Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Drawn to the Rhythm (The Easiest Thing ) ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer

I don't own Bleach and I am not making any money off of it. Some other lucky bastard is!

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Author's Note(s)

EXPLANATION OF ORIHIME'S BEHAVIOR

In ability to focus ones thoughts = anxiety

In ability to control ones reiatsu = anxiety

Harmful situations = anxiety

Anxiety for Orihime = dissociation

Sorry about that last chapter it was a bitch for me to write. I can write technically and factual papers well enough, but I'm new to creative writing. To help anyone who is lost…

Orihime has sort of a multiple personality disorder (it's not entirely text book MPD though). Her MPD'ness/dissociation is how the special part of Orihime, the part we all love so much, was kept safe despite everything that happened in Las Noches. Her protector personality (when she dissociates) is purely submissive and follows orders, otherwise she is non-responsive. She recognizes very little in this state.

She welcomed her dissociations in Las Noches because it kept her from feeling any pain, but now that she's home she doesn't want them to keep happening.

Like many MPD's, the core personality has little to no knowledge of the other personality or the memories of the things that happened while functioning as that alternate personality. I'm not making her case of multiple personality disorder all that bad really, I swear.

Orihime no longer trusts any of her friends because she trusted Ichigo and Ichigo betrayed her. Orihime, because of Ishida's reiatsu flare she instinctually, all it an awakened awareness, knows that Ishida is everything she believes him to be and until she learns how to handle her new power developments, and until she can learn how to reintegrate into society, and reintegrate her broken mind she will trust only Ishida and rely on his greatly simply because she knows she can (`why' is later in the story).

She is fairly normal, when he is near (aside from any sexual aggression which is simply the byproduct of her own sexual awakening. Orihime is unstable when Ishida is not around, this will also be explained later.

I tried (and possibly failed horribly) in the last chapter trying to convey the complexity of her inner turmoil (as listed above).

Her `budding godlike power' issues are not related to her fragile mentality except -- if she feels herself loosing control of her power (some part of her knows she is dangerous) it does act as a trigger to dissociate into the other personality to help maintain control.

Thanks to those who continue reading (woot! polarissakura!). Since I don't get many reviews I've become content to watching the story stats page to see how often my story is accessed.

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Chapter Edit History

2/7/08 Chapter originally posted without being proofread

2/7/08 Grammar and spelling changes posted, no relevant content changed

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Chapter Summary

Some things only a deity can do, Orihime and Uryuu leave the Urahara Shop, Cupid and Psyche join the cast, Orihime takes a shower, Uryuu's boxers are all white with Quincy crosses stitched into them (guess who did that), Orihime picks Uryuu's nose.

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CHAPTER 5

 

 

PREVIOUS CHAPTER RECAP

 

(Urahara Kisuke disguised as Aizen to see how a dissociated Orihime will respond.)

 

“Inoue-san, I am hungry, make me an orange.”

 

“Hai Aizen-sama, if that is your will.” She held out her hand which glowed briefly before a well ripened orange materialized, it was a wholly new matter of existence. Now he understood exactly what Aizen was trying to do to Orihime. Aizen wanted to control the power and the will of a true god.

 

A look of complete wondrous amazement dominated the face of the former captain of the 12th Division. The founder and first president of the Shinigami Research Institute looked like he'd just seen his first unexplainable magic trick, only this wasn't magic and Orihime did not know any tricks. He carefully reached out to collect the fruit born of truly divine powers, when a hailstorm of blue arrows ripped the gigai into 100's of tiny pieces, the soul of the elusive and powerful Shinigami lay dead.

 

END PREVIOUS CHAPTER RECAP

 

 

 

“ORIHIME!!!...” It was the battle cry that heralded the assailment of Quincy arrows.

 

Yoruichi's kidou bound the furious Quincy before she cradled her childhood friend in her lap. “No, noooooo Kisuke-chan!” Tears clouded her vision, “Uryuu you fool!”

 

“What's wrong with Orihime, what's going on!” He demanded, vehemently fighting to break free from the kidou's power to get to Orihime. “Why the HELL did he look like Aizen?!” Grrr… he struggled violently. “Let me go now Yoruichi, you have a lot of explaining to do!”

 

Orihime sat quietly on her knees. She neither blinked nor flinched at the scene; she merely looked ahead patiently and obliviously awaiting her next duty.

 

“Damn it!” `How the hell is he even moving at all?' “Ishida Uryuu, be quiet! We've done nothing to Orihime, but you killed Urahara!”

 

Backed up against the wall tightly, Tatsuki thought she'd collapse without its steady presence. “It's true Ishida, Orihime and I were just talking and she got nervous and panicked. When it stopped, she was… well she was like that.” She motioned to the silent unobservant girl on the floor.

