title. that beautiful girl, she's a beautiful girl
summary. And because he was Ichigo and she was Orihime, nothing seemed to get right in their love story.
note. part 3 and last part of this Valentine and White Day comedy-slash-tragedy-slash–drama fic! LMAO. thanks everyone for your time to read and comment! give me some love, please? :D
disclaimer. bleach; disclaimed.

_.

The sun shined and the clouds remained white in the huge and gigantic background of blue. Earth was such a pretty place, wasn't it? Big, round and floating, spinning round and round in its axis. Nearby, the faithful Moon spun around the Earth. A relationship so precious, it was a perfect and living testament of Endless Love… Spinning round and round, not leaving their orbits… forever. Now the point was, if there was any point at all, we, also, spun around this big, round floating piece of colorful lollipop we call Earth, and we heard a loud…

"OI, RENJI!"

It echoed for one thousand and twenty one times, beckoning us to listen.

Curious, we zeroed in to investigate. Curious, we pressed a button to increase the volume. Curious, we hit zoom. Curious, so very curious, we found the source of the angry voice.

A building.

There was a sound of loud stomping, which later screeched into a halt.

Second floor.

A tangerine – what an odd hair color – haired tall boy was standing in the middle of the hallway. In his hand, he carried something pink and white.

A redhead turned.

"Yo."

There was a snarl and the stomping sounds continued.

Several heads turned. This further aroused our curiosity.

So we waited. And we followed the scene.

The two tall boys were face to face now. We were watching the scene from a window.

With clenched jaws, the tangerine-haired boy held out his hand. The other was flabbergasted.

"Here!"

The young man with red hair looked no longer flabbergasted, but terrified.

"…What the hell, Ichigo… Is that a h-h-h-heart? Are you going to confess, too?!"

Ah, what an interesting drama to tune into.

_.

Angry, Ichigo hit Renji at the top of his head. "Idiot."

"Hey! What am I supposed to think?! You're shoving a heart-shaped… pink and white something with a white ribbon in my face! Of course, I'd deduce—"

"Deduce? What type of a moron will use that kind of word in a normal conversation?!"

"Oh shut up! The fact that you're giving me a heart-shaped something—"

"You shut up! This is not for you, moron. At least not directly."

Renji looked positively pale now. "N-Not directly…"

The vein throbbing in his temple stretched and snapped, and Ichigo hit Renji over the head again. "This is a chocolate."

Renji raised his arms to his chest in an X-shaped position. "I knew it… First, Inoue," Ichigo twitched spastically. "Then you?! I DIDN'T KNOW I'M THIS POPULAR—" Growling, Ichigo punched Renji's forehead. "OUCH! GODDAMN IT, ICHIGO! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?! This! This is unfair! I can sue you for this, you know! Animal maltreatment and this is punishable by death sentence!"

Despite his bad mood and distress, Ichigo grinned, barring his teeth. "Right… Animal maltreatment, you big ape! Why are you such a moron?! Listen first before babbling!"

"Kurosaki! Tattoo-san! Continue your lovers quarrel outside! No yelling in the hallways, punks!" A teacher shouted.

"Shit!" Ichigo grabbed the front of Renji's school shirt and dragged him. They turned to a corner and Ichigo threw Renji against the wall.

"Ichigo… we can't do this—"

Gritting his teeth, Ichigo hit Renji over the head again. "Shut up now or I'll rip your spine out!"

"Jeez…"

"Listen up! Do you have something for Inoue?"

Renji's face scrunched up in question. "What for?"

"Idiot! She gave you chocolates last February 14!"

"So?"

The urge to murder the shinigami before him was all consuming. But Ichigo refused to upset Orihime. She liked this… this… Angry, he shoved the ill feelings of anger, jealousy and misery at the very pit of his stomach. This was not the right time to be selfish. He expected Renji to be clueless about White Day, but it didn't mean that he'll let him disappoint Orihime.

Yuzu had been crying with tears of joy while helping him bake, making tearful, unclear and very confusing instructions while wailing in between about him hitting puberty. He further impressed her by choosing a white and pink paper to wrap his chocolate with. Watching him make tie a white ribbon around the heart-shaped chocolate, his sister also complimented his sense of obligation. This made him remember that this was not a sense of obligation for he didn't receive anything from Orihime last Valentines.

Recalling the incident, Ichigo was tempted to drop in his knees and sulk about the Shoujo-ness of his Real Life but Karin came and made a comment about him being a fool. He was about to snap back but Karin patted his arm and praised him for being ambitious.

"Trying to snag a girl of Orihime-level, Ichi-nii, you're a brave soul."

