(Author's Notes:) I'm crazy… I really am! I'm digging my own grave by posting another story, but this little plot bunny has been swimming around for about 3 months, so I'm finally giving up the mental battle, and posting! I don't really remember much about Bleach, so you readers will have to point out blatant mistakes. :D This will be mostly in Orihime's p.o.v, though I might include other characters, and third person at times.
For his Love: One girl's quest to find a prince
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Act one: strawberries amour
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My name is Inoue Orihime.
…
It's very nice to meet you!
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Um… there's really not much to tell about me…
I like Asian flower print cloths, comedies… hm, I also like… food! Food, you see, is a gift given from the heavens above, and it is one of the pleasures of daily life… Without it, we die. With it, we live. I like cheese and butter in particular…very soft, very creamy… mmm… There's also this wonderful new bread out in the bakery down the street… You should try it! It's really good! There's grains and stuff in it, but they (the bakers, I mean) sweetened it with honey and fruits, so it's really really really tasty! (You should try it with some butter on it… )
Let me see… I also like animals of almost all kind… especially cuddly, small animals! They're just so adorable, so cuddly! But… I don't think I'd take good care of a pet… I'm kinda klutzy, and forget things sometimes.
I'd probably forget to feed my pet… There was time in 2nd grade, where there were two hamsters in our classroom. Feeding and cleaning duty was given out to the students on different days… And come my turn, I forgot that I had to feed the hamsters (Their names were ramen and Udon, by the way… no idea who named them…)… and clean the cage over the weekend. I mean, it's not my fault! Really, it's just that… my mind has this habit of wandering off into it's own world… … … Ok… so anyways, when we came back to class, the hamsters were almost… um… dead… and the class really smelled….
Yeah…
……
Uh…
……
…
…
But it really wasn't my fault! I mean, I didn't do it on purpose!
… SO, back to our main topic: about me.
I really don't have much to say… I also like bread, food, romances, shojo manga, occasionally shonen manga, and sunny days! There's so many things to do on sunny days! And school (sometimes) because I get to see my friends! Flowers are beautiful… it's a pity to pick them, but look at itthis way… they'll die in a couple weeks anyways, why not give them the attention they deserve by taking them home? And candy… Candy is one of those things that I know I'll miss when I go to heaven… or… do they have candy there? I'm not sure… I've never been there. (I've been to soul society before though! It was rather like… our world, I must admit. Except more structured. I didn't see any candy there.) I like cute things, food, movies, fruits, and the colors white, pale blue, pale pink, lavender, pale shades of green, yellow, white, pale pink, and… orange.
In fact, I love the color orange.
Why, you ask?
Because, you see, orange, is the very unique link between, me, and … a … very, special person that I know. (Did I mention that I also love fruits? Well, I do. Especially strawberries! Yay! I love strawberries! Strawberries! They are good! They are my friend! )
Orange, is the color of my hair.
…
Well, not exactly orange, but close to it! My hair is… more like a copper-ish color, even though I'm full blooded Japanese. (At least, I think I am… I mean, what else could I be? …… No, I refuse to think of this. I am Japanese, ok!) And my hair color is completely natural! … I used to be ashamed of it, because I was teased a lot as a kid. But… I found friends as I grew up, so now, everything's fine!
……
I'm currently walking down the street to the grocery store. I only have a couple vegetables and random leftovers left. There's not even a drop of milk left in the carton. It's just an empty carton sitting in the fridge. I probably drank it and forgot to throw it away.
So there I was, walking into my favorite market, doing my shopping, when in walks a certain orange-haired male.
Yes, there is another orange-haired person in my vicinity.
You know what's even better?
He goes to my school.
And even more better… he's in my class!
We're the only two people I know of in our school to have natural orange hair, even though we're Japanese. Cool, huh?
Yeah… I mentioned I like strawberries, right? (If I didn't, here's my advice to you. Buy some strawberries. NOW.)
So anyways, the name of the guy?
…
Ichigo Kurosaki.
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(3rd person)
"Kurosaki-kun!"
Inoue ran up to the orange-haired male, cheery smile on face. Ichigo turned, precariously holding onto several apples in his hands. His face, automatically in scowling mode, cleared a bit when he caught sight of the familiar girl.
"Oh, Inoue… hi…" He greeted, bending down to drop the apples into the shopping cart near him. He straightened, gave a half smile. Inoue's cheeks flushed a delicate pink.
"Are you doing household shopping too?" She asked, her eyes moving to the almost overflowing shopping cart. Ichigo gave an almost sheepish scowl.
"Uh, yeah… just some restocking of food items…"
As if on cue, a thundering yell echoed down the white, gleaming tiles of the grocery store.
"I- Chi- Go!"
Scandalized customers turned to stare as a black-bearded man came bounding down the aisle towards the two adolescents. Ichigo paled, and hurriedly turned to leave.