 

“Be still and quiet, that's an order! I'll answer your questions later, but right now,” her blood soaked hands brushed Urahara's sandy blonde hair tenderly off his face, “right now he only has one hope.” Her eyes shot back to pierce through the still struggling Quincy, “and I won't let you ruin it!” The former Shinigami princess re-enforced her binding kidou on the restless Quincy and turned to the girl, “please Orihime please make him as he was, fix him - heal him. Please, you're his only chance.”

 

Once again, just as she had moments ago, Orihime silently complied. It was bit longer than the small fraction of a minute it took to heal the cut on Yoruichi's hand, but both tasks were performed with a stunning lack of effort by the girl. In awe they watched the distant girl's reiatsu lightly flicker about her body, it took only a mere couple of minutes before the old hentai of a Shinigami showed signs of life.

 

Ishida was knocked from his stunned stupor by a less threatening tone, “If I drop the kidou will you shut up and behave until he's fully healed and we've had time to explain?”

 

A silent affirmative nod was his only response before he rushed to Orihime's side. Yoruichi's inquisitive eyes watched the young couple closely after situating the almost fully recovered merchant comfortably in a corner to support his body.

 

Ishida reached out to softly trail the backs of his fingers against her soft warm cheek. Before he could react her arms wrapped around his neck, she hugged him fiercely.

 

All Tatsuki could do was sit back and watch everything. `Holy crap, is her life always like this? One potential heart attack after the next and acts of god! Breath Arisawa, breath, don't pass out.'

 

“Yay, Ishida-kun you came back! I'm so happy your back. Please don't go again,” she pled.

 

He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her just as tightly. “Are you ok Inoue-san? Is everything alright? What happened?”

 

“It's ok now Ishida-kun. Tatsuki and I were just talking, then I didn't feel so well, but now you're here.” She pulled back from their hug, apparently still completely unaware of the now two pairs of Shinigami eyes watching her. “Oh, Ishida-kun, I took care of your picture for you just like you asked.” Never once did she set his picture down. “Here you go Ishida-kun, thank you for trusting me with it.”

 

`What the hell happened here? I wasn't gone that long! Orihime's safe, that's all that matters. I'll just wait for Yoruichi's explanation.' He placed the picture back into his wallet and slid a comforting hand in her small one and claimed a spot on the floor next to his Orihime. “Ok Yoruichi, ready when you are. What the hell is going on here?”

 

With the exception of discovering Orihime's ability to reject death, the miraculous resurrection of Urahara Kisuke was entirely unimportant!

 

Orihime wiggled closer, she held his hand with both of hers, and placed her head on his shoulder. “Tatsuki-chan, when did I leave the room, and why are you standing over there?” Orihime looked up and smiled brightly at her bewildered friend, “Come Tatsuki-chan, you can sit next to me.”

 

On still shaky legs, Tatsuki complied.

 

They each took turns explaining what happened. At first, Orihime panicked, she thought they implied that Aizen had found her. She held onto Ishida for dear life. Her actions did not go unnoticed by Sandal-Hat and Yoruichi. `They are entirely attached to one another!'

 

Orihime and Ishida were both in equal disbelief when they told the young couple that Orihime had made an orange. In a universe where matter could be neither created nor destroyed, she created and they were quite certain she could destroy just as easily. They chose to forego explaining the most likely reason for harboring such power. They would let the Raien Priestess explain that part later.

 

They explained that they did not understand why Orihime disassociated, but it was very clear that the dissociation was a defense mechanism she employed under Aizen's special care. It was also very clear that the separation from Ishida triggered it since he only had to touch her once to instantly and fully reanimate her.

 

“Why was Urahara-san dressed as Aizen?” Ishida's biggest concern, he wanted answers. He silently demanded why they had the audacity to place Orihime before an Aizen replica.

 

“Calm down Ishida. Orihime wasn't entirely Orihime. The mental state of separation that she was in guaranteed that our attempts to gather information, using an Aizen doppelganger, was not something that would have negatively effected her. We would not subject Orihime to danger Ishida. You should know that! It was a good opportunity for us to find out what plans Aizen had for Orihime.”

 

“And… what did you find out?” Ishida looked cold and emotionless, inside he was irritated, greatly annoyed, and every part of his body that was pressed up against Orihime tingled.

 

The cool relaxed voice of Urahara cut in before his purple haired friend could take the reigns. “That is something we'd like to talk with you about tomorrow. If you'll indulge me, there someone else I wish to speak with first.”

 

“Fine, what time tomorrow?” Ishida had every intention of getting the rest of the answers!

 

“3:00 PM, oh and Ishida-san, don't you have anything to say? You did kill me.” It rolled off his tongue like a casual greeting.

 

Ishida's face hardened, Orihime thought she heard him sneer. She felt his body tense against hers. “As a matter of fact I do Urahara-san.” His resolve was fortified, “If you ever place Orihime in front of an image of someone who hurt her again, I won't hesitate to kill you… again!”