His misery increased tenfold. He had such a nice and supportive sister who just reiterated why his Real Life Story was a living example of Tragedy.

Ichigo breathed deeply and as calmly as he could, he said, "You have to give her something."

Renji yawned and leaned against the wall. "Why would I give her something?"

If only it was legal to murder a friend.

"She likes you, damn it!" snarled Ichigo.

Renji looked at him with raised brows. "But I don't like her."

Ichigo ground his molars and again, he despaired, why him, Inoue? But he told himself to be a Man and accept his Destiny.

"I don't give a shit about your feelings! You are not going to disappoint Inoue!" He shoved the present in Renji's face. "Here."

Renji gave him a confused look.

"Give this to Inoue."

"Wait a damn minute… You give this to her yourself! You're the one who likes her."

Ichigo stiffened and reddened. "Shut up! My feelings are not important! She chooses you and that's final! Don't hurt her feelings."

"Jeez… you're an idiot."

"Shut up! Now go! She'll be happy to receive something from you, you ass."

"Why am I doing this again?"

"Just go!"

"Fine, fine! No wonder why everybody thinks this is an interesting drama to tune in. Both of you are idiots."

_.

Ichigo chose not to hang out with his friends during lunch. He was afraid that he might crack Renji's face in two perfect halves and that will break Orihime's heart in two perfect halves.

From a rooftop, he looked over the courtyard forlornly, a juice box dangling from between his teeth by a chewed-up straw. He snorted and yanked the juice box from his mouth and threw it aside. He placed his arms over the railing and leaned forward, scowling at nothing in particular.

He scratched his head, grumbled a curse and sulked at the injustice of this world. Why can't people like those people who like them? That way, no one will get hurt and suffer from…sufferings. Humans were confusing species. But maybe, maybe… people unconsciously liked being hurt.

And you sound so out of character, King.

Shut up.

This immense disappointment he was feeling was probably due to his assumptions. Truth be told, he kind of, sort of, assumed that Orihime liked him. And it seemed that he had overestimated himself.

Because why would a woman like her fall in love with a man like him?

Hah. Impossible.

Orihime, for her part, was not to blame. She was naturally kind to all of their friends. She never gave him extra kindness; she never indicated that he was special. True, she worried about him most of the time, but she was just being… Orihime.

"Kurosaki-kun."

He jumped. "Huh?! Wha—" He turned around. His eyes widened. "Inoue?!"

"Hi."

"Err, hey." He gave her a small smile. "Are you looking for Renji? He's—"

"He gave me a heart-shaped chocolate." She cut in quietly. He stared at her and upon realizing that he was openly gaping at her, Ichigo cleared his throat and averted his gaze, ignoring the gnawing feeling in his chest. He forced himself to look at her.

Pretend it was okay. Pretend it was cool. Let her watch him pretend that he was a Cool Guy.

"That's great." But his voice sounded shrill and forced even in his ears.

Orihime bit her lip, a blush coloring her cheeks. He saw her grip the chocolate in her fingers. "He… He said," she paused to breathe deeply. She looked up to him.

"He said it was from you."

_.

The world, the universe, or whatever it was… it hated him. Ichigo was fucking sure of it.

"Kurosaki-kun, I—"

"No." He was not going to allow her to apologize for not liking him. He refused to hear her say 'sorry, Kurosaki-kun, but I'm in love with someone else.'

Ishida was right.

This is a television drama. I've seen this before. This lacks originality. This—

You're pathetic, king.

He didn't answer back.

"Kurosaki-kun, please, I'm—"

"Don't." He saw her flinch at his tone. He quickly added, "I mean, it's okay!" He patted her shoulder, grinning awkwardly. "I understand. Perfectly. Definitely." He nodded stiffly. "Don't worry. You don't have to apologize."

"But Kurosaki-kun—"

"I really understand." Ichigo emphasized the second word, wanting to get away, fast and far, far away from her because there was this annoying feeling inside of him, and actually, he wanted to punch something, slay something. But at the same time, he also wanted to stay with her because she was looking at him like that.

"Besides," he exhaled. "Why would you like someone like me? Of course, you won't. And it's okay. Really." She tried to speak but again, he cut her off. "Look, I'll see you later, OK? Renji will turn up later, I'm sure." He walked past her rigidly.

"Kurosaki-kun, wait!" He felt her grab his sleeve and tug him back. He looked at her over his shoulder.

"Inoue, it's okay—"

"No!" He was startled at her persistence. "It's not okay…" Her grip tightened. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." He hissed, his eyes dark.

"I have to!"

