IchiHime A Bit of Privacy Among Friends rated PG
Title: Finding A bit of Privacy
Pairing: IchigoxOrihime, hint of RenxRuki, and others
Author: Trynia Merin
Word count: 2315
Genre: Romance
Rating: G, PG
Spoilers: Bount arc possibly, sequel to Vice Captain Relations fanfiction.
Summary: How do Ichigo and Orihime handle trying to find time alone amidst their group of friends, especially Ichigo’s friendship with Rukia?
A/N: Companion piece and sequel to Vice Captain Relations.
Another history exam loomed ahead, and Orihime had offered to throw a study session in her apartment. Therefore, sitting around the small table in her apartment, her friends all pushing around mugs of tea and spreading textbooks caused her to retreat to the kitchen to refill the stuff.
Nervousness crawled in Orihime’s stomach. She wasn’t sure if she should be the first one to move, or if it should be Ichigo. Rukia’s voice rang in her ear from a few days ago, and she wished she were braver. Always considerate of other’s feelings to a fault she realized, with a small smile. Those foolish Bount were outdated, and other circumstances lately had changed the dynamic of their ‘group’.
“Scuse me I’ll give Inoue-chan a hand,” Tatsuki said, seeing her friend and excusing herself from where she sat between Chad and Ishida. Always she felt the need to be protective of her friend since they had started attending school. Buried deep in a book Ichigo had chosen a seat on the other side of Chad, but near where Rukia sat on the floor.
“Nah, I’ll help,” Ichigo said, putting aside his book. “You just chill.”
“But I can…” Tatsuki started, looking up from the textbook which she shared with Ishida. Thoughtfully the Quincy shifted the book more carefully in front of her.
“Who says the girls always got to be in the kitchen?” Ichigo rolled his eyes. “You think I don’t help my sister’s out from time to time?”
“Uh… okay,” Tatsuki said, blinking. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay idiot?”
“I am certain that is a good question,” Ishida nodded, as he scootedover to give Tatsuki more space to sit down. “I see no reason why men shouldn’t help in domestic chores.”
“Considering you’re the king of sewing it figures,” Tatsuki nudged him and Ishida chuckled, pushing his glasses onto his nose. His other hand draped around her shoulder, causing him to blush a bit when he realized what he was doing.
"Excuse me..."
"Keep that arm there or I'll pull it off, Ishida-kun," Tatsuki said.
Chad merely looked up from the book he was sharing with Ryo and she gave him a thoughtful nod. “I agree.”
“Sounds perfectly fine to me,” Rukia nodded. “And no reason why women can’t go off to war, right?”
“You got that right, Kuchiki-chan. But Ichigo helping in the kitchen? I never saw him volunteer to help Orihime before. Is this the Twilight zone,” Tatsuki wondered, tossing her head.
“Too bad Asano-kun isn’t here or he would give us a much more dramatic reaction,” Rukia teased.
“And I forgot a camera to immortalize that,” Ishida added with a chuckle.
“Watch out, Ishida-kun’s got a sense of humor. Wonder what’s in the water,” Ryo Kunada asked, shifting in her place.
A loud knock sounded at the door, and Tatsuki got up to get it. Ishida also said, “I’ll go. You just sit here.”
“Um sure, thanks,” Tatsuki said, as she knelt down, and Ishida’s hip brushed past her shoulder. She hid the blush.
“Seems it’s catching,” Chad said quietly, turning to the next page in his textbook.
“We should keep a watch on our friends, shouldn’t we?” asked Ryo, picking up her juice box and sipping on it thoughtfully.
“What the hell are you looking at?” Tatsuki grumbled.
“Catching, it’s just a shot of puppy love,” Renji said as he strode out from the back, rubbing his neck.
“Do you have pets, Abari-kun?” Tatsuki asked, glancing at Renji.
Rukia almost spat the tea she was drinking and Renji snickered. “Would you really like to know, Arisawa-san?”