 

Tatsuki couldn't believe this was the school geek! The whole killing thing was too much for her to grasp, but between his own displays of chivalry, tenderness, and bravery that she'd witness herself and Orihime's incessant Ishida worshipping every chance she got, Tatsuki was starting think that she may have indeed judged him unfairly. The handicrafts king was nothing at all like she thought. `So so sooooo very different in school. Totally reserved and elusive!'

 

Sandal-Hat's arms flew up in surrender at the Quincy's death promise. That was apparently the answer he was expecting.

 

Orihime hugged his arm closer. She liked how protective he was of her. “Ishida-kun, am I staying here tonight? Will you be with me?”

 

Yoruichi stepped in for the silenced shop keeper. “You're both welcome to continue staying here, but you're under no obligation. It is your choice where to go, but you both must remain together. We'll explain that tomorrow.”

 

The Quincy leaned closer to the girl on his arm and covered his face with his hand. He smiled brightly for only her to see and teasingly waggled his eyebrows, “looks like you're stuck with me.” His cold posture resumed when he turned back to the Shinigami pair. Orihime giggled jovially at Ishida's covert silliness, the sound of her laughter demanded that he bite his inner lip to keep from smiling adoringly at her.

 

“3:00 PM is fine.” He nodded curtly. “Urahara-san, Yoruichi-san, we'll be here.”

 

Orihime leaned in to whisper in the boy's ear, “Ishida-kun, I don't want to stay here. Can we go to your place?”

 

The blue haired boy went rigid; her warm breath wisped across his ear and sent intense jolts of power through his body. The words sunk in a moment later. `Did she just ask to spend the night at my place? Oh wow, uh… I've never even had company before, certainly never a girl. Argh! Orihime's not just any girl, what if she doesn't like it?' He whispered back, “are you sure you wouldn't rather go to your apartment?”

 

A resoundingly sweet, “I'm sure” from the astoundingly sweet girl attached to his side ended the debate. She was the boss.

 

“We'll be at my apartment should you need to reach us.”

 

Tatsuki's mouth dropped to the floor, `hentai!'

 

The Quincy and the Princess gathered their school bags, “Tatsuki-chan do you have Ishida-kun's number?”

 

“Yeah, I do. I know how to find you; he's in the school directory.” She waved bye to her friends before gathering her stuff to follow their lead. It was time to go home; her mother was waiting with dinner.

 

“Tatsuki, wait up a moment. Please give this to your mother.” She handed the bewildered girl a sealed envelope.

 

The karate champ took the envelope from Yoruichi, “my mother? Why? How do any of you know my mother?” She flipped the envelope around her fingers looking for some clues that explain anything.

 

Yoruichi laughed, “Please just do it.”

 

“Uh, ok sure thing.” She turned to head out the door before pausing, “Yoruichi-san, Urahara-san, will Orihime be ok?”

 

All three of them heard a freakishly loud high pitched squeal and ran to the source, Orihime. They stopped when they saw the couple was safe in front of the store. Orihime smiled brightly cradling and oogling the two little green things nestled a small plastic box. Ishida smiled just as big, watching every move she made.

 

“Thank Ishida-kun, I love them! They're so tiny and cute!” She kissed his cheek, unaware of the small audience of three that watched from inside the shop. The audience giggled to themselves when they watched the blush burn across the happy boys face.

 

“I'll name them Cupid and Psyche!” She beamed radiantly, “let's take them home.” He blushed deeper. She laced her fingers with his and followed his lead.

 

“Did I see that right? Uh, Urahara-san, Yoruichi-san, did he just give her baby turtles?”

 

The Shinigami pair couldn't hold back any longer. Laughter spilled freely. “Hai, yes Tatsuki, it seems he did.” Urahara squeaked out.

 

“Well there's your answer,” Tatsuki looked confusedly at Yoruichi, “I think Orihime will be just fine, don't you agree?”

 

Tatsuki had to admit, they were starting to make a rather envious couple, “I suppose, we'll just wait and see. Right now I'm worried about those poor turtles. I hope Orihime doesn't try and cook them.” She bounded out the shop and headed home.

 

“What a day huh?” It was pointless for Yoruichi to fight her smile.

 

“Hai, what a day, it's nice to be alive… errr… what the hell is a Shinigami anyway?”

 

Yoruichi kissed her friends cheek and ran off, “By Hentai, I'll see you tomorrow!” Yoruichi couldn't wait to get home, lay down in her Little Bee's lap, and tell her koibito all about her day. Fits of laughter haunted her again, “Oh dear! Soi Fong's going to be so happy when she finds out Kisuke was killed, and so pissed when she finds out he was revived.” She couldn't wait to see the look on her koibito's face, but first… `Where can I get some turtles too?'

