Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. If I did I would be a Japanese man named Kubo Tite. And I'm not.

Evading the Question

Spring.

Spring, spring, spring, spring, spring . . . ah, spring. That glorious time of year when

"a young man's fancy turns to love," even a young man with such a wintry disposition as Ishida Uryuu.

"So, you're not in love with Rukia-chan?" Was Inoue Orihime's surprised response to the answer of her earlier question to Ishida Uryuu. This scintillating conversation was taking place on their walk home from school. The way to Ishida's house was part way in the direction Orihime took to get to her apartment. Usually it was Tasuki who walked with her but, today she had to go to a karate competition with the martial arts club. But, back to the conversation . . .

"No, Inoue-san, I'm not in love with Kuchiki-san. What caused you to come to such a conclusion?"

"Well, when you made that dress for Rukia-chan back in Soul Society—"

"But, I made new clothes for you, too. And Sado-kun."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot!" Orihime lightly punched her forhead. But then she suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned to look Ishida full in the face. "Then, who do you like, Ishida-kun?"

Just when did it begin?

He first met her their freshman year of high school, which was just last September. Ishida had merely written off Orihime as an airhead and decided to pay her little heed. But, when she joined the sewing club he could not help but take notice of her deftness with a needle. He often, inconspicuously of course, admired her work, especially when she finally finished that pink teddy bear she spent half of the month working on.

Once, Ishida had gotten up the nerve to compliment her. He had walked up to her desk and just stood beside it until he got her attention, then without looking at her he murmured, "good job," then walked away. He didn't dare look back and so missed the wide smile that spread across Orihime's face.

The next thing Ishida noticed was her kindness and extreme naivety. Then, he caught himself, finally, admiring her long, flowing red hair and "nice" figure. Not since his grandfather died, had Ishida held someone in very special regard. It almost frightened him how much he found he cared for Orihime. Never had he been so angry when that shinigami, back in Soul Society, decided to attack Orihime while she was off her guard.

"Ishida-kun?" Orihime's gentle voice brought him back to the present.

Ishida stared at the girl then scanned their surroundings as if expecting advise from the trees or the stop sign.

"I . . ." Ishida saw a spot on his glasses. "Excuse me," he said and began to clean the lenses with his shirt. He cleaned them slowly and deliberately, hoping, nay,praying that by the time he was done Orihime would have forgotten about her question. It was a possibility, it being Orihime and all.

Finally, Ishida stopped and with a sigh he moved to put his glasses back on. Two small hands stopped him mid-way. Orihime then got on the tips of her toes and leaned her face close to his. Ishida's eyes widened and he felt himself begin to break into a sweat. His gaze went straight to her nearing lips.

"I never noticed, with your glasses being on all the time . . . You have pretty eyes, Ishida-kun," Orihime murmured.

"Thank you, so do you." The words were already out of his mouth before he even realized what he was saying. Ishida, thanking his stars for once that he was near-sighted, was treated to the sight of a faint blush rising on Orihime's cheeks.

"I mean--"

"Arigato, Ishida-kun," Orihime replied with a wide smile and sank back onto her heels.

The two walked the rest of the way in silence and it was not until they parted ways that Ishida relaxed. Orihime had forgotten about her question after all.

To be continued . . .