“Stop, I almost CHOKED,” Rukia gasped, slapping the table.
“I think the answer depends on who you mean, Arisawa-san,” Chad added. Ryo snickered.
“You’d know all about dogs, wouldn’t you Renji-chan?” Rukia dug him in the elbow. Hanging an arm around her shoulders, he snickered.
“I’ll leave THAT to people’s imaginations,” Renji answered cryptically.
“Ugh, don’t start kissing in here again! We’re studying history, NOT biology!” Tatsuki rolled her eyes as Renji kissed Rukia’s cheek.
“Jealous?” Ryo asked.
“Don’t even go there,” Tatsuki huffed.
“I think Asano-kun and Mizuiro-kun showed up,” Chad interrupted, drawing everyone’s attention away. They heard a loud squealing laugh that turned into despair as Ishida returned.
“Don’t tell me you’re all HERE and left me alone!! You’d better be having a party not studying!!!”
“We are studying, dummy,” Tatsuki called.
“We heard something about people getting together here,” Mizuiro said pleasantly. Both he and a half sobbing Keigo followed Ishida.
“If you MUST know we’re studying for the test in western civilization,” Ishida sighed laboriously. “And your presence will only complicate matters.”
“Then why did you let them in, smarty?” Tatsuki asked.
“I could not be rude to Inoue-san,” said Ishida as he sat down next to Tatsuki. She moved aside so he could squeeze in.
“Where’s Ichigooo?” Keigo whined.
“Try the kitchen,” Ryo said before Tatsuki and Rukia both glared at her.
“Are you nuts?” Rukia hissed.
“What’s so special about the kitchen?” Ryo blinked in confusion.
“I’d better go make sure Keigo doesn’t interrupt something important,” Mizuiro excused himself and moved quickly after his loud friend.
“Kids,” Renji snorted, suppressing a laugh.
“As if you’re any older then we are, Abarai-san?” Tatsuki said as she looked at Rukia’s boyfriend pointedly.
“Well if you wanna know…” Renji began, but was cut off when Rukia grabbed his collar and planted a kiss directly on his lips. Tatsuki hid her face in one hand embarrassed while Chad and the others looked on.
“Do you MIND?” Ishida sighed laboriously. “Can’t you refrain from reviewing BIOLOGY?”
“Guys, get a ROOM!” Tatsuki yelped, peeking through her fingers.
“Abarai-chan had to repeat a year, isn’t that right?” Rukia said sweetly, after she released Renji from the kiss. He panted a bit, with a stunned look on his face.
“Uh huh… yeah,” Renji managed to stammer out, his face almost as red as his hair.
“It seems like it shut him up,” Ryo blinked.
“Maybe you two would like to go somewhere else?” Chad asked, his eye peeking from under his hair.
“Where’s ICHIGOOO?” came a cry from the kitchen that mercifully distracted everyone. Several pairs of eyes darted over to see Keigo dash out, his hands tearing at his blonde hair.
“I’m sure they went out for some fresh air,” Mizuiro said as he patted his friend’s shoulder reassuringly.
“What do you mean where are they?” asked Tatsuki, trying to stand. But she felt Ishida’s arm suddenly curl around her shoulders.
“Perhaps they did just that,” said Ishida.
“But that would mean they’d climbed onto the fire escape…” Tatsuki realized, then blinked.
“Smart kid,” Renji snickered.
“Oh shaddup mister worldly wise,” Tatsuki rolled her eyes at him. “You and your girlfriend care to join them so we won’t throw up seeing you two suck face?”
“She has a point,” Chad said.
“Not you too! Kuchiki-san, the darling of the class is dating someone else. Why doesn’t anyone ever TELL me anything?” Keigo continued to bawl.
“All right, that’s it, I think we’ve had quite enough of your antics,” Tatsuki huffed, reluctantly pushing aside Ishida’s arm.