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 

Orihime hated the walk home, there were people everywhere. She held on to Ishida's hand so tightly she could swear she heard bones breaking. He was sweet, he tried to talk to her the whole way home to distract her, his thumb tenderly caressed her hand, he carried both there school bags, he purposely took the least congested path to get back to his apartment, and he occasionally stepped right in between her and some unknown stranger when he knew a body collision couldn't be avoided. She was grateful, very grateful. `Ishida-kun is good to me; he takes good care of me.' She resolved to pay him back later.

 

Ishida was nervous when they reached his apartment. It wasn't much, literally! He turned the key and opened the door, bowing slightly for her to proceed.

 

She looked around eagerly. She wanted to come to his place so she could learn all about him, plus she was certain everything would smell like him, she was right. She loved the way he smelled. She wasn't at all surprised by what she saw. Everything was so neat and clean. There was no television. He had a small and very elegant sewing table setup at one end of the couch. The walls were bare, not a single picture anywhere. His place was plain and simple, very minimalist.

 

He watched as she looked around. Occasionally she would run her hand over his furniture, but always with a simple smile on her face. It calmed his frazzled nerves. Well, until she went into his bedroom. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever believe Orihime would ever be in his bedroom, he ran in after her but was too late.

 

“Ishida-kun?” She stood near the night stand holding a picture frame.

 

`Ugh, I'm done for. She's going think I'm a hentai and make me take her back to the shop.' He voice evaded him; nervously he spoke, “Hai, Inoue-san?”

 

“Can we put a picture of you in here too?” She gazed at the single picture frame that housed two pictures, one picture was several years old of a younger flatter Orihime from the first year of middle school and one of her from the beginning of this current semester. She thought she looked lonely in the pictures, she wanted him there too, “and if there's enough room can we put Cupid and Psyche in here too.” She smiled sweetly, “I don't want them to feel bad.”

 

“You want a picture of the turtles and me in there too?” He was stumped, could it be this easy! Every time he felt uncomfortable, she put him at ease and made him feel peace, `and I can't believe she really liked my present too!'

 

She set the picture down and reclaimed his arm. “Can I take a shower Ishida-kun?”

 

“Sure, of course. Let me get you a towel and a washcloth. Did Tatsuki bring you clothes to change into?”

 

“Nope, do you have something I can wear instead?” She idly glanced around. `This is where Ishida-kun sleeps. I best he looks cute sleeping.' She envied his bed covers; all she wanted to do was be near him, to touch him, he somehow soothed her restless reiatsu. Her mind and her powers were much easier for her to control with him near. That and she liked the way she felt in his arms.

 

He couldn't believe she'd be naked in his shower, the same shower that he jacks off in. Cursed hormones, it was disgusting and alluring all at once, `Orihime will be in my shower.' Shivers ran up his spine as he dug through his drawers to get her something to wear, `t-shirt and boxers should be fine.'

 

A girly giggle caught his attention. Orihime was attentively watching him go through his drawers. He pulled out a pair of boxers and she giggled.

 

“What?”

 

“Ishida-kun, all of your boxers look the same.” She held up the boxers he gave her to wear for the night, white boxers with a blue Quincy cross meticulously stitched on one leg.

 

“Hmph,” He shooed her off to the bathroom.

 

Orihime finished up her shower. She slipped on the clothes Ishida had loaned to her for the evening, gathered up her dirty clothes and her used towel and stepped out of the bathroom. “Ishida-kun, do you have a washing machine?”

 

“Hai, let me show you where it is.” For a brief moment everything happened in slow motion as time lagged considerably, he felt as if he were living in the nostalgic moment of a poorly directed romance picture. Orihime was stunning! She was wearing his clothes, he never expected her to look so sexy in his clothes. He starred in at her goofily, completely enraptured at the innocent picture of unrivaled natural beauty which stood only a few steps from his grasp. Her hair was un-pinned, free flowing, and adorably disheveled from being towel dried. The loose strands and fallen bangs framed her face and complemented the slight body flush that lingered from the hot shower. She looked nothing short of ravishingly sexy wearing his white Quincy crossed boxers that brushed against her soft skin. They highlighted every sensual curve of her silky toned legs. His white cotton Karakura High Handicrafts club cotton t-shirt was several sizes to large for her petite body but still stretched out nicely against the force of her large perky breasts.

 

It was Orihime's turn to blush under his intense scrutiny.

 

“Inoue-san, you look… look… you look incredible!” He took a few steps toward her and gently ran the back of his fingers down the side of her face before cupping her cheek in his palm, “you're beautiful!”

 

Her blush deepened as she closed her eyes and pressed her cheek deeper into his palm and sweetly nuzzled him. “I'm glad Ishida-kun. I'm glad you think so.” She'd hoped he liked her, she wasn't sure. He'd never said anything before about how she looked.

