Title: Chasing Paper Tigers Like Dreams

Rating: M

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Orihime scrubbed at the last spot on her back teeth before spitting into the sink. She eyed herself in the mirror, rinsed her brush and dropped it back into the holder.

Her cheeks were darker than normal, which wasn't strange; they usually were after she woke up in Ichigo's bed. But unlike every other morning, today, Ichigo had woken up beside her. And despite several attempts not to ruminate on it until after some of the newness had worn off, flashes of the previous night and subsequent morning continued drifting lazily into her thoughts.

Orihime smiled.

He'd been quite adorable with a hint of red on his cheeks.

Although, that tell-tell sign of embarrassment had been covered fast enough, scowl falling back into place, even though it seemed to lack its usual severity and he looked more contented than she'd seen him in a long while.

And that was enough.

Maybe it would be more normal in this situation to second-guess her decisions or to regret them altogether. But she couldn't. If nothing else came of it, just knowing she'd helped him find some fleeting happiness… That would be enough for her. Was that selfish? She wanted him to be happy. And whatever capacity he needed filled, anything she had to give, she would offer. After all, there would never be anyone else to save herself for. There hadn't ever been anyone else. Only him.

So maybe, in that way at least, she had been selfish.

And it wasn't regret she felt. Far from that. She was glad it happened. They just hadn't really discussed where things stood with this new development, and the uncertainty, the feeling of being caught so completely off-balance, was disconcerting. Like the downward swing of a rollercoaster tugging at her insides.

She was confident though, whatever decision he made, she could accept.

Although that didn't make waiting easier. It also didn't mean she'd pass up the opportunity to be more if it stood willing and waiting in front—

Orihime jumped as her phone vibrated in her robe pocket.

Fishing it out, she took a calming breath before stepping out of the bathroom and flipping it open, slippery fingers nearly flinging it down the hall before catching it again.

"A-Ah…! Hello?"

"Orihime-chan?"

She stiffened.

"…Owner-san." Orihime licked her lips, reaching up to steady the phone to her ear with both hands. Why hadn't she checked the number…? "H-How are you feeling? Is there something I forgot? I can come by and pick it up."

He laughed, the raspy timber of his elderly voice tickling her ears.

"No, no, Orihime-chan, it's nothing like that. I am stronger now, child, you worry too much about an old man." He chuckled again before quieting. "I was surprised to hear what happened between your young friend and my son. Very disappointing, Orihime-chan."

Orihime swallowed, not sure how to respond. She had truly loved working for the elder Ijimekko if not the younger.

"But to lose my best worker over such a trifle. It is a shame…"

"I understand, Owner-san. And… And I'm very sorry—"

"I want you to come back to work, child. These are not your usual behaviors, but the result of bad influences, yes? This small matter of disrespect can be overlooked."

Her mouth opened several times before forming sound. "Disrespect…?"

"Provided, of course, you are willing to make apologies, we will put this behind us and get Orihime-chan back to work! My customers, Orihime-chan, they are missing your smile." He laughed again.

Orihime blinked.

She had no idea what he was talking about. Just what had Ijimekko told him?

But the opportunity return to work… To have her old job back…

She swallowed. "I understand. You want me to apologize to Ijimekko-san."

"Not just Ijimekko. It should be to the entire shop, Orihime-chan. It wouldn't do to have my employees think such insolent actions will go unpunished."

"…I see." She took a deep breath. "When would you like me to come by?"

"Today, Orihime-chan. And then tomorrow you can be prepared to work hard!"

He gave another hearty laugh before the bidding a cheery goodbye as the line disconnected.

She looked at her phone.

"You're going to do it?"

"Eh…?"

Orihime spun to find Ichigo standing in the open door. His scowl was partially hidden behind long, spiky orange bangs, but she could see his jaw tighten. Unbidden, her eyes followed the line of his throat down the collar of his white button down and to where the strap of his messenger bag held it tight across the upper muscles of his chest.

She flushed. "Kurosaki-kun. What are you doing back…"

"I forgot something." He shut the door, dropping his bag into a chair. "You're really going to apologize to that asshole?"