“You want a ticket outside kid?” Renji glared at Keigo, as he was getting up from the table.
“I think they’ve got a point. Why don’t we leave them to study?” Mizuiro suggested as Renji and Tatsuki both leapt up and rushed over to help nudge Keigo out the door.
***
Meanwhile, Ichigo and Orihime had slipped outside the kitchen window onto a narrow ledge of the fire escape. The nighttime wind slightly ruffled Ichigo's spiky hair once he climbed out of the window first.
“Thought it’d be quieter out here, Inoue,” Ichigo said as he reached over and steadied Orihime’s hand with his own. His watch gleamed in the light from the street below as Orihime and he sat side by side on the fire escape. The metal walk was just wide enough for two people to sit.
“I love how there seems to be nothing between us and the air,” she giggled. “But I’m sure we’ll both have weird patterns on our backsides if we sit here too long…”
“C’mere,” Ichigo suggested, shifting.
“What are you doing?” Orihime asked. “Oh… you don’t have to…”
“Stand up for a minute, okay?” Ichigo insisted, helping to steady her before she planted her hand on the railing. She watched as he swung his legs from between the railing and stretched them out. Then he held his hand out to her.
“Oh… I see… there would be more room… but then the marks would be twice as deep and well…” Orihime started to babble.
“Sit down, Inoue. I don't mind. I’m wearing jeans,” Ichigo urged, patting his lap. Orihime blushed and then carefully lowered herself to sit on his legs. Ichigo helped her scoot back so her back was propped to his chest and his arms could wrap around her.
“Thank you, Kurosaki-kun,” she whispered.
“No problem Inoue,” he said, feeling heat flushing his face. He was glad the night air hid any suggestion of the blush on his face.
“Is that Asano-kun I hear?” Orihime shifted in Ichigo’s lap, but he clasped both his hands around her and stopped her.
“Let ‘em wait on themselves for a change,” Ichigo said with a laugh. “You do so much already.”
“I know but I don’t want to be a rude hostess,” Orihime said as she squirmed and bit her lip.
“Let Tatsuki and the others help. And you can help them by taking some time for yourself, okay, Inoue? Unless you don’ want to sit with me here.”
Orihime nodded and settled back down with a fond smile on her face. “If you want me to sit here with you I would enjoy continuing doing so, Kurosaki-kun.”
Ichigo rested his chin in the groove of her shoulder. He allowed himself to sigh, inhaling her perfume. Who would have thought that he had been nervous around her months before? Yet now they had become far more comfortable with one another to the point where they had even gone on a few dates. As of now, they were almost an ‘item’.
Another thing plagued him. Just when would he kiss her? Or should he? Would she be nervous and stutter, or should he wait for her? Swallowing hard he licked his lips and saw her shift and turn her head to face him. Instead, he pressed a soft kiss to her temple, just in front of one of her hairpins. She responded by leaning her head back and settling more comfortably in his lap. “That feels so nice, Kurosaki-kun.”
“Did it?” Ichigo asked, his heart pumping faster. He felt relieved that she had not smacked him or called him a pervert for suggesting to sit on his lap, and now she had responded pleasantly to an innocent kiss on the side of her face.
“But if you want to kiss me somewhere else Kurosaki-kun, that would be all right with me too,” Orihime said softly.
Ichigo’s face flushed hot to hear this. “Really?”
“I wouldn’t mind at all,” Orihime added with a giggle. “I was wondering if there was something I was doing wrong because you hadn’t kissed me…”
“I um… I didn’t want you to think I was moving too fast, or being a pervert. I mean I don’t…” Ichigo stammered.
“But if you’re nervous maybe it would be all right if I gave you a kiss instead Kurosaki-kun?” Orihime asked, turning around. Before Ichigo could protest, he felt a soft press of her sweet lips on his cheek.
Relief and disappointment filled him that it wasn’t on his lips that he licked. “It’s not all right I mean it is… Inoue!” he blurted out.