 

He pulled her into a tight hug and savored the feeling of her body pressed against his while he combed his fingers through her damp hair. “I'm sorry, you needed the washing machine didn't you?” He didn't want to let her go but managed to pull apart just far enough to get snared in her vulnerable grey eyes, “you really are. You're the sweetest, kindest, smartest, and most beautiful girl I've ever known Inoue-san. You're wonderful, you always have been.”

 

Tears started to well up in her eyes. No one has ever said such wonderful things to her, no one has ever made her feel as wonderful as he does, no on has ever been so gentle and loving before.

 

He smiled sweetly at her and with his thumb he brushed her lone tear away. He brushed her bangs aside and kissed her forehead, then eyebrow, before closing the distance to shyly brush his lips across hers. His lips tentatively teased her lower lip; his movements were slow, uncertain, and deliberate. The restless feelings of heat, desire, and intense need that were slowly building were new, virgin feelings to both of them. He pressed his forehead to rest against hers; the tips of their noses touched and lingered lightly. He reached up to cradle, her face in the palms of both his hands. Their warm ragged breathes taunted one another. The yearning intensified, elicited by the hypersensitive and acute awareness of their closeness, the slightest movements and the faintest innocent touches felt like electricity.

 

He took a chance, hoping he was right and pressed his lips firmly against hers. A soft aching girly moan told him he made the right choice. He slid his tongue along her upper lip and then along her bottom lip before gently nibbling. The weight of her small body was slowly pressing deeper into him. He felt her grip around his waist tighten as she tried to pull him in closer.

 

All of her body's energy migrated to the places where their bodies touched. She slowly sunk and deeper into him, into the exquisite ways he made her feel. His velvety tongue pressed gently between her lips, begging for her permission to explore deeper. Letting her know what he wanted but declaring the choice was hers. She parted her lips slightly and moaned huskily into his mouth as the wet warmth of his tongue slid past the fallen barrier to begin its exploration. He started with the soft underside of her of her upper lip against her teeth, occasionally taking slow detours to explore the silken texture of her inner cheeks before showing the same careful attention to the underside of her delicate bottom lip. Briefly he raked the front of his tongue across the back of her teeth before she felt the underside of his sensuous muscle affectionately massage the top of hers. Fondly he slipped his warm tongue under hers and continued to massage just as sweetly.

 

He loved the soft muffled moans she made into his mouth and was rewarded with a long and deep sensual sound when he pulled her tongue into his own mouth. He suckled softly at first, and then greedily just before they both broke free panting, in desperate need of air.

 

Their breaths were heavy, their lips were puffy, the sensitive skin around their mouths was rosy, their bodies were on fire and at first, the flustered girl and the flustered boy could only manage in unison a simple low spoken, “Wow!”

 

Once the deprivation of oxygen was no longer a concern the violet eyed Quincy boy momentarily wallowed in the afterglow of his first kiss, it was amazing and it was with the only girl he'd ever loved. “Inoue-san, you were my first kiss” he said as he gratuitously basked in her delicate freshly showered feminine scent.

 

They both held each other tighter, they couldn't be close enough. “You were my first kiss too Ishida-kun.” The kiss, it was an innocence left unspoiled by Aizen and the Espada. She looked up at him and smiled brightly, “We were each others first kiss!” She could feel his heart trying to pound through his chest. “Can we do it again Ishida-kun?”

 

That was all that was needed for the sweet mood of innocence to disappear. Hunger and lust filled them both. A frantic need and desire burned in their eyes. He grabbed her face and aggressively seized her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held the back of his head in place, careful to make sure his lips didn't fall from hers. Their tongues battled back and forth, each equally desperate to explore everything about the other.

 

The tall boy and the tiny girl strained to keep the distance between them filled. Refusing to pull their eager lips apart but both in acute need of a better position, he hoisted her off the ground; she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, and pressed her pelvis into his solid stomach. The flesh on the bare skin of her thighs burned where his strong hands held her in place, supporting her light weight.

 

It was his turn to moan deeply, the girl wrapped around him craved him as much as he craved her. His moan deepened and turned to a whine when he felt her strong legs clamp around him. `Only two thin layers of cotton separate are keeping her most sensitive and desirable body parts from rubbing against my bare stomach.' He wanted to touch her, caresses her, he wanted to move his hands over the contours of her body. Driven by auto pilot he carried her to the bathroom and carefully set her down on the sink counter. With freed hands he held her face in place and kissed her even more fervorently before sliding his palms down along the shapely curves of her body and settling them to rest under her t-shirt, just above the elastic of her the boxers. His hands wrapped around her bare skin just above her hips.

 

Desire stood steadfastly in place of rational thought for both.

