her comment, "No, it's really nothing. Please take care of Ichigo. Kisuke and I will see our way out."
In a blur of movement, the adults departed from the bathroom, leaving the two teenagers alone for the first time all evening.
Within a matter of minutes, Orihime had tied her hair back in order to prevent it from getting in her face as she washed down Ichigo's wounds. With a sponge, she stuck her hand into the lukewarm water and brought it to the open skin. The lacerations were still bleeding, but the swelling around them had finally begun to recede. However, each time the princess worked the sponge over the wounds, she feared she was applying too much pressure. Nevertheless, even if she had made him uncomfortable, Ichigo did not verbally communicate it to her.
Ever since his father and the scientist had left, the atmosphere had grown still. The tension was nearly suffocating. After all, there were many things Orihime wanted to say to the boy she loved, but she did not know where to start. She had witnessed his public beating and the images in her head from earlier were still lingering—especially since she were staring at the marks inflicted right before her.
As she finished cleaning out the lesions, she wrung out the sponge in a small bowl she had discovered on the dresser at her feet. The water had turned a rusty red color and needed to be changed for the next step. Consequently, she rose from off the chair she had been sitting in behind Ichigo and padded over to the sink. She spilled the dirty contents out and turned the faucet on to refill the bowl. With the roar of the water filling the quiet room, the princess' eyes were drawn to the reflection in the mirror. Ichigo's expressionless face stared absently at the door a few feet away from the tub.
Once the water had reached the top of the bowl, Orihime turned her back to the sink and walked behind Ichigo to sit on the stool. After resting the bowl on the floor, she reached over to Isshin's medical kit. She placed it in her lap as she sifted through the bag. In an instant, she discovered a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Although she had cleaned out his gapping wounds earlier with water, using the alcohol would prevent further infection.
Grabbing an unused washcloth Rukia had left for her, the princess poured a small amount of liquid onto the rag. As she raised her arm to press it to Ichigo's body, she hovered her hand over one of the grotesque wounds.
"I'm sorry, this might hurt," Orihime forewarned the teenager.
"Go ahead," Ichigo gave her permission to proceed.
With slight hesitance, the maiden dabbed at the cut with the rubbing alcohol. As soon as she did so, the peasant's back muscles tensed from the burning sensation it had caused. Quickly, Orihime retracted her hand to allow Ichigo the chance to settle the pain he felt before she continued any further.
When some time had passed, the aristocrat carefully applied the washcloth to the other wounds in order to prevent potential bacteria from spreading.
Since the lesions had been thoroughly cleaned out, the next step would require a needle. Before she carried out the rest of the treatment, Orihime wanted to have Ichigo change into dry clothes. He had been sitting in the bathtub for the past forty-five minutes and the blood from his wounds had turned the water brown.
"Ichi-kun, I'm going to leave the room for the time being so you can wash up and get into some clean clothes," she explained as she pulled the plug from inside the tub. The water started to drain immediately.
She began to head towards the door when Ichigo's voice stopped her in her tracks, "Please, don't go."
Orihime whirled around on the heels of her feet, "D-don't you want some privacy? I'm sure you want to take a nice bath without me around."
The bare-chested teenager still could not look the princess in the eye, "I don't need it. Just finish with my treatment."
His words were brusque, but the future Queen knew he was in pain. It was difficult to disguise it from her. In the end, she was not going to protest against his wishes. Before sitting down on the wooden chair, she removed a fresh towel from off the bathroom counter and gave it to Ichigo to dry himself off with as he lied in the empty tub.
Subsequently, Orihime acquired the needle and thread from Isshin's bag of miscellaneous items and sterilized them with rubbing alcohol. As she prepped the utensils, Ichigo had begun to grow restless. He needed to speak up about some things that had been on his mind all evening. However, each time he opened his mouth to voice his feelings, the courage he had gathered failed him. Regardless, Ichigo could not silently wait by any longer without saying his peace.
"Hime," he called her name in a hoarse whisper.
The princess glanced up from the needle in her hand, "Yes?"
"I'm sorry you had to witness the flogging," he apologized shamefully.
Orihime felt her heart drop to her stomach, "Please, Ichi-kun, let's not talk about it. I need you to focus on getting better."
"Despite the pain, I still managed to hear your pleas. You were the reason I managed to pull through and endure it to the end," Ichigo implored.
There was a brief pause before the peasant twisted around. He met the maiden's glistening eyes and stressed, "Thank you for everything that you did for me."
Her face suddenly grew hot, "Of course, Ichi-kun."