“I’m happy,” she whispered, swinging herself around so she sat straddling him. Nervously he rested his hands on her hips, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I… I’m glad,” Ichigo managed to stammer out, feeling his palms grow sweaty. Still he wondered if he should kiss her first or else…
Orihime must have the same doubts because she expectantly closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. Suddenly her nose collided with his and Ichigo drew in his breath sharply, blinking down at her. “Sorry…”
“Oops, how clumsy… I feel so stupid,” she apologized, backing away.
“Inoue… don’t…” Ichigo whispered back, grasping her cheeks between his hands. “I’m not mad okay? Just… just… relax okay?”
“I was afraid I hurt you. I mean my nose isn’t as hard as my head…” she stammered but could not say another word because Ichigo’s lips muffled any further sound. Gasping in surprise, she squeezed her arms around his neck and turned her face to the side. Temperatures and nervousness flared as Ichigo’s hands shook, but he pushed them into her hair and rested the other on her back.
As soon as she relaxed, Ichigo pulled back. She opened her eyes slowly, and he saw himself reflected in them. Then she pressed her cheek to his chest and slid her arms down to slide around his waist. Relief filled Ichigo at her pulling closer to him, and he pressed soft kisses on her forehead, and then pressed his cheek to the crown of her head to feel the soft hair against his skin.
“Damn,” he swore to himself.
It was her first kiss, but not his. But he could not tell her ever. Squeezing her tightly in his arms, he felt the bittersweet victory of this moment. How long had he fantasized about himself and Rukia, only to blunder into passing on something that could have been given to Inoue, a girl he found himself head over heels in love with. Was it love? If it wasn’t it was a damn sight closer to what he figured his father and mother had.
Did Renji know, Ichigo thought with a shiver.
*Shit, I’m so dead if he does,* he thought.
“Are you cold Kurosaki-kun?” Orihime asked, rubbing his arms. He moved away, shrugging off the long sleeved striped shirt he wore unbuttoned over the colorful T shirt underneath. Wrapping it around her shoulders he said, "Here."
"Thank you," she said, cutting off what seemed to be a protest when she saw the softness in his brown eyes that had only been there for the last few weeks. It was far less guarded, and the lines of worry around his brow seemed less wrinkled lately.
Ichigo curled his more completely around her, warming her with his body heat. “Yeah… If you're still cold… maybe we should go back inside huh?”
“If you want to. But Kurosaki-kun…” she trailed off, her eyes meeting his.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you… that was better than I imagined it would be like to kiss you,” she blurted out.
“Yeah… much better,” he said with a relieved smile. Sadness melted away in the heat of the kiss, mingled with regret as he glanced into the room. Ishida and Tatsuki's shadows leaned close together, while the shadow of a spiky haired guy angled near the distinctive rounded shape that he knew as Rukia's hairstyle. He wasn't blind seeing how closely they sat together lately. Though he felt pain inside his heart, he felt the clenching in his chest easing greatly whenever Inoue was around him.
Yet it was better than a stolen kiss with a girl he should never be with. Far better. Was it a first kiss with ANYONE that mattered, or was it the first between two people that did?
"Inoue," Ichigo whispered, securing his arms around her. "You sure still you're cold?"
"Not now," she answered, settling against him. "With your shirt, and sitting here like this. It's very nice..."
"Good. Cause I wanna stay out here for a while and enjoy the fresh air," Ichigo answered.
Orihime made a small contented noise and settled there in his arms, curled up on his lap. Her long skirt provided an extra layer of warmth, not to mention her soft body there. For a time they shared the privacy of the fire escape, watching the stars shimmer through the orange haze of Karakura Town while their friends studied and bantered inside. Small steps ahead would not diminish the memories of a first shared kiss with Rukia, yet it would put distance where it wouldn't hurt so much.
He could forget about it with more shared moments like this one, with Inoue. Someone who was not a replacement but another possibility that had been there all along, but he'd only noticed more keenly now...