"No, you don't!" As gently as he could, he pried her fingers off of his sleeve but instead of pulling away, Orihime latched on his hand. Ichigo stiffened at the feel of her slender fingers wrapping around his.

"It was a mistake."

Ichigo looked into her wide eyes. "What?"

Her grip tightened and he tried to ignore how so goddamned good it felt. "I… That Valentine's Day… I… I…" She was blushing harder, her cheeks as red as her lips. "I gave Renji-kun the chocolate by mistake! I wasn't looking… I kept my face down… I was so careless and scared that you might r-reject me so I didn't look up and check… I…"

It was long and wordy, but Ichigo caught the gist of it.

"You… You thought Renji was me?!"

Orihime looked even more embarrassed, holding his hand tighter. "I'm so sorry… Didn't he tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"That everything was a… misunderstanding?"

"That…"

"Even Kuchiki-san?"

"She knew too?!"

"Um…" She lowered her long lashes, biting her lip. "Everybody knows… that… you…you are the one…" She was redder than before, her chest rising and falling evidently.

And here I am… wallowing in self pity?!

"I'm so sorry…"

"Don't be! I…" To his slight disappointment, her grip loosened and her fingers let go. Her hand went back to clutching the chocolate heart.

"I… I understand if you want to take this back." Slowly, she held out the chocolate he made. "You're probably appalled at the silliness of the situation." She smiled in understanding but her lower lip was trembling. He looked into her misty, caramel-colored eyes. "And how silly I am. So it's okay if you change your mind about… me."

"Inoue…"

"You don't have to apologize or say anything." She swallowed and continued determinedly. "I understand."

He only stared at her, making her blush more.

"…You're right," Ichigo said, eyes dark and heavy-lidded.

Her lips parted.

"I don't have to say anything."

Her eyes widened when Ichigo leaned down and pressed his lips on hers. She felt his hand cupping the side of her head, pressing his lips closer and harder into hers. He pulled back, and stared at her flushed, surprised face.

He smirked.

She blushed and smiled shyly.

"I… I really," she paused and stepped closer, looking up at him. He grinned crookedly, waiting for her to continue.

"What?"

She licked her lips and smiled brightly. "I…" Her skin tingled when Ichigo lifted a hand and gathered her hair in his fist to stop the long strands from whipping around them. She felt her knees shake when Ichigo leaned closer, their breaths touching each other.

"I like you," she whispered softly.

In the end, The Universe seemed to love Ichigo and Orihime, for it continued to spin without any distractions. The asteroids remained in the asteroid belt, the sun did not giggle and the clouds did not happily piss on people that day to allow The Confession and Happy Ever After to happen.

"I am in love with you."

He stared at her for a moment; Orihime determinedly stared back albeit blushing. And then, he grinned. She smiled widely as well. Somehow, the words were easier to say.

"You make me feel like I'm having sugar overdose. There are caterpillars inside me that tickle me, that makes me giggle when I think of you. And you, you…" She grinned cheekily. "You smell really… nice."

"Mmm." Ichigo kissed her forehead. "You smell nicer."

Orihime laughed and lifted the heart-shaped chocolate between their chins. "Can I have a bite, please?"

"Sure. It's yours," Ichigo said, shrugging. He let go of her hair and let them fall around her. She beamed and carefully peeled off a portion of the wrapper. He watched her sink her teeth into the rich, dark, milk chocolate. She blinked a couple of times, looking confused.

"What's wrong?"

She blinked up at him and bit off a small portion, chewing delicately. "Nothing's wrong!" she chirped.

"Is it too sweet?"

She blushed.

"Orihime?"

She blushed even more. Ichigo arched an eyebrow at her, urging her to answer. Orihime licked her lips and cocked her head to the side. "Um, I think you forgot to… add sugar?"

"No way. I put lots of sugar. Let me have a bite."

"No, it's okay! It's very delicious! I love it very much!" But Ichigo took her wrist – such a tiny thing – and bent down to take a bite, exactly where she took hers.

But because he was Ichigo and she was Orihime, nothing seemed to get right in their love story.

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

Ichigo screeched, horrified. His eyes were almost popping out of his very pale face. "I didn't forget sugar! I… Oh fuck no! I fucking put salt, damn it!"

"But it tastes nice…" Orihime said innocently.

"No, it's not!" Petrified, he grabbed her shoulders, looking down to Orihime's earnest face. "Spit it out!"

"But it's inside my stomach…"

"ARGGHHH!"

"It's okay, Kurosaki-kun! I like the taste and it melts in my tongue, look!"

Why, oh, why can't his and her love story end normally?