 

Her hands dropped from around his neck, she pulled back just slightly from the kiss, and he felt something brush past his face. In an instant the feverish kisses came to a screeching halt; Orihime wasn't wearing a bra. Ishida dug his fingers into her waist where he held her still; he was now face to face with what he'd always imagined were the most perfect breast ever made. The most beautiful and precious girl in the world was sitting on his bathroom counter top with her legs wrapped around his waist, lips puffy and red from kissing him, and she wore nothing but a pair of his favorite Quincy boxers. He stared, she just giggled.

 

She thought he was so cute the way the unexpected debut of her breasts turned him into a deer caught in the headlights, almost literally. She was excited, `He likes them! At least I think he does, I really hope he does!' She wanted him to like her breasts, because he liked her. It was important to her. The boys at school always noticed her chest. Some even shamelessly drooled when she was near. Chizuru was always trying to touch Orihime's breasts and bury her face in Orihime's chest, and the Espada they desired her tits greatly… Orihime's chest always seemed to be more important than Orihime herself. Always that was until him, Ishida Uryuu wanted the whole girl, not just her body.

 

She sat patiently and ran her hands through his hair. “You can touch them Ishida-kun.” He was so shy and innocent. She watched him intently, happy to be with him. She studied him; she lived vicariously through his sweet natural reactions to his own comings of age. Something the Aizen had taken from her, something she would never get back.

 

“Huh…?” Ishida loosened his grip on her hips and stood straight up. He reached over and picked up the Karakura High Handicrafts Club t-shirt Orihime had just taken off. It took every ounce of discipline to concentrate on her eyes. “Orihime, you don't have to do that. That's not why you're here. That's not why I'm with you. I don't ever want you to feel like I'm taking advantage of you.” He offered her the shirt, “please, put it back on.”

 

She felt rejected and bashful instincts took over, she grabbed the shirt from him and crossed her arms over her chest to cover herself. “You don't like them Ishida-kun?” She'd never offered herself to anyone but him, and he was rejecting her.

 

He could see the sadness and rejection she felt, it lit her face like a neon sign, “truthfully?”

 

She nodded.

 

He smiled shyly and his face turned a brighter shade of pink than Orihime had eve seen on him before. “They're just like the rest of you… extraordinary, incredible. I… I don't think a more perfect girl or set of breast could ever be made.” He'd never been so embarrassed or achingly hard in his life. His confession magnified his embarrassment 10 times over, but he figured he'd even the playing field a bit. Maybe she wouldn't feel so bad if he embarrassed himself.

 

“Then why don't you want to touch me Ishida-kun?” She felt like crying. `Did Aizen make me so grotesque that even someone who wants me is disgusted by what've become?' Were the malevolent, unwanted, and uncaring touches of the Espada the only thing she'd ever know? She wanted his warmth, his sweet, innocent, and loving touch to purify her. For some reason since last night she he needed him! She needed him, she trusted him, she craved him, she didn't know why but without him she couldn't tell up from down. He made her feel less crazy. Without him to stay her course Orihime knew she would suffocate.

 

“Please please, Inoue-san, don't get me wrong. I do want to touch you, I really-really do! How could I not want to touch you? But is it right? Just because I want to doesn't make it right, I mean you were just raped Inoue-san! It just doesn't seem right.” His erection had been smothered. He could feel his heart sinking painfully in his chest. Orihime and rape should never have reason to be in the sentence. “I don't want to hurt you. I'm scared I will. I don't want you to do something with me you'll regret. I don't want you to regret being with me.”

 

Orihime's face softened and she slipped back into the soft cotton t-shirt that smelled like him. She completely misread his rejection, `he does want me! He wasn't rejecting me, he's just afraid of hurting me. Ishida-kun is so sweet, so thoughtful, so wonderful, and so entirely-too entirely chivalrous!'

 

“Inoue-san, I've been in love with you since middle school. Being with you would be a dream come true. You're my dream girl. You aren't ready to be intimate with someone so soon, and I don't want you to touch me and think of them. I want to help you. I don't ever want you to think that I took advantage of you.”

 

“Arigato for everything Ishida-kun, but… but” he watched as her fists clenched and her face turned hardened, stern and serious. “Please, don't ever again tell me that I that was raped as if that could ever somehow slip my mind! If you want to help Ishida-kun… ask me how I feel. Ask me why I've chosen to do something before concluding that I'm helpless or that I don't have a good reason for the choices I make. Don't treat me like I'm a porcelain doll that can't think for myself!” She wrapped her arms around his chest and hugged tighter than she ever had before. “Please don't be angry at me Ishida-kun, I didn't mean to get mad. Please don't treat me like everyone else I care about does. Please, please don't go. I don't ever want you to leave me.”