Pairing: IchigoxOrihime, hint of RenxRuki, and others
Author: Trynia Merin
Word count: 2315
Genre: Romance
Rating: G, PG
Spoilers: Bount arc possibly, sequel to Vice Captain Relations fanfiction.
Summary: How do Ichigo and Orihime handle trying to find time alone amidst their group of friends, especially Ichigo’s friendship with Rukia?
A/N: Companion piece and sequel to Vice Captain Relations.
Another history exam loomed ahead, and Orihime had offered to throw a study session in her apartment. Therefore, sitting around the small table in her apartment, her friends all pushing around mugs of tea and spreading textbooks caused her to retreat to the kitchen to refill the stuff.
Nervousness crawled in Orihime’s stomach. She wasn’t sure if she should be the first one to move, or if it should be Ichigo. Rukia’s voice rang in her ear from a few days ago, and she wished she were braver. Always considerate of other’s feelings to a fault she realized, with a small smile. Those foolish Bount were outdated, and other circumstances lately had changed the dynamic of their ‘group’.
“Scuse me I’ll give Inoue-chan a hand,” Tatsuki said, seeing her friend and excusing herself from where she sat between Chad and Ishida. Always she felt the need to be protective of her friend since they had started attending school. Buried deep in a book Ichigo had chosen a seat on the other side of Chad, but near where Rukia sat on the floor.
“Nah, I’ll help,” Ichigo said, putting aside his book. “You just chill.”
“But I can…” Tatsuki started, looking up from the textbook which she shared with Ishida. Thoughtfully the Quincy shifted the book more carefully in front of her.
“Who says the girls always got to be in the kitchen?” Ichigo rolled his eyes. “You think I don’t help my sister’s out from time to time?”
“Uh… okay,” Tatsuki said, blinking. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay idiot?”
“I am certain that is a good question,” Ishida nodded, as he scootedover to give Tatsuki more space to sit down. “I see no reason why men shouldn’t help in domestic chores.”
“Considering you’re the king of sewing it figures,” Tatsuki nudged him and Ishida chuckled, pushing his glasses onto his nose. His other hand draped around her shoulder, causing him to blush a bit when he realized what he was doing.
"Excuse me..."
"Keep that arm there or I'll pull it off, Ishida-kun," Tatsuki said.
Chad merely looked up from the book he was sharing with Ryo and she gave him a thoughtful nod. “I agree.”
“Sounds perfectly fine to me,” Rukia nodded. “And no reason why women can’t go off to war, right?”
“You got that right, Kuchiki-chan. But Ichigo helping in the kitchen? I never saw him volunteer to help Orihime before. Is this the Twilight zone,” Tatsuki wondered, tossing her head.
“Too bad Asano-kun isn’t here or he would give us a much more dramatic reaction,” Rukia teased.
“And I forgot a camera to immortalize that,” Ishida added with a chuckle.
“Watch out, Ishida-kun’s got a sense of humor. Wonder what’s in the water,” Ryo Kunada asked, shifting in her place.
A loud knock sounded at the door, and Tatsuki got up to get it. Ishida also said, “I’ll go. You just sit here.”
“Um sure, thanks,” Tatsuki said, as she knelt down, and Ishida’s hip brushed past her shoulder. She hid the blush.
“Seems it’s catching,” Chad said quietly, turning to the next page in his textbook.
“We should keep a watch on our friends, shouldn’t we?” asked Ryo, picking up her juice box and sipping on it thoughtfully.
“What the hell are you looking at?” Tatsuki grumbled.
“Catching, it’s just a shot of puppy love,” Renji said as he strode out from the back, rubbing his neck.
“Do you have pets, Abari-kun?” Tatsuki asked, glancing at Renji.
Rukia almost spat the tea she was drinking and Renji snickered. “Would you really like to know, Arisawa-san?”
