A bit of Privacy Among Friends 2 RenxRuki, others
Title: Finding A bit of Privacy 2
Pairing: IchigoxOrihime, RenxRuki, IshxTat
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.
My thanks to CMC42 for inviting me to the word war chat session held by Bali and Liralen li!
“How do you expect me to tell him,” Renji asked quietly when they were alone. Rukia sighed and shifted her weight as she sat next to him on the floor. “I don’t, I just… well there is always going to be this tension and well I know we said we wouldn’t talk about the first kiss, it still… bothers me to keep secrets from him. We fight together.”
When news of Ichigo and Orihime slipping onto the fire escape reached their ears, they split off from the main study group. Their interests lie in biology, not history, according to Tatsuki’s teasing. When Tatsuki and Ishida suggested they ‘get a room’ they’d gone back into the back bedroom where Orihime usually spread out her futon.
Renji sighed, leaning towards her. Sliding his legs around hers so they formed two ‘v’s he wrapped her in his embrace. Rukia sat with her back to him on the pillows they’d spread on the floor, enjoying the delicious body warmth though she felt cold inside. It had been a few weeks since her Brother had charged Renji with keeping her safe, not to mention accepted the possibility that Renji and she could see one another. Since then she had kept the secret of her ‘first kiss’ with Ichigo to herself, following Renji’s proposal not to speak of it again.
Slipping her hands overtop Renji’s, Rukia stroked the backs of his. They folded overtop her chest, lightly stroking her through the fabric but doing nothing more racy than holding Rukia to him. With Rukia tucked into his body Renji could feel her tensing shoulders, reminding him of how awkward she felt even admitting the secret when they had shared a ‘first kiss’. Or what he thought was a ‘first kiss’.
“Rukia, relax. I just thought it’d be easier to pretend it never happened with you and the kid,” Renji relented as he pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. Keeping his chin in her shoulder he listened to her labored breathing.
“Renji, the only thing I can promise now is not to bring it up. But if Orihime asks me I cannot lie.”
Regretfully Rukia drew up her knees, folding them. She rested her chin on the top of them, eyes peering at her toes. Frowning Renji realized his expectations for a quick ‘break’ from study had gone out the window. Perhaps because both of them suspected Ichigo was making the first move towards claiming a ‘first kiss’ with Orihime.
“You put him up to something, didn’t you? And that’s making ya feel guilty?”
Turning her head she frowned at him. “Just what are you inferring?”
“I know how you girls work. You probably gave Orihime or Ichigo some talk about ‘seizing the day’ or something… and now the thought of them sitting out on that fire escape together’s made you so damn moody,” Renji snorted, backing away from her slightly. Still he didn’t loosen his grip; rather he increased the pressure of his arms on her body, as if afraid to let her go.
“Oh please, why shouldn’t I encourage them to get together? I mean you can’t tell me Ichigo didn’t come to you for advice did he?”
“Hell no. Ishida told me, and that Quincy blushes brighter then Strawberry does, and he and Chad had no clue what to tell him. Other then ‘go for it’. But the Quincy gave him the whole deal about ‘waiting for the right moment’ as if strawberry’s gonna naturally sprout poetry...”
“Unlike some of us, he has much more sensitivity to romance. Ishida has very fine ideas about how to treat a lady properly. Yet Ichigo and you are so much alike it’s frightening.”
“You’re comparing me to that carrot top. Thanks bunches Rukia,” Renji said with a hard edge of sarcasm present, and a halfhearted laugh.
“Get over yourself will you? Not EVERYTHING that comes out of my mouth is meant to be an insult you know?” Rukia snapped. Renji loosened his grip, hoping she wouldn’t punch his jaw for pulling her into a tight hug a few minutes before.
“So I have to take what I can get?” he teased. “Guess you have a point Rukia. But seriously maybe you need to ‘get over yourself’ because it’s in the past.”
“What do I need to ‘get over’?” she asked, staring at her feet again. Renji chuckled once more, shaking his head.
“You’re pretty good at holding onto the past. What the hell does it take to get ya to let go of some things and NOT let go of others, uh?”
“All right, I know what you’re implying, Renji. But I can’t promise not to tell her if she DOES ask me. Knowing Orihime, and from how she interacts with Tatsuki and her other friends, she has a ‘feeling’ about people. Especially Ichigo. That girl reads him like a book sometimes… even though she can be dead wrong at other times.”
“Though I’m guessing the carrot top can put two and two together, and figures I probably already know. For some reason that makes me less inclined to give him a hard time. Cause he’s already probably giving HIMSELF a hard time,” Renji commented, relaxing his grip.
“Mmm, you seem rather pleased with yourself at that thought, Renji.”
“Well you’re a hell of a lot like him. Punishing yourself for things that you’ve done. So knowing you, I get a glimpse of him.” Renji kissed her ear lightly, rubbing his cheek to hers.
“All right, you have me there. I confess I did ‘encourage him strongly’ but I also did the same to Orihime.”
“Good, doncha feel better fessing up to that? I think it’s pretty good of ya to bring ‘em together. Then maybe he’ll stop pissing and moaning and worrying about…”
Rukia heard him trail off, not jumping to answer right away. Realizing she was so quiet and her focus had again wandered inward Renji pressed more soft kisses to her cheek, nosing into her dark black hair that curved around her pale face. She leaned into him, and then whispered, “I admit that I am quite like him in many regards. So that’s why I’m afraid for him… that even if he does share a first kiss, he will always associate it with the memory and guilt of kissing someone else… first.”