"Eh, I've gotta go, ok?" The vibrant-haired male pushed desperately at his loaded cart, but it was too late. The bigger man overtook him easily, and caught the orange-haired boy in a bone-crushing neck lock. Ichigo sputtered, his face turning an angry red. "LEMME GO, YOU OLD MAN! DAMMIT, I SAID GET OFF!"
"ICHIGO! MY DEAR SON, I'VE BEEN SEARCHING ALL OVER THE STORE FOR YOU!"
Watching, Inoue winced at the giddy, overly-excited man's loud voice.
"I SAID, GET OFF ME!"
"OOF!"
Ichigo crashed his head into his father's face, causing enough pain for the man's painful hold on his neck to loosen. Isshin staggered back, dramatic tears in his eyes. By now, a small crowd had gathered. Inoue shrank back towards the shelf, feeling conspicuous. Ichigo's father suddenly looked the girl's way, his face brightening.
"Eh?" Pain conveniently forgotten, the black-haired man bounded towards her. "Who might you be, miss?" He grasped her hands, shook them energetically. "I know I've seen you before, but I'd remember such a pretty face." Here, Isshin winked broadly, much to Inoue's horror. An elbow crashed into the back of Isshin's head, knocking the big man aside.
"Yeah, you know her. She's my friend, Inoue, remember?" Ichigo growled. Isshin's face fell, dramatic tears once more making their ways to his eyes.
"WHY?" He howled, throwing an impromptu kick at Ichigo, who stumbled into the shelf, knocking over several boxes of cereal. Inoue watched in bemusement. The manager came hurrying over, walkie talkie in hand. "WHY ARE YOU SO CRUEL TO ME, DEAREST SON OF MINE?" Said son threw an angry punch at his father's stomach, who doubled over, wheezing out broken words. "Aa… pain… hurts… can't… breathe…"
"Good." Ichigo grunted. The orange-haired male threw an apologetic wave at Inoue. "Eh, I'll be going then. See ya."
The copper-haired female gave a bright smile, and watched her classmate singlehandedly push the shopping cart, dragging his father behind him. She was left surrounded by a sea of cereal boxes and cookie packages, strewn all over the aisle.
Inoue let out a sigh, and turned to apologize to the manager, who was puffed up with indignant anger.
"I'm sooo sorry about that, sir!" She started. "But you see… those two are mentally unstable patients, recently released from the hospital…"
…
…
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(Inoue's p.o.v.)
That, was Kurosaki-kun. And his father.
His father's our town doctor.
But anyways, that was Kurosaki Ichigo.
DON'T YOU DARE MAKE FUN OF HIS NAME. Or of him, period. What's wrong with strawberries anyways, huh? They're good for you, and look so pretty! I mean… They are also manly. Very much so. Yep. Strawberries are god's gift to this world. Food.
He's the coolest man to walk this earth, and nothing anybody does or says can change that.
You wanna know why he's so cool?
Because he has orange hair.
Yes, that's right.
Natural orange hair.
And he has this scowl on his face all the time. It's rather one of his endearing characteristics. He has no idea how adorable he looks, always trying to look so tough… Not that he isn't…! He is! Very tough! The toughest man to walk this earth! And nothing nobody does or says can change that.
He's also very sweet. Caring.
Looking at him, you wouldn't know it.
I mean, that scowl, and he's rather muscled too. (I don't stare blatantly at him or anything, but close-up, it's rather obvious.) Not over-muscled like one of my friends, Sado-kun… but just muscled enough to look like he's not a wimp, and lithe enough to make him look agile and quick. Which he is. He's the fastest person at our school, far as I know… And nothing anybody does or says can change that!
He's very loyal. That's important. Loyalty keeps friendships together, you see.
Kurosaki-kun is the best guy on this world, honestly.
I don't know why all the girls at our school don't fall all over themselves when they see him coming down the hall. Nope. That job's been taken by one Ishida Uryuu. Heartthrob of our school. But that's beside the point. I guess it's a good thing that the other girls don't think Kurosaki-kun too attractive. (I have no idea why, but they don't. I mean, he's sweet, caring, loyal, athletic, strong, and good-looking to boot. Except that he always scrunches his face in that scowl, so you can't really tell. But no worries!)
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So why all this fuss over Kurosaki-kun?
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Well… truth be told… heh heh… uhm… this might come as a surprise but… I… actually have a crush on him.
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Yes, that's right.
I, Inoue Orihime, have a crush on Kurosaki Ichigo.
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My brother once read me fairy tales of princesses and kingdoms, and happily ever afters.
Well, I'm determined to find the man of my dreams (cough cough, Kurosaki-kun, cough) and make him fall in love with me!
Kurosaki-kun… I'll do whatever I have to in order to make you fall in love with me!
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-------------------- attempt one end-------------------------
(Author's Notes:) Hm. I might continue this. It's meant to be fairly short, so don't expect too much. Pairings will be revealed as we go on:D … Hope it wasn't too OOC