Prologue
Author's note: Hello all, I am an Ichihime fan; hence I am writing a fanfic for them and about them. It's my first attempt with this couple, so there will be room for improvements. Anyway, this takes place in Karakura town, after they defeated Aizen, and hence everything goes back to normal. Please read and review, thank you!
Christmas Eve
Everyone had gathered at a restaurant to celebrate Christmas. It wasn't a very special occasion, but it was also held to celebrate the success of defeating Aizen.
" I hate parties" Ichigo muttered to himself as he walked around the crowded room.
It's not like he hated it, he just dislike the idea of being stuck in a room with so many people. As he tried to squeeze through to the door, everyone was asking him to join them in drinking. He rejected them politely as he was still underage and he wouldn't want his father using it as an excuse to pick on him. He rolled his eyes and headed for the door.
" Where are you going?" Rukia asked him, Ichigo saw Renji waiting behind Rukia.
" I am going out for some fresh air. By the way, Merry Christmas." He told Rukia and nodded at Renji who nodded in return.
Rukia and Renji left him alone after that. Sighing, he opened the door. Stepping out to the balcony, he stretched his arms, he felt like he was a sardine going under processing to be canned in that room. He looked up at the moon, amazing how long it had been since he had last looked at the moon.
" Kurosaki-kun?"
Ichigo looked to see Inoue at the balcony too. He had not realized that she was there…
" Inoue? What are you doing here?" He asked.
Inoue smiled and looked at the full and clear moon.
" It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, Ichigo nodded, agreeing with her.
They watched the moon for a while before Ichigo broke the long silence.
" Inoue, there's something I wanted to ask you…" He told her,
He noticed how she turned and looked at him, he even noticed how she smiled.
" Yes, Kurosaki-kun?" Inoue asked,
Ichigo didn't know how to phrase it, but since they are alone, he might as well ask. He wouldn't want the others to find out. After all they will tease him again.
" Inoue, during these months I noticed that my grades have been falling."
He was met with silence; he thought that she didn't catch him.
" I mean, being a part-time Shinigami and all, I hardly have time to study and then there was Aizen and his…"
" I get it." She whispered,
Okay, step one done. Ichigo thought to himself.
" So I was wondering if you could tutor me." Ichigo asked,
Judging from her reaction, he knew he asked it too directly.
" I mean you are in the top five in our school ranking and your grades hadn't dropped despite the whole commotion and stuff. So I was hoping that you could you know, tutor me?" Ichigo asked again.
" Erm… I could tutor you, but then…"
" Of course I will pay you, I mean I can't let you tutor me for free." He cut in.
" No, it's not about the fees, it's that are you sure that you want me to tutor you?" She asked, their eyes met for a while.
Ichigo wasn't really getting the hint or what Inoue was trying to say.
" Well, there was Ishida, but I doubt I would be able to concentrate if he tutors me, after all we will keep fighting. Then there's Chad… He's too quiet… Rukia's definitely out… so that leaves you." He explained.
" To tell you the truth Kurosaki-kun, I hadn't tutored anyone before so, I feel that I am a little inexperienced to tutor… Why don't you hire a tuition teacher?" She asked him.
" Good tuition teachers are hard to find. But it's okay, I understand why you can't tutor me." He told her
" If you don't mind me as your tutor, then I do not see why I should reject your offer." She whispered,
Ichigo brightened, he looked so happy. He smiled and maybe he was too happy, he hugged her and then broke the hug. Inoue blushed at his sudden action.
" Sorry, I…think I over-reacted." He muttered
Inoue looked up at him. He was looking away, obviously embarrassed as well.
" Er… see you later?" He asked,
Inoue nodded and watched him leave. But then he banged into the glass door; Inoue was going to ask if he was all right when he picked himself up. He smiled at her rather forcefully and then tried to leave again. This time he banged into the door again. Inoue went over as he sat down on the floor.
" Ouch." He muttered, feeling for a bump on his head.
" Are you okay, Kurosaki-kun?" She asked,
He looked at her, their eyes met for a while, Inoue blushed and looked away.
" I am fine, the door seems stuck." He muttered.
Inoue looked at the door and smiled.
" It says pull." She told him.
Ichigo felt so embarrassed then, he was so happy that Inoue agreed to be his tutor that he banged into the door twice! He was getting blind, how could he miss the sign?
" I guess I overlooked it, you know some doors open by both push and pull." He told her,
Inoue smiled and she seems to be trying hard not to laugh. He felt so silly, he was already 15 and he's still making stupid mistakes. Like missing the sign. He reached for the handle of the door.
" Pull." Inoue told him,
Ichigo pulled the door open and looked back at Inoue.
" You coming in?" He asked her, she shook her head in return.
" Er, I see you later then." He told her and smiled before leaving.
Inoue watched Ichigo's back view disappear from sight. She smiled, what was wrong with him today? She looked at the rather big pull sign.
After the party,
Inoue was going to leave when she saw Ichigo and Rukia coming out of the restaurant. Rukia whispered something to Ichigo, which made Ichigo look at her. Inoue quickly looked away and pretended she didn't notice that they were there. It saddens her a little to see the two of them together.
" Inoue, did you have fun?" Rukia asked, Inoue smiled and nodded.
Just then, Renji came out and joined them. Rukia noticed that Inoue was looking at Ichigo.
" Ah Renji, I forgot that there's something I needed to buy, let's make a move first." She told Renji, trying to hint something.
" Huh?" Renji saw the look on Rukia's face.
" Oh yar, let's go Rukia. See you!" He told Ichigo and Inoue.
Inoue and Ichigo watched Rukia and Renji leave.
" So, you want me to walk you back?" Ichigo asked.
Inoue smiled and accepted his offer. As they were walking side by side, Ichigo found that the silence was making him nervous.
" You had fun?" Inoue asked him.
" Yeah, minus the part where Matsumoto tried to make me drink." He told her.
They chat lightly on the way back, Ichigo liked the way Inoue laughed, and it made him forget his worries. Inoue stopped walking halfway, he stopped to look at her.
" Yuki." She told him, Ichigo felt a snowflake fall on his nose.
Inoue laughed as he brushed it off. It had started to snow, snow are coming later than usual this year. But it didn't matter; after all it was still Christmas Eve night. Inoue reached out to catch a snowflake in her gloved hand. Ichigo watched as she managed to catch one, her hand closed around it.
" Well we better go before a blizzard comes." Ichigo told her.
He started to walk, but Inoue suddenly tiptoed and kissed him on his cheek. He stared at her in surprise.
" Merry Christmas." She told him and smiled.
Ichigo touched the spot that she had kissed him then he saw that Inoue was looking at the moon. His eyes soften and he smiled.
" Merry Christmas, Inoue." He told her,
Their eyes met and both of them smiled. Just then, the bell tower chimed signalling the start of Christmas.
Thank you for reading.
I had always wanted to write something about them. So it's my first try. Please read and review, I would like to hear your comments. Thank you!
Next chapter, the New Year will start and so will the tuition classes.