Face partly hidden in shadow Renji said, “Will you keep blaming yerself for that too every time we’re together? Ya worried that Orhime’s gonna notice something’s not quite right, and it’ll come out sometime like it did with you and me?”
“Yes Renji. That’s it exactly,” Rukia said, voice wavering. “And it’s still my…”
“Can’t change it. We can only change how we act because of it. That’s why I said we should pretend it never happened with you two. Guess that didn’t work too well,” Renji said sadly. Rukia turned slightly in his arms to kiss the tip of his chin.
“I am sorry Renji to spoil the mood. I know you expected me to be more responsive. I suppose I’m just not interested in the sort of break you had in mind,” she apologized.
“Stop apologizing already and turn around,” Renji prompted, tickling his fingers along one side of her ribcage. She grunted a bit, startling in his arms before turning around. Lowering his arms from her torso Renji moved back so she could sit on her knees and press them into the V of his legs. She leaned up, her shadow drenched face peering up into his shaded one. Only the orange haze of stray streetlamps filtered through the curtains and blinds, casting an odd pattern of diagonal ‘rods’ across the floor. It was still quiet enough they only heard occasional comments from Tatsuki since her voice carried the most.
She straightened her knees slightly, placing her elbows on his shoulders while wrapping her hands to cross behind his head, just under the spiky ponytail. When she shifted her face to the side Renji glimpsed the scant ambient light sparkle across her eyes. In turn Rukia could barely discern the dark patterning of his distinctive brow and the markings on his neck she knew so well, shadows one shade darker than the rest. Her eyes were growing accustomed to the dimness now for the darkness was painted in hues of orangish shadow and light.
Dragging her fingers through his protuberances of hair she brushed her lips over his. At the same moment Renji guided her forward with one hand at the small of her back, and the other sliding behind her neck. This time he tentatively graced her lips with a small peck, before opening his mouth slightly. Her hot exhalation sparked something, and Renji leaned forwards into her and the kiss. If only she could stop obsessing and accept what he freely offered? Still the urge to pound Ichigo bubbled up in his mind because she just wouldn’t let it go. However he quashed that thought remembering how foolishly he had acted, and this wouldn’t even be an issue if he’d been bold enough to kiss her years before.
Or even bold enough to chase after her before she exited that gate to her mission in Karakura town when Momo had warned him to hurry. Yet he had to be bold and arrogant and playful, resolving to ‘startle’ her with news of his promotion when she returned. How stupid could he be?
If only… if only echoed in his brain and he finally told it to shut up as he drank in Rukia’s kiss.
***
Similar thoughts echoed in Ichigo’s brain as he continued to sit on the fire escape with Orihime wrapped in his arms. Even though the wind had picked up, she contentedly curled up in his lap, pulling the edges of his shirt more firmly around her. Bending down he deposited a soft kiss on her lips again, wondering how she would respond.
He shouldn’t have worried, because he felt the pressure of her soft lips increase on his, along with the tightening of her grip on his cheek. Instead of exposing her arms to the chilly air she kept them tucked to her chest between them. Still she slid her hand down and squeezed the back of his neck, fingers tickling the base of his skull. Ichigo’s fingers on his right hand smoothed her soft hair as their lips gently glided over one another’s, keeping his lips shut in fear of overstepping what was allowed.
Since before he could remember the idea of boundaries existed. His mother gently instilled a respect for rules, and how men should treat ladies in their lives. There were rules that had to be followed, and he hated to think of his mother’s disapproval if he crossed the lines. Her death increased that need to live up to high ideals. Orihime had to be protected, even if it meant sparing her further pain. However he knew it would hurt her far more if he didn’t return her affections, remaining closed off and afraid to act on the impulses inside his heart, and his young body.
He could keep secrets well, though he hated lying far more. However gut instinct told him she may well understand if he did ‘fess up’. Still, it would hurt her to know she wasn’t the first he had kissed. Far better to spare her feelings because he had no desire to hurt her.
Ichigo learned long ago that there were things that people didn’t bring up in conversation. Refusing to confess something wasn’t lying. Orihime told nobody anything about her past except what she figured they needed to know. If anything she was overly considerate; far too nice and polite. Ichigo guessed what he saw was only the tiny tip of a huge iceberg. Those few hours where he had first saved her from her hollowfied brother taught him far more than he ever wished or figured he’d learn about her. Did she so understand because she hid a great deal of pain herself? He guessed Tatsuki probably had told Orihime many things about him, but she was far too polite to admit them.
He honored her untold stories, so perhaps she would honor his. Yes, he would trust Orihime as much as she trusted him. To protect her he would keep the secret forever if need be. He was already good at locking them away deeply inside himself anyway.
While all these thoughts spun around in his mind, he still enjoyed the taste of her lips against his, the smell of her hair, and the feel of it gliding through his fingers. Something hard and snowflake shaped met his fingertips, and he remembered how he was responsible for her and Chad’s powers. So many lives he’d touched unknowingly.
A year ago he didn’t even think girls were something he’d take any interest in other then as friends or people to protect. Sure he knew he’d want to have a girlfriend and get married someday, but at age 15 he felt he had all the time in the world. Now he knew time was finite, and life could be extinguished in an instant. Knowing death so well perhaps gave him an appreciation for life and its fleeting nature.
“Kurosaki-kun?” whispered Orihime against his lips. The substitute Shinigami glanced down through half opened eyes, staring into her brown ones peering up at his through her dark lashes.
