Originally this is was just going to be a one shot smut piece inspired from Yanni's 'Forbidden Dreams' and kara-lija's fanart 'Breathless' but it ended up taking a life of its own this fic. I ended up wanting to do a series covering Ichigo and Orihime's first date, kiss and time.

While writing this fic and re-reading it, something about it still feels a bit off to me but I'm still happy with it. Maybe I just feel off that I'm writing something like this for the first time. Yeah….my first time writing a smut fic. Be kind therefore. Don't worry, the smut shall come in later chapters.

Lyrics are from Garbage, Prince and Robert Palmer. Amazing songs and amazing lyrics that just clicked.

Disclaimer: Because my real name is not Kubo Tite, I do not own Bleach. Thank God too because I would have utterly ruined it!

Part I

The soft scratching of pen on paper was the only sound in the room, occasionally broken by a noise by either occupant as they poured over their assignments. Ichigo scratched his head with the pen as he stared down at the maths problem he was solving. Why did he get the feeling that he was making a mistake?

"Orihime."

She looked up at him, "Yes Kurosaki-kun?"

"I can't figure out if I'm doing this right." He slid his notebook over to her and pointed to where he had solved the question. Ichigo watched her as she went over his calculations. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, her eyes intense as they looked over his work in search for any mistake. How long had it been since they had started going out? Two, three weeks?

Stroke of luck or gift from God?
The hand of fate or devil's claws?
From below or saints above?
You came to me.

It was still kind of hard to believe that he was going out with one of the most desirable girls from school. Then again, it was pretty hard for him to wrap his head around the fact that Inoue Orihime liked him. He had known that for quite a while, especially since that time in Soul Society after he had defeated Byakuya. While he was slightly slow in these matters, he did not fail to notice the slight hitch in her voice as she thanked him with tears making their way down her cheeks. At that time he didn't know what to say other than 'Thank you, Inoue.'

After they had come back, everything went back to normal. Or what passed for normal in any case. He spent time with his family, tried to finish all the summer homework that they had been given and took care of any random Hollows that decided to show up. But in between all that normality, he couldn't drive the image of Inoue's glistening eyes as she thanked him for staying alive. They haunted his every moment and made his stomach do a weird flip that he knew had nothing to do with what he had eaten.

He would often go on walks to clear his mind but would find himself walking in the direction of her home or the park near her house. He went shopping in the district near her residence and caught her in the same shop as himself a few times. The courage that had often aided him during his fights would completely fail him at those moments and completely flustered he would resort to hiding behind a stack of canned goods. He would simultaneously curse and praise his luck for bumping into her. He just didn't know how to act around her now. What the hell had happened to him…to them?

A couple of times she came across him when he would be fighting a Hollow and she would wait for him to finish before healing him up, if it were required. She would always wave her hands and say that it wasn't necessary but he would insist. She usually did all the talking on the way back, or more appropriately all the nonsensical rambling that she was quite well known for. While she would talk, he would wonder. She didn't act all that differently in front of him except maybe blush a bit more than normal. She treated him the same as every one else around her. Greeted him in the same peppy manner, smiled at him in the same manner except maybe her smile was a bit more warmer, was always by his side in an instant whether he asked for help or not….He needed an outside opinion on this.

He had ran down the list of possible candidates in his mind. Tatsuki was still away in the High School Competetion so she was out. Keigo…he wasn't even going to go there. Mizuiro was not due to be back in another two weeks from Phuket. Rukia was in Soul Society recovering and even if she was here he really wasn't in the mood to get a scolding and a beating. That left Chad and Ishida. He really didn't want to ask the latter but he always was the most perceptive one from all of them and he often presented the best course of action. He really really wanted that.

His suspicions were confirmed after their meeting and his head had spun at the thought. Shinigami and Hollows he could very easily deal with but how should one act in this situation? He had really wanted to bang his head against a hard wall in the vain hope of clearing his head and getting an answer.

Kinda took me by surprise. I didn't know what to do. I just looked her in her eyes.

Ishida had suggested that maybe he should ask Inoue out on a date and just see where things went from there. Ichigo had turned red and spluttered out that he couldn't do that.

"I'm not sure how I feel about her! That would mean that I have feelings for her too!"

Ishida replied, "You don't dislike her do you?"

"Of course not!"

"Then what's the harm in it? In any case, it would make Inoue-san very happy."

Ichigo couldn't argue with that particular line of argument, he never could. It was also the mantra he kept repeating in his head when he was making his way over to her house. Though, his walking speed was reducing with every step. It felt almost like he was wearing lead shoes. He never felt this kind of apprehension, even when he was facing off Byakuya or clashing swords with Aizen. He jumped when the Shinigami license on his belt went off. They couldn't have made the sound a bit less alarming?! Just as he arrived on the scene, he found a rare sight. Orihime with her long hair flowing in the wind created by her Shun Shun Rikka was fighting off the Hollow on her own.
"Koten Zanshun! I repel thee!"