 

He hugged her back just as tightly, each lost in their own thoughts. The startled Quincy boy had never seen Orihime even the slighted bit upset; he'd never seen her stand up for herself. `She must have really been pissed to show even that much!' He didn't like being on the receiving end of her displeasure. A mild show of anger from Orihime was scarier than the 2nd Division Captain with intent to kill. “I've never seen you like that before.”

 

“I'm different now… after being there, after what they did.” Orihime paused when for a moment, “I'm different now after what happened with you, last night. I don't understand most of it; I just know I'm different I'm not the same as I once was… you might not love me anymore Ishida-kun. You just don't know it yet.”

 

“Look at me Orihime.”

 

She obliged his command easily and met his ethereal gaze, `he called me Orihime.' “Uryuu… I like Uryuu better. Ishida-kun, is it ok if I call you Ury-kun?”

 

He chuckled, “I'd be most honored if you did Hime-chan.” He leaned in to claim her lips for a long, tender, sweet kiss. “Don't ever ask me not to leave you again Hime-chan. I'm with you for as long as you'll have me.” It was her turn to kiss him.

 

“Ury-kun?” She took a break from his welcoming lips to reach up and remove his glasses.

 

“Hm?”

 

“Why do your eyes look like that Ury-kun. They've been that way since last night. It's so incredible.”

 

He looked over her head into the bathroom mirror. “I don't see anything different.” He leaned closer toward the mirror and tilted his head up and down and side to side, trying different angles, “what do you see?”

 

“Lots of energy, lots of light, reiatsu maybe, power? I don't Ury-kun what it is, but it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It's like you have an endless fireworks finale of white and gold bursting behind your eyes.”

 

“Do they look that way now?”

 

“Hai, since last night. I can see it better in the dark too, like a bright light in a dark room.”

 

“No one else has said anything. Wait, are you telling me that my eyes glow in the dark Orihime?” He felt toilet paper and small fingers lightly clamp the bottom of his nose before a he was commanded to `blow'. “Uh, Inoue-san?”

 

“That's Hime-chan to you mister, and you should blow. Trust me; I can see everything up there with you hovering over me like that to get to the mirror.”

 

Ishida backed away from the mirror and blew. “Uh… thanks, I think? I can't remember the last time someone else did that to me.”

 

“Look up.” She surveyed the results of her their teamwork. “Yay, it's gone.” She crumpled up the tissue and dropped it in the bathroom trash can. “Maybe I'm the only one who can see it then.”

 

“Huh?” `Did Orihime nearly just pick my nose? No one's done that to me since I was 3. It's weird, kind of cute, more weird than cute, but now I know Quincy boogers won't run her off.'

 

“Your eyes, if no one else has said anything, then maybe I'm the only one who can see it.”

 

“Oh yeah that. When did you say my eyes changed?”

 

“Last night when your reiatsu flared, and they don't glow in the dark but they are all lit up. It's more like tiny explosions than a glow. Like in science class, when Sensei Takahashi showed us those pictures of subatomic particles colliding, that's what it looks like.”

 

“Odd.” He flipped off the lights and kept searching himself in the mirror. “You've always been a lot better than the rest of us were in detecting and identifying spirit energy. I wish I could see it. Maybe Urahara or Yoruichi will know. We should ask them.” `My eyes explode; I'd like to see that! I wonder what it is that's causing it. All since my reiatsu flare last night. Ohhhh… damn. I was wondering when that was going to come up.' Uh, Hime-chan, about that. About last night, he began to ramble on, I'm really sorry about that. I don't know what came over me and it wasn't fair of me to do. I couldn't stop it, I tried. I snapped. I couldn't stop thinking of… well, I don't remember much of what happened, just that it did. Did I hurt you at all?”

 

“My butt's cold.”

 

“Oh, uh… here.” He backed away from the bathroom countertop and helped her down. `What happened last night? Does she not want to talk about it? Did she even hear me? Did I do something last night that hurt or scared her?'

 

“We should go to bed Ury-kun.”

 

“Uh ok, sure, give me a moment to get grab some clothes to sleep in, a pillow, and a blanket then I'll be out of your way. You can have my bed, I'll take the couch.”

 

Minutes later Ishida exited the bathroom dressed and ready for bed sporting a white t-shirt and black pajama pants. Orihime had never seen him dressed in anything other than his Quincy battle garb or a button down shirt and pleated slacks. He was always so covered up and starchy looking. He looked so different in casual relaxing clothes. `Ishida-k…I mean Ury-kun isn't just cute, he's gorgeous!' For the first time she noticed how broad his shoulders where, how nicely the cotton shirt draped over his wide chest, and how strong his usually hidden neck was. She watched him bend over to pick up the pillow and the definition of his well toned `V' shaped back press against the soft stretchable fabric. `I bet Ury-kun looks really good naked!' She blushed when she realized what she was thinking.