“Yes?”
“You kiss so nicely,” she whispered back. Momentarily Ichigo’s throat tightened, his arm muscles twitching.
“Um… well I didn’t think there was any way to compare…”
“Even better than I always imagined,” Orihime admitted, which caused the blood to rush hotly and pound in Ichigo’s temples.
“All right, I really have no clue how to compare to that, but I guess that’s a good thing,” he murmured, staring past her.
“Did I say something weird? I’m sorry if I did…”
“Don’t apologize,” Ichigo answered, pressing his forehead to hers. “Look Inoue, you don’t have to apologize for everything okay? Cause not everything’s going to go wrong if you think the wrong things or make a mistake. The world’s not gonna come crashing down…”
“But it’s always polite to apologize if I’ve done something wrong, Kurosaki-kun,” she said shyly.
“I’m not going to get angry if you say something you think is weird,” Ichigo said, rolling his eyes. “So that means if something’s bugging you, or if you don’t feel happy all the time, I’m not going to stop wanting to be around you okay?”
“But I AM happy when I’m around you, Kurosaki kun. I just don’t want to ruin our time together because I…”
“Inoue,” Ichigo sighed, shaking his head. “I told you I protected people, especially my friends. That means I protect people when they think and say things about themselves that aren’t true.”
“What do you mean, Kurosaki-kun?”
“You were putting yourself down. I won’t have that. If anything that makes me angry. I want you to be happy about who you are, and not always think you have to make everyone else happy before you’re happy,” Ichigo grumbled.
“Seeing you happy makes me happy Kurosaki-kun,” Orihime explained, stroking his cheek lightly. “Isn’t it all right to smile when you feel sad? Because you don’t make other people sad along with you? Isn’t it a good thing to help cheer people up?”
“Yeah, well you’re right,” Ichigo admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “But not when you ignore your true feelings. Its okay to cry and it’s okay to be pissed off. And if you feel pissed off or angry, why not say it once in a while, huh?”
“Well my face doesn’t look as funny as yours does when I’m sad, which makes me laugh, so it’s better for me to smile if I’m sad because it looks awful when I’m crying for other people,” Orihime hastily explained.
“Maybe so Inoue, but if there’s anything I do, or anyone ELSE does that makes you angry or sad, you should tell me okay?” Ichigo suggested, kissing her forehead. “Cause I need to know about it. How else can I do something about it, huh?”
“Very true, but when you’re sad Kurosaki-kun I hope you don’t mind me smiling if I’m sad too, so you’ll smile and be happy once in a while,” she asked softly, sliding her arms out from under the warmth of his shirt to wrap them around his neck.
“Well, being around you makes me happy, I guess,” Ichigo said, then mentally kicked himself because he figured it sounded half assed. “I mean I…”
“Good then,” she giggled happily. Before Ichigo could protest or stammer something else out she kissed him. Slowly and softly, opening her lips slightly to touch the tip of her tongue to them. Partly shocked and giddy Ichigo’s mouth opened on its own accord, and a wave of heat flooded his body.
Something banging on the window startled him, and he turned his head quickly to look at the offender, his eyes glaring brightly with a flare of blue that surprised and startled Orihime. Energy crackled around him, tingling her hair and skin deliciously. Rolling the window up Tatsuki shouted, “Hey dummy, stop sucking face and let us know you’re alive?”
“Tatsuki!” Orihime gasped. “I’m so sorry I forgot about everyone…”
“Your timing sucks,” Ichigo growled glaring at her. Orihime scrambled off Ichigo’s lap, quickly folding her arms behind her back. However Ichigo slid between Orihime and Tatsuki, glaring evilly at her.
Tatsuki glared back at him, reaching over and grabbing his shirt front. She said, “You’d better behave or I’ll pitch you into the alley and listen to how you sound hitting those trash cans.”
“Tatsuki! Kurosaki Kun’s a gentleman! I’m okay,” Orihime squawked in protest. She grasped Tatsuki’s arm and gently tugged on it.
“Okay if you say so Orihime, but consider yourself warned, Kurosaki-kun, because I’m watching you,” Tatsuki said, glaring at him.
“Oh come off it! I didn’t see you so worried about things when you were sitting close to Ishida! So lighten up,” Ichigo growled back.
“Please, you two don’t fight!” Orihime urged, tugging Ichigo lightly by the shoulder. “We’ll come back in right now…”
“Arisawa-san, are you quite all right? Did you find Inoue…?” Ishida said as he strode up and interrupted them. Suddenly a flush of red gleamed on his pale cheeks and he put a hand over his mouth. “Oh my goodness… I am so sorry…”
Eyes shut Orihime cheerfully waved at him, chattering, “Hi Ishida-kun! I’m sorry I forgot about…”
“Never mind, just checking on the idiot and Orihime. Thankfully he’ll keep all his TEETH…” Tatsuki snorted, releasing Ichigo’s shirt.
“You had best be behaving yourself, Kurosaki,” Ishida said quietly as he pushed his glasses up.
“Don’t even start with me, Ishida,” Ichigo retorted, placing his hands on the windowsill. Tatsuki backed up so he could climb through, and then watched with satisfaction when he reached out a hand towards Orihime.
“C’mon, let’s go back in. Before this turns into a karate match,” he mumbled.
“Sure, Kurosaki-kun. You two don’t have to worry. I am quite safe with him,” Orihime attempted to mediate. Ishida gently touched Tatsuki’s shoulder, causing her to spin around on him.