“Stop, I almost CHOKED,” Rukia gasped, slapping the table.
“I think the answer depends on who you mean, Arisawa-san,” Chad added. Ryo snickered.
“You’d know all about dogs, wouldn’t you Renji-chan?” Rukia dug him in the elbow. Hanging an arm around her shoulders, he snickered.
“I’ll leave THAT to people’s imaginations,” Renji answered cryptically.
“Ugh, don’t start kissing in here again! We’re studying history, NOT biology!” Tatsuki rolled her eyes as Renji kissed Rukia’s cheek.
“Jealous?” Ryo asked.
“Don’t even go there,” Tatsuki huffed.
“I think Asano-kun and Mizuiro-kun showed up,” Chad interrupted, drawing everyone’s attention away. They heard a loud squealing laugh that turned into despair as Ishida returned.
“Don’t tell me you’re all HERE and left me alone!! You’d better be having a party not studying!!!”
“We are studying, dummy,” Tatsuki called.
“We heard something about people getting together here,” Mizuiro said pleasantly. Both he and a half sobbing Keigo followed Ishida.
“If you MUST know we’re studying for the test in western civilization,” Ishida sighed laboriously. “And your presence will only complicate matters.”
“Then why did you let them in, smarty?” Tatsuki asked.
“I could not be rude to Inoue-san,” said Ishida as he sat down next to Tatsuki. She moved aside so he could squeeze in.
“Where’s Ichigooo?” Keigo whined.
“Try the kitchen,” Ryo said before Tatsuki and Rukia both glared at her.
“Are you nuts?” Rukia hissed.
“What’s so special about the kitchen?” Ryo blinked in confusion.
“I’d better go make sure Keigo doesn’t interrupt something important,” Mizuiro excused himself and moved quickly after his loud friend.
“Kids,” Renji snorted, suppressing a laugh.
“As if you’re any older then we are, Abarai-san?” Tatsuki said as she looked at Rukia’s boyfriend pointedly.
“Well if you wanna know…” Renji began, but was cut off when Rukia grabbed his collar and planted a kiss directly on his lips. Tatsuki hid her face in one hand embarrassed while Chad and the others looked on.
“Do you MIND?” Ishida sighed laboriously. “Can’t you refrain from reviewing BIOLOGY?”
“Guys, get a ROOM!” Tatsuki yelped, peeking through her fingers.
“Abarai-chan had to repeat a year, isn’t that right?” Rukia said sweetly, after she released Renji from the kiss. He panted a bit, with a stunned look on his face.
“Uh huh… yeah,” Renji managed to stammer out, his face almost as red as his hair.
“It seems like it shut him up,” Ryo blinked.
“Maybe you two would like to go somewhere else?” Chad asked, his eye peeking from under his hair.
“Where’s ICHIGOOO?” came a cry from the kitchen that mercifully distracted everyone. Several pairs of eyes darted over to see Keigo dash out, his hands tearing at his blonde hair.
“I’m sure they went out for some fresh air,” Mizuiro said as he patted his friend’s shoulder reassuringly.
“What do you mean where are they?” asked Tatsuki, trying to stand. But she felt Ishida’s arm suddenly curl around her shoulders.
“Perhaps they did just that,” said Ishida.
“But that would mean they’d climbed onto the fire escape…” Tatsuki realized, then blinked.
“Smart kid,” Renji snickered.
“Oh shaddup mister worldly wise,” Tatsuki rolled her eyes at him. “You and your girlfriend care to join them so we won’t throw up seeing you two suck face?”
“She has a point,” Chad said.
“Not you too! Kuchiki-san, the darling of the class is dating someone else. Why doesn’t anyone ever TELL me anything?” Keigo continued to bawl.
“All right, that’s it, I think we’ve had quite enough of your antics,” Tatsuki huffed, reluctantly pushing aside Ishida’s arm.
“You want a ticket outside kid?” Renji glared at Keigo, as he was getting up from the table.