The boy held his gaze for a moment until he turned his back to Orihime again.
"Are you going to start?" he asked, referencing to the needle in her hand.
"Y-yes," she stammered, "I'm ready to begin."
The orange-haired individual nodded his head, indicating she did not need his permission. With the thread already wrapped through the needle, the only thing remaining was choosing a wound to suture. Without wasting a single second, Orihime decided to start with the longest and widest lesion that vertically marked Ichigo's back. Despite the fact that her hand shook with nerves, the aristocrat kept the needle steady as she poked it through the soft skin. Thankfully, Ichigo did not display any signs of discomfort when she penetrated the surface. Once the needle was inserted, Orihime ventured through the wound to the opposite side. From that point onwards, the thread was carefully maneuvered back and forth in a diagonal pattern. After the wound was fully sealed, the maiden tied the leftover thread into a knot to ensure it would not unravel.
Consequently, she repeated the steps several more times as she tended to his lacerations. When the last injury was mended, the princess finally began to feel a weight lift off her shoulders. She never doubted her capabilities. Nevertheless, it had been some time since she last treated someone with wounds as deep and large as Ichigo's. The final phase of the medical treatment would require a roll of gauze.
"I'm almost finished," she informed him, "I just need you to stand up so I can wrap you properly."
Immediately complying with her instructions, Ichigo shakenly rose to his feet in the bathtub. Before she looked for the stretchable medical cloth, she placed the needle and thread she had been using aside. After it was placed on the counter, Orihime returned to the first aid bag and searched for the gauze. Not much to her surprise, Isshin had many rolls in his supply. Taking it out of the bag, she unraveled a small strip first. Following this action, she positioned the cloth at the base of Ichigo's torso. She held it in place with her finger as she brought the gauze around to the front of Ichigo's body and then to the back. When it had been wrapped around the teenager's body once, the process became much easier. As she covered his waist, she made certain not to bind the gauze too tightly. His wounds needed room to breathe. However, the aristocrat wished to prevent his stiches from opening if possible. By wrapping his torso, she hoped to prevent such a thing from happening.
Eventually, the gauze roll was quickly used and disposed of once Orihime reached the end of it. Therefore, when she completed the last leg of the treatment, she grew uneasy. She wanted Ichigo to stay, especially since she felt as though there were some things that needed to be discussed between the two of them. The tension from earlier was still lingering. Regardless, she was not going to let it go unresolved. They had to sort it out for the sake of their relationship going forward!
"Icki-kun," she murmured his name with her eyes on his bandaged back, "We need…to talk."
"I know," he agreed as he stepped out of the tub and grabbed another clean towel.
"First, I'll let you get into some clean clothes," she offered as she headed towards the door, "I'll be waiting for you."
Before Ichigo could utter a word, Orihime scurried out of the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
Not much time had passed since the princess had left Ichigo to change into the clothes his father had brought him. She tried to sit and remain still, but her nerves seemed to betray her at that moment. The maiden was restless at the thought of what she would say to the boy she loved. No matter how complicated the dynamic of their relationship may seem, she would do everything in her power to let Ichigo return with her to Karakura.
A few minutes later, the sound of the door creaking open startled her after being trapped in her own thoughts. Her head whirled to the side of the room where Ichigo stood. He wore lose fitted pants and had no shirt. Orihime's face flushed bright red again at the sight of his shirtless chest.
"Sorry," he apologized for making her notably uncomfortable, "The shirt is a little tight on me and it was irritating my back."
"No, don't worry about it! I understand!"
"May I join you?" he asked of the maiden, who occupied a spot at the edge of the bed.
"Yes, you may," she smiled warmly and scooted over to make room for him.
When the teenager sat next to her, the atmosphere suddenly turned awkward. There were many things on Orihime's mind, but she did not know where to begin. She glanced down at her hands that were clasped together tightly in her lap. No matter how uneasy she felt, it was too late to turn back now.
"Now that the trial is behind you, what's going to happen?" Ichigo started the conversation on a lighter topic.
Thankful for him taking the initiative, the princess responded earnestly to his question.
"My ascension as Queen is quickly approaching. Ishida-kun and the others want to depart tomorrow for Karakura. After we arrive back home, I will have to prepare for my new responsibilities."
The information wasn't shocking in the least. He had anticipated this. She was an aristocrat and he was a peasant. Unlike himself, Orihime's destiny had been predetermined since birth. She was to rule a kingdom. In addition, thousands of people relied on her to protect them from foreign invasions and organize peace treaties with neighboring lands. Her life was about to undergo a massive change. He couldn't possibly remain involved with the maiden for fear of the repercussions she might face if he did.