“Sorry Arisawa-san… I didn’t wish to startle you. I simply wanted to reassure you I am also watching him around Inoue-san,” he apologized, jerking his hand back. However Tatsuki grabbed his wrist and tugged him forwards, causing him to almost collide with her.
“Stop acting like I’m going to break if you touch me. You’re the only guy I’d let lay a finger on me without rearranging his teeth, so relax,” Tatsuki whispered, pulling him so his chin was close to her lips.
“I er… apologize if I seem forward,” Ishida muttered, his hands dangling at his sides and fingers shaking.
Glancing around her, the young tomboy saw Ryo, Chad, Ichigo and Orihime glancing towards them. “What? Mind your own business! We’re supposed to be studying!”
“I’ll um… help you make some tea Orihime,” Ichigo said quickly, grasping Orihime’s hand.
“I saw nothing,” Chad hastily replied, holding up his book to hide his face. Ryo turned her face away and pretended to ignore Tatsuki.
“I’ve no problem doing that,” she said.
Gently but firmly guiding Ishida Tatsuki urged him to stand right in front of her, blocking the window. His whole body trembled as she guided his hand she had seized and put it on the small of her back. Glaring towards Chad she ducked her head so Ishida’s shoulder obscured it, and then tugged him so her chest pressed to his. He stammered, “A… arisawa san…”
“Hey, relax, nobody’s looking,” she whispered, giving him a mischievous smile.
“But… I…” Ishida licked his lips. “Here?”
That luminescent blush crossing his face caused Tatsuki to laugh and roll her eyes simultaneously. Leaning up on her toes she rested a hand on his shoulder, and lightly and chastely pecked him on the cheek. Ishida’s exhalation rasped past her ear and he relaxed as she slid her other arm around his waist. When her chest pressed to his he shivered, tipping his face to the left and staring past her with a beet red complexion.
“Didn’t I say relax?” she whispered, kissing his ear softly. “I’m going to think you’re some kind of eunuch if you keep this up.”
“I ah… ah… don’t want to be too forward… or force you to do anything because I…”
“Then I guess I won’t break your arm if you hug me back,” she whispered. She kept one knee in front of the other and her hip turned to the side to Ishida’s relief. Sliding her fingers over his shirtfront she giggled at the absence of any buttons. Something cold and metallic dangling from Ishida’s wrist brushed past her neck, as he raised his hand and set it hesitantly on her shoulder to wrap around her neck. Still he kept his other hand at the small of her back, loosely holding her in a hug.
“Don’t misunderstand. It isn’t that I don’t wish to spend time with you. It’s just that I am a gentleman and I…”
“That’s why you’re still standing here with all your bones intact instead of heading to the hospital in traction,” Tatsuki smiled at him mischievously.
“I have no wish to end up in an undignified position because of my lack of discretion,” Ishida mumbled, blushing.
“Oops, I forgot that your…” she trailed off. “I mean Ryuuken-san… was the director there. Sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Ishida chastised her, and then pressed a finger to her lips.
“Who wants tea or juice?” Orihime’s voice interrupted. Turning his head Ishida hid Tatsuki behind him and glared in frustration at the imposition on his private time.
“Pomegranate juice for me,” said Ryo.
“Tea would be nice, thank you,” Chad chimed in.
“Two hot teas, one with milk, two percent,” Ishida cleared his throat and requested. Tatsuki playfully ducked behind his tall body, pressing her hands against his back.
“All right, coming right up!” Orihime called, and then ducked back into the kitchen.
Sighing, Ishida turned around to see Tatsuki grinning up at him. Before he could open his mouth she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down toward her. Grunting in surprise he felt the warmth of soft lips covering his, his palms growing sweaty and clammy while he was certain his face was the color of red bean paste that Orihime loved to use in so many experiments.
Chad peeked out from under his hair, and then quickly diverted his glance away while resting his elbow on the table. Tatsuki glimpsed this out of the corner of one partly opened eye, staring past the tips of Ishida’s now pink ears. Still she held him to her by the front of his shirt with no buttons, keeping a small margin of space between them. Only her mouth moved awkwardly over Ishida’s, and she felt his breath hiss out of his nose and his muscles tensing under her other hand that slid around his back.
When she pulled away, Ishida blinked down at her, licking his lips. He spared a glance over his shoulder, and then felt better when he saw that Chad seemed to be looking in a different direction, his back blocking any view he had of Ryo. Blue eyes were open wide, staring down at the smiling face and shut eyes of Tatsuki standing before him. She appeared to be quite happy, and for the first time Ishida realized she wasn’t at all angry.
“I… er… Arisawa-san…”
“I wanted to do that before something else went wrong,” she confessed.
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you or anything, Ishida-kun.”
“N… no don’t be. It appears our friends noticed nothing,” Ishida breathed a sigh of relief, and pulled Tatsuki so their chests touched. “And since Inoue-san and Kurosaki are in the kitchen…”
“Mmmm good,” Tatsuki purred, rubbing his back. “Sorry if I stole something that didn’t belong to me…”
Here she blushed a bit and Ishida slid his finger under her chin. “I didn’t stop you from um… er… well you know.”
“Because you know I would have pounded anyone who would have looked at us cross-eyed if they didn’t’ mind their own business, right?” she winked.
“I gathered that,” Ishida laughed lightly, his stomach churning and tingling in excitement. “But I do think we should return to the subject that we will be tested on tomorrow. And save this activity for another time?”