"I… I need a job, Kurosaki-kun. I can't do nothing."

"There are other places to work."

Orihime closed her mouth, ducking her head.

There were, but she wanted that job…

He made it sound easy. As if pride was everything, and maybe for him it was… But it just wasn't for her.

"I don't mind."

Ichigo's brow furrowed more, and he stared at her as if trying to solve a difficult problem before looking away. He took a long breath and let it out. "It's your choice."

Orihime blinked up at him.

His tone of voice made it clear that he didn't like that choice either. But he was willing to respect it anyway.

Her throat tightened.

"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun."

He pressed his lips, scowling. "I think you can call me Ichigo now."

She jerked. "Ah…! R-really?"

He didn't budge and she flushed under his scrutiny.

"O-Okay."

He crossed his arms over his chest, the faintest trace of pink decorating his cheeks. "Don't get so worked up about it."

She smiled, laughed, still feeling him watching her, and wondered if a heart could swell too big for a chest. It was reassuring on some level to know he was just as embarrassed as she was, even if he was less willing to show it.

But he'd gotten quiet.

She swallowed the last of her laughter. "Um… What did you forget?"

A finger touched her jaw and she jumped.

"Wha—"

Ichigo tilted her face up and kissed her.

She didn't even know he'd moved.

His mouth was warm and firm, lips grazing hers, and she took a sharp breath, suddenly so aware of him and only him. He grasped her neck with one hand and tilted her head back further with the other, mastering her easily.

When he released her, the room was spinning and she wasn't quite steady on her feet.

Ichigo smirked. "That."

She blinked up, not entirely certain she would survive this new and unexpected side of him. He looked quite proud of himself.

"Oh."

"I need to go," he said, fingering a piece of her hair. "If I'm late, dad'll save me all the difficult patients again."

Orihime smiled at the face he made, stepping back and saluting. "Duty calls, Kurosaki-sensei."

He arched a brow, eyes glinting. "Kurosaki-sensei, huh? We'll have to talk about that."

She gave a nervous laugh, looking anywhere but at him. It sounded like some sort of undisclosed promise.

She shivered.

Ichigo chuckled, released her, and retrieved his bag, letting himself out with a smile and a wave.

Orihime returned it until the door closed and then dropped to the couch, boneless.

Was he planning on kissing her like that often?

She flopped over on the couch and buried her face into a pillow, whimpering until her temporary mortification passed.

Uh…. She didn't have time for this. She needed to get dressed and to the store. The sooner she got this over with the faster that part of her life could get back to normal.

With one last groan, Orihime rolled off the couch and went to get dressed, brushing her hair before clipping her pins to the neck of her shirt. She locked the door behind her and pocketed her newly minted key with reverence before turning to trudge down the stairs.

Was she really going to do this?

If she wanted her job back, there wasn't much choice. But it felt… shameful.

What Ichigo had done, he'd done to protect her. If she apologized, it would be the same as faulting him. As saying he'd been wrong.

She slowed then stopped on the sidewalk.

And if she censured him for defending her, wasn't that like betraying his trust?

Sighing, she hung her head, barely noticing the people passing around her.

She couldn't do it.

It wasn't right.

She wanted her job back, but getting it this way... No. She needed—had to tell the truth. Even if it was difficult.

Orihime started again, picking up the pace, afraid to give her brain time to rethink the new plan.

Making it to the store in record time, she felt her stomach tighten as she saw the employees gathered behind the glass. The front door was propped open, waiting for her no doubt, and the owner was speaking to them, his gray hair piled into an old-fashioned bun atop his head. It was just the way she remembered it, with his crisp apron tied securely around his waist.

And behind him, his son stood.

Orihime kept her face neutral as he turned to smile at her when she entered, focusing on the much smaller man in front of him.

Ijimekko senior brightened as she entered, eyes almost crinkling, but kept his enthusiasm masked behind a serious expression. "Are you ready to offer your apologies?"

She took a deep breath. "I-I'm afraid I can't do that."

There was a murmur through the gathered employees.