"Then I guess," he paused briefly, "this will be the last time we see each other?"
His question visibly pained her as her expression changed from earlier. Despite the various tribulations she had endured in recent weeks, her feelings towards Ichigo never once wavered. Uryu and the others could harbor their negative emotions against the teenager all they wanted, but Orihime was determined to have the boy she loved in her life.
Without warning, the princess turned to Ichigo and grabbed his hands. She brought them to her lap and gave them a tight squeeze. Finally, she could reveal her plans to Ichigo. No one could interrupt this moment they were about to share.
"Ichi-kun," she said his name eagerly, "I understand if this is sudden, but I want you to come back with me."
Truthfully, the proposition was not what he had been expecting to hear. After the embarrassment he had put her through, Ichigo did not deserve someone such as forgiving as Orihime. It almost appeared as though the world was taunting him. However, that was not the case. The aristocrat continued to support him and the concept was still unfamiliar territory for the young blacksmith. What could he possibly have to offer her in the palace? He was not trained in any particular field and he would not tolerate standing by uselessly. No matter his initial thoughts, he was more than relieved that tonight was not the end of their relationship.
"Are you sure about this? The kingdom might revolt against you for having a person like me inside your fancy castle," Ichigo cautioned.
The princess frowned, "Please don't think so lowly of yourself. You're an amazing human being."
Withdrawing his hands out of Orihime's grasp, Ichigo wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close to his body.
"I'm honored, Hime," he confided to her, "I'm just worried for your safety. Shirosaki is a part of me and I don't want to put you further in harm's way. I have no way of controlling him."
The princess tightened her grasp on Ichigo as he voiced his concerns, "I understand your fears, Ichi-kun. Regardless of what's happened in the past, we need to move forward. My life is better with you in it and that's not going to change."
Time and time again, Orihime continued to be a pillar of strength in Ichigo's dark hours. Their meeting in the marketplace had been a pure coincidence, but as weeks passed, the peasant was beginning to think otherwise. He never believed he was capable of loving someone as vibrant and outgoing as the aristocrat. The teenager had been perfectly content to live out his days as a blacksmith and support his sisters' dreams. After all, he had been the one responsible for tearing apart their family. Consequently, his mother's murder was his debt to pay for the damage he had caused to them as babies. In spite of this, it was evident the universe wasn't as cruel as he originally deemed. The young man was getting the chance to experience a love he never thought he deserved in the first place.
"I really don't know what to say," he chuckled softly next to her ear.
The future Queen leaned away from Ichigo, although her hands rested around his waist, "You can say that you'll come back with me!"
"Alright, alright," a smile broke out onto his face, "I'll come back with you. Are you happy?"
Overcome with joy, Orihime flung herself off the bed and flailed her arms around excitedly.
"Thank you, thank you!" she bounced up and down, "This is wonderful news! I can't wait to tell the others."
At the mere mention of her close companions, Ichigo tensed unknowingly on the spot. In the midst of the tender moment Orihime and he had shared, he was reminded of the butler's attitude towards him earlier in the evening. Ishida was not welcoming to the idea of the princess helping Ichigo patch up his injuries. Therefore, he could not imagine the backlash he would encounter from the serious-faced teenager once word reached to him that Ichigo would be returning to the palace with the maiden. Even so, he had butted heads with Uryu before. For that very reason alone, the peasant knew the decision would receive a fair amount of criticism from the Inoue council.
Despite the princess' obvious happiness, the teenager could not help but kneed the back of his neck nervously. His mind was still rattled over the flogging incident. The open sores had been stitched and the blood had finally stopped seeping through the gauze. However, the sounds of the whip meeting his skin were inescapable. In addition, the pleas of Orihime to stay strong still rung in his ears. Unfortunately, he remembered every detail of the trial—unlike the very incident that he had been accused and found guilty of committing. The innocent thought of sleep petrified him because the images from hours before kept replaying in his head.
"Is something wrong, Ichi-kun?" Orihime's face was suddenly inches away from his very own.
"O-oh, uh…don't worry about it," the orange-haired individual quickly looked in the opposite direction. Before the princess could interrogate him over his vague response, Ichigo sprang up from the bed and brushed past Orihime as he attempted to avoid her gaze altogether.
"Where are you going?" the girl's footsteps could be heard behind him as he headed towards the door which led into the hallway.
"I think I'll go back to my room," he declared, not glancing back at her.