Pairing: IchigoxOrihime, RenxRuki, IshxTat
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.
My thanks to CMC42 for inviting me to the word war chat session held by Bali and Liralen li!
“How do you expect me to tell him,” Renji asked quietly when they were alone. Rukia sighed and shifted her weight as she sat next to him on the floor. “I don’t, I just… well there is always going to be this tension and well I know we said we wouldn’t talk about the first kiss, it still… bothers me to keep secrets from him. We fight together.”
When news of Ichigo and Orihime slipping onto the fire escape reached their ears, they split off from the main study group. Their interests lie in biology, not history, according to Tatsuki’s teasing. When Tatsuki and Ishida suggested they ‘get a room’ they’d gone back into the back bedroom where Orihime usually spread out her futon.
Renji sighed, leaning towards her. Sliding his legs around hers so they formed two ‘v’s he wrapped her in his embrace. Rukia sat with her back to him on the pillows they’d spread on the floor, enjoying the delicious body warmth though she felt cold inside. It had been a few weeks since her Brother had charged Renji with keeping her safe, not to mention accepted the possibility that Renji and she could see one another. Since then she had kept the secret of her ‘first kiss’ with Ichigo to herself, following Renji’s proposal not to speak of it again.
Slipping her hands overtop Renji’s, Rukia stroked the backs of his. They folded overtop her chest, lightly stroking her through the fabric but doing nothing more racy than holding Rukia to him. With Rukia tucked into his body Renji could feel her tensing shoulders, reminding him of how awkward she felt even admitting the secret when they had shared a ‘first kiss’. Or what he thought was a ‘first kiss’.
“Rukia, relax. I just thought it’d be easier to pretend it never happened with you and the kid,” Renji relented as he pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. Keeping his chin in her shoulder he listened to her labored breathing.
“Renji, the only thing I can promise now is not to bring it up. But if Orihime asks me I cannot lie.”
Regretfully Rukia drew up her knees, folding them. She rested her chin on the top of them, eyes peering at her toes. Frowning Renji realized his expectations for a quick ‘break’ from study had gone out the window. Perhaps because both of them suspected Ichigo was making the first move towards claiming a ‘first kiss’ with Orihime.
“You put him up to something, didn’t you? And that’s making ya feel guilty?”
Turning her head she frowned at him. “Just what are you inferring?”
“I know how you girls work. You probably gave Orihime or Ichigo some talk about ‘seizing the day’ or something… and now the thought of them sitting out on that fire escape together’s made you so damn moody,” Renji snorted, backing away from her slightly. Still he didn’t loosen his grip; rather he increased the pressure of his arms on her body, as if afraid to let her go.
“Oh please, why shouldn’t I encourage them to get together? I mean you can’t tell me Ichigo didn’t come to you for advice did he?”
“Hell no. Ishida told me, and that Quincy blushes brighter then Strawberry does, and he and Chad had no clue what to tell him. Other then ‘go for it’. But the Quincy gave him the whole deal about ‘waiting for the right moment’ as if strawberry’s gonna naturally sprout poetry...”
“Unlike some of us, he has much more sensitivity to romance. Ishida has very fine ideas about how to treat a lady properly. Yet Ichigo and you are so much alike it’s frightening.”
“You’re comparing me to that carrot top. Thanks bunches Rukia,” Renji said with a hard edge of sarcasm present, and a halfhearted laugh.
“Get over yourself will you? Not EVERYTHING that comes out of my mouth is meant to be an insult you know?” Rukia snapped. Renji loosened his grip, hoping she wouldn’t punch his jaw for pulling her into a tight hug a few minutes before.
“So I have to take what I can get?” he teased. “Guess you have a point Rukia. But seriously maybe you need to ‘get over yourself’ because it’s in the past.”
“What do I need to ‘get over’?” she asked, staring at her feet again. Renji chuckled once more, shaking his head.
“You’re pretty good at holding onto the past. What the hell does it take to get ya to let go of some things and NOT let go of others, uh?”
“All right, I know what you’re implying, Renji. But I can’t promise not to tell her if she DOES ask me. Knowing Orihime, and from how she interacts with Tatsuki and her other friends, she has a ‘feeling’ about people. Especially Ichigo. That girl reads him like a book sometimes… even though she can be dead wrong at other times.”
“Though I’m guessing the carrot top can put two and two together, and figures I probably already know. For some reason that makes me less inclined to give him a hard time. Cause he’s already probably giving HIMSELF a hard time,” Renji commented, relaxing his grip.
“Mmm, you seem rather pleased with yourself at that thought, Renji.”
“Well you’re a hell of a lot like him. Punishing yourself for things that you’ve done. So knowing you, I get a glimpse of him.” Renji kissed her ear lightly, rubbing his cheek to hers.
“All right, you have me there. I confess I did ‘encourage him strongly’ but I also did the same to Orihime.”
“Good, doncha feel better fessing up to that? I think it’s pretty good of ya to bring ‘em together. Then maybe he’ll stop pissing and moaning and worrying about…”
Rukia heard him trail off, not jumping to answer right away. Realizing she was so quiet and her focus had again wandered inward Renji pressed more soft kisses to her cheek, nosing into her dark black hair that curved around her pale face. She leaned into him, and then whispered, “I admit that I am quite like him in many regards. So that’s why I’m afraid for him… that even if he does share a first kiss, he will always associate it with the memory and guilt of kissing someone else… first.”
