Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters

Ichigo:

Orihime was quiet as we climbed the stairs up to her apartment, and I knew she was giving me time to think through my thoughts. So silently patient even as we moved into her kitchen and she began heating the last of my curry.

I was so entranced as I watched her that all I could do was linger in the doorway as she focused on her task, her healer hands so secure in their movements as she worked. My heart swelled just from the sight of her, hair tucked over one shoulder, barefoot and humming softly to herself.

She glanced over at me, cheeks flaming when she caught me looking, "What?"

I shook my head, then laughed under my breath as I ran a hand down my face, "You make it impossible to focus. I'd think you were doing it on purpose if I didn't know you so well."

And I did know her. I hardly recognize myself half the time, but her? I would know her blind.

I revelled in her uniqueness, her easy happiness that she shared so easily with everyone. Yet even still, some tiny part of me wanted her entirely to myself. Wanted her to be as consumed with me as I am with her.

If I could smash that part of myself in the teeth, I would.

"Tell me," She said delicately yet cutting right to the chase.

I'd had days to find the words, but having to say them outloud was still difficult, "The other night, when Renji interrupted us?" Head turned slightly away from me, she nodded but I could still see the blush creeping along her ear. "It hadn't been a purely social visit. Kurotsuchi has been monitoring Karakura for any lingering arrancar spiritual pressure. From what Renji said, for the past few months there has been a high spike in hollow activity and they thought that could be the cause."

She didn't look any closer to understanding and I sat myself at her small table in the corner of the room. Resting my elbows on my knees before continuing, "As it turns out, after they tracked the reiatsu in the surrounding areas they were able to pinpoint the origin locations across town." I cleared my throat, "My place, yours, the school, the- ahem- movie theatre. All places where we…"

I heard her small gasp and could practically feel the heat radiating from her flamed cheeks, but I couldn't bring myself to lift my head to see her expression. Not when she would see an equally sheepish look on my face. I had half a thought to wonder if this was a normal reaction. In the heat of the moment I never hesitated to say anything I wanted, or do any shameful thing if it meant it got her any closer to orgasm.

But to discuss it later, that seemed to be an entirely different story.

It was why I had put it off as long as I had, to save her the humiliation of knowing people in Soul Society had been tracing our sexcapades all across Karakura Town.

And to make it worse- "I don't know if you ever noticed but I guess my spiritual pressure becomes a bit erratic whenever you and I are together."

Her voice was more of a whisper, "I've noticed."

I glance up at her then, "I'm sorry, Hime."

Clicking the stove off, she came to stand before me. Shoving her fingers into my hair, practically forcing me to meet her eye, "What do you have to be sorry for?"

I wrapped an arm around her waist, resting my forehead to her chest, "It's my fault everyone knows our business. I should have better control."

She sighed, her own arms winding around my shoulders. And I inhaled deeply, letting her scent take over all my senses. "And I should have guessed the continuous blasts of your reiatsu would draw attention but I was too absorbed in it to think about the consequences. If anything, we should share the blame."

Arms tightening, I snuggled my head closer into her. Her heart thumped against my ear and it grounded my jittery nerves. I felt as if I could purr in delight as she raked her fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp, "That explains why you haven't been coming up after school."

I nodded against her, "I've been talking with Kisuke about a reiatsu blocker that I could maybe wear but he said it would take time to make one strong enough to withstand the strain of my flare ups. Unfortunately, that means keeping my emotions in check in the meantime."

"Hmm," She hummed in thought.

"I should have told you that night, but," I paused, suddenly unsure if I wanted her to see this side of me. "I was ashamed. It felt like a failure, a weakness I needed to overcome." I shifted my hand to skim under her thin sweater so I could brush the skin of her low back. It grounded me, "I'm still not used to sharing these things with other people. When it comes to getting stronger, to conquering a personal weakness, I've always done it by sheer stubbornness."

I lifted my head so I could speak directly to her and her face was patient, as I knew it would be, "But this is something that affects us both and I'm sorry I didn't see that sooner."

A small smile lifted her expression. One of her gentle hands skimmed over my forehead, smoothing out my puckered brow, "You're always so serious in your apologies, Ichigo, it makes it impossible not to forgive you." Her smile grew devious, "I would think you're doing it on purpose, if I didn't know you so well."