The Hollow screamed out in disbelief as Tsubaki pierced clean through its mask and body. He watched with amusement as she grabbed Tsubaki and pressed him against her cheek in glee. Tsubaki in turn was not pleased and was fighting tooth-and-nail to get out of her tight grasp.

"Oye Inoue!"

She looked up to where he stood, "Ku-Kurosaki-kun!"

"Oye woman. Mind letting me go now?!"

Obliging Inoue let go of Tsubaki and let him return to her hairpins while she ran up to where Ichigo stood. "What are you doing here Kurosaki-kun?"

He held up the license, "Got a message that a Hollow was here. But you already took care of it."

She laughed in her usual manner as she sheepishly rubbed the back of her head, "Ehehe well I was going back home after getting my groceri….ah! My groceries!" She ran back to get the fallen bag with Ichigo following her shaking his head. Taaku…It was impossible not to worry about this girl. He helped her put the scattered items back in the bag and took the bag from her as they stood up.

"I'll walk you back."

He was slightly surprised when she accepted his offer rather than doing her usual refusals. She smiled up at him, making him feel strangely warm under his collar and his stomach twist in knots.

Their walk back to her apartment had been uneventful and comfortable. Inoue chattering away in her usual manner while Ichigo listened away to her tales of aliens, sumo wrestlers and nikuman eating goats that often came to visit her in summer. He wondered bemusedly where she came up with all these ideas. Before long, they had reached their destination. They stood facing each other, Inoue bowed deeply, "Thank you for walking me back home Kurosaki-kun. Mata."

She took the grocery bag from his, turned and went up the stairs. "Matei Inoue."

She turned and looked at him as he ran a hand through his hair nervously, "I was wondering…are you...doing anything this Saturday?"

She blinked and shook her head, "I'm not doing anything."

A slight blush came over his face, "I was…hoping…wondering actually…that is…." He pulled out a ticket out of his pocket and held it out for her. She took it with a slightly shaking hand, her gaze more hopeful than he had ever seen. That look made the butterflies in his stomach multiply and he tried to speak past the lump in his throat, "I heard that you wanted to see that movie. You wanna go and see it this Saturday?"

"With Kurosaki-kun?" Her face was turning pink as well as she clutched the ticket.

"Yeah."

For that brief moment, Ichigo nearly forgot how to breathe as he waited for her answer. And he wasn't the only one. Inoue stared at him and then at the ticket, then she did something that really confused Ichigo. He raised an eyebrow as she pinched herself in the arm. She yelped slightly at the pain and rubbed the skin and muttered to herself, "Not a dream then."

She back at him, her gaze warm and her eyes shining, "I would be more than happy to Kurosaki-kun."

He let out a breath in relief and smiled back at her slightly, "I'll meet you outside the theater?"

She nodded happily and ran up to her apartment. Ichigo wanted to grin and let out a whoop of delight but he just managed to keep that in check. Instead he settled to walk back home with a small skip in his step. That skip was quickly forgotten when his father's kick came at him from the side.

Their 'date' had gone well. Inoue had enjoyed the Godzilla movie immensely and on the way back she had wondered if she could possibly re-do her Future-Me project from a mecha to mecha-Godzilla. Ichigo had shaken his head in amusement.

She's a craze you'd endorse, she's a powerful force.

"Inoue. I'm pretty sure that doesn't count as possible 'Future Me'.

She had pouted, "Doushite?"

"Well I think the teacher meant something that didn't possibly involve robots. Except if you plan on becoming a robotics engineer and make robots. Not turn yourself into robots."

Her pout deepened, "But that would be so boring, making normal robots! Ah!"

Ichigo turned to her and barely managed to get his arms around her as she crashed into him. Her head was right under his chin and the soft scent of lavenders floated up to his nose. "Inoue?! Are you okay?"

She looked up at him, "Gomen Kurosaki-kun! I tripped over that bit of pavement."

Her voice trailed off as she realized just how close she was too him. She could feel his arms around her – warm, heavy and comforting on her back. She was very aware of the fact that her own hands were resting on his back – hard muscle rippling underneath her fingertips. Their faces mere inches away from each other as they stared at each other, both scared and excited at their closeness. Ichigo withdrew his arms from her waist, a blush racing over his cheeks as he stepped back.

Inoue's blush matched his as they stared away from each other, their hearts racing – one with hope, the other with the possibility that stood a hair's breadth away from him. The rest of the walk back was quiet, both of them sneaking glances at each other. This time, Ichigo walked her all the back up to her door rather than at the foot of the building. She hesitated a moment as she opened the door. She turned to him and gave him a shy, warm smile that made his heart do a funny little flop. "Thank you for the movie Kurosaki-kun."

"It was nothing. You enjoyed yourself right?"

She nodded, "I did."

She seemed to hesitate going in, he noticed. She let go of the door knob and stood in front of him. Before he could blink she placed one hand on his shoulder for support and leaned up to kiss him softly on the cheek. Her soft 'Good night' fell on hot ears as did the sound of the door closing.

Okay…now he had a third option.

My little angel from heaven above. Oh I think I'm falling in love.