Face partly hidden in shadow Renji said, “Will you keep blaming yerself for that too every time we’re together? Ya worried that Orhime’s gonna notice something’s not quite right, and it’ll come out sometime like it did with you and me?”
“Yes Renji. That’s it exactly,” Rukia said, voice wavering. “And it’s still my…”
“Can’t change it. We can only change how we act because of it. That’s why I said we should pretend it never happened with you two. Guess that didn’t work too well,” Renji said sadly. Rukia turned slightly in his arms to kiss the tip of his chin.
“I am sorry Renji to spoil the mood. I know you expected me to be more responsive. I suppose I’m just not interested in the sort of break you had in mind,” she apologized.
“Stop apologizing already and turn around,” Renji prompted, tickling his fingers along one side of her ribcage. She grunted a bit, startling in his arms before turning around. Lowering his arms from her torso Renji moved back so she could sit on her knees and press them into the V of his legs. She leaned up, her shadow drenched face peering up into his shaded one. Only the orange haze of stray streetlamps filtered through the curtains and blinds, casting an odd pattern of diagonal ‘rods’ across the floor. It was still quiet enough they only heard occasional comments from Tatsuki since her voice carried the most.
She straightened her knees slightly, placing her elbows on his shoulders while wrapping her hands to cross behind his head, just under the spiky ponytail. When she shifted her face to the side Renji glimpsed the scant ambient light sparkle across her eyes. In turn Rukia could barely discern the dark patterning of his distinctive brow and the markings on his neck she knew so well, shadows one shade darker than the rest. Her eyes were growing accustomed to the dimness now for the darkness was painted in hues of orangish shadow and light.
Dragging her fingers through his protuberances of hair she brushed her lips over his. At the same moment Renji guided her forward with one hand at the small of her back, and the other sliding behind her neck. This time he tentatively graced her lips with a small peck, before opening his mouth slightly. Her hot exhalation sparked something, and Renji leaned forwards into her and the kiss. If only she could stop obsessing and accept what he freely offered? Still the urge to pound Ichigo bubbled up in his mind because she just wouldn’t let it go. However he quashed that thought remembering how foolishly he had acted, and this wouldn’t even be an issue if he’d been bold enough to kiss her years before.
Or even bold enough to chase after her before she exited that gate to her mission in Karakura town when Momo had warned him to hurry. Yet he had to be bold and arrogant and playful, resolving to ‘startle’ her with news of his promotion when she returned. How stupid could he be?
If only… if only echoed in his brain and he finally told it to shut up as he drank in Rukia’s kiss.
***
Similar thoughts echoed in Ichigo’s brain as he continued to sit on the fire escape with Orihime wrapped in his arms. Even though the wind had picked up, she contentedly curled up in his lap, pulling the edges of his shirt more firmly around her. Bending down he deposited a soft kiss on her lips again, wondering how she would respond.
He shouldn’t have worried, because he felt the pressure of her soft lips increase on his, along with the tightening of her grip on his cheek. Instead of exposing her arms to the chilly air she kept them tucked to her chest between them. Still she slid her hand down and squeezed the back of his neck, fingers tickling the base of his skull. Ichigo’s fingers on his right hand smoothed her soft hair as their lips gently glided over one another’s, keeping his lips shut in fear of overstepping what was allowed.
Since before he could remember the idea of boundaries existed. His mother gently instilled a respect for rules, and how men should treat ladies in their lives. There were rules that had to be followed, and he hated to think of his mother’s disapproval if he crossed the lines. Her death increased that need to live up to high ideals. Orihime had to be protected, even if it meant sparing her further pain. However he knew it would hurt her far more if he didn’t return her affections, remaining closed off and afraid to act on the impulses inside his heart, and his young body.
He could keep secrets well, though he hated lying far more. However gut instinct told him she may well understand if he did ‘fess up’. Still, it would hurt her to know she wasn’t the first he had kissed. Far better to spare her feelings because he had no desire to hurt her.
Ichigo learned long ago that there were things that people didn’t bring up in conversation. Refusing to confess something wasn’t lying. Orihime told nobody anything about her past except what she figured they needed to know. If anything she was overly considerate; far too nice and polite. Ichigo guessed what he saw was only the tiny tip of a huge iceberg. Those few hours where he had first saved her from her hollowfied brother taught him far more than he ever wished or figured he’d learn about her. Did she so understand because she hid a great deal of pain herself? He guessed Tatsuki probably had told Orihime many things about him, but she was far too polite to admit them.
He honored her untold stories, so perhaps she would honor his. Yes, he would trust Orihime as much as she trusted him. To protect her he would keep the secret forever if need be. He was already good at locking them away deeply inside himself anyway.
While all these thoughts spun around in his mind, he still enjoyed the taste of her lips against his, the smell of her hair, and the feel of it gliding through his fingers. Something hard and snowflake shaped met his fingertips, and he remembered how he was responsible for her and Chad’s powers. So many lives he’d touched unknowingly.
A year ago he didn’t even think girls were something he’d take any interest in other then as friends or people to protect. Sure he knew he’d want to have a girlfriend and get married someday, but at age 15 he felt he had all the time in the world. Now he knew time was finite, and life could be extinguished in an instant. Knowing death so well perhaps gave him an appreciation for life and its fleeting nature.
“Kurosaki-kun?” whispered Orihime against his lips. The substitute Shinigami glanced down through half opened eyes, staring into her brown ones peering up at his through her dark lashes.