I laughed under my breath. I was so relieved at her understanding that I couldn't fathom why I'd even been worried in the first place.

I was about to snuzzle back into her embrace when she stroked the line of my jaw to my chin, gripping it between her fingers, "It's a shame we have to hold off,"

Heart somehow skipping a beat and quickening, I mumbled back at her, "Yeah,"

So slowly, as if making sure I wouldn't stop her, she lowered her face toward mine until our lips brushed together with barely any pressure. Then she took my lower lip between hers with a sigh, her sweet tongue coaxing my lips to part. My hand roamed higher up her sweater, her skin like velvet compared to the harsh calluses marring my fingertips.

She pulled away and my eyes opened slowly, indisputably ravenous.

"Not even kissing, then." She said and her pout told me she was equally as disappointed in the distance suddenly between our mouths. That told me all I needed to know about being able to sense my own spiritual pressure- I hadn't felt even a moment of change.

Groaning, I forced my hand to remove itself from under her clothes. Choosing the safer option of fisting them around her hips. I rested my forehead against her and said, "I'll stop by Kisuke's shop tomorrow and tell him to get a move on."

With a giggle she untangled herself from my hold and ventured back towards where the curry had cooled. Feeling like a lion stalking its prey, I watched as she reached into her high cupboard, her skirt rising just enough for me to see the delicate curve of her backside before she lowered herself back down.

Kisuke had better know what he's doing.

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School.

What a hellhole.

Short skirts and thigh high socks and when the hell had her shirt gotten so tight around her chest? And had she always smelled so good?

I had no clue how I had suffered through this before I'd confessed to her, but after having a taste of it, I was famished after just a few days of abstinence.

Orihime could harden my dick with a half glance at this point. It was far too much power for one innocent woman to wield. But it wasn't just the physical aspect that I was missing, it was the casual intimacy. With as bent up as I was, even a seemingly innocent touch sent my pulse hammering.

And only Orihime could tell when these things were causing my spiritual pressure to flux- well her and every other Reikaku in the area, unfortunately for them- and so she had taken on the responsibility of keeping me in check and she took her job very seriously. No touching at school, no sleepovers and only closed mouth kisses- She was like a prison warden.

Hence why I was lovestruck, analyzing every fold and wrinkle in her uniform.

Since sports day was tomorrow all classes were cancelled while we set up. I was tuning out Keigo as he explained our strategy and Orihime was across the room giggling with all the other girls while they painted banners.

I could watch her forever as she spoke wildly with her hands, Tatsuki shaking her head at the animated movements. All the boys around me began clapping to Keigo's instructions, but I was too busy imagining the look of her on her knees before me, eyes on me as her hand slipped under that very skirt.

A girl whose name I didn't know leaned to whisper in Orihime's ear, both their eyes snapping in my direction. Hime sent me a knowing smile, her hand lifting in a small wave.

I barely had time to give her a nod of acknowledgment before Keigo brought his arm around my neck, drawing me back into the circle, "Eye on the prize, Ichigo."

The boy who I only recognized as the one who sat behind Orihime snickered, "He was already getting an eye full."

Everyone's laughter quietly died out at my deathly expression.

Keigo saved them all from an early grave, "Looks like I'm gonna have to start cracking skulls," Then he fake whispered in my ear, "Ichigo, I'm gonna need you to crack some skulls for me."

Even I chuckled, the tension falling from my shoulders.

Now having the group's attention Keigo began to assign us all different tasks, writing them out in his messy script.

Seemed I'd only be in one event, for the rest I'd be used for 'psychological warfare', whatever that meant. Once he was done explaining my portion, he started to lose me until I was entirely spaced out.

My mind was on when I'd stop back into Kisuke's shop. I didn't need him to know how desperate I was, knowing him that would only make it take twice as long to get me what I needed. Hime worked at the Bakery tonight, so maybe I would check in on it before meeting up with her.

Someone cleared their throat and then spoke to the boy next to me, "Um, excuse me?"

I yawned, crossing my arms across my chest. Who knew self restraint could be so tiresome. I'd have taken a nap in Hime's lap at lunch if not for her new rules.

With a tug at my shirt the voice spoke again, "Kurosaki-kun?"