The owner's face twisted. "Eh? But why not, Orihime-chan? I don't understand, then why did you come?"

His face was a mix of stunned and genuine sadness. She didn't want to hurt him, but he needed to know what had been happening in his shop, and honesty was the only decent thing she could offer him.

"I came to say…" She paused. It was harder than she'd thought.

"Orihime-chan?"

She looked into his face, the sweet, wrinkled face she'd worker for since high school as he furrowed his brow in confusion, and strengthened her resolve.

"Owner-san, when we talked on the phone, you said that Ijimekko-san had been disrespected. But that isn't true at all. The truth is that Ijimekko disrespected you, your shop, and your employees by acting inappropriately with the female staff."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Orihime-chan, what are you saying?"

She opened her mouth, but never got the chance to speak.

"I think it's obvious what's going on here." Ijimekko's eyes narrowed behind his father, his hands clasped behind his back. "Inoue-san is jealous you chose your son, instead of herself, to run your business."

He walked toward her and she had to keep her feet from stepping back.

The younger Ijimekko spread his arms to the employees, then the shop. "We don't have time for this, Inoue-san. The rest of us have been more than capable of acting like a team. But your envy corrupted you and so you set that boy on me." He nodded, sharp, confident, and glanced to his father. "But there's no need to take my word for it, otou-san. You can ask them yourself."

Ijimekko senior frowned and turned toward his female staff, waiting for anyone to speak and verify Orihime's words. They fidgeted but they remained silent.

Orihime kept her back straight, refused to waver in her conviction.

"You see? Nothing but lies."

"You're right it's nothing but lies, except you're the goddamn liar."

Orihime gasped, turning to see Ichigo leaning against the wall back by the door, arms crossed. Relief flooded her chest as his eyes flicked to hers, softening before it was gone and they locked somewhere over her shoulder.

Behind her, she heard Ijimekko take a quick step back.

"It's clear to anyone with eyes that they're afraid of you."

The owner stepped forward, displaying none of the fear of his son even though he was only half Ichigo's height. "Young man, who are you? Are you the one that struck my son?"

Ichigo nodded. "My name's Kurosaki."

"Hm? Kurosaki? You Isshin's boy?"

Ichigo made a face. "Yeah…? You know him, I guess…"

The elder Ijimekko barked a hearty laugh, his stern disposition melting. "That's right! He set my hip a few years back after a bad winter. Quite the character." He nodded, a smile covering his crackled face. "A good man. So tell me, why is his son attacking mine?"

Ichigo couldn't deny he was surprised. Of all the things he had expected upon entering the shop, this wasn't any of them.

But he could see the flicker of panic in Ijimekko's eyes at his father's words, and Ichigo felt a feral grin tugging at his lips. Must not have been what he was expecting either.

"To be honest, old man, your son's kind of a bastard."

Ijimekko jerked in protest. "Hey—"

"Be quiet," the elder admonished.

"But…" Ijimekko looked between his father whose gaze hadn't wavered to Ichigo who stared right back. "But…"

"Continue."

"He's letching on the girls here and then bullying them into silence. And if you were any kind of father, you wouldn't let him keep doing it."

The older man raised an eyebrow. "That is a heavy accusation. My employees don't seem—"

Ichigo huffed. "Ask them again."

Ijimekko senior watched him a second longer before turning to the staff. "Has my son acted inappropriately toward any of you?"

No one spoke and Ichigo's fist clenched.

Damn. What was wrong with these—

A small dark-headed girl stepped forward. She didn't look at Ijimekko as she nodded. "It's true. We've all seen it."

He saw Orihime press a hand to her heart, lips moving in what he guessed was the girl's name before someone else spoke up and heads began to nod, mumbles of agreement echoing around the room.

Finally.

Ijimekko was pale as his father turned to him.

"T-That's not… It isn't—"

"Hunei."

Ijimekko straightened. "Yes, otou-san…?"

"You have made it shameful to me that I have no other heirs." The old man's eyes were hard. "So, you choose to act like a child? I will give you a child's job. Go sweep the sidewalk. I will be dealing with you soon."