“Yes?”
“You kiss so nicely,” she whispered back. Momentarily Ichigo’s throat tightened, his arm muscles twitching.
“Um… well I didn’t think there was any way to compare…”
“Even better than I always imagined,” Orihime admitted, which caused the blood to rush hotly and pound in Ichigo’s temples.
“All right, I really have no clue how to compare to that, but I guess that’s a good thing,” he murmured, staring past her.
“Did I say something weird? I’m sorry if I did…”
“Don’t apologize,” Ichigo answered, pressing his forehead to hers. “Look Inoue, you don’t have to apologize for everything okay? Cause not everything’s going to go wrong if you think the wrong things or make a mistake. The world’s not gonna come crashing down…”
“But it’s always polite to apologize if I’ve done something wrong, Kurosaki-kun,” she said shyly.
“I’m not going to get angry if you say something you think is weird,” Ichigo said, rolling his eyes. “So that means if something’s bugging you, or if you don’t feel happy all the time, I’m not going to stop wanting to be around you okay?”
“But I AM happy when I’m around you, Kurosaki kun. I just don’t want to ruin our time together because I…”
“Inoue,” Ichigo sighed, shaking his head. “I told you I protected people, especially my friends. That means I protect people when they think and say things about themselves that aren’t true.”
“What do you mean, Kurosaki-kun?”
“You were putting yourself down. I won’t have that. If anything that makes me angry. I want you to be happy about who you are, and not always think you have to make everyone else happy before you’re happy,” Ichigo grumbled.
“Seeing you happy makes me happy Kurosaki-kun,” Orihime explained, stroking his cheek lightly. “Isn’t it all right to smile when you feel sad? Because you don’t make other people sad along with you? Isn’t it a good thing to help cheer people up?”
“Yeah, well you’re right,” Ichigo admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “But not when you ignore your true feelings. Its okay to cry and it’s okay to be pissed off. And if you feel pissed off or angry, why not say it once in a while, huh?”
“Well my face doesn’t look as funny as yours does when I’m sad, which makes me laugh, so it’s better for me to smile if I’m sad because it looks awful when I’m crying for other people,” Orihime hastily explained.
“Maybe so Inoue, but if there’s anything I do, or anyone ELSE does that makes you angry or sad, you should tell me okay?” Ichigo suggested, kissing her forehead. “Cause I need to know about it. How else can I do something about it, huh?”
“Very true, but when you’re sad Kurosaki-kun I hope you don’t mind me smiling if I’m sad too, so you’ll smile and be happy once in a while,” she asked softly, sliding her arms out from under the warmth of his shirt to wrap them around his neck.
“Well, being around you makes me happy, I guess,” Ichigo said, then mentally kicked himself because he figured it sounded half assed. “I mean I…”
“Good then,” she giggled happily. Before Ichigo could protest or stammer something else out she kissed him. Slowly and softly, opening her lips slightly to touch the tip of her tongue to them. Partly shocked and giddy Ichigo’s mouth opened on its own accord, and a wave of heat flooded his body.
Something banging on the window startled him, and he turned his head quickly to look at the offender, his eyes glaring brightly with a flare of blue that surprised and startled Orihime. Energy crackled around him, tingling her hair and skin deliciously. Rolling the window up Tatsuki shouted, “Hey dummy, stop sucking face and let us know you’re alive?”
“Tatsuki!” Orihime gasped. “I’m so sorry I forgot about everyone…”
“Your timing sucks,” Ichigo growled glaring at her. Orihime scrambled off Ichigo’s lap, quickly folding her arms behind her back. However Ichigo slid between Orihime and Tatsuki, glaring evilly at her.
Tatsuki glared back at him, reaching over and grabbing his shirt front. She said, “You’d better behave or I’ll pitch you into the alley and listen to how you sound hitting those trash cans.”
“Tatsuki! Kurosaki Kun’s a gentleman! I’m okay,” Orihime squawked in protest. She grasped Tatsuki’s arm and gently tugged on it.
“Okay if you say so Orihime, but consider yourself warned, Kurosaki-kun, because I’m watching you,” Tatsuki said, glaring at him.
“Oh come off it! I didn’t see you so worried about things when you were sitting close to Ishida! So lighten up,” Ichigo growled back.
“Please, you two don’t fight!” Orihime urged, tugging Ichigo lightly by the shoulder. “We’ll come back in right now…”
“Arisawa-san, are you quite all right? Did you find Inoue…?” Ishida said as he strode up and interrupted them. Suddenly a flush of red gleamed on his pale cheeks and he put a hand over his mouth. “Oh my goodness… I am so sorry…”
Eyes shut Orihime cheerfully waved at him, chattering, “Hi Ishida-kun! I’m sorry I forgot about…”
“Never mind, just checking on the idiot and Orihime. Thankfully he’ll keep all his TEETH…” Tatsuki snorted, releasing Ichigo’s shirt.
“You had best be behaving yourself, Kurosaki,” Ishida said quietly as he pushed his glasses up.
“Don’t even start with me, Ishida,” Ichigo retorted, placing his hands on the windowsill. Tatsuki backed up so he could climb through, and then watched with satisfaction when he reached out a hand towards Orihime.
“C’mon, let’s go back in. Before this turns into a karate match,” he mumbled.
“Sure, Kurosaki-kun. You two don’t have to worry. I am quite safe with him,” Orihime attempted to mediate. Ishida gently touched Tatsuki’s shoulder, causing her to spin around on him.