Just as Ichigo was about to reach for the knob, Orihime's hand grabbed his forearm to prevent him from leaving.
The peasant hesitantly turned around and was met with the maiden's confused expression, "Please, talk to me Ichi-kun. Something isn't right, I can tell."
Her honest observation caused Ichgio to down cast his eyes to the ground. How could he admit to her that he was uneasy about being left alone in his bed at night? His fear seemed so childish. After all, he simply could not continue to impose on her any longer. Orihime had done more than enough for him since the beginning of the relationship.
As he silently sorted out his thoughts, Orihime's fingers that had previously grasped his arm now tightly clutched his hand. In an instant, his attention was transfixed on the princess who stared up at him.
Releasing a sigh he had been unknowingly holding in, Ichigo finally gathered the courage to muster a response to the princess.
"I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight," he confessed, slightly embarrassed.
The maiden was not surprised by the teenager's revelation. In fact, she sympathized with him. Although the trial was behind them, Orihime's stomach twisted into knots when she recalled Ichigo being chained down to the whipping post to receive his punishment. The image would stay with her for the rest of her life. Consequently, she would not allow Ichigo to be by himself for the rest of the evening. The couple had endured public shame together, but now they were finally hidden from prying eyes and judgmental looks.
"It's okay!" Princess Inoue exclaimed, "I'm anxious about sleeping as well. If you feel uncomfortable being left alone, why don't you stay here with me?"
Orihime asked the question so innocently, but the oldest of the Kurosaki children was taken aback by the aristocrat's upfront invitation to stay the night.
"I'm not sure if that's the best idea," Ichigo said gruffly.
The maiden shook her head, "Nonsense! You're staying and that's final!"
She began to pull the teenager's arm in an effort to deter him from leaving the bed chambers. Despite knowing the repercussions he might face in the morning if he was discovered by her friends, exhaustion was beginning to overtake his body.
Without much persuasion, he allowed Orihime to guide him to the bed.
When the couple crawled under the covers, the room had grown calm. Despite being tired moments ago, Ichigo's heart was pounding loudly in his ears. The princess' back had been turned away from him. Therefore, he was not aware if she had quickly fallen asleep as soon as her head had hit the pillow. With the aristocrat mere inches away from him, he could feel the heat emanating from Orihime. He could even smell the faint scent of lavender from her freshly-washed hair. As much as he wanted to slip into a deep slumber under the comforting atmosphere, he didn't trust himself.
Shirosaki was never extinguished from his body and could take control over his senses at any given second. The demon had been quiet since the day he attempted to choke Orihime, but there had been periods in Ichigo's life before when the evil entity had lied dormant for months at a time. Nevertheless, it did not mean the demonic presence would remain at bay. The maiden was within arms' reach and the temptation to be closer to her was gnawing away at him.
"Orihime," he whispered.
At the sound of her name, the maiden rolled over to the side facing Ichigo.
"Yes, Ichi-kun?" she answered with a hint of concern peeking through her voice.
Although the room was shrouded in a blanket of darkness, Ichigo's eyes had quickly adjusted to the new setting. From his resting position, he was able to observe Orihime's eyebrows knitting together to form a worried expression. Feeling the need to ease her nerves, the peasant outstretched his arm and gently brushed his thumb across the young woman's cheek.
"I'm okay," he reassured her, "I just wanted to see if you were awake."
The princess couldn't help but to giggle, "Is that so?"
"Can I ask you something?" Ichigo tested.
Orihime silently nodded her head.
"Could I…hold you?" he faltered, somewhat regretting waking her up in the first place.
The question caused the maiden to stiffen under the covers. Naturally, the thought of being held by Ichigo made her heart flutter. Regardless, the teenager was never really expressive when it related to physical matters concerning their relationship. Besides, it was only moments ago when he admitted that Shirosaki was still a part of his being. Needless to say, his proposition was reassuring to her.
"Absolutely," she beamed with happiness and began to inch closer to him.
Ichigo lifted up his arm to make room for Orihime as she snuggled her head into his chest. When she was comfortably situated, Ichigo draped his arm over the princess' torso. Having her near to him almost felt like a present he didn't deserve. After the excruciating day they underwent together, the reality of being alive was finally beginning to sink in for Isshin's only son. He could have been murdered at the hands of the nation's leader, but was spared of such a tragedy. How many individuals had faced a similar fate before him and were not shown any mercy? The thought definitely kept circling itself in his mind.
Once Orihime nestled herself in his embrace, she simply couldn't contain how overjoyed she was to be near to him.