"But I… I…" He dropped his head to the floor. "Y-Yes, otou-san."

Ijimekko shook as he passed, not sparing Ichigo a glance.

"Orihime-chan."

Inoue perked up. "Yes, owner-san?"

"I'd like to speak with you, child, if young Kurosaki here will spare you."

Inoue turned to look at him and he shrugged, heading out the door to watch Ijimekko begin his new job.

A few minutes later Orihime emerged, excitement dripping off her. She spared the sweeping man a quick glance before taking Ichigo's arm and almost pulling him down the sidewalk. She released him a few seconds later.

Her smile stayed fixed in place and she bounced more than walked. "Owner-san hired me back."

He glanced down at her wide smile. "That's great."

"With a promotion to associate manager."

He chuckled. No wonder she was so happy. "So Ijimekko works for you now?"

She missed a step. "I hadn't thought about that. Do you think it will be weird?"

"Nah, you can tell me if he gives you trouble."

"Kurosaki-kun—"

"Ichigo."

She turned pink.

"I-Ichigo."

She was quiet for a second and he wondered if she'd forgotten what she was going to say. When she spoke, there was no small amount of wonder in her voice.

"You came."

He scowled. "Of course I came."

"I hope your dad isn't upset."

Ichigo coughed. He hadn't actually made it to the clinic, but he didn't plan to mention that.

"It was kind of my fault you got fired by that jerk in the first place, so…" He shrugged. "I'm proud of you though."

She glanced over. "You are?"

"It took a lot of guts standing up to him by yourself that way."

They walked a few blocks before Orihime tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I guess I'll be able to move out now."

She twined her fingers together, gripping until her knuckles turned white. She gave him a wide smile.

"The promotion comes with a pay raise, so it won't be hard for me to find a new apartment." The tops of her fingers had gone purple, but she didn't seem to notice. "And… And then school will be starting again soon, so I should probably try to get in before then."

Ichigo stopped walking.

"Kurosaki-kun…?"

He reached out and pried her fingers apart, rubbing the blood back to the tips and lacing them through his own before he started walking again.

"There's no hurry, Inoue. You should wait a couple weeks. Get into your new job and classes without stressing about it."

Her mouth opened and closed, but she didn't pull away.

When she smiled, it was real. "Orihime."

"Orihime..." He glanced at her then gave the hand he was holding a small tug, starting back down the street. "Let's go home."

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Fin.

A/N

Wow, sorry it took me so long to get this last chapter done. Life snuck up and hijacked me for a while, and then there were parts of it I didn't like and had to rewrite and whatnot, so… yeah. It's done though, hope you liked it :)

And okay, so I wouldn't have worried so much about the last chapter if I knew you guys would like it that much. Seriously, thank you so much for the feedback. You've helped me figure out where I was going and what wasn't working, and even though it was a short story, I really would have struggled without your input.

DeathBerryLover1995, Renee Tanaka, Aiasaka, Czexy, lDoubt, RainingLight1, Ancientblackdragon, Tinxies, somber girl, FoShizzleMySizzle, penguinwobble, sashikibuta, Xtremefairy, foxfang27, nypsy, JustDance3Fan, sweet-penelope, it0takes0skills0to0be0me, Veraozao, bella336, VisceralMel, RoseAndTheGun94, from here to the moon, AyakaRain, sunflowerspot, Bobbie, Tea In Sugar, LoVe23, ElNegro85, LordPotter123, toffeeglory, Arrankor, Guest, halfdemonfan, Zazzy, Ermilus, partygurlz, supremekikay24, JAB9689, , can you not, CiaraFael, aquadivergent7, alice hattercandy (alice-chaaaaaan!), Nightmare Master, Guest, 17xSourxApples, Sele de la Luna and lyerlaboys1 (who I keep forgetting to mention ahh I'm sorry!)

So what's next? I'm so glad you asked :D Next, I plan to finish All the King's Horses, complete a fic I adopted from another author, then finally start my next—and probably longest— multi-chapter story. Whew!