“Sorry Arisawa-san… I didn’t wish to startle you. I simply wanted to reassure you I am also watching him around Inoue-san,” he apologized, jerking his hand back. However Tatsuki grabbed his wrist and tugged him forwards, causing him to almost collide with her.
“Stop acting like I’m going to break if you touch me. You’re the only guy I’d let lay a finger on me without rearranging his teeth, so relax,” Tatsuki whispered, pulling him so his chin was close to her lips.
“I er… apologize if I seem forward,” Ishida muttered, his hands dangling at his sides and fingers shaking.
Glancing around her, the young tomboy saw Ryo, Chad, Ichigo and Orihime glancing towards them. “What? Mind your own business! We’re supposed to be studying!”
“I’ll um… help you make some tea Orihime,” Ichigo said quickly, grasping Orihime’s hand.
“I saw nothing,” Chad hastily replied, holding up his book to hide his face. Ryo turned her face away and pretended to ignore Tatsuki.
“I’ve no problem doing that,” she said.
Gently but firmly guiding Ishida Tatsuki urged him to stand right in front of her, blocking the window. His whole body trembled as she guided his hand she had seized and put it on the small of her back. Glaring towards Chad she ducked her head so Ishida’s shoulder obscured it, and then tugged him so her chest pressed to his. He stammered, “A… arisawa san…”
“Hey, relax, nobody’s looking,” she whispered, giving him a mischievous smile.
“But… I…” Ishida licked his lips. “Here?”
That luminescent blush crossing his face caused Tatsuki to laugh and roll her eyes simultaneously. Leaning up on her toes she rested a hand on his shoulder, and lightly and chastely pecked him on the cheek. Ishida’s exhalation rasped past her ear and he relaxed as she slid her other arm around his waist. When her chest pressed to his he shivered, tipping his face to the left and staring past her with a beet red complexion.
“Didn’t I say relax?” she whispered, kissing his ear softly. “I’m going to think you’re some kind of eunuch if you keep this up.”
“I ah… ah… don’t want to be too forward… or force you to do anything because I…”
“Then I guess I won’t break your arm if you hug me back,” she whispered. She kept one knee in front of the other and her hip turned to the side to Ishida’s relief. Sliding her fingers over his shirtfront she giggled at the absence of any buttons. Something cold and metallic dangling from Ishida’s wrist brushed past her neck, as he raised his hand and set it hesitantly on her shoulder to wrap around her neck. Still he kept his other hand at the small of her back, loosely holding her in a hug.
“Don’t misunderstand. It isn’t that I don’t wish to spend time with you. It’s just that I am a gentleman and I…”
“That’s why you’re still standing here with all your bones intact instead of heading to the hospital in traction,” Tatsuki smiled at him mischievously.
“I have no wish to end up in an undignified position because of my lack of discretion,” Ishida mumbled, blushing.
“Oops, I forgot that your…” she trailed off. “I mean Ryuuken-san… was the director there. Sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Ishida chastised her, and then pressed a finger to her lips.
“Who wants tea or juice?” Orihime’s voice interrupted. Turning his head Ishida hid Tatsuki behind him and glared in frustration at the imposition on his private time.
“Pomegranate juice for me,” said Ryo.
“Tea would be nice, thank you,” Chad chimed in.
“Two hot teas, one with milk, two percent,” Ishida cleared his throat and requested. Tatsuki playfully ducked behind his tall body, pressing her hands against his back.
“All right, coming right up!” Orihime called, and then ducked back into the kitchen.
Sighing, Ishida turned around to see Tatsuki grinning up at him. Before he could open his mouth she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down toward her. Grunting in surprise he felt the warmth of soft lips covering his, his palms growing sweaty and clammy while he was certain his face was the color of red bean paste that Orihime loved to use in so many experiments.
Chad peeked out from under his hair, and then quickly diverted his glance away while resting his elbow on the table. Tatsuki glimpsed this out of the corner of one partly opened eye, staring past the tips of Ishida’s now pink ears. Still she held him to her by the front of his shirt with no buttons, keeping a small margin of space between them. Only her mouth moved awkwardly over Ishida’s, and she felt his breath hiss out of his nose and his muscles tensing under her other hand that slid around his back.
When she pulled away, Ishida blinked down at her, licking his lips. He spared a glance over his shoulder, and then felt better when he saw that Chad seemed to be looking in a different direction, his back blocking any view he had of Ryo. Blue eyes were open wide, staring down at the smiling face and shut eyes of Tatsuki standing before him. She appeared to be quite happy, and for the first time Ishida realized she wasn’t at all angry.
“I… er… Arisawa-san…”
“I wanted to do that before something else went wrong,” she confessed.
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you or anything, Ishida-kun.”
“N… no don’t be. It appears our friends noticed nothing,” Ishida breathed a sigh of relief, and pulled Tatsuki so their chests touched. “And since Inoue-san and Kurosaki are in the kitchen…”
“Mmmm good,” Tatsuki purred, rubbing his back. “Sorry if I stole something that didn’t belong to me…”
Here she blushed a bit and Ishida slid his finger under her chin. “I didn’t stop you from um… er… well you know.”
“Because you know I would have pounded anyone who would have looked at us cross-eyed if they didn’t’ mind their own business, right?” she winked.
“I gathered that,” Ishida laughed lightly, his stomach churning and tingling in excitement. “But I do think we should return to the subject that we will be tested on tomorrow. And save this activity for another time?”