Half turning I glanced down to see a girl pinching my shirt between her fingers, her head bowed so I saw nothing but the part of her black hair.

I glanced over at Orihime but she was absorbed in her banner. Unsure of what to do, I said, "That's me." The girl still didn't meet my eye. Could she be in the student council, sent to reprimand me for all my absences? If so, it seemed she was struck into terrified silence. "Is there something you need from me?"

"Um," She began, still not releasing her hold on my uniform, "Can I have a moment to speak to you?" I went to open my mouth but she cut me off, "In private."

Hime still hadn't noticed my silent plea for rescue and as the seconds ticked by we drew more and more attention, "Yeah, sure."

Right as the words left my mouth I felt as if they were wrong but I followed her out of the classroom- Orihime still not looking up, but I caught the eye of Tatsuki and she nodded, understanding.

The girl led me toward the end of the hall, then down the first flight of stairs, pausing on the alarmingly vacant landing. She turned slowly until she faced me fully but kept her head down, not speaking.

I shoved my hands into my pockets, the motion giving me a false sense of comfort.

We stood there for a minute, silence thick and awkward before I prodded, "Did you need to say something to me?"

Jumping slightly, she rushed her words out so quickly I hardly caught them all, "My name is Asana Tako- I've been silently cheering you on since last winter! I think you are very scary but also kind!"

Leaning back from the force of her words, I said, "Oh… Uh, thank you." I think.

Finally looking at me, I saw that her round cheeks were inflamed, her eyes filled with tears and I suddenly wanted to run. Then she bowed deeply at the waist, her voice shaky but loud, "Please accept my feelings!"

Once the instant understanding took over my shock, an odd feeling of guilt turned my chest heavy. "I appreciate your courage in telling me this, Tako-chan." She already looked prepared for my next words before I said them. "But I already have someone who holds my feelings and so I can't accept yours. I'm sorry."

Her tiny body expanded with her inhale, "That's alright. I knew you were together now with Inoue-chan but I still wanted to tell you my feelings so I could move forward." She wiped the tears from her cheeks as they began to fall, bowed, then stood up with a smile. "Thank you for listening, Kurosaki-kun. I was right, you are kind,"

With that she ran back up the stairs but I stayed still, feeling lousy despite her words.

I'd never been on the other end of a confession, had never really thought I ever would be. The most thought I'd ever given a situation like this was when I'd laid my own feelings at Orihime's feet praying she wouldn't step on them.

I had never considered what it would have been like for Orihime, if I'd told her how I felt and she had to turn me away. Lucky that I didn't, for if I had, I never would have been able to go through with it.

I made out the faint footsteps of someone turning the corner a moment before Orihime appeared at the top of the stairs.

Staring at her while she descended, her face revealed nothing on what she may have heard. I opened my mouth to explain it but she didn't even pause a step as she passed me. Only reaching out a hand to grip me by the front of my shirt, tugging me into step behind her.

I was still trying to get my feet back underneath me, when she practically pushed me through a door. The room was dark and it wasn't until she closed the door, cutting off all light besides what leaked through the crack at the bottom of the door, that I realized it was a supply closet.

"Orihime-" she silenced me with a hand clamping over my mouth.

"Focus on your spiritual pressure."

Then her mouth was skimming down the side of my neck, tongue sweeping out to brush my pulse- swiftly quickening. My surprised groan was smothered by her palm as she sank her teeth into flesh then sucked away the ache.

Hands moving on their own to lift her skirt up as I gripped-

She pulled away, "No hands,"

Fucking turned on and also terrified she'd stop if I didn't listen, I obeyed. Fists clenched at my sides by the time she ran her tongue over where she'd bitten.

Her kiss was gentle against the hollow of my throat as she dragged her lips to my other side. A jolt of electric pleasure shot through my body, settling in my pants as she marked the skin there too with her wicked lips.

When she felt satisfied with her work she removed her mouth from my skin and her hand from my mouth. She looked like salvation and ruin entwined with hooded eyes and swollen lips.

Fuck the rules.

But, "For the others," was all she said before leaving me panting in the dark supply closet with one head filled with her and the other with rushing blood. Both hickies throbbed against my pulse, spurring me on as I fished my hard on out of my pants.

Reiatsu spikes be damned.

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Thank you for reading!

I look forward to working on the next chapter!