213A/N: Plot bunny attack!
Hi again!
Thanks a lot for all the reviews, faves and follows!
To my Guest reviewer – Thank you! Glad you liked it.
So yes, I was attacked by a plot bunny. My imagination did not survive. XD
Title: Seven Minutes Is All It Takes
Summary: What if Ichigo and Orihime were actually honest with each other about their feelings . . . ?
Rating: K+/T
Disclaimer: We've been over this. Bleach = Not mine.
Enjoy!
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Chapter - 30
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'Okay guys, you have seven minutes.' Tatsuki said impatiently, taking away the now-empty glasses and moving to exit the room.
The redheaded not-really-a-couple-yet-couple blinked at her, and then at each other, reconsidering this stupid plan given that Urahara was the one who was helping them. Apparently all their friends were sick of the two of them beating around the bush since forever. So they'd come up with the idea of letting Ichigo and Orihime "talk it out" for once. But of course, that wasn't possible under any normal circumstances. Besides, there was no way that the two stubborn people in question would agree to it. This was where Urahara came in. He'd prepared two glasses of a drink that was supposed to erase their memories seven minutes after Ichigo and Orihime drank it.
'And we're gonna forget what happened when the seven minutes are up?' Ichigo asked skeptically, glancing at the digital clock that had been set on the desk in his room, which was where they currently were.
'Yes.' Tatsuki said exasperatedly, 'So for the love of God, you had better be honest.'
The door shut then, and there was an awkward silence.
'I like your hair.' Orihime said abruptly, and his eyes widened in response. Well, if they had to be honest then why not, she figured.
'I like yours.' Ichigo returned.
'I like your shoulders. They're broad.'
'I like your feet. They're cute.'
'I like your abs.'
He raised an eyebrow.
'What? I've seen you shirtless plenty of times!'
'I like your legs.'
His gaze slid down her body inch by inch before he stopped himself. Let's not go to just how much his imagination liked her legs.
The red-headed healer gasped at his bluntness. She didn't know he'd even looked.
'Is there a way to not notice?' he asked, one of his hands moving to scratch the back of his head in an awkward move.
Well probably not, Orihime supposed. They were kind of hard to miss. Just like something else.
'I like your arms.' She told him.
'I like your butt.' He returned, 'You should wear jeans more often.'
'And you should wear V-neck T-shirts.'
'Your short school shirt is a Goddamn distraction.'
'I think you're hot.'
'You're fucking sexy.'
She blinked up at him in surprise, her mouth falling open.
'What? You didn't realize?'
She shook her head.
'Well yes, you're absolutely fucking sexy.'
She was beginning to believe it with the way his burning gaze was slowly sliding over her.
'Your stare should be illegal.'
'You should be illegal.'
'I think we'd have great sex.' She blurted out, her face turning crimson.
He was taken aback for a moment. Only a moment.
'Definitely.'
She nervously licked her lips and he desperately needed to think of something else. They only had about five minutes remaining. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides as he fought the urge to reach for her.
'I like your hands.' He said.
'I like your hands.'
'I like that I could span your waist with one of my hands.'
'I want to let you do that.'
This wasn't helping.
'I want to hold you in my arms.' He whispered. And suddenly, everything was different. He was struck by just how much and since how long he had wanted that.
'I want you to not let go.' She replied, her eyes shining with something inexplicable that he couldn't name.
'I wouldn't be able to.'
Orihime could hardly form words now, what with the sudden lump in her throat. And her heart thudded in her chest as she finally released the words she had kept caged inside herself for so long.
'I love you.'
A scorching warmth shone in Ichigo's deep brown irises as a tender expression took over his face.
'I love you too.'
'I love your smile.'
'I love your eyes.'
'I love your lips.'
'I'd love to kiss yours.'
They were standing so close now that they were barely separated by a hair's breadth.
'Then do it.'
As if that was all he'd been waiting for, Ichigo dipped his head to press his lips against Orihime's For a moment they stood still, enclosed in their own world of feeling until one of her hands came up to softly brush the side of his face while she ran the fingers of the other through his unruly hair. Then like a statue sparking to life, his hands were on her waist as their lips moved together. Her mouth opened on a gasp and they broke the kiss, foreheads pressed against each other's and hearts racing.
'I like your blush.' He chuckled.
'I like your laugh.'
The words were barely out of her mouth when his arms engulfed her in a tight hug. Her fingers came to rest over his chest and then clenched the material of his black T-shirt.
'We should have done this sooner.' She said.
'We're idiots.'
'Yeah.'
'I love how you try to help everyone who needs it.' He said, resuming their discussion.
'I love how you try to protect everyone.'
'I don't always do a good job.'
'You do it better than anyone else.'
'Thank you.'
'I feel as if I'm so useless.'
'I wouldn't be here without you.'
'Thank you.'
'I wish we wouldn't have to forget.'
'Me neither.'
They hadn't moved away from one another and she felt his every exhale on her cheek. She didn't want to move. But the ticking of the clock on the desk behind them reminded her that time was running out.
'Kiss me again.' She whispered.
He obliged and she met halfway. The sudden urgency picked up as the timer began to count down. His hands untangled from her hair, where they had been to slide down her sides to her hips as their tongues met. Her fingers found his shoulders and she let out a small squeak as he lifted her to sit on his desk. Then they pulled apart and his rough palms caressed her cheeks as he held her face, his dark brown irises captivating her.
'I love you.' He managed to say before she slowly captured his mouth with her own and their eyelids shut.
'IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou.' She breathed against his lips
Ting.
The timer rang and they hated it.
Ting.
They'd go back now. Go back to that unthinkable obliviousness of seven minutes ago.
TING.
The door opened.
'Now was that so hard?' Tatsuki said and the now "totally-a-couple" couple stopped kissing each other to look at her.
'I . . . remember everything.' Ichigo said, ignoring her question.
'Me too.' Orihime agreed.
'Yes, that was the point.' Their friend replied.
Ichigo looked at Orihime to see the bewilderment he felt reflected on her face. Just like the shock, embarrassment, excitement, wonder . . . and more embarrassment.
'So . . . you lied to us?' He asked at length.
'Yes!' Tatsuki replied irritably, 'And you won't forget any of what you've said so deal with it and think about whether you want to have a future relationsh – '
Before she could finish her sermon, the dark-haired karate champion found herself pushed into the corridor with the door to Ichigo's room slammed shut behind her.
Orihime's shocked 'Kurosaki-kun!' and the disturbing giggle that followed it left Tatsuki with no doubt that the earlier snogging session between them had now been resumed with a celebratory touch.
Not that she cared. At least until Orihime started to bother her with how much of a thickheaded idiot Ichigo was being, which as Tatsuki knew, was bound to happen. But till then, she supposed she could be happy for her best friends' finally blossoming romance.
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Tada! There it is!
Truthfully, it might have been somewhat OOC. I've been out of practice a little. . . Anyway, I hope you guys liked it! Lemme know your thoughts and please review!