"This is nice," the future Queen babbled.
"It is," Ichigo contented and rested his chin on the top of her head.
As the two finally began to settle in for the night, Princess Inoue reflected on the stages of their relationship. Strangely enough, she recollected their picnic date after Ichigo had won the first tournament. He had seemed so closed off then and Orihime didn't understand his circumstances at the time. In an attempt to get him to talk, she started rambling and asking personal questions. Since it clearly was an invasion of his privacy, he retorted by peppering her with inquiries about her visit to the marketplace where they first met. While it may have seemed awkward at the start, the peasant and aristocrat ended the afternoon on a positive note.
Consequently, when Ichigo initiated an interest to hold Orihime, it spawned an idea within her.
Pulling away from his chest, the princess couldn't help but nervously bite the bottom of her lip as she contemplated her next move. Her sudden movement caused Ichigo to stir and lazily open his eyelids.
Now that she had his attention, she was determined to set forth in exploring new territory.
"Are you getting too warm under the covers?" the peasant questioned groggily.
The maiden shook her head from side to side and then casually asked, "Do you remember the picnic we had by the lake?"
Ichigo narrowed his eyes at the mention of their first date, "Yeah, I do. Why are you bringing that up?"
"And you recall us asking each other questions to get to know each other better?"
The blacksmith assistant grunted a "yes" in response.
"Well, I was thinking…," Orihime ventured, "Since you asked if you could hold me, can I make a request as well?"
The boy smirked, "I suppose so, as long as it's not strange."
"Ichi-kun!" she puffed out her cheeks and playfully swatted at his exposed chest.
Not wasting the opportunity, the aristocrat propped herself up on her elbows and gazed intently at Ichigo in bed.
"CanIkissyou?" she jumbled her words together in a rush of exhilaration.
Although she had spoken hastily, Ichigo had managed to piece together her question with relative ease. However, as soon as it registered in his mind what she had asked for, the delinquent could not directly meet Orihime's expressive eyes. They had kissed a few times, but performing the act still felt clumsy due to the inexperience they both shared. Regardless, if she had bravely put forth her desire to him, who was he to deny her the request? Moreover, his own heart was pounding loudly in his ears at the idea she had suggested.
"Go ahead," he answered shyly, "What are you waiting for?"
The princess' chest felt like it would burst. He was not rejecting her!
Without uttering another sound, the royal teenager started to move towards her partner. The room was nearly black as the night, but Ichigo was able to fixate on Orihime as she drew closer to him. Fortunately, he did not have to wait long to receive her kiss. The second her lips connected with his very own, the hot-tempered boy sunk into the mattress. The last time the couple had shared such a tender moment together was when they were sailing across the ocean to the Imperial Palace. Since that night, Ichigo and Orihime had zero contact with each other due to the strict regulations of his lawyer and her royal court of advisers. Due to the length of time they had been apart, the peasant had almost forgotten the intense sensation that traveled throughout his entire body whenever Orihime kissed him.
Yet, the interaction between the two was short-lived. Before she lingered a moment longer, the princess withdrew from Ichigo and caught her breath. Even though she was comfortable to let the kissing persist, Inoue was hesitant of where it could lead next. From just the small gentle kisses, each one was disguised with a neediness she had never known. Needless to say, the maiden was taken aback by her own unexplained desires. Internally, Orihime wondered if Ichigo was experiencing a similar sensation such as herself.
"I'm sorry," she suddenly apologized for her behavior, "It's just that…I'm overwhelmed. My heart's beating so fast and I'm so happy to be here with you."
"Hime," he chuckled and ran his fingers through her hair, "I'm not offended. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this myself, but all of this feels like a dream. Truthfully, I feared I would never see you again."
Hearing Ichigo's honest confession, the beautiful girl still couldn't wrap her mind around all that had happened within the past few hours.
"We'll never be separated. I promise you," she vowed to him.
"I'll trust that you'll stay true to your word," he added for measure.
The ruler of the Karakura kingdom leaned in and planted her lips on Ichigo's mouth. By doing so, she was confirming to the boy that she would never let them be torn apart again. Once she sealed her promise with a kiss, the aristocrat attempted to pull away. However, Kurosaki held a firm hand at the base of her back as her upper body was pressed against his chest.
"Can I make another request?" Ichigo inquired.
"Y-yes," Orihime stammered.