 

“Hime-chan, is everything ok? Do you need something?... Oh and uh, you're blushing.” He felt the need to point that last part out. `I wonder what's going on in the cute little head of hers. I wonder if she's thinking of me?' He couldn't help but smile; it was now a very likely probability that it actually was him she was thinking of. `A couple of days ago it would have been just wishful thinking that she'd be blushing because of me.'

 

“You can't pick on me if you're blushing too Ury-kun! “ She stuck out her tongue and jumped into is little twin sized bed. “Is that what you always sleep in?”

 

“No, not really. I usually just sleep in boxers, why?”

 

“I was just thinking, it's really not fair.”

 

“What's not?”

 

“You saw me in just boxers.”

 

“I see… you have a point.” He disappeared back into the bathroom. “Give me a second, I can fix that. Just need to brush my teeth while I'm in here too” he hollered out from the other side of the door.

 

Orihime sat in the middle of the bed restlessly fidgeting with her fingers. Sometimes it was just easier to talk to a door than a boy, “Ury-kun… Ury-kun please don't sleep on the couch tonight.”

 

Orihime didn't notice that Ishida poked his head out of the bathroom door to hear her better, toothbrush in mouth hard at work. `She looks so sad.' His brushing slowed the longer he looked at the sad girl sitting on his bed. `I don't like it when she looks like that, but she's been through a lot and these moods swings can't be helped. It'll take time for her to heal. Hime-chan, we're going to get you smiling all day everyday! I promise.' He disappeared back into the bathroom to finish up while he continued to listen to the rest of what she had to say. 'I wonder why she's so sad all of a sudden. She was joking a minute ago.'

 

“I was hoping… if it's not too much trouble I mean; that you might be willing to sleep with me again, hold me like you did last night. I really liked that, and I slept so well too.”

 

Before she got the last syllable out she felt his strong arms wrap around her from behind. He was already in bed and half under the covers, “As you wish Hime-chan; anything for you!”

 

She mockingly poked him in the stomach, “Did you actually just Hirenkyaku from the bathroom to the bed?”

 

“Hai, I missed you. I was in a hurry!” He nuzzled his face in her neck, his heart warmed when she giggled.

 

“You're silly Ury-kun. I never knew you had it in you.” She flipped around in his arms and came face-to-face with his bare chest. Orihime let out that high girly squeal again, dogs from miles around could hear, “I get to see you in just boxers? You changed for me?” She freed herself from his grasp and took an eager nose dive under the covers to see what the body of boy she was quickly discovering she didn't want to live without really looked like.

 

Ishida was fighting the desire to let loose a full rolling laughter. That was until he heard a sharp “Eeeeeap!” come from under the covers. He ducked his own head under to find his Orihime with one hand clamped over her mouth looking wide eyed and guilty, her turn to be the deer in the headlights. Ishida could no longer help himself, he laughed so hard he began to cry. He had no idea what she was up to, but he couldn't help himself, the situation amused him to no end; it was the cutest thing he'd ever been a part of. Orihime was just being the Orihime he knew, and that would always be enough to make him happy.

 

“Thank you Hime-chan, I can't remember the last time I laughed like that. What's going on anyway? Why do you look and sound like you just got caught with your hand in the proverbial cookie jar?” His laughter renewed when he pictured that look she had on her face a moment ago.

 

She just stuck her tongue out again and shot him another mock glare before pulling the covers off of both of them and pouncing the laughing Quincy to straddle his waste. “Ishida Uryuu,” she poked his chest; she was very serious, “where did you get a body like that, you look like a professional gymnast, and why do you hide it?!?”

 

This was getting better and better for him. He wondered if it was all really so funny or if this was all just pent up. Either way, he didn't care. He managed to slowly calm himself, “that's what this is about my body? What did you think I looked like, probably a scrawny geek huh? A scrawny geek can't exactly hold his own against a Shinigami Captain, a Bounty, and an Espada.” His laughter died down but he was still entirely amused. He slid his large hands up her thighs and rested them on her hips. “Orihime, Hime-chan,” he cleared his throat in faux seriousness, “I've decided to keep you. You're very-very cute!”

 

She pinched his nipple, hard, and politely reminded him that he was in fact a geek despite the body!

 

“OUCH!” `Hrm, I kinda liked that!' “So, I take it you like what you see then?” He squirmed around a little for emphasis. The cocky playful tone in his voice couldn't be missed. Orihime liked this side of him very much. She guessed that this was the first time he'd ever been like this and that she was the only one who knew just how special the boy beneath her really was.

 

“You,” She leaned over to kiss him but stopped just shy of his lips, “Sexy, Genius, Quincy boy Ishida Uryuu are an undercover God! I'm on to you now!” She kissed him slowly, sensually, teasingly before pulling away to clear her throat in mock imitation, “And, I've decided to keep you. You're drop dead gorgeous!”

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