“I think they’ve got a point. Why don’t we leave them to study?” Mizuiro suggested as Renji and Tatsuki both leapt up and rushed over to help nudge Keigo out the door.
***
Meanwhile, Ichigo and Orihime had slipped outside the kitchen window onto a narrow ledge of the fire escape. The nighttime wind slightly ruffled Ichigo's spiky hair once he climbed out of the window first.
“Thought it’d be quieter out here, Inoue,” Ichigo said as he reached over and steadied Orihime’s hand with his own. His watch gleamed in the light from the street below as Orihime and he sat side by side on the fire escape. The metal walk was just wide enough for two people to sit.
“I love how there seems to be nothing between us and the air,” she giggled. “But I’m sure we’ll both have weird patterns on our backsides if we sit here too long…”
“C’mere,” Ichigo suggested, shifting.
“What are you doing?” Orihime asked. “Oh… you don’t have to…”
“Stand up for a minute, okay?” Ichigo insisted, helping to steady her before she planted her hand on the railing. She watched as he swung his legs from between the railing and stretched them out. Then he held his hand out to her.
“Oh… I see… there would be more room… but then the marks would be twice as deep and well…” Orihime started to babble.
“Sit down, Inoue. I don't mind. I’m wearing jeans,” Ichigo urged, patting his lap. Orihime blushed and then carefully lowered herself to sit on his legs. Ichigo helped her scoot back so her back was propped to his chest and his arms could wrap around her.
“Thank you, Kurosaki-kun,” she whispered.
“No problem Inoue,” he said, feeling heat flushing his face. He was glad the night air hid any suggestion of the blush on his face.
“Is that Asano-kun I hear?” Orihime shifted in Ichigo’s lap, but he clasped both his hands around her and stopped her.
“Let ‘em wait on themselves for a change,” Ichigo said with a laugh. “You do so much already.”
“I know but I don’t want to be a rude hostess,” Orihime said as she squirmed and bit her lip.
“Let Tatsuki and the others help. And you can help them by taking some time for yourself, okay, Inoue? Unless you don’ want to sit with me here.”
Orihime nodded and settled back down with a fond smile on her face. “If you want me to sit here with you I would enjoy continuing doing so, Kurosaki-kun.”
Ichigo rested his chin in the groove of her shoulder. He allowed himself to sigh, inhaling her perfume. Who would have thought that he had been nervous around her months before? Yet now they had become far more comfortable with one another to the point where they had even gone on a few dates. As of now, they were almost an ‘item’.
Another thing plagued him. Just when would he kiss her? Or should he? Would she be nervous and stutter, or should he wait for her? Swallowing hard he licked his lips and saw her shift and turn her head to face him. Instead, he pressed a soft kiss to her temple, just in front of one of her hairpins. She responded by leaning her head back and settling more comfortably in his lap. “That feels so nice, Kurosaki-kun.”
“Did it?” Ichigo asked, his heart pumping faster. He felt relieved that she had not smacked him or called him a pervert for suggesting to sit on his lap, and now she had responded pleasantly to an innocent kiss on the side of her face.
“But if you want to kiss me somewhere else Kurosaki-kun, that would be all right with me too,” Orihime said softly.
Ichigo’s face flushed hot to hear this. “Really?”
“I wouldn’t mind at all,” Orihime added with a giggle. “I was wondering if there was something I was doing wrong because you hadn’t kissed me…”
“I um… I didn’t want you to think I was moving too fast, or being a pervert. I mean I don’t…” Ichigo stammered.
“But if you’re nervous maybe it would be all right if I gave you a kiss instead Kurosaki-kun?” Orihime asked, turning around. Before Ichigo could protest, he felt a soft press of her sweet lips on his cheek.
Relief and disappointment filled him that it wasn’t on his lips that he licked. “It’s not all right I mean it is… Inoue!” he blurted out.