Abruptly, the boy removed his hand from the princess' waist and untangled himself from her embrace. Through the darkness, he maneuvered his limbs into position. Since the mattress was on the larger side, Ichigo was able to freely place his hands next to Orihime's head. Meanwhile, his legs hugged her thighs as he loomed over her. With the sudden change of position, the young woman could feel the intensity of Ichigo's eyes on her even more than before.
"Can I kiss you here?" the peasant boy brought his finger to the crook of her neck.
They had never gone anything farther than their lips. The idea of him kissing her somewhere other than her mouth caused a flutter of movement in her stomach. Unable to look at him directly, the maiden turned her head to the side and gave unspoken permission for Ichigo to proceed as he liked.
The moment seemed to drag on for a period of time until she felt hot breath tickle her skin. In a matter of seconds, Ichigo's warm lips were pressed against her neck. He hesitantly lingered, only to move lower along the base of her collarbone. The kisses he planted next were fleeting, but they were disguised with a purpose. He glanced up and saw Orihime still facing the other direction. It was difficult for him to decipher whether or not she was comfortable with his forwardness. Had he misjudged the atmosphere?
He pulled back and asked her pointedly, "Do you want me to stop?"
The young princess was nervous as to how she should respond. Her body was on fire, even though the only thing that had occurred were just a few kisses. What happened after this? She read books where characters had been in similar situations, but all of the stories seemed to escape her mind. Was she getting ahead of herself? Maybe Ichigo did not even wish to pursue such a thing with her? Needless to say, the day they had experienced together was life-changing. She did not want to miss a single, precious moment with him. Even if the future seemed uncertain, she needed to focus on the present.
"It's okay," she finally expressed, "I want to continue."
The teenager was relieved to hear Orihime's reply. Although the contact was short, Ichigo was feeling more confident than before. However, his intention was never to make the aristocrat anxious. He would understand if he had been overstepping his boundaries.
Even if the peasant had been given consent to proceed forward, he was apprehensive. He wanted to take things slow with her. The situation was all very new to the both of them.
Through the darkness, Inoue sensed Ichigo become uneasy. She knew he was trying to be sensitive to her needs. It was a comforting feeling, to say the least.
Unexpectedly, she began to reach her arm out to Ichigo and grabbed him by the hand. This sudden movement startled the seventeen-year-old.
"Hime, what are you…?" the incomplete question hung in the air.
The princess guided his hand to her chest that was covered by her nightgown.
"Please…touch me," she almost begged of him.
As soon as those words were said, Ichigo's eyes widened with surprise as he felt an odd sensation develop in the lower half of his body. Hearing Orihime request him to touch her had ignited something in him that he had never known before.
With his hand resting so close to her heart, Ichigo could feel it beating against her chest. Unable to hold himself back any longer, the teenager yanked the collar of Orihime's nightgown down and exposed her naked breasts. Everything about the princess was truly a sight to behold. The maiden on the other hand, felt embarrassed and tried to hide her face behind her arms. The orange-haired peasant would not allow her to feel ashamed about her body. He quickly took her arms in his hands and placed them at her sides. Following that, he looked directly into her eyes and said tenderly, "You're beautiful, Orihime."
The princess couldn't believe what she was hearing! The only other people who had seen her in such an intimate setting were Tatsuki and Rukia. After all, they helped her with bathing and getting dressed every single day. When she stood before them completely bare, she was never uncomfortable. However, it was obviously a different scenario with Ichigo and she suddenly became much more aware of her body.
"Do you really mean that?" she couldn't help but question his sincerity.
"Of course, I do," he replied and placed a chaste kiss on her lips as confirmation.
"T-thank you," Inoue stumbled over her words.
After their brief exchange, the young man's eyes were drawn back to Orihime's unclothed chest. No longer wanting to falter in his actions, Ichigo cupped a breast in one hand and then lowered his mouth over the maiden's other nipple. Immediately after this transpired, the princess winced from his renewed touch. As he massaged her breast with his fingers, his tongue glided over the mound of hardened flesh. The combination of his hand and mouth focusing on the one area of her body caused the princess to writhe underneath him.
She was enjoying his attentiveness to her needs, but she felt as though the teenager wasn't able to experience the same pleasure. As the blacksmith paused to catch his breath for a moment, Orihime pulled Ichigo close to her lips and whispered in his ear, "I want to help you feel good too."
Admittedly, saying those words outright was not easy for her. In those seconds following, her face flushed bright red and she darted her eyes to the ceiling. Was she being too assertive? Even if she had been more forthcoming, she wanted Ichigo to know that she was willing to take the lead for a while.