“I’m happy,” she whispered, swinging herself around so she sat straddling him. Nervously he rested his hands on her hips, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I… I’m glad,” Ichigo managed to stammer out, feeling his palms grow sweaty. Still he wondered if he should kiss her first or else…
Orihime must have the same doubts because she expectantly closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. Suddenly her nose collided with his and Ichigo drew in his breath sharply, blinking down at her. “Sorry…”
“Oops, how clumsy… I feel so stupid,” she apologized, backing away.
“Inoue… don’t…” Ichigo whispered back, grasping her cheeks between his hands. “I’m not mad okay? Just… just… relax okay?”
“I was afraid I hurt you. I mean my nose isn’t as hard as my head…” she stammered but could not say another word because Ichigo’s lips muffled any further sound. Gasping in surprise, she squeezed her arms around his neck and turned her face to the side. Temperatures and nervousness flared as Ichigo’s hands shook, but he pushed them into her hair and rested the other on her back.
As soon as she relaxed, Ichigo pulled back. She opened her eyes slowly, and he saw himself reflected in them. Then she pressed her cheek to his chest and slid her arms down to slide around his waist. Relief filled Ichigo at her pulling closer to him, and he pressed soft kisses on her forehead, and then pressed his cheek to the crown of her head to feel the soft hair against his skin.
“Damn,” he swore to himself.
It was her first kiss, but not his. But he could not tell her ever. Squeezing her tightly in his arms, he felt the bittersweet victory of this moment. How long had he fantasized about himself and Rukia, only to blunder into passing on something that could have been given to Inoue, a girl he found himself head over heels in love with. Was it love? If it wasn’t it was a damn sight closer to what he figured his father and mother had.
Did Renji know, Ichigo thought with a shiver.
*Shit, I’m so dead if he does,* he thought.
“Are you cold Kurosaki-kun?” Orihime asked, rubbing his arms. He moved away, shrugging off the long sleeved striped shirt he wore unbuttoned over the colorful T shirt underneath. Wrapping it around her shoulders he said, "Here."
"Thank you," she said, cutting off what seemed to be a protest when she saw the softness in his brown eyes that had only been there for the last few weeks. It was far less guarded, and the lines of worry around his brow seemed less wrinkled lately.
Ichigo curled his more completely around her, warming her with his body heat. “Yeah… If you're still cold… maybe we should go back inside huh?”
“If you want to. But Kurosaki-kun…” she trailed off, her eyes meeting his.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you… that was better than I imagined it would be like to kiss you,” she blurted out.
“Yeah… much better,” he said with a relieved smile. Sadness melted away in the heat of the kiss, mingled with regret as he glanced into the room. Ishida and Tatsuki's shadows leaned close together, while the shadow of a spiky haired guy angled near the distinctive rounded shape that he knew as Rukia's hairstyle. He wasn't blind seeing how closely they sat together lately. Though he felt pain inside his heart, he felt the clenching in his chest easing greatly whenever Inoue was around him.
Yet it was better than a stolen kiss with a girl he should never be with. Far better. Was it a first kiss with ANYONE that mattered, or was it the first between two people that did?
"Inoue," Ichigo whispered, securing his arms around her. "You sure still you're cold?"
"Not now," she answered, settling against him. "With your shirt, and sitting here like this. It's very nice..."
"Good. Cause I wanna stay out here for a while and enjoy the fresh air," Ichigo answered.
Orihime made a small contented noise and settled there in his arms, curled up on his lap. Her long skirt provided an extra layer of warmth, not to mention her soft body there. For a time they shared the privacy of the fire escape, watching the stars shimmer through the orange haze of Karakura Town while their friends studied and bantered inside. Small steps ahead would not diminish the memories of a first shared kiss with Rukia, yet it would put distance where it wouldn't hurt so much.
He could forget about it with more shared moments like this one, with Inoue. Someone who was not a replacement but another possibility that had been there all along, but he'd only noticed more keenly now...