Her suggestion had sent a shiver down his spine. Consequently, he rolled off of her and fell to the side. Suddenly, Orihime arose and draped her legs over Ichigo's lower body. Since he was topless, the only article of clothing that remained on him were his pants. The thought of seeing an intimate part of his body was exhilarating. Nevertheless, it was intimidating to gather the courage and proceed as she desired. As she stretched out her arm to Ichigo's waistline, the princess' heart raced unsteadily.
With some evident apprehension, the beautiful aristocrat tugged on the hem of his pant and slowly slipped it downwards. At last, the bottom half of his torso was exposed. As her gaze descended upon his hardened member, her mouth fell ajar. Nothing had prepared her for the view that was displayed before her.
"Can I…touch it?" the question poured out of Orihime's mouth.
Her earnest inquiry had caught him off guard. Even so, the thought of the princess being so close to a very private area caused all different emotions to rise to the surface. However, he quickly pushed those feelings aside and silently gave the seventeen-year-old his consent.
Once the permission was conveyed to her, the princess brought her hands to the base of Ichigo's member and wrapped her fingers around it. Now that it was firmly within her grasp, Orihime began to stroke his shaft. As she began to do so, the peasant was unable to lay completely still. Her slow-paced motions with her hands caused him to experience a light-headed sensation. Unknowingly, his hips started to move on their own as the future Queen continued to rub the responsive part of his body.
Much to her enjoyment, watching Ichigo become weak from her touch was a sight to behold. Thus, she felt more confident in herself and decided to quicken the rate at which she was fondling the length of his member. In a matter of seconds, a pressure was beginning to build in Ichigo's abdomen. Furthermore, a trace of pre-cum was beginning to ooze from the tip of his penis.
Consequently, the peasant seized Orihime by the wrists—practically out of breath—and sputtered, "T-that's enough!"
The maiden's eyebrows furrowed together in mild confusion, "Why? Am I doing it wrong?"
Immediately, Ichigo sat up and cupped Orihime's face in his balmy hands, "No, it was…amazing. But now, I'd like to take responsibility."
Following his proclamation, the teenager assisted the girl as she stripped off her nightgown and tossed it to the floor. After the clothing was removed, Kurosaki guided her onto the mattress as she settled underneath him once more.
He didn't believe it was possible, but her voluptuous figure rekindled a yearning within his heart. Regardless, he still needed to hold himself back from being brazen. The princess deserved to be treated with precious care. However, just from her body language alone, Ichigo detected that Orihime was shy about being naked in front of him. She had demonstrated little hesitation before when she had been rubbing him down. It was evident that she was worried about what would come next.
Placing his hands on top of her knees, the blacksmith gently explained, "I don't want it to hurt for you, so I need to do something to prepare your body beforehand. Do you understand?"
The aristocrat lifted her head up, "I'm nervous, but I want to do this."
In order to advance, Ichigo slid his hand in between Orihime's thighs. A warmth emanated from the area as his fingers reached her entrance. Without using too much force, he pushed inside and let her body adjust to the unfamiliar shape. At first, the princess winced from the motion but she could feel herself start to relax after several seconds had passed.
Before he moved again, the teenager watched the maiden's face for any sign of discomfort. However, she seemed to be handling it all with a calm demeanor. In the following moment, he gently extracted his fingers from her body, only to enter the lower region once more in the same manner.
As Ichigo's fingers moved in and out of her with more ease, the aristocrat's hips started to stir along with his pace. With the two digits twisting inside her body, Orihime's mind was in a haze. She didn't know what to do with her hands. For the moment, they grasped at the sheets on the bed as she struggled to maintain a quiet voice.
The blacksmith assistant took note of this.
"Does it feel good?" he asked in a low tone.
The teenager clenched her bottom lip tightly and whimpered.
Kurosaki extracted his fingers from her and leaned forward. Orihime face had a hint of sweat as she appeared out of breath. Nonetheless, she pressed her damp body against Ichigo's. The village outcast smirked from her actions and kissed her passionately as his one hand roamed her naked shape.
After the heated exchange, the princess pulled herself back and made her final plea.
"I want…I want…," she repeated, searching for what she sought to express.
"Tell me," the peasant urged with a soothing voice.
She exhaled steadily, before letting one word escape, "You!"
Retreating to the edge of the bed, the young man folded his legs underneath himself. He glanced down at his erected member as it throbbed from the anticipation. Without making another sound, Ichigo drew closer to Orihime's entrance as he placed himself above her. The tip of his penis could feel the heat coming from the source in front of him. Slowly, he closed his eyes and pushed his length inside with some effort and remained motionless.
The princess unknowingly held in her breath as she experienced him enter her body. Once Ichigo did not continue to move, the maiden glanced and noticed his eyes were tightly shut. She lifted her arm and placed a hand against his cheek. Upon her touch, the young man's face relaxed.
"I'm going to start," he informed her with a soft expression.
"You won't hurt me," the aristocrat replied to ease his anxiety about Shirosaki possibly making an unexpected appearance.
After her reassurance, Ichigo removed his member from the walls that began to squeeze him. However, he was only halfway when he thrusted back into Orihime with more force. It jolted the maiden as she let out a small gasp from her lips. The auburn beauty moved her hands up to his broad shoulders to brace herself for the next wave of plunges into her sensitive area.
The movement from their bodies rubbing together was a sensation that neither had expected to feel so intoxicating. The teenager quickened his pace as he began to lose himself in the rhythm of her hips grinding against him. With her body now accustomed to his girth, Orihime elicited moans as Ichigo's penis pounded into her.
The teenager's lowered his forehead to meet Orihime's eyes with a gaze of arousal.
"Those sounds you're making are really sexy," he leaned forward to whisper in her ear.
"S-stop, Ichi-kun," the princess struggled to get her words out as her legs wrapped around his torso for more support.
"I'm close," he nuzzled his head into the crook of her neck. Hastened to reach his climax, Ichigo's thrusting became more urgent. Instinctively, the future Queen clamped down on the pulsating member inside her. Moments after his remark, a warm sensation pooled into the bottom of Orihime's belly. She sensed his muscles tighten in his back as lower half rippled with pleasure as he breathed heavily from the release.
Once he gathered himself from the high, he slipped his penis from the princess as his hot liquid dripped down her thighs.
"I'm sorry," he apologized for the mess as he lowered his head to her cunt. Before she could stop him, Ichigo's tongue lapped up the evidence of their love-making. His hot breath near her sensitive entrance stirred further desire in Orihime as she ached for her own climax.
He quickly retreated to his earlier position, the outline of his muscular and lean figure casting a shadow over Orihime's frame.
"Hurry, Ichi-kun," she whimpered as he spread her legs apart. In one, swift action, his slickened member pushed past her folds and nestled into her warmth. She threw her chin back, only to have if grasped by Ichigo and taken over by his lips on her mouth. His teeth nibbled on her as she uttered out a moan. He moved quickly, never letting up as he angled his lower half into the place between her thighs.
"More!" she begged from him as she dug her nails into his toned back and arched her torso. With her pleading edging him on, Ichigo's hips jerked in short movements while he unabashedly thrusted into the aristocrat.
"I…can't…hold…it…anymore," she managed to say through the cloud of pleasure beginning to sweep over her.
"It's okay," the adolescent insisted, pushing away the loose strands of hair that had stuck to Orihime's sheen face, "Let me hear your voice."
The sensation was too much for her to handle as she became undone. She shut her eyes as the orgasm pulsed against Ichigo's cock. The bliss radiated throughout her entire body as she moaned the name of her lover repeatedly, his hips finally slowing down but refusing to leave the walls that elicited such gratification.
With blurred vision, Orihime's eyes searched for the face of the boy of whom she treasured most. Her heart was still thumping loudly in her chest as she caught her breath from their night of enjoyment.
"Ichigo, Ichigo," she called out, tears starting to fall from her cheeks.
Suddenly, strong arms embraced her naked form.
"What's wrong?" his voice was filled with anxiety when he pulled back to examine her, "Did I hurt you? Please, tell me."
Before speaking, she cupped Ichigo's face in her hands and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
"No, you've done nothing to hurt me," she sniffled, "My tears...they're from happiness."
In the fleeting moment of silence between the teenagers, a cooling breeze from the balcony door swept through the room covered in the light of the moon. Quickly, Ichigo grabbed for a loose bedsheet from off the floor and trapped the escaping heat between them.
As he settled in her arms once more, Ichigo dabbed at Orihime's moist cheeks with the ends of the linen sheet.
"Now I feel so silly for saying that," she pouted at him. At last, her muffled whimpers had subsided.
"Thank you for giving me a new purpose," the boy shared, interlacing his fingers with the maiden's own and peppering her exposed chest with pecks.
Hearing those precious words from Ichigo, the princess sensed a wave of peace rush over her with regards to their relationship. The future held many uncertainties once they depart from the capital tomorrow. For the time being, she let the intimidating thought escape her mind as the young couple